Tag Archives: Scheana Shay

August 1, 2025 – GH Weekdays, Jason Confides To Anna, Soap Suds, This Week In Reality, Weekend Watching, Farewell Ozzy, Join the Con, Fashionable Return, In the Limelight, Nine Whole Quotes & Beach

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

🥢 Weekday Bites…

Monday:

Willow walked down the aisle, expressionless, handed her bouquet to Elizabeth, and Drew held out his hand.

Molly flashed back to what Kristina had said and told Cody that he wasn’t worried about sun exposure. He wanted her hands all over him.

At Alexis’s place, Michael asked Kristina why she was coming between Molly and Cody. She said Molly didn’t know who Cody really was and she’d hired him to seduce Ava.

On the phone, Jack tried to find out about the courier’s location, when Josslyn came in. He wanted her side of the story.

Wiley told Jason that his mommy was marrying Uncle Drew and wondered why she’d do that.

Willow took Drew’s hand, and the ceremony commenced. Lucy asked if there was anyone who knew why the wedding shouldn’t take place, but there were no takers, although there were a lot of soap looks.

Cody said he wasn’t hitting on Molly and wondered what her problem was. She said Ava had been drooling over him, and he asked if she’d been following him.

Kristina told Michael about cutting the brakes to Ava’s car. She’d tried to kill Ava, and instead Ric and Elizabeth almost died.

Carly explained that Wiley’s parents now loved each other in a different way now, but still adored their kids. Even though his mom didn’t want to break the judge’s rules by seeing him and Amelia, that didn’t mean she didn’t love them.

Lucy said today was about joining an entire family, and Drew and Willow had written their own vows. Drew said blah-blah-blah, a bunch of lies, while Willow smiled at him. He promised she’d get her kids back, and Nina told Obrecht that Willow thought Drew was the only path back to her children.

Josslyn said she’d planted the tracker on Greta (the courier who apparently now has a name), and Jack told her that something her mother said got his attention.

Alone with Jason, Carly said it was heartbreaking that Wiley had been confused since his parents broke up. Both Willow and Drew were heartless and selfish. Drew hadn’t wanted an equal, but a yes man, and that’s why she and Drew hadn’t worked out. Jason wondered if there were similarities in keeping AJ from Michael, and Carly wondered if Wiley and Amelia would understand that Michael just wanted to protect them. She was trusting the love they had would be enough, like it had for her and Michael.

Michael was understanding about what Kristina had done and told her that she was lucky that the cops didn’t know. She said Ric and Ava had figured it out and were extorting Alexis.

There was more nonsense from Drew, and he said their future was bright and beautiful. He’d do everything in his power to make her as happy as she’d made him. They’d build on the family they were creating and committing to, and their love. Now and forever. It was Willow’s turn and after slipping her hands out of his, she asked if Drew had slept with her mother. 🍿!

Michael said he wished he could have helped Kristina, but she took full responsibility. She felt lucky she hadn’t killed someone, but now Ric and Ava had power over her mom. Alexis was stealing from the Cassadine trust, so she didn’t go to prison, and she was trying to get Ava and Ric to turn on each other. Ric still had a thing for Elizabeth, so if Cody flirted with Ava, maybe she’d realize she could do better. Kristina wasn’t surprised Cody liked Molly, but was surprised Molly was interested in Cody.

Cody asked why Molly cared, and she said she thought it was inappropriate since Ava was dating her dad. Cody offered to move and picked up her book, finding a western romance hidden inside.

Jack said Carly was pleased to see Josslyn was moving on and dating again, and Josslyn said she thought that was what he wanted. Jack said he did, but understood she was new to this, and it could be confusing and easy to get caught up in feelings. She said there was nothing real going on, and he said Vaughn was playing a part, so it was vital she did the same.

Willow repeated herself and said it was a simple question. Drew tried to deflect, but it didn’t work. She asked if he’d slept with Nina while they were falling in love, and Alexis finally got Scout the hell out of there. Drew said, yes, and it had happened more than once, but he’d never developed feelings for Nina. He tried to turn it around, saying Willow had told him that they couldn’t be involved, but she wasn’t having it. He’d done worse than compromise her marriage. He’d destroyed it. 🍿!

Josslyn said she could handle it, when Jack’s phone rang. A man said they’d lost the courier.

Kristina told Michael that she didn’t think Molly and Cody were a good match and she’d told Molly that she didn’t know who Cody really was. Michael said it wasn’t a terrible plan, and Kristina said she’d told Cody that he’d be doing Molly a favor. Michael said Kristina had dug herself a big hole, but promised to help her get her out of it. She was his sister, and he’d always have her back. She said they could never let Alexis know he knew about the blackmail, when Alexis came in with Scout.

Carly reminisced about when she’d heard Jason had died and how she’d hung onto Drew because he was gone. Drew had accused her of using him as a substitute for Jason and she couldn’t deny it. Jason said he hadn’t been dead and was sure he’d seen Britt. He asked what happened to Britt’s body. He had to be sure. She said she had no idea. He’d have to ask someone in Britt’s family.

Drew wanted to go somewhere private, but Willow said right there was fine, and he said he’d fallen in love with her. She said she’d defended him and told people they were wrong, that they were open and honest with each other. She was such an idiot believing him. He’d said she could keep her children, and she’d never give them up for him, even though that’s what ended up happening. She’d given Michael ammunition and Drew had just wanted her to himself, promising her anything. She realized Michael was telling the truth about what Wiley heard, and Drew said, it was strategy. She said his lies hurt her son and he’d made it possible for her to lose her children. Don’t touch her ever again. She left and Drew tried to follow, but Nina intercepted him. 🍿!

Cody read from the romance novel, which was pretty funny. (I have a friend who writes erotic romances and those are pretty funny to read out loud too.)

Jack told Josslyn that they’d have to see if the tracker stayed when Greta left, but for now, they’d lost the tracker.

Michael asked how the wedding was, and Scout said, weird. Alexis suggested Kristina make Scout lunch, and Kristina took her to the kitchen. Alexis told Michael about what happened and that Nina and Drew had an affair.

Nina said at least now everyone knew Drew was a poor, pathetic excuse for a human being and he didn’t have to pretend anymore. He’d sniffed around a married woman while sleeping with her mother, and ruined Willow’s life. Drew said she’d waited to tell Willow, letting her plan the wedding, but Nina said she’d been clinging to the delusion he’d do the right thing. If he’d loved Willow, he would have let her go before she lost her children and everyone she loved. Drew said Nina had hired an escort to drug him, but she said she hadn’t been there. That was all on him. She didn’t force him to take body shots from an escort over a bar. He was done. The only thing that pleased her was that he’d lost Willow forever. She knew Willow would never forgive him. She left.

The cheese stood alone. 🍿!

Cody asked if Molly was a secret romantic, but she said she’d been obsessed with all things romantic since she was a kid. She’d written two books, Love in Maine and Maine Squeeze. He was impressed, and she said she thought it was time for a third book. It was just research. She gathered up her stuff and left.

Josslyn wondered if the tracker was out of range, and Jack said, otherwise, somebody found it.

Britt told Greta that she was late, and Greta gave her the backpack.

Obrecht ordered a triple schnapps at the bar and told the bartender that no one else would be coming. Jason joined her and said he had some questions about Britt.

Kristina came back, leaving Scout in the kitchen. Alexis told Kristina and Michael about Willow confronting Drew at the altar and Drew admitting it was true. Kristina said they’d tried to tell Willow who Drew was, and Michael said now she finally knew.

Martin said, maybe they dodged a bullet, and asked Lucy if a lot of weddings she officiated at ended up like this. She said he’d be surprised how many, but he said, no, he wouldn’t.

Kai offered Drew a ride, but Drew wanted to find Willow. He said told Martin that he had a job for him.

Nina said Willow was nowhere to be found, and Elizabeth said she wasn’t answering her phone. Nina said Willow needed her mother and wondered where she went.

Willow knocked at Carly’s door and said she needed to see her children.

Tuesday:

Alexis and Kristina discussed Scout, and Alexis said Drew called Scout to say goodnight. Alexis had no idea Nina and Drew were sleeping together. Molly came in and said Kristina was right about Cody; he was a hustler.

Obrecht laughed about Drew’s face when Willow asked if he’d slept with her mother, but added there was nothing funny about Willow and Nina being in pain. Jason said he thought he’d seen Britt.

Britt went to her hotel room and made herself a drink. She opened the backpack and took out a bunch of papers.

Curtis met Nina at the pool and Portia joined them. Nina thought they deserved to know Willow and Drew were finally over. Portia asked why Nina was upset, and Nina said she and Willow were over too. She’d lost her daughter forever.

Drew and Martin crawled over the wall to the Quartermaine mansion. Drew said Willow had to be there.

Cody had Tracy examine his back for errant moles, but she saw nothing except a freckle. Drew burst in and asked where Willow was. Tracy said, he’d misplaced his bride already? How careless of him.

Carly told Willow to keep her voice down, but Willow heard Wiley and yelled for him.

Jason told Obrecht about seeing Britt board the flight to Dubrovnik, and Obrecht said she saw Britt all the time.

Britt got on her laptop as she flipped through the papers, then slammed it shut.

Molly told Kristina and Alexis what happened with Cody. She wasn’t wasting any more time on that con man. He’d also gotten superior about her reading a romance novel, but thanks to her sister, she was on to him.

Nina said she’d realized how lost Willow was when Portia told her how Willow wasn’t fazed about altering Michael’s test results. But before she could tell willow anything, Willow asked if she’d slept with Drew. Curtis admitted he was the one who told Willow.

Drew said he needed to find Willow, but Tracy said Willow wasn’t there and he was trespassing. Martin pretended they were there to discuss Measure C, but Tracy laughed, and Cody said Willow had bailed on Drew. Drew said Nina had told Willow about their involvement, and Tracy was even more amused. Yuri came flying in to escort them out, but Drew said they weren’t leaving until he saw Willow.

Willow said she was Wiley’s mother, but Carly said Willow was in her wedding dress with mascara streaming down her face. She was a mess, and she was going to scare Wiley. Michael came out and Willow said she’d done what he wanted. She didn’t marry Drew and now he had to let her see her kids.

Obrecht told Jason that the sightings had faded. Her consciousness knew Britt was gone, but she continued to look for her. Jason said he’d never seen Britt since she died, but Obrecht said Britt died a hero. It comforted her that Jason’s subconscious looked for her too.

Alexis suggested a movie, but Molly said she wasn’t in the mood. Ava could have Cody. They were perfect for each other. She went upstairs, and Kristina said she’d told Molly the truth, mostly, but she felt crappy about it.

Curtis apologized for betraying Nina’s confidence, and Portia said she’d been about to go to the hospital board. Curtis said it was a last-ditch effort to save Portia’s medical career, and Portia said her confession had been the lesser of two evils. Curtis said he was glad Willow’s eyes had been opened, but he was sorry Nina got hurt. He’d never meant for Nina to lose her daughter.

Michael said Willow had to leave, but she said Drew wasn’t in the picture anymore. He said, right now, she was the problem, and their kids couldn’t see her. Wiley called, mommy! and Michael dragged her away. Wiley asked Carly why his mommy was crying. Willow told Michael that she’d never marry Drew. It was over and he was out of her life for good. Michael said she wasn’t thinking straight, and she cried, saying she couldn’t stand not seeing her kids. He said she wasn’t seeing them tonight and that was final.

Jason said Britt had no grave in Port Charles and asked Obrecht if she was buried elsewhere. Obrecht said something had changed when Britt met Jason. She’d accepted who she was and was at ease and happy. She’d never known Britt to trust anyone, but Britt had started to trust him, telling him about her Huntington’s diagnosis before she even told Obrecht.

Britt watched the Nurses Ball on her laptop and said it didn’t disappoint. A man knocked at her door, and she told him that she didn’t remember calling or texting him, but he said he was sent to relieve her tension.

Drew didn’t want to take Tracy’s word, and Martin went into the living room with Yuri. Tracy said Drew had been living on borrowed time after Cody outed his affair with Nina at the Brown Dog Bar. She knew that the longer it went on, the better the leverage, and now it blew up in his face. He said he and Willow had fallen in love and if not for Nina, they’d be married.

Nina told Curtis that he’d said the right thing and if he’d told her beforehand, she would have tried to talk him out of it. He said he was sorry he got in the way, but Nina thought maybe Willow would have accused her of making it up. Curtis had forced Willow to face reality. She didn’t think they’d come back from it, but as long as Willow was free from Drew, she believed it was worth it.

Willow told Michael that Drew was a liar and a fake. He’d been sleeping with Nina and her eyes were opened. She was wrong and Michael was right. Wasn’t that what he wanted to hear? He said he was glad she knew the truth, but that didn’t change the judge’s ruling, and it stood. She said she and Drew were finished and she’d come back to Michael, and he said there was a time he’d wanted to hear that, but it was too late now. She said she’d do anything he wanted, and he said they were following the ruling for now. That’s why she needed to leave, or he’d have her escorted off the property. He hustled her out the door and she cried. Carly comforted Wiley as Willow looked in through the window.

Nina said Willow accused her of standing by while she threw away her marriage and jeopardized her relationship with her kids, but Portia said that wasn’t true. Everyone had tried to tell Willow the truth. Nina said it wasn’t the truth Willow needed to hear. She’d had the one piece of information that would have turned Willow away from Drew, but she’d been selfish. She let her fear of losing her daughter paralyze her and did nothing. Now Willow was alone without her, Drew, or her children.

Elizabeth and Ric came along and found Willow sitting outside Carly’s door. Willow asked Elizabeth to talk to Michael, but Elizabeth didn’t think it was a good idea. Willow said she needed her children, and Elizabeth said Willow had to think about them. It would scare them to see her like this. She’d bring Willow back in the morning if she thought it was the right thing to do. They gathered Willow up, but Willow said she had nowhere to go. She didn’t have a home.

Michael said Willow wasn’t upset with Wiley, and Wiley asked why she was crying. Michael said she’d had a very bad no good day, but it would be okay. She and Uncle Drew were supposed to get married, but it didn’t happen, and mommy was sad, so she forgot the judge’s rule not to see them. Wiley asked if she was going to get in trouble.

Martin talked to Yuri about working for the Quartermaines, and Yuri said it was an honor and a privilege. Martin said the drama must be difficult, especially for Monica since she was in poor health. (😒When will we be ending this charade?) Yuri said it was hard on her, but better with Michael at home, and Martin said Wiley and Amelia must give her joy. He asked if Monica got a lot of visitors.

Jason said Britt struggled with her Huntington’s diagnosis and was scared, but refused to give up. Obrecht said Britt had opened herself up to new experiences and had enjoyed her first birthday party the night she died. He said he wished he could have been there to celebrate, and she said, perhaps knowing the worst was coming, Britt took chances with experiences and people she might not have otherwise. She thought Britt would have been happy with him if he hadn’t abandoned her for Carly, but Jason saved her life, so no hard feelings. He said, Britt died in the process of saving a life, and she said, Britt died in her arms. Britt knew she’d been poisoned, but didn’t tell her, and all she could do was hold Britt. We flashed back to that, and Jason said he was glad Obrecht was there. She wondered why they couldn’t have had more time.

Kristina explained what she’d told Molly about Cody, and Alexis said Kristina had conveniently left out that she’d asked him to do it. Kristina said he needed to stay on plan and on Ava, and Alexis said, an interesting thing happened at the church. Ava had asked her to meet without Ric. Maybe it was the beginning of her distancing herself from Ric, whose eyes were never off Elizabeth. Kristina said Elizabeth would be fine. What mattered was Ava and Ric calling it quits, and it sounded like it was happening.

Molly slammed her laptop shut and looked at her notes for her new book. She added something.

Jason said they didn’t have to talk about Britt, but Obrecht said she loved remembering Britt, no matter how painful. Jason said he hadn’t been able to talk to anyone about Britt, and Obrecht said Britt always managed to surprise her, even at the end. She’d assumed Britt would donate her body to research to help find a cure for Huntington’s, but she wanted to be cremated. Jason suggested he walk her to her room, and she said she was jealous that he got a glimpse of Britt at the airport. She wished she could see her daughter again. They left.

Britt lay on a massage table while the man worked on her. She thanked him for his service and said, that would be all. He said, too bad she was in a bad mood, and she told him to leave now or he’d find out how bad.

Michael told Wiley that Willow left so she wouldn’t get in trouble, but remember she loved him. Anytime he was sad or scared or missing his mom, Wiley could talk to him or grandma. He loved Wiley bigger than the biggest, bluest ocean. They hugged.

Drew said he was tired of the constant judgement and wanted to make Willow happy, but needed the chance to explain. Cody told him to leave Willow alone. He’d already cost her too much. Drew said he was heading upstairs to talk to his fiancé, and Tracy said, let him. She didn’t know where Willow was, but she wasn’t there.  

Elizabeth took Willow to her house and asked Ric to make tea. She said Willow would feel better after a hot shower and changing her clothes. Did she think she could eat? Willow said she wasn’t hungry. Wiley was there and she saw him and heard him call for her, but Michael wouldn’t let her go to him. Why was he keeping her from her son?

Britt gave herself an injection and got into bed. She said, goodnight, mutter, and closed her eyes.

Jason went back to the bar and picked up Obrecht’s bag. He flashed back to the airport and seeing a logo on Britt’s bag. He took out his phone, bringing up Spyder Finder, and searched for The Five Poppies Resort in Dubrovnik.

Kristina said she felt guilty and wondered why. Keeping Alexis out of prison was more important than a rebound relationship. Alexis said she didn’t want to discourage Molly about the first man she’d shown interest in since TJ, but Kristina said, give her a few days. She’d forget all about him.

Molly continued to make notes, crossing out hero and writing dumb sidekick. On the list of the hero’s qualities, she wrote HONEST and underlined it.

Drew said Willow wasn’t upstairs. Where was she? Tracy said, hopefully somewhere he couldn’t find her. If she had to guess, she thought Willow never wanted to lay eyes on him ever again.

Yuri told Martin that Monica was loved by many. She was a remarkable woman, and they bonded over their similarities. They’d both come far from their meager beginnings. Martin asked if Monica had told Yuri about her life before the Quartermaines, when Tracy called for Yuri. She said Yuri could throw them out now, but Drew said it wasn’t necessary. They were going. They left.

Outside, Martin said he was sorry, and Drew said he was all Willow had left. He had to get her back.

Portia told Nina that things were bleak now, but don’t assume it would last forever. Willow could still come around. Nina said she prayed Willow did. Her only consolation was that Willow finally broke free from Drew’s spell. Curtis said, unfortunately, that could also be temporary, and Nina asked if he thought Willow would go back to Drew. He said, Drew’s ego was so big, he wasn’t going to let Willow go without a fight. He saw himself as Willow’s champion. He used her to justify his actions and without her, he’d be forced to face the person he’d become. He wasn’t saying it would happen, but it could. Drew had manipulated Willow before and might be able to again.

Ric put a jacket on Willow’s shoulders and gave her the tea. Elizabeth gave her something to help her sleep and said Willow was safe there. She could stay as long as she needed, until she figured things out. Willow said she had figured things out. Drew lied and was a terrible person who should be near her or her children. Now that she left him, she and Michael were on the same side. That meant she’d be able to see her children again.

Carly told Michael that she was sorry. She hadn’t known what to do. He said she’d handled it perfectly, and she said, Wiley was sound asleep. What happened? He said, Willow found out that when she was falling in love with Drew, he was sleeping with Nina, and she said, that woman is unbelievable. She could have ended this whole nightmare by telling Willow the truth, but of course (🍷) she did what she always did. She kept her mouth shut to protect her own ass. Now look at the damage. Michael said he’d never seen Willow that desperate, and Carly asked where his head was at. He said he was following the judge’s ruling to the letter and letting nothing jeopardize his custody. In her desperation, Willow was scared and out of control. He didn’t know if he could ever let her near their kids again. He and Carly hugged.

Wednesday:

Isaiah found Portia in her office and said he hoped that meant she was staying.

Rocco went to Laura’s office, and she asked if everything was okay. He said he could use a favor. He was hoping she’d work her magic again and help him with his mom and dad.

At the pool, Temp Maxie (Nicole Paggi – see below) said Brook opened a can of worms, and Brook said she never meant for Rocco to see the file. Unfortunately, he did, so now maybe they could all move on. Maxie said she didn’t think it was helping that Obrecht was back in town because of Brook.

Trina went to Curtis’s office, and he told her that something happened yesterday. Something that could change things between her and Kai.

At the pool, Josslyn asked if Kai was planning on ignoring her all day, and Kai said he was hoping she would ignore him. She was mad at him, right? She said, of course (🍷). Trina told her what happened. He broke Trina’s heart, but considering what went down at the wedding, there may be some hope. Maybe he was finally see how a big mistake he’d made in choosing Drew over Trina.

At a nearby table, Ric said he was surprised that Nina requested a meeting, but Nina said she’d make a deal with the devil if it helped her daughter.

Willow came downstairs and Elizabeth asked if she was comfortable in Jake’s bed. Willow said she slept great and was seeing things more clearly, the good and the bad. She saw that going to Carly’s was a huge mistake and so was her entire relationship with Drew.

In the nook, Drew thanked Michael for seeing him, and Michael asked what he wanted. Drew said he came to tell Michael that everything with Willow, Wiley, and Amelia was over.

Portia told Isaiah that she wouldn’t be here for long. She was planning on leaving. He said, why resign when she didn’t know if the board would ask her to? Maybe it was time to trust him.

Trina said, Drew was having an affair with Nina? and Curtis said Willow found out before the wedding. When they came to the vows, she asked Drew if he’d slept with her mother in front of God and everyone. Trina said she felt sorry for Willow. She’d given up everything. Curtis said he felt bad for Nina too, and Trina asked what that had to do with her and Kai. He said, Willow finally wised up. Maybe Kai would too. Maybe he regretted how it ended with her. She said Kai needed to see Drew for who and what he was, but when it came to the two of them, it didn’t make a difference.

Kai said the situation was messed up, but he’d never said Drew was a saint, and Josslyn said he definitely wasn’t. She watched him ruin her brother’s marriage and her best friend’s relationship. Kai said Drew didn’t ruin his and Trina’s relationship. He did.  

Nina said Ric needed to stay on as Willow’s attorney and fight for custody, and he wondered if she wanted him to pave a path back to Willow for her. She said she thought that was feat beyond his abilities, but it wasn’t about getting into Willow’s good graces. She wanted to insure getting Willow back in Wiley and Amelia’s lives. Willow couldn’t know she’d hired him, because she’d refuse Nina’s help, and Willow couldn’t afford that when it involved her children. Ric wondered if her keeping her involvement a secret was smart, considering her keeping things from Willow landed her in this position in the first place, but Nina said, maybe. See if Willow was receptive, but if Willow didn’t accept Ric’s help, she wouldn’t have any choice.

Elizabeth was sure Willow was overwhelmed on every level and said Willow could stay as long as she needed. Her boys were scattered and hearing Willow upstairs was nice. The house had been too quiet. Willow said she knew that too well. She missed her kids so much and would do anything for them. What she didn’t understand was how Nina could do this to her. Elizabeth said she wasn’t excusing Nina, but maybe Nina thought she was somehow protecting her child, and Willow said Nina claimed she was going to come clean before the wedding, but why would she believe Nina? Thank God Curtis told her before she made that mistake. Elizabeth said, thank God Willow listened, and Willow said she couldn’t believe she’d let Drew control and shape her life like Shiloh and Harmony. She’d sworn she’d never let that happen again. Elizabeth said hindsight always came too late, and Willow said, it was all there. Drew pursued her when she’d begged him not to. She told him that she needed space to focus on her marriage, but he’d pop up everywhere. Elizabeth said he was love bombing, and Willow said he’d blown her life to hell. He promised to fix it, and instead, he ruined everything, and she let him.

Michael asked if Drew was giving up on Willow after he destroyed her family and everyone she’d loved, but Drew said he was just loving her the only way he could. Michael said he didn’t need to hear about Drew’s epic romance. It wasn’t noble or tragic. Drew said, bottom line, Willow left him, and Michael got what he wanted, but Michael said he didn’t want any of this. Drew said he was asking Michael to have grace in victory. Willow was alone and he was out of the picture. Let her be with Wiley and Amelia.

Rocco said Laura had told him it was healthy to ask questions about Britt. He’d emailed Britt’s mom, they connected, and she came to see him. Laura said, Obrecht was in Port Charles? and he said they met up. She was really cool. Kind of kooky, but he liked her. He ran into her at the MetroCourt pool and when his parents saw them talking, they freaked like he’d done something dangerous. Laura said they were shocked. Their relationship with Obrecht was complicated. He said his wasn’t. They thought he shouldn’t be around her, but he didn’t see it that way and wanted to see her again. He didn’t know how to tell them without making it worse.

Lulu said, Rocco went to Obrecht for answers, and Maxie said Obrecht didn’t mention seeing him. Lulu said, she lies like her daughter. Rocco was talking about spending time with her. She’d brought Brook’s son to her and Gio was a lovely young man anyone would be proud to have in their family. She thanked Brook for bringing a liar and criminal into her son’s life, but Brook said it wasn’t her fault Rocco didn’t know about Britt. It wasn’t Lulu’s either, since she’d been gone. Dante should have told him. Lulu told her not to lay that at Dante’s feet. Dante was a wonderful father, which Brook would have known had she let him be a father. Brook said she wasn’t the problem, and neither was Britt or Obrecht. The real problem was Lulu.

Laura said, for Rocco’s parents, Obrecht and Britt were upsetting topics. Britt stole their embryo, which was a crime. It led to the miracle of his birth, for which they were all grateful, but it was complicated. Obrecht had also done her fair share of questionable things. Rocco said he saw that online, and she said, of course (🍷). She did believe people had the ability to change, and during Obrecht’s last few years in Port Charles, she’d seemed to. His mom never saw Obrecht’s efforts or her growth. He said, when they met, Obrecht was nothing like he’d read about. She loved Britt and told him stories about when he was a baby, like how his first solid food was avocado. He wondered if that’s why he liked green so much. It was cool to hear stories about himself that his parents didn’t even know. There had to be other stuff Obrecht could tell him. Laura suggested he lay it out for his parents like he did for her. She thought they would understand, and he may not need her help. He said they didn’t get him the way she did, and they hugged.

Brook said Lulu was acting like Obrecht’s visit was a national crisis and was giving it more life than it needed. Maxie said they needed real facts and to stop the accusations. Rocco reached out because he was curious. It was natural and also natural for Obrecht to want to see Rocco. He was her last connection to Britt. Lulu said Britt was a thief who stole the first seven months of Rocco’s life from her and Dante. Lulu’s phone rang, and Laura said she needed to talk to Lulu as soon as possible. Could she stop by the office? Lulu left, and Maxie was shocked that she was walking out.  

Nina brought clothes to Elizabeth’s place for Willow, and Willow said, let her come in. Elizabeth left to give them privacy, and Willow told Nina that she needed clothes. Nina said she knew things were difficult… and Willow said, what Nina had done was disgusting. Nina said she wanted Willow to know she loved her and was there if Willow needed her. Willow said she didn’t need or want anything from Nina. Nina and Drew had been in her ear for too long and she was done with it. What happened next was for her to decide. Her life, her kids, her future. It was all up to her now.

Michael told Drew that Willow wasn’t allowed contact until the visitation hearing in October, and Drew said it had been scheduled for August, but Michael pushed it back. Talk to Diane. They could settle out of court. No more keeping the children from their mother. Michael said he didn’t feel he could take that risk, and Drew asked if Michael wanted him to beg. He had the power to end all this. Michael said Drew was right, but after what Willow did last night, he’d be a fool to use it.  

Kai said he did what he thought was right, and Josslyn asked how it was right to defend Drew. Kai said he’d stood by his values. Drew was being blamed for something he didn’t do. Whoever that someone was didn’t matter. His principles mattered. She said it was noble in theory, but in reality, he’d betrayed Trina for human garbage. If he lost Trina, her family, her friends, and everyone who cared about him in the process, he’d still have Drew and his principles. Maybe they’d rub off on Drew, but she wasn’t holding her breath. She walked away.  

Curtis said Trina’s loyalty was admirable, but don’t throw away her relationship to prove it. Trina said Kai made her a promise and broke it. Her trust was gone. Curtis said, context mattered. Kai made a call that she wouldn’t have, but in his mind, he did the right thing. He didn’t have all the facts, but he did now. She said the damage was done, and he asked her to please keep an open mind. If she burned a bridge, she might miss what was on the other side – forgiveness and another chance for a person or experience. If she made a decision based on emotions, fear, and anger, she might look back and wonder what could have been. God forbid one day she might need a second chance, but she had to choose wisely. There were no guarantees. She asked how she knew Kai was worth a second chance, but he said he had no right to answer that when it came to Kai. Look into his eyes and listen to what her heart was telling her.

Portia said Isaiah’s friendship and support meant more than he knew. It didn’t hurt that he was an excellent surgeon. She was proud that he was part of her legacy be her bringing him to GH. He said he’d worked at other hospitals and GH was special. He felt trusted and valued, due in large part to her leadership. She said she appreciated him saying that, and he said he’d miss working with her. She said she’d miss working with him too.

Willow said she and Nina had gotten close. She called Nina mom and told her that she loved her. She lived with Nina and Nina was her family. Nina said she still was, but Willow asked, how? She didn’t have her children, and her life was now stained with a lie. Nina said she’d tried to tell Willow, but Willow said she’d failed. Nina said she was so sorry, but Willow said she didn’t care. She’d lost Wiley and Amelia. If Nina had just told her at the beginning, none of this would have happened. Things with Michael wouldn’t have gotten so bad. Nina was just as much to blame as Drew for her losing her kids. Willow opened the door, and Nina left. Outside, she texted Ric: Tried to be upfront with Willow. It didn’t work. Wiring retainer now.  

Drew asked, what happened? and Michael said the kids were staying at Carly’s, when Willow showed up in her wedding dress. She was hysterical and out of control. Wiley was terrified and he had to physically remove Willow. It wasn’t the Willow he knew, and he couldn’t say he knew who Drew was anymore since he was here asking for a favor. Drew said he was asking Michael to give Willow a chance, and Michael wondered why he should listen to anything Drew had to say again.  

Kai was lying on a chaise lounge at the pool, when Trina walked in.  

Brook thanked Maxie for defending her, and Maxie said she told the truth. Neither of them had clean hands. Brook lit the match, but Lulu kept throwing gas on the fire. She was trying to stop it from spreading. Brook said she tried, but when she saw Lulu, she couldn’t think straight. She wished Rocco had never seen the file. She needed to put the fire out before someone else got burned.

Laura said she didn’t want to add to Lulu’s stress, but Rocco was just there and told her that Lulu and Dante had barred him from seeing Obrecht. Lulu said they did, and Laura said Lulu knew she loved her, but she thought Lulu was making a terrible mistake.

Ric asked how Willow was feeling, and Willow said, a good night’s sleep made a huge difference. He said he came to check on her, but was hoping she was up to talking business. He couldn’t shake how he saw her last night. He started out as her lawyer and planned to follow through to the end, pro bono. Willow said he was practically saving her life. What was the best way to get visitation or joint custody? He said, for now, they don’t.

Drew said never set out to hurt Michael, like Michael didn’t set out to hurt Chase when he was with Willow and she and Michael fell in love. Willow was special and magnetic. Michael asked if Drew was saying he never set out to manipulate things. He’d realized something Willow said that didn’t make sense before. Drew was the reason Willow didn’t get to see him in Germany. Don’t try to deny it. His poker face wasn’t as good as he thought.

Michael said he kept wondering why Willow insisted he’d turned her away. No one told him that she was there because Drew paid them not to. Uncle Drew was amazing. There was nothing he wouldn’t do. Drew said he didn’t want to drag up the past or argue. This was about Willow’s future with the kids. Michael said, which she might have had if they’d seen each other. They could have reached a compromise and spared the kids. None of this had to happen. How did Drew feel to have the truth sitting on his chest? (He feels nothing. He has no conscience.) Drew said he wasn’t doing this. Didn’t Michael want Wiley and Amelia to live their best life, including being with their mother? Imagine his life without his. Do the right thing for his kids. Drew left.

Willow asked if custody was off the table, and Ric said, yes, temporarily. Her credibility was damaged, but she’d have another chance in October. By then, she could prove her public meltdowns were the exception. She was under extreme mental stress and emotional trauma, and it wasn’t the rule. She said she didn’t know how she was going to get through months without her kids, but he told her to be grateful. If it was tomorrow, Michael would easily win. Time would give her the chance to build and the chance to convince the judge and Michael that she can play by the rules and manage her emotions. He knew she could do it and would check in from time to time. Stay the course. He left, and Elizabeth asked how Willow felt. Willow said, overwhelmed. She thought she needed to take a walk. She’d be back.

Maxie told Nina that she’d been stuck in New York and missed the wedding that nearly killed Spinelli to pull off. Nina said, he was incredibly helpful, and Maxie said she couldn’t believe she wasn’t there to offer emotional support. Curtis told Willow everything. Who thought that would happen? Nina said he beat her to it, and Maxie said she didn’t want to say I told you so, but if Nina had done it a year ago… She was saying it. Nina said Maxie encouraged her to come clean. Willow was out of control, and she had no idea the relationship would go as far as it did. Maxie asked why Nina decided to tell Willow on her wedding day. Something must have happened.

Kai said he’d seen Josslyn and was hoping Trina would show up, and Trina asked if he wanted to tell her that her parents were right and fighting about Drew wasn’t worth it. He said he didn’t regret warning Drew, but regretted not telling her, and she said, even after learning Drew slept with Willow’s mom, Kai was still defending him. Kai said he didn’t regret it and wouldn’t change anything, and she said, nice to know, but he did something she couldn’t get past. She’d gotten over a lot of things, but betraying her parents wasn’t one of them. He said he guessed nothing was going to change that, and she said she guessed not, and left.

Portia went to Curtis’s office, and he asked if everything was okay. She said, no. She couldn’t do this anymore, living in limbo, the constant threat of wondering when Drew would destroy her life. She knew Drew hurt Curtis and the family as much as her, but she got them into it and felt she should take responsibility for her actions. So she was submitting her resignation today.

At the pool, Rocco asked if he could get Brook anything, but she said, no thanks. He thanked her and said, if not for her, he wouldn’t have known he had another mother.

Lulu told Laura that she wasn’t making a mistake. Laura knew Obrecht was dangerous. Laura said she did know, but she also knew that Obrecht made an effort to change. She’d already met Rocco and nothing happened. He was fine. Her son was curious about a part of his life he’d known nothing about. The more she and Dante made it forbidden, the more Rocco would chase it and shut them out in the process.

Lulu said it was a time in her life that she didn’t want to revisit. She wasn’t there for her son’s birth. Britt was. Laura said she understood revisiting a painful time to satisfy her child’s curiosity. Lulu’s son was growing up, wanted to know more about his life, and was bringing up an uncomfortable conversation for them. Every kid got to the point where their parents were no longer their heroes. They didn’t see their parents as perfect and started to see they were flawed humans who made mistakes. They saw their parents as who they really were. Lulu said, or sometimes they saw their parents as who they really were and they were still heroes, and Laura said she got through it and Lulu would too. She believed Lulu had the opportunity to become closer to Rocco if she actively supported and encouraged him while he was searching for the answers he needed.

Brook said she never meant for Rocco to see the file, but Rocco said she was glad he did. His parents acted like he should forget that time existed, which made him think they were never going to tell him.

Josslyn and Trina hugged, as Kai watched.

Nina told Maxie that she knew it was her last chance to break the hold Drew had over Willow. If they’d gotten married, Willow would be tied to Drew forever and she couldn’t let that happen. Under Drew’s influence, Willow was becoming unrecognizable. She was worried Willow would become someone worse and suspected Willow had done something bad. If she had and it came out, Willow would never be able to see Wiley and Amelia again.

Willow thanked Michael for seeing her, and he said the kids weren’t at home, so he didn’t see a problem with it. What did she want? Willow apologized for her mistake and fully owned it, and Michael asked if she’d been talking to Drew. She said, God no. Last night changed everything. It’s like she was coming up for air after a year of being under water. He said he was sorry it had to happen the way it did, and she said her too. Her mind was now clear, and she was here with no tears, hysterics, or animosity. They were two people who used to love each other before she threw it all away. He asked if she and Drew were really over, and she said, they really were. She’d met his one condition. It wasn’t the way he’d wanted, but she had, so please, could she see Wiley and Amelia?

Curtis said Portia couldn’t preemptively resign. Their plan was close to working and Drew would move to DC. She told him that they’d been saying that for so long, but he said they’d never been this close. It was happening. As long as Drew never found out that he told Willow, they were in the clear.

Drew went to Elizabeth’s house, but Elizabeth said Willow wasn’t there right now. If she was, she’d recommend Drew give her some space. He said he was sorry Willow found out the truth on their wedding day, and Elizabeth said, he was just looking out for Willow because he was worried. Drew said, of course (🍷) he was. He just wished Curtis hadn’t done that.

Thursday:

During the morning chaos at Anna’s place, Outback came out holding her leash. Anna told Gio and Emma to stop what they were doing. They had a situation.

At the pool, Josslyn told Vaughn that she and Brennan followed the tracker, but then it literally fell off the radar. Three hours later, it reappeared. Vaughn wondered what happened during those three hours, when Carly came in.

Stella went to Curtis’s office and said she was going to play the auntie card. Tell her why Trina and Kai broke up.

Willow told Michael that she didn’t come to make demands, but came to apologize. He was right about Drew, their relationship, all of it, and she was completely wrong about Drew. Michael said he never thought he’d hear her say that. He knew her feelings for Drew had been sincere, but Drew hadn’t been sincere with her. She said she’d thought Drew was honest and believed him over everyone else. She took his advice and couldn’t believe how stupid she was. Michael said, Drew manipulated her in more ways than she knew.

Drew told Elizabeth that Curtis misunderstood, and he wished Curtis hadn’t told Willow. He wished a lot of people had acted differently, himself first and foremost, but his main priority was to reunite Willow with her children. Elizabeth said if he wanted to help Willow, leave her alone. Help meant taking a step back. Willow was past her limit. There was a knock at the door, and Elizabeth said Willow wasn’t in a place where she could deal with him. She opened the door to Jason.

Anna said Outback needed a walk. The building didn’t allow pets and if anyone heard her bark, they’d get kicked out. Emma said she was on it, and Anna said they needed to write a schedule, in pen, and put it on the fridge, so they would know when Outback was walked and fed. She was having a house meeting at 7. Emma said she couldn’t make it. She had to prep for Dalton’s special lecture. Anna said she thought Josslyn was his assistant, but Emma said it was good face time with him, and if she stayed on his good side, he’d be more likely to hire her when Josslyn screwed up and got fired. Gio said he had to get to work, and when he opened the door, Dante was there.

Josslyn suggested the tracker might have been in a shielded area, and Vaughn said, or it was found and disabled. She said, then purposely reactivated to lure out whoever was doing the tracking. Carly approached them and said it was nice to see Vaughn again, but could she speak to Josslyn privately right now in her office? Josslyn left with her.

Curtis told Stella that he was staying out of this one. It was up to Trina and Kai if they wanted to share details. Stella said they weren’t sharing anything, but they were perfect for each other. What happened? He said he was trying to respect their privacy, and she said, fine, but don’t tell her it wasn’t a huge mistake on both their parts.

Drew asked if Jason was following him to stop him from talking to Willow, but Jason said he was there to see Elizabeth. Elizabeth told Drew that she’d said all she had to say to him and it was time for him to go. Drew said, despite what they thought, all he wanted to do was help Willow. He suggested Jason talk to Michael about letting her see the kids. He knew she was a good mother. Jason said Drew had ripped Willow’s family apart and he was why she was being kept from her kids. She was picking up the pieces of the life he’d destroyed, and he hoped Willow finally saw it. Drew left.

Willow asked what Michael meant. Drew had slept with her mother. What more could there possible be? Michael said she’d testified that she came to see him at the clinic, but no one told him she was there. She said she spoke to the receptionist, who said he didn’t want to see her and to send her away, but he said, that never happened. He would have never said that. He was alone and in pain, missing his family. He would have loved to see her and hear about the kids. He swore he was telling the truth. He never instructed anyone not to let her visit. She said it made no sense. Someone told the receptionist to do that, but who would… Drew.

Emma introduced Outback to Dante, and Anna said Outback was running the apartment and their lives, the whole thing. He asked Gio how everything was going, and Gio said things were great. He liked being here and was grateful they were letting him stay. Dante said him too, and Gio said he had to get to work. He’d drop Emma off. They left, and Dante said, on a scale of from awkward to awful, how bad was that?

Josslyn asked Carly, what was so important? and Carly said, Vaughn. Josslyn said he was a nice guy and they were seeing each other. What was the problem? Carly asked how well Josslyn knew Vaughn.

Stella said she could see how good Trina and Kai’s relationship was for both of them, and Curtis agreed. She asked what led from them syncing to being apart, and he said, it didn’t involve cheating. They realized they had different points of view on an important subject. She said they were more than capable of finding common ground and adored each other. Trina was happier with Kai than without him. They could pool their resources as a family and do repair matchmaking. Curtis said he didn’t think that was a good idea, and she said, fine. She’d do it herself.  

Willow asked if Michael thought Drew stopped them from speaking to or seeing each other, and he said he did. It wasn’t him or his family. She said Jason had advised her to talk to him. He’d said if they could talk without anyone interfering, they could figure out what was best for the kids. Michael said he thought they would have if he’d seen her that day. Most of this could have been avoided. She said they were in the same room now and talking. So please, could they figure out what to do about the kids together? Right now. Just them.

Jason told Elizabeth that he was sorry. He didn’t know Drew would be there. She said he didn’t beat Drew up, so that was progress. If he was here to check on Willow, she’d stepped out. He said he didn’t know Willow was there, and she said, just until she put herself back together. He said it was a generous thing to do, and she asked why he wanted to see her. He said he needed her help.

He needed a favor. He needed to look at the GH records on the disposition of bodies that went through the GH morgue and where the bodies were sent. She said it was a big ask. She could lose her job. He said she had his word, no one would know, and it had nothing to do with Sonny or the business. It was personal and he wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t important and it wouldn’t come back to hurt her in any way. She said she assumed it was someone specific and asked for a time frame. He said, whoever went through the morgue between 2022 and 2023, and she said she guessed she still trusted him. She brought up something on her laptop and said she had laundry to do. She left the room, and he looked on the laptop. He saw that Britt’s body had been sent to the Lawrence Mortuary.

Anna told Dante that it was awkward, but not bad. Gio wasn’t lying about getting to work. He took his job seriously. He and Dante had a lot in common. Dante said they’d never had a chance to talk. When he walked into a room, Gio ran out. He was letting Gio dictate the pace, but no pace had been set. With everything going on with Rocco, he was worried Gio was feeling even more neglected than he had been. Anna asked what was going on, and Dante said Rocco had stumbled on things about his birth and Britt’s role in it. How could he tell his son that the only reason he existed was because someone they trusted stole one of their embryos? She asked if they’d been planning on telling Rocco, and he said they were. But he was too young, then Lulu was in a coma, and it didn’t feel right telling him without her. Rocco decided to reach out to Obrecht, who was more than happy to answer his questions about Britt. She came to Port Charles to tell him in person. Rocco found out the whole truth, but not from him or Lulu, and now he was looking at them differently with a level of uncertainty that never existed. Between that and Gio, he had all the uncertainty he could handle.

Josslyn asked where this was coming from. Carly had never policed her dates. Carly said she had concerns and thought Vaughn was too old for her, but Josslyn said she wasn’t a kid. She was 21, and Carly had been fine with Dex, who worked for Sonny and then became a cop. She wasn’t being exposed to anything she hadn’t already seen. Carly usually trusted her judgement. Carly said she did, but she’d had a conversation with Anna, who wondered if she could trust Vaughn. Josslyn said Anna was upset because Emma was feeling hurt. Now Anna was whispering in Carly’s ear. Carly said she heard what happened in the bar and was in agreement. She doesn’t think it was okay for Vaughn to pit her and Emma against each other. If that’s what he was doing, he wasn’t worth Josslyn’s time.

Emma let Outback off her leash at the pool, and Outback ran to Vaughn’s chaise lounge, jumping on him. He picked her up, and Emma said, of course (🍷). Vaughn brought Outback over and said he believed the dog belonged to her. Did she know her dog’s head smelled like Fritos?  

Drew met Martin at the pool, and Martin said his best advice was to do nothing. Drew said he knew who told Willow about the affair, and Martin asked if it wasn’t Nina. Drew said, it was Curtis, when Curtis came in with Stella.

Curtis said he wasn’t playing matchmaker for Trina and Kai. He respected Trina’s decision. Stella told him not to cramp her style when she tried to do it, and looked over at Drew.

Michael said he wished he and Willow could figure it out between them, but it was too late. She said it was never too late, but he said, the court was involved now. He had full custody, and a visitation hearing was on the calendar. Whatever the ruling was, they’d abide by it. Willow said he was acting like he had to follow the rules, but he got everything he wanted. What about Wiley and Amelia? They missed her. She was their mom. He needed to tell the court that the kids wanted to see her. The two of them could come up with something and have the court sign off. He said he was sorry, but he didn’t want the kids to see her.  

Ellizabeth came back and asked if Jason found what he was looking for, but he said he had no idea what she was talking about. He thanked her and asked if she got a postcard from Jake. She said he was having a great time with Aiden and Lucky. She was glad they were being kept in the loop. She told him to be careful, he said he would, and he left.  

Anna said Dante was juggling a lot. He was a good dad. His instinct was to protect the boys while they figured out who they were. He said he just wanted them both to be okay. He had information on the woman Josslyn put the tracker on and had footage of her placing it. The woman was dropped off at the airport by a MetroCourt Hotel vehicle. He had her name too, but it was probably an alias. Anna said Dalton was also staying at the MetroCourt Hotel.

Josslyn told Carly that she wasn’t in a love triangle. Emma was upset because she got the position as Professor Dalton’s assistant. To get her back, Emma thought she’d make a pass at Vaughn. Carly said, it worked, and Vaughn took Emma on a date, and Josslyn said they weren’t exclusive, but Emma was transparent, so she put a stop to it. Carly asked if Josslyn was really okay with the non-exclusive situationship or was she looking for something more serious.

Gio said he had to get to work, and Emma apologized to Vaughn. Outback was a bit of a flirt. He said Outback was very cute. He’d been meaning to reach out. He was sorry about what happened with Josslyn and hoped Emma’s feelings weren’t hurt. Emma said, that was nice, but she was fine. She thought Josslyn and Vaughn were perfect for each other. She walked off with Outback.  

Martin asked if Drew was sure, and Drew said he’d gotten it from an unimpeachable source. He’d confided in Curtis when he’d thought they were friends. He knew there was nothing left of their friendship, but he never thought Curtis would destroy Willow to get back at him.

Stella watched Curtis looking at Drew and said, rumors were flying at GH about what happened at the wedding. She heard Willow gave it to him at the altar. She was happy Willow found her backbone. Drew approached their table and asked if Stella would mind giving him and Curtis a minute. They needed to discuss something.

Willow asked how Michael could not want the children to see their mother. He got what he wanted. She wasn’t with Drew. How much longer was he going to punish her? He said he wasn’t punishing her. He was doing what was best for the kids and right now, she wasn’t good for them.

Stella went over to talk to Martin, and Drew said Curtis may have heard the wedding didn’t happen. He’d been forced to think about some things, one being that they were once friends. He had no illusions of rebuilding the friendship, but he was sick of them hurting each other back and forth. He wanted to call a truce. They could stay in their respective corners and avoid each other when possible. Curtis asked if Drew was willing to hand over the blackmail material on Portia, and Drew said he’d consider it once he knew they weren’t at each other’s throats. Truce? Curtis said he wouldn’t be the one to break the peace, and Drew said neither would he.

Anna told Dante about Emma being expelled for breaking into a lab, and he said, she could have been prosecuted. Anna said, according to Emma, the university wanted to keep it out of the press and had her sign an NDA. She’d learned Dalton transferred from Emma’s former university, then Emma enrolled in his Environmental Physics class. Dante said it had to be connected, and Anna said she was sure. Emma was passionate about animal rights, and she believed broke into Dalton’s lab to find proof of animal testing. He asked if she thought he was doing the same thing at PCU, and she said, that’s why Emma was set on being his research assistant, but Josslyn got the position. He said, Josslyn, Vaughn, and Dalton must have a connection, and he thought the woman was connected to Dalton as well. Anna said so did she. She knew Dante had a lot on his plate, but she needed to find out what Dalton was up to. She was worried Emma was going to get herself in a situation she couldn’t get out of.

Josslyn told Carly that she didn’t want a serious relationship. She liked getting to know Vaughn and didn’t think it was a bad thing. Carly said it wasn’t, but she wanted Josslyn to be careful, and Josslyn said Anna was in Carly’s head. She and Emma were different people, and she was just having fun. Carly asked her to promise to tell her if it got serious, and Josslyn said she didn’t see that happening, but if it did, she’d tell Carly… after Trina. Carly asked if Josslyn knew she could come to her about anything at any time, and Josslyn said, of course (🍷). They hugged.

Willow asked who Michael was to decide if she should be in her children’s lives, and he said she showed up at his mother’s house in her wedding dress screaming for Wiley. She terrified Wiley. She was going through a lot and not thinking like a mom. He understood. She’d been betrayed by the person she loved and felt burned. He could tell her from experience that burns needed to be healed and it took time. She asked, how much time? and he said his injury was on the outside, but hers was on the inside. She wasn’t in a place to be a parent and proved it last night and right now. She said she’d never forget this. She came to him, begging for a chance to see her children and he turned her away. She grabbed her bag and walked out.  

Curtis went to get Stella and Martin thanked her again for helping him with the 1040. She left with Curtis, and Drew asked what the 1040 was about. Martin said it had to do with the hospital. He knew there was tension between Drew and Curtis, but Curtis’s aunt was a living, breathing angel. She helped him navigate a sticky insurance situation. They were going to deny him treatment and only a real insider could work that miracle.  

Stella asked what Drew wanted, and Curtis said it was possible he and Drew settled on a truce. They’d never be friends again, but at least they weren’t set on annihilating each other.

Martin told Drew that he’d been expecting fireworks, but it looked cordial. Did that mean Drew was evolving and letting bygones be bygones? Drew said not him. He was playing the long game.

Michael found Carly in her office and said Willow had come to the house, and Carly asked if she wanted to see the kids. He said, at first. Then she backtracked, saying they could work together so she could see Wiley and Amelia again. Carly asked if he said no, and he said he did. Right now, with the state Willow was in, she had no business seeing the kids. Carly agreed, and he said, for one moment, he saw the old Willow that he knew, but when it was clear he wasn’t giving her what she wanted, she reverted to the irrational person on Carly’s doorstep. He didn’t know if she’d ever be healthy enough to be around the kids again. They hugged.

Elizabeth asked Willow how her walk was, but Willow said she didn’t go for a walk. She went to see Michael. Elizabeth said, how’d it go? and Willow said, as well as she’d probably think. She was hoping they’d find common ground so she could see the kids, but no. Michael had full custody and didn’t think she should see them. He said she should heal before she saw them. Ric was right. She had to show the world that she was stable, strong, and a good mother. She had to make it so no one would ever take her children away again.

Dante said he’d get what Anna needed, and she thanked him. She said she knew it wasn’t official police business and his experience with the WSB was less than positive. He said, it was terrible, but she’d been incredible to Gio, so he’d do what he could for her granddaughter. She thanked him for not calling her overprotective, and he said he trusted her instincts. She said Emma was incredibly brave, and she was concerned Emma would stumble on a high-risk intelligence threat. She’d seen civilians do that before and they invariably wound up dead. She couldn’t let that happen to her granddaughter.

Josslyn went back to the pool and gave Vaughn a kiss. Gio asked Emma if that was hard to see, but Emma said, no. Not at all. Gio wondered what the tension was with Josslyn and why Emma couldn’t get away from Vaughn fast enough, and Emma said she wanted to steer clear of Vaughn. She stole his facilities master key. Now she could get in any building on campus, including Professor Dalton’s lab.

Vaughn asked if Josslyn’s mom had questions about him, and she said Anna was still digging. She could fend off her mom, but Anna was a problem. She didn’t know how long it would be before Anna exposed him. He said Brennan thought the same thing. He was pulling them from the investigation.

A woman at the mortuary looked through a folder and told Jason that Dr. Britt Westbourne had gotten the eternal peace urn. Her ashes had been picked up on January 12th, 2023… Huh. The form was incomplete. The date and time of the cremation was missing and there was no record of it actually happening. Jason asked if that was odd, and she said she’d never seen it before, but it was just an oversight. Mistakes happen, right?

🫔 Friday’s Enchilada…

On the phone at the pool, Kristina tells Cody that someone’s not there yet. Dante comes by and she asks if he’s playing hooky, but he says he had time to kill and thought he’d check out the pool. How is she? She says, the same, and he tells her, hang in.

Anna lets Jason in, and he asks if they’re alone. Is she expecting somebody? She says, Dante is chasing down some information for her, but they should have privacy for a while. What’s up? He says he saw something and needs her to tell him that it’s not just in his head.

At the hospital, Lucas says, just the woman he wants to see, and Felicia asks if he wants to point her in the direction of a particular patient. He says, no. This is personal. She says, intriguing, but he says, not exactly. He has a question about his mom. She says she loves an excuse to talk about Bobbie. What does he want to know? He wonders how his mother ever learned to co-exist with Sonny.

Suzanne tells Alexis that her 2 o’clock is here, but Alexis says, it’s currently 3 o’clock. She knows who it’s with. Send him in please. Sonny comes in and Suzanne says, it’s always a treat when he stops by the office. He says he always comes up with excuses to come see her, and she says, oh stop. She knows he’s just here for her carrot cake. He says, why he can’t have both? and she says she’ll get him a slice. She leaves, and Alexis says, none for her. Thanks for asking. Sonny says, she’s a terrific lady. He likes her. Alexis says, the feeling is mutual, and he asks what she wanted to see him about. She says she wants to know why he kidnapped Marco Rios.

In Jack’s office, Josslyn asks why she and Vaughn are being taken off the investigation at PCU. They’re so close to getting what they want. Jack says, it doesn’t matter, and Vaughn asks, why? Jack says, because Dalton is no longer the primary target.

Jason asks if Anna remembers when he came back to Port Charles and she told him that Britt was dead, and she says, of course (🍷). She remembers it was a very difficult conversation. Why is he asking? He says, something about Britt’s death is off. Something’s not adding up.  

There’s a knock at Britt’s door, and manager Pascal says, good evening. Is there something she needed? She says, yes. She’s done for the day and treating herself to a meal at Sonatas in town. Have her car brought around. Pascal says he’s afraid that’s not possible. She’s not going anywhere.

Anna says she’s not sure what Jason means. Britt’s death was terribly sad, but fairly straightforward. Heather Webber was terrorizing the city and had already attacked several individuals, Josslyn being one of them, and Britt intervened and was wounded. That was that, and she ultimately died from that. She died from Heather’s poison. Jason says, she saved Josslyn’s life, and Anna says, they also know that other victims died the same way. She can show him the file. He says, it’s clear how Britt died, just not clear what happened afterward.  

Jack tells Vaughn and Josslyn that it’s likely that Dalton is doing his work at PCU, then shipping the raw data elsewhere. Thanks to the tracker they planted, they tracked the courier to Dalmatia, and a resort and spa called The Five Poppies. However, the tracker stopped transmitting for three hours and resumed again and they don’t know why. Josslyn says she thought they talked about that. Couldn’t it have been a shielded area at the resort that blocked the transmission of signals? Vaughn says, yeah, or someone found the device and manually turned the signal off and on again, hoping to lure whoever planted it out in the open. In this case, them. Jack says, either way, he wants eyes on the resort, and Vaughn asks, whose eyes? Jack says he’s sending the two of them.

Felicia says, Bobbie tolerated Sonny at best, but she never got that vibe from Lucas. Did she miss something? Lucas says, in the past, his feelings about Sonny were ambivalent at best. He was going along to get along. She says, because of his sister, and he says, she loves Sonny, whether she’s married to him, divorced from him, or other. Felicia says, he wants her to be happy, and he says he does, but after what Sonny did to Marco, he can’t keep looking the other way. He was worried they’d broken Marco’s ribs, and they hadn’t, but it was still bad. She says, Mac told her about his allegations against Sonny. He also told her that Marco showed up at the police station and denied Sonny abducted him. Mac also said Marco’s story was a bit hard to believe. Lucas says, Marco wants to let it go, but he can’t, so he confronted Carly. She asks, how’d it go? and he says, Carly didn’t miss a beat. She switched to her default setting and defended Sonny. Felicia tells him that she wishes she could say she was surprised, and he says, Sonny should face charges, but instead, he gets away with stuff like this over and over again. How are his actions remotely okay? She says, they’re not, and he’s not the only one asking that question.

Kristina suggests asking Gio to join them on his next break, but Dante says he doesn’t want to bother Gio while he’s working. He saw Gio at Anna’s this morning, and it was awkward as usual, but there was no arguing this time. He’s calling it a win. She says, as he should. It sounds like progress. He says, speaking of which, it can’t be easy for her to be here after the accident. She says, no matter what, there’s always a moment when she first sees the pool and remembers how everything felt – the fall, the impact, the pain – but when she pushes through that moment, she feels strong. Ava didn’t win. He says he’s proud of her. She’s been able to let go and move on. He’s impressed. Marco comes in, and Kristina say she needs to talk to him, but Dante says he doesn’t know if that’s the best idea. The tension there is tight now. She says, the man saved her life, and she goes over to Marco. She tells him that she just wanted to say… Oh my God. What happened?

Suzanne says, for Sonny, her famous carrot cake and a double espresso. By the way, the new Corinthos blend is beyond delicious. Sonny says, she didn’t have to go to the trouble, but she says, it’s no trouble. She forgot his sugar. Alexis says, he doesn’t take sugar, and Sonny says he’s so sweet already. Alexis says, all right then. No more interruptions. Suzanne leaves, and Sonny says, she’s a hell of a baker. Alexis says, he knows their daughter would be dead if not for Marco. Yet he saw fit to drag Marco into his little war with Marco’s father. He tells her that he’s surprised she’s saying that. He thought she called him over because she was ready to apologize. She says, to whom? and he says, to him.

Jason tells Anna that Obrecht went to Willow and Drew’s wedding before it went sideways. He found her alone in the bar where the reception was supposed to take place. She’d had a couple, and he started talking to her, asking questions about Britt, and she opened up. Anna asks what Obrecht told him, and he says, she thought Britt was giving her body to science for Huntington’s research, but her will said she wanted to be cremated. Anna says they can’t know what Britt was thinking at the time she drew up her will, but he says he thinks he can. He checked with the funeral home responsible for her cremation. They had the date they gave the ashes to Obrecht, but didn’t have the records for the actual cremation. Anna asks if he thinks Britt staged her own death and is alive somewhere, and he says he not only thinks that, he saw her.

Britt says she’s afraid Pascal is mistaken. She’s processed all the data she has and until Greta comes back with a new batch, she’ll be twiddling her thumbs, and she’d like to be twiddling her thumbs at Sonatas. Pascal says, or why not dine at one of the many excellent restaurants here at the resort instead of going all the way to town? and she says, by now, she knows all their menus by heart. She’d like a change of pace. He says, why doesn’t she tell him what she’d like from Sonatas, he’ll place the order, and it will magically appear at her door like everything else she requires. She says she’s been working all day and all she wants is to drive into town, sip a negroni, dine on the catch of the day, and listen to the waves crash on shore. Bring her damn car. He says he didn’t want to mention it, but she’s forced his hand. It seems there have been some concerns about her driving.

Felicia tells Lucas that she, Mac, and Robert have always argued to anyone who will listen that Sonny is a criminal and deserves to be treated as such. It’s a lot more complicated when he’s close to your family. He was Bobbie’s son-in-law, so she couldn’t cut him off completely. Lucas says, why not? It’s what he deserved. she says, yes, but Bobbie couldn’t. She loved the people who loved Sonny, like him. He says, just because Carly loves Sonny and he’s a good dad to his kids, doesn’t change the fact he hurts people, and she says, no, it doesn’t, but Sonny has done good. They saw how devastated Sonny was when they lost Stone and also saw how humane and generous he can be over the years. That’s just as real as whatever he did or didn’t do to Marco. Lucas says, that doesn’t erase the bad. He can’t keep turning back and saying Sonny is a family man with shady business associates anymore. She says, he’s Donna’s father and they adore each other. Carly has to keep him in her life. Lucas says he knows, and he can’t ask his sister to cut ties with the father of her child… children. So maybe it’s best he just take a step back and let Carly live her life and he’ll do the same with his.

Jack says Josslyn and Vaughn are heading to the resort for surveillance and intelligence gathering only. He wants to know everything about the place – security, access points, vulnerabilities, guest and employee movement. If there are shift changes, he needs to know when and how many. Vaughn asks if there’s an individual or individuals that he wants them to key in on, and Jack says he wants to know where the courier brought the backpack and if that’s a shielded area, he needs to know about it. He also needs to know if the person it was delivered to is the end user of the data inside. Vaughn says they’ll definitely get that for him, and Jack says, they’d better. Now listen to him. They are not to attempt to steal data themselves or commit acts of sabotage or engage with any of the targets. There’s no reason to think they need to. Understood? Vaughn says, understood, and Josslyn repeats it. Jack says, good. Their timeline is two weeks. If they need more time, they can realign. They’re booked in the honeymoon suite. Josslyn says, sorry? and he says, it’s a resort and they’re posing as newlyweds. Congratulations on their recent nuptials. Josslyn says, why them? and Jack says, because this is a need-to-know operation. His superiors talked to him about keeping a list of people who are already knowledgeable and they’re already on it. They’ve already been briefed. Josslyn says, but she’s Dalton’s assistant, and Jack says, no. She’s a WSB agent. Josslyn says, right, but should she just quit? She’s worked hard to get close to Dalton. Jack says, she accomplished her mission. Thanks to them, they know what they’re looking for is not in Dalton’s lab. It’s at The Five Poppies, so that’s where they’re headed. Josslyn says, if she quits, won’t Dalton be suspicious? and Jack says, why? Because he’s never had an undergrad who didn’t honor their commitments before? Dalton will be annoyed for a few minutes, then he’ll replace her. She says, he’ll give the job to Emma, who has no idea how dangerous he is.  

Gio comes into the pool area with Emma and Outback. Emma says, Dalton is here. Now’s her chance. Gio says, that’s not a good idea, but she tells him, have a little faith in her, please. She knows what she’s doing. He says, does she? She’s not his assistant. She’s going to freak him out if she keeps up this stalker bit she’s got going on. She says she’s a naturally friendly person. There’s no way she’s stalkery. But just in case, she’s calling for backup. Outback barks.

Lucas tells Felicia that it would be easier if it was just about Sonny, but it’s about Carly too. She basically said that he was infatuated with Marco, and it made him overreact. Felicia says, ouch, and he says, there are so many things wrong with that sentence, he doesn’t know where to begin. But the bottom line is, he got upset, packed up, and moved out of Carly’s house. Felicia says, good for him. Carly doesn’t need to tell him how he feels about the new man in his life and needs to respect his relationship. That’s worth fighting over. Sonny, not so much. He says he’s not sure if he wants to bother anymore. For Carly to dismiss his relationship with Marco like that to justify defending Sonny is mind-blowing. She says she wonders if it made it easier for Carly to make the issue about him and Marco instead of focusing on Sonny, and he says, maybe, but it doesn’t change the fact that Carly will always defend Sonny, and he doesn’t know how to stop Sonny from driving a wedge between him and his sister. Felicia says she does. Follow his mother’s example and simply refuse to let him.

Marco tells Kristina, it serves him right for driving out in the middle of nowhere and going for a walk without telling anyone. He should know better, but that morning was his mother’s memorial and it all came crashing in on him. He was out of it. Kristina says she’s sorry. It was a terrible loss. He says, she’s kind to say that. He knows his mother was hard on her and disrespected her and his sister’s relationship. Kristina says, she also apologized and tried to make amends. That’s more than most people do. Marco says, true. He wishes they could have reached some kind of resolution before she passed, but she never got over her disappointment when he came out. That’s why she was so hard on Ally. He wasn’t around, so Kristina and Ally bore the brunt of her anger and frustration. Kristina says, she was hard on Ally, but his mom was a complicated person. She’ll always be grateful for what his mother did for her and her dad.

Sonny says, Alexis went off on him when Charlie’s burned and he let her because she was upset. Now that things are settled, he wants her to know that he didn’t set fire to Charlie’s, and he didn’t put their daughter in danger. That was Marco’s father who did that. Alexis tells him that he says he doesn’t want to hurt their daughter, but what did he think would happen to her if he’d killed Marco? He says, that didn’t happen, so they don’t have to talk about it, and she says, it traumatized Kristina. She idolizes him and worse than that, she models her behavior after him. He asks what behavior she’s talking about.

At the pool, Danny asks if get Dante something, but Dante says, no. It’s cool. He’s just wondering if he could ask Danny a few questions. If he’s got a minute. Danny asks what he needs. Is he on a case? Dante says, nothing official. An off the books sort of thing. Danny says, okay, cool. What does he need? Dante says maybe Danny can help him out with something. He shows Danny his phone and asks if he’s ever seen the woman before. Danny says, she came by the pool once. Dante asks if he’s sure it was her, and Danny says, definitely. She tipped him $50. Josslyn said she was a good tipper, and she was totally right. Dante says, Josslyn was here? and Danny says he thinks she was meeting her professor. See the guy over there with the dark hair at the bar? Dante says, yeah, and Danny says, he’s Professor Dalton. Dante asks Danny to tell him anything he remembers from that day. No detail is too small.

Britt says, Pascal means the crash? She thinks he’s referring to something that happened two years ago. The donkey survived. (Ha-ha-ha!) Pascal says, but he limped for the rest of his life (I’m dying), and she says, he shouldn’t have camped out in the middle of the road. Fine. She’d just gotten here and started her medication, and she was still learning how to drive manual.  Now she’s perfectly capable of driving herself into town without maiming any of the local fauna, even if they are milling around in the middle of the road. Pascal says, after a long day, is she sure she wants to risk navigating the cliffside roads in the dark, especially after imbibing in Sonata’s famously large negronis? She says, yes. She’s perfectly capable of driving. She flashes back to driving with Jason and calling him grandpa when he tells her to stick to the speed limit, and she says, fine. Have the doorman take her. The hot one. Tell him he can’t talk. Pascal says, that arrangement won’t work either, and she says, why not? He says, in light of her medical condition, he thinks it’s best she stay on the property.

Jason tells Anna that he was at the airport in Paris and Britt just… She was there. She was alone, carrying a purse and some kind of tote bag from the hotel. The Dalmatia or something. It had flowers on it and a logo. He saw her for a second, then she got on the plane. He tried to talk himself onto the flight, but they wouldn’t let him on. Anna asks if there’s a chance it was anyone else, and he says, anything is possible, but he’s almost positive it was Britt. He’s not saying she wasn’t poisoned, but he is saying her body seemed to disappear from the funeral home. Anna says, it doesn’t add up, and he says, it doesn’t. Maybe there was an antidote for the poison. Maybe somebody helped her. He knows it’s not a lot to go on, but it’s not nothing. She says she knew Britt and her family and knows him, and he’s not given to flights of fancy. If he says he saw her, then there’s every possibility Britt is still very much alive.

Kristina tells Marco that last summer she had a terrible accident right here. It was a fall. His mom and Ally saw it happen. She was pregnant at the time, and because of the accident, she lost the baby. Maco says he’s sorry to hear that. It must have been d… There aren’t any words, are there? She says, there aren’t. Afterward, she was in rough shape. She made mistakes, big ones, but his mom did something amazing for her when she didn’t really have to. He says he’s glad she got to see that side of his mom. She could be generous and kind when she wanted to be. She says, even though she said hurtful things about her and Ally, in the end, she was grateful to her. Now she’s grateful to him. She wouldn’t be here except for him. He risked his life to save hers. He says, it was the right thing to do, and she tells him, that’s a generous thing to say, given what happened to his mom that night. If she were in his shoes, she’d be asking if helping was the right thing to do. Does he regret it?

Alexis says she meant Kristina is impulsive and extremely protective of her family, and Sonny says, what’s wrong with being protective? She says, there’s nothing wrong with protecting your family, but she thinks both of them can agree they could use a little less impulsiveness from Kristina. She’s started to subscribe to his philosophy that the ends justify the means. He says, when it comes to family, he does what’s necessary to keep them safe, and she says, like kidnapping an innocent man? He says he’s always thinking of Kristina, and when it comes to protecting her, or any of his grandkids, he’ll do whatever he has to do.

Danny says he remembers the woman walking over to Professor Dalton’s chaise. He thought she was going to talk to him, but she went over to the bar instead. Dante asks if she talked to him, but Danny says, no. He thinks Josslyn was the only person to talk to him. Dalton went to his locker, and he was talking to Josslyn when he saw the woman leaving. Dante asks if she had anything with her, and Danny says, a tote bag and a backpack. Dante says, it’s very cool, him remembering that. Danny says, the woman was fancy, the type of person who wears heels at the pool. It didn’t look like something she’d carry. Dante says, good work. Thanks. Danny reminds him of… Danny says, mom? and Dante says, yeah. She always remembered the little things too. Danny says, she did. Nothing got by her. Dante says, it didn’t, but it would have been nice if they’d been able to get something by her. Maybe just once. Danny says, but it never would happen, and Dante says, no.

Emma goes over to Dalton, holding a flip-flop, and says, sorry. Her dog stole his flip-flop. She got it back, but it’s soggy and has teeth marks in it. What is it with footwear? Dalton says, no worries. It’s just a flip-flop. The dog is so cute, he could probably forgive just about everything. Emma says she has all the literature handled for his lecture tomorrow night. Is there anything else she can do?

Jason says Anna is the first person to believe he saw Britt. Carly obviously thought he was imagining things. She says, Carly didn’t know Britt well enough to understand what she’s capable of, and Obrecht’s daughter died in her arms. He says he gets why they’re skeptical, and if she’d shut him down, he would have understood, but he’d be surprised and disappointed. She says, but not deterred, and he says, no. She says she can’t help thinking Obrecht is involved, because Britt would need help faking her death. He says, from what he saw, Obrecht’s grieving wasn’t an act. If Britt is still alive, she doesn’t know. Anna says, maybe she didn’t need her mother’s help. Her father was a master at staging deaths and manipulating people, so she probably learned what she needed from him. It’s a hell of an education. Jason says, Anna knows these people. She knows how they work. She knows their world. They could work together to find Britt. Anna says, true, but she doesn’t think she wants to look for Britt and advises him not to.

Felicia says, how Lucas’s mom dealt with Sonny was masterful and it wasn’t just one but two ways. First, she bit her lip until it bled. Second, she never closed her door to her daughter. Lucas asks if she’s saying he should move back in, but she says, God no. Bobbie would throw him a party about moving out and be thrilled about him and Marco, but she wouldn’t want him to throw his relationship with his sister away either. He says he doesn’t want to, but he just can’t look the other way when it comes to Sonny. He has to say something. She says, do it. Speak up, but don’t make ultimatums. Don’t put Carly in a position to choose between him and Sonny. He says, because he’ll lose Carly? but Felicia says, because he and Carly will lose each other. One terrible lesson Bobbie learned after Barbara Jean died, that thing you can’t get back, that thing you should never sacrifice, is time with the people you love.

Alexis says, Sonny is taking a big gamble with their daughter’s well-being and frankly, she hates that, but he says he thinks she’s being overprotective (WOTD). Kristina’s come a long way since the accident. Alexis flashes back to telling Kristina that she knows Kristina tried to kill Ava, and Sonny says, have a little faith. Their daughter is stronger than Alexis gives her credit for. Alexis says she hopes to God he’s right.  

Dalton thanks Emma for the offer, but says, Josslyn is handling logistics. Emma says, right. Of course (🍷). Considering the subject matter, she thinks it’s going to be a huge turnout. If it gets to be too much for Josslyn to handle, she’ll be happy to help. He says he’ll keep it in mind. Good to know. Dante watches them, frowning.

Josslyn tells Jack, Emma is just trying to rescue lab animals, if there even are any. She’s in way over her head. Vaughn says, if Emma takes Josslyn’s place as Dalton’s assistant, they’re going to have more trouble with Devane than they already do. Jack says he’ll take care of Emma and her grandmother. Their concerns reflect a lack of understanding about the critical nature of their mission and for its operatives. This mission is deemed low risk, but that assessment belies its stakes. If they don’t get the info he needs, people could die. He tells Vaughn to quit his job at PCU. He doesn’t care what excuse Vaughn gives. Josslyn’s situation is a little more complex. Josslyn says she’ll think of a reason where she’s going and why, and Jack tells her to say she’s been called away to Australia to help with a distant relative, preferably someone her mother has heard of. She says, there’s a friend of her grandmother’s she can say needs help. She doesn’t think her mom will ask too many questions. She’ll just be happy Josslyn is getting distance from Vaughn. He says, good. Come up with backgrounds, deliver their excuses, and pack their bags. They leave in 24 hours.

Britt tells Pascal that forcing her to stay is ridiculous and has nothing to do with her health and safety. He’s just pissed that she took that trip to Paris. Pascal says he still thinks it’s in her best interest to stay on the property at this sensitive juncture. Perhaps another massage will help her embrace the change in her evening’s expectations. She says she does not want another massage. What she wants it to leave. He says, that’s impossible. The policy was clear. She asks what she’s supposed to do. Stay in her room until Greta brings her more data? He says he’ll be sure to relay her question to him, word for word. In the meantime, he’ll have a negroni and the evening special sent up immediately. Bon Soir.

Anna says, when Britt experienced the symptoms of Huntington’s she was determined not to appear diminished or pitied, and Jason says, it makes sense she disappeared when she did. She says, if he’s right, then Britt decided to let people think she was dead, rather than let them watch her decline, and that’s her call. So does he see what she’s saying? If he’s not honoring her wishes, he’s kind of betraying her. She can’t imagine that’s what Britt would want. He says he doesn’t, but she says, even if Britt is alive, she thinks he has to leave her alone.  

Alexis says she’s about to leave, so Suzanne can go home, but Suzanne says, actually, she can’t. Neither can Alexis. She has a 5 o clock. Alexis says, no, she doesn’t, but Suzanne says she has a meeting with Ava Jerome. Should she show her in?

Kristina says she read the coverage after Marco’s mother died. Aurora clearly pointed the finger at her father, insinuating he was responsible. Marco says he appreciates her defending her father, but it’s not something he wants to talk about. He’s still making up his mind and he’ll leave it at that. She says she swears her father had nothing to do with his mother’s death.

Sonny see Lucas at the pool and Lucas says, small world. Sonny says, Donna has a swim lesson and he’s picking her up, and Lucas asks if his other daughter has any idea that he abducted Marco and held him for 24 hours. Sonny says he doesn’t think Kristina heard of Lucas’s allegations against him, and Lucas says, maybe someone should tell her. Sonny says, do what he needs to do, and walks away.  

Dante tells Anna that he got solid info for her from Danny of all people. She has every right to be worried about Dalton. He and the courier were at the MetroCourt pool at the same time. They had no direct contact, but Josslyn was there. Anna says, running interference? and he says, her guess is as good as his. The woman had two bags, a bag and a backpack. She says, the same backpack that Josslyn planted the tracker in? and he says, probably. When they were talking, Danny said this backpack wasn’t something this woman would have. He said she was kind of like, too fancy. She says, so it was Dalton’s bag, and he says, probably. So they did the hand-off at the pool. One more thing she may want to know is when he was talking to Danny, he had his eyes on Dalton and her granddaughter seemed kind of glued to his side.

Emma tells Outback that they make a good team, and tells Gio that she thinks Outback knows she’s helping other rescue animals being tested by Dalton. Doesn’t he, or is she veering into crazy dog lady territory? He says, the better question is, could she have been more obvious? If she keeps hanging around Dalton and offering to help every time he turns around, he’s going suspect something. She says, no, he’s not. He’ll just think she’s the same overeager student she’s always been. She’s been helping with his summer lecture series, and when he’s up on the podium, they’re going to find out what’s going on in his lab. She shows Gio the keys, and he says, if she’s the overeager student, Dalton will expect to see her in the front row taking notes, right? She says, right, and he takes the keys from her and says, that’s why he’s going to search Dalton’s lab.

Jack hands rings to Vaughn and Josslyn, saying, wedding bands and an engagement ring. Do not lose them The WSB sprung for the real thing for authenticity’s sake. (Geez. Think they can spare it?) Make sure they fit. They put the rings on and they both say, it fits. Josslyn puts her rings in her front pocket (where no doubt Carly will find them), and Jack gives Vaughn a passport. He says, Christopher Nash. The two of them will leave Port Charles separately. They’ll meet in New York and travel to Europe using their new identities. Any questions? Josslyn says, does she get one? and he says, when he’s done briefing her. Safe travels. Vaughn says, copy that. He’ll see Josslyn at JFK. He leaves, and Jack says there’s something else he needs to discuss. He doesn’t know what she and Vaughn will be walking into at The Five Poppies, but it’s critical that they sell their cover. She says, it won’t be a problem, and he says, it can’t be a problem. The Five Poppies is the best lead they have to get what they need. Josslyn and Vaughn need everyone they come in contact with to believe they’re totally in love.

Pascal calls Jason asking if it’s John Moore. Jason says, it is, and Pascal introduces himself as the hotel manager at The Five Poppies. He’s following up on Jason’s inquiry on booking a stay. Jason thanks him for calling back, and Pascal says, his pleasure. No worries. As he may know, The Five Poppies is a high-end luxury hotel with cutting edge spa treatments, a private sand beach, and several five star restaurants. May he ask when John was hoping to stay with them? Britt barges in and tells Pascal if he doesn’t give her the keys to her car right now… Pascal apologizes and says, there’s a guest that requires his attention. He’ll call back as soon as possible. Thank you. He hangs up, and we can tell that Jason knows it’s Britt.

On Monday, Chase says Brook can’t adopt until she works things out with Gio; Gio asks Emma to promise to keep this between them; Ava wants to do Alexis a huge favor; and Kristina asks Cody, how about for an extra $10,000? and he says, done.

🧼 All the Soap News Fit To Print…

Temp Maxie returns.

https://www.primetimer.com/features/where-did-maxie-jones-go-on-general-hospital-all-you-need-to-know

It sounds like he’s having a fun career.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/who-is-pascal-on-general-hospital-kelly-thiebaud-dishes-about-the-new-man-in-britts-story-excl/

I just knew it would come to this. Hopefully, Drew will either turn out to have a brain tumor or he’s being controlled by Victor Cassadine from beyond the grave. There was that moment where they showed us the tarot card…

https://parade.com/news/general-hospital-actor-cameron-mathison-aggressive-backlash-fans

While I’m not a game show person, this might be a fun watch.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/sneak-peek-general-hospital-and-young-and-restless-stars-face-off-on-abcs-celebrity-family-feud/

💉 A Dose Of Reality…

Below Deck

After more boatmance stuff at the villa – now Barbara is involved – the new guests arrived, one of them already drunk. Whining that she hates food and just wants to drink at lunch, guest Kelly then decided she wanted to ride on the banana boat. She was advised against it, and when the deckhands tried to wrangle her into a lifejacket, she jumped into the water against Captain Kerry’s direct orders. After getting back on deck, she then struggled against the crew trying to get her inside. Once inside, she said she hated everyone and called them all a-holes and democrats. Her friends tried to calm her down, but the captain had enough after Kelly threatened him with her connections. It was time for her to go with the water police. The text said, to be continued, and it’s probably the first time I’ve said, I can’t wait, this season.

The Valley – Reunion Part 1

Jax said he was ready to go to war. When hasn’t he been ready to go to war? Both Kristen and Nia were 8 months pregnant, so bonding. Brittany said she wouldn’t touch Jax’s dirty d*ck with a 10-inch pole, and like the scum he is, he said that’s not what she’d told him four months ago when she’d wanted to hook up one last time. Unfazed, she said she knew better now. Michele and Jesse’s pending divorce was rehashed and no surprise, Jesse was the a-hole where that was concerned. Well, all the time, but this topic makes him extra. I don’t think weaponize means what he thinks it means. Jesse is representing himself in the divorce, but claimed he had a team of consultants, which no doubt includes his mom. Brittany gave us a blow-by-blow of Jax’s temper tantrum after she’d hooked up with Lala’s ex, Julian. It wasn’t pretty, but unfortunately no big shock coming from the most awful human being on the planet.

Also not surprising. This dude is a barnacle.

Real Housewives Of Miami

Marisol said she seemed to set off Adriana, and Adriana was an a-hole. You could take that to the bank. I’m not sure how I’d deposit that, but I’m quickly growing wearing of these women. It’s always the same pattern – fight, make up, have a party where the fight continues as though there was no reconciliation. This time, they began with Lisa’s suggestion that they all say something nice about each other. Like usual, this game degenerated into something else – Guerdy’s texts being rehashed. In the interviews, it sounded like no one had bothered reading them in the first place. In Adriana’s defense, getting that bottle of wine open would have been of the upmost importance to me too.

Real Housewives Of Orange County

You’d think Shannon might consider not having meltdowns in front of others at this point. It never seems to go well for her. Tamra brought Slade’s ex, Jo, to Fancy Pants Heather’s birthday party. In Tamra’s interview, she said, if Gretchen was threatened, that was her problem, but I think that was the goal. Tamra was foiled, however, as I think Jo and Gretchen were the only ones not fighting. Shannon said Katie was worse than Tamra Judge and Alexis Bellino combined, but at least she doesn’t abandon her toasted cheese. Emily literally reached for her popcorn and Terry was high because there was a weed bar. The Josh’s from Million Dollar Listing LA made an appearance as Heather’s realtors. They’d sold her the house and now they were selling it for her. Must be nice.

Random Reality Items

There’s not much substance here, but I miss Kathy.

No, Carl. Just no. Sometimes it’s best to move on.

I seriously doubt this will ever happen. They’re too entrenched in the tradition of sticking it out until death. Being second to the Obamas is not a bad thing either.

Next Gen NYC had a mini-Reunion on Watch What Happens Live with Gia, Emira, and Brooks. Meredith and Chloe were in the audience. It was nothing exciting, but I am hoping for a Season 2.

👀 Last Weekend’s Watch…

Trainwreck: P.I. Moms. Netflix. A reality show turns out to be a front for a criminal enterprise. I’d never heard about this before, so it was actually pretty interesting.

https://people.com/trainwreck-p-i-moms-true-story-explained-11770557

Amy Bradley is Missing. Netflix. This actually hadn’t been on my radar, but it was the next thing in the queue and I was multitasking, so I just let it go. An interesting real life mystery that’s never totally been solved, but my money’s on the bass player having coerced her off the boat. The saddest thing was Amy’s brother saying in an interview that he had no children because he’d seen his parents’ trauma and was afraid it might happen to him. I used to want to go on a cruise, but between this and Poop Cruise, not anymore. A captivating story.  

https://www.eonline.com/photos/37802/the-true-story-of-netflixs-amy-bradley-is-missing

Until Dawn. Netflix. At first, I thought, this is full of tropes. Then I went down a tributary, wondering if tropes were really homages. As the film went on, however, I became more intrigued. A group of friends must survive the night or become a part of it. Each time an hourglass is turned, it’s another round with a killer until everyone in the group is dead, only to rise and repeat. I thought they might have had better luck if they’d stuck together like they kept saying they were going to, but didn’t. Overall, I thought the horror was impressive and the story original enough, and I didn’t hate the ending. Clever ending credits too.

Just the basics.

https://www.cbr.com/until-dawn-instant-streaming-hit-netflix-debut/

https://movieweb.com/netflix-until-dawn-streaming-hit-horror-video-game/

All kinds of spoilers.

https://decider.com/2025/07/29/until-dawn-ending-explained-movie-dr-hill-wendigo

Jurassic Park Rebirth. At the cinema. No surprise, I loved this. Several critics felt it had a flimsy plot, but I say, who cares about the plot when you have dinosaurs? And this film has them. The only thing I found unbelievable (yeah, I know) was how people had gotten bored with dinosaurs, so they were creating new species by blending them together. I found it difficult to fathom people getting bored with everyday dinosaurs, and even if that happened, their kids would want to see them. Anyway, the genetically engineered dinos were apparently a hit or miss, some of them being beautiful and others the stuff of nightmares. The adventure stuff was good, the scenery exquisite, and we got aquatic beasts this time too. Even a baby dinosaur is present throughout the film. Aww! A favorite of mine since I was a child, dinosaurs are also on my list of top horror preferences, as follows: zombie apocalypse, zombies, any apocalypse, technology is evil, giant creatures such as Godzilla and dinosaurs. I was glad I decided to see this on the big screen. It was worth the overpriced ticket, and I brought my own snacks.

https://collider.com/jurassic-world-trilogy-missing-paleontologist/

https://www.purewow.com/entertainment/jurassic-world-rebirth-review

🦇 Saying Goodbye To the Prince…

While this was livestreamed, I’m sure you can still watch.

🐉 Cosplay This…

Photos and streaming from San Diego Comic Con 2025.

https://ew.com/comic-con-2025-portrait-studio-photos-exclusive-11778912

https://ew.com/how-to-watch-entertainment-weekly-2025-san-diego-comic-con-livestream-11778481

🧵 Here’s a Napkin, Make a Dress…

It’s been almost two years? What the… ? I’m glad to see this show is back. It was a surprise to me that I liked it. I can’t sew to save my life, but discovered I enjoy watching the contestants do it, along with seeing the various challenges thrown at them.

https://ew.com/project-runway-season-21-heidi-klum-return-cover-story-11779892

🐾 Trailblazing Tales…

🐕 Pilaf! Who couldn’t love that little nugget? Be sure to watch the video.

🐈‍⬛ The latest in InstaPets.

https://www.eonline.com/photos/19657/celebrity-pets-on-instagram

🦏 I don’t believe in reincarnation, but if I did, I’d have thoughts.

https://people.com/white-rhino-born-same-day-as-ozzy-osbourne-death-named-after-rocker-11781179

👑 Quotes of the Week

Our most significant opportunities will be found in times of greatest difficulty. – Thomas S. Monson

A man always has two reasons for doing anything: a good reason and the real reason. – JP Morgan

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

Don’t let yesterday take up too much of today. – Will Rogers

A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new. – Albert Einstein

My past has not defined me, destroyed me, deterred me, or defeated me; it has only strengthened me.Steve Maraboli

When I believe in something, I’m like a dog with a bone. – Melissa McCarthy

Motivation gets you going and habit gets you there. – Hilary “Zig” Ziglar

It’s like trying to talk Shakespeare to a Hershey bar. – Alan Harper (Jon Cryer), Two and a Half Men

🍦 Following the Ice Cream Truck…

Until next week, stay safe; stay dressing appropriately for summer events and leave the swimwear and flip-flops for the beach; and stay never sacrificing time with the people you love. It’s that thing you can’t get back.

July 11, 2025 – GH Weekdays, Trina Kicks Kai To the Curb, Soap Suds, This Week In Reality, Weekend Watching, Coming Soon, Animal Accounts, Practically 10 Quotes & Lobster

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

🥢 Weekday Bites…

Monday:

Emma found Gio at the pool and asked if he was trying to get his mind off of Sonny. Gio said it was harder than it sounded.

At a nearby table, Carly saw Josslyn on her laptop researching Dalton, but Josslyn said she was doing research for Dalton. She was having a hard time focusing, and Carly asked if she was sticking around for the fireworks. Josslyn said she was. She wanted to spend more time with the family, since the fire reminded her how fragile life could be.  

Anna went to Windymere to see Sidwell. She said she needed answers regarding his involvement in Natalia’s death.

Sonny told Laura that he found no satisfaction being right about his prediction that there would be violence. Their families were feeling the fallout, but he thought there may be a way to contain the damage.

Brook asked how Wiley and Amelia were handling things, and Michael said he was worried about Wiley. There had been an incident with Willow at the pool, and it had upset him.

Rocco asked Lulu if it was true that Britt gave birth to him, and she said she was calling his dad. He asked if Britt was his real mother.

Josslyn said, what happened with Kristina reminded her of what happened with Michael and Morgan, but Carly said, right now, they were safe, happy, and healthy. She was grateful for that… and Josslyn. Vaughn came into the pool area and Josslyn remembered their kiss. Carly suggested Josslyn go talk to him.  

Gio told Emma that Sonny had been great to him. How could he be the man that Tracy warned him about? Emma said people weren’t one thing. Maybe it was true, maybe it wasn’t, but it probably landed somewhere in between. She suggested if he wanted to know who Sonny was, ask someone, and Gio saw Carly.

Cody asked Sasha if anything else had happened with Daisy, and she said, no. She wanted to believe it was just mom brain or she was exhausted, but Cody said, she wasn’t sure, was she?

Sidwell insisted he’d never harm the mother of his son, and Anna said she’d come alone because she didn’t want to subject anyone else to his performative assurances that he was merely a businessman. She wanted the truth. He said the truth was, he’d been at Windymere signing contracts with Alexis. According to his son, Natalia had been Sonny’s loose end, so why not look to Sonny for answers?  

Laura told Sonny that she didn’t scare or back away from a fight. She didn’t turn her back on friends and he was stuck with her. He said she was still stubborn, and she said, damn straight. They hugged, and Boyle burst into the interrogation room, filming with his phone.

Michael said, whoever Willow was now, she wasn’t the woman he fell in love with, and Brook said she couldn’t believe people weaponizing children. He asked if she was talking about Lulu, and she said Lulu used Gio and hurt him to score points with Dante, sticking it to her for something that happened years ago. She had no consideration for what it would do to Brook’s child. She’d almost stooped to Lulu’s level and had considered getting back at her through Rocco, but she couldn’t hurt an innocent bystander, especially a child. It was wrong.

Rocco asked why they had to wait for his dad, and Lulu said it was important stuff and Rocco deserved to hear it from both of them. Dante came in, and Lulu said Rocco had questions about Britt Westbourne.

Cody told Daisy to enjoy her first 4th of July that she wouldn’t remember. He told Sasha that was going to the boathouse, but grabbing a cooler of beers first.  

Vaughn said he and Josslyn had to figure out how to keep Emma distracted. They’d gotten off track last night. The kiss never happened. She said, what kiss?

Gio told Carly that he was on break and hoping to ask her some questions about Sonny, since she knew Sonny better than anyone.

An officer stood over Boyle and Laura said make sure the film was deleted. Boyle said he had a right to film, but the officer said, not in the interrogation room. Laura told Boyle that it was illegal, but Boyle said the people deserved to know the truth about the mayor consoling the mob boss about his daughter. Or was the hug about Natalia? Laura told the officer to get this jackass out of her sight, and the officer took him out. Laura closed the door.  

Cody was at the boathouse when Brook arrived, and he asked how she could do that to him.

Rocco said he’d found two birth certificates. On one of them, Lulu and Dante were listed as his parents and on the other, the baby’s name was Ben, and Britt was listed as the birth mother. Was he Ben and did Britt give birth to him? Dante said she did, but Lulu said, genetically, Rocco was theirs. They’d planned to tell him when he was older. Dante said it hadn’t happened, but that was on him because he’d felt like they should both be there. Rocco said Lulu had been awake for a while, but Lulu said there had been so much to navigate – her recovery, finding Charlotte, and Lucky almost dying. She wasn’t making excuses, but it had gotten lost in the chaos. She was sorry, but they were here now, and he needed to know that what they were about to tell him didn’t change how much they loved him. Dante said it didn’t change anything, but Rocco said it did.

Rocco asked how Lulu could be mad at Brook, when she hadn’t even known Gio was her son, but Lulu said it wasn’t the same. Dante said they’d been planning on telling Rocco the truth.

Sidwell asked if Anna knew Sonny suffered from a heart condition, and she said, relevance? He said Sonny didn’t want to appear weak, and she asked if he was saying Sonny confided in Natalia. He said, then Natalia confided in him. Who knew how many others she’d told? Perhaps Sonny had discovered she’d broken his trust. She said, perhaps Sidwell couldn’t get over his ex’s indiscretions, and left.  

Brook said it had been her decision, and Cody said he’d never have told her what to do back then. She wondered if he was telling her now, and he said keeping the truth from him was making him complicit in hiding the truth from Dante. Dante was his best friend ever and it felt awful.

Lulu said she and Dante had been trying to have a baby and used IVF. They’d tried to use Maxie as their surrogate, but it didn’t work, so they put it on hold. Dante said Britt was a doctor at GH and stole an embryo, and Lulu said, the embryo was Rocco.

Carly asked what Gio wanted to know, and he said Tracy kept warning him that Sonny was dangerous, that he didn’t know who he was dealing with. The Sonny he knew was decent, more than kind, protective, and generous. Was Tracy wrong or was he blind? They sat down and Carly said it was complicated. Sonny didn’t wake up and choose this life. Gio said, the life chose him, and she said, it kind of did. He had to make tough decisions when he was young and got pulled in before he was old enough to know better. Sonny would admit he wasn’t proud of some things he’d done, but he was one of the most loyal men she’d ever known. He loved his family and Gio was a part of that family, but she’d be lying if she didn’t tell him that there was another side.

Josslyn told Vaughn that the animal thing was his way in. Emma had an organization at PCU called SAC – Students Against Animal Cruelty. Vaughn said that was perfect. He loved animals. He told Josslyn a sad story about the dog he’d grown up with, and she asked if the story was true. He asked if it mattered, and she said if he told it to Emma, she’d eat it up. He said that was his entry point and asked about Emma’s dislikes. What triggered her? Josslyn said she did.

Josslyn said she wasn’t Emma’s favorite person. Emma thought she was privileged, spoiled, and a total brat. Vaughn said if he and Emma bonded over how annoying she was, they’d be dating by the end of the night. Josslyn saw Emma and said it was go time. Emma had seen them kissing, so if he had a shot, Emma would need to think there was nothing going on. Vaughn asked if she was watching, and loudly asked, what’s the problem? He’d thought they had a real future. Josslyn said then he was as dumb as he looked. They didn’t work together. He was a janitor. He said, for the record, he worked in maintenance, and she said, call it what he wanted, but it wasn’t working. They were done. Get over it. She walked out, and Emma smiled.

Michael came in while Sasha was talking to Daisy. He said Sasha was great with her and helped put Daisy to bed. Sasha said they made a good team, and he said they always had. She said it made her believe it would work out with them as co-parents, and he said he knew she was hesitant. She said he was Daisy’s father, and her only concern was Daisy’s safety and well-being. He said his was too, and she said she was glad they were on the same page.  

Marco approached Anna at the hospital and asked if she had Natalia’s autopsy report. He needed to know how she died.

Emma handed Vaughn a drink and said she was sorry about Josslyn. He asked if she saw that, and she said she heard it. The whole pool did. She thought he’d dodged a bullet. Josslyn had always been like that. He said, privileged, spoiled, and self-absorbed. He’d glimpsed it, but chosen to ignore it. Emma said, to brighter days ahead, and they clinked glasses.

Cody said he’d thought he and Brook were friends, and she said they were. She’d trusted him on her hardest day. She knew she could count on him to get her home and keep her secret. She was sorry she let him believe she’d ended the pregnancy. He said he’d assumed it, and she said she’d needed to protect her baby, then she wanted to forget what happened. Her not being upfront wasn’t a reflection on their friendship or how much she cared. He said he believed her and hoped she knew him helping Lulu wasn’t about payback. He wanted to know the truth and wanted Dante and Gio to know too, because he hadn’t known the truth about his own father. She suggested they forgive each other, and he said he was game if she was. She said she didn’t want to lose his friendship, especially over Lulu. He asked if they should hug it out, and they did.

Rocco said, Britt stole him? and Lulu said they’d trusted her. Dante said Britt carried him to term without their knowledge or consent, and Lulu said Britt only cared about herself. Rocco said Britt had done a messed-up thing, but if she hadn’t stolen him, he might not have been born. They might never have used the embryo. They didn’t really want him.

Vaughn brought up SAC, and Emma said she’d started it. Animal rights was her thing. He said he’d love to get involved, and she suggested they have another round and talk about it. He said it was on him, and they went to get drinks while Josslyn watched.  

Carly told Gio that Michael had wrestled with the same questions. So had Dante, but they’d both come back. Once Sonny was in your life, he stayed if you let him. Gio said if he needed more answers, maybe he’d ask Sonny’s son.

At the station, Anna told Sonny that the autopsy showed Natalia had died from a lethal combination of drugs and alcohol. The lack of defense wounds indicated nothing had been forced. Whether it was accidental or intentional, she couldn’t say, but it wasn’t murder. Boyle listened from around the corner. (Does anyone do their actual jobs?) 

Lulu said that wasn’t true. They’d wanted Rocco. Dante said Rocco was seven months old before they figured it out, and Rocco said it was weird to think Britt had been his mom during that time. Lulu said Britt was never his mother. She stole the embryo, broke the law, and took him from them. Rocco said it wasn’t like he’d been theirs. They’d gotten stuck with him after the fact. Dante said they’d gone back because they wanted to try again and figured out an embryo was missing, and Lulu said they’d been desperate to have a child of their own. They’d loved each other and he was conceived in that love, no matter how he came into the world. She wanted him to know he was loved beyond measure. Dante told Rocco, what she said, and Rocco said that explained why the one birth certificate said Ben. It was what Britt had named him. Part of him wished Danny had never found the file. Lulu asked, what file? and he said, it was in a stack of Brook’s Deception stuff. It was mostly about Britt, but the birth certificates were in there. Dante said it was a lot at once, and Rocco said it would take a bit for him to understand. He wasn’t mad, but wished he’d heard it from them, not like this. Dante said, them too, and Rocco went upstairs. Lulu said there was something she had to do. Brook came for her son. Not on her watch.  

Cody, Brook, Sasha, and Michael sat outside the boathouse, and Cody said it was a year ago today he told Mac that he was his son. Sasha said he became a full-fledged Scorpio, and Brook said she remembered Drew announcing he was running for congress. Even granny was proud of him. Michael asked if they were ready for the buzzkill. It was the beginning of the end of his marriage – Drew and Willow’s first kiss. Sasha said she’d love to erase the memory, and Brook said, everything was different a year ago. Her son was living in Port Charles, and they were under the same roof. Maybe this time next year, he’d be talking to her again. Sasha said, things work out, and they watched the fireworks.

Daisy was heard on the monitor, and Sasha said she’d go. She left and Michael stayed with the others.

At the pool, everyone watched the fireworks. Emma looked at Josslyn and took Vaughn’s arm.  

Sasha went to Daisy’s room, but the crib was empty.

Boyle said Sonny must be relieved that he got off scot-free again, and Sonny said Natalia had been his friend. Boyle said the autopsy proved nothing. Sonny was a professional and could finagle an OD in his sleep. Anna said Sonny was free to go, and Laura said she’d walk him out. Boyle said, of course (🍷), and outside, after looking up at the fireworks, Sonny and Laura went their separate ways.

Sidwell watched the fireworks, when Marco arrived. Marco said he talked to the Commissioner and Natalia’s death had been ruled an accident. Corinthos was free and the case was closed. Sidwell said the police might have dropped the matter, but make no mistake, they wouldn’t.  

Rocco came out on the patio where Dante was watching the fireworks. He asked where his mom was, and Dante said she was running an errand. Rocco said he hoped Dante wouldn’t talk to Danny’s dad. It wasn’t Danny’s fault that he found the folder and Dante shouldn’t be mad at him. Dante said he wasn’t mad at Danny. Danny wasn’t responsible for this.

Cody said the drink supply was depleted, and he and Michael left to get more. Brook was left by herself, when Lulu stormed up on the deck. She called Brook a hateful bitch, and said she knew Brook hated her, but to hurt Rocco was unforgiveable. She slugged Brook in the face.

Tuesday:

Sasha went into the nursery, but Daisy wasn’t there.

Lulu decked Brook and said Brook was the same lying backstabber she’d always been. She’d used Lulu’s son to get back at her.

Jason showed up at Lulu’s per Rocco’s request, and Rocco asked Jason to tell him everything about Britt Westbourne.

Marco said they were calling Natalia’s death accidental, but Sidwell said there was nothing accidental about it. Marco said it was his fault, but Sidwell said, he did everything he could. Marco said his mom’s death was on him.

As they set up for a movie night, Alexis asked Kristina what was wrong, but Kristina said, nothing. She’d just been thinking about how good Alexis was to her. Alexis said, being her mom, it came with the territory, but Kristina said she wasn’t feeling the love after Alexis found out about Elizabeth and Ric.

Portia and Elizabeth watched the fireworks at the MetroCourt, and Elizabeth said she was surprised Portia had no plans with Curtis. Ric approached their table and said he thought tonight couldn’t get better.

Nina went to the gallery and told Ava that Willow was dead set on marrying Drew. Ava asked what she had cooked up, and Nina said, to stall as long as she could. She was hoping something would happen to wake up her daughter and show her that she was marrying a man who would help destroy what was left of her life.

Sasha checked the bassinet in the living room, but Daisy wasn’t there either.

Felicia met Mac at the station and told Molly that she was relieved Kristina hadn’t been hurt in the fire. Molly said Cody had been right and she’d been thinking of the worst-case scenarios. Mac wondered what Cody had to do with the fire, but Molly said they happened to be together beforehand and because she was in no state to drive, Cody drove. Mac said Cody was a considerate guy and it was a shame he was single.

Nina said she’d convinced Willow that a formal wedding would look better to the judge, and Ava said she was sorry Ric didn’t do better with Willow’s custody. They may not have gotten his best work, since the morning of Willow’s hearing, he was with Elizabeth instead of working.  

Elizabeth asked Ric where Ava was, and he said, at the gallery. Portia said she couldn’t wait to see Joel Sartore’s new photos, and Ric told Elizabeth that he had box seats to the Port Charles Symphony when they were doing Gershwin. His phone rang and he stepped away, but when he came back, he said he had to run. He left and Portia said it must be something important to peel him away from Elizabeth.  

Jason asked Rocco where Danny got the file, and Rocco said he found it in a stack of Brook’s files. Jason asked if his parents knew, and Rocco said they’d talked. They told him that he was the embryo Britt stole and that she gave birth to him, not his mom. Jason said he hadn’t been in town when that went down, but what did he want to know. Rocco said Danny told him that Britt and Jason had been friends. That must have meant he liked her. Jason said he did, and Rocco said his parents thought she was awful. Jason said they had bad history, and Rocco said they told him Britt went to prison and her parents were psychos. Jason said, her father more than her mother, and Rocco said Britt had died saving Josslyn’s life. Her history was all over the place. Jason knew her. What was she really like?

Brook said she had no idea what Lulu was talking about, and Lulu said Danny found the file about Britt and showed it to Rocco. Brook said, Rocco wasn’t supposed to see it, and Lulu asked why Britt left it lying around. Brook said she hadn’t, but what was in the file was true. She thought Lulu never lied to her children and it was no secret, yet Rocco never knew. Lulu said she and Dante had intended on telling him the truth when he was old enough to understand, but life had been complicated since she woke up from her coma. Brook said, Lulu claimed her son deserved to know the truth, but Lulu said it wasn’t the same thing. Brook said Lulu was a hypocrite with a double standard.

Sasha told Michael that someone took their daughter.

Ava said Ric had lied to her face, and Nina said, if Ric was cheating, get rid of him. Ava said she didn’t think he was, and Ric was fun, sexy, and they made a good team… most of the time. Nina had to go, since she was meeting Willow for a drink, and Ava told her to enjoy the time while Drew was away. They’d also get more time together planning the wedding.  Nina said that was the upside. They were going to look at dresses, something she’d dreamed of doing with her daughter. If only Drew wasn’t the biggest mistake of Willow’s life.

Mac said he knew Cody and Molly got off to a rocky start, but they seemed to be in a better place. Molly said Cody had helped her a few times and he was a nice person. Mac said Cody was the best guy, when an officer said there had been a possible child abduction.

Marco told Sidwell that he should have had Natalia put in protective custody, but she insisted Sonny would take care of her and had a new life set up for her. Sidwell said, all Sonny cared about was that she was a liability, and Marco said she wouldn’t listen, and he’d never forgive himself. Sidwell said Marco was a good man and a great son. They both knew Sonny Corinthos was the reason his mother was dead.

Alexis said Kristina had lost her baby and her sister within months of each other. She’d been estranged from her other sister, then there was Michael’s accident and the insanity with Ric and Ava. It had been too much for her, she’d been pushed too far, and broke. Kristina said that didn’t make it okay, and Alexis said she wasn’t condoning it, but understood. She was doing what she could to keep Kristina out of prison. Kristina said she was grateful, but felt Alexis gave in to Ric and Ava’s blackmail for Molly’s sake. Alexis hadn’t wanted Molly to know she was the reason Ric got hurt. Alexis said she’d done it for both of them. She loved them both. Kristina said she’d thought she’d gone too far, but Alexis said her love was unconditional and nothing could change that.

Ric went to the gallery and told Ava that he’d gotten a call from the bank man in the Caymans. Two of the accounts were overdrawn. Ava said she’d been in a rush to install new lighting, and it was pricey, and Ric said it looked better than the lighting in Pentenville, which was where they’d be if she threw money around, they weren’t supposed to have.

Sasha said no one in the house had seen Daisy, and Michael said the police were on their way. Olivia and Ned came in, and Sasha told them that someone took Daisy. Michael said no one saw any strangers leave the property, and Ned suggested he search outside while Michael searched the house.

Jason told Rocco that Britt didn’t make the best decisions and did hurt people, but she was strong and heroic too. Rocco said, like when she saved Josslyn, and Jason said Britt also helped him out even when it put her in danger. Rocco said everyone told him that she was horrible, but he heard something different from Jason. Maybe she wasn’t all bad, but a good person wouldn’t steal an embryo. Jason said he and Britt didn’t become friends until after that, and Rocco asked if he thought Britt changed. Jason said he did, but the people she’d hurt might not agree. Rocco wondered how he could be mad at Britt, since without her, he might not have been born.

Lulu insisted Brook left the folder where Rocco could find it, but Brook said she didn’t and it wasn’t like she’d unearthed a revelation. It was public record. Unlike how Lulu broke into Martin’s room getting information from a confidential file she had no legal right to. Lulu said Brook had to dig to get Rocco’s birth certificate, but Brook said, unlike Gio, Rocco would have found out because everyone knew. She didn’t hurt Rocco. Lulu did by withholding the truth.

Ric asked, what if someone became suspicious about Ava’s newfound wealth? and Ava told him that she’d say she sold a rare piece. That’s what the holding companies were for, so no one would connect them with the money. Ric said, only as long as they didn’t draw attention to it. They had to work together. Ava said she’d barely seen Ric lately, since he’d been at Beecher’s Corners so much, then admitted that she knew Ric had been with Elizabeth the morning of Willow’s hearing. Laura had seen them.  

Portia asked what was going on with Elizabeth and Ric, but Elizabeth said they were just friends. Portia asked if she liked spending time with him, and Elizabeth said they got along, and he made her laugh. Portia suggested Elizabeth go get some Gershwin. She hated that Ric was the reason Heather Webber had been released, but realized he was just doing his job. Elizabeth said she knew better than to get involved with Ric again, and Portia said, famous last words. Nina came by and asked if they’d seen Willow, but Elizabeth said they hadn’t.  

Lulu said Brook always found a way to justify her bad behavior, but Brook said Lulu was describing herself. She’d lied to her son. Lulu said she and Dante hadn’t had a chance to tell Rocco, and Brook said it was because Lulu was too busy digging into her life. Gio shouted for them to stop it. He’d been looking for Michael and heard yelling. If they were fighting about him, don’t. Lulu said they were fighting what Brook did to his brother Rocco.

Chase asked when Sasha last saw Daisy, and Sasha said, in the nursery before the fireworks. She shouldn’t have left Daisy alone. Michael said there was a night nurse and Sasha had taken the monitor. It had been reasonable to leave her. Sasha said someone had been going in and messing with their daughter. Did he remember the other day when someone had changed her onesie and she’d been facing the other way? And there was the mobile. The first night, someone had turned it on when she was in the shower. Olivia heard something in the living room, and went in. She said Daisy was there. The baby was fine. They went in to find Daisy in the bassinet.

Kristina said she was going to get Alexis out from under Ava and Ric’s thumb by being smart, but not impulsive, and Alexis said she wasn’t convinced it was a good plan, but she liked Cody. Kristina said Molly deserved the credit. She brought out the best in him. The only reason Cody had agreed was that she’d told him Molly wasn’t happy about Ava dating Ric, but the money didn’t hurt. Alexis hoped Ric and Ava imploded and thought it would be fun to watch them go at each other’s throats.

Ric said he’d brought juice to a friend with a broken leg, but Ava said she cared that he’d lied. He said he knew she’d overreact and him omitting the truth didn’t threaten their freedom like her spending the money did. She couldn’t just take it whenever she wanted. Ava said she had work to do, when Cody came in. Ric wondered why he was there, and Cody said Ava hired him to help hang the show, Ric left, and Cody told Ava that he was all hers. Where did she want him?  

Felicia told Molly to ignore Mac, but Molly thought it was sweet. To be honest, it had surprised her that she and Cody became friends. An officer said the missing child had been found, and Mac suggested he, Felicia, Cody, and Molly all have dinner. It would be fun.

Marco told Sidwell that Natalia had shown up at the christening and she and Sonny had a tense conversation. Sidwell said Natalia had intruded on Sonny’s sacred family time, and in so doing, sealed her fate. Sonny wasn’t about to let Natalia cause more problems ever again.

Sasha said it was the first place she looked, but Daisy wasn’t there, and Olivia said Daisy was safe and sound. Sasha said someone had taken her and could still be on the property, and Michael suggested another search. Ned said he’d check the gatehouse, and Michael could check the garage. Olivia told Sasha that the mind could play tricks, especially if you were hormonal, but Sasha said she didn’t misplace her baby.  

Elizabeth told Portia about Lucky proposing before he left. She’d been tempted to say yes, but their lives were going in two different directions and weren’t compatible anymore. Portia commended her for being strong enough to recognize that.  

Nina got a text from Willow, who said there was traffic, and she was on her way.

Rocco said it was strange to think he’d had another mom, another name, and another life, and Jason said, Britt didn’t talk about that part of her life much. It hurt her to remember it, but what she shared was how much it changed her. She didn’t expect a lot, but when she had him, she fell in love with him, and it surprised her. Rocco asked if she was sad when she had to give him up, and Jason said she knew what she’d done was wrong. He wasn’t hers and she had no right to him, but she loved him, and it was hard for her. By the time he knew her, she’d been doing the right things more than she realized. He thought if she saw him now, she’d be impressed with the person he’d become.

Brook said she didn’t do anything to Gio’s brother, but Lulu said she dug up that he’d been carried by someone else. Gio asked if she meant a surrogate, but Lulu said it was more complicated than that and Brook had blindsided Rocco. It was payback for her finding out the truth about Gio. Brook used her son to hurt her, and she’d never forgive Brook. Lulu left, and Brook swore it wasn’t true. She never meant to hurt Rocco.

Brook told Gio that Britt giving birth to Rocco was a matter of public record and not a secret except to Rocco. Gio said, until now. When he heard she and Dante were his parents and everything he’d thought was true wasn’t, it was the worst feeling. Brook said she was sorry, and Gio said she’d done the same thing, but Rocco was younger, and it would be harder to handle. Brook said she never gave the information to Rocco and never meant for him to see it, and Gio asked why she had gone digging. What was the point?  

Rocco thanked Jason and said talking to his parents about it was weird. Obviously, they hated Britt. Jason said he was there if Rocco needed him and left.  

Outside, Lulu saw Jason and asked what he was doing there.  

Willow met Nina and said she was sorry she was late. There had been traffic. Nina wondered what route Willow had taken, since she’d had no problem.

Chase said he spoke to everyone, and no one saw anyone suspicious. There had also been no sign of forced entry. In the foyer, Michael thanked Ned and Olivia for their help, and Olivia said it wouldn’t be a bad idea for Sasha to talk to her doctor. She wasn’t saying it was postpartum, but if it was, early intervention was key. She and Ned went upstairs, and Michael saw Chase talking to Sasha.

Alexis brought out popcorn, when the doorbell rang. It was Ric, who said they had business to discuss. He stopped when he saw Kristina.

Molly said she was swamped with work, and Felicia said, another time. Molly left, and Felicia asked if Mac could be any more obvious. Mac said he thought Molly and Cody were a good fit, but she said forcing it would do the opposite. If it was meant to be, it was meant to be. He said Molly might be the person Cody needed to keep him honest and on track.

Cody and Ava discussed what height to hang a piece of art, when Cody kissed her.

Elizabeth asked if Portia and Curtis were having problems, and Portia said every relationship had rough patches. You could give up and walk away or get down and fight. She’d always been a fighter.

Sidwell told Marco that Natalia discovered Sonny had a heart condition and had been sworn to secrecy. She’d told him, thinking it could entice him to speak to Marco on her behalf. Sonny must have found out, and the betrayal was further proof she couldn’t be trusted. Marco said he didn’t care what the autopsy said. His mother was dead because she knew too much. Sonny couldn’t get away with it. Sidwell said he’d make sure of it, but Marco said they’d make sure of it.

Kristina said Molly wasn’t there, and Ric said, it was worth a shot. Sorry for interrupting. Alexis suggested he text Molly, and he left. Alexis said she was terrified Kristina was going to go off on Ric, but Kristina said Ric and Ava not knowing she knew about the blackmail would work in their favor. Alexis commended her for stuffing her feelings in pursuit of a future goal.

Cody asked if it was okay, and Ava said it was a fine kiss. He said, ouch, and she amended it to a very good kiss. She half-heartedly slapped him and said it could never happen again. He said he totally understood and was sorry. He misread the signs. Wishful thinking. He told her that he’d leave, but she asked if they couldn’t hang the work together without further misunderstandings. He said, 100%, and she said, then back to work.

Jason told Lulu that Rocco had reached out with questions about Britt, and she asked what he told Rocco. He said from his experience, she was a good person, and Lulu said, who stole an embryo with no intention of returning her son. Jason said he’d told Rocco the truth, but Lulu said it was his truth based on his limited time with her. He said that didn’t make it less real and Rocco deserved to know all of it, and he left.

Gio said Brook wanted to hurt Lulu more than avoid hurting his brother. Walking away was clearly the right decision. He never should have come back and wouldn’t make that mistake again. He left and Brook cried.

Sasha said she was never letting Daisy out of her sight and asked Michael if they could move the crib to her room. Michael said they could, and she said she had to protect Daisy. In the foyer, Michael told Chase that he was going to phone a security company to doublecheck the house, and Chase asked, what if Sasha was imagining things? Michael said he’d do what he had to in order to keep Daisy safe, and Chase said, even if it meant keeping her safe from her own mother?

Willow told Nina that she’d really been on the phone with Drew and lost track of time. She flashed back to going into Daisy’s room and picking the baby up. She told Daisy that they were going for a little walk. Daisy’s daddy wanted her children, so she was going to show him how it felt.

Wednesday:

At the pool, Kai told Drew that he was glad he got to meet the DC staff, and Drew said they were the best in the business. Kai thanked him for the internship and Drew thanked Kai for the heads up about Curtis’s ambush.

Felicia told Curtis that her P.I. tracked Jacinda in Sydney and convinced her to fly back. She’d be there in a little over 24 hours.

Trina was surprised Ava had gotten all the photos up, and Ava said she’d had help from a friend.

Cody told Kristina that he’d overplayed his hand with Ava and probably had zero chance of getting her away from Ric.

At the hospital, Ric asked what Elizabeth was doing tonight.  

Carly found Willow at the nurses station and said Michael told her what Will had done and she wasn’t getting away with it.

Michael asked if Sasha would like a break. He was happy to watch Daisy. Sasha said after what had happened, she wasn’t letting Daisy out of her sight ever again.

Jason told Sonny that two bodies had been fished out of the harbor – Selina’s associates. Sonny said, if there were questions, the police should question Sidwell. Sidwell had hired them to come after him and his family.

Sonny said he and Selina had clashed in the past, but their alliance had held up. It was too convenient. Jason said it felt like a set-up, and Sonny agreed. Since the fire, there had been wall to wall media coverage on why he was dangerous for the city and Measure C was getting support. Jason said if it passed, Sonny would lose his base of operation, and Sonny said. whether or not Selina was involved, Sidwell was the brains. That’s why Sidwell needed to answer for almost killing his daughter.

Kristina said she’d thought it was going well with Ava, and Cody said he was in the gallery and he thought they were vibing. So he went in for a kiss, but she slapped him. Kristina asked, what happened after that? and he said she asked him to stay and help hang the photos. She said, interesting. Maybe his game wasn’t as bad as he thought.

Ava told Trina about Cody finding her sunglasses and said he was quite handy. Trina said he’d done a great job, and Ava agreed. She pointed out the new lights, and Trina asked how she could afford them. Ava said her financial hiccup was over and she was now free to splurge, despite Ric’s miserly financial advice.

Elizabeth said she had plans to go to the Joel Sartore exhibit, and Ric suggested they go together.

Carly said she knew about the incident at the pool with Wiley, but Willow whined that she hadn’t seen him in so long. Carly said she could see her kids if she didn’t marry Drew, and Willow said they were getting married. Carly said she couldn’t stop that trainwreck, but she could and would ban Willow from the MetroCourt if it happened again and the judge would find out. Willow said she was heartless, and Carly reminded Willow how she’d called Michael absent when he was recovering. Lucas came by and Willow left. He said he needed a huge favor from Carly. She needed to protect Marco from Sonny.

Carly asked if Sonny was making moves, and Lucas said it was only a matter of time. She said, because of the fire? and he said there was no love lost between Sonny and Sidwell and it wasn’t a stretch to think he was behind the fire. She asked if there was proof, but he said all Sonny needed was a strong suspicion and he’d retaliate. Sidwell went after his daughter, so it made sense for him to go after Sidwell’s son. Carly thought he was jumping to conclusions, but he said no one knew Sonny better than she did. Was he that far off? Could she assure him Marco was safe?

Jason asked how Kristina was, and Sonny said she was rattled, but physically fine. Jason said something had been bugging him about the two fires. Two of Sonny’s kids were involved, but a sophisticated device had been used in the penthouse fire, while the fire at Charlie’s was old school. It didn’t feel like it was the same person behind them. Sonny said he had doubts about the penthouse and the hitwoman in LA. If Jason was right, there was a threat on two fronts. Jason said that made protecting their families harder.

Cody said a woman slapping you wasn’t a sign they were into you, but Kristina said even though Ava hadn’t been open to it, she’d let him stick around. If she turned against Ric, she’d see him with fresh eyes. Cody told Kristina that Ava had said it was good kiss before slapping him. He supposed she could be right, but a big part of him had been relieved. He’d gotten to know Ava, and there was more there than he’d thought. Kristina said, no, there wasn’t.

Ava asked how the guest list was, and Trina said they were at full capacity. Ava asked if Trina’s parents were coming, and Trina said her dad was, but her mom had to work. She thought they were avoiding each other. Ava said she was sorry, but she was sure they’d figure out how to deal with the problems they were facing.

Felicia said she’d let Curtis know when Jacinda was on the plane, but wondered if the interview wouldn’t have been easier to do over the phone. Curtis said he thought it would be more effective if Jacinda told the public herself, when there was a knock at the door. Jordan said she was interrupting again, but Felicia said she was just leaving. She left, and Curtis told Jordan that he’d tracked down Jacinda, who’d agreed to talk. She asked if he still planned on incriminating Drew, and he said blowing up Drew’s life was his best shot at protecting his wife. Speaking of which, he wanted to explain what Jordan had walked in on. Jordan said, Portia wanted to send her a message – stay out of her marriage. She didn’t agree with Portia’s tactics, but Portia was absolutely right.

Kai said he’d struggled with telling Drew, and Drew said he knew Kai cared about Trina, who obviously loved her parents. Kai said he couldn’t let Drew be dragged for something he didn’t do, and Drew said the negative publicity could affect Willow’s chances of getting her kids back. His own daughter was also still dealing with losing her mother, barely saw her brother, and was bonding with Wiley and Amelia, who were now gone. It was too much, but he had a plan and hoped it worked.

Michael said he knew it was scary, but Daisy was okay now. Sasha said they still didn’t know what happened. She was positive she’d left Daisy in the nursery, so how had Daisy ended up in the living room bassinet, especially after she’d checked? Michael said he had no idea, and she said it wasn’t the first time something strange had happened to or around Daisy. There was the mix-up at the hospital, the mobile mystery, and Daisy’s onesie being changed when she was out of the room. It was too weird. He said he was sure there were plenty of reasonable explanations, and she said he thought she was crazy, didn’t he?

Jordan said she hadn’t intended on causing a problem, but Curtis said it wasn’t on her. He’d dragged her into his marital problems when he’d confided in her about Portia’s lies. Jordan had urged him to talk to someone else, but she’d been there for him. He was sorry she’d become a target for Portia. Jordan asked if he meant the iced tea, but he didn’t know what she was talking about. She explained that Portia had confronted her after she’d seen them reminiscing about Baltimore and thrown her iced tea at her. He said he had no idea Portia had seen them, but it was a mess. Jordan said before it got messier, she needed to do the right thing and remove herself from his life.

Elizabeth said she enjoyed Ric’s company, but didn’t want to mislead him, and Ric said he’d always respect her boundaries. He was sorry if she felt he was overstepping. All he wanted or needed was her friendship.

Kristina said any goodness Cody saw in Ava was an act. He knew about the horrible things she’d done. He said he knew about the horrible things that had happened to Ava. She’d told him about Kiki. Kristina said Kiki was tragic, but instead of using it as a turning point, Ava was still out there scheming and ruining lives. Kristina said she didn’t care about Ric, but Molly loved her father and Ric being with Ava didn’t make her happy. It would be better for everyone if Ric and Ava weren’t together. Cody wondered why they didn’t tell Molly what they were up to, but Kristina said she’d never approve. They’d better keep it a secret. Molly walked in and asked what Cody was doing there. And what was that about a secret?

Trina told Ava that she liked the idea of focusing on her own life and she had nothing to complain about. Ava asked if it was due in large part to Kai, and Trina said he’d gone to DC, and she was excited to see him tonight. Ava said Trina deserved for wonderful things to happen, and Trina said she didn’t know how it happened, but even when they didn’t see eye to eye, they respected and supported each other. Ava said it was healthy and mature. She and Ric could learn from it. Trina asked if everything was okay, and Ava said they’d had a fight, but it was nothing. Trina said she hoped Ric knew how lucky he was to have Ava, and Ava said she hoped Kai knew how lucky he was to have Trina.  

Drew said if he blocked Curtis, he and Portia could figure out that Kai tipped him off. It could affect his relationship with Trina. Kai said it was the only thing he’d been thinking about. He was worried Trina would feel betrayed, but he was going to hope she understood that he had to do what was right. He admired her folks, but they were in the wrong, and he hoped they could agree to disagree. Drew said he’d do what he could to keep Kai’s name out of it, but Kai said he thought it was better if he owned up, even if he didn’t like the consequences. Drew said he was proud of Kai, when Willow joined them. Kai said he was going to the exhibit and maybe he’d see them there. He left, and Drew said he was happy Willow had joined him, but she said they should enjoy it while they could. Carly threatened to ban her from the pool. Drew asked, why?

Sasha told Michael that she wasn’t tired or suffering from postpartum. She’d had mental health and addiction issues in the past and could understand why he’d doubt her. He said he didn’t. He believed everything she was saying. He knew her. She was strong and level-headed. He’d seen when she wasn’t and could tell the difference. If she said something strange was going on with their daughter, he was listening. She thanked him and said it meant everything. He said, if she was right, that meant someone who was in the house or had access to it took their daughter and hid her on purpose. She said that’s why she was scared. Someone was deliberately gaslighting her or someone was trying to prove they could get to their daughter whenever they wanted. That was why she and Daisy had to move immediately.

Carly told Lucas that Sonny didn’t go after civilians or innocents and asked how closely Marco was tied to his father’s business. Lucas said he only worked on the legit side. He believed Marco, knew him, and trusted him. Carly said he was in deep, and Lucas said Marco meant a lot to him. He asked her to remind Sonny that Marco saved Kristina. If anyone had the power to sway Sonny, it was her. She said he was overestimating her influence, and he asked her to try. If Sonny went after Marco, it would trigger an all-out war that would affect all of them.

Willow said she’d just wanted to see her son and was being punished, but Drew said they had to tread lightly. They couldn’t give Michael ammunition. Willow said Wiley was happy to see her and if Michael cared about Wiley, he’d let her spend time with him. Drew said she was being punished for leaving Michael, but getting married would fix all this. It would show the court they had a stable, loving home. They’d secure visitation, then get custody. Willow said, in the meantime, Michael had Wiley, Amelia, and Daisy, and her arms were empty.

Michael asked if Sasha was sure she wanted to move, and she said she didn’t feel safe. He said every decision she’d made had been right and he trusted her judgement. Where did she want to go? There was Mac and Felicia’s or his mom. He could also talk to Lucy about getting her a place and he’d cover the expenses. She said he was generous, but the only way she could rest easy and know Daisy was safe was getting outside Port Charles.

Sonny told Jason to increase security and keep eyes on Sidwell and any other threats. Jason said at least Sonny was in the clear about Natalia’s death, and Sonny said whether it was on purpose or an accident, Natalia OD’d on her own. Jason asked if he thought Turner still wanted to pin it on him, but Sonny said, even though Turner wanted to put him away, she didn’t railroad him. She thought turning over the evidence against him was too much for Natalia and they were both responsible for her death. Jason said Turner felt guilty. What about him? Sonny said Natalia thought they had a romantic thing, and he was going with her to Belize. When he told her that wasn’t the case, it was the last straw. Jason said, Sonny still tried to help her. He wasn’t responsible. Sonny said he still wished it had been different.

Molly said, what secret? and Kristina said, no matter how hard Cody tried to hide it, he was a sweet guy. He came over to see how her recovery was going, and he’d been helpful the night of the fire. Molly said it was sweet, and he’d kept their mom from freaking out. Cody said he was going to leave while he was ahead, but Molly said, hold up. Where was he going dressed all fancy? Did he have more legal trouble? He said he was going to a showing at the Jerome Gallery, and Molly said she didn’t think it was his vibe. He said it wasn’t, but he’d helped hang the pictures and the photographs of the baby animals were amazing. He left, and Molly asked what was wrong with Kristina. The one time badmouthing Ava would be helpful, she kept her mouth shut.

Kristina said everyone told her to stop it, but Molly said, not with Cody. She saw him and Ava hanging out by the pool and Ava was like a creepy spider luring him to her web. Kristina asked if Ava was interested, and Molly said, it seemed like it. Ava was supposed to be with her dad. Ava would chew Cody up and spit him out. He’d come to her rescue, and she considered him a sort of friend. Kristina asked if Cody was a sort of friend or did Molly want it to be more.

Cody arrived at the gallery and Trina said she’d check on the caterers. Ava said Cody cleaned up nicely, but he was way early, and he said he wanted a private minute to apologize again for crossing the line. She said, bygones, and he made up for it with the excellent job. He said they made a great team.  

Curtis said Jordan hadn’t crossed any lines, and Jordan said it needed to stay that way. She didn’t want to be responsible for his marriage falling apart, directly or indirectly. Their lives would intersect professionally and with family, but it was best if they didn’t see each other. He said he hated this, but she was right. He’d allowed himself to lean on her in ways they hadn’t been fair to her or Portia. He thanked her and said she was a class act and an amazing woman. She told him, good luck with Jacinda. She was rooting for him to take down Drew. She left.  

Elizabeth asked how Marco was, and Lucas said Marco insisted he was all right, but he and Natalia hadn’t been close and it complicated things, making them worse. Marco had been wondering, if he could have saved Natalia if he hadn’t stopped to rescue Kristina. Elizabeth said they’d never know, but it was possible if Marco hadn’t stopped, both his mom and Kristina would be dead. Lucas said Marco did a heroic thing and he hoped certain people saw that and appreciated it too.

Sonny said, even though there was no evidence, he was going to pull out of Deception, and Jason asked if Sonny wanted him to call Diane. Sonny said his main priority was Sidwell. The fire couldn’t go unanswered. Jason asked what he wanted to do, and Sonny said, send a message. Come after my child and your child will pay.

Lucas asked how it went with Ric, and Elizabeth said he was going to the gallery show and suggested they go together. Lucas said Ric was seeing Ava yet asked her to go. He was the messiest man in the world. She said she made it clear they were just friends, and she thought she got through. Lucas said she’d been upfront and clear about her boundaries, and it was up to Ric to accept that. She said it was the first test, and Lucas said he hoped Ric passed or he would answer to Aunt Ava.

Ric brought Ava flowers, and Trina went to put them in water. Ric gave Ava a card, and she took a check out of the envelope. She said it was a lot of zeros and asked what it was for. He said he’d spoken to Alexis, and she released extra funds to use for the gallery. He wanted to remind her that they were in this together and hoped she forgave him. She said she appreciated a man who knew how to apologize, as Cody watched.

Molly asked Kristina why everyone thought she was interested in Cody. Mac had been matchmaking, but they had nothing in common. Kristina said, so she was definitely not interested, and Molly said she just didn’t want Ava to eat him alive and wondered how they’d gotten involved in the first place.  

Felicia told Curtis that when her P.I. went to pick up Jacinda, she was gone and her place had been cleared out. She was guessing Jacinda got cold feet, but Curtis said, no. Drew somehow got to her. He wondered how the hell Drew knew what he was up to, as Kai listened outside the door.

Drew told Willow that he was sorry, but she said it was Michael’s fault. He said he couldn’t wait to marry her, and she said her only regret was that it seemed like she was marrying him to get her kids back. She wanted them back, but hoped he knew she loved him. He said he loved her too, and they kissed.

Sasha said something was off and she needed to protect Daisy, and Michael asked if that meant uprooting her life. she said, yes. Daisy was her number one priority. She’d already lost one child and wasn’t going through that again. It might seem crazy or extreme, but she needed to protect Daisy even if it meant leaving Port Charles and going into hiding on their own. Michael said he couldn’t let her do that.  

Jason told Sonny that he’d made arrangements for Marco. Say the word, and the plan went live. There was a knock at the door, and Sonny opened it to Carly. He asked what brought her by, and she said she was there to stop another one of their children from being killed.

Thursday:

Ava introduced friend and inspiration Joel Sartore and his new book, Photo Ark Babies. She said that the animals were fragile, magical, and in need of our attention.  

Boyle met Drew at the pool and said he had everything Drew needed to land a public hit on Sonny Corinthos and his good friend the mayor.

At the hospital, Martin told Laura that his physical therapist was a miracle worker, but things would have been different if he hadn’t gotten treatment. Laura asked, why? Was he in some kind of trouble?

Lucas gave Marco Natalia’s personal items, and Marco said the investigation was over. Lucas said he was so sorry, and Marco said he didn’t care what the investigation said. His mother wasn’t responsible for her own death. Sonny was.

Carly said if Sonny went after Marco, Sidwell would have no choice but to strike back, and it would be back and forth until everyone was dead. sonny told her to stay out of it, but she said, not when their children’s lives were on the line.  

Sasha said she didn’t want to fight with Michael, but couldn’t compromise their daughter’s safety. Michael said he meant he couldn’t let her leave alone.

Stella told Portia that she had too much work to go to the exhibit opening, and Portia said Trina would understand. Stella asked if Portia was meeting Curtis, but Portia said he hadn’t shared his schedule with her.

Felicia told Curtis that her P.I. went to pick up Jacinda, but she was gone, and her place was completely cleared out. She was guessing Jacinda got cold feet, but Curtis said, somehow, Drew got to her. He didn’t know how the hell Drew knew what he was up to. Kai knocked at the door and asked for a minute, and Felicia said she was sorry she couldn’t do more. She left, and Curtis asked how much Kai heard. Kai said he heard Curtis couldn’t find Jacinda and he wanted to tell Curtis that he was the one who warned Drew.

Joel thanked everyone and said the new book was a prequel to the main Photo Ark book. He passed out prints, and his wife told Trina that she and Ava had done an amazing job. Trina said, after seeing the photos, she’d never be the same.

Ric said Ava outdid herself. She knew her stuff. Cody watched them, then approached Elizabeth. He told her that he helped hang the photos and knew where the baby sloths were. They walked off together, and Ric frowned.

Martin blamed Tracy for his fall, and Laura said she got it, but if he chose to go to war with Tracy, no one would win.

Sasha said Port Charles was Wiley and Amelia’s home, and Michael couldn’t leave, but she and Daisy could. She and Michael could think of a place together. He said he needed to know that wherever they went, they got there safely. She couldn’t leave without protection. She asked if he was going to hire a bodyguard, but he said he had something much better.

Carly said she knew how the game worked. Sonny could either call for a cease fire or escalate things. If he escalated things, he put everyone they loved in danger. Michael called Jason and asked Jason to meet him at the pool house. Jason left, and Carly told Sonny to admit it. When he heard it was Michael, his heart stopped.

Stella asked if Portia and Curtis were good, and Portia said they were going through a rough patch. Stella said that’s why they needed to remember what they meant to each other and how hard they’d fought to get where they were.

Curtis said, Kai overheard a conversation between him and his wife at their house and took it to Drew. How could Kai betray his privacy? Kai asked how he couldn’t. Curtis wasn’t going to expose a crime. He was going to lie and destroy Drew’s reputation. It wouldn’t just hurt Drew, but it would hurt Drew’s daughter and Willow. Drew had a right to know. Curtis said Kai was meddling in affairs he didn’t understand. Nothing was as simple as he thought. Drew came in and asked if there was a problem, and Kai said he told Curtis what he’d done. Curtis said Kai had no idea who Drew really was or what he was capable of, but he did. Kai said he was sorry, but did what he thought was right. Curtis said Kai didn’t have to explain to him, but he would have to explain it to Trina.

Cody spilled wine on Elizabeth, and Ric rushed over with his handkerchief.

Martin said he couldn’t let Tracy get away with what she’d done, and Laura said he had a right to be angry, but pursuing a feud wouldn’t end happily for anyone. Her best advice was to let Tracy do Tracy and he should focus on his recovery. Martin said he’d try, when Stella joined him. He said if it hadn’t been for her expertise… Stella asked if she could speak to him in private.

Boyle gave Marco his condolences and said he’d do everything to see that Sonny Corinthos and everyone who enabled him was made to pay for the tragedy. A bunch of reporters appeared and asked if Sonny killed Marco’s mother. Was it true she and Sonny were more than friends? Had she laundered money for the Corinthos organization?

Kai was late to the gallery, and Trina texted him. Ava mumbled that Ric couldn’t keep his hands off Elizabeth, and told Trina to let her know how it went. Trina stepped away, and Cody told Ava that he was hearing the show was a huge success. Ava said there was someone she’d like him to meet.

Trina thanked Josslyn and Gio for coming, and they talked about the photos. Josslyn asked, where’s Kai? but Trina said she didn’t know. He was supposed to be there. She was guessing that Drew kept him late.

Kai said he was sorry it turned out like this, and Curtis said so was he. Kai left, and Curtis asked if Drew was proud of himself. Drew said he was proud of Kai, and Curtis said he’d manipulated Kai into spying for him. Drew said Kai had overheard what Curtis was up to and chose to bring the information to his intended victim. Curtis said Drew was no one’s victim, but Drew said he didn’t hire Jacinda; Curtis’s wife had. She’d set him up and drugged him, which was a felony. Curtis conspired to bring her back to make a false statement, which was also a crime. How was he the bad guy here?

Sonny said he’d do what he needed to do and nothing Carly said would change that. She said Kristina would be dead if not for Marco. Was this how Sonny repaid him? He said it wasn’t about Marco. It was about Sidwell. Sidwell had nearly got Kristina killed. He’d torched Charlie’s and had to face the consequences. Otherwise, their kids were in even more danger than they were now. Carly said it was a trap. He’d have to find another way to get Sidwell to stand down. If he couldn’t do it for the kids, do it for Morgan. They couldn’t lose another kid. Morgan had died, Michael had been shot and almost burned alive, and Kristina had been held hostage and almost killed. When they found out Morgan was gone, she would have given anything to turn back to a time when they could have done something different. Sonny said him too, and she said, now is that time. He had to stop the violence before they lost someone else they loved.

Michael said Sasha and Daisy were leaving Port Charles, and Jason asked, why? Michael said Daisy had disappeared. They’d found her in her bassinet, and she was fine, but they didn’t know how she got there. Sasha said Olivia thought she was sleep deprived or hormonal, but someone had broken in and moved Daisy to make her think Daisy was gone. Michael said it could be about anyone, and Sasha said she wasn’t sticking around to find out. Jason asked if Michael was good with this, and Michael said Sasha was right. They weren’t safe here. Jason asked where Sasha wanted to go.

Gio listened in. and Sidwell told Jordan to ask Anna to send a detective to the airport. The night Natalia died, Sonny’s private plane was ready to go on a flight to Belize. Natalia was going to take it and never be heard from again. Perhaps she took her life because she didn’t want to face what Sonny had planned.

Boyle said the people of Port Charles deserved to be safe. Not just from mob violence, like the fire at the club owned by Sonny’s daughter. They needed protection from the coercion of the criminal element that led to Natalia’s death. He asked if Marco had a comment, and Marco said his mother’s death was tragic and those responsible would be held accountable. Laura walked in and Boyle asked if she’d join him in condemning Sonny Corinthos, who was responsible for hounding Natalia to her death.

Curtis said he knew who Drew was, even if Kai didn’t, and Drew said he had proof that Portia abused her position and falsified medical records.  Curtis said Drew would never let that leak and give up his leverage, and Drew asked if Curtis wanted to call his bluff. His first stop would be the hospital, then the PCPD. Curtis needed to do one simple thing or Drew would do that.

Emma told Josslyn that it broke her heart how animals were tested in a lab rather than being out in the wild, and Josslyn said she hadn’t found out anything yet. Dalton hadn’t even let her in the lab. Emma told her to find a way in. Dalton was up to something. Josslyn said she wouldn’t talk to Emma about her job, but Emma said she was just telling Josslyn goodnight. She was leaving to meet Vaughn. Josslyn told her to have fun, and Emma said they both would, and left.

Ric said he could drive Elizabeth home to change, but she said it wasn’t necessary. She gave him back his handkerchief, and Ava asked to speak with Ric privately.

Martin said he couldn’t thank Stella enough for getting his insurance reinstated. Desperation and pain were bad combination, but thanks to her, he was a new man. He intended on writing a letter… She told him to be quiet or they’d both be in serious trouble.

Laura said the investigation into Natalia’s death was officially closed and asked the press to give the family the room they needed to grieve. She’d meet Boyle in a debate, but wasn’t sinking into the mud with him. Boyle asked if Marco knew that Sonny had been held at the PCPD for 24 hours. The police were going to charge him with Natalia’s murder until he was mysteriously let go. Marco said he wanted justice and would release a statement. It was a private matter and Boyle was intending on exploiting his mother’s death. It was an act of manipulation and Marco gave him no support. If Boyle kept harassing him, he’d take legal action against him.  

Gio showed up at Sonny’s and said he needed to talk. Carly told Sonny that she’d said what she needed to say. Please think about it. She left and Sonny asked what was on Gio’s mind. Gio said he came from Ava’s gallery and Sidwell was there. He overheard Sidwell talking about Sonny. He’d said Sonny’s plane was scheduled to fly to Belize on the day Natalia died and he wanted the PCPD to get the flight plan. He wanted them to reopen the investigation. Sonny told him, stay out of it.

Jason said when they got where they were going, he’d secure the location, and get Sasha and Daisy settled in. Sasha thanked Michael for helping and trusting her. She was worried he might be humoring her. Michael said she made the right decision, when Daisy started fussing. Michael picked her up and said he thought she was hungry. Sasha said she’d take Daisy to the house to feed her. Daisy would be sleeping in her room every night until departed. She left and Michael told Jason that he didn’t know how to do this.

Michael told Jason that he loved Daisy so much and now he was going to lose her. He had no idea when he’d see her again. He wouldn’t be there for her first steps or her first words, and his wouldn’t be the face she recognized, but he couldn’t fight Sasha on this. Jason said she had good instincts. For what it was worth (🍷), he’d been in Michael’s position. He’d had to walk away from Danny and Jake more than once. It never got easier, but Michael’s situation was different. None of this was his fault.

Josslyn met Carly at the pool and said she’d gotten Carly’s message. Carly said she was fine. She just wanted to see Josslyn and tell her how much she loved her. They hugged, and Josslyn said she loved Carly too, but she was worried. Did something happen?

Ric said he showed Elizabeth some attention, and Ava threw herself at the hired hand. Ava said they’d been talking about the show, but Ric said she was flirting. She said she was surprised he noticed. He was putty in Elizabeth’s hands when she wanted something and dirt under her feet when she didn’t, but he was too smitten to realize.

Drew told Curtis that he wanted one thing. A front-page exposé on Sonny Corinthos and Natalia Ramirez. Curtis said it sounded like an Invader headline, and Drew said, underneath that headline would be an accurate report that Sonny was held for 24 hours and questioned about Natalia’s death. He also wanted Curtis to publish a timeline on Sonny and Natalia’s relationship. He handed Curtis an envelope and said he wanted Curtis to include a copy of the autopsy report. Curtis asked where he got it, and Drew said, an anonymous source, but Curtis said he needed more than that. Drew said Curtis had more than enough to go to print. It was a small price to pay for his wife’s freedom.  

Jordan told Portia that she came in peace to clear the air. She’d had a conversation with Curtis and told him that she didn’t want to risk blurring the lines. From now on, they’d only see each other on family occasions and when they couldn’t avoid it. She wanted Portia to know that she wasn’t a woman who stuck her nose in other people’s marriages. Whatever happened with Portia and Curtis, she was out. Portia said Curtis must have eaten Jordan’s speech up with a spoon, but she wasn’t buying a word.

Gio said he was sorry. He thought Sonny should know. Sonny said he appreciated Gio coming over, but didn’t want him to go near Sidwell, who was a dangerous man. He didn’t want Gio to be near him either. He didn’t agree with most of what Tracy said, but she was right when she told Gio to stay clear of him. When she’d tried to get Gio not to sign the papers for the trust fund, she was trying to do the right thing. Gio said she was trying to control him, but Sonny said she was trying to save him. When he was a young guy, he made mistakes and thought he’d be the only one to suffer. Then he realized the people he cared about could get hurt, but it was too late. Gio said, for what? and Sonny said, to get out, to change things. So now, all he could do was protect his family. Gio said Sonny was his family too. Didn’t he get to protect Sonny? Sonny said what he wanted Gio to do was not listen in on Sidwell or anyone else. Stay clear.

Marco said he knew about Boyle and wasn’t surprised he’d stoop so low, and Laura said she was relieved Marco saw Boyle for who he was. She wished his father would do the same. Marco said he disagreed with his father on many things, but make no mistake. He held Sonny responsible for his mother’s death and Laura considered him a friend. Shame on her.

Ric said Ava was coming off as ungrateful and he’d been good to her through his misfortune. She said he wouldn’t have known Kristina was responsible for his misfortune if not for her. Without her, he was a lawyer with a schoolboy crush, He said he was going to go before they said something they’d regret. He left and we saw Cody had been listening in.

Stella said if Martin had taken care of his back issue in the past, insurance would have considered it a preexisting condition. She was seeing it more and more, patients being turned down to care they were entitled to. Martin said he wanted people to know how well she took care of him, but she said she just filled out some paperwork, a request to get him the assistance he needed. He said he wanted her to know, if it did get out, he’d do everything and anything to defend her, and she told him to take care of himself. She thought it was better for them both if no one knew how she may or may not have finessed the system.

Trina was alone at the gallery when Kai arrived.

Laura told Marco that she and Sonny shared a grandchild. That made him family, but didn’t mean she agreed with everything he did. Marco said Laura was the mayor and took an oath to uphold the law, and she said she did. Right now, Marco’s emotions were holding Sonny accountable, but from a from legal point of view, it was different story. He said, what about ethically and morally? and she said they all had to follow the dictates of their conscience. She was truly sorry and wished him and his family peace. She left, and Marco told Lucas that Boyle was an ass. He wasn’t going to let Boyle use him, but he did blame Sonny for his mother’s death and didn’t want it to come between them. Lucas said Sonny’s actions were his own and had nothing to do with them, and Marco said, good. Sonny had already cost him his mother, and he didn’t want to lose Lucas. Lucas said he wouldn’t. He wasn’t going anywhere,

On the phone, Curtis said he wanted a full media blast on their website and social media. Did Sonny Corinthos end Natalia Ramirez?  

Sonny said Gio needed to stay away until things cooled down, but Gio said Sonny stood by him and he wanted to stand by Sonny. Sonny said the worst that could happen was Gio getting hurt because of him. Do it for his grandpa. Gio said if that’s what Sonny wanted, and Sonny said it was… for now. They hugged and Gio sniffled.  

Carly told Josslyn that she’d had a conversation with Sonny about Kristina and what happened at Charlie’s. He could have lost a daughter, and she wanted to tell hers that she loved her. She would never ask Josslyn to live her life small, but Josslyn was precious to her. So while she was living her big, beautiful life, be careful. Josslyn said, for her, and they hugged.

Jason told Michael that his working for Sonny was intolerable for Sam. She’d had the right to protect Danny, but Michael didn’t deserve to lose his daughter. He was sorry, but unfortunately, it was the right thing to do. Michael said he’d promised Sasha that as much as he loved his dad, he wouldn’t be that kind of father. He promised that nothing like the fire would ever happen to his kids, but he never thought he’d have to make good on his promise so soon.

🫔 Friday’s Enchilada…

Anna walks into the Brown Dog Bar and approaches Isaiah at the bar. She wonders if she can ask him a favor. She’s waiting for Felicia and noticed her granddaughter is here with a man at least ten years her senior. Isaiah asks if she’s concerned, but she says she doesn’t know if she is or not, but she’s definitely intrigued. She’s wondering if he’d mind being her cover.

Trina thanks Kai for hanging around and says she has to clean up a couple of things. Then they can head to the afterparty. She can’t believe he missed Joel Sartore. He was talking about why he does what he does, and it was so inspirational. Where was he? Kai said, something important came up with Trina’s dad.

Portia tells Curtis, it was no surprise Trina put on a wonderful show. Joel Sartore’s photographs were absolutely wonderful. Curtis says he sent Trina congratulatory flowers, and Portia says she’s sure Trina loved them, but she thought for sure he’d make it there before she did. Trina looked for him all night. He says, unfortunately, he was here being blackmailed by Drew again.

Lulu thanks Laura for coming by, and Laura asks, what’s going on? Lulu says, Brook is mad, and Laura asks, about what? Lulu says, about what Brook thinks she did to Gio. Now Brook is going after Rocco. Laura asks what she means, and Lulu says she means now she has Brook to thank for Rocco knowing about Britt Westbourne.

Rocco searches for something on Spyder-Finder.

Chase comes out of the water by the boathouse, and Tracy says, just the man she wants to see. He asks if everything is okay, and she tells him that his stroke is off, and his breathing is too soon in the cycle of the surf. He says he’ll keep it in mind, and she asks if he’s seen Brook. He says, not yet. He was working all night and then came here. Is everything okay? She says, no. She thinks his wife is barreling headlong into disaster and he needs to stop her.

Michael walks into the living room and sees Brook. He says he’s sorry. He didn’t realize anyone was in here. Is she okay? Brook says she’s fine. The room is all his. She starts to leave, but he says, wait. What’s going on? He doesn’t mean to pressure her about anything, but he’s happy to listen. She says she thought things were bad enough when Gio discovered she’d given him up. Now her son truly hates her. Honestly, she doesn’t know if it can get any worse. Dante walks in and asks why the hell she did that to his son.

Laura says, Britt Westbourne has been dead for years. What could Brook possibly say about her that’s relevant today? Lulu says, everything. Rocco knew none of it. She and Dante never told him the story of how he came to be. Or more accurately, they had no chance to tell him. Laura asks why Brook took it upon herself to tell Rocco anything about Britt, and Lulu says, to hurt her. Laura hugs her and says she’s so sorry, and Lulu says, God forbid he find out from his parents who can explain it in a way he could understand. Brook set it up for him to find out in the worst way. All because she wanted to cause maximum damage.

Chase says, with all due respect, he doesn’t think he and Tracy should discuss Brook behind her back. If she’s concerned about her granddaughter, take it up with her. Tracy says, if only it were that easy to rein Brook in. Clearly, he still has no idea what he’s dealing with.

Brook asks what Dante is referring to, but he says, don’t. Not after what she did. Michael asks, what’s going on? and Dante says he knew Brook could be destructive, but being this cruel to his kid is a new low. Michael suggests he step back. He doesn’t appreciate Dante talking to Brook that way. Dante says Michael wants to defend this person who dug up sensitive, ancient history about Britt Westbourne, the woman who stole an embryo belonging to him and Lulu. She planted it in herself and gave birth to Rocco, passing him off as her own. Michael says he knows it was awful, but what does that have to do with what’s happening now? Dante says, ask Brook. She made a file about that horrible woman and left it where Rocco or anyone else could find it. He asks Brook to tell him that he’s wrong. Please. Go ahead.

Isaiah says he’s in. He’ll absolutely cover for Anna. Anna thanks him, and at a table nearby, Vaughn suggests he and Emma get out of here and find a quieter place to talk. This bar isn’t really his scene. Emma says she knows a cool place closer to campus, and he says, sounds great. They get up and head for the door, but Anna intercepts them and asks who Emma’s friend is.

Curtis tells Portia, arrangements were in place to bring Jacinda back to Port Charles, but when the P.I. got there, she was gone. Portia says, she ran? Why? Curtis says, she didn’t run. Drew paid her to disappear. She asks how he knows, and he says, Drew told him. She says she doesn’t understand, and he says he didn’t either, but then Kai showed up and said he was the one who told Drew about the plan. She asks why he’d do something like that… Oh no. Trina. Does Trina know? He says he’s not sure, but he’s sure as hell going to make sure she does, and Portia says, this is very bad. Trina cares for Kai. Curtis says he knows, and Portia says, who knows how she’ll react when she finds out Kai betrayed them? but Curtis says, if he were Portia, he’d be more worried about Drew. Once again, Drew has them where he wants them. She says, all because of her.

Kai tells Trina that the reason he missed the opening was because he went to her dad’s office to talk to him and caught the tail end of Curtis’s conversation with Felicia. Trina says, Felicia works with her mother at the hospital, but he says, they weren’t talking about the hospital. They were talking about that Jacinda woman Curtis was trying to find. She says, the escort? Maybe they should change subject for a lot of reasons. He says she wishes he could for a lot of reasons, but he can’t. Jacinda is gone again. Drew arranged for her to disappear. Trina says she doesn’t know why they’re discussing it when it has nothing to do with them, but he says, it does. The reason Drew knew was that he told Drew what her dad was planning.

Anna asks to be introduced to Emma’s friend, but Emma said they were just heading out. Anna says she’ll buy them a drink. She insists. They sit back down, when Anna’s phone dings. She says, Felicia can’t make it, so she thinks it worked out perfectly. She has more time to get to know… Name? He says, Vaughn, and Anna shakes his hand. She says, nice to meet him. She’s the Police Commissioner. How does he know Emma? He says, from PCU, and she asks if he’s a student there. He says he works in the facility department, and Anna says, oh. Did he attend the university many years ago? Vaughn laughs and says he’s so sorry. He has to use the men’s room. Excuse him. He leaves and Emma asks if Anna is planning on fingerprinting him, but Anna says she hasn’t decided. Does Emma realize he’s at least ten years older than she is? She has questions. Emma asks if Anna never dated an older guy, but Anna says they’re not talking about her. Emma says, come on. He’s hot. And she’s an adult. She can date who she wants. Anna says she broke into the lab at her last university. He works in facility at PCU. Is he aware that she’s using him?

Dante says Brook went looking for information on Britt because she wanted to hurt Lulu, and Brook says, yes, but she didn’t tell Rocco, and she didn’t leave it out. It was one the table under Deception materials. No one was supposed to find it. He says, yet somehow, they did, but she says, they weren’t meant to. It was an accident. Dante says she left a file out containing private information about his son in the house his son lives in. It was like leaving out a loaded weapon. She wanted him to find it. Maybe she planned it – he doesn’t know – but she did it to hurt Lulu, and it’s got to stop. He gets that Lulu upset Gio who thinks Brook gave him up without a second thought, but she can’t blame Lulu. That’s all her. Michael says, that’s enough.

Chase says he doesn’t need Tracy telling him anything about his wife, and she says, how about if she tells him about her and Brook. They’re a lot alike. He says he’s aware of the traits they have in common, and she says, of course (🍷), but she suspects he sees Brook through rose colored glasses. He says he supposes he’s biased when it comes to his wife, and she says, he’s supposed to be. When someone intentionally hurts them, they don’t take it lying down. She’s blown up her own life more than once seeking revenge and she doesn’t want Brook to follow in her footsteps. Chase asks who Tracy thinks Brook is going after, and she says, Brook holds Lulu responsible for what’s happening with Gio and there’s no doubt in her mind that Brook is going after Lulu. Does he think Brook’s justified?

Laura says, that’s just awful, and asks how Rocco is handling it. Lulu says, he’s confused and asking questions. She’s at a loss and thinks he’s overwhelmed. Brook’s main goal was to cause chaos. Laura suggests they focus on Rocco. What he needs right now is understanding. Lulu says she’s his mother and Rocco is her and Dante’s biological son. Britt gave birth to him, but she and Dante are the only parents he’s known. Laura says, and the only parents who have loved him, and Lulu says she knows that. Why does it feel like Rocco is pulling away? Laura says, because at Rocco’s age, information like this can change everything.  

Trina asks if Kai is saying that after they talked, he went and told Drew – her father’s enemy – what her father was planning? He says, yes, and she asks how he could do that. He says, how could he not?  

Curtis says he’s not going to let Drew take Portia down. He’ll do what he has to in order to stop him. Portia says, it’s a beautiful gesture, but he’s not doing it for her. He’s doing it for Trina. She appreciates his moral code and him not letting her hang out to dry, but she wishes he wanted to protect her because she’s his wife. He says, fine. She did cause this and he’s not saving her for her, but for Trina and himself. He wants to be able to look in the mirror and know he honored his vows and did what he could to protect her. She says she’s sorry she’s not worthy of his honorable intentions. She’s sure Jordan is, right? …Yeah. Don’t wait up. She leaves.

Laura says, it’s really painful when you feel your children pulling away, but she thinks it’s inevitable. When a kid finds out their parents have a complicated history, it can’t be easy to explain. Lulu says, a complicated past is the Spencer way, and Laura says, it really is. It can be painful for a child to find out their parents existed in ways they knew nothing about. It can affect how they feel about themselves and how they relate to their parents, but she’s found out over the years that none of it outweighs a strong foundation of love. Lulu asks if she thinks it will pass, and Laura says she does. She thinks going forward, Rocco may look through life with a different lens and he may have questions, but Rocco knows how much they love him. That’s because Lulu is a wonderful mother. Her love has never wavered. Lulu puts her head on Laura’s shoulder, and Laura says, it’s gonna be okay.

Michael says, Dante needs to back off. He has no idea what it cost Brook to give up Gio and has no right to judge. Dante says, he’s right. He doesn’t know what Brook went through. Brook says she appreciates everything Michael said, but she thinks it’s something she and Dante have to work out for themselves. Michael asks if she’s sure, and she says she is and thanks him. Michael leaves, and Brook says, it’s just them, so let her have it – again.

Rocco goes outside, and Laura says, nice to see him. He says, her too, and she says she hears it’s been a rough couple of days.

Chase says, Lulu crossed the line. Tracy knows that. Tracy says, letting Gio find out his parentage at the Nurses Ball wasn’t Lulu’s finest hour, and he says, neither was the harassment, bullying, and threats that led up to it. Although it needed to come out for everyone’s sake, including Brook’s. She says, they’re in complete agreement so far, and he says, now they’re going in different directions. He also believes had it been handled delicately, Brook could have built a relationship with her son instead of praying every night that he’ll forgive her someday. She says, he will. He just needs time. Chase says he’s not so sure. Lulu was relentless and did it in the worst way possible. She asks if he agrees in helping punish Lulu.  

Kai says he heard Trina’s dad plotting against Drew. He said he was going to pay Jacinda to lie and say Drew took the ketamine on purpose. He was standing next to Drew when Tracy flipped the press conference and called out Drew for drug use and said he should be kicked out of office. He knew the truth about what happened. Trina knows Drew has been good to him with the surgery and the internship, but even if he hadn’t done those things, he couldn’t let Drew be accused of something he didn’t do. That’s not who he is. He doesn’t live his life that way. Trina says she seriously respects his sense of loyalty. She just wishes it extended to her.

Michael goes to see Curtis and says he got Curtis’s text. It sounded important. Curtis says, it is. He thought he should give Michael and his family advance warning. Michael says, that doesn’t sound good, and Curtis says, in about an hour, the headline will be the same throughout all Aurora Media platforms and he thought Michael should hear it. Did Sonny Corinthos End Natalia Ramirez? He shows Michael the copy.

At the Brown Dog Bar, Portia asks Isaiah if this seat is taken, and he says, it was, but he believes his companion has moved on. She says she knows how that feels, and he says, long day? She says, they all feel long nowadays. She ran into Jordan who’s trying to steal her husband. She’d be lying if she didn’t say Jordan is right about one thing. If her marriage is ending, she has no one to blame but herself.

Vaughn returns and says he’s sorry. There was a line. Anna says, in the men’s room? and he says, yeah. Emma asks if Vaughn still wants to get out of here, and Anna says don’t let her scare him off. They were just getting acquainted. Josslyn comes in and tells Vaughn, okay. He wins.

Vaughn asks what Josslyn is doing here, and Emma says she can answer that. She told Josslyn they were going out. She can’t explain Josslyn showing up at the Brown Dog though. Is she stalking them? Josslyn says, hardly. She still has Vaughn’s location on her phone. Emma says, yikes. Sharing her location with a guy she just met. Pretty thirsty. Josslyn says, yikes. Snatching up the guy she just broke up with. Pretty desperate. Anna says, okay, ladies. Let’s not resort to stereotypical female behavior in the Brown Dog. Josslyn says, right, and Emma says, Josslyn is here, so make her point. Josslyn says she made it. If she walks out, she and Vaughn are done. It’s either her or Emma.

Rocco tells Laura that the hardest part is, no matter what his mom says, he keeps thinking he might never have been born if Britt hadn’t stolen the embryo that was him. She asks why he keeps thinking that, and he says he feels like his parents didn’t choose to have him. Lulu listens in, and Rocco says he was stolen, and suddenly, whether they wanted him or not, they were parents. Laura says she assures him there was nothing sudden about it. They wanted him. They were desperate to have him. They fought for him and prayed for him and when he showed up, it was nothing short of a miracle. He says, no one has called him a miracle before, but she promises they did, many times. The thing about miracles is, they never happen the way you expect them to. Actually, Rocco knows something about this. All the afternoons he sat at his mother’s hospital bed, holding his mother’s hand, and praying for her to come out of the coma. She came back one day and he got his miracle. It wasn’t the way they expected and certainly not in an easy way, but they’re still grateful, aren’t they? Rocco says he’s always grateful for Sam, and she says, always. She knows it’s a confusing time and knows he’s been left with a lot of questions. That’s perfectly understandable, but one thing he never has to question is his parents’ love for him. That is something he can depend on for the rest of his life.  

Dante tells Brook that what he said about her giving up Gio was out of line. He owns that, but he feels she was out of line too. He knows how much she despises Lulu – Brook says, Lulu feels the same about her too – but to involve his son, who’s now questioning what he’s known… Brook says it was never her intention, and he says he knows, but it doesn’t matter. At the end, it was the same result. She says she wanted to hurt Lulu and Rocco got caught in the crossfire. She regrets it, truly she does. It might be the worst thing she’s ever done.  

Chase tells Tracy that it wasn’t fair, but there was no grand payback scheme or plot for revenge, and she says, Brook is smart and motivated. Lulu made mistakes, and Brook homed in on the worst one, then exploited it. He says, for what it’s worth (🍷), he doesn’t like her talking about his wife like that, but she says, it’s true also that Brook loves him and respects him and wants to be the best version of herself for him. That’s why she thinks he’s the only one who can stop her. He says he doesn’t police his wife or tell her what to do, and she says, no good can come of these two women destroying each other. She loves them both so much. He asks what she wants him to do, and she says she wants him to see if he can stop this from devolving any further. They’ll just end up hurting each other and themselves.

Trina says she gave Kai a heads up that Drew was working against them, but it didn’t matter. His loyalty starts and stops with Drew. Kai says, that’s not true, and she asks if he’s sure. That’s not what it feels like. He asks if she’s saying she doesn’t trust him anymore, and she says, why should she? They agreed to stay out of it, and he’d told her that he wouldn’t say anything, then he did the complete opposite. So tell her, why she should trust him when he betrayed her family and her?

Michael says he takes it that Drew insisted, and Curtis says, correct. He was on the verge of outmaneuvering Drew and getting his family out from under Drew’s thumb when the weasel got out ahead of him. Michael says, he’s not alone. He told Curtis to stop Drew from taking his family down. Curtis says he’s not sure he has any moves left, and Michael says, professional or personal? Curtis says, maybe both. He’s not sure he and Portia have what it takes to make it through this.

Laura says she knows Rocco’s parents are upset. They wanted to be the ones to tell him and didn’t want him to be blindsided. When he talks to them, please try to remember what they talked about. Promise her to remember he is their miracle and always will be. He says he promises and thanks her. She says, one more thing. He’s allowed to ask questions. Ask all of them and keep asking until he gets answers that feel satisfying. That’s important. This is his life. They hug, and he says, she always gets it. She says she tries.

Brook tells Dante that she told herself that Lulu needed a taste of her own medicine, so she’d know how it felt to have someone digging around in her past without her knowledge or consent. He says, she used his son, but she says she never meant for Rocco to see it. Dante says, but he did, and she says she knows. She gets sick to her stomach when she thinks about it. Rocco is hurting and probably questioning everything and it’s all her fault. Now she has to live with that. She’s so, so sorry. He says he appreciates that, and she says, if it makes him feel better, Gio thinks she did it on purpose and hates her more because she hurt his little brother. She can’t tell him that he shouldn’t. Dante says it doesn’t make him feel better. He knows she’s sorry and believes her, but unfortunately, there’s not a way to fix the way Rocco and Gio are feeling. She says she knows. The silver lining is, now that Gio thinks she’s the lowest of the low, maybe he’ll be more open to Dante.  

Vaughn tells Emma that he’s sorry. This is super awkward. Emma says, actually… Josslyn is kind of crazy, and he says he’s into it… and her. What can he say? Sorry. He’ll see Emma around. Emma says, see ya, and Vaughn steps away with Josslyn.   

Tracy tells Chase, don’t misunderstand. The way he sees Brook, the warmth and kindness, is real. But so is the viciousness and fight. He says, she’s not wrong, and she says it would be a tragedy to lose the beautiful part he amplifies. Convince Brook that the way forward isn’t revenge, but building a family with him and a relationship with her son.

Kai says, it wasn’t an easy decision. He cares about Trina and her family. She says he cares about Drew more, but he says, it’s not that. He can’t stand by and let something happen he knows is wrong. She says she told him that her parents and Drew’s situation was complicated. He didn’t have enough information to know what was wrong and decided her parents were the villains. He says he knows what he heard. Her father was going to pay Jacinda to lie about Drew. How can she expect him to sit back and let someone be destroyed for something they didn’t do? She wouldn’t want to be with him if he was a person who was okay with that. She says, right now, she’s not sure she wants to be with him at all.

Isaiah says, Portia is putting her time and effort into competing with Jordan and proving herself to Curtis. She shouldn’t have to do all that. She’s a fabulous doctor and a wonderful woman. If her husband can’t see that, maybe he’s the problem.  

Josslyn says Vaughn is welcome for the save. Did he think it would have worked? He says, probably not. He’s ditching the plan. It’s not worth it if Anna’s eyes are on him. Brennan wasn’t kidding. She’s sharp and she’s onto him. They have to sell this. He kisses her, and Anna tells Emma, they’re a bit intense. Emma says, Josslyn never misses a chance to embarrass herself. She’s got a gift. Anna says she’s sorry. She doesn’t know if Emma is just acting interested, but she thinks it’s better not to involve this guy. It will work out for the best. Emma says she thinks Anna is right, and looks at the master key hidden in her hand.

Isaiah tells Portia that he learned early on, if you play your own game, you have a better shot at winning. Maybe it’s time she played her own game and not Jordan’s. Portia says, the next round is on her, and tells the bartender, two, please.  

Michael says, don’t give up yet, and Curtis says he hopes he and Portia are stronger than Drew’s manipulations. For his family’s sake, he hopes they are. Michael says he meant what he said. Do what he has to in order to protect his family. Curtis thanks him, and Michael says he’s going to protect his and let his dad know about the headlines he’s about to see. He leaves.   

Kai says he thought Trina’s dad was wrong, so he did something about it. That doesn’t mean he’s disloyal to her. She says, that’s what it feels like, and he says, all he did was tell the truth, but she says, no. He made a choice and chose Drew. But one thing about her is that she’ll always choose her family, no matter what, and he will never be family to her. He flounders for a moment and says he loves her, but she says, get out. He leaves and she stumbles back, sitting on a bench.

Chase says, Tracy is right. Brook’s number one priority should be Gio. She missed out on so much time. Tracy says, good. They’re in agreement. He says he appreciates her concern about his marriage, but he loves Brook and he’s going to spend the rest of his life with her. He promises right here and now, there’s nothing Brook could do that will ever drive him away. Nothing.  

Dante says when Brook gave Gio up, she did it with the intention of doing right by their son. He knows she made that decision from a place of love. That’s where it all starts, right? A parent’s love. They absolutely want only the best for you. Gio needs to know that and feel it from both of them. She’s got to believe she’ll get the chance to show him that. She says she hopes so, and they hug.

Lulu thanks Laura so much for her help with Rocco. Laura really helped her too. Laura says, Lulu and Dante have a wonderful son. It may take a little time, but Rocco has such a good head on his shoulders and loves them both to pieces. It’s going to be fine. Have faith in that. Have faith in him.

Rocco emails Obrecht: Dear Doctor Obrecht, You may not know me, and I don’t remember meeting you, but I used to be your grandson.

On Monday, Brennan tells Josslyn if they’re going to do this she has to fully commit

🧼 All the Soap News Fit To Print…

Well, phooey. But cool she’s living her dream.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/general-hospital-casting-news-kirsten-storms-done-taping-as-maxie-for-the-year-moving-out-of-la/

Here’s hoping GH wins the big one.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/the-52nd-annual-daytime-emmy-awards-the-complete-list-of-soap-nominations/

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/stars-from-general-hospital-days-of-our-lives-and-more-react-to-their-daytime-emmy-nominations/

💉 A Dose Of Reality…

Below Deck

Captain Kerry said bosun Caio was just surviving and bid him ciao. In Caio’s interview, he said he was surprised, which explains why he got the boot. It was the crew night out and the only ones who made out were Jess and Solène, much to the delight and disappointment of the dudes. Except for Kyle, who felt stupid. I still wonder how the hell they get up for work the next day. I could barely do a desk job with a hangover when I worked in an office. The guests, who owned a strip club, wanted a dinner theme reminiscent of teen shows in the 90s, and because it was Carnivale in St. Maartin, Fraser decided to bring it to a party on the dock. The guests came in hot, and not in a good way. Fraser thought they were rude and classless, and predicted the cruise would be hell. It didn’t take long before the captain told the crew that the guests were becoming rowdy and to let him know if they crossed the line. Demand we can do. Rude and demeaning we cannot do. Maybe it’s me, but you’d think a group of people in the adult entertainment industry would act like adults. Instead, they were like a bunch of drunk kindergarteners. Unfortunately, Fraser’s Carnivale looked like it was about to be the Fyre Festival 2.0.

Next Gen NYC

The group took a trip to the Jersey Shore for Brooks’s birthday, and Charlie continued to be a d*ck, even though he admitted the Shore didn’t suck. Being fascinated with this group is my new guilty pleasure. Who else would get so excited over seeing mac and cheese at a grocery store hot bar?

The Valley

This show is making me weary, since I don’t think I could spend even five minutes with any one of these people. Jax was still clueless, complaining that he’d just gotten out of rehab and Brittany wasn’t giving him a chance. Apparently, he doesn’t understand what divorce papers are or that rage texting her pretty much the entire time was not a good look. He didn’t exactly show anyone that he’d changed. It was interesting to hear Zack calling anyone else messy, since he’s possibly the messiest of all. The group went on a cruise which started off copacetic, but quickly degenerated into a bunch of fights. One of the best moments was Jesse asking if production knew what camel toe was. Um… they work for Bravo.

Real Housewives Of Miami

Ugh. These women. I kind of like Stephanie, and not just because she has a private jet. I appreciated that she was the only one to call out Lisa for being two hours late. Although they were headed to a Greek-themed Narcissistic party, so perhaps it was on point. Seriously though, Lisa has a rep for being incredibly late, and like Stephanie, it’s my pet peeve. You might as well say your time is more valuable than everyone else’s.

Real Housewives of Orange County

Tamra and her screech are back. Shannon is off lemons and on to The Golden Door. The Dubrows have scrapped the idea of reconstructing the skabillion dollar house they bought and want to just move on. Emily and Katie are at odds, with Gina playing referee or pot stirrer. I haven’t decided which. And Jenn is still with Ryan.

Random Reality Items

Not her year. But if you’re making $250K a month, is spending $105K that unreasonable?

https://ew.com/denise-richards-husband-aaron-phypers-files-for-divorce-11767773

More sad news. I don’t think it’s going to go well for him on social media. Scheana is beloved by many.

Apparently, they’ve found more people who are 30+ who want to pretend they’re 14 on the weekends.

👀 Last Weekend’s Watch…

Trainwreck: The Cult of American Apparel. Netflix. I heard about CEO Dov Charney before, but watching him in action was stomach churning. It’s no surprise that when his disgusting machinations caught up with him and he was fired, Yeezy picked him up.

https://www.pressparty.com/pg/newsdesk/Netflix/view/465621/

What Jennifer Did. Netflix. Since this is a true crime doc, the spoilers aren’t really spoilers, and it was pretty apparent what the outcome was from the jump. Interesting info about AI in documentaries in this article. I hadn’t noticed, but then again, I’m usually multitasking.

https://www.slashfilm.com/1562704/true-story-netflix-what-jennifer-did-explained/

I’m Your Venus. Netflix. This was just sad, although the ending had some uplifting moments. Venus Xtravaganza (Paris is Burning) was a trans girl living her best life when that life was taken from her at 23 years old. Most of this was about her family’s battle to get to the bottom of her murder and also have her name legally changed. It was precious to see how much they loved her. Sadly, the case still remains open.

https://ew.com/venus-xtravaganza-documentary-new-details-murder-case-11759646

Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything. Hulu. Bette Midler probably said it best: She did her homework. The best interviewers are the ones who have actually studied their subject beforehand, and Barbara was one of the best. Like Martha Stewart, she was a woman in a man’s world and had to overcome a lot of hurdles. So many women in broadcasting have her to thank for paving the way. She might have been considered rude – again, like Martha – but if she’d been a man, she’d have been admired for her no-nonsense ability to get things done. I actually know someone who was a caterer at a dinner she attended, and he confirmed her rudeness, but it probably becomes second nature. Or she might have just been hangry.  

Sinners. HBO/Max. IMO, a horror masterpiece. One of the best things I’ve seen ever. I love a horror story that parallels the supernatural with real life horror, and like Lovecraft Country, this delivers. Twin brothers open a juke joint in 1932, and some uninvited guests arrive with the KKK not far behind. The story was unique, the special effects more than worthy, the character development was remarkable, the acting superb, and the music phenomenal. There’s a dance scene at the club that’s just incredible and absolutely transported me to another place and time. The film was also sexy without being overt or even showing any nudity. I’m hoping to see this sweep the Oscars and it should have a sporting chance, since the Academy is more apt to honor a horror film than it used to be. I can’t say enough good things about this movie. Just go watch it. Now.

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

And they went a sustainable route with costumes. Extra kudos!

https://www.slashfilm.com/1905800/sinners-marvel-movie-blade-costumes/

🔮 Watch Of the Future…

Premieres July 22nd.

https://people.com/welcome-to-plathville-micah-girlfriend-faces-the-family-wrath-exclusive-11756749

https://parade.com/news/tlc-reality-star-27-accused-of-verbal-abuse-in-shocking-audio-shared-by-ex

🫏 News From the Wild…

🦛 Baby’s first birthday.

https://people.com/moo-deng-viral-pygmy-hippo-celebrates-1st-birthday-11769791

🦈 Well it is Shark Week soon.

https://people.com/diver-swims-into-real-life-sharknado-encounter-amid-feeding-frenzy-exclusive-11768103

🐕 Superdog.

https://people.com/james-gunn-reveals-how-rescue-dog-inspired-krypto-in-superman-exclusive-11758362

🐐 Quotes of the Week

Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do. – Pelé

The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain.Dolly Parton

The greatest deception [humans] suffer is from their own opinions. – Leonardo da Vinci

But instead of spending our lives running towards our dreams, we are often running away from a fear of failure or a fear of criticism. – Erin Wright

You are not your resume, you are your work. – Seth Godin

Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough.Oprah Winfrey

The bridge between despair and hope is a good night’s sleep. – E. Cossman (Or sometimes a good stiff drink.)

The truth is, everyone is going to hurt you. You just got to find the ones worth suffering for.Bob Marley

You were a little bit the victim of a surgical misadventure. – Dr. Terry Dubrow, Botched

🌌 Touching the Sky…

Until next week, stay safe; stay keeping an open mind and respecting local culture when traveling; and stay remembering that miracles never happen the way you expect them to.

July 3, 2025 – GH Weekdays, No Friday For You, Happy 4th, Soap Suds, Down But Not Out, This Week In Reality, Weekend Watching, A Farewell, Dressed For Independence, Septenary Quotes & Pie

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

🥢 Weekday Bites…

Monday:

Natalia walked into the christening and sat down. Carly wondered why she was there, and Sonny said he’d handle it. He asked to speak to Natalia outside, and they left. Sasha brought in Daisy.

Lucas and Marco prepared to cook dinner in Sonny’s old kitchen, but Lucas lost the recipe and admitted he was no chef. Marco said they’d have to improvise.

In his office, Curtis was about to get busy with Portia on the desk, when Jordan walked in, turned around, and left. Curtis said Portia had set that up, and Portia said she sure as hell did.

Turner asked Anna if failing to take down Sonny was a dereliction of duty or incompetence, and Anna told her again to take her gripe to internal affairs. Sonny wasn’t stupid; he was smart and strategic. Turner said, so was Anna, and wondered if Sonny was really one step ahead of Anna or if her personal allegiance was causing her to look the other way.

Natalia said Sonny was supposed to be on the plane with her, and he said she wasn’t supposed to be there. He was giving her a new life where she’d be comfortable, and he could monitor her safety. Natalia insisted he’d said he’d go with her (he actually never did) and whined about not knowing anyone. Was dumping someone in a foreign country his way of taking care of loyal people? He said she’d have a new life in Belize, but his life was in Port Charles. (Again, I will totally go if she doesn’t want to.)

Wiley asked if they were waiting for mommy, but Michael reminded him that she wasn’t coming. They were waiting for grandpa.

Brook asked if Chase knew why Natalia was there, but he said he couldn’t discuss it.

Anna said Turner’s routine was getting old and it was unnecessary. They had the same goal and Turner could use her as an ally or wreck herself on the altar of Sonny Corinthos. She wouldn’t be the first and Anna was fairly certain she wouldn’t be the last. She didn’t understand why Turner wasn’t working directly with her. Turner needed her.

Curtis said Portia had just apologized for all the lies and manipulation, then manipulated Jordan into walking in. He wondered if Portia’s seductive moment was part of the plan, but she said, no. She’d sent a message that Curtis wanted to see Jordan and knew she’d come running, but wasn’t sure when Jordan would get there. Curtis said, another lie, and Portia asked if he was mad because she lied or because his ex saw him kissing his current wife.

Lucas told Marco that he was a prolific microwaver. (Same.) His mom cooked, but Carly and Sam didn’t. They got good hair, but missed the culinary gene. He’d had no time to learn and when he was married, Brad cooked. Now he got take-out or something from the hospital cafeteria. Marco said his mom taught him to cook. It was something they loved doing together when he was young… before it all went wrong.

Natalia got more upset, and Sonny said he’d set up a beautiful home in a beautiful area. She’d have access to anything. She said, except connections – friends and family, but he said she could make friends. She cried and said she thought they were starting a life together. Kristina came out and said Father Reyes was about to start, and Sonny said he’d be there in a little bit. He told guard Steve to take Natalia to her hotel and make sure she got on the flight. Natalia said, felicitations on his granddaughter’s christening. She hoped he and his whole family got every blessing they deserved. She left with Steve, and Sonny went back inside.

Father Reyes asked what the baby’s name would be, and Sasha said, Daisy Celeste. The priest said Daisy’s name was her special identity to God and welcomed her to her family and the church. The godparents did their thing, renouncing Satan and promising to raise Daisy in the faith. Father Reyes baptized Daisy with water and made the sign of the cross with oil on her forehead. He presented Daisy Celeste, and there was applause and taking pictures.

Anna said Turner hadn’t crossed a line yet, but was teetering on the brink. Taking Anna’s officers while keeping her out of the loop wasn’t going to work. Turner needed to be careful in deciding how to proceed. Jordan walked in and apologized for interrupting, but Anna said, the acting DA was just leaving.

Curtis said he was looking at someone he didn’t know. Was it all a set up or a show? Portia said everything they’d just shared was real. They were reconnecting and Jordan needed to see that. Jordan wanted him back and needed to know it wasn’t happening. Not now, not ever.  

Jordan told Anna, sorry. It looked intense. Anna said Jordan did her a favor, putting a civil end to it. She asked if Jordan saw Curtis, and Jordan said she saw Curtis with Portia on his desk. Anna said she was so sorry, but Jordan said she didn’t blame Anna. She blamed Portia and herself. She’d played right into Portia’s hands. She thought Portia wanted her to catch them in the act. The bitch set me up.

Curtis told Portia that Jordan had been nothing but good to him. He went for a swim and they had a conversation. Portia said Curtis and Jordan had been dialed in. It was proof of what she’d been feeling for a long time. He said what she was feeling was in her head, but she said, no. Even before she confessed to him at the Nurses Ball, she noticed their private conversations. He said she’d been too busy being blackmailed by Drew and lying, and he thought her guilt was driving this. She said she felt guilty, she was hurting, and they were struggling. Jordan saw Curtis was vulnerable and was trying to exploit that. Curtis said it didn’t sound like Jordan, but it sounded like Portia.

Father Reyes gave his blessing and told everyone, go in peace. Michael invited them all to the Quartermaines and said the late Monica would love having them. Sasha suggested they get the show on the road since Daisy needed a diaper change. Carly asked Sonny what was going on with Natalia, and he said it was taken care of. Kristina asked if Jason had any idea what was going on. It seemed strange. Jason said whatever it was, was over. Today was about Daisy, Michael, and Sasha. She said, spoken like a true godfather. Daisy was lucky she had him to protect her. They all were.

On the phone, Chase told Turner that he was at All Saints Chapel. Natalia was just there at Sonny’s granddaughter’s christening. She and Sonny spoke briefly, and she left, but he didn’t know what they’d discussed. Brook saw him and asked what he just did.

As they finished dinner, Lucas said he couldn’t have pulled this off, but Marco said Lucas set a nice table. Lucas said he enjoyed the meal, the company, and the conversation, and thanked Marco for coming to his culinary rescue. Marco said Lucas saved lives and he saved dinner, and they kissed.

Natalia told Steve that she needed to pack and take a shower, but he said they needed to get to the airport. She asked if a girl couldn’t take a shower in peace, and he said he’d be outside. He left and she closed the door and cried.  

Chase said he wished Brook hadn’t listened, and she said it wasn’t Sonny’s fault Natalia showed up. Chase reminded her that they put a wall between work and their personal life, and asked her to respect that. He had to go to the station and didn’t want to fight. She said she needed to know if something was going on between Natalia and Sonny, but he said he couldn’t talk about it. He loved her. She said she loved him too, and he left.

Natalia hyperventilated and took some pills, washing them down with liquor. She put on her bathrobe, picked up a dress, and tossed it down. She took more pills and remembered Sidwell saying it was all on her for not accepting Marco for who he was. She flashed back to Sonny saying he was giving her a comfortable life in a beautiful area, but it wasn’t his life. His life was there. She recalled Marco saying, if she left, it was on her. She was no longer his client or his mother. She’d officially be nothing to him. She sent a text.

Marco and Lucas started to kiss, when Marco’s phone chimed. Lucas said, that was two in a row. Shouldn’t he check? Marco looked at his phone and said it was his mom. Lucas said it was gibberish, and Marco said she was probably drunk. Her drinking and texting weren’t a rare occurrence. When she was drunk, the guilt took over, and her texts were word salad courtesy of autocorrect. Lucas said Natalia was leaving the country. Didn’t he think the timing was odd?

Anna said if Jordan thought it was a set-up. That meant Portia was throwing down the gauntlet. What was she going to do? Portia said, nothing. Curtis wasn’t an option. She had feelings to process and was trying to walk away with some semblance of dignity. She had to. she wouldn’t be responsible for ruining Curtis’s marriage, but Portia and her games might be.

Portia said if Curtis was saying she went after a crack in his marriage to Jordan and unfairly took him away, but Curtis said that was on him. The issue between them nothing to do with Jordan. He’d believed Portia was worried about Trina and trying to find peace between them. She said that was why she came, but he said she seemed more worried about Jordan. Was everything an act? She said, nothing was an act. He’d been cold and hard to reach. He might disagree with her decision, but she wasn’t sorry. She did it to save them. He said she wasn’t saving them. She was destroying them.

Felicia asked how Carly felt about her new grandbaby, and Carly said Daisy was a surprise, but it felt like she’d always been there. She fit in. Felicia said a new grandchild to love on and spoil was a blessing, and Carly agreed. She wished her mom could have met Daisy. Felicia said Bobbie had been with them in spirit at the christening and was probably there too. She loved a good party. Jason came in and Sasha brought Daisy over to him. She asked if he wanted to hold her, and he said, sure, taking the baby. Sasha asked what he wanted Daisy to call him, and he said Jason was fine. She said he’d stuck by her and looked out for her and Daisy. She admitted she didn’t mind it as much as she thought she would. He took a lot of heat, and she felt taken care of. Daisy would feel that too. She was trying to say he was a good man. Daisy was lucky to have him in her life looking out for her and so was she.

Curtis asked what Portia’s end goal was with her lies and stunts. She wasn’t pulling them closer, but driving them further apart. She was Trina’s mother, but he still didn’t trust her. She asked if that’s all she was to him. She’d thought she was his wife, but maybe that didn’t matter because she lied. Lord knew, Jordan never did. He said Jordan lied about work and being undercover. She didn’t lie about having his child or being blackmailed by his enemy, and didn’t lie and manipulate him into doing his enemy’s bidding. Jordan was never the problem. The real problem was them.  

Jordan said she and Curtis had a complicated history and genuine affection. She didn’t want those feelings bound up in Portia. She should walk away and find peace. Anna asked if she thought it was possible, and Jordan said it depended. Portia’s instinct was to lie, and she did the opposite of what Curtis was. It was hard to know that. Anna said, right now, Jordan owed it to herself to process her feelings and find a way to move forward. What did she need?

Natalia drunk texted Marco again, when there was a knock at the door. Steve said they had to get going, and she said she was almost ready. She cried and sent another text.

Marco said it was his mom again, and Lucas it was pretty garbled. I know you’re mad. I’m… someone? Marco said she got drunk and texted him and it never made sense. Then she’d leave a voicemail in the morning apologizing. Lucas said she was leaving to start a new life. There was no guarantee she could call him again. His mom was reaching out and it might be his last chance to reach back.

At the Quartermaines, Brook phoned Chase and asked him to call back. She was worried about Sonny and Natalia. Kristina came in with a giftbag, and asked Sonny what Natalia was doing at the church. He told her not to worry about that, when her phone dinged. She said the manager at Charlie’s called in sick and she had to open up. She gave Michael the giftbag for Daisy and left.  

At Charlie’s, two masked guys came in and poured gas on everything.

Portia told Curtis that wasn’t true. The one causing a problem was Jordan. The problem was, Jordan needed to know they were married. They had a daughter, were a couple, and had a beautiful family. Curtis got a call, and Portia said don’t let her stop him from answering. She was just his wife. She’d leave him to it. Just know she’d be fighting for their marriage. What about him? She left.

Turner ran into Anna’s office and told her to put out an APB on Natalia Ramirez. She was skipping town, and it might be their best chance to take Sonny down and it began with Anna’s lead.

Lucas cleaned up and blew out the candles. There was a song part while the celebration continued at the Quartermaines. Natalia drunkenly stumbled around and looked at her phone. She slumped on the couch and let the phone fall from her hand. There was a text from Marco saying he was on his way.

Kristina went into Charlie’s and saw the puddles behind the bar. She touched her hand to the gas and smelled it, when a Molotov cocktail came through the window and everything was in flames.

Tuesday:

On the phone, as he stood at his usual vantage point on the turret, Sidwell said that he saw the job was completed. Alexis arrived with a bunch of folders and told Sidwell that they needed clearances from the harbor master for goods he was importing. Sidwell said he thought Marco handled his accounts, and Alexis said he did, but nothing got filed until she vetted it fully.

At the hospital, Isaiah said Portia had asked him to cover the ER, and Elizabeth said, good. Portia had been working too hard.

On the phone, Lucas asked if Marco caught his mom, but still driving, Marco said, not yet. He kept calling, but got voicemail and there had been no more texts. He guessed she passed out. He apologized for their night being ruined, but Lucas said, it was just interrupted. There would be other nights. Suddenly Marco said, what the hell? and had to go. Josslyn came in and asked if Lucas had a friend over, and he said, it was an amazing night until it wasn’t. Something had come up. She said she was giving Trina and Kai some privacy, and he asked about the christening. She said, Sonny was Daisy’s grandfather, so there was drama. Marco’s mom showed up at the church.

Sasha, Carly, and Cody fawned over Daisy.

Michael thanked Sonny for putting the kids to bed, when Jason said he and Sonny needed to talk. There was a knock at the door, and Molly told Michael, sorry she was late. He said, the star of the show needed a diaper change and a nap, but there were still people there. She asked if Kristina was there, but he said, she had to go open Charlie’s.

Jason told Sonny that the plane was ready, but Natalia hadn’t shown up.

Steve knocked at Natalia’s door and said they needed to get going. He heard something and jetted. Chase and another officer came around the corner and Chase knocked, saying it was the PCPD.

Kristina grabbed the fire extinguisher and tried to put the fire out.

Chase banged on the door, when Anna arrived. He said no one had seen Natalia leave and there was no noise. She said the hotel manager had given her the key, and she was going in. They found Natalia out cold on the couch, and Chase checked her pulse while the other officer called an ambulance.

Isaiah saw a picture of Lucky hanging off the side of a mountain on Elizabeth’s phone, and she said she was choosing to believe Aiden’s explanation that it was an optical illusion. Aiden was having a great time with his dad.

Sidwell insisted most of his contracts were routine and suggested Alexis didn’t trust his son. Alexis said it was standard for her and Diane to oversee new associates for six months, but Sidwell thought it was a massive waste of time. Alexis said she’d earned her reputation, and no document went out with her name on it until she was satisfied. He still believed her hypervigilance was because of Marco and said his son should be extended the same courtesy she’d want her daughter to have. She said, duly noted, and continued with the contracts.

Lucas asked if Carly or Sonny told Josslyn why Natalia was in the chapel, but she said they wouldn’t tell her and neither would Jason.

Sonny said Michael was a great father, and Michael said he had a great teacher. People said his dad was important, powerful, and busy, yet Sonny made time for him, and it made him feel special. He wanted to make sure his kids felt the same way. Sonny said Michael was special and he was proud to be his father.

Sasha thanked Molly for coming and said she knew it was hard. Molly said she couldn’t help wondering about Irene, but she couldn’t be happier for Sasha. Sasha said she wondered about Liam sometimes, when Cody joined them and confessed that he’d eaten all the little sausage thingies.

Jason got a phone call and told Sonny there was a fire at Charlie’s.

Kristina yelled for help and ran behind the bar (not the best plan), when Marco asked if anyone was there. She yelled for help again and said everything was burning. Marco came in under a blanket and asked if anybody was left, but she said it was just her. He said they wouldn’t make it out the front and they ran for the back door under the blanket.

Elizabeth said the patient had no pulse and was probably an OD. Isaiah said some medical stuff and told her that he’d take over the compression. We saw it was Natalia.

Cody asked if Michael knew what happened, but Michael said he had no idea. Carly showed Molly pictures of the christening, and Michael said the late Monica insisted on them documenting everything. Cody asked if when Jason and Sonny disappeared, they acted like things were fine, and Michael said that was the drill. Cody said he was just trying to fit in, when Molly’s phone rang. She asked if Michael was sure Kristina was at Charlie’s, and he said, why? She said her friend that worked at the PCPD said there was a three-alarm fire there, and Michael flashed back to the fire in the penthouse. Cody said he’d drive, and he and Molly left.  

Isaiah said, time of death, 9:07 pm. Did they know who she was? Elizabeth said she did.

Josslyn told Lucas that it was just about to start when Natalia showed up and Sonny was not happy to see her. Lucas asked if she seemed drunk, and Josslyn said she didn’t see Natalia, but thought her mom would have mentioned it. Was something going on with Natalia? Lucas said he didn’t know, when his phone rang. It was Elizabeth.

Kristina and Marco ran outside coughing, when Dante arrived. He hugged Kristina and asked if she was hurt. She said, no, and he asked if Marco was okay. What happened?  

At the hospital, Lucas said he wasn’t able to reach Marco, and Elizabeth said she remembered they were having dinner and thought they might be together. He said they were, but Marco left to see his mom at the MetroCourt. Where was he?  

A paramedic said Kristina and Marco had smoke inhalation and minor burns, and Kristina said, it was burning fast. Dante said all that mattered was that she was safe, and she said, thanks to Marco. Sonny and Jason arrived, and Sonny hugged Kristina. Jason asked what Marco was doing there.

Alexis said she was satisfied, and Sidwell presumed she’d be charging her hourly fee. She said, oh God yes, when Molly called. Molly said there was a fire at Charlie’s and Kristina was there. She was headed there and had tried calling Kristina, but there was no answer. Alexis said she’d be right there.

Josslyn saw someone outside and opened the door to find Jack. She asked why he was lurking, and he said it was a test to see how long it would take her to notice. She said her mom wasn’t home, but he said he came to talk to her. Vaughn told him about her plan to distract Emma, and he thought it was good. He didn’t want Emma near Dalton. He told her to make it priority number one and figure out a course of action asap. Josslyn said he could have just called her to the office. Was he hoping to run into her mom?

In the car, Molly worried about the firefighters not getting there on time. A three-alarm fire was bad. Cody said they didn’t have all the facts yet, and she worried about it being like the penthouse. She and Kristina were on track to be sisters again and she couldn’t lose her. Cody said, stop assuming the worst-case scenario.

In Natalia’s hotel room, Chase told Anna that it looked like she’d drunk a lot of alcohol, and they bagged a bottle of pills. Suicide? Anna said, possibly, or staged. Natalia had been leaving town. Chase said a guy had been seen walking away from the room and he might be involved. Anna said have the hotel give them the security footage and find him.  

Kristina said she’d be dead if not for Marco. She wasn’t supposed to work, but the manager called in sick. She was going to open up and noticed the smell of gas. The floor was wet, and she heard a crash, then everything was on fire. She tried to put it out, but it was too big and too fast. She was trapped and Marco burst in and got her out. Sonny said Marco just happened to be in the area? and Marco said, yes. He was on his way to the MetroCourt when he saw the fire. He noticed a car in the parking lot and ran in to make sure nobody was inside. He said he needed to get to his mother and asked if they could talk later, but Sonny said Marco wasn’t going anywhere.  

Sidwell said the launch was ready, but Alexis asked if he had a speedboat or a rowboat. She had to get off the island and see if Kristina was all right. He asked if she was sure Kristina was in the pub.  

Jack told Josslyn that agents compartmentalized. He’d be delighted to run into Carly, but came to talk to her. He was her superior and she didn’t get to comment on his relationships. She asked if he’d notified his superior that he was in a relationship with an agent’s mother, when Carly came in. She asked what Jack was doing there.

Lucas told Chase that he was with Natalia’s son when Marco got some garbled texts that were unreadable. He thought Natalia was drunk, so he decided to check on her. He called from the car on the way to the hotel, said something came up, and hung up quickly. He never called back. Was Chase sure Marco never showed up? Chase said they were going through the security footage, but no one remembered seeing him. Elizabeth said she hoped Natalia’s death was an accident, but Anna said the cause wouldn’t be official until there was an autopsy. Lucas said they couldn’t do an autopsy until Marco knew his mom was dead.

The EMT insisted Kristina go to the hospital, and Marco asked if he could get his phone. Molly and Cody arrived, and Molly said she was so scared Kristina was hurt. She loved Kristina so much. They hugged.  

A firefighter said the fire was totally out, and Dante asked if they had any idea what started it. The firefighter said his men were working on it, when Anna showed up. Dante told her that gas might have been used as an accelerant, and she asked if there were any casualties. He said, no. Kristina was the only one inside and she was fine thanks to Marco Rios. Alexis arrived and hugged Kristina. Sonny said Kristina would be okay, and she said, no thanks to him.

Jack said he took a chance he’d find Carly there, and she said it was good to see him. Josslyn said she remembered she had a quiz, but left her notes at the apartment. She’d probably stay there tonight. She left, and Jack asked if Carly was all right. She said, no. There was a fire at Charlie’s, the pub Sonny gave Kristina. She didn’t know if Kristina was inside, but hearing about the fire took her back to the ICU and wondering if her son would survive the night.  

Michael flashed back to another actor playing him, who was conveniently covered in fire. He got a call and told Sasha that Kristina was okay. She was inside, but had gotten out. He was about to get a drink when he remembered he’d taken a pain pill, and Sasha said she didn’t realize he was still in pain. He said he usually didn’t need a pill, but he didn’t want it to interfere with the celebration. The doctors said he had residual nerve damage, but thought he’d be pain free soon. It was nothing compared to the pain after the fire. He told her about going through debridement and said it was agony. Thank God Kristina was okay.

Dante said he thought Marco needed to go to the hospital, and Alexis asked Sonny, which of his enemies did this? They kept going after him and got his children instead. She knew he and Kristina working together was a bad idea. Death and violence were all over him like a plague he passed on to those who loved him. It had to stop. She would not bury another daughter. There were soap looks all around.

Carly told Jack she was worried about Kristina. When she heard there was a fire, she shut down and the anger and fear came rushing in like the penthouse fire was happening then. It was crazy because Michael was standing by her, but it was like she was back in the clinic in Germany. She could only touch his hand because it was excruciating if she touched anything else. All she could do was sit there and hear him moan. Jack said she’d experienced PTSD because the emotional trauma couldn’t be processed all at once and she’d been triggered. A lot of agents had it and he’d dealt with it himself. She said she couldn’t tell him what it meant that he understood. Josslyn blamed Sonny and she was right. He almost lost another child. She didn’t know what she’d do if something happened to Donna. Jack held her.  

Sasha said Michael had asked for her in the ICU, but was sedated by the time Jason found her. Did he remember what he’d wanted to tell her? He said he wanted to tell her to take care of their daughter no matter what happened him, and she did. Daisy was perfect. All his kids were safe and it was going to stay that way. She said he couldn’t know that, and he said he could. His dad was a great father, and he’d never be like him, but he promised nothing like the fire would ever happen to his kids.

Marco got to the hospital and asked Lucas, what happened? Anna said she needed to have a conversation with him about his mother, and Marco said, why? Was she there? Was she okay? He ran past everyone and into Natalia’s room. When he saw her, he put his hands to his face.

On the phone, Sidwell said his instructions were clear. Do not set the fire unless the building was empty. If Sonny Corinthos’s daughter was in the fire, there would be hell to pay.

Kristina said they didn’t know what caused it, but Alexis said she did. It was Sonny’s love for money and power that exceeded everything and everyone. They’d both lost children and knew how painful it was. She couldn’t and wouldn’t go through it again. Kristina said it was suggested she go to GH and get checked out, and asked Alexis to come with her. Cody said he’d drive, and they left, along with Molly. Sonny told Jason that they had to find out who caused the fire. Kristina wasn’t supposed to be working. Jason said, the manager called in sick, and Sonny said, talk to him. A firefighter said it looked like there was evidence of arson, which made this place a crime scene.

Wednesday:

At the Surf Lodge, Emma and Outback high-fived. Gio joined them and said Outback steals his shoes, but only the left ones. He wanted her to choose between him and the dog, but she didn’t want to choose between her two favorite strays. She also had the feeling that the real problem was him being upset about Brook and Dante being his real parents.

Tracy found Brook working in the living room. Brook said, Deception might be in serious trouble, but it might be too late to fix it.

Vaughn found Josslyn at Charlie’s and asked why she wanted to meet there. She said she heard there was a fire and came to check, but she couldn’t get herself to leave.

At the hospital, Kristina told Alexis that she was fine and would like to go home. Alexis said, she could have died.

Marco cried, and sat by Natalia’s bedside saying, no, no. It couldn’t be happening. It couldn’t end this way.

Elizabeth suggested Lucas let Marco have time with his mom, and Anna said Lucas could help them figure out what led to Natalia’s death.

Jason told Sonny that they had guys on the street who would hear whispers about the fire. Sonny said they both knew Sidwell was responsible.

Selina went to Windymere and said, finally, she and Sidwell were meeting in person. She asked if he wanted to set up a poker game, but he said he wanted to warn her. She was about to go to war with Sonny.

Gio admitted he might be upset about his parentage, and Emma said if he wanted to talk, she was there. He said he wasn’t there yet and told her that he was dropping out of PCU.

Josslyn told Vaughn that her former stepsister almost died in the fire. It was unnerving, and all because she was the daughter of Sonny Corinthos.  

Alexis asked Kristina, what happened? and Kristina said the manager called in sick, so she left to open up Charlie’s. When she walked in, she smelled gasoline and the floor was wet, but before she could check, she heard a window shatter and suddenly fire was everywhere. The fire extinguisher wasn’t enough, and she wouldn’t have gotten out alive if not for Marco.

Anna asked about Natalia’s texts, and Lucas said, they were all gibberish. Sometimes she drank and texted Marco. Marco came out, and Lucas asked if he was okay. Anna said they were sorry for his loss, and Marco said he didn’t understand what happened. Anna said she and Chase entered Natalia’s hotel room and she was unconscious. They called the paramedics immediately. Isaiah said Marco’s mother was unresponsive at the scene. There was no pulse, and the paramedics weren’t able to restart her heart. Unfortunately, when she was brought in, there was nothing they could do. Marco asked what the cause of death was, and Isaiah said it was speculation, but they suspected it was an overdose. Marco said, accidental or intentional? but Isaiah said they didn’t know. They suspected a lethal combination of tranquilizers and alcohol, but they’d know for sure when there was an official autopsy. Elizabeth said she was sorry. She and Lucas tried to call him. Marco said his phone was in the car. He was on his way to see his mother and saw the fire at Charlie’s. There was a car in the parking lot, so he ran in to make sure nobody was inside. Anna said he got Kristina out just in time. He was a hero tonight. Marco said he was able to save Kristina, but not able to save his mother.

Gio told Emma that he had a music scholarship and would be first chair violinist in the orchestra. It was a huge responsibility and honor. She said he deserved it, but he said he had no intention of playing again. He would lose his scholarship and couldn’t afford college on his lifeguard’s salary. She suggested he borrow from family, but he said he wanted nothing to do with them. She said, what about Sonny? but he said it didn’t seem right. She said, why not wait? He might feel differently in the fall. Don’t walk away from the gig just yet. He might want to play again by September.

Brook told Tracy that Natalia found something in Sonny’s supplemental investment… Tracy said, an offshore account. Sonny was laundering money and now they were complicit. Brook said, it was a clerical error, but Tracy said, it was a felony. Brook said she was sorry. It was all her fault.

Chase asked if the texts were in Marco’s phone, and Marco said they were, but his phone was in his car at Charlie’s. Anna asked if the messages were incoherent, and Marco said he thought one message was supposed to say, I’m sorry. He guessed he’d never know. He texted her that he was on his way, but he saw Charlie’s was on fire. They knew the rest. He had no idea his mother needed him so bad. Lucas said it wasn’t his fault. He thought a life was at risk and stopped to help. Marco asked how Anna ended up at the hotel, and she said the acting DA was supposed to pick up his mom. As her lawyer, Marco must have known that the DA negotiated a plea deal in exchange for evidence against Sonny. Chase said Natalia showed up at the christening for Sonny’s granddaughter. He saw them talking and alerted Turner. Natalia definitely seemed troubled.

Jason said Sidwell was mad about Sonny not selling his piers and it was payback. Did he think Kristina was a target? Sonny said it didn’t matter. Kristina almost died. Ever since Sidwell came to town, two of his children nearly died. If anything happened to Kristina, he didn’t know what he’d do.

Selina said Sidwell was misinformed. She wasn’t at war with Sonny and stayed on his good side. They had an understanding. Sidwell said that changed tonight when a firebomb was placed in Sonny’s daughter’s place of business. She said she had nothing to do with that, but he said her associates Simon and Dan doused Charlie’s with gas and lit it up with a Molotov cocktail. When Corinthos went on a hunt to find out who was responsible, he’d trace it to her. She said, in other words, he set her up, and he lifted his glass to her.

Tracy said she blamed Brook’s mother. She raised Brook to trust Sonny. Brook said she believed what Natalia said, it was an accounting error. Sonny wouldn’t do anything to hurt Deception. Tracy said they were going to use this to their advantage and not bury it.

Vaughn said, Sonny was once married to Josslyn’s mother and Donna was their child? and Josslyn said, yeah. So was her older brother Morgan. He said, Morgan died in a car bombing. He was sorry. She said there was plenty of blame to go around. Morgan died because he was Sonny’s son, and it was the same reason Michael nearly died, and the same reason Kristina nearly died. He said, not a fan? and she said her family kept getting hurt because Sonny Corinthos brought death and destruction wherever he went.

Alexis said Kristina had Marco to thank. If she had died, her father would have died too, because she would have killed him. It was no accident. Someone was sending Sonny a message and Kristina got caught in the crossfire. Molly came in with Deanna and said she was filling out administrative forms and needed Kristina’s ID. Alexis said she had a copy on her phone, and left with Deanna. Molly asked how Kristina was doing, and Kristina said she was desperate to get out, but Alexis wanted her to stay overnight. Marco saved her life. Allie always said her brother was a good guy. Molly said Marco was a hero, but Kristina was amazing too. They way she handled their mom when she went after Sonny was impressive. In the past, she would have jumped to Sonny’s defense and fought with their mom. Instead, she let Alexis say what she needed to and Molly was proud of her.  

Sonny told Jason that he and Kristina had a special connection. He thought it had to do with them being the most alike. Jason said he thought so too, and Sonny said they had the same anger, intensity, and demons. Kristina fought with her emotions like he did, and he wanted to protect her. That’s why Alexis was out of her mind with fear, and he respected that. Jason said she was safe, and Sonny said, for now. They had to find out who did this. Otherwise, his whole family was in danger.  

Selina said she’d go to Sonny and tell him the truth. He’d known her longer than Sidwell, and her words had more weight. Sidwell said, go ahead, but given Kristina’s close call, he guessed Sonny wouldn’t let her live long enough to get her explanation out. (I guess a phone call wasn’t an option?) They’d clashed in the past and she’d already crossed Sonny once. She said Sonny would see through him and guessed Sonny already had, and he said he’d point the finger at her associates. Who knew what evidence Sonny would uncover about her involvement? The best idea was for her to leave town now. She said, and walk away from her business? but he said she could return later with his blessing. Port Charles would be a better place when she returned. She said the only way she could come back was if Sonny was dead, and he said he was aware. He opened the door, and she said she guessed she had a plane to catch. Until they met again. He said, travel safely, and she left.

Chase said Natalia and Sonny spoke privately and she left. Marco said he was almost positive it wasn’t the full story. His mother was murdered by Sonny.  

Gio said he needed a clean break from his old life filled with lies, and Emma said there were good things too. Gio said they were tainted. He’d felt special performing when he was a kid. Now he knew it was a lie. The technique was still there, but without the passion and the smile, the music was hollow. There was no point in playing. His family had been stolen from him.

Deanna said Kristina had a close call, but would be fine, and Alexis said the last time she filled out these forms was for Sam. Deanna suggested Alexis read the information and she’d write it, and Alexis said that would help a lot.

Kristina told Molly that even if she was collateral damage, she didn’t feel it was her dad’s fault. Her mom was scared for her child, and she got that. Molly said, because of their daughter. She couldn’t lose Kristina. She loved Kristina so much. They joined hands and Alexis watched from the doorway.

Anna asked if Marco had proof of his accusation, but he said, wasn’t it obvious? His mother had evidence that she was about to turn over and Sonny found a way to stop her. Lucas suggested he take a minute, and Marco agreed. Anna said talking about the fire could wait. In the meantime, he had their condolences. Don’t hesitate to reach out if the thought of anything else. She and Chase left, and Marco said he almost admitted he knew his mom was breaking the deal and moving out. Lucas said Marco had been through lot, and Marco said he was glad Lucas was there. Lucas said him too, and Marco said he needed to call his father, but had no phone. Lucas said he’d deal with it and he wanted Marco to get checked out by Isaiah. Doctor’s order.  

Jason said they’d find out who did this, and Sonny said he couldn’t lose another child. He wasn’t going through what he went through with Morgan again. Jason said they’d stop them, and Sonny said they’d make them an example. It would hurt so bad, they wouldn’t think of coming for his family again. An eye for an eye, effective and fair. Jason said, Sidwell’s only known child was Marco, and he’d just saved Kristina. Sonny said he owed Marco, but protection was more important than gratitude. If Marco ended up being collateral damage, so be it.

Elizabeth found Sidwell’s number for Lucas, and Lucas made the call. He said he was calling on Marco’s behalf. His son was fine, but there was something Sidwell should know. Marco’s mother passed away tonight.

Chase asked if Anna thought Marco was right and Sonny killed Natalia. She said they couldn’t rule it out. Her phone chimed and she said it was the security footage. It was useful, but not good news for Sonny.

Tracy said they needed to come clean, and Brook asked, why? Tracy said if they were honest and declared their innocence, they’d probably just get a slap on the wrist. If they helped nail Sonny, they’d be rid of him, and it was a win-win. Brook said Sonny was the only family member Gio was talking to, and Tracy said, all the more reason, but Brook said if they took Sonny away from Gio, her son would hate her even more. Tracy said, fine. She’d do it all by herself, when Chase walked in. Tracy said the PCPD had perfect timing for once.  

Emma asked Gio to promise not to drop out of PCU, and he promised he’d make no decisions for now. She said they had to figure out what else he was passionate about. He showed some interest in exposing Professor Dalton’s animal testing. He asked how they start Dalton’s take down, and she said she couldn’t prove he was testing on animals yet because she couldn’t get into the lab. They might have to do something drastic. Gio asked if that was her way of saying illegal.

Vaughn told Josslyn that he’d never defend Sonny, but watching your loved ones pay for your crimes must take a toll. Josslyn said she tried to let go of her anger, but too many people she loved were getting hurt. She had no sympathy. She’d never told anyone this or even said it out loud, but that was one reason why she joined the WSB. He said he thought it was because of Dex, and she said that was part of it, but it wasn’t just about an idealistic version of justice. It was more personal and a lot less altruistic. He asked if she wanted to get high enough in the agency to take down Sonny, and she said, exactly.

Marco told Lucas that Isaiah gave him the all-clear, when Sidwell arrived. Sidwell hugged Marco and said Lucas told him about Natalia. He was so sorry. Marco thanked him, and Sidwell said he had to make sure Marco was okay. He thanked Lucas for calling, and Lucas left to give them time to talk. Marco said it was surreal. He knew she was gone. He’d seen her body, but his brain couldn’t process it. Sidwell said, take a breath, and Marco said he had to call Allison, but didn’t know how to break the news. Sidwell told him not to worry about it now, and Marco said there was so much he wished was different. They hugged, and Sidwell said he knew.  

Anna went to Sonny’s place and he said he couldn’t answer questions about the fire right now, but she said she was there for a different reason. Natalia Rameriz was dead.  

Tracy said she had some interesting news too, and Chase said he was sorry to inform them that Natalia Rameriz was dead. It may or may not be a drug related OD or foul play. Anna was questioning Sonny. Brook asked if he was suspect, and Chase said they were exploring possibilities. Tracy said it wasn’t okay for Sonny to be anywhere near Gio. He was taking too many people, and he wasn’t taking Gio too.

Emma asked if Gio thought Sonny could give them pointers, but he said, definitely not. He may not be taking Sonny’s money or advice in this particular situation, but he was glad to have him. Sonny was the only one he could trust right now.

Kristina asked how long Alexis had been there, and Alexis said, not that long, but long enough to see them together. It warmed her heart. She wished Sam was with them too. She couldn’t lose another daughter. That meant they were both contractually obligated to outlive her. They needed each other and couldn’t let anything separate them. They all agreed and had a group hug.

Lucas asked Elizabeth’s opinion. OD or murder? She said there were no obvious signs of violence, but the autopsy would tell them more. Did he think Sonny had her killed? He said, all they knew was that Natalia was dead, and Kristina almost died. To him, that was the start of a mob war that had Marco’s family on one side and his on the other.  

Marco said he felt like it was his fault, and Sidwell asked, how? Marco said his mom was texting him and he could tell she was drunk. It wasn’t the first time. Sidwell said there was no way he could have known, but Marco said maybe if he’d gotten there in time, if he hadn’t stopped to help with the fire. Sidwell said, what fire? and Marco said, at Charlie’s Pub. He stopped and saved Kristina Corinthos Davis. Sidwell said Marco could have died, and Marco said it was crazy how things played out. Thanks to him Sonny’s daughter is alive and thanks to Sonny, his mother was dead. Sidwell asked how this had anything to do with Sonny.

Sonny invited Anna in and said he was sorry to hear it. Why did she come in person? He wasn’t close to Natalia. Anna said they’d had an intense conversation at the christening, and he said Natalia was congratulating him. She asked if he could explain why his bodyguard was having a conversation with Natalia at the hotel, and he asked if he should call Diane. She said, it depended. Did he have something to hide? Another of his guards was seen entering and exiting her room. He was in the corridor when the police arrived and made himself scarce. That made her think he and Natalia had a close association. He asked what she was getting at, and she said Natalia had evidence the DA’s office was going to use against him and was conveniently dead of alcohol and tranquilizers. They were waiting for the autopsy, but in the meantime, he was a person of interest, and she had to take him in for questioning. 

Josslyn said she just gave Vaughn the ammunition he needed to get rid of her. She had an unhealthy personal vendetta which made her unfit for the job. She was sure she’d be out tomorrow morning. She started to leave, but he grabbed her arm and said he’d told her that lofty ideals weren’t a reason. Those agents got jaded, but a concrete goal to take Sonny down would get her through tough times. And there were going to be tough times. She asked, what was his goal? and he said maybe he’d tell her sometime. Once he got to know her better. He kissed her.

Thursday:

At the pool, Willow told Gio that she saw what happened at the Nurses Ball. There was nothing more painful than being betrayed by someone who was supposed to love you.

As they sat in chaise lounges, Trina told Kai that it wasn’t a bad way to spend a holiday afternoon. She knew the perfect spot to watch the fireworks.

Brook said Maxie should be there, and Tracy asked if she was going to tell Maxie that Sonny’s blood money would bring down Deception. She wanted to do her best to save Gio.

Michael opened the door to TempMaxie (see below), who said she was there for an emergency Deception meeting, but as unofficial godmother, she wanted a peek of Daisy. He said he couldn’t thank her enough for making the christening happen. It gave him hope for his family’s future.

Danny and Rocco were at the Surf Lodge, and Emma approached their table. She asked what was so important she had to detour from the pool on a national holiday, and Rocco asked what she knew about Britt Westbourne.

Laura went to see Lulu, who said she was reporting on the fire for the Llanview Banner. Those who were pro Measure C said the fire was proof of mob violence escalating and that Laura was ignoring it because of her connection to Sonny. Laura said there was a right way and a wrong way to investigate, and she had to do it the right way. She was the one who’d called for Measure C. Lulu said she hated to say it, but maybe it was time for Laura to cut Sonny loose, but Laura asked what they would accomplish except tearing the family apart.

In the PCPD interrogation room, Sonny told Turner that he wasn’t saying a word unless his attorney was there. Turner said that’s why she was there.

On the phone, Jason said, what did Diane mean, he wasn’t allowed to see his attorney?… Keep him posted. Dante arrived and said the PCPD was holding Sonny and wouldn’t let him talk to Diane. He had an update on the fire at Charlie’s. Selina was a suspect.

Gio told Willow, for what it was worth (🍷), he was sorry, and she said, when your life was turned upside down, you found out who you could trust. He said, and who you can’t, and she said anyone who helped you through hard times was someone you could always count on.

Michael said Kristina was at GH, and Maxie asked if she was okay. He said she had a cough, but was doing all right, and she said, it could have been worse. He said that’s why he was focused on the good, like how Wiley and Amelia were crazy about their baby sister. He was trying to stick to routine, hoping it made things more stable until the visitation hearing.

Willow told Trina and Kai that she was sorry to interrupt, and Kai said he thought she’d be celebrating with Drew in DC. She said Drew was too busy working, so she thought she’d keep it lowkey. Maybe next year. Drew was impressed with Kai’s work and appreciated him going the extra mile.

Brook said they had no reason to think Gio was a target, but Tracy said it was a naïve thing to say. Brook said it wasn’t like he lived with Sonny. They barely spent time together. Tracy said when gangsters went to war, they didn’t go after each other, but after their enemy’s loved ones. They could only try their best to protect Gio, but he wouldn’t be safe until Sonny was done with once and for all.

Turner said she could hold Sonny for 24 hours, and Sonny said she couldn’t keep him from seeing his attorney. In the meantime, he wasn’t saying anything. Diane was one of the few people he didn’t mind waiting for. Turner said, if his attorney was withheld, anything he told her was inadmissible. It was his best opportunity to tell her what happened. He asked why he should take her word on this, and she asked why he was acting like the injured party when Natalia was the one who was dead.

Dante told Jason that they’d ID’d two suspects as Selina’s guys and there was a warrant out for them. Selina had booked a flight to Singapore and the needed to find out if she got on it. Jason asked, why come to him? and Dante asked if they should keep looking for Selina’s guys or were they buried in the woods.

Emma wondered why Rocco was asking about The Britch, The Wicked Witch of Westbourne, and Rocco said he presumed she didn’t like Britt. She said she was little and for a while her dad dated Britt. Eventually, he came to his senses and dumped her as. Britt was so pathetic and desperate, she got pregnant… She got it now.  

Maxie asked why they were working on a holiday, and Brook said she had bad news. Maxie said, hit me, and Brook said, it seemed Sonny’s second investment had been made with dirty money. Maxie said Sonny wasn’t sloppy like that and Brook showed her the financials. Maxie asked how she found out, and Brook said Natalia told her. Maxie said Natalia would have to walk her through it, but Brook said she couldn’t. Natalia died last night. Maxie said, Brook didn’t think… but Brook said, never. Maxie said they’d have to go to the police and hand over the records, and Brook said, what about Spinelli? Spinelli adored Sonny. Would he be okay? Maxie said he’d have to be. Her family needed Deception, and she’d do everything she could to save the company.  

Lulu said, Laura just had to publicly disavow Sonny. She didn’t have to do it for real. Laura said, first of all, Ezra Boyle had a tracking device on her and would be waiting with cameras to prove to the world she was a liar. Secondly, Sonny was part of the family. What kind of example would she set for her grandchildren, teaching them how to lie to save their hide? She was also thinking about Rocco. She’d never want him to have to choose between his grandmother or grandfather. Lulu said she’d talk to him, and he’d understand, but Laura said, would he? She wasn’t sacrificing her family or principles or compromising her own morals. She couldn’t help feeling there was more to this.

Emma said she had to go, and Rocco said Britt was pregnant with him. He was the baby she carried. Emma said she was just a kid. He should talk to his mom and dad. Their memories would be better than hers. Danny thanked her for talking to them, and she said she totally got it. Happy 4th. She started to leave, but came back and said there had to be more she never knew about. She thought Rocco owed it to himself to find out the truth.

Willow said Kai stepped in and got Drew out of the disaster at the press conference, but Kai said it was no big deal. Willow said Drew told her it was the only silver lining, and Kai said he just did his job. Willow said he made an impression on Drew, who thought he had a great future in politics. Willow left and Trina said they needed to talk, but Kai said he knew what she was going to say. Trina suggested even if he knew what a woman was going to say, let her say it. (Truth!) All the Quartermaines were crazy, and they would make him crazy too. Tracy walked in and Gio turned away. Trina said, case in point.

Tracy said she didn’t know if Gio wanted to talk to her. He wasn’t answering her texts. He said, make it short, and she said she thought his life was in danger.

Kai said Trina didn’t need to worry. He was only interested in politics. Maybe not forever, but after football, it was good to be interested in something. Trina said he needed to understand and accept that the Quartermaines were always battling about something. He had to remember not to get stuck in the middle. Michael came into the pool area with Wiley and saw Willow. He steered Wiley over to his swim instructor.

Lulu said she didn’t want Laura to betray her principles, but she wanted Laura to beat Boyle. Laura said she wanted that too, and Lulu said she was still ahead in the polls, but she was falling behind. Boyle was corrupt and so unqualified, she couldn’t hand the city to someone like him. If she wanted to save Port Charles, she needed to stay where she was – in the mayor’s office. How far was she willing to go to make that happen?

Turner told Sonny that Natalia was facing five years for a DWI, and she offered Natalia a lifeline. If she turned over evidence against Sonny to her office, the charges would be dismissed. Natalia agreed, so imagine her surprise when Natalia wound up dead, with two of Sonny’s men coming and going… Sonny said all this had nothing to do with him. Turner hauled Natalia in on a trumped-up charge and persuaded Natalia to give her information that might incriminate him. Might. He thought Turner believed she was the one who got Natalia killed.

Jason said he had no idea about Selina’s men. He didn’t think Selina would risk crossing Sonny and wouldn’t target Kristina. Dante said, if not Selina, who set it up? but Jason said Dante already knew the answer. Dante said, Sidwell.  

Tracy told Gio about Charlie’s and said they suspected arson. His Aunt Kristina was trapped and had minor injuries, unlike his Uncle Michael, who had severe injuries from a previous fire. The reason for both was Sonny Corinthos.

Maxie said they’d all agreed to let Sonny invest, except Tracy, and Brook said, this time, Tracy was right. She’d love to turn the evidence in, but Gio would hate her more than he did already. Was there any way they could wait for a subpoena? Maxie said, no. They needed to get ahead of it. She picked up a folder, and Brook said it was the wrong file, but Maxie opened it, seeing Britt’s picture. She asked what it was and why Brook had it, and Brook said it was supposed to be her revenge against Lulu.

Trina told Kai that even if her mother hadn’t had to work, they’d have canceled the cookout. Things were tense between her parents.

Michael told Willow that Wiley hadn’t seen her yet and to please leave before he did. She said the visitation hearing was August 1st. She’d see Wiley then. He said, until then, he was asking her not to make it harder than it had to be.  

Tracy told Gio that Sonny put everyone in danger around him. The people after Sonny knew he was Gio’s grandfather, and she had no intention of losing him. Gio said he wasn’t hers to lose, and she said, like it or not, he was a Quartermaine. He said, they might be related, but she didn’t own him and never would. Emma joined them and suggested they order some iced tea and cool down.

Brook said they should call their lawyer and turn the financials into the DA’s office, but Maxie said it could wait. What did she mean by revenge? Brook asked if she remembered when Lulu refused to apologize, and Maxie said, vividly. Brook said she recalled Lulu bragging that she’d never lie to her child, then remembered a story about Britt stealing an embryo and passing it off as her own. Rocco would want to know the truth and she needed proof. Maxie asked if she was going to show Rocco the file.

Rocco said the only reason Britt got pregnant was to trap Emma’s dad, but Danny said Emma told them there was more to the story than that. His mom was his mom, period. However he got here, Danny was glad he did and so was everybody else… almost. Rocco thanked Danny and said he was glad Danny told him the truth when no one else did. If Danny hadn’t found the file, he thought his parents would have never told him.

Turner said Natalia’s blood alcohol level was above the limit and the charge was real, as well as the consequences, and Sonny said she mentioned a five-year consequence. Did she tell Natalia that it was a possibility, or did she make it sound like a done deal without Natalia having an attorney present? Turner said she offered Natalia a great deal. She either killed herself or Sonny killed her. He was busy at his granddaughter’s christening, but his associates dropped her off at her room at the MetroCourt. Sonny said he hired nice guys, and she said, whether they forced Natalia to ingest huge amounts of tranquilizers and alcohol or she did herself, they both had a hand in her death.  

Brook told Maxie that she’d never show Rocco the file, but since Lulu would never keep a secret from him, she was sure he knew. Maxie asked when Lulu was supposed to tell him. When she was in a coma? Brook said she got why Lulu didn’t tell Rocco that Britt was her surrogate when Rocco was younger, but he was too old to be in the dark now. Maxie said Lulu was the one Brook was mad at, but it would hurt Rocco, and Brook said that’s why she didn’t tell him.

Laura asked if Lulu was saying she had to sacrifice her family and principles to beat Boyle, and Lulu said, if she wanted to win, something had to change. Laura said she believed in being straightforward with voters, but Lulu said, they read headlines, not articles. Laura said, Sonny told her this in confidence and it had to stay between them, and Lulu said it was off the record. Laura said Sonny told her that Sidwell was going to bring violence to Port Charles. Then the fire happened. It was a scare tactic, and she didn’t scare. Lulu said, it scared the public. Boyle was in Sidwell’s pocket. If he won, Laura was essentially handing the keys to the city to Sidwell. Laura said there was more than one thing at play. If she disavowed Sonny, she was playing into their hands. She had to be very smart with her next move. If she wasn’t careful, Port Charles could go from a bad situation to something much worse, like that. She snapped her fingers.

Dante told Jason that he read Sonny was a magnet for violence. What better way to prove it? Jason said, taking down Sidwell would be easier If Natalia hadn’t been found dead with Sonny’s guard in the hallway. Dante said he believed Sonny knew Natalia had evidence incriminating him, but he wasn’t allowed near the case, and Jason said it was probably for the best.

Sonny told Turner that Natalia was a strong person. In the end, we never know what drives a person to do what they did. Turner said he still blamed her, but he said she was doing her job. How Natalia dealt with it was on her, not Turner. Turner said, no more questions, and left.

Trina told Kai that she was worried about her parents. She wanted them to stay together. He said there was nothing wrong with wanting lasting love.

Tracy asked Emma to leave them alone, but Gio said he’d like her to stay. Or they could both leave. It was up to Tracy. Emma said Gio was going to tell her later anyway, and Tracy told Gio that his grandfather was a dangerous man. Gio said, not to him, but Tracy said, especially to him. Sonny’s family were targets and she didn’t want him to be the next victim. If he didn’t want to live in the main house, he could live in the gatehouse, or they could move Trina and Josslyn in there and he could have the apartment. Gio said he liked where he was living and wasn’t moving back. They were not family. Tracy said she understood that people in the house had hurt him, but his feelings weren’t worth his life. Emma said her grandmother was literally the Police Commissioner, and Tracy said, a lot of good she’d done to curb crime in Port Charles. She was Gio’s best bet. Gio said he’d consider it if it was really about his safety, but it was about him rejecting his grandfather. He wasn’t going to do it.

Wiley saw Willow and ran to her. She hugged him and said she missed him so much. He did great in the pool. Michael said it was time to go, and Wiley asked why they couldn’t stay and swim with mom. Willow told him that the judge said they had to wait a while longer before they could spend time together, and Wiley said he hated the judge. He missed her. Willow said, hopefully, the judge would change her mind soon, and Michael said it was time to go. Wiley and Willow hugged, and she told him to be a good boy and go with daddy. She loved him. Wiley said he loved her too, and left with Michael.   

Kai told Trina that they all wanted to believe making a commitment meant something and no matter what, they didn’t give up on each other. Trina said, it was a risk. When you trusted someone, they could disappoint you. He said, maybe if it was worth it, so was the risk. Trina was worth it. Trina said she never thought she’d feel like this again. He was worth it too.

Wiley told Michael that he didn’t want to wait for the judge. He wanted his mom to come home and be with him now. Michael said he knew, and hugged him.

Tracy said Gio was an adult, and she couldn’t force him, and Gio said, then they were done. Tracy said she had a request. After work, he should go by Charlie’s and see what was left. Then go to the hospital to visit his Aunt Kristina. Gio said he knew what she was doing, and she said, after that, she wanted him to go to the cemetery and visit his Uncle Morgan’s gravesite. He was 23 years old, a year older than Gio. He was killed in a car bomb because of his father. (Well, really Julian.)

Laura went to the PCPD and said she needed to see Sonny. The judgmental desk sergeant said, of course (🍷). He was in the interrogation room, and she could go in. Sonny asked if she was sure she wanted to be seen with him, and she said this couldn’t wait. He asked what was wrong, and she said he warned her that violence was coming. The thing was, a warning without details didn’t help much. She needed to know what Sonny knew.  

Jason said he and Dante lived in the same house, the house he swore he’d never move back to. Their kids were like brothers. Dante said, who would have thought that? and Jason said he didn’t want trouble with Dante and didn’t want to take any action involving him. Dante said he wished he believed Sonny wasn’t going to try and retaliate, but unfortunately, he knew better. He left, and Jason made a call. He asked if there were eyes on him yet… No. Let him know when they wanted to move.  

Brook told Maxie that she was going to set it up so Rocco accidently found the file, but he’d been through enough. Lulu had it coming, not Rocco. Maxie said she knew Lulu had hurt her, and intended or not – Brook said, it totally was – It wouldn’t solve anything. Brook said she could get back at Lulu for what Lulu did to her and Gio, but she chose not to. She was better than Lulu.  

Rocco went home, and Lulu said she thought he was working on something. He said she needed to tell him about Britt Westbourne.

On Monday, Rocco confronts Lulu about Britt giving birth to him; Josslyn tells Vaughn, this isn’t working. We’re done; Sidwell tells Anna if she’s looking for answers, look to him; Sonny tells Laura there may be a way to contain the damage.

🫔 No Enchilada This Week…

There’s no new GH tomorrow because…

🧼 All the Soap News Fit To Print…

Coming, albeit temporarily.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/kirsten-storms-temporarily-replaced-on-general-hospital-nicole-paggi-steps-in-as-maxie/

And going.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/eva-larue-exits-general-hospital-as-natalia-it-was-just-an-awesome-experience-excl/

She was really excellent in her final scene.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/eva-larue-on-natalias-death-on-general-hospital-ive-never-been-killed-before-excl/

🪟 Full disclosure, everything is a little shorter this week because not only did I suddenly realize the last GH would be on Thursday, but I also ended up at the doctor with no good, very bad allergies. No hot dog cookout for me, but that’s okay, there’s always streaming to catch up on.

💉 A Dose Of Reality…

Below Deck

Bosun Caio claimed to be adjusting to Captain Kerry. I think he meant adjusting to actual work, since that seemed to baffle him.

Caio, Caio.

Next Gen NYC

Georgia planned an event with Brooks’ mom Meredith (Real Housewives of Salt Lake City) which was an interesting pairing. Charlie continued to be a d-bag, which was no surprise to anyone, as well as Brooks’ dad being weirdly intrusive.

The Valley

Jesse finally proposed to Kristen in Maui and it made almost everyone cry.

Real Housewives Of Miami

Adriana hosted a baby shower for Julia and Martina. Lisa tried to guest, but became overwhelmed, still grieving her father. New Housewife Stephanie was introduced and we found out her goal in life was to become filthy rich – and she succeeded. Mazel! She gave one of the best quotes of the night: What kind of welcome is this? I was just asked to have a threesome. Where’s the food? Needless to say, there was also a bunch of fighting, and in her interview, Kiki also gave quote: Who fight at a baby shower? We need God. We need help. I’d say that covers it.

Random Reality Items

Couldn’t happen to a nicer guy.

The Runway returns.

https://ew.com/project-runway-season-21-trailer-contestant-clashes-nina-garcia-attitude-11764431

Scheana reveals all. I totally buy she didn’t know he was married. I doubt she could lie her way out of a paper bag or keep a secret.

https://ew.com/scheana-shay-opens-up-about-eddie-cibrian-affair-in-memoir-excerpt-11764114

I still miss Metul.

👀 Last Weekend’s Watch…

I mostly caught up on series since I actually went out in the real world and interacted with real people last weekend.

Trainwreck: Poop Cruise. Netflix. This one made me want to never go on a cruise. No air conditioning, no lights, no food, no more booze for you, no toilets, and I will never look at a red bag the same way again. Or lasagna. And if you should decide to brave the high seas, make sure you read that contract thoroughly.

https://www.eonline.com/news/1419133/carnivals-poop-cruise-cruise-ship-nightmare-timeline

Squid Game. Netflix. Since it’s still fresh, no spoilers, but IMO, the ending probably wasn’t what anyone hoped for. That being said, the final leg of the series was still spectacular and the VIPs super creepy. I’d love to see those cut scenes.

https://deadline.com/2025/07/squid-game-season-3-premiere-viewership-netflix-1236446846/

Behind the scenes.

https://ew.com/squid-game-season-3-jump-rope-vips-cut-exclusive-11765916

What might have been.

https://www.slashfilm.com/1900202/squid-game-season-3-gi-hun-alternate-ending/

The Gilded Age. HBO/Max. Basically Downton Abbey set in NYC, this show is worth watching for the costumes and sets alone. My only complaint is that it’s being doled out like methadone, one episode at a time. Yeah, I’m spoiled. Speaking of which, some mild spoilers.

https://ew.com/the-gilded-age-review-season-3-11752361

The real deal.

https://www.indiewire.com/features/commentary/the-gilded-age-season-3-fact-vs-fiction-1235135953/

🐍 Adios, Sidewinder…

I was sad to hear this. He’s the reason hearing Stuck in the Middle With You has a whole new connotation now.

https://ew.com/michael-madsen-dead-reservoir-dogs-and-kill-bill-actor-was-67-11766378

🐾 Red, White, and Pet…

Dress them up, but please don’t take them out.

https://cheezburger.com/6118661/16-super-cute-animals-all-dressed-up-to-celebrate-4th-of-july

🐝 Quotes of the Week

Music doesn’t lie. If there is something to be changed in this world, then it can only happen through music. – Jimi Hendrix

You are not called to be a canary in a cage. You are called to be an eagle, and to fly sun to sun, over continents. – Henry Ward Beecher

To be nobody but yourself — in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else — means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight; and never stop fighting. – e. e. cummings

We never know when our last day on earth will be. So, love with full sincerity, believe with true faith, and hope with all of your might. Better to have lived in truth and discovered life, than to have lived half-heartedly and died long before you ever ceased breathing. – Cristina Marrero

No need to hurry. No need to sparkle. No need to be anybody but oneself. – Virginia Woolf

Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear – not absence of fear. – Mark Twain

Sometimes what’s right for the hole isn’t right for the soul. – Marisol Patton, Real Housewives of Miami

🦅 Waiting For the Chirp, Chirp, Chirp…

Until next week, stay safe; stay following pet safety guidelines for the 4th of July; and stay not leaving folders meant for revenge lying around.

June 27, 2025 – GH Weekdays, Daisy’s Christening Day, Soap Suds, This Week In Reality, Weekend Watching, Dead Coming Up, New Squid, Bite Me, Above & Beyond, Octrain Of Quotes & Banner

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

🥢 Weekday Bites…

Monday:

Carly talked to Michael in the MetroCourt Garden about Daisy’s christening, but he wasn’t paying attention. She asked what was going on, and he said welcoming a new family member felt cruel to Willow.

Nina said Willow had just gotten divorced, but Willow said she’d just lost her kids. Marrying Drew would help her get them back.

In his office, Martin told Drew that he’d alerted the media. Tracy had caved and they had her where they wanted her.

Brook found Tracy in the solarium and told her that there was so much she wanted to say to Gio, but she was giving him space. Tracy said Gio would come to her when he was ready. She wanted to run something by Brook, and Brook asked if she was hiding a body. Tracy said, not yet. She’d received an offer from Drew and had agreed to his terms. She needed to decide if she should go through with it.

Kai went to the gallery and told Trina that he’d taken Drew up on his offer and accepted the internship.

Portia sat down in the locker room and Isaiah came out in a towel.

Curtis came out of pool, and Jordan said she was shocked to find him there in the middle of the day. How would Aurora survive without him chained to his desk? He said, through the magic of cellphones. What was the point in working in a building that had a rooftop pool if he didn’t take advantage of it once in a while?

Carly said it was up to Michael and Sasha, but his beautiful baby girl was something to celebrate, and he shouldn’t feel guilty about the christening. He’d fought for his parental rights and the judge decided the children were better off with him full time. She was relieved. He said he was too, but was having a hard time getting past Willow falling apart in court. Carly said they’d been in love a long time and that didn’t go away overnight, but he said it wasn’t just that. Willow loved the kids and was still their mother, and he wanted her to be when she was ready and healthy. The real problem was Drew.

Willow said she and Michael had gotten married when they wanted to fight Nelle, and Nina said, so it was just a legal tactic, but Willow said this was different. She and Michael weren’t in love the first time they got married. She and Drew were in love and intended to stay married. They were telling the truth. Nina said, they knew that, but the judge wouldn’t.

Jordan told Curtis that the job with Sidwell gave her a bump in salary, so she could afford something bigger. Plus, to maintain her cover, she had to commit to the part. Anyone in her position would upgrade their living situation.

Isaiah told Portia that he was sorry. He didn’t realize anyone was in here. She said she needed a minute after pulling a 15-hour shift. She was trying to work up the energy and wherewithal to go home and couldn’t find it.

Trina said she thought was turning down the move to DC, and Kai said he did turn it down. He didn’t want to leave Port Charles or her, but Drew said the position had flexibility and Drew would make it work for him. Drew was letting him work in Port Charles. He might go to DC one in a while, but he definitely wasn’t moving there. Trina said she was happy he was staying, and he said him too. He asked if she was okay about him taking the internship. He wanted her to be honest. She said she didn’t trust Drew and thought working for him would be Kai’s biggest mistake.

Drew told Martin that this was the second best thing that happened to him all day, and Martin wondered what could possibly be better. Drew said Willow agreed to marry him, and Martin said he’d offer congratulations, but he and matrimony were no longer speaking. It was a smart strategy for the custody fight. Drew said what was different was that he loved Willow and looked forward to her sharing his last name – Quartermaine.

Tracy told Brook about the press conference and said if she dropped the cease and desist preventing Drew from using the name, he would refuse to cooperate with the authorities and the ketamine charges would go away. Brook asked what the problem was, and Tracy said, her pride. It was telling her to let this ridiculous case go forward. Force them to prove it. Brook said, could they? and Tracy said, of course (🍷) not. She didn’t drug Drew. Brook said, normally she’d tell Tracy to fight to the end, but it was a matter of public record that she’d framed Alexis. She could lose even though she didn’t do it. Drew was a complete sleaze, and he was offering her an offramp. She may just need to swallow her pride and take it.

Isaiah said Portia was Co-Chief of Staff. Why was she working a long shift? She said someone had to cover for Dr. Park in the ER and she volunteered. He said he apologized if he was overstepping, but was she possibly taking on too much? She said she was actively avoiding going home, and he said if things were tough there and at home, she needed a distraction and to not think of either.

Curtis said Jordan was good at making a believable cover, and she said there were so many life-or-death situations where he had her back and helped her. He said he knew she had his back, and they reminisced about a drug operation where they sat in his busted-up car in the August heat with no air conditioning. Jordan said, if only his employees knew their polished CEO once sat in a sweatbox, and Curtis said he remembered the chase. Then the look on his face when he realized he’d been played. Jordan said, that almost made it worth it.

Nina said if Willow married Drew, it would look like they were working the system. The judge saw how devastated Willow was. She’d think they only married to change that. Willow said they wouldn’t be, and Nina said, they knew that, but had to make sure no decisions seemed irresponsible or reckless. Willow said Martin had advised them to get married. He’d said it was a good strategy. Nina said, it might be, but Willow didn’t have to do it right away.

Michael told Carly that he and Willow had no chance to solve their problems. If Drew had backed off, who knew what could have happened? Carly said, Drew was family. They were close and he trusted Drew. Then Drew betrayed him in the worst possible way. Michael said, then Drew played mind games with his son, making Wiley think he didn’t want him. It was despicable. What kind of man did that? She said, someone with no moral compass. At least for now, Willow was blind to it. Michael said that was going to change.

Kai asked if Trina’s parents couldn’t keep their grudge with Drew between them, and she said they happened to be people she loved and who mattered to her. He said he got they had a bad experience, but Drew had been nothing but good to him, and she said she he was, but she had to question Drew’s motives. Kai asked if it wasn’t possible Drew saw something in him. She had. It was an amazing opportunity to explore politics on a national level without leaving Port Charles. She said she didn’t know he was interested in politics, and he said all he’d thought about was football. Now his future was wide open. It intrigued him. He liked helping people and serving the community. He wanted to see where it went. Maybe he’d pursue it long term or maybe not, but he did know he was hoping that working with someone she didn’t like wouldn’t come between them.

Brook asked if Tracy was that worried about Drew calling himself a Quartermaine, and Tracy said it did. The name meant something, and he didn’t deserve the name or the respect that went with it. Brook said Drew would never get what he really wanted – their acceptance. He’d never actually be one of them. Monica wouldn’t even let him into the house. If he needed a name change to drop the charges, give it to him. Tracy said she’d face the humiliation that came with the deal she made with the devil, but Brook said she wouldn’t be doing it alone, and took Tracy’s hand.

Isaiah said Portia would be no good to her patients if she ran herself into the ground. If she wasn’t going to get sleep, at least have some fun. Portia said she didn’t remember what fun was like, and Isaiah said they’d have to change that. It was a beautiful day, and they were going to go have fun.

Carly said Michael was legally able to get the kids away from Drew, and he said if Willow had any chance of being in their lives, Drew had to be taken out of the equation. Carly said she’d even teamed up with Nina, but nothing would shake Drew’s hold on Willow, but he said that was before she lost her kids. She painted Drew as her hero, but he was the real reason she’d lost her children. If she was forced to see that, maybe it would finally be enough for her to walk away for good.

Nina said it was fine if Willow and Drew wanted to get married, but they had to convince the judge it was a real marriage, not just a legal strategy. There should be no rush. No city hall. No Vegas. An actual wedding that was planned. Willow said she’d have to wait longer to see her kids, but Nina said there had been no visitation hearing yet. Willow said if they got married by the time the hearing was scheduled, it would improve her chances, but Nina said rash decision making wasn’t going to help her get her kids back.

Jordan said, afterward, she and Curtis had sat on the roof of his car, and he said they celebrated finally nailing Hoffman. She said the breeze from the water cooled them off. She remembers it being the best feeling ever. He said, because it was.

Kai said he appreciated that Trina was worried, but he was making a choice based on his experiences and could handle himself. He didn’t have to like someone to learn from them. Trina said, but he liked Drew, and he said he did. Maybe Drew would give him a reason not to, but that was a lesson he had to learn for himself. It was an amazing opportunity, and he was going to take it. His phone dinged and he said he had to go to a press conference for Drew. He’d call her later. As he left, she called him back and kissed him. She said she didn’t have to agree with him to be on his side. He had this. He thanked her and kissed her.

Brook met Chase at the press conference, and Tracy said she appreciated the support, but Brook didn’t have to notify the family to witness her public humiliation. Brook said she was Tracy’s moral support and Chase was hers. Chase said he was here support Tracy too, and Tracy said she’d been through worse, when Martin came in.

Curtis said, it was a long time ago, and Jordan said things were a lot different. He said he was proud of them. They’d come a long way. She said she just got a glimpse of the guy she used to know, when Portia came in with Isaiah. Curtis’s phone rang, and he said it was Trina. Trina asked if he could come by the gallery.

Portia told Isaiah that her workaholic husband made time to spend at the pool with Jordan, and he said maybe they had the same idea they did. Portia said they weren’t co-workers and didn’t need to decompress. They used to be married. Did he think they’re behavior was appropriate? He said he didn’t think he was the person to ask. He wasn’t impartial. He and Jordan used to date.

Willow said getting married could be the only way to get her kids back, and Nina asked if Drew was pushing her, but she said, not at all. Nina suggested she tell Drew that she wanted more time to plan. As her mother, she’d love to give Willow the wedding she’d dreamed of. They could plan it together. Willow said she’d already told Drew that she’d marry him, but she’d think about the rest of what Nina said. She had to go. Nina told her to call if she needed to talk, and Willow left.

Carly says she wants Drew out of Willow’s life almost as much as Michael does, but she may never leave Drew. Was he willing to keep the children out of her life for good if that was the case? He said Drew wouldn’t be part of Wiley and Amelia’s life. It was non-negotiable.

Martin told the press that Congressman Quartermaine was going to address the charges against his aunt, Tracy Quartermaine. There was nothing more important to him than family, honesty, and loyalty. Brook wondered if Tracy would go through with it, and Chase said Tracy had the means, motive, and opportunity. Brook said Tracy’s colorful past didn’t help, but if Tracy had wanted to drug Drew, she wouldn’t have met him in a public place and kept the evidence in her car. She’d already been caught framing someone and wouldn’t let herself get caught again. He said it was an interesting and perfectly logical defense.

Drew said, it didn’t have to go this way. Tracy could have cooperated. Tracy said he was so proud himself for winning. Gloat wasn’t a good color on him. He said, nor on her, although she’d worn it many times. Now that the shoe was on the other foot, he guesses it was proof they were related. He left and she said, think again.

Isaiah told Portia that he and Jordan’s relationship was brief. It got complicated and she wanted to step back. Portia said she could guess why, and he said this wasn’t helping her unwind. Maybe they should go. She said, absolutely not, and he said he’d wanted to help her relax, not add to her tension. She said it hadn’t. Curtis didn’t even notice she was here. Clearly, he was focused on something else.

At the press conference, Drew told Kai, when it was over, they could go back to what was important, making the constituents happy. His aunt made a grave error in judgement and when she acknowledged that, he could put the incident behind him and move forward. Kai flashed back to hearing Curtis talk about paying Jacinda off to say Drew took the ketamine on purpose, and Drew said he’d see Kai after the press conference.

Nina said she needed to talk to Carly. Carly needed to get through to Michael. If she didn’t, Willow was going to marry Drew.

Michael found Willow in the solarium and told her that the kids weren’t there. She said Yuri told her and although she’d love to see them, she came to see him.

Trina told Curtis that Kai accepted a position as Drew’s congressional intern, and he said he was sorry. There were better people for Kai to work and learn from, but don’t let the tension affect their relationship. Kai was a good guy and Trina seemed happy with him. Don’t let this stop that between them. Trina said she knew Curtis was trying to find the escort and bring her back, but she didn’t understand how it would protect her mom. He said it was complicated and to leave it alone, but she said she couldn’t. What kind of trouble was her mom in?

Portia said she couldn’t fix the situation until she knew what she was dealing with, when Isaiah’s phone rang. He said he needed to take it and when he left, Portia went over to Jordan. She said she was sorry to interrupt. Jordan must be exhausted from entertaining her husband all afternoon.

Carly said she felt awful about Willow, and Nina said she’d be legally entitled to visitation sooner or later. Carly said they’d deal with it them, and Nina said both kids were at an impressionable age. Drew would be a potential role model and a huge influence. The only way to change that would be for Michael to compromise now. Carly needed to convince him to allow Willow to see the kids and get a court order as soon as possible and make sure it’s just Willow, not Drew. Carly said she didn’t think it was possible, and Nina said if Willow saw the kids, she could pry her away from Drew. Carly had the power to get Michael to allow Willow to see the children.

Michael asked how Willow was feeling, and she said, better. She was so shocked. It hit her all at once and she didn’t know how to handle it. He said it was a surprise to him too, and she said the process was horrible. She didn’t want another court fight. Wiley and Amelia loved and needed them both, and they needed to set a good example. Michael agreed, and she said that’s why she wasn’t hiding anything anymore.  Their lack of honesty was what got them into trouble in the first place. She and Drew were getting married.

Drew addressed the press and said he knew his family was a fractious group and Tracy Angelica Quartermaine’s questionable judgement was legendary. As a family, they’d decided it didn’t make sense to waste taxpayer money and clog the court with a personal mattery. His aunt fully regretted her actions that led to her arrest and was pleased to make a public announcement. The Quartermaine family would settle the dispute in house, and he’d no longer cooperate with the investigation involving his aunt and strongly encouraged them to drop the charges. Now his aunt would like to address them herself.

Tracy took the podium and said she’d like to read a few prepared remarks. With regard to the reckless and reprehensible accusations she’d levied against her beloved and honorable nephew, Congressman Drew Quar… After trying several times, she said she couldn’t do it. She had to tell the truth. Drew took the drugs, then planted them in her car. He caused embarrassment and disgrace to the family when he destroyed his nephew’s marriage and should be thrown out of office the same way his stepmother threw him out of the Quartermaine mansion.

Tuesday:

Jason met Sonny at Sonny’s house. Sonny said Turner thought she was sending him to prison, but didn’t know her star witness was about to disappear.

Sidwell invited Lucy to lunch at the MetroCourt Garden, and said his son would be joining them.

Jordan said she didn’t know what Portia was implying, and Portia said she saw Jordan and Curtis by the pool, smiling and laughing. Jordan said reminiscing about old times? and Portia asked if she meant during their marriage. Jordan said Portia needed to have a conversation with Curtis, but Portia said Curtis wasn’t the problem. Jordan was.

Trina told Curtis about Kai overhearing him and Portia talking about Jacinda. She asked if Portia was in trouble and did Drew have something to do with it. Kai was working with Drew, and she needed him to tell her what was going on.

Tracy tried to call Drew Congressman Quartermaine, but couldn’t do it. She said she had to tell the truth. Drew took the drugs, then planted some in her car to embarrass and disgrace her. Just ask her nephew about that. He should be thrown out of office the same way his stepmother threw him out of the Quartermaine mansion. Martin suggested Brook take Tracy home. She was either having a stroke or sundowning.

Nina said Carly had to convince Michael to give Willow visitation. It was the only way to stop her from marrying Drew. Carly said Nina had plenty of chances to do that and nothing had worked. Why was this time different?

Michael said he and Willow married to get custody of Wiley from Nelle. Did she think it was going to help her this time? She said she loved Drew and wanted to spend the rest of her life with him, and Michael said if she married Drew, he’d make sure she never saw the kids again.

Jason said Natalia’s house was set up along with the guards, and Sonny said if she brought over the incriminating records, she’d be off to Belize. Jason said he had eyes on her just in case, but had one concern. What if Natalia already told Sidwell everything she knew?

Sidwell, Marco, and Lucy talked about Sidwell’s house in Dubai, and Sidwell said he’d tried to swing a substantial sale Lucy’s way, but it fell through. She asked if he was talking about Windymere, but he said, no. Sonny’s piers. Sonny considered his offer, but decided not to take it. Que sera sera. Lucy said, don’t give up yet. Perhaps she could still make it happen.

Nina said if Michael agreed to a generous visitation schedule, there was no way Willow would pass it up, even if Drew couldn’t go. Eventually, Willow would see that she didn’t need Drew’s help to have the kids in her life, and it would be the beginning of the end of their relationship. Carly said Drew was still calling the shots. There was no way he’d let Willow agree when it didn’t include him.

Willow said Michael won custody, but once she and Drew were married, the judge would revisit it and give her at least partial custody. Michael said he wasn’t being cruel, but after her meltdown, he didn’t think that would happen. He’d exercise every bit of his power to protect his kids. She said he didn’t have to protect them from her, but he said as long as she was with Drew, it wasn’t healthy for them. It was his opinion and the judge’s too. She said Willow’s relationship with Drew was the reason she’d lost. If they got married, she would seal her fate. She said he was just trying to bully her into dumping Drew. He was scared she was going to win and when she did, she’d try to have more compassion than he had for her.

Tracy said she was no fool, and on the side, Kai said he wanted to get Drew out of there, out of the line of fire and away from the cameras. Martin said Tracy blew her chance to stay out of prison with her insolent behavior. If there was any doubt about her guilt, there wasn’t now. She said his client got caught acting like a frat boy on spring break and was trying to cover his ass, planting the ketamine to frame her. From the audience, Cody said she was dead wrong about that.

Lucy said perhaps she could get Sonny to reconsider, but Sidwell said he’d declined before. She said circumstances had changed and she thought she’d pay him a visit right now. Sidwell called her an angel, and hugged her.

Sonny told Jason that he’d considered the possibility of Natalia leaking information to Sidwell, but from what he’d seen, she couldn’t stand Sidwell. The animosity ran deep and Sidwell would make plans to come after him even if Natalia was gone. He wasn’t the type to take no for an answer.

Portia said she’d seen Jordan begging for Curtis’s attention before, when Isaiah came back. Portia said Jordan found excuses to seek Curtis out, but Jordan said they had business dealings, and they were still family. Curtis was TJ’s uncle. And they were friends. Portia was projecting and what she’d described was how she chipped away at Jordan’s marriage to Curtis. Portia asked if it was pay back, and Jordan said if they were having a problem, it wasn’t on her. Portia asked, who said they were having problems? and Jordan said something wasn’t right or Portia wouldn’t be confronting her. Portia said Jordan had been fawning over Curtis and it was embarrassing, and Jordan said Portia was the one causing a scene because she felt insecure. It had nothing to do with her. If Portia’s marriage was on the rocks, Jordan was guessing she only had herself to blame. Grabbing a drink from nearby, Portia threw it on Jordan.

Cutis said Trina’s mother was in a tough position with very negative consequences if it wasn’t handled, and Trina asked how she could help. He said she couldn’t. They were handling it. She asked if he was tracking down Jacinda, and he said, yes. She asked if he was going to ask her to lie, but he said, the less she knew, the better. She said she understood he wanted to protect her but thought he was making a big mistake. She could help.

Tracy said she gave Cody a roof over his head and a job. This was how he repaid her? Brook told Chase that Cody despised Drew, and Chase asked why he was doing this. Brook said she had no idea. Martin announced that Cody was the son of the PCPD Chief of Police Mac Scorpio and worked for Tracy. It was courageous for him to speak out against his employer. Cody said he wasn’t a supporter of Drew’s and didn’t vote for him, but he couldn’t stand by and see him be accused of something he didn’t do. Cody was in charge of the horses, and Hades was their prize show horse. Before the Hampton Classic, Hades needed a minor medical procedure, and he had to help by getting an anesthetic. His truck wouldn’t start so he borrowed Tracy’s car. In addition to supplies, he picked up ketamine and must have left a vial in Tracy’s car. That meant the congressman didn’t frame her and Miss Quartermaine didn’t drug the congressman. She was innocent.

Curtis said he appreciated Trina’s concern, but her mom was in this situation because of him. Drew had been gunning for him and got to him through Trina’s mother. He was the target, not her, and he didn’t want Trina involved. They were capable people, and she had to trust him. Trina asked him to promise to tell her if it got worse, and he promised, but told her, in the meantime, don’t discuss it with anyone. She promised that she and Kai wouldn’t tell anyone.  

Jordan asked what was wrong with Portia, and Isaiah told Portia to come with him. As she left, Portia warned Jordan to stay out of her marriage. Isaiah hustled her out and asked if she felt better. Portia said, not really. This wasn’t her, but she had to deal with this once and for all. Her phone rang and she said now was her chance.

Nina told Carly that she’d deal with Drew, but needed Michael to work with her. Do it for their grandchildren. They loved and needed to see their mother. It would also help Willow deal with the trauma. Carly said she wasn’t unsympathetic, but hadn’t forgotten what Willow put the children through. She couldn’t stop Willow from marrying Drew; no one could. Nina would have to figure out another way. Carly left.

Jason said too bad Sidwell wasn’t legit. Sonny selling him the piers would solve all their problems. Sonny said, leaving Port Charles in Sidwell’s hands was a huge mistake, and Jason said they couldn’t tie him to the explosion or exonerate him. There was too much uncertainty, and they should prepare for blowback. There was a knock at the door, and Jason opened it to Lucy carrying a basket of oranges. She said she was hoping to have a tête-à-tête with Sonny, and Jason said he had to get going. He left and Lucy said they needed to talk about Sonny’s piers.

Outside, Jason’s phone rang. Nina asked if there was any chance he could meet her at the MetroCourt.

Michael said he’d tried to be compassionate, but Willow said he was unreasonable. She’d flown to Germany to see if they could work something out, and he refused to see her. He asked where she was getting that. No one told him that she was there. She said she spoke to the receptionist, who’d conferred with him and said he didn’t want to see her. He said, that never happened. It must have been a mistake. Willow said the mistake was hers thinking it was possible to be amicable, but he said it made no sense. She said he couldn’t stand it that she chose Drew over him, and he was holding it against her, keeping the children from her as punishment for falling in love with another man. He said he’d never use the children to punish her, but he would protect him from Drew, who was a destructive, manipulative fraud. She insisted Drew was none of those things. He respected her enough to tell her the truth, and he said Drew lied to her and she lied to herself. Willow said Drew treated her as an equal, and he said she wouldn’t stop living in her warped fantasy life. She said he was used to getting his way, but not this time. She was going to marry Drew, and she was going to get her children back.

Martin asked why Cody hadn’t stepped up before now, and Cody said he didn’t watch the news. There was so much sadness out there. He didn’t realize he’d left the ketamine in the car until it was time for the procedure. The full truth was he didn’t ask to borrow Tracy’s car and was worried she’d be upset if she found out. Martin said, more than facing charges that would send her to prison? and Cody said he didn’t realize how far it had gone. When he found out what happened, he had to say something. Martin asked how much Tracy was paying him, and Cody said he had the receipt, pulling it out of his pocket and reading, Dr. Jane Thomas, DVM. Martin said that didn’t prove a damn thing. It could have been doctored. Tracy grabbed the receipt and said she’d take it to an expert to prove it wasn’t. It was going right to her lawyer. Martin made a grab for it and fell off the stage.

Sonny asked if Sidwell sent Lucy over, but she said, no. She thought he needed to reconsider Sidwell’s offer. It wasn’t about the commission, but about being his friend and getting him out of a politically sticky situation. Measure C made a mess for him and Laura. Why turn down Sidwell? Sonny said, because he was a bad guy, and Lucy asked if he realized he was already in business with Sidwell through Deception. He said it wasn’t his decision, and she said the stock was soaring. It would be that much better if Sidwell owned the piers to operate his import business. He said, minerals and God knows what else, and she said in the spirit of cooperation and friendship, what could she do to make it happen?

Marco wondered if Sidwell thought Lucy could get Sonny to change his mind, and Sidwell said it was a long shot, but she was very persuasive. He hoped she succeeded so he didn’t have to resort to more drastic measures… Just kidding. Marco said he didn’t think Sonny would be an impediment for much longer.

Nina told Jason that Drew was engaged to her daughter, and she needed to make sure they didn’t make it to the altar. He asked how he could help, and she said she pitched a plan to Carly to get Michael on board, but Carly turned her down. She was desperate and Michael valued his opinion. He asked, what was her plan? and she said she wanted Michael to let Willow see the kids – without Drew. It would give Willow less reason to marry Drew and give her wiggle room to get Willow to postpone the wedding. If she got really lucky, she could convince Willow to dump Drew altogether. He said, it could work, and she asked if that meant he’d talk to Michael. Willow approached and asked, what’s going on here?

Carly told Michael that she’d talked to Nina and Nina told her that Willow and Drew were getting married. He said he knew. Willow was just there. She was convinced it would help her win back custody. Carly said, Nina thought if he allowed Willow visitation without Drew, it would take away her incentive to get married. Eventually, she could be pried away from Drew, and he’d be out of the picture for good. In the end, that’s what he wanted, right?

Portia said she was at the pool when Curtis called, and he said they must have missed each other. She said, they didn’t. She saw him with Jordan and thought they needed to have a conversation about that. He said they needed to discuss Trina. She knew Portia was in trouble, and knew it was because of Drew.

Martin was helped up, and Drew said he thought it best to bring the conference to an end. He thanked everyone for their time and patience, but Tracy said, before they left, there was something Drew might want to say to the good people of Port Charles. Drew said it seemed his dear Aunt Tracy had been exonerated, and he couldn’t tell them how relieved he was to know she wasn’t the one who drugged him. But rest assured he’d be working closely with the PCPD to find the real culprit. Tracy said he didn’t have to look far. Just look in the mirror. She laughed.

Jordan said she was glad Isaiah was still there, and he asked if she was okay. She said it was unexpected, but she was fine, and she thanked him for intervening. She didn’t know why Portia flew off the handle. He said he saw her with Curtis too. Was she seriously trying to say there was nothing to worry about?

Portia said they should have been more careful and asked if Curtis thought Kai told Drew what he heard. Curtis said, Trina told him that Kai wouldn’t, and he had a hard time believing Kai would do anything to hurt their family or Trina. He wanted to make sure Trina didn’t get tangled up in this. She asked if Trina knew what Drew was holding over her head, but Curtis said she had no idea Portia doctored Heather Webber’s test results. Portia said, if she did, she’d probably blame herself, and he agreed. They had to make sure to stop Drew. She said it didn’t seem possible, but he said he had some good news.

Michael said he thought Willow would come to her senses, but he was wrong and so were Carly and Nina. Today he knew Willow was incapable of realizing that her and Drew’s relationship was harming the kids. It was why she lost custody, and she couldn’t or wouldn’t see it. Ultimately, it didn’t matter because the impact on the kids was the same. Carly asked, what was his plan? and Michael said he’d ask Diane to delay the visitation hearing, but when it happened, Willow would get nothing. Keeping the kids from their mother broke his heart, but he couldn’t allow Drew to be part of their lives.

Drew said if Martin hadn’t been focused on revenge, he would have seen what Tracy was planning and stop it before she made fools of them. Martin said he could do damage control with the press, but Drew said he’d done enough. Martin said he was going to the hospital to get his back checked, and Drew said Martin’s retainer was all he was getting.  

Chase said, that was quite a speech, and Cody said it was the truth. Chase asked if he really had the receipt, and Cody said he’d have to check. He wasn’t so good at keeping records.  

Brook said, that was wild. Cody rode in to rescue Tracy. Tracy said she was relieved to be cleared.

Sonny said Lucy was a savvy businesswoman and savvy enough to know not to get involved in the situation. Lucy said he was judging Sidwell by his reputation, not his actions, but he said he trusted his sources. She said she also trusted hers and thanked him for hearing her out. She hoped she hadn’t imposed on their friendship. He said, not at all, especially when she brought him delicious oranges. They ate one.

Sidwell asked why Sonny wouldn’t be a problem. Did Marco know something? Marco told him that he’d said as much as he could say, and Sidwell said he hoped Marco was right. He preferred not to get his hands dirty, but if it was the only option to eradicate Sonny from Port Charles, so be it.

Jordan said nothing was going on, and Isaiah asked if it was completely innocent… It wasn’t his business anymore. She said she was sorry it didn’t work out, and he said him too. He saw that Sidwell wasn’t the only problem. Her ex-husband was too. She said that wasn’t true, but he said, deep down, she knew it was. If not, she was in for a rude awakening.

Curtis told Portia that Felicia had a lead on Jacinda. She was in Sydney, He didn’t know her exact location, but he would within 48 hours. Portia said, maybe the nightmare would be over soon, and Curtis said if he could convince Jacinda to come back and publicly state that Drew hired her for a wild night of sex and drugs, he’d be too busy to focus on imploding Portia’s career.

Tracy asked if Brook didn’t think Cody would lie, and Brook said she wasn’t judging, but it was clever. Tracy said, it was Michael’s idea. A real Quartermaine knows how to get things done.

Drew told Kai that he’d have to call off the wedding. He couldn’t be the reason Willow lost her kids. Kai asked if he thought it was a possibility, and Drew said it seemed everyone was against them. Kai said there was something he should know. Curtis Ashford planned to find the escort and bring her back to say Drew knowingly abused drugs. He should prepare for increased scrutiny. (I said, no, no, no, no, no, through the whole thing.)

Willow asked if Michael sent Jason to intimidate her and her mom, and Jason said she was making a mistake. She said he was wrong about his brother. Drew was a good man, and she couldn’t wait to be his wife. Together, they were going to get her kids back. He said, if that’s what she wanted to do, that was her choice, and left.

Michael said he hated separating the kids from their mom, but it was for their own good, and Carly said she’d been where he was. She was convinced keeping him from AJ was the right thing, but he didn’t thank her for that decision. His kids might not thank him and might very well resent him. He said he had to do it anyway and live with the consequences.

Wednesday:

Gio instructed Rocco and Danny on working at the pool. Danny was on water and Rocco on towels. Rocco told Danny that his mom took his photo like it was his first day at school. From a chaise lounge, Lulu waved to Rocco.

At the Quartermaines, Marco gave Lulu two birth certificates for Rocco, telling her how, 7 months later, it was altered to Rocco Falconari. Dante walked in.

Kristina went to Alexis’s office and Alexis said she’d seen Elizabeth. Martin was pushing her to sue the car company. She wasn’t interested and Alexis thought she didn’t suspect Kristina’s involvement. Kristina said Elizabeth didn’t suspect, she knew. Lucky told her.

At the gallery, Ava gave Laura an invitation to the Joel Sartore opening, but Laura said her calendar was overflowing. If she couldn’t make it, could she pass the tickets on to Elizabeth?

Ric came into the hospital, and Elizabeth said she was busy, but he said he was there to see a potential client.

Martin told Lucas that his back was still killing him. Lucas examined him and Martin said it was all Tracy Quartermaine’s fault.

Tracy looked at her phone and laughed, when Cody walked in. He said he knew how much she enjoyed watching Martin fall ass over teakettle, and she thanked him. She knew the minute she told him to shut up, Martin would insist he speak. She was trying to make a GIF of Drew’s face the minute he realized she’d won, but she’d ask Leo to do it later. They needed to discuss his payment. He said he didn’t want her money.

At Sonny’s, he asked what Natalia’s answer was, but she said she didn’t know. He was asking her to give up her life. He said, for a whole new beautiful, comfortable life in Belize. They were running out of time. What was her answer?

Rocco asked what Lulu was doing there, and she said she was just another guest. She asked if he remembered his social security number and if he thanked Carly, while she straightened his shirt. Danny told Gio that Rocco was so embarrassed. if his mom was here… she’d do the same thing. Gio said, so would his.

Brook told Dante that they were wrapping up and said she’d let Marco know when she made a decision. Marco left, and Dante said he assumed Chase told Brook what happened. She said, yeah. He could hold what he wanted against her, but Chase was just protecting her. He said he didn’t want to hear it, and she asked if he wanted to yell at her again. He said he didn’t. Talking to Chase made him realize it wasn’t getting him anywhere. In order to reach Gio, they had to work together.

Cody told Tracy that Drew was such an ass, he was happy to take him down a peg or two. She’d been framed and he was glad to help. She was a great boss, and it was the best job he’d had. She said Hades loved him and she found him more than tolerable. She thanked him.

Kristina said Lucky didn’t mention the blackmail to Elizabeth. Just that he helped cover it up. She had the right to turn Kristina in, but wasn’t going to. Alexis said Elizabeth must know Lucky could be charged as an accessory after the fact, but Kristina said, Lucky was headed to Africa, but Elizabeth knew it would hurt Alexis and Molly. Alexis said Kristina’s plan to break up Ava and Ric needed to stop.

Ava said, of course (🍷), and Laura said Elizabeth loved art and now that she had her cast off, she probably wanted to get out. Ava said she was happy Elizabeth was feeling better, and asked if Laura wanted a sneak peek at Joel’s new book. She sipped at a drink, and Laura said not her too with the dragonberry juice. Ava said Ric got her hooked on it, and Laura said he and Elizabeth were drinking it when she stopped by.  

Elizabeth asked Lucas if Laura knew Martin was in the hospital, but he said he wasn’t sure. She said she’d do the honors, and he said he’d noticed Ric was around, but she said he was there for a potential client. Lucas pointed out that Ric had dropped by every day since Lucky left, and she asked if he thought she was leading Ric on.  

Sonny said the longer Natalia stalled, Turner would pull the deal and prosecute her. He couldn’t let her give Turner anything that incriminated him. Natalia handed him the key to her safe deposit box and said, everything was in it. Her life was in his hands.

Ava said Ric had been working nonstop, and Laura said, now that the Corinthos case was settled, he’d have more time. Laura’s phone rang and she stepped away to take the call. It was Elizabeth.

Kristina said, as long as Ric and Ava were in it together, they’d drain the Cassadine estate dry, and Alexis would get caught for embezzlement. Alexis said she wouldn’t leave Elizabeth in Ric’s crosshairs, but Kristina said, she already was. If anyone could handle Ric, she could. Alexis said Elizabeth had a soft spot for Ric and she’d take him back. They should tell her about the blackmail. Kristina said, if they did, she’d confront Ric before she kicked him out of her life. Then he’d retaliate by sending her to prison. They were in this too deep and couldn’t say anything.

Cody told Tracy that he didn’t like taking money to help a friend.

Martin said he was going to sue Tracy for emotional and physical distress and the damage would go up with every spasm, but Ric said Martin had lunged at the paper, lost his balance, and fell. Martin said Tracy goaded him. How about a nuisance suit? She’d pay them to go away. Ric said Tracy was too vindictive to settle and he’d need a retainer of $15K. Martin said he couldn’t afford it. He wasn’t even sure he could pay his deductible. Ric said, forget Tracy. Take care of his back.

Lucas said Elizabeth was friendly toward Ric, but he was seeing Ava. Why did she seem bothered? She said there were certain things she liked about Ric, but hadn’t forgotten the terrible things. She wasn’t going back to him and Ric knew that. Unless he saw what he wanted to see. Lucas said it was hard seeing the good in people that others didn’t, and she asked if he meant Brad. He said they all made choices, and he’d decided when he had enough.

Dante said he wasn’t ready to forgive Chase or Brook, but didn’t want to prevent a relationship with Gio now. Brook said she wanted that too and was sorry Gio was so mad at Dante. She gave Gio up. It wasn’t Dante’s choice. Dante said she’d had a good relationship with Gio before. On the other hand, he’d come down hard on Gio when Rocco passed out. He regretted it and it made it harder for Gio to trust him. She said they were in the same boat. What should they do?

Sonny said he knew Marco negotiated for Natalia and asked what the timeline was. She said, Monday, and he said she’d be long gone by then. She couldn’t tell Marco that she was leaving. If Turner found out she was going to run, Turner would arrest her. Natalia said she wouldn’t be able to come back, and he said, no contact with friends or family. Belize was beautiful, especially if you had money, and she’d be safe. She’d be in a beautiful, luxury home on the beach. She asked if he would still be in contact with her, and he said, yeah. He owed her a debt and took it seriously. (If she doesn’t want to go, I will.)

Cody met Kristina and said he assumed she wanted an Ava update. She asked how it was going, and he said she couldn’t expect instant results. If he came on too strong, Ava would get suspicious. She told him to include Lucky leaving the country in his next conversation, and he asked, why? She said Ric was infatuated with Elizabeth and Ava was aware of it. She was guessing that Ric didn’t tell Ava about Lucky, and it would make her insecure and more receptive to his advances. Cody said if Ric was into Elizabeth, wasn’t his job done?

Elizabeth said she was sorry she’d assumed Ric was there to see her, and he said she could make it up to him by letting him buy her coffee – or dragonberry juice. She said she would have guessed he had plans with Ava, but he said, not tonight. Ava was swamped with a big show coming up at the gallery.

Brook told Drew that Gio was fair. They should let him set the pace and not crowd him. Eventually, he’d be ready to hear them out. When he was ready to listen, they’d prove they wanted a relationship, one on one and as his parents. Dante asked, what happened if Gio was never ready?  

Lulu asked how Rocco and Danny were doing, and Gio said it was their first day, but he thought they’d get the hang of it – Danny dropped a towel – eventually. Lulu asked how Gio was doing, and he said, just fine.

Alexis asked if Eliabeth had a minute to talk in private, and she said, sure. Lucas’s phone rang, and Marco asked if he wanted to meet for a drink at the MetroCourt pool when he was done. They could watch the sunset. Lucas said he’d love to. He was guessing from Marco’s tone, his mom’s legal troubles had cleared up, hypothetically, and Marco said, hypothetically, the interim DA was tough, but he negotiated, and a tentative agreement was in place. He was glad it was over.

Sonny said Natalia had kept his heart condition a secret and made sure he got the help he needed. She came to him when Turner offered her a deal. She said she was sorry she let Turner think there was a deal worth making, and he said she was there for his daughter when she’d had an accident. She was also there for Kristina in court. These were the little things he didn’t forget, and he’d make sure she was taken care of. She thanked him and said he had no idea how grateful she was. She was excited about the new life he was offering. He said loyalty meant everything to him and he wouldn’t abandon her.

Laura asked what Martin had done to himself, and he said he’d had a bad fall and was stuck there overnight. He didn’t want to be a burden. She said he was her brother. She loved him and he’d never be a burden. He said he’d wanted to get his own place, but couldn’t work, and she told him not to worry. He’d need an overnight bag, so text her a list of things she needed to bring back. She left, and he said, Tracy Quartermaine is going to pay for this one.

Tracy met Lulu at the pool, and said there was a pool at the house, but Lulu said, that pool didn’t employ Rocco. It was his first day. Tracy thought it was cute that Lulu was spying on Rocco, but Lulu said she wasn’t spying, and Tracy laughed. Gio asked Danny what he was doing, and Danny said, refolding the towel. Gio said they couldn’t reuse the towels, but Danny said, the guy barely touched it. Gio said, any towel they picked up should be put in the bin. Lulu said it looked like Gio would have the big brother thing down if he gave it a chance, and Tracy told her to just be grateful they were getting along. He was still mad at Brook, and she hoped he got over it soon.

Dante told Brook that they couldn’t give Gio so much space that he’d question if they cared. They had to do something to show him. She said they couldn’t force a relationship on him, and he said there was so much he didn’t know about Gio. Now he felt like he’d never get to know him. Brook said he would. Between her, Dante, her mom, and her grandma, they’d get through to him. Dante said they were a tough group to ignore forever. She was right. They had to be patient, but it was hard. He’d missed so much already.

Cody asked if Molly would be okay if Ric and Elizabeth got back together, and Kristina said, Molly would love that, but Elizabeth wasn’t interested. Until Ric knew he had a sure thing, he’d settled for Ava, but Ava… Cody said, is no one’s consolation prize, and Kristina said, if there was a break-up, it would be Ava breaking up with Ric. They had to get Ava to see that she had better options than Ric.

On the phone, Ava said she’d lost an antique watch. She knew she had it the day Ric went to Beecher’s Corners to work a case. Could they tell her the date?… Her mistake. Thanks. She flashed back to Ric telling her that he’d made it back so quickly because he had a fast car and knew a shortcut. In the present, she said he was a lying liar.

Marco asked if Lucas was working at GH when Britt was Chief of Staff, and Lucas said he was. Britt was best friends with his ex, Brad. Why? Marco said he came across her name whole working on a case. He’d see Lucas at the pool. Lucas said they’d start at the pool and see where the night took them.

Alexis said she didn’t realize Kristina and Elizabeth had talked, and thanked Elizabeth for not going to the police even though she had every right. She didn’t take what Kristina had done lightly. She’d spent her life pursuing justice, and now she was covering up Kristina’s crime. Elizabeth said, of course (🍷) she was. Kristina was her daughter. Alexis said she couldn’t let Kristina go to prison even though she deserved it.  

Lulu thanked Rocco for the excellent service, and Tracy said, the service was fine, tipping him. Danny and Rocco high-fived and Gio said they were free to go. Rocco asked if they could go in the pool, but Gio said employees didn’t get to swim. Swim at the Quartermaines. Danny said what if he tripped and fell into Rocco, and Rocco said, and as he was falling, he pulled Danny in? Tracy blew a whistle and said she’d give them a ride home. She’d had enough fun in the sun.

Cody saw blank walls in the gallery and asked, what happened? Was this art? Ava said, no. She was making room for an exhibit. He saw a freestanding sculpture and asked if that was art. She said it was abstract and meant to be touched. They both ran their hands over it, when Ava’s phone rang. She said, that’s not right. They booked months ago… She was sorry too. Cody asked if she was okay, and she said, not really. That was the guy who normally hung the art exhibits. He had a family emergency and wasn’t coming.  She had nothing on the walls for the exhibit. Cody said he was good with a hammer and nails.

Elizabeth said Lucky told her that Kristina thought it was Ava’s car, and she was horrified, and Alexis said so was she. Elizabeth said she knew Kristina had been struggling since she lost the baby and Sam. Anyone would have snapped. She thought Kristina made a terrible mistake. She gave into her impulses, and she knew Kristina regretted it. Alexis said that was generous. She thought Kristina was aware of the severity of what she’d done, but she was wondering if she was seeing what she wanted to. Elizabeth said she didn’t think so. After talking to Kristina, she thought Kristina understood. It was one reason why she agreed to stay silent.

Sonny asked when Natalia was supposed to meet with Turner, and she said, Friday afternoon. He said by the time the meeting rolled around, she’d be on a beach, sipping a Mai Tai and thinking about her future. She thanked him and said she’d be ready. She needed him to know how important their relationship was to her, and he said it was to him too. She said she was sorry she’d compromised it not telling him that Jenz was her ex. He blindsided her and she froze. No matter how he sold himself, he was a dangerous man. Marco wasn’t. Sonny needed to know Marco wasn’t like Jenz. Her attitude drove Marco toward his dad, but he wasn’t a criminal like his father. Remember that. Sonny said as long as Marco was only Sidwell’s lawyer, there was no problem.

Ava said, hanging the art was harder than it seemed. She couldn’t ask Cody. Cody said he was offering. She would have to point and occasionally cheer him on, and not hit him with anything when he got too close to the art. Serenity, where he grew up, was huge and had a lot of art. He wasn’t allowed near it, but sometimes there was a piece he’d have to look at. If he leaned in, the housekeeper would slap him. Ava said, that was terrible, and he said, those days were long gone. He’d be on his best behavior and be careful. No slapping or fighting. Ava asked if he did that often, and he said, the last person he hit was the mayor’s son, but in his defense, he was drunk. Ava said, he hit Lucky? but he told her that it wouldn’t be a problem. He didn’t get drunk anymore and Lucky was out of the country.

Elizabeth told Alexis that Ric knew how she felt about Lucky and they hadn’t been killed. She thought it best to move on and she had. So had Ric. The accident was a wake-up call. Ric seemed lighter. Ric heard them and ducked around the corner.

Natalia went to Miller & Davis, and Marco asked if she wanted to go over the deal. Natalia said the message was clear, but she wasn’t there as his client. She was there as his mother.

Dante saw Lulu at the pool, and she told him that Rocco’s shift was over. He said, too bad. It looked like they both had the same idea.

Kristina was sitting in a lounge chair, when Lucas came in. She asked if he wanted to join her, and he said he was meeting Marco, but was happy to keep her company in the meantime. She asked if things were going well, and he said, very well.

Dante saw Gio and said, got a minute?

Brook was looking at the birth certificate, when Danny and Rocco walked in. Rocco asked if she was working, and she said, yeah. She was busy with a very important project.  

Deanna went into Martin’s room, and he said he hoped she brought dinner. He was starving. She said they had a bit of a problem. She was sorry, but apparently, his insurance lapsed. He was no longer covered.

Sonny went to see Laura and she asked, what’s going on? He said he wanted to tell her in person that he wouldn’t be selling the piers to Sidwell. She said she couldn’t tell him how relieved she was to hear him say that. Sidwell was an evil man. The last thing she wanted was for him to get a foothold in Port Charles. Sonny said that’s why he turned Sidwell down. He wants to take over the city, but that ain’t gonna happen. He knew Sidwell acted like a legitimate businessman, but he’d seen how Sidwell operated. Laura said, so had she, Lucky, Anna, and Jason. Sonny said, not to start anything, but violence was coming to Port Charles and they had to figure out a way to stop it.

Thursday:

Sasha put Daisy in her crib as she talked about the christening.

Brook was looking at the Rocco folder when Rocco and Danny came in. Danny said they almost got kicked out, and Brook asked what they did. Jason came in and told them to quit bugging Brook.

Gio told Dante that he was still on duty, and Dante said he had tickets to the Port Charles Philharmonic series. He asked if Gio would like to check it out with him. He, Gio, Rocco, and Charlotte could make a night out of it.

At the pool, Lucas told Lulu that he was meeting Marco, and she said she was happy that he was happy, but how close was Marco with his father?

Marco said he wasn’t interested in talking to Natalia outside of the case, and she said even if he never acknowledged her as his mother, she gave birth to him and nothing changed that. Not even if they never spoke or laid eyes on each other again. He asked what that was supposed to mean.

Sidwell looked at photos of Sonny’s family members, when Boyle came in griping about being summoned to Spoon Island. He asked what was with the photos, and Sidwell said Sonny’s family was his obvious weakness. Their negotiations broke down and it made him upset.

Carly went to Sonny’s and said she had bad news about the christening. Sonny said he thought the reception was at her place, but she said Monica wanted to go, so it was easier to have it there. He said there was something he needed to fill her in on.

Sidwell told Boyle that Sonny turned him down, so he had to give Sonny incentive to sell. The people of Port Charles had to be reminded there was a menacing thug in their midst. Boyle said he wanted no part of it, but Sidwell said he was paying for Boyle’s campaign and didn’t care what he wanted. He’d do what Sidwell deemed necessary, smile, and say thank you.  

Lucas said he understood Marco and his father were close, and Lulu asked if he wasn’t concerned. He said, not really. He appreciated her concern, but they were two completely different people. Marco wasn’t his father. She said it would be good to know how tight they were. Were they just emotionally tight or criminally tight too?

Natalia said it may be the last time she and Marco saw each other, and he said she was leaving the country, wasn’t she?

Dante told Gio that he didn’t know much about classical music, but the first chair violinist was one of the best in the country. Did he want to check it out? Gio flashed back to smashing his violin and said music wasn’t his thing at the moment. Dante said, maybe some other time. He had a subscription and Gio could take who he wanted to. Let him know.

Jason asked how the pool was, and Brook said it was still standing. Danny said Gio wouldn’t let them go for a swim, and Jason said they had a pool there. Rocco told him, that’s what Gio said, and Danny said, nothing happened, and Tracy drove them home. The boys left, and Jason asked if Brook was good. She said she was up to her neck in Deception, and Jason said he had to talk to the boys and see how much money he owed Carly.

Sasha told Daisy, sleep well, my little ray of sunshine. She turned out the light and left.

Felicia was waiting in the nook and asked Sasha how it was going. Sasha said it was wonderfully exhausting and everything she’d ever dreamed of. She thanked Felicia for coming, and Felicia said she figured it had something to do with the christening and last-minute errands. Sasha said it was something more important. Felicia had been supportive, encouraging, and loving, Sasha’s ultimate safe space. It would mean so much to her if Felicia would be Daisy’s godmother.

Danny and Rocco told Jason about the day, and Rocco said Gio was a drag. They wanted a quick swim. Danny said it wasn’t like Carly would care, when Dante came in. He said the staff being in the pool would make them look entitled unprofessional. They didn’t want to be those guys. The boys left and Jason thanked Dante. He said he thought it was going to be good for Danny to work, and Dante said Rocco too. Did Jason have a minute? Jason asked, what’s up? and Dante said he realized he had the wrong take on Jason.

Lucas told Lulu that he assumed Marco and Sidwell’s relationship was similar to Sonny and Dante’s. They loved each other, but chose to keep Sonny’s extracurricular activities out of it. Lulu said Sidwell didn’t strike her as having the same code or boundaries, but Lucas said Marco promised he had nothing to do with his father’s business and had given him no reason not to trust that. Lulu said she didn’t, but she was going off what she knew about Marco’s father, and Lucas said, totally fair. Imagine if Charlotte was judged solely on who her father was. She said, well played, and he said, score. She said she just wanted him to be careful, and he said his eyes were open. Maybe he and Marco crossed wires. He was going to go. Lulu said, if Marco showed up, she’d tell him that he just missed Lucas, and Lucas left.

Natalia said she was leaving the country and Marco never had to deal with her again ever. He asked where she was going, and she asked what difference it made. She was starting a new life somewhere else. He wondered how she arranged it. Sonny, right? She said, yes.

Sonny told Carly that Sidwell had offered to buy his piers. The offer looked good on paper, but he couldn’t hand over unchecked power. He knew Sidwell wasn’t a fan of the word no and wouldn’t give up. Carly asked how long Sidwell had been trying. How were they sure he wasn’t responsible for the fire in the penthouse, or the assassination attempt in LA? Sidwell could be a threat to their family.

A drunk guy told Lulu that he liked her hat, calling her blondie. He asked if he could buy her a drink. She said she was good, and the guy sat down. He said the Mai Tais were insane, and Gio asked if Lulu was okay. The guy said he was trying to convince her to have Mai Tai and loosen up. How about a swim? Gio said the pool was closed and the lady would like him to move along, but the guy said he and blondie were good. Lulu said if he called her blondie once more time, she swore… Gio said he was going to tell security the guy was harassing her, and the guy said they were real buzzkills. He’d go swimming on his own. Gio repeated that the pool was closed. Get out. The guy left, and Lulu thanked Gio for the assist, when they heard a splash.

Brook looked at Rocco’s folder and flashed back to Lulu saying she’d never lie to her children or keep huge life altering secrets from them. Brook called Deception and asked Mona to print out the March financials. She’d pick them up from the office. She put the folders on her desk and left.

Sonny told Carly that he, Brick, and Jason had been looking into it, but so far nothing tied Sidwell to the bombing or assassination attempt. Then again, nothing exonerated him either. Carly asked how they knew he wasn’t a genius at covering his tracks, and Sonny said he was keeping his guard up. Sidwell had it easy getting what he wanted in Port Charles. Carly said he was invested in Deception, had underwritten the Nurses Ball, and scooped up Windymere, but Sonny said Sidwell wasn’t going to take anything from him.

Marco asked when Natalia went to Sonny, and she said before she’d come to him. He said Sonny was going to kill her, but she said that wasn’t who Sonny was. He said Sonny was a mobster, but she said he wouldn’t hurt her. They were friends… more than that. He’d promised to take care of her. He appreciated she’d been there for him a lot. He said she was blowing the deal and now her best outcome was to go to prison where they could keep her safe, but she said she and Sonny were leaving together. He said Sonny’s entire family and business were there. He wasn’t going anywhere. She said, not permanently, but she was starting a new life in a new country and Sonny would be part of it. He’d promised to provide for her. He said Sonny was going to kill her. He’d negotiated a deal she’d had no intention of honoring. He could be on the hook and go to prison. Lucas came in and asked if he was okay.

Felicia said she’d be honored to be Daisy’s godmother. Was Michael… Sasha said she was certain Michael was in full agreement. Felicia was a steadying presence and a true friend. Felicia said they were family, and Sasha said she felt that. Her mom and Robert were gone, and she was grateful. Other than her grandmother, she’d had no consistent mother figure. Felicia had a maternal way with her gentle guidance and open acceptance. She let people find their own way and she wanted that for her daughter. Felicia suggested they make it official, raised her hand, and said she accepted the role as Daisy’s godmother. They hugged.  

Daisy cried and someone came into the room, their shadow looming over her.

Natalia said she’d let Marco fill Lucas in. She wasn’t dealing with him when he behaved like this. Marco said he tried. If she left, the rest was on her. If she walked out, she was no longer his client or his mother. She was officially nothing to him. She said she already was and left. Marco said he had to call the police, but Lucas said, don’t do that.

Carly asked Sonny, what about Natalia? She was Sidwell’s ex and knew he’d had heart surgery. What if she’d tipped Sidwell off? Sonny said, let him worry about that. Natalia wasn’t going to be a problem for him or anyone in their family.

Dante said he thought Danny ran wild because Jason was too busy with Sonny to see what Danny was doing and what Danny thought he needed. Jason said he knew Danny needed space, and Dante said balance began there. They couldn’t hold on too tight. That’s not how it operated with Rocco, and he had to be patient with Gio. Let him call the shots. He was sorry he was so dismissive and critical of the way Jason parented his son. He apologized. Jason said, no problem. Apology accepted.  

Sasha suggested she make tea and found she’d put the milk in the cupboard instead of the fridge. Baby brain was real. Felicia asked how it was going with the Quartermaines, and Sasha said it had been great. Michael was an amazing father and Wiley and Amelia were so cute with the baby. They wanted to help with her, and she loved it. Felicia asked about Sasha’s parents, and Sasha said Robert video called every morning at 10 am Eastern time. He had to see Daisy. Felicia said, what about Holly?

Daisy was now in a different onesie, and the mystery person left. (I wondered now if it was Holly.)

Sasha said Holly was a work in progress, and Felicia said, weren’t they all? Sasha said they’d come a long way to build a relationship, and Felicia said her relationship with Maxie hadn’t always been good. She made some big mistakes, and it took a lot of time and effort and a lot of forgiveness to overcome it. It didn’t happen overnight. Sasha said Holly had been lovely. She’d sent a gift and they’d been texting. Now that she was a mother with a daughter, she looked at some of Holly’s choices differently and thought Holly did the best she could in the best way she knew how. Holly was what she was, and Sasha was starting to see she did what she could. Felicia said nothing taught you humility faster than parenthood. Everything you knew about your parents probably deserved a second look, as well as things you knew about yourself. They heard Daisy crying on the monitor, and Felicia said she was going home to rethink her outfit.  

A man told Gio that the guest was escorted off the property and sent home in a cab. It wasn’t the first incident, so he was no longer welcome at the MetroCourt. Gio had done an excellent job getting him out of the pool. He told Lulu, sorry for the inconvenience, but Lulu said she was fine and praised Gio. The man left, and Lulu said, part of her wanted to let him drown. Brook came in, but stayed behind a partition, listening. Lulu asked what the rule was about dangling your feet in the water, and Gio said he’d let her. She asked if he wanted to join her, and he said, why not? They sat laughing and talking as Brook watched.

Danny said he was going to bury Rocco at poker, when he saw the folders on Brook’s desk. Rocco said Brook told them that was private. Should he be looking at it? Danny noticed Rocco’s name.

Lucas said it was just them, and Marco said Lucas didn’t understand. He needed to get his mom arrested. Lucas said he’d mentioned Sonny, and Marco said his mom had evidence against Sonny that she was supposed to turn over to ADA Turner, but she already gave it to Sonny. Sonny convinced her that he’d protect her, and in her mind, she was moving to another country to live with Sonny. Lucas said that made no sense. Sonny had too many ties to Port Charles. Marco told Lucas, that’s what he’d said. She was supposed to turn everything in on Monday at 11 am, but she wouldn’t be there. Now he was left holding the bag. Lucas said he couldn’t bring the police in. He couldn’t be the reason his own mother went to prison.

Sidwell was looking at the photos again, when he heard Natalia coming in. She said she and Marco just got in a huge fight. Marco never wanted to see her again. He asked, whose fault was that?

Lulu and Gio talked and laughed, and Lulu said she was glad Gio was here for the boys. She had the feeling they needed him. Gio said he was glad Danny and Rocco weren’t there when the drunk was bothering her. They would have tackled him into the pool. Lulu said they didn’t need to. The Mai Tai idiot did it on his own. She thought they handled it pretty well. He said if she hadn’t thrown him the floating device, the guy would have dragged him down too. She said they made a pretty good team, and he said, they sure did. They high-fived and Brook looked pained.

Jason said he was sorry for what Dante was going through with Gio, but Dante said what happened wasn’t on Jason. Jason said Dante wasn’t responsible for what he didn’t know. Gio was a smart and good kid. Dante had to trust him to figure it out. Dante said he didn’t know what Gio would want from him or even what he had to offer, and he didn’t think Gio would accept it if he did.

Danny said it was about Rocco. See for himself. He handed Rocco the folder.

Marco said either Natalia went to prison, or he did, or she died, but Lucas said he didn’t know as Sonny would kill her. Marco negotiated in good faith with the ADA. It wasn’t on him if his mother ran for it. Marco said it was a total nightmare, and Lucas said the only people who knew the truth about Natalia’s plans were Sonny, Natalia, Marco, and him. He wasn’t going to say a word. No one else ever needed to know. Marco said Lucas would keep his secret? and Lucas said he would.

Sonny said they should be grateful Michael was home safe with the kids and happy, and Carly said, and their newest adorable surprise granddaughter. It was wild all the family Daisy brought together. Daisy was a Spencer, a Corinthos, a Quartermaine, and a Scorpio. Sonny said, God help her, and Carly said she was going to get so much love.

Sasha goes to Daisy’s room and says Daisy is lying in the wrong direction. She always puts Daisy facing the door. And her onesie was yellow. Did daddy change her? Why would he do that?

Natalia says she should have known she wouldn’t find compassion. Sidwell turned her son against her a long time ago. He says she did that all on her own, for not accepting Marco for who he was – a remarkable man. So whatever hole she found herself in this time, don’t expect him to dig her out. Natalia said she didn’t, but she needed him to promise something. He said he loved Marco; prove it. Keep Marco out of his disgusting business. They both knew Sidwell had his hands covered in blood. Don’t doom their son to the same fate. She left and he took out the photos one more time. He looked at Sonny, then slammed the envelope down. He went out onto the turret in the rain and looked out over the city.

🫔 Friday’s Enchilada…

Josslyn greets Michael at the Quartermaines and says they’re having a christening in his baby’s honor. She’s so excited, but admits she didn’t see it coming. He says, no one did at first. It wasn’t exactly planned. She says, you can’t plan for a baby as cute as Daisy. They’ll all be putty in her little hands. He says, Daisy was what his heart needed, but he didn’t realize until Sasha told him. Josslyn says she’s happy for him, and he says he’s happy for him too. She says, he’s home where he belongs, and he says, finally. She asks why he wanted to meet here instead of the church, and he says he wanted the chanced to explain why she’s not Daisy’s godmother.

Felicia says she’s excited. She can only imagine how Sasha is feeling. Sasha says she’s pretty excited too, and Felicia says, a christening is a big deal. It’s an honor to be Daisy’s godmother. Sasha says, when she was growing up, there was no big family, just her and her grandmother most of the time. Thanks to Felicia, Maxie, and Mac, Daisy will have the kind of life she didn’t have. She loves Felicia. Felicia says she loves Sasha too, but why did Sasha make everyone think Jason was Daisy’s father the whole time?

Carly says, Jason looks perfect (FYI, in a suit), and he thanks her. She says, Michael would have probably asked him to be Daisy’s godfather, but Sasha did it first. Michael didn’t have to ask. He says he’s honored, but he was surprised. She says, in the first place, he really stood up as Daisy’s father when no one knew who was. Sasha would have been alone except for him. They must have a genuine bond. He says, they do, and she says, it’s fitting that now he gets to watch over Michael’s daughter like he watched over Michael.

Natalia thanks Brook for coming over. She wanted to speak with Brook privately. Brook asks, what’s going on? and Natalia says, it’s the last thing Brook wants to hear. Deception is in trouble.

Turner shows up at Sonny’s place, and he says, hi, Justine. To what does he owe the visit? She says, for the record, they’re not on a first name basis, and he asks if he should call his lawyer. She says, he might if his attorney can explain why he sent her this. She indicates a box in her hands.

On the phone, Anna says, then get another judge to sign off because she needs the warrant today… Yes, today today… Thank you. She tells Jordan, sorry. Signing off is supposed to be the easy part. Jordan says, don’t apologize. She knows how it works in this office. Anna asks if Jordan put any more thought into what she should do about Curtis, and Jordan says she doesn’t know what’s happening between them, but whatever it is, Portia has a big problem with it.

Portia goes to Curtis’s office and says he must have gotten an early start this morning. She didn’t see him at home. He says he had work he needed to take care of, and she says she understands. she was hoping they could talk. He says, now is not a good time today, but she says she needs to know one thing. Is he helping her with Drew to save their marriage or is he using getting her out of trouble as an excuse to leave her once and for all?

Sasha tells Felicia that there was so much strife swirling around Michael, she didn’t want her child dragged into any part of what was going on around him. Felicia says, being a mother means making hard choices and putting your child first. Sasha was already thinking like Daisy’s mom before she was even born. Another way to be a mom is allowing the family to spoil her daughter. That reminds her. She and Yuri took all the gifts to the nursery. Sasha says, gifts? Plural? Felicia says, Sasha has no idea, and Sasha says she’ll remind Daisy again and again how lucky she is – how lucky they are – to be part of the Scorpio family. Cody stands at the door with a giant stuffed elephant and asks if that includes them.  

Sonny asks, what’s in the box? and Turner asks if he’s really going to pretend he doesn’t know. He says he doesn’t have to pretend. Sorry to burst her bubble. She says, it’s a baseball glove, gorgeous, very expensive. Some of the nicest leather she’s ever seen. He says, whoever sent it was doing her a favor judging by the sad, ugly glove she showed him the other day. She could definitely use it. She says, giving gifts to a public official is a risky move. If it’s seen as a bribe, it’s a felony. He says, is that so? She says, it is, but a squeaky-clean guy like him would never cross that line, would he?

Josslyn says she would make the best godmother the world had ever seen, and Michael says, no doubt, but he and Sasha agreed in the beginning that she would make all the decisions when it came to raising the baby. Josslyn asks if he supports that, and he says, 100%. She decided on Jason and Felicia. Josslyn says she can’t be mad at that. They’re amazing options. She knows firsthand that Jason is the best godfather one could have. Michael says Jason promised to be there for Daisy, just like he was there for him and for Josslyn, and she says, when Michael was in Germany, she couldn’t help feeling the heart of the family was missing. He really is their anchor. He says, speaking of his time away, it sounds like she and mom kept busy. Mom is dating the spy from Christmas dinner and Josslyn went to Easter Island and is now assisting a professor in his research. She needs to tell him everything, like now.  

At the church Jason says, Carly and Michael didn’t make it easy, but it was an honor to watch over them. Carly says she looks back at that time and she’s like, how did I do that? How could she leave her newborn? But she was able to do it because of him. If Michael was with him, she knew he’d be okay. Jason says, and he was, and she says, more than okay. He took care of everything, even Michael’s christening. By the time she walked into the church, her son had a name. He says, two of his favorites – Sonny and Mike. He can still hear Edward yelling, over my dead body! when they announced it. She says, only the Quartermaines would crash a christening, and he says, they had to. They weren’t invited. She says, Edward was so mad. Wow. But not today. There will be no uninvited crashers today.  

Brook tells Natalia that she blew off Tracy’s concerns about Sonny’s investment because she did her due diligence. The money was clean. It was from an account Sonny put aside for the record label. Natalia says, that money was clean, but it was a second follow-up transaction from a different account. If she’d scrutinized it in time, she’d have caught it. Brook asks if Sonny knew, but Natalia says, he had no idea. His finance team handled it. Brook says, Sonny would never do something like that, and Natalia agrees and says, it was a huge clerical error. Brook says, an error that could cost Deception its reputation, and Natalia says, it could, but there are some things they can do to protect the company. Have Sonny divest for safety and optics. There’s also a chance it may never come out. Brook asks if Natalia thinks they need to avoid a scandal, and Natalia says she doesn’t know, but she thought Brook deserved to know regardless. Brook says she appreciates that, but why come forward now?

Anna says, so Portia, General Hospital’s Chief of Staff, threw a drink on Jordan? and Jordan says, Co-Chief and yes. Portia threw a glass of iced tea on her. Anna says, wow, and Jordan says, and she caused a total scene, which is her way. Anna says, good Lord. Talk about overreacting. Jordan says, it’s just Portia’s M.O. in general, but if she’s being honest, she’s not so sure Portia was. She and Curtis do have a connection that runs deep, and she’ll always carry a torch for him. She doesn’t think that will ever change. Anna says, it’s a struggle, carrying a torch for another woman’s husband, one that you still love or have feelings for. It’s kind of brutal, especially when they’ve moved on. Jordan says, that’s the thing. They were reminiscing by the pool yesterday and she started feeling like maybe he felt the same way. Anna says, in spite of what Jordan felt in her head, she knew he was married, and Jordan says, that’s why she asked to stop by Anna’s office. She wishes she could have settled the conflict between her head and her heart before she walked through the door. Anna says she knows where Jordan’s heart is. Where is her head at? Jordan says she’s not the kind of woman to get involved in someone else’s relationship. If she did, she couldn’t respect herself and it would mean she didn’t learn anything from the pain she felt when her marriage fell apart, and she did. Even if Portia is being petty, she could never do to Portia and her marriage what Portia did to hers.

Curtis says, all he can concentrate on right now is getting free of Drew and any leverage he has over Portia. Whatever’s happening between them is lower on the list. Portia says she needs him to move it up. She can’t sit in limbo forever, waiting for him to decide whether their marriage is worth fighting for. He says he understands, and she says, maybe he has a lot going on right now or maybe he’s not ready to fight for their marriage, but she is. He says, if they dive into this right here, right now, she’s not going to like what he has to say, and she says she may not like it, but she wants to hear it. She needs to hear it. He says, okay. He admits that Drew wouldn’t have gone after her had he and Drew not fallen out. She says she’s proud of him standing up to Drew and refusing to be taken advantage of, and he says, right. He appreciates that, but they wouldn’t be in this situation if it wasn’t for her lies. After everything that happened with Trina, she promised him that things would be different. She’d always tell him the truth. She knows better than anyone that secrets ruined his marriage to Jordan. Yet here they are, questioning their future together for the exact same reason. Portia hurt him and betrayed him. His mind is blown that she’d be so foolish to put their family in this situation again. She says, wow. She’s glad she’s finally hearing what he’s thinking. He was right. She didn’t like it, but she needed to hear it. Now he needs to hear what she has to say.

Sasha says, of course (🍷) she and Daisy are happy to have Cody and his friend as part of the family, and he says, good to hear, because it could go either way on any given day. But actually, this isn’t his friend. To be honest, he intercepted the delivery guy. There’s a card. Sasha reads: Wishing you and Daisy a life filled with love and happiness. Love, Mom and Dad. She says, it’s so sweet, but it’s a little weird to read mom and dad. Felicia asks if Robert and Holly mentioned anything about visiting, but Sasha says, not yet. But she’s bombarding them with photos and videos. Mostly Robert. She and Holly don’t communicate as much, but she wants Daisy to know both of her grandparents. They hear Daisy cry on the monitor, and Felicia asks if she can get her. Sasha says, sure, and Felicia leaves. Sasha asks if Cody wants to hold the baby, but he says, Daisy is still pretty new. Let her grandparents and cousins break her in before he attempts anything. She says, if he’s sure, and he says he is. She seems happy. She says she is, and he says, that wasn’t the most convincing response. She says, sorry. Everything is fine. He says he knows her. If it’s not, she has to tell him. Seriously, what’s wrong? She says she doesn’t know. Something really weird is going on around here and it has to do with Daisy.

Josslyn says, when Michael has a few hours to spare, they can go to lunch or something and she’ll fill him in on everything he missed when he was gone. He said they’ll definitely go, and she says, he’s definitely paying. He says he missed her, and she says she missed him. So did the kids. How is he doing back home with the kids living with him full time? He says he’s adjusting. They both love being a big brother and sister. She asks if they’re excited about the christening, and he says, yes, but he thinks they’re struggling, Wiley in particular. He asked if his mom would be there, and when he told Wiley, no, he could see the confusion all over his face. How were they having a big family event without mom being there? And it’s only going to get worse. Josslyn asks, why? and he says, because Willow and Drew are getting married.

Brook says she doesn’t understand why Natalia didn’t tell her the second she saw it, but Natalia says she wasn’t sure about it. When she was, in good conscience, she couldn’t move on and not tell Brook. Brook thanks her for telling the truth, unlike some other people in her life, and Natalia says she thinks her son probably had a little to do with her coming forward. Allison too. Brook says, how’s that? and Natalia says, when you have two kids who want to have nothing to do with you, you realize some pretty hard truths about yourself. Like maybe you need to be a better person or a better mom. She just made a lot of mistakes with Marco and Allison. She refused to see the way her children were living their lives as anything other than missed opportunities. She destroyed her family and it’s her own damn fault. Brook says, there’s still time to repair it, but Natalia says she wishes that were true, but there’s nothing left here anymore for her. A lot of pain and hurt, and she thinks Marco is better off without her here. He’s started a whole new life in Port Charles and that’s okay because she has her future wide open now waiting for her.

Sonny says, it must have been sent by a very thoughtful teammate, and Turner says, maybe, but she finds it awfully convenient that the day after they had a run-in at the park, a brand-new baseball glove appears at her door with no note, no return address, and no indication of whom it might be from. He says he doesn’t know what to tell her, and she says, only someone with expert help and motive could pull off a drop that clean. He asks if that’s all she’s got, a gut feeling and no evidence. Is that how she prosecutes all her cases? She says her instincts haven’t let her down yet, and he says, yet. That is the word that matters. She says, okay. Even if he didn’t send it, she can’t accept it. He can pass it along to one of his teammates. Kristina comes in and asks if Sonny is ready to go, when she sees Turner.  

Sasha tells Cody, Daisy is great, but there have been a few things… It started at the hospital when they brought her the wrong baby. They sorted it out, but it still shook her up pretty good. He says, of course (🍷) it did, and she says, then, the first night they were home, the mobile over the crib was spinning. She knows it was off when she left. Then yesterday, when she put Daisy in her crib, she was wearing a yellow onesie. When she went to check on her, not only was she in a pink onesie, she was facing in the other direction. He says, Daisy can’t move around like that yet, right? and she says, no, and she can’t change her own clothes. He says, good to know. The hospital is an easy explanation, but the other stuff, there’s Michael, the nannies, and Mama Q running around. Any one of them could have done it. She says she asked. No one touched anything. He asks if she’s sure. This place is kind of like Grand Central Station. Any number of people could have gone in there and run the mobile or moved Daisy. Unless… She says, unless what? and he asks if she thinks it’s a ghost. She says, no, but it’s really unsettling, and he says he knows, but he’s sure there’s an easy and corporeal explanation for it all. He knows what happened with Liam and knows the journey she was on to get here. She has a second chance at being a mother and he promises her baby will be okay. She asks how he knows, and he says, she’s got the best mom in the world. He thinks he knows and always knew.

Josslyn tells Michael that she guesses she shouldn’t be surprised. Willow and Drew are awful people, so now they’re doing an awful thing. Michael said he was blindsided by the news, and she says she bets. She was so hard on Willow when he was gone, and mom took on Drew. They didn’t actually get anywhere, but they got a lot off their chests. It was like some weird primal scream therapy. Michael laughs and says he’s glad something good came out of it. He’s trying his best to keep the hurt and anger over his marriage out of the equation altogether and focus on what’s good. She says, yes. That’s the right thing to do. The kids love their mom. He says, they want to see her, but Willow keeps choosing Drew over them. By agreeing to marry Drew, she’s making that choice permanent. She says, Willow is going to… Willow, but she’s caused enough drama. So please don’t let it darken what should be a special day.

Carly says she wants to doublecheck security and then she’ll be good, but Jason says he and Sonny took care of that. The church is secure and has been on lockdown ever since. She says she did see quite a few guards, and he says, there are quite a few she didn’t see, so everything’s going to run smooth today. She asks if he’s sure, and he says he’s positive. After the explosion at the penthouse and the attempt on Sonny’s life in LA… She says, both unsolved, by the way, and he says, but they’re on high alert, especially at events like this. If anyone even thinks of making a move, they’ll be stopped.

Turner says, good to see Kristina again. She hasn’t seen her since the trial. How is she? Kristina says she’s okay. It got little crazy at the end when the decision came in. Turner says she remembers, and Kristina says she never got the chance to properly thank Turner for all she did. So thank you. Turner says she was happy to do what she could. It’s her job to bring criminals to justice. It looks like they have somewhere to be. She hopes they have a wonderful rest of their day. Sonny says, her too, and she leaves. Kristina says, the acting DA pays Sonny a house call? Something is going on unrelated to softball. He says, there’s nothing going on. He promises. Could she do him a favor? He left Daisy’s gift in the kitchen. Can she get it and meet him back here? She goes to the kitchen and Sonny makes a call. He says, ADA Turner was here. She’s showing too much interest for his taste, so as far as Natalia goes, there’s a change of plans.  

Anna says, if Curtis is feeling the same way Jordan does and the same pull, she’s probably right, and Jordan says, maybe it’s like Anna said. Being connected the way they are, they’ll probably always feel something. She doesn’t want to think about what that means. Portia and Curtis’s future is unclear, but she knows the issue they’re dealing with is serious. Portia’s been dishonest and kept secrets from Curtis. Anna says, kind of sounds familiar. Would it be fair to say that she and Portia are now on an even playing field? Jordan tells Anna that she can certainly say Portia’s high horse is a lot lower these days, and Anna says she thinks Jordan needs to speak with Curtis, have a proper, honest conversation about all of this. Jordan says, maybe. Curtis is important to her, and she’ll always want him in her life, but the way things are going, she doesn’t know if she can be around him anymore.

Curtis tells Portia, if she’s got something to say, let’s hear it, and Portia says she knows a little something about being hurt and betrayed too. He keeps bringing up Trina and she could have sworn they dealt with that a long time ago. Yet here he is throwing it in her face again. He knows she kept Trina’s paternity a secret from him and Taggert to protect her. That’s why this whole thing with Drew started. She wanted to protect Trina from that lunatic Heather Webber and did what she had to, what she could do, to keep Heather in prison where she belonged. She’ll always do whatever it takes to protect their daughter. She knows he wants her to say she regrets everything, but she doesn’t. He says, at least she’s finally being honest, and she says she’s so tired of living in fear of his judgement, his impossibly high standards, and needing to be right every single time they talk. She’s terrified that she’s going to try her best, but never live up to his image of the perfect woman in his head. She’s a human being. She makes mistakes. Those mistakes shouldn’t cost their relationship. They should work on them and grow from them. That’s what marriage is. He says, secrets can’t be the way married couples solve their problems. He can’t keep secrets from her. She says he didn’t tell her that he and Michael were plotting against Drew. Like he said, that’s what he did that started all this and that’s the reason Drew is coming after her right now. Drew is trying to destroy her life and everything she’s worked for because she’s Curtis’s wife. A wife he’s not sure he wants anymore. He says he regrets every day what he started with Drew, but she says, keep the regrets. She wants some understanding. He says, she has it, and she asks why he feels like what he did is different than what she did. He says, there are differences, but she says, no. There’s hypocrisy and irony because she loves him for protecting their family by any means necessary, but when she does it, he uses it as an excuse to break up their family.  

Carly greets Michael with a hug and asks, where’s Daisy and the kids? He says, Kristina is supervising a photo shoot in the garden before the ceremony, and she says, good luck. She can’t imagine anyone in that group staying still for very long. Sonny says he’s surprised Jason got her to stay still, and she says, they were having a conversation about old times, like Michael’s christening, and how important it is for them all to be together and look out for each other. Sonny says, nothing is more important than family – the family you’re born into and the family you choose along the way. As they all know, family is forever.

Looking at her laptop, Natalia says, Sonny was right about one thing. Belize is gorgeous. Is that sand really that white? That’s crazy. There’s a knock at the door, and she opens it to Paul. She asks, what’s going on? She didn’t expect him until later. He says, everything is fine. There’s just been a change in her itinerary. She’s not leaving tonight. She’s leaving now. She asks where Sonny is, and he says, at his granddaughter’s christening. She says, if he’s taking the red eye, she’ll wait and take it with him, but he says, Sonny’s not going with her. She’s going alone.

Anna looks at some papers and makes a call to Turner. She says, Commissioner Devane. Something just landed on her desk, and they need to discuss it. She needs Turner here now.

Curtis says, Portia is right about protecting Trina, but they have different ideas about what that looks like and the consequences of their different ideas look different. She says she’s apologized over and over. At some point, he has to break down and tell her how to fix this. He says he’s not sure it can be fixed, and she says, so he’s saying this is it? This is how they end after everything they’ve been through together? She understands that he’d never do to her what she’s done to him, but she’d never make him feel the way he’s making her feel. She starts to cry, and he says, she’s hurting and in pain. She says, they love each other and brought each other so much joy and so much happiness, haven’t they? Let’s just get back to that. Just tell her what to do. How they can work through this together. Tell her there’s hope. He kisses her.

 Brook comes into the church and says she ran into Sasha and Daisy outside. That baby is delicious. Carly says she plans on spoiling Daisy every chance she gets, and Brook says she thinks there’s going to be a long line of people waiting to do just that. Carly says, the more love, the better, and Brook says, always. Carly says she needs to find Father Reyes and tell him this has to be perfect, and Michael says, or they could not pressure him and just see if he’s set up for the ceremony. Carly says, we’ll see, and they leave. Brook says, good thing they’re all in the church. The father is going to need all the help he can get. Chase says, so Corinthos and Scorpio. That’s unusual parenting. Felicia says, it is, but Robert seems very happy about it. He and Holly sent a gift to the house. Chase says he’s disappointed. He’d be interested to see Sonny, Mac, and Robert stand around the baptismal font. Felicia says, Mac and Robert can’t be here, so he’ll have to let his dream go. Brook says she wants to run something by Chase, and they go to a more private spot. He asks if she’s okay, but she says, no. She has no idea how to tell Maxie. He says, tell Maxie what? and she says, Deception might be in very serious trouble.

Sonny tells Jason that ADa Turner paid him a visit today. Her reason was innocent enough, but she’s more interested in him than he’d like. Jason says he doesn’t like that, and Sonny says him neither, but it made him think getting Natalia out of town sooner rather than later was the best thing. Jason says, he moved up her flight and Paul is picking her up as they speak, and Sonny says, the last thing they want is for her to run into Turner or anybody else. Jason says, Paul is taking her straight to the airport, and Sonny says, she’s going to be put on a plane and she’s going to Belize, and this can finally be over.

Natalia says, Sonny’s not coming? and Paul says, her name has always been the only one on the manifest, but Mr. Corinthos arranged for her travel, accommodations, and security. She says, but he didn’t arrange to get himself on the plane, and Paul says, he has no reason to need to accompany her. She says, okay. Then she needs like, an hour to pack. He says, that’s fine, but she needs to hurry. He’ll let Mr. Corinthos know her ETA. Paul leaves and she closes the door and cries. She says, Sonny’s not… So there’s not… a future. There’s no new life. Just the same one somewhere else. Did she just tell herself this story? I didn’t do it without your help. Sonny, you bastard. You don’t want anything to do… What happened to not abandoning her? She cries some more and says, he doesn’t want anything to do with her. He just wants her gone. She checks the hallway, grabs her purse, and leaves.

Portia is about to return Curtis’s kiss, when he lifts her onto the desk. They hear the door open and it’s Jordan.  

Brook tells Chase that Sonny’s second investment in Deception wasn’t clean, and he asks if that wasn’t Tracy’s concern all along. She says she’s aware, and he asks how she found out. She says she saw Natalia at the MetroCourt earlier… He says he can’t talk about this, and she says, why? What does he know?

Turner asks what Anna wants to discuss that’s so important Anna had to order her into the office, and Anna says, see that? showing her a folder. It landed on her desk. It was an accident. It was intended to go to Detective Chase. The same detective Turner assigned to a case that she and Detective Falconari were excluded from. Turner asks how much she read, and Anna says, enough to know this stops now. Turner says, really? and Anna says, Turner isn’t running an investigation through her department using her officers without her. Turner says, there are reasons Anna was excluded. First and foremost, she can’t count on Anna when it comes to dealing with Sonny Corinthos. Anna says, okay. If Turner doesn’t trust her, she doesn’t end run her. Take it to internal affairs. Turner says, maybe she will.

Brook says, Sasha and Josslyn are going to bring in Wiley and Amelia, and Carly asks if Sonny is good. He says, yes, he is. He loves moments like this. The whole family under the same roof. They just don’t get enough of them. She says, no, they don’t, when Natalia strides in. Carly asks Sonny why Natalia is here.

On Monday, Portia says Curtis may not see what’s going on here, but she certainly does; Lucas tells Marco that this may be the last chance he has to reach back; Natalia says Sonny is going to get what he deserves; and there’s an explosion.

General Hospital will not be airing a new episode on July 4th.

🧼 All the Soap News Fit To Print…

First the sad stuff. This still upsets me to no end.

https://extratv.com/2025/06/25/slain-actor-johnny-wactor-s-mom-and-brother-attend-premiere-of-his-final-film-exclusive/

https://extratv.com/2025/06/09/first-look-at-johnny-wactor-s-final-film-ciao-mama-exclusive-trailer/

https://people.com/johnny-wactor-mom-gets-standing-ovation-premiere-of-actor-final-movie-one-year-after-death-11761541

I recognize him, but don’t remember him from GH. His character sounded like a good time though.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/joe-marinelli-general-hospital-and-santa-barbara-alum-has-passed-away-at-68/

Now fun stuff. Hmm… We know Britt’s coming back – I assume in a flashback – so why not? Although Obrecht is still alive, so why not?

https://parade.com/tv/general-hospital-star-67-keeps-fans-guessing-amid-return-rumors

A sign of the times. The only shocking thing to me is finding out there’s another soap character out there named Sonny.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/photos/pride-and-joy-the-romantic-and-dramatic-history-of-gay-weddings-on-daytime-soaps/

💉 A Dose Of Reality…

Below Deck

The gay porn guests were still on board and Chef Anthony forgot one of them had a shellfish allergy. Fraser told the guest that it was his mistake, but in his interview, he said he was concerned since bringing on the chef had been his bright idea. Solène cleaned the bar without being told, and Rainbeau went out of her mind with joy. In Rainbeau’s interview, she thought it was kind of sad she was this excited, but it wasn’t long before she found a big mess Solène didn’t clean up. After she confronted Solène, Solène tried to bitch to Jess about it, but Jess wasn’t having it. The guests requested an S&M Venetian private club dinner, and Fraser was happy to oblige, insulting the guests without cracking a smile while serving dinner. The other staff, including Chef Anthony, played along, and a good time was had by all. After the guests left, Captain Kerry said he’d been impressed by everyone’s performances, but unfortunately, the tip didn’t reflect that. It was pathetic. Since there was a commercial, I figured he was doing that thing they do on American Idolwe’re so sorry to tell you… you’re going to Hollywood! But alas, that wasn’t the case. It was $19,990 or $1500 each. He gave them a dinner perk and some time off, and later, the crew lounged in the hot tub. Fraser kissed Damo after his boyfriend had specifically told him that kissing others was a no-no, but in his defense, it sounded like they never see each other, both of them being in the industry.

Next Gen NYC

So I guess 10K for an apartment is on the cheap side now? At least according to Ariana and Hudson who found one for that amount. Charlie said, with his dad, it was one big d*ck measuring contest. Well, it’s only a contest if you enter. He brought some friends to meet his dad and stepmother, probably to prove what an immeasurable d*ck his father is and that the apple really doesn’t fall far from the tree. Georgia was dating a guy that sounded like her complete opposite, but he seemed cool and wanted to invest in her heart project. So kudos! One reviewer compared this show to NYC Prep, which I also loved, but this group seems a lot more mature. In thinking about it, it must be really weird to be related to someone on reality TV and probably being their kid is the worst. Georgia, the one native New Yorker, is the one feeling like the odd man out because she’s not there as a nepo baby.

The Valley

Jax needs to have some cheese with that whine. When he wasn’t listing the faults that he supposedly addressed in rehab, he was complaining about how Brittany and the rest of the world treated him. A group trip to Maui was planned, where Jesse intended to propose to Kristen, and at least Jax had the good sense to opt out. No doubt he wanted to party without eyes on him. Not that it mattered a whole lot. With him or without him, there are plenty of issues to go around. Everyone has beef with someone, but when they claim to want resolution by talking it out, the talks usually end up with screaming and/or crying.

Yeah. He doesn’t seem like the nicest guy. And what the blip is Scheana wearing?

Real Housewives of Miami

It never fails that I stop watching something, forget why I stopped, then remember after I watch again for a while. With this, it was the constant screaming matches during events. This time it was during a surprise wedding celebration Alexia was throwing for Marisol and new husband Steve, and between Julia and Gurdy. It doesn’t matter why. It’s always stupid stuff. I felt bad for Marisol though. She was like, hello? Can you deal with this another time and not at my wedding reception?

Random Reality Items

I’m not sure why she was concerned. I didn’t get the vibe she was the bad guy in the situation. Just the opposite.

Below Deck baby leaves the dock!

You, too, can live like the Countess.

👀 Last Weekend’s Watch…

Trainwreck: Mayor of Mayhem. Netflix. At the time, this guy was an endless source of amusement to me. It was like, what’s next? In watching  this, I could see why people wanted to keep him in office. He really did work for the people. Unfortunately, his extracurriculars got the better of him.

https://people.com/what-happened-to-toronto-mayor-rob-ford-11758556

Grenfell Uncovered. Netflix. Harrowing and upsetting doesn’t begin to cover it. A high-rise apartment building became a literal wall of flame in the blink of an eye because of the inappropriate materials used to build it. Fire freaks me out since it so easily becomes out of control. I can’t even imagine being trapped in an inferno like this.

https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a65170885/grenfell-uncovered-netflix-documentary-trending/

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tv/article-14837965/Netflix-viewers-tears-Grenfell-Uncovered-documentary.html

The Ritual. Netflix. Nothing deep here. Sacrificial rituals aren’t my favorite sub-genre, but this is a fun watch. The monster has a slow reveal, but there’s plenty of action leading up to it.

No spoilers.

https://www.unilad.com/film-and-tv/netflix/netflix-horror-the-ritual-watch-creepy-861343-20240828

Lotsa spoilers.

The Fix. Amazon Prime. The air is unbreathable, but there are ways around it. You can wear a mask, but the more affluent can get a drug that combats the poisonous ozone. It can also have some crazy side effects. Apparently, there’s a limited supply, but the public doesn’t know it. Although it seemed like the head guy gave out an awful lot of it to those around him. Since it was something a little different, I didn’t hate it, but it wasn’t one of my favorites. IMO, the plot got more complicated than it needed to be, with unnecessary tributaries thrown in.

https://www.tomsguide.com/entertainment/prime-video/prime-video-just-got-an-overlooked-sci-fi-thriller-movie-thats-already-crashed-the-top-10-and-its-a-pleasant-surprise

Diary of the Dead. Amazon Prime. I kept missing this part of George Romero’s Living Dead manifesto, so this one’s a little old, but a zombie is a zombie and this delivered. One interesting tidbit was seeing Greg Nicotero (The Walking Dead franchise) in the credits as Special Makeup Effects Producer.

Dead City finale. AMC+. Just when you think you’ve seen every way possible the dead can attack, they find something new. There was truly some phenomenal acting. While I’m sad to see this come to a close, I’m looking forward to Daryl Dixon’s next chapter. Spoilers, but come on, you haven’t seen this yet?

⚰️ Dead Of the Future…

Premieres September 7th.

https://ew.com/the-walking-dead-daryl-dixon-season-3-teaser-premiere-date-new-photos-11759045

🐙 Join the Game…

Squid Game is back in the house.

https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/squid-game-season-3-review-netflix

https://www.netflix.com/tudum/videos/watch-the-trailer-for-squid-game-season-3

🦈 Have a Bite…

Shark Week begins July 20th.

https://www.discovery.com/shark-week/shark-week-2025-kicks-off-july-20

https://people.com/shark-week-2025-how-to-watch-new-shows-11759071

🐶 Tails Of Surprise…

💍 If I tried this with one of my dogs, it would be chaos multiplied.

https://people.com/celebrity-dog-serves-as-ring-bearer-in-owners-wedding-exclusive-11762126

🐕 Who says cats are the only ones with more than one life?

https://people.com/dog-thought-dead-for-4-years-reunites-with-stunned-family-11760580

🐻 No doubt my dogs would take advantage of the open refrigerator.

https://people.com/small-senior-dog-scares-big-black-bear-out-home-video-11757704

🪽 I love an inter-species friendship.

https://people.com/woman-finds-comfort-in-friendship-between-pomeranian-and-pigeon-after-loss-of-daughter-11759276

🐳 Quotes of the Week

The only defense against the world is a thorough knowledge of it. – John Locke

A year from now you may wish you had started today. – Karen Lamb

Amateurs sit and wait for inspiration, the rest of us just get up and go to work. – Chuck Close

You build on failure. You use it as a stepping stone. Close the door on the past. You don’t try to forget the mistakes, but you don’t dwell on it. You don’t let it have any of your energy, or any of your time, or any of your space. – Johnny Cash

It is better to fail in originality than to succeed in imitation. – Herman Melville

Be not afraid of life. Believe that life is worth living, and your belief will help create the fact. – William James

You’ll have bad times, but they will always wake you up to the stuff you weren’t paying attention to. – Sean Maguire (Robin Williams), Good Will Hunting

I asked my dog what two minus two was. He said nothing. – I don’t remember where I heard this, but it’s pretty funny.

Happy Independence Day!

♨️ We Got Steam Heat…

Until next week, stay safe; stay behaving responsibly on Independence Day, aka the 4th of July; and stay working on your mistakes and growing from them.

August 2, 2024 – Dante Questions Ava, Exclusive, Happy Anniversary, She’s Got Texts, Future Plans, Done, VanderDish, New Reality, Big Baby, Excellent, Pool Noodles, Stripes X 4, Pickle, Quote Tenner & Take

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Ava says she’s so looking forward to sitting in that courtroom while Kristina testifies that her father is a violent brutal thug who doesn’t belong anywhere near their daughter. Kristina says, if Ava forces her to get on that stand, she’ll tell them that Ava messed with Morgan’s bipolar meds. She replaced them with placebos and caused him to have a mental breakdown. She won’t stop there either. She’ll also share that Ava murdered Connie Falconari. If Ava forces her to tell the truth about her father, she can be damn sure Kristina will tell the truth about her too. Ava grabs Kristina’s arm, and Kristina says, don’t you touch me. She takes a step back and trips over John’s bag, stumbling backward and crashing through the window. She falls down several stories into the pool, screaming all the way. Everyone is horrified. (The looks on their faces makes me want to burst into tears.)

Sonny says, Lois is one of his dearest friends and he loves her, but his is not a good time. Can they table this conversation for another time? She says, no. They cannot table it when it affects her daughter’s future.

TJ tells Alexis that he and Molly have done the research. When the biological parents aren’t married to each other, courts tend to favor the mother in terms of physical custody which gives Kristina a definite advantage. Alexis says, he’s getting way ahead of himself, but he says he disagrees. Their baby is almost here. It’s time to know where they all stand. Alexis says she doesn’t know what Kristina is going to do. She doesn’t have control over her. She’s an adult. He says, this is his child they’re talking about. He wants to know if he’s going to spend the first few months or years of their life in family court. She says, again, he’s asking her to respond to a hypothetical situation that they don’t know will happen, and he asks if that isn’t what lawyers do. Weigh every possible angle so they can prepare their client for every possible contingency. She says, he’s not her client, and he says, no, he’s not. He’s her daughter’s partner. He’s family. She says, he is family, and so are her three daughters, two of which are in an impossible situation right now. He tells her, she just said it. She’s Molly and Kristina’s mom, and they’re both going to look to her. What is she going to do when Kristina tries to take their baby?

Kristina floats face down in the pool, threads of blood coming from her nose and mouth, and Josslyn tells everyone to stay back. She tells Brook to call 911, and Brook says she’s on it. Gio asks what he can do, and she tells him to get the backboard. Ava looks down from the smashed-out window, and Josslyn turns Kristina over. Blaze yells, Kristina! and now, everyone is doubly freaked out.

Blaze tries to run toward the pool, but Natalia holds her back and tells her to let Josslyn do her job. Help is on the way. Trina looks up and says, Ava? and Ava quickly closes the curtains. On the phone, Brook says, they need help. She fell from one of the upper windows into the pool. She’s unconscious… She doesn’t know. Just tell the paramedics to hurry. She’s pregnant.

In her room, Ava tells herself to think and picks up her phone.

Josslyn tells Kristina, hang in there. Help is on the way.

Ava leaves a message for Scotty. She needs him like she’s never needed him before.

Lois asks, is the money Sonny is going to invest in this record company legit? Yes or no? Sonny says, yes, and she says, fine. Then she wants to see proof. She wants to see the financials. She wants to see where the money originated and the taxes he paid on it. She’s not trying to offend him, but as much as she loves him, she’s a mother first, and has to make sure Brook is protected. He says he’ll call his accountant, and Lois can talk to him. She can ask him anything she wants. She says, don’t push her off on his accountant, but he says, it’s not a good time. She asks if he’s mad at her, but he says he’s not. He just has a lot going on. She says, fine, but Brook’s involvement in this record company depends on her seeing the proof, and he says, fine. She says she’s sorry. She hates leaving things like this between them, but she guesses for now this is how it’s got to be. He gives her the number, and she leaves.

Natalia continues to hold Blaze back, when Gio returns with the board. Josslyn says she’s going to need his help to get Kristina out of the water, and he asks what she needs him to do. She says, he has to get the backboard under her, but he has to be very careful. She doesn’t know if Kristina injured her back or her spine. He’s going to turn the board on its side and turn it back very swiftly when it’s in the water. Then get it under Kristina as it floats back up…. Very good. Now they have to get her head stable, so she can get Kristina to the stairs. Place one hand firmly under her chin… Very good. Now place his other hand under the backboard. Now they have to get her strapped in.

Alexis tells TJ that she hopes to God it doesn’t happen, but she can’t be put in the middle. She can’t be put in a position where she has to choose between her daughters. He says he wishes she didn’t have to. He knows what a terrible position this is for her to be in, but it’s time. She says, her girls have done without a lot, but they’ve never done without her, and they count on that. Again, she can’t be put in a position where she has to choose one daughter at the expense of another. He says, that’s just where they are now, but she says, not if he and Molly don’t force the issue. He says, Kristina says she and Blaze, who she’s known less than a year, would make better parents than him and Molly. She’s testing the water. Alexis is the one who told them about the law surrounding this before they ever agreed to the surrogacy. Who has the strongest claim to the baby? She says, Kristina, and he says, if Kristina decides to exercise that claim and keep the baby, then he and Molly have already lost. Is she going to say, the law is the law? She says, the law is the law and there’s nothing she can do about it, and he says, so in other words, she’s a coward. He walks away.

Josslyn asks if Kristina can hear her. Can she open her eyes? She listens for a heartbeat, and Trina brings over towels. Trina asks if anyone has called Kristina’s parents, but Gio says he doesn’t know. She says, shouldn’t they? when the paramedics come in. Josslyn tells them that Kristina fell out of that window and into the pool. She’s been unconscious since they got to her. They tried to be careful. She doesn’t know what injuries Kristina has. A paramedic says, they’ll take it from here, and they get to work.

Dante and Chase arrive at the scene with some officers, and Dante tells an officer to clear everyone away from the pool and clear this whole area. Brook goes over to them, and Chase asks, what’s wrong? Brook says, it’s Kristina, and Dante goes over to Kristina and says, it’s me. He’s here, okay? She’s going to be all right. They’re taking her to the hospital and they’re going to take care of her. She’s just got to hang in there. Chase tells the officers that the entire place needs to be locked down immediately. He doesn’t want anyone leaving here without his okay. They have no idea what they’re dealing with. He asks if Brook saw what happened, but she says, not really. She was here meeting with Blaze and Natalia. Everything was completely normal, and literally out of the clear blue sky, this. The paramedic says, they’re ready to go, and Dante tells Kristina that he loves her. She’s going to be fine. Blaze says, she’s coming with them, and the paramedic asks if she’s family. Josslyn says she’s Kristina’s sister. She’ll go and they’ll meet Blaze there. Crying, Blaze asks her to hold Kristina’s hand for her. She just doesn’t want Kristina to feel like she’s alone. Josslyn says she will, and they leave. Natalia tells Blaze that she’ll drive and they follow. Chase asks if Brook is okay, but she says, not really. Such an awful thing to see. Her hands are still shaking. Would it be okay if she just went to the ladies room to splash some cold water on her face? He says, sure, and she leaves. Dante calls Sonny.

Ava leaves another message for Scotty asking, where the hell is he? She needs him and she needs him right now. She looks at John’s bag and flashes back to Kristina threatening to tell the truth about her and Kristina’s subsequent fall. She says, everything is falling apart, and peeks out through the curtains. Please. She needs him. Come to her room at the MetroCourt as soon as he can. She flashes back to Kristina tripping over the bag and out the window, and says, everything’s going to be all right. She didn’t mean for that to happen. It was an accident. She remembers touching Kristina, and Kristina backing away before she tripped. She says, but no one’s going to believe it… unless she helps them believe it.

Alexis says she knows TJ is under a lot of stress. She just doesn’t know what he wants her to do. She doesn’t know what she can do. He says, so she’ll say nothing and do nothing, and doing nothing about the situation is the exact same thing as choosing Kristina. If she does nothing, Molly is going to interpret that as her supporting what Kristina is doing and that’s going to devastate her. Alexis says, and if she supports Molly and doesn’t support Kristina, Kristina will be devastated. She warned everyone from the very beginning. This was her biggest fear. It’s an unwinnable situation. He says, the only reason Kristina is even pregnant is because he and Molly wanted to have a baby. If she changes her mind, that’s wrong. It’s theft. That’s something Sonny would do, so he guesses she’s her father’s daughter, right? Alexis says she told everyone from the beginning that the law is on Kristina’s side, and he says, she’s not powerless. Her hands are not tied. She asks what he’d have her do. Seriously, tell her what she’s supposed to do. He says, talk to Kristina. He thinks Kristina will listen to her. Explain to her that if she decides to keep their baby, that will destroy her relationship with Molly. It will decimate it. Talk to her. Kristina will listen to her. She can get through to Kristina and might be the only one who can.

In the ambulance, the paramedic reads Kristina’s vitals, and Josslyn says, oh God. Her blood pressure’s dropping. He asks, how far along is her pregnancy? and Josslyn says, eight months. Why? Kristina’s eyes flutter open, and Josslyn says, it’s her. They’re on their way to GH. Kristina asks if the baby will be okay.

Sonny’s phone rings, and he says, what? Gio says, Uncle Sonny? and Sonny asks, what’s up? Gio says, Dante’s been trying to call him, and Sonny says he’s been busy. What does he need? Gio says, it’s not… He’s at work at the pool at the MetroCourt. Something’s happened. Sonny asks, what’s wrong? and Gio says, there was an accident. At least he thinks it was an accident. She fell out of a window and into the pool. She’s hurt. Sonny says, who? and Gio says, Kristina.

Chase asks how Dante is doing, and he says he’s fine. Seeing his sister on that gurney… She looked pretty terrible. Chase says, Kristina’s a fighter, just like Dante. She’s going to be okay. He can take it from here. Dante should go to the hospital. Dante asks if he’s sure. They don’t even know what this is. Chase says he can handle it. It’s more important for Dante to be there for his sister and his family right now. Gio says, sorry to interrupt. He got through to Sonny. Dante thanks him for doing that, and Gio says, of course (🍷). He steps away, and Dante says, his dad can make sure Kristina is taken care of. He needs to figure out what happened to Kristina, if she fell out of that window. If she didn’t fall out, that means a crime was committed. He has to find out what it was either way. Chase says, okay. Let’s get to work. Dante asks how many witnesses they have, and Chase says, they’re still collecting them, but from the people he’s talked to, they don’t know much. They were focused on the pool and only saw Kristina after she fell. Dante says, they’ve got to talk to security. They have footage and they have to get their hands on that. They have to get inside that room. Kristina fell out of the window with the curtains closed. Wouldn’t she have grabbed onto them and wouldn’t a curtain be following her down to the pool? Chase says, he’s right. Someone must have closed them after she fell. Kristina wasn’t alone in that room. Trina walks over to them, and Dante says, what is it? Does she know something?

TJ tells Alexis, Sonny is going to back Kristina no matter what. They can’t count on him to be the voice of reason, but Kristina knows Alexis will say the truth to her even if it’s hard to hear. Please help guide her to doing the right thing. Be her parent. Alexis says, being a parent is a lot harder than he thinks. He’s going to find that out soon enough. He says he may never get that chance if Kristina gets her way. He may not have the years of parenting experience Alexis does, but if he gets that chance, he’ll make sure his child knows family is to be cherished above all else and is the only thing that can be counted on, which he’s sure Kristina knows, given that she’s had Molly’s unwavering support for her whole life. Alexis says, it’s true, she has, and he says he’ll make sure his child understands the ramifications of taking family for granted. She says, understood, and he asks if she understands if she takes Kristina’s side over Molly’s, that will not just cause a rift between the sister, she could lose Molly, and that could shatter her entire family. She says she did try to prevent this. She warned everyone that this could happen. He says, so that’s the best she’s got; I told you so.

Brook takes a breather in the ladies’ room and flashes back to seeing Kristina crash through the window and into the pool. Lois comes in and runs to Brook and hugs her. She says, Chase told her that Brook was in here. He didn’t have time to tell her what was going on, so she asked an attendant. They said, someone fell out of a window and into the pool, and that Brook saw everything. Is she okay? Brook says, not just someone. It’s Kristina.

Kristina looks around, and Josslyn says she’s right here. Kristina asks where she is, and Josslyn says, she’s in the ambulance on the way to GH. Kristina asks, why? What happened? Josslyn says, she fell through a window and into the pool, but she’s going to be okay. Kristina says she’s scared, and Josslyn says she knows, but the paramedics already alerted the doctors at GH. They know what’s happened and they’re ready to treat her and the baby. She’s in the best possible hands. Kristina says she wants her dad and mom, and Josslyn says she thinks they’re already on their way. She’s going to see them soon. Just try to hang on, for her and for the baby. Kristina says she’s so scared, and slips into unconsciousness again.

TJ thanks Alexis for clarifying, but she says, instead of blaming her, sit down with Molly and talk. They’ll get through it. He says, they’ve already talked. Actually, they’re in perfect agreement. The baby is theirs. That’s been the expectation and the agreement for the last eight months until Kristina decided it wasn’t. So now it’s all on her. She has all the power. She thinks it’s her kid to do whatever she wants with; him and Molly be damned. Kristina is wheeled in, and the paramedic tells Dr. Park that she’s pregnant and fell through a glass window. She’s been in and out of consciousness. He gives the doctor her vitals and says, her abdomen is very firm. She may be abrupting. TJ and Alexis realize it’s Kristina.

Trina sits with Gio and says, he should be proud of himself. He says, for what? and she says, he doesn’t have any medical training, does he? He says, not really, and she says, but he still jumped up and helped Joss. He says he was kind of just going on autopilot. He just did what she told him to. He should have known to go straight for the backboard without her having to say it. She says, he can’t beat himself up. He didn’t have any training. He says, still, and she says, if it’s on him, then it’s on all of them. None of them knew what to do. They just froze, so thank God for Joss. He says, she was amazing. He just doesn’t get it. How could something like this happen? How can you just fall out of a window? Did she see the fall? She says, no. She just looked up after. It’s Ava’s room. She saw Ava standing at the window. He says, Ava her boss? and Trina says, Ava’s not just her boss. Ava’s her friend. He asks how well she really knows Ava, and she says she’s not sure. Maybe she doesn’t really know her at all.

Kristina is wheeled into one of the rooms, and Dr. Park says, they’re going to do everything they can. She’s in great hands. TJ says, Kristina is carrying his child. He can help. Where is he needed? Dr. Park says, don’t worry. They’ve got this. Just stay here with the family. Alexis asks, what happened? and Josslyn says, she fell out of a window in the MetroCourt and into the pool. Alexis says, what? and Josslyn says she doesn’t know what happened. She gave Kristina first aid until the paramedics got there. That’s all she knows. TJ says, the paramedics said the placenta is separating from the uterus, and Alexis says she doesn’t know what that means. How is the baby? He says, Kristina’s hanging in there. The baby has to be hanging in there, right? Alexis says, how the hell did it happen?

Ava ditches John’s bags in the bedroom, then takes an ice bucket full of ice out of the credenza. She dumps it all over the floor, throws down a water pitcher, and drops her shoes in front of the window. She says, Kristina did this to herself, when there’s a knock at the door. She opens it and Dante is there.

Josslyn says she doesn’t know how it happened. All she knows is, Kristina fell from the window and into the pool. It happened very quickly. TJ wonders what she was even doing at the MetroCourt, and Josslyn says she doesn’t know, but she’s going to give them a minute. Blaze comes in with Natalia, and Blaze says she’s so glad Alexis is here. Where is Kristina? Alexis says, they’re working on her, and Natalia says, any word on her condition or the baby? TJ says, they don’t know anything yet, and Blaze asks, where’s Molly? TJ says, in court. He hasn’t called her yet. Everything happened so fast. He doesn’t know how to tell her. Blaze says, that’s okay. She’ll help him. They leave, and Natalia asks if she can get Alexis coffee or water or something, but Alexis shakes her head, trying not to cry. Sonny comes in and they hug.

Ava says, thank God Dante is here. She knew the police would show up eventually, so she didn’t dare leave. How is Kristina? He says he’s not here to answer questions; he’s here to ask them. He takes out his notebook and says, why doesn’t she tell him what happened? She says, Kristina showed up here about forty-five minutes ago. She wasn’t expecting her, but thought Kristina was here to help with her custody case. He says, she thought Kristina was going to help her take Avery away from her father? and she says she was under the impression Kristina had witnessed enough of Sonny’s irrational behavior to know he’s unstable right now. She’d hoped Kristina knew that Avery isn’t safe with him. He says, that’s what she believed? and she says, yes, but she was wrong. He says, why doesn’t she tell him why Kristina was really here, and checks out the curtains. She says, because she thought Kristina was willing to help her. Her attorney, Scott Baldwin, subpoenaed Kristina to get her deposition. She thought Kristina would be willing to talk to him, but she wasn’t. She was irate about the subpoena. He says, so she didn’t ask Kristina to testify first. She just served her with the subpoena? She says she misjudged Kristina, and he says, clearly. She says, Kristina demanded that she recall the subpoena. She told Kristina that she didn’t think she could do that, that things had already been set in motion, and that just made her angrier. He says, she’s eight and a half months pregnant. Ava is trying to turn her against her father. Of course (🍷) she’s going to be angry. She says, this was not about being pregnant. This was a lot more. Kristina lost it. Kristina was trying to attack her. She went for Ava’s throat. He says, that just doesn’t sound like Kristina, and Ava says she knows. That’s why she was so shocked. She didn’t want Kristina to hurt her, but she didn’t want Kristina to hurt herself. She moved away. She was trying to get some distance between them, but Kristina kept coming at her. He says, why doesn’t she tell him how Kristina went out the window, and she says, Kristina lunged at her. She moved out of the way and Kristina tripped over her shoes. She fell into the glass, then to Ava’s horror, she fell through it. He says, let him get this straight. Kristina showed up here so irate that Ava was trying to turn her against Sonny, that she came at Ava physically. Ava evaded her and she trips, flies through the curtains, and into the window and down to the pool below. Ava says, that’s right, and he says, the curtains were open. A witness saw her standing at the window after Kristina fell through. They saw her close the curtains. Does she want to revise that part of her story? She says, now that he mentions it, yes. She did close the curtains. She was so horrified by what happened, she was afraid to look down. He says, so she closed the curtains, then she opened them, then she closed them again? and she says she thinks that’s correct. He says, and there’s no sign that Kristina went through the curtains or tried to grab at them to stop herself from falling, and she says she doesn’t know. It was such a blur. He says, or she’s lying through her damn teeth about the entire thing.

Lois says, Kristina? Sonny’s daughter? That’s who fell? Brook says, it was horrible. At first, everything was completely normal, and all of a sudden, there was this loud noise of glass breaking and a woman screaming and then Kristina in the pool just not moving. Lois says, but she’s pregnant. She’s in her last trimester. Brook says she knows. And yeah, the fall was horrible and shocking, but she didn’t know who it was until Josslyn turned her over. It’s not just Kristina. It’s the baby too. They fell at least three stories. Lois asks if they know how badly she’s hurt, and Brook says, there was no way to tell. Josslyn was terrific and Gio helped her. Josslyn was holding Kristina up in the pool, when Gio went to get the backboard. Then they maneuvered her out of the pool. She wanted to help, but all she could do was call 911. Lois says, that was the best thing she could have done, and Brook says, Blaze was going out of her mind. Her mother had to hold her back. Then the paramedics came, and they were preparing Kristina for transport. Josslyn rode with her in the ambulance. Kristina was still unconscious when they left. Lois says, poor Sonny. He said he wasn’t in a good place. When he gets this news, he’ll be out of his mind. Brook asks, what happened with her and Sonny? but Lois says, that doesn’t matter now. Brook says, Lois just told her that Sonny said he wasn’t in a good place, which implies, A, she was with him, and B, they were having a relatively serious conversation. Lois says, they were, and Brook says, about? Lois tells her that she and Sonny are old friends. They talk about all kinds of things. Brook says, Lois is doing backflips not to give her a straight answer, which leads her to believe that Lois and Uncle Sonny were talking about her, weren’t they?

Sonny says, Gio called him and said Kristina was in some kind of accident. What happened? Alexis says, Josslyn was there, and Natalia says, Josslyn saved her life. Kristina fell out of a window from several stories up. She fell into the pool and Josslyn jumped in right after her and put her on a backboard to stabilize her spine in case she had injuries, then stayed with her until the paramedics came. (I wonder why Natalia is answering for Josslyn.) Alexis thanks Josslyn and says, they’re very grateful. Josslyn says she’s just happy she was able to help in any way. But she rode in the ambulance with Kristina. She woke up for a second and asked about the baby and asked for them. She just told Kristina that they were on their way to the hospital, and that the doctors would help her and the baby, and that they’d be here. She just tried to ease Kristina’s mind as best she could. Dr. Park comes out, and Sonny asks, how’s our daughter?

Trina tells Gio that Ava’s always been a good friend to her. Ava is her mentor. Working at her gallery is the reason she got the invitation to study at the Sorbonne. (And we all know how that turned out.) He says, that’s a big deal, and she says she knows Ava isn’t a saint. Ava can be pretty tough, and she’s done some bad things, and she’s not excusing any of that. He says, but she sees a different side to her, and Trina says, yeah. They’ve been through some pretty difficult things and Ava’s always had her back. Ava’s always been there for her. She’s had her doubts about Ava, but sticks up for her because she feels that Ava is more than the mistakes she’s made in the past. He says, but now… and she says, but now – she looks up at the window – maybe she was right to doubt Ava. Maybe she’s everything everybody says she is… or worse.

Ava says, this is preposterous. What does it matter if the curtains were open or closed? Dantes says, it means she’s lying about something. It means she’s trying to hide something. She asks what exactly he’s accusing her of, and he says, she can figure it out, can’t she? She says, everything happened just the way she said it did. This is her hotel suite. Kristina showed up here to confront her. She was angry. She was out of control. He says, that’s one of the parts where she loses him. She’s talking about someone who doesn’t have a violent bone in her body coming at her and attacking her, putting herself and her unborn child in jeopardy. She tells him that she didn’t say it was rational. Kristina was unhinged. Just like her father. He goes over to the shoes and says, this is what she tripped over, huh? and Ava says, yeah. He says, she’s telling him that Kristina flew out this window with such force, breaking a hotel window, from a pair of shoes? He’s not buying it. She says she doesn’t know what to tell him. Like he said, Kristina is very pregnant. Maybe she’s not so light on her feet. Kristina came rushing at her and she tripped. She did not touch Kristina. In fact, everything that happened here is of Kristina’s own doing. He says he guesses that’s one possibility. The other is that she assaulted Kristina. He takes out his handcuffs and says, now she’s lying about it. She says she did no such thing. He’s arresting her? He puts the cuffs on her and asks what it looks like. She says, this is ridiculous. She’s innocent. He says, she’d better hope Kristina and her baby make it alive or she’s going to be facing two murder charges. That’s if she makes it that far. She’s under arrest. She has the right to remain silent… etc., etc., etc.

Lois says she had questions about the origin of the money Sonny plans to invest in the record company, and Brook says, questions. Lois says, more like concerns. She’s not privy to the details, nor does she want to be, but suffice it to say not all of Sonny’s income comes from legitimate sources. Brook says, she actually thinks Uncle Sonny would use mob money to invest in the record label he wants her to run? Lois says she doesn’t know, but she had to be sure, and Brook says, excuse her, but that’s not Lois’s call to make. She’s an adult. She’s a businesswoman and if she has questions about the source of the money Uncle Sonny gives to her or any other investment, she will ask those questions. Lois says, okay, but Brook has a blind spot where Sonny is concerned, and that is her fault. She adores Sonny and raised Brook to adore her Uncle Sonny, and they give him all the benefits of every single doubt. But when it comes to his finances and the compliance with federal law, as much as she wants to trust, she’s got to verify. Brook says, then bring those concerns to her instead of going behind her back to Uncle Sonny, but Lois says she doesn’t see it as going behind Brook’s back. Brook says, be honest. Put herself in Brook’s place. If Grandma Gloria did to her when Lois just did, how would she feel? Lois says she would feel like Gloria went behind her back, but she’d know she did it with love. Brook says, no question, but then she would set appropriate boundaries, would she not? Lois says, yes, and Brook thanks her and says, that’s all she’s asking, for Lois to respect her and her judgment as a businesswoman. Lois says, understood, but as much as Brook is an adult, she wants Brook to respect the fact that she’s always going to be her little girl and she’s always going to look out for Brook’s best interests. Brooks says she knows Lois will. She knows Kristina is probably feeling… If anything happens to Kristina and that baby… Lois suggests they not jump to any conclusions. Kristina is a very strong woman and she’s sure the baby is strong as well. Brook says, she didn’t see how pale and still Kristina was. She’s been carrying that baby for nearly nine months. It would be cruel for something to go wrong now. Lois says, let’s pray that it doesn’t, okay? and they hug.

Dr. Park tells Sonny that his daughter suffered multiple internal injuries from the fall, causing severe hemorrhaging. Kristina has gone into hypovolemic shock. The baby is in fetal distress and the placenta is separating from the uterus, which is the baby’s lifeline. We see them prepping Kristina, and Dr. Park says, they’re going to take her to the OR for an emergency C-section. We see Kristina hooked up to machines and wearing an oxygen mask.

On Monday, TJ tells Jordan, whatever happens, it’s her fault; Josslyn tells Dex, that second could have made all the difference; Anna asks if Trina noticed anything after Kristina fell; and Sonny says, they will pay.

🏨 Showdown At the MetroCourt…

Excellent scene and spectacular fall.

💐 And Many More…

I love Scotty, and he’s so funny IRL too. I only wish GH would recognize what a gem of a couple they have in him and Obrecht.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/kin-shriners-special-anniversary-message-to-fans

🍊 Shannon’s Shade Is Leaking…

I wonder who the disgusting friend is. There are so many choices.

💰 Jumping On Josh’s Coattails…

She could do worse. I’d actually love to see this.

⚔️ A House Divided Must Reboot…

Now On Display is going to be stuck in my head for God only knows how long.

🦄 And a Black Swan In a Rosé Tree…

Of course she’s nice. Was there ever any question?

🐦‍🔥 Complicated Things…

Loved her first reality show and I’m hoping this one has the same outlook. It left you feeling good instead of like you wanted to punch someone.

🦌 Reindeer Games Continue…

This is just stupid. And like she’s really making her case for being a sane person who’s done no wrong. She’s literally scary.

https://ew.com/baby-reindeer-richard-gadd-responds-fiona-harvey-lawsuit-8686363

https://ew.com/netflix-concedes-alleged-baby-reindeer-real-life-martha-not-convicted-stalker-8687694

🎭 Next Stop For the Telephone Booth…

I’d love to see this. I saw John Glover in Waiting for Godot years ago. Too bad Broadway is so damn expensive. And don’t get me started on the cost of transportation.

https://ew.com/bill-and-ted-stars-keanu-reeves-and-alex-winter-reunite-broadway-8687596

🦸🏻‍♂️ Blowing Collective Minds…

I’m going to see it this weekend. I can’t wait!

https://ew.com/deadpool-wolverine-elektra-blade-gambit-x-23-action-scene-breakdown-exclusive-8687405

If you’re a superhero supernerd and need all the background.

https://ew.com/how-to-watch-x-men-movies-in-order-8683590

Best variants ever.

https://www.marvel.com/articles/comics/dogpool-catpool-mousepool-infinity-comics-marvel-unlimited

🦓 Quadruple the Stripes…

A precious quartet.

https://people.com/disney-world-welcomes-4-baby-zebras-animal-kingdom-park-8683181

🥒 And If He Plays Ball…

Love, love, love the name. It goes without saying he’s cute.

https://people.com/demi-lovato-new-dog-pickle-with-fiance-jutes-instagram-photos-8685696

🥁 Quotes of the Week

Darth Vader polling higher than all potential 2016 candidates. – The Washington Post, analyzing polls on what Americans thought of their options for the next president in 2016.

Take your camera and your selfie stick and your dog and get the f*** out of here. – Rita, Neighborhood Wars

Always forgive your enemies. Nothing annoys them so intensely. – Percy Colson

A lifetime isn’t forever, so take the first chance, don’t wait for the second one! Because sometimes, there aren’t second chances! And if it turns out to be a mistake? So what! This is life! A whole bunch of mistakes! But if you never get a second chance at something you didn’t take a first chance at? That’s true failure. – C. JoyBell C.

To handle yourself use your head; to handle others, use your heart. – Eleanor Roosevelt

No individual has any right to come into the world and go out of it without leaving behind him distinct and legitimate reasons for having passed through it. – George Washington Carver

I’ve learned to never say never because when you say never, it happens. – Olivia Plath, Welcome to Plathville (Truth! This has happened to me more than once.)

Our most significant opportunities will be found in times of greatest difficulty. – Thomas S. Monson

We are all ordinary. We are all boring. We are all spectacular. We are all shy. We are all bold. We are all heroes. We are all helpless. It just depends on the day. – Brad Meltzer

Sh*t doesn’t get real until it’s real, and it’s real. – Gina Kirschenheiter, Real Housewives of Orange County

⛺️ Sing Around the Campfire…

Enjoy what life holds for you over the weekend – be it rowing down the stream or streaming – and join me on Monday for soap and Med antics. Until then, stay safe, stay practicing wildfire prevention, and stay not going behind someone’s back, even if it’s with love.

July 26, 2024 – John Gives Jason a Proposition, Warden, Wives For the Date, Star Winner, Just Us Girls, Game Of Game, They’re Here, Video Video, Critic Blast, It’s Snowing, First Look, A Half Dozen Quotes & Hot

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Madison says, Nina’s lunch date is confirmed, the ad copy is on her desk, and her 9 am appointment with Enchantment has been canceled. Nina says, why? You don’t just cancel an appointment with Erica Kane. That woman is notoriously difficult. Erica made her last assistant wear burlap for an entire year just because she booked her a layover on her flight to Beirut. Madison says she didn’t know you could fly direct to Beirut, and Nina says, you can’t. That’s the point. Madison has left her in a difficult position. Why would she cancel a meeting with Erica Kane and risk her wrath? They walk into Nina’s office, and Michael is sitting in her chair. Startled, Madison drops everything in her hands, and he says, because your boss needed to talk to you.

There’s a knock at Kristina’s door and she opens it to Molly. Kristina asks if they had plans and she forgot, but Molly says, no. She just wanted to stop by. Kristina says, perfect timing, because she’s been dying to talk to Molly about the Perez Hilton interview. It’s been great to see how everyone’s been responding with such support. There’s this lesbian influencer who’s super powerful on Instagram, and she said this: Kristina and Blaze clearly love and support each other and are a great example of how to remain true to yourself while negotiating a difficult family situation. Isn’t that so empowering? Molly says, yeah, and Kristina says, so she saw the interview obviously. Wasn’t it great?

Anna opens the PCPD folder on Jack Brennan, and it’s empty. Dante comes in and asks if it’s a bad time, but Anna says, it’s fine. What’s up? He says, Sonny’s downstairs. Did she want to see him? She says she doesn’t have anything to charge him with, so no, and he says, fair enough. He starts to leave, but she calls him back. She tells him to shut the door. She has an update on Jack Brennan. He says, the guy they arrested at Bobbie’s last year, and she says, oh good. She wasn’t imagining him then. He asks what that’s supposed to mean, and she says, he’s disappeared from Pentenville. It’s as if he was never there.

Jason thanks Diane for coming, and she says, of course (🍷). She assumes this is about Carly. She’s doing as well as can be expected. He says he knows her arraignment is in a few hours. She’s pleading not-guilty, right? Diane says, she is, and he says he can help with her defense. She says, fantastic. How does she exonerate Carly? He says, by giving him up in her place.

Carly is brought to the interrogation room where Sonny is waiting. He tells the officer to take the cuffs off. She’s not violent and she’s not going anywhere. The officer says, those were the FBI’s orders. The prisoner is just with the PCPD until she’s transferred to federal holding, so they’ll be put on as soon as they’re done talking. He leaves, and Sonny says, Jagger has gone too far. He’s going to do everything he can to get her off. She says, no. Don’t do anything. Let Diane handle it. Please. How’s Donna? He says, Donna doesn’t know anything yet, and Pilar is there to make sure she doesn’t get upset. Carly says, good, and he asks, what’s going on? He saw her get arrested by Jagger. He wanted to jump in, but Diane said, don’t even think about it. She says, what’s going on? He died and she took his place.

Jason tells Diane that he’ll take responsibility for everything that happened at that meeting. He’ll say he fed Carly every word, that she was just a figurehead, and he was the one making all the decisions. Diane says, it’s a novel idea… and a complete waste of time.

Nina helps Madison pick everything up, and Michael says, sorry to spring this meeting on her at the last minute, but Nina says, it’s fine. As he clearly stated, he’s her boss and she’s at his disposal. He thanks her for being so accommodating, and she says, he did put her in a bit of a bind. When the subject of this sudden cancelation comes up, and it will, she’s going to forward Erica Kane’s calls to him. He says, that’s fair. He’s happy to handle it. She thanks Madison and asks her to hold her calls. And don’t go far. She may need a witness. Madison says she’ll be right outside. She leaves, and Michael says, it’s interesting that she warned her assistant when they struck a truce, and Nina says, they did, but if she’s learned anything, it’s that when they have a meeting together, it could go sideways very quickly. He says he can’t disagree. So he’ll get straight to the point. He needs her help.

Kristina says, Molly isn’t saying anything. Does that mean she disagrees? She doesn’t think it went well? Molly says, no. From what she’s heard, the response has been really good. She’s sure a lot of people found Kristina to be very sympathetic. Kristina says, huh. Interesting choice of words. People, but not her. Molly says, TJ had some thoughts about the interview, and Kristina says, about which part? And why isn’t he the one here talking to her about this? What’s TJ’s problem now? Molly says she’s not going to speak for TJ, but they talked about it last night, and in order to settle his concerns – she takes out a folder – she agreed to bring by these papers for Kristina to sign. Kristina asks what this is about, and Molly says, her giving up her parental rights.

Molly says, Kristina is functioning as a surrogate for her and TJ, but she’s also the egg donor. And as their mother so eloquently pointed out, according to the laws of the State of New York, she’s legally the baby’s mother until she relinquishes her parental rights. Kristina looks through the papers, and says, not relinquish – terminate. That’s what these papers say over and over and over again. Terminate. Molly wants her to terminate her parental rights? Something relinquished can be taken back. Something terminated can’t. That’s a pretty big difference, doesn’t she think? Molly says, in order for her to legally be the baby’s mother, Kristina has to terminate her rights. This is what they agreed to in the beginning. Kristina says, let her get this straight. Molly and TJ saw the interview she did where she poured her heart out to the entire world, and this is their response? Molly says she doesn’t understand what the issue is here. Kristina is about to give birth. She’s going to have to sign these papers at that time to give her and TJ the baby. Why not just sign them now, when things are calm and there’s time? What possible reason could she have not to?

Dante says, when Anna tells him that Brennan disappeared, she means he escaped Pentenville? How? She says, that’s a good question. How do you escape from somewhere when you weren’t there to begin with? He asks what she’s talking about. They arrested this guy. They put him in a car and watched him get taken to Pentenville. She says, and she visited him there more than once. According to Pentenville’s records, Brennan was never in their custody. There’s no digital record of him, no paper trail, no video surveillance. He was never in intake, and he was never assigned a cell. It’s like Brennan’s association with Pentenville has completely vanished. Dante says, there have to be witnesses there who saw him and spoke to him, and she says, you’d think. Maybe she can rustle up a CO or two, an inmate maybe that can place him there. But at the end of the day, it’s not proof. It’s just hearsay. She says she’ll show him the best part, and hands him Brennan’s folder. The PCPD’s records have been purged also, both physically and digitally. He sees the folder is empty, and he says, this is crazy. Who has the power to erase the records of an inmate’s entire existence and buy the silence of that many people?

Michael says he understands Nina has a long-standing connection with Congressman McConkey, and she says, he went to Princeton with her father. She’s known him for her entire life, but Michael’s family also goes way back with him. He says, Tracy and his grandmother do, but he doesn’t want to get Tracy involved in this because she has a tendency to stick her nose into things that are none of her business. And his grandmother isn’t doing well, so he’d rather not ask her. But from what it sounds, Nina’s connection with McConkey is closer. She says, that’s probably true, but he still hasn’t told her what he wants, and he says, an introduction. She asks if he didn’t meet McConkey at the 4th of July party, but he says, it was very brief. All they really did was exchange small talk. What he needs is some face time. She asks, why is that? and he tells her that he’d rather not say. She says, he’s asking her to exploit a decades long family friendship with the congressman for his mysterious purposes? She’s sorry, but she’s going to need a lot more information before she puts McConkey on the spot. He says he needs to ask McConkey for a favor, and she says, is this for ELQ? Is ELQ in trouble? Is it Aurora? Should she be worried about Crimson? He says, no, don’t. They’re both fine. She says, then if it’s not a business matter, it’s personal, and he says he needs McConkey to help his mother.

Carly says, while Nina was keeping Sonny all to herself in Nixon Falls, the rest of them thought he was dead. And the Five Families (spaghetti sauce) were circling, ready to take over his territory. With him gone, they were racing for the opportunity. He says, anyone who would stake a claim on his business would be a target, and she says, that’s right. So she and Jason had to make a show of strength to prove to them that the territory was in safe hands. But Jason was hurt, and he couldn’t make it to the meeting with the Five Families (calzones), so she was the only option. He says he already knows all that. What he wants to know is how the FBI charged her with RICO violations. She says, someone at the meeting was wearing a wire. The FBI has a recording of her announcing that she was taking control of his entire organization. He says, that was a long time ago. Why are they digging in now? She says, because they have another use for the recording. They used it as leverage over Jason. The FBI played the recording for Jason and told him that they would charge her with everything they could unless he worked for them. That’s what Jason’s been doing, keeping her out of jail while working undercover for John Cates. (We see Sonny is starting to track.)

Diane says she was hoping Jason was going to give her documents or witnesses or, best case scenario, proof that the FBI’s recording had been improperly procured. Something she could actually use. He says, just use him, but she says, that’s a non-starter. The FBI’s evidence against Carly is hard. That recording is damning. He tells her, not if he says he coached her, and she says, that’s only going to tack on another conspiracy charge. It’s Carly’s voice on that tape. Carly was at the meeting. There’s no getting around that. He knows taking responsibility is only going to implicate him right alongside her. Who’s that going to benefit? He says, all he’s got to do is convince one juror there’s reasonable doubt and the whole thing’s worth it, and she says she promises that is not how this is going to work out. He won’t save Carly; he’ll condemn himself and strengthen the prosecution’s case against her. She knows he has the best of intentions, and actually, she could use his help in another aspect of this case. He says, what? and she says, her defense strategy will be to spin the story. She’s going to present Carly as a sympathetic defendant. Convince the jury that she lied at that meeting to saved herself and her children from a group of vicious mob bosses suspected in a wide range of crimes, including several brutal murders. That she feared for the lives of her children and herself, and that she literally bluffed to save her life, lying to these people to push them away. Jurors love stories like that. He says, Carly told him that Diane said her chance of acquittal is what? 30%? She says, they can do better than that… not much better.

Nina says, Carly was arrested? and Michael says, his mom was very publicly handcuffed down in the lobby. He thought the news would be all over the building by now. She says, her former MetroCourt employees don’t really have a reason to gossip with her anymore. What was Carly arrested for? He says, the charges don’t really matter. This whole thing is the work of this rogue FBI agent who has a vendetta against Jason and his mother and probably Sonny too. This agent needs to know he’s not above the law himself. She says, which McConkey can give him through congress, and Michael says, yes, exactly. McConkey is on the House selection committee for Intelligence. He could buy influence on his committee, but he feels a personal touch from Nina would be more subtle. She says, and safer. No money trail. It’s all very Watergate sounding, and they all know how that turned out. He says, according to the law, it’s only illegal if money actually changes hands, and she says, and they both know he’d do anything to save Carly. He would hand over that money in a heartbeat. So he’s asking her to potentially commit a crime to cover up Carly’s crime. Now is he ready to be labeled co-conspirator with her?

Sonny says, so Carly was arrested. Things must have broken down between Jagger and Jason. Carly says, Jason was supposed to do one more specific job for Cates, and then Cates was going to cut him loose. Jason kept up his end of the bargain, then Cates double-crossed Jason. He said he was going to send Jason to some prison somewhere to go undercover. He says, lying bastard, and Carly says, she and Jason got in a big fight. He said he’d rather keep working for Cates than see her tried and charged. He says, let him guess. Jason won. She says, he made her promise not to turn herself in, so she agreed, and he says, she lied to him, but she says she didn’t lie to him. She didn’t want to turn herself in, but when she saw Cates there in the MetroCourt, and he made a jab about Jason, she lost it. She couldn’t help it. He says he was there. He saw. She basically dared him to arrest her. She says, right. So here they are. He asks how she found out about this, and she says she found out about the recording about a month ago, and he asks if Diane knows about this. She says, Diane has to know because she has to work on a defense, and he asks what Diane says her chances are. She says, the odds are not in her favor, and he slams his hand down on the table.

Jason says he knows Diane will do her best and her best is better than anybody else’s. He just doesn’t see how Carly’s going to beat this. She says she’s sorry, but short of getting that FBI recording destroyed or having it deemed inadmissible as evidence, Carly will be arraigned and charged this afternoon. With any luck, she’ll be granted bail, and a trial date will be set. Then they prepare to go to war. He asks what she wants him to do, and she says she wants him to slap on a suit and tie and show up every day to that courtroom. Let Carly see him in her corner. He’s calm and he’s steady. Because the prosecution could clinch its case against her by provoking a courtroom meltdown out of her. They don’t want that. Are they clear? He says, they are, and she says, excellent. Now if he’ll excuse her, she has to go over her notes. He says, one more thing. Can they undercut Carly’s case by tarnishing Cates? She says, it could work. It’s worked before. But Cates’s testimony is going to carry a tremendous amount of weight simply because he’s FBI. There’s a presumption of authority and integrity. (Really? In 2024?) They’d have to come up with something substantial in order to make a jury doubt Cates. He says, it may be possible. He knows someone who can get them information on Cates. And she owes him.

Anna says, Brennan’s disappearance has the WSB written all over it, and Dante says he can see that, but to what end? Doesn’t this guy out of a prison cell open up a whole can of worms for the WSB? She says she thought that too, but then she’s wondering if freeing him solves more problems than it creates. He says he guesses so. But if they want to shut him up, he knows something they don’t want him to, why not just put him in a hole in Steinmaur and throw away the hole? She says, it’s possible. The only way of figuring this out is cornering the WSB with proof of their involvement. He says, Brennan was admitted to GH for a stabbing that happened in Pentenville, right? and she says, yeah. He says, the hospital has to have records of him being there, unless the WSB wiped those too, and she says, if he could check on that, that would be awesome. He says he’ll take care of it right now, and she thanks him. He says, this guy is the WSB’s problem, isn’t he? Why does the PCPD care what happens to Brennan?

Kristina says she’s kind of flying blind here, so can Molly just tell her what she said that upset her and TJ so much and gotten them so worried? Wait. This wasn’t because Perez asked her about the baby and she said it was private, was it? Molly says, it’s just common sense. You can’t sit down for an interview with Perez Hilton, be visibly pregnant, and when he asks about it, say, sorry, it’s private. (Um… yes, you can.) Kristina says, the interview wasn’t about the baby. It was about Allie and her and Allie’s mother. It wasn’t about the baby at all. Molly says, don’t act like she didn’t see those questions coming. She can’t be that naïve. Kristina says she’s not naïve. She was trying to protect Molly and TJ. She didn’t want to drag them or this baby into a mess that was really about Allie and her personal private life, and it’s now all over the news. Molly says, she made it seem like this baby was hers and Allie’s, but Kristina says, no, she didn’t. Molly says, there was a simple explanation that would have avoided all confusion. She only had to say that she was acting as a surrogate for her sister and left it at that. Instead, every lesbian on the internet is so excited about her and Blaze being parents, they’re all posting about which onesie they should buy them. Kristina says, that’s insane. That is not what’s happening. She’s shocked. She can’t believe Molly would misinterpret something she said this badly. Molly asks what she’s misinterpreting. It’s what they all heard. Kristina says, fine. Why doesn’t she call Kelly Ripa and tell her that she has an exclusive? Molly, her sister, has endometriosis and she was devastated to find out she can’t bear children, so she’s helping her sister and her partner by helping them become parents. Is that what she wants? Would she have preferred that? Would that make her happy? Because actually, she was just trying to take the attention off of Molly, but hey, if she really wants to become the public face of endometriosis, have at it. Molly says, she’s being ridiculous, and Kristina says, is she? Molly says, all she and TJ wanted was for Kristina to be clear about whose baby she’s carrying. Kristina says, then that’s what Molly should have told her before she did the interview. She’s sorry if anything she said was taken the wrong way, but this wasn’t her intention. This wasn’t her fault. Molly says, of course (🍷) not. Nothing ever is. Kristina didn’t even tell her that she was doing this interview, but they’re talking in circles, and she needs to get to the office. So can Kristina just sign these papers so she can go… Sign the damn papers. Kristina throws them down on the table and says, no.

Molly says, they have an agreement. Kristina has to sign these papers. Kristina asks if they can just talk about this for a minute, and they sit down. She doesn’t think it’s a good idea for her to sign the papers right now. Molly says, yes, it is. Kristina is about to give birth and she can’t legally adopt her baby until Kristina terminates her rights. Kristina says, there’s issues in play right now that weren’t happening when they agreed to this, and Molly says, what issues? Kristina says, her and TJ, and Molly says, what about them? Kristina says, what if they break up? and Kristina says she and TJ aren’t breaking up. That’s not even a question here. Kristina says, maybe Molly is too close to it and doesn’t want to see it, but things have been really rocky lately. Molly says, that’s so condescending of Kristina to think she can tell her about her own relationship, and Kristina says, maybe Molly doesn’t want to see it and she’s sorry to say this, but it’s true. She can’t deny there’s been so much tension between them lately. They can’t stop fighting. Molly says, all they fight about is her. So according to her, now she and TJ are going to break up because they fight? That’s what couples do. They fight and they make up and they wind up stronger for it. But Kristina wouldn’t know anything about that because she has never, not one single time, been able to keep anybody around long enough to form a real relationship. All she has is a string of embarrassingly misguided attempts with men, a crush that drove her teacher out of town, and a messed-up infatuation with a woman who was so ashamed of being gay that she was still in the closet until her mother caused a national uproar by publicly outing her. Look in the mirror. She’s not equipped to be a mother. She can barely take care of herself. (Needless to say, this doesn’t make me like Molly any more than I don’t already.)

Nina says, if this is found out, how does she know Michael won’t shift the blame entirely on her? and he says, nobody’s going to believe Nina cares enough about his mother to do something illegal to help her. Nina says she can’t argue with him there, and he says his mom is facing RICO charges because of the actions she did to protect her family when his father was in Nixon Falls. And that only happened because of Nina. His mother wouldn’t even be in this position if Sonny had been in Port Charles conducting business as usual. She says, so she owes him one? and he says, she owes his family. She can make this right with one phone call. All she has to do is get him a meeting with McConkey, and he’ll persuade McConkey into opening up an official inquiry into this FBI agent’s twisted vendetta against his family. She says, if she agrees to this, are they finally square? and he says he’ll give her something that’s even more important to her. When his mom goes free, he’ll make sure Willow knows all the credit goes to her.

Anna tells Dante that Brennan is also connected to this other case that’s unfolding right now, which is Carly’s. Agent Cates used evidence of Carly’s involvement in Sonny’s business to force Jason to work for the FBI. Dante says, okay. He knew Jason was an informant, and knew Jason was working for the FBI and they got him to flip. He just didn’t know how. It surprised him, but Carly explains it. She says, Agent Cates kind of showed interest in Brennan and implied at one point Brennan might have leverage over him. (I must have missed that, but they do have a tendency to make it up as they go along.) Dante says, and she wants to figure out what that leverage is? and she says, yeah. Either Brennan has committed such terrible crimes that the WSB just doesn’t want him to see daylight ever again, or he means something else to the Bureau entirely, and she wants to know which it is.

Sonny tells Carly that Jagger always had a chip on his shoulder because he took care of his brother Stone when he was dying of AIDS, and Jagger couldn’t show up. Jagger has been trying to take him down for 30 years. And you know why he can’t? Because he doesn’t know how. Now Jagger thinks he’s going to come at him through Carly and Jason? She says, he’s right. Cates is after him. But Sonny isn’t the only reason he’s here. He came to Port Charles for another job, something to do with Pikeman. Sonny says, that was his official reason, but Jagger will never pass up a chance to take him down. Does she know the way he does it? Jagger builds himself up by tearing him down. He started with nothing, he has nothing, and he’s going to die with nothing. He swipes a load of Styrofoam cups off the counter and says, no way in hell is Jagger sending his little girl’s mother to prison.

Kristina says, wow. Is that what Molly really thinks of her? Molly says she would feel infinitely better if Kristina would just sign the papers, but Kristina says, no. She can’t sign those papers right now. There’s too much uncertainty. If Molly and TJ break up, then she and TJ are the only ones with legal claim to this child. She has to be sure they’re going to make it before she signs those. Molly asks when that’s going to be. What’s the test? What criteria of commitment do she and TJ need to meet for her? Kristina says she doesn’t know, and Molly says she thinks when they do, Kristina is just going to come up with another reason not to sign the papers. This isn’t about her and TJ. This is about Kristina. She’s been lying to them this entire time and the truth is now coming out. She wants to keep this baby, doesn’t she? Kristina says she does wonder sometimes if maybe she and Allie would make better parents for this baby right now. Maybe they would be able to provide a more stable home than her and TJ. That’s all. Molly laughs, when there’s a knock at the door. Kristina says, let her get rid of them, but Molly says, don’t bother. This is going nowhere, and she needs to get to work. Kristina opens the door to Natalia, who asks if this is a bad time. She should have called first. Molly says, don’t worry. She was just leaving. Kristina says, wait. She thinks Molly forgot something. She indicates the papers, but Molly walks out without them.

Nina says, Michael sure knows how to sweeten a deal, and he asks if that’s a yes. She says, everyone knows that she’ll do just about anything to make sure her relationship with Willow is on track for good, but if she agrees to do this, it has to include peace with him as well. She’s sick of the ugliness between them. They have to put it behind them, in the past. He says, her getting him a meeting with McConkey will be a good start, and she says, if this is found out, it may or may not be bad for them. She doesn’t know, but does he know who it’s going to be bad for? Drew. Can he imagine the uproar if the media finds out that the nephew of McConkey’s handpicked successor leaned on him to tip the scales in his mother’s favor? It would be the end of McConkey’s legacy and the end of Drew’s campaign. He says, all he’s doing is bringing the acts of a rogue agent to McConkey’s attention. He’s sure he’ll be able to avoid even the slightest hint of impropriety. Drew will be fine. She says, he sounds confident about that, and he says, it’s just a conversation. One that will work to all of their benefit. So what does she say? Do they have a deal?

Kristina folds the papers and asks what she can do for Natalia. Natalia asks if Allison is here, but Kristina says, no. She’s out with Brook. Natalia says, that’s unfortunate. She was hoping to talk to them both together, but she can come back another time. Kristina says, no, don’t. She’s already here, and Kristina would rather they just have it out now. What is this about? Natalia says she came by because she wanted to… Saying thank you falls very short.

Carly says she knows Sonny is angry, but he can’t get arrested too. The officer comes in and asks, what’s going on here? Sonny says, Jagger is going to regret ever messing with him, and walks out. Carly tries to follow, but the officer says, she’s not going anywhere. It’s time to get her back to her cell. She says, not yet. He’s got to call Dante Falconari and have him come down here. She needs to talk to him.

Jason opens the door to John and says, he made a big mistake coming here. John says, what is he going to do? Beat him up? Jason says he was thinking more along the lines of reporting him for witness tampering, but John says, he still doesn’t get it. Jason is his witness. And when Carly’s trial starts, the US Attorney is going to put him on the stand, and they’ll produce a piece of paper with Jason’s signature on it, showing that they made a deal. Then the attorney will ask Jason why he agreed to work with the FBI. He can stonewall all he wants, but eventually, they’re going to get him to admit the truth, that he did it for Carly because he knows she’s guilty. Carly dug her own grave, but Jason is going to be the one who buries her in it. (I don’t see how this is going to make the FBI look any kind of good.) But there is still one way he can stop that from happening.

Natalia says she saw the interview Kristina and Allie did with Perez Hilton, and they were both very, very generous towards her. They were much more generous than she deserved. Kristina says she doesn’t really believe it’s right to police people’s speech or their perspectives, and Natalia says, that’s very big of her. Kristina says, don’t get her wrong. If someone refused to hire her or rent her an apartment just because she’s gay, she’d be livid, and honestly consider suing because that’s discrimination and that’s not okay. But someone just not approving of her or not agreeing with her lifestyle, she just doesn’t let it affect her because everyone is entitled to their own opinions. Natalia says she honestly doesn’t know what she believes anymore from one hour to the next, and it’s pretty disconcerting. But she has to say, Kristina’s live and let live attitude is a value she holds dear. She just needs to do better at living it. She’s just glad they can talk, and they can be honest with each other. Kristina says, okay, yeah. Just to be clear, she believes Natalia is entitled to her own thoughts and opinions, but she doesn’t have to like them, and she doesn’t. Natalia says, fair, and to be clear on her end, she admires Kristina’s principles and respects what she said.

Michael says he has McConkey’s office number pulled up. Do he and Nina have a deal? Nina says, he’s going about this the wrong way, and he asks if she’s turning him down. She asks if she said that. If Michael calls McConkey’s office, he’ll have to get through his bulldog of an assistant. He should call McConkey’s cell. Deal with him personally. She takes out her phone and calls McConkey. She says she’s calling because she’s going to be in DC next week and she thought they could go to that Italian place they both love… No. She insists that this time she’s paying… Okay, great. And she’s going to bring a friend. He’s a great guy, very interesting, very influential. You’re going to love him.

Dante says, Carly wanted to see him? and she says, Sonny’s lost it. He’s out of control. He asks what she’s talking about. What happened? She says, there isn’t time. He’s got to find Sonny. He says, where did he go? and she says she doesn’t know. But if Dante finds John Cates, he’s going to find Sonny. Sonny went after Cates, and God knows what will happen if Sonny finds him.

In his office on the phone, Sonny tells Brick to get him a location on Jagger Cates nowNo. He’s not at the MetroCourt anymore. Carly kicked him out. He opens a locked box with a gun inside, and says, yeah, he’s sure. He loads the gun and says, do whatever you have to do. Find Cates for him. He practice aims the gun.

John says he has a proposition for Jason, but Jason says, no. John failed to honor their deal. He’s not taking any new assignment from him. John says, he doesn’t have to go undercover. He doesn’t even have to leave Port Charles. And in the end, he can run back to his beloved Carly, who will be out from under the threat of prosecution for good. All Jason has to do is deliver Sonny to him.

On Monday, Kristina tells Alexis that if she’s going to make a move, it has to be now; Ava says she needs to know that she can trust someone; Carly says, there’s something important she needs Michael to do; and Sonny tells Dante, just because you’re paranoid doesn’t mean they’re not out to get you. (Truth!)

🔐 Going Dutch…

I’ll have to look for him the next time I watch The Devil Wears Prada.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/thats-dutch-johnson-playing-warden-hayes-on-general-hospital

👠 Another Kind Of Scary Island…

This just sounds embarrassing. Hopefully they don’t keep the title Love Hotel. That just makes it sound worse.

🥂 For the Food Win…

I didn’t really keep up with this, although there’s always Hulu. An extra congrats to LVP.

🍸 Speaking Of…

Maybe having kids knocks the voice of reason into your head. She and Lala have made more sense than anyone else lately.

👑 Back In the Game…

Maybe he knows a little something by now. The ad is really cute.

https://people.com/kit-harington-ad-for-game-of-thrones-mobile-game-8684224

🦸🏻‍♂️ At a Theater Near You…

It’s here and apparently doesn’t disappoint. I probably won’t go this weekend, but I’m not letting this one wait for streaming.

https://www.thedowneypatriot.com/articles/review-deadpool-amp-wolverine-is-exactly-that-and-its-awesome

Getting in the pool.

https://ew.com/chris-evans-deadpool-and-wolverine-johnny-storm-interview-exclusive-8684326

Missing the boat.

https://comicbookmovie.com/deadpool/deadpool-wolverine/deadpool-and-wolverine-bts-photo-reveals-one-cameo-that-didnt-make-the-cut—spoilers-a212334

The soundtracks have all been good. Since popular music isn’t often included on a soundtrack album, probably because of royalties, it’s great that we can just make our own now. Even better that someone compiled the titles.

https://www.thewrap.com/deadpool-and-wolverine-soundtrack-all-the-songs/

And last, but not least for the producers, the climbing box office.

https://deadline.com/2024/07/box-office-deadpool-wolverine-1236022761/

💥 From Gamer Screen To Big Screen…

Apparently, we’ve run out of original plot ideas, and are once again turning to video games. I haven’t hated it so far though, and this looks like another winner.

https://ew.com/borderlands-movie-adaptation-comic-con-2024-cover-story-8676778

https://ew.com/borderlands-cast-nothing-meaner-than-unhappy-gamer-comic-con-2024-exclusive-8684739

https://www.cbr.com/borderlands-final-trailer/

Just the facts, Jack.

https://www.space.com/borderlands-movie-release-date-plot-cast

🎬 Hardest Working Man In Hollywood…

I’d fight someone who put Tyler Perry down. I love his films, but nobody writes nighttime soap like he does. And he’s an angel to those who work for him.

https://ew.com/tyler-perry-blasts-highbrow-critics-of-his-movies-8683311

🦛 And You Get a Snow Day…

It’s kind of like a Christmas in July sale.

https://people.com/arizona-zoo-holds-summer-snow-day-for-animals-8682491

Pekingese In Snow

🐶 As It Should Be…

This is too precious. His wife is a definite keeper.

https://people.com/groom-surprised-by-dog-during-first-look-ahead-of-wedding-8680685

📢 Quotes of the Week

My past has not defined me, destroyed me, deterred me, or defeated me; it has only strengthened me.Steve Maraboli

Fear imprisons, faith liberates; fear paralyzes, faith empowers; fear disheartens, faith encourages; fear sickens, faith heals; fear makes useless, faith makes serviceable – and, most of all, fear puts hopelessness at the heart of life, while faith rejoices in its God. – Henry Emerson Fosdick

Ever since I was a child I have had this instinctive urge for expansion and growth. To me, the function and duty of a quality human being is the sincere and honest development of one’s potential. – Bruce Lee

For most of us the problem isn’t that we aim too high and fail – it’s just the opposite – we aim too low and succeed. – Sir Ken Robinson

I did come for the flying squirrel, but I want to stay for something more. – Whitney Thore, My Big Fat Fabulous Life

There is only one question to ask yourself: What would you do if you were not afraid?Unknown

🚶🏽‍♀️ On the Beaten Path…

Enjoy your weekend, whether in the sun or in the air con, then join me on Monday for soap and a cringeworthy Deck. Until then, stay safe, stay using sunscreen (yeah, I’ve said it before and I’m saying it again), and stay not policing people’s speech or perspectives, but fighting against discrimination.

May 9, 2024 – Gregory Makes a Decision, Hey Cuz, Reflection, Houses Of Awful, Possible VanderMove, Off the Runway, Them Again, Nepo Furbabies & Home

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Chase says, Finn’s going to do the talking, right? and Finn tells him, that’s what he said. It’s just he was thinking Chase could say it better. Chase asks why he could say it better, and Finn says he’s not exactly known for his bedside manner. Chase, on the other hand… Chase says he what? and Finn says, he does things with care and compassion. Chase says, Finn can be caring and compassionate when he tells their dad that they don’t think he should come to the rehearsal dinner tonight. And he can’t wait to go to Coney Island. Gregory comes in and says, good morning. He’s sorry it takes him so long to get up and get dressed. Did he miss seeing Violet off to school? and Finn says, yeah. She’s only going for a half-day, and he’s going to pick her up so she can change before going to the airport. Gregory says, sounds like a plan, and Finn says, speaking of plans, they wanted to talk to him about this evening, and he… Chase?

Alexis opens the door to Laura and says she was just preparing for her hearing next week. Laura says she was so happy to hear Alexis was taking steps to overturn her disbarment. How’s it going? Alexis says she thinks she’s as prepared as she can be, but at this point, she’s just spinning her wheels. Laura says she thinks Alexis is going to do great. She knows Alexis is an excellent lawyer. As a matter of fact, that’s why she’s here.

At the MetroCourt, Ava tells Sonny that she contacted two of their most high-profile artists to see if either of them would like a large commission to create a piece for the city. Sonny watches Jordan talking with Olivia, and says, turns out that’s not going to be necessary because he’s moved on to another idea. Ava looks over at Jordan and Olivia.

There’s a knock at Blaze’s hotel room door, and Blaze opens it to Natalia. Natalia asks if she can come in. She doesn’t want to see anything she shouldn’t see. Blaze says, since she knocked instead of barging in, she thinks Natalia is safe. What brings her by? Natalia says she wanted to see what outfit Blaze is going to go with for the Quartermaine wedding, and Blaze says she hasn’t decided yet. Why? Natalia says she doesn’t want to clash with it.

Jason is doing actual work at the coffee warehouse when Sam runs in and asks, where’s Danny?

Laura says she went to see Heather in Pentenville the other day, and Alexis asks how she’s doing. Laura says, pretty well. She’s still recovering nicely from the surgery, but other than that… Alexis says, she’s still the same Heather, but Laura says, no. She’s really not. Since the replaced the bad hip, the changes in Heather are striking. Alexis says, in a good way? and Laura says, it appears so. Alexis says, appears being the operative word, and Laura says she knows Alexis and Doc talked about this a few weeks back. She just wondered if Alexis was able to find anything that would suggest they might be able to revisit Heather’s case. Alexis says she’s surprised Laura actually wants to move forward with this, and Laura says, it’s just that the more she talks to Heather, the more she believes the cobalt poisoning was affecting her ability to reason. Alexis says, so the metallosis was the reason she killed those people, and tried to kill all those other people, and had two decades of horrendous and cruel behavior? Laura says she’s not qualified to say. All she can say is, up until this point, Heather has always felt justified in her actions. Alexis says, and now? and Laura says, now she’s beginning to question her violent behavior. And she’s showing signs of real remorse. She thinks in general, Heather is feeling more in control of herself and containing her anger better. That she actually witnessed. Alexis asks if Laura thinks Heather is actually growing a conscience, and Laura asks if Alexis was able to find anything to help her. Alexis says, actually, she did.

Gregory says, of course (🍷) he wants to hear everything Chase has to say, but first, there’s something he needs to say. If it’s all right. Chase says, please, and Finn says, by all means. Gregory says, having the rehearsal dinner on Coney Island is such a fun idea. (I actually wish I’d thought of something like that) And it’s beyond generous of Tracy to bring them all down there, so that Brook can revisit one of the great joys of her childhood. Everything about it seems unmissable… Chase says, the thing is… but Gregory says, please let him finish. He hopes they won’t be upset with him. He promises he’ll apologize to Brook and her family, but he really feels he needs to conserve his energy for the wedding itself. Chase asks if he’s saying… and Gregory says he’s thought long and hard about it. As much as he wants to go, he’s not going to go. He’s asked Tracy if she would stand in for him at the rehearsal. Chase says he really wishes Gregory could make it too, but he understands, and he’ll make sure everybody there does too. Gregory thanks him, and Finn says he knows it must have been a hard decision, but for what it’s worth (🍷), he thinks it was the right one. He can call a home help agency and see if he can get someone to stay with Gregory. Gregory says, no. That’s not necessary.

Blaze says, since when is Natalia going to Brook’s wedding? and Natalia says, since Blaze’s invitation arrived. Or did she not get a plus one? Blaze says she did and she’s taking Kristina, and Natalia asks, why? Blaze says, because Kristina’s her girlfriend, and Natalia says, how could she forget? Blaze says, it seems to slip her mind a lot, and Natalia says, Blaze’s relationship with Kristina is always on her mind, especially at times like this. Blaze says she knows she’s going to hate herself for asking, but times like what? and Natalia says she thinks it’s unwise for Blaze and Kristina to go as a couple to such a public event. She thought they had an understanding about that. Blaze says, so did she. Apparently, they were both wrong.

Jason says, Danny’s not here, and Sam says, all she knows is that he’s not in school. She got a call from his counselor. He was concerned because Danny missed an appointment. He asks why Danny is seeing a counselor, and she says, because Danny occasionally has trouble following the rules. Anyway, he wasn’t marked as present in his first period class, so she used that location app on his phone to see where he was… He says, she’s tracking Danny? and she says, the app said his phone was at home. So she went upstairs to his bedroom and his phone was on his bed under a pile of clothes, which means he deliberately doesn’t want her to know where he is. Jason says, maybe he just forgot his phone, but she says, no teenager ever let’s their phone out of their sight. Especially Danny, considering she just gave his phone back to him. He says he hasn’t seen Danny, and doesn’t she see that she’s training Danny to lie to her?

Sam says, first of all, Jason doesn’t know anything about her relationship with Danny. Danny knows he can trust her. Jason asks, how would he know that? Every time Danny brings up the truth in wanting to spend time with him, he gets into trouble. He thinks maybe if he lies, there’s a chance he won’t get caught and won’t get in trouble. She says she just warned Danny that being around Jason is dangerous and their son refuses to listen to her. He says, okay. If they agree that he and Danny can spend some time together, he won’t be somewhere dangerous. She says, what happens if he just shows up at Jason’s place like he did the other day? Can he promise her that Danny won’t be walking into something dangerous? He says, no, and she says, exactly. And that’s what terrifies her. It’s not just about Danny getting to know him and spending time with him. He wants the danger. He chases it just like Jason. Just like she used to. He says, this is different. There was a time when he didn’t care if he lived or died. He doesn’t see that in Danny. She says, then tell her what it is he sees in their son as opposed to the last time he was in town, and he says he just sees a kid who likes freedom. She says, he’s a teenage boy. They all want their freedom. He just doesn’t know what to do with it. Jason really doesn’t know anything about raising a teenager. He says, maybe not, but she says, definitely not. Because the first rule in raising a teenager is being there, and he wasn’t. He was alive and she still has no idea where he was or what he was doing. And nice tattoo by the way. Did he show that to Danny? Did he at least explain to him where that came from? What are the odds Danny is going to want a tattoo too? (Ha-ha! Tattoo too.) Let’s just hope he goes for one and doesn’t go full out with a whole sleeve. She actually doesn’t know. Maybe that just happened one tattoo at a time over the past two plus years. He says he’ll explain to Danny… and she says, he’ll explain to Danny that he should just hide Jason in the boathouse and not tell her. He says, for what it’s worth (🍷), Danny walked in on him in the boathouse. He didn’t seek Danny out. She says, he told their son to lie to her about it, and he says, because that was the safest thing for Danny right then. That was his decision. Be mad at him. She says she is mad at him, but she’s afraid for their son, and he says, she’s afraid that she can’t control him. He doesn’t even think she sees it. And no matter what Danny does, it feels like he’s in trouble, and it’s wrong. He’s a kid. If he skips school, he’s going to get into trouble. He’s got detention, he gets grounded, take the phone away. He’s going to pay the price. Life goes on. She says, if he knows so much about their son, where is he right now?

Alexis tells Laura that she found two cases where post-condition release was granted because the key witnesses recanted their testimony. The most relevant was a forensic psychiatrist who acknowledged his findings were based on incomplete evidence. Laura says, so then a diagnosis of cobalt poisoning would have helped Heather’s defense, and Alexis says, possibly. If Laura can get a transcript of Heather’s court appearance, she’ll take a look at it. Laura thanks her, and she says, but Laura has to manage her expectations. Metallosis or not, there is no judge that will want to vacate her conviction because the body count is too high, and she confessed, and she pled guilty. Laura says, yes, but all of her actions were under the influence of something out of her control, and Alexis says, maybe she didn’t murder anyone before the metallosis, but Laura can’t pretend Heather was some sort of quirky free spirit. Laura says, she’s right, and Alexis says, it’s a long shot. Laura asks if Alexis is saying she can’t help anymore, because she certainly would understand that, and Alexis says, as a citizen of Port Charles, as a human being, she’s hesitant. As a once and hopefully future attorney again, she believes everyone is entitled to a fair defense, even Heather. Laura says, then she’ll see about getting Alexis those transcripts.

Blaze says she’s taken Natalia’s advice on keeping her private life private. As much as she hates to say it, Natalia has a point. She hates that people are so intolerant. Even a quarter of the way through the twenty-first century, things for queer people… Natalia says, please don’t refer to herself that way, and Blaze says, things for people like her are getting harder and harder. All of this to say, this is a family wedding, not a public event. Natalia says, sometimes Blaze can be such an innocent. Yes, this is not a public wedding, but everybody is going to read about it, and all the lucky invitees are going to be plastering their social media with photos and selfies, especially since there’s going to be a celebrity in their midst, which Blaze is. Blaze says she doesn’t think anything is going to change because they saw her standing next to Kristina, but Natalia says, that doesn’t even count all the professional photos that are going to be out there on the newswire. And that’s not just locally. It’s going to start at The Invader and then it’s going to proliferate outward. Blaze says she wouldn’t worry. The Quartermaines are used to protecting their privacy from the press. Yes, it will be a well-attended event, but only by close family and friends, and she’s going with Kristina. Natalia says, she’s thinking about this in the absolutely wrong way, and Blaze asks how she should be thinking about it. Natalia says, she’s not going as just a regular person, and certainly not as somebody’s girlfriend. She has to think about herself as a brand. Sure, Ally can go to any old wedding she wants to with whoever she wants to, but the second somebody takes a photo of her and puts it online, she’s no longer Allison, she’s Blaze. And they’ve worked too hard to create this brand so carefully. She doesn’t want to see all this hard work and effort just be for nothing.

Olivia asks Sonny how he likes the new menu, and he says he loves it. He wants one of each. Ava says, so does she. She’s heard wonderful things about the new chef. Olivia says, they were a real find. She hopes Sonny wasn’t bothered by the guys in the ballroom. They’re pulling out all the stops. They want everything to be perfect for Chase and Brook’s wedding. Ava says she’s sure the reception is going to be absolutely beautiful, and her phone rings. Sonny says, whatever Olivia needs, she knows he’s here, and Ava says, it’s Trina at the gallery. They’re expecting a new piece today. Excuse her. Olivia says, hurry up. She doesn’t want to miss that. Ava leaves, and Olivia says, please. Tell her that he’s not bringing that one to the wedding.

Gregory says, Violet will be away with them, and while the caregivers are all perfectly nice, he could use a break from this endless procession of strangers in this apartment. Finn says, they’ve been through this before, and Chase says he’d feel more comfortable knowing Gregory isn’t alone. Gregory says, they won’t even be gone overnight. They’re flying back this evening. Chase says, they’ll probably be pretty late, and Gregory says, regardless, he’ll be fine. Finn says, it’s one thing if he spends the evening worrying about Gregory, but it’s Chase’s rehearsal dinner. He should be able to enjoy it without wondering if he’s abandoning Gregory. Gregory says, and Finn of all people would know what it’s like to be abandoned before his wedding. He recalls feeling great at his rehearsal dinner with Jackie, and then wondering where the hell Finn was when the wedding started. But by all means, lecture him on proper wedding etiquette. (Touché and ouch.) Finn says, okay. He thinks that Chase can take the conversation from here, and leaves.

Sam’s phone rings, and she tells Jason, it’s Danny’s school. She answers and listens a moment. She thanks them for letting her know, and tells Jason, that was Danny’s counselor. He got the time wrong. Danny’s at his appointment right now. Jason says, so where’s he been? and she says, in class. The first period teacher didn’t put the attendance into the computer until after the class was over, so go ahead and just say it. Tell her, I told you so. He says he’s just glad Danny is safe, and she says, her too. She’s going to get out of his way, and Sonny’s. He says, Sonny’s not here, and she asks where he is. Jason says he doesn’t know, but she says, of course (🍷) he would know where Sonny is. What’s going on? Did something happen between him and Sonny?

Blaze says, Brook’s wedding has nothing to do with her branding, and Natalia says, maybe she hasn’t been clear enough, but this wedding, her manager’s wedding, has everything to do with her branding. It’s like the most amazing photo op. An event like this, as prestigious as this Quartermaine wedding, and her going as Brook’s client, this is incredible PR. Photos of her and Brook together or even of the two of them together is all brand awareness for Blaze and her music. Blaze says she won’t use her friend’s wedding as a career steppingstone, and Natalia says, but her friend is also her manager, and she should be all over this. Blaze says she loves Natalia and she’s so grateful for everything Natalia has done for her finances. Not just when she started making money, but even before, to help her with her singing. From voice lessons to paying for studio time and everything, every little detail that’s helped her get this far. Natalia says she hears a but, and Blaze says, but there are decisions about her life that only she can make. And this is one of them.

Alexis tells Finn, come on in, and he thanks her for letting him come over. She says, of course (🍷). Start at the beginning. Tell her everything. He says he and Chase both thought it would be best for Gregory if he didn’t go to the rehearsal dinner tonight in Coney Island. So they went over to talk to him, and he beat them to the punch. He said he was going to stay home and rest for tomorrow. She says, okay. That’s great. He says, except he wanted to bring in a caregiver to keep an eye on him while they were all away, and she says, oh. So she guesses he didn’t like that idea. Finn says, no. Gregory reminded him that he slept with Jackie and didn’t show up at his wedding. She says, whoa. That wasn’t the turn she expected this to take. Finn says, him either, and she asks what he said. Finn says, nothing. He left, called her, and here they are. He abandoned his father again. She says, he walked away from an unwinnable argument. That is not abandonment. He says he kept Gregory out of his life for almost thirty years. He convinced himself that after what he’d done, staying away was the right thing to do. He blamed Gregory for moving on so quickly when Finn’s mom died. He even changed his name. He tried to distance himself from his father as much as he could. She says, and then they found their way back together. They worked it out. Finn says, if he ever thought Gregory was going to forgive him, this morning proved otherwise.

Sonny tells Olivia that he’s not bringing Ava. Lois made it a point to not invite her. She doesn’t even know those people. Olivia says, she may not know those people, but those people definitely know her. Ava comes back and says, what people? Olivia says, the Cerullos, the Falconaris, all the people from the old neighborhood. They’ll be at her stepdaughter’s wedding tomorrow. She tells Sonny that she’ll send the waitress right over, and leaves. Ava says, not that he asked, but just in case Sonny wants a plus one for the wedding, she did pick out a pretty spectacular outfit. No pressure. He says, there is no pressure because she’s not going.

Chase tells Gregory that he’s making himself breakfast if he wants anything, and Gregory says he’s so sorry. He shouldn’t have said what he said. Now he feels like he’s spoiled the evening for Chase and his brother. Chase says he doesn’t think Gregory spoiled anything. He and Finn just want to make sure he’s okay here and has help if he needs it. Gregory says he understands. He shouldn’t have lashed out like that. He let his nerves get the better of him. Chase says, he’s nervous? And Gregory says, of course (🍷) he’s nervous. Tomorrow is a huge day. Tonight’s an important night too. It’s the night before his son starts his life as a married man. And as much as he wants to be there with Chase and Brook and everybody, tomorrow is more important. He wants to go over everything he wants to say and make sure he gets a good night’s sleep, and he can’t do all that if some stranger he’s never laid eyes on before is asking him if he’s all right every fifteen minutes like he’s a toddler. Chase says he’s sorry, but Gregory says he doesn’t blame Chase. He doesn’t even blame Chase’s brother. He knows Finn’s just doing it out of concern for him. He’s sure from Finn’s perspective, he thinks he’s right. Chase says, it’s not just that. Sometimes he wonders if he and Brook made a mistake asking him to preside over the wedding. What was Gregory supposed to do? Say no? Chase is concerned that with Gregory’s illness, they’re putting too much pressure on him. Gregory says, presiding over Chase’s wedding is the opposite of pressure. He puts his hands on Chase’s shoulders and says, it’s the greatest honor of his life.

Blaze says she’s going to this wedding with Kristina, period, and Natalia says, she’s made that clear. Blaze says, but Natalia keeps trying to talk her out of it, and Natalia says, no. Blaze has made her decision… a bad one. She apologizes if Blaze has found her concern and her honesty disagreeable. Blaze says she actually understands Natalia’s concerns. She knows how hard Natalia has worked for her continued success. Not just for herself; she knows Natalia is doing it for her too. Natalia says, for her first, and Blaze says she knows how important her image is, especially how important it is to Natalia, but nothing she’s done – nothing that she and Kristina have done – is a threat to her career. On the contrary, her music is taking off. Her fans are going nuts on social media, demanding she release her new single, and she thinks it’s going to be her best one yet because she’s so happy with Kristina. Natalia says, happy musicians don’t make great music, and Blaze asks if Natalia is saying she has to be miserable to have a successful career. Natalia says she just knows Blaze made her decision. Do what suits her and they’ll see which one of them is right. She picks up her bag and walks out.

In her office on the phone, Laura says, Webber. W-e-b-b-e-r. First name, Heather. Jordan walks in, and Laura says, there won’t have been a jury trial, but look for the arraignment, expert witness hearings. Maybe one or two of those would be medical and psychiatric, then sentencing… Okay. Thank you. She tells Jordan, sorry about that. What can she do for her? Jordan says she wanted to give Laura an update on the progress for that urban renewal project, and Laura says, that’s moving forward already? Jordan says, mm-hmm, and it just got a big boost. Laura says, from where? and Jordan says, McConkey. Laura says, Congressman McConkey? That’s amazing. Tell her more. Jordan says she will, but first, she needs to ask Laura something. What was all of that about Heather Webber?

Sam asks if this is about Dante’s shooting, because everyone knows it wasn’t Jason. Jason pretty much saved his life. Jason says he’s been working as an undercover informant for the FBI, and she says, what? She doesn’t understand. How? He says, it doesn’t matter, but she says, of course (🍷) it does. He says, what matters is, the undercover part is over, but his connection to the FBI is not.

Ava asks what Olivia said about her, but Sonny says, she didn’t say anything. The Cerullos and the Falconaris are going to be there, and they have long memories. She says she knows what they think she did, but there is… He says, they don’t need to have proof. They know because Olivia knows, and he knows. She walks into that wedding, it’s disrespecting Connie’s memory and he can’t do that. She gets up and says, if that’s how he feels, maybe she should rethink her place in his house, and he says he can’t believe… She says, what happened to being the only person he could trust? and he says he can’t believe she doesn’t see this. It doesn’t matter that the – he lowers his voice – evidence was destroyed. She still did what she did. She says, what happened was a very long time ago, and he asks, how long before she lets go of what Ryan did to Kiki? She says, how dare he throw her daughter’s murder in her face? and he says, that’s how the family’s going to feel if she walks into the wedding. He gets up and says, listen to him, okay? If she wants to move out, she can move out. It’s safe now, so he’ll buy a place for her, and Avery or Avery can stay with him. She says she’ll take care of her daughter herself, just as she always has, and walks out. He sits back down.

Laura says she’s taken it upon herself to investigate what legal proceedings were held in Heather’s case, and Jordan says, for the Hook murders? Laura says, yes, and for everything that happened on Spoon Island with Ryan and Esme. Jordan asks what she’s hoping to find, and Laura says she just wants to see what expert testimony was given, if any. She doesn’t know much about the case. She distanced herself from it at the time it happened. Jordan says, that sounds wise, but why this sudden interest? and Laura suggests they sit down. She says, it has recently come to light that Heather has been suffering from a medical issue that was brought about by a disintegrating hip replacement. Jordan says, that sounds awful, but what does it have to do with her case? Laura says, the hip raised her levels of cobalt and other metals in her system to the point of toxicity, and it’s quite possible that chemical imbalance was affecting her judgement. Jordan says, driving her to commit a series of kidnappings, jailbreaks, acts of terror, and murders. Laura says, metallosis, or cobalt poisoning, is not permanent. So once the bad hip replacement is removed, the patient can begin to recover. Jordan says, that sounds great for Heather, but… Laura tells Jordan that she’s not saying this excuses Heather for any of the violence she unleashed on this city. She’s just saying it’s possible that it may mitigate some of her responsibility for those crimes.

Sam says, if Jason has been working with the FBI, does that mean he’s working with that Agent Cates, the one that tried to question Danny? He says, yes, it does, and she says, and that’s why Sonny’s turned his back on him. He nods, and she says, and why he hasn’t been in Port Charles. He says, yes, and she says, how the hell did he of all people, get involved with the FBI? but he says he can’t tell her. She says, he means he won’t, and he tells her that he’s saying this because he didn’t choose to stay away from his family. He would never do that.

Alexis says she knows what Gregory said hurt Finn, but Finn says, it was true. She says, what is also true is that Gregory has forgiven him now, ten times over, and Finn says, he hasn’t forgotten. She says, it wasn’t that easy to forget, but it’s history. She can tell him, most people would not have been able to overcome that. He says, if this is a pep talk, it’s not going really well, and they laugh. She says, but they both overcame it. Unforgivable things can be forgiven. She knows this. She’s been on both sides of the sword. He says, like with her daughters? and she says, yeah. She and Sam did not have a great relationship when Sam found out she gave her up for adoption. And Kristina. She thinks they’ve been duking it out since Kristina was in the womb. He says, and Molly? and Alexis says, she’s perfect… No, there’s been things. She’s not perfect. He asks what lesson she learned from angering her daughters, and she says, sometimes she was the injured party. He says, of course (🍷). He’s sorry. He apologizes. She thanks him and says, but what they’re talking about is his lesson here. Which is, the fact that Gregory felt safe enough to snap at him, means that he has faith in this relationship. Finn says he’s glad Gregory feels safe, and she says, Finn doesn’t. He says, not particularly, and she asks, why not? How does he feel? He says he needs a meeting. She gets up and says, let’s find you one, and he says he’s his brother’s best man. But how can he even think about getting on a plane tonight and flying down to that rehearsal dinner while his father is sick and refuses to let anyone stay with him? She says, he’s not missing his brother’s rehearsal dinner, but he says he doesn’t see any other way around it. Not that his dad would even want him there at this point. She says she has an idea.

Laura asks if Jordan has any questions, and Jordan says, just one. What is she hoping to discover? That Heather can no longer be held responsible for her crimes and be let off? Or that she can still be held responsible and kept safely away from the public? Laura says she’s just trying to get to the truth, and Jordan says, and then what? Look, she can’t be objective. Not only did Heather terrorize Curtis’s daughter, which hits very close to home with her, but Trina’s involvement with Spencer was part of the motive for Heather to commit this series of murders, including a cop. Laura says, Rory Cabrera (I feel guilty because I’d totally forgotten him), and Jordan says, yeah, and all of this was to avenge Heather’s daughter, who clearly didn’t need help avenging. Laura says she’s well-aware, and Jordan says, then she must be aware how this must make the families of the victims feel. Laura says she’s not taking this lightly. Quite the opposite. Jordan says she’s glad to hear it. Because the entire city suffered during Heather’s reign of terror. Does Laura want her advice? Laura doesn’t look like she does, but says, please, and Jordan says, do not go near this. Don’t challenge the convictions Heather Webber so clearly deserved. Laura says, but from an objective, legal standpoint, and Jordan says, Laura is not a lawyer and neither is she. If Laura feels Heather needs a lawyer, then find a third party to hire one, but for her to get involved would be political suicide. Laura says, but she’s not trying to have Heather exonerated, or even released from custody necessarily. Jordan says, necessarily will give her political rivals enough rope to hang her and her constituents will line up to cheer them on. This city needs her. She’s a strong and effective mayor. She’d hate to see Laura sacrifice her career and the welfare of this city for the likes of Heather Webber.

Natalia walks into the MetroCourt and sees Sonny, who looks like he has a headache. She says, good morning, and he says, it’s better now. She says she sees he’s waiting for someone, and he says, how does she know it’s not her? (Oh man, dude is smooth, even in his spiral.) Have a seat. She thanks him and sits down. They smile at each other.

Gregory says he’s so sorry, and Chase says, again, he doesn’t have to apologize. Gregory says he feels like he does, especially to Chase’s brother, and Chase says he’s sure Finn knows he didn’t mean it. Gregory says he hopes so. Anyway, tonight isn’t about him, so go ahead and call the home help agency. Chase thanks him… for breakfast, and goes in the back. Gregory’s phone rings, and he asks Alexis, to what does he owe this pleasure? She says, her anxiety? She’s heading to Albany in the morning. He says, already? He thought she had a little more time before she had to make her case. She says, yeah, but she’s doing some last-minute research, and she could use his ears and his brain. How would he feel about her bringing over some Chinese or Mexican food and they can go over her plea to the Appeals Court? He says, tonight? It… Sure. He’d be happy to help. Alexis gives a thumbs up to Finn.

Sam thanks Jason for telling her and apologizes for jumping to conclusions about him and Danny. He says he’s just glad Danny is where he’s supposed to be, and she says, her too. And about the whole boundaries thing they discussed about Danny… He says he’ll honor those, and she thanks him. She leaves, closing the door behind her.

Outside, Sam makes a call. She says, I need to see you, and keeps walking.

Tomorrow, Ava says she thought she’d come to the expert; Josslyn asks Dex to race; Sonny asks Natalia if she’s in a hurry, because he’s not; and Anna tells Jason that it makes their job exponentially harder.

👋 Nice Knowin’ Ya, Spence…

There’s a new love interest in town.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/newcomer-giovanni-mazza-joins-general-hospital

🥀 They Never Leave Us…

It was definitely worth the wait.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/laura-wright-reflects-upon-ghs-tribute-to-jacklyn-zeman

🤽 This…

On unsupportive partners night, I’m not sure who was worse. Kyle who literally freaked out and went on a drunken rampage when Amanda dared have a dream outside of his precious Loverboy. Or Lindsay, who wouldn’t support an idea of Carl’s if it came notarized and delivered in the Publisher’s Clearing House van. She isn’t afraid Carl will be pigeon-holed, she’s afraid she’ll have to quit drinking.

And these people who should have run while they had the chance instead of feeding into the perpetually immature machine.

🍼 They’re Reading My Mind…

GMTA? Do I get a cut if it happens?

🧜‍♀️ Project Runway On Meth…

I have to admit, I didn’t really know Julia Fox except for some vague recollection of her name. Another fashion designer competition, but speedier and so far outside the box, it’s got it’s own box without borders. The creations are amazing, and I’m fascinated. I barely have the patience to sew on a button, but those who can’t do, watch.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/obsessed/julia-foxs-omg-fashun-review-a-glorious-f-u-to-fashion-normies

👹 More Scarier the Second Time Around…

I watched this the first weekend it was out, and it lived up to the first season. I’m a big fan of a horror story paralleling real life horrors, and it was a treat to see Pam Grier. There’s a nod to the first season at the end, but you needn’t have watched it to understand this one.  

Them Season 2 Review: Deborah Ayorinde’s Horror Series is Truly Terrifying

https://mamasgeeky.com/2024/04/them-the-scare-review.html

🐈‍⬛ Fame In the Fur Family…

I would definitely dress as Choupette for the Met Gala.

💣 Love Is a Minefield…

Come back tomorrow for soap and a bouquet of entertaining distractions. Until then, stay safe, stay not blocking the baggage conveyor at the airport, and stay remembering that unforgivable things can be forgiven.

April 10, 2024 – Sonny Meets Jason At the Warehouse, There Goes the Sun, Nathan’s Lane, VanderViews, He’s Toxic, This Week In Chefs, No Snow, Animal Reaction & Paris

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Getting up from the floor and gathering her clothes, Nina says, Drew has been planning something like this all along, but he asks if he needs to refresh her memory. He wasn’t the one who started all this. She says she knows, but she thinks he had this on his mental backburner since he took her magazine away and gave it to Carly. They all know how that worked out. Drew says, the only thing he’s been fantasizing about Nina is her losing all her money, losing her looks, and getting convicted of a nameless crime that gets her sent to prison, like she sent him. (Wow. Most of us would just say, was it good for you too?)

Carly puts some ice in a towel on John’s head and says he looks like he was mugged by a small army. Is he sure it was only two people? He says, yeah. Those guys might not have killed him, but this ice might. She says, it’s not that cold, and he says, it’s ice. By definition, it’s cold. He takes the ice from her and sits down, holding it himself. She says, the ice machine on this floor was broken, which is appalling, and he says, that’s what she finds appalling? A broken ice machine? She says she had to go down a floor to get the ice and it was melting by the time she got it to the towel. He says, yet, when placed against the human body, it’s still plenty cold, and she wonders if the FBI knows the only thing it takes for an agent to spill his guts is a couple of ice cubes. He says he likes to keep some things to himself, and she tells him, all she’s saying is when she ran the MetroCourt, that ice machine would have been maintained. She hands him some water, and he says he’s grateful for the medical expertise. She shakes some ibuprofen out of the bottle, gives it to him, and says she went to nursing school. She didn’t graduate, but the training was really good. When you have kids, you have little reaction time. then you have to keep it together before you get to an actual doctor. Speaking of which, please let her take him to the hospital. Or at least let her call the house doctor here. He says he’s quite happy with the care he’s received so far. He wouldn’t change a thing.

Laura tells Doc that she doesn’t want to jinx it, but she thinks Ace finally fell asleep. She told him a story, did a little singing… Maybe she’s getting the hang of his bedtime routine. Or maybe he’s just getting used to falling asleep without Esme and Spencer. She looks over at Doc, who’s concentrating on his tablet, and she says, or maybe she’s just telling herself a story.

Blaze and Kristina watch TV, Kristina’s head in Blaze’s lap. Blaze asks if Kristina is sure she’s okay with it, and Kristina says, yeah, but if Blaze isn’t into it, just change it. It’s just a movie. Blaze says, the movie is fine. She wasn’t really paying attention. Kristina asks, what’s going on? and Blaze says she keeps thinking about the whole Face of Deception thing. Is Kristina sure she’s okay with her being the Face? (Sounds like a Batman villain.) Kristina says, yeah. Blaze already shares her music with the world. Why not share her beautiful face too? Blaze says, because her mom inserted a clause keeping her private life private in every contract. And if anyone pushes against that point, she made it very clear it’s a deal breaker. Kristina says, Blaze is her public persona and Blaze is not out, but Allie, her girlfriend, is. Blaze says she’ll never get tired of hearing Kristina call her that, and Kristina says, she and her girlfriend are out to their families, to their closest friends, and the people who really matter. That’s all she really cares about. So locking down her private life is the deal Blaze made with her mom and everyone else, but as long as it doesn’t impact them and their relationship, she doesn’t see a problem with it. Blaze says, right, and Kristina says, unless the person who has a problem with it is her.

Curtis walks a little unsteadily into the bedroom, and Portia calls to him, asking where he is. He says, why doesn’t she come upstairs and find out? and she walks into the bedroom. She sees him without his cane, and says, oh my God. He says, one small step for man… Actually, it was a bunch of little steps, but one giant leap for yours truly. She says, this is huge. It’s so great not to see his cane anywhere. He says, no cane. Just him and his two legs. He sits on the bed, and she says, he’s amazing, but he says, no. She’s amazing. If it weren’t for her, he would still be stuck in some hospital bed. Or in his wheelchair still. Mad at the world, feeling sorry for himself, some version of that. That’s how his story would have ended. Because of her, he has nothing but new chapters to write. And he can’t wait – he stands up and she squeals – he can’t wait to write them with her. He takes her hands and says, thank you, my love. They kiss and she says, anytime.

Ava tosses and turns in bed. She sits up, takes her sleep mask off, and says, this is pointless. She gets up.

Jason says he owns half this warehouse, and Sonny asks if he’s taking it back. Jason says he never gave it up, but Sonny says, he deserted it. He was gone for more than two years. He lost the right to take it back. He doesn’t want to see Jason’s face. Didn’t he make that clear? Jason says, that’s why he had Diane speak to Sonny on his behalf. He still owns 50% of Corinthos Coffee. Sonny says, don’t quote his own lawyer… Jason says, their lawyer. They both trust her and what she says. Why not trust her judgement on this? Sonny says, forget Diane. Jason came to his warehouse to get an answer from him. He got his wish. This is his business, and he doesn’t want Jason anywhere near it.

Portia says she’s so proud of Curtis, and not because he made it up the stairs, but because he didn’t give in to despair. He didn’t quit. He says, truth be told, he thought about it. There were times he thought about it, and each time he thought, what would he say to Trina? She got hit with something terrible when Spencer died and it’s okay to call it quits, just curl up in a ball? It’s not him. She says, it’s not. Those words sound like a foreign language coming out of his mouth. She loves it. He says he’s a father now; he’s a son. It’s not just about him anymore. She says he did forget one thing out of that list, and he says, what’s that? She says, lover, and he says, is that so? She says she’d be a fool to let all the effort he took getting up those stairs and into their beautiful bedroom go to waste. And she’s no fool. They kiss.

John thanks Carly for the ice. He thinks it helped. Or else the bitter cold destroyed all the nerve endings in his body, so win-win. She says, he needs to keep this on his head, directing his hand back, and he says, she needs to go home to that adorable daughter of hers. Carly says, she’s great. She’s happy with her nanny. What Carly is concerned about is him having a concussion. He says he’s fine. Trust him. It will take more than a couple of shots to this hard head to do any damage. She says she doesn’t know about that. If he does have a concussion, someone needs to check on him every couple of hours to see if he’s having a hard time waking up. If he is, that means his concussion is getting worse. He says he’ll be fine, but she says, please, just let her take him to the hospital. Just think. If he’s right, he gets to say I told you so. He says he does like that, but come on. All they’re going to do is admit him and wake him up all night long. He’d rather stay here. She says, okay. She can wake people up with the best of them. She takes the pillow off a chair, sits down, and puts her feet on the coffee table. He asks what she’s doing, and she says, getting comfortable. She has to conserve her energy. She has to shake him away in a couple hours, then a couple hours after that. He says he really appreciates… She says, he’s wasting his time. She’s staying right here and she’s going to save him from himself.

Nina asks if Drew is saying he regrets this as much as she does, and he says, two people consumed by mutual, passionate hatred with no acceptable outlet? It’s better than poisoning. She says she doesn’t see a big difference, and he says, think of it like a screwed up spontaneous combustion. She says she’s going to think of it this way, as a downpayment, and he asks, what’s on layaway? She says, appoint her to the board, and he says, of Aurora? What possible sense would it make for him to appoint her to the board of Aurora? She edits Crimson. That’s her entire value to them. She says, and she makes the magazine a success. Okay. Maybe not that, but he’s close to Michael and he’s close to Willow. Find a pathway for her to get back in her daughter’s good graces. He asks if she thinks 45 minutes on his office floor commits him to dragging her out of the wreckage she made of her life. It’s going to take more than a couple of rug burns for him to lift a finger for her.

Nina says she tried to treat Michael and Willow to a surprise anniversary dinner, and they turned her down, which was humiliating. Drew says, surprise dinner, huh? Translation. Regardless of what Michael and Willow wanted, she pushed whatever she wanted on them, which is so on brand for her. She says she doesn’t care how he describes it. It felt like she was punched in the heart. Forgive her if she had to come down here and pull herself together and get a breath. Instead of sympathizing with her… He says he never will sympathize with her, and she says she knows she has a little part in this, but she thinks he took advantage of her emotional, vulnerable state. He says, she’s projecting. Taking advantage of people is her stock and trade. She tells him, shut up, and he says, let him just be clear. Her offer of an anniversary dinner when she can’t stand Michael and wishes Willow hadn’t married him, was it really just for Willow? Or was she hoping maybe they’d tell Sonny how generous she is? Does Sonny know she’s still pining for him? She goes to slap him, but he grabs her hand and says he’ll take that as a yes.

John asks, what time is it? and Carly says, almost midnight. He says, that late? She should really go home. She says, if he insists, she’ll drop him off at GH on her way, but he says, that’s not necessary. She says, it probably is, but he’d probably just be trading one problem for another, huh? He asks what she’s talking about, and she says, if he went to the hospital, the nurses would start asking him questions – she puts a blanket on him – and they’d have to call the PCPD. Then the PCPD would want to know what the heck he was doing wandering around the waterfront at that time of night. He says he wasn’t wandering around. He took a walk. She goes back to the chair, using her coat as a blanket, and says, in the most dangerous part of town at night. He says, Port Charles is a safe place, and she laughs. She says, make sure he mentions that safe part when he talks to the police because they love that kind of feedback. He says he got mugged. It’s a terrible thing, but it happens. This time it happened to him. She says, he should stick with that story. But she wants him to know that she knows he was tracking Jason.

Jason says, if Sonny doesn’t want him in his organization, he understands, but Sonny says, no. Jason doesn’t understand. He trusted Jason more than anyone and now he can’t trust him. Jason says he never gave the Feds anything on Sonny, and Sonny asks why he should believe that. Jason says, because if he had, they would have arrested Sonny. He’s been protecting Sonny this whole time. Sonny says he’s not a child. He doesn’t need protection. He needs Jason to get away from him. Otherwise, he will have to remove Jason.

Laura tells Doc that she’s concerned about how small Ace’s family is going to be. There are no siblings. He may never know Lulu and Lucky. She knows there’s Elizabeth’s boys, but they’re quite a bit older and they have their own lives. It’s really just her, him, and Ace. Doc says, and Heather, and Laura says she knows Heather likes to call herself Ace’s grandmother. He says, technically, she is Ace’s grandmother. They may not like it, but Esme was her daughter. He asks about the transfer to California, and Laura says she forgot to tell him. The DA cancelled the transfer because of her medical condition. So she’s in Pentenville for the foreseeable future. He says, unless something else occurs, and shows her the tablet. She reads: chemically induced abnormal behavior. This is really what he thinks happened to Heather, isn’t it? Does he think they would ever reopen Heather’s case after all the things that she did?

Nina says, if Drew breathes a word of this to Sonny… He says, having sex with her on his office floor isn’t something he’s going to be bragging about. He wouldn’t worry about Sonny. Sonny is a little preoccupied right now with Jason’s surprise return. She says, he can think about more than one thing at a time, and Drew says, and somehow, he isn’t thinking about her at all. She has to face it. She’s not even on Sonny’s radar right now. He doesn’t care who she’s mixing it up with. Maybe because he’s got a new roommate.

Ava calls to Sonny and asks if he’s home. She pours herself a drink, then sets it down and goes to Sonny’s bedroom. She wonders what he has that would make a person sleep. She checks in a box by his bed, but only finds an OTC pain reliever. She says, he’s got to do better than that, and goes into his bathroom. She wonders where he keeps the good stuff and looks in the vanity drawers. She finds a prescription bottle labeled Lorphenadine, and says, may cause drowsiness.

Jason tells Sonny, it doesn’t have to be this way. He’s not a threat. He’ll stay out of Sonny’s organization. All he wants is his half of the coffee business. Sonny says, and all he wants is the truth. If Jason didn’t inform on him, what was he doing with the Feds? Jason says he told Sonny everything he could, but Sonny says, Jason told him nothing. He thought it was because Ava was right there, but Ava’s not here now; it’s just them. If Jason wants Sonny to trust him, if he wants half of the business back, he’s going to have to trust Sonny. What happened to him?

Jason says, the FBI picked him up on Cassadine Island. They flew him back to Quantico. They offered him a deal. Become an informant and no charges will be filed. He took that deal because it was his best option. They didn’t want him to inform on Sonny because they knew he would never do it and it would never work. So they sent him after somebody else. Sonny asks, who? but Jason says he can’t tell Sonny. Sonny says, why? Does Jason think he’s going to go tell these people he’s a traitor? Jason says he can’t tell Sonny because it’s part of the deal. If he talks, that violates the terms of the agreement, and the charges get filed. Sonny says, was part of the deal to take a shot at him? How many times did Jason try to kil him? Jason says he never tried to kill Sonny, and Sonny says, and he’s going to believe that? Because Jason is loyal, because Jason’s his friend, his brother? Jason says, because if he tried to kill Sonny, he wouldn’t have missed.

Ava tells herself that she can’t self-medicate with somebody else’s prescription. It does cause drowsiness though, and if Sonny can handle it… She pops the top off the bottle so easily that it’s probably the most unbelievable thing ever seen on GH. She takes a pill, then says, who is she kidding? and takes another one.

Blaze tells Kristina that she wants to be fair. Having a control freak for a mom can be really helpful when it comes to her career. Kristina says, what about the rest of her life? Her real life. Blaze says, her mom tells her that she knows her better than she knows herself, and Kristina says she hates when parents say that. Blaze says, her too, but she thinks her mom says it because when she was Blaze’s age, she crossed the line a few times. And then she became a mom. Kristina says, becoming a mom certainly changes your perspective on everything, but she’s only an aunt, so… Blaze says, Kristina’s not only an anything. She thinks because her mom didn’t want her making the same mistakes she did, she became super strict. Kristina says, it kind of worked. Look at her. She’s smart and disciplined and built an incredible career for herself. It’s amazing. Blaze says, a lot of that is because she paid attention to everything her mom said when she was growing up. Her mom should be able to look at her life and know that and trust her enough to live her own life. Kristina’s parents do. Kristina doesn’t respond, and Blaze says she must have missed something. Is there a problem with her parents?

Curtis is sitting up in the bed, and Portia asks if this is the folder he wanted. He says, yes. He probably could have gotten it himself, but it would have been 2 in the morning before he got himself down the stairs and back up. She says, with the progress he’s making, he’ll be up and down those stairs in no time, and he says, the miracles of modern medicine. You doctors can fix anything. He asks if everything is okay, and she says, yeah. She’s fine. He says he sort of lost her there for a second. He wondered where she went. He thought maybe she was thinking about these bills. She says, no. Those bills are all his. He says he doesn’t know if she saw this note from Brook Lynn Quartermaine. She’s pushing him to have an invitation only event at The Savoy to showcase Blaze’s new single. He’s probably going to say yes, but he thinks he’ll let her sweat a little bit. She says, it has nothing to do with that, and he says, talk to him. She says she was at the hospital and overheard Doc and Alexis saying something about how they could use a preexisting condition to overturn a conviction. Heather Webber was diagnosed with metallosis. Basically, her artificial hip is poisoning her. And one of the symptoms of metallosis is a shift in personality. He asks if anyone is arguing that Heather Webber isn’t responsible for all those lives she took, and Portia says, that’s exactly what she’s afraid of. Someone is going to use her condition as grounds to reopen Heather’s case, and possibly set that woman free.

John says, Carly thinks he was tracking Jason. She’s getting warmer. She says, hide and seek. Really? Is that how the FBI conducts its business now? He says, his supervisors would definitely not approve of this situation, but they’re not here. So does she want to guess again? She says, okay. If he wasn’t tracking Jason, he was tracking… his lawyer. Diane Miller? He says, give the lady a cigar, and she says she doesn’t want a cigar, but she will take a very expensive glass of wine at a date to be determined. He says, deal, and she says, getting mugged isn’t generally a mood lifter, but it’s made him fun. He thanks her and says he is fun. She just doesn’t know him well enough to see it yet.

Curtis says he gets the legal argument that Heather’s condition – Portia says, metallosis – has contributed to her mental state, but she committed multiple homicides. There’s no way she should be allowed to go free. (Pointing out that we’ve been here before with Franco.) She says she prays he’s right, because Trina’s been through enough. It’s enough, this whole family. He says, but they made it through and they’re stronger than ever. She says, they are, aren’t they? They made it through together as a family. He says, she better believe it, and he’ll do whatever it takes to make her feel safe and secure and loved. She says, he just told her that he’d do whatever it takes? and he says he sure did. She says she thinks she’s going to need him to prove that.

Doc tells Laura that he couldn’t stop thinking about his conversation with Alexis about Heather and the hypotheticals that could set her free. So he did a deep dive into a database about toxicology and abnormal behavior. At first, you would think the chances of Heather’s murder conviction being overturned are inconceivable. Laura says, but then with further investigation… He says, it’s not without medical and legal precedent. She says, wow. She can’t imagine what the reaction would be to Heather going free. They know Portia Robinson, Sasha Gilmore, Dr. Obrecht, all those people are going to be outraged. As would most of the citizens of Port Charles she thinks. He says, understandably, and she says, unless it can be proven that Heather herself was victimized. And if that were the case, she thinks it would be wrong not to give her a second chance. He says, selfishly, there’s a side of him that would like to see Heather redeemed. Not released, but rehabilitated into someone functional. Someone stable that Ace could know, even have a relationship with. And if he’s being honest, he’d like to think some good could come of the harm he’s caused. She says, none of this is his fault, but he says he made one decision about his brother, and it resulted in a series of devastating events. If Ryan hadn’t gotten loose, then Heather would still be institutionalized, and her victims would still be alive. So would Spencer and Esme. They never would have even met Esme. She says she thinks he’s forgetting one thing. Ace wouldn’t be here either.

Kristina tells Blaze that she doesn’t have a problem with anyone in her family right now. Actually, it might be the first time she’s been able to say that. Her mom’s good; she’s supportive of their relationship and the surrogacy. Blaze says, what about her dad? and Kristina says, her dad’s good. He loves her unconditionally. He of course (🍷) has a dark side, but he’s loving and generous and more sensitive than people think, and he can get hurt too. She’s a little worried about her dad right now. Blaze asks if that’s because he and Nina broke up, and Kristina says, Nina’s not perfect, but he was happy with her. And since Ava moved in… Blaze says, wait. She moved in? She thought Ava was just staying there temporarily. Kristina says, so did she.

Nina says, Ava is staying with Sonny for security reasons, and Drew says, keep telling herself that. She finishes getting dressed and says, let her worry about Ava. Just figure out a way to get her closer to her daughter. And if it’s not appointing her to the board, then come up with something else. He says, even if he were to help her, Michael will never see her as anything other than a threat to his family. She lied to him about his father’s death, then sued him to get access to his child. But Willow’s got a softer heart, and he’s still friends with her. Nina says, he’ll help her plead her case to her then, and he says, maybe, but after his near-death beating he took in prison because of her, she’s going to have to make it so worth his while. (I used to find Drew kind of boring. Now he just creeps me out.)

Jason tells Sonny that Port Charles is still his home. This warehouse is still half his. He’s going to be here every day, importing coffee, totally legit. So whatever business Sonny wants to do, do it away from the warehouse, so he doesn’t have to be witness to it. Sonny asks if Jason thinks he won’t do it. He thinks Sonny won’t get rid of him? He could do it in a heartbeat. All he’s got to do is say the word, and Jason is gone. Jason says, come on. If anything happens to him, Sonny knows the cops are going to look at him first. Sonny says, don’t tell him what he knows. Know what he knows? Jason can’t be trusted and he’s going to have to get protection. From Jason. Because Jason is a traitor. Jason says, stop, and asks if Sonny is taking his meds.

Nina says, Drew will be her ally, and he says he thinks ally is a strong word for what he’ll be, but she’s a creative person. She can put her thinking cap on and come up with something that will be worth his time and effort. He picks up his shirt and says he likes this shirt. She can start by sewing the buttons back on it. He tosses the shirt to her, but she says, do his own mending, slinging it back, and she walks out.

Carly tells John that they need to order all new ice machines for this hotel. But she doesn’t need to keep going on and on about how this hotel is not great anymore. He says, it’s a nice hotel, and she says, it was, but she’s not going to bore him with all her complaints about the hotel. She puts new ice in a towel and says, what about him? Are there any other circumstances, besides being beaten up – she laughs – where he’s fun? He says he must be concussed or at least punchy. He’s said way too much already. She says she has a lot of experiences where she’s listening to things she doesn’t repeat or remember. She looks over at him and he’s asleep. She says, that’s a way to end a conversation, and turns down the lights. She gets back in the chair and says, sleep well, Agent Cates. I’ll wake you up in a couple of hours.

Portia comes out dressed in fabulous lingerie and says she guesses Curtis is still working on the bills. So she guesses she’ll just… He says, no, no, no. Not looking as good as she is. Come here. She sits on the bed next to him, and he says, in case she doesn’t remember, they never had an official honeymoon. He thinks they should do something about that as soon as possible. She kisses him and I assume they get busy, since the camera pans to the ceiling.

Laura shows Doc her phone and says, viola. You can see Ace in real  time. He’s still sleeping. Doc says, that’s amazing. She makes the same face when she sleeps. She says, maybe it runs in the family, and they sit on the sofa. He says, the picture and the sound is so pristine. Here he thought the baby monitor was the pinnacle of technological advancement. She says, it was… twenty years ago, and he laughs. He says, and when he hears people say twenty years, he thinks, oh, they’re talking about the 80s. Then he realizes… no, they’re not. She says she knows them raising a baby at this point in their lives wasn’t part of his bucket list, and he says, was it on hers? She says, no, and he says, it’s not like they’re ready to retire and they’re not exactly people who back away from life. She says, and she thinks Ace has given them so much more life, and he says, Ace has, and he loves it. And he loves her. She says she loves him too, and kisses him. He says, they took an awful lot of wrong turns and detours before they found each other, but they did. And he thinks Ace is just another unexpected… Laura says, responsibility? but he says, miracle. She says, wow. He’s really something. He says he’s a lucky man, and she says she’s a lucky woman. She puts her head on his shoulder and he puts his arm around her. Aww.

Kristina tells Blaze that she knows there’s still a security reason for Ava to be staying at Sonny’s place, but it’s just that something doesn’t feel right about it. It’s weird. Even Dante noticed, and he’s on pain meds. Blaze asks if she said or did anything, but Kristina says, no. It’s just little things. She can’t see the whole picture yet, but one thing she does know is, Ava is a Jerome. And the Jeromes love power. It’s like a drug. Blaze says, Kristina thinks she’s going to what? Make a move on Sonny’s business? Kristina says, not a move move. She’d never come at something straight on; she’s too smart for that. She’d slither in from the side or something. And she’s making herself indispensable to Kristina’s dad. She’s running interference, she’s making him drinks… Blaze says, her dad doesn’t see what she’s doing? and Kristina says, worse. He likes it. A lot.

Ava lies awake and says, may cause drowsiness, and sits up. She says, Sonny must like the taste of those. She feels absolutely nothing. Nada. They don’t help you sleep. They don’t help anything else. What do those stupid pills do? (Got it.)

Sonny tells Jason that he takes his medication every day, every dosage, like clockwork. He’s not having a breakdown. He just has to face the truth. Jason’s not who he thought. Or maybe he never was. Jason says he’s not Sonny’s enemy, and he doesn’t want any trouble. And he accepts that Sonny doesn’t trust him. Sonny doesn’t have to trust him. He’ll stay out of Sonny’s way. Sonny says, he’d better. Sonny pauses a moment and says, go ahead, take the warehouse. He can sit in it until he rots. He starts to leave, but stops and says, if you double-cross me again or I suspect you’re interfering with my business or my life… I will end you. He walks out and Jason looks concerned.

Tomorrow, Brook asks, what if they ruined Lila’s dress for nothing; Curtis asks Drew what he’s doing here; Anna asks for Valentin’s help with a case; and Alexis says, what if she just quits?

🌞 Since They Had the Day Off…

Celebrities – they’re just like us. Except for the paycheck. And the fame.

💔 Hallmark’s Loss…

As a general rule, I don’t watch romances, but I can’t imagine him not pulling in viewers.

🍸 Rehashing the Rules…

The Reunion is probably going to be a doozie, but anything would be mild compared to last year. I think.

🍼 Kentucky Shade…

I’m still trying to figure out why she settled for him in the first place.

🔪 Tonight’s Top…

Those who can’t do, watch stuff like this.

https://people.com/top-chef-recap-episode-4-buddha-lo-guest-judge-two-cheftestants-eliminated-8624517

🦣 He Shows Nothing…

Oh well. I would have liked to see a few more mammoths, giants, and such.

https://ew.com/jon-snow-game-of-thrones-sequel-shelved-kit-harington-says-8629070

🦁 An Eclipse For Everyone…

They must have thought it was a short day and an even shorter night. This is basically just a clip of zoo animals getting ready for bed, but the guy who’s being interviewed is pretty excited about it. According to him, every question is a great question. My pets couldn’t have cared less.

https://people.com/texas-zoo-animals-caught-reacting-darkness-during-eclipse-8628890

🤸‍♀️ Bringing It Off…

Join me tomorrow for soap and smack talk about the awful people on Summer House. Until then, stay safe, stay listening with all your senses, and stay never self-medicating with somebody else’s prescription.

March 29, 2024 – Dante Answers the Big Question, Return Interview, No Wonderland Here, Incoming Dragon, Easter Pets (!), Double the Four Quotes & Hallelujah

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Carly asks Sonny what the hell is wrong with him, and he says, there’s nothing wrong with him. She says, so if someone says something to him that isn’t flattery or groveling, he’s going to take that as betrayal. And now he’s putting his trust in Ava? He asks what he’s supposed to do. At least Ava didn’t pay somebody to spy on him like she paid traitor Dex. She says she’s talking about Jason. He risked his life for Sonny. He took beatings and bullets for him. He ran Sonny’s business when Sonny couldn’t and went to prison to protect their son. Sonny says, her son. He’s another one Sonny can’t count on. She says, so they’re just going to add Michael to that list, and he says, pretty much. She says, when people you love are turning against you, maybe they aren’t the problem – you are, and he says, who is he supposed to trust? Her? For all he knows she and Jason are working together.

The phone rings in the Nook, and Olivia answers. Sam says, he’s awake. Dante is awake. Elizabeth and the doctors are in there with him now. Olivia tells Lois, Danny, and Rocco that Dante is awake, and they get all excited. Rocco asks if he’s okay, and Lois says, his dad is all right. He’s coming back to him. Sam tells Olivia, he’s going to be okay.

Riding in a van, John Brennan (who Valentin calls Jack, so I guess we will too) says, as exhilarating and as it is to get out of Pentenville, he wouldn’t mind knowing where they’re going. The driver says nothing, and he says, strong, silent type, he sees. The driver stops the van and opens the passenger doors. Valentin hands him a wad of cash and gets in. Valentin says, hi, Jack. You’re looking well… for a prisoner. Jack says he was starting to think Valentin abandoned him, and Valentin says he got here as soon as he could. Jack left him a few fires to put out. Jack asks if he put them out or is he letting Pikeman burn down around him.

Jason approaches the penthouse and asks Frank if Sonny is home. Frank says he’s under strict orders not to let anyone in, but the boss would make an exception for him. Welcome back. They shake hands and Jason thanks him.

Carly says she wishes that instead of spending the last three years missing and grieving for Jason – Jason walks int behind her – she wishes she was secretly calling him and conspiring against Sonny. She sees Sonny staring behind her and turns around.

Jason says he can come back, but Carly says, no. He shouldn’t have to answer this, but for some reason, Sonny needs to hear it. Did he shoot Dante? Jason says, no. How is he? Sonny says, he hasn’t woken up. Did Jason get out on bail? Carly says, five million dollars. Michael paid it. Of course (🍷) he did. It’s Jason. Sonny asks if Jason wants to tell him where he’s been and why he hasn’t reached out. Carly says, does Ava really need to be… Sonny says, yes, she needs to be here, because Ava was at the warehouse when someone took a shot at him. Jason was on the roof. He’s not going to deny that, right? Jason admits he was on the roof that night, and Sonny says, Jason didn’t mean for him to die? Jason says he made sure Sonny didn’t, and Sonny asks if Jason can tell him why he should believe him. (Because, it’s Jason!)

Jack asks if Valentin can explain what went wrong with taking out Sonny Corinthos, and Valentin says, for starters, his oldest friend was assigned to the sniper team. Alan Jacobs? That was an alias being used by Jason Morgan. He wasn’t at the shooting, and they can’t ask the sniper because he’s dead. But he guesses Jason Morgan sabotaged the operation. Nobody at Pikeman realized they had Jason Morgan on the payroll? Jack says, at any given time, Pikeman employs upwards of 15,000 mercenaries deployed to their various clients around the world. So forgive him if he didn’t vet one personally. Valentin says, he didn’t just pass the vetting process, he worked his way up to the asset group. Jack tells him, what can he say? They only promote the best. Valentin says, how about in the future if they only employ the best more carefully? and Jack tells him to make sure they do that. How about issuing a whole new policy? What are they doing right now to fix this? Valentin says, Jason might have derailed their latest attempt to get rid of Sonny, but he’s going to be joining Jack in Pentenville very soon for shooting a cop, Dante Falconari, Sonny’s son no less. Jack says, this is like an oil slick; it keeps spreading. So not only was the op a failure, but the cop gets what? Winged? Injured? Valentin says, he’s probably going to die, and Jack says, a dead cop, even better. And the icing on the cake is their operative is now in custody. So was it really Morgan who shot Falconari? Valentin tells him, it’s impossible to say. It could have been their sniper, but like he said, he’s dead. The extraction team was able to get the body and the weapon off the pier before the first responders got there. Jack says, so the only way to prove it wasn’t Morgan is if the cop ID’s the shooter. What about Valentin? Valentin says, what about him? and Jack says, the only prayer Morgan has is if he gives up Pikeman. Could Jason know Valentin’s been running the company since his arrest?

Olivia says she can’t believe Dante’s awake, and Lois says, all those prayers they sent up did the trick. Olivia says, they certainly did. If they need her, she’ll be at the hospital. Rocco says he’s coming with her, and Danny says, him too. Olivia says, their dad is in ICU and they don’t allow a lot of visitors there, and Danny says, that’s okay they can wait outside. Rocco says, as long as they can see him, and Olivia says, their dad’s wounds are very serious. It might be kind of hard for them to see him like that. It might be hard for him too. Rocco says, dad told him there was never a wrong time to come to him, that he would be there for Rocco always, and Olivia says, of course (🍷) he said that. It’s true. Lois tells her, take them to GH. They can handle it, can’t they? Danny says, not knowing is way worse than seeing him for themselves. Plus, he’ll stay with Rocco the entire time. Olivia says, okay. Get their coats. They leave and Olivia asks if Lois is sure she’s okay staying with Scout. Lois says, of course (🍷) she’s okay. Don’t worry about it. And tell Dante that she was praying for him, and she was praying in Italian, the language of the Popes… most of the Popes. Olivia says she loves Lois, hugs her, and jets. Lois looks up and says, grazie mille.

Sam asks Dr. Park how Dante is. Can she see him? The doctor says she can. The breathing tube’s out, but Dante will still have some trouble speaking. If he wants some water, don’t give him more than a sip at a time, and if he starts coughing, use the call button. He’ll order something to coat and numb his throat. That should help. Sam thanks him, and he asks Elizabeth, what else? Elizabeth says, they took his chest tube out when his lung reinflated, so be careful. He’s going to be pretty sore. Sam goes into Dante’s room and says, welcome back, detective. Don’t you dare ever scare me like that again. Dante says, get… and Sam asks if he’s thirsty. Does he need some water? He says, get… over here, and she goes to his bedside. She asks if it hurts, and he shakes his head. She says, he lies, and he says he’s sorry. She says, don’t you dare be sorry. He has nothing to be sorry for. He says he loves her, and she kisses his forehead and tells him that she loves him too.

Valentin says, Jack knows he’s all about discretion, and Jack says he does know that. All those years he was instrumental in Pikeman’s expansion, and no one had any idea he was involved. And now he’s running the place. Valentin says he’s not. He’s fielding shareholder’s calls and dealing with supervisors through cryptic communication. There’s nothing to be traced to him. Jack says, he hopes, and Valentin says, Jack has been sloppy. Coming to Port Charles personally, getting involved with Carly… Jack says he doesn’t know if he’d call it involved. Diverted maybe. Interested certainly. It’s his bad luck her ex was the man who had to be removed. Speaking of, where is Corinthos now? Valentin says, Sonny knows enough not to show his face where they can get a clear shot at him. Valentin left some breadcrumbs, some misinformation. He thinks he’s being targeted by some mysterious man by the name of Stone. Jack asks, who’s Stone? and Valentin says, somebody who Sonny was very fond of, but he’s been dead for decades. And if Sonny thinks he’s being targeted by a dead man, it will probably take his attention off of Pikeman. There have been far too many misfires. That has to change now. Sonny Corinthos has a stranglehold on Port Charles and he’s not willing to do business with them. Jack says, no matter how much they offer him, and Valentin says, they need him gone. Jack says, so what’s the plan? He does have a plan, right? They have colleagues in the WSB eager to make sure the right supplies get into the right hands. They have very lucrative contracts to fill, and they have volatile customers to satisfy. They need a reliable shipping situation and Port Charles is ideally situated. Corinthos is in the way and it’s on Valentin to get him out of the way. Valentin says, of course (🍷) he has a plan, and Jacks says, don’t leave him in suspense. How do they take Corinthos down? Valentin says, they don’t. Sonny does it for them.

Jason says, so when the cave collapsed in Greece, he followed the tunnel outside. That’s when he got picked up by the FBI. Carly says, the FBI was in Greece? and Jason says, yeah. They had Peter August under surveillance. That’s why they were watching Cassadine Island. Sonny says, they picked him up, then what? and Jason says he’s been an informant ever since. Carly says, he was an informant for the FBI? and Sonny says, why the hell would he do that? Jason says he had no choice, and Sonny says, he was an informant for the FBI. He must be protecting someone. Who? Who is he protecting? Jason says, himself.

Olivia goes into Dante’s room and says, it’s true. He’s awake. He says, hey, mom, and she kisses his forehead and says, don’t ever do that to them again. Sam says she read him the riot act, and Olivia says, good. She loves Dante so much. He says, how could she not? and she says, he’s cracking jokes already, huh? That’s probably a good sign. Sam says she thinks so, and Olivia says she does too. She loves him so much. Sam sees the boys in the hallway and says, it looks like Olivia brought some tagalongs. Olivia says, they wouldn’t take no for an answer. She hopes it was okay. Sam asks Elizabeth if it’s okay if they come in and say a quick hi, and Elizabeth says, there are a lot of things that happen around here that she has no idea about. She lets the boys in, and Rocco says, hi, dad. Dante says, hey, pal. It’s okay. He won’t bite. Sam says, it’s a little hard for his dad to talk right now, but he could use a hug, and Rocco says, it won’t hurt him? She says, just be gentle, and Rocco goes over to the bed. He hugs Dante and says he missed him so much. Dante tells Danny, hey, you, and Danny comes over and they do a soft fist bump. Danny says, they’re all glad he’s okay, and Dante says, him too.

Rocco says, Dante has been in the paper every day since he got hurt. Today he’s on the front page because of the hearing. Sam says, maybe they can show his dad that tomorrow. He needs rest right now. Dante says, hearing? and Danny says, he means arraignment. A lot of people think his dad’s the one who shot Dante, but now that he’s awake, he can tell them it wasn’t him, right? Sam says she thinks it’s time for Dante to get some rest, and Olivia says, they heard the woman. Everybody out. Rocco says, dad doesn’t want them to go, but Olivia says, sometimes dads don’t know what’s best for them. Everybody. Just for a minute. She and the boys leave, and Sam sits next to the bed. She asks if she can get Dante anything, and he says, Anna.

Valentin says, it’s no secret that Sonny suffers from bi-polar disorder, and Jack says, he’s certainly managed to turn it to his advantage. Apparently even a crime boss can get good press for being openly afflicted. Valentin says, he’s managed his condition through medication. He’s made contact with Sonny’s source for bi-polar meds. Let’s just say we’ve come to an agreement. He’ll be filling Sonny’s prescription at one-quarter strength and three-quarters placebo. Jack says, so Corinthos will believe that he’s medicated per usual, and Valentin says, he’ll become increasingly erratic and paranoid. Removing him will become child’s play. Jack says, don’t underestimate the man. That was his mistake. He thought Sonny could be bought, just like they bought all the others, and eliminated once they were done with him. But Corinthos didn’t survive this long by being stupid. Valentin says, no. He survived by being medicated. Now he won’t be. He’s already derailed. He’s not covering his tracks. He tried to beat an old man to death with his bare hands. Jack laughs, and Valentin says, they’re not going to have to go through the trouble of killing him, not if he gets himself arrested and convicted first. (Wow. Sooo disappointed in this change in Valentin’s character.)

Sonny says, so that’s it. That’s all Jason is going to give them? That he’s an informant for the Feds? Carly says, Jason would tell them more if he could, and Sonny says, of course (🍷) Carly is defending him. She says, the question is, why isn’t Sonny? Sonny says, because he let them believe he was dead for two years, and Carly says, he had his reasons. Sonny says he doesn’t care about Jason’s reasons, and she says, since when? Why is he ignoring his history with someone who’s always been loyal to him? Sonny says, until now, and she says, Jason has his reasons. Sonny says, he’s working for the Feds. Jason was there the night someone took a shot at him. Carly says, and look at him, standing here just fine thanks to Jason, and Sonny says, they don’t know that for sure. Carly says she does. You know why? Because he just told them. Sonny throws his hands up and says, oh, and Ava rushes over, suggesting they table this discussion for a while until cooler heads prevail. Carly asks if she can please shut up, and Sonny says, don’t speak to her that way. Carly asks, what’s happened to him? and Sonny says he’s not the one who’s changed. This is his survival instincts kicking in, and it’s telling him, if Jason is working for the Feds and not going to tell him why, that means he can’t trust Jason and he can’t trust Carly. They’re both traitors to him. Carly asks if he hears himself, and Sonny says, get out of his house. Carly says, Sonny… but Sonny tells her that he’s not going to say it again. Jason tells her, they need to go, and she says, this is crazy. They leave together and Sonny does that scary death stare.

Anna arrives at Dante’s room, and Sam thanks her for coming so late. Anna says she would be happy to get this call if it came at 3 am, and Sam says, he pulled through. They hug, and Anna says, thank God. She’s so glad for Sam and the boys and her a little and the department. Without Dante… He’s just such a good friend. And he’s her MVD. Sam says, MVD? and Anna says, most valuable detective, obviously. Sam says she loves it and knows Dante is going to love it too. She tells the boys that they’ll be right back and they go into Dante’s room, where Olivia is sitting with him. Sam says, he’s got a visitor, and Anna says, good to see him. Dante says, her too, and Sam says, speaking is a little rough for him, and tells Dante not to strain himself. Olivia says she’ll give them some space, kisses Dante’s cheek, and leaves. Sam says, guess what? He has a nickname. Anna says, MVD, most valuable detective, and Sam asks if he likes it. He says, Chase won’t, but he does, and Anna says he’s relieved they didn’t lose him. He says, him too, and Anna asks if he’s all caught up. Sam says, some. He knows about the arraignment today, but she wanted everyone else out of the room before the discussion went any further, and Dante wanted Anna. Anna says she’s got to ask him. Does he know who shot him? Dante says he’s never seen them before, and Anna says, they can get him a pen and paper or something, but he says, not Jason. Sam says, Jason didn’t shoot him? and Dante says, no. Anna says, but he saw Jason though, and Dante says, he’s the reason I’m alive.

Jack says, it’s official, folks. He’s still diabolical. Valentin says, apparently that isn’t a character trait one easily grows out of. So how is Jack doing in Pentenville? Jack says, it’s a regular vacation, and Valentin says, otherwise, no problems? Jack says, other than the occasional sleepless night where he wonders if Valentin is up for this. A gift for logistics doesn’t necessarily translate to a gift for leadership. Valentin says, Jack is a natural born leader. He knows because it says so on his psyche eval. Jack laughs, and Valentin says, and look at where it’s gotten him. In a prison jumpsuit in maximum security, giving control over to him and hoping he can handle it. He can handle it. Jack asks if that’s confidence or ego speaking, and Valentin says he thinks they’re done here. Jack says he needs cash, and Valentin says, bribing his way through the system, he sees. Jack asks how else Valentin gets through, and Valentin says, fair enough, handing him some money. He tells Jack that he thinks that should suffice, and Jack says, thank you, Daddy Warbucks. He puts the cash in his pocket and says, one more thing. How’s Anna Devane? Valentin wonders why he asks, and Jack says, gives a whole new meaning to careful what you wish for, doesn’t it? Valentin finally achieves his undying dream of getting Anna to love him, only to watch it go up in smoke. (No. The writers got me to love him only to watch it go up in smoke.😖) Valentin asks if he’s done, and Jack says he supposes. Valentin says, because if Anna finds out about his involvement with Pikeman, it’s going to be the last Jack sees outside the prison walls. Jack tells him, don’t worry. Valentin’s secret is safe with him. Valentin says, he really is a bastard, isn’t he? and Jack says, so is Valentin. Two of a kind, eh? and Valentin gets out of the van.

Ava says, that was something else, huh? and Sonny says, that’s one way to describe it. She says, what’s his? and he says she doesn’t want to talk about this right now. She says she just wants to say one more thing, and thanks him for defending her to Carly. He says, she’s welcome. He knew it would piss Carly off. She says, still. It doesn’t happen very often and she appreciates it. He says he can’t believe he ever loved Carly. They raised a family together and he thought she would stick by him until the end, whether they were married or not. Ava says, whatever the relationship, he thought she’d always be loyal, and he says, there was always Jason. They were always together. They got married. She says, it’s been a hell of a day. Why doesn’t she fix him a drink. God knows she could use one. He thanks her and says he’ll be right back. He leaves the room, and she pours drinks, when Sonny’s phone dings. Ava picks it up and sees a text from Olivia: He’s awake, Sonny! Dante came out of it! He’s even talking! Ava put the phone face down on the mantel.

Sam tells Olivia, her turn, and Olivia goes into Dante’s room. Elizabeth asks Sam how Dante is doing, and Sam says, it’s definitely a struggle for him to talk, but other than that… Elizabeth says, she must be letting out the biggest exhale right now, and Sam says she honestly didn’t know. Elizabeth says she’s really happy for all of them, and Sam says, Dante confirmed it wasn’t Jason who shot him. She thought Elizabeth would want to tell Jake. She knows that Danny will definitely be comforted to hear that. Elizabeth says, so will Jake.

Carly and Jason go to a closed Bobbie’s, and he says he likes the new name. She says, Elizabeth made the sign, and he says, it’s a great tribute to her mom. She says she feels her mom here. She feels her everywhere, but this place was special to her. He says, so was Carly, and they go inside.

Elizabeth tells Danny that she saw him at the arraignment today, and he says he was hoping that wouldn’t happen. She says she could tell. She doesn’t think anybody noticed. They were all pretty distracted. Danny says he had to be there because he knew Jason was innocent, and she says, he really believes in his dad, doesn’t he? Danny says, of course (🍷), and Elizabeth says, he’s lucky to have Danny in his corner.

Jason says, to Bobbie, Carly says, to Bobbie, and they clink beer bottles. He says he’s sorry he wasn’t here for her, and she says, he would have been if he could. She knows that. Jason sighs, and she says, it’s crazy to her that Sonny doesn’t see that. What the hell is wrong with him? She’s used to him acting like that with her, but with him… It’s him and he’s back and she still can’t believe it’s real. He says he knows she has questions, and she laughs and says, a hundred and one. He says, she knows he can’t answer most of them, and she says she knows. But instead of them talking about where he’s been, why don’t they just stay in the here and now? They sit down, and she asks, how’s his gunshot wound? He says, it’s sore, but he’s healing, and she asks what Diane said. What are his chances? He says, uphill battle unless Dante exonerates him, and she says, then they just have to believe that’s going to happen. That he’s going to come to and tell everyone that Jason didn’t shoot him. He says he just wants Dante to pull through, and she says, her too, but she wants it for a lot of reasons. He asks if that’s all she’s got for him, and she says, one more. Obviously, he’s back. He says he doesn’t know for how long, and she says, he’s here until the trial starts, right? He says, yeah, and she asks where he’s going to stay.

Ava hands Sonny a drink and says she has the most incredible news. Sonny asks if he’s going to have to guess, and she says, Dante’s awake. He asks if she’s kidding him, and she says she just called the hospital for an update, and they said he’s awake and he’s even speaking. Sonny says, thank God, and she says, it’s a miracle, right? He says he should go to GH, right? but she says, they told her that he’s in with the doctor and they can’t be disturbed. So he’ll have to wait until tomorrow to see Dante. He says he has to call Olivia and Sam. Where’s the phone? She says she’s sure the hospital’s already done that. Why doesn’t he just sit down, relax, and rejoice in Dante’s good fortune? And put what Carly and Jason put him through out of his head. Honestly, that whole ordeal was just exhausting. He sits and says, exhausting, but necessary. He finally sees the truth about those two. It’s been staring him in the face for years. She asks if she can get him anything else, and he says, why doesn’t she have a seat? They can rejoice in the good fortune of his son. She says, happy to.

Once again the van is moving, and Jack tells the driver that he’s trying to figure out how long he’s known the man he just met with. They came up in the business together. Unlike most in their work, they were never true believers in anything other than getting the job done. Pragmatists. That’s why they rose in the job together. He’s sure this hardly looks like the job, seeing he’s being returned to his prison cell. He’s not going to complain. Anything to get a break from this place. Home sweet home. The driver stops the van and gets out. He opens the passenger doors, and Jack gets out. He says he’s sorry if he’s boring the driver. He doesn’t get out much. The driver starts to sign, and Jack says, Valentin. Val… Val… Val. Damn you’re good.

Sonny says he knows the hospital said Dante woke up. Did they say anything else? Like is he going to need surgery? Ava says she was so happy about the update, she didn’t think to ask those questions. Should she call back and ask? He says, that’s okay. Life is amazing, isn’t it? She says, in what respect? and he says, the constant balancing the scales. Just a few hours ago, he lost his best friend, but he also gained his son back. She says she’s so sorry about the first, and so happy about the second. She knows she hasn’t been in play nearly as long as Carly or Jason, but she’s here. He can count on her. He finishes his drink and says, it’s amazing with everything that’s happened with him, she’s the only one who’s been here for him. She says she’s probably not the only one, and he kisses her, tells her goodnight, and leaves.

Carly says, Jason has to stay somewhere, and he says he’s going to figure it out. She asks if he has any money, and he says, not at the moment. She gets up to get her bag, and he says he has money. He’ll have to get access to it tomorrow. She says he doesn’t have money to pay for a place to stay, so she wants him to come stay with her, but he says, that’s not happening. People could be looking for him. She says, then stay at the MetroCourt. He knows the security is great there. He says, no, that’s not happening, and she says, oh my God. Does he remember the room that she has here? When he lived above Jake’s and she lived here, does he remember that? He says, yes, he remembers, and she says, the room’s available. It’s nothing fancy or anything, but it’s clean. He’ll be safe and he’ll be fed. He can use the entrance for the delivery people. He can come and go as he wants. What does he say? He says, it sounds perfect, and thanks her. She says, it’s so funny. She had that room painted after the last tenant left, and she went up there to inspect. She walked around the room, and she was hit right between the eyes about how she used to feel when she lived there. How she came up with every excuse just to go to Jake’s so she could see him. She stood in the middle of that room, missing him so much, she could barely breathe. Now she doesn’t have to miss him anymore because he’s here. He’s home. They hug, and she says, oh my God. Does he think she’s psychic? Does he think she had that room painted because she knew he was coming back? He says, no, and she says, probably not, but he has to admit, it was really crazy. He says, it was, and she says, that’s always been the case with them, huh? Either perfect timing or… He says, the worst, when her phone rings. She says, Anna, and answers. Anna asks if Jason is there, and Carly says, no. Why? Jason listens in, and Anna says, when Carly sees him, will she let him know Dante’s awake? And he made it very clear that not only did Jason not shoot him, he saved his life. Carly says, that is amazing. She thanks Anna for calling her and says she’ll tell Jason when she sees him. Anna says, when she sees him, and Carly says, that’s right. Anna asks if she’ll also tell him thank you from her. Because if it wasn’t for him, she’d be down one friend. Carly says she will, and ends the call. She says, Jason heard that, right? and he says, Dante woke up. Carly says, that’s right, and he told everyone that Jason didn’t shoot him, and that Jason saved his life. Is he all right? Jason says, better than he was, and she says, her too, hugging him.

On Monday, Brook tells Blaze, this is a really smart step for her career; Natalia says something is unacceptable; Alexis tells Diane she’s not sure if she should proceed with this; and Jake asks why Jason is here.

🪨 Stone Cold Back…

Excellent interview.

🍸 He’s Annoyed…

I think he should be grateful she called him an A-list celebrity.

https://okmagazine.com/p/john-mayer-annoyed-scheana-shay-keeps-hinting-once-hooked-up

https://www.barstoolsports.com/blog/3508534/john-mayer-denies-having-a-threesome-with-vanderpumps-scheana-shay-after-she-bragged-about-it-on-tv-for-years

Why shouldn’t she keep the receipts? Wouldn’t you?

https://www.the-sun.com/tv/10926714/vanderpump-rules-scheana-shay-john-mayer-hookup

🐉 Dragon Flying In Soon…

Season 2 will be here on June 16th.

https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/house-of-the-dragon-season-2-dance-of-the-dragons-season-1-buildup

https://winteriscoming.net/posts/take-the-black-most-important-moments-in-the-house-of-the-dragon-season-2-trailers-01ht0tcfpcsb

https://winteriscoming.net/posts/take-the-black-most-important-moments-in-the-house-of-the-dragon-season-2-trailers-01ht0tcfpcsb

https://screenrant.com/house-of-the-dragon-season-2-aemond-criston-plans-image

Episode guide.

https://www.tomsguide.com/entertainment/streaming/heres-the-full-episode-schedule-for-house-of-the-dragon-season-2-including-the-big-finale

🐣 Pets Love Easter Too…

The wearin’ o’ the ears and general holiday cuteness.

You know no candy, especially chocolate, right?

🪻 Quotes of the Week

You have to be able to lick the spoon once in a while if you’re going to stir the pot. – Chris Combs, 1000-Lb. Sisters

Success or failure depends more upon attitude than upon capacity… successful men act as though they have accomplished or are enjoying something. Soon it becomes reality. Act, look, feel successful, conduct yourself accordingly, and you will be amazed at the positive results. – DuPree Jordan, Jr. (Getting out my tiara…)

I know now a loss can be a gift. A chance to grow. Losing has taught me to be a better winner and a better person, one who is always looking for opportunities to learn. – Serena Williams

CHANGE: Don’t just talk about it, go out there and do it. Don’t just meditate about it, go out there and create it. Don’t just pray about it go out there and take action; participate in the answering of your own prayer. If you want change, get out there and live it. – Steve Maraboli

The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance. – Alan Watts

I am not a product of my circumstances. I am a product of my decisions. – Stephen Covey

War is what happens when language fails. – Margaret Atwood

He smells like 1000 different houses, and I can’t trust that. – Hunter (Randall Park) referring to the mailman, Strays

✝️ Happy Easter…

Enjoy making and/or receiving your basket, going to your house of worship, or if those aren’t your deal, do something to celebrate the spring. I don’t know about you, but I’m ready to ditch the winterwear. Then join me on Monday really Tuesday for soap and angst on Deck. Until then, stay safe, stay being respectful of all beliefs and holidays, and stay remembering, when people you love are turning against you, maybe they aren’t the problem – you are. (Hey, don’t shoot the messenger.)

March 20, 2024 – Valentin Tells Nina His Greatest Hope, Villain Times 2, VanderWTF, Knives Out, Reality Launch, Awarding Excellence, See You Later, Celebrate & Pocket

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

From outside the stables, Tracy hears Cody saying, and that’s how you make a lasso. James says, that’s so cool, and Cody asks if he wants to see something else that’s cool. Tracy goes in to find James at the other end of the lasso, and James says, Cody lassoed him. Tracy says, what a useful skill, and Cody asks if there’s something he can help her with. She says, maybe his job. Her thoroughbred is recovering from laminitis. How’s he doing? Cody suggests they go see, but she says, no. She wants him to tell her. He’s the groom. The condition of all the horses in his care should be in his knowledge. James says, she’s being mean, and Tracy says, excuse me? James says, Cody’s friend is in the hospital. She should be nice to him.

Chase is looking at his badge when Brook walks in. She says, the nerve of some people. Not people, cops. Not all cops, but… She goes over to Chase and asks, what’s wrong? He asks what she said, and she says she just barged in here like a tsunami and he didn’t even notice. What’s going on? How bad is it? He says he saw Dante today, a few times actually, and she asks how he’s doing. He says, no change, and she hugs him.

Molly meets Alexis at the PC Grill and apologizes for being late. Alexis says she has her phone. Time means nothing. Molly says she’s drowning in cases, and Alexis says she knows the feeling. Molly says she bets that’s one thing about the law Alexis doesn’t miss, and Alexis says she misses a lot of it, but maybe not for much longer.

Natalia tells Sonny, sorry about her oversharing, but Sonny says, it’s no problem. She says, that’s kind of him. She was nervous coming in here and everything she wanted to say to Kristina. Of course (🍷) it didn’t even occur to her that Kristina’s father might be witness to it. He says he thinks she’s brave to even show up and be here just to say that to Kristina, and she says she loves her daughter. She wants to support her and it’s complicated. Parenting is so complicated. He says he can relate.

John invites Anna in, and she hands him the bottle of wine. He says he’ll bite. Why does she owe him a drink? She says, he was right, and he says he’s been wrong so much lately, he’d be glad to know where he was right. She says, about Sonny, that she was taking it easy on him. She wasn’t seeing him clearly. He says, and now? and she says, now she does.

Chase says he should have gone with Dante. There were two suspects, and Dante went after both of them. He never should have let Dante go. Brook says, but he followed procedure on Dante’s orders. It was all by the book, right? He says, yes, but that doesn’t change that Dante could die or be in a permanent coma. She says, he doesn’t know what would have happened if he’d gone after Dante. He could be in that hospital instead, or with Dante, or they could both be in the ground. He says, she’s right, but… She says, no more buts. He’s here with her right now and Dante is in the hospital, but he’s still breathing. His heart is still beating. He says, and he… She says, did his duty. He followed orders and procedures. He did his job, a job they both fought for him to get back. He says, maybe he shouldn’t… and she says, shouldn’t what? He says, be a cop anymore.

James tells Tracy, Dante is awesome. He used to live in the house where James lives now and he’s Cody’s best friend and now he’s in the hospital. And that’s why Cody’s so sad. And that’s why he’s here, to cheer him up. Tracy tells him that she has two things to say to that. One, she thinks it’s admirable that he’s showing up for Cody like that and it means he’s a really good friend. James thanks her. As for Cody’s friend Dante, she actually went to see him in the hospital today. Cody says, really? He didn’t realize they were that close. It’s generous of her. James asks if Dante is better.

Valentin finds Nina in Alexis’s office and says, she rang? Nina thanks him for coming, and he asks, where’s Alexis? He assumed she’d be here. She asks why Alexis would be here in her office at her job, and he says, it is kind of late. She says, the news doesn’t stop. She asked Alexis to meet them here, but Alexis blew her off. She said she was otherwise engaged. He says, if she needs a Cassadine so badly, he’s here. What’s the problem? She says, Alexis is trying to force her gossip columnist to quit.

Alexis says, Diane is setting things in motion for her to petition to get her law license back, and Molly asks, how? Alexis says, she’s a legal bloodhound and she found a loophole, and Molly says, one Alexis hadn’t noticed before? Alexis says, actually, she doesn’t think she was really looking before. She lied and she got caught and she took her lumps, and honestly, she wasn’t in a very good emotional place. Molly says, on a number of counts as she recalls, and Alexis says, it’s it nice they can be so accurate with each other. Diane found a number of factors she thinks will play out in her favor. Molly says, such as? and Alexis says, one, she never filed an appeal. Molly asks if she doesn’t only have 90 days to do that, and Alexis says she never had a hearing, which means she never had the opportunity to defend herself. Molly asks what her defense would have been, and Alexis says, well, Britt Westbourne and Julian were her accusers, so what defense would Molly recommend? Molly says, given their collective criminal records and personal integrity issues… Alexis says, Diane thinks those factors along with the fact her alleged perjury happened at a proceeding before the medical board, and Molly asks if that’s enough to get her an appeal. Alexis says, it’s a Hail Mary at best, but Diane filed a petition at the Court of Appeals that will hopefully allow her to file another petition with the Court of Appeals that will lead to an appeal. Molly says, wow, and picks up the menu, and Alexis asks if she has anything else to say besides wow, and Molly says, don’t do it.

Never mind the wine, that’s a bottle of whiskey Anna brought. John pours the drinks and hands Anna one, saying, to clear heads and open eyes. She says she’s going to go with the second thing, and clinks her glass against his. He says, fair enough, and they drink. He says, now that they’ve belted one back, care to share? and she says she owes him an apology. He says, an apology and a drink. This is a banner day. She says she called him out on his attitude toward Sonny, implying he was being unprofessional and making everything personal. He says, to be fair, the guy does really get under his skin. When it comes to Sonny, he hasn’t always stayed professional. She says she’s not exactly a model of that herself, and he says, how so? He hands her another drink, and she says she’s only seen Sonny the way she wants to see him. She’s made excuses for him, rationalized his unacceptable behavior… He says, she means the crimes, and she says, besides murder, racketeering, and a lifetime of felonies, he’s a model citizen. John says, such a good father, and drinks. She says, yeah. Anyway, she’s done convincing herself that he’s greater than the sum of his parts. She sees Sonny very clearly now. She knows exactly who he is.

Sonny says, Natalia’s daughter is very talented, and she says she knows and thanks him. He says he’s seen her perform a few times. It’s not his kind of music, but he can see she connects with the audience. Natalia says, she’s always been like that. The kid is just fearless, on stage and off. She thinks their girls have that in common, fearlessness. He says, Kristina can be a steamroller when she wants to be, and Natalia laughs. She says, and they’re both dreamers, and he says, absolutely. She says, a dangerous combination, being a dreamer and fearless, but in the best way. He says he knows what she means, and she says, Allison was like a little star in the making from the minute she stepped on stage. But she didn’t have a head for business, so Natalia decided to step in and be her business manager. That way, she could watch after her accounts and watch after her. Sonny says, smart move, but Nalalia says she didn’t do a very good job though. She had her nose so deep in Allison’s books and accounts, she didn’t see what that monster Linc Brown was doing to her baby girl. He says, thanks to Brook, she doesn’t have to worry about that, and she asks if he knows Brook Lynn Quartermaine. He says, her mother is his best friend, and Natalia says, Brook shouldn’t have been the one to protect her daughter. She should have paid attention and she would have known something was going on and she should have been the one to protect her. He says, she can’t act on information she doesn’t have, but she says she could have sensed it and done something to stop it. He asks if that’s why she’s controlling Blaze now.

Alexis says she thought Molly of all people would be leading the charge to support her, and Molly says, Alexis knows she thinks she’s a brilliant attorney. Alexis says she knows Molly used to think that. She’s not sure Molly thinks that right now. Molly says she grew up wanting to be Alexis. When she was in law school, even now, today in fact, she still studies Alexis’s briefs. (Insert your favorite underwear joke here.) When she doesn’t know what to do with a case, she looks to see how Alexis did it. And she follows Alexis’s lead. If this were just about the law or Alexis’s career, she’d say, go for it. She would say, there’s nobody more deserving than her. Alexis says, then why is Molly opposing her trying? and Molly says, because she likes Alexis more sober than when she’s drinking.

Nina says she landed Adrian DeWitt. Does Valentin know what a huge get that is? He says he can see, and she says, but Alexis never wanted a gossip column in the first place. It’s too low brow, which makes no sense. How can a society page, detailing the lives of the city’s economic and cultural elite be low brow? He says, that is a paradox, and she says, it is a proven fact that gossip columns increase circulation. And in a journal that prioritized negative things every, single day, the average reader finds joy and release knowing the rich and famous are suffering too. He says, never underestimate the schadenfreude of the American people, and she says, that is precisely what Alexis is doing. She sabotaged the column by postponing it until Friday. He says, and after two days, even salacious news is old, and she says, he gets it. And this – she picks up her tablet – she published an extremely biased article slamming Sonny after the shooting. He asks if there were two articles, and she says, just one. Why? He says, because he’s of the opinion Alexis and The Invader went too easy on Sonny.

Natalia says, now she sees where Kristina gets her directness, and Sonny says, and she hasn’t even met Kristina’s mother yet. She laughs, and he says he and Kristina get along great, but it wasn’t always like that. When she was a teenager, she was going through some real heavy stuff that he doesn’t want to get too specific on, but it was bad. He and her mother were way overprotective. Natalia says, so instead of being protective, they ended up trying to control her, and he says, she can guess what happened. Kristina rebelled. She lashed out, and the more they tried to rein her in, the more she spiraled out of control. Natalia says, that must have been terrifying, and he says, so it was clear to him that he had to stop trying to make decisions for her and just help her stand up so she could make the decisions for herself.  

John asks, what inspired this change of heart? and Anna says, it’s nothing she can prove of course (🍷). He says, so what else is new? and she tells him, let’s just say her eyes have been forced open about Sonny and who he really is. She guesses who he’s always been. And the level of violence he’s capable of. He says, that’s great. What took her so long? Seriously, why the blind spot for Sonny? She says, he knows. He said it the other night. Sonny was there for her daughter when Stone was dying, and she was nowhere to be found.

Cody tells James that his mission is to sweep up the entire stable, and James gets to work. Tracy says, he’s taken a real shine to Cody. And Leo too. Cody says, kids love him, and Tracy asks, why? Do they think of him as a peer? He says, God help them if they think of him as a role model, and she asks how this happened. He says, James was here for his riding lessons, and she says, he gives riding lessons? He says, yes, and she says, on their horses? He says he cleared it with Monica, and she says, Monica owns the stables. The horses… He says, don’t worry. No one is riding her thoroughbred. He is sleeping better, by the way, right? She says, yes, much. Thanks. He says, about James. So James was here for his lesson, and he was going to the hospital to check up on Dante. James overheard him and he must have sounded… She says, concerned? And he says, yeah. Since then, James has been here pretty much every day, helping him out, talking. No one told him to do it. He just kind of decided. James calls for help, and they run to him.

Brook tells Chase, here’s what they’re going to do. First, they’re going to keep praying for Dante. He says, that’s all he’s been doing, and she says, her too, and they’re going to keep doing it. As for whether or not he should be a cop again, that’s easy. He says, it is? and she says, yeah. He should quit the force and revive his singing career. He says, what? and she says, think about it. Instant love from the stage. Men wishing they were him; women longing to be with him… even though they can’t be. They’ll pick up right where they left off. They’ll build his triumphant return to the stage. She’ll even let him pick out what he’s going to wear, pending approval of course (🍷). What does he say? He says he knows what she’s doing, but she says she doesn’t know what he’s talking about. He says, yes, she does, and she says, okay, she does. Is it working? He says he doesn’t want to be a singer. He wants to be what he is. What he’s supposed to be, a cop. She says, he’s a damn good one.

Anna says she’s going to bring up something that might be painful for John, and John says he’s not feeling much pain at the moment. She says, it’s Stone, and he says his brother is always with him. Speak freely. She says, when he was dying and Robin had been diagnosed with HIV, she was nowhere to be found. Her teenage daughter is losing the first great love of her life and may be facing a death sentence of her own, which was what it could be back then, and she was out in the wind. But Sonny was there. Sonny was there for her every day by her side, and Robin loved him for it. She still does. John says he hates to admit it, and he’ll never understand it, not fully, but in Stone’s eyes, Sonny was more of a brother to him than he was. It’s one of the many reasons he hates Sonny. Sorry. He’s making this about him. She was saying? She says she allowed herself, her own perception of Sonny, to be colored by Robin’s and by gratitude and all that guilt. So for years she convinced herself that Sonny was a better man than he really is. She never looked the other way though; she never could. He says he knows that, and she says, but she’s relied on him. She’s relied on Sonny sometimes and given him the benefit of the doubt. But no more. John drains his glass and asks if she’s keeping track. She says, they’re tied, and he says, the difference is, he’s already home, but she says, so is she. She’s two floors up. (Hmm… You thinking what I’m thinking?)

Natalia says, every cell of her wants to guide and protect her daughter from getting hurt, but now she feels like Natalia is the one hurting her. And she’s not wrong. Sonny says he thinks there’s nothing more important than letting their kids know they love them and support the choices they make. It’s up to them to make that clear, especially while their kids can still hear them. Kristina comes back and says, sorry that took so long. Natalia says, no worries. She and Kristina’s dad were just getting to know each other. Kristina says she’s glad they could keep each other company. She has a minute now, so is there anything else Natalia wanted to talk about?

Molly says, the last time Alexis fell off the wagon was when she was disbarred. She wasn’t sure they were going to get her back. Alexis says, and Molly thinks if it doesn’t work out, she’s going to start drinking again, and Molly says, the chances of getting this disbarment overturned is the longest of long shots. Alexis says she knows that, and Molly says, then why put herself through it?

John says he thinks it’s great, and Anna says, which bit? as she pours another drink. He says, her seeing Sonny for the slimebag he is. In fact, he hopes she nails him. She says she’s sure he wants that honor for himself, doesn’t he? and he says he gives her his solemn promise that if he finds any evidence on Sonny, he’ll pass it along to her. Because his job, as little as he likes it, is to protect the son of a bitch. She says she thinks everyone is entitled to be protected under the law, and he says, some people are more worthy than others, but Sonny is clearly a target. And for whatever reason, his life seems to be important enough that somebody has tried to end it several times, and he needs to find out why. Even if he gets to benefit by breathing a little longer. She says, he’s a better cop than she is, but he says, not today, Commissioner Devane. Not today.

Nina tells Valentin that Sonny knows she’s the publisher of The Invader. He might think she has something to do with this article. He says, if Sonny doesn’t blink at federal indictments, what makes her think he’s going to care about a bad review? She says, that’s not the point. The point is, he may jump to the conclusion that she’s trying to use the newspaper to lash out at him. Valentin says, she wants to reconcile with him, right? He knows that. She says, yes, but… and he says, if this article is going to keep that from happening, maybe her marriage isn’t worth fighting for in the first place. She says, he’s never been fond of Sonny, and he says, if Sonny wants her back or not, that article’s not going to make a bit of difference. She says, that article makes all the difference, and he asks, how? She says she can’t control what’s going on with this divorce. She thought she could at least control the newspaper. It turns out she can’t control that either. He says, here’s what he wants to know. She’s a magnificent, brilliant, resilient woman. Why on earth does she continue to torture herself with Sonny?

Alexis says, Molly is right. There is next to no chance that this will come to anything other than a bitter disappointment, and she needs to prepare for that. Molly asks, why? Why brace for impact from an ongoing train when she can just step off the tracks? Alexis says, because when Diane came to her with this strategy, she felt a rush, like she’d been zapped with a defibrillator. Her heart was beating again after it had flatlined for a really long time. And she realized the core part of her, she’d left for dead. She hoped she could get this essential part of her back. Molly says, what if that hope flatlines again? and Alexis says, then she lets it go. Molly says, will it be that easy? and Alexis says, probably not. But if there’s a chance she can go back and do what she loved the most, the thing that makes her her, and that gives her the challenges she needs, and she could be a role model again. Molly says, she’s a great role model, and Alexis says she was. And maybe she can be that again. If there’s just the smallest, tiniest, most infinitesimal chance that she could be that again, she has to try.

Brook pins Chase’s badge onto his coat and says, he’s the best kind of cop, one that tries to find the truth, rather than just pinning whatever on whoever. He actually tries to see justice done. He thanks her, and she says she was thinking about following rules and procedures, and she knows he felt bad about that. He says he still does, but she says, he shouldn’t. He’s an officer of the law, and there’s a reason why procedures exist. It’s to protect us. It’s to protect people. Chase says, that’s the idea, yeah, and she says, some people who are meant to uphold the law fly in the face of procedure to mess with and manipulate people. To try and squeeze them for information. He asks if she’s talking about anyone specific, and she says, Special Agent Cates. He barged past Yuri to interrogate Danny, who was by himself, no adult present. Chase says, that is not okay, and Brook says, damn right it’s not. He says, that just doesn’t seem like Agent Cates.

James stands next to an overturned feed bucket and says, it was heavier than he thought. Now he wrecked the horses’ dinner. Cody says, no he didn’t. Horses don’t mind eating oats that have been spilled on the floor. They eat dirt and grass. Get it back in the bucket, okay? Tracy asks why James was trying to carry a heavy bucket by himself, and James says he was trying to help. Cody tells him to hold the dustpan. He’ll sweep it in. Tracy says she’ll leave them to it, and James asks why she isn’t helping. Tracy says she’s the boss. It’s her job to get other people to clean up. James says, a good boss should be prepared to do everything their employees do (correct), and she asks if his friend Cody taught him that, but James says, no. His Grandpa Mac did. Tracy says, well, they can’t disagree with man of the people Mac Scorpio, and James asks if she’s going to help or is she a bad boss? He hands her the dustpan, and Cody laughs.

Brook asks, since when is Chase so buddy-buddy with Agent Cates? but Chase says he’s not. It’s just Cates seems very by the book. She says, what book might that be? Interrogation for Dummies? Chase says, clearly, he was wrong about the guy. He’s the devil incarnate and generally a bad dude (ha-ha-ha!). Brook tells him not to patronize her, and he says he would never. She says, Cates is a snake and a jerk, and she should make good on all of her threats. He says, she threatened an FBI agent? and she says, damn right she did. He says, like with bodily harm? and she says, no. She just old him that he should be ashamed of interrogating a child without a parent present. He says, okay, and she says, and that she would sue him into oblivion and take his badge. He says, oh. Because threatening a federal agent is kind of a federal crime.

Natalia says she came to mend fences with Kristina and enlist her help about Allison, but she realizes that’s not something she can ask of Kristina. That’s something they have to work out on their own. But she’s really appreciative of Kristina taking the time to talk to her. She gets up and says, Mr. Corinthos, such a pleasure. She shakes Sonny’s hand and leaves. Kristina says, so that just happened, and Sonny asks how she’s doing. She says she doesn’t know. She’s not really sure. Her first impulse was to text Allie and tell her what just happened, but then is that really fair to them? Shouldn’t it be between them whether or not they work things out? But then, how can she pretend it’s not about her and she’s not involved? He says, she can’t.

Cody asks if they got all of it, and James says, let him check… Mission accomplished. He and Cody high-five, and James turns to Tracy with his hand raised. He says, it’s called a high-five. Does she want him to show her how to do it? She laughs and says, no. She knows how to do a high-five. She just hasn’t done one in a while. They high-five, and James says, turns out she is a good boss. She thanks him and asks if his Grandpa Mac has any other good pearls of wisdom. James says, to have a friend, you’ve got to be a friend, and she says, that’s a good one. So she’s the boss and he’s the guest. How about if she invites him up to the house for some hot chocolate? He says, Cody too? and she says, yes, of course (🍷). Come on. She takes the brush from him, and they all head out, Cody lingering for a moment.

Brook asks, is threatening a federal agent a federal crime? and Chase says, well… She says, so what? There was no way she was going to let that jerk intimidate Danny. He says, nor should she. He’s 100% on her side. She asks if he’s sure about that, and he says he is, but in the future, instead of threatening to sue, take his badge, or anything else she might have said – she says, there were no witnesses – perhaps she could kindly remind the overeager law enforcement officer that he can’t question a minor without a parent present. She says, and an attorney, and he says, if that’s necessary. She says, an army of attorneys, and he says, would protect the rights of the minor without ganging up on a federal agent. Right? She says, fine. She’ll show mercy. He says, that’s all he asks. He kind of wishes he saw her laying down the law a little bit. She says, her too. He could have been her witness. He says he loves it when she’s all hot and fired up, and kisses her.

Molly says, if that’s how Alexis feels about it, then okay, and Alexis says, okay as in, I’ve said everything I can possibly say and now I’m washing my hands of it okay? Molly says, hopefully, support her. She’ll have Alexis’s back every step of the way. She’ll be there for her. Alexis says, and what if it goes belly up? and Molly says, what if against all odds it actually happens? Stranger things have. Alexis agrees, and Molly says, but please, monitor herself. Take inventory. Go to meetings. Alexis says she’s been doing that all along and has no intention of stopping, and Molly says, now. She’s talking about during the waiting for the decision. She’s going to get frustrated and might want to skip a meeting now and again. She might even say, screw this altogether, but please promise her that she won’t. That she’ll stay the course. Alexis says she promises, and Molly says, and one more thing. If this doesn’t go her way, if the worst thing happens and she doesn’t get her license back, please promise her that she won’t drink. Alexis says, that’s a promise she can’t make. But she promises to do everything in her power, including calling upon a higher power, to prevent that from happening. Molly says she understands no recovery is guaranteed. She knows there are backslides, and no promise she gets Alexis to make is going to keep her from drinking. Alexis says, yeah, and Molly says she’s so selfish. Alexis says, she’s not selfish. In fact, be selfish, because they’re all really sick and tired of her altruism. Molly says, with Kristina pregnant with their baby, she just really needs her mom right now.

Valentin says, never mind the fact that in order for Nina to fall in love with him, Sonny had to literally forget who he was. Sonny makes her bend over backwards to prove her worth to him and she bends, and he hates it. It breaks his heart to see her do that, especially when Sonny is such a hypocrite. Anyone who wrongs him, he just writes them off. He’s not that complicated. He’s just erratic. Sonny isn’t worthy of her. Nina asks if he’s finished, and he says he wishes. When he heard she and Sonny had broken up and Sonny was looking for a divorce, he could finally breathe. He was that relieved. She asks, why? So she could come back to him? He says, that is lovely, but no. Because he’s not worthy of her either. He was relieved because she could finally forget about having to be Sonny’s wife, and maybe she could finally remember who she really is. She asks who he thinks that is, and he says, she’s Nina Reeves, and Nina Reeves is a marvel, a survivor, a rule breaker. Everything in her life, she’s spun into gold. And it’s his greatest hope for her that she remembers that.

Kristina tells Sonny that if she texts Allie and says her mom was here, that automatically implies that it’s her and Allie against her mom, and she doesn’t necessarily want that. Sonny says he thinks that’s wise, and Kristina says, if she doesn’t tell her, she doesn’t really want to be keeping a secret from her. He says, also wise, and she says she thinks what she should do is wait until she sees her. And if Allie brings it up, then great. If she doesn’t, then she’ll tell Allie what happened tonight. He says he’s curious. What’s her take on Natalia? She says she definitely didn’t win Natalia over initially, but she gives her credit for reaching out. Sonny says, so does he, and Kristina says she gives him a lot more credit. He asks what she means, and she says she told Allie how hard it was to come out to him and when she did, he was like – she imitates his voice – what? You think I don’t know gay people? I know gay people. She would have given anything to see the expression on her own face when he did that. It was like it was no big deal. He says, even looking back, the fact that she didn’t know he would accept that, kind of hurts even now. She asks, why? He’s always been the only one she could really turn to. He says he’ll always be, and she says she knows, and they hug.

John says, today he questioned Daniel Morgan without a parent or guardian present, and Anna says, that’s not good. He says, luckily somebody stopped him. This woman just swooped in like she was on fire, and lit into him, telling him how ashamed he should be, and all of a sudden, he was. She says, oh my God. He met Tracy Quartermaine. He asks if Tracy has a Brooklyn accent, and Anna says, no. He met Brook Lynn. He laughs and says, Brooklyn? Her name is actually Brooklyn? Anyway, he’s got to thank her because she forced him to realize he’d crossed the line. She says, at least he realized his mistake. Some people cross the line and they just double down and floor it. He says he was disappointed that he went there in the first place. Today was not his finest day as a cop. She says, it wasn’t hers either, and raises her glass. She says, here’s to being better tomorrow, and they clink glasses.

Tomorrow, Willow tells Michale that she can’t see a way out of this situation; Sasha stops the photo shoot; Heather asks Laura if she was always this wild; and Drew tells Nina that she’s going to get caught. Or as he says it cot.

💣 Double the Faison…

He’s come back from the dead a few times. I fully expect him to show up again even though Doc put his brain in a jar.

When he first showed up to obsess over Anna.

🍸 Outside the Rules…

But is he really A-list?

https://www.etonline.com/scheana-shay-seemingly-suggests-she-once-had-an-orgy-with-john-mayer-my-body-was-a-wonderland

This should be a surprise to no one.

🍝 They’re the Top…

It was good, but it’s not the same without Padma. <sniff…>

🗽 Jill’s Next Chapter…

Producing her own reality.

🏆 They Have the Image…

You go, Colman Domingo! And I get it, but I still kinda wish They Cloned Tyrone had received the big win.

https://www.etonline.com/2024-naacp-image-awards-the-complete-winners-list-221669

It’s not an awards show without fashion.

https://www.essence.com/gallery/best-red-carpet-looks-naacp-image-awards-2024

🐊 Only In New York…

As much as I love animals, I don’t think I’d be getting in line to pet this one.

https://people.com/large-alligator-seized-after-being-kept-illegally-in-ny-home-8610256

🐇 In Their Easter Bonnet…

It’s never too early to get out the bunny ears. Adjust accordingly for your specific spring holiday.

https://wagwalking.com/daily/how-to-celebrate-easter-with-your-pets

🩰 Watch Me Fly…

Make a return trip tomorrow for soap and more entertainment nonsense… Or is it? Until then, stay safe, stay offering your seat to those who are older or more in need, and stay not allowing your perception to be colored by someone else’s.