What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Maxie looks at a map, and Peter comes back. He asks if she’s planning a hike, and she says she thought they could take a walk together. Talk some more things out. He says, what a lovely idea. He’s afraid they’ll have to wait until tomorrow though. It’s getting dark soon. That’s when the wolves come out. She asks if he means to sound so ominous. What is she saying; of course (🍷) he does. The way she sees it, she has two options. She could ignore the implied threat, wolves after dark, and keep pretending they’re in this romantic refuge together; or she can tell him to his face, she plans to escape the first chance she gets.

Leo and Ned come into the MetroCourt, and Olivia says, what a pleasant surprise. Ned says, Leo suggested they pick her up so they could go for a little swim at the lake this evening. Olivia asks if they think it’s warm enough for that, and Ned says, clearly, she hasn’t been outside. They should take advantage of the unusually warm weather. She says she has a couple things to take care of, then they can go. She leaves, and Leo tells Ned he heard heat waves can drive people insane. Ned says, let’s hope this one doesn’t last.

On the other side of the room, Laura says she admires Ava, and Ava asks why she said that. Laura tells her, even after all of the horrible things Spencer did to her, she still encouraged Nikolas to mend that relationship. Ava says, she wants what’s best for both of them, and Laura says, so does she. She’s also trying to take the high road right now, for Spencer’s sake, but if this girl doesn’t show up soon… Esme comes in and says, she’s here, and she’s famished. She thinks she’ll have the surf and turf tonight.

At Kelly’s, Trina tells Josslyn, it’s so hot out, she almost has to wear shorts. It’s wild, and a little terrifying. Josslyn says, she knows one thing, this weather’s going to give her wardrobe whiplash. Trina tells her, they say it’s a temporary warm front, but if this keeps up, she might have to go home and get her summer clothes. Josslyn says, they might have to share. There’s no way she’s going back to the house, and risk running into Sonny. Not after what he did to her mom. Trina asks, how’s that going? and Josslyn says, horrible. Nina’s a liar, and Sonny’s… just as bad. It would be easy to blame the whole thing on her, but nobody tells Sonny what to do. He could have stopped it at any time. Instead, he chose to protect Nina, and they’ve blown the family apart. Trina says she’s not making excuses, but she’s sure it’s confusing for everyone involved. Sometimes, you can’t help caring for someone you probably shouldn’t. Josslyn says, like Trina with Spencer?

Spencer says, Nikolas’s visit wasn’t in his daily horoscope, and Nikolas says, it’s good to see Spencer hasn’t lost his sense of humor. How is he? Spencer says, great. The food here leaves much to be desired. The magazine selection is a tad pedestrian, but there are fans in the public rooms. What’s going on in the outside world? Did he sleep a few months and skip to June? Nikolas says, the outside world is just as puzzled as Spencer is, but he’s right; the fans do feel good. He can stay there a while, if Spencer doesn’t mind. Spencer says, there’s a table right next to a fan. Would Nikolas like to join him?

WSB Field Office – Switzerland/Austrian Border. Malone says she’s searching for properties around the salt mine. So far, she doesn’t see anything obvious. It would help to have some names to narrow this down. Anna suggests she try the names of Faison’s companies; maybe one of them owns the property. Malone says, ready when Anna is, but Dante says, this is taking too long. Every minute counts. Anna says, try EuroTech, and Drew steps away with Dante. He tells Dante, this is their best option. He needs to try and chill out a little bit. Dante says he gets it, but this guy – he taps the folder in his hand – knows they’re looking for him. They can’t let him slip through their fingers again. Drew says they can use his arrogance against him this time; he’s overconfident. He thinks he’s so well-hidden right now, no one can find him. He’s going to stay too long, and that’s when they finally get the smug son of a bitch.

Trina says, Josslyn knows all relationships are complicated, friendships included. Josslyn asks if they’re good, and Trina says, 100%. Why does she ask? Josslyn says, it seems like they haven’t been connecting. Like they haven’t shared as much after what happened at the cabin. Trina says there’s something she’s been keeping from Josslyn, and Josslyn says, there’s something she hasn’t told Trina either.

Esme says, how nice to see Ava. Is she joining them? Ava says, she can’t this time; she has an art sale to coordinate. Laura says, sounds fun. Good luck with that. Ava thanks her, and tells them to have a wonderful time. She leaves, and Esme sits down, saying, she intends to have a wonderful time. She’s positively famished. Laura says, she’s positively late, and Esme says, is she? Apologies. In France, we say, le quart d’heure de politesse; it’s the quarter hour of politeness. It’s so the host has time to compose himself or herself. Laura says she’s familiar with the phrase. The thing is, they’re not in France, and she’s not giving a party. She was left to wait here in a public place. Esme says when she’s waiting, she checks her favorite fashion pages, and Laura says, that’s not the point. They need to have a serious sit-down, because some things need to change.

Nikolas asks if Spencer needs anything, and Spencer says he wouldn’t mind knowing what’s going on in Port Charles, aside from the weather. Last he heard, Peter August escaped and kidnapped Charlotte, and Uncle Victor rescued her. Have they captured that bastard yet?

Malone says, no hits on EuroTech having properties in the region, and Anna says, try Vogel Industries. Both of them were shell companies for the DVX, and she’s assuming Peter would have access to the holdings, given he’s Faison’s son. Malone says she’s coming up empty; negative on Vogel Industries. Anna says, Modesto Media, and Dante says, they’re wasting time. Anna asks if they can at least try this, and Drew says, Modesto Media was on Peter’s references when he came to Aurora, so definitely try that. Also try properties owned by Victor Cassadine. Lethe Limited; try that. Malone says, no holdings whatsoever with Modesto Media. She’s searching for Lethe Limited. Dante says, no way in hell. Peter’s not going to associate himself with Victor at this point. He puts himself in one of Victor’s properties, he opens himself up to being taken advantage of and sold out by Victor. Drew says he hears Dante and understands. He knows they don’t trust each other, but Peter has some leverage over Victor, and that’s why Victor kept Drew on his compound for over two years. Anna says, that is true, and Victor was instrumental in Peter’s escape, but she’s with Dante. She doesn’t think Peter would include Victor in his hideaway. Malone says she’s got something.

Peter tells Maxie that he’s disappointed. He thought she would have kept up this charade for at least 48 hours; maybe even a week or two. This effort was pathetic. She says he’s right. She’s ashamed of herself. She planned to play that fantasy version of herself that he seems to be so fixated on, the one who sees the best in him, but she just couldn’t do it anymore. Nope. She doesn’t want to, because she got what she wanted. Her children are safe on the other side of the Atlantic, away from him. So no more games. From now on, all he’s going to get from her is the truth. Can he reciprocate? Does he even know what the truth is anymore? He says she just admitted to lying to his face. Now she wants him to be honest with her? She says, it’s the least he can do after the scorched earth he’s made of her life. Why don’t they go back to the beginning? To the death of the man she really loved; Nathan West.

Olivia tells Ned, ready to go, when Ava walks up. She asks if Leo is having a fun night with his folks, and Olivia says, Leo remembers his Aunt Ava, Avery’s mom. They were at her gallery the night they saw the photographs of all the animals. Ava says it’s nice to see him again, and Leo asks if she has any new animal pictures. Ava says, not since the Photo Ark exhibit, but promises to let him know as soon as she does. She quietly tells Olivia, she’s glad he has fond memories of that night, and Olivia says, her too, especially since he practically gave her a coronary running off like that. Leo says, sorry, mom. He wanted to see the octopuses. Ned suggests he and Leo give his mommy and Aunt Ava a chance to talk, and they go to a table. Ava says, little pitchers have big ears, and Olivia says she didn’t know he was listening. Ava says, he must get that from his father. They could never get anything over on Julian. Leo is so special. He reminds her of Julian in many ways. Olivia says, he’s a little bit of both of them, but also very much his own person, and it turns out, even more special than she knew. Ava asks what she means, and Olivia says, she’s his aunt and it’s no secret; Leo was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Ava says she didn’t know, and Olivia asks how she could. She didn’t know, and she’s Leo’s mother.

Esme asks if there’s a problem, and Laura says, the problems is Esme’s complete lack of respect for her and her home. Esme says, if this is about the nail polish and the sofa, she shouldn’t have disregarded Laura’s wishes… but Laura says, it’s not just that. It’s Esme’s sense of entitlement, and the way she pushes back the boundaries. It’s completely unacceptable, especially when it’s in her house. Esme says, if she had someplace else to go, she would, but she understands. When in Rome… Laura says she doesn’t understand. This is not about respecting customs; it’s about respecting people. What Esme did to Ava wouldn’t be acceptable in any country, would it? She gets that, right? Esme says, she regrets helping Spence terrorize Ava, and she promises not to get caught up in anything like that ever again. Laura says, what about getting caught up with Ryan Chamberlain?

Trina asks, who shares first? and Josslyn says, all you. Trina says, Spencer got her a Valentine’s Day gift, and Josslyn says, what? Trina says, she got it on Valentine’s Day, but it was really a just because gift, and Josslyn says, she’d ask just because why, but let’s put a pin in that for now. What did he get her? Trina says, remember that modern artist Richard Molyneux, whose work she was obsessed with? Josslyn says, the guy with the squiggles, and Trina says, Spencer got her a book of those squiggles. No big deal. Josslyn says, super big deal. He remembered Trina’s favorite artist, and somehow got a book delivered to her from inside prison. How’d he manage that, by the way? Trina says, his grandmother, and Josslyn says, he had his grandmother, the mayor, deliver his gift. Wow. All that’s missing is an inscription. Trina looks guilty, and Josslyn says, stop. What was the inscription? Trina says, that’s why she didn’t want to tell Josslyn anything. She’s getting it twisted. Josslyn says, is she? Let’s see. First he defends his snake of a girlfriend for basically setting Trina up, and then he slips her some just because gift on the side. What are they again? Trina says, they’re basically friends, but Josslyn says, just take a minute and think about it. Then open her eyes, because she’s nobody’s sidepiece.

Spencer asks Nikolas why truly disgusting people, like Peter August, keep getting away, while here he sits. After everything he’s done, Spencer was hoping Nikolas would tell him that Peter was dead, not that he escaped again. Nikolas says, all indications are that Peter’s time is running out, and Spencer says, maybe Uncle Victor can help find him. He found Charlotte after she was abducted. Nikolas says, there are limits to what even Victor can do, but Spencer says, not from what he’s seen. Nikolas says, he’s glad Spencer is being protected, but he doesn’t know Victor like Nikolas does. Spencer says, of course (🍷), pile on with the haters. Uncle Victor is one of the few people who has come through for him, so if Nikolas is going to badmouth him, he can leave, and Spencer will go back to his cell.

Maxie says, their flight gave her plenty of time to think about her and Peter’s tortured history. Back to the beginning, when he showed up in Port Charles, took that job at Aurora Media, and didn’t tell anyone he was Faison’s son. He asks if she’s really surprised. It’s not like it was something he was proud of, and if anyone knew the truth, no one would have trusted him. She says, right, and he needed people to trust him; people like Lulu. Peter manipulated her, so she would convince Nathan to go public about the fact he was Faison’s son. In turn, it lured Faison to Port Charles, which is exactly what Peter wanted. He says he kept Jason alive in that clinic all those years because he knew Jason was the one person who could rid him of his father; the one person who wouldn’t fall for the legendary Cesar Faison mind tricks. Someone who would simply point the gun and pull the trigger, which is exactly what he did. She says, not before Faison killed Nathan. Tell her. Did he plan for Nathan to die? Did he set that whole thing up to get rid of the brother that he knew in his heart was a better man than he would ever be?

Malone says she went back to the original title search for properties in the region of the salt mines. Then she cross-referenced properties that have been acquired in the last 15 years. There were 39. Diving deeper, one stands out. It changed hands ten years ago; a cash purchase by an Octavian Stone. Anna says, that’s him, and Dante asks how she knows. She says, Cesar Agustus, the Roman emperor, his original name. He was originally known as Octavian, and the Latin word for stone is petra. Petra, Peter; Augustus, August. Pull up the coordinates. That’s their destination. Kreger says, he’ll notify the Swiss police of potential WSB action near the salt mines, and leaves. Drew says, he has to hand it to the bastard, that place is perfect. It’s isolated in the woods; it’s got plenty of cover. He points to the screen and says, the road runs right past the property, and straight out to the Autobahn. Anna says, that means if Peter gets any advance warning, he’s going to be on that road, on to the Autobahn, and over the border. Malone says, assuming he’s changed vehicles, and has papers to support an alias, the screening at the border won’t stop him. Dante says, and they’re back to square one. They can’t let that happen.

Esme takes it Doc told Laura what happened, and Laura says, of course (🍷). They have no secrets between them. Esme gave him pushback because he tried to restrict her contact with Ryan. Why is that? Esme says, the class at PCU and her internship give her a sense of purpose. She hasn’t felt that way in a long time. Laura says, okay; that is a good thing. It’s okay to be focused, but not to have tunnel-vision at other people’s expense. Esme promises to do better, and Laura says, good. She’s glad to hear that. Now she just has one more concern. Esme says, the bathroom? and Laura says, no. Well, yes, but no. She’s concerned about how Esme’s doing with Spencer being away. Esme says, it’s tough. He’s miserable on the inside, and she’s miserable on the outside. Spence is really the only person who gives a damn about her.

Trina asks if Josslyn thinks she’d ever let herself be a sidepiece. As far as she’s concerned, she and Spencer are just friends. Now let’s change the subject. There was something significant Josslyn wanted to tell her. Josslyn says she’s pretty sure Trina already knows, but she never actually said it. That night at the cabin, she and Cam had sex. Trina says, she figured. When she woke up after Spencer and Esme left, they seemed… different. So how was it, now that they’ve taken things to the next level? It’s major. Josslyn says, it is, but it also feels regular. She and Cam were so close before, getting closer felt natural, and he was so sweet and so romantic. There was no pressure. He made her feel safe and loved, like she was the only person on the planet. Trina says she’s proud of Cam for making Josslyn feel special, and Josslyn says she wants that for Trina too. She deserves to be someone’s one and only, and no matter how things shake out, she doesn’t think Spencer is going to be the one who could ever give that to Trina.

Nikolas tells Spencer, Victor shows up for his family when it suits him, yes. He can personally attest to that, but he can also attest to the fact Victor’s methods are questionable at best. Spencer says, they work, but Nikolas says, that doesn’t make them right. Spencer says he’s impressed with these newfound scruples of his. He pulled strings to get Alexis a pardon, but won’t lift a finger to keep his own son safe from imprisonment. Nikolas tells him, he’s only saying, Victor’s protection comes at a price, and Spencer says, whatever. Uncle Victor takes care of his own. Can Nikolas say the same? Nikolas says, he’s here. They can’t go back in time; they can only go forward, and he wants to do what he can for Spencer. Spencer says, really? Get Ava to drop the restitution. Nikolas says, it’s court ordered; it’s not up to Ava. Spencer says, like Cassadines are so law abiding. There are ways around that, but Nikolas won’t even bother. When he saw Nikolas, he thought something had changed, but now he sees it’s business as usual. Ava is Nikolas’s priority, not him. Nikolas is still putting her ahead of his own child. Show of hands. Who wants to slap Spencer silly?

Ava tells Olivia that she feels terrible. If she’d been more involved, if she’d visited more… Olivia says, life happens; everybody gets busy. Ava says, busy, right, but the fact is, she’s been so involved in Cassadine family drama, she’s neglected her own. She barely knows her nephew. Olivia says, maybe that’s for the best. For a while, when anyone even suggested something might be off with Leo, she practically bit their head off. She just couldn’t see that he needed a little bit more support. Ava says, sometimes the closer they are to something… She appreciates Olivia letting her off the hook about spending or not spending time with Leo, especially considering their past. Olivia says she hasn’t forgotten, but this isn’t about them; it’s about Leo and what’s best for him, and he has her focus. Ava asks how they’re managing, and Olivia says, they’re very lucky. They have a great team at GH, and Leo has an after school program that’s teaching coping skills and calming techniques, and time management. She’s personally found negotiation techniques and patience she never imagined she had. They say, it’s important to keep it consistent each day, and make sure Leo has avenues to express himself. Ava looks over at Leo, and says, however Olivia got here, she got here, and she’s glad Leo has such a supportive family. Olivia says Ava is part of that family, and Ava thanks her. She says she thinks Julian would want her to spend more time with him, especially since Leo doesn’t have his father. Olivia says, obviously, Leo is lucky to have all the love in his life he can have, but as far as a father is concerned, they’ve got that covered. Ned is in the process of adopting Leo.

Peter tells Maxie, Nathan was never his target. He’s quite the planner, but he never could have orchestrated the events that led to his father killing Nathan. She says, so even his plans have limits; that’s why his brother wasn’t a target? He says, she’ll hear no proclamation of brotherly love from him. She’s asking for the truth, right? Here it is. It couldn’t have worked out better for him if he had planned it. She never would have looked in his direction if Nathan had lived. She never would have given him a chance. She says he’s right. In her grief, and desperate need to fill the void Nathan left in her life, she believed Peter’s lies because she wanted to. She convinced herself, after losing the man she loved, that his brother was the next best thing. She never asked the questions that need to be asked. She never looked past his façade to the horror underneath. He played her, but let’s be real. She let him, so that’s on her. He applauds and says, brava. Now that she’s had her reckoning, her moment of self-reflection, what does she intend to do about it? She says, well, she dug this hole. She guesses she’ll have to climb out of it, or die trying.

Laura says, she and Doc care about Esme, and Esme says, that’s kind of her to say, but she knows they only tolerate her because of Spence, and his friends won’t even do that. Laura says, there must be someone in her life she’s really close to, and Esme says, there is one, but she’s not in the picture anymore. Her nanny helped raise her after her adoptive parents died. Laura says, Spencer told her about that. She’s sorry Esme had such an unhappy childhood. Where’s her nanny now? Esme says, kids grow up, and nanny’s move on; it’s not like they had a falling out. Laura says, like she had a falling out with Spencer’s friends, and Esme asks if it’s that obvious. Laura says she’s learned she can either burn bridges or mend fences, and trust her, the second one is so much more rewarding. Maybe right now, instead of working so hard to analyze inmates, perhaps Esme should focus on getting herself a support system that doesn’t consist solely of Spencer. Esme says, in other words, get a life? and Laura says, something like that. Esme says she can see why Laura is Spence’s favorite person, and Laura says she adores him, and anyone who matters to him, matters to her. Is Esme ready to eat? Does she want to hear the specials or does she just want to order? Esme asks if Laura minds if she takes a raincheck on dinner. She has fences to mend. Laura says, good for her. Wonderful. She thinks she knows what Esme likes, so she’ll bring something home. Esme says, home. She likes the sound of that.

Trina says, she doesn’t have any expectations where Spencer is concerned, and Josslyn says, just protect herself, please. Trina is always protecting everybody else. Who’s looking out for her? Trina’s phone dings, and she says, Josslyn won’t believe this. Esme. She wants to talk. Josslyn says, because talking at the cabin went so well? Block her.

Nikolas asks why Spencer insists on making this a competition his affection, and Spencer says, he didn’t; Nikolas did. He lost that competition long ago. Nikolas says, Spencer is his son. There’s going to be a place in Nikolas’s heart for him always. Spencer says, a place, and Ava takes up every other space. Nikolas says, there’s room for both of them. It’s frustrating, because Spencer refuses to accept that, and spends his energy on a vendetta against Nikolas’s wife. Where has it gotten him? Here. Spencer says, he was friendly with Ava once upon a time. It was her betrayal that made him begin to despise her. He was trying to find justice for Nikolas’s supposed murder. He prioritized his loyalty to Nikolas, and their relationship above all others. Nikolas says, repairing their relationship is his priority, and Spencer says, prove it.

Trina says, she’s on her way, and Josslyn says, great. After this, they’ll book Trina a skydiving lesson with faulty parachutes. Trina says she’s curious about what Esme has to say; isn’t Josslyn? Josslyn says, Trina’s not protecting herself, but Trina says, her dad always tells her, the best defense is a good offense. Josslyn says, that’s great advice; take the initiative, seize the momentum. Just make sure Esme gets what she deserves.

Peter asks what Maxie intends to do. Her resources are thin; make that non-existent. She says she’ll figure it out, and he says, the nearest village is 30 kilometers away, and she doesn’t know the area. She steps ten feet into those woods, and she’ll be hopelessly lost. And let’s not forget about… the wolves. Maxie says she’d rather hang with the entire pack than spend one more minute with Peter, and he says, don’t be ridiculous. Let’s relax and have a glass of wine. The Swiss are known for their pinot noir. Come on. They’ve had a long trip, and she said she hasn’t even slept yet. She knees him in the groin, and jets. He yells, dammit, Maxie. You can’t get away. He’s never letting her go.

Maxie wonders why she’s always in the woods. She looks up, and says, there it is, and thanks Spinelli for all his lectures about the night’s sky. The map said, the road is to the north, and according to that star, north is that way. She runs again.

Olivia tells Ava, Leo will always know Julian as his biological father, but Julian is gone, God rest him – she blesses herself – and Ned got to be the day-to-day dad, that stable presence. They’re bond is so great, and she’s so grateful for that. Leo is just becoming so much more socialized. Ned takes Leo to GH for a class every week, and just knows how to encourage his interests. They’re writing a book together right now. It’s a picture book about aquatic animals. They’re bond is really amazing. Ava says, Olivia doesn’t have to sell her. She and Ned are obviously on it. Olivia is a terrific mother, and she can’t imagine a better father for Leo. She’s sure that Julian would agree with her. Olivia thanks her, and says, that means a lot. And as far as getting to know Leo, it’s never too late.

Nikolas asks what more he can do to show Spencer how much he matters, and Spencer says, give him his trust fund. No more scraping for pennies. Don’t renew his vows with Ava; tell her to hop in a handbasket and go straight to Hades. Spring him out of there early. Tap that contact he used for Alexis. Be his father. Nikolas says, he is Spencer’s father, and Spencer says, what about the rest of it? Nikolas says, his job as Spencer’s father is to teach him accountability. He’s willing to do anything but helping Spencer avoid taking responsibility and retaliate against his wife. Spencer says, so that’s it then. He’s to remain an impoverished ex-con, destined for indentured servitude at the mercy of a bitch… Nikolas says, that’s enough. He puts his finger in Spencer’s face, and says, Spencer has no right to refer to any woman that way, and Spencer says, but it’s okay to arrange to have a woman shot? Nikolas says Spencer’s out of his mind, and Spencer laughs and says, what’s the matter? Is Nikolas worried everyone else is going to realize he belongs in here too? Samuel asks if this guy is bothering Spencer.  

Esme walks into Kelly’s, and asks if it’s always this hot in Port Charles at this time of year. She tells Josslyn, hi, and says she didn’t know Josslyn would be here. Can she sit? Trina says, be her guest, and Esme thanks her, and sits down. She says she owes them both an apology, especially Trina, and Josslyn asks, what’s the catch? It’s too hot for hell to have frozen over. Esme says she deserved that. Josslyn is right. She was trying to create drama during that drinking game. Trina asks, why? She hasn’t done anything to Esme. Esme says they both intimidate her. They’re the ones with great families and friends; everything she doesn’t have. They have lots of people to love them, including Spence, but he’s all she’s got. She guesses it made her feel territorial. Trina says, no one is trying to take Spencer from Esme, and Esme says she’s not sure they could if they tried, but point taken. They’re not the enemy, but do they still think she is?

Laura asks if Ned has spoken to Tracy. Does she know about Leo’s diagnosis? He says he has, and she’s planning to visit when she gets a chance. Laura says, can she? and he says, the WSB has cleared her of all charges. They were able to prove that the Ice Princess diamond was swapped without her knowledge, weeks before she made the sale. Laura says she’s sure Tracy is happy to have that behind her, and he says he’s not sure about that. She’s actually contemplating a lawsuit. Laura laughs, saying, that’s just like Tracy, and he says, it’s actually good Luke wasn’t alive to discover the diamond was stolen; there’d be hell to pay. She says, maybe that was the point, and he says, meaning? but before she can answer, Olivia and Ava join them. Olivia tells Leo that his Aunt Ava is thrilled to hear about some of the new stuff he’s learning, and Ava says, she heard he’s working on a book. Would he be willing to show her and Avery sometime? Leo says she can help if she wants. Can she draw? She says she’ll let him in on a little secret. She appreciates art a lot more than she attempts it, but she’d certainly be wiling to try for him. He says, cool.

Spencer says, his father was just leaving. He wouldn’t want to keep that precious wife of his waiting. Nikolas says, as he wishes. He’ll be visiting soon. Spencer says, don’t bother, and turns his back on Nikolas.

Trina says, apology accepted, and Josslyn says, she’s curious. Why the sudden change of heart? Esme says, Spence’s grandmother Laura got her thinking. Spence can’t be her entire world. She needs to be her own person, more open, mend fences, and not burn bridges. Trina says, Mayor Collins is a wise woman, and Esme says, she and Trina are certainly close. Josslyn says, they all are. Don’t forget, she’s Cam’s grandmother too. Esme says, of course (🍷). Next time Trina is visiting Laura, she’ll join her. Trina says, it’s not like she’s there all the time, and Josslyn says, Trina just went over there to get her gift. Esme says, what gift? and Josslyn just looks at her. Esme says, she means the gift her boyfriend got for Trina.

In the woods outside Peter’s house, Drew asks how Anna wants to do this, and Anna says, carefully. She doesn’t want Maxie caught in the crossfire. She says, Drew’s had experience with these types of situations. He understands the rules? He says, all too well, and she tells him to call it, and he says, they’ll move now, while the clouds are broken and they have a little moonlight. The goal is to approach, and access how many are inside. Once they get eyes on Maxie, that’s when they take the house. Obviously no radios, so keep eye contact for communication. He’s one, Anna is two, and Dante is three. He tells Anna, take the perimeter, and Dante, over there. He’s going down the middle, but will need some cover. Got it? Dante says, copy that, and Anna says, ready when he is. Drew says, let’s do this, and they move closer. Drew nods, and they move faster.

Maxie finds the road, and says she did it. Now she just needs to find her way to the village. She sees headlights, and waves, yelling, over here, because apparently, she’s learned nothing.  

Tomorrow, Maxie tells Peter to come and get her; Trina says Josslyn just made it worse for her; and Carly says, the plan was set in motion when Sonny decided to sleep with Nina.

Below Deck Sailing Yacht

Captain Glenn tells us, the thing with sailing is, you never know the conditions you’ll run into. If it was easy, everybody would be doing it. Daisy, Gary, and Colin are back, and in Colin’s interview, he admits to enjoying a little drama here and there. It keeps him entertained. We meet the new crew members. Chef Marcos is from Venezuela, and stew Gabriella says she’s like a chihuahua, all bark and all bite. Deckhand Kelsie says she has two brothers, and growing up, it was either fight back or get farted on. Deckhand Tom tells us not to let his baby face fool us, and stew Ashley says she looks innocent, but she’s not. We see a short preview of the season. A lot of people will fall down, and champagne glasses will be broken.

Menorca, Spain, Port Mahon. In Gary’s interview, he says he’s back and ready to rumble. He has a lot to teach, and hopes he has a team that’s willing to learn. In Glenn’s interview, he says the beaches in Menorca are spectacular. He first came there in 1984, and has an apartment there. He offered Gary a full-time job, since he knows the boat and Glenn can depend on him. Daisy arrives, and says she’d rather be on the beach, but a girl’s got to eat. It’s her first charter since last year, and she hopes she remembers how to be a chief stew. In Daisy’s interview, she says, her role as chief stew is to be puppet master. If the team looks good, she looks good, and she hopes they learn quickly that she’s always right. In Marcos’s interview, he says he grew up eating pasta and plantains, and now runs a food truck in L.A. with a business partner.

In Gabriella’s interview, she says she’d be described as funny, loyal, and passionate, but she’s a sh*t talker and likes to bust balls. In Tom’s interview, he says he grew up in Windermere, north of England, where there are more sheep than people. He’s worked in yachting for three years, but this is his first time sailing. Colin is the last to arrive, and in his interview, he says he’s glad to be back on the Parsifal with his boy Gary. He thinks Glenn has an amazing leadership style, and when you sail with him, you know it will be a good time. He gives Daisy a big hug.

Glenn wants to do a quick brief with the crew. Chef Marcos seems mild mannered… for now. The chefs always seem to end up pitching fits at some point. Glenn is excited about the season, and to see both old and new faces. He tells them, no drinking on charter, and communication is of top importance. Last season, they had a communication problem. In Daisy’s interview, she says, everyone else had a communication problem, but she didn’t. We flash back, and I’m like, oh yeah, Chef Natasha and the eggs… Glenn tells them that they can take some time to get to know each other tonight, but it’s a school night.

In Kelsie’s interview, she says, she went on a charter in Croatia with her cousins in 2015, and thought it was the coolest job. She’s gone from being a guest to a skipper, and has her own boat, but she’s never worked  on a superyacht. It’s like a Great Dane versus a chihuahua. Daisy tells Marcus that she’s not strict, but don’t take anything she says personally. In his interview, he says, even though he’s the new guy, he’s not scared. He’s cooked for the likes of Shakira, Beyoncé, and Alicia Keys, among others. Gabriella says she’s been in yachting for a year, and Ashley says, it’s her one-year anniversary. In Ashley’s interview, she says, she always wanted to be the best, and got straight A’s in school. She wants to be a chief stew someday. Tom says he thinks Ashley is hot. Glenn calls Gary, Marcos, and Daisy to the saloon for a preference sheet meeting.

Primary Mccordia is a real estate investor, being joined by some other hard working business owner friends to celebrate Black entrepreneurship. They’re looking for beautiful scenery, elevated cocktails, and five-star dining. Gary says, they want a beach picnic, and Daisy says guest Aleah wants a hip-hop PJ party for her birthday. They’ve requested the crew dress up with them. Because I’m sure the crew members always carry their hip-hop wardrobe with them just in case. Provisions come in, and Daisy calls for some hip-hop themed stuff. She asks Gabriella and Ashley to meet her in the crew mess, and makes Gabriella second stew because she has more experience in bartending. Ashley doesn’t seem happy, but says she’s good. She’s put on mornings, and Gabriella on the late shift. The deckhands finish up, and grab a beer. Daisy tells the stews that they can finish up tomorrow, and suggests they get a drink.

Gary, Colin, and Daisy hang out together up top, and the newbies gather on deck. Gary says, Tom likes Ashley, and Daisy says, Ashley likes him, and we’re transported back to middle school. Tom approaches the OGs, and Colin jokes that it’s an official meeting. Gary tells Tom that Ashley thinks he’s hot, and in Tom’s interview, he says, yachting is like Never Never Land. He’s never growing up. (Actually, that’s Neverland, but we’ll let it pass.) Going to their lockers bunks, Gary asks Ashley if she has a type, and she says she thinks they’re both cute, and she’s not picking. She asks their ages, and Tom is a year younger than she is. Gary is in his 30s, and she says, she usually goes for older. In Tom’s interview, he says, just because he’s younger doesn’t mean he doesn’t know what he’s doing. But he needs to get on with Gary, so if Gary likes Ashley, he’s taking a backseat. Tom tells the rest of the crew about Ashley choosing Gary over him because of his age, and in Gary’s interview, he says, he’s in a predicament. He was the cause of a predicament last season, and we flash back to him sleeping with Sydney the first night on deck, and then almost sleeping with Dani until she found out. He admits he’s an idiot, and says he’s not going to make the same mistake twice. He’s turning a new leaf.

At 10 pm, the crew is still clicking bottles and doing shots. Tom is getting pretty sh*tfaced, and in Colin’s interview, he says Tom reminds him of himself at Tom’s age. He wanted to have a good time, and didn’t think about the consequences of going too far. They haven’t even started the season. Gary flirts with Ashley, who wants a kiss. He obliges and then says, no. He’s still an idiot. No new leaves happening here.

Tom is bunking with Glenn, and finally turns in. Gary’s mom sends him a message not to do something stupid. Around midnight, the others are still outside talking and drinking, and Tom says he doesn’t feel well. He gets up, and pukes his guts up in the bathroom. He tells Glenn that he needs to sleep low (he’s in the top bunk), and Glenn tells him to sleep in the mess. Tom leaves, and Glenn gets up and gets dressed. Kelsie has wisely chosen to go to bed, but the others are still partying. Glenn trudges upstairs, and tells Gary, let’s get everybody to bed. They have a charter tomorrow, and they’re already a man down. In Glenn’s interview, he says he doesn’t want to be a buzzkill, but he has to make a point. This is why you don’t do what you did. He says, they’re going to be picking up guests; get their asses to bed. Gabriella tries to clean up, and drops a bunch of bottles. In Gary’s interview, he says, it’s not a good look. It’s an example of what not to do on a school night.

In the morning, it’s not pretty. Tom wakes up confused, and in his interview, he says he just wanted to prove he could fit in and drink like everyone else, and gave the worst impression. Gary tells Colin about Ashley wanting a kiss, but insists he wasn’t even flirting. Ashley tells Gabriella about it, who says, just wear a condom. Tom says he’s never been more embarrassed in his life, and Glenn tells Tom to clean the bathroom he puked all over. In Tom’s interview, he says, he already made himself look like an idiot. He’s got to move forward, and let his work do the talking, In Glenn’s interview, he says he thinks Tom understands the gravity of the situation. It’s strike one, but it’s never going to happen again.

The crew gets last minute stuff done, and Daisy does a walk through. She’s happy with everything, and Glenn tells them to get in their uniforms. The guests arrive, and Glenn welcomes them. The crew stands in line to greet them, Ashley with damp towels, and Gabriella with champagne. Glenn passes them to Daisy for the tour, and their luggage is brought on board. Marcos makes appetizers, and they look fabulous. Even Daisy is impressed, and says, this what a canapé should be; pretty and elegant. I’m betting he can make eggs too. The lines are clear, and they set sail.

Marcus says he’s working fast because he knows sh*t goes sideways. The sails go up, and in Kelsie’s interview, she says, the sails are freaking huge. She’s excited to learn from Gary. The guests are loving the boat’s tilt. One of them falls over, and laughs, saying, it’s only the first day.

In Ashley’s interview, she says, something about Gary makes her think he’d be great in bed. She knows what she’s doing. The sails come down, and Daisy tells Gabriella that the guests want a sparkly dinner with lots of candles. They stop at Cala Blanc, and Glenn eats a gigantic matzo cracker in the mess, while Kelsie uses her hair as dental floss. Possibly one of the grossest things I’ve ever seen someone do. In Marcos’s interview, he says, it’s a little bit of pressure, but he’s not going to show it. Daisy says, with her junior stews, it’s like raising children. The guests are still hungry, so Marcos makes more appetizers, along with some shrimp in whiskey butter sauce. In his interview, he says, they definitely want their money’s worth.

Dessert is served, and I suddenly realize, primary Mccordia is the only dude. A guest falls, but it’s not from the boat tilting this time. Daisy goes to bed, feeling she’s finally working in a team environment again, and Gabriella is left to handle Mccordia, the only guest left standing. He keeps telling Gabriella that she’s sexy, and says, he doesn’t like girls, but she’s cute. For whatever drunk reason, he tells her that he has a little d*ck, and in Gabriella’s interview, she says, there’s no sense in trying to talk a drunk person out of their f***ing f***ery. It’s an exercise is getting someone to respect her. He asks who she’s f***ing tonight, and she tells him that he’s getting inappropriate. He asks who she’s interested in, but she says, no one on the boat. He tells her that she’s full of sh*t, and in her interview, she says, bring it on, mother f***er. Since she’d said she likes both men and women, he asks what two women do together, and she tells him to go to bed.

This season, a wedding, Gary does a striptease, a guest faceplants against the mast, Gary and Ashley get busy; and Glenn says, it’s about as serious as it gets. They might be stuck.

⛵️ The Newbies…

Meet the new Sailing cast.

https://www.bravotv.com/below-deck-sailing-yacht/about

🍳 On the Chef Subject…

I couldn’t remember Natasha’s name, and when I was googling, I came across this. I guess it would have worked as long as a guest didn’t ask for eggs.

‘Below Deck Mediterranean: Chef Natasha From ‘Below Deck Sailing Yacht’ Could Have Stepped in as Chef?

🏖 I skipped Summer House because my hatred for the show finally won out. Not really. I’m a glutton for punishment, but I was busy at the times it was on. I caught the tail end, and Danielle – looking fabulous in some kind of silver and black Mardi Gras-ish outfit – told Ciara and Paige that Kyle had been talking smack about his fiancé Amanda. He’d said the only thing they had in common was their business, Loverboy. The girls took note of how Kyle was chatting up some random babes, and Amanda was dancing around with some dude, and Danielle said, it just wasn’t them. I’ll say it again, these people are their thirties for God’s sake. Get it together. Get something together. Not drinking so much would be a start.

✨ Dream Of You Tonight, See You Tomorrow…

Come set a spell tomorrow for some soap and a look at New Jersey. Until then, stay safe, stay being positive, but not toxically, and stay not leaving people waiting. Le quart d’heure de politesse or not, it’s rude.