(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
✍🏽 Since I’m attending a 3-day virtual business conference, I wasn’t able to see GH at its regular time. It’s slightly condensed, because I need that pesky sleep, but I’ll be back to my regularly scheduled excruciatingly long transcripts on Sunday night.
General Hospital
Julian wants Ava to call him if she hears from their friend in Pentenville (i.e. Ryan). Sam tries to get nosy about it, but Julian blows her off, asking if there’s something he can help with. She says, it’s her mom.
Alexis is busy getting drunk at the MetroCourt bar.
Josslyn tells Dev that she’s going to talk to Cameron face-to-face, since he’s been ignoring her calls and DMs.
Trina shows up at Kelly’s while Cameron is working. She says they haven’t hung out in a while, and wonders, what’s up?
Jax sees Curtis at the MetroCourt with Jordan, and says he heard Nina hired him to help find her child. Curtis asks if it was Nina’s idea, or Jax’s.
Carly shows up at Nelle’s gravesite, and Nina says, wrong turn? but Carly says she’s right where she’s supposed to be.
Cameron tells Trina that he’s been busy with work, but she doesn’t buy it. He flashes back to when Dev showed him Josslyn’s journal, where Dev faked Josslyn’s writing, saying she didn’t like Cameron kissing her. Trina asks if he’s too busy to help her clear her father’s name, but he says, of course (🍷) not. She says the injustice of Cyrus walking around while her dad’s name got trashed is making her crazy. Cameron tells her not to worry; they’ll fix it. Trina thinks they should find out why Taggert came back to Port Charles in the first place, and Cameron suggests looking at his old reports. She says she’ll pretend she’s looking for mementos in his stuff. There’s no way her dad would set anyone up. He was a good cop. Cameron says he knows, and they’ll make sure everyone else does too.
Jordan excuses herself to let Curtis and Jax talk. Curtis walks, and Jax follows him. Jax says he senses mistrust on Curtis’s part, and Curtis says he doesn’t want to see Nina get hurt. Jax says, that makes two of them. Curtis asks if Jax is manipulating Nina the way Valentin did, and Jax says, absolutely not. He’s just there for support, but he appreciates Curtis looking out for her. Curtis says he was going to say the same about Jax.
Nina asks if Carly is going to create a problem. She made sure Nelle’s grave wasn’t near Mike and Morgan. Carly says she’s not going to cause trouble, and Nina asks why she can’t let Nelle go.
Sam tells Julian that Alexis is drinking again. She thinks it started after Neil died. Julian asks if she’s sure, and Sam tells him about Alexis drinking right in front of her, saying, Alexis almost seemed defiant. He says he’ll do what he can to help.
Jax tells Curtis, Nina knows they might hit a dead end, and Curtis says, or maybe there was never a baby in the first place. Jax says, Nina’s intuition tells her that her child is out there somewhere, and Curtis prays that’s true. Jax says, but he’s worried about Nina if it isn’t, and Curtis asks, isn’t Jax?
Carly tells Nina that she can’t wait for the day Nelle isn’t even a factor, and Nina says, apparently, that’s not today. Carly says she doesn’t know why she’s there, and Nina asks if she’s okay. Carly says she will be, and Nina asks if it’s possible to forget about Nelle completely, when she’s the mother of Carly’s grandson?
Trina tells Cameron that she needs their help; there’s strength in numbers. She says she knows him well enough to know he’s holding back. He says he wants to help her, and so does Josslyn, but he’s afraid he’ll mess things up. She asks, how? and he says, by having feelings for her. Possibly more than friends feelings. He feels like a jerk, since he feels the same about Josslyn. Trina says it’s her fault for sending mixed signals. She’s confused about her feelings too.
Josslyn tells Dev that she and Cameron haven’t talked since they kissed, and Cameron also kissed Trina. She doesn’t want to mess things up for them. Dev says, if Cameron is avoiding her, she has her answer.
Britt orders a drink at the bar, and Alexis says, the more, the merrier. She suggests Britt switch to vodka, but Britt says she has a meeting. Alexis says she remembers those. Britt asks if there’s someone she can call, and Alexis says, a dating service. Her last boyfriend died, and she’s looking for a new one.
Sam tells Julian, she’ll handle her mother on her own, when Cyrus walks in. Cyrus says he wants to purchase the bar, and believes Julian will find his offer impossible to turn down.
Britt asks how many Alexis has had, and Alexis asks if she’s reporting to Julian. Britt says no, and Alexis says Britt just sleeps with him. Britt says, not anymore, and for the record, she had zero idea that Alexis and Neil were a secret. Alexis says, so Britt didn’t actively try to destroy her life; she appreciates the distinction. Britt says, even though Alexis is hammered, she could take it down a notch. Jordan comes in, and asks if Britt has a minute. Britt says, lead the way, and tells Alexis, it’s been a pleasure.
Jordan tells Britt, law enforcement and public health go hand in hand. She had a collaborative relationship with Britt’s predecessor, and is hoping to carry it forward. Britt is in agreement, and asks how GH can help the PCPD. Jordan says, off the top of her head, combating child abuse, domestic violence, andof course (🍷) drug abuse.
Sam says she’d love to hear about Cyrus and Julian’s business together, but Julian says, there isn’t any. Cyrus says, there could be, and Julian should jump at the chance. Molly calls Sam, who steps away. Julian is miffed that Cyrus brought his proposal up in front of Sam, and Cyrus says he’s had ample time to consider it. He asks if it’s the size of the offer that’s the problem, but Julian says, it’s everything. He’s not parting with the pub. Cyrus suggests keeping him on as manager. He’d have the windfall of the sale, plus revenue from the job. Think of it as the evolution of the partnership they already have. The one that formed when he provided Julian with an alibi.
Jax says he doesn’t want to see Nina get her heart broken again, but it’s what she wants. Curtis says they know Nina won’t take no for an answer when she wants something. Jax says, she’s spent so much of her life wondering; he thinks she’s ready for an answer. Curtis says, even if the answer isn’t what she wants? and Jax says, yes. Curtis says Nina is going to need Jax if that’s the case. Jax says she’ll need Curtis too, and they agree to be there for her.
Nina tells Carly, Nelle is Wiley’s mother. One day he’s going to grow up, and want a headstone to visit. Nelle was a human being before her life unraveled. She’s not minimizing the horrible things Nelle did, but Nelle is dead now. Help her rest in peace. Carly says, Nina sentimentalizing a nightmare doesn’t make it less of one, and it’s going to be hard when Wiley finds out his mother was disturbed and killed people. Would it serve him better believing a lie? Nina says, there has to be middle ground, but Carly says, there isn’t when it comes to Nelle. She slit Brook’s throat and kidnapped Wiley. Carly thinks it’s all about Nina. She’s projecting. Nina did some bad things, and turned her life around, and she thinks Nelle could have too if someone had stepped in. Carly tried. Nina was nowhere near as toxic as Nelle on her worst day. Nelle couldn’t have been saved. Nina says, Nelle is dead. Carly won. Why can’t that be enough? She leaves, and Carly tells Nelle’s headstone she doesn’t know why she’s there. She doesn’t know why Nelle still matters. Why can’t she let Nelle go? A Carrie hand comes out of the ground, and Carly struggles with it, knocking over the gravestone. Nina comes back, and looks at Carly.
Julian says he didn’t ask for Cyrus’s help, and Cyrus says, Julian can’t deny he needed it. Be grateful. If Cyrus hadn’t stepped in, the police might have found out what led to Martin’s mugging. Julian says he doesn’t know anything about it, and Cyrus says, of course (🍷) not. Martin probably made many enemies, just representing Nelle. Perhaps as many as Julian made when he married her. He might want to think twice about rejecting a hand extended in friendship.
Sam tells Molly, mom has been off lately, and suggests they meet later.
Jax sees Alexis at the bar, and she says, this is what it looks like. Don’t sound the alarm; Sam already knows. Does he want to join her? For a drink, not a pity party, and not an intervention. Just sharing a drink with a friend. Some people don’t like to drink alone. She’s not one of them.
Britt says her boss has brought up drugs as well. It’s of interest, given the nature of his false imprisonment. Cyrus was deeply moved by the recovering addicts he encountered in the system. He wants to find a way to break the cycle. Jordan says, very admirable. Britt sees Jax, and says, her meeting is here. She tells Jordan that she looks forward to working with her.
Jordan joins Curtis. He asks if she’s wondering the same thing he is, and she says, why is Britt with Jax? He says, exactly.
Britt and Jax sit in one of the side alcoves, and Britt says her mother is obsessed with him. He asks how Obrecht is, she says they haven’t spoken since the WSB picked Obrecht up. She was hoping her mother had cleaned up her act, but not so much. He congratulates her on her new job, and assumes that’s why she wanted to meet. She says she needs money.
Dev says Josslyn and Cameron have been friends most of their lives, and Cameron has been ghosting her since they kissed. Dev doesn’t want to see her hurt, but doesn’t think Cameron’s that into her. Josslyn asks if they shouldn’t talk about it, and he says they can, but he doesn’t think Cameron is comfortable with it. Then there’s the whole Trina thing. She wants them to get together to help her clear her dad’s name, and Josslyn wouldn’t want things to be awkward between her and Cameron.
Trina says she might have feelings for Cameron too, and he wonders why things have to be confusing. She says, because feelings are messy. They change from day to day, minute to minute sometimes. Cameron says, it’s like going through a maze. You think you know where you’re going, then you’re lost. Trina says, the past few months felt like that. She thought about their kiss a lot. He says so did he, and she says, it doesn’t make sense. They were both messed up. She doesn’t know if the kiss was good or bad. He asks what they do, and she says, this, and kisses him.
Julian says, sounds like a threat. Go ahead. Cyrus says he’s merely reminding Julian that he did him a good turn, and could continue to. When it comes to secrets, he’s the exception to the rule that says, two people can only keep a secret if one of them is dead. He walks out, and passes Sam. She stares at Julian.
Trian says, wow, and Cameron says, wow good, or wow bad? She says, wow as in he’s an awesome friend, and that’s where they’re supposed to be. He says, she’s friendzoning him? He should be offended. She says he’s more sensitive than he gives himself credit for, and he says, don’t tell anyone. It will ruin his rep. She says she thinks he was picking up on how she thought she might have feelings for him, going back to their Niagara Falls trip. She didn’t want to go there, since he was in love with Josslyn. He tells her, nobody said anything about love, and she says she was creating a situation, when in reality there was none. The feelings she has for him are friendship. He says, what about him? She says if he wants to crush on her for the rest of his life, go ahead. He says, what about Josslyn? and she says, that’s for him and Josslyn to decide. He says he just wants everything to go back to normal. It’s their senior year. Before they know it, it will be mid-winter formal. She says she can’t wait to go to the dance with someone she really wants to kiss. He says, speak for herself. This last year has been tricky. He’s taking a break from relationship drama. She asks, for how long?
Nina asks, what happened? and Carly says she tripped. She was saying her piece, and lost her footing, and tripped. Nina says, and in the process, she accidently knocked over the gravestone? She couldn’t just leave this alone.
Jordan tells Curtis that she talked to Britt. She was feeling Britt out. Seeing if she’s worth it as a means to get to Cyrus. He asks what she thinks.
Jax asks Britt what the money will be used for, and she says she’s developing a new research program. Hopefully, it will return GH to it’s rightful place as a top medical institution. He says, it’s ambitious, and she says, it’s expensive. The recent legal issues tainted both the hospital’s reputation and finances. She needs his help. He asks, why not hit up her boss? Cyrus already bought his way onto the Board. She says, he’s already making a substantial contribution, and Jax says, that’s not enough? She says, not to sustain project, and from her understanding, he and the hospital go way back. He says, so did he and Monica. Britt says she’s channeling her inner Monica, and wants to restore the hospital back to its former glory. She understands he’s hugely respected. He says, he’s told Cyrus calls the shots now – literally – and she says, that’s out of her control. He says, he understands business is business, and sometimes you have to work with people you don’t care for, but Cyrus is in a whole other category. He was hoping Cyrus was deceiving her somehow, but she knows who Cyrus is, and it doesn’t bother her. It’s her prerogative, but he doesn’t do business with people like that. She says, that’s it? and he says, sorry. As long Cyrus is in charge, the Bank of Jax is closed. She says, interesting, his lofty standards, given who is brother is. She thought they’d be sympatico; the daughter of Faison and Obrecht, and the brother of Jerry Jax. Still, he judges the rest of them. He says he separated from his brother years ago. She says, keep telling yourself that. Jax’s phone rings.
Nina asks Jax to come to the cemetery. His ex-wife is having a moment.
Trina visits Josslyn, and says she talked to Cameron. He’s going help with her dad. Josslyn asks if Cameron is all good with them working together as a group, and Trina tells her, he said the important thing was, they all remain friends. He said he’s spending senior year free of relationship drama, and making no commitments. Joss says, sounds good to her. The less time they spend on drama, the more time they can focus on clearing Taggert’s name.
Dev sits with Cameron at the counter in Kelly’s. He says he’s checking in to see how Cameron is doing after what Josslyn said. Cameron says, those things were private, and Dev says if Cameron wants to tell Josslyn that he found the journal, go head. Cameron says he doesn’t want her to know he knows. She’ll make excuses that she didn’t mean it.
Jordan tells Curtis, Britt said Cyrus was all about using GH’s resources to combat drug abuse. He asks if Britt is in on it with Cyrus, or looking the other way, but she doesn’t know. She says, Cyrus didn’t sink his money into the hospital to become a patron saint. He’s got something else in mind. Curtis says, and he’s arrogant enough to think he can get away with it.
Britt calls Cyrus, and says she met with Jax. He asks if she secured the financial backing, but she says, not exactly.
Julian leaves a message that he needs help. He needs someone to disappear. Sam tells Julian, his meeting with Cyrus confirms what she’s known all along. He says, forget Cyrus. He wants to get back to her mom, but she says, after what she witnessed, leave her mother the hell alone. He says, in some way, her mother trusts him, and Sam says, look where it got her. Now he’s cozying up to Cyrus. Leave her mother alone, and if she comes in, don’t serve her. He says he’d never serve Alexis alcohol, but Sam says, the list of things he’d never do gets smaller every day. She walks out.
Alexis continues to drink. She says, one more. She’s got nowhere to be.
Carly tells Nina, she’ll pay to have it set. Jax arrives, and asks, what happened? Carly tells Nina, she said it was an accident. Nina tells him, Carly said she tripped. Carly doesn’t know why Nina called him, and Jax says, because she was worried. Carly says she’s fine, and Nina says, is she? She’s going, and hopes Jax has more luck with Carly than she did. She leaves, and Jax wants to know what’s going on. Carly says, it’s nothing. It’s nothing that needs to be discussed. It’s over and done with. She looks at the gravestone, and the leaves move. Presumably, it’s the wind.
On Monday, Alexis says Robert is the reason she’s an alcoholic, Dante thinks Maxie is making a mistake, and Sam wonders why Jason didn’t say anything to her.
A woman’s heart should be so hidden in God that a man has to seek Him just to find her. – Maya Angelou
Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept no one’s definition of your life, but define yourself. – Harvey Fierstein
Money and success don’t change people; they merely amplify what is already there. – Will Smith
Happiness is for dogs and Americans. – Dr. Obrecht (Kathleen Gati), General Hospital
Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does. – William James
The oak fought the wind and was broken, the willow bent when it must and survived. – Robert Jordan
The person attempting to travel two roads at once will get nowhere. – Xun Kuang
If I had to rate Pedro on a scale of one to ten, he’s a three. – driving instructor, The Family Chantel
🍭 Blowing This Pop Stand…
See you when it’s Dead time, but in the meantime, stay safe, stay amused with life, and stay away from Carly. She’s a little clumsy.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
Carly is resting, and Sonny asks, what’s up with Josslyn? She doesn’t look good, and said Nelle stole something from her. Carly says she’ll talk to Josslyn, and gets up. Sonny says, this is probably it. Nelle came back to get it. Carly sees what I’m guessing is a bloody kidney in his hands. She screams. And wakes up. She wonders why this is happening.
Chase tells Willow, she, Michael, and Wiley make a wonderful family. He’s glad she’s happy. She thanks him, and he says it’s all he ever wanted for her. He hopes Michael does better by her than he did. He starts to walk away, and she asks him to wait. She wants to tell him something about her and Michael, but he says whatever it is, it’s better if she doesn’t.
Jax asks if he can talk to Michael, and Michael says, if it’s something about Aurora, he doesn’t have much to contribute yet. Jax says they can talk about whatever he wants, but keep him distracted. He looks over at Nina talking to Valentin. Nina tells Valentin, it wasn’t easy to shut him out and start over, but he left her no choice. He says if she means that, she wouldn’t care who he sleeps with, but she obviously does. Maybe she’s not as over him as she thinks. She says if by over him he means indifferent, she never claimed to be, but she’s determined to move on. He says, then let him do the same. Or did she expect him to wait around indefinitely?
Carly finds Jason in the kitchen, and asks him to pour her a cup of coffee. She could use the caffeine. He asks, what happened? and she says she hasn’t been sleeping well, so she took a nap. Big mistake. She dreamed about Nelle – again. She can’t keep going like this.
Nikolas walks in, and Ava says, good; he’s home. She has something important to discuss. He closes the door, and says he does too. Something he should have told her a long time ago. She says she’s sure it can wait a little longer, but he tells her, for once in her life, lower her guard enough to listen. She asks what makes him think she’s interested in anything that comes out of his mouth. He thought she liked his mouth, and she says she’d like to slap it. So unless he’s about to confess… He says that’s exactly what he’s doing. He hasn’t been honest with her. About him, and about them.
Ava says, speak, and he says he’s been thinking for a while about how things are going. Not just with them; there’s the whole family to consider. She tells him, spit it out, and he says she’s not making it easy. She says clearly he hasn’t thought out what he needs to say, and he suggests she let him say it, instead of being smug, cynical, and ready with a cutting remark. She says he knew how she was when he married her, and he says, a conniving, treacherous opportunist. She says she can never live down her bad choices. She’s selfish and ruthless; never mind his history. He says he knows who he is, but he’s just starting to get to know the real Ava, the woman behind the façade. He’s realized that in their marriage of convenience, he has inconvenient feelings.
Nina says she doesn’t want Valentin to wait for her. There’s no chance for them. He says he doesn’t believe that. Jax is a rebound, and she’s his plus one; his companion, a trophy. She says Valentin knows nothing, and he says he knows she and Jax like each other. He knows they have certain things in common, and knows it’s a safe relationship, because both of their hearts are otherwise engaged. Jax loves Carly, and she loves… She says, no. She’s not threatened by Jax’s connection to Carly.
Jax tells Michael that Valentin wants Nina back. He can’t say he blames him; she’s an incredible woman. Michael says she seems happy with Jax, and Jax says he’s happy with her. But when you’ve been married to someone, you develop an understanding of each other that doesn’t go away just because the marriage ends. Michael hopes he’s right.
Chase tells Willow, he set all of this in motion. He did what he did, and she ended up with Wiley and Michael, and he’s truly happy for her, but he’s no longer a part of her life. Not the way he used to be. So whatever she was going to say… She flashes back to Michael saying there’s nothing selfish about being in love; it’s what he wants for her, but he considers their marriage a success. She tells him, she does too. She tells Chase, it’s not what he thinks, but he says, it doesn’t matter. Whatever she was going to say, it’s best she holds onto it. Michael walks up to them.
Jason asks if Carly wants to talk about it, and she says she keeps having nightmares. The details are different, but they’re horrible and all about Nelle. Even though she’s dead, she’s not. He says Carly just had to sit through a police interrogation about Nelle; it makes sense that she’d be dreaming about her. She says the interrogation was frustrating because the detective accused her of pushing Nelle. Jason says, but she didn’t, so there’s no case. She tells him, that’s what Diane said, and he says he can see why she’s still worried. She says she is, but not because of the cops. It’s because Nina is giving Nelle a proper burial this afternoon at Woodlawn Cemetery. She says she’s doing it for Wiley, so he can visit his mother’s grave, but that’s BS. She’s doing it for herself.
Carly says, Nina had a breakdown a few years back. She kidnapped Avery, and wound up in Shadybrook, but she was able to get the help she needed, and turned her life around. But Nelle didn’t, and Nina can’t let it go. He asks if she thinks Nina feels guilty because she got saved and Nelle didn’t, but Carly doesn’t know. She doesn’t care about Nina’s motives. She cares that Nelle is going to be buried in the same cemetery as Morgan and Mike. She cares that Nelle is going to have a headstone in Port Charles, where she caused so much misery. If Nina wants to do something, pay to have her buried in Florida. I get distracted momentarily by the bowl of moss, and Jason says, who cares about Nina? Why does Nelle bother Carly so much? She says it doesn’t make any sense, but he says, tell him anyway. She says she knows Nelle’s dead, but it seems like Nelle isn’t done with her.
Nina tells Valentin that she admires the way Jax and Carly co-parent, and she’d like to think they could do that with Charlotte. Show her the best of them without the fallout from the relationship they both messed up. He admits he’s responsible for the lion’s share of the damage. He wants to be there for Charlotte, and wants Nina to stay in her life. She says it would make things easier if he’d stop needling her about Jax. He agrees, but wants her to extend the same courtesy to him. She says she doesn’t needle him, and he says she did when he walked in with Brook. She says, that wasn’t needling; she’s appalled. She’s not jealous, and he should know that. Brook isn’t in the right frame of mind to decide if she wants to sleep with him. She’s recovering from a brutal attack. He says he didn’t take advantage of Brook, and she says, Brook is traumatized. Jax asks if everything is okay, and Valentin calls him Jasper, saying, they were just talking about Nelle. Jax says he despises Nelle, but Nina wants to give her a proper burial. Valentin says, she what?
Michael apologizes for barging into the conversation, but Chase says, no big deal. It’s not like when Brook walked in with Valentin. His jaw was on the floor. Michael says, Brook was with Valentin? and Chase says he’s not gossiping. They were pretty open about it. Brook spent the night with Valentin. Michael wonders what she was thinking, and says, Ned isn’t going to like this. Good thing she isn’t living at the house. It’s going to be World War III. Chase asks if he should be looking forward to Brook sleeping on his couch for the foreseeable future. Michael asks if Brook would accept money from him, but Chase says, she’d rather walk on glass. Willow says its good Brook has Chase to help her. He says she means it’s good he’s a sucker, but she says he’s not, and Brook wouldn’t take advantage if he was. She’s not a user like… Chase says, like Janelle.
Ava asks Nikolas what that means exactly, inconvenient feelings? He says it’s not supposed to happen in a relationship like theirs, and she asks him to be more vague. He says he wishes he had done it differently. He wishes he’d returned to his family as soon as he got back. He wishes he’d contacted her without the subterfuge, and that they hadn’t started out at each other’s throats. Being with her is more good than bad. She says, Ava Jerome, more good than bad; that’s a phrase fit for an epitaph. He says he’s falling for her. No, it’s already happened. He’s fallen for her.
Carly tells Jason, maybe it’s PTSD. Nelle has been after her for so long, she can’t let her guard down. He asks why she’s doubting herself. If she thinks something is off, it probably is. She has great instincts. She says, not with Nelle. When Nelle first came to town, she fell for Nelle, hook, line, and sinker. She played right into Nelle’s hands. Jason says she was grateful about Josslyn, and she says, too grateful to see what was in front of her. She didn’t recognize the girl from Frank’s apartment. She couldn’t go back and fix Nelle’s life, which is what Nelle wanted. When she caught up to Nelle in the clearing, Nelle blamed her for everything; every choice, every horrible thing that happened to her. She begged Nelle to turn herself in for Wiley’s sake, but she refused. She was fighting to hold on, and Nelle was fighting for her life. Nelle came at her, scratching and clawing. She feels like there’s something she’s supposed to remember. Like how you can’t remember a name, but it’s on the tip of your tongue. He tells her, don’t push it. It will come to her. She says, or she could confront it.
Valentin asks why Nina is paying for Nelle’s burial. She says, not that it’s any of his business, but Nelle left a son behind. He might want to visit her grave. Valentin asks why he’d want to do that. If Michael is honest with him about the pain Nelle inflicted, why would he want anything to do with her? He’s glad he didn’t know Helena was his mother while she was alive. Nina says he can’t compare Nelle to Helena, and he says, how about the pain Madeline inflicted? Nina isn’t going to romanticize her mother; why romanticize Nelle? She says, it’s none of his business. She doesn’t want to be late for the graveside service that she paid for. She flounces out, and Valentin asks if Jax isn’t going with her.
Chase tells Michael, Janelle is being buried today, and Michael says Nina called and asked if they wanted to attend. When Wiley is an adult, and he wants to visit, that’s up to him, but he has no reason to. Willow says she feels the same way. Nelle was incredibly damaged, but she caused a lot of hurt, and she hurt Willow. All Willow wants to do is leave the past behind and focus on Wiley. Chase said he felt like that at first, but now he thinks he needs to face Janelle one last time.
Ava walks up to Nikolas, and says, so he’s fallen for her. He says, without meaning to. Against his will, and against good advice from people he respects. She says, so this isn’t the first time he’s spoken of these inconvenient feelings. He says he needed a sounding board. Someone to talk to about it, while he tried to talk himself out of it. She says, yet here he is. He says, here we are. They’ve come a long way since she burned his grandmother’s portrait and threatened to shoot him. She says he has no idea how close she came to pulling the trigger, and he says, why shoot him when she could blackmail him into marriage? She says, her sentiments exactly, and drains her martini. He says, it’s different for him, so he has to believe it’s different for her too. Is she in it with him? Yes or no? It’s not just him, is it? She feels it too? She flashes back to when she found the piece of check with his signature on it, and says she feels annoyed and insulted that he expects her to fall for his declaration. He says, it’s the truth, and she says his relationship with the truth is somewhat casual. He asks why he’d leave himself open to being vulnerable if it wasn’t true, and she says, to get her to lower her guard. He says telling her his feelings doesn’t get him closer to his inheritance; it gets him closer to her. She says he’s been working on her for months, trying to wear down her resistance. He asks if that’s what happened at the cabin. She says, yes, and makes a beeline for the door. He gets in front of her, and says, tell him that she didn’t want him as much as he wanted her that night. Tell him it wasn’t real for both of them. She asks if it’s as real as it is when he’s with Elizabeth.
Jax sits down and tells Valentin, it pains him to say this, but he agrees. It would be better for Wiley if Nelle was in an unmarked grave. Valentin assumes he pitched that argument to Nina and it fell on deaf ears. It’s all wrapped up in her head with the loss of her child. Speaking of which, he’s aware what Jax is doing, encouraging her to keep up the search. If he’s doing that, he’d better be damn sure there’s a child out there to find.
Michael asks if Willow is okay, then says, forget that. It wasn’t a question as much as a demand for reassurance. He wants her to tell him she’s okay, and obviously she’s not. She says she doesn’t know what she is. She hates Nelle and always will, and it’s beyond ironic that everything good in her life comes from something Nelle did. He says Willow had every reason to use her pain as an excuse to hurt others, but she didn’t. She says, maybe because at her darkest moments, she had people to support her, and Nelle didn’t. He asks if one of them was Chase, and she says, Chase was there for her, until he wasn’t.
A pastor says a prayer at Nelle’s gravesite. Fastest. Headstone. Placement. Ever. Chase arrives, as Nina says, amen.
Jax says he’s not like Valentin. He’s not hiring someone to pose as Nina’s child. He’s going to help her as much or as little as he wants. Valentin says, and when the search hits a dead end, and Nina is devastated, what then? Jax says, what’s the alternative? Is he supposed to shield her from disappointment? He’s not in charge of her life. Valentin says, aren’t we enlightened? Someone’s done a lot of work on themselves. He wonders if Jax would be so objective if it was Carly about to break her own heart.
Michael tells Willow, there was a moment where Chase was the same Chase he’d always been. She says she felt it too. Before Michael came over, Chase said he was glad she was going to adopt Wiley. She knows he was sincere and he really wants her to be happy. It’s like there are two Chases. The one who loves her, and the one who threw her away. Michael says he can see how much Chase regrets it, and how much he still loves her and wants her back.
Sonny comes home, and apologizes for keeping Jason waiting. His got held up. His dad had Diane draw up a will after he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. He didn’t have a lot, just some personal stuff, and this. He hands Jason a picture and says, a race horse. One quarter share of a thoroughbred, and now it’s his. They laugh, and Jason says, Mike never told him? Sonny says, Mike might have been concerned he’d think Mike was gambling again. Maybe he forgot. Another thing Alzheimer’s took from him. Jason says, Mike loved horses, and Sonny says, he doesn’t know if the horse ever won a race, or if Mike even cared. He didn’t buy it for an investment; he bought it for part of a dream.
Michael says he was being intrusive, but Willow says she’s not offended by what he said. She doesn’t think it matters if Chase wants her back or not.
Valentin asks Jax how far he would go to protect Carly. What boundaries would he cross, or rather what boundaries wouldn’t he cross? Jax asks how many times Valentin has had this conversation with Nina. That is the angle, isn’t it? Playing up his relationship with Carly, so Nina feels more insecure? Valentin says he’s not the only one who sees Jax’s relationship with Carly for what it really is.
Nina thanks the pastor, and tells Chase that she’s glad he changed his mind. He says, if he hadn’t met Janelle, he’d probably still be a cop in coastal Maine. He’s not grateful, and she never did him any good, but in the end, he benefitted. He’s there to acknowledge that, and put her behind him once and for all. Nina says, Nelle had so many gifts, she could have accomplished a lot if just one person was looking out for her. He says, if Nina really believes she could have been the one to save Janelle, then she fooled Nina in death like she fooled him in life. Nina asks if he doesn’t think Nelle’s life would have been different if someone had intervened, but he says, Janelle had plenty of chances to turn her life around. She had plenty of people willing to help. Carly, for one, and Michael. If she’d just put down her vendetta, and tried to become the person she pretended to be, they wouldn’t be standing there right now. But Janelle was broken. She couldn’t accept kindness or support, much less love. Nina says she can’t help but think about it differently. She has a history of making horrible, disastrous choices, and turned herself around, but she had the privilege of having friends and family who cared about her. Nelle didn’t have anyone. Not one person. Maybe he’s right. Nina thought she could save her, but in the end, all she could do is give her a decent burial, and hope that she rests in peace.
Jax says he and Carly have a child together, and Valentin says, it must be difficult to watch him build a life with another woman. Jax says, not as difficult as it is for Valentin to see him building a life with Nina. Valentin says, he’d be more comfortable with Nina’s choice if he believed Jax cared about her half as much as he does. It’s obvious Jax isn’t entirely over Carly, and Valentin doesn’t think he ever will be.
Willow tells Michael, it’s hard for her to imagine getting back together with Chase, and not seeing the betrayal every time she looks at him. She can imagine getting excited over a special dinner, but it wouldn’t be real; she’d just be playing a part. Pretending he never cheated. And pretending would hurt more than accepting they’re over.
Sonny tells Jason, he’s having Diane locate the other shareholders. He wants to buy them out. If the horse still wants to race, he’ll let him, but if not, he’ll find him a pretty pasture. Jason says, Mike would like that. Sonny says he thinks Mike would, but more than that, he keeps doing it over and over, wondering what Mike would want him to do. He’s gone. Sonny loves him and grieves, but has people there who need him. He has to let his dad go, and focus on the present.
Nikolas says, Elizabeth has nothing to do with this, and Ava says she’s seen how Nikolas looks at her; how he watches her. How he grovels for her attention, her approval, and God knows what else. Elizabeth has always been his ideal, hasn’t she? It was Elizabeth who he was hoping was waiting for him when he got back. He says, Elizabeth is his oldest friend. The romance they had was over years ago. She says, look her in the eye and tell her that he hasn’t dreamed of leaving her for Elizabeth.
Nikolas says, it’s true. He thought of starting over with Elizabeth. Ava says, then spare them more of this farce, but he says, it was just a fantasy. Elizabeth is his past. She says, and she’s his future. He says, that depends. Is he hers? Does she return his feelings? Yes or no? She says she refuses to play this game. He says, she doesn’t have to; he got his answer. She says, believe what he likes, and he says he’ll say it as many times as it takes. She tells him, save his breath. Actions speak louder than words. He asks what he can do to prove himself. Name it. She says if he wants to prove his feelings, divorce her.
Jax says he’s been clear on Carly’s place in his life, and Valentin says, he’s holding nothing back? There’s nothing in his history with Carly that Nina can’t know? Jax flashes back to being on the cliff with Carly when Nelle fell, and telling her that she can tell the truth or save herself/ He tells Valentin, if he ever feels the need to settle his conscience, he won’t be talking to Valentin about it. He leaves, and Valentin wonders what he’s hiding.
Michael says he doesn’t want to make Willow uncomfortable, so no is an acceptable answer to what he’s going to say. She says, okay… and he says he doesn’t know a lot about wine. As CEO, he’s going to have a lot of business dinners, and he needs to study up. While they’re still married, would she like to study with him? He could have a broker send over a selection, maybe once a week. Cook could make dinner. They could make it themselves, but Cook would never let them in the kitchen. He doesn’t want to do something too close to what she and Chase enjoyed, but she says she’s not going to give up wine for the rest of her life because she used to drink it with Chase. She’d love to study wine with him. It sounds like fun. They clink glasses, and she says he’s making the annulment more difficult. The more she’s around him, the more she realizes what to expect from a relationship; someone she can trust, solve problems with, and study wine with. She doesn’t want what she had with Chase. She wants this. While thy’re still married, she’s going to honor that for as long as it lasts. He says he is too.
Sonny asks Jason if there’s any word on Brando. Jason says, Brando went to work for Cyrus this morning. He should be safe for a while. Cyrus won’t test him too soon. Sonny says, eventually, Cyrus is going to want Brando to prove his loyalty, and Jason says, thenBrando knows what to expect. Sonny says, what if Cyrus orders Brando to kill Jason? and Jason says he thinks the motorcycle sabotaging was a one-off. He doesn’t have to try for a while. At lest not in public. Sonny asks if Jason thinks Cyrus would risk a war with what he’s got going on at the hospital, and Jason says, he got rid of the long time staffers. He cut Elizabeth’s hours, and put Epiphany on administrative duties. Sonny says, so no one would notice Cyrus is moving product through the hospital. Sonny asks what Jason thinks the end game is, and Jason says, if Cyrus controls the mayor’s office, the cops, and the hospital, he gets Sonny isolated. He takes out Sonny, and he owns Port Charles. Sonny asks if Jason thinks it’s that simple, and Jason says, no.You have to control a lot of people, and in an organization like that, you need secrecy and loyalty. Cyrus has neither. Sonny says, the more Cyrus wastes his time, the more Brando moves closer. Jason says, what if Cyrus openly breaks the truce? Sonny says, then they take him out. It could get messy, but they have too much to lose; too many people in the line of fire.
Nina kneels at Nelle’s grave, and says she doesn’t know what to say. Sorry seems inadequate, and anything more than that seems like a lie. The people Nelle hurt didn’t deserve it, but she didn’t deserve the kind of life she had. Nina wishes things could have been different for Nelle. She hears footsteps, and looks up. It’s Carly.
Tomorrow, Curtis asks Jax if it was his call to continue the search, Alexis asks if someone wants to join her, Cyrus says Julian will find his offer impossible to turn down, and Carly says she’s where she’s supposed to be.
👒 Tonight, Bravo gave us the gift that keeps on giving. Ashley from Southern Charm made an appearance to watch the season 5 finale, along with Kathryn. Well, not exactly with Kathryn. Since it was remote, we could see both of them, but they couldn’t see or hear each other. Believe me, it was better that way. Starting off, Ashley said she was terrified, and Kathryn said it was going to be funny. Kathryn said she was going to be watching all by herself… sort of, and Ashley said, what do you mean Kathryn will be watching? She seemed more amused than embarrassed, and said once you’re a villain, there’s nothing you can do to redeem self. Apparently, she forgot Kathryn, since that’s pretty much what happened with her. Ashley told us, the opening music got her heart rate up. It was a horrific time for her, and she could feel the anxiety; whereas Kathryn said it was a new beginning for her; she’d come full circle with her relationships.
We found out Kathryn never finished Patricia’s book, The Art of Southern Charm. I have to confess, I haven’t either, but I really just bought it for the pictures of Chauncy. Kathryn also informed us that Craig’s finger was permanently crooked from the butter knife incident. She said she and Craig both had houses that were a wreck, but at least she had the excuse of having children. Yep. I have pets is my excuse. Ashley said Craig was one of her favorites, but she was still waiting for her pillow. I’m guessing she’ll be waiting a long time. She said Shep had been the kindest to her, but made it clear that she loathed Naomie, saying she’d rather watch Kathryn, and hated Austen too. She made fun of the way Austen talked, which was extremely mature of her, made fun of the majority of the cast, called them bitches, and said she hated them. Kathryn’s attitude was just the opposite. She laughed at herself, and gave us various details that weren’t on camera.
The episode featured Patricia’s Christmas party, where Ashley called Kathryn an egg donor. In a completely Twilight Zone moment, Ashley said that Thomas had told her to wear a red dress, and Kathryn said she bet Thomas told Ashley to wear a red dress. ♫ Do-do-do-do do-do-do-do ♫ When Cameron said the party was like the Titanic, Ashley felt compelled to inform us that it sank. No surprise to me, Ashley said JD (bleh) was her favorite. She harped a lot on Naomie being a bitch, and how abusive she was to poor Craig. As Captain Lee would say, Craig wrote Naomie a check his ass couldn’t cash. Neither one of them communicated well, and I like Craig, but she had a reason to be unhappy.
The takeaway point was that Ashley is definitely still bitter, and still proving she’s a nurse, as she showed us her credentials. She also talked to herself in third person, like, run Ashley! She’s still clueless too. When, during the episode, she told Kathryn that she was living the life Kathryn wanted, she confirmed her original assessment, telling us that Kathryn still did. I find that highly doubtful. At the end, she insisted she wanted nothing but the best for Kathryn, even though she talked sh*t about her. On the other hand, Kathryn laughed her way through it, and said she was glad to say goodbye to that chapter. I don’t know what the hell was in her head with that monkey emoji, but sometimes decent people can be thoughtless. I like Kathryn, also want nothing but the best for her, but won’t be talking sh*t.
This was followed by How They Got Here 2020, which basically gave a quick review of seasons past. The new season begins next Thursday, October 29th.
I actually have to get up early tomorrow for an online seminar, and schedule changes aren’t high on my list of fun. So until we meet at GH and Tea, stay safe, stay self-possessed, and stay not expecting a pillow from Craig.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
Carly goes through a box of Mike’s belongings, and asks Sonny if some booklets count as sports memorabilia. He says, it counts as old junk; racing forms and programs. She thinks they should have Diane send a clerk over to catalog it. It might not have monetary value, but Mike’s stuff is valuable to him, and he doesn’t want to throw it out. Sonny isn’t so sure, and Carly looks through some pictures. She takes out one of Sonny as a young boy.
On the phone, Brando says, of course (🍷) he’s grateful, but wants to know what it’s going to cost him. Cyrus says, just a few moments of his time. He wants to meet. Tonight.
Peter tells Jackie that he had his doubts when Lulu wanted to bring her in. She says she’s fond of Port Charles, and he says he knows she cut her teeth at The Herald. She says, for a few years in the 80s, she investigated her sister’s abduction. The trail led her there. He says, the city where she made her name. He asks how Port Charles has changed for her, and she says, it’s certainly bigger… shinier, faster. But none of that changes its essential character. At its heart, it’s the Port Charles she left behind.
Maxie tells Robert, she hopes he didn’t say something to upset Mac. He asks why he’d do that, and she says he can’t seem to help himself sometimes. Anything with Peter goes back to Faison with him. He says, excuse him for being overprotective, and she says she doesn’t need him to protect her from Peter. He isn’t like his father any more than she’s like hers.
Anna asks Finn to give her the basics on epigenetics. He says he loves when she talks sexy, and she says she’s being serious. From her research she sees that epigenetics involve changes that don’t have to do with the DNA sequence. He says some stuff I don’t understand and she says, meaning one identical twin could have a trait that their child inherits, a trait not necessarily present in the other twin. He asks what she’s thinking, and she says, this is how she can prove whether or not she’s Peter’s mother.
Someone looks around The Floating Rib from the back hallway. Dante comes out into the alley, and says, there are a lot of people in there. Peter will have to wait.
On the phone, Olivia says Ned doesn’t have to call her back, but she wants to talk to him when he gets home. She ran into Brook at the reception, and got quite an earful. She hangs up, and says he has no idea how lucky he is to actually have his baby there at home.
Brook stomps over to Valentin and says he played her. She let him use her against her own family. Chase doesn’t think the conversation will do anyone any good, but she says the only good thing about being fired in front of God and everyone else is, now she can tell Valentin what she really thinks. Valentin says, please do, and she says she should have warned her father that he was after ELQ. Instead, she let him buy her silence. Now her life is a dumpster fire. That’s what she gets for trusting him. He says from his perspective, the only person she has to blame for her wreck of a life is herself. Chase suggests they sit down, and starts to steer Brook away, and Valentin says he doesn’t want her to think he’s unsympathetic to her current situation. If she’d just told him that her voice hadn’t healed, he could have gone to Lucy and made arrangements. Instead, she did whatever the hell this just was, and embarrassed the entire company. She laughs, and says, please. As if Lucy’s never made a public spectacle of herself and he’s never told a lie. He says he didn’t lie to the buyer and get caught. He understands her. she wants to fix everything on her own, so she doesn’t have to admit when something is broken. It worked to his advantage when he made a play for ELQ, but today, it’s the very thing that sunk her.
Anna tells Finn about Maxie and Peter’s genetic screening appointment. She says, there was nothing concerning, but Peter had a marker for rheumatoid arthritis. She knows she doesn’t have it since she got a full genetic workup when she was diagnosed with PV. He says, that means Peter inherited the gene from Faison or… She says, her sister. If Alex has the marker, that means Peter is her son, not Anna’s.
Peter says he can imagine Jackie had some nostalgia for the place she got her start, but she says she has other irons in the fire. She has family of her own there, and she’s interested in the city whether they work together or not. He asks if exposing a philanthropist as a major drug trafficker isn’t high on her to-do list, and she says, if Cyrus is dirty, he’s done an incredible job of covering his tracks. Any investigation would be risky, labor intensive, and costly. He says he’s willing to pay. She and the story are worth it. She says the money isn’t what’s holding her back. It’s him.
Maxie tells Robert, her dad was addicted to adventure. He wasn’t cut out for parenthood, and cut out on his family, but he’s not in the same universe as Faison. Robert says, agreed, and she says she was making a point. Her father is an absentee parent. She’s not. Faison was an evil lunatic, but Peter isn’t. Robert needs to stop worrying. He says, worrying about the people we love comes naturally. It’s what makes them human. She asks, you know what else makes them human? Sharing in joy with others.
Maxie sees Spinelli talking to Brando and squeals that he’s there. Spinelli says, and by fortuitous coincidence, she’s present also. Brando says they know each other? and Maxie says they have a child together; Georgie. Who’s going to be so excited that Spinelli is there. Brando says he’s going to take off, and congratulates Maxie again. Spinelli says, congratulations are in order? He asks if it’s something Georgie will like, and Maxie says, she’ll be over the moon, and not just because she gets to wear a special dress for the occasion. He says he can only surmise she and Peter are getting married.
Carly looks through the photos, and asks if Sonny remembers them. He says he recognizes the old building, but that’s about it. She says he was so young, it’s not surprising he doesn’t remember. He says, objectively, she’s right, but he can’t help thinking about what happened to his dad. When did he know he had a problem? Carly says, that’s a huge leap, going from something he doesn’t remember when he was six, to thinking he has Alzheimer’s, and he says, it’s a question he’s been asking himself since his dad was diagnosed. Is it going to happen to him?
Brando meets Cyrus, and thanks him for getting the cops off his back. He asks how Cyrus managed it, and Cyrus says, he has a voice at the PCPD. Having been unjustly incarcerated himself, he has an affinity for others who might be denied due process. Brando asks, why use that voice for him? and Cyrus says, partly to make amends for Brando landing in the hospital. Brando says, so Cyrus got the guys who beat him up sent away, and got the cops to stop investigating him for the motorcycle crash. That’s a lot of good will on Cyrus’s part. Cyrus says, someone had to step up for him. It was clear Sonny wouldn’t.
Sonny tells Carly, the last few years, he’s been focusing on his dad, but he has been wondering if the Alzheimer’s was passed on to him. She says she’s done some research, and a person with a parent or sibling with Alzheimer’s does have a higher likelihood of developing it, but there are many other factors. He says maybe he should start figuring out the odds; there are tests. She says, they’re not for everyone, but he says, they are an option for people with a family member who has Alzheimer’s.
Spinelli tells Maxie, traditionally, it’s not unusual for someone expecting a baby to wed, but he thought she might take a less conventional route. She says she thought he might step up and be happy for her, but clearly, that’s not what’s going to happen. He says he always wishes for her happiness, but she says, not one more word. She’s the one whose engagement party was just rained on, and now it’s her turn to talk.
Jackie tells Peter, the best publishers she’s worked with stay out of the limelight. He has a bad habit of becoming the story. His father, his kidnapping, his recent arrest… He says he was cleared on all charges, and she says he doesn’t have to sell her on Port Charles or The Invader, but he does have to sell her on himself, so make his pitch. Why should she take a job with him given his reputation? He says, it’s tempting, but he’s not going to pitch her. It’s clear she’s already been given the hard sell by Robert Scorpio.
Anna says, there are cases where one twin acquired a gene, no? and Finn says, there are, but it’s more likely Peter acquired the gene from Faison. She says, then the next step is to find out if Faison had the marker for rheumatoid arthritis. He says, or she could tell Peter the truth. Family secrets can be devastating and they always come out . He thinks Peter should hear it from her. She asks if he’d like to elaborate on why he can’t patch things up with his stepfather, even for Chase.
Valentin says he and Brook aren’t so different. The black sheep of powerful families. Chase says, okay, that’s enough, and Brook says she’s nothing like Valentin. Nothing. He says, methinks the lady doth protest too much, and Chase says, they’ve both said what they had to say. He’s calling this. He tries to get Brook to go, but she says she’s not done. She might be selfish at times, but Valentin is worse. He’s the type of selfish person who believes he’s selfless, and that the things he does for himself are motivated by his love and devotion to others. At least she owns who she is. He smiles, and she asks if something is funny. He says, no. He thinks it’s remarkable that, after everything she’s gone through, she still ahs that spark. He likes it.
Jackie says she never said anything about Robert, and Peter says she didn’t have to. His vendetta and paranoia are all over the conversation. It’s no secret they have a history, and clearly (WOTD) Robert’s opinion matters to her. She says, why shouldn’t it? He might have an attitude, but he’s the closest thing she’s witnessed to an honest to God hero. He says, as opposed to his father. An irredeemable villain who tainted him by association. She asks what good her story would do if it was printed by a publisher her readers didn’t trust. She needs to trust him. He says, trust isn’t won overnight. His numbers are spiking at a time when people are saying print is dead. If that isn’t good enough, he suggests she take a leap of faith
Maxie tells Spinelli, she and Peter are having a child together. She loves him, and asked him to marry her, and he accepted her proposal. It’s a done deal. If she had any doubts, she wouldn’t be marrying him. Can’t that be enough? He doesn’t say anything, and she says, all right then. She won’t ask him to be happy for her. She won’t invite him to the wedding He doesn’t even have to get them a gift, but he does have to be fair to their daughter. That means keeping his opinion about Peter to himself. Do not influence Georgie’s opinion of him. if Spinelli can’t play by her rules, she’ll no longer consider him her friend. She walks away, and walks past Robert at the bar.
Robert goes over to Spinelli, and Spinelli says he guesses Maxie convinced Robert to drop their investigation of Peter.
Brando says he’s not going to talk to Cyrus about Sonny, and Cyrus says, then let’s talk about the job he’s offering. As a driver, among other things. Brando asks, what other things? and Cyrus says Brando is an ex-marine, a combat vet. He could use Brando on his team. Brando is sure it doesn’t hurt that he’s close to Sonny, and Cyrus says he thought Brando didn’t want to talk about Sonny. (D’oh!) Brando say,s Sonny is his cousin and has done a lot for him. It would be wrong of him to work for Cyrus.
Carly says Sonny spent more time with Mike than anyone. He’s just in the beginning stages of grief. Give himself some time before he takes a step like being tested for Alzheimer’s. He says, it’s not just his future at stake. If he knows his status, then Kristina, Donna, and Avery can decide later if they want to get tested. Even Dante. She says, even if he found out Dante was at risk, what good would it do? Dante doesn’t want to talk to anyone in the family. He says, that’s not true anymore.
The doorbell rings, and Olivia answers it. Dante says he’s come back. She throws her arms around him, and hugs him.
Jackie says, Peter wants her to take a leap of faith on him, and he says, he is on her. He’s heard she can be demanding. She says, exacting, and he says, aggressive. She says, persistent, and he says, difficult. She says, the D word. She knows what people say about her. If she was a man, they’d say she was a go-getter. He says, good assessment, but off point. He’s willing to take a risk in spite of her reputation. Why can’t she do the same with him? She says, there would be some conditions. She only works with Lulu, and they only report to him. No editors or middlemen in between. He says, done, and she says, she and Lulu get final copy approval. He says, with his input, but she says, no. Final editorial approval. He says he’s sure they can work something out, and she says, the only thing left to do is set up her expense account. She’s sure he doesn’t mind her writing the drinks off. He says, by all means, and she says, she’s sure this is the start of a beautiful working relationship. He says, God save them both, and excuses himself.
Peter goes over to where Maxie is sitting, and says he takes it Spinelli isn’t thrilled with their engagement. She says, he thinks it’s a disaster. In all fairness, he didn’t use the word disaster, but it was written all over his face. She can’t take it anymore, and gave him an ultimatum. She said he couldn’t influence Georgie’s opinion of Peter, or make anymore ridiculous paranoid accusations. If he does, their friendship is over. She wanted to take it back the second she said it, but she can’t.
Spinelli tells Robert they can’t drop the investigation. Peter has killed in the past, and may very well kill again. Robert asks, what happens if he says that to Maxie? and Spinelli says, she’ll end their friendship and cling more tightly to Peter. Robert says Spinelli has to change his tactics. He has to convince Maxie that she can trust him again. Spinelli asks, how? and Robert says, lie to her.
Valentin goes to Anna’s house, and she tells him they have to make it brief. He says her fiancé doesn’t approve of him, and she says, he’s heard one too many allegations about Valentin’s unsavory past. Most of which are true. He suggests Finn doesn’t like the fact he knows Anna better, and always will. She asks why he’s there, and he says they need to decide how they’re handling her sister. Anna says, maybe they don’t. Since the initial call, she hasn’t tried to make contact. He says, direct contact. There was an attempted ambush in Berlin. She says, according to him. He says he thought he was there because she requested him, but… he starts to leave, and she says she’s sorry. she’s not implying otherwise. It’s just hard to accept that her sister has gone from sabotaging her career to wanting her dead. Valentin has a suggestion. Kill her before she kills Anna. Anna says Alex is her sister. She can’t just… kill her. He says, if she’s playing Alex’s game, it’s the surest way to die, and it looks to him like she is. They’ve lost valuable weeks since the ambush. It gives Alex the advantage of time and momentum. They need to act. If she’s not going to, he will. She asks, why the urgency? and he says if Alex knows he’s involved, then she’s a present danger. Not just to him, but his daughter. He’s not going to let anything happen to Charlotte. Anna seriously doubts Alex gave Valentin or his daughter a second thought. This is about Peter. He says it sounds like she knows something, and she says she does. He says, how about telling him, since she obviously knows more than he does? What is Alex’s fixation with Peter? Anna says, she might be his mother.
Brando tells Cyrus that he’s not betraying Sonny, and Cyrus says, nor should he. He and Sonny called a truce. By taking a job with him, Brando would be a liaison of sorts. Someone to keep the lines of communication open. Brando doesn’t think Sonny would agree with that perspective, and Cyrus says, Sonny’s a practical man. He has no doubt sonny would approve of any arrangement that keeps the peace. Come work for him. Everyone benefits.
Olivia lets Dante in, and says he feels good. Olivia says, the beard is a little scraggly. He does look scraggly, but I like it. He says he wanted to see her first before shaving, and she guesses she raised him right. She’s overcome, and tells him that she doesn’t know what to say. Is he really there? Is he there for good? He says, he’s home, and it’s all because of her.
Carly says, Dante’s home for good? and Sonny says, he’s healing. She says, he’s healthy enough to come home, and Sonny says, they gave him everything he needs to stay healthy. She says, Dante can be tested, and the girls, but the right now, the only opinion that matters is Sonny’s. He says, what if he just wants to do it? and she says, what if he wants to do it, thinking if he has the courage to do it, he’ll get the results he wants? She understands that kind of magical thinking. If I’m brave enough to face the worst, maybe the worst won’t happen. But with Alzheimer’s, it’s hard to know for certain. The tests are narrow in scope and not predictive. He asks what she became a medical professional, and she says she’s not a doctor, but she’s his wife. She doesn’t want him to torture himself about something if he doesn’t have to.
Chase and Brook go back to the bar. He asks if she’s given any more thought to moving back home, but she says she doesn’t think there’s enough room for her and her family. Underneath the bickering, there is a lot of love, but there’s also judgement. She’ll never be equal to Michael, Dillon, or her father, if she doesn’t stand on her own two feet. Even then, they’ll have to come to her with an apology. He says he’s sorry to hear that, because he has more bad news.
Valentin asks what Anna means, Alex is Peter’s mother? and she says, might be. Does he remember the night he got her to admit she had Faison’s baby? He says, of course (🍷) he remembers that night. He watched her unraveling in his living room. Please tell him it was Alex. She says she can’t be certain. He knows she was subjected to memory transfer. Something from Alex was imprinted in her, and this might be it. He says, thank God. This means he didn’t follow her that night. She didn’t sleep with Faison, and he didn’t deliver her baby to Faison. He didn’t betray her. She tells him, stop it. Everything he did was despicable, whether it was to her or Alex. He says, of course (🍷) it was Alex. He thinks he always knew it. She says he knows more than she does, because it’s just a theory. She thinks she might be able to prove it by specific genes, and he says, run all the tests she wants to, but he knows it was Alex; they both know. She would never do the things Alex did. She says, Peter has to believe she’s his mother, and Valentin says, okay. That’s why she’s afraid of Alex. It’s not what Alex will do to her, but to Peter. She’ll tell him the truth. Anna says she doesn’t want him involved with this anymore. It’s her problem, and she’ll handle it now. He asks how? when Finn comes in. Finn says he didn’t realize they had guests, and Valentin says he just dropped by for a quick word with Finn’s fiancé. Finn says, if this is about the planned ambush, he already knows.
Spinelli says, and after he convinces Maxie that he approves of her marriage to that miscreant? Robert says, stay close. She’ll need someone to lean on when the bottom drops out of everything, and it’s going to, because he’s going to make it. Spinelli says, and Robert is going to continue with the investigation? Robert says, Peter is guilty, and he intends to prove it.
Peter says he’s sorry Maxie’s feelings were hurt, and she says, as much as she cares about Spinelli – and she always will – if she has to choose, she chooses him. Spinelli has to see, this time he has to compromise. Spinelli approaches the table, and asks if he could have a moment. He needs to apologize to them both. He never offered his congratulations on their engagement, but offers it now with a full heart. He wishes them every happiness. Peter thanks him, and Maxie says it was beautiful, but what made him change his mind?
Dante says, Olivia saved him. It wasn’t until he heard her that he realized he had to do everything in his power to get home. She needs him; his family needs him. Olivia says she’s his mother, and she’ll always need him, but she didn’t save him. He saved himself. She just let him know he always has a place to live, no matter what. He says he was worried she’d given up on him, and she says she tried, but she knew in her heart that she’d see him again. She has to call Sonny.
Sonny tells Carly, when they buried his dad next to Morgan, he was thinking that Morgan inherited being bi-polar from him, so maybe he inherited Alzheimer’s from his dad. If he did, they’ll deal with it. Carly says, there’s no medication you can take to prevent it. Live a healthy lifestyle. Exercise, which he does, and eat well, which he does. She guesses he could drink less, and he says, maybe he can box more and drink the same. She laughs, and says she thinks one of the greatest things about being a human being is that you don’t know how life will turn out. They have no idea what’s going to happen next. If it were her choice, she wouldn’t want to know, but it’s not her choice; it’s his. He says, something to think about, but not anytime soon. She says, it’s a decision he shouldn’t rush. If he ends up slipping like his dad at some point, promise she’ll tell him. She says she will, and she’ll be by his side the entire time, the way he was with his dad. Always.
Valentin says Finn knows more about the situation than he does, so tell him, is she setting a trap for Alex or not? Anna says, there’s been a change in plans. She’ll deal with her sister herself in her own way. He says he respects her more than she’ll ever know. That’s why it pains him to see her indulge in denial. Her sister has unfinished business with her, and she will be visiting Port Charles. It will either be on her terms or Anna’s.
Chase tells Brook that he needs his couch back; his whole apartment really. She says, but he told her… He says, she could stay until she got back on her feet. She needs to start doing that. She says she just lost her job, and he says he believes in her. He believes she’ll stand on her own, but that doesn’t mean she can’t carve out a place for her family. The longer she lets this fester, the more it will take on a life of its own.
Valentin leaves, and Finn asks if Anna changed her mind. She says she’s changing tactics, and needs his help. She won’t throw Peter’s whole life into question until she’s exhausted every option. He says, what options? Alex is a fugitive, and Faison is dead. She says, dead, yes, but not gone.
Robert asks if Jackie had a nice time cozying up to Peter. She says she’s decided to work with Peter, but not with him. Like she told him, if he wants to dig up dirt on Peter, do it on his own time. He says he intends to, but when she finds something – and she will – she’ll know how important it is that they work together. She’s met his niece, and knows what’s at stake.
Spinelli says, Maxie warned him that his continued actions were ruining their friendship. He had to step back and reassess his priorities. They’re Georgie’s parents, and continue to raise her in mutual admiration and regard. He hopes to regain her trust, and hopes to get Peter’s. Peter says, it’s over; let’s put it behind us. Spinelli says, that’s very gracious, and Peter says it’s all he can do. All he’s ever wanted is to prove himself. Spinelli says he’s done that by making Maxie happy. Maxie asks if that means Spinelli is coming to their wedding and he says she couldn’t keep him away.
Dante tells Olivia, he tried to make Mike’s funeral, but he missed it. Sonny was still there, saying goodbye. She says she saw Sonny afterward, but he didn’t say anything. Dante tells her, he asked Sonny not to. He wanted to see Lulu and the kids first; he didn’t want them to hear it from anyone else. He went to Lulu’s house, and there was someone else there. She says, Dustin, and he says, seems like they’re pretty serious. She says, Dustin doesn’t hold a candle to him, and he thanks her, but says he doesn’t think her opinion is going to make a bias. She says, this can wait until morning, because he’s there. He’s staying there, in this house. They have 20 million guest rooms, and even if they didn’t… He doesn’t know how long she’s waited for this moment. Her baby is home. She hugs him, and says, everything will be okay.
Carly says Sonny was so cute, and he agrees, pointing out his dimples. She bets he was as modest then as he is now, and he says, just about. The doorbell rings, and Sonny goes to get it. It’s Brando, and Sonny asks if he has an update. Brando says he has some news, but sees Carly, and stops talking. Sonny says there are no secrets between them, and Brando says he just met with Cyrus. Cyrus wants to recruit him. Sonny says, good.
Tomorrow, Ava is starting to believe Nikolas cares for her, Nikolas tells someone to take it now or the deal is off, and Sonny tells Julian that he doesn’t have the luxury of turning him down.
🍹 Tonight’s Bravo offering was the season 4 finale of Southern Charm, with Craig, Shep, and the two Toms from Vanderpump Rules watching virtually. Craig and Shep were together; ditto the Toms. The first thing that stood out was how much Tom Sandoval is looking like Freddy Mercury with blond highlights. These guys were way chattier than anyone has been so far, and there was a lot of discussion between boxes. Part of the episode was when the cast went to Key West, and also included a party hosted by JD (bleh). Cameran gave a lecture to a more than hungover Craig, and Shep came by, still keeping the party going. When Shep focused heavily on a sandpiper, Schwartz said, when you’re drunk and hungover like that, there’s a raw appreciation of nature. Ugh. I don’t think I’ll be testing that theory, since just watching Shep brought me back to the couple of times I’ve continued drinking into the next day, and I actually felt a little sick, even though it was many years ago. Sandoval did a lot of fashion critiquing, called out household hints, and had a lot to say about how he would have handled various situations. The Toms also pumped Craig and Shep, who reminded me of frat boys, for information on other cast members. The episode included some high tension between Craig and Naomie, who were seeing each other at the time, and Craig not-so-humble bragged about how he had passed the bar, and was now a lawyer, as it had been a bone of contention with Naomie. While watching Craig tell Naomie how he was done with her criticism, Shep said it was the most boring scene he’d ever seen. He made me laugh, but he also may have been right. When it was over, Craig suggested they watch Vanderpump Rules with the Toms. Sandoval was all for it, but Schwartz said he was out. All in all, it was a fun show.
🐴 Beating a Dead Horse…
Dorinda wanted to make it nice, but needed a vacation.
How is it a week can drag by, yet the month between mortgage payments goes by fast? One of life’s mysteries. Along with how the hell did such a promising number as 2020 treat us so badly? But you’re still here. Keep it up. And while you’re at it, stay safe, stay thinking beyond now, and stay not torturing yourself about things you don’t have to.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
Carly and Sonny arrive at the church first. A photo of Mike in his tux at the Nurses Ball is on display, along with the flowers. Sonny thanks Carly for putting the photo in a frame. She says she loves that picture of Mike; it shows his personality. Sonny says he stared at Mike’s face for months. He wanted to connect, and there were moments, but… When first saw the picture, it was like something he forgot, but he sees it now. It’s like, oh yeah, it’s his dad.
Ava walks in, and they thank her for coming. Sonny says he appreciates everything she’s done for Avery, and she says she’s glad they can do this together. Kristina comes in, followed by Sam and Jason. Sonny asks how she’s holding up, and Kristina says she’s pretty sad. It helps to know Mike’s not hurting or confused anymore. Sam says if they need a break, she and Jason can greet people, and Jason says, whatever he needs. That goes for Carly too. Sonny asks them to stay close. Dev and Brando are next, and Dev says, Mike was an amazing person. Carly says Dev was good to Mike; Mike loved seeing him. Brando says he was glad he could connect with Mike again, and be back in his life, even for just a little while. Sonny says he’s glad too. Sonny hugs Olivia, who says Sonny was a good son to Mike. Sonny says, not always, but Olivia says, don’t go there. He was there for Mike when Mike needed him the most. Ned waits quietly, and Sonny thanks him for coming. Willow and Michael arrive, and Carly says it’s good to see them both. Michael says if they need him or Willow to do anything, like greet people… but Carly says Sam and Jason already offered. Michael asks how she is, and she says she’s hanging in there. Michael tells Sonny that he loves him, and Sonny says, that’s what gets him through it.
Stella lights a candle, and Carly thanks her for being there. Not just because of what she did for Mike, but for the entire family. Stella says, Mike was an amazing human being. It was gratifying to see him surrounded with love, and given a peaceful passing. Sonny says Stella taught him how to help Mike in his last days. He appreciates that, and won’t forget – ever. She says he’s very welcome.
Josslyn comes in with Jax, and hugs Carly. She tells Sonny that she hopes he knows how much she loved Mike. Sonny says his dad loved her too. Jax says he’s truly sorry for their loss, and Sonny thanks him. Brook follows, and tells Sonny, Mike was one in a million. Diane hugs Sonny, and says he has her deepest condolences. Carly thanks her, and Sonny says, thanks for defending Mike, and cleaning up his messes. She says it was her honor to help, and Sonny excuses himself. Diane asks how Carly is doing, and Carly says she’s fine. Diane says she can’t imagine any of this is easy. She know Carly has friends and a support system, but if she ever needs a drink or five, and needs to vent, she’s there. Carly thanks her.
Sonny tells Elizabeth that he appreciates how good she was to his dad. She cared for him, and visited him at Turning Woods. She went above and beyond. Elizabeth says, Mike was important to her too, and Sonny says he also wants to thank her for speaking up during Mike’s last trip to the hospital. She advised Sonny that he shouldn’t put a feeding tube in Mike. He guesses he just wanted Mike with him so bad, and she let him know it wasn’t fair. Elizabeth says she’s glad if anything she said was helpful, but she thinks Sonny would have come to that decision on his own. He was in tune with his dad. Sonny says he hopes he did what Mike wanted, and Elizabeth says, it’s an awful, relentless disease. It would be understandable if he’d pulled away when Mike deteriorated, but he didn’t. He never faltered, and gave Mike the best of himself. He has nothing to regret.
The priest tells everyone to be seated, and Michael goes to the front. He says, behalf of the family, he thanks them for being there to remember Mike, and celebrate Mike’s life. Celebration is key, as they know Mike loved to party. He’d like them all to raise a glass, watch a baseball game, or a horserace in his honor. It’s okay to cry. Mike would be fine with that, as long as they laughed more. That was Mike’s way. Mike went through hard times, some of his own making, and had a lot of regrets, but his grandfather never shied away from life or played it safe. He took chances, and gave generously. He failed at times, but knew in the end, it’s not whether you win or lose; it’s the people you know along the way, and the lives you touch. The ones who you love and who love you. He loved all of them very much. Michael goes over to the casket, and touches it.
Olivia tells them, she wants to say a few words about Mike on behalf of her son Dante, Mike’s oldest grandson. Dante only got to know Mike after he’d been diagnosed, but they managed to form a special bond. She feels like she’s known Mike all her life. He was a generous man; easy going, a glass half full kind of guy. He had a fierce temper when he was pushed too far, like her son. He got in a scrape with the law, and had to spend a night in lockup. Dante spent the whole evening in lockup with his grandfather. She figured Dante was being a nice guy, but he told her it was a privilege to spend the night with Mike, just to be able talk and spend time together. She cries a little, and says, the thing about that night… Time spent with Mike was never wasted. Their lives are much richer for having known him.
Ava gets up, and says she’s there on behalf of her daughter Avery, Mike’s second youngest grandchild. Avery adored her grandfather; it was a mutual admiration society.When Mike was able to, he played tea party with her, pushed her on the swing, helped her blow bubbles, and told her marvelous stories about when he was a boy. He talked to Avery about horses; she liked that. When he moved to Turning Woods, Avery looked forward to her visits with him. She was never frightened. Even when he wasn’t as able to focus or communicate, he always had a big smile for her. He was truly the bright light in Avery’s life, and she knows Avery will never forget him.
Elizabeth is next. She says Mike was around a lot when she was a teenager. He watched her, Lucky, Emily, and Nikolas strolling through their high school adolescence. They always had problems and personal drama. Looking back, Mike was a wise man with a lot of experience to share. You’d think he would have jumped in and told them what to do, but he didn’t. Instead, he listened and offered support, and let them figure out how to do it on their own. It wasn’t until years later when Mike came back to Port Charles, that she realized how much she missed him. She flashes back to Mike telling her that she’s impossible to forget. She calls him a charmer, and he says, for now. In time, he’ll forget her. At least that’s what they tell him. It’s a damn shame. She tells them, sometimes he struggled to recognize her, but when he did, he’d give her that smile, and it was like no time had passed at all.
Brando gets up, and says he didn’t get a lot of time with Mike; in the summer when he was a kid, and the last few months. Enough time to teach Brando the important things. First, family. Family matters, even when you wished they weren’t your family. Second, you have less time than you think. Don’t waste it carrying grudges, and trying to control things you can’t. Third, everyone makes mistakes. Learn from them; wisdom comes from experience. Make the most of learning, be kind and tolerant. Mike knew how to value what really matters.
Jason goes to the front, and says he met Mike at Luke’s club. Mike was tending bar when Sonny gave Jason his first job there parking cars. Mike was easy to work with. He always liked Mike and considered him a friend, but it wasn’t until a couple years ago when he started to appreciate Mike’s courage. Mike made a terrible mistake when Sonny was a kid. He couldn’t face his failure, so he ran away. He could have run forever, but he didn’t; he stopped. Mike made his way back to Sonny, and tried to make amends. It wasn’t easy for Mike or Sonny because Mike made a lot of mistakes, but he never quit. Sonny flashes back to Mike saying Sonny doesn’t owe him anything. He abandoned Sonny, when Sonny’s mother left him for that bastard Deke. He should have done better. Sonny says, he tried, but Mike says, not often enough. He tried to watch out for Sonny. Jason says, Mike had true courage. He had the strength and humility to face the damage he’d done. He refused to give up on the people he loved, or himself. Mike was one of the bravest people he ever knew.
Stella takes the podium, and says they’re a profoundly lucky group. Most of them knew Mike for many years. She had the privilege of calling Mike her friend for a short time, and what a friend he was. Even as he struggled, he took the time to cultivate people. He cultivated her. No visit passed without an in depth inquiry about her life. He helped her when she was down, and celebrated with her when she was up. He was an extrovert in the best way. He couldn’t help but engage and connect. There were facets of Mike she wasn’t privy to. Every family has tension, and he never pretended his was ideal. He had loyalty, and fought a decades long battle with a gambling addiction. When he returned, Sonny was with his father every step of way. She flashes back to telling Sonny, no one can overpower Alzheimer’s. It doesn’t bend to anyone’s will, not even his. He can’t help his father if he can’t help himself. She says, no one can beat Alzheimer’s, but Mike hung on for as long as he could for Sonny’s sake. Sonny chose to let Mike leave with dignity. In her book, father and son fought Alzheimer’s to a draw.
Sam goes up, and says she appreciated Mike’s great sense of humor, and the way he never ever judged anyone. He didn’t assume to know anyone’s motives, and never put himself in a position to criticize their choices. He knew they all have faults, and they all do things they regret, but if you take a second to laugh at the situation, even if it’s at yourself, you can find perspective and move forward. It may not be what you wanted or how you planned it, but you adjust and keep going. And that’s the example Mike set for her; one she’ll always treasure.
It’s Carly’s turn. She says, when Sonny brought Mike home after he was diagnosed, she was terrified. Terrified of the disease, and what it would do to Mike. She was afraid of Mike deteriorating, and what it would do to her family. She wasn’t sure she could handle it. She couldn’t have been more wrong. There were hard and painful moments, but so many wonderful times when Mike was still himself. The pleasure of his company during holidays and family gatherings. They were only complete because he was in the room. Even when he started to slip away, he still loved great music, good food, and being with people he loved. Shortly before he passed they got him to the track to be with the horses he loved. He was so present, alert, and aware that afternoon. It was Sonny’s idea.Sonny was the one who cared for Mike, and mended what was broken between them. Sonny was the one who gave Mike the forgiveness and love he needed. She tells Sonny that she loves him, and he mouths, I love you too.
Sonny gets himself together, and goes up front. He says, it’s been a difficult week. He didn’t think he could come up there. He still doesn’t know if he can, but he had to come up. He wants to thank everybody for coming and being in his father’s life. They had the most beautiful words for his father. For years, he had a lot of bad feelings toward his father. He couldn’t see Mike for who he was. He didn’t want to. He had his own issues for a long time, and couldn’t admit it. He had a lot of anger, and all he did was judge. It took this illness, Alzheimer’s – one of the hardest things he’s been through – to see his dad for who he was, an amazing man. He’s so proud of his dad. He didn’t make it easy on Mike, but he was there for Mike in the end. And the most beautiful thing is, Mike was there for Sonny in the end. Carly smiles through her tears, and Sonny says he’ll always be grateful for that. He looks at Mike’s picture, and says, I love you, dad.
Josslyn gets up next. She says, Mike loved music. He said it was one of the great joys of life. It could make a good moment better, or a bad moment bearable.He said it can fulfill you when nothing else can, so this is for him. She sings (sounds like the title is Stronger Than Before, but I really have no clue), and flashes back to Mike telling Dev to be a gentleman and get her home safe. As Josslyn sings, Stella recalls Mike asking her to promise when he can no longer remember her, that she’ll remember how much he wanted to. Michael remembers Mike telling him to do them both a favor, and live a long full life. Carly flashes back to Mike saying he wishes he could click his heels together and find his way back to himself, and her telling Mike that he’ll always be him. He’ll always be family; that’s all that matters. She puts her arms around him and Sonny, and kisses their cheeks. Sonny remembers Mike suggesting they head to the city and take in a game at Yankee Stadium. Sonny says Mike used to promise that all the time, and Mike says, now they can do it. Sonny says, deal, and they shake hands. Josslyn starts to cry as she sings, but makes it to the end of the song.
Carly asks if Sonny thinks it was the right decision, putting Mike next to Morgan. Sonny says, the way he sees it, Mike and Morgan are together. It was a good service. Everybody wasn’t just saying words; they really appreciated his dad. She says his dad had a lot of friends. So does he. People will be showing up at the MetroCourt for the reception soon. He asks if she can get a ride. He’d like to take a minute alone. She tells him, take all the time he needs. I guess they’re not going to the cemetery first?
Sonny sits, and says, it’s time to let go, dad. Ain’t that a kick in the pants? For so long he pushed Mike away, and now he doesn’t want Mike to go. Because of his anger… He can’t take it back now. Mike sits next to Sonny, and says, do him a favor. Don’t be romanticizing him. Sonny had every right to that anger. Mike walked out on him. Sonny says he keeps seeing Mike like he did when he was a little boy. It took him a long time to understand life doesn’t give you what you intend. It makes you do things you don’t want to do. He never had the right to judge Mike. He should have respected Mike coming back. He should have told Mike that he loved him. Mike says he did. Sonny showed him in a thousand ways, big and small. Sonny says, not soon enough, but Mike says Sonny took him back. Over and over, Sonny paid his debts, bailed him out of trouble, and sent him to rehab – more than once. He brought Mike home to be with his family while he could still enjoy them. The greatest thing Sonny did was forgive him. So now he wants Sonny to forgive himself. Sonny says he should have been better. Mike says he loves Sonny. Sonny supported him, and stayed with him to the end. No child can do more than that for their parent. It made him very proud. He touches Sonny’s arm, and gets up. Sonny says he’s going to miss Mike, and Mike says he’ll always be with Sonny.
Mike kisses Sonny’s forehead and walks to the door. Sonny watches him go outside. Mike puts on his sharp cap, says, I love you son, and disappears into a bright light. Sonny says, I love you too, dad. He blesses himself, and he’s about to leave, when Dante walks in.
Very nice episode.
Tomorrow, Ava tells Trina to use her anger, Lulu asks if Dustin is ready to take the next step, Jason tells Brando it’s Sonny’s call not his, and Sonny tells Dante that he’s right on time.
👬 Double Duty…
All about Ryan Chamberlain. I love Jon Lindstrom in these roles. You know he’s having a good time when he’s Ryan.
📺 Tonight on Bravo, Craig and Sonja watched, and made commentary on, the season 3 finale of Southern Charm, when Kathryn had it out with Landon at some party. This was followed by Best of Leah Moments, with Leah, Ramona, and LuAnn watching remotely. I felt like I just saw all that, and wondered if they couldn’t have come up with something more creative. Leah talked about her first season experience, saying the first words that came to mind were batsh*t crazy. Ramona actually seemed more likeable, which was odd. Both she and LuAnn agreed Leah handled the reunion well. It had been the first in-person reunion since the pandemic, and Leah said it meant a lot that it was in person. Her final words? I came, I saw, and bitch, I elevate this sh*t.
🍹 Southern Charm’s new season begins Thursday, October 29th, 9 pm. It’s a shame Naomie and Cameran won’t be on this time around, but I’ll mostly miss Naomie’s boyfriend Metul, who introduced me to butter chicken.
It was a lovely funeral, but I must say goodnight. Tune in tomorrow for Friday’s GH, tea, and knowledge. Until then, stay safe, stay authentic, and stay refusing to give up on those you love or yourself.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
Carly sees Jason sitting up and using his tablet, and tells him Epiphany is going to be upset if she sees him. He says, Epiphany isn’t on duty; he already checked. He asks if she’s okay, and she hands him a gift bag, telling him, take it.
Sam asks how Sonny’s dad is, and he says they’re setting up his room at Turning Woods today. Why did she want to see him? She says she wants to talk about Brando.
Ava asks Nikolas if he forget they’re entertaining tonight, and he says she’s entertaining. He couldn’t care less. She suggests he adjust his attitude. Their guests will be arriving soon. He needs to get ready. He says he’s as ready as he’s going to be, and she says he’ll be significantly underdressed. He says, oh well, and she says, it’s an important night for them. He says it’s an important night for her ego. She forced him to marry her; now she wants to trot him out like a circus pony. The doorbell rings, and Ava answers. Lulu asks if Nikolas is at home. Nikolas asks what brings her there. He doesn’t imagine she wants a preview of the portrait. She says she’s there to ask a huge favor.
Franco goes to the hospital, and asks Elizabeth how Jason is. She says, he’s awake, and expected to make a full recovery. He says he’ll tell Jake; he’s going to be thrilled. He says, since Jason is out of the woods now, she’s free to come to the unveiling.
On the phone with Tracy, Ned says, Valentin is now the CEO. The vote was 50/50, plus Lucy, who was the tie breaker… Who sold? The list is long, but there’s only one name he cares about – Brook.
Michael and Willow tuck Wiley in for his nap, and Michael says, it’s official. Wiley is home. Willow says she understands how Wiley feels. He’s been a nomad, and been shuffled from one place to another. She understands the funny feeling when you have to adjust to a new place when you’re a kid. Michael says, not anymore. Wiley is there to stay, and the three of them will be staying together.
At The Floating Rib, Sasha says Chase can call someone, but Chase says he doesn’t want to put any of his contacts on the spot. She says, it’s not like it’s a violation of privacy, but he says, that depends on what the judge had sealed. Brook walks in, and asks if this is where the losers commiserate.
Carly tells Jason, it’s a helmet, like he doesn’t know what one looks like. She wants him to wear is when he’s riding. No excuses; no arguments. She wants him to promise, and he does. She says the last thing she needs is to think she’s going to lose him. She didn’t realize when she signed the power of attorney, she’d be signing a consent for exploratory surgery because he might be brain dead, and she’d just promised that she’d let him die. He says, he didn’t, and she tells him that she’s saying she’d better not need to. The deal only continues if he commits to wearing it.
Sam says, Jason is an expert on the bike, and Sonny asks if she talked to him. She says she couldn’t; she’d been distracted. He says they don’t know what happened. Jason could have swerved to avoid an animal. She says, the stabilizer failed because Brando sabotaged it. He’s a con.
Brook asks Chase and Sasha, who’s worse? A traitor to the family, or two cheating cheaters who cheated and got caught stepping out on the kindest people in the universe? Sasha steps away, and Chase says Brook can judge him all she wants. He’s earned her hostility, but Sasha hasn’t. She didn’t even press charges when Brook hit her. Brook says, it was an accident, and Chase says, that’s how Sasha treated it. She cut Brook some slack; maybe Brook could return the favor.
A girl comes up to Sasha, and says, the face of Deception. She saw the proofs. She introduces herself as Sienna, and says she works with the photographer. He said Sasha was amazing. Sasha says she was a little rocky at first, and Vienna says Suzette told her. Sasha says, told her what?
Ned tells Olivia that someone had been making a play for ELQ for months. He spent all that time trying to figure out who it was, and they were in front of him the whole time. Olivia says, the problem isn’t how Valentin took over. The problem is how Ned is treating his daughter.
Franco tells Elizabeth that he has the opportunity to show the art world he’s survived tonight. She says, tonight is also about exploiting his past. He says, it’s good business, but she says he worked hard to distance himself from it. Now he seems to be erasing that.
Lulu tells Nikolas about the lawsuit against the hospital, and says, if Nelle wins, the insurance might not cover the damage. Meanwhile, the board is being courted by Cyrus. Ava says, he killed Trina’s father, and Nikolas says, he’s a drug trafficker, but Lulu says, there’s no proof. Cyrus is legitimately a free man, and he’s offering his financial support in exchange for a spot on the board. Nikolas says, that’s unacceptable, and Lulu says, her mom reached out to ELQ, but there’s been a shake-up with the company. Nikolas says, tell her mom that he knows what’s at stake, but Lulu says Laura will feel it’s hypocritical, and won’t be comfortable asking him for money. So she’s asking for her mom. He says, whatever the hospital needs, he’ll cover it. She thanks him, and says that makes a big difference. She tells Ava, congratulations on her portrait. If all goes well, she and Dustin will be at the unveiling. Ava says they’ll be happy to have her; won’t we, darling? Nikolas agrees, and Lulu leaves. Ava says his sister has softened toward their marriage. If only he’d follow her lead.
Ned tells Olivia, Brook knew beforehand, and should have warned him. It would have given him a chance to block Valentin. Olivia says Valentin was obviously moving behind-the-scenes for months, and Ned says he would have reached out to Sam, and she would have realized her children were being robbed of their legacy. Olivia says, let Sam worry about her kids. He needs to worry about his own.
Brook asks Chase if it isn’t late in the game to be acting chivalrous. He asks what she said about a traitor in the family.
Sasha drags Sienna into the bathroom, and asks what Suzanne told her. Sienna says that Sasha needed a pick-me-up. A lot of models do. Sasha asks if Suzanne told her it was just one time, and Sienna says, sure. But just in case, it never hurts to have one. She gives Sasha a tiny resealable plastic bag of coke.
Carly tells Jason, no more stupid risks and taking chances with his life for an adrenaline rush. He says he doesn’t do that… much. She says he has to meet her halfway. No risks, and wear a helmet. He says, anything else? and she says he needs some color in his wardrobe. She was going to buy him some T-shirts… but she can table it. She needs someone she can count on. He asks, what happened? Is Mike okay? Did Nelle win custody of Wiley? She says, no. Michael and Willow won sole custody; Nelle wasn’t even grated visitation. He says, that’s great, and she says Michael and Willow are over the moon, but she just knows Nelle is going to retaliate.
Lulu sees one of the board members, and says, Mr. Erickson… He says, the board doesn’t talk to the press, but she says she’s not working on a story. Her brother Nikolas is willing to step in and be the hospital’s benefactor. He’ll supply any funding they need. Mr. Erickson says he appreciates her family’s commitment to the hospital, but the problem has been solved. He just came from a productive meeting, where they voted on a single benefactor, Cyrus Renault. Her mother had misgivings, but they were impressed, and voted to accept his offer.
Franco tells Elizabeth, he wishes he could take his past back, but his career just played a small part. She asks, why capitalize on what he regrets? and he says he used to be really good.
Ava tells Nikolas, if he chooses to divorce her, she promises to follow up and support the hospital. He says, sorry to disappoint her, but he’s not divorcing her. Unless and until she cheats on him. She says, so he made his decision. He chose money over his son. He says, Spencer made the decision. His son doesn’t want him without his money.
Carly says, after the judge made his ruling, Nelle asked to speak to her alone (didn’t she ask to speak to Nelle?), and Jason says that was like asking to be set up. Why do it? She says Nelle had it worse than she did growing up. Virginia drove her crazy, but also nurtured her. All Nelle had was Frank, who was a wreck emotionally. Jason tells her not to feel sorry for Nelle, but she says she doesn’t. Nelle is a heartless bitch, who tortured her family, but Nelle wasn’t born that way. She thought Nelle’s life could be different if she could make her understand that now Wiley’s life will be different. He tells her, stay out of it, and don’t forget Nelle is a threat to her family, and everyone she loves.
Sonny tells Sam, Brando has been stand-up. He did everything Sonny asked. Sam says, that’s how cons work, and Sonny says he’s going to ask Jason what happened, and take it from there. Lulu comes by, and says she heard about Jason. Sam says Jason is awake, and expected to fully recover. Lulu asks Sonny for a word, and tells him, Cyrus has been given a foothold at the hospital.
Nikolas tells Ava that he called Spencer, and Spencer finally picked up. It felt good to hear his voice. She asks, what happened? and he says he told Spencer about the post-nup, and how if they divorced, she’d get 90% of the estate, and the remaining 10% would be put in trust for him. Spencer didn’t even hesitate; he wants his legacy intact, and said they should stay married. He said it’s what Nikolas deserves. Ava says, teenagers can be terribly self-righteous, and Nikolas says Spencer can’t forgive her for lying, and wants nothing to do with her. As long as they remain a couple, Spencer will stay in boarding school, and out of his life. Ava says she’s sorry, and he says, if she means it, prove it.
Franco tells Elizabeth, the subject of his work was vile, but it got people engaged, and made them feel things. He’s worried his best work is behind him. She asks why he’s reminding everyone of who he was instead of the man he is now, and he says, no one cares about the man he is now. He’s an art therapist. He can’t afford a canvas; what is he going to do when it’s time to contribute to college tuition? She tells him, don’t use the boys or her as an excuse.
Michael knows he keeps saying it, but Willow is the real version of what Nelle is pretending to be. She says, she knows; sugar and saccharine. He says Nelle knows how bad she looks next to Willow, and once they were married, it sent her scrambling. Willow says when Nelle melted down in court, that’s how she was when she shoved her way into the apartment to take Wiley. A fanatic, like nothing and no one was going to stop her. Willow fought as hard as she could If Michael and Chase hadn’t… She says, there’s no point in dwelling on it. They should focus on happy things, like Wiley. He says, it’s okay if she misses Chase. He misses Sasha too.
Brook tells Chase, what did her father expect? Music is her life. Her mother played music for her in utero. Her father couldn’t or wouldn’t help her out, and she had to do it herself. Linc wanted her ELQ shares, but he was just a front. Valentin was really after them. The man who pulled Cassadine Industries from the brink of ruin. She thought, what harm could it do? It turns out, he did a lot of damage, but did her father blame anyone else who sold? No, only her. She got thrown out. Sasha sends a text.
Olivia tells Ned, he was too harsh, but he says Brook betrayed the family. She says, so what? Brook is his daughter. How many times has she heard him say, it’s all about family; family is the most important thing.This is where the rubber meets the road. It’s easy to love their children when their children please them and make them proud, but they’re still their children when they disappoint them, especially when they do. They’re not disposable. He thinks she’s sensitive because of Dante, and she says, damn right. She’d give anything to have her son back, and he threw his daughter away like yesterday’s garbage. He says, it seems unfeeling to outsiders, but Brook knows what it means to be a Quartermaine. You don’t sell your stock; you keep it in the family’s hands. Olivia’s phone dings. She sees a text from Sasha that says, w/ Brook Lyn at the Rib. She’s hurting. She heads out the door, and Ned asks where she’s going. They’re in the middle of a crisis. She asks what he’s going to do? Throw her out for violating Quartermaine bylaws?
Carly says, Nelle gave her one good thing; a grandson. Wiley is the best thing ever. She thinks Michael will do better with Wiley than she did with him, and Jason says, she did fine. She says she made mistakes, but she knows Michael is good. Now he married Willow. Nice people usually drive her crazy, but Willow is a genuinely kind and gracious person. She loves Wiley, and Carly thinks one day she’ll love Michael. She feels bad that Sasha gave up so much. Jason says he thought Sasha and Michael broke up because she’d cheated on him. Carly says, she did… never mind. Jason wonders what she’s not saying, and she says he looks tired. He needs his rest. He tells her to stay out of it, and she says she’s leaving – and staying out of it.
Brando arrives at the hospital, and Sam asks what he’s doing there. He says he was checking on Jason, and she says, Jason is awake and fine, despite Brando’s best efforts.
Sonny asks Lulu why the hospital board would take a dime of Cyrus’s drug money, and she says, after Jordan’s press conference, they put aside their misgivings. He says, what about the Quartermaines? and she says, they were blocked by an inconvenient raid. He says, by who? and she says, Valentin.
Ava tells Nikolas, she has nothing to prove. He says if they stay married, it will cost him his son, and she tells him, don’t put it on her. He dug a hole for himself by pretending to be dead, and playing mind games to get his hands on the codicil. She asks if it ever occurred to him, that if he’d been honest and come to her, she might have willingly helped him? He says, it never occurred to him once.
Franco tells Elizabeth, they need money like everyone else. That’s why he took Ava’s commission. She says, that’s why she’s not going to this Windymere farce. It’s feeding his ego, and he’s playing into Ava’s hands. He says, either that, or Ava is someone who believes in him. Elizabeth says she believes in the man she married. She’s going to keep believing, and hope he justifies her faith in him.
Brook says why should she care? Her father threw her out, and she doesn’t need him or ELQ, like Sasha doesn’t need Michael. Sasha has her fabulous career, and a partnership in Deception. Who cares? She’ll be famous. Olivia comes in, and says, okay, girlfriend. You and me. Brook says she’s no longer Olivia’s problem, and Olivia says, not another sip. Brook says, all right; don’t make a scene, and goes to a booth with Olivia. Chase tells Sasha that he’s sorry. Brook isn’t as obnoxious as she seems; she’s just drunk and hurting. Sasha says, she knows. She just needs a minute to freshen up. She goes to the bathroom, and Chase says, I still love you, Willow, to no one in particular.
Michael tells Willow, whatever happens, going forward, he wants them to be honest with each other, whatever they’re feeling. The mistake Chase and Sasha made was hiding things from them. Maybe they thought it was for their own good, at least at the beginning, but he doesn’t want that with them. Willow says, right. Start with the truth and the rest will follow. The truth is, as much as she misses Chase, she’s so happy she married Michael. He says so is he.
Sasha checks to make sure there’s nobody in the stalls, and takes out the bag of coke. Since evidently she’s too stupid to go where she won’t be seen. She does know it’s illegal, right?
Sonny visits Jason, who shows him the helmet. Jason says, it’s a present from Carly. He told her that he’d wear one from now on. Sonny asks, what happened? but Jason says he doesn’t know. The bike was riding fine, then the steering went out. The part was brand new, so either it was a bad part or there was a problem with the installation. Sonny says, Brando told him that he did it right, and checked the part; it wasn’t defective. Jason says, either Brando made a mistake or he’s lying, and Sonny says he’ll keep an eye on Brando. In the meantime, something else came up. Cyrus is now a member of the hospital board, and bailing them out of financial trouble. Sonny laughs, and Jason asks why the hospital didn’t go to the Quartermaines. Sonny says, that’s what he asked. There was a problem with ELQ involving Sam.
Brando says if Sam is implying that he tried to kill Jason, he didn’t. Why would he be there if he had? She says to see if he needed to finish the job. He says he must not be much of an assassin, since he worked on Jason’s bike, and he’s chatting with her. If she’s looking for an enemy, it isn’t him. Brando says, tell Jason he’s glad he made it, and leaves.
Olivia gives Brook a room key for the MetroCourt, saying, it has a beautiful harbor view. Brook asks if her dad knows Olivia is doing this, and Olivia says, no. Brook says, then she probably shouldn’t, but Olivia says she loves Brook’s father, but he doesn’t tell her what to do. It’s a very nice room in a very nice hotel. She strongly suggests Brook take it.
Sasha comes back out, and tells Chase, they’re not doing this. Sitting around feeling sorry for themselves. They’re heroes, even if no one knows. They’re like Sydney Carton. Chase says, Sydney got his head chopped off. She says, they didn’t. Carly comes in, and says she wants to thank them. Michael and Willow got full custody of Wiley.
Michael asks how Willow feels about powerboats. She says she hasn’t given it much thought; why? He says there’s one tied up at the boathouse. He’s a fantastic driver, and Wiley is knocked out. They could take it out, and cruise to Sawyer, where there’s a nice restaurant on the water. They can get dinner there. Ned joins them, and says he heard the judge ruled in their favor. Michael says Wiley is officially theirs, and asks how the shareholders meeting ended. Did Lucy vote to save the hospital?
Nikolas says Ava sold Spencer out to Valentin. Why shouldn’t he assume she’d do the same to him? He had no choice but to trick her. She says, by making her believe she was losing her mind? That Kiki was trapped in hell and blamed Ava for putting her there? He says she blamed herself. As much as she loved Kiki, she hated her. She was jealous of Kiki’s kindness, and set her up. Ava tells him not to judge her, and he says he’s a convenient scapegoat where she can place her guilt and anger. But she has a brand new portrait to hang on the wall. She tells him, go to hell. He says he’s already there.
Franco arrives at Windymere, and Ava asks if he came early to help her place the portrait. She’s sorry. She’s been dealing with so many details, it’s where he left it in the solarium. She hasn’t peeked. She wants to see it for the first time with everyone else. He hopes she’s not disappointed, and she says he seems to be. He says, Elizabeth isn’t coming, and she says, it’s their night, and they’re going to enjoy it.
On the phone, Nikolas tells Spencer, Ava believed every word. She thinks he turned his back on his father, and has no idea they’re working together. He’s going to keep playing on her guilt until she voluntarily ends the marriage, and walks away.
Cyrus tells Lulu, always a pleasure, and she says, not for her. He’s surprised she hasn’t asked him for a comment. He’s sure she heard. She says she did. Now he’s a member of the board. She promises once her mother finds out, she’ll do everything in her power to make sure it’s the briefest tenure ever. He says, that might prove difficult. Given his generous support of the hospital, he’s not just a member; he’s the chairman. He tells her to relay that to her mom. He looks forward to everything his hospital will bring to Port Charles. He walks away, leaving Lulu stunned.
Michael asks, what about Lucy? and Michael says, she voted with Valentin. There will be no hospital funding, and there’s no easy way to tell him, but Valentin is now the CEO. Willow says, Lucy married them, and wonders why she voted against Michael. Michael says Valentin was Lucy’s angel investor for Deception, and probably reached out to her. Ned says, more than likely, Valentin went to her when he needed a tie breaker. Lucy will land on her feet; she always does. Willow asks, what happens now? and Ned says he’s sorry. Michael trusted him, and he let Michael down. Michael says, it’s not Ned’s fault, but Ned says, yes it is. It happened on his watch. Willow asks if Michael is okay, and he says He’s not happy Valentin is in charge of ELQ, but for now, that’s just another problem that has to be solved. Losing his job is nothing compared to winning custody of Wiley. Willow says, that’s what matters. Michael says, it’s a day to celebrate. How does she feel about going out to dinner? Willow says she’s right with him.
Brook asks why Olivia is doing this. Most of the time, Olivia hates her. Olivia says she never hated Brook. Okay, maybe once for a little while, but Brook is family now, and she couldn’t hate a member of her family. Brook says her father hates her, but Olivia says, no. He’s disappointed.His pride and ego are crushed, and now Valentin got the best of him. He loves Brook, but doesn’t know how to show it. The Quartermaines will get through this. They stick together.
Carly says Sasha and Chase gave up their happiness for Wiley’s sake. She has some idea of what it cost them, but now Michael, Willow, and Wiley can be a real family. It’s the best thing for all three of them. She thanks them again.
Sam goes to Jason’s room, and Sonny says he was just filling Jason in. She says she doesn’t want to push, but the doctors said Jason needs rest. Jason says, he’s okay, but Sonny says she’s right. He’s going to go. Do what Sam tells him. He leaves, and Jason sighs, because we no longer have Griff to do that job. Sam sits next to the bed, and he takes her hand. She asks what they were talking about, and he says, just ELQ and the hospital. She asks, why the hospital? and he says they’re in financial trouble. ELQ was supposed to bail them out, but Valentin voted against it. He controls 51% of the stock. Sam asks, how? Danny and Scout only have 10%. He says, Valentin has been buying other family member’s shares, and with Danny and Scout’s proxy, he got put in control of ELQ.
Tomorrow, Maxie thinks Lucy is hiding something, Scotty asks Lucy what she’s done, Ava says it will be a night to remember, and Anna suggests Finn invite his father to the wedding.
The Real Housewives of New York City
It’s morning at Villa Casa del Mar. Dorinda sees two trainers out on the patio. She asks if it’s a hangover, or is it real. Is it tequila? One of them says, it’s not tequila. She says she’ll get the girls before it’s too hot, and she’s going to change. The trainers agree, there’s going to be a lot of energy. Dorinda proceeds to wake everyone up, opening blinds, and saying hot trainers are there. She knows everyone had quite a day, and she can’t get them out of bed. LuAnn says she can’t deal with lunges, and Dorinda says she’s got them all alone. She’s going to do what any good woman would do. They’ll teach her, and she’ll teach them aerobics. We flash back to her retro 80s aerobics whatever-that-was, and she puts the trainers through their paces. LuAnn comes out, and says she heard aerobics. The trainers do a cha-cha-cha step, and the women follow. LuAnn holds her coffee as she dances. Trainer Raul does side lunges. Dorinda goes inside, and in LuAnn’s interview, she says she’ll just take on the two trainers on her own. She’s fine with that. Dorinda says she’s not letting them sleep – wakey, wakey! The session done, Raul tells LuAnn to let her girlfriends know they were missing them. LuAnn gets more coffee.
LuAnn finds Dorinda in Leah’s room. Leah asks if they worked out already. LuAnn says they’re old school. They bounce back quick. The best way is to start moving. Dorinda says, she has sisterly love today, and a new bunch of flowers today. LuAnn says her mother described her hoo-ha as a flower.
Sonja chats with Isaac, co-owner of Century 21. She tells him about celebrating her birthday, and he asks how old is she? Twenty-four? In her interview, she says she has to be prepared for her event. She’s having a huge launch party, and it must be a success. Everyone has heard about her fashion, perfume, jewelry, and toaster oven. Everything she talked about on the show is coming to fruition. Sonja works on her laptop at an outside table, and Leah asks if this is the office, sitting down with her own laptop. Sonja says she has to send out invites to her Century 21 party. Leah says, no one gets how hard it is. Sales were low, but she just had some new things land, and they’re doing well. In Leah’s interview, she says, having your own business is truly 24/7.No one cares the way you do. Ramona says she’s celebrating a glorious day, and LuAnn suggests they sit outside. Sonja says she couldn’t be happier. Last night was special . LuAnn asks if she was surprised, and Sonja says she has to stop talking and send out invites. Dorinda joins them, and says, Sonja has to do her thing. In Sonja’s interview, she says, part of Dorinda is sweet and nice; the Dorinda she adores. Then there’s like… She makes a noise. LuAnn suggests taking a half hour break for breakfast. They all chatter, and Sonja says, it was a beautiful evening, but the whole night, she was worried about this; it has to go out. In her interview, Sonja says, Dorinda can vent all she needs; it’s her vacation too. Sonja gets up to go inside, saying she needs to work. She can’t let the invites go wrong; no way. She babbles at the kitchen staff, and wonders where she put her glasses.
LuAnn says, it’s rude to be working at the table. They’re having a meal together, and it’s not what they do. Leah is still working, and Dorinda tells her to sit elsewhere. Leah says she just closed everything, and Dorinda says if she wants to work, don’t sit at the table. Ramona quietly tells Leah, just let it pass. Tell her she’s right. In Leah’s interview, she says she understands where Dorinda is coming from, but it’s a vacation. They don’t need to be rigid and have breakfast at 7 am, no elbows on the table. LuAnn confirms, just say, you’re right. I think, wait a second. Leah and Sonja were working at the table before the others got there.
Dorinda says, the view is classically beautiful. Ramona tells Sonja, Dorinda snaps, and goes on for twenty minutes. In her interview, Ramona says she misses the light Dorinda. She doesn’t recognize this Dorinda. She doesn’t know her, and doesn’t want to know this one. Dorinda floats in the pool on a swan floatie. Sonja says when they used to burn witches, she thinks it was just menopause. It’s unclear whether she means because the so-called witches were going through menopause, or the people doing the burning were cranky because they were going through menopause.
LuAnn and Leah walk on the beach, and see two guys coming toward them. Leah says, they might be a couple, but LuAnn says, those aren’t gay men’s shorts. Leah says, good point. LuAnn asks where the guys are going, and they say, to the resort. It’s determined the guys aren’t gay or married, and are from Montreal. LuAnn asks if they want to come and hang out, and one asks, for a visit? LuAnn says, they’re not kidnapping them. In Leah’s interview, she says, men enter at their own risk. Inside the villa are very horny, insatiable women – Ramona and Sonja. LuAnn brings them over to the bar, and everyone has a drink. Leah says she’s brushed her teeth ten times, and still tastes tequila. Ramona comes out, and asks, is this a mirage? In Ramona’s interview, she says it’s not noon yet, and they picked up two boys. LuAnn asks where Sonja is, and Ramona explains that Sonja is having a big party; she designs a clothing line. One of them shows a tattoo he got in honor of his daughter, and the women are all, aww! LuAnn says, you never know when you’ll find a gem on the beach. They invite the guys to meet them at a bar later. Ramona toasts to being flexible. Not sure how she means that. As in schedule, or…
The women get ready for dinner. Dorinda says she’s not going; she has horrible diarrhea. She can’t even get off the toilet. Sonja suggests a diaper, and says she’s done it; she had to. I don’t want to know. In Dorinda’s interview, she says, since Cartagena, her intestines have never been the same, It’s ruined some great occasions for her. Leah asks, what’s going on? and I love how everyone is congregating in Dorinda’s room when she just got done saying she has horrible diarrhea. Dorinda says, it’s every ten minutes, and LuAnn says she can smell it. She’s getting the Chanel all-over body spray. She sprays the room, and Dorinda says, clear the runway, and dashes into the bathroom. In Ramona’s interview, she says she feels bad that Dorinda can’t join them. Then again, she’s been testy, and they can see how it is without her.
They go to the restaurant, and toast, to girlfriends. The guys, who finally introduce themselves as Phillip and Pascal, arrive, and LuAnn asks them to join the table. In Sonja’s interview, she says, of course Ramona is acting like she’s in heat. She’s always in heat. Sonja tells her, it’s company, not a tug-of-war. Sonja tells Phillip that she’s kissing him later. He asks what the relationship between them is, and Leah takes the floor. She says she has a love/hate relationship with Ramona. Ramona judges her more harshly than the others. She thinks it’s because Ramona loves her, but she’s confused. She thought Sonja was a bitch at first – we flash back to, 1985 is over! – but they had a breakthrough, and Sonja is the kindest, most loving soul ever. She points to LuAnn, and says, this bitch is a legend. They locked eyes, and have been friends forever. I think Phillip was just looking for something like, we’re all friends, or we’re at a family reunion. In her interview, Leah says, they like to act like nice society women, but they’re really regular chicks. A line of waiters comes out, some with bottles that have sparklers attached, some of them carrying sparklers sans bottles. It’s some kind of shot presentation that I’m sure involves tequila. Ramona and LuAnn dance, then Pascal, who we’ve found out is engaged, joins in. In LuAnn’s interview, she says, diarrhea shows up when you need it the most. Dorinda needed to chill, and they needed a good time. Pascal thinks Ramona is 44, and she says she’s 63. Leah makes out with Phillip, and Sonja says, she’s a lot younger, so she’s quick on the draw.
Ramona brings Dorinda coffee, and tells her that the restaurant was beautiful. Leah was getting feisty. She shows Dorinda a video of Leah and Phillip intertwined. In Dorinda’s interview, she says, the one who got away. Ramona didn’t get that one in her little clutches. Ramona says, Leah is like an untamed horse. She doesn’t always have the best decorum. Leah comes in, saying her ears were ringing. LuAnn follows, and Sonja asks if the guys stayed. LuAnn says she was exhausted. Dorinda asks if she’s ready for the blessing, and LuAnn say she needs a shaman today. Dorinda explains that afterwards, they’ll go in the water, and then have a beautiful lunch. Leah says she makes fun of the women being old, but she peed the bed. In her interview, she says they’re rubbing off on her, and not in a good way. Leah tells the women, she told Phillip that she hasn’t had sex in a while, and she wasn’t having it with him. He was a great kisser, but too bossy. Sonja suggests Leah have some electrolytes. Leah says she needs something.
Leah says she feels like hell, but if she wants to have any self-respect left, she needs to keep up with women twice her age. Sonja tells her, don’t do green juice; it makes you poop. Good to know. In Dorinda’s interview, she says she wants to get the women out every day. They’re like toddlers. Get them exhausted, and they stay out of trouble. She’s curious to see what they get out of this. LuAnn flips through some pictures she’s collected of various dudes, including someone she says won American Idol. They realize Ramona, LuAnn, and Tinsley all went out with him. (See below for speculation on who it is.) Dorinda says, it’s like duck-that-goose with men. LuAnn says he’s been in her shows. In Sonja’s interview, she says she can’t take any of her guys around this group.
Shaman Julian (not a name you’d associate with such an exotic profession) and guide Rebeca meet the women at… the shaman place. Okay, I wasn’t paying attention. It looks something like a nature preserve, and Julian says he’s going to ask the trees, animals, and birds to take care of them. In Dorinda’s interview, she says she’s a spiritual person, but now she’s scared. Every bird started to go crazy. He burns some sage, or whatever they burn, and it’s over pretty quickly. Leah says, hopefully, it helps hangovers. Rebeca tells them to get on their bathing suits, and they’re given lifejackets for propelling. Apparently, this is dropping down into a hole, where there’s water underneath. A guy named JJ puts harnesses on them, and goes down first. Sonja wonders why she should throw herself into that, and in her interview, says she skis on the bunny hill, and puts on a helmet. LuAnn goes next. Leah asks if she’s scared, but LuAnn says, no. It sure looks scary. She lands in the pool below, and Dorinda goes next, and goes fast. In Dorinda’s interview, she says the thing people don’t know about her is that she’s athletic. She’s quite agile – ask John. Leah starts to freak out, and Ramona is shocked at her reaction. She tells Leah that she looks hot, like this will fix it. Sonja and Ramona take a pass, and the others come out in a cave, and swim through to the outside. Leah tells JJ that it’s one of the best things she’s done in her life. It’s incredibly beautiful, with dolomites all over the place, and some bats; little, pretty ones. I would definitely do this if it didn’t involve dropping down that hole. Ramona and Sonja meet them at the end. In Ramona’s interview, she says she feels bouncy, buoyant, and happy. Even Dorinda liked it. Leah is amazed at how beautiful and magical it is, and swears it has healing powers. She’s feeling so much better. She says they’re her hangover shaman.
The women move on to lunch. Sonja says she sees herself in Mexico, living in a grass hut on the beach, gardening all day. Hmmm… somehow I don’t see that. Leah talks about saging her last boyfriend’s negative energy out of her vagina. In her interview, she says, better a crystal in her vajayjay than a stick up her ass. They sit down for lunch, and Hannah calls Dorinda, telling her something about being paid to help put together a catalog. In LuAnn’s interview, she thinks Dorinda is a hypocrite, since she yelled at Sonja and Leah about using their computers at breakfast. Sonja says Dorinda yelled at them when they did that, and Dorinda says, it’s her daughter. Dorinda goes on and on, as always, and Ramona asks, where’s this anger coming from? Dorinda makes a show of telling Hannah they don’t want her to talk to her daughter. Ramona says she hates when Dorinda does this, and LuAnn says Dorinda has done it to her; she’s blown up on all of them. In Leah’s interview, she agrees Dorinda’s temper is too much, but this isn’t the way to go about it. Dorinda says she needs to wish her daughter success, but can’t do it in front of them. She thanks Ramona for the advice, and Ramona says they just want to help her. Dorinda says there’s nothing they can help her with, as she jets away from the table. Ramona says Dorinda needs help about getting angry, and starts to cry, saying, it’s upsetting. Why is Dorinda doing this? LuAnn says, Dorinda turns it around. In Sonja’s interview, she says she can’t believe Ramona’s crocodile tears; they’re distracting from their cause, and giving Dorinda the perfect excuse to run off. Sonja tells Ramona, it’s not about that. Why does she have to be right? Dorinda comes back, and asks if they’re good; Ramona was getting hysterical. She sarcastically adds that she realizes it was traumatizing. In her interview, Ramona says, maybe she should give up. She’s seen Dorinda do it to Leah, and wonders why Leah didn’t jump in. Leah asks why Ramona is mad at her. She agrees with them, but she’s not mad at Dorinda. Ramona says she’s upset, and Leah says, the three of them were talking. Why should she join in? In her interview, she says Ramona has consistently said nasty things to her, while Dorinda’s had her back. Why would she turn on Dorinda? Sonja says, it’s going to be a long ride back together
Next time, LuAnn wants Ramona to be real, Sonja has her Century 21 lanch, and Sonja misses cabaret rehearsal
👩🏼💻 Quick news flash. Sonja was a guest on Watch What Happens Live tonight, and Andy asked if she believed the pirate when he said he and LuAnn hadn’t hooked up. Sonja said that’s not what the pirate told her. So mystery unsolved. She was also very astute when she talked about the reunion. She must be cleansing – i.e. staying away from alcohol.
🎤 And the Idol Is…
Speculation has it that Constantine Maroulis is the Idol who Tinsley, LuAnn, and Ramona dated. Although the only thing anyone is going by is the fact he dated Tinsley. Whether or not Constantine is the new Harry Dubin has yet to be confirmed.
Are there any women left on Southern Charm? I’m sad to see most of them go. It’s always been one of my favorites, and it’s like the family broke apart.
And typing, and reading, and… As I always say, that’s okay, I’ll sleep in the next life. But in this life, stay safe, stay unruffled, and stay fixing your thoughts on what is true, right, and admirable.
At the PCPD, Brook asked Chase for another call. He said she only got one, but he was curious to see who would help her, since her father wouldn’t. Nelle went to Charlie’s, and Julian told her they were closed. She said she’d come to make him a generous offer from the heart. Diane met with Michael and Willow at the Quartermaine mansion, and made them repeat after her that they wouldn’t let Nelle bait them in court. She told them, let Nelle roll out her manipulation and histrionics while they remained calm. She knew Michael would be the loving, committed, stalwart presence he always was, but she’d seen Willow give way to anger at Shiloh in the courtroom. This would be just as bad, if not worse. Willow said she was ready, and Diane said Willow and Michael made an excellent team. They knew Wiley well, and Nelle was practically a stranger. Michael was worried that would support Nelle’s argument, but Diane said it was crucial Wiley stayed with people he loved and trusted. They’d already proven they would do whatever it took. Nelle told Julian, they had their differences, but they were both victims of Brad. Brad had left her unconscious by the side of the road, switching her baby with the one who died. Julian asked if she expected him to believe Brad could pull one over on her, and she said she wanted to offer him a spot in her son’s life. On one condition.
Brook’s call to Dustin went to voicemail, and Brook accused Chase of falsely arresting her because he didn’t like her calling him out for betraying his girlfriend. If he was decent, he’d let her go; she wasn’t a lying jerk like him. Chase remembered Willow discovering him and Sasha making out, and said Brook was right. She was right about him and everything, but she’d still broken the law. She needed to find someone to get her out, or she would spend the night in custody. Either way, he didn’t give a damn. Diane said no one had shown they were more willing to make sacrifices for Wiley than Willow, and it was documented that she’d put Wiley’s needs first. That was gold. Diane left, and Michael asked if she’d heard that – she was gold. Nelle told Julian that she wanted him to testify on her behalf at the custody hearing, and say she’s a wonderful mother. Julian asked if she wanted him to lie, but she said he’d be telling truth. Wiley would be better off with her than Michael, who wasn’t Julian’s favorite person anyway. Julian said she was the same mother who left Wiley’s father to die, but she said she was under stress. Michael had been threatening to take her kid, and her hormones were raging. He said he wasn’t helping her, but she told him that he would, if he wanted to stay in Wiley’s life. She’d even let Wiley call him grandpa again. Julian said Nelle wanted to barter time with Wiley for his personal endorsement, and she insisted it was a generous offer. When she got sole custody, Wiley was never going to see a Corinthos or Quartermaine again. Julian said he couldn’t imagine Sonny would be happy, and Nelle said, Sonny and Carly would suffer more. She and Julian were on the same page. Julian said they weren’t even in the same book. He cared what happened to Wiley, and thought Wiley was better off with his father than a heartless monster who used her son as a weapon.
Julian’s phone rang, and at first, he told the caller, absolutely not. Then he said, on second thought, he’d be right there. He told the bartender that he had to leave for a while, and not to serve Nelle. She was done there. After Julian left, Chase came in to think some more about Willow, but Nelle interrupted his reverie, saying he looked like he could use a drink and some company. He said, no thank you. Willow remembered finding Chase and Sasha together, and telling Chase, in a million years, she never thought something like this would happen. She thought he’d love her forever, but she didn’t know him. Michael told Willow, they could have a partnership that worked. Willow wanted to be up front, and said she still loved Chase; she probably always would. She wondered if Michael could marry a woman who would probably never be in love with him, and he said if they raised Wiley in a committed family, who loved and supported each other, it was all he could ask for. He warned her that she’d be marrying into two powerful families, with unique traditions, customs, and secrets. It was like joining a club you couldn’t resign from, and her life would be very different. Julian showed up at the PCPD, and paid Brook’s bail.
Michael said Willow may not love him romantically, but he valued their friendship. He flashed back to him and Willow becoming friends and helping take care of Wiley together. Michael said he could trust her, and rely on her honesty, and she said she relied on his integrity. Nelle wanted to buy Chase a drink, but he said he didn’t have time. She said she figured there was no hot teacher waiting for him at home, and maybe she’d give him another chance. One or both of them flashed back to when she’d seduced Chase in Florida, and Chase asked how she could be more delusional. He thought she would have hit the threshold by now. She said she always got what she wanted, whether it was Wiley or him, and anyone who underestimated her was wrong. He walked out, and Nelle went in the back, presumably where the restrooms are. Where the bartender went, who knows? Not a very reliable employee.
Finn called Chase, who was at Pier 55. He said, apparently, Chase hadn’t taken his advice, but Chase said he wasn’t in the mood for a lecture. Finn asked, how about a beer? and Chase told him, another time. Julian took Brook back to Charlie’s, and wondered why he’d been her first call. She said he wasn’t, but she got tired of reaching out and hearing, I told you so. He asked if that included Ted. She was puzzled, and he said that’s what he called her father. She should call him that too; he loved it. She said Ned was her first I told youso, and Julian asked why she thought he would get her out. She said because she had leverage, and he said it had been a good excuse to get out of a bad conversation. Chase stood on the pier and thought about meeting Willow, and how their relationship had developed, which is about all he seemed capable of doing at this point. This was around the time we were getting episodes made nearly entirely of flashbacks
Finn met Chase at the pier, and said he thought The Rib had more ambiance. Chase said it was perfect, and Finn said, sure it was. The smell of fish and… whatever it is. Chase said Willow was gone because he’d wanted her to go, and knowing it was right didn’t make it hurt any less. Finn said, believe him, he knew. Willow said she knew Michael would always be straight with her and treat her with respect. Michael said he loved everything about Wiley, but especially the way he smiled at Willow. He recalled introducing Wiley to Willow, and other times the three of them had been together. Chase apologized to Finn for being a jerk, and Finn said Willow probably thought it was a family trait. When he’d seen her, he thought Chase had told her the truth, and they talked at cross purposes. She probably thought he was okay with Chase cheating. Why hadn’t Chase told her it was staged? Chase said, it would have been selfish. It was about what was right for Willow and Michael, and especially Wiley. It would be worth it if Nelle didn’t get custody. Finn asked what he could do, and Chase said, not a damn thing. He toasted to Willow, the woman he would always love. He said he knew she couldn’t have been happy with him if Wiley was suffering or hurting, and this was how he showed his love. By drinking beer?
Brook told Julian, if he’d turned her down, she would have had to call his bluff and talk to Sonny. It would have broken Lucas’s heart, and he’d been through enough. They made a toast to Lucas, and Brook said if Julian accommodated the occasional favor, she wouldn’t have to say he’d tampered with Brad’s car and caused the accident. No surprise, Nelle listened in. On the pier, Chase reminisced about meeting Willow, saying he could tell there was something rare and strong about her. He told Finn, people must have thought he was trying to rescue her, but she didn’t need rescuing; she was fierce in her quiet way. It took her a long time to love him, but he was a goner in the first ten seconds. Part of him couldn’t believe they wouldn’t still have a lifetime together. He thanked Finn for respecting his decision, even if Finn didn’t agree with it. Finn said Chase was a well-intentioned idiot, but love had a way of making fools of all of them. Chase wanted to be alone, and Finn told him to call anytime.
Michael said Wiley loved Willow, and knew she loved him. It would still be a marriage based on love; their love as friends, and mutual love for Wiley. Willow thought about good times with Chase; saying I love you, and moving in together. Willow said it wasn’t the marriage she’d imagined, and Michael said, him neither, but he had faith they could make it work. If she didn’t want to, no harm no foul. Willow said Wiley deserved a safe and happy future with parents who loved and cared for him, and cared about each other. She wanted to be a part of it, so her answer was yes. She would marry him.
The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills
When we last left, everyone was at Kyle’s Black and White Gala, and Teddi said Camille didn’t have to go through pleasantries with her. She knew Camille didn’t like her.
Sutton yaps at Kris Jenner about the Met Gala. Teddi says Camille isn’t genuine, and can just wave and keep it moving. In Camille’s interview, she says she was trying to apologize and be nice, and again Teddi is being a bitch. Camille says Denise was rough on her at the reunion; she felt like Denise was gaslighting her. We flash back to that, and Denise says she was genuinely concerned. Camille tells Denise that she was in a lot of pain, and tells Teddi, time heals. Denise says she’s more forgiving than Teddi, and Camille says, it’s okay; Teddi needs time. Garcelle tells Erika that she’s going to miss Erika’s Shoe Dazzle event because she has to work. Denise asks Teddi where she wants to go from here, and Teddi says she wants Denise to tell her if something is bothering her. In Teddi’s interview, she says she doesn’t have a problem with Denise, but she has a huge problem with Aaron. She has fun with Denise, and wants to move on.
Brandi calls out, Hurricane Kim! and Kyle’s sister comes over to say hello. Camille thanks Kyle for inviting her. In Camille’s interview, she says she came in wanting to resolve things. She’s gone through a lot with the women, but feels good, like she can move on. She doesn’t know about the others, but thinks at some point, they have to put the past in the past.
Denise says hello to Garcelle and new boyfriend chocolate Michael. In Garcelle’s interview, she says it’s important to support one another. She’s been in situations where she had to fend for herself against a group attack. But she was in middle school. Preach it! In Kyle’s interview, she says, a charity event has to be fun and exciting, so people will come and want to spend money. When she was planning the event, the first person who came to mind was friend Carney Wilson. Kyle introduces Wilson Phillips, and they put on a mini concert. In Dorit’s interview, she says, a surprise concert; what a great idea. We go back to Dorit unveiling Boy George at her party. Everyone bounces to the music, and sings along to Hold On.
Denise, Aaron, Brandi, Adrienne, and whoever Adrienne is seeing, hang out at a small bar in Kyle’s house. Pounding back drinks, Brandi says she’s good, but in Denise’s interview, she says, tomorrow, Brandi won’t feel good. Brandi babbles about babies, and in Brandi’s interview, she says she had told everyone that Adrienne had used a surrogate, and Adrienne called her a liar. Still, Adrienne was always lovely to her, even though she’d never given Adrienne a proper apology. Brandi tells Adrienne that she’s sorry; it wasn’t her idea (of course not). For Adrienne to forgive her was something she needed. She didn’t know if could do the same if she was in Adrienne’s shoes. Kathy tells Kyle that the party couldn’t have been better. Brandi says she likes that Denise and Aaron are co-dependent-ish, and wants to be a throuple. In her interview, Denise asks the producer what throuple means. Brandi babbles about Denise’s vagina. In her interview, Denise says Aaron is giving her the let’s-get-TF-out-of-here look. Denise tells Aaron, time to head out, and he says he’s taking his drink with him. Brandi stumbles around the dance floor, and Kim says she needs coffee. In Kyle’s interview, she says, it’s no secret Brandi likes to party, but tonight, Brandi has taken hot mess to another level. Brandi she gets up on the stage, and promptly falls down.
Garcelle struggles to open a box of glassware. She asks Michael for help, and he slides the box open. She says he makes it look easy, and all the glasses fall out. opens box looks easy everything falls out. I make a noise. Dorit talks to her contractor, while Jagger and Phoenix cause a commotion, LisaR picks out a wig, and tells her makeup guy that she wants to transform into a sex bomb. She thinks she was born a drag queen. Erika makes sure everything is ready for her Shoe Dazzle launch party, while Mikey follows her around. In Erika’s interview, she says when you get something, you always want more; then you want more. She went from moving to New York, to dancing in the club, to marrying Tom, to Erika Jayne to Broadway. There are no limits.
The women arrive, and at first, no one knows who LisaR is in her wig. Erika thanks them for coming, and a cake is brought out with a giant shoe on it. Erika screams when she sees it. She thanks everyone for letting her be her. LisaR tells the group that she wants get away for week and have a good time before Erika leaves for Broadway. She’s arranged something in Rome. Dorit shows off her Italian, and Kyle thinks they should invite the Pope to hang out with them. We flash back to the women discussing various sex topics. On the side, Denise tells Erika, she knows there was noise about her walking away from conversations, but just because she’s an open person doesn’t mean she has no boundaries with her children. Erika says, when Aaron is invited, it becomes something else, and Denise says she’ll get to that. She just wants to clear the air. In Erika’s interview, she says, it’s difficult to have a conversation with Denise when, if she doesn’t like what she’s hearing, she shuts it down or leaves. I didn’t consider Denise saying to wait a moment shutting it down, but okay. Denise says she doesn’t want it to be awkward on the trip. She likes Erika and has a lot of respect for her. They have fun together. In her interview, Erika says she likes Denise, but it takes work be good friend, and requires wanting to be a friend and communicate. LisaR says the only Italian she knows is pizza and pasta. Erika says LisaR is definitely American.
Garcelle and Sutton meet at Gray Tavern. Garcelle asks about Erika’s party, and Sutton says it was nice, but they missed her. In Garcelle’s interview, she says her work schedule stops her from having a social life. She’s doing Coming to America and two TV shows. She’s a single mother, and mama got to work. She tells Sutton that she got a by-the-way text about going to Rome. She and Sutton talk hair, and Sutton says her kitchen is hot. In Garcelle’s interview, she explains, kitchen to a Black person means the back of the neck. It ups Sutton’s cool factor that she knew that. Garcelle says she was brought up not to talk money, but how did Sutton get hers? In Sutton’s interview, she says she’s Southern and doesn’t like talking about money. Garcelle asks if Sutton inherited it, married into it, or was born with it. Sutton said when she was married to her ex-husband, he did well. In her interview, Garcelle says she can rub people the wrong way because she’s blunt, but if you don’t ask deep questions, you can’t get to know someone. She didn’t ask for Sutton’s bank balance. Although she’d love to know. Sutton says she’s known her ex since she was thirteen, and they married when she was seventeen. Garcelle asks if he took her virginity, and Sutton asks why Garcelle wants to go there. Garcelle says, that’s who she is, and Sutton says she’s not answering that one.
Kyle’s daughter Alexia goes to see Amelia. In LisaR’s interview, she says, New York didn’t go as planned. Amelia came home, and is now in a safe place, with family and friends close by. Alexia is working in real estate, and LisaR asks how she likes the job. Alexis says she’s blessed to have it, but it’s a long process to learn everything she needs to know. In her interview, LisaR says, it’s not a vacation. Amelia needs to get an apartment and go to school in order to move forward. Amelia talks area and security with Alexia, and says her mood is easily changed by her surroundings. In LisaR’s interview, she says her first apartment was so gross. She lived in a place with 900 units, and they had roaches. She was lucky to have a door that locked. She had no help financially, and thinks that was a driving force in getting what she wanted. She believes helping Amelia with a thousand dollars a month is fair. The rest is on Amelia. Amelia lists the million things she needs, and says rats will kill her vibe. In her interview, LisaR says, look at the monsters she created.
Assistant Celene helps Teddi with packing. Jordan helps Sutton, but he’s distracted by her clothing, oohing and ahhing over various pieces. He doesn’t know if he’s helping or shopping. Laia helps Erika. Everyone has closets the size of my house. Erika puts a wig on her dog Tiago, and we all laugh. Teddi visits Kyle who says she’s finishing packing. Everything is a mess, with clothing everywhere, including the floor. Kyle says they need to get invites out for Teddi’s baby shower. In her interview, she says she’s been busy organizing her children’s hospital event and Italy. Teddi is ready to pop, and she hasn’t had time to plan. She asks where Teddi wants to have it, and Teddi says, whatever’s easiest. In her interview, Teddi says, nothing gives her more peace than not having to invite the women to anything. We revisit Teddi telling everyone that she didn’t care if they came to her retreat or now. Kyle asks if Teddi likes games. Teddi says she does, but she’d rather cut her face off than watch people unwrap gifts. Kyle says they’re definitely doing that then. Yep. Showers are only fun if they’re yours. Kim comes by with some clothes for Kyle, and says she’s taking Brandi to dinner for her birthday; she’s in the car. Kyle tells Kim to invite her in. In Kyle’s interview, she says, Kim and Brandi have a unique friendship. They were enemies before, then became close, and now genuinely have a good friendship. Kim goes out to the car and asks if Brandi wants to come in; they’re talking about Teddi’s shower. In her interview, Kyle says Kim was friends with Brandi when she and Brandi were in a bad place. We flash back to that, and Kyle says, but she was always happy knowing Brandi was being a good friend to Kim. They’ve come a long way since the slut/pig days. Kim says she got her biopsy results back, and everything is perfect.
Brandi asks why they’re going to Rome, and Kyle explains that Erika is leaving for four months. She adds, there’s been stuff going on in the group, like usual, and tells Brandi about Denise, and how she didn’t like the threesome conversation around her kids. Brandi says, Charlie Sheen is their father, like this should make a difference. Teddi says, Denise called her a sh*t stirrer, and Kyle says Denise runs from the truth. She has feelings, but doesn’t want to say them. Kim says, she did something to Brandi… Brandi says, she and Denise are friends, then amends it, saying she doesn’t know what they are. But the women need to be careful; Denise isn’t who she pretends to be. What you see is not what you get. Now that the cork has been pulled, Brandi says Denise doesn’t like Teddi at all, and has said horrible things about her, that she’s obnoxious and will do anything to be in the group because she’s lived in her dad’s shadow her whole life. In Teddi’s interview, she says she gave Denise the opportunity to come clean, and we flash back to five minutes ago. Brandi says Denise doesn’t like Erika either. She plays cool and laid back, but she’s not. Brandi tells them, she feels that Denise tells her things because Denise has something on her. Kyle talks in Spanish on the phone, and asks the housekeeper to bring some wine upstairs. In Kyle’s interview, she says she’s never seen Brandi upset like this. Spill it. Kim tells Brandi, Denise isn’t her friend. Brandi says when they met, she and Denise hit it off. She thought Denise was the coolest chick, but some sh*t went down, and it got effed up. Kyle asks what the story is, and Brandi says Teddi knows how she feels about cheating. They did a podcast together about it. We see a clip of that, and Brandi says she was broken for so long. In Brandi’s interview, she says, when she was married and was cheated on, it destroyed her. We flashed back to Brandi talking about Eddie and LeAnn Rimes. In her interview, she says she would never do that to another woman. She tells the group that she had a friend who was dating a married man, and she had to stop talking to her. Denise put her in a situation where she was the cheater. The wine arrives, and Kim sits next to Brandi, taking her hand. I gag a little. Brandi says she knew Denise and Aaron had an understanding. Aaron told Denise that she could be with girls if she wanted; just no men. The night they met, she went out with Denise and Aaron for dinner. They clicked, got completely wasted, and she and Denise went to the restroom and made out. This was before Denise and Aaron were married. That April, Denise invited Brandi come and do her podcast from Denise’s set. She said Brandi could stay in her room with Aaron; they’d get a rollaway bed, and Denise’s middle daughter would be there with a friend as well. In Brandi’s interview, she says, Denise’s daughter was sleeping downstairs. There was no rollaway bed, so she slept in the bed with Denise. Brandi tells the women, the second night, they got drunk. They were effed up, and kind of hooked up. Teddi says, like kiss? and Brandi says, like everything. Don’t judge her. Kyle says she’s just shocked. Brandi says she was uncomfortable; it was a loft with no door, and she couldn’t get into it. Then Denise said, don’t tell Aaron, or he would kill her. In her interview, Brandi says, in a moment, she was everything she’d always hated. She’d never be a cheater and not be loyal. She never would have slept with Denise if she’d thought Aaron wasn’t okay with it, and there had been no question in her mind that he was. Afterwards, it was like she never existed. Occasionally, Denise would text, and she stayed in touch to make sure things were kosher. Denise made her believe she did something wrong. She had a breakdown and told Kim about it; she felt horrible. Kim says Denise called the night before the charity event, and asked if Brandi had told anyone. Brandi says she’d wanted it to be a calm night, and now Denise was calling her and telling her sh*t about them. Teddi says Denise was trying to make Brandi feel like they were close. Kyle says Denise was scared, and Brandi tells them, Denise said she would never spill her secrets. It was like a threat. Kyle tells Brandi not to beat herself up about it, and Kim says she’s taking Brandi to a meditation sound bath. In Kyle’s interview, she says Brandi can be mean and a bitch, but she doesn’t believe Brandi is a liar. I do, and I think the truth is probably somewhere in the middle, as it usually is. Kyle says she’s realizing none of them know Denise.
Kim says it’s hard for Brandi to talk about, but they need to know what they’re dealing with. Kyle doesn’t know what to say. On the way back to the car, Kim tells Brandi that she should talk to someone. By that, I assume she means a therapist, and I definitely agree with that. Brandi needs some heavy duty therapy. I’m not even saying it might not have happened, but this girl is messed up, and has been the entire time she’s been on this show. Teddi wonders how she’s going to look at a chick who hates her. She’s going on an effing trip with her. Teddi suddenly looks like she has a headache.
Eighteen hours later, the women are in Rome, except for Denise and Garcelle, who are still in a car on the way to the airport. Garcelle says, it’s probably for the best. On the way to the hotel, Teddi says she needs to have an awkward conversation with LisaR. Denise has been saying negative things about her, LisaR, and Erika. And things happened between… LisaR finishes, Denise and Brandi. Denise tells Garcelle, it should be an interesting trip. Garcelle says she can’t wait.
Next time, the women throw coins in the Trevi Fountain, a statue comes to life, couture shopping happens, Teddi and Erika confront Denise, and Teddi announces Denise and Brandi had sex.
If you’re lucky enough to be phasing toward freedom, please remember you can end up back where you started, so don’t abuse the privilege. That means no house parties and no gathering in crowds anywhere. I don’t know about you, but I’d like to go out like a normal human again someday. So stay safe, stay following the guidelines, and stay looking toward the day phases are phased out.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
Today’s GH was the start of the Nurse’s Ball 2014. We were treated to an Obrecht takeover, treating us with KathleenGati singing WIlkommen from Cabaret. It looks like the entire week will be dedicated to episodes from the 2014 and 2015 yearly event.
Below Deck Sailing Yacht
Avlaki, Corfu. Glenn asks to talk to Nicole, and explains that two crew members saw a guest with white powder under their nose. He wanted to speak to Nicole first, but says he’s obligated to get to get to the bottom of it. If there are drugs on board, it will be the end of the charter. He hopes that’s not the case, but says it was confirmed that the crew members definitely saw something. His next step is to talk to Billy; maybe he has a logical explanation. In Glenn’s interview, he says he could easily lose his license, or go to jail. Glenn tells Billy that a couple of crew members saw evidence of white powder under his nose. Billy says his hand to God, on his mother’s grave, he didn’t bring drugs onto the boat. Madison and Jenna listen in, while Georgia sings in the laundry room. Glenn asks if he can see Billy’s cabin, and if Madison will be a witness. In his interview, Glenn says he found a guest smoking a joint once, plucked it out of their mouth, and tossed it into the sea. If the authorities find drugs on board, it’s a big deal.
Glenn looks through Billy’s bags, and asks if there’s anything Billy doesn’t want him to find. Billy says he has nothing to hide. Glenn comes across some Gold Bond powder, and Billy says he’s not snorting that. Nicole tells another guest, this is so uncomfortable. Glenn says he didn’t find anything, and apologizes. In his interview, Glenn says he’s disappointed, but it sent a message. If there’s anything left, hopefully Billy has the sense to get rid of it. It’s not like he tossed the room. He just checked through some semi-packed bags.
Billy tells roommate Nicholas about the search, and wonders who the crew members were. What’s of interest here is, Nicolas immediately asks if Billy had anything. Billy says, no, but why would Nicholas ask if it wasn’t a possibility? Nicole says, it was intense. Jenna tells the other stews to keep them drinking. In Jenna’s interview, she says she made an observation, and was under obligation to tell Glenn. She didn’t relish ruining the guests’ vacation. Nicole says she just wants not to be stressed. In her interview, Jenna says she wanted to go out on a high note, but it’s going to be an awkward note at best. Glenn tells her there’s not much he can do, and she says it puts a damper on the last charter. Glenn tells Chris that he didn’t find anything, so he’s going to leave it there.
Jenna tells Madison there’s a bad vibe after the investigation. Madison brings Nicole a drink, and tells her to just breathe in, breathe out, and enjoy lunch. In Adam’s interview, he says, the guests are pissed, crew morale is in the dumps, and it sucks when the last charter goes sour. He has to kill it. Ooh, ceviche. I’ve never had it, but I’ve been dying to try it since I saw it on Shahs of Sunset (and where is that reunion anyway?) Adam serves the guests. Billy says he’s not hungry, and pouts. Jenna tells the guests, the sailing will be from 3 to 6, and afterwards, they’ll have the Greek party.
In Madison’s interview, she says, it’s an utter disaster. Get them drunk, get them fed, get them off the boat, and get the tip. Glenn asks her how the guests are doing, and she says they’re happy. Not so Billy, who decides to stomp up to the bridge and confront the captain. He says he gets that Glenn is doing his job, and it’s a serious thing, but he’s offended. Glenn apologizes, but says they have a blanket zero-tolerance policy. Just because he didn’t find anything, doesn’t mean it’s not on board. Billy says he was pretty effing drunk last night, but that was it, and his effing luxury vacation is now ruined. Please. First of all, boo-hoo that ten minutes was taken out of his luxury vacation because at best, he was acting stupid. And I don’t believe this guy wasn’t/isn’t on something. I’ve pretty much seen it all, and I’ve never seen anyone act like he does when they’re drunk. That dude was high. Billy says, there’s nothing there, and nothing was. He doesn’t know how to deal with this. In Glenn’s interview, he says he would hate for the season to implode when they’re this close to the finish line. A charter is always remembered by the ending. Billy stomps back to the deck.
Glenn calls Ciara, Paget, and Byron to the wheelhouse to talk about the regatta. He says if they want the charter to be a success, put on a big smile and happy faces. They have to sell it, and have the opportunity to finish on a high note. Glenn shows them the game plan, and they get ready to start. The course is set up, and Byron drives one boat, taking Billy (lucky him); and Paget drives the other boat with Nicholas. In Chris’s interview, he says he spent his childhood racing, and it’s heartbreaking. He wants to be out there. In Byron’s interview, he says, of course he’s stuck with the guy who was searched. He hopes Billy doesn’t get pissed off more. A third watch boat goes out, with a few guests, including Nicole. Paget gets a slow start, and the boats race around markers. Byron’s boat goes totally sideways, and into the water. He manages to right the boat, but team Paget wins. In his interview, Byron says he wants to punch Paget. Glenn says, good race, and Billy says, awesome, apparently forgetting his luxury vacation was ruined.
In Adam’s interview, he says, after the awkwardness, the guests’ vibe is getting better. It’s all about the food, and he has no room for mistakes. The guests put on togas and Greek themselves up. Ciara takes what my dad used to call a Navy bath, basically just splashing water on her armpits. Paget tells Byron that he hasn’t gotten Ciara anything for her birthday yet. In the crew mess, Paget tells Ciara, happy birthday, and Georgia looks at them like she hates them. In her interview, Georgia says she has feelings for Paget (don’t we have feelings about everything? that sounds so stupid to me), and the closer they get to the end of the season, she realizes she has to say something. In Ciara’s interview, she says, the season is almost over, and she’s looking for much needed time away from the crew. Madison and Georgia do a happy dance over their last turndown.
A Greek buffet is served. Adam sings, last meal of the season. Billy deigns to eat. Jenna tells Adam that the guests are happy. Nicole says the only thing that could make it better, would be someone rubbing her feet. I’m surprised a crew member doesn’t pop out and do it. In Jenna’s interview, she says she’s trying to do everything she can to make it better, but under the circumstances, she doesn’t know if it’s enough. It’s not a good way to go out.
Glenn tells Ciara, happy birthday. In Glenn’s interview, he says he sees the finish line. They need to keep it going; keep doing their best. The guests toddle out, and Adam makes breakfast. Nicole says she’d definitely charter the boat again, so evidently she couldn’t care less that Billy’s luxury vacation is ruined. Georgia says she’s going to be getting on an airplane so fast, and Madison says she wants to cry. Georgia tells Madison, if Jenna cries, it’s because she threw a rock at her. Paget says they’re all like old men, limping around the boat. The boat is carrying more dead weight than Byron’s jokes.
It’s finally time to say goodbye. Nicole floats off on a cloud of alcohol after giving Glenn the tip envelope. Glenn honks the horn, per tradition. In Paget’s interview, he says, they did it. And if they can do what they just did, the sky’s the limit. Jenna tells the stews that they need to get the boat fresh and ready for whatever she does next. Adam and Jenna talk about going to Venice. Georgia and Madison eat like madwomen in the crew mess. In Madison’s interview, she says she can’t be happier. Jenna joins them, and Georgia says she’s never worked with this big a crew before. Jenna thinks it went well. There were some things that pushed her over the edge more than usual. She says they joked around, but she doesn’t personally mind. Georgia asks if that’s because Jenna is the one doing the bullying. Jenna asks if Georgia thinks she doesn’t get bullied. In her interview, Georgia gives a surreptitious middle finger. Georgia says Jenna makes jokes at other people’s expense, and was having personal jokes with Adam in the galley. Jenna says, to be honest, it was her frustration coming out. She did think there were a lot of stupid questions, so she’d vent to Adam. Georgia says if there were questions, it was because she wasn’t familiar with the field. There wasn’t one day when she didn’t work her ass off. Jenna says she doesn’t disagree, and Madison says, we made it; it’s over. Let’s have one more good night.
Jenna tells Adam that the girls think she can be mean, and they’re afraid of her. Madison and Georgia eavesdrop, and roll their eyes. In Madison’s interview, she says, it’s how you treat people, how you talk to people, and how you manage a team. She’d never want anyone to feel like she was made to feel. She thinks she knows how it should be run, and could handle the job
Jenna tells Byron, when they started in the industry, it was more cutthroat. In Byron’s interview, he says there’s a level of respect that the younger ones need to learn. Georgia tells Madison, if there was a separation, it was because Jenna made it that way. Paget gives Ciara a gift bag in the crew mess, and she takes out a Leatherman. In her interview, Madison says, how romantic, but in Ciara’s interview, she says she loves practical birthday gifts. Paget says she’s park of the deck team now, and they hug. The crew sings Happy Birthday.
Glenn radios the crew for the debriefing. He says, they got through the final charter, and it was definitely challenging. But even though they had a situation, they still finished on a high note. The tip was $15,000, or $1660 each. Jenna is shocked, along with having a sense of relief. Glenn says they got more than $16K each in tips, and made a total of $143K. It’s a testament to how well they work as a team. He tells them he’s set up dinner at a beach bar; their final night out together. He’s coming along, and tells them to do as much as they can before they head out.
In his interview, Adam says he’s serious about the road trip. Even though it was a terribly emotional time, at this point, Jenna is the closest he’s ever gotten to saying I love you. He doesn’t give his heart easily, and it’s hard to believe sometimes. In Georgia’s interview, she says she can’t ignore her feelings for Paget anymore. It’s been weighing on her for a while, and she has to tell Ciara before Ciara finds out. She has to admit it’s a disloyal feeling, and it’s terrifying. She goes up on deck, where Ciara is coiling a gigantic rope, and asks if Ciara wants help. Ciara says, sure, and Georgia says she kind of has to tell Ciara something before they go. She’s having a bit of a thing for Paget. I honestly don’t get why she feels the need to do this. It’s not like she and Paget did anything but joke around. It seems like she’s just making an idiot of herself. I also don’t get how Ciara would find out otherwise. Does Georgia post her diary online?
Ciara says she already knew that, and it was no surprise. In Ciara’s interview, she says, this is super awkward. Georgia says she hasn’t ever wanted to cross the line, and wanted Ciara to know that. In her interview, Ciara says, let her silence speak for itself. She tells Georgia, you’re fine. In her interview, Georgia says to open up, and have Ciara say she knew, and never thought of Georgia as a threat, is twisting the knife; she wants to jump in [the water]. Again, I’m not getting this. On top of this need to tell Ciara, she wanted a jealous reaction? It’s like some weird mean girl backfire. I thought more highly of Georgia than this. Ciara tells Paget that she was washing the bow, and she and Georgia had a conversation about him. Georgia apologized and admitted she had a thing for him. He laughs, and Byron eavesdrops. Paget says, has or had, and Byron laughs. Paget tells Ciara, if it’s any consolation, he fancies Ciara. She says she hopes so, and they hug. Everyone gets ready for dinner.
The crew gets in the van, and they drive to the beach club. There’s a long, candlelit table near a firepit outside, where they sit. Jenna asks Ciara if they ever initiated the threesome, and Ciara says she wishes everyone would stop bringing it up. Paget says, it’s not happening. Glenn asks what everyone’s high point of the season was. Chris says it was sailing; the feeling of the sea, and the power of the wind. For Paget, it was the regatta, and for Adam, meeting Jenna. Everyone aww-groans. Glenn says the crew blew him away. The people knew, as well as those he just met. He congratulates them on a great season, and they clink glasses. In Glenn’s interview, he says, at the beginning of the season, he was with his core family, but the new crew coming in became like family. They don’t always get along, like you don’t always get along with your siblings, but overall, it was a fantastic family. He goes back to the boat, leaving the crew to their own devices.
Georgia says she’s not going to miss an opportunity to play guitar, taking it out of its case. Paget says he has a request from her number one fan. It’s in his head, but he can’t think of the name of it. He tells her, just play. She plays and sings, and he says, that’s it. I’m pretty sure it’s one of her own songs. In Jenna’s interview, she says, nice of Paget to call himself her number one fan. I think Paget feels a little sorry for her. Paget plays air guitar and sings along. In Ciara’s interview, she says if she never had to hear that song again, it would be way too soon. She cuddles with Paget. The song concludes, and everyone applauds. Georgia asks if they want another one, and there’s a moment of crickets before Madison says she wants to dance. They go to the main part of the restaurant; it’s somewhat enclosed, but has no walls. Byron, Jenna, and Adam stay behind, lounging on a long couch. Chris asks Paget if he thinks they’re falling asleep, and Paget says, they are 30 plus. Paget sees Georgia, and says he wants to tell her something. Oh please.
Georgia tells him, make her night. There’s a brief exchange I can’t really hear, and Paget says, forget about it, and walks away. When he gets back to Ciara, she asks if he loves her. He says, of course, and she asks if he’s happy with her birthday. He says, if she’s happy, he’s happy. Paget rounds everyone up. Chris wants to wait one more song, but Paget suggests they get in the effing van. Back on the boat, Chris writes, it’s over, on the whiteboard.
In the morning, Paget says his head is killing him. Chris complains that he had so many clothes he didn’t get to wear. In his interview, he says it’s scary for him. He started well, but now he’s going to head back to the UK and see a specialist to get his back sorted out. Hopefully he’ll come back better and stronger. In Byron’s interview, he says the crew has been mostly capable, but he’d never pass up an opportunity to work with Glenn. They made great tips, but he can’t wait to see his wife and daughter. He leaves, and wife Hayley meets him on the boardwalk, along with baby Saphira.
In Madison’s interview, she says she learned a lot, and is more sensitive than she thought she was. She takes things too personally, and shouldn’t. She’s going to miss Georgia the most, since she felt like she found a sister. She and Jenna high-five. She tells Georgia, you’re coming with me, and walks out on the dock. Georgia follows, saying she’s been waiting to hear that all season. Georgia and Madison say goodbye, and in her interview, Madison says she knows she’ll be friends with Georgia for the rest of her life.
Georgia asks to talk to Paget. She tells him it was great that she formed a strange, crazy connection, even at the expense of her dignity. She’s glad she met him; no one has gotten her like he has for a while. She gets teary, and says, it’s nice to know someone gets her. It means more than he realizes. Paget says Ciara told him at some point that she thought Georgia had feelings for him, but he couldn’t act on that. In his interview, he says Georgia is a good person underneath all the jokes, and she’s just looking for someone to treat her right. She’s talented, funny, good-looking, and available! Please treat her well. Paget reminds me of the nice college guy who’s gently brushing off the middle school girl who has a crush on him. Jenna tosses her clothes on the bed, wondering how she’s going to fit them in her suitcase.
Paget looks around the boat, and says, it’s a lot of work. Jenna tells Georgia, she knows it was complicated, and Georgia says, that’s the nature of the beast. Jenna says she thought she handled it well, but in Georgia’s interview, she says she thought she’d have team members to rely on. Instead, it was three times more complicated. Just saying. Ciara tells Georgia, it was nice, finding a hardcore bitch like herself.
In Jenna’s interview, she says, she fell in love in this hopeless place. How could she not love this season? Adam tells Glenn that he’s a great captain. He’s had his fair share, and Glenn is one of the few he’d work for again. I notice that Glenn is like, thanks, but doesn’t return that sentiment. In Adam’s interview, he says he’s learned a lot, and being vulnerable may not actually kill him. He asks if Jenna is ready for a road trip.
Glenn, Paget, and Ciara sit in the crew mess. Ciara says, it’s just us again. Glenn says it was a great season, and he’s glad they were there. He’s glad it worked out with Ciara being a deckhand. Ciara says she’s glad Glenn pushed her. In her interview, she says, she realized she’s more capable than she gives herself credit for. Being outside her comfort zone was good for her. She thanks Paget for making it happen.
Meanwhile, on the road… Jenna and Adam, living in a van down by the river. Or at least near the beach. Adam cooks over and open flame, and asks what time the primary wants to eat.
🧼 Leave It To LOGO…
A new soap is born. It’s always a roll of the dice, but if Morgan Fairchild is in, so am I.
While it disturbed my comfort level its first season, this time sMothered actually made me feel a little ill. Returning cast members Dawn and Cher, and Kathy and Cristina, who were not in the first episode, seem relatively normal in comparison to the newbies. And even then, mostly Dawn and Cher.
When the man in black became the man in white, I started feeling lost. By the time JessieAaron Paul came on the scene, I was more lost than I was when I was watching Lost. Another disappointment. When will it end?
Sadly, my buddy dog Casey lost his battle with the infection that attacked his kidneys. Run free, little man, run free. And as for you, stay safe, stay sound , and stay passing the open windows.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
Today’s Friday Flashback GH– from April 1, 2015 – revisited when Luke went to the house he’d grown up in, and flashed back to April 1, 1963; the night he inadvertently killed his mother, and deliberately killed his father. It was also when Dee Wallace was on the scene as Luke’s sister Patricia.
🍊 Remember Her…?
You should. Jeana was one of my favorites on The Real Housewives of Orange County. An OG who only lasted a few seasons, she actually seemed to keep the real in the housewife. She and daughter Kara have seen their share of tragedies lately, but I’m sure Jeana considers her exit from the show a blessing.
I saw a millisecond of the RHOAReunion, but even done virtually in quarantine, the women all talked at once. I couldn’t understand why Andy didn’t just cut some mics off. That would have been sweet. Their mouths moving, but nothing coming out. Like it is with sound, minus the sound. NeNe was still telling Kandi that she’d never amount to anything. The one who had a couple of small parts on two now canceled series, telling the Grammy winner who just won The Masked Singer that she’s a loser. Okay.
🦍 Also recommended: Godzilla King of the Monsters, now on rotation on HBO, SHO or one of those O’s. Obviously, this is not something to watch for a great storyline, but if you’re craving special effects and giant creatures, this one’s for you. And they’re all in it. Mothra, Rodan, King Kong, a bunch of monsters who I have no idea who/what they are, and the king himself – Elvis Godzilla. I used to love those movies as a kid, and this is one of those times one hundred.
🦜 Quotes of the Week
We’re breaking the law; we don’t want to work with criminals. – Destiny (Constance Wu), Hustlers
No one looks stupid when they’re having fun. – Amy Poehler (I actually beg to differ on this one.)
The truth will set you free, but first it will piss you off. – Joe Klass
Lana is real; anything can happen. – AnnieSuwan Toborowsky, 90 Day Fiancé: Pillow Talk, referring to a woman showing up who we all thought was a catfish.
Consistency is the true foundation of trust. Either keep your promises or do not make them. – Roy T. Bennett
With great power… comes great need to take a nap. Wake me up later. – Rick Riordan
Aside from Dreidel, Dreidel, and that Adam Sandler thing, it’s an untapped market. – Arthur Spooner (Jerry Stiller), King of Queens, referring to Hanukkah songs.
I know that if we are to live with ourselves there comes a point at which we must relinquish the dead, let them go, keep them dead. – Joan Didion, The Year of Magical Thinking
I cannot compromise my respect for your love. You can keep your love, I will keep my respect. – Amit Kalantri
There is one friend in the life of each of us who seems not a separate person, however dear and beloved, but an expansion, an interpretation, of one’s self, the very meaning of one’s soul. – Edith Wharton
If you always do what is easy and choose the path of least resistance, you never step outside your comfort zone. Great things don’t come from comfort zones. – Roy T. Bennett
In every age, the good old days were a myth. No one ever thought they were good at the time. For every age has consisted of crises that seemed intolerable to the people who lived through them. – Brooks Atkinson (Boy, is that not the truth.)
How tall am I? Honey, with hair, heels, and attitude, I’m through this damned roof! – RuPaul
🌦 Trying To See Blue Sky…
It’s not looking good for my older dog, so if you’re so inclined, say a prayer for my little man; that if our time together is at an end, he go gently into this good night, to wait for me at the Rainbow Bridge. On the upside, my girl who had an old roughhousing eye injury come back to haunt her, is much improved and doing well.
Until we meet again, stay safe, stay human, and stay marching to the beat of a different drum. And add a little spice to your Memorial Day weekend.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
Today’s GHFriday Flashback was from March 30, 2018. Max Gail did the introduction, and basically said to get out the tissues. It was when the MetroCourt was turned into One Night at Luke’s. Eddie Maine performed, there were plenty of flashbacks, and Mike had the time of his life.
I just love the whole 90 Day Fiancé franchise. You’d think I’d write about it, but it deserves my undivided attention. It’s little gems like this that make it worthwhile. Long story short, Big Ed kinda looks like a troll. Don’t get me wrong, looks don’t matter. If you can make a woman laugh, you’re probably more than halfway there. Or if you have a sparkling personality. Or you’re rich. Big Ed is none of those things, and pretty much overall annoying, obnoxious, and fearful of anything outside his own world. His potential fiancé Rose was half his age and from the Philippines. She seemed like a lovely girl, but Ed alternated between treating her like he was predator grooming her, with exhibiting behavior that embarrassed her. The cherry on Rose’s cake was when she said she wanted to have two more children – which he knew before he ever made the trip to meet her – and he told her that he already had an appointment for a vasectomy because he didn’t want any more children – which he’d never even hinted at. Well, just look at some of the details yourself.
Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says I’ll try again tomorrow. – Mary Anne Radmacher
A person is not given integrity. It results from the relentless pursuit of honesty at all times. – Unknown
Accept me, Lord, as I am, and make me such as thou wouldst have me to be. – MaryLivingstone (Missionary in Africa)
I’m thankful for my struggle, because without it, I wouldn’t have stumble across my strength. – Alex Elle
I kinda get the willy-nillies when the dead guys come out. I have to go lie down. – an Atlanta local, talking about the Walking Dead being filmed there, Ridewith Norman Reedus
When deeds speak, words are nothing. – Pierre-Joseph Proudhon
Happiness depends more upon the internal frame of a person’s own mind, than on the externals in the world. – George Washington
I’ll be fine, until I’m not. – The Dowager Countess (Maggie Smith), Downton Abbey
🏖 Life’s a Beach…
Hey, you made it through another week. And there are rumblings of things opening a crack. Get out and enjoy the outdoors. Just think of a mask as another accessory. God knows the designers are. Stay safe, stay at least six-feet away, and stay hoping drive-ins become a thing even after all the pandemonia is over.
Oh, and if Amy tells you I ran her down to meet Barry Bostwick that time at Town Hall, don’t believe her. I just gently pushed her aside.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
Shahs of Sunset
Your guess is as good as mine as to what happened here. Part one of the Reunion was supposed to air at 9 pm, but somehow it turned into The Notebook. I checked everywhere – Bravo’s site, Twitter, Facebook, Google – nothing. I saw the question being posed on the Shahs Facebook page, but no one answered. 🤷🏻♀️ I even checked through the entire next week of the digital guide, and nada. Is there a lawsuit pending? As soon as I find out what the blip is going on, I’ll let you know.
It was probably just as well, since I have a sick child dog who had to stay at the hospital tonight, and I’m just a wee bit distracted. I poured an entire pot of tea though, for your entertainment pleasure.
My Little Man
🏥 Today, General Hospital’s Flashback Friday was the episode where Jordan and Curtis got married on The Haunted Star. Then found Kiki’s body in their wedding night stateroom. And they still haven’t gone on their honeymoon.
What I Watched - TV With Theresa 