Tag Archives: Ryan's Renovation

Jun25

June 24, 2021 – Another Setback For Chase, KJ Gets a Win In an Uncertain Market, Ryan Finally Moves In & Houses

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Nina puts flowers on Nelle’s grave, and says, hello, daughter of mine. It’s been a long time since she visited and she’s so sorry. She just needed a little breather from this town and these people. From life, she guesses, but never from Nelle. She hopes that much is clear. Clear hasn’t been her forte these past few months. She doesn’t know what she’s doing anymore. She flashes back to dancing with Sonny at the Tan-O, and says, she’s been on this mission to find herself for months, and instead, she found someone else. Michael rudely interrupts her.

Willow goes to Chase’s room, and sees Chase and Finn looking grim. She asks, what’s wrong? and Chase says, it’s his legs. He can’t walk. She says she doesn’t understand, and Finn says Chase’s legs had atrophied from being in bed these post few weeks. She says, that’s to be expected, right? and he says, yes, but the toxin may have caused some nerve damage. Coupled with the atrophy, Chase is unable to move his legs. She asks what this means, and Chase says, right now, he can’t feel anything below his waist. Willow asks if Chase is paralyzed.

Alexis tells Shawn, she’s worried if they go public with what they’ve learned, there could be retaliation. He says if Carson wants to come at him, bring it, but she says, it’s not just them, but their loved ones on the outside. They just need to be prepared. He says they’re talking about a bunch of state employees, and bureaucratic red tape; how serious of a break does she think this could be?

A woman comes by Molly and TJ’s table at Kelly’s, and stops. She asks if Molly is Alexis’s daughter, and Molly says the woman is the judge who presided over her mother’s case. Judge… The woman says, Carson, and Molly introduces TJ, her partner and an intern at General Hospital. Carson says, impressive. Nice to meet him. She understands Molly is going to be working as an ADA at Robert’s office. She guesses they’ll be bumping into each other more often.

The hospital employees gather in the breakroom, and Elizabeth sees Terry. She says, it’s been forever, and Terry says, it’s been two days. Elizabeth tells her, like she said, forever. Oncology must be keeping Terry busy. Terry says there’s a position open there, and they’ve been pressuring her to make it official. Elizabeth says, that’s fantastic… isn’t it? Terry says, normally yes. She loves it in Port Charles, but the hospital’s future is still in question. And face it, she doesn’t exactly get along with the Chief of Staff. Elizabeth says she’s not exactly alone, although does Elizabeth have a story for her. Portia joins them, and Elizabeth tells her a meeting was called with all the department heads; it’s got to be about Cyrus’s replacement. Portia asks if they have any idea who it is, and they both say, no. Terry tells Portia that she has an idea of who might, when Laura walks in.

Britt asks if Jason remembers what a good time is, and he says, vaguely. She says, top down, the wind in her hair… and he says, it’s a convertible? She says, obviously. Maybe she’ll take him for a ride if he’s not too scared. He says, speed doesn’t scare him, and she says, even with her behind the wheel? He tells her, he said she was an awful driver; he never said she wasn’t safe. She says she’s definitely unsafe, and they almost kiss, when annoying Carly walks in, and says she and Jason have to talk about the Novak situation. She looks at them a moment, and says she’ll be at the MetroCourt. She’ll take care of it. She starts to walk out, but Jason says, wait. Is it important? Is it time sensitive? Carly looks at Britt, and Britt says, message received. This is clearly not something they can talk about in front of her.

Chase asks Finn if he doesn’t have that meeting, but Finn says he can skip it. Chase gives him a look, and Finn says, but he shouldn’t. He tells Chase to text if he needs him. He leaves, and Willow sits next to Chase’s bed. She says, talk to her, and he says, the nerve damage should repair itself over time. she says, so it’s not permanent, and he says, hopefully not, but time is of the essence apparently. She asks what that means, and he says if he has any shot of walking again, he has to relearn how to do it in the next few months.

Finn walks down the hall, and flashes back to his argument with Peter on the roof, and Peter launching the antidote over the side. He remembers throwing Peter down the stairs, and Elizabeth confirming Peter was dead. He gets in the elevator, hearing Gregory say that he’s the only one who can save Chase’s life.

Michael tells Nina that he’s sorry to interrupt – hint: if you think you’ll be sorry, don’t interrupt – but he saw her in the parking lot when he came in. She says, he’s here to visit… and he says, his dad. She thanks him for the visit with Wiley, and says she had a really good time. He says, Wiley did too, and she says she was surprised at his sudden about-face. He says they’d talked about it, and she says she knows, but she also spoke with Jax, and knows he’s been an advocate of her having more access to Wiley. But exactly how hard did Jax push Michael?

Carly tells Jason, there’s a time element in play, yes, and Britt says, it just so happens that she has a meeting at the hospital, so they’re in luck. But for future reference, she’d rather be told, you can’t hear this, than be talked around. She thanks Jason for the boxing lesson, and says she’ll let him know when the car comes in. She leaves, and Carly says, for future reference?

Elizabeth says she’s going to talk to Laura. Heading for Laura, she nearly collides with Finn. She says she didn’t think he was coming there, and he says, neither did he. Terry says they would have saved him a spot, and he thanks her, but says he’s more comfortable in the back of the room. No one will call on him there. There’s obviously a subtext going on, and he tells Elizabeth that he’ll see her around. When he’s gone, Terry asks Elizabeth, what was that all about? and Elizabeth says, Finn’s brother is still recovering… Terry says, everyone at the hospital knows what’s going on with that. She means, what’s going on between Elizabeth and Dr. Finn?

Portia, who’s beat Elizabeth to Laura, asks if Laura has any intel on who will be Cyrus’s replacement, and Laura says she does. Her mother gave her the scoop. Portia asks if she’s popping champagne or updating her resumé, and Laura tells her, let’s just say, it’s going to be interesting.

TJ asks Carson if she wants to sit, but she says she’s just grabbing some coffee. She asks if Molly took the bar in February, but Molly says she’s scheduled for July. She just finished law school. TJ says, talk about impressive. A job with the DA before she even graduated. If Molly won’t brag about it, he will. Carson says she commends Molly for taking a job at the DA’s office even after her mother was sent to prison. No one would have blamed her if she’d lost faith in the system.

Shawn tells Alexis, they’re not talking about gun-toting mobsters, and she says, they’re talking about people in power. He says, who want to stay in power, and she says, by any means necessary. There was an incident she heard of where a judge was being called into question by a defense attorney. The next thing you know, the defense attorney’s family is being harassed by local authorities, friends and family were denied permits, and that’s the least of it. So she thinks they should just alert Molly and TJ to all of this. What does he think? Quiet route or loud route? He says, neither. They just let his whole thing drop. If there’s any chance someone could get to TJ, they don’t do anything at all. She says please tell her he’s joking, and he asks if he looks like he’s joking. Even if they backchannel this, they can’t keep Carson from finding out. She’s well-respected and well-connected, right? Alexis says, right, but… He says, why give TJ another reason to be harassed? He can maintain in there. He only has a few years left on his sentence. She says, a sentence he shouldn’t be serving, for a crime he didn’t commit, and he asks if she thinks it’s the first time this happened to someone who looks like him. No. And it won’t be the last.

Carson says she’ll leave TJ and Molly to their coffee; it was nice to meet them. She tells TJ, good luck at the hospital, and Molly, good luck with the bar. If Molly ever has any questions or needs any pointers on case law, look her up. She’ll be happy to help. Molly thanks her, and says, it’s very generous.  Carson goes to the counter, and TJ says, wow. A judge offering to take Molly under her wing; it’s awesome. Molly says, is it?

Elizabeth says, it was really intense helping Finn save Chase, and Terry says, intense how? Elizabeth says, they had disagreements, and Finn requested she be taken off the case… Terry says, that obviously didn’t last long, and Elizabeth says, no, and they ended up making a pretty good team. Terry says, that kind of experience must have really bonded them, and Elizabeth flashes back to Finn touching her face. She says, yeah, you could say that, and looks across the room at Finn, who’s obliviously drinking his coffee.

Willow says, it’s like one setback after another, and Chase says, easy. He’s the one who should be worrying, not her, and he’s not. Because he’s got this. He’s going to walk again. For her.

Michael says, Jax definitely advocated for Nina seeing Wiley, but there were other factors that went into that decision. The main one being, he and Willow chose to trust her. Trust that she’d follow the guidelines and the rules when it came to Wiley. The reason he approached her is that they need to talk about Nelle. He knows they did a little, but there’s more to say. She says, of course (🍷). By all means. He says she knows what Nelle did to him, Willow, Wiley, his mom, and Brook; the list goes on. How Nina chooses to feel about Nelle, and make sense of the things she did, that’s up to Nina to figure out in her own time, but he can’t have her putting any of that on Wiley. Nina asks if she can be so bold as to ask him to do the same.

Carly says she doesn’t want to pry into Jason’s personal business, and he says, great; he appreciates that. (Like he’s going to get off that easy.) He gets out of the ring, and she says this isn’t her first rodeo. She gets it. He saved Britt’s life, he got shot, Britt saved his life… He says she saved his life, and she says he knows what she means; she’s not blind. Something’s going on. He says they’ve been over this, but if she needs to hear it again, yes. Something is going on with him and Britt, and it has nothing to do with her. Carly suddenly turns into her true form, a fire-breathing dragon, and burns the gym to a crisp. Not really. She says she’s sorry, but she disagrees. Anything that affects him, affects her.

TJ says, Carson is nice, isn’t she? and Molly says, yeah. She meant what she said. It was extremely generous of her to offer her guidance. He asks what the problem is, and she says, it feels kind of weird, considering she’s the judge who sentenced her mom. She knows her mom pled guilty, and she should consider herself lucky her mom got only three years… He says, it was a lenient sentence, and she says, still, her mother is in prison because of Judge Carson. Isn’t that a conflict of interest?

Shawn says, a man of color falsely convicted for a crime against a white woman. This isn’t new. Alexis says, which is why she wants to help, and he asks if she can single-handedly fix centuries of institutional racism. She says, no, but she can try, and he asks where all this righteous indignation was before she was in there with him, and before it affected someone she knew? He’s telling her to back off because he doesn’t think the risk is worth it for his son, or her daughter by the way, but she refuses. Does she even care what he wants? Or is this just all a savior complex? She says, that’s not what this is. She can help him. She’s a lawyer, for God’s sake. He says she’s not. She’s an inmate, just like him.

Nina says she’s hoping Michael and Willow will extend her the same courtesy, and not speak ill of Nelle to Wiley, and he says, Wiley doesn’t need to know who Nelle is. She says, eventually, he will, and Michael says she’s right. They’re preparing for that. It’s going to be a long and careful process to do it in a way that Wiley understands who his biological mother was, a troubled woman who did some terrible things, and not take it on himself. They’ve actually been meeting with Doc. He helped them find a child psychologist, someone they have lined up. The goal is to do this in the best, gentlest way possible, so it’s not some horrible secret that devastates Wiley when it comes out, and he won’t carry the burden of what Nelle did. Nina says she doesn’t want that for him either. She just hopes one day, at some point, she gets a chance to tell Wiley who she thought Nelle could have been. He says, when Wiley is 22 years old (kind of random, but okay), and his psychiatrist tells him it’s okay, he’ll be fine with that. Right now, Wiley is too young to understand anything other than Willow is his mom and he loves her. That’s where he is, and that’s where he’s going to stay until they collectively decide otherwise. She says she agrees 100%. She’s not there to rock the boat; just the opposite. He’s glad they’re on the same page. He tells her, take care, and leaves. Nina turns back to Nelle’s grave.

Chase asks if Willow remembers the rock climbing wall they never got to, and she says, the rock climbing wall he was going to drag her to, kicking and screaming? He says, they’re going as soon as he’s back on his feet. When Finn gets out of that meeting, he’ll have Finn set up physical therapy sessions. It’s going to take a while, so he wants to get started right away. She says he’s still recovering from the nerve damage. He needs to be careful of pushing himself too hard too fast. He says he’s going to push himself just right. Anything to get near his goal. She says, rock climbing? and he says, marrying her again, in the Quartermaine rose garden, with a ceremony and reception, in front of all the people who care about them. And he’s not going to be wheeling himself down the aisle. No way. They’re going to be walking hand in hand.

Carly says, whether or not it was the right move to force Jason to escape, she did it because they’re in this together. She knows they’ve always been in this together, but since Sonny died, things are different. Is she wrong? He says, no, and she says, and this isn’t a normal business. Hell, it’s not even a business; it’s a family, and everything that means. The protection, the planning, the danger. She had no idea how hard that was, but they’re in this together. So can he see how concerning it might be when he comes back from being on the run with Britt… He says he came back because she called him for help, which is exactly what she should have done. He said he would handle it, and he handled it. She says, he did. He came in guns a-blazing on the pier, and saved them like always. Except this time, he’s connected to someone she barely knows, and she really seems important to him. Is she? He says, yes, she is.

Britt dashes into the breakroom, and Terry tells Elizabeth, she made it. For a second, she thought maybe they would be the ones who got to write her up. Elizabeth says, believe her, she has a laundry list of complaints about Britt, but Britt believed in Jason when Elizabeth didn’t. She stood by Jake’s father when Elizabeth didn’t. So what is she supposed to do with that? Terry says she thinks it’s impressive the way Britt stood by Jason, but Elizabeth can be grateful to Britt and still not like the way she runs the hospital. Two things can be true. A woman comes in, and tells them, good morning. She knows they’re all curious about what was decided by the Board this morning. The revelations about Mr. Renault were troubling, to say the least, and they took swift action in removing him and finding a replacement that will make this Board, this hospital, and this city proud. A potential candidate was suggested by none other than Lesley Webber, and it’s with great pride that she shares this candidate was elected unanimously. Someone who has a long tenured history with the hospital, who they know will embrace this role with gusto, not to mention professionalism and competency. Please welcome their new Chairperson of the Hospital Board, Monica Quartermaine. Everyone applauds, and Monica takes a little bow.

Laura tells Monica, congratulations; no one is more deserving. Monica thanks Laura, and thanks all of them for the warm reception. She can’t tell them how honored she is to be back working at General Hospital. She’s missed walking around these halls so much in the last few months. She wants them to know, as Chairperson, she’ll remain as dedicated and devoted as ever. She’ll spend every day proving to them that she’s worthy of taking General Hospital into the future by also honoring its past. Everyone applauds again. Only Britt doesn’t look thrilled.

Carly says, Britt is important to Jason how? What does that mean? He says, it means he can’t tell her any more than yes, and she says, she just went over all the reasons they need to be a team, and he says, they are a team. She says she needs to know what’s going on, and he says she asked if Britt was important to him, and he told her yes. He can’t tell her why or how; it’s something he can’t talk about. She says she gets privacy, and they can have all the privacy they want. She just needs to know what she’s dealing with here. She looks like she might cry, and Jason says, nothing is going to change between them. Like she said, they’re a team. No matter what, it’s going to stay that way. Good Lord. Carly is acting like a jealous high schooler.

Molly asks TJ something I can’t hear about taking the job with Robert, and he says she knows where he stands on that. She asks him to go through it with her again, and he says, first and foremost, he supports her, but does he think it will be hard changing the system from within? Yeah. She says, it has to be possible, right? and he says if anyone can do it, it’s her. She says, and his mother. She walks that line every day. He says, she tries to. Remember when he was accused of shoplifting? She says, wrongly accused, and he says, his mom had to navigate being both a mother and the Commissioner, and she’d be the first to tell Molly, she didn’t succeed at either. It wasn’t her cross to bear. Molly says, when you put yourself on the front lines, it ends up that way.

Alexis says she’s sorry, and Shawn says he is too. She says sometimes she gets so caught up in the rightness and wrongness of something, she forgets there are actual people involved. It’s a blind spot, and not the first time someone has pointed it out, but she’ll try to make it the last. And he’s right. In there, she’s not a lawyer. He apologizes for saying that, but she says, it’s true. As the person advising him, she has to respect his wishes. If he wants to hit the pause button for a while, they will. Two guards come in, and Guard #1 tells Shawn to get back to his cell. Shawn says he has permission to be there for a few more hours, but the guard says, not anymore. His library privileges have been revoked. Alexis asks, why? and the guard tells Shawn, say goodbye to Ms. Davis. They’re not going to be seeing each other much anymore.

Monica says she’s 100% committed to bringing General Hospital back to its former glory. Part of that is reversing some of the questionable decisions her predecessor made, so effective immediately, Bobbie and Epiphany are returning to their positions. There’s more applause, and Laura asks if Monica told Bobbie and Epiphany the good news. Monica says she did, and Bobbie has already gotten her clipboard out of storage. They all laugh, and Monica says, Epiphany accepted graciously, but she’s not about to cut her Cabo vacation short. She’ll be joining them when she gets back. That’s about it. Everybody get back to work. People congratulate Monica as they leave, and Finn says he really missed Monica. She says she missed him too. Now go tend to his brother. He says, yes, ma’am, and leaves. Portia says she knows she and Monica didn’t overlap for very long, but she’s heard nothing but wonderful things about Monica’s leadership. Laura says, they’re all in excellent hands. Monica is the best at what she does. Monica says now she’s on the business side, so watch their budget overruns. Britt says she guesses it’s time to face facts, and Monica asks, what facts are those? Britt says she was the one who replaced Monica when she was fired. She sacked Epiphany, per Cyrus’s request. Payback’s a bitch, right? She guesses Monica is going to replace her as Chief of Staff. Everyone gives each other soap looks.

Nina tells Nelle’s headstone, even though it stings, and she didn’t love everything Michael said, she does believe Michael is right. She’s so thankful. The way she’s been acting lately, not a lot of people would have given her a second chance, but he did. If feels good that Wiley has a father that is so devoted to him. Wiley feels loved and cared for and safe. This really delicate place of trust that they’re in, is going to be blown to hell if Michael ever finds out she knew Sonny was alive, and didn’t tell anyone for months. She doesn’t know what she’s going to do. She isn’t going to be able to see her grandson, who is the only piece she has left of Nelle, ever again.

Jason tells Carly, the situation with Britt is a reality. He’s not going to lie about it. He’s not going to say there might not be an overlap, and when Carly calls because she needs his help, he might not be with Britt. She says he’s allowed to have relationships, and he says he doesn’t know what this is; where it’s going or if it’s going. She says, but it’s something, and he says, yeah. It’s personal with Britt and it’s personal with him. She says, and he can’t talk to her about it, and he says he’s not trying to shut her out. He just can’t go there, but she knows him. He’ll honor his commitment to her, always. Nothing’s going to change on his end. He can’t speak for her… She says, what? How can he say that to her? Honestly, if she doesn’t calm down, she’s going to have a heart attack.

Willow tells Chase not to do it for her. He should focus on getting better for himself. He says, can’t it be both? She’s everything to him. Finn walks in, and says he really needs to work on his timing. Actually, there’s a meeting he can go to… Willow says, he has work to do. Chase is all his. She starts to leave, and Chase says he loves her. She says she loves him too, but hesitates for so long and makes so many faces, I’m surprised Chase doesn’t ask if she’s sick. Michael comes out of the elevator while she’s hyperventilating in the hallway, and she runs to him. He holds her, and she cries.

Molly guesses her assumption that she could just swoop in and make the justice system fair for everyone was a little naïve, but TJ says she won’t know until she tries. She thanks him for being her biggest champion, and he says, always. She says she’s his too; he knows that, right? He says, if this mug doesn’t say it all, he doesn’t know what does, and they kiss.

Shawn says he was granted permission to use the library weeks ago, and hasn’t had an incident since. Guard #1 says he doesn’t have to tell Shawn, but the orders came from the warden himself. Alexis asks, on what grounds were Shawn’s privileges revoked? and the guard says, the same as they were granted, at the discretion of the warden. Alexis tells Shawn that he needs a lawyer. She’ll get him one by the end of the day. Guard #1 gets close to Alexis and tells her that she’s walking a fine line. Shawn puts his hand on the guard, and the guard pushes him back. Alexis tries to intervene, and Guard #2 pulls her away. Alexis falls to the floor, as Shawn struggles to go to her.

Nina says, Sonny has embraced his life in Nixon Falls. She kneels down by Nelle’s grave, and says, she didn’t really know him well when he was in Port Charles, but you could tell that he was tortured. He was burdened by his power, and haunted by all these tragedies. But the Mike she knows doesn’t have any of those things. She knows from Carly and Michael’s perspective, what she’s doing is wrong, but when she looks in Mike’s eyes, he doesn’t have any of that pain. He’s happy, so maybe she’s not wrong. It’s not because she feels drawn to Sonny, or she likes this version better. It’s because this man has been through hell, and now all that is washed away. And he’s happy. He’s truly happy. She puts her hand on the gravestone and says, that’s something she never had a chance to give to Nelle.

Guard #1 tells a random guard to take Shawn to his cell, while Guard #2 helps Alexis up. Guard #1 tells Alexis that she just instigated an altercation with a guard from the Department of Corrections in New York. He hopes she enjoys solitary confinement. Guard #2 takes her away.

Britt tells Monica, don’t worry. She won’t hold it against her. Monica says she hasn’t made any decision about the Chief of Staff, but assures Britt that when she does, there won’t be any prejudice involved. It’s a personal decision, and her ability to get along with that person is paramount. Terry says, if the matter isn’t settled, consider her as well. She’s sorry, but she’d like to throw her hat in the ring for Chief of Staff. It annoys me that she felt the need to apologize. As women, we often feel the need to apologize when we shouldn’t.

Finn is surprised Chase’s spirits are high. He just got a pretty serious diagnosis. Chase says he’s staying strong for Willow. He can beat this. He has to.

Willow tells Michael, Chase said their wedding is the thing that will get him through this; that he’s going to walk for her. How is she supposed to tell Chase the truth about her and Michael now?

A building blows up on the pier. It looks pretty impressive.

Carly says nothing will ever change for her when it comes to Jason. She’s just tired of being the selfish one all the time. Hint #2: stop being selfish then. He asks what she’s talking about, and she says, people are always saying she’s the one who makes impossible demands on him; asking him to do everything. He asks why she cares about what the rest of the world thinks. She’s loved him, she’s supported him, she’s fought for him. She’s been there for him since the day they met, and they both know, it goes both ways. Yes, he does a lot for her, but he wouldn’t be standing there with the life that he has if it wasn’t for her. They’re both up against it right now for a lot of reasons, but they look weak, and if they don’t deal with it, it’s game over. So they’re going to deal with it because they’re in this together. She nods, saying, she really needed to hear that, and he hugs her. His phone rings, and he says,  yeah?… When?… He heaves the huge sigh he’s now become famous for, and says, he’ll let them know the next steps. Carly asks, what happened? and he says, the docks have been hit. Somebody is making a move against them.

Tomorrow, Valentin asks what Anna’s instincts tell her about Austin, Lucy tells someone they’ve got to leave, Sasha doesn’t know how she’s going to tell Nina that she’s pregnant, Nina doesn’t know where home is anymore, and Brick tells Carly and Jason, they’re running out of time to push back.

Million Dollar Listing New York

Tyler said he was busier than ever. He was meeting the owners of a 3000 square foot, 4 bedroom, 3.5 bath apartment in Morningside Hts., located between parks and near Columbia, on 110th Street in Harlem. (I used to go to a great pizza place up there. Good times…) Tyler had convinced the owners into sinking $30K on staging before he started showing the apartment, and prayed they loved the results. He told owner Jeannine that it was no longer a family home, but a product. He explained the concentration was on neutral colors, and low key furniture, so potential buyers would take in the amount of space. Jeannine said it no longer looked like a home where kids had been throwing footballs around. In Tyler’s interview, he said he could tell there was going to be an emotional connection to the lives that had been lived there, but he wanted to get it marketed because of the upcoming election. He said, whichever way it went, a pause would be put on real estate. Whether or not people came back to NYC would depend on how the virus was being handled. He was selling both memories and somebody else’s future.

KJ met with fitness instructor/guru Megan Roup at a park. They’d connected virtually, but it was the first time they were meeting in person. She told Megan about the 2 bedroom, 2 bath apartment on 14th Street that she was trying to sell. Seller and friend, Stephanie was moving to Miami, and not happy with how long it was taking. Since brokers weren’t having events in the conventional way, KJ thought she’d have a workout event in the outside space of the apartment, which had more square footage than the inside. Since it was a walk-up, the attendees could warm up by taking the stairs. Megan would teach a class, then KJ would take groups to see the apartment. We learned that KJ had been the National Champion in race walking, and she did a demonstration.  

Ryan said since he’d opened his brokerage, things were going really well, but before he built a new sales force, he had a handful of listings to take care of from Nest Seekers. He met team member Talia at the 84th Street property to brainstorm about promoting it. Talia said people were coming back to NYC, and in Ryan’s interview, he said the city was slowly picking up. They discussed the neighborhood, and Ryan said one of the things he loved about NYC was that it was the most culturally and racially diverse city in the world. Talia said it was upsetting seeing what was happening in the world, but she felt a silver lining. It was opening up opportunities for people to talk about injustice. It was nice to see people coming together, and becoming more educated. They talked about real estate terms no longer used, like master bedroom. She said change was happening, and in his interview, Ryan said he couldn’t experience what Talia did, but he could listen, hear, and help as much as possible. Talia said the problem with showing the apartment was that people didn’t want to travel there, with public transport still being iffy. Ryan said since they weren’t spending money on events, they could put it into transportation.   

KJ set up with the workout/showing with her assistant, putting out tons of juices, water, and eco-friendly glass straws, and completely opening the NanaWall. In KJ’s interview, she said it took some thinking outside the box, but she knew people were missing in-person exercise classes. So she’d invited brokers to work out with a celebrity fitness guru. Her hope was, they’d be so sore, they’d remember the apartment.

Tyler was having a brokers showing for the apartment on 110th Street, and told Kemba to play up the fact it was near three major parks, one of them being Central Park. People were looking for outdoor space. He’d invited Alana, an intuitive psychic, to do an entrepreneur workshop, at Jeannine’s suggestion, and his life coach Vivace, who would coach female entrepreneurs and businesswomen to feel inspired about future. He felt people were losing confidence, and they could be socially distant while getting affirmation and career advice. In Tyler’s interview, he said, usually, it was about the agents getting excited about the property, but this one would be all about the agents. He told the brokers that the apartment was his anti-suburb listing, for people who wanted space, but didn’t want to leave the city. In his interview, he said it was hard to be an agent right now, and it felt good to have an event that empowered other agents. They had to keep their heads in the game. The pandemic wasn’t going to last forever.

Steve talked to Cornelia Guest, owner of the 456-acre Artemis Farm. He told her people were interested in having their own space, but being within driving distance of the city. He thought upstate New York was a hidden gem, more discreet than the Hamptons. He thought a price tag of $3.995 million felt good, and she said she trusted him, and knew he had her best interest at heart. Steve said he loved the city, his life there, and his job, but selling upstate was a damn good way to spend a Saturday. The farm felt like a country manor; modern, but not too modern. It was the perfect combination of shabby and chic. Before he went full throttle, he wanted to do pre-showings with people he thought could help get it sold. His secret weapon was Dorinda Medley (Real Housewives of New York City), who was Berkshires royalty. Bluestone Manor was famous, and he thought she was the perfect person to spread the word. Among others, he’d also invited publicist Greg, who was also a marketing guru, hoping that this showing would get a lot of people interested. He kept property manager Tim on hand to answer any questions, and in Steve’s interview, he said, a good broker knows where their expertise ends and someone else’s begins. The land was protected so that no one could build on it, but the upside was, no taxes had to be paid on it, and it could be rented out for events. Steve said one event could pay for the mortgage.  It really is a gorgeous, magical property, and if I had a spare $5 million, I’d buy it in a heartbeat. Dorinda said it would be a safe purchase in the long term, and Steve suggested selling Bluestone Manor for her. Dorinda said he might as well sell her soul; she was Queen of the Manor. Steve said the best way to show a large property was to show how much fun you could have with the space, and took his guests all around the place in an ATV. When they left, he wanted them to tell their friends what a joyride the property was.  

In Ryan’s interview, he told us that he was now the most followed real estate company in world. For the showing on 84th Street, he got what he called his covid-19mobile, a Lamborghini SUV with all the trimmings, including Plexiglas between the passengers, air filters, and Yuri in a Hazmat suit. He said a mixture of people were coming for the showings; some had reached out to him, some were his personal clientele, and there were even people he’d talked to on the street. He decided he could talk to them about the neighborhood, and 5200 square foot, 5 bedroom, 5.5 bath property, during the drive. He presented Yuri as fully protected and sanitized, and in his interview, he said, from crisis comes opportunity. This is why he’s so successful.

Once again I laughed at KJ trying to work and take care of her kids, who were like, mommy! mommy! mommy! She said she had a fabulous nanny, who was also student, and there was no back up childcare right now. KJ admitted she was not a WFH person, but her team had stepped up, and were doing showings at 14th Street, and doing a great job. Stephanie was in the process of moving, and putting pressure on her. The asking price was $2.625 million, and KJ got an offer of $2.3 million. In her interview, she said the covid discount seemed to go from 10-15% to 30%. There was nothing worse than getting a seller to drop aggressively, then getting a lowball bid. Stephanie was surprisingly understanding, saying, given the times, it wasn’t horrible. Everyone agreed $2.375 was a pretty fair number, but the buyer wanted to some of the furniture thrown in for that price. Stephanie said that hadn’t even been in the conversation, and when KJ could get her to budge by reminding her that she wouldn’t have to move it, KJ offered to lower her commission by $10K for the furniture gap. It was deal, but I didn’t cry for KJ, whose commission was still $61,250. In KJ’s interview, she said it felt like a win considering the uncertainty in the market.

Next time, Fredrik deals with an unhappy seller, KJ looks at property in her home town, and Ryan takes on the most luxurious development project in Brooklyn.  

Ryan’s Renovation

At the end of the last episode, Ryan and Emelia faced another delay, and it would be another three months before they could move in. They weren’t going to be in by Christmas as planned, and were a million dollars over budget. The goal was now Greek Easter.

In March, they had the completion reveal. It had been almost two years, and Ryan said it had been like Build-A-Bear. He and Emelia met with the interior designers. In April, they moved in some personal items, but were starting fresh with the design team working at the house. Emelia said it was exciting to be packing, but bittersweet. Ryan said their Soho apartment had seemed extravagant when they moved in. It was hard to believe how far they’d come. When they met, he’d just started in the business, and Emelia had just gotten out of law school. We flashed back to their wedding, and he said they’d expanded in all ways. They even had a tiny human they made together, and had outgrown the home that seemed perfect for them. The movers came, and Ryan had to go to work, leaving Emelia and her mom to deal with Zena. When move-in day arrived, Ryan said he couldn’t believe they were actually moving into the house, and that it was done and furnished. He wasn’t ready. He told Emelia, after everything they’d been through, he thought this moment would never come. The designers met them at the door.

Emelia thought their styles had been married well – hers being moody and dark, and his light and airy. Ryan said it was completely insane. They’d designed it on paper, and now it was real. We saw some before and after photos, and the whole place was beyond fabulous. Ryan said they’d do the landscaping when Emelia was in Greece during the summer. Emelia’s mom liked her downstairs suite, but said it was too far; the issue being the reception of the baby monitor. I suddenly wondered why they didn’t get a TV monitor like you’d have for your front door. I’m sure it’s expensive, but they just spent a skabillion dollars, so what’s a couple hundred more? Ryan said the closet was 250 square feet, the same as his first apartment. Emelia said she felt very blessed, but humbling as it was, she was proud that after so many years, they were there.  

In an amusing moment, Ryan showed Zena Andy Cohen’s picture on his phone. She wasn’t impressed. Zena was deposited with Emelia’s brother Stratos, while Ryan had a virtual meeting with his team. A bunch of family members came over for champagne and tons of food. Ryan thanked them for coming and breaking the house in, and said they were welcome forever. We flashed back over the renovation, and Emelia said, in spite of the ups and downs, it was worth it. It feels like home. Ryan said he never thought he’d say it, but all their hard work paid off. Alone on the terrace, they toasted to a happy Easter, Ryan adding, and to never doing it again. Emelia said, except maybe in Greece.

I really enjoyed this show. I like Ryan and Emelia. They seem like genuinely nice people, who worked hard to get where they are, and deserve what they’ve worked for. Although I’m sure Ryan isn’t going to slow down any.

🕍 Renovation Of a Lifetime…

There aren’t many after photos, but take it from me, it’s one amazing house. With a lot of stairs. I thought the elevator installation was very wise.  

https://www.bravotv.com/million-dollar-listing-new-york/style-living/see-inside-ryan-serhants-new-brooklyn-townhouse

https://heavy.com/entertainment/bravo/ryan-serhant-brooklyn-house-renovation-home/

https://people.com/home/see-ryan-serhants-expensive-renovation-in-sneak-peek-of-the-million-dollar-listing-spin-off/

🦘 G’Night, Mate…

Oh wow, it’s not daylight out yet. Join me tomorrow for soap, tea, and many a quote. Until then, stay safe, stay ignoring the haters, and stay finding opportunity in crisis.

Jun18

June 17, 2021 – Obrecht Pays a Visit To Jason, a Sale At the Ansonia, Ryan Takes a Leap, Because It’s Juneteenth & Jive

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Elizabeth goes up to the roof, and looks around for Anna. She thinks she sees Peter.

At the hospital, Josslyn limps over to Trina, who says, out with it. What’s the prognosis for her ankle? Josslyn says, not good, and Trina says she thought it would be healed by now. Josslyn says, her too, but look at her x-rays. Just kidding. She got the all-clear. She jumps up and down, as much as she can still wearing a boot. She says she can start training for the PCU volleyball team. Trina says Josslyn is so evil, and Josslyn says sorry she faked Trina out. As soon as the nurse comes with her PT referral, they can go. Trina says, more PT? and Josslyn says, to strengthen her ankle. Trina asks if Josslyn is faking her out again, but Josslyn says she really needs the referral. She wasn’t pranking Trina to be mean. She was just excited to get some good news. Trina says Josslyn is overdue for it; they both are. Josslyn can’t believe Cyrus took Trina and her mom hostage. Talk about someone truly evil. Trina says, he’s in police custody now. It’s finally over, and they have so much to celebrate. They high-five.

Laura accompanies Jordan to her office, and says she’s glad they decided to relocate. Their conversation is best held privately. Jordan says, there is no conversation to have. She hands Laura an envelope, and says, here’s her resignation as Commissioner of the PCPD. All Laura has to do is accept it. Laura says, with all due respect, this is about something much bigger.

Finn does lab stuff in his lab, and Gregory asks what he’s doing there. Portia told them that Chase might not survive another day. These could be his last hours. Finn looks in his microscope, and Gregory asks why Finn and Chase aren’t spending them together.

Phantom Peter walks toward Elizabeth, then disappears. Elizabeth keeps walking, and finds Anna pulling at the elevator door. Anna asks how Elizabeth knew she was up there, and Elizabeth says Britt told her that Anna was looking for Peter and might be there. She asks if Anna found anything, but Anna says, just this old elevator; it’s not working. She has the feeling it might be the key to how Peter got out of the hospital undetected.

Britt stands at her office door, and flashes back to Jason saving her from Cyrus’s men. Obrecht comes up behind her, and says, in or out? Choose one. She can’t abide indecision. Britt says, hello, mother, and Obrecht asks if they’re staying or going. Britt says she was lost in thought, and Obrecht says, about? Britt says, how she almost died when Cyrus’s men trapped her there, and Obrecht says, fortunately, she had a savior. Britt smiles.

Carly tells Jason, when she saw him and Britt at the MetroCourt, she’s not going to say there were sparks, but there was definitely a connection. He says she’s right.

Obrecht says, thrilling as it must have been to have Jason save her, Britt was terrorized in this office. No doubt the memories linger, to say nothing of her current circumstances. How is she feeling? Britt says they don’t have to talk about Huntington’s every single time they see each other, do they? She cherishes every moment it’s not on her mind. Obrecht says, of course (🍷). She suggests Britt enter her office with some kind of weapon. Go for the legs first. Britt says she doesn’t need to be armed to go into her own office. Cyrus just left the hospital in police custody. The threat is over. Obrecht tells her, don’t be naïve. Cyrus may no longer be a threat, but Henrik definitely is. She wants Britt to be on her guard at all times in case he returns. Next time, Jason might not be on hand to save her.

Jason tells Carly, Britt saved his life; he’s grateful to her. Can they just leave it at that? She says she understands he and Britt were fugitives, and they were in heightened circumstances. She knows how things go. His phone rings, and he says he needs to take it. He answers and says, how big a problem?

Laura tells Jordan, after all this time, Port Charles has finally triumphed over Cyrus Renault. They put him in a Federal penitentiary, in the Midwest, where he has no contacts. His organization has been smashed, his people have scattered everywhere. He has no power. None. This is a major win, for Jordan and the PCPD. To resign now would be to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory, and not just for Jordan, but for the whole department. Jordan says, Cyrus left a trail of devastation. Lulu is still in a coma. Laura says Jordan suffered too, and Jordan says, the list of people harmed by Cyrus goes on and on. There would be no list if it wasn’t for her and Taggert. Laura thinks Jordan is oversimplifying it a bit, and Jordan says, falsifying evidence against Cyrus laid the groundwork for his release from prison. They gave him an opening, and he terrorized the citizens of Port Charles, and for that, she’ll never forgive herself. As mayor, Laura shouldn’t forgive her either.

Elizabeth gestures toward the warning: out of order sign, and tells Anna, everyone has forgotten about this old elevator. Anna says, it was originally constructed for Helena Cassadine to have access to this secret lab beneath the hospital. Recently, Olivia Jerome used it in her demented attempt to resurrect the dead. Elizabeth says, using Griffin Monroe, and Anna says, as if you could bring anyone back. Elizabeth says she knows how much Anna grieves for Duke, and Anna says, as Elizabeth does for Franco, dead at Peter’s hand. Now Chase’s life is at stake because of Peter. Elizabeth says, it’s been painful watching Chase’s family come to terms with what’s happening, and Finn is going crazy trying to figure out a way to save him. Anna says she saw Finn earlier; he’s devastated. Elizabeth says she knows how much Anna cares for Finn. Instead of being up there, maybe they should go back and offer their support and help.

Gregory tells Finn, he went by Chase’s room. Chase has drifted off to sleep, and Jackie and Willow are planning the wedding. He slipped away to find Finn. Jackie said he took off like a shot, after some strange encounter with Cyrus. Finn says, Cyrus was on his way to prison, and made a point of speaking to them. Finn goes to the whiteboard and writes some chemistry formulas. Gregory asks if what Cyrus said is more important than spending time with Chase in what could be his final hours. Finn just found out he’s Chase’s father. Why wouldn’t he want to spend as much time as possible with him? Finn says he thinks he can save Chase’s life, and Gregory says, Finn told them he’d run out of options. Finn says, he thought he was, until the run-in with Cyrus. He thinks he knows why his treatment didn’t work. Gregory says, the Trojan horse where Finn combined the DNA of both parents, and Finn says he used his own DNA, not Gregory’s. Gregory says he doesn’t understand, and Finn says he doesn’t think Chase is his son. He thinks Chase is Gregory’s son. YES!

Trina tells Josslyn, her mom just texted. Cyrus is headed for some penitentiary in the Midwest. Josslyn says she hopes he rots there, and Trina tells her, what you said. Josslyn says her mom has been in overdrive, trying to keep the family safe and hold Sonny’s business together. Now that Cyrus is gone, and Jason has been cleared, hopefully, things will get easier. Trina says Josslyn always told them Jason was innocent, and Josslyn says, because he was. That’s what made it so incredibly frustrating to deal with Cameron. He wanted someone to blame, and chose Jason. Nothing she said could get through to him. Not the fact that Jason is Jake’s father, and would never hurt him by killing Franco; not the fact that Jason’s a professional, and would never do it in such a stupid way; not even the fact that Jason once saved Cameron’s life. Trina says glad to see Josslyn and Cameron have resolved their issues, and Josslyn says, in all fairness, Cameron realized he was wrong and apologized. It’s just that she feels she doesn’t know him as well as she thought she did, or at least as well as she used to. Trina says she knows Josslyn saw Cameron’s post saying he was accepted at PCU, and Josslyn says she congratulated him, and told him that she was excited for all three of them going to college together. Trina says it would be great if she actually meant it, and Josslyn says she does. The nurse comes out with Josslyn’s PT referral, and Josslyn asks if Trina is ready to go. Trina says Josslyn can’t just brush it off. She and Cameron need to deal with their issues. They can’t start college with the two of them being weird. Josslyn promises she’ll figure it out; just not right now. They have more important things to do.   

Jason tells Carly, the shipment that was expected last night never made it, and she asks, what happened to the driver? He says they haven’t heard from the driver since he crossed from New York into New Jersey. He’s going to talk to Brick, and they’ll figure this out. She says if he needs anything from her, let her know. She apologizes for making him feel uncomfortable, but he says, she didn’t.  

Britt tells Obrecht, Peter might be a lot of things, but he’s not stupid. There’s no way he’d set foot in the hospital again. Obrecht says Britt’s imagination is failing if she believes that treacherous worm can’t find a way to get back there undetected, or that he wouldn’t target Britt if he did. She’d feel better if she knew that Jason was truly committed to Britt’s safety. Britt says, mother, please, and Obrecht says, don’t mother her. She knows how these things work. The same thing happened with her and Scotty. They shared a moment of passion as they worked through their intense grief over Franco’s death. They fell into bed together, but ever since, who knows where they stand? He doesn’t seem to be in any hurry to convey deeper emotions. It’s the eternal paradox. If a woman shows strength, the world assumes she has no feelings. How wrong they are. She and Britt are the same; they’re lovers. They both love with all their hearts… Britt tells her, stop. Whatever is going on with Obrecht and Scotty has nothing to do with her and Jason. Obrecht says, so there is a her and Jason? Does that mean he’ll be on hand to protect her from Peter? Britt says she’s not worried, but Obrecht says she is. Clearly, further action is required. Britt asks what that means, and Obrecht says, never mind. Just keep watching her back.

Anna tells Elizabeth, go back to Chase, and give him whatever support he needs. Elizabeth says, what about Anna? but Anna says she has to figure out how Peter got out of the hospital, and that might possibly lead her to where he is right now. Elizabeth says she knows why Anna is driving herself so hard, but the only person responsible for Peter’s crimes is Peter. She was unfair to blame Anna, and asks Anna to please stop blaming herself. It does no good to come up with wild scenarios that won’t lead her any closer to Peter. The elevator isn’t even working; Peter couldn’t have used it. Anna says she was pretty sure it wasn’t functioning, but she does feel helpless, and looking for Peter helps her feel less so. Does Elizabeth understand? Elizabeth knows the hospital better than she does; stairwells, corridors, shortcuts. Is there another way into the lab that’s in the subbasement? Elizabeth remembers helping Finn put Peter’s body in the cooler, and closing the lid. Elizabeth says, no. The subbasement was sealed off and the lab is inaccessible. Anna says she’ll just have to find a way to access it.

Gregory says the DNA showed he’s not Chase’s father; Finn is. Those tests don’t lie. Finn says, the science part doesn’t lie, but the human element can be easily corrupted. At the time of the first test, he had a vague suspicion that somehow the test could be tampered with, so he sent it out to another lab, to someone he could trust. They confirmed the test was accurate, that Chase was his son. Now it seems that Cyrus got to them somehow, along with whoever else he has on his payroll in the hospital. Gregory asks, why? Did Chase investigate Cyrus? Finn says he doesn’t think so, and Gregory asks if Cyrus has a problem with Finn. Finn says, who doesn’t? They weren’t exactly cordial, but he thinks Cyrus’s problem is with Jackie. She published that unflattering interview with his mother. It made Cyrus angry. The next thing they knew, there was that article in The Invader that Chase was really his son, not Gregory’s. Gregory says, so Finn thinks Cyrus tampered with the DNA results, then planted the story to retaliate? Finn nods, and Gregory says, it’s a compelling theory, but it’s just a guess. (Like this hasn’t been a guessing game all along.) It doesn’t prove anything. How does Finn know he’s not wasting his time when he could be with Chase?

Finn says he’s not sure of anything anymore, and goes back to the whiteboard. He says he wondered why Cyrus would go out of his way to say something to him while he’s being carted off to prison. That’s when it hit him. He was so certain he’d found a cure for Chase, and he was right. The idea of using Chase’s parents’ DNA to create a Trojan horse that would fool his body into accepting the cure was right on. But he used Jackie and his DNA, it failed, but what if the theory’s right, and instead of using his own DNA, he should have used Gregory’s because he’s really Chase’s father? Gregory says, it’s an intriguing idea, but what happens if Finn is wrong? Finn asks if Gregory just thinks he’s chasing a dream, and he’s just desperate to save Chase’s life. Maybe Gregory is right. Maybe he’s choosing this path at the eleventh hour because he can’t accept Chase is dying. He guesses he doesn’t blame Gregory, and Gregory says he may have his doubts, but no matter what the tests say, Chase belongs to both of them. If there’s a chance we can save his life, no matter how far-fetched, let’s do it.

Laura says she’s well-aware of the lines that were crossed by Jordan and her DEA partners to put Cyrus in prison. She doesn’t condone lying, but she does understand the rationale. Jordan was fighting Cyrus with the only means available to her. Jordan appreciates that, but says, what Laura doesn’t know is that she and Taggert made a deal with the Feds to testify in exchange for immunity, so their actions will be a matter of public record. Laura says, their actions put Cyrus in prison for years, and saved lives. Jordan says, they broke the law to do it, and now the whole world will know it. So under those circumstances, she can’t remain an effective Police Commissioner. Laura says why doesn’t Jordan let her be the judge of that?

On the phone at Pozzulo’s, Jason says, all they know is the shipment and the driver disappeared someplace in Jersey. They’ll talk more when he gets there. Jason heaves a huge sigh, which he’s become an expert at, when Obrecht walks in. She says, good day, Mr. Morgan. Does he have a moment? He asks what he can do for her, and she says she wants to thank him. Both for saving Britt’s life, and calling to tell her where Britt was hiding. It was an important and informative visit. He says she’s welcome, and she says, grateful as she is, she wants to discuss another matter. Something more in his normal purview. She closes the door, and asks when he’s going to rid the world of Peter August.

Carly sees Britt at the reception desk, and Britt asks what she can do for Carly. Carly says she’s just there to drop off a form. Josslyn needs medical clearance to play volleyball at PCU. She lowers her voice, and says she wants to thank Britt again. She’ll always be grateful to Britt for saving Jason’s life. Britt says, Carly had a hand in it too; Carly gave him her blood. That night at the safe house, Britt saw just how tight Carly and Jason are. She imagines Carly must be wondering how close she and Jason are. Is she right?

Elizabeth tells Anna, there’s no way to get to the subbasement; it’s been sealed off. Anna says, that wouldn’t stop Peter. If he knew there was a secret area of the hospital, he’d find a way in. Elizabeth says, huge leap, and Anna says she has to do something. She has to find Peter or Chase is going to die. Elizabeth says, she wants Chase to live more than she can say. She feels incredibly guilty about Chase’s condition. Anna asks why she feels guilty? She had nothing to do with Chase being poisoned. Elizabeth says she was working the day Peter escaped. She just wishes she could have done something to stop him. Anna says Elizabeth bears no responsibility. She can’t say the same thing about herself. She’s an investigator. This is her job, and she keeps coming up against a brick wall as to why there’s no recording of Peter leaving the hospital. Elizabeth says she understands Anna’s need to keep searching, but she’s not going to find anything underneath GH. Anna says, the stairwells were one of the areas the cameras were turned off; of course (🍷) Peter came up this way. Elizabeth says, they have patients flying in and out on the helipad. Did Anna ever think of that? Maybe that’s how Peter got out. Anna says she did think about that being a way Peter got out. It is more likely than an abandoned elevator. Maybe Elizabeth is right.

Finn tells Gregory that he put a rush on the DNA test. He asked a tech he knows personally to handle it. Plus, he sent a back-up sample to a guy he can trust, a guy from his Doctors Beyond Borders days. Someone Cyrus could never get to. Gregory asks how long the original samples will take, and Finn says, it could take a little time. Gregory says, time is the one thing they don’t have. He asks if Finn still has a sample from Jackie, and Finn says he does. Gregory suggests Finn make a new serum, from Jackie’s DNA and his, and give it to Chase. Finn says he can make the serum, but he can’t give it to Chase until they get the DNA results back. If he’s wrong, it will probably kill Chase on the spot. Gregory says, what if Chase dies while they’re waiting for the DNA results?

Jordan thought she should give Laura her resignation, especially to avoid putting her in the uncomfortable position of firing her. She, more than anyone, has to bear the brunt of Cyrus’s wrath. Laura says she admires Jordan’s willingness to own up to her mistakes, but she has to ask herself, does this serve the greater good? Jordan asks if Laura wouldn’t be undermining her own integrity by keeping her in office.

Josslyn and Trina go to visit the moss bowl, and Trina says Josslyn was right about them having something more important to do. She totally forgot these would be coming today. They put their graduation caps and gowns on the kitchen island, so they can soak up some of the awesomeness of the moss bowl, and Josslyn says, here’s to graduation and going to college. Trina asks if she’s over Southern Coastal. Is she ready for the PCU experience? Josslyn says, completely. It really helps that her ankle is healed, and she can start training with the volleyball team this summer. What about Trina? Trina says she can’t wait to go to PCU. She wants to do everything; all the college stuff, the football games, the student activities. She also wants to study. She wants to make sure to be in the running for a bunch of scholarships to study art history in Europe. Josslyn says, driven much? and Trina says, yes she is. Or is Josslyn telling her that she’s not going to help her team get a national ranking? Josslyn says, of course (🍷) she will, and Trina says she thinks they should make a pact. These caps and gowns, their graduation; they have a chance to wipe the slate clean of all the bad stuff that’s happened this year. Time to start over. They dive into their future starting today. Josslyn says, starting today.

Carly says, after seeing Britt and Jason at the MetroCourt, she got the idea that there was more between the two of them than just being fugitives together. Britt says she’s willing to bet good money Jason didn’t tell Carly that, and Carly says, he didn’t have to. Britt wonders if Carly is telling her this because it’s going to be a problem for her, but Carly says, no. She thinks it’s going to be a problem for Britt.

Jason tells Obrecht that he has people out looking for Peter right now, and Obrecht says, people who might be working outside the boundaries of the law? He just looks at her, and she says she’s familiar with the code of silence among certain organizations, but in case Britt didn’t tell him, Peter has threatened her. He says he knows; he was there. She asks, is that how he and Britt first connected, over Peter? She’s glad he’s searching for that deceitful worm, and it will delight her beyond measure if Jason is the one who finds him. She’s sure Jason will make his elimination short and sweet, not the torturous end he deserves, but he’ll be gone. Finally. Blessedly. Now what are his intentions regarding her Britta?

Jordan tells Laura that when her actions become a matter of public record, the people of Port Charles will lose trust in her. Laura says she has a different take on this. The people of Port Charles will see the pain and devastation Cyrus has caused. The fact that Jordan wants to own up to her mistakes, is proof of her integrity, and the mistakes she’s made, she’s made with the best of intentions. Who among them hasn’t done the same thing? She’d be surprised if the people of Port Charles didn’t empathize with Jordan. Jordan says she still can’t understand how Laura can stand by her after everything Jordan kept from her. Laura says, Jordan kept a lot of secrets from a lot of people, and paid dearly for that. Jordan says, true. It cost her marriage to Curtis. Laura says, Jordan made sacrifices – big ones. The way she sees it, Jordan is a woman with a conscience and a moral compass the size of the entire city of Port Charles. How would she replace Jordan? Jordan asks if Laura really thinks the people of Port Charles will forgive her, and Laura says, she thinks they’ll stand behind Jordan with the same enthusiasm that she does. So for her, and the people of Port Charles who need her, stay.

Anna tells Elizabeth, she called her connection at the FAA. There were no helicopters taking off and landing from there the day Peter went missing, but there was one helicopter that made an unauthorized approach. Elizabeth asks if Anna thinks it was coming for Peter, and Anna says, it seems so. Elizabeth says, find the pilot and make him tell her where he took Peter, but Anna says, he never landed. The FAA tried to contact the pilot, but he never answered. Elizabeth says, there must be some way to identify the helicopter, and Anna says the markers were scrambled, which probably means it was coming to pick up Peter. Otherwise, why would it come to the roof? But Peter never got on the helicopter because it didn’t land. Elizabeth asks where that leaves Anna, and Anna says they’ll have to do an investigation of the helicopter. Elizabeth follows Anna back across the roof.

Finn says, they’re damned if they wait for the test results, and damned if they don’t. he’s making the formula now, and it will be ready for Chase when the DNA tests come back. Gregory says Finn is doing his best, and Finn says Gregory is the last person he wanted to tell about this, and the last person he wanted involved. he didn’t want to get Gregory’s hopes up in case he was wrong. He’s sorry if he caused Gregory any more pain. Gregory says, despite the pain he felt from the first DNA test results, he never stopped feeling like Chase’s father. Once he had time to process it, he was relieved that Chase had both of them; two fathers to look out for him. In the end, maybe there’s nothing they can do to save Chase, but they’re going to fight to the finish together.

Carly tells Britt, she gets it. When Britt and Jason were on the run, senses were heightened, and they were surrounded by danger and fear. It makes sense that they would connect. Britt asks if Carly’s point is that it’s over now, and Carly says, circumstances have changed. Britt says, some things have, and some things haven’t. She’s usually pretty good at pushing people away, but Jason stuck with her, and they’ve been completely honest about who they are with each other.

Jason says he has work to get to, and tells Obrecht she can let herself out. She says, he’s no doubt aware of her part in Robin Scorpio’s abduction. She thought perhaps he was thinking of it when he called to tell her where to find her daughter. Was she wrong? He says, Britt needed somebody. It wasn’t good for her to be alone. Britt doesn’t trust a lot of people in her life, and since Brad is in Pentenville, he had no choice but to call her. She says, that’s just it. He did have a choice. He put Britt’s needs above his negative opinion of her. She thinks that’s rather noble. He says, thank you. Are they done now? She says she hopes not, and sits down. She tells him, they’re the only two people who know that Britt carries the genetic marker for Huntington’s Disease. Who know that any day, her restless, brilliant, beautiful daughter will be felled by a horrible disease for which there is no cure. One that kills it’s victims as slowly and as painfully as the most sadistic enemy. She cries, and says she can’t allow Britt to see her fear. It would make it so much worse for her. But her heart is breaking for her daughter.

Jordan says if she doesn’t resign as Commissioner, she needs Laura to do something for her. Laura says, name it, and Jordan says, monitor the temperature of Port Charles. When the truth about her comes out, if there’s even a whiff of distrust among the citizens, she’ll resign. Laura says, so if she agrees to Jordan’s terms, Jordan will stay. Jordan takes the resignation out of Laura’s hand, and says, she’s staying, but not necessarily for the greater good, as Laura suggested, but for Laura. Because of Laura’s faith in her. They hug.

Trina and Josslyn are wearing their caps and gowns, and Trina says she can’t believe they’re going to be graduating soon. Josslyn says she knows. They should practice their commencement walk. They can’t just walk normally; it’s a march. Um… I don’t remember practicing this. Is this a thing now? Josslyn tells Trina to practice first, and Trina goes to the other side of the room. Josslyn puts Pomp and Circumstance on her phone, and Trina walks. Trina says she feels like such a dork. She doesn’t understand why they have to walk in alphabetical order. She, Josslyn, and Cameron should get their diplomas together.

Britt says Carly is right. Her and Jason’s situation was unusual. When they were on the road, it wasn’t real life; not Port Charles life. Carly is glad Britt understands. She wouldn’t want Britt to be disappointed, in case she was expecting more. Britt says she didn’t really know what to expect when she came back to town, but she looks forward to whatever happens next. She smiles and walks away, and Carly doesn’t look happy. Britt walks around the corner, and doesn’t look too happy either.

Obrecht apologizes for breaking down. Jason gives her some water, and she says it’s not like her at all, but she has no other outlet to talk about Britt’s illness and her fears, except with him. He says he understands; Britt trusted them both. She says, when the time comes, and her Britta falls ill, she’ll be there for her, and remain strong for her, but until then, they must fight to give her a good and safe life, which means keeping Peter out of it. She trusts that if and when he does find Peter, Jason will kill him. And no, she doesn’t need him to confirm it. She’s done her best to give Anna the same intestinal fortitude, but she can’t trust Anna to eliminate Peter if she does find him. Anna might waive at the crucial moment; he won’t. She finds that thought very comforting.

Gregory wonders where the DNA results are, and Finn says, waiting is always the hardest part. Gregory says, it’s sadly ironic. Before this, they’d agreed it didn’t matter which one of them fathered Chase. He had the pleasure of raising him, and Finn has been the most influential person in Chase’s life since he got to Port Charles. Finn says, in the beginning, he was determined not to like Chase, and wouldn’t let himself get close to him. Being around him brought up a lot of painful memories; of Finn’s mom, of what he’d done to Gregory. He hated himself, but that kid has a funny way of wearing you down, and now he can’t imagine his life without Chase. Gregory says he convinced himself the DNA results didn’t matter, but now they have to find out the truth. Finn says, it’s a matter of life or death whether Chase is his son or his brother, and Gregory says, so they wait. Finn says, there’s nothing else they can do.

Walking across the roof, Anna says she knows Elizabeth doesn’t think her efforts will lead to anything, but she has to keep trying. Elizabeth says, nobody wants Peter punished more than her, for what he’s done to Franco and what he’s done to Chase. Anna says, that man is the worst of his father. Faison believed to exact revenge, you had to go after loved ones. That’s exactly what he did to her. He went after Finn, and got Chase, to get to her. Elizabeth says she really hopes Anna finds the peace she needs, and Anna says she hopes they both do. Anna goes back inside, and Elizabeth goes back to the elevator door.

Tomorrow, Anna tells Valentin that she thinks she has a lead on Peter, Finn tells Elizabeth that he knows why his cure didn’t work, Violet visits Chase, and Brick says they just ended a war with Cyrus.

Million Dollar Listing New York

Tyler’s assistant Kemba called him, and told him that his client Whitney suddenly didn’t want to show her anyone her apartment. She needed someone to calm her down. In Tyler’s interview, he said Whitney was his most eccentric client, and he knew it would be an emotional sale. They’d agreed on private showings, but now she didn’t want to show it. He called Whitney, who said she didn’t want anyone to come inside. He told her that they had to strike while the iron was hot, but she said she was more concerned about herself. In his interview, he said he had few buyers these days, and the ones who would be willing to spend 4.5 million would need to see it.

Ryan was opening Serhant Brokerage, and said he had the only brokerage with an in house film studio. The building was a six-story townhouse in Tribeca. He said his whole thing had always been expansion, and I was reminded of his first tagline, which was something like, expansion always in all ways. He said when everyone else was pulling back, that was when to push forward, and everything going forward was unknown. He made a video to introduce his new company to the masses. The Wall Street Journal was going to be doing a write-up, and he thought he might dress up like a superhero.

Tyler insisted on seeing Whitney, who was in the midst of packing, and said she wanted her last moments with her house. It was her sanctuary, and covid ruined it. I desperately tried to figure out how things were ruined with her spending time there when it was her sanctuary. I never did. Tyler told her that he understood that she didn’t want to sell, but everything in life was temporary. In Tyler’s interview, he said he knew it would be emotional, but she didn’t want to move. Whitney said she felt like she was giving up. It had taken her a long time to like New York, and it was her home. Tyler said she had a New York moment, and now was going to have a Florida moment. Life was like a pie, and she was having her Florida slice. She said it was the end of era, and she wanted her 48 hours to do things like see Central Park and eat lasagna. He said it sounded like the things she wanted to do were happening outside of her apartment.

Steve was doing private showings of the renovated apartment at the Ansonia. Seller Ehud had allowed him $100K to bring it back to life, and he’d done the floors, revamped the walls, put in new light fixtures, and staged it. He was looking for brokers who loved old school charm and had an affinity for the Ansonia. A broker brought her client’s interior designer, Nannette Brown, with her, which Steve thought was a good sign. Nannette said Steve had done a great job, which was even more encouraging. In his interview, he said it was 2600 square feet, and they were marketing it as a 4 bedroom, 3 bath. Ehud was looking for $3.5 million, and Steve was looking for the right buyer to appreciate the pre-war quirks and details that you didn’t find anymore. Bringing along an interior designer wasn’t cheap, and he could tell Nannette was passionate about the building, and would protect the history and charm.

Fredrik was in Los Angeles, but still involved in selling his friend’s 10th Avenue, 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath apartment with a private terrace. The seller was breathing down his neck, and he wondered how he was going to sell it if he wasn’t there. He couldn’t just fly to NYC because of having to quarantine. He was training his team member Ellis to show energy and passion, but to be included, he rigged up an iPad on a stick with wheels where he’d be there via video chat. In his interview, he said everyone with pets was now looking for private outdoor space. A potential buyer showed up with an alpaca named Bolero, but unfortunately, it couldn’t navigate stairs, and wouldn’t be able to get to the terrace. I can’t imagine the guy didn’t check on this beforehand, so I’m guessing they just wanted the alpaca on the show. It was very cute.

KJ came by for one of Fredrik’s showings. She’d never met Fredrik in person, and met the iPad Fredrik instead. She had a client who was in the Bahamas, and looking for a place. In her interview, she said she loved the spirit of embracing technology, but wasn’t sure Fredrik’s iPad on a stick was real estate ready. It was like having toddler who was learning to walk. His stick did careen into the walls a few times. Her overall impression was that the apartment was staged well, and the Chelsea views were nice, but the buyer would have to do updates. She felt it was overpriced at $6.995 million. She said she didn’t think Fredrik grasped the effects of the shutdown, especially in Chelsea. He didn’t get the impact. She told him that there was a ton of inventory in West Chelsea, and he’d have trouble finding a buyer for something tired. In Fredrik’s interview, he said he liked feisty women, but thought KJ was too negative. She told him to give her a call if the price went down, but he had the feeling he was going to get an offer real soon.

Tyler finally convinced Whitney to allow her apartment to be seen. Since brokers and buyers weren’t coming to see things like they used to, Tyler made up a marketing video for Instagram. It was a unique property, and he had to attract a unique buyer. In his interview, he said he always loved informercials – but wait, there’s more! He was constantly trying to convince his mom to buy him abdominal equipment from them, and had quite a collection. He gave his video an infomercial theme, and it was a big success. He’d gotten some private showings out of it, one with a Tony nominated choreographer (for Tootsie) and his partner. Tyler said covid had changed everything; people wanted space and fresh air. Fresh air was having a moment. It was a tough time with a tough market, so he was working the act now, this deal won’t last angle.  

The broker who‘d brought Nannette also brought Steve an offer. He’d had three offers, all around the $3 million mark. He explained to Ehud, because they were all around the same amount, it was an indication of where the market value was. Ehud agreed to $3.15 million, not penny less. The broker put Nannette on the phone to gripe about the work that needed to be done, which Steve said was a strategy move. Nannette said she thought the buyer would have to put one to one and a half million dollars into it, and the broker tried to wheedle the price down some more because of covid. In Steve’s interview, he said he was starting to hear covid discount a lot. The other two buyers with offers hadn’t gotten back to Steve, which he thought wasn’t a good sign. When the broker came back with a counter of $3.125, Steve encouraged Ehud to take it, and the deal was made. Steve’s commission would be $93,750, but he said it wasn’t about the money. He loved the history of the building. Right. That’s why he does this for free.  

Ryan had to tell his new staff not to leak the video, because if it came out before the Wall Street Journal article , they wouldn’t want to print the article. He wanted to leave Nest Seekers the right way. The company had been good to him, and he wanted to close everything out at the same time he was starting his own thing. He got a text that the article was coming out early, and texted his team to launch the video asap. He said he’d spent 12 years clawing his way up the ranks, and he was finally his own boss with his own company… and zero agents. He said it was the happiest moment in his professional life, but the scariest. It was on his shoulders if he failed. In their interviews, Steve thought the new brokerage was a good idea; Tyler was impressed; KJ had purchased Ryan’s book, saying, he was good at what he did; and Fredrik thought he was crazy.  

Still to come, New York is back and so is Fredrik; a $15 million and a $29.5 million property; yoga; a pink dog; and a hockey game.

Ryan’s Renovation

Although offered $15 million for the Boerum Hill, Brooklyn townhouse, Ryan decided to keep renovating. Ryan found out that a priest was coming to bless the house, and Ryan said it was different, but he was glad to be a part of the tradition, especially since he’d converted to Greek Orthodox. Father-in-law Leon told Ryan it was also a Greek tradition to paint the nursery in a new house, and in Emelia’s interview, she said it really wasn’t a tradition, but don’t tell Ryan. Leon and Ryan painted together, and Ryan asked Leon’s advice on how to handle emotional Greek women. Leon told him to just nod his head. In Ryan’s interview, he said just because he was pretty, didn’t mean he wasn’t capable. They crushed the nursery. Except it turned out to be the wrong room. Father Evagoras came to bless the house, Emelia explaining that it was to ward off evil and keep bad spirits away. It also brought fortune to the home, and she thought it was a beautiful tradition to carry on. Ryan said the priest came with a power soaker, and he needed a holy mop for cleaning up holy water. By now it was day 542 of the renovation.

Emelia’s mom decided, in addition to her basement suite with a private entrance, she needed a room next to the baby as well. She was concerned about the monitor not working as well so far away. They tested it, and sure enough, she was right about the reception, so they just gave her the whole house. Just kidding, but Ryan is totally outnumbered here.     

It was October 2020, and during a family dinner, construction manager David called with the bad news that they weren’t getting in by Christmas. This was also a pita since they had a renter for their Soho apartment to the tune of $15K a month who wanted to be in before the holidays. David said things were taking longer to be signed off on, and even if construction was complete, the permits or whatever wouldn’t be. In Ryan’s interview, he said it sucked that they wouldn’t be out in time for the renter to move in, or be in the house by Christmas. Although I don’t know why they didn’t find temporary accommodations. He knew at the end of the day, they’d look back, and all would be fine. It had been three years since they’d bought the house to build memories in, and he wanted to get his family into their new home as soon as possible.

Next time, the finale – Ryan and family celebrate Christmas, there’s another delay, and the goal becomes Greek Easter.

🎉 Cause For Celebration…

Juneteenth is bustin’ out all over.

https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/biden-signs-juneteenth-bill/index.html

🩰 Tiptoeing Out…

Tea for tomorrow, a quote or ten, and the usual soap. Until then stay safe, stay humble, and stay never believing you’ve run out of options.

Jun12

June 11, 2021 – Nina Reunites With Wiley, Million Dollar Pandemic, Ryan Makes a Decision, Nine Whole Quotes & Train

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WhatI Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Valentin shows Bailey/Louise the stars, and explains their names. He tells her that Polaris is also called the NorthStar. In olden times when sailors were lost, they’d use it to chart a course home. He says he’ll always be her NorthStar. If she loses her way, find him. He’ll get her home.

Elizabeth is in the chapel, when Anna comes in. Anna asks, what’s wrong? Is it Chase?

Chase says he thought Finn was going to tell him that he was cured, and Finn says he wishes he could. It didn’t work. Chase says, Finn was so certain, and Finn says, by combining Jackie’s DNA with his, Chase’s body should have accepted the cure, and for a second, it worked. Chase says he did feel better, and Finn says, all the signs said it was right, and it should have worked, but he’d be lying if he didn’t say it was their best shot.

Maxie flashes back giving Louise to Brook, and telling Louise she’ll be close by, making sure Louise is okay, and she loves her very much. There’s a knock at her room door. Spinelli announces, it’s him, the father of her oldest child, and she says, for second, she thought it was Peter. He says he’s so sorry about Louise. He should have been there in Maxie’s hour of need. She tells him, that there’s nothing for him to feel guilty about. He’s there now. He says, no one will rest until her child is found.

Valentin sees Brook, and asks how long she’s been standing there. She says, not long Mr. NorthStar. He says he meant every word. It’s a beautiful night for stargazing. She should stay out, and pick a star for her and their daughter. Just not the NorthStar. That one is his. He tells her that he’s going to put Bailey down, and goes inside, speaking French to the baby. He sees Nina.

Willow steps away from Michael, and says she’s sorry. If someone saw them… He says, they’d see the truth; them comforting each other. What happened to Chase isn’t fair. While he’s suffering they can’t tell him they’re together. All they can do is just be kind to him and each other. She says he has an amazing way of putting things in perspective. It’s one of the 2001 reasons why she loves him. He says, 2001? Why not a million? She says Wiley asked her to could to a million the other day, but when she got to 38, he got bored and told her to stop. He says, that’s their son. He has the attention span of… a three-year-old. A three-year-old who’s about to see his other grandma. She says she hates that Jax did that to him… to them, but she doesn’t hate Nina seeing Wiley. He says, neither does he. Jax trashed a large part of his childhood to make it happen. He’s angry, and sad, but he can’t say anything because his hands are tied, just like Jax wanted.

Jax’s doorbell rings, and he opens the door to Carly. She asks what he did to make Michael change his mind about Nina.

Willow asks when Nina said she was coming, but Michael says, she didn’t give an ETA. He got the feeling she had to take care of some things before she left the town where she’s staying. She says, it will give them time to prepare Wiley. She just hopes Nina is ready for this, and that she’ll see Wiley for the sweet, intelligent, curious little boy he is, and not project her grief over Nelle on him. Michael thinks Nina learned her lesson. He’s more worried about his mom. He couldn’t think of one reasonable explanation as to why he suddenly allowed Nina access to Wiley. If his mom finds out Jax is blackmailing him, all hell will break loose.

Jax asks if he can get Carly anything, but she just wants him to answer her question. He says he had a reasonable conversation with Michael about allowing Nina back into Wiley’s life. She says, so reasonable, that after months of Michael keeping Nina at a distance, he suddenly changed his mind? He asks why she’s so upset. He gave her a heads up about his intentions. Does she still want to punish Nina for telling Wiley that Nelle was his birth mother? She asks if he really thinks Nina isn’t going to make the same mistake again. She’s sure Nina promised him and Michael that she wouldn’t make the same mistake, but she wanted to save Nelle. She believes Nelle could have been a different person, and wants Wiley to believe that. She wants to tell Wiley a fairy tale, that’s only going to hurt him worse when he grows up and finds out the truth. Jax guesses he has more faith in Nina that Carly does, and Carly says, that’s because he still wants to win Nina back.

Valentin says, you’re back, and Nina says she’s looking for Michael. A man with an Eastern European accent told her to wait there. Valentin says, that’s Yuri, Brook’s bodyguard. She says, and Brook needs a bodyguard because… He says, because he insisted, and she says, Brook’s safety is a priority to him because… Brook comes in, and says Bailey’s not a star; she’s an entire constellation. She tells Nina hi and asks when she came back. Valentin says, Nina is confused. He and Charlotte live there now. He introduces Bailey Lois, and says she’s his daughter with Brook.

Maxie tells Spinelli, one of the last things Peter said to her was that he’d find Louise. If he does, he’ll disappear with her. Spinelli says, it’s true Peter has the resources to stay at large a very long time. He’s sure Peter’s father taught him well. She says he’s not making her feel better, and he says, of course (🍷); apologies. He says she told him that she had a plan to keep Louise safe; what went wrong? How did a deranged nurse steal her? She says her plan blew apart before she left the apartment. Most of it did anyway. He asks what she means.

Anna says she was going to say some prayers for Chase herself, and when she saw Elizabeth there, she thought the worst happened, but Elizabeth says, not yet. Finn found a cure, and they were so confident it was the right formula. Anna says, it didn’t work? and Elizabeth says, now he seems so lost, like he’s out of options. Anna says, they do have options. Peter. Anna leaves, and Elizabeth says, forgive me. Please forgive me and Finn.

Finn says he gave Chase some epinephrine as a pick-me-up, and Chase says, but it’s temporary, since Finn has given up on finding a cure. Finn asks, who said he was giving up? He’s going to keep going until he finds a cure. Chase says, and if Finn can’t do it, how long does he have left?

Finn says he never encountered Chase’s condition before. He’s checked with every specialist he knows, and they’ve never seen it either, so they’re flying a little blind. Chase says, so what does he have? Months? Weeks? Days? Finn says he wishes he had the answer, but he doesn’t know. Chase says, in his line of work, he stared down death, a lot, but he always knew he could defend himself. He had weapons, crisis intervention training, and back-up. This time, he has nothing. Finn says, that’s not true; Chase has him, for what it’s worth (🍷). Chase says, it’s worth a lot. Finn should probably tell mom and dad. Finn asks if Chase is sure that’s what he wants, and Chase says, they have to know. Finn goes out, and talks to them, as Chase watches through the window from his bed. They seem understandably upset.

Willow says she came close to telling Chase that she and Michael are in love. Now that he’s had another setback, she’s glad she didn’t. Michael says he guesses what happens next depends on Nina. If she’s good with Wiley, follows the guidelines, and there’s no mention of Nelle, she can be allowed to continue to see him. Jax gets his way, but if he feels Nina is detrimental in any way… Willow says, then of course (🍷) they can’t allow it. If Jax goes running to Chase to retaliate, she can’t even begin to imagine how it will devastate Chase. Michael puts his hand over hers.

Jax says Carly knows what it’s like to grow up under difficult circumstances; to feel unloved, and like you have no control over your life. Instead of focusing on the differences between her and Nina, why doesn’t she acknowledge the similarities? She asks if this is about her and Nina, or him and Nina. He used her grandson to lure Nina back to Port Charles, when Nina made it clear she didn’t want to come back. He says, that doesn’t mean he stopped caring about Nina or doesn’t want to see her happy.  Why can’t she be a part of her grandson’s life? Carly says, because it’s unhealthy for Wiley, but he says, Michael doesn’t seem to think so. Not anymore. She says, emphasis on not anymore? Something changed for Michael. Someone or something pushed him to change his mind, and she’s going to find out what it is.

Spinelli says Maxie suffered the tortures of the damned. Drugged by an imposter nurse who took her to a hidden place to steal her child, but yet she says part of her plan worked. How? She says, it’s not important. He went through hell too. He was Cyrus’s hostage; Cyrus could have killed him. He says he should have left, but he lingered, and Cyrus scooped him up, and threatened to… let’s just say dire harm, in order to force Carly into a hostage situation. Had Jason not come out of hiding to save him, he might not be sitting there talking to her. Georgie would be fatherless. Maxie says, but she’s not. He’s alive and well. Jason’s a good friend. He says he should have been a good friend to Maxie. He should have worked harder to get her to divulge her plan to keep Louise safe from Peter. Had he helped, maybe there would have been a different outcome. She says, if he’d gotten involved, he could have been hurt, or worse. Can they just call it even, and move forward. She wants to see Georgie and James. He says they’re eagerly awaiting her return, and she asks what he’s said to them about their little sister. Has he told them she’s not coming home?

Nina says, so Brook and Valentin are parents together. How? Valentin says, the usual way, and Nina says, so they’re in a relationship, but Brook says, God no. It was one night. A great night, no regrets whatsoever. They actually saw her at the MetroCourt the next morning. Remember? Nina says, actually, she does, and Valentin says, Brook left town abruptly without telling him about the ensuing development, and Bailey Lois came to him as a complete surprise, as she is to Nina. Nina says she’s sure he’ll be an amazing father to Bailey. Congratulations. Brook says Valentin has moved in – temporarily – so if she’s come to say, all is forgiven, he’s free and available. Valentin says Nina is there to see Michael. Nina says, he agreed to let her visit with Wiley. Brook offers to look for Michael, and leaves. Valentin says, Brook is a lot of things, but subtle isn’t one of them. He’s glad Michael is willing to let her back into Wiley’s life. She says she’s happy for him, and he says he wishes she could have been theirs.

Elizabeth asks if Finn wants some company, and sits next to him. She says she knows how it feels when your children are suffering, and he asks if this is the Finn you have to be strong speech. She says she wants him to know that he’s not alone, but she thinks he knows that. He asks, then why is it so damn hard?

Jackie asks if Chase needs another blanket, but he says he’s good. Finn gave him a shot of something. She doesn’t have to worry about him. She says, great. Now she’ll have time for her Sunday crossword. He says, so funny, he forgot to laugh (which makes me laugh), and Gregory tells him that he used to say that when he was little, every time Gregory would make a history joke. Chase says, that James Buchanan one was real funny. He almost expected them to take it as a joke when he said he wanted to be a cop, but they didn’t. They pretended not to be disappointed that he didn’t want to go to law school; they supported him. Gregory says they weren’t disappointed, and Jackie says they were proud of his decision. Gregory tells Chase, don’t ever think for one second that they wanted him to be anything other than who he is today, and Jackie says, every time he would call and tell them that he’d put another bad guy away, she and Gregory would high-five each other. Chase laughs, then coughs, and says he wishes he could have seen that. He says, too bad this particular bad guy is putting him away. Jackie hugs him, and Gregory makes it a three-way hug.

Michael tells Willow, Brook texted that Nina’s already at the house. He guesses she couldn’t wait. He should go, so they can go over the ground rules before Nina sees Wiley. He’s sorry they can’t be there together. She says, he’ll do fine, and thanks him for understanding why she needs to stay there. He tells her, if there’s any change, let him know, and she says, of course (🍷). Good luck with Nina. He says, her too. He loves her. She says, I love you too, and he leaves.

Jax tells Carly that Michael said he and Willow talked, and they decided to allow Nina to see Wiley. She says, maybe, but she knows her son. When he told her that he’d reached out to Nina about letting her see Wiley, she could tell he wasn’t telling her the whole story. She asks what he said to Michael, and he says he was simply being honest. She says, about what? and he says, the importance of Nina being in Wiley’s life. Why shouldn’t she be a grandmother to him? She says, those are very careful words, and she’s sure they’re true. She’s also sure they’re not the whole truth. What isn’t he telling her?

Valentin tells Nina that he’s sorry. That was… She looks great. Getting away really agreed with her. She says, it did, and asks how Charlotte is doing. How’s she doing with her new baby sister? He says, she’s been slow to warm up to Bailey Lois, but he thinks it has more to do with the current living situation. Nina says she can’t say she’s surprised. It must be… awkward living there. She’s sure Charlotte will warm up to her baby sister. She has this big, beautiful heart. Valentin hopes so, and Nina says she’d like to see Charlotte while she’s back. He says, she’s not staying? and she says she doesn’t know. She wants to see Wiley and spend time with him, but she’s not sure she can leave behind what she left in Nixon Falls. He asks, what is that exactly? and she says, someone she never expected to find. Well, that’s an understatement. He asks if there’s any chance for a reconciliation with Jax, and she says, no. Brook comes back, and says she texted Michael. He’ll be there soon. He wants to meet Nina outside the gatehouse, so Brook will take her. Valentin asks if he’ll see Nina again, and she suggests they just arrange a time for her to see Charlotte. She leaves with Brook, and Valentin tells Bailey Lois/Louise that he just made a fool of himself. Nina’s moved on. She’s found something in that little town that helped her to heal. He should be happy for her, and he is. Bailey helped him to heal, her and her sister both. He wasn’t much of a man before he was a father. He doesn’t know what he was, but he was broken, and she helped him heal. She’s a gift from the universe that he didn’t deserve. He’s a lucky man. Too lucky to ask for more. He’ll let her in on a little secret. He looks toward the door, and says, he does want more. Anna comes in, and says the guard told her that he was in there. Is that guy from Belarus? He says, that’s Yuri, and she has good ears. She says she does, and she knows who this beautiful creature is. She walks to the crib, and says she was so involved with finding Maxie’s daughter, she forgot his had put in an appearance. He says he can hardly believe Bailey Lois is his.

Spinelli tells Maxie, they haven’t told Georgie and James anything. They weren’t sure what Maxie wanted them to say. She says she’s not sure either. She’s glad he and Ellie didn’t say anything. It’s her job to explain; to make it okay for them. He says, if she’s ready, he’ll take her home.

Carly says she was hoping she was overreacting, but the longer this conversation goes on, where he dances around giving her a straight answer, the more she’s convinced that he twisted Michael’s arm, and forced him to let Nina see Wiley. He asks if she really thinks so little of Michael, that she thinks he’d have to be forced to do the right thing, and she says he’s evading. There’s something he doesn’t want her to know, and there’s something Michael doesn’t want her to know. Why is that? The only thing she can think of, is that Michael is staying true to form. He’s always been the fixer. He’s always been the one who wanted to preserve the family, and Jax has known Michael since he was a little boy, so he knows this. Michael would never want to fight, and he’d never want to put Josslyn in the middle, and not only does Jax know this, he’s counting on it.

At the gatehouse, Nina asks Brook how Maxie is. Did she have her baby? Brook says, she did, and Nina says she can’t wait to see them. Michael arrives and apologizes for keeping her waiting. They didn’t know she was arriving in Port Charles so soon. She says a friend in Nixon Falls insisted she come tonight. He knew how much she wanted to see Wiley. Brook says she has to get back to Bailey; enjoy her stay. Brook leaves, and Michael says they need to go over some ground rules. She says, of course (🍷). She understands, and promises not to mention Nelle. He thanks her, and says he and Willow managed to straighten things out with Wiley, and Wiley knows Willow is his mother, but he can’t have Willow hurt like that again. She says she completely understands, and she’s grateful for him giving her a second chance with Wiley. She promises she’s not going to mess it up this time. So can she go in to see her grandson?

Valentin asks Anna if they’ve gotten any closer to finding Maxie’s baby, and she says, unfortunately, no. There’s an APB out on the nurse who took her. They’re trying to establish her real ID. They’re also looking for Peter, who teleported himself out of the hospital, without a trace. He asks, what about Chase? and she says, Finn thought he had a breakthrough in finding a cure, but it didn’t work out. Chase’s condition is really deteriorating. He says, so if she doesn’t find Peter and this antidote… She says she doesn’t think Chase is going to last much longer. Unfortunately. He says he should have killed Peter, and she says, hindsight is 20/20. Let’s look at the facts. Peter was last seen at GH, but there’s no record of him leaving. But there are so many people who come in and out on the hospital on a daily basis, he could have disguised himself. He asks, what about Peter’s car? and she says, his car is still there in the hospital parking garage. He says, the garage is a labyrinth. Peter could be hiding somewhere.

Willow goes to Chase’s room, and says, sorry; she’s interrupting. Chase says she could never interrupt, and she asks how he is, and he says he’s always happy to see her. He needs to speak with her, and Jackie says she and Gregory will be right outside. They leave, and Chase tells Willow, Finn has no idea why the cure didn’t work, or what there is left to try. She asks what that means. What’s going to happen to him? He says, what happens to him depends on her. The toxin has narrowed his world and his focus. Seeing her there, every day, every night; she didn’t run, as so many others would have. She stuck by his side. She showed him love in all the ways that count. He hopes she knows how much he loves her. Will she marry him?

Maxie tells Georgie, who’s practically a teenager now, that James is down for the count. She played with her little brother so much, he’s exhausted. Georgie says she made something for Maxie, and they sit on the couch. Maxie unrolls a drawing of a family that says, Welcome To Our Family, Louise! She says, it’s beautiful, and Georgie asks if she can see her baby sister, but Maxie says, not yet. When Louise was born, a friend of hers was with them, and she instantly fell in love with Louise. She doesn’t have any children of her own, and she’s usually very sad and lonely, but being around Louise made her happy, and Maxie knew it would make her very, very happy if she could just take care of Louise for a little bit. Georgie asks if Louise will ever come home, and Maxie says, of course (🍷) she will. They’ll have a party with balloons and cake. Georgie says, but when?

Valentin says, Peter could be anywhere, using an alias, prepared for any eventuality. Anna is just concerned that he disposed of any antidote before he ran. She says Valentin knows how vindictive he is. He’ll want her to blame herself. He says, the only one to blame for Peter’s actions is Peter. He can’t be saved, he can’t be redeemed, he has to be stopped. It’s the only way they can save those they love. Brook stands in the doorway, and Anna says, little Bailey. Valentin says he’s head over heels in love, and Anna says, it looks good on him. He says he wants to help with the search. They’ll need more than lucky guesses to save Chase’s life. Brook says, save Chase’s life? What’s going on now?

Chase is sorry he can’t get down on one knee. He doesn’t even have a ring. So if she wants to turn down his less than romantic proposal, feel free. This isn’t how he remotely planned it. He started to plan it before he and Sasha hatched that brilliant idea for her and Michael to get custody of Wiley. He was going to ask her to marry him. Instead, he pushed her away. She says, she and Michael did get custody, but he says he still broke her heart. Now he’s being totally unfair, asking her to marry him, but Finn said he doesn’t know how long Chase has. Like they say in the movies, my days are numbered. She tells him not to joke, and he says, but they are. And he wants them to be filled with her as his wife. He knows he sprung a lot on her just now, so if she wants to run from the room, feel free. She says she doesn’t want to run from the room. She’d be honored to be his wife. She hugs him.

Michael brings Wiley to Nina, who says she doesn’t know if he remembers her, but she’s his Grandma Nina. She brings out a box, and says, look. She brought him something. It’s a toy truck, and Michael says his dad used to get him toy trucks when he was Wiley’s age. She says a friend told her that she should get something for Wiley, and the toy truck just called to her. Michael says he’ll be upstairs if she needs him, and she thanks him again for letting her visit with Wiley. She promises not to mention… well, he knows. He thanks her and leaves. Nina tells Wiley she missed him so much.

Jax asks what he could possibly have on Michael? Michael is above reproach. Carly says, just because Michael has a good heart, doesn’t mean he doesn’t have any secrets. She sits next to Jax on the couch, and says, what could he possibly have on her son? He says, when you can’t find anything, maybe, just maybe, that’s your answer. She says, Michael knows that if he lets Nina back into Wiley’s life, that could cause problems for him and Willow, not to mention Wiley. When she finds out what’s going on between him and Michael, if it’s what she thinks, he’s going to regret it. She walks out, and Jax thinks about that.

Nina says Wiley is the sweetest, most precious thing that’s come into her life in a long time. Wiley plays with the truck, and she says she ran into his grandpa, and she really cares about him. And he’s happy… and he’s free. She tried to do the right thing; she tried to tell his grandma Carly, but she was so mean to Nina on the phone. She can be that way sometimes. She even said that she was going to get the judge to keep Nina away from him, but here they are. She’s free to visit him. Her grandson. Like it should be. Wiley looks at her like he actually knows what’s going on, and she says she just doesn’t know what to do. She asks if Wiley thinks she should tell Grandma Carly that Grandpa Sonny is alive.

Maxie tells Georgie, she doesn’t know exactly when, but Louise will come home. She and James will have their little sister to play with. She asks Georgie to hang the drawing in Louise’s room, so it’s the first thing she sees when she comes home. She leaves, and Spinelli tells Maxie that Georgie believes her. She believes Louise is coming home. Maxie says, Louise is coming home. Peter will be caught. Louise will come home. She has to believe that. She can’t give up hope. He says she doesn’t have to. He promises they’ll find a way to bring Louise home.

Brook says, that’s awful, and Valentin says he’s sorry. He knows she and Chase are close. Anna says, excuse her. She promised Maxie that she’d keep searching for Peter. Valentin says, and Louise. Brook goes over to the crib, and Anna says, Maxie doesn’t believe she’s going to be safe until he’s arrested. Brook looks at the baby, and Valentin tells Anna to take care of herself. She tells him to look after his family. Anna leaves, and Brook asks if Valentin and Anna are a thing now. He says they have a long, fraught history; they’re friends. Brook says, friends? Is that what they’re calling it? He asks what she calls the thing between her and Chase. Oh come on. After the surprise obsession of Cyrus’s for Sasha, now Brook and Chase have something between them? I never got that vibe.

Elizabeth finds Finn, and tells him that Jackie and Gregory are going to see Chase. Does he want to join them, or stay there for a while? He says he’s not ready to surrender Chase to this toxin. Elizabeth sits down next to him, and says he’s done everything humanly possible to save Chase. He says he doesn’t want to stop, but he’s all out of options.

Chase says Gregory and Jackie are just in time. Jackie says, for what? and he says he just asked Willow to marry him, and she said yes. Gregory says, that’s wonderful news, and Jackie says, congratulations, hugging Willow.

Michael calls Jax, and says, Nina’s at the gatehouse. She’s with Wiley. Satisfied? Jax says, thank you, but Michael says don’t thank him. Just keep his end of the bargain. Nobody can know about him and Willow.

Nina walks around, holding Wiley, and says, when she had to leave Port Charles, and had to leave him, she was so empty. But now that she has him in her arms, she’s filled with happiness. She loves him so much, and she always will. From now on, Grandma Nina is going to spend lots and lots of time with him. Carly stands in the doorway, and shakes her head.

Shawn says maybe TJ should rethink coming to see him; Alexis says, of course (🍷) she’s trying to stir things up; Chase says he knows what Finn is doing, and he’s asking him to stop; and Michael asks if Carly is going to let Jason run the business.

Million Dollar Listing New York

The show began with production being shut down on March 20, 2020. The brokers did their own filming, and Steve said everything was cool at his place. I thought, for now. He, Louisa, and baby Rose had gotten covid pre-lockdown, and decided to stick around where the best hospitals were, just in case. Ryan was in Dublin, New Hampshire at his parents’ place, which also had a guesthouse that he was using for an office and a gym. Must be nice. KJ was at her grandfather’s home in Massachusetts, and Tyler was in East Hampton. Fredrik was kind of digging being stuck in L.A., since he and Derek had never had time together uninterrupted, and with no nannies. Ryan said the contracts they’d had pre-pandemic were on hold. They were waiting to see what happened, finding the silver lining, and planning the future as best they could.  

KJ said business was not booming, and she was trying to resuscitate deals. I laughed about her having to take care of her own kids, and one of them screeching while she was trying to Zoom. Ryan didn’t know what day it was anymore. Now it was just, day. Ryan filmed with baby Zena in a playpen near him, and he said he put the baby in quarantine every now and then. He was social distancing from her. The Serhant team had a Zoom meeting, and Ryan said they had to plan and prepare for life not going back to normal soon. It didn’t stop him from doing an $11.6 million deal, where he snagged a $368K commission though.

Fredrik said, in L.A., business was slowing down. They were working harder, but in a different way. It was tough for him to see NYC on television, and not be able to be there. By the beginning of the summer, Steve felt that real estate was coming back, and they were navigating a new normal. There had been a migration. Tyler had a daily meeting with his team, and they’d been video marketing properties. He thought it had the potential to make them more efficient. KJ was doing virtual tours as well.

June 21 2020. We saw the headline, Governor Cuomo to NYC: It’s on! Tyler went back to the city, his first stop to look at friend Whitney’s apartment, as she wanted to sell. The building had been designed by one of his favorites, Thomas Juul-Hansen, and Tyler said that when Whitney had described her apartment décor as bold, she meant BOLD. He called it granny chic, and it was busy, but I liked it. At 1500 square feet, it had 3 bedrooms and 3.5 baths. The first chandelier we saw, a colorful piece designed by St. Louis for Hermes, cost $24,400. The interior design as a whole had cost half a million. Can you imagine? I can’t. There was a lot of busy wallpaper, one of my favorites having an old-fashioned hot air balloon pattern. That one was in the powder room. There was also one of my all-time favorite patterns, palm leaves. Tyler pointed out that the same pattern had been used for Blanche’s wallpaper and bedspread in The Golden Girls, so I’m not sure what that says about me. There was a private elevator going right into the apartment, as well as a custom kitchen. Tyler told us that it was a buyer’s market, and people wanted covid discounts. Sellers were taking hits. Whitney had invested a total of $5.4 million in the apartment, and Tyler got what sellers were going through. They had a lot of money tied into apartment values, but they were nowhere near where they’d been. He thought if she wanted to sell it as is, the most likely scenario was that it was someone’s dream apartment. The aesthetic wasn’t for everybody, but a lot of people loved Riverside Drive. He thought her best bet was to ask $4.96 million. He told us that it was an emotional thing to sell, and part of his job was making people feel okay during a difficult process.

Tyler said the pandemic had made finances different, work situations different, and people’s personal lives different. Steve said things would change, but NYC wasn’t going anywhere. Ryan said covid had changed the rules, and now they were getting back to work. It was weird because he hadn’t been there in so long. His driver Yuri had gone on vacation, and he wondered who went on vacation in the middle of a pandemic? Apparently, Yuri. His pool of 80 buyers was gone, but he thought it was time to give team member Holly the listing for an $8 million townhouse. He told her a lot of people thought it was too east (whatever that means, unless it’s a transportation issue), so she had to play up the benefits of the location. Before quarantine, the seller had the townhouse built, but made the decision to sell. He had Holly role play, selling him the townhouse, which was 5100 square feet, and had 20 foot ceilings. It also contained custom kitchen cabinetry, a sub-zero refrigerator, custom closets, and an upstairs patio. Ryan thought Holly clearly knew the house, and was ready to go. She could handle any potential buyer. Her potential commission would be $240K.

KJ’s a friend Stephanie, who lived on 14th Street, wanted to see, and KJ felt she needed to reduce the price of her apartment to under $2.7 million. KJ said she’d originally told Stephanie the price was too low, but now the market had changed. KJ showed us how she used a visualization technique, imagining what you wanted as if it happened, and putting it out in the universe. She called Stephanie, and said the asking price was too close to $3 million. She knew it wasn’t what Stephanie wanted to hear, but she had to do something drastic if she wanted to sell. Stephanie agreed to $2.625, but said she wasn’t cutting any more than that. KJ told us that short-term price reductions were now a staple. A lot of people had left the city, and there was a ton of inventory. Her potential commission was $78 and change. Her manifesting worked. I still don’t have my millions though, and I’ve been putting that out there for a while.

Steve headed for Cornelia Guest’s farm in upstate New York. She’d always wanted to rescue animals, and fell in love with the property. It was two hours north of NYC, and Steve said upstate was hotter than ever in lockdown. He’d been in business mode, and gotten licensing in other states, reaching out to people who wanted to get out of the city, and have more outdoor space. At present, the asking price was $2.9 million, although it had once been listed at $4.2 million, and sat on the market for a year. Cornelia said no one knew about it, and Steve thought it hadn’t been marketed properly. There hadn’t even been showings. Steve literally ran out of gas just before he got there, but managed to get to a gas station on fumes. The farm had a private drive, and Steve said there was nothing better than a long approach to a house. Yeah, unless you’re a trick-or-treater. He met with property manager Tim, and told Tim that the property was incredible. Tim said it was 456 acres, with 35 rescue animals. Steve began giving some of the pigs the other brokers’ names. They took a buggy around property, and Tim showed Steve the 900 square foot guest cottage, a watering hole, 2 miles of stream. He said it was half the size of Central Park. Here’s a clue; Central Park is big. The main house was 6000 square feet, and had been rebuilt in 1990, although some of the original detail had been retained. It had 7 bedrooms, and 5 baths, and an antique garland stove, which apparently is hard to come by. Steve said, it wouldn’t be fun without a challenge. The bathrooms were meh, the floors weren’t done, and the upstairs was unfinished upstairs. He knew Cornelia had been let down in the past by brokers, and he wanted to perform to her expectations.

Fredrik said he couldn’t go to NYC because he couldn’t be away from his kids for a month because of quarantine. He had no idea when he’d be back, and had to rely on his team. Video chatting with team member Ellis, Fredrik asked Ellis to show him a friend’s 5th Avenue apartment as if he was a buyer. It was 3500 square feet, with an open floor plan, 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, and a private terrace. Ellis was not that great, and Fredrik told him, to show real emotion, and not act like a car salesman. It also had a private outdoor shower. Why? Who knows? Fredrik said he wanted to be part of the showing. They needed the full Fredrik experience.

Ryan told Zena it was busy time, and to give him his phone. He was getting calls from everybody taking their fingers off the pause button. We went down Memory Lane with the fabulous West 17th Street townhouse; the pool party open house, and the canceled private showings. A buyer made an offer at $15 million, and Ryan said the sellers did the smart thing, and agreed. The house was worth more than that, but who knew what the future market would bring? Ryan was proud that he’s sold it completely virtually in middle of pandemic. He called Jeff, who owned the adjoining apartments, and we revisited Ryan’s self-proclaimed epic The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe open house, and the balloon clad empty apartment next door. He said when lockdown hit, everyone went away. He told Jeff that a buyer had fallen in love with the empty apartment, and was offering $5.525. Another couple wanted to rent the first apartment for $15k a month, and Ryan suggested renting it to them for a couple of years, and then selling it to them when the market was better. Jeff said he’d agree to an $18K a month minimum. Ryan said he’d get back to Jeff, and wondered why Zena always said goodbye after the person had hung up.   

Ryan said life was pretty great, but every year he had to do more. So he was going to start his own brokerage.

Next time, a Fredrik robot and a llama, KJ virtually meets Fredrik, Whitney decides she wants to sell her apartment without showing it, and Ryan’s biggest risk in his career

Ryan’s Renovation

August 2020. Ryan talked about lockdown, and going to his parents’ house in the middle of Nowhere, New Hampshire. In May, they came back to NYC, but Emelia went to Greece with her family for the summer. They were allowed to travel there since they were citizens. It was one month to completion, after they’d restarted construction as soon as it was safe in June. They’d made a lot of progress; the elevator was in, and the plumbing and electric had been installed. Ryan had spent $80k during quarantine just to keep things current and not loose workers, so he thought saving a cool $220K on postponed roof terrace and landscaping work was the best bet. Hopefully, Emelia would be fine with it because he was doing it anyway. He called Emelia in Greece, and said, not only had they spent a bundle, the timeline had been extended to December. They also needed to extend a staircase to make it stroller friendly, but Emelia’s dad Leonidas took a virtual look, and said he’d do it gratis. Yes, that’s his line of work. He’s not a fisherman or something.

Ryan got a call from fellow broker Brad, saying he had a client who was interested in buying Ryan’s townhouse. He thought Ryan could get $15 million, and they’d bought it at $7.6 million, (I think) also putting in about $2 million in renovation. Ryan said the husband side of him knew Emelia would be pissed, but the broker side was tempted. Ryan was nervous to agree to a showing, but did it anyway. He said maybe the buyer would hate the house, and they could pretend the whole thing never happened. Leonidas, or as Ryan called him, King Leonidas, was at the townhouse when Ryan got back. Ryan said his opinion meant a lot, and the first thing he said was, the living room was too small. In their interview, Ryan told Emelia that her father was scary, and she told him, don’t mess with the Greeks.

Ryan got a call from Brad, saying the buyer thought the townhouse felt like home, and was offering $15 million. Ryan asked when they wanted to close, and then wondered why he said that. Emelia got back with Zena, and everyone gathered to see the olive tree Ryan had planted in lieu of landscaping. Ryan didn’t know what to do about the offer, but decided they’d literally planted roots, so let’s keep renovating.

Next time, a house blessing, painting, and another delay.

🗿 Quotes of the Week

Maybe this world is another planet’s hell. – Aldous Huxley

When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world. – John Muir

Intelligence plus character-that is the goal of true education. – Martin Luther King Jr.

The most effective way to destroy people is to deny and obliterate their own understanding of their history. – George Orwell

A mathematical formula for happiness: Reality divided by Expectations. There were two ways to be happy: improve your reality or lower your expectations. – Jodi Picoult (I vote for lowering expectations.)

The border to eternity is never ahead of us. It runs parallel to life and can be crossed over at any moment by old and young. – Reinhard Bonnke

No winter lasts forever; no spring skips its turn. – Hal Borland

We can’t have our delivery drivers or people out there in the community attacking people, punching people in the face. – Sheriff Ray Kelly, Castro Valley, CA

You’re an only child and still not his favorite. – Rita (Lana Parilla), Why Women Kill

😵 Ending a Stellar Week…

Sorry, no tea tonight, but I promise you a potful next time we meet. My dog finally got a vet appointment for Sunday. It’s been hell getting appointments since the pandemic started. I fell behind, and then AOL did… something, and my email is a pita. No matter. When next we meet, I’ll have recharged. I hope anyway. Until then, stay safe, stay enjoying whatever your view is, and stay not being just a star, but an entire constellation.

Jun4

June 3, 2021 – Laura Negotiates With Cyrus, Covid Hits the Listings, Renovation Is Hard & Brooklyn

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Peter tumbles down the stairs, and lies at the bottom on the landing. Blood pools around his head. Someone runs down behind him, and stands on the steps. We see the fake passports for Peter and Maxie on the floor next to him. A hospital employee runs up the other stairs, and checks the pulse in his neck.

Earlier. On the hospital roof, Peter looks at the fake passports. He looks up, and we see a helicopter. His phone rings, and he says, yeah… It’s too late? For what he’s paying them, they should be where he wants, when he wants… He doesn’t care. Hurry. He has to get the hell out of there. Finn says, he’s not going anywhere, and Peter tells Finn, stay out of his way. His daughter’s out there. Finn says, and his son is dying downstairs. Give him what he needs to save his son.

Valentin comes into the hospital, and asks if Elizabeth has seen Anna. Elizabeth says Anna is in Maxie’s room on the 4th floor. Valentin asks if Maxie had her baby, but Elizabeth says she hasn’t seen Maxie’s baby. He asks if Maxie is all right, and she says, physically, Maxie is fine, no thanks to him. He says, I beg your pardon? and she says, he looked the other way, so did Anna. They both knew what Peter was capable of, yet he and Anna still unleashed him on the rest of them.

Anna asks Maxie if something happened to her baby. Maxie says, thanks to Peter, her daughter is gone.

Brook tells Louise, she’s happy now. Look at them. Louise is only a few hours old, and already in her first hotel room. A 9.3 guest rating; she could do worse. She’s really real. She always knew Louise was real, but she seems so much more impressive now that she’s there. They’ve got a long road ahead of them.

Willow answers the gatehouse door to Michael, who says he wanted to see how she was doing. She says she tried to rest, but she still feels guilty. Michael comes inside, and she says, tonight, when Chase sent them home, all she could think about is how she wanted to be with Michael.

On the phone, Laura says, Cyrus is looking to keep a hostage. Here’s her offer. Let Portia and Trina go, and take her instead. Cyrus says, he’ll trade Trina for her, but the good doctor stays. Laura says, he releases both of them, and then she comes in. That’s her offer; think it over.

Outside, Doc asks Laura if she was bluffing, but she says she meant every word. He says she can’t turn herself over to that man. He’ll kill her. She says she knows he’s concerned, and he says he was called there to negotiate a hostage situation. He can’t do his job effectively if his wife is offering herself up as one of the hostages. She says it makes sense because she has a connection to Cyrus, and he says, that appears to be severed. She says, not completely. If she can use that connection, he’ll let Trina and Portia go free. He says, or they let the police do their job. Or let him do his, and negotiate, which is better than risking the mayor’s life. Jordan says she agrees; it’s too risky. She can’t let Laura go in there. Laura says, with all due respect, Jordan can’t stop her either.

Anna asks what Maxie is telling her, when Mac comes in. He tells Maxie that he’s sorry. He’s going to do everything he can to protect her, and get his new granddaughter back. She says she knows he will. She didn’t have a chance to check Peter’s confession before she sent it; did it go through okay? He says, clear as a bell, and she asks if it’s enough to lock Peter up. He says she’s amazing. He doesn’t know where she found the wherewithal to get Peter to confess, not to mention the presence of mind to record it. She says she did what she had to do. Just promise her that he’s not going to get away with it this time. Mac says he thinks they’ve got Peter. Besides the confession, Gladys Corbin named him as Franco’s killer. They’ve got an APB out, and they’re doing a floor by floor search of the entire hospital. He’s on his way to security right now to check the footage. Is she going to be okay? She says, as okay as she can be under the circumstances. He asks if Anna will stay with Maxie, and Anna says, of course (🍷). Maxie says, please just find Peter, and Mac leaves. Anna asks how Maxie got Peter to confess, and Maxie says she hired a nurse to help with her pregnancy. Unfortunately, Peter replaced that nurse with an imposter to kidnap her and induce labor. The imposter double-crossed him, and took off with their child. Anna says, that’s awful, but is Maxie sure it wasn’t another trick? Is she sure this woman didn’t hand off the baby to Peter? Maxie says, trust her. Peter has no idea where their daughter is.

Brook tells Louise, this part is a little tricky. They can’t just walk into the Q mansion. That would be chaos, not to mention the lecture she’d get from Valentin, which from his perspective will be completely justified. Valentin is going to take one look at Louise, and fall madly in love with her. He’s going to give Brook back the ELQ stock. That is what we call collateral benefits. The most important thing is, he’s going to take care of Louise like nobody’s business. He’s going to protect her. First things first, they have to get her home, which means she has to call someone she trusts enough to lie to.

Valentin says Elizabeth is right about everything she just said. He gave Peter far too much leash. She’s suffered enormously, and he’s truly, truly sorry. She says, apparently, Gladys Corbin just told the police it was Peter who killed Franco, not Jason. Any thoughts on that? He says just that he’s sorry, but he has to find Anna to warn her, because Peter is far more dangerous when he’s cornered. She says she’s sure she is, excuses herself, and jets.

Peter says he’s sorry Chase is unwell, and Finn says, Peter poisoned him. He knows Peter tried to poison him, and the toxin got delivered to Chase instead. Peter says Finn has been reading too many spy novels, but Finn says they’re talking about his son’s life. Peter’s been holding the antidote over Anna’s head so she’ll fall into line, threatening to withhold it if she doesn’t do what Peter says. Peter says it does sound like something Anna would make up, and that Finn would believe. Peter’s phone dings, and he sees a text from the helicopter pilot, saying, I can’t land. He starts to walk away, but Finn grabs his arm, and says, if he wants to play games with Anna and the WSB, go ahead. He’s not going to let Chase die. Peter says, if Chase dies, blame Anna.

Portia tells Cyrus to keep her; just let Trina go. Trina says, no. She’s not leaving Portia alone with that psycho. Cyrus tells them, shut up, and Portia tells him to point the gun away from her daughter. He tells her that she has no say in who comes or goes. She has no say in anything. Understood? Portia says, fine, and Cyrus goes to the window to look out. Portia says, if Trina gets the chance, she wants her to run. Trina says, no, but Portia says, just do it, okay?

Taggert launches himself toward the house, and two officers grab him. Jordan tells them to stand down, and tells Taggert to stand down too. Taggert says, that son of a bitch has Trina and Portia in there. Curtis says, Taggert isn’t going to help anything, and Taggert pushes past the police tape, but Curtis tells him to listen to Jordan.

Inside, Cyrus wonders, what’s going on out there? He grabs Trina, and Portia screams at him to get his hands off her daughter. Everyone outside hears her.

Peter tells Finn, Anna deceived and betrayed them both, and Finn let her. He’s not going to do that. Doesn’t Finn see? There have to be consequences. Finn says, not for Chase; he has nothing to do with this. Peter says, Finn is right. It should have been him in the hospital fighting for his life. What can he say? He missed. (Okay, I have to admit, I laugh.) Finn says, this isn’t about Anna anymore, but Peter says, on the contrary. It’s absolutely about Anna. The rules were very clear. She was only to get the antidote if she didn’t disclose his involvement. She broke the rules. Finn says, she broke the rules to save Chase’s life, but Peter says, no, to save his life with this – he shows Finn a vial – she had to follow the rules. Now if Finn is done wasting his time… He starts to walk away, and Finn asks where he thinks he’s going. Peter says he’s going to find his daughter, and launches the vial over the side of the roof. Finn says, no! and Peter says, consequences. He didn’t sentence Chase to death; Anna did. Peter walks away, and after a beat, Finn follows him.

The phone rings and Cyrus tells Portia to answer it. Portia tells Jordan to get her people back, and Jordan asks if she and Trina are all right. Portia says they’re fine, and Cyrus says, fine for now, unless Taggert decides to play hero. Jordan says, don’t worry. Marcus understands what’s at stake. Cyrus says, good. Now get his sister back on the phone. She’s the only one who appears to understand the situation. Jordan says, the mayor has stepped away to deal with the press, and Cyrus says, get her back now. He tells Portia, hang up.

Jordan tells Taggert, another move like that, and she’ll have him locked up. Does he understand her? If he wants to stay, stay out of her way. Wait. She tells the officers to get Taggert away from the area. If he tries to rush the house again, cuff him to a squad car. They lead Taggert away, and Curtis tells Jordan that he’s going to check on Laura. A SWAT guy tells Jordan that everything is in place. They have the house surrounded, and will breach at her signal. Curtis tells Jordan that Doc insisted Laura wear a bulletproof vest, and Jordan says, there’s no talking her out of this, is there? Curtis says she could cuff Laura to a squad car with Taggert, and she says, fine. If Laura insists on going in there, they need to use her relationship with Cyrus to their advantage.

Michael tells Willow that he feels bad for Chase, but he’s not going to feel bad for loving her. She says she loves him too, but they agreed this wouldn’t be a good idea. He says he changed his mind. They did their best for Chase, but being together tonight isn’t going to hurt him. They’re about to kiss, when Michael’s phone rings, and he ignores it, but Willow says, what if it’s the hospital? He answers, and says, what’s up?… Oh my God, what?   

Finn follows Peter. As Peter opens the door, Finn grabs him, and throws him down the stairs. And I mean throws. Peter lies at the bottom of the stairs on the landing, blood pooling around his head, the fake passports next to him on the floor. Elizabeth runs up the stairs. She checks the pulse in Peter’s neck, and asks if he can hear her. Finn comes down the stairs, and says, is he…?  

Laura tells Doc that her daughter is lying in a hospital, and may never open her eyes again because of that man. She couldn’t live with herself if she let that happen to another child, or to another mother. She’s sorry if that’s not what he wanted her to say, and he says, it isn’t, but that’s who she is. Right now, he hates that he loves that about her. She thanks him for understanding, and thanks him for loving her. He says, his pleasure… always. Jordan joins them, and says, Cyrus agreed to the trade. Laura says, both Trina and Portia are coming out in exchange for her, and Jordan says she wants to stress that Laura doesn’t have to go through with this. She has a SWAT team in place. Laura says she knows that, but thinks they can all agree, this is the best way forward. When Portia and Trina come out, and she goes in, she wants Jordan to take whatever action she believes is most effective. Jordan says she won’t let Laura go in unprepared.

Portia says, Cyrus is bleeding. It’s an infection waiting to happen. Let her change his bandage. Can Trina get her some fresh gauze? Cyrus asks why Portia can’t get it, and she says it’s easier to work on him if he’s not holding a human shield. He lets go of Trina, and Portia says she has gauze in her bag. Portia tells Cyrus to sit down, and he says he’s watching Trina. He tells Portia, he always wanted to have a kid, but she says, children require sacrifice. Parents need to think about them first; what’s best for them, not you. He asks what she’s implying, and she says she’s not surprised he doesn’t have any.  

Anna says she’s so sorry, and Maxie asks, why? It’s not her fault. Anna says, it sickens her; the thought of Maxie’s baby out there with some stranger. Maxie cries, and says she just keeps thinking, it’s just good she’s not with Peter. Anna says, that much is true, and Maxie says, she’s realized, the only thing worse than being Peter’s enemy, is being loved by him.

Brook makes up the bed, and asks if Louise is lonely. All that time she spent cuddled up inside her mama. She can’t imagine how much her mama is missing her right now. She never thought she’d say this – she never got along with Louise’s mama – but she’s one strong lady. So strong in fact, and she loves Louise so much, she gave Louise to her. Just for now, until her daddy goes up the river. Can she say penitentiary? Not yet? Don’t worry, she’ll get the hang of it. In the meantime, her job is to keep Louise safe, which is exactly what she’s going to do.

Jordan says she’ll be monitoring Laura the entire time she’s inside, and Laura says, great, but Jordan is going to give her time, right? She wants time to talk Cyrus down, and get him to turn himself in. Jordan asks if Laura believes that’s a possibility, and Laura says, possible, yes, but likely? No, but she has to try. Jordan says her priority is to get Laura out alive. She’ll give Laura time, but not much. And they need a signal. Just a word. Something that won’t make Cyrus suspicious. When they hear it, she’ll signal the SWAT team to breach. Laura says, how about his mother’s name, Florence? and Jordan says, okay, that works. Curtis says, please just don’t say it by accident, and Laura says she’ll be very careful. Doc says, please do. Jordan says, let’s do this, and Doc hugs Laura, saying, be careful, be careful, be careful.

The phone rings, and Portia hands it to Cyrus, who says, Laura? Doc says it’s him, and Cyrus says, his erstwhile brother-in-law. Thanks for reaching out, but he’s not interested in Doc’s services. Doc says he’s not calling as a psychiatrist or a negotiator. He’s calling as Laura’s husband. Cyrus asks if Doc talked Laura out of coming in, or is he going to try and talk Cyrus out of trading Portia and Trina’s lives for his sister’s? Doc says he was unable to persuade Laura not to come in, so he asked Jordan to let him talk them through the exchange. Given they each have as much to lose. Cyrus laughs, and says, they both know that’s not true, but Doc guesses that’s a matter of perspective. Either way, Cyrus needs to get ready. Laura is approaching the house. Cyrus asks how he knows he’s not going to be shot the moment he opens the door, and Doc says, because his wife will be directly in front of Cyrus. Cyrus motions Portia and Train to go to the door, and Portia opens it. Cyrus puts Trina in front of him.   

Elizabeth tells Finn that she’s sorry. She’s not getting anything; no pulse, no breath. He’s gone. Finn sits on the stairs, his head in his hands, and says, oh no. He hurries to Peter, and checks Peter’s wrist, saying, come on. He sits back down, and says he killed the one person who can save Chase’s life.

Mac sees Anna outside Maxie’s room, and asks, how is she? Anna says she’s all right, but she wanted some time alone. Mac heads for Maxie’s room, and Valentin comes out of the elevator.

Maxie asks if Mac found Peter, and Mac says, not yet. They’re still searching.

Valentin says, Maxie had her baby? and Anna says, she did, but something happened. Her baby is missing. 

Finn says, the police are looking for Peter. They have to tell someone. Elizabeth asks, why? and Finn says, because they have to? She says, Peter hurt a lot of people. He killed Franco; he deserves to rot. He says, they can’t leave him, but she says, they’ll find him soon. They’re probably looking right now, so they have to go. Finn says he can’t, and she asks, why not? He says he did this. He threw Peter down the stairs, and killed him. Peter threw the antidote off the roof, and he lost it. She says if he tells the police what happened, there will be an investigation. He’ll lose precious time he needs to save Chase. Worse, he could go to prison, and Violet will lose another parent. He says, they can’t leave Peter there, and she picks up the passports. She says, these are passports with fake names. Maxie is Jennifer Brady. Does he think Maxie knows about this? Does he think Maxie consented to this? Peter was planning on taking Maxie someplace against her will. She won’t let Finn go to prison for killing a man who deserved to die. Finn says, the antidote is gone. Peter said, if Chase dies, it’s Anna’s fault, but it turns out, it’s going to be his. She says, it’s Peter’s fault, and no one else’s. He poisoned Chase and withheld treatment. Finn is Chase’s best chance for survival, but he can’t save Chase from behind bars. Finn says, they can’t leave him there.

There’s a knock at Brook’s door, and she tells Louise, it’s show time, sweetie. Michael comes in with Willow, and she says she didn’t know he was bringing a plus-one. He says he got the call when he was at the gatehouse, and Brook says, the more, the merrier. She can’t believe she thought she could drive herself home. She can barely be on her feet. Willow says, of course (🍷). She just had a baby; she’s beautiful. Brook says, she is. Ten fingers and ten toes. She’s really here. Michael asks, what happened? He thought she was visiting a friend. Brook says, that was the plan. While she was driving, she started getting contractions. Before she knew it, her water broke. She called her friend Cecilia, who, thank God, knew a doula in the area. After that, things were moving like a speeding train. She came there, then the doula came, then the baby came, then housekeeping came to change the sheets because… well, they get it. Anyway, mommy and baby are there safe and sound. Willow says, it must have been terrifying, and Brook says, it was something. Willow goes over to Louise, and tells Michael, look at her, and Michael says, hey you. Does she have a name? Brook says, Bailey. Baily Lois Quartermaine. He says, BLQ II, and Brook says, it has a nice ring to it, doncha think? Willow says, it’s perfect. Welcome to the world. She knows Bailey’s mama is so glad she’s there. Brook says, she sure is. She just wants to get her baby home, safe and sound. Michael says, that’s what they’ll do after they stop at GH, but Brook says, they’re fine. Michael says he’ll take her home once she and the baby have been looked at.  

Laura tells Cyrus, she’s there; he can let them go. Portia says, let Trina go first, but Laura tells Portia that Trina will be right behind her. Go now. Portia walks out, and Laura tells Trina, it’s okay. They’re going to switch places. She’s going to step between Trina and Cyrus, and when she does, Cyrus will let her go, and she’s going to run to her parents. Do it on three. One…  She moves toward Cyrus. Two… She steps in between them. Three… run. Trina takes off, and runs to Portia, who holds her. Laura goes inside, and Cyrus says, welcome. Laura says she’s glad she’s there, and he says, if she’s truly there as his sister, she’ll treat him as her brother, not a criminal. She says, okay. Tell her how to do that. He says, take off the vest.  

Laura removes the vest, and says, okay, vest off. She’s here as his sister. Cyrus says, she was the one who was so eager to join him. He’s guessing she has a particular conversation in mind. She says she does. She’s here because of his mother. She’s such a sweet woman. She knows this isn’t what his mother would have wanted for him. He laughs, and says, this is her plea? The woman who can barely tolerate being in the same room with him wouldn’t want this?

Jordan tells Doc, time to call in; make Cyrus believe they’re worried. He says, as if they’re not, and calls. Cyrus’s phone rings, and Laura says, he’s not going to answer? He says, they can wait. He’d rather hear more of her theories about his mother, who she’s met once. Laura says she just knows a mother’s love. She doesn’t think it’s in his mother’s nature to cut him out of her heart completely. He says, not everyone is her. The world is filled with terrible mothers. She says, if his mother’s so terrible, why does he care what she thinks? and he yells, because she’s his mother. She’s not terrible, she just disapproves of his choices. Laura says she thinks if his mother didn’t care at all, this… He says, this wouldn’t bother her? Okay, they have time to kill. Say he believes her. How would she suggest he go about opening his mother’s heart? She says, be the person his mother wants him to be, longs for him to be. Somewhere deep down inside is the little child she lost. Bring him back.

Curtis says, Laura is good, and Doc says, she is. Jordan asks if Doc thinks it will work, and he says, they’ll know soon enough.

Trina says Taggert came to get her; he wasn’t going to let Cyrus hurt her. Taggert says, not in a million years, and hugs her. Portia tells Curtis, she keeps seeing Cyrus holding the gun on Trina. She should have let him bleed out on her rug. Then she feels bad for thinking that, and she can’t stop shaking. Curtis says he gets that, and she says she thought he might. He says, the drama takes a long time to process. If she wants to talk, he wants her to know he’s here for her. Taggert thanks Curtis for talking him down; Portia and Trina mean the world to him. Curtis says, trust him. He gets it.

Cyrus tells Laura that she’s more his sister than she knows, and she says, how’s that? He says, she instinctively knows how to find a person’s weakness, then surgically drill down, and turn it into an asset. She won’t admit it, but she’s cruel. What else would drive her to wound him so? She says he’s so used to fighting with people, he can’t tell when someone is trying to help him. She doesn’t want to wound him. She cries, and says, she’s trying to save his life.

Anna tells Valentin, Maxie got Peter to confess to hiring the nurse who ultimately stole Maxie’s baby. Valentin suspects they’ve underestimated Maxie, and Anna says, she is a brave woman, but she’s in so much shock right now. She’s relieved the baby isn’t with Peter, but the potential outcome of the situation hasn’t gotten to her yet. She doesn’t know when it will.

On the phone, Mac says, search the whole building. He tells Maxie, sorry, and she says, they didn’t find Peter? He says, not yet, but when they do, Peter will give them the kidnapper’s real name.   

Anna tells Valentin that she has to find Finn.

Finn tells Elizabeth he’s not sure about this, but she says, the police know Peter is on the run. All they have to do is let them think he got away. No one will ever know he’s dead. Finn looks down, and sees Anna at the reception desk. He comes down with Elizabeth, and Anna says, it’s about Peter. He had Maxie’s baby kidnapped. The woman that he hired to kidnap Maxie and deliver her baby, double-crossed him and took off with the child. He didn’t show up there with the antidote either. Elizabeth asks if they have any idea where he is, and Anna says, he disappeared, which is what she suspected he’d do. She tells Finn that she’s sorry, and Elizabeth says, it was a mistake to depend on Peter. The best thing for Chase, is to find an actual cure, and that’s what they’re going to do. Anna says, for what it’s worth (🍷), they have her word. As long as Peter is out there, she won’t stop looking for him.

Willow brings Brook into the hospital with the baby, and Brook says, Michael didn’t have to drop them off and park the car. She’s perfectly fine to sit there by herself. She sits down, and Willow says, it’s just an excuse to be around the baby. Brook says she can’t blame Willow for that. Willow leaves to find someone to help, and Maxie puts on her robe. She goes to the window, and Brook holds Louise up, so Maxie can see her.

Doc says he doesn’t like this. They need to get Cyrus back on the line. Curtis says, with Doc calling every few minutes, Cyrus won’t know that they can hear him. He’ll think he has the upper hand. Doc says, he does have the upper hand. His tone is starting to shift; he’s becoming more unstable. Jordan says they need to go in, and Curtis says, with anyone else, maybe. Doc says, but not with his wife? Curtis says he realizes he doesn’t know Laura the way Doc does, but he and Laura have been in some dangerous situations. She’s always cool. If it gets too dangerous, she’ll use the code word.

Laura tells Cyrus, help her save his life. Answer the phone, and tell them she’s okay. He asks why they’d trust him, and she says because he let Trina and Portia go; that’s good. It bought him time, but that time is running out. He says, if that’s true, it won’t end well for her, and she says, the only way it will end well, is if they both walk out together. He says, then what? He goes to prison, and she walks away. She steps back into her life; the life she had before he entered it. He’ll be back in Pentenville, and Martin, maybe she’ll accept him or maybe she’ll reject him completely. He doesn’t really care. She asks, then why bring him up? and he says, no matter what she thinks, Martin is his family; like his mother, and like her, and family matters to him. He cries, and she says, then let her save his life. He says, incarceration is not a life. He won’t throw away everything he’s achieved, everything he’s built, just so she can have him locked back up in solitary. He won’t be an afterthought or a bad memory.

Jordan tells her team to get in position, and wait for her signal.

Cyrus tells Laura, it’s simple. Either he walks out a free man, or neither one of them is getting out alive.

Tomorrow, Finn says Peter won’t bother Maxie again, Valentin meets (not) his baby, Cyrus says whatever happens to him happens to Laura too, and Carly asks Jason if he thinks she screwed up something.

Million Dollar Listing New York

Ryan was looking at a property in Brooklyn from developer Avi Fisher, who he’s had an ongoing business relationship with for a while now. Ryan said it was the most luxurious project in Brooklyn, and with 138 units, his potential commission was $8 million. Altogether, the property was 22,000 square feet, and 300 feet high. After showing Ryan the automatic valet garage – which was impressive, but I wondered what you did when you wanted your car back – Ari took Ryan to the 13th floor penthouse. I’d thought buildings pretended not to have 13th floors, but I guess builders aren’t superstitious anymore. In Ryan’s interview, he said, everything people went to Manhattan for, was now in Brooklyn. Their next stop was the rooftop deck, that had 360° views, which were fantastic. Ari said they’d bought the air rights, and in his interview, Ryan said this was done to keep views unobstructed, and they’d probably spent millions just on air. While Ryan thought this was a sure partnership, Ari said he wanted Ryan’s opinion, but at the end of the day, the company would do what was right for them.

With assistant Kemba and team member Josh helping him, Tyler had the open house for the 2nd floor apartment that was across from a police and fire station. It had been on the market for a year with no nibbles, when Tyler took over. Owner Robert had taken Tyler’s advice and, in addition to dropping the price to $2.1 million, spent $70 in staging. In Tyler’s interview, he said if he couldn’t get it sold, he was going to look like an a-hole. Being on the 2nd floor alone made it challenging, so Tyler rolled with the police/fire station issue by hiring gorgeous male models dressed as cops and firefighters. He said it captured the idea of safety and being prepared, but was mostly for distraction. He was bringing the outside, inside. He’d been hearing more about covid, and people were getting anxious, which was making him anxious. A broker called the models a walking calendar shoot, and Tyler decided that celebrating the UES and firemen had been a good idea. He’d also pointed out the soundproof, $10K each, windows. KJ showed up, and in his interview, Tyler said he felt uncomfortable. The last time she’d come to one of his opens, she took the opportunity to steal his business. KJ said she was selling another apartment on the 3rd floor, and wanted to get the vibe.  

March 14, 2020. KJ said covid was starting to be on everyone’s mind. She met with her friend Stephanie, one of her European jet-set group, at Stephanie’s apartment. Stephanie said the apartment had been a passion project, but it was time to move; they needed more room. Stephanie had added a floor onto the building, bought the roof and air rights, and constructed a 1300 square foot penthouse. The penthouse had a glass NanaWall, a folding glass door that took up the entire wall, and led out to a sky terrace. The master closet was humongous, with sliding shelves, and clothes hanging behind clothes. KJ thought it was modern, but European. There were odd angles because of some rules about airflow from the Department of Buildings, since no one wanted a penthouse to blow off the roof. Stephanie wanted $3 million, but KJ said $2.895 million would get more people in the door. Not that Stephanie still wouldn’t make a huge profit.  

Steve wanted to get more listings in the building where he lived. His end goal was to make the SoHo apartment his family’s forever home. His open for the Baxter Street apartment – the one that touched four different neighborhoods – had been packed and insane, but Steve was worried covid was going to affect his sales. A broker called saying the apartment was great, but the lobby was lacking, and Steve explained it was going to be renovated. I was surprised that he hadn’t made that clear to everyone who went to the open, since it was an obvious issue. He told the broker that he’d send renderings, and in his interview, he said he felt like he’d cracked the code. He also felt that if it didn’t get sold now, it wasn’t going to happen.

March 16, 2020. Ryan met with broker Barbara to show the gigantic townhouse ,but her client had canceled. In Ryan’s interview, he said, the NBA had canceled, Tom Hanks had covid, and restaurants were closing. Some people claimed the virus would hit them hard, but some people said it was just the flu. He wanted to be cautious, but didn’t want to stop life. He showed Barbara around the 11,000 square foot, 5 bedroom, 12 bath mansion townhouse, with a 2000 square foot master bedroom, housing a 6 foot in diameter soaking tub. While I’m at it, there was a two-story open chef’s (whatever that means) kitchen, and an enclosed dining terrace that had walls of piping where an ivy system (as Ryan put it) could be grown. There was a fitness center, an endless pool, a sauna, and steam room. Barbara said her clients would want to see it for themselves, and Ryan said he’d be happy to get them hazmat suits. After she left, Ryan called the office, but found out from assistant Jordan that the other two showings had canceled. Jordan said people were canceling by minute, and thought Ryan should go home and be with his family like everyone else. They could figure out the rest later.

March 17, 2020. Tyler got three offers on the 2nd floor apartment; one for $2 million, one for the asking price of $2.150 million, and one for $2.175 million, all cash. He’d met with broker Danielle who said her client was a single mom who wasn’t going to be interested in getting into a bidding war, ending Tyler’s fantasy about that. They discussed how unbelievable it would be for NYC to shut down, and Tyler said he couldn’t see it. In Tyler’s interview, he said, when you told a broker that you had other bidders in a down market, they thought you were playing a game. His gut told him to go with the all cash offer and wrap it up, especially with the virus looming. He called Robert, who agreed to go with it, and Tyler could smell his commission of $65,250. He told Danielle it was a deal, but she said her buyer had just called, and got cold feet after speaking to her finance guy, who said she shouldn’t go over asking price. Tyler said it would have been nice to know before he called the owner, and Danielle said, these things happened, and she was just kidding. They had a deal. In his interview, Tyler said, how dare she take his gay ass on an emotional roller coaster ride?

March 18, 2020. KJ said the virus had started to hit home. She had one kid whose school had closed. That meant it was a big deal. She headed for an apartment building on West 95th Street, which she said was an affordable luxury building. You could get a 2 bedroom for the same price as a 1 bedroom condo, and she was taking the smaller properties because she wanted a more diverse portfolio. She’d been helping to refresh and sell apartments in the 200 unit building since 2017. She met with the seller’s team, who seemed pretty antsy about sanitizing and social distancing before it was even fashionable. KJ checked out the 949 square foot apartment, and in her interview, she said that she loved being involved in the staging part of the process. If the apartment wasn’t big, they needed to stage to maximize space. Sometimes developers took her staging advice, and sometimes not, but they’d been agreeable in the past. The seller said KJ had sold 13 out of 22 apartments, and they had 13 they needed to move quickly. KJ suggested a price of $1.595 million, with her potential commission being $490K and change. She found out that her other kid’s school had been suspended for two weeks, then Stefano texted, saying the market was cleaned out. As KJ jetted from the building, a producer asked what the text was about, and she told them it was the school, leaving out the market part. She seemed close to tears, and said she just wanted to be home, and be with her kids. She thought this was going to affect everything deeply. Boy, we didn’t know the half of it then. What was interesting was, it was like I was feeling it as they were experiencing it. It was kind of weird.

March 19, 2020. Steve spoke to David, the owner of Baxter Street, and said he was hoping for more showings, and to bring David an offer soon. David said he was now working from home, and thinking of taking the apartment off the market. He had a reappreciation for the environment now, and couldn’t see living somewhere else. Steve asked if there was no way David would reconsider, but David said he couldn’t; no way. In Steve’s interview, he said it was his first client to have their work affected. He didn’t know if it was an overreaction, but he had to be sensitive to what was going on. He told David, as a broker, he should give David a bunch of reasons why he should sell it, but he was sympathetic to the situation.

March 20, 2020. Fredrik called his office in NYC, and said he was coming out, but his assistant Ellis said that offices were shutting down. They were no longer allowed in the office building. He thought Fredrik should stay in L.A. with Derek and the kids. Besides, flights were being canceled. They were worried about people backing out of deals because people were leaving NYC. In Fredrik’s interview, he said it was impossible to shut down NYC. He had 80 agents in 5 markets. This was something he’d seen in movies, but it usually involved vampires or zombies. He told Ellis to keep checking on flights.

3 hours later. Ryan said, non-essential businesses were being told to shut down. NYC was falling apart. There were stay-at-home orders for non-essential workers. WTF was going on? Things they’d thought wouldn’t happen, were happening. Shutting down NYC was impossible. Things happened in the world that were bad, but this was new. It wasn’t something that happened in the USA. He called Jordan, and said to tell the team to do what they wanted. He thought maybe they should take the listings off-market temporarily.

Next time, brokers in quarantine, phase-two reopening, and applauding essential workers.

🏰 They slid right into Ryan’s Renovation, where Ryan had gotten an 8000 square foot townhouse in Brooklyn for $7.6 million. He said, it was fine as is, but they didn’t want fine, and his small renovation turned into a full gut of the house. They started with September 2019, day 143 of the renovation. Construction manager David had taken a two-family house, and made it into one, putting in a staircase. They’d also made provision for Emelia’s mom Despina. In her interview, Emilia said that Ryan couldn’t live without her mom, but her mom came with her dad, her sister, her brother, and their people. You didn’t just get one; you got more. No surprise, the property was beautiful, and I was especially taken with the 26’ closet. That’s longer than my living room. Emilia said she and Ryan had different decorating styles. She tended to go for super moody. Ryan said he didn’t really have a particular choice, but he knew what sold, and buyers liked it bright.  

Ryan moaned about the budget, saying there was always something wrong. He’d thought the renovation would run around $1.5 million, but they kept coming across roadblocks, like needing a steel beam reinforcement if they wanted to put in an elevator. He’d been off by $1.1 million, plus their June completion date had already been moved to August.

Ryan’s mom came to visit for Zena’s first birthday party. Emilia said there were going to be 65 people, and in Ryan’s interview, he said his family wasn’t super flashy or loud; not like the Greeks. They were conservative, and if they could have kept the same car for the rest of their lives, they would. He appropriated that quality in business, which made him cost effective and efficient, but he only had one life. He said the house was a never-ending renovation that might kill him.

I’m not sure what to say about Zena’s birthday party. I don’t think I’ve been to an adult party that elaborate, except for a wedding. Although I’ve never seen a ballpit at a wedding, let alone a white and gold one. The cake actually looked like a wedding cake, with a gold cherub playing a harp on top. You can’t tell me that was for a one-year-old who probably would have preferred something like SpongeBob. Ryan found out about another unexpected expense, and said, if one more bad thing happened, he was going to lose it.

Next time, Ryan is nervous to show the townhouse to Emilia’s dad, a house blessing, and Ryan is tempted with a $12 million offer.

👋 Hello, I Must Be Going…

Saving the tea for tomorrow, but tonight, stay safe, stay unbreakable, and stay not throwing elaborate parties for one year olds. They won’t remember it, so at least admit it’s for you.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0uvKk4S7CY
May21

May 20, 2021 – Laura Joins Forces With Two Cassadines, Marc’s Townhouse Moves, About a Spy, But Not Us, Real Renovation, Impossible, Shah Friends, PolyGG, She Wins, Still Rocking & Nightlife

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Sam opens the door to her apartment, and a tire rolls in. Dante follows it, and says, look familiar?

Maggie comes into the prison library, and Alexis says she looks happy. Maggie says she got it. Her parole. She’s out on Friday. Alexis says she’s so happy for Maggie, and Maggie says her cousin even has a job interview lined up for her. Alexis says if she has any problems, call her county employment liaison, or go through the Board of Corrections, or go to the Department of… Never mind; they’ll talk about it later. What is she going to do to celebrate her freedom when she first walks out? Maggie says she hasn’t thought about it yet, and Alexis asks, why not? Maggie says, first she had to thank the person who made it possible.   

Shawn is led into the visiting room, where TJ is waiting. Shawn says he appreciates TJ taking the time to visit, and TJ asks why he’s being so formal. Shawn says he just knows how busy TJ is, but TJ says he’s never to busy to visit Shawn. How is Shawn doing? Shawn says he’d rather talk about TJ. Tell him what’s new in his life. TJ says he put in for a staff position at GH, and Shawn says he’s sure they’ll jump at the chance to have him. TJ says, here’s hoping. First, he has to graduate. Shawn says he didn’t tell TJ yet, because he didn’t want to get TJ’s hopes up, but he decided to go for his parole.

Laura thanks Nikolas and Ava for coming over, and Nikolas says, it sounded serious, so they dropped everything. Ava says, if it’s between mother and son, she understands, but Laura says, no. It’s good Ava is there. All of them need to stick together. Nikolas says she mentioned Cyrus in her message. What did he do? Laura says he told her she lost a brother, and gained an enemy.    

Brando asks Sasha if he should slip out the back, but she says, no. It’s better if he’s there. They can confront this head on. Cyrus knocks (surprisingly), and Sasha opens the door. Cyrus notices Brando is there, and Sasha says, perfect timing. They have a lot to discuss. Cyrus asks what Brando is doing there, and she says, Brando is part of this. Apparently, he wants to know who the father of her baby is. Fine. She’ll tell him.

Carly tells Gladys that Sasha is pregnant, and Brando is the father. How does she think Cyrus is going to react when he finds out? Not well. The only one who can save Gladys and her son, is Carly. Gladys says, impossible. Her son has better taste than the face of Description. She doesn’t know where Carly heard this lie… Carly says, Sasha, and Gladys says Carly believes her? Carly says she does, and Gladys better hope Cyrus doesn’t find out that Sasha is pregnant with Brando’s baby. The best thing would be if Cyrus doesn’t find out Sasha is pregnant at all. Gladys says, too late. Cyrus already knows.

Sam tells Dante, it’s a good looking tire… plenty of tread… looks like it’s had some patchwork done. They did a good job. She’d take it for her car, but it won’t fit. She could actually use a spare. He says it’s a perfect fit for his car, but she knows that. She’s the one who slashed it. She says, she slashed his tire? and he says, tires. He has another one just like it. He says, sabotage? but she says she thinks it’s called carelessness. He says, even with the worst kind of luck, it’s impossible to flatten two tires on the same sharp object when the car is parked. She says he’s right; that is bad luck. Her advice to him, don’t buy a lottery ticket. He hands her a bill, saying, he doesn’t have to, and she says, come on. He’s giving her a bill? He says she’s lucky he’s only giving her a bill. He could have her on obstruction of justice, hindering a police officer, aiding and abetting a fugitive. They all carry prison terms. If she doesn’t want to go back to jail, don’t take his word for it. Ask her mom.

Alexis says she’s happy for Maggie, but all she did was give Maggie some pointers. Maggie says Alexis gave her a lot more than that; Alexis gave her confidence. Alexis says, that was all on Maggie; she was just a sounding board. Maggie says Alexis helped her find her voice, and Alexis says that means a lot to her. She’s glad she could be there for Maggie. Maggie says, this is going to sound selfish, so she hopes Alexis takes it the right way. If Alexis had to get tossed in the slammer, Maggie’s glad it was with her, or she might not be getting out. Alexis says, if anyone’s been selfish, it’s her.

Laura says, Nikolas’s Uncle Cyrus is drawing battle lines, with him on one side, and her and everyone she loves on the other. Ava asks if shots have been fired, or it was a vague threat, like the one he made against Avery to her. Nikolas says, or the one he made against Spencer at that disastrous family dinner. Laura says, which was the last straw for him. Cyrus knows the dinner was a diversion so that Carly could get Jason out of GH. Ava says, Cyrus can’t possibly hold them responsible for something Carly… Never mind. She forgot they’re talking about a psychopath, not a reasonable human being. Laura says, yes, he’s a psychopath. With money and resources, and now the gloves are off. Nikolas says, at least that’s one wedding invitation they won’t have to send, and Laura says he can’t be glib about this. Cyrus has more of a reason to target him than anybody else. Nikolas says, because he’s Laura’s son? but she says, because Nikolas is going behind Cyrus’s back to buy Pentenville.

Sasha tells Cyrus, it was a one-night stand. One and done, only not quite, since she has this dandy souvenir. Cyrus says he wasn’t asking about the circumstances, and she says, no. He sent his driver to ask. If either of them lean on her anymore for intimate, personal information, she’s calling the cops, and filing a harassment complaint. Cyrus says, that won’t be necessary, and tells Brando to wait in the lobby. On second thought, he might be a while; take the night off. Brando hesitates, and Sasha ask what he’s waiting for. Go. Brando leaves, and Sasha says Cyrus got his answer. Is he waiting for the gory details? He asks if it’s so impossible to believe he cares about her, and she says, it’s completely impossible. He doesn’t care about her, or the baby she’s carrying. All he cares about, is that it’s not his. He says, how could it be? They’ve never been intimate. She says, no, but if she hadn’t OD’d on the drugs he gave her, she would have slept with him… to get more drugs. That’s what he was counting on, right?

Carly asks, who told Cyrus? and Gladys says, it was a misunderstanding. She overheard Sasha in the ladies room. Carly says, and she immediately blabbed to Cyrus? but Gladys says, of course (🍷) not. She ran into Lucy, and they noticed a connection between Cyrus and Sasha. The way he looked at her, there was a spark. Carly says, of course (🍷) there was a connection. Cyrus is a drug dealer and Sasha is a recovering addict. Gladys says, Lucy told her about the night Sasha went back to Cyrus’s apartment, so of course (🍷) it made sense. Carly asks what Gladys did, and Gladys says, what any polite, well brought up person would do. She congratulated Cyrus on becoming a father. Carly says, and she painted a target on her son’s back.

Dante says, Sam isn’t acting like someone who put their old life in the rearview mirror. Or is that what she just tells people so she can do whatever the hell she wants to? She asks if he wants details on her criminal activity, and he says, then he doesn’t have to dig it up detective style. It saves him some time. She says, exhibit A, and holds up a book. She says, this is called a book. One she read to Scout before she fell asleep. Then she let Danny stay up and listen to the Dodgers game. Dante says, ew! and she says she knows. It’s a family scandal, but Danny bleeds Dodger blue. That’s it; her confession. Cuff her. He says he’s confused. What does that have to do with her activities yesterday? She says, everything. Her children are her world. Is that clear? He says, crystal. He never said she wasn’t an awesome mom. She says, great. At least she’s got that going for her. He asks why she’d risk all that by slashing his tires, and helping Jason escape.

TJ says, the last time he and Shawn spoke, Shawn said the whole parole thing was a non-starter. What changed? Shawn says he guesses he did. He had to set his pride aside. Lucky for him, Alexis helped him see that. TJ says, he’s seen Alexis? and Shawn says, she’s working in the library of the women’s division; he has privileges there. TJ asks how she’s doing, and Shawn says, taking it in stride. TJ asks Shawn to tell Alexis that he and Molly send their love, and Shawn says he will. TJ asks how Alexis helped Shawn, and Shawn says Alexis gave him a good swift kick to the backside. TJ says he’s been the recipient of one of those himself, and Shawn says, Alexis convinced him he didn’t have to pay for a crime he didn’t commit.

Nikolas says, so Cyrus knows about Pentenville, and Laura says Cyrus is aware of his plans. Ava says Nikolas is just trying to protect Alexis, and Laura says she knows, and as admirable as that is, she has to ask. Is that the only reason he wants to buy this prison? Nikolas flashes back to talking to Shawn about his parole, and Shawn saying he wants to nail the person who shot Hayden and thinks they got away with it. He tells Laura, he’s doing this to keep Alexis safe, and eliminate Cyrus’s threat. Go ahead. Tell him he’s making a huge mistake. She says, actually, she’s all for it. This could be the best thing he ever does with that damn Cassadine inheritance he has.

Cyrus admits he hasn’t always shown his more compassionate side to Sasha, and she says, he palmed her off on his driver when she OD’d at his apartment. And she has the sneaking suspicion he didn’t want Brando to take her to the hospital; not with the harbor close by. He says, the truth is, he’s drawn to her. He didn’t realize how much until they wrote this script last week… She says, until he found out she was with someone else. Admit it. He doesn’t have feelings for her. He just wants things he can’t have. Like his family. He says she’s a beautiful young woman with questionable judgement. She laughs, and he says he doesn’t want her to make the same mistake she almost made with him with someone who’s not worthy. She asks what makes Cyrus think he wasn’t worthy? Oh my God. Is that why he sicced Brando on her? He thinks she slept with his driver?

Gladys tells Carly, she had no idea her Brando was the father of Sasha’s baby. In fact, she still doesn’t believe it. She knows how these models are with their designer friends and their designer drugs. Carly says, Sasha’s not lying. If she says Brando’s the father, then Brando’s the father. If Cyrus finds out… Gladys says Carly made her point. She doesn’t need to drive it into the ground. She told Carly about the way Cyrus looked at Sasha. If he finds out his own driver… The doorbell rings, and Carly opens it to Brando. He says he’s sorry to come over unannounced, but she says, perfect timing. He says he thought she cared about Sasha… He sees Gladys and asks what she’s doing there. Gladys says, tell her it’s not true. Tell her that Carly made up the whole thing to manipulate her. Please tell her that Sasha person isn’t carrying his child.

Sam asks if Dante actually has any proof that she tried to impede his investigation, and he says, the security footage from the gas station. She says, no he doesn’t. If he did, he’d be there with a warrant, not an invoice for repair. He says it was worth it to see the look on her face, and she says, now that he’s had his fun, take his tire and… He says, and what? and she says she doesn’t care. Hang it from a tree and make a swing for Rocco out of it. He says she really did do him a favor, and she says he’s welcome. He says if she hadn’t done what she did, he wouldn’t have realized he was on the right track. Jason is hurt, wounded, Britt is with him voluntarily. When he started searching for a location nearby that was tied to Britt, he saw there was a Cassadine property; a nature preserve near the gas station. It’s got a barn, and guess what he found? She says she doesn’t know. A cow? A chicken? A moo-moo here, a cluck-cluck there? He says, better; evidence that Jason and Britt were there. She says does he know what she thinks? He says he’s dying to know, and she says he’s bluffing. If Jason left a trail, he’d be following it. Not haggling with her over the price of a tire. He says he did follow the trail, all the way to the Canadian border. She asks if he alerted the Canadian authorities, and he says, that’s procedure, right? The CPD said there was no sign, but they’d keep an eye out. There it is. That’s what he’s been looking for – that look. It tells him everything he needs to know. She says she’s not going to lie. She’s not going to pretend she’s not happy that Jason got away. But if he wants to build an actual case, he should be looking for the real killer.

Alexis tells Maggie, she tried rehab before; it didn’t last. She’s certain rehab wouldn’t have worked for her this time either, and if she didn’t make a change and do something drastic, she’d never stop drinking. All the rehab centers in all the world wouldn’t have made a damn bit of difference. In her pleading guilty, there was a lot of selfishness. Maggie asks how that was selfish, and Alexis says, besides being accountable for her actions, she knew this was the only place she had a chance of drying out. Maggie says, whatever her reasons, she knows she wouldn’t be leaving if it wasn’t for Alexis. Alexis says, they’re even. By Maggie letting her help, she did something for Alexis. Maggie hugs her, and leaves.

TJ says, all this time, Shawn said he was accepting the consequences of his actions. Shawn says, because he thought he shot Hayden, but he didn’t. TJ asks how he found out, and Shawn says, from Hayden herself. He figured he needed to be punished anyway. He did fire a shot, and someone got hit, just not by him. TJ wishes Shawn had told him sooner, and Shawn says he didn’t want TJ involved. TJ says he is anyway, and now might be the perfect time. Molly is working at the DA’s office, and they can take steps to uncover who really shot Hayden. Shawn says TJ can’t be involved. It’s his battle and he doesn’t want TJ and Molly caught in the middle. TJ asks, why not? and Shawn says, whoever shot Hayden thinks they got away with it, and he needs it to stay that way. If word gets around TJ is looking into it, they might want to stop him. The first step, is getting him out of there. After that, don’t worry. He’ll find out who it was, and make sure they trade places, and they end up right there.

Nikolas says, Laura approves of his efforts to purchase Pentenville? and she says, if it were anyone else, she wouldn’t, but in addition to keeping Alexis safe, he can use this as an opportunity to give back to the community as a whole. Ava says, it’s no wonder Cyrus is against it, and Laura says, privatizing Pentenville doesn’t just have to be about money. It could be about treating the inmates more humanely. Nikolas could be a leader in prison reform. Ava says, it earns respect for the Cassadine name. That’s quite a legacy to leave Spencer. He says, who knew he was an altruist? and Laura says, she knew. Ava says, she didn’t, but she likes it. Laura says, this will put Nikolas on a collision course with Cyrus. Is he prepared to deal with that?

Sasha asks if Cyrus thinks she got it on with his chauffeur. No wonder he’s so defensive. He says, did she? As Brando’s employer, he might have the right to know. I wonder what employee handbook he’s read. She says she knows he’s been away for a long time, but in this millennium, no employer has the right to pry into their employee’s private life. Ugh. She’s not quite right either. He says, it’s about more than that, and she knows it, and she says, he just can’t wrap his head around the fact that she chose someone who wasn’t him. He wants to know the truth? Here it is. She had broken up with Michael, and she needed a lift; know what she means? And there he was, Mr. Nobody, the right man at the right time. So she fell into bed with him, and just her luck, one time was the charm. He says she still hasn’t told him who he was, and she says, patience. She’s saving the best for last.

Carly tells Brando, Sasha told her about the baby, in confidence, but his mother, the human megaphone, overheard Sasha talking about it, and went to Cyrus to congratulate him on being a father. Gladys says she swears she had no idea the baby was his. How could she? He swore he didn’t want kids, and that he was careful. What was he thinking? He says, that’s really none of her business, and she says she’s sure that Gilmore girl (ha-ha) preyed on him and his weaknesses, and before you know it… He says, that’s not what happened. Sasha is smart. Gladys says, not too smart to avoid getting knocked up, and he says, and brave enough to face down Cyrus. When Cyrus commanded she tell him who the father of the baby is, she didn’t give him up, and she never would. Carly says, sooner or later, Cyrus is going to find out who the baby’s father is, and Gladys says, then Brando is a goner, and it will be all her fault.

Dante wonders if there’s a disconnect with Sam. She thinks he believes Jason is guilty, but he doesn’t. in fact, with all due respect to the Commissioner and her investigators, the odds of Jason dumping the gun down the garbage shoot where the victim’s body was discovered are virtually non-existent. Add to that, the only witness is Sonny’s perpetually resentful cousin Gladys, it’s obvious Jason is being framed. She asks, then why is Dante hunting Jason? He just admitted he thinks Jason is innocent. He says, Jason is innocent of murdering Franco; he’s guilty of escaping from the hospital, and all the charges attached. Dante is on the force full time. He doesn’t get to pick and choose what assignments he takes. He was given Jason’s case, so that’s what he’s going to do. She says, good luck with that, and he senses she doesn’t believe he’s going to have success. She says she’s heard he’s an excellent detective, and he says, not excellent enough to keep her from slashing his tires. She says, they’re back to that? and he says he just wanted to thank her again. She says, for what? and he says he wouldn’t be walking around free, wearing this badge, if she hadn’t stopped him from killing Peter, and got him into therapy with Doc. He’s deeply grateful. She says she can’t believe he actually has a heart. For what it’s worth (🍷) she knows he would have done the same for her. He says he would.

TJ asks if Shawn has any idea who actually shot Hayden, and Shawn says he’s thought a lot about it over the years. They give you plenty of time to think in here. So far, he’s drawn a blank, but if Alexis can find a way to get him out of there, he’ll be in a better position to figure it out, and settle the score. TJ says, settle the score how? but Shawn tells him not to worry. He’ll leave justice to the law. He has way too much to live for, starting with TJ’s graduation. Promise he’ll save Shawn a seat? TJ says, I promise… dad.

Nikolas says, if somebody has to draw a line in the sand, let it be a Cassadine, and Ava says, or better yet, two Cassadines. He’s not going to have to face Cyrus alone. Laura says they’re all in this together, because she’s sure Cyrus is going to try and find a way to get back at them for the family dinner at Windymere, and using it as a decoy to let Jason get away. Ava says, something else happened that night. Sources tell her that Cyrus ended up on the losing end of the meeting of the Five Families balsamic vinegar. Laura says, that’s what happened? He did mention something about Carly pulling some sort of… power play? Ava says, she did more than that. From what she hears, Carly really handed Cyrus his ass. She wishes she could have been there to see it.

Sasha tells Cyrus, she referred to him as Mr. Nobody because she didn’t know his name. They agreed up front; no names, no sob stories, no excuses. He wanted what she wanted, and vice versa. Cyrus says, so he has no idea she’s expecting, and she says, how? She doesn’t even have his phone number. What can she say? He had a great body, and looked great in the dark. Cyrus says, what if he told her that he only wants to know his name so he can make sure he lives up to his responsibilities? She tells him, she would say, he’s not her father, this is not the 1950s, and no one is responsible for her baby except for her.

Carly says, for once Gladys speaks the truth. Her big mouth could get Brando killed. Gladys says, good God, and Carly says, of course (🍷) there’s one person who could stop Cyrus. Brando says, who’s that? and Carly says, his mother. Gladys says, all right. Carly wins. How can she protect her boy? Carly says, the only way to ensure Brando’s safety, is to make sure Cyrus is no longer a threat. That means putting him back in prison where he belongs. Brando asks how his mother is supposed to swing that, and Carly says, by recanting her statement. By confessing Cyrus paid her to lie about who and what she saw the night Franco was murdered.

Sam tells Dante, now that they got that settled, how much does she owe him? She looks at the bill, and he says, it’s not just a matter of money. If she pulled that crap with another cop, she’d be in a holding cell, and she knows it. She says, so he thinks she took advantage of their prior relationship? and he says, now that she mentions it… She says if he feels duty bound to arrest her, do it. Just know that he’s probably going to have to read Scout books every night to get her to sleep, and she’ll probably be cellmates with her mom. He says he’ll probably hear it from Monica when he’s at the Q’s, or his mom will be shooting daggers at him for putting her away. Bottom line is, he’s willing to call it quits if she stays out of his way. And if she pays for the tires. She says, obviously she’ll pay for the tires, but she doesn’t have that kind of cash in the house. Will he take a check? He says, yeah. If it bounces, he knows where to find her.

Shawn goes into the prison library, and Alexis asks if she can interest him in another book or a periodical. He says he has all the reading material he needs, but there is something she can do for him. She says, name it, and he says, he just got a visit from TJ. She asks how Molly and TJ are, and he says, great. Molly just graduated from law school, and started a job with the DA. She says, excellent, and he says, TJ’s about to graduate from med school, and he’d like to be there. TJ called him dad, so he’s going to take her up on the offer to get him out of there.

Laura tells Ava and Nikolas, she can’t say she’s thrilled to hear that Carly decided to take over Sonny’s organization, but she guesses with Jason being unavailable, Carly will do anything she can to protect the family. Nikolas suggests they show Cyrus how solid their family is, and throw a great wedding. Ava says, it’s such a nice sentiment, but a family fête isn’t exactly going to stop Cyrus in his tracks. Nikolas says, they’ll show him that they have something he covets, but will never possess. Laura says she’s all for symbolic gestures, but they need an actual plan.

Cyrus asks if Sasha has ever considered that he might want to be part of her life, and might want her to be part of his. She says, not for a second, and he says, a man can only have so much money, so much real estate, so much… She says, power? Isn’t that why he’s so desperate to find out who the father of her baby is? As long as he’s a mystery, he has power over Cyrus. The man who did what Cyrus couldn’t. The man who got what Cyrus couldn’t get. Let her tell him about Mr. Nobody. He was young, he was great in bed, and he put a new life inside her. In short, he was the opposite of Cyrus. Cyrus says, they’ll talk again, but she says, let’s not, and he leaves.

Gladys says she told the police the truth, and Brando says, just stop. They all know Jason didn’t kill Franco. She got there after Franco was shot, so there’s no way she saw Jason get rid of the gun. Gladys says she did see it, and Carly says, no she didn’t. Gladys made the whole thing up, and the only way she would do that is if somebody paid her to do it. Brando says, they all know that someone is Cyrus, and Carly says, if Gladys wants to save Brando from Cyrus, tell the truth, before it’s too late.

Sam hands Dante a check, and asks if they’re done here. He says, the next time she gets the urge to go rogue, remember she might not get a cop who’s as nice, or handsome, or charming as he is. She rolls her eyes, and he says, there might actually be consequences. He starts to leave, and she says, whoa, whoa, whoa. Isn’t he forgetting something? She gestures toward the tire, and he says, oh no. That’s hers. She paid for it. She rolls it toward him, and he takes it, says, see ya, and leaves. She says he’s such nice guy. She starts to go upstairs, when there’s a knock at the door. She turns around and says, let her guess. He has more questions for her. She opens the door, and sees the check ripped up on the hallway floor, but Dante is gone.

Alexis tells Shawn, remember, this parole hearing isn’t about innocence or guilt. It’s about two things. The first thing is, his progress inside the wall. The second thing is – and this is important – they want to see remorse for the crime he’s committed, because that way they can trust he won’t do it again when they let him out. He says he can’t in good conscience, express remorse for a crime he didn’t commit, and she says, what about the crime he did commit? Does he have remorse for that? He says, for pulling the trigger? Yes. For botching the job and not hitting the target? No. He’s glad he missed. She says, let’s look at it this way. What were the circumstances that led up to Hayden Barnes’s shooting? They’ll see where that takes them.

Nikolas says he’s not going to sit by, and let Cyrus threaten his family. If he wants a war… Laura says, no. She didn’t ask him there for a war council. She’s still the mayor, and committed to fighting Cyrus by any legal means at her disposal. Ava says, she and Nikolas aren’t exactly model citizens, and Laura says, she didn’t hear that. Ava says, but what Laura is saying is, she’d prefer it if they didn’t do anything outside the rule of law, and Nikolas adds, or is she saying she’d just prefer not to know about it if they do? Ava says, plausible deniability is definitely something they can go with. Nikolas says, they might need to. Not just to defend themselves, but their family, which definitely includes Laura. Ava says, if the three of them present a united front, and Carly continues to hold up the Corinthos end of things, she thinks Cyrus is going to find himself very isolated. A man on an island, so to speak. Laura says, that could end up being the worst case scenario. It could make Cyrus so desperate, he becomes even more dangerous.

Sasha sits down, and breaths a sigh of relief. She looks at one of her headshots and says, dodged a bullet tonight, didn’t you, Gilmore? But only for the moment. Let’s be real. No amount of avoiding is going to stop Cyrus, and he can’t find out about Brando. She rubs her belly, and says, they’ll just have to stay one step ahead of him.

Gladys swears she’d do anything for Brando, and Carly asks why she senses a but coming. Gladys says, if she makes an enemy out of Cyrus, he’ll take it out on both of them, mother and son. There’s got to be a better way. Gladys tells Brando, he works for the man. He knows what Cyrus is capable of. Tell Carly. He says, Sonny trusted Carly. So does he. What do they do? Carly says, get Gladys to recant her statement, and implicate Cyrus. Once Gladys is on record with the police, Cyrus will be powerless to stop the investigation, and will be on his way to Pentenville in no time.

Tomorrow, Robin returns, Anna tells someone that they can’t get past this until they get through it, and Robert tells Annie that Sean’s case files might hold the key.

Million Dollar Listing New York  

Ryan got a tour of Marc Jacobs’s townhouse from Marc’s husband, Charlie (Char). We saw the photos from Architectural Digest, but since they were moving to Westchester, just about everything had already been moved or gone to auction, including a lot of the fixtures. In his interview, Ryan said, where’s all the stuff? All the Marc Jacobs-ness of his house had been removed. Char said they were looking for a fresh start, but had done renovation on the townhouse, and everything had been a considered decision. Even mostly empty, it was pretty impressive at 4796 square feet. There were gold leafed ceilings that only two people in the world were equipped to craft, a 100-carat gold ceiling, and a galley kitchen with Meiele appliances. I actually know what both of those things are, so points for me. I also know Meiele appliances are way out of my price league. The townhouse was four stories, and the primary suite 945 square feet. There were only three bedrooms, but five baths, and a custom bult mahogany closet that you know was fabulous. Apparently, Marc had so many pairs of shoes, there were still a large amount there. The master bath had $100K of stonework put into it, and Ryan called it a marble mecca. Marc’s dog Neville was there, a Spuds McKenzie dog with over 200K followers on Instagram. There was a garden courtyard, and a kosher kitchen downstairs. Ryan explained in his interview, it was the only way to have two full kitchens in a townhouse in NYC, which was news to me. Not that I’ve ever looked into it. Ryan said he wanted to sell it quietly, like a Picasso off-market. His potential commission was $330K.

Steve was looking for comps for the 3000 square foot apartment on Baxter Street (I’m pretty sure I’ve passed this building) that bordered Soho, Little Italy, Nolita, and Chinatown. I know how difficult finding comps can be, since there aren’t many for my type of house in my area. Although his problem was that each of those neighborhoods had different price points for the same thing. Steve said the outside had zero curb appeal, and it was between neighborhoods; the apartment had an identity crisis. Not to mention the lobby was nothing to write home about. Steve said he felt like people would think it was in Chinatown because of the exterior. He divvied up his team to look for comps in each neighborhood.

Tyler had been given a listing on 67th Street, that he’d missed out on previously. He met the owner and his daughter at the apartment, where he’d done a staging. He said the apartment was dripping with charm, and he’d staged it to reflect classic New York Upper East Side architecture, which included a formal dining room. In Tyler’s interview, he said the key to good staging was neutral tones and a low profile, so no matter what the taste of the potential buyer, they’d see the beauty of the space. Ryan asked owner Robert about the noise level, since the apartment overlooked a police station and a firehouse, and Robert said they were good about not putting on the sirens until they got to the corner, but they’d gotten used to it. I understand this too. My first residence in NYC was across from a firehouse. When I first moved in, the noise would keep me awake, but Robert wasn’t lying. I got so used to it, when I would visit my dad in Ohio, I couldn’t sleep because it was too quiet. True story. Tyler said second floor apartments were notoriously challenging to sell. One of the reasons the owner hadn’t chosen to list with Tyler before, was that Tyler advised him that his price was too high and it should be staged. Robert hadn’t listened, and the apartment sat there for two years. In his interview, Tyler said that when you didn’t get a listing, it was devastating, and a blow to your ego; you questioned your own advice. This was his chance at redemption. He couldn’t f*** it up.

In Ryan’s interview, he said, the challenge with Marc Jacobs’s townhouse was that most of the awesomeness had been boxed up and sold at auction by Sotheby’s. His strategy was to give a private showing every fifteen minutes, and hopefully start a bidding war. Doing showings back-to-back made people feel like they wanted it more, because there was limited time. A price of $11 million had been decided on, Char agreeing to sell it faster for less. Ryan said it was a lot of square feet to show in fifteen minutes – 330 square feet a minute. One potential buyer offered $9 million, which Ryan thought was too low, but it was an offer. He thought offers would keep coming in if he kept up the momentum. KJ had buyers who were obsessed with the townhouse, but they had three kids, and would need to renovate for another bedroom. She wondered what was up with the missing fixtures.

Steve said he’d taken a risk, asking the Baxter Street seller to wait 24-hours before he came up with the proper price. The apartment had great characteristics, and he wanted the right number, which he said was imperative to the success of the sale. He suggested $5.5 million, but the seller whined that they were on the cusp of Soho, Tribeca, Nolita, and Little Italy, and Steve said, it was also on the cusp of Chinatown. He knew it was difficult for the seller to think of pricing below his expectations of $6.1 million. He got that there was an attachment, but said he wasn’t a broker who was going to tell them what they wanted to hear. He gave them what the reality was. The seller agreed, and Steve’s potential commission was $165K.

Tyler and his assistant Kemba auditioned models to pose as fireman and policeman at the 67th Street open. In Tyler’s interview, he said, buyers didn’t like surprises, so they were going to be very upfront. The auditions were a hard job, but somebody had to do it. We saw a lot of hot guys, and Tyler hoped they could distract the potential buyers from the noise outside, and bring him offers.

Steve took it to the streets, deciding to bring in samples from local restaurants in the neighborhoods surrounding Baxter Street. He made up handouts with a map, showing how to quickly get everywhere, and listing the coolest things in each neighborhood, as well as the restaurants featured. The open was going to have a distinct food theme. They got macaroons from SoHo, meatballs from Little Italy, Matcha something or other from Nolita, and dumplings from Chinatown. I wanted everything, especially the dumplings, but settled for a turkey sandwich. Steve admitted the exterior sucked, but the lobby was going to be redone soon, and the building had the money in reserve, so he knew it was happening. He focused on selling the location, and said the beauty of it, was that it was in the middle of everything. In his interview, he said potential buyers and brokers showed interest, but he’d been doing this long enough to know not to get excited without a solid, bonafide offer. Yep. I never count on the money until it’s in the bank.

Ryan had made a promise to sell the Marc Jacobs townhouse quickly, exclusively, and quietly, but made it clear that if it didn’t work, he’d have to put it on the market. The pre-market showing was a success, and in KJ’s interview, she said it was perfect for her buyer. It was not only stunning, but a piece of New York history. She offered Ryan $9.5 million, but in his interview, Ryan said, Marc Jacobs doesn’t do bargain rack. KJ said she was on her way somewhere, and Ryan offered to pick her up. In her interview, she said, there was never a free ride, ever, but she was willing to sit in Ryan’s car to get a deal for her client. Ryan liked having the buyer’s agent trapped in the car, being able to use it when calling the seller. They went back and forth a little, but it was deal at $10.5 million.

Next time, two apartments at 4000 square feet each, and Ryan has a The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe themed open house, and dresses as a lion.  

🕶 Father, Godfather, Friend, and Spy…

All about Sean Donely.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/abc/general-hospital-sean-donely-john-reilly-169211

👨🏻‍🏫 Cameron Knows…

Apparently, he’s not going to tell us though.

Cameron Mathison Finally Knows Who He’s Playing on GENERAL HOSPITAL

🎡 Spinning Off…

Ryan’s solo act will begin on June 15th.

https://www.bravotv.com/the-daily-dish/ryan-serhant-brooklyn-townhouse-renovation-new-bravo-series

https://www.bravotv.com/million-dollar-listing-ryans-renovation

😆 Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha…

Eboni expects a lot.

https://pagesix.com/2021/05/18/eboni-k-williams-got-through-to-ramona-singer-with-help-talk/

👭 The OGs Have Bonded…

Motherhood makes for strange bedfellows.

https://pagesix.com/2021/05/16/shahs-stars-mercedes-golnesa-are-friends-now/

🛫 Exploration…

Why can’t we just call it being single and doing what you want?

https://pagesix.com/2021/05/16/golnesa-gharachedaghi-of-shahs-of-sunset-explores-polyamory/

🎮 Not Only Another Pretty Face…

She’s not just Jennifer’s Body anymore, but Jennifer’s brain.

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/dj-khaled–megan-fox-face-off-in-an-epic-live-fortnite-battle-301291138.html

💃 Still Turning the Beat Around…

The grande dame of Studio 54 celebrates her 80th.

https://pagesix.com/2021/05/18/nikki-haskell-turns-80-with-studio-54-themed-bash/

She knows everybody.

https://www.lamag.com/culturefiles/nikki-haskell-80/

🛍 Hitting the Sack…

Until we meet tomorrow, for soap and tea, stay safe, stay benevolent, and stay not being a human megaphone like Gladys. It will just end up causing trouble.