(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
The Walking Dead
Dog! Daryl messes with his bike, and gets on. Carol comes by and picks up a map from the ground, and puts it in Daryl’s backpack. The engine isn’t turning over, and she asks if she ever told him about the pedal sewing machine her grandma had. She’d help when her grandma got tired. She said Carol had an especially strong right foot. He says, she followed him out there… She tells him, no one is following anyone, and he says, she wants to come, right? She says she wants to hunt what’s left to hunt, and he needs a spotter. The bike starts, and she gets on. He tells her that he didn’t say she could come, but he takes off, Dog running behind them as they bicker in fun.
They go through the woods. Carol gives Dog a snack, and Daryl says, five miles due south at the east gate. He tells her, stay close, and remember this spot in case she gets lost. She says she’s not going anywhere. Dog spies something, and they follow him to a dead deer. Carol says, the other deer are probably all gone by now. She suggests they find another spot, and Daryl says he’s thinking the river. She says, let’s do it, and they walk.
Carol stops, telling Daryl that she has a foot cramp. He hopes it’s not her very special strong right foot, and she says she’s fine; give her a minute. He thinks they should have gone the other way, but Carol says they should fish before noon. It’s worth a shot. He gives her a stick, and says, be his guest. He tells dog, watch this disaster, and Carol immediately gets a fish. He says, no way, and she shows him. He says, beginner’s luck. She guts and scales the fish, as he watches, and she tells him, say it. He doesn’t think she’s doing it right. He tells her, try closer to the bone, and she says she’s fileted fish before. Why doesn’t he do it himself? He says, it’s fine, but they should go. It’s going to be dark soon. They need to find a place to stay. Carol asks if he thinks their luck has run out, and he asks what she means. She says, Hilltop was hard for everyone to take, but at least they were there to fight for it. But losing Alexandria… He says, they didn’t, and she says, not yet. It feels different, like everything good in the world is not on their side anymore. He says, they’ll build and start over, and she says, until it happens again. They had a good long run; longer than most. He knows this world. The dead will catch up to them eventually. He says, if they let it. He’s not going to let it. He tells her, let’s go, when Dog takes off. Carol wonders if it’s another animal. He calls to Dog, and they follow.
They move faster, and Dog runs into a clearing, where there’s a cabin with a sun porch. Carol asks if Daryl is coming, and she and Dog go inside to investigate. Daryl sees a woman on the porch, petting Dog, but it’s just in his mind. He goes inside, and Carol is there with Dog. He looks around, and Dog acts all busy. Daryl looks out the window.
Five years ago. Daryl sits by the river. Dog as a puppy runs up to him, and he picks Dog up, kissing him, and wondering where he came from. Dog runs off, and Daryl follows. He finds a makeshift shelter, and takes out a map, putting it on the wall. He circles something, and keeps walking. He sees Carol across the river, and asks, what’s going on? She says, nothing, and he asks if she’s sure. She says, it doesn’t matter. Things are just different. He asks, how? and she says, it’s harder to talk; harder to trade. Maggie left. She took Herschel, and went with Georgie. She’s on her own journey now, like him. He says she knows she’s got to do this, right? She says she knows, and he asks how the kids are. She says she doesn’t know. It’s been two years. How long does he plan on staying there? He says he doesn’t know. As long as it takes. She asks if anything has turned up, and he says there’s a spot up the river that he’s going to check out. She says she does understand. If not for Henry and Ezekiel, and things going on back at the Kingdom… Daryl says he gets it. She should go. There’s a storm coming. Carol tosses him a backpack, and he thanks her. She tells him, be careful, and he says he will.
Daryl sees a lone zombie, and looks near it through binoculars, seeing an overturned canoe near the river. He stabs the zombie in the head, and rights the canoe, seeing a body underneath it. It starts to move, and he smashes its head with his foot. That’s one way to get your aggression out.
Daryl sits in the shelter as it storms around him. He realizes his map is getting soaked and damaged. He grabs it, yelling at the sky. Some of the shelter topples, and he walks out into the storm.
One year later. Daryl sees a knife or something sticking out of a tree. Dog is bigger now, and runs to the cabin, Daryl running after him. He follows Dog into the cabin, and kills a zombie. A woman comes out of another room with a shogun, and asks who the hell he is. Daryl puts his hands up, and she says she asked him a question. He says he’s leaving, and she says, no, you’re not.
Dog digs at the floor, and Carol asks if he found something. She pulls up the floorboards, and Dog gets excited. He pulls out a cuttle bone, and runs off with it. Carol asks if she lived here, and Daryl says, it was a long time ago. He goes outside, where Dog is chewing his bone on the porch. He says he already told Carol everything, but she says, no, he didn’t. He asks what else she wants to know, and she says, whatever he wants to tell her.
It’s night, and the woman pulls the downed zombie outside using the rug. Daryl sits by a fire, his wrists bound. He asks if she’s going to kill him, and she says, should she? He doesn’t say anything, and she says, that’s what she thought. Something tells her that he wants to die. Not today. He says she doesn’t know him, and she says, he’s right; she doesn’t. So she’ll ask him again, who the hell is he? What’s he doing out there on her land? He says his name Daryl. He didn’t come looking for trouble. Her dog found him. He was just trying to help. She says he’s tied up in her cabin with a 12-gauge pointed at his head. What kind of help does he think she needs? She lowers the gun, and takes out a pocket knife. She cuts him loose, and he says, she’s letting him go? She tells him, get out, before she changes her mind. He puts on his backpack, and heads for the door. He asks if she’s going to tell him her name, but she says, no.
Six months later. Daryl is using a tree stump as a desk, when Dog runs up to him. They walk together, and the woman sees him heading toward the cabin. She thanks him for bringing Dog back. She says Dog likes Daryl, and Daryl says, he’s just a dog; he don’t know any better. If she won’t tell him her name, what about his? She says, Dog, and he says, just Dog? She asks if he’s got something better, and he says, no. At least he won’t forget what he is. She says, it’s not for everyone; living out in the wild and chasing the dead. He says, it catches up with all of them after a while, but she says, only if you let it. He says he’s going, and she tells him, be careful, and goes inside.
Eight months later. Daryl walks down the river in the water. In the forest, he gathers wood, and a bunch of zombies come out. He shoots one with his crossbow, and stabs another in the head. He hears a gunshot, and the woman motions for him to come. He follows her, and they hide behind a tree, as the zombies toddle past. They’re in pretty close proximity, and Daryl almost smiles. When the zombies are gone, he tells her that she needs to stay away from his camp, and keeps walking. She says, name’s Leah, as she walk in the other direction.
Three months later. Daryl heads for the cabin, and tosses a fish inside, but it’s quiet, and he leaves. While he warms his hands over a fire in the woods, a fish is flung at his head. Leah says she can catch her own damn fish, and he asks why she’s always throwing something at him. He was trying to be nice. She says she doesn’t need him to be nice. She doesn’t him to be need anything. She wants to be left the hell alone. He says he won’t bother her again, and she says, then she won’t come around again. He says, good, and she says, great; bye. He turns around, and says, she’s still there. He says he thought she was gone, and she says she is. He tells her that he gets it; being out there by herself. She asks if he’s been out there a long time too, and he says, he lost track a long time ago. She looks at his hands and asks if it’s frost nip. He says, no big deal; he’s had it before. She says, it’s not a big deal until you lose a couple fingers or a hand. Come on.
Daryl sleeps on the floor of the cabin, and wakes to Leah picking up pieces of glass from a frame. She says, it’s his birthday today, and he sees her looking at a picture of herself with a little boy. She says she didn’t have a family growing up. She knew she had to find her own way, her own family. She found it in her squad. They fought side by side for years, and when the world went to hell, they swore they’d stay together, fight together. They gave her hope, and she tried to give it to her son… Matthew was her son. She didn’t give birth to him, but he was hers. He was born of her sister; that’s what Leah called her anyway. Leah lost her when he was born. It doesn’t matter; he’s gone. She fiddles with her bracelet, and covers the floor hiding spot, smoothing the carpet over it. She walks past Daryl, brushing tears away, and looks out the window. She says she held Matthew tight, Dog’s mama next to her; she was pregnant. The dead came from all sides; there was so much screaming… so much blood. She cries, and says she was separated from her family, and she ran; it felt like she ran forever. She ended up there. Her boy was bit. She said goodbye to him the same day Dog was born, and hasn’t seen another soul since. She turns to him, and says, not until he came along. Who did he lose? He says, his brother, and she asks, how? He says, it was an accident.They never found the body. She asks if Daryl thinks he’s still out there, but he says he doesn’t know. He’s not stopping until he finds out. She says, always the hero, huh?
At the river, Leah shows Daryl the fish she caught. He says, lucky shot, and she gets another. He walks away, and Dog follows.
Daryl and Leah look at the moon, and she says, it’sbeautiful, huh? They lie together next to the fire, and she motions him closer.
Ten months later. Daryl and Leah eat in silence, and he says if she’s not going to talk to him. She gets up, and he says, it’s only going to be for a few days. She wonders where he belongs. Out there on the river, looking for his dead brother, day after day after day? Or does he belong to the family he left because it became too hard to face what happened? Or does he belong there with her? He says he doesn’t know, and she says he does. She tells him that he has to choose, and leaves.
Carol approaches Daryl, as he’s looking at his map. She says she’s happy to see him too, and he says he’s just busy. He asks, what’s up? and she says she was going to ask the same thing. Does that mean he’s coming back? He says, no, and she gives him a sweater. He says, tell him why she really came, and she asks if she can’t bring a friend a gift. She came because she wanted to tell him that it will be a while before she comes back. He says, okay, and she says, things are tough at the Kingdom, and Ezekiel needs her there. He wonders if she’s asking permission, and she says, no. He says she doesn’t need to ask him to move on with her life, and she says, it’s just… He says she wants him to move on with his? She says she wants him to find some peace. She doesn’t want to lose him because he can’t figure out when to stop. He says she ain’t gonna lose him. He’s just got stuff to do.
Daryl walks through the woods. And walks. And walks. He runs.
Daryl calls for Leah. He sees the broken, now empty, frame, and looks around the cabin, but Leah isn’t there. Dog runs up to him. He packs up some cans, and writes a note. I belong with you. Find me. He puts it under the floor, and leaves with Dog.
On the porch, Daryl tells Carol that he should have been there. He could have helped her. She asks if he thinks Leah is alive, but he says he doesn’t know. She says, it’s possible Leah just left, and he says, what? She says, it’s not an accusation. He says he walked away, and she says he didn’t. He thinks that every time he loses something, it’s because of him. He says he made mistakes, and she says, they all do. Losing Leah isn’t on him. Neither is Rick, or Connie. He says, no. Connie on her, because she never knows when to stop. Carol says she’s sorry for Connie, but not sorry for going after the horde, or making Alpha pay for killing Henry, because she was right. He says, and that’s all that matters; you being right. She says, it’s not just about Leah, or Connie, or anyone else. Why doesn’t he say what he wants, that she shouldn’t have gone. He says she wanted to help, but she says she wanted to run, so she ran. What the skins did to Alexandria, she just couldn’t deal with the guilt. He says, that’s not his problem, and she says, his only problem is that he thinks he can save everyone. She doesn’t need a savior. She doesn’t need a martyr. She needs a friend. He says, friends don’t have the damn same conversation over and over again, and she asks if that’s what’s happening. He says, that’s what’s been happening. He’s sick of it. She says he should have let her get back on the boat, and he says he should have stopped her from running. She’s a runner. Run. He knows where he’s supposed to be, and won’t stop her this time. She says she was right. Our luck has run out, you and me. She tells him, no one is around except them, and it’s going be dark soon.
Next time, Gabriel wonders if think things are ever going to go back to the way they were (as we all do), Gabriel and Aaron explore, Gabriel meets a stranger, and Aaron puts a gun to his own head.
⚰️ Sometime In the Future…
Sadly, Walking Dead will come to an end with season 11, but at least it will be stretched out due to the pandemic. There’s always an upside.
The Dead have come and gone, signaling the start of another workweek, or another stretch of seven days, depending on how pandemically affected you are. But regardless of the calendar you keep, stay safe, stay bouncing back from whatever life throws at you, and stay not having the same damn conversation over and over again with your friends.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
Finn looks through the scans of Franco’s brain. Elizabeth asks what he thinks, and he says he thinks cancer isn’t his specialty. She says she knows, but she just got the images back, Terry hasn’t gotten back to her yet, and she trusts him to be honest with her. She’s not asking for a prognosis, just his take. Is the radiation working? Is Franco’s tumor shrinking?
Franco tosses and turns on the couch, repeatedly hearing, please be Drew Cain; you know his brother.
Curtis brings Sam to the club, and she says, it’s really nice. She wonders why she never heard of it. He says, probably because she has kids, and she says, back in the day, this place would have caused her a lot of trouble. He says he’d have been right there with her. Sam says she noticed a bunch of beautiful women, ogling Curtis. Does she need to call Jordan to save him? He says, Jordan’s got enough to do saving herself.
Portia goes to Jordan’s office, and Jordan asks how she can help. Portia says she doesn’t need help, but Taggert does. Whatever Cyrus wants to tank the government’s case against Taggert, she wants Jordan to give to him.
Standing in the woods on the phone, Jason says he sees it. He tells them, no, don’t do anything yet. Let’s see how it plays out.
In the car next to Jackie, Martin cleans up a basket of fried chicken, licking his fingers. He says he’d offer her some, but she’s already expressed her displeasure of fried chicken several times. She said he just worked his way around a gooey cinnamon roll, and he says he never eats like this unless he’s nervous. He just realized, no one ever made fried chicken like his mama. Jackie says she’s not surprised. His mother sounds perfect. He says, close enough. If she’s wrong about this… She says she’s not. She looks through a pair of binoculars, and says, Bobbie Spencer is holed up in that house. And the patient she’s caring for is his mother.
Bobbie sits on Florence’s bed, reading out loud to her. Florence looks happy.
At the hospital, Nikolas pays off a guard, saying he wants 30 uninterrupted minutes. The guard leaves, and Laura comes out of the elevator. She says, friend of his? and he says he’s been meaning to call her, steering her down the hall. He tells her that wanted to run some wedding ideas by her. When they’re out of sight, Ava comes out, and sneaks into a room. Ryan sits in a chair, and she says, please don’t get up.
Laura asks if Nikolas and Ava have set a date, and he says, they’re hoping for late spring, early summer. She says, good. It gives him time to make peace with his son.
Ava wonders what malady brought Ryan back to GH from his minimum security prison. She flips through a folder, and says, oh, bed sores. That’s what happens when you let your stabbing and severing muscles fall out of use. She can’t imagine how frustrating it must be for him, but she doesn’t have to imagine it. She leans on the back of his chair, and says, they both know he’s not as helpless as he appears.
Martin asks why Jackie is so convinced Jason has his mother stashed away in there. There’s been no sign of her, or anyone else who might be involved in her abduction; just lights behind curtain windows. She tells him, look in the back seat, and he picks up a big plastic bag, wondering what she has in there. It stinks to high hell. She says, the thing about garbage is that it has an unpleasant odor, and he takes out two prescription bottles. She asks if they look familiar, and he says his mother takes this medication. She says, and the prescriber? He says, Bobbie Jean Spencer, Nurse Practitioner, and she says, aka Bobbie Spencer. He asks how she knew they were here, and she says she did a story on private nurses; their dedication and long hours. One of the nurses from her story is a contact, and she has a friend who relieves Bobbie when Bobbie needs a break. He asks when she had time to go through the trash there, and she says, while he was in line for fried chicken, she took a trip there. If he keeps looking, he’ll find someone has a yen for Corinthos coffee. He says he’ll take her word for it; color him impressed. But if she knew his mother was there, why didn’t she call the police? She says, and risk his mother being in the middle of shootout between the police and Jason’s men? He says, so what are they going to do? They can’t just sit there while his mother languishes. She tells him, don’t worry. Does he know what the biggest newspaper in the nation named her? Jackie Templeton, woman of action.
Jordan tells Portia, fine. Let’s talk. Portia says they don’t need to talk. What her family needs is action – from Jordan. Cyrus agreed to stonewall the Feds’ case against Taggert, and without Cyrus’s testimony, Taggert could go free. Jordan asks if Cyrus told Portia what he’s expecting to get back for his cooperation, and Portia says, he didn’t volunteer any information. She asks what he expects for keeping quiet, and Jordan says, Cyrus and Jason are in a stand-off. Cyrus wants Jason to give up his leverage, which will leave Port Charles open for a mob war. Cyrus will run his drugs through their town, and they’ll see an epidemic of overdoses and deaths. Jason and his men will try to fight back, leaving the PCPD and GH to pick up the pieces. So Cyrus isn’t offering his silence in good faith. It isn’t an offer; it’s a manipulation. Portia says, it’s no surprise Cyrus would want to use the situation to his advantage, but she doesn’t care what he wants not to testify, as long as he refuses. It will break Trina’s heart if her father goes to prison. If anyone knows what it’s like to protect their child’s happiness, she knows it’s Jordan.
Curtis tells Sam, he thought his and Jordan’s relationship could handle just about anything. Pretty naïve, huh? She says, no. Sometimes we think we can handle it all, then something comes along we don’t anticipate, and it puts a new perspective on it. He says he doesn’t know how much is a new perspective, as much as it’s just a series of events that led him to realize Jordan isn’t the woman he thought she was. If he could be so wrong about his marriage, what else could he be wrong about?
Finn tells Elizabeth, Terry is a top oncologist, and will let her know if Franco’s tumor is changing. She says, but he can read the scans. Please. She’s desperate. He says it will just be his opinion, and she says she’s not going to sue him if she doesn’t like it. He says, okay. In his opinion, after Franco’s initial rounds of radiation therapy, the size and shape of his tumor remains unchanged.
Franco is still sleeping restlessly, and starts to repeat, Jason. He gets louder, and Cameron says, Franco, trying to wake him up. Franco suddenly sits up, pushing Cameron back. He’s about to punch Cameron, when Cameron raises his hands and says, Franco, it’s me. It’s Cameron.
Laura asks if Nikolas has reached out to Spencer since he and Ava decided to renew their vows. Does Spencer know they’re marrying for love this time? He says he spoke to Spencer and explained, but Spencer’s response was less than enthusiastic. She says she knows how much Spencer loves him; he’ll come around. Keep reaching out. He says, for how long? Spencer is stubborn. Spencer is quick to anger, and slow to forgive. She says, and he’s sensitive and bighearted, like someone else she knows. He asks if he should apologize for wanting to marry Ava again, and she says, of course not (🍷), but don’t expect a change of attitude overnight. She thinks once Spencer sees how much Ava loves Nikolas, and how happy Ava makes him, he’ll come around.
Ava tells Ryan, she’s so impressed at how he was able to communicate to one of his minders that he wanted to send her this lovely gift, made just for her. She shows him the roach, no longer under glass. She says, soon, he won’t be able to give her any more tokens of affection. She and Nikolas are going to identify his helper, and put an end to this. The note was such a nice touch; secrets and cockroaches, the only two things that always survive. Except for us. She laughs, and says she nearly busted a gut. She’s so sorry. Did he think she’d be frightened? She puts her face close to his, and says, no, Ryan; not anymore. She moves even closer, and says, if anyone ought to be scared, it’s him… scared of her.
Franco wonders if he hurt Cameron, and says he didn’t mean to. Franco didn’t know it was him. Cameron says, it’s okay; it’s no big deal. Franco was dreaming. It was probably a nightmare. Franco says, Cameron woke him up, and startled him. He’s sorry. Cameron says, it’s his fault; no biggie. He’ll get Franco some water.
Elizabeth says, so it’s too soon to expect any progress, and Finn says, yeah. She says, dammit. Damn, damn, damn, damn, damn. She bangs the wall with her fist, then puts her head against it. Finn comes up behind her, and says, hey.
Bobbie reads to Florence from a romance novel, and Florence says her Marty used to read to her all the time, but nothing as steamy as this. Bobbie has a soothing voice; it lulls her right to sleep. Bobbie says Florence misses him doesn’t she? and Florence says she does. Her Marty is a good boy. He always looks out for her. Bobbie promises she’ll see him very soon, and leaves to get Florence’s medication.
Martin asks Jackie, what’s the plan? She’s the woman of action; how does she intend to sneak them in to locate his mother undetected? Jackie says, the house was renovated last year. She got the plans from the county clerk’s office, and memorized the layout. It’s easy to navigate. He asks if that’s the plan. They just go room to room, looking for his mother, hoping they remain undetected, and Jackie says she understands Florence is bedridden. There’s a parlor on the first floor. She guesses that’s where Florence is. She’d be easier to move if needed. He says, what if one of Jason’s henchman discovered them snooping? and she says, they didn’t. The guards have 12-hour shifts, and their best opportunity is during the changeover. Which is now. She opens the car door and says, coming? He says he has one last question. What’s the plan if they get caught? She says, there isn’t one. Don’t get caught. He says, oh Lord. He’s going to live to regret this.
Finn asks how Elizabeth’s hand is, and she says, it’s fine; she’s used to it. He asks if it happens often, and she says, only since Britt became Chief of Staff. He takes it Britt hasn’t mellowed, but Elizabeth says she’s glad Brook is there. She needs someone to take out her anger on. It’s hard to take it out on the tumor, and she’s mad at herself for being mad at Franco.
Cameron brings the water, and tells Franco, sorry. It’s his fault; he shouldn’t have startled Franco. Franco tells him not to blame himself – ever. He shouldn’t have reacted. Cameron says it’s not Franco’s fault. He’s sick, and had a nightmare. Does he remember any of it? Franco says, no, and Cameron says Franco was talking, saying the same thing over and over. Franco asks what he said, and Cameron says, it sounded like Jason.
Sam is sure Curtis’s problems with Jordan caused him to question himself. He entered the relationship thinking they were on the same page. He says, along came some test that blew up his assumptions, and she says, he realized along the way that he’s one who changed. He’s not the kind of person that believes in relationships anymore. He says, yeah. He’s been rethinking about a lot of things lately, including his profession. He’s made a career out of digging up other people’s dirty little secrets, and he never cared, because they weren’t his secrets. Then he discovered his life was full of them too. He can’t stomach another case of infidelity, or tell another client that they’re being lied to by the person they trusted most. He’s done digging. She gets it, and asks what he wants to do. He looks around, and says she’s looking at it.
Portia tells Jordan, it was wrong of her to bring up TJ; it was uncalled for. Jordan says Portia had every right to bring it up, but Portia says Jordan doesn’t need Trina adding on to her problems. Just get her in to see Taggert, and she’ll take it from there. Jordan says Portia doesn’t need her permission, and Portia says, no, but she needs Taggert’s. He refused a visit. Jordan says she thought Trina didn’t want to see him, and Portia says, Trina was hurt and angry. She was confused, and completely overwhelmed, but that changed when Cyrus dangled Taggert’s freedom in front of her. Naturally she’s interested in her father coming home, but now he refuses to see his daughter. Jordan says she’ll speak with him, but he’s not going to change his mind, and he’d be right not to.
Jackie and Martin sneak around the house where Florence is, and he asks how long they have. She puts her finger to her lips, and peeks into a room. They go in, and Martin says, it’s him, Marty, come to take her home. The bed is empty, and Jason is sitting in a chair. He says, wrong room. Ha-ha! Jason’s way of being low-key funny.
Elizabeth tells Finn that she’s angry at Franco for getting sick. They’re not perfect, but they had a good life. They were happy. Finn says, before the tumor, and she says, Franco didn’t tell her, and hid his diagnosis, making a plan without her. He says, the desire to hide a diagnosis from a loved one is pretty common. In part, it’s to protect the loved one, but part is also denial. He’s seen it before; he did it himself. She thinks Franco’s denial lasted longer than normal. When he finally told her, he ignored Terry’s advice to start radiation, and took off to Switzerland for an unproven treatment. She can’t help thinking about the time they lost, and how much bigger the tumor might have gotten because they did nothing. She wonders how much sicker he got, and if he’s too sick now to get better.
Franco wonders why everything is always about Jason, and tells Cameron, there are more interesting people in this world. Cameron says, it makes sense Franco’s nightmare would be about Jason. Jason hates him. Jason can’t forgive the things Franco did when he had his first tumor, but it’s not Franco’s fault. Franco hates that Cameron has to think about any of it, and Cameron says, that’s why Jason keeps his distance. Franco says, there’s nothing anyone can do about Jason, but Cameron says, the hell there isn’t.
Jason says he wondered how long it was going to take Jackie and Martin to get out of the car and pay Florence a visit. Martin says Jason knew they were there? and Jason says, yeah. Martin asks where Jason is holding his mother. He wants to see her now. Jackie says, if they could track Bobbie, so can Cyrus. Jason says if they want to talk to Bobbie, feel free. Martin says he doesn’t give a damn; he’s not there to play games. His mother is old and vulnerable. Please. He needs to see her. Jackie says, when Martin spoke to his mother on the phone, she said she was doing well, but he wants to see it with his own eyes that she’s whole and healthy. Jason says, okay.
Nikolas tells Laura, he adores Spencer, and will never stop trying to win him over, but he doubts he can do it in time to get Spencer’s blessing for the ceremony. He’ll keep trying to get Spencer to participate, for her. She says, no, for him and his son; the whole family really. He says he wants family togetherness as much as she does. Speaking of family, what’s going on with Cyrus? She says, his mother is missing, and he blames Jason for abducting her. He says that doesn’t sound like Jason, and she guesses what started the debacle was Carly. She leaps before she looks. Now Cyrus blames Jason, and her too, in a way. He says she has nothing to do with it, but she says, Cyrus believes she has the means to return his mother. He tells her, stay out of it. Let Cyrus play games with Jason, not her. She says she’d like nothing better, but Cyrus is irrational, and has an obsession with his mother. If she’s not returned, she’s afraid he’s going to lash out. She doesn’t want anyone in the family in his sites when he does.
Ava asks Ryan if she’s crystal clear. If he continues reaching out, she wouldn’t want him to claim she didn’t warn him. The only pest is him, and this is what she does to pests. She stomps on the roach, and grinds it into the floor. Ryan continues to stare straight ahead.
Finn asks if Elizabeth really wants his unvarnished assessment about Franco’s chances, and she says he knows she does. He says, Franco is too annoying to die. He doesn’t think death wants anything to do with Franco. He looks at her and the boys, and sees the love they have for Franco, and he doesn’t want anything bad to happen. She says, Franco is fighting cancer, not only the radiation, but the side effects. Finn asks if he has fatigue or nausea, and Elizabeth says, they went out on Valentine’s Day. Franco wasn’t feeling well… then his hair… She starts to cry, and says they went home, and Cameron saw what was going on. She could see how Franco was trying hard to cover up his embarrassment, and Cameron ran upstairs and shaved his own head. Finn says, impressive. Violet won’t be happy.She loves Cameron’s hair, but it will grow back. So will Franco’s. He says, it looks like Elizabeth has Franco covered. She says she does, and he asks, who’s covering her?
Franco tells Cameron, no one has hurt him, and Cameron says, really? Sam’s mom tried to stab him with a syringe, and almost killed Dante. People are refusing to treat him. Franco asks how Cameron knows about that, and Cameron says he heard Franco and his mom talking about the tech that didn’t want to be in the same room as Franco. Franco says, that’s one person, but Cameron says, it’s not. He’s seen it all over social media that Franco deserves to die. People think the tumor has made him dangerous, and it gives them the right to go after him. And don’t tell him that he’s stupid to worry and want to protect him. He cares whether Franco lives or dies. Franco says Cameron is super smart, and a good kid, but he doesn’t want to pick a fight with crazies to defend him. Cameron says, if he doesn’t fight to defend his family, who else would he do it for?
Portia says, Jordan and Taggert believe his best chance is to stay in the PCPD jail, essentially in protective custody, but for how long? What if the Feds decide to go ahead with the case? And even if by some miracle, Taggert is exonerated, Cyrus will come after him. Jordan says, by then, she should have Cyrus, and Portia asks, how’s that working for her this time? Jordan doesn’t say anything, and Portia says, that’s what she thought. In the meantime, she’ll shut out her daughter, causing no end to the pain and heartache. She doesn’t know what she’s supposed to do, and Jordan says, tell Trina, it’s not on Taggert, but on her.
Sam asks if she heard Curtis right. He wants to buy the nightclub? She’s sure he knows a healthy amount of patrons will want to unload their problems, and he’ll have to hear about their troubles. As a server – which he will be sometimes – he’ll be forced to stay in the bar and listen to their troubles. He says, the difference is, at the end of the night, he’ll close up shop and go home. He won’t have to think about them again. She says, and that appeals to him? He says, not having to produce pictures of infidelity to a brokenhearted spouse, or watch a man gamble away his child support money appeals to him. She says, then go for it, and he says he already is. He sits down and says, this is where she comes in.
Finn tells Elizabeth, it’s times like this when she needs a support system. Who has she reached out to? She says, Laura, Bobbie, Scotty; she has her career at the hospital. He says, good, but for what it’s worth (🍷), she can lean on him. She thanks him for talking her off the ledge, and gets up. She says, tell Violet that Cameron’s hair grows pretty fast. He says, good to know, and she leaves.
Franco says he can’t criticize Cameron for wanting to protect his family, and Cameron says Franco is already dealing with cancer treatments; he doesn’t need to deal with vigilantes. Someone needs to make them back off. Franco wonders what happens if Cameron gets into trouble defending him? Where does that leave Jake and Aiden? The boys look up to him. Cameron says, that’s crazy, but Franco says, it isn’t; it’s wonderful. They’re good kids, and want be like him. He’s a good kid. So he needs to continue being an honorable young man. At least until he goes to college in California. Cameron says he’s not going; he’s staying there. Franco asks when he decided that, and Cameron says, the other night. Franco says, Valentine’s Day. Why didn’t he say anything? Cameron says Franco and Elizabeth would have just argued with him, and tried to talk him out of it. He feels like so much has changed. Maybe he won’t go to college at all. Franco says, because of him and his tumor? and Cameron says, Franco didn’t leave him when he was in trouble. Why would he leave Franco?
Curtis asks if Sam is done with the P.I. game, and she says, actually, no. She’s ready to take on some work. Unlike him, she misses it. She’s not talking about anything dangerous. She has kids, and knows she has to be safe, but she just misses it so much. She wants to help people know the truth, even if it hurts them. He says he sees a way they can both get what they want, and she says she’s listening. He says, buy his half of the P.I. firm. He’ll give her full ownership of operations, his contacts, files, and lists, and he’ll give her fair market value. She asks what he’s going to do with the money, and he says, close the deal on this place. What does she say? Does she want to buy him out? she says, let the bidding begin.
Portia says she doesn’t want to lie to her daughter, but Jordan says, it’s not a lie. Effective immediately, she’s barring Taggert from having visitors. Portia asks if she can do that, since it’s Federal and out of her jurisdiction, but Jordan thinks they’ll accept her request. If Portia has a problem with Trina, send Trina to her. Portia says, if she’s willing to take on the full brunt of her daughter’s fury, and Jordan says she deserves it. It’s the best she can do, at least for now. Portia says she’ll take it, but only for now. Jordan says, good. Now if Portia doesn’t mind… Portia picks up her coat, and says she’s sorry to her about Jordan and Curtis. Cyrus really ruined a lot of lives. She leaves, and Jordan looks sad.
Bobbie tells Florence, someone is eager to see her. Martin walks in, and Florence holds out her arms. They hug, and Martin says he heard she was expecting him. He must say, her radiance is a sight for sore eyes. In the hallway, Bobbie asks Jason, now that Martin knows his mother is here, is there any chance this might be over? He says, sorry. It’s too soon to know how this will effect Cyrus’s reach. Florence tells Martin that he’s lost weight, but he says, don’t worry. He just ate the better part of a bucket of fried chicken. It wasn’t as good as hers though. She says, of course (🍷) it wasn’t. He eats badly when he’s stressed. Has he been worried? He says, about her? Of course (🍷). He hasn’t seen her for weeks. She says she missed him, but Bobbie and Mr. Blue Eyes are taking wonderful care of her.
Ava cleans her shoe, and says, it’s been fun, hasn’t it? What does he thinks of her new scent? It’s a Valentine’s gift from Nikolas; lovely, isn’t it? Would he like a whiff. She takes a bottle out of her bag, and sprays it all around him, then says, oh, sorry. She forgot he’s allergic to perfume, isn’t he? She guesses he’ll have to sweat it out, like an itch he can’t scratch. She leaves, and he still doesn’t react, except to blink.
Florence says, everyone is so sweet, and Jackie says, Martin isn’t the only one worried about her. Her other son is anxious to see her. Florence says, that guy can wait, and Jackie says it sounds like she doesn’t have a lot of patience for Cyrus. Florence says, sadly, her older son is a lost soul. He’s willful, selfish, and lacks conscience. She doesn’t know where she and his father went wrong, but she washed her hands of that scoundrel years ago. Jackie takes out a recorder, and says, tell her about it.
Nikolas asks Ava how the conversation went, and she says, one-sided. He says, the best kind, and thanks Laura for her advice; he’ll take it to heart. She says, any time, and Nikolas and Ava leave. Laura peeks in on Ryan through the door window, and walks away. A guard comes into Ryan’s room, and says he’s got mail. He puts a stack of envelopes down, and says he’s got one there from Ryan’s biggest fan, Heather W. He reads, dear Ryan. Love your work. I’m your biggest fan. We see some outgoing mail, with a letter addressed to S. Cassadine on top.
Tomorrow, Lesley says Cyrus is wrong for GH (like we didn’t know), Elizabeth asks if Franco is talking about moving out, Maxie uninvites Nina, and Cyrus wants to know where his mother is.
🏖 I’m here to report that Summer House is still just as awful, and the cast is still a bunch of horrible, horrible people, to borrow a phrase from Sophie on 2 Broke Girls. Ciara should run for her life, and take Hannah with her. Luke is still stringing Hannah along, using words like connection and chemistry and I love you. For a moment, I thought Ciara might actually be the voice of reason, when she told Hannah that she wanted nothing to do with a guy who could yell at a friend the way Luke yelled at Hannah. But the next thing I knew, she was sitting next to him, being a bobblehead while he talked a bunch of bullsh*t. Kyle, who’d seemed to have matured, and had just done a quarter million in sales with his online business, reverted back to his true baby nature, whining about people not doing their chores. I’m not sure what all happened there, but both Amanda and Hannah ended up in tears. Sadly, at the end of the episode, Carl found out his brother had died, and on Amanda’s birthday. Still, if you decide to watch this show, just remember, it’s an hour of your life you won’t get back.
🎁 Another Gift That Keeps On Giving…
Joining LuAnn’s drunken fall into the bushes, Ramona’s crazy-eyed runway walk, NeNe telling Kim, close your legs to married men, and so many other memorable moments, comes the analogy.
I find it hard to believe that Gia’s character is being questioned, unless kids her age don’t understand what an analogy is either. In which case, we have a bigger problem than this mess.
Not new news, but a great article on the town. I always thought it would be a fun place to live if it wasn’t 110 degrees in the shade. And not so expensive.
Marsha “Pay it No Mind” Johnson (1945-1992) was a Black trans woman who was a force behind the Stonewall Riots and surrounding activism that sparked a new phase of the LGBTQ+ movement in 1969. – from glsen.org
We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love. There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us. When we discover this, we are less prone to hate our enemies. – Martin Luther King, Jr
🎐 Sweet Dreams To You Dear…
We made it to the end of another week, or seven sunsets block of time, depending on how you’re calculating your days. But whether you’re keeping track or not, stay safe, stay industrious, and stay not getting caught if you don’t have a plan for that.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
At the bistro, Carly tells Jason, since there was no evidence, the special agent determined there was no reason to charge her. Nelle’s death was officially declared an accident. He says, because it was, and she says, but Nina isn’t remotely ready to accept that.
Michael tells Nina that he knows it’s late, but Wiley was wide awake. Willow says they thought Nina would like a visit from her grandson. Nina approaches Wiley, and says, hi, Wiley. She tells him, it’s been a while since they met. She’s sure he doesn’t remember her, but she remembers him. She’s his gr… She’s Nina.
Olivia tells Robert that Dante is on the mend; no thanks to Alexis. Robert says, Alexis has been arrested and charged. She’s not going to get away with sticking a syringe in Olivia’s son. He asks, what about Nedski? Has anyone seen him since Robert stupidly invited him to the hospital to join her? She says she’d rather talk about Robert and his life. He says his life is kind of boring, and she says, really? Has he made peace with Maxie and her choice of husband? He says she’s kind of got him there. If he gives his blessing to the wedding, that means lying. On the other hand, if he sets out to stop it, he risks making a martyr out of Peter and alienating his niece for good. She says it’s not like Robert Scorpio to be indecisive and sit around doing nothing, and he says, Livvy, have you ever known me to sit around and do nothing?
Obrecht shines a flashlight around, and says, if she were Peter, where would she hide incriminating evidence? She checks the couch cushions.
Britt tells Maxie, she never had a sister, and never thought she wanted one, but now that she’s linked to Maxie and Nina, it’s a surprisingly good feeling. Maxie says they have each other’s backs, but Britt says, what if having each other’s backs means saying something the other doesn’t want to hear? Maxie says, please, no more advice on how she should marry someone other than Peter. How many times does she have to tell Britt and the rest of the world that she loves Peter and she’s going to spend the rest of her life with him? Britt says, methinks when you stop protesting so much. She tells Maxie, okay, she’s going to make a graceful exit, so Maxie can enjoy her date without her unwanted advice. Maxie thanks Britt, and says, speaking of her date, he’s late. She wonders if he’s stuck at the office, and thinks she’ll call him to see if he’d like a relaxing night at home. Britt tells her, don’t do that, and Maxie says, why not?
Obrecht checks the shelves, and sees a laptop. She sits at the desk, and opens it. When she moves it forward, the pile of mail falls to the floor. We see the envelope from D. Marick.
Peter arrives at Anna’s and says he got there as fast as he could. He asks if everything is okay; she sounded serious. She says she thinks it’s time they faced the truth… together.
Carly tells Jason, at the very least, Nina thinks she could have saved Nelle, but chose not to, and she doesn’t see that changing. He asks what more Nina can do. There’s no evidence; the Feds closed the case. Carly says she knows, but Nina refuses to see Nelle for who she really was, and only sees the daughter she didn’t get the chance to raise and love. But there’s one more person connected to Nina through Nelle. He says, Wiley, and she says, her grandson happens to be Nina’s grandson too.
Nina says Wiley is very much daddy’s boy, but she sees he also takes after his mommy. Michael says, Willow is Wiley’s mom, and Nina thanks them for bringing Wiley to see her. Willow says they thought Nina might need some cheering up tonight, and Nina apologizes to Michael for her meltdown at his father’s service. She should have taken her problems with Carly and Jax to a private area. Michael says his mom had an interview with the FBI tonight. There was no evidence that she had anything to do with Nelle’s fall, and the case was closed. Obviously, it’s a relief for him and his family, but he hopes Nina finds a way to move past her issues with his mom, for Wiley’s sake.
Olivia says she knows that smile. What does Robert have planned to keep Maxie away from Peter, and how can she help? He asks what she has against Peter, and she says, besides the fact that he fired her son? Robert says, Peter thinks he can get away without a head of security? and Olivia says, he’ll need one when she gets through with him. Peter felt Dante wasn’t a good fit for Aurora. Honestly, she’s happy Dante isn’t working for him, after he published Franco’s private medical records. That’s what led to Dante getting stabbed by Alexis to save Franco. Please, don’t tell her how drunk Alexis was; she nearly killed Dante. He says, it’s an ongoing investigation, and he can’t discuss the case, and she suggests they stick to him and his plan of how to save Maxie from that termite Peter. She has a spectacular bottle of wine that she and Ned were saving for a special occasion, and tells him, don’t even think of saying no. Robert stammers as she leaves to get it. The doorbell rings, and he says he’ll answer. It’s Alexis.
Britt says it’s Maxie’s last chance for a night out with Peter before they’re married. She should make the most of the time, because her due date is fast approaching. Once her little girl comes kicking and screaming into the world, all her nights will be at home. She can’t change a diaper at the club. Maxie supposes she’s right, but doesn’t understand what’s keeping Peter. He usually calls if he’s going to be late. Britt asks what’s really bothering her; that Peter is late, or that he’s late because he’s up to no good? If Maxie can’t trust him before the wedding, how is she going to trust him once they say I do? Maxie says, it’s not about trust; it’s concern. She wants to make sure he wasn’t in a car accident, or took a fall in the shower. It’s what people do when they’re in a committed relationship. They worry, and want to make sure the other person is okay.
Obrecht wonders where Peter has hidden the proof of his wrongdoing. It’s not in the office; she already searched it. I’s not there. Is there a storage locker he has under another name? An office or an apartment no one knows about? No matter. She’ll find it, and his secrets. She picks up the mail, and puts it on the desk. She starts to leave, stops, comes back, and looks at the mail again. She sees the envelope.
Anna tells Peter, what they decide tonight will directly affect the wedding, but more important, Maxie’s future happiness. He says she’s scaring him, and she says, good. She wants to scare him. She wants him to take it seriously. He’s about to pledge his life and love to her goddaughter. Before he says I do, she wants to know he’s being completely honest with her; no secrets, lies, no evasions. If he has something to tell her, now’s the time to do it.
Carly tells Jason, Wiley is her grandson too, and she owes it to Wiley to make sure Nina’s is emotionally okay to be part of his life. He asks what that means, and she says she doesn’t want Nina projecting her fantasies about Nelle, and how she could have been onto Wiley. He’s way too young to carry all of Nina’s grief.
Nina tells Michael, the FBI called her to tell her that her accusations had no merit. The only thing that matters is making sure Wiley is loved and cared for. She tells Wiley that she’s so sorry this place is so boring. There are no lollipops or toys. She asks how he feels about polar bears, and Willow says he loves polar bears, especially after a documentary they saw. Michael adds that a few weeks ago he wanted to be an astronaut, but now they’re sure Wiley wants to be an artic explorer. Nina says, then they should get started. It just so happens that she loves polar bears too. She helps him into her chair, and says she got a cool app that she’s been too busy to use. So she was wondering if he could help her. What does he say? First stop, the arctic circle? She shows him the screen.
Alexis asks if Olivia is in, and Robert says she shouldn’t be there. She says she didn’t come to make things worse; that’s not her intention. He says she shouldn’t be around Dante’s mother; Alexis almost killed her son. She says she was drunk, and afraid Franco was going to hurt her family, and he thanks her for the window into her defense. Olivia walks in with the wine, and stops short.
Britt tells Maxie, they agreed to support one another, so allow Britt to support her as she begins her married life with Britt’s brother. Maxie says she doesn’t need support. Everything is awesome. Britt asks, then why does Maxie care so much what other people think, including her? Why does she need validation for her choice of husband? Unless she has cold feet.
Obrecht looks at the envelope, and says, Marick; curious. Anna’s sister is dead, and Alex’s husband is sending an envelope from beyond the grave. She wonders why, and opens it.
Peter says, Anna spoke with Valentin, and she says, yes. Valentin wants Peter to be happy; he feels a great responsibility for him, and wants him to do the right thing. He doesn’t want Peter going down the path of his father. Peter says, it’s true. Valentin has been the one constant in his life, even before he met her and fell in love with Maxie. He wonders why the sudden talk about secrets and lies, and Anna goes to her desk and picks up a folder, saying, because of this. It’s a paper trail, showing he worked with the assassin, and proof that he hired him to kill Andre and Franco. Peter asks why she kept the document, and she says, to protect him. When she took the file from the WSB, she committed obstruction of justice and tampered with evidence because he convinced her that was innocent. He says, because he is, and Anna says, please. She’s bringing it up again because he’s going to marry Maxie, and his choices will become Maxie’s choices. Peter says Anna knows he loves Maxie, and Maxie does too. She says, if the documents are accurate; if there’s a paper trail linking him to the assassin. If it’s real, then he needs to say so. She’s giving him a chance to clear his conscience.
Peter looks through the folder, and says, one bank statement. He reads, David Black, and says, the man who tried to kill Andre and Franco, the man he stopped from killing them. Anna says, proof of payment made to the assassin from the same company they both worked for, Eurotech. He says, and this payment can be connected to him? He could have hired an assassin to kill Andre and Franco, then tampered with the plane that went down carrying Drew? She says if he did that, and he says, let him ask her something. Are there more documents other than the original? Does he have some noose around his neck that he doesn’t know about? She says, if there is, doesn’t he think he should tell her so she can help him? He says, whatever file links him to the assassin is a lie of Obrecht’s. She says, so the information in the file isn’t true? He says, they’ve been over this before, and it’s true he once worked with David Black, and maybe came in contact with him, but he’s certain this is Obrecht’s doing. She says, so Obrecht doctored the documents? and he says, it looks like it. Obviously, Obrecht got her hands on some innocuous records, and twisted them to appear damning to him. There’s only one thing to do with a lie like that. She says, what? and he says, destroy the evidence.
Maxie tells Britt that her feet are very warm, that’s because Peter… Britt say she doesn’t want to hear about foot rubs, back rubs, or emotional support. Maxie says she’s happy so many people doubt Peter’s intentions. It will make it that much sweeter when they’re proved wrong. Britt says, and she’s confident they will, and Maxie says, look at how much Peter has had to overcome already. He moved to Port Charles as a stranger, shook the curse of being Faison’s child, and helped her recover from the loss of Nathan, his own brother. Not to mention he helped her deliver James. Even with all the doubters and haters, Peter revamped The Invader and made it a success. In Maxie’s apartment, Obrecht finds a letter and flashdrive in the envelope. She reads, dear Peter. In the event of my death, you should hear the truth in my own words. Maxie says, along the way, Peter discovered that Anna was his mother, the antidote to whatever poison he inherited from his father. That is how she knows there’s good inside Peter. It’s been there all along. He gets it from Anna. Obrecht puts the flashdrive into the computer. Alex is on the screen, and she says, hello, Peter. If you’re seeing this, I’m probably dead. It’s unfortunate, but I didn’t want the truth to die with me.
Alexis says she knows she has no business being there, but it’s never stopped her before. Robert suggests she try now, but Olivia says she’d like to hear what Alexis has to say. Robert doesn’t think it’s a good idea, and Olivia says she appreciates his concern, but doesn’t need his protection. She’ll be fine. Robert says, okay. He’s just a phone call away. He’ll take a raincheck on Nedski’s bottle. Olivia says she wouldn’t miss it for the world, and he leaves. Olivia says, after you, and they go into the living room. She says Alexis has five minutes. Start talking.
Nina shows Wiley the laptop, and says, the polar bears are ice skating; how fun. Now they’re dancing. See that? Michael says she’s a natural, and Nina says, it’s true what they say; grandparents have all the fun, and none of the responsibility. Willow says she might not agree when they ask her to babysit, but Nina says she can’t wait. Carly arrives, and listens outside. Willow warns Nina that Wiley is a master negotiator. If you don’t get a firm commitment to a limit of three stories, he’ll manipulate you into reading all night. Carly peeks in, and shakes her head.
Nina tells Wiley, see the baby? and Carly comes in. Michael says, mom. They decided to bring Wiley to surprise Nina. Carly says they surprised her too. It sounds like they’re having fun, but it’s past Wiley’s bedtime. Michael says, Grandma Carly is right. They’ll save some polar bears for next time. Nina tells Wiley that she had a wonderful time, and hopes he comes back soon. Willow says, he will, and Nina thanks them again for bringing him. Willow says, it’s their pleasure, and they leave. Carly isn’t smiling anymore, and closes the door. She says she hopes Nina enjoyed the time with her grandson. If she doesn’t play her cards right, it will be her last.
Alexis tells Olivia that she’s deeply, terribly sorry for what she did to Dante, She was drunk and out of control. Olivia says, ya think? She’s surprised Alexis had the guts to come and apologize. She thought Alexis would be out drowning her sorrows in whatever dive bar was still willing to serve her. Alexis says, that’s always very tempting, but she wants Olivia to know she takes full responsibility for what she did. Olivia says, so what step is this? and Alexis says she doesn’t think she’s in a position to explain any of the steps. It’s her first day of sobriety, yet again. What’s more important is that Olivia has been a good friend. She even went out of her way to prove Alexis didn’t drive drunk. Olivia says, more proof that no good deed goes unpunished. Alexis says she’d like the opportunity to make it up if she can. She wants to be the kind of friend Olivia has been to her, and hopes Olivia gives her the chance. How is she doing for time? Olivia says she’s off the clock. Keep talking.
Robert meets Jason at the bistro, and thanks Jason for seeing him. Jason asks, what’s on his mind? and Robert says, Sonny is gone, so he guesses Jason is running the Corinthos businesses. He wouldn’t answer that. Jason says, then why bring it up? and Robert says, he’s concerned Jason’s new responsibility will cause him to take his eyes off what he thinks is the bigger prize. Jason says, Peter August?
Britt tells Maxie, bravo. That was an impassioned defense of her fiancé. Maxie says she noticed Britt didn’t say convincing, and Britt says she knows more of Peter’s history and family tree than Maxie, and has her own reasons to doubt his so-called goodness. Maxie asks if this is how she plans on keeping her pact to have Maxie’s back, and Britt says, absolutely. By being honest even if it hurts. Maxie says, maybe she’s right, and Britt says, she is? Who is she, and where’s the Maxie who just defended her fiancé to the death? Maxie says, clearly something is going on with Peter. He hasn’t returned her calls or texts, and she has a bad feeling. She thinks she’ll just go home. Britt tells her, wait. There’s a million reasons why Peter might be missing out on date night. His phone died, he can’t find his phone, he’s out of gas. He had a wedding emergency with Finn, and lost track of time. Maxie says he’d still find a way to reach her, and Britt says, okay. She’s going with Maxie. If something awful did happen, Maxie will need her. Maxie leaves, and Britt follows her.
Obrecht says she does believe she struck the motherlode. She kisses the flashdrive, says, and she does mean mother, and laughs.
Peter tells Anna, destroying the documents is the only way to keep Obrecht from using them again. He has reason to believe Obrecht deceived her handlers, and she’s free from Steinmaur. And she’s not retiring to some Swiss chalet. She’s going to come after him. If Obrecht gets her hands on those, she’ll turn them over as proof of his guilt. He doesn’t think the authorities would believe her, but they both know how Obrecht could twist Maxie against him. More lies and doctored evidence; is that what Anna wants? She says she just wants the Peter she believed him to be, and he says, here he is. He holds out his hand. She puts her hand in his, and he takes the folder from her. He puts it in the fireplace, and it burns.
Nina tells Carly that Wiley is also her grandson. Willow and Michael get to decide who Wiley sees, not Carly. Carly says she knows Willow and Michael are Wiley’s parents, unlike Nelle, who gave him away. Nina asks if that gives Carly justification to watch her daughter die; let her fall to her death. Carly says, that’s not what happened. Ask the Feds. She and Jax were grilled for two hours, and she’s not under suspicion. Does Nina know why? Nina says, because Carly lied through her teeth? but Carly says, because Nina’s claims had no basis in fact. She was just trying to get back at them for not telling her that Nelle was her daughter. Nina says, that’s right, they didn’t tell her. How long were they going to be silent? Were they going to let Wiley grow up, never knowing she was his grandmother? Were they just going to go on, letting her live in the same city as her only grandson? The hell with that. She’s Wiley’s grandma also, and Carly isn’t taking away her grandson like she did her daughter. Carly says she didn’t take Nina’s daughter away. And if Nina spirals out of control like she did in the cemetery, she’ll lose everything, and only have herself to blame.
Willow tells Michael, it was hard for Wiley to fall asleep. He was excited about the visit to Nina. Michael says Willow was right. Nina needs Wiley in her life, and their son needs her. Willow says, as much as she loves being right – and she loves it a little too much – Michael was willing make first move and reach out to Nina for Wiley’s sake. Good job, dad. He says, thanks, mom, which is just a little creepy.
Alexis thanks Olivia, and says she hopes Olivia knows her forgiveness means everything. Olivia tells her, who said she forgave Alexis? She wonders why Alexis wasn’t at Sonny’s funeral. Was she out getting drunk? Alexis says she didn’t want to embarrass her children with the charges against her, and didn’t want it to end up being about her instead of Sonny. Olivia doesn’t think Alexis needed to worry about that, and Alexis says she’s trying to do better. Olivia asks, if Alexis had been sober, would she still have picked up the syringe and stabbed Dante? Alexis says she never meant to hurt Dante, and Olivia says she meant to kill Franco. What if it had been Elizabeth or Sam that got in the way? Alexis says, she never would… and Olivia says, she did, and she’s going to keep hurting people until she gets help.
Obrecht is about to leave, and hears Britt, talking loudly. Britt says, if Peter is out galivanting tonight, what can Maxie expect after the wedding? Maxie asks if Britt can be any louder. She doesn’t think Mrs Getz in apartment 66 heard her. Peter isn’t a gallivanter; he’s the last of the romantics. If he missed their date night, he has a good reason. They go inside, and Maxie asks if Peter is there. She goes into the bedroom, and Britt looks around. Maxie comes back, and says, no sign of him, and Britt says, at least he didn’t fall in the shower. Maxie says, but if he’s not there, where is he?
Peter tells Anna, no more moving backward. All the things they did wrong, and things they should have done differently, It’s all in the past now, and they have to think about the future. She’s marrying Finn, and he’s marrying Maxie. Anna says, that’s all that matters now, yes? and he says, the next time he sees her will be on her wedding day; his too. He kisses her cheek, tells her, be well, and leaves. He lingers on the porch, looking grim, and Anna pokes around in the fireplace, but there’s nothing left of the folder.
Carly tells Nina, she’s made mistakes, but so has Nina. Concentrate on what she has, not what she lost. Let go of her bitterness, work it out with Jax, and focus on being happy. Nina says she doesn’t remember asking for Carly’s advice, but Carly says she should take it. Wiley needs stability, security, and a loving nurturing home. Nina asks what part of that Carly thinks she doesn’t understand, and Carly says, given her performance at Sonny’s grave, she’d say, all of it. If Nina pulls something like that again, Nina will never have a place in her grandson’s life. Carly stomps out, and Nina sits.
Willow tells Michael that she should go; she has class in the morning. If Wiley needs her, she’s just a gatehouse away. Michael says, before she goes, he apologizes. He hopes he didn’t ruin her Valentine’s Day by making her watch the movie. She says he didn’t make her watch it; she’s glad he asked. She hopes she and Chase didn’t ruin his when they walked in on him and Sasha. He says, it’s fine, and she asks if he’s going to see Sasha again. He says, ofcourse (🍷), and asks what about Chase? She says, of course (🍷), and he says the whole reason they did the annulment was so they could be with Chase and Sasha. She says, absolutely. She’ll see him and Wiley tomorrow. He says, goodnight, and closes the door. He heads for the stairs, and turns to look again at the door.
Olivia says she believes Alexis wants to make amends, but intentions are meaningless without actions to back them up. She doesn’t mean showing up at a meeting here and there, but choosing to make changes, and not taking any shortcuts. Alexis says she’s willing to try. Does Olivia have any suggestions? Olivia says she doesn’t have those answers, but she thinks Alexis took the first step in coming there tonight, and Alexis leaves.
Maxie tells Britt, maybe she should call the police, but Britt says Maxie is overreacting. If Peter isn’t home by midnight, she’ll be the first one to organize a search party. In the meantime, this worrying isn’t good for the baby, and Maxie should lie down and rest. Maxie says she will, for the baby’s sake, and Britt says, good; she’ll keep trying Peter. Maxie thanks Britt for bringing her home. She’s so distracted, she wouldn’t have been a good driver. Britt says, anytime, and Maxie goes into the bedroom. Britt waits a beat, and says, all clear. Obrecht comes out, and Britt hustles her to the door. She asks if Obrecht found something, and Obrecht says, Henrik is as good as dead. Britt says, congratulations. She doesn’t want Maxie to hear. Obrecht has to go. She literally shoves Obrecht out the door, and lets out a sigh of relief.
Jason tells Robert, he hasn’t forgotten about Peter. Peter went to a lot of trouble to target Franco and Andre. He got Franco. Robert says, when he published the article about the return of Franco’s tumor? Peter would call that journalism. Jason says, it was about more than driving traffic to The Invader. He doesn’t think it had anything to do with Franco’s tumor or what Franco did in the past. Is it possible that Franco knows something about Peter, and Peter is trying to shut him up? Jason’s phone dings, and Robert says, trouble? Jason says, yeah, but not with Peter. Robert is on his own until Jason gets back. He asks where Jason is going, and Jason says, on a quick trip out of town.
Britt says the things she does for her mother, and sinks onto the couch. Maxie comes out, and says Britt is still there? Britt says she promised to look out for Maxie, and that means staying the night. Maxie thanks her, saying she could use the company. Peter comes in, and says he’s sorry she was worried. He just got her messages. She asks where he was. Is he okay? He promises he’s just fine, and he’ll never worry her like that again.
Anna calls Valentin, crying, and says she gave Peter a chance, but he was right. His redemption was just a lie. They turned a blind eye for too long. She honestly thinks it’s up to them now to stop him… Okay… She gets up, and walks past a photo of her and Peter, toward the door.
Tomorrow, Sam asks what Curtis wants to do, Martin asks what the plan is if they get caught, Ava visits Ryan, and Elizabeth asks if Franco’s tumor is shrinking.
The Real Housewives of New Jersey
And there we were, back at the analogy heard round New Jersey. In her interview, Marge said Jackie clearly didn’t know her audience. There were two rules, never use an analogy – no one understands them – and never bring up kids in an argument. Jackie delivered a two for one special. Jackie called Marge, saying she wasn’t going on the Lake George trip. She never wanted to be around that woman again. Marge insisted it would be made right. Teresa immediately called Melissa, insisting she heard what she heard, and any strong woman would want to know. She guessed Jackie was a weak woman. In Melissa’s interview, she said Jackie would have never accused Gia of doing cocaine. She knows Teresa twisted it, or it was said wrong. Teresa said she was going to demolish Jackie. Melissa wasted no time in calling Jackie, and letting her know she’d poured gas on the fire.
Jennifer went to see mom Josephine with Olivia. In her interview, Jennifer said her brother Michael had married Melda in Turkey, and decided to stay there until Melda got her visa to come to the US. They had a honeymoon baby, and named it in honor of their father John. Josephine refused to call the baby John, instead using his middle name Bryan. She told Jennifer it was because her husband was mean, but Jennifer thought she was being unreasonable. In Jennifer’s interview, she said it had been an arranged marriage, and in their culture, they don’t do divorce. She never saw her father do anything bad to her mother, but she never saw any love either.
Dolores went to see her mother Valerie, and they sat socially distant in the yard. In Delores’s interview, she said, for fifteen years, her mother had done nothing but take care of her grandchildren, so she was feeling lonely, even though the grandkids visited at the gate. Dolores told Valerie that David could handle anything except talking about relationships. In her interview, Delores said when her dad became Chief of Police in another town, he wanted to live there, but her mother wanted to stay put, so they’ve had a marriage in every sense of the word, except they don’t live together. Delores told Frank about the trip to Lake George, and he said he was sure there was a big guidette population there. He wanted to shake David down for a commitment while Delores was away, and Delores said she thought the trip was going to be a bloodbath I kept thinking, no one can be this stupid, but then I remembered Teresa went to prison for signing something without understanding what it was. I actually do believe Joe #1 told her to just sign the papers, and she did. Just in case you have any doubt about things like that, always read something before you sign it. Always. I can’t stress it enough.
Margaret must have had a bout of amnesia, since she thought she could talk sense into Teresa, and actually get her to apologize to Jackie. The women met at Marge’s under construction house, and Teresa was late, so Marge explained to the others that Jackie wasn’t coming. She griped that now she had to explain how you don’t go to a birthday party and spread rumors about the person whose birthday it is. Delores thought it was a smart move on Jackie’s part not to come, and said all Teresa heard is that Jackie said something about her daughter. In Marge’s interview, she said Teresa wasn’t the inured party, Jackie was, and the analogy wouldn’t have been made if Teresa hadn’t spread the rumor. On the way to the lake, Marge told the group that her kids went to camp near there, and she would vacation with her husband there. It was a nice town with a beautiful lake, and good memories. Teresa tried to justify her idiot self for what she’d said, and declared she wasn’t sorry for saying it. I wondered who the extra blonde was who resembled a younger Marge. After the show, I googled it. See below.
Jackie did buzzcuts on her kids, and Evan was pretty angry about the whole analogy thing. In Jackie’s interview, she said she hadn’t taken an easy breath since it happened. When the kids wondered why she didn’t go to Lake George, she told them that they didn’t have to be friends with someone who didn’t treat them right when you did nothing wrong. In her interview, she said Teresa got to cause trouble, and she stayed there to pick up the pieces while Teresa got to go on vacation with all her friends. She hoped they had her back.
While the women were at Lake George, at home, the guys went bowling. In his interview, Frank talked about a bad accident he’d had falling down some stairs. Both of his quads detached, and his knees blew out. I felt pain just hearing about it, and he said he was essentially paralyzed, and David took him in. He told David that he was on his side about Delores having surgery, and said they should work things out. He accused David of procrastinating on the relationship front, and said he was a great doctor, but a mediocre boyfriend. The two of them seem like genuinely nice guys.
The women went to a modern designed lake house, and chose rooms. No surprise, they were all gorgeous, and Marge had amazing goodie bags for everyone. How come I’ve never gotten a goodie bag at a party or get-together? Not since I was twelve anyway. Marge said she should have brought gummies, and I wondered, did she mean…? The rumor/analogy thing was brought up off and on, mostly by Teresa, who moved on to blaming Jennifer next for giving her tequila.
Melissa tried using logic, but Teresa didn’t listen, and in Melissa’s interview, she said if Teresa and Jackie didn’t make amends, there would never stop being tension in group. It would be over. We saw a clip of Teresa telling Gia about it on the phone, and Gia saying if Teresa had upset Jackie, she should apologize. Out of the mouths of babes, but contrary to what the tabloids claim she said. Still, video doesn’t lie. Teresa told everyone that Joe #1 was selling sex toys, and had sent her one. Jennifer wanted to start fresh with Melissa, and apologized. Teresa jumped back on the bashing Jackie train, and said Jackie should STFU, and quit crying like a baby. In her interview, Marge said, with Teresa, information had to go through the cogs, the cobwebs, and hair extensions, then came out in an effed up way, which was actually scary. The episode ended with some guys buying their table a round.
Next time, Teresa can’t get on the phone fast enough to call Joe #2, and tell him Melissa is flirting with the owner of the restaurant.
👱🏼♀️ That Blonde…
Across from them was Margaret Josephs, and seated next to her was her assistant, Lexi Barbuto. The blond has frequently been on the show in the past, although never held a housewife or friend title.
The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City – The Reunion – Part 3
Lisa came back, and said she was good; let’s go. The husbands came out, Seth and Robert remotely. Seth said he was in the land of opportunity in Canton, Ohio, and Robert was keeping traveling to a minimum because of covid. Whitney’s pole dancing was brought up, and she deferred to Justin’s talents on the pole, saying he was better at spinning. We saw a bunch of clips from the season, and Andy said viewer Melissa from Wilmington, Delaware was upset that Lisa had thrown John’s Rolex out the car window. Lisa said he’d forgotten her birthday, and she’d given him the Rolex as a gift for his. He told her that she could have her gift back, and she said he had ten seconds to put it back on, or out it went. She tossed it toward a Taco Bell, but he stopped the car and retrieved it. John showed proof on his wrist, and I’m sure Melissa from Wilmington was thrilled. Andy asked about Sharrieff missing Jen’s father’s funeral, and if coaching was more important than family. Coach Shah said it was not, and he thought the problem was that Jen’s father only seemed responsive to him. Because of that, Jen had it in her head that he could have made her father rally, and resented him not being there; however, there was nothing that could have been done. Andy asked if Jen could let it go, and she said Sharrieff had done what he could. They talked Mormonism, and Justin said he’d gotten a letter from the church saying he was no longer a member after he married Whitney. He said if there had been tithing rebate, it would have been easier, and I literally LOL’d. Still stuck a little in that mindset, Heather got weepy.
Andy asked what Robert wanted people to know or what he thought people misunderstood about his relationship with Mary, and Robert said the grandfather stuff pissed him off. Andy asked if Robert could let bygones be bygones, and Robert told him that the gossip was that Mary had married for money, and the grandaddy stuff. He was 22 when he married Mary’s grandmother, so he was nobody’s grandpa. He was used to it, but he didn’t like people messing with his wife. Mary was a great mother and wife, his co paster, and his equal. Mary got emotional, and said no one knew her better than he did. His words validated who she is, and touched her. Coach Shah said he made it clear to Jen at the beginning that he wasn’t there to engage in any fight she had with the women. He told her what she’d said to Mary was unacceptable, as was commenting on any marriages or what people did therein. Jen apologized to Robert. We found out Whitney’s dad had dropped off the face of the earth, and wasn’t speaking to her. She said his disappearance was brutal on her heart. Andy asked how Seth and Meredith’s reconciliation was going, and Meredith asked why she’d want to share anything with the group. After she got a little pissy, she said he show actually helped save their marriage – no doubt a first. I told you these Wives were different from the others. She said they couldn’t sweep anything under the rug. Jen apologized to Robert again, and Robert said, don’t you worry about it, sister, which I thought was sweet. Then the guys left the magic circle.
The next topic was the Las Vegas trip, and we flashed back to that. Andy remarked that Meredith’s mask was ahead of its time, and Heather said it was a prophecy. We found out they’d wrapped week before the pandemic hit. Heather talked about Jen being insulting on social media, and Jen raising her hand when the hypnotist asked who didn’t trust Heather. Andy asked Mary’s opinion. Mary had her eyes closed, and he asked if she’d fallen asleep. She insisted she hadn’t, and knew the question, so I guess not. She said Jen felt hurt, and had raised her hand as a dig. Jen started to get agitated, and said when terms like aggressive were being used, it was dangerous to a POC; there was a double-standard. Meredith said no one denied white privilege, but to make that accusation was a huge statement. Jen said she didn’t want to get into this sh*t, because it was painful, and they didn’t understand. She ran off to find her husband, and Whitney called Justin to alert Coach Shah. Sharrieff came out, and Jen collapsed into his arms.
Jen hopped up and down, talking about discrimination, and did a bit of exaggeration, even making up a few things. True to form, Sharrieff calmed her down, and walked her back. I think Jen’s disconnect with the group is because she wants to give the reasons why she did something, rather than just taking responsibility. After she sat down, she said that the good thing was, people were willing to listen more than before. Andy said the one great success of the Reunion was seeing Mary and Jen find common ground, along with Robert Sr. and Sharrieff. He wondered if there was a double-date in the cards.
He asked the women to name one thing they’d learned watching themselves, and Lisa said she had to work on listening more. She noticed she talked a lot. Mary said she needed to work on the way she said things, and how they could come across offensive or wrong. Jen said she had to work on communication, and making sure her friends felt they could trust her, and didn’t feel threatened. Whitney wanted to focus on her timing and delivery, and how to speak clearly and confidently with her own voice. Meredith said she’d treated everyone with kindness and respect, but didn’t feel she’d been treated the same, and was disappointed. She said Whitney and Heather had called her to apologize, and she thought Jen’s apology was genuine for the first time. But an apology didn’t make things go away. She would forgive for herself, but to move forward, trust needed to be earned. Heather said she hoped she’d be able to speak up, embrace people where they were, and not hold back.
Instead of the usual alcoholic adult beverage, meatballs on sticks – or meat lollipops, if you prefer – were distributed to everyone. Mary’s eyes lit up, and I thought she must be hungry. Andy said Jen was the CEO of fun, and asked her to give a toast. She said, to a great reunion, understanding each other, and meeting in the middle. Heather toasted to how many licks it took, and Andy made it snow. No, really. Snow fell inside the studio. It was pretty cool, both literally and figuratively.
📌 That’s a Fact…
From the end of the Civil War until the last vestiges of the Jim Crow era were finally deemed illegal, Black Americans sought to obtain their sliver of the American Dream while facing violence and discrimination—a journey that continues today.
Here are 9 places you can visit today that provided Black Americans with some of what America had been denying them, on the ongoing journey to equality and freedom. – from AtlasObscura.com
It’s been a long day. So long, it’s the next day. Whatever day you’re in, stay safe, stay learning from your mistakes, and stay understanding each other and meeting in the middle.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
I missed the beginning, but here’s what happened. Port Charles is on a different calendar, so it was Valentine’s Day there. Cameron serenaded himself on his guitar, when there was a knock at the door. He approached the door, wielding his guitar like a weapon. Chase went to the Quartermaine mansion to pick Willow up, since she was there putting Wiley to bed, and he had an awkward moment with Michael. It got even more awkward when Sasha came by for her date with Michael. Then the awkwardness tripled when they found out both couples had reservations at the Port Charles Grill (the mysterious replacement for The Floating Rib). Portia went with Curtis to the nightclub to help him with his case. Molly and Kristina went to an office, where Molly said she was ready to make a commitment, and TJ was on his way. Franco and Elizabeth were also at the Port Charles Grill, where they overheard another couple talking about them. The couple talked about being afraid of Franco, and left. Franco said he didn’t feel well, when Nikolas and Ava also arrived, and Franco and Elizabeth told them what happened. Franco excused himself, and Elizabeth told Ava and Nikolas about Franco getting treatment. Jordan showed up at the hospital to question Brando, who had a bandaged leg, and Jason came in just as she was asking Brando what happened. At the hospital, Britt was impressed that TJ had stayed late on Valentine’s Day, and TJ told her that he hadn’t been on the schedule, and he had a big night planned. That’s when I sat down, and…
Michael says he figured Chase and Willow were going to the MetroCourt, so he made reservations at the Port Charles Grill. Chase says he can call and change his reservations, but Michael says it’s hard enough to get one. He’ll call Olivia. He’s sure she can get them a table at the MetroCourt. Chase says, let him know if it doesn’t work out, but Michael says, it will. Chase says, cool, and Willow says, happy Valentine’s Day… to all of them. After Chase and Willow leave, Sasha asks if she can tell Michael how much she hated that. Not because everyone wasn’t perfectly nice… Michael says, but because everyone was perfectly nice. She says, it reminded her of how things used to be, and he says, him too. While he disputes the tactics used, what they did, they did for Wiley’s sake, and he’ll never regret it. She says, neither will she, and he says, there are consequences when you give certain things up. Some things, you can’t get back. He’s afraid the friendship between the four of them is one of them.
Trina tells Cameron, it’s just them; open up. He opens the door to Trina and Josslyn, and Trina asks what he was going to do. Sing them to death? Cameron says, ha-ha, and Josslyn says he’s taking protecting his family seriously. Cameron says they should know how many threats the family has gotten since the article came out. Josslyn says, it’s the worst; notorious family members on the front page. Then you have to worry about vigilantes. She says she thought celebrating together might take their minds off everything, and Trina produces a heart-shaped box of candy. Josslyn says, happy Valentine’s Day, bringing out more candy.
Ava asks how Franco is doing, and Elizabeth says, he’s having radiation treatments. Nikolas says, that’s good, isn’t it? and Elizabeth says they’re doing everything, and praying it’s enough. Franco comes back, and Elizabeth congratulates Ava and Nikolas on their engagement. Ava says Franco is the one who convinced her to go all in with Nikolas, and Elizabeth says she and Franco are celebrating their second anniversary. Franco says, not everyone gets married in a jail cell. He runs his hand through his hair, and realizes it’s falling out.
Britt tells TJ that he’s off the clock, and asks how he and Molly are doing. He says they’re still going strong; it’s a big night for them. Britt tells him, then get out, and he heads for the elevator. He asks, what about her? and she says, her heart belongs to GH. He tells her that she’s changed a lot since her first go around there, and Britt says, bye. The elevator door closes, and she says she doesn’t know about that. She still has a few tricks up her sleeve. She goes into one the rooms, and says, sorry to keep them waiting. There’s no one she’d rather be with tonight. She takes off her lab coat, and poses seductively, and we see Brad in the bed.
Jason tells Jordan, he was just checking on Brando, and she says, how convenient. Brando was just about to tell her what happened. Jason says, don’t let him interrupt, and Jordan tells Brando, go on. Brando says he was about to meet Cyrus, when he heard a shot, and felt an incredible pain in his leg that took him down. Jordan says, and the person who shot him? Brando says he never saw them. He only heard them running away. She says, so he has nothing that can ID the person who shot him? and he says, no. She asks if that’s all he’s going to give her, and Brando says, that’s all he’s got. She asks if Jason has anything to add.
Cameron thanks Josslyn and Trina for coming, and says he can’t help feeling bad. Josslyn asks, why? and he says, aren’t they supposed to be at the dance? Trina says, without him? and Josslyn says, insane. Cameron tells them, he remembers last year at this time, and Josslyn says she knows the year was rough for all of them. She wants them to know she couldn’t have gotten through it without them. Trina says, her neither, and Cameron says, same. Trina looks at the Valentine’s Day banner hanging over the fireplace, and says, it’s falling down. Cameron says, that’s what happens when Jake insists on doing it by himself. He wonders where the tape is.
Elizabeth tells Franco, Terry said the treatments were working so well, she upped the dosage. He says, if horrible is what she intended, it’s working well. He didn’t think they’d be testing the in sickness or in health so soon, and she says, it’s not a test. It’s life, and they’re going to live a long and happy one.
Britt and Brad put together Valentine’s Day goodie bags, and Brad tells Britt, this may be a new low; making Valentine’s for other people, when he’s received none of his own. Britt says, they’re sick kids, and it’s to make them feel better, so stop moping. She busted him out to have fun, not sit and cry about how lonely he is. He asks how she made it happen, and she says she told the warden that Brad needed a follow-up to insure the proper healing of the stab wound he sustained in the warden’s jail, and on his time. Brad says he guesses she wanted to see him because she needed help, and she says, of course (🍷) she wanted to see him. It’s only the most depressing day of the year, but if he’d rather be in jail, she’ll gladly alert the warden’s office. He says, this is exactly where he wants to be, and thanks her for making it happen. She says, he’s welcome, and he says he has one question. Does Lucas know he’s there?
Felix and Lucas are at the reception desk, when TJ comes by. Felix says, someone has big plans, and Lucas says, don’t let them keep him. Have fun. TJ says he plans to. Ciao. He leaves, and Lucas says, ah, to be young and in love. Felix says Lucas is still sort of young. What are his plans? Lucas says, nothing, and Felix says, he could change that. Does Lucas want to go for a drink after work?
Portia asks Curtis what they’re doing there again, and he says his client believes his wife is cheating with the owner. She asks, who’s the wife? and he says, 11 o’clock. She says, what about the owner? and he says he hasn’t seen the owner yet today. Portia says, let her know when he sees him, and he says, will do. He stares at her, and she says, what? He says, look at her, having a good time, and she says she loves her life; her job, her daughter. But every day she moves from chaos of GH, and dealing with patients, hopefully saving lives, to home, where she deals with Trina, who, as he knows, is dealing with an extremely difficult situation with her father. It’s a difficult place to be in. Curtis said he was over the P.I. stuff, but it’s like a little vacation for her. He says, well, all right, and they clink glasses.
Jason tells Jordan, he has nothing to add, and Jordan says, shocking. She doesn’t know why she bothers to ask any more. The ballistics report shows that Brando was shot at close range. He claims he didn’t see who did it, but does he have some idea of who might be motivated to do this? Who is he protecting? Cyrus or Sonny’s organization?
Molly tells Kristina, TJ is done with work and on his way over, and Kristina asks if she’s nervous. Molly says, no. She’s excited, happy, and most of all, at peace. Kristina says it’s the perfect way to feel before a commitment, and Molly asks if she thinks Sam and their mom will be upset when they find out she and TJ did this without them. Kristina says she thinks when Molly explains why, they’ll understand. Molly says, as much as they love their families, and want a big celebration, doing it this way feels right. Kristina says, intimate and simple; she gets it. Molly says, no big fanfare. Just the two of them starting their lives together. The clerk comes out, and says, not if she has anything to say about it.
Curtis tells Portia, there he is, and she says, the owner? Where? He says, 2 o’clock, and she looks over. She asks why he didn’t say, at the bar? and he says, it sounded more P.I. She says, it kind of does, actually. She looks over again at the couple, and says, wow. He can’t keep his eyes off of her. Has his client asked her if she was cheating? Curtis says, she denies it, but his client is positive she’s lying. Portia says, that’s usually the way it goes.Maybe they’re friends, and just enjoy working together. She sees the woman run her hands over the owner’s chest, and says, maybe not. Curtis tells her, say cheese, and he takes her picture, with the couple in the background.
Jordan says, Brando is Cyrus’s driver, or whatever his job title is, and Brando says, so? She asks if he did something to make Cyrus angry, or Jason, but he says he doesn’t have an issue with either of them. He told her that he doesn’t know who did it, and she says, whoever it was, didn’t want him dead, or he would be. Maybe it was a warning. Brando says, maybe it was random, and Jason says, maybe it was a gift. We all go 😮 since Jason said something other than he’s not talking without his attorney.
The clerk tells Molly and Kristina, see what time it is? She’s about to close. Molly says, she can’t, and she says she most certainly can, and she won’t feel bad. Molly says her fiancé just texted. He’ll be there any minute. He’s in med school. Can’t she make an exception? The clerk says she has 20 minutes. If Prince Charming isn’t here by then, buh-bye. Molly says, come on, TJ, and wonders, where is he?
On the phone, TJ tells someone, 400 milligrams, and gives instructions about a patient. A man comes up to him, and thanks him, saying he and Britt were so kind in caring for his wife. TJ says he’s glad she’s feeling better, and the man says they’re married 48 years today; they got married on Valentine’s Day. TJ tells him, congratulations, and the man says he hopes TJ finds that kind of love with someone special. TJ says he already has.
Lucas says, it’s cool of Felix to ask him out, but he’s not ready. Felix tells him, who said anything about asking him out? and Lucas says, Felix did. It’s not like they haven’t been here before. Felix says he thought they could have a drink as friends. They can ignore Valentine’s Day together, and not talk about their exes. Lucas says, sounds enticing.
Britt tells Brad that she hasn’t seen much of Lucas, and he asks if Lucas is working tonight. She says she’s not sure, and he says, she made the schedule. She tells him, let it go, please. He says he knows he doesn’t make her nervous, so why is her hand shaking?
Sitting at a table, Nikolas says he and Ava have come a long way, and she says, not exactly in a straight line, but she likes where they landed. He says, him too, and she wonders if it’s possible they actually found happiness. He says, not only is it possible, it’s happening. Welcome to the rest of her life. They clink glasses, and Ava says, it’s good. He says, the best, and a waiter comes over with a heart-shaped box for Ava.
Chase tells Willow that she looks beautiful, and she thanks him. He says he wanted to tell her at the Quartermaine’s, but it seemed… She says, awkward? She tells him that he looks nice too, and he asks if they should get a bottle of wine. She says, definitely, and he looks at the wine menu. She asks if they have a specific one, and he says he’s never heard of it. He wonders if she’s been hanging out with the wine guy, and she says she has, but not their wine guy. Michael had a tutor come to the house, and her head was spinning with regions and vintages. He says, sounds cool, and she says, it was. He orders the wine.
Michael tells Sasha that Olivia squeezed them in at the MetroCourt, and Sasha says she’s surprised Michael asked her out tonight. He says, they had to start somewhere, so why not one of most fraught days of the year? He wants them to get to know one another again. No expectations. Just see where the night takes them. Does it sound good? She says, sounds good, and he tells her, if he hasn’t said it already, she looks absolutely beautiful. She says he hasn’t, and thank you. As they’re leaving, his phone rings. He says it’s his mom, and she tells him, take it. He answers, and says, is he okay?… Wait. What?
Curtis tells Portia that he got some good shots. They put on quite a a show; they weren’t even trying to be discreet. She says, now he has to tell his client? and he says, it’s part of the job, and not the fun part. He shows her the pictures, and she says, not the butt grab. They’re not fooling around. He says, neither is he.
Jason tells Jordan, the longer Brando is out of commission, he can’t do Cyrus’s bidding. Brando says, but he has to work, and Jordan says she thinks there’s more to this than they’re admitting. She’s telling them, she will figure it out. She leaves, and Brando asks why the hell Jason shot him.
Kristina tells Molly, don’t worry about the clerk. She’ll take care of her. Molly asks, how? and Kristina says, what part of don’t worry doesn’t she get? Sit back, and go to her peaceful place. They sit down, and Molly asks if Kristina was surprised, and Kristina says, a little that they picked Valentine’s Day to become partners. Molly says, cliché? and Kristina says, traditional. It’s anything but them. Molly says they did it to give the day more meaning than greeting cards and chocolates. This is what it’s supposed to be about; true love. Kristina says her little sister was always a romantic. The clerk says their 20 minutes are up. It’s closing time. Clear out.
TJ looks at his phone, and says, this isn’t happening. Not one Ride Share. He decides to look for another app, when Jordan approaches him. She asks if everything is all right.
Ava wonders what could be in the box. She already has two beautiful rings, so she’s sure it’s not that. Is it a necklace, or perhaps earrings? She asks Nikolas, what is it? and he says, open it and find out.
Franco pushes his plate away, and Elizabeth says, he can’t eat again? He says, it’s okay; he’ll watch her eat. She says they’re going home. She’s not taking no for an answer. He says, thank God, and they leave.
Cameron can’t find the tape, and thinks Jake must have taken it upstairs, but says he has some in his bag. He bought a calendar to count off the days until graduation. Trina says, the days until they’re college bound, and Josslyn starts to dig in Cameron’s bag. He tells her, wait, and she takes out a paper. She asks if it’s for him. It’s an acceptance letter to Stanford University.
Josslyn says, Cameron got in? She didn’t even know he was looking at Stanford. He says he applied for early acceptance, and Josslyn says, amazing. Trina says, congratulations; she’s proud of him. Josslyn says, it’s dated over a month ago. Why didn’t he tell them? He says he doesn’t know if he wants to go, and Trina says, he doesn’t know? He says, it’s an amazing school, with an incredible soccer team, and Josslyn says, he’s an incredible player. He says, there, but what if he sucks at college? Trina says, what if they all go to college, and totally tank? Should they stay home, or worse, be scared? Cameron says he’s not scared, and Josslyn says she gets him not wanting to be away from his family. He says, that’s part of it, but it’s also them. It doesn’t feel done yet. Trina says, what? and he says, this. High school. He doesn’t know if he can be apart from them. Trina says, it does feel like everything is changing, and Josslyn says she gets that, but whether they go or stay, life will change anyway. That’s just the way it is.
Brando says he’s the one in the hospital bed; Jason at least owes him an explanation. Jason says, Cyrus was threatening Brando, and Brando was stuck, so he took Brando out of commission. Brando says, okay, Jason did him a favor, but he could have given him a heads up. Jason says, and risk having him flinch? This was the easiest way. Brando asks if Jason knows how much it hurts to take a bullet (I think he probably does), when there’s a knock at the door. Michael and Sasha come in, and Michael says his mom told him what happened. Sasha asks if Brando is okay, and Brando says, nothing a little rest won’t fix. She asks if he’s sure, and he says he’s fine. What are they doing there? Sasha says he saved her life; the least she could do was check on him. Michael says his mom was a little light with the details. Does Brando know who did it? Jason says he’ll let Brando fill them in, and leaves. Sasha asks, what happened? Does he know who shot him?
Chase tells Willow that he noticed work being done on the gatehouse. She says, a little, and he asks if it was in bad shape. She says she mentioned in passing that the kitchen could use an island or more counter space; nothing urgent. Michael did a full gutting and renovation, not just of the kitchen, but the whole house. It’s hilarious how he’s been spying on her. She points out something she likes, like a chair, and it shows up at the gatehouse. She apologizes, and says she doesn’t mean to be talking so much about Michael. Chase says she lives on the property, and she and Michael are raising a kid together. Michael is part of her life. She asks how his life is. How is he? He says, right here in this moment, pretty damn great.
Ava opens the box, and looks in. Nikolas asks, what’s wrong? and she looks at him.
Britt takes her hand away from Brad, and says she’s fine. Being Chief of Staff is a lot of pressure. He says, it’s Cyrus, isn’t it? She went to the trouble of breaking him out of prison; talk to him. She says, the less he knows, the better. She doesn’t want Cyrus going after him again, and he needs to be in the hospital. She says she should deliver the bags, and he asks if he can help. She says, great idea. Walking around GH when he’s not supposed to be there. He says, so it’s a no? and she says, a hell no. She tells him, keep a low profile. She’ll be back. Outside, she drops some of the bags, and while she’s picking them up, Jason comes by. He asks if she needs some help. I think, nooo. Are they going to get together?
Michael says, Brando never saw who shot him? and Brando says, whoever it was hit nothing major. He says they must have better plans than this on Valentine’s Day, and asks Sasha how recovery is. She tells him, as they say, one day at a time, and he says, nothing wrong with slow and steady. He’s sure they must have reservations somewhere, and tells them, go. Have a good time. He needs the rest anyway. Sasha says, okay, but she’ll be back. He says he’ll be there, and they leave. In the hallway, Michael’s phone dings, and he says, change of plans.
Willow says, it’s so great that Finn and Chase’s dad are getting along. Chase says he never thought it would happen. He feels hopeful that they’re finally becoming a family. She says, it just goes to show, damage can be repaired, bridges can be rebuilt… Chase says, and relationships can be regrown. It’s happening for his dad and Finn, and he hopes it happens with them.
Brad hears Lucas and Felix talking in the hallway, and peeks out through the blinds. Lucas tells Felix, let’s go grab that drink, and Felix says he knows a new place. Brad turns away.
Ava looks at a large bug in a display dome, and Nikolas says he got her something, but not that. What is that, a roach? She says she hates roaches, and he wonders if anyone likes them. (Maybe an entomologist?) She says she doesn’t understand. Who would do this? Nikolas says they’ll find out.
Curtis tells Portia that he’s so used to going on missions solo; it feels good to have a partner again. She says, if he needs an assist, hit her up, and he says he might take her up on it. His job there is done, and he asks if she’s ready to get out. She says, um… and he says, look at her. She wants to stay. Portia says, maybe one more song, and Curtis says he’s there for it. One more song.
Jordan tells TJ that she knows he’s still mad. She made a mess with him and Molly, and she’s so sorry. He doesn’t have to be ready to forgive her, but if there’s anything she can do to help… He says his car won’t start, and he’s a half-hour late. Jordan says, it will be impossible to get a car, and he says, yeah. Would she give him a ride? She says, of course (🍷). She’ll even use the siren.
Molly tells the clerk, please. She bets he’s parking right now. She’ll go get him. She leaves, and Kristina says, look. Her sister really needs this night to happen. The clerk says, they all have needs, and Kristina says, maybe the clerk has plans, or maybe she’s tired and wants to get home. She gets it, but she wants her sister to be happy, so will this help? Kristina slides a few fifties across the counter to the clerk.
Josslyn tells Cameron, they’ll see each other all the time, and when they can’t, they’ll stay in touch. He asks if they think he should go, and Trina says, if he wants to. Josslyn says she heard there’s some awesome surfing in California. When she visits, she’ll teach him a thing or two. Elizabeth and Franco come in, and Cameron says they’re home early. Elizabeth says, Franco’s not feeling great, and Franco shows Cameron some hair in his hand. He says he’s going for Jeff Bezos, and asks Cameron’s opinion?
Britt tells Jason, she’s got this, but since he’s intent on giving her a hand, does he want to help her deliver them before the kids are asleep? Or is he too badass to spread a little love? Jason. Almost. Smiles.
Tomorrow, Curtis doesn’t want to, Ava hopes the next present is from Nikolas, Elizabeth tells Franco that it’s just the beginning, Molly asks TJ if he’s ready, and Cameron says he has to do this.
🎞 More Davis, Please…
Just in case you can’t get enough GH, here’s something they left out.
Everyone weighs in on the analogy heard round Bravoland. While I realize Jackie could have picked something safer, what really bothers me is that many of them – mostly Teresa – don’t grasp what an analogy is. Is this some kind of collective stupidity?
Oh horrors. Gia is suffering. Over an analogy. After her parents both did time for fraud, and her father has been shown to be an insensitive idiot over and over on the show.
The 54th Regiment Massachusetts Infantry was a volunteer Union regiment organized in the American Civil War. Its members became known for their bravery and fierce fighting against Confederate forces. It was the second all-Black Union regiment to fight in the war, after the 1st Kansas Colored Volunteer Infantry Regiment.
The ultimate measure of a person is not where one stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where one stands in times of challenge and controversy. – Martin Luther King, Jr
Start where you are, with what you have. Make something of it and never be satisfied. – George Washington Carver
We may encounter many defeats but we must not be defeated. – Maya Angelou
You are here for a purpose. There is no duplicate of you in the whole wide world. There never has been, there never will be. You were brought here now to fill a certain need. Take time to think that over. – Lou Austin (And let’s hope it’s not to create stupid names for lipsticks.)
Do what is right, not what is easy nor what is popular. – Roy T. Bennett
Silence becomes cowardice when occasion demands speaking out the whole truth and acting accordingly. – Mahatma Gandhi
Action may not always bring happiness, but there is no happiness without action. – William James
You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with. – Jim Rohn
A day without sunshine is like, you know, night. – Steve Martin
🚙 Getting On the Exit Ramp…
It’s that time again. Time to wrap up the week, or cross another day off the calendar as you mindlessly eat another bag of your chips of choice. But the world is opening up more, so step away from the chips, and do something different. Get out of the house, and give the outside winter wonderland a try. Unless you’re in the middle of a blackout, in which case, you’re not reading this anyway. Until we reunite on Deck, stay safe, stay appreciative of what you have, and stay knowing that, no matter what you do, life will change anyway. That’s just the way it is.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
There’s a knock on Jordan’s office door. She thanks Curtis for coming, and says she wasn’t sure if her request would carry any weight. She sees his face, and says, sorry. It’s been almost two months since he’s been staying at the MetroCourt. She never thought he’d be gone this long. He says, it’s not like they resolved any of their issues, and she suggests they work on fixing them. She made an appointment with Dr. Massey. If Curtis doesn’t want to work on them by coming home, they can work on them in counseling. He says, no, they can’t.
At the hospital, Cyrus asks Britt where she’s going, and she says, as Chief of Staff , she usually circulates through the departments, checking in and supervising. Portia watches, and flashes back to when Cyrus told her that he was willing to withdraw his statement to the DOJ. They can’t prosecute Trina’s father without his statement, but Jordan declined. Portia wonders what those two are up to.
Lenny welcomes Phyllis home, and asks, why the suitcase? She says she knows she should have stopped home, but she wanted to make sure they didn’t burn the place down in her absence. She tells Lenny, she’s just joking; no need to get upset. Lenny says, it’s not that. Mike remembered something. Sonny says , no. He actually remembered someone.
Nina stares daggers at Carly and Jax at the cemetery. Jax sees her and reaches for her, but she shrugs him off. He says he didn’t expect her there, and she says she was at Nelle’s grave, but she saw him, and they need to talk. He says, they can talk after; Jocelyn needs him. Nina says she’s sure Carly needs him too, and asks if they can talk afterward, but she says, no. They need to talk now. She knows what he and Carly did. Dante asks Olivia, what’s going on? and Olivia says she doesn’t know, and she’s not asking. Carly walks over to Nina and Jax, and asks, what’s going on? Nina tells Jax, go ahead and tell her. No, never mind. Let her do it. She tells Carly that she knows what they both did to her daughter.
Jordan asks Curtis when he became too macho for therapy. He was the one that suggested family counseling before they got married, and he was right. It did them a world of good to air their grievances in a safe space, and Stella even came to the wedding. He asks how they’re supposed to tell a stranger about their compromises. How is Jordan going to open up to a stranger, but not to her husband?
Cyrus sees Britt going into the elevator, and says, not to interrupt her perpetual motion, but she should get off the elevator. They don’t want to tie it up for the patients. He tells her that he called a board meeting, and she says, she’s aware and appreciates the honorary seat, but she doesn’t have a vote. Her energy is better spent on patients. He urges her not to skip the meeting. It’s everything they’ve been working for. Portia joins them, and asks if everything is okay, but Britt says, everything is fine. Cyrus says, they were talking about the board meeting. As a Department head, Portia is welcome to join. Portia asks why she would need to be there, and he says, winds of change are blowing through General Hospital. Trust him; she doesn’t want to miss it.
Phyllis tells Sonny, that’s exciting; tell her everything. He says he was by himself. He was groggy, and he dozed off. Music was playing, and he was dancing with someone who had blonde hair, but he couldn’t make out her face. Phyllis says, they were wondering about the wedding band. It could be the wife that gave him the watch. He says he doesn’t know, but she definitely felt important to him. Phyllis said, like she told him, as the medicine starts working, he could possibly remember things in his life. Sonny says, maybe it was just a dream and not important. They have no way of knowing, so… He starts to walk away, and Phyllis says, that’s not necessarily true.
Jax tells Nina to keep her voice down; they’ll talk afterward. She says, no. He had his chance to be honest about her daughter, and he didn’t do it. No secrets or lies. She wants the whole world to know what he and Carly did to her daughter. Carly walks over, and says, it’s not the time or the place. Sam wonders what’s going on, but Jason says he doesn’t know, and Sam leaves. Nina says, she knows what they did to her only child, and Jax says he was trying to protect her. Nina says, he wasn’t protecting her; he was protecting Carly. Carly always comes first. Her child didn’t even merit having a funeral, just a lousy prayer at the grave. If it had been up to Carly, she wouldn’t even have had that. Nina doesn’t know what’s worse, the sheer hypocrisy or the heartless lies. She knows Carly was there when Nelle died, and they were both there when Nelle fell to her death.
At the board meeting, Cyrus says his assistant is passing out a prospectus regarding the spearheading of the research project he’s been doing in the hospital lab. It’s going to be a financial addition that will keep them from having to gouge the patients. He was inspired by Finn’s discovery, and Finn’s generous donation of the patent for Blackwood’s, but it’s a niche market. General Hospital is ready to enter into the field of pain management, an enormous market. One of the board members says, it’s an interesting presentation, and another board member says, it will help a lot of patients, and be a financial windfall for the hospital. Cyrus says, he’s glad they recognize the incredible potential. With the board’s approval, he’ll be ready to present his findings to the FDA. It requires a unanimous motion. Lesley comes in, and says she objects big time.
Jordan tells Curtis, plenty of people feel more comfortable talking to a trained medical professional, and the legal issue will be covered by doctor/patient confidentiality. Curtis says, that doesn’t always apply, and she says, they can still figure out the root of what’s going on between them. He says, that is the root. It’s tied to dancing around the truth; the lies and secrets. If she can’t speak freely to him, he doesn’t see how they can fix the relationship. He can’t live like this anymore.
Phyllis tells Sonny, she doesn’t have much experience with bipolar patients, but she did her research. There are racing, intrusive thoughts when in the manic phase. Sonny says, like the handiwork he tried there, and Lenny says, don’t remind them, Phyllis says, and the supreme confidence that led him to believe he didn’t need to figure out who he was. But like she said, when the medication builds up in the bloodstream, those thoughts leave. It might be enough to lift the fog, so he can see clearly, and remember who he is. Sonny says , maybe so. How was her trip? Lenny asks if she was able to give her former patient the answers she wanted, and Phyllis says, she was able to give answers, but not the ones her former patient wanted to hear.
Nina asks if Carly is speechless for once, and I laugh. She tells Carly not to try to deny it. She watched Nina’s daughter fall to her death. Carly knew her daughter was in the river for weeks, and said nothing. She let Nelle rot. Why is that? Carly knew if she tried to save Nelle, she could have. Carly tells Nina, don’t. This is her husband’s funeral, and Nina is going to destroy it. Nina says, just like Carly destroyed her daughter’s body, and Carly says, Nelle was a horrible person. She was a killer and a kidnapper, and on the day she died, she slashed Brooke’s throat. Nina says she doesn’t deny Nelle was trouble, but who made Carly judge and jury? Her daughter deserved dignity in death, even if she didn’t get it in life. Tell the truth. If she was capable, would Carly have saved Nelle, or did a part of her, even a small spark , hold back because she wanted to see Nelle die?
Nina says, tell her the truth. Carly owes Nina that much. Could she have saved Nelle? Diane approaches, and says, as Carly’s attorney, she strongly advises Carly to walk away. Jason agrees, but Carly tells Nina that she tried to save Nelle, despite what Nelle did. Nina says, she believes Carly hated Nelle, but doesn’t believe Carly tried to save her. Carly says she doesn’t give a damn; not after the stunt Nina just pulled. That’s exactly the reason why she and Jax didn’t tell Nina the truth. Nina can’t handle the truth. Nina says, Carly doesn’t care that her daughter is dead, even though Carly should have saved her. Nelle never had anyone in life. Nina has heard stories about Carly. Carly did horrible things, but got a second chance. Why is that? She has a whole town filled with Carly enablers. Jax says, enough, but Nina says, the best part is, Carly got Jax to go along with it. Carly is never happier than when she gets someone else to drop everything for her and back her up. Maybe Carly will bring Jax up to the major leagues now that Sonny is gone. Carly says she remembers this side of Nina. The side that drugged Ava, and cut Avery out of Ava’s womb. When Nina is in pain, and her grief is overwhelming, she takes it out on everyone around her. She and Nelle aren’t so different after all.
Phyllis tells Lenny and Sonny, her patient’s daughter passed away months ago, but the real tragedy is, she didn’t know who her daughter was until after her death. Lenny says he’s so sorry. He knows how much guilt Phyllis carries about the situation. He’ll drive her home, so she can drop her things off, and they can talk about it during the drive. He asks if Sonny thinks he can handle things, and Sonny says, no problem.
Leslie tells the Board, they don’t need Cyrus or his drugs. Cyrus says, sorry. Who is she to make that determination? She’s a board member emeritus. It’s honorary and meaningless. Leslie says she doesn’t get to vote, but those who do, should use it wisely.
Jordan says, Curtis knew secrets were part of the package when they were dating, engaged, and then married. It’s not about trust, it’s about her doing her job . If he’s being honest, his profession is trading secrets. He says, technically, it’s uncovering secrets. He gets that her job requires information she can’t share, but in the past year, she’s been keeping secrets that go well beyond work. Secrets about her being compromised by Cyrus. His nephew was kidnapped, and he was left blaming himself for Taggert’s death, when Taggart was alive and in hiding. It started with work secrets, but it’s still about him. In each case, she made the decision to keep him in the dark. How is that being a team? Jordan says, it can be. He showed up; that’s a good sign, especially after her ultimatum. She admits she was too harsh. She felt it was the only way to get through. So has he decided to come home?
Sonny asks the lone customer if he’d like another whiskey, but the customer says he’d rather get moving. He takes out his keys, and drops them, and Sonny says he’s not driving anywhere. He’s had too much to drink. The customer hands Sonny the keys, and says he can do the honors.
Nina tells Carly, one way she’s different from Nelle, is that she wasn’t an impoverished little girl from Florida with one kidney and an abusive father, but she’ll sure as hell stand up to Carly and defend her. Jason says Nina is ruining sonny’s funeral, and Nina says, he’s just proving her point; Carly has her trio of enablers there. Diane is just doing her job, but it’s not like she wasn’t warned that Carly would come first with Jax. Carly says, they’re done. She doesn’t know what Nina tried to accomplish, but she failed. Nina says Carly failed compassion, honesty, and saving the life of someone right in front of her. She’s the worst kind of selfish. She goes around thinking she’s so selfless, and her friends support it. She’s superficial, sugar sweet, until you get between her and her needs. It’s oddly poetic justice that Sonny fell to his death, like Carly watched her daughter fall. Nina starts to walk away, and Jax follows, but Nina turns and says she doesn’t even have the words for him. He had her convinced he was a white knight that would never lie to her, but just like everyone else, he is a liar. He just does it with a tan and a smile. She adds that she was wrong. She did have the words. She leaves, and Jax goes back to what’s left of the mourners.
Olivia, Dante, and Sam go back to the Quartermaine mansion. Monica says they’re home early, and Olivia says, long story. Monica asks Sam if her mother caused a scene, but Sam says, not this time; she couldn’t make it. Olivia says she wondered about that. Alexis should have been there to support Kristina. Dante suggests a Olivia check on Leo, and Monica says he and Wiley were having so much fun with video games, she didn’t even need to look in on them. She and Olivia go upstairs, while Sam and Dante go into the living room. Dante says, it might sound insensitive, but how about a drink? Sam says, it doesn’t sound insensitive. It’s actually welcomed. He says, Scotch or Scotch? and she guesses it will be Scotch. Dante asks how she’s holding up, and she asks if he’s serious. They just came from his father’s funeral, and he was just in the hospital because of her mother. She’s more concerned about him. They clink glasses, and Sam tells him, she’s not saying they needed her mother there for something of significance to go down, but she wasn’t feeling well, and thought it best not to go. Dante says, what about her? It couldn’t have been easy not being with Jason. Sam says, aside from co-parenting, things have been strange between them, but today crystallized things. She knows exactly where they stand. ** clink glass not saying need something of significance went down mom wouldn’t been there not feeling well thought best not go**
Cyrus says, Dr. Webber’s dire warning has no merit. The science is on the up and up. He looks to Britt for confirmation, saying she approved the research. Britt says, right. She did verify the scientific research, and while the findings seemed to be impressive, she wants to make it clear to the Board that this is not her field of expertise. Cyrus says, that’s why the research is important. Portia says, it’s what would be deemed adequate, considering his past in prison. It’s a valid question, especially since this is a could be a very addictive narcotic. A board member reminds her that Cyrus was framed; he was exonerated. Cyrus says, her concern is noted, but she has no vote. Portia says, that’s true, but she does have the right to block a unanimous motion. A board member says, the hospital could use the potential income, and Cyrus says, all of their voices will be heard on the floor when they vote at the regular shareholders meeting in a few days. This meeting is adjourned.
Curtis tells Jordan, of course (🍷) he wants to come home, but he’s not ready. Jordan asks, why? and he says, if he does, then nothing changes. She asks what he needs to have changed? Is he asking her to quit her job,? He says, ofcourse (🍷) not. He admires her commitment to her job, but he needs something of his own; his own life. He does trade in secrets and lies, and he’s got to figure out how to make peace with it. Figure out who he is aside from a P.I. He doesn’t expect her to wait. She’d said, if he couldn’t come home and forgive her, he needs to let her go. She says, that was the anger talking; she takes it back. Curtis says, she’s right. He needs to let her go.
Jordan asks what he means by let her go. She doesn’t want to lose him. He says he doesn’t want that either. She wonders if he’s asking for a divorce, and Curtis says, nothing that permanent. They have to learn to be individuals again, and be okay being separate, if they want to have a chance to find their way back to each other again. Jordan asks if he wants a separation, and Curtis says, to him at least, that means they both have a chance to clear their heads, so they can figure out what they really want. He admits he can’t guarantee an ending, and knows they can’t go in with a preordained ending. It’s not fair to either one of them. Jordan says, please don’t walk away, and Curtis says, he’s not. Hopefully, it won’t be forever. Someone has to see how dysfunctional a couple they are, and call that out. The only way to face it, is to call it by its name, or else… He just can’t live like this anymore.
Cyrus approaches Lesley, and says he’s not sure what that power play was all about. Lesley says, he’s responsible for putting her granddaughter into a coma. How does he sleep at night? He says, she’s been listening to rumors, and she says, not from her daughter, the mayor. Cyrus says, she may have delayed things, but the board members are enthusiastic about the new medication. That’s how he sleeps at night. He walks away.
Britt looks at Jason’s phone number in her phone.
Back at Sonny’s house, Diane says she assumes part of Nina’s accusation is true. She gets Carly and Jason’s friendship, but she’s the attorney. She can’t continue to represent them to the best of her ability, if she’s the last one to know; she has to be the first. She waits, and then says, someone better start talking, since apparently, Nina has no edit button. Tell her the gory details. Go. Jax says, Nina isn’t entirely inaccurate, and Diane says, that means some of it was accurate. Carly says she told the police that when she saw Michael and Wiley were safe, she went after Nelle. That was true. Diane says she knows about what Carly told the police. Tell her what she doesn’t know. Carly says she caught up with Nelle in the clearing, they fought, she fell, and Nelle took off. She heard Nelle screaming, and found her dangling from the cliff. Nina wasn’t lying, but she only hesitated for a second; she did try. She got on the ground, and reached out. Honest to God, she tried to save Nelle, but she fell; she couldn’t hold on. Jax tells Diane, that’s when he found Carly, kneeling at the edge of the cliff. He’s the one who convinced her not to tell the police, because there were no witnesses to back her up. Calling him Mr. Jax, Diane says she understands advising Carly to alter the truth, and understands why Carly went along. As their attorney, she keeps their dark family secrets. She is paid a tremendous amount of money to know when, where, and how to bend the truth to suit their needs. Now Carly flat out lied and it’s a matter of public record. Jason asks, how bad is it? but Diane says, it’s too soon to tell. Jason looks at his phone, and Carly says, go. He leaves, and Carly shakes her head.
Olivia tells Monica, she’s going to miss this place. Monica asks what she’s talking about, and a Olivia says, she doesn’t know what’s going on with her an Ned. He didn’t just hook up with Alexis, he lied about it for months. She doesn’t know where they stand, and as nice as it’s been for her to stay there, it’s not her home. Monica says, the last time she looked, this was her house, and Olivia says, because Alan gave it to her? They laugh, and Monica says, much to Tracy’s chagrin. She wasn’t born into the family, but gradually over the years, she became a Quartermaine through and through, and so has Olivia. Like it or not, she’s one of them.
Dante asks what Sam is saying. She became clear about things after the crazy at the cemetery? She says, if she and Jason were still together, things would have played out differently for her today. He asked, how so? and she says, for starters, she’d still be there helping clean up the mess, instead of having a drink with him. He says, it’s preferable, a win, and she says, she’s not part of Jason’s world anymore. He asks what that makes her, and she says he can call her Sam. They smile at one another.
Cyrus tells Portia, he wants her to know that he’s not holding the Board meeting against her. She says, if doctors prescribe the medication wrong or too casually, the hospital could face a lawsuit, so she questions its review. He says, so noted. On a different subject, his offer stands regarding Taggert. Get Jordan to do her part, and Taggert will no longer be in jail, and no longer in danger. That will make her daughter happy, right? He leaves, and Curtis comes out of the elevator. Portia says, she sorry to put him in the middle of those, but she needs to talk to him about his wife.
Jordan looks at her and Curtis’s wedding picture, then turns it face down on her desk.
Phyllis and Lenny come back to the bar, and everything is a wreck, all the tables and chairs overturned. Phyllis says, what on earth…? and Lenny says, what happened? Phyllis wonders, who would have done this?Robbery is one thing, but why destroy the Tan-O? Sonny comes in, and says, Oh my God, what happened?
Jason goes to Britt’s office, and she thanks him for coming . He asks if the room is secure, and she says she checked it herself after the board meeting . He says, he takes it that it wasn’t a good meeting, and she says, Cyrus ambushed the Board, presenting his plan for the new pain medication. He wants to fast track Board approval, so he can take it to the FDA, and she had to play along. Jason says, good, but she says, it’s highly addictive. She hands him the folder, and he says he’ll look it over. She asks, when? The vote is in a few days, sooner than anticipated. She wonders why Cyrus is fast tracking the drug, and Jason says, Sonny is gone, and Cyrus sees an opening.
The Quartermaine’s doorbell rings, and Monica sees Lesley on the porch. She says Oh my God, and Lesley says, hello, Monica.
Dante tells Sam that it sounds like she’s embarking on a new chapter. He gives her another drink, and asks who this new Sam McCall is going to be. She says, for the first time in a long time, she doesn’t know, but she’s excited to meet her. He says, for what it’s worth (🍷), him too. They clink their glasses, as Olivia watches.
Leslie tells Monica, she loves the remodel, so tasteful. Who is her decorator? Monica says, cut to the chase. What inspired her unprecedented visit here? Leslie says, she’s there about the hospital . She needs Monica to help expose Cyrus as the monster that he is.
Carly asks Diane, how much trouble is she in? Diane says, it’s all hearsay, with no evidence to back it up. The Philadelphia authorities closed the case. If there isn’t a lot of pressure, the PCPD may close their case, and choose to leave well enough alone.
Nina walks into Jordan’s office, but Jordan says she was heading home. What’s up? Nina says she has new information to report on the murder of Nelle Benson.
Tomorrow, Jordan asks if Nina is accusing Carly and Jax of lying to the police, Jackie tells Martin that she found his mother, Cyrus says Brando isn’t as useful as he first thought, and Sonny asks if someone knows who he is.
👠 A new season of The Real Housewives of New Jersey has begun, and already Teresa has created pandemonium. Wasn’t it last season when she threw the Solo cup at the camera? Tonight, she threw rumors around. Jackie and Evan had a party for Evan’s birthday. Delores had a butt lift, along with few other procedures, which was a topic of conversation, along with Teresa’s possible dating life. Even the women who hated each other were excited to see one another because, covid. Although I did find it a little disconcerting that no one appeared to be concerned at all; no social distancing or masks, and this was filmed a while ago. Teresa had too much tequila, and tried to spread gossip, but was bad at it, since she could remember zero details, only that Evan did stuff at the gym. Marge was doing some renovations on her new house, courtesy of – no surprise – Joe #3, and was planning a girls trip to lake George. Frankie Jr. was living with David, but – again, no surprise – Delores still didn’t have a ring. She’d waited until the night before to tell David what she was having done, and he wasn’t happy, not approving of elective surgery.
Jennifer had a family meeting, minus her mom, to discuss the explosive fights between her parents that her mom was instigating. In her interview, she said it was the last thing she wanted to do, but felt she had to step in for her father’s sake. A friend called Jackie, and told her about Teresa claiming Evan was cheating on her, and spreading the rumor at the party. It looked like Jackie had her lips done, and I was like, no. She and Teresa had a sit-down at Marge’s house, and while Marge provided the neutral territory, she got the hell out of there fast. Jackie said all she wanted was for Teresa to admit she spread a baseless rumor with no evidence behind it. Teresa refused to tell Jackie who she’d heard the rumor from, wouldn’t admit it was a lie, and refused to apologize. If she had any sense at all, Jackie would have never tried to use an analogy to explain anything to Teresa, but she did, suggesting she heard Gia does coke in the bathrooms at parties. Teresa does not understand an analogy, and when she hears one, takes it as fact. After hopping up and down, and pointing her finger at Jackie, Teresa called her the c-word, let loose a string of bleepity-bleeps, and stomped out past Marge, who was sweating bullets, and saying, oh my God.
Next time, Joe #3 thinks Joe #2 is going through something, Teresa starts dating, and Halloween happens.
The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City – The Reunion – Part Two
Andy said they had so much to get through, like this was something important.
Mary was up first, and we took that flashback trip. Whitney thought it was hard to watch. Did you know Mary had her odor glands removed? Me neither. Heather wondered if it could be done for BO, but Mary said, no; she has a condition where they repeatedly got infected. It sounded pretty awful. Jen claimed she hadn’t been to the hospital the day Mary said she smelled like one, and Mary apologized again. Jen insisted it was the first time, but the video didn’t lie, and backed Mary up. Jason from Provo asked about Mary not going into a 7-11 if Black people were outside, but Mary said she’s Black (in case we hadn’t noticed), and she was referring to a group of men standing out front. Meredith said her interpretation was that Mary was talking about sketchy people. Mary admitted being attracted to light-skinned men, but said all shades of Black were beautiful. She said she realized she could be offensive, and had to work on that. Jen’s constant disparagement of Mary for having married her step-grandfather was discussed. Heather said it was cruel, and true to form, Jen gave a bunch of excuses.
Andy wanted to get to the bottom of Jen’s scariness. Whitney clarified that she thought Meredith and Lisa were scared of Jen’s reactions to things, not Jen herself. That’s what I thought. They’re scared Jen is going to throw a tantrum at any moment. Heather said the name Mary was like a rip cord to Jen, and Lisa called Heather out for being scared of Jen. She hadn’t asked Lisa about what Whitney told her, before passing it along to Jen. Lisa got pretty worked up, waving her arms and saying, Whitney and Heather, bad weather, a tornado that spins the truth, destroy. It got so quiet, you couldn’t even hear crickets. Then Heather said Lisa was a sh*t friend to Meredith, and Lisa called Heather a horrible person and a liar. She said everyone else had talked about Meredith’s marriage, but she never did. Meredith said she and Seth were in a positive space, and it had been a long journey with a lot of hard work. The next one who said something negative about her marriage and family, in any way, shape, or form, wasn’t her friend.
Somehow, they started talking about Mary’s marriage again. For some reason, Andy found it weird that Mary hired family members to clean her house. I thought it made sense, since those might be the people she trusts most, and one of her bags is worth a year’s salary to some people. We found out that the age gap between Mary and Robert Sr. was the same as the one between Whitney and her husband; eighteen years. Mary talked about being married for twenty-two years, and said she’d been married before, but the break-up had nothing to do with Robert Sr. She said they didn’t sleep in the same bed anymore, but they were happy, and it was hard to find happiness, especially in a man. She told Andy, as long as they were happy, and the Man upstairs was happy with both of them, that’s all that mattered. Andy asked about rumors that Mary’s church was a cult, and Heather interjected that the Mormon church was also often called a cult. Andy brought up a question about Mary using church donations to buy her accoutrements, but she told him that her church members saw how she lived, and wouldn’t have stuck around if they thought they were paying her way. Her grandmother had left quite a bundle to Robert, Sr., having had several lucrative businesses. Mary and Jen finally made nice, but we’ll see how that goes next season.
Heather was grateful to have been on the show, and said it was therapeutic. Whitney said she’d seen a change in Heather, who finally realized her worth. Heather said Rihanna was the healing moment, and Andy told her to get on an app. We also found out that Heather and Whitney discovered they were cousins. Heather said she wanted her kids to be wild, and have multiple partners, and I thought Mary’s eyes would pop out of her head. Heather said she wanted them to get wasted, and live. Andy asked about negative blowback, and she said some Mormons felt she didn’t represent them well, and she understood – she would have felt the same way – but the majority of the feedback had been supportive. Lisa said they attracted the same crowd, then doubled back to the liar thing.
It sounded like Jen had been busy on social media, posting negative stuff and digs at everyone, and Whitney said Lisa had put her down to her face and behind her back. Andy wanted to take a break, and said the sooner they came back, the sooner they could leave, which didn’t make it sound like he was having a good time. Heather wasn’t sure if she wanted to move forward with Lisa, and Lisa said, good, but don’t sabotage her other friendships. Meredith asked if Andy was sick of it, but he said he loved it, as he twirled his moustache and touched his horns. During the break, Jen had her makeup touched up, and Lisa jumped around, pointing her finger at Heather, and talking like a jackhammer. Heather asked if Lisa was watching her own performance, while Mary sat quietly. Meredith said Lisa and Heather both interpreted each other’s words in the worst way, and Whitney left to get Advil. Meredith couldn’t leave with her fast enough. Lisa said Heather was mean, and Heather said it was a defense mechanism. Lisa split, complaining that it was negative, and she needed a hug from John. Mary woke up, and wondered, what is this? and Lisa whined to John that Meredith was supposed to be her best friend. She said it was effing crazy, and they didn’t need to be filming this. Andy wondered if she was coming back, and Meredith said she hoped so. Lisa told John that they could go on without her.
Next week, the dudes join the group, and Jen walks off.
This month we celebrate Black History. This year, the first since an important national reckoning with our history and reality of racial injustice, at Havenly, we wanted to mark the occasion with a celebration of Black History in the home design industry and highlight some talents that we think everyone should have on their radar. – Lee Mayer
Read Diversifying Design: Black Designers I Admire here:
🦢 Feather Ball Time… Tomorrow’s TV doesn’t sound like much. Bravo is airing the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad Summer House, which I’ll no doubt watch, even though I’m horrified. Until then, stay safe, stay dignified, and stay hiring whoever you want to do your cleaning. It’s your house.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
Nowhere to be found today. I officially gave up somewhere around 9 pm. We’re two days ahead anyway, so pour yourself a cup of tea, sit back, and check out what’s happening in the world of entertainment.
💸 Not Buying It…
I don’t think Franco is going anywhere. I think somehow the radiation will work, or it’s not what they thought, or he’ll stay alive long enough for them to find a cure. Or maybe he’s really his psychopathic twin brother, escaped from Pentenville. Oh wait. That’s Doc.
It’s a nice theory, but the reason they’re throwing his name around is because Sonny is presumably dead, and being pseudo buried next to him. Mike’s name has come up just as often.
Was she drunk again? Or just that desperate for attention? I find it difficult to believe she used similar wording to his alleged abuse, and was ignorant of it.
It was in 1964 when the author James Baldwin reflected on the shortcomings of his education. “When I was going to school,” he said, “I began to be bugged by the teaching of American history because it seemed that that history had been taught without cognizance of my presence.”
Baldwin’s thoughts echoed those of many before and after him. Half a century earlier, when Carter G. Woodson had the same frustration, he set the foundation for what would become today’s national Black History Month, observed each February.
It is mental slavery to cling to things that have stopped serving their purpose in your life. – Chinonye J. Chidolue
Some people believe holding on and hanging in there are signs of great strength. However, there are times when it takes much more strength to know when to let go and then do it. – Ann Landers
There are worse crimes than burning books. One of them is not reading them. – Ray Bradbury
My patience is getting so thin, it’s transparent. – Captain Lee Rosbach, Below Deck
That food you eat can be either the safest and most powerful form of medicine or the slowest form of poison. – Ann Wigmore
Before you become too entranced with gorgeous gadgets and mesmerizing video displays, let me remind you that information is not knowledge, knowledge is not wisdom, and wisdom is not foresight. Each grows out of the other, and we need them all. – Arthur C. Clarke
Today stretches ahead of you waiting to be shaped. You are the sculptor who gets to do the shaping. What today will be like is up to you. – Steve Maraboli
Us Americans are not loud. We just talk in stereo. – Robert Springs, 90 Day Fiancé: Pillow Talk
But instead of spending our lives running towards our dreams, we are often running away from a fear of failure or a fear of criticism. – Erin Wright
I’d rather regret the risks that didn’t work out than the chances I didn’t take at all. – Simone Biles
✍🏽 Signing Off…
Heading off to do some copywriting for an interview with Billy Vera. If you don’t know who he is, you should. He’s part of entertainment history in a million different ways. Watch for his upcoming interview at https://mupoentertainment.com. Here’s to having an entertaining weekend, no matter if you’ve been working, in your PJs, or working in your PJs. And don’t forget to stay safe, stay being surprised by life, and stay supporting at least one cause other than your own.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
Well, my secret sauce source had it posted for a hot minute, but it was taken down quickly before I could get to it. So take the day off. If you were preempted on February 9th, you can find that episode at:
If it’s on tomorrow, I’m guessing that’s the one it will be. Meanwhile, I’ll continue to investigate the whereabouts of the next episode. Just for the record, George Stephanopoulos sounds like he’s the commentator at a golf tournament during this thing.
The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City – The Reunion – Part One
I hate reunions, since they always turn into a screaming fest. Old stuff is brought up that everyone forgot about, and they get mad all over again. Ugh. Since these women are first timers, I hope it doesn’t mark them for life.
The set was decorated as a winter wonderland, and the women were wearing sparkles to match. Andy congratulated them on a wild and wonderful first season well, daring to give it two thumbs up. He was no doubt referring to Heather saying her thumbs up to Lisa was really a f*** you. Later, Lisa said it was the intention behind it, since no one on the planet has ever heard of that being a thing. We found out Heather got a supportive DM from Rihanna, telling her to keep it real, so that was pretty cool. We flashed back over the season.
Meredith said Jen had picked on Brooks via social media, when she’d clearly flashed the kids at Meredith’s house, and Andy said they’d get to the vagina later. Lisa talked about Jen’s dual birthday for her and Meredith, and how Jen make it about her. Then, Heather and Lisa got into it, each saying the other was dismissive. Heather kept interrupting, and Lisa complained she wasn’t getting a chance to talk. Andy wanted to move on, but Lisa said they weren’t going to move on. So she and Heather talked at the same time, we heard nothing, and finally moved on. Mary’s fashion was called into question, but I love her look, so I moved on. It reminds me of the crazy combos I wore in the 80s, and is similar to Sutton’s style on RHOBH.
We took a trip down Jen Memory Lane. It was hard for me and Heather to watch her talk about her father’s death. We found out that both Mary and Heather’s fathers had also passed away last April. They talked plastic surgery, and Whitney joked that her boobs were natural. We all laughed. Jen talked about her Shah Squad, and said a lot of them worked for her various companies. Andy asked what the blip she actually did, and she said she owned a direct response marketing business. Then she said a bunch of stuff about things like algorithms. The bottom line is, they create things like pop-up ads. She talked about Coach Shah (aka Sharrieff), and how his job was such a headache for her, with him being away all the time. She said, even though it was what she signed up for, she hadn’t expected to be so lonely, so she’d held a lot of anger in. Andy asked if something had happened in the past that caused Jen to think she couldn’t talk to Sharrieff, but we never really got an answer on that. She said he’d been in Washington when she called to tell him that her father died, but he didn’t rush to her side. Even when he was home, it would be only for a day, so she didn’t feel she could dump on him. A viewer said she was a little old for tantrums, and Jen said the year had been a lot. It was a lot for me too, but I didn’t freak out at my own party, and throw glassware.
Jen was asked why Mary triggered her, but she said it was just the hospital smell thing. She finally apologized to Heather for getting her drunken ass in the car after the party freak-out, but Andy wasn’t so sure it was sincere. He thought it was suspect that it took her a year to apologize, but Jen said she realized when she saw the show. Heather said it felt like Jen had been trading up, and tossing her aside for Meredith and Lisa, but Jen insisted that wasn’t the case. Heather said she’d always be a friend regardless of how she was treated, and Mary told her, if you’re a friend to someone, they should be a friend in turn. Sounds correct to me. Jen told Mary to take her own advice, but Mary said she didn’t want to be friends with Jen.
Then came the vagina. Meredith said she wouldn’t have talked about it if Jen had admitted she’d made the kids uncomfortable. Jen acted shocked that the kids had seen her hoo-ha when she did high kicks on the sofa with no underwear. On second thought, she probably was really shocked, since I don’t think she focuses on anyone but herself for the most part. Jen said the only time she’d ever seen Brooks uncomfortable and pissed was when he caught Meredith smoking. To her credit, Meredith didn’t get up, call Jen a bitch, and pop her one, since we all know Jen only said it to make Meredith look bad. No judgement here. Andy asked if Meredith was a secret smoker, and she said, once in a while. Mary said it was her business, and I said, amen. Jen then moved on to say Meredith had asked her to sleep over afterwards, apparently forgetting Meredith canceled that date. Meredith said Jen had passed out at her house. The tracksuit line of one design was discussed, and Andy announced he wanted one. He asked if the women were more understanding about Jen, after knowing her motives. They said they’d always been sympathetic, but Mary said they were supportive of Jen talking smack about her. Lisa insisted she was kind to both of them, and she’d encouraged Jen to make up with Mary.
Andy said, according to the women, Lisa loved Lisa, and we flashed back to her contribution to the season. Melissa from Michigan asked if Lisa’s ambition was more important than family, and we flashed back to Lisa declining her kids’ call when she was at Sundance. Lisa said she had a nanny, and a husband who was actually involved in their kids’ lives. She started crying, and said her kids were everything to her. Andy said he had just been thinking Lisa was so unemotional, and wondered what her vulnerabilities were. Mary suggested that Lisa had a stick up her butt, and Lisa said she thought people misinterpreted direct as cold and bitchy. Whitney said Lisa didn’t see herself as rude and condescending, but it landed that way with some people. Heather said Lisa acted like things were a gift, that should really just be common human interaction. Mary said she was also accomplished, and didn’t make people feel less than. Lisa begged to differ, and said Mary was condescending to Jen and the people in her church. Mary said no one was bringing up Lisa’s alcohol, so don’t bring up her church. She said she wasn’t confrontational, and everyone could always learn something. She asked if Whitney felt less than, and Lisa said Whitney was too busy kissing Mary’s ass to feel that way. Heather said Mary could be harsh, but she wasn’t mean, and Meredith said she thought it was how they interpreted each other as individuals. They all had different dynamics. Andy brought up Whitney complaining to Lisa about the bartenders at her event, and Whitney brought out receipts of badly Xeroxed text messages, that Andy couldn’t even read. Well, it was her first time.
Andy asked Jen if everyone had an incorrect picture of Lisa, and Jen said it was a communication style. Lisa said Heather had called her a bitch and a mean girl, and Heather says she thought Lisa was rude, dismissive, and manipulative. Lisa, running out of words, said, no, you. Jen said Lisa felt misunderstood, and Lisa said she had only so much energy to give to a friendship. She said her DMs had been flooded with nasty comments because of how Heather portrayed her. Heather said she’d done it to herself.
Next time – Part Two – the hospital smell is discussed, Lisa refuses to apologize, and Jen points her finger at Mary.
⛪️ Mary Crosby was a guest on Watch What Happens Live tonight, and despite her weirdness – or maybe because of it – I like her. She proved herself to be a good sport too, when Bridget Everett dubbed her Glory to God T*tties.
As we go through Black History Month, we’d be remiss in not celebrating the various creators behind the pen who brought their vision to the page. Icons like Batman, Green Lantern and Plastic Man may have been created by white writers in the 1930s and ’40s, but the breadth of imagination in maintaining those heroes was augmented in no small part by creators of color, without whose influence the DC Universe would be a far less interesting world to visit. While there are many, many heroes of comics this list could cover—from Trevor Von Eeden‘s pioneering work on Black Lightning to Damian Scott‘s unforgettable run on Batgirl, let’s zero in on five particular Black creators and their contributions to DC’s long history… https://www.dccomics.com/blog/2021/02/04/making-their-mark-five-iconic-black-dc-creators
🛌🏽 Taking It To the Sheets…
Not much going on in Bravoland tomorrow. Southern Charm Secrets Revealed, in which nothing will be very secretive or revealing, and the terrible people invading the Hamptons on Summer House. The good news is, they had to be quarantined, so at least they didn’t inflict their awfulness on outsiders. But I’ll make sure to have a pot of tea ready, so until then, stay safe, stay unruffled, and stay not being so direct that people misinterpret it as cold and bitchy.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
Jackie introduces herself to Jason at the MetroCourt bar. She says she’s doing a follow-up on the bombing at The Floating Rib. She heard that when it happened, there were people who thought he was trapped inside; he’s lucky he wasn’t. Julian Jerome was linked to the explosion, and speculation is that he was the intended target. Does he care to comment? Obviously, she doesn’t know him.
Jordan tells Cyrus, she can’t snap her fingers and get his mother back. She has no proof Jason took his mother. If she did, she’d move heaven and earth to get her back. He says, would she? and she says that’s a major difference between them. She’d never take part in a kidnapping. He says, think of it as a hostage negotiation. If Jason returns his mother, he’ll make sure Taggert goes free. It’s a simple exchange. His dear mother for Trina’s father. After all Jordan has taken from Trina, how can she deny Trina this?
Trina brings coffee to the hospital for Portia, and Portia asks why Trina is buttering her up. Trina says she just thought Portia would like coffee while they talk. Portia says, about what? and Trina says, her dad.
Alexis looks in the meeting room, and leaves. In the hallway, Curtis says, if she’s looking to fix her pain, she’s more likely to find a solution in there than out here. He goes in.
Dante wakes up, and sees Maxie. He asks if she’s okay, and she says, only him, from a hospital bed, would ask her if she’s okay. Since he did, she thought he knew better than to scare a pregnant woman. He says he’s sorry, and she says, obviously, she forgives him. The question is, can he forgive Peter?
Laura goes to see Carly, and Carly says her message sounded urgent. What’s up? Laura says they’ve been friends a long time; too long to dance around a subject. Carly agrees, and Laura says she has to ask Carly a question, and she really wants the truth. Where is Jason hiding Florence Grey?
On the phone, Valentin tells Martin, it’s true. At long last, Nina knows Nelle was her daughter. Martin says, my God. It must be torturous for poor Nina. Valentin says, it gets better. Jax knew for months. Martin says it’s going to cause a veritable chasm in the fortress of the affections, and Valentin tells him that Jax managed to get her to stop the inquiries about her daughter. He advises Martin to stop the exposé regarding his, but Martin says Valentin has come up with no alternate solution in getting his mother back. Valentin says he’ll be there shortly to explain. We see Valentin is leaving flowers at Nathan’s grave.
Maxie tells Dante, what Alexis did wasn’t Peter’s fault. When he published the article, she was proud of his big scoop. Now she’s thinking it wasn’t a smart move. People are saying Peter deliberately incited everyone to panic. Dante says he doesn’t think they’ve ever had a conversation where Maxie wasn’t defending Peter, and she asks if they can get past it. He says, they can, and she asks if he can accept Peter. He says he doesn’t know Peter, and Maxie says, he knows she loves Peter. Dante says Peter stepped up with a job for him, and she says, then what is it? Why does he have a hard time with Peter? He says, Peter is Nathan’s half-brother. That’s why.
Monica leads the AA meeting, and tells everyone, good morning. She’s Monica, and she’s an alcoholic. Everyone says the obligatory, hi, Monica, and she thanks them for coming. She says, it takes strength and courage. Coming there isn’t always easy. Why don’t they start?
At the PCPD, Brando takes out his phone.
Jordan says, Cyrus wants to swap family members like chess pieces, and he tells her not to confuse his pragmatism for lack of emotion. He’s sure the pain he feels is equal to Trina’s. If there’s an exchange, they both win. She says, it won’t stop the Federal charges against Taggert, but he says, they have no case without cooperation. It won’t be the first time he refused to work with the Department of Justice.
Jackie says she heard Jason was the strong, silent type, but it works out; she’s a helluva talker. She’s also an investigative reporter, and she’s wondering who would want to blow him up. Julian isn’t the big fish he used to be – or wasn’t the big fish he used to be. Her sources say he wasn’t acting on his own orders, but on Cyrus’s. When she hears that, things make more sense. Doesn’t he agree? Jason’s phone rings, and he says excuse him. He steps away, and she says, he speaks. It’s Brando, and Jason asks, what’s up? Brando says they have a situation.
Carly tells Laura that she’s right. Their history deserves honesty. Laura wants them to be on the same page about Cyrus’s mother. Carly says, Cyrus is a dangerous criminal, and doesn’t give a damn about the pain he inflicts on others, including both their families. If his mother is missing, it’s probably because someone wants their loved ones safe. Laura says Carly has to tell Jason, that’s not the way to go. Carly says she can’t do that . Laura says, Carly won’t intercede? and Carly says, whatever Jason did or didn’t do, his instinct is to protect their families. If he thinks something will help, she’s not going to undercut him. Laura says she gets it. Jason has to hold the fort, and needs leverage over Cyrus, but Florence has two sons. Carly says she remembers Martin from Wiley’s custody suit, and Laura says, so she knows he’s a very good lawyer; well-connected, with a long reach. If they’re not careful, Martin could be their undoing.
Jason asks Brando, what’s going on? Brando says, Cyrus is at the PD on a mission to find his mother, and Jason says, that’s difficult. Brando says he figured Jason would want to be involved. He doesn’t know what to do.
Cyrus tells Jordan, lacking a testimony, the Feds have no proof of Taggert’s alleged crime, but she says, those are not the only charges. He says, surely she can handle Taggert faking his death. She can be a hero; it’s a nice twist. She can return him to his family, even though she was the reason he was taken away. She says, Cyrus’s revenge trumps everything. Is she supposed to believe Taggert won’t disappear? He swears on his mother’s life, no harm will come to Taggert by his hand.
Portia tells Trina, what she finds acceptable is up to her. Trina asks if it’s okay if she’s still mad at her dad, and Portia says, it’s not up to her if Trina is mad or not. They sit, and Trina says she’s worried about her dad being in jail all alone. She wants to see him. Portia says, okay. Of course (🍷) she’ll set up a visit, and Trina says she hates it; seeing him in a cell. She told everyone that her dad was one of the good guys. She recruited Josslyn to help her clear his name. Her dad was her hero, and he’s not a hero. Portia says, and she’s mad at herself for still loving him. Trina says she really does, so much. Portia says she knows, and holds her.
Curtis says he hasn’t been to one of these meetings in a long time, but it’s been longer since he had a fix. He’s questioning if he’s put his faith in the right place, and challenging his sense of purpose. It’s hard some days. He wakes up angry and uncomfortable in his own skin. He came today to remind himself that he’s not the man from years ago who couldn’t move forward without a fix, and false confidence. He came to reconnect to that promise. Even though everything in his world is crumbling, he worked his ass off to get there, and he won’t give up on the man he’s become.
Jason comes back to the bar, and Jackie says, Cyrus and his family are accusing Jason of kidnapping Cyrus’s mother. The motive is obvious; retaliation for attempting to kill him. It makes sense, but she did her research. Kidnapping an elderly woman seems off-brand for him. Although nothing seems to stick anyway. He was tried twice for murder with no convictions, and been arrested for countless other crimes, but one thing he’s never even been suspected of is targeting innocent people. She’s offering to help him change that. Does he want to deny it, and clear his name? Martin approaches, and tells Jackie, they have pressing business. She asks if it can wait, but he says it can’t. Jason gets up and starts to walk away. She says, really? He has nothing to say? He says, no comment, and keeps walking. She says, what the hell was that?
Jordan tells Cyrus, they’ve gone over this before. Vermont is out of her jurisdiction. He asks if Jason is out of her jurisdiction. She knows, as he does, that Jason has his mother. She says she needs proof. She’s all too familiar with how it feels, missing a loved one; the sleepless nights, the constant worry. Torturous, isn’t it? If she could help, she would, but she can’t. He advises her to proceed with caution. He swore he wouldn’t hurt her friend, but if any harm comes to his mother, there’s not a person she loves who will remain standing. He leaves, and she takes out her phone.
Laura tells Carly, Martin is worried about his mom. She doesn’t blame him for reaching out. He’s desperate, and just wants his mother brought home safe. He knows people. Carly asks, people like who? and Laura says, the media for one, and he knows people in law enforcement. Carly says, and his half-sister is the mayor. Laura asks if they can find a way to compromise, a way to reassure Martin that she’s safe, so he’ll calm down, and Jason cold focus on Cyrus. Martin is an innocent man. Carly says, supporting a drug trafficker, but Laura says, inadvertently. Carly wonders if they can trust Martin, or will he share the information with his brother? Laura says, it’s a definite risk, but one they can afford to take. Her phone dings, and Laura says, the Commissioner wants see her. Please think about what she said. Carly tells Laura that she will.
Jackie tells Martin, she’s confused. She was under the impression the exposé was urgent. Martin says he misspoke; there’s no need to waste her time chasing empty leads, and Jackie says, Martin must be relieved to have his mother home safe and sound. Why does he want to scrap story? She’d love to talk to his mother. Martin says, that’s not possible; she’s simply unavailable. Jackie says, she’s still missing. His obvious discomfort leads her to believe Martin doesn’t know where she is. He says, conjecture, and she says, is it? Martin came to her terrified about his mother’s well-being, and practically begged her to help. When she did, he pulled a turnaround, and said his mother was fine, with zero details of explanation. Valentin approaches, and Martin says, please join them. Jackie says Valentin can watch the latest runaround his attorney is attempting to give her. Valentin sits down, and says Martin’s mother is still very much a hostage.
Peter listens outside the door, and Dante asks if Maxie forget that he saw her and Nathan fall in love. She says she didn’t forget. When she thinks about that time, she thinks about the four of them – her, Nathan, him, and Lulu. It was perfect. Dante says, it was, and she says, then Nathan died. She thought she’d never have those feelings again. Then came Peter. Peter was always there, holding her up, and keeping her going, when she didn’t think she could. He gave her everything, and asked for nothing. He gave her space to heal and grieve, and little by little, she fell in love with him. Dante asks what it was like when she found out Peter was Nathan’s half-brother, and she says, it was surreal, but also comforting. Dante wonders if it isn’t Peter’s connection to Nathan that Maxie is drawn to, and she says, Peter isn’t a stand-in. He says he’s not suggesting that, but she says it sounds like he is. She thinks as far as Nathan’s death goes, Peter convinced her to have a different perspective. He says, for her, Peter is the closest thing to Nathan, and she wants to let him in. She says he’s wrong, but he says, is he? She says she doesn’t love Peter because he’s Nathan’s brother. She loves the man he’s become. Peter walks in, and asks if he’s interrupting.
Maxie asks what Peter is doing there, and he says, checking on his head of security. Dante says he’s fine, and expected to make a full and fast recovery. Peter asks how Maxie is, and she says she was just worried about Dante. He knows how the pregnancy hormones are. Peter tells Dante, he’s lucky to have a good fiend in Maxie, and Dante says he knows. Maxie says she should go; she has a thousand and one things to do for the wedding. Peter says he’ll walk her out. The walk to the elevator, and Peter asks, what was going on? It was clearly more than Maxie being worried about Dante. She says she wishes people could see Peter the way she does, and accept and love him. He asks if Dante said something, and she says, he means well, and wants her happy, but she is happy. Peter, Georgie, James, and the baby are everything. He says, as they are to him. The elevator comes, and he says he’ll see her at home.
Portia tells Trina, two things can be true at once. Her father is a courageous man, who loves her with all his heart, but he’s a complicated man, who had to lie. Trina says, it’s a lot to process, and Portia says, especially all alone. Does she want to see her dad? Trina says she thinks she does, and Portia says, it’s her call. When Trina feels ready, she’ll contact Jordan and set up a time. Cyrus approaches, since he just can’t seem to learn, and says he apologizes for interrupting. Portia says, if he has to apologize, don’t do it. He says he just came from the police station, and offered not to press charges on Taggert, but Jordan turned him down. Portia tells Trina, go home; they’ll finish talking there. Trina hesitates, and Portia says, it’s okay; she’ll be right behind her. When Trina is gone, Portia says she told Cyrus to stay away from her daughter. He’s toying with Trina’s hopes again. He says, he offered to withhold his cooperation with the DOJ; without cause, they can’t prosecute. Jordan declined. If her daughter’s emotions are being toyed with, take it up with Jordan.
Monica thanks Curtis for sharing, and asks if anybody else would like to share. Alexis gets up, and says she’s Alexis and she’s an alcoholic. The group says, hi, Alexis, and she says, it sounds so pat, so cut and dried. It’s not though. They all know that. Her addiction is ever-present. It’s all over her, everywhere. It’s there when she wakes up and when she goes to bed. The only time it rests is when she does, but the next day, it picks up and starts over. It’s in her head, like it has its own personality, like it’s a grifter. It keeps showing up and wanting more and more at the expense of everybody else. She sits, and says she managed to stay sober quite a while; long enough to like herself again, and see world with color in it again. Then bad things happened – not like nothing bad happens to them – and she gave up. She didn’t care at all, and that’s what addiction feeds on – weakness. She’s weak. Curtis looks at her proudly, and she says, she’s just being honest, but she doesn’t even know if she cares now. She doesn’t know if she wants to stop drinking. It appears she’s lost everything she cares about, and she knows she should care about it, but she needs help to stop drinking.
Laura tells Jordan, Jason has Cyrus’s hands tied, but it won’t last. They need to make the most of the moment. Jordan says, no argument from her, but how do they do it; nothing sticks. Laura says, they traced the bomb to Cyrus, but there’s no actual proof. Jordan says there’s nothing to connect him to the warehouse shooting either, and Laura says, or the influx of drugs. Jordan says she spent years undercover trying to convict Cyrus, and they know how that turned out. Laura says there must be a thread they haven’t pulled, and Jordan says she’s open to ideas. Laura wonders what they have in Port Charles that’s not like in any of Cyrus’s other territories. What’s different? Jordan says, the hospital. That’s a first. Laura says, that’s it. There has to be something he’s doing there that they can use against him.
Jason goes to Sonny’s, and asks Carly if everything is okay. She says, yes and no. Laura came by to discuss the Florence situation. She thinks they should change course, and give a little where Martin is concerned. He’s not Cyrus. He’s just a guy worried about his mom. Jason says he saw Martin at the MetroCourt with Jackie. Before he showed up, Jackie was asking all kinds of questions about his involvement in the kidnapping. She says, that’s like what Laura was talking about. She’s not just worried about Cyrus. Jason asks if she’s talking about bringing Martin in, and she asks what alternative they have. They can ease Martin’s fear, and reassure him that no harm has, or will, come to his mother, and then focus on Cyrus. He tells her that what she’s saying makes sense, but if they go too far, and Martin tells Cyrus, Cyrus will know they’re bluffing. It’s a fine line he doesn’t want to cross. The only reason Cyrus isn’t doing anything is because he fears his mother getting hurt. Fear is the only leverage they have. Bring in Martin, and it could blow up. Carly says, if they don’t, it could still blow up.
Valentin tells Jackie, discretion might be nice, and she says, about what? He says, a delicate situation requires precise communication to avoid unfortunate consequences. She says, tell his friend, and he says, communication isn’t Martin’s strong suit. She says, right, and his mother is still missing, aka an innocent woman. Valentin asks if that’s the kind of story she’s writing; fluff, a flash in the pan tabloid piece. She asks if he has something else in mind, and he says, as a matter-of-fact, he does.
Curtis tells Alexis, that took guts, and Alexis says she was terrified. He says, unfortunately, that’s how it works, and she says she doesn’t know if she can do it. He says she will, and when she does, she won’t be alone.
Peter goes to Dante’s room, and Dante says, he’s back. Peter says he wanted Dante to know he’s glad he’s okay. Dante thanks him, and Peter says he wanted to check and make sure Dante was coming to the wedding. He is family to Maxie, and him too, in a sense. After losing Nathan, the more he thinks how important Dante is to his soon-to-be wife, and he thinks he’s making a mistake.
Laura tells Jordan, Cyrus went to great lengths to disenfranchise the hospital employees that have been at GH the longest. Jordan says, Monica and Bobbie, Elizabeth and Epiphany, and Laura says, Doc keeps waiting for the other shoe to drop. It’s the ones who will fight for the integrity of the hospital at any cost. Jordan says, unlike Britt, and Laura says, maybe that’s the key. Not what Cyrus is doing, but who he’s doing it with. Jordan says, which begs the question, who’s getting their hands dirty?
Laura asks if Walker, Cyrus’s second in command, didn’t disappear, and Jordan says, without a trace, and no body was ever found. She wonders if Cyrus could possibly be grooming Britt, but Laura thinks it might be his driver Brando. If she and Jordan can get to them, they can get to Cyrus. Jordan asks if she thinks they can get Britt and Brando to turn, and Laura says they’ll give them no choice.
Jason tells Carly, no telling Martin, but he’s not saying they can’t figure out how to make it work. Carly says she’s sorry for talking to Laura without telling him, but he says it’s nothing he wouldn’t have done, if lying wasn’t working to his advantage. She says, he’s not mad? and he says, no. He sees why she did it, but she can’t just act. They need to be on the same page. If she goes rogue, he has to play catch up, and do damage control. Just like with Sonny’s funeral. They both hate it, but they talked about the advantages and disadvantages, and made the decision together. She says she gets it. It makes sense in theory. There’s just a lot going on. He says he knows; just tell him first. She says she’s worried about the Nina situation, isn’t he? He says, she’s not? but she says, it’s out there. Nina knows everything about her daughter that was kept from her. She’s handling it. He asks if everything is okay, or is she going to do something crazy that will come back to bite her? She tells him, stop. Everything is fine. He doesn’t have to worry. He says he’ll remind her that she said that, but she says he won’t have to.
Jackie says, if there’s a bigger story, now’s the time, and Valentin says, it’s not so much the story as her role in it. Helping to rescue Martin’s mother, she’ll step out of her role as an observer, and into the hero role. How does that sound? She says, intriguing.
At the hospital, Curtis asks if Portia is okay, and she says, no, she’s not. Elsewhere, Cyrus tells Brando, he’s growing increasingly impatient about his mother’s return. He wants answers, and Brando needs to get them. Brando says, so far, he’s come up empty, and Cyrus says, Sonny’s family took his mother, and it’s on him to get back in their good graces, and bring her home. He hasn’t seen that, and he’s disappointed. Brando says, yet Cyrus trusts him, but Cyrus says he doesn’t want to.
Monica hands Alexis a chip, and Alexis says, one day sober. Monica wishes she could tell Alexis that tomorrow will be easier. Alexis says she hasn’t experienced easier in a long time, and Monica says, one foot in front of the other. It sounds trite, but it’s not. Don’t go by days; go by hours. Alexis says she knows. Small goals are easier to achieve.
Peter says he can’t have Dante working for him; it’s too complicated. Sorry, but he’s fired.
Maxie sees the flowers on Nathan’s grave, and says, Nina must have been here. She’s sorry she hasn’t come to see him a lot recently. She’s kind of been all over the place. She misses him, and she’s so confused right now. What if Dante is right, that a huge part of the reason she’s drawn to Peter is because he’s Nathan’s brother? What if she needed love in her life that much, she couldn’t see Peter clearly? She still can’t. She wishes Nathan was there. She misses his voice and his smile, and the amazingly cool way he dealt with things. She cries, and says she doesn’t know what to do right now. She wishes he did.
Tomorrow, Chase asks if there’s still hope, Valentin asks Anna if she has answers about Dante, and Jason tells Scotty that he won’t forget what Scotty said.
The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City
We took a brief trip down Memory Lane, with each of the women flashing back to a particularly annoying painful moment. Heather’s grand re-opening for Beauty Lab & Laser was in two days. In her interview, she said it was their coming out party. She wanted everyone to see it and give them the credit they deserved, but it had to be finished. The party needed to go off without a hitch. One of the workers asked what was a priority, and she said, everything. Whitney came by, and Heather said, welcome to the jungle, which seems to be her catch-phrase. Someone needs to tell her, it’s not 1987. Neither one of them had talked to Jen since Vegas. Heather didn’t want to deal with any deep-rooted issues at the party, and in Whitney’s interview, she thought Heather should uninvite Jen unless she had a reason she wanted to tank her grand opening.
Jen met with Lisa at a bar. Lisa thought the trip was a lot, and Jen said she was the only one who reached out. In Lisa’s interview, she said Jen burst into tears when she’d seen her in Vegas, and she’d suggested they meet up back home and talk. Jen swore she didn’t talk about Lisa, but Lisa said what Jen thought of as a flip, funny remark was a statement to someone else. Jen said she was that way because she had to be. When she came to Utah, it was all white people, and she had to be defensive and prepared to fight. Lisa said she didn’t think Jen was out to hurt anyone, and Jen said it hurt her to see her friends hurting. Hearing what everyone thought, she had no idea. In her interview, Jen said she was hurt by Heather, who she thought understood her. Lisa asked if Jen was going to Heather’s grand re-opening, and Jen said she wanted to be supportive, but wondered why Heather had never spoken to her about how she’d been feeling. Lisa said when Jen came in hot, she left herself open to more criticism. In Jen’s interview, she said she had the same problem in her marriage, and if she wanted them to hear her, she might have to take it down two notches. Lisa suggested Jen not say everything she thought.
Meredith and Seth were in a great place, and Meredith said it took a lot of work to get there. She was excited to move forward, but knew it wouldn’t always be all positive. She told Seth that Vegas was toxic. She’d never seen such volatility in her life, and there was speculation about their marriage. Seth said whatever happened, happened. They worked hard to save their marriage, and it was nobody else’s business. Meredith thought the women were deflecting, so they didn’t need to focus on their own relationships.
Whitney met her dad at a salon/cosmetology school. He’d completed rehab, and was almost done with 90 days of sober living. He had the opportunity to be instructor at the school. It was his first day working as a sober, functioning man, and he did a cut demonstration on her for a class. In her interview, she said she was glad she’d followed her gut, and helped him. She hoped it wasn’t too good to be true; she’d been let down before. He told her, doing it gave him an income and confidence, and Whitney felt like a proud mama.
Meredith stopped by the old Beauty Lab, where there were tons of boxes everywhere, and Heather said they had movers coming tomorrow. Meredith said Vegas was disappointing and disheartening. She had compassion for Jen, and it made her sad to see her suffering so much, but she’d behaved so badly. In Meredith’s interview, she said Jen had hurt her family. If she’d done that to Jen, she could imagine what would happen. Heather said, to move forward, she’d need a clear apology. It’s what she wanted and needed. If her daughters had a friend like that, she wouldn’t tell them to try and be understanding. In Heather’s interview, Heather said she’d felt like that in her marriage, and she wasn’t going to put up or shut up like she had then.
Lisa met with Sydney her marketing coordinator, and John brought their sons to the meeting. In her interview she said, she might not be good at cooking hot dogs, but she was good at inspiring her children to build things. Geez, even I can make a hot dog. She says she’d created mini moguls. She and John had invested money in Fresh Wolf, and believed in what they’d created. The kids did a small presentation, and Lisa said Fresh Wolf had given them the opportunity to spend time together.
At Faith Temple, Mary directed choir practice. In her interview, she said, in addition to being the first lady, she was also the choir director. Church for her was a place of rest, and the love should always flow. Mary believed if her grandma saw her today, her grandma would be her number one cheerleader, and tell her to keep up the good work.
Sharrieff was looking for brownie points, and maybe some other perks from Jen, and had her meet him for salsa dancing. In her interview, she said she’d been asking him for years. We flashed back to her asking him to be there for her, and she said he was putting in more effort than he ever had. She was suspect of him planning it on his own and was sure he had help. He also had a rose petal covered table, set up in the studio, with champagne and chocolate confections. He’s actually a very good dancer, and in her interview, Jen said Sharrieff had been in a dance group in high school. After the dancing, Sharrieff kicked out the instructors, and they drank the champagne. In her interview, Jen said she never hid who she was, and Sharrieff had been there for her. She apologized for treating hm badly, or in a way that was resentful. She said her heart was good, but she didn’t know how to interpret that. She told him that her intentions had been good toward the women, and he told her to acknowledge her shortcomings and what she had to work on. What would never change is the love he and her family had for her. In Jen’s interview, she said she wished her friends could see her heart and intentions the way Sharrieff did. She was going to be the best version of Jen Shah that she could.
Everyone got ready for the Beauty Lab re-opening, and Heather got glammed up. Whitney told her, the higher the hair, the closer to God. Everything looked pink and gorgeous, including Heather. There were even fluffy pink cocktails, and a cotton candy machine. In her interview, Heather said it exceeded her expectations. A week ago, she wouldn’t have thought they could pull it off. Even the stanchions – what the velvet ropes are called – were pink. Billy, aka Heather’s ex, made an appearance, and was impressed. They took a family photo with the girls, and in Heather’s interview, she said it wasn’t normal to invite your ex to something like this. Welcome to Salt Lake City, where nothing really happens unless your ex gives it the stamp of approval. He told her it was amazing, and Heather felt like she was closing the door on that chapter, and was no longer willing to be defined by her failures. She could tell her daughters that you didn’t need a man to be successful, although you did for some other things to be discussed at a later time. Billy joked that she could support him. He’s loaded in case you didn’t know. Meredith was wearing chainmail over her face a la Lady Gaga, and said it was her glam fashion forward protection, to ward off the nastiness she was sure was coming her way. It was high fashion that people in Utah wouldn’t understand. In Mary’s interview, she admitted she didn’t get it. She just thought maybe Meredith’s makeup was off, so she threw a mask on to hide her face.
Meredith asked how Lisa was, and Lisa told her, since Vegas, she’d settled things in her own mind. She’d met with Jen, and understood the dynamic. She thought Jen was insecure and trying to prove stuff. She heard Jen. In Meredith’s interview, she said she was surprised Lisa sought someone out who was trying to harm her family. Meredith told Lisa, when they’d spoken, Lisa said Jen was toxic. Lisa said she wasn’t committing to a relationship, and Meredith said Lisa could be friends with whoever she wanted. In Lisa’s interview, she said she hoped everyone would extend the same courtesy to her. She told Meredith that she was still processing, and Meredith said she had no problem with Lisa being friends with both her and Jen, but she needed her own space.
Whitney and Mary inhaled oxygen, while doing some kind of aroma therapy. Whitney told Mary that she’d apologized to Jen, and Jen accepted, but then decided to come after her in Vegas. When Mary was no longer in the line of fire, it was her. Mary said it wasn’t okay, and wondered if Jen was coming, but Whitney didn’t know.
Jen arrived, and Heather was excited she’d made the effort to show up and endorse the business, but a lot of sh*t had gone down. As much as she wanted to forget about it, she couldn’t. In her interview, she said she didn’t know if Jen was there to support or sabotage her. That was the double-edged sword that was a friendship with Jen. Whitney told Jen they hadn’t had the opportunity to talk after Vegas, but she hadn’t gotten the result she’d wanted from talking to Jen previously. She didn’t want to be treated poorly, or have toxic friends. In Jen’s interview, she said she was going to Michele Obama her way through the evening. When they went low, she’d go high. Whitney said she felt like she was Jen’s punching bag or scapegoat, and Jen said she realized not everyone understood or appreciated the way she reacted; she was working on it. She was dealing with a lot, and she was sorry she’d reacted that way. Whitney had said a lot of things that were hard to compromise on, like family, and that’s why she got so mad. Whitney thanked her for the apology, and in her interview, said she was shocked that Jen was staying calm. In Jen’s interview, she asked if she could just apologize and move on. There were cookies she wanted to get to. She was hungry.
Heather thanked everyone said it was a big night for them. She’d recently come out of a divorce and working though stuff. The new location was huge, since they’d hidden their success. They tried to stay humble, but it was difficult. She was slowly spreading her wings. She said she loved them, and was grateful for them. In her interview, Heather said she took some of the things that went wrong in her life, and made something good out of it. She was no longer a struggling single person. She was a success, and an example for her daughters. There were lots of hugs.
Meredith said anytime she’d ignored bad energy around her, it had always been a disaster. Jen sought her out, and asked how she was, then apologized. Jen said she loved Meredith, and whether Meredith heard her or not, she cared a lot about her. Getting between marriage and family was not acceptable, and she shouldn’t have entertained the discussion. She said she’d never do anything to hurt Meredith or her family. She got teary, and said it was absolutely no one’s business. In Meredith’s interview, she said Jen crossed a line, and the damage was done. The relationship would probably never be the same. She told Jen that she needed protect her positive space. She appreciated what Jen was saying, but needed to see actions over time to back up the words. In Jen’s interview, she said she was surprised that Meredith wasn’t accepting her apology. In her head, she’d tried to support Meredith, her family, and kids, but maybe it was the situation. She wanted nothing but the best for Meredith, and would be there if Meredith needed her. Meredith hoped Jen found a space that worked for her, but said she needed to protect hers. Heather approached them, and Jen said she’d apologized to Heather and Meredith. Heather said she felt they needed to talk, and Meredith, looking for an out anyway, said she’d give them room.
Jen said she was proud of Heather, and Heather said she felt like Jen was proud. They’d been through a lot together, but she was pissed in Vegas. At the hypnotist, Jen said she didn’t trust Heather. We flashed back to that, and Heather said it was like taking a sledgehammer to her. She asked Jen, why? and Jen said, because of what happened. Heather said, because she told Jen that she was out of line? and Jen said she was blindsided. Heather said Jen came at her, pushed her, and stormed off, and there was no apology. It was bullsh*t, and people were shocked that she still wanted to be friends with Jen. In Lisa’s interview, she said, Heather’s re-opening was a major accomplishment, and don’t wreck it with a fight. Have more tequila. Heather said she was an apathetic fool who worshipped Jen, and did what she could to keep the friendship, but Jen was sh*tting on it. She couldn’t move forward without an apology. Jen told her, no matter what she said, it didn’t matter, but Heather said Jen needed to own it. Jen hadn’t shown up for her.
Lisa asked what Heather meant, and Heather said she loved Jen despite everything. Jen had yelled at her, and threatened her in Vegas, but she showed up at Jen’s room, even though she wasn’t on the payroll. In Heather’s interview, she said, it had the opposite effect. Jen should have shown up as a friend, and instead said she didn’t trust Heather. It was like a big F-U. So what had the friendship been? Jen admitted not being a good friend, and apologized to all of them. She said she knew she had to change, and she was going to work on it. Her intentions had never been to hurt them, especially Heather. Whitney told Jen that Heather wanted her to say what she was sorry for, but Jen didn’t know. Lisa told Heather that she needed to clarify when Jen wasn’t showing up, and Jen said, she didn’t know when something was an issue. In Jen’s interview, she said she loved Heather. She’d tried make Heather feel important, and had made an effort to give her a private shopping event in Vegas. She did things for Heather that she didn’t do for anyone else, and didn’t understand how Heather saw it differently. She told the group that she owned it, even though she didn’t understand. Lisa said it was a big night, and they should agree to disagree. In Whitney’s interview, she said, it was like some twisted Mormon power struggle. Heather asked if Jen thought she’d been a good friend, and Jen said, no. Heather asked if she could be a good friend going forward, and Jen said she could. She was sorry, and knew she needed to work on things.
In her interview, Heather said it had been a process, figuring out who she is, and where she wants to go. As a Mormon, you have to behave a certain way, and be a certain way, and be a certain type of person. To be accepted and loved, you had to be a good Mormon, but it was hard. She learned from her friendships that she could be accepted for who she is. We flashed back to all of the insane moments this season, and in Jen’s interview, she said she loved Heather and had her back. The finale text said that Jen and Sharrieff had been spending more time together – FaceTime. We read that Whitney had been focused on her dad, and was now focusing on herself, and a new skincare line. Mary was reorganizing her closet; getting rid of some clothes, and keeping the skeletons inside. Lisa had scheduled a family bonding trip to Mexico, but if a business opportunity came up, she wouldn’t say no. Meredith and Seth were back in couples therapy to help their communication, but when the topic of moving to Ohio comes up, Meredith disengages. Heather was still a non-practicing Mormon, and still searching for the perfect man, and meatball lollipop.
Next week – part one of the three-part Reunion – lots of drama and finger pointing, and Jen walks.
🥳 Jeff Lewis was the only guest on Watch What Happens Live tonight. FYI, Zoila is taking care of Monroe on Fridays and Saturdays. The Word of the Night was you, and they said it 44 times. If you were playing their drinking game, I think you might be dead.
📌 That’s a Fact…
NAACP: On February 12, 2019, the NAACP marked its 110th anniversary. Spurred by growing racial violence in the early 20th century, and particularly by 1908 race riots in Springfield, Illinois, a group of African American leaders joined together to form a new permanent civil rights organization, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). February 12, 1909, was chosen because it was the centennial anniversary of the birth of Abraham Lincoln.
😴 Head Hitting Pillow In 3… 2… 1…
I see Friday on the horizon, which only means I get to switch jobs, but at least I can sleep later. Whether a weekend means free time, more work, or it’s meaningless, stay safe, stay adventuresome, and stay accepting everyone for who they are.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
Sasha’s interview is being set up at the MetroCourt. Chase asks if Jackie is sure she doesn’t mind that he’s there, but she says, he wants to support his friend, and she’s fine with it. He says he’s not the only one, and we see Michael come in with Willow. Sasha isn’t there yet, and Jackie hopes she doesn’t flake. Chase says, she won’t, and Jackie says he sounds confident. He says he is.
Nina finds Sasha in the Crimson reception area, and Sasha apologizes for dropping by unannounced. She wanted Nina to know, so she wasn’t caught off-guard. Jackie Templeton is interviewing live on TV this morning on GMA 3. Nina asks what the topic is, and Sasha says, her drug use and what led to it.
Sam knocks on Alexis’s door. Alexis throws it open without saying anything, and heads for the couch. Sam says, warm welcome; late night? Alexis says she’s celebrating. Sam asks what the occasion is, and Alexis says, her vindication, She’s not the drunk driver Tracy would have the world believe she is. She doesn’t suppose Sam would care to toast with her.
Jason goes to the MetroCourt bar where Carly is working. He tells her that they need to make a decision, and she asks if they can do it there. They’re shooting a TV show in the restaurant, and she needs to be there. He says, it’s not incriminating, just difficult. They’re getting pressure from the five families, and somebody already tried to make a move. They need to strengthen their position, and make it clear he’s in charge. Carly asks how they do that, and he says, they have Sonny legally declared dead, and have a funeral.
Nikolas and Ava come into the hospital with Avery. Ava asks if she’s ready for her appointment, and tells her that the doctor will want to hear all about the vegetables she likes to eat. Does she have her list? Avery says she does, and Nikolas tells her broccoli is always a crowd pleaser, and there’s lima beans. Avery says, eww! She hates lima beans. He says he’s just kidding, and Ava says she’ll see him afterward. She and Avery get into the elevator, and Elizabeth tells Nikolas, they look almost like a real family. He says, it helps having people to emulate.
Franco meets Obrecht behind a building, and asks if they can meet indoors next time. He doesn’t like the idea of wind chill when it’s time to turn his head and cough. She says there’s no examination this time, and he asks what they’re doing then. Has she finally figured out a way to fix him?
Britt and Maxie do couples stretches at the gym, and Maxie says, she’s done. Britt says, that was fun, and Maxie says, was it though? Britt asks if she’s not a good prenatal yoga partner, and Maxie says she’s a little high energy. It’s supposed to be slow and smooth. Britt says, boring, and Maxie thanks her for stepping in for Peter. A big story came in late. Britt says, sounds juicy, and Maxie says, let’s hope, for Peter’s sake.
On the phone in his office, Peter says, go ahead and pull the trigger. Dante comes to the door, and says, Peter wanted to see him? Peter says there’s a big story coming out, and he wants Dante to be aware of it. Dante asks if he’s being featured, but Peter says, the story could pose a risk to the paper, the staff, and himself.
Elizabeth says she and Franco are hardly perfect, but Nikolas says they withstood what he and Ava threw at them, which was a lot, and came out stronger. She says, it’s easier to come together when you know the enemy; when the threat is right in front of you and you can see it. It’s the invisible ones that are hard. He asks her, what’s wrong?
Obrecht tells Franco, science can’t be rushed; she needs time. He says that’s the one thing he doesn’t have. She says she’s doing all she can, and he says, Terry thinks it’s time he consider radiation, but Obrecht says, it’s no guarantee. He says, it’s something, which is better than nothing. He can’t sit back, and let time tick away. It’s driving him crazy. She says she cautions patience, and he asks if he strikes her as a patient guy. She says if they can’t isolate what brought Drew’s memories to the surface, they could be lost forever. He says, so what? If he’s alive, who cares about the memories? She says she does.
Britt asks if Peter works a lot of long days, and Maxie says they both do, but when he’s home, she gets her feet rubbed. Britt says, lucky girl, and Maxie says she is. When she buried Nathan, she thought she buried her heart with him, but Peter showed her that wasn’t true. He showed her there was a big, beautiful life ahead, and he was right. Britt says she’s happy for Maxie. Peter sounds great. Maxie says, Peter is her brother. Doesn’t she think he’s great too?
Dante asks if it’s true, and Peter says he wouldn’t have published it otherwise. An article like this carries with it all sorts of implications. Dante says, especially given the subject matter, and Peter says, and the subject. He hasn’t asked much of Dante so far, but he’s about to earn his salary. Dante says he’ll speak to the staff.
Alexis shows Sam her driver’s license, and says she’s once again a member of the motorized society. Crossing guards of Port Charles beware. Sam guesses Alexis thinks it’s funny, and Alexis says all she has left is her sense of humor. Sam wonders if Alexis thinks it’s a license to keep going on living the way she’s living, and Alexis says, license is funny. Sam needs a sense of humor to live with Jason. Sam says they’re not together anymore, and Alexis says, it’s a good first step. The next step Sam should take is paying attention to her own family and career, and turning her critical eye inward and off of her.
Jax says he has to make a phone call, and leaves, while Nina brings Sasha into her office. She says, that was super fast, and Sasha says, a reporter came sniffing around yesterday. Nina says, like Maxie predicted, and asks if it’s damage control. Sasha says, Chase introduced them to his mother, who agreed to an interview. She used her contacts to get them on GMA 3. Nina says Sasha is really getting the story out there, and Sasha says, that’s the plan.
Valentin comes into the Crimson offices, and Jax says, Nina is busy. Valentin says he’ll wait. Jax asks if Valentin is surprised to see him, and Valentin says, why would he be? Jax says Valentin thought his maneuvers were going to drive a wedge between him and Nina, but Valentin says he’d be a fool to try and do that, considering what a spectacular job Jax is doing for himself.
Carly tells Jason, Diane explained how it makes sense from a legal standpoint to have Sonny declared dead, but why have a funeral so soon? Jason says, it will stabilize things. It sends a clear message to the five families and any other potential rivals, that there’s no weakness. They’re not just waiting around for Sonny. He’s gone and Jason is in charge. Carly says, a stable transition. But what about the kids? Avery and Donna are too young to understand, but what about Michael, Kristina, and Dante, even Josslyn? It seems disrespectful to have a funeral so soon; they don’t even have a body. He says he hates the idea of a funeral, and hates asking her and everyone else to go through a ritual to say Sonny is gone. It would be a relief if she said no. She asks, will it keep them safe if there’s a funeral? He says, yes, and she says, then that’s what they’re going to do. She’ll call Father Rias and make arrangements. He says he’s sorry, but she says she’d be sorrier if he didn’t tell her. She’ll tell Michael. Conveniently, Michael comes over to the bar, and asks what she’s doing there. She says, someone had to oversee the TV show, and Olivia can’t come in. Michael says not to expect her back for a few days, and Carly asks, what’s going on? He says, changes at home, including his living situation. She asks if they’re moving out, and he says, he and Wiley are staying put. She says, not Willow? and he says, their marriage is officially over.
Chase introduces Willow to Jackie, who says she’s heard a lot about Willow. Jackie’s phone dings, and she looks at it. She says, it’s shaping up to be one busy news cycle day.
Carly tells Michael, she thought things were going great. Now they’re ending the marriage? All of their phones ding, and Carly says, oh my God.
Maxie and Britt look at their phones, and Maxie says, yikes. Late nights yield big scoops.
Sam asks how many times she and Alexis are going to have this same fight? Alexis asks, who’s fighting? Their phones ding, and Alexis says, Sam… Sam says she sees it.
Nikolas asks Elizabeth to tell him what’s wrong. Their phones ding, and Elizabeth says, oh no. Nikolas says, is it true?
Franco asks why Obrecht is so desperate to find out about some random memory of Drew’s. Is Peter that important? Their phones ding, and we see it’s a story in The Invader about Franco’s tumor returning, and wondering if the old Franco is returning.
Maxie says, if there’s any saving grace in Lulu not being there, it’s that she’s missing a Franco redo. Although she’d probably wish she’d snagged the story, but it’s good for Peter. Britt flashes back to Peter being at the computer, and her telling him that she can’t let him dig in hospital records. He says he’ll have to find some other way. Maxie says she has to go change, and Britt looks at her phone. Maxie says, this was fun? Should they do it again sometime? She’s willing if Britt is. Britt says, what? Anything for family, right?
Franco wonders why his diagnosis is splashed on front of this rag, and Obrecht asks if he’s shared it with anyone outside the family. He says, just Jason, but that’s not his style. She supposes someone at the hospital could have leaked it, and he asks why Peter would have published it. He bought Peter a beer; Peter said he was his friend. They’re going to his wedding. He even told Peter it was his voice in his head. She says, Peter knows he has more of Drew’s memories? He starts to walk away, and she asks where he’s going. He says, to get some answers. Obrecht makes a call, and says, there’s been a development. They need to act.
Sam tells Alexis, this is way overwritten. She spoke to Elizabeth who told her Franco’s tumor was back, but it was being treated, and there had been no changes in his behavior. Alexis says, before Sam gives him a free pass, she needs to do more than take his wife’s word for it. Sam says she’s going to the hospital, and Alexis says she’s going with her.
Nikolas tells Elizabeth, he has to go. He wants her to bring the boys to Spoon Island. She and her sons are in danger. She says Franco wouldn’t hurt them, but he asks how she knows. She says she has faith in her husband, and he says, it’s not a matter of faith; it’s a matter of science. She says she’s listened to the doctors. She’s heard from Sam and Jason, and her other friends, but she hasn’t heard one word of support from her friend when her husband is dying. He’s dying, Nikolas. Nikolas says he’s sorry, and holds her. Ava and Avery come out of the elevator.
Carly says, Franco’s tumor is back, and Jason says he’s taking care of it. Franco won’t hurt anyone they care about.
Lucy breezes in, and tells Jackie that she looks very camera ready. Jackie thanks her, and says, it’s almost go time and Sasha’s not here. Is the interview still on?
Nina tells Sasha that she doesn’t have to do this, but Sasha says she does. She wants to feel empowered again. Being a victim sucks. Nina says she can’t argue with that. Sasha says, this is her, taking back control. It’s scary, and she might bomb, but it will be on her terms. Nina says she’s proud of Sasha, and Sasha says, that means a lot. Jax comes in, and tells Nina, Valentin is out there, loitering. He said something about Lucy calling, and are they still doing the interview? Nina says Sasha wouldn’t miss it. Go get ‘em, tiger.
Michael says he knows Jason is on top of it, and appreciates it… Jason says, but Michael isn’t going to leave protecting his family to anyone else. Michael says, not where Franco is concerned. He’s going to see about upping security at the house. He leaves, and Carly says, about Sonny’s funeral. Anything to keep them safe is worth doing. Jason says he’s going to take off, but Carly says there’s something else they need to talk about, but they shouldn’t do it there. They go to a more private place.
Michael says he’s sorry to interrupt, and asks to talk Willow, who says, of course (🍷). They step over to the bar, and he says he broke the news about the annulment to his mom. She asks how it went, and he says, she was surprised and disappointed, but they didn’t have time to get into it; something came up. They need to revisit the subject of her moving out. She says she can be out in a week, but he says, no. He doesn’t want her going anywhere.
Lucy tells Jackie, Sasha will definitely be here. Maxie comes in, and Lucy says, they just need a little time. Jackie says it’s a live show; time isn’t negotiable. If Sasha isn’t ready in ten, the interview is off, and there will be no other opportunity, friend of her son or not. Sasha arrives, and asks where Jackie wants her.
Jason asks if Carly is okay, but she doesn’t know. There’s a lot going on; Sonny, Cyrus, his mother. She needs to do something to help. Jason says, moving forward with the funeral will help, but she says she needs to do more. Jason says, she can’t. They already talked about this. She says she knows. He said she can’t be involved in the business. Jason says, not on any level. She says she understands, and Jason says, but? She’s gotten involved with something else.
Avery fingers her necklace, and Nikolas asks how it went. Ava says, she passed with flying colors. She asks if he’s ready to go, and he looks at Elizabeth. Ava takes that as a no, and he asks if she saw the news about Franco. She says she did, and he says he can’t leave Elizabeth like this. She says she understands. It’s incredibly difficult for Elizabeth and the boys. Give Elizabeth her best, and if he sees Franco, tell him that she’s thinking about him.
Britt goes to Peter’s office, and he thanks her for taking his place with Maxie. She says, it was fun, but it’s the last time she’s stepping up for him. He asks, what’s wrong? and she says she saw his story about Franco. He says, it’s a hell of a thing, isn’t it? and she says, the fact that he used her? Did he or did he not swipe medical files from the GH server? Franco comes in, and says, good question. He’d like to hear the answer.
Sasha tells Michael that he didn’t have to come, but he says it’s the least he could do after what she did for Wiley. Lucy says Sasha has to get glammed up now, and Sasha goes to the makeup table. Ava comes in with Avery, who runs to Michael and says she missed him. He says he missed her too, and Ava asks if Carly is around. He says, she’s talking to Jason, but she’s here. Ava says, Carly didn’t see Avery yesterday, so she thought they could spend the afternoon together. He says, she’ll be thrilled, and Ava tells Avery, rule number one, have fun; rule number two, behave yourself. She’ll see Avery later. Avery shows Michael a lollipop, and says look at what she got. He says he’s starving, but she says it’s not for him. She got it from the doctor. He says she had check-up. How much did she grow? Ten feet? Twenty? Avery giggles, and Ava gets in the elevator and smiles.
Valentin asks Jax, any word on Cyrus’s mom? and Jax suggests he ask Jason. Nina says she’s sure that would go over well, and Valentin asks if they want to know what he thinks. Jax says, no, but Nina says, please tell them what he thinks. He says he thinks while it’s an effective way of controlling Cyrus, it’s reckless, and he doesn’t think that’s Jason’s trademark. It is does sound like Carly’s though. He thinks Carly took her. Jason will take the heat, since they’ll go to hell and back for each other. He thinks it pays dividends in the short term, but in the long term, he thinks it’s a hell of a lot more trouble than it’s worth. If he were Jax, he’d reach out to that ex of his as quickly as possible, and get her to reverse course. Jax thanks him for that, and Valentin leaves. Jax says, wow.
Carly tells Jason, Avery has the real necklace, and if Nina sees it, Nina could easily figure it out like she did. Nina is going to figure out Nelle is her daughter, and she can’t let that happen. Jason says Carly didn’t push Nelle, and Carly says she knows, but it will break Nina’s heart. It’s a problem she can solve. By keeping the secret buried, she gets to end Nelle’s reign of terror.
Nikolas asks how he can help, but Elizbeth says she’s not the one who needs help. He asks how he can help Franco, and she says, Franco did something to exacerbate the situation. Now he’s fighting the enemy from the inside and out. There’s the tumor, and there’s Jason.
Peter says he’s calling security, but Franco grabs the phone. Peter asks who he’s talking to; old Franco, or Franco 2.0? Franco says he’s talking to a man who’s a husband and stepfather to three boys. Why did Peter do this? Putting his personal information on the front page is putting his family in jeopardy. Peter says, the people of Port Charles are in jeopardy from him. Did Franco forget he told Peter that he’s hearing voices? Franco says, that’s from something that Shiloh did. Shiloh messed with his head; it has nothing to do with the tumor. Peter asks if Franco’s doctors will attest to that, and Franco says Peter would know the answer if he’d bothered to ask the questions. Did he give any consideration how people are going to react to the article? They’re going to come after him, Elizabeth, or the boys. If they get hurt, it’s on Peter. Peter doesn’t think it’s his head that’s the problem, and Franco grabs him. They struggle, Dante runs in, and Peter throws Franco off him and onto the floor.
Dante says, call the police, but Britt says, don’t. If he does, Peter will have a bigger problem with her than Franco. Peter says, let him up, and escort him out. Franco gets up, and says, this isn’t over. He leaves, and Peter asks if those are the actions of a sane person. Britt says she thinks they’re the actions of a furious person. She’s furious too. He says, the story had to be told, and she says, by manipulating his own sister? He says she saw how Franco reacted. How quickly he moved to violence. He’s hearing voices. People need to know that Franco is capable of saying or doing anything. She asks if Franco was right. Did he not contact any of Franco’s doctors? He says people are going to thank him for this story. It was the only way to keep Port Charles and his family safe.
Alexis and Sam arrive at the hospital, and Alexis tells Elizabeth that they saw the article. Elizabeth says, so did the rest of the world. Did Sam tell her the reporting is incomplete? Alexis says, Franco almost killed her daughter, and killed multiple people. He skated on Diane’s the-tumor-did-it defense, and now the tumor is back. Why isn’t Elizabeth protecting herself and her kids? Elizabeth says Alexis doesn’t get to question her decisions, and she doesn’t have to defend herself. Is Sam going to back her? Sam says she can’t.
Jason says he won’t stop Carly. Just make sure it’s worth it, and it’s not the one thing that makes the rest come crashing down. He’ll be there to bail her out, but he’ll have to drop something else to do it. He gets up, and she says, that’s not going happen. If it does, she’ll go to Jax. It’s not one more thing for him to worry about. He says he knows her, and how she deals with hurt. Just keep moving instead of standing still, and letting herself feel it. He’s not telling her how to grieve, and he’ll stand behind her no matter what, but chasing after the necklace to cover her grief isn’t going to help. It might put her grief off, but she’ll still have to go through it. She guesses they’re having a funeral then.
Michael tells Avery, Sasha is going to be on TV. The nice lady is going to interview her. Avery says, about what? (we won’t speak of how a child of that age probably wouldn’t ask that question) and he says, a lot of things. How about they find mom. He bets she has leftover Christmas treats in her office. Avery says, wait. Sasha needs good luck.
Nikolas punches the heavy bag, and thinks about Elizabeth telling him, if there are any signs Franco is reverting to form, Jason is going to kill him. Jason doesn’t need a reason. She’s begging him not to let that happen. Don’t let Jason take Franco from her.
The makeup artist tells Sasha, all set, and wishes her good luck. Jackie says, they’re agreed on topics. Sasha might find her questions sharp at times, but she won’t be surprised by the content. Lucy asks Maxie to keep Valentin occupied. He’s trying to get himself involved. She looks at Sasha, and says she looks absolutely fantastic, but needs one thing to complete the ensemble. She puts the half-heart necklace on Sasha, and Jackie says, let’s do this.
Carly sees Avery, and asks what she’s doing there. Michael says, Ava dropped her off; she thought Carly could use some face time. Carly says she could, and suggests they go to the office where she has more candy. Michael says, what did he tell her? He tells Carly that Avery wants to watch the show. He tried to tell her it’s not for kids, but she’s relentless. She wants to see her good luck charm on TV. Carly is like, uh-oh.
Ava finds Nikolas at the gym, and says he thought he was tending to Elizabeth. He says he’s tending to her from afar. Has she spoken to Franco? She says, not yet, and he says he imagines Franco has his hands full. He bets Franco could use a friendly face. She asks, what’s happening here? Is he actually considering Franco’s feelings? He says, and Elizabeth’s, but mostly he’s considering them. How, for all of their issues – Ava says, and there are many – they’re doing pretty good in comparison. He says he doesn’t want to press their luck, and she says, sounds intriguing. What does he have in mind? He gets down on one knee, and says, marry him for real. Yay! I really like them together.
Obrecht asks Dante what took him so long, and he says, there was a situation atThe Invaderwith Franco. She asks how Peter reacted, and he says, like he was being cornered by a killer. She says, the article was a preemptive attempt to discredit Franco should he ever implicate Peter, and Dante says, Franco’s built a new reputation since the tumor was removed; it’s easier said than done. She says, that’s what she’s afraid of.
Britt tells Peter, she’s the Chief of Staff, and has a responsibility to her patients, which includes protecting their privacy, which clearly she didn’t. People will know what he did and wonder why. They’re likely to find holes in his story. He says she’s his sister and he loves her, but make no mistake, if she pushes this, it may threaten his family. She doesn’t want to come between him, and Maxie and his child. Jason comes in, and says, or what?
Obrecht tells Dante, the article is merely Peter’s opening salvo against Franco. If it doesn’t do the job… He says, they reload, and she clicks her pen several times. She says, Franco is the key to Peter’s guilt, and must be protected at all costs. It’s up to Dante to do it.
Sam says Elizabeth doesn’t want them to believe Franco’s tumor is dangerous, but she doesn’t know, and neither do the doctors. Franco joins them, and says, the story isn’t the whole story. Alexis asks why he didn’t inform her and Sam of his relapse? and he tells her that he didn’t want to scare them. She says, too late. She wonders why they’re being so casual? Does she need to arm herself? Elizabeth asks if Alexis is threatening her husband, and Sam tells Alexis, don’t escalate right now. Alexis stomps off, and Franco asks Sam to just listen. She yells that she doesn’t want to talk to him right now, and Elizabeth suggests Sam hear him out. Alexis goes into an examining room, and digs in her purse. She sees either a pill dispenser or a really wide syringe on the table. Franco tells Sam that he’s not going to hurt her or anybody else. He’s made specific arrangements to make sure that never happens. Alexis checks to see if anyone is looking.
Nina messes with the computer, and tells Jax, got it. Jackie asks Sasha to introduce herself and Sasha says she’s the co-owner and face of Deception Cosmetics. Jackie asks why Sasha sought out an interview, and Sasha says, a few months ago she nearly died of a heart attack brought on by drug abuse. Nina sees the necklace, and asks, what is Sasha wearing?
Carly asks Avery, what good luck charm? and Avery says, there; Sasha’s wearing it. She points to the necklace on Sasha. Jackie asks if Sasha attributes her drug use to her scheme to manipulate the custody proceeding for Wiley Corinthos. Sasha says, when she chose to act, she knew the personal cost would be painful, but she told herself that she could handle the pain. The pain would fade, and she’d be okay.
Nina says, oh my God, Jax. Sasha is wearing her daughter’s necklace. Jax makes a face and shakes his head.
Tomorrow, Nina asks how someone could do thi;, Curtis doesn’t think it’s a good idea; Dante says, it’s a generous offer; Phyllis tells Sonny, there are some conditions; and Jason asks why Peter is threatening Britt.
The Real Housewives of Orange County – The Reunion – Part Two
When we last left, Shannon said Braunwyn had told her daughter that if she wanted the good stuff, to text her. Braunwyn didn’t remember it, and started bawling, saying she was sorry. She would have never done that sober. Shannon said she appreciated the apology. One would assume the good stuff meant drugs, but I’ve hunted for clarification, and Shannon says no. So WTF is it? Hennessey? Andy said Gina had a new house and a new man, but her road to happiness had been paved with roadblocks from the past. We flashed back to Gina and Travis’s version of The Brady Bunch, took a trip down Matt Memory Lane, and strolled through Gina’s many hairstyles. Gina said she was proud of her and Matt’s co-parenting, and they were in a place where Matt could hear the truth. Andy thought it was nice that she found someone great. Someone please get that guy a thesaurus. On break, Braunwyn got all dramatic with her sorries to Shannon, and hyperventilated loudly.
Andy said, Kelly now being friends with Shannon gave him faith in everything. Apparently, it doesn’t take much. Kelly talked about her wedding to Rick, and how she got flack for having a gathering with a lot of people. Although my idea of a lot isn’t 28, and they had everyone tested. The BLM protests were discussed, and Kelly getting more flack for wearing a Drunk Wives Matter hat, which moved the conversation to racism. Both Elizabeth and Kelly said they’d experienced it being Mexican, and Kelly didn’t feel Braunwyn was sincere in being an ally. Emily said Braunwyn used a victim mentality as an excuse for her behavior, and Shannon said Braunwyn had claimed she got no support, and alluded to the group being racist and homophobic during an ET interview. Braunwyn said she’d gotten pissed because they’d called her confused. Um… she certainly seemed confused this season. Elizabeth told the group that she was actually bi-sexual, but non-practicing. Is that a thing now? Braunwyn said she’d thought Elizabeth was a lesbian when they met, and tried kissing her in the beginning. Shannon’s head went back and forth like she was watching a ping-pong match, and Andy thought Braunwyn was trying to do a lot at once; her sexuality, her marriage, her kids, her sobriety. She said she was taking a step back, and that’s where she was right now.
Any said every Housewives trip was messy and dramatic, and this season was no exception. We saw clips from the trip to Lake Arrowhead, and Andy asked Elizabeth at what point she realized she was in a cult. She said she and her brother didn’t understand the situation until they were banished. Her grandmother was the founder, and her dad was a pastor. Andy asked what their tenet was, and she said, money and greed. They were brainwashed in school to obey. He asked how they finally left, and she said her mother got an 18-wheeler, and drove them to Washington. Elizabeth couldn’t live with the burden, and once she said it out loud, she knew she’d exposed her truth, and fear of rejection. She liked her cookie cutter perfection because it helped her to not deal with her issues. Braunwyn said she wasn’t alone. There were many women with perfect lives who didn’t really have perfect lives.
When Andy introduced Sean, Shannon wondered who he was, forgetting he was Braunwyn’s husband. We found out that Braunwyn had never been attracted to men physically, and while Sean said it broke his heart, in some ways, it was a relief when Braunwyn had said she was a lesbian. Braunwyn explained how she’d wanted to try having an open marriage, but when she’d found out from the nanny that Sean brought someone home, she got upset. They eventually decided to go to therapy. We saw pictures of Braunwyn’s new girlfriend Kris, and Andy said it looked like Braunwyn did what she wanted to, and Sean took care of her. It was like he was of service. Sean said he derived happiness from his kids, and they both hoped to stay together. Sean said they wanted to create a decent structure for the kids, and see where it went. It sounded pretty messy, and I’m sure the kids will all be in therapy soon.
Everyone agreed that covid taught them to appreciate the little things, and that friends and family were the most important things in life. They were also in agreement that 2021 would be better than 2020; it had to be. Andy said, since everyone was starting the year with a dry January, they would have a mocktail, and he cautioned Kelly and Shannon not to sneak in some tequila. Emily was tasked with the toast, and said she wanted to toast to everyone. Everyone added something, and everyone had something beautiful in them. She lifted her glass to love and success, to 2021, women’s empowerment, being successful, and supporting one another. That wasn’t just a toast; it was a whole loaf of bread.
Adios for now, OC.
The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City
Whitney got together with Heather, and told her about apologizing to Meredith and Lisa, while Meredith and Lisa met early for the group dinner. Lisa said, as far as she was concerned, it was a clean slate with Heather. Heather told Whitney that Jen was still blaming her for ruining Sharrieff’s party, which surprised Heather, since Jen had forgiven her. Heather said she’d said the same thing to Jen.
Jen joined Meredith and Lisa, and Lisa said Heather had acknowledged her weaknesses, and said she was working on them, which was good enough for her. She asked if Jen was still upset, and Jen said she felt Whitney’s apology was sincere, but there were still other issues. She wondered how Lisa could be good with Whitney, when she’d thrown Lisa and Meredith under the bus. Meredith told her, Whitney said she was sorry, and in Jen’s interview, she said they were talking sh*t. If they could forgive Whitney so easy for lying, did that mean they were lying? Lisa said, in Whitney’s head, she was defending Mary, and Jen said, if they wanted to be on Whitney’s side, fine. Meredith left the table, saying she wasn’t engaging. No one was going to tell her who to be friends with.
In Meredith’s interview, she said she grew up with a lot of fighting and volatility, and felt pitted in the middle of her divorced parents. She felt trapped, and got triggered when there was intense conflict. Jen wailed, are you kidding me? and whined that Meredith had just walked away, like Lisa hadn’t seen that. Lisa tried to calm Jen’s ass down, when Whitney and Heather walked in. Jen literally pushed Heather away, and stormed out, immediately coming back, since she forgot to take her purse. She put her finger in Whitney’s face, telling her STFU, when Whitney hadn’t even said anything yet. Heather said it wasn’t necessary to come at her, and Jen got in Heather’s face, looking like she was going to head butt her. It was so bad, Jen’s bodyguard came over. Jen told Lisa that she’d chosen her side, and stormed out – take two – Lisa following her. Lisa said Jen couldn’t leave like this, but she wasn’t listening. Jen said her feelings were hurt, and Lisa told her to talk it out. Heather said Jen just came at her, and she felt shell shocked, and I thought, wouldn’t that be Shah shocked? Lisa said she thought Jen was still upset about the birthday party, and in Lisa’s interview, she said Jen’s behavior was outrageous, but she didn’t think Whitney understood the magnitude of her actions. There had been trouble in Jen’s home. Um… Whitney might be responsible for seriously bad timing, but Sharrieff was pissed about Jen’s reactionary behavior. I’d say Jen is responsible for Jen. Lisa went back to the dinner, and Whitney told her that Jen had accepted her apology, which Heather confirmed. In Whitney’s interview, she said the fact that Jen was still blaming her made her feel like the time they’d spent talking was bullsh*t. Heather thought it was compounded because Jen was also mad at her. She’d said the rest of them were friends with Whitney because she was friends with Heather. Whitney said Jen talked about all of them, and we flashed back to Jen gossiping to Whitney. Whitney said Jen had shown her a picture of Meredith with another man. Lisa said Jen claimed to be loyal to both her and Meredith, but Whitney said Jen had said Meredith and Lisa were coming for her. In Lisa’s interview, she said, the woman she just chased through a hotel claimed she was coming for Whitney. It was a straight up lie. In her hotel room, Jen screamed nonsense to Sharrieff on the phone.
Everyone, except Jen, went to Heather’s room. Heather told Meredith, welcome to the jungle. She got out in the nick of time. Lisa said they were trying to digest what happened, and Heather said Jen had come in and pushed her out of the way. Whitney said Jen had come at her, and Meredith didn’t get it, since the afternoon had felt positive. Whitney said Jen had told her that Meredith and Lisa were going to come after her, and her friendship with Heather was the only reason she wasn’t dead in the lake. Meredith said Jen thought Heather was responsible for Whitney, and she wasn’t going to tolerate that. Whitney said Jen kept dropping bombs, and pushing her to say bad things about Meredith’s marriage. Meredith admitted that she and Seth had been separated off and on for a long time, and she’d seen other people. In Lisa’s interview, she said it was the first time she was hearing this, and her feelings were hurt. It was like she didn’t know her best friend. Meredith said she and Seth had reconciled, and they were the happiest and closest they’d ever been. They were moving forward, and there was nothing else to discuss. She didn’t want to be Jen’s friend. Heather thought Jen had redeeming qualities. She could be horrible, crazy, and toxic, but there was some of that in all of them. Yeah. Not to that level, and not out in public. In Heather’s interview, she said she knew what it was like to feel rejected. She was loyal to her friends whether they were crazy, perfect, depressed, or happy. That’s what friendship is, and she was riding it out. Meredith said she wasn’t okay with it. In her interview, Whitney said, Worst. Trip. Ever. It was worse than when she started her period on the waterslide at a hotel in the Bahamas.
Lisa called Mary, and told her, be glad she wasn’t there. The race track was fun, but not so much dinner with Jen. She made peace with Whitney, but Jen was still mad. Whitney and Heather walked into dinner, and it set Jen off. In Mary’s interview, she said she told them that was going to happen. If they didn’t listen, they got what they deserved. Mary told Lisa that she was regrouping. People were trying to understand Jen, but how did you understand crazy? Lisa said the best decision Mary ever made was not to come.
Heather stopped by Jen’s room, and even though Jen claimed she was going home, her glam squad was working on her. In Heather’s interview, she said Jen was being charming and funny; nothing like the crazed monster she saw last night, spinning and yelling and furious. She told Jen, everyone was freaking out, and Jen said no one had approached her since dinner. Now that I think of it, did anyone even eat dinner? Jen said, no one was talking about the real issue. I wasn’t really sure what that was, since it seems like Jen just likes being angry. In Jen’s interview, she said she wasn’t mad about Meredith and Lisa making up with Heather, but she couldn’t move on until Heather admitted she lied, or Meredith and Lisa admitted they were scared of her. I’m not even sure what it was Heather was supposed to have lied about, since she was just repeating what Mary told her. Jen said her family had suffered the consequences. Heather said Jen had been aggressive and mean, and Jen asked why Whitney couldn’t apologize, and say she f***ed up? Heather said, the person who had f***ed up was Jen, and in her interview, she said Jen wouldn’t acknowledge anything. She was acting like they’d all wronged her.
Whitney set up a meeting with Kimberly Friedmutter, who wrote Subconscious Power. In her interview, Whitney said it was her last attempt at something positive on the trip. Give them crystals, clear their chakras, bring out the sage, and sound the gong. They needed a lot of negative energy cleared tonight. The women (sans Jen and Heather, who were late) met at Kimberly’s house, and she had them close their eyes and get comfortable. She told them, let it feel good to be in this space. Just then, the doorbell rang, and when I saw it was Jen with Heather, I laaaughed. In Meredith’s interview, she said, the energy shifted. She thought Kimberly would need a bigger crystal. Kimberly took them through some relaxation steps, and I wanted to follow along, but was afraid I’d fall asleep. In Jen’s interview, she said she came because people were lying, and she needed to know who her real friends were. And because she’s 14.
They all moved to a giant sectional, and Kimberly said she was feeling a lot of damage. It was a safe space, but feelings might get hurt, so know everything could be rectified. Jen started whining immediately about how everything was always her fault, and said she felt she was always the reason for Meredith leaving. Well, yeah. Meredith said Jen was trying to tell her who to be friends with, and Jen said that was Meredith’s perception. Well, yeah again. In Meredith’s interview, she said, the reality was, Jen wasn’t in touch with reality. Jen said Whitney chose an important time to give her information she didn’t want to hear, and it’s time she won’t get back. She was confused as to why. She added that Lisa said Whitney was lying, but Lisa told Jen, she didn’t say that. Jen said she was loyal to the end, and Meredith said Jen was giving a lecture on loyalty, when she’d made negative comments about Meredith’s marriage. If it doesn’t concern her, mind her own business. She told Jen that she didn’t anger easily, and Jen didn’t want her angry. Jen claimed she never said anything, but Whitney said that was false. In Whitney’s interview, she said Jen was absolutely the instigator. She would have never known a damn thing if not for Jen.
Kimberly suggested they allow themselves to be receptive, and told Jen to just say it. Say she’s sorry about sticking her nose where it didn’t belong. If she was sorry. Jen apologized, but not really, and Kimberly told her, no conditions, then decided they’d take a break with a game called Trust/Not Trust. She asked who didn’t trust Meredith, Lisa, and Whitney, and no hands went up. She asked who didn’t trust Jen, and all their hands went up. In Jen’s interview, she said she’d opened her heart and soul to them. She’d showed them that she’d fight for them, no matter what, and this made her feel attacked and ganged up on. Kimberly asked who didn’t trust Heather, and only Jen raised her hand. In Heather’s interview, she wondered if Jen didn’t understand the question. She’s the one who chased Jen down every time she’d stormed off. We flashed back to several times Heather chased Jen down, and Heather said she never betrayed Jen. Whitney asked to change seats, so she could have her own space, and Kimberly said they had to respect their own comfort. She asked Heather to share, and Heather said Jen had been aggressive and violent, and came at her. She was horrified. Jen preached loyalty, but had been a sh*tty friend. Maybe she’d been blind. Lisa said ,it was beyond uncomfortable the night before, and in Jen’s interview, she said her big reaction was justified. Didn’t they know her? Lisa said they all felt attacked, and she didn’t want to be Jen’s friend, but maybe she’d change her mind in the future. In Jen’s interview, she said she wasn’t disloyal. She told the women, if she was going to ruin a friendship… and Heather said, she was on the brink of ruining a friendship. Kimberly said, this was good.
Next time, Sharrieff and Jen do some dancing, Jen meets with Lisa, and Heather has a grand opening for Beauty Lab.
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🤼♀️ That’s Quite Enough For Now…
See you tomorrow on the Charm side. In the meantime, stay safe, stay on the road less traveled, and stay not sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong and/or being a crazed monster.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
🖥 All I have to say is, don’t buy an HP. I have no idea what happened last night, but I finally decided to shut the computer off and back on, and it seemed like the problem was that it wanted to do an update, but wasn’t telling me that. Everything just stopped working. This thing has been a pita from the jump, and every single computer nerd I’ve talked to since I got it has said they’re horrible. Too bad I hadn’t talked to them before I got it. Moving on…
General Hospital
Elizabeth tells Franco, don’t try to play dumb, but he says he has no idea what she’s talking about. He’s been lying to her since when? She says since he’s been having secret meetings with Jason.
Jason pops into Britt’s office, and sees her looking at an article about Peter. He asks if she’s doing research, and she asks if he’s always this nosy. She wants to know more about her brother. Growing up, she had no idea he even existed. He asks what she found out, but she says, nothing yet. She’d barely started before he barged in with his questions and concerns. First, he tells her that she’s a horrible person; now, it’s Peter. He says he never told her she was horrible, but he wants to warn her about Peter. Peter is dangerous, and could turn on her without giving it a second thought.
Dante meets Maxie at Kelly’s, and asks how she’s feeling. She says, aside from having to pee every 30 seconds, she’s okay. He asks what their mysterious meeting is about, and Maxie says she had news that couldn’t wait she wanted to share with him. Peter joins them, and asks if she shouldn’t say they have news.
At the MetroCourt, Finn says, can Anna believe it? Before they met, he never had a cup of tea. She says she believes it, and he says he was missing out. This is a damn fine cup of tea. She asks if he’s mocking her, and he says he’d never do that. Not while she’s sitting there anyway. He’d never mock tea. She says, not if he wants this to work, and her phone rings. He says, if it’s Maxie, tell her they eloped and they’re on their honeymoon. She says, if only, and he says they can still do that, but she says, it would break Maxie’s heart. She just wants to get away, and enjoy the evening, and he says, what a coincidence; he does too. Finn’s phone rings, and she says, if it’s Maxie, tell her they eloped. He says, it’s Alexis, and she tells him to take the call. Alexis asks if he can come over, and he says, now? She says she really needs to talk, and he says he’s on his way. Anna asks if Alexis is okay, but he says he doesn’t know. He hopes this means she’s going to get help, and she tells him, go help his friend. He asks if she wants to walk him out, but she says she’s drinking tea. He wonders what he was thinking, and says he’ll see her at home. She looks at her phone and sees a text from Valentin, saying, we need to talk about Dante.
Doc sits down with Anna, and says he was going to return her message tomorrow, but they’re both there now. Anna says she needs some insight.
Olivia says Ned accused her of cheating with Robert in Monte Carlo while Brook was recovering from having her throat slashed. He says he knows how wrong he was, and apologizes again for jumping to conclusions. Tracy says, it was a terrible time for everyone, and Olivia holds up her hand. She says Ned begged her multiple times to forgive him, but there was so much more to forgive, wasn’t there? She’s so stupid. She was sick with worry when he didn’t come home. She thought he was face down, dead in a ditch. Meanwhile… She says she’s going to ask him a question, and he’d better tell her the truth. What happened between him and Alexis?
Alexis thanks Finn for coming, and he says he’s glad she called. She says she doesn’t know where to start, and he says, a meeting might be a good place. Isn’t that why she asked him to come? He asks if it has nothing to do with her sobriety, and she says, it does and it doesn’t. Valentin just left. He got Martin to fight the DWI for her. Finn says, and? She says, and he’s going to argue that Tracy is to blame for her driving drunk. He says Tracy was trying to help her, but she says she’s not so sure about that.
Tracy says, Sam is there for Leo’s celebratory dinner; it’s not the time. Olivia says she’s glad Sam is there. After all, it’s her mother they’re talking about. She thinks Sam deserves to hear the truth. Tracy says, tonight is about family. She doesn’t think Leo should wait any longer, so she’ll go get him. Olivia says if Tracy takes one step toward her child, she’ll knock her out. Tracy asks what’s gotten into her, and Olivia says, don’t try to make her feel crazy when they’ve been lying to her. Tracy says, there’s no evidence of that, but Ned tells her, stop. This ends now.
Doc says he has to commend Anna. The last time she needed something from him, she broke into his office. Calling ahead and asking to talk is progress. She says she’s grateful for his help. This time she doesn’t need access to his research material, but she needs his expertise. She’s worried about Dante. Since he returned to Port Charles, he seems off. She tried to find out about his medical treatment from the WSB, but there was a complete blackout. She thinks the WSB is using him for their own ends, and disregarding his mental health. Doc asks what Dante says, and Anna says, he told her that he was fine. He’s trying to act like his old self, but something is missing.
Peter brings Maxie a hot chocolate, and she tells Dante she would have waited for him to order, but… He says, the baby wants what she wants when she wants it. Maxie says, she’s going to spoil the baby, and Peter says, so is he. Dante hears, complete the mission, in his head, and Maxie says, hello? He says he was thinking about the last time he had hot chocolate, and Maxie says, as he knows, they’re having a girl. He says he can see their both over the moon, and Peter says, most definitely. Maxie says they’re hoping it’s okay with him if they name the baby after Lulu.
Britt tells Jason, let’s do it, and he says, do what? She says she’s heard from her mother ad nauseum about how awful Peter is, but she doesn’t trust Obrecht, not even a little bit. So far, Jason seems honest, so do the honors, and tell her who her brother really is. Jason says, okay, and sits down. He says he’s going to do it in order, not the way he discovered it, and she says, whatever floats his boat. He says, Peter was under Faison’s orders to facilitate the memory transfer between him and Drew. The plan was that when it was finished, Peter was supposed to eliminate him, but Peter didn’t kill him. Peter put him in a Russian clinic, and drugged him out of his mind. Britt says, Peter saved his life, and Jason says, that’s what Peter claims, but he thinks Peter was keeping him on ice, waiting for the day he could point him toward Faison and have him take Faison out. And that’s what happened. Britt says she’s aware Jason delivered the fatal shot, and she doesn’t blame him. He says, Peter has a plausible excuse for everything, but there’s always another objective, an underlying motive. She says, so the time came when he would kill Faison, and Jason says, the next part happened five years later. He finally figured out how to escape, and made his way home. They came after him, wanting to take him down and bring him back, but if that wasn’t possible, kill him. They went so far as to kidnap Sam. She asks who they are, and he says, the doctors at the clinic, but underneath, Peter was pulling the strings. She says, it didn’t work; he’s still there. He says, the doctors took the fall, and Peter was in the clear. Sound familiar? That’s what happened to her mom.
Elizabeth asks why Franco went looking for Jason, and Franco says he wanted to tell him the tumor was back. Elizabeth says, Franco was keeping it a secret, and thought he’d tell Jason? and Franco says he thought Jason could help him take care of it. She asks what that means, and he says if he starts reverting to his old self, Jason could help him out. She says Jason hates him. He’s more likely to kill Franco than help… Oh my God; that’s it. He asked Jason to kill him.
Doc asks if Anna has seen any indication that Dante could lose control, and potentially be a threat to Rocco and Charlotte, but she says, it’s nothing like that. Although Valentin is concerned about Charlotte. That’s why she started looking into it. If Dante is still suffering from PTSD, it’s an undercover problem more than a domestic one. Doc asks if she got any information from the WSB, and she says, only Dante’s doctor’s name, Warren Kirk. Doc says Dr. Kirk’s death was a shock, and asks if she’s learned any more about it. Was he targeted or was it an act of random violence? She says, the police say the latter, but she doesn’t believe it for a second.
Britt tells Jason, so her brother is the evil mastermind, and got off scot free. Then what? He says Obrecht started acting strange, and he found out she had a son with Faison who she was desperate to protect and was searching for. She says, Nathan, and Jason says, but she called him Henrik. Peter planned on killing Anna at the pier, but he showed up. Peter played on his guilt once again, and everything went away. Whether he really had a good relationship with Anna or he was playing her, it was another restart. Britt says, enter Maxie, and Jason says, yes. She and Peter started dating, and Peter built a nice life, until Shiloh came along. He had a past connection with Drew and Peter, and obviously knew something. He got busted and went to prison, and mysteriously escaped, taking Sam and two other hostages. Guess who showed up at the pier with $50K? She says, her brother, and he says Peter claimed to be buying an apartment, but come on. Shiloh knew something, and Peter was desperate to cover it up. Drew knew too, and had a plane crash. Franco and Andre were almost murdered, and it was stopped by Peter, who killed the gunman before he could talk. Peter is responsible for everything, but her mother took the fall, and Maxie will end up paying the price.
Franco tells Elizabeth, if he deteriorates, Jason will take care of it if he gets crazy or dangerous. She says, and Jason gets to decide? He asked a man who despises him to kill him if he’s acting some way he doesn’t like? It’s suicidal. He says, it’s his choice, and she says, it breaks her heart that he doesn’t get it’s their choice.
Peter tells Dante, they’ll call her Lu for short, and Maxie asks what he thinks. Dante says, it’s beautiful. He thinks Lulu would have loved it. Maxie says, when she wakes up, she will love it. She asks if he’s really okay with it, and he says, more than. He’s happy for them. Maxie asks how he’s doing, and Dante says, pretty good. He thanks Peter for the job again, and Peter says he’s glad it’s working out. She asks how Rocco is, and Dante says, hanging in. He tells them that he’s going to grab a coffee, and goes to the counter. Peter flashes back to Franco saying Drew’s memories are coming back, and Maxie says, it’s not going well. Dante is refusing to open up. Peter says it’s probably because he’s there; he should go. She needs one-on-one time with Dante, and he has work to get done. She thanks him, and says she loves him, and he says he loves her too. He leaves, and Dante comes back. He asks, what happened to Peter? and she says, he had something to take care of. Dante says, too bad, but she says, now she gets him all to herself.
Ned tells Olivia, he’s so sorry. He and Alexis slept together. It was just one night. It was a stupid mistake. Olivia says, which he chose to keep lying to her face about. He says he wasn’t protecting himself; he knew it would never happen again. Olivia says, then, no biggie, but he says, it is a big deal. He can see how much he’s hurting her, and he hates that. She asks why he didn’t tell her, instead of keeping his dirty secret, and he says he didn’t want to hurt her. She asks if this is where she’s supposed to say thank you. What he did was awful, but not telling her was worse. He says he was in a terrible place. He’s not excusing himself, but telling her where his head was at. Brook heard she’d spent the night with Robert. Olivia says, that’s not true, and he says he knows that now. He jumped to the wrong conclusion, drank heavily, and it was a recipe for disaster. Sam says he was drinking with her mother, an alcoholic?
Finn says Tracy didn’t want Alexis behind the wheel. That’s why she drove. Alexis ask if that sounds like Tracy, and he says, she does have a heart. She says she knows Tracy is his friend, but she wasn’t driving drunk. He tells her, Tracy says otherwise, and she asks if he remembers the night she cut herself. Something was nagging at her. Tracy’s version of the events wasn’t the truth. He says, say she’s right. Why would Tracy lie? She says, exactly. That’s what she’s trying to find out. They were at the MetroCourt, and Tracy pulled her away from Olivia, saying she wanted to catch up. She flashes back to telling Tracy that Olivia should know about her and Ned, but she had no intention of breaking up their marriage. She remembers Tracy saying that she was drinking, which leads to loose lips, misjudgments, and blackouts. Can she say there’s ever been a time when she had no recollection of what happened? Alexis tells Finn, it makes sense, and he says, what? She says, Tracy pulled her away from Olivia because Tracy thought she was going to tell Olivia that she’d slept with Ned. Tracy didn’t want Olivia to find out. He says, so she forced Alexis to drive, and put her own life in danger? Alexis gets up, grabs her coat, and heads for the door. He asks where she’s going, and she says, to the Quartermaine’s. She needs a car. He says he’ll drive her, and she asks if he’s sure. The truth is there, and she’s going to find it.
Ned says he was far from sober, and Olivia asks if he thinks that makes it less horrible. They’ve been married for four years, and he still doesn’t trust her. He spent his life in this house, with these liars and cheaters, surrounded by infidelity. He’s incapable of trust. He apologizes, and asks if they can talk in private. Alexis and Finn walk in, and Alexis says, no one is going anywhere until she hears the truth.
Elizabeth says Franco has no regard for the people he’d be leaving behind, and he says, all he could think about was, if he did anything to hurt them… She says, they’re not there, and probably never will be. He says, then he’ll tell Jason to stand down, and get on with his life, and she says, what about their life? The tumor has been diagnosed as fatal, but regardless, he’s still there, and she wants to spend every moment with him. Don’t rob her of that. He deserves a family by his bedside, helping him through his final days, which she hopes isn’t for a long time. Why does he want to throw that away?
Doc tells Anna, Kirk’s assistant told him that there was space in Kirk’s schedule. He was referring his patients to other doctors. She wonders what was taking up his time, but Doc has no idea. She tells him, what say they find out, and smiles.
Maxie tells Dante, it was everywhere; on every surface that could absorb marker. Thank God they were washable markers, or she would have put up James for adoption. He says James sounds like Rocco at that age. It didn’t matter how angry he was, if Rocco started laughing, he’d be laughing with him. Rocco doesn’t laugh anymore; maybe once in a while. Maxie says, it will happen more as time goes on. They’re still playing catch-up. He says Rocco is like a whole new kid, but Maxie says Rocco is still his son. He asks if she thinks Rocco is angry because he left, and she asks, does he? He says he doesn’t know. He thinks Rocco is confused, and a little resentful, and Maxie says Dante didn’t walk out on his family. He left because he wanted to protect them. He asks how she does that, and she says, what? He says, see the good in people. and she says, it’s easy when it’s right in front of her.
Jason tells Britt, now Maxie is pregnant, and about to marry Peter. Meanwhile, her whole life is a lie. Peter is now pretending to be a good guy, while he’s covering up, but he can’t sustain it. There are loose ends, and it’s going to eventually implode, with Maxie having the most to lose. Britt says, so how much is genuine concern for Maxie, and how much is hate for the man who kept Jason locked up for five years? She doesn’t believe Jason is that altruistic and immune to revenge. He says he doesn’t want revenge; he wants Peter stopped. She asks, what about Anna?She saw Peter pull this stuff, and covered for him? He says, Anna sees what she wants, and part of him gets that; she’s his mom. The question is, is Britt going to see what she wants to see, or see the truth? Peter walks in.
Franco says he doesn’t want to die, and Elizabeth says, then fight. Don’t ask to be put down like an animal. He says he got hope from a doctor, and went to tell Jason about it. She asks if he thinks Jason understood, but he says he doesn’t know. By the time Jason showed up, he wasn’t feeling well, and she says Sam told her he had a bad headache. He says he’s feeling better, and Elizabeth grabs her coat. He asks where she’s going, and she says she’s going to put an end to this.
Dante tells Maxie, he hates seeing Lulu lifeless; it’s the opposite of what she was. Maxie says, is. Does he want to go to visit her together next time? He says, that would be great, and she says he still doesn’t like Peter, does he? Where is that coming from? She thinks it would be easier if Dante talked to Peter. When Peter was there, they barely spoke. Now he can’t shut up. That’s why Peter left, to give them time together. Peter is a good guy, and about to be her husband, and a father to little Lu. He tells her that he said he was happy for them, and he means it.
Peter says he can come back another time, but Britt says, Jason was just leaving. Jason goes, and Peter asks if he was bothering her. She says, nothing she can’t handle, and he says, the guy is a bully. If he’s harassing her, Peter wants to know. She asks if he’s being a protective big brother, and he says, better late than never. She says if she needs back-up, she’ll let him know. She asks if everything is okay with Maxie. What brings him by? He says he was looking for her. They haven’t had a chance to spend time together. She says she’d like to get to know him better. Should they fire off 20 questions? He says, it’s not the best way to start a relationship, but… She says, uh-oh, and he says he needs a favor.
Tracy says Alexis is drunk, but Alexis says she’s seeing quite clearly. Finn says, she’s sober, and Tracy asks what he’s doing there. Alexis says he gave her a ride, since she doesn’t have a license. Sam thinks it’s not the best time, but Alexis doesn’t care. Tracy set her up. Sam says she knows; she believes Alexis. Tracy says, that’s absurd, and Ned asks, what’s going on? What did she do? Alexis says, Tracy lied; like they did to protect his marriage. Sam says, Tracy framed Alexis so it would look like she was behind the wheel. Tracy asks if she’s going to take the word of a drunk over hers, but Sam says, it’s not just Alexis’s word. They have proof.
Ned asks for someone to explain, and Olivia says they gave his mother the benefit of the doubt. At the time, she thought Tracy was her friend, and just trying to help. Ned tells Alexis that Olivia knows everything, and Alexis says she’s so sorry. Olivia says she doesn’t want to hear it now. She tells them, Tracy said she took Alexis home, and was going to make coffee, and when she was in the kitchen, Alexis snuck out. The security system proved they never got back to the house. Sam says, they called the company, and the system was armed from the afternoon Alexis left to go to the MetroCourt, and disarmed the following day. Alexis says, when she got home after her night in jail. Sam says, which means Tracy’s story isn’t true. Tracy says, fine; she lied. She drove the car to the side of the road, and put Alexis behind the wheel – with great difficulty, she might add – and called the police. Ned says, what the hell? and Tracy says, no one was in any danger, and she thought Alexis would go to rehab and get help. Alexis says Tracy doesn’t give a rat’s ass about her well-being. Tracy didn’t want her around them.
Doc thanks someone on the phone, and Anna says, he got the file? He says, they know him there. He asked if they could email the records. His phone dings, and he says, and here they are. She says, that was fast, and he says, according to the file, Kirk had exactly four patients in the last six months. Anna says, he used to have more? and Doc says, over the years, he’s had at least two dozen. Anna says, it sounds like more than downsizing, and thinks he was working off the books, maybe with Dante. She asks if Dante’s file is in there, and Doc says, it should be there. He scrolls, and says, it is. Let’s see what’s in there.
Dante says it blows him away how strong and resilient Maxie is. It doesn’t matter how many times she’s knocked down; she gets up. He’s seen it again and again, especially after Nathan’s death. She says Peter was there for her, but he says, something in her hangs on to hope. He admires that, and wants to emulate it, but he’s not doing a good job. She says she thinks he’s doing a wonderful job. When he’s unsure, come to her, and she’ll remind him how utterly amazing he is. He says, his personal cheerleader, and she says she’ll even get pompoms.
Peter tells Britt, he needs information for an Invader article, and she asks what she can do. He says, log in and walk away. She says, that’s a big ask. He won’t even tell her what he’s looking for? He says, it’s better if she doesn’t know. It could help secure him a position as a major publisher of a newspaper. She says, okay. She’s trusting him not to get her in trouble. He promises, and she says she’ll be back in ten minutes. She logs in, and leaves. Peter sits down, and starts typing.
Dante tells Maxie, sorry if he’s standoffish. It’s hard to see Peter with her. It will take some time. She says, that’s okay, as long as he keeps trying. She can’t stand to lose him as a friend, and he says, she won’t. He’ll be there for her, Georgie, and James. That’s a promise.
Doc looks at Dante’s file, but it’s heavily redacted. He says he doesn’t think they’re going to get much, but Anna disagrees. She had a hunch, but now she knows for certain. Otherwise, why the secrecy? She asks if Kirk’s assistant said anything else, and he tells her, have at it, handing her the phone. She looks at it, and says, whoa. One of his other patients was Obrecht. She shows him the file.
Finn says he’ll give Alexis a ride home, and she thanks him, but thinks there’s more that needs to be said. Sam asks if she’s sure about this, and Alexis says she may not have driven drunk, but she has to face what she did do. Sam says she’ll get a motion going to have the charges dropped. She’s so sorry she doubted Alexis. Alexis says she hasn’t given Sam much reason not to lately. Sam leaves, and Alexis asks Olivia if they can talk. Ned says he and Olivia need to sort through some things first, but Olivia says she’d like to talk to Alexis right now. It’s way overdue. Alexis nods, and Ned leaves.
Tracy starts to go upstairs, but Ned says she’s not going anywhere.
Peter hears footsteps, and Britt comes back in. She says she changed her mind. She doesn’t care how harmless it is. She can’t let Peter dig around. He says he understands completely. He’s sorry to put her in that position. She says she’s sorry she couldn’t help him, but he says he’ll find what he needs another way. He says he’ll see her later, and leaves. In the hallway, we see he has a flashdrive in his hand. Sitting at the laptop, Britt says, he can erase the history, but let’s see if this works. Franco’s file comes up, and she wonders what Peter wants with Franco Baldwin’s medical records.
Franco hears Peter’s voice saying, please be Drew Cane. He wonders what’s happening to him.
Jason punches the heavy bag at the gym, when Elizabeth walks in. She asks if he’s having fun. She called the warehouse, and they said she could find him there. He says they could have met at the house, but she says she’d rather have this conversation alone. He asks if something is wrong. Is it Jake? She says, it’s him.
Tomorrow, Tracy says someone needs all the help they can get, Olivia says the joke is on her, Ned says it’s not about him, Franco asks Scotty to represent him, and Elizabeth asks Jason what his criteria is to kill her husband.
Southern Charm
When we last left, the guys were being given a clue about Kathryn’s remarks. Everyone was eating, drinking, and being merry, and saying things like, olives are great. Shep went canoeing with Taylor, and she rowed, while he slacked off behind her. Whitney showed up, and there were many elbow bumps. In Austen’s interview, he said Madison wanted to see what he would do and how he’d react, but he wasn’t taking the bait. Leva said John had felt it was three against one when the girls approached Kathryn, and Craig repeated what he’d been told about Kathryn to Shep. In his interview, Craig said he couldn’t bee friends with Kathryn in good faith if she runs away from this, or pretends it didn’t happen. Madison wanted to know if Austen was looking, as she posed on a float, but it was a no. Shep and Austen went up in the treehouse, and Madison told Craig that she’d gotten a text from a friend about Austen. They said they didn’t know if she and Austen were still a thing, or if she even cared, but Austen had slept with a girl at her friend’s house. Austen told Shep that he was a good friend. Craig wondered why it mattered to Madison who Austen was hooking up with, which is a really good question. Shep suggested Austen tell Madison that he thought they were in a spot where they could see other people, and also be supportive of one another. Craig joined them, and said he wasn’t trying to start sh*t, but Madison had gotten messages about Austen, and was fired up. Shep told Austen, play it cool or she’ll go nuclear. It’s sad what an a-hole Madison turned out to be, and even sadder that they let her get away with being so nasty. She broke up with Austen. It’s not like he did something to her. (Oh wow. As I was typing that, there was a promo for the reunion, and Austen said he thought it was sad. Twilight Zone music…)
Madison levitated up to the treehouse using black magic, and showed Austen her phone, calling him a beta bitch, and demanding to know who the girl was. Did he think people wouldn’t tell her? Craig and Shep said to let him go, and she told them, zip it. In Shep’s interview, he said Madison was scary. She was always going to keep Austen handy, like a lap dog. They should both do their own things now. Watching from the porch, Leva and Venita wondered if Madison needed reinforcements. Obviously, they don’t know her very well. Craig said their attitudes were bleeding into everyone’s lives. Austen told Madison to stop it, and she screeched that he was a beta, and she was an alpha. He asked what the hell she cared; it was over. She said he was an effing joke, and he said it seemed like she was. Madison finally got on her broom and flew off, and Shep said she was like a wolverine, insulting wolverines everywhere and also Hugh Jackman. He suggested they just walk away. In Austen’s interview, he said Madison wanted to control him, but what he did was his effing business. Shep said it was up to Austen to get out of the hole. Back at the porch, Whitney picked up his guitar. Luckily, both Leva and Venita weren’t about to climb up a ladder to the treehouse, so they stayed out of it. I love how they only consider it outnumbered if it’s the guys doing it.
John said he missed his kids for the millionth time. In his interview, he said he thought it was the right decision to come to Charleston. His kids had an incredible summer with dad, and it left him feeling like could do it, but also respectful of their mom. In Kathryn’s interview, she said it had been devastating, and asked if she should just accept this label. Friends didn’t abandon you when you made a mistake, but her friends weren’t there. There were fins in the water, and a huge debate over whether it was a shark eating a dolphin, or dolphins having sex. It turned out to be the latter. Leva, Madison and Danni grouped together, and Shep said he believed Kathryn was joining them for dinner. Leva said she thought Kathryn needed to be accountable, and not be coddled. In Madison’s interview, she said she thought Leva was doing a lot of poking, which was rich coming from her. Shep said everyone was invited into his world. As though on cue, Kathryn arrived, and in his interview, Shep said, what happened, happened, and it didn’t look good. Let someone make a mistake, and learn from it. They all needed redemption now and then. Craig told Kathryn that they’d been watching either an orgy or a feeding fest out on the water.
Everyone sat down for dinner, and Madison made a huge deal about not wanting to sit near Austen, calling him this and trash. Shep said Madison loved control, and was good at it. Craig said if Madison didn’t like him, why did she care? which is the question of the season. Kathryn sat down, and John pointed out that it got quiet. He made a toast, thanking everyone for joining him, hanging out, and being his friends. In Austen’s interview, he said Madison was making it easier to walk away. If John wanted to pursue her, go for it, and good luck. Several of the guests threw blackberries at each other, and Craig announced he’d found fireworks in the house – big ones. Madison told John that he needed a button-down shirt, and Austen, probably hoping to unload Madison faster, took him into the house to find one. Madison asked Kathryn about an article she’d seen about Kathryn and Chleb, saying Kathryn was trying to salvage her reputation by dating him. She said, he and Kathryn had known each other for years, and now they were dating suddenly? Why is this so weird to everyone? I’m not even saying it’s not contrived – I don’t know – but I was friends with my husband for years before we started dating, and think it’s actually a good idea. Kathryn said that was why she hadn’t told people. In Kathryn’s interview, she said she had no reason to shout it out to people who’d clearly proven they didn’t give a f***. Madison said Kathryn needed to address what was going on. This was all a shame, since the food looked fabulous, and I can’t imagine enjoying it in the midst of this drama. Except for Shep. Shep can tune out anything. Leva said the last time she’d seen Kathryn, Kathryn had walked off. She felt disrespected and it had triggered her. Austen asked what the issue was, and Leva said she’d been trying to help Kathryn work stuff out, when Austen called her a bully. In Austen’s interview, he said Leva was still upset, and clearly had insecurities about feeling like a bully. Leva said she found Austen disappointing, and Madison seconded that. Austen ignored Madison, and told Leva that he was sorry he’d said it, and asked if they could move past it. Venita, pulling my how-about-them-Mets? move, asked if they could talk about how good the shrimp and grits was; the cook had crushed it. Leva said all she wanted was for Kathryn to have a dialogue with them. Kathryn told Madison2 that she’d f***ed up, but she’d expected her friends to know her better. Madison2 said, that was the problem. Instead of showing up as the person she wanted to be, Kathryn expected them to understand. Kathryn said she’s made a mistake, but it didn’t define her. Venita suggested she and Madison2 go somewhere more private, where they didn’t feel like they had an audience, and Craig said the treehouse was a good spot.
Up in the treehouse, Kathryn told Madison2, she was confused about the right thing to do. Her intentions were never racist or political. Madison2 said she understood, but Kathryn specifically said the woman needed to stop using her minority claim. Kathryn had to think about what she did to people personally, as well as to the business. Gwynn’s was getting blown up, and people were saying Gwynn’s was racist supporting her. If Kathryn wanted to move forward, she had to acknowledge she effed up, and hurt people. Kathryn asked what more Madison2 wanted her to say. Danni told Craig that she was waiting for her apology, and Craig said when he was talking to Leva on the beach, he’d only heard Kathryn’s side, and that they’d made Kathryn cry. Danni said they needed to have a serious conversation, and Craig said, if he could do it over, it would be different. Kathryn told Madison2 that she’d hoped her friends would know her better, and Madison2 said she couldn’t make excuses for Kathryn anymore. Kathryn said she didn’t think it was necessary for Madison2 to defend her, but thought Madison2 would have had more to say than nothing. Madison2 said Kathryn had to take responsibility, and Kathryn said Madison2 didn’t know what was going on. Madison2 said there was always something going on, and Kathryn asked, then why had Madison2 been her friend if that’s how she felt? Madison said, what about Kathryn? She was playing the victim to the guys, and minimizing everyone else’s feelings. Kathryn said, if she was such a bad person, why be her friend anymore? She was over it. It was bullsh*t, and she wasn’t doing this. Madison2 said she wasn’t either. Shep and Taylor floated in the pool, blissfully ignoring all this.
Madison2 told the others, it went nowhere; they were just talking in circles. Danni wanted to walk on the dock, and asked if Kathryn wanted to walk. She and Kathryn walked out to the dock, and Venita said Kathryn knew everyone was talking about her. They sat down, and Danni asked how Kathryn was feeling. Kathryn said it was difficult to make progress, and Danni said Madison2’s feelings were hurt, but she’d always cared about Kathryn. Why had Kathryn reached out to Leva over the people who know her? Kathryn said she wasn’t overlooking them; she was in her own world, keeping her head above water. Back at the table, Venita said she thought Danni was enabling Kathryn, and Madison wanted to go bother them. Venita said she didn’t chase. If someone came to the table to discuss their wrongs, and own up to them, fine, but Kathryn wasn’t going to do that because she was a child. In Madison’s interview, she said she was sick of all talk and no action. Say it to her face and get it over with. On the dock, Kathryn agreed with Danni, but said she was having a hard time. She wondered how she could manage to pick up where they’d left off. Craig set off some fireworks, scaring the bejesus out of everyone. A little guy with a parachute floated down at the end, which was pretty cool.
Danni told Kathryn that she couldn’t brush off the conflict; it was hurtful. Madison said she’d tell Kathryn the other girls wanted to talk, and she’d bring her to the table to hash it out. Venita was concerned that Kathryn might feel ganged up on, and Craig and Shep were like, uh-oh, as Madison sashayed to the dock. Danni told Kathryn that she’d made some bad decisions, and couldn’t blame the others for being upset. Kathryn said she didn’t want to blame them, and Danni said it seemed like Kathryn felt she didn’t do anything wrong as far as hurting them went. She shrugged things off easily, but an apology went a long way. Here’s where Madison stuck her big nose into things, and asked if she could interrupt, plopping herself in between them. She said she thought it best for Kathryn to speak her mind to the girls, but Danni didn’t think it was a good idea. They were already upset, and it wasn’t going to help. It would just make it worse. Madison said she knew Danni stood with Kathryn. Kathryn was the best friend Danni was ever going to have. I wasn’t sure if that was supposed to be an insult or Danni is just bad at forming a sentence. Danni said she was trying to be honest and diplomatic, and express what needed to be said. She didn’t want Kathryn to walk away, and it had to be done in a way Kathryn could hear it. Madison is such a moron, she said Kathryn shouldn’t be weak and needed to stand her ground, then told Danni it had nothing to do with her. Danni said she was about to smack Madison off the dock, and Madison said she’d like to see Danni try. Me too. I’d actually like to help her. Danni said Madison was a bully, and Madison called Danni a rat. WTF? Madison said all Danni did was s*ck Kathryn’s ass 24/7. Kathryn said that wasn’t true, and Madison said Kathryn needed to tell the girls she was innocent. She was sick of people talking. Kathryn and Danni just sat there, and Madison stomped back to the house, while it started to rain. In Madison’s interview, she said she didn’t kiss Kathryn’s ass; Danni did, and Kathryn walked on her. Danni let her because she had no backbone, and it was hard for her to respect a girl like that. Kathryn told Danni, she didn’t understand what that was, and Danni said she didn’t either. She said, that kind of behavior was what Kathryn didn’t want to be like.
On the porch, Danni sat on a swing, and Danni plunked herself on an adjacent one. She started squawking and pointing her finger at Danni, and Danni said she and Kathryn had been talking. Madison didn’t need to interject. Madison said she wanted to tell Danni why, but Danni said she didn’t care. Danni said a bunch of nonsense, ending with telling Danni to go s*ck Kathryn’s ass like a peasant. Danni wondered what Madison was talking about, and Leva said, that wasn’t supposed to happen. Danni said Madison was a stupid bitch, and Leva said she was just supposed to get them back to the table. Shep popped in and said he’d missed everything. Was everybody happy? Leva said, no, and Kathryn said she and Danni had been in the middle of a serious conversation. Danni said Madison went from 0 to 100, and Leva asked if they were able to finish talking, but Kathryn said, no. Leva said other people wanted a chance to speak with her. She wanted Kathryn to sit and have an honest, vulnerable conversation. John said they were pulling it again, but Kathryn said she didn’t feel bullied. She thought it was time to have the conversation, but didn’t know how. She didn’t know the right way to do a conversation like that. Venita said showing up was the first step, and Craig asked everyone to go inside. John said, let’s all have a moment, for no apparent reason, and Craig urged them to go upstairs. Kathryn asked Danni if she was okay. In Kathryn’s interview, she said she’d stayed quiet because she wanted to just listen, but now she thought she needed to clear her name.
Craig and the girls all sat at a table, and Madison got stupid about sitting at the same table as Danni. Venita said if she could sit there, they could sit down and shut up. She told Kathryn, most Black individuals wouldn’t have this conversation with her, take her by the hand, and walk her through it. Leva said, it wasn’t their responsibility, and Venita said they were tired. Craig said not many people could say they’d never done anything that wasn’t okay, and Leva suggested they start with the problem. Kathryn’s comments were deeply hurtful to her and people she loved. Kathryn said she understood, and didn’t want to offend anyone. Craig said she needed to show vulnerability, and Kathryn said she was sticking up for a cause. The girl was bullying her friend. Venita said there was nothing wrong with that, and Kathryn said she felt the need to defend her. Leva said Kathryn had made digs that were racially motivated, but Kathryn said she hadn’t known who she was talking too. Craig asked, then what did she mean by minority? and Kathryn said she wasn’t sure she used minority that way. Venita said there was no other way to use it, and Kathryn said she had no explanation. Leva said Kathryn had spent her life living in a bubble that’s called white privilege; things didn’t bother her because she wasn’t affected. It didn’t make her a bad person, but a person who lives on that side of the world. That could either wake her up, and she could make different choices, or do what they’d expect from her as a Calhoun. In Leva’s fairytale world, their sons would think it was cool what their moms did. One day they would say, thanks to the different conversations their moms had, they’re friends now. Venita said they could bring Kathryn to water, but she had to drink. Leva said no one owed this discussion to Kathryn, but they cared about her enough to be there. Kathryn said she understood, but wondered how to move forward, and Venita said Kathryn needed to take time to digest the conversation. If she commented on it tomorrow, it wouldn’t be authentic. Kathryn asked how she could show people that she wasn’t a racist, and Madison2 said, do the work. Craig said, the ball was in her court.
Six months later… We saw a picture of Kathryn and Chleb, and Kathryn came out of the bathroom holding a pregnancy test. She looked at it, and put her hand over her mouth.
Next week, the Reunion. Madison tells Austen to shut his Muppet mouth, and makes other equally delightful comments, Leva and Kathryn argue, and John tells Austen not to talk about his kids.
👌 To Their Credit…
Shep and Leva were guests on Watch What Happens Live tonight, and Shep made an excellent comment. He said when too many people hammered you on the head with a point, it might dull the message, and it wouldn’t get through. Leva also said she hadn’t known about the issues Kathryn had, like anxiety, and that running away and hiding was Kathryn’s defense mechanism. It shed a different light on things. Although I thought, on the flipside, she kind of expected Kathryn to be a mind reader, when clearly, they didn’t know each other all that well.
🐱 I Like It…
So when you’re watching GH, listen for, paging Dr. Hernandez.
Hopefully, no more glitches. I’ll have today’s GH and some tea for you later, but for now, stay safe, stay present, and stay not buying an HP computer. It’s true. You get what you pay for, and I did.
What I Watched - TV With Theresa 