Tag Archives: soaps on New Year’s Day

December 30, 2024 – Valentin Accuses Lulu Of Setting Him Up, Demanding Clueless Rude Guests On Deck, Opinion, On Or Not, All Winners & What Are You Doing

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What I Watched Today

(The whole GH enchilada on Fridays; the other days, who knows?)

General Hospital

At the gallery, Trina tells Kai that this is her favorite place, and he says he knows why she brought him here. To get away from his fans, boosters, and anyone who wants his time. This is the last place anyone would think to look for him. She says, he couldn’t be more wrong.

Lucas tells Kristina that Charlie’s looks great. He loves the changes she’s made. She says she’s worked hard so they can open soon, but needs to find a bartender. He says he can barely manage a gin and tonic, and it only has two ingredients, three if you add a lime. She says, he has other talents. She asked him to come by because she found something. She hands him a photo of Wiley and asks how old he was then. Lucas says, 18 months. Where did she find it? She says, a drawer in the office. It was probably Julian’s.

At the hospital, Elizabeth tells Lucky that she appreciates the offer, but she’ll be okay if he doesn’t stay. It’s purely a routine medical record review. He asks her to call him when she’s finished. Since it’s an internal review and not a legal one, she doesn’t have to answer any questions. She says that she, Portia, and Terry are all on the same side. They want to know what happened to Dex. Lucky says, they’re not the only ones, and she says she’ll call when she’s done. He goes into the elevator, and she goes into an office. She sees Dede Clark is there, and Dede thanks her for coming. Have a seat.  

Sonny goes to Alexis’s office, and she says she knows she was vague on the phone. He says, that’s an understatement, and she asks how things are going with him and Ava. He says, Ava won’t let up with the custody case and it’s going to turn into an all-out war. Why? She says, from what she’s learned, it may not come to that.

On the phone in her office, Laura leaves a message for Dante to call her when he’s found Lulu. She wants to know Lulu is okay. Ava comes in and says, if it’s a bad time… Laura says, it’s okay. She’s having anxiety waiting to hear about Lulu. Ava says she hopes Lulu is all right, and Laura says, for what it’s worth (🍷), Lulu hasn’t changed a bit.

Valentin comes into the café and asks if Charlotte is enjoying her visit with her mother. Charlotte says, yes, and thanks him for letting her see Lulu. He says, hello, Lulu, and Charlotte says she had to tell him. Lulu says, of course (🍷). It’s fine. Valentin asks if Charlotte minds if he has a minute in private with Lulu. He’s not cutting their visit short, but would she mind waiting at another table? Charlotte says, of course (🍷), and moves. Valentin says, Lulu looks good and congratulates her on her remarkable recovery. She thanks him and says she feels great. Now that she’s back on her feet, Charlotte can come home to Port Charles with her. He says he’s very happy to see her awake and reunited with her daughter, but that’s not going to happen. She says, Charlotte needs her, but he says, Charlotte hasn’t had her in four years. It’s been him and will continue to be. She asks what kind of life it will be on the run. Let Charlotte go home with her.

Ava says she’s happy to hear that Lulu woke up, and Laura says, it’s wonderful for the whole family. They got their girl back. There are challenges and Lulu has had to adjust to a lot. The message she was leaving is about Lulu taking an impromptu trip to look for her daughter. She wishes Lulu had told her, but they both know a mother will do anything to be with her child. Ava says, that’s why she’s here. Her custody battle is going to be very expensive. Laura says she’s not sure she’s following, and Ava says, she’s more than a little embarrassed, but didn’t know who to turn to. She was hoping Laura could help her. She has a problem with her divorce settlement from Nikolas.

Alexis tells Sonny that Martin informed her that the money Nikolas gave Ava wasn’t his, and the estate is reclaiming every penny they can get their hands on, including the money Ava received from her divorce settlement, as well as the proceeds of the sale of Windymere. Sonny says, Ava is broke? and Alexis says she doesn’t know Ava’s financial situation, so she can’t say for sure, but what she can say for sure is that she’s not getting Nikolas’s money. That will seriously hamper Ava’s ability to fund a lengthy custody battle. He says, that’s great news, and thanks her. She says she figured he would be happy, but she has an ulterior motive. She’s hoping he’ll do her a favor in return. He says, always, and she says she wants him to take Charlie’s from Kristina.

Lucas thanks Kristina and says, Brad took the picture. It was a picture-perfect day in the park and they had a picnic. Wiley was playing and they were all so happy. It seems like a million years ago. She says she’s been thinking about Wiley. He’s probably so confused, wondering why his parents are fighting and why his dad’s not living there. Lucas says he got into it with Willow last night. He probably should have kept his big mouth shut. He has no place telling anyone how to raise a child. She says she disagrees. He was Wiley’s father for his first years. He loves Wiley and is trying to protect him. He says, of course (🍷), but Willow has had a tough go of it. She says, some would argue that Michael had it tougher, and he says, no question Willow made some lousy choices, but the person he’s disgusted with is Drew. He refuses to take responsibility for anything, and he was trying to use Sam’s death as an excuse for the affair. She says, that’s unbelievably disrespectful to Sam’s memory. If she heard him say that she’d punch him in his pretty little face. Lucas says he had the same impulse and has Ava to thank for convincing him to take the high road.

Elizabeth says she was under the impression it would just be the three of them, but Dede says, the hospital thought it was prudent for her to be here in light of the new information. Elizabeth asks, what new information? and Dede says, they’ll get to that, but first she has a few questions. Elizabeth says she doesn’t think so. She feels like she’s been blindsided. Either tell her everything now or she’s walking out. Dede says, there’s no reason to be combative, but Terry says, Elizabeth has the right to know. They recently received Dex’s autopsy, and he died from a lethal dose of digitalis like Sam McCall.

Trina says she wanted to bring Kai to her favorite place, and he says he’s honored. She asks what he thinks about a painting, and he says, it’s nice. She says, nice? That’s it? What is he thinking? He won’t hurt her feelings. He says, honestly, it looks like a bunch of scribbles, and she says she gets that. She thought the same thing at first, then something made her keep coming back. Maybe it was the play of colors in the lefthand corner. She noticed the way the artist guides the eye and every time she sees it, she sees something else. She feels like every time she sees it, it teaches her something new. She thinks that’s why she’s drawn to it. It always surprises her. That’s the beautiful thing about art. If you let it open your mind, it will take you outside of yourself. She thinks that’s what everyone needs. Doesn’t he? He says he doesn’t know. He was looking at her instead of the painting. (For the record, I like this painting and stan Trina’s new hairstyle.)

Lucas says, Ava is the last person Kristina wants to hear about, but she says, it’s okay. Ava is Lucas’s aunt and she can’t expect people to stop talking about her. She wants to move forward. The jury heard all the evidence against Ava during the trial and decided she’s innocent. She got her answer. There’s no one to blame for her baby’s death. He says he knows how hard it was to make peace with the verdict. Kristina is a strong person. She says she’s a work in progress. She’s trying to move forward. That’s why Charlie’s means so much to her and she’s investing her time and energy into it. Here, she can drop her guard and be herself instead of being defined by the terrible things that happened to her. He says, a fresh start, and she says she needs one.

Sonny says, Alexis wants him to take Charlie’s away from Kristina? and she says she doesn’t want Kristina involved in any of his businesses. He says, it’s completely legit, but she says, that doesn’t mean it’s not risky. What if Kristina’s name turns up on a document or email of his? Her life could be ruined. He says he knows how to protect Kristina, and she says, he may think he does, but if he gives Charlie’s to her, that’s exactly what someone would do if they were laundering money. He says, she’s not wrong, and she says, if he lets Kristina keep it, sooner or later, she’ll be on the FBI’s radar.

Isaiah walks into the boxing gym and says he and Lucky had the same idea. Lucky says he’s working out his frustrations. There’s a lot going on. Did Isaiah see Elizabeth at the hospital? Isaiah says, no. Why? Lucky says, she’s having a medical record review, and he hasn’t heard from her. Isaiah asks if he’s worried, and Lucky says, she insisted it’s nothing and the review is purely routine. Isaiah says, no review is ever routine.

Dede says, the hospital is responsible for its patients and obligated to look into how this grave error occurred, and Elizabeth says, and they’re starting with her. Dede says, she’s the head nurse and was on duty when Dex died. He was administered the wrong medication and it cost him his life. Obviously, her actions that night are very important. Elizabeth says she doesn’t think she should say anything else without a lawyer present, but Terry tells her not to get the wrong idea. No one is accusing her of anything. Portia says, it’s just an informational review, and Dede says, Elizabeth has no reason not to cooperate… unless she has something to hide.

Lulu says, Charlotte misses her family and needs them, but Valentin says, just because she misses Port Charles doesn’t mean she should live there. Ask her. Lulu says, she’s a teenager. The parents are responsible to make the decisions. He says, it sounds like she knows Charlotte would choose to stay, and she says, he made himself the center of Charlotte’s world. She loves him so much. He asks if that’s a bad thing, and she says, yes, when it affects her world. It’s not fair to expect her to hide away from the world. That’s not the kind of life she wants. He says, don’t presume to tell him what kind of life he wants for their daughter. Lulu has had no relationship with her. He’s not saying it’s her fault, but for the moment, she’s an intriguing person to have lunch with once in a while. She’s a mother in name only. He’s the only parent Charlotte has known most of her life and he’s not abandoning her.

Isaiah says, the hospital wants to make sure the staff did all that they could to take care of their patient, and Lucky says, there’s no question about Elizabeth wanting that. Isaiah says, from what he’s seen, he agrees, and Lucky says, Dex didn’t die from his surgery. He was a healthy guy, just like Sam. Isaiah says, he’s right. It doesn’t make sense medically speaking. Lucky says, they’re not looking for a person who made a mistake. They’re looking for a person deliberately harming patients, and so far, Elizabeth is the only common thread.

Dede says, just answer, yes or no. Was Elizabeth on duty the night Dex died of cardiac arrest? Ric walks in and says his client has nothing more to say, and Dede asks who he is. He introduces himself and says he’s Elizabeth’s counsel. Dede says, Elizabeth doesn’t need a lawyer, but he says, everybody needs a lawyer, especially when they’re being questioned by one. (Absolutely. Does she think they’re stupid?) Dede suggests Elizabeth ask him to leave, and says, it’s only going to slow down the process. Ric tells Elizabeth not to answer any more questions, and Portia says, they want to clear Elizabeth and hear her side. He asks why there are no other nurses there, and Portia says, Elizabeth is head nurse and the one on duty when Sam and Dex died of cardiac arrest. Don’t make it harder. Just answer their questions. Elizabeth says she’s sorry. Her lawyer said not to talk to them, so she guesses this interview is over.

Sonny asks if Alexis thinks he won’t make sure Kristina isn’t connected to any of his other businesses, and she says she knows he has her best interests at heart, but even the appearance of impropriety will have a negative effect. He says, the last thing Kristina needs is another disappointment, and she says, Kristina needs to be safe from prosecution. He says, Kristina needs something where she can win. She needs to throw herself into something and be proud of it. He’s not taking Charlie’s away. She says, they’ll explain, and Kristina will understand, but he says, Kristina will feel like he’s lost faith in her. She was so flattered that he was giving her Charlie’s and trusted her. He’s not taking back that trust.

Kristina asks how Ava helped Lucas, and Lucas says, Ava gave him perspective in the situation. He’s not saying they’re close, but since Sam’s funeral, they’ve crossed paths a few times. Kristina says, Ava wouldn’t have been at the funeral, and he says he wasn’t there either. He ran into Danny before the service and Danny blamed him for Sam’s death. At the time, he couldn’t say Danny was wrong, so he thought the least he could do was stay away. She says she’s sorry he didn’t get the chance to say goodbye to Sam, but he says he did in his own way. He went to his father’s grave. Ava was there and they had a lot to talk about. She says, Ava is part of his family, and he says, like it or not. She says, he still hasn’t told her how Ava helped him, and he says he got into it with Willow and Drew, and Ava saw how upset he was. She got him out of there before he did something he’d regret. They took a walk and talked. She asks what they talked about, and he says, how hard it is to lose a child.

Ava tells Laura that her financial settlement is no longer hers. Somehow, now it’s the property of the Cassadine heir. Laura says her grandson Ace. She was advised he was named the new heir and the estate is being held in trust. Ava asks, who advised her? and Laura says, her brother Martin. A firm in Greece called him to be the American representative. She’s not happy about Ace inheriting the Cassadine fortune, but Martin said she can’t do a thing about it until he’s older. Ava says she wants what was promised to her. She knows Laura is a fair woman and she was hoping Laura could help her get it back. Laura says she’s sorry, but that’s not going to happen.

Lulu says she and Charlotte aren’t as close as she would wish and she knows Valentin loves her, but he wouldn’t be abandoning her. He’d be sending her to live a better life. The best parents do what’s right even when it’s hard. He says, she doesn’t know Charlotte would have a better life, but she says, Charlotte wouldn’t be a fugitive. Whoever is chasing him is going to find him, and she wants to make sure Charlotte isn’t in the line of fire. He asks if she thinks Port Charles is safe. Apparently, no one told her that Charlotte was shot last year.

Isaiah says he hasn’t known Elizabeth long, but she obviously would never harm a patient. Lucky says, someone else might, and Isaiah says, it’s rare and horrible, but it does happen that a medical professional will deliberately cause harm. Lucky says, that’s the only explanation, and Isaiah suggests he trust the process. They’re trying to get information to find the person responsible. He’s sure Elizabeth loves having Lucky’s support, but he’s seen how strong she is. She’ll be fine without him, so if he’s feeling the need to leave Port Charles, go ahead.

Lulu asks what Valentin means. Shot by who? He says, Anna Devane, and she says she doesn’t believe him. He says, ask Charlotte… Don’t. She was traumatized. She says, it makes no sense. Why would Anna shoot an innocent child? Valentin says, it was an accident. He and Anna were involved at the time, and his father convinced Charlotte that Anna was a threat to him. She says, his father manipulated Charlotte, and he says, Charlotte wanted Anna to think she was being stalked and snuck into her apartment. Anna drew before she realized it was their daughter. Lulu asks how bad she was hurt, and he says, it was touch and go, but she’s made a full recovery. Other than the nightmares. Lulu wonders why no one told her, and he says, she’d have to ask them. His point is, she can’t guarantee that Charlotte is safer in Port Charles. It’s better that she stay with him. He’ll protect her.

Kai says, the painting is just hanging there, and Trina is in front of him telling him interesting things. Of course (🍷) he’s paying more attention to her. She says, that’s sweet… and superficial, and he asks if she’s calling him a dumb jock. She says she admits there’s more strategy to football than she thought and there’s more to him than football. She read his presentation, and it was creative and insightful. Maybe he should give the painting another chance. Let it speak to him. He says, the things he does for a friend. He looks at the painting and says he gets what she’s talking about. The painting reminds him of her. Every time he looks at her, he sees something new too, and that’s not superficial. His phone rings, and he says, okay… He’s on his way. She says, he has to go, and he says, unfortunately. She says, he’s an important guy. She gets it. He thanks her for bringing him. She was right. It’s exactly what he needed. He leaves.

Laura says she’s sorry. Ava went through a lot with Nikolas and stood by him. Ava says, they loved each other, and Laura says she saw that firsthand. She was hoping Ava could help him conquer his demons. Ava says she tried, and Laura says, he made it impossible. She knows Nikolas was responsible for the things that were wrong between them and believes Ava is entitled to her divorce settlement, but it’s out of her hands. She’s sorry, but there’s nothing she can do about it.

Lucas says he’s not trying to defend Ava, but she’s conscious of Kristina’s loss and how much pain she’s in. Kristina says, it was a horrible ordeal and thinks they both want to move forward. If she had to guess, Ava is throwing herself into work at the gallery. Lucas says, Ava is having some problem with the divorce settlement and gave him the impression that money is tight. She was talking about moving to a smaller place, but maybe she just wants a change of scenery. He has to get back, but thanks her for the photo. Good luck. He’s sure Charlie’s will be popped in no time. She says, from his lips to God’s ears, and he leaves.

Sonny tells Alexis that he knows what Kristina is going through, and believes she needs Charlie’s. He’ll watch over her and make sure she’s okay. He’ll protect Kristina and Alexis has to trust him with that. Alexis says, trust is the most important thing to him when it comes to their daughter. He’s heard her concerns. He says he’ll keep them in mind, and she says, it’s the best she can hope for. It’s not like she’s asking him to get out of the mob, right?

Laura says, if it was up to her, Ace wouldn’t inherit a dime of the Cassadine fortune. It’s never brought anyone anything but misery. They both know what it did to Nikolas and in Spencer’s too short life, he spent too much time doing the same thing. It’s blood money. She asked if she could give it to charity, but Martin said no. Ava says, let her try. She’s a very convincing woman. Who does she need to talk to? She’ll fly to Greece. Laura says, that’s not a good idea, but Ava says, please… for her daughter’s sake. She’ll lose her without that money.

Lucky says he’s not going anywhere until he knows Elizabeth is cleared. Just because she doesn’t need him today, she might in the future, and he’ll be here. Isaiah says, good to know, and Lucky asks if Isaiah is practicing reverse psychology. Isaiah says, Lucky’s not the kind of guy to turn his back when he knows there’s a problem, but he doesn’t need a base jump off a cliff or an epic rescue mission to help. The best thing to do for Elizabeth is make it clear that he’s sticking around. When she calls him, pick up and show that he’s there for her.

Ric says he thinks they’re done and should go, and Elizabeth says, she’s going to listen to her lawyer. Dede asks if Elizabeth doesn’t want things settled, and Ric says, they’re saddened by the loss of two patients, but nice try at intimidation tactics. Dede says, three patients, and Terry says, there was a third, Sylvie Mullan. She died of a heart attack in August. She was Elizabeth’s patient, wasn’t she?

Lulu says, Charlotte needs to get to school, have friends, and fall in love. How can Valentin disagree? Valentin says, it’s not that he doesn’t want her to be happy, and Lulu says she believes that. She knows Valentin loves Charlotte and how much Charlotte loves him. Charlotte will do whatever he asks. Charlotte has faith that he’ll keep her safe, but can he really? What’s going to happen when whoever is chasing him finds him? It might not end well for him and if anything happens to him, Charlotte is going to blame herself. Please don’t let their daughter live with that burden. Dante walks in and goes over to Charlotte. She asks what he’s doing here, and he says he’s here to take her home if that’s what she wants. Now’s the time. Valentin says, Lulu set him up.

Ava knocks at Alexis’s office door and says she needs to speak with her. Alexis says, from what she’s heard, Ava can’t afford her, and closes the door in Ava’s face.  

Portia says, after reviewing Sylvie’s medical records, they decided to contact the family about exhuming the body for an autopsy. Elizabeth says, she was a very sick woman, and she’d like to know… Ric tells her, don’t say another word, and Dede says, the hospital will do their best to protect Elizabeth and clear her of any wrongdoing. Portia says, unfortunately, if Elizabeth doesn’t answer their questions, they’ll officially have to suspend her.

Lucky walks into Charlie’s with the help wanted sign and asks if Kristina has found a bartender. She asks if he’s applying and he says he doesn’t have a resume with him, but he can provide references, her father for one. Kristina says, fix her a mojito and they’ll talk.

Laura leaves another message for Dante, saying, she hasn’t heard from him. She needs to know what’s going on with her daughter.

Valentin tells Charlotte, let’s go, but Dante says, wait. Valentin asks if he’s with the cops, but Dante says, it’s just him. Lulu says she didn’t know he’d be here and suggests they find a safe place to talk. Valentin says, Dante was either with the cops or led someone to them. We see that someone is watching them through the crosshairs of a scope.

Alone in the gym, Sonny does some boxing moves in the ring and suddenly clutches his chest. He drops to his knees, then lies down.

Tomorrow, Michael says he’ll agree to Sasha’s plan, but needs her to agree to something in return; Drew asks if Willow is coming to DC; a shot is fired in Prague, shattering the café window; and Anna says, Emma is off-limits.

Below Deck Sailing Yacht

Igy Marina, Ibiza. Gary suggests he and Daisy celebrate and go for a drink off the boat. In Danni’s interview, she says, the last time she kissed someone (Gary), she was told that it could never happen again. This time (Chase), she hopes it happens all the time. She loved every second. In Chase’s interview, he says, wow. He’s been here three days and last year he had to sleep in the crew mess because sex was always happening in his cabin. We flash back to that, and he says, now here he is. Diana asks how Danni’s night was, and Danni says, fun. In his interview, Chase says he thinks Diana is stunning, but reserved. Danni saw an opportunity and took it. He’s not sorry. Captain Glenn asks if Davide had fun, and Davide says he did. The captain says, no bleeding? and Davide assures him, no bleeding. Gary tries to grill Chase, while Danni tells Diana that Chase is so damn hot. Gary says he thought Chase was into Diana, and Chase says he’s just doing his job. Diana asks which one Danni wants her to get, and in her interview, Danni says, she wasn’t going to sit back and watch Diana stare at Chase for the whole season. Danni says, Diana can have Gary, but Diana says, no thanks. In Diana’s interview, she says, Danni is moving fast with the guys. Chase just came on board, and it was expected.

At the preference sheet meeting, Glenn says, co-primaries Jillian and Sharie want to enjoy fun in the sun and great cuisine with their friends. Gary reads that they want all the water toys and amazing sailing. Cloyce says, they want a seven-course meal, along with drinks they’ve learned to make. Daisy asks him to tell her the menu and she’ll pick the cocktails. Cloyce works on his menu, and in his interview, he says, they’ve specifically requested seven perfect courses. They want a feast, and the goal is to showcase a broad range of culinary skills. Danni giggles over seeing Chase with no shirt, and Gary suggests he and Daisy go for their drink. In Gary’s interview, he says, Daisy being supportive of him not drinking is helpful. If they can do this for years as they have been doing, how could they not do it for the rest of their lives? He and Daisy walk to the corner, and she asks if he’s not drinking for the rest of the season. He says, maybe a glass of wine tonight. Diana and Danni wake up Chase, but when Danni gets in his bunk, Diana leaves. At a café, Gary says, cheers to being roomies, besties, and friends moving forward. He asks what Daisy is for, and she says, stabilizing work. She’s not looking for a relationship. What about him? He says he wants to build a relationship. He knows relationships require work. There are ups downs like they’ve had. They’ve been through sh*t that married couples haven’t and doesn’t seem like it’s going to end soon. Daisy says, when she falls, she falls hard, but it takes a long time, and he asks if she sees a relationship with him. Imagine someone else is asking her. She says she doesn’t…

Daisy says, Gary needs to be honest, and he says he is. She says, they both need a lot of work on themselves, and she’s been working more than he has. She thinks that before he has a relationship with anyone, he needs to work on himself. He says, it’s good to find someone who brings it out, and she says, for a secure relationship, you need a secure person, and they’re not secure people. He says, they’ve gone through so much working together. They’ve come a long way. In Gary’s interview, he says he’s too scared to commit. He’s selfish, but he knows what he needs and Daisy wouldn’t let him get away with murder. In Daisy’s interview, she says, Gary didn’t respect her relationship with Colin, and she took a step back. Unless he did some serious growing up fast, no way. Gary asks if it’s possible, and she laughs. They go back to the boat.

Gary says he likes hanging out with Daisy, and Daisy says, they’re working on their friendship. Cloyce says, Keith was getting along with Danni, and asks how he feels about the situation changing vibes. Gary joins them and says he and Daisy talked about where they stand. He thinks they’re at a good place. Keith says, classic high tension work relationship, and in Keith’s interview, he says he needs to tread lightly. Daisy and Gary are sharing a cabin, and he doesn’t want to put his foot in something that’s going to get stinky. Everyone goes to bed.

Provisions come in, and Chase says he had a dream that two stews drug him out of bed. He and Danni flirt, and Diana says she doesn’t want to be in a love triangle. Daisy asks if Diana is sad because Chase wanted her and he’s now with Danni. Diana says, they were vibing, but it didn’t happen on his side. Daisy says, it’s a bit sh*tty. Boys are idiots. In Diana’s interview, she says, Danni thinks it’s a competition, but she doesn’t fight over men. She has more things to do with her life.

The crew finishes tidying the boat, and Captain Glenn says, one hour until the guests arrive. He tells them that it looks good, and champagne is poured. The captain tells them to go to the cockpit now. Captain Glenn welcomes them to the Parsifal and Ibiza. Daisy will give them the tour and get them settled in. Daisy does her thing, and Diana shows Danni one of guest Marcell’s massive shoes, size 47. The guests have shots and toast to their Spain vacation. Daisy serves canapés, and Cloyce says, the prepping is insane for the seven-course dinner. Guest Tonya says, even though it’s a sailboat, it’s still not bad. She wonders if there’s a button they can press for service, and guest Jillian says she left a bottle of champagne in her room. Daisy asks Diana to get it, and the sails go up. Marcell seems okay, but the women call Daisy’s name so many times, she probably hates it already. The boat keels, and things bounce around. Daisy thinks the guests are drunk already, and guest Tonya says, it’s not what she expected. She’s about to throw up. She asks for a bag, like she’s on an airplane, and Chase runs downstairs. He says he needs a bucket or a bag, and Daisy frantically looks around.

Chase runs up with an ice bucket, and Daisy says, it doesn’t sound like anyone is throwing up. Danni says, it’s going to be a bad one, and Daisy says, it’s the energy. Captain Glenn asks if the guests want to stop, and they say yes. In the captain’s interview, he says, it’s the first time he’s been asked to stop, and he hopes to God it’s the last time. Cloyce says he has one thing prepped on his list of 40, and Gary says, his menu sounds delicious. Cloyce says, it better be. The guests take selfies, and anchor is dropped at Es Jondal.

Daisy tells Danni to try and get a dinner time out of the guests. Tonya whines that co-primary Jillian got the big room because she’s with her husband and complains about her small room. Um… First of all, it’s not small, and two people should get a bigger room. Not to mention, Marcell is a giant and Jillian is a primary. Danni asks co-primary Sharie if they want to do the cocktail thing before dinner, and Sharie says yes. Gary asks if the guests want to use the seabob and demonstrates. Danni tells Cloyce that the guests want dinner at 9:30 and he says, good. Any sooner, there will be bad things. Tonya gripes that the seabob was supposed to be fun, but it wasn’t. In Gary’s interview, he says he has no idea if the guests are having a good time. He doesn’t like it one bit. Sharie asks if he’s sure there are no sharks. She goes in for like, two seconds, and says she’s not scared, but she’s done. She tried it. Danni doesn’t see the mixology thing happening, and Diana says she doesn’t like being unprepared. Danni says she’s accepted everything is extremely unprepared and unplanned on this boat. Against Danni’s belief, the mixology thing happens, and Daisy instructs on how to make a mojito and a mango martini. In Daisy’s interview, she says she’s a people pleaser, but she can’t read what’s going on with the guests. Chase asks if they need help, but Marcell says he thinks they quit. In Chase’s interview, he says, it feels super f***ing weird how uncomfortable everyone feels.  

Chase says he can’t tell if the guests are having fun, and Daisy says, it’s a f***ing nightmare. Chase says, they’re just like, deadpan. The guests dress for dinner, and in Cloyce’s interview, he says, you can pack a lot of good stuff into seven courses. He wants everything to be delicious, so the guests are excited about the next course and continue to want more. He tells Captain Glenn, the festivities have begun. One of the guests – probably Tonya – complains about having to scoot down the bench seat and thinks there should be an entryway in the middle of the table. The first course is a romaine wedge salad that looks incredible. Cloyce thinks it’s too much food, but Chase says, there should always be more food than they want. Cloyce says, ladies don’t want to feel full. They just want to eat. Cloyce comes up with the next course, a play on Oysters Rockefeller that he calls Cloycesters Rockefeller. Again, it looks amazing and I’m fond of that dish. The champagne bottle slips, and Daisy spills it on the table. In her interview, she says, it’s the worst moment of her life. Thank God it’s just one night. A guest doesn’t like oysters, and Cloyce asks if she wants him to make something else. She asks for shrimp, and he goes back to the galley. He checks her preference sheet, and in his interview, he says, she put down that she likes oysters. Sharie says her Aperol spritz tastes like cough syrup. I can’t speak to this having never had one, but so far these people seem like impossible to please idiots. When Daisy tells the rest of the crew, everyone laughs. Daisy says she thinks they’re underwhelmed, when crab cake porn comes out next. The guests are getting full, and Marcell gripes that the portions are too big. Next is French onion soup, and the guests can barely choke down the sea bass that follows. Daisy tells them not to feel like they have to drink all of the drinks, and guest Teresa suggests they only make three drinks and split them into six.

 In the crew mess, Captain Glenn asks how it’s going, and Daisy says, not amazing. She knocked the champagne over and a guest said they didn’t like oysters. The mood is okay, but not great. In the captain’s interview, he says he’s used to guests walking off happy, having had a great holiday. Daisy thinks Sharie is rude, and Captain Glenn tells her to be careful because someone could be at the top of the stairs and hear her. In his interview, the captain says he meant to bring things up to a higher level and they’re not moving in the right direction. He’s starting to worry.

Cloyce brings up filet mignon and mashed potatoes. Keith says, it’s a f***ing awful night. Dessert is apple crumble with vanilla ice cream, and Jillian says, they did good. Cloyce says, this is dragging on and on, and Tonya complains that the spoon is too small. Daisy tells the stews, worst service ever, and the guests go to bed. Captain Glenn says, they’re dropping the ball. In their bunks, Chase asks who Cloyce is most attracted to, and he says, Daisy, but she’s older than he is. Chase says, if he’s intrigued and she’s intrigued, who cares?

Last day of charter. Daisy says she’s dreading this day, and finds a bag outside one of the cabins. She asks Chase to check it out. She’s worried it’s vomit, and he takes a sniff. He says, yep, it’s vomit, and she chokes. Anchor is home, and breakfast is served. Guest Laquita takes a taste and says, not good. Daisy sees Chase and Danni chatting and tells them to find something to do. She asks if the guests are doing okay, and they say they’re doing good. Danni complains about Daisy to Diana, but Diana says, they annoy her sometimes too. Danni suggests if they do, Diana should say something to her, and in Diana’s interview, she says she agrees with Daisy. They dock and everyone complains about the heat. The guests convene in one of the lounges and Jillian asks if they think it was five-star service. Tonya says she was sick and couldn’t find a trash can. Hello? There’s a sink and a wastebasket in the bathroom. The crew lines up on the dock, but Glenn asks if the guests want to talk to him about something. Sharie says, they were debriefing about the pluses and things that could be improved. When it’s this level of luxury, they want what they paid for. Jillian says, tell the truth. Outside, Danni says, it feels sketch, and Daisy says, it’s going to be uncomfortable.

Next time, Detox, the world famous drag superstar; Keith and Daisy kiss; and something causes Daisy to walk off the boat crying.

☝️ My take. WTF, these guests? First of all, I honestly think they didn’t understand they weren’t going on a motor yacht. It’s a little less like a floating hotel. As far as their mountain of complaints – mostly from Tonya – go, they complained about the things they’d asked for: a lot of food, oysters, the water toys, and actual sailing. Then there was Tonya’s complaint that the primary and her husband got a bigger room than she did. Duh. She’s one person and they’re two. And her room was small? Hardly, and how much time did she spend in there anyway? The worst thing was her saying she couldn’t find a trash receptacle and leaving a bag of vomit outside her room. Disgusting. Like I said, sink and wastebasket right there in the bathroom. These are the kind of guests that make me want to find them online and troll them. I have no doubt the tip will be low, if anything at all.

🧼 No Soap, New Year’s…

Here’s the lowdown. GH will be showing a rerun tomorrow and is not on at all New Year’s Day.

🐕 Beauty and the Beasts…

No doubt he celebrated with a better dinner than I had tonight. Or possibly any night.

https://people.com/monty-giant-schnauzer-wins-2024-akc-national-championship-8767119

How can you not love them? Although Dogpool aka Peggy will always have my heart.

https://people.com/pets/the-ugliest-dogs-in-the-world/

🥂 Should Old Acquaintance Be Forgot…

There’s nothing tomorrow, but I’ll post the celebrity roll call of the dead and a few other choice morsels. Until then, stay safe, especially on New Year’s Eve when the amateur drunks come out; stay not feeling forced to celebrate anything or make any resolutions you probably won’t keep past February anyway; and stay waiting for your own lawyer before being questioned by one.

December 29, 2023 – New Year’s Eve In Port Charles, A Return, On Or No, Real Top, Dead Talk, He Can Dance, Eve TV, Something For Everyone, Zoo Baby, Pets (!) Of the Gram, 12 Quotes For 12 Months & Another

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

At the Port Charles Heliport, jump instructor Denice tells Gregory that they have to get going before the sun goes down. Otherwise, they’ll have to cancel the jump. Is she coming? People cancel all the time. Gregory says, she’ll be here, and a man says, they’re losing daylight, when Alexis comes running up. She says she’s here, and the man asks if they’re doing this. She says, yes. She’s a woman of her word. She’s doing it. Even if it kills her.

Spencer knocks on Trina’s dorm room door, and she answers wearing a robe. He says, she’s not dressed for a party, and she brings him in, kissing him. He says, good point. What party? She says, they’re going. She just needs two more minutes. He says, that’s a big ask, and she says she’s sure he’ll be fine. Entertain himself. He picks up a magazine and flips through it, then sees a letter that’s been opened. Trina asks if he can zip her up, and he says, of course (🍷). If he must. She turns around, and he says, she looks perfect. So who is writing her from the Sorbonne? She says, he wasn’t supposed to see that.

Esme waits in the visitor room at Pentenville (?). Heather – our New Year’s gift! – joins her and says she knew Esme would be back.

Sonny goes to Nina’s office, and says, the party’s about to start, but she says she has to get these end-of-the-year bonuses done. She’s so sorry. It’s just a magazine; business is very difficult. Their team managed to keep their numbers up with online revenue, and she needs to show them that she appreciates them. He says, they’re lucky to have a kind-hearted boss, and she says she thinks he’s a teensy bit biased in her favor. He says he’s finding out what it means to be married to a generous, thoughtful woman, even though he’s not sure what her priority is tonight.

On the phone at The Savoy, Carly tells Sam, it’s okay. The flu is going around. Just give her love to Scout, and she and Dante take care. And happy New Year. Michael joins her, apologizing for being late, but she says, that’s okay. Where’s Willow? He says, she got stuck covering at GH. There’s a lot of callouts. Carly says, it’s the flu. Sam just called. Scout has it, and she and Dante can’t make it. He says, that’s unfortunate. So… She says, it looks like it’s just the two of them.

Olivia comes in with Lois and Ned, and she asks if it reminds Lois… What’s that place in the city they used to sneak in… Lois says, Area on Barrett Street. She can see the resemblance. Ned tells them to get a table while he gets the drinks. What would they like? Olivia says she’s a Cosmo girl tonight, and Lois says, champagne for her.

Carly says, it’s already New Year’s in Australia, and Michael says, it’s a shame Drew’s trip got extended. She should be celebrating with Drew, not him. She says, what about him? Willow’s at work. He’s spending New Year’s with his mother. They’re a pathetic pair, huh? He asks if she wants more champagne, and she says, yes, so he leaves to get it. She gets up and calls, make it a prosecco, please, when Ned passes by. She says she’s been waiting to talk to him, but he says he really doesn’t have time for this. She asks if he’s been busy since he got his memory back. Because ever since he pointed the SEC at her and Drew, and Drew went to prison, she’s been meaning to ask him a question. How would he like her to return the favor?

Nina says, Sonny is her priority – always. She promises she’ll hurry up and meet him way before midnight. He says, don’t worry about it. He was just being sentimental. She says, of course (🍷). It’s their first New Year’s Eve together as husband and wife. She wants to be with him too. She’ll leave this here and come in early tomorrow. He says, no. She’s going to wrap that up and she’s going to meet him at The Savoy. They’re going to have a midnight kiss… They’re going to have so many New Year’s Eves together. She says she likes the sound of that, and they kiss.

Heather says she knew Esme wouldn’t be able to stay away from her forever, but why is it today? Doesn’t she have plans for New Year’s Eve? Esme says, not really, and Heather says, there’s something different about her. Did she change her hair? Esme says, no, and Heather says, well, something’s different. Anyway, how’s her little grandbaby Ace? Baby’s first Christmas. She bets he got loaded up with presents from all those rich people, right? Esme says, probably. She doesn’t know. He spent the holidays with Spencer and Trina. Heather says, she’s always been cagey on the details when it comes to Ace. Now Esme is telling her that she let him spend his first Christmas without her? And that look just now on her face when she said Trina’s name. That’s not remorse. That was contempt… Oh, she remembers, doesn’t she?

Trina tells Spencer that one of her professors told her about this art program at the Sorbonne, and she just applied on a whim. She got waitlisted, then she got accepted. Let her just grab her bag. He says, wait a minute. This is a massive opportunity for her. She says she knows, but she can’t go. Not with Curtis about to start his treatment, and she’s really excited about her spring classes, and then there’s him. She’d miss him so much. He says, he’s going to miss her too (um… it’s not like he has a job; he could go), and she says she can travel when she graduates. Paris will always be there. She can wait. He says, this opportunity at the Sorbonne won’t be. She has to go. She has to do this.

Denice says, since this is a tandem dive, Gregory and Alexis will each share a harness with their instructor, and the instructor will release the parachute. Any questions so far? They need to get going. Alexis says she has a question. Did Gregory tell them about his recent stay in the hospital? Gregory says he did, and his doctor signed off on this. It was pure dehydration, that’s all. Alexis tells Denice that she’s done an extensive search on Denice’s safety records with this organization. Alexis knows pretty much all there is to know about her, but she doesn’t know much about the harness. Is it safe, and when was the plane last serviced? Denice promises to answer those questions on the way to the plane, but Alexis tells her that she just wants to say, the gentleman who showed her how to do everything seems very nice and very capable, and she thinks she’ll be safe enough with him. Denice says, that was Dan. He’s gone for the day. Alexis will be fine with Falcon. There he is. Falcon looks like the drummer in a rock band, and Alexis says, no. Gregory says, why don’t they switch? She’s already familiar with Denice. They’ll be fine. Alexis says, no. She’s sorry. Every molecule in her being is telling her not to jump out of that plane. Please forgive her. She said she could do it, but she can’t. She just can’t.

There’s a knock at Nina’s office door, and she says, come on, Sonny. She needs more time than that. She’s not a miracle worker. Cyrus walks in, and says, oh ye of little faith.

Olivia asks Lois, what was the name of that Russian place in Brighton Beach? Talk about dicey. Good vodka though. Hello? Is she talking to herself over here? Lois says, Olivia might have a problem, and Olivia tells her to forget about the secret and just have some fun, but Lois says, no. Look. They see Ned and Carly arguing.

Ned says, Carly wants to send him to prison? Take her best shot. Except he didn’t actually commit a crime, unlike her and Drew. She says, Drew was nearly beaten to death in prison, because of Ned. Ned has to live with that, but if he doesn’t care about that, maybe he cares about his precious company. Valentin Cassadine is MIA. Ned had amnesia, thinking he was some faded rock star. Maybe ELQ deserves a visit from the SEC. He says he doesn’t have to take this. She wants the truth? He’ll tell her exactly why Drew was sent to Pentenville. Michael arrives with the drinks.

Esme asks how Heather could tell just like that, and Heather says she’s been studying Esme since the first moment she laid eyes on her in Spring Ridge. She knows Esme’s face. She knows Esme’s mannerisms. Esme used to look so lost, but just now, she saw something in Esme’s eyes, a glint, a sense of purpose. It’s nice to meet the real Esme. She pats Esme’s hand, and Esme flinches. Heather says she didn’t mean to upset her. It’s a good thing. Esme says she’s just glad to be able to talk to someone about it, and Heather says, Esme has her. Trust her. Pour her heart out. Esme cries a little and says, it’s like she’s two different people. She doesn’t know what to do or what to think. Is she this horrible person who did these things to Spencer and Trina, or is she this mom who loves her son more than anything in the world? And she doesn’t know how she can be both. Heather says, everything’s going to be okay. Does Esme know how she knows? Because Esme did the right thing. She came to see her mother.

Spencer says, there’s so much for Trina to do in Paris when she’s not studying at the Sorbonne. It’s one of his all-time favorite cities, and the best part is that she’s in close proximity to so many other great cities. She’s next to Berlin, Copenhagen, Barcelona… It’s a train ride for her. She says, yeah, but she doesn’t have a command of the language, and he says, it’s not going to be a thing after the first semester. She’s going to be the toast of the town. Every guy is going to falling head over heels for her. Is she kidding him? As a matter of fact, why is he encouraging her to do this? Maybe she should stay. Never mind. Bad idea. She says, you know what could work? He could come with her.

Nina asks what Cyrus is doing here. Does he need something? He says, it’s not what he needs. He’s here to help her. She says she’s fine, and she’s very busy, so if he needs to talk to her for some reason, he should talk to her assistant, and she’ll set up… He picks up a magazine and says, isn’t it amazing how they distract themselves with the mundane in order not to ponder the great mysteries of life? Taking the magazine, Nina says, if they just sat around pondering that, they wouldn’t get anything done. So like she said, she’s busy. He says, very well. He’ll leave her to her work, but remember, she doesn’t walk alone. She flashes back to being in the confessional, and the priest saying, and remember, she doesn’t walk alone. God is always with her. Cyrus says, so, has she set herself free? and Nina looks like she might have a stroke.

Michael asks Ned, so what is the truth? Why exactly did he get himself involved, and more importantly, what exactly did he get out of it? Ned flashes back to Michael giving him the voting proxy on half of Michael’s ELQ shares for keeping his silence about Nina. At the table, Lois looks at Olivia, when Sonny walks in. Ned says, only the satisfaction of being a good citizen. He was looking out for the little guy. Carly says, come on. He was looking out for himself. He wanted power, and he didn’t care who he had to hurt to get it. Ned asks Carly, if he’s such a menace, why is she provoking him? and Michael says, watch it, but Carly says, don’t stop him. What is he going to do to her? Sonny walks up and asks if Ned doesn’t think he’s caused enough damage.

Lois says, great, now Sonny’s involved, and Olivia says, Lois told her that she wanted to stay out of the Quartermaine’s affairs, so why doesn’t she do that? Lois says, because she hates seeing Ned being called out in public for something he didn’t do, and Olivia says, it’s complicated. Lois doesn’t understand. Ned is doing what he thinks he has to do for the family. Could she please just accept that and move on?

Ned says, Sonny is going to lecture him about damage? The man who’s left a swath of broken lives and destruction in his wake? Michael says, this isn’t the time or place. They don’t want to make a scene. Can they all agree on that? Sonny says he’s good, and Michael suggests he and Ned talk in private. They leave, and Sonny asks if Carly is okay. She says she was. Now she’s not so sure.

Lois asks if that looks like positive momentum to Olivia? How is it that another war between the Corinthos and Quartermaine families better than the truth?

Gregory tells Alexis that he’s sorry. He thought this would be fun. She shouldn’t feel obligated to do something she doesn’t want to do. He tells the instructors, thanks. He appreciates the prep and the time, but he’s calling off the jump. Falcon says, it’s all right, but Alexis says, no, it’s not all right. Hold on. Don’t go anywhere. She tells Gregory that she’s all over the place. It’s not even just the jump. It’s the girls. She’s worried. She just has a lot on her mind. Does he think they could talk by themselves, just for a minute? Gregory asks if they can be given one more minute and gets the okay signal from Falcon. Gregory asks, what’s going on? and Alexis says, it’s the girls. She’s worried. There’s been a new development. Sam is savvy. If Alexis dies, she’ll be fine, but Kristina and Molly, no. They cannot exist without her. They need their mother. They need her to protect them. He says, so she wants to protect her kids and keep them from getting hurt if they jump, but they’re adults. And as adults, they can choose when and if they jump, and if they do, they’re going to have to pull their own ripcords. She says, did he just do a skydiving analogy? It was good. He says, letting their kids go is the ultimate test. He tried to shield Chase from his illness with disastrous results. Remember? But Chase forgave him. Their kids are full of surprises. They never know what they’ll become or what they’re capable of. He has to believe his kids are going to grow and learn and thrive and make mistakes, but survive. And that belief, that faith, gives him great comfort, and great courage. Alexis says, Denice, Marlon… Gregory says, Falcon, and she says, Falcon, let’s get a move on. Gregory asks if she’s sure, and Alexis says she’s sure… No, she’s not sure, but she said she was going to jump out of the damn plane, so she’s going to jump out of the damn plane. Damn it. They head to the damn plane.

Heather asks if anyone else knows about Esme’s memory coming back, and Esme says, not really. She tried telling… Heather says, but she didn’t, and Esme says, no, but… Heather says, absolutely not. Zip it and keep it zipped. Esme asks how she can go one pretending that she doesn’t remember anything, and Heather says, she inherited the familial talent for misdirection. Besides, she’s done it before. Esme says, but not like this. Pretending she’s sorry for all the bad things the old Esme did. Heather says, and she really doesn’t feel bad about it, and Esme says she did. When she didn’t remember any of it, it was horrifying. But now that she remembers why she did it and felt so justified, it’s because it was justified. Heather says, exactly. So just keep telling them exactly what they want to hear. She’s made a fresh start and now she’s a different person. Esme asks where that gets her. She’s still a single mom, Alexis Davis’s drudge, and a witness to Spencer and Trina’s insipid happily ever after. And she’s unable to do a thing about it. Heather smiles. (Just for the record, although I’m thrilled with the visit to Heather, I’m not loving Esme’s 180. Or is it really a 360?)

Trina says she knows Spencer can’t come with her, but when she opened it, she started daydreaming about how amazing it would be if they could be together. But she knows he can’t leave Ace, so just forget she said it. He says, she knows how much he loves her, and he’d never want her to think he’s prioritizing Ace over her. She says she doesn’t, and he says, but Esme’s moved out and she’s Ace’s primary caregiver. Maybe they can find a way. He can fly back on weekends as long as Esme will let him see Ace. She says, wait a minute. What is he saying? He tells her that he’s saying, when the woman you love invites you to go to Paris, you say yes. They kiss.

Nina says, Cyrus was at All Saints. That’s just so wrong. He’s not a priest. She doesn’t know what he thinks he heard… He says, more than enough. He and Drew Cain became friendly when they were Pentenville. Drew saved his life actually, and after Drew was attacked, he was able to return the favor. Drew had a very hard time inside. All he wanted to do was get back to the woman he loved, the woman he sacrificed his freedom for. Carly Spencer, formerly Carly Corinthos, her husband’s ex-wife, the mother of his children. She says, he’s a hypocrite. He listened to her confession? How could he be so dishonest? She thought she was talking to a man of God. He says, she was. Just as she is now. So how can he help her?

Sonny asks if Carly wants to tell him what that was all about, and Carly says she told Ned what she thought about him, for obvious reasons. Sonny says, good. Now it’s his turn. Carly stops him, and says, he’s not worth it. And she needs something stronger than this. She picks up her champagne glass and heads for the bar.

In the hallway, Ned tells Michael, it’s New Year’s Eve. He doesn’t want to talk about it. Sonny comes by and tells Ned, it’s not over between them, then disappears. Michael says, they had an agreement.

Lois tells Olivia, if Sonny thinks Ned harmed Carly, he’s not going to let it go. He’s going to finish it. Now what’s going on with those two? They look over to see Michael and Ned talking, and Olivia says, probably talking about ELQ. Lois says she thought Michael was trying to push Ned out, but Olivia says, quite the opposite. Ned has been taking on more responsibility. Michael’s even given him his proxy. It’s all good. Lois says, wait a second. Michael handed over his control of ELQ? Why would he do that? Olivia asks why she cares. She swears Lois always does this. She gets something in her head, and she can’t leave it alone. Like the time Lois’s mother was planning a surprise party for her for months and she ruined it. Lois says, okay. Let her think. Did Michael do this to keep Ned quiet? Because it must be something big… Ooh. Oh my God. Did Michael turn his own mother in to the SEC?

Sonny tells Carly that he’s sorry. He had to interfere. He just doesn’t like Ned treating her like that. He knows she can hold her own, but… She says, that’s okay. She needed the distraction. It stopped her from throwing her drink in Ned’s face. That would have been a perfect ending to a perfect year, right? He says, the night’s still young, and she says, not for her. She’s going to go. Will he tell Michael that she left and have a happy New Year? He says, she’s not going to stay for the countdown? Come on. She says, it’s going to make her miss Drew even more, so have a happy New Year. She leaves.

Olivia tells Lois, no. Michael did not turn his own mother in to the SEC. Lois says, then make it make sense. Why would Michael hand over control of ELQ to Ned? Does Tracy have something on Michael? Or are Ned and Tracy planning something? Olivia says, stop this. Stop overthinking it. Just let it go. Lois says she can’t, because it stinks to high heaven. But Olivia was right about one thing. She is overthinking this. She thinks the answer is right here in front of her face. And here’s what she thinks. She thinks Ned has something on Michael, and Michael is paying off Ned to keep him quiet. Is she right?

Nina asks what Cyrus wants. Money? He laughs and says, of course (🍷). No, he doesn’t need money. He has the riches of the kingdom of God. What he wants is for her to confess. Not to a priest in a cubicle, but to the people she hurt. She says, what good would that do? Drew is free, Carly is moving on, the Corinthos family is coming together. What good would it do dredging up the past? He says, did she or did she not send a good man to prison? Where he was beaten to a pulp. Did she or did she not try to separate a mother from her children and separate a man from his child, all out of spite and wickedness. She tells him, cut the sermon. Please. He’s more a man of the orange jumpsuit than a man of the cloth (ha-ha-ha!). He’s a criminal, a blackmailer, so what’s his angle? What is he planning to do with what he knows?

Basking in the afterglow, Spencer says, there’s a church over there that he and Trina should go to. It’s got a little walled-off garden next to it, then down the street, there’s this really quaint and cute restaurant. It makes the best crepes she’s ever had in her life. They’re simple, but they’re very delicious. He thinks she’ll like them. She says, sounds like heaven, but it’s one thing to daydream and another to live in reality. Maybe he should think about this. He says, no. They’re doing this. This is happening. He’s not letting them back out of this. She says, okay, and he says, because he was in Europe once and when he was, it was very, very lonely and depressing. So hopefully, this will give him a new opportunity or new chance to experience it with fresh eyes with someone he loves. So he doesn’t need any time to think about it. He knows exactly what he wants. He wants to be in Paris with her. She kisses him, and he says, fireworks. She says, he got that right… but he says, no, the real ones up there. They can make it if they hurry. He jumps out of bed.

Heather tells Esme, forget those twerps. She was always way too good for Spencer anyway. She won. She got Ace, and that’s everything. She’s still got the upper hand, so don’t blow it by admitting she got her memory back. She’s a really good mother to Ace, right? Esme says, yeah, she is, and Heather says, then just keep up the charade, for his sake. And be sure to practice a little self-care. Esme says, what? Like a spa day? Heather says, no. Like she’s young. She’s beautiful. Smart as a friggin’ whip. Go put on a party dress and get out there. Maybe she’ll meet somebody new. It’s New Year’s Eve. Meet somebody who’s worthy of her. Come and see her mother again. She’ll help Esme keep her head on straight. Keep her memories to herself. As much as she’d like to see more of Esme, she has way too bright of a future to squander it in this place. Esme takes Heather’s hands and says she will, and thanks her. Heather says, anytime. It was a pleasure to finally meet her daughter… all of her.

Ned says he and Michael may need to revisit the terms of their agreement if Carly’s going to start harassing him in public. Michael says, Ned is being well-compensated for his trouble. Michael’s proxy gives him controlling interest of ELQ. If that’s not good enough for him, he’ll go get Willow. Because she deserves to hear the truth about Nina before Ned announces it to the entire world. Ned says, you’re bluffing, and Michael says, try me.

Lois says, what on earth could Ned have on Michael that would make him give up control of ELQ? and Olivia shushes her and says, stop it. She calls over to Sonny, and he joins them. He says, you ladies look marvelous, and Lois thanks him. They hug, and Sonny kisses Olivia on the cheek. She says, he’s looking handsome as always. Where’s Nina this evening? He says, she’s working. She said she’ll be here by midnight. Lois says, no. He has to get her here, because the person you kiss at midnight is the person you’ll be with for the rest of the year.😱 He says, in that case, he should call and see what’s going on. He excuses himself, and leaves. Lois says, ho-ho. Like she said. Right in front of her face. It was never about Drew getting in trouble with the Feds. The intended target was always Carly. Olivia says, Lois… Lois says, Carly, who acted on inside information. So whoever tipped off the SEC had to believe that Carly would be the one who would wind up in prison. And who had the incentive of getting rid of Carly. How about the person who is currently married to her ex-husband? Nina. Nina’s the one who tipped off the SEC. Olivia looks worn-out, but Lois breathes a sigh of relief and drinks some champagne.

Out in the middle of somewhere, Alexis tells Falcon that her heart is still beating outside her chest. Will it stop? Will it be regulated? Or did she live so that she can die now? He says, probably. Pretty rad, huh? They do a fancy handshake, and Falcon starts to walk away. She asks, where’s Gregory? Did he jump? Is he dead? Falcon leaves, and Alexis calls to Gregory. Gregory says he’s here. Sorry he’s late. Traffic. She hugs him, and he says, easy does it. She says she loved it, and he laughs. She says, it was amazing. Soaring through the sky and the perspective that she saw of the world looking down. It was so beautiful. It was amazing. It was extraordinary. It was transformative. It was probably the most transformative moment of her… He kisses her. Then she kisses him.

Carly walks into Sonny’s old kitchen and throws her bag on the counter, knowing she’s never alone when the moss bowl🎍is there. She goes to the sink and is startled by an air horn. She moves toward the door, when Drew comes in. He says, happy New Year, and she runs into his arms. She says, it is now, and they kiss.

Nina asks what Cyrus is planning to do with this information, but he says, nothing. She says, so he doesn’t want anything in exchange for him keeping quiet, and he says he’ll settle for her redemption. She asks if he knows that Carly and Drew aren’t the only injured parties here. She almost lost the only daughter she had left before she even knew she was her daughter. He tells her, look at what a tangled web she’s woven. Did she really think it would never unravel? The guilt is already weighing on her and pulling her down closer to the gates of hell. Hell is a state of mind. It robs you of your peace and your chance to experience real joy. All this bartering and deal making to avoid telling the truth. She asks why he’s here. He doesn’t know her. He doesn’t give a damn about her. He says he’s been her. He’s justified his lies, and it only makes for more lies and moving further away from everything that matters. That’s why he tries only to tell the truth now. She tells him, so this is his way of saying, if she doesn’t confess, he will, and he says, karma, fate, providence, they all point to the same thing. That is, your actions determine your life’s destiny. Just think of all the hurt she can undo with just a few simple words. All the clarity she can give to Carly and Drew and her husband, Sonny Corinthos. Nina’s phone rings and she sees it’s Sonny. She picks up the phone, looking pained.

Olivia says she’s begging Lois, please do not say a word about this to anyone. Lois says, how could she not have told Sonny this? Nina, his wife, called the cops on Carly and Drew. Why hasn’t Ned said anything? Olivia says, because he knows how many people would be hurt if he did. Sonny is happy with Nina. Nina and Carly have a truce off sorts. Drew is out of prison and his life is back to normal. What good could it possibly do to dredge all this up again? Ned comes back and asks if Olivia is ready to go. Olivia says, they’re in the middle of a conversation here, and Ned says, let’s take that conversation on their way to the docks. They’ve got fireworks. Lois says she’ll meet them out there. She’s going to powder her nose. Ned says, see her over there, and steers Olivia out. Sonny comes over to Lois and says, he left a message for Nina. She’s going to meet them. Does Lois want to walk with him over to the docks? She say she’s sorry, but he’s going to miss the fireworks this year.

Drew and Carly kiss their way into the bedroom as the fireworks go off. The real ones, outside. They get busy.

Gregory and Alexis smile at each other and look up at the sky. She puts her head on his shoulder.

Spencer and Trina watch from the rooftop. He says he’d follow her anywhere. Esme watches from behind them, her hand balled into a fist.

Cyrus says, Nina didn’t answer her call, and she says she should have handed him the phone. It was Sonny. He says he won’t tell Sonny. He wouldn’t want to rob her for her chance at salvation. She has to confess; no one can do it for her. She says she didn’t want him to know. It’s going to hurt him. She prayed that he would never, never know. He says, try praying for the truth to set her free, and she says, if anyone should tell Sonny, it should be her. He says, that’s right. That’s good. That’s all he wanted to hear. New year, new beginnings. He says he has faith that she’ll do the right thing. Until then, he won’t be far.

Sonny asks if Lois has something on her mind, and she says, he has a right to know what’s going on. He says, get to the point, and she says, they’re lying to him. He says, who? and she says, his family. They’re all lying to him.

Next week, Carly says, this is gonna be a good year; Olivia tells Ned, get back there, now; Brook tells Chase, better to ask for forgiveness than ask for permission; Willow asks for Nina’s help; and Lois tells Sonny that she knows who really ratted Carly and Drew out to the SEC.

🥜 Sometimes She Feels Like a Nut…

She’s back and brought her crazy with her.

🧼 Who’s Ringing It In…

Spoiler: GH is not on.

🎪 Matter Of Opinion…

And were there really any top moments?

🪦 What’s Up With the Dead…

Coming in February.

https://undeadwalking.com/posts/is-the-rick-michonne-series-the-walking-dead-the-ones-who-live-a-limited-series

It’s coming. They just don’t know when.

https://undeadwalking.com/2023/12/10/walking-dead-city-season-2-whats-coming/

Sometime in 2024.

https://undeadwalking.com/2023/12/18/walking-dead-daryl-dixon-season-2-premiere-2024/

https://undeadwalking.com/posts/the-walking-dead-daryl-dixon-wraps-season-2-cast-post-images

And the rest.

https://undeadwalking.com/posts/the-walking-dead-universe-what-s-to-come-in-2024

🩰 Something Random…

You can’t blame her for taking a shot at relevance.

https://ew.com/dance-moms-abby-lee-miller-travis-kelce-better-dancer-taylor-swift-8418858

📺 Give Me the Remote…

Coming to a small screen near you on New Year’s Eve.

https://nypost.com/2023/12/29/entertainment/how-to-watch-the-ball-drop-on-new-years-eve-a-guide-to-all-the-tv-specials/

🎊 All About Eve…

If you’re going to a party or giving one.

https://www.southernliving.com/holidays-occasions/new-years/new-years-eve-party-guest

https://bestlifeonline.com/new-years-eve-party-etiquette/

For party goers or not.

https://www.thepioneerwoman.com/holidays-celebrations/g42099986/things-to-do-new-years-eve/

But I’m not going around the block with an empty suitcase.

https://www.womansday.com/life/g34886062/things-to-do-on-new-years-eve/

https://www.popsugar.com/smart-living/fun-ways-to-celebrate-new-years-eve-at-home-48052534

If you’re spending it alone.

https://www.verywellmind.com/how-do-i-cope-when-i-am-alone-on-new-years-eve-3024303

Keeping it stress free for the pets.

https://www.four-paws.org/our-stories/publications-guides/new-years-eve-minimising-your-pets-stress

https://barkio.com/en/blog/article/how-to-spend-a-stress-free-new-year-s-eve-celebration-with-your-pet

🦏 Born On Christmas Day…

Unbelievably cute. Those little ears!

https://people.com/zoo-atlanta-welcomes-first-white-rhino-calf-ever-on-christmas-eve-8420147

🐩 Slide Into Their DMs…

Pets are influencers too.

https://people.com/celebrity-pets-with-their-own-instagram-accounts-7567698

https://influencers.feedspot.com/pet_instagram_influencers/

🦜 Quotes of the Week

A good education is not so much one which prepares a man to succeed in the world, as one which enables him to sustain a failure. – Bernard Iddings Bell

You need to be aware of what others are doing, applaud their efforts, acknowledge their successes, and encourage them in their pursuits. When we all help one another, everybody wins. – Jim Stovall

If you don’t sleep, you go loco. – Max Salvador, Below Deck Mediterranean

In our world, old friendships are hereditary. – Agnes van Rhijn (Christine Baranski), The Gilded Age.

If you hear a voice within you say, you cannot paint, then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced. – Vincent Van Gogh

Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things. – Robert Brault

There’s not much to see actually. We’re inside a Chinese dragon. – Howard (Ryan O’Neal), What’s Up, Doc?

Maintain composure in times of heightened emotion, reacting only when thoughts are calm and clear. Being sensible will open doors for solutions and creativity. – Jaren L. Davis

You know how to stop this? Stop it. – Dr. Phil

Life is a dream for the wise, a game for the fool, a comedy for the rich, a tragedy for the poor. – Sholem Aleichem

I don’t want to be a man. I want my cereal – Jordan Thomkins (Jeremy Suarez), The Bernie Mac Show

Sometimes a person has to go a very long distance out of his way to come back a short distance correctly. – Jerry, The Zoo Story by Edward Albee

El Wray sez: Happy New Year!

🥂 Auld Lang Syne-ing Off…

Wishing you all good things in the New Year and no pressure on the Eve beforehand. Make a resolution, don’t make a resolution; party, don’t party. You do you. Join me for going back to the old soap grind after New Year’s Day. Dare I say it? See you next year. Until then, stay safe, stay following your own path, and stay remembering, your actions determine your life’s destiny.