Tag Archives: Southern Charm

Sep29

September 28, 2023 – Gladys Is the Worst Person In the World, A Distinct Lack Of Charm & Remember

Posted on September 29, 2023 by theresakp

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Spencer and Trina go into their hotel room, which is pretty swanky, and Trina is suitably impressed. He asks what she thinks, and she says she thinks it’s perfect, kissing him. She can’t believe they had to leave Port Charles and come all the way to NYC to spend some quality time together. Not that she’s complaining. He says, neither is he, and they kiss again. (FYI: people from NYC do not call it NYC. It’s just the city.)

Dressed in a cowboy hat and fringed vest, squirt gun in hand, Josslyn goes into Sonny’s old kitchen where Donna and Avery, also wearing cowboy getups, are hiding behind the kitchen island. She says, stop right there, pardner. Unless you’re looking for trouble. She takes a hit from one of their squirt guns, and Donna says, gotcha. The moss bowl🎍quietly laughs, and Josslyn says, not for long. You can’t get me here. They have a showdown around the island. Ava walks in, and asks, what’s going on? Donna and Avery both squirt her.

A guard says, Cyrus must have pulled some serious strings to get a visitor at this hour, and Cyrus says, the warden owes him one. He picks up the phone, and says, he hopes they’ve come to give him good news about Drew Cain. Across from him, Mason sucks on a lollipop, looking surprisingly like The Rock in this lighting. I actually do a doubletake.

Carly paces in Drew’s room, and flashes back to them telling each other, I love you. She sits by the bed and strokes his arm. She says she’ll get him out of Pentenville. She has to.

Dante thanks Dr. Montague for coming to the station on such short notice, and Montague says, no trouble at all. Anything he can do to assist. Dante says, they just have to get to the bottom of a few things, and Montague says, happy to help. Dante asks Montague to follow him into the interrogation room, and he can take the doctor’s statement. Cody is led into the squad room and sees Montague through the window.

Dante says he hopes Montague doesn’t mind if he records this. Does he want some water? Montague says, no thanks, and outside, Cody says, go on, Dante. Get ‘em.

Sasha asks if Gladys will do it. Will she confess and testify against Dr. Montague? Gladys says, please. If this comes out, Sonny will kill her – literally. Sasha says, like Dr. Montague was planning to kill her, and Gladys says she didn’t know he was going to do that. She never wanted to hurt Sasha. Sasha says, Gladys just wanted her locked up and drugged so she could steal her money, but Gladys says, that’s not how it was at all. She got in a jam. Things got out of control. Sasha’s got to believe her. She would never ever agree to that. She loves Sasha. Sasha says, then prove it. Confess and help her put away Dr. Montague for good.

Spencer tells Trina that he’s going to run and pick up the tickets. She asks if he’s bailing on her, but he says, not at all. He just thought she’d like to decompress after the flight (how long was it? 20 minutes?) She says, that works for her and asks him not to be long. He says, of course (🍷), kisses her, and leaves. She leaves a message for Portia, saying, they got to NYC safe and sound. Tell Curtis and Marshall that she said, hey, and they’ll talk tomorrow. Love you.

Avery says, they got Ava, and Ava says, they did. It’s like the OK Corral in here. Josslyn gives her a towel, and says, they’re going to have dinner soon. She suggests the girls go upstairs and wash up. Donna says, they can ride their horsies upstairs, and they gallop off. Josslyn asks, what brings Ava by? and Ava says she just came to say goodnight to Avery. She knows Josslyn’s mom is at the hospital with Drew; she just came from there. Josslyn says, that’s why she’s here holding down the fort. Is there any news? Is Drew awake? Ava says, not yet, but he’s out of surgery and the doctors seem very confident that everything went well. Josslyn says, that’s good to hear, and thanks Ava. Ava says, of course (🍷). They’re all worried. Drew doesn’t deserve this, and she owes him so much for everything he did to bring Trina home. Josslyn says, Trina really means a lot to Ava, and Ava says, she’s like a daughter. Josslyn says, Ava’s really done a lot for Trina. Getting her that internship at The Chuck. Ava’s taught Trina pretty much everything she knows about the gallery and the art world. She thinks Trina’s really lucky to have Ava in her life. Both the moss bowl🎍and I wonder if we’ve stumbled into Bizarro World, and Josslyn says she knows Trina really appreciates Ava. Ava says she appreciates Trina too. She’d better go up and make sure those cowgirls and their horsies aren’t getting into any mischief.

Mason asks if it isn’t a risk; him and Cyrus meeting here. They’ve been so careful. Cyrus says, relax. The cats are asleep. Mason says he’s not worried about the prisoners, but the warden… Cyrus says, the warden is busy with Drew Cain. So tell him what he’s heard about Cyrus’s friend. Mason says, nothing. All Austin could find out was, Drew Cain was in surgery, and it wasn’t looking good. Cyrus says, there are those of us who become casualties in God’s grand scheme, but when you choose the side of the devil, you willingly stake your life on the losing end.

Deanna goes into Drew’s room and says she’s sorry. She didn’t know Carly was still here. Carly says she wanted to stay until Drew woke up, and Deanna checks his vitals. Carly says, he looks so vulnerable hooked up to all this, and Deanna says, he’s been through a lot. They have to monitor him closely. After the trauma he experienced and the surgery, he’s likely to be out for the night. She tells Carly to let her know if she needs anything, and Carly says, the doctor said the surgery was a success. Deanna says, yes. He’s very lucky. Carly asks if there could be complications at this stage, but Deanna says, try not to worry. Carly says, how is he really? and Drew says, he’s doing pretty good. Better because she’s here. Carly goes to his side.

Walking to the hospital elevator, Jordan says, the warden didn’t need to come all this way to visit Drew. She would have been happy to report his condition. Warden Garten says, not at all. This attack should have never happened. She prides herself on the security at Pentenville, and this is a major fail. She had to make sure for herself that Mr. Cain was okay. Jordan says, she’s brought many reforms to the prison. It’s impressive. The warden says, but they can’t rest on any laurels. Something brutal like this means they have a whole lot more work to do. She’s eager to see if Mr. Cain can shed any light. Jordan says, it’s suspicious though. The severity and duration of the attack suggests there might have been some coordination between prisoners and guards.

Mac thanks Montague for coming in and says, they want to get to the bottom of this. Montague says, as he told Mac’s detective, he’s glad to assist and recover Miss Gilmore. She’s at risk out on her own. Dante talks into the recorder, saying, this is Dr. Damon Montague’s statement on the assault by Cody Bell that happened at Ferncliff, and Montague says he found Cody Bell in one of his patient’s rooms, and Cody attacked him. Dante says, attacked him why? and Montague says he was making his rounds when he heard animated voices coming from a room. When he opened the door to check it out, Cody Bell went crazy and jumped him. Dante asks why he didn’t call security before going into the room, and Montague says, it was the room of one of his troubled patients. (Aren’t they all troubled?) Mac says, Sasha Gilmore, and Montague says, yes. She’s very vulnerable and he was afraid for her life. He’s been treating her for some time and frankly, he’s quite shocked about how much she’s declined since the stabbing episode. Dante says, and he thinks Cody Bell is the one who attacked him, and Montague says, Cody jumped him, and they fought, but Mr. Bell was crazed and knocked him out. When he came to, he was in the bathroom tied up and Cody had taken his clothes. Dante says, when Cody was arrested, he was wearing the clothes Montague says he stole from him, and in the pocket, they found these. He places the bottle of pills on the table and asks if Montague can explain them. Mac sees Cody watching through the window.

Gladys asks Sasha how she can prove it. She didn’t know what Montague was planning to do. Sasha says, but Gladys knew him from her card games. Gladys got him to give her pills that messed with the antidepressants she was already taking. Gladys and Dr. Montague did that to make her look unstable, so Gladys could keep the guardianship going. Gladys says, she was desperate. She’s so sorry. Sasha says, if she’s really sorry, then there’s only one choice; help her put an end to Dr. Montague. He has to be stopped. Gladys says, okay. She’ll do whatever Sasha wants. She’ll go to the police, tell them everything Dr. Montague did. Sasha says she has to wait here, but this is Gladys’s last chance. She’s trusting Gladys. Gladys says, of course (🍷), of course (🍷). She won’t let Sasha down. She feels so terrible. Sasha says, be sure not to tell anyone she saw her. This has to come from Gladys speaking from her own conscience. Gladys leaves, and in the hallway, she takes out her phone. She makes a call, and says she has information about an escaped fugitive. I yell unprintable things at the TV.

Dante asks what Montague has to say about these pills, and Montague says he’s never seen those before in his life, but it makes sense. It appeared Sasha was getting drugs from inside Ferncliff. Maybe Cody was her dealer. (D’oh! Backfire.) Dante says, that definitely helps them clarify some things. He thanks the doctor for his cooperation and says, they may need to speak to him again. Montague says he’s at their disposal, and Mac says, they’ll be in touch. As they come out, Cody says, no. They’re letting him go? and launches himself at Montague, getting him down on a desk.

There’s a knock at the door, and Sasha says, Gladys? There’s another knock, and Sasha opens the door to two police officers. One says, Sasha Gilmore? and Sasha says, no, trying to close the door, but they come in anyway. The officer tells her, please remain calm. They’re only here to escort her back to Ferncliff. Sasha says, they’re making a mistake. She can’t go back to Ferncliff. Please. They lead her out, and she says, why, Gladys? Why? Because apparently, Gladys has no soul.

Deanna says, welcome back, Mr. Cain. How are you feeling? Drew says, good. He’s here. Deanna says, he’s been through a rough surgery. He has to be very careful not to exert himself too much. Drew says, yes, ma’am, and she says she’ll let the doctor know he’s awake. If he needs any help with pain management, just buzz her. She tells Carly to make sure he doesn’t overdo it, and Carly says she will. Deanna leaves, and Carly says she’s so glad Drew is awake. It was so hard watching him lay here like this. She’s so sorry. He says, it’s okay, but she says, it’s not okay. He was only in Pentenville because of her. He says, she’s not to blame. He’s fine. She asks how he can say that. He was only attacked because of her… and Sonny.

Warden Garten asks if Jordan thinks there could have been collusion between the prisoners and her staff at Pentenville, and Jordan says, it’s certainly suspicious. Drew’s injuries indicate a lengthy fight. She’d like an investigation into who was on duty during the attack.

Ava helps the girls set the table, and Josslyn gets a call from Trina. She steps outside to take it. She asks what Trina is doing. Where’s Spencer? Trina says, he went to go pick up the tickets for the theatre. They’re here. Look at this place. She shows Josslyn the room, and Josslyn says, it’s amazing. Tell her everything. How was the flight? She’s assuming they flew first class. Trina says, Joss… but Josslyn says, come on. Enjoy it. Trina says, it was amazing. Spencer has this special key, which meant they got to board first, and they were treated like royalty. They were given heated nuts, and little mints, and fresh baked cookies when they landed. Josslyn asks if a driver was waiting for them, and Trina says, with a sign that said Cassadine. And the driver took them directly to the car, and they didn’t have to wait for the luggage. Josslyn says, wow. Say what you will about Spencer, but that guy’s got game. Trina says, he really does, and Josslyn says, so is she excited? This is huge. Trina and Spencer haven’t really been able to explore their relationship since Greenland, and tonight’s the night. It’s her first time with Spencer. How is she feeling? She knows Trina’s thought about it. Does she still feel ready? Trina says, absolutely. She’s been ready for a while now, and they’re never alone. Josslyn says, they’re alone now, and Trina says she feels really good about Spencer. They’re in a really good place right now. Josslyn says she’s so happy for Trina. Go get ready for her night, but call her tomorrow with every detail… Maybe not all of the details. Know she’s here for Trina no matter what. Seeing Ava through the window, Trina asks if that’s Ava. Is Ava there with Josslyn? Josslyn says, she came by to say hi to Avery. Have a great night. Trina says, you know it. Tell Ava that she said hey. Josslyn says she will. Love you. Trina says, love you more, when Spencer comes back. He says, they’re all set. He picked up the tickets, and everything else is running on schedule. She asks what else he has in store for them, and he says, she’ll see.

Spencer says he could tell Trina, but it would ruin the surprise. She says, don’t ruin the surprise, and he says, that would take all of the fun out of this, but he’ll tell her what. They are in the capital of the Western world. What would she like to do? She says, everything. She’d like to see Soho. There’s a couple of galleries they deal with there. She wants to go shopping, she wants to eat, and she really wants to see the Big Four, MOMA, Guggenheim, Whitney, and the Met. He says he’s so glad she said that, and she asks why he has that smile. He says he thought they weren’t ruining surprises, and she says, he didn’t tell her it had something to do with the museums. He says, okay, he’ll tell her, when there’s a knock at the door. She says, saved by the bell.

Cody is pulled off of Montague, and Mac hustles the doctor away. Cody says, they can’t let him walk, and Mac says, take him to his cell. Sasha is brought in, and Cody says, Sasha. They lock eyes, and Dante looks like he can’t believe it.

Carly says, Drew has to be careful, and he says, she’s not to blame. It was his choice to help Sonny. She says, it’s not his responsibility to fight Sonny’s battles, but he says, it’s not just Sonny’s battles; it’s other injustices too. She says, he doesn’t have to fix everyone’s problems, but he says, she knows he can’t just stand by and watch that stuff happen. The drug problem itself is heartbreaking enough. If he can help root out the corruption, he’s going to do it every time. Jordan comes in with the warden, and says, he’s awake. He had them so worried. Drew thanks her, and she asks how he’s feeling. He says he’s sore, but he’ll be okay. He’s kind of surprised to see the warden here. Carly says, warden? She gets up and asks, how the warden could let this happen to Drew? What kind of prison is she running?

Cyrus says he sent Mason with a message to his nephew’s ex-wife. It’s been more than a handful of days, so what was the dear lady’s response? Mason says, she’s not the one they have to worry about. Betty’s the problem.

Donna asks, what are these? and Ava says, they’re chopsticks; you eat with them. Josslyn thanks Ava for getting the delivery, and Ava says, of course (🍷). How was Trina? Josslyn says, she’s great. She says hi. She and Spencer made it to New York. Ava says, that’s great. She hopes Trina has the time of her life. Josslyn says she’s sure Trina will, and Ava thanks her for being here with Avery. She knows things haven’t been easy. She’ll get out of Josslyn’s hair. Josslyn says, they have way too much food for three people. Would she like to stay for dinner? The moss bowl🎍and I are astounded, and Ava says she’d like that very much, and thanks Josslyn. She tells the cowgirls that she thinks they’ll need more chopsticks because she’s staying for dinner. The girls cheer.

Spencer pops open a bottle, and says, champagne? Trina says, yes please, and he pours them both a glass. They clink glasses and drink.

Carly says, the warden is supposed to be protecting the inmates, and Jordan says, Warden Garten is on the same page as them about getting justice for Drew. She’s here to help them brainstorm about how they can reopen the case and maybe get it before another judge. Carly says, sorry. She’s really upset about all this. The warden says she understands perfectly and tells Drew that she owes him a deep apology. Jordan says, the warden wants Drew out of Pentenville just as much as they do, and Warden Garten says she’s just as upset as Carly is. Drew ending up in a hospital bed was never the outcome she wanted for him. She feels terrible and wanted to see if he could shed any light on the situation. Carly says, the only important thing is to get Drew out of Pentenville, and the warden says she couldn’t agree more.

Mason tells Cyrus that he’s sorry. He really thought they could trust Betty. She may have gotten too cocky and let down her guard and showed Corinthos her cards. Cyrus asks if that’s what Mason thinks happened, and Mason says, it’s possible she turned on them. Sonny’s a very powerful figure, and persuasive, so she may have decided to strike a deal with him.

Cody asks Sasha, what happened? He sees Gladys and asks what Gladys did to her. Mac says, they’re going to escort Sasha back to Ferncliff, but Sasha says she can’t go back there. Cody says, hold on, and tells Dante, don’t do it. Mac says, they’ll make sure nothing happens. They’re expecting her. Cody says they can’t take her back there, and Sasha says, Dante, please. Ferncliff? Dante says, it’s okay. Just for a little bit, until they can sort this out. The officers lead her away, as she says, no, please. Cody says, it’ll be okay. He’ll get her out of there somehow. Mac asks if Gladys minds waiting. He’ll take Cody back to processing and then get back to her. She says she was just trying to help her poor daughter-in-law, and Cody says, do not trust her. She’s behind all of this. Mac asks Gladys to wait in the interrogation room and goes with the officers taking Cody. Montague looks at Gladys, but she doesn’t turn around.

Trina says, look at all of this. Is that caviar? He says he knows it’s a little bit cheesy, but he just couldn’t resist. Why not go all out? He’s really happy she could come along this weekend. He knows she’s really busy with school starting and finishing that paper. She says, which she finished, no thanks to him. He says he can’t help wanting to spend all his free time with her, and he’s glad Ava was able to give her some time off from her duties at the gallery. She says, of course (🍷). It’s no trip to Turks and Caicos like he wanted, during hurricane season, where probably they’d be stranded on some island before they got rescued. He says, so she discovered his master plan; being marooned, just the two of them on an island. She says, when he puts it like that, it does kind of sound nice. Just the two of them. He says he is sorry it’s taken so long for them to have some alone time with each other, but she says, it’s okay. He says, no, it’s not. He just needed to make sure Esme wasn’t going to run away with his little brother, but he’s glad she turned out to be dependable. She asks if they came all this way just to talk about Esme, and he says, of course (🍷) they didn’t, kissing her.

After more kissing, Spencer says, they do have a dinner reservation to get to, and Trina says, let’s get to it. He feeds her something, like people do before going to eat, and he says, they don’t have to go so fast. They haven’t made a proper toast yet. They raise their glasses, and he says, to the woman he loves. She says, to us, and he says, to us. They clink glasses, and kiss some more. He says, okay, dinner, and goes to take a quick shower.

Jordan says, rest assured, she and Diane are exploring all legal loopholes and case precedents. They’re doing everything they can. Drew thanks her, and says he knows they’re going above and beyond. Jordan says, they’re just doing what has to be done. He shouldn’t be in Pentenville, and they’re going to solve this problem and get him out. Carly thanks her, and Jordan says, they’re in this together. Drew says he’s sorry he can’t tell them anything helpful about the fight, and Carly says, attack. Drew was attacked. Warden Garten tells him not to worry about that; just focus on his healing. She’ll see him soon… or hopefully not. Carly asks if there isn’t something they can do to make sure Drew doesn’t go back to Pentenville; some kind of medical exemption? Jordan says, they’re looking into that, and the warden tells her, don’t worry. They’ll do everything they can to make sure nothing like this happens again. They have her word. Drew thanks them, and they leave. Carly says, thank God they’re not in this alone. Hopefully, Diane and the warden can come up with some kind of miracle. Drew asks her to sit by him please, and she does. He says, they’re alone together. No talking about prison or trials or any of that. He takes her hand and says, just us.

On the phone, Josslyn tells Dex that she was so worried. Why such a brutal beating in the first place? Ava walks in, and Josslyn says, thank God he’s awake. Ava clears her throat, and Josslyn says she’s got to go. She’ll call him in a little. Ava says, the girls are all washed up and ready for bed. The playroom’s still a bit of a mess though. Josslyn says, that’s nothing new, and Ava says, they’re waiting for the bedtime story they were promised. She asks if there’s any word about Drew, and Josslyn says, her mom called. He’s awake. Ava says, that’s a relief, and Josslyn says, Drew shouldn’t have gone to prison in the first place. Who the hell tipped off the SEC? They could have gotten him killed.

Gladys sits with her head in her hands, and Montague asks if she’s okay. She says, how can she be? Thanks to him, her daughter-in-law has completely lost touch with reality. He says, she’ll be taken care of in Ferncliff. He’ll see to it personally. He leaves.

Sasha is led to her room, and she says, Dante, please. He says, they’re going to get her out of here; he promises. She says she doesn’t belong here, as the attendant ties her wrist to the bed. Dante asks if that’s really necessary, and Sasha asks him to do something. The attendant gently pushes Dante out the door, and Dante yells, they’re going to get her out. The attendant straps her other wrist as Dante looks through the window.

Trina comes out all dressed up in an off-the-shoulder cocktail dress, and Spencer says, wow. She looks amazing. She says he doesn’t look so bad himself, but he says, this is one battle she’s not going to win. She’s breathtaking. Can he help her with her necklace? She says, necklace? and he takes out a jewelry box. We can’t really see it, but she says, it’s beautiful, and he puts it on her. He says he wanted her to have something permanent. That way, she’ll always remember their weekend together. She turns around, and he says, perfect, kissing her. He says, dinner awaits, and they leave. It’s so convenient that whenever someone is given jewelry, they’re never wearing any.

Curtis says, so Mason thinks it’s possible that Betty was unable to fool Corinthos and instead chose to join forces? Mason says, it’s possible, but Cyrus says, no, it’s not possible. And he’s an idiot for thinking that. It was an easy job. Betty had no reason to betray him. Sonny accepted her too quickly, which means Ava’s the one who did it. And for that sin, she’ll have to face Divine retribution. Mason says, what about Cassadine? He was very clear about not hurting her. Cyrus says he doesn’t care what his nephew said. He’s not the one running the show. I am. Get it done. He hangs up and leaves.

Ava says she’s glad to hear Drew’s awake, and Josslyn says she’s glad Ava came tonight. She thinks it made things much more normal for the girls. Ava says she couldn’t help but hear Josslyn was on the phone with Dex. How is it having a boyfriend working for Sonny? Josslyn wonders why she’s asking, and Ava says, Josslyn may not remember, but she’s the daughter of a man whose business dealings weren’t always… inside the law. They have more in common than Josslyn thinks, and if Josslyn really wants to know, it’s because Josslyn is Trina’s best friend. And what affects Trina matters to her. And she wants to be sure Josslyn is taking care of herself, that she has her eyes open wide. Because she will need crystal clarity to navigate a relationship with someone in the business… She gets her bag and tells Josslyn that the girls are hoping for Hippity Hoppity the Kangaroo. She says, take care, and Josslyn says, her too. Ava leaves, and Josslyn turns out the light, silently wishing the moss bowl🎍a good night. Outside, Ava calls Nina and says she just found out Drew woke up. So Nina won’t have Drew’s death on her conscience.

Jordan tells the warden that she hopes if any good comes of this, they can get justice for Drew. Warden Garten says, Drew doesn’t belong in Pentenville. She’ll help any way she can to ensure an early release. She thanks Jordan and leaves. Jordan looks skeptical.

Carly lies next to Drew on the bed, and he kisses her forehead.

Cody says, Mac can’t let Sasha stay in Ferncliff. Dr. Montague… Mac says, Dr. Montague isn’t going to do anything to Sasha, but Cody says, she’s not safe there. Mac says, it’s just for a little while. They’ll get Sasha out, but by going through the proper channels. Don’t worry. They’re doing everything they can. I wonder if they’re going to set Montague up.

Sasha cries in her room, calling Cody’s name. Montague comes to the door and looks through the window. She sits up and sees him.

Tomorrow, Trina tells Spencer, good things come to those who wait; Drew tells Willow there’s one thing he needs to know and it’s very important; and Carly tells Michael that she has information on the judge she’s going to use.

Southern ~~But Not So Much~~ Charm

Madison and I have something in common. We both fold fitted sheets by rolling them in a ball. The guys are hung over, and JT gives himself an injection after swallowing some pills. What? His mom calls, and he says he had too much fun with the boys; he’s a little sensitive. In JT’s interview, he admits to being a mama’s boy. Since he has type 1 diabetes (okay, that explains the shot), his mom helped him focus on health at an early age, but you have to live your life and hopefully sort it out in the morning. His mom is a top interior designer and renovates property, and he develops and renovates real estate. His core business is a string of Airbnb’s in Charleston. His mom shows him Poppyseed, a cute little (I think) Chin mix, and I squee. He says he’d do anything to be in Virginia on a cold rainy day, with Poppyseed in his lap and his mom giving him ibuprofen. In his interview, he says he grew up in Great Falls, Virgina, and had the perfect childhood. There was a stream running through his backyard and a nature conservancy behind his house. He tells his mom, when not so hung over, they’ll catch up more, and goes back to bed.

Craig and Shep get pedicures, and Shep says, this is Craig’s Shangri La. He’s going pheasant hunting tomorrow, so he doesn’t want anything painted. He tells Craig that the whole implication that Austen and Taylor aren’t just friends got to him. It’s messy. Craig says, Austen just sat there while JT was telling the story, and we flash back to that. In Shep’s interview, he says, Austen wouldn’t hold up if he was accused of a crime. If he was a juror at Austen’s trial, he wouldn’t be inclined to find him innocent. He asks Craig what level of certainty he has that they’ve been more than friends, and Craig says, Austen slept with multiple girls he’s date. We flash back to Austen telling Shep that he’s interested in Chelsea, and in his interview, Shep says, they have a history of Austen wanting what he has. Sometimes it feels like it’s personal. Like Austen wants the toy Shep has. I don’t know where to start with how wrong Shep’s thinking is, and Craig says, hooking up doesn’t mean much to Austen. Shep says, it definitely bothers him. It almost seems like it’s the other way around. Shep doesn’t want Austen to have what he doesn’t want anyway.

Taylor visits Austen and says she’s fragile. When she and Olivia were out, she met a very attractive man who meets all three of her requirements; you have to be funny, smart, and love Jesus. He told her that he liked her, but to run for the hills. She might need Austen’s therapist’s number. He tells her, it’s expensive. There’s a knock at the door and it’s at home IV people. Does that really work for a hangover? How much does it cost? They say they’re administering Toradol, Zofran, and B complex vitamins. Can I do this myself? Austen and Taylor do eye patches while they get the IVs, and Austen says, it was awkward last night. Taylor was talked about a lot. She asks, who was there? and he says, him, Shep, Craig, and JT. JT told Shep about Taylor spending the night, and Craig asked if Shep thought his and Taylor’s relationship was inappropriate. She says, WTF does JT know? and he says, apparently everything. In Taylor’s interview, she says, they’re single and have had a long-standing friendship. They should do what the hell they want. Shep did, and he wasn’t single half the time. She tells Austen that’s why she didn’t want to tell anyone about her crashing with him. She wouldn’t even tell Olivia. It would make Olivia feel uncomfortable. He says, she can’t bring it up.

Venita gets ready for a girls get together at her place. It’s outside and casual, which for Venita means, get dressed up. Olivia brings some clothes over to Taylor’s, and Taylor’s dog Penelope is wearing a panty. Olivia tells Penelope, congrats on being a woman. Madison arrives at Venita’s first, bearing champagne. Is that Dom? I wouldn’t be surprised. She tells Venita, good job, and Leva comes with flowers. Leva says her husband was surprised she was dressing up for a girls only thing, and Venita says, they dress for each other (truth!). In Leva’s interview, she says, Venita is the quintessential Southern bell, from her aesthetic to the way she hosts. She loves it. Leva says she’s planning a thing for Taylor. She can use them rallying behind her. She’s younger and it’s her first real breakup; that one shakes you. Venita says, when you date that long, you think you’ll be spending your lives together. Leva says she remembers feeling like everyone was against her, and thinks Taylor needs to hear it from them. Madison says, his friends are going to be his friends, and in her interview, she says she’s been there. If anyone understands crazy, it’s her. We flash back to her screeching that Austen is a p*ssy and he needs to own it. She says, things have changed, haven’t they? but I’m still skeptical. Taylor and Olivia join them, and they’ve brought Charles a Lambchop toy. He takes it out of the giftbag, and the whole thing is too cute. Taylor says she couldn’t bring Penelope. They don’t want puppies. Venita reveals the spread of food, and they eat. Madison asks, who’s dating who? and Olivia says she was casually seeing a guy, and Austen ran into them at a bar. He said, funny seeing you here, making out with a random guy in a bar. He’s a baseball player, and Austen said he never took her for a Triple-A type. We flash back to Craig outing Madison about dating a married ballplayer at the Reunion, and Madison says, blame it on her. I would have slugged Austen. No ballgame pun intended.

They discuss Madison’s party, and agree it was fun. Taylor says, after the martinis, sh*t got whirlwind, and Madison says, she knows Taylor is still hurting, but she would have gone in the opposite direction. Taylor says, she was trying to have a conversation with Craig, and it happened so quickly. We flash back to Taylor losing her sh*t, and she says, obviously, she should never retaliate that way. Leva suggests she be the bigger person and apologize, and Taylor says she misses their friendship. Madison says, woman to woman, she’s been in that situation, and those guys are thick as thieves. She knew from the beginning they’d no longer be her friends. They were going to talk sh*t about her and hide what Austen did. She didn’t just mourn the loss of their relationship, but her friendship with Craig as well. We flash back to Taylor telling Criag, we used to be friends, and Madison says, don’t let them make fun of her reactions. The biggest burn is to let them talk about how good she’s doing. She thinks that’s revenge. Leva says, Taylor is better than that. If she needs to be emotional, let them redirect her. Venita says, her emotions are always valid, but pivot in public. In Taylor’s interview, she says, the girls have all experienced heartache and know how to properly handle it. She wants to heed their advice, but she wears her heart on her sleeve. Venita says, she has people to back her up, and Madison says, she’s not alone. Taylor says she appreciates their female defensive, but she was just seeing red in that moment. Madison says, imagine what it would be like if they all jumped in next time. Leva says, Austen should have stepped in, but he just buried his head. We flash back, and yes, he literally did. Madison says she thinks they’ve all learned, Austen doesn’t have anybody’s back. Taylor thinks he’s better at being a friend than being in a relationship, and Madison says she thinks he’s low key in love with Taylor. Olivia says, no, and Taylor says, when Austen and Olivia broke up, it put her in a weird position, since she’d always had a good relationship with him. Olivia says, Taylor was able to translate their language, and she wanted them to maintain their friendship. No part of it bothered her. Taylor says, she just wants to coexist and be happy. They cheers to the guys kissing their ass.

I have to add my two cents. Yeah, you’re probably not going to keep your ex’s friends as your friends. I’ve always said, the worst part of my breakups was never the actual guy. It was breaking up with the friends, the family, the pets, the apartment…

Craig unloads some pillows in a warehouse. In his interview, he says, Sewing Down South has grown. It’s incredible to have gone from selling out of his living room to an ecommerce site – we flash back to him being on a home shopping network – to a flagship store – we see a clip of the opening – to having enough inventory for a warehouse. Move over Martha Stewart. He’s here to stay. Partner Jerry comes in, and talks about their massive Kroger order, and says, their holiday order will be at least 1800. Craig says he has to talk to Paige. They’ve been trying to split their time. In Craig’s interview, he says, with the warehouse, design room, and Kroger deal, his responsibility is increasing. If Paige doesn’t move to Charleston, they could be long distance forever. We flash back to Paige weeping over the thought of leaving her mom, and Craig asks Jerry if he can’t spend the summer in New York with Paige. Jerry says, no. It’s a different ballgame.

Austen meets Rod at a bar, and says, he’s trying to stick to tequila. I seem to be in the minority who doesn’t see the charm of it. Rod says, Australia was wonderful, but he thought Shep wasn’t coming back. In Austen’s interview, he says he’s known Rod for 7 years. Everyone likes him. He’d rather leave the drama and refers to himself as Switzerland. Rod says he has some weird, awkward news. He may or may not have been out with Olivia, and they might have made out a little. He’s definitely interested and figured he’d tell Austen to his face; clear the air. Austen says, uh, uh, uh a bunch of times, and then, I don’t know. He asks if Rod is going to ask her out, and Rod says, yeah, and there are a bunch of back-and-forth yeahs. In Austen’s interview, he says he thinks he blacked out. Austen says he cares about Olivia, but that being said, she’s not his property. He saw her kissing another guy, and she can do what wants. He thinks Rod is a great guy, but he can’t say it doesn’t affect him to hear it. He wonders if they should take a shot, because that cures all ills for this group. In his interview, Austen says, after the breakup, he knew she was going to date, but he doesn’t want to put a face to it. Now he has to put Rod’s stupid faced to this bullsh*t.

Shep delivers some fresh pheasant to Olivia at her parents’ house. She asks why it’s warm, and he says, because it’s fresh killed. She drops the bag like there are hot potatoes in it and points out there are still some feathers attached. I’m thinking that pheasant seems a lot bigger than when I ordered it once in a restaurant, and then I remember it was quail I looked at and thought, please be an appetizer. She asks Shep to change a lightbulb for her, and in Olivia’s interview, she says she’s the groundskeeper while her parents are gone. Her mom said she liked having Shep down the street; Olivia can give him a call in case of an emergency. Shep is the emergency. She tells him about the get together at Venita’s, and he asks, what’s Taylor’s current disposition? Olivia says, Taylor is single, and Shep is like, what are you talking about? She asks what disposition means, and he says, mindset. Good Lord. Doesn’t she read? She says, it hasn’t been that long, and Shep says, JT went after Austen about his relationship with Taylor. He really dug into it. Olivia says she doesn’t get the vibe it’s anything more than that; they have a genuine friendship. Shep says, Taylor stayed overnight at Austen’s, and JT implied something happened. His mind was swimming, and he wondered if they’d started something he doesn’t know about. Olivia says, doesn’t Shep think if something was happening Taylor would tell her? but he says he doesn’t know what to think. Austen was tongue tied. We flash back to that, and Shep says, he usually fights back. So he has big questions about Austen’s trustworthiness. She says, she would expect to know if something happened, and he hopes nothing did. It’s slimy, and they’d both be disappointed if their friends were in that situation. It would be f***ed up. Olivia says, it makes her stomach turn thinking about it. What’s wrong with these people? Shep didn’t want to get serious, and I thought Olivia broke up with Austen. And it seems Charleston only has about 20 people living there.

Charles has a blue/green tail again, and it makes me want to dye my Pekingese Hannah’s tail, but I’m thinking pink. Olivia calls Taylor from the car and asks if she wants to grab coffee. In Olivia’s interview, she says, Shep’s whole demeanor, how bothered he was, is getting to her. She feels herself wondering if something more is going on. Taylor gets to the coffee shop first and calls Craig to apologize and extend an olive branch. He says, it’s all good and not to stress about it. That’s one thing I’ll give Craig; he doesn’t hold a grudge. She thanks him and says she’s doing a Day Chaser launch at Republic. Olivia comes in, and Craig says he appreciates her call. He thinks after seeing each other and talking in person, they’ll feel better. He’d love to come and support her. Taylor says she likes Craig, but then sh*t happens, and she wants to squeeze his head. In Craig’s interview, he says he texted Shep that Olivia was still healing, but wanted to move forward. Olivia says, during guys night, JT raised the question of Taylor and Austen. Shep seemed shook, and when Austen was confronted, he had nothing to say. Taylor says, to be honest… um….

Taylor says, after New York, she and Austen were both not in good places. They created a bond in the midst vulnerability and brokenness.😐They were being pushed together because of their history. She wondered if being together was something they should explore, and Austen didn’t know either. She called her brother for advice, and he said, why jump from the frying pan into the fire? She had to decide if the feeling was genuine or a crutch. She told Austen they’d just been lost in emotion, and he 100% agreed. Olivia stammers and says she didn’t know any of that. Taylor says she gets that Olivia feels blindsided. She’s going through so much already, Taylor didn’t want to spring it on her. Olivia says she doesn’t think they’d be having this conversation if Taylor and Austen wanted to be together. She’d want Taylor to talk to her about it within a 24-hour period. She asks if Austen talked to his family, and Taylor says, he talked to his sister. In a moment of weakness, she needed her crutch. She starts to cry and says, she wasn’t going to God; she was going to somebody else. She doesn’t want Olivia to think she’s betraying her trust. Olivia says, their friendship is most important, not her and Austen. She asks if anything happened to make Austen go from her brother to them talking to their families. Possibly a drunken kiss or a hookup? Taylor swears on her life nothing happened, and Olivia thanks Taylor for letting her in on it, but she doesn’t look happy. They leave, going to their respective cars, and Olivia cries in her car.

What is wrong with these people?

To be continued…

🛻 Running On Fumes…

Make a return trip tomorrow for soap, discriminating tea, quotes, and music for the end of September. Until then, stay safe, stay determined, but not ruthless, and stay pivoting in public, even though your emotions are always valid.

Sep22

September 21, 2023 – Willow Gets Sam Some Crucial Information, Don’t Hang Out With Friends’ Exes & Road

Posted on September 22, 2023 by theresakp

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Eddie/Ned works on his song, when Brook peeks around the corner. She says she was wondering if the coast is clear; no granny sightings. He says, no. Tracy isn’t here. If he’s playing his guitar, Brook can rest assured Tracy is nowhere in the vicinity. She’s having a hard time wrapping her head around the fact that he’s Eddie, not Ned. (Confession: I prefer him as Eddie and hope Ned never comes back.) Brook says, Tracy gave her an earful yesterday about the evils of the music industry, and he says he bets she did. He hopes Brook didn’t listen to her. She says, not even close. She actually has an important meeting today, and if all goes well, he’ll be looking at a successful music manager.

Olivia sits at her desk and flashes back to being at The Savoy with Eddie. She smiles, when there’s a knock at the door. Anna says she’s sorry to interrupt, but Olivia says, not at all. She’s just waking up from a late night at The Savoy. What brings Anna by this morning? Anna wonders if she would be allowed to look at the security footage from the corridor outside the suite where they were staying, and Olivia asks, why? Anna says, because of the break-in? and Olivia says, what break-in?

Nina tells Valentin that Charlotte is still sleeping, and he asks how she was after he left last night. Nina says, she was fine. She stayed in her room after he left. (What happened to the sleepover?) He says, good, and thanks her. She says, Charlotte is welcome here anytime, and he says he knows. He just didn’t give her much of a heads up and he appreciates it. It gave him a chance to make some arrangements. She says, arrangements for what? What is he going to do about Charlotte targeting Anna?

On the phone, Carly says she accepts the charges, and Drew is put through. She asks if Drew is staying safe, and he says he’s doing his best. She says she misses him, and he says he misses her too. She asks how it’s going. Does he have any news or information for her to give to Sonny? He says, not yet. He’s still working on it. Cyrus listens through a door that’s open a crack.

Diane meets Robert at the MetroCourt, and he says, the delightful Miss Miller. She says, flattery will get him everywhere, and he says he sees she’s ready for work. She reminds him that he said it was a working breakfast, and he agrees he did. They sit, and she asks what case they’re working on, and he says he may have found a way to help Drew, and he gets to see her at the same time. She says, either way, he has her attention.

Dressed in scrubs, Willow goes to the hospital reception desk and hugs Deanna. Deanna says, it’s so good to see her, and Willow says she’s thought about this day a lot, especially during her treatments. She used to watch the nurses and thought about working alongside them again. Now she finally is. Deanna says, yes, she is, and everyone on staff couldn’t be happier to have her back with them. They really missed her. She thanks Deanna and says she missed them too. The phone rings, and Deanna says, her first call back. Does she want to take that? Willow says, absolutely, and answers the phone, 10^th floor nurses’ station.

As Sam comes out of the hospital elevator, her phone rings. She asks where Dante is at, and he says he’s working on getting Gladys’s bank records. Hopefully, soon. She says, what about the toxicology report? but he says, that’s going to take a little bit longer. She says, that’s time Sasha doesn’t have.

Drew tells Carly that he asked around and put out some feelers, but unfortunately, he doesn’t have anything yet. She says, be careful, please. If he feels like it’s getting dangerous, she wants him to back off. He says he will, and she says, promise her. He says he promises. Now enough about him. How is she? She says she’s doing fine, except he’s not here, and he says he knows. How are the girls? She says, Donna and Josslyn are doing great. What about him? Has he seen Scout and Sam? He says, Scout just started school. She’s really busy. She’s got homework, soccer practice, and swim lessons, so he hasn’t seen much of her, but he guesses that’s probably for the best. She says she has Diane working every angle to get him out of there, but until then, he can’t cut himself off from the people who love him, especially Scout.

Diane asks what Robert’s sleuthing skills have sussed so far, and he says he did a bit of checking on Judge Kim. It seems he’s pushing for a promotion to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. She says, being tough on major crime would endear him to the Second Circuit Court, but why go after somebody like Drew and give him an overly harsh sentence? He says, forget about Drew. Think about Drew’s girlfriend and her ex-husband. Diane says, once again, all roads lead to Sonny.

Anna tells Olivia that she and Valentin were supposed to have dinner in the hotel restaurant last night. They changed their minds and decided to order room service. Then by the time they got to the suite, someone had broken in. Olivia says, what? and Anna says she filed a report with the PCPD. Olivia says she’s so sorry this happened to Anna at her hotel, but Anna says, it’s not her fault. Olivia says, this is the first she’s hearing of this. Which is very strange. Nina is usually very good with her in communicating hotel business. Anna wonders if Nina left a message somewhere, and Olivia says, it’s possible, but Nina didn’t communicate with her directly. As she said, she was very distracted last night. Maybe Nina left a message on her business line. She just wants to apologize on behalf of the MetroCourt Hotel. If there’s anything at all she can do for Anna… She assumes Anna’s been moved to a different suite. Anna says, yes. Olivia’s staff were great. They were moved almost immediately. She’s fine; she really is. Olivia asks if Anna has any idea who would do this to her, and Anna says, it’s possibly the same person who burned her house. Olivia says she’s sorry. If there’s anything Anna needs, she’s here for her. Anna says, there is something she can do, and Olivia says, name it. Anna says, the security footage. She was told it’s missing. She just wanted to make sure there’s no misunderstanding. Olivia says, they have a state-of-the-art security system; she can assure Anna that. Anna says, if she could access the footage… but if it is missing, maybe Olivia could pull it up from another source, like the mainframe server. Olivia asks, about what time did the break-in happen? and Anna tells her, she’d say between 7 and 9 pm. Olivia looks on the computer, and Anna says, what she’d like is the footage from outside the suite and also the surrounding area. Olivia tells her, don’t worry.

Valentin tells Nina, first, he’d like to keep Charlotte close. He needs to keep a watchful eye on her. He’s been distracted. He’s obviously neglected her. Nina says, distracted, maybe; neglecting her, no. He says his daughter is running around doing God knows what. She’s a child. That’s something he’s obviously forgotten. He needs to spend more time with her. She says, he’s always put Charlotte first, and he says, has he? Because he doesn’t think Charlotte feels that way. And now she’s targeting Anna for his absence. Nina says, his daughter is going to need more than more time with her dad. At some point, he’s going to have to confront her about everything she’s done. He says he knows, but first, he needs to know the extent of his daughter’s crimes.

Sam tells Dante, if they could get the bank statements, it could provide circumstantial evidence, but she bets those statements aren’t going to show that Gladys withdrew a ton of Sasha’s money. It was probably taken out in cash. Dante says, right. If Gladys was paying Montague in cash, they won’t be able to prove it. That means the only thing they have tying him to Sasha, keeping her in Ferncliff, and almost killing her is Cody. She says, no one is going to believe Cody, and he says, the other option is to try and prove that Montague was giving Sasha mood-altering drugs. She says, one step at a time. First, they need to prove there was a drug and get the toxicology report. She looks over at Willow, and says she thinks she has a way to get it.

Eddie suggests Brook tell him about her meeting. He could use a distraction. Lyrics just aren’t flowing for him this morning. She sits next to him, and says, there’s this amazing singer. Her name is Blaze. She’s a total rising star, and Brook wants to be the one to take her to the top. She is an incredible talent, like Beyonce level (very debatable). He says, wow, she must really be something, and Brook says she wouldn’t be signing Blaze if she wasn’t special. He asks if she’s already agreed to work with Brook, and she says, not exactly. They’re actually meeting today, and she’s going to give Blaze the full court press on why she should sign with her. He says, if she’s smart, she would take the deal. Brook’s got a lot going for her. She says, if all goes well, maybe she can represent him. What does he think? He says he’s not sure she’d want him. Marshall Ashford called this morning and offered him a gig at The Savoy tonight. She says, that’s great, and he says, it is, but he kind of promised Marshall that he’d finish this song, and he’s not going to finish this new song, so his music career could be over before it even started.

Olivia says, it makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. Anna was right. The file containing the footage from noon to midnight is missing from the area around Anna’s suite. It’s like it’s been wiped from the server. Anna asks if it could be a computer glitch, but Olivia says, this is the first time that’s ever happened. Anna says, who else has access to the server it’s stored on? and Olivia says, her and Nina. Hotel security can get the security footage, but they can’t have access to the server. Anna asks how long they typically keep the security footage, and Olivia says, three years before it’s deleted. Anna says, obviously whoever broke into her suite hacked into the hotel’s system and deleted themselves breaking in, and Olivia says, this does not sound like a random break-in. This is obviously a professional job. Anna says, it does imply whoever’s after her is somewhat sophisticated.

Valentin says, the first thing he needs to know is if Charlotte burned Anna’s house, and Nina says she can’t imagine Charlotte would do that to anyone, let alone Anna. He says he wishes this was a mistake, some sort of misunderstanding, and Nina says, not in a million years did she think Charlotte would break into Anna’s room, trash the place, destroy her clothes, and leave a threatening message. But they saw the security footage. Where was Charlotte when Anna’s house burned? He says, she was at camp. It’s an hour away, but she could have taken a Ride Share. Nina asks if he keeps track of her Ride Share history. Does he keep track of her spending? He shakes his head and says he thought he did. He’s so stupid. She tells him not to blame himself for any of this, and he says he sent her to live with Sam and Dante. Who knows what she tells them he’s okay with or not okay with? He has no idea what she’s up to when he’s not around.

Drew says he wishes he could talk to Carly all day, when the guard taps him and looks at his watch. She says, her too, and he says he has to go. She says she loves him, and he says, same. He’ll talk to her soon. They say goodbye, and Guard Johnson approaches Drew. He asks if Drew was serious about getting his son that internship at Aurora, and Drew says 100%. Johnson says, that doctor Drew was asking about… Drew says, Gatlin-Holt, and Johnson says, yes, him.

Diane says she gets where Robert is going with this, and he says he figured she would. She says, it’s a fascinating theory. So Judge Kim hands Drew an overly harsh sentence, paving the way for the Justice Department to swoop in, provide Carly with a deal that will reduce Drew’s sentence, if and only if Carly flips on her ex-husband. Robert says, there’s nothing to indicate the Justice Department even knows what’s going on here. It could just be the work of some over-zealous judge who’s trying to score a few points. She says, either way, it could benefit Drew, and he says he loves the way she thinks. She thanks him, and asks if they should take this a step further, and he asks if they’re still talking about the case. She laughs and says, they are. Pure speculation. If Judge Kim is working on his advancement, the Justice Department might want to have his case reassigned to avoid even the appearance of impropriety. So her question for him is, where does she go to do a deep… Anna walks in, and Robert says he has to cut this short. Anna’s just arrived. He gets up and walks over to her.

Sam says, it’s good to see Willow back at the hospital, and Willow thanks her, and says she missed it. She spent a lot of time here as a patient; it’s nice to be back as a nurse. Sam says, they’re lucky to have her, and Willow asks if there’s anything she can help Sam with. Sam says she hates to hit Willow up on her first day, but she does need a favor. And it’s not for her. It’s for Sasha.

Anna says, in Robert’s message, he told her it’s important. What’s going on? He says she needs to see this for herself, and asks her to sit down in a nearby booth. He says he’ll join her in a minute. He’s going to get his briefcase and say goodbye to Diane. He tells Diane that he’s sorry, but they’ve got to cut this breakfast short. She says, he’s been very helpful, and he says, they’ll compare notes and do this some other time. She says she’s got it from here, and he says, breakfast is on him. He’ll make it up to her. She says, totally unnecessary, as she enjoys a piece of toast. He goes back to Anna, but Diane doesn’t look happy.

Brook tells Eddie that she knows what it’s like trying to finish a song. If the lyrics aren’t coming, you can’t force it. His gut will tell him when it’s the right time to finish. He says he appreciates it, but what is he going to sing tonight? Marshall and the crowd will be expecting a new song. She says, maybe he can break out some of the classics. You can never go wrong with those. He says he’ll figure something out. He hopes she’s going to be there. She says, absolutely. She wouldn’t miss it. She thinks there’s someone else who would like to go. Maybe he can give her a personal invitation. He thanks her for the advice, and says, she’s pretty sharp. That Blaze would be lucky to have her.

Olivia looks at the computer files and says, this can’t be right. Security back-up is even missing. She calls Nina, who says, what’s up? Olivia says, Anna Devane was just in her office. Anna was telling her all about the break-in in her suite last night. Does Nina know anything about this? Nina says, yeah. She’s sorry. When she found out about it, she meant to tell Olivia, but she got distracted by work. Olivia says, Anna asked to see the security footage from the area around her suite the night of the break-in and it’s missing from the server. She knows Nina was in her office last night. Is there any chance she tried to pull up footage and accidentally deleted it or something? Nina says, Olivia is right. She pulled up the footage, but it was already gone. Charlotte comes out, and Nina says, can they just talk about this when she gets to the office? She has to go. Bye.

Nina asks Charlotte how her night was in the guest room, and Charlotte says, where’s papa?

Dante leaves a message for Anna, and says he just read a report that there was a break-in in her suite. He kind of wishes he’d heard it from her, and not the police report, but give him a call when she gets a chance. Valentin comes into the interrogation room and says, he and Dante need to talk privately. It’s kind of important. Dante says, what about? and Valentin says, Charlotte.

Willow steps away from the desk and asks if Sam has heard from Sasha or Cody. Are they still together? Is Sasha okay? Sam says she can’t go into details right now, but there may be a way for Willow to help Sasha. Willow says, Sasha is one of her best friends. Sasha’s put herself on the line for her so many times. Willow will do whatever is needed. Sam says, she and Dante have a theory that Dr. Montague, the psychiatrist who was appointed to evaluate Sasha, has been drugging her; undermining her mental health and making her appear mentally ill. Willow says, that’s horrible. Why would a doctor do that? She’s sorry. Sam said she couldn’t go into details. It didn’t make sense that Sasha suddenly went off the deep end and stabbed Cody. Then being sent to Ferncliff. It seemed so extreme. What does Sam need her to do? Sam says, the first step is proving it. So she needs a copy of the toxicology report from the day Sasha stabbed Cody. Does Willow think she can access that?

Johnson says, the doctor Drew was asking about went to solitary, and Drew asks, why? Who was in solitary? Johnson says, Bobby Leonard. He attacked a guard, and that’s who the doctor was here seeing. Drew says, he was here seeing a guard? but Johnson says, no, Leonard. The guards beat him up pretty badly, so the warden wanted to keep it quiet. Drew says, that’s who Dr. Gatlin-Holt was here visiting? and Johnson says, he got his information right from the warden’s right hand. Drew asks if he was here to see anybody else, but Johnson says, one and done. Johnson starts to leave, but Drew says, wait a second.

Drew wonders why an inmate would attack a guard, and Johnson says, who knows? Maybe he did it to get drugs from the doctor. Drew would be surprised what a lot of guys would do around here to get drugs. That’s all he’s got. He doesn’t know what else to tell Drew. Drew thanks him, and moves on. Cyrus comes out, and tells Johnson, well done. He thanks Johnson, and says, his son Keith will be well taken care of. He’ll get far more than an internship at Aurora.

Robert takes a box tied with a ribbon from his briefcase, and hands it to Anna. She asks what it is, and he tells her to open it. She says, he’s not the gift giving type, but he says, this is not the time to editorialize. Just open it. He rubs his hands together, and she says, it’s not even her birthday. He says, a lot of people went to a lot of trouble to get this here. She’s going to love it. She opens the box and sees a digital photo frame. He says, like it? and she asks what he did. Across the room, Diane doesn’t look amused.

Willow gets on the computer at the desk, and pulls up the toxicology report. She looks around, then takes a picture of it with her phone. Willow looks closer and sees Sasha tested positive for fluoxetine and dextroamphetamine. She switches the screen back, and sends the report to Sam. She asks if Sam got it, and Sam says she did. Great. Willow says, Sam was right. This is bad.

Nina and Charlotte go into Kelly’s, and Carly asks Charlotte, how’s school so far? Charlotte says, it’s going okay, and Nina says, they had a little sleepover, and of course (🍷) she has nothing in her kitchen for them to make breakfast. And even if her refrigerator was fully stocked, they’d still get a better breakfast here. Carly says, that’s Kelly’s. Everybody’s home away from home. She asks if Charlotte wants the usual, and Nina says, she has a usual? Charlotte says she has French toast when she and Jake have breakfast here, and Carly says, extra cinnamon? Charlotte says, please, and Nina flashes back to Valentin asking where Charlotte’s been, and Charlotte saying she was with Jake. She remembers Charlotte saying, they were at the promenade, and since she was close, she decided to visit papa; and Charlotte showing them pictures. Carly says, Nina? and Nina says she’s sorry. Crimson has her very distracted lately. Carly asks if Nina wants to order something.

Valentin tells Dante that he and Charlotte have been a apart for far too long. Charlotte made him realize that last night when she showed up at Anna’s hotel suite. Dante asks if it was after the break-in, and Valentin says, that’s why he wanted her to spend the night at Nina’s. They’re still pretty close, and he wanted Charlotte to feel assured. Going forward, he wants her to feel safe and secure, so he’s taking steps for the two of them to live together again full-time. Dante says, okay. That’s great. She misses him. Valentin says he’s grateful to Dante and Sam; they’ve been terrific. But he has a lot of time to make up for now. Dante says, maybe he could let her come by and visit every once in a while. Her and Rocco were getting along pretty good. Valentin says, believe him. He knows now more than ever how important family is to Charlotte. He gets up to leave, and Dante asks, what are his thoughts on that break-in? Valentin says he thinks whoever’s done this is trying to unsettle Anna (how astute!), and he thinks they’ve succeeded. He leaves.

Brook calls Blaze and says, they’re all set. She just wanted to call and let Blaze know she’s looking forward to their meeting. This could be the start of something really great. She’ll see her soon.

On the phone, Olivia says she wants to know what happened to the footage from last night… It didn’t just disappear. How did someone get into her security system and just take down the security footage… Eddie comes to the door, and she motions him in. She says she doesn’t want to hear any excuses. The MetroCourt Hotel pays their company a small fortune to take care of this stuff that’s supposed to be secure. She wants to know what the hell happened and she wants to know who’s responsible… Yes. She slams the phone down, and says, what? Eddie says, bad time?

Charlotte goes to wash her hands, and Carly says she’ll get Nina a menu. Carly asks if Charlotte comes in here frequently, and Carly says, she’s been here a few times since she got back from camp. Nina asks if she’s usually alone or with someone, and Carly asks why she wants to know so much about Charlotte. Nina says, Valentin wants to know too. He’s curious as to what his daughter is doing since they spend so much time apart. Carly says, she’s with Dante and Sam; she’s fine. Nina says she knows Charlotte’s fine, but Carly’s raised a teenage daughter. She knows they don’t tell their parents everything, especially fathers, and that is what Valentin is facing with Charlotte. Carly says she’s seen Charlotte in here with Jake a few times, and Nina asks if she’s ever alone. Carly says, maybe once or twice, and Nina says, ever with anyone else? but Carly says she’s only seen her with Jake, that’s it. Nina thanks her, and Charlotte joins them. She asks if they’re talking about her.

Sam finds Dante, and he asks if she has something. She shows him her phone and says, read it and weep. It’s really bad. But this is the first step in proving Montague was drugging Sasha.

Diane watches Anna and Robert as she waits for the elevator. Robert tells Anna, press that and look at the pictures. She says she’s treasuring the moment, and he says, that’s what the pictures are for. Diane gets in the elevator, and Robert says, look at number two. Anna sees photos from their wedding and starts to cry. We see photos of her over the years, some with Robert, some with other people, while there’s a song part.

Olivia tells Eddie that she’s sorry. That was very rude and she doesn’t want to seem unwelcoming. She’s got a lot going on at work today. He says he can see that. She looks intense. Is work always this stressful for her? She says, he’s passionate about his music, and she’s passionate about her hotel. He says, fair enough. Speaking of his music… She asks if he finished the song, but he says, no, but the end will come to him eventually. She says, when it does, she knows it’s going to be spectacular, and he says, one can only hope. But he did take another step forward in his music career. She says, how so? and he says, Marshall Ashford is as good as his word. Marshall called him this morning and asked him to perform at The Savoy. She gets all excited and asks, when? He says, tonight, and she throws her arms around him, saying, that’s great news. She backs up and says, that’s really great news. Congratulations. She knows it’s going to be great. It’s going to be a really sweet gig. She sits down and asks him to please excuse her. She’s got a lot of work to do. The hotel’s not going to run itself, right?

Deanna asks how Willow’s first day is going, and Willow says, great. This was the perfect day for her to return to work.

Dante asks what he’s looking at, and Sam says, Sasha’s toxicology report. He asks how she got this, and she just smiles. He says, she’s got two drugs in her system, and Sam says, the fluoxetine, which is an antidepressant she already had a prescription for and dextroamphetamine. When taken in combination with the antidepressant, it can cause hallucinations, paranoia, similar symptoms to a psychotic break. The dextroamphetamine must have been the drug Dr. Montague gave her to finally put her over the edge. He says, so how do they prove it?

Cyrus calls to Drew, and Drew asks what he wants. Cyrus says he wanted to warn Drew, and Drew says, about what? Cyrus says, the warden’s on a tear, and Drew asks, why? Cyrus says, rumors are circulating she’s up for a big job. She can’t have anything happen that makes her look bad or incompetent. He’s hearing she’s putting the place on lockdown to make sure there are no incidents and nothing goes wrong. Drew says, lockdown? That’s going to put everybody on edge. Cyrus tells him, keep your head down. Stay invisible. Drew continues down the hall.

Nina tells Charlotte, yes. They were talking about her. How it seems she’s grown up overnight. Carly says, you know who Charlotte reminds her of at her age? Charlotte says, who? and Carly says, Lulu. Charlotte asks if Carly really thinks she’s like her mom, and Carly says, oh yes. She knows Charlotte adores her dad, but don’t forget she’s a Spencer too. Diane comes in, and Carly asks them to excuse her, going over to Diane. Diane says she just came from a chat with Robert Scorpio. Carly says she could really use some good news, and Diane says, he gave her a little insight as to why Judge Kim might have handed down such a harsh sentence to Drew, and what they can do about it.

Nina and Charlotte sit at the counter, and Nina says, Charlotte misses her mom. Charlotte says, every day. She promised her mom to take care of Rocco and not to worry about it and just get better, but it makes her sad she’s still in a coma. But she always feels better when she’s with her papa. Guess what? He says they’re going to be together full-time. Nina says, great. And Anna? Charlotte says, yeah. That’s okay.

Anna says, it’s the most perfect present, and hugs Robert, thanking him. She asks, what inspired him to do that? and he says, she lost all that stuff in the fire. She was more upset about losing those pictures than she was about losing the house. She says, you can replace a house, and he says he called in a few favors. People went through phones, albums, computers. She can go back as far as she likes, then go back further. She laughs and says, he’s brilliant. He says, when she’s right, she’s right, and she says, this means the world to her. He says, and she means the world to him. He’s so glad she likes it. She says she loves it. She’s probably going to look at it a couple of thousand times tonight, and maybe some more in the morning. Valentin comes in, and they lock eyes.

Tomorrow, Curtis asks if Portia is really as calm about this as she seems; Trina says she’ll take someone up on that bet; Carly asks Diane if it’s enough to get Drew out of Pentenville; and some inmates catch Drew alone in the shower. Don’t drop that soap!!!

Southern Charm

In watching what happened last week, I see Madison smirk while Taylor is going on her tirade. I don’t care what kind of a wife and mother this girl portrays; I don’t trust her. I just can’t grasp how she snagged Brett. He must never have seen the show. Yeah, I can guess what she might have to offer, but a dude with his assets, both financial and physical, can’t possibly have a hard time finding someone equally skilled.

On another note, I look at the blurb in the digital guide, and Kathryn’s name is still on the show. Huh? Is she making a not-so surprise appearance? Or is whoever makes the guide just lazy?

Venita’s dog Charles has a blue/green tail! I guarantee, this will be the best moment of the show. Unless Little Craig comes along with a mohawk.

Craig calls Paige, who says she’ll be back Saturday. She asks about the party, and he says, it was fun. In his interview, he says he knows what Taylor is dealing with and that she didn’t mean it. No good will come of telling Paige that Taylor accused her of cheating. In her interview, Taylor says she loved her job and gave everything up to travel with Shep. We flash back to that, and she says, at the time she thought it was the right decision because she thought they were going to have a life together. Instead, she was just out of a job. Thanks for that, Shep. Taylor visits Leva at one of the restaurants, and does a presentation for a mixer called Day Chasers, but fails miserably from her ums to struggling with getting the cans out of the box. In Leva’s interview, she says, it’s hard to watch. In Taylor’s interview, she explains that one of Shep’s buddies needs a rep. She thought impressing Leva would be a big deal. Leva suggests she carry the produce, but Taylor come in and promote it. In her interview, Leva says she’s supporting Taylor however she can. This is why you should never quit your job for a dude. Truth! Leva says, the last time she saw Taylor, it was a debacle, and we flash back to that. She says she doesn’t want Taylor to be that person. Taylor says, there was a rumor going around about Paige, and she said it to be hurtful. She thinks it’s really between her and Shep, and has nothing to do with Craig. In her interview, she says she regrets what she said. She doesn’t want to care, but she does.

Craig goes golfing with Austen and JT, who I kind of like, so maybe he should run away. In Craig’s interview, he says he met JT a couple years ago when JT was in Charleston. At first he wondered, who is the kid with the Napolean complex, but JT grew on him and they became friends. Craig periodically makes short jokes, and I have to admit they’re pretty funny. In JT’s interview, he says he’s known Craig a long time. They play golf and hang out. He made Charleston his home, and now he lives life in the Charleston bubble. It’s the best little bubble , and he thinks he’s never going to leave. JT says he’d invited friends to stay with him in London for some golf event in Paris, and Taylor hooked up with his friend. He asks if Shep is bothered by Austen hanging out with Taylor, and in his interview, Craig says he thinks it’s Shep’s way of staying in touch with Taylor, and it comforts him. Craig says, don’t hang out with friends’ exes, and JT says, it’s going to come back and bite Austen.

Olivia meets Rod at a boardwalk, and in her interview, she says, they met the first time at a crowded bar, and had a flirtation. He gives her a coffee, and they walk on the boardwalk. She says her roommates just moved out, and he asks if she feels like an empty nester. In Olivia’s interview, she says, dating in Charleston is intimidating. She’s ancient by Southern standards. When you’re 30, you’re dust. They sit in the park and eat the sandwiches and chips he brought. He seems like a super nice guy, and in her interview, Taylor says, he has a chivalrous spirit. It’s refreshing and makes her want to give him a shot. With Austen, she was in Neverland; now she’s on earth. They talk and have a lot of laughs, and Rod says he wants to make it a habit. They kiss a little bit.

Patricia looks amazing for 110, with new striking blonde highlights. New Butler Randy brings martinis for her and Whitney, who complains incessantly about the chair he’s sitting in. Randy seems cool, but there will never be another Michael. In her interview, Patricia tells us, in Britain, it’s gauche to clink glasses; they just do a cheers. She tells Whitney that she was sorry to have missed Madison’s party, but she told Madison that she’ll go to the next one. She hassles him about settling down, and in her interview, she says, her father married in his 60s, and Whitney has his DNA. She thinks he needs to get over 22 year old models; he complains they’re inarticulate. They need to expand the search. Whitney says, to quote the Keebler elves, you can’t rush richness. She says she thought he would quote Strindberg or something more esoteric. They should have their own show. Grey Gardens: The Next Generation.

Madison calls mom Tara, and asks when Tara is coming to visit. She’s free this weekend. Hudson is at his dad’s and Brett is in California; she’s alone. Tara says she’ll come, and gives Madison kudos for being a good wife. In Madison’s interview, she says she made pot roast, and Brett left all the carrots around it. She realized he must be allergic, but he didn’t complain one time. If he was allergic, I would think he’d have said something, and removed the carrots. He probably just doesn’t like carrots. Tara says she’s sorry she missed the party, and Madison says, they’re talking about having a baby. Brett is now in an office versus fighting fires. In her interview, Madison says, Brett took a step back from the frontlines after they got married. If she has a baby, she’s going to want him there all the time.

Austen, JT, Craig, and Shep go to bar, and Shep talks about all the girls he met in Melbourne; he went golfing, barhopping, and was even someone’s date for a wedding. JT asks if he was on an app, but Shep says he had organic success. JT wonders why Shep let Taylor go. He doesn’t understand. It would be hard to do better. Austen says, he did not say that, and JT says, Shep should find a way to marry that girl, but Shep says, there are plenty of fish in the sea. JT keeps asking, but why? and Craig says, JT is in love with Taylor. He lights up when she comes into a room. Austen says he does too, but he’s not in love with her. JT asks if Shep cares that Austen has a relationship with his ex, but Shep says, Taylor decides who she hangs out with. JT says, bro code, and in Shep’s interview, he says, Austen is like a life raft between him and Taylor. It’s because he cares. JT says he gets what Shep is saying, but to have a sleepover with a friend’s ex… This is obviously news to Shep, and JT says, they all went out to a bar, then to Austen’s, and he left. When he called Taylor in the morning about having coffee, she said she was still at Austen’s house. Shep says, obviously he never knew this, and Austen looks like he wants the floor to swallow him up. Craig asks Austen if it was just him and Taylor, but Austen says, he was downstairs, and thought Taylor left, but she slept in the guestroom. It surprised him when she was there in the morning, and she said she got drunk. JT says he thinks they’ve hit the point where it’s a little grey and murky. Shep agrees, but says he has no claims. Austen insists he’s like a protective brother, and Craig asks if they ever kissed. Austen says, no, but I’m not so sure. Craig tells Shep that Austen looked down to the left when he answered, and in Craig’s interview, he says, you only have to watch a handful of spy movies to know if they look to the left, it means they’re lying. I have heard that before, but I’d love to know the logic behind that theory. Austen says, they could share bed and nothing would happen, and maintains they never kissed. Shep says he believes Austen and they should drop it. In Shep’s interview, he says, Austen is a close friend, so he has to go with what Austen said, because friends trust each other. If Olivia came on to him… He doesn’t really see her doing that, but he is pretty charming and cool. I gag.

Madison visits Venita, and Charles takes off after a cat outside. Madison asks if they’re pulling weeds or planting pretty stuff, and Venita says, both. In Madison’s interview, she says, there’s only a few people she’ll pull weeds out of the damn ground for, and Venita is one of them. She’s glad she and Venita are friends again. Don’t talk sh*t about her and they’ll be fine. In Venita’s interview, she says, she can laugh with Madison and doesn’t feel judged. She asks Madison how Brett felt about meeting everyone, and Madison says, other than Taylor, he seemed pretty happy. Venita says, Taylor has the right to be hurt, but she can’t be bringing dildos and screaming at people’s parties. It’s not the time and place. She’s not used to this side of Taylor, and feels like they should get the girls together and see if they can reel her in. Have some girl talk, and make her realize that if she’s having a down moment, call one of them and not yell at people. Madison says, an ex’s best friends going to side with them, and she thinks Austen is low key in love with Taylor.

The guys decide to go to another bar, and Austen tells JT, that was a lot. Outside, Shep tells Craig that he thought he was pretty evolved, but it would be f***ed up if Austen slept with Taylor. He has no idea if they kissed, but he’s not playing detective. Austen and Taylor had a good relationship when he and Taylor were dating, and when the breakup occurred, it got stronger. Craig thinks it’s sketchy. Rodrigo meets them at the next bar, and Craig says he’ll pay JT’s tab if he wears a T-shirt from the bar that says Big Deck Energy. In Austen’s interview, he says he’s known Rodrigo for a decade. Rodrigo was best friends with one of his friends high school, and is one of his favorite humans in Charleston. We find out Rodrigo has a boyfriend of eight years, and Austen asks JT, when was the last time he had sex? JT says he hasn’t been interested in anyone, and Craig says, he’s holding out for Taylor. JT tells him to stop painting that narrative, and Shep, Craig, and Austen go to the bar. Shep says he knows how much Taylor loved him, and he can’t believe they’re out drinking and talking about failed relationships. Craig says, maybe Shep is softer than he thought. Maybe it bugs him more than he wants to admit. Shep says he didn’t know about Taylor spending the night. He doesn’t want to know. It bothers him, but it’s her choice. Austen tells them that he’s sitting right here, and Shep says, they could have had a one night stand, and Taylor wouldn’t have said sh*t. Austen says, that’s not what happened, and in Craig’s interview, he says, this is so bad.

Craig says he knows it hit Shep, and Austen tells him to stop pounding this. He suggests they go somewhere else and stop talking about their exes. They decide to move on, and JT asks if he can take the shirt off now. They go to a rooftop lounge originally named Rooftop Lounge. Austen makes that toast that ends with, the best ships are friendships. JT, Rodrigo, and Austen go to the bar for a shot, and Shep tells Craig that in ten or twenty years, traditional marriage will be passe. Lust and love are two different things. Lust happens in the blink of an eye. It doesn’t mean much, but it’s something. Wow. What a philosopher. At the bar, JT says, that was a lot of ex talk for one night, and Austen tells, don’t bring him and Taylor up next time. Craig asks how Shep feels, and Shep says he doesn’t know. He feels 50/50 that something happened, but he can’t go back in time. He wouldn’t be surprised if they went for it and no one would ever know. He thinks it’s f***ed up.

Next time, Craig can’t drive a U-Haul; Shep and Craig continue to talk about Taylor and Austen; Madison tells Taylor that Austen is low key in love with her; Shep tells Olivia about the sleepover; and Olivia asks if anything happened.

🍂 Summering Into Fall…

Start your weekend by stopping by tomorrow for soap, teatime, words to take note of, and a musical moment. Until then, stay safe, stay planning for Halloween as early as possible, and stay never quitting your job for a dude.

Sep16

September 15, 2023 – Tracy Meets Ex-Wife #3, An Idea, A Tease, Blairversary, A Return, InstaRoger, Friends, The Problem, Spiraling, VanderAwful, Kick-Off, The Other Holiday, Canine Takedown, Quotes Of 10 & Love

Posted on September 16, 2023 by theresakp

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

A woman walks into the MetroCourt, and goes to Tracy’s table. Tracy says, Blair Cramer from OLTL, what a pleasure to meet you. They shake hands, and Tracy thanks Blair for joining her. She so much prefers doing business in person. Blair says, as do I. And this evening’s business is claiming what’s hers. Coming in with Lucy, Martin sees Blair and says, God, not her.

Esme tells Alexis that she has a call scheduled with the board at 5:30 and after that, she’s free. Alexis thanks her, and Esme says she just sent Alexis the cutest picture of Ace. She leaves, and Alexis looks at a photo of Spencer and Ace in the pool on her phone. She leaves a message for Gregory, telling him that she’s going to be in the office for another hour, so stop by or call if he needs her. Spencer walks in and says he needs her. Does she have time for a fellow Cassadine?

Trina walks into an unorganized dorm room and says, Josslyn has made so much progress with moving in. Josslyn apologizes and says she had every intention of unpacking. It’s just that Dex came over, and they got a little distracted. Trina asks, how distracted?

Carly walks in to find Ava in her living room and asks what she’s doing here. Ava says she dropped Avery off; she’s upstairs with Donna and Pilar. Carly says, Avery’s welcome any time, but she didn’t have her on the schedule for tonight. Ava says she hopes it’s okay for her to stay. She has a late dinner with clients, collectors. She couldn’t say no. Carly says she has a hard time believing Ava, of all people, has a hard time saying no. So give it up. What has she done this time?

Austin goes into the unfamiliar house, and Nikolas says he’s just in time. Austin says, just in time for what? and Nikolas tells him, to say goodbye.

Anna and Valentin are seated on the MetroCourt terrace, and Trish gives them menus. She hands Anna an envelope and says, Detective Falconari left this for her. Anna opens it and sees a passenger manifest for flight 15303 with Pikeman’s heading. Valentin’s name is circled.

Tracy says, what Blair means is, what was hers is now Tracy’s, because she paid dearly for it. Blair says, yes, Tracy did, but she’s still due her final deal point, and Tracy says, it will come soon enough. Blair says, it better, because her ex is bleeding her dry, and the sooner he remarries, the better. Tracy says, as soon as Deception is hers, Lucy Coe will be flat broke. She’ll be hounding Blair’s ex relentlessly until he makes her Mrs. Martin Grey. Blair says, that works for her.

Martin tries to dash out, but Lucy says, they have to eat something. He says, there’s a swell table with their names on it over at the PC Grill, but she says, no. Is it because of Tracy? She is not afraid of Tracy Quartermaine. Never have been; never will be.

Alexis says she always has time for Spencer, kissing him on the cheek. What’s he got there? He says, this is his future, handing her some papers. It’s been over six months since his father disappeared, and as expected, the Cassadine attorneys have been in touch. She says, and full control of the Cassadine estate goes to the heir, and that would be him. He says, that’s right. They want to get the ball rolling. They want to give him full control. Quite frankly, he doesn’t understand what any of this legalese means, but he was hoping she’d be able to translate. She says she can translate. Come with her; they’ll see what’s what. She goes to her desk, and Spencer sits down.

Trina says, Josslyn and Dex are too much. Josslyn was never like this with Cam. Josslyn says, that was a different relationship, and Trina says, it seems they can’t keep their hands off one another. Josslyn says she knows, and Trina asks if they were always like this, but Josslyn says, not always. She thinks she was attracted to him from the beginning, even though she didn’t want to admit it. Now they’re together, and the more time they spend together, the better everything else is. Trina says she has to ask. Was Josslyn nervous the first time she was with Dex? Josslyn wonders why she’s asking.

Ava says she doesn’t know what Carly is talking about. She’s done nothing. Carly says, she did something that handed Austin and his cousin leverage over her, and Ava says, Carly thinks just because she’s asking her to watch Avery, there’s some nefarious connection to Austin and the creep? Carly says, this is the second time Ava has dropped Avery off unexpectedly, and Ava asks if Carly would prefer she took Avery and left. Carly says, this has nothing to do with Avery, and Ava knows it. Whatever’s going on, Ava’s in it up to her neck, and it’s something only Sonny can get her out of, so what is it? Carly just came back from Pentenville, visiting Drew. She and Sonny went there to ask for his help. Sonny wants him to find out who Ava’s friend Austin visited while he was there. Ava says, Austin did what?

Austin says, Ava is going to be so happy to find out Nikolas is alive when he gets back to Port Charles, but Nikolas says he’s not going to Port Charles. Austin asks what he means, and Nikolas says he can’t go back to Port Charles or let anyone know he’s alive before he ties up some loose ends. Austin asks, where are his loose ends if they’re not in Port Charles? Nikolas says, in Europe. He leaves in a few hours.

Valentin asks if Anna is getting notes from other men. Should he be jealous? She says, it’s more than a note, and he says he’s intrigued. What does Dante have to say? She tells him, read it for himself, handing him the manifest, and says, is it true?

Blair tells Tracy that she’ll always have a soft spot in her heart for Marty, but having to pay him 50 grand a month in alimony is really putting a crimp in her budget. On top of it, her youngest is in college, and her Jack – Jack is her problem child – Jack’s problems only seem to be solved with money. Tracy says, adorable. Rest assured, she has everything under control. Blair says she’s sure Tracy does. So how did it go in court? Tracy says she was a little concerned at first. Intellectual property theft can be difficult to prove, but luckily Blair gave her enough information for the lawyer, and everything went according to plan. And that tidbit about The Deceptor is exactly what she needed to get the judge to look at the case. Blair says, great. She hopes Tracy knows she’s just doing all this to help right a wrong. It’s not really about the money. An injustice was done here. People can’t just steal people’s ideas and make a profit from it. It’s about the people who get cheated out of their piece of the pie and Deception is one huge pie. Tracy says, so her intentions are completely altruistic. She’s doing this for the little people. Blair says, okay. Her motivation might be a little bit selfish, but that’s because The Deceptor was her idea in the first place. She just never got around to finishing it. Knowing her ex the way she does, she knows he’ll do anything to get what he wants. And in this case, it’s Lucy. Mouthy Marty couldn’t help himself. He had to share her design idea just to win her over. Tracy says she wouldn’t call Lucy a win.

Lucy asks Martin, who is that blond bobbed person with Tracy over there? She thinks she’s seen her before. Martin says, this is all sort of a big so what. Is she sure she wouldn’t change her mind about heading over to the Grill? He would surely love some of their crab cakes. She says, no, but she thinks she knows why he wants to leave. It’s because of that horrible, nasty Tracy. It’s enough to make you lose your appetite. But that’s okay; they’re not budging. They’re going to stick around. They’re staying. He says, in that case, he’s going to need a shot of something. Present company and all, he thinks they should just remain calm and order a couple of drinks.

Alexis goes through the paperwork, and tells Spencer, this is a really complicated document. She’s going to need some time with this, so what she’ll do is square things away. She’ll give him some instruction, and then get it back to him by tomorrow night. Is that going to work for him? He says, yes, and she says, he was smart to bring it to her first. He says he appreciates it, and she says she’s happy to do it actually, because… He says he knows. He’s not just talking about the legal document. She’s family and he’s very grateful for her. She says she’s so grateful for him. And for better or worse – and worse when it comes to the Cassadines – they’re family and they have an unbreakable bond. He says, except not where his father is concerned. He pretended to be dead. All of these years, he thought his father had sunk as far as he could, but then he disappeared and abandoned his brother. How does someone walk out on a baby? (Wow. Spencer is seriously out of touch with the world.) She says, his father had no frame of reference when it came to being a father. His own father was a horrible role model. She’s not making excuses for him, but she has a soft spot for him because he’s damaged, and it wasn’t his fault. There is no justification for a parent walking out on their child – never – but she can say with certainty that he loved Spencer. Spencer says, he has an odd way of showing it, but he is glad he has her. She says she’s always here for him, and he says, on that note, he has one more favor he’d like to ask her. She says, okay, as Esme approaches the door, and Spencer says, this one’s about Ace. Esme ducks back.

Austin asks what the hell Nikolas is talking about. He can’t go to Europe. He needs a passport. He needs money. Where did he get these clothes? Nikolas says he has multiple accounts and aliases, and Austin says, of course (🍷) he does. How could he not know that? Nikolas says, it’s just a simple matter of accessing them, and Austin asks, what’s in Europe? Nikolas says, many glorious things, but most important, his mother. She’s there trying to track him down. Austin says, so he’s going to meet his mother, but Nikolas says he has no intention of seeing her. He just needs her to know he’s alive. (So… he doesn’t have a phone?)

Valentin says he’s not going to lie. He hasn’t been totally transparent with Anna. She says she thinks that’s putting it mildly. After he left for Russia, it’s just been one truth after the other surfacing. She finds out he used to work for Pikeman… He says he never worked for them directly. He was an independent contractor. She says, semantics. She just feels that each new layer that gets peeled back, she gets to see who he really is. Like maybe she never knew him. He says he loves her. That’s all she ever needs to know. She says, is it? He’s not answering her question. Is that true? She points to the manifest, and he says, yes. Unfortunately, it is true. The night of the fire, Pikeman summoned him to a meeting in New York; they flew him to Manhattan. She says, that’s not much of a confession; that’s what it says in Dante’s note. He asks what more she wants, and she asks, what the hell was so urgent that he had to fly to New York City in the middle of the night? He says, Pikeman was concerned about Sonny; they still are. They wanted to consult with him. She asks why he lies to her.

Blair says, obviously her motivation in all of this is to stop funding Marty’s lavish lifestyle, and Tracy says, she’s made that abundantly clear. Blair says, 50 grand a month in alimony buys a lot of hummingbird cake, and Tracy says, yes, and she can only imagine what he spends wooing the floozy. Blair says, the gravy train has left the station. Is Tracy sure the judge can keep The Deceptor sales frozen? Tracy says, absolutely, and while they are frozen, Deception’s stock price is plummeting. The company will be essentially worthless by the time Lucy Coe and company see their day in court. Blair says, speaking of court, tell her how it went with Jackson, and Tracy says, great recommendation. Thank you. He did an impeccable job. Blair says, not only is he a very talented lawyer, he’s pretty irresistibly handsome to look at, doesn’t she think? Tracy says she hadn’t noticed, and Blair says she has to be incredibly focused on bringing Lucy Coe down not to notice that. Tracy is out for blood. Tracy says she doesn’t need blood. It’s the piece of her family’s company that she wants from Lucy. She has been using it to ruin her family’s lives for years. And Tracy won’t stop until she gets it.

Martin asks if Lucy doesn’t think the GH softball team is doing suspiciously well. Far be it for him to cast aspersions on the medical profession, but could they be cheating? Lucy says, maybe. Maybe that wouldn’t surprise her at all, because those Quartermaines have their grubby little paws in every aspect of the hospital, and the biggest cheaters are Tracy and her spy granddaughter Brook Lynn. She really did steal confidential and privileged information about The Deceptor. Shame on her. Martin looks so guilty, I laugh.

Josslyn asks if everything is okay with Trina and Spencer, and Trina says, they’re better than ever. It’s just with Curtis and school and the gallery, they hardly see one another. They’re never alone. The last time was the Haunted Star. Trina flashes back to kissing Spencer on the boat and saying, this could be their only chance to be this close again. She tells Josslyn, since then, it’s just been one thing after another. She just wants it to be about her and Spencer, but ever since Greenland, it just hasn’t been right. Josslyn says she’s sure it doesn’t help he’s living with Esme, and Trina says, no, it doesn’t, but she thinks Spencer found a way around that.

As Esme listens outside the door, Alexis asks what Spencer needs for Ace, and he says he and Trina are going to go to New York for a little weekend getaway. Alexis says, that sounds fun, and he says, it will be. He hopes she wouldn’t mind keeping an eye on Esme, and Ace.

Austin says he doesn’t understand this. Why would Nikolas insist on playing dead? Wait a second. He wants his mother to know he’s alive, but he doesn’t want to see her, and in the meantime, Ava is losing her mind thinking she killed him. Nikolas asks why he’s so worried about Ava, and Austin says he has a problem with people feeling guilty for killing people who clearly aren’t really dead. Nikolas says, Ava’s not someone who’s prone to guilt. Austin doesn’t know Ava like he does.

Carly tells Ava, when she was visiting Drew in Pentenville, Austin came in carrying his doctor bag, and she just assumed he was there for a medical reason. Ava asks, what makes her think he wasn’t? and Carly says, because he was actually there to deliver information to his boss, the same information that he stole from Sonny. Ava says, that’s a lot of speculation, even for Carly, but Carly says, they’re way past that. Sonny came to her and Drew for help. Her helping Sonny means she’s helping Ava.

Anna asks why Valentin had to go to New York City. He has a Pikeman contact here in Port Charles. Why didn’t he take a meeting here? Or use the phone? He says, Pikeman didn’t want to risk him being seen with a contact. It was safer to take the meeting outside of the city. Plus, Pikeman and the Sonny deal are fraught subjects for them, so he chose to lie about it. She says, fraught subjects? That’s a little clinical, isn’t it? She’s talking about them, their relationship. She thought maybe they were being honest with each other. He says he’s being honest with her now, and she says, because she’s making him. Would he have ever told her about the Pikeman connection on his own? What else is he keeping from her? He says he loves her. Please don’t do this. She says, he can’t keep saying that because it’s not actually an explanation. Just because he says he loves her, she’s supposed to accept everything that’s going on? That’s not how she felt when Dante told her that he just blatantly lied. She gets up, and he follows, saying, he lied to her because he wanted to keep the relationship with Pikeman separate from her. She asks how that’s working out. She was actually delivering a message from him to Sonny here at the pool when somebody decided to take a shot at her. Or Sonny, or both of them. He says he should never have involved her. He should never have asked her to deliver that message. He’s sorry. That was a mistake. She says, how many more lies and mistakes does he have to tell her about? Has he lied about anything else?

Blair asks why Tracy hates Lucy Coe so much, and Tracy says, because she’s a cockroach that her family has been unable to get rid of since she sunk her claws into Tracy’s brother. Lucy has a crucial 1% of voting rights of her family company. But all of that is about to come to an end, because once she has control of Deception, Lucy Coe will no longer be an issue. Blair says, Tracy has such a distaste for business. She remembers Tracy saying she hoped she never had to utter the letter ELQ again. Tracy says, the things some people remember. Well, it’s not all about her. Don’t get her wrong, she does so enjoy putting the screws to Lucy Coe for all of the chaos Lucy wreaked upon her family. Blair says, now she’s really curious. What did she do besides marry Tracy’s brother? Tracy says, she helped install Valentin Cassadine as CEO of ELQ, but there are other family dynamics at play now, and Blair says, such as?

Martin tells Lucy, maybe it’s much ado about nothing. Maybe the lawsuit won’t hold up in court. She says she wishes that were true, but she really thinks it will. She really thinks this lawsuit has traction, and the person she’s blaming the most is Brook. How could she do it to them? How could Brook steal all the ideas she had to come up with The Deceptor? It’s so galling that they’re making it sound like it wasn’t her idea, when it was, and yes, with a few helpful hints from him. He says, no, no, stop. He’s told her once. He’s told her a thousand times. He had nothing to do with The Deceptor. She says she told him a thousand times, he has to stop. He was right there. They both came up with the idea. He says, they’ll have to agree to disagree. That’s not how he remembers it. Things are complicated enough as they are. There’s no reason to drag him into it. She says, so he’s forgetting their pillow talk. Okay. She came up with the product, but because he suggested it. She never would have come up with the idea for The Deceptor if it wasn’t for him.

Josslyn asks if Spencer is moving out of Laura’s condo and getting his own place, and Trina says she wishes, but Spencer can’t get his own apartment yet. Josslyn asks if they’ve talked about it, and Trina says, it’s come up before, but Spencer can’t leave because of Ace and she totally gets that. He still doesn’t trust Esme. Josslyn says, can she blame him? and Trina says, no, not at all. She gets it. He needs to be there for his brother. That actually makes her like him even more. She loves that he’s there for Ace and puts him first. Josslyn says, it doesn’t bother Trina that the baby’s getting more attention than her? and Trina says she’ll be getting plenty of attention this weekend on their trip. Josslyn says, trip? Explain. Trina says, it’s only a few days. He’s taking her to Manhattan. Josslyn says, traveling together is a huge step, and Trina says she knows. It’ll be their first time alone together, completely away from everybody. Josslyn asks if she’s ready for that, but Trina says, it’s not like she’s rushing into it. They’re both adults, and they’re committed to each other. Josslyn says, of course (🍷), totally. It’s just that sex takes things to a new level. She just wants to make sure Trina’s thought about it. Trina says she’s done nothing but think about it.

While Esme continues to listen, Alexis tells Spencer that she has been keeping an eye on Esme and Ace. She seems to be doing well with him, and reasonably well as a receptionist. Aside from the obvious, why does he think she needs to be supervised? He says, they all know the new and improved Esme, the one who surfaced after claiming she had no memory of anything that happened before she washed up on the Haunted Star. But let’s not forget all of the awful things she did before that. (I’m not saying Esme wasn’t awful, but typical that the man carries zero blame. No offense, but truth.) Alexis says she won’t, but whether she’s faking her memory loss or not, he has to admit, Esme’s good with Ace. He says, she is, but she’s attempted to run away before, and with his grandmother and Doc out of the country looking for his father, he would just feel a lot better knowing Ace was safe. Esme drops the papers she’s holding, and says, uh-oh, acting like she just got there. She tells Alexis, sorry, she forgot to give her this payroll.

Austin says, if anyone is unknown to him, it’s Nikolas. He treated Nikolas as a patient for month. He nursed Nikolas back to health, and he had this agenda. He never even mentioned it. Nikolas says, Austin didn’t save him out of the goodness of his heart; they both know that. Austin says, eh, and Nikolas says, as for his agenda, it’s simple. The Cassadine estate is controlled by a trust. If the current owner of the estate, which happens to be him, disappears for six months, they’re presumed dead and control of the estate automatically passes to the heir. Austin says, who happens to be his son, and Nikolas says, Spencer. Austin says, Nikolas doesn’t like the way the Cassadines arranged things, and Nikolas says he wants to stop it. Austin says he doesn’t blame him, and Nikolas says, the only way to keep Spencer from controlling all of his money and resources is if proof comes to light that he’s still alive.

Valentin says he knows he’s given Anna reason to doubt him, but no, he’s not keeping any secrets from her. She says she’s curious. What pulled him into working for Pikeman in the first place? He says, greed, and he was younger then. He had nothing to lose, but not now. Now he has far too much to lose. Pikeman is very powerful, and they have a lot of memory. It’s just easier to cooperate and keep them as an ally. He doesn’t want to have them as an enemy. She asks if there’s any differentiation between those two things in a business like that, and he says, this is his problem. He wants her as far away from them as possible. She says, how can she be? She’s right here. She sigh/groans, and he asks if she’s okay. She asks if they can’t go up to the suite again, and he says, she doesn’t want dinner? She says, they’ll get room service, and goes to the table, picking up the itinerary.

Carly asks if Ava isn’t curious why the FBI arrested Sonny, but Ava says she was just relieved when the charges were dropped. Carly says, she never asked him the reason why? and Ava says, nope. Carly says, it’s because he left false information for Betty to find. Then Betty took it to Austin, who took it to his boss in Pentenville, whoever that is. Which means Austin and Mason’s boss has ties to the FBI. Ava says she doesn’t know why Carly is telling her all this. It’s got nothing to do with her. Carly says, that’s bull and Ava knows it, and Ava says, why doesn’t she let it rest? Carly says she thinks Ava did something, and Mason and Austin found out about it. And they’re threatening to take it to their boss, who could take it to the FBI.

Austin asks why Nikolas doesn’t go to Port Charles after. When he cleans up all of his loose ends and takes care of his money, why doesn’t he go then? Nikolas says, because his son Spencer hates him, and Austin says, his son has a pretty good reason to from what he understands. The way Ava’s explained it to him, this isn’t the first time Nikolas has pretended to be dead, which is like a weird habit with him. Who does that? How could he do that to his own son? Nikolas says, Austin doesn’t know what’s gone on in his family, and he doesn’t need to justify his actions to him. He knows for a fact that once Spencer gets control of the money and the Cassadine estate, he isn’t likely to ever give it back to him. Austin says, can you blame him? It’s an awful lot of money. Nikolas says, more than Austin realizes. The last thing he wants to do is open this up to a long, ugly court battle, because that’s exactly where it will end up. It’s better to stop the process before it starts. Austin says, Nikolas doesn’t think much of his son, does he?

Tracy says, Blair didn’t come all this way to hear about the dysfunctional Quartermaines, did she? and Blair says, they couldn’t be any worse than her family. Tracy says, could be. Does she use the words greedy, unscrupulous, and vindictive to describe her family? Blair says, that and more. She wouldn’t even know where to begin with their saga. Let’s just say, the Borgias have nothing on us. Tracy says, okay, then they’ll call it a draw. They both have dysfunctional families. Can they just get back to the business at hand? Blair says, so there’s more to it than Tracy getting her ELQ voting rights back.

Alexis thanks Esme, and says, the payroll wouldn’t have gone out in time, and she’d have a lot of staff members breathing down her neck. Esme says, sorry she forgot about it earlier, but if she gets it to accounting now, it’ll make it before the deadline. Alexis thanks her, and says she appreciates it – she signs the papers and hands them to Esme – and so will the staff when their direct deposits get in at the end of the week. Esme says, better get it to accounting, and leaves. Spencer looks at Alexis, no doubt wondering if Esme heard them.

Josslyn says she has to ask. Trina’s not feeling any pressure from Spencer about this, correct? Trina says, no. She’s not feeling any pressure from Spencer. Josslyn says, good, and she shouldn’t ever, and Trina says she’s just so happy and excited to be planning a weekend away, just the two of them. Josslyn says, a whole weekend in New York? It’s going to be perfect. Trina says, at first, he wanted to go to Turks and Caicos, and Josslyn says, the Caribbean? Isn’t it hurricane season or something? Trina says, that’s what she told him, and Josslyn asks how they settled on New York. Trina says, first, they were going to stop in New York, then go on to Turks and Caicos, but with school starting and her working at the gallery, she just didn’t want to be away for that long. So Manhattan was a compromise. Josslyn says, it was a good compromise, and Trina says, he wants to take her to a Broadway show, and then they’re going to have dinner at this hot, new restaurant. Josslyn asks if they’re going to have time for any other activities, and Trina says, oh yeah. They’re staying at this hotel that has a heated pool on the rooftop. Josslyn says she bets Trina’s more excited to see the hotel room than the heated pool, and Trina says, it is going to be their first time together.

Lucy says, Martin is right. They should have gone to the Grill. She’s not staying in the same room with Tracy Quartermaine, who is trying to take everything she’s worked so hard for. She’s going to freshen up, and she’ll meet him in the lobby. She leaves, and he takes out his wallet, looking around nervously.

Tracy says, actually, she never does anything for just one reason (a multitasker!), and Blair says she doesn’t see Tracy as a checkers kind of gal. She’s more of a strategic 3D chess player. Tracy says, actually, backgammon is her game, and Blair says, noted. Tracy says, but this is not a game. This is business. She learned a lot from her father, and maybe the most important lesson he taught her is that opportunities are not given, they’re made. And once they’re made, you have to take full advantage of it. She gets up, shakes hands with Blair, and says, a pleasure. She leaves, and Blair sees Martin. She walks over to his table, and puts her hand on his shoulder from behind, startling him. She bends down and whispers, hello, sweetheart, kissing his cheek.

Ava tells Carly, let her be clear about something. What Sonny is doing right now, he’s doing for Avery’s sake. Carly says she knows that. Sonny would do anything for his family. Ava says, because the situation is fraught (WOTD), she would like Avery to stay here with Carly and Donna for a while. Carly says, for how long? and Ava says, a week maybe? She doesn’t know exactly. Is that acceptable to Carly? Carly says, of course (🍷). Avery can stay here as long as she needs. Ava thanks her, and says she appreciates that. She heads for the door, and Carly says, this is also for Avery’s sake. Whatever she has going on with Austin, he’s keeping information from her. Do not trust him. Ava says nothing, and walks out, taking a pause when she gets outside.

Nikolas says, his son is a Cassadine, and Austin says, meaning? Nikolas says, he expects Spencer wouldn’t act any differently toward him than he would toward someone standing in his way. That’s enough to make sure Spencer never has power over him. Austin says, that’s an interesting family dynamic, when Nikolas’s phone dings. Nikolas says his car has just arrived, and Austin says, so he can’t talk Nikolas into changing his mind? Nikolas says, no, and thanks Austin again for all of his help. Austin asks where he’s going, and Nikolas says, it’s time for a family reunion, and leaves.

Spencer thanks Alexis again, not only for her legal advice, but for her support in checking on Esme when he and Trina are away. She says, they’re family. That’s what they do for each other. Just a thought, but Esme is family too, so if he could trust her first, maybe she could be more trustworthy. Spencer says, that would be difficult, and Alexis says, he has to admit, she cares about that little boy. He says he feels the same way about Ace that Esme does (highly doubtful, but okay), and she says, good. They have that in common. Let love for that little boy be the thing that brings them together, rather than the thing that tears them apart. Just a thought again. Let’s go. They walk out of the office, and Esme dashes into it. What happened to Alexis’s 5:30 call?

Josslyn says, Trina and Spencer have had their ups and downs. Trina trusts him. Trina says she does trust him, and she believes this is right. It feels like the right thing to be doing. Josslyn hugs Trina and says she’s so happy for her. She’s so happy for Spencer too. Trina says, that means a lot to her. She knows Josslyn and Spencer have had their differences. When Josslyn broke up with Cam… Josslyn says she forgives him. She gives him grief, but she knows he’s a good guy. Trina says she thinks so too, and Josslyn says, and Trina is the best thing that’s ever happened to him. Don’t you forget it. Trina hugs Josslyn.

Valentin says, Anna isn’t feeling well. Let him get her something. She says, it’s okay. She’s just feeling a little pain. Maybe if she lies down… She opens the door, and they see the room has been tossed. There are streaks of red on various white things to make it look like blood, and they draw their guns. Anna goes in the back, and Valentin picks up a red streaked white shirt and says, ink. What the hell? Anna turns on the light in the bathroom and checks the shower stall. It’s empty, and she turns around. In red on the mirror, it says: You think you got away with it. You didn’t. You think you’re safe. You’re not.

On Monday, Chase tells Brook, it’s too late for that; Valentin tells Anna, it’s not a coincidence and he’s not taking any chances; Lucy wants to replace Brook as soon as possible; Blair says, it’s going to cost Martin big time; and Stella tells Marshall, it will be the death of him.

💭 It would be beyond awesome if somehow Austin hooked up with Blair. Good times…

🩺 Ditched After Saving the Day…

Obrecht was the hero of the day for saving Willow and Drew a hero for saving her, but then nothing. Not even in the background. Some thanks.

Kathleen Gati Teases Her Return to GENERAL HOSPITAL!

🎉 Fanning Blair…

Hopefully, she sticks around Port Charles.

Fans Celebrate Kassie DePaiva’s Blair-aversary!

☎️ Old Home Week…

Brook could use her mother right about now.

Rena Sofer Returns to GENERAL HOSPITAL!

https://people.com/rena-sofer-returning-to-general-hospital-as-lois-cerullo-exclusive-7969604

🥁 Joining the Social Bandwagon…

His first post is a pic of him and Jeff Kober. He’s definitely got my follow.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/roger-howarth-joins-instagram

⛓ Not a Surprise…

Why wouldn’t two grifters come together?

https://ew.com/celebrity/elizabeth-holmes-jen-shah-prison-friends/

🤼‍♀️ Not Part Of the Solution…

I think it’s just Teresa ruining RHONJ. And they shouldn’t bother rebooting it. We already have The Jersey Shore.

Why Teresa Giudice and Melissa Gorga’s Feud is Ruining Real Housewives of New Jersey

🍹 She Did Get Loud…

In retrospect, I was pretty surprised when Taylor got a little out of control.

https://people.com/southern-charm-season-9-premiere-recap-taylor-ann-green-confronts-craig-conover-about-shep-rose-cheating-7969777

🍸 Rules of Awful…

And this is just the tip of the iceberg.

Times When the Women of Vanderpump Rules Were Just Awful

To be fair.

Vanderpump Rules Cast Members Who Have Shown the Most Emotional Growth

🎃 Let the Celebration Begin…

Those who can’t do, watch. I love these shows. It’s absolutely amazing what they create.

https://1428elm.com/2023/09/01/halloween-wars-host/

https://www.foodnetwork.com/shows/halloween-wars/meet-the-teams-season-13

https://foodsided.com/2023/09/10/halloween-baking-championship-season-9-preview-welcome-to-the-carnival/

🦃 From Fake To Film…

Eli Roth finally did it. He’s been talking about this forever. I can’t wait.

https://ew.com/movies/thanksgiving-trailer-eli-roth-patrick-dempsey/

Eli Roth’s ‘Thanksgiving’ Teaser Trailer – That’s Definitely Not Cranberry Sauce…

🐕‍🦺 Good Boy…

I was keeping an eye on this story since I have friends in the area. No surprise a dog ultimately brought him down.

https://people.com/police-k9-yoda-played-key-role-in-capturing-danelo-cavalcante-7969658

📢 Quotes of the Week

Short cuts make long delays. – J.R.R. Tolkien

The real problem is not whether machines think but whether men do. – B.F. Skinner

You are what you do, not what you say you’ll do. – Carl Jung

Respect your efforts, respect yourself. Self-respect leads to self-discipline. When you have both firmly under your belt, that’s real power. – Clint Eastwood (This was before he started talking to empty chairs.)

There are no regrets in life. Just lessons. – Jennifer Aniston

Always look at what you have left. Never look at what you have lost. – Robert H. Schuller

How about not assume? How about giving the benefit of the doubt? Nothing is ever as it seems. – Jenna Lyons, The Real Housewives of New York City

I attribute my success to this: I never gave or took an excuse. – Florence Nightingale

I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones. – Albert Einstein

Those aren’t glasses; they’re aquariums with stems. – Molly (Melissa McCarthy), Mike & Molly

🛌🏽 Wake Me Up When…

Come join me on Monday really Tuesday for soap and TV tea. Until then, stay safe, stay aware of how your behavior impacts others, and stay taking full advantage of the opportunities you make.

Sep15

September 14, 2023 – Carly Brings Sonny To Visit Drew, Funny, Charming Exes Collide, All About Those VMAs, They Can Be Centerfield & Runnin’

Posted on September 15, 2023 by theresakp

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Sasha says she doesn’t want to believe what Cody is saying. Gladys would never do anything to physically hurt her. He says, believe him. Gladys knew Montague before he was her doctor. She used him to help send Sasha to Ferncliff. Sasha says, he’s wrong. He’s always been wrong about Gladys. It can’t be true. He says he needs her to believe this, and she says, Gladys would never drug her… He looks out the window and says, hold on. Someone’s coming.

Drew comes into the visiting room and sees Sonny with Carly. He says he always looks forward to their visits, but something tells him this is about more than just catching up. Sonny says, there is a situation, and he needs Drew’s help.

Cyrus is let in to see Warden Garten, and she thanks him for coming, telling the guard, that will be all. She’ll buzz him when she’s ready for him to escort Mr. Renault back to his cell. The guard leaves, and Cyrus asks how he can help the warden. She says, drop the pious act, padre. She’s had enough of his help. He hung her out to dry, and now he’s going to pay for it.

Dex sees Nina at the MetroCourt, and she asks what she can do for him. As he’s about to tell her, his phone rings, and he says, sorry. She says, take it, and he steps away. He asks, what’s going on? and Josslyn says she thought he was going to help her move into the dorm. He says, of course (🍷). He just has some work to finish up for Sonny. He should be done pretty soon, and he’ll be over. She says, great. She can get back to her book. Everyone’s talking about how great it is. They say goodbye, and Josslyn picks up The Other Black Girl. Sales of the book skyrocket immediately. Dex tells Nina that he has a message for her from Sonny.

On the phone, Austin says he’s done everything Mason has asked him to do… He doesn’t know. Will Mason please stop asking him that? He has no idea. Ava walks into his office and says, put down that phone. Austin says, nice to see her too. Come on in. He tells Mason that he’ll call back and asks Ava, what’s happening? She says, he’s not answering her calls, so she had to find him in person. She’s done with his cousin threatening her and her family. If he doesn’t honor their deal and return Nikolas’s body, she will go to Sonny, and she’ll tell him everything Austin and his cousin have done.

Trina is listening to music on her headphones while stands on a stepladder, putting tombstones next to the paintings. Spencer comes in and says, hello, hello. I tell him, do not sneak up on her while she’s on a stepladder, but he doesn’t listen and shouts, Trina! She falls.

Cody tells Sasha when he tells her to go, take the back exit of the cabin and run. There’s a trail right outside the door. Take it all the way to the road, and he’ll meet her there with the car. Is she okay? She says, yeah, and heads for the back of the cabin. Cody picks up a hammer and opens the door ready to strike. Dante and Sam are there.

Holding Trina, Spencer asks if she’s okay, and she says, yeah. He puts her down and she says she’s sorry (for what?), and he says, she’s good. She says, apparently, she shouldn’t be listening to music while she works, and he says, maybe not, helping her pick up the cards. He sees the dove on her desk and says, so this is where she’s keeping it, and she says, he’s cute. That’s why she likes him there. She thanks Spencer for catching her, and says, that was embarrassing, but it was romantic. He says he’ll always be there to catch her, and she says, it seems like he’s there for her when it’s important. He says, no. It seems like he’s the one always getting her in dangerous situations that she probably shouldn’t be in, like in Greenland. She says, that’s okay. She wouldn’t change it. He asks if she’s sure about that, and she says, positive. He says, she’s saved him at times as well.

Cody says, they scared him half to death. What’s Dante doing here? Sam says, he’s here because he cares and he can help, and she leads Dante into the cabin. Cody calls to Sasha, saying, it’s okay. They’re friends. She comes out and says, it’s good to see them both. Dante says, it’s nice to see her out of Ferncliff. It looks like she’s doing better. She says, thanks to Cody.

Austin asks Ava not to go to Sonny. If she did that, think about what would happen, rationally. Nothing good, right? Tell him what happened. She says, his lollipop licking cousin; that’s what happened. He asks what Mason did now, and she says, he came to her gallery and accused her of going to Sonny because his plan fell through. Obviously, Sonny saw right through it. Mason blamed her for that and started threatening her. She’s not going to take it anymore. She’s done everything that’s been asked of her, and still has no idea when this nightmare is going to end. He says, it’ll end soon. Mason will come through, one way or another. She says, one way or another? What the hell does that mean?

Dex says, Sonny wanted him to tell Nina that he’s going to be unreachable for a few hours. He doesn’t want her to worry. She asks if Sonny told Dex what he was doing, and Dex says, he’s with Carly. They’re visiting Drew at Pentenville. Nina thanks him for delivering the message, and he says, just doing his job, calling her Miss Reeves. She says she asked him to call her Nina. Remember, they’re both on Team Sonny? He says, of course (🍷), and she asks if Sonny told him why they’re visiting Drew. He says, that’s the only message Sonny asked him to deliver. He can be stingy with details. She laughs and says, doesn’t she know it. She asks if she can get him a cup of coffee to go, but he says he’s got to run. He told Joss that he’d help her with something this morning. Dex leaves, and she flashes back to telling Martin that she wants him to expose Drew and Carly for engaging in insider trading. Just make sure to keep her name out of it.

Carly says, Sonny was arrested by the FBI a few days ago, and Drew says he heard. Word travels fast in Pentenville. Congratulations. Clearly the charges didn’t stick. Sonny says, the charges were dropped for lack of evidence. He was basically trying to smoke out the enemy, so he gave them false information, but the false information was passed along to the FBI. Here’s the problem; he doesn’t know who the enemy is. And he’s pretty sure it’s somebody in Pentenville.

Warden Garten says, the idea was to trap Sonny and send him up the river (who uses that term in 2023?), not to watch him walk. Cyrus had one job – one. He was supposed to provide her with accurate information on Sonny and his deal with Pikeman, so she had something substantial to give to the Feds. They went out on a limb and set up a big sting operation that yielded nothing, absolutely nothing. Corinthos is a free man, and it’s his fault. Cyrus asks if she’s taking a tone with him. Doesn’t she think this whole thing pisses him off? Has she forgotten how she became warden? Because without him, she’d still be back in the Corrections office pushing paper and answering emails. Nobody’s happy about this, especially him. She says, but it’s her name that’s tarnished, and he says, which he will clear. He’s but a humble servant of the Almighty. He believed they had the goods and delivered what the Lord placed in his welcoming hands. His people… She says, his people? Is he referring to that useless Mason Gatlin? She should have never intervened for him. He says, Mason has performed admirably for them in the past, even though he realizes now, Mason’s usefulness may be coming to an end. As it must for all God’s emissaries.

Josslyn is having a hard time getting a mini fridge through the door, when Dex arrives and helps her. Adam knocks at the door and says, it looks like they’re neighbors again. He was moving back in when he noticed her stuff was kind of blocking the hallway. Does she need help? Dex joins them, and she says, actually, she has some help already. Adam asks how it’s going, and Dex says, he’s good. How about Adam? Adam says, not bad. He just signed up for another semester of pre-med. Dex isn’t a student here, is he?

Trina asks what brings Spencer by the gallery, and he says he got her text, and he missed her. She says, earlier this morning she was home, and she and Curtis were having a fun little disaster trying to set up the Smart Home gaming system that Marshall bought. He says, that’s absolutely horrid. He hates setting up new tech. Isn’t that what outsourcing is for? She says, that’s nice for folks who have a team of outsourcers, but unfortunately for them, they don’t, and Marshall left it sitting in their laps. But luckily, being a former P.I., Curtis has a way with stuff like that. He asks what she’s doing here. Shouldn’t she be home helping Curtis? She says she got an urgent call from Paloma’s people about her current art display here. Apparently, Ava left out a detail about this fall show. She guesses it slipped through the cracks, which is surprising to her. It’s not like Ava. She’s usually particular about details. She thinks Ava’s been a little distracted lately. He says he can only imagine why. His ex-stepmother is always up to something. She tells him, say what he wants about Ava, but she’s extremely efficient and organized. It’s highly unusual for her to drop the ball at the gallery.

Austin says he didn’t mean anything by it, but Ava says she doesn’t think so. First he tells her, Mason will come through in one way or another; then he tells her to forget he said it. Is he double-crossing her? If he’s double-crossing her, that would be a very, very big mistake. He says he’s not double-crossing her, and she says, good. Because more than anyone, he knows what she’s capable of. When she’s pushed, when she’s provoked, she’ll do almost anything. Especially for Avery. He asks if he can be honest with her about something, and she says, for his sake, he ought to be. He says he’s so sorry. He’s truly sorry that she’s here in this situation. He should never have let Mason put her here. if he could go back in time and change everything, he would. He would change everything so she wasn’t in this position. She thanks him and says, she’d like to change things too. Nikolas provoked her. He threatened her. He threatened Avery, and that’s why she did what she did, but she wishes she hadn’t. He says, Avery is just a child. Is she sure Nikolas would really hurt her?

Carly says, the last time she came to visit Drew, they both saw Austin come in carrying his medical bag, and Drew says, they think Austin is connected to Sonny’s enemy? Sonny says he knows Austin is. Austin and Mason Gatlin have been circling him, trying to catch him violating the NSA, so they can bring it back to whoever their working for. So he gave them false information. The plan was to follow them back to their boss. Drew says, and Sonny thinks whoever they’re working for is here, and Sonny says, the trail stops right here. Drew says, so Sonny thinks maybe because he’s in Pentenville, he’s got a shot at figuring out who Austin came to see that day.

Cody says, he couldn’t have rescued Sasha from Ferncliff without Sam’s help. She became his medical proxy and had him committed so he could get to her in Ferncliff. She also left that car for them to escape in after they broke out, and arranged for this cabin for them to hide in. Sasha asks why Sam would do all that. What convinced Sam that she didn’t belong in Ferncliff? Sam says, Cody did. He never wavered in his belief in Sasha. He always thought she was sane, that she never belonged in Ferncliff. And he was convinced that everything that was happening to her was all wrong. Cody says, the most he could have hoped for was for Dante to look the other way. He didn’t expect Dante to pitch in. Unless Dante’s here to arrest them.

Spencer says, when Trina believes in something, she commits herself 100% to it. It’s one of her many wonderful qualities. It’s why he’s not the least bit surprised she’s committed herself to this gallery and Ava almost by default. Trina says, by default? Ava’s been good to her and so has this gallery. He asks if that’s why she stopped working at The Chuck. It could have led to a better, more prestigious job. She says she doesn’t think working here diminishes her chances of having a successful art career. Ava lets her get her hands dirty in the earthier real art, which she loves. That’s why she chose this career, because of the real art. She doesn’t think she could have had that experience if she’d stayed at The Chuck. He says, but working at a high-end gallery can serve as a steppingstone, and could put her in a position to be dealing with, let’s just say, more notable art. She says she appreciates that, but she’s not interested in accepting a job merely to use as a steppingstone to get to something better. The most important thing to her isn’t the notability of the art, but something more meaningful. She wants to feel fulfilled and have the sense she was part of a process. It’s about personal growth to her, not just an impressive title. He says he can understand that. It’s just that working here, she really has her hands full, and it increases the odds that she’ll fall off one of these ladders. She says ,that was his fault, and he says, maybe, but if she worked at The Chuck, she’d have a whole support staff. Is he wrong? She says, outsourcers? and he says, she can call them what she wants to call them. She says, it’s just a lot. She’s starting school again. She still has to move into the dorms. She’s been trying to make Curtis feel as comfortable as possible since coming back from rehab. She’s trying not to neglect her relationship with her dad, and… She’s sorry. She just went on a whole vent of complaining. He says, she never needs to apologize for venting to him; it’s okay. That’s what he’s here for. He wants to know everything about her, and wants to participate in her life as much as he possibly can. She says, lately, it feels like that isn’t possible. They haven’t gotten any alone time together. He says, that’s exactly why he’s here. He thinks he may have fixed that.

Dex tells Adam, no, he doesn’t go to PCU. He’s just helping Joss move in. Josslyn says, they’re kind of in a rush. They’re trying to get all this stuff together before Trina comes back. Adam says he’s putting together a study group for Organic Chem. He was wondering if she wanted to join. Josslyn says she’ll think about it, and he asks if she’s gotten the book yet. It’s a really tough class. He wouldn’t recommend not having a study group. She doesn’t want to fall behind in class because she got distracted. She says, for sure. She can’t commit to anything right now until she checks out her schedule, but she’ll let him know. They’re kind of in a rush. She’s sorry. It was good to see him. She closes the door, and tells Dex, sorry about that. Dex says, he has a point, and she says, about what?

Olivia asks if Nina has seen the breakfast rush down in the Garden. It must be this great September weather bringing everybody out. Maybe they should keep the pool open until the end of the month. (That gets my vote. I love the pool.) Nina says, Olivia’s in a good mood this morning, and Olivia says, why shouldn’t she be? She really thought it was the end for Sonny. He had her worried. She thought his luck had finally run out, and look, charges dropped. He’s a free man. She guesses Nina must be as relieved as she is.

Drew says, no offense, but this place is full of Sonny’s enemies, and Sonny says he’s aware of that, but anything Drew can do to help, he’d be very grateful. Drew says, if he asks the wrong person, this could blow up in a bad way. Carly says, the most important thing is for Drew to stay safe, and he says he will. She tells him, just keep his head down and do his time, so he can get the hell out of here, and he says he’s doing his best. She says, he’s in a position to have his sentence reduced, and she doesn’t want him to do anything to mess that up.

Cyrus says he and the warden both want Sonny Corinthos off the street and out of their way, and she says, and if she’d given the Feds accurate information, Sonny would be well on his way to a life in Pentenville, locked up where he belongs. And she would have done the great state of New York a huge benefit, and it certainly wouldn’t have hurt her career. He asks if she thinks he wanted to give her wrong information, and she says she’s still wondering how it happened. The Feds booked and arrested Sonny with what seemed like an airtight case, and suddenly all charges are dropped? He says he’ll task her with finding out how and why that happened, and she says, that would be the stupidest thing she could possibly do. She is not putting herself back on the chopping block to get information about Sonny. Cyrus says, oh, is that so?

Dante says he’s not here to arrest them; he’s here to apologize to them both. He should have believed Cody. He knows better than anyone how selfless Cody can be when the chips are down. How far he’ll go to help someone. If he’d listened to Cody, he would have taken action a lot sooner. He tells Sasha, words can’t convey how he feels about what Gladys has done to her. She’s betrayed Sasha’s trust, and he’s so very sorry. Sasha asks, why would she do this? Gladys said she loved her, and they were family.

Spencer says, Turks and Caicos; he wants to take Trina. They can go to New York City first. They can have dinner and see a show and continue on to the islands afterwards. She asks if it isn’t hurricane season, and he says, it’s the best time to go; the surfing is so good. She needs this. He needs this. They both need to get away for a little while. She asks what he’s going to do about Ace and Esme, and he says he’ll have his Aunt Alexis check in on Ace once in a while. Esme isn’t really one of his concerns, and his grandmother will be back any day now. They never have any quality time alone here in Port Charles. They’re always getting interrupted by this or that. How nice would it be for them to get away for a little while and spend some time alone? Be able to focus on them and only them and their relationship. It would be nice. She says, no. She can’t go with him.

Ava tells Austin, honestly, she doesn’t know what Nikolas was capable of that night. But after losing Kiki the way she did, the way she died. Seeing her lying there like that, not moving, begging her to wake up. She couldn’t take any chances with Avery. He understands that, doesn’t he? She’s all Ava’s got left, and she’s going to protect Avery with all she’s got.

Nina tells Olivia, yes, it was incredible when Sonny was set free. She knows Olivia has a special relationship with him, they have a long history, but there must be another reason why she’s in such a good mood. Olivia says, she and Leo went to the recording studio with Ned, or Eddie, yesterday. He was so great with Leo. He was telling Leo about all the different gigs he played in the past. He got Leo involved in the music making process. It really is such a process. Nina says, it sounds like the three of them had an eventful day, and Olivia says, Eddie cut a song, and it’s amazing. It’s earthy, it’s gritty, it’s very, very moving. He talked about it as rootsy and acoustic. Eddie is such a talented musician. Nina says, she keeps calling him Eddie, not Ned.

Sonny says, it isn’t worth Drew spending an extra day in Pentenville, especially if he makes enemies of his own. Drew says he’s very comfortable assessing risk. He can handle this. Carly says, they know he can, but does he want to? It’s very dangerous. Drew says, Sonny got him out of solitary. It’s the least he can do. He’s happy to help. It sounds like whoever Austin and Mason’s boss is, is causing a lot of trouble for Sonny lately, and he wants to help. Sonny says, whoever their boss is has made a lot of trouble for many people he cares about. That seems to be escalating, and he has to deal with this one way or another, but one way Drew can help is let him know who they’re reporting to. Drew says he’ll do what he can and keep his head down. He gets up to leave, and Carly follows him. She asks him to promise to be careful, and he promises. He loves her. She says she loves him, and he leaves. She goes back to the table and tells Sonny, well, he’s doing it.

Cyrus tells the warden, Sonny Corinthos is but one step in his quest to truly turn his life around. As she knows, he recently donated his money to the Rodden Institute to End Recidivism. She says she knows; a smart and strategic move. He says, it pleased her and her friend Judge Sinclair, and it pleases him that the judge sits on the charity board of directors. She says, yes, very advantageous, and he says, but not unlike her passion project to work with former convicts. All her remarkable efforts, creating those work study programs. This has not gone unnoticed. Very strategic of her as well. And how many articles has he read in The Invader about her extraordinary leadership? The press holds her in very high regard. She says, Judge Sinclair’s decision to place her in Pentenville is a testament to just that, and he says, a decision that could be easily reversed. She asks if he’s threatening her, and he says, ye have heard that it hath been said, and eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. But I say unto you that ye resist not evil, but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. She tells him to keep his nose clean. I wish Cyrus would use a translation other than the King James already. It’s tedious.

Sasha says, Gladys is Brando’s mother. She was with them when they lost Liam. Gladys is the only family she has. How could Gladys betray her like this? Dante says he has his own opinion about Gladys, but she’s a weak person and she put herself in a really difficult spot. Sasha asks, what kind of difficult spot? and Cody says, she played poker in a game sponsored by Selina Wu. Sasha asks how he knows that, and he says, because he played in the same games. He sits next to her on the bed and says, his job was to win for Selina, and he saw firsthand Gladys lost a lot, way more than she could repay on her own. So she used Sasha’s money. She sold Brando’s garage, and she must have started raiding Sasha’s bank accounts. Sam says, the only way Gladys could cover her debts is if she stayed in control of Sasha’s money, and Sasha says, when she tried to end the guardianship, Gladys tried to stop her. Gladys said she wasn’t ready and she was making a mistake. But it wasn’t about her at all. It was about her money.

Olivia tells Nina, the harder she pushes Eddie to be Ned, the further she pushed him away from her and his family. She had to make a decision to accept Eddie for who he really is now instead of who he used to be. And who he is, he loves music. That is his passion. He’s so good and he’s so generous sharing that part of himself with Leo. It opened up a whole world for him. And yeah, he put her in touch with a part of herself that she almost forgot existed. Nina says, she’s having a really good time with Eddie, and Olivia asks, what does that mean? Nina asks if she’s falling for Eddie Maine. Does she not necessarily want Ned back? I wouldn’t, but Olivia says she should get back downstairs. She has work to do. Nina smiles.

Josslyn tells Dex, there’s other study groups besides Adam’s. He’s just a lot sometimes. Dex says, Adam’s also pre-med like her and Adam’s going to be a doctor like her. He’s still going to be working for Sonny. They’re two very different worlds. She asks if he’s dumping her because she’s in pre-med, but he says, no. (Dammit.) She says she’d hate to think he was against higher education, but he says, trust him when he says he thinks everything about her is amazing. She says she feels the same way about him, and they kiss. Then they kiss some more, making those smacky noises I hate. She takes his shirt off, then her own, and he asks if he isn’t supposed to be helping her move in. She steps away and says, he’s right, but he says, no, she’s right, pushing her onto the bed where they start getting busy.

Spencer tells Trina, come on. This is going to be fun. This is a great way for her to decompress before her semester starts at PCU. She says she knows it would, but she doesn’t think right now is a good time to go away. Her mom and Curtis are still walking on eggshells, and she wants to be there to help. He says, totally, but she’ll be in constant contact with them. She’s only going to be a phone call away. He doesn’t think either Curtis or her mother want her to curtail her life for them. He thinks they could probably use the alone time themselves. She says, not with school starting right around the corner, and he asks why she’s letting school stand in the way of her wanting to live her life. She’s so talented, and he’s certain she can accomplish anything she wants to in life, so he really doesn’t understand why she needs to do the school thing so she can earn a piece of paper that validates her intelligence. It just doesn’t make any sense to him. Is he an idiot? How is she supposed to get a job? She says she appreciates his vote of confidence in her, but he comes from money, and he says, his ancestry might be Russian royalty, but that doesn’t mean they didn’t have to work hard. Maybe not in the traditional sense, but they did. She tells him, all she can say is that she values education, and PCU has inspired her. So she doesn’t think taking a trip right now would be the smartest thing. He says he just thought it would be nice for them to get away, and she says, he didn’t let her finish. (Get used to it.) They can still go to New York and see a show and spend time together, just the two of them.

Warden Garten says she doesn’t think she and Cyrus have anything more to say to each other right now. She presses a button, and the guard comes in. She says, he can take the prisoner back to his cell. Cyrus thanks her and says, he appreciates such a warm and supportive leader. He leaves with the guard.

Sasha cries, and Cody tells her, it’s going to be okay. He’s here. She says, he tried to tell her so many times and she refused to listen. And now what are they going to do? They’re both escaped mental patients; they’re fugitives. Dante says, they’re fugitives with friends (a new game for your tablet!), and Sam says, and there is a way out of this. With the four of them working together, they’ll figure it out.

Spencer hugs Trina, lifting her up, and says, yes. Cool. He’s going to show her his favorite restaurant; it’s right near Washington Square Park. Then he can take her to his favorite pizza parlor, his favorite bakery, and he’ll send her a list of shows. She’ll pick the one that she wants to see, or the two that she wants to see, or the three that she wants to see, and they’ll go see all of them if they need to. She says, okay, and he says, good. Yes. This is going to be fun. He’s so sick of having to steal these little moments away with her. He’s ready for them to have a little uninterrupted time with each other. They kiss, and he says he’s going to make some calls. He’ll talk to her later. He leaves, and she sits at her desk, picking up the dove and looking at it.

On the phone outside, Spencer asks, what’s the best they have? It’s a special occasion. Yes, it’s going to be a very special weekend.

Austin says he promises Ava that he’ll lean on Mason. He’ll do everything he can. But please promise him that she’ll be patient. Promise she won’t go talk to Sonny. She knows nothing good can come of that more than he does. She tells him that she meant what she said. She will go to Sonny if she doesn’t get what she was promised. She walks out.

Sonny asks if Carly is okay, and she says she knows Drew is his best shot at finding out who Austin visited here, and he needs that information to keep himself and their family safe. It’s just, she hates that it’s happening. He says, all he needs is for Drew to give him one name, and he’ll take care of the rest.

Drew approaches guard Johnson and asks how he’s been. Johnson says he can’t complain, and Drew asks how his son is doing. Johnson says, he’s doing really well. He got a summer job at a pizza place. Drew asks if he isn’t graduating from PCU this spring, and Johnson says, he is. Drew says, nice. He may be able to get him an internship at Aurora Media if that’s something he’d be interested in. Johnson asks what Drew wants in return, and Drew says he’ll get him the internship regardless, but there is some information he’d be interested in. Johnson says, that’s what he figured. What is it Drew wants to know? Drew says, nothing major. August 23^rd, a doctor came here from GH, Austin Gatlin-Holt. All he needs to know is who he came into contact with. No surprise, Cyrus is lurking just around the corner, and Drew says, and who he came to see.

Tomorrow, Spencer says he has one more favor to ask Alexis; Lucy says she thinks she knows why Martin wants to leave; Anna asks what Valentin is keeping from her; and Nikolas tells Austin that he’s saying goodbye.

👬 Interesting parallel: Who knew Hunter Biden and Drew Cain would have something in common? Drew is the first thing I thought of when the news said it was rare to have a plea deal go sideways, but when it did, the judge usually throws the book at the defendant.

Southern Charm

There’s a bunch of back and forth about Austin and Taylor hooking up, along with some gossip headlines. Craig says, that’s what happens when you muddy the waters. Austin tells Madison that she’s a sloppy mess and always has been. One thing he and I can agree on. It looks like this is stuff we’ll see later.

Randy is Patricia’s new butler, but he’s no Michael. We see everyone interacting with their dogs, which will probably be the best part of this show. Craig’s house is being renovated, and Paige is staying there off and on. In Craig’s interview, he says he’s all about their relationship. As they check out what’s being done in building the pool area, Paige explains that she doesn’t get in hot tubs because of the bacteria, and Craig seems to think because it’s their bacteria, it won’t be a problem. She wants black and white patio furniture, and when he suggests purple, she says, she’ll move out. We flash back to her weeping about missing her mom on Summer House, and I don’t see this as working out unless Craig makes a move to NYC. They’re going to be apart for a while, and Craig says he can’t fly to meet her that much, but she says she didn’t ask him. Rut-roh.

Madison says blah-blah-blah about her marriage to Brett, and we flash back to her talking smack at the Reunion about Austin relating to her son. In her interview, she says, it’s the first time Hudson has had a family unit, and I think of the Coneheads. She says, they got married in Mexico, November of 2022, and the only ones in attendance were their families. She wants to have a party in Charleston for the friends. Brett seems like a stand-up guy, and in Madison’s interview, she says she’s different these days, but I don’t believe that for a second. I’m not sure how she trapped Brett. Maybe she practices voodoo on the side.

Austin is bummed because his friends are doing grown-up things. In his interview, he says, Madison inviting him to her party is surreal and weird. We flash back to her pretending she wanted to make it work, and Craig says he thinks it’s a great chess move by Madison.

Taylor and Olivia go rollerblading, because they’re both single now, and hanging out together. I’ll bet rollerblading got popular again after the Barbie movie. Zumiez actually has a yellow pair that look like Ken’s. I’m not shilling for them, just saying. We flash back to the embarrassment that was Taylor and Shep’s breakup, and Taylor says she’s still catching her breath. In Taylor’s interview, she says she was in love with Shep, but he finally told her that he wouldn’t change. It’s hard for her to understand. Taylor, meet sociopath.

Little Craig! Omg, hate Shep, love his dog. At least it seems like Shep’s responsible in that department, since Little Craig is still alive. In his interview, he says he was a little broken after the breakup and went to Australia. Austen met him there and they lived like children. In other words, like they always do. After that, he went to South Africa. He says, Taylor was on his mind several times a day. Probably when he was banging other women. Little Craig rolls around, scratching his back, and I know this will definitely be the highlight of the show. He’s concerned about Little Craig not having Taylor in his life. She has a new dog, but he doesn’t know if she’s willing to be friends.

Olivia and Taylor discuss going to Madison’s party, and how weird it would be if Austen came. We flash back to Olivia saying she wanted to be in a relationship, but Austen couldn’t get it together. In her interview, Olivia says, he asked her to give him another chance, so she did, and after a week, he said his feelings had changed. She tells Taylor that dating Austen is like going in a funhouse. You’re all excited to go. You walk in and see your distorted image, then a clown runs by. When you get out, you’re discombobulated and want to vomit. That is one of the best analogies of a bad relationship I’ve ever heard. Most of the women aren’t on my hate list, but it’s getting harder and harder to stomach the boys. Because they’re 40 and still boys.

Venita has a boyfriend named Manny, and I think she should keep him away from the others, since he seems like a decent guy. She and Madison have kissed and made up, which I know will end up being a mistake. In her interview, Venita says, having a friend that long is like having a sister. Yeah, in this case, like one of the wicked stepsisters from Cinderella. Manny is a musician, and they were friends first. She thinks he’s perfect. Hard to tell, since look who she has to compare him to. The bar ain’t that high.

Austen, Shep, and Craig go shopping for Madison’s party. The manager has to explain to Austen who Errol Flynn is, and Austen finds parallels in their lives. Austen says he’ll be damned if he overthinks this, but he already is. Shep says he wants to be friends with Taylor, but Craig says, that’s not how it works. In Craig’s interview, he says, Austen and Shep always want to be friends with their exes and tried to get him to do the same with Naomie, but it was a fail. He thinks unresolved feelings always surface. In Austen’s interview, he says, it’s been beaten into his head that he’s the failure in his relationships. We flash back, and that would be correct. He tells the others that they’re going to tread carefully at the party, and they all high-five.

Everyone glams up for the party. Is it wrong of me to hope Madison falls in her new heels? The event is being held at her friend (she has friends?) Brittany’s house, which could easily be confused for a hotel; it’s that huge. They talk to event planner Erica, who points out the details in the décor. Madison says, Patricia isn’t feeling well, and Whitney’s taking care of her, so they won’t be attending. We see a clip of Patricia ringing her bedside bell and calling for her son. The guests arrive, and Austen skulks around the outskirts before giving Madison a side hug and lying that he’s glad to meet Brett. In Austen’s interview, he says he thought Brett was going to be a Greek god, but wonders what Brett has that he doesn’t. We don’t have the time for that, and Brett looks like a younger, more handsome Matthew McConaughey, so nothing to sneeze at. In Craig’s interview, he says, it’s like a beautiful trainwreck. No one gets hurt, but things catch fire and blow up. Interesting correlation.

Venita shows up with a bag from Tiffany’s, and in Madison’s interview, she says she’s happy they squashed their beef. Not that the two are linked, but… New guy Rodrigo is there, and everyone is wearing coats outside. This surprises me, since I got the impression that it’s never cold in Charleston because everyone is constantly bitching about the heat. Shep doesn’t know how to say hello to Taylor, and Brett suggests he just do it. Madison makes a toast about Brett being her dream come true, and suggests Austen make a toast. Being the original guy he is, he says, to the happy couple, and Craig says, very profound. Taylor gifts Madison with a dildo, since she and Brett are long distance a lot of the time. In Madison’s interview, she says she thought Taylor was a good little Christian girl, and WWJD? I dunno. I don’t think He’s the one making judgements here. Shep asks Olivia how to approach Taylor, and Olivia says, Taylor is in a better headspace, but don’t stroll down Memory Lane.

Another side hug, and Shep brings up the memories anyway. Austen talks to Olivia, and from across the room, Craig determines she’s not happy. Olivia asks what Austen needs from her in this moment, so she can enjoy the day, and he says, nothing. She can’t get away fast enough. Neither can Taylor from Shep. In Shep’s interview, he says, it was intense, and he feels responsible which makes him sad. I’m sure he’ll get over it. Craig tells Brett that it’s odd the least awkward conversation of the day was him, Austen, and Madison. Taylor tells Austen, Shep only wanted to make himself feel better. In her interview, Taylor talks about how Craig sat on information and then smiled about it. Wipe the smile off your face before I wipe it off for you. Shep swears to Craig that he wasn’t a cheater, but he’s weak. It wasn’t like he invited women over.

Venita takes pics for social media, and I enjoy the food/drink porn. Craig suggests Paige and Olivia hang because Paige doesn’t have friends in Charleston. Austen has no one to talk to and wants Craig to stop talking. He says he’s about to snap, and finally taps Craig on the arm, but craig ignores him and continues to talk. Taylor says, when the breakup happened, she and Craig went their separate ways. She thought they were friends, and he laughed about Shep’s cheating. She gets loud, and an audience starts to form. Madison is like, not here, not now, and Taylor says, after the breakup, Craig didn’t talk to her. He says, Shep is his friend, and she says, maybe they can have a laugh together. The only person who gives a sh*t is Austen. He’s the only one who had her back. Shep doesn’t give a sh*t about anyone but himself. She asks, what if Craig’s girlfriend cheated on him? and he tells her that she’s embarrassing herself.

Wow. It didn’t take long for everything to degenerate into a mess.

This season, vacations awful people shouldn’t be allowed to have; Madison feels nauseous; Craig wonders why he and Paige are dating if they’re not taking the next step; one of the new guys wants to date Olivia; OH MY GOD, Shep and Taylor hook up, then argue about his cheating again; another new guy tells Shep to grow up, and fights with Austen; and ever the observer, Patricia sips champagne and surveys her domain.

🎼 Giving Them the Moonman…

MTV VMA winners.

MTV VMAs 2023 Complete Winners List: Taylor Swift Takes Video Of The Year, Shakira, Nicki Minaj, Ice Spice & More Take Trophies

The best and worst moments.

https://www.avclub.com/the-best-and-worst-moments-of-the-2023-mtv-vmas-1850832747

The fashion, and the first time I’ve said no to Oscar de la Renta.

https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/fashion/vmas-2023-best-dressed-b2410260.html

https://www.eonline.com/photos/36490/2023-mtv-vmas-riskiest-red-carpet-fashion

https://www.eonline.com/photos/36488/mtv-vmas-2023-red-carpet-fashion

🦁 Circle Of Life Moment…

Taking pups out to the ballgame.

https://paradepets.com/pet-news/simba-cam-citi-field

https://www.overtimeheroics.net/2023/09/13/watch-simba-cam-at-citi-field-showing-all-the-dogs-in-the-ballpark/

🍂 Soon To Be Falling…

Join me tomorrow for soap, tea ripped from the headlines, words to weigh, and music relevant to the day. Until then, stay safe, stay knowing when it’s time to switch gears, and stay seeking personal growth and not just an impressive title.

Aug23

August 22, 2023 –It’s Time For the Big Finale, A Notion, Back When, New Charm, Party In the City, Jersey Share, The Hills Are Alive, Ultimate Standout, Tastes Just Like Chicken & Bad

Posted on August 23, 2023 by theresakp

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Anna thanks Dante for meeting her at the station so they could talk alone, without Valentin. She asks him to show her what he has and asks if Valentin was at ELQ the night of the fire, but Dante says, he wasn’t. He says he’ll show her everything, but wants her to promise she’ll get a bodyguard. She says she’s not going to do that. She’s not allowing him to take away the one thing she has left, her privacy.

Finn heads into a meeting, and flashes back to Gregory revealing he has ALS.

Alexis comes out of the hospital elevator when her phone rings. She tells Esme that she’s headed to a meeting. What’s wrong?

Drew waits in the visitor’s room and flashes back to Cyrus saying, Drew needs some kind of family to survive behind these walls. If Drew won’t join his flock, he strongly suggests Drew find another.

Nina thanks Martin for meeting her in some obscure place outside, and he asks why they’re here. She says she didn’t want to chance someone seeing them. He asks what he can do for her, and she asks if he’s still getting pressure from the FBI and SEC to reveal the source of the insider trading tip against Carly and Drew. He asks if she means pressure to tell them it was her.

On the phone at Kelly’s, Carly tells Katrina, it’s not her fault. It’s okay. She has an appointment, but she’ll leave when Katrina gets here. Be safe. Willow walks in, and Carly gives her a hug, saying, she’s happy to see her. She’s sorry it’s been so long. Willow says, Carly never has to apologize to her after everything she’s done for them, and Carly asks if Michael and the kids are with her. Willow says, Michael is working and Olivia agreed to watch the kids. She’s on her own. Carly asks how that feels, and Willow says, good. It’s something she wasn’t sure she’d ever be able to do again. Michael told her that Carly took over Kelly’s. Look what she’s done to this place. Carly says she just wanted to spruce it up a little, and Willow says, she sure did that. As I try to figure out just what she did, Carly says, it’s good to see Willow and asks what she can do for her. Willow says she’s there to see if there’s anything she can do to help Carly.

Dex listens outside Austin’s office door, as Austin tells Ava she has nothing to worry about. Ava says she is worried. She just needs to know exactly what’s going on. She’s got this con artist Betty who’s pretending to be a nanny spending time with her daughter. She’s already super worried about going to jail. Austin says, for killing Nikolas? He promises she’s not going to jail for killing Nikolas. Everything is under control. She asks, how exactly is everything under control?

Still on the phone, Alexis says, it’s working?… Good. All’s well. She’ll see Esme later. She heads for the meeting.

Meeting leader Dana asks, who would like to share first? and Finn raises his hand. He says he’s Hamilton and he’s an addict. He wants to thank Dana for her powerful message. The idea of navigating life’s challenges while dealing with addiction really resonates with him right now. He recently had some bad news about someone he loves very much. This person has been suffering and he had no idea. Had he known, he feels maybe he could have helped them, but he guesses he was so caught up in his own life. Alexis slips in, and Finn says, the fact he couldn’t help them because he didn’t know they needed help has left him feeling a little resentful. He has this good friend and she knew the truth, and she chose to keep it to herself.

Nina tells Martin, this is important to her. That’s why she was anxious to set up this meeting. He says he knows. He’s sorry. His brother Cyrus had a heart attack and he had to take care of some business for him, and it’s not like the situation is all that urgent. She says, maybe that’s him, but she needs to know if the SEC is going to be knocking on her door. He says he told her; it’s under control. Drew Cain took a plea deal. There will not be a trial, therefore, she won’t be pressured to testify. She can relax. She says, it’s really done? and he says, yes. There’s no reason Willow or Sonny should ever find out she turned in Drew and Carly.

Carly tells the kitchen, the ELQ order is almost ready. Let her know when the wings are done. Willow says she doesn’t want to take up Carly’s time. If she needs to work, that’s totally fine. Carly says, the lunch rush is over. She just has to wait for Katrina to get here, so she can go visit Drew. Willow says, she’s going to visit Drew? That’s great. Carly says, it will be great, now that he’s out of solitary confinement, and Willow asks why Drew was in solitary.

Dante says he feels that privacy should be the least of Anna’s concerns right now, and she says, don’t make her regret sharing information with him. He says he doesn’t want her to regret anything. He wants her to be safe. It’s his job to keep her safe. He cares about her. She says, if they wanted her dead, she’d be dead, and he asks what she thinks that shot was at the MetroCourt pool? Just a friendly message? One that put Curtis in a wheelchair? She has no idea whether they thought she was in that house or not. She says, if they were watching her, she’d be dead already. They would have gotten her on her run. He says, that’s another thing he doesn’t think she should be doing at that hour of the night on her own, and she says, for God’s sake, it had been a long day. She already told him that setting a fire is too clumsy. You can’t guarantee you will get your mark. But what you can do is destroy a person’s life. They can take everything away from her – her reputation, her memories, literally her home – because she believes someone is out to leave her with absolutely nothing.

Austin tells Ava, Betty collected some very valuable information on Sonny, and last night, she passed it on to Mason. She says, so his crazy cousin got what he wanted, and he says, yes. He’ll deliver the data and they’ll get on with their lives and find Nikolas’s body. She says she’ll believe it when she sees it, and he tells her, believe it. It’s going to happen. This whole nightmare will soon be over. His desk phone rings, and he says he knows. He’s sorry. Something important came up. He’s on his way. He tells Ava that he’s got to go. He promises he’ll let her know the minute he hears from Mason. Dex scoots around the corner, and they come out. She says if she doesn’t hear from him… but Austin says, she will, and they leave, as Dex – the least stealthy spy in the world – watches.

Austin says hi to Jake and Wyatt (who has had quite a growth spurt), and says he hasn’t seen them since last summer. What’s going on? Elizabeth says, they had a little laser flip incident, and Austin says, that’s not good. He suggests they go into an exam room and get a closer look. They leave and Dex follows. Honestly, worst spy ever.

Dr. Bronson introduces Gregory to TJ, and says, he’s doing a neurology rotation. TJ is going to be shadowing him with Gregory’s permission. Gregory says, absolutely. They’ve met before, and he’s heard great things about TJ from his son Finn. TJ says, it’s great to see him again, and Bronson says, TJ is going to stay for Gregory’s examination and consultation. Gregory says, of course (🍷). Having two good doctors in his corner… He knows he’ll be needing all the help he can get. Bronson tells TJ that it’s been six months since Gregory’s initial diagnosis. He went to the Mayo Clinic and they did extensive tests. Gregory says, unfortunately, there’s no doubt he has ALS, and he understands he’s in for the fight of his life. Bronson says, Gregory told him on the phone that he had another episode, and Gregory says he agreed to babysit for his granddaughter Violet and took a fall. Bronson says he’s sorry, and Gregory says, fortunately, she wasn’t in the room, but that look on her face when she found him… Bronson suggests they get started with the exam.

Finn says he knows in times of crisis there’s a possibility of using again, but he doesn’t think that’s going to help. He has someone who needs him. They need him now more than ever, and he just wants to focus on being there for them. It’s funny the things that come flooding back to you though. They didn’t want to burden him with their problem, but they were reaching out, wanting to spend more time together. He would have if he would have known. Alexis sits down, and Finn says he understands why his friend didn’t tell him what she knew. He wishes she would have. Then he would have had more time. Time is so important; time is everything. He just wants to spend every minute he can taking care of this person for as long as he can… He wants to thank them all for listening. They applaud.

In the bathroom, Cyrus looks in the mirror, and says, we know the importance of cleanliness, don’t we, God? Thank You for granting me another beautiful day. He dries his face.

Carly tells Willow that she doesn’t know the details of why Drew was in solitary confinement, but she’s hoping to find that out when she sees him. Willow says, please give him her love. She wouldn’t be here if he hadn’t risked his life in Greenland to get Liesl Obrecht back for the transplant. (Hey, where is Liesl these days?) Carly says, he’s such a good guy, and he’s helped so many people, and Willow says, it’s so unfair Drew is stuck in prison because someone was spiteful enough to turn them in. Is Carly still convinced Ned was the one who turned them in? Nina walks in and says hi to Willow and Carly. She says, the place looks really nice. The improvements Carly made look great. As I still ponder what those might be, Carly thanks her and sees Katrina. She says she has to go, and jets. Nina says she didn’t mean to drive Carly out, but Willow says, don’t worry. She didn’t.

Dante tells Anna that he’s sorry. He didn’t mean to come at her like that. He knows it’s not easy. She says, that’s all right. She’s lucky to have a friend like him. Everyone’s been very supportive. He says, but she lost her house. It’s awful and it’s got to hurt. She says, what hurts is Curtis in a wheelchair because of her, and he says, she has to stop blaming herself for that, but she says she doesn’t. It doesn’t compare really. She’s not hurt and she has resources. Insurance is taking care of the fire. He asks how Valentin is doing, and she says, he’s very supportive of her. Dante says, he showed up to be by her side the morning after the fire? and she nods, saying, and since. He says, Valentin lied to her about working for Pikeman, but she says, Valentin didn’t lie to her. Dante says, he was dishonest, withheld the truth. Why did he tell her then? Did it come out of nowhere? She says she was putting together the pieces and he came home, and he says, Valentin realized she knew and had no choice but to come clean. They don’t have to call it a lie if she doesn’t want to, but they both know Valentin lied to her about where he was the night of the fire. She says she wants to see this proof he has.

Anna looks at Dante’s laptop, and he says, she can see Valentin’s car never showed up that night at the ELQ garage. His car wasn’t even in the area that night. Dante checked the surrounding areas and there was no sign of it at all. Also, there was no water main break; he confirmed that as well. So Valentin was in fact lying to her. She says, all right. She’ll take that into consideration. He hopes she also takes into consideration that Valentin lied to her on that specific night. She says, just because he didn’t tell her where he was doesn’t make him the arsonist, and Dante tells her, he’s not saying Valentin was, but she can’t rule him out as a person of interest. She says, that is ridiculous, and he says, is it though? Valentin finds out everything Anna knows and has to tell her that he worked for Pikeman. Anna calls Dante and he comes to the house. Maybe Valentin sees that all happen. She says, any number of people could have seen that happen, and he says, but she told him, whoever did this wants to take everything away from her. Who has motive to leave her with nothing? She says, what? and he says, could Valentin want her totally dependent on him? She says, Valentin loves her. That, she’s certain of.

Wyatt says, told Jake it wasn’t broken, but Austin says, it’s a pretty bad sprain. Jake was right to bring him. Jake says, see? and Austin says, here’s what we’re going to do. Heat, ice, alternate, and try not to move it at all for a couple of days. Wyatt asks if there isn’t some way he could heal it faster. He’s supposed to play cello in their band concert day after tomorrow. Austin asks if that’s his bow hand, and Wyatt says, yes. Austin says, that’s not going to happen, and Jake says he’s sorry; this is all his fault. He shouldn’t have talked Wyatt into going to the skate park. He messed everything up for him. Wyatt says, Jake didn’t make him do the laser flip. He even tried to talk him out of doing it again. Jake says, it was really cool though. He’s only seen one other person do it. Wyatt says, at least he did it once, and Elizabeth says, and he’ll do it again. In the hallway, Dex steps away from the door, saying, this is it. He sends a text to Gabe: All set?

Dana says, that’s all the time they have for sharing today. Could Finn lead them in the Serenity Prayer? Finn says, yes, and everyone gets up, joining hands. Finn and Alexis exchange a look, and Finn says, God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. Everyone applauds, and Dana thanks Finn. She says, good luck. See you next week? He says, see you next week, and everyone leaves. He starts putting the chairs away, and Alexis asks if she can help him. He says he’s guessing she heard his share, and she says, loud and clear.

Gregory holds his palm against TJ’s, and Bronson says he wants Gregory to put on as much pressure as he can… That’s good. They’ll run more extensive diagnostic tests next week. For now, he wants to get Gregory fitted for leg braces and hand and wrist splints. He should wear them at home. Try to wear them when he sleeps to help his extremities remain stretched and in a good position. Gregory asks if he needs a cane, and Bronson says, does he? Gregory says he doesn’t think so, and Bronson says, then it’s good for now. Aside from the episodes Gregory described, he seems to be ambulatory without it. Gregory says, when the time comes, he’d prefer a cane to a wheelchair, and Bronson says he’s sure a wheelchair won’t be necessary right now, but considering the episodes he’s had, Gregory definitely shouldn’t drive. Does he need someone to drive him home? Gregory says, no. He took a car service here. After what happened with his granddaughter, he doesn’t want to put anyone else at risk. He won’t be driving anymore.

Cyrus slathers on shaving cream, and I wonder what he’s going to shave with. Oh okay. I guess Bic’s are all right to have in prison.

Nina asks if Willow is sure Carly lighting out of here didn’t have a little something to do with her, but Willow says, no. She was late for her visit with Drew in Pentenville. Nina asks how he’s doing, and Willow says she’s sure it’s miserable, but he’s such an amazing guy, always positive. She doesn’t know how he’s doing it. Nina says she’ll always be grateful to him for helping save Willow’s life, and Willow says, so will she. She’s grateful that, even in Pentenville, Drew knows he has Carly’s love and support. He’ll make it through this. Nina says, of course (🍷) he will, and Willow says, it’s an outrage that Drew was even sent to Pentenville in the first place.

Nina tells Drew that she’s sorry she’s late. Katrina’s car broke down, and she had to cover at Kelly’s until Katrina could get there. Drew says, she’s here. That’s all that matters. He loves her. She says she loves him too.

Alexis says she knows Finn’s very angry at her for not telling him, and she doesn’t blame him. He has no idea how much she wanted to tell him. She just couldn’t because Gregory was adamant about her not doing it. Finn says he understands the position Gregory put her in. He probably wouldn’t have told Finn if he hadn’t collapsed in front of Violet. Alexis says, oh, and he says, she’s okay. He can’t believe he was so caught up in his own life, he didn’t see the signs. She says, he was very good at covering them up, and Finn says, she was very good at honoring his wishes. Too good. She says she’s sorry, and he says he knows she is. He understands. He’s is a very private and persuasive man. To see him accept this… She says, his dad is very brave, and he says he knows. His dad was so excited about this trip he wanted to take. He wanted all of them to go on this trip, and Finn put him off. He could have made it work, but he didn’t. He got so caught up in everything Violet was going through, but he could have made it work. Alexis says, doesn’t Finn understand? What Gregory wanted was for them to lead a normal life, so he could watch Finn, Violet, and Chase being productive and happy. He doesn’t want them to zero in and focus on his illness. That is not how he wants to spend the rest of the time he has left. Finn says, the time he stole from him.

Gregory comes out of the elevator as Dana goes by in her wheelchair, telling a woman, just focus on today. That’s all any of them can do.

Elizabeth tells Wyatt to give his arm a rest for a few days. It was great seeing him. Wyatt says, her too, and she goes back to work. Jake says he thought Wyatt would be more mad that he couldn’t play in his concert, but Wyatt says he’s going to play. He just won’t tell anyone he fell. Gregory comes by and says he hasn’t seen Wyatt since their camping trip last summer. It looks like he had a little accident.

Anna says she didn’t realize Dante disliked Valentin quite so much, but Dante says he’s just doing his job. She says, it’s not about his job, and he says, she’s right. It’s about more than that. It’s about Charlotte. She’s staying with them right now. Lulu’s daughter. Valentin’s her dad. They love her, she loves him. He guesses what he’s saying is that Anna isn’t the only one who thinks Valentin’s changed. She says, he has changed, and Dante asks her to put herself in his shoes right now. With the facts and logic laid out as they are, is she telling him that even for a second, she wouldn’t entertain Valentin as a suspect? She says, he wouldn’t do that, but Dante says, he would. She can’t just ignore the man’s past. He’s manipulative. Anna says, wow, and Dante says, she knows it; he’s always been that way. He’s sorry. Maybe she got close to some truth. Maybe Valentin needs her totally and completely dependent on him for some reason, but can she look at him and tell him that she thinks there’s no way he could have done something like this? She says, whatever he’s lying about, it’s not that he burned down their home, and he says, her home. Why did he lie to her? She says she thinks it has something to do with Pikeman.

Cyrus dries his now clean-shaven face, and looks at least ten years younger. I’m thinking how cool his hair looks down, when he takes a shiv out of his sock and begins to cut it. Why, Cyrus? Why? Speaking of his age, since they’ve been calling him an old guy, I looked it up and he’s going to be 70. Like I always say, there’s 70 and there’s 70. For an old guy, he’s looking fit.

Mason goes into Austin’s office, and Austin asks what he’s doing here. Mason says, stay cool. It’s almost showtime. Austin asks why he’d care, and Mason says, because he has the starring role. Austin says he doesn’t; he’s already played his part. Mason says, no. It’s time for the big finale. Austin gets to deliver the flashdrive to the big boss. Austin says, no he doesn’t. He’s got appointments lined up all afternoon. Mason says, there are other doctors, when there’s a knock at the door and TJ walks in. He says, sorry. He didn’t realize he was interrupting. Austin says, he wasn’t, and Mason says he’s not a patient. He’s Austin’s cousin. They were just catching up. He introduces himself and shakes TJ’s hand. TJ says, it’s nice to meet him, and Austin says, here’s the chart, handing TJ a folder. He’s sorry he didn’t get it to TJ earlier. TJ says, not a problem, and takes the folder from Austin. He goes to the door, and stops. He asks if he and Mason have met somewhere before.

Carly says she’s just trying to understand why Drew chose to protect Cyrus Renault, and he says, some guys were coming at Cyrus. He stepped in, they fought, he got solitary. It’s as simple as that. She says, it’s not that simple, and he asks if they can drop this, but she says, no. Drew was in Port Charles when Cyrus got out of prison, and he was threatening everyone. She just doesn’t understand why he had to intervene. Why couldn’t he just walk away?

Nina says, it seems wrong that Drew was sent to Pentenville for what he did, and Willow says, he’s been so good to them, and supportive in every way. He was supposed to walk her down the aisle when she and Michael got married. She can talk to him about anything. He would listen and give her the best advice, and he never had an agenda. Nina says, and she always does. She’s sorry. Sometimes she just pushes too hard, doesn’t she? Willow says, yes, she does. But in all fairness, Drew isn’t her father and doesn’t feel like he has anything to make up for. So her guard isn’t up when she’s around him. Nina says, like it is with her, but she would like to change that, and Willow says, Nina’s marrying Sonny. Nina’s going to be a part of her life. They’re going to be seeing a lot of each other, whether they like it or not. Nina says, that’s one way to look at it, and Willow says she doesn’t want things to be so strained between them. Nina says, her neither, and Willow says, they have to find their way to some kind of relationship. Nina agrees, and Willow says, no matter what, those things take time. Ava comes in, and Willow says she’s got to get home to Wiley. Nina says, right, and Willow says, goodbye. She leaves, and Ava says, progress? Nina says she thinks maybe so.

Drew tells Carly, the guy that came for Cyrus was way younger than him. Cyrus isn’t exactly in his prime, and Drew just doesn’t have it in him to turn a blind eye to someone like that. He’s sorry, but he guesses it’s just a character flaw. She says, it is, but it’s one of the many things she loves about him. If he was the kind of guy who could watch an old man get beat up and not do anything, and just walk away, he wouldn’t be the man she loves. He says, it was kind of crazy. Cyrus was the one person he was trying to stay as far away from as possible, and now they’re bonded for life. She asks what he means, bonded for life? All he did was stop the fight. He says, after the fight, Cyrus had a heart attack and he gave Cyrus CPR. He saved Cyrus’s life.

All Cyrus’s hair lies next to the sink, and he tosses down the shiv. He pulls on his shirt, and runs his hands through his now much shorter hair, another ten years off him. He looks in the mirror and says, You work in mysterious ways – he looks up – very mysterious ways. And he’s grateful.

Mason says he doesn’t believe he and TJ have met. Then again, people are always saying he reminds them of someone. Sometimes even Vin Diesel – the ~~lack of~~ hair and the voice. He rubs his head and smiles. TJ says, no. He thinks they did meet before. He just can’t remember where. Mason says he really hasn’t spent that much time in Port Charles, but who knows? Austin looks grim, and TJ says, maybe he’ll figure it out. He thanks Austin for the file, and leaves. In the hallway, TJ ponders Mason, and in the office, Austin says, so Mason has met Dr. Ashford? Mason says, they may have crossed paths.

Dante says, Anna thinks Valentin is lying to her about Pikeman? She says, when Dante called her last night, when he told her that he had evidence Valentin wasn’t at ELQ the night of the fire, Valentin was in the shower. He’d just received some papers. It kind of looked like a contract, maybe a consultancy project or something. They had the Pikeman logo on them. Dante asks if she thinks he could be working for Pikeman again, but she says she doesn’t know. He says, Valentin told her that he wasn’t working for Pikeman anymore and he gets papers with the Pikeman logo on it. Could Pikeman have been behind the shooting at the MetroCourt pool? She says, they don’t know that, and he says, maybe they weren’t after her. Maybe they were after Sonny and they hired Valentin to set him up.

Alexis asks Finn to please stop being so hard on himself. His father has gotten past all of that. He says, how? He was estranged from his father for years. He looks at his daughter Violet now, and he gets to watch her grow up. And he can’t imagine, not for a moment, her not being in his life. She says, there is no value in dwelling on the past; there just isn’t. They just learned this, right here, right now. All we have is today. He says he doesn’t plan on wasting a minute of it, and she hugs him.

Alexis and Finn get out of the elevator, and both of their phones ding. Alexis says, who would have guessed they were so popular? and Finn says, back to the real world. She says she’s sorry she wasn’t able to tell him about his dad’s condition, but she’s glad he knows, and he says he’s not looking forward to helping him tell Chase. She says she hopes he tells Chase sooner than later, so Chase doesn’t resent Finn, like Finn might resent… He says he doesn’t resent her at all. He’s lucky to have her as a friend. If his dad had to tell someone about his condition other than him, he’s glad it was her. She thanks him, and he says he just wishes his dad weren’t so damn stubborn. She says, pot, kettle, and her phone rings. She tells him that she’s got to take this. It might be some kind of office crisis. It was nice while it lasted. She leaves, and he goes over to Elizabeth at the reception desk. Wyatt says, if he hadn’t tried that laser flip again, he wouldn’t have hurt his arm, and he’d be fine. Finn and Elizabeth watch Wyatt talking to Gregory, and Wyatt says he can’t let the band down. Gregory says, but the doctor told him to let his arm rest for a couple of days, so he won’t be able to practice at all, will he? Wyatt says, no, and Gregory says, if he does try to play, does he really think he’ll be able to do his best? Wyatt says, no, and Gregory says, sometimes you have to be honest with yourself about what your body can and can’t do. If he shows up and tries to play and can’t do his best, then he’d be letting everyone down. Wyatt says he never thought about it like that, and Gregory says, admitting he’s injured, even though he really wants to play, is probably the most honorable and generous thing to do in the long run. Wyatt says, Gregory is right, but he still hates it, and Gregory says he knows exactly how Wyatt feels. Wyatt thanks him, and he and Jake leave. Gregory looks at Finn and smiles.

Anna says, Valentin would never set up Sonny, and Dante says, never? She says, no… Unless he was being blackmailed. Dante says, maybe Pikeman has something on him from when he worked for them. She says, right. They could use it against him. Dante says, right, or… She says, what? and he says, she knows how much Valentin loves Charlotte. He’d do anything for his daughter. She says, what if Pikeman were threatening her? and he says, it’s a theory. It’s not going to be easy to prove. She says she just wants to prove this theory is wrong and that Valentin is clean. He says, they’d better both get digging, and she says, they need to find out what the truth is, no matter where it leads them, and she leaves.

Ava says she wanted to talk to Carly about Avery. Has Nina seen her? Nina says, she went to visit Drew. How is Ava? Ava says she’s better she thinks, and Nina says, nice to hear. One question. Are she and Sonny going to get rid of that new nanny of Avery’s? Because every time Nina sees her, she’s kind of like a… Ava says, she’s a bitch, right? Hopefully, she won’t be around too much longer. Nina says, good. One less thing to worry about with their wedding coming up and… Ava lowers her voice and says, and Drew in prison because Nina sent him there. Nina asks if she has to say that out loud. She was surprised they sent him to a place like Pentenville. Ava says, just keep hoping Sonny and Carly never find out, and Nina says, they won’t. Ava says, she seems pretty sure of herself, and Nina says she is. As long as her beautiful, intelligent friend stays quiet, the SEC is going to drop it. And no one will ever know she’s the one – she whispers – who turned in Carly and Drew.

Drew says he stayed with Cyrus until the prison doctor got there, and Carly says, so everybody in this prison knows he defended Cyrus and saved his life? He says, word travels pretty fast around here, and she says, the word is going to be, he’s Cyrus’s ally. Does that mean Cyrus’s enemies are going to target Drew? They see a guard walking through with Austin, and Carly says, what’s he doing here?

Mason paces around somewhere where there are a lot of pipes, and sees someone approach. He thanks them so much for taking the time. He really appreciates them meeting him.

The guard tells Austin, here’s his patient, and Cyrus stands up.

Tomorrow, Austin says he’s more than paid off his debt and he wants out; Gladys asks what Dr. Montague has done to her daughter-in-law; Dex has a message for someone; and Carly asks if that doesn’t put Drew in more danger.

💭 Thought: My mind goes to Cyrus being the big boss, but then some of the rest of it doesn’t make sense, like, why give away all his money? He’s also not related to Austin as far as I can figure. I suppose he could be running Pikeman, since it’s kind of like a mob organization, but again, there’s a disconnect.

🏥 His Struggle Was Real…

He’s kind of a whiner. I love how Maurice Benard is like, maybe it was you.

Sean Kanan Opens up About His Struggles Playing A.J. on GH

🍹 See Them In September…

Go back to the South on September 14^th, 9 pm.

https://www.eonline.com/news/1382295/southern-charm-everything-to-know-so-far-about-season-9

https://people.com/southern-charm-season-9-trailer-exclusive-7568910

🗽 Their State Of Mind…

This week’s RHONY. I’ve been watching this peripherally, and a high point in this episode was Jessel and husband Pavit checking out $62K preschools for their toddlers. She nearly wrote that their kids were socially inept on the application because she didn’t know what the word inept meant. Pavit wasn’t sure either, but points for the good sense to look it up. People like that shouldn’t have $62K to throw away. Once again proof that the wrong people have all the money.

RHONY Recap: Brynn Flirts With Abe at His Wedding Anniversary Party With Erin and Sai Leaves Event for Lack of Food, Plus Meredith Marks & Brooks Make Their Debut

👠 Good Time Had By All… Almost…

I can’t wait until Teresa finally goes off the deep end and causes a lawsuit for Bravo. I’ll also settle for her dumping that jerk Luis.

PHOTOS: RHONJ Cast Films First Group Event for Season 14 at Jenn Fessler’s Birthday, See Who’s Returning as Sources Share What Went Down

💎 Dirt On the Diamond…

Garcelle’s speaks her truth.

Garcelle Beauvais Talks Kyle Having Most to Answer to at RHOBH Reunion, If She’ll Attend Erika’s Show, and Where she Stands With Crystal, Plus If She’ll Reconcile With Rinna

🐣 Ultimate Break-Out Star…

While this aired on Peacock a while ago, I’m just catching it on Bravo now, even if half-heartedly. This guy was definitely a standout, as the ultimate concierge and Housewives peacemaker.

Fans Think RHUGT Breakout Star Was Disrespected by Cast Member

🐕 Sounds About Right…

It was a Golden Retriever. What did they expect? I had one named Einstein. It was a false prophecy. He would watch a frisbee as it bounced off his head, and when a blimp came by once, he was mesmerized by it and wagged his tail like maybe his people were coming for him. He was also literally afraid of his own shadow. Nevertheless, he was much loved.

https://people.com/mass-couple-italy-wedding-jeopardy-pet-dog-eats-passport-7693351

🌊 Going Against the Flow…

Join me tomorrow for soap and the rotten oranges from the OC. Until then, stay safe, stay leaving a tip for Pete’s sake – you are not helping the waitstaff to a better hourly wage; you’re a cheapskate – and stay not dwelling on the past. There’s no value in it; there just isn’t.

Aug5

August 4, 2023 – Nina Visits Willow, Debut, Coupling, Happy 46th, Get Out, Shannon Spills, VanderCrumbs, New Charm, Daryl Talk, Cheese Tax, Pet (!) Safety, One Past Six Quotes & Ain’t Leavin’

Posted on August 5, 2023 by theresakp

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Deanna says she has a very important message for Elizabeth, and hands her an envelope. She takes out a card that says: Dinner Tonight? Check one box. Yes (If Yes 7 PM), No (If No Burn This Note).

At Charlie’s, Michael asks Kristina what a guy has to do to get a drink around here, and she tells him to keep his shirt on. Is he sure he’s okay here in enemy camp? According to Josslyn, Charlie’s is a Sonny and Nina hangout.

Willow looks from a mess of yarn to her laptop, when there’s a knock at the door. Nina peeks through the window, and Willow opens the door. Nina apologizes for not calling. She was driving home, and there was Harbor View Road, so she thought Willow might need something, and she knows Michael is off… Willow tells her not to worry about it. Would she like to come in? Nina says, yes, very much, and goes inside.

Elizabeth checks the Yes box, puts the card back in the envelope, and tells Deanna to make sure Dr. Finn gets this. Elizabeth goes in the elevator as Finn comes out of the other one, and Deanna calls him over. She hands him the envelope.

Austin tells Ava that he knew Sonny didn’t trust him that night, and now his patient is dead in an alleyway. Sonny’s never going to let him near Avery again. What Sonny is going to do… She says, Sonny’s not going to do anything because she told him that Austin helped her, and he says, that he helped her do what? Did she tell Sonny that she killed Nikolas? Elizabeth comes in, and says she’s sorry. She didn’t realize he was with… a patient? He says, Ava is visiting, and she says she doesn’t want to interrupt. She almost leaves, but then says, actually, she’s been meaning to ask Ava. Has she heard anything from Nikolas?

Greece. Doc asks Laura how she’s doing, and she says, going through the house is like the first circle of hell. It was her prison camp where Stavros held her captive for those two years. She hated it then; she hates it now. He says him too, but whatever they find in there, he’s right beside her. She takes his hand and says she knows he is. That helps more than he knows. She never wanted to set foot inside this house again, but it’s their best shot at finding Nikolas, so let’s do it.

Anna walks into her house, and Valentin is sitting on the staircase. He says he thought she’d never get here. She throws her arms around him, and they kiss.

Finn slowly slides the card out, and Deanna says, good news? He says, the best.

Ava says she hasn’t heard from Nikolas, and honestly doesn’t expect to, and Elizabeth says she hopes Doc and Laura find him. She’s known him a long time, and he’s gone AWOL before, but this is weird with his baby just being born. What could be more important? Austin asks if there’s something he can help Elizabeth with, and she says she wanted to know if Detective Chase found him earlier. He was questioning people about the man who was murdered in the alley. She’s wondering if they have any leads. Austin says, Chase did find him. Was that her idea? She says, only because she saw someone lurking outside his office, and that man found the body; Dex Heller. Austin says, Chase mentioned that a member of the staff had seen him lurking around, and she says, maybe she’s reading too much into it, but Dex said he got lost and he was definitely snooping. Austin thanks her for stopping by, and opens the door. He tells her that he appreciates it, and she says, sorry to interrupt. She leaves, and Ava says, Dex Heller. That’s one of Sonny’s goons.

Michael orders food for Willow and Wiley, and Kristina says she gets it. Of course (🍷) he’s going to side with Carly; that’s his mom. But they’re divorced. Get over it. He asks how over it she would be if the situation was reversed, and Alexis thought Sonny was dead for months. Then she discovered it was a vendetta of Nina’s that kept Sonny from his family. And all the while, she watches her mother fall into chaos. She’d be a little shocked that Sonny chose Nina over his family. She says she was there too. They all mourned dad. It was a miracle to discover he was still alive. And yes, Nina was wrong, but dad loves her. So who is she to judge? The heart wants what the heart wants, right? Isn’t that what happened with him and Willow?

Willow tells Nina that Wiley is out with Leo bug hunting, and Amelia is down for her afternoon nap. So she’s been trying to amuse herself. Nina picks up the knitting and asks if this is what she’s been doing. Uh… Willow takes it and says, it’s horrible. She took a wrong turn with the pattern. She figured she’d try to learn something new as a way to keep busy, but to be honest, all she can think about it getting back to the real world. She was starting to think she’d never leave that plastic bubble room. Nina says, it must be hard, all the time she lost waiting, and Willow says, it’s hardest on the kids. She wants to be there for Michael too. She wants her life back. Nina says, she deserves it. She knows they’ve had a lot of false starts and miscommunication, but she’s hoping they can truly start over. There’s so much about Willow that she doesn’t know. She’d like to learn about Willow’s life; what she loves, who she is. Will Willow tell her?

The caretaker, Mr. Costas, tells Laura, both Interpol and the WSB made a thorough search in May. Mr. Cassadine certainly wasn’t here then. She says, he couldn’t have come since? and Costas says, naturally, he can’t be everywhere at once, but he doubts it. They can make their own search. He can see she’s very concerned for her son. She thanks him, and he says, of course (🍷), since even in Greece, they overuse that phrase. Doc asks Laura, where to first?

Anna says, Valentin didn’t tell her when he was getting back. How did it go over there? Did he find Nikolas? He says, first, who tried to kill her?

Willow tells Nina that what she wishes for more than anything else is a normal life. All those million little mundane things like going shopping or taking Wiley to school. That’s what she wants. Even taking a mommy and me class with Amelia. Nina says, that sounds like so much fun. She thinks Willow should definitely sign up for a class like that. She wishes she would have taken… What else? Willow says, really she just wants her independence back. The Quartermaines have been such a support. Brook, Olivia, even Tracy, and thank God, because she still has a long way to go, but she looks forward to her and Michael not needing so much help. Speaking of Michael, she’s surprised he’s not here right now. He must be stuck in a work thing. Nina says, if he’s not going to be back by dinner, she could order them something. She has some pull at the MetroCourt. It can be here in twenty minutes. Michael comes in, and Nina says she was just driving by and stopped in for an impromptu visit… She sees the bag in his hand and says, dinner, right? She doesn’t want it to get cold, so she’ll leave now. She says she hopes Willow signs up for that class, and walks to the door. Willow tells her, goodbye, and Nina leaves.

Valentin asks Anna to tell him about the shooting, but she says, there’s nothing to tell really. He read all about it. He says, sure, everything that was fit to print. Tell him the parts that weren’t. She says, the worst part is, Curtis was hit by a ricochet, and he asks if she’s sure he wasn’t the target. She says, no. She was talking to Sonny. Dante caught a glimpse of a rifle in an upper story window, and then two shots were aimed directly at them. He says, so the shots were aimed at them; which one? She says, here’s something that wasn’t released to the press. The rifle was traced back to the WSB.

Laura says, there’s nothing in this house she wants to see again, especially that room where Doc was shot. Here’s the bad news. The most likely place for them to look where Nikolas wouldn’t want to be found is the subbasement. The labs where Mikkos used to do all his horrible experiments; where Stavros kept Lulu. He says, maybe it would be better if he went down and searched the lower levels on his own, and for her to stay up here. She says, absolutely not. They’re in this together. She’s not going to stay up here and risk him not coming back. So whatever they find, they face together. He says, all right. Let’s go.

Finn waits at the Grill, when Elizabeth walks in, wearing yet another slinky black dress. Apparently, she has a closet full of them. He gets up and says, wow. She looks… wow. She thanks him and says he looks really nice himself. He says he’s glad she came, and they sit. She says she really didn’t feel like burning the note.

Austin asks if Ava thinks Sonny had Gordon whacked, and she laughs, saying, no one has said whacked in like, forty years. He says, rubbed out? Iced? It doesn’t matter. Does she think Sonny did it? She says, no, she doesn’t. It would be a stupid move, and Sonny’s not stupid. Gordon was supposedly his patient. He says, that’s the thing. Gordon and Mason, known associates, and Sonny knew something was up. She asks, what exactly happened outside the restaurant when Sonny found him with Gordon? and he says, not much. Gordon was there, Sonny comes in, Gordon knows who Sonny is, Sonny does this whole routine – he imitates a prize fighter – then Gordon backed off. For some reason, Sonny made Gordon apologize to him, which he thought was really weird, but in the end he thought Sonny just wanted Gordon to be scared. Ava says she’s sure that’s what it was. Did anything else happen? He says, not that he knows, but that must have been when Sonny decided Dex should follow him. Because the next day is when Nurse Webber saw Dex lurking outside his office. She asks if there was anything for Dex to see, and he says, maybe. He doesn’t know. Gordon and Mason were in here waiting for him. She says, really? This just keeps getting worse.

Doc tells Laura, just as Mr. Costas said, no sign of anyone and the WSB turned the place inside out. She says, it seems like it, doesn’t it, but this house has secrets it will never give up. He says, let’s check the main rooms. Nikolas knows this place like the back of his hand. He could be coming and going in a way the caretaker doesn’t realize. She says, that is possible, isn’t it? Let’s start on the third floor. That was his nursery when he was a baby. I laugh because, as opposed to his nursery as an adult?

Anna tells Valentin, so the weapon was a ghost gun. It had been confiscated and tagged and logged by the WSB facility in Berlin. He says, then liberated and smuggled into Port Charles. That doesn’t necessarily mean the WSB is currently involved though. It could have been sold on the dark web. She says that’s what she thinks too, but somebody had to have clearance in order to access that weapon at the WSB facility in the first place. He says, plenty of agents go rogue… Sorry. She says, Sonny doesn’t think it’s the entire Bureau that’s after her. It’s one solitary person on the inside that deliberately leaked her history as a double agent in order to eliminate her.

Michael says he hopes Nina didn’t do anything to upset Willow, but Willow says, no, not at all. Even though it was an ambush. (I’m going to start calling people who just show up ambushes now.) She just dropped by, and Willow was glad for the company. And Nina saved her from her project. Michael picks up the knitting and says, it’s great. What is that? She takes it and says, it’s the makings of a sock. Something soft for Amelia to wear. Unfortunately, she’s not the best crafts student. She’d much rather read her nursing books. He says, it’s not bad, but she says, it’s awful. She was actually glad Nina rescued her from it.

Kristina pours Nina a glass of wine (screw top, really?), and says she wanted to talk to Nina. She ran into Trish from the MetroCourt the other day, and she said Nina was talking about her center. Nina says she’s so sorry. She hopes she didn’t speak out of turn. She knows Kristina’s privacy means so much to her, and she’d never interfere in Kristina’s life. Kristina says, she misunderstood. Trish said Nina was talking up her plans to help the LGBTQIA+ youth, and she was very touched by that. It means a lot that Nina believes in her. Nina says, of course (🍷) she believes in Kristina, and she believes in this project. Did Kristina talk to Trish about her brother? Kristina says, yes, It was so sad. It made her so angry. Too many kids are discarded and on the fringe of society. Port Charles desperately needs a resource like the Corinthos-Davis House for marginalized and homeless youth. She thanks Nina for the PR and says, the drink is on her, but Nina says, Kristina doesn’t have to thank her. She believes 1000% in what Kristina is doing. When Sonny told her, she was so impressed. Please. She wants to help any way she can.

Finn says, they made it through the salads without a single distraction and disruption, and Elizabeth says, and no personal crisis to come crashing down? He looks up and says, the sky looks pretty clear. She says, that’s good, because she’s had her fill of meteors. Her mother emailed her yesterday. He says, the old digital dodge, and she says she’s glad her mother didn’t call. She didn’t want to talk to her anyway. He says, not a surprise after what she and Elizabeth’s father did to her, and she asks if he can ever imagine doing that to Violet. Using his medical skills to manipulate her to cover something up? She knows she has to get over it; it’s in the past. He says, is it? and she says she guesses it hits a raw nerve, but at least it’s all out in the open. The worst is all behind her. He says, it is. The worst part of that whole mess is, the person who suffered the most, deserved it the least.

Valentin pours some wine (hopefully, not screw top), and Anna says, whatever arrangements Victor made to expose her past, he had to have somebody on the inside at the WSB in order to facilitate that. He says, once she was compromised, someone with their own agenda could take advantage of the situation to get rid of her. Someone could be planning a power grab. She’s a potent adversary at the WSB. How many warring factions are there at the Bureau? She says, suppose she knows something that could pose a threat. Regardless, the person may have thought, making her indiscretions public would result in an arrest. When it didn’t and they failed, they moved to Plan B, which is to eliminate her permanently. He says, don’t forget Occam’s Razor; the right answer is usually the simplest one. His father Victor despised her, and his parting gift was to attack her where it hurt her the most.

Laura says, nothing, and Doc says, better to rule out a possibility. She says, but if Nikolas wanted to hide, this would be the perfect place to do it. the fact that he’s not here makes her think he hasn’t gone into hiding at all. He asks if she thinks something’s happened to him, and she says, something or someone. He says, Victor’s dead; it can’t be him. She says, who else would want to harm Nikolas?

Austin tells Ava that he doesn’t know what Sonny’s guy Dex the Lurker saw or didn’t see. Gordon and Mason weren’t here that long. Gordon was here just long enough to ask Mason for a bunch of money. Ava asks if Mason gave it to him, and Austin tells her, Mason said, you’re going to get exactly what you’re owed… oh. She says, yeah. That’s not threatening at all, is it? Does he think Mason is capable of killing someone? (Is it me or is that a really stupid question?) He says, Mason wouldn’t be the only one. She certainly is. She says, it was an accident. It was to stop him, and Austin knows it. Forget it. What did he tell Detective Chase? Did Chase ask him if Gordon was his patient? He says, yes, and she asks what he said. He tells her that he said yes, and she says, why? He doesn’t even have a file on the guy. Now he’s going to have to fake it. What else did he tell the cops? He says, not much. Just that Gordon found him and confronted him at the restaurant, and she says, at the restaurant where he was with her and Nina and Sonny Corinthos. He says, that restaurant, and she says, good grief (sounds like something Scotty would say). He’s really, really bad at this.

Willow says, Michael is later than usual, and he says he got caught up in the weeds at ELQ. They’re in the middle of a big negotiation Ned started before he turned into Eddie Maine, and guess who’s still nowhere to be found? Valentin. She asks if he ever gets tired, having to save the day for everyone, and he says he kind of likes showing off. And if Ned ever regains his personality and Valentin decides to show his face, it’ll choke them both knowing he got it done. And it sets the groundwork if he wants to step back in and return. She says she never knew he had such a devious side (really?). it’s both impressive and slightly terrifying. He says he has to apply the Art of War when it comes to those two. It’s good to keep them on their toes. She says, and he does it so well. It’s inspiring seeing him thrive at work. It makes her realize how much she misses it. She’s a little envious. She wants to go back to her career.

Kristina says she was thinking about what Nina said, and wants to tell her something. She’ll accept any and all help she can get for the Corinthos-Davis House, but Nina doesn’t have to win her over by talking up her charity or contributing to it. Her dad’s happiness is her priority and he loves Nina. So she’s on Nina’s side. Nina thanks her and says, it means more to her than Kristina will ever know. Kristina says she thinks she has an idea, and Nina says she wants to be perfectly clear. Her support for Kristina’s charity has everything to do with the work Kristina’s doing. She’s not trying to score any points or favors. She’s just so happy that Kristina is willing to give her a chance. Kristina says she’s the queen of screw-ups. You know who was always willing to give her a second chance and always believed in her? Her dad. So if he does that for Nina, who is she to say he was wrong?

Elizabeth asks Finn, what is this? Friends having dinner? He says, no, and she asks, what does that mean? He asks if she really wants to get into this right now; it might complicate things between them. She wonders if he thinks she knows how to deal with complications, and he says, she’s had some practice. Let’s do this. Let’s get into it. She says, first, name a complication.

Austin tells Ava, all he wants to do is be a good doctor. He took an oath to heal, not to deal. Get it? She says, he didn’t have to volunteer extra information, but he says, the cops would have figured it out eventually. Gordon confronted him in a very public place; that restaurant is very popular. And he did great. He told Detective Chase that Gordon was at the restaurant to confront him about his medical bill. Ava says, and he wanted to negotiate his deductible with a known crime boss sitting right there. Austin says, this has got nothing to do with her. She doesn’t need to worry. She says she does worry. Because if she’s linked to Mason, people could start poking around. And who knows what they might uncover? He says, they’re not going to uncover anything. Because he’s not going to say anything, she’s definitely not going to say anything, and they’re being very careful. The only other person who knows anything about this is Mason, and he’s not… uh… well, Mason… So, question from before. Sonny. Did she tell him that she killed Nikolas? She nods.

Valentin says his father hated Anna, and everything she stood for. It was everything he wasn’t. He’d lost all humanity, because she’d ruined his greatest weapon – him. Anna says, he would have never been Victor’s weapon, but he says he could have been if it weren’t for her. Victor shot her the night of the Nurses Ball to hurt him and destroy her. She says, he was deluded; Valentin never would have joined him. He says he thinks she gives him too much credit. He could have very easily gone the other way if it weren’t for her.

Nina tells Kristina that she actually spent some time with Willow today, and it was great. It even got a little personal and philosophical, and she almost felt like she wasn’t totally on the outside. Kristina says, that’s great. Good for her. Nina says she even suggested they have dinner, but then Michael came home, and while he was perfectly polite, he was a little frosty. Kristina says, while Michael isn’t her dad’s biological son, when it comes to holding a grudge, they’re exactly the same, so watch out. Doesn’t Nina hate when people say, give it time? Nina says, yes, and Kristina says, the worst.

Michael says he just doesn’t want Willow to do too much too soon, and she says, of course (🍷). She knows she’s still healing. He says, it’s going to take some time, and she says she is feeling a lot stronger. He asks if her immune system is up to everything she’d be facing at the hospital, and she says, definitely not now, and believe her, she’s going to wait until she gets the all-clear from the doctors. But she needs to be useful. One thing this experience has shown her is, she wants to help people in crisis. She never really got the chance to immerse herself in nursing. He says he doesn’t know, and she asks, what’s really going on? There’s more to his concerns about her going back to work than just her health ~~and that he’s a control freak~~. He says, she’s right. He has mixed feelings about it. He wants her to pursue her passions and go back to work, but doesn’t she think they could spend a little time focusing on their family first?

Elizabeth says, transfer to another hospital? Really? Finn says, it’s hard seeing her every day at work, and she says, why? He says he can’t take his eyes off her. Did he really say that out loud? When he invited her to dinner, he didn’t have an agenda, but here they are. It gives them a chance to be completely honest with each other. She says, if they’re being completely honest, she uses work to distract her from the same feelings. They’re both really busy people. He says he knows. Sometimes when he sees her, she’s just a blur; a beautiful blur rushing down the hospital halls. She says, maybe she should slow down, and he says he really likes getting to know her. It only makes him want to spend more time with her. She asks if there’s anything else on his list, and he says his list is long. Despite all of it, he’s still here. She says, so is she.

Austin tells Ava that Sonny is going to do stuff. He’s going to do stuff to protect her, the mother of his daughter, from potential exposure. What if Sonny already sent someone to silence him? She says, Sonny has no interest in silencing him, and he says, what if it wasn’t Gordon? What if it was a case of mistaken identity? Maybe it was him they were after in the alley. She says, don’t be ridiculous, and he says, still, it doesn’t make him feel any better. She says, they are where they are. All they can do is keep moving forward. Now they know who all the players are and how best to arm themselves. He says he’s not very good at this, is he? He’s terrible at subterfuge. She kisses him, tells him, don’t screw up, and leaves. He says, got it. Don’t screw up. Yes, ma’am.

Doc says, if Victor is responsible for Nikolas’s disappearance, then one of his associates still has him, and Laura says, the more she thinks about it, the less sense it makes. If Victor had gotten Nikolas, he would have been gloating about it when they were in Greenland, and there was nothing. Who else would want to abduct him? Does Doc think she just doesn’t want to admit Nikolas has done it again? That he’s turned his back on his family and abandoned his two sons? Doc says, if he can’t face the mess he’s made with Spencer and Esme, he may think running away is his only option. Shame is a powerful motivator. She says, then why just not let them know he’s okay? and he says, Nikolas may not be able to face disappointing her. She says, but she’s the one who’s always there to help him pick up the pieces. She tried to do that as a way to make up for his childhood. He knows she loves him. Doc says, of course (🍷) he does, and she says, then he’s got to know she’s going out of her mind with worry. She just can’t believe he did this – again. Doc says he just wishes there was some way to let Nikolas know it’s okay to show his face. Laura goes outside, and he follows her. She looks out to the property, and he says, Laura? She says she knows just where they’re headed next, and begins to walk.

Valentin says he loves Anna. He knows this isn’t exactly breaking news, but he’s loved her always. Never doubt she’s the reason he’s alive at all. She says she thinks he has the necessary survival skills. Lord knows, with their training. It didn’t leave much of an option for love though, did it? She thinks this is taking her a long time to admit, even to herself, let alone say it out loud to him. She loves him. She’s really glad he’s home. Did he have a good trip? Did he find Nikolas or anything? He says, no. He guesses that makes him the head of the family. She says, God help us, and he kisses her.

Kristina tells Nina, don’t focus on Michael. Just focus on her relationship with Willow. They had a huge breakthrough today and that’s amazing, so build on that. If Michael sees that Willow is happy and comfortable around Nina, he’s going to soften. Trust her. Nina says she’s going to prove to Michael that she can be a positive part of Willow’s life, and Kristina says, then she hopes he’ll join her in supporting Nina’s marriage to her dad. Then maybe she won’t be the only one at their wedding. Nina laughs, but that was kind of mean. Like they have no friends.

Michael says he’s not limiting Willow’s choices or doubting her capabilities. Maybe he’s being selfish and greedy for wanting to spend more time together as a family, but he almost lost her. He wants to savor every moment with her, Amelia, and Wiley. She says, so does she. Every moment is one more they might not have had, but she can’t turn her back on nursing. She realized there was a deep, profound difference she could make in patients’ lives, and he says, she has too much love to give. She says, but their family will always come first. Him, and Amelia, and Wiley. They’ve fought too hard for her to let that go. She hugs him.

Elizabeth thanks Finn for dinner, and he thanks her for coming. They get up, and she says she really looks forward to all of their complications. He says, let’s do it again soon, and she takes his hand, saying, okay. See him tomorrow? He says he can’t wait, and takes her by the hand to the elevator. She gets in, and we see their faces side by side, giving good soap look.

Tomorrow, Cody asks someone to get him into Ferncliff to see Sasha; Sasha says she feels like she’s missing something important; Spencer says he’ll keep his nose clean if Valentin will; and Sonny tells Brick that they have to get that body back.

✒️ Maybe He’s Triplets…

This actually sounds like a pretty good story.

Jon Lindstrom Reveals the Cover of His Debut Novel!

👩‍❤️‍👨 All In the Family…

It’s not their first time at the rodeo together either.

Lauren Swickard Cast on GENERAL HOSPITAL as Nurse Janice!

🎉 Give That Man a Cigar…

Scotty celebrates another anniversary.

GH’s Kin Shriner Celebrates His 46th Anniversary

👈🏽 Don’t Let the Door Hit You…

Hard to believe some jerk is still doing this in 2023.

https://ew.com/tv/days-of-our-lives-lisa-rinna-calls-for-removal-producer-albert-alarr/

🍊 She Has Regrets…

Shannon addresses your questions.

RHOC’s Shannon Beador Addresses Fight With Ex John’s Daughter, Her Regrets, and Status With David, Plus Slams “Fake” Heather, and Talks Drama With Gina and Tamra’s “Alcoholic” Diss

🍸 And They’re Off…

Why we need this show, I’m not sure. Riding on coattails anyone?

PHOTOS: Meet the Cast of the Vanderpump Rules Spinoff as Filming Begins With Jax, Brittany, and Kristen, Plus Who Has Filmed From Main Show

To remind us he was once King Awful.

Jax Taylor Admits He Was ‘Just Awful’ to Laura-Leigh Moser

And to remind us who is now. Once again, the saddest thing about it was the perfect timing.

Vanderpump Rules WAS Almost Canceled Before Scandoval

🍹 One Charm Coming Up…

I don’t know who that new guy is who told Shep to grow up, but I’m on his team.

Southern Charm Season 9 Trailer Includes Headbutts and Headaches

⚰️ Daryl Of the Dead…

The latest tease.

https://undeadwalking.com/2023/08/04/walking-dead-daryl-dixon-codron/

If you missed the basics.

https://undeadwalking.com/2023/07/21/walking-dead-daryl-dixon-trailer-mission-revive-humanity/

🧀 The Great Leveler’s Great Leveler…

Cheese, the universal love language of pets.

https://www.dailypaws.com/pet-news-entertainment/feel-good-stories/cheese-tax-dog-song-on-tiktok

🌞 This Summer…

Ending with some practical pet advice.

https://people.com/how-to-keep-pets-safe-in-summer-vet-safety-tips-7569088

🥠 Quotes of the Week

We suffer more often in imagination than in reality. – Seneca

Individually, we are one drop. Together, we are an ocean. – Ryunosuke Satoro

Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything. – George Bernard Shaw

Curiosity is the most powerful thing you own. Imagination is a force that can actually manifest a reality. – James Cameron

We are all ordinary. We are all boring. We are all spectacular. We are all shy. We are all bold. We are all heroes. We are all helpless. It just depends on the day. – Brad Meltzer

You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending. – C.S. Lewis

I burned my curtains off for a bee. – Tim Malcolm, Pillow Talk: 90 Day Fiancé Before the 90 Days, in reference to sharing space with a spider

🍻 Rolling Out the Barrel…

Come see me on Monday really Tuesday for soap and teatime. Until then, stay safe, stay leading by example, and stay remembering every moment is one more you might not have bad.

Jul29

July 28, 2023 – Sonny Turns the Tables, Reject Dress, The Loud Woman, VanderStatus, Roadblock, Not Barbie, About Those Dead, Kitty Cooper, Funny Pets (!), Quotes of Eight & Rain

Posted on July 29, 2023 by theresakp

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Chechnya, Russia. Valentin and Laura walk into a mansion that’s obviously unoccupied. He says, there’s no car in the driveway and no lights on, and she says, it’s deserted. He says, none of the Cassadines have been here in years, when a man runs down the stairs, holding a gun and yelling in Russian.

Dante brings Charlotte to see Lulu in a hospital that looks suspiciously like GH. Charlotte says she wants to see her mom, but she’s worried about her grandmother too. Is it safe for her to be in Russia? Papa knows his way around, but she’s nervous about grandma. Dante says, she’s going to be okay. Charlotte’s dad is with her and Doc is with her; she’s in good hands. Is she ready? Charlotte nods, and they go inside Lulu’s room.

Spencer thinks about calling Trina, and Esme asks if he’s heard from his grandmother. He says, nothing, and Esme says she hasn’t heard anything either. Not that she’s family, but she’s worried. Does he think it’s a bad sign he hasn’t heard from her? He says he doesn’t know, and she asks if he thinks she’s in trouble. He says he doesn’t know, but even if she was, there isn’t a damn thing he can do about it. Just leave it alone.

Kristina lets herself in to Molly’s apartment and says, it’s her favorite sister. Molly says she’s not surprised to see Kristina since she texted, but she’s surprised because that wasn’t very Kristina-like. Kristina says she’s working on being much more sisterlike. How is she doing? Molly says, A for effort. How does Kristina think she’s doing? Kristina says, there’s a definite learning curve, but whenever she’s in doubt, she asks herself, what would her younger, wiser, more beautiful sister do?

In his office, Michael discusses the budget with someone on the phone, when there’s a knock at the door. Carly comes in, and Michael says he’s got to go. Send him the accurate numbers by the end of the day. She says she’s sorry she just barged in. His assistant said she could come. She’s so happy to see him back in the office. He says, it’s not exactly by choice, and she says, he hasn’t left Willow’s side for months, but this must mean she’s continuing to get better. He says he’s very grateful her strength is coming back. When she tells him to stop hovering, he guesses it’s a good thing, but it means he has to give her some space. So he decided to come back to the office. Now that Drew is… She says, in prison. He can say it. She didn’t come here to talk about Drew, but she does have something she needs to talk to him about. He says, what about? and she says, his father.

Sonny does some work in his office, when his phone rings. It’s Nina, and he asks where she is. She says she’s at the MetroCourt. She’s trying to get some work done, but can’t keep her mind off the situation with Willow. He says he thought she told him things were better, but she says, Willow’s not the problem. It’s Michael. Ava walks into Sonny’s office, and says, they need to talk. Sonny tells Nina that he has to go. He has to take care of something. He asks Ava, what’s the problem? and she says, the problem is him. He told her that he was going to take care of that woman. This is how he takes care of it? He sends Avery off with that psychopath? She shows him a picture of Betty and Avery on her phone.

Avery swims in the pool, and Betty tells her, it’s time to go, but she says, just one more. Please. She swims off and Josslyn walks in. Avery calls to her, and Josslyn asks what she’s doing. Avery says she had swim class today and learned this. She floats on her back, and Josslyn says, amazing. Avery is better than she is. She could go to the Olympics with that. Dex stands near the entrance, and Trina sees him. She tells him, if he’s looking for Joss, she’s right over there. He says he’s not. He’s actually working. Avery tells Josslyn that she has a new nanny. Her name is Betty. Betty and Josslyn smile at each other.

Ava says she stopped by Sonny’s apartment to see Avery, and the guard said she’s out with that Mary Poppins from hell. Sonny says, relax. Betty took Avery to the MetroCourt pool for her swimming lessons. Ava says, don’t tell her to relax. The woman is violent. Betty smacked her face. What if she hurts Avery? What if she kidnaps Avery? What was he thinking? He says, Betty is their best bet to lead them to whoever blackmailed Ava, but she says she already told him. It’s that creep Mason. He says, Mason is taking orders from somebody else. They have to find out who it is and Betty’s going to steer them right to his boss.

Josslyn says she didn’t realize Avery had a new nanny. What happened to Pilar? Betty says she has no idea. She interviewed with Ava Jerome, Avery’s mother. Josslyn says she knows Ava, and Betty says, Mr. Corinthos joined them and asked her to start today. Josslyn says, she must have really impressed him, and Betty says, who is Josslyn again? Josslyn tells her that she’s Josslyn Jax, Avery’s older sister, but Betty says she’s confused. Miss Jerome told her that Avery has a half-sister, but she’s younger than Avery. Either Josslyn is big for her age, or she’s not really Avery’s sister.

Michael asks if something is up with Sonny, and Carly says she was hoping he could tell her. Has he heard anything from Dex? Michael says, so far, he’s sticking to the agreement. He’s keeping tabs on Sonny and letting Michael know if there are any big deals in the works. Carly says, so what’s the latest? and Michael says, last night, Dex found a dead body. Carly asks if he knows who it was, and Michael says, apparently, it’s a guy with a connection to Dr. Gatlin-Holt. Carly asks if Austin isn’t seeing Ava. She saw them together at the Nurses Ball. He says he doesn’t know, but Dex called Sonny and told him that he found a dead body near a dumpster, and surprisingly, Sonny told him to call the police. She says, that doesn’t make any sense. Why would Sonny have Dex call the police? I’m not sure why everyone is so shocked. Sonny didn’t know Gordon and has nothing to do with him, so why wouldn’t he be a good citizen?

Kristina says she’s not here for Molly’s sage advice; she’s here to serve her sister. What can she get Kristina? She sees Kristina has water and snacks. She knows – a smoothie. Molly says, Sam beat her to it, and Kristina says, Sam the good sister. She knows one thing she doesn’t think Sam got for Kristina, and takes a stuffed horse out of her bag. Kristina says, Valiant, and takes the horse. This is exactly what she needed.

Esme asks if her concern for Spencer’s grandmother is bothering him. For all they know, she could be locked up in some Russian prison, but clearly he’s not worried, so she’ll keep it to herself from now on. He says he’s sorry he snapped at her. He’s very worried and concerned about his grandmother, but right now, he’s far more worried about Trina. Her father was shot and he could also be paralyzed, and he has no idea how to help her. Esme says, getting upset with her isn’t going to fix anything, but why doesn’t he call Trina and tell her that he’s thinking about her?

The man asks in Russian what Valentin and Laura are doing here, and Valentin answers in Russian, they mean no harm. They’re looking for someone. He tells them, get out, and in Russian, Laura says, we come in peace. The man says he speaks English. They’re trespassing. Now get out. Laura says, they don’t want to hurt anyone. All they want is information. They’re looking for someone. He asks who they’re looking for, and Valentin says, Nikolas Cassadine. The man says, Cassadines are evil, and spits. They’re all gone. What is that American expression? Good riddance. They’re very dangerous people. Stay away from that family. Laura says, he doesn’t understand. Nikolas Cassadine is her son, and they’ve got to find him. The man asks why they’re looking in Chechnya. Has he been kidnapped? Or is he running from authorities? Valentin says, they don’t know. That’s what they’re trying to find out. Laura says, he disappeared from his home in the United States five months ago and they have no idea what happened to him. The man says, if he’s a Cassadine, nothing good.

Charlotte tells Lulu (who we never really see) about winning a ribbon in her equestrian show. Dante says, she was amazing. Rocco’s doing amazing as well. He doesn’t know how, but Rocco’s got straight As. He’s always talking about every girl in his class; he’s got a crush every week. Charlotte says, Lulu is missing so much. She’s starting high school in the fall. She spent so many years at boarding school, but she’s happier staying in Port Charles and being close to her family. But Lulu isn’t there. She has to wake up and come back to them. Dante says he’ll give Charlotte time with her mom, and gets up. He says, they’ll see Lulu soon. They miss her. He leaves, and Charlotte says, Dante’s right. They really, really miss her, but she misses Lulu more.

Ava says, Sonny can follow any lead he wants, just please don’t involve their daughter. He says, does she really think he’d put his daughter at risk? Ava says, that’s what he’s doing right now, but he says, she’s not at risk. He’s going to take care of this like he said he was. She’s going to have to trust him.

Avery gets out of the pool, and Josslyn puts a towel around her. She asks Avery to do her a favor and tell her new nanny who she is, and Avery says, Josslyn’s her big sister. Josslyn says, the branches of their family are very complicated. She’d be happy to draw Betty a diagram. Betty says, that won’t be necessary, but thanks for the offer. They’re both smiling, but I don’t think they’re smiling in their heads. Josslyn says, Betty’s probably right. She’ll be gone before she can memorize any names. Betty tells Avery, time to go, and Josslyn says, nice meeting you. Betty says nothing, and leaves with Avery. Dex watches, then follows. Trina asks Josslyn what that was all about, and Josslyn says she has no idea, but she needs to find out. She has to call Sonny. What the hell is he thinking letting that girl look after Avery? Trina says, don’t call Sonny, and Josslyn asks, why? Trina says she has the feeling something else is going on. When she got here, Josslyn’s boyfriend was over there, but it didn’t look like he was soaking up rays. He was keeping a low profile watching Avery and the nanny. He never took his eyes off them. That’s got to mean something, right? Josslyn says, but what?

Michael tells Carly that he’s not sure how all this fits together, but Dex will get more information soon. He really needs to thank her. Carly says, for what? and he says, she’s the one who encouraged this arrangement with Dex. It’s nice to know they have somebody they can trust in Sonny’s organization. It works out for both of them, since Sonny thinks he has a trustworthy lieutenant, and they don’t get blindsided by his illegal dealings. She says she thinks this is about more than getting information from Dex. She thinks a part of him wants Dex to protect his father. He says he’s not saying he can forgive or even wants to forgive Sonny, but a part of him still cares about Sonny. Carly says she’ll take that as a plan and hugs him.

Kristina kisses the stuffed horse, and says she’s missed him. Where has he been hiding all these years? She thought she lost him. Kristina says, he was in some mislabeled box. She was in mom’s attic looking for pieces to sell at the community fundraiser, and she saw this box labeled law books. She opened it up, and there was Valiant, right there on top of the New York Penal Code. Molly says she’s so grateful Kristina found him. She knows it must sound silly, but this little guy meant so much to her. Kristina says, Molly was the only four-year-old on this planet who would name their stuffed animal Valiant and actually knew what it was. Kristina had stuffed animals named like the rest of them; Fluffy, Stuffy, Coco. Molly says, one time when she was six or seven, she had friends over and showed them Valiant, and they all made fun of his name. Kristina came storming in the room, saying they were all stupid, and if they didn’t stop making fun of Molly, she was going to pour maple syrup in their hair. Kristina says she remembers that. Then they ran out the door so fast. She thinks it’s the last time they came over to their house. She thinks she made life a lot harder for Kristina than it needed to be. Sorry. Kristina says she’s not. She was proud of her big sister then, and she still is.

Laura says, this is about her son, and asks the man if he has any children. He says, da. Two daughters. She says, then he must understand what she’s going through now. Is there anything he can tell her? He says he’s sorry he was harsh with her. He would help her if he could, but he has no idea where this Nikolas Cassadine is. Valentin asks if this is his house, and the man says he bought it for his family. But it was all done through lawyers. He never saw the previous owner. Valentin says, lucky him.

Spencer says he wants to be there for Trina, but it’s complicated, and Esme asks, why? He says, Trina’s mother isn’t a fan of any Cassadine, particularly him, and he does understand why she doesn’t like him. His father has done a lot of damage, but even he pales in comparison to his Uncle Victor. To make matters worse, she’s holding the other side of his family accountable for her husband’s shooting. Esme says, what? and he says he told her it was complicated. Curtis Ashford was shot, and Dr. Robinson thinks the bullet was meant for his Uncle Sonny. She says, so Trina’s mom pretty much hates everyone related to him? and he says, yeah, with the exception of his grandmother and Ace, and one of them is a baby and the other isn’t even in this country.

Josslyn tells Trina that she’s happy Dex is looking out for Avery, but she gets bad vibes from that girl. Trina is absorbed with her phone, and Josslyn asks if she’s there. Trina says she’s sorry. She was hoping there would be a message from Spencer. Josslyn asks why she doesn’t text him, and Trina says she would, but it wouldn’t be right. Josslyn asks what that means, and Trina says her mom is dealing with so much since Curtis was shot, and she never liked Spencer, so she’s trying to keep her distance from him. She doesn’t want to add more stress. Josslyn says, but she misses him, and Trina says, yeah. Josslyn says she understands Trina’s mom needs support, but Trina needs support too. She bets the only reason Spencer isn’t reaching out is because he doesn’t want to put pressure on Trina. But if Trina needs him, let him know. She won’t regret it.

Molly says she appreciates Kristina looking out for her, and Kristina says, it’s usually the other way around. She was always jumping from one thing to the next, getting herself in these difficult situations, and leaving an absolute mess in her wake. But there she was, her Molly, cleaning up her messes. Molly says she just never wanted Kristina to get in trouble, and Kristina asks if Molly remembers doing her homework for her. Molly was like three grades below her and would do her homework. She covered for Kristina when she was in trouble with mom, and comforted her when she cried or was upset. Molly always took care of her. Molly says, not always. She didn’t take care of Kristina when her abusive boyfriend Kiefer Bauer was beating her up.

Betty comes into Pozzulo’s with Avery, who runs to Ava, hugging her. Avery tells Ava that she can float on her back, and Ava says she’s so proud of Avery. Betty says, Avery had a terrific lesson. She could barely get Avery out of the water when it was time to go. Sonny says he wants to hear all about it, but right now he wants Avery to stay with Frank. He and Betty need to have a conversation. Maybe Frank can give Avery some biscotti. Frank says, sounds good, and Sonny, Ava, and Betty go into Sonny’s office. Sonny says he knows it’s Betty’s first day and Avery seems to like her a lot. That’s important to him. Betty says, he has a wonderful daughter, and he says, anybody who can make his daughter that happy, is okay by him. Betty asks if he’d like her to take Avery to his place, but he says, no. She can pick Avery up there tomorrow morning. They’re not going to need her for the rest of the day. He gives her some cash, she thanks him, and she leaves. Avery and Frank are playing cards while they have biscotti, and Betty tells Avery, see you tomorrow. Ava comes out, and Sonny says he has a phone call to make, closing his office door.

The man says, Laura seems like a nice woman, but it’s obvious her son has left her. It must be painful. She says she doesn’t believe her son would just leave her. He has kids and she doesn’t believe he’d abandon them. Maybe he was forced to leave. The man says he’s sorry. He wishes he could help her, but there’s nothing he can do. Please show themselves out. He leaves, and Valentin says, where do they go from here?

Charlotte tells Lulu that the other girls talk about doing things with their mothers; shopping, getting manicures, going away for the weekend. She just smiles and pretends it’s okay. Sam and Grandmother take her out, but it’s just not the same. She never actually told her friends what really happened to Lulu. If she doesn’t tell them where Lulu is, she can believe it isn’t real; that she’s just away for a little while, and she’ll be back soon. So she has to wake up. Charlotte puts her head down on the bed and cries.

Esme says, it’s such a beautiful day. As soon as Ace wakes up, why don’t she and Spencer take him to the park? He says he has a better idea. Why don’t they take him to the MetroCourt pool, and they can dip his feet in the water. He’ll love it. She says, yes, absolutely. She just got him a bathing suit and he has a matching hat. He’ll look adorable. She goes into the other room, and Spencer opens the front door. Trina is there, and he says he’s surprised to see her… in the best way. She says she’s sorry for just showing up without calling, but he says, don’t apologize. Come in. She’s always welcome here. She says she’s glad to hear him say that. These last few days have just been really hard, and she’s missed him. He hugs her, and Esme watches.

Carly goes into Sonny’s office, and Ava asks, what brings her here? Carly says she came to pick up Avery. Avery is coming with her for a sleepover with Donna and Josslyn. Sonny says he appreciates her doing this on short notice, and Ava says, how short? When did Sonny set this up? Carly says, he called her just a few minutes ago. What’s going on here?

Kristina asks why Molly would bring up Kiefer. She hasn’t thought about him in years. Molly says, really? and Kristina says, no. That’s not true. She just doesn’t like to admit how often she does think about that time in her life, but she does. Especially now, working with troubled teens. So many of them are in abusive relationships, and it just brings her back to Kiefer. She tries to help them, but she can’t even help herself. Molly says she should have helped Kristina. She knew something was wrong and she should have said something. She could hear Kristina crying in her room every night, and she knew something was wrong. Every time she asked Kristina, Kristina got upset and said to leave her alone. So she did. She’s so sorry. She should have pushed harder to get Kristina to open up. Kristina takes Molly’s hand, and says, she has nothing to be sorry for. It’s on her. She couldn’t find a way to get herself out of that hole. Sometimes she wonders if that’s when everything started. Molly says, when what started? and Kristina says, her life just derailed when she was with Kiefer. Ever since then, she tries, but she’s never been able to get it back on track.

Michael opens his office door to Nina, who thanks him for seeing her. She knows she’s not his favorite person right now. He asks what he can do for her, and she asks if they can make peace for Willow’s sake.

Sonny says he just thought Avery would like to spend some time with her sisters, and Carly says, whatever. The girls will be thrilled to have Avery. They walk out, and Carly tells Avery, let’s get this sleepover started. Avery heads for the door, and Carly looks at Sonny and Ava. She says, whatever, and follows.

Nina says she and Willow had a wonderful visit the other day, but Michael says he doesn’t quite remember it that way. She says, if he remembers correctly, she was at the hospital checking on Sasha, he stepped outside, and she and Willow made significant progress. He asks, what exactly does that mean? and she says, it means she and Willow communicate better when he’s not in the room. He says he’s pretty busy, so can she get to the point? and she says her point is, at best, he just tolerates her and wishes she wasn’t in Willow’s life, but she’s Willow’s mother. Michael says she’s mentioned that once or twice, and she says she now knows Willow is open to the idea of them having a relationship. And she’s wondering, is he open to that too?

Molly says, Kristina has gotten her life back on track. Look what she’s doing with the youth center. She’s going to make a difference in these kids’ lives. She thought that made Kristina happy. Kristina says, it does, but she doesn’t know if she’s enough for them. These kids are so desperate for help, and she doesn’t know if she has the skills or the tools to adequately help them. Soon her center is going to be up and running, and her name is going to be on that building, but it’s not going to be hers. She thinks she’s been fooling herself this whole time, thinking she can make a difference and help these kids, but she doesn’t know if she can. Molly tells her, don’t say that. She knows Kristina can. Kristina says, stop. Molly is here with an injured leg and she’s doing it again; she’s comforting Kristina. Molly says, because that’s what she does when she loves someone. And before Kristina talks herself out of being useful to these kids, take the time to educate herself. No one knows how to take on a project like that without experience. So take some classes. Study management. Talk to people who’ve done this before. She can do this. Kristina asks why she’s so sure, and Molly says, because she believes in Kristina. She’s just got to believe in herself.

Esme says, Spencer told her about Trina’s dad. She’s so sorry. It must be so scary thinking he could be paralyzed. Trina says, it’s been awful, and Esme says she’s going to check on Ace. He’s about to get up from his nap and she’s going to take him to the park. She leaves, and Spencer says he’s so sorry for what Trina’s going through. How is she holding up? She says she’s so worried for Curtis. She’s trying to stay strong for her mom, but she doesn’t know what to do to make her feel better. He says he does. Stay away from him.

Laura asks if Valentin think the owner would mind if they had a look around the house, and he says, she could ask him, but he doesn’t think they’re going to find any clues around here. She says she guesses he’s probably right, but she did get the feeling he was telling them the truth. He says, they need to regroup; think of somewhere else Nikolas could be hiding. She says, what if he’s not hiding? What if he’s being held against his will? Victor could have turned on him just like he turned on Valentin and Spencer. Valentin says, Victor’s dead. Nikolas could be anywhere. Doc is probably back at the hotel by now. Let’s get the hell out of here.

Dante says it’s tough for Charlotte to see her mom like that, but the doctors say maybe she can hear them, so it’s important they’re here as much as they can be. Charlotte says she knows. She just wants her mom to come home – their home. She went by there the other day and looked in the window. It made her sad. Everything was covered in sheets and so quiet. Not like it used to be. He says, they had some really good memories there, didn’t they? and she says she just doesn’t like seeing it so empty. She bets mom would want someone to live there.

Trina says, the last thing she wants is to stay away from Spencer. She needs him more than ever. He’s the thing that gives her strength to hang on right now. He says he thinks she’s the first person who’s ever said that to him, and she says she doesn’t care what people say. They don’t know him like she does. She needs him. He says he’s always here for her, but he thinks it’s going to add a lot of stress to her mom’s life right now if she knows he’s spending time with her. She says she hates to admit it, but she thinks he might be right. She doesn’t want to stay away from him, but it would probably be best to keep their relationship low key for now. He says, yeah, he gets it. He’s the last person her mom wants to see, so he’ll steer clear of her, and if Trina needs him, he’ll be here whenever. She says, now would be a good time, and they kiss.

In the bedroom, Esme tells Ace, sorry, buddy. She wanted to take him to the pool today, but his big brother has other plans. She guesses that means Trina is more important than they are. It’s just her and him; they’ve only got each other. Unless she takes steps to change that situation.

Michael says he’ll support any decision his wife makes. If she wants to have a relationship with Nina, he has no problem with that. She tells him that his attitude says otherwise, and he asks what she’s trying to say. She says, while he’s polite to her somewhat in front of Willow, it’s clear he wants nothing to do with her and just wants her to go away. Willow knows that, and it’s just a matter of time before Wiley and Amelia feel it as well. She knows she’s made mistakes. She just wants to rectify them and make peace. Kristina barges in and asks if she’s interrupting something, but Michael says, no. Nina was just leaving. Nina says she guesses she was just leaving, and asks Michael to please give her a second chance. That’s all she’s asking. Whether he likes it or not, they’re family and she’s not giving up. She gives Kristina a quick kiss as she goes by, and when she’s gone, Kristina asks why Michael is being such a bastard to Nina.

Dex goes over to Josslyn, who’s lying on a chaise lounge, and she says she wanted to ask him something. Trina said she saw him earlier, and it looked like he was doing surveillance on Avery and her nanny. Does he want to tell her what that’s about? He says, Sonny asked him to keep an eye on Avery and the new nanny, so he was tailing her. Josslyn says, Avery’s her sister, so she kind of has a right to know, and he says he’d tell her if he knew, but Sonny hasn’t shared the details. But he thinks it has something to do with Ava Jerome.

Ava says, please tell her that he’s not bringing Carly into this. Sonny has to promise her that he’s not going to tell Carly what she did to Nikolas. He says, that she killed him? and she says, it was an accident. She didn’t mean to do it. He says he won’t tell Carly about Nikolas unless he has to, and she asks what that means. He says, the good thing is, Betty bought his act. She thinks she’s spying on him, but it’s the other way around. She’s going to lead them to whoever’s behind this. And when he finds them, they’re not going to know what hit them.

On Monday, Sonny asks if Anna is still planning to use herself as bait; Kristina says she thought someone would never ask; Tracy says, Gregory is surprisingly charming; Martin says, it must be his lucky night; and Drew tells someone, get the hell away from him.

👧🏼 New Kid On the Block…

The latest in Georgies.

Eden Harker Is the New Georgie on GENERAL HOSPITAL!

👗 The Right Choice…

Jen dishes on the wedding of the century and her rejected Reunion dress.

https://pagesix.com/video/jennifer-fessler-reveals-rejected-rhonj-reunion-dress-best-pic-from-teresa-giudices-wedding/

🍊 Don’t Say It…

It really doesn’t sound like all that big a deal, but oh yeah, it’s Shannon.

VIDEO: Tamra Judge Reveals What Heather Told Her About Shannon’s Relationship as Shannon Calls Heather a “Mother-F**ker” in RHOC Sneak Peek, Plus Tamra Accuses Jennifer and Ryan of “Threatening” Heather Amin

Was she kicked out or just looking for her Uber? I want to know what the argument was about.

https://pagesix.com/2023/07/27/wasted-shannon-beador-kicked-out-of-bar-after-screaming-at-ex-john-janssens-daughter/

🍸 Good Luck With This…

Who will and won’t film with the undesirable Tom.

Where Does Tom Sandoval Stand With the Rest of the Vanderpump Rules Cast?

🥪 Something About Them…

I thought it was open already, they’ve had so many soft launches.

REPORT: Ariana Madix and Katie’s Sandwich Shop Faces “Six-Figure” Road Block Before They Can Open, Plus Ariana Refuses to Film One-on-One With Tom Sandoval for Vanderpump Rules

👶 Comes With Accessory Baby…

This is actually a pretty funny idea.

https://pagesix.com/2023/07/27/kathryn-dennis-reclaims-her-salacious-pregnancies-with-midge-costume/

⚰️ Let’s Talk About Dead…

FWD, coming to your TV in October.

https://undeadwalking.com/2023/07/24/fear-walking-dead-season-8-part-2-release-date/

Obviously not a real New Yorker.

https://undeadwalking.com/2023/07/28/walking-dead-city-jeffrey-dean-morgan-leave/

I’m hoping it goes on forever.

https://undeadwalking.com/2023/07/27/walking-dead-dead-city-limited-series/

The name isn’t what you thought it was.

https://ew.com/events/comic-con/rick-and-michonne-walking-dead-title-teaser-explained-ones-who-live/

We are from France.

https://undeadwalking.com/2023/07/28/walking-dead-daryl-dixon-hope-france/

🐱 He Is Not a Cat…

Although he does kind of look like one.

https://ew.com/tv/anderson-cooper-compared-dog-cat-live-with-kelly-mark/

🐕 Comedic Companions…

These are great! How come I never catch my pets doing this stuff? By the time I get the camera, they get bored and walk away or they’ve moved on to something else. I have a lot of pictures of tails.

https://people.com/finalists-announced-of-the-2023-comedy-pet-photography-awards-see-photos-7561437

🪶 Quotes of the Week

Moderation is the feebleness and sloth of the soul, whereas ambition is the warmth and activity of it. – François de La Rochefoucauld

It is the greatest of all mistakes to do nothing because you can only do little; do something. – Sydney Smith

You are always free to change your mind and choose a different future, or a different past. – Richard Bach (I’m not too sure about that past thing… maybe a different viewpoint of the past.)

Real difficulties can be overcome; it is only the imaginary ones that are unconquerable. – Theodore Vail

Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves. – Carl Jung

Everyone must choose one of two pains: The pain of discipline or the pain of regret. – Jim Rohn

I don’t do anything in order to cause trouble. It just so happens that what I do naturally causes trouble. I’m proud to be a troublemaker. – Sinead O’Connor

So let me get this hetero-straight. So you’s a vampire, that can come out in the daytime? … Oh there goes the damn neighborhood. – Lafayette Reynolds (Nelsan Ellis), True Blood

🔮 I Ain’t Got No Crystal Ball…

Come back for more soap and tea on Monday really Tuesday. FYI, Below Deck Down Under is airing a new season on Mondays, but I’m Decked out. Until then, stay safe, stay always being polite to waitstaff, and stay talking to people who’ve done it before when you take on a big project without experience.

Mar11

March 10, 2023 – Drew Gives Ned a Proposal, Dear Diary, VanderMore, Southern Smarm, Awards Talk, Vegas Cat (!), Slightly More Than a Dozen Quotes & Lift

Posted on March 11, 2023 by theresakp

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Gladys says she doesn’t know why Sonny is so worked up, and he says he’s not, but he can be if she doesn’t give him an answer.

Nina sees Ava in the restaurant, and Ava says she was hoping to have lunch with one of the owners, and doesn’t mean Olivia. Does Nina have time for her? Nina says, they’re overdue for a proper catch-up, and she wants to hear about all the developments in Ava’s life. Ava tells her to be careful what she wishes for.

At the Quartermaines, Mac tells Michael, this form states that the PCPD has returned all the items taken from the boathouse when Ava was attacked. He just needs a signature, and he’ll be out of Michael’s hair. Another phrase they use a lot, but I never hear it IRL. Michael says he’s glad to have it behind them, and thanks Mac for catching the killer. Mac says, his sympathies for everything Michael’s family is going through, and the challenges still to come.

In the foyer, Maxie says, it’s perfect that Ned answered the door, and he invites her in. He asks, what brings her by? and she says, as a matter-of-fact, him.

Walking into what used to be Sonny’s kitchen, Carly says she and Drew made quite a mess last night. I guess she stepped over everything to get him that brownie. He says, it’s not every day they get the house to themselves. He feels they’re obligated to take advantage of that, and kisses her. She says, sooner or later, they have to clean this up, and he suggests later, kissing her again. I still don’t see the moss bowl🎍. What did she do with it???

Dex says he has to leave soon, and Josslyn says, right. His mystery boss needs evidence against Sonny. He flashes back to Michael saying, if Sonny is telling Dex about his past, he’s got nothing to worry about. He tells her that he can make a lot more than grilled cheese. He can make grilled salmon with grilled asparagus marinated in truffle oil. She says, so he can cook, and he’s just now telling her. Why was he holding out? He says, after what he ate when he was in the Marines, he promised himself he’d learn to cook when he got back to the states. The meals keep them fed, but they weren’t exactly fine dining. He’ll make her grilled asparagus sometime. He kisses her neck, and she says, it’s too cold to grill, having never heard of doing it indoors, and he says, this summer. She asks if he thinks they’ll still be together this summer, and he says, the job should be over by then, and he can spend every minute getting closer to her without worrying about Sonny. She says she can’t wait, and asks if she’ll see him later. He says, she can count on it, and kisses her again.

Mac says he’s so sorry about everything Willow is going through, especially so soon after the birth of that adorable baby. She says, hopefully, there might be some good news on the horizon. She might have a match with a bone marrow donor. He says he’ll pray everything works out, and she says she’ll take all the prayers she can get. She wants to spend as much time with her family as possible. Mac congratulates her on Amelia; she’s beautiful. Michael says he thinks so too, but he might be a little bias. Willow says, no. She’s gorgeous. Mac says, children are a blessing. Enjoy your time with them. It goes by really fast. Maxie walks in with Ned, and Mac says, case in point. He blinked, and Maxie’s all grown up. Maxie says, moral of the story; don’t blink. She asks what he’s doing here, and he says he had police business to finish up. Maxie says, good thing because she has a big announcement for all of them.

Cody says he ran into Sasha’s mother-in-law, and she asks if they’ve even met. How did he know it was her? He says, at some time in the conversation, it came out that her last name was Corbin. She was talking about selling a garage that belonged to her daughter-in-law, so it wasn’t hard to put together. Sasha says she’d been afraid Gladys would sell the garage without consulting her, but she thought she was just being paranoid. She can’t believe Gladys actually did it. Cody asks if there’s anything he can do, and she says, he can tell her who Gladys was selling the garage to.

Sonny says, Gladys was so eager to sell the garage, she wanted him to convince Sasha to get on board. How does he know she didn’t badger Sasha into taking the offer? She asks if that’s what he really thinks about her, and he says he knows how Miss Wu operates when she sets her sights on something, and if she’s pressuring Gladys, he can help her, but she has to tell him what’s going on.

Nina says she’s sorry she didn’t stick around last night, but Ava says she knows Nina wanted to see Willow. Nina says she spent the night with Sonny, but she’s glad Ava decided to stay at her place with all the drama happening at Windymere. Ava says, even with Ryan dead, she didn’t want to be on the island all by herself, and Nina says, anyone in their right mind would need a little break from Windymere for a while, and Ava says, Nina doesn’t even know the whole story. Nina says, Ava is welcome to stay with her for as long as she wants to. Sonny mentioned Nikolas threatened to take Avery. Ava says, it was a miscommunication really, and asks how things went with Willow. Nina says, better than she’d hoped. Willow opened up to her about the affects of her health issues. Liesl asked her to do it, and Willow’s grateful to Aunt Liesl, so she honored her request, but she doesn’t care. Maybe this little thaw is a step in the right direction. Ava asks, how are things with Sonny? and Nina says, they’re fine. Ava says, is there trouble in paradise? and Nina says, yes. Only it’s not her paradise. Ava asks, whose? and Nina says, Carly.

Gladys says, Sonny doesn’t have to worry about Selina Wu for her. He knows how much she loves her daughter-in-law, and she wants to do right by Brando. She always has Sasha’s best interests at heart. Dex comes in, and Sonny motions him over. Sonny tells Gladys that he has some business to take care of. She’d better know what she’s doing. Gladys smiles, and leaves.

Sasha asks, who owns the garage now? and Cody says he really doesn’t want to get anymore involved, but he doesn’t want to lie to her either. He just heard part of a conversation, and really thinks she needs to ask Gladys herself. Sasha says she intends to, and sends a text to Gladys. She says she knows he feels bad, but don’t. She appreciates him being honest with her. At least someone was.

Maxie holds up a binder, and says, the Nurses Ball is back. She wanted to commemorate GH’s 60^th anniversary, and celebrate how much GH’s workers have meant to the community. She thought, what better way than the Nurses Ball. Mac says, that is a great idea, and Ned says, normally, he’d say the should skip it – the year of Lucy’s death – but 60 years of General Hospital is too big of an anniversary to ignore. Michael agrees, and Maxie says, since Lucy isn’t here to run things, she’s going to attempt to step into Lucy’s shoes and chair the event. As they can imagine, it’s a big undertaking financially, which is where Michael and Ned come in. Mac says he has some things to take care of, so he’ll leave them to it. He congratulates Willow and Michael again, and leaves. Ned says, whatever Maxie needs, she can count on ELQ and the entire Quartermaine family. She thanks him, and says she imagines things are pretty crazy at ELQ right now, with Valentin being gone also. Of course (🍷), Aurora Media will be at her service. He’s sure Drew will be on board too. She thanks them, and says, they really need sponsors for this event, not to mention musical acts. She looks at Ned, and he says he might be able to help with that, but he has to deal with this text. He leaves, and Willow asks, what about Michael? but he says his performance days are gone, so no thanks. Maxie says, that’s okay. She has a much better plan for him.

Carly thanks Drew for helping, even though he made the mess, and he says he put the mess on the floor. The mess was on the kitchen island from her. She says she doesn’t do a lot of baking or cooking, so she doesn’t see a lot of cleaning up the kitchen in their future. He says, their future; he likes the sound of that. She says, her too, and they kiss. He says he’s confident that his plan to get Charlotte’s ELQ shares and step away from the company is going to pacify Ned, and she says, Ned’s the only person they have to worry about turning them into the SEC, so they’re good.

Ava says, spill it, the dirt on Carly, and Nina says she hasn’t really been able to process it with everything that’s going on with Willow and her new grandchild… Ava says, just tell her. She could use the distraction. Nina says, remember when she told Ava about Drew and Carly hiding whatever’s going on with them? Ava says, vaguely, and Nina says she saw them hugging pretty intimately, and she heard them say they couldn’t show how they really feel about each other in public. Ava wonders why, and Nina says she’s sort of figuring it out, but it’s raising more questions than answers.

Cody sees the paper that dropped on the floor, and picks it up. He wonders if it’s the invoice he was looking for, but he sees it’s his paternity test, and wonders how it got here. He puts it in his pocket, and asks Comet if he’s pulling tricks again, when there’s a knock at the door. It’s Mac.

Gladys asks bartender Jamie why she can’t book a spa appointment from the bar. She really needs a massage. Sasha asks, why is that? Is she stressed out about something? Like Deception?

Drew says, besides Ned, the only people who know he and Carly are romantically involved are people they trust; Sonny, Olivia, Michael, and Joss. The SEC isn’t going to have any reason to look into the timing of their relationship, unless Ned tips them off. Carly says she can’t believe Ned, and Drew says, she’s an investor in Aurora, but the merger never happened. She didn’t actually profit from any inside information, and it was like, six months ago. He thinks they’re good. She says she hears him, but she can’t wrap her head around them being seen as a couple out in public. She’s used to the hiding. The majority of the time they’ve spent together is stolen moments at her house. He says, they’ve been pretty great moments, and she says, amazing moments. She suggests they enjoy the last few moments of secrecy before the whole world finds out, and he says he plans on it, when Josslyn walks in. She apologizes for interrupting, but Drew says he was just getting ready to go. Josslyn tells him not to leave on her account. It looked like they were having a good time. He says he’s going to make sure they have plenty of good times, and leaves. 1) I don’t think the SEC would care if she profited or not, it’s still a crime, and 2) they’ve been together in public plenty. The only difference will be, they’ll be holding hands now.

Dex wonders why Sonny isn’t including him in the Pikeman deal, and Sonny says, if he doesn’t, he’ll have no reason to blame Dex if the deal goes sideways.

Gladys says she doesn’t know what Sasha is talking about; she has the day off work. Sasha says, please don’t tell her that she sold Brando’s garage, and Gladys asks how Sasha heard about that. Sasha says, so it’s true. She actually sold it. Gladys says she did, and Sasha says she can’t believe Gladys would sell her husband’s garage without asking her. Gladys didn’t even tell her. How could she do that? Gladys says, it was time, and Sasha says, Gladys told her that they were going to hold off until she was ready. Gladys tells Sasha that she doesn’t have the final say; the court put her in charge. Sasha says, forget about the damn court. They had an arrangement as family, and in the spirit of that arrangement, Gladys should have consulted with her. Gladys had no right to sell Brando’s garage behind her back. Gladys says she was just trying to do what’s best, and Sasha asks, how was that best for her? Gladys says, it’s not all about Sasha. She did it for herself.

Cody asks what brings Mac here, and Mac says he had some police business with the Quartermaines and thought he’d visit. Cody reached out a few times, and he feels bad for not responding. Cody says he thought Mac might want to talk after what he went through with Ryan Chamberlain. It’s dumb. Mac’s a cop, and obviously dealt with killing a criminal before, so he’s sorry if it seemed like he was hounding Mac. Mac says he should have called Cody back, but Cody says he’s not much of a talker either, especially when it comes to emotional stuff. When he has a lot of things on his mind, he tends to hop on the back of a horse and go for a ride. Did Mac ever try it? Mac says, in his younger days, he spent some time at a ranch in the Outback. Cody asks why he stopped riding, and Mac says he hasn’t had much of an opportunity since he left Australia. Cody says, there’s nothing like it, and Mac says, something tells him that he couldn’t get this old leg over the saddle. It’s not like riding a bike. Cody says, of course (🍷) it is. Horses are just like giant bikes with minds of their own. Mac says, those were the days. Riding out into the bush with his friends, and at the end of the day, go to the pub and put back a few Bludger pale ales. Cody says, Mac drinks Bludgers? and Mac says, Cody’s heard of them? Cody says he did a stunt gig with a guy from Australia, and that’s all he drank. Cody developed a taste for them. Mac says he didn’t think anyone in the United States drank them, and Cody says, don’t tell Mama Q, but he might have put a case of Bludgers on the grocery order. He still has a couple. Does Mac want one? Mac says he’s off the clock.

Michael says, Aurora Media will be at Maxie’s disposal for the Nurses Ball, and he’ll make a personal donation as well. She thanks him, and says, she’s not just here for the money. Don’t get her wrong; she’s taking the donation. But she was hoping he’d join the planning committee. He says, she’s kidding. What about Brook? She’s the one with entertainment experience. Maxie says, but he’s a respected figure in the community. He has tons of connections to local businesses because of his work at Aurora and ELQ. Not to mention, both sides of his family have close relationships with the hospital, so he’s just the person she needs for this committee. Willow says, it is a good cause, and he says, it’s a great cause. It’s just he can’t with everything that’s going on right now. Willow says, before he rules it out, she thinks he should consider it.

Drew comes in, and Ned says he should warn him. Maxie is in there hustling up support for the Nurses Ball. Drew says, hard to imagine without Lucy, but he’s sure Maxie will do a wonderful job. Ned agrees, and Drew says, the family managed to come together for Willow and Michael’s sake, but obviously ELQ is still the elephant in the room. He’s got a proposal to make all this tension a thing of the past.

Nina tells Ava, something’s wrong; Sasha’s not happy. Ava looks over at Sasha arguing with Gladys, and asks if Nina is going to go talk to her, but Nina says, not right now. Sasha knows she’s there for her. If Sasha needs her, she knows where to find her. Ava says, then back to Carly, and Nina says she’s never thrilled when Carly and Sonny have an interaction, but she’s come to terms with the fact that, unfortunately, Carly is always going to have a presence in their lives. And despite her feelings for Carly, she can’t really blame Sonny for wanting to protect her, especially from the Feds. She is his ex-wife. Ava says, so Ned has some kind of trouble that could get Carly and Drew in trouble with the SEC. She wonders what it could be, but Nina has no idea. Ava says, they’re smart; they’ll figure it out. She knows Carly and Drew woudn’t keep their relationship quiet to spare anyone’s feelings. There’s got to be a compelling reason that they’re not going public. Nina wonders if the legal consequences Sonny mentioned could involve jail time. She’s guessing fines woudn’t matter with the Quartermaine money, but what she doesn’t get is the secrecy. The reason Nina owns half this hotel is because Carly was trying to help out Drew and Michael during that whole Aurora/ELQ merger. Ava says, that’s it. She knows what Carly and Drew are so afraid of.

Sonny says he’s leaving Dex out of the Pikeman deal because he sees Dex has potential, and wants to bring him up in the business. He wants to make sure Dex does it well. Dex says he appreciates the faith, but he’d think if Sonny saw potential, Sonny would want to give him more responsibility, not leave him out. Sonny says he just needs to be careful how he brings Dex up, because if the deal goes south, he’ll know Dex had nothing to do with it. Dex says, makes sense, and Sonny says, that doesn’t mean Dex still can’t help him.

Michael agrees the Nurses Ball is a worthy cause, and under normal circumstances, he’d do it in a heartbeat. But Willow’s bone marrow transplant is coming up… Willow says, they can’t do anything about that except wait, and he says, what about the wedding? She says she has the wedding under control, along with help from his mom, his sister, Sasha, Brook, and Olivia. Michael says, what about their newborn baby? and Willow says, they’re lucky enough to have help. Maxie says, it sounds like he’s out of excuses, and Willow says, the community really needs this, and so does she. Do it for her?

Cody and Mac clink bottles, and Mac says, this brings him back. Cody says, him too. It reminds him of simpler times in his life. Mac wonders when things got so complicated, and Cody says he can only imagine how difficult it must be, having to take someone’s life in the line of duty. Mac says he’s been a cop for about 30 years. Killing Ryan, even though it’s not the first time he’s had to take a life while on the job, this was different. He and Ryan had a complicated history. This was a man who terrorized his family for decades because of his obsession with Felicia, but he was also the twin brother of Mac’s best friend, Doc. Even as twisted and downright evil as Ryan could be, it wasn’t that many years ago, Ryan actually managed to switch places with Doc. He had Doc locked up and drugged up in Ferncliff Asylum. Ryan pretended to be Doc. Cody says, this guy sounds ~~degenerate, malevolent, nasty, and a real piece of work~~ pretty messed up, and Mac says, he was, but he was also Doc’s brother. He doesn’t think Doc ever gave up hope that Ryan would change one day, but that day will never come because Mac killed him. Cody says, Mac did that to save Ava and himself, and Mac says he knows they’re all better off, and the shooting was justified, but he killed his best friend’s twin brother, and he knows in some small way, Doc still loved Ryan. He hates that he caused his friend any pain. Cody says, sometimes it’s easier to talk about heavy stuff with someone you barely know, and Mac says he’s glad they’re getting to know each other. They clink bottles again, and Cody says, him too.

Gladys says, the truth is, she had every right to sell the garage, not just as Sasha’s guardian, but as Brando’s mother who’s grieving him. Sasha says she’s grieving him too, and Gladys says she knows. She’s sorry for the tough time Sasha had, but the guardianship has protected her in way she doesn’t even know. She has no idea what it’s like trying to manage all these finances. Getting bills every single month, for the garage, each one with Brando’s name on it, and then there’s when Chamber of Commerce calls the office phone and asks for Mr. Corbin. She gets faced with daily reminders that Brando isn’t here with them anymore. Sasha says she had no idea. Why didn’t Gladys tell her any of this? Gladys says, because her job is to literally protect Sasha as her guardian. Sasha lost her husband; she lost her son. It’s been hard on her too. So she needed to get rid of the garage for many reasons; not the least of which is getting on with her life. She’s sorry if that makes Sasha hate her. It’s just a chance she had to take.

Drew tells Ned, Valentin’s death opens the possibility to get ELQ back in Quartermaine control. Ned says, technically, it’s in Quartermaine control now, and Drew says, Ned is CEO, but this is an opportunity for the family to regain majority ownership of the company. Valentin’s stock went to Charlotte, which means Laura controls it. He’s sure they can negotiate to reacquire the stock that Valentin poached from them. (I’m not so sure about that, but go on.) Ned says, so Drew and Michael can ice him out again? and Drew says, Valentin drove a wedge between them, but he’s gone. The way he sees it, it’s a chance for them to start over. So in the interest of putting the family back together, he’s willing to step away from ELQ entirely. Ned says he honestly wasn’t expecting that, and Drew says, he’ll run Aurora full time; he’s okay with that. The most important thing is making this family a united front again. Last summer, they were all at each other’s throats, then they came together for Willow, and it reminded him how right it feels for them to all be on the same team. He knows they’re Quartermaines, and they’re going to bicker and backstab, but at the end of the day, when it matters, they band together. They have to do whatever they have to in order to make this family whole again, and part of that is to get ELQ back. So what does Ned say?

Ava says, Carly invested in Aurora when the plan was to merge that company with ELQ, and Nina says, right, to get ELQ under the Quartermaines’ control. It was Drew and Michael’s plan and when Carly tried to help them, she invested heavily. When the merger didn’t happen, she lost it all. Ava says, but if Carly bought Aurora’s stock knowing there was a merger on the horizon, isn’t that insider trading? And she and Drew could be open to prosecution if anybody finds out. Nina says, that’s why they have to keep their relationship at a distance, because they don’t want anyone investigating to think they discuss these sensitive business matters. Otherwise, they’re facing jail time.

Dex says, anything Sonny needs, he’s good for it, and Sonny says he wants to take Dex to the warehouse where the Pikeman shipment is going to be stored. He’s not going to tell Dex when it’s going to land; the date’s been changed. Dex asks, why take him to the warehouse? and Sonny says he wants Dex’s assessment of the place. He wants to see how good Dex identifies vulnerabilities. Sonny says, think of it as training, and leaves, Dex following.

Josslyn says, sorry for crashing Carly’s time with Drew, but Carly says, this is Josslyn’s home. She’s always happy to see her. Josslyn says she knows, but Carly and Drew don’t get to spend a ton of time together since they have to keep things on the downlow. Carly says, that may be changing, and Josslyn says she’s so happy to hear that. Carly says, it’s still in the works, but she’s cautiously optimistic. Josslyn says she hopes it works out. Carly deserves to show the world how happy Drew makes her. Carly says, so does Josslyn. A secret relationship’s a lot of fun, but it comes with baggage. Josslyn says, and we’re back to Dex, and Carly says, she’s Josslyn’s mom, and she’s always going to want to protect Josslyn and stop her from getting hurt. Forget about what Sonny would do if he found out Josslyn has been seeing Dex behind his back, but Josslyn grew up in that world. She saw Carly deal with it every day. Is she sure she wants that for herself? Josslyn says, Dex is planning on getting out of Sonny’s organization, and Carly asks if Josslyn is going to hang her future on a vague promise. Josslyn flashes back to Dex saying, option three. He gets evidence on Sonny, turns it over to his real boss, who turns it over to the Feds. Sonny goes to prison; he’s in the clear. Josslyn says, option three it is, and he says, no matter what happens, he can’t walk away from her. Josslyn tells Carly, it’s not like that. Dex has a real plan. Carly says, like what?

Ned says, Drew brings up some good points, and Drew says, it’s a win-win for Ned. They regain Valentin’s stock and he extracts himself from ELQ. Ned says, Drew’s given him a lot to think about.

Willow says, if Michael helps plan the Nurses Ball, it will give them something to look forward to. They won’t be focusing on the transplant, and have something positive to pour their energy into. Something that benefits them, GH, and the entire city. He asks how he can say no to that, and Maxie says, awesome, and thanks him. Their first meeting is tomorrow, and she’ll call him tonight to go over the details. She jets, and Willow thanks Michael. He says, she’s his world. There isn’t anything he wouldn’t do for her. They kiss.

Mac asks if Cody is up for another one, and Cody says, no reason not to. He gets up, and Mac says he thinks Cody dropped something. He picks up the paternity test, and starts to unfold it. Like people do when it’s not their stuff.

Sasha says she doesn’t hate Gladys, and Gladys thanks her. Sasha says, but she doesn’t like that Gladys went behind her back, and Gladys says, understood. Sasha says she gets where Gladys was coming from, and she’s probably right. Left to her own devices, Sasha probably would never have parted ways with the garage. She couldn’t bear it. I guess running it as a profitable business wasn’t an option? Gladys says, just so Sasha knows, it wasn’t easy for her either, and Sasha says she guesses in maybe a not-so-good way, it worked out for the best. Instead of hanging over them, the garage is gone, and they’re forced to move forward. Gladys says she sees why her son fell for Sasha, and Sasha starts to cry. She says she misses him, and Gladys says she does too. They hug.

Nina says, Ava’s theory is good, but that’s all it is; a theory. Ava says, a theory that can turn the tables. Nina has important information about Carly, just like Carly had important information about her. The question is, what is she going to do with it?

Josslyn says, Carly and Drew are figuring out a way they can be together out in the open. She and Dex want that too, and she knows Dex is going to get out of the mob for good. Carly says she knows Josslyn believes that, and Dex probably believes he can leave that world, but take it from someone who has been very close to it most of her life, once you’re in, it’s really hard to leave. Josslyn says, but it is possible, and Carly says, it is, but the way out is usually death.

Sonny and Dex go into the warehouse, and Dex says, Sonny is going to have to put up cameras outside. Someone trains a gun on Dex, and Sonny says he’s got somebody on that, and Dex says, ports of entry? Dex realizes there’s a gun with a gun above them, and pushes Sonny down as the guy shoots.

On Monday, Victor says, he and Elizabeth are finished when he says they are; Cody says he’s the last person Mac should be helping; Josslyn tells Carly that Dex is willing to do what it takes; and Dex tells Sonny, the longer they stay here, the worse their chances.

⛓ Already Making Friends…

Special K? Really? By next year, she’ll be running the place, and have a Ponzi scheme involving the commissary.

https://people.com/tv/jen-shah-adjusting-to-life-in-prison-second-journal-entry/

🍸 And It’s Just the Beginning…

You’d think this was the biggest news since the moon landing. No kidding she was a wolf in sheep’s clothing. I can’t even fathom having an affair with a friend’s boyfriend, and looking them in the face every day.

Lisa Vanderpump Calls Raquel Leviss “A Wolf In Sheep’s Clothing”; Addresses Future Of Vanderpump Rules

If LVP says it, it must be true.

Lisa Vanderpump Believes Tom Schwartz Knew About Tom Sandoval And Raquel Leviss Affair

I forgot all about Miami Girl.

https://www.etonline.com/vanderpump-rules-star-tom-sandoval-threatens-to-stop-filming-after-scene-with-raquel-leviss-200441

🍹 Charming Taylor…

Does he have BDE? I just don’t get it. And this show is way too incestuous.

https://pagesix.com/2023/03/08/southern-charm-star-austen-kroll-hooked-up-with-taylor-ann-green/

🏆 About Uncle Oscar…

The nominees. I’m kind of surprised about Everything Everywhere All At Once. Don’t get me wrong. It was an amazing film, although a long way of basically telling me to be nice and find happiness in the small things. But it doesn’t seem like the kind of film that becomes so mainstream.

https://www.cnn.com/2023/01/24/entertainment/oscar-nominations-list-2023/index.html

How to watch. (Turn on TV or streaming service. Watch.)

https://people.com/movies/oscars-2023-how-to-watch-what-to-expect/

The carpet.

https://people.com/movies/oscars-2023-red-carpet-wont-be-red-this-year-details/

The gift bags. My God how I want one of these.

https://www.cnbc.com/2023/03/10/2023-oscars-gift-bag-whats-inside.html

No Gaga. Hey, she’s a busy woman.

https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Culture/lady-gaga-perform-2023-oscars/story?id=97740301

Break points.

https://people.com/movies/oscars-2023-best-actors-nominees-big-breaks/

🐱 Viva Las Gato…

What are the odds the next guest would be a vet?

https://people.com/pets/lost-cat-found-in-las-vegas-hotel-room/

🥠 Quotes of the Week

We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love. There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us. When we discover this, we are less prone to hate our enemies. – Martin Luther King, Jr.

I have learned silence from the talkative, toleration from the intolerant, and kindness from the unkind; yet, strange, I am ungrateful to those teachers. – Kahlil Gibran

If you’re trying to achieve, there will be road blocks. I’ve had them; everybody has had them. But obstacles don’t have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it. – Michael Jordan (Or kick it down.)

If you are insecure, guess what? The rest of the world is too. Do not overestimate the competition and underestimate yourself. You are better than you think. – T. Harv Eker

Apologizing does not always mean that you’re wrong and the other person is right. It just means that you value your relationship more than your ego. – Unknown

Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. – Dr. Seuss

In the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years. – Abraham Lincoln

Life is never fair, and perhaps it is a good thing for most of us that it is not. – Oscar Wilde

Life is a long lesson in humility. – James M. Barrie

Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up. – Thomas A. Edison

In three words I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life: it goes on. – Robert Frost

I think you’re Mozart. – Amy Slaton, 1000-Lb. Sisters, referring to her son’s painting

💌 And the Award Goes To…

Make a return trip on Monday for some soap, what’s on Deck, and smack talk about the awful people on Summer House. Until then, stay safe, stay surrounding yourself with those who uplift you, and stay remembering, a secret relationship’s a lot of fun, but it comes with baggage.

Jan12

January 11, 2023 – Nina Confronts Michael, Happy Anniversary, Returning, She’s Out, Golden News, 16th Birthday & Blues

Posted on January 12, 2023 by theresakp

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

In one of the yoga classrooms, Chase does a plank and then some push-ups. Sasha and Gladys walk in, and Gladys says, now that is some hot yoga.

Brook works at the keyboard, and wonders why it’s so hard. She tells herself not to call Chase, when Cody walks in. He says, sounding pretty good in here, and she asks what he’s doing at the main house. He says he found Leo with Thor, the new foal. He had a blanket and everything. He was all ready to sleep in the stables. He thought he should probably get the kid to bed. Plus, he found these in the kitchen on the way in. He munches on a biscotti, and says, a little dry. Don’t tell Mama Q he said that though. She says, you’re supposed to dip them in coffee, or wine in the old country. They’re supposed to be dry. He asks what she’s doing, and she says, working on another new song for Chase and Blaze. He says. not going too well? and she says, at the moment, she’s singing the blues.

Drew says, Nina is Willow’s birth mother? and Carly says, yes. She could be a perfect match. She has to call Michael and Willow. He says, Willow already has a match. He was there when the call from the donor registry came through. She says, thank God, and he asks her to back up a second. She did a DNA test on Nina and Willow, and said it came back negative. She says, the results were actually positive, and he says, so she lied to him… again.

Josslyn tells Sonny, before he says anything, she has a few things to say about the way she chooses to live her life, and how it’s none of his damn business. He says he didn’t ask her here to lecture her about her life. He knows Michael must be going through a hard time right now, and he’s sure she is too. He just wanted to see if she could get Michael to understand, if he or Willow need anything, he’s here. He just doesn’t want Michael’s pride to stand in the way if he needs help. She says, help with what?

Michael tells Nina that it’s not a good time, and she says she understands that, and knows he doesn’t want her here. She’ll make it quick. She needs to talk about her grandson. He asks if she remembers the visitation hearing; the one she forced them to have. The ruling was, she has no right to see Wiley. She says she knows they found a way to shut her out of Wiley’s life for the unforgiveable crime of wanting Wiley to know about his biological mother. He tells her not to drag up Nelle, and she says she can’t even speak Nelle’s name because Wiley must believe Willow is his one and only mother. Now Willow put her life at risk so Michael could have another baby. Where does that leave Wiley if Willow dies?

Chase asks if they’re coming or going, and Gladys says, sorry? He asks if they finished class or they’re just starting, and Sasha says, they just got here. How has he been? He says, good. Her? Gladys says, Sasha is great and deserves congratulations. They have a buyer for Brando’s garage. Chase says, that’s amazing, but Sasha says, they haven’t accepted the offer yet. Gladys says, sure. They’re going to play hardball, do the whole counter thing, but it’s good news. Doesn’t Chase think it’s good news? He says, if Sasha thinks it is, and Gladys says, of course (🍷) she thinks that. Sasha asks if Gladys lost an earring, and Gladys says, like she’d wear those to yoga. She tells Chase that Sasha got her the most beautiful diamond studs for Christmas, and Sasha says she’s so glad Gladys likes them. Gladys says she forgot her water; she’ll be right back. When she’s gone, Chase asks if everything is okay between Sasha and Gladys, and Sasha says, everything’s great. Why? He says, she’s not pushing Sasha to sell the garage? and Sasha says, she is, but that’s just Gladys. Technically, Gladys doesn’t even need her to agree, since she’s in charge of Sasha’s finances, but Gladys would never do that. Sasha trusts her.

Cody asks if Brook wants the last biscotti, but she says, no thanks. He says he can’t let it just go to waste, and she says, he could return it to the kitchen. He says, too far, and eats it. He tells her that he heard through the grapevine that she and Chase broke up, and she says, he heard through one little grape, and his name is Leo. He says, correct, but to be fair, what Leo actually said was, he’s happy Brook and Chase won’t be kissing anymore. She says, that makes one of us, and he says he’s sorry, but she says, don’t be. She and Chase might be just singer and manager right now, but she’s hopeful things will change. He says, so Chase is still willing to work with her, and she says, that’s the kind of guy Chase is. He honors a commitment, even when he doesn’t want to. He asks what that’s like, and she says, beats her. He says, she can use this though, their working relationship. She says she could, and he says, so she’s thought of that. She says, Chase and Blaze have this radio performance tomorrow. She may have concocted a plan to get Chase over here. He says, so she can remind him how good they are together? and she says, something like that. Chase is huge on honesty though. She can’t use lies to get him back.

Michael says, how dare she? and Nina says, she dares because she’s Wiley’s grandmother. And she has to look out for him; his emotional needs. She knows Willow has Stage Four leukemia. He asks how she knows that, and she says she read a memo that was mixed up in Britt’s paperwork. She’s so sorry. What Willow is going through is horrible, but she also knows Willow’s an adult, and she chose to delay her treatment. He asks if she just happened to read that too, and Nina admits she did. That’s how she knows months passed from the time Willow was diagnosed to the time she received her first chemo treatment. Months where her leukemia progressed, when her cancer got worse. Months. Michael and Willow put the future of their unborn baby before Wiley, risking his happiness and security. Now that little boy may lose the one and only mother he’s ever known; that Michael’s allowed him to know. And that’s selfish. Michael tells her to get out, opening the door, but she says he has to explain it to her. Willow found out she had leukemia when she was in her first trimester. Why didn’t she get chemo immediately? He says, that’s none of her business, but she says, Wiley makes it her business.

Sonny says he appreciates Josslyn’s loyalty, but she’s not betraying Michael’s trust by talking to him. He knows what’s going on with Willow. It must be very difficult for them; the leukemia, and then being pregnant. Josslyn says, hold on. Leukemia?

Drew says, he and Carly just had this whole conversation, and she made it seem like everything was solid, but yet she was still holding back. She says she’s sorry; she didn’t think it mattered. She sees her romantic evening with Drew and the moss bowl🎍 – which is looking lovely and surrounded by candles – going down the drain, and Drew says, how does Nina being Willow’s mother not matter? Carly says she didn’t know Willow had cancer, and that’s a secret Drew kept from her. He says, that’s not the same thing, and she knows it. Willow swore him to secrecy. He can’t believe he’s going to say this, but he needs her to be honest with him. She says, of course (🍷), and he says, was she ever going to tell Willow that Nina is her mother? She says, no.

Chase says he’s been meaning to reach out, but Sasha says, he doesn’t have to worry about her. She’s fine. He says he wasn’t worried about her, but he is now. What’s going on? She says, it’s nothing specific… It’s like she was braced for the holidays. She knew they would be hard, so she went into them prepared. All of her friends and family were on high alert too. Chase says, she had a ton of distractions, and a lot of people looking out for her, and she says, the holidays are over, and it’s just her now. No Brando. No Liam. Of course (🍷) she knew that. He says, but she’s not as prepared as she was before Christmas, and she says, it was nice having a goal. Just make it through to New Year’s Day; she could handle that. Make it through the rest of your life…? He says, that sounds daunting, and she says, it is. She knows she’ll figure it out, but she’s feeling a little adrift right now. He says he gets that, and for what it’s worth (🍷), he thinks she’s coping really well. She says she’s definitely feeling stronger and more stable, and he says, maybe Gladys won’t have to be her guardian much longer. She says, maybe. Some days she’s so ready to march in and demand the judge reevaluate her case. He says, and other days? and she says, nights are so hard. After Gladys goes to bed, the apartment is just so quiet. She tears up, and says she finds herself listening for Brando’s humming while he’s brushing his teeth. She’ll go to bed, hoping she dreams about him, so she can touch his face again. So that’s not really facing reality. He says he thinks she’s doing what every grieving widow would do. She misses her husband, and wants to imagine him next to her. Who wouldn’t? She says she’s just afraid if she lets herself pretend, she’ll get lost in the fantasy, like she did when she thought she was holding Liam.

Willow dreams that she and Michael walk into the gatehouse, and she’s holding her new baby. She tells Michael that she knows every parent says it, but their little girl is the most beautiful baby she’s ever seen. He says, their child is perfect, just like her mother. She says, stop, and he says, can’t fault him for speaking the truth. She says, we did it, but he says, you did it. You beat cancer and protected our child in the process. He says he loves her, and she says she loves him too. They kiss, and Willow smiles in her sleep.

Josslyn says, Willow has cancer? and Sonny says he’s sorry. He thought Michael and Willow would have said something to the family. She says, Michael hasn’t said anything. How does Sonny know this? He says, it doesn’t matter, and she asks if her mom knows. He says he doesn’t know, and she says, if her mom knew, she would have told her, but then again, she thought Michael would have too. She cries, and says, oh my God. The baby. Does this affect the pregnancy? Sonny says, Nina did some research, and apparently if you’re pregnancy and still have chemo, it doesn’t hurt the baby. She says, it sounds so scary and complicated, and he says, Michael and Willow are going to get the best treatment possible. She knows that, right? Dex knocks at the door, and asks if everything is okay. Sonny says, yeah; she just heard some bad news. Josslyn says she has to go, and Dex says he’ll see to it she gets home safe. Sonny closes the door, and in the hallway, Dex asks if Josslyn is okay. She falls into his arms, and he holds her while she cries.

Drew says, Carly hates Nina. Nina’s done terrible things to her. Then Carly gets handed this perfect opportunity to get back at her. Carly says, that’s not what this is about, and he says, no? She says, this was about Willow. At the time she had that DNA test run, Willow and Nina’s relationship was toxic. Willow couldn’t stand Nina. She looked Carly in the face, and said she didn’t want to know who her birth mother was, because she could turn out to be someone like Nina. She believes Willow’s exact words were, I’d rather not know, so how does she tell Willow that this woman she hates – that she doesn’t want anywhere near her son – is her mother? Drew says, so she lied, and Carly says, you’re damn right I lied. Because she knew the truth would hurt Willow, and she wanted to spare Willow that pain. He says, this is what he doesn’t understand. If she was so sure she was in the right, why did she lie to him? Why did she lie to him about the DNA results? She says she didn’t want to put him in that position, but he says he thinks she didn’t tell him because she knew he wouldn’t go along with it. She knows she’s wrong.

Chase says, the fact Sasha is worried about losing touch with reality makes him sure she won’t. She says she hopes that’s true, and he says, the next time she feels adrift, just call him. She says, it’s usually in the middle of the night, and he says, so? His phone is always on. It’s an old habit from being a cop. His phone rings, and we both say, see? He sees it’s a call from Brook, and Sasha says, don’t not answer on her account. He answers, and Brook says she’s so glad he picked up. She fixed it. He says, fixed what? and she says, the song. He says, great. They can discuss it at the radio station tomorrow. She says, that’s the song she fixed; the one he and Blaze are singing tomorrow. She always thought his verse was missing something, and she found it. He says, she wants to change the song he’s singing in twelve hours? and she says she’s not just talking about it; it’s happening and he’s going to like it way better. Can he come over to learn it? It won’t take too long. Is he busy? He says, no, but… and she says, great. She’ll see him when he gets here. She asks Cody, how was that? and he says, perfection. They high-five.

Nina asks Michael if Wiley knows Willow is sick, and she might die, and Michael closes the door. He says, it’s too soon for that, and she says, they don’t want to frighten him until it’s absolutely necessary. He says, of course (🍷) they don’t, and she says, but if Willow had done the responsible thing and gotten chemo during her first trimester, it wouldn’t be necessary. He asks what gives her the right to judge, and she says she understands he could have lost his little baby. It would have been devastating, and he and Willow would have grieved, but it’s better for them to grieve than a four-year-old boy grieving his mother for the rest of his life. He says he can’t hear any more of this, when Wiley yells, grandma! and runs downstairs into Nina’s arms. He says he missed her, and she says she’s missed him too. Shouldn’t he be asleep? He asks if she’ll play with him. Mommy’s too tired, and daddy’s too busy taking care of mommy. Nina looks at Michael.

In the car, Dex asks if Josslyn wants to talk about it, but she doesn’t know what to say. He says, because Sonny didn’t take his head off, he takes it that she didn’t tell Sonny about them, and she shakes her head. He thanks her, and says he’d be in serious trouble if Sonny knew they were involved. She says, Sonny has bigger things on his mind; they all do. He takes her hand, and asks if that’s the bad news Sonny was talking about, and she says, her family’s falling apart, and she doesn’t know what to do about it.

Drew says, Carly keeping the truth about Nina and Willow to herself isn’t about sparing Willow. It’s about maintaining control. She says, no, but he says, if she doesn’t tell him, she doesn’t risk the possibility of him telling Willow. She says, it’s not like that, but he says, from where he’s standing, if she’s the only one that knew, she’s ensuring this plays out exactly the way she wants it. She says, wow. He’s talking like she’s some puppet master who just wanted to carry this secret. He says, she carried it for months. How long did she know… May of last year. She says, a pretty eventful time, as she recalls, and he says, yes. Willow was going through a lot. Harmony was dying, and finding out Harmony wasn’t her birth mother, and was killing people. He understands why she didn’t tell Willow right away, but she had months to come clean. Carly says, for months, Willow was telling her that she didn’t want to know. It wasn’t until November… He says, which is when Carly started sabotaging his search, and she says she didn’t know Willow was sick. He says he knows she would never intentionally hurt Willow, but intentionally or not, keeping the secret almost cost Willow her life.

Frank tells Sonny that he has a visitor, and Gladys comes in, still dressed in workout wear. He asks if she’s going to the gym, and she says, she and Sasha were supposed to go to yoga, but something came up. He asks, how’s Sasha? and she says, that’s why she’s here. Her daughter-in-law needs his help.

Brook comes out all dressed up, spins around, and says, better? Cody says, Chase won’t be able to resist her, and she says she knew it. The doorbell rings, and she thanks Cody for everything. He says he’s dismissed then, and she says, basically. In an English accent, he says he’ll let Master Chase in on his way out. Good luck. She poses on the couch, then asks what she’s doing. Just act normal. She stands up, when Chase walks in, and she thanks him for coming. He says she didn’t give him much of a choice, and she says, that’s pretty on brand. Sasha walks in, and Cody comes back in behind her.

Dex asks what he can do, and Josslyn says, nothing. That’s the worst part. There’s nothing any of them can do. He says, she can talk about it to him. Whatever it is, he’ll listen. She says, Willow has leukemia, and he asks if Willow just found out. She shakes her head, and says, Sonny thought she already knew, so she guesses not. It’s shocking nobody told her considering her reaction. He says, it’s scary finding out someone you know is sick. She’s allowed to feel however she wants to feel. She says, her first serious boyfriend had cancer… He died. Dex says he’s so sorry. What was his name? She says, Oscar. He had a brain tumor. They found out in September, and eight months later, he was gone. Dex asks how old he was, and she says, sixteen. She knows this is different. Willow’s cancer’s different. Everything’s different really, but she just doesn’t want this for Michael. He says, she and Michael are really close, huh?

Drew tells Carly, if the donor registry hadn’t found a match for Willow, they wouldn’t have known Nina was a match until it was too late. She says she knows; the thought of that is terrifying. Thank God it didn’t come to that. Do they know if the transplant is going to affect the baby? He says he’s not sure, and she says she’ll call Michael and Willow first thing in the morning. She can’t believe Michael didn’t tell her. What the hell was he thinking? She could have helped him. Drew says, maybe he takes after his mother that way, and thinks he can shoulder everything alone. She says, it’s her M.O., right? Handle everything on her own so she doesn’t need other people. He asks if that’s what he is; other people. She says, no, but he says, she could have fooled him.

Willow dreams she’s holding the baby – I really wish they’d make an effort to make it look more like a real baby – and says she loves her baby girl so much. She calls for Wiley to come meet his sister, and Nina comes out, holding Wiley’s hand. Willow asks what Nina is doing, and tells Wiley, come here, but Wiley doesn’t budge. Willow tells Nina, get out of our house, but Nina says she’s sorry. Willow has gotten too weak to take care of Wiley. Willow is now in a wheelchair, hooked up to an IV. Michael comes in with the baby, and Willow says she’s not weak. She tries to get up, but falls back. Nina says, Willow is fading fast, and Michael has his hands full with work, so she should probably take the baby as well. Willow says, Michael can’t let her do that, but Michael gives the baby to Nina, as Willow screams, no! Nina tells Wiley, time to go, and they walk past Willow to the door. Willow begs, please stay with mommy, and Nina asks, how’s her new baby girl? She’s Nina’s second chance. How does she like the name Nelle? Willow screams, and sits up in bed.

Josslyn tells Dex, Michael is more than a brother. He’s one of her best friends. He’s a rock. Dex asks if she doesn’t think that bodes well for him in a situation like this, and she says, except she knows what it’s like. She knows what it’s like to sit at someone’s bedside, and watch them fight as hard as they can. And all you can do is love them and be there for them. You can’t change anything; you can’t fix anything. You can’t fight the battle for them. It’s the most helpless feeling, and Michael doesn’t deserve that. He says, she didn’t either, and she says, it’s like she hears cancer, and she’s right back in it; sitting next to Oscar, reading to him. He says, she read to him? and she says, to help with the pain. He tells her, she keeps saying there was nothing she could do. He kisses her hand, and says, it sounds like she did a whole lot.

Sasha says she hopes it’s okay that she tagged along, and Brook says, of course (🍷). Were Sasha and Chase together when she called? Chase tells her, she said it wouldn’t take long, so he invited Sasha to come with. Brook says, great, and Cody asks if they’re hungry. Brook starts to introduce Cody and Sasha, but Cody says, they’ve met. Sasha says, Christmas Day, pregnant Virgin Mary giving birth… Chase says, that is a story he needs to hear, and Sasha says, remind her to tell him. Cody suggests he and Sasha raid the kitchen, and let Brook and Chase do their thing. Sasha says she’s skipping her workout, so she might as well go all in, and they leave. Brook thanks Chase for coming, and he tells her that she already said that. He asks if she has the sheet music, so he can see the changes, and she tells him to sit at the keyboard. He picks up the music, and she says, he can’t read a word she wrote, can he? Move over. She sits next to him, and says, let’s get to work.

Gladys tells Sonny that they have an offer on the garage, and Sasha’s on the fence about taking it. He asks, what’s the offer? and she says, $300,000, cash. He says, she’s right not taking it; it’s worth more than that. She says, they can’t wait, and he asks, why? It’s not like Sasha needs money, right? Gladys says, it’s not about money; it’s about Sasha hanging onto Brando’s things. She thinks it’s keeping Sasha from moving forward. He says, the last time they spoke, Sasha seemed to be doing good. He thinks it helped her that they built Brando’s motorcycle. He knows it helped him. She says, Brando would have loved seeing them working together like that, and he says, so what’s the issue if it’s not money? Is there something going on he doesn’t know about? Is Sasha all right? She says, nothing specific, and gets up. He says, it’s going to be okay. They’ve got to look after each other. Deal? She says, deal, and they shake hands.

Michael says, it’s bedtime not playtime, and Wiley says, but grandma’s here, and runs back to Nina. She says, it’s been a long time since she visited, and she’s sorry about that. She wishes she could play with him until the sun comes up, but his daddy is right. He should be in dreamland right now. She hugs him, and Willow flies down the stairs, yelling, get away! Michael intercepts her, and tries to get her to go back upstairs, and Nina tells Wiley, it’s okay. Willow says she’s not dead. Nina cannot have her children. She can’t.

Carly says she hated lying to Drew, but he says, she still did it. She says, for what she truly believed were the right reasons, and he says he knows how this works. He knows how she operates, so it’s not like this should come as a huge surprise. She says, but it does, and he says he was just starting to trust her, and she says, starting to? He says, not friends, but as a couple. He was opening his heart to her, and to find out she was lying to him this whole time, actively working against him. He just… He really thought they had something deeper. This is a wake-up call to find out they don’t.

Nina says she would never take Willow’s kids away from her, and Willow reaches for Wiley, who runs to her. He asks, what’s wrong? and Willow says, it’s okay. It’s nothing they can’t fix. Nina is a bad person, and she doesn’t want Nina talking to him. He asks, why not? and she says she’ll explain upstairs, leading him away. Nina says she’s going, and Wiley yells, mommy! Michael runs over to the stairs to find Willow crumpled at the bottom of them.

Standing outside the car, Dex holds Josslyn. She thanks him for being here, and for not pushing… and just thanks. He says, any time, kissing the top of her head. He asks if she’s cold, and she says, just a few more minutes. He tells her, as long as she wants.

Chase says, so Brook wants to add a key change at I can’t forget your lies? She says, I can’t forget your eyes, and he says, sorry. She says, it’s an understandable mistake to make, considering… He says, considering her handwriting is illegible? and she says, it’s not that bad. He puts his face an inch from the music, and she says, he’s so dramatic, picking it up. She reads, I can’t forget your eyes, no matter how tired and high… No, that’s not it. He says, she can’t even read her own handwriting, and she says, give her second. No matter how hard I try. Booyah!. He says, she calls him dramatic, and she says, Chase… Her phone rings, and Chase hands it to her. She asks Michael, what’s up?… What?… Oh my God.

On the phone, Sonny asks Brick to do him a favor. Find him the best oncologist in the country… No. It’s for Willow.

Carly says, that’s it? One mistake, and she’s out? He asks if she’d really classify this as one mistake. She paid a woman to lie to him. She hid a photo she knew he was looking for; that was important to him and Willow. She says, because she was trying… and he says, she was trying to protect Willow. He understands that, but that excuse only goes so far. Secrets and lies. That’s not the kind of relationship he wants. She says, that’s not what she wants, but now that everything is out in the open, it doesn’t have to be that way. Her phone rings, and he picks it up. He says she should probably answer this, and shows her it’s Nina. She answers, and Nina says, please don’t hang up. It’s Willow. Carly says, what about Willow? and Nina says, she collapsed. Michael called an ambulance. They’re on their way to the ER. Carly says she’s on her way, and Drew says he’ll drive. They jet.

There’s a short and sweet Epiphany montage. At the end, it says, In Loving Memory: Sonja Eddy. I hope we get more than that.

Tomorrow, Brook tells Chase, they have to put a stop to this; Cody asks if Sasha’s mother-in-law’s name is Gladys; and Drew tells Carly, Willow and Nina deserve to know the truth.

🌲 Fifty Two Years Ago…

All My Children through the ages.

On ALL MY CHILDREN’S Anniversary, See the Changing Cast Through the Years!

📺 Back To Blood…

She’s always so gracious. That’s soap people for you.

OLTL’s Erika Slezak Returns to Television!

🍹 Dwindling In the South…

Are the phasing out this show? At this point, the only one I’d miss is Patricia, but maybe she’ll show up on Southern Hospitality.

Kathryn Dennis Is Reportedly Fired From Southern Charm After 8 Seasons

🏆 All About Those Globes…

The basics.

https://www.cnn.com/2023/01/10/entertainment/golden-globe-winners-2023/index.html

Everything you could possibly want to know.

Home Page

Complaints.

https://www.avclub.com/the-golden-globes-posted-some-of-their-crappiest-rating-1849978281

Brad Pitt.

https://people.com/movies/golden-globes-2023-every-star-who-shouted-out-brad-pitt-hes-right-there/

And most important, the fashion.

https://www.eonline.com/photos/35549/golden-globes-2023-red-carpet-fashion

https://pagesix.com/2023/01/10/golden-globes-2023-live-red-carpet-see-all-the-celebrity-outfits/

Happy 16th Birthday, Maro & Felicia!

☕️ Parched January…

Join me tomorrow for news of Port Charles and a selective brew of tea. Until then, stay safe, stay not being your own worst critic, and stay remembering, the fact you’re worried about losing touch with reality, means you won’t. At least according to Chase. Who is neither a doctor, nor plays one on TV.

Dec24

December 23, 2022 – Christmas In Port Charles, Ellie, MOSS BOWL, Escape, Rescue Pups (!), VanderFight, Jealousy, Unhinged, Celebrity Holidays, Pointless, Carol Quote Quartet & Twelve

Posted on December 24, 2022 by theresakp

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Brook and Austin clean up giftwrap, and Britt says, from the look of pure glee on his face, Leo couldn’t have liked Austin’s gift any more. Austin says, it was just a video game about marine biology, so how could he resist. Olivia says she’d thank him, but he might be responsible for them never seeing their son again. Austin says, actually, he should thank them. It was kind of them to let him stay here last night. Olivia says, no one should be alone on Christmas, especially family. Austin and Brook leave to throw the wrapping away, and Ned says, not to sound… What’s the opposite of generous? Olivia says, selfish, and he says he thought they were having an intimate Christmas dinner. The staff is off. Did they prep enough food for a guest? She asks him to form that sentence again, and he says, did she prep enough food for a guest? She says, relax. Monica is still under the weather, and made it clear she’s not coming down for dinner. So they split the Christmas goose five ways instead of four. There’s always room for one more. Remember that. The doorbell rings, and Ned says, they’re not actually having goose, right? Olivia opens the door to Cody, who says, they have a bit of a situation.

Maxie, Obrecht, Britt, and Nina are at Nina’s penthouse, and Britt says, thanks for the loot, but she has to jet. She’s sorry she missed Sonny. Obrecht says, called away to work on Christmas day; it’s unfortunate. Nina asks if Britt is sure she can’t stay, but Britt says, no time. She has the Polar Bear Pledge, the soup kitchen, and then she’s hearing Brad sing with the PC Gay Men’s Choir. Maxie says, that’s quite a Christmas, and Britt tells them to have a wonderful Christmas. She hugs everyone, and Obrecht says she’ll walk Britt out. In the hallway, Obrecht says, Britt doesn’t have to do this, and Britt says, do what? Obrecht says, act like it’s her last Christmas with them. Huntington’s or not, she still has many more years ahead of her. Inside, Maxie says she should get going too. The roads are a mess, and she doesn’t want to miss her flight. Nina says, oh no. She wanted to check in with Maxie. How is she doing? She knows Christmas is a tough time for a break up, but Maxie says, it was a good thing. She and Austin are not meant to be. Nina says, it’s still okay to be sad about it, and Maxie says she is, but it helped spending the morning with James and Bailey, and this motley crew. Now she’s going to Portland to see Georgie. Her Christmas just keeps getting better.

Georgie asks if Ellie likes her present, and Ellie says she loves it, but Georgie coming to visit was the only present she needed. Georgie leaves to try on her new sweater, and Ellie thanks Spinelli for bringing Georgie. She can’t tell him how much she missed her last year. He says, Ellie helped raise her. You’ll always be her third parent, even if we are no longer a we. He thanks her for allowing Maxie to join them tonight. It’ll mean a lot to Georgie. She says, just Georgie, huh?

Sonny comes to the garage, and asks if anyone is here. Sasha stands up from behind a motorcycle, and he asks what she’s doing here.

Outside Elizabeth’s house, Scotty gets hit with a snowball. He makes a snowball of his own, and says, all right, you little animals, here I come. Inside, Elizabeth looks at family photos on the mantel, and focuses on one of her, Finn, and Violet. Cameron comes downstairs, and asks if everything is okay. She says she’s great, and he says, it’s just that she’s been very quiet about everything that’s happened between her and Finn. He wants her to know she can talk to him about anything, and she says she knows, but she’s fine, she promises. She asks if Josslyn is stopping by, but he says, no. Her car’s still busted from last night. Elizabeth says, that’s too bad. It’s probably for the best though, with the shape the roads are in. Nobody should be behind the wheel today.

Laura goes to Jordan’s office, Jordan says, sorry to pull her away from her family. Laura says, comes with the territory, but nobody knows that better than Jordan. It was so bad out there, she had to walk here. Jordan says, last night’s storm was intense. Snow is completely covering sections of Harborview Drive. Add that to the ice damage to all the other roads surrounding the city… Laura says, it’s just a disaster, and Jordan says, and on Christmas. Laura says, a lot of people will be having an unhappy holiday because of this.

Nina says, Maxie has one more present, when Maxie looks at her phone, and says, no. She can’t believe this is happening. Her flight was canceled. She’s not going to get to see Georgie for Christmas.

Ned asks, what’s going on? and Cody says, Harborview’s totally blocked off. No one’s getting out of their main gate, unless they plan on walking. Olivia says, luckily, everyone who’s here was planning on staying here for the foreseeable future. Cody says he just wanted to give them a heads up, and Olivia asks what his plans are for the day. He says he was going to hit up Beradino’s for their holiday menu, but that’s obviously shot. No big deal. He’ll scrounge something out of the fridge. Olivia says, he’ll do no such thing. He’s staying right here. They’ll figure out something with the food. Cody says he doesn’t want to impose, but Olivia says, it’s not an imposition. Right, Ned? Back her up here. Ned says, the more, the merrier.

Britt tells Obrecht that she knows it’s not her last Christmas, but she won’t be able to live life to the fullest. Obrecht says, despite the old adage, it’s unwise to live every day like it’s your last. Racing around, desperate to check things off a list. Nein. Live every day as if it’s your first. You’ll never lose sight of all the magic and wonder around you. Britt hugs her mother, tells her, merry Christmas, and leaves. Obrecht says something in German.

Sasha says she didn’t mean for Sonny to come out here on Christmas. She thought she disarmed the security system. He asks if she comes here a lot, and she says, no, but the garage is being sold soon. And Brando’s New Year’s resolution for 2022 was to finish his bike by 2023. Sonny says, time’s almost up, and she says she thought since she used to work in her neighbor’s garage, she could figure it out. He says, not so much? and she says, not so much. He says, all right, and takes his coat off. She asks what he’s doing, and he says, she’s not the only one who can work on engines, and rolls up his sleeves. She says, no. He should be with Nina today, and he says, he’ll get to that, but he thinks if they work together, they can do this by dinnertime. Hand me that wrench.

Olivia brings Cody into the living room, and tells Brook and Austin that Cody will be joining them tonight. She tells Cody to help himself to a drink, and make himself comfortable. She goes into the foyer, and Ned says, he hates to keep harping on this… She says she knows. They don’t have enough food. (Which I find really hard to believe.) She says she’ll whip up a lasagna. It’ll probably be boxed noodles – she crosses herself – but what are you going to do? He tells her that he thinks they’ll survive, she kisses him, and runs off. He goes into the living room, and tells Cody that Leo will be thrilled to see him. Austin tells Brook, and just like that, he was replaced. She says, horse wrangler trumps doctor, and he says she must be thrilled. He knows she was never his biggest fan, so he’s guessing she’s over the moon that he messed things up with Maxie. She says, he was trying to be everything to everyone, told a white lie or two, and it got away from him. It happens to the best of us. He asks why he gets the feeling she’s including herself in the us, and she says, because she is.

Spinelli says, of course (🍷) he wants Georgie to spend time with both her mothers, but Ellie says, that’s not what she meant, and he knows it. He says he apologizes for the whirlwind nature of this visit, but he might even have time to meet that new suitor of hers. She says, new being the operative word. They’re not even official. Funny, he used to live in Port Charles… A tablet rings, and Spinelli calls to Georgie, saying, her mother is video calling her. Georgie runs out, and tells Maxie, merry Christmas. She misses Maxie. Maxie says she misses Georgie too, and Spinelli says, Maxie is cutting it close. Her flight leaves in a little over an hour. Georgie says, please don’t be fashionably late, and Maxie says she’s so sorry, but her flight got canceled, and she won’t be able to make it in until tomorrow. Georgie says, but tomorrow’s not Christmas, and Maxie says, she knows, but she’ll be there before Georgie knows it. Georgie says, it’ll be too late. Don’t even bother. She stomps off, and Spinelli says he’ll talk to her. Maxie asks him to tell her how sorry she is, and he says, it may not seem like it at the moment, but she knows.

Obrecht comes back in, and asks, why the long faces? I desperately want to make a horse joke, and Nina says, all the flights from PC International have been grounded. Maxie says she’s not going to be able to see Georgie for Christmas. She needed this. More important, Georgie needed this. She failed George. Obrecht gives a short laugh, and Maxie asks if Obrecht just scoffed at her. Obrecht says, and she’d do it again. Such a defeatist attitude. That’s not the Maxie Jones she knows. So Maxie’s flight has been canceled; there are still other options to explore. Mark her words. They’re getting Maxie to Portland to see her daughter komm hölle oder hochwasser (come hell or high water).

Scotty comes in, and says, those kids are like wild animals, and Elizabeth tells him, watch it; those kids are her boys. He says, they want him to go sledding with them, and Cameron says, why doesn’t he? Scotty says, because he doesn’t want to start the new year in traction. Cameron suggests he take over, and Scotty says he’ll slip Cameron a twenty later. Cameron leaves, and Scotty asks, which one of those good-for-nothings is Elizabeth moping over? Finn, her father, or perhaps she’s taking a little from column A, and column B. He tells her to sit, and says he wants her to know that he and Laura are worried about her, but she says she’s fine. She’s spent most of her Christmases without her parents. It never used to bother her. He says, now things have changed. So what’s the difference? She says, for the first time, it doesn’t seem like there’s a gap or a pause. This time their absence feels final.

Olivia tells Ned, the lasagna’s in the oven. Let’s just hope it’s enough. He says, because if it isn’t, Luigi’s isn’t open on Christmas, and she says, do not even put that out in the universe. This night is going to be nothing like Thanksgiving. He says, she doesn’t really believe all this universe nonsense, right? and the doorbell rings. She says, God will get him for that, and opens the door to TJ and Molly. TJ says, they’re sorry for barging in like this. They were out caroling… Molly says, but Harborview is blocked; there’s no way to get home. TJ asks if it’s okay if they hang out here, just until the road’s unblocked. Olivia tells them to get inside now. Make themselves comfortable. She tells Ned, God will get him good, and follows them into the living room.

Nina tells Maxie, that was her business manager, and the hangar they use for across the border for Crimson is still operational. And apparently, there are some private jets just hanging out there, just waiting to be used. Is there any chance Maxie knows someone who owns a plane?

Ellie asks how Georgie is, and Spinelli says, she’s not happy. She’s at that tough age; old enough to know there are things we can’t control, and still young enough to believe mommy can move mountains. Ellie says, to be fair, Maxie is quite formidable, and speaking of, he did a nice little dodge before, but she knows him better than almost anyone. He’s fallen for Maxie again, hasn’t he? He says, now is neither the time nor the place, but he was hoping getting together as a family make things right between them. Clearly it’s not in the cards. She says, it’s not like him to give up so easily, and he says, it’s not like he can change the weather in Port Charles. She says, maybe not, but Christmas is a time for magic and miracles. So what does he say they make some happen for Georgie?

Brook’s phone rings, and she asks Maxie, what’s up? Maxie says she has a problem, and she’s hoping Brook can help her. Her flight to Portland was canceled. She can still get there. She just needs a private plane from the Toronto hangar. Please tell her one of those planes has Brook’s family’s name on it. Britt says, let her see what she can do.

Cody says, not much has changed. Olivia is still mother to all the misfits. She tells him, like she said to Austin, no one should be alone on Christmas. He says he appreciates it. Let him know if there’s anything he can do to help. The doorbell rings, and she says, he can get the lasagna out of the oven. She wonders, what now? and opens the door. A young pregnant woman wearing a blue wrap is standing there, and Olivia says, holy mother of God. The woman says she’s sorry to barge in on their holiday. She was part of a live nativity scene, and the car won’t start. Not that it matters, since the roads are blocked anyway. Would it be possible for her to wait here until a Ride Share can take her home? Olivia says, of course (🍷). Come in. This must be stressful for her. She must have a houseful of people waiting. The woman says, no one actually. This is their first, and her husband’s working the plows today, so he’ll probably be late. Olivia says, she was planning on spending Christmas all alone? and the woman says, technically, she has company, but Olivia says, no, no, no, no. She’s staying right here. She’s eating Christmas dinner with them. The woman asks if she’s sure, and Olivia says she wouldn’t have it any other way. Go into the living room and introduce herself, and make sure she puts her feet up. The woman says, Olivia is so kind, and thanks her. Cody wonders where Olivia wants the lasagna, and asks, what’s wrong? Olivia says, they’re gonna need a bigger lasagna.

Sonny says, they’re getting there, and Sasha says, it would have taken days without his help. Britt knocks at the door, and asks if they’re open. She walks in, and wonders what Sasha and Sonny are going here. Sasha says, long story. Britt? Britt says, in typical her fashion, she ignored the warnings about the roads. Her car spun a few blocks away. Sonny asks if she’s okay, and she says, the only thing bruised is her ego. Sasha says, the garage is closed, but Britt is welcome to call AAA, assuming they can get here. Sonny says, that’s assuming a lot, and Britt says, this is not how she wanted to spend her last Christmas in Port Charles. Sasha says, last? Is she going somewhere?

Austin says, Brook seems a little tense, and she says she is. Maxie needs to get to Portland, but all of the commercial flights have been grounded. She’s trying to hook maxi up with her family’s private jet that flies out of Canada, but apparently, there’s a mile long line at the border. Even if she were to brave the roads, it could be hours before she takes off. He says, if she bothers to use the roads, and Brook says, something’s going on in his head; what is it? He asks her to tell Maxie to get to the pier as soon as she can, and he’ll take care of the rest. He calls Mason, and says he’s done everything Mason has asked him to do, and asked nothing in return. Now he is. He needs Mason to send a boat to the pier in Port Charles. He needs to get somebody he cares about to Canada without the hassle of border security.

Jordan thanks someone on the phone, and says, she and the mayor appreciate it. She tells Laura, those needing medical attention have been airlifted to the hospital, but there’s been no reports of serious injuries or fatalities. Laura says, it’s a Christmas miracle. What did they say about the roads? How quickly can they be cleared? Jordan says, the plows are out, but it’s going to be tough. Laura says, tough, but not impossible. Let’s get it done. Jordan says, got it, and Laura leaves.

Maxie wonders what’s taking so long, and Obrecht says, patience. Maxie says, that’s not her strong suit, when her phone rings. She asks Brook to tell her that she has good news, and Brook says, the jet is all hers, but she’s taking a boat to Canada. Maxie asks, why? but Brook says, there’s no time for questions. Just get her booty to the pier, and give Georgie a big squeeze when she sees her. Maxie thanks Brook, and says she owes her. She tells Nina and Obrecht that she guesses she’s going to the pier, and Obrecht says, she’ll escort Maxie. Nina says she’ll come with Maxie, but Maxie says, Sonny is coming over, and they need to spend Christmas together. She hugs Nina, and leaves with Obrecht.

Everyone gathers in the living room after dinner, and Ned asks Olivia, who is the incredibly pregnant young lady? Olivia says, just another guest for dinner, and he says, this is getting ridiculous. She says, it’s a little on the nose to say there’s no room at the inn. It might not be the incredibly intimate Christmas they planned, but it’s the Christmas they’ve got. Capisce? He says, capisce, and she says, her arrabbiata sauce was apparently a big hit, and he says, she made her lasagna with her arrabbiata sauce? and she says, she found some left over in the ice box. He says, that sauce is incredibly spicy, and that is an incredibly pregnant woman, but she says, even she’s telling him, that old spicy food thing is an old wives – the woman says, oh my God, and looks down – tale.

The woman says, not now, not here, and Olivia tells Ned to get some blankets, pillows, and towels. Cody says he’ll call 911, but Brook says, there’s no way they’re going to get here with all the road closures. The woman says, this isn’t happening, and Olivia says she’ll talk her through this. Brook says she pretended to give birth, and Olivia says, not helping. Ned comes back with the linens, and they situate the woman on the floor. Molly says, TJ is a doctor; he can help deliver the baby. He says he’s never done it before, but he can figure it out. Austin comes in, and asks if this is what he thinks it is, and Olivia says, another doctor. Teamwork makes dream work. Get going.

Scotty says he knows Elizabeth is a little down, but here’s the good news. She says, there’s good news? and he says, she’s the most resilient girl he’s ever met. She takes the cards that are dealt her, and she never complains… almost never. Look at the home she’s made for the kids. They feel loved and safe. For that, he respects her, and salutes her as well. She thanks him for saying that, and he says, Jeff is a fool not to see what a great daughter he’s got. Even though Franco’s gone, she’s still a Baldwin. Never forget that. She says she won’t, and they hug.

Austin tells the woman that she’s doing great. He asks TJ to watch her for a second, and TJ tells her, keep breathing like they talked about. Brook says, she’ll go get some ice, and in the foyer, Cody asks Austin, what’s going on? Austin says, this isn’t going to be easy, and Cody says, that’s obvious, but he delivered Maxie’s baby, right? Austin says, Maxie’s baby wasn’t breach, and Cody asks if that wasn’t something the mother would have known, but Austin says, not necessarily if the baby’s flipped recently. If they were in a hospital, all kinds of options would be available, including an emergency C-section. But here, what this woman needs is a trained OB.

Britt tells Sasha that she has no immediate plans to leave, but she has a job interview in Boston. Please don’t tell anyone. Sasha says, Britt’s secret is safe with her, when Britt’s phone rings. She asks what Cody wants, and he says, merry Christmas to her too. He knows she doesn’t want to hear from him, but he’s at the Quartermaines’ with Austin and TJ. She says, congratulations, and he asks her to just listen. The Virgin Mary is giving birth today; like, right now. She asks how much eggnog he’s had, but he says he’s not drunk. Austin takes the phone, and says, there’s a woman here. She’s in labor, and the baby’s breach. It’s not his level of expertise, and he needs her to talk him through this. She says, this woman needs a hospital and a specialist, and he says he agrees, but thanks to the weather, it’s not an option. Neither a car nor an ambulance can get through these roads. Sasha and Sonny get the bike started.

TJ tells the woman that she’s doing great. Deep breaths; in through the nose, out through the mouth. When you exhale, try focusing on relaxing an area of the body. She says, he wants her to relax? and Brook says, they thought Thanksgiving was dramatic. Mr. Wattles’ got nothing on this situation. Molly says, Mr. who? and the woman screams.

In the foyer, Olivia says, the baby’s breach? and Austin says, there’s a pretty substantial chance something’s going to go really, really wrong. Ned asks what they can do, and Austin says, TJ can treat the mother post-birth, but they need to get this woman to a hospital on foot. Olivia asks if it’s safe, but Austin says he doesn’t know what else to do without a trained OB. They hear tires screeching, and Britt comes in with Sasha through the patio door. She says, sorry about Monica’s begonias, but she heard there’s a baby that needs delivering.

Elizabeth says she didn’t think Laura was going to make it, and Laura says, it was an eventful day, but she thinks it’s calming down now. Elizabeth asks if Laura would like some tea, but Laura says, she’s okay. She asks how Elizabeth is holding up, and Elizabeth says, since her not so happy reunion with her parents? She’s okay. She wants to be okay. Laura says, she will be, and if Elizabeth needs support, she’s here. They hug.

Britt says she knows this isn’t how the woman envisioned this to go down, but she seems to be made of tough stuff, and has three MDs to coach her through it. The baby is a little upside down at the moment. The woman asks if that’s dangerous, and Britt says, no. It just means she has to push extra hard when Britt gives the word. The woman has a contraction, and Britt says, here we go. Push. The woman screams.

Maxie tells the clerk at the airport check-in that she needs to get to Portland; Oregon, not Maine. He says, this is Edmonton, Alberta, and she says she knows that, but her daughter is in Portland, and she promised they’d be together on Christmas. He says he understands her dilemma… but she says she doesn’t think he does. First, her flight gets canceled. Then she has to take a super shady boat to a super awesome private plane, which has to land because of the weather. Now she just needs to know when she’s getting back in the air. He says, there’s really no way of knowing with the storm. No one is taking off tonight. He’s sorry. He gives her a candy cane, and says, merry Christmas. She sits down, and says, merry Christmas.

The baby cries, and the woman says, that’s a good sign, right? Britt says, it’s a great sign, and hands her the baby, saying, meet her little girl. The woman says, she’s perfect. Hello, baby. It’s your first day. So much wonder for you to see. She tells Britt, live every day like it’s your first, right? Molly asks if she’s thought of a name yet, and the woman says, Noelle seems appropriate, all things considered. Olivia says, it certainly does, and the woman asks what Britt’s name is. Britt tells her, Britt. It’s short for Britta. The woman says, Britta Noelle. It has a nice ring to it, doesn’t she think? If she doesn’t mind of course (🍷). Britt says she doesn’t mind at all.

Brook says, in all the commotion, she didn’t get a chance to thank Austin for what he did for Maxie. Austin says, of course (🍷). He really wants Maxie to be happy, even if she’s not happy with him. Brook tells him that she’s not saying she was wrong about him, but he might have some redeeming qualities she might have overlooked. He says, thanks; he’ll take it. Jordan comes in with an officer, and TJ asks what she’s doing here. She says she was dealing with the roads when she got a call about an incident at the Quartermaine’s, and the woman tells Britta Noelle that the incident was her. Jordan says she sees that. Here she was, worried about missing Christmas with TJ, but from the looks of it, he kept quite busy. Molly says, TJ was incredible, and Olivia says she thinks they all earned a gold star today. TJ says, Dr. Westbourne in particular, and asks Jordan if traffic is moving. She says, slowly, but yeah, and he says, they should probably get out of these guys’ hair. Ned says, after the day they’ve had, he thinks it’s only fitting they all stay, and they celebrate together. Britt asks if he’s sure, and Olivia says, positive. Jordan says, it sounds wonderful, and there are hugs all around. Cody and Britt exchange looks.

Scotty asks what Laura and Elizabeth think of his dance moves, and Elizabeth says, they were… Laura says, smooth, very smooth. Scotty says, they’re secretly laughing at him, but Laura says she’s enjoying him. He’s a terrific grandpa. He says, she’s no slouch in that department either. Elizabeth says, all this time, she was focusing on the parents who weren’t there for her, when she should have been focused on the people who were. The people who have always been by her side; the people she’s always needed. Sonny tells Laura that he thinks she’s talking about them, and they have a three-way hug, as Cameron comes downstairs. He smiles.

Maxie leaves a voicemail for Spinelli, asking why he’s not answering his phone. Call her. Spinelli and Georgie walk into the airport, and he says, Maximista? Georgie runs to Maxie, and she asks what they’re doing here. He says, he knew they wanted to see each other. The plan was to fly into Canada, and drive to Port Charles. Maxie says, great minds think alike. And Georgie is the best Christmas present ever. She hugs Georgie, and thanks Spinelli. He says, it’s nothing, but she says, it’s everything. He’s always been there for her, through all of it. She doesn’t know what she’d do without him. He says, she’ll never have to find out, and they, too, have a three-way hug.

Ellie’s phone rings, and we see it’s Griffin Munro, who I continually think is dead. She says, hey you. Merry Christmas.

There’s a knock at Nina’s door. She drags Sonny in, and kisses him.

There’s a knock at Elizabeth’s door, and Scotty opens it. Obrecht dances in, holding mistletoe over her head, and he kisses her.

At the Quartermaines’, Cody looks at Britt. She looks away, and goes to the window.

At the airport, Spinelli eats pizza, while Georgie shows off her new sweater to Maxie, and they talk and laugh.

Deck the Halls plays while we see the once-a-year full credits.

No preview.

💍 Spinelli’s Second Choice…

Actually, I can see her with Griff. He was a bit of a nerd.

Emily Wilson Returns to GENERAL HOSPITAL!

🎍 O Moss Bowl…

This article contains a picture of the moss bowl🎍. Who cares what it says?

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/ghs-maurice-benard-says-goodbye-to-marcus-coloma

🧙🏻‍♂️ Tanzanian Devil…

His name wasn’t Shiloh or Josiah, was it?

Melissa Archer Reveals How She Escaped a Cult

🐶 Me Too…

He’s definitely cute, but mine’s cuter. He’s from No Paw Left Behind. Behold El Wray.

Oh yeah.

GH Alum Teresa Castillo Rescued the Cutest Puppy!

😭 Oh Boo Hoo…

I’d actually forgotten she was on the show. And the most awful human being on the face of the earth – i.e. Jax – deserved to be fired a while ago. Maybe even on the first day.

Kristen Doute Says She And Jax Taylor “Fought The Entire Weekend” During Scheana Shay’s Wedding Because Of The Vanderpump Rules Cameras

🍊 Old News…

Vicki is like the next Jill Zaren.

Vicki Gunvalson Reveals She Was “Jealous” That Tamra Judge Returned To Real Houswives Of Orange County

🍹 Hilton Head Gets My Vote…

I’m surprised they didn’t include Ashley calling Kathryn an egg donor at whatever ball that was.

Best Unhinged Moments On Southern Charm!

🎄 Not Quite Like Us…

The cards.

https://www.purewow.com/entertainment/best-celebrity-christmas-cards

The decorations.

https://www.lofficielusa.com/pop-culture/celebrity-holiday-christmas-decorations-2022

The celebrations.

https://www.eonline.com/photos/35242/celebrities-celebrate-the-holidays-2022-christmas-hanukkah-and-more

🎅🏽 WTF…?

I have no clue what this is, but it sounds slightly intriguing.

https://www.techradar.com/how-to/how-to-watch-pointless-celebrities-christmas-special-online-stream-from-anywhere

🎩 Quotes of the Week

There are many things from which I might have derived good, by which I have not profited, I dare say,’ returned the nephew. ‘Christmas among the rest. . . . And therefore, uncle, though it has never put a scrap of gold or silver in my pocket, I believe that it has done me good, and will do me good; and I say, God bless it!

For it is good to be children sometimes, and never better than at Christmas, when its mighty Founder was a child Himself.

I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future. The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me. I will not shut out the lessons that they teach!

[A]nd it was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge. May that be truly said of us, and all of us! And so, as Tiny Tim observed, God bless Us, Every One!

✨ – from A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

🎁 Decking the Halls…

Hard to believe another year has almost gone by. Hoping that Santa has you on the nice list, and that all your Christmas wishes – or non-Christmas wishes – come true. I’m not sure about Monday’s Deck or soap, but if it airs, it will be here. Until then, stay safe, stay open to whatever the holiday weekend brings you, and stay living every day as if it’s your first. You’ll never lose sight of all the magic and wonder around you.