Tag Archives: Real Housewives of Salt Lake City

August 14, 2026 – GH Weekdays, Jack Offers To Help Alexis, Soap Suds, This Week In Reality, Weekend Watching, 20 Years Of Wives, Coming Soon, Safe & Sound, A Week’s Worth Of Quotes & All

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What I Watched Today

(Nada enchilada summer – condensed because life is short & summer should be fun)

General Hospital

Monday:

Anna was at the hospital for her phlebotomy treatment and Felicia asked how she was adjusting to being back home. Anna said it was a lot, but Dante was helping her at work. It was really good to feel like herself again. The orderly nearby lowered his mask and it was Peter.

While cooking in Sonny’s old kitchen, Valentin told Carly that the house he’d rented had a professional kitchen, but no moss bowl🎍. She said the house sounded perfect, but he said he’d promised Charlotte they’d move into Windymere. Josslyn came in and asked how far Carly was willing to go to get her out of the WSB.

At Bobbie’s, Lulu told Laura about letting Charlotte move in with her father. Laura said, for what it was worth (🍷), she thought Lulu was doing the right thing, but Lulu wondered how she was going to survive.

Scout came out of the pool where Danny was waiting with a towel. They started goofing around, when Drew came in. He told Danny to back away from his daughter immediately.

Chase and Brook talked about sitting on Gregory’s memorial bench on Phoebe’s adoption day and how it felt like he was there with them. Chase said they’d had a problem, worked through it, and were now totally committed to being honest with each other.

Jacinda told Michael that when she dropped off Nina’s dry cleaning, she may have slipped something into Willow’s drink. By now, Willow loved everyone and everything in the world.

Willow acted all happy/manic with the kids and said last one to the car was a rotten egg. She ran to the door.

Drew said he didn’t want Scout and Danny at the pool together. She’d have to train when Danny wasn’t there. He asked Danny to provide his schedule to Scout, but Danny said it didn’t have to be this way. Drew said Danny had proved he wasn’t safe for Scout to be around, when Jason came in. He asked if Drew had a minute.

Michael said, Jacinda drugged the mother of his children? and she said he still wanted full custody. She just slipped Willow some molly and she’d be fine. She’d be alone returning work calls and babbling away to members of Congress. He said, what if Willow got behind the wheel? and she asked if Willow ever drove herself. He said, no, but left anyway.

Chase suggested he make sandwiches, which Brook thought was sexy, so they kissed. Gio and Trina came in, and Gio said they’d been working on a new song and were starving, but they could leave. Chase invited them to have sandwiches, and Brook said after she put Phoebe to bed, she wanted to hear about their new song.

Charlotte saw Lulu and Laura inside Bobbie’s, when Rocco met her. She said they should decide how they wanted to play this. They should just tell their mom what she wanted to hear. He said he’d try, but wasn’t as good at lying as she was, and they went inside.

Laura told Charlotte and Rocco that Lulu may have a solution for the tension between them, and Lulu said once Valentin was settled, Charlotte could move in with him. Rocco asked how Charlotte could be so selfish.

Britt was dragging a big garbage bag toward the hospital elevator, and Tristan asked if they’d won. She said they never won. The players just rolled around in the dirt for two hours and now she had to do laundry in the GH basement. He wanted to help her, but she said, any help from a WSB guy came at a price she wasn’t willing to pay, and got in the elevator.

Anna said Emma couldn’t stop talking about the magical trip to New York City that Gio had planned for her, and Felicia said she’d like her own magical trip. Was there anything Anna needed before she started her treatment? Peter told Anna, ask her, but Anna said she was fine and Felicia left. Peter said Felicia could give Anna information on Britt and give it to her, but Anna said she wasn’t taking advantage of her friends. He said Felicia was family and if Anna wanted to protect her family, she had to use Felicia.

Josslyn asked if Carly would team up with her dad, and Carly said she’d told him that Josslyn had joined the WSB. He had a right to know. Josslyn said she’d been getting to it, but was hesitant after Carly’s insane reaction. Carly said she’d reacted appropriately after finding out Josslyn had joined an organization that was dangerous and could get her killed, and Josslyn said now her dad wanted her out. Carly asked if he said that, and Josslyn said, no, but actions spoke louder than words.

Jason suggested they step away, but Drew didn’t want to leave Scout alone with Danny. Jason asked Danny to go get a burger at Bobbie’s and he’d pick him up later, and Danny left. Drew asked Scout to wait in the car, but she said she’d stay there, and he and Jason left.

Rocco got mad and left, and Laura followed him out. Outside, Rocco said Charlotte didn’t care about their mother, and Laura asked if he was angry because Charlotte was leaving their mother or leaving him.

Charlotte said she wasn’t trying to hurt Lulu, and Lulu said she could see how much she missed her dad. It wasn’t like she was moving to the moon. Charlotte said she loved Lulu, and Lulu said she loved Charlotte too, and they hugged.

Michael went into the apartment where Willow was dancing with Amelia, while Wiley stood nearby with his arms folded. Willow suggested Michael dance with them, but he turned off the music, and she said he was no fun. He wondered why the kids were with her, and she said Yuri had a hot date with Terry, so he’d dropped the kids off. He took Willow aside and asked if she’d been drinking, but she said he knew she never drank around the kids. What was he doing there? Did he just come to ruin their dance party? Party pooper. She booped his nose.

Brook said she loved Trina and Gio’s new song and had a great idea for the bridge. Chase said he’d warned Gio and Trina that she could be intense when it came to music, but Brook said she wasn’t. Trina said she liked Brook’s intensity. It made her feel Brook believed in them. Brook said she did. They were talented and worked their butts off. Trina said it was a creative outlet for her and kept her mind off her dad’s trial. Her dad felt that court went well, which meant it didn’t go well for her mom and Isaiah. It was a mess. Gio said she could sing what was too painful to say, but Trina said she’d rather not find inspiration from her parents’ experience.

Rocco told Laura that Danny was mad at him and Charlotte was on his side. He felt he’d lost her as a friend and as his sister. Laura said she was sorry, but the bond between siblings wasn’t easily broken. She bet if Charlotte needed her brother, he’d be there, and vice versa. He said he was going to the MetroCourt to pick up his paycheck, and asked her to tell his mom that he was sorry. Laura said, of course (🍷), and Rocco left.

Josslyn told Carly that her dad had taken off on a solo sailing trip, and Carly said he’d been talking about that for a while, but what did that have to do with Josslyn? Josslyn said he’d left full control of JJE to her in his absence without asking her. One of his VPs had flown halfway around the world to hand her the reins. Carly asked if she’d been able to contact him, but Josslyn said, no, and Carly said he’d probably wanted to disconnect from the world. Josslyn said he probably didn’t want to hear that she didn’t want responsibility for the company. The timing was very convenient. Was this Carly’s idea?

Michael asked Wiley to take his sister to her room. It was almost bedtime. Wiley asked if they weren’t going to the arcade, but Michael said they were probably closed. Willow said she was a congresswoman and would get them to reopen. They’d have the whole place to themselves and they could do anything they wanted. She jumped around with the kids, and Michael asked Wiley to please help his sister get ready for bed. He promised to make it up to Wiley. They’d do something incredible together. Wiley said, them, Amelia, and Mommy? and Willow said, that’s genius! Michael said they’d do it together because they were a family.

After Anna’s treatment, Britt approached her and said she needed Anna’s help with the WSB. Anna said she was no longer an agent, and Britt said Cullum had kidnapped Anna and messed with her head. The WSB owed her a few favors. Anna said, what kind of favors? and Britt said it was for her mother. She was miserable not knowing what happened to Cassius – how he died, where his body was. Peter stood behind Britt, and Britt said she thought if anyone could figure it out, it would be Anna. Was Anna going to help her or make her beg? Peter said this was what they’d been waiting for. Now was Anna’s chance.

Jason said it was good to see Drew back on his feet. They had to discuss Scout and Danny. Drew said they could start by how everyone went against his wishes when he was incapacitated and Scout was led to believe Danny wasn’t a threat to her. Jason said Danny wasn’t, but Drew said Scout was told to ignore the danger that followed Danny and Jason around. Now he had to rectify the situation. Jason said Drew didn’t. His job no longer posed a danger to Danny and Scout. He’d stopped working for Sonny.

Carly said she told Josslyn’s father that she was working for the WSB. Anything past that was on him. Josslyn said she’d spoken to the VP of Operations. He was sending her a list of candidates and she’d sign the company over to whoever he and the board chose. Valentin asked if he could chime in, and Carly said, have at it. He said before Josslyn handed her family’s legacy over to a stranger, make sure to do her homework. There were people who wanted to gain her trust and sell off her father’s business for parts. He knew because he was one of them. Josslyn said she wasn’t going to be manipulated into leaving the WSB, but he said it wasn’t just about her. She had shareholders and all the employees who had lives, mortgages, and families. She could jeopardize their livelihoods. Carly said Josslyn may not want this responsibility, but it was hers. She needed to take it seriously.

Trina said, no matter the trial’s outcome, her dad wouldn’t be satisfied until he heard Isaiah say he was the driver of the other car. That was never going to happen. She needed to stop talking about it because going down this particular rabbit hole wouldn’t do any good. Listening to it wasn’t fun either. Gio said it wasn’t bad either. It was just life. She said her dad wouldn’t let it go until he proved Isaiah was in the other car, but she had to.

Michael put the kids to bed and came out to find Willow dancing. He tried to hand her some water, but she said she’d just finish her drink. He said, no, taking it from her. It would keep her up all night. She asked what he was doing there, and he said he was concerned that she’d taken something. He thought she might be high. She wasn’t acting like herself. She said that was because she finally felt good. She was divorcing Drew, she loved her job, the kids were amazing, they weren’t fighting… She put her arms around her and said, so please, let’s not start. He said he didn’t want to fight either.

Britt said she knew Cassius was a sore subject, but it would give her mother peace of mind to know the details of his death. In return, she’d answer Anna’s questions. Anna said the WSB would never share those kinds of details with her, especially if they knew why she wanted them, and Britt said she knew Anna didn’t trust her, but put herself in her mom’s shoes. Wouldn’t she want to know what happened to her child? Anna said she was sorry, but she couldn’t help, and Britt said she was supposed to be one of the good guys. How much would it cost her to show a little compassion? Anna said, the same compassion Britt showed her mother when she’d let Obrecht believe she was dead? when Felicia joined them. She asked if there was a problem, and Britt said, yes. felicia suggested they take a few steps back. Anna was still in Commissioner probationary period. Anna asked who wasn’t on probation, Britt said, useless, and left. Felicia said Britt was out of line, but Cassius was her brother and they’d seemed close. She was grieving, but didn’t get to take it or her anger out on Anna. Peter said, how do you think Britt is doing? and Anna repeated the question to Felicia. He said, there you go.

Tristan asked Britt how the laundry was going, and she said, save it. She saw him watching her and Anna. If he wanted to report her, go ahead. He said, for what? and she said, for being combative with a patient. He asked why he would do that, and she asked if all WSB agents didn’t stick together.

Drew said people didn’t just get to leave the mob, but Jason said, things change. Drew said Sonny wasn’t going to just let Jason go, but Jason said he didn’t know Sonny. Drew said Jason and Danny needed to stay away from his daughter, but Jason said that wasn’t what Scout wanted. Drew said she was a trusting child and it was his job to keep her safe. That’s what fathers were supposed to do, even if their kids hated them for it. Jason said he knew Drew didn’t trust Danny because of him. Drew could hate him all he wanted, but don’t take it out on Danny and Scout.

Laura came back and said Rocco apologized for losing his temper. He needed some time alone, so he went to the MetroCourt to pick up his paycheck. Charlotte saw Danny through the window and asked if it was cool if she talked to him outside. Lulu said, of course (🍷), and Charlotte left. Laura asked if Lulu was okay, and Lulu said, no, but she would be. Laura said Rocco couldn’t bear to see Lulu hurt, but she also thought he was going to miss his sister terribly. Lulu said she thought them living under the same roof would bring them closer, but it just drove them further apart. Laura said maybe it was a good thing they wouldn’t be living together, and Lulu said, if she got lucky, maybe it would bring her closer to her son.

Rocco saw Scout crying by the pool and asked if she was okay, but she said, no. Not even close. He asked what was up, and she said, the usual. Her dad didn’t want her to see her brother – ever.

Michael said Willow must be tired from so much dancing and suggested she lie down on the sofa and close her eyes, just for a minute. She said his voice sounded like it used to when he talked to her. It was nice. He used to be so nice. Remember when he asked her to help out with Wiley? It was nice. She liked when he was her friend. He said he did too.

Valentin suggested Josslyn give him the list of names, but she said she’d go to Michael. He said his offer stood, and Carly asked Josslyn to think about this. It was the opportunity of a lifetime. Josslyn promised she’d handle this in a way that worked for everybody, but she wasn’t leaving the Bureau. Carly had to accept that. She wanted to see her, but didn’t want to argue about this every time. Carly said she didn’t either, and they hugged. Valentin asked Josslyn to stay for dinner, but Josslyn said she couldn’t. She’d keep Carly updated. Josslyn left, and Carly said she knew Josslyn’s father wouldn’t want her in the WSB and knew he’d do something in his own special way to get her out. Valentin said handing over the company was a bold move. He hoped Josslyn knew how valuable JJE was. There would be a lot of people desperate to take it over.

Britt told Tristan not to pretend he didn’t know Anna was in the WSB, and he said he knew who she was. He could recognize WSB damage when he saw it. He could see Britt had been through hell and knew how the WSB used people. That’s why he got out. He could see she was trying to rebuild her life again and it could be done. She asked if he was the proof, and he said that was for her to decide.

Felicia said when she’d heard Britt lost her room over Bobbie’s, she found her a sublet, and Anna asked where it was. Felicia said, Dr. Rosen was on sabbatical, so Britt was renting his loft, and Anna said her compassion knew no bounds. Felicia’s phone rang, and she told Anna to call if she needed her. They were due for a dinner soon. She left, and Peter said Anna got what she needed. Now to circle back to Britt. Let her know after talking to Felicia that she’d changed her mind and wanted to help her out. Anna said Britt would agree to anything she asked, and looked over at Britt.

Drew said he couldn’t stand Jason and Jason couldn’t stand him either, but that wasn’t why he didn’t want Jason’s son around his daughter. It was because Danny was reckless and Jason was a target. Jason said, not anymore, but Drew said that was surprisingly naïve. He hadn’t spent a lifetime getting rid of Sonny’s enemies and making him the most powerful man in Port Charles to be able to just walk away. Jason said Drew wasn’t worried about that. He was just being vindictive. Drew said every sociopathic thing Jason had ever done, every person he’d threatened, hurt, or killed would follow him and Danny around for the rest of their lives. But not Scout, because he wasn’t letting her anywhere near Jason, Danny, Sonny, or anyone associated with their world. And Jason would be very wise not to test him on that.

Charlotte told Danny that she loved her mom, but her mom didn’t get her connection with her dad. It was dangerous when they were hiding out in Europe, but they got really close. Danny said he got it. He and his dad were closer since their road trip. Charlotte said, anything could change in a second. That was why they had to make the most of their time with their dads while they could.

Lulu told Laura that she hoped Charlotte being with her dad would help Rocco confide in her again, but Laura said he was a teenager now. Lulu said, nobody understands you, especially your parents, and Laura said it didn’t mean he loved her any less. It just meant he needed to lean on someone his own age a little more.

Scout said she wasn’t unhappy her dad got better, but at the same time… Rocco said she wanted to live her own life. He knew he’d made some big mistakes, but his parents couldn’t keep telling him what to do forever.

As they cleaned up, Brook said all Trina could do was put this behind her, and Chase said it would be easier for her to do if someone could answer her questions about the accident. Brook said that would be impossible, but Chase said, maybe not. The investigation was still open. There was no harm in him looking at it again from a different angle. Get some fresh eyes on it. Maybe he could find something that led them to the other driver.  

Willow conked out, when Michael’s phone rang. Jacinda said please tell her that he found Willow making a food of herself and not doing something dangerous, and he said he’d stopped her as she was about to head out. Jacinda said, thank God. No harm done. That was good, right?

Tuesday:

Emma found Gio at the pool and said she had exciting news about camping.

At a table nearby, Lucy said she’d seen Serena with Michael and it looked like things were going according to plan. Serena said Michael liked the idea of her joining Deception, and Lucy asked if he liked her.

Cody showed up at the courthouse with flowers and said he’d heard Sidwell was going to prison. Congrats. He wondered why she wasn’t more excited since she won, and she said, except she didn’t.

At the MetroCourt Gardens, Valentin thanked Jordan for meeting him, and she said she wasn’t clear why she was there. He said he needed a favor, but she shouldn’t feel obligated because he’d saved her life. She asked what he meant.

Josslyn met Jack at the Gardens for breakfast, and said she was ready to get back in the field.

Willow woke up and Nina was there. Nina said she was worried, and Willow wondered why she was on the couch. Nina said she’d decided to let Willow sleep it off there, and Willow said, sleep what off? What happened?

Jacinda found Michael in the nook, and said she needed him to understand why she’d drugged Willow. She’d lost it when she got the restraining order, but made sure Willow was somewhere safe and alone… Michael said, she had Wiley and Amelia. Everyone was fine, but Willow almost took them out for a drive when she was high.

Jordan asked how Valentin saved her life, and he told her how he’d come by the car when he’d been a fugitive. He’d seen Curtis trying to free her and helped him pull her to safety. She said Curtis never told her, and he said Curtis had been protecting him. She said she might have died if he hadn’t helped, and he said that was true.

Molly told Cody that she was prepared to go to trial, when Sidwell took a plea bargain and they’d combined the charges. They’d also learned he was also responsible for Maxie’s collapse and coma, but unfortunately, his deal was for everything. He was Pentenville’s guest for the next 31 years or maybe the rest of his life, parole after 26 and change. Cody said maybe it was a good thing. Sidwell wasn’t getting younger and she’d saved the taxpayers money and herself a ton of work. She said she’d rearranged her life because these were supposed to be the biggest trials of her career, but it was all for nothing.

Gio said he’d never gone camping, but was open to trying it one day, and Emma said the day had come. Next week. She’d been on a waiting list at a campground near the Finger Lakes, and a spot opened up for next week, so she took it. They could sneak away together. He said he was sorry, but he couldn’t.

Serena said she and Michael had a good talk. He’d explained he only got involved with Deception to help Maxie and she didn’t think he was trying to take the company away from Lucy. Lucy said he wouldn’t have admitted it, but Serena said she believed he was doing what was best or Deception. Maybe they didn’t need his shares after all.

Nina asked what Willow remembered, and she said Yuri called and had to bring the kids over. Oh my God. The kids. Nina said they were fine, and Willow said she was going to take them to an arcade and Bobbie’s, but it was fuzzy after that. Nina said when she’d come home last night, Willow was out cold and Michael was there.

Jacinda said she’d thought the kids would be with Michael, but Michael said the nanny called in sick and Yuri already had plans. Yuri took tracked Willow to Nina’s and took them there. When he got there, Willow was dancing around the apartment and was going to take the kids out. Jacinda said she felt sick. She’d never meant to put his kids in danger. He said if he hadn’t shown up, they could have been seriously hurt or worse, and she said she never would have forgiven herself. He said it all turned out okay, but it was only a matter of time before Willow realized she was drugged. She’d suspect Jacinda and think he’d put her up to it.

Nina said when Michael came to pick up the kids, Willow was in an altered state, acting erratically like she was high or drunk. Willow said she’d never do that, and Nina said Michael stayed until she got home, then left with the kids. They were fine and didn’t know anything was wrong. Willow swore she wasn’t drunk or high, and Nina said, then what happened? Willow said, Oh my God. Somebody drugged me.

Jack said, according to Josslyn’s doctors, she was almost cleared for duty, but mentally, the jury was still out. She’d almost died. It was a lot to process, and if she had, she wouldn’t be so eager to get out in the field. He got that she wanted to prove she wasn’t scared, but that never ended well.

Jordan said she was grateful, and asked Valentin, what was the favor? He said it involved her former employer, Jenz Sidwell.

Cody said Sidwell was going to prison because of Molly, but she said she might as well have gone on her book tour. He said Sidwell’s lawyers probably recognized what a great case she’d put together and realized they had to take the deal. If the case had been in any other lawyer’s hands, Sidwell probably would have taken his chances in court. But Sidwell was going to prison because he was afraid of her. He wanted to take her someplace fun to celebrate her win.

Lucy was concerned that Michael had charmed Serena instead of the other way around, and said they needed to stick to the plan. Serena said she didn’t know if it was fully necessary. She didn’t think Michael would do anything that hurt the company, and pushing Lucy out would. Lucy said Michael could be extremely ruthless when he needed to be. Just ask his ex-wife.

Nina wondered why someone would drug Willow because she’s stupid, and Willow said she didn’t know, but it was the only explanation. Nina asked if she thought it was Drew, maybe to make her look like she was a loose cannon as a congresswoman, and Willow said it would also make her look like a bad mother. Michael would definitely benefit from that. Nina said he’d told her that Willow was already high when he arrived, and Willow flashed back to talking to him. She said he was right, and Nina said, so maybe it was Drew. Willow asked when he had the opportunity. She’d been there all afternoon. Besides Nina, the only person who was there was… Nina said, Jacinda.

Jacinda said Willow couldn’t prove anything… except her fingerprints were on the to-go cup, but Michael said he’d gotten rid of it. She said, then they were in the clear. It was like when she’d drugged Drew. He said, that was the problem. She’d done this before. If Willow went public, it would look like a pattern. Jacinda said she’d been so angry about the restraining order, she’d acted impulsively. Now she’d given Willow major ammunition against him.

Gio said he’d like to go camping with Emma, but he and Trina had to be ready to record in two weeks. Emma said she’d cancel the reservation, but he said maybe he could ask Simon to reschedule. She said, absolutely not. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity and they needed to seize it. Focus on his music and they could go camping whenever.

Josslyn said she’d take a psychological test, but didn’t think it was necessary, and Jack said she’d killed several men, including Cullum, watched Cassius die, and almost died herself, and it wasn’t a big deal? She said he’d taught her that was part of the job, and he said her capacity for denial was impressive. She said she had her regrets, but did the best she could do. She’d stopped Cullum and did everything Jack asked her to do. He said she did and now he was asking her to take a breather. If she didn’t deal with the mental repercussions now, it could cripple her or get her killed and he couldn’t let that happen. She was too valuable of an agent.

Lucy told Serena that Michael was a Quartermaine and would always side with his family. Brook wasn’t a problem, but Tracy would cut her out of Deception the second she got the chance. Family came first with them and she needed Serena to get those Deception shares out of Michael’s hands and put them in hers. Serena said she’d do her best, and Lucy said she came from a family of very creative problem solvers. Cody walked in, and Lucy said, case in point. Family. Her brother was over there. Would she like to meet him?

Jordan said, if Valentin was going to ask her to help exonerate Sidwell, the answer was no, but he said Sidwell had threatened his daughter. There wasn’t a hole deep enough for him. In fact, he planned on profiting from Sidwell’s downfall. This morning, Sidwell signed a plea deal. Once the ink was dry, his company and all of his properties would be on the auction block. He wanted Windymere, but beyond that he had to be strategic, and that’s where she came in. He thought she could provide all the valuable intel he needed.

Willow told Nina that it had to have been Jacinda. Jacinda was getting back at her about the restraining order, and at the same time, helping Michael get custody of the kids. The iced coffee she’d brought over was on the table when she left the room. Was Jacinda alone in there? Nina said, yes, when she went to get the October book for Crimson, and Willow said their names were on the coffee cups, which made her an easy target. Nina said Jacinda endangered Willow’s life, and Willow said, not just her. She’d almost gotten behind the wheel with her kids. Michael and Jacinda were going to pay for this. Nina said Michael had been very concerned about her. Was she sure he was involved? Willow said she was sure of it and was sure he also took a video of her that he could use in court, but she was going to turn the tables on him. She was going to take those kids away from him for good.

Jacinda said if Willow figured out it was her, she’d make sure Willow knew Michael had nothing to do with it, but Michael said Willow wouldn’t believe it. What she’d done would be enough for a family court judge to grant Willow custody. He already had a strike against him with half the town thinking he shot Drew. She said there had to be a way to fix this, and he said there was, but she wasn’t going to like it.

Emma told Gio that there were some slots open the week of Thanksgiving. It might be cold, but snuggling in front of a fire could be really romantic. Gio said, it would be, but Simon wanted him and Trina to do a tour of small clubs in November and he wasn’t sure if they’d be playing that week. Maybe they could plan a trip closer to the date if they didn’t book anything. She said that sounded great, and he promised he’d make it up to her. She said it was all part of dating a rockstar on the rise.

Josslyn said, with all due respect, she thought Jack was being overly cautious, and he said he thought she should talk to Anna. One of the best agents they ever had, and she ended up in a mental institution. She said they both knew there was more to that story, and he said the Bureau would need her sooner rather than later, but right now, she had to sit tight. She said maybe she should take her dad’s offer to run his company. He was trying to lure her away from the WSB by making her head of JJE.

At the pool, Cody asked if they were drinking celebratory mimosas or shots, but Molly thought they should stick to iced tea since it wasn’t noon yet. He said that was a responsible choice, when Lucy came by with Serena. She said she wanted to introduce him to her daughter, Serena Baldwin – his sister. He and Serena shook hands, and he said he didn’t know she was coming to town. Lucy said she probably should have let him know sooner, but he said it was a good surprise. Molly introduced herself, and Cody apologized and said the surprise short-circuited his manners. Molly was his girlfriend. Molly and Serena shook hands, and Molly welcomed her back to Port Charles. Tearing up, Lucy said it was wonderful seeing them meet face-to-face. Dominique would have been absolutely thrilled.

Willow asked if Nina found her cup, but Nina said, no, and she’d checked everywhere. It wasn’t there. Willow said, of course (🍷) it wasn’t. Michael was too smart to leave evidence behind. That was fine. She’d go to GH and have her blood drawn to prove that she had drugs in her system. If he didn’t give her what she wanted, she’d expose him. Nina said it could be argued that she’d taken the drugs on her own, but Willow said it didn’t matter. She’d find a way to link it back to Michael. He wasn’t getting away with this. Nina said if there was no clear way to prove her innocence, maybe Willow should take a different approach. Maybe she could take this opportunity to call a truce. Willow said they had a truce and Michael and Jacinda drugged her, and Nina said, after she got a restraining order against Jacinda to stay away from the children. Willow asked if Nina was saying this was her fault, and Nina said, no, but instead of constantly retaliating against each other, they could find a way to broker peace. Willow said it was a nice sentiment, but way too late for that, and she left.

Michael said they couldn’t stay together. As much as it killed him, he had to end things. Jacinda said there had to be another way, but he said he was up all night and there just wasn’t. He knew it was a lot to ask, but it would be better for everyone, including her, if she left town. She cried and said she didn’t know she’d be banished from Port Charles, and he said he hated this and wished he didn’t have to do any of it. She said he must be furious with her, and he said he wished she hadn’t done what she did, but he wasn’t furious. He was desperate and this was the only shot he could think of that let him keep his kids. She said she got that he had to prioritize his children and didn’t want to be the reason he lost custody. So she’d go… on one condition.

Gio was done with this shift, and Emma said, how about if they went for a bike ride? He said he hated to keep saying, no, but he and Trina were writing and rehearsing today. But if they made enough progress, they could watch a movie and eat popcorn later. She said it sounded good, and he said he’d keep her updated.

Jordan said she was sure Sonny was chomping at the bit to get his piers back, but Valentin said he wasn’t going to fight Sonny on that one. But he did want her guidance figuring out what other holdings he should consider. She said she knew SRE inside and out. Was he looking for anything in particular? He said, nothing illegal. He had no interest in going back to prison. She said she spent months trying to sus out criminal activity at SRE, but Sidwell kept it clean, so that shouldn’t be an issue. He asked what other insights she could share.

Lucy suggested Serena and Cody get together sometime and get to know each other as siblings, and Cody asked how long Serena was in town. Serena said her plans were up in the air at the moment. Why didn’t they exchange numbers? Cody agreed.

Josslyn told Jack that while her father was sailing around the world for the next six months, he’d designated her acting CEO. He wasn’t taking phone calls on the boat, so she couldn’t even argue with him. Jack asked if her father had ever expressed interest in her running JJE before, and she said, not in the slightest. Jack said, yet he’d transferred control of his multi-billion dollar corporation to her to get her out of the WSB, even though she had no business experience. She said, when her mom told him that he was an agent, he was very upset, so she guessed he was desperate, and Jack said he’d look into it. She said it was just family drama, but he said, maybe. Could be something more. His phone rang and he said she was dismissed. She said, from breakfast? and left. Because no one ever finishes their food in Port Charles. Nina said she needed Jack’s help and asked if he’d be willing to come by her place. He said he was on his way.

Michael asked, what’s the condition? and Jacinda said he had to be honest with her about something. He said, of course (🍷) he would, and she said, it was never going to last with them, was it? People like her didn’t get to have happily ever afters with people like him. He said, listen to him. This was killing him to do this. He cared about her so much. The night he met her, he was at a serious low point. He was miserable, bitter, and angry, but she made him smile. Ever since then, she’d brought so much light into his life. He was so grateful for her supporting him through one of the lowest points of his life. She helped him find himself again. She thanked him for saying that. She was grateful to him too, for always respecting her and always making her feel like she was someone worth caring about. She’d forgotten what that felt like. He told her not to forget that again. She deserved happiness and a peaceful life. To that end, he’d set up a bank account for her… She said she couldn’t accept that. If she did, then everything that happened between them was a job. He said he was investing in her future because he cared about her. He wanted her to have a chance to build the life she deserved. She said the only life she wanted was the one she was leaving. (…sniff…)

Michael gave her the account information and told her to use the money to build a great life. Whatever she did, be happy. They kissed goodbye, and he asked where she was going. She said she didn’t know, but she’d figure it out. She always did.

Lucy asked what Serena thought of Cody, and Serena said he seemed nice. Lucy said he was a really great guy, but she hoped she hadn’t put Serena on the spot, suggesting they spend time together. Serena said she hadn’t. Traveling the world by herself got lonely sometimes. Having a brother to hang out with seemed pretty great. Lucy said she still had to spend time with her mother. They still had a lot to catch up on and a lot to accomplish.

Cody said that wasn’t on his to-do list today, and Molly asked if it was weird meeting his sister. He said, a little. Did he make it weird? Was he weird? She said, no, besides she didn’t think Serena was the judgy type, and Cody said she seemed cool, which was a relief. He didn’t expect to like her. He was bitter when he found out she was Dominique’s sole heir and he was left without a dime. Then he learned to stop focusing on what he didn’t have, and start appreciating what he did have. She asked, what changed? and he said he met her and realized all he really needed was her… and Outback… and my horses. In that order. She kissed him.

Jordan said Sidwell’s cargo ships were huge moneymakers. She was sure everyone would be bidding on them. He asked if she thought they were worth a look, and she said, if you have the money, yes. RE Touch hadn’t turned a profit yet, but it was about to scale up in a big way. He said, fascinating. What else? She said she gave him those tips because he’d saved her life. If he wanted to hear more, they needed to discuss a consultant’s fee. He said, how much? and she said, make her an offer and she’d decide if it was worth her time.

Nina let Jack into the apartment, and he asked if she drowned someone else. He wasn’t in the mood to bury any more bodies today. She said, very funny, but this was serious, and he said, sorry. How could he help? She said Willow’s war with Michael was escalating and she was hoping he could help her stop it before it destroyed her family.

Gio asked if Michael saw any sheet music around, and Michael said he thought he saw some by the pantry. Gio picked it up and asked if everything was okay, and Michael said, not really. And he had the feeling it was only going to get worse. Willow strode in and said she’d keep this brief. She was taking full custody of her kids starting now.

Wednesday:

Curtis met Jordan for lunch at the MetroCourt Gardens, and she told him that she’d just had an interesting meeting with Valentin. Among other things, he’d mentioned that he helped Curtis save her life.

Isaiah told Portia, with a little luck, the trial would be over soon. In the meantime, he had good news. The latest MRI said his hand was remodeling well and showing marked improvement. There was no lasting tendon damage. She asked if he’d be able to perform surgery again, but he said they didn’t know yet. However, it was looking hopeful.

Scout sat by the pool when Drew came by. He said he wanted to check in on her, and she said Danny wasn’t there. He said she’d seemed quiet, and she said he didn’t want to hear what she had to say. She loved her brother and wanted to spend time with him. Drew said he knew, but wasn’t changing his mind. He was only doing what was best for her.

Rocco went to see Sonny and told him that Charlotte was moving in with her father. He thought it was partly his fault because he and Charlotte weren’t getting along. Did Sonny think he relied too much on his parents to solve his problems?

At Bobbie’s, Kai asked if Trina wanted to go to a party tonight at King’s Beach. Quinn and the guys from the team would be there. She said she wasn’t up for a party, but he should go, and he said he guessed she’d be working late. She said, probably, but she was also worried about her dad.

Michael told Willow that the kids were fine, but she said she was upset. He said there was no need to be. Wiley had asked why she was acting so strange and he’d said she was just tired. Gio said he should go, but Willow said she wanted him as a witness. Michael had his girlfriend drug her and she could prove it.

Sonny told Rocco that Dante came to him for advice and he went to Dante for advice. Families were there for each other. Rocco thought he relied on his parents too much, but Sonny told him not to minimize what he’d been through. His parents would take a while to get over it and his mom was just being overprotective right now. The decision to let his sister move in with her father wasn’t on him. Rocco said he’d screwed everything up, but Sonny said he hadn’t, and don’t forget he’d saved two lives by shooting Cullum. Hold onto that.

Scout said Danny had always looked out for her, especially after their mom died, and Drew said he knew she missed her mom and Danny did too. But Danny expressed his feelings with reckless behavior. He may mean well, but he didn’t think. He had a father who didn’t love him enough to set limits. It was dangerous and he loved her too much to put her in danger.

Isaiah said there was no remaining physical deficit to prevent him from operating, and Portia was sure it would happen. He said he was going to do whatever it took to regain the mobility in his hand, and she said she couldn’t stand the thought of him not operating again, especially when she knew it happened because of her.

Curtis said he didn’t tell Jordan because she’d had enough going on, and she said she was just glad Valentin was there. He said their wounds may have healed, but the trauma was real and still there. He hoped the jury ruled in his favor so they could put it behind them.

Kai said Marshall told them the jury was deliberating right now. How could Trina not be thinking about her dad? She said she’d promised her parents and herself that she’d make an effort not to obsess over them. She didn’t want to be worried, but she was. He said he didn’t want her to feel like she ever had to hide her feelings from him, and she said she didn’t feel like that. He asked what was bothering her, and she said she was worried about her dad going to prison. She started to cry, and he said she had to believe that wouldn’t happen.

Michael said he didn’t drug Willow, and she said, maybe not, but his hooker girlfriend did. Gio looked like he was watching a tennis match, and Willow said she’d had her blood drawn at GH. Whatever Michael had Jacinda dose her with would show up. From now on the kids would stay with her, and if he fought her on it, she’d take him to court and use this incident and the power of her office to make sure he didn’t see the kids again. Gio extracted himself and got out of there, and Michael asked if Willow hadn’t said she was on drugs last night. She said because Jacinda spiked her coffee. Coffee that Wiley almost drank.

Scout said she wanted to spend time with her whole family, but Drew said, sometimes what she wanted wasn’t what was best for her. Part of being her father was to guide and protect her and he couldn’t do that when he was locked in, but he could and would now. She said Grandma Alexis thought she was safe around Danny, and he said, of course (🍷) she did. She was Danny’s grandmother too. She wanted what was best for both of them, but he only had to worry about what was best for her. She said she understood.

Sonny asked how Rocco felt about Charlotte moving out, and he said it was relief in a way, but their mom didn’t have to let Charlotte go live with her dad. Sonny asked if he and Charlotte weren’t getting along, and Rocco said she thought he took things too seriously. He just wanted to give his parents a break from worrying about him so much. Sonny said they’d never stop worrying because they loved him, like he did. Rocco had to trust himself like he trusted him. He wished he’d had Rocco’s judgment when he was Rocco’s age.

Isaiah said Curtis did this to him, not Portia, but she said it was because of her. Ever since she’d drug him into this domestic disaster, she felt like his life had been one crisis after another. He said he hadn’t been drug anywhere. He loved her and Dez. They’d found something real and precious. Any aggression, animosity, and hostility was coming from Curtis. She said Curtis would always be a part of Dez’s life, so they were stuck with him, and he said, unless Curtis went to prison.

Curtis asked why Valentin met with Jordan, and she said he wanted to discuss Sidwell’s holdings which would be up for auction now that he was headed to prison. Valentin was interested in acquiring some of his holdings and asked her to point out which had potential. Curtis said she knew Sidwell’s business backward and forward, and she said Valentin crystallized for her how that knowledge could be quite lucrative. She gave him a few tips and told him that if he was interested in more, he could hire her as his consultant. He made her an offer, but she hadn’t decided if she was accepting it yet. She realized if she played her cards right, she could end up with an even better job than she had with Sidwell. Something with CEO potential down the line. He asked if she was sure she wanted to use her association with Sidwell to do that.

Gio joined Kai and Trina at Bobbie’s and told them about Willow accusing Michael of drugging her. Before he left, Willow had threatened Michael that he’d never see his kids again.

Willow told Michael, Wiley could have OD’d or died. She could have gotten behind the wheel of a car and who knew what might have happened. He’d put their children’s lives at risk. He said he’d never drug her and she knew it. They needed to take breath and if she wanted the kids for the rest of the week, fine. He wouldn’t fight her on it. She said because he knew she’d win, but he said, because of Wiley.

Drew came by and Curtis thanked him for his testimony. Jordan said she was happy to see his recovery, and Drew said he was ready to make up for lost time.

Ric went to Sonny’s and said he assumed Sonny heard about Sidwell. Sonny said he had, and Ric said, if Sidwell hadn’t taken the deal, Molly would have given him life without concurrent anything. Sonny said now they wouldn’t get a chance to see that, but Ric said there was a silver lining. Now Sidwell’s US assets officially were put up on the auction block. Sonny said he had his eye on a lot of Sidwell’s holdings and asked what the competition looked like. Ric said there had been inquiries from several people, including Drew, and Sonny said, that was a problem.

Willow said, so Michael admitted Wiley was better off with her, but he said that wasn’t what he meant. He didn’t know how much she remembered, but she’d told him that she missed them being friends. He did too. He hated the animosity between them. She said she never wanted it this way, and he said the saddest part was when he told the kids the four of them could go on a trip together. Wiley was so happy, it made him realize how hard it had been on their son. She said it had been hard on Amelia too, but he said she didn’t have memories of them being married. Wiley remembered them as a family and missed that. They had to do better. She said she didn’t trust him, and he told her to take the kids and mull things over. They both loved the kids. Trust that.

Sonny told Ric, with Drew, everything was personal. Drew just wanted to come after him. Ric said Sidwell had created an incredible infrastructure that would attract a lot of interest, and Sonny asked if he believed Drew’s motives were legit. Ric said he believed Drew had lost a lot. He started Aurora and Michael took that from him. He had also been at odds with ELQ for years. Maybe Drew just wanted something that was his. Sonny said what Drew wanted was what was his.

Drew met with Martin and said Sidwell had an impressive list of holdings. Sidwell’s infrastructure would give him a real leg up. Martin said he was going to have competition, and Drew bet Sonny would want his piers back. Martin said, among other things, but Drew said he wouldn’t get it. If Sonny got Sidwell’s assets, the violence in Port Charles would continue. Since Sonny was too stubborn to leave town, he was going to do everything he could to marginalize him.

Rocco found Scout at the pool and asked if things were any better with her dad. She said he thought they were. He gave her a speech about how he knew what was best for her and when he was done, she said she understood. She understood just fine, but she didn’t agree with him. He said he did the same with his parents. He knew they loved him, but sometimes doing what they wanted wasn’t always what felt right to him. At least sometimes. She said for her, it felt like that all the time.

Jordan told Curtis that she’d enjoyed working for Sidwell much more than she’d expected. She took the job to gain intel, but came to appreciate the work. Curtis said any company would be lucky to have her, including Aurora, but she said she wanted to build something of her own based on her own merit. He said the choice was hers. Did she want to work for a big company like ELQ or a smaller company where she could impact policy changes? She said she didn’t think he’d be interested in talking about this, because right now there were 12 jurors deciding whether or not to send him to prison.

Portia asked if Isaiah thought Curtis would be found guilty, and he said he had to think Curtis would be held responsible for what he did. Although you’d think after the good news about his hand, he’d feel more lenient toward him. Portia said Curtis caused Isaiah all kinds of pain and suffering. He’d lost control and could have cost Isaiah his medical career. She stood by what she’d said on the stand. Did he? He said he told the truth, and she said that was all he could do. Whatever the jury decided was on them. He asked what she hoped they’d say.

Willow walked in to Nina apologizing to someone on the phone, and she asked what was wrong. Nina said it was one of Crimson’s biggest advertisers. She had a huge meeting scheduled with them today and she knew nothing about it. Jacinda told her when she had meetings and she hadn’t shown up today. She’d been calling the office over and over. Nobody knew the passwords to her computer and she wondered where Jacinda could be. Willow said she’d probably skipped town and left no forwarding address, and Nina said, if Michael paid her off, she was probably halfway around the world by now, and she’d never have to pay for drugging Willow. Willow said it didn’t matter. She already had everything she needed, and Michael knew it. He caved.

Kai and Trina found Michael in the nook, and Trina said Gio told them that Willow accused him of drugging her. Did he? Michael said he didn’t, and Kai said Gio also told them that Willow was trying to take his kids away from him. Trina said they could help him stop her.

Curtis told Jordan that he was expecting a not guilty verdict. It was the only way he could move forward. He knew it was a risk to turn down the plea deal and take it to court, but every time he looked at Dez, he knew he did the right thing. She said Dez needed his father, and he said, and he needed Dez. How could he miss years of his son’s life?

Portia told Isaiah that if Curtis was convicted, it would destroy Trina, Marshall, and Stella. She didn’t want to hurt them, but if Curtis was acquitted, he’d do everything in his power to keep Isaiah away from Dez. She wanted Isaiah with her and she’d told Curtis he had no say in their relationship. She was worried he was going to pressure her and use the baby as a bargaining chip. Isaiah asked if she thought Curtis would take her to court to change the custody agreement.

Scout told Rocco that her dad didn’t get it. He didn’t want her to see her grandmother or Aunt Molly, and definitely not Danny. It felt like the only person she was allowed to see was Chelsea and she was way too old for a babysitter. Rocco said at least she got to spend more time with her dad, but she said he was busy with his own stuff. He said it sounded kind of lonely, and she said she wished she was more like Charlotte and Danny. They didn’t let anyone stop them from doing what they wanted. He said that was because they were selfish. She wasn’t and she should never feel bad about that. She said at least she still had her swim meets, and he asked how that was going. She said, really good, but she was trying to get her lap time down and it was hard to time herself. He said things were slow right now, so he could time her.

Sonny told Ric that he wanted Sidwell’s assets to help move his business into a more legitimate direction, but he was at a disadvantage right now. On the surface, Drew seemed legit, but Drew was a lot more connected to the business world than he was. Ric said, maybe, but if Sonny had any residual worry about him and Jason, let it go. He would do everything to keep things civil. Sonny said that wasn’t a problem. Jason quit. Ric said, for good? As in he’s done? Sonny said as far as his business, yeah. He respected Jason’s reasoning for getting out. He wanted to be there for his son and be the father that he couldn’t be before. He was sure Ric was relieved, but Ric said, actually, he wasn’t. It was just the opposite.

Nina said, Michael let Willow have the kids even though it wasn’t her date? What was his angle? Willow said, no angle. Michael was just a realist and knew when he’d been beaten. And he knew the blood test would prove his hooker girlfriend drugged her. What kind of judge would leave the kids with Michael after that? Nina said she was probably right, but they needed to be cautious. Michael was making an effort and now she was in a position of power. She could ask for vacation times, holidays… Willow asked why she would settle for that. Michael wouldn’t if he were in her position. Nina said she didn’t want to put Michael in a place where he had nothing left to lose, and Willow said, but he drugged her. Nina said she understood that, but things had gotten out of control. If she didn’t reach lasting peace with Michael, things would escalate until something truly tragic happened. Did she want that?

Michael said he knew Kai was Willow’s congressional intern guy. Did he see her neglecting the kids? Kai said, no. Willow was always great with the kids and loved them a lot. Trina said it was about what Willow did to Drew, and Kai said, Willow shot Drew. Trina said they knew she did because they were there.

Willow said she’d pick up the kids from camp and then they’d be living with her full-time. She’d look for a new house for them and they’d make a new life together. She would never cut Michael out of their lives the way he did to her. He was their father and the kids would miss him terribly. But he was only going to see them on her terms. Nina said it sounded wonderful, and Willow said she’d been on the defensive for so long, but soon her kids would be with her and she’d be the one making the decisions from now on.

Kai said, moments after they heard the shots, they heard something else – a song, Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star. Trina said it wasn’t until they were in the court after closing arguments that they heard the song again. They saw Willow pick up a call from Wiley and realized Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star was the ringtone she had for him. That was how they knew Willow was in the room with Drew that night. She was the one who shot Drew. Michael said, Wiley must have called her right after she shot Drew. There would be a record of it. What made them decide to come forward now? Trina told him that Gio said Willow was going to take him to court and make sure he never saw Wiley and Amelia again. They couldn’t let that happen. Kai said Willow had been out of control lately and it wasn’t in their best interest to live with her full-time, and Trina said, so they were ready to go public and tell everyone that Willow got away with attempted murder. Michael said that wouldn’t be necessary. He knew a better way to get them all what they wanted.

Ric said Jason always kept Sonny safe and he didn’t like the idea of Sonny being out there without protection, but Sonny said he could take care of himself. Ric asked if Sonny was going to replace Jason, but Sonny said, no. He was getting out also. Ric said, when? How? Sonny said he was transitioning as they spoke (trying not to make a joke here). He’d been thinking about it a long time, same family reasons Jason had. But Ric was going to take Jason’s place in some areas. Ric said, if Sonny’s past or enemies came looking for him, he probably wasn’t the guy Sonny wanted standing in front of him, but Sonny said he wasn’t talking about that. He needed somebody to be straight with him. That’s what Jason was. Since Jason wasn’t there, he needed Ric to tell him the truth, not what he wanted to hear. Ric agreed, and Sonny said, let’s talk strategy as far as the auction. What was the best way for him to get everything he wanted and for Drew to get nothing?

Drew told Martin, now that Jason was no longer working for Sonny, it was time for him to take down Sonny once and for all. Getting Sidwell’s assets was a good first step. Martin reminded Drew that somewhere out there was a whole trail of bodies, but Drew said, unlike Sonny, his holdings were all legitimate. He’d use that against him. He wouldn’t stop until Sonny was a broken man.

Scout said she could swim all day and suggested Rocco hop in the pool, but he said he was on duty. She said, hey, what’s that? and when he looked, she pushed him in and said, oops.

Portia told Isaiah that she was worried Curtis would try and change the custody agreement. If he was found guilty, it would be impossible. She felt guilty for even thinking this, but Isaiah said he was the one she was supposed to say her guilty stuff to. She said, it would be easier for her if Curtis was found guilty. She wouldn’t have to constantly negotiate with him about Dez. But she also didn’t want Curtis to be in prison for their son and for Trina. Trina would feel his absence and suffer from it, and visiting him would take away her joy. Her kids took precedence and she wanted what was best for them. He said, so she wanted Curtis to be acquitted? His phone rang and he told her, the verdict’s in.

Martin told Curtis that he’d just heard from the courthouse. The jury was back with a verdict.

Thursday:

Bumping into Hudson while she swam laps, Josslyn told him that his pool etiquette stunk. He said the pool was all hers. Maybe in return, she could give him what he’d asked.

Marshall and Stella waited at home and prayed Curtis was acquitted. Stella said it would be the end of one big mess and the beginning of another one.

In the hallway at the courthouse, Jordan said Curtis was handling it well. He was impressive. He said it was because he had her by his side. Kai and Trina joined them, and Trina said when her dad needed her, nothing would keep her away.

At the pool on the phone with Lulu, Rocco said she knew where he was since she’d been tracking him. He saw Britt and asked if she’d been avoiding him. She said, never, but she thought he could use some space. He said she wasn’t the one he needed space from.

Emma and Anna sat at a nearby table, and Emma talked about her classes for next semester, but Anna was focused on Britt. Emma asked if everything was okay, and Anna said, of course (🍷). She asked about the camping trip, but Emma said it wasn’t happening because of Gio’s schedule. She was concerned about the time they’d get to spend together now.

Willow went to the nook and asked Michael where the kids were. He said they’d made cookies and were upstairs cleaning up. She said he’d told her that she could have them for the rest of the week, but he said it must have been a miscommunication. She said if she couldn’t get the kids, she was going to the PCPD, who would be interested in the blood test she just took, and he said, the blood test that suggested she took MDMA recreationally? She said it suggested his hooker girlfriend drugged her, but he said he didn’t think her accusation would mean much now that he had proof she’d shot Drew.

Hudson asked if Josslyn had looked at the list of potential candidates to run JJE, but she said she wasn’t making a decision until she knew everything she needed to know. She was going to be swimming for a while, and he was going to back the hell off.

Stella said Curtis had been clear that if he was acquitted, he’d do everything he could to keep Isaiah out of Dez’s life, and Marshall said Curtis’s battle with Portia would start a war where everybody lost.

Jordan and Kai went into the courtroom, and Trina said it was too important for her to miss. Curtis said part of him wished she hadn’t come, but the other part was glad she was with him. They hugged, and Portia arrived with Isaiah.

Emma told Anna that Gio and Trina were great together, and she felt like they were about to have this meteoric rise. They’d be touring and rehearsing, while she worked at getting into vet school. Their schedules would get more complicated, they’d see less of each other, and before she knew it, they’d drift apart.

Willow told Michael that they both knew he shot Drew, and he said it had to be exhausting playing the innocent victim role. Was there a sense of relief now that she could drop the act? He took two documents out of an envelope and said they were affidavits signed by two witnesses attesting that on the night of September 2nd, 2025, at approximately 10:05 pm, she shot Congressman Drew Cain in the back, twice. She suggested he’d paid the people off, but he said the witnesses came to him of their own volition. The only person who got paid was a notary. She asked who the witnesses were, and he said, Trina Robinson and Kai Taylor.

Anna said she was proud of both Emma and Gio. Emma didn’t have to choose between what and who she was passionate about. They were smart, kind, considerate, and communicated. They cared deeply for each other and she knew they could work this out.

Michael said Kai and Trina had their own reasons for being there and were hiding in the bedroom when they heard the gun go off, twice. Then they heard a ringtone – Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star. What was her ringtone for Wiley again? She said, millions of people must have that ringtone for their child, but he said if someone went over the phone records, he was sure they’d see Wiley had called her at that time. She said she’d been acquitted and couldn’t be charged again, and he said that was true. But fortunately for him, double jeopardy held no bearing in family court. When the judge read the affidavits, she’d never see Wiley and Amelia again. Unless… She said, unless what?

Trina told Portia that she was there to support her dad, but it didn’t mean she was siding against her mom and Isaiah. Portia said she was glad Curtis had Trina, and Isaiah said, for whatever it was worth (🍷), her father was lucky to have her. They went in, and the bailiff said, all rise.

When Josslyn came out of the pool, Hudson was there with a towel and asked her to just honor her father’s wishes. She said her father was trying to get her to leave the WSB, and he told her just give him a name from the list and be done with it and him. No one was making decisions and things were breaking down. If this continued, there wouldn’t be a company left to run.

Rocco told Britt that his parents were smothering him, especially now that Charlotte was spending most of her time with her dad, but she said he was getting off easy. Most parents would lock their kids in a cage after they fled the country, especially with someone they considered a criminal. He said they’d been in danger and he thought it was their last chance to know each other. She said she’d been hoping to run into him to talk about that, and he said, her Huntington’s was getting worse, wasn’t it? She said, it wasn’t. In fact…

Michael said Willow was to do exactly as he said or he’d turn her in and she’d lose access to Wiley and Amelia for the rest of her life. The second the affidavits saw the light of day, she’d be kicked out of Congress. She’d lose everything, including the reputation she’d worked so hard to restore after she’d abandoned their marriage because she couldn’t control herself around some sleazy wannabe congressman. She said he had no qualms about allowing his children to hang around a drug carrying hooker, and he said he could have taken the affidavits straight to family court, but he was offering her a deal. Maybe he should take a page out of her book and pull the trigger. He’d raise his children far away from her and if he played his cards right, after a while, they wouldn’t even remember she existed. She picked up a rolling pin and lunged for him.

Rocco said, Cullum lied to Britt? About the disease, the meds, everything? She said, yeah. All to get her to do what he wanted. Rocco said he was sorry she went through that, but she was going to live, and she said she was thrilled. She just wished she hadn’t been played. She’d hurt people she loved like her mother. He asked if they were in a better place, but she said the pain of the lie was still there.

Emma said she and Gio would figure it out, and Anna suggested going on tour with him for a couple of weeks. There was no denying a great musician was sexy. Emma said, eww. Anna wasn’t allowed to say the word sexy in her presence again. She loved watching Gio perform, but didn’t love the idea of other women watching him and appreciating him. Anna said she went out with a musician once and maybe Emma could hold onto this. They all want him, but he only wants you. Emma said she was glad Anna was back. She’d missed talking about this stuff with her. Anna said she’d missed being in Emma’s day to day, and Emma suggested Anna order another drink while she checked in with Gio. She left, and Peter sat down. He said she and Emma had a wonderful connection. Make sure Britt doesn’t break it.

Stella told Marshall that Curtis had a blind spot when it came to Isaiah. It stopped him from seeing that Portia would never cut Isaiah out of Dez’s life because he told her to. Marshall asked if she thought Curtis would take Portia to court, and she said, yes, and it wouldn’t lead to anything. She’d seen enough in family court to know that no matter how much ammunition they both had, it would just end up with a 50/50 split. He said, which they already had, and she said, if they escalated things, Trina might just cut them out completely. He said they couldn’t let that happen. If Curtis avoided a guilty verdict, they’d have to pull out all the stops to get through to him. She said they would, before the family was torn apart for good.

The judge asked if a verdict had been reached, and the forewoman said it had. The judge looked at it and asked the defendant to please rise. On the charge of second degree assault and battery, how did they find? The forewoman said they found the defendant, Curtis Ashford, guilty. There were soap faces all around, and the judge said Curtis was sentenced to Pentenville Penitentiary for a period of ten years, with the possibility of parole in two.

Michael grabbed Willow’s arm and took the rolling pin. He asked if she was going to kill him like she’d tried to kill Drew. It wasn’t as easy when you couldn’t sneak up behind their back. She asked if they could discuss it, but he said there was nothing to discuss. He had witnesses and signed affidavits. She had a blood test that said she was on drugs. She said Jacinda had thrown him under the bus before, and he said, good luck tracking down Nina’s assistant. He thought she’d find Jacinda unreachable with no forwarding address. She could accept that or leave, but if she left, any hope of seeing their kids again went with her.

Curtis thanked Martin for getting him 48 hours before he had to leave for Pentenville, and Martin said he was glad the judge considered the fact that Curtis had a newborn son.

Sitting at a table, Josslyn told Hudson that she knew JJE needed a CEO, but appointing the wrong person could be even more disastrous than leaving the position empty for a brief time. Hudson said, let him help her. He’d weed out the opportunists and the incompetents. She said that would be helpful, and he said then they could look over who was left and she could decide. She said she’d go over the shorter list with someone she could trust, and he said, in the meantime, people would lose their jobs because some rich girl was too busy working on her tan to do the bare minimum.

Martin said they could appeal, but to be honest, he didn’t know if it would make much of a difference. Curtis said do whatever he could, and Martin said they’d talk soon. He left, and Curtis hugged Jordan, then Trina. He said he thought he found a way to stay with her and Dez. He was wrong. He and Trina hugged again and cried.

Emma came back, and Anna said she and Gio had such a good time in New York City. Maybe they could get away for a weekend somewhere. Emma said they’d talked about checking out Toronto, and Anna said she loved Toronto. (Same.) She looked over at Rocco with Britt and said Emma should check it out. She had to go and take care of something.

Britt said she knew Rocco didn’t intend to, but he’d hurt his parents when he took off with her and scared the hell out of them. Of course (🍷) they had him under surveillance. They’d ease up. Just give them some time. He said it was fun when she visited him at work, even if she was dropping truth bombs. It was a nice break. Anna came by and asked if she could have a word with Britt.

Stella rocked Desmond in her arms, when Portia came in. Stella asked, what happened? and Portia shook her head. She and Stella hugged.

Jordan said she knew it seemed like a long time, but it wasn’t, and Curtis said he thought the jury understood Isaiah’s role in the accident and why things went down the way they did after that. She said he was up against a renowned surgeon potentially losing his career. It was a tough sell. He said, so now he was off to prison and Isaiah had two years to pretend to be the perfect father to his son. She did see the irony in that, didn’t she? Even if by default, Isaiah was going to make a better father than him to his son. She promised he’d get through this. All those that loved him – Stella, Marshall, Trina, Desmond, and her – would visit. They’d be in touch all the time and would wait for him on the other side. She’d be waiting for him because she loved him.

At Bobbie’s, Trina said she couldn’t believe she chose this moment to go low contact with her parents, but Kai told her, don’t do that. She was there for her dad today and her mom too. She said she never thought her dad would be going to prison. What he did was wrong, but… Kai said, it wasn’t ten years with parole in two. She made the right call for herself at the time. Sometimes the world threw something at you – something you never saw coming and didn’t deserve – and you just had to adjust. That was what she did. One thing he could tell her was that she wasn’t alone. He was right there with her.

Willow said giving her old tomatoes ultimatums wasn’t what was best for Wiley and Amelia. She was their mother. They needed and loved her. Michael said they did, but she needed them a hell of a lot more than they needed her. Luckily for her, he wasn’t nearly as vindictive as she was. He was offering her a chance to continue being their mother, despite what she’d done to Drew. Hell, they could even keep the custody agreement the same. She asked what he wanted from her.

Josslyn said her dad taught her a lot, including a rule that applied to everything from business to cards. Never let someone rush you into making a decision. Hudson said she really was her father’s daughter, and she said she may not have done everything he asked, but she always listened. She suggested he do the same. Go make his changes to that list and send them to her. In the meantime, sit back and wait for this rich girl to make her pick. He said she was the boss. He’d get the list back to her ASAP, and when she had a name, feel free to let him know.

Michael said, for starters, Willow was moving back into the gatehouse, but she said, no. He said it wasn’t up for debate. The only way he’d let her near the kids was if he could keep a close eye on her. That meant no more trips to DC with the kids, no more family vacations without him, and she was going to hand over her passport when she moved in. She said she might as well be his prisoner, and he said he needed an answer now or the offer was off the table and the kids stayed with him. She said she’d call the movers today, and he said the kids would be over the moon that they got to do things as a family again. And for them, he’d put up with anything. Even her. She said she hated him, and he said, knowing her, he was sure she’d be able to hide it, and she left.

Alone with a drink at the MetroCourt Gardens, Isaiah saw Jordan come in. He started to leave, but she said he didn’t have to go on her account. He assumed Curtis went to Portia’s to see Dez, and she said, he did. She didn’t want to intrude, but didn’t want to go home either, so she found herself driving there, where it all happened. He said he wasn’t sure why, but he had the same instinct. He guessed he was taking stock in everything now that it was over. She said, now that he got what he wanted? and he said he wanted justice, not to wreck Curtis’s life. She said he had to know he couldn’t get one without the other.

Curtis came in, and Stella and Marshall hugged him. Portia came out with Desmond, and he asked if she minded if he took Dez outside to talk alone. She said, of course (🍷) he could, and he went out on the patio with the baby. Marshall said he’d prayed Curtis would never be separated from his son like he was. Portia had helped him find his way back to his son, and when the time came, she was going to help Curtis find his way back to Desmond. She said, of course (🍷) she would. She promised him. Stella took their hands and said they all would.

Curtis said, hey, Dez, listen. I’m going to go away for a little while. I’ll be back before you know it. I just wanted you to know that I never wanted to leave you and I’m going to do everything I can to get back to you as soon as possible. Now don’t you go worrying, okay? There’s a lot of people around here who wished for you, who loved you before you were even born, but I loved you from the moment you were conceived. Dez, I may not be here, but I am sending my love your way every second of every day until I get back. He gave the baby a kiss and rocked him.

As Trina worked on her songs, Kai brought her some coffee. She said, he wasn’t staying? And he said it looked like she was in a flow state. He didn’t want to get in the way. She said she didn’t even know if what she was writing made any sense, but he said it didn’t have to. He had some work to do, but he was going to her place to do it. He kissed her and left. Outside, someone watched Kai leave, then looked at Trina through the window.

Britt told Anna that she was sorry about yesterday. Lashing out at her was out of line. It was a pattern she was working on. Anna said it was fine. Felicia pointed out to her that she’d probably been too hard on Britt. Britt asked if that meant she was going to look into what happened to Cassius, and Anna said she could find out some things through back channel means, but given who she was looking into and who she was doing it for, no one could really know. Britt said she’d keep her mouth shut, and Anna said if she did find out anything, she couldn’t communicate with Britt through regular channels. Nothing that could be recorded or traced. So no email or texts. Nothing in writing. She thought they should just meet one on one. Britt said, okay. She couldn’t thank Anna enough. This was really going to help. Anna said, of course (🍷). She’d be in touch. Britt left, and Peter did a slow clap and said, nicely done. The bait is set. Now all she had to do was spring her trap and set up a meeting. Make sure the place is discreet. That way, when Britt shows up asking what you have on Cassius, you can eliminate her, once and for all.

🌞 Summer Friday…

Molly went to the stables, and Cody said he’d gotten mauled. He showed her a bite on his hand, and she asked if it was one of the horses or Tracy.

Tracy found Michael in the nook and told him there were moving trucks down by the gates. He said they were early. He’d asked Willow to move into the gatehouse, with her permission of course (🍷). She said, permission denied.

Charlotte met Danny at the boathouse and said she was surprised to get his text. She thought he was working. He said he was supposed to, but Scout was swimming laps and Drew didn’t want her there when he was there, so he got Rocco to take his shift. Rocco could see his sister, but he couldn’t.

Scout came out of the water, and Rocco offered her a towel fresh from the dryer. She seemed hesitant to say anything, and he asked what was going on. She said, nothing, and asked if her dad was there. Rocco said he hadn’t seen Drew, and she took a towel. He said he knew she wasn’t supposed to see Danny. That’s why he took Danny’s shift. Did Drew have a problem with him now too? (Drew is a problem.)

Drew met Alexis at the MetroCourt Gardens and said they had to make it quick. She said she was happy about his recovery, and he said he was sure she was. She said she wanted to see if they could work something out so Scout could spend time with her mother’s family. He said he didn’t see why they had to revisit the subject. So were they done here?

Jason washed his hands in Sonny’s old kitchen and told Carly her mower should be good to go. The moss bowl🎍shuddered at the thought, and Carly said she appreciated it since she knew he was busy. He said he had some time on his hands and a lot to think about. It felt good working on an engine. Maybe he’d open a garage or something. She asked where he’d find the time. He was still working for Sonny, right? He said he quit working for Sonny.

Sonny let Turner into the secret apartment and said he was glad to hear from her, but she didn’t look happy to see him. Was everything all right? She said she was always happy to see him, but the visit wasn’t purely social. Jenz Sidwell was offered a deal and he took it. He was being transferred to Pentenville. Sonny said he heard, and she said she thought as much, which was why she needed to know, was Sidwell going to live long enough to serve his sentence?

Turner said Sidwell going to prison didn’t lessen Sonny’s grudge against him and Sonny had served time in Pentenville. She imagined he still had associates on the inside and his adversaries had been killed there before. He said she was making assumptions and insulting his character. Did she really think he would take out Sidwell? Sidwell had a gun on her and threatened her life, and she wanted to save his life? She said she wasn’t worried about Sidwell, but if he ended up being killed in Pentenville, it would put her in an uncomfortable position. Suspicion would immediately fall on Sonny and it could ruin what they had. Sonny gave her his word that if anything happened to Sidwell, he had nothing to do with it, but she wasn’t sure if she could believe it. He said, from this moment on, there would be no crimes involving Sonny Corinthos that she’d have to deal with. From now on, he was a full-time coffee importer, nothing else.

The moss bowl🎍listened as Jason said, when he was locked up in Jakarta, he had a lot of time to reevaluate his life. He wondered what the hell he’d done to his son and decided if he lived, if he got out, he was going to put Danny first. But to do that, he had to make serious changes. That’s when he talked to Sonny and they both agreed it was time. She said she’d seen him struggle with his commitment to Sonny while trying to be Danny’s sole parent. He made the right decision. Danny needed his father. Jason said he realized he couldn’t justify the risks he took for Sonny anymore.

Danny told Charlotte that he’d done everything he could to make peace with Drew. He’d even stood up to Tracy to allow Drew back on the property because of Scout. Anytime Drew had been at the pool, he’d been totally professional. He’d spilled iced tea on Drew and it was an accident, but Drew thought he did it on purpose. He was trying to prove to Drew that he could be trusted. Charlotte said, news flash. That is never going to happen. Drew already made up his mind that he hated Danny and there was nothing Danny could do to change that.

Alexis said Drew wasn’t paying attention to his daughter’s needs, but he said he knew what Scout needed. He was her father. She said, then act like one. Scout missed her mother and wanted to spend time with her mother’s family. He said she needed to stop using her daughter’s memory to get what she wanted. In this case, more access to Scout. She said of course (🍷) she wanted access to Scout. Scout was her granddaughter. Scout needed them and he did too. Wasn’t there a part of him that was relieved they were able to take care of his child while he was incapacitated? Drew said, no. Not at all.

Scout said she didn’t know if her father had a problem with Rocco. She didn’t want to ask and find out the answer was yes. He said he didn’t know what he could have done to make Drew mad at him, but she said it wasn’t about anything he’d done. Rocco said, it’s the guilt by association thing. Her dad didn’t like his Grandpa Sonny, so he probably didn’t like him either. She said it was plausible. She just wished her dad would give her some room to breathe. She loved him and was glad he was okay, but… If she told Rocco something, he could never tell anyone. He promised, and she said her life was so much easier when her dad was in a wheelchair.

Tracy told Michael that it was her gatehouse and that woman wasn’t moving into it. She couldn’t stomach the idea of that woman moving onto the property. He said it had been his idea. Living there was the last thing Willow wanted to do.

Molly tended to Cody’s wound and asked, what happened? He said, long story short, when he was grooming Hades after the horse’s ride with Tracy, he guessed he wasn’t paying attention and Hades bit him. He guessed Hades didn’t care for how he was brushing him. The horse hadn’t been acting like himself lately and he thought Hades missed James (🦉). He’d been in a foul mood since James left. It was obvious the horse loved James and he didn’t like anyone except Tracy. James would want to feed him an apple, and he’d tell James to be careful, but Hades never bit James. He’d even be gentle. He loved that kid. Cody just hoped they found a good horse for James in Australia.

Turner said Sonny was just going to devote himself to importing coffee, and he said, that, among other perfectly legal things. She asked how that was going to work, and he said, first, he had to buy back his piers at auction, but everything he used them for would be above board. She asked if he was telling her that after decades of controlling all the criminal enterprises in Port Charles, he could just flip a switch, and he said, allegedly controlling. She said, why now? and he said Sidwell bought a bunch of properties to create a power base. Sidwell was out and his rivals had the same criminal interest. She said, alleged criminal interest, and he said, right, and they weren’t going after Sidwell’s territory. She said, so he was stepping in and filling the vacuum, and he said he was going to try. She said it sounded promising, but he couldn’t rewrite his history, and he asked if she was saying his past was going to come back and bite him. She said the statute of limitations was still running for some of his alleged crimes, and there was no statute of limitations for murder.

Carly said she knew how hard it must be for Jason considering his loyalty to Sonny. She had her own version of that. He said if he was going to be honest, his loyalty to Sonny kept him from being fair to her sometimes. When they fought, he’d want her to forgive Sonny and pressure her to stand by him. She said she married Sonny, five times. She shared children with him. That was on her. He said he still pressured her to stay when he knew she wanted out. That was wrong and he was sorry. He was sorry for what it cost her. She took his hand and said she didn’t keep score. And if she did, she’d owe him a lot more than he owed her.

Drew said he couldn’t tell Alexis how awful it was to be brought to GH for an appointment, only to find Scout in the ER, and Alexis said, she sprained her ankle. She was fine. He said, because she was lucky. She climbed out a window because she saw Danny do it and fell out of a tree. She could have had a serious head injury or worse. She said, kids have accidents. It’s part of growing up. Drew said, except she wouldn’t have had that particular accident if she’d been kept away from Danny like he’d asked for. Danny was a bad influence. That wasn’t even the worst part. The worst part was, when he was incapacitated and in that wheelchair, Alexis filled Scout’s head with dangerous lies about her father. Alexis told him that she’d never said a negative word about him… to Scout. Ask her. He said it was clear how she felt about him. She couldn’t stand him. So why would he ever let her anywhere near his daughter? (My dad raised me too, but if I had been Scout, I would have gotten yelled at for not watching Danny climb the tree more carefully so I didn’t fall out of it.)

Michael said he had something on Willow that the congresswoman definitely didn’t want getting out, and Tracy said, that’s great. So sue for full custody, tell her to pack her bags, and move out of Port Charles. He said it wasn’t fair to the kids. He still wanted them to have a relationship with their mother, provided he could control it. She wasn’t a terrible mother and he’d been separated from a parent at their age. He didn’t want that for them. That didn’t mean he trusted Willow, but if she was on the property, he could keep track of her. Tracy had to admit it was what was best for the kids. She said, maybe for his kids, but there were other family members on the property she had to think about. Had he considered what this would do to Brook?

Cody said he’d been missing James like crazy (🦉) and worried about the trouble James could get in, and Molly said they needed to hope his survival instinct kicked in before he met a dingo or kangaroo he wanted to pet. (I identify. The only time I was ever stung by a bee was when I was 4 and tried to pet one. True story.) He wondered why he was moping around when he should be excited about James on his new adventure, and she said, two things could be true at the same time. He could want the best for James and still miss him terribly. He said she was right, and she said she thought he could use a distraction. Or better yet, a change of scenery. He asked what she had in mind, and she said, something very romantic, but he did have to wear a name tag.

Scout started to cry and said she hated it, and Rocco said he knew she missed her dad, but his being in that wheelchair gave her freedom. How she felt was totally understandable. She said it wasn’t just about her freedom. While her dad was locked in, she’d lived with her mom’s family and she loved it. She missed doing the Sunday crossword puzzles with her grandma and cooking huge, messy meals with Aunt Molly. Being with them made her feel close to her mom. He said he was sorry. He knew how much she missed her mom. She said her dad had been through a lot too, and needed to know she was safe. The last thing she wanted to do was worry him. He said if it would make things easier for her, he’d keep his distance, but she said, no. He couldn’t. He was the only person she could talk to. Her dad wasn’t around much, but Chelsea was, and she reported everything she said to her dad. Even when she tried to explain that it made her feel like a prisoner, her dad said it was for her own good. Rocco said he couldn’t count the times his parents had said that to him, but he may have a solution. You make your father think you’re following his rules, and then you do what you want.

Jack walked in, and Alexis said Drew was right. She couldn’t stand him, but her granddaughter’s needs were paramount, so she’d do whatever he asked. If he could just meet her halfway and do what was right for Scout. Drew said he was doing what was right for his daughter by keeping her away from Alexis. Jack approached and said, Miss Davis… ex-Congressman Cain, and Drew asked if he could help Jack. Jack said he couldn’t help noticing things were a little tense. It surprised him that an ex-congressman would be so unfriendly. Alexis asked, why? and he said, it seemed to him that a man in Drew’s position couldn’t afford to make any more enemies.

As they laid out their towels, Danny said, even if Drew wasn’t changing his mind, he had to keep trying, and Charlotte said she knew what it was like. Her mom hated her dad and she couldn’t change her mom’s mind no matter how hard she tried. Although he had done some things to justify her hatred. Danny said he’d done some stupid things, but nothing to make someone hate him, and she said it wasn’t about him. Drew hated his dad. He said he wasn’t giving up on his sister. He had to keep fighting. She said she thought he should, but there was one thing he needed to do. When Drew goes low, you go lower.

Sonny said he was just a businessman trying to provide for his family, and Turner said, if he wanted to move on, great. If anyone could do it, it was him. But they both knew there were risks. He might have an adversary or two that would make a move to shut him up if they thought he could provide evidence against them. He said everybody knew he was no snitch, and she said, what about law enforcement? She was sure there were still some things they’d want to prosecute him for. No matter what he did, some people would still see him as Sonny Corinthos, mob boss. He asked if she was talking about herself too. Was she going to have a problem being seen with him in public, as Sonny Corinthos, the upstanding citizen?

Carly asked what Jason was going to do now, but he said he was still figuring it out. She asked if he was going to open the garage, and he said, tempting, but he thought he’d rather work on engines as a hobby. She said he could run security at the MetroCourt, and he thanked her for the offer, but said it wasn’t for him. She told him that she couldn’t believe she was going to say this out loud, but there was another family who could use his help – the Quartermaines.

Tracy told Michael that this was Brook’s home too. She and Chase were genuinely happy, and the last thing she wanted was for them to move out, taking their beautiful baby with them, because Willow was moving in. Michael said there was no need for them to move out. They’d gotten through a rough patch and seemed better than ever. She said, nothing could undermine that faster than having Willow around. She was dangerous and manipulative. So be smart about it. Use what he had against her and get her out of their lives. He said someone very wise once told him that blackmail worked best when you didn’t use it, and she said, that could apply to anybody in the house. He had to be more specific. He said if he kept Willow close, he kept the advantage over her. If he sued for full custody, she’d fight back, and she wasn’t without resources now. If this went to trial, he’d be leaving his children’s happiness in the hands of the family court with no certainty he’d win. She said she appreciated his thoughts on the matter, but she got to decide who lived there and that woman wasn’t moving in. He asked if that’s what his grandmother would do.

Drew got up and said he assured Jack that he didn’t need his advice. Jack may not know this, so he’d enlighten him. Jack could still use the term congressman even after they’d left office. Jack said, speaking of Drew’s political career, did he think he’d done anything in office that might come back to bite him? Because if you have, I think you might be wise not to step on anyone’s toes, ex-congressman. Drew said he’d take it under advisement, and told Alexis that he was picking Scout up from the pool. Don’t you follow me. He left, and Alexis said she didn’t supposed Jack would consider sharing what he had on Drew. He said that all depended on her.

Molly said her publicist was on her to promote the book ever since she’d cancelled her book tour, but Cody said he thought the book was selling well regardless. She said it had been, but apparently some of her readers had expressed an interest in getting to know her, so her publicist thought a meet and greet would help boost sales even more. There was a big romance novel convention in Savannah and her publicist wanted her to go. She was going to pass, but now she thought it would be a fun thing for them to do as a couple. He said she didn’t seem like she wanted to go. She wasn’t suggesting this because he’d been bitten by a horse, was she? She said she was hesitant to agree to an event with book signings, press, and panels. She wasn’t really comfortable accepting praise, but if she was doing it for him, it would make it a lot easier. He said, all right. Count him in. But he was only going because she wrote a fantastic book and she deserved to be celebrated. He’d make sure that happened, even if it meant he had to take a vacation.

Jason said he didn’t think he had anything to offer the Quartermaines, but Carly said he had a way of looking at a situation and identifying what was working and what wasn’t. It was a valuable skill, and she thought Ned and Michael would appreciate having someone else they could delegate responsibilities to. And Tracy would be over the moon to have him involved in the family business. Ultimately, it was up to him to decide what his next chapter would be, and whatever it was, she knew it was going to be great. He said, whatever he decided, Danny needed to know he always came first.

Charlotte said, the only way Danny would get to see Scout was if Drew had no other choice. He’d have to figure out a way to force Drew to do what he wanted. Danny wondered if they should try to catch Drew doing something illegal and expose him. The dude has obviously done some bad stuff. She said, ya think? The guy was shot in the back in the middle of his own living room. He must have done something. He said, the cops hadn’t found anything on Drew yet. Why would they? She told him, who said they had to find anything? and he asked if she was saying they should make something up. She asked if that would be a problem, and he said, not for him. It would hurt Scout.

Rocco said they shouldn’t be seen together at the pool, and Scout asked how they were supposed to hang out. Her dad watched everything like a hawk and knew where she was every second of every day. He said, make up some excuse where she needed to be alone. Then they could meet up. She said if her father caught her in a lie, he’d lose it, but Rocco said then they’d make sure not to get caught. She said, what about his parents? Was he going to tell them where he was going? He said, no. All they wanted to do was hang out and talk. It wasn’t that big a deal. She said, okay then, let’s do it, when her phone chimed. She said it was her dad. He was coming to get her. Rocco told her, get back in the pool. Pretend like she’d been swimming this whole time. He’d get back to work and make sure they weren’t seen together. She thanked him, he said he’d text her later, and he left.

Turner said she had feelings for Sonny and sometimes she didn’t hide them enough. Like when she’d kissed him in Ava’s gallery with the cops all over the place. Please understand this wasn’t easy for her to say, but his decision changed nothing for her. Her office could still bring a case against him at some point. He asked if she was giving him a heads up, but she said, no, but that could always change. If the PCPD investigated him, she’d be compromised. He said it would end her career in the DA’s office, and she said she’d worked way too hard to get where she was to throw it all away. So the only way this worked for her was if they continued to keep it a secret.

Molly ran down the stairs, and Cody said, whoa, Jane Austen. She said she just got off the phone with her publicist and she was confirmed for the convention. She was going to be on a panel about Western romances. He said she was going to be great, and she said that wasn’t even the best part. Her publicist said the organizer was so excited to have her, they would be putting them up in their own private bungalow. He said, no adoring fans? and she said, one. She was his adoring fan. He said, back atcha, and they kissed.

Tracy said Michael invoking Monica’s name was some unfair play, and he said, maybe, but they both knew it was the truth. His grandmother would let Willow move in. She said she wasn’t Monica and she had to consider the well-being of the entire family. He said he knew it was a big ask, but he was trying to save his family and couldn’t do it without her help. She said, all right. Even though she’d hate every minute of it and it was against her better judgment – she couldn’t believe she was saying these words – she’d let Willow move in. If she ended up regretting it, Michael would too, because she’d make sure of it. He said he’d expect nothing less and thanked her, but she told him not to. He said if she needed, he could break the news to Brook, but she said she would do it. She’d just explain that Wiley and Amelia were Quartermaines and they take care of their own.

Sonny told Turner, so if he said no, she’d walk out and they’d never meet like this again, and she said she was sorry, but yes. She went toward the door, and he said never seeing her again didn’t work for him. So he guessed they had to keep it a secret. She said she wouldn’t tell if he didn’t, and kissed him.

Carly asked what Britt thought of Jason’s decision, but he said he hadn’t had a chance to tell her yet. She asked what he was waiting for. Britt would be thrilled that Sonny wasn’t going to come between them anymore. Wasn’t that her complaint? He said, one of them, and she said she knew she was the other. He said, yeah, and wondered if he should ask what was going on with her and Valentin, but she said, no. He said that went both ways, and she said she was good with that. It didn’t change anything between them, did it? He said, nothing would ever change between them, and she hugged him and cried.

Jack said he heard there was quite a bit of friction between Alexis and Drew, and Alexis said, that guy was shot in the back. He was in a wheelchair for months. And he came away from that experience thinking there was nothing that he needed to change about himself. Jack said, he is who he is, sadly. He was sorry her granddaughter was caught up in this though. He might be able to help. She asked what it would cost her, and he said, just a little information. She said she had nothing about Valentin. Her cousin didn’t confide in her and she liked it that way. He said he wasn’t interested in Valentin. He was interested in the work she’d done for Jasper Jax Enterprises.

Drew came to get Scout, who was in the pool swimming. She got out, and he said she looked great. Was she ready to go? She said, they were leaving? and he said, she didn’t get his text? She said she was sorry. She missed it. She was doing laps.

Danny said, Drew may be a jerk, but he was still Scout’s father and she loved him, and Charlotte said, she’s paying a terrible price for that love. He was separating her from everyone she loved and cared about. She had to do the same thing when she was hiding out in Europe with her dad. The only reason it was bearable was because she knew it was necessary and her father gave her whatever freedom he could. He said, Drew is just making Scout’s world smaller and smaller, and she said, and using her to make Danny’s dad, his grandmother, his aunt, and him pay. He wanted to hurt them, but the person he was hurting the most was Scout. Danny said they needed something they could use against him, and she said, it’s going to have to make him look really bad.

On Monday, Willow tells Chase, this move will have a silver lining after all; Brook tells Tracy, get Michael in here right now and tell him this move isn’t happening; Michael says he’d be happy to help Josslyn, but he was going to need something from her in return; and Carly talks to Hudson.

🧼 All the Soap News Fit To Print…

First Marco, then Jack, now this. Of course, Michael could call her to come back now.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/general-hospital-comings-goings-paige-herschell-exits-as-jacinda

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/general-hospital-fans-are-outraged-over-jacindas-exit-make-it-make-sense

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/general-hospitals-paige-herschell-breaks-her-silence-on-jacindas-exit-ive-loved-every-moment

I have zero recollection of this. It must have been one of the times I was mad at the show and didn’t watch for a while. Like after Alan died. I was pretty pissed off.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/general-hospital-who-was-the-musician-anna-dated-the-wild-tale-of-eli-love

They always come back. Sometimes even after death.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/general-hospital-comings-goings-carlo-rota-reveals-sidwell-isnt-done-yet

What I said.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/did-kirsten-storms-just-tease-a-general-hospital-return-as-maxie

Seriously, we need one of those bulletin boards like the detectives have, with strings going all over the place.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/general-hospital-how-are-cody-and-serena-related

💉 A Dose Of Reality…

Below Deck Mediterranean

Captain Sandy said she’d never been in this situation. The fact they were functioning at all was a minor miracle. Nathan told the captain that he had a bruised disk and had to sit out the next charter. In her interview, the captain said she had Cooper, who was green, Eyebrows Joe, and Aesha would have to work on deck. The dinner table was set with a Vegas theme – lots of gold and feathers – and in Aesha’s interview, she said she was proud of Kat’s abilities. In Gen’s interview, she pitched a fit because Kat used bread plates instead of appetizer plates for the caviar and oysters. Oh horrors! 😱 In Cooper’s interview, he said he thought Eyebrows and Kat were a good match, and in Kat’s interview, she said she and Eyebrows had become an accidental power couple. She wasn’t hating it. Norma texted that she still had no deckhand. At the tip meeting, Captain Sandy said they’d done it with two men down and no egos involved. Clearly, she has no clue about the latter. She said Nathan didn’t know when he was coming back, so Eyebrows was acting bosun, and with Aesha on deck, Kay would be acting chief stew. I didn’t catch the total, but the tip was $1750 each, which they shared with Nathan. The crew had a day off and the captain had arranged for a beach club day and a special dinner. Eyebrows told Cooper that Nathan’s time away was like a breath of fresh air. In Gen’s interview, she said the captain had no idea about the behind scenes struggle, and whined to Aesha about the app plates. In Aesha’s interview, she said Gen didn’t express herself well, and told Gen they were in survival mode. Gen said that Kay was struggling, but Aesha said she wanted Gen to respect Kay as her boss. In her interview, Gen said she’d been a service stew on the largest sailing yacht where she even had to sign an NDA. She wondered why Aesha was accepting of slip-ups. In Aesha’s interview, she said Gen was a competent stew, but being a team player was the most important thing about being a good stew. At least don’t back stab. Yet Gen continued and talked to Kat about it. She told Kat that she must be carrying problems she’d had with past interior crews, and in Kat’s interview, she said they were working as team and Gen couldn’t be bringing in past work traumas.

The special dinner was where the dinner table was hoisted into the sky by a crane. They were literally strapped to their seats. There is no way in hell that I’d do that. And what if you have to go to the bathroom? Afterward, they went to a club, and Kat thought there was awkward energy between her and Cooper. Joy talked about the texts and pics she got from Luke, and Gen seemed jealous. In Cooper’s interview, he said he was tired of the commentary on his and Kat’s relationship. He went out on the dance floor, dancing with any woman available, and in Kat’s interview, she said Cooper was becoming a player and she wasn’t here for that. He’d been a Southern gentleman, and now he was Prince Hans-ing her. Outside, she called her friend Ishan and cried.

The next morning, Captain Sandy and Aesha dressed as pirates and woke the crew up. The captain had hired a pirate ship to take them to the beach club. At the club, they all said hi to Luke via video chat, which pissed Gen off. In Aesha’s interview, she said, the vibe in this day was f***ing weird, but a maraca breaks the tension. I’ll put that on my Amazon wish list. Kat met with Cooper and they decided to sneak around, calling it Operation Secret Vibe. The next primaries, Sandy and Bunny, said their group was picky and fabulous. Kay had a talk with Gen and they seemed copacetic, but in Gen’s interview, she said she still thought Kay didn’t know what she was doing. The captain told Eyebrows and Aesha (sounds like a vaudeville act) that they were getting a new deckhand who they knew – Max. In Max’s interview, he said, destiny has arrived. The French Revolution has begun. In Eyebrows Joe’s interview, he said he was nervous, but had it handled.

The Valley – Reunion Part 2

There was a whole thing about Lacy paying for Jesse, which she insisted she didn’t do. Whatever. Zack wept about how he might not have made it without Brittany and Kristen. I thought Brittany looked odd, kind of out of it, and has she had a face lift or something? Maybe her dress was too tight. Zack and Benji had also moved in together. There was a Luke/Kristen/post-partum discussion, and stuff about Jax visiting Janet and Jason. Apparently, they’d gotten hate for it, but Brittany said she’d thought it was a good idea at the time. Danny lashing out at Nia was a topic, and Danny said he’d been grumpy since they’d brought the baby and he lacked sleep. Jasmine told Schwartz that she was going to go out of her mind, and interrupted with her gripe that having a baby and lack of sleep was a poor excuse for being an a-hole. She was sick of hearing it. As a surprise to no one except Jasmine, the parents yelled at her that she didn’t have kids and had no business inserting her opinion. Agreed. Andy suggested all the parents get back-up nannies/sitters. Andy asked if Danny regretted perpetuating hate online after being on the receiving end, and he and Janet wept about it. Kristen also empathized, remembering her Vanderpump Rules days, and said it was too bad people had the access and ability to make online abuse happen. Again agreed. Lala talked about the mixed messages to Danny about his drinking, and Danny said after seeing himself, he was never that drunk again, which no one except him believed. Apparently, there had been an incident at Jasmine’s wedding, which Jasmine wasn’t even aware of, but then it said, to be continued… Which also means another episode of this messy bunch. <sigh>

Next Gen NYC

Most of this episode was Bravocon centric. Brooks was looked to for guidance since he’d done one before, but in his interview, he said he needed anti-anxiety medication. Rowan stayed struggling in NYC to write her script, and she scripted her day for us, telling the viewers about how she’d called each of her castmates and none were available. She started to feel some type of way, and wondered, could it be FOMO? In Ariana’s interview, she said, nobody tells us anything. They just hand you a microphone and send you out there. Ariana called Liam to give him an update, and Liam met with his friend Kendall and talked about Ariana pretty much the whole time. Next Gen NYC won the Rookie of the Year award, and in Gia’s interview, she said it definitely brought the vibes up. Charlie made a reservation at a club, but Georgia passed since she needed sleep. After the club, the group hung out in Charlie’s room until 5 am. In Ariana’s interview, she said the friendships were on a good trajectory and Charlie was changing the outlook people had of him. After the afterparty party, Shai texted Ava and asked if she wanted a nightcap. She said, cool, and he hung out in her room. He asked to kiss her, but she said, eww, no. In Shai’s interview, he said he’d caught a vibe when he got a look from her, but he was now a nervous wreck about the whole thing. Then he stupidly told Charlie. Charlie texted Ariana and said if she’d left a vape in his room as an excuse to come back and sleep over, now was the time to do so. Ugh. I’ve known guys like him and… ugh. In her interview, Ariana said she loved the attention.

In Gia’s interview, she said she’d been in the public eye since she was 8. Her family was reconciling right now on stage. We saw a clip of the Teresa/Joe/Melissa feud coming to an end, with Luis hanging on the periphery. Looks like all is right in the New Jersey world… for now. Gia went to dinner with her boyfriend Christian, who said he didn’t like being on camera all the time. They were from two different worlds and he didn’t know what the future held. In Gia’s interview, she said if her partner didn’t want her family to be in the public eye, it would be a hard decision. Ava’s mom joined her and told her, when all else fails, just smile. In Ava’s interview, she said that Shai hadn’t wanted to tell anyone about their non-moment, but she woke up to texts asking if she’d made out with him. One word: Charlie. While they were doing their panel, Shai said Brooks could learn about being more direct from Riley, and for whatever reason, this pissed Brooks off royally. It’s a flip of the coin with that kid’s sensitivity meter. In Brooks’s interview, he said he wanted to focus on his business. His parents had invested $100K in it and could seize all the goods if he didn’t pony up in time – and they would. Geez. No wonder he’s high strung. In Charlie’s interview, he admitted he was nosy and liked drama and gossip. One more reason I don’t think he should be hanging around with this group. He’s also older and a bit of a creeper IMO. On stage, Ariana had said she wouldn’t touch Charlie with a ten foot pole, but on the red eye back, she gave up her first class seat to sit with him in economy. Emira said she’d give up her first class seat for no one. Same.

In Emira’s interview, she said, what happens in Vegas this time, she’s definitely coming back to New York with us, and Ava suggested the pole was getting shorter. Gia invited everyone to Friendsgiving, and Hudson saw that Ariana and Liam were bringing a dish together. Hudson called Charlie and said Liam was going against the ground rules he’d set. Because it’s 1889. Charlie said Ariana was reluctant to play ball in front of the cameras, but they’d see how reluctant she was to play ball in front of Liam, who didn’t even know what Bravocon was.

https://pagesix.com/video/next-gen-nyc-recap-ariana-gets-cozy-with-charlie-co-stars-suspect-secret-romance

Real Housewives Of London

Panthea and her master solicitor husband Edmund went to Buckingham Palace for the Garden Party, which she made sure we knew was prestigious. Edmund said you had to do good for your community to get the invite, which was why none of the other women got one. She told him that Karen had been attacking her, but they’d made up and she wasn’t a grudge bearer. Really? Is that why everything is rehashed so many times? Edmund gave her a list of rules for the party that he’d obviously made up, like, don’t ask about Harry and Meghan, and don’t do anything without your husband’s express permission. In Edmund’s interview, he said if they weren’t rules, they should be. Juliet and Nessie played paddleball with Amanda and her instructor. Afterwards, they discussed Karen’s cryptic Instagram post about hypocrites, and Nessie took it as her reconciliation with Panthea not being real. Juliet announced that she was having a summer picnic. Caroline Stanbury met the two Juliets for lunch and had shrimp cocktail, mussels, and caviar, making me jealous. In UK Juliet’s interview, she said US Juliet had assimilated well, and US Juliet told them about her fallout with Amanda. She’d been a co-pilot with Amanda in a car rally and they became close. Then they spent a great deal of time together during the pandemic, so they were like best friends. Juliet was friends with Paris Hilton, and Amanda followed suit, but she and Paris had a parting of the ways. Juliet wanted to stay out of it, so Amanda texted Juliet saying their friendship was over because it had no value to her. Juliet felt Amanda was transactional and only wanted things for herself. UK Juliet asked if a reconciliation was possible. She believed Amanda had a come to Jesus moment and was assessing her life.

Nessie’s country home in Birmingham was being renovated and she wanted her house in London to have a family vibe. She invited Amanda to go shopping with her. At lunch, she called and asked Karen about her post, and Karen said when she and Panthea had come back from hashing it out, she thought the others would be happy, but they weren’t. They were hypocrites.

UK Juliet had a summer garden picnic, but nt the kind with a blanket and basket. It was more of a garden party affair, with beautifully decorated tables, shielded from the sun with umbrellas. US Juliet had hoped to reconcile with Amanda, but Amanda acted seriously weird, saying she didn’t know Juliet, Juliet had never been to her house, and she’d never been to Juliet’s house. This was possibly one of the oddest things I’ve ever seen a Housewife, or anyone, do. It put Mariah Carey’s I don’t know her to shame. Juliet said they’d spend copious amounts of time together during lockdown and had been best friends, but Amanda said, during lockdown, it was slim pickings, probably, obviously. Ouch and yikes. In Amanda’s interview, she said when a mutual friend came for her, Juliet didn’t have her back, so she put a lid on it with a text saying there was no value in their friendship. Juliet said people called Amanda a white witch (whatever that means), and Amanda clapped back saying Juliet had been called fake and poor, and she’d helped Juliet when her marriage was on the skids. We flashed back to Amanda saying she didn’t go with gossip. Nessie and UK Juliet had a sidebar with US Juliet, who was stunned. A couple of husbands at another table discussed the loud exchange, one saying, it was a surge of excitement, wasn’t it? and another saying he’d missed what all the excitement was about. Amanda and Karen started to argue across Amanda who was sitting between them.  

US Juliet told her husband Gregor about how Amanda had acted and how she’d trashed their marriage. Amanda whined to Karen that it had been hard to say things she didn’t want to, and Karen told her husband Jeremy about what happened at the picnic. Jeremy hadn’t been able to make it, and Panthea had said he wasn’t there because he couldn’t stand Karen. Jeremy found this amusing and I didn’t get that vibe at all. US Juliet met with Panthea, Nessie, and UK Juliet, and they rehashed the picnic. US Juliet told them that Amanda had milked her for exposure of her skincare line on social media, and UK Juliet said she was on US Juliet’s side because she’d known her longer, but still wanted to hear Amanda’s side.

UK Juliet met with Amanda, along with their respective dogs, white labrador Portia and poodle Monty. It all started off good, but once the picnic was brought up, it lit Amanda up when UK Juliet suggested she might be in the wrong. She called Amanda a bad hostess and dismissed her like she was the hired help. Clearly, Amanda is imbalanced, but this was probably one of the best Housewives episodes I’ve ever seen. No throwing wine glasses or Solo cups, just pure high-end cattiness.

Finally, I found this:

Duke von Lego. I love it.

https://www.bravotv.com/ladies-of-london/unleashed/juliet-angus-puppy-duke-von-lego

Real Housewives Of Orange County

The group planned a trip to Vegas, and Shannon prepped by getting some kind of spa wrap that did nothing to reduce her waistline. In Shannon’s interview, she said she’d like a body like Jenn. I suggested Sannon go to the gyn and not waste money on ineffective treatments. Gina and Fancy Pants Heather took Carmella out and said she needed to find her own voice. Shannon kept trying to speak for her. In Carmella’s interview, she said it had been four years since Danny’s infidelity, and she still had a wall of resentment, but wanted to work it out. He claimed he was a different person, and she told him that she was going to Vegas to cheat so he knew how it felt. Touché. Vicki became a Mexican citizen, and Fancy Pants went to lunch with her mom, Vicki, and Shannon. In her interview, Carmella said she was afraid to fly and sometimes struggled to even get out of the house. Gina and Emily hashed things out, and discussed Fancy Pants having a problem with them rooming together. She’d claimed the women got triggered by it. What are we, 12? Do we have to get randomly paired up so we mingle? If these women don’t know each other by now, they never will, and frankly, it seemed like Fancy Pants was the only one triggered. Emily said she thought Fancy Pants was just worried about what they were saying. In Gina’s interview, she said she thought Heather wanted a buddy, but she made them not want to be her buddy. When they got to Vegas, Shannon bitched about her room being near the elevator, but it wasn’t so much because of the noise, which would be understandable. She insisted the elevators were emitting some sort of electrical beams of anti-matter or something.  Gina told Fancy Pants that she didn’t want to be micromanaged on trips, and in Heather’s interview, she said, every single person felt the same way about the roomies. Um… no, they didn’t. Jenn finally offered to swap rooms with Shannon just to get her to shut up. The women went to a showgirl seminar where they put on costumes and learned a basic dance. I could just imagine me in one of those headdresses. I’d be I Love Lucy all over the place.

Random Reality Items

I’d be getting off at the next stop.

https://extratv.com/2026/08/11/rhoc-s-shannon-beador-on-exhausting-journey-with-tamra-judge-exclusive

At last, they found their way back to the love bubble.

Hey, I remember that show.

👀 Last Weekend’s Watch…

The Last House. Netflix. No doubt influenced by the COVID lockdown, this film tells the story of a family kept in forced isolation without knowing the reason why. On the day a Noah-like rain begins, they find that they’re literally stuck in their house. The doors and windows have been sealed shut in some way, and any attempt to force their way out is a futile effort. For a while, it’s all fun and games until it isn’t. Food begins to dwindle, yet they rise to the task, creating a garden from vegetable scraps and seeds. Years go by and the rain and captivity continue until the unknown entity holding them prisoner is finally revealed. Then a different kind of battle begins. I was there for this most of the way through. The acting was quality and I appreciated the nod to H.P. Lovecraft and I was prepared for the one downer. SPOILER: The dog dies. After googling for this information, I was ready and fast forwarded. I was all about this crazy rain and this family’s personal lockdown hell, until they took me to the cornfield toward the end. It wasn’t all bad, but not being a fan of surprise corn, I was a little let down.

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/the-last-house-review-greta-lee-wagner-moura-netflix-1236666386

Admittedly, this is genius.

https://www.the-independent.com/arts-entertainment/films/news/the-last-house-billboard-sunset-blvd-la-netflix-b3029420.html

https://deadline.com/2026/08/man-living-in-billboard-netflix-1237028274

A Toxic Love Story. Netflix. This falls under the crazy but true category. Ian and Angela fall in love, move in together, marry, and have kids. Angela is terrorized by Michelle, Ian’s ex, or so we think. What follows is a series of twists and turns so crazy, you’d swear it must be made up. The recreations make it much better than Netflix’s Worst series, and there are a lot of interviews. It’s probably one of the most bizarre true crime stories I’ve heard.

https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/a-toxic-love-story-netflix-true-crime-review

The Rocky Horror Show. Broadway, Studio 54. While I’ve included the occasional link about something on Broadway, I’ve never included a show I’ve seen. I used to go more often, but the prices are astronomical now, so it’s become a special occasion. A friend from high school invited me to go with a few other people. Long story short, I’m in a book about the film, so he thought it was only natural we see it. Because of a cancellation, we had great seats in the center of the mezzanine. I already knew it was slightly different than the film and had seen a little theater production in New Jersey. It had been adequate, and at times very good. The Narrator was played by a woman who was all straightlaced and rigid at the beginning, losing her inhibitions – and clothing – throughout the play, which totally worked. I’d found Frankie lacking though. No one will ever be Tim Curry – although props to Laverne Cox who did the live TV version – but this guy was miles away from the character’s appeal to both men and women.

That being said, the Broadway show was everything. Starting with the lobby. Even that was atmospheric, decorated with tiny green lights and skeletons in costume. The bar had specialty drinks, and the décor was everywhere, including the seat boxes on the sides, which also housed the orchestra. The cast was diverse perfection. Casting Rachel Dratch as the narrator was a brilliant move. She made it her own, and her own was very, very funny. The actors were all amazing, and Luke Evans as Dr. Frank-N-Furter was beyond my hopes. He was sizzling hot, with a voice to match Curry’s, and could dance his ass off in fishnets and heels. Since fans can’t seem to help themselves, there were moments when audience members shouted the same retorts they would have during the film. I’d read that this was a little tough on the cast at first, but you wouldn’t have known it. Whether it was Brad, Janet, or the Narrator, they fielded the comments like champs, actually incorporating them into the narrative. Frankie even egged on the audience when he told us to shiver with antici… pation. The sets were incredibly detailed and the costumes, oh, the costumes. They were absolutely gorgeous and I want Columbia’s nurse outfit stat. It was easy to suspend disbelief for the special effect, and I even teared up a few times because, nostalgia.

You could tell many audience members had seen this repeatedly, and while it’s mind boggling that they can afford it, I could see why. It was a rare moment that I stopped smiling, like during Evans’s heartfelt and exquisite rendition of I’m Going Home. This was after he had us dying laughing when he made his entrance to the Floor Show by coming down from the ceiling on a glittery silver crescent moon, ironically much like the one the old Studio 54 used, minus the coke spoon. This show was a roller coaster ride in the best way, and couldn’t have better achieved carrying forward the story’s theme of Don’t Dream It, Be It.

🍾 All the Wives All the Time…

I’ve only seen the first episode, but even if it ends up being a real stinker, it’s fun to see all the Ghosts of Housewives Past.

https://people.com/the-real-housewives-ultimate-girls-trip-roaring-20th-cast-then-and-now-12033215

https://www.bravotv.com/the-daily-dish/rhugt-roaring-20th-every-housewife-appearing-on-season-6

🔮 Watch Of the Future…

They’re back and saltier than ever. Premiering September 16th.

https://www.bravotv.com/the-daily-dish/rhoslc-season-7-everything-to-know

I may actually go to the cinema to see this. I love dinosaurs and I don’t mind dumb fun.

https://ew.com/what-critics-are-saying-about-the-end-of-oak-street-12059776

🐕 How Sweet the Sound…

🐶 Apparently, Facebook is good for something besides time wasting.

https://people.com/dog-missing-for-more-than-8-months-reunites-with-his-owner-thanks-to-facebook-12059491

🐎 He must have read about the dog.

https://people.com/rare-horse-stolen-as-foal-reunited-with-owner-8-years-later-12059125

🐾 Not gone as long, but glad to be found.

https://people.com/dog-rescued-from-storm-drain-totally-transforms-when-reunited-with-her-family-12058960

🧧 Quotes of the Week

Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage. – Anaïs Nin

In oneself lies the whole world and if you know how to look and learn, the door is there and the key is in your hand. Nobody on earth can give you either the key or the door to open, except yourself.Jiddu Krishnamurti

The best way to predict the future is to create it. – Peter Drucker

Chop your own wood and it will warm you twice. – Henry Ford

I hope I shall possess firmness and virtue enough to maintain what I consider the most enviable of all titles, the character of an honest man. – George Washington

Be so good they can’t ignore you. – Steve Martin

It’s very difficult to operate women’s clothes. – Colin Dooley, Baylen Out Loud

🌹 The Sunday Of Summer…

Until next time, stay safe; stay embracing slow moments; and stay not focusing on what you don’t have and start appreciating what you do have.

Video > All Summer Long (Remastered 2007)

August 7, 2026 – GH Weekdays, Drew and Ava Become Allies, Soap Suds, This Week In Reality, Weekend Watching, Possible Reunion, All About the Dog, A Dozen Minus Six Quotes & Winds

Standard

What I Watched Today

(Nada enchilada summer – condensed because life is short & summer should be fun)

General Hospital

Monday:

Ric said, if Dante was giving Elizabeth pointers, he could see why they were on a losing streak.

Brook met with Simon, and he said Trina and Gio were extremely good. He had big plans for them.

While jogging in the park, Josslyn got a text from Trina asking if she could join them for game night, but Josslyn said she couldn’t make it and continued on.

Trina told the others that Josslyn was hung up at work, and she and Gio won a board game against Emma and Kai. Trina said it was enough they were keeping her mind off her dad’s trial. They didn’t have to let her win too.

Anna saw Valentin with Carly at the MetroCourt Gardens, and Peter told her that it looked like Valentin may be a bit too tied up to run to her rescue. She started to leave, when she literally ran into a waiter who dropped his tray, and Carly and Valentin saw her.

Sonny said he didn’t understand why Jason couldn’t work for him anymore. Was it because of Ric? Jason said, no. It’s because of me.

Ric told Dante that he was the new pitcher for Corinthos Coffee, when Dante’s phone rang and he stepped away. Ric asked if Elizabeth wanted to go for a bite, but she said she had to be in early and was heading home. She and Ric made a date for Wednesday, and he said Sonny was keeping him busy right now. He didn’t want to create a conflict of interest. He left and Elizabeth said it had been awkward, and Dante said after dealing with his son, he knew more about conflicts of interest than he wanted to.

Emma said they weren’t letting her win, and Trina said they didn’t have to pretend the trial wasn’t happening. Her dad didn’t want her there. Kai said, even if it went her dad’s way, it would be hard to watch, and Trina said it would be better for her parents if she wasn’t there, but staying away seemed wrong.

Nina asked if Jack thought she had an agenda, and he said no, but he was expecting an important phone call. He said he didn’t have an agenda either, but she said she begged to differ.

Sonny asked if Jason needed a break, but Jason said he needed to be done for good. Sonny asked for more of an explanation, and Jason told him about having Cullum in his crosshairs the night he’d been arrested. Sonny said Jason had Cullum in his sight and didn’t kill him?

Anna said, that was mortifying, but Carly said worse had happened there and no one noticed anyway. Anna said they had, and Valentin invited her to join them. Anna hesitated, but Carly insisted, so Anna sat down. She asked if they were celebrating something, and Carly said Valentin had good news. Valentin said his assets had been unfrozen, and Anna said he’d just gotten his life back and he was throwing it all away? You fool.

Simon said Gio was the stuff of legends, but where did Brook find Trina? She said she’d first seen Trina perform at the Nurses Ball, and he asked why she’d waited so long. She said, Trina had been in school, but recently graduated. She had also been dealing with difficult family issues and Brook thought Trina deserved something good in her life. He asked where they were, and Brook said they were on their way.

Trina said what she needed to focus on was her strategy and they prepared to play again, when Gio’s phone rang. Brook said she was at the Surf Lodge with Simon. Where were they? Gio said he forgot, and she said they had to get there.

Jason said Brennan kept getting in the way and he wasn’t killing Brennan to take Cullum out. He’d just told Danny that he was leaving town with Britt and promised to go to his basketball game, but he only made it to the parking lot when Dante showed up with a warrant for his arrest from the WSB.

Josslyn got a cramp and stopped running. She flashed back to getting shot at Windymere and the aftermath. She continued on.

Anna asked if Valentin was looking to get arrested again. The WSB didn’t unfreeze his assets out of the goodness of their heart. He must have extorted them in some way. He said he’d made a deal and it was completely legal. He’d had something Jack wanted and offered it to him in exchange for his assets. Anna said the WSB never let you go, but Carly said she didn’t believe that. Valentin was living proof that someone could get out and she thought Josslyn would too. Anna said she thought Carly was wrong.

Trina said she was sorry, but they had to leave, and Gio suggested Emma and Kai come with them. Kai said he was in, but Emma said she couldn’t go. Go and be charming. They left.

Jason told Sonny that Britt was already at the pier waiting for him and he knew Cullum must be onto them. He gave Dante his gun, when Alexis arrived with Danny for the game he’d promised to see. Instead, his son saw him assault Dante and take off. He got to the pier, Britt was unconscious, and Cullum was about to kill her. He fought with Cullum and Cullum’s gun went flying, but Cullum pulled out a steel baton and was about to take his head off. Then he heard the gunshot and Cullum went down. That’s when he saw Rocco. Rocco had picked up Cullum’s gun and shot a WSB agent in the back for him and Britt. He’d never forget the look on Rocco’s face. Two things came into his head. Rocco couldn’t take the fall for this and it could have been his son holding the gun.

Dante told Elizabeth that he’d been bringing Anna up to speed and she’d discovered some evidence was missing. He took responsibility because it had happened on his watch, but Anna didn’t want to know any details. Elizabeth said that was because Anna trusted him, and he said he was relieved Elizabeth wouldn’t face backlash for protecting Rocco. She said he didn’t have to protect her. It had been her decision to protect Rocco. She thought it was the right thing to do then and she still did. He said he wasn’t happy that he’d used the power of his office for personal gain.

Nina said she thought Jack protecting Willow because she was helping the WSB in congress was an agenda, but he said it had nothing to do with his interest in her. He intended to keep it that way. He’d learned his lesson when things went so wrong with Carly. She said if he didn’t want things to go wrong with her, never compare her to Carly again. He said, sorry, and kissed her, when Josslyn walked in.

Anna told Carly that she was sorry for what Jack had done to Josslyn. She’d known Josslyn was WSB, but couldn’t say anything, so she did everything she could to protect her from the sidelines. That’s why she’d sent Jason to find her. She knew it was difficult for Carly to hear that she knew first, but she’d tried every tactic she could think of to get Jack to tell Carly. He’d refused. If she’d known Josslyn was considering the WSB, she would have done everything in her power to dissuade her.

Jason told Sonny that he told Nathan, Cassius, whatever to get Rocco out of there. He didn’t even have time to take a breath, when Dante was there and he let Dante take him in. Brennan was at the PCPD, said the WSB was taking him in, and that’s all he needed to know. They put him in shackles and forced him in the back of a transport van. Then Danny was there pounding on the door, saying what they were doing was wrong, and he wondered what the hell he’d done to his kid. Danny’s mom was dead and he’d be going to prison if he was lucky. Something broke inside of him and he promised himself he’d do better. He wouldn’t do that to his son again. Sonny said Sidwell was gone and Cullum was dead now, and Jason said he’d thought of that, but if he continued to work for Sonny, Sonny’s security would be his priority and not Danny. Sonny said he could make changes, but Jason said it wouldn’t be fair to Sonny when he couldn’t do the things he used to. He couldn’t kill for Sonny again. He had to stop before Danny wanted to follow in his footsteps. Sonny said Danny already had.

Dante told Elizabeth that he’d promised himself he’d never compromise his career for someone he loved again, but at the first opportunity, he couldn’t hold himself to it. What kind of cop was he? He couldn’t take the chance of Cullum getting his hands on the evidence. Elizabeth said he’d made the right call. He had to choose between following the letter of the law and protecting his child and he’d made the right choice. Dante said he was grateful that he could talk to her about this. She was the only one who had told him the truth.

Trina, Gio, and Kai arrived at the Surf Lodge, and Simon said now they could get to know each other better before they started working together. He asked who Kai was, and Kai said he was Trina’s boyfriend. He held out his hand, but Simon didn’t take it and said they had another problem.

Nina wondered what Josslyn was doing there, and Jack said she was a WSB agent. Nina asked, since when? and Josslyn asked if she should come back, but Nina said she was on her way out. She asked Jack to call her when he was free, and left. Jack said he was expecting a call from a Cairo based agent and wanted Josslyn to be a part of it, but she said she thought they had business closer to home to discuss. He was making himself vulnerable to a huge liability – Nina Reeves.

Anna told Carly that the WSB targeted the young who were idealists. That’s why she’d kept a close eye on Emma to keep her out of their reach. Carly thanked her for what she’d done for Josslyn. She believed Josslyn would wake up one day and realize it wasn’t the life for her, but also knew Anna believed Josslyn couldn’t just walk away. Anna and Valentin exchanged looks, and Anna said Carly was right. If Valentin could do it, she hoped it boded well for Carly’s daughter. Valentin said he hoped the same for Anna, and Anna said she’d taken up too much of their time already, and left. Carly said Anna had shown the kind of compassion no one had shown for Josslyn, and Valentin said it was very Anna, but something else was going on.

Simon stepped away with Brook, and Kai wondered if he’d done something to offend Simon. Maybe he should go. Trina said Kai was her boyfriend and a big part of her life. If Simon didn’t like it, that was his problem. Gio said, whatever it was, his mom would handle it.

Simon said he’d thought Gio and Trina were a couple, but Brook said they were just good friends. She was sorry if he’d gotten the wrong impression. He said he wished he’d gotten a heads up. They’d developed a whole marketing strategy around them being young, beautiful, and in love. If they’d gotten there in time, he could have laid out their whole plan of action. Now he had to catch a flight. Brook asked why she hadn’t heard about this before, but he said she was hearing about it now. Just get them on board.

Anna came home and asked where Emma’s friends were, and Emma said Trina and Gio had to go to the Surf Lodge and Kai went with them. She thought she’d clean up a little bit. Anna said she could tolerate a bit of mess, but Emma said she wanted to spend some time with her. She thought they could watch a movie and stuff their faces with some popcorn. Anna said that sounded good, and Emma asked how her day was. Anna said she ran into Valentin and Carly at the MetroCourt and they’d talked about Josslyn. Emma said they’d invited Josslyn, but she had work, which made sense since the WSB wasn’t exactly a 9 to 5 job. She couldn’t imagine dedicating her entire life to that. Anna said she was happy to hear Emma say that. When Emma was a little girl, she said she wanted to be a spy. Emma said she’d wanted to be like her hero – Anna, and they hugged.

Carly told Valentin that Anna seemed okay to her, considering everything she’d been through. Did she say something that made him worry? Valentin said Anna had been through hell and was back again. It was going to be a while before she could put Faison’s ghost to rest. Nina came in, and Valentin went over to her. He said he owed her a big thanks. He had access to his money again and thought it was all thanks to her. She said she thought he meant the WSB, but he said Jack would rather die than give him anything. He thought it was because of her and he owed her, so he was giving her a warning. If she continued her association with Jack, it would cost her.

Josslyn asked how much Jack knew about Nina, and he said he hadn’t had time to perform a full background check. She said let her give him some highlights. Nina had let her family believe Sonny was dead for months and let Sonny, who was suffering from a head injury, believe he was somebody else. Jack said, that’s enough.

Sonny told Jason that Danny was looking for retribution. Danny thought he could get it from him, but he turned Danny down. He knew Jason wouldn’t want Danny in this life anymore than he’d want his own children there. Jason thanked him for that and said that he was telling Danny, do as I say, not as I do, and it wasn’t right. It wasn’t fair. In a few years, Danny would be on his own and it was his last chance to be a father to him before Danny didn’t need him anymore. Sonny said, so he was out? and Jason sighed and said he was out. Sonny asked what was next. Was he still living at the Quartermaines? Jason said when he left that place years ago, he wanted nothing to do with them. But Sonny gave him a life and a purpose. Sonny taught him so much. Sonny became his friend and the brother he needed and wanted. He just wanted Sonny to know how grateful he was.

Elizabeth said she had to get going, and Dante said he did too. She said when she needed a softball coach, he’d be her first call, and he said, deal. He helped her up and Ric watched from a distance.

Jack said he wasn’t interested in discussing Nina’s past and less interested in discussing his personal life with Josslyn, but she said she was just trying to be helpful. He said he was having a hard time believing that, and she said she hadn’t agreed with all the decisions he’d made along the way, but now that the dust settled, she could see he’d done everything he could to keep people safe. If he wanted to keep doing that, do not get derailed by Nina. He said he was going to do her a favor. He was going to remember that she valued their working relationship and forget everything else she said. He learned a long time ago that it was a bad idea to have a personal life, but if you did have one, it had to be kept separate from what mattered most – your work.

Valentin said he didn’t know why anyone would want to spend time with Jack, but it was obvious the reason Jack had grown attached to Nina was because she was his ex-wife. He wasn’t saying it to be cruel. He just didn’t want to see her get hurt. She thanked him and said he’d just reminded her why they were no longer together. She left, and Carly said, that was fun. He said he was just trying to keep her on her toes, and they kissed.

Emma told Anna that she just remembered she’d finished the popcorn and a movie wasn’t a movie without it. She’d be back in ten. She left, and Peter said Anna heard her granddaughter. Anna was her hero. Emma had her whole life ahead of her and Anna must protect her. She said Valentin was going to help her, but he said Valentin had moved on. She was in his rearview. He wasn’t going to save her or Emma. No one would. Then Britt would use Emma to get to her. She said she couldn’t let that happen, and he said, good, because she was the only one who could stop Britt.

Sonny said Jason didn’t have to ask for his blessing. Jason had always had his back. Jason had a brother in him for years and always would. Nothing could change that. They both blinked back tears, hugged, and Jason left. He and Sonny looked at each other through the window, Jason nodded, and moved on.

Brook told Gio and Trina that somehow, Simon got the impression that they were a couple and wanted to promote them that way. It was a major part of the marketing plan. Trina said, he wanted them to fake a romance? and Kai said it seemed like a big ask. Gio said, no. They weren’t doing that. One, it was a lie, and two, it had nothing to do with music. Trina agreed, and Gio said it was a good thing Brook got them a 90-day out, sine they were going to take that, but Brook said they didn’t have to. Simon was under the wrong impression and built a narrative around it. They just had to give him time to come up with a new plan. She could handle it. Trina said she hoped Brook was right. She was really upset about this deal and didn’t want to lose it because of a misunderstanding. Brook said she had this.

We saw the shrine to Trina and then someone’s computer going through photos of her. A photo came up with her and Kai, and the mystery person erased Kai from the photo.

Tuesday:

Michael went to Carly’s and Josslyn was there as a surprise. Carly said Josslyn had another surprise for him, and Josslyn said she’d joined the WSB. Michael said, congratulations.

At Curtis’s office, Martin said he had a witness that might help their case. Drew walked in.

At the MetroCourt Gardens, Nina, Willow, and Obrecht toasted to Willow’s emancipation from Drew. Obrecht wondered if the celebration wasn’t premature, since the divorce wasn’t final, but Willow said Drew was just as eager to end their marriage as she was. Obrecht thought it was strange and that there was more to the story.

Ava invited Trina to breakfast and gave her a graduation present. She handed Trina a folder that said Jerome-Robinson Gallery, and said she’d outlined a plan to make Trina her partner… eventually. Trina said it was an incredible offer, but she couldn’t accept it.

Brook paced and worried that something would happen to mess up the adoption, but Chase said Alexis probably just hit rush hour traffic. Brook was concerned that the birth father changed his mind, and Olivia told her to relax. The doorbell rang, and Gio said he’d get it. They needed to chill. Alexis said the traffic had held her up. As soon as they signed the papers, Phoebe was officially theirs.

Oslo, Norway. Ethan wondered where his room service was, when there was a knock at his door. It was Hudson, who asked, where is she?

Carly said Josslyn didn’t have a desk job, and Michael said, she was a field agent? Josslyn said, yeah, and Carly said, an undercover field agent. Carly said Josslyn hadn’t told her either or the moss bowl , and Josslyn said she couldn’t tell anyone. She was sorry she had to lie. Michael said it was part of the job, but Carly was annoyed that he was okay with it. She was hoping he’d talk Josslyn out of it, but he said he wasn’t going to do that.

Curtis said he heard Drew was up and about, and told Martin that Drew would never help him. Drew admitted he’d done Curtis wrong and said he was truly sorry.

Trina told Ava, months ago, this would have been her dream job, but now she had a new dream.

Olivia took Phoebe and left with Ned, and Alexis said it was a closed and private adoption. Brook wondered if Phoebe would resent them signing away her only chance to know her father.

Ethan said, get out, and Hudson asked if that was any way to treat an old friend. Ethan said room service was there, and when Hudson turned, he punched him, but Hudson got the better of Ethan, grabbing his throat. He asked if Ethan was ready to cooperate.

Chase said it was what Phoebe’s father wanted, and Alexis said, he was adamant that he remain anonymous. Phoebe would never know her birth father. Brook said it wasn’t ideal, but she’d take it.

Hudson asked where Delilah was, and Ethan said she was dead. Hudson said Ethan was lying, and Ethan said he wasn’t there, but apparently, there was a complication with Delilah’s pregnancy. She passed out at a park and was rushed to the ER, but they couldn’t save her. He was sorry, but the baby was gone too.

Ava said, a recording contract? and Trina said it wasn’t something she’d planned. It just kind of fell in her lap. Ava said Trina deserved this and she couldn’t wait for the whole world to see what a shining star Trina was. Trina said the record exec wanted her and Gio in the studio as soon as possible, and Ava asked if she had to quit her day job. Trina asked if she could work part-time, and Ava said Trina should keep a steady source of income until she hit it big. Trina thanked her and said she couldn’t ask for a better mentor. Ava said she’d stopped thinking of Trina as a mentee a long time ago. Trina was her friend and she was happy for her.

Curtis told Drew, thanks for stopping by (ha-ha! here’s your hat, what’s your hurry), but Martin said he was advising Curtis to listen. Curtis told Drew to say what he had to say, and Drew said, blah-blah-blah, he’d reflected on his mistakes and he had regrets about the people he’d hurt… some of the people. Curtis was at the top of the list, since they’d been friends, and he was hoping to make amends. The prosecution had asked him to testify at Curtis’s trial. They thought he could help their case, but instead, he was going to help Curtis.

Willow told Obrecht that there was no story. She and Drew just decided they didn’t want to be married anymore. Obrecht said the man was obsessed with Willow, with controlling her, and keeping her from others. She found it impossible to believe Drew would let Willow go without a fight. Nina said they shouldn’t pry. Why didn’t they just let Willow move on with her life? Obrecht asked if Drew would be taking back his seat in congress, and Willow said congressional seats couldn’t be temporarily delegated, so she got to stay in office until the next election. Obrecht wondered if Drew would run against her, but Willow said she didn’t think he wanted to take on something with that much stress. Nina said Drew had destroyed his constituents’ trust in him and Willow was doing a fantastic job. Willow said the best part was that she was finally free and could still support herself and her kids. Now she just needed to find a new place to live. They couldn’t stay with Nina forever. Nina said she loved having them there, but Willow said they really needed a place of their own, especially if Wiley and Amelia would be living with her full-time. Nina asked how she got Michael to agree to that, and Willow said she hadn’t yet, but soon he wouldn’t have a say in the matter.

Michael asked if Josslyn liked being an agent, and she said she found it very fulfilling. He told Carly that he got that Josslyn had a dangerous job, but if it was what she wanted to do, they had no choice but to support her. Carly said this wasn’t how she thought this was going to go. She got that Michael and Josslyn had their own relationship and wouldn’t tell them how to feel… Josslyn asked if that meant Carly accepted her career choice, but Carly said, no. Michael said, come on, but Josslyn said Carly had the right to feel the way she felt. Michael said, as dangerous as it was, Josslyn was still breathing, and Josslyn told him that she’d gotten shot. He asked when it happened, and she said, about a month ago. He wondered why he was just hearing about it, and Carly said, welcome to her world. Josslyn said she hadn’t been cleared to say anything until recently, and Michael said he’d been so caught up in his own problems, that he’d let them both down.

Willow said she had a meeting scheduled with Commissioner Devane and they were going to discuss all the missteps that took place in Anna’s absence, including her trial. Nina wondered if it was wise, and Willow said Drew’s shooter hadn’t been caught and needed to be brought to justice. Obrecht asked if she still thought Michael was responsible, and Willow said, Dante was obviously protecting his brother. Now that Anna was back, she’d be unbiased. Obrecht asked if Anna wasn’t the one who had Willow arrested, but Willow said she was exonerated. Obrecht said she’d thought Willow was merely acquitted, but Willow said, same thing. Obrecht said, hardly. And as a lawmaker, she should know the difference. Willow said what she did know was that she couldn’t be tried again thanks to double jeopardy, and Nina said she was sure Anna had more pressing cases on her plate. Willow said, then she’d point out that it was in the best interest of the PCPD and their federal funding to reopen the investigation.

Curtis wondered how Drew’s testimony could possibly help him, and Martin said they had to convince the jury of Curtis’s absolute belief that Isaiah was involved in his accident. The ADA would offer up Willow as the other driver involved, which was based on statements made by Lucy Coe and Drew. Drew said Detective Fitzpatrick had come to question him and inferred he’d tried to tell him that Willow was on Route 91 at the time of the accident. He’d simply explain that Fitzpatrick misunderstood. Curtis asked if that was the truth, and Drew said he’d testify that Willow was home at the time of the accident. Not for her sake, but for Curtis’s. He owed Curtis. He realized it wouldn’t make up for everything he’d done, but he was hoping it was a start.

Trina thanked Ava for letting her stay on part-time, and Ava said Trina could repay her with front row seats to her first stadium tour. Trina said, from her lips, and Ava asked how she felt about all this. Trina said she was trying not to get carried away, since tons of artists never went anywhere, but Ava said she was confident Trina wouldn’t be one of them. But if Trina decided it wasn’t for her, they could revisit the idea of a partnership anytime. Trina thanked her and asked about Ava and Ethan, but Ava said there was no her and Ethan.

Hudson said this was Ethan’s fault. Delilah wouldn’t have run off if it wasn’t for him. He’d put ideas in her head. Ethan said, she was scared. He was trying to be a good friend. If he’d known what was going to happen, he would have… Hudson said, not stuck his nose where it didn’t belong? What was he supposed to do now? Ethan said, if it helped, Delilah loved that baby with all her heart, and Hudson punched him again.

Nina said Willow and Michael just worked out a decent custody situation, but Willow said, the second Michael heard Drew recovered, he’d charged over to demand full custody. Obrecht said it was no secret how Michael felt about his children being around Drew or that he was right to feel that way, and Nina asked if he knew about the divorce. Willow said he did, and she’d insisted they share custody 50/50, but he found it unreasonable, and Nina said maybe he was waiting for the divorce to be final because he was worried they’d reconcile. Willow said Michael was waiting for the right moment to pounce and take her children away for good. She needed to act first. Nina asked if the best move was to reopen Drew’s shooting. What if Anna found evidence that pointed to someone else other than Michael? Willow said it was a chance she had to take for her children, but Obrecht said it wasn’t. Willow asked what else Obrecht suggested she do, and Obrecht said, listen to your mutter. Anna wouldn’t take kindly to political pressure. Willow said Anna didn’t have to like it. She just had to accept it. Obrecht said, Willow was using her office to leverage others into doing her bidding like Drew did? but Willow said she wasn’t doing what Drew did. He used his position to hurt people. She was doing this… Obrecht said, for her children. She kept saying that, but from personal experience, when it came to Anna Devane, she would highly advise Willow not to poke that bear.

Curtis said absolutely everything was on the line, and Martin said they were all aware of what the stakes were. Curtis said, then why was Martin asking him to trust the man who did everything to destroy him? but Martin said he wasn’t asking Curtis to trust Drew. The prosecution was going to put him on the stand anyway. After his testimony, Curtis could judge whether or not he was being sincere. Drew said he was just there to give Curtis a heads up as to his intentions and what he was going to say. And to apologize in person. Curtis said he was still waiting for the quid pro quo. The idea that Drew would help him out of the goodness of his heart or to make amends, he didn’t buy it. What was this help going to cost him?

In the foyer, Ned said, his grandson’s first record deal. He knew this day would come. Olivia asked if he was going to try and take credit for this, and Ned asked if he could help it that the musical chain ran through his side of the family. Gio said there was no denying it, but it was all Brook, and Olivia said it was all Gio and his talent. Maybe Eddie Maine could give him some tips. Ned said his only advice to Gio was to listen to his mother and maybe invest in a pair of black leather pants, and Olivia asked if he still had a pair of those hanging around. Ned said he did. They were tight now. She said maybe he could bring them out of retirement for their next date night, and Gio covered Phoebe’s ears. Alexis came out and said Brook and Chase would like them to come into the living room, and they went in. Ned handed Phoebe to Brook, and Chase said, it’s official. Brook said she and Chase were the proud parents of Phoebe Jacqueline Chase.

Trina said, Ethan abandoned Ava at the pool? and Ava said, yep. One second, he was there going to get a refill and… gone. She’d left messages and sent texts. Not a word. Trina said that was so strange. She thought Ethan was really into Ava. Ava said so did she. He’d even insisted it wasn’t a fling and said he felt they had a real connection. He wanted to see where it would go. She guessed it was all just an act. Trina asked if Ava thought he’d been running a scam on her, and Ava said she did, but for the life of her, she couldn’t figure out the angle. There had been no suspicious activity with her credit cards or bank accounts. Trina said maybe he’d been telling her the truth about how he felt, and Ava said, then where was he? Either way, she thought she’d dodged a bullet. Trina got a call from Simon and stepped away to take it, and Ava checked her phone.

Ethan and Hudson fought, and Hudson said Ethan was a thief. Ethan had stolen from him. Ethan went down, and Hudson gave him a kick. He said if he found out Ethan was lying to him, he’d come back and finish the job. And it wouldn’t end with Ethan. His mother, his sisters, they’d pay first. And he’d make sure Ethan saw it.

Carly said Michael’s focus should be on his kids, and Josslyn said it wasn’t his job to take care of her. He needed to look out for Wiley and Amelia. Michael said he should have been looking out for both of them, but Carly said they didn’t need a big, strong man to take care of them. They had the moss bowl . Josslyn said they could take care of their own problems, and Michael said, but they were family. Family looked out for each other, and this part of the family got shot. Josslyn said, this part of the family fixed it and she found it very fulfilling. He needed to protect his children from Willow. Carly said, especially now that Drew was back on his feet, and Josslyn said, he was? Carly said, she didn’t know? So much for working at an intelligence agency. Michael said Drew and Willow were getting divorced. He used to pray this would happen, but now she’d made his situation even worse.

Willow thanked Nina and Obrecht for their advice, but said she couldn’t just sit back and let Michael take her children. She needed to be proactive. Nina said she’d just managed to extricate herself from Drew. Take the win. Take some time to regroup. If she rushed into this right now, she was just asking for trouble. Willow said she no longer had to worry about Drew, which meant she could focus on securing her future with Wiley and Amelia, and she would. Nina excused herself to go to the ladies room and left. Obrecht said Willow had upset Nina and needed to listen to her now. She couldn’t stop Willow from doing what she felt she must for her children, but she urged Willow to leave Nina out of it.

Drew said what he wanted in return was absolutely nothing, and Curtis asked if Drew expected him to believe he didn’t have an ulterior motive. Drew said he was forced to sit there helpless and watch as Willow handed Scout over to Alexis. There was no pain quite like that. He knew Alexis loved Scout and couldn’t stand him. He could just imagine the things Alexis told Scout about him. If Curtis went to prison, the same thing would happen to his newborn son. He would lose his son and Drew didn’t wish that pain on anyone, especially someone he used to consider a friend. So whether Curtis liked it or not, he was going to side with him at his trial, and he didn’t want anything in return. Drew left.

Alexis said, Phoebe’s father wrote a letter to her for her to read when she was older. He wanted her to know more about Delilah. Ned asked if he wrote anything about himself, but she said she didn’t read it. And neither should they. Brook said, of course (🍷) not, and Alexis said, to prevent curiosity from getting the best of them, the birth father made it clear that this letter was only about Delilah. Chase said they’d keep it somewhere safe, and Alexis said the next thing they needed to do was go down to the courthouse and show the judge the adoption papers. Brook said they would, and Alexis said her work was done there. Congratulations. Brook and Chase walked Alexis to the door, and Chase thanked her again for all her help. Brook wondered if they could ask her another favor. If Phoebe’s birth father reached out and asked her for money, just let them know and they pay it. No questions asked. Alexis said that wouldn’t be necessary, but Chase said, just in case. They’d do anything to make sure Phoebe stayed with them.

Grunting and puffing, Ethan picked himself up and called Ava, who said he had some nerve. He said, please. She had to listen. She said she was hanging up now. Don’t call her again. He said, don’t. Wait. He knew she was angry at him, but this was important. It was about the baby. In the hallway, Hudson turned around. We could see he was wearing an earpiece.

Martin said they had to get to the courthouse, and Curtis asked if he thought Drew would come through. Martin said if the jury thought Drew was sincere, it would make it easier to convince them that Isaiah was driving the other car, and Curtis said, then he’d be acquitted.

Michael said Willow was pressuring him. He’d have to give in eventually, since she had the upper hand due to her political connections. Carly said she’d stood by her incapacitated husband only to dump him, but Michael said he could still lose. At this point, he didn’t know what to do to stop her.  

Obrecht said Willow’s mother loved her and would do anything for her, and Willow said she appreciated that. Obrecht told her to think carefully before involving Nina in something that could hurt her. She’d been put through enough. Willow said she didn’t want to hurt her mom. She wanted to keep her children and her mother understood that was all that mattered.

On the phone, Nina told Jack that she needed advice. Willow wanted to push the PCPD into reopening the investigation into Drew’s shooting… Yeah. It was a terrible idea, but Willow was determined to go after Michael. What was she going to do… Wait. She couldn’t hear. The reception was bad. Hold on. She walked away, when Trina, who had clearly heard, came out.  

Ethan asked if Ava was there, and she said he had 30 seconds. He said, if anyone came looking for the baby or was asking questions, keep her mouth shut. No one could know his connection to the baby and she had to keep his secret. She said she’d told him that she would, and he asked her to swear she would. She said, okay, she swore, and he thanked her. She asked what was going on. Was he in some kind of trouble? He said he had to go, and she asked where he was. He said, goodbye, and hung up. Hudson took out his earpiece and kept walking, while Ethan crashed on the bed.

Gio told Ned and Olivia that when Phoebe was older, she’d have questions about her biological parents. He knew from experience, but he was lucky that he got to know his parents. Phoebe would never get that chance. Olivia said she was confident that Brook and Chase would be upfront and tell Phoebe as much as possible. Whatever happened, it wouldn’t be easy for Phoebe, but at least she could take comfort in knowing that she had people who loved her. She and Gio hugged.

Alexis said the birth father made it clear he felt Phoebe was better off with Brook and Chase, and Chase asked if she didn’t think he’d change his mind. Alexis said there were no guarantees, but she firmly believed he didn’t want to be a part of Phoebe’s life. Even if he changed his mind, he’d signed away his parental rights and there was nothing to worry about.

Wednesday:

Ava went to see Sonny and said, it better be urgent, and he asked what she did to drive Ethan out of town.

Tracy asked if it was done, and Brook said Phoebe was officially theirs. She was disappointed Tracy wasn’t there. Tracy said she was busy planning their trip.

At Bobbie’s, Lucy said she wanted Serena to pick out her most seductive swimsuit. Michael Corinthos was spending the afternoon at the MetroCourt pool.

At the pool, Michael and Jacinda kissed, when Willow came in with Wiley.

Martin arrived at court and asked Molly where Turner was, and Molly said she was out of town. Martin said Curtis was a good man and suggested they call the whole thing off now. He proposed six months of community service and anger management. As long as there was no prison time, Curtis would accept a plea bargain. She said any other defendant would face prison time under these circumstances, but he said everyone involved was family and a trial would tear them apart.

In the hallway, Isaiah said he was sorry Portia got caught up in this. She should be home with Dez, not in court. She said she was a witness and knew what that night had cost him. He didn’t cause this. Curtis did. Curtis and Jordan walked in.

Serena wondered if she was supposed to put on a bikini, do some kind of shimmy, and Michael would hand over his Deception shares, but Lucy said, no. Slow and steady… Serena said, wins the race? but Lucy said, no, silly. Makes us rich and evens the score with Tracy. She was to make Michael’s acquaintance and charm him. They had a lot in common. They were both very giving and philanthropic, and Serena was cosmopolitan and well-traveled. Michael was a very successful businessman and they were both drop dead gorgeous. Think of this as casting the line. Michael was also very shrewd, but she just had to be more shrewd.

Wiley asked Michael to swim with him and they went in the pool. Willow told Jacinda that her personal situation had changed, and Jacinda said she’d heard Willow and Drew were getting a divorce. Willow said there may need to be some adjustments made to the kids’ living arrangements, and Jacinda suggested she discuss it with Michael, but Willow said she didn’t think it was healthy for her kids to be around Jacinda and would like for her to keep her distance.

Ava told Sonny that she’d done absolutely nothing to Ethan and wasn’t the reason he was gone. They were actually having a lovely time together at the pool until he suddenly and inexplicably disappeared. Sonny said Ethan was fine until he got with Ava, and she said the blame for that lay directly on Sonny’s shoulders. He’d tasked Ethan with being her bodyguard and it wasn’t her fault Ethan enjoyed her company. Sonny said he’d warned Ethan not to get involved with her. What kind of trouble did she get him into?

Tracy said she and Brook were going to New York City for three nights. She’d booked a suite at the St. Regis. Brook said she wasn’t leaving her newly adopted daughter, but Tracy said they’d take Phoebe with them. They could arrange for a sitter. Brook said she wasn’t going, but Tracy said, yes, she was. With or without the baby, Brook needed to get out of town. Brook said, nice try, granny. She knew Curtis was going on trial today. Her leaving town wouldn’t change that or erase the role she played in the accident.

Isaiah said Curtis could save everyone a lot of pain by accepting the plea bargain, but Curtis said he’d miss the first eight months of his son’s life. Isaiah said Curtis was guilty, but Curtis said Isaiah was afraid that he’d let the world know Isaiah had left him and Jordan on the side of the road to die. Isaiah asked Jordan to get Curtis to see reason, which sparked Curtis’s anger, but Lucas said emotions were running high and suggested everyone take a step back.

Wiley asked Jacinda to come swim with them, but she said she had to go to work and needed to stay dry. Maybe next time. Wiley said only if they did cannonballs, and Jacinda said it was a date. Wiley left and Jacinda said she chose peace. Willow should try it sometime. Willow left to sit on a chaise, when Jack came along and said, beautiful day for a swim.

Lucy said she wanted the shares badly, but not at Serena’s expense. Was she absolutely sure she wanted to do this? Serena said, of course (🍷). Deception was Lucy’s baby. Lucy said her other baby, and Serena said her other baby was happy to do whatever she could to help. The way she saw it, they were just evening things up. Serena left, and Lucy made a call asking someone to meet her right away. She needed them.

Isaiah said Lucas was right and told Portia that they should head inside. Jordan told Curtis not to worry about Isaiah. They needed to focus on getting him exonerated. They went inside, and Fitzpatrick told Lucas, that was a well-timed intervention. He’d handled it well. Lucas thanked him and asked what he was doing there, and Fitzpatrick said he’d been the arresting officer in the case and was there to testify. Lucas said he was too. He’d been on duty in the ER that night. Fitzpatrick asked if he was sure he could be impartial, and Lucas said all he could do was tell the truth, right? They were all good people and it was sad the situation had spiraled out of control.

Isaiah told Molly that he and Curtis almost came to blows outside the courtroom, and Molly said if Isaiah hadn’t restrained himself, he would have ruined their case. He needed to be careful. Curtis’s attorney would try to bait him while he was on the stand. If he lost his cool, they’d lose.

Jordan asked Portia how Desmond was, and Portia said he was good. Stella was watching him. Jordan said the best thing for Desmond would be his father not going to prison, but Portia said she wasn’t sure that was something she could control. Jordan said how Portia testified could make all the difference, and Portia asked if Jordan wanted her to lie. Jordan said she wanted Portia to tell the truth. This was a domestic situation that got out of control, but there was blame on both sides. That was all she had to say. It was in Portia’s hands.

Tracy said, by the time Brook learned about the accident, Jordan was already in the hospital, and Brook said, but at least then Curtis wouldn’t have accused Dr. Gannon. Her choice to stay quiet led to Curtis throwing that punch. Tracy said, no. Curtis’s temper was what led to him throwing that punch and Brook wasn’t responsible for his bad choices. Brook said but she was responsible for her own. She felt that her staying quiet was why Dr. Gannon was injured and why Curtis was on trial. Tracy said, which was exactly why they needed to get her out of town. She needed some distance from the trial before her guilty conscience ruined her life.

Lucy thanked Felicia for meeting her, and Felicia said she’d sounded upset on the phone. Lucy said she needed Felicia’s help. More importantly, she needed Felicia’s opinion. Did Felicia think she was a bad mother? Felicia said, of course (🍷) not. Why would she ask that? Lucy said she was over the moon that Serena was with her, but she wasn’t totally honest about the reason for her visit. She had an ulterior motive. She’d asked Serena there to help her finesse getting Maxie’s shares away from Michael and asked her to do that by flirting with him. (I don’t like it. I love Jacinda.)

Jack said Willow’s office told him where to find her, and she said she didn’t like work to intrude on her time with her kids. Make an appointment. He said he thought they were way past that type of formality. He’d put himself on the line for her and her mother. She asked if he was saying she owed him, but he told her that he was saying their relationship didn’t have to be antagonistic. They’d already proven they were good allies. He thought it was time they took this to the next level.

Ava told Sonny that she hadn’t seen Ethan since yesterday, and if he’d told her where he was going, she’d be there right now, slapping him across the face. Sonny asked if she’d heard from him, and she said he’d called her from an unknown number. He said he was gone and wouldn’t be coming back. He even had the nerve to hang up before she could give him a piece of her mind.

Portia told Jordan that Curtis’s actions were the reason they were all going through this. There was no world in which she would get on that stand and say anything that would allow Curtis to put the blame for what he did on Isaiah. Curtis said, let’s not do this. It wasn’t good for anyone. Portia said, finally, something they could all agree on, and told Jordan not to worry. She’d do as Jordan asked and tell the truth. The bailiff said, all rise. Court is now in session. The judge came in.

Michael told Jacinda that Willow cozying up to a WSB station chief was totally on brand for her, but the last thing he needed. Jacinda asked if he thought Brennan would help Willow by targeting him, but he said he didn’t know. They’d always gotten along. Brennan was the reason he got burn treatment in Germany, but that was before things between Brennan and his mom blew up. Now Brennan had no reason to do him any favors. Her phone chimed and she said she had to get to the office.

Lucy told Felicia that she felt awful asking Serena to do this. It was the way she used to operate, but there was no reason her daughter had to. Felicia said she thought Lucy was being too hard on herself, and Lucy asked if Felicia would ask Maxie to finesse and strategize just to get something she really wanted. Felicia said, no, but Maxie wasn’t above bending a few rules to get what she wanted. What mattered was Serena’s own agency. Did Lucy ask Serena to help her or tell her to? Lucy said she’d asked her and Serena said she wanted to do anything she could to help her mom. She just didn’t want to put Serena in the position that she felt she had to see this through to the end because her mom wanted this so badly and so much.

Ava said she supposed she should be gratified Ethan didn’t ghost her completely, and Sonny said Ethan wasn’t running from him. Ava asked if he was sure. He asked an awful lot of the people who worked for him. Maybe he’d asked too much of Ethan. Sonny asked what that was supposed to mean, and she wondered if he’d heard that Drew made a full recovery. Some people would call that a miracle, but she was guessing Michael wasn’t one of those people. She was sure it was only a matter of time before Drew set his sights on Michael again unless somebody stepped in to stop him. Did he ask Ethan to kill Drew?

Brook said, if Curtis knew Dr. Gannon didn’t leave him and Jordan at the scene of the accident… Tracy said Brook didn’t leave them either. She didn’t even know there had been an accident. Brook said, but if Curtis knew that, maybe it would set the stage for some sort of peace between them, and Tracy said that was a maybe at best. She suggested they talk about what was definite for Brook, and Brook said Phoebe’s adoption had been finalized, so thankfully, she didn’t have to worry about losing her. She would absolutely lose Trina as a recording artist. It would probably impact her relationship with Gio, who would probably be upset with her too. She could lose him too, and not just as a recording artist. Tracy said that would be a shame considering all the strides they’d made. Disappointing someone you love is always a consideration. Brook said that was why she was most worried about Chase finding out.

Molly told the jury that they were going to hear attempts by the defense to sensationalize what was an unambiguous act of assault. They were going to hear about a terrible car accident and efforts to cast suspicion and blame for it. The car accident wasn’t relevant. It was a red herring meant to play on their emotions and distract them from the real issue – the punch. It was illegal to punch someone. That was assault. And if you assaulted someone and caused great bodily injury, you were responsible, even if you didn’t intend to cause great bodily injury. Curtis Ashford punched a surgeon, Dr. Isaiah Gannon, causing grievous injury to his hand. So their job today was to listen carefully to the testimony and go with the facts in spite of whatever plays for sympathy the defense might offer. If they followed the facts and evidence she presented, she was confident that they’d find the defendant guilty.

Martin said it was true Curtis and Jordan Ashford were involved in a nearly fatal car accident. And if it wasn’t for Mr. Ashford’s heroism, Jordan wouldn’t be sitting there with them today. That too was a fact. Dr. Isaiah Gannon drove away from the scene of that crash. Didn’t look back. Didn’t even phone for an ambulance. And consequently, the care that was critical to Jordan’s very survival didn’t get there until much later, and to this day, Dr. Gannon, surgeon, had expressed no remorse, nor had he accepted responsibility for his actions or lack thereof surrounding the crash. The defense would make it abundantly clear to them that Curtis Ashford’s actions in the MetroCourt were provoked and that the fault for any injury that may be the unfortunate result of a domestic altercation lay squarely at the feet of Dr. Isaiah Gannon.

Felicia asked if Serena was able to tell Lucy, no, and Lucy said sometimes Serena told her no in several different languages. Felicia said, then stop beating herself up and trust that her daughter knew what she wanted. And it sounded like she wanted to help her mom. Lucy said she thought Felicia was right. Besides, it was Michael. He was basically a good person and was filthy rich. She thought he might be the perfect match for Serena.

Jack said he received a troubling call from Willow’s mother yesterday. She told him that Willow planned on contacting Anna to convince her to reopen the case against Michael for Drew’s shooting. Willow said that wasn’t her mother’s business to share, but Jack said he was glad she did because it was a bad idea and they both knew why. Willow said she wasn’t worried. She’d been exonerated and all the compelling evidence pointed to Michael. He said, perhaps, until Anna started digging. She might uncover the footage of Willow on Drew’s street the night of the shooting. It was a risk neither of them could afford to take. Willow said she didn’t care. If it resulted in her getting more time with her children, it was a risk worth taking. She asked Wiley to come out of the pool, and Serena walked in looking amazing.

Brook said she’d had chance after chance to come clean with Chase and didn’t, and Tracy asked, why? Brook said she didn’t want him to be disappointed in her. After she’d confessed to framing Willow, she still held back, when it was her moment to be totally honest. She still couldn’t do it. Chase thought they were at a place of total honesty and if he found out she was lying, she didn’t think he’d ever trust her again.

On the stand, Lucas said Isaiah was in a great deal of pain when he came to the ER. His hand was clearly badly injured. They set him up with a hand specialist immediately. Molly asked if Isaiah told him how it happened, and he said Isaiah told him that Curtis Ashford punched him, he fell, and injured his hand. Molly asked if Isaiah mentioned any car accident the night he was treated, but Lucas said, no, and Molly had no further questions. The judge said Lucas was Martin’s witness, but Martin said the defense had no questions at this time. However, they reserved the right to recall this witness.

Molly asked if Fitzpatrick was the arresting officer the night of the assault, and he said he was. She asked if he’d witnessed the assault, but he said, no. He’d entered the restaurant immediately after. She asked if he heard Curtis say he’d punched Isaiah, and he said he heard the defendant say he’d punched Dr. Gannon because he deserved it. Then he questioned the parties present and arrested Mr. Ashford. Molly had no further questions.

Martin asked if it would be accurate to say Fitzpatrick didn’t personally know the parties involved in this case, and Fitzpatrick said, yes. Martin said so he didn’t know the domestic dynamics at play at the time of the incident, and Fitzpatrick said he didn’t. Martin said, so he had no way of knowing how it escalated, and Fitzpatrick said he could only testify to what he’d witnessed. Martin said, wasn’t it possible that he’d jumped the gun when he arrested a pillar of the community with no concept of the circumstances he’d walked into? Fitzpatrick said, the PCPD received a call about a skirmish at the hotel and he and another officer were sent to the scene. When they arrived, he found an injured man on the floor, the defendant actively goading him to fight, and a pregnant woman clearly in distress. Martin asked if it wasn’t conceivable Fitzpatrick had overstepped his authority in making an arrest when he could have just deescalated the situation.

Molly called Portia to the stand.

Lucy told Felicia that Serena was beautiful, kind, sophisticated, and so intelligent. She’d had her share of failures in the romance department too, and needed a stand-up guy. Felicia said it didn’t hurt that Serena and Michael were both independently wealthy and didn’t have to worry about money being a draw, and Lucy asked if she’d thought about the romantic irony. She’d once been married to Alan and now, just possibly, his grandson could be with her daughter. Felicia said she thought Lucy was getting ahead of herself, but Lucy said she didn’t think so. She’d always thought Serena would make the perfect Quartermaine. Serena could even wear her red dress.

Wiley told Michael, today was so good. Maybe next time they could go for ice cream after. They hugged, and Willow told Michael to be sure to ask Jacinda what they’d talked about. She’d be curious as to what Jacinda told him, if he thought he could trust what she said. Willow left, and Serena began to walk toward Michael, but slipped and ended up in Jack’s lap. He didn’t look like he hated it.

Sonny said he didn’t ask Ethan to do anything to Drew. Was that the kind of stuff Ava talked about in front of their daughter? Ava said, no, but she didn’t lie to Avery either, and Sonny said they both knew there were certain truths their daughter shouldn’t hear about them. Don’t play with him because she knew what happened when she pushed him. She said, threatening her didn’t help their daughter. It did her no good to hear about the ugliest parts of either of them. He said he agreed, but didn’t take kindly to people coming after his family or anybody close to him, and that included her or Drew. Don’t forget, there were consequences.

Tracy said Brook had a choice. Did she unburden her guilty conscience and devastate her partner, or did she learn from this experience and promise herself it would never happen again and move on with her life? Brook said, and then what? Just carry around the secret forever? Tracy asked if she loved her husband enough to do that. She had the family of her own she’d always wanted. The truth jeopardized that. Was it worth it? They heard Phoebe on the monitor, and Brook said she knew what was at stake. She had to protect her family, and to do that, Chase could never know what she did.

Lucas asked if Fitzpatrick was okay. Things got a little heated in there. Fitzpatrick said, nothing he couldn’t handle. That was just a defense attorney doing his job. Lucas said, for what it was worth (🍷), he didn’t think Fitzpatrick made an unnecessary arrest, and Fitzpatrick said he just hoped everyone involved got justice.

Molly asked if Portia witnessed the punch, and Portia said, yes. Molly asked if Isaiah had hit Curtis prior to the punch or attempt to, and Portia said Isaiah was actually attempting to leave, but Curtis kept goading him. They continued to have words, then Curtis lost control and punched Isaiah in the face. Molly asked if Isaiah wasn’t a professional colleague in addition to being Portia’s romantic partner, and Portia said, yes. He was one of the finest surgeons she’d had the honor of working with. Molly asked if his injuries would cost him his career, and Portia said they’d cost him his ability to perform surgery. There were procedures only Isaiah and a select handful of surgeons could even do. Now he was unable to perform them. Molly asked if she was referring to a specific surgery, and Portia said there was a boy who was getting a liver transplant and Isaiah was going to perform the procedure. It became impossible after the assault. There were patients who may die, who may no longer have hope, all because of this senseless injury. Molly asked her to state for the record who was responsible for this injury, and Portia said, Curtis Ashford.

Martin asked if Portia wasn’t previously married to the defendant, and she said, yes. He asked if she gave birth to Curtis’s son this past July, and she said she did. He said, for the record, how long was she married to his client before she started sleeping with the alleged victim?

Thursday:

Molly objected. Relevance. Badgering. Prejudicial. Martin said, foundational. It went to motive. Judge Barnes said she’d allow it this time, but proceed with caution. Portia objected, but Martin said she couldn’t. She said she was doing it anyway. She didn’t see what her personal life had to do with her ex-husband assaulting Dr. Gannon.

Willow brought iced coffees to Nina’s and said she’d thought they were in a good place. Nina said they were, and Willow said then she’d prefer it if Nina would tell her if she had a problem with the way the kids were being raised, not the WSB.

Serena apologized and extracted herself from Jack’s lap. They introduced themselves and shook hands.

Laura met Lucy at Bobbie’s, and Lucy said it was about Doc.

Dante told Sonny that Corinthos Coffee had Jason, but now the PCPD had a power hitter too. Sonny said Jason wouldn’t be playing for them this year.

 Tracy wondered why Jason interrupted her backgammon game with Cody, and he said it was important. She asked what she was in for. Good, bad, or pack a bag, hide a body? He said it depended on her point of view. He’d quit working for Sonny.

Nina said she’d merely mentioned Willow’s plan to get Anna to reopen the investigation into Drew’s shooting. Her pushing the police to look at Michael’s role in the shooting meant they’d be likely to look at her role too. Willow said they couldn’t try her again and wondered why Jack even cared, and Nina said because Jack had caused the footage to disappear. If it was found, she’d take down the man who saved her along with herself.

Serena asked if she could buy Jack a drink, but he asked for a raincheck. She asked if he was a guest at the hotel, and he said he was. She said she was staying with family, and asked what brought him to town. He said work, speaking of which, he was sure he’d see her around. He left, and Serena grabbed Michael’s chaise. He said she was in his seat, and she said she knew. She was there to ambush him.

Laura was thrilled that Serena was in town, and Lucy said she was over the moon and thought Doc would feel the same way. They’d been close when Serena was a little girl. She asked when Doc would be back, since she wanted to plan a surprise reunion, but Laura said he wasn’t coming back.

Boyle met Jacinda outside Bobbie’s and said he came as soon as he got her text. She asked if he had it, and he said he did, but why did she need them all of a sudden? She said, bad day. She just wanted to take the edge off. He handed her a small baggie with a few pills in it.

Tracy said Jason always went back. Why was this time different? He said, this time there was no falling out. He was just done. Tracy said, well, I’ll be damned.

Sonny said, Jason quit, and Dante said then they’d definitely have the season locked. Sonny said he wasn’t talking about the team. He was talking about business. Jason was done. Dante said he’d heard that before, but Sonny said this was different. The WSB. Jakarta. Jason was making changes. Dante said he couldn’t blame him. They’d put him through hell. Sonny said Jason told him it wasn’t so much what they did to him, but what they took from him. And that had to do with Dante.

The judge said Portia was there to answer questions put to her by this court. Otherwise, she’d be held in contempt. Martin asked if it wasn’t true that Portia had been married to the defendant for almost three years before she started cheating on him with Dr. Gannon, but she said, no. She and Curtis were married for three years, but she began seeing Dr. Gannon because they were estranged. Martin asked what was the last thing Isaiah said before Curtis threw the punch, and Portia told him that Isaiah said he would be a better father to her baby than Curtis. Martin said, so he’d provoked Curtis, but Molly objected because it called for speculation. Martin said, withdrawn, and the judge said, redirect. Molly said, at the time of the altercation, Portia had moved on. Had Curtis? Portia said Curtis had gone back to his ex-wife Jordan, and Molly asked if Isaiah had lashed out at Curtis or physically threatened him, but Portia said, no. Molly asked, who threw the punch? and Portia said, Curtis Ashford.

Laura said the university had asked Doc to stay until the fall semester. She was going to see him very soon and now that Sidwell was out of the picture, she may be able to bring Ace back with her. Lucy said Serena would be sad that she missed him, but Laura said it was too wonderful of an opportunity for Doc to walk away from. Lucy said she knew long distance relationships could be difficult, but she was there if Laura needed to talk. She hoped Laura didn’t mind picking up the check, since she had to go. Ta! Lucy left and Laura said, always a pleasure.

Willow suggested Jack keep his head down if he was worried, but Nina said Jack wasn’t the one being reckless. Willow was. Willow said she was being careful and strategic, but Nina said Willow’s success as a congresswoman and her win over Drew had made her overconfident, and overconfidence bred carelessness. Willow said she couldn’t back down from Michael. The second he’d found out about Drew’s recovery, he was demanding full custody. Right now was the strongest position she’d ever be in and she wasn’t going to squander it. Nina said, what did you do?

Boyle asked, what made this day so bad? and Jacinda showed him a restraining order. She said Willow had her served this morning. She was supposed to stay away from Wiley and Amelia. Her arrest record made her unfit to be around Michael’s children. She could probably get around it, but she didn’t want to put a strain on her relationship with Michael. He said he could see why she wanted to escape for a few hours, but she shouldn’t be alone, and she said she appreciated it, but he should steer clear while she was cutting loose. She didn’t want him taking any more hits on her account. Besides, she’d be fine. He made her promise to call if she needed him, and she left.

Molly congratulated Drew on his recovery and asked if his wife, Willow Cain, was driving on Route 91 the night of April 8th. Drew said, no, but she said they had a police report indicating otherwise. He said his wife was home with him that evening, and Molly had nothing further. Martin asked how Drew thought the mistake occurred, and Drew said when Fitzpatrick had interviewed him, he was still locked in and could only blink to communicate. When Fitzpatrick had asked about Willow’s whereabouts, he’d blinked twice for no, but they were interrupted and he must have only seen one blink. Martin said so the detective had drawn an erroneous conclusion placing Drew’s wife on Route 91 the night two people were nearly killed when she was with him that night. Molly said, objection. Council is testifying. Judge Barnes said, sustained, and Martin had no further questions.

Tracy asked, why now? and Jason said it was Danny. He had Sam before.  Tracy said she’d been gone almost two years, so why now? and he said everyone there had absolutely helped, but it wasn’t enough. Danny deserved a better father and he was going to try. That started with him being present and being a better example. He couldn’t keep telling Danny to make good choices while he was still making dangerous ones. If Danny went down the wrong road, he had to be there and needed Danny to believe him when he told him it was a mistake. She said, so he was telling her that what he wanted for Danny was what Alan and Monica wanted for him.

Dante didn’t know how he played into Jason’s decision, and Sonny said Dante arrested him in front of his son. Dante said he went there to arrest Jason, but Jason headbutted him and took off, and Sonny said, the law got too close to Danny that night. The distance between that part of Jason’s life got taken away. Dante said he’d begged Jason to tell him what happened on the pier. For Danny, for Rocco, for Sam even. He wouldn’t budge. Now they knew why. Sonny said Jason wasn’t the same man he was that night. Something inside of him broke. Dante said, maybe it healed him. He never thought he’d see Sonny and Jason part voluntarily. Sonny said, neither did he, and Dante said he was happy for Jason, Danny, and the Quartermaines, but he was worried about Sonny. Where did that leave him?

Molly said according to statements they had, on the night of the assault, Curtis punched Isaiah causing him to fall into a table. Was that correct? Isaiah said, yes, and when he fell, he broke his hand. Several bones were shattered. She asked if he’d be able to perform a transplant surgery now, and he said, no. In fact, he couldn’t perform a life-saving liver transplant for a pediatric patient that was supposed to take place shortly after the assault. Molly said, pediatric. So a child. He said, yes, and she asked when he’d be able to operate again. Would he be able to operate again? He said he didn’t know.

Boyle asked if he could join Laura and sat down. She said, by all means, do, and asked if she’d seen him talking to Jacinda outside. He said she did, and she said it looked like kind of an intense conversation. She hoped he knew she was seeing Michael Corinthos. He and his ex-wife had a very contentious relationship. Was he sure he’d like to mix himself up in that? He said he appreciated her concern, but he wasn’t turning his back on a friend. Jacinda was in over her head. If someone didn’t have her back, those people would destroy her and throw her away without a second thought.

Michael asked who was ambushing him, and Serena introduced herself. He said she was Lucy’s daughter. Her mom talked about her all the time. He was… She said, Michael Corinthos. She’d heard about him too. He asked what brought her back to Port Charles, and she said what he did to her mother.

Martin asked if Isaiah was driving on Route 91 the night of the accident, and Isaiah said he was. Martin said, to see a patient, correct? and Isaiah said, yes. Martin said they hadn’t been able to corroborate that, and Isaiah said his patient’s privacy was protected by HIPPA. Martin asked if Isaiah drove a vehicle that matched the one that drove Curtis and Jordan off the road that night, and Molly objected. The PCPD’s investigation had concluded that the driver of the car Curtis and Jordan were in was responsible, and the driver and Curtis had acknowledged that in their statements. Martin said he’d rephrase. What kind of car did Isaiah drive? Isaiah said, a black BMW SUV, and Martin asked if he hadn’t had repairs done around the same time. Isaiah said, yes, and Martin said so he could see how the facts pointed directly to him. Molly objected and said, argumentative. Martin said he’d rephrase again. Isaiah could see how his client could conclude he was behind the wheel of the other car that night. Molly objected. Speculative. Calls for conclusion. Judge Barnes sustained, and told Martin to move on. Martin asked if Isaiah didn’t have a history of animosity toward his client, and Isaiah said they weren’t friends. Martin asked how he would describe Curtis’s behavior toward him, and Isaiah said, judgmental, self-righteous, rigid, controlling… Martin asked if Isaiah intentionally provoked his client the night of the assault, but Isaiah said, no. Martin said Isaiah told his client to his face that he thought he’d be a better child to his child than he could be, and Isaiah said he did. Martin said, but he didn’t provoke him? Isaiah said he simply made a statement he believed to be true.

Serena said her mother was in pieces over Deception with Maxie just up and leaving. It all just threw her for a loop. Her mother needed her, so here she was. Michael said he’d do anything for his mother, so he got it, but let him put her mind at ease. The Quartermaines may own the majority, but he wasn’t one to hold the party line. Maxie knew that he’d always act in the best interest of the company, not Lucy’s, not Tracy’s, and that’s why she sold him her shares. It was just a favor for a friend. He owed her one. She said it did put her mind at ease a little. Her mother however… He said, not at ease? and she asked if he could blame her. He was still a Quartermaine. She assumed he wouldn’t have a problem with her working at Deception alongside her mother.

Nina said Willow hit her assistant with a restraining order? All this was going to do was make Michael angry. Willow said, so? Michael paid Jacinda to be his alibi and her lies almost put her in prison. Jacinda threatened her earlier. Jacinda was lucky a restraining order was all she threw at her. The doorbell rang and it was Jacinda with Nina’s laundry.

Martin asked Jordan to describe her injuries, and she said she had severe facial scarring from cuts and burns she’d gotten in the accident. He asked if she’d told Isaiah to visit her while she was recovering, and she said, no. He said, but he came to see her in the hospital, did he not? and she said, yes. He asked if she thought he was feeling guilty, and she said it was possible he’d visited her because his failure to render aid at the scene, even a phone call, delayed her getting treatment and could have cost her life.

Molly said, prior to Jordan’s accident, would she say she and Isaiah were friends or at least friendly? and Jordan said she would. Molly asked if he might not have been visiting her out of concern, and Jordan said she thought either explanation was possible. Molly said, in Jordan’s experience as Police Commissioner, would the fact that Isaiah drove a black BMW, as hundreds did, that he drove Route 91, as thousands did, and that he had paint touched up on his car be sufficient enough for her to bring this case to her for prosecution? Jordan said, it might be, and Molly asked what Jordan thought her response would be if she did. Martin objected and Molly said, withdrawn. Nothing further. Martin called Curtis to the stand.

Michael said he had no problem with Serena working at Deception, and she asked if he was sure. He said he didn’t get in the way of the hiring, and she said she was happy to hear it, but he said there was one huge hurdle she’d have to overcome.

Tracy said Jason’s parents longed for this day from the moment Jason entered Sonny’s world, and Jason said he wished he could tell them that he was sorry for all he’d put them through. She said he had to get there in his own time, in his own way, and she took his hand. She said just know if they were there, they’d be so happy and so grateful.

Dante said when he found out and accepted that Sonny was his father, he thought almost daily about the danger Sonny lived in. Knowing Jason would do anything for Sonny helped him sleep at night. Sonny said him too, and Dante said, now he thought of Sonny’s kids and his kids. They needed him there. If Jason was walking away, who would be in front of him? How was he ever going to sleep again? Sonny said he was walking away too.

Martin asked why Curtis suspected Isaiah was behind the wheel of the other vehicle, and Curtis said Isaiah was on the road that night and failed to offer an alibi that could be confirmed. He drove a vehicle that was the exact same make and model of the vehicle that struck the guardrail. He’d had body work done shortly after the accident, and it all added up to prove it to him. Martin asked why he threw the punch at Isaiah that night at the MetroCourt, and Curtis said, for many reasons, unfortunately. Not only did he believe that Isaiah was the person who left him and Jordan for dead, he also firmly believed that Isaiah was actively trying to push him out of his family. When he arrived at the restaurant, Isaiah had his hand on Portia’s stomach and later said that he would make a better father to his child.

Molly asked Curtis if Isaiah swung at him that night, and Curtis said, no. She asked if he made any physical move toward Curtis of any kind, and Curtis said, no. Molly had no further questions.

Jack approached Laura at Bobbie’s, and she said she heard he was looking for her. He said he was hoping they could find some common ground between the WSB and her office, but she said, no. Sit down. He sat, and she said there wouldn’t be any common ground until he could tell her why the WSB had not taken Sidwell out of Port Charles.

Jacinda said she’d gotten Willow’s restraining order this morning. Should she leave? Willow said, as much as she’d love that, the restraining order was for her kids and they weren’t there. Jacinda said, clearly, Willow felt threatened by her. Willow must think she’s quite something. Willow said she’d be in the other room and left. Nina said the October book was ready to go. She’d grab it and Jacinda could run it back to the office. She left to get the book and Jacinda saw the coffees on the table with Nina and Willow’s names on them. She took out the pills.

Molly told the jury that Curtis believed he was justified in striking Isaiah. Why? Because he drove a black car or because Isaiah said he might be a better father than a man who punched him in the face, causing him to fall into a table and break his hand, thus preventing him from performing lifesaving surgeries. Mr. Ashford was asking them to decide that the law didn’t apply to him because of a remark or because of some unsubstantiated belief that was his and his alone. Or because, quite frankly, he didn’t care for the man who was at the other end of his fist. This was precisely why this law existed. To stop men like Curtis Ashford.

Martin told the jury that this only came down to one thing – reasonable belief. And the three pillars of Curtis Ashford’s reasonable belief were, number one, Dr. Gannon was on hand the night he and Jordan nearly died and did nothing. Number two, Isaiah obviously shared Curtis’s ex-wife’s antipathy toward him, and number three, he believed Isaiah and Portia were planning to cut him out of his own son’s life. And quite frankly, he had every reason to believe it. After all, the doctor left him and the woman he loved on the side of the road to die. Then he witnessed the doctor stake a claim on his unborn child. What father wouldn’t fight, wouldn’t stand up for his family, exactly like Curtis Ashford did? What would they do? They couldn’t find him guilty. Please do not tear an innocent man away from his newborn son.

Jack told Laura that the DA’s office asserted jurisdiction over the Sidwell prosecutions. And since the attempt on Dr. Jones’s life was local, not an international incident, the WSB didn’t challenge it. Laura asked, why not? The WSB had never exercised such restraint before when they were trying to get someone off the street. He said, exactly. They weren’t interested in kicking up any more dust with the DA and the PCPD so soon after the Jason Morgan incident. She said it wasn’t the answer she was hoping for, and he said he was sorry, but Sidwell’s fate lay in the hands of her DA’s office. If they got a conviction, Sidwell would get 25 to life in Pentenville. If she had reason to believe Sidwell was still a threat, he would have her back. She thanked him and said she’d hold him to that.

Jason said the thing he worried about most was that he’d already missed so much of Danny’s life and making a change now could be too late, and Tracy said she’d spent most of her life feuding with her family, in and out of estrangement with her boys and everyone. But that changed and so could he.

Dante asked, what brought this on? and Sonny said, Sidwell. His fall opened up some opportunities and he was taking them. Dante said he never thought he’d see the day, and Sonny said he never thought he’d see the day they could talk openly and he wasn’t worried about Dante compromising his badge. They hugged.

Lucy watched Serena talking to Michael and said, that’s my girl.

Serena said she knew Tracy was a formidable woman and she looked forward to the challenge. Michael said if Tracy gave her any trouble he wanted to hear about it personally.

Jacinda put the pills in Willow’s coffee and put the bag back in her purse.

🌞 Summer Friday…

At the hospital, Elizabeth asked Lucas how court went. He said it was pretty painless for him. For others, not so much.

Fitzpatrick was swimming at the pool, and Anna asked him for a word.

Holding Desmond, Stella wondered how his parents were doing. She guessed they were licking their wounds. But hopefully, they could put that pain and anger aside. She thought they would. They had the most important reason in the world – him.

Isaiah asked if Molly thought the jury would find Curtis guilty, and she said, if they stuck to the facts of the case. Unfortunately, verdicts weren’t always decided on facts. Curtis’s testimony was compelling, and they managed to make the case about more than just the assault. Those were things that wouldn’t work in their favor.

Marshall asked how it went, and Curtis said he didn’t want to be overly optimistic, but thought he made his case. He saw Portia come out with Isaiah and said he just wanted to give Portia her fair notice that he and Jordan would be heading over to the house to see their son.

At the MetroCourt Gardens, Drew said he was surprised by Ava’s invitation to have drinks. He didn’t think she liked him. She said she didn’t, but he’d been given a magical second chance. She thought that was worth celebrating. Didn’t he? They clinked glasses.

Hudson sat at a nearby table when Josslyn approached and said, Hudson Tucker? He thanked her for meeting with him.

At yet another table, a server asked if she could get Jacinda an iced tea or an iced coffee, and Jacinda flashed back to putting the pills in Willow’s coffee. She ordered an iced tea, when Michael joined her. He said she sounded upset on the phone, and she said she was. Look what got delivered earlier. According to this restraining order, she couldn’t get within 500 feet of his kids.

On the phone, Willow said the nanny at the Quartermaines called in sick, so she unexpectedly had her children with her. She asked that her apologies be sent for missing the speaking engagement. Wiley and Amelia ran in, and Willow said they had the afternoon and evening together. What did they want to do? She took a sip of coffee.

Anna apologized for intruding on Fitzpatrick’s time, but he said, no apology necessary. She asked how it went at the trial, and he said the defense attorney went after him pretty hard. But he’d followed procedure in the arrest, and stood by that and his testimony. She said it was a complicated case, and he said, with Jordan having been the Police Commissioner. Anna said Jordan had a lot of friends in and out of the police department and the DA’s office, and he said he wouldn’t have been surprised if Dante had asked him to look the other way when he was acting Police Commissioner. She said, but he didn’t. Because he was that kind of an officer. He said she was probably trying to figure out what kind of officer he was. The good news was, he was an open book, and he was happy to answer any questions.

Lucas told Elizabeth that all they’d needed him to testify to was the severity of Isaiah’s injuries and if they tracked with Isaiah’s statement. Martin Grey didn’t even cross-examine him. But Detective Fitzpatrick was called because he was the arresting officer and Martin went after him big time. Elizabeth said, he was just doing his job, and Lucas said he guessed. But if he went after a cop like that, he couldn’t imagine how badly he went after Portia or Isaiah.

Curtis said he trusted seeing Desmond wouldn’t be a problem, and Portia said Desmond was his son. Of course (🍷) he could see him. He said he’d appreciate it if Isaiah distanced himself, and Marshall thanked Portia for letting them come by the house. She said he was always welcome, and Marshall thanked Isaiah for allowing his son and grandson to get some alone time when it had been a tough day for everyone. Isaiah said he had to go by the hospital anyway, and he and Portia left. Curtis thanked Marshall, who said it was a volatile situation. They had to do whatever they could to make sure cooler heads prevailed. Right now, that meant focusing on Desmond. He left to pull the car around, and Curtis told Jordan that seeing the baby was exactly what they needed, but she said she was going to sit this one out.

Wiley suggested going to a Woodchucks game or the pool, and Willow said those were great ideas, but she had a surprise. She asked the kids to sit down while she sent a quick email to work. Then they’d go. She left the room and left her coffee on the table.

Michael said the only reason Willow was able to secure the restraining order was because she was a congresswoman. His lawyers would fight it. Willow had no grounds. Jacinda said she had a record, but he said it didn’t apply there. His children adored her and she’d never do anything to hurt them. Willow was just being petty. He was worried something like this would happen eventually. Willow was going to throw her weight around and abuse the power of her office. It started with Jacinda, but eventually she’d come after him to take the kids.

Ava asked how Drew was acclimating to life among the moving, and he said, pretty well actually. He felt his return had already made an impact. He’d testified at Curtis’s trial today. She said Portia was a dear friend and Trina was like a daughter to her, and he said he was trying to make amends. She told him, good luck with that, but he said people could change. Or had she never done anything she’d regretted? She said, provided his intentions toward Trina’s family were pure, they may have a common interest to explore. He asked what that would be, and she said, Sonny.

Hudson told Josslyn, as he’d explained in his email, he was the Vice President of Operations at Jasper Jax Enterprises. He was there to walk her through the corporate structure and priorities. She asked, why? and he asked when she last spoke to her father. She asked what this was about, and he said she was the new CEO of Jasper Jax Enterprises.

Curtis asked if Jordan was sure, and she said she was. Besides, he and Portia had agreed to keep their respective partners away during visits. He said these were extenuating circumstances. She and Isaiah, it wasn’t even close. She said she understood, but it didn’t feel right, especially not today, and he said he didn’t want her to feel like she wasn’t a welcomed part of Desmond’s life, because she was. She said she was glad to hear that, but all she wanted to do right now was relax. Go be with his son and she’d see him back home.

Anna said she appreciated the fact that Fitzpatrick was open to inquiry, but that wasn’t why she wanted to talk to him. She wanted to know how he was doing. He said he was adjusting. It helped that Port Charles was such a great town. She said it was a change of pace from New York City, but he said not as big a one as he’d expected. Smaller, yes, but not necessarily slower, considering perps like Jenz Sidwell and Cassius Faison. She said he’d been partnered with Cassius when he was posing as Nathan West, and he said he was, but the partnership went south when Cassius pistol whipped him. She said, sorry about that. Just another day at the office. In all seriousness, the job was untenable if you couldn’t trust your partner, and Cassius betrayed him. He’d betrayed all of them.

Portia got home, and Stella said Desmond was conked out in the nursery. Portia thanked her for watching him. If she had any questions about what happened today… Stella said she had one. How was she doing? Portia said she was devastated, exhausted, and not just physically. She was so sick of having every mistake she’d ever made be aired out for public consumption. She guessed Curtis was defending what he thought was defensible, but the way he was fighting, she was afraid they’d never be able to put any of this behind them.

Drew told Ava that he had many regrets about his time in office, but at the top of that list was getting rid of Sonny. But it was his understanding that the two of them peacefully coexisted. She said she and Sonny had a fragile peace for the sake of their daughter. She’d done her best to maintain it. Sonny was all accusations and ultimatums. Every single thing must be on his terms. During a minor inconvenience in Sonny’s life, he’d thought she was responsible, and he had her hauled in to interrogate her. Then he had the audacity to bring Avery’s name into the conversation. Drew said, to keep her in line, and she said she took it as a threat and she didn’t take threats involving her child lightly. He said he imagined she didn’t.

Josslyn said she didn’t know what was going on, but there must be some sort of mistake. She wasn’t running her dad’s company. Hudson said, yes, she was, but she said, no, she wasn’t. He said her father was the single largest shareholder at JJE and had named her his successor, but she said it didn’t make any sense. Why would he do that? He said she’d have to ask him, and she picked up her phone and said she’d ask him right now. He said, that might be a little difficult. He was currently circumnavigating the globe via sailboat. Her father was virtually unreachable, which was why all of them at the company were looking to her.

Fitzpatrick said, for what it was worth (🍷), he didn’t think Cassius’s deception was a reflection of the PCPD. Anna had a really great department and he was happy to be part of it. Dante had been a straight shooter from the jump and made it clear that he was just keeping her seat warm. For him, the only unknown in the equation was her. She asked what his instincts told him about her, and he said that he made the right choice joining her squad. She said she trusted Dante implicitly and if Dante hired him, she knew it was a good call. Welcome to the department, detective. They shook hands.

Molly ran into Jordan at the pool and said it looked like they had the same idea. Sun and fresh air after a super fun day in court. Was she swimming laps? Jordan said she thought she would just put her feet in the water, and started to walk away, but Molly followed and asked if they were okay. She was sorry. She didn’t hold back with Curtis today. Jordan said, no, but Molly did hold back with her.

Isaiah said he appreciated Lucas’s testimony, and Lucas said, it was the truth. He really hoped Isaiah got justice. Elizabeth joined them, and said Lucas told her about the trial. Isaiah said, fun times, and she asked how Portia was doing. Isaiah said she was hanging in there. She held it together better than he did. He just wished she didn’t have to. Curtis could hate him all he wanted, but what he allowed his lawyer to do to Portia on the stand was unforgiveable.

Portia held Desmond, and Stella said the baby was a blessing. She asked Desmond if they should tell Portia what they were talking about, and Portia said, they had a talk? Stella said it was mostly her, but she was telling Desmond that her hope for Portia and Curtis was that they could put their issues aside, no matter how justified, for the sake of their children. Them being at each other’s throats didn’t benefit anyone – not Desmond, not Trina, and definitely not Portia. They had to find a way to cooperate with each other. Portia said she was really trying, but it would be a lot easier if the cooperation was coming from both sides. Curtis arrived with Marshall and asked, how’s my boy?

Ava told Drew that there was always an implied threat that Sonny would take Avery away from her. He’d even succeeded a couple of times. Drew said she was Avery’s mother, but she said, according to Sonny, Avery would be better off without her. He said, the thought of that hypocritical bastard trying to make her the problem, when one of Sonny’s kids died because of him and the rest are perpetually in danger. Who did he think he was? She said, the all-powerful, invincible Sonny Corinthos of course (🍷), and he said the hardest part of his illness was being away from Scout. He would destroy anyone who was trying to keep him away from his daughter. And so should she.

Josslyn told Hudson that her father had discussed in theory about sailing around the world, but why would he do that and not tell her? And she had a better question. Why would he expect her to run his company while he was gone when she literally knew nothing about it? Hudson said he must think she’s the right person for the job, but she said she wasn’t. He said, most people wouldn’t complain about being gifted a multi-million dollar company, but she said she wasn’t most people. She wanted nothing to do with JJE and she was pretty sure he couldn’t force her into the position of CEO. So he need to figure out how they fixed this.

Jacinda told Michael that Willow thought she was flying high right now. She was in Congress, she’d ditched Drew, but she’d gotten cocky and a little overconfident. Her position wasn’t nearly as strong as she thought. It wasn’t like Willow’s past was spotless. She was in a cult, for God’s sake, and she was on trial for attempted murder not so long ago. Michael said, but what mattered was right now, and as much as he hated admitting it, Willow was holding all the cards. Jacinda said she thought things were about to change for the congresswoman. And not for the better.

Wiley asked if they could go to Bobbie’s for milkshakes before the surprise, and Willow said it sounded like a great idea. He said, good, because he was thirsty. He picked up her coffee.

Jordan said it would have been well within Molly’s bounds to ask her about Curtis’s attitude toward Isaiah leading up to their fight, but Molly said, that would have been hearsay. Jordan said, regardless, Molly didn’t ask and got her off the stand without putting her in a position to hurt Curtis. Thank you. Molly said she’d never want to do that and it wouldn’t have been smart in this case. Jordan was an extremely sympathetic witness. Badgering her on the stand, being too aggressive, making her say negative things about her partner would have just backfired on her and alienated the jury. Jordan told her, if you say so, and Molly said, okay. Yes. It was important for her to be able to look Jordan in the eye, her family, and know that she tried her case honorably and to the best of her ability did everything she could to spare Jordan undue harm. Jordan said she appreciated that and respected it, and Molly, as a lawyer and as a former sort of daughter-in-law. But she prayed to God that Isaiah lost the case.

Curtis held Desmond and said Dez would have been proud of him. He was fighting for them. He was fighting to be with Dez so he never missed a single moment of his precious life. He wanted to be there for all of Dez’s firsts. His first words, his first steps, everything. He admitted there was a moment where he was worried and thought he might give in to his anger, the frustrations, or the injustices, but he didn’t. He kept it together for Dez.

Drew said, while he was incapacitated, Scout spent most of her time with Alexis, but Ava said Alexis adored her granddaughter. Wasn’t Scout just surrounded by more love? He said, more love and also people that hated him. Alexis probably reveled in letting Scout spend time with Danny and the rest of the Quartermaines. Ava said she sympathized. One of her biggest fears was that Avery would be indoctrinated into hating her. He said, by Sonny, and she said, or Carly or Josslyn or Michael or anybody else she was forgetting. He said the one thing that worked in his favor was that he was Scout’s only parent. So with all the attacks and the vitriol, nobody could deny he was Scout’s father. Now that he was recovered, Scout would stay with him. Ava said she’d love to have that kind of control, but instead, she’d been walking a tightrope since the day Avery was born. He said he was sorry. No child should be forced into Sonny’s orbit. It had to kill her to have to put Avery there.

Hudson said this was between Josslyn and her father. He was just the messenger. Josslyn said he wasn’t. He was the VP of operations, so he must know of a qualified candidate who could run the company while her father was gone. He said there were plenty of people who were qualified, but she was the one her father chose. What had her so busy that she couldn’t take up the reins? Was she jetting off to Sardinia? Surfing in Bali? She said, actually, she was a WSB agent. He said, huh, and she asked if it was that shocking. He said, kind of. The WSB wasn’t what he’d expect for a girl like her.

Michael asked why Jacinda seemed confident about this whole Willow thing, and she said she was just fairly certain Willow was about to make a big mistake. And hopefully, it was a public one. Her phone chimed, she said she had to return a call for Nina, and stepped away.

Willow came back and said, Wiley Alan Corinthos, give me the cup. It was her drink and it had caffeine in it. He wouldn’t like it. He said, sorry, and asked if they couldn’t go now. Willow told him to help Amelia with her shoes and they’d go. The kids went to the bedroom and Willow sipped her coffee.

Jordan saw Anna and said she didn’t even know what to say, and Anna said, welcome home? They hugged and Anna said she’d been worried about Jordan. Jordan said not as worried as she’d been about Anna, and they both said, how are you? Anna said, you go first, and Jordan said it had been a tough road, but she was making her way. Anna said she felt the same. She was trying to put her life back together. Jordan said, easier said than done, isn’t it? There was what the world saw and… Anna said, and this is what you see.

Curtis put a sleeping Desmond in his bassinet and told Portia that he was sorry for the way things went down today. He wasn’t sorry for fighting to see his son, but it was never his intention to relitigate their past when she was on the stand. She was the mother of his children, and he’d never want to embarrass her. She thanked him and said the only silver lining was that Dez was so young, he wouldn’t remember any of it. Curtis said, but kids picked up on stress and he didn’t want that for Dez. She said neither did she. That’s why they had to make sure, whatever happened in the courtroom, they kept it separate from their time with Dez. They couldn’t let it affect him. Curtis said it was the least they could do for their son.

Isaiah said he’d rehearsed his testimony with Molly a dozen times. She drove home the point that he had to stay cool and calm. If he lost his temper, he could look vindictive. Elizabeth said, trying to make it look like he may have goaded Curtis into attacking him? and he said, basically. Lucas said keeping your cool in a situation like that was next to impossible, but Isaiah said it was doable, for most people at least. He was counting on his surgeon’s detachment kicking in, but then when he needed it most, nothing. Elizabeth said it was understandable. He’d watched the woman he loved get kicked around on the stand. It was going to affect him. Isaiah said, then she had to endure this nonsense about him being the other driver in Jordan and Curtis’s accident when he had nothing to do with it. It was too much. He blew it.

Ava suggested Drew order another round while she powdered her nose, and he said it sounded like a great idea. She asked if he didn’t mind being in the same restaurant as Josslyn and Michael, but he said he had no intention of fighting with anyone today. Not when he was enjoying himself. She left.

Josslyn said Hudson didn’t know anything about her, and he said he knew her father was handing her his company on a silver platter and she was treating it like it was radioactive. She said her father didn’t ask her, and he said, boohoo. Her father was entrusting her with his legacy and didn’t consult her. What a monster. She asked what his problem was, and he said he flew all the way from Australia and she’d completely wasted his time. She said it was her life they were talking about and he’d shown up and blindsided her, and he said, so take over the damn company and fire him.

Anna said she was glad Jordan and Curtis were a couple again, and Jordan said she was grateful they’d found their way back to each other. She only wished they could enjoy it. It had been complicated, between her accident, the baby, and Curtis’s trial. Anna said, not much room for romance, huh? and Jordan said she hoped when the dust settled, she and Curtis could have a fresh start. Figure out what they wanted and who they were together this time around.

Marshall said he bet Portia wished she could have stayed home with the baby, and she said, instead of being trapped in court? It would have been preferable. He said he hoped she understood why he hadn’t been in court himself. Watching the people he loved, his family, tear themselves further apart, he couldn’t do it. Curtis understood and he hoped she did too. She said, of course (🍷) she understood, but it did feel strange, them being on opposite sides, and he said he didn’t like it much himself. That’s why he was keeping his focus on Desmond, making sure he had everything he needed. She said that was her focus too, and he said, as for the rest, he just prayed they all got through it.

Stella said, no Jordan? and Curtis said she was exhausted. Stella said they all were, and he said there were going to be a whole lot of changes if he was acquitted. She said, when he was acquitted, hopefully, the healing could start and both sides could show some basic tolerance. He said he didn’t think so. When he was found not guilty, Isaiah wasn’t going to get anywhere near his son.

Isaiah told Lucas and Elizabeth that he probably shouldn’t have said what he said, but he did and he meant it. He’d be a better father to Curtis’s children than Curtis could ever be. Elizabeth asked if he was concerned how a guilty verdict may affect Curtis’s children, and he said, of course (🍷). But Curtis should have thought of that before he refused the plea deal. Curtis had a way out, he didn’t take it, and now he suffers the consequences. Lucas asked if he really thought Curtis would be found guilty, and he said if the jury could get past his less than stellar testimony and see the truth. And that better be what happens. If Curtis was acquitted, the situation would only get worse.

Josslyn said, sailboat or not, she was going to talk to her dad and find out what was going on. In the meantime, she wanted Hudson to bring her a list of every qualified candidate who could run the company. Find her someone who could run JJE so she never had to think about the company or him again. He said, copy that, and she left the table, running into Ava on her way out. Ava said she looked frazzled. Was there anything she could do to help? Josslyn said, let’s list your help under things I need never, and left.

Ava asked if Josslyn was that unpleasant when Drew was dating her mother, but he said it was a time he’d like to forget. Hudson watched them, and Ava said she didn’t know how any child survived being raised under Sonny’s influence. Drew said, unfortunately, he was a very difficult man to fight, and she said the part she hated most was being an island while everyone else rallied around him. Never again. This time, she was going to be prepared and have allies of her own. He said she was thinking he could be one of them, and she said, and her for him. She knew Sonny and knew how he operated. So when he came for them, and he would, they could be ready to help each other out.

Jacinda came back to the table, and Michael said she was just about to tell him about this public mistake Willow would be making, but she said, the less he knew about that, the better. He said he didn’t think so. Willow was Wiley and Amelia’s mother, so if something was going on, he needed to be prepared. She said, trust her. He didn’t want to be anywhere near this. He said, near what? What did she do?

Wiley said they were ready, and Willow said they were going to the arcade. It’ll be so fun. It’ll be loud and there will be games and all the music. Wiley said he couldn’t wait. Could they go now? Willow said, yes! and got her car keys. She said, let’s do it!

On Monday, Britt asks how much it would cost Anna to show a little compassion; Michael tells Jacinda that she drugged the mother of his children; Willow says, last one to the cars is a rotten egg; and Josslyn asks how far Carly is willing to go to get her out of the WSB.

🧼 All the Soap News Fit To Print…

Well, who knows what he’ll do with the opportunities left by Sidwell.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/general-hospital-sonny-is-leaving-the-mob-is-ghs-mob-era-ending

So I finally get used to him and now he’s shown the door. Thanks a lot.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/general-hospital-comings-goings-chris-mckenna-exiting-as-jack-brennan

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/general-hospital-fans-react-to-chris-mckennas-exit-as-jack-brennan

Another shame. I’m not crazy about the latest Ethan, but I liked what was going on between him and Ava.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/general-hospital-why-ethans-latest-port-charles-run-ended-when-it-did

https://ew.com/general-hospital-sunsets-ethan-lovett-character-after-nathan-dean-s-departure-12034145

💉 A Dose Of Reality…

Below Deck Mediterranean

In Captain Sandy’s interview, she said she couldn’t find a deckhand and needed a fourth. The last time they’d been shorthanded, they’d hit the dock. In Eyebrows Joe’s interview, he said, in his eyes, Nathan was unprofessional and inconsiderate. You had to be in it to win it. (Ugh.) The captain suggested Aesha help on deck, and Nathan said he was okay with that. In her interview, the captain said they had no choice. Safety was a priority and they were going to have to rally to make this work. Aesha said she was absolutely fine with it, and Captain Sandy told her to make sure she kept an eye on the interior team. Aesha thought Kayley could handle things, and in Kay’s interview, she said she felt experienced enough. In Gen’s interview, (ugh again), she said she was ready to be more positive. She’d been focusing on Kay becoming second stew, and now this. She didn’t want to be a negative cloud of energy and the aura she was trying to project was purple and peaceful. In Joe’s interview, he said Kay worked too hard to fail. She was like him. The guests arrived, and primary Ally impressed the crew… well, the girls anyway, with her Birkin. I dunno. If I had a Birkin, the last place I’d be bringing it was a boat. Ally was allergic to champagne – I’ve never heard of such a thing, but maybe it has to do with the sugar content – and got a Corona in a champagne glass as her welcome drink. She and co-primary Eric had just gotten married, so the guests toasted to the newlyweds. The guests had lots of tats, and guest Bobby, there with his wife Heather, said he was a retired tattoo artist. The boat headed for Koločep Island, Croatia, where Cooper told Aesha, make that slide your bitch. In the captain’s interview, she said the guests had no towels, the shower wasn’t up, and the deckhands weren’t attentive to the guests. Nathan’s head wasn’t in it. She told Nathan to get his sh*t together. It was charter 5. The next charter requested a dinner with a safari theme and they wore lots of leopard print. Not a fan, although an accessory is okay. Starting with the ceviche, the dinner was foodgasm worthy. Aesha talked to Scott, and in her interview, she said wedding planning was going well. She tried to put on an inflatable zebra costume for service, but ended up dressed like a deflated zebra. In Cooper’s interview, he said he could tell something was off with Nathan. Nathan was his deck daddy, and now was being a deck d*ckhead. Nathan was having back problems, and when Captain Sandy heard he’d had a bruised disk, she sent him for an MRI. She put Eyebrows in charge, and in his interview, Joe said that either they were f***ed or it was his chance to step into the leader role. He hoped the captain would see he was bosun material. In Aesha’s interview, she said her Gen Z babies were growing and evolving. Kay was good at taking charge. In Kat’s interview, she said Gen needed to drop the attitude. If they didn’t work together, they were going to fail. Gen’s aura meter kept going grey.

The Valley – Reunion Part 1

My first thought was, oh my God, this is going to be three parts. Whether I can stomach that or not remains to be seen. Andy pointed out that it was Brittany’s first reunion without Jax, which was cause for celebration, but we also found out that he’s still Jax. Although he’d vowed to deal with his mental health and drug use, apparently, that wasn’t happening. He was still rage texting and holding up the divorce despite his having a new relationship (yeah, let’s call it that) with Brittany’s publicist. No surprise, now her ex-publicist. Brittany said that he even missed time with their son Cruz, and the group agreed that he continued to live in the past when he was once the Number One Guy on Vanderpump Rules, at least in his mind. Brittany said he continued to post nonsense from burner accounts and on Reddit, but would claim it wasn’t him when called out. Although she couldn’t discuss the divorce terms, Brittany said there was nothing stopping her friends from doing so, and we found out she’d be getting primary custody of Cruz. Jasmine and Vanessa had gotten married, and we found out Luke had once been a sperm donor, making Lala question who was the daddy for a hot minute. Andy asked how it felt for Schwartz to be at a Reunion without Sandoval, but I’m not sure if he said his years with Sandoval were the best or this was, since I was in kitchen getting a snack. Danny said the season had been hard to watch, and I thought, he should see it from my side. There was a brief discussion on Janet saying Michelle was her dream woman, and Lacy was brought out. She and Michelle disagreed on pretty much everything, but I tuned out until Michelle dating Dr. Dre was brought up. Janet and Zack were forced encouraged to hug it out, and Brittany said even though Zack had continually yelled at her, they were good.

Next Gen NYC

Bravocon was the main topic as everyone got ready to head to Vegas. Ava met with her Ford Modeling reps and they said everyone was loving her. In Ava’s interview, she complained about how much rent was and said utilities and amenities were words she’d never heard of. Liam had taken Ariana ice skating and presented her with a nice pair of skates. In Ariana’s interview, she said there were relationships brewing – her and Liam and Charlie and Shai. Riley wanted to be a good sport and try not to make situations awkward because she didn’t like certain people – i.e. Georgia – so she put together a girls’ night 2.0 before they left for the con, inviting her nemesis. It was also Shai’s birthday and he said it wasn’t the way he’d anticipated celebrating, but was happy to be invited to girls’ night. I’m not even sure why they called it that, since all of the guys came. Ava and her boyfriend had broken up, and in Shai’s interview, he said he was overwhelmed by her coolness and how pretty she was. She confessed to him that she didn’t really have it all together, but was glad she came off that way.

In her interview, Gia said she was adjusting to living alone, but her dog felt differently, and we saw Bella howling when Gio was gone. Girls’ night was held at a bar where they went through a tube slide to get to the actual bar. Kind of impractical, but cool. Georgia told Emira that Charlie didn’t look at their friendship the same way she did – she was often the butt of a joke or a means to an end – but Emira thought Georgia was just trying to get her on her side. Georgia said Charlie talking about Kevin being gay wasn’t the only nasty thing he’d said, and Emira wanted to know, but thought it should be private. She asked if it was about her identity, and Georgia nodded. Emira said she believed Georgia, but didn’t think her intentions were 100% right. However, she was disappointed in Charlie.

While checking on flights out, the producers had to inform Brooks that there was a government shutdown that had been going on for a month, making me wonder how these kids are so out of touch when they’re attached to their phones. Georgia heard Jake from State Farm was going to be at Bravocon, and she was kind of excited about that. Riley told Shai that he had acquaintances in the group, but she had friends, and promised that they’d make his acquaintances friends in Vegas. Ava asked her mom to be a guarantor for an apartment, but fearing Ava couldn’t cut it, her mom said she didn’t think young people could be successful if their parents paid their bills.

Liam had his movie Carrera made into short and it was being shown at a festival. Rowan stayed away from Vegas and went to that instead. Liam sent a case of Pelligrino, flowers, and chocolate to Ariana’s hotel room, along with a note that said, dinner and wine when she got back. In her interview, she said, that’s a man. In Charlie’s interview, he said, in my experience, that doesn’t always get what you think it will. The operative words being in my experience. Charlie is not Liam. Charlie thought as long as Emira wasn’t mad at him, he was fine, but at dinner in Vegas, Emira noted that her personal life had been bounced around by Charlie and Georgia, yet they were now kiki-ing across the table. In Liam’s interview, he said he had more festivals lined up, but he was like, what’s next? I identify. I tend to move onto the next thing before the last one has cooled. Georgia wondered if anyone wanted to clear the air before they had a Bravocon panel, and in Shai’s interview, he thought she was hinting to him and she’d talked to Brooks. The topic of who was the most dishonest came up, and Ariana looked at Charlie, but Riley insisted he was a lot of things, but not dishonest. Georgia just continued staring at him, and finally said she’d always had his back, prompting him to say he’d gotten her one the show, and everyone groaned. Brooks concisely explained that Charlie had sought out a friendship with Georgia’s ex and it was weird. In Charlie’s interview, he said he was going to keep chilling with Omar because liked Omar. Emira said everyone who had beefs should resolve them or STFU, and Georgia left the table saying there was no reparation. Charlie thought that was the wrong word, but Georgia’s pants were fire. Shai agreed on the pants, but no one pointed out that it was actually the right word. In the restroom, Georgia actually WASHED HER HANDS, and joked that she didn’t know when to add the water. Emira told Charlie to tell Georgia to stop talking about him and keep it flat in public. The end. (Bravo editing in the previews had caused us to think she was ending her friendship with Charlie, so I was disappointed.) Georgia came back, and Charlie said if she didn’t want to be friends, they could publicly be cordial. Georgia was cool with that, but declined a hug. Emira said she thought Georgia had been trying to start a rift between her and Charlie, and she didn’t want to be collateral damage anymore. In the middle of all this, a birthday cake was brought out for Shai and everyone sang Happy Birthday badly. Why is it that no one can carry that tune?

https://www.primetimer.com/features/next-gen-nyc-season-2-episode-7-recap-emira-d-spain-rethinks-her-friendship-with-charlie-zakkour-after-emotional-conversation-with-georgia-mccann

Doubtful she’ll have a Big Poppa. She seems pretty self-sufficient.

Real Housewives Of London

This was two back-to-back episodes. No clue why. Amanda wanted to get to know Panthea better, and in Panthea’s interview, she said she didn’t gossip. She just told others the things she heard, so it was like a public service. Amanda said she’d owned 10% of a company with her ex-husband and had gotten rich when it was sold, but in her interview, Panthea said she didn’t buy it. She thought Amanda’s money came from her settlement. Karen went to an amazing Jamaican market with her daughter, and, as always, I mentally drooled over the incredible food. Juliet had a background in entertainment and was writing some songs, and they showed a clip of her singing. She was pretty impressive. Nessie paid a visit to Juliet, who said Panthea had really insulted her by calling her fake. Nessie thought they should all go to the Cotswolds and get some cohesion in the group. Good luck with that. Of course Nessie and her husband have a massive estate there. Her magnificent homes are one of the reasons I like this show. And the clothes.

Panthea went to the hair salon with her mom Shala and in her interview, Panthea explained that she didn’t own shampoo, conditioner, or a hairbrush. She just went for blowouts every five days. I couldn’t compute this, so moving on. Panthea wanted to give the women the full experience of an Iranian New Year and show them how it was done. Since she didn’t really cook (no surprise if she doesn’t even wash her hair), she took them to an Iranian restaurant. As usual, the food was to die for, and I once again vowed to find a Persian restaurant since I’ve never tried it. Panthea told them that the holiday was all about new beginnings, which was why it was celebrated on the first day of spring. In Karen’s interview, she said everyone was trying to be elegant and ladylike, but were acting like they were waiting for the next billionaire. Panthea said a small group was great for getting to know each other, but Karen said Panthea always seemed to be about herself and it was narcissistic.

Nessie sent invites out for a party where the dress code was 50 shades of red, and Panthea bitched that she hated red – it was vulgar. I was actually not a fan of wearing red, but then got so many compliments when I did, I gave in. Bedrooms were getting refurbished at Nessie’s Cotswolds house, so she put the group up in a swanky hotel. She texted that she’d be sending a helicopter for the women, but Karen was like, not happening, girl, and took a car. Same. Panthea hoped Juliet wouldn’t come out with more fake nonsense. In her interview, Nessie said the Cotswolds was her happy place. There was new money and old money, and she was right in the middle. She met the helicopter with champagne, and introduced them to Sir Henry, the Lord Tenet of Gloucester, who had been the late queen’s righthand man, the link between the monarchy and the public. I’ve got to make new friends. When they were alone, Panthea griped to Nessie about Karen’s narcissist comment, and Nessie said she wanted to make sure Panthea wasn’t going to start something. Panthea swore she wasn’t, while outside, Amanda said Panthea was from the blonde world of gossipy women who did lunches and kept coming at her with falsehoods.

After Karen arrived, Nessie said they were going to do a traditional Gloucester cheese rolling competition. This was basically rolling a wheel of cheese down a hill and following it without breaking an ankle. Amanda won, surprising everyone, including me. Next was wellie wanging, which consisted of warming up, then pitching a wellie down the hill. The win went to the one who threw it the farthest and Nessie got that one. I guess the prize was her getting her boot back.

A limo bus brought the women to a catered dinner at the estate. No big shock, Karen and Panthea got into it just as they arrived, some nonsense about being a lady that was so stupid, I can’t even. On top of it, Sir Henry waited to greet them while they tarried. Inside, Nessie played the piano as they entered. Seriously, these people aren’t worth it, but I’m available. Two actual ladies in sparkly gold dresses played violins as the group toasted to Nessie. Karen casually mentioned that she and her husband were invited to afternoon tea at Buckingham Palace with Princess Anne. In Karen’s interview, she said Panthea wasn’t the only one who went to Buckingham Palace, but in Panthea’s interview, she said that was an easy get, but seeing the king was the invite, and she’d gotten it. Nessie kept trying, thanking them for coming and saying she wanted it to be special. She toasted to new beginnings and said the reason they were wearing red was because it was passionate. They then played the usual question game with the usual sex questions included. In Karen’s interview, she said it was inappropriate at dinner, and I have to admit I didn’t expect it from these Housewives. The next game was like Marry-Shag-Kill, but they were to pick one to tell a secret to, one to have fun with, and one to toss off a cliff. In what came as a surprise to no one, Karen and Panthea began to argue about the lady thing again. In her interview, Karen said because she came from humble beginnings and Panthea went to boarding school, she thought she was better. It wasn’t your past that defined you, but your future. Panthea said her friends from Jersey thought Karen wasn’t of her caliber, which confused me, since I didn’t know if she meant New Jersey, which would be incredibly stupid. I’m guessing there must be a Jersey in the UK? The violinist duo came out and played Canon in D major (what you call the theme from Ordinary People) and the women danced around, which was really weird.  

Juliet and Panthea made up and the women had breakfast in Nessie’s kitchen, where she’d made fresh croissants for them. Panthea said she’d have to leave early for an event with her husband that she couldn’t miss. In Karen’s interview, she said, late last night, Panthea had sent her an apology text, and she and Panthea took a walk after breakfast to discuss. Karen said Panthea didn’t listen and made up her own narrative, and Panthea said she hadn’t meant to hurt Karen. Nessie told the group that some of them would be going shopping and some would be walking alpacas.

Panthea left and a car came for the women. The alpacas were incredibly cute and really, I’ll clean out the stalls if I can have a room at the Cotswolds. In a moment I can only define as shocking, in Amanda’s interview, she said she was a country girl who loved the smell of manure. In Karen’s interview, she said when she was a girl, her grandmother had goats, but they were in order. The alpacas were unruly. When they got back, Nessie had a fleet of vintage cars waiting for them to drive around the Cotswolds. They went to a country pub where Panthea’s sad life story was told by proxy and everyone was all sympathetic. Karen told her story about how her mother ditched her at a young age. Later, some of the women discussed an Instagram post by Karen talking about seeing who’s real, but I have the feeling it didn’t relate to her own story.

I found literally nothing online about this show this week.

Real Housewives Of Orange County

Carmella got raked over the coals, both for her extravagant and/or weird birthday gift to Emily and because she’d offered Jenn a job helping her with her real estate gig. In Carmella’s interview, she said she thought Jenn should have the experience. It could lead to a lucrative career and she thought it was important to empower women. Shannon had lunch with her father, and in her interview, she said she’d realized she couldn’t ignore her finances anymore. She wasn’t in the best position, but she was happy about where she was living. Tamra told Gina that Carmella wasn’t happy with her after Emily told Carmella what she’d said about the bag. On top of it, Fancy Pants Heather’s feelings had been hurt when Emily told her that she talked too much. Of course all these things were brought out at dinner in a public place. In Emily’s interview, she said she’d just been standing up for herself. When Gina tried to back Emily up, Emily said she didn’t need Gina in the conversation. I got what she meant, but I could see how Gina might be hurt by the way she said it. Carmella said Emily asked a lot of questions and she didn’t spill all her sh*t out in the first five minutes. There was more discussion about the bag, and Vicki went all mean girl about the new girl, which has always been her M.O. I can tell you this much, if someone wants to give me a Dior bag, I’ll take it and I don’t care what they put inside. Okay, within reason, but it can always be cleaned.

Random Reality Items

Ah, a classic from the old LVP days.

Ugh. Gone, but not forgotten.

Wow. Even after Rihanna put in her two cents. What up, Bravo?

Glad to hear she’ll be back. She knows how to keep it real.

https://ew.com/rhoslc-season-7-trailer-first-look-at-mary-cosby-after-son-death-12035808

👀 Last Weekend’s Watch…

Futureworld. TubiTV. This old movie from the 70s was the sequel to the original Westworld that I didn’t know about. I happened to read about it in the Inverse newsletter, so I thought I’d check it out. I don’t hate a 70s film with cheesy music and bad fashion. Airport, Airport 1975, and Airport ’77 anyone? After the chaos and murders at Delos, it was closed down, only to rise again two years later with some new attractions. Westworld is permanently over, but Romanworld and Medievalworld were revived, and Spaworld and Futureworld added. Along with the revamped attractions, the robots have also been updated. Reporters Chuck and Tracy (Peter Fonda and Blythe Danner) are there to write a piece on the reopened park, and choose Futureworld to check out. Instead of the puff piece they set out to write, they discover not all is what it seems. While it’s not Westworld – OG or reboot – it’s still an entertaining film. Keeping the year in mind, the special effects aren’t awful. There’s actually a very cool chess game where the pieces come alive when they’re moved. And I love the idea of a resort where you can visit other worlds and have a free-for-all, even if there are about a million things that could go bad. The script is okay and the acting not bad considering. It’s nothing you need a degree in rocket science for and an amusing way to spend a couple of hours on the weekend.

https://www.giantfreakinrobot.com/ent/scifi/futureworld-movie-review.html

The Devil Wears Prada 2. Hulu. I loved the first movie, and the sequel was definitely on par. Andy is back, but this time as a reporter for a newspaper. When the paper goes under, she’s given a job at Runway as a features editor. Emily is back too, but now she’s high-powered executive dealing with major fashion houses, yet Miranda pretends not to remember who either of them are. Being her old self in a new, digital world is difficult for Miranda, whose assistant must coach her on what not to say at meetings. And she’s hanging up her own coat. Andy wants to write pieces with depth, but the magazine needs clicks. Her old friend Nigel is still in charge of the closet and sneaking her loans of clothing for various events, as well as helping her as best he can. When the magazine is about to be taken over, Andy tries to help, but we all know about the best laid plans, and Andy’s plans do no better. Miranda is also no nicer, but we still get glimpses of who she really is underneath her chilly façade. This was just as enjoyable as the first film and of course there are the clothes. It was wonderful that they got the original cast back – sans Andy’s useless boyfriend – and they worked together like a well-oiled machine. The story was current and it’s nice to know Andy hasn’t lost her spunk. Even if Miranda hates spunk.

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/the-devil-wears-prada-2-review-meryl-streep-anne-hathaway-1236579649

https://thefilmverdict.com/the-devil-wears-prada-2-film-review

And you too can have a piece of it.

https://deadline.com/2026/08/meryl-streep-auctioning-devil-wears-prada-2-wardrobe-1237028120

The Invitation. Hulu. This was another in the seemingly long line of films where a wedding has something sinister lurking underneath the festivities. Using an Ancestry type website, Evie finds she has a distant cousin in town. They meet up and he invites her to a wedding in the UK on his dime. The wedding is being held at a massive estate, and the extremely wealthy lord of the manor is not only hot, he’s hot for Evie. They hook up, and when the when there’s a toast to the bride and groom at dinner, she finds out that she’s the bride. No surprise, the family harbors a dark secret and Evie must make a tough decision. This was a short, amusing film; gory, but funny. The story was unique enough and there were enough shocking moments and action to keep it moving. The casting was excellent, as well as the acting, and I loved the ending.

https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/horror-movies/the-invitation-2022-trailer-horror-movie-vampires-nathalie-emmanuel

Dead City. AMC/AMC+. I never did finish the last season of Daryl Dixon – shame on me, but I will eventually – so I was determined not to get a late start with Dead City. At present, only the first two episodes are available, and I don’t want to give away the plot, but let it suffice to say a lot happens in those two episodes.

https://bleedingcool.com/tv/the-walking-dead-dead-city-morgan-on-negan-being-maggies-protector

https://ew.com/walking-dead-dead-city-lauren-cohan-reacts-maggie-finally-smiling-to-negan-12025638

And to follow.

https://undeadwalking.com/amc-made-official-the-walking-dead-announcement-fans-dreaded-but-expected

🧂 Adding Some Spice…

I would love to see them again, but I can just imagine the ticket prices.

https://extratv.com/2026/08/03/mel-b-and-emma-bunton-on-agt-team-up-possible-spice-girls-reunion-exclusive

🐶 What a Dog…

🐕‍🦺 It’s not the first time he fell in love at work.

https://people.com/brad-pitt-heart-of-the-beast-dog-behind-the-scenes-featurette-exclusive-12032211

🐕 Already much loved.

https://people.com/brooke-shields-announces-perfect-new-puppy-has-joined-her-family-12035391

🐻 And stay out!

https://people.com/nevada-uses-karelian-bear-dogs-to-chase-bears-out-of-neighborhoods-12034135

🐩 Because why not?

https://www.cuteness.com/2218948/dogs-all-dressed-up-somewhere-to-go

🦦 Quotes of the Week

Political language is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind. – George Orwell

The man who insists on seeing with perfect clearness before he decides, never decides. – Henri-Frédéric Amiel

Few men have virtue to withstand the highest bidder. – George Washington

People think grief is missing someone who is gone, but the deepest sorrow is waking each day longing for the version of yourself who died with them.Kelly Osbourne

It isn’t normal to know what we want. It is a rare and difficult psychological achievement. – Abraham Maslow

I’m just allergic to annoying men. – Lindsay Hubbard, In the City

🍃 Summer’s Last Stand…

Until next time, stay safe; stay checking out your local farmer’s market; and remember, it’s not your past that defines you, but your future.

Video > Sting – August Winds (Live at the Cherrytree House)

July 24, 2026 – GH Weekdays, Nina Makes a Decision, Soap Suds, This Week In Reality, Weekend Watching, Spicy Wedding, Breaking Internet, One Less Than Ten Quotes & Shell

Standard

What I Watched Today

(Nada enchilada summer – condensed because life is short & summer should be fun)

General Hospital

Monday:

Molly met Laura in the interrogation room and said she was going to do everything she could to make sure Sidwell was convicted, but she’d need Laura’s help. Boyle tried to get Laura’s attention through the window, but Fitzpatrick said she couldn’t help him now.

Brook and Chase had coffee in the Nook, and Brook said the main reason she was so happy was because of him.

Willow found Tracy in the stables, and Tracy said if Willow was planning on falsely accusing her of something else, she may want to rethink that. She smacked her riding crop on her palm.

Lulu met Sonny and Ric at Sonny’s house and said Dante wanted to be there, but got called away on a case. Rocco could be in serious trouble.

Charlotte went to see Carly and asked to talk. Carly said, of course (🍷), and Charlotte asked if it would be okay if she moved in.

Valentin was playing basketball, when Brick came along and said the old movie was right. White men really can’t jump. Valentin asked if he could help Brick, but Brick said he was there to help Valentin.

Molly asked if Laura would be willing to testify in court about the Lucas set-up, and Laura said, absolutely. Molly said it would greatly improve their chances of putting him away for good.

Boyle wanted to wait for Laura before he answered questions, but Fitzpatrick said she was busy and they should get started. Boyle wanted to postpone until he found proper representation, but Fitzpatrick asked what his constituents would think if he’d shirked his duty helping the police put away a would-be murderer. Besides, he didn’t have anything to hide, right? Boyle said, of course (🍷), not.

Brook thanked Chase for convincing her to tell him about her role in framing Willow. She knew what she did was wrong and if he decided she should tell Willow… He said Willow wouldn’t be charged for a crime, but if Brook came forward, she could be, and they couldn’t let that happen. He and Phoebe needed her. She said she needed them and promised to only focus on their family from now on. He said, same here, when her phone rang, and she left to take the call.

Willow told Tracy, put that thing away. She didn’t come to fight. She called to Scout, and Tracy accused Willow of using Scout to come there again, but Scout said she’d asked Willow to bring her over. She needed to ask Tracy for a favor. Willow left to let them talk in private.

Carly told Charlotte that her dad was now at the MetroCourt, and Charlotte said she knew that, but had gotten in a huge fight with her mom about living with him. She wanted Charlotte to live with her, but Charlotte had no interest in doing that. Carly said she thought Charlotte should work things out with her mother, but Charlotte said it was like talking to a wall. Carly said Lulu was just trying to protect her, but Charlotte said she didn’t need protecting from her own father. Carly said plenty of people wanted to hurt Valentin and Lulu didn’t want her to end up as collateral damage. Even though she disagreed with Lulu, she was coming from a place of love. Charlotte said her mom wouldn’t be happy until she cut her dad out of her life, and that was never going to happen. If she cut anyone out of her life, it would be Lulu.

Sonny asked, what kind of trouble? and Lulu said, the kind that could get Rocco sent to prison for a long time. That’s why she’d wanted Ric to be there. She needed legal advice. She asked if this conversation was under attorney/client privilege, and Ric said, of course (🍷). He was Sonny’s family attorney, and she was family. She said, Jason didn’t shoot Director Cullum on the pier.

Scout said she wasn’t apologizing to Tracy for bringing Willow. Willow had been there for her since her dad got sick. Tracy said Scout was always welcome, and Scout said she’d like to spend more time there this summer.

Brick said it looked like Valentin could use some help, but Valentin said he was just waiting for his daughter. He was going to pass her the ball while she took shots. Brick asked if he was a Stockton or Magic, and Valentin said he guessed neither. Brick said, pass him the ball, and Valentin did. Brick gave him a basketball tip, then told him to take the gift the WSB had just handed him. Go away. Start a new life, far away from Port Charles. Valentin asked who he was, and he said his friends called him Brick. Valentin asked if that included Sonny Corinthos,

Lulu said, Cullum was going to kill Jason and probably Britt, so Rocco picked the gun up and shot Cullum, and Sonny said it was making sense now. Lulu said Rocco felt so much guilt, both from shooting Cullum and the pain he’d caused Danny as a result. She was sorry. They should have told Sonny, but they were just trying to keep the truth from getting out. In spite of their best efforts, more people were finding out, which meant there was a greater chance for the authorities to hear about it. Sonny asked Ric, from a legal standpoint, how bad is it for Rocco?

Nina woke up in Jack’s hotel room, and said she knew she hated whiskey. Jack brought her some coffee, and said it had been unexpected. She said, no kidding. She hoped he was still thinking about finding the black box before Drew sent her and Willow to prison, and he said he’d already told her that he’d help. She didn’t have to sleep with him for him to do it.

Willow found Chase in the solarium and said she’d brought Scout there to ask Tracy a favor, so she made herself scarce. He said he wished Tracy would treat her better, especially since she’d declined to press charges when Tracy pushed her in the lake. She’d been gracious and Tracy was… Willow said, Tracy. She was glad she’d run into him because she wanted to ask how he felt about taking a trip with her to DC.

Fitzpatrick said it had been clear to him that Boyle was aiding and abetting a known fugitive, but Boyle said he was mistaken. Fitzpatrick asked how long Boyle and Sidwell had been working together, and Boyle wondered why he was being interrogated. He’d saved Fitzpatrick’s life by calling an ambulance. Fitzpatrick said he was grateful, but still needed Boyle to answer, when Laura came out. Boyle said he needed to speak to her, and she asked Fitzpatrick if it was all right. He said, sure, and Boyle hustled her back into the room. He said she had to save him.

Brook arrived at the stables, and Tracy said Scout wanted to use the lake for swim practice. Scout said she was training for an open water swim for charity. The distance was one-mile, the distance from there to the island. Tracy thought it sounded dangerous, but Scout said she was a strong swimmer. Her dad taught her. Navy SEAL, remember? Tracy asked if she was doing this for her father, but Scout said she was doing it for Grandma Monica. The money she raised would go to breast cancer research. Tracy said it sounded like a worthy cause. What’s the catch?

Willow told Chase that it would just be one day. She was attending a conference to learn more about local police practices for a bill she’d be voting on. The people putting on the conference were all lobbyists with their own agendas and she needed someone she could trust who could explain things to her in layman’s terms. There was no one she trusted more than him. He said he was flattered, but had to decline.

Brick said Sonny was a dear friend of his, and Valentin said he’d heard about Brick. He was ex-CIA. Brick said, among other alphabets. Hadn’t Valentin walked in that world? Valentin said he used to, and Brick said Valentin’s reputation preceded him. Valentin said, so did Brick’s. He was surprised Sonny would use someone of his stature as a messenger. Brick said he and Sonny went way back, but he was also friends with Carly, and Valentin said Brick was sent to protect Carly from him. Carly knew he was no saint and knew all that was in his past. Brick said Valentin had made a lot of enemies. If he truly cared about Carly and his daughter, he’d leave Port Charles and never look back.

Carly said Charlotte couldn’t cut ties with her mom or run away, and Charlotte said all they did was fight and she was sick of it. Carly said it wouldn’t last forever, but Charlotte said it would, because neither one of them would change their minds. Carly said she and her mom were the same, but eventually worked through their differences and their relationship became one of the most cherished things in her life. She didn’t want Charlotte and her mom miss out on something like that. Charlotte said she’d always choose her dad over her mom and her mom knew it, and Carly said Lulu was afraid of losing her. Charlotte said all parents stuck together. The only one she could really talk to was Danny, but he was on some trip with his dad. Carly asked what she was talking about, and Charlotte said, she didn’t hear? Jason was back.

Molly asked how it was going with Boyle, and Fitzpatrick said Boyle was tap dancing pretty good, trying to stall, but it was clear he’d worked with Sidwell in some capacity. He just couldn’t get anything concrete so far. Molly wondered why Boyle wanted to talk to Laura, and Fitzpatrick said, maybe he thinks she can help get him out of this mess.

Boyle said Fitzpatrick knew that he’d been helping Sidwell the day Sidwell was arrested. What should he say? Laura said, tell the truth. Tell Fitzpatrick that he was being coerced. They needed people to testify against Sidwell. Boyle said, if he testified, he’d end up in a cell next to Sidwell and he wouldn’t do well in prison. She said the person they were really interested in was Sidwell. If he told them that he could provide evidence for some of Sidwell’s crimes, she bet he could strike a deal with the DA. He asked if she couldn’t say he was part of the sting operation that brought Sidwell down, but she said she wouldn’t lie for him, especially since he’d been involved with Sidwell from the beginning. He said it was a mistake he regretted and he’d tried to walk away, and she said she’d advocate for him to get immunity, but he had to testify against Sidwell.

Nina said she didn’t make it a habit of prostituting herself, and Jack said she was desperate to save her daughter. She said she wasn’t that desperate. If he’d thought she was playing him, why would he go along with it? He said he wanted to see how far she’d take it, and she said he was a disgusting pig, shoving the coffee cup into his hands.

Carly asked if Charlotte was sure Jason was back, and Charlotte said Danny had texted her yesterday. His dad said the WSB just let him go, and showed up at the Quartermaine boathouse. Then they took off on some father/son road trip. Carly checked her phone and asked, how long would it have taken to send a text or a phone call? It’s unbelievable. Charlotte said, he seemed okay though, and showed her a selfie of Danny and Jason. Carly said, he still could have called, and Charlotte said they did look happy. Carly agreed and said Jason had focused on what was most important – his son. That’s the way it’s supposed to be. Charlotte said she would have loved to have done that when her dad came back, but her mom would never allow it.

Ric said, from what Lulu told them, the only two witnesses were Jason and Cullum. Cullum was dead and they had no reason to believe Jason would change his story. Lulu said, Rocco already told some people, including Britt, but Ric said it was hearsay and not admissible in court. Sonny asked about the evidence, but Lulu said Dante was certain there was nothing to link Rocco to the shooting. Ric said as long as all the parties involved kept quiet, based on the evidence, or lack thereof, Rocco was pretty much in the clear.

Valentin said, if Brick had done all this research on him, Brick knew he was capable of protecting those he cared about, but Brick said Valentin had this pattern. He’d be sitting pretty, like he was now, and suddenly came up with a grand scheme, like stealing diamonds in the Ukraine. Valentin asked if a guy couldn’t change, and Brick said, some do. Most don’t. Valentin said he had two real incentives, his daughter and Carly. They both lived in Port Charles and he wasn’t going anywhere. Brick said he got that Carly was an amazing woman and Valentin seemed like a devoted father, but so was Sonny and he’d do anything to protect his family. Valentin said he had no intention of putting Sonny’s daughter in danger, and Brick said he hoped not. Otherwise, Sonny would get more intense and aggressive toward him, and nobody wanted that.

Laura told Molly that Boyle wanted to cooperate with the DA’s office. As part of a plea deal, he might be able to provide evidence for some of Sidwell’s crimes. Molly said she assumed Boyle would be implicated in some of those crimes, and Boyle stammered. Laura said she’d witnessed Sidwell threaten Boyle on more than one occasion. She was convinced he was coerced and deserved leniency. Molly said she’d hear him out, and Laura left.

Brook wondered why there had to be a catch when Scout wanted to swim in a charity race, and Tracy said she believed there was more to it. Scout said she was right, and Tracy said, let’s hear it. Scout said Tracy had banned her father from the estate, but she’d really like him to be able to watch her swim. Was there any chance she’d let Willow bring him over? Tracy said it wasn’t a good idea, but Scout said, please. Her dad used to go to all her swim meets. It would mean so much to her dad and to her.

Willow said she should have given Chase more notice, but he said it wasn’t that. He and Brook made a mutual decision to prioritize their family over everything else. He needed to be there for her and Phoebe. His focus had been split and he needed to fix that. Willow said she knew he’d come to her rescue more than once and asked if he’d prefer if she kept her distance.

Nina hurriedly dressed, and Jack handed her a shoe. He asked her to wait, and she wondered if he hadn’t demeaned her enough for one day. He said he was sorry. What he’d said was unkind and not how he felt. She asked why he said it, and he told her, self-defense. His defense mechanisms were up with everything that had gone on, but he’d greatly enjoyed their evening. She said she had too, and he said maybe they could do it again sometime.

Lulu thanked Sonny and Ric for putting her mind at ease, and Sonny said she should have come to him sooner. She said she did have another worry. Now that Valentin received a full pardon, he was saying that he wanted to stay in Port Charles and wanted Charlotte to live with him, but she wouldn’t allow it. Charlotte wasn’t safe with him. Sonny said that’s exactly what he’d told Carly. He didn’t want Donna anywhere near Valentin. Ric said, Carly was dating Valentin? and Sonny said, unfortunately. Carly didn’t listen to him, but he was working on another way to get rid of Valentin.

Laura told Fitzpatrick that Boyle needed a little push sometimes to do the right thing, and he said, or maybe a good old-fashioned shove, when Boyle and Molly came out. Boyle said he and the DA’s office had come to an agreement on a deal, and Molly said, in exchange for immunity, Congressman Boyle had provided some information that she believed would be helpful in convicting Sidwell… provided it all checked out. Laura thanked her, and Molly left. Laura hugged Boyle and said she was proud of him, and he thanked her.

Nina said she thought she and Jack could agree that were in a very precarious situation and it would complicate their lives if they took this any further. He said, makes sense, she agreed, and left.

Chase said if Willow was ever in trouble, she could count on him, but for right now… She told him, say no more. She got it and totally respected his decision. He thanked her for understanding, and she said all she wanted was for him to be happy.

Tracy said it was a worthy cause, so she’d make an exception for Scout’s father, and Scout said, one more thing. Tracy said there was always one more thing, and Scout said if Tracy could also make a donation to sponsor her, that’d be great. Tracy said she’d be delighted, and Brook said she’d be delighted too. Scout thanked them and ran off to tell Willow the good news. Tracy said, that girl is definitely a Quartermaine. Scout knew she couldn’t say no when she said the words Monica and breast cancer. She had to give Scout credit for hustling her. Brook said, or Tracy did it just because she wanted to make Scout happy, but Tracy said, no, she didn’t. Brook said Tracy had a heart, but don’t worry. She wouldn’t tell anyone. They hugged.

Charlotte said she guessed she wasn’t moving in, and Carly said, no. Charlotte was going to go home and work on a compromise, a way to have a relationship with both her parents. Charlotte said she didn’t see that as happening with her mom anytime soon, and Carly said her dad was a free man now. He didn’t have to worry about taking off at a moment’s notice, and that meant her parents had plenty of time to work things out with her together. The moss bowl🎍approved.

Lulu said as much as she wanted Valentin out of Charlotte’s life, she didn’t want anything to happen to him, but Sonny said that wasn’t what he meant. If all went as planned, Valentin would make the wise decision to leave Port Charles on his own.

Valentin thanked Brick for the advice on basketball and everything else, and Brick said he’d tell Sonny that Valentin was passing on it. Valentin said maybe Brick could convince Sonny to take the loss, but Brick said he didn’t think so. Remember, it ain’t over till it’s over. As he walked away, Brick threw the basketball over his shoulder and made a basket.

Tuesday:

Gio tried to get the kids at the pool to settle down, when Charlotte handed him his whistle. Lulu walked in looking for Charlotte.

Dante introduced Fitzpatrick to Anna. She said she was shadowing Dante for a few weeks to get up to speed before she went back to being Commissioner. Dante stepped away to take a call, and Anna said she heard Fitzpatrick was instrumental in arresting Sidwell, but he said all he did was get pistol whipped. She said she wanted to review all the high profile cases that took place while she was away, starting with the shootout on Spoon Island, and all the major players involved. He said, that would be Jenz Sidwell, Ross Cullum, Nathan West… or Cassius Faison, and Anna said, and his sister, Britt Westbourne.

Stella said she hoped Tristan was settling in okay, and he said the people at the hospital had been pretty welcoming. Elizabeth said the people there were pretty friendly, and seeing Britt, she added, mostly. Lucas asked if Britt had met Tristan. He was GH’s newest cardiac surgeon.

Sonny thanked Turner for coming by the secret apartment, and she said she wanted to give him a heads up. They were coming for him and he was going down. This time, law enforcement was ready and they’d been practicing. She’d been working with a coach. He said Corinthos Coffee was going to take her down, and she said only if they didn’t cheat – again. Sonny said he was going to pretend he didn’t hear that because no one was stealing the base coaches signs. And he had to ask her a favor. Were there any pending charges against Valentin Cassadine?

Valentin went to Laura’s office and said he wasn’t sure she was going to see him. She said they had too much family in common for her not to.

Brick went to see Carly, bringing her flowers. She said she knew why he was really there. Sonny wanted him to warn her away from Valentin.

Elizabeth told Tristan that he was all set, and Stella gave him his assigned parking space. He asked if he could get something closer to the building, and she said she’d see what she could do. Down the hall, Britt told Lucas they were coming for her parking space. Why don’t they just throw in the Mercedes and be done with it? Lucas said she seemed more impatient than usual, and she said she was. Dr. Randolph wouldn’t reinstate her until she met with the new Chief Administrator and the head nurse. They wanted to conduct some stupid conduct review. He said it was bold that she thought she could just walk in and get her job back. She’d disappeared for weeks. She asked if it meant nothing that she was being hunted by some rogue government agent. Besides, what did he care? She thought he was done with her since she wasn’t dying anymore. He said if she told anyone he said this, he’d deny it, but they’d be fools to let her go. That being said, if she didn’t approach this with humility, that could be exactly what happened.

Laura said, it must be nice not to be on anyone’s most wanted list anymore, and Valentin said it was a nice change of pace, but not everyone was as thrilled as he was. She said she was sure Charlotte was happy and Lulu didn’t have to worry about him taking her on the run again, provided he stayed on the right side of the law. He said he’d been given the opportunity to raise his daughter in a safe and stable environment, but he might lose that opportunity without her help.

Lulu suggested she and Charlotte talk and come up with a solution, but Charlotte said she already had one. Let her live at Carly’s.

Turner asked what business Sonny had with Valentin, and he said Valentin was seeing his ex-wife. She said he wanted her to compromise her career because he was hung up on his ex-wife? but he said it was about Donna. Carly was hiding Valentin in her attic for months and his daughter was sleeping under the same roof. Valentin was a danger to his daughter then and he was now. She said the WSB had cleaned Valentin’s slate and set him free. No one was coming after him anymore. He said, someone was always coming after Valentin. That’s why he wanted Valentin away from Carly and his daughter as soon as possible.

As Carly put the flowers in a vase and the moss bowl🎍winked at them, Brick said he had his own concerns about Carly being around Valentin. She said he should talk to Valentin, and he said he already did. She asked how that went, and he said he’d advised Valentin to get a fresh start far, far away. She asked if Valentin was packing his bags, but he said Valentin was sticking around. She said, why shouldn’t he? He had no reason to leave. The WSB cleared him. Brick said that wouldn’t stop another agency from snapping him up if evidence of his other crimes came to the surface, and she asked if he had evidence. Was this a heads up that he was going to destroy Valentin’s life, then hers? He said he’d never do that to her. She was his friend and he loved her. But he couldn’t sit by and let her get more involved with this man. Not without a full accounting of what Valentin has been doing all these years.

Tristan told Britt, we meet again, and Lucas said, they’d met before? Tristan said, briefly, and asked how the apartment hunt was going. Britt said, not great. Someone swiped the only thing she could afford. He said he had good news. Her room above Bobbie’s was available again. Unfortunately, he’d misread the listing for the room and it wasn’t what he was looking for. He talked to the owner and she was very understanding about the mix-up. She even offered him a room at the MetroCourt at the same price. Britt said, no, she didn’t. She’d saved Carly’s daughter from a hook wielding psychopath and all she did was let her rot in that greasy spoon and got rid of all her stuff. He asked if she was sure it wasn’t her sparkling personality, when Lucas asked him for a consult on the fourth floor. They left, and Elizabeth said they were ready for Britt.

Anna said Fitzpatrick seemed like a good hire, and Dante said it was one of the few decisions he’d made where he didn’t second guess himself. She said it was part of the job. If you’re not questioning every decision, you’re probably messing it up. He said he must be one hell of a Commissioner. He knew how tough it was to reenter this job after a difficult absence. She’d been there for him, so he wanted to be there for her. He promised no judgements. He’d just listen.

Valentin said Lulu had been placing obstacles between him and Charlotte, and Laura said she knew Lulu didn’t want Charlotte living with him again, but he should have this conversation with Lulu. He said he’d tried, but Lulu just dug in her heels and it was just going to place a wedge between her and Charlotte. She said she still didn’t know why he was there, and he said he thought she could get through to Lulu. She said she believed Charlotte had the right to have both of her parents in her life, but she wasn’t advocating for his relationship with her until he acknowledged what he’d done to undermine her relationship with her mother.

Lulu figured living with Carly was Valentin’s idea, but Charlotte said it was hers. Lulu didn’t have to blame him for everything. She’d already talked to Carly. Lulu said living with Carly was a non-starter, and Charlotte asked, why? Carly’s was the perfect middle ground. Lulu said Carly wasn’t her mother, and Charlotte asked why Lulu even wanted her there. It made her miserable and all Lulu cared about was keeping her away from her dad. Lulu said they’d talk later and left.

Carly reminded Brick that Valentin accidentally poisoned her when he was going after Jack and she was still choosing to be with him. He said, next to some of the things on Valentin’s resume, that actually qualifies as adorable, and she said she wasn’t trying to deny or minimize what Valentin had done, but the past was the past. She could only go by what he’d done now, not just for her, but for her family. He went to the WSB to warn them that Cullum was a double agent, knowing he could go to Steinmauer for the rest of his life. Because it was the only way to stop Cullum and save Josslyn. He said, one good deed didn’t erase a lifetime of sins, but she said Josslyn was alive because of Valentin. That would always carry more weight than anything he’d done in the past.

Sonny said there had to be a warrant for Valentin out there somewhere, but Turner said the WSB confiscated all the evidence they’d had against him. All pending charges, regardless of jurisdiction, had been dropped. He said he wasn’t thrilled with Carly going out with Jack, but Valentin was a new low. He didn’t know why she couldn’t see she was going out with the man who was going to destroy her life. Turner said she asked herself that very question every day.

Lucas asked what drew Tristan to the hospital, and Tristan said, GH’s reputation preceded itself, but some of them weren’t the way he’d pictured them. Lucas said, if he was talking about Britt, she wasn’t a reflection on the rest of them, and Tristan said that made him feel a lot better. Lucas asked how Tristan felt about softball.

Stella said, given Britt’s history of unethical behavior, the board had deep reservations about letting her come back, but Elizabeth said, despite the board’s legitimate concerns, Britt’s achievements as a medical professional spoke for themselves. Stella said, as such, the board felt she should be afforded the opportunity to explain her conduct and appeal for her return, and Britt said she’d love to. Stella suggested she start by letting them know why she’d locked Nurse Baldwin in a bathroom.

Anna told Dante that her homecoming hadn’t been as smooth as she’d hoped, when Lulu came in. She said she wasn’t there to report a crime… not yet anyway. She wanted to confirm she was picking Rocco up from the Quartermaines. Dante said she could have sent a text, but Lulu said she wanted to talk to Anna. Would now be okay? Anna said the city PR team asked her to go on record with the press to address any concerns as to whether she was fit to go back to duty, and Dante said, feel free to use the interrogation room. Anna and Lulu went in and sat down. Lulu looked at a picture of Rocco on her phone and asked what Anna’s relationship with Robin was like. Anna said, fine. Why? Lulu asked how it was impacted by her kidnapping, and Anna asked if it was what her readers wanted to know. Lulu said, they might, if they’re a mom who can’t communicate with her daughter.

Gio asked if everything was okay between Charlotte and her mom, and Charlotte said, no. Things hadn’t been for a while. Her mom hated her.

Turner asked if Sonny really didn’t see the contradiction. She jeopardized everything she worked for nearly every time she talked to him. He said it was dangerous for him too, but unlike Carly and Valentin, they took precautions so nobody knew what was going on with them. Carly and Valentin were out in the open. She said, if it was any consolation, she was ready to bring the hammer down on Valentin if he so much as jaywalked, and he said he appreciated that. It would be simpler if they had criminal charges, but he had other ways to deal with Valentin. She said if he was suggesting what she thought he was, they were going to have a problem.

Anna asked if things were a little challenging with Charlotte at the moment, and Lulu said, all the moments. There was this distance between them. It was like Charlotte didn’t want to be close with her. Anna asked if Lulu meant the way Charlotte was with Valentin, and Lulu said she just wanted to make up for the years she’d missed, but Charlotte just wanted her dad. Anna told her that she wasn’t saying it was fair, but coming back into a child’s life after losing so much time was a painful process. Don’t give up. Just keep showing up for Charlotte. Eventually, the good times would outweigh the bad and all the fighting would just be a distant memory. Lulu asked if they could reschedule, and Anna said, of course (🍷). Lulu thanked Anna and left.

Gio said Charlotte’s mom didn’t hate her. She might get upset, frustrated, or angry, but hate? No. Charlotte said her mom totally despised her dad and she was just like him, and Gio said, for a while, Dante wanted nothing to do with him and there wasn’t much he could do about it. To be honest, there wasn’t much he wanted to do about it. She asked how he dealt with it, and he said he listened to music. She asked who he listened to, and he said his favorite was Augustin Hadelich. She said she and her dad saw him in Zurich. He was incredible. Gio said, his technique is flawless, and she asked who else he listened to. He said he’d share his playlist with her, when Emma joined them.

Laura said, clean slate or not, trouble had a way of finding Valentin. If Charlotte was with him, it would find her too. He said it wasn’t an issue anymore, but she said he didn’t know that. All Lulu had done was try to protect his daughter, and he’d made sure Charlotte saw her as a villain for it. He said it wasn’t his intention, and she said, prove it. Stand up for Lulu with Charlotte. Then maybe she’d stand up for him with Lulu.

Britt said, when Elizabeth saw the passport, she freaked. She and Rocco were in immediate danger and she didn’t see another option. She was truly sorry she did that to Elizabeth. Stella said, after that, Britt fled the country for several weeks, and Elizabeth said, with a minor in tow. Stella said, and this wasn’t so long after it came to light that she’d faked her own death, and Elizabeth said, all this happened just only in the past year. Stella asked why Britt deserved another shot, and Britt said because she was an excellent doctor and GH was the only place she actually got to help people without screwing up. Elizabeth said, speaking to that, Dr. Westbourne recently delivered Delilah Wilson’s baby. Not all doctors could have handled the situation the way she did. Little Phoebe was alive and well because of her. Britt thanked her and said, saving lives was their business after all. So what did they say? Could she get her job back?

Sonny said if he was going to make Valentin disappear, he wouldn’t be hinting in front of Turner. He’d never want to compromise her any more than he already had. He thought she’d know that by now. She said she wouldn’t be there if she didn’t, and they kissed.

Brick said he hoped Valentin realized how lucky he was to have Carly in his corner, and she said they were in each other’s corner. Brick said, if that changed and Carly decided she needed Valentin out of her life, this should do the trick. He held out a flashdrive, but she said if it didn’t work out with Valentin, she’d just end things, and he said, just like she did with Jack?

Emma said it had been a slow day at the rescue, so she clocked out early. She was glad she caught Gio because she’d grabbed a couple of chaises. He asked if Charlotte wanted to join them, but she said she had to get going. Gio said he’d send Charlotte the playlist, and he and Emma walked off.

Fitzpatrick asked if there was anything Anna needed, and she said she was missing the Ross Cullum shooting. It was March 23rd, Pier 55. He said, that’s weird. He’d thought he’d pulled everything, but he’d go back and check. Anna thanked him, and he left.

At the Quartermaines, Lulu asked Dante if Rocco was ready, and he said Rocco asked if he could stick around there a little longer. She asked, why? and he said Rocco wasn’t saying much, but he thought things were tense between him and Charlotte. She said, too bad. If they were having issues, Rocco could come home and work it out with her. Dante asked if she was sure that was the best idea.

Valentin walked into Sonny’s old kitchen and kissed Carly. She said, wow. He was in a good mood. He said he just came from Laura’s office. it was going to take some work, but he thought Laura was going to broker peace with Lulu so he could spend more time with Charlotte. She said that was great, and he looked at the flowers and said he didn’t have to ask how her day went. Did he have competition? She said, yes, Brick, and he said, Sonny’s friend? She said, yes, and he said it was funny. Brick paid him a visit too, but he didn’t bring flowers. She said Brick told her that he’d spoken to Valentin, and Valentin asked if Brick also told her that he’d tried to scare him out of Port Charles. She said he tried to scare her too, and it worked, and Valentin asked what he said, She said Brick offered to fill her in on everything Valentin had ever done to end up on the WSB’s most wanted list.

Stella told Britt that they’d come to a decision, and Britt said, don’t sugarcoat it. Just rip off the duct tape. Elizabeth said they’d decided to recommend that the board reinstate Britt as a doctor there, and Stella said, however, she’d be placed on probation – again. Her initial probationary period lapsed, and based on recent events, she was now looking at an additional six months. And during that time, if one toe was out of line… Britt said she was going, and Stella said, mm-hmm. Britt said that was fair and she promised from now on, she’d stay on the straight and narrow, but Elizabeth said that wasn’t all. Because Britt was a repeat offender, her probation would consist of extra responsibilities. Stella said Britt would be working nights every Friday and Saturday, and inventorying the lab, and working with the children in the art therapy room, and… It would be easier if she just emailed this to Britt. Britt said, sounds doable. Anything else? Elizabeth said there was one other matter that required Britt’s attention.

Tristan said he never played softball before, and Lucas said that was great. If he had no aptitude for it, that was even better. It wasn’t about being good. They’d play a few innings and hit up the Brown Dog for some drinks. Tristan said he didn’t know, but Lucas said Tristan wanted to meet people and bad softball was a great way to do that. Elizabeth came by and asked if they had a new recruit, and Tristan said it didn’t sound like he had a choice. Elizabeth said, don’t worry. He was in good company. Allow her to introduce their new equipment manager. Britt came out wearing a baseball cap.

Gio said he was hoping to get in a few laps, and Emma asked if he didn’t just spend his entire day at the pool. He said, if a lifeguard does their job right, they never even touch the water. Today was annoy the lifeguard day, so there was nothing but tension for hours and hours. She said she thought she could help, and kissed him. Charlotte watched.

Dante said, according to Rocco, he and Lulu were good. It was Charlotte he had a problem with. Lulu said he felt Charlotte had sided with Danny over him. She got that, but it was over. They had to let this go. he said he liked that the Spencers didn’t hold grudges. The Cassadines and Falconaris did the same thing. It was one thing they all had in common. She asked if she was supposed to do nothing while they slammed doors and avoided each other, and he said, if they need to cool off, let them. She said, in the meantime, Rocco felt like he couldn’t come home, and he said she could give Charlotte what she wanted, which was to go live with her dad.

Laura welcomed Anna back, and Anna said it was wonderful to be back, on so many levels. She had a lot to catch up on, but thought she could manage. She did read up on how Laura took down Sidwell. Bravo. Laura said she had a lot of help, when Fitzpatrick came in. Anna asked if he found it, but he said he didn’t. The records and the physical evidence were gone. She asked if he went to the warehouse, and he said he did. It was never submitted. She said, and the digital records? and he said, gone. Like he told her, there was nothing. Laura asked what case this was in regards to, and Anna said, the Cullum shooting. Anna asked if it was possible everything had been misplaced, and Fitzpatrick said, anything was possible, but everything else was exactly where it was supposed to be. Anna said, then someone took it, and he wondered, who? She said she didn’t know and suggested they go through it all again. Laura flashed back to Lulu telling her, Rocco shot someone.

Sonny’s phone rang and he asked Brick how it went. Brick said, as well as expected. Sonny said, she didn’t want to hear it? and Brick said, not a word. Sonny thanked him for trying, and Brick said, don’t count him out just yet. Sonny asked what he did, and Brick told him, let’s just say I put something in motion. It might take a while, but eventually Valentine would be out of Carly’s life and she would be the one to get rid of him.

Valentin said there were many things he’d done in his past that he wasn’t proud of, and Carly said she could understand why, but she was going to tell him what she told Brick. He was willing to give up everything to save her daughter. That’s what mattered to her. He said he was very glad to hear her say that, and they hugged as the moss bowl🎍hit on the flowers. Carly clutched the flashdrive in her hand behind Valentin’s back.

Wednesday:

Dante told Lulu that Valentin being pardoned didn’t make it safer for him to be around, but it made it harder for her to justify not letting Charlotte be near him. Why couldn’t they just move forward?

Carly hid the flashdrive in a drawer and asked if Valentin found out what was in the black box, but he said, not yet. He was sure it had a self-destruct mechanism and he didn’t want to destroy the contents before finding out what was inside. He was sure it was valuable. He wasn’t the only one looking for it.

Jordan saw Michael at the gym, and he said he wanted to know something and she was the perfect person to ask. She said she was thinking the same about him.

Isaiah fussed over Portia’s baby, and she said he was a natural. He said he’d had practice overseas, and she said his compassion was one of the reasons she loved him. He said he loved her too, when Curtis came to the door.

Simon met with Brook, Trina, and Gio at Deception, and said before they finalized anything, there was a serious legal matter that needed attention.

Britt told Stella that the equipment manager gig came with a longer to-do list than her practice, and Stella said Britt had to see a patient who’d requested her healing touch.

Jack met Anna in the interrogation room and said it was good to see her. She said she didn’t believe that for a second.

Simon said the original plan was to sign Trina and Gio as a duo, but after discussing it with his colleagues, the label wanted to go in a different direction. They wanted them each as solo acts.

Curtis came into Portia’s room, and Isaiah left.

Stella said Portia wanted Britt to perform her exit exam, and Britt said she’d almost forgotten what it felt like to be wanted as a doctor. She was hoping they could talk about the every weekend part of her reinstatement, and Stella said maybe it wasn’t the right hospital for her. Britt said she wanted to be there, but the schedule felt almost like a constructive dismissal, but Stella said Britt saw their offer as a punishment instead of an opportunity to prove she wanted to be there. Britt said they should have confidence in her, and Stella said Britt was a brilliant physician, but had an established pattern of reckless behavior. This was her chance to break it and get herself right with GH. If she didn’t like it, the elevator was right there.

Lulu said Charlotte’s safety was still at risk, but Dante said she couldn’t keep Charlotte away from her father forever. She said now that Valentin had been pardoned, she’d have to split custody. It worked for her and Dante because Rocco wanted to be with both of them. Charlotte didn’t. Charlotte couldn’t stand being near her right now. He said maybe if she let Charlotte choose, it would bring them closer, but she said, or it could just mean more time away from her. She’d already lost enough time and didn’t want to lose what was left.

Carly wondered who else was looking for the box, and Valentin said when he and Charlotte were at Windymere, Jack was there with Nina. Nina said she was there to find anything to shed light on what happened to Cassius the night he died. Carly said she didn’t buy it, and Valentin said he didn’t either. It crossed his mind that they were looking for the box, and Nina must have been there helping Jack, which meant Jack was desperate. It was probably Cullum’s unless Cullum took it from Jack’s office. Either way, Jack would want what was in it.

Jack said Anna must have heard about their former Director’s extracurricular activities, and she said she had. He said he should have seen through Cullum’s façade sooner and questioned her disappearance, but she said, Cullum fooled a lot of people. Jack said he’d heard whispers about Cullum, and then there was Nathan West’s mysterious return from the grave. Then it turned out he wasn’t Nathan at all. Anna said she’d been trying to piece together whose actions belonged to who, what was Cullum’s and what was Cassius’s, and Jack asked why it mattered since they were both dead. She said, Cullum and Cassius were members of a much larger conspiracy. Others were out there who needed to be brought to justice. He asked if she was speaking about Sidwell, and she said, among others. He said he was sure she knew Sidwell was in custody for unrelated charges, and she said she was aware. Had he managed to find anything connecting Sidwell to what happened to her? He said he couldn’t say for sure who was behind her kidnapping, but if he had to guess, he’d say it was Cullum. He’d strapped Jack to a bed and pumped him full of carbon monoxide, which seemed in keeping with psychological manipulation and kidnapping. She said, but if the goal was to make her believe Faison was alive, it seemed the best person to do that would be his son.

Michael asked if Jordan could give him feedback on the gym, and she said, of course (🍷). He asked what he could help her with, and she said her favor wasn’t as easy and it might be painful for her to bring it up.

Quinn met Kai at the Surf Lodge and said he wasn’t sure Kai would meet with him. Kai said he almost didn’t after how Quinn had treated Trina.

Brook asked where this was coming from, and Simon said he’d seen a clip of Gio performing at the Nurses Ball and he was brilliant. Brook said they both were. He was talking about a pretty big change, so she’d need some time with her clients. Simon said, of course (🍷), and left. Gio said it wasn’t what he’d signed up for and he had no interest in being a solo act, but Trina said Gio had worked hard for this opportunity. She’d just have her own deal. Brook said her advice to the both of them to consider the possibilities, but whatever they wanted to do was what she’d do. Trina said, although Gio’s relationship with music was rocky, he came alive when he played. She didn’t want to be the reason he walked away from it. Gio said he wasn’t walking away from anything, but it had to be them together or there was no deal.

Lulu told Dante that when she and Charlotte reunited, she told herself she’d make up for the lost years and be the mother Charlotte never had. But all she’d done was chase years she’d never be able to recover. Dante said he knew from his experience with Gio and Sonny that there was no catching up. Meet Charlotte where she was. Otherwise, she’d risk losing Charlotte forever. (As usual, Lulu was all about Lulu.)

Jordan said she was hoping Michael could tell her about his recovery experience at the clinic in Baden-Baden, and he said the clinic saved his life. He’d never regret going. She said, they did an incredible job, and he asked if she was thinking about seeking treatment there. She said she was, and he said admittance could be exclusive. He’d gotten in because of Jack Brennan, who’d done it because of his mother. She said Sidwell told her about the exclusivity and offered her a spot… in exchange for a favor. He asked if she’d turned him down, and she said, of course (🍷) she did. He asked if she was having regrets about that.

Curtis and Portia tossed around some baby names, and Portia said, if all went well, she’d be discharged tonight. He asked if she and the baby would like a ride home, and she said they’d love it. He said he was thinking since it was the baby’s first night home, maybe he could stay too. (The baby is adorable, but very noisy. I could barely hear them.)

Simon asked if they had a deal, but Brook said her clients weren’t interested in pursuing solo deals. They wanted to stick with the original deal and perform as a duo. Gio said, it’s either that or nothing at all, and Trina said, they started this together, and whatever they did next, they were doing together.

Quinn said, nothing that happened was Trina’s fault. He admitted he was way out of line and hated what it had done to his and Kai’s friendship. Any chance Kai would want to hang out again? Kai said he wanted to get past this, but Trina had become a big part of his life. It only worked if Quinn apologized to her and treated her with the respect she deserved.

Lulu said Valentin warned her that if she tried to keep Charlotte away from him, it would destroy their relationship, and Dante said he didn’t like agreeing with him, but Valentin knew Charlotte. He was also biased about where she lived. She said the space might be good for their son. He was far from over the shooting and the fallout, and needed more of her time. Dante said she had to do what was best for Charlotte too, and whatever she decided, he’d support her. She said she knew what she had to do, but wasn’t sure she could do it, and he said the Lulu he knew could do anything and hugged her.

Valentin said Jack was looking bad. He couldn’t imagine the higher ups at the WSB were too pleased. Carly said it would be worse if they found out the WSB box was in somebody else’s hands and their secrets got out, and he said, a former fugitive, no less. He was going to float a trade. His funds, his assets, unfrozen, released in exchange for the box. She said he was going to have to surrender the box to get his money. What was to stop Brennan from killing him the second he got the box?

Anna told Jack that she believed Cassius had the strongest motive to shoot Cullum that night on the pier. Cullum was in charge of Faison’s final project and Cassius might have taken issue with that. In order to inherit his father’s empire, he may have needed to take his rival off the board. Jack said that tracked, but he was certain it wasn’t Cassius. He knew who did it.

Isaiah said he’d heard they had a new equipment manager in the house, and Britt said she was declaring a moratorium on softball talk. He said he wanted to discuss his uniform number, and she said she’d let him know. She heard congratulations were in order. Portia had her baby. He said she’d heard right, and she asked how mom and baby were doing. He said Portia was exhausted, but doing well, and the baby was incredible. He just didn’t know how any of this was going to work. She said, support his head, don’t drop him, and don’t let him eat dirt. Isaiah said he knew that. He and Curtis just had another awkward run-in. Curtis came into Portia’s room while he was there with her and the baby. She said she didn’t see any fresh bruises, and he said he walked out as soon as Curtis got there so they could have space to bond with the baby. She said, smart move. Avoid altercations. He said the next time he wanted to take a shot at Curtis, he’d remind himself how Curtis ruined his life doing exactly that. Curtis’s trial was coming up and he’d refused a plea bargain. With any luck, he’d pay dearly for that mistake.

Quinn said he had no issue with Trina and hoped she had none with him, but Kai said they’d have to see. Quinn said he’d seen Kai’s socials. Trina was singing now? Kai said she and Gio were in negotiations for a record deal, and Quinn said he’d congratulate her after he apologized. Kai said Trina was swinging by to pick him up, but before she got there, he had to ask. Why was Quinn reaching out now? It had been over a year. Quinn said now that football wasn’t consuming him, he could see the game wasn’t worth their friendship. How did Kai move on? Kai said it seemed impossible, but he managed to get through it because of Trina. Trina approached and asked if she’d heard her name.

Portia told Curtis that it was a kind offer, but she thought they needed to set up some boundaries for everyone’s sake. He was more than welcome at the house, with notice, but no overnights. He wouldn’t expect her to stay with him and Jordan. He said she was right, when Britt came in. She took a peek at the baby and said it was time for Portia’s discharge exam. Curtis left to deal with the paperwork, and Britt said she’d heard Portia requested her. Portia said Stella told her that Brit was back and she thought Britt could use a friend.

Valentin told Carly that he’d be prepared. He needed money now. Lulu was gearing up for a custody fight. She said he could always borrow money from his rich girlfriend, but he said he had no interest in being a kept man. Besides, the money was rightfully his and he wanted it back. She said she got that, when Lulu knocked at the door. She said she’d been doing a lot of thinking and thought Charlotte should decide who she wanted to live with.

Jordan said, no matter what happened, she’d never regret turning down Sidwell, and Michael said he wasn’t sure if he had much sway at the clinic, but he’d stayed in touch with the doctors and staff. If there was anything he could do, let him know. She thanked him and said she didn’t know if it was appropriate to ask, but he said it was beyond appropriate. Curtis always had his back, so if he could do anything for Curtis or her, he was going to do it.

Stella asked how the baby was doing, and Curtis said he was great. He was healthy and strong. She asked how he was doing. She’d seen Isaiah exit Portia’s room earlier. How did that go? He said it was uncomfortable, but he listened to her and just focused on his baby. She said she was proud of him. Sacrificing for his family. Putting them first when everything inside of him wanted something else. That’s what it meant to be a father. She knew he was thinking she’d never even been a parent, so how would she know? but he said he wasn’t thinking that. He knew she wasn’t asking anything of him that she wouldn’t ask of herself. She was his auntie, but she’d always been more like a mother to him. They hugged.

Britt said everything looked great and Portia was cleared to go home. She thanked Portia again for requesting her. It was her first exam since she’d been back and it felt really good to be doing doctor work again. Portia said Britt was her OB and she knew what Britt was going through. She’d been given a second chance and didn’t see why Britt didn’t deserve one as well. She understood the power of starting over and was hoping she and her family could do the same one day.

Valentin asked, what’s the catch? but Lulu said there was none. If Charlotte wanted to live with him, she’d go along with it. He asked if she’d talked to her mother, and she said, no. Why? He said, no reason, and she said she’d been doing some soul searching and decided Charlotte should be given the choice. He said that was very magnanimous, and she said, especially since they both knew who Charlotte would choose. She did have some conditions. He’d have to provide an actual home for her – not there and not a hotel suite. He said, consider it done, and Carly said it was generous of her. Lulu said the way she saw it, as long as Charlotte was fighting her, she’d lose. She’d do anything for her daughter’s happiness. Even break her own heart.

Anna asked, who was Cullum’s shooter? but Jack said, sorry. Classified. She said she didn’t know why she was surprised. She’d asked to pull the case file and there was no evidence. The Bureau must have wiped it clean. Jack said it wasn’t him, and she said, Cullum perhaps. He had every reason to want to bury that file. Maybe he wanted to take care of the shooter on his own terms or just protect the operation. He said, it wasn’t Cullum either, and she asked how he knew all this. He said, when Cullum was discharged, he wanted the evidence, but the PCPD didn’t have it and it was never produced. She said, so it was missing even then?

Portia was wheeled out with the baby, and Curtis gave Stella the paperwork. She said the baby’s name was missing, but if they didn’t have one yet, she could list him as Baby Ashford. Curtis said the baby’s middle name would be Robinson, but they were still working on first names. Portia said she liked the name he’d suggested earlier. The one he’d said was his favorite. It was a strong name. He said allow him to officially introduce Stella to their son, Mr. Desmond Robinson Ashford. Stella said, hi, Desmond, as Isaiah watched.

Michael said he wasn’t out in public like Jordan, but had an idea of the burden she was carrying. If she ever felt she needed to talk, he was there for her. She said she had to get going and left, when Michael’s phone rang. He said, hey, Maxie. How are you doing? It’s been a while… Okay. Listening…

Valentin said he knew he’d harmed Lulu’s relationship with Charlotte, but would always let her know how much Lulu loved her. She said if Carly ever found out Valentin was putting her daughter in danger, she expected Carly to tell her. She glanced at the moss bowl🎍and left. Carly looked toward the drawer where the flashdrive was, and Valentin said now all he had to do was deal with Jack.

Anna told Jack, someone at the PCPD made the evidence disappear. It just fueled her suspicion that it was Cassius that shot Cullum. Yet Jack was telling her that he wasn’t the shooter. What did he expect her to do with this? He said, let it go. It didn’t matter who the shooter was. Cullum was an embarrassment to the Bureau and they never wanted to hear his name again. If she kept digging, she was only going to ruin the life of someone who just wanted to keep people safe. He left, and Peter said Anna was wasting time. Why didn’t she ask him about Britt?

Dante asked how it went, and Brook said, Gio and Trina signed their deal as a duo. Dante said that was amazing. Congratulations. The whole world would see how great Gio was, just like they had. Gio thanked Dante and Brook for being patient with him. He’d turned his back on them and music, but letting them back in opened the door to music again and he was happy he did.

On the phone, Simon said he’d stayed behind to finish up some paperwork. It was a done deal. They wouldn’t agree to sign as solo acts, so he’d signed them as a duo… Well, he’d rather have them that way than not at all. Trina Robinson. She’s the one to watch.

Trina asked if Kai was ready to go, but Quinn said, wait. He wanted to apologize for blaming her for Kai’s injuries and how he’d treated her even before that. He knew how much Kai liked her and he never really gave her a chance. He was sorry for that. He hoped she could accept his apology. She said she knew how tight he and Kai used to be, and she’d never want to get between them, and Quinn said he appreciated that. Maybe they could all hang out together sometime. Quinn went to another table, and Kai asked how it went. Trina said there was a little hiccup, but it was official. She and Gio signed a deal. She appreciated Kai and wouldn’t have been able to do it without him. He said he’d always have her back, but right now, he thought it was time to celebrate. Quinn watched.

We saw a big collage of photos of Trina, something like a stalker would put together.

Thursday:

Emma saw Gio at the pool and said she was glad he hadn’t forgotten his humble beginnings now that he was a huge rock star. Sonny came in and found Rocco folding towels. He asked how it was going, and Rocco said, pretty good, so far. Sonny asked if he could take a break. He had to talk to Rocco about something important.

Dante went to Laura’s office and said he’d gotten her message. It sounded important. She said it was. It had been a while since Lulu told her that Rocco shot Cullum. Anna was back and looking into the evidence. Should they be worried?

Chase went to Anna’s office and she asked why one of her best detectives had been demoted to beat cop.

Tracy left her 14th message for Maxie and said her not returning the calls was unprofessional and not up to company standards. She’d devested her self of Deception’s stock and Tracy wanted it. Call her. 14 messages, Maxie. Brook asked if that was really necessary.

As she let herself into the office, Lucy left a message for Maxie saying it was very important Maxie call her back about the shares. She walked in to find Tracy and Brook, and Tracy said, you.

At Bobbie’s, Cody told Molly that Spinelli had accepted an amazing job offer in Australia and the family was moving there. They were leaving tomorrow night. He thought the family was itching to get out of Port Charles as they’d been traumatized by Cassius’s lies. James most of all.

At the boathouse, Michael watched as Alexis got ready to time Scout’s swim practice. She said if Scout did a mile in under 45 minutes, she was checking her for gills. Accompanied by Nina, Willow wheeled Drew up onto the deck, and Scout said she couldn’t believe he was actually there.

Gio told Emma not to worry. He wasn’t turning into a rock star anytime soon. He’d promised Carly and Olivia he’d stay until they had someone to replace him. She said she loved a man who honored his commitments, and they kissed, when Charlotte came in.

Sonny said Rocco’s mom told him what Rocco had been going through, and Rocco said she’d told Sonny that he’d shot Cullum. Sonny said it was a hell of a thing to have to keep from the people he loved. He was sorry he wasn’t there for Rocco. He understood why Rocco didn’t tell him, but Rocco never had to keep anything from him.

Dante said there was no evidence tying Rocco to Cullum’s shooting, and Laura said she wouldn’t ask how that happened, but there was no evidence in the case at all and that could be a problem. Anna was back and noticed the file was missing. She’d been asking a lot of questions.

Anna asked if Chase was telling her that he’d undermined the case against Willow Cain, a case she’d built and had Willow arrested for. He said he’d simply conducted an independent investigation on his own time. He’d felt there was a rush to judgement and investigated other suspects. She said it sounded like he’d targeted Michael, and he said he believed Michael framed Willow so he could get custody of his kids back. He deserved a closer look then and still did now, but he knew he was wrong. She asked about the footage of Willow driving down Drew’s road the night he was shot. Did he get rid of it to help Willow?

Scout said she wouldn’t know how to swim at all if it wasn’t for Drew. He’d taught her everything she knew. So whenever she was in the water, she was doing it for both of them. Willow suggested Scout get started, and Alexis said she was ready. They all said, three… two… one! and Scout dove into the water.

Lucy said Tracy was puffed up and proud of herself that she’d snaked Maxie’s shares out from under her, and Tracy said Lucy had taken advantage of Brook’s dissolving marriage to steal shares from her. So what was preventing her from using a grieving child to steal Maxie’s?

Molly said Maxie’s family had been through a lot lately between Maxie’s coma and Cassius, and Cody said, who wouldn’t want a fresh start somewhere far away from the reminders of what Cassius did? She said she knew part of the reason he was sad James was leaving was because it wouldn’t give James the chance to be here to forgive him. Felicia and Mac came in with James, and James pointedly ignored Cody. Molly said it looked like they’d all had the same idea. She told James that she heard they were moving to Australia. Was he a kangaroo or wombat guy, or both? He said he’d never seen a wombat, and Molly took him aside to look at pictures of them on her phone. Mac said he was sorry James was taking out the whole Cassius mess on Cody, but they were grateful for what Cody had done for him. Felicia said, telling James the truth proved how much Cody loved him, and Cody said he was going to miss the little guy, but maybe a change was what was best for him. Mac said, but James leaving Port Charles estranged from Cody wasn’t good for him. So for both their sakes, they needed to try and fix this.

Brook said she and Chase were stronger than ever, and Lucy said, thanks to her. She did help them get back on track, so it was only fair Tracy sell her all her shares, including the ones she’d just procured from Maxie. Tracy said she hadn’t procured anything from Maxie and neither had Lucy, and Lucy wondered who Maxie had sold them to.

Charlotte asked if Gio had gotten a bonus from saving that kid last week, and Emma asked, what kid? Gio said it wasn’t that big of a deal. A little kid got rowdy, fell in the pool, and he fished him out. Charlotte said Gio was being too modest. The kid’s mother freaked out, but Gio just dove in and got him. He’d totally saved that little boy’s life.

Sonny told Rocco that Brick said he was in the clear. Legally, he could put this behind him. But he knew a situation like this stayed with you. It stayed with him. He’d managed it on his own, but Rocco didn’t have to. If he ever felt overwhelmed and needed to talk to somebody, come to him and they’d work things out together. Rocco thanked him.

Dante said Anna would be looking into Cullum’s shooting and anything that had WSB involvement, and Laura asked if she’d find anything. He said he owed Laura the truth. He’d used his position to shield his son. He was the one who destroyed all the evidence in Cullum’s shooting. He did it to protect Rocco.

Chase told Anna that he’d never destroy evidence. Internal Affairs found nothing to tie him to it because he’d had nothing to do with it going missing. She said his independent investigation was a serious infraction. He was lucky they’d given him the option of a demotion. He said he’d accepted it because he loved being a cop and his conscience was clear, but she said she needed to know she could trust him.

Inside the boathouse, Willow said she hadn’t expected Michael to be there, and Nina said if Willow wanted to leave, she’d stay until Scout finished, but Willow said they both needed to be there to make sure Drew didn’t pull anything. Nina wondered why she’d agreed to bring him, and Willow said it meant so much to Scout. Once Tracy agreed, how could she not? They’d just have to keep their eyes on him.

Alexis told Michael, regardless of the prognosis, Scout believed her dad was going to recover. Maybe if he did, it might change him into a better person. Michael said he didn’t see that happening. He didn’t think it had changed Drew at all.

Cody said he appreciated what Mac and Felicia were trying to do, but thought they should stay out of it. One of the reasons he’d told James about Cassius was because he didn’t want James to be angry at them. Mac asked if Cody expected them to do nothing while he sacrificed his relationship with James for them, and Felicia said they’d respect his decision, but she thought he should consider giving it another try with James before he left. Cody said he didn’t want to force James to do what he didn’t want to and James didn’t want to talk to him. Mac said, Cody told James the truth and one day he’d be grateful, but right now, Cody had to show James how much he loved him by showing up, no matter how angry James was. Otherwise, James might think Cody had given up on him. Felicia said they knew Cody would never do that.

Gio brought Emma the highest SPF he could find, and she said he was a hero. Apparently, Charlotte’s too. Admit it. A little hero worship feels good sometimes. He said, Charlotte was just being nice.

Charlotte asked if Rocco still wasn’t talking to her or was folding towels that riveting. She didn’t get why he was so mad. Danny’s dad was free and home and no one had arrested him. What was the issue? Rocco said Danny was supposed to be his friend, his brother, and sold him out. Danny turned him into the WSB and she took his side. She said she’d been Switzerland this whole time, but if he was just going to keep whining and not move forward, then she was definitely siding with Danny.

Willow asked if Nina had heard from Jack about the box, and Nina said, no. If he’d found it, he would have contacted her. Willow said she was running out of time. Once Drew was up and running, he’d tell everyone what she did and Michael would use it to take Wiley and Amelia away from her. Nina said she knew Willow didn’t like the idea, but they were running out of options. They might have to take the kids and run. Willow asked where they would run to. Michael and his father would use their resources to hunt her down. If Jack couldn’t give her what she needed, she’d have to get help from someone else. Nina said, like who?

Chase said he was willing to do whatever it took to prove himself to Anna and this department, and Anna said, good. He was an excellent detective and she believed him when he said he hadn’t gotten rid of the footage. However, given what he’d admitted to doing, his demotion was appropriate, but she wanted to offer him a road back. She was interested in uncovering any evidence related to Cassius Faison’s and Britt Westbourne’s conspiracy with Cullum. Cassius masqueraded as Nathan for months and Britt was involved up to her neck. She wanted everything he could find for any open investigations they may be part of, including their investigation into Cullum’s shooting. The evidence from that case was missing. See if he couldn’t find it. Find what she needed, and she’d see about getting his detective shield back.

Dante told Laura that the WSB seemed happy to accept Britt’s account that Jason shot Cullum and be done with it, but he’d looked into it and found out Rocco was the shooter. He’d done it to stop Cullum from shooting Jason and Britt. His son’s blood on the gun tied him to the shooting, so he got rid of it, but he also got rid of everything else too. He knew it was wrong, but in that moment, he was a father, not a cop. She said he was a good cop and a good father and there weren’t any easy answers there. Knowing Jason willingly sacrificed himself to protect Rocco, she would have done the same thing. However, Anna didn’t know any of this. The evidence was missing and she was going to keep digging until she found answers. Dante said he’d handle it, thanked Laura, and left.

Brook said, Maxie wouldn’t sell her shares to just anyone, and Lucy said Brook was right. Shame on her for thinking Maxie would sell her shares to an old battleax like Tracy. Tracy said, nor would she sell them to a grifter like Lucy, when Michael came in. He said they were both right. Maxie sold her shares to him.

Cody told Molly that they had to check on the new arrival at the stables. He’d forgotten to tell her. They had a new arrival last night. James asked if Daffodil had her foal, and Cody said, sure did. She had a little colt. James said she wasn’t due until next week. Was he okay? Cody said he was perfect. James told Molly that they’d been worried because Daffodil was colicky. He’d helped walk her around and kept her calm. Cody said, because of James, she had a healthy, strong son, and James said he wished he’d been there to see him being born. Cody said he had the next best thing, a video of him standing for the first time. Did James want to check it out? James said, yeah, and they looked at the video. James fist bumped Cody and said, it was so awesome, and Cody said James helped make that happen.

Emma said she bet Charlotte was lonely. She loved the way Gio was able to look at how what someone was showing the world wasn’t their full story. He said he was interested in her story.

Charlotte told Rocco that he was being a real jerk. Danny’s dad went to prison for something he did. Rocco asked if she meant saving his life, because that’s what he did, and she said, yeah. Jason repaid him by sacrificing himself. Rocco could have been in that prison. So he didn’t get to be mad at Danny for that. She would have done the same thing. He said her dad would probably end up doing something awful and get arrested again, so she might have to.

Michael said Maxie called him last night. She wanted to divest herself of her shares in Deception before they moved. Lucy said he didn’t know anything about cosmetics or the global beauty market. Why would Maxie go to him? He said, Maxie wanted to sell her shares to someone who would make decisions the same way she would, for the good of the company. He gave her his word that he would. Lucy said he was a Quartermaine and Maxie knew that the Quartermaines ultimately rallied around each other. How could Maxie do this to her? Tracy said, easily and profitably. She thought Maxie made a wise choice. Now she, Michael, and Brook could be a voting bloc. Michael said, not so fast. He’d be making his decisions for the good of Deception.

Nina told Willow not to give up hope. Jack was committed to getting them out of this. Willow said Jack was a spy who lied for a living. Why did Nina have faith in him? Nina said he got rid of the footage of Willow being on Drew’s street the night of the shooting and didn’t rat them out after he was injected. He was going back to Windymere to search for the box with a special infrared device. He was proving to be quite determined and thorough. Willow said, oh my God. Nina slept with Brennan.

Sonny went see Laura and said Lulu filled him in on what happened with Cullum. According to Ric, without any physical evidence linking Rocco, there was nothing that could hurt him. Unless Jason or Britt came forward with the truth. Laura said she didn’t think that was likely to happen, but maybe there was still one loose end – Anna.

Chase said he’d get Anna what she needed as soon as possible, when Dante came by. Chase left, and Dante said he understood Anna was looking for the evidence in Cullum’s shooting on Pier 55. She said she was. Did he know where she could find it? He said she wasn’t going to find it. It was lost.

Cody said he got to name the colt, and James asked what he chose. Cody said he didn’t know. There were so many to pick from, but what did James think of the name West? James asked if Cody wanted to name the colt after him, and Cody said he did, but only with James’s permission. James said it was cool, and Cody said, West it is. Would James be okay with him sending pictures of West growing up? James said, yes, please. His mom said it was really hot in Australia, so he’d have to wear his hat all the time, but he didn’t have it anymore. Cody said, hold that thought, and left.

Willow asked why Nina thought sleeping with Brennan was a good idea. Did she suddenly think she could trust him because she’d slept with him? They’d seen how that worked with Drew. Nina said she couldn’t compare the two, and Willow said if Brennan was going to help them, it had to be now. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be able to control Drew without taking drastic action.

Dante said the evidence disappeared on his watch and he took full responsibility, and Anna said it wasn’t like him to be sloppy. He agreed, and she said she understood there were a lot of unanswered questions regarding Cullum’s conduct in Port Charles, and his death meant maybe they would never know the full scope of what he was involved in. Maybe it was best if they just left that particular case closed.

Charlotte said her dad was free because he’d risked everything to protect all of them, and Rocco’s parents were protecting him from the consequences of his own actions. She and Danny were the ones who created the distraction that gave Carly the time to save Josslyn. Would he have been up for that? Or would he have stayed home where he could be safe and protected? He said the next time she and Danny screwed up and got themselves in trouble, don’t expect him to take the fall, and he walked out.

As Charlotte walked by, Gio said things looked a little intense with her and Rocco. Was everything okay? She said everything was fine, and Emma said Gio just signed with a record label. He was about to become a superstar. Charlotte said that was amazing. Congratulations.

Cody came back, and James said, Cody saved his hat? He was so mean to Cody, he thought Cody probably threw it away. Cody said, no, never. He was going to drop it off with James’s grandparents, but now he could give it to James himself. James asked if Cody thought he’d like Australia, and Cody said he thought James would love it. There were so many adventures to have, and James was just the guy to have them. He wondered if they could do a weekly video call, and James said Spinelli could help him set it up. How did cowboys say goodbye? Cody said they didn’t. We say, see you around, partner. James said, see you around, partner, and they hugged.

Lucy said Michael couldn’t tell them how to run their company on the first day, and he said he was aware that he didn’t have the majority, but only needed one of them to vote with him. Tracy said it wouldn’t be her, and Lucy said, or her. Michael asked if Brook trusted him, and she said he was making a lot of sense. He said, let’s put it to a vote then. All those in favor of his proposal. Brook said, aye, and he said, sorry, ladies, looks like the ayes have it.

Laura told Sonny that Anna had questions about the evidence in Cullum’s shooting, but Dante told her that he felt he could take care of it. Sonny said he trusted Dante to do it, but his concern was how Rocco would deal with this in the future. She said she was concerned about that too. She knew the kind of trauma shooting someone caused. She was only 16 when she killed David Hamilton. It didn’t matter if it was accidental or not. It took a long time to forgive yourself. Sonny said she didn’t want to know what he did at 16. He couldn’t take it back. You had to carry the weight of regret and it was one of the hardest things to go through. She said they were uniquely prepared to help their grandson and she wanted Rocco to know he could come to them for help, but he’d have to heal in his own time. Sonny said they’d be ready for it.

Anna said she trusted Dante. If the evidence disappeared on his watch, that’s all she needed to know. He thanked her and said if things changed and she wanted an explanation, he’d give it to her. She said, noted. There was one more thing. Did he think he could try to be a little warmer to Officer Chase? If she had her way, they might be back as partners again soon. He said, okay, and left. Sitting at her desk, Peter said, so she figured it out, and Anna said, he was protecting his son. There couldn’t be any other explanation. Peter said, then she had her answer. Now she could put her attention back where it belonged. She said she had Chase looking into Britt, and he said she’d see. Britt and his brother were the reason she’d experienced the hell she went through. They were just like him. And they were all just like their father.

Rocco arrived at the boathouse as Scout came out of the water. She asked what her time was, and Alexis said, 44 minutes and 30 seconds. Rocco said he was sorry he missed it, but Scout said, no big deal. She was going to be practicing there every day if he wanted to come watch and help time her.

Willow told Nina that if she didn’t find a way to control Drew, he’d be swimming next to Scout next week, while she was being shipped off to Pentenville. They went outside, and Alexis told Scout to be careful. She didn’t want to get her dad’s wheelchair too close to the edge. Nina stared hard at Drew.

🌞 Summer Friday…

At Bobbie’s, Valentin said he’d take it as a good sign that Alexis was meeting with him, and Alexis said it was nice to see him out in the wild again. He said it was good to be a free man, and she said, for now at least. He said, sorry? and she said, given his track record, she was wondering how long this freedom was going to last.

Lucas was about to leave the hospital, when Elizabeth asked if he’d seen Britt. He said, no. Don’t tell him she was late for work. What was her excuse? Elizabeth said, the excuse she didn’t bother to give? and he said, she didn’t call in? Elizabeth said, no call no text, nothing. For all they knew, she’d taken off again. Elizabeth couldn’t even take an alien abduction off the table with her. He said, if that was the case, she was going to be in a mood when she got in, and Elizabeth said, I can’t with this woman. Lucas asked if she wanted him to stay, and she said, if he was offering. She needed someone to stop her from losing it, if and when Britt decided to show up.

Josslyn went to Jack’s office and he asked how she was feeling. She said it was weird not having a cover story, but she was fine. He said he was referring to her gunshot wound, and she said, also fine. He said, good. He wanted her to sit in on an interview and wanted her take, provided she could be objective. She asked if there was anything she needed to know beforehand, but he said she was ready on the subject, when Britt came in.

At the station, Dante asked if Chase had a minute. It was about Willow.

At the boathouse, Scout talked to Drew about her swimming and said he could help her when he got back in the water. Rocco brought out some electrolyte drinks and said she’d looked awesome out there. He would have needed those floaty things on his arms to go as far as she did. Danny arrived and hugged Scout. He said, look who he brought with him, and Jason joined them.

Valentin said he knew he was lucky to get pardoned and had incentives to stay on the right side of the law. He wanted to do right by those he cared about, and to that end, he owed Alexis an apology. She said, finally. For what? He said, as his relative, he knew she’d been under intense scrutiny from local law enforcement and the WSB and was sorry her privacy had been invaded. She said she’d been questioned multiple times by multiple authorities, and mostly, it didn’t go beyond that. She was just glad she wasn’t involved more. She was also glad he didn’t come knocking on her door and asking her to hide him. He asked what she would have done, and she said she would have had to close the door in his face and it would have come at a great cost to her.

Dante told Chase that they were moving on the case against Sidwell. Boyle was cooperating. He mentioned a connection between Willow and Sidwell, and Turner wanted Willow brought in for questioning. Chase said Dante didn’t have to tell him to stay out of it, but Dante said he was telling Chase the exact opposite.

Scout said she was glad Jason was home, and Willow said it was a surprise. Jason said he got back a couple weeks ago, then left on a road trip with Danny, and Danny said, it was awesome. They made it all the way up to Montana before heading home. Jason said, if Willow had a minute, he’d like to talk to her about Danny and Scout’s living arrangements, and Willow suggested setting up a time for next week, since her schedule was so hectic. Jason said whatever worked for her, and Willow asked if Nina could get Drew home. She had to make a phone call to the WSB. Nina said, of course (🍷), and Willow told Scout, great job. She’d been impressive. Willow left, and Nina said she’d take Drew home, but Scout said she wanted to talk to her dad first. Scout sat next to Drew and said they were all family and had been through so much, him most of all. Maybe they couldn’t start over, but shouldn’t they at least try to get along? Jason said Scout was right. It was time for a new chapter.

Elizabeth asked how Lucas was doing, and he said he was holding up. Throwing himself into work helped a little. Besides, helping patients fulfilled him and it was a nice way to avoid thinking about where he was going to live. She asked what he was thinking on that front, but he said he didn’t know. He was avoiding it. She said Felicia needed some time off to help Maxie with her move and asked her to take over getting Drew set up with a communication device, but Willow wouldn’t make the appointment. She put it off like, six times. He said, that’s a little weird. Most families would be begging to have access to that kind of technology. She said she needed to see Willow in person and find out what was going on. She was going on a break and going to Willow’s office, but their conversation wasn’t over. When she got back, they’d look at real estate listings. Unless he wanted to move in with her. He said he’d take the listings, and Elizabeth left.

Jack said Agent Jax would be observing the interview, and Britt said it looked like she was recovering well. Josslyn said Britt looked pretty healthy herself. It must be a relief to know she didn’t have Huntington’s. Britt said, a relief and about a million other things. Why was Josslyn there? She didn’t think the WSB was pursuing charges. Jack said, that’s true. At the moment. What happened next depended on her level of cooperation. Britt said she was a victim in all of this, and he said, a victim who elected to involve herself in a criminal conspiracy. She asked if he’d always be holding charges over her head, and he said, make herself useful to the WSB. Extremely useful.

Alexis said she may not trust Valentin as far as she could throw him, but she cared what happened to him. It was a huge relief that he wasn’t a fugitive anymore. Just be smart about that freedom. He said he was always smart. Sometimes his risk assessment was too optimistic. She suggested he engage in an activity that didn’t require risk assessment. She was sure the WSB was counting on him not to keep his nose clean. He said they had their concerns and would be watching him for the foreseeable future, and she said, but he wasn’t going to give them anything to see, right? He said, that’s the plan, and she said, good. He told her, that being said, he wasn’t going to let it stop him from taking back what was his.

Jason said, whatever problems he and Drew had shouldn’t involve the kids. They needed to work it out for their sake. Scout said, that would be amazing, and Jason asked Rocco to go for a walk. He wanted to clear a few things up. They left, and Scout asked what Danny’s dad wanted to talk to Rocco about, but he said, it’s complicated. A lot had been going on. She asked if it had to do with Rocco taking off with Britt, and he said, something like that.

Britt asked what Jack wanted to know, and he said, Director Cullum absconded with a secure file container. A black box. The WSB wanted it back. There was reason to believe he’d left it at Windymere. Had she seen it? She said, no. She was stuck in a lab. She kept her head down, did her job, and tried to avoid Cullum as much as possible. That guy was one crazy psychopath. He asked why he should believe her, and she said if she had the box and knew she could do something with it, why would she be sitting there talking to him? Her phone chimed and she saw a text from Lucas: You’re 2 hours late! Where are you? Jack said she could be selling the box to the highest bidder, and she said she knew she’d forgotten something. Let her check her eBay account… Oh bummer. No bites from the DVX. He said, very funny, and she said she didn’t know what to tell him. She didn’t have his box. She’d never heard of a box. She didn’t know anything about a black box. So if he wasn’t going to arrest her, please let her go. He said, that’s all for now, and she said, sorry she couldn’t help, and left. He asked what Josslyn thought. Was she telling the truth?

Willow tried to call Jack and asked that he call her back as soon as possible. It was an urgent matter. There was a knock at her office door, and she opened it to Elizabeth. Elizabeth said she wanted to apologize for being overly cautious and notifying the county about a possible toxin in Willow’s home, but Willow said she appreciated Elizabeth’s diligence. She’d be relieved to know the house was clear. Elizabeth said that was great news. She was also there to check in about the communication device for Drew. They were set up and ready to go, but according to them, Willow kept putting it off. She was trying to understand why Willow wouldn’t want Drew to communicate. Unless Willow was afraid of what he might say.

Lucas said, at long last, she’s arrived, and Britt told him not to start with her. She’d had a horrible afternoon. He said, and an equally bad hair day, and she said, hilarious. He asked, what happened? and she said she got dragged into the WSB for questioning. Because she knew no one would believe her, she got a note from the front desk. She handed him a paper and said it was signed and everything. He said it wasn’t fifth period gym. She had responsibilities and patients who relied on her. She said she was summoned. It wasn’t her fault. He said nothing was her fault – ever. She was a perpetual victim in a world that was just out to get her. She said it would be easier for him if he still thought she was dying. Sorry to disappoint. She was going to live. Deal with it. She walked off.

In the solarium, Jason said Danny had told him everything, including what he’d done, and Rocco said he believed Danny when he said he’d just done it to protect Jason. Jason said he did too, but he shouldn’t have done it and he was sorry that Danny did. Rocco said he appreciated that and asked if Jason thought they were going to arrest him, but Jason said, no. Cullum was dead and the fact that they released him was a pretty good indicator that the WSB wanted this behind them. But if it came to that, he had Rocco’s back. He’d tell them that Danny would say anything to get him home. He was going to take full responsibility for shooting Cullum. Rocco asked, why, when it was his fault the WSB took Jason away.

Alexis said if Valentin was talking about the Cassadine estate, Ace was the heir, but he said he wasn’t talking about Ace’s inheritance. He was talking about his hard-earned assets. She said, hard-earned, ill-gotten. Who can really say? He said all he wanted was what belonged to him, and she asked how he proposed to reclaim these belongings. He said, by going through the WSB.

Josslyn said it seemed to her that Britt was telling the truth, but Jack said she didn’t sound too confident. She said she wasn’t the best gage when it came to Britt. The night after the shooting on the pier, she and Britt decided to share information with each other. She thought they were being open and honest, and it turned out Britt was working with Cassius the entire time and she didn’t pick up on that. That error was what got her locked up at Windymere. He said she wouldn’t make that error again, and she said, not a chance. He said she’d had her own dealings with Cullum. Did she ever see the black box? She said she would have included it in her debrief if she had, but he said she might have seen something and not understood its significance. She said she assumed he was looking for something like the box he used to keep in his office. Was he looking for Cullum’s secrets or trying to uncover his own?

Dante said he wanted to give Chase the option to bring Willow in, and Chase asked if it was a courtesy or a test. Dante said it was neither. He wanted to take this back to when he trusted Chase before the trial, and Chase said, past tense. Dante said this was him trying to trust Chase again, but it was his call.

Willow asked what Elizabeth was accusing her of, but Elizabeth said she wasn’t and she wasn’t judging Willow even a little. She just wanted to help. She knew what it was like to be a caregiver and it was understandable if Drew’s condition was putting a strain on their marriage. How could it not? Willow said it hadn’t been easy, but she thought she was doing a better job of hiding it, and Elizabeth said Willow didn’t have to hide anything from her. They were friends. Willow said she and Drew had a lot to work through and she couldn’t fathom the thought of trying to hash things out while he was talking through a machine. Was it awful of her? Elizabeth said, no. She got why Willow would feel like that. But at the same time, no matter the state of their marriage, Willow had to let him have a voice. Or did she honestly not want that?

Rocco told Jason that he could have refused to go with Nathan or Cassius or whatever his name was, or he could have told his dad the truth at any point. He shouldn’t have let Jason cover for him. Jason said Rocco was in shock, so he made the decision for him. Everything that happened after that was on him. Rocco did nothing wrong. Rocco said, if Jason had known what the WSB was going to do to him, send him away from Danny, from everyone, would he still have said he was the shooter? Jason said the WSB was definitely tough on him, but it wasn’t because of that night. It was because of who he was and the things he’d done in his life. None of that was Rocco’s fault. Rocco said, but he was a minor. If he’d come forward, they would have gone easier on him and Jason would have been free. Jason said they had no idea what the WSB would have done, but he wasn’t taking that chance, and Rocco asked how he could ever repay Jason. Jason said Rocco didn’t owe him anything. It was the other way around.

Lucas said he was sorry, and Britt said, for what? Because she had multiple grievances with him. He told her, for what he’d said at Bobbie’s. It was uncalled for. She said, uncalled for, cruel, completely out of line, but she forgave him. How could she not? He was the only one who recognized she’d been through a really hard time and she was doing the best she could. He said, was she really? Or was she just doing what she always did? Per usual, instead of showing grace and gratitude, she was acting just as entitled as ever. She said she’d thought they were bonded, and he said they were. She said she’d thought they were on the road to becoming friends, but he was still judging her. He said he was just calling it as he saw it. She was fearless. She said what was on her mind. She was an excellent doctor, but he refused to give her a pass for her bad behavior. He wasn’t Brad. She said, duh. Brad would have her back and wouldn’t send her cringy messages every time she was late for work. He said, fine. No more messages. But it went both ways. No more requesting him to get her out of jail. No more asking him to cover for her with Elizabeth when she was late. She was on her own. She said, what else is new? and he said if she didn’t want to be there, leave. But if she did, she owed it to herself and everyone else around her to show up. Otherwise, what was the damn point? He walked off.

Jack said the contents of the black box were classified, and Josslyn said, above her pay grade. He said, but retrieving the box was of the utmost importance. She’d just never know why. Was that going to be a problem for her? She said the rules were there to protect the Bureau’s agents and assets. She planned to follow them. She was given a choice. She could have left the Bureau and she chose to stay. That meant she accepted her rank. It didn’t mean she liked everything expected of her, like keeping her mouth shut as he threatened Britt. He said, fair enough, and she said it was her way of saying, if she wasn’t told what the contents of the black box were, it must be for a reason. He said it seemed she’d learned some valuable lessons since her day as a recruit. She was free to go. She left, and in the hallway, Valentin said, look at her. Back to work already.

Scout said she got that Drew was angry with Danny. He messed up. She loved living with him at her grandma’s house. The only part she didn’t like was knowing he was against it. Danny said, not much she could do about that, and she said, don’t talk about her dad like he wasn’t there. It might be hard for him to communicate, but he was still her father and got upset. Nina said sometimes it was hard to figure out what Scout’s dad was thinking, but she knew he loved her very much and wanted her to be happy. Isn’t that right, Drew? Drew blinked once, and Danny said he was sorry he’d said that and for everything else. He’d talked a lot about this with his dad and wanted to do better. Scout was his sister and he loved her. So for the record, Scout could always count on him.

Chase asked if Dante would be making this offer if Anna hadn’t come back, and Dante said it didn’t matter anymore, but Anna wanted Chase reinstated as detective. She also had an idea of who she wanted to be Chase’s partner – him.

Willow thanked Elizabeth for calling her out. It meant a lot that Elizabeth was always honest with her, even when it was difficult. Elizabeth thanked Willow for hearing her out and asked if she could set up an appointment for next Tuesday to install the devices. Willow said, that would be great, when her phone rang, and she said it was the WSB calling about a congressional matter. Elizabeth said that was her cue to get out of there, and left. Willow asked Jack to tell her he’d found what she needed. Drew couldn’t speak, but she caught him moving and she was out of medicine. She was out of time. He said he was sorry, but they’d hit a dead end. The box wasn’t at Windymere, which meant Cullum either destroyed it or he shipped it off. Either way, he couldn’t get his hands on it. She said it was over then. Drew would regain his mobility, his voice, everything. There was nothing she could do to stop him from coming after her. Jack said, not necessarily. He owed her mother and Willow had done everything she said she would for the WSB. So to settle that debt, he would put her and her children on a plane tonight. They’d provide the means and she could escape with her family.

Dante gave Chase a cup of bad station coffee and said he was down with them working together again if Chase was. Chase said his goal was to get his gold shield back. The trial put them both in difficult positions, but he never felt Dante was out to get him. Dante said he wasn’t, and Chase said that was his roundabout way of saying he’d like to be partners again too. Dante said that left the question of Willow and whether or not Chase wanted to be the one to bring her in. If he chose not to, no one would hold it against Chase, including him.

Jason said Danny saved his life. And Britt’s. He’d never forget that. He was sorry for what it cost Rocco. Rocco said, don’t feel sorry for him. There were so many people who did, he couldn’t handle it anymore. Not that he wasn’t grateful for everyone who protected him. He was. Jason, his parents, Michael, Ethan, even that Cassius guy. But the person who seemed to really understand how he felt was Britt. Jason said Danny told him that Rocco took off with her, and Rocco said, she didn’t want to work for Cullum anymore, so she decided to run. Between what happened and keeping it quiet, he felt like he was making everyone’s life hard and miserable. He knew Britt had some health stuff going on, so he didn’t want her to be alone. Jason said he was glad Britt had Rocco, and Rocco said he was glad they had each other. Now that they were back, it was so weird. It felt like everything changed and he didn’t know what to do. Was he supposed to pretend that nothing happened? Jason sighed and said he didn’t think it was ever a good idea to pretend. Rocco was forced to carry a lot of heavy stuff. He didn’t have to anymore. Rocco cried, and Jason said it was okay. He knew Rocco couldn’t forget it, but he just had to put it down. He had to try and find a way to let this go. Rocco asked if that was what Jason was doing, and Jason sighed again and said he was trying.

Britt apologized to Elizabeth for being late and said she’d gotten called into the WSB last minute, but she knew that was no excuse. She should have told someone. Elizabeth said Britt didn’t have to explain it to her. She had to explain it to Stella. She’d notified Stella and HR that Britt was a no-show. It was policy. Britt said, Elizabeth couldn’t have given her the slightest benefit of the doubt and waited?

On the phone, Nina said, this can’t be happening, but Willow said she’d spoken to Brennan herself. The evidence was gone. It was over. Nina asked what they were going to do now, and Willow said Brennan told her that he could get her and the kids out of the country. They would leave tonight. She just needed to swing by the house, pick up a few things, and pick up Wiley and Amelia from Lila’s Kids. Then they were headed to the airport. Nina said Willow told her that Michael and Sonny would be able to find her, but Willow said Brennan told her that he could arrange for new identities for all of them, including Nina. But she completely understood if Nina didn’t want to come with them. Think it over. Nina had a life in Port Charles, but for her, Drew could be talking any day now, maybe sooner, and she had no choice but to run. Let her know what she decided. She had to go. Nina came out of the boathouse, and Scout said they were meeting up with their grandma at Bobbie’s. Nina said she’d make sure Scout’s dad got home, and Scout and Danny left. Nina looked at Drew.

Britt saw Elizabeth and Lucas looking at real estate listings on Elizabeth’s phone, and walked around the corner. The hospital doors opened and Jason came in. Britt smiled.

At Bobbie’s, Scout said Danny came to the boathouse after her swim, and Alexis asked if her father was still there. How’d that go? Scout said, Danny was great. He said how much he loved her and would always look out for her. Danny said Scout told him how much she loved living with them, and Scout said, together, they explained they were brother and sister and wanted to be in each other’s lives. Alexis asked if Drew was receptive, and Danny said, it was kind of hard to tell. Alexis said, of course (🍷), and Scout said she thought it would take some time for him to get used to it, but he understood. Her dad just wanted her to be happy.

Josslyn let Valentin into the office, and Jack said, Valentin Cassadine, free at last. Valentin said he was a lucky man. Here to pay it forward. Jack asked, how’s that? and Valentin said he’d come into possession of a certain WSB black box. And to prove that he’d turned over a new leaf, he wanted to return it – for a price.

Willow was about to leave, and when she opened the door, she saw Chase. She asked what he was doing there, and he said he was sorry, but he’d been asked to escort her to the police station.

On the phone, Nina said she needed to hear from Jack. She’d already heard from Willow. He needed to call her back before anyone did something they couldn’t take back. She undid the lock on Drew’s wheelchair, and he said, what’s wrong, Nina? Get some bad news? She said, not for her. Worse for him. She pushed his chair into the lake.

On Monday, Willow asks Chase to tell them that he couldn’t find her; Jack asks what Valentin expects in return; and Britt slaps Jason in the face.

🧼 All the Soap News Fit To Print…

But the door is still open.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/general-hospital-officially-writes-out-maxie

I was thinking Quinn, but Simon did say she was the one to watch.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/general-hospital-who-is-trinas-obsessed-fan

So far, she’s doing swimmingly. (BA-DUM-CHH!)

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/general-hospitals-kayden-brenna-tokarski-opens-up-about-becoming-scout-cain-exclusive

Mid-year roll call.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/in-loving-memory-the-beloved-soap-actors-who-have-passed-away-in-2026

Something happier.

https://ew.com/real-life-soap-opera-couples-11965728

💉 A Dose Of Reality…

Below Deck Mediterranean

I tuned in late, just as Nathan was telling Captain Sandy that Luke ejaculated on his sheets. Perfect timing, I thought. The captain said that the rest of the crew knowing was not okay either and she had to do something. Primary Suzanne’s dog Sugar Baby took a dump on the white rug in the hallway, which might have been a statement about the men matchmaker Amy brought for his owner. In her interview, Gen said she hated boat dogs. She told a story about a dog on a different cruise who stared at her as he peed on the white curtains. Mr. Feathers knew what he was doing. The captain texted Norma about deckhands, but none were available. Cooper accidentally ate something with peanuts in the ingredients when he’s highly allergic. Captain Sandy called the medic, and I wondered why they didn’t keep an EpiPen on the boat. Joy nearly freaked out, but the doctor said Cooper would live. A horseback excursion was set up for the guests. In Luke’s interview, he said he’d lost Nathan’s trust and respect – I said, all of us. You lost it from all of us. – and he’d rather be fired than work with a bosun who thought he was a POS. He told the captain that his presence was causing disruption and interrupting the flow. He wanted to be removed from the equation. So she shot him. Just kidding.

Side note: I saw Cooper on Watch What Happens Live and I don’t know who told him that his outfit was a good idea. It was a somewhat clingy shirt opened halfway, showing his hairless chest, along with a choker and medallion. I got the vibe that he’s a guy trying to be cool, but it just comes off as awkward.

The Valley

Michelle and Jesse signed a million divorce papers, and Jesse said it was a lot of work. I’m sure, but no doubt not as much work as being married to him was. They had champagne. I couldn’t see the brand but wondered WTF it was since it looked almost orange. Lala thought Kristen’s hatred for Janet was clouding her judgement, and Kristen and Luke went to couples’ therapy. Britttany decided to host a Halloween party with the theme Victorian Vampire Masquerade. That sounds right up my alley, but I’m sure someone will find a way to dampen everyone’s spirits. No pun intended.

In the City – Reunion – Part 1

The Reunion took place in Andy’s clubhouse, where everyone was pretty cramped. There was some talk about Amanda and Kyle, and Amanda said their marriage had been over before West, but Andy said they’d revisit the topic later. Kenny’s reunion with his dad was discussed, and the single mom card debacle. Whitney said she’d misspoke (a word I’m starting to hate) about the mom card and it was more about entitlement. Lindsay said she wanted to date just for fun, and Danielle said she’d learned her lesson about commenting on Lindsay’s relationships. Georgina said she was looking to date for keeps. Whitney cried about people thinking she was riding Kenny’s reality show coattails for fame and said she and Kenny had talked engagement, but still, no ring.

Real Housewives Of London

Not to be confused with Ladies of London: The New Reign, this is a reboot of the original RHOL show. American Juliet is the only one of the old cast returning, but it’s now confusing since there’s another Juliet. A good portion of the show was introducing the cast, all of whom were incredibly wealthy and most of whom had dogs, so upside. Amanda was hosting an International Women’s Day party, and pointing to a powder room, told her housekeeper, this loo needs to be checked every 15 minutes because it will be carnage in there. Besides pets, I guess the bathroom is the great leveler. The party was fabulous, all designer dresses, caviar, and champagne that wasn’t orange. Nessie, who owns Chelsea Cake Company, contributed a cake, but it was no Betty Crocker mix, since she’d made the cake for the Queen Mother’s 90th birthday. It looked simple and elegant, definitely a reflection of Queen Elizabeth. Color me impressed.  In the preview, we saw Dorinda (RHONY) and I wondered, why? I haven’t found a whole lot on this show, which reenforces my belief that the Housewives franchise is dead, but Andy won’t let it lie down.

Next Gen NYC

Ariana said Hudson giving off d*ckish energy. Agreed. In Emira’s interview, she said Georgia was like a germ. You couldn’t avoid her, you were going to catch her eventually, and she made you sick. Not so much agreement on this one. I find her kind of amusing. The groups went to see the Rocky Horror Picture Show, but most of them were ignorant of the whole cult status of it and we didn’t see much. Afterwards, they attended a party where lots of sh*t hit the fan. Ariana was annoyed with Gia for telling Shai about her interest in Liam, and in Gia’s interview, she said Ariana told her to give Shai a chance, then got mad because he’d talked to Hudson. She thought Ariana had spoken too soon about Shai. I think Shai is just trying to fit in, but yeah, don’t tell him everything. Ava tried to get Brooks and Charlie to have a convo, but Charlie was his usual idiot self and whined about Brooks’s dad, saying, f*** his dad. He was the least respectable house husband. Brooks walked, and Charlie said Brooks made him uncomfortable. Poor baby. Rowan and Brian saw a fortune teller, who told them nothing, but Rowan was a bit tipsy and thought she was brilliant. Ariana talked to Shai about him spilling her tea, but he claimed that he and Charlie had just wanted to warn Liam that he was stepping in glue. This made zero sense since Ariana and Hudson had broken up. When Ariana let Hudson know what Shai said, he told her that Ava and Rowan agreed, but the flashback said no, they definitely did not.  Emira confronted Charlie about relaying to Georgia that she’d thought Georgia was being flirty with Kevin, he admitted it. But when Emira boomeranged back to Georgia, she told Emira that Charlie had repeatedly said Kevin was a gay man, so the flirting was a non-issue. Emira went off mic and just plain went off, saying Charlie had said some nasty sh*t and she was out. Brooks wondered what just happened, since he’d never seen her like this, but Charlie feigned ignorance. By then, Emira was really wound up and told the others that she’d defended Charlie and never talked about his crypto sh*t, but she wasn’t protecting him anymore. He was dead to her. Shai and Liam talked about Ariana within her earshot, and she gave the best quote of the episode: I can hear everything. What are you saying?

https://pagesix.com/video/next-gen-nyc-recap-the-cast-calls-out-charlie-over-egregious-comments-about-brooks-dad-emiras-boyfriend-more

Say it ain’t so.

Real Housewives Of Orange County

Things got emotional between Jenn and her son Greyson, who got pulled over for doing 105, Tamra was emotional about Sophia moving out, and in Carmella’s interview, she said being in Playboy was a wake-up call making her overly cautious with her kids. Emily went to Jenn’s place and said Ryan’s closet was more interesting than hers. He seemed to be in his pink era and had a floral section. I wish I was that organized. Tamra went to see Teddi and expounded on their friendship. She claimed the other girls didn’t care, and then somehow made Teddi’s illness about herself. Gina spilled the CO tea to Travis and in her interview said a prenup was non-negotiable. It wasn’t about her making more money than Travis, but about protecting herself and her kids. Shannon met Tamra and Vicki at The Quiet Woman, where Vicki tried to get the Tres Amigas back, but in Shannon’s interview, she said her hopes weren’t high for Tamra acknowledging the hurtful things she’d done. They sat in silence for a while, when an artichoke was placed in the middle of the table. Shannon finally said that the last time they were there, Tamra said she was a drunk, would never get a man, and had no money. In Vicki’s interview, she talked about Shannon blowing up at the same restaurant on the Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: Roaring 20th. She said walked out when things got too toxic, but Tamra fed on it, and she was scared of Tamra. The Tres Amigas hugged it out and Vicki said her job was done.

Random Reality Items

I’d actually forgotten all about her. When are the Valley Shahs coming back?

Aww. This made me feel sad.

We’ll see how long his repentance lasts. Shep is getting old along with his schtick.

Speaking of, this is at least a gallon of tea in one post.

👀 Last Weekend’s Watch…

Obsession. Peacock. If you’ve seen anything on this film, you probably already guessed the theme – be careful what you wish for. Lonely, music store clerk Bear has feelings for his co-worker Sarah, but not the cojones to tell her. While looking for a crystal necklace to replace the one she lost, Bear finds a novelty item called One Wish Willow. Crack it in half and you get one wish. He buys one (only $6.99!) intending to give it to his friend Nikki, but instead breaks it open and wishes for Sarah to love him more than anything else in the f***ing world.  He’s surprised when he gets his wish, but more surprised when it’s not exactly what he bargained for. Both disgustingly gory and funny – You can’t cook the cat, okay? – it’s also a little sad. While it’s an old trope, it’s given a new spin and is well-worth watching, especially for Megan Lawless’s performance as Sarah. Since the Academy is more apt to give an award to a horror film these days, she’s deserving of one, running the gamut of emotions as Nikki obsesses over Bear, while her true self is… we really never find out where. That was actually my only question about this film. If she’s not quite the real deal, did Bear really get his wish? The film is also left open-ended, leaving the path to a sequel a possibility.

https://variety.com/2026/film/news/obsession-review-1236747795

https://theeverygirl.com/obsession-movie-review

Teach You a Lesson. Netflix. In this series, the Korean education system has broken down with kids left fending bullies off more often than learning, some of them even committing suicide under the pressure. Enter Hwa-jin (Kim Mu-yeol) from the Educational Rights Protection Bureau, a department that’s determined to turn things around, sometimes using a literal good swift kick. While at times it feels like an upscale After School Special, the fight scenes are incredible, with Hwa-jin and his female counterpart Jin Ki-joo (Im Han-rim) kicking ass and not bothering with names. Each episode is different and a story unto itself. Given the seriousness with which Koreans view education, I did find it a little unbelievable that any of their schools have eroded to this point, but here in the US, we need to only look at the nightly news to find the problems depicted in our own backyard. I’m only halfway through the series, but I’m in for the whole ride.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/laurasirikul/2026/06/07/netflixs-teach-you-a-lesson-may-be-one-of-the-best-dramas-this-year

https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/entertainment/shows-dramas/20260605/netflix-drama-teach-you-a-lesson-serves-as-reality-check-for-koreas-broken-education-system

And for those who finished The Human Vapor (reviewed last week), how hard is Ellie My Love (Southern All Stars) stuck in your head?

⛹️‍♀️ Sporty Finds Her Match…

Nice to hear the girls are still joining forces.

https://ew.com/spice-girls-reunite-at-mel-c-wedding-without-victoria-beckham-12022304

🦄 Sharks and Belugas and… Oh My…

🦈 It’s here.

https://www.discovery.com/shark-week

👽 Beam them up, Bruce.

https://people.com/forrest-galante-reveals-details-recent-alien-shark-encounter-exclusive-12022262

🐋 Not their week, but I signed petitions about these poor things, and any whale named Bertie Botts deserves sanctuary.

https://people.com/6-belugas-saved-from-shuttered-marine-park-reach-their-new-homes-12024668

🦝 And if you haven’t met him by now, let me introduce Jimothy.

https://people.com/seattle-short-spine-raccoon-jimothy-goes-viral-after-5-million-views-12021835

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/an-unusual-looking-raccoon-nicknamed-jimothy-is-winning-hearts-across-the-internet-for-his-short-round-body-180989157

🍿 Quotes of the Week

Every strike brings me closer to the next home run.Babe Ruth

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

I think one day you’ll find that you’re the hero you’ve been looking for. – Jimmy Stewart

Success is walking from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm. – Winston Churchill

Of all the unimportant things, football is the most important. – St. John Paul II

To play a wrong note is insignificant; to play without passion is inexcusable. – Ludwig van Beethoven

Sometimes the smallest step in the right direction ends up being the biggest step of your life. – Naeem Callaway

Is this a church or a disco?Annabelle Chua, 90 Day Fiancé

If there was a vampire bat in the US it would make sense for it to come to a slyvania… like Pennsylvania. – Dwight Schrute (Rainn Wilson), The Office

🦗 The Cricket Is Singing…

Until next time, stay safe; stay carrying a reusable water bottle; and stay showing up. You owe it to yourself and everyone else around you.

Video > Pulling Mussels (From The Shell)

April 3, 2026 – GH Weekdays, Marco’s Memorial, Soap Suds, This Week In Reality, Weekend Watching, Beastly Springtime, Septenarius Quotes & Sometimes

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

🍕 Weekday Slices…                                                                          

Monday:

On the phone, Jack tried to find out where Jason was, but had no luck. Carly came in asking where Jason was, and he said he didn’t know, but she was skeptical.

Cody tap danced at Molly’s door and when she opened it, he said they’d won.

Wiley asked, what’s a hooker? Who was Sarah? He introduced himself to Sarah, and Chase asked where Wiley’s dad was. Wiley said his dad was upset because Olivia called his girlfriend a hooker. He didn’t know why Olivia was upset. Was it bad to be a hooker?

Kristina came by the Quartermaines to get some of Danny’s things, and Michael asked how she was doing. She said it was rough, but it would be all right. They were all in shock. She hugged Michael.

Josslyn messed with Cullum’s IV, when he opened his eyes and looked at her. She froze for a moment, then checked his vitals. He closed his eyes again and she started to put gloves on, when Lucas came in. He asked what she was doing.

Lucas asked why Josslyn was there, and she said she was surprised he was working. He said he thought he’d make himself useful and asked her to wait outside. She left.

Michael said Jason thought it was best that Danny was surrounded by family, and Kristina said Jacinda told her about Olivia and the gatehouse. He said he was sorry Jacinda had to go through that, but Kristina said Jacinda was more amused than anything else. She was just annoyed Michael’s family was giving him grief. He said Jacinda wasn’t going to like what was said at the family intervention.

Chase said it sounded like an adult conversation that Wiley should talk to his dad about, and Wiley asked if he’d said something bad. Brook took him to the living room and said he was right to ask a grown-up when he’d heard something he didn’t understand. Wiley asked what a hooker was, and Chase said it was a mean word for a certain type of job. Wiley asked if it was what Jacinda did, but Chase said she now worked at Crimson with Wiley’s Grandma Nina. Wiley asked why Olivia was mad, and Brook said, not everybody saw the world the same way. She’d thought Jacinda was inconsiderate and it made her mad. Wiley wondered if that’s why she’d said mean words, and Britt said she thought Olivia and Michael would work it out. That’s what family did. Wiley said family could get mad, but didn’t stay mad, and Sarah took notes.

Cody said they won, and Molly said she was happy, but what did they win? He said, the grand prize, but she said she still didn’t know what it was. He said he’d taken Outback to Pet Paradise since she had a crush on the store cat Pumpkin. He noticed the store was selling raffle tickets for a dog shelter and he bought 50. They won a trip to the Cayman Islands. Molly envisioned margaritas by the pool, but Cody said it was even better – deep sea fishing.

Danny was at the footbridge, when Charlotte and Rocco showed up. Danny said he’d needed space, and Charlotte asked who knew he was there. Danny said his grandma did. He just had to text every half hour. Rocco said he and Charlotte could leave, but Charlotte said, only if that’s what Danny wanted. Danny said he didn’t want them to leave.

Jack said he’d been trying to find information, but there was a blackout, including WSB personnel. Carly didn’t believe him. She said she’d accepted the WSB came first with him, and had accepted half-truths and outright lies, but she deserved a real answer. He said he’d give her one if he had one. Jason shot Ross Cullum in the back and his girlfriend confirmed it. She said the arrest warrant had been issued before Cullum was shot, but Jack said the only thing he knew was that if you tried to kill a director, you’d pay for it. He’d do everything he could to find Jason, but she had to give him time. Carly wondered why Jason would shoot Cullum.

Cody asked what was wrong, and Molly said she was a vegetarian. He said she didn’t have to eat the fish, but imagined fishing for sport wasn’t her favorite thing. She asked if there was any way they could look at the fish and not torture them, and he said, SCUBA diving. He hadn’t done it in ages and hadn’t had a real vacation in years. She checked her schedule and asked how long the trip was, and he said, five days, starting next Saturday. Was there a problem?

Sarah asked if Jacinda lived there, and Chase said she was an executive assistant at Crimson (which didn’t really answer the question). Brook asked what Sarah wanted to see next, but Sarah said she’d seen what she needed to and would be in touch when the decision had been made. She left and Chase said it hadn’t gone so bad, but Brook said it wasn’t great.

Michael told Kristina about the argument, and Kristina said if Jacinda had an issue with the way Michael treated her, she would have said something. Tracy came in and asked what they were planning… Never mind. She’d just make some tea. Kistina asked Michael to pack some of Danny’s things so she could have a word with Tracy, and he left. Tracy said she already knew Jason wanted Danny to live with Kristina’s mother and had made peace with it, but Kristina said that wasn’t what she wanted to talk about. Tracy asked if there was another problem, and Kristina said nothing Tracy couldn’t solve.

Lucas told Josslyn that Cullum’s vitals had improved and he’d be taken off the ventilator soon. What was she doing in his room? She said she wanted to see the man Jason was accused of shooting. She was trying to wrap her head around it. Lucas said they all were. He was sure her mother was upset. She said she was sorry about Marco and suggested he take a break, since he looked like he was running on fumes. She could keep him company. He said, that might be a good idea.

Danny said he was staying at his grandma’s until everything with his dad got settled, and Charlotte said Tracy probably wasn’t happy about it. He said his dad made it clear that’s what he wanted and he thought Tracy would respect his wishes, and she asked what Danny wanted. He said he guessed it was fine. He’d see Scout more. He asked what happened to Rocco’s hand, and Rocco said he’d cut himself. It was no big deal. Danny said Rocco was acting weird, and Rocco said his dad had arrested Danny’s dad and handed him over. Danny must be mad and he was sorry.

Carly wondered why Jason would take the risk of shooting Cullum, and Jack said Dante found the gun and no one else was there except Britt, who positively ID’d Jason as the shooter. He was the only suspect. He was sorry she didn’t get to say goodbye. She asked why he didn’t call her, and he said Jason told him not to. He knew it was already too late, and she’d never make it in time. She said he couldn’t stop them from taking Jason, but how did they get him back? and he said they didn’t.

Kristina said Tracy had it wrong about Michael and Jacinda, but Tracy said she had no problem with Jacinda. It wasn’t her meeting and she was an unwilling participant. Ned and Olivia said their piece, and it was over. Kristina asked why she hadn’t pushed back. Tracy wasn’t known for being Switzerland and should ditch her neutrality and support Michael.

Brook wondered if there was anyone they could call to be character witnesses to convince Sarah they were normal and well-adjusted, and Chase suggested Laura. Brook said, maybe, and he said, Tracy was a good option. She said she didn’t want to risk making it worse. What about Sonny? He said Sonny wouldn’t make it better, when Michael came in. He asked how the interview went, and Brook said it would have been better if he and Olivia hadn’t been yelling about hookers in front of his son.

Josslyn gave Lucas a drink with electrolytes, and he said he was exhausted, but thought work was a better option than Ava’s couch. She said work was a good distraction, and he said it was his signature move, but probably not the healthiest way to handle things. That’s what Marco would tell him if he was there. Josslyn said she wished she’d spent more time with Marco. It was clear he’d made Lucas happy. Lucas said Ava helped him to see they’d made the most out of their short time together, but he would have liked a lifetime with Marco. How could Marco be gone? She said she wished she knew. When you lost someone so suddenly, it sometimes felt like your own future had disappeared too. He said his future had been taken by Marco’s killer and he wanted to make sure Marco didn’t die in vain.

Jack told Carly that the WSB had a lot of black sites and maybe one of his contacts on an unofficial channel could help. To be honest, the odds weren’t good. She asked if he thought they’d kill Jason, but he said Jason was too valuable. They wouldn’t give up an asset like Jason, but he didn’t think she’d ever see him again.

Danny told Rocco that he knew Dante was doing his job. He was sorry Jason head-butted Dante and resisted arrest. Charlotte said that was their dad’s stuff to deal with. They were a team and couldn’t let that come between them. They’d never do anything to hurt each other. Danny said it was on the WSB, not Dante, and Charlotte wondered if the WSB was framing Jason and someone else shot Cullum.

Molly said she’d just scheduled a laparoscopy for that Friday and was supposed to rest for two weeks, and Cody said maybe they could reschedule the trip. Molly looked at the details and said they couldn’t. Maybe he could take Dante or Mac. Cody said it was supposed to be for them. He wasn’t going. She said she’d reschedule her surgery. It could wait. He said, please don’t.

Michael said he had no idea Wiley had been listening, and Brook said he’d heard just enough. Michael said he didn’t want his kids to know about Jacinda’s past. He hoped the rest of the interview went well, and Brook said, aside from Wiley saying he loved playing Tron with hookers. Chase said they were definitely going to check Jacinda’s background, and Michael said they’d see she was gainfully employed. He was sorry if Wiley embarrassed them.

Lucas said Marco was special and his life meant something, and Josslyn said that’s how she felt after Dex died. She needed to do something. Take her advice and don’t let it consume him. Marco wouldn’t want that. He said he couldn’t do nothing, and she told him that wasn’t what she was saying. The best way to honor Marco was to keep going and find a way to have a happy life. Marco would want that for him. She knew it sounded lame, but eventually she saw that, even though she couldn’t at the time. He said he couldn’t imagine being happy without Marco.

Danny said Cullum was a big deal and he didn’t think the WSB would shoot him to frame his dad, but Charlotte said the WSB double crossed their own all the time. They did it to her dad. They could get rid of someone higher up and deal with their Jason problem at the same time. Danny said he didn’t think his dad shot Cullum, but he had a reason. He’d said something bad was happening. Rocco said, how bad? and Charlotte said, bad enough leave Port Charles. Rocco said Jason was leaving with Britt, and Danny wondered why Rocco thought that.

Jack said he was sorry, and Carly said if he couldn’t help her, she’d find another way. He said it wasn’t her world. The WSB had a different set of rules. They superseded nations and disappeared people. She said she’d fight the Bureau if she had to, and he said Jason hadn’t wanted to put her through the pain of him being taken away. Did she think he’d want her to risk herself to find him? He knew it hurt her, and he wanted badly to fix it, but he couldn’t. She said he didn’t care about Jason, and he said he didn’t, but he cared about her.

Molly said she could put off the surgery, but Cody asked if she might not have another flare up if she waited. She said it was possible, and he said then they weren’t going. Her health was more important. There were going to be other raffles, and he’d be a sucker for every one. If he went, he’d just miss her, so he’d give the trip to someone else. They’d make plans when she recovered. She asked if he was positive he wanted to give up the trip, and he said, on one condition.

Rocco said he’d heard Britt was on the pier and thought she was there to meet Jason, and Charlotte said she’d talk to her father. Maybe he would know where the WSB planned to take Jason. She’d told him about Jason’s situation, and she said he’d try to help Jason escape. Danny said that’s why they’d gone to the station, to give him a heads up, but it was too late. They shoved Jason in a van and closed the door. Danny yelled that he loved him and pretty much lost it. He was banging on the door like an idiot. Like it would do any good. Nathan and Dante held him back and he was left there like a pathetic little loser.

Lucas said he should get back, and Josslyn asked if he thought Cullum would recover. He said it was too soon to tell, and she said she didn’t know what would happen to Jason if Cullum died. Lucas said he’d do what he could to keep Cullum alive, when a nurse said Cullum was waking up.

Brook told Michael that it wasn’t about them. It was about Phoebe needing a home with a loving family. She didn’t know what would happen to Phoebe if they were rejected. Michael said the New York Secretary of Health and Human Services served on the hospital board. He’d put in a call… But they both knew someone with more influence than he had.  

Tracy said she didn’t share Kristina’s opinion that she was Switzerland. Kristina wasn’t there. Kristina said she got the sense Michael didn’t feel support from her. It was her family, her house, her rules. As matriarch, she should support Michael. Tracy said if Kristina expected her to take Monica’s place, she’d be disappointed, but Kristina said no one could take Monica’s place. Tracy asked, what was her point? and Kristina said Tracy had just gone toe-to-toe with Alexis about Danny belonging with the Quartermaine family. Stick up for Michael. Tell Olivia to stop belittling Jacinda. Get off the sidelines and bring her family together. Take the reins, Tracy Q.

Molly asked, what’s the condition? and Cody said he wanted to take the trip so they could spend time together. Can they at least have that weekend together? She said she’d be post op and would need to rest, and he said she could stay with him or he could stay there. Let him take care of her. She said she was a demanding patient. Did he really want to wait on her hand and foot? He said there was nothing he’d like more, and she said, how could she refuse? They kissed.

Tracy asked if Kristina was telling her how to run her family, but Kristina said, no. She was sticking up for her brother. If Tracy spent some time with Jacinda, she’d like her. Jacinda was a strong woman, like Tracy. Tracy said, and she wasn’t afraid to express her ideas and opinions, like Kristina. Kristina was to be advised, she may never address her as Tracy Q again ever. Kristina said that was fair, and Tracy asked if Kristina always meddled in people’s lives or were Michael and Jacinda special?

Michael said he’d do what he could to help Brook and Chase, but there was someone better who’d have positive influence over the social worker – their representative in Congress, Willow. Chase said, of course (🍷). Willow would be happy to help.

Josslyn watched through Cullum’s room window, and Lucas told Cullum that he was at General Hospital. He was Dr. Jones. Did he remember what happened? Cullum said he was shot, and Lucas asked if he remembered who did it.

Danny said he wanted to help, but couldn’t, and just made everything worse, but Charlotte said he didn’t. There was nothing he could have done anyway. They were talking about the WSB. He fought back and the last thing Jason heard was that Danny loved him. That mattered. Danny said he wished he knew where they were taking his father, and Charlotte promised they’d find him. Danny said worrying about him was the last thing Jason needed, but Charlotte said Jason wasn’t worried. He knew Danny had them. Right, Rocco? Rocco said, right, and Charlotte hugged Danny.  

Jack said he knew how much Jason meant to Carly. If there was anything he could do, he would. She said she didn’t understand. Jason knew the risks and put other people first. She couldn’t believe he was gone. Jack reached for her, but she said, stop. The WSB couldn’t do this. They couldn’t take away the people she loved. She walked out, slamming the door.  

Tuesday:

Felicia, Nahan, and James were at Bobbie’s for breakfast, and James ran off to talk to Kai. Nathan thanked Felicia for putting her feelings about him and Lulu aside for James’s sake, and Felicia said she wanted to make her feelings clear.

Portia had an ultrasound appointment and told Isaiah that she was nervous about Curtis being there. She was worried that he was angry about what she’d said to Jordan.

Jordan went to see Sidwell and offered her sympathies. She asked if there was anything she could do, and he said, as a matter of fact, there was.

Willow told Drew that she was sorry she and Sidwell had to keep him in this condition, but it wouldn’t go on forever. When the time was right, they’d bring him out of it. He flashed back to Sidwell’s visit and Sidwell saying Willow’s career would skyrocket when she was a widow. Willow told Drew that things had a way of changing for the better. They did for her. The doorbell rang.

Michael came into the nook and saw Brook there. She seemed miffed at him, and he said he was sorry about the social worker, but she said she was mad about his bright idea that sent Chase back into Willow’s orbit.

Willow opened the door to Chase, and he said she was the only one who could help him.

Nathan said, with all due respect, it was none of Felicia’s business, and she said he was right. Like it or not, he and Lulu had made their choice to continue seeing each other. She was angry at first. It felt like a betrayal, and she was afraid Maxie would be hurt. Maxie said she wasn’t thrilled, but accepted they had right to explore a relationship. If her daughter could show them grace, she could too.

Kai asked if James was excited about the game against Llanview, and James asked if he could play shortstop. Trina gave him some pointers, which startled Kai, and she said she’d been in Little League. She loved baseball. Kai said she was full of surprises.

Curtis asked for a word with Portia in private, and Isaiah stepped away. Portia assumed he was angry about Jordan, but he asked if she wanted to find out the sex of their child. She didn’t know if she was ready, and he said whatever she wanted. She said it was time to clear the air.

Sidwell showed Jordan pictures of Marco and said he never saw much of his son until he was an adult. She said, eventually they became close, and Sidwell said, when Marco came out, he was rejected by his mother. It was painful that her actions hurt Marco, but it gave him the greatest gift. He had Marco all to himself and a chance to make up for lost time. Now he faced the unfathomable task of burying his son. Jordan asked what she could help with, and he said he wanted something only she could provide.

Brook said Chase was stopping by Willow’s after his shift to talk about her helping with the foster process, and Michael asked why she didn’t go with him. She said they’d agreed Willow would be more receptive if he went alone. She wasn’t jealous, but they’d had friction around Chase trying to prove Willow’s innocence. It almost cost him his job. Michael said, not to mention his freedom, and she said they’d worked through it and Chase agreed to focus on starting their family. Thanks to Michael, he might get sucked back into Willow’s drama. He said he was just trying to help. He was no fan of Willow’s, but she had the influence to help them be foster parents. Brook said, but at what cost?

Chase told Willow the foster plan, and Willow was thrilled. She asked how she could help, and he said he was worried about the home visit going sideways. She assumed Tracy said something offensive, but he said it was a solid guess, but it wasn’t Tracy. It was Willow’s son. Wiley asked them to explain what a hooker was in front of the social worker. Willow said, Michael.

Michael said he got where Brook was coming from. He had misgivings about his kids’ relationship with Willow. Brook asked how he dealt with it, and he said he still struggled, but never in front of the kids. For the greater good, he had to bite his tongue and hope for the best. Maybe she should try doing the same and let Willow help. She said, what if it became a problem? and he said he was confident she could handle it.

Chase said, Wiley overheard Olivia giving Michael a hard time about Jacinda’s former occupation, and Willow said she wasn’t thrilled about it herself. What did they say? He said they dodged the question about Jacinda’s past and explained about arguing with family. She said, family gets mad, but doesn’t stay mad. It sounded like they handled it well. He said he couldn’t get a read on the social worker and was hoping as congresswoman, she could put in a good word for them. She said, absolutely. She’d do what she could to make sure they fostered Phoebe.

Felicia asked Nathan to forgive her for coming down hard on him, but he said she was just protecting Maxie. She was a good parent. She said he wasn’t bad himself and already had a strong bond with James. James had gravitated to different father figures and had been clearly filling a void. Now that he had his actual father, it had healed his wounds. Nathan said it was the same for him. He loved James so much.

James asked if Trina played shortstop, and she said she was queen of the double plays, but did a little bit of everything. Kai said she should be his assistant coach, since Coach Mitchell was moving, but she said with school and working at the art gallery, her plate was full. James said, please? And she could have all the free snacks she wanted.

Portia said she was sure Jordan told Curtis that they’d run into each other at the nail salon, where she’d accused Jordan of being pregnant and keeping it a secret. Maybe she’d been a little snarky… Okay. She was a lot snarky. Curtis said Jordan told him, but he wasn’t upset. For what it was worth (🍷), neither was Jordan. They’d had their differences, but he hoped they could set them aside for the baby’s sake. She said she’d like that too. She’d had a long conversation with Stella, and it was very enlightening. She saw that she needed to stop blaming Jordan for the problems in her life and move on, and that’s what she intended on doing.

Sidwell asked what Jordan knew about his son’s death, and she said, he was attacked in his law office. There were no witnesses and the police were searching for suspects. He asked if she’d spoken to anyone at the PCPD, and she said, no. Why? He said she used to be the Police Commissioner, and he assumed she still had contacts there. He wanted her to reach out and discover what they were holding back about the murder, then report back to him.

Brook thanked Michael and said she was surprised she hadn’t heard from Chase yet. She wondered if Willow turned him down. Michael said Willow wouldn’t pass up a chance to be Chase’s hero, and she said that meant they’d be in Willow’s debt.

Chase said he couldn’t thank Willow enough, and she said it was the least she could do. He’d put his career on the line to prove her innocence, and she felt terrible that he’d been demoted. He said he had no regrets, and she said he’d believed in her when no one else did. She’d always be grateful. He said Alexis and Drew believed in her, but she said Alexis was paid and Drew was her husband. Chase had stood by her and put his job at risk, as well as his relationship with Brook’s family. He said she was an amazing person with a kind heart, and she said he was too. She’d do everything in her power to make sure they got to foster Phoebe. They hugged.

Felicia said it was clear James admired Nathan and wanted to be like his father, and Nathan said it was daunting. He was worried he’d let James down. Felicia said that was inevitable. It didn’t mean he was a bad parent, but that he was human. Just be himself. James came back and said Trina was going to be Kai’s assistant coach.

Trina said she couldn’t believe Kai convinced her to be assistant coach, and he said she’d have a whole team to boss around. His phone rang and he said it was Willow.

Curtis said he appreciated Portia’s willingness to make peace with Jordan, and Portia said they wouldn’t be best friends, but she didn’t want any tension between them. That included Isaiah and Jordan. He said he felt the same way. She’d accepted Jordan’s place in his life, and he’d do his best to accept Isaiah’s place in hers. Portia said she wanted their baby to grow up with his father being in a loving, healthy relationship. If that was with Jordan, she supported it. He deserved to be happy. He said they all did, and a nurse said Dr. Westbourne was ready for Portia.

Jordan said she was sure the PCPD was doing everything they could and was confident they’d share what they uncovered with Sidwell, but he said he wasn’t confident with Dante. He was Sonny’s son, and would Dante tell him if… when it led to his father? Of course (🍷) he wouldn’t. He’d cover for his old man. He couldn’t let Marco’s murderer escape justice. Jordan said in the time she’d worked there, Dante put a high wall between himself and his father, and was scrupulously honest. Sidwell could trust him. He said he could only trust what he paid for, and she said she hoped he wasn’t referring to her.  

Sidwell said, as the former Police Commissioner, Jordan knew how the department operated and knew the key players. Some probably owed their jobs to her and she should exploit that. She asked if wanted her to spy on them, and he said, call it what she wanted, but he needed information, evidence, suspects, anything that pointed to Sonny. Nothing was more important than having that man pay for his son’s murder. She said she’d make some inquiries, but he said he wanted more than that. It was imperative that she come through. She’d carved herself out a nice life through his generosity, and he’d hate for her to lose everything.  

Chase told Brook that he spoke with Willow, and she’d agreed to put in a good word on their behalf. He had to admit it was a good idea.

Kai and Trina went to Drew’s, and Trina gave Willow a gift for Drew, compression socks to help with his blood circulation. Willow said it was thoughtful and generous after the way Drew had treated her parents, and Trina said she had complicated feelings about Drew. He’d been a great mentor to Kai, but she hated what he did to her parents, not to mention Stella. Still, she couldn’t help but have compassion. Despite his faults, Drew didn’t deserve to be shot.  

James was worried Nathan might have wanted to be coach, but Nathan said he was rusty and would just embarrass himself. James said he just needed practice, and Nathan asked if James would help him out. They could head to the batting cages if it was okay with Felicia. Felicia said, absolutely, and Nathan said he’d reserve a spot, but his phone chimed. He said he’d have to take a raincheck. It was a work thing. James asked if he was going to fight the bad guys, and Nathan said, one in particular. And he wasn’t looking forward to it.

Wiley and Michael looked for spiders outside, and Wiley said he couldn’t finish his food chain project without them. (So, he actually has to bring in the animal? What if he’d picked tigers or kangaroos?) Michael suggested they go to the park, and Wiley said they could fly kites afterward. Michael said it was a great plan, and Wiley asked if they could as mommy to come. Michael said he’d give her a call.

Willow said Drew had visitors. Trina brought a gift. Wasn’t it thoughtful and kind of her? Drew blinked, and Willow said he agreed. Kai said there had been an office email about the softball league and wondered if it was okay that they sponsor a team in honor of Drew, and Willow said it was a wonderful idea. Drew loved playing last year and she kept tripping over his bat. Kai said he’d thought it was taken for evidence and asked if they’d given it back, but Willow said, no. She should follow up on that. They heard Willow’s Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star ringtone, and Willow wondered where her phone was. Kai said it was probably in the living room.

Isaiah asked how the appointment went, and Portia said things were going well with the baby. He said, what about Curtis? Did he give her a hard time? She said, surprisingly, no. He was calm and not upset about her interaction with Jordan. She thought it was finally sinking in. They all had to get along for the sake of the baby. Curtis said he accepted her and Isaiah being together. She’d forgotten that he wasn’t just a good father. He was a good man.

On the phone outside Bobbie’s, Jordan left a message for Joanne, saying she thought it would be nice to catch up. Curtis joined her and she asked about the ultrasound. He said the baby was in perfect health. He wasn’t eavesdropping, but it sounded like she was leaving a message for Joanne in forensics. He’d thought Jordan had planned to avoid her because she was too gossipy. Jordan said she thought she’d use Joanne’s loose lips to her advantage. Sidwell had ordered her to keep tabs on the investigation into Marco’s death and made it clear she didn’t have a choice if she wanted to keep her job. He said she took the job to spy on Sidwell. Did she think it was time to quit?

Nathan went to see Sidwell, and Sidwell said he’d been waiting for him to show up. Nathan gave Sidwell his condolences, but Sidwell said he didn’t need Nathan’s phony sympathy. He needed results.

Chase said he’d ask Willow about pediatricians, since she’d know the best ones, but Brook said she thought he was getting ahead of himself. They still didn’t know when Phoebe would be released. He said he was excited and thought she would be too, but she said she was afraid to get her hopes up. He said Willow would help them get what they wanted, and they hugged.

Wiley said mommy wasn’t picking up, and Michael said he was sorry. Wiley said, really? He knew they fought a lot. Michael said they didn’t agree on certain things, but agreed on the most important thing and always would. They agreed they loved him and Amelia very much and would do anything to make them happy. If it meant hanging out together sometimes, he was all for it. How about if they invited her to the park next week? Wiley hugged Michael.  

Drew flashed back on telling Willow that he thought he had something, but didn’t, and her saying, what was it? Something he saw or heard? He said Alexis asked if the second shot was the last thing he heard. He’d wanted to say no, that there was something else, but he didn’t remember. He flashed back to getting shot and as he lay on the floor, hearing Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.  

Willow walked Kai and Trina to the door and Kai said he’d set up a call to the Department of Child Services. Willow saw her phone there, and he said the sound carried to the bedroom. They left and Willow pondered this.

Portia told Isaiah that for the first time, she thought things were not that bad. She had to give Curtis credit. He’d signed the house over to her and understood the incident with Jordan. He was trying to make an effort. Isaiah said he hoped Curtis was sincere and didn’t flip on her when he didn’t get his way, but she said it felt different this time. He said, as long as she and the baby were happy and healthy, that was all that mattered to him, and they hugged. (A lot of that going around today.)

Jordan told Curtis that walking away crossed her mind, but Sidwell’s son was just murdered. He wasn’t asking her to do anything illegal. She was just passing on information from a former colleague. Curtis said it was a grey area, and she didn’t disagree, but she’d invested so much time, it would be a waste to quit. He said part of him wished she would, but he understood. She was on a mission to take down Sidwell and wasn’t the type to leave a job unfinished. She said, not when she was on the brink of success. Sidwell was distracted and not thinking clearly. She felt bad taking advantage of his loss, but had a chance to finally get enough evidence to put him behind bars.

Felicia said she hoped James wasn’t disappointed, but James said he knew his father had an important job like Grandpa Mac. When he grew up, he wanted to be a cop. She said she thought he wanted to be a cowboy, but he said he changed his mind. He wanted to be a hero, a guy who fought bad guys like his dad.

Sidwell told Nathan that he’d spoken to Jordan who was the former Police Commissioner. She assured him that she’d keep him up to date on the investigation into Marco’s murder. Nathan said he wasn’t sure what he could do, and Sidwell said, make sure Sonny pays for his son’s murder. Nathan said he wasn’t sure that was something he would do, and Sidwell said it wasn’t something Detective Nathan West would do, but he wasn’t talking to Nathan West right now. He was talking to Cassius Faison.

Wednesday:

Trina and Kai were in Willow’s office, and Kai said he wasn’t sure when Willow was coming in. Trina asked if it didn’t get to him that Willow was acting like the dutiful wife, when Michael walked in.

Willow told Drew all about Chase and Brook, and how Wiley almost screwed up their interview. Chase always stood by her and believed in her. He was a real hero that Drew could learn something from.

Jack interrupted Nina on a call in her office and hung up her phone.

Laura met Lulu for breakfast at Bobbie’s, and Lulu said she had a favor to ask. It was about Cullum’s attempted murder.

Lucas came by Britt’s office, and he told her Cullum regained consciousness, but didn’t remember who shot him. She wanted him to say she was the reason Marco was dead, but he said he was.

Nathan said they’d agreed Sidwell would never call him Cassius, but Sidwell said they’d been partners a long time. He’d had doubts about Cassius assuming his brother’s life, but he had everyone fooled.

Jack pumped Nina for information from Charlotte, but she said there was no way Valentin would risk staying in Port Charles long term. He was probably in Bora Bora enjoying a Mai Tai. Jack said, then Nina was useless to him and that wouldn’t end well for her or her daughter.

Drew’s caregiver Travis was going to be late, and Willow asked Drew if it was difficult to spend time with her. Now he knew how she felt when she found out about his lies to make sure she was tied to him.

Kai told Michael about Trina singing at open mic night, and Michael said he’d be there. He asked if Kai would bring Wiley on his team with James.

Laura said she had no new information for Lulu’s article, but Lulu said it was personal. No one knew where Jason was or how to reach him. She wondered if Laura could help. Laura said the narrative didn’t add up and asked if this had something to do with Jason assaulting Dante. Lulu said, no, and Laura asked why she needed to find Jason.

Nathan (we’ll just keep calling him that for continuity) said if Lucas overheard them, everything would be for nothing, but Sidwell said Lucas was at work. Nathan’s position at the PCPD gave him access into information about Marco’s murder. Who better to provide it than the twin of the late, great Nathan West?

Britt said she’d gotten them involved, but Lucas said he’d inserted himself where he had no business involving himself. He’d made Marco help to prove Marco was still the man he fell in love with and prove he was worthy of love and forgiveness. How could he have been so selfish? Britt said Lucas was the most selfless person she knew. She knew it hurt to lose Marco and hated seeing him like this, and so would Marco. Marco knew the risk and took it because he’d wanted to help. Lucas asked what happened to Britt’s medicine, and she said, Cullum destroyed it. He said, so everything that happened that night and Marco’s death was all for nothing.

Nina said she’d get Jack what he needed. Charlotte was smart and Nina was sure Valentin had drilled into her that no one was to know where he was. Jack told her to stop stalling or the footage could reappear, and she said she was working on it. Charlotte was like a daughter to her and the betrayal would destroy Charlotte and their relationship. He said she had a choice. Which daughter did she want to protect – Charlotte or Willow? Nina said she’d talked to Charlotte, and Charlotte told her that she hadn’t seen her father, but she knew Charlotte was lying. Give her more time.

Lulu said she and Jason had been close at one time and reconnected when they were defending the boys against Dalton. Danny and Rocco were close, and it was killing Rocco. Laura said they were like brothers, and Lulu said she knew what it was like to lose someone you loved through the WSB. Laura said she could call Robert, when Boyle joined them. He asked if they were talking about Jason. Port Charles was better off without that psychopath.  

Lucas said, it was going well. Marco got the meds and he’d handed them to Britt. Britt said Cullum showed up when she was waiting for Jason and pulled a gun. He forced her to hand the meds over and made her watch as he destroyed them. He threatened her with prison and a life without her meds. The look in his eye was pure rage. She thought he was going to kill her. Lucas said she must have been terrified, and she said Cullum terrified her all the time. She tried to knock the gun out of his hand and they struggled. She fell and hit her head, and it was lights out. When she came to, Cullum had been shot. Lucas wondered how Cullum knew where to find her, but she said she didn’t know. She’d been racking her brain trying to figure it out. Did Lucas know where Marco’s phone was? He said, no. He knew Marco had it with him, but the police said they couldn’t find it when he was interviewed… Cullum found her by reading the texts in Marco’s phone. He must have stolen it. Cullum killed Marco.

Sidwell said Nathan died the night he was shot, but Cassius had convinced everyone otherwise and it had to stay that way. Nathan said he needed to be cautious. He’d tripped up already with police procedure, breaking the chain of custody. Sidwell said, it could be attributed to Nathan’s long absence, but Nathan said if it happened again, people might wonder what was wrong and ask questions. Sidwell said make sure they asked the right ones. He’d lost his son savagely and needed to know exactly what happened. Jordan was looking into it and between the two of them he’d get the results he needed. Nathan said, consider it done, and Sidwell said he’d been doing impressive work. His timely arrival on the scene of Mayor Collins’ car trouble put her and Corinthos under his control. Nathan told Sidwell to give himself more credit. Sidwell had set him up for success when he’d poisoned Maxie.

Willow said both her and Drew’s lives had changed in a short amount of time. She was taking his place in congress, and his team respected her and listened to what she thought. He never did. She could use his position to do so much good. Kai was a smart hire. Something he said bothered her though. When they were here, he’d said he knew the sound of her cellphone ringing in the living room would carry to the bedroom. He did have a key, but how did Trina know Wiley’s ringtone was Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star?

Jack said Nina was out of time. He had no desire to set her life on fire and watch it burn. If she delivered Valentin to him, they were good, but he had other means of finding Valentin. Now she was competing with his other means and if he found Valentin on his own before she did, her daughter was done and she’d have no one to blame but herself. He left.

Michael said Wiley’s coach was tough on him and he was convinced Wiley would have a better experience on Kai’s team. Kai said, for what it was worth (🍷), he’d had a coach like Wiley’s who challenged him and pushed him out of his comfort zone. It gave him a sense of accomplishment. Michael said he’d leave Wiley where he was. He’d been thinking like a Quartermaine and trying to pull strings. Kai said he wanted Wiley to have fun and enjoy playing. If it was the same in a few weeks, let him know. Michael wondered if Kai could pay Kai to give Wiley private lessons, and Kai said he had some free time and it sounded fun. Michael said he’d be in touch and left.

Nina told Jacinda to reschedule the Enchantment call. She had to put out a fire thanks to her. Her punishment for allowing Jack to ruin her meeting was to give Nina a full report on the fall/winter trends and prediction, cross referencing those from her competitors’ forecasts. She wanted it by the end of the day.

Lulu said they didn’t ask Boyle to sit down, and Boyle said he and Laura were associates. He didn’t need an invitation. Laura said she was with her daughter. Goodbye. Lulu said Jason was a family friend, and Boyle said, Jason and Sonny. Laura knew how to pick them. Jason shot a WSB agent in the back. Laura said, allegedly, and Boyle said Jason had a rap sheet longer than his arm. After decades of committing crimes and wasting the tax payers money, the WSB took him off their hands. Jason was a cold-blooded killed and got what he deserved. Laura asked if Boyle had any real reason to be there, and he said he didn’t think she wanted her daughter to hear, but he could continue.

Nathan told Sidwell that he’d cemented his ID, but if Maxie had been there… Sidwell said, she’d have seen right through him, and Nathan said her being in a coma bought him time with those who were in his brother’s life and he’d convinced them that he was Nathan. Maxie had no reason to doubt him. Sidwell said he was more concerned about Nathan’s sister. She was the reason all hell broke loose and Marco was murdered. She was planning on leaving with Jason, and Sonny must have ordered Jason to kill his son on his way out of town. Cullum confronted Jason and Jason shot him. Nathan flashed back to Lulu saying she knew Rocco shot Cullum, and told Sidwell that it was possible, but they couldn’t confirm it. They needed to find out what Cullum knew. Sidwell said he couldn’t visit Cullum, but no one would question a detective interrogating him. Find out if there was any evidence leading to Sonny and Jason being responsible for his son’s death. Nathan said, and if he did? and Sidwell said, he’d make Sonny and everyone he loved pay dearly.

Britt said Cullum was a monster who retaliated for Marco betraying him, and Lucas said, he must have done it. It was the only thing that made sense. While Marco was in the hospital fighting for his life, he was fighting to save the man who murdered him.

Willow told Drew that Wiley called the night she shot him. She remembered her phone ringing, but Kai and Trina couldn’t have been there, right? Except Kai did have a key and it wasn’t like she checked the house. It was also weird that Trina brought Drew a gift after what he did to her family. Why would she show him concern? Nina came in and said Jack had paid her visit, but Willow said she was running late and so was Drew’s caregiver. Could Nina watch Drew until Travis got there? They’d talk later. Willow ran out.  

Laura said she thought she needed to do this alone, and Lulu said she’d lost her appetite anyway. She left, and Laura asked if Boyle could be any more of a jerk. He said he thought they both knew he could. He didn’t think she wanted her daughter to hear what they needed to discuss. She needed to publicly condemn Jason and Sonny in a press conference. Laura said they’d talked about this and she wasn’t doing it,  but he said, the murder of Sidwell’s son changed everything.

Lucas told Britt that he took an oath. He’s not saying he wouldn’t have tried to save Cullum, but he regretted being there with him. If he’d been with Marco, he could have made a difference. He could have held Marco’s hand and given him the strength to fight. He could have said something… He loved Marco so much… He cried and Britt hugged him, saying, it’s okay.

Sidwell said Nathan’s sister had been insubordinate since day one, and Nathan said it was a family trait. She came by it honestly. Sidwell said she’d been complicit and betrayed them and Marco. She had to be held accountable regardless of family ties. Nathan said, fine. If she complicated the situation, she had to be dealt with.

Kai said Michael was a great dad, and Trina said, of course (🍷). He was Josslyn’s brother. Josslyn had been there for her during her darkest times. That’s what made what they were doing to Michael feel worse.  

Nina said she and Drew had a complicated history, but she’d be lying if she said it wasn’t hard to see him like this. Willow didn’t grasp the gravity of the situation. The doorbell rang, and it was Michael. Nina said Willow wasn’t there, but Michael stuck his foot in the door and said they had an amicable co-parent agreement. In the meantime, he’d say hello to his dear uncle.

Jack approached Jacinda and she said, Nina had to leave. He said he knew. He was there to see her.

Lucas said he’d been blindsided by Marco’s death and didn’t consider what it meant for Britt. How would she get her meds? She said it depended on how badly Sidwell wanted his project completed, and Lucas said, Sidwell… He was the one who started all this. He was responsible for everything that happened. Marco’s death had to mean something. Britt said he was scaring her. Whatever he was thinking, don’t. Marco wouldn’t want anything to happen to him. Lucas got up and left.

Laura told Boyle that she was sorry for what Sidwell was going through. No one should have to bury a child. But that didn’t change her position on Sonny and Jason. Why did he care? Why did he have no actual work to do for the city? He said he’d get to it eventually. Jason was a Quartermaine who threw money and power around to get what he needed. He had to pay for his sins like the rest of them. Laura said Jason did in his own way, like Boyle. She didn’t want to have a press conference. If the PCPD had something to add and wanted to do that, it was their choice. He said she had a choice to make. He was worried that if she didn’t publicly distance herself, her life would be in danger.

At Pier 55, Lulu flashed back to Nathan saying Rocco was involved in Cullum’s shooting. She looked around and remembered Boyle saying Jason was a killer, when Nathan arrived.

Michael said Nina didn’t have to hover, but Nina said she wasn’t leaving him alone with Drew. Drew was blinking like crazy, and Michael asked if he was trying to communicate, but Nina said it was just something he did. They didn’t understand why. Michael said he felt sorry for Drew. It must be a terrible way to live. Drew blinked once, and Michael said, a little ironic, right? Drew was in that chair because he’d wanted Willow all to himself. Now he had her, but it wasn’t quite the way he’d imagined. Drew blinked.

Willow was about to go into her office, when she heard Trina tell Kai that she hated how everyone thought Michael shot Drew when they both knew it was Willow. (Rut-roh.)

Jack said, unfortunately, Jacinda’s testimony, specifically the part where she lied about Michael’s alibi, helped Willow get off. Now everyone thought Michael shot Drew. He was sure she’d like to make up for that mistake. Plenty of women would be after Michael who were more refined and a good turn might prove her suitability. He had something in his possession that Michael would find valuable. Jacinda assumed he wasn’t telling her what it was, and he said, not yet. She asked how she could get the item in Michael’s hands, and he said, their intern Charlotte. Jacinda was somebody she might confide in. She asked what she was looking for Charlotte to confide, and he said he needed to know if she’d been in touch with her father. It was imperative that he find her father, and he knew Charlotte knew where he was. Maybe Jacinda could get it out of her.  

Laura asked why Sidwell was interested in a press conference, but Boyle said it was his idea, not Sidwell’s. Sidwell was convinced Sonny had his son killed. He was so angry and was out for revenge, she needed to publicly distance herself before his fury fell on her. The best way was a press conference publicly. If she wanted, he’d do it with her. A united front. It would be good for politics. She said she thought Boyle was trying to appear noble in warning her, but she wasn’t buying it, and he said, yet, he was still right.

Britt called someone and said she needed to see them.

Lucas showed up at Windymere, and Sidwell said he was so glad to see him. Their conversation had made him feel closer to Marco. Lucas loved his son so much. Lucas said he did, and Sidwell asked if Lucas wanted to share memories. He had memories to share. He’d found some photos… Lucas said that wasn’t why he was there. Didn’t Sidwell want to know why Marco was murdered?  

Nathan joined Lulu at the pier, and Lulu said, this is where it happened, right? She’d asked her mom to use her WSB connections to help find Jason. Nathan said that was the last thing she wanted to happen. They had the shooter. Don’t give them reason to look further. He knew it was hard, but for everyone’s sake, it was best to let this go. He held her as she cried.

Thursday:

Laura went to see Sonny and said that Jason didn’t leave a messy crime scene, but public perception was that he’d shot a WSB agent in the back. She was being advised to publicly rebuke and distance herself from Jason. Sonny said, what about him?

Ric found Elizabeth at the hospital and asked if there were any updates on the WSB agent who’d been shot. She said, the only reason she could think of him asking was because Jason was accused of shooting him.

Dante went to see Cullum and said he was wondering why the WSB issued a warrant for Jason.

Nathan asked Lulu how Rocco was doing, and she said, his feelings changed by the minute. He’d always been a sensitive, thoughtful boy, and now he was living in a nightmare. Nathan said he was doing what he could, and she said she didn’t want to smother Rocco, but wanted to protect him. She was terrified when he left the house. Nathan asked if she was afraid he’d tell the truth.

At Bobbie’s, Gio gave Rocco some pie on the house, but Rocco said he wasn’t hungry. Gio asked if he was sick, but Rocco said he was thinking about Danny. Danny may never see his dad again and he hated it.

Felicia met Emma at Bobbie’s, and Emma said they needed to bring her grandma home.

Sidwell told Lucas that he had every intention of finding who was responsible and see that Marco’s killer was brought to justice. Lucas loved Marco and missed him just as much as Sidwell did. He was wondering if they could lean on each other for Marco. He asked if Lucas would stay at Windymere.

Brad went to Britt’s office and hugged her. He suggested they go somewhere to drown their sorrows. He hoped she realized this was for the best. Jason had been shipped off before he gave a pathetic excuse to ditch her. She was better off without him. Britt cracked him across the face.

Laura told Sonny that Boyle was advising her to distance herself. Sidwell believed he was responsible for Marco’s death. Sonny said he didn’t have Marco killed, and she said she didn’t think so, but needed to hear him say it. He said Boyle was right, but she said Jason got rid of a body in the trunk of her car. What kind of person would she be to turn her back on him now? Sonny said, the pragmatic kind, but she said she couldn’t admonish him when she didn’t believe he would shoot Cullum.

Elizabeth said Ric hated Jason, and she couldn’t help him do anything to hurt Jason. He was Jake’s father. Ric said he wasn’t here to hurt Jason.

Dante said they’d been notified of the warrant, but there was no indication why Jason was being arrested, and Cullum said Jason was a criminal. He was in the ICU because Jason shot him in the back. Dante said the warrant was issued before that. Why were they bringing Jason in? Cullum said it was need to know. Why was Dante questioning him? Jason had been extradited for a shooting that wasn’t in his jurisdiction. What case was he pursuing?

Nathan said he knew Rocco was still in shock, but did he get why he shouldn’t say anything? and Lulu said he understood, but it was still tough. Nathan said he’d decided to do what he could to protect Rocco and had no time to consider alternatives. They had to stick to the story. She asked what if they found something that tied Rocco to the crime scene? but Nathan said they hadn’t and he’d make sure they didn’t. Lulu said she was grateful for everything he’d done, but he was thinking like a cop. She was thinking like a mother. It was a terrible burden and Rocco was clearly struggling. She wasn’t worried he’d tell a stranger, but he probably wanted to speak to his friends and siblings.

Rocco told Gio that he’d had huge wins, while Danny had losses. He didn’t know how to help. Gio said Danny knowing he could depend on him was all the help Rocco could give right now.

Felicia said she knew Emma wanted Anna close. She did too, but it was complicated. Emma said Anna’s doctors weren’t pushing her to get better. They had to do more. It was their only shot.

Brad said Britt got one, not two, and she said he had no idea what happened. Everything that could go wrong, went wrong. Lucas got her meds, but Cullum tracked her to the pier where she was waiting for Jason and all hell broke loose. Brad asked, what happened? and he said she wished she knew. Cullum pulled a gun, and she fell and hit her head. When she came to, Cullum was on the ground with a bullet in his back and Jason was telling her to tell the cops he shot Cullum. Brad wondered who he was protecting and why, and she said that’s what they were going to figure out.

Lucas told Sidwell that he and Marco were talking about leaving. Living there had always been the first step to see if they could make it as a couple. Sidwell said they did. They were a beautiful couple and Lucas made his son so happy. Lucas said they’d been looking forward to finding a place of their own. Now he felt so lost. He wanted to feel close to Marco. Sidwell said this was Lucas’s home, where he and Marco were close, and Lucas said if Sidwell really meant it, he’d love to stay there where he and Marco were happy. Sidwell hugged him, and Lucas reluctantly returned the hug.

Sonny told Laura, somebody wanted Marco dead. It sent a strong message. Sidwell didn’t know who to blame and he was an easy target. Sidwell wasn’t thinking clearly, which made him dangerous and reckless. Laura asked if he was telling her to take Boyle’s advice and play along with the press conference, and he told her to take her best swing at him. She said, what about him? Without Jason, he was more vulnerable. He said, take care of herself. He’d do what he could to bring Jason home. She said she’d like to help. She was going to contact Robert. Maybe one of his old friends could come through. Sonny said he wanted to do something that required her trust, and she said she trusted him, but he said, not him. His brother.

Ric told Elizabeth that he was asking for Sonny. There was no love lost between him and Jason, but Jason was important to Sonny and her, so Jason was important to him. Finding and freeing Jason would be next to impossible, but he was going to do what he could to get Jason home safely. He was starting with Cullum. So would she help him?

Dante told Cullum that the shooting was in Port Charles and the business of the PCPD. It didn’t change because they took the suspect away, especially when the action was based on a warrant with charges he declined to share. Cullum said he should thank the Bureau. Jason had run roughshod over the city for years. They did the PCPD a favor by taking him off their hands. He suggested Dante turn the attention of the PCPD to his attempted murder. Dante said, all the accounts were sketchy. Jason refused to answer questions and Dr. Westbourne kept saying Jason shot him. Was her account surprising?

Lulu told Nathan that she knew the last thing that could happen was for Rocco to confide in Charlotte and Danny, but she could see how much he was hurting. Nathan said Lulu was Rocco’s mother and knew what he needed, and she said, what if he needed a professional? He said she couldn’t take Rocco to a therapist. They couldn’t trust a stranger with Rocco’s confession and fate. She said, there was one therapist she knew would be discreet. What if Rocco talked to Doc?

Felicia told Emma that the French authorities had made it clear that Anna couldn’t leave the country. She still had outstanding charges for assaulting a police officer. Emma suggested they hire a lawyer. Anna wasn’t in her right mind. Felicia said that was something they could straighten out later. Right now, Anna was where she needed to be.

Gio said he knew Rocco was worried about Jason, but from what he’d heard, Jason had made it back from impossible odds before. He was strong, super resourceful, and capable of anything. if anyone could get out of this, it was him.

Brad said, now Britt wanted his help? and she said, yes. She was sorry she’d slapped him, but Jason was obviously protecting someone. They had to figure out who. Jason had bailed Brad out of jail for his dine and dash. Brad said Jason did that for her, and she said Jason came through for her. Brad had told her that Jason would never put her first, but he did. He loved her and it might have cost him everything.

Cullum said he was surprised Dante was there interrogating the victim. Dr. Westbourne identified his would-be murderer. Dante said he was gathering as much information as he could to help with the investigation. Was there anything Cullum remembered? Cullum said he was shot in the back. He didn’t see anything. Dante said he wanted context and clarity to help him put it to rest, but Cullum said life was full of uncertainties. (Apparently, he’s now a philosopher.) The WSB didn’t owe Dante peace of mind or the answers to anything.

Elizabeth said she couldn’t give Ric specific information, but what she could do was tell him that any patient from the WSB was going to recover. She knew it was important for him to rebuild his relationship with his brother, and it wouldn’t be his choice to help Jason, but she appreciated the effort. He said he knew she cared about Jason and there was a time it would have made him jealous, but he’d made the choice to start over. That mean he wasn’t going to let the past affect their future. She kissed him and he asked what that was for. She said for continuing to surprise her, and he said he’d give her more surprises, and kissed her.

Sonny told Laura that it was going to take creativity. Ric was going to help by being his personal attorney, while Diane would take care of his business interests. Laura said, he was confiding in Ric? and he said he’d told Ric everything – not about her though. He thought it best that Ric know about Sidwell, so he’d be more equipped to help take him down. She said he needed her to trust Ric, and he said she’d trusted Ric when it came to Rocco. Ric came through, so he was asking her to trust Ric now.

Nathan said Lulu bringing in Doc would be like opening Pandora’s Box. Doc could tell her mother, and it would be one more person keeping the secret. And she was the mayor. Lulu said, it would be an even bigger betrayal not to tell Dante. The more people who knew the truth, the more risk for Rocco. She hated feeling out of control. There had to be a way out of this mess. They knew Cullum was dirty. Nathan said they didn’t know what happened, but Lulu said Rocco told them everything. Nathan said Rocco told them what he believed. He didn’t hear what they were talking about. Jason had a long rap sheet. Who knew what he and Britt had going on with Cullum? She said, if she dug, she might uncover something about Cullum, but he said that could make it worse, not better. She needed to leave it alone. She said maybe he was right. She couldn’t risk blowback on her son. She’d keep quiet. Nathan hugged her.

Emma said Anna felt like she was keeping them safe, and Felicia said, in Anna’s mind, if she came back to Port Charles, Faison might follow. Emma said Anna thought she’d be putting them in danger, even though that wasn’t true, and Felicia said it wasn’t a mystery they could solve. Anna was sick and her mind needed to heal.

Rocco spilled his drink all over himself and the counter. He apologized and asked for towels, but Gio said it was okay. His bandage was soaked and he should get a fresh one. Rocco said he’d change it at home and headed for the restroom. Lulu came in.

Britt said Jason wasn’t the bad guy. Cullum was. Sipping from a flask, Brad asked if she was in danger from Cullum, and she said, yes. Cullum was going to live. Not only did he survive the shooting, thanks to Lucas, she missed her one chance to kill him. He had no fear and no conscience and was able to do whatever he wanted. Brad said the next time she was going to try killing someone, call him, and she said, why? So he could talk her off the ledge? But he said, no. So he could help her get rid of the body.  

Dante thanked Cullum for his time and said he’d see if he could find another agent who was more forthcoming. Cullum called Dante a one-time recruit who got kidnapped, washed out, and institutionalized, and Dante said there was one part that wasn’t there. Out of thousands of WSB agents and operatives, not one was as resilient as he was. He didn’t know when to quit. How did Cullum know Britt would be at the pier? Cullum said, a good agent knew when to play a hunch, and Dante said, so did a good cop.

Ric went to Sonny’s and said, good to see Laura. She said Sonny told her that Ric now represented him. He also told her that he’d confided to Ric about a rather sensitive issue concerning himself and Mr. Jenz Sidwell. Ric said he understood Sidwell had leverage against Sonny for a murder that Sonny didn’t commit, and she said Sidwell manufactured evidence that he was holding over Sonny’s head, but Sonny wasn’t the only person Sidwell had leverage on. There was someone else – her.  

Pascal said he understood that Lucas was staying. His apologies. He was  under the mistaken impression that Lucas was leaving. He’d make sure Lucas’s room was cleaned. He started cleaning up the coffee table, and Lucas asked if he was okay. Pascal said he was fine, but Lucas said he seemed drunk. Getting louder, Pascal said he was. He was grieving. He swiped a tray off the table, along with everything on it, and said, because of Lucas.

Sonny said Sidwell had photo proof of him and Laura looking at Dalton’s body in the trunk of her car, and Ric said, photos could be altered and manipulated. Could anyone else place them with the body? Laura said Detective Nathan West saw that she had a flat tire. He stopped and offered to change it. He was about to open the trunk, when Sonny pulled up. Nathan left, but she suspected he was going to remember that. Sonny said his concern was that Sidwell’s son was dead and he was going to try and blame anyone he could. He didn’t know what that meant as far as retaliation. He wanted Laura protected. If Sidwell was going after anybody, it was going to be him.

Pascal said Lucas should never have been there in the first place, and Lucas said he was sorry for Pascal’s loss. He knew Pascal cared about Marco. They both loved Marco and the loss was unbearable. Pascal said Lucas didn’t love Marco. He used him.

Britt told Brad that they needed to figure out what happened before she was knocked out. Maybe Cullum did or said something she forgot. Brad asked if she thought she knew who Jason wanted to protect, and she said if she figured out who it was, maybe they could help move the needle at the WSB and get Jason released. He said it was a long shot, and she said it was better than nothing. She owed it to Jason to try.

Lulu went into Bobbie’s and Gio said Rocco just went to the restroom. He spilled his drink and his bandage got wet. Could he get her something? She asked for decaf, when Rocco came back. She asked if everything was okay, and he said he was fine. He’d promised not to tell anyone and he didn’t.  

Elizabeth saw Dante and asked how he was doing.  He said he was fine, and she said she wasn’t asking about the physical him. Jason was gone and it was a lot to process. Dante said he was basically trying to make sense of it. He and Jason weren’t friends, but they’d raised their kids together. He’d thought they had mutual respect. Elizabeth said, something seems off. Jason hitting him and shooting an agent didn’t sound like him. Dante said it didn’t. She was right. Something was off. The victim stonewalled him and wasn’t giving him anything. That meant he had something to hide.

Nathan went into Cullum’s room, and Cullum said his boss was just there. He’d tell him the same thing he told Dante. Nathan closed the door and said he wasn’t there for Dante. He was there for Sidwell.  

Gio asked who Emma was writing to, and she said her grandma. It was all she was allowed to do and she hated it. Gio said letters weren’t nothing. He’d saved everything from his mother. She said she was sure the clinic read her letters, but he said she didn’t need to write in code.  Anna probably got comfort from knowing she was okay and hearing about her life. She said she wrote that he was getting her through all this, and thanked him. He took her hand.  

Dante asked if Elizabeth talked to Jake, and she said, it was a tough phone call. She couldn’t tell him much. What was Dante doing now? He said forensics was going over the evidence. They’d swept the crime scene and the gun was under lock and key, so the WSB couldn’t get to it. He thought he had what he needed to figure out what happened without the WSB’s help. Elizabeth asked, how’s Rocco?

Lulu suggested that they go home, but Rocco said he couldn’t stay inside forever. She said she had to keep him safe.  

Dante said Rocco was fine. Did something happen? Elizabeth said Rocco cut his hand in the kitchen and she wanted him to be careful not to get it infected.

Lulu felt Rocco’s forehead, and he said he didn’t have a fever. He felt bad about everything that happened. She said she knew it was a lot, but they were in this together. It would be okay.

Brad asked Britt what they were looking for. The cops already searched. What would they find that the cops missed? Britt said she didn’t know. Maybe they were going about this the wrong way. Jason told her that she had to say he’d shot Cullum. Who was important enough for him to protect? Brad said, Carly, and Britt said, but Carly couldn’t be quiet. She was physically incapable of it. She also wouldn’t let him throw his life away. He’d do anything for Danny. Brad said, maybe, but wasn’t she doing the exact opposite of what Jason wanted, digging into this? She loved him, right? She nodded, and he said, Jason chose to do this. It was what he wanted. If she really loved him, maybe she needed to accept his choice.  

Pascal asked if Lucas didn’t think he saw him eavesdropping, lurking, and sneaking around the wine cellar, and Lucas said Pascal was projecting. Pascal said Lucas was never good enough for Marco. He never loved Marco. He was never trustworthy. He was a snake. He didn’t know what Marco saw him. Lucas should be dead, not Marco. Pascal stomped out.

Ric said Laura publicly distancing herself was a wise choice, and she asked if she should do the press conference. He said, absolutely. Sonny was closely associated to Jason, and it would show she didn’t support Jason by default. Laura wondered if it would be enough for Sidwell, and Ric said it would cool the temperature, buy them time. Sonny said Sidwell was looking for payback, but was smart enough to know going against the wrong person wasn’t good for him. He’d figure out Sonny wasn’t responsible and go after who was.

Cullum said Nathan being a cop was convenient. He could act as a go-between for him and Sidwell without raising suspicion. Nathan said Sidwell wasn’t doing well. He wasn’t thinking clearly. What would Cullum know about that? Cullum said he’d been busy, and Nathan said they still needed to find who was responsible for Marco’s murder. He could use his WSB resources. Cullum said he didn’t need to. Corinthos was behind it. He had to be. Nathan said, what about Cullum? He had Jason in custody. Did he think Jason shot him? Cullum said, no. He was looking right at Jason. Someone else pulled the trigger.

🫔 Friday’s Enchilada…

Lucas looks at Marco’s picture in the front of All Saints and says, Marco took Britt’s medicine from his father’s safe to prove himself to him, to prove he was the man Lucas needed him to be. And Cullum killed him for it. He’s so sorry, but he swears by his life and his heart that they are not going to get away with this.

At home on the phone, Alexis says she thinks that’s fair under the circumstances… Thank you. Danny comes in and she says, Principal Harper said he’ll be suspended for a week. He says, that’s fine, but she says, it’s not fine. That’s not the way it’s going to be. Not when he’s living in her house.

At the hospital, Kristina asks if Molly was nervous, but Molly says, not really. The procedure is laparoscopic, so it’s minimally invasive. Kristina says, and the recovery? and Molly says she’ll feel bad for a couple of days, but if it means no more flare-ups, she’ll take it. Kristina says Molly is going to be back on her feet in no time and probably back to work before she leaves the hospital, and Molly says she’s taking the entire day off from everything. She’s sorry she can’t make to Charlie’s grand reopening. She knows how hard Kristina’s been working on it. Kristina says she can’t believe it’s finally here. There are so many last minute details, she just hopes it all goes well. Molly says, it’s going to be amazing, and Kristina says, from your lips. Molly says, after that’s done, what’s next? and Kristina asks what she means. Molly says, that right there is the problem.

Curtis goes to Nina’s office, and she asks what she can do for him. He says Crimson’s reader engagement analysis was supposed to be in his inbox this morning, and she says she’s so sorry. She completely forgot. She’ll put Jacinda on it and get it to him by the end of the day, if that’s okay. He says, that’s fine, and she says, that’s it? Was there something else? He says, yes, their friendship, and she says, is it really over? Because these days, the only time he deigns to speak to her is as her boss. He says, after what she did to Portia, what did she expect?

Carly asks Sonny to please tell her he’s reconsidered, but he says, like he told her last night, this has to happen. She says, no, it doesn’t, when Ric comes in. He tells Sonny there’s just a few more minutes before they need to head out, and Carly says, please tell her Ric isn’t going with him. Sonny says, what if he is? and she says, it’s going to make everything worse.

At the church, Ava says, it’s nice to see Laura, and Laura says, it’s nice to see Ava too. Ava asks if Laura knew Marco, but Laura says, not really, no. She’s trying to do the right thing.

Sidwell touches Marco’s urn, when Lucas comes in. He asks how Lucas is holding up, and Lucas says he’s holding. They don’t really have much of a choice. Sidwell says, they really don’t, do they? The priest asks if they’re ready and goes to the pulpit. Sidwell says he hopes Marco knows how much he was loved, and Lucas says, he did. Marco told him all the time how Sidwell’s love and support meant everything to him. He loved his father so much. Sidwell says, whether deserved it or not.

Laura says, losing a child is excruciating, and Ava says, it is. There’s no pain like it. Laura says, what happened to Marco was absolutely horrific. And it happened in her city, so as the mayor, the least she can do is be here. She wants to be here. Ava says, something tells her it’s for Lucas as well, and Laura says, yeah, it is. She didn’t know Marco, but knows if Lucas loved him, he must have been a good man. Ava says, he was. She had the pleasure of spending quite a bit of time with Lucas and Marco, and it was obvious they loved each other very much. Boyle comes in and Ava suggests seeing Jenz. Laura says, wise choice, and signs the guest book as Ava goes inside. Boyle says, Madam Mayor, and Laura says, Councilman Boyle. He says he doesn’t know if she’s seen the reports, but the rection to their joint press conference has been overwhelmingly positive. Isn’t she glad she took his advice? This only proves that Port Charles needs them both. She says, Port Charles has them both, doesn’t it? and he tells her that he’s just saying, she was so against the idea of the press conference in the beginning. He’s relieved she changed her mind. She says, it’s just that he’s so darn persuasive, she couldn’t resist.

A nurse comes to prep Molly for surgery, and Kristina asks if Molly is sure she doesn’t want her to stay, wait until she’s done, and take her home. They won’t let her leave by herself. Molly says, thanks, but she’s got it covered, and Kristina says, she always does. She loves her. Molly says she loves Kristina too.

Nina says, what she did to Portia was wrong and she’ll always regret what Portia had to go through on the stand during Willow’s trial. Curtis says, that’s something at least, and Nina says, and she should apologize for how her actions affected him. He was trying to protect Portia from Drew, and she pointed Alexis right at her. That’s not something a friend does. He says, no, it’s not, but she was desperate to protect her daughter and had no way of knowing Portia was with Isaiah the night Drew was shot. Still, that doesn’t make it right. She says, no, it doesn’t. Just like what he did to her wasn’t right.

Jordan tells Sidwell, again, she’s so sorry, and he thanks her for her support. It means the world to him. Now that she’s here, does she have an update for him? She says, a small one. She’s spoken to her contact at the PCPD and forensics is still analyzing the evidence. He asks why it’s taking so long, but she says, it’s not. They’re just being thorough. He says he’s not interested in their excuses, and she says she’s not offering any. She’s simply providing him with an explanation. He says, the only thing he wants to know is, is there anything tying Sonny and his people to his son’s murder? But she says, no. There’s no definitive suspect at this time. He says, really? Or is there evidence pointing to Sonny and Commissioner Falconari is refusing to investigate it?

Sonny says he thought Carly was going to trust his judgement as far as his brother goes, but Ric says, it’s okay. Carly is allowed to think the worst of him. Carly says, even if she didn’t, it’s a bad idea for either of them to go to the funeral. Sonny kidnapped the man last summer. Sonny says, not according to Marco, and she says, what Marco told the police and what his father knows are very different things. Sidwell knows what Sonny did and thinks he’s responsible for Marco’s death. How the hell does he think Sidwell is going to react when he sees Sonny at the funeral? Please don’t make this day any harder than it has to be. Ric asks why she’s so concerned with Sidwell’s grief, and she says she’s concerned with her brother’s grief. Because Lucas is devastated and she doesn’t want this funeral to turn into a mob war. Sonny says, that won’t happen, and she says, it won’t happen if he stays away. Please let Lucas mourn the man he loved.

Lucy says, Lucas knows Port Charles is his home and there are so many people who love him, including her. So despite everything, she hopes he’s not planning to leave them, leave town again. She wants him to stay there forever. He thanks her and says, that is very kind, but he don’t worry – he looks at Sidwell – he’s not done with Port Charles yet.

Alexis cleaned a wound on Danny’s face and tells him, hold still. Any other cuts? How are his ribs? He says he’s fine, and she says, but she should see the other guy? Okay. Now that’s taken care of. Danny says he knows the drill. No phone, no internet. He’s sorry she had to pick him up. He knows she has to be at Marco’s funeral. He’ll just be in his room. She says she knows she’s supposed to be at Marco’s funeral, but thinks she should stay here instead, and he says she doesn’t have to stay. It’s not like he can go anywhere. She says she also doesn’t think grounding him is going to fix this, and he says, so he’s not grounded? but she says, no. He’s going to do chores. Take his phone back because he might need it. He says, that’s it? but she says, no. She wants him to tell her what happened. He says, there’s nothing to tell. Hank threw the first punch. Everyone saw him. It’s just school policy that anyone who gets in a fight, no matter who started it, gets suspended. It’s not that big a deal. She says, yes it is a big deal. He was in a physical fight. He hurt somebody and he got hurt. What were they fighting about? He says, Hank was just being a jerk. That’s what he does. She asks, how was he being a jerk? What did he say? Come on.

Sonny says, they’re going to Marco’s funeral to stop trouble, not cause trouble, and Carly says, great. How is that going to work? He says, because last summer, he made peace with Sidwell and sold him his piers. So it would be wrong of him not to pay his respects. Ric says he agrees, but Carly is right about one thing. Sidwell has been very vocal about his theory that Sonny had Marco killed. She says, so maybe now is not the time, but Ric says, no. Now is the only time. Sonny says, attending Marco’s funeral shows he has nothing to hide, that he had no hand in Marco’s unfortunate death, that Sidwell is nothing more than a grieving father looking for someone to blame. She says, a grieving father that has no family left, unlike Sonny, and Ric says, it’s important that Sonny show Sidwell that he’s not responsible. That way, Sidwell doesn’t focus his time and energy on Sonny and his loved ones, when there is someone else out to get him. She says she can see the logic in that, and Ric thanks her. She says, and if grief had anything to do with logic, she’d be all for it, but Sidwell isn’t thinking logically. He’s in pain. Does Sonny remember how hard Morgan’s funeral was? Imagine if Julian Jerome had walked through the door. How would he have felt? She leaves.

Isaiah says he’s so sorry, and Lucas thanks him for coming. He appreciates it. Isaiah says he wishes he could have done more to save Marco, but Lucas says he knows Isaiah did everything he possibly could. He just wishes he could have been with Marco in the end. Isaiah says, Lucas was busy saving a life. He thinks Marco would understand that. Lucas says he did his due diligence as a doctor, but wasn’t there when Marco needed him, and that’s kind of hard to reconcile.

Kristina asks if Suzanne has seen her mom, and Suzanne says, she texted that she’s not going to be able to make it to the service. Kristina asks if she said why she’s not going to make it, and Suzanne says, apparently, Danny got into a fight at school.

Alexis says, why doesn’t Danny tell her what happened, and he says, Hank was just going off about how the WSB arrested his dad and he’d be locked up forever and good riddance. She asks if Hank used those exact words, and he says, yes, and he told Hank that he should worry about his own life, because everyone knows his girlfriend dumped him for Wiley Wheeler. She says, so Danny provoked him? and Danny tells her that he just said what was true, okay? She tells him that he had to say something more than that to get under Hank’s skin, and he says, look, Hank hit him. It’s not like he could just stand there and take it. She says she thinks he was looking for a fight, and he says, okay. He was looking for a fight. Hank doesn’t get to talk about his dad like that. The WSB just took him and they couldn’t do anything to stop it.

Jordan says she saw the press conference, and Laura says, yeah. It seems to be all anyone can talk about lately. Jordan says, it must have been difficult for her to publicly distance herself from Sonny. Has she heard from him? Laura says she went to see him before the press conference, so he was warned, but he understands. Jordan says she has to admit when she was watching the press conference, she was surprised at how well Laura and Boyle worked together, especially since she knows Laura can’t stand the man. Laura says, it’s true. It’s unlikely they’ll ever see eye to eye on anything. Jordan says, especially public service. Laura thinks she should serve the public and Boyle thinks the public should serve him. She seems to be coping pretty well. Laura says, yeah. She thinks she just accepted the fact that Boyle is one of the necessary evils of the job.

Sonny says he hates not being able to tell Carly the real reason for going to Marco’s funeral, and Ric says, there’s no reason Carly should know Sidwell is blackmailing him and Laura. Can he imagine if she did? Sonny says, she’d probably confront Sidwell and expose him and Laura in the process, and Ric says, yeah and there’s no probably about it. But if they keep letting Sidwell believe Sonny had Marco killed, then those photos of Dalton in the trunk are going to wind up on Dante’s desk. He’s surprised they’re not there already. Sonny says, that’s why he’s got to tell Sidwell that he did not kill Marco. Otherwise, this thing is going to escalate and that’s not good for anybody. Ric says he’s just glad Laura followed their advice about the press conference denouncing Jason, and Sonny says he hopes that keeps Sidwell from going after Laura, but they have to do this now because otherwise, there will be open warfare, and that’s not good for anybody. He just hopes Sidwell is able to hear him.

Carly tells Lucas that she’s so sorry. She can’t believe Marco is gone. He thanks her, and she says, he had his whole life ahead of him and he was so excited to spend it with Lucas. It’s hard. It’s too hard. He says, it’s so hard, and she says, Dante and PCPD are going to find out who did this and they’re going to bring them to justice. She promises him that Jason and Sonny had nothing to do with this. He says he appreciates her saying that, but he knows that Jason didn’t kill Marco.

Jordan says she’s glad to see Isaiah, but a little surprised he’s here, and he says he wants nothing to do with Sidwell, but Marco was his patient and Lucas is his friend. She says, uh-oh, and he says, what is it? A Sidwell problem? She says, not yet – she looks at Lucy approaching Ava – but with those two, it’s only a matter of time.

Lucy asks Ava how she thinks Sidwell is doing, and Ava says, he seems to be bearing up. Lucy says, good, and Ava says, but they both know what a nightmare it is to lose a child.

Nina says, Curtis told Willow about her affair with Drew on her wedding day. She should have been the one to tell Willow and she wasn’t. She knows some of that is on her, but she came very close to her daughter never speaking to her again. Curtis says, well, Drew had them all a little desperate. That said, they have to be accountable for their own actions, and for that he’s sorry as well. She thanks him and says she appreciates that. That being said, in retrospect, he actually did her a favor because she kept going back and forth for months, convincing herself that she should tell Willow, convincing herself she shouldn’t tell Willow. He says he remembers, and she says she didn’t have the guts to tell what was going on between her and Drew to Willow, especially when she was trying to find a way to break the hold Drew had over her. He says, for what it’s worth (🍷), when he told Willow about her and Drew, he didn’t do that to hurt her, and she says she knows he didn’t. For two people who didn’t want to hurt each other… He says, they certainly did a bang-up job, and she says, yes. So she’s asking him now for the sake of the friendship they used to have, a friendship that has meant so much to her, can he consider that Drew drove her to the same kind of desperation he did Curtis? He says he understands that, but Portia… She says she didn’t think at all that Portia really shot Drew. That was how she convinced herself that there was no harm in naming Portia as a suspect. He says, no harm, and she says, sorry. That was dumb. That’s not what she meant at all. What she’s trying to say is that she’ll always regret if her desire to protect daughter cost her friendship with him.

Alexis says, believe it or not, she understands Danny wanting to fight, because his dad… Danny says, please don’t say he’s gone, and she says, because his dad’s not here. He’s angry and wants to hit something or someone, anything. She gets it. He says, she does? and she says, yes, she does. She’s furious and she is fighting, but she’s doing it legally. He says, what good does that do? They don’t even know where his dad is. She says, because it gets the ball rolling. It puts some pressure on them. Will it work? She doesn’t know. Maybe not, but one way to fail his father is to just give up. He says he hasn’t given up, and she says she knows he wants to do something, but getting into a fight isn’t going to bring his dad back. He says he knows, and she says, before the next time, she really needs to know he understands a physical altercation can go bad really fast. He could have seriously hurt Hank and he could have been seriously hurt. He says, at the time, he didn’t care. Hank was happy his dad was gone. That’s messed up. She says, Hank is messed up and wanted to get a rise out of Danny, which he succeeded in doing. And now everyone else knows how to do it. He says he’ll take them all on if he has to, and she says, is that what he wants? Does he want to have to? He says, no. He just couldn’t help it this time. She says, okay. Now that she’s his legal guardian, it’s her job to make sure that he avoids volatile situations. He says he gets it. He’s sorry if he made things worse. She says, apology accepted, and he says, she pulled off a lawyer miracle with Willow. So he promises to keep his act together and not distract her with any of his stuff if she can bring his dad home.

Kristina says she’s sorry about Marco, and Sidwell thanks her. She says, Marco saved her life. He rescued her from the fire at Charlie’s. She’ll never forget that. He thanks her, and she says she’ll be forever grateful for Marco. Sidwell says, yes. Thanks to his son, their families will be forever linked. He glares at Sonny and Ric.

As Sidwell stares daggers at Sonny and Ric, Ava asks if he’s ready to honor Marco. Maybe they should take their seats. They sit down, and Boyle asks Laura, who thought it was a good idea for Corinthos to be here? He needs to leave. Laura says, well, then by all means go tell him. He looks at Sonny and decides better of it. Kristina tells Sonny that it looked like Sidwell was about to kill him. Is he sure it’s safe for him to be here? Sonny says he’s not here to cause any trouble. He’s here to prevent trouble from happening.

Curtis says, if he understands anything, it’s doing whatever it takes to protect family, and Nina says, to add to all her apologies, she should say she’s sorry if her attempt to save her daughter cost him his marriage. He says he can’t put that on her. If his marriage was strong in the first place, she couldn’t hurt it. In fact, when Portia confessed on the stand that she was with Isaiah that night, it forced them to face some hard truths. It was ugly and it was painful, but they’ve both moved on. She says, so it’s all working out, and he says, yeah. They’ve agreed to raise the baby together and they’re both happy. She says, okay. All she ever wanted was the best for him. He says him too. He misses her. She says she misses him too. So does this mean… He says, it means he doesn’t want to lose their friendship. So if she’s willing to do what it takes to repair it, so is he.

Molly wakes up and Cody is there. He asks how she’s feeling. Is she in any pain? She says, no. No pain. Does he have pain? She touches his nose with her finger, and he says he’s okay. She asks if he’s holding her hand, and he says he is. Is that okay? She starts to push up his sleeves, and he asks what she’s doing. She says she likes his arms and hates sleeves. He needs to promise not to wear sleeves ever again. He can’t cover these arms. She continues to mess with his sleeves, and he says he’ll do his best. In the meantime, before he gets to the sleeves, is she thirsty? Does she want any water? She says, not if it means he has to let go of her hand, and he reaches under his arm with his other hand to get the cup. She says, dexterity. She likes it. He holds the cup while she sips through the straw, and he says, she is so going to regret this when she sobers up. She says, sober. She’s not drinking. She just had surgery. Plus, she can say whatever she likes. This is her dream. He says, oh, her dream, huh? and she says, know what else she likes? He says, what? and she says, this. She touches his chest and says, this right here. He says, well, sorry ma’am. The shirt’s staying on for now. She says, not the shirt. His heart. He has the sweetest heart. Kiss her. He gives her a kiss, and she says she likes this dream. He says, so does he.

Alexis says, Danny staying out of trouble can’t be contingent on whether she can bring his father back. Believe her. She’s doing everything that she can possibly do. She’s filed every legal challenge. Danny says, then why isn’t he here? and she says, because the WSB works differently than other law enforcement agencies. They’re not required to tell them his whereabouts and they are not required to give them access to him. He says, so they can just make his dad disappear? and she says she promises she’ll do everything she can to make that not happen, but it’s going to take time. He asks if he’s ever going to see his dad again, and she says she’s so sorry. She doesn’t know.

Curtis says, they certainly have been through a lot together, and Nina says she knows that and they may never fully restore the trust that they used to have with each other, but she’s so grateful that they’re willing to try. He says, same here, and she says, so things are going really good with Jordan? He says, things have never been better. They’re closer than ever. They moved in together and somehow she seems to be as excited about the baby as he is. Nina says, that’s wonderful. He deserves good things, especially after everything Drew has put him through. He says he has to thank Jordan for that. She helped him through it all. They’ve learned from their mistakes and they’ve gotten stronger as a result. He trusts Jordan completely. She says she hopes they’ll be able to say the same thing someday, and he says, so does he.

Lucas thanks Laura for coming, and she tells him to take care of himself. She’s here if he needs her. She leaves, and he asks Ava if what he said about Marco was all right. He doesn’t remember the service. The whole thing is a kind of blur. She says, it was perfect. He found exactly the right words. They hug.

Lucy tells Carly that she’s really, really sorry about what happened to Jason, and Carly thanks her. Lucy says she just feels it was so terrible that he was swept up like that by the WSB. It must be so horrible for Danny and the Quartermaines, and for her, of course (🍷). Carly says Lucy doesn’t have to worry about them or her. Jason’s innocent. Lucy says, that means they’ll be seeing him again, and Carly says, that’s right. She needs to go talk to Lucas. Lucy says, could she just remind Lucas that if he needs to find another house, she’s more than willing to help. He has her card. Carly says, okay, and Lucy says, okay, ta! and leaves.

Cody says, you’re back, and Molly says she’s back, and by back, he means awake for the first time, right? He says, no. He pushes up his sleeves and says, see? Just for her. She says, oh my God. Was she a complete idiot? He says, she was adorable. Does she want to know what she said? She says she doesn’t know. Does she? He says he guesses he can just show her the video, and she says, video? He says, it hasn’t gone viral yet, but it’s getting good engagement, and she says, no, no, no. Please tell her he’s joking. He says, of course (🍷) he is. So she really doesn’t remember what she said? She says she just remembers being really happy he was here. It’s a nice way to wake up. He says, there’s more of that to come, if she’s still down with letting him take care of her for the next few days. She says, yeah. He promised to wait on her hand and foot. He says, and he shall. She’s really okay? No pain? Molly says she’s great.

Isaiah sees Jordan outside and tells her that he just wanted to say… it’s good to see her. She says, same. So is he glad he came? He says he is. Marco will be sorely missed. She says, he will, by quite a few. Jenz is completely devastated. He says, Sidwell is not a good guy, and she says she knows. He says, so don’t let herself get pulled in any deeper. She’ll just regret it. She says, he doesn’t need to worry. She knows what she’s doing.

Ava asks if Sidwell wants her to stay, and he says he just needs a minute. She says, of course (🍷). Please call her anytime if he wants to talk. He says, thanks. He will. She leaves and he looks at Marco’s picture.

Kristina says she’ll see Sonny today at Charlie’s, right? and he says he wouldn’t miss it for the world. She says, great, kisses his cheek, and says she loves him. He says he loves her too, and goes inside the church. Ric closes the door.

Cody says they’re going to discharge Molly shortly and… Whoa. Where did all this come from? He looks at a juice box and a box of animal crackers on her tray, and she says she doesn’t know, but hand it over. He says, in the meantime, while they wait for the nurse, what does she say they plan their Caribbean vacation. She says, yes, let’s do it, and feeds him a cracker.

At the MetroCourt having coffee, Nina says, so things are pretty good between her and Willow, and Curtis says he’s glad. He knows this isn’t easy for her. She says, which part? and he says, well, after everything that went down, Willow is still married to Drew and she’s dealing with his condition on top of it. Nina says, yeah. She’s not loving it. As much as she despises Drew – and she does – it’s difficult to watch how much he’s diminished. Curtis says, oh how the mighty have indeed fallen, and she says, the worst part is, this stroke has tied Willow to Drew even more tightly because he is completely dependent on her and she insists on taking care of him at home. He says, does she have time for that now that she’s taken over his seat in congress? and Nina says, she has help and she does seem to enjoy being a congresswoman. He says he’s sure she does, and Nina says, but she can’t help wondering if Willow would have chosen this for herself. He says, maybe not, but upward is a good direction to fall. She says, that is true, but Willow has always focused too much on other people’s expectations, especially the men in her life, and sometimes she wonders if her daughter has ever stopped long enough to think about what she really wants. He says, she’s certainly in a position to do so now, and Nina says she prayed every day for something to break Drew’s power over Willow and now he’s utterly powerless. Curtis says, be careful what you wish for. You just might get it.

Danny says he was hoping Alexis would say yes, he’d see his father again. Just be patient. But he thanks her for being honest with him. She asks where he’s going, and he says, to his room. Why? She says she thought he’d want to talk more, and he asks, what else is there to say? She says, there’s this. She knows he feels alone right now, but he’s not. He has his aunts. He has his sister. He’s got the Quartermaines, and for better or worse, he’s got her. He says, mostly better, and she says she’ll take that. So it’s okay if they just lean on each other, maybe for a little while. She knows he’s going to have to sort out his grief on his own, but just remember that his family loves him like crazy and they want to help, so don’t shut them out. He asks if he can go to his room now, and she says, sure. He goes upstairs.

Carly tells Lucas, it was a beautiful service. How is he holding up? He says, it was good hearing people say so many kind things about Marco and he really appreciated her being here. She says, of course (🍷). Where else would she be? He says he doesn’t know. He just wishes neither of them had to be here. She says she knows. Her too. He says he’s sorry, but he thinks he needs to be alone, and she says, okay. Why not let her put him up at the MetroCourt? Just so he doesn’t have to worry about next steps from Ava’s guestroom. He thanks her, but says, actually, he’s still living at Windymere. She says, what? She thought he said he’d moved out. He says, well, that was before, and with Marco gone… She says, there’s no reason for him to be anywhere near Jenz Sidwell, and he says, for him, there is. Jenz is the only person who hurts the way he does. Everyone else is sad and they say they’re sorry and then they move on, but he and Jenz really feel the emptiness of Marco’s absence. So what he needs is to stay close to Jenz, for now.

Sidwell touches Marco’s picture, then turns and sees Ric and Sonny. He says, Sonny dares show his face around here, but Sonny says he’s here to pay his respects. He’s sorry for Sidwell’s loss. Sidwell says he doesn’t believe for a second that Sonny is sorry, but he will be.

On Monday, Brook tells Chase that they’re about to find out if they can be Phoebe’s foster parents; Michael says something about it doesn’t sit right with him; Jordan says, he’s on the warpath and out for blood; and Sidwell says Sonny’s gotten away with far too much for far too long.

🧼 All the Soap News Fit To Print…

The Nathan/Cassius twist.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/general-hospital-exclusive-ryan-paevey-on-nathan-impostor-twist-and-whats-next-for-cassius/

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/what-happened-to-nathan-on-general-hospital-his-true-fate-revealed/

And they didn’t even need to rub a lamp.

https://ew.com/general-hospital-aladdin-crossover-11940994

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/general-hospital-comings-goings-broadway-crossover-for-emma-and-gio/

Great photos from GH over the years.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/photos/general-hospital-at-63-celebrate-its-most-iconic-moments-from-1963-to-today/

💉 A Dose Of Reality…

Below Deck Down Under

Ben and Ellie continued to tussle, even after Captain Jason told Ellie to slow her roll during charter. Speaking of, the charter guests – despite Christina being a drunken mess – seemed like lovely people. They partied on a tiny private island which was so cool. Daisy was frustrated about Jenna and Mike’s bickering. Preparing for Marc and Clay’s vow renewal, Ben was reminded of his non-wedding and in Daisy’s interview, she said she wasn’t 22 with a Pinterest board of her dream wedding. She was just looking for a second date. Beautiful décor, white party, elegant, unclutched pearls, and amazing food. The wedding cake had an adorable topper – a silhouette of two grooms and their dogs. Everyone turned in surprisingly early, but they weren’t 22 either. Although I can’t speak to their Pinterest boards. The captain said he wanted to see the issue with Ellie and Ben resolved or he’d make changes. Is another firing in the works? My guess is, if there is, it ain’t gonna be Ben.

Summer House

Loverboy was going under, so as usual, Kyle was his usual whiney, martyr self and took it out on others, mostly Amanda. BTW, if you whine about it, you’re not a very good martyr. He and Amanda talked, but it was mostly him wailing that she didn’t care about him and ignoring everything she was saying. He claimed he wanted to feel like he was in a partnership, but maybe he should try acting like a partner. I was going to watch it a second time since I didn’t pay that much attention to the first, but a rerun of Selena with Jennifer Lopez was actually more attractive. Maybe the reveal of Amanda and West’s relationship will put a new spin on things.

The Valley

Britanny reconnected with a guy she knew 13 years ago and was finally moving on from Jax completely. Kristen and Nia held a dual Sip & See because their babies were born six weeks apart. Schwartz barely knew the details of his divorce, but didn’t want to ask Katy about it, since him not listening was one of the reasons for the divorces. When Michelle flirted with Schwartz, in Kristen’s interview, she described Michelle as a fine French wine and Scwartz as a Jagerbomb in a sports bar, which is fairly accurate. Lala Found out that Luke was a sperm donor at the bank she got Sosa from, which was pretty disturbing. Again, I don’t think this is a show we need to see again, but maybe Lala and Schwartz will add some Vanderpump to it.

Southern Hospitality

I want to like Maddy, especially since she’s a go-getter, but I get the vibe that she’s not as nice as she acts. The group went tubing, despite Lake’s concerns about alligators and brain eating amoeba. Maddy saw a game on TikTok and described it as someone running and someone trying to catch them. Isn’t that called Tag? One more show we really don’t need.

Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills

At their final dinner in Italy, Dorit had enough of everyone telling her that she was always late and shopping too much. When Erika tried to chime in, Dorit told her to shut up and followed that by calling her the c-word. She seems to throw that around a lot, and I’m with Rachel that it should be saved for special occasions. Erika said she was the one who’d brought the word to the group, and no surprise, Dorit ran away rather than dealing with her issues. The episode ended with Rachel having a Studio 54 party for her birthday. I can’t wait to see the results of that.

Real Housewives Of Rhode Island

I didn’t hate this, although they always start off good and it smells a little like New Jersey. As a matter of fact, the whole group looks like they could be related to Delores, who paid them a visit. Liz, who nearly looks like Delores’s twin (they use the same plastic surgeon and dentist), said she’d met Delores at a cannabis convention when Frank was getting into the business. Liz and her husband opened one of the first cannabis dispensaries on the east coast, so kudos. The group does seem more relaxed than the other Housewives in the franchise. However, it did look like their might be some upcoming friction at Jo-Ellen’s 4th of July party.  

https://ew.com/real-housewives-of-rhode-island-premiere-recap-interviews-11941421

Ladies Of London: The New Reign

Martha invited a pet psychic to find out what’s going on with her magpie Hecate, and basically Hecate said she’s the boss of Martha. Martha was not surprised, since she thinks Hecate is a reincarnation of her mother. They both love booze and men and are drama queens. I’m sure that goes for a ton of people, and possibly birds. Martha also had a My Fair Lady themed party in the park, which no one seemed to quite grasp right, and Mark deliberately didn’t dress for, finding themes tedious. What a party pooper. Even worse was the hideous yellow safari jacket he did choose to wear. Mark and Kimi attacked Margot for being fake (both of them probably jealous about her acting career), triggering sweet Martha to stand up to Kimi, telling her that she was all kinds of wrong. This led to tears and  reaffirmations of friendship, but Martha still stood her ground, no doubt inspired by Hecate. No one had a recap, but there was this…

Random Reality Items

I don’t recap this, but I do watch it, and have to say something about Lydia’s brothers inserting themselves into her relationship with (now) husband Zac. While I understood they felt the couple was moving too fast, they also insinuated that Zac was gay, since he and Lydia were waiting until after marriage not just for sex, but for their first kiss. The worst part was that they chose to address this just prior to the wedding, even grilling Zac on his sexual preference. Wow. Even if that was the case, it would be none of their business. The only person who would have the allowance to question to him would be Lydia. This seasons premiere episode centered around the couple meeting with her family about it. They claimed whatever was said was said out of love, but I call bullsh*t. Since they’re supposedly all about the Bible, they need to take those logs out of their own eyes before checking the vision of others.

https://people.com/welcome-to-plathville-lydia-confronts-family-clip-exclusive-11933634

I find it a little difficult to believe she was ignorant of people getting hurt – i.e. losing their shirts.

Andy speaks on Miami.

👀 Last Weekend’s Watch

Anaconda (2025). Netflix. This movie was too funny! I love Jack Black and he did not disappoint. When two friends decide they’re going to remake Anaconda, hilarity, confrontations with smugglers, and encounters with a giant snake ensue. I laughed all the way through it and, silly as they were, the effects weren’t bad either.

https://www.cbr.com/anaconda-best-franchise-reboot-of-the-decade/

The Creator. Netflix. In a dystopian future, a war has begun between humans and AI. A special forces agent has to find a secret weapon, a child he names Alphie. Lots of close calls, terrific acting, and great effects, but a few too many cornfields for me, especially at the end. It also seemed to borrow heavily from the 80s series V.

https://collider.com/the-creator-sci-fi-netflix-streaming-success-march-2026/

https://www.giantfreakinrobot.com/ent/scifi/the-creator-2023-review.html

Something Very Bad is Going to Happen. Netflix. In this limited series, a couple – Rachel and Nicky – decide to get married at the Nicky’s family’s cabin in the woods. The cabin is more like a mansion and what starts out to be a simple outdoorsy affair turns into all kinds of insane. Rachel finds out that she’s under a family curse where if she doesn’t marry her soulmate by a certain time, she’ll die. When she finds out Nicky has lied about some things, she begins to question whether or not he is her true love. Really the only way to know is if she drops dead at the altar, but she tries her best to find out the history of the curse and whether or not the match is meant to be, oddly enough with the help of Nicky’s ex. There’s a lot of weird, spooky stuff where you can really feel the protagonist’s fear, and a somewhat ironic soundtrack that’s had me singing You Are My Destiny all week.

https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/something-very-bad-is-going-to-happen-netflix-duffer-brothers-tv-review-2026

https://collider.com/netflix-something-very-bad-is-going-to-happen-28m-hours-watched/

One Piece Season 2 Finale. (Netflix) I loved this season, filled with loads of action and amazing effects. Chopper is the cutest thing since Sweet Tooth and Katy Sagal was magnificent as Dr. Kureha. My only complaint is that I’m spoiled, so rather than doling episodes out like methadone, I watched it all too quickly. Luckily, there will be a Season 3 and hopefully, it will stream next year, not three years from now.

https://people.com/one-piece-season-2-ending-explained-11921950

https://www.thereviewgeek.com/onepiece-s2endingexplained/

🐾 Wearing Fur In the Spring…

👰‍♀️They do. You may all collectively aww.

https://people.com/golden-retrievers-marry-in-charity-wedding-raising-money-for-dogs-11940578

🍀 So that’s what’s at the end of the rainbow.

https://people.com/girl-sets-up-camera-to-catch-leprechaun-and-is-shocked-by-what-she-sees-instead-11935385

🐻 Speaking of, I saw this on the local news. This cub is too cute!

https://newjersey.news12.com/abandoned-bear-cub-rescued-by-new-jersey-state-police-along-i-78

🐶 In their Easter bonnets.

https://moderndogmagazine.com/articles/happy-easter/

Happy Easter!

🐍 Quotes of the Week

If you tell the truth, you don’t have to remember anything. – Mark Twain

Success or failure depends more upon attitude than upon capacity… successful men act as though they have accomplished or are enjoying something. Soon it becomes reality. Act, look, feel successful, conduct yourself accordingly, and you will be amazed at the positive results. – DuPree Jordan, Jr. (Getting out my tiara.)

It costs money to not make money on your money. – Judge Marilyn Milian, People’s Court

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

Compassion is the ultimate and most meaningful embodiment of emotional maturity. It is through compassion that a person achieves the highest peak and deepest reach in his or her search for self-fulfillment. – Arthur Jersild

Because really, a house is a house, but a home is who you are with in the house. – Alice Cooper

I need some M&Ms. – Captain Jason Chambers, Below Deck Down Under

🦁 Came In and Went the Same Way…

Until next time, stay safe; stay enjoying your holiday and respecting the beleifs of others; and stay being careful what you wish for. You just might get it.

Video > Prince – Sometimes It Snows In April (Live At Webster Hall – April 20, 2004)

March 20, 2026 – GH Weekdays, Marco Puts Himself In Danger. Soap Suds, A Dose Of Reality, Weekend Watching, Everything Oscar, Off the Clock, Octadic Quotes & Lied

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

🍕 Weekday Slices…                                                                          

Monday: 

Portia hassled Jordan about being pregnant and asked if Curtis knew.

Stella found the pregnancy test in Jordan’s purse.

Michael and Jacinda went to the gatehouse for a little privacy. She said she could tell she needed to keep a close eye on Charlotte. She recognized a lot of herself in Charlotte and felt protective. She didn’t want Charlotte to make the same mistakes.

Cody went to see Molly, bearing gifts, but she said he was making it harder for her.

Boyle went to Laura’s office and said if Sidwell didn’t get what he wanted, there would be hell to pay.

Jason told Sonny that Britt’s situation had reached the breaking point and they had to leave town.

Jordan said she didn’t know what Portia was talking about and Portia said Jordan was a hypocrite, but unlike Jordan, she wasn’t blabbing to Curtis.

Stella shoved the test back in Jordan’s purse and told Curtis there was nothing in there. She’d get in touch with Jordan herself. He asked if they were keeping secrets, but she said he was ridiculous and left.

Cody said he’d been worried, and Molly said it was hard to manage her pain and put on a brave face. He said he didn’t want her to pretend with him. He was her boyfriend and could take it. He offered to leave, but she said maybe it was time to get real with him.

Laura told Boyle that she’d issued a public notice about the new flight path of Sidwell’s helicopters. She’d heard no objections yet and if there were none over the next five days, the ordinance would go through. She thought it was sneaky and dishonest, and she wasn’t accustomed to doing things that way. Boyle said, in the beginning, he’d wanted to serve the community and found the most effective way was with the help of powerful people who could get things done. He hadn’t realized what he was getting into with Sidwell. By the time he realized what was expected of him, it too late. He sympathized. Martin came by and asked if Boyle was bothering Laura.

Jason told Sonny that Cullum and Sidwell had ordered Britt to finish the project, which meant they needed to disappear. He was hoping to get a sample of her meds to Brick. Then they’d lay low until he reproduced it. Sonny wondered if they wouldn’t be hunted down, since Cullum had WSB resources at his disposal, but Jason said, on his way out of town, he was going to eliminate that bastard.

Cody explained that he’d asked Felicia about endometriosis without mentioning Molly’s name. He knew it was a chronic condition that could be extreme painful and there was no cure. Molly said all she could do was take medication for the pain, but she sometimes had it throughout her body. One option was surgery, but she’d rather not have it, so she tried to manage her flare-ups when they happened. He asked how often she had them, and she said, once in a while. She could usually power through. He asked what severe meant in her case, and she said it meant she couldn’t have children.

Michael made a fire and asked about Jacinda’s life. She said she’d gotten involved with a man ten years older. She was of legal age, but it still wasn’t appropriate. At the time, she didn’t think it was wrong. The boys her age were dumb and juvenile, and she thought she was smarter and more sophisticated. He wasn’t worth what it cost. She practically threw her life away for him. Her parents cut her out of their lives, so she moved in with her boyfriend and had to grow up too fast. She worked as many jobs as she could, but still couldn’t make ends meet, which was how she ended up becoming an escort. He said she’d done what she could to survive and had nothing to be ashamed of, but she said she wished she could go back and tell her high school self not to be anxious to grow up. Once you did, there was no going back. He agreed, and she said it changed her. Sometimes she wished she could go back to who she was.

Trina went to Jordan’s to see Curtis and said his assistant told her that he was working from there. She told him about running into Jordan at the salon and said it had been civil, and he thanked her for making an effort to accept the relationship. She said she was trying her best to embrace the new normal, and he said, speaking of that, he was going to be living with Jordan.

Isaiah was waiting for Portia in her office, and she told him that Jordan was pregnant.

Stella called Jordan and asked her to meet at GH. It couldn’t wait.

Boyle said he and Martin had been on the same team with Measure C, but Martin said he was now Team Laura. He asked if she wanted to go to dinner, but she said she was swamped with work and asked for a raincheck. Martin was about to leave, when Tracy stormed in all disheveled. She said she fell of her horse, and it was Laura’s fault.

Jason said he was making good on his promise to take Cullum out, and Sonny said it would be tough to keep Britt safe and take out Cullum. He offered to pinch hit, but Jason said he’d been tracking Cullum and knew his habits and schedule. He was the best chance of success, but once Sidwell found out he and Britt had escaped… Sonny said Sidwell would try to get to Jason through him, but he might be too busy once Cullum was gone. This could be the end of Sidwell. If this was done right, he and Laura could be free of that son of a bitch.

Tracy said she was enjoying an evening ride when a helicopter roared overhead, spooked her horse, and she fell off. It never should have happened since it was a residential no fly zone. It was so low, she saw the FRE Worldwide logo on it. Martin asked how it was Laura’s fault, and Tracy said when she contacted her lawyer she was surprised to find out a new zoning ordinance was in the works. The mayor was planning on betraying the residents of the neighborhood. Laura said it had been posted publicly, but Tracy said, not where anyone could see it and she was going to stop it.

Portia told Isaiah that she’d seen Jordan, who was looking a little green, so she decided to mess with her. She asked if Jordan was pregnant, just being snarky, and it turned out she was. Isaiah asked if Jordan confirmed it, and Portia said, no, but the look on her face said it all. She had the feeling Jordan hadn’t told Curtis and Jordan had the nerve to tell her to mind her own business after Jordan had grilled her at the Quartermaines’ tea party. Jordan told Curtis before she was ready and she was tempted to do the same thing, but she and Curtis were in a good place and she didn’t want any drama between them. He asked how she felt about Curtis and Jordan having a baby.

Stella said she’d been at Jordan’s place and found out Curtis was moving in, and Jordan asked if she had concerns. Stella said she was more concerned about Jordan being pregnant.

Cody said he was sorry, but Molly said she was sorry. She should have told him sooner. She’d thought it was too early in the relationship, but realized she was wrong. He deserved to know before they got involved. He might want biological children and if he was with her, it definitely wasn’t going to happen. If he wanted to end things, she got it. Not having kids was a huge sacrifice. He said, not for him.

Michael said he was sorry Jacinda went through that, but she said, look at where it led to. When they met, she was pretty bitter, but he showed her that amazing things still happened. He said she did the same for him. His marriage had imploded and he was still recovering from the burns. He was in a bad place, but she changed all that. He couldn’t begin to thank her. She suggested he start by accepting that she knew the difference between things she had to do and the things she wanted to do. They kissed and got busy and there was a song part.

Molly said it was a big decision, but Cody said he wanted to be with her and was fine with it. She said he was good with kids and imagined he’d have his own, but he said he was perfectly happy to be the fun uncle. If he became a dad, he wouldn’t be unhappy, but it wasn’t something he yearned for. He didn’t need biological children. She said she didn’t want to do adoption or surrogacy again. She didn’t want children. He said she was enough and having her in his life was more than enough. She kissed him and he said he wished she would have told him sooner, so he could help when she wasn’t feeling well, instead of hiding her pain. She hugged him and said she was sure he’d bail. He said she still had a few things to learn about him.

Jacinda told Michael that she’d always rolled her eyes when she saw a movie where the couple made love on a rug in front of a roaring fire. But now that she’d done it, it was quite romantic. Michael said he was glad to help broaden her horizons. It was good to be spontaneous sometimes. Her phone rang and she said it was just a work thing. She’d take care of it later. Michael said he was her boss’s boss, so she could put the phone away. They started to kiss again, when Olivia walked in and said, oh my God.

Portia asked if Isaiah was worried she was jealous, and he said he wasn’t worried… Okay, a little. She said she was annoyed at Jordan’s hypocrisy. Jordan told Curtis that she was pregnant before she was ready, saying he had the right to know, and she thought of doing the same. Isaiah said, it must not be planned, or Jordan would have told him, and Portia said, unless she wasn’t keeping the baby. Jordan would have a high risk pregnancy for a number of reasons. He wondered if Jordan intended on telling Curtis. She was good at keeping secrets.

Trina said the view was amazing and Curtis would have been crazy to pass it up. He asked if she was okay with him living there, and she said, absolutely. She knew she’d given him grief when it came to Jordan, but it was wrong of her and she was sorry. If he wanted to live with Jordan, he should. Jordan was fun, cool, and smart, and best of all, she made him happy.

Jordan asked if Stella had been snooping, but Stella said, of course (🍷) not. She’d wanted to leave Jordan a note and Curtis suggested checking her bag for a pen. Jordan asked if Stella had shown Curtis, but Stella said, no. She’d stuffed it back into Jordan’s bag. Jordan said Stella knew she hadn’t used it. She hadn’t said anything to Curtis because she wasn’t sure it would be necessary. A pregnancy would be considered high risk because she had one kidney. Stella said, a transplant, and Jordan said it could be dangerous for her and the baby. There was a lot to consider. Stella asked if it was possible Jordan was going to terminate the pregnancy.

Laura said it would help local projects, and Tracy suggested it was a bribe. Laura said it was a business deal intended to benefit the city as a whole, but Tracy said not if the property values went down. Martin said Tracy was an entitled snob who couldn’t sacrifice some noise to help everyone else, and Tracy said he couldn’t smell how corrupt the deal was and it wasn’t going to happen. He said she didn’t care about doing what was right. It wasn’t Laura’s fault that she couldn’t control her nag.  

Sonny said, one detail Jason had to remember… and Jason said, it couldn’t be traced back to Sonny and Laura. Sonny said Laura was his main concern, and Jason said maybe it would take the heat off if they pinned it on Brennan. Sonny said, whatever Jason did, make sure it was a clean kill. If he couldn’t, he needed to walk away. Jason said he’d be careful, and Sonny said if Jason murdered a WSB agent, he’d never see the light of day again. Jason said he understood the stakes, but it was worth the risk to protect the people they loved, and Sonny said, Cullum was responsible for the firebomb that nearly killed Michael, and for that, he needed to pay.

Olivia asked if they’d seen Leo’s retainer, and Jacinda noticed it on a bookcase and gave it to her. Olivia said Leo wanted to come and get it, but she’d volunteered. Otherwise, her boy would have walked in on them. Michael said he was sorry. Danny had been banned from the gatehouse, and he didn’t think anyone was coming in. Olivia said he didn’t think. It was early and it could have been his boy who came in. Michael said next time he’d lock the door, and Olivia said he should give some serious thought to what nearly happened here tonight. She left.

Curtis said Trina seemed excited to be a big sister, and she said, beyond excited. Wasn’t he excited to be a dad? He said, more than words could say. This time he got to be there from the beginning. She said she’d always be sad about the time they’d missed out on, and he said him too. She admitted she was a little jealous that he’d be able have the opportunity to share with the baby what he didn’t share with her, and he said there was plenty of love in his heart for both of his children.

Jordan told Stella that she wasn’t sure what she was going to do if she was pregnant. She’d put off the test to avoid that difficult decision. Stella said she understood, but the longer Jordan waited, the harder the decision would become. If it turned out she was pregnant, was she going to tell Curtis? Jordan said she didn’t want to keep secrets from Curtis. She’d sworn she would never make that mistake again. She hoped he understood if she chose to end it. Even if he did, she still worried it might affect their relationship. Stella told her, take the test. She was torturing herself for no reason. Joran said, what if it was positive? and Stella said maybe it was time to clue him in, so Jordan didn’t go through this alone. Jordan said Stella was right. She needed to know and there was no time like the present. She’d grab another test from the pharmacy. Stella said she’d be there.  

Cody suggested watching a movie, and Molly asked if he wanted a Western or was he in a more serious mood? He asked if they could watch Sense and Sensibility. He wanted to see if they’d done justice to the book. She said he was right. There were a few things she could still learn about him. She snuggled against him on the couch.

Jordan came back, and Stella said, well?

Tracy told Martin that her nag was a thoroughbred Arabian, who had the right to cantor without being terrified, and he said the truth was, she cared more about a horse than the good people of Port Charles. She said she did. First thing tomorrow, she’d have her good friend Judge Goldin issue an injunction to stop the new ordinance. She left, and Martin said he was sure even the judge would realize Tracy had no basis, and Laura asked if he’d mind letting her and Boyle strategize alone. Martin left, and Boyle said she’d better hope Martin was right or Sidwell would be unhappy with them both. She said she knew, but she was beginning to care less and less about Mr. Sidwell’s happiness.

Sonny asked if Jason had any idea when he’d be back, and Jason said that depended on how long it took Brick to replicate the meds – a month or two. Sonny asked, what if he couldn’t? but Jason said he didn’t want to think about that right now. He was sorry he wouldn’t be around to help get rid of Sidwell, but Sonny said he’d handle it himself. Jason said if Sonny needed him… and Sonny said he knew he could count on Jason and Jason could always count on him too.

Tuesday:

Sonny signed some papers in Diane’s office and told her that he’d hired another attorney. She asked if she was fired.

Alexis waited at the Port Charles Grill for Diane, when Ric walked in. She said she was waiting for someone, but he said he only needed 60 seconds. He wanted to thank her.

Josslyn was meeting Trina, Kai, Gio, and Emma at the Brown Dog, and flashed back to arguing with Carly over being in the WSB.

Isaiah asked Elizabeth’s opinion on earrings for Portia, and she asked if he was as okay as he seemed with things moving so fast.

Stella went to see Portia and told her to stay out of Jordan’s pregnancy business. She’d given Jordan a reality check, and now it was Portia’s turn.

Jordan went home and told Curtis that she wasn’t pregnant.

Carly found Valentin in Sonny’s old kitchen with the moss bowl🎍, and he wanted to know if them sleeping together was the beginning of something or end of everything. She said it had blurred the lines, and they didn’t need that distraction, and he agreed. He said Jason had decided not to kill him. She wouldn’t have to take Jack down alone, but if she were to get hurt, he wouldn’t live to tell the tale.

Josslyn sat down, and Emma said they hadn’t seen her much. Trina said she lived with Josslyn and it was the first time she’d seen her in a week, and Josslyn said she’d been studying. Kai told her about Trina singing at Charlie’s open mic night, and Josslyn promised to try and make it, when Cullum came in with Jack.

Isaiah told Elizabeth that sometimes a relationship felt right and he’d learned life was too short not to live in the moment and let yourself be happy. Elizabeth said he might be right.

Stella told Portia that she’d encouraged Jordan to take the test and she wasn’t pregnant. Portia needed to face her resentment toward Jordan. Portia said she’d never weaponize Jordan’s pregnancy the way Jordan did hers, and Stella said Portia was fixated with hating Jordan and had to snap out of it. 🫱

Curtis was surprised, and Jordan said she wanted to make sure before she told him. He asked if she was disappointed.

Sonny said Diane would still handle his legitimate legal work, but he hired somebody else for complicated dealings with people who had badges. Diane asked if hadn’t given him exceptional representation, but he said it wasn’t about her performance. She’d walked a fine line, and he didn’t want to put her in that position anymore. She asked who the legal mind was that he trusted so much, and he said his brother Ric.

Ric said he was sincere in thanking Alexis for keeping him hostage, but Alexis was concerned he was wearing a wire and made him hand over his phone. He said, the month in her basement had given him the wake-up call he’d needed. He’d had time to reflect. She asked, what about? and he said, the only thing that mattered in life – family. He never would have swallowed his pride and gone to Sonny. He was getting to know the real Sonny and not the idea he had of him. Alexis said, so now Ric was going to double cross the real Sonny.

Ric said he had no intention of double crossing Sonny, but Alexis told him, history said otherwise and history repeated itself. She didn’t trust him. They shared a daughter and Molly was happy right now, so what happened when they went at it again? He said that wasn’t going to happen, and Alexis said she hoped he thought of Molly first before exploiting Sonny. Ric said he’d been protecting Alexis from anyone finding out the truth and no one had found out that Kristina nearly killed him and Elizabeth. He wasn’t the only one who’d reaped the benefits of his new outlook. The old him would never have allowed that.

Diane said Ric was determined to destroy Sonny. He must be upset with her services. Sonny said it was strictly about family. He wanted to rely on his brother. Ric was his only sibling and the last tie to his mother. He’d changed and earned Sonny’s trust. When Diane was recovering, Ric defended Rocco. It wasn’t a reflection on her. It was about family. She said she was choosing to believe him, and he said that meant a lot to him. He needed to have her on retainer. He didn’t want to go up against her in court.

Cullum said he hoped there were no hard feelings about him taking the lead in the Sidwell case, but Jack said he welcomed the help. They needed to figure out what was going on at Windymere. Hopefully, Cullum would crack the case.

Josslyn said she just remembered she had a paper due and hadn’t started it. She had to go or she’d be obsessing about it. It had been a long day, and she was crashing out sooner than expected. Trina walked her out and they ran into Cullum. Josslyn acted stupid and told him that they were pre-gaming for spring break. She hoped he had an awesome night. Cullum went back to the table, and Trina asked, what was that? Who was that guy?

Valentin agreed and said it couldn’t happen again. He hoped Carly didn’t think he’d taken advantage of her or regret it. She said she didn’t and she had no regrets, and he said he wasn’t expecting to change his opinion of her, but he did and he was glad. No regrets. He went back upstairs.  

Portia said she had enormous respect for Stella, but had a reason to resent Jordan. She and Curtis had been working on their problems, and Jordan had been there as a sympathetic shoulder for Curtis. Stella said Curtis and Jordan were two friends with a long history. Jordan being there wasn’t enough to break them up, and if they’d had a stronger marriage, they would still be together. Portia said she doubted it, and Stella asked what she thought ended the marriage. Portia said, me.

Jordan said she put off taking the test because she was scared, and Curtis said, having a baby was always a blessing, but the timing wasn’t always ideal. What made her do it? She said, Stella. Stella saw the test, tracked her down, and asked about it. He said, it was none of her business. Her big heart prevented her from staying in her lane. Jordan said Stella loved him and her family, and in a weird way their conversation made her feel like a part of it. He said, of course (🍷), she was part of the family, and she said, after their divorce, somehow, they found their way back together again. Stella understood and it was nice to know she approved, but there was someone else who knew she might be pregnant – Portia.

Portia told Stella that the pattern was set when she didn’t tell Curtis that he was Trina’s father. She kept secrets, then scrambled to cover them. Curtis had expectations, some of them unrealistic, but they should have talked about them and they didn’t. She’d tried to please him instead of being in the relationship. Jordan wasn’t responsible for that, and neither was Isaiah. She and Curtis were. Stella said Portia needed to face the possibility that she, Jordan, Curtis, and potentially, Isaiah, would all be in the baby’s life. How did she think it would affect the child if she clung to bitterness? And she should consider what her resentment was saying to Isaiah. Portia said her anger at Jordan told him that she couldn’t let go of Curtis or her marriage, and Stella said, exactly.

Sonny said he’d come to check on Carly and asked if she’d talked to Jason. She said she couldn’t believe Jason was leaving, especially now. She and Josslyn had a fight, and it was different. She’d never seen Josslyn that angry. Sonny asked what the fight was about, and Carly flashed back to that. She said it was about him.

Jack asked if Cullum recognized that girl, and Cullum said it was Anna’s granddaughter. Anna was a good agent and what happened to her was a shame.

Trina said, that guy was creepy, and Josslyn said she kept running into him. He was so uptight, she kept acting like a ditsy college girl to shake him. Trina asked if that was the real reason she was leaving, but Josslyn said, no. Seeing Jack reminded her of her mom. They’d had a big fight and she’d said awful things. Her head wasn’t there. Trina said she understood. Josslyn and her mom might need distance. Josslyn said she hated that. Everything was a mess. Trina said she’d had to deal with a mess with her mother, but nothing helped until she finally talked to her mom. Josslyn would feel better if she talked to hers. Josslyn said she was right, hugged Trina, and left.

Alexis said people did change. Maybe Ric would too. She certainly hoped so. His date was here. She gave Ric his phone back, and he went over to Elizabeth. He said he was glad she’d decided to come, and she said her too.

Diane arrived and asked if Alexis was aware that Sonny was reorganizing his legal affairs. Alexis said she told him that he needed to have a conversation with her.

Elizabeth told Ric that it was none of her business, but it looked like he’d been having a serious conversation with Alexis. Ric said he’d wanted to thank Alexis for everything she’d done for him over the years. She’d been a great mother, and he wanted her to know there were no hard feelings. He wanted to start over as friends and she agreed to try. He was going to be working closely with Sonny. Elizabeth asked, on what? and he said he was going to represent Sonny on multiple business dealings.

Curtis said, Portia knew? and Jordan said, she guessed. She didn’t take it well. He said Portia was probably feeling some type of way because she hid her pregnancy and Jordan didn’t, and Jordan said she hoped it didn’t stop Portia and Curtis from having a good relationship. They were going to be co-parents from the moment the child was born and needed to be in a good place. He said she was amazing. Portia had been hard on her, and she’d been nothing but generous. He was sorry she had to deal with that. She said Portia promised not to tell him about her possible pregnancy and hadn’t owed her that. She was a good person and would make a wonderful mother.

Portia thanked Stella for giving her a reality check, and Stella asked if Portia forgave her for meddling. Portia said this time she was glad Stella did, and they hugged.

Jack went over to Emma and asked if she had any word on her grandmother’s recovery, but Emma said it was none of his business. It was a private matter. Family only. He said if he could do anything for her or Anna, let him know, and Gio said, will do, and thanked him. Jack left, and Gio asked if Emma was okay. Trina asked if Jack was an old WSB friend of Anna’s, and Emma said that’s how he would describe himself, but he was a total hypocrite.

Emma went over to Jack’s table and said, if he wanted to do something for her grandmother, leave her the hell alone. The WSB had done nothing but destroy her life.

Carly said Josslyn was angry at both her and Sonny. He needed to keep his distance right now. Sonny said he’d always been on Carly’s side and was always here for her, whatever she needed, and Carly thanked him.

Josslyn looked through the window and saw Carly with Sonny.

Cullum said, that didn’t sound like there was any improvement, and Jack said he was still hazy on what happened. He asked Cullum to share the details, and Cullum said, what he was told was that Anna was on assignment, went rogue, and disappeared. Something about the mission made her fixate on Faison. Jack asked if no one said what it was, and Cullum said it was something they may never know. He doubted Anna was going to come back from this. It was sad to watch a good agent break.

Isaiah came by Portia’s office to ask what she and the baby wanted for dinner, and she said Stella had stopped by. Stella told her that Jordan wasn’t pregnant. He said, that must be a relief, and she said it was. Stella said other things she wanted Portia to hear. She had a way of pointing out hard truths and told her that her frustration with Jordan could be perceived by him and others as her still having feelings for Curtis or unresolved issues about their marriage ending. He asked if she did.

Alexis said if Sonny made his decision because he didn’t want her in proximity of his affairs, it was her fault Diane was losing half of a lucrative client’s cases. Diane said that wasn’t it, and Alexis said she owed Diane and this wasn’t her way to repay it. Diane told her, stop. She wasn’t responsible for Sonny’s choice. He’d made that clear. It was about his brother.

Elizabeth said given their contentious past, should Ric be working for Sonny? and he said she thought it wasn’t a good idea. She said, for so many reasons. He was just getting his life back together and it could be a huge step back. He said he’d proceed with caution, but he had to do it. He wasn’t getting any younger and had missed out on important years with Molly, Sonny, and her.

Josslyn came in, and Carly said Sonny stopped by to say hello to the moss bowl🎍. He was just leaving. Sonny said Josslyn had a problem with him and he thought they could work it out, and Josslyn said, if he did the right thing by Donna and his other surviving children and left the country, she’d send him a postcard. Until then, there was nothing to work out. Carly said, Josslyn… and Josslyn said Carly was still defending Sonny. What the hell was wrong with her?

Curtis said he appreciated Jordan being open with him, and she said now she knew she could be. She could share the hard things, and they could face them together. They’d both made mistakes in the past. He said, but they’d learned from them, and she said she knew she could share her feelings about all of them. They kissed.

Portia said her feelings for Curtis were in the past. If she made Isaiah feel otherwise, she was sorry. Her resentment for Jordan had to do with her. She’d made Jordan a scapegoat in her marriage. Isaiah said he never thought she wanted Curtis or her old life back, and she said, nothing could be further from the truth. Their only connection was Trina and this baby. Their marriage was over. The last piece was her releasing her resentment toward Jordan and she was working on it. He said she was entitled to her feelings, but he was glad she’d decided to move forward, and she said, the only reason was because of him. It had been so unexpected and had turned into something real. He said, and deeply important, and they kissed.

Trina and Kai stepped away to give Emma and Gio time alone, and Kai said Emma had been through so much. Trina wondered if she’d mentioned how thoughtful and sweet he was and how much she loved about him, and he said he could tell her the things he loved about her, but they’d be here all night. They kissed.

Emma told Gio that she’d just wanted one fun night to forget about everything. So much for that. Gio said he wished he had a magic wand that could make it all go away. He wanted to make it better and couldn’t, but he could go through it all with her like she did for him. She said she was grateful to have him in her life. She knew her grandmother loved him. That was why she took him in. She knew her grandmother would be happy to know he was here for her. She put her head on his shoulder.

Alexis told Diane, let Sonny give Ric a chance. Let him get in the mud while she was free of the stress. Diane said, when it fell apart – and it would – and Sonny came crawling back, she’d charge him double. Alexis said she was thinking triple.

Ric told Elizabeth that he’d helped Sonny out when Diane broke her leg and they’d worked well together. He and Molly were in a good place and he and Alexis were being civil. But the real reason he wanted to work for Sonny was her. He needed a stable job if he was going to put roots down in Port Charles. He wanted to do that with her and only her.

Sonny told Josslyn to be mad all she wanted, but she was in her mother’s house and had to treat her with respect. Josslyn said he wanted her to lie. She didn’t respect Carly’s choices. She rationalized her decisions, making them seem okay and refusing to acknowledge how the fallout affected her children. Carly said she knew Josslyn didn’t approve of the things she’d done, but don’t act like she didn’t put her children first. She had since the day they were born. Josslyn said she was talking about the choices Carly was making now, not in the past, and she left.

Wednesday:

Brook told Chase that she couldn’t tear herself away from Phoebe. She wasn’t going along with calling her Baby Jane Doe. Neither was the hospital staff. She had every person wrapped around her teeny, tiny, perfect finger, but at the end of the day, she was alone. Had the PCPD tracked down her family? Chase said, not yet, but according to Dante, they’d progress.

Lulu created a romantic atmosphere, when there was a knock at the door. It was Nathan – with James.

Ric told Elizabeth that he wanted to build a relationship with Sonny, but didn’t want it to stop them from having a relationship. He wondered if she saw a future for them, when Lucas came in. Elizabeth said she had to talk to Lucas about a work thing, and they stepped away.

Marco made another attempt to get Britt’s meds from the safe. He opened it and said, what the hell?

Brad met Britt at the Brown Dog and she said she had to give the bartender the recipe for his pomegranate cosmogroni. He said the ingredients were in the name and it was perfect. He’d just had the worst date ever. She said she couldn’t wait to hear about it, but there was something he should know. This would be the last Brat cocktail hour for a while. It was time for her to get the hell out of Dodge.

Danny made a sandwich in the nook, and Jason asked if he could join him. Danny said Willow had lifted the restraining orders, so he could see Scout. Scout was now living with her dad, but he’d be able to see her when she was at Alexis’s house. Jason asked what he thought about living with Alexis. He had to leave town for a while and didn’t know when he’d be back.

Nathan said Maxie had to work late, Mac and Felicia weren’t around, and Georgie was studying plus watching Bailey Lou. He’d tried to call, but Lulu wasn’t picking up. He was hoping Charlotte and Rocco could keep James occupied. Lulu said they were spending the night at her mom’s, and he asked if she wanted to reschedule, but she said she didn’t want to miss spending the evening with two handsome gentlemen. James looked at a tray on the table and asked if it was one of those chard curry things. He reached for it and knocked over a bottle of wine.

Elizabeth told Lucas that Ric wanted to get serous, but he also wanted a close relationship with his brother, and nothing ever ended well with Ric and Sonny. Lucas said it wouldn’t this time, and she wondered if she should cut her losses now or take a chance and see how things ended up.

Cullum came in with a tray of Britt’s meds and asked if Marco was looking for them. He was about to restock. Marco said it was his turn to administer them, but Cullum said Brtt was gone for the day. Marco said at least he wouldn’t be late for dinner with Lucas, but Cullum said, hold on. Today was Pascal’s turn.

Brad asked if Britt couldn’t stall the project, but she said, no. Cullum and Sidwell were scary and wanted her to complete the prototype yesterday. He said she was handing an insanely dangerous weapon to insanely dangerous people, and she said once she was done, they’d have no use for her, and she’d seen what they did with expendable people. Brad asked what she was going to do about her meds, and she said she was hoping to get them reverse engineered.

Danny asked where Jason was going and why, but Jason said he couldn’t share the details. A life was at stake and they needed help. It was nothing he couldn’t handle, but Danny was safer if he had no direct contact. He’d find a way to let Danny know he was okay. He was sorry and knew it was unfair. Danny told him not to be sorry. If someone needed help, Jason had to help them. It’s what mom would have wanted.

James said he was sorry, but Lulu said, accidents happened. Nathan said it was an expensive chardonnay, and she said she’d had it around forever. James asked what he smelled, and Nathan said something was burning. Lulu said, the chicken! and ran to the kitchen.

Marco said he could have sworn Pascal told him that it was his turn, and Cullum said Pascal gave Britt the last dose. That’s why she was able to leave early. Marco guessed he misunderstood, and Cullum said they couldn’t have miscommunication about anything, certainly not this. It was their only leverage over Britt to keep her in line. Marco said he’d talk to Pascal and confirm the schedule. He hoped Cullum hadn’t forgotten about his request. Cullum said he knew Marco was eager to even the score with Mr. Corinthios, but their focus was on completing the prototype. When that was done, they’d revisit it. Marco said he didn’t know how long he could wait.

Lucas asked what Elizabeth was afraid would happen, and Elizabeth said if something happened between Sonny and Ric, Ric would lash out, get destructive, and it would affect their relationship. Lucas said Ric had burned her so many times, but she said she thought he’d changed. Lucas said he was dying to say, wake up, but he’d be a hypocrite. Marco got mixed up in stuff he shouldn’t have, but regretted it. He was sticking with Marco because he was a good person. He didn’t believe Ric was, but he was taking a leap of faith with Marco and so far he was happy. She asked if he was saying she should take a leap of faith, and he said he guesses, but only if she believed it was worth the risk.

Jason said he wasn’t sure Danny’s mom would be okay with him leaving Danny again, and Danny said, no, but she used to tell him that Jason did things not everybody understood, not even her.  She’d trusted Jason because he did what he thought was right. Jason said Danny was the same way. He hadn’t let Rocco take the fall for the lab break-in. He and Charlotte came forward and he was proud of the person Danny was becoming. He stood up for what was right and didn’t back down. He looked out for the people he loved, Rocco and Scout. He didn’t always agree with how Danny did it, but he respected it and Danny. Danny said maybe he could come with Jason.

James said, that’s chicken? And Lulu said, it was. Now it was just a sad pile of burnt up bones. Nathan said he was sorry, but she said it was fine. He said the night was a disaster. He’d ruined her romantic dinner. Lulu suggested they go get pizza. She knew a place where they could get pizza and play arcade games. Nathan said it wasn’t the most romantic thing, but she said she just wanted to spend time with him. James said he’d spilled water on her phone, but didn’t know how it happened.

Ric asked if Elizabeth got the work thing sorted out, and she admitted it wasn’t about work. He said he guessed Lucas had a million reasons why this was a bad thing and he was probably right. He got up and said, no hard feelings, but she told him to sit his butt down. She enjoyed spending time with him, and she would like to see where this went.

Marco met Lucas and said he was sorry he couldn’t get Britt’s meds. Lucas said it wasn’t for lack of trying, and Marco said he’d try again tomorrow. Lucas said he was concerned that Marco’s father and Cullum had seen him open the safe when it wasn’t his turn to give Britt an injection. What happened when she disappeared? They’d suspect Marco had something to do with it.

Brad said Lucas was helping Britt? His Lucas? His ex-Lucas? Why? Lucas hated her. Britt said he found out Marco’s dad was blackmailing her and Marco knew about it. Brad said he knew that guy was bad news. At least Lucas knew now too, and he was sure Lucas was showing Maroc the door. She said they were still together. Marco was helping access her meds. Brad said he didn’t get a second chance, but that Marco guy did? She said Lucas probably felt obligated to right his boyfriend’s wrongs, and he said, for her sake, he was glad Marco was helping. How was she reverse engineering the meds? She said she wasn’t doing it. Jason had a friend. He said he thought they’d dumped Jason, but Britt said they were still together. It was just an act. Brad said she’d lied to him, but she said she had no choice. He said Jason was helping her now, but would manifest an excuse to leave her high and dry again, but she said when she left, Jason was going with her.

Jason said Danny couldn’t come, but Danny said he’d proven he could take care of himself. Jason said it was too dangerous and Danny had school. It wasn’t happening, but for what it was worth (🍷) he had every right to be upset. He knew Danny understood, but he could still be angry and upset at the same time. Danny said he was fine, and Jason sighed and asked if there was anything he could do to make it better. Danny said, promise to come back.

Brook asked what would happen if they didn’t find Delilah’s family when the baby was released, and Chase said she’d be placed in temporary foster care. He hated it. She said so did she. She’d promised Delila to look out for her baby and wasn’t comfortable leaving her with just anyone. They should take her. He asked if she wanted to adopt Phoebe, but she said, just foster her until her family was tracked down. Not forever. They’d spent time with her and she knew them. Chase said he was in. It made sense. They were the only people who knew her mom and he thought Delilah would be pleased. He wondered if they could be screened and approved in time, and she said they had plenty of room and a good track record of being temporary parents. He said it would be more practice for adopting a child of their own, and they kissed.

Lucas asked how Marco thought his dad would react, and Marco said his dad would never physically harm him. Lucas said, what about Cullum? but Marco said his dad wouldn’t allow Cullum to lay a heand on him, but he could see his dad cutting him out of his life for good. Lucas said it would break Marco’s heart, and Marco said he knew Lucas thought his dad was a horrible man. What he was doing to Britt was wrong and they needed to stop it, but there was another side to him. Lucas said he got that it was complicated. His birth father did terrible things, but was good to him. They were estranged at the end, but he still loved his father. Marco said he hated the thought of losing his dad, and Lucas said, for Marco’s sake, he hoped that didn’t happen.

Brad said he’d spent many hours consoling Britt, but she said she had to keep it a secret. Sidwell and Cullum couldn’t find out. Brad said he cried tears for her lie, but she said he didn’t. It was a dangerous situation, and she probably shouldn’t have told him, but she knew how much she’d hurt him the last time she left. Even though she didn’t choose to leave, she didn’t reach out. He said she was a terrible friend, but the fact she was doing this was very nice. He was still mad. She said she was sorry she lied, but she had to keep the secret, and he said he wasn’t mad about how much she’d hurt him. He was mad that she couldn’t stay away from Jason Morgan.

Jason promised he was coming back, and Danny asked how long he’d be gone. Jason said he was hoping a month or two, and Danny asked, what if it was longer? Jason said that’s why he’d asked Danny about living with his grandmother. If it dragged out, he’d arranged for Alexis to be Danny’s legal guardian.

Elizabeth said she liked throwing axes with Ric, and he said, what about him and Sonny? She said maybe it was time they found the best in each other, and he said he wanted to make it work and would do what it took. He had a bit of a confession to make. Did she remember when he went on the digital detox? She said, of course (🍷). It was a turning point for him. He said it was, but not for the reasons she thought. There was really no digital detox.

Brook said she’d call Felicia and ask her to get the ball rolling, and Chase said he hoped they got the chance to take care of Phoebe. He was hoping Phoebe’s family arrived to claim her. Brook said her too. It would be rough for them to find out Deliliah was gone. He said, but they’d have Phoebe, and she said, until then, Phoebe would have them and she wasn’t alone.

Ric said he’d gotten into a sticky situation with Ava and Alexis. It all started when… Elizabeth asked if the situation was over, and he said all partners were in agreement to put it behind them. She said that was all she needed to know, unless it interfered with them moving forward. He said it was water under the bridge, and she said, then she was better off not knowing. She said the fact that he was willing to tell her the truth told her all she needed to know.

Marco told Lucas that he’d learned his lesson. He’d allowed his hatred for Sonny to put him in a dark place. Now all he cared about was Lucas. He loved Lucas. Lucas said he loved Marco too, and they kissed.

Brad said Jason always broke Britt’s heart, but she came crawling back to him. When was she going to learn? Britt said Jason had proven time and again how much he cared about her. He was risking his life going on the run with her. Brad asked what happened when Carly broke a nail and Jason abandoned her like he always did and left her all alone in a dangerous situation? She said he wasn’t going to do that to her, and Brad asked how she knew. She said she’d realized that Jason had always been straightforward with her and never misled her. He’d made it clear that Carly was a priority. Brad said, and now? and she said he was going to stay by her side. Because he said it, she knew he meant it. Brad said he wished that were true, but he thought she was setting herself up for a massive fall.

Back at Lulu’s, Nathan said, good call on the pizza, and she said she was a Spencer. They were creatures of bad habit and she knew her pizza, and it was fun playing games with James. Nathan said James felt bad crashing their date, and Lulu said, that’s why he suddenly asked them to find Felicia so he could be dropped off. Nathan said he wished James had realized sooner. Things didn’t go according to plan. She said her phone still worked, the wine that was spilled was white, and she was in the mood for pizza anyway. He thanked her for not giving up on him. He should get going. He kissed her on the cheek and left. She started to go upstairs, came back down and opened the door, and Nathan was standing there.

Lulu asked if he forget something, and he said, no. Did she? She said she lived there, and he said she’d opened the door before he knocked. He came in, picked her up, and took her upstairs. Alrighty then.

Brook said she’d seen Chase serenading Phoebe when she thought she couldn’t love him more. She was sure Phoebe loved his voice, and he sounded as good as he looked. He looked sexy in his uniform. They kissed.

Elizabeth said, before they moved forward, she wanted Ric to promise not to put her on a pedestal. She wasn’t perfect. He said, to him she was, and she said, stop. It put pressure on her, on them. She liked hanging out with him. It was fun and easy. He said, unprecedented, and she suggested they keep doing what they were doing and see how it went, and he said, deal. They shook hands.

Jason told Danny to do his homework and he’d clean up, and Danny asked if he’d be there tomorrow afternoon. Jason said he wasn’t sure. Why? Danny said, never mind, but Jason said, hold on. What is it? Danny said his basketball team was in the finals, but he didn’t know how much he’d play or if he’d play. Jason said he didn’t know if he could be there the whole time, but he’d show up, and Danny said, to watch him sit on the bench? Jason said, absolutely, and they hugged.

Britt said she had to do this, but if she could, she’d do it with Brad. Brad said she’d have more fun and be better off. She thought she could count on Jason. She said she believed in Jason, and he told her that he guessed there was nothing more to say. He wasn’t going to pretend to support her making another colossal mistake. He started to leave, and she said he couldn’t go… It was his turn to pay the bill. He put some money on the table and said, good luck. She was going to need it.

Outside, Lucas told Marco that he wanted to take a drive by the lake. He found a listing for a house and wanted to make sure Marco saw it. He showed it to Marco on his phone, and Marco said he loved it. Lucas asked if he could see them having Mai Tais on the porch, and Marco said he could. He couldn’t wait to leave this mess behind them and start over with Lucas. Lucas said him too.  

On the phone with Pascal, Cullum said he needed Pascal and Marco on the same page with Britt’s medication schedule. Marco thought it was his turn… When?… Was he sure?… So the two of them talked this afternoon…  

Thursday:

A shirtless Nathan brought breakfast to the couch, but he and Lulu went back upstairs.

At the MetroCourt, Tracy got a message from Olivia about a family meeting. Alexis joined her and asked what crises they were covertly solving. Tracy said the incredible mess Jason had made of the Danny situation. It was up to them to sort it out.

At the hospital, Lucas texted Marco asking if he got what they needed, when Ava stopped by with coffee and to tell him that Carly set a trap for him.

Alone with the moss bowl🎍, Carly flashed back to her argument with Josslyn. Jack came by and she admitted she was hoping it was Josslyn.

Britt texted Jason about meeting, when Josslyn came to the window. She let Josslyn in, asking if she forgot how to use a door. Josslyn said it was better if no one knew they were having this conversation and asked if Britt was going somewhere.

Pascal told Sidwell that Lucas was still a problem. His very presence endangered Sidwell and his son. Sidwell said he’d indulged Pascal’s opinions and unsolicited advice, and Pascal said he took no pleasure in telling Sidwell that his son’s boyfriend was untrustworthy. Sidwell said he thought otherwise. Pascal’s crush on his son was unprofessional. Pascal said he was just looking out for their best interest, when Marco came in and Pascal shut up.  

Jason went to a warehouse storage building.

Carly told Jack that she’d had a fight with Josslyn. Josslyn hated Sonny more than ever now. She’d hoped Josslyn would see Sonny as a flawed but good man, but she was wrong. Josslyn wanted Sonny and everyone like him in the world brought to justice, but how could someone like her daughter bring Sonny to justice?

Ava said she was concerned that Carly acting warmer toward Marco was just manipulation so Lucas would let go of him, but Lucas told her not to put him in the middle. Ava asked if Carly’s change of heart didn’t strike him as convenient. She was trying to get in his good graces so she could create a situation that forced him to choose between his sister and his boyfriend.

Pascal left, and Marco said the Costa Rica project needed his signature. Sidwell said he knew the situation was difficult with Marco bring privy to certain aspects of his business. His mother’s death would be avenged, and Sonny Corinthos would be taken out. He was also aware that the living situation put a strain on Marco’s relationship with Lucas. Despite that, he’d stayed, and Sidwell thanked him. Marco said Sidwell had always supported and loved him unconditionally. He didn’t love what his father did, but he loved his father.

Alexis told Tracy that Jason wanted to make her Danny’s potential guardian. Sam had wanted the kids to stay together, and he wanted Danny to live with her if something happened to him. Tracy said Danny wasn’t allowed near Scout, and Alexis asked if Tracy was going to use Drew’s restraining order to get what she wanted.

Lulu and Nathan had breakfast (no afterglow necessary), and Lulu said she couldn’t decide what she liked better, the breakfast or the view.

Jason took a big gun (not to be confused with Nathan’s big guns) out of a case and flashed back to Britt talking about running away with him. He put the gun together.

Britt told Josslyn to leave. She could use the window if it made her feel more James Bond-y. Josslyn asked if Cullum was moving Britt, since Britt and the double-agent were working on the same project.  

Jack said he hoped Carly didn’t blame herself, but Carly said, of course (🍷) she did. She’d brought Sonny into Josslyn’s life and lied about who he was, even to herself. She justified and rationalized, but people weren’t what they said. They were what they did and she’d put her children in danger because of what Sonny did. Jack said it was hard to see a person you loved clearly, and she said when people weren’t what you thought they were, the problem was them not being honest. That wasn’t real love.

Ava said Carly had sabotaged Jason, Sonny, and Michael’s relationships, and Lucas said he wanted to be able to talk to her about anything, his sister included. If Carly was trying to break him and Marco up, he had no intention of letting that happen. Ava said she’d watched his marriage to Brad fall apart and couldn’t bear for him to go through something like that again. Marco was kind, thoughtful, and loved him. Don’t let Carly mess that up. Lucas said he wouldn’t. Their relationship was real and grounded. They knew what they had with each other and their trust grew every day. He’d never been happier.

Sidwell signed the documents and told Marco that he had to catch the launch. He was meeting Ava at the MetroCourt. Marco said he had a scheduled a call with the Costa Rican developers, and Sidwell left. Marco looked at the safe.

Lulu buttoned up Nathan’s shirt, when Cullum knocked at the door.

Britt told Josslyn that she knew who and what Cullum was. She was the one who’d told Josslyn’s boss. Josslyn said Britt had to make sure she didn’t slip and let Cullum know she was WSB. He would eliminate her and that would kill her mother.

Jason flashed back to Tracy saying he’d had a special relationship with Monica. Jason told her that he’d thought Monica wanted him to be something he wasn’t, and it was a long time before he believed she’d love him no matter what. He checked out the gun.  

Alexis said the restraining order had been lifted, and Tracy said Willow was grateful to Alexis. Alexis said that was part of it, but Scout was living with Willow now and could visit with her more easily. Tracy got another text from Olivia asking when she’d be home and said there were holes in Alexis’s plan. If Scout was living with Willow, she and Danny weren’t together. Alexis said, not technically, but Scout could visit regularly and she and Danny could spend time together. Tracy said Scout could visit Danny at her house, but Alexis said she preferred Danny be with her so she could set boundaries and an example. Tracy said, like she had for Kristina? and Alexis asked if Tracy had raised her kids or had nannies raised them.  

Lulu told Nathan that Cullum was an agent with the WSB, and answered the door. Cullum asked to come in, and she told him that when she said no to them, it never worked out, so… She stepped aside and he walked in. He and Nathan introduced themselves, and Lulu said it wasn’t a good time. Why was he here?  

Ava said she was glad she and Lucas talked and told him, be careful. Keep an eye on Carly. He said he would, and she left. He checked his phone, but there was nothing, and he wondered where Marco was.

Marco opened the safe, took out two vials, closed the safe, and left. (I almost had a heart attack thinking he’d get caught.)

Britt told Josslyn that she didn’t choose this particular nightmare. Cullum and his cabal dragged her into it at the moment of her death because of who her father was. Josslyn had made a choice to put herself in this position. Josslyn said Britt was right. She’d joined the WSB to try and make the world a safer place. Britt asked what she thought that entailed. She knew she’d be putting her life on the line and asked Britt to protect her – again – for her mother’s sake.

Jason flashed back to talking to Carly about Danny, and took the gun apart.

Jack said he hated that he couldn’t fully tell Carly the truth, and as they got closer, he hated it more. He was a flawed man and knew he wasn’t enough of a partner to her, but he loved her. She said sometimes when you loved someone, you had to risk being honest. Did he love her enough to do that? He said nothing and she told him that he should go. He left and she wiped away tears.

Jason packed up the gun and flashed back to Carly saying she loved him for trusting her. He zipped up the bag, and remembered telling Carly that whatever happened to her would happen to Brennan. If she got hurt, Brennan would get hurt. If she died because of Jack Brennan, he’d kill him. He sighed and left with the bag, closing the gate behind him.

Britt said Josslyn should have thought about her mother before she joined, and Josslyn said all she could do was see it through. Maybe Britt knew something about that. Britt asked why she was worried about Cullum, and Josslyn said she’d run into him when she was searching Windymere during the blizzard.

Olivia texted Tray again, and Alexis said Jason loved Danny, but Danny had his father’s thirst for adventure. Tracy said Alexis made her point. The Quartermaines had a greater tolerance. Agree with her parenting methods or not, she’d raised sons, when Alexis raised only daughters. Alexis said she didn’t see the relevance, but Tracy said she thought Alexis did.

Ava met Sidwell, and he said he assumed she had a new piece of art for him, but she said she didn’t. He said she seemed concerned, and she said Carly was a concern. She thought Carly was manipulating him, Lucas, and Marco.

Pascal went to the safe and saw the vials were missing.

Cullum asked if Lulu’s daughter was available. He was hoping to speak to her. Lulu said Charlotte wasn’t there and Jack Brennan had already spoken to her. Cullum could speak with him. Cullum said he had his own questions and wouldn’t take long, but Lulu said Valentin hadn’t contacted Charlotte. If he spent as much time looking for Valentin as he did talking to people about him, Valentin would be in Steinmauer by now. Nathan said Charlotte had been under PCPD surveillance and there had been no sign of contact, and Cullum thanked them. He’d check in with Brennan and Lulu may or may not hear from him. Lulu said she may or may not answer the door, and Cullum left. Lulu said, what a creep. He’d questioned Rocco at Bobbie’s when Dalton disappeared. He wasn’t talking to Charlotte.

Sidwell said he knew Ava was worried about her nephew, but from what he’d observed, Lucas was fond of his sister. Ava said Carly could charm people to see her the way she wanted to be seen, and Sidwell assured her that his eyes were wide open. She said Carly came with an agenda. She was trying to break up Lucas and Marco in a way that ensured they would never get back together. Carly walked in.

Marco sent Lucas a text saying he’d gotten the meds.

Nathan said he supposed it was inevitable that the real world would knock at the door. Lulu had been amazing and being with her was easy. It was rough, but together, they could forget and live in the moment. It was overwhelming and wonderful. Lulu said she thought so too, and he said, Cullum broke the spell. She said, for now. He had to get to the office and she had deadlines, but they’d see each other again, right? He said, definitely. It was only the beginning for them.

Josslyn told Britt that Cullum had pretended to be the caretaker, and she pretended to be a sorority girl on her way to a blizzard party. He seemed to buy it. She’d run into him twice and he hadn’t been suspicious. Britt said maybe that’s what Cullum wanted her to think, and Josslyn said anything was possible. All she asked was that Britt not blow her cover. Britt said she wanted to stop Cullum more than anyone. If Josslyn thought she could help make that happen, she’d keep her mouth shut for the both of them.

On the phone, Pascal told Cullum that he’d opened the safe to prepare Britt’s injection, but instead of six vials, there were four. He’d warned Cullum and Sidwell that Lucas would be a problem. Cullum said he’d handle it.

Carly said she’d heard Sidwell was here, and he asked what he could do for her. She said she was thinking about his offer and thought they should get the dinner party on the calendar. What about Friday? He said, sounds perfect.

Tracy said Danny was a Quartermaine which told them all they needed to know, and Alexis said Tracy’s needs didn’t rise above everyone’s because of her bloodline. Tracy got another text from Olivia asking her to get back ASAP, and Alexis said it wasn’t her job to make sure Tracy got everything she wanted. She didn’t want Danny to be a master manipulator or thrill seeker. Tracy said, he’d had a taste of danger and already showed signs of both. When it came to Danny, it took one to know one. Alexis said Jason was talking to Diane and she was sure the details would be ironclad. Danny needed a guardian and they’d have to accept Jason’s wishes.

Lulu and Nathan hugged on the porch.

Marco told Lucas that he did it. He got them. Lucas said, amazing, and Marco gave him the vials, telling him to give them to Britt. Do it quick. It was only a matter of time before someone realized they were gone. He knew Lucas was worried, but he promised that once his dad found out, his dad would protect him. Marco knew he would.  

Josslyn wondered if Cullum knew Britt’s father. When she was at Windymere, there were two things in his coat pocket – a copy of The Crystalline Conspiracy and an open pack of cigarillos. Britt said she had no idea why he had those things, but she did know her father was dead. The only thing left of him was his brain in a jar, four kids, and her Huntington’s, which was a death sentence. Get out so she could finish packing. Josslyn told her, stay safe, and went out the window.  

In his office, Cullum told Jack that he needed a resolution now, while on a rooftop, Jason aimed his gun. Cullum said he’d seen what Jack did with the Five Poppies investigation, and Jason tried to get a better aim, putting his finger on the trigger.

🫔 Friday’s Enchilada…

 Jason keeps trying to aim and it looks like he can’t decide between Cullum and Brennan.

There’s a knock at Britt’s door and she opens it to Rocco. She says, this is a surprise, and he apologizes for not texting first. He asks if she has a minute. He was hoping she could help him with something.

Lucas asks Marco, what about Cullum? and Marco says, Cullum is dangerous, but he also knows other people are very interested in the medication. Britt and Jason Morgan are desperate to get their hands on it and Cullum knows that. They could have done it. There’s no reason for Cullum to assume he stole it and Cullum can’t risk doing anything to him without proof. They just have to stay calm and hope he doesn’t figure it out. Lucas says, still, it’s a huge chance Marco is taking, and he pressured him into it, and Marco says, they’re right to help Britt. It’s the right thing to do. It’s worth the risk. He’s worth the risk.

Nathan goes to Dante’s office, and Dante asks, what’s up? Nathan asks if he’s heard From Lulu in the last hour or so, but Dante says he hasn’t. Why? Nathan says Lulu may have a problem with the WSB.  

Alexis comes in to find Suzanne in the office and says she thought Suzanne would be at lunch. Suzanne says she was just heading to the courthouse to submit today’s filings. She’ll grab something on the way. Can she get Alexis something? Alexis says, no, and Suzanne asks if she’s sure. She doesn’t mind. Alexis says, geh, and Suzanne says, tough morning? Alexis says her morning began with a meeting with Tracy Quartermaine. Sharing a relative with that woman is going to lead her to an early grave.

At the MetroCourt, admiring a bracelet on Kristina, Jacinda says, isn’t it stunning? It will look amazing with the dress they picked out. Kristina says, that Jacinda picked out, thankfully, and Jacinda says, Kristina has to wear this. Kristina says, it’s gorgeous. Jacinda doesn’t think anyone will mind if she borrows this too? Jacinda says, they won’t even know it’s gone. The accessories closet is overstuffed and unorganized. Kristina says, still, she doesn’t want to get Jacinda in any trouble, but Jacinda says, Kristina won’t. She’s dating the boss. Kristina says, okay. Who gets more of a kick ordering Nina around, Jacinda or Michael? Jacinda says, it’s close, but probably Michael. He can tell Nina what to do. His family though, not so much.   

Olivia says, so they’re all in agreement on how to approach this, and Tracy says, yeah, fine, whatever. Ned says, always so supportive, mother, and Tracy says, she isn’t. She can’t believe this is what Olivia was texting her about. Olivia says, this family meeting should have happened a long time ago. Things can’t keep happening the way they have, but they’re going to be very cool. There’s going to be no name calling, no raised voices. They’re going to keep the whole thing very civil. Ned says, sure. A calm rational discussion. We’ll play on our family strengths. Olivia says she’ll start the conversation. The two of them can just keep chiming in and agreeing with her. Tracy asks if she gets to speak for herself at any point, and Olivia asks if just nodding approvingly is completely out of the question. Tracy says, it is, and Olivia says, okay. There’s going to be no attacks, no ganging up. They’re going to have a productive family meeting and by the end, she’s sure he’ll see reason. Michael walks in and says, he who?  

Jacinda says she and Michael got a little spontaneous in the gatehouse, and Kristina says, the gatehouse? Jacinda says, yes. Why? Kristina says, well, Michael lived there with Willow and the kids. She’s surprised he took Jacinda there of all places. Jacinda says they didn’t plan it. It was so nice outside, they decided to walk around the grounds. Then she got cold and the gatehouse was close by, so they went in to warm up. Michael built a beautiful fire and they started talking. Then they did more than talk. Kristina says she thinks she’s good with hearing the details of her brother’s beautiful fire, and Jacinda says, sorry. Michael is so wonderful. She can talk to him about things she never dreamed of telling anyone else. Kristina says, it sounds like the perfect day, and Jacinda says, it really was… until Olivia walked in on them.  

Michale says, sorry he’s late. He had a work call. They needed a family meeting? Olivia says, yes. They all thought it was time to sit down and have a little refresher on what it means to live in a house full of children. Because children learn by watching. They watch what we do and how we go on about our lives. That’s why it’s always important to set a good example because children are like little sponges. They’re always absorbing everything. Michale says, okay. Sure. Yeah. Olivia says, to that end we feel… The reason they’re all here… Michael says him. What did he do? Tracy says, what didn’t he do is probably a better question, and Michael says, excuse me? Olivia says, we feel recent events warrant a conversation about suitable behavior of those of them who are lucky enough to live in this beautiful house. Because they as a family would like to move forward in such way that adult needs can be met without encroaching on the sensibilities of others or taking the innocence of young children. Tracy says, just tell him. You’re not talking to the Pope. Ned says, what his wife is politely trying to address is Michael’s choice of trysting spots, and Michael says, if they’re referring to Olivia barging in on him and Jacinda… Olivia says, barging? That was no barging. The two of them were very obviously pre or post something intimate right in the gatehouse where anyone could walk past and get an eyeful. Thank God it happened to be her. Ned says, what if Leo were the one who happened to barge in? and Tracy says, or Danny. He’s a teenage boy. They don’t want Michael giving him any ideas. Michael says, as a teenage boy, Danny gets ideas when he looks at a paper plate. He thinks they’re all overreacting. It’s really not that big a deal. Olivia says, he’s a parent. What if Wiley walked past and saw that? They’d all be having a conversation about the birds and bees a lot sooner than any one of them is prepared for.

Britt invites Rocco in and asks what he needs help with. He asks if she’s heard of the high school medical mentorship at GH, and she says, heard of it? She started it back when she was chief. It’s a shadowing program for high school students who are considering taking the medical path in college. Wait. He’s interested in it? Rocco says, yeah. He thought that he’d hate doing community service at the hospital, but he actually liked it. He found out about the program and heard he could get into it if a doctor on staff agreed he can apply. So he was wondering if she’s be his mentor.

Marco asks if Lucas knows where he’s supposed to meet Britt, and Lucas says, not yet, but once he hands off the meds, things become more complicated. Maybe it’s best if they don’t go back to Windymere tonight. Marco says he gets why Lucas is afraid, but they can’t avoid it forever. He has to face his father at some point. Lucas says she knows, but does it have to be tonight? They can get a room at the MetroCourt and can order room service. Marco says, they have to find a new place to live anyway. Why don’t they take a tour of that house on the lake? Lucas says, that’s a great idea, and they kiss. Marco says, see him tonight at the MetroCourt. He loves him. Lucas says he knows. He loves Marco too. Marco opens the door and Brad is there.  

Dante says Nathan has to walk him through what happened, and Nathan says, okay. He was at Lulu’s place this morning and a WSB agent showed up. Dante says, who? Brennan? Nathan says, no. Some other guy. He said his name was Cullum. Dante asks if he was there about Charlotte and Valentin, and Nathan says, that’s what he told them, but Valentin has been missing for months and there’s no reason to believe he’s had any contact with Charlotte. Dante asks if Lulu was bothered by the guy stopping by, and Nathan tells him, bothered by the timing, but   he’d say she was upset. Something was off and he doesn’t want this Cullum guy anywhere near Lulu.

Jason keeps trying to aim, but Cullum and Jack walk around more than any two people do while they’re talking.

Cullum says, there’s at least one aspect of this operation Jack has clearly downplayed – Jason Morgan and Britt. Jack says, they both interviewed Morgan and his account of the Five Poppies never changed.

Jason looks at his watch.

Cullum says he doesn’t believe for a second that Morgan just rescued Britt Westbourne and they went their separate ways. He’s far more involved in this than they know. Jack says, does he have proof of that? He doesn’t. Cullum says, that’s what Jack keeps saying every time, but the more he repeats it, the less Cullum believes him. He’s starting to wonder whether he should believe Jack at all.

Alexis tells Suzanne, Tracy has to know that Jason has Diane drawing up guardianship paperwork for Danny in case something happens to him, which in his world means going on the lam or murdering somebody in broad daylight. He’s being proactive. Suzanne asks if she’s worried Jason won’t ask her to be Danny’s guardian, and Alexis says, yes. She’s not trying to control Danny. She’s his grandmother and she loves him and even loves the wealth of chaos he brings, and Scout is so helpless. Suzanne says, Scout should live with Alexis, not Drew and Willow, and Alexis says she promised Sam that she would look after her kids. Suzanne says, she’s done everything she can for Scout and is still doing it, but Alexis says, it’s not enough. She’s worried Danny will end up going to the Quartermaines and she has no power to do anything if he does. Going to the Quartermaines isn’t as bad as going to Willow and Drew’s, but it has its own level of toxicity. She wants what’s best for him, at least until he’s old enough to handle the situation in a healthy way. Suzanne says, maybe Alexis should just tell Jason that. She should get the paperwork to the courthouse. Will Alexis be here when she gets back? Alexis says she’s going to Danny’s basketball game, but first she needs to brush up on how the game of basketball is played. Are there Cliff Notes? Suzanne says she loves the game. What position does Danny play? Alexis says she doesn’t know, and Suzanne says, it doesn’t matter. Has she watched a game? Alexis says, not on purpose, and Suzanne says, maybe she should just download Basketball for Dummies and look up the essentials online. Alexis says she can do that, and Suzanne says, perfect. Tell Danny that she said good luck. Alexis says she will and thanks Suzanne, who leaves.

Kristina tells Jacinda, Olivia isn’t exactly known for her chill reactions. How did Olivia respond when she walked in on her and Michael? Jacinda says, what Kristina thinks happened, happened. It doesn’t help that she and Olivia have a history. On occasion, she’d meet her clients at the MetroCourt. Not to… Just to get a sense of them, check out their vibe. Kristina asks if Olivia called the cops, but Jacinda says, no. She just made it uncomfortable for her and whatever guy she was with. It was unnecessary. All they were doing was having dinner and talking. Olivia may have chewed her out once or twice too. Kristina says, so when Olivia walked in on Jacinda and her brother, they were just talking and Olivia jumped to the wrong conclusion? Jacinda says, no. She definitely jumped to the right conclusion this time.

Michael says he doesn’t think he needs to remind everyone that the lived in the gatehouse for years. He’s comfortable there. Tracy says, too comfortable, and Michael says, maybe they should have gone upstairs, but it wasn’t like they were having sex in the stables, the nursery, or Tracy’s bedroom.

Ned says, look, they’re all adults. They know it can be difficult to find privacy in the house. But next time Michael brings Jacinda home… Olivia says, keep his clothes on? and Ned says, yes, that. Michael asks when they became such prudes, and Olivia says, it’s not about being prudish. Frankly, it’s not even about the locale. Michael says, what’s it about then? and Olivia says, it’s about his choice of partner. That’s the real issue.

Brad says, sorry he stopped by with no appointment, but he needs to talk to Lucas, and Marco says he was just on his way out. He’ll see Lucas tonight. Lucas says he’ll text Marco, and Marco leaves. Lucas says he’s really busy, so it has to be quick, and Brad asks if he’s busy with patients. Lucas says he’s busy with a lot of things. What does Brad need? Brad asks if one of Lucas’s many things concerns Britt.

Britt says she’s flattered that Rocco asked, but she’s not sure if she’s the right physician to mentor him. She’s an OB/GYM. He’s probably more into things like orthopedic medicine or transplants or brain surgery. Rocco says, actually, they sit on everything they want. He figured since they were friends… Britt says, they are friends, and she’d be happy to mentor him, actually honored. He has intelligence, resilience, and compassion. He’ll make a fantastic doctor. It’s just that her schedule is a little in flux. She doesn’t know if she’ll be around. He sees her suitcase and asks if she’s leaving town.

Dante asks, what’s got Nathan so worked up about Cullum? He’s not a fan of the WSB, but they’re law enforcement like them. We ask questions. Nathan says, yeah, but Cullum questioned Rocco once already. Lulu said he’d interviewed Rocco about Professor Dalton. Dante says, he did, and Nathan asks if he doesn’t think it’s weird that Cullum shows up after all this time wanting to question Charlotte after Brennan already did. Something’s not right. Dante says, not to question Nathan’s instincts – maybe he has something – but a WSB agent asking questions about WSB related cases doesn’t sound like anything alarming to him. Maybe Nathan is being overprotective about Lulu.

Jack asks what Cullum is implying, and Cullum says, Jack sent a team into the Five Poppies and uncovered nothing. He’s too good for that to happen. Jack says, they did everything by the book, and Cullum says he’s sure. He’s starting to think Jack is running interference for Morgan. Jack says, to what end? and Cullum says, Jason Morgan is his girlfriend Carly Spencer’s best friend. He thinks Morgan is still involved with Britt Westbourne and Jack has been protecting both of them. How did he not figure it out sooner. Was Jack working with Jason Morgan?

The landing is empty and Jason is gone.

Jack tells Cullum, prove it. Better yet, bring it to the Bureau and see what they think. They’ll laugh him out of the room. They might wonder why he’s accusing a fellow agent with no proof and might start looking at him. After all, Cullum came to Port Charles promising to get the results Jack didn’t get, but all he has are blind, unsubstantiated accusations. Cullum says, there’s still time, and Jack says, take all the time he needs. Just stay out of his way. Jack leaves.  

Michael says, what exactly is the problem with Jacinda? and Olivia says, when you own a hotel, you get to learn pretty quickly who’s at the bar for business, no matter how beautiful or elegantly dressed they are. She had to encourage Jacinda to leave the MetroCourt on more than one occasion. Michael asks if she was on a date, and Ned tells him that he says date. Others would say, job. Olivia says, whatever they call it, Michael shouldn’t be bringing her here, and Tracy says, hold on. She agreed to this intervention because, number one, it’s her house, and number two, Michael should not be intimate all over the property. However, he’s within his rights to spend time with whoever he chooses. Ned says, he can certainly pay for it, and Olivia says, he’s paying her? Michael says, that’s enough. They don’t get to talk about Jacinda that way.  

Jacine tells Kristina that Olivia’s reaction didn’t bother her or Michael. She’s not that shy. If Olivia wants to clutch her pearls, that’s her problem. Kristina says, Jacinda must really like her brother if she’s willing to put up with the Quartermaines, and Jacinda says she does. You know how it is when you first meet. You’re never really sure if all the baggage they’re carrying will make the relationship worthwhile or not. So far, so good in this case. She has plenty of baggage of her own, but it’s more like really expensive luggage. She’s sorry. All she’s done is talk about herself. What about Kristina? She got the impression that Kristina isn’t dating. Is she interested? Is she looking?  

Britt tells Rocco that she has no plans to leave. It’s just some stuff she has no room for in this shoebox of a room. No storage. Here’s a tip from a mentor to a mentee, don’t move into bachelor apartment over a diner. Rocco says he’ll make a note of it, and she says, Dr. Jones is an amazing doctor and would be the perfect mentor for him… Wait. Isn’t Lucas his cousin? Rocco says, yeah, and she says, even better. She’ll reach out and he can follow up. She gets a text from Cullum: Get out to Windymere right now or I’m coming to get you. Rocco asks if she’s okay.

Lucas says it really isn’t something he can discuss with Brad, but Brad says he knows Britt is in trouble, like the life or death kind. He also knows that Lucas said he’d help her and he needs Lucas to mean it. Lucas asks what he’s talking about, and Brad says, Britt has everything riding on this. He knows Lucas doesn’t like that they’re best friends, but Britt means everything to him. She’s taking a huge leap of faith here, something she never does. She’s putting her welfare, her entire life, in Lucas’s hands and he needs to deliver for her.

Marco goes to the office, where Alexis is busy on Spyder-Finder, and he asks how she is. Basketball? She says she’s trying to give herself a quick tutorial on the game, and he says, for a case? She says, no. Her grandson’s team is in the finals, so she’s trying to figure out who she’s supposed to cheer for. He says, if someone is wearing the same uniform as Danny’s and sinks the ball in the hoop, that’s a good thing, and she says, maybe she should just follow the cheerleaders. She gives him his file and asks if he’d do her a favor. Put some handwritten notes on it for her and she’ll check it out tomorrow. Suzanne is gone for the day, so she’ll see him tomorrow. He says, if someone scores from outside the circle on the floor, it’s worth three points, and she says, there’s a circle? and she leaves.

Nathan tells Dante that it’s not about him being involved with Lulu. Doesn’t Dante think it’s weird how this Cullum guy showed up twice now to interview Lulu’s kids? Dante worked for the WSB and told him how it ruined his life. Look what they did to Anna. They can’t afford to take this Cullum guy’s interest in Lulu’s kids at face value. Over the intercom, a woman says, line one, WSB Director Ross Cullum, and Dante says, speak of the devil. He picks up the phone and asks what he can do for Cullum.

Jason sees Alexis in the parking lot, and she says, glad he could make it. He says him too, but he probably can’t stay for the whole game. She says, that’s okay. Danny will just be happy that he’s here at all. Before he goes in, she doesn’t know if he’s made the decision on who Danny’s legal guardian is, but if he’s decided, she’d like to know.

Michael says, Jacinda’s job doesn’t define who she is as a person and her job, by the way, is working as Nina’s assistant at Crimson. Even if it wasn’t, he doesn’t care. He doesn’t judge sex workers. Ned says, oh, we know, and Michael asks when the two of them became holier than thou. This moral outrage thing is a little over the top. Ned used to be a bigamist. Ned says, briefly, and Michael says, what about his Grandma Bobbie? She was a sex worker at one point. Do they think they’re better than her too?

Kristina tells Jacinda that she has no interest in a relationship right now. She’s focused on reopening Charlie’s. Jacinda says she knows Charlie’s demands a lot of Kristina’s time and energy, but she can’t just work. Come on. She’s gorgeous, smart, and clearly has a great sense of humor. Kristina always laughs at her jokes. Kristina says, Jacinda is funny, and Jacinda says, and she’s got great taste. So why isn’t she out there dating up a storm? Kristina says, because they’re friends, she’ll spare Jacinda her track record of disastrous relationships, and Jacinda says, they’re all disasters, until they’re not. You don’t know when your luck will change.

Lucas tells Brad that it’s true. In the past, he didn’t have a lot of use for Britt. But a lot changed. Both of them changed. He doesn’t know how much she told Brad… Brad says, Lucas is helping her get her Huntington’s meds so she can reverse engineer them and get out from under the thumb of Marco’s evil dad and some other psycho. Lucas says he wishes Britt hadn’t been so forthcoming, and Brad asks if Lucas is worried about keeping him safe. Lucas says he’s worried about keeping all of them safe, and Brad says he knows Lucas thinks he and Britt are horrible influences on one another, but they also care about each other a lot. Lucas says he knows they do, and Brad says Lucas is a good person and he’s asking him to follow through on his promise to get Britt’s meds. Take it as far as he has to, to save her. Lucas says he will come through for her, and Brad says he thinks Lucas means it and he’s going to hold him to it. He leaves.  

Britt tells Rocco, sorry. It’s work. She has to go. Rocco asks if she’s sure she’s all right, and she says she’s fine. She’ll talk to Dr. Jones about him and the mentorship program. He’ll either mentor Rocco himself or pair him with someone that’s great. He’s going to be an amazing doctor one day. She knows it. She opens the door and he thanks her. She says, bye, and closes the door. She sees two texts from Lucas: Hopefully today is the day I’ll get what you need. I’ll text when I do. Then: I’ve got it. (There’s also a text telling him her location, and I wonder if that comes into play later in the story.) She texts him, meet Pier 55, and leaves with the suitcase.  

Alexis says she knows how much Jason loves Danny. She knows how Sam was happy and proud that Jason had shown up for him and put him first. She sincerely hopes that the guardianship arrangement is a contingency they never have to use, but even if they do, she hopes he believes Danny is better off living with her. Dante approaches and says he thought he might find Jason here. They have a problem.

Michael says, Jacinda is a good person, and he’ll be damned if he allows them to put her in the position of being judged and disrespected by any of them. Tracy asks if he isn’t doing just that. He said before that he thinks Jacinda really likes him. He’s taking advantage of that. He says he never intended to do that, and she says, then he’d better stop behaving like the rest of the Quartermaine men who can’t keep their pants on. Ned says, hey, and she says, sorry. Did she lie? Michael’s laundry list of indiscretions pales in comparison to her brother Alan’s, Drew’s, and even her son’s. Ned says, easy. He’s no paragon of virtue, but don’t compare him to Drew. He’s never been recorded having sex in his children’s playroom. Michael says, he would bring that up, and Ned says, please. Michael was shtupping the family cook. Michael says, it was one time. One time. (I swear he looks like he might laugh.) Olivia says, one time, one hundred times. It doesn’t matter. She worked here. Tracy asks if it’s time to talk about Olivia’s indiscretions yet, but Olivia says, this isn’t about her. Tracy says, it certainly can be, and Michael says, enough. The only person who’s said anything that matters today is Tracy. Jacinda deserves to be treated with respect. If he’s failed in doing that, things need to change.

Jacinda says she’s told Kristina all about her and Michael. Kristina has to tell her something. Kristina laughs, and Jacinda asks, who is someone who was special to her? Kristina says her last relationship was with a woman named Allie. Jacinda probably knows her as Blaze.. the singer. Jacinda says, wow. She is super talented and very cool. Kristina says, yeah, and Jacinda says she’s sorry. Was it a bad breakup? Do we hate her now? Kristina says, no, definitely not. Their lives took different directions. They really loved each other. Jacinda asks if Kristina misses her, and Kristina says she’s happy for her. She’s off on this world tour and deserves all the success she has. They’re still friends, so it’s all good. Yeah, she’s just definitely not ready for a relationship.

Jason asks Dante if whatever it is can wait. The game is about to start, and he wants to see Danny. Dante says, it’s not that simple, and Alexis asks if this is PCPD business. Dante says he can’t tell her anything about what’s going on unless she’s going to be acting as Jason’s attorney, and Jason says, if it’s police business, call Diane and they’ll make an appointment to come down to the station. But not before he sees his son. Dante says, unfortunately, that’s not an option. Jason’s got to come with him down to the station now.

Britt arrives at Pier 55 and calls to Lucas. She says she’s here. Someone watches her as she sends a text.  

Tracy asks if their moral sensibilities have been satisfied, and Olivia says she’s not going to apologize for trying to protect the children in this house. Ned says, if they have to put up their guard for anyone, he thinks it’s the next louse Tracy chooses to bring into the home, and Tracy says, pardon me? Ned says, she talks about the Quartermaine men, but she’s been with a veritable rogues gallery of scoundrels. She says, starting with his father, and he says, like that makes it any better. Olivia says, actually it does make it a lot better, and Ned asks, how much did Lord Larry cost her anyway? Tracy says, none of his business, and Olivia says, Tracy is no stranger to doling out cash for love. She’s a lot like Michael that way. Ned asks, how many mobsters was Tracy involved with? and Olivia laughs. Tracy says, fewer than Olivia.

Jacinda tells Kristina, life’s funny. One day you meet someone and you think they’re just a friend, and then suddenly you get butterflies in your stomach when you think about them. Kristina says, if she ever gets that butterfly feeling again, she’ll be sure to tell Jacinda, but she’s not holding her breath. Michael approaches the table and says he has a question for Jacinda. Would it be terribly disrespectful if he kissed her right here, in front of everyone? Jacinda says, is Olivia here? She might faint. Michael says, she’s not here, and Jacinda says, by all means. She and Michael kiss, and Kristina smiles.  

Jack knocks at the door of Britt’s room and calls her name. He tries the door and it opens. He goes in and sees it looking like no one lives there. He looks around and from the doorway, Nathan asks what Jack’s doing in his sister’s room.  

Lucas arrives at the pier and sees Britt. He says he’s got it, and gives her the vials. She tells him, thank you so much. He may have just saved her life. He says, don’t thank him, thank Marco. Rocco watches them from behind something.

Jason asks why Dante is bringing him in. He hasn’t done anything. Alexis asks why Dante is taking Jason in. What is he alleging Jason did? Dante says he’s not alleging anything. The warrant didn’t come from them. It came from the WSB.

Marco pours over papers in the office and sees a text from Lucas: Meeting Britt at Pier 55. He hears something and says, Suzanne, is that you? Still concentrating on the paperwork, the door behind him opens. Cullum says, no. It’s me. He holds a knife behind his back.

On Monday, Britt tells Lucas that Sidwell isn’t the only person he needs to be worried about; Sidwell tells Laura that the words she’s looking for are, thank you; and Jack tells Nathan that he has to find Britt ASAP.

🧼 All the Soap News Fit To Print…

Heat without rivalry.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/general-hospital-exclusive-alexa-havins-on-kissing-ryan-paevey-as-lulu-and-nathan-heat-up/

I’m kind of down with this. Although nothing will top his dance scene with Anna.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/general-hospital-james-patrick-stuart-calls-valentin-strangely-obsessed-with-carly/

A cautionary tale. Addiction doesn’t care who you are or what you do.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/soap-alum-jacob-young-reveals-secret-7-year-opioid-addiction-even-my-wife-didnt-know/

A bittersweet ending.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/general-hospital-alum-coby-ryan-mclaughlin-finds-new-love-after-loss/

For those CBS soap watchers.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/cbs-soaps-preempted-for-march-madness-get-the-full-schedule-details/

You have plenty of time to shop for an outfit. It’s not until October 30th.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/2026-daytime-emmy-awards-ceremony-date-announced-as-submissions-begin/

💉 A Dose Of Reality…

Below Deck Down Under

While Mecco still hassled Ben about his best, the charter left a $28K tip and positive comment cards, except for saying Alesia seemed stressed. I’ll bet. Jenna called Alesia and Mike Tweedle Dumb and Tweedle Dumber, which about summed it up. To prove that point, having been awarded with the disco ball helmet for stupidity, Alesia left it behind on the crew’s night out. However, Captain Jason came to the rescue, bringing it to her where they were dining.  

Summer House

The only thing I have to say about this week’s episode is, the cast is mostly in their late 20s, 30s, and mid-40s. The last time I played Spin the Bottle was in high school. Is it over yet?

Southern Charm: Reunion Part 1

Craig whined about Salley coming between him and Charley because it couldn’t possibly be the fault of his unpredictable bad temper. There was a big debate as to whether or not Austen and Salley slept together. He said, no, but she was revealingly silent. Also discussed was the inappropriateness of both Venita and Salley dropping the news of Molly’s vaginal rejuvenation on the group. We found out that Audrey wanted to confront Salley, and feeling as we all did, Whitner said, give us those tickets. Madison thought Audrey would be the girl who got away for the rest of Austen’s life. Like a whiney bookend, on the way out, Craig griped that it was very clear it was just pile on Craig. To be continued…

Southern Hospitality

At the beginning, there was some big meeting with everyone, and there was so much yelling and finger pointing, for a moment, I thought we’d jumped to the Reunion. In a nutshell, it was trigger words, body shots, and a pajama party that Grace was overdressed for. Again, is it over yet?

Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills

If you look unsufferable up in the dictionary, Dorit’s picture is there. The worst thing isn’t even her tendency to never shut up or being without the ability to read a room, it’s the faces she makes. She’s worse than a teenager with the eye rolling. In Sutton’s interview, she wondered why they couldn’t just talk about what the Chloé fall line was and what they wanted to buy. There was big time designer shopping and Dorit jetting from a dinner. Or as Kyle put it in her interview, giving them an Irish goodbye even though they were in Italy. We were left with Boz pondering how Amanda had walked away from a cult and built one. Amanda was selling a mindset and recruiting people. She was selling a cult. Since Amanda’s whole gig is very MLM, it sounds like Boz isn’t wrong.

Ladies Of London: The New Reign

Life in Bizarro Noel Coward World continued with Lottie shopping for a push present with her Salvador Dali clone husband Josh. She suggested they share in a £30K (around $40K) tennis bracelet. He asked if she was going to pay half, but she said, he would pay half and she’d wear it half the time. They seem like fun. We found out Kimi had been collecting taxidermy for 30 years. She liked her pets dead because you didn’t have to pick up the poo. Alrighty then. Mark said home was a reflection of his soul – gilded. I saw it more cluttered with museum pieces. Kimi had a party where everyone painted a naked guy – I mean painted a picture, not painted the guy directly – and Missè confronted her about making light of her brother’s murder since it had been drug related. They never made it clear how it was drug related, like, if he was a dealer or buying weed or what. Kimi had it shouldn’t be a sob story, and claimed it had put a damper on the wine tasting, causing a slew of other depressing stories. We flashed back and in reality, someone else started it and Kimi had joined in with her own sad story before Missè. Got it. Kimi is a narrative changer.

Random Reality Items

There’s a sort of newbie coming to Salt Lake.

This looks promising. Amazon has some surprisingly good shows.

I’m surprised it’s the lowest rated. I kinda got into it the second time around.

👀 Last Weekend’s Watch…

One Piece. Netflix. No surprise, Season 2 is as good, if not better, than the first season. Weird creatures (I loved the giants!), insane enemies, great special effects, a sad whale tale, and the ever-present optimism of Monkey D. Luffy. I saved the last two episodes for this weekend, but I already can’t wait for Season 3, which was immediately given the green light.

https://screenrant.com/one-piece-season-2-review/

Being Gordon Ramsay. Netflix. The title of this four-part docuseries is self-explanatory. While in the process of opening several restaurants, Gordon ruminates on his past and his hopes for the future. While it mostly concentrates on his work, there are segments on his home life and hobbies. I’ve always been a fan of his, so I really enjoyed it.

https://www.mashed.com/2111392/things-learned-about-gordon-ramsay-from-being-gordon-ramsay-documentary/

https://people.com/bombshells-from-being-gordon-ramsay-11907944

Louis Thereaux: Inside the Manosphere. Netflix. A popular British journalist takes on those influenced by the likes of Andrew Tate and the He-Man Woman Haters Club. Some solid information, but mostly these manly men acting like babies and trying, unsuccessfully, to make Thereaux look like an idiot. By the way, now we call cheating one-way magnogamy. Ugh.

https://www.refinery29.com/en-au/louis-theroux-inside-the-manosphere-netflix-documentary-women

https://stephensilver.substack.com/p/louis-theroux-inside-the-manosphere

🏆 And the Little Gold Guy Went To…

The winners of the 2026 Academy Awards. I’m thrilled about Michael B. Jordan. He so deserved it. I’m less thrilled that Sinners did not take home Best Picture, but TBH, I haven’t seen One Battle After Another yet. And I am so glad Golden went up, up, up. Kudos!

https://ew.com/oscars-2026-winners-list-11925195

The best and worst moments.

https://ew.com/oscars-2026-best-and-worst-moments-11926649

The most important thing in the whole event – the fashion.

https://ew.com/oscars-2026-red-carpet-photos-11926257

What you didn’t see.

https://ew.com/oscars-2026-everything-you-didnt-see-on-tv-at-the-academy-awards-11927157

Best snacks ever.

https://ew.com/2026-oscars-snacks-stars-are-served-during-the-ceremony-11926651

Of course he did!

https://ew.com/michael-b-jordan-celebrates-2026-oscars-win-with-in-n-out-11926955

Now what was that loser non-winner saying?

Is he for real? I’m no Kardashian fan, but he’s got to be kidding. Read the room, kid.

🐾 On an Animal’s Day Off…

🐁 Some like to shop.

https://people.com/live-possum-found-hiding-in-soft-toy-section-of-airport-gift-shop-11928767

🐘 An untethered nature walk reduces stress.

https://people.com/elephant-who-spent-life-in-chains-rescued-and-moved-to-elephant-hospital-11929305

🦁 Sometimes the best thing is a big meal and a nap.

https://people.com/wildlife-photographer-snaps-lion-cub-in-food-coma-11929070

🐓 Quotes of the Week

I’ve always focused on trying to do the work. My father always told me don’t expect anything to [be] handed to you. Do the work and it will figure itself out.Michael B. Jordan

For every reason it’s not possible, there are hundreds of people who have faced the same circumstances and succeeded. – Jack Canfield

Whatever women do they must do twice as well as men to be thought half as good. Luckily, this is not difficult. – Charlotte Whitton

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

Doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will. – Suzy Kassem

Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says I’ll try again tomorrow. – Mary Anne Radmacher

You’re such a knob. – Tilly Ramsay to her father Gordon Ramsay

I need to get my friends out of that whale. – Monkey D. Luffy (Iñaki Godoy), One Piece

🐑 No Lamb Yet…

Until next time, stay safe; stay getting the good Easter candy now before all that’s left are the dollar jelly beans; and stay standing up for what’s right and not backing down.

Click Here > Sinners | I Lied To You Song | Movie Clip | Warner Bros. Entertainment

January 30, 2026 – GH Weekdays, Britt Comes Clean, Soap Suds, This Week In Reality, Weekend Watching, Watching Soon, Taking the Stage, What’s Wrong With Wicked, Success Wears Fur, Double Five Quotes & Warm

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

🥢 Weekday Nibbles…                                                                      

Monday: 

Jason found Britt at the hospital and said he just wanted to talk. Britt asked Lucas to join them as a witness in case she needed to file a restraining order later.

Brick was at the MetroCourt bar when Jordan came in. He said he was meeting Carly, but had visualized her arrival there and she’d been manifested. He wanted to take her out for dinner sometime. She could even invite her doctor friend. Jordan said she was no longer seeing him, and Brick said, even better. Curtis came in and asked, who was her friend?

Ava dropped off Avery’s recital costume at Sonny’s, and he said there was something else she needed to deal with – her and Sidwell.

Carly saw Sidwell at the MetroCourt and sat down with him. She asked if he ever wondered why she let him frequent her establishment when he’d held her at gunpoint, and he said he assumed it was her forgiving heart… or a favor to be named later. She said, bingo.

At Windymere, Cullum asked where Sidwell was, but Marco said Sidwell wasn’t there. He’d requested Cullum.

Josslyn met Jack at the docks, and said she’d heard there was going to be a bad snowstorm. He told her they’d said a few feet. Why did she want to see him? She said she’d figured out how to search Windymere without anybody knowing.

Jack said Josslyn had been benched and Sidwell and Windymere were outside her purview, but she said she was at Windymere yesterday. Pascal was in France, and Lucas invited her. Jack said she disobeyed orders, but she said an opportunity fell in her lap, and she took the necessary precautions. Ava and Marco were there, and the subject of the catacombs came up. Ava had mentioned the entrances were sealed, but she hadn’t lived there in a while. Who knew what Sidwell had done since he moved in? Lucas mentioned he wanted to explore, but Marco wasn’t having it. At first he said it was cold and wet, but Lucas pushed, and Marco said, absolutely not. He didn’t want anybody near that area. She bet whatever project they were working on was happening in the catacombs.

Cullum said Marco’s father was his partner and he was also busy, but Marco said he wouldn’t have requested Cullum come there if it wasn’t urgent. He asked Cullum to come because his father wasn’t there. He’d already talked to his father about it, but he wouldn’t hear about Sonny Corinthos.

Ava said Sidwell was only a client, but Sonny said she’d been spending time at Windymere. She asked why that was his business, and he said they shared a daughter. Sidwell wasn’t a good guy. Ava said they weren’t saints and Sidwell was a businessman who had excellent taste in art, but Sonny said Sidwell wasn’t a man she wanted to be involved with. She didn’t know what she was dealing with. Ava said she’d heard the rumors and appreciated his concern, but she could handle herself and she’d spend time with whoever she chose.  

Sidwell asked how he could be of assistance, and Carly said, Lucas was living at Windymere. Sidwell said it was going wonderfully and he already considered Lucas part of the family. Was she hoping he’d assist in sabotaging the relationship? The answer was no. Carly asked, why not? What was in it for him? Sidwell said, his son’s happiness, and Carly said she didn’t see the leverage businesswise and there were no dollar signs. He said there was no price on his son’s happiness. He respected their relationship and Lucas made Marco happy. Natalia’s death had been hard on him and still was. Carly said Sidwell had held her at gunpoint and kidnaped a pregnant woman, and he said he’d heard the rumors. She said Lucas may believe Marco wasn’t working for him, but she didn’t buy it. He said he understood where she was coming from. The estrangement hurt both her and Lucas, even if Lucas didn’t want to admit it. He would help her reconcile with her brother. He believed that’s what she wanted. She said that was generous of him. What did he have in mind? Sidwell said, first, some advice. If she wanted a relationship her brother, make nice to his son, and he’d do everything in his power to help her come to Windymere, welcoming her with open arms.

Jordan introduced Brick to Curtis, and Brick said, Curtis was from Aurora Media. He and Michael Corinthos went way back. They shook hands, and Curtis said Michael was a good man. Brick told them to enjoy their evening. If Jordan needed his assistance under any circumstances, she knew his number. He left, and Curtis said, Jordan knew Brick’s number?

Britt told Jason not to make her say it again. He wasn’t good for her. If he had any respect for her, if he ever cared about her, leave her alone. She walked away, and Jason said, sorry Lucas got dragged in. Lucas told Jason that he didn’t know what to say, but Jason told him that Britt had said everything loud and clear.

Britt cried in the hallway.

Jack said he was aware Faison settled on Spoon Island in the 90s, and Josslyn said, then he returned with Leisl Obrecht, and they held Robin captive. Jack said it was reason to believe Faison’s associates were using his old haunt to bring his final project to fruition, and she said, all the more reason to conduct a search. The storm was the perfect opportunity. Spoon Island lost power during previous storms, and it was unlikely they’d want to stay. Everyone would most likely wait it out on the mainland. He told her, good work.

Jason went to Sonny’s, and Sonny said Ava had been there and he’d planted useful seeds against Sidwell. He told her to stay away from Sidwell and no doubt she went straight to Sidwell and told him. Jason asked if it was worth the risk, and Sonny said they had the advantage because Sidwell was distracted. According to Laura, Sidwell had his eye on another shiny object – Lucy Coe was in the mix. Jason said, if Ava and Lucy were fighting, Sidwell… Sonny said there was no better distraction, and Jason asked if Sidwell had made any more demands. Sonny said, no, but sooner or later, he’d want more. If it was only him that was being blackmailed, he’d take Sidwell out, but Laura was in a corner. Had Jason said anything to Britt about Sidwell? Jason said, she was too busy ending things. It was the same thing that it had always been – Carly.

Brick said he’d seen Carly chatting with Sidwell. Was everything okay? She said, nothing she couldn’t handle or she would tell him, and he asked why she was talking to him. She said her brother was seeing Sidwell’s son Marco. They’d moved in together at Windymere, and she was concerned her brother would get hurt, and not just romantically.

Ava met Sidwell at the MetroCourt and apologized for being late. She was having a chat with Sonny. Sidwell said he assumed that today Sonny was a lot, and Ava said, indeed he was, and it was all his fault.

Marco said his father had leverage over Sonny and was using it to achieve his own goals, and Cullum said, hence the sale of the piers. Marco said his father underestimated Sonny. Sonny had stayed on top for so long for a reason. Give Sonny more rope and you were giving him more to hang you with. Cullum asked if this had nothing to do with Marco’s mother’s death, but Marco said, there was no profit in that. Sonny was a threat to their business. He’d had a stranglehold on Port Charles for decades and wasn’t going to retire so they could do as they pleased. He was using their complacency to plot retaliation and his father thought he was untouchable, even to Sonny. With what they had riding on this project, did it make sense for it to be across the harbor from the man who could shut it down? His father thought he had Sonny in line, but blackmail wasn’t enough to neutralize him. Cullum prized efficiency, and it would be an efficient move to take Sonny out of the equation for good.

Jack said they weren’t doing a search during a polar vortex, but Josslyn said they had a narrow time period with the snowstorm and no Pascal for the next 48 hours. He said he had no team in place, and she said he had her, but he said, absolutely not. His decision was final. She said he wouldn’t risk his girlfriend’s daughter? when his phone chimed. He said Cullum was on his way, and she said, so he wanted her to do nothing? He said she was to await further instructions. Stay the hell away from Cullum and off Spoon Island.

Curtis asked if Brick saying he went way back with Michael meant… and Jordan said, he had an association with Sonny? He did. Brick had an extensive background in intelligence. If it was digital, he did it. She’d worked with him a few times and he was a good man to know. Curtis asked if she’d been to the hospital to see Drew, but she said, no. Had he? He said, no, and she said, when she heard Drew had a stroke, she was stunned. She hoped he didn’t hate her, but she felt sorry for Drew. He said he couldn’t hate her and understood, and she said she knew how much Drew had changed. He said he wasn’t sure how he felt about what happened. He’d come dangerously close to taking Drew’s life, but as it turned out, there was no need to bother.

Sidwell said he was sorry he was the cause of Ava’s difficulty, and she said Sidwell should watch his back. Sonny was not a fan. Sidwell said he owed her an apology for Sonny taking his frustrations with him out on her. She said if it wasn’t him, it would be something else, and he said he thought he was special. She told him that she didn’t say he wasn’t. Sonny was Avery’s father and he thought hit gave him a say in her life. Sonny didn’t like her associating with him. Sidwell said he hoped their friendship could continue, but if she needed to step back for Avery’s sake… She said, and give Sonny the satisfaction? Fat chance.

Meeting Jack at the piers, Cullum said, these were the piers that Sidwell went to the trouble of getting ownership of, and Jack said he’d thought Cullum was looking for Anna and leaving Sidwell to him. Josslyn listened in secretly, and Cullum said he didn’t answer to Jack. Jack answered to him. Jack asked what he wanted to know, and Cullum said he wanted to know what Sidwell was doing in Port Charles and how Sonny figured in.  

Jason told Sonny about what happened with Britt at Bobbie’s. She kept telling him to stay away from her and stormed out. He didn’t think it was on Carly. Sonny said Carly could be possessive with Jason and it was only a matter of time before she and Britt clashed, but Jason said Carly told him that Britt picked a fight out of nowhere. She felt like it was forced or staged and he knew it had been for his benefit.

Marco called Britt and said she needed to get to Windymere, but she said she had patients. He said, Cullum just left. Did she want him to know that she was a problem? She said she was on her way.

Lucas said, for what it was worth (🍷), he didn’t think a restraining order was necessary, and Britt said she had to leave early. Could he check in on Mrs. Driver? Her mother had car trouble, and she needed to pick up supplies before the storm. He said he was on it. Was she okay? She said she’d be fine. Sometimes you could tell where things were headed and it wasn’t always in a good place. As Brad’s ex, he knew that sometimes you had to call it quits before anyone got hurt. And by anyone, she meant herself. Lucas said, no matter how much you cared or loved someone, sometimes they were better left in the past, and she said, Jason was a hard guy to turn down. She had to hold her chin high, eyes forward, and be grateful for what she had.

Carly told Brick that she’d said a lot of bad, judgmental things, and Lucas dug in his heels. Brick said Lucas was a grown man capable of making his own decisions, and she said Sidwell was at Windymere and he was dangerous. He asked how that circled back to her chatting with Sidwell, and she said Sidwell owed her a favor. Brick asked if she wanted him to help break up Lucas and Marco, but she said, no. Sidwell wasn’t an ally and wouldn’t do anything that wasn’t in his self-interest.

Ava said, as fun as it was to stick it to Sonny, she also valued Sidwell as a client, and he said, a client? She said, of course (🍷). It was gratifying to work with someone who had great taste, but she wouldn’t be offended if he didn’t want to work exclusively with the Jerome Gallery. He said, life is too short to work with someone less than excellent. She was charming, shrewd, and beautiful. She’d undoubtedly heard the unfortunate rumors about him, yet she was still here. He was glad she didn’t scare easily. She said she never had and never would.

Josslyn continued to eavesdrop, and Cullum told Jack that Sidwell had managed to buy the piers from the man who controlled the eastern seaboard. He wanted to know what role Corinthos was playing in Sidwell’s operation. Jack said, there was nothing but bad blood between Sonny and Sidwell. Sonny blamed Sidwell for the fire in his daughter’s place of business. Cullum asked if there had been anything since, but Jack said nothing on his radar. The pier purchase seemed legitimate. Sonny didn’t know anything about Sidwell’s operation. Cullum asked if there was any chance that Jack’s involvement with Sonny’s ex was coloring his judgement, but Jack said the only reason he was seeing Carly was to get information. That’s how he knew Sonny wasn’t involved with Sidwell. Cullum said, good. Keep an eye on the situation.

Curtis told Jordan that when he heard Drew had a stroke, he realized he should put his anger toward Drew behind him and move on. He’d be lying if he said he wasn’t relieved. He wanted to focus on his family now. She asked if there was any word from Portia, and he said they were in a holding pattern. He couldn’t pressure Portia to take a paternity test. She said she’d take it when she was ready and now all he could do was wait.

Ava said there were rumors about her too, but Sidwell said he didn’t care what others thought. He formed his own opinions. He was truly sorry about her difficulties with Sonny. She said, Carly would tell Sonny that she’d seen them together, and he suggested they repair to Windymere. She said she thought that was a fabulous idea and it would give Sonny something to really be angry about.

Jason said, since finding her at the Five Poppies, every time Britt got close to confiding in him, she pushed him away. He thought it was a fake fight to end things, so he went to GH to talk to her, and she responded as though he was a threat. Sonny said she was spooked, and Jason said they knew she was working with Dalton and had access to the lab, then Sidwell killed Dalton. Sonny suggested maybe Sidwell killed Dalton to keep Britt in line, and Jason said it was possible Sidwell or whoever he was working with was coercing Britt to finish what Dalton started.

At Windymere, Britt said she got there as fast as she could. What did Marco want? He said he lab was ready and she needed to get to work, and she told him, lead the way.

Lucas told the desk nurse that he was done for the day and had somewhere he needed to be.

Carly told Brick that she felt like she couldn’t be truthful with the people she loved and could feel the distance, and he said he was always there for her. If she needed anything, just say the word. She said now that she knew what she needed to do, she intended to follow through, and it had nothing to do with Sidwell. Jack joined them and he and Brick shook hands. Brick said he couldn’t be here without seeing Carly, and Jack said he knew the feeling. Could he buy Brick a drink? Brick said he had to go, and Carly thanked him for the talk. He left and Jack asked if he should be jealous. Carly said, absolutely.

Brick answered his phone and said it wasn’t the call he was expecting. To what did he owe the pleasure?

Cutis told Jordan that he got where Portia was coming from and respected her decision, but he wanted the test now since she could be carrying his child. She said, of course (🍷). Either way it would have a profound effect on his future… their future.

Carly said she and Brick flirting was what they did, and Jack said he was glad to hear he didn’t have to fight for her affection. Carly flashed back to Britt talking to Jack about smuggling out information for him, and Jack asked what she was thinking. She said she was happy to be the one uncomplicated part of his life, and he said she was very complicated, in the best possible way.

Ava said, as much as she liked the idea of Carly running to Sonny about her and Sidwell leaving together, was he sure he wanted the unnecessary friction? He said, one thing she should know about him. He had a proven record of handling Sonny Corinthos.

Sonny said that explained why Britt was pushing Jason away. Sidwell didn’t want to be near Jason or him. Jason said she wanted to keep him out of danger, and Sonny said that meant she didn’t hate him. Jason said she was scared. Whatever she’d been threatened with, she took to heart. They needed to figure out what she was working on, so he’d put her under surveillance. Sonny said, be careful. If Jason had eyes on Britt, Sidwell could have eyes on him.

Britt said, Marco called that ready? She could process data, but needed more safety precautions. Marco said it was a state-of-the-art lab, but she said they were doing something that had never been done anywhere. It was the bare minimum, and they couldn’t take chances with cold fusion. He said she was stalling, and she asked why she’d want to stall. She wanted him and his father off her back. She wanted to finish her work. She wanted this over. Lucas walked in and said, clue him in. She wanted what over with what?

Josslyn arrived back at the apartment, when there was a knock at the door. She said, Brick got there fast. She appreciated him coming. He said she was the daughter of the loveliest woman on the planet. Of course (🍷) he’d be there for anything she needed at all.

Tuesday:

Gio and Emma went to see Tracy, who said she’d been reviewing a list of Gio’s great-great-grandfather’s possessions. There was something she wanted Gio to have.

Brick said he was never too busy to help Carly’s daughter, and Josslyn asked how the power could be cut to all of Spoon Island.

Jack said Brick was a smooth operator, but Carly said no one could steal her away except those two, as she gestured toward Lulu and Charlotte. She went over to say hi, and Jack made a call. He told someone that he needed them to come to the MetroCourt now.

Sonny asked if Jason was going to have Britt followed, and Jason said he was pretty sure she was working on Faison’s final project. She was being made to push him away. Britt was in a dangerous situation and in over her head.

Lucas asked why Britt was there, and Britt said Sidwell had wanted to hire her as a concierge doctor, but she didn’t have her medical license. Now that it had been reinstated, she accepted the offer. The land of the living was expensive. Lucas asked what she meant by she wanted it over with, and she said his boyfriend was under the weather and she wanted to get started with the examination. Lucas said she’d told him that she was picking up supplies for her mom. Why would she lie about that? Britt said, doctor/patient confidentiality, and Lucas said Marco was dating a doctor and he called Britt? In what world did that make any sense?

Anna wrote on the wall that Anna Devane was held captive there, taken on 10-31-2025, when over the loudspeaker, Faison said he was so sorry he’d kept her waiting. It wouldn’t be long until they were finally together. Anna said, enough games. Show yourself to me now.

Jason said Britt had been under Sidwell’s thumb since the Five Poppies, and Sonny asked if she’d told him that. Jason said, in her own way. They were providing medicine that helped her Huntington’s Disease and using it as leverage. They were working on something big and the last thing they wanted was him asking questions. He needed to get her out from under their control. Sonny said, Jason knew Britt’s history. Was it possible she was exactly where she wanted to be?

Marco said he didn’t want to take advantage of his relationship with Lucas, but Lucas said he didn’t mind. Britt said considering she’d come all this way, she did expect to be paid, when Sidwell came in with Ava. He said he didn’t realize Marco had a guest, and Marco said he’d been feeling run down. Because Sidwell had hired Britt as a concierge doctor, he’d asked for a house call. Ava asked why they needed a concierge doctor when her brilliant nephew lived there, and Britt said they could talk about that later. Let’s get a move on.

Brick choked on his drink and asked why Josslyn was looking to cut the power on Spoon Island. She said it was for a school project, and he asked if it was in domestic terrorism, but she said she was an environmental science major. They were studying how vulnerable infrastructure related to natural disasters and it was a possible case study. He said, so it was theoretical? and she said, totally. Spoon Island was on the public grid, and a major storm was coming. She was looking at how the power could be cut to prevent infrastructure damage. He said they had their own router, so that would have to be shut down to take out the power. It was a security risk and not easily accessible without security clearance. She thanked him and said he’d been helpful.

Carly asked if Lulu could come to Bobbie’s for lunch soon so they could catch up, and Lulu said it would be great. Lulu’s phone rang and she stepped away, and Charlotte asked how her dad was doing. Carly said he was doing good. He told her that Charlotte came to the house to see him again, which was crazy risky. Charlotte said he’d made that clear, but it was hard knowing he was close by and she couldn’t see him. Carly said she wished there was something she could do to make the situation easier, and Charlotte said there was. Maybe Carly could come up with a reason for her to visit and sneak her upstairs to see her dad.

Nina told Jack, make it quick, and he said Charlotte was there with her mother. Find an excuse to get her alone and pump her for information about her dad.

Tracy said her father had been presumed dead for two years in the early 90s, but he’d been living it up in the Bahamas. Emma’s grandmother was there on her honeymoon and convinced him to come home. He’d always looked back on his time in the Bahamas with great fondness, and one of his most prized possessions was a painting by a local artist. The piece was lovely and featured street musicians. She thought Gio would like to have it. Gio said he could put it up in his room at Grandpa Sonny’s, but Tracy said she didn’t think so. Her father would roll over in his grave if he thought the painting made it to Sonny’s. She’d hold onto it until he had his own place. Gio said he was honored, and Emma asked if they could see it. Tracy said it would be there later tonight. It was at Drew’s.

Carly said she’d love to help out Charlotte, but even if they had a good cover story, it wasn’t a good idea. People could get suspicious. Charlotte asked if Carly would tell her dad that she loved him, and Carly said, yes, of course (🍷). He loved her too. Charlotte said she wished he’d let her help him. He’d said Mr. Sidwell was a threat. Carly said he was. Steer clear of him if she wanted to help keep her dad safe.

Jack said he had faith in Nina’s ability to get Charlotte to confide in her, and Nina flashed back to talking to Charlotte saying her dad had been in touch with her. She told Jack that she’d tried to get information, but Charlotte hadn’t seen her father. He said, that was back in December. Maybe she’d heard from him since then or maybe she was lying. Try again. She said it was a waste of time, and he reminded her that he’d made the evidence against Willow disappear and could make it magically reappear again. She said, go ahead. Double jeopardy prevented Willow from being prosecuted again. He said, in a court of law, but not in the court of public opinion. When people saw Willow, they’d know she should have been found guilty, and it would destroy her life. It might also give her ex the ammo he needed to keep her children away from her for good.  

Jason said Britt was being forced to work for Sidwell, and Sonny asked if he was sure Britt wasn’t acting. He’d caught her working in a lab in Croatia. Maybe she didn’t want him turning her in. Jason said Britt was capable of manipulating him, but he didn’t think that was it. She truly seemed scared. Sonny said, say right now Britt had been roped into a dangerous situation. She had a strong instinct for self-preservation and put herself first. If if something took a turn, she could end up betraying him.

Ava asked if there was something wrong, and Lucas said, no… Sort of. Britt wasn’t his favorite person and her hanging around his boyfriend was disconcerting. Something was a little off, but he couldn’t put his finger on it. Sidwell came back and said he’d run into Lucas’s sister Carly. She missed him terribly. Lucas asked if she’d badmouthed Marco or him moving there, and Sidwell said she’d expressed concern, but he assured her that Lucas was happy and gave her an open invite to visit. Marco hated the fact that he’d come between Lucas and his sister. Lucas said it wasn’t Marco’s fault, but Sidwell said Marco still felt responsible. He’d do what he could to help the relationship between Lucas and his sister, but hoped he wasn’t overstepping. Lucas said he appreciated the gesture, but he didn’t think Sidwell had any idea of the amount of crazy he’d invited into his home.  

Faison told Anna, a little patience. His recovery was almost complete and soon they’d be reunited. Anna said, when? and Faison said he didn’t want to ruin the surprise. Anna said she was sick of his surprises, and he said it was so rare for him to deceive her. He had the feeling she was the first person to believe he was behind the Five Poppies operation, not to mention his involvement with the resurrection of his children. She said, Britt, Nathan… and Peter. Was he behind that? Did Peter even visit her yesterday? He asked what she thought, and she cried, saying, everybody said she was crazy to think he was alive, but it turned out she was right. She should have trusted her instincts. He said it was more than her instincts. It was her heart’s desire. She said that couldn’t be further from the truth. She despised him. His cruel sadistic nature was a curse on her life. He asked why she didn’t kill him when she’d had plenty of opportunities, and she said she didn’t know. She guessed she was showing mercy. It was a big mistake. He said she wouldn’t admit it to herself, but the truth was obvious. She’d never escape him because they were soulmates.

Tracy said the painting was one of the many heirlooms Drew stole from them, but thankfully, they’d be returned soon, and Gio said he’d heard Drew had a stroke. Did he agree to give the stuff back before he collapsed? Tracy said, of course (🍷) not, but he took them without permission, so she decided to take them back without permission. Emma asked if she’d need a passport and/or bail money, and Tracy said, no, but she always had them on her. Drew was in the hospital, Scout was with Alexis, and Willow was with her mother. It was the perfect time to send the movers. Gio asked how they were getting in, and Tracy said, the key. Her phone rang and she said it was the movers. She answered and said, wait. What?

Lulu said Dante had pulled Charlotte’s police escort for emergency dispatch, and Charlotte asked if they could check on Butterscotch. The snow freaked him out and she wanted to make sure he was okay. Lulu said she was sure he was fine. The trainers would take good care of him. Charlotte said they were new people, but Lulu said there was no time. The conditions were terrible and they needed to get home. They’d take their food to go. Charlotte said she needed to use the restroom, and left. Carly said Charlotte was a Spencer. God help Lulu.

Jack told Nina that he did his part. He helped Willow dodge a murder conviction and Nina was to help bring a dangerous fugitive to justice. Get Charlotte to tell her what she knew. Nina said it would be too difficult to get her away from her mother, and Jack said, make it so and report back to him. Around the corner, Charlotte listened.

Josslyn arrived at Spoon Island’s power grid and took a device out of her backpack.

Lucas asked what the prognosis was, and Britt said Marco was perfectly healthy. She prescribed more sleep and Lucas could get him a CPAP machine. Marco said he’d overreacted, and Britt said it looked like her work was done, but Sidwell said, not so fast. He thought it best if she stayed.

Jason told Sonny that Britt had a pattern of doing what was best for herself, but she’d put her life on the line more than once for him. If she was in trouble, he’d do what he could to help out. Sonny said he was all for taking Sidwell down, but Sidwell could have tabs on Jason right now. He thought counting on Britt to do the right thing was a mistake. There was a knock at the door, and Sonny opened it to Brick. He asked what brought Brick to Port Charles, and Brick said he had a meeting in the area and got some news that he needed to give Sonny. He was glad Jason was there too. He’d been working hard to find out who made the attempts on Sonny’s life. Sonny said he thought the trail was cold, but Brick said an interesting lead had recently developed.

On the phone, Tracy said, no. It had to be tonight… If they didn’t, she’d sue for breach of contract… Hello? Gio said he took it they’d cancelled, and Tracy said, they were scared off by the storm. Emma said Tracy could get the stuff tomorrow, but Tracy said it had to be immediately. Gio said it was the only window of opportunity, and Tracy said she’d pack them up herself, but Gio said she couldn’t do that.

Brick said he didn’t have all the details, but had a strong suspicion that the person behind the assassination attempt was inside the WSB. A source tracked a payment that led to the device that had bombed Sonny’s apartment, as well as the assassin who hired the assassin in LA, to a WSB slush fund. He was still working on it and not that Sonny would, but he couldn’t trust anybody in the Bureau – no one. Sonny said he never had. Was the person who tried to kill him Jack Brennan?

Jack asked Carly, how was Lulu? and Carly said, dealing with a stubborn teenager. Her phone dinged, and she said, please be Jason. He wasn’t happy that she’d gotten into it with Britt. Britt broke things off with him and he blamed her. She wasn’t happy Britt used her, but she was thrilled Jason was no longer with that woman. She didn’t like Britt and thought he deserved better. Who’d want to be in a relationship with someone who lied to their face about who they were and what they wanted?

Nina told Lulu, now that the trial was over, she’d been thinking about Charlotte. She knew Charlotte was worried sick about her father being on the run. If it was okay with Lulu, she’d love to bring Charlotte to Rice Modern to get her mind off things. Lulu said they’d run it by Charlotte when she got back from the ladies room, and wondered what was taking her so long.

Britt asked why she should stay, and Sidwell said the ride over was extremely rough because of the storm and now it had started snowing. He suggested she stay and ride it out with them. Britt said she wasn’t in the mood for socializing, and he said she was welcome to hole up in one of the guest rooms. Lucas said he was sure she had time if she left right away, and Britt said, for once, they agreed. Sidwell said then he insisted on accompanying her to the docks. When they got outside, Sidwell said her time would be better spent starting her work in the lab, and she said she was going to, but the set-up provided inadequate protective measures, which was what she was trying to tell his son before Lucas came home. He said, fine. He’d speak with Marco and make the necessary changes. But after that, she had to come through for them, or her death would be the least of the concerns she’d endure.

Anna told Faison that they couldn’t be soulmates. They both knew he didn’t have a soul. He said it was just the two of them. Stop fighting her true feelings. She didn’t have to keep pretending. She asked who he thought she was, and he said she wasn’t a woman who was satisfied with an ordinary mundane existence. She’d thrived on living on the edges until that guy Scorpio domesticated her. Here, she was finally set free from her shackles. She said holding her against her will wasn’t freedom, and he asked if she hadn’t figured it out by now. Surrender is freedom. The lights began to flicker.

Tracy said it was the best opportunity to get back what was theirs, and Gio said he thought she had a court order. She said, with Drew’s stroke, who knew how long it would be? As Drew told her, possession was nine-tenths of the law. If she pulled this off, he couldn’t claim ownership. He was a monster. He’d walked away while her son was having a heart attack. Gio said Brook told him. That’s why he was trying to stop her. She couldn’t do this alone in a blizzard, so he was going to help her. Emma said, so was she.

Brick said he didn’t think it was Brennan, and Jason asked, why not? Sonny said Jack had shown up in LA afterward, but Brick said he thought Brennan was too smart to be so obvious. He’d put the whole incident to bed, so Brick didn’t have to answer questions after he shot the hit woman. Jason said, if Jack had ordered the assassin, it would make sense he’d want to clean up his own mess to avoid scrutiny, and Brick said he hadn’t ruled it out as a possibility, but his intel didn’t point to Jack. He still needed more information to make sure. He had to leave since he wanted to be in the air before the storm got worse. He left, and Jason asked what Sonny thought about Brick’s theory. Sonny said he could be onto something. The attacks on him were very sophisticated. Both could have ties to the WSB. Jason asked if he thought it was Brennan, and Sonny said, Brennan could be the decoy, but Brennan was capable of coming after him. That meant he’d been deceiving Carly all this time. Jason said he was sure Jack didn’t have a problem keeping secrets from Carly.

Carly said she should close the kitchen early and get home, and Jack asked if she wanted to wait out the storm in his room. She said she’d love to, but she had Donna and needed to relieve the babysitter. He said he understood, but it had been a while since they spent time alone.

Lulu asked if Charlotte had come out, but Nina said, no. Lulu said she wasn’t in the ladies room and wasn’t answering her cell. She went over to Carly and said she needed help. She couldn’t find Charlotte and she was worried because Charlotte didn’t have an escort. What if Valentin took her?  

Ava said she should get going, but Sidwell said she just got there. She said she could get stuck, but he said they had plenty of spare rooms. She said she was aware. She’d lived there. Lucas said they could watch Bachelor in Paradise, and Marco said he’d get a fire going and they could make s’mores. Sidwell asked when Ava would ever get an offer like that again, and she said, okay. It would be fun. Avery was with her father, and it beat being home alone. 😱

Josslyn set up the device.

Ava said she forgot how cozy Windymere could be. It was the perfect place to shelter in a storm.

Josslyn hit the button.

The lights went out, and Ava said, or not.

Josslyn smiled.

Tracy said she appreciated the offer of help, and Gio said he wanted to do it for her and the family. Tracy said that made her more convinced that Gio deserved the painting, and Emma suggested they all change, since none of them were dressed to carry boxes in the snow. Gio said they’d meet at Drew’s.

On the phone, Carly asked if they were sure it was her… Okay. She told Lulu, the doorman saw Charlotte exit the lobby 20 minutes ago. He said she was alone. Lulu wondered why Charlotte left without telling her, and Jack asked what they’d discussed before she left. Lulu said Charlotte wanted to check on her horse and she’d said no. She bet Charlotte went to the stables.

Jason said he needed to find Britt, and Sonny said it wasn’t safe in the storm. Jason said he’d take his chance. She knew more about Sidwell than she was saying, and he was going to help take Sidwell down. Don’t worry. He was going in with his eyes wide open. He left.

Josslyn looked through her binoculars at a dark Windymere.

Sidwell said it looked like the whole island lost power, and Marco said it was a good thing they had a generator, but Sidwell said it was hardly strong enough to supply some of the rooms. They should head to the mainland to ride out the storm. Ava asked if he thought the launch was safe, and he said it wasn’t coming down too hard. The pilot said if they went straightaway, they’d be safe. Lucas said they’d do the TV marathon at Ava’s place, and she said she’d stocked up on wine. Lucas said, let’s do it, and left with Ava. Marco said, what about their other guest? Was it wise to leave her by herself? Sidwell said, don’t worry. She won’t be alone.

Anna asked, what’s happening with the lights? when the door unlocked. She said, Cesar? and Faison walked in (we only saw him from the back). She said, no!

Wednesday:

Trina was on the phone with Kai when there was a knock at the door. It was Porsha who said, enough was enough. She wouldn’t let Trina ignore her any longer.

Nathan met Lulu at the hospital, and she asked him to help track Charlotte down.

Carly told Valentin that if Charlotte wasn’t there yet, she would be soon.

Charlotte went to see Danny and said her mom thought she was checking on Butterscotch and she wanted to keep it that way.

Josslyn snuck around Windymere.

Emma told Gio that this wasn’t going to work.

Tracy slipped into Drew’s house and saw a fire burning in the fireplace. Martin came out and asked if she wasn’t overdressed for breaking and entering.

Carly told Valentin that Charlotte had snuck away. The doorman said she was headed toward the bus stop and the security footage showed no one following her. Lulu thought Charlotte was checking on her horse, but Charlotte had asked if she could see Valentin again, and Carly told her it was a bad idea. She thought Charlotte had to be coming there.

Charlotte told Danny that she needed to see her dad and the snow was the perfect cover. There was something she needed to tell him. Her dad had put his trust in a backstabbing traitor.

Lulu told Nathan that Charlotte was worried about her horse and was last spotted heading to a bus stop. Nathan said he’d give her a ride to the stables.

Portia said she’d driven through a storm, and Trina said she hadn’t asked her too, but she’d make Portia some tea. Portia asked if she could have it with a little less attitude.

Gio’s gloves were at Sonny’s, and Emma said he’d be sad to be missing fingers when he played the violin again. She worried that Tracy would be stuck retrieving the heirlooms by herself.

Tracy asked what Martin was doing there. Did Willow know he was there? He said, of course (🍷), and suggested they call her. Tracy said if he got in her way, she’d notify the Bar Association that he’d committed fraud by forging a will.

Josslyn looked for access to the catacombs, when she heard someone.

Emma said it was kind of important, and she and Gio kissed. He said the ski gloves she’d given him were an impediment, but she said Tracy was waiting.

Martin said, so much for the truce. Laura would be disappointed. Tracy said it was impossible, but he said she could do anything she put her mind to. She broke in. She said she had a key, and he wondered who would give her access. He asked if she’d taken advantage of Scout. What convinced Scout to give her a key, or did she decide to pickpocket a child?

Nathan told Lulu that the buses were still running. It was more than likely Charlotte got to the stables okay. Lulu said she couldn’t get through and wondered if the phone lines were down. Charlotte thought she could handle anything, but when she was overconfident, things got dangerous. Nathan said as soon as Rocco showed up, they’d get out of there. She’d helped him with James, so he was happy to return the favor.

Charlotte told Danny about Nina spying for Jack, so he’d help Willow. They’d stayed close and now Nina was working against her dad. She’d told Nina that she’d heard from her father. Danny asked if she told Nina where he was, but she said Nina told her not to. Maybe it was a set-up to manipulate her and she fell for it. Danny said Nina was protecting her daughter, but Charlotte said she, Nina, and Valentin had been a family. Her dad still trusted Nina and he needed to know she’d sold him out.

Valentin wondered what was taking so long, but Carly thought Charlotte was taking the long way and the roads were bad. He said he thought she’d be coming through the woods, and it was dark and snowing. He was going to find her. Carly said he couldn’t do that.

Josslyn hid and someone put candles in the living room. It was Cullum.

Portia asked Trina to sit with her, and Trina said Portia would just justify everything she’d done. Portia said she’d give Trina an explanation of her choices, but Trina said, no thanks. She was going to her room. Portia told Trina to say what she needed to say. Not speaking wasn’t acceptable. She was Trina’s mother and loved her. Trina said, then how could Portia cheat on her dad, get pregnant, and let him think the baby was his when she had no idea who the father was?

Martin asked if Tracy was expecting someone, and she said her associates would be there any minute. If he didn’t want her to report him, make himself scarce until her friends were gone. She was there to retrieve her belongings, starting with that decanter in his hand.

Lulu asked if Rocco had heard from Charlotte. She thought Charlotte went to the stables and she was worried. She and Nathan were going to look for her, but they were dropping him off at the Quartermaine’s and he could hang with Danny.

Cullum started a fire in the fireplace, and Josslyn remembered hearing him talking to Jack and saying that Jack answered to him.

Charlotte saw Lulu’s texts and told Danny that she hated making her mom worry, but she needed to talk to her dad. She’d thought she could count on Nina and talk to her. Danny asked if she told Nina that she knew where her dad was, and Charlotte said she’d hinted, but Nina told her not to say anything else. Danny asked if she thought Valentin had reached out to Nina, but she said she had no idea. Nina was one of the few people he trusted, and he needed to know she was working with Jack. She asked if she could borrow a coat and boots, and Danny said he was coming with her.

Josslyn acted like she’d just come in and called for Lucas. She went in the living room and said, thank God someone was here. She warmed herself by the fire, and Cullum asked, who was she and what was she doing here?

Portia told Trina that there were problems with the marriage from the start because Curtis seemed incapable of handling conflict between them. She’d kept Drew’s blackmail from him because she didn’t want to fight and hear how she’d messed things up. Things snowballed, the blackmail got worse, and Jordan had cozied up to Trina’s father. It was clear Curtis was more comfortable confiding in Jordan, who threw it in her face and Curtis did nothing. Trina said, Portia had cheated on her dad and was making it his fault, but Portia said she wasn’t. Jordan had been undermining their marriage. Trina said Portia thought that because she was a cheater. It was her M.O. First with Taggert, who she’d thought was her father, and now she’d cheated on Trina’s real dad. She hoped Dr. Gannon knew what he was in for.

Martin said Tracy couldn’t ransack the place, but she said she was just there for what was hers. Some of the things had been passed down for generations from her father and Monica. Drew had no business even having a Quartermaine toothbrush and she was there to right a wrong. Martin said she obviously knew she had no legal leg to stand on.

Carly suggested Valentin give Charlotte more time, and he said there was a snowstorm and it was dark. She said he didn’t know what route Charlotte was taking. What if she showed up and he was out in this mess? He said he needed to do something, and she said the hardest thing a parent had to do was wait.

Danny gave Charlotte a pair of gloves and said he knew how hard it was when someone let you down. He promised he’d never do that to her, and she said she knew. He said the storm was getting worse and people were being told to shelter in place. That meant her dad was safe, for now at least. Why didn’t they wait there until it died down?

Josslyn introduced herself to Cullum and said she was Lucas’s niece. She was headed to a nearby island when the wind picked up, so she came ashore. She’d expected Lucas to be home, but it looked deserted. Cullum said the power was out, and Josslyn flashed back to cutting it. He said the others were waiting the storm out on the mainland, and she asked, why not him? He said he was the caretaker, Matthew. He must have been outside battening down the hatches when she’d arrived. He was there to deal with any damage and to protect the property from intruders since the security system was out. She asked, who would want to break in during this weather? and he said, who indeed?

Portia told Trina that she’d been unfaithful and owned it, but it took two to create and maintain a relationship. Trina said Portia had lied to all of them for her entire life. Then when she got caught, it was sorry, then tears, then vowing she would never hurt them again. What about respecting her and being honest? Portia said that’s what she’d wanted to do, and Trina said, what she wanted and what she actually did were two different things. If they hadn’t heard about the affair when she was on the stand, she wouldn’t have told them and let them believe the baby was her dad’s, regardless of the truth, because she was a liar.

Emma and Gio came back, and Gio said the plows couldn’t keep up. Emma guessed they were sheltering in place – together.

Tracy said Drew paid the movers to steal her belongings, but Martin said it was Drew’s family too. She said Drew would never be a Quartermaine, and he said, Drew was in a hospital bed with little chance of recovery, and she was obsessed with her stuff. She had no compassion. Tracy said, if she didn’t, she would have left Drew on the floor to bleed out like what he did when her son had a heart attack.

Portia said she wouldn’t have lied about the baby the way she lied about Trina. She was going to take a paternity test. Trina said Portia had stalled and probably would have kept stalling if they hadn’t found out. She was still stalling. Portia said Trina was right. She didn’t want to lose Trina. She loved her and was proud to be her mom. She was sorry she’d lied, now and when Trina was younger. Back then, she’d just wanted to give Trina a family and knew Taggert would be an amazing father. As for Curtis, he found out she was married and wanted nothing to do with her. She was convinced that if she’d told him that she was pregnant, he would have stepped up, but her gut told her that he wouldn’t have wanted to have a child under those circumstances. Now they’d never know. Trina said, because of the choices Portia made, and Portia said, yeah. Trina and her father found it easy to judge, but she’d done her best. Maybe it’s not what Trina would have done, but she raised Trina and gave her a stable home and education. She hoped Trina wouldn’t make the same mistakes she did, but if that happened, she wouldn’t love Trina any less because she was Trina’s mother and always would be.

Valentin said, what if the situation was reversed and it was Josslyn out there? What would Carly do? Carly said, go out there, but she hoped someone would remind her that her daughter was capable and had a good head on her shoulders, like Charlotte. Charlotte had survival skills and could think on her feet. Doing nothing was torture, and when she saw Josslyn she wanted to scream that she knew Josslyn was in the WSB and she wasn’t fine with it. But like he told her in Steinmauer, if there was no direct action you could take to solve a problem, you had to endure facing that your kid was in danger. He said, when she listened to him, it was annoying.

Cullum brought Josslyn a blanket and she thanked him. She said she was sorry to impose and would get out as soon as the storm was over. He said he was surprised she’d taken a boat out, and she said she grew up on the water, but underestimated the speed of the storm. He asked where she was going, and she said, a friend from school was hosting a blizzard bash on Porter Island and had a generator. They thought it would be fun to party their way through the storm. She got stuck bringing the keg, while everyone else went early to set up. He said the kitchen was stocked and there was wood for the fire. They had nothing left to do but get to know each other. She asked how long he’d worked there, and he said Sidwell hired him when he bought the island, but he’d rather learn about her. He asked if she’d like some brandy, and she said, why not? He said it wasn’t every day he met someone who’d brave a blizzard for a party, and they drank the brandy.

Portia said she owed Trina an apology. In an effort to try and protect her, she’d treated Trina like a child and led her to believe everything was fine. She was sorry to disappoint Trina and wished she could take it back, but she couldn’t. The question was, could Trina love her anyway?

At the mansion, Rocco looked for Danny and saw Charlotte’s shoes by the fireplace.  

Valentin said he couldn’t sit back and wait for Charlotte to get there, and Carly said they’d do it together. She picked up a game of checkers, and he said he had the sneaking suspicion she’d cheat. She asked if he didn’t want to find out.

Josslyn said she was a senior at PCU, and Cullum said, she grew up sailing? She said she did. She’d lived in Port Charles her entire life. It wasn’t very exciting. What you see is what you get. He asked why he found that hard to believe.

Emma told Gio that nothing was going through on her phone. Tracy would think they bailed. Gio said he thought she’d understand why they didn’t make it, assuming she got there herself. He put a blanket around Emma, but she said she wasn’t thawed out yet. He said, then he’d have to warm her up, and kissed her.

Martin told Tracy, for the record, he didn’t condone what Drew did. He should have called an ambulance, but that didn’t change the fact that he was helpless. Tracy said Drew stole her stuff and she was taking it back, and he said, good luck with that. Was she loading it up on her broomstick? She wasn’t going anywhere tonight. The roads were impassible. She’d have to wait in her car. She asked if he was going to try and throw her out, but he said, no. She could stay if she asked nicely.

Nathan and Lulu went into a deserted Bad Jen Café, and Lulu said, they almost crashed. Did he think the owner would mind? Nathan said Jen wasn’t bad. He thought she’d be grateful that the restaurant offered them shelter. It looked like they were stuck for the night.

Thursday:

Molly and Cody came downstairs, and Molly said she had to check her email. He asked if she had regrets, but she said, none. He said he didn’t think she was going anywhere. They were snowed in.

Tracy put bourbon in Scout’s thermos for Martin, but he told her to give him back the decanter. She said it was a family heirloom, and he said, back into the storm with her.

Nathan got the heat going, and Lulu sent a text to Charlotte telling her to stay put at the stables. Nathan said he wasn’t sure how long they’d have power or a signal.

Charlotte and Danny went to the carriage house.

Valentin told Carly that he had to look for Charlotte.

Jason found Britt half-frozen and lost. (Where? They didn’t say.)

Tracy said she’d sue Martin for intentional infliction of harm, and he said no judge would entertain the notion since he was trapped in the house with her, but she said that was only because his sister didn’t want him trapped in her house. He asked how many times Monica sent her packing, and she said he didn’t know how they fought their battles or loved each other. He said she was nothing if not a world class pain in the ass who delighted in the misfortune of others and loved being the cause of the misfortune in first place. Tracy asked why he hated her. He’d lied, cheated, sued, and tried to swindle her home from her. What had she done to deserve that? He said she’d ruined his life.

Molly couldn’t find her phone and took out her laptop. Cody said, no one appreciated a snow day anymore, and looking at her email, she said, oh my God, no.

Charlotte said Danny was right. She never would have made it. Her phone chimed and she said she had a million texts from her mom. She texted Lulu that she was safe at the Quartermaine’s with Danny.

Lulu told Nathan that Charlotte was with Danny at the Quartermaine’s, but she was still grounded until the end of time. She’d put everyone looking for her in danger.

Carly said Valentin wouldn’t be safe, but he said Charlotte wasn’t safe. He couldn’t live with himself if she was out there freezing and he was safe and warm playing checkers. He was the only one who knew where to look for her. Carly gave him a flashlight, hand warmers, and a coat. She told him, good luck, and he thanked her and left.

Britt said Jason found her, and he said he’d always find her.

Cody asked, what happened? and Molly was evasive, but finally told him that she wrote a fiction book. He asked if it was a legal thriller, but she said, no. Did he remember when she’d asked him about trick roping? It was for her book.

Martin said Tracy destroyed his relationship with Lucy, and she laughed. He said, there it is, and she said it was no big loss. He said they’d had something meaningful, but she said Lucy’s only meaningful relationship had been with a duck named Sigmund. He said Lucy was the best thing that ever happened to him and for some reason, Tracy decided to undermine it, convincing him that she was cheating with Scotty. He confronted Lucy with no evidence and ended things based on her lies. When he tried to mend things… Tracy said he discovered Lucy rolling in the hay with Scotty. Why didn’t he thank her?

Nathan told Lulu that they weren’t going back out. His car was in a ditch, and the safest thing was for them to shelter in place. She said he could have been at the station helping people who really needed it, but he said if she’d gotten stuck by herself, he’d have been looking for her. Lulu decided to look for anything they could use as blankets, and said there were a million napkins, but nothing blankety. She thought the bottle of bourbon she found would keep them warm though. Did he ever play Two Truths and a Lie?

Danny wanted to make the best s’mores ever, and Charlotte said they’d made them at Lila’s Kids, but she didn’t get the hype. He asked if she’d tried them, but she said, no. They looked messy and too sweet. He said that was the whole point. Sometimes you had to embrace the mess and enjoy the sweeter things.

Britt told Jason that she was on the way back from Windymere. She’d rented her own boat since the launch was slow and the water got crazy choppy. With the wind and snow, she couldn’t see where she was going, then her boat started taking on water. She thought she was going to die – again. All she could think was that all this time her body had been trying to kill her and this was how she was going out. Then she heard… She guessed it was his boat. Where were they? Jason said it was an old harbormaster’s office near Spoon Island. The water was too rough to make it back to the mainland. He needed to get her warm and brought her closer to the fireplace. He put his arm around her and told her that she was okay.

Martin said if he hadn’t listened to Tracy, Lucy would have never ended up with Scotty, and Tracy said, she would have eventually. It’s what people like Lucy did and it was good he was rid of her. He said they had something real and she got in the way, but she said he’d never had anything real with any woman. She’d met all three of his ex-wives and he had a type. They were beautiful, exciting, and only out for themselves. He fell madly in lust and failed to see they all had the same agenda – to bleed him dry. He said he had a lot to offer besides the money, and she said, now he didn’t even have that. He said he’d still have a sizable nest egg if she hadn’t thrown him to that pack of she-wolves, and she said, everybody cheated and before you knew it, you were on the hook for alimony, but he said she didn’t know the first thing about love. How many times had she been divorced? She said, that’s how she knew, through trial and error – mostly error – before she recognized the true love of her life.

Cody asked if Molly wrote a Western romance, or was it some other genre that required a lariat? and she said it was subgenre, a Western/frontier romance. She’d written books when she was younger, but they were purely romance and she left that behind when she went to law school. This book was just for a creative outlet. He asked when he got his signed copy, but she said she’d written it for fun, not publication. She thought Kristina understood that, but she went behind Molly’s back and submitted it to her old literary agent.

Danny told Charlotte that he’d been kicked out of Lila’s Kids for going on a solo expedition and not telling anyone. Most of the time, he tried to be relatively safe, but sometimes he wanted to take a chance. Charlotte said she felt like she tried hard to be normal, but she could speak three languages, knew the best train to St. Petersburg, and where to get the best pizza in Naples. In the meantime, no one wanted to hear about the part of her that reminded them of who her dad was.

Valentin came back and Carly told him to get inside. He said he couldn’t find Charlotte, but she said Charlotte was safe. It was okay.

Martin said Tracy was talking about Luke Spencer and he was a scoundrel. She said he was. Every word of his reputation was true. He asked if she was convinced he wasn’t after her money, but she said, he was… at first. But later they both realized what they had was worth more than money and worth fighting for. He gave up and threw in the towel with Lucy. He said the love of Luke’s life was his sister Laura. Didn’t that bother her? She said, what Luke had with Laura had nothing to do with what he had with her. She was so grateful they found each other when they did, but they found it long after Luke and Laura divorced. Nothing about their relationship was easy or convenient. It was necessary that they had past loves, broken hearts, and children of their own, so they could see clearly and honestly. He asked if she was saying it was better to marry a con artist knowing they were a con artist, but she told him that she was saying he was never going have a lasting relationship until he could look at a woman and love her while seeing her for who she was, not who he wanted her to be.

Molly told Cody that Kristina read her book and liked it. Kristina hounded her to send it to her agent, but she’d made it clear she didn’t want to. She guessed Kristina found her agent’s information online and sent it anyway. Cody asked how she found out, and she said she got an email from her agent, who loved it. Her agent said it was major and wanted to give her a multi-book deal, but she wasn’t going to move this forward. He asked, why not? and she said she already had a job. Publication meant tours, publicly, and deadlines. It was a hobby and she wanted it to stay that way. He said he got where she was coming from, but it sounded like she was a great writer, and he couldn’t wait to read it. She said she couldn’t wait to get back to his cozy bed. She was freezing. He said he’d better warm her up and carried her upstairs.

Carly gave Valentin a drink and said it was the good stuff. She was billing him for it. He said he was running up quite a tab in this establishment. Did she speak to Charlotte? She said Lulu texted her that Charlotte was safe at the Quartermaine’s, and he said he thought she was going to die. Carly said, Charlotte had enough sense to stay in, unlike her father, and he said she was right. He couldn’t see an inch in front of his face. He didn’t even make it to the tree line. He knew he had to wait out the storm and give up the search, and he hated that. She asked how he thought Charlotte would feel if he’d died trying to find her, and he said Carly had boots and a coat on. Was she coming after him?

Nathan guessed that Lulu was lying about flying in a hot air balloon, but she said, no. Drink up. It was his turn, and he said that he was a switch hitter, hated chocolate, and knew the entire periodic table of elements by heart. She said, the last one, and he recited the table. She checked it on her tablet, and said, damn. How did a detective know the periodic table? He said his dad made him learn it as a kid and drilled it into him relentlessly every day, and she said she thought he’d told her that his dad never paid much attention to him.

Carly said she had to come after Valentin. He needed to know his daughter was safe. He said she told him it was suicide to go out, but she said she figured he wasn’t far. He asked, why risk her life? and she said she knew what it was like to lose a parent and lose a child, and if she’d been in his shoes, she wouldn’t wait another second to make sure er kid was safe.

Danny told Charlotte that whenever he took a risk, he could tell his aunts and grandma were scared that he was becoming more like his dad. They didn’t trust him to be responsible. Charlotte said it was his idea to shelter there, and he said it was one thing to be stupid and risk his life, but it was another to risk hers.

Lulu said Nathan had told Maxie that Nina was their father’s pride and joy, and because he was adopted, their father didn’t pay much attention to him. Nathan said he always had a good memory, but he was a miserable failure at math. His dad figured if he just threw him into physics and chemistry, he might be of some use, but it was clear he couldn’t do anything beyond memorization to follow in his father’s footsteps. So he lost interest. Lulu said his dad sound like an ass. And if he couldn’t see how wonderful and amazing Nathan was, he was an ass and an idiot.

After basking in the afterglow, Britt got out of bed and said, that was one way to cure hypothermia. Was Jason okay? He said he wanted to make sure she was okay, and she asked why he thought she wasn’t. He said she fought hard to push him away, and Britt said if he was worried she only did it because he saved her life, if that was the case, she would have just sent him a thank you card. He said she didn’t trust him – not yet, but he really wanted to help her. Please let him help. She said, if he was going to help her, he needed to know the truth. She’d been lying to him all this time.

Cody said he couldn’t leave Outback alone as he picked up the contents of Molly’s bag. He looked at her manuscript and said, Loredo Sunrise by Molly Lansing-Davis. He sat down to read.

Martin said it explained a lot about why Tracy was so Tracy. Once upon a time, she had a great love and lost him. Now she was taking out her pain on the rest of the world. Tracy laughed and said, save her the dime store psychiatry. He said he wasn’t trying to punish the world. Luke was gone and her father was gone. She said, what about him? and he said he was a mess, but after a decade of trial and error – mostly error – he was open to the possibility that someone was out there for him. She said he was an easy mark, and he said maybe she was right. Or maybe, between the pair of them, he was still brave enough to put his heart on the line.

Charlotte said Danny had chocolate on his face and wiped it off with her hand. He put his hand on hers and they kissed.

Carly said she’d thought Valentin was thoroughly reprehensible. He’d married Nina, so he had terrible taste in women, and he’d taken a daughter away from her mother. He was the representative of the evil Cassadines. He asked what changed her mind, and she said, the look on his face before he went out to find Charlotte or die trying. He wasn’t who she thought he was. He said she wasn’t exactly who he thought she was either.

Nathan said, nobody was perfect and definitely not him, and Lulu said he wasn’t perfect, but he was a good man. He said he tried, and she said he didn’t need to be modest. He came from money and didn’t have to work to support himself. He chose a career that put him in danger helping people. He said she made him sound like a Boy Scout, and she asked what was wrong with that. He helped her with Charlotte, and she didn’t know what she would have done without him. He put his hand on hers and said he appreciated that. (Wow. The snowstorm sure brought out the romance in everyone.)

Britt asked if it didn’t bother Jason that she’d been lying, and he said it bothered him that she’d been forced to, but she didn’t have to anymore. He was going to get her out of this. She could trust him. She said she knew and she did. The truth was, it went back to her father. They were forcing her to complete her father’s final project. If she didn’t, they’d let her die of Huntington’s. Everyone who had Huntington’s died, but they were going to let her die faster. He said she had to tell him who they were.

🫔 Friday’s Enchilada…

Nathan says, nobody’s perfect and definitely not him, and Lulu says she doesn’t remember saying that he was perfect, but he says, it seemed kind of implied, was it not? She said, oh. He’s not perfect, but he’s a good man. He’s always been. He says he tries, and she says he doesn’t need to be modest. He came from money and didn’t have to work to support himself and chose a career that put him in danger helping people. He says she makes him sound like a Boy Scout, and she asks, what’s wrong with that? He helped her with Charlotte, and she doesn’t know what she would have done without him. He puts his hand on hers and says he appreciates that. They kiss and then start making out.

Carly says, up until now, she’d thought Valentin was thoroughly reprehensible, and he says, up until now? He must be losing his touch. She says, he married Nina, so he has terrible taste in women, and he took a daughter away from her mother. And his reputation. He was just another evil Cassadine. He asks, what changed her mind? and she says, the look on his face before he went out to find Charlotte or die trying. He isn’t who she thought he was. He says, she isn’t exactly who he thought she was either, and she says he can sleep in the guest room. He asks if it isn’t safer in the attic, and she says, it’s just the two of them. He says, what if someone shows up? and she says, who? The roads are closed. They’re officially snowed in. But if he wants to sleep in the attic… He says, no, no, no. The guest room will be a welcome change. He thanks her, and she says she’ll let him get some rest. He asks, what’s the hurry?  

Danny and Charlotte kiss, when they hear someone coming. They break apart as Rocco walks in. He says, good. He found them here. What’s going on?

Cody is reading Molly’s manuscript when she comes downstairs. She says, lonely girlfriend in search of missing boyfriend. What’s taking him so long? He says he picked up some reading material, showing her the manuscript. It’s a real page turner.

Portia walks to Trina’s kitchen in the dark and yells, ouch! Trina comes out and asks, what happened? Is it the baby? Portia says, no. She stubbed her toe. Why does it hurt so bad? She hobbles to the couch and Trina asks what she was doing. Portia says she was getting a drink of water. She was thirsty. Trina says, and she didn’t turn on the light because… Portia says she didn’t want to disturb Trina. She did a great job. Trina asks if she’d like an ice pack, and Portia says, yeah. Trina looks for it and says, Josslyn must have forgotten to put it back when she last used it. Portia says, that’s okay. She’ll just open a window and dangle her foot out. Trina half-smiles and says she’d love to see that.

Britt says, Jason saved her life tonight. He deserves the truth. She’s really scared. He says, of what? and she says, of what they’ll do if they find out she told him. When she says these guys are powerful… He asks if she’s talking about Sidwell, and she says, he’s one of them, but he’s not the most dangerous.

Cullum says, Josslyn thought she’d be at a party tonight, but instead she’s playing chess with a stranger, and she says, not a bad way to pass the time until the storm is over. Nice try distracting her. He says she’s not the person she pretends to be.

Lulu pushes away from Nathan and says, we can’t.

Molly says, that’s private. When Cody asked if he could read it, she didn’t say yes. He says, she didn’t say no. She got him upstairs as quick as she could and distracted him with sex. She says she didn’t hear him complaining, and he says, she probably never will. She asks how much he read, and he says, enough to know she’s not mad at him for supposedly violating her privacy. She’s mad because now he knows what she really thinks of him.

Portia says, sorry, and Trina says, for what? Portia says, for interrupting Trina’s regularly scheduled distain for her. Trina says, if Portia thinks she likes being mad, that’s not really the right word, and Portia says, disappointed? Trina says, more like worn out and tired. On that note… Portia asks where she’s going, and Trina says, to bed. Portia says, they were just getting somewhere. Please talk to her. Trina says, if Portia wants to know how she’s feeling, she honestly doesn’t think she can ever forgive her for what she did to dad and their family.

Jason asks, who’s working with Sidwell? and Britt says, his name is Ross Cullum. He showed up in Port Charles around the time of their date and demanded she end things with Jason or he would. Jason says, that’s why she picked the fight with Carly, and Britt says she knew him before. He was the first person she saw when she woke up at the Five Poppies. He’s the only reason she’s alive. He and Sidwell needed her to complete her father’s final project. He says, Sidwell is his partner or what? and she says, worse. He asks, what’s worse than them working together? and she says, Cullum works for the WSB.

Josslyn tells Cullum, she’ll bite. Who is she pretending to be? He says, a ditzy college girl, but ditzy college girls don’t beat him at chess. She asks, who says? Society? He asks if she disagrees, and she says she thinks blonde college girls who frequent frat parties get a bad rap, but she got his queen, didn’t she? He says, she certainly did, and she says, it’s not a big deal. Her dad taught her to play when she was younger. He called it a rite of passage. He asks what else would surprise him about her, and she says she’s an environmental science major and used to be pre-med. He says, she’s an interesting girl. He wonders what other secrets she’s keeping.

Valentin thanks Carly, and she tells him not to get crazy. It’s just one night in the guest room. He says he thanks her for understanding about Charlotte. Lulu is her cousin and she’s had to overcome a lot of hostility to put him up. She says, and put up with him, and he says he appreciates it. She says, let’s be clear. She’s not excusing anything he’s done. He says, nor should she, and she says she’s able to separate Valentin the man from Valentin the father. He says he wants to be better for Charlotte, and she says she knows he does. He says, if all goes as planned, her daughter will be safe and he’ll be back with his, and she says she thinks they deserve that. He says, they do. He has to ask. Does it really bother her that this ends with Jack Brennan in his old cell at Steinmauer? The doorbell rings, and Carly says, oh my God. Valentin tells her, the roads are closed, she says. We’re snowed in, she says. Carly tells him, both are true, and he says, and yet, the doorbell.

We see Jack standing outside Carly’s house.

Jason says, so Britt is positive Cullum is with the WSB, and she says, more than positive. That’s how Sidwell stays ahead of the Bureau. He has someone on the inside. Not only that, Cullum met twice with Rocco under the pretense of questioning him about breaking into Dalton’s lab. Jason says, he just wants her to know he can get to Rocco, and she says, when she went off on him, he straight up told her that he’d sentence Rocco to Steinmauer if she didn’t cooperate. Jason says he gets it, and she says, it would kill her if anything happened to that kid… or to him, and he says, that’s why she’s been so distant. She says she didn’t know what else to do except push everyone away, and he cups her cheek with his hand.

Cody says, the main character is based him, but Molly says, not entirely. Cody says, he works in a stable, and his name is Casey, and she says, it was a placeholder name. He says, what about the rest of it? and reads, Casey was six feet of gorgeous stupidity. A monument of wasted potential. Golden Retriever energy would be an insult to the species. Books were decorations to him. Thoughts were a burden. (I would have hit gorgeous and focused on that.) Molly says, it’s not him, and he says, it sound nothing like him – Casey the stable boy. Really? She says, first, Kristina sends it to her publisher without her permission, and now he reads it without her permission. Nobody was supposed to read it. He says, maybe Kristina shouldn’t have done what she did, but it doesn’t change what Molly wrote. He can’t unread what he read. She says, then read it in the spirit it was intended, and he says, as a joke. Just laugh it off and move on.

Charlotte asks what Rocco means by what’s going on, and Rocco says he recognized her scarf and coat at the main house. He thought they’d be here. She says she needed to talk to her father, and Danny says they snuck out to see him. Charlotte says, the snow took a bad turn, and Danny says, they didn’t even make it to the main house and crashed here. Charlotte says she still needs to talk to her father, and Rocco says, Danny knows her dad is staying at Carly’s? She says, Danny helped her to see him a few weeks ago, and Rocco asks why they didn’t tell him.  

Carly tells Valentin, it’s Jack. Get upstairs. He runs up the stairs, and Carly tells herself, okay. She opens the door and tells Jack, come in. He says he was starting to think she wasn’t home, and she says, sorry. She dozed off. She can’t believe he came all the way out in this. How are the roads? He says, snowy and slick, even after the plows. He wanted to make sure she and Donna were okay. She says, Donna’s at Sonny’s, and he says he thought she left early to pick Donna up. She says she’s an idiot. She got there and had messed the dates up. He says he was hoping to be chivalrous and take care of both of them, but she says, it’s just her. He sees two glasses full of champagne on the table and says, yet she’s drinking for two.

Valentin settles back into the attic.

Lulu tells Nathan, it’s not like this is a shock. Between the excitement of the storm, getting stranded, and the alcohol, obviously, they’re not thinking clearly. That’s all. He says, because she’s Maxie’s friend. Maybe that’s all for her, but it’s a lot more than that for him. He’s wanted to kiss her for a long time. She says, don’t do this, and he says, she helped him adapt to his new life. She guided him through being a father. The days he saw her were lighter and less empty. Maybe the storm gave him the courage to do it, but he didn’t kiss her because of the booze or the storm. He kissed her because he wanted to. She says, oh, and he says, oh? She’s got to give him something, say something. She says, like Maxie would kill her if Maxie knew she had feelings for him too.

Portia says, Trina is absolutely right to never forgive her, and Trina says, but Portia thinks she should. Portia says she thinks Trina is old enough to understand that adults have complicated relationships and sometimes marriages don’t work out. Trina says, sometimes they don’t work out twice, and Portia says, that’s right. Trina is about to be an older sister. Does she remember? That’s all she used to want. Trina says, things are a little different now. Portia was married to Taggert, and she thought he was her father. And they were still speaking. Portia says, they’re speaking now, and Trina says, barely. She can’t stand it. Portia says, what? and Trina says, the baby is coming into the world the same way she did – surrounded by lies.

Molly says she’s really sorry Cody is upset, but they wouldn’t be having this conversation if he hadn’t invaded her privacy. He says he only wanted to read her manuscript because he’s blown away by her and proud. He wanted to celebrate her accomplishment with her. He thinks the world of her, and thinks apparently it’s the opposite of how she sees him. Molly says, parts of Casey are inspired by him, but Casey is a fictional character, not him. Not even close. He says, it seems to be to him, and she says she wrote it a long time ago when things were not so good between them. Does he remember when they were stuck on the roof of GH and when he was rude to her after he was arrested at Charlie’s when she was trying to be nice? That’s where they were at then. If he reads a couple more chapters, he’ll see how much Casey changes. He falls in love with Maddie and Maddie starts to see him differently.  They both grow and evolve. He says, really touching, and she says, it’s like Pride and Prejudice. Mr. Darcey starts off super cold and arrogant. Then he and Elizabeth fall in love. Cody says, even if that’s not how she sees him now, she did before. What’s he supposed to do with that? She says, realize that’s how life works. People and their opinions change over time. He asks how her readers could even support that Maddie would ever fall for… He looks through the manuscript and says, that big stupid ox, and she says, he’s focusing on the negative things. Casey has positive qualities too. He’s good with kids and Maddie’s family. He’s handsome and strong and nobody makes Maddie laugh like he does. He says, exactly. Casey is a joke and apparently, so is he.

Nathan asks if Lulu feels the same, and she says she feels something, but it doesn’t matter because of Maxie. If Maxie were here, none of this would have happened. He says he gets that, but she’s not here and it did happen. It happened because the feelings are real. They can’t ignore that. She says she can’t ignore Maxie either. Maxie is her best friend. He says he knows that, and she says she just kissed her best friend’s husband. He says, she kissed the man Maxie married seven years ago. It was brutal to come back and see she’d moved on with her life, but she had. She made a family with James, Georgie, Bailey Lou, and Spinelli. Lulu says, only because Nathan was gone, not because she stopped loving him, and he says he loves Maxie too. He will forever, but he’d never want her to mourn him forever. Lulu says, of course (🍷) not, and he says, part of him wonders if she would want him to move on with his life too, because the life he had is a memory. He’s grateful to have it, but he can’t live in a memory. She says she believes that and knows, but just the thought of Maxie waking up and realizing what happened here. It would crush her if she found out about this ever.

Carly tells Jack that Jason was going to come by, but she turned on the news and saw how the roads were. So she texted him not to risk it. She would have told Jack the same thing. He says he’s glad he didn’t tell her his plans. He trained in Moscow and this is nothing. She hands him a glass, and he says, here’s to a cozy evening. They clink glasses, and he asks if they have the place to themselves. She says, they do, and they kiss.

Jason says he knows Britt would do anything to protect Rocco. So just tell him how the whole thing started with her working for Sidwell and Cullum. She says, everything that happened before she left was real. She fought Heather Webber to protect Josslyn, and she thought she was dying in her mother’s arms, but then she woke up and found herself in a gorgeous resort. He said, the Five Poppies, and she says, when she came to, Cullum was there and he laid it out for her. They’d faked her death to spare her mother the pain of watching her deteriorate and had a medication that arrested Huntington’s. He says, so they were going to bankroll the medication and put her up in paradise in exchange for what? She says she would research cold fusion and complete her father’s final project.

Cullum asks Josslyn to excuse him. He needs to check the other rooms for storm damage. She says she’s just grateful to be here, and he leaves. She looks around and picks up his coat. She rifles through the pockets and finds a cigarillo tin. She takes a book out of another pocket, and sees it’s The Crystalline Conspiracy by PK Sinclair. She reads, for my muse – C., and looks through it. She says, Daphne, looks at the cover again, and says, Anna?

Molly says she’s kind of surprised Cody is taking it so hard, and he says he doesn’t get it. He cares about her. Her opinions matter to him. These are the worst things he thinks about himself, and now, not only does he know she thinks them, she put them out there for other people to read. It hurts. She says she’s sorry. She really, really is. He has to believe her. The character changes. He says he knows, but she said he’d looked that way in her eyes. He always knew people viewed him as a clown, but until this, he didn’t know she was one of them. She says, that’s not how she views him. She understands why it goes so deep for him. It goes deep for her too. She hadn’t written anything in years. But after she lost the baby and ended things with TJ, things were so bad with her and Kristina, writing was her only escape. It was like a gift. He says he’s glad she had it, and she says she was too, at the time. It’s totally ruined now. She’ll never look at her novel and think that’s how she got through a terrible time, that her agent loved it and thought it should be published. She’ll not only think about how hurt it him, but how it hurt her just as much.

Jack’s phone rings, and he says his phone has the worst timing. Carly says, work? and he says, what else? He’ll be right back. He steps away to take the call.

Charlotte says they weren’t trying to exclude Rocco, but lying about stuff to their mom didn’t eat away at her the way it did him. Rocco says he hates it, and Charlotte says she’d already asked him not to say she’d seen her dad. Danny says, if they’d told him that they were going to visit Valentin, not only would he be keeping a secret from Lulu, he’d be lying to her. Charlotte says she loves him, but he’s a terrible liar, and Rocco says, not true. Charlotte says, he sucks at it. That’s a good quality and she didn’t want to put him in that position. Rocco says he’s fine with it, and Danny asks if he’s sure. Rocco says, they’ll figure this out – the three of them.

Carly paces and looks like she has a headache.

Britt tells Jason that doing what Sidwell and Cullum wanted seemed to be a better deal than slowly dying of Huntington’s, so she agreed. To hear them tell it, she’d be to helping benefit humanity. Jason says, with cold fusion? and she says, by the time she realized their goals were not so altruistic, it was too late to walk away. He asks if they threatened her, and she says, eventually she started slow walking the research, and they slowed the flow of her medicine. She can’t tell him how much it helps. Her symptoms are virtually undetectable when she takes it. He says, she can’t get this medication anywhere else? and she says her father developed it for himself. He was too far gone when it was ready. When she tried it, it was still experimental. He says, and so far it’s working, and she nods. She says she had a price and they paid it, and he says, when he offered to help with recreating the formula, she said no. She says, because it was too risky. Sidwell murdered Henry Dalton.  

Josslyn looks through the book, reading some it.

Lulu says they’d hurt the people they care about, and Nathan says, not just Maxie. Lulu says, Dante, and Nathan says, Dante is his best friend, like Maxie is hers. Lulu sits down and says, she and Dante settled into the status quo. They get along fine and co-parent well. Nathan says, after she woke up? and she says she was definitely confused as to where her heart was. He says, confusion is the name of the game, and she says, once everything settled, it became clearer. Too much time had passed. She and Dante had grown apart. Even so, if anything ever happened between them… She knows it would hurt the people they love, including their kids. She did enjoy the kiss though. He says, it was a good kiss. She’s probably right. It’s probably better for everybody if they just let it go. She says, at least they both know the truth of what it was, and he says he’s glad they could at least say it out loud. She says her too.

Danny says, Rocco’s got to believe they weren’t trying to shut him out, and Rocco says he gets it. He’s not a great liar. From now on, they tell each other everything, okay? Danny says, okay, and Rocco wonders if they should head to the main house, but Danny says he thinks they’ve got everything they need here. He’s got the stuff for s’mores. Charlotte says she tried one. They’re not that bad. Rocco says he told her. Give him a marshmallow. They all sit down on the couch.  

Molly says if she thought Cody was a colossal joke, why be with him? Maybe she was bored or being with someone was easier than not? He says, every time she looks at him, he’ll wonder if she’s looking at Casey or him, and she says, right now, she’s looking at Casey. He read her manuscript. That’s the sort of thing Casey would do. She has to get out. He says, she can’t. They’re snowed in. She can take the bed. He’ll sleep with the horses. She says, no. She won’t let him do that. They’ll share the bed. He says he doesn’t think he can be near her right now, and heads for the stalls.

Portia says, Trina can hate the way this baby came to be all she wants to, but no matter who the father is, the baby will still be Trina’s little brother or sister. Trina says she knows that. It’s exactly what she didn’t want for them to go through. What she did. To learn the truth about everything, to digest, to forgive Portia. And she really rushed to forgiveness the first time. It’s what she thought everyone needed, but really, she was still in a lot of pain from being lied to her entire life. Portia says she gets it, and Trina says she knows she loves Portia, but she doesn’t understand her and her choices. How is she supposed to have a relationship with her when she’s always waiting for the next lie to come out. The trust is gone. Portia says it’s something they have to work on, and Trina says, if they can. Portia says, they can try. It would kill her if Trina let her feelings for her affect the way she was to her little brother or sister. But she knows Trina won’t. It’s not in Trina to blame an innocent child for her mistake. And she knows, deep down, Trina knows that too.  

Cullum comes back, and Josslyn says she got cold again, so she grabbed his jacket. She hopes that’s okay. Cullum says, of course (🍷), and Josslyn says, when she did, these fell out, giving him the tin. Sorry. He says, it’s fine, and Josslyn shows him the book and says, any good? He says, one of my favorites, and she says, it’s so crazy. The woman on the cover looks exactly like their old Police Commissioner, Anna Devane. He says he’s never heard of her, but what a coincidence, and she asks if he minds if she reads it. It will give her something to do. He says, be my guest, and she thanks him.

Jason asks if Britt knows for a fact that Sidwell killed Dalton, and she says he did it right in front of her, so yes, she knows for a fact. He says, okay. He’s got to get her away from these guys. They’re using her medicine against her. They’ve got to find a different source. Just get him a vial and he’ll have it reverse engineered. She says, it’s not a simple process. There’s no guess work. It takes time. He says, okay, but he can do it. He can replicate the medicine. He can keep her, Rocco, and her mom safe, all of them. He’s going to get her out of this no matter what it takes. He takes her hand and says he can’t do it without her. If she agrees tonight, she can’t change her mind tomorrow. He needs to know they’re together in this. She says, sounds great in theory, but actually pulling it off… He says, this whole thing was built around her. They need her to help create it and now she can be the one to end it.

Carly looks in a mirror and says, you can do this, Carly. Jack comes back and says his phone is officially off for the night. Is everything okay? She says, everything is perfect, and they kiss.

Britt says, okay, and Jason says, yeah? She says, yeah. They’ll do it his way, but when they leave tomorrow, they can’t see each other. If he passes her at Bobbie’s or the hospital, he can’t say hello. Cullum made it clear she was not to be near him, and Cullum won’t think twice about killing him. Does he understand her? He’s not messing around. Jason nods and says he understands. She says, good, and he says, well, if tonight is all they have… They kiss.

There’s a song part while we look in on what everyone is doing. Jack and Carly get busy on the sofa. Valentin lies on the attic floor, looking out the window at the snow. Charlotte, Danny, and Rocco make s’mores, and Charlotte smiles at Danny. Lulu and Nathan open the door and look at the snow, and Nathan gazes longingly at Lulu. Cody hunkers down near the horses, and Molly sits on the staircase. Portia goes back to bed, and Trina cries in the living room. Josslyn reads by the fireplace, and Cullum taps a cigarillo on the tin as he looks at her.

On Monday, Willow tells someone that she needs them more than ever; Lucas tells Marco that maybe it’s time they got their own apartment; Sonny says, Ric is a good lawyer, and he has another chance to prove it; and Jason says, walking out of this place is the first step to setting Britt free.

🧼 All the Soap News Fit To Print…

Rut-roh. Maxie’s waking up.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/general-hospital-lulu-and-nathan-kiss-alexa-havins-dishes-the-drama-as-here-comes-maxie-excl/

I figured Jack was lying to Cullum.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/is-general-hospitals-jack-playing-carly-chris-mckenna-defends-his-characters-big-lie-to-cullum/

I’m not loving it. When I first saw it, I thought it was a factory.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/general-hospitals-new-wyndemere-exterior-has-fans-asking-where-are-the-parapets/

I watch Beyond the Gates on Paramount+ during the weekend if I can. This should be interesting, but I wish it was a GH crossover.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/6-young-and-restless-stars-poised-for-massive-crossover-to-beyond-the-gates-in-june/

💉 A Dose Of Reality…

Below Deck Mediterranean

Thank God it was the finale. I really had enough of Eyebrows Joe’s boatmance tour and Max’s inability to take direction from his boss. Kizzy came back to the boat after dealing with her broken toe, and it was disgusting how she and Eyebrows carried on within eyesight and earshot of V. What a couple of skanky humans. They deserve each other. Kudos to Nathan, who said if Eyebrows didn’t knock it off, he’d knock him off. On the upside, Leah came for a visit with Captain Sandy, and it was refreshing to see a mature relationship happening. Nathan also got back together with Gael, and the result was the first Below Deck baby.

Real Housewives Of Salt Lake City

Another sigh of relief as this was the Reunion Part 3, and the final chapter in this season. The topic of Meredith’s plane tirade lingered, but Bronwyn came to the forefront with her announcement that she and Todd were separated. IMO, it was inevitable. It was tenuously kumbaya at the end, but it’s doubtful that will last long.

Vanderpump Rules

Maybe I’m outgrowing this show or something, but it seems very middle school. The OG cast wasn’t the most mature bunch, but compared to this group, they had it together and knew where they were headed. The award for Working My Last Nerve goes to Angelica, who I liked for the first five minutes, but what’s wrong with her? Unlike Natalie, who simply has weird misdirected anger, Angelica’s naïveté is beyond belief. The dude she lusts over is actually being honest in saying that he’s an f-boy, but she still has visions of being married to him in her head. No. Just no. Venus, who is a close second in the nerve working department, especially when he tosses his hair like a circus pony, was actually fun to watch this week as he was getting his groove back.  

Southern Charm

Rodrigo wondered if Shep and Craig were really friends, and in his interview, he said they lived in a grey area. Austen visited his parents, and told his mom that he was coming to that fork with Audrey. In other words, he needed to sh*t or get off the pot. Salley decided she hated the chickens and wanted them out of her life, while Craig and Charley went to the oyster farm, ate oysters, and talked vaguely about the future. Whitney hosted an impromptu birthday dinner for Austen at a restaurant, where he asked about Craig’s date with Charley and asked if they copulated. Who says that??? There was amazing food and the biggest pepper mill I’ve ever seen. No surprise, it degenerated into an argument between Craig and Austen. The best thing in the entire episode was finding out that Molly’s cat was named Robert Downey Jr. Jr.

Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills

Erika thought Amanda was performative, which I’m sure is a euphemism for tedious pain in the ass who talks about herself too much. In Rachel’s interview, she said Amanda wanted everyone to see and hear her, and told Erika that Amanda felt very airline attendant from the 60s. Boz, her friend Summer, Kyle, and Dorit had a lunch, which Mauricio crashed, coincidentally being in the area. In Kyle’s interview, she said the town was too small for both of them, and when Dorit threatened to text Mauricio whenever she pleased, we flashed back to memes and jokes. Rachel’s divorce went viral, much to her distress, but what did she think was going to happen? Nothing against her – I like her – but come on. Mauricio and Kyle (why are they even bothering to separate?) went to Amanda’s aka Kyle and Mauricio’s old house, and there were several flashbacks of memories there. Kyle was wistful over simpler times, and I identified. At a joint birthday party for Erika and Dorit, it looked like a conflict was brewing between Dorit and Amanda, but it was to be continued.

The Valley: Persian Style

In Golnesa’s interview, she talked about her anger and how she got (more of) a handle on it after she’d tried to attack Reza. We flashed back to that Shahs moment, and she said she went to two different programs after that. No longer wanting to deal with Dennis, she had Adam and Bamshad kick him to the curb, or at least out of the Palm Springs party. Sky had been very vocal about not liking the Valley, and Reza said it was like she thought she was a member of the Persian royal family. Sky insisted she didn’t act superior, but the dinner ended with her saying to Golnesa… or Reza… or both… or maybe everyone, I will drop you like the napkins that I clean my nose with. You are a POS. You are beneath me. Alrighty then.

Random Reality Items

I’m thinking I might enjoy this one. Anything is better than the last season of Below Deck Med, and no one throws a tantrum like Chef Ben.

Ho-hum. She needs some new material.

Too bad. I actually thought she was fun to watch, especially in her Skipper Barbie outfits. And the rehash of the naked wasted business wasn’t her fault. It was everyone else trying to put in their theories.

I always wonder, why bother getting married then?

👀 Last Weekend’s Watch…

The Beauty. Hulu, Disney+. Amusing, way gory, with a sense of humor and a great cast, this series is part detective thriller, part body horror. An injection of The Beauty can make you into a 20 out of 10, but at what price? Not only is it a bitch physically to transform, have sex with someone and you pass it along to them. That sounds like a great way to make everyone beautiful, but the downside is, you will then explode. Or be hunted down and killed. Eleven episodes in all, five are ready and waiting, the others to be doled out in the next months. Oh yeah, I enjoyed it, especially the crazy guest appearances.

https://www.tvinsider.com/1220071/the-beauty-fx-cast-premiere-date-details/

https://mashable.com/article/the-beauty-review-ryan-murphy

https://people.com/the-beauty-release-schedule-11887680

She gives the quote of the year: Beauty is the answer to nothing.

https://people.com/isabella-rossellini-discusses-the-irony-of-aging-in-front-of-the-camera-11894200

I also finished 11.22.63, on Netflix. I talked about this last week, but after seeing the rest of it, I can’t say enough good things. James Franco shines as a man who time travels to prevent the assassination of John. F. Kennedy and finds out that if you f*** with history, history will f*** with you. I loved everything about it, including the subtle nods to King’s other work, and thought the ending was superb. A surprise appearance by Constance Towers (Helena Cassadine, General Hospital) was the cherry on the sundae for me.

https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/11-22-63-release-date-news

I also watched more of Hollywood Demons, also on Netflix, but you can find it elsewhere. The title is self-explanatory, and the series covers Tinseltown scandals from the Real Housewives to the Power Rangers.

https://nypost.com/2025/03/24/entertainment/how-to-watch-hollywood-demons-docu-series-for-free/

🔮 Watch Of the Future…

On February 3rd, the second season of Fallout will conclude. Hopefully, it won’t take years for the next one.

https://ew.com/fallout-season-2-finale-cover-story-exclusive-11893674

When one door closes, another opens. On March 10th, the new season of One Piece arrives. Took long enough.

https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/one-piece-season-renewed

Not in the immediate future, but coming someday. I loved the first one, so I’m in.

https://extratv.com/2026/01/23/jason-momoa-gives-update-on-filming-minecraft-sequel-very-pumped-exclusive/

🎶 They Perform the Songs…

I’m so psyched about Lady Gaga’s new effort, I might even watch this.

https://ew.com/everyone-performing-at-the-2026-grammys-sabrina-carpenter-justin-bieber-lady-gaga-11893841

Nice lineup.

https://ew.com/everyone-performing-at-the-2026-super-bowl-bad-bunny-charlie-puth-brandi-carlile-coco-jones-and-more-11887671

🏆 Throwing Wicked a Bone…

Hair and Makeup? Could they spar it?

https://ew.com/2026-bafta-awards-nominations-11893217

🐾 Accomplishments In the Animal World…

🐈 God knows he’s probably smarter than… I’m not even going to say it.

https://people.com/cat-who-survived-coyote-attack-graduates-from-quarantine-11896184

🛁 This sounds like my kind of contest. And I love a capybara.

https://people.com/capybara-wins-japan-hot-bath-competition-11896407

🐩 Here’s hoping another Golden poops in the ring. A poodle would be even better.

https://people.com/how-to-watch-2026-westminster-dog-show-best-in-show-11894854

🍵 Quotes of the Week

Change is made of choices, and choices are made of character. – Amanda Gorman

Nothing succeeds like success. Get a little success, and then just get a little more.Maya Angelou (Alrighty then.)

When you were born, you cried and the world rejoiced. Live your life in such a manner that when you die, the world cries and you rejoice. – Indian Proverb

Talent is nothing without persistence. – Dean Crawford

If there is no struggle, there is no progress. – Frederick Douglass

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

If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude. – Maya Angelou

Life is about making an impact, not making an income. – Kevin Kruse

Learn what is to be taken seriously and laugh at the rest. – Herman Hesse

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

🌲 The Pine Stays Green…

Until next week, stay safe; stay dressing appropriately for this miserable cold weather (unless you’re one of the lucky ones); and stay sometimes embracing the mess and enjoying the sweeter things.

January 23, 2026 – GH Weekdays, Anna Has a New Tormentor, Soap Suds, This Week In Reality, Weekend Watching, Watching Soon, Nom List & a Sweater, Tails Of Love, Three Quotes Of Three & Fifteen Feet

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

🥢 Weekday Nibbles…                                                                      

Monday: 

The verdict was read and Willow was found not guilty. Willow hugged Alexis, who didn’t look very happy and didn’t hug back. Trina told Kai that she couldn’t believe Willow got away with it.

Sonny went to Alexis’s office to see Diane and maybe get some carrot cake, but Suzanne was behind in her baking and Diane was in court. Alexis was also in court, and Suzanne said the jury had reached a verdict. They thought it could go either way. Sonny said he hoped Willow got acquitted.

Willow was free to go, court was adjourned, and Willow hugged Nina. Dante told Turner that he was sorry, and she wanted to know who was responsible for the missing traffic cam footage. She wanted their head.

Chase congratulated Willow, and she said he’d played a huge part in it. Drew said he knew she’d be exonerated like he’d promised.

Anna asked who was speaking, and Faison asked if she’d forgotten the voice of who loved her the most. She insisted it wasn’t him. It was impossible. He was dead. He said she should know by now, not even death could part them.

Kai said they should have gone to the police, but Trina said it was too late now, and they left.

Willow thanked everyone for their support, but there was one person she owed a debt of gratitude to – Alexis. Drew agreed and thanked Alexis. She told him to keep his end of the deal. She’d come through for him and expected the same.

Suzanne was surprised that Sonny wanted Willow to go free, since the DA’s office could go against Michael. Alexis had laid out a pretty convincing case against him. Sonny said Alexis had done her job to the best of her ability and he couldn’t fault her. He could understand why she went after Michael. Drew had given Alexis an ultimatum – free Willow or she’d never see Scout again. She had to do something drastic. Suzanne got a text and told him that Willow was just acquitted.

Nina said, now Willow could concentrate on getting her kids back, and Drew said, tonight, they had to celebrate. Nina suggested she pick up champagne and that Chase come too. They could all celebrate together.

Dante said they’d find the person who messed with the footage, when Drew came by and said, no hard feelings. She was just doing her job. She said, how magnanimous of him. and he said he’d be in touch about pressing charges against Michael.

Michael flashed back to his meeting with Willow when she asked what would happen with her seeing the kids if she didn’t go to prison.

Nina thanked Chase, and he said he wasn’t letting an innocent woman go to prison. She promised him that it wouldn’t be forgotten and left. Turner said Chase must be pleased with himself. Willow might have walked out free, but thanks to his interference, he might be the one ending up in prison.

Anna asked if Faison had kidnapped her, and he said this place was better than where she’d kept him on Spoon Island. She asked if it was payback, but he said they always found their way back to each other. She said he had a warped view of their history, and he said what kept him going was knowing they’d be reunited. They’d never be part again.

Back in her office, Alexis threw her papers around and Suzanne asked if she was okay. Alexis said she was fine, but Suzanne said she was acting like she’d lost. Right. Willow was guilty, wasn’t she?

Drew brought Willow home, and she said the only thing that would make it better was having Wiley and Amelia there. He said he’d make good on his promise, and she said she didn’t know what she’d do without him. Drew told Scout that Willow won her case, and Willow said, now she could stay with Scout and her dad, and hugged Scout.

Chase said he didn’t nothing wrong, but Turner said he’d undermined her case with his testimony and betrayed his entire department. He said all he did was tell the truth and the jury agreed with him that she was prosecuting the wrong person, but Turner said, only because they didn’t see a crucial piece of evidence. Dante said they’d find the person, and Chase said they’d find it wasn’t him. He’d never tamper with evidence. Turner said Internal Affairs would look into it, and Chase said they wouldn’t find anything on him. If she’d put the right person on trial, he wouldn’t have had to do her job. He left, and Turner told Dante to build her a case against his brother.

At the Quartermaines’, Sonny told Michael that he’d heard about the verdict, and Michael said, now he was the prime suspect. He’d bolted when they read the verdict, but it was only a matter of time. Sonny said he didn’t know if Michael shot Drew or not and didn’t care, but he’d make sure Michael didn’t go down for this.

Anna said, this wasn’t real. It was a trick. Somebody wanted her to believe Faison was alive. Faison said his children were also thought dead. Hadn’t she considered the possibility? She said no, she was finally rid of him, but he said she could never be rid of him. What they had was eternal.

At the Bad Jen Café, Kai told Trina that they should have done more. Double jeopardy meant they couldn’t go after Willow again. (I think they can if there’s new evidence though.) Trina wondered if Willow going free was so terrible. Drew was a monster and he’d put a lot on himself. Kai said a lot of people despised him, but only Willow committed a crime, and she said they’d also committed a crime and covered it up. Who were they to judge? What Willow did was wrong, but she told the court how much she’d loved Drew and now she was stuck with him, or it would arouse suspicion. Maybe it was punishment enough.

Michael said if he went to prison, his kids would be left with an unstable mother and a terrible stepfather, but Sonny said he wouldn’t let that happen. Michael said, even if he was kept out of prison, it would have a huge impact on visitation. The jury had believed her and the new judge could too. What if she got full custody? Sonny said it would never happen, but Michael said it could, and he couldn’t let them live with Drew. Sonny said it wouldn’t do Michael any good to go down that scenario, but Michael said he had to be prepared for any outcome. He had to protect his children. Sonny promised it would be okay.

As she picked up the papers, Suzanne said she shouldn’t have asked, and Alexis asked how long she’d known. Suzanne asked if Alexis remembered when they’d rehearsed Willow, and Alexis said Suzanne told them she’d find Willow guilty. Suzanne said Willow was defensive and justified too much. It felt like overkill. She hadn’t known for sure, especially after Willow did a beautiful job on the stand, but then during Alexis’s summation, she slipped. She almost indicated that Willow was the one who shot Drew. Her explanation was quick and made perfect sense. Everyone believed her, but she knew Alexis didn’t make mistakes like that. She could read Alexis… a little, and wondered if maybe Alexis did it on purpose to try and throw the case. Alexis said, but she couldn’t do that, could she? It made her physically sick knowing that Willow was guilty, and she had to be quiet. Now Willow was free.

Willow said her freedom was thanks to Scout’s grandma. Now that her case was over, her grandma would have more time to spend with Scout. Scout asked if she could go see Alexis, when there was a knock at the door. Nina asked who was ready to celebrate, and Drew asked to speak with Nina privately. Willow took Scout to the kitchen, and Drew told Nina to leave her coat on. She wasn’t staying and she wouldn’t be seeing Willow anytime soon.

Kai said it was tempting to see it from Trina’s point of view, and Trina said it would be nice not to think about Drew and Willow for once. Kai said he was looking forward to resigning. It wasn’t worth it and he couldn’t pretend any more. Maybe it was time to just move on. She said it would make their lives easier, and he said, Michael could end up getting arrested. They couldn’t stay silent, but if Michael was indicted, he’d come forward on his own.

Dante said he knew Michael was number one, but they should consider Curtis, and Turner said, maybe. She knew Michael was his brother, but because of Alexis’s convincing argument, they had no choice but to focus on him. If they didn’t follow up, they’d be slammed from every angle. Dante said he was working hard at staying objective, and she told him to do his job thoroughly and investigate Michael.

Suzanne asked when Alexis figured it out, and Alexis said, after she rested her case… This had to be confidential. Suzanne said, anything and everything case related always was, and Alexis said, someone came to her with damning evidence against Willow and it checked out. Suzanne asked why they didn’t go to the police, and Alexis said it wasn’t in their best interest, and she told them that they’d implicate themselves for various other crimes. Drew would go after them and make it worse. And she had to look after her client. Suzanne said it was her obligation to defend Willow, and Alexis said it wasn’t her first client who was guilty, but it was just the way she’d defended Willow. She’d nearly destroyed Portia’s life and implicated Michael when he didn’t do it. Suzanne said giving her client the best defense was the ethical thing, but Alexis said, legally, yes. Morally, it didn’t feel like it.

Drew said he’d had a change of heart on telling Willow about his and Nina’s previous conversation. She deserved to know her mother wanted to see her convicted so she could jump in and take control. Nina told him, that’s not what she said, and Drew said she wanted to be the hero and drive a wedge between him and Willow. She said he was nuts. Willow was smart and would see where she was coming from. Drew said Willow would see Nina wanted to undermine their relationship again and she’d be livid. Nina said, would she? They’d see about that. Drew said she needed to leave, and Nina said she didn’t want to ruin her daughter’s celebration, so she’d leave, but trust her, she’d be back.

Faison asked if Anna was feeling any better, and she said her head was clearer and she was even more convinced he wasn’t Cesar Faison. Cesar Faison was dead. His brain was in a jar. Faison said someone’s brain was in a jar, but not his. He was right there with her. She said, show himself, but he said, patience. All in due time. He was sorry to keep her waiting, but his recovery was slow and he couldn’t bear for her to see him in his current state. When he was fully healed, she’d see for herself that he was the one and only Cesar Faison.

Kai said there was no reason for Trina to risk prosecution, but she said it was her idea to break in. If anybody should turn themselves in, it should be her. Kai said there was nothing linking her to the crime scene, but she said he wasn’t facing it by himself. He said if he was charged, he’d feel better knowing she was safe and in the clear. He loved her too much to let her throw her life away. The one good thing that came out of this crazy mess was that it brought them back together. She kissed him.

Sonny said the number one priority was keeping Michael out of prison, and Michael said he didn’t do it. Sonny said, the DA may say there’s not enough evidence to press charges, but Michael said Alexis gave the prosecution a roadmap and Turner would come at him harder to save face. Sonny promised him that it wouldn’t be Turner doing it.

Suzanne asked what else Alexis could have done, and Alexis said, withdraw and the judge would have declared a mistrial. Suzanne said Drew would have made sure she never saw Scout again. Could she live with that? Alexis said, no, and Suzanne said, focus on that, and Alexis said she’d let Willow get away with it, but she couldn’t stand Drew either. Suzanne wondered if anyone could, and Alexis said, no. She couldn’t blame Willow and wished she’d argued that in court. Suzanne asked what she was going to do, and Alexis said, nothing. She couldn’t tell Drew. He wouldn’t believe her because of his huge ego, and he’d take Scout away permanently, then go after the witness. Suzanne said, that settled it. All she could do was move on with her life, which include Scout. As for Willow, she was Drew’s problem now.  

Chase showed up at Drew’s with a bouquet of flowers, and Drew said he’d make sure Willow got them. Chase said he was hoping to give them to Willow himself, but Drew said, unfortunately, the celebration plans fell through… Willow came out and thanked Chase for coming. She asked if the flowers were for her and said he was so sweet. She hugged him, and Drew said he was telling Chase that Nina’s plans fell through. She had to leave, so it was better they celebrate another time. Willow said she was glad Chase stopped by and thanked him again for believing in her. She hoped it wouldn’t cost him his badge. He said if it did, he had no regrets. He stood up for what was right. She said that’s what made him so wonderful, and Chase said, congratulations again. Drew opened the door, and Chase left. Drew said he was sorry Willow’s mother had to leave, but Willow said they had plenty of time to celebrate. She was relieved to have peace and quiet, just them. She asked him to hold her and he did.

Anna said, until Faison felt healed and ready to face her, she was stuck in this room? and he said, be patient. Their reunion would happen soon enough. He’d already made arrangements. Before long, she’d leave there and they’d spend the rest of their lives together in their new home.

Trina said Kai was the kindest, most decent man she knew. Him sacrificing himself wasn’t going to happen. If they came clean, they’d do it together, as a team. He said he agreed.

Sonny went back to the courthouse and told Turner that he’d heard she had a rough day. She asked if he was there to gloat, but he said, not at all. He was there to do her a favor.

Chase found Michael and said, now that Willow was exonerated, could they put it behind them and coexist for the sake of the family? Michael asked how they could when Chase was convinced he’d shot Drew. Even worse, he’d helped Alexis build a case against him. He’d condemned Michael’s kids to a life with Willow and Drew. If Chase thought they were shaking hands and letting bygones be bygones, he was sadly mistaken.

There was a knock at Alexis’s office door, but Alexis said she needed to be alone. Suzanne said someone was asking to see her, and Alexis said, ask them to reschedule. Suzanne said they were pretty insistent, and Alexis opened the door. Scout flew to her, and Suzanne said she figured Alexis would make an exception. Alexis said she was happy to see Scout and hugged her.

Willow said she hoped Drew didn’t mind her letting Chelsea take Scout to visit Alexis. She wanted to spend time alone with them. She gave him a glass of champagne and asked what they should toast to. He said, their future, and she said, to our future. They clinked glasses, and he said he was thinking they should go on vacation. Maybe rent a cabin in the woods. She put her arms around him from behind, and as he was blabbing away, she stabbed him in the neck with a syringe. He fell to the floor, said, Willow… What… She said, everything is going to work out, Drew. You’ll see.

Tuesday:

No soap, because news, but you’re welcome, Canada.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/general-hospital-preempted-nationally-today-get-the-details-on-the-new-schedule/

But wait…

Thank you, Canada.

At the hospital, Lucas said he hoped justice was served, and Elizabeth said, with any luck, they could all put this nightmare behind them and everyone could move on with their lives.

Ava met Nina at the Bad Jen Café, and asked why they were celebrating with espresso at a café instead of martinis in New York. Nina said Willow still had a major problem with Drew.

At a nearby table, Kai kissed Trina, when Curtis came in. He said he was sorry to interrupt, but he’d like a moment with his daughter.

Stella saw Portia at the hospital and said she was on the wrong floor for the obstetrician, but Portia said that wasn’t why she was there.

Tracy and Laura met in an office at the hospital, and Tracy said they both knew Drew was blackmailing Portia and they were on her side, and Laura said if it was only about Drew, she’d be tempted to reinstate Portia, but by her own admission Portia had tampered with a patient’s test results, and she didn’t think the board would ignore that. Tracy said Monica would want them to do what was best for the hospital, and Laura asked if GH could afford to keep a doctor employed who knowingly and intentionally falsified patient test results.

Jason arrived at the hospital and asked Britt why he was there. She said she had something she wanted to show him. Cullum lurked around in the background.

Sonny asked if Turner wanted some advice. She took a hit when Willow was found not guilty. It wasn’t a huge leap to assume his son would be targeted next. He wanted to remind her that would be a big mistake.

Chase said Michael lied to the police about his alibi, and Michael said he never went inside Drew’s house. Chase asked why he should believe him. Willow was acquitted. The jury knew she was innocent. If Michael went down for this, he had no one to blame but himself.

Kai left to get refills, and Curtis asked if Trina had heard from her mom. Trina said her mom texted, but she needed space. Curtis said she shouldn’t have no contact, and she asked if he was assuming the baby was his. He said he’d cross that bridge when he came to it, but her mother was having a meeting with some board members. There was no question she was an excellent doctor, and they knew why she did it. Trina said, to protect her, and he said Portia needed their support on this. She said she didn’t want her mother to lose her career and asked if there was anything she could do, and he said, no, but he thought he could, and left.

Portia said Stella knew she was there to speak to board members. She was hoping they’d lift her suspension and reinstate her. Stella said they may decide to dismiss her, but Portia said she was prepared for the possibility. Stella asked if it was worth risking her career and losing her family, and Portia said she’d tried to protect her daughter and always would. If there were consequences for that, so be it. She walked away and Stella saw Isaiah.

Britt asked what Jason thought, and he said, it’s nice. She said her office was the first step to getting her life back. Speaking of…  She handed him $500 and said it was her first payback installment on her Café Cherie bill. He said he didn’t want her money, but she said she wanted them to be on equal footing. No more taking advantage of him. It was the only way they could move forward. He said, they were moving forward? and she said they were. And with that in mind, she’d like to take him out. Before he got all macho… He said, yes, she could take him out, and she said he hadn’t heard what she had in mind. She needed him in his blue suit… He said, no, but she told him that he’d already said yes. He said, fine, and they kissed. She said she’d pick him up, and he said if she told him where they were going, he could make sure there were no donkeys on the road , but she said she’d see him tonight… in his blue suit, and he left.

Turner said it sounded like a threat, and Sonny said he was reminding her that she’d been compromised. She’d heard Drew extort him and threaten Michael. She said he was right. If Michael was charged, she’d have to recuse herself. Truth be told, she was fine with that.

Michael said, Chase thought he shot Drew and framed Willow, and Chase said he didn’t like thinking it, but it was clear Michael would do anything to get what he wanted. Michael said he didn’t want any of this. He didn’t want the breakup, or Willow putting his kids in danger by bringing Drew into their lives. Chase said, right now, the danger was coming from him. When Drew manipulated Willow, he didn’t offer forgiveness, but went straight to revenge. Michael said Chase was leaving out a key piece, and Chase said, Willow cheated, but Michael betrayed her and their children. It should be him who was locked up.

Lucas said he’d do his best to keep it professional, and Elizabeth said, good. Willow was a great nurse, and she was going to love having her back. Lucas said, if Drew lets her come back. Drew wanted to control her and Lucas felt that she let him. Now they were married. Elizabeth said Willow had been acquitted and they’d see how much independence she had going forward. The phone rang, and Elizabeth said they’d be ready. She told Lucas that medics were on the way with a critical patient.

Ava told Nina to get over it, but Nina said, Willow married Drew to get out of the charges and get her children back. Willow told her that she didn’t love Drew. She didn’t need Drew to get her kids back. Ava said, if Willow decided to end her marriage, it was her choice, and Nina said, Drew destroyed Willow’s entire life because he wanted her to think he cared that she was truly happy. Ava said, Willow got herself a gilded cage situation, and Nina said, exactly. He’d never let her go. Nina’s phone rang, and she asked Willow what was wrong. Willow said, something happened to Drew.

Portia thanked Laura and Tracy for meeting with her, and Laura said, of course (🍷). They’d been tasked to make a recommendation regarding her position. Either she’d be reinstated on a probationary basis or let go. Tracy said they’d read everything they’d been given, but before they made a recommendation, they wanted to give her the opportunity to defend herself.

Isaiah asked if he could talk to Stella, and she said they could talk about patients, but anything else, like the situation between her and Portia, was a no. It was a family matter and he wasn’t family. He said he was involved, and she said he certainly was. He said his relationship with Portia didn’t happen in a vacuum. Her marriage was falling apart before he was in the picture, but Portia wasn’t the only one to blame.

Cullum knocked at Britt’s door and said she looked surprised. Did she think leaving the Five Poppies behind meant leaving him behind?

Portia said she took full responsibility for what she did, and Tracy asked how she characterized that. Portia said she’d used her position as Co-Chief to gain access to a patient’s test results and altered them, but the circumstances were unique and extreme. She didn’t do it to advance her career. She did it as a mother trying to protect her child from a murderer who’d been convicted of five murders and had been targeting her daughter. To be clear, she wasn’t asking if they would have done the same, but maybe they could keep in mind the context… She’d been cleared by the AMA, and although there was a mark on her medical license, she was grateful that she could still practice. She hoped it would be at GH. She was an excellent doctor, and with the exception of this atypical situation, she had a sterling reputation. She hoped they’d recommend her reinstatement and welcomed any questions.

Elizabeth told Willow that they were getting Drew stable. What happened? Willow said they went home to celebrate. Drew had a horrible headache, but they opened a bottle of champagne anyway. They both took a sip, but when it came to the toast, Drew looked confused and was slurring his words. Then it was like one side of his face was melting and he just collapsed. She turned his head to the side and put a couch pillow underneath, then called 911. Elizabeth hugged her, and Willow said, please tell her that she got him there in time.

Michael said Chase couldn’t see how pathetic he was. He was desperate to play the hero and throw away his career. Chase said he did what was right, and Michael said Chase was a damn fool to think he believed him. Just like Drew, he fell for Willow’s innocent victim act and couldn’t see what was in front of his face. Be honest about the real reason he wanted to help. How long before he was back in Willow’s bed? Chase punched Michael in the face.

Michael punched Chase back and they fought. Jason came in and pulled them apart, and Chase said he’d make sure Michael paid for what he did. He left, and Jason asked if Michael was all right, but Michael said, no. The cops were going to come after him next.

Sonny asked if Turner didn’t want a second shot at a high-profile case. Convicting someone who shot a congressman would be good for her career. Turner said she had no interest in convicting an innocent person. She’d had the right person on trial. She knew Willow was guilty, but just couldn’t prove it.

At the hospital, Nina asked Willow, what happened? but Willow said she didn’t know. The doctors hadn’t told her anything. What if she didn’t get him here fast enough? Kai asked if there was anything he could do, and Nina said it was nice of him to drive her. He needed to call Drew’s office and have his assistant cancel his appointments and calls. Kai left, and Willow said she was so scared. She cried, and Kai flashed back to Trina saying, Willow knew what she was doing. She intended to kill Drew and knew what she was doing when she lied on the stand.

Ava asked if there was any word from Kai, but Trina said, no. She hoped it wasn’t serious. Ava said, heaven wouldn’t take Drew and hell was full. Don’t worry. She saw Trina and Kai’s and she was happy things were going well for them. Trina said Kai really surprised her. In the last few months, he’d come through for her in ways she couldn’t imagine.

Stella said, Portia might be carrying Isaiah’s child. She was married and he had no right putting himself in the middle. He said if she wanted to blame him for Portia’s marriage falling apart, go ahead, but don’t put it on Portia when Portia had come through for her. Stella asked what he was talking about, and he said, when she was investigated by the federal government, no one fought harder for her. Stella was known for being fair and kind and accepting everyone who came in, meeting them where they were with no judgement. He was asking that she extend the same grace to Portia.

Tracy asked what Portia would say to a potential patient concerned with trusting her, and Portia said, actions spoke louder than words. Congressman Cain had been blackmailing her for months and tormenting her family, but on September 2nd, he came in with two bullets in his back. She had her tormentor’s life in her hands, or at least his mobility, but as a doctor, she took an oath that had become the bedrock of who she was. She’d given him the best possible care. Dr. Jones could confirm that she’d saved Drew’s life and his recovery spoke for itself. Laura thanked her for her time.

Britt asked if Cullum missed her so much, he had to come to Port Charles, and he said she was stalling. She said, not true, but he said, it ended now. Sidwell set up a lab at Windymere, and she was to bring the project online in three months. She said, impossible, but he said there was an easy solution to that. She could disappear.

Curtis told Laura that nobody knew that if Drew had his way, the blackmail wouldn’t have ended with Heather Webber. He tried to force Portia to chance Michael Corinthos’s test results to make it look like he was addicted to opioids, so he could secure custody of Michael’s children for Willow. That didn’t happen, and the reason was, Portia refused. She risked her career and going to prison to stand up for what was right. That’s who she was, and he thought GH should keep her on staff.

Isaiah asked how it went, and Portia said Laura and Tracy were both fair women, but also professional and gave nothing away. What she didn’t say was that she’d do it all over again. He said, that was best kept out. The board would see she was fantastic. She loved people and gave them the best care whether they deserved it or not. She said, everyone deserved care, and he said he’d walk her out, but Stella returned and said, wait.

Britt told Cullum that she just got her medical license back. She had patients and there was no way her family and friends would buy her walking out of her life again. He said they’d had enough undesirable attention with Dalton. Now the timely completion of the project was their driving consideration. To that end, they’d absorb any and all risks. She said, okay, give her a day, but he said they’d already given her too much leeway. They could call another scientist to take her place. Did she have someone she could call for her medicine? Without it, her nervous system would start to deteriorate and there would be no going back.

Michael said Alexis did a fantastic job of making him look guilty, but he hadn’t done it, and Jason said he believed him. If the cops picked Michael up, he knew what to do. Michael said, call Diane and don’t say anything until she showed up, and Jason said, as bad as it was, it was nothing compared to what Michael had been through already. He fought back after life-threatening burns to get home to his kids. He knew Michael could get through this.

Willow asked Lucas, what happened? and he said the initial diagnosis was a massive stroke. They had Drew on stroke protocol and were monitoring him closely. Tracy asked if he’d recover, but he said it was too early to tell. Severe strokes could cause a number of impairments – aphasia, limited mobility, and in extreme cases, full Locked-In Syndrome – but they wouldn’t know for some time.

Laura said she knew Curtis was going through a rough time and appreciated him coming in. He said the whole world found out along with him that his soon to be ex may be carrying another man’s child, but it had nothing to do with her work. He didn’t think her career would end by the likes of Heather Webber or Drew Cain. Laura said she’d take it all into consideration, and he thanked her for listening. She said, of course (🍷). Even in the midst of incredible turmoil, he and Portia were coming together to fight for a common goal. If the baby was his, she hoped they remembered they were capable of that. He said he hoped so. He wasn’t part of raising Trina and felt like it was his second chance. He wanted to be the best father possible. She said he would be, and he left.  

Stella asked how it went with the board, and Portia said she had to wait and see. Isaiah said he’d give them a minute to talk, but Stella said, stay please. She wanted to apologize. Portia had enough dealing with professional matters, and she didn’t need to add more pressure. Portia thanked her and said she was sorry too. She knew how much family meant to Stella and was sorry for any pain she’d caused Stella or anybody else. Stella said it was a difficult situation, and Portia said she still loved all of them. She left with Isaiah.

Trina told Ava that Mr. Sidwell was a smart buyer. Tell him that he was responsible for the first Restrepo in the northern hemisphere and he’d be fine. It would also go up in value. Ava said Trina was absolutely right. She had business dealings all over the world, and after this, she might be able to set up being Restrepo’s primary dealer. Trina said she had no doubt Ava could make that happen, but be careful. She’d heard Mr. Sidwell might be dangerous. Ava said she was sure there was some truth to that, but she knew how to deal with men like him. They understood each other and her nephew had been living under Sidwell’s roof and was having a great time. She’d look out for her nephew and make a small fortune. She’d be spending a lot more time at Windymere.

Britt said she’d go to Windymere tonight, and Cullum said, glad to hear it. Jason Morgan had been a problem at the Five Poppies. Get Jason out of her life or he would.  

Michael said, with being under investigation, it interfered with his chances of getting custody, and Jason said he was worried about Drew being in the picture. Micheal said he couldn’t send the kids back to Drew’s house. That man was poisonous. He saw how Drew treated his own daughter. Jason said Michael’s kids weren’t going back. Drew would never be in their lives. He gave Michael his word.

Sonny said he knew Turner hated to lose, so he’d let her in on a little secret. With or without Alexis’s legal strategy, the next person prosecuted for shooting Drew was going to get off. She asked if he was going to see to it, but he said, no. No jury would convict someone of shooting a snake like Drew. He didn’t deserve justice. She said, everybody deserved justice, and he said, the cops would do what they do, but the way the case should end was with it getting marked unsolved and put away in a file because Drew got what he deserved. He left.

Kai said he had to speak to the DC aids, and Willow said she was going to the ladies’ room to splash water on her face and be alone for a moment. She left, and Nina told Tracy that she thought it was important for them to stay optimistic for Willow. There was still a chance for Drew to make a full recovery. Tracy said, or he could be a vegetable trapped in a body for the rest of his life. Drew wouldn’t get tears from her. As her late husband Luke used to say, karma is a bitch. She guessed it finally came for Drew.  

In the hallway, Willow took the syringe out of her purse, dumped it in a trashcan, and kept walking.

My guess is, Kai is watching her.

Wednesday:

See Tuesday.

Thursday:

Elizabeth went to Laura’s office and said she was worried about her.

Jack knocked at Josslyn’s door and she said, it must be important. He said it was.

Britt came downstairs into Bobbie’s and saw Cullum sitting at a table. She flashed back to him telling her to get Jason out of her life or he would. Lulu and Rocco came in, and Carly asked Britt what was so important that she had to say it in person. Britt said she was moving out of this dump.

Dante asked how the evidence review was, and Nathan said, ongoing. He had nothing significant to share. Dante wondered if there was proof of Chase’s bias judgement.

At the mansion, Tracy said she’d extend Jason the same courtesy she’d offered Michael. She’d be his alibi for whatever he did to Drew.

Nina asked Lucas about Drew, but he said he could only speak to family. She said Drew was her son-in-law, and Willow had stepped away, and he said he was meeting with a neurologist about Drew’s prognosis, but would only discuss the test results with Willow.

Suzanne told Alexis that Willow was there, and Alexis said she’d gotten Willow acquitted knowing she was guilty. What more did she want? Suzanne suggested it was about lifting the restraining order, and Alexis said, that would be nice. Send her in. Suzanne got Willow, and Alexis asked if there was something wrong. Willow said, Drew had a stroke yesterday.

Dante told Chase that Internal Affairs completed their investigation.

Jack said one of the top brass at the WSB was there – Ross Cullum from the European division – and he believed Cullum was a threat to Josslyn. She’d made an impression with the Five Poppies mission. Cullum didn’t know her identity, but if he found out, he’d realize her potential and connections and put her in dangerous situations. To them, she’d be expendable. Josslyn asked if all agents weren’t expendable, but Jack said he’d kept her off the radar and her dossier was in a sealed black box. Josslyn said it sounded like Jack didn’t trust Cullum, and Jack said Cullum wouldn’t protect her like he did. Josslyn said Cullum wasn’t in love with her mother.

Carly said, tell Jason, but Britt said she thought Carly would want to know why she was moving. The place was small and above a dumpster. The walls were paper thin, and the smell of bacon grease caused her cholesterol to go up whenever she inhaled. Carly asked if she’d like help moving out, and Britt said Bobbie would roll over in her grave. Carly’s mother wouldn’t want to be associated with this slum. Carly said Britt’s mother didn’t want to associate with her.

Cullum said he was honored to meet members of the Spencer clan. They had a reputation at the Bureau. Lulu said she was surprised Cullum didn’t seek out her mother, but he said her mother wasn’t arrested for breaking into Dalton’s lab. Lulu said, the matter had been rested, but he said, not the professor’s disappearance.

Elizabeth said she’d been thinking about Laura since Doc and Ace had left, and Laura said she was fine. Elizabeth told her that she’d said the same things when her boys left, then found herself in an empty home. Fine could mean pushing through to keep the world from seeing the cracks. Laura said, fortunately, she cared about her work and had a lot to keep her busy, and Elizabeth said there wasn’t a lot of opportunity to be sad. If Laura ever needed someone to be sad with or confide in, she was always there.

Tracy said Scout was with Alexis, and Jason said Scout had been through so much. She’d lost her mother and her dad was keeping her brother from her. Tracy wondered if that was why Jason decided to take Drew out of the equation, and he asked why she thought he did it. She said, the litany of Drew’s crimes and his expertise in dealing with problematic people. At first, she thought it was karmic justice, but karma and life rarely lined up. You nearly always had to give karma a push. She didn’t want to see him behind bars, so if they asked, he could say he was with her after the trial. He said he didn’t need an alibi. He wasn’t sorry about Drew, but he had nothing to do with it.

Lucas said he’d have the test results soon, and Kai came by looking for Willow. Nina said Willow wasn’t there, but was there something she could do? He said the story wasn’t out in the press yet and the hospital had kept it quiet, and he’d like Willow to approve a statement. Nina said she could look at it. She was surprised he was still working for Drew after hearing about him blackmailing Portia. He said he was thinking about resigning, but it was hard to separate the good Drew had done from the bad. He flashed back to Trina saying, Willow shot him, and told Nina that he didn’t know how Willow did it. Nina said neither did she.

Willow said she thought the stroke was the result of the shooting and the stress of the trial, and Alexis asked if they had a prognosis. Willow said, not yet. For now, it was uncertain, but Scout needed to know about her dad. She wasn’t sure who should tell her. Alexis said she thought it was best if she explained it to Scout, and Willow thanked her. Alexis thanked Willow for being considerate and careful when it came to Scout. Willow said, of course (🍷). She knew how much Scout loved Alexis, Kristina and Molly. Alexis said she thought it was best if Scout moved in with her.

Dante told Chase that Internal Affairs found him in violation of department policy by launching an unsanctioned investigation based on privileged information. He’d used PCPD resources for personal motive and put the prosecution’s case at risk. They’d concluded he’d run counter to policy, but there was no sign of corruption or laws broken. Chase said, so he wasn’t fired? and Dante said, not fired, but he was being demoted.

Jason said he didn’t know if Danny heard the news, so he’d text him, and Tracy said, maybe Danny could spend time with Scout, but he said, when Drew woke up and found out, he’d use it against them both. She said, if he woke up.

Kai told Nina that he’d met Drew when they were forming the Pediatric Sports Initiative (🍷) to honor Drew’s son who died. He’d thought Drew was someone to admire, but in hindsight, he was being naïve. Nina said she knew how he felt. She’d helped on the campaign trail and Drew gave a speech to some veterans that was so genuine and sympathetic, she forgot the things she knew about him for a moment. For every one good thing Drew did for the voters, he did ten horrible things to Willow or somebody else who didn’t deserve it. Kai said, like his own daughter.

Willow said, yes. She loved Scout and thought it would be better if she was around Alexis and the girls. Drew’s recovery would be difficult and hard for her to watch. Alexis said, what about Danny?

Jack said, yes. He was in love with Josslyn’s mother and didn’t want her to lose a daughter. He also didn’t want to lose one of his agents with potential. She was to cease all Bureau activity immediately. She’d been deactivated. Josslyn said she was supposed to gather intel from Lucas on Sidwell and Marco. She’d encouraged Lucas to move in and now she was supposed to walk away? Jack said they had a new asset on Spoon Island, and she asked, who? He said, Britt Westbourne.

Carly said Britt wouldn’t be missed, and Britt said it drove Carly crazy to see Jason being nice to her and wanting to spend time with her. Carly couldn’t stand seeing him with someone else because she was obsessed with him. Carly was threatened by her because she was the only one who pointed it out. Carly said Britt was threatened because she’d never have what they did, and Britt said she didn’t want it. Their relationship wasn’t admirable. It was pathetic.

Chase said he’d been demoted? and Dante said he could be on patrol. He could take the detective exam again when the department was satisfied. Chase said it was insulting and ridiculous, and Dante said he’d gone against policy. There had to be consequences. Chase wondered if it was that or because someone questioned Dante’s authority.

Nina said she wished she’d cut ties with Drew, but Kai said it was hard to do with her daughter married to him. He had no idea what he was going to do. She said maybe he could focus on being able to do a lot of good work. Don’t make any big decisions right now. Sometimes when people came back from a health crisis, they changed. Kai said, Drew survived an attempted murder and didn’t, and she said, maybe the potential for the good he could do outweighed the bad Drew did. Even the best of them had to make compromises.

Willow said Scout told her that she saw Danny. She never told Drew and didn’t plan to, but she was hesitant to let Scout see him. She was concerned about Drew’s reaction when he found out. Alexis said she understood. Maybe they could have the conversation another time after the prognosis was clear. Willow said, of course (🍷). She needed to get to the hospital, but she’d be in touch. Alexis thanked her and she left. Suzanne asked, what happened? and Alexis said, that woman who she’d lost more sleep over just gave her the best present she could ever imagine – her granddaughter. Suzanne said she was happy for her, and Alexis said when she was with Scout, somehow it was like Sam was still here. It was all she had left of Sam and made Scout more precious than Suzanne could imagine.

In the solarium, Danny told Jason that Drew was still Scout’s dad. He should text her. Jason said he couldn’t because they didn’t know what was happening yet and he had to respect the restraining order. Tracy said Drew could come after them eventually, and Danny said she was right. What would happen to Scout? Jason said Willow had temporary custody after Drew had been shot, so he was assuming she did again. Danny wondered if they could ask Willow, and Jason said he couldn’t be the one to ask, but he knew someone who could.

Laura said she admitted the empty apartment was harder than she’d expected, and Elizabeth said it was the same way when her boys left. Laura asked how she managed, and Elizabeth said, other than videochatting, her friends stepped in to take her out to dinner every night. She’d love to offer the same support. Laura said, company sounded nice. She’d give Elizabeth a call later and they’d make plans. Elizabeth left.

Rocco told Cullum that he broke into the lab because he thought Dalton was testing on animals. He learned that he should have handled things differently. Cullum asked if they had any idea where Dalton might be, and Rocco said, no. Lulu said it had been a relief, since he fabricated a story that Rocco vandalized the lab. Rocco was attacked in juvenile detention, and they thought Dalton might have taken off to avoid facing charges. Cullum said it made sense, and gave them his card. He asked them to reach out if anything came to mind.  

Cullum put money on the counter and left. Carly told Britt that she guessed they were done. Britt said she was sick of Carly’s moral authority act, when she’d lied and schemed her way through life like the rest of them. Carly said she knew what it was like to do what you needed to do and survive, destroying everything you touched. And she knew when someone was baiting her. Is that why Britt called? Just to start a fight?

Josslyn asked how Britt was the new asset. Could Jack trust her? Jack said he could. Sidwell built a lab at Windymere, so Britt could do her research there. She was now classified as a sleeper. Josslyn was to avoid the WSB office and Windymere. If she could distance herself from her uncle, do so. Live her normal life until she heard otherwise. She asked if she had a choice, and he said, no. He appreciated the work she’d done. He needed her to stay sharp and stay invisible. He left.  

Outside Bobbie’s, Lulu said she loved how Rocco handled himself, and Rocco said he didn’t know anything. He was glad it was over. She asked if he didn’t have to get to GH for his community service, and he said he’d like to walk. They hugged, and he left.

Dante said Chase had to take accountability or it would breed resentment. He had to decide if he was willing to do what it took to get back where he was. Chase said, he could end his career or crawl back to the department and accept punishment for being right, and Dante said he didn’t think Chase was right, but that was beside the point. Think about it and let him know. Chase snatched the papers out of Dante’s hand and stormed through the squad room. Nathan asked if everything was okay, and Chase said, no. He should probably start looking for a new partner.  

Alexis said she couldn’t believe Scout was moving in for the foreseeable future, and Suzanne said Alexis earned it. She kept her eyes on the prize and when no one thought she’d win, she did. She knew fighting for Willow was fighting for her granddaughter and she succeeded. Alexis said she couldn’t have done it without Suzanne. She’d proven to be more than an assistant. She was smart, credible, and insightful, but also a good friend, and those were hard to come by.

Willow came back to the hospital and asked if there was an update. Nina said they’d have the results soon. In the meantime, Kai had a statement from Drew’s office for her to review. Kai gave her the paper, and Nina said it was kind of Willow to make arrangements for Scout to stay with Alexis. Willow signed the statement, and Kai thanked her. Lucas came out and said he had a prognosis. He was afraid it wasn’t what they’d hoped.

Lulu went to Laura’s office to check in on her, and told her that she’d just come from meeting with someone from the WSB. Laura assumed Jack was pressuring her, but Lulu said it was an agent she’d never met – Ross Cullum. He seemed okayish. Laura asked if he wanted information on Valentin, but Lulu said, no. He was asking about Henry Dalton.

Chase kicked the backgammon board off the table in the solarium and the pieces flew everywhere.

Britt said she wasn’t trying to start a fight, and Carly told her to find someone else to spar with. Britt said it killed Carly to see Jason so happy and having so much fun at the hatchet range with her. When was the last time he had fun with Carly? In the 90s? (Ha-ha!) His loyalty to the past was why he chose Carly over her, but he was tired of the drama. If he could get out from under his overdeveloped sense of obligation, he’d leave her behind without a second thought and they both knew it.

Danny went to Alexis’s office and said his dad told him that she was probably the only person who could help him. She asked, what’s up? and he asked if she heard about Drew. She said, yes, and he asked if she thought she could ask Willow if he could see Scout.

Lucas said Drew suffered a major stroke that affected both his motor and language skills, and Willow said his stroke was severe. When he regained consciousness, he’d need speech, occupational and physical therapy. A full recovery wasn’t impossible, but unlikely. Lucas said he was sorry. If she had any questions, he was there. Willow thanked him and Elizabeth said she was sorry. Sobbing, Willow threw herself into Elizabeth’s arms and cried. Kai left and Nina was like, hmm…

Carly said she and Jason had been through so much, it tied them together for life, when Jason walked in. He asked if everything was okay, and Britt said it was great. Carly was just reminding her of the reason she wanted nothing to do with him.

Josslyn found Lucas at the hospital and said she was there to broker peace between him and her mother. Her mother missed him. He said he missed her too, but he wasn’t okay with her attitude about Marco. He had enough disapproval from Pascal the butler. Pascal went back to France and now they were blissfully butler free. His phone chimed and he said he had to do rounds, but after he was done, did she want to come and hang out at Windymere. She asked if a glass of wine was involved, and he said, that was a given. She said she was in.

Elizabeth signed Rocco’s volunteer waiver and gave him scrubs to put on in the locker room. It was a dirty job.

Laura wondered why Cullum was asking Lulu questions about Henry Dalton, but Lulu said, not her, Rocco. Laura asked if he said why, and Lulu said, it wasn’t really clear. The WSB was looking into his disappearance. They sounded keen on finding him.

Nathan asked if Dante had a conversation with Chase, and Dante said Chase lost his detective badge, but could be a beat cop. Based on his reaction, that’s a big if. Nathan said he hoped Chase stayed. He was a good cop. Dante said he hoped so too and believed that as well. That didn’t change the fact they were down one detective. Nathan said he’d step up. No more mistakes. Dante said he’d be leaning on Nathan more than ever, and left.  

Chase started picking up the game pieces, when Tracy came in. She asked, what happened? and he said he was sorry. He’d gotten the ruling from Internal Affairs and took it out on the backgammon set. She asked if he was fired, and he said, no, but he was only allowed back as a patrol officer. It was a demotion. She said he knew how she felt about his campaign to save Willow. However, believe her when she said it was the department’s loss. He said he never thought he’d be in this situation. He couldn’t believe it came to this, and he had no idea what to do next. She said he had a lot to discuss with her granddaughter.

Alexis told Danny that before she said this, she wanted to make sure he understood that she thought he was an incredible young man. She thought Scout’s mom would be proud. Danny said he hoped so. He wanted to see Scout to make sure she was okay. She said, that’s why she asked Willow if he could see her, but Willow thought it was best if they kept the restraining order in place until they knew more about Drew’s condition. Willow knew he loved Scout and didn’t feel the same way Drew did. She thought there was a good chance he and Scout would be spending time together very soon, the way their mom wanted it.

Nina sat down next to Willow and said Willow seemed really upset. Willow said she was Drew’s wife. What reaction should she have? Nina said, remember, she didn’t actually love Drew. She only married him to help prove her innocence and get her children back. Willow said, that was before he collapsed in front of her, and Nina said, please don’t turn sympathy into forgiveness, or worse, real love. Willow said she just wanted to make sure her husband got the treatment he deserved. Again, Nina was like, hmm…

🫔 Friday’s Barely Touched Enchilada…

Jason asks Britt, what’s going on? and she says, sadly, nothing new. He says, she wanted him to come here and now she wants nothing to do with him, and she said, his BFF Carly just reminded her again that he’d never put her first. Why doesn’t he tell everyone once and for all who comes first, her or Carly?

Brook finds Chase in the solarium and says her grandmother told her that he was looking for her. Did Internal Affairs make their decision?

Emma and Gio go to the station, and Emma says she’s looking for Chief Scorpio. The desk sergeant says, he’s out on a call, and Emma asks if she has any idea when he’ll be back. Gio says, it’s kind of important, when Nathan comes out and says, maybe he can help.

Lucas tells Josslyn, welcome to my home. He still finds it weird to say that. Josslyn says, not as weird as it is to hear it. She thanks him for the invitation, and he says he’s thrilled she’s able to join him for cocktail hour. He’s slowly getting used to the idea of hosting his own visitors. Josslyn promises to be a no pressure, no drama visitor, and he says, maybe save the tantrums and throwing things for the second visit. She says she makes no promises. She’s excited to see where he and Marco cohabitate. He says, she makes it sound so romantic, and she says, sorry. She’s excited to see where he and his beloved lord over Port Charles on their windswept isle, paired with manor and butler. He says, there you go. She’s got it. This will be a butler free visit. Remember Pascal took his creep self out of town and has to judge them from afar. Wine or a martini? Ava taught him a recipe that won’t disappoint. They go into the living room and Ava says, it better not. She spent years perfecting this recipe and it’s lovely. Shall she make two more?

Anna wakes to find Peter August standing near the bed, and says, Peter? He says, Peter, Heinrich, either will do. Have you missed me, Auntie Anna? (I actually had a Great Auntie Anna as a kid, but she was nothing like this Anna. I wish. She was, however, a champ at Skeeball.)

Brook asks if Chase is going to keep her hanging or tell her what Internal Affairs decided, and he asks if she wants the good news or bad news first. She says, so it’s both kinds. Rip the band-aid off. What’s the bad news? He says he was demoted to patrol officer, and she says, what? How could they do that? He’s the best detective on the force. He says, they don’t seem to feel that way, and she says, what’s the good news? He says, if he accepts the demotion, he can stay on the force. His hours will be more defined, and he won’t have to bring work home with him. She says, more free time is a good thing. They can finally go to Italy for a honeymoon redo. He says, or they can use the free time to focus on building their family. He thinks it’s time they focused on adopting.

Emma thanks Nathan and says, it’s stupid. She should probably text her Uncle Mac. She doesn’t want to involve the police. Gio says, it’s more of a family thing, and Nathan says he doesn’t want push it, but if they squint just the right way, he sort of is family. Obviously with Maxie and James. Emma says she doesn’t want to bother him at work. Forget she said anything. Let’s go. Gio says, they need help and Nathan may give them some. They’re not leaving.

Lucas says he didn’t realize Ava would be here, and she says she’s celebrating. She nailed down the Restrepo for Jenz, so she came by to take measurements for the installation. Lucas congratulates her and says, that’s a huge get. Does she need any help? She says, he has a guest, and since Jenz wasn’t here, Marco kindly assisted her. Marco asks if he heard his name, and she says she was telling her handsome nephew how he welcomed her and measuring tape into his home. Has he met Lucas’s niece Josslyn Jax? Marco says he has. Nice to see her again when one of them isn’t coming or going. Ava says she and Marco took a vote and decided they’d done enough work for the day, right? Cocktails are in order. Lucas says, great minds and perfect timing, and Marco says he hopes that means Josslyn is joining them, and Ava says, please do join us.

Peter says, Anna seems to be under the weather. Should he call for help or leave her here to die like she left him? She says she didn’t, but he says, she did. Did she grieve when he died? She says, this is not happening. He’s not here. He’s dead. He says, that’s what everyone thought. That’s what she thinks. Things change. Death doesn’t mean what it used to. Things aren’t the same as they were before. She asks what he means, and he says, she thought Nathan was dead. She thought Britt was dead. She thinks his father is dead. She says, Faison is dead, but he says, the thing about his family is, they don’t stay dead. Who knows? Maybe, just maybe, all of the people she thinks are dead and buried are right here waiting for her.

Carly says, time out. Leave her out of this mess. Whatever the hell is going on between Britt and Jason has nothing to do with her. Does Jason know what’s going on here? Britt asks if Carly thinks she’s so attached to Jason because her life is so boring. She thought Carly’s super spy boyfriend would be enough to keep her occupied, but she guesses not. Carly says her relationship is none of Britt’s business. This chronic insecurity of Britt’s has nothing to do with her. Britt says, she’s right, and tells Jason, solve the problem. Who comes first, her or Carly? He says he’s not going to answer that, and Britt says, that right there. That is his choice.

Brook says, it’s been a while since they talked about adopting a child, and Chase says he knows. They tabled things because she asked for time to sort things out with Gio. It made sense, but it seems like they’re in a good place and building their relationship. She says, true, but it’s still fragile, and he says, not that fragile. His demotion was a wake-up call. He didn’t realize how much of his identity was wrapped up in his work. She says, because he loves his job, and he says, he did. He does. But he also has a life. He can’t prioritize work over family. She’s the most important thing to him. Building a family with her is his priority and the circumstances are right to get the ball rolling and make it happen… unless it’s not something she still wants.

As they go into the interrogation room, Emma says she didn’t want make it into a big thing, but Nathan says, she’s not. Even if she were, it’s fine. Her grandma gave him a shot at the PCPD and Anna has been a good friend and mentor. He owes her a lot. Gio says, Emma too, and Emma says, that’s why they’re here. That’s why she wants to talk to her Uncle Mac. She’s starting to think that her grandma is in trouble.

Josslyn says he has to check on her mom. She offered to watch Donna and doesn’t need her mom and Donna mad at her. Ava says, no one wants that, but she thinks Josslyn got her dates mixed up. Donna and Avery are with Sonny. When she spoke to Avery, Avery said something about a homemade pizza party. You know Sonny will take any excuse to make a red sauce. So relax. Have a drink. Josslyn says, Ava is right. She must have gotten her dates confused. So she can stay. She’ll take a glass of wine. Martinis aren’t her thing. Ava says, they’re everyone’s thing, even hers. She just doesn’t know it yet. Marco asks which Josslyn prefers, red or white, and Josslyn says, red, pinot noir. Marco says they have a few great ones down in the cellar. He’ll grab one and be back. Josslyn says, if it’s not too much trouble, and Marco says, no problem. Ava says she’d love a peek at his father’s wine cellar. She can imagine the vintages he’s got squirreled away down there. Marco says she’s welcome to join him if she likes, and she follows him out. Lucas says, Josslyn almost made a clean getaway, huh? He’s sorry about the ambush and thanks her for staying. He knows Ava isn’t her favorite persona. Josslyn says, it’s fine. They can coexist. She’s used to pushing her own feelings for Ava aside for those she cares about. He says, like him, and she says, yes. Like him and Avery and Trina. He thanks her and says, that’s why he wants her to get to know Marco better. They’re both very important to him. She says, they’re both important, huh? and he says, of course (🍷). He can’t tell her how grateful he is for her support of his relationship, unlike her mother.

Jason asks if they can go somewhere and talk privately, but Britt says she’s not going anywhere with him – ever. Brad was right. She was fooling herself, letting herself think this could be anything, but it can’t be. Because he’ll never cut the cord with this woman. He asks where this is coming from. Carly isn’t between them. Britt says, Jason married Carly. He ditched her and threw her away like trash and ran to Carly. She thought she could forgive all of it, but she can’t. She’s done. Stay away from her. She leaves, and Carly says, wow. What the hell was that all about? Jason asks what Carly said to her. (Ha-ha-ha!)

Brook says, of course (🍷) she wants to build a family with Chase and adopting a child is absolutely still in the cards for them. All of this is just really sudden. Chase asks what she’s talking about. They had so many discussions about adoption. They even talked to Alexis about it. She says, that’s not what she means. He just found out that he was demoted and lost his detective shield. He says he knows that, and she says, and she knows how much he loves being a detective. He’s so proud of it. They sit on the sofa, and she says, he just lost something really important to him. She doesn’t want him to brush past that. He asks if that’s what she thinks he’s doing, deflecting. He’s trying to focus on them having a child. She says she doesn’t know. Is he?

Nathan says he probably doesn’t know any more than Emma, but the department was told her grandmother was pulled for some top secret WSB assignment. That was the last official update they got. Didn’t she read a text message and get a picture from her grandmother at Maxie’s house on Christmas? Emma says, yeah, a photo and a voicemail, but she hasn’t actually spoken to her grandmother since she left. Gio says, it’s been months, which makes it even weirder, and Nathan says, that doesn’t sound like Anna. Emma says, it doesn’t. She knows on a classified mission contact is limited, but she doesn’t think her grandmother would go this long without speaking to her directly. Gio says he doesn’t either. Anna used to text them every day for a regular status update – while they were living with her. Emma says, yeah, and she’s not the only one her grandmother’s not talking to. Her mom and aunt haven’t heard from her. Gio says, at least Emma got something, a voicemail and text. They haven’t gotten anything. They’ve had no communication from Anna at all.

Anna says, this is not happening. It’s not real. Someone is doing something. They’re using her past against her. Peter says, maybe it’s just her guilt finally having its say. She’s ignored it and the things she’s done. She’s lied to herself about all the lives she’s destroyed. Did she really think she could silence her conscience forever? She says, that’s not true. None of this is. He says, it’s all true and she kept her conscience prisoner for all of it, hoping it was there, with her foot on its neck, listening, growing angrier, while she denied, rationalized, and justified. All the while guilt eating at her soul. She says, shut up! Get away from me! She gets up and walks to the other side of the room, and he says, things have a way of making themselves known. She says, you’re not real, but he says, she’s making this far too complicated. His father will be so disappointed in her, going to such great lengths to deny what’s exactly in front of her face. She says she watched him die. She held his hand and she watched him die. He says, did she, or was it just another one of his father tricks? He had so many, and he’s fooled her before.

Lucas says he’s hungry. How about Josslyn? She says she could eat, and he says, the downside of Pascal being gone is they’ve go to get their own snacks. He’s going to get chips or something. He’ll be back. She says, great. She’ll be here. He leaves, and she gets up and starts looking around. She opens a cupboard next to the fireplace, and Ava says, looking for anything in particular?

Carly asks if Jason thinks she’s responsible for that. Is he blaming her for what just happened? Jason says he’s not blaming her. He’s asking what happened. Britt was happy and they were good. He’s asking what changed. She says she doesn’t know. She has no idea what’s going on with Britt. Britt was trying to push her buttons, and she almost went at her, but she didn’t. Whatever is going on, she had nothing to do with it. He says, one conversation with her, and Britt is back to insecurities and running out the door, and Carly says, when isn’t she? That’s on Britt. It’s not her fault. He asks why it’s so hard for Carly to believe he can love her and still have room for somebody else. Britt’s wrong. There doesn’t have to be a choice. She says she didn’t ask him to choose. She didn’t ask for any of this.

As Rocco rolls up some of the kids’ artwork, Cullum looks in on Rocco. He goes into the room and says, Mr. Falconari, good to see you again. He assumes it’s part of the community service Rocco mentioned earlier. Rocco says, yeah, it’s keeping him pretty busy here, and Cullum says, he most certainly is. In the hallway, Britt comes out of the elevator. Rocco says, the kids love it and it keeps their mind off whatever they’re here for, for a little while anyway, and Cullum says, good thing he’s here then. He doesn’t want to keep Rocco. He was hoping Rocco could point him in the direction of Dr. Britt Westbourne’s office. Britt walks by and sees Cullum with Rocco, as Rocco says, after he finishes cleaning up, he’ll take Cullum right to her.

Britt walks in and says, good afternoon, gentlemen. One of the nurses mentioned that someone very official was looking for her. Cullum says, that would be him… unless Rocco… Rocco says, no. He’s been too busy. Britt introduces herself to Cullum, who says, Ross Cullum, and they shake hands. He says he’s director of the WSB and Mr. Falconari was just about to direct him to her office, and she says she’s got it. She thanks Rocco and says she’ll take it from here. Rocco says, see her around then. You know, 500 hours of community service. Britt says, it’ll fly by. She tells Cullum, let her show him to her office, and he follows her out.  

Carly says she gets that Jason is upset by Britt’s about face, but can she have some credit? She admits there was a time she needed him to show her that she came first, but after everything that happened with the FBI, she knows what it cost him. That’s not who they are anymore. It’s not where they are. She knows a lot of life happened to them and there are things they can’t share, but she doesn’t ever question where she stands with him and hopes he doesn’t with her either. She loves him and she knows he loves her, and he never has to prove anything to her. Jason says he believes her, and she says, good. Now, would she pick Britt for him – he says, here we go – absolutely not. He knows how she feels about that, but it’s his to pick, not hers. Just like he respects the choices she’s made even when they’re wrong, she’s choosing to respect his.

Ava says, Marco and Lucas left Josslyn alone and she seems to have interrupted something. Josslyn says, yes. Her being nosy. Windymere is such a wild place. It’s hard to picture her uncle living here. It doesn’t quite suit him. Ava says, Windymere is an acquired taste, but it can grow on you. Lucas is adaptable. Besides, he did live here with his mother for a short time as child. So for him, it’s probably a homecoming of a sort. Josslyn says she guesses. Although she thinks if she’d asked a year ago what home was for him, it was wherever his family was. So… Ava says, that’s the thing about family. You can make your own. She and Lucas are related by blood, so they’ll always have that unbreakable bond, but being blood relatives needn’t be the sole criteria for determining who is considered family and who isn’t. Of course (🍷) she’s not telling Josslyn anything she doesn’t already know. Look at her and Trina. She loves Trina like she’s her own. They have so many important people in common that they love, it’s really quite special, isn’t it?

Nathan asks if Emma’s mom expressed alarm about Anna, but Emma says, no. She said Emma’s grandma has been known to go off the grid when she’s on assignment and Emma didn’t want to worry her. She has confidence in her grandma’s ability, with good reason, but she can’t shake the feeling that something isn’t right. Gio says, they spoke to Agent Brennan about it too, and Emma says, they did, yeah. Nathan asks what he had to say, and Emma says, just that one hand of the WSB is not always in communication with the other, but he did say he’d look into things for her. Nathan says, sit tight. He’s going to check the records. Maybe they have an update that he’s not aware of. Emma says, that would be great, and Gio thanks him. Nathan leaves, and Gio asks if she’s okay. He knows he kind of pushed her into this. She says, no. She’s glad he did. She was sitting around and it was driving her crazy. At least now she might get some answers.

Chase says he didn’t just start thinking about having a kid today, and Brook says she knows that. He says, good, because he thinks about it all the time. It’s like the thing he wants most for them in this world. He can’t say she’s too wrong about him not being a detective. He can’t wrap his head around it. When Dante gave him the news, it was like the wind got knocked out of him. She says, of course (🍷). It must have been especially hard hearing it from Dante. He says, Dante is his best friend and was his partner. Dante made it clear that the department didn’t trust him anymore, even though he was right all along. (I’m growing weary of Chase’s self-righteousness.)

Brook says, the PCPD has to know that Chase not being there is their big loss, but Chase says he doesn’t know what they know about anything anymore. She says, when Anna comes back, she can’t imagine Anna will be happy about any of this, and he says he doesn’t know. She was worried about his sympathy for Willow at the beginning. Even if she doesn’t like it, she’ll understand why things went down with him the way they did. She says, there has to be a way for him to get his detective shield back… if that’s something he wants, and he says, it is. He can sit for the detective exam again, if the department’s satisfaction is met and the standards they want him to live up to. He told Dante that he’d think about it and get back to him. She says, that makes sense… But she wouldn’t have been surprised if he’d told the PCPD to shove it.

Josslyn says, Ava can drop the act. She’s not capable of loving anybody but herself. She can pretend, smile, and say all the right things, but any affection of hers has its limits. When it comes down to it, the only person she cares about is herself. Ava says, there it is. That self-righteous judgmental attitude that comes so easily to Josslyn’s mother. It must be so tiring, seeing everybody so clearly and knowing that none of them measure up to her lofty standards. Josslyn says she’s not above anybody and doesn’t pretend to be. She just sees Ava for who she is, and Ava can’t stand her for it. Ava says, maybe, but everybody plays a bit of pretend at one time or another. She suspects even Josslyn does. Lucas and Marco come back, and Lucas says, they couldn’t decide, so they’re going with both. California or France? Which should they try first?  

Jason says, just walk him through what happened with Britt, but Carly says she doesn’t know. Britt called and told her to meet. She showed up and waited. Then Britt told her that she wanted to move and she said, fine. That was it for her, but not for Britt. She started insulting the restaurant, saying this place was a dump. She said Carly’s mother would be rolling in her grave if she saw the place now. He asks if she said nothing back, and she says she pushed back after Britt brought up her mom, but she didn’t say anything like Britt said. She’s telling him, Britt tried to provoke her. Britt wanted to fight with her right here.

In Britt’s office, she says, that’s the second time she’s seen Cullum with Rocco Falconari. What is he doing with that kid? Cullum says, proving a point.  

Emma tells Gio that there’s this default assumption that her grandma is like a superwoman and she gets it. In a lot of ways, she is. She’s looked up to her forever. Gio says he sees why. He thinks they’re a lot alike. She thanks him and says she hopes so. Just because her grandma is super smart and capable doesn’t mean she handle everything. At the end of the day, she’s just a person. An amazing person, but just a person. She’s not indestructible. He says he knows, and Emma says, what if she’s in over her head right now? He says, if she is, Emma took the first step in getting her help, and Emma says, somebody has to do something. She doesn’t need to know global secrets. She just needs to hear her grandma’s voice. She can’t keep sitting around hoping she’s okay. He says, she’s not. She’s here. Trust her gut. She was right about Dalton when everyone was telling her that she was wrong. If Anna is in trouble, Emma is coming through for her right now when she needs Emma the most. He hugs Emma and she cries.

Anna says, Peter hated Faison. He killed him. Peter says, so he thought. Faison played him like he played her, like he played everyone. Cesar Faison always wins and deep down, she knows it’s true. She says, it isn’t real. It isn’t real. It isn’t real. He says, stop. There’s no point in fighting. He should know. His father is so devoted to her, it makes sense that he should be the one with her. She says, stop, stop, stop, and puts her hands over her ears. Peter says, he’s finally ready to show himself to her. He’s waited so long, but he was always ready to have her. She says, oh God, and he says, the time is almost here. She says, oh my God.

Brook says, Chase doesn’t have to decide anything right now. Whether he accepts the demotion and works his way back up to being detective or decides to be a personal chef or a singer or to busk outside of Bobbie’s… He says, she’d let him walk around dressed as a BLT sandwich and hand out flyers? and she says, her undying support is with him, no matter what he decides. He says, that means the world, but he’s known what he wanted to do since he was 10. He wanted to be a police officer. He wanted to be a detective. He rebuilt his career once. He can again. She says, damn straight, and he says he wants to build a family with her. She says she wants that too, and they kiss.

Carly tells Jason that she could tell Britt wasn’t going to stop until Britt got her going and she came pretty close when Britt brought up her mother. He says he can understand that, and she says, it’s a good thing he showed up when he did. He says, yeah, it was. He gets it. Britt wanted to fight for some reason. He’s going find out why. He leaves.

Cullum says he can access Rocco Falconari any time, and Britt says, and do what? Make him disappear too? Rocco is very well connected. He has a mob boss for a grandfather, his grandmother is the mayor, and his father is the current Police Commissioner, and his mother is a journalist. His family will never stop looking for him. Even Cullum couldn’t hide him. Cullum tells her, who said anything about hiding him? Rocco is involved in a high-profile break-in. If it’s determined the lab contained classified information… She says, Cullum will put him in WSB custody? He’s a kid. Cullum says, trust him. He wouldn’t be the first minor in Steinmauer. She says, Rocco is innocent. He hasn’t done anything. Okay. He doesn’t have to hurt Rocco. He doesn’t have to prove anything to her. She’s doing what he wanted. She ended things with Jason. He’s never coming near her again. He told her to get to the lab. She’ll go to Windymere tonight. Damn it. She’s cooperating. He says, actions speak louder than words. There are consequences for actions and there will no longer be possibilities. Those are certainties she can count on. She says she understands, and he says, good. From now on, she will comply for Rocco’s sake and her own. He leaves.

Ava sips her martini, and Marco asks Josslyn what she thinks of the California. Josslyn says she’s no expert, but she likes it, and Lucas says, that’s the most important part. Now they try the French. Is Ava sure she doesn’t want a tiny sip? Ava says, no, thank you. This is perfect and she is an expert. Lucas says, hey, they should check out the catacombs and see what’s down there, but Marco says, it’s probably wet and freezing. Ava says she and her Cardullos are quite happy right here, and Lucas says, come on. He hasn’t been there since he was a kid. Now he’s an adult and Marco is here to protect them, mainly him, from any ghosts. Not that there are any. Come on. Come on. Come on. Let’s go exploring. Marco says, absolutely not.  

Nathan comes back, and Emma asks if he found out anything. He says, not from the latest records, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing to be found. Emma asks if he thinks there’s something off with her grandma’s situation, and he says, not necessarily, but he thinks the situation warrants him looking into it more. She thanks him, and he says he knows Anna well. If Emma is anything like her, he trusts her instincts. He’s not promising anything, but he’ll put his resources into finding Anna. One way or another, they’ll get answers and he knows exactly where to start looking.

Anna says, if Faison wants her, tell him to stop playing games. Come here to her now. Peter laughs and asks if she still thinks she’s in control of anything. She’s not. His father will come to her when he’s ready. She says she just wants this to stop. Faison, I just want this to end. Please… please… Just stop this. She knows he can hear her and she wants to see him. Show her his face. Just come here. Peter is gone and she’s alone.   

On Monday, Britt says, if Jason ever cared about her at all, leave her alone; Josslyn asks if Jack wants to hear what she found out or not; and Marco wants to take Sonny out of the equation for good.

🧼 All the Soap News Fit To Print…

Pay no attention to those rumors.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/is-cameron-mathison-leaving-general-hospital-as-drew-forget-the-rumors-here-are-the-facts/

I can just imagine that visit to Amsterdam.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/general-hospital-star-finola-hughes-on-annas-reunion-with-faison-it-was-nuts-exclusive/

Returning February 12th.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/general-hospital-comings-and-goings-kirsten-storms-is-back-as-maxie/

I can’t fault her for having a good time.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/general-hospital-willow-stabs-drew-katelyn-macmullen-talks-exhilarating-dark-turn-exclusive/

Why shouldn’t they? Short of a cataclysmic event, I think we can all wait a minute for the news, which literally follows GH.

https://ew.com/general-hospital-fans-fuming-over-trump-preempting-after-cliffhanger-11889288

Betting on him for the win.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/all-my-children-alum-michael-b-jordan-scores-first-oscar-nomination/

💉 A Dose Of Reality…

Below Deck Mediterranean

While there was still way too much going on in the boatmance department – Max getting all emo, wanting Cathy to give him definitive answers on what happens after the season, and Eyebrows Joe acting the fool with Kizzy – the final charter included Karen Gravano from Mob Wives. Josh slaved all day over a hot stove and still not everyone was pleased. It was, however, a delight to see Captain Sandy video chat with wife Leah. One guest whined because she wanted crab after they’d already eaten it. In Josh’s interview, he said he wasn’t a chef with a magic arse. He couldn’t just pull a crab leg out. This same cretin bitched about them having no truffles when truffles were out of season and there were no truffles to be had. The captain had the best idea when several of the whiners grumbled about not leaving the dock. She had some deckhands take them out in the tender for a bumpy ride, after which they admitted, Captain Sandy is always right.

Real Housewives Of Salt Lake City

A lot of Part 2 was undecipherable due to everyone talking over everyone. My Reunion pet peeve. Even with the closed captions on, it doesn’t matter. They can’t get it all. There was a big whoop-de-do about Angie having evidence that Lisa’s number was attached to some account. Andy had to start yelling, then he just looked defeated, and walked off. They were like, sorry, sorry, sorry, Daddy Andy, and he came back. Mary’s son had been incarcerated for breaking an ex’s restraining order. There was also the whole thing about Mary’s church being a cult, but having been to churches like hers, I say that’s a no. Lisa claimed she’d supported Mary, but Mary said Lisa came against her. She was very dark and needed help. Of course, the airplane ride where Meredith lost her sh*t was brought up, and even Andy wondered, why no footage? I don’t know why he didn’t answer his own question, but I assume it’s too cumbersome for an entire camera crew to be on a plane, not to mention dangerous. He asked why no one had filmed it with their phones, and Heather said, what POS person would do that? For one, I would. We flashed back to the time Britani recorded an argument on a bus, so again, I made the assumption that there’s a rule against cast members doing their own filming. Maybe a Housewives’ code or something. Still, I would have done it even if for my own personal entertainment. There was a lot of back and forth on this – Meredith against the rest of the cast, sans Lisa – but Meredith stood her ground that she’d only complained about Britani a couple of times and never touched her high body count hair.

Why he walked.

I think Meredith needs to look up the definition of victim.

Vanderpump Rules

It was SUR’s 20th anniversary, and LVP said, let’s have a bloody good party. Technically, SUR was 26 years old, but it was the anniversary of Lisa and Guillermo’s partnership in owning it. Natalie and Kimberly got into it and Lisa had to tell Natalie to STFU several times. That’s one more complaint of mine. This staff doesn’t listen to my girl at all. They’re lucky she’s so lenient. If I’d talked to any of my bosses the way this crew speaks to her, I would have been gone. Lisa’s other concern was Jason’s knowledge of his job, and in her interview, she said, Jason knows more about penis pumps than the menu. She might be right. HE DIDN’T EVEN KNOW ABOUT THE GOAT CHEESE BALLS FOR GOD’S SAKE. In a rare moment, Venus and I agreed that people who don’t even work there know about the goat cheese balls. I knew about the goat cheese balls in Season 1. Guillermo unveiled a photo framed like a painting of the new cast. They looked beautiful, but… yeah. Angelica checked out Jason and Chris’s OnlyFans videos, and apparently they were greasing each other up on film, along with some other guys, and along with doing some other things. I couldn’t fault her for looking, but then she shared it with Kim and Demy, and the three of them squealed like children. Do they realize what an embarrassment they are to their generation when they see themselves? Yeah. Probably not.

Southern Charm

Venita’s mom chastised her for telling Salley not to bug her when things went sideways with Craig. She said Venita was mean and not a good friend. I applauded this, since Venita has a tendency to act superior. Rodrigo and Tyler had an engagement party, and the best moment of the show was Whitney asking if Madison was going to have a gender reveal – after one had been hosted for her at his house. She reminded him that it was a girl, and he told her, congratulations. Austen’s girlfriend Audrey came for a visit, and everyone waited with bated breath for him to break up with her, but it didn’t happen.   

Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills

Jennifer told Kyle that Garcelle didn’t want to be friends with Sutton because it was always about her and she was a troublemaker. Like the good gossip girl she is, Kyle told Sutton. Jennifer and Sutton ended up hugging it out, but no doubt it put a crimp in their friendship. As much as I dislike Amanda, it was the anniversary of her twin baby’s death, and I was sad with her. I can’t even imagine. Rachel was having a dinner party, and wore an ah-ma-zing, bananas outfit, complete with a sunburst tiara – and Amanda, wanting to be around people (obviously not there long enough to know it shouldn’t be these people) attended. Dorit had found out from Sutton that Amanda thought she should tone down her talking about PK being an alcoholic and decided the dinner would be a good time to confront her. When Amanda explained why it was a sad day for her, clueless twit Dorit kept going, only apologizing when Kathy pretty much insisted. There was also a medium at the party and she had nothing for Amanda, which seemed odd, but she was spot-on with messages from loved ones for some of the others. On a humorous note, Dorit announced she’d be writing a book, and called her ghost writer a co-author, proving why she needs a ghost writer. In Erika’s interview, she said Dorit couldn’t write a book herself, or it would never get finished. Best quote from Dorit: For somebody who’s supposed to be an author, she sure doesn’t know how to read the room.

The Valley: Persian Style

The group went to Palm Springs for Adam’s birthday, and Reza was surprising him with a celebration at the same restaurant where they were married. Because she was pissed about the inferior accommodations, Sky decided to confront Golnesa about the weed smoking at her trunk show. It was anticlimactic though, as Golnesa appreciated Sky’s honesty and apologized. When they went back inside and someone asked how it went, Golnesa said Sky smacked her, which was pretty funny, especially seeing Reza’s face. A medium came to the house (must be the thing right now) and was pretty accurate with the messages from loved ones in the Great Beyond. A drag queen presented Adam with a beautiful rainbow cake, complete with a sparkler, and the group half-sang a seriously sad rendition of Happy Birthday. Apparently, Golnesa had invited Dennis, which didn’t sit well with anyone and ended with him and Golnesa arguing. Mercedeh also tried to get Tommy to make peace with Reza, but he said, fuggedaboudit.

Random Reality Items

Coming March 4th, the poor man’s Vanderpump Rules.

This sounds excellent. My favorite show of his was The F Word, which was like a culinary variety show where you saw more of him as a human being, with no screeching at amateurs.

It was only a matter of time. Kyle is way too immature for her. I’ll give him this though. I had a can of Lover Boy and it was pretty tasty.

We’ll see. I miss the original with Caroline Stanbury.

👀 Last Weekend’s Watch…

Black Phone 2. Peacock. While I liked the first one better, I didn’t hate this sequel. Protagonist Finn has grown up and The Grabber won’t stay dead. And dead children are calling a phone booth in the middle of nowhere. This time, however, the villain can only attack in dreams a la Freddy Krueger, and he cant be fought on human terms. I have to admit, Ethan Hawke surprised me with how good he is as The Grabber. The other cast members are nothing to sneeze at, the effects are good, and the snowy scenery magnificent. Just for fun, I googled it, and Hawke did some of his own stunts.

The Running Man (2025). Paramount+. I wish I’d seen this on the big screen because the action scenes deserve it. And there were a lot of them. If I had to sum up the movie in one word, it would be exciting. I found myself making noises – always the sign of a good film – and at one point, literally ducked when something fell from a rooftop. In a dystopian future, a man needs cash for his daughter’s medicine, so he signs up for a game show that offers a big cash prize, but also certain death. Along the way, he also uncovers corruption behind the scenes. It has an excellent cast including Colman Domingo and Josh Brolin, the special effects were incredible, and the fast-paced action was one good time.

https://www.polygon.com/the-running-man-streaming-paramount-stephen-king-movie/

https://www.undertheradarmag.com/reviews/the_running_man

https://alisechaffins.substack.com/p/the-running-man-review-2025

11.22.63. Netflix. A man goes back in time to try and stop John F. Kennedy’s assassination. His mentor in time travel tells him, if you f*** with history, history will f*** with you, and it does. An amazing story with tons of twists and turns. And James Franco doing another stellar job as time traveler Jack Epping. I’d read the source material by Stephen King a while ago and loved it. I haven’t finished watching this 8-part series, but I like what I’ve seen so far. Great cast, great acting, great story, and I especially love the time period stuff.

https://www.slashfilm.com/2068646/jj-abrams-stephen-king-miniseries-11-22-63-streaming-netflix/

https://www.bgr.com/2073972/james-franco-stephen-king-time-travel-miniseries-11-22-63-streaming-netflix/

🔮 Watch Of the Future…

All the TV premiere dates.

https://ew.com/2026-tv-premiere-dates-11854588

🏆 The Award Might Go To…

Hear me out. While I’m ecstatic about Sinners, it seems unfair that Wicked: For Good was totally shut out. Yep, it probably shouldn’t have been split into two parts (although who wants to sit through a four hour film?) and I get that it got a turn last year, but this film actually had the more interesting part of the story and the CGI animals deserve their own special Oscar. As does the sweater Elphaba wears during As Long As You’re Mine.

https://ew.com/2026-oscar-nominations-announced-full-list-11889037

I would pay good money for that sweater.

https://people.com/wicked-costumer-says-elphabas-cardigan-going-viral-is-compliment-exclusive-11871960

🐾 Love Is Where You Find It…

🐶 Finding love on the red carpet.

https://people.com/sharon-stone-adopts-rescue-puppy-from-astra-awards-11884878

🗽 I saw him on the news – amazing idea!

https://people.com/pet-influencer-helps-rescue-dogs-find-homes-with-back-rides-in-nyc-exclusive-11869427

👰🏻‍♀️ Can’t say I blame her. Chances are, he won’t cheat.

https://people.com/rilo-kiley-singer-jenny-lewis-marries-her-dog-for-50th-birthday-11883843

🐕 I can identify. Sometimes my house looks like it’s boobytrapped.

https://people.com/chloe-fineman-shares-hilariously-relatable-puppy-proofing-tips-after-family-welcomes-new-dog-11878215

📢 Quotes of the Week

If I see it, I’m going to eat it.Madison LaCroy, Southern Charm

The happiness of your life depends on the quality of your thoughts. – Marcus Aurelius

If it’s your job to eat a frog, it’s best to do it first thing in the morning. And if it’s your job to eat two frogs, it’s best to eat the biggest one first. – Mark Twain (Don’t let Madison see it.)

Love your enemies, for they tell you your faults. – Benjamin Franklin

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

Ending an eight-paragraph rant about his family’s dirty laundry with ‘all we want is privacy’ is all I need to know. – Alana Hadid, in reference to Brooklyn Beckham’s Instagram post about his family

Taking risks doesn’t mean shirking responsibility, but embracing possibilities. – Vick Hope

This guy always has tabouli on him like it’s Werther’s Original. – Reza Farahan, The Valley: Persian Style

In the End, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends. – Martin Luther King Jr.

❄️ Like Stars Filling the Dark Trees…

Until next time, stay safe; stay not buying every roll of toilet paper because it’s going to snow; and stay taking any excuse to make a red sauce.

January 16, 2026 – GH Weekdays, The Verdict Is In, Soap Suds, This Week In Reality, Weekend Watching, The Spin On Thrones, News Of the Globe, Show Doggies, A Half-Dozen Plus One Quotes & Dreamin’

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

🥢 Weekday Nibbles…                                                                      

Monday: 

At the stable, Cody and Felicia looked for James’s riding gloves, and Felicia found them. Felicia said she and Mac thought he and Molly were a wonderful couple and so did James. Cody said, everyone did, except Molly.

At the Port Charles Grill, Molly told Kristina that she’d managed to ruin an otherwise perfect evening with Cody.

Tracy said she was reinstating her father’s tradition of family cocktail hour. It gave them the opportunity to socialize. Ned said the vodka in his drink was a little light, and Tracy said it was soda with lime. Ned said some doctors thought it was beneficial to have a drink, but Brook said, some thought it should be avoided completely. Ned wondered what the point of surviving was if it wasn’t to enjoy life, and Olivia said they had more time to spend together as a family. Ned said alcohol made it more palatable.

Wiley asked if Jacinda played video games, and she said she’d had 5000 followers on Twitch. Wiley asked if they could play his new game tomorrow.

Drew and Willow got home, and Drew said Carly spilling the drink on him was humiliating, but Willow suggested letting it go. He said he couldn’t do that, and tried to get romantic with Willow, but she said the stain would set and ran off with his shirt.

Kai asked Alexis if it would be confidential, and Trina said she was putting what Alexis had done to her mom aside because they needed help. Alexis asked who they thought shot Congressman Caine, and Kai said they didn’t think. They knew it was Willow. Trina said they knew because they were there that night.

Cody told Felicia that Molly couldn’t say no fast enough, but he said yes. He thought New Year’s Eve was the start of something special, but he guessed Molly didn’t think so.

Kristina said Molly and Cody had sex in Turner’s office? and Molly told her to say it louder. Some of the men in the restroom didn’t hear it. She didn’t need Kristina judging her. Kristina said she was celebrating Molly, but Molly said it was already over. Kristina asked what went wrong, and Molly said she did.

Jacinda made a game date with Wiley for next Monday, and Michael took him up to bed.

Tracy said Judge Golden had signed off on a court order requiring Drew to return the family’s possessions or face an invasive audit. Olivia said, all fighting Drew brought was misery, and Ned flashed back to his heart attack. Olivia asked if they really needed old tchotchkes, but Tracy said some of the items came over on the Mayflower. Olivia suggested making peace, but Ned said, absolutely not. Not after he… Tracy asked, what did Drew do?

Nina went to see Willow and asked how she was feeling after her testimony. Drew said his testimony set hers up perfectly. There was no way Willow wouldn’t get acquitted.

Alexis asked if they saw Willow shoot Drew, but Kai said they’d hidden in the bedroom. Alexis asked what they were doing there, and Trina said they were looking for evidence of Drew blackmailing her mother. When they were in the bedroom, they heard gunshots. Alexis asked if they saw Willow fleeing the scene, but Kai said they never actually saw her, and Trina said they heard her.

Felicia suggested talking to Molly, but Cody said he hadn’t heard from her. He thought he’d scared her off since her break-up with TJ was still fresh. He couldn’t get her out of his head.

Molly told Kristina about saying she wasn’t Cody’s girlfriend and that she hadn’t heard from him. She just blurted it out and now they were over. Kristina said it was just miscommunication. Just clear it up.

Michael suggested he and Jacinda go out. He’d do anything to avoid Tracy’s cocktail hour. She told him, say no more, and he took her hand.

Tracy asked again what Drew did, and Ned told them about their confrontation outside Bobbie’s before his heart attack. He’d found it harder to breath and collapsed. Drew said he was faking it and walked away. Tracy said, Drew left him to die?

Nina told Willow that she’d been worried, but Alexis managed to turn things around. Drew said, as soon as Alexis pointed the finger at Michael, everything fell into place, when Martin came to the door with the court order. Drew said they’d show Tracy what she could do with the court order, and they left. Nina said she thought Drew would never leave… Sorry. Willow said, don’t be sorry. She felt exactly the same way.

Alexis asked what they heard, and Kai and Trina told her about the ringtone. Trina said they’d deduced it could be the shooter’s phone, and Alexis suggested Michael, but Trina said they’d arranged for Wiley to call him. Kai said Michael’s ringtone was Wiley’s voice, and Trina said Willow got a call from Wiley. Kai said Willow’s ringtone was Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.

Michael and Jacinda saw Kristina at the PC Grill, and Jacinda said Kristina’s brother had forgiven her for lying. Michael asked if Kristina wanted to hang out with them, and Jacinda said they’d love for her to join them in a drink.

Alexis said a ringtone alone proved nothing, and Trina said, not if you factored in the other evidence. Kai said Willow lied with her first alibi and her second alibi was thin, and Trina said Turner had other inadmissible evidence. Kai said the gun was found in Willow’s room, and Alexis said asked why Willow would marry Drew if she shot him. Trina wondered if Willow married him to cover her tracks or to throw people off, but in throwing away GH’s credo that two things can be true, Alexis said, all this time, Willow fooled everyone. Instead of being a warm, kind mother and nurse, she was a cold-blooded killer who shot a man in the back twice. (As I always say, even Ted Bundy had a mother.)

Nina said Willow didn’t love Drew and now it seemed like she disliked him, but Willow said he’d just been overly attentive and she needed breathing room. Nina said he almost destroyed case with his unhinged performance, and Willow said instead of defending her, he attacked Michael. Nina said it seemed obvious that Michael shot Drew and tried to pin the crime on her innocent daughter.

Ned said he loved them, but they could be a lot, and Olivia said she never aspired to be a little. Tracy said Ned had been waiting to weaponize it against Drew, and he said he learned from the master. She said he still should have told them, and Chase said, by now, Drew knew Ned wasn’t faking. Did he apologize? Ned said, not one word, and Olivia said Drew left him to die. There was a commotion in the foyer, and the group went out to find Yuri trying to keep Drew and Martin from coming in. Tracy called Yuri off.

Felicia asked if Cody planned never to speak to Molly again, and he said if he could swing it. He couldn’t think of anything worse than the let’s-just-be-friends speech. Molly arrived, and Felicia said she was just leaving. When she was gone, they both said they were sorry at the same time.

Michael told Kristina not to be mad at Alexis, and Kristina said she didn’t agree with Alexis’s tactic of throwing him under the bus. Wiley called Michael and he stepped away. Jacinda said she was glad she and Kristina were alone. It gave her a chance to apologize.

Ned said they’d take it from there, and Yuri left. Tracy asked what Drew and Martin were doing at the house, and Drew said, her ridiculous court order. Martin would appeal and tie it up in court for years. Tracy said it wasn’t in Martin’s best interest. She’d have him brought up on fraud charges for forging Monica’s will. Drew asked if she’d do the same with Ronnie… He didn’t think so. Tracy suddenly realized that it was Martin who sent the note.

Willow said she nearly had a panic attack, and Nina said she handled it beautifully. Willow said, everything she did, she did for her kids.

Kai told Alexis that there were muddy footprints by the backdoor and they heard the shooter leave that way. Willow used it all the time to avoid the press. Tracy said they left the bedroom and Kai picked up the bat, and Alexis said, that’s why the bat was there. Kai said he dropped it when they saw Drew. Then they realized Drew was still alive. Trina said they were going to call 911, but saw headlights and ran, and Kai said he left the bat. Alexis asked why they didn’t say something sooner, and Trina said they’d have to explain why they were there, and at the time, Drew was blackmailing her mom. Alexis said now it was public knowledge, and Kai asked what Alexis was going to do. Alexis said, absolutely nothing.

Molly told Kristina that things were awkward and she panicked. She’d thought it was what Cody wanted to hear. An honest answer would have been, she’d like to be Cody’s girlfriend, but now it was too late.

Kristina said Jacinda had nothing to apologize for, but Jacinda said she never should have taken the money and should have left town. Her staying made it worse for Kristina’s brother. She returned the money and it was at Michael’s house. Kristina asked if that meant Jacinda was staying for good, but Jacinda said that remained to be seen. Kristina said she hoped so, for her brother’s sake, when Michael came back. He said Wiley couldn’t sleep and asked for 30 more minutes of Tron to work on beating Jacinda. Kristina said she knew Michael was putting up a good front, but was he worried about the potential charges for attempted murder?

Alexis said Trina and Kai’s story was compelling, but didn’t prove anything. It was her obligation to defend her client. Trina asked if her obligation wasn’t to make sure justice prevailed, and Alexis said she had a judicial responsibility to defend her client to the best of her ability. Kai said, this was a mistake. They should have gone to the police and still could. Alexis said they’d implicate themselves in a crime they committed by their own admission. That’s why they came to her. Had they shared it with anyone? Trina said, no, and Alexis reminded them again that if they went to the police, they’d be implicating themselves.

Willow said the only thing that kept her going was the hope of being reunited with Wiley and Amelia, and Nina said she would be. Did she think it was true that Drew paid off Judge Haran? Willow said Drew insisted it was Michael and she prayed that was the truth. She was counting Drew to regain custody. Nina said Willow didn’t need Drew, and if they divorced, she stood a better chance. If they took Michael away for attempted murder, she wouldn’t need Drew at all.

Tracy said Martin was the reason she had to testify against Michael. Admit it, you worm. Like the coward he was, he sent an anonymous note. Martin said he didn’t know what she was talking about, but Brook said it didn’t matter. Drew did nothing when her father collapsed from a heart attack. Drew said he’d thought Ned was faking, and Brook said he’d caused the heart attack, then refused to help. What kind of monster was he? Drew said they were being overdramatic, when Olivia stood on the stairs and cocked a big gun.

Olivia said Drew left her husband to die like a dog and the only reason she wasn’t pulling the trigger was because Ned was still alive. If he knew what was good for him, Drew and his bootlicking barrister would vacate the premises immediately. Drew said she wouldn’t shoot him in front of her son-in-law cop, but Chase said he was suspended and they were trespassing. Martin said he was out of there and left. Olivia said asked if Drew wanted her to finish the job someone else started, and he left. Olivia said the gun wasn’t loaded, but it would be a while before they darkened the Quartermaine doorstep, and Tracy told Olivia to consider the gun hers. She’d earned it.

Molly said, of course (🍷). It was too late. Cody said, too late for takebacks. She said it and he heard it. She wanted to be his girlfriend, and he’d like to be her boyfriend. They kissed and he carried her upstairs.

Alexis said she’d pretend they never had this conversation, and Kai told Trina that they said what they needed to say. He left and Trina followed after staring daggers at Alexis. In the hallway, Trina said Alexis didn’t believe them, but Kai said she didn’t want to believe them. What did they do now?

Michael said, no more trial talk. Let’s have fun. He, Jacinda, and Kristina clinked glasses.

Willow said one she got through the trial, she’d figure out how to get her kids back, and Nina said, whatever Willow decided, she’d support her, emotionally and financially. Willow said it was good to know she had options. Cutting ties with Drew wasn’t that simple. They were far from finished.

Alexis looked through the phone records, and called a number. Wiley answered, but said he didn’t know her and wasn’t supposed to talk to strangers. He hung up and Alexis closed her eyes.

Tuesday:

Jacinda went to court with Michael, who said he wanted her to be with him. She said she wanted to be with him too.

Curtis found Trina in the courtroom and he said, if Willow was found guilty, it could be bad news for Michael and Aurora. Why did she still care about the case?

Sidwell asked Jordan to be at the trial. He was starting to think Drew wasn’t the politician he wanted in DC and he typically got what he wanted.

Britt found Marco in an exam room. He’d gotten an appointment with her because a concern had come up. They were falling behind the competition. Britt asked why they couldn’t leave her alone, but Marco said he didn’t see that happening.

Pascal told Anna to stand up, face the wall, and put her hands where he could see them. He brought in some food, and when she picked up a glass, it slipped from her hand. He wondered why she was so clumsy, and she said something was wrong.

Valentin told Carly that he needed her to search Jack’s hotel room.

Dante found Jack at the courthouse and asked if the WSB tampered with the evidence. Jack feigned ignorance.

Ava decided to see how Nina was holding up, and Nina said she was jumping out of her skin. She wasn’t sure Willow’s testimony was enough to undo the damage Drew did.

Drew told Willow that no one could doubt her and the jury would say she was innocent.

Alexis went to the office and found Diane there. She said she needed to speak to her attorney with the privilege that came with that. She couldn’t defend her client anymore. Willow shot Drew.

Trina told Curtis that Kai needed to be there to look like he was supporting Drew and she was there supporting Kai. He said, everyone needed someone to lean on, when Jordan walked in.

Alexis said she found out last night and needed to recuse herself, and Diane said if she stepped down, there would be a mistrial. Alexis said, someone was at the house that night hiding in the bedroom and heard Willow’s ringtone for Wiley, and Diane said walk her through it. Alexis showed her the back-up paperwork and said, the call hadn’t been answered, so she thought it was immaterial, but when she called it, Wiley answered. Add the traffic cam footage, and Willow was in the vicinity. Diane said the arguments were compelling, but Alexis would be disbarred if she said anything in closing arguments.

Dante told Jack about the missing evidence. He’d been an agent and the WSB was one of the few who could hack into a system like theirs, but he couldn’t figure out a reason they’d do it.

Ava said Willow wouldn’t need Drew anymore, but Nina said Willow wasn’t ready to let Drew go.

Drew said when Michael went to prison Willow would get full custody.

Carly said she wasn’t a trained agent and told him how she’d gotten caught trying to plant a bug in Jack’s office. He said, do better this time, and she said if Jack caught her, he’d never trust her again. Valentin said, don’t get caught.

Britt said they needed a lab, and Marco said his father set up a state-of-the-art lab on Spoon Island.

Anna told Pascal that her hand went numb and explained about her cancer. She required regular phlebotomy treatments and needed one now. She was no use to them if she was dead.

Jack assured Dante that they weren’t interested in Willow, but maybe Drew convinced someone in the PCPD to do it. Dante said the WSB and PCPD had worked together before and brought up Anna, but Jack said he had nothing to do with that.

Britt asked how she would explain going to Spoon Island. If Lucas got a hint of what they were doing, he and Marco would be over. Marco told her not to use Lucas to threaten him.

Valentin said Carly was only person Jack trusted. He’d be careful not to keep incriminating documents in his office. He kept hard copies and she was to take a picture of anything damning or top secret. Once they knew what Sidwell was working on, they could incriminate Jack and exonerate him. Then Jack would be the one rotting in Steinmauer. Or she could continue to sleep with a man she despised.

Trina went to look for Kai, and Jordan said it sounded like Trina might consider her and Curtis a unit. Sidwell had asked her to come, and she knew he’d be here. Curtis said she was distracting, and Jordan told him, try extra hard to pay attention.

Drew whined about where Alexis was just to be a pita.

Nina asked why Jacinda wasn’t at work, but Jacinda had everything covered. She and Michael went into the courtroom.

Drew’s phone rang and he left to take the call. Willow saw Michael and Jacinda come in.

Diane said it was Alexis’s duty to defend her client, and Alexis said she knew Michael didn’t do it. What if Willow was acquitted and Michael was arrested? Her gut told her that the jury would acquit Willow unless she used her closing to tell them what really happened.

Britt said she couldn’t get to Spoon Island in secret, but Marco said he could arrange for transport. Or she could reside at Windymere. They had her medicine and she was indebted to them. Come up with a cover story. He left.

Carly agreed, and Valentin said he’d get her a scanner to check for bugs. He told her Jack’s usual hiding places and said he wouldn’t be there when she got back. He was paying a visit to Windymere. Carly was concerned he’d get caught.

Pascal told Sidwell about Anna and said he thought it was legit. Ava showed up at Windymere to see Sidwell. She asked if Lucy was around since she was jelly, but Sidwell said that was Lucy’s problem.

Trina and Kai wondered where Alexis was.

Dante told Turner that Jack denied involvement, but he didn’t trust him. She asked if he didn’t want to consider someone closer, and he said he didn’t think Chase did it, but now he wasn’t so certain. Turner said she agreed, and Dante said he was still looking into it. She told him, find the leak and shut it down.

Willow was shocked to see Michael and Jacinda, and Drew said, don’t let him get to her. He was there because when you were guilty, the best thing to do was hold your head high and proclaim your innocence.

Diane said if Alexis did that, it was definitely unethical and would result in a mistrial, not conviction. She didn’t want to lose her license again. Alexis said a would-be murderer married the victim to cover it up. Since her daughter wasn’t there to protect Scout, she had to. Diane asked what would happen when Alexis wasn’t able to protect Scout because Scout was excised from her life? Drew seemed to think he and Willow were an epic love story and would never believe she was guilty because the evidence was circumstantial. Alexis said she knew Willow did it. How could she tell the jury otherwise? Diane said not all of their clients were angels and she wanted Alexis to look at the whole picture. What was more important, Scout’s future or her duty as a lawyer? Alexis said her granddaughter’s future, and Diane said, if that was her priority, she knew exactly what she had to do.

Alexis arrived at court, and Drew bitched at her. Judge Sullivan came in.

Carly knocked at Jack’s room, but there was no answer. She went inside.

Ava said Sidwell had been interested in a Columbian artist whose pieces were hard to come by, and five new pieces were going on the market. She’d arranged for a video chat with the artist, and Sidwell suggested they go to his study for a larger screen.

Carly took the bug scanner out of her bag.

Turner gave her closing argument, saying, it was premeditated. Willow chose to take the gun and kept it, biding her time. On September 2nd, 2025, she stopped considering and took action. She’d learned Judge Haran had been killed and believed her visitation hearing would be delayed. It was clear that her ex wouldn’t let her near her kids as long as she was with the congressman and as they saw on the stand, Drew was clear he wasn’t letting Willow go. If he was going to be in her children’s lives, Willow needed to take matters into her own hands – and she did. She drove to Drew’s house, let herself in, shot him twice in the back, and returned to General Hospital. She stood by when her mother lied, giving her an alibi. It was planned, calculated, and kept with the definition of Willow’s M.O. The day of the wedding, Willow found out Drew had an affair with her mother and waited until they were at the altar to publicly humiliate him. No judgement, but she wasn’t acting rashly. Perhaps she’d intentionally snuck the gun back to Elizabeth’s or never expected a search or thought she’d be considered a suspect. Not the sweet nurse who loved Drew so much that she married him. The defense tried to distract them with another suspect and asked them to have pity on Willow. Anything so they didn’t look at the facts. And the facts say Willow Tait (whose name I’ve been spelling wrong for years) is guilty.

Carly checked Jack’s room for bugs and found paperwork underneath the bottom of a drawer. She spread it out on the coffee table and took photos.

Alexis gave her closing argument, saying her client was innocent. She was a pillar of the community, a loving wife, and a loving, dedicated mother to two children she missed dearly. She’d made mistakes, falling in love with another man while she was married. Her ex was extremely bitter and angry, angry enough to keep Drew away from his children permanently. He shot Drew with his great-grandfather’s gun and planted it in Willow’s things. They heard Tracy’s testimony that she saw him at Drew’s house that night and heard from Elizabeth that Michael had been alone at her house. The question they must ask themselves was why someone who attempted murder would hang onto the thing that tied them to the crime. The only piece of evidence that tied Willow to the crime was the gun. The question they needed to ask themselves was, when did Willow take the gun? She hadn’t lived at the Quartermaines’ for some time, but Michael had lived there since he came back from Germany. Willow had every opportunity… Alexis apologized, saying her client was foremost in her mind and continued. Michael had every opportunity and reason to shoot Drew. He despised Drew who broke up his marriage to her client, who only wanted a chance to be with her children. Why do something that would put her in a situation that would keep her away permanently? Her client was innocent and framed by her ex. She just wanted a chance to be with her children. Find her innocent and give her the chance. She deserved it.

Pascal looked in at Anna, who was lying on the floor. She didn’t answer him and he went inside. He checked for a pulse, and she grabbed his gun.

The judge said he wanted a unanimous verdict and dismissed the jury for deliberation. Trina said, Willow might get away with this, and Drew told Willow that she’d be a free woman. Kai and Trina stared at Alexis.

Carly heard Britt and Jack in the hallway. Britt said she needed to speak with Jack. They could do it there or in his room. They went in, and Carly hid in the bathroom and put on a robe. Britt said Jack’s strategy for her getting information to him wouldn’t work.

Valentin snuck around Windymere and felt around under the fireplace. Ava came in and said if he was looking for the passageway switch, she’d gotten rid of it. She wondered if Sidwell knew he was harboring a fugitive.

Anna got the better of Pascal and held his own gun on him.

Dante told Turner that she’d had a good closing, but Turner said they didn’t have all the evidence, and it was far from a slam dunk. Drew told Nina that it was a smart move hiring Alexis. She’d argued brilliantly and got Michael convicted. It was playing out how he’d promised Willow it would.

In the hallway, Michael told Jacinda that Turner gave the jury the facts, while Alexis went with feelings so the jury would feel sorry for Willow. He prayed they’d see who Willow really was.

Willow thanked Alexis, who said, don’t thank her yet. Willow said if she went free, it would all be because of her.

Wednesday:

Carly heard Britt and Jack coming into his room, and hid in the bathroom, grabbing a robe. Britt told Jack that his strategy to get Sidwell’s info wouldn’t work. They’d be watching her and there was no way she could sneak anything out. He said her options were limited, and she said Sidwell wanted her to finish her work on Spoon Island.

Ava caught Valentin looking for the passageway trigger and said she’d gotten rid of it. She asked if Sidwell knew he was harboring a fugitive, and Valentin said Sidwell hadn’t mentioned she was paying a visit. They went way back

Anna backed up out the door and a hulk grabbed her in a chokehold. She passed out.

Jason went to the hospital looking for Britt, and Elizabeth said she’d be back later. She asked if Jason was upset that she had compassion for Willow. Some people thought it meant she was taking sides against Michael.

Alexis found Sonny in her office, and he asked if she was okay. She said she had a headache and had a good idea why he was there. She’d implicated his son for a crime he didn’t commit.

Sonny asked if she didn’t think Michael was guilty, and Alexis said it didn’t matter what she thought. He said she had alternatives, and she said, Portia worked out well. It ruined Portia’s life and made her out to be a monster. Drew was holding her grandchild hostage. Unfortunately Michael had means, motive, and opportunity. Sonny asked if Turner would be picking up where she left off, and she apologized, but said her granddaughter was her priority. He asked if that was it and everybody else be damned.

Elizabeth said she hadn’t intended to make Michael look guilty, and Jason said she’d told the truth. He stayed away from the trial so Drew didn’t use him to antagonize Michael. She said they still didn’t know who shot Drew, and he said it was a result of Drew’s actions. He’d pushed a lot of people. Elizabeth wondered how he’d lured Willow back in. She was in denial and not strong enough to admit she was wrong about so much. He said the real victims were the kids, including Scout and Danny.

Sidwell went to Anna’s chamber and hulk said she’d be fine. She’d tried to escape and he’d had to render her unconscious. He gave Pascal back his gun and said, try not to lose this again. <snort> Pascal said he thought she was unconscious, and hulk asked if Anna still had no idea where she was.

Britt said if she got caught, it wouldn’t do them any good, but Jack thought she’d find a way. He told her get out and when she left, he heard the shower. He grabbed his gun. Because intruders are always showering.

Valentin said Sidwell was thrilled with Ava’s art pieces and made it sound like he’d been there all along. He asked about Nina, and told Ava to give her his love… Maybe don’t do that. He talked about the interior renovations and said he wished he was there to ride more. She asked how long he’d be staying, and he said his plans were up in the air. She said Sidwell was on a business call and asked if she should get him, but Valentin said he’d rather she didn’t. They had an agreement that he’d keep a low profile during the day. Sidwell didn’t want the WSB to know he was hiding his old friend. Ava said she had the passageway sealed up, not liking the idea of someone possibly appearing in her living room. She suggested she give Pascal a shout and called to him, but when she turned around, Valentin was gone.

Jack came into the bathroom with his gun, and Carly was doing her makeup.

Alexis asked what Sonny would do in her shoes. Scout wouldn’t see any of her family until she was 18. She was a child and it gave Drew time to turn her against her family. Letting Drew warp her daughter’s child into a copy of himself would kill her. Sonny said Drew wanted to swap out Scout’s family at his son’s expense, and Alexis said, and her own. Sam wasn’t there to fix this, so she had to. Michael was the biological father of his children and could fight for custody. She couldn’t. And just because Willow was acquitted didn’t mean Michael would be charged. Sonny said Michael couldn’t walk away from this because Drew was a congressman. Somebody had to take the fall, and she’d decided it was Michael. She said she’d had no choice even if it meant jeopardizing her friendship with him.

Elizabeth said Scout missed Danny, and Jason said it was hurting Danny too. He felt like he was letting Sam down. Drew had made it clear that Danny couldn’t see Scout again. Drew saw Danny as an extension of him, and hurting Danny was the only way to hurt him. Elizabeth said maybe Willow’s influence would soften Drew if she didn’t go to prison. She had to get back to work, and Jason turned to find Brad there. Brad told him to stay away from Britt.  

Carly said Jack scared her, and he said he’d come close to shooting her. What the hell was she doing there?

Hulk said they had to deal with Anna’s escape attempt, and Sidwell told Pascal to send Ava home. Pascal left, and hulk said this had almost ruined everything. Sidwell said Pascal wouldn’t be fooled again. He’d made Anna think she was in a foreign country by only speaking French. Hulk said, this wasn’t the plan, and Sidwell said Anna had gotten too close and he’d had to improvise. Hulk said it was holding up their operation, and they had to complete Faison’s work. If the lab was ready, having Anna there was a bad idea. They needed a more permanent solution.

Brad said, if Jason cared about Britt, he’d leave her alone, but Jason said that was Britt’s decision. Brad said Jason had broken her heart twice, once by marrying Carly and then when he died. Every time he rescued her – paying her tab at Café Cherie or rescuing her in Croatia – he made her believe she could count on him, but she couldn’t. Carly, Sonny, Michael, and Danny would always come first. Britt joined them and asked what was going on. Jason asked if she had a minute, and Brad said she wasn’t interested. Right, Britt?

Carly said she was sorry. She’d wanted to give Jack a sexy surprise. Jack said it was a bad idea. He’d almost killed her. She said it wouldn’t happen again. Her afternoon was free and she’d wanted to spend it with him. He said she could never do this again, especially with Valentin out there. He was never going to risk letting her get between him and Valentin again. (Um… Did he mean letting Valentin get between him and her? That made it sound like he’s involved with Valentin.)

Pascal said Sidwell sent his apologies, but Ava said she wasn’t going anywhere until she spoke with him. Pascal said it would be some time, but he’d pass along a message, and she said, tell him it was about his houseguest, and she wasn’t referring to Lucas. She’d wait.

Hulk said too many people were aware of their work. There was the explosion at the Five Poppies, Dalton going to the police about the lab break-in, and Dalton’s subsequent disappearance. It jeopardized their project. Sidwell blamed Britt for the Five Poppies and said she’d been working against them. He didn’t think she was reliable. Hulk said Britt was a handful, but understood Faison’s thinking better than anyone. Not just because she was his daughter, but she’d worked side by side with him in his final years. Sidwell said, having Britt and Anna on the island was too risky. What should they do with Anna? Their cover story wouldn’t hold up forever. Hulk said Anna had become more trouble than she was worth.

Sonny said Alexis hadn’t lost his friendship. He wasn’t happy, but he could understand why. Alexis said all of her choices sucked and she’d never be sure she made the right one, and Sonny said he wasn’t sure she’d had the right one. She said she appreciated his understanding, and he said Michael was a grown-up with resources. Scout was a little girl who’d lost her mother and was being kept from her family because her father was a vindictive little man, a sorry pathetic excuse for a human being. Scout deserved to be raised by somebody better, but here they were. She deserved Alexis and her love to counterbalance her father’s pettiness and ugliness. Alexis asked if she could still do that if she compromised her ethics along the way.

Sidwell told hulk that they should keep Britt there too. If she came across Anna, she wouldn’t be able to tell anyone. Hulk said it wasn’t practical. Britt’s sudden disappearance would be a problem and lead to more scrutiny about them. Sidwell said it was a last resort, when Pascal came down. He said Ava had insisted on speaking with Sidwell and he thought Sidwell should hear what she had to say. Sidwell left, and Pascal apologized again. Hulk said Anna wouldn’t be there much longer.

Jason said it wouldn’t take long, and Brad said he needed to talk to Britt. Britt said she’d be right back, and left with Jason. Brad asked if Elizabeth was okay with that.

Jack said Carly needed to understand him and take him seriously. Valentin tried to kill him twice. Carly said she was there. she’d saved his life in Germany. Jack said she’d drunk the poisoned champagne intended for him and he didn’t want to lose her. It was then he realized how deeply he was falling in love with her. She asked if he knew at that moment, but he said he’d always known. She was the smartest, most brilliant, sexiest woman he ever knew, and he didn’t want to lose her. That hadn’t changed. His phone dinged, and she said, work? He said, sorry. He couldn’t stay.

Jason asked if Britt wanted to go out with him tonight.

Jack promised to make it up to Carly, and she told him, go save the world. He said she was his world and she saved him. They kissed and she left. She looked sick in the hallway.

Sidwell said he was sorry to keep Ava waiting, and she told him that his purchase was complete. She’d run into his houseguest on her way out. He had every right to his privacy, but he could trust her. He said he wasn’t following, and she said she knew it was none of her business, but did he think it was a good idea helping Valentin Cassadine?

Hulk said Anna was coming to and told Pascal, stick to protocol. Keep his distance and always remember Anna was smarter than him. (Ha-ha!)

Anna yelled, asking who was keeping her there. What did they want? She struggled to get up and fell again. Watching through the window, Pascal said, bravo! He wouldn’t fall for her tricks again. He left.

Elizabeth told Brad that she didn’t think Britt was right for Jason, but it wasn’t their business. She thought it would end in disaster, but they couldn’t do anything about it. They shouldn’t do anything about it. Britt would resent Brad if he manipulated the situation. Be her friend. If she confided in him, listen, but otherwise, stay out of it.

Britt said, define out, and Jason said, going out somewhere together. Spending time together, just them. Britt wondered if he was going to interrogate her, but he said, no interrogation. She asked if it was about the kiss on New Year’s Eve, and he said it was. She said she wasn’t jumping into bed with him, but he said he didn’t expect her to. He liked seeing her on New Year’s Eve and would like to see her again.

Alexis said she knew she was putting her self-interest above everyone else’s and it was the last thing she should be doing, but Sonny said it didn’t matter why she wanted Willow to go free. She was a defense attorney and had to do her job to the best of her ability. But she was only one piece in the courtroom. The jury would tell her. If they came back and said Willow wasn’t guilty, at least she wasn’t a danger to the community. She said she hoped not, and he said he didn’t see Willow as capable of shooting Drew. She said, what if she did it? and Sonny said he thought there was a thin line between love and hate. Even good people could be pushed to do bad things.

Britt said she enjoyed New Year’s Eve too, and Jason said, so let’s go out on a date. She asked if it was an official date, and he said it was if it got her to say yes. When was she free? She told him that she hadn’t said yes yet. Where were they going? He said she’d have to trust him.

Ava said Valentin acted like he was Sidwell’s guest and knew she was his art dealer, and Sidwell asked if Valentin threatened her. She said, not at all. He was quite pleasant. She suspected he was lying and played along. Sidwell commended her for her cool head and discretion, and she wondered if Valentin had been hiding there all this time. He said he’d have security do a sweep, and she said, not the PCPD? He said he preferred to deal with such matters directly and not get the police involved unless absolutely necessary, and asked her not to mention she saw Valentin. She said, of course (🍷). She understood completely. He could count on her.

There was a knock at Jack’s door, and he opened it to hulk. He said, Director Cullum, please come in. They needed to discuss the Valentin situation. Cullum said they’d lost Anna Devane. (How careless of them!)

Carly gave Valentin her phone and told him what happened. She asked how his field trip to Windymere was, and he said Ava saw him. He asked if this was all she got, and she said it was all there was. He said that couldn’t be right, and she asked what he meant about Ava seeing him. He said he got in fine through the access tunnel he’d created, but when he’d searched for the existing tunnel system, the passageway had been blocked and sealed. Ava showed up, but he convinced her that Sidwell was allowing him to hide out there and he got out. Carly said this was a disaster, but he told her, relax. Her name didn’t come up and he wasn’t followed. The authorities already knew he was in Port Charles. It’s not like the situation had changed. Carly had heard Britt tell Jack that she’d be working at Windymere. Sidwell wasn’t going to want the police involved. Whatever he was hiding was on Spoon Island.

Anna struggled to get up and made it to the couch. She realized her nose was bleeding and said, oh God, no.

Thursday:

Jack asked what Cullum meant by losing Anna, and Cullum said she’d vanished on assignment. Jack asked the nature of her assignment, and Cullum said, here’s a hint. When Anna is in play, all roads lead to Cesar Faison.

Lulu brought James to the hospital with a head injury and Nathan showed up.

Emma told Gio that winter was not in the apartment.

Martin went to Laura’s office and said he’d had another incident involving Tracy.

Chase went to the solarium and said Yuri told him that Tracy wanted to see him. Tracy asked if he was cheating on her granddaughter.

Carly and Josslyn were at the hatchet range, and Carly said they hadn’t had a girls’ night in forever. Josslyn said it was the price they paid for busy schedules and asked, what was Carly’s excuse? Carly said between Bobbie’s and the MetroCourt, she’d been burning the candle at both ends. What about Josslyn? Josslyn said it was school, school, and more school. She threw a hatchet and got a bullseye, and Carly wondered when Josslyn got such great aim. Jason and Britt came in.

Carly said she couldn’t believe Jason and Britt were on a date, and Britt told Jason their date was ruined before it began. Carly was short circuiting and they were surrounded by weapons. Jason said he’d talk to Carly and say they were there together, and Britt said it was an official date. He said it didn’t matter what Carly thought, and Britt went to get drinks. Jason went over to Carly and said, get it out. She asked what the hell he was doing there with Britt.

Jack said Faison’s brain was in a jar and Anna knew this, but Cullum said his network lived on and was very much operational. Jack said reinstatement after expulsion was rare, and Cullum said Anna was unpredictable and volatile where Faison was concerned, but the higher ups believed she had inside knowledge. Jack said Anna had known Faison longer than anyone, and Cullum said the evidence suggested she’d disappeared by choice.

Emma told Gio that the thermostat was stuck on 86 and repair guys were working on it, but she wasn’t sure when it would be fixed. There was no reason they both had to sweat it out. Gio said it was like hot yoga without the yoga and asked if she remembered what she told him on the footbridge. She said, where you go I go, and he said, where you sweat, I sweat.

James said it was the best skating he’d ever done, and Lulu said until he took a header. She should have called Nathan first thing. Nathan said Officer Jeffers saw it and told him, when Isaiah came out. James said he was skating and fell, and Isaiah said they’d take x-rays, but first had to clean the wound and check for a concussion. He’d need a parent or guardian to sign the paperwork. He left with James, and Nathan followed. He asked if Lulu was coming.

Martin said he was on the patio and happened to hear Tracy and Michael, and Laura asked if he was waiting for them to invite him in. He said, they were talking about lying to the cops and perjuring themselves in court, and she said, he didn’t. He said of course (🍷) he did. It was his civic duty. Willow was innocent. Laura asked if Tracy knew, and he said Tracy was on the warpath. She said she loved him very much, but couldn’t take any more of him fighting with Tracy. It had to stop. He asked how she intended to stop it, and she said Tracy had to be dealt with head on.

Chase said, of course (🍷) not, and Tracy said, never or yet? He asked what she was talking about, and she said, Willow Cain. He’d conducted an investigation outside the parameters of his job and against Brook’s advice, then got suspended. He said he didn’t regret it. Willow was innocent and keeping the kids from her was wrong. Tracy said Willow was a grown woman with a good lawyer. His loyalty to Willow had to stop before it negatively impacted his marriage. He said her insinuating he’d cheat was ridiculous, when Brook walked in and asked what the hell was going on.

Tracy said she was telling Brook’s husband that she was concerned about their marriage, and Chase said Tracy had accused him of infidelity. Tracy said she hadn’t accused him, she’d questioned him, when her phone rang. Laura asked if she could stop by, and Tracy said she’d be right there.

Jason said he didn’t see how it affected Carly, and Carly said she didn’t want to see him heartbroken, but it was his call. Britt sat down with Josslyn and said she just wanted to have a good time. Josslyn said Carly and Jason were just talking, and Britt said about her and how wrong she was for Jason. She asked Josslyn to put a muzzle on Carly, but Josslyn said, no. And why would she do anything for Britt? Britt said maybe because she could tell Josslyn’s mom that she was a WSB agent secretly working for her mom’s boyfriend.

Jack said, Anna would never leave her granddaughter behind, but Cullum said Anna didn’t think rationally where Faison was concerned. Time and again she prioritized the mission over her family, especially if Faison was in the mix. Jack asked if he had evidence, and Cullum said the photo Jack had asked him to check out was a fake.

Emma told Gio that she was worried about her grandma. She’d missed the holidays completely, which was unlike her, and there was no indication of when she was coming back. He asked if anyone else had heard from her, and Emma said her parents got a short text on Christmas day. She didn’t think her grandma would be gone this long and she’d been feeling alone. Gio said she always had him.

In the exam room, Lulu found some lollipops and gave one to Nathan. She said she was sorry and felt responsible, but he said it was an accident, and accidents could happen anywhere with anyone, including him. It wasn’t James’s first time in the ER, and he guessed it wouldn’t be the last. Lulu was a good mom. She was wonderful with James and James trusted her. With Maxie away, that meant everything. Lulu said she’d always be there for James. It was more about paying it forward. She loved James, but Maxie had taken good care of her when she was in a coma, and she’d do anything to repay that debt.

Brook said she’d always have Chase’s back, and Chase said he’d never cheat ever. He wouldn’t even think about it. She said she knew that, but her grandmother wasn’t entirely wrong.

Emma said she’d been there a year, and Gio said her grandmother knew she could take care of herself. She said the secrecy thing felt off, and he said he was sure Anna had her reasons and would tell Emma when she got back. Until then, she had him to distract her. He picked up a bag and said, dinner? She said they could reschedule. The tropics weren’t for everyone. He told her that they’d said Bobbie’s and Hulu and that’s what they were going to do.

Jason said they were there to have a good time, and Carly said she didn’t like Britt for him. He said he felt the same way about Brennan, but his opinion didn’t matter, and she said Britt was involved in something dangerous. If he got hurt, Danny could lose the one parent he had left. He said she wasn’t wrong, but deep down, Britt was a good person even if she didn’t see it. She said Britt saved Josslyn and she did see it, but Britt was reverting to the old Britt, and he said, let her be tonight, please. She told him to stick to his target and she’d stick to hers.

Josslyn said she’d do her best to referee, but Britt and Jason could leave. They were there first. Britt asked where Josslyn’s boyfriend was – Mr. Nash – and Josslyn said he’d been reassigned. Britt said, savage, and Josslyn said Jack didn’t mess around. He got what he wanted whether you liked it or not.

Cullum told Jack that he needed to know what had been uncovered with Faison’s network in Port Charles.

Carly told Josslyn that she wanted Jason to be happy, but Britt was bad news. She was a wild card.

Britt threw a hatchet, getting close to the bullseye, and Jason asked if she’d been practicing. She said her last boyfriend was a lumberjack and thanked him for convincing her to stay. She was having a good time. He said he was too.

Emma made mojitos and thanked Gio for bringing dinner. He thanked her for inviting him. They’d be talking about this night for years to come. She said, cheers to that, and they clinked glasses. He said he had a confession to make. All summer long, when he saw her at the pool or anywhere, he wanted to do this. He kissed her.

Tracy arrived at Laura’s office and when she saw Martin, she said she might not have come if she’d known the company Laura was keeping. Martin said, always a pleasure, but Tracy said, never once on her end. He should be dealing with the inmates in Lodi. Laura said she thought it was time for Tracy to move forward with the fraud charges against her brother.

Brook said she didn’t doubt Chase’s love, and they put on a united front, but she wasn’t blind. It wasn’t him that she didn’t trust. It was Willow. They’d been close once. Chase said they were married, and she said, exactly. Willow knew him and was in the perfect position to play him. Willow was taking advantage of him and he didn’t see it. He said she must think he was a fool.

Nathan told Lulu that it wasn’t the first time James had gotten hurt and his reckless behavior couldn’t be a pattern. How did he enforce that… Lulu said, without crushing his adventurous spirit? Rocco thought he was invincible at James’s age. She tried to teach him to make better choices and trust him to put them into practice. Nathan said, and if he didn’t? and she said she had to follow through with consequences if her expectations weren’t met. He said he and James were just figuring out who they were to each other and he didn’t want to ruin it, but she said he wouldn’t. Children needed boundaries. It made them feel safe. Being away for a long time, she felt the same way about Rocco and Charlotte. He thanked her for the advice and said he’d see if he could follow through, and she said he had this.

Britt got a bullseye and so did Jason. They threw hatchets while there was a song part. Britt won the round and suggested they up the stakes. Jason asked what she had in mind, and she said, a wager. The loser owed the winner a kiss and the winner got to choose when to collect. He said she was on.

Josslyn asked if Carly ever thought her worry for Jason was tied up in how she felt about Jack. She was very hurt when Josslyn told her that Vaughn was a WSB agent and said Jack had been putting her in danger. Was she trying to make it right? Carly asked if Josslyn was saying she wanted to be right about Britt, and Josslyn said, maybe. Carly said she and Jack worked through their situation and were back on track. He wouldn’t lie to her again. Josslyn asked how she was sure, since he was a spy, and Carly asked how she knew so much about spies.

Jack told Cullum that his information was limited. He had pieces, but not the whole picture. Faison’s research had been linked to Sidwell and another unidentified partner. Dalton had also been linked to it, but was MIA, and two of Faison’s dead children had resurfaced. Possibly one of them had the key. Cullum said he’d asked for results, but Jack gave him theories. He demanded full disclosure. Jack said, with all due respect, Cullum wasn’t get answers from him.

Chase told Brook that Willow had been through hell. He was sorry the PCPD messed up, but he couldn’t stand by and do nothing. It wasn’t fair to Willow. Brook said Chase wasn’t responsible for that, but he said he had no tolerance for injustice. She said she loved that about him and wasn’t asking him to change. All she was asking was for him not to lose himself in this. For me, for us.

Martin said Laura wanted Tracy to turn him into the cops? but Laura said she wanted to put an end to the threats. She wanted Tracy to follow through and free him from all this. Tracy said she couldn’t. Then Ronnie would have to be prosecuted, and her family would never forgive her. Laura said, so how did they fix this? and Tracy said she’d handle Martin in her own way. Laura said the borderline blackmail had to stop, and Tracy said the anonymous tip Alexis received would have lasting repercussions to her family and made Michael vulnerable. Laura said it was truly unfortunate, but all Martin did was expose a lie and reveal the truth, not unlike what she did when she outed him and Ronnie. Martin was her brother and she loved him, but Tracy was her friend and they shared so much, like Lulu and Luke. She cared about them both very much and now that Doc and Ace weren’t there, she needed them to be in her life for reasons she couldn’t go into. She wanted them to stop fighting, for her. Don’t put her in the middle.

Nathan said he was relieved James was okay, but he scared Lulu and his sisters and cut into their fun time, and James said he knew if he asked, Lulu would have said no. Nathan said the point was, he didn’t ask because he knew the answer. He knew it was wrong, but did it anyway. Last year, the same thing happened and his grandma was scared and upset. He didn’t seem to be learning his lesson, so this time there would be consequences. No riding lessons with Cody for three weeks. They were just trying to keep him safe. James said his mom would say the same thing, and Nathan asked if he had something to say to Lulu. James said he was sorry, and Lulu said she was happy he was okay and hugged him.

Tracy said, fine. She’d look the other way for Laura, but if Martin ever crossed her family again, she would come at him with a wrath so fierce not even her great love for his sister would stop it. Martin said, understood, and Laura asked if they had a truce. Martin said it worked for him, and Tracy said, the best thing that ever happened to him was having Laura for a sister. She left, and Martin said she was right. Laura told him that she thought Tracy meant what she said. And she meant what she said. She loved him, but swore if he went after Tracy again, she wouldn’t lift a finger to help him.

Chase said he wouldn’t let anything or anyone come between him and Brook. She was the most important thing in his life, and he was sorry she felt otherwise. Brook said she didn’t. He was her safe place, and she was so grateful they could be honest. He said the hard conversations made them stronger, and she said they had so far. She loved him. He said he loved her too. She’d never know how much. They kissed.

Josslyn told Carly that she’d dated a spy. Everything she knew about them, she learned from Vaughn. He told her that lying was not what she’d thought it was. He didn’t want to lie to her. He wanted to tell the truth, but the truth wasn’t his to share anymore. At first, she thought he didn’t care about her, but it was the opposite. Because it hurt him, it proved he cared. Carly said Josslyn didn’t have to worry. Her eyes were wide open. She knew exactly who Jack was. They left.

Britt got another win, but Jason’s throw was a fail. She said she’d let him know when it was time to collect and asked if he wanted another round. He said, sure, and when she went to get the drinks, he got a bullseye.

Cullum said Jack would tell him what he knew, starting with Spoon Island. Did he have assets with eyes on Sidwell? Jack said there had been enough leaks already to justify caution. Agent Moreau’s actions nearly cost him two agents. He wouldn’t make that mistake again. So respectfully, he wasn’t divulging information on his assets. Cullum said that wasn’t what he wanted to hear, and Jack said he was aware and apologized. Let him concentrate on Spoon Island, while Cullum found Devane. Cullum left.

Gio asked if Emma was okay with this, and she thanked him for asking. He said, always, and she said, yes. He asked if she was sure, and she said she’d thought a lot about this. You, me, us. She was definitely okay with it. They got busy and there was a song part.

🫔 Friday’s Enchilada Barely Tasted…

Gio and Emma bask in the afterglow, and he asks what her beautiful smile is for. She says, nothing. She’s just really glad he’s here. They kiss.

Anna wakes, and says, what are you doing? Stop. I need a doctor. I don’t know who you are. You don’t know anything about my condition. Obrecht says, I know all about you, scarecrow.

At Alexis’s office, Trina says they know she was doing her job and had to defend her client to the best of her ability, but what they have trouble with is the truth and the fact it doesn’t matter to anyone. Willow can get away with everything. How is that justice? Kai says, unless she doesn’t believe them. They could see it then. How Willow’s ringtone isn’t the smoking gun for her like it is for them, so she doesn’t believe Willow shot Drew. Alexis says she actually does believe them.

Outside of Bobbie’s, Dante says, Chase must have left early this morning, and Chase says he had a meeting with IA. He owned up to everything. Dante says, good. He’s glad to hear it. Chase says he knows why Dante is pissed at him. He skated right up to the line. Dante says, yeah, he did, and Chase says, but he didn’t cross it. He needs Dante to know he’d never destroy evidence.

Nina goes to Drew’s house, and he says, it’s a little early, but she says, they don’t need to chat. She’s here for Willow. She’s surprising Willow with a day out. Drew says, listen… but Nina continues, they’re going shopping then maybe to see the new exhibit at The Chuck. Then lunch at the Port Charles Grill. She wants to take Willow’s mind off of the trial. Drew says, she should have called first, and Nina says she’s Willow’s mother. Is he saying she needs an appointment to see her own daughter? Drew says, she should have called because Willow’s not here.

Willow meets Michael at Café Cherie, and he thanks her for coming. She says she almost didn’t. The last time she accepted an invitation from him, she was dragged away in handcuffs in front of her children. What’s in store this time? Is he planning an encore with leg irons?

Gio asks if Emma is having second thoughts, and she asks if she looks like she’s having second thoughts. He says, no, but maybe she’s just being nice. She says, right. Because she’s such a people pleaser. She’s been ready to take this next step. What about him? Any regrets? He says, not a chance, and they get busy again.

Anna says, stop it. She needs a doctor. She needs her doctor. Obrecht says, for now, she is Anna’s doctor. Anna has polycythemia vera, which means they need to lower her red blood cell count. They don’t want a thrombotic incident. Anna asks, what happened to her? She knows they’re not friends… Obrecht says, no, they’re not, and Anna says, but they’re not enemies anymore either. Obrecht wouldn’t hurt her. Obrecht asks if she’s certain of that, and Anna says she is certain and she’s certain that Obrecht wouldn’t help these people. Obrecht says, she’s right. She wouldn’t have moved Anna here, but then, he insisted. Anna says, no. He’s dead. Cesar Faison is dead. Obrecht says they know better than that. He can fool the whole world, but not the two of them. They both know he can survive anything, and he has. Anna says, after everything that man did to Obrecht. He tormented her. Obrecht says, you only hurt the ones you love and sometimes you hurt for them. She has to do whatever he needs doing for him. Anna asks, why? She doesn’t understand. Obrecht says, he will never let Anna go.

Obrecht finds Britt at the hospital and says, it’s good to see her acclimating to her rightful position. Britt thanks her, and Obrecht asks how soon before she returns to her former appointment and is running the place? Britt says, what? and Obrecht says, Dr. Robinson’s situation left a power vacuum and she’s the natural choice to fill it. Britt says, Portia wasn’t fired, and Obrecht says, not yet, but it’s only a matter of time, but Britt says she doesn’t know. She’s in a good mood. Obrecht says, of course (🍷), now that I’m here, but Britt says, that’s not what she… She doesn’t want to spoil her mood by fighting with Obrecht today. Obrecht says, today is her lucky day. She’s not here to fight. She’s here for Rocco.

Alexis says she looked into what Trina and Kai told her and unfortunately, it checked out, and Trina asks why she didn’t do anything, especially since they had evidence of Willow’s guilt. Alexis says, it’s evidence she can’t admit. It’s the prosecution’s job to prove Willow guilty, not hers. Willow is entitled to a lawyer who will defend her presumption of innocence, just like anybody else, and even if Willow confessed, she wouldn’t be able to say anything, since she’s not the police, judge, or jury. Trina says she doesn’t know how Alexis does it, defending someone when she knows they’re guilty, and Alexis says she has to defend her clients to the best of her ability whether they’re innocent or guilty. Trust her. She’d much prefer they were innocent, but they can see that’s not always the case. She had to make the strongest argument for Willow’s freedom, and she’ll do the same for both of them, if and when they choose to go to the police.

Drew tells Nina that Willow went for a walk. She said she needed to get some fresh air. He offered to go with her, but she said she preferred to be alone. She wanted to think. Nina wonders if Willow needed to get away from him, and he says he’ll be sure to tell Willow that she stopped by. She says, do that, and sits down. She says she’s sorry she missed her daughter, but she’s glad they have a moment alone. He says he has nothing to say to her, but she says she does, so he can just listen. She wants to thank him. He’s done a great deal for her daughter and she appreciates it. He says, that’s interesting. She’s never shown any appreciation for anything he’s done for Willow in the past, like loving her, asking her to move in, and marry… Nina says she’s talking about the trial. He hired Alexis to defend Willow. He says, with the right incentive, Alexis came through, and she says, Alexis did her very best, but if after all this, they still don’t get the verdict they’re hoping for, she would ask him to let her take care of her daughter from now on. He asks what she means. Does she want to bake a cake with a file in it? Nina says she means they tried it his way. Now it’s time to do it her way.

Chase says he loves his job and cares about getting his badge back, but it’s not just about that, and Dante says, what else is it about? Chase says, you and me. They were partners and they are family. Dante’s got to know he didn’t tamper with the evidence. Dante says he believes Chase, but they still need proof. He still has to investigate what happened. Chase says he understands that, and Dante says he needs to also understand that the traffic cam footage puts Willow in the vicinity of Drew’s house at the time of the shooting. Chase says he gets that, but Michael was also in the vicinity, and Dante says, he was, and he understands Chase believes Willow is innocent. Chase says he does, and Dante says he needs to know how far Chase would go to protect her. Just like he needs to figure out how far he went to protect his brother.

Michael asks if Willow showed up just to relitigate the past. He’s not interested in doing that. She says, that’s what the custody hearing is for, and he says, actually, that’s what he wanted to talk about. He wants them to put aside their personal issues for now and focus on Wiley and Amelia. She says, that’s all she ever wanted, and he says, they have time while the jury is still out. She says, to do what? and he says, discuss what happens with the kids if she’s found guilty. She says they’ve got to do that, and he says, yeah, you and me, together.

Britt asks why Obrecht wants to talk about Rocco, and Obrecht says, Rocco joined his school’s hockey team. She wants to buy season tickets so they can attend. They just posted the schedule, and she thought she’d purchase jerseys with Rocco’s name on them. Britt says, presumably to wear at home where no one can see them, especially Rocco, and Obrecht says she wants to also get them two custom made giant polyurethane fingers. Waving them about is an odd custom, but very effective. Britt says, yeah, if you want to embarrass yourself and the person you’re waving them about for, but Obrecht says she doesn’t wish to embarrass anyone. She’s simply looking forward to cheering Rocco on in the rink. Britt asks if Rocco’s told her that he wants her there. Did he ask her to buy fingers and jerseys? Obrecht asks why he’d have to. They love him and this is how they show support. Britt says, maybe she’d be showing the opposite. It makes no sense. No one in Rocco’s family wants them to be there. Obrecht says, they are Rocco’s family, and Britt says, except, not exactly. Why make Rocco’s life more stressful than it has to be? Obrecht will do what she wants, but as for her, she thinks it’s better if she kept her distance from Rocco.

Nina says she’s not really judging or complaining how Drew and Alexis managed the initial defense, but if Willow is found guilty, she wants her lawyers to handle the appeal process. Drew says he’s going to do her a huge favor, and she says, okay, fine. He needs this and it would be noble of him to hand over the reins…  He says, not that. He’s never going to tell Willow that they had this conversation. She’ll never know that her own mother was hoping she’d be convicted, so she could swoop in and save the day.

Trina says, Alexis told them not to go to the police, that they’d be tried for trespassing and obstruction, and Alexis says, that’s right and they probably still would be. Kai tells her that it feels like she’s saying it’s the only way for them to share what they know about Willow… and Alexis says, if they’d stayed on the scene, not taken anything out of the safe, and went straight to the police, the situation would be different, but they didn’t. Kai says, couldn’t they have made some kind of deal? and Alexis says, maybe. If they’d come to her sooner, she might have set them up with Diane or Marco and they could have gone to Turner and struck a deal immediately as an exchange for evidence, but that didn’t happen. Trina says, there’s no verdict yet. There has to be something they can do. Kai says they should have just stayed on the scene. Then it would have been an open and shut case. Alexis says, not necessarily. Keep in mind that Turner thought circumstantial evidence was enough. She didn’t think she needed an eyewitness to swing the jury. Kai says, and she thinks there’s still a chance that could be true? but Alexis says she doesn’t know. Which is why she’s advising them not to do anything. Wait for the verdict, then decide what to do. Trina says, what about Michael? If Willow is found not guilty, will Michael be prosecuted next?

Michael says, a lot happened to him in his childhood that messed him up, and Willow says she remembers. He says he tried to hide that part in himself and thinks he’s gotten pretty good at it, but still feels it every day. He knows she suffered growing up. She says, it’s true she has ghosts too, and he says, there’s not much they agree on these days, but he knows she doesn’t want their kids to carry the same kind of damage that was inflicted on them. He knows she doesn’t want them to carry the things they do. She says, of course (🍷) she doesn’t. She wants them to feel safe and loved. She never wants them to feel the desperate need to make things right and please someone at all costs. She wants them to feel secure and sure of themselves. He says he wants that too, and she says, so what exactly is he asking? Why is she here? He says, there are programs for incarcerated mothers with young children. They’re afforded special visiting hours and granted greater exposure to their kids. He promises he’ll make sure she gets to see and speak to Wiley and Amelia as much as possible. She says she wishes they’d made that arrangement months ago. So what is he proposing they do now? He says he thinks they should tell the kids where she’s going together. He wants them to know they both love them and want what’s best for them. She says, to be clear, he’ll let her have access to her kids if she goes to prison, and he says, yes. It’s taken too much of a toll on them as it is. Can they please be together on this? She says, they can, but just one question. What if she doesn’t go to prison? What happens to all this unity if she’s found not guilty?  

Gio brings out some pastry boxes and says he just keeps expecting to hear Emma’s grandmother walk through the front door. Emma says she wouldn’t worry about it too much. Don’t get her wrong. When her grandmother first left, she kept everything exactly as it was – perfect and pristine, just in case. She just got used to living alone. He asks if she’s sure about that, and she says, yeah. This place is great and she loves the perks. And trust her, it’s a lot easier not to wake the neighbors than not to wake her grandmother. He says, she’s a cop and a spy. She probably sleeps with one eye open. Emma says, exactly… and he says, what? She says, as embarrassing as it would be if her grandmother came home right now… He says, she misses her, doesn’t she? and Emma says, yeah. She really does. He kisses her.

Obrecht asks if Rocco wants Britt to keep her distance, but Britt says she wouldn’t know. She hasn’t heard from him since he texted that he community service after the break-in. Obrecht says, wunderbar, and Britt says, it’s better than jail time, but Obrecht says she means Rocco wanting to share his good news with her. Britt says she guesses, and Obrecht says, no guessing. It’s a lovely moment with a child and the woman who gave him life. What did she text back? Britt says she told him that she was happy he was okay, and Obrecht says, and? Britt says, and nothing, and Obrecht says, that’s it?: Not even a thumbs up emoji? Britt says, Lulu is on the warpath and doesn’t want Rocco to have anything to do with her, and Obrecht says, so she knows what Lulu wants. What does Rocco want? Britt says she’s not going to force herself on the kid, but Obrecht says, she’s his birth mother. Britt says she was his surrogate, but Obrecht says, she’s more than that. We are more than that. Rocco is alive and exists because of her. She brought him into the world. That’s why he needs to know he matters to both of them, mostly her, because she’s his mother. Britt says she doesn’t know about that, and Obrecht says, that’s fine. Because she does.

Nina says she’s pretty sure that Willow will be grateful that she stepped in after Drew led her to the brink of a life sentence with his crack legal strategy. Drew says, Willow will be found innocent because of him, and she says, being found innocent is not a thing, but she might be found not guilty in spite of him. He coerced Alexis to put him on the stand to stroke his own ego, and instead of defending his wife, he attacked Michael. Drew says, he deserved it, but Nina says, Drew came off unhinged. The only good thing that came out of it was, everyone could see why so many people wanted to shoot him twice in the back. He says, she’s delusional, and she says, her daughter had to testify. Why does he think that is? Oh wait. She had to clean up his mess. Because if Alexis would have rested her case after his sorry performance, the jury would have come back with a verdict, and her daughter would be headed to prison. Drew says he’s the only one Willow can count on. He’s the one who got Alexis in line. She says, in line? Alexis basically said Willow was guilty to the jury in her closing statement. He says, it was a slip of the tongue, and she says, it threw Willow’s defense in jeopardy. She is not having her daughter spend twenty years of her life in prison because she had the bad taste and misfortune of hooking up with him.

Dante tells Chase that he’s going over the case again, starting with the night of the shooting. He’s going over the physical evidence and seeing if there’s anything he missed and anything he might have missed implicating Michael as the shooter. Chase says, good. It’s the right thing to do. Dante says, it could go either way. It could mean either Michael or Willow could be the shooter. Chase says, sounds like reasonable doubt to him, and Dante says, it is… until it’s not. Chase says, maybe for Michael, but right now, only Willow is on trial. If the verdict goes against her, promise not to stop investigating. The only way they can set aside a guilty verdict is if they can prove Michael did it. (Because there were no other suspects. <sigh>)

Alexis says, a lot has to happen before Michael is held responsible for Drew’s shooting, and Trina says, but it could happen. Alexis says, the courts don’t like hunting expeditions. The court wants the prosecution’s ducks all in a row in the first trial. If there’s a second trial, the new defendant will have to be ironclad. Forget reasonable doubt. No doubt at all. Trina asks if she’s saying it won’t happen, and Alexis says she’s not psychic. She doesn’t know if it will or it won’t. Kai says, if it does and they come forward… Trina says, then Michael could get off the hook, and Alexis says she still stands by her advice to do nothing until the jury comes back. Then they can decide. She leaves.

Willow asks Michael to answer one question. Is he open to revisiting custody… Not even custody, visitation if she’s found not guilty. Or does she have to go to prison to see her kids. Michael says, that’s an entirely different discussion and she knows why. She says, because she married Drew, and he says he doesn’t want his kids anywhere near that man. She says, whatever happens, they need to put their children first and put their hurt and anger aside. Can he do that? Her phone rings, and she says, it’s the courthouse… Hello… Yes… Thank you for letting me know. She tells Michael, the jury is in. They’ve reached a verdict.

Turner tells Dante that she got a call from IA. Before a decision is made about Detective Chase’s reinstatement, they need to know exactly how that footage disappeared. Because as far as she’s concerned, Chase still is the most likely suspect. Dante says he’s thinking that right now all they can do is wait until Internal Affairs finishes their job.

At the courthouse, Trina says she wishes they could tell Michael what they know, and Kai says he thinks Alexis is right. There’s not much they can do right now. However, there is one thing he can say. He goes over to Michael and says, Mr. Corinthos, I hope I’m not overstepping. He was in the courtroom during the congressman’s testimony, and Drew has been good to him, but that doesn’t mean he agrees with anything Drew said. Michael thanks him and says, that means a lot. They shake hands as Drew walks in and sees.

Obrecht says she and Britt belong at the games. Rocco deserves to look into the stands and see Britt cheering him on like the maniac she knows Britt can be. Britt says she’s been called a lot of things, but maniac… No. She could definitely pull that off. Obrecht says, even a more restrained Britt without a foam finger and jersey deserves to be at Rocco’s games. She has the right to watch Rocco doing something he love. She has the right to be proud. Britt says she wants to be there. She wants to be part of Rocco’s life, but doesn’t want to make life harder for him. Obrecht says, she is his mother. It’s an inevitable part of the job description. Britt says, not like this, it isn’t, and Rocco already has a mother, one who wants her to stay far, far away from him. Obrecht says, Britt carried him and gave birth to him, two things Lulu was physically and medically incapable of doing, and Britt says, that part is true, leaving out a couple of things that really matter to Lulu. Obrecht says, whether Lulu likes it or not, Britt matters to Rocco. So she needs to make him a priority. Take her advice. Don’t repeat the mistakes she made with her.

Emma says she knows her grandmother is out there somewhere, doing her duty, saving the world, and that’s great. Gio says, it really is, and Emma says, but she wishes her grandmother would just wrap it up and come home. He says, even though she drove Emma crazy? and Emma says, she did, especially at first. Her grandmother was always wondering where she was at, what she was doing, who she was with, and her grandmother didn’t trust her at all. He says, well… and she says, they know she lied and got expelled after committing a couple of minor infractions… which she has now committed on both coasts. But as someone who’s spent decades in espionage, she thinks her grandmother has seen a lot worse. He says, that is such a low bar and she’s Anna’s granddaughter. She says, yeah. She’d love nothing more than to tell her grandmother about her life. She really just wants to tell her about him. He says, what exactly does Emma want to tell her? and she playfully shoves him, saying, relax. She’ll keep this part to herself. He says, good. He doesn’t want to get on Anna’s bedside. She could probably kill him with her thumb. Emma says, she totally could, and he says, you know what? She’ll be back soon. She says, he thinks so? and he says, she’d better be. His Grandpa Sonny is itching to have Emma over for dinner and wants her to bring Anna. He wants to do the whole deal with the four of them. Emma says she’d love that. All she wants to do is call her grandmother and tell her to come home. Anyway, she takes it that things are going good with Sonny. He says, yeah. Things are great. He’s a great guy and super easy to live with. She says, counting his blessings, and he says, yeah. Still, at some point he’s got to find a place of his own. She asks if Sonny said that or… and he says, Sonny wouldn’t. He just needs someplace where he’s not crashing, like with her, his grandfather, and the Quartermaines. She says, great. He knows what he doesn’t want. Any thoughts about what he does want to do?

A woman in scrubs leaves Anna’s room, and Pascal asks how Anna is. The woman says, she’s stabilized. The phlebotomy treatment was successful. He asks how she responded to the other treatment, and the woman says, just as he’d hoped. Anna was convinced that she was Dr. Obrecht. He says, good. That means they’re ready for the next phase.

In the courtroom, Chase thanks Alexis for everything she did for Willow. She went to bat for Willow and he knows why. Alexis says, he does? and he says, she knows Willow couldn’t do what she’s accused of. She just couldn’t. Drew wonders where Willow is and asks if Nina has heard from her. Nina says, no, she hasn’t, and he says he doesn’t understand. There’s just no way she’d turn off her phone while they’re waiting for the verdict. Nina says, maybe she panicked and ran off, but Drew says, she knows nothing about her daughter, and Willow walks in.

Obrecht says she was furious when Britt disappeared and left her to grieve her death, and Britt says she hasn’t forgotten. But is it over? Obrecht says, not entirely. Some rage and disappointment linger. Mostly, she’s sad. Britt says, why sad? Anger she can understand. Betrayal even. But why sad? Obrecht says, Britt felt she needed to run away from her. She missed her chance to be a real mother to her when it mattered most. Britt says, that’s not true. Obrecht was there for her when she died. Obrecht says, she didn’t die, and Britt says, but she didn’t know that. When she closed her eyes for what she thought was the last time, all that was left was peace… and her. She never needed her more than at that moment and she was there. Obrecht says, it’s the least she could have done, the very least. She wasted so much of her life on Cesar, neglecting her in the process. Britt learned over and over again that the only person she could trust was herself. Why would that change when she was facing her own death?

Gio tells Emma that he could go back to PCU. There’s still time to register for spring classes. She says she doesn’t want to influence him one way or another, but that would be great, and he says, then he wouldn’t have a scholarship. That means he’ll have to ask Grandpa Sonny to help out with tuition. So… She says, he really doesn’t want to go back to music? and he says he’s not ready to make that call. Not yet at least. She’s says, that’s okay. Tons of people go to college, and they don’t know what they want to do with their lives. He says, that’s the thing. He did. He thought he knew. He had no doubt that music was going to be in his life, but now… She says, he’s lucky music was his passion then. Not everyone has that. She knows she certainly didn’t. He says, really? She’s such an activist. She says, you can’t exactly major in animal rights, but you can in veterinary medicine. He says, what? She wants to be a vet? That’s great. How long has she known? She says she just decided. Not right this second, but recently. It took a long time for her to figure it out. He says, it was definitely worth the wait, and she says, think so? It’s a really competitive field. He says, and she shies away from competition. She says she’s a total wallflower. He’s right anyway. She felt like it was time for her to declare a major. All she’s ever wanted to do is help animals. He says he knows. He’s seen her in action. She’s been amazing. She thanks him and says, the point is, she didn’t always know what she wanted to do either. He says he gets that. It’s just hard to picture going back to doing anything that’s not music. She says she thinks that’s why going back is a great thing. He can take a bunch of new classes and can find a new passion. He says, it’s not as easy as she’s making it sound, and she says, nothing worthwhile is. He’s smart and capable. They rescued ten dogs from Dalton’s lab. She thinks they can find a couple of classes for him to take. He says she’s hard to say no to, and she says, good. She promises him that they’re going to find the next thing together.

Willow apologizes for cutting it close, and Drew asks, where was she? but the bailiff says, all rise. Judge Sullivan says, be seated, and tells the bailiff to bring in the jury. The jury files in and the judge asks if they’ve reached a verdict. The forewoman says they have, and gives the verdict to the bailiff, who gives it to the judge.

Gio says, if anyone is going to help him figure out what to do next, it’s Emma, and she says he’s just telling her that she’s super pushy, isn’t he? He says, the night he found out about his birth parents, he went back to the Quartermaines to grab his stuff. He didn’t have anywhere to go, and she said they’d figure it out. And they did. She says, because you never know how things are going to turn out. Just like how she thought they’d just be friends… best friends. He says, they’re like besties? and she says she’s just trying to tell him that she wasn’t sure he’d ever return her feelings. He says, look how wrong she is, and they kiss.

Obrecht says she wasted so much of her life on Cesar. Her children, especially Britt, deserved more from her. Now Cesar is nothing but a brain in a jar. Britt says, yes, he is, and Obrecht says, he’s not a priority. Her priority is her family. Britt, her brother, and Rocco, genetics be damned. Britt says she doesn’t know how many games she can make, but order her a jersey, and Obrecht says she already did. They laugh and hug, and Britt asks what Obrecht knows about ice hockey. Obrecht says, only that you can never see the puck. Their boy will be playing, and they’ll be there to cheer him on.

Anna says, Liesl? Are you still here? She sees an ashtray with a cigarello in it, still burning. She sits up, and over the loudspeaker, Faison’s voice says, Anna. Don’t be afraid. I’ve been watching over you.

Judge Sullivan reads the verdict (sneak preview perk!) and returns it to the bailiff. The bailiff hands it back to the forewoman, and the judge says, Willow Tait, please rise. Willow stands and he says, proceed. The forewoman says, we, the jury, find Willow Tait not guilty. Soap looks all around.

On Monday, Alexis says she came through for Drew and expects the same in return; Turner says, thanks to Chase’s interference, he may be the one who ends up in prison; and Sonny says he’s going to make sure Michael doesn’t go down for this.

🧼 All the Soap News Fit To Print…

The latest in Directors.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/general-hospital-comings-goings-andrew-hawkes-debuts-as-wsb-director-ross-cullum-sidwells-accomplice/

What Anna has.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/what-blood-cancer-does-anna-have-on-general-hospital-her-polycythemia-vera-diagnosis-explained/

Why they chose her.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/general-hospitals-head-writers-reveal-why-they-chose-willow-as-drews-shooter-exclusive/

Welcome back!

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/general-hospital-comings-goings-carolyn-hennesy-returns-as-diane-says-fans-got-me-through-injury-excl/

I’m so psyched!

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/general-hospital-comings-and-goings-shocker-anders-hove-returns-as-cesar-faison-but-with-a-twist/

Phase one of Tony Geary tribute.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/general-hospital-sets-date-for-anthony-geary-tribute-featuring-genie-francis/

Still to be determined.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/general-hospital-is-working-on-a-story-to-honor-tristan-rogers-and-robert-scorpio-says-exec/

💉 A Dose Of Reality…

Below Deck Mediterranean

In a nutshell, Max does not want to listen to Nathan who is his actual boss. It was at the point where they argued loudly within earshot of the guests, which is a huge no and pissed off Captain Sandy. I would hate working with Max, although he does counterbalance his lack of work ethic by being a stellar boatmancer with Cathy. Too bad Cathy isn’t ready for commitment conversations. Worse than anything, even the weather, was Eyebrows Joe and Kizzy. I don’t care how much Joe weeps and wails in his interviews, he’s a d-bag and he found his d-bag person on this boat. Even Nathan had to tell him to cool his jets, and Kizzy doesn’t even pretend to be sorry. There was a big to-do with Cathy about chicken nuggets at the end, but I didn’t get it.

The Real Housewives Of Salt Lake City  

It was the Reunion Part 1, and I’d like to know what was up with several of the women wearing prom dresses. Since they’d reached 100 episodes, we went down Memory Lane. There were receipts, proof, timelines, and screenshots, and Lisa informed us that she did big things with big people and guess what? She was a big deal. It was determined that Heather and Mary had changed the most. While I concur that Mary is a newer, more pleasant version of herself, Heather’s changes were more of the Ozempic variety and she’s also become snarkier.

Vanderpump Rules

At a photo shoot for TomTom merch, LVP found out that not only had a couple of SUR employees and a friend of Audrey’s caused mayhem at TomTom – screaming, crying, and ripping things down – Jason had a penis pump. I should have kept count at how many times they said penis pump throughout the show because they never shut up about it. Seriously, when is this season over and can we reboot the reboot?

Southern Charm

After Salley went out and got a whole set-up to raise chickens, with Craig’s encouragement, she decided to confess she was catching feelings for him while they were at the grocery store. Craig made it clear they were just friends, and admitted to the guys later that he’d invited Salley to his hot tub just so Charley would come along. Charley felt guilty about her date with Craig, but not so guilty that she wasn’t going to go. Madison had a girls’ sleepover, where Salley told them about her conversation with Craig, and Venita left, insulted by something Salley said. The guys crashed the sleepover, sans Craig. When Austen spilled the tea about Craig talking smack about Salley (for some reason he’s pissed at her now), Salley said she realized Craig had been manipulating both of them and Charley would eventually realize it. She wished Craig was there so she could slap him in the face. I often think this while watching the show, so I identified.

And in a Venita update, on Watch What Happens Live, she said she and Carl (Summer House) are taking it one day at a time.

Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills

Still in Sedona, the women had to cook for themselves. Oh, the horror! There was a lot of discussion about Sutton and Avi. Apparently, a friend of Amanda’s said she should give Avi a call and he’d give her the dirt on Sutton. And if she hired Avi, it would really piss Sutton off. Amanda is working my last nerve already. Not only is she a person who flaunts labels – nothing wrong with designer pieces, but not glaringly obvious head-to-toe – she consistently talks about how much she has and how much her stuff cost. She also claims to have manifested her Abercrombie model boyfriend. Hey, if manifestation was a real thing, I’d be a skabillionaire by now. Anyway, this woman is seriously rubbing me the wrong way. Sadly, Jennifer told Kyle that she thought one of the reasons Garcelle left was because it was always about Sutton. This made me feel bad because Jennifer and Sutton seem to be such good friends and it sounds like cracks are forming. I’m also not so sure that’s true. Who it’s about seems to depend on the storylines focused on. Of course I don’t hang out with Sutton personally, but as long as she pays for lunch, it can be about her all she wants.

The Valley: Persian Style

The new people aren’t firmly implanted in my brain yet and I continue to mix them up, so I’m grateful to hear Reza J., the other non-white Reza, being called RJ. When newbie Sky had a trunk show of her jewelry in the backyard, a bored Golnesa fired up a joint, causing Sky to nearly have a coronary. Now, no judgement whatsoever – and she did say it kept the crazy away – but I have to agree she should have asked first. Sky was freaking so hard, I actually looked up to see if it was illegal or something, but no. However, I do get doing the polite thing. Same with smoking a cigarette. When you’re at someone else’s house, you don’t just put your feet up on their coffee table like at home.  Golnesa met with Dennis, who she was married to for two weeks before it was annulled. After which he wasted no time hooking up with her best friend. Alrighty then. Since she needed to move, Reza suggested Golnesa downsize, but she told him that she wouldn’t live south of the Boulevard because it’s not safe. I dunno. I think anyone that tried anything with her would be the one who wasn’t safe.

Random Reality Items

I actually saw this episode last night. While I think it’s been made a bigger deal than it should be and I honestly don’t think he meant it in a derogatory way, that’s not my call to make.

A little confusing, but it sounds like she’s actually doing well, despite having bad days.

This sounds promising.

Aww, congrats!

👀 Last Weekend’s Watch…

Borderline. Amazon Prime, Peacock. Believing they’re destined to be together, an obsessive, deranged fan enters the home of a pop star uninvited and planning to marry her. He’s brought along two cohorts who have broken out of the asylum with him and are helping him in his pursuit of love. There are some fun and action-filled moments, but I have to agree with the reviewer who said it left them feeling like there should have been more.

https://www.movieinsider.com/m21788/borderline

https://nofspodcast.com/borderline-review-a-twisted-thriller-that-doesnt-quite-cut-deep-enough

Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale. Peacock, Amazon Prime. Unlike one reviewer below, I didn’t find the first two films pointless, but more an extension of the series, of which I was a fan. I resisted watching it for a long time until one hung over New Year’s Day where I caught some episodes on PBS, decided it wasn’t bad, and got a free DVD boxed set of the entire series when I made a mere $300 donation. Hey, I said I was hung over, and it was/is a good cause. In this final film, a lot of attention is paid to Mary being a divorcée, which gets her disinvited to many events. But the times, they are a changing. A lot of the staff is retiring or moving on, and a subplot concerning Robert passing the estate torch to Mary. A visit by Noel Coward, with Thomas in tow, brings everyone together. It was a delightful, fitting ending to a wonderful story.

Great photos.

Juror #2. HBO MAX. Yeah, I know, late to this party. It’s been on my short list for a while. The plot is simple, but the twists and turns are not. A man is on trial for a hit and run, and juror #2 thinks it might be him who’s guilty. Anything with Toni Colette in it is worth watching, and this film doesn’t disappoint.

https://mamasgeeky.com/2025/01/juror-2-review.html

htting gops://www.pluggedin.com/movie-reviews/juror-number-2-2024/

Suddenly Amish. TLC, HBO MAX. I had to laugh when I saw the name of this show. It sounds like they woke up Amish or something. What’s sudden about it is the fact that none of these people, with the exception of one Amish afficionado, knows a damn thing about the culture and their beliefs. They seem to be surprised at every aspect of it that even the average person knows, like they don’t show a lot of skin and don’t use electricity. News flash. There are ways of living off the grid that don’t involve going full-on bonnet and carriage.

https://www.tlc.com/shows/suddenly-amish

https://www.tvinsider.com/gallery/suddenly-amish-cast-season-1-tlc-photos/

🐉 Beyond the Wall…

I’ll believe it when I see it, but I live in hope.

https://ew.com/jon-snow-game-of-thrones-sequel-reportedly-revived-hbo-11886345

I didn’t like the ending either, but remaking it is ridiculous.

https://ew.com/game-of-thrones-kit-harington-genuinely-angered-fan-petition-remake-final-season-11883974

And while we’re on the subject.

https://nerdist.com/article/a-knight-of-the-seven-kingdoms-review/

🏆 As the Globe Spins…

The wins.

https://ew.com/2026-golden-globes-winners-full-list-11881675

 The fashion.

https://ew.com/golden-globes-2026-red-carpet-photos-11882596

The best and worst moments.

https://ew.com/golden-globes-2026-best-and-worst-moments-11883217

🐶 They’re the Top…

🐕 I’ve been to this a few times. The best moment was when a Golden Retriever pooped in the ring. We applauded.

https://caninechronicle.com/breaking-news/over-30000-champion-dogs-from-all-over-the-world-to-compete-at-the-historic-150th-westminster-kennel-club-dog-show-january-31-february-2-3-in-new-york-city/

🪞 Pfft! The Kardashians got nothing on these dogs.

https://nypost.com/2026/01/16/lifestyle/westminster-kennel-club-dog-show-2026-behind-the-scenes-with-the-glammest-dogs/

🥍 And what’s a show without a flyball tournament?

https://caninechronicle.com/breaking-news/fan-favorite-flyball-tournament-returns-for-milestone-150th-westminster-kennel-club-dog-show/

🎰 Quotes of the Week

I just wanna say, this award goes to people who have had their doors closed at them, and that I can confidently say rejection is redirection. And so never give up, and you know, it’s never too late to shine like you were born to be. – Ejae, accepting the Golden Globe for KPop Demon HuntersGolden

You can only grow if you are willing to feel awkward and uncomfortable when you try something new. – Brian Tracy

I’m not as young as I used to be. I was never as young as I used to be.Jennifer Tilly, The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills

Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow; it empties today of its strength. – Corrie ten Boom

Those who do not find time for exercise will have to find time for illness. – Earl of Derby (I don’t have time for illness either.)

One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well. – Virginia Woolf

Sounds like a coronary. Just walk it off. – Coronado Elder (Brian Thompson), Fallout

🛷 A Lingering Season…

Until next time, stay safe; stay taking care of your health during flu season; and stay remembering you never know how things are going to turn out.

January 9, 2025 – GH Weekdays, Trina & Kai Make a Decision, Soap Suds, This Week In Reality, Weekend Watching, Nominations, Premieres, Wagging Soon, Quotes Of Five Twice, Take a Breath & Valley

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

📰 Dailies now trimmed back a bit.

General Hospital

🥢 Weekday Nibbles…                                                                      

Monday: 

Laura told Doc that she thought he needed to take the position in Dublin.

Britt told Portia that her medical license had been reinstated, so unless Portia preferred a different doctor, she was taking over the case. Curtis showed up for Portia’s appointment.

Jack and Carly met at Bobbie’s, and she asked if he’d found Valentin, but he said he was starting to think Valentin wasn’t in Port Charles.

Valentin flashed back to Charlotte’s visit and was bummed.

Danny found Charlotte at the stables, and she said she wanted to take Hades out for a run. Danny wasn’t buying it, and she admitted that she was sneaking off to see her dad.

Jacinda met Kristina outside Bobbie’s, and Kristina said she needed to leave town immediately.

Josslyn came to the courthouse to support Michael, who said things weren’t looking too good for Willow.

Drew berated Alexis for going after Portia and said he hoped her time with Scout inspired her to point the jury to the real shooter. She said she’d do her best to convince the jury that the person who should be on trial was Michael.

Curtis had reservations about Britt, and Britt said it was Portia’s decision to make. Curtis asked for a word in private with Portia, who told him that Britt was an excellent doctor. He said he wanted to know was if it was possible for Portia to have the paternity test done today.

Jack said Charlotte had been under constant surveillance, but he thought Valentin was regrouping, plotting revenge, and possibly recruiting others to help him. Carly wondered who on earth would help Valentin.

Charlotte told Danny about Valentin being at Carly’s and seeing him on Christmas Eve. She thought she could sneak through the woods with Hades, but Danny said it was a bad idea. He had another option though.

Alexis asked Dante if Michael hadn’t been one of the first suspects, and Dante said Michael had a contentious relationship with Drew. She asked about Michael’s alibi, and Dante said Michael had been with Jacinda and Jacinda had confirmed it, but there were no witnesses. Alexis didn’t understand why they’d only scrutinized Willow. Was it because Michael was his brother? Turner objected.

Jacinda said she had to show up in court, but Kristina said she needed to leave town. If Jacinda went to court, it wouldn’t go well for her or Michael. She gave Jacinda a backpack containing enough cash to start a new life.

Laura told Doc about Charlotte running into Sidwell and said he had to get Ace out of harm’s way by taking the job in Dublin and bringing Ace. Doc wanted her to come, but she said she had to stay.

Danny took Charlotte through the woods on his bike.

Jack told Carly that he wanted to make up for New Year’s Eve, when Emma interrupted. She needed to get in touch with her grandma.

Alexis said they were exploring a third-party culprit, and the judge overruled, but advised her to stick to the facts. She asked if Dante had attempted to intervene when Michael had been convicted of manslaughter, and Dante said he had.

Jacinda asked if Michael knew, but Kristina said no, and it was for his own good. She’d seen something she wasn’t supposed to see, and Jacinda figured it was something from Alexis. Kristina said she knew Jacinda and Michael cared for each other and maybe they could get together in the future, but for now, Jacinda couldn’t be there.

Turner made sure the jury knew Anna had been Commissioner at the time, and Dante explained how he’d gotten Michael to turn himself in. Michael had been underage, but convicted as an adult, and he’d asked for a lesser sentence. Alexis called Boyle to the stand.

Portia said, no, and Curtis asked, what changed? She said a paternity test was too stressful and that would negatively impact the baby. At this point, she’d gotten used to not knowing and wanted more time. It was best for her and the baby.

Emma said she hadn’t seen Anna since Halloween and was worried. Jack found out Anna hadn’t been in touch other than a voicemail and photo, and Emma asked Jack to please help find her.

Charlotte showed up at Carly’s attic, nearly giving Valentin a heart attack. She said she was careful. No one knew she was there. He said it had been a huge risk, but she said she missed him. He said he missed her too, but she could never do this again.

Doc said Laura was in danger, but she said, not like him or Ace. Sidwell needed her. Doc said Sidwell could still go to the police, but she said she wouldn’t leave Sonny holding bag when she’d gotten him involved. There was also Lulu and their grandchildren to consider. She had to stay until she could figure out a way out safely. Doc said, then he was staying too.

Kristina said she’d tell Michael as much as she could, and left. Jacinda looked at her bracelet and flashed back to Michael giving it to her. She left.

Drew went blah-blah-blah to Alexis, and she told him to sit down. She asked Boyle about the Brown Dog Bar on election night, and he said he was there. She asked about him talking to Chase and asked if he’d mentioned where he was when Drew was shot. Boyle said he didn’t remember because he’d drunk too much, and Alexis said he’d told Chase that he was at the Raven Motel with a young woman. He’d checked in at 9:28 pm and checked out at 11:53, covering the time Drew was shot. She asked if he knew the name of the woman he was with and he said, Jacinda Bracken.

Britt said the baby was perfectly healthy, and left. Elizabeth asked how Portia was doing, and Portia told her about Curtis pressuring her. Elizabeth told her to wait if she wanted to. Portia said she’d told Isaiah she was hoping he was the father, but thinking about Trina she hoped it was Curtis’s.

Curtis ambushed Britt and tried to schedule a paternity test, but Isaiah overheard and said that wasn’t going to happen.

Jack said he’d been kept out of the loop about Anna’s op, but would do his best. Emma sent him the photo, and he said he’d let her know what he found. She thanked him and left. Carly suggested Valentin had reached out to Anna.

Valentin told Charlotte that it was too dangerous. If someone suspected she knew where he was, it made her a target and put him in danger too. He was working toward them being together and it would take time. He needed her to sit tight. Charlotte said she’d wait for a key with a red ribbon, and he told her to trust him.

Alexis established that Jacinda was a paid escort and asked if Michael had been with them. Boyle said he wasn’t into that sort of thing, and Alexis had no further questions. Turner asked how many times Boyle had paid for Jacinda and he said, maybe 20. She asked if it was possible he’d confused one encounter with another, but he said Jacinda had been away and he was certain it was the first time since she’d returned. Turner asked if he had proof, but apparently Jacinda doesn’t give receipts, and he said, no. Turner had nothing further. The court adjourned for a recess, and Drew was pleased. Willow was thrilled that Chase had come through for her. Michael told Josslyn he hadn’t known about Boyle and had to find Jacinda.

Britt said any decisions would come from Portia only and left. Isaiah said the most important thing was the baby’s health and the last thing Portia needed was pressure. If Curtis had treated her better, she would never have come to him in the first place.

Laura said Sidwell had already threatened Doc by saying he was disposable, but Doc said he wasn’t afraid. Laura said Sidwell was dangerous and they’d seen what he was capable of, but Doc said he needed to be there to help her. She said the best thing he could do was take Ace and get as far away from Sidwell as he could. It would allow her to focus on finding her way out of the mess she’d made. She wasn’t asking him to abandon her, but to protect their grandson. They had to do it for Ace’s sake.

Valentin told Charlotte to keep living her life, and she agreed it wasn’t a bad one. She told him about babysitting Ace and said it was fun until they ran into Sidwell. She told him what Sidwell had said. It sounded like friendly advice, but she didn’t think it was friendly underneath. He told her to stay away from Sidwell and asked her to leave. He made her promise not to come back, they talked French, and she called him papa.

Jack said it wouldn’t be the first time Anna helped Valentin, and Carly said, it could be a coincidence, but she could have been in on it. Jack said it would be an act of treason and Anna was too smart for that. Carly had to leave, and when she was gone, he made a phone call. He told someone that he was sending a picture to them and he needed to know where the person was.

Michael was trying to call Jacinda, when she showed up. She told him to get his kids and leave with her right now, but before she could explain, the bailiff said Jacinda had to go inside immediately.

Curtis told Isaiah that he wanted confirmation the baby was his. Isaiah and Portia could do whatever the hell they wanted, but his baby would have no part of it.

Britt saw Jack on the phone at Bobbie’s, and he insisted she join him. She thanked him for getting her license reinstated, and he said he’d fulfilled his end of the bargain and hoped she was ready to do the same. She said feeding him all the research info from Sidwell’s lab was incredibly risky, but he said she was clever and would figure it out. He left.

Doc agreed to accept the position and take Ace, even though he hated it, and Laura said she did too, but thought it was the best solution for now. He said, if it got out of control, let him know, and he’d be back. She said she never loved him more because he put their grandson and her first. She’d never forget it. She loved him.

Danny asked what happened, and Charlotte said Valentin told her not to come back. He was concerned about Sidwell. She said she thought Sidwell was a danger to both of them, and Danny told her about Sidwell trying to kill Lucky. She said she had to help her father, and he said, whatever it was, he was in.

Valentin told Carly that it was time for him to leave.

Alexis asked Jacinda about Drew, and Jacinda told her about the night of the body shots (🍷). Alexis asked about her meeting Michael and if Michael had paid her for her services, but she said, no. They’d hit it off and spent the evening together. Alexis asked if it had been the whole evening and asked if she was with Michael at the time of the shooting.

Tuesday:

Nathan went to see Lulu and told her that he thought Charlotte had been lying to her.

Carly told Valentin that she wasn’t going to let him take Charlotte.

Jacinda told Alexis that she lost track of time with Michael and couldn’t remember what happened. Alexis said Boyle had testified he’d been with her from 9:32 pm to almost midnight the night Drew was shot, and asked if Jacinda was saying Boyle was lying. (I would have said, yes, but that’s me.)

Nathan told Lulu that Charlotte was at the Quartermaines when she’d said she was staying at school for drama club. Lulu said the Quartermaine estate was one of the only places she wasn’t worried about Charlotte, but Nathan said he was concerned Charlotte was going to ditch her police guard completely. Lulu asked if he thought she was looking for Valentin, when Charlotte came home.

Valentin said Carly couldn’t stop him if he wanted to take Charlotte, but he wasn’t going to put her in any more danger. Charlotte had come to see him today.

Trina met Kai at the courthouse and they went inside.

Alexis said Dante had testified that Jacinda was with Michael when Drew was shot, but Boyle said otherwise. Who was she actually with during that time period? Jacinda admitted she was with Boyle, and Alexis had no further questions. Turner had no questions, and Jacinda stepped down. Michael told Josslyn, all it proved was that he wasn’t with Jacinda that night, and Jacinda left. Alexis recalled Tracy to the stand.

Carly said she’d told Charlotte not to risk coming back, and Valentin said he’d done the same. If Charlotte was ditching her police escort, it made her more vulnerable. The real danger was that his enemies knew how precious Charlotte was to him. He’d do anything to bring her back if she was kidnapped. Carly said, whoever had Charlotte had him, and wondered if Jack would take Charlotte. Valentin said Jack had taken her daughter, so why not?

Charlotte told Lulu that she’d changed her plans and went to hang out with Danny. It was weird having Officer Jeffers follow her and she was over it. They’d just gone to the stables and it was no big deal. Nathan said if something happened, they might not have gotten there in time, and Lulu said Charlotte was making Jeffers’s job harder. Charlotte said she really was grateful and she was sorry. Nathan left, and Lulu said she needed to trust Charlotte to update her about schedule changes. Charlotte promised she would.

Alexis said Tracy claimed she’d seen nothing unusual near Drew’s house the night he was shot. Did she remember anything else? Tracy said, no, and Alexis asked if she’d seen Michael near the house. Tracy said, yes, and Alexis had no further questions.

Turner said it had been raining that night and there was no moon. She asked if there were any exterior lights, and Tracy said, no. Turner said, visibility was limited, and Tracy agreed. Turner had no further questions, and Alexis called Michael to the stand.

Lulu said she wasn’t worried until Nathan told her that Charlotte wasn’t where she said she was, and Charlotte said worrying about someone you loved was the worst. You imagined all the bad things that could be happening. Lulu said she knew Charlotte was scared for her dad, and Charlotte said he had a lot of enemies. Lulu said he was resourceful and he’d be okay.

Carly said she was certain Jack didn’t take Charlotte. He’d put Josslyn’s life in danger, but it was different from kidnapping a teenager. Valentin told her to stop kidding herself. Jack’s love for Carly didn’t stop him from using her daughter to get what he wanted, and he had no doubt Jack would use Charlotte the same way. Carly insisted there were lines Jack wouldn’t cross, but Valentin said, but Sidwell would.

Dante wanted to go over the video footage once more and told Nathan that they couldn’t let Alexis blindside Turner again. He had to admit that Michael shooting Drew was a possibility.

Alexis asked if Michael was on Crestview Lane that night, and he said he was. She asked why he didn’t tell the police the truth. If he was in the vicinity, he had the opportunity to shoot Drew. Michael said he didn’t shoot Drew, and she pointed out that he lived in the house the gun was taken from. She asked if the gun collection was locked and if he knew where the key was. He said yes, but he wasn’t the only person with access, and she asked how he felt about Drew. He said he hated Drew.

Alexis said she could understand why and asked about the kids living with Drew and Willow. Michael said when he came back from Germany, he was granted full custody and took them back, and she asked if he stopped allowing their mother visitation, but he said that had been the judge’s ruling. Alexis asked if the decision had caused tension and brought up the confrontation between Michael and Drew at the MetroCourt. Michael said he was upset that Drew intentionally upset Wiley. Drew would manipulate anyone to get his desired outcome, and his children weren’t safe around Drew. Alexis said, he’d do anything to protect his kids, wouldn’t he?

Valentin told Carly that Charlotte thought Sidwell was threatening. If he knew where Valentin was, he’d take Charlotte and use her to draw him out. He couldn’t take the risk and had to leave. Carly said when she’d been with Jack, she’d insinuated Anna helped Valentin, but he didn’t buy it. She realized how much she was risking and told Valentin that he had to stay.

Tracy went to see Lulu and said she’d blown taking care of the family.

Dante said he knew Michael had motive and was capable of murder when it came to protecting his family, but he’d felt indebted to Michael because of him going to prison. He’d been raped by another inmate, and it changed him. Nathan said it wasn’t Dante’s fault, but Dante said he’d convinced Michael to turn himself in.

Turner asked if Michael recognized the weapon, and he said he did. She asked if he’d taken it, but he said no one realized it was missing until the police searched the estate. She said the location of the key wasn’t a secret, and he agreed. She asked him to walk the court through his movements that night, and he told her about meeting Jacinda, but hadn’t known of her connection to Drew. She’d been kind and easy to talk to. He’d been worried about his kids since Judge Haran had been killed, as it might affect his visitation hearing. He was prompted to go to Drew’s because he wanted to ask Drew to keep his distance, but his son called and hearing the special ringtone stopped him. He knew a confrontation would make things worse, so he went home. Turner asked if he’d heard any gunshots, but he said, no. She asked if he shot Drew, and he said, no.

Nathan said Dante couldn’t take the blame for the system failing Michael, but Dante said he could take responsibility. He’d made it easier for Michael to frame Willow. Nathan said there was no evidence of that, but Dante said he knew Michael’s alibi was paper thin. Now Turner had been blindsided, and the trial was in jeopardy.

Tracy told Lulu that she hadn’t been asked about Michael before, but this time there was footage that had caught them both near Drew’s house. Lulu asked if she’d seen the footage, but Tracy said, no. Lulu said, if Alexis had proof, why wasn’t it entered as evidence? and Tracy realized Alexis played her and she fell for it.

Turner had no more questions and court was adjourned for a recess. Michael told Josslyn that Wiley’s call had reminded him what was important and it wasn’t Drew. He thanked her for believing in him, but said he might have given the jury reasonable doubt.

Alexis thanked Suzanne for her timing. Tracy had thought Suzanne was bringing her new evidence, but the judge would never have allowed an anonymous note to be submitted.

Tracy told Lulu about Alexis stopping to look at a folder and how she thought it was proof. She’d given Michael up for nothing. Lulu said Tracy would have been committing perjury and made Michael look guiltier if there had been proof, and Tracy said she’d have done worse to keep him from going to prison. Instead, she might have set Willow free and made Michael the prime suspect.

Drew told Willow, Alexis did it. Michael looked guilty as hell and there was no way the jury would convict Willow. Tracy put the final nail in Michael’s coffin.

In the hallway, Kai and Trina went over what happened the night Drew was shot.

Alexis told Suzanne that she was glad their bluff worked, but Suzanne said, some of the jurors looked unconvinced. Alexis said she was hoping her next witness would convince the jury Michael was a more likely shooter than Willow, and Elizabeth walked in.

Carly said Valentin told her that he could convince Sidwell that he was a good ally, and Valentin said Sidwell was a very powerful man. With Sidwell’s help, he could expose Jack as head of Pikeman, exonerate himself, and bring Jack down. He hadn’t thought about how yet. Carly said he had to stay until he had a clear plan. Right now, it was the safest place for him to be.

Charlotte sent Danny a text thanking him for his help and flashed back to Valentin telling her that the goal was them being together, but it would take time. Danny texted back that they’d find a way to help her dad. She replied, abso.

Lulu asked who else Tracy told, but Tracy said, no one. She had no idea how Alexis knew, which was why she fell for Alexis’s insinuation that she had footage. Lulu thought it was weird, and Tracy said something had changed or Alexis would have pushed her harder the first time. She was going to find out how Alexis knew and Lulu was going to help her.

Nathan said all they could do was go by the evidence they had and told Dante that he’d found a cigarette butt at the crime scene. Dante asked if he had it on him when he was at Lulu’s, but Nathan said it had been in the car. Dante said Nathan broke the chain of custody and now it was inadmissible. He wasn’t used to Nathan mishandling evidence and asked if everything was okay. Nathan said, it was just a stupid mistake, and Dante said he was depending on Nathan because they were down two investigators. He’d had to suspend Chase, but Chase may have been right.

Trina and Kai flashed back to being at Drew’s, and Kai said, Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star had to be Wiley’s special ringtone. Trina said if Michael had been outside, they wouldn’t have heard it. Michael shot Drew.

Alexis asked if Michael visited Elizabeth when Willow was staying with her, and Elizabeth said, yes. Alexis asked if Elizabeth was with him the entire time, but Elizabeth said she’d had to leave. Alexis asked if Michael had been alone before the police searched the house and found the gun in Willow’s room, and Elizbeth said, yes. Alexis had no further questions.

Before the credits there was a photo of Tony Geary, with the text: In Loving Memory of Anthony Geary.

Wednesday:

Lulu said she’d help Tracy find out who was behind the note.

Boyle saw Laura in the MetroCourt, and she said she was meeting her brother, but he said he wasn’t there for her. He asked her to be less prickly, but she said, not likely.

Martin arrived, and Laura told him about Doc taking Ace to Ireland – for good.

At the office, Alexis told Suzanne that she deserved an Oscar, and Suzanne said she was going for controlled urgency with a touch of we got ya now. Alexis said it was perfect and thanked her. Suzanne had brought along a Greek New Year’s cake for luck, and Alexis said she wasn’t superstitious, but since the case was almost won, why not? Drew came in with Willow and said almost wasn’t enough. (No cake for you!)

Kai and Trina went back to the apartment and went over the ringtone thing again. Trina said they needed to drop it and stay out of it.

Michael went home and saw Gio, who asked if he was okay. Michael said, not exactly.

Nathan asked if Dante thought Michael framed Willow, and Dante said it was possible. They had to go over the evidence again.

Martin asked if things were okay, and Laura said it was her idea. She explained that kids picked up on negativity, and Doc had missed out on time with Ace, but Martin wasn’t convinced. Why didn’t they start again?

Dante told Nathan that Wiley’s phone call to Michael was bugging him and wanted to check Michael’s phone records along with Willow’s. He needed Nathan to go over all his work because he didn’t trust himself to do it.

Kai asked, why? and Trina said Josslyn had been there for her and Michael was her brother. She couldn’t do this to her. Josslyn would protect her. He asked, who would protect Willow? and she said, Drew and Alexis, who was doing a good job. She and Kai had been protecting her parents, which wasn’t necessary anymore. Kai said they were the only witnesses and they couldn’t do nothing, and Trina reminded him of the last time he didn’t listen to her and regretted it. They were staying out of this. He said he was sorry, but he couldn’t do that.

Lulu said Alexis’s line of questioning indicated someone saw Michael and Tracy, so why did she need to trick Tracy? Tracy said Alexis didn’t have a witness, and Lulu said, if that was the case, how did she find out? Had they talked about that night? Someone heard them and took the conversation to Alexis, but it would have been thrown out as hearsay. Tracy said the person who betrayed her lived in her house.

Jacinda met Boyle at the MetroCourt and he said he wanted to make everything better for her.

Michael said, bad didn’t begin to cover it, and Gio hoped everything got resolved soon for Wiley and Amelia’s sake. Michael thanked him for playing at Christmas, and Gio said he didn’t want to disappoint the kids. It was also the first Christmas without Monica. Michael said Wiley couldn’t stop talking about it, and Gio said he had to go, but if Michael needed any help, he was there. Kristina arrived and Gio left. Kristina said she should have warned Michael. She’d known what her mom was going to do.

Drew wanted Alexis to make sure Willow would get off and said she needed to call more witnesses. Alexis said she was resting the defense tomorrow. They had their reasonable doubt. Drew said he wanted no doubt and was taking the stand.

Laura noticed Boyle with Jacinda and told Martin that she’d sent Ace away because it wasn’t safe.

Boyle said, so what if anyone knew about him and Jacinda? They’d done nothing wrong. They’d met in an unusual way, but now that the truth was out, they didn’t have to hide their relationship. Let his constituents talk. What was important was they could have something real now.

Kristina told Michael that her mother’s entire defense hinged on blaming someone else, but she didn’t know the details of Alexis’s plan until she saw Boyle and Jacinda on the witness list and saw the note.

Tracy said it served her right for following Monica’s lead and turning the house into Grand Central Station, and Lulu said, Dante and Chase were cops. Tracy said, Dante wouldn’t turn on his brother, and Lulu wondered if it was Chase’s style. Tracy said it was possible and if it was Chase, heaven help him.

Kai said he wouldn’t betray Trina’s trust again, and she said she loved Josslyn. Family and loved ones came first. Kai said, what about Wiley and Amelia? Maybe she could meet him halfway. They were assuming it was Michael’s phone, but they needed to prove it, then decide together what to do with the information. Trina said she knew how to find out.

Laura said Ace was in danger because of Valentin, and Martin asked why she thought that. Laura said Ace was the sole Cassadine heir and Valentin was unpredictable and dangerous, known to cross lines. Martin said he’d never known Valentin to go after children, but Laura said Ace would be a means to an end and it was her job to protect him. Martin said he got it, and she’d made the right choice.

Gio arrived at Trina’s apartment.

Molly asked if Nathan could help her. She wanted to get a progress report on the missing footage and the gaps in their investigation for Turner. Turner wanted any evidence on Willow. He asked if she was speaking as the ADA or someone concerned about Michael.

Kristina told Michael about the note and said it had been anonymous. Her mom caught her looking and that’s all she knew. She didn’t want to undermine the case, so she tried to fix it by giving Jacinda money and telling her to leave town.

Jacinda said Boyle wouldn’t survive the next election with her in his life, and she doubted she had much future at Crimson. He said he had connections and could find her something else, but she said she thought she needed to leave town and start over.

Alexis said the goal was reasonable doubt, which had been achieved, but Drew wanted the jury to hear about how contentious Michael was toward him. Suzanne said, that risked the jury being sympathetic to Michael, and Alexis said Michael had already told them how much he hated Drew. Drew said Michael’s honesty only made him look better, but Willow agreed with Alexis and Suzanne and said it had to be her on the stand.

Tracy said seeing Laura was a pleasant surprise, but not so much Martin.

Dante went to Lulu’s to see how Charlotte was doing, and Lulu said she heard what happened in court. He asked if she was writing about it, and she said she knew what happened to Michael still ate at him, but he didn’t need an excuse to come by. She was always there for him.

Kristina said she figured with Jacinda gone, she couldn’t corroborate Boyle’s account, and Michael said Jacinda tried to warn him, but court resumed. He didn’t get why she hadn’t told him about Boyle and was hoping his lies hadn’t cost him his children.

Alexis said Turner would destroy Willow. She’d ask about Willow’s whereabouts and if the video footage was found or Willow came clean, it could make things worse. Willow said, they may never find the footage, but Alexis didn’t want to take the risk. Turner would bring up all the bad things that had happened with Drew. She was skilled, dangerous, and relentless. Neither one of them was going to testify. After Willow was acquitted, they could go after Michael, but they weren’t blowing it now.

Trina asked how close Gio was with Michael, and he asked, why? She asked if Michael had a special ringtone for Wiley, but Gio didn’t know and didn’t feel right taking Wiley’s phone to find out. Kai suggested asking Wiley to call Michael and being there when it happened, and Gio said they’d have to tell him why if they wanted his help.

Tracy said her family possessions were still absent from her home, and Martin said he’d tried. It didn’t work and now Drew was impossible to find. Tracy wondered if she should send Martin to prison where he belonged.

Dante said he’d told Anna that he could separate being Michael’s brother from being a detective, but wondered if he’d subconsciously undermined the investigation. Lulu said Tracy told her that only she and Michael knew he’d been on Drew’s street that night. He couldn’t find evidence that didn’t exist. Dante said it was like his instincts were off and he was scared of not being able to trust himself.

Molly asked if Nathan thought she couldn’t be objective, and he said it was a fair assumption. Molly said she was just doing Turner a favor, and it was fine by her to keep her distance from the case.

Trina said, if she could tell Gio everything, she would, but she couldn’t, and he said, then he couldn’t be involved. He wasn’t lying to Wiley or grabbing his phone. She said they were doing this for Wiley.

Boyle suggested they just have fun and not talk about the future, and Jacinda said she had nowhere else to be. He went to get their drinks.

Michael told Kristina, now the jury knew he’d lied and that he’d been on Drew’s street. If he didn’t know any better, he’d think he shot Drew. Today was a huge win for the defense, and the jury had more than enough reasonable doubt to exonerate Willow.

Drew said Alexis had made mistakes, but she said she wasn’t wrong this time. Trials took skill, endurance, and precision. Whoever made the right moves at the right time won, and she was going to win. Drew said she didn’t seem to be understanding. It wasn’t a request, but an order. Did he need to remind her what was at stake? She said it was his call. Go for it, but don’t say she didn’t warn him.

Dante said the common denominator between Michael, Gio, and Rocco was him, and Lulu said he was being hard on himself. Questioning his judgement and caring about people was what made him good at what he did. There were more times he’d been right than wrong.

Nathan said there was nothing new, but they’d keep looking, and Molly thanked him. She was sure truth and the system would prevail. He promised every lead would be followed and he’d personally go over the evidence.

Kai said they might be able to exonerate Wiley’s mom, but to do that, they needed Wiley to call his dad, and Trina said, trust them. Gio said they wouldn’t trust him and he didn’t feel right, but she said it was about the truth. They both knew what it was like to have it kept from them, and they couldn’t sit by and let it be hidden. Gio agreed to help for Wiley and Amelia.

Kristina told Michael that she was sorry about Jacinda. If she’d come to the court, it meant she cared about him, and maybe she hadn’t left town. Michael said he hoped she’d stayed, and they could sort things out.

When Boyle came back with the drinks, the table was empty.

Martin said Tracy was right and he was wrong. She won. He’d never cross her again and would do everything possible to get back her heirlooms. He told Laura that he loved her and left. Tracy sat down, and Laura said she had the right to be angry with Martin, but hoped one day they were able to get past this.

Martin flashed back to watching Tracy and Michael talking in the nook and smiled.

Alexis said all they had to do was let her do her job, and Suzanne said, Drew made winning the case a lot harder.

Drew said he was going to make Michael look so guilty, the jury would have no choice but to acquit Willow. And when the visitation hearing happened, it would only be her there because Michael would be behind bars where he belonged. She said she hoped so, and he said it was a promise. Tomorrow would change everything. He hugged her, but she didn’t look convinced.

Thursday:

As Gio was going out, Sonny told Gio that he was making chicken piccata, and Gio said he’d try to be back for it. Kristina came over as he was leaving.

Trina said this might be her and Kai’s last chance to identify the shooter.

At the Quartermaines, Dante ran into Brook, who said she’d been avoiding him. She was disappointed that he’d suspended Chase and she wanted him to fix it.

Alexis asked why Drew wanted to testify, and he said because Willow was falsely accused of shooting him. He wanted to set the record straight.

Kristina complimented Gio on the impromptu concert, and he said he appreciated the violin Sonny and Ric got for him, but didn’t know when he’d play again. He left, and Kristina said she was dreading court.

Dante said Chase was being investigated by Internal Affairs, and Brook said it could ruin his career. He was only doing what he thought was right because he believed Willow to be innocent. Dante said he didn’t agree with Chase’s methods, but thought Chase might be right about Willow.

Alexis went down Memory Lane about Drew hooking up with Willow, and Drew told the court about Jason attacking him. He said Michael had secretly recorded him and Willow having sex, showed it to Jason, and sent Jason to attack him.

Kristina told Sonny that she wanted to stand by Michael, but if her mother didn’t get Willow exonerated, they wouldn’t have access to Scout. In proving Willow innocent, Alexis was basically building a case against Michael. Sonny said it was a legal tactic and if Willow was acquitted, that still didn’t mean Michael was guilty.

Drew said Jason was a mob enforcer for Sonny Corinthos, and Alexis tried to submit Jason’s police file, but Turner objected. Judge Sullivan sustained and told Alexis to move on. Alexis asked if Michael had ever assaulted Drew, and Drew said Michael had punched him out at the MetroCourt. Turner flashed back to hearing Drew holding it over Sonny’s head, and Drew’s medical records were submitted. Drew said Michael told him to stay away from his kids, and the night he was shot, he’d told Carly that he and Willow were getting back together. He had no doubt she’d told Michael.

Brook asked if Dante believed Willow was innocent, but he said that they might both be having trouble being objective. Gio stood in the doorway, and heard them. Brook asked Dante, what had changed?

Turner asked about Michael and Drew working together at Aurora, and Drew told the court about Michael staging the takeover. She asked if he’d seduced his nephew’s wife, but Drew said he and Willow fell in love. She asked if Judge Haran hadn’t cited him as the reason Willow shouldn’t have custody, but he said that was a lie.

Gio said he was just checking on Wiley, and they could play video games as a distraction. Brook went to set things up, and Gio told Dante that he’d herd them. He asked if Dante thought Michael set Willow up, but Dante said he didn’t know, and it was up to the court to decide.

Turner brought up the wire transfer for one million dollars made out to Judge Haran that was found in Drew’s safe, but Drew insisted it wasn’t his. (Just like those cigarettes in every teenager’s coat pocket.) Turner said, according to the receipt, the payment was transferred to Judge Haran’s bank account the same day she stripped Willow of custodial rights. Drew said it was a set up, and Turner suggested he’d wanted her all to himself. Drew said Michael stole Willow’s children, paid off the judge, and planted the receipt. Turner asked if he had evidence, but he said he didn’t need no stinkin’ evidence. Michael took everything and turned the family against him. He was Alan Quartermaine’s son and had as much right to the name as Michael did. He was a Navy SEAL, a congressman, and a patriot, but none of that was enough. Everything Michael had, he didn’t deserve. He took one thing from Michael – his wife – and Michael turned into a homicidal maniac. Michael was going to rot in prison, and he and Michael’s wife would take the kids home where they belonged. Through all of it, Michael never batted an eye, and Turner had nothing further.

Alexis had no redirect, and Drew was dismissed. The judge called a recess, and Nina told Drew that he may have cost Willow everything. Trina told Kai that they had a chance to get the truth right now.

Brook said whenever Michael left the house, Wiley was afraid he’d never see him again, and she and Gio agreed they felt terrible for him. Brook hoped the truth came out soon so everyone could move on and heal. Gio told her about Sonny making piccata, and she decided to go help Sonny in the kitchen. Trina texted Gio that it was go time.

At the courthouse, Kristina told Dante that Drew had a five-star fit, and he said that was good for Michael. Michael was happy that the jury saw the Drew he knew, and Kristina said it looked like Drew was setting Michael up. A call came through to Michael’s phone, and the ringtone was Wiley’s voice saying, Daddy, it’s Wiley. Pick up. Wiley told Michael that Gio wanted to know if it was okay to play a game, and passed the phone to Gio. Gio asked if Tron was okay to play, and Michael said it was fine, but not for longer than an hour. Michael told Kristina that he’d gotten the ringtone when he was in Germany, and they went back in. Kai said it wasn’t what they thought, but Trina said it didn’t officially rule out Michael, but he might not be the shooter.

Alexis said Drew was unhinged. If his testimony was the last thing the jury heard, Willow would lose, so because of him, she wanted Willow to take the stand. Willow was their best shot at turning things around. Willow said there was no choice but for her to testify.

Wiley and Gio played video games, and Gio said he had to make a quick call. Wiley went to get juice, and Gio called Trina. She said it wasn’t what they expected to hear, but it was helpful.

Brook showed up at Sonny’s, and he asked her to help him in the kitchen. She said she’d love to, but wanted to talk about Gio.

Willow took the stand, and Alexis asked if she’d taken the gun from the estate. Willow said, no, and Alexis asked if she’d placed the gun in a drawer at Elizabeth’s. She said, no, and Alexis asked about Michael going to Elizabeth’s. Willow said she’d found him alone there, and he’d said he wanted them to go to family therapy, but that’s where she was arrested in front of her children for shooting Drew.

Brook said it meant a lot that Sonny and Ric put their differences aside to get Gio the violin, and he said it showed how much they loved him.

Alexis asked if Willow believed the weapon was planted, and she said, yes. Alexis asked, who would frame her? and she said she hadn’t shot Drew and Michael didn’t want her in their children’s lives. Alexis asked if she thought Michael framed her, and she said she did.

Alexis went over the timeline of Willow and Drew’s affair, and Willow told the court about Drew getting Obrecht back for the bone marrow transplant and how he was her hero. She had no choice but to fall in love with him.

Brook told Sonny that hearing Gio perform was magical. She’d thought he was never picking up the violin again. Sonny said her and Gio’s relationship had changed, and she said they’d had a chance to connect after Ned’s heart attack. The wall between them had finally come down and she thanked God every day.

Alexis asked about Drew’s affair with Nina and asked if she’d been allowed to see her children, but Turner objected, saying it had been a court order. Willow said she’d done everything and anything she could to see them, but there was no pleasing Michael. She never doubted Drew loved her and they’d reconnected. Alexis asked if Willow was there as a direct result of Michael’s premeditated actions, and she said, yes. Alexis had no further questions.

Wiley said he missed his mommy and daddy, and Gio said they loved him so much. Wiley asked if they’d be together again soon, and Gio said he hoped so.

Turner reminded Willow of Judge Haran’s ruling and asked if Drew cost Willow her children. Willow said Drew promised they’d fight for them together, and Turner asked if she blamed him for losing custody, but she said she didn’t. Turner showed her the gun that shot Drew and asked if she’d ever touched it. Willow flashed back to stealing it from the collection while wearing gloves, but said she’d never touched it.

Turner asked why Willow left her shift the night of the shooting, and Willow said Chase had informed her about Judge Haran’s murder. She didn’t know how it would impact her case and she was upset. Turner asked if she was out of control when she left, and Willow flashed back to sobbing in the hallway. She said all she could think about was her children, and Turner asked if she went past, near, or in the proximity of Drew’s house on her drive, but she said she didn’t remember. Turner asked if she’d called or texted anyone, and she said no, but Turner said her cellphone had pinged near there. Willow said she just knew she didn’t stop anywhere and flashed back to stopping near Drew’s house and taking the gun out of the glove compartment. Turner said Willow had been betrayed by her husband and mother and lost custody of her children. Had her life improved since Drew came into it? Willow said her life wasn’t perfect and she hadn’t made perfect choices, but she loved Drew. He was the only person she trusted with her children. He’d do anything to keep their family together. Turner asked what she’d do for her children, and Willow flashed back to shooting Drew. She said she’d do anything for her children, and Turner had nothing further. Alexis said the defense rested, and the judge called a recess until tomorrow when he’d hear closing statements.

Wiley asked if they could have cookies, and Gio said he’d grab some. When he left, Wiley called Willow.

Kristina said, even if Willow was acquitted, that didn’t mean Michael would be charged, but Michael said Willow would be one step closer to being in his kids’ lives. So would Drew, and he couldn’t let Drew anywhere near them.

Alexis said she thought they might have won the case. Dante asked what Turner thought, and she said Drew cost Willow her children. She’d thought if she pushed that button, Willow would crack, but she may have just saved herself.

Kai said Willow was extremely convincing, and Trina said it was obvious she loved her kids and Drew, but they were no closer to the truth. He said it looked like it wasn’t Michael, and she wondered who else it could be. As everyone was leaving, Willow’s phone went off. Guess what the ringtone was? She told Wiley that she’d be seeing him real soon, and Kai and Trina looked at each other.

🫔 Friday’s Enchilada Minus a Few Bites…

Brad finds Britt at the hospital and gives her a fashion critique, and she says she might not be perfect, but her outfit is. They hug, and she says she’s finally feeling like herself again. He says she looks perfect in her lab coat, and she asks, what brings him to GH? Is he trying to get his old job back? He says he has to aim higher to pay off his credit card debt before the next Ice Age. He needs to know where she was New Year’s Eve. He called her from The Savoy so she could join him. She flashes back to being with Jason and their kiss, and says she was working, but Brad says he called the hospital and she wasn’t. What was she really up to?

Laura went to Sonny’s and told him that she had interesting information on Sidwell that they might be able to use to their advantage. Did he know Sidwell was dating Lucy Coe? Sonny nods, and she says, he’s also seeing Ava Jerome. It appears to be in a professional capacity, but Lucy is jealous. He’s just buying art. Sonny says, either Sidwell loves art or knows Ava is the mother of his child.

Michael walks into the mansion to find Jacinda in the foyer. She says she came to say goodbye.

In her office, Alexis works on her closing argument, when Tracy storms in and says, Alexis tricked her.

At the MetroCourt, Drew says, Willow’s freedom is around the corner, and she says, thanks to him. He says he might have gotten carried away on the stand, but she says she loves how passionate he was for her. He’s her champion. Jason and Carly walk in.

Back at the apartment, Kai says, Willow shot Drew, but Trina says, they only know her ringtone for Wiley is Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star. He says they know a lot more than that

Sonny tells Laura that Sidwell knows how to play the game. In cozying up to Ava, he knows he can get close to the kids. Laura says, that didn’t occur to her, but he’s absolutely right. Sidwell has no limits, not when comes to their kids. Sidwell even threatened Ace indirectly. Sonny asks, what happened? and Laura says, Sidwell struck up a conversation with Charlotte and said some things about Ace. So she asked Doc to take Ace out of the country. He was already offered a great job in Dublin, and together they decided he should take it and take Ace with him. Sonny says, they made the right call. Sidwell won’t rely solely on physical evidence against them to get what he wants. He’ll use intimidation through their family. She says she’s so sorry. She feels terrible. She feels awful that Avery was drawn into this. That night she found Dalton’s body, she thinks she went into some kind of shock. She was disoriented and not thinking clearly. She was in a panic and involved him. Now his family is stuck with this mess because of her.

Drew says he can’t believe Jason and Carly have the nerve to stay after what they did to Willow, but she says she’s okay because he’s here with her.

Carly says, their love makes her sick, and Jason says he heard about Willow’s testimony. Carly says, that makes her sick too, and he says, apparently it was compelling. She says she’s afraid the jury will buy Willow’s poor me act. She did. And if Willow is acquitted, Turner will go after Michael.

Jacinda says, Brook let her in and said it was okay for her to wait, and Michael leads her to the living room. He offers her a drink, but she says, no thanks. She came by so he could give this back to his sister. She shows him the backpack and says, Kristina gave it to her so she could leave town. He says he knows. Why didn’t she take it? She says she considered it, but it didn’t feel right. Kristina gave her the money so she could help him, but she just made things worse.

Tracy says, Alexis made her think there was evidence in the folder, and Alexis says, it’s not a good time. She suggests Tracy make an appointment, but Tracy says she doesn’t care if it’s a good time. Bill her. Who told Alexis that she saw Michael? Alexis has someone spying on her family. Who is it? Alexis says she’s not obligated to discuss her process or sources. The subpoena was legal, as was her assistant handing her the folder. It’s called a bluff and Tracy fell for it. Consider herself lucky she didn’t perjure herself.

Kai says, Willow went missing at the time Drew was shot, and Trina says, she let Nina lie for her because she wanted or needed and alibi. He says, they heard her receive a call from Wiley with the ringtone, and she says, they know it wasn’t Michael’s because he told Kristina that he hadn’t changed it since he was in Germany. Tracy saw Michael near Drew’s street… He says, but Michael would have entered through the front, and she says, they know the shooter left through the kitchen, so it would stand to reason, they entered through the back. He says, Willow would have a key, and she says, and access to the gun. He says, she would have known how to use it from her Dawn of Day training, and Trina says, Turner had footage of Willow. He says, but it was deemed inadmissible and the jury never saw it. All of the evidence points to Willow.

Tracy says, Alexis forced her to divulge information with no evidence to back it up, but Alexis says, Tracy had a guilty conscience and jumped to the wrong conclusion. Tracy says, Alexis implicated Monica’s beloved grandson. She doesn’t care if Willow is guilty or not. Her only goal is to put out the dumpster fire that’s Drew’s personal life.

Willow says she’s glad Drew convinced Alexis to represent her, and he says he’d do anything for her. He realizes his testimony didn’t go as planned, but that’s only because he cares so much about her. She says, his testimony was perfect. It convinced Alexis to put her on the stand, and she was able to tell her truth to the jury. Not just about her innocence, but how she feels about him.

Britt tells Brad that she’s not talking about New Year’s Eve. She doesn’t want to get into it. He says, because her evening included cold fusion and espionage? and she says, shhh! She pulls him aside and says she was busy trying to have a personal life. He says, one he doesn’t know about? and she asks if that’s hard to believe. He says, yes. He knows they’re still catching up, but it was her birthday, and he can’t believe she didn’t want to spend it with him. She says she loves him, but she needed to celebrate that she’s still alive. She needed something he couldn’t give her. He says, so who’s the guy? Does he work at GH? She says, no, and he asks if he knows him. If he does, he’d like to offer his unasked for two cents, as is his way… She says, no, absolutely not, and he says, Britt Westbourne, please tell me you were not out with Jason. She smiles and shrugs.

Carly asks if Jason thinks she needs to worry, and he says, Michael didn’t shoot Drew. She asks if he doesn’t think Michael would do it, and he says he knows Michael is capable of it, but if he had, Michael would have told him. She says, even if he’s right, that won’t stop Turner from investigating Michael, and he says, she’ll see Michael is innocent. Alexis’s theory doesn’t matter. Michael won’t stand trial. She says she’s not as sure as he is, and Michael already has a record. He says, because Michael was protecting her and it was a long time ago. They both know Michael hates Drew, but they also know he wouldn’t take somebody’s life. She says, Alexis was doing everything in her power to point the finger at him. She handed Turner everything she’d need to prosecute him, and they know innocent people go to prison all the time.

Jacinda tells Michael that Kristina didn’t give her anything specific, but said something bad would happen if she testified in court and she shouldn’t be there. In hindsight, she should have figured out it was Kristina’s way of telling her to get the hell out of Dodge because she knew Alexis was going to question her about Ezra. Michael says he has his own questions, assuming she would answer them at all, but was what she said on the stand true? She says, the night of Drew’s shooting, after he bought her a drink, she called her agency. They told her that Ezra wanted to meet with her and she was short on money, so she took the booking. When Michael came around later and needed help with an alibi, she thought, why not? He asks if it was just about the money, and she says, at the time, it was definitely a consideration, but he also seemed like a genuinely nice guy who needed help. She figured he didn’t need to know about Ezra. He asks if she was never going to tell him, and she says, in the beginning, no, but she started spending more time with him and started to feel differently. She wanted to tell him the truth. He asks why she didn’t, and she says, if he didn’t use her as an alibi, he’d have no use for her, and they would no longer spend time with each other. And she wasn’t ready to let him go.

Alexis tells Tracy that she has nothing to say about Drew’s personal life, and Tracy says, Alexis would have shot him herself. She’s only defending Willow to get access to Scout. Alexis says she has one job, to present the strongest possible defense for her client, and Tracy says, not at Michael’s expense. Alexis sold him down the river so she could get to see her granddaughter. Alexis says, and Tracy lied to protect him, even though she knew he could have shot Drew. Now an innocent woman is on trial for it. Tracy says, Alexis doesn’t believe that, and Alexis says, what if she does? Tracy says, Willow is anything but innocent.

Willow says, Drew is always so brave. She’s glad the jury got to hear it. They needed to know how good he is. Unlike his brother Jason. She’ll never forgive Jason for the way he treated Drew. She can still see his handsome faced all bruised and bloody because of that animal. Drew says he was a Navy SEAL, and she says, Jason hurts people for a living and kills without feeling. It’s like he looks right through her. He says he’s sorry. Don’t worry. Jason won’t do anything to her. He won’t let him. She says she knows, but as awful as Jason is, he’s better than Carly. The past month has been eye-opening. They used to be close and now Carly despises her. She keeps thinking about how she tried to see Wiley and Amelia after… He says, it’s okay. She can say it. After Curtis blindsided her so the wedding didn’t happen. But they got through it and they’re stronger than ever. She says, true, but after everything that happened, Carly wouldn’t let her see her own children. Carly held her back. She just wanted to hold her son, and Carly threw her out before she could. She was falling apart and begging for mercy and Carly and Michael ignored her. He says, soon enough, Michael will be the one begging for mercy.  

Trina tells Kai, Drew married the woman who shot him. She’s the stepmother to his child. Alexis is building a case against Michael and he’s innocent. Kai says, if Willow is exonerated, Michael could get charged, and she says, and Willow will get full custody of Wiley and Amelia. They have to go to the police. He says, they can’t or they’ll go to prison themselves.

Laura tells Sonny that when she and Luke first got together, she tried to get him out of organized crime. Now here she is years later, mayor of the town, and just as stuck as he was. She’s not free to make her own decisions. She can’t do what’s best for the city and take care of it the way it deserves – or her family. Now they’ve been threatened. Sonny says, she was protecting them. Anybody else would have done the exact same thing. She says she wishes there was another way to protect her family. Every time she tries to free herself from Sidwell’s grip, it tightens. Luke felt that too, but he found a way out. She can’t help but feel if Luke was here, he’d know what to do.

Britt says, the two of them had an honest conversation and it led to an amazing kiss, and Brad says, then what happened? She says, nothing. Tracy blew in demanding to know who finished the fruitcake and it killed the mood. He says, fruitcake is emotional chaos in food form, and she says, after that, Jason walked her to her car and she drove home. That was that. He says, if Tracy hadn’t come in, would it be fair to say they’d have slept together? and she says she doesn’t know. Maybe. It’s not like they haven’t before, so why not? He asks if she’s forgotten that Jason broke her heart.

Jason says he understands why Carly is concerned, but even if she thinks that, there’s not enough evidence to convict Michael. The real problem is Drew. She asks if he read Drew’s testimony, and he says he did. Drew made it clear that he was coming for Michael and he’s out for blood. He came close to doing a lot of damage to Willow’s case, but at least they know how he feels about Michael. She says she thought Drew’s jealousy of Jason was pathetic, but his jealousy of Michael is so much worse, and he says he’s concerned if Willow gets acquitted, that won’t be the end of the story. She says, he’ll want payback. He’ll go after Michael with everything he has. All the evidence they have won’t be enough to prove Michael is innocent if Drew wants the world to think he’s guilty.

Kai says, if he and Trina go to the police and tell them how they know, they’ll know all the laws they broke. It will be out in the open. Trina says, they have to do something, and he says, trespassing, breaking and entering, stealing and destroying documents, tampering with evidence and a crime scene. At the very least, they’ll get obstruction of justice, and who knows what else Drew will think up or invent? Drew could have died and they left him there, fleeing the scene of a crime. No one is going to think they deserve time off for good behavior. She says she wishes she could keep him out of it and go to the police herself, but he says he can’t let her. His prints are also on the bat, so there’s no way she can say that. They might even think he’s the shooter. She says, they have to come forward. If they go to Turner and tell her, she can give them immunity. He says, even if Turner agrees – and that’s a huge if – it will be public. If they come forward, they’ll still be in danger. She says, of Drew’s retaliation.

Jacinda says she knew what she and Michael had would never last, but she wanted to see what it would be like to date him and spend time with him. She knows it was selfish, but she never thought anyone would find out about Ezra. He’s been so careful about protecting his political career. She thought it would be safe. Michael says he believes her, and she thanks him. She tells him to please thank his sister. She hopes he knows how much Kristina cares about him. She did what she could to help him. She starts to leave, and he asks where she’s going. She says, back to her apartment to get some things. She’s got a little money stashed away to go somewhere new. He says, if she’s thinking of leaving Port Charles because of him, please don’t.

Brad says, there are about 50 people that will always come before her, and Britt says he’s being a bit dramatic. He says, let’s see. Sonny, Carly, their kids, any and all of their pets, Carly’s hairstyle, the cute bowl of moss🎍in Sonny’s old her kitchen, if she still has it. Britt says, that might have been true before, but not now. Jason put his life on hold to rescue her from the Five Poppies. He’s looking out for her. He helped her with her car, her room – Brad says, which she hates – he bailed them out of the Café Cherie debacle… Brad says, Jason would have left him rot in a jail cell, but Britt says he doesn’t know that. He says he does, and she says, so? He says, they’re different. Jason has a code of honor. She has a tendency to lie like a rug. She says, not true, but he says, it is. And it’s one of the many things he loves about her. Honesty is boring. It’s played out. Jason wants to change her to become a truth telling automaton like him. She says, Jason thinks she’s fine the way she is.

Drew says he’s so sorry for everything Willow went through after their first failed wedding. The hurt and confusion she was feeling tear him up inside. He caused it and he’s just so sorry. She says, don’t feel that way. He’s been nothing but wonderful after all the terrible things she said. He found a way to love her. He says he always will, and she says she believes it. He says she should. The thought of her outside Carly’s, waiting to be let in to see her own children… He gets up, and she asks what he’s doing. He says, it’s their turn to grovel, and she says, don’t, but he’s already on his way over to Jason and Carly’s table.

Tracy tells Alexis that Willow isn’t a sob story about being sweet and innocent. Willow is shrewd and calculating. Alexis says she’s well-aware of how Tracy feels about her client, and Tracy asks if she’s aware that Willow used her granddaughter to get access to the house. On Monica’s last day, Willow showed up saying she’d promised Scout could see Monica before school started. Alexis says, it was their tradition, but Tracy says, Willow could care less about their tradition. She used Scout as an excuse to get to Wiley. Alexis asks if she’s supposed to blame Willow for wanting to see her children, and Tracy says, Willow wanted to gloat about getting a new judge for the visitation hearing. Alexis says, so Willow is cunning. What is she supposed to do to fight back against Tracy and her family? Tracy says, don’t let the sweet, meek act fool her, and Alexis says she has faith in Willow’s innocence and needs to finish her summation. Which means Tracy needs to go.  

Kai says, Drew will use his power as a sitting congressman if he comes for them, and Trina says she’s sure he would. They saw what he did to Aunt Stella, and she wasn’t his real target. It was Trina’s father. Kai says, he’ll do the same thing to her. He’s ruined her parents’ lives and done enough damage. She says, if they tell Turner, the best they can hope for is a mistrial. Turner will have to start over. He says, that will give Drew plenty of time to destroy their credibility, and she says, they can’t go to the police, but can they really do nothing? It wasn’t an overwhelming moment. It wasn’t a crime of passion. They heard one shot and Drew hit the ground. Then Willow shot him again. Willow knew what she was doing. She intended to kill Drew. She knew what she was doing when she lied on the stand. He says, if Willow gets acquitted, she won’t be able to be charged again. She’ll be untouchable. Trina says, they can’t let her get away with that, and he says, but if they can’t go to the cops, how can they stop her?

Jacinda says she’s not leaving because of Michael. She’s leaving because she can’t work in Port Charles after what happened on the stand. She used to promise her clients discretion, but now she can’t. Michael says he thought she liked working at Crimson, but she says, Nina isn’t going to tolerate her being an assistant for much longer. Her days are numbered as an employee. He says, there are plenty of other jobs at Aurora, and she asks why he’s eager to help her find a job. He says he asked her to lie and she took a risk. He wishes she’d told him about Ezra, but he gets why she didn’t. She says, he’s not angry? and he says, maybe he should be, but he’s not. Whatever happened between them started out as a lie, but when she took him back to her place, the night they shared felt real to him. Did he read it wrong?

Sonny tells Laura that he could use the backup, especially now, but that being said, as much as he hates this, they’re doing the right thing in how they’re handling Sidwell. They’re making him think he has the upper hand. Guys like that get cocky. They start feeling it and think they’re holding all the cards. Laura asks what they’re going to do, and he says, they’re going to wait and wait until Sidwell makes a mistake. She says, what if he doesn’t? and Sonny says, he already has. He got together with Lucy… Inviting Ava to his house in any capacity. But messing with them is going to cost him big time.

Britt tells Brad that Jason wants her to tell the truth so he can help her. That’s not the same as trying to turn her into a truth telling automaton. She moves like a robot, and he says, she’s staying in a relationship with someone who’s very definitely toxic, but she says, a couple of kisses does not a relationship make. He says, a couple? and she says, yes, dad, but he didn’t get fresh and I was home by curfew. He asks how many kisses they’re talking about, and she says she told him a couple, that means two. He says, whatever it is, it’s only going to end one way. The guy is going to break her heart. She says she’s not letting that happen, and he says, she’s going to do what she wants anyway. She says, probably, and he says, when Jason breaks her heart – and he will – he promises to fulfill best friend duties. He’ll have ice cream at the ready and won’t say, I told you so.

Jacinda says, he’s not reading it wrong, and Michael says he has no idea what happens next, where it’ll land with Willow. Maybe she’ll be convicted. maybe she won’t. But being with Jacinda has been the one bright spot in this whole ordeal. He wants to try to hold onto it as long as he can. He’d like her to stay, but only if that’s what she wants. She says, how’s this? She promises to stick around as long as she can. He says he’ll take what he can get, and they kiss.

 Jason asks what Drew wants, and Drew says he wants to remind Jason that the restraining order against Danny is still in place. That won’t change even if Willow is acquitted. If Danny goes near Scout, he won’t hesitate to press charges. Carly gets up and says, he’s pathetic, still trying to keep Scout away from her brother, and he says he’s just following her lead with Willow’s children. She says, it was a court order. The court did that. He says, if that’s what she wants to tell herself. What goes around comes around. Willow will be pronounced innocent. Jason says, not guilty. It’s not the same thing. Drew says, everyone will know Willow is innocent and Michael will be prosecuted. Then Willow’s children will come home with them. Carly will want to see her grandchildren, and he’ll feel nothing but pleasure at slamming the door in her face. Jason gets up, and Drew says, don’t bother. Carly says, go to hell, and bumps the glass in his hand, causing his drink to spill all over him.

Alexis reads her summation aloud: Anyone can see Willow is innocent of the crime, so do the right thing and acquit her of all charges. There’s a knock at the door, but she says, it’s after hours. Trina says, it’s Trina Robinson. They need to see her. It’s important. Alexis opens the door and finds Trina and Kai. She says, what are you two doing here? and Trina says, we know who shot Drew.

🧼 All the Soap News Fit To Print…

I’d actually been hoping for Drew having set up his own shooting to set up Michael.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/general-hospital-willow-revealed-as-drews-shooter-katelyn-macmullen-speaks-out-exclusive/

Vague, but at least it’s something.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/general-hospital-exec-promises-loving-montage-to-honor-the-late-anthony-geary-luke/

All My Children flashback moment.

https://ew.com/amanda-seyfried-recreates-first-onscreen-kiss-with-all-my-children-costar-michael-b-jordan-11881972

💉 A Dose Of Reality…

Below Deck Mediterranean

I totally missed this, but I’m glad to hear V told Eyebrows Joe to hit the bricks.

Real Housewives Of Salt Lake City

One of the best, or at least most honest things I’ve seen in the Housewives franchise was the Greek tragedy put on for the group’s benefit. Women in white gowns wearing masks each represented a member of the cast and revealed truths about each one. I don’t know who Angie got to write it, but it was spot on. Afterwards, there was actually some honesty from the real women, but just for a moment, which was sadly, no surprise. It was the last episode of the season, but according to the finale text, no one has done anything even remotely interesting. Except I did find out Mary’s dog is one of her trusted advisors. I approve.

I’m not saying anything, but it would explain a lot.

Vanderpump Rules

I can barely watch this at this point. Venus, who thinks life’s necessitites are water, oxygen, and talking sh*t, finally ended his friendship with Marcus. Afterwards, they had a stand-off in SUR’s back alley with who would leave first. Spoiler alert: It was Marcus. Natalie once again made me wonder what was wrong with her, but she wasn’t entirely wrong in saying, the high road is bullsh*t.

Southern Charm

These people really need to expand their dating pool. And by pool, I don’t mean Craig’s hot tub. The best thing this week was Patricia’s annual guys’ dinner. New butler Randy had apparently never been formally trained in butlering, so it looks like he’s learning on the job from Patricia. In her interview, she told us how he’d put the phone in the oven, forgot, and cooked it, causing toxic fumes to permeate the kitchen. He’d been using it as a light source and gotten distracted. D’oh!  

Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills

According to Dorit, PK was out of control. Kathy had party and Sutton took everyone to Sedona on her private jet. Dorit was late and they had to wait an hour, and in Dorit’s interview, she said, isn’t that what flying private is for? Yeah, when it’s your plane. New girl Amanda talks a lot about money. I get that she wrote a book about finance, but we don’t need to know how much you paid for your sunglasses/handbag/BBL. She also seems to be a one upper. Whatever you have, she has more or two or hers is bigger. In Kyle’s interview, she clued us in on something about Kathy. When Kathy says, that’s great, it means she isn’t listening or she doesn’t understand anything you said. I’ll be looking out for that in the future.

The Valley: Persian Style

I was really looking forward to this, and it didn’t disappoint. There were some new faces that I’ll have to get used to, but it’s basically Shahs 2.0. They just had kids, moved to the Valley, and changed focus a little – less partying, more parenting. MJ is now Mercedeh, and GG is Golnessa, but Reza is still Reza, although now there’s another Reza. OG Reza and Adam have been married ten years, and I think it’s going to stick. MJ (she said she didn’t mind the nickname on Watch What Happens Live) and Tommy have been married seven and there are definite chinks in the marriage armor. I can’t say I’m surprised, since Tommy still acts like he’s on a street corner in Queens and he’s teaching their son the same behavior. Golnessa’s son is now five and she’s trying to be financially independent from her parents, but refuses to downsize her lifestyle. Three thousand dollars a month for weed seems a little extravagant, but then again, I don’t live in LA, so maybe that’s two joints. The Shahs have grown up a little, but not so much that they’re unrecognizable, and it’s great to have them back.

Random Reality Items

This isn’t a show I usually watch, but it might be worth it to see Daisy and Ben butt heads.

Eddie is all kumbaya… for now.

It doesn’t get any better than this. Or does it?

👀 Last Weekend’s Watch…

Evil Influencer: The Jodi Hildebrandt Story. Netflix. In another real-life horror documentary, so-called therapist and childcare expert Jodi joins forces with YouTube influencer Ruby Franke. When Ruby’s 12-year-old escapes and alerts the authorities to what’s really going on, the jig is up. Sadly, this story is one among too many like it.

https://people.com/evil-influencer-jodi-hildebrandt-story-bombshells-11878439

https://deadline.com/2026/01/evil-influencer-true-crime-doc-netflix-chart-1236665740/

Priscilla. Netflix. This film was perfect when I was looking for something I didn’t have to think too hard about. Focusing on the romance between Elvis Presley and Priscilla, there’s probably not much you don’t k annow about, but it’s interesting from a unique coming-of-age perspective. Not many 14-year-olds get to meet their favorite celebrity, much less go on to marry him. Well-written, with the stamp of the real Priscilla’s approval, the cast is excellent and the time period spot-on.

https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a68894083/priscilla-trending-netflix/

https://people.com/see-the-priscilla-cast-side-by-side-with-the-real-people-11879502

Apparently, not everyone was thrilled, but I didn’t get the same vibe.

https://www.ladbible.com/entertainment/netflix/priscilla-netflix-film-elvis-marriage-14-meeting-explained-278037-20251002

Sean Combs: The Reckoning. Netflix. Fascinating, messy, and just a shame. You’d hope that this would be a turning point in his life, but sadly, I doubt it will be.

https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/sean-combs-the-reckoning-diddy-documentary-release-date-news

https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/sean-combs-the-reckoning-diddy-documentary-hotel-footage

I always forget he has an actual name.

https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Culture/curtis-50-cent-jackson-executive-produced-new-sean/story?id=127995209

After Darkness. Amazon Prime, Tubi. There was a review on Letterboxd that began, this movie is a turd. I’m still laughing, but I wouldn’t go that far. My first reaction at the end was, well, they can’t all be Melancholia. A family gathers as an apocalypse of sorts is about to happen. The sun is about to go out and create perpetual winter and darkness on the earth. I would have liked a little more of that, and less of the family’s interpersonal issues, but it did have an ending that I did not see coming.

The Naked Gun. Paramount+. Another film you don’t have to think too hard about, or really think at all. A blonde bombshell asks for a disillusioned detective’s help in getting to the bottom of her brother’s death. Lots of laughs a la Airplane! (although nothing will ever be as funny as that one IMO), slapstick fight scenes, and a stellar cast. You could spend a worse hour and a half.

https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/the-naked-gun-movie-review-liam-neeson-pamela-anderson-2025-1235141714/

The Naked OG.

https://www.slashfilm.com/1926651/the-naked-gun-1988-movie-first-watch-thoughts/

🏆 It’s an Honor Just To Be…

SAG nominations.

https://ew.com/sag-2026-actor-awards-nominations-full-list-11880512

Golden Globe nominations.

https://ew.com/2026-golden-globes-nominations-full-list-11862210

🎬 Making Their Debut…

2026 Movie releases.

https://ew.com/2026-movie-release-premiere-dates-11877222

🏈 Bowling For Puppies…

It’s almost here! The Puppy Bowl is coming on February 8th. Meet the players.

🐕 https://ew.com/meet-2026-puppy-bowl-adorable-doggy-players-11881268

🦮 This year’s special needs group.

https://people.com/meet-the-dogs-with-special-needs-competing-in-puppy-bowl-2026-11881300

🐶 What’s new.

https://people.com/first-look-puppy-bowl-2026-including-new-senior-dog-game-11881298

🐐 Quotes of the Week

Whoever you are, whatever your dream, you have to be strong in your head and strong in your heart. Be strong. There’s no quitting in the person who wants it bad enough. – Carly Patterson

Start where you are, use what you have, do what you can. – Arthur Ashe

A wind that blows aimlessly is no good to anyone. – Rick Riordan

The magic in new beginnings is truly the most powerful of them all. – Josiyah Martin

The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing. – Walt Disney

It is easy to sit up and take notice, what is difficult is getting up and taking action. – Honoré de Balzac

It is better to be hated for what you are than loved for what you are not. – Andre Gide

If opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door. – Milton Berle (Or kick one down.)

Listen up or I’ll start pressing buttons until something bad happens. – Nora Antony (Andy Allo), Upload

If a zombie bear isn’t the problem, what is? – Doc (Russell Hodgkinson), Z Nation

🌎 Right Now…

Jezebel/Splinter had a great article, How to Stay Sane in a World Gone Mad. They gave the following advice: Touch grass, get some Vitamin D, adopt a pet, volunteer in your community, find a hobby, and root yourself in the day-to-day realities of life you can control. Soon you will find the things you cannot control less existentially overwhelming.

I concur.

❄️ Hazy Shade Of January…

Until next time, stay safe; stay keeping true to yourself and not letting anyone tell you who you are; and stay never interrupting romantic moments by demanding to know who finished the fruitcake.

January 2, 2025 – GH Weekdays, New Year’s Day In Port Charles, Soap Suds, This Week In Reality, Weekend Watching, Celebrations, Roll Call, A Passel Of Pups, Septuplet Of Quotes & My Year  

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

🥢 Weekday Bites…                                                                           

Monday: 

Kristina wondered if a house fell on Drew, but Alexis said Willow convinced Drew that Scout should come over and he said, as long as Danny wasn’t there. Until she got Willow acquitted, they were at Drew’s mercy.

Sidwell was troubled by Portia’s allegations, but Drew said they were just allegations. Sidwell said if that changed, Drew was on his own, when Willow came in. She asked what she’d missed.

Tracy told Michael that she thought the first Christmas without Monica would be terrible, but it was tolerable. He commended her Christmas spirit and said Monica would be proud of Tracy leading the family through the holidays without her. The doorbell rang and Jacinda introduced herself to Tracy as Michael’s girlfriend. Tracy said she knew who Jacinda was.

Sonny saw Turner at the MetroCourt and said he didn’t want to interrupt, but she said wait. She was glad he did.

Cody showed up at Alexis’s with Danny.

Doc told Laura that he’d gotten a call from a colleague in Dublin. They wanted him to move to Ireland.

Danny asked if it was okay, and Kristina said, of course (🍷). There were hugs all around, and Danny said he had no clue Scout would be there. Alexis said it was a surprise to all of them, and Scout asked if Danny could stay. Danny said Christmas wasn’t the same without her.

At Windymere, Willow said Scout’s smile was off the charts, and Drew said he didn’t give a damn about the rest of them, but as long as Scout was in a good place, so was he. He wanted his daughter to see Willow as a source of good in her life. Scout was lucky to have her. Willow said she was the lucky one, and Drew said Sidwell wasn’t happy about the blackmail allegations. Willow said it was all her fault, but Drew said he blamed Alexis and no one else.

Marco found Lucas in their suite, and Lucas said Mrs. Drew Cain was there and he thought a tactful escape was best. Marco said, there might be another way forward.

Doc told Laura that it was six months as a visiting lecturer at a college and he’d be well paid. He told them that he’d think about it. Laura said she thought he should take it, but he said only if she came along.

Turner told Sonny that it couldn’t be all work all the time. She was taking a break. The last day before the holidays had been rough. Not for her… Sonny said he heard about Portia and heard Turner got her off the stand fast. Turner said the defense did most of her work for her, and he said that was part of it. She asked if he thought there was more, and he said as much as she tried to hide it, she had a heart.

Jacinda brought belated Christmas treats for the kids, and Michael asked if she wanted to go get a drink. Tracy said Jacinda had come all this way. How about a nightcap? She’d heard a lot about Jacinda and still had questions. For instance, Jacinda was an interesting name…

Sidwell said he’d be lying if he said he wasn’t concerned, and Jordan asked how he wanted to play this. He asked her to use her connections in the mayor’s office and PCPD to find out if there was a case pending. He needed to know if he should go all in with Drew or cut ties with him. She said she’d ask around, and he said her troubleshooting skills were invaluable to him, and she’d be well-compensated by her year-end bonus. She said she’d noticed tension between Lucy and Ava, and Sidwell said it was Lucy’s lucy dramatic flair. It was part of her charm, but Ava had charms of her own.

Scout said she missed them, and Danny said they missed her. When it snowed, he remembered their snowman. He was epic. Scout said, she, and Molly suggested they make another one. Alexis said they should do it out back, where there was more snow and more room, and Danny and Scout left. Cody said they were adorable, and Alexis said, an adorable nightmare. Kristina explained that Drew said Scout could only hang out with them if Danny wasn’t there, and Molly wondered if Drew was dying to win the worst dad competition. Alexis said he was a shoo-in, but they’d promised to abide by his demands. If Willow or Drew found Danny there… Kristina suggested they be allowed to spend some time together, and Molly said Sam would want them to keep making memories. Alexis said Drew was ruthless and wouldn’t blink on never allowing them to see Scout again, and Kristina suggested waiting until there was a natural break, then ing Danny. Alexis said, and break Danny’s heart.

Marco said maybe it was time to make peace, put the past in the past, and start fresh, but Lucas said he stood by what he did and said in regard to Willow. She was in the wrong. Marco said he agreed and admired Lucas’s integrity, but there were times when they should expediate going along to get along. Be polite. Wear a mask. Don’t show how he truly feels. Follow his lead. He was an expert. Lucas said he’d try, and Marco said it was all he asked.

Turner wasn’t sure if she took it as an insult or a compliment that Sonny thought she was easy on Portia because she was soft, and he said she’d shown empathy. She had what she needed and spared Portia more embarrassment and pain. He called that kindness. She asked him to keep it to himself. The last thing she needed was the reputation of being compassionate in court. He said it didn’t make her weaker. It did the opposite. She said she didn’t enjoy that Portia had been violated by the system she was part of, but she’d committed a crime and had to face the consequences for her actions. Sonny said Portia was a good person, and Turner asked if that gave her a pass. He said, sometimes good people made bad choices for the sake of those they loved, and she asked if it was his justification too.

Laura said she’d just been reelected, and it wasn’t the best time, but that didn’t mean Doc shouldn’t go. Jordan knocked at the door, stopping by to wish Laura a happy new year, and they hugged. Doc said he’d check on Ace, and left. Laura said it was a lovely surprise, but she sensed it wasn’t just social, and Jordan said she may have found something to give Laura what she wanted on Sidwell.

Lucas found Willow looking out a window and noticed the photo of Wiley and Amelia on her phone. He said it must make her smile when she looked at it, and she said it did. He said he was sure she missed them very much.

Tracy said she remembered Jacinda’s night out with her nephew Drew Cain, and Jacinda said, the body shots () heard round the world. Tracy thanked her and said, the negative press was so gratifying, and Jacinda said Drew was a job, part of her old life. Tracy asked if she was Jacinda 2.0, and Jacinda said it sounded silly, but yes. Tracy said it didn’t sound silly. What was the new Jacinda doing? Jacinda said she was working at Crimson as Nina Reeves’s assistant, and Tracy said Jacinda wasn’t being paid nearly enough. Jacinda said she and Nina found a way to co-exist, but she was lucky to have a chance to learn from Nina. She was good at what she did. Tracy said, so Jacinda was working in fashion, and Michael said it suited her. Tracy said she could see that and was happy for her, and Michael asked if Jacinda needed a refill. Jacinda said she needed directions to the powder room, Michael gave them to her, and she left. Michael thanked Tracy for being so kind, and she said she was being kind because he wasn’t.

Cody asked Scout to help him make hot chocolate and they went to the kitchen. Danny asked what was going on, and Alexis said she was glad he was able to spend time with his sister. It killed her to have to say… Danny said he needed to leave. He got it. Through her tears, Alexis said he needed to leave.  

Tracy said she and Jacinda were aligned in covering for Michael, who was clearly leading her on, but Michael said he wasn’t. She said he didn’t love Jacinda. He needed her and sometimes emotions got confused. He said he didn’t think that’s what was happening, and she said Jacinda was falling for him. He was keeping her in the dark as to his intentions and it was unfair to her. He said he swore he wasn’t and had real feelings for her, and Tracy said he wasn’t just lying to Jacinda, he was lying to himself. She’d been strung along by more men with an agenda than she cared to remember and it left lasting scars. He needed to be honest and clarify the parameters of the relationship.

Willow said she missed Wiley and Amelia so much she could barely breathe, and Lucas said, better photos than violating the custody order. She said they lived in the same city and accidental meetings happened, and he said, were they? He knew how it felt keeping distance. It was torture. That’s why he moved to Boston when he gave Wiley up. She said she had zero intention of giving up her children, much less moving, and he said he’d put Wiley first. He did what was best for Wiley, even if it wasn’t the easiest thing. Maybe she should try it. Drew came in and told Lucas to stop harassing his wife, but Lucas said he was encouraging her to do the right thing for the kids – aka, stay away from them. He was trying to be helpful. Drew said Willow didn’t need his help, but Lucas said Drew did. He’d taken two bullets out of Drew’s back and saved his life and legs. Have a good night. He walked out and Drew asked if Willow was okay. She said she was fine, but wanted to get out of there. She had to pick up Scout anyway. He said he hoped the time with Scout reminded Alexis of what she was fighting for.

Alexis said the only way they could see Scout was if Danny stayed away. There were all disappointed. Kristina said she hated that Drew could do this to them, and Alexis said she was doing what she could to help Willow so the restraining orders would be lifted, but until then, it sucked. Molly said, sucky Drew held all the power for now, and Danny said he was glad for the time he got to spend with Scout. Their mom would be happy that they’d carried on the snow tradition. He promised not to share any pics of it. Cody and Scout came back with the hot chocolate, and Danny said he had to get going. Seeing Scout was the best gift he got. Scout said her too. She loved him. They hugged, and he said he loved her. Take care of their snowwoman. Cody said he’d drive Danny home, and Alexis hugged Danny and told him that she loved him. Danny and Cody left, and Scout said she didn’t want Danny to go. Alexis said she knew, and everyone looked sad.

Jordan told Laura that she’d been in Sidwell’s inner circle for a month, but had found nothing of value in his business dealings. His personal life on the other hand… She was at Windymere for a Boxing Day party, and although Sidwell was openly dating Lucy, he’d been chatting up Ava as well and she got a flirtations vibe. Lucy was there and didn’t seem happy, but Sidwell seemed to enjoy himself. Laura said, if Lucy and Ava were competing for Sidwell’s affection, that may be something they could use to their advantage. Jordan said that’s what she was thinking, and Laura said Lucy was pretty impulsive.

Sidwell said he and Marco could toast to the end of a brutal year. There had been the devastating loss of Marco’s mother, and he was proud of the way Marco carried on. Marco said he’d been lucky to have distractions. His work, helping with the family business, and his relationship with Lucas. But Sonny still needed to pay with his life, since Sonny was the reason his mom lost hers. Sidwell said Sonny was suffering in other ways, and Marco said, it was a brilliant move, pinning Dalton’s murder on Laura and Sonny and using it as blackmail. Sidwell said now Marco understood why he needed to keep Sonny alive for the moment. When he was finished, Sonny was a dead man.

Sonny told Turner that he’d had to shield his family from his mistakes more than once. He knew what Portia was going through. He’d been on both sides of infidelity, and it was never black and white. Turner said that was the opposite of how it was in court. Right and wrong, guilt and innocence. He said the real truth was somewhere in the middle, and she said the only mercy she could exercise was before the trial in a plea deal and afterwards in the sentencing. He said, like with Rocco, and she said, exactly. He said he was grateful anytime anybody showed someone he loved that kind of grace. He didn’t forget it.

Jacinda came back and said she’d gotten lost. The house was huge and gorgeous. Tracy thanked her, and Jacinda asked how long it had been in the family. Michael said, since his grandfather had it built for his grandmother. She left it to Tracy. Jacinda said, very cool, and Tracy said it was. She thanked them for sharing a nightcap and said she’d leave them to their evening. She left, closing the door behind her, and Jacinda asked what Tracy said about her. She felt like Tracy might like her. Michael said they did talk about her, and she said, of course (🍷). That’s what happened when someone left a room. He said Tracy thought he was taking advantage of her.

Scout told Alexis that it was so much better than yesterday. She loved her presents, but being able to see Alexis, her Aunt Kristina, Aunt Molly, and Danny… Alexis said she was sorry Danny had to leave, and Scout said he was the only one who really understood what it was like not to have their mom there. Alexis said she understood, and Scout said, but it was different. Danny knew how it felt to have a mom be there and then be gone. Alexis said they had a wonderful bond, and she was glad Scout had her brother. He’d always be her brother even if things between her dad and Danny were complicated right now. She hugged Scout.

Back at the Quartermaines’, Danny told Cody that Drew thought he was protecting Scout, but she was miserable because of him. Life was so good when he, Scout, and their mom lived with Rocco and Dante. It was awesome. Then their mom died and the rest of them stayed together at the Quartermaines’. They were sad, but there were people around them the entire time. It was impossible to be lonely. He still had that thanks to his dad, but Scout was locked away all alone. Cody said he was sorry. He knew how hard it was to worry about someone you loved. Danny said he hated feeling helpless. He wished there was something he could do. Cody said maybe there was.

Alexis said she was sorry she had to ask Scout to keep something from her dad. She thought it best Scout didn’t tell him that Danny was there. Her dad wouldn’t get upset and Danny wouldn’t get in trouble. Scout told Alexis that she wouldn’t say anything, when there was a knock at the door. Alexis told Scout to get her coat, and Willow came in. She asked how it went, and Alexis said, wonderful. Molly and Kristina thanked Willow, and Scout said, it was the best time ever. Willow said she was so glad, and Alexis thanked her again. Willow said she knew how important it was to spend time with family over the holidays and Alexis had been working hard so she could see hers.

Turner told Sonny that there was a huge difference between a teenager making a mistake and a grown man being a career criminal. When you made the choice to repeatedly break the law, it was never a grey area. Sonny said, never say never. She may find herself forced to do the wrong thing for the sake of the people she loved. Turner asked if he could talk himself into anything, and he got up. He said he didn’t have to talk himself into anything, and left.

Kristina said she thought that’s what they needed, and Molly said watching Scout and Danny together. Alexis said that’s why it was important for her to get back in Drew’s good graces. She had to dig her defense out of the hole, not just for Willow’s sake, but Scout’s future depended on it. Molly said she believed in Alexis. If anyone could pull it off, she could. Alexis said, the next time she got a shot in court, she wouldn’t miss.

Jacinda asked if Michael told Tracy that he wasn’t taking advantage of her, and he said he tried. She said, Tracy didn’t buy it, and he said he couldn’t change the circumstances of how they first met. Tracy knew he was paying her to be his alibi, and thought when the trial was over, they would be too, but she was wrong. Jacinda said she wanted to believe that, but felt like she was waiting for the other shoe to drop. He said, there was no shoe and nothing dropping… except this. He handed her a jewelry box and said, a belated Christmas gift. She said she didn’t get… and he said he thought of her soon as he saw it. She opened the box, finding a bracelet inside, and he said it was elegant, beautiful, and it sparkled – just like her. She said it was too much and she couldn’t accept it. She handed it back, and he said if she didn’t like it, they could get something else, but she said it wasn’t that. It was stunning. He said think of it as a token of his genuine and deepening affection, and he put it on her. He said it looked perfect, and she said she’d never seen anything quite like it. And she’d never known anyone quite like him. They kissed.

Jordan asked if Laura was sure she was okay. Something felt off. Laura said she was fine, and Jordan said Laura could talk to her about anything. Laura said if she if she needed to, she would, and Jordan left. Doc came back and said Ace was asleep, and Laura asked if he’d thought about Dublin. He said he was calling first thing in the morning and letting them know he wasn’t coming. He wasn’t leaving her. Not now. She said she understood, but with everything going on with Sidwell, she felt like it was smart to keep their options open.

Marco said Lucas survived the party without blowing up at Willow, but Lucas said he failed at playing nice and putting on a mask. Their encounter disintegrated, like always. He asked Marco not to be a lawyer and wear a mask with him. He wanted all of Marco, even the parts he wasn’t proud of. Marco said that’s what he loved about them. He used to bottle everything up, but with Lucas, he could just be himself. Lucs said, open and honest, and Marco said, always. They hugged.

Drew said he wanted Sidwell to know there was nothing to worry about in respect to the blackmail, and Sidwell said he was going to need Drew in Washington after the first of the year to help with some things. Drew said why should he actually go to work? there was still a lot to do in Port Charles. Don’t be so quick to send him to DC.

Cody said if Danny wanted to see Scout, be smart. What did he do when he hit his head against a wall? Continue banging his head? You look for a door. It was what was called the long con. You played a role. Drew wanted Danny to live by all the rules he made, so Danny was going to make Drew think he was going along with everything, when in reality, he was just waiting for the moment to take what was his.

In the car, Scout thanked Willow for taking her, and Willow said she was happy Scout got to spend time with her family. Scout asked if she could tell Willow something. Willow had to promise not to tell anyone, not even her daddy. Willow promised, and Scout said, Danny was there. Willow said, it must have been fun, and Scout said, it was, but no one could know she saw Danny or he’d get in trouble. Willow said Scout’s secret was safe with her.

Tuesday:

Gio, Emma, and Kai were at Trina’s on New Year’s Eve. Kai toasted, to a fantastic 2026.

Nathan was on his phone outside Lulu’s when she came out to keep watch with him.

Jordan sat back for some TV and champagne, when Curtis came by. He said he was hoping they could usher in the New Year together, but if it was too soon, tell him.

Cody decorated the stables and asked what Outback thought. Outback barked and Cody said he hoped she liked it too. Molly called and he said he had the perfect place for them to ring in the New Year. She said she was so sorry, but she wouldn’t be able to meet up with him.

Bearing champagne, Carly went to see Valentin in the attic. He asked if she was poisoning him, but she said she was fresh out of polonium.

Britt found Jason in the nook, and he asked if she needed something. She said, his company. It was her birthday and the anniversary of her death, and she didn’t want to mark either occasion alone.

Molly told Cody that Turner called her in to produce a plea deal for a case so she could focus solely on Willow’s trial, and she wanted to review it first thing in the morning. Cody said they’d do it when she had time, but she said it wouldn’t be New Year’s Eve. He said they could pretend. All they needed was a bottle of champagne, noisemakers, and plastic glasses that said 2026. She said she wasn’t backing out or hiding behind work, and he told her to do what she had to, and he’d see her in the new year. He told Outback that he guessed it was just him and his princess pie celebrating the New Year, and Outback barked. He said she was right. He was giving up too easily. It was time to turn the night around.

Gio asked what the deal was for tonight, and Emma said maybe Trina called in a favor and got them into the VIP area at The Savoy, but Trina asked if they minded skipping The Savoy. She didn’t need to see either of her parents tonight. Emma stepped away to take a call, and Gio suggested they stay in. They wouldn’t find better company anywhere else.

Jordan said she was glad Curtis came by. She’d just opened champagne. Could she pour him a glass? Curtis said, sure. He’d been on his way to a party at The Savoy and realized the only person he wanted to be around tonight was her. She said she’d debated on reaching out, but with everything he had going on and everything that came out in court, she didn’t want to push it. He said the only person selfish one here was him.

Carly said, after you, and as Valentin took a sip, she said, Jack picked it out. He said their evening ended early, and she said Jack was called away on business. Not that she minded. He asked if she was tired of playing at being interested in Jack or worried she wasn’t playing a role.

Jason said Britt was celebrating the death she’d faked? and she asked where his sense of humor was. Oh wait. He didn’t have one. He said, not when it came to her death. She worked for Sidwell and he knew Sidwell was using her medication as leverage, but she wouldn’t let him help. She said she couldn’t even enjoy the fireworks without a lecture. She’d see him around. She started to leave, but he said, wait.

Lulu told Nathan that she felt like she was taking advantage of the PCPD. She was starting to think Valentin wasn’t coming for Charlotte, but had to admit she was getting used to having him around.

Emma said Cody had an emergency and wanted her to watch Outback so she didn’t freak out over the fireworks, and Trina said, of course (🍷) she should go. Gio said he’d go with her, and Emma said he didn’t have to bail on his New Year’s Eve plans. He said she was his New Year’s Eve plan, and they left. Kai said too bad they had to go, but he and Trina could still go out. Trina asked if they could stay in, and he said he thought she’d never ask.

Curtis told Jordan that he’d been clear about trying again, but didn’t acknowledge how big of an ask it was, since it came with Portia and all the drama a baby could bring. Jordan said she didn’t begrudge him being invested in the well-being of his unborn child. She knew he hoped it was his and she wanted him to be able to raise the baby. He said he wished it was with her.

Valentin told Carly that it could be difficult to differentiate between what was pretend and what was real. It had happened to him, and he had decades of training and experience. She said she didn’t need training. Her love for her daughter made her capable of anything. He said they had that in common. That’s why she brought Charlotte to him. She said she’d also done it for Charlotte. Charlotte put on a brave face, but she was still a young girl who missed her dad and she deserved to see him.

Lulu said having Nathan here was helping her. She tried to be a chill mom, but knew her kids would say she was overprotective. Nathan said she’d only been back for a year. She’d lost out on a lot of things. Maybe she was scared of losing something else.

Cody told Emma and Gio that he had a personal emergency. He’d had a date with Molly and she’d had to cancel, but he was bringing the party to her. There were champagne and snacks in the fridge. Help themselves. He left, and Emma said it looked like they had the place to themselves. How did Gio want to ring in the New Year?

Jason asked what Britt had in mind for tonight, and she said she thought they could go to The Savoy and dance a bit. He said she’d be in debt for life, and she said, or they could go to the Brown Dog and have a couple of beers. Whatever it was, fun was the destination. She didn’t care where they went to get it. He’d covered her tab at Café Cherie, and she hadn’t properly thanked him. Thank you. Jason said she was welcome, and she said she’d thought they were good. He said they were. He just didn’t think he could be the company she needed tonight.

Valentin said he appreciated the risk Carly took, since the authorities were looking for him and she also had a relationship with Lulu. Carly said Lulu would never speak to her again. Hiding him could land her in prison, so he couldn’t screw this up. They had to make this work. Jack had to go down.

Lulu said she and Nathan were in an exclusive club. She’d missed out on four years, then he stole her thunder by raising her seven. Nathan said, it wasn’t on purpose, and asked if it got easier finding your footing after seeing everyone move on without you. She said ask her in another year. It did, but she didn’t think anyone would say you could slip in seamlessly. She’d managed to find things to ground her – her mom, work, having her kids close. And having a friend always helped.

Emma said they should have brought the digeridoo. It was cooler than a noisemaker. Gio said her grandfather gave it to her, but she said she thought he’d get more use out of it when she taught him to play. Speaking of making music, what about the other instrument he got for Christmas?

Molly wondered where the gods of legal precedent were when she needed them, when Cody knocked at the door and said, special delivery for ADA Lansing-Davis. She couldn’t join him on New Year’s Eve, so he figured he’d bring it to her. Feel free to tell him to get lost. She said, welcome to her legal lair. There was a leak in her office, so she was using Turner’s. He asked if there was anything he could do to help, and she said if he really wanted to save New Year’s Eve, she had an idea.

Jordan said she went in with her eyes wide open when Curtis assumed the baby was his, and she’d be by his side regardless. He said he regretted how he treated her when they were married. He was rigid, harsh, and unforgiving when he thought she was lying and he was sorry. He didn’t hire Selina because of her. He didn’t want to risk any future they might have. They’d wanted to take it slow, but what happened in the courtroom crystalized everything. There was no possibility of him going back to a future without her and he didn’t want to wait to get it started. She said neither did she, and they kissed.

Britt told Jason that she’d see if she could find Brad. He’d go to a club with her and get hammered or sit watching TV and drinking champagne. Whatever. He should have been her first stop. Jason said he cared about her and wanted her to be okay. Could she not see that?

Valentin said he and Carly had the same goal. Jack needed to go. Carly was concerned she’d be clearing a path for him to take Charlotte and disappear, and she didn’t want to do that to Lulu. He said he wanted Charlotte back in his life, but her fears were unfounded, and she said it wouldn’t get easier just because Jack was gone. He said it would be simpler. He’d get exonerated and have a life he could allow Charlotte to be in. For her safety, Charlotte needed to be in Port Charles and she needed Lulu. He had no intention of taking Charlotte from her mother.

Nathan said he noticed Lulu didn’t mention Dante in the things that grounded her, and she said Dante was an important part of her life. He was Rocco’s father, and she loved him and relied on him for a lot, but Dante’s whole foundation shifted when she was gone. He fell in love with Sam and they got engaged. She didn’t know if she could lean on him the way she once did.

Cody read Molly legal precedents, and she said she was almost done. He said, until 1975, it was perfectly legal to streak in Port Charles. He’d always wondered what it was like to run naked around Rice Plaza. She said, cold. She was done after a quick email to Turner and attaching the plea deal. If Turner didn’t like it, she could polish it herself… Sent. Cody said, time to celebrate.

Gio told Emma that it meant a lot that Ned and Sonny came together to give him something so special, and it made Tracy happy. She was having a hard time since it was the first Christmas without Monica. Emma asked if playing again made him happy, but he said, hardly. She said, because he felt pressure to play? but he said, no. Playing was great, but he felt so much distance between the person he’d been and who he was now. He didn’t know what person the violin was part of.

Jordan and Curtis got busy, and there was a song part.

Nathan said, if it was up to Dante, he’d be the one here, and Lulu said, true. He’d do anything to protect her kids. That’s where their situations were different. Nathan was missing a key piece of his life. He said, Maxie, and she said Maxie was going to wake up. He said there was no way to know how she’d feel or if they fit in each other’s lives. She’d made a life with Spinelli, and they had a family. Lulu said they loved each other, and Nathan said he couldn’t assume she’d give that up even if he was her husband.

Valentin said Carly didn’t trust him, did she? and she said, no, but she believed he loved Charlotte. So she had to believe he wanted what was best for her. She thought he knew it was best for Charlotte to be in Port Charles with her mother. He said she was one of the few who talked to him like a parent, and she said, as opposed to what? A criminal? She was used to hanging out with criminals and even criminals could love their children. From what she’d seen, Charlotte loved him and would benefit from having him in her life.

Britt said it wasn’t up to Jason to make things okay for her. It was a full-time job with irregular hours and no overtime. She was a trainwreck. Jason said he didn’t see her that way, and she said she knew he didn’t agree with all her choices. If there was something she needed to get out of, it was up to her to do it on her own. He said she didn’t have to. He could help. He wanted to help. She said maybe that was the sign of a really great friend. They disapprove of everything you do and still come through for you.

Kai asked what Trina wanted to pour herself into in 2026, and she said it always went back to art. She was about to graduate, and she was excited about what was next. Since they were on the subject, she wanted to show him her favorite piece of art.

Emma said she knew Gio thought the music came from his mom, but it came from that side of her in him. If he rediscovered it or never played again, he was still an incredible person. He asked how she always made him feel like he could do anything.

Cody put a Happy New Year hat on Molly and said Outback made him promise to give her this one, and she said Outback had good taste. He’d risked showing up. What if she’d turned him away? He said it would have been worth the trip to wish her a Happy New Year in person. It was nice to see her in her element. It blew him away how smart she was. She said she knew he’d made plans and hoped he hadn’t lost any money, but he said he decorated the stables and figured they’d dance. It beat the Brown Dog Bar. Molly said they could dance there, and he said, amongst the legal books, sticky notes, and a whiff of desperation? She said, yes, and he put on some music and they danced.

Lulu told Nathan that they’d both missed out on so much. Maybe it wasn’t about holding on tightly to the past. Maybe it was about them focusing on and prioritizing what they were grateful for. Nathan said he was grateful for James, his mother and sisters, and his badge. Lulu said she was grateful for her mom, her kids, and her work, and he said he also had her. She said, and she had him, when the fireworks started.

Valentin told Carly that he wasn’t spending New Year’s in Steinmauer. He wasn’t alone and locked up. He could see the sky. Carly said she hoped he was enjoying her luxurious accommodations in the attic, and he said he was watching the fireworks a few miles from his daughter. He got to hug Charlotte because of her. He owed her and paid his debts because he was a Lannister. She said she was running tab, told him, Happy New Year, and left.

Trina said she found it, and Kai said she owned her favorite piece? She said, it was a gift, and showed him a framed photo of them standing next to his artwork. He said, she liked it that much? and she said she did. It reminded her of him. She took down when they broke up, but couldn’t throw it away. Let’s put it back up together. He said he’d love to… after, and they kissed.

Emma said she’d report back to Cody that Outback handled the fireworks fine. They’d be right outside. She and Gio went out, and she said it was freezing. He put his arms around her and said, better? She said, much. The club would have been fun, but she thought this was the perfect way to ring in the New Year. He said, perfect, and they kissed.  

Auld Lang Syne played over the following scenes.

Curtis and Jordan looked out the window, and Curtis said, great harbor view. She said it didn’t get better than this. The only thing she was afraid of was them coming together only to lose each other again. Portia’s baby could still be his. He said, if it was, he’d be the most devoted father he could be and wanted her to be part of the baby’s life. He didn’t want to lose this either. She said they couldn’t. Not again. He put his arms around her, and they watched the fireworks.

Britt said another reason she came by was because in the chaos that was her life, the person she most wanted to be around was Jason. When she was with him, her life didn’t feel so chaotic. He touched her face, said, Happy Birthday, and kissed her. (Finally. Thank you.)

Cody and Molly danced, and she asked if the fireworks were getting louder. He said it might be his heart and they kissed. Molly started to take his shirt off, and he said it was her boss’s office. They couldn’t do this here. She said they could. It was New Year’s Eve.

Deck the Halls played over the yearly extended credits.

Wednesday:

No soap, football.

Thursday:

Tony Geary’s final episode from July 27, 2015.

🫔 Friday’s Half-Eaten Enchilada…

Jordan wakes up with Curtis, and he says, Happy New Year. She says, it’s already off to a pretty good start.

At the stables, Molly comes downstairs wearing Cody’s shirt, and Cody asks if she wants some pancakes. He made way too many. She says he had her at pancakes and hopes he doesn’t mind that she borrowed some of his things. He says she looks better in them, and they kiss.

Laura tells Charlotte that Ace’s nanny called in sick. She wouldn’t have called, but she has someone coming for a meeting and won’t be able to keep an eye on Ace. Charlotte says she thought Laura would have today off, but Laura says, apparently some things can’t wait. She doesn’t know how long she’ll be and can’t look after him until it’s over. Charlotte says, no problem. How about if they get out of Laura’s hair and she takes Ace to the park? Unless Laura wants her to stay home because she’s worried about Charlotte’s father.

At Bobbie’s, Sidwell thanks Marco for tearing himself away from the office… on a holiday, and Marco says, billable hours are billable hours. What’s so urgent? Sidwell says, Alexis’s last day in court was a disaster, to put it mildly, and Marco says, Alexis is a brilliant attorney. He’s sure she’ll salvage the case. Sidwell wonders if she can mitigate the damage done, or is Willow going to prison?

Drew says, Tracy’s movements the night of the shooting were on the footage that was tampered with, and Turner asks if he thinks it was anyone in the department. He says he guesses they can’t rule it out. How bad was it for the case? She says, losing the footage was a blow, but by the time they adjourned, Alexis was on the ropes. He says, Alexis will bounce back and hit back harder, and she says, the PCPD started the investigation with Willow and will have to defend their every action.

Sonny thanks Michael for coming over and says he ran into Turner. There’s something about the trial he thinks Michael should know.

Alexis asks Suzanne to do her a favor. Organize the exhibits and submit a new witness list for the prosecution. Suzanne asks if Alexis is changing her strategy, and Alexis says she is. She’s going after a person who’s more suspicious than Willow – Michael Corinthos. Rather than present a broad array of suspects, she’s going to focus on one simple, plausible scenario. Suzanne says, the last one didn’t go as Alexis had hoped, but Alexis says, reasonable doubt is reasonable doubt. Suzanne says, there’s a long list of suspects, and Alexis says, true, but presenting several at once might be too confusing for the jury. It’s better to present one and give them a clear view of what happened at Drew’s house. Suzanne says, it makes sense, but she has to ask. Is Alexis taking her lead from the anonymous letter? Alexis says, of course (🍷) not. It’s unsubstantiated. But she’s going to do everything in her power to prove what’s in the letter is in fact true.

Turner says Dante will have to defend the investigation, and he says they followed the evidence. It took them a lot of places, but ultimately pointed at Willow and they built a strong case. She says, a strong, circumstantial one, and he says, the phone records showing Willow’s cell pinging off a tower near Drew’s house isn’t nothing. It was the one piece Anna was missing from the traffic cam footage. Turner says, the footage is missing too. They had it and know Willow was in the vicinity, but the jury doesn’t know, and now the footage is gone. They have to proceed like they never had it to begin with. Alexis will use evidence to present doubt that Willow is the shooter. That means they’ll look for someone else to pin it on. He says, like Portia. That didn’t work out too well. She says, Alexis will present another suspect, and she doesn’t want to be blindsided with someone they’ve cleared who’s still viable. Dante says, like Michael? and she says she also wants to know what Curtis was doing with Selina Wu at the club.

Jordan says she knows they should take it day by day, and Curtis says, okay. She says, but she doesn’t want to be one of those couples who get back together and make the same mistakes, and he says he was thinking the same thing. He can’t believe they were ever apart. How did they manage to mess up something so good? She says, there were a lot of different reasons. In order to make it work, their relationship has to be a priority from the beginning, except for Trina. He says, both can be a priority. This time they’re going to do it right.

Marco tells Sidwell, Alexis is an excellent attorney, and Drew has given her more than enough motivation to win. What happened with Portia was a rare misstep. Sidwell says he hopes Marco is right, If Willow is convicted, Drew will be useless to him on the Hill and there will be no chance of his reelection. Marco says, what if he’s impeached? He could be convicted of blackmail. Sidwell says, that would be worse. He’d have to find a new ally in Washington, so their import business remains intact. Fortunately, he has the local politicos where he wants them. Marco says, Mayor Collins did a great job at the press conference announcing the sale of the piers, and Sidwell says, she’s a resourceful, determined woman who doesn’t enjoy being told what to do. Marco asks what Sidwell is going to do, and Sidwell says, never let her forget what she stands to lose.

Charlotte tells Laura that Ace will be perfectly safe with her. She promises. There’s a uniformed cop tailing her, not to mention the WSB surveillance, if Laura is worried about her running off with her dad while she’s with Ace. Laura said, of course (🍷) not. She trusts Charlotte. If she didn’t, she wouldn’t have asked her at all. Sit with her a minute now. They sit down, and Laura says she doesn’t think Charlotte’s dad would try to approach her in broad daylight anyway. Charlotte says she keeps telling everyone that she doesn’t think he’ll try to see her at all, but no one wants to hear it, and Laura says, that’s not because they don’t respect what she’s saying. They just respect her father’s ingenuity more. He has a history here and people are being hyper-vigilant. Charlotte says, no one wants her to be snatched on their watch, but Laura says she doesn’t think that’s the reason they’re worried. To be frank, Ace is a handful. Charlotte says, so Laura trusts her. Ace on the other hand… Laura says, Ace would gladly walk into a pack of coyotes… or traffic. She doesn’t want Charlotte to sign up for more than she bargained for. Ace would be happy in his room. Charlotte says, it’s a nice day. She can wear the chaos machine out so he’s too tired to drive Laura crazy. Laura says her grandson is pure joy all the time, and Charlotte says she promises to keep a close eye on him. Laura says, okay, and Charlotte says, she won’t regret it. Laura says she knows she won’t and thanks Charlotte for being a real lifesaver.

Kristina walks into Alexis’s and says she can’t find her charger. Has anyone seen it? The living room is empty, and she sees Alexis’s paperwork on the coffee table. She picks up a binder and looks in it. Alexis comes in and asks what she’s doing, and Kristina says, what the hell? Alexis asks if Kristina didn’t know that’s private, but Kristina says she doesn’t care. Alexis is framing her brother for something he didn’t do.

Cody says he hopes Molly doesn’t think he’s a bad influence, and she asks why she would think that. He says, because of what happened last night, but she says, no regrets. Her sister told her that she needs to start living her life, and last night, she thinks she finally did. He says he’s glad to help. He can’t believe how lucky he was. It was a long shot that she wanted to come back here. She says she didn’t want the night to end. She didn’t want the morning to end either. He says, it doesn’t have to. They can spend the day together, go riding, watch a movie. Did they ever make a sequel to Titanic? She says, no, but they did make a movie where they go down to the wreckage and raise it. She was thinking they could do something else. They kiss and he picks her up in his arms. As he’s about to take her upstairs, Felicia and James walk in. James asks why Cody is carrying Molly. Is she hurt?

Suzanne brings Turner the revised witness list, and Turner tells Dante to take a look at it and tell her what he thinks Alexis is up to.

Michael asks, since when does Sonny hang out with the ADA? and Sonny says he was supposed to meet Brick at Café Cherie, but at the last minute, Brick canceled. He saw Justine having dinner alone and thought he’d say hi. Michael says, they’re on a first name basis? and Sonny says he’s cultivating her friendship. He thought it could be useful. Michael says, to her or him? and Sonny says, friendship goes both ways. Don’t get him wrong. He thinks Turner likes him a little bit, but she wouldn’t hesitate to take him down. That woman does not take her eye off the ball. Michael asks if the ball is Sonny or him, and Sonny says, in general, he is, but today… Did Michael get subpoenaed? Michael says he’s already on the witness list, and Sonny says, that means he’ll be in between two incredible lawyers who will use his testimony to their advantage. He’ll be a target to both of them.

Kristina says, it’s one thing to have a theory about a suspect, and another to actively build a case against them, and Alexis says, aside from everything else, it’s her fiduciary duty to defend Willow to the best of her ability. What does it look like to Kristina? Kristina says, it looks like she’s preparing to falsely accuse Michael of shooting Drew, and Alexis says, give her an alibi she halfway believes. She can’t investigate every aspect of the case, but she’s looked at all the evidence and firmly believes if the police had done their job, Michael would be on trial, not Willow.

Jordan and Curtis go into Bobbie’s, and Jordan tells Sidwell and Marco, Happy New Year. They sit at another table, when Sidwell’s phone rings. He tells Marco that he’ll take the call outside.

Curtis says, that’s it? She says Happy New Year and goes on her way? She doesn’t have to stop and make nice? Jordan says, Sidwell isn’t like that. If he needed to talk to her, they’d be talking. Otherwise, he respects her personal life. Curtis asks if she’s ever had a boss that was like that before now, and she says, never. It’s funny. In many ways, Sidwell is a great boss. The work is engaging, challenging, and exciting. Don’t get her wrong. She still has her own agenda. He says, good to know, and she says, other than her suspicions about his underlying criminality, it’s the best job she’s ever had. He says he agrees that they should put their relationship first, but regarding Sidwell, she doesn’t have to tell him everything. But if she needs him, he’s here. She says she appreciates that. In case he was wondering, she knows her job with Sidwell has to end at some point, but until then, she’s gonna enjoy it… Right up until the moment she takes him down.

There’s a knock at the door and Laura opens it. Boyle says, madam mayor, and she slams the door in his face. She takes a deep breath, opens it again, and says, what? He thanks her for the invitation, and she tells him, shut up and get in. She doesn’t want anyone to think they’re friends. He comes inside and says, aren’t they friends of a sort? but she says, no. He says he knows she’s a busy woman, so he’ll make it brief. She says she is busy, so spit it out. What does Sidwell want now?

Cody puts Molly down, and James says, she doesn’t seem hurt. Molly says, Cody was carrying her because she thought she saw a mouse, and Cody says, it’s cool to them, but not to… He nods in Molly’s direction, and James says he’s got it. Cody asks if James’s lesson isn’t tomorrow, and Felicia says, it was, but they moved it to work around James’s school schedule. Cody says, they did, and Felicia says, James is really excited to use his new saddle. James says, Santa brought it, and Felicia says, with a little help from a special elf. She looks at Molly, who smiles, and James says, grandma and Grandpa Mac let him stay up late so he could see the fireworks. Felicia says she can bring James back another time, but James says, no. Molly says, absolutely not. James needs to try out his saddle, and she should go see her mom. Felicia says, if she’s sure, and Molly says, totally. Felicia says she’ll be back in an hour, and James asks if he can’t stay longer. Felicia says, they’ll see how the morning shakes out, and tells Molly that it’s nice to see her. Felicia leaves and James says he’s ready for his lesson now.

Sonny says, Alexis and Turner are going to set Michael up to say something he regrets, and Michael says he knows Alexis will try and make the case about another suspect. She already has, but after what happened with Portia, he’s not worried. Sonny says, when Turner cross-examines him, she’ll use him to testify about Willow’s questionable judgement. Then she’ll make him say all the mistakes Willow’s done in front of the jury and give him an opening to bury Willow. Michael asks, how is that bad? and Sonny says, it’s worse than bad. She’ll trap him on the stand in front of a jury and have him say how bad Willow is as a mother and how she’s capable of violence. It will all be a matter of public record. Michael says, Willow deserves it, but Sonny says, not the kids. If he does something like that, at some point, Wiley and Amelia will know what he thinks about their mother and it’s going to stay with them for the rest of their lives.

Kristina asks if Alexis is telling her that whatever’s in the file points to Michael shooting Drew instead of Willow, but Alexis says she doesn’t have to prove Willow didn’t shoot Drew. She just has to provide reasonable doubt and there’s plenty of it. Kristina says, so in her mind, she has no doubt Michael did it, but Alexis says, Michael’s not on trial. If she had her way… One reason she believes it’s Michael is that he was at Drew’s house the night he was shot. Tracy Quartermaine saw him. Kristina says she saw the anonymous note. Alexis has got to be kidding. They may as well have cut words out of a magazine. Alexis says, that’s why she’s not submitting it as evidence, and Kristina says, anyone could have sent it. Did Alexis have it checked for fingerprints? Drew’s are probably all over it. He hates Michael so much. It’s not enough that Willow goes free. He wants to make sure Michael pays for Willow’s crime and he’s using Alexis to make sure that happens.

Laura says, Sidwell expects to build multiple helipads on Spoon Island. Multiple as in plural. She expects there will be noise violations. Boyle says, Sidwell wants them at the piers as well. What does she want him to tell the boss? She’ll take care of it, or instead, stand in the way of progress and commerce? Laura says, the boss makes him sound like a dime store hood, which is something he would be. Boyle says, it’s not him, it’s Sidwell, and she says she’s not giving into him. He says, Sidwell will say she’s against a thriving economy, but she says, he doesn’t care about a thriving economy. He cares that he’s not caught in traffic on his way to the airport. Boyle says, time is money, and she says, let him work remotely. He can do that. He’ll never have to leave Spoon Island. He says, Sidwell won’t go for that. He wants to land his privately owned helicopter on his own helipads. She says, on a public waterfront, because he can’t be bothered to take the launch. It’s not fair to the people of Port Charles. He says, that’s why she needs to sell it to them, and she says, if she refuses? He says, take his advice. Give Sidwell what he wants. She doesn’t want to know what he’s like when you don’t.  

Outside Bobbie’s, Sidwell sees Charlotte with Ace and says, hello. Charlotte asks if she knows him, and he says, not yet, but he knows her grandmother. She must be Charlotte Cassadine. And he believes this handsome young fellow is Ace, is he not? Sidwell chuckles and Ace moves closer to Charlotte.

Dante says, Alexis is going to suggest the PCPD focused on Willow Tate prematurely and chose not pursue equally viable suspects who were right in front of them. She’ll say it was biased and arbitrary, not just because Michael is Willow’s ex, but because Michael is a viable suspect himself. She’ll say he chose not to pursue it because Michael is his brother. Turner says she would. She’s not worried. He knows how to handle himself. He’s consistent, methodical, and transparent. Just tell the truth. He says, that was the plan, and she says, stick to the facts. Be himself. They jury will love him. He says, Alexis will come at him with everything she’s got, and Turner says she’ll object if it’s necessary, but she doubts it will be. Alexis dug her own grave and Willow’s along with it.

Alexis says she didn’t realize her skills as an attorney registered so low with Kristina, that Kristina would think she’d build a case based on an anonymous letter without evidence to back it up. Kristina says, there are other viable suspects, and Alexis says, Portia turned into a fiasco. She needs to build the strongest case and provide reasonable doubt for Willow. That’s her duty. Not just for her, but for Scout and Sam.

Sonny says, if Michael lashes out on the stand about Willow, sooner or later, Wiley and Amelia will find out what their father said, and Michael says, it’s too late. They lived with it. They know she chose Drew over them. Drew used his son against him twice. Willow doesn’t care how the kids feel. She married the man and he has to make sure she’s not in the kids’ life. They have him and need to know he’s not looking the other way. They need to know the truth about their mom, that she put her needs over theirs. They need to know he’d do anything to protect them. Sonny says, anything?

Boyle tells Laura, don’t shoot the messenger. It’s his district. He lives there and his constituents live there. Laura says, on paper. He only cares about one constituent. He says, does he want to live with the constant noise and listening to them flying? and she says, what about his other constituents? What is he going to tell them? He says, in public, he’ll be vehemently opposed. He’ll say, oh my goodness. Woe is me. I wish there was something I could do, but Mayor Collins is much too powerful. She says, disgusting. Is this really what he wants? To be Sidwell’s messenger boy, his bootlicker? He must have cared about people at some point to have gone into politics. He says, not everyone is like her. She really is remarkable for her and her ethics to last that long. She says, he makes it sound like a dirty word. He says, just an inconvenience. Don’t make it so hard. From here on out, she needs to be more selfish and look out for herself. She says, he’s an expert on that, and he says, her being her, she can do some good when she can, which won’t be often, but knowing her, she’ll manage. She thanks him for his faith in her, and he says he has faith in Sidwell’s ability to get what he wants. And if she gives him what he wants, Sidwell can be the best friend she’s ever had.

Charlotte asks if Sidwell still keeps horses at Windymere, when Marco comes out. Sidwell introduces Marco to Charlotte, and Marco asks, who’s this? referring to Ace. Sidwell says, this is Ace, and Marco says, nice to meet him. Sidwell says, Charlotte lived at Windymere with her father, and Marco says, it must have been spooky living there. Charlotte says, it was, but she prefers spooky, and Sidwell says, the house has a complicated history. It’s his understanding that if Charlotte’s Uncle Nikolas wasn’t presumed dead, it wouldn’t be his house, but would belong to Ace. Charlotte says they should go now, and Sidwell says he thinks the lost inheritance is a touchy subject. Charlotte says, Ace is ready for his nap. She was going to take him to Bobbie’s for a cookie, but she thinks he should go home. Sidwell says, give his regards to the mayor and keep an eye on Ace. Children this age are reckless. They’re curious explorers and trusting. If you turn for a second, they can be gone. Charlotte says, thanks for the tip, but that’s not gonna happen, and she and Ace leave.

Turner tells Dante, Alexis did herself no favor, showing the jury that she was willing to throw an innocent woman to the wolves on the off chance of saving her client. It looked desperate. The jury won’t like her forcing Dr. Robinson to confess such a profoundly personal thing on the stand, something that has no bearing on the case. Dante says he heard about it. It sounded rough. She says she felt bad for Portia and wonders why Alexis thought it would work in her favor, and he says he thinks the jury felt bad for Willow. She tells him, it’s hard to say. Alexis will never put her on the stand. Willow would never hold up under a cross-examination. She’s not a defendant you’d want to testify. On the other hand, if she doesn’t, it might make her suspicious. He says, what about a cop whose brother of the defendant’s ex? and she tells him, like she said, he’s professional and likeable. Believe her, he’s got this. He says he appreciates her faith in him. He’s going to work to keep earning it. He has a question though. Is she prosecuting this case because of Anna’s investigation or does she think Willow is guilty?

Sidwell says, Charlotte is a charming girl and potentially very useful, and Marco says, how so? Sidwell says, her father is Valentin Cassadine. Valentin Cassadine is a man of many talents. They could use someone like him in their current project. Marco says, if he wasn’t number one on the WSB’s wanted list, and Sidwell says, he may be in the wind, but his daughter is in Port Charles. He can’t be far.

Curtis tells Jordan, looking back on their marriage, there were multiple missed opportunities. So many times where they almost connected, but for whatever reason, didn’t. She says, she had her job and her secrets, and he had his. They were both living in worlds they couldn’t share with each other. She doesn’t want that to happen again. He says, neither does he. There are things she can’t tell him and he’s sure there will be things he can’t tell her. Has the situation really changed?

Charlotte tells Laura that she and Ace went to the park. She was going to take him to Bobbie’s to get a cookie, but he was pre-nap grumpy. How was her meeting? Laura says, better than she would have thought, but still agonizing. It helps to know Charlotte and Ace had fun. Did they? Charlotte says, yes, they did, and Laura says, Ace looks tired. She should probably get him to bed. Charlotte says she can do it if Laura wants, and Laura says, that would be great. Charlotte tells Ace, it’s just you and me… Oh, she forgot. She ran into Mr. Sidwell. He told her to give Laura his regards. She takes Ace to his room and Laura looks distressed.

Cody asks, how are the flapjacks? and James says, delicious. He asks why Molly was wearing Cody’s shirt, and Molly says she was cold. Cody is a good guy and let her borrow his shirt. On the side, she thanks Cody for last night. She had a lot of fun. He says him too. They should do it again sometime. She says, definitely, and he says he’ll give her a call. James asks if Molly is Cody’s girlfriend, and Cody says, yes, but Molly says, no. They look at each other.

Turner says it doesn’t matter what she believes. Dante is a cop with integrity and she’s an officer of the court. They both follow the letter of the law. It’s her responsibility to present the facts in the best possible way she can, hoping that the truth comes out. In the meantime, Alexis will defend Willow to the best of her ability. Both sides will have their say, then they’ll let the jury decide.  

Michael says, of course (🍷) he’d do anything for his kids. He knows what Sonny is thinking. Sonny says, what’s that? and Michael says, that he could have taken Edward’s gun at any time. He could have shot Drew and paid Jacinda for an alibi. Wiped the gun clean and waited for the perfect opportunity to pin Drew’s shooting on Willow, which would be enough to make sure she was out of the picture. Then the final nail in the coffin. He gets up on the stand and makes sure the jury knows what Willow is capable of. She would be put away for good and maybe then the kids would be safe. Sonny asks what Michael is telling him, and Michael says, when he finally gets on the stand, everything he says will be for the benefit of his children.

Alexis tells Kristina that they can’t see Scout if she doesn’t get Willow exonerated, and that little girl needs them. They have to protect her. Kristina says, of course (🍷), but why does that mean sacrificing her brother? Alexis says she knows Kristina loves her brother and is loyal to him, but he’s a grown-up and able to take care of himself. Kristina says, he didn’t do it, and Alexis says, they don’t know that. If Kristina is thinking of warning her brother about the new direction she’s taking, she wants her to remember Scout’s well-being is at stake. She’s just a little girl and can’t defend herself, but Michael is a grown man and capable of handling this. He’s going to have to.

Curtis says, so if he and Jordan are right back where they started, how has it changed where they’re headed? Jordan says, how about this? She promises to be as open as she can about work. He says, so does he. In fact, he promises right here and now, they’ll always have difficult conversations that they’d rather avoid, because whatever this is that’s happening between them is the most important thing.

Sidwell says, Charlotte could be very useful in bringing Valentin on board, and Marco says, now he gets why Sidwell turned on the charm. Sidwell says he’s a charming fellow, and Marco says, he can be and he was in the moment he made a veiled threat. Sidwell says, it was hardly a threat. He just sent Mayor Collins a message.

Laura thanks Charlotte for everything she’s done, and Charlotte says, anytime. Ace is the cutest monster ever. Laura says she has to ask. Does Charlotte know Jenz Sidwell? Charlotte says, no. He introduced himself. They mostly talked about Windymere. He was nice, except… Laura says, except what? and Charlotte says, after he told her to send Laura his regards, he told her to keep an eye on Ace. He said children were reckless at that age. You could look away and in an instant they were gone. Laura sits down hard on the sofa.  

On Monday, Portia asks Curtis to please give her a little bit more time; Laura asks Doc to get Ace out of harm’s way; Kristina tells Jacinda that she has to get out of town immediately; and Valentin wonders what someone is doing here.

🧼 All the Soap News Fit to Print…

No surprise here.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/what-was-the-best-soap-of-2025-find-out-which-show-fans-picked-gh-yr-btg-days-or-bb/

But isn’t a snowman made of sand a sandman? Just asking.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/general-hospitals-adrian-anchondo-confirms-romance-with-days-of-our-lives-star-colton-little/

A trip down Luke Memory Lane.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/photos/remembering-general-hospital-star-anthony-geary-1947-2005-his-life-in-photos-and-rare-quotes/

Stars who got their start on soaps.

https://extratv.com/photos/image_jpg_20100105_6a0dc430b95a5ecaa804e02330515779/

Roll call of the soap dead for 2025.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/in-loving-memory-the-beloved-soap-actors-who-have-passed-away-in-2025/

💉 A Dose Of Reality…

Below Deck Mediterranean

Cathy’s stepfather passed away, it was the anniversary of V’s boyfriend’s death and also her birthday, as well as V’s return to the yacht after recovering from whatever it was she had. Nathan kept trying to win Gael back and Eyebrows Joe and Kizzi mourned their lack of restraint while V was off the boat. Well, Joe did anyway, literally sobbing during his interview. It was an emotional roller coaster for the crew, but the saddest thing of all was the tip of $16K, or $1400 each – from charter guests who left a poopie in the shower. In. The. Shower. Ugh.

Real Housewives of Salt Lake City

Aren’t these people ever embarrassed? They were kicked out of both a spa and restaurant due to loud arguing. Lisa whined about having to dress up, except for the time they all dressed like her. Brittani was tired of walking on eggshells around Meredith, and it was pretty much agreed that Meredith was spiraling. Or as Mary put it, Meredith was having too many highs, too many lows, too many mediums. The pattern was patterning.

Vanderpump Rules

This show is barely watchable for me. The main thing I got out of this week’s episode was, what the hell is wrong with Natalie? If she’s worried about being called a psychotic bitch, she should stop acting like one.

Random Reality Items

Is Vicki replacing Fancy Pants? Is Fancy Pants moving to RHOBH? Stay tuned.

This show definitely looks promising, and I’m thrilled that MJ and Reza have made up.

How can a reality show called Deplorable possibly miss?

Glad to hear she found her person. She dodged a bullet with Craig.

https://extratv.com/2025/12/29/southern-charm-s-naomie-olindo-and-billy-haire-engaged/

👀 Last Weekend’s Watch…

Breakdown: 1975. Netflix. There isn’t a lot to say about this documentary about – you guessed it – 1975. While this review wasn’t exactly stellar, I enjoy a retrospective, especially seeing the films that came out during that time period and interviews with those who were there. This was a fast hour and a half of something I didn’t have to think too hard about. The perfect watch for New Year’s Day.

https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/breakdown-1975-netflix-documentary-film-review-2025

Girl You Know It’s True. Peacock, Tubi. A docudrama about Fab and Rob, the duo who were Milli Vanilli. Mentored and produced by Frank Farian – also of Boney M fame – the pair lip-synced their way to the top of the charts. After that, it just gets sad. Another relatively mindless watch, yet not a waste of time.

Bugonia. Peacock. I don’t know if I would have shaved my head to see it for free in the theatre, but I was pretty impressed. I’d avoided this film for a while, since aliens aren’t my thing, but I enjoyed the hell out of it. An amateur beekeeper and alien nerd kidnaps a CEO, believing she’s an alien out to destroy us. A clever script, some great acting, and a score that includes Green Day’s Basket Case, this film is amusing, violent, and poignant. I absolutely loved all the twists and turns where I wondered, is she or isn’t she? Something different and well worth your time.

https://www.cbr.com/emma-stone-bugonia-sci-fi-peacock-success-december-2025/

One thing I know from people who have shaved their heads, their hair usually grows back beautifully. It’s like a fresh start.

https://people.com/emma-stone-one-condition-shaving-head-bugonia-exclusive-11854042

Stranger Things Finale. Netflix. I came late to the party on this one after years of friends insisting I watch it. While I enjoyed it and I’ll miss it, I was never all that invested in the characters, so I was a bit double-minded about the finale. The final battle was amazing, but there were a lot of trips down Memory Lane and wrapping-things-up conversations that I thought dragged down the pace. However, I do appreciate that it was for the benefit of hardcore fans. Farewell, Hawkins. It’s been real. Or unreal, depending on whether you’re in the Upside Down or not.  

https://ew.com/how-stranger-things-ends-character-fates-11877953

https://ew.com/stranger-things-cast-watch-series-finale-together-emotional-experience-11878197

🎆 Celebrate Good Times, Come On…

Celebrities ringing in the New Year.

https://extratv.com/photos/image_jpg_20260101_d3c0806e136f485ab0fcc98d73c01d7e/

All around the world.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/new-year-2026-celebrations-around-world-photos-fireworks/

What it’s really like in Times Square. I’ve never gone there on New Year’s Eve, but I had a roommate who went once. She said not only did she get beer spilled on her and peed on, when the crowd moved, you moved. No thank you.

https://people.com/adult-diapers-19-hour-waits-what-its-really-like-celebrating-new-years-eve-in-times-square-11877868

🥀 Roll Call Of the Dead…

Celebrities we lost in 2025.

🐕 The Latest On Planet Pooch…

🐾 Joining the club.

https://people.com/american-kennel-club-adds-3-new-dog-breeds-brings-total-breeds-to-205-11877348

🐩 I’ll bet he doesn’t look like that lounging around at home.

https://people.com/jj-lhasa-apso-wins-best-in-show-at-2025-akc-national-championship-11876779

🎉 Dogs ushering in the New Year.

https://moderndogmagazine.com/articles/dogs-who-are-so-ready-to-celebrate-new-years-eve/

🐶 I don’t think that Pug is too happy about the pantyhose though.

https://www.rover.com/blog/new-years-looks-dog/

🪅 Tips for next year’s celebration. Or have one now. Your dog doesn’t know it’s not New Year’s Eve.

https://www.dailypaws.com/living-with-pets/holidays/pet-parties/new-years-eve-party-for-dogs

📡 Quotes of the Week

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

Sometimes a person has to go a very long distance out of his way to come back a short distance correctly. – Jerry, The Zoo Story by Edward Albee

I think the only answer is to live life to the fullest while you can and collect memories like fools collect money. Because in the end, that’s all you have – happy memories. – Sarah Strohmeyer

When we talk about understanding, surely it takes place only when the mind listens completely – the mind being your heart, your nerves, your ears – when you give your whole attention to it.Jiddu Krishnamurti (So when you say, I understand, make sure you do.)

Happiness is for dogs and Americans. – Dr. Liesl Obrecht (Kathleen Gati), General Hospital

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

Pickled cucumbers are so good. They taste just like a pickle. – Colin Dooley, Baylen Out Loud

🥂🍾 For the Sake Of Auld Lang Syne…

Until next time, stay safe; stay not starting the new year with the pressure of a New Year’s Resolution; and stay focusing on and prioritizing what you’re grateful for, rather than holding on tightly to the past.