Tag Archives: Summer House

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

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

🥢 Weekday Bites…

Monday:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The cheese stood alone. 🍿!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tuesday:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Wednesday:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Josslyn and Trina hugged, as Kai watched.

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

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

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

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

Thursday:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

🫔 Friday’s Enchilada…

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

🧼 All the Soap News Fit To Print…

Temp Maxie returns.

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

It sounds like he’s having a fun career.

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

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

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

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

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

💉 A Dose Of Reality…

Below Deck

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

The Valley – Reunion Part 1

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

Also not surprising. This dude is a barnacle.

Real Housewives Of Miami

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

Real Housewives Of Orange County

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

Random Reality Items

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

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

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

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

👀 Last Weekend’s Watch…

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

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

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

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

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

Just the basics.

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

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

All kinds of spoilers.

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

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

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

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

🦇 Saying Goodbye To the Prince…

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

🐉 Cosplay This…

Photos and streaming from San Diego Comic Con 2025.

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

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

🧵 Here’s a Napkin, Make a Dress…

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

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

🐾 Trailblazing Tales…

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

🐈‍⬛ The latest in InstaPets.

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

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

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

👑 Quotes of the Week

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

🍦 Following the Ice Cream Truck…

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

June 6, 2025 – GH Weekdays, Anna Gives Sonny a Warning, Soap Suds, This Week In Reality, Weekend Watching, Watch Of the Future, Worth Barking About, Decuplet Of Quotes & Summer  

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

🥢 Weekday Bites…

Monday:

Elizabeth asked what Lucky knew about her accident, and he said he knew Kristina caused it.

Kristina went to see Michael and said she had so much to tell him.

Laura told Alexis, as Ace’s legal guardian, she got statements from the trust. It looked like 10 million dollars had been removed from the Cassadine estate in the past month and a half.

Rocco showed Lulu the video of Gio smashing his violin at the Nurses Ball and asked, what happened?

Gio showed up at Sonny’s and said he had a question. Did Sonny know?

Brook told Lois, two things would always be true. Gio would always know she gave him up and she would always know Lois lied to her. Gio didn’t want anything to do with her, and she didn’t want anything to do with Lois. Gloria walked in and told her not to talk to her mother like that. If Brook wanted to have it out with someone, have it out with her.

Brook asked if Lois was hiding behind Gloria, but Lois said she was trying to get Brook to understand. Brook said there was nothing to understand. Two people she’d loved and trusted lied to her. Gloria said that was enough.

Rocco asked if it was true that Brook and Dante were Gio’s parents, and Dante said, yeah. Gio was his son and Rocco’s brother.

Alexis told Laura that what she’d seen were investments and apologized for not telling her sooner. She’d thought it was best to diversify some of the trust portfolio and moved some of it to a mutual fund that was high rated. She wanted to make sure Ace’s inheritance remained strong. There was nothing more important than family.

Elizabeth wondered what Kristina had to do with her accident, and Lucky told her about Kristina cutting the brake line to what she thought was Ava’s car. Elizabeth said, it wasn’t Ava’s car though. It was Ric’s.

Michael asked how the family was, and Kristina said she and Molly were great. Her and her mom were… fine. Family was complicated. She couldn’t believe Michael was finally home and walking into a custody battle, but he said it needed to be settled once and for all. Kristina said she knew he wanted to do right by his kids. If he was telling himself that deep down Willow was a good mother and made compromises, it would be the wrong move.

Sonny said Gio had questions and so did he. Why didn’t he come in and get answers? Gio said Sonny didn’t tell him, no, so he must have known, but Sonny said he didn’t know. The first time he heard was when Gio announced it to the world. He hadn’t known Brook was pregnant, which was surprising since he was so close to Lois. Gio said, if he didn’t know, why had Sonny always been so nice to him? Sonny had paid for his lessons, music, and education. Why had he been so generous? Sonny said he knew Gio was special and that hadn’t changed.

Lulu told Rocco that his dad and a lot of people were trying to make sense out of it, and Rocco said, Gio’s mom was Camilla, and his dad was a soldier who died in the war. Dante said they were led to believe that. Gio was lied to and so was everyone else.

Gloria told Brook to calm down and cool off. Emotions were high. She knew it was a lot to process, but Brook’s mother was still her mother, and she was still Brook’s grandmother. She had to show some respect. Brook had been a pregnant teenager, and it didn’t just affect her. Imagine the position she’d put her mother in. Lois said Brook told her that she wasn’t ready to be a mother and she trusted Brook to know herself and respected her wishes. Brook said, by lying? and Lois said, by protecting Brook and doing the best she thought she could for Brook’s child. Gloria said Brook’s mother lied to spare her and it ate her alive, and Brook asked if that’s what Lois told herself, that she was sparing her. Lois said keeping Gio in the family was the only way to ensure he was going to be taken care of and happy. And he was. Gloria said Camilla was a godsend. Would Brook rather they gave him to strangers, and she never saw him again?

Kristina told Michael that she thought Willow would come to her senses and realize being with Drew was a mistake, but Willow was more consumed with Drew now than she ever was, like how it was with Shiloh. She’d been bouncing the kids around and they hardly saw them anymore. Michael said if Drew had his way, it would only get worse. Word had it that Drew bought property in DC.  

Elizabeth told Lucky that they had to tear the car apart to get them. They both had surgery. Ric almost died. How long had he known? Lucky said, since the night it happened. He’d been covering for Kristina ever since.

Gio said there had to be more to it. Did Lois ask for Sonny’s help? Sonny said, she did. She was his oldest friend and the Cerullos were family. He was more than happy to help. That’s what family does. Gio said, Lois lied, but Sonny said it was more complicated than that. Had Gio heard the story about Dante being his son? Gio said, bits and pieces, and Sonny said, when Lois found out, it was before Camilla died. Gio asked Olivia pulled a Lois and never told him about Dante, and Sonny said, she kept it from everybody. He thought she was worried about his affiliations. He wasn’t defending Lois, but she made her choices for a reason. He and Dante knew where Gio was coming from.

Dante said he didn’t know he had a child and definitely didn’t know it was Gio, and Rocco asked, when were he and Brook together? Dante said they’d been camp counselors one summer. They were kids not much older than Rocco. They were teenagers and got careless. They made a mistake. Brook didn’t tell him that she’d gotten pregnant, had a baby, and put it up for adoption. Rocco said, Brook never told him that he had a son? and Dante said he found out the same way everyone else did – when Gio announced it and smashed his violin.

Brook said, if it was up to Gloria and Lois, she wouldn’t have known Gio was hers. She’d continue hoping and praying her son was out there living a safe and happy life. Lois said, he was happy, and Gloria said Brook was acting like they didn’t make sure Gio was loved and well-protected. He was their priority. Brook said they were acting like they’d done nothing wrong and didn’t regret everything. She asked if Lois regretted giving Gio to Camilla, and Lois said, no. Brook asked if Lois didn’t regret lying to her for 22 years and letting her see Gio, never knowing he was her son. Gloria said they made the decision they thought was best, and Brook said, when Camilla died, Gio was an orphan, but they said nothing.

Laura told Alexis not to overextend herself. The Cassadine fortune carried a lot of baggage. Don’t allow it to add to her stress level. Alexis said she needed to follow her conscience, when Suzanne came in and gave Alexis the balance sheets for the Dolos fund, since Laura had been asking about it. Alexis asked if Laura wanted to go over them, but Laura said, in the future, just keep her more informed. Suzanne said she heard congratulations were in order. Laura’s extended family had a new addition. Laura said, excuse me?

Rocco wondered why Brook didn’t tell Dante that he had a kid. He was the best dad. Dante said he didn’t know how much Brook knew, and Rocco said, she knew she had a baby. Lulu said Dante couldn’t answer his questions yet. He was trying to make sense of it himself. Rocco said Gio was his brother, and he missed out on nearly everything with him, and Lulu said she was sorry. His dad would get answers and so would he. Rocco said it was a lot. If it was some big secret, how did Gio find out the truth?

Brook said, Gio was 12 when Camilla died. Didn’t they think he needed a mother? Lois said, it tore Gio apart. They were just getting him through it. Gloria said, the poor boy would have been traumatized all over again, and Brook said her son was alone at his lowest point, but Lois said he was loved and cared for. Brook said, not by her. She was an adult, and they kept her son away from her when he was all alone. She’d never forgive them for that.

Sonny said now that Gio knew Brook and Dante were his parents, circumstances were different, but he got it. Gio asked if it was easy with him and Dante, but Sonny said, not at all. It changed everything. Dante went from being an adversary to being his son. Gio asked if they were cool now, and Sonny said he was proud of that. It took years and it might take time to build a relationship with Dante. Gio said, what if he didn’t want that?

Kristina said taking Michael’s children away didn’t sound like the Willow she knew. She didn’t recognize Willow anymore. Michael said at first, he thought Drew was manipulating her, but she was responsible for her choices. She chose to prioritize Drew and chose to destroy her family.

Lucky told Elizabeth that Kristina showed up at Charlie’s, then ran out. He went after her. She called Ava to try and warn her. Elizabeth said, Ava wasn’t in the car, and Lucky said he found Kristina pulled over near the crash, totally freaked out. She was in shock when she saw Ric and said she’d thought it was Ava. That’s when he knew she’d caused the crash. Elizabeth asked why he hadn’t turned Kristina in to the police.

Lucky said, Kristina could get charged with three counts of attempted murder and go to prison for life, and Elizabeth said maybe that’s where she belonged. He said she didn’t see Kristina’s regret. It wasn’t premeditated, but a crime of passion, a lapse in judgement. When she realized what she’d done, she tried to stop it. Elizabeth said, but she couldn’t. She and Ric could have died. He said the only reason Kristina wasn’t behind bars was because she didn’t die. It was a miracle she survived, and she and Ric were okay. He didn’t see how it benefited anyone to send Kristina to prison. Elizabeth said, what if it kept Ava from being killed? (I don’t know if I’d consider that a benefit.)

Michael told Kristina that he wasn’t the perfect husband, but he loved Willow. He didn’t think they’d ever seen each other clearly and only showed the parts they wanted the other to see, not the dark parts. Kristina said, that would have been honest, and they’d have handled the dark parts, but Michael said Willow couldn’t have handled his.

Lulu told Rocco that Gio found out the truth because of her. She uncovered some information and thought his dad deserved to know the truth. She investigated and found out the baby was Gio. Rocco said Gio was living with them. He didn’t get why Brook kept it from them, and Lulu said she didn’t know what Brook knew. She’d struggled over the right thing to do, but he needed to understand that she respected adoption as well as Brook’s right to make her choice. She took issue with the lies. Gio was his half-brother, and his dad was an amazing father, so when she found out he was here in their lives, she couldn’t keep quiet anymore.

Sonny said he couldn’t tell Gio how to feel, but Dante was a good man and a great father. If Gio give him a chance, Dante would show him. Gio said Dante didn’t like him. He made that perfectly clear after Rocco’s alcohol poisoning. He wasn’t interested in having a relationship because of biology. Sonny said he understood Gio felt hurt, angry, and betrayed. It wasn’t the best state of mind to make decisions. Take his time and see how he felt. Figure it out then and make a decision to what he was open to or not. Gio said, Olivia lied. Did Sonny ever stop hating her for that? Sonny said he never hated her. He was angry and it took a long time to get past that, but loves her. At times he thought about how much time he missed with Dante, but he forgave her and didn’t regret it.

Gloria said she and Brook’s mother her did their best. Brook owed her beautiful life to Lois. Stop hating her and try thanking her. Brook said her child was in pain because they’d both misled him his entire life, but Gloria said they’d made a decision that wouldn’t destroy her life or Gio’s. Brook said they didn’t know what life she would have given Gio, or he would have given her.

Elizabeth asked, what would keep Kristina from trying to kill Ava again? and Lucky said it was a wake-up call, but Elizabeth wasn’t convinced. Why was it on him to cover for her? Her mother was a lawyer. Lucky said it was too late. He helped cover it up, which made him an accessory. She said, so if he went to the police, he’d be charged too, and Lucky said if she felt the need, he’d go, but she told him not to risk prison. It didn’t just affect them. They had to think of Aiden, Ric, Molly, and Alexis, who was still grieving the loss of Sam. She wasn’t sending one of Alexis’s remaining daughters to prison. Lucky said when he saw Lulu, he thought of how much he owed Sam. He thought that’s what drove him to protect Kristina in the first place and didn’t think she would try it again. Elizabeth said it would only harm more people who didn’t deserve to be hurt. She’d keep Kristina’s secret.

Suzanne told Alexis that she was sorry. She assumed Laura knew what happened at the Nurses Ball. Alexis said Suzanne’s knack of oversharing worked out this time. Mayor Collins had the right to know. There was a knock at the door and Marco said he needed to discuss the Dolos fund statement. Suzanne left and Alexis asked what they needed to address.

Michael said he made an error in judgement when it came to Willow. He’s sure she felt the same way. Kristina said it’s not like Drew would make her happy and Michael said he wouldn’t. She destroyed her life to be with him, so it had to seem worth it. He was more important than the children. Kristina said everyone tried to tell Willow and she claimed the children were happy, and he said, the truth was, Wiley and Amelia were no longer emotionally safe. He was going to take the children, no matter the cost to Willow.

Brook said she loved her Quartermaine family, but didn’t trust them. Not until now did she realize they were the family she wasn’t safe with. Gloria said that wasn’t fair or true. Brook’s mother loved her more than anything and every decision she made was to protect her and Gio. Gio wasn’t hurting because of them. That honor went to Lulu Spencer who was messing around in things that were none of her business. Brook said Lulu hated her, so she didn’t expect anything from Lulu. But if this is how they showed her love, she didn’t want any part of it. Lois said she knew Brook was angrier than she’d ever been, but please say she believed Lois loved her.  

Rocco asked if Lulu told Gio, but Lulu said, no. She thought Gio overheard a conversation between her and Lois. She was going to tell Rocco’s dad, but Gio went public before she could. Rocco asked if they wanted him to talk to Gio, and Dante said he appreciated that, but it was on him. He had to figure out where to start. He left.

Sonny told Gio that if he needed a place to stay, he was Gio’s grandfather, so his home was Gio’s home. Even if he wasn’t Gio’s grandfather, it would still be. If there was anything Gio needed, he was here. Gio thanked him, but said, whatever he did next, he’d do on his own for himself, and he left.

Michael said he put his kids in this situation, and it was his responsibility to get them out, and Kristina said she’d help any way she could. Michael said if there was no other option, he’d break Willow down to nothing to keep the kids away. She was going to see a Michael Corinthos she’d never seen before.  

Marco told Alexis that the company was brand new, incorporated in the Grand Keys and in existence less than a month. Their only asset was the 10 million dollars from the Cassadine estate. It had the makings of a shell company, and he wondered if they were dealing with a case of fraud. Alexis said there was no fraud and assured him that they’d been vetted, and he said he realized he was new, but he liked her and the firm. He’d seen set-ups like this before, and it looked like a set-up for money laundering. Was she sure it was good?

Lucky said he was sorry. He owed Elizabeth the truth. She said she was glad he was being honest, but why now? What changed? He said if they’re really doing this, he couldn’t lie to her. He wanted to be worth of her trust. she was the most important thing in the world to him. If she hadn’t survived the crash, he couldn’t have handled it. She said it would be nice when she got her cast off and could move on from all this, and he said that was all he wanted, kissing her cheek. She said, in some ways, they’d taken a horrible situation and made it surprisingly wonderful. Being under one roof was unexpected and part of her would miss this. He said they could still look forward to amazing things like the dinner he was making for her tonight. He went to the kitchen and Elizabeth moved her blanket, uncovering a ring box.

Rocco said he was sure Dante hated how hard it was on Gio, and Lulu said she thought he was right. She had some regrets too, but now she thought Gio needed to figure out how great it was to have Dante for a father. Rocco said he was a good guy. Gio had to see that. Lulu said she thought he would, and he’d see how great it was to have Rocco for a brother. They hugged, when Laura came to the door. She told Lulu that heard it was a very eventful Nurses Ball.

Dante showed up at Sonny’s, and Sonny said he just missed Gio. Dante said he didn’t just miss Gio. He missed 22 years with his kid. He guessed that was Brook’s fault.  

Brook said she believed Lois loved her and believed Lois thought she was doing the right thing, but it was wrong. Not at the Nurses Ball. Were they thinking about Gio, standing up on stage, all alone, smashing his violin? He left the room shattered with nowhere to go and no one to trust. Think about that and tell her that everything they did was for the best for Lois’s grandson. Lois cried and Gio walked in.

Tuesday:

The pool is open! Trina and Kai went to the pool and met Emma there. Emma said her AC went out coming back from Niagara Falls with Gio, and Trina asked where he was now. Emma said she dropped him off at Sonny’s.

Dante told Sonny that he had a hard time seeing Brook the same way and owed Sonny an apology. When he found out Sonny was his father, he didn’t welcome Sonny with open arms. Sonny said they’d gone past that and moved on, and Dante said his mother lied and he gave her the benefit of the doubt, but he was having a hard time doing the same with Brook. Sonny said Dante could be angry with who he wanted, but the important thing was he had a son who was hurting.

Gloria said, thank God Gio came home to his family, but Gio said he wasn’t home and none of them were family. He was grabbing his stuff and leaving.

Alexis wondered if Marco was asking if she was laundering money, but he said, no. He had experience in international banking law and if she found herself entangled or the investment not working out the way she planned or she got in trouble, he was here to help.

Diane gave Ric her witness list and said she’d offered Willow a generous settlement. Ric said he had a few tricks up his sleeve and saw Kristina on the witness list.

In the hallway, Michael told Kristina that he was ready for this to be over, and Jason told Carly to keep cool on the stand. Do what it took to get her grandchildren away from Willow, even if she had to be civil. Drew and Willow came in with Nina, and Willow said she was terrified. Drew said he was here for her and so was her mother, and Nina said, don’t worry. Everything would work out just fine.

Tracy arrived and told Drew, sorry. She was fresh out of ketamine. Willow and Drew went into the courtroom and Drew told Ric that he was counting on him to convince the judge that Michael was no altar boy.

Sasha worried that Ric knew about her and Michael, but Jason said, he didn’t. But if she was called to the stand, she was good under pressure.

Diane said they were about to start and everyone went in. Michael told Jason that they had a problem.

Nina said hi to Sasha, who barely looked at her.

Lois said Gio had every right to be angry, but Brook had nothing to do with this. Gio asked Brook if they’d made her give him up.  

Dante said Gio was reeling, and Sonny said Dante knew what it was like to meet his father as an adult and could relate. Dante said he had a lot of years to make up for, and Sonny said if he and Dante got past it, Dante and Gio could work their way to each other. Dante said he had to get to the courthouse. He was testifying on Michael’s behalf. Sonny told him to go help his brother for both of them, they hugged, and Dante left.

Diane said she wasn’t putting Jason on the stand. Ric would question him about the incendiary device and would say his proximity to Sonny posed a danger to Michael’s children. He wasn’t wrong. Jason said he still wanted to support Michael, but she told him to support Michael from a distance. She asked if Michael was okay, and Michael said, no, but she was right. She said, always, and Michael said he’d be right in. He thanked Jason for understanding. Even after what she’d done, he hated raking Willow over the coals. Jason said it wasn’t about Willow. It was about the kids, and he had to keep them away from Drew. Michael was a great father, and his kids needed him. Jason left and Michael went inside.

Alexis thanked Marco, but said there was nothing to be concerned about. Dolos wasn’t a shell company, and she was perfectly comfortable with the investment. He said if she changed her mind or the investment came under scrutiny, there were ways to mitigate her personal risk. She thanked him, when her phone rang, and he left. She asked what Ric wanted, and he told her to get to the courthouse now. She said she didn’t have a court date, but he said, Kristina did.

Ric said Diane had added Kristina to the witness list. If she testified, she’d most like tell the story about Willow using Michael’s torched body as a bargaining chip. Alexis said, if Willow was worried about that, she shouldn’t have done it in the first place, and he said, like if Kristina didn’t want to go to prison, she shouldn’t have cut his brake lines. Alexis wondered what Diane could ask Kristina that had to do with the divorce, and Ric said, maybe nothing, but she never knew what her daughter might say that would open up a line of questioning. They were starting, so whatever she wanted to do, do it fast.

Josslyn walked into the pool area and Emma glared at her.

Sidwell and Jordan came to the pool and met Dalton at a table. Sidwell introduced Jordan and told her that Dalton was doing cutting edge research at PCU. Jordan said Sidwell told her that he was about to change the world, and Dalton said that was the plan. Josslyn told Trina and Kai that she had to work, but would see them on her next day off. She went over to Dalton’s table and Emma said she was sashaying over like she owned the place and cozying up to Dalton. Trina said Josslyn was working for him, and Emma said Trina’s bestie sabotaged her and stole the job that was practically hers.

Brook told Gio that she had no idea she had a son, but no one made her give him up. She was a teenager and wanted him to have parents who could love and care for him without needing to grow up themselves. Gio thanked her for being honest and got that she didn’t want him, but she said knowing she couldn’t care for him wasn’t the same thing. Gio said she would have found a way, and Brook said it was the hardest thing she’d ever done and carried it with her every day. Lois said, Brook loved Gio enough to give him a better life, even if it meant never seeing him again.

Judge Haran came in and asked to hear from the plaintiff. Diane said her client was seeking full custody of his minor children. They were going to prove the children’s mother abdicated her parental responsibility, beginning with her actions during an extramarital affair with Michael’s uncle. They were offering a 5-million-dollar settlement. Ric said Willow couldn’t be bought. She was a devoted mother and was seeking full custody. The judge told Diane to call her first witness.

On the stand, Carly said she was present at the Quartermaine Christmas party where the video of Willow and Drew having sex in the children’s nursery played, and Diane asked, what happened after it was viewed? Carly said she realized Willow and Nina had left, so she went to the gatehouse where Michael and Willow were living. She found Willow and her mother attempting to remove the children without Michael’s knowledge. Michael showed up before they could sneak away. Diane asked if he stopped them from leaving, but Carly said, he did not. He wanted to avoid confrontation, and Willow was emotionally unaware of how her actions were impacting the children. They were upset, but Willow was only concerned about how the night’s events were affecting her. Diane asked if it was difficult for Michael to watch Willow leaving with the children, and Carly said, it was heartbreaking, but he understood their well-being came first. Diane asked about Willow accompanying Drew to his inauguration, and Carly said Wiley called her. They were spending the night in a hotel suite, and she didn’t think Willow was aware he’d called. He said she was in Uncle Drew’s room. Diane asked if Michael had authorized the children’s transport across state lines, and Carly said, absolutely not.

Josslyn told Dalton that she’d sent out his proposal, and he introduced her to Sidwell. Sidwell said she seemed familiar, and Jordan said she was Carly’s daughter. Dalton said Josslyn was his new assistant, and Sidwell invited her to join them. Josslyn sat down, and Sidwell asked how she enjoyed working with Dalton. She said she couldn’t wait to get into the lab, and Dalton said his screening process was rigorous. He had to find people he trusted. He’d learned that lesson the hard way.

Chase took the stand, and Diane asked if he’d collected Wiley and Amelia from their grandmother’s penthouse. He said they had a court order to do so, and Diane asked if the children were upset. Chase said, not at all. Wiley was especially eager to go home. Diane asked if he hadn’t once been married to Willow, and he said, yes. She asked if Willow had been faithful, and he said, it was complicated. Diane said, yes, or no? and he said, no, she wasn’t.

Jason went to Sonny’s and told him that Diane changed her mind about him taking the stand. Sonny said he hated that the only thing he could do for his son was stay away and the only thing he could do for his grandson was wait him out. Gio had come by earlier and was angry, but Sonny hoped he could make up with his family. Jason said Gio wanted nothing to do with the Quartermaines, and Sonny said, he was especially mad at Lois and Gloria. Jason said, so were the Quartermaines. They were furious and they weren’t the only ones.

Gio asked why he should believe anything they said, and Lois said maybe he shouldn’t. They’d lied to him for his entire life, and she was sorry for that. Gloria told her not to apologize and told Gio not to act like they did a terrible thing. He had a good home, and Camilla was a wonderful mother. She loved him with all her heart, and he loved her the same. He said, then why did she lie to him every day of his life? Even on her deathbed, she didn’t tell him. Lois said they’d spoken to her before she passed, and she’d agreed it would be too confusing to tell him the truth. Brook said, she agreed? Did they pressure a dying woman into keeping their secret?

Ric asked who Willow cheated with, and Chase said, Michael. Ric asked if Michael knew she was married to Chase, and Chase said, he did. Ric had nothing further, and Diane asked to redirect. Did Willow know she was married to him? Chase said, of course (🍷), but… Diane thanked him. The judge told him to step down, then called for a 10-minute recess.

Drew asked if Ric planned on fighting back or was he going to hand the children over to Michael. Ric said, so far, there had been a lot of pearl clutching, even from Michael’s own mother, about him letting Willow take the kids. There were no kidnapping charges filed, and Diane was retreading old territory while they had new and compelling evidence to offer.  

Alexis got to the courtroom and asked to borrow her daughter. In the hallway, she told Kristina that she was getting her out before Kristina got them both thrown in prison.

Dalton said Sidwell had been generous in his support, and Sidwell said Dalton’s research was going to benefit the whole world. Dalton said, if only everybody saw it that way.

Trina told Emma that Josslyn wouldn’t take a job she hadn’t earned, and Kai said Josslyn would be spending the summer in a lab while they hung out at the pool. He intended to make the most of his freedom before training. He asked if Trina wanted to join him and they went into the pool.  

Gloria said Brook should be ashamed to accuse them of such a thing. It was Camilla’s choice. Lois said she didn’t want to pass on and have Gio grieving and questioning his entire life. Camilla made her wishes clear. She didn’t want to die with Gio thinking she wasn’t his mother. Gloria said if Camilla had wanted to tell him, they would have worked things out, and Brook said she got why they didn’t tell him before Camilla died, but afterward, she could have helped him. They made sure she never got the chance.

Diane told Dante that he was up next. Then Kristina, Tracy, and Michael was last. Dante said, Kristina left with Alexis, and Diane said she was testifying that Willow kept Michael’s family from him while he was fighting for his life in the burn unit. Carly said Diane could put her back on the stand, but Diane said they needed to hear from someone close to Michael who could clearly convey what happened. Michael said he thought he knew who could do it.

Sidwell asked Dalton to tell Jordan about his research, and Dalton said he was devising a process to help generate clean energy. Josslyn’s phone rang, she said she had to take it, and left.  

Back at her office, Alexis told Kristina that she was sorry if her absence hurt the case, but there was no choice. Marco came in and said Diane was looking for Alexis. Why wasn’t Kristina in court? Kristina said she was going to tell Diane that it was too triggering, and she was getting flashbacks from the last time Ric shredded her. It was believable. She told Marco that she didn’t think they’d met and introduced herself as the family embarrassment.

Jason asked how much forgiveness Lois needed from Sonny, and Sonny said he didn’t condone what she’d done, but he stood by their friendship because it was Lois. Dante and Brook were spinning and Gio felt the people he trusted the most lied to him. When he was on stage and broke his violin, it broke Sonny’s heart. (Same.) That instrument was his life, and he destroyed it. Jason suggested Gio was taking out his anger out on himself, and Sonny said he knew what it was like and didn’t want it for his grandson.

Brook told Lois and Gloria that they kept saying they wanted to protect Gio, yet they left him without any parents at all. Get out. They weren’t welcome there anymore. Lois said she’d pack her stuff, but Brook said she’d have the staff do it and send it to Bensonhurst. She wanted them out of her sight right now. Lois and Gloria left, Lois giving Brook a long stare (that I couldn’t exactly read).

On the stand, Dante said Michael wasn’t the intended target of the incendiary device. He was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Diane said, nothing further, and Ric asked Dante to tell the court what this was, giving him a folder. Dante said it looked like Michael’s criminal record, and Ric asked him to read the flagged passage. Dante read that Michael was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and served time in Pentenville, and Ric said, nothing further. Diane asked for a redirect and asked Dante to please describe the surrounding circumstances. Dante said, Claudia Zacchara kidnapped Carly who was pregnant. By the time Michael found them, Carly had given birth to Josslyn. Claudia absconded with the baby and in stopping her, Michael accidentally killed her. So he went to prison for protecting his baby sister. Ric then asked, what was the weapon in question? and Dante said, an ax handle. Ric said, for the record, Michael was charged with involuntary manslaughter, not self-defense or justifiable homicide. He had nothing further.

Tracy was sworn in, and Carly got a text from Josslyn: Stay calm on the stand. Don’t lose your temper. Diane said Michael and Tracy had a publicly contentious relationship, yet she was a character witness. Why? Tracy said they had a contentious business relationship. Michael was the lynchpin of the Quartermaine family and was her late brother Alan and his wife Monica’s only biological grandson. He was the future of her family. Drew wanted everything Michael had, including his wife, who enthusiastically obliged. Ric objected and it was sustained.

Ric asked Tracy to explain her arrest, but Tracy asked, why? It was irrelevant. Judge Haran told her to answer the question, and Ric asked if Tracy was arrested for kidnapping Wiley and Amelia. Tracy said she was babysitting at Michael’s request. The children were restless, so she had her bodyguard Yuri take them for a drive. Ric asked if she was refusing to answer, and Tracy said it wasn’t about her. It was about Willow’s fitness as a parent. Willow professed to being the perfect mother, but she was so willing to let Drew use her children as a weapon against their family. Ric asked if she was charged with kidnapping, and the judge told her to answer. Tracy said, yes.  

Tracy left and Diane said she’d like to call Michael, when Josslyn walked in. Diane said, actually, she’d like to request a brief recess to confer with her witness, but Ric said she could prepare on her own time, not the court’s. Judge Haran said she was inclined to agree. Call her next witness or rest her case.

Sidwell said he had another engagement, but Jordan should stay and enjoy the sunshine. He left, and Jordan said she’d love to read more about Dalton’s work. He said he appreciated her interest, but his research was hush-hush, and she said that made her want to read it even more. Why the need for secrecy? He said, the simple answer was that he didn’t want his work subject to public scrutiny until it was complete.

Kai and Trina called for Emma to come in, and she got in the pool. Dalton looked at her and she looked back. (Again, hard to read. Is he a creeper? Is she annoyed?)

Marco said he was the new associate and had only heard good things about Kristina. He left and Alexis said they couldn’t risk Ric questioning her. Kristina wondered if this was how it was going to be. Ric would say jump and Alexis would ask, how high? Alexis said Kristina tried to kill someone and almost killed two people. She didn’t get to be picky about how Alexis covered it up.

Lois went to Sonny’s and said she and Gloria were heading back to Bensonhurst. Her daughter wanted nothing to do with her. Sonny said, she would, but Lois said they’d see about that. Sonny offered to talk to Brook on Lois’s behalf, but Lois said, don’t bother. She was worried about Gio. He had no one looking out for him. Sonny said he’d do everything he could for their grandson, and she said that was all she could ask. She thanked him and left.

Brook said she’d like it if Gio stayed. They could work through this. He said he got it. They were both lied to, but the fact was, none of them wanted him. The feeling was mutual. He walked out.

On the stand, Josslyn said, Willow used the status of Michael’s medical proxy to bar the family from him. He’d filed for divorce, so they were estranged. Michael needed to be surround by family, but it didn’t matter. Willow used Michael’s life-threatening medical condition to get what she wanted and ignored the impact on the family, putting her child’s father’s health in jeopardy. Diane asked where Drew was, and Josslyn said, next to Willow. Diane gave it over to Ric, who said, when Willow forbade the family from seeing Michael, was it after Josslyn’s mother ruthlessly stole the children from their home? Josslyn said, no, and Ric said she didn’t have her niece and nephew taken by her mother? Josslyn said she did, but they were staying with their grandmother. They weren’t removed from their home. Her mother had a court order, so a judge felt they shouldn’t be under Willow’s care. It was perfectly legal. Ric said Josslyn testified that Willow took drastic action after the family used the legal system to separate her from her children. Wouldn’t any mother do anything to fight for her children? Diane objected and said Josslyn wasn’t an expert in motherhood, and the judge said, sustained. Ric said Willow’s only desire was to be reunited with her children. Wasn’t that all she wanted? Carly whispered, don’t take the bait, and everyone waited.

Wednesday:

Anna thanked Jack for stopping by her office. It wasn’t about official police business, but entirely personal.

Emma got out of the pool and Gio gave her a towel. He said he’d been hired as a lifeguard, but was pitching in. He couldn’t stay with her and her grandmother forever. She asked if he’d gotten all the answers he needed.

Lucky directed Elizabeth, sans cast, to a gazebo where a beautiful table was set for dinner. She asked what the occasion was, and he said, her getting her cast off. He thought she’d appreciate a change of scenery and they had a lot to celebrate.

Sonny met Laura at a table by the pool, and she asked if it wasn’t the day of Michael’s hearing. He said he thought it was better if he stayed away. She congratulated him on his new grandson and said that’s why she wanted to meet. She was afraid it would have huge repercussions for the entire family.

Brook stormed into Lulu’s house and Lulu asked what she wanted. Brook said she wanted to know why Lulu blew her son’s life to hell.

Ric asked Josslyn if it wasn’t true that her sister-in-law only desired to be a good mother, but Josslyn said she didn’t know. They weren’t close. She did recall something Willow said at the Nurses Ball though. They were in the ladies’ room and Willow told her that nothing was more important than being with Drew.

Elizabeth said the cast kept her from doing the things she loved, like dancing with him, and Lucky took out his phone. She said, not here, but he said, why not? and put on music. They danced.

Gio told Emma that he’d gotten some answers from Sonny, who had no idea Gio was his grandson. He went back to the Quartermaines’ to get his stuff and ran into Brook, Lois, and Gloria. It was World War III. Lois confirmed that Brook didn’t know he was her son, but that didn’t change the fact that she didn’t want him. Emma said she was sorry, and he said he didn’t know what to believe. Aside from her, the only person he trusted was Sonny. He saw Sonny sitting with Laura and said, and now he wasn’t sure about that.

Laura said there was tension between Lulu and Dante, when Gio interrupted. He asked if Sonny was keeping tabs on him.

Brook said she’d had another ugly encounter with her son, and Lulu said she wasn’t the one who gave up Gio and lied to Dante. Brook said, but she was the one digging into things that were none of her business and was responsible for Gio finding out in the worst way possible. Lulu went at it with Lois backstage where anyone could overhear. Lulu said if she could change it, she would, but Gio was suffering because Brook’s mother perpetuated a huge lie. That wasn’t on her. Brook said she blamed her mother and grandmother, but Lulu couldn’t deny her part in it. She was no way off the hook.

Willow jumped up and said, that was out of context, and the judge told her to sit down and refrain from further outbursts. Ric asked if there was anything more, and Josslyn said it was fuzzy after that. Things escalated when Drew barged in the ladies’ room, threatened her, and told her to stay away from Willow. He said Michael would lose his kids. Ric had no further questions, and Diane called Michael Corinthos III to the stand.

Diane asked if Michael loved his wife and he said he did. She said he not only married her, but made her the adoptive mother to his biological son Wiley, so he must have held her in the highest esteem. He said he did, and she asked if that continued today. He said he was in love and thought it had blinded him to certain red flags. Willow grew up in a cult, Dawn of Day, and he thought she’d suffered from that upbringing more than he’d realized. Ric objected, saying it was speculation, but Diane said Michael had direct insight on his wife’s character. Judge Haran allowed it, and Diane asked him to elaborate. Michael said Willow was taught not to think for herself and to bend to the will of others. She did that with the cult leader Shiloh and was doing it now. She was willing to do whatever Drew wanted even to the detriment of her children. Diane asked for an example, and he said she was a very damaged person. Unless and until her issues were resolved, he didn’t believe she was capable of providing a safe and stable home for their children.

Dalton sat next to Emma and said it was nice to see her again.

Jack said he’d never heard of Dalton, and Anna said he was a world-renowned physicist working on a highly classified project in Port Charles. He was working at Northern Coastal in Berkeley up until a year ago in a secure restricted lab. A student group tried to break in and vandalize the lab, but security caught them before they did any damage. What he was working on was so classified, rather than risk exposure, they had the students sign an NDA and expelled them instead of pressing charges. Within the month, Dalton left Northern Coastal and wound up in Port Charles. Jack said, it could be innocuous, but Anna said it had the earmarks of someone avoiding scrutiny. Dalton specialized in cold fusion. He asked what she thought was going on, and she said her gut was telling her that he was working on something big and potentially dangerous.

Laura told Gio that she asked Sonny to meet her there. It was her idea. Gio apologized and said he was on overload. Sonny said everything was confusing and introduced Laura, saying she was Rocco’s grandmother. Laura said she’d been meaning to reach out and thank him for what he did for Rocco the night he had alcohol poisoning. He was a good friend. Gio said he wished he’d done more. Now he was Rocco’s half-brother. Laura said she was looking forward to getting to know him better, and Gio said he had to get back to work. He left, and Laura said, clearly, Gio was in pain. Sonny said he wished he could do more to help.

Brook said she’d asked Lulu to back off, but Lulu kept digging, even after she said it would hurt her son. Lulu said once she suspected Gio was Dante’s son, she couldn’t drop it, and Brook asked how she figured it out. Lulu said she got suspicious when Dante ripped into Gio after Rocco’s alcohol poisoning and Lois got over the top protective. Things fell into place, especially when she found out Camilla was never pregnant. Brook said she should have stayed out of it, and Lulu asked if Brook really didn’t want to know she was Gio’s mother.

Ric said Michael alleged that Willow was incapable of giving their children a safe and stable environment due to her upbringing, but they should look at Michael’s. He was raised by Sonny Corinthos, a well-known crime lord. Diane started to object, and Ric said, withdrawn. There was no denying that Michael grew up surrounded by violence. He was shot in the head as a child with a bullet meant for his father and Dante had testified that he was caught in a firebomb at the penthouse, which was why he’d been absent from his children’s lives. Even if he wasn’t the target, it didn’t seem like a safe and stable environment for children to grow up in.

Ric said it wasn’t the first time Michael had manipulated the legal system to exact revenge. He’d sued his own father for custody of his half-sister Avery. Ric wanted to revisit the topic of Claudia Zacchara. Involuntary manslaughter was a serious crime.

Elizabeth thanked Lucky for going to all this trouble, and he said he’d thought about this since they were kids. She said, a picnic in a gazebo? but he said it was just the setting for the main event. She asked, what main event? and he said, this, showing her the ring.

Jack asked how Anna knew about the break-in, and she said she did some digging. He said, because Emma was a student? and she said that’s why it was personal. She would involve herself, but he had more resources and latitude. She knew she was on to something. He said he thought it was more like she was being an overprotective grandmother and wondered if it was impairing her usually impeccable judgement.

Dalton said he knew Emma was upset at not getting the job and hoped she didn’t hold it against him, and she said she was sorry she took it badly. She’d been disappointed. He said he had no idea it meant so much to her, and she said she enjoyed his class. She was jealous that Josslyn got to work so closely with him. Vaughn watched them from a nearby table.

Sonny told Laura that he’d spoken to Gio, who wanted to know if he’d known the truth. He hadn’t and thought Gio believed him. He hoped they could keep building a solid relationship. Laura said she thought they could. Gio knew he could talk to Sonny. Sonny said Gio was upset with Dante and Brook, and Laura said she knew Dante had a terrible fight with Lulu. She expected there would be friction for a while. That’s why she thought it was important for both of them to keep an eye out for Rocco. She had the feeling he could use the extra support.

Brook asked if Lulu expected a thank you, and Lulu said she at least expected Brook to stop acting like it was the worst thing ever. Brook said it was up there, and Lulu wasn’t the heroine in the story. Lulu said she wasn’t the villain either, and Brook said, whatever she had to tell herself. Yes. She’d rather be in the dark and sparing Gio the pain. Lulu said Gio would have a family – a father, brother, and a mother again – but Brook said she didn’t know if that was true. Gio pushed them away, and based how furious he was, she didn’t think that was ever going to change.

Diane asked if Michael had contact with his children while he was recovering in Germany, and he said they spoke on the phone. She asked if Willow facilitated the calls, but he said his sister Kristina did. Diane asked if Willow made a concentrated effort to connect him with his children, but he said, no. She said, since the adultery was exposed, had Willow made every action to separate him from his children? and he said, yes. Diane said Willow transported them across state lines for a trip with Drew and he was not advised? and he said, yes, correct. She asked if he’d been advised that on April 14th, Willow signed and filed a document appointing Drew Cain as the children’s guardian in the event anything happened to her, and Michael said, no. She said, no further questions, and submitted photos of Congressman Drew Cain, the guardian of her client’s children, engaging in a frolic with a woman convicted multiple times for solicitation. She asked for the court’s attention on the monitor and showed proof of Willow’s adultery with her uncle-in-law in the children’s nursery playroom. The video played and she rested her case.

Ric said Nina had seen the footage before, and Nina said, at the Quartermaines’ Christmas party. He asked how it came about, and Nina said, Tracy accidentally played it from Michael’s phone. It was from an app. Michael had secretly installed a nanny-cam without her daughter’s knowledge. (Not sure how this applies, since it wasn’t like he would think that would happen.) Ric said it was odd that Michael knew and never said anything, and Nina said, at first, he kept it a secret from Willow. Ric asked if she agreed with what Carly said went down at the gatehouse, and Nina said they did want to leave, and Carly tried to stop them. But when Willow insisted the children needed be with their mother, Michael never put up a fight and gave her permission to take the children. He asked if the children were upset, but she said, not at all, and he asked if it was fair to say Willow loved her children and they loved her back. Nina said Willow was the best mother she’d ever seen. Her children adored her. In her opinion, Michael didn’t want custody. He was just angry and punishing Willow for falling out of love with him.

Diane asked when Nina last spoke with her son-in-law, and Nina said she tried to speak with him at the Nurses Ball, but he was too busy snatching her grandson. Diane said, just answer the question, and Nina said, not since before he went to the hospital. Diane said, the same night he filed for custody, so her opinion on his motives for wanting custody was just speculation, and Nina said, yes.

Felicia went to Anna’s office and asked if she was interested in a bite, but Anna said she’d lost her appetite. Jack was there and she asked him to investigate something she was suspicious of that involved Emma. He accused her of being over-protective. She asked Felicia to put on her P.I. hat. She’d give Felicia the facts and Felicia could tell her if that was the case.

On the phone, Vaughn said he was hanging by the pool… No problem. He’d come right over. He left.

Dalton asked what Emma’s plans for the summer were, but she said she hadn’t figured them out. She might take an internship with a cosmetics lab, but it wouldn’t be like working in his lab. Was there any chance they could meet met up sometime? She had so many questions about things they’d talked about in class. He said he’d be delighted. His door was always open.

Josslyn’s phone dinged and she told Carly that it was work. She left, and Ric asked Sasha her occupation. She said she’d been the cook at the Quartermaines’ for a little over a year. He asked if during that time she witnessed any interaction between Michael and Willow, and she said she had. She even babysat the kids. He asked her to describe their relationship, and she said there was nothing out of the ordinary until she saw Willow kiss Drew on the 4th of July last year. He asked how she felt, and she said she was stunned and felt bad for Michael. They were friends. He said they were once engaged. Was their romantic relationship sexual in nature? Diane said it was irrelevant, but Ric said it spoke of the nature of their relationship, and the judge told Ric to proceed with caution. Sasha said, during the course of their relationship, they had sex, and Ric asked when their relationship ended. She said, 2021, and he asked, when was the last time they had sex?

Vaughn said he had Dalton under surveillance, and Jack said they hit a major snag. As they suspected, Anna was on to Dalton and close to launching her own investigation. Vaughn said, that could spook Dalton and send him underground, and Jack said, or worse, he could halt his research. They didn’t want him selling it, but they did want the technology for themselves. Anna couldn’t get in their way.  

Felicia wondered how Emma would feel about Anna asking the WSB to look into her professor, and Anna said, Emma would tell her that she was overstepping. But she felt she was on to something. Felicia said, was she, or was she overcompensating because of Robin?

Dalton told Emma to let him know when she wanted to meet up, and she said she’d be in touch.

Laura said she was sure everything would be done to shield Rocco, and Sonny said he was a sensitive kid. He’d figure it out. Laura said she thought it was important that he knew he could talk to them. She thought they should present a united front to show the whole family wasn’t torn apart. Sonny said he thought Rocco had a wise grandma, when Boyle approached the table with his phone recording. He said it was their esteemed mayor with Public Enemy Number One. Smile for the camera. It was a livestream for the people of Port Charles.

Lulu said she was sure Gio would come around, but Brook said she wasn’t. It didn’t have to be this way and would have been different if Lulu had come to her and let her decide. Lulu said she thought Brook would keep lying, and Brook said Lulu made a huge life-changing decision for her and her kid. She should have respected Brook as a mother instead of trashing her entire life. Congratulations. Lulu always wanted to destroy her life and finally succeeded.

Ric asked, when was the last time Sasha and Michael had sex? and Sasha said she didn’t understand why he was asking. He said he thought she did, and Diane objected. Judge Haran told him to get to the point, and he asked if Sasha was at the Brown Dog Bar on October 30, 2024. She said, yes, and he asked what she did. She said, drink, and he asked, how many? She said she didn’t know. She was upset after finding out her boyfriend was her cousin. He said, when she left, was she alone? and she said it was none of his business. The judge told her to answer, and she said she left with someone. Ric asked who she left with and reminded her that she was under oath. She said she left with Michael.  

Vaughn suggested Josslyn get involved, but Jack said she was too green to go up against a former agent. Vaughn said he knew how to handle Devane.

Anna said she’d always regret not being there for Robin when Stone died and she was diagnosed with HIV, and Felicia said she didn’t have to be over-protective because of it. Anna said, what if both things were true? She over-compensated, but she also trusted her instincts and they were telling her Dalton was working on something illegal.

Gio asked, who was that guy? and Emma said her professor. Gio said, the physics guy, and she asked if he was still there. He said, yeah. Why? She took off her towel, revealing her bikini bottoms, and Dalton watched.

Lucky said he’d loved Elizabeth almost his entire life, since the first day they met. They had their had ups downs, and he knew they’d been through so much. It seemed like madness, but they’d also matured a lot – her more than him perhaps, but deep down, the connection was still there. He believed more than ever they could still have the life they’d envisioned since they were teenagers. He got down on one knee and said all he wanted was to spend the rest of his days with her and Aiden and her boys. So would she do him the honor of marrying him… again? She said she loved him so much, but the answer was no.

Sonny said he was in no mood, and Boyle said this was why when the people hit the polls, they should vote for Ezra Boyle for mayor and vote yes on Measure C. Laura asked if he was done, but Boyle said he had so much more. Gio walked by with a stack of towels and accidentally on purpose knocked him into the pool. Gio said he was so sorry. He hadn’t seen Boyle. Laura and Sonny laughed as Boyle flailed around in the pool, and Laura said she liked that grandson of Sonny’s. Sonny said, he’s a winner.

Lulu said it was unbelievable. She was just trying to do the right thing and Brook and Dante were thinking the worst of her. Brook said she was glad to hear Dante didn’t believe Lulu’s act, and Lulu said, at least they knew Gio was their son. How it played out was up to them. She was out. She started to walk away, but Brook asked if she thought it was going to be that easy. Lulu was going to blow up her life and walk away? If she did, she was in for a rude awakening. Brook walked out.

Ric said Sasha and Michael left the bar after consuming a lot of drinks. Did they have sexual relations that night? Unless she wanted her baby born in Spring Ridge, answer truthfully. Sasha said, yes. They left the bar and had sex, and he said, here they were, 9 months later. He understood she was claiming Jason Morgan was the father. Was that really true? Or is Michael Corinthos actually the father? Sasha said Ric was a disgusting creep. Yes. It was true. Michael was the father of her baby.

Thursday:

Lucky asked Elizabeth to marry him – again – and she said she loved him so much, but her answer was no. He asked if she meant no now or forever.

At the pool, Lucas met Marco with a Mai Tai, and they clinked glasses.

Maxie met Sonny at a poolside table and asked why he wanted to meet privately. He said he didn’t want Lucy’s spin on it and asked how badly Deception needed Sidwell. She said, right now, they needed Sidwell more than they needed him.

Curtis told Portia to relax, and she said they were sleeping in separate bedrooms. How was she supposed to relax? He said he didn’t want the family to figure out something was wrong and ask questions.

Kai and Trina arrived at her house, Kai bearing flowers.

Jason met Anna at the park, and she said she needed his help. He’d be helping Carly too.

Jack said, Josslyn saw Sidwell and Dalton together? and she said she’d seen on Dalton’s calendar that he had a meeting at the pool. It being Sidwell was just a lucky break, and she was asked to join them. Jack asked if she’d learned anything interesting, and she said Sidwell was sponsoring Dalton’s research.

Ric said, on October 30th, Sasha had sex with Michael which resulted in her pregnancy, and she said, yes. He said, on October 30th, the night before Willow and Drew made love (gag), but she said she wasn’t there. She had no idea. He said, to the best of her knowledge, as far as she knew, was Michael unfaithful first?

Elizabeth said told Lucky that she didn’t see a way of their lives fitting together, and Lucky said he’d disappeared before and didn’t blame her for thinking he wasn’t going to stick around for the long haul, but he knew he could, and he wanted to. She said she loved having him there, and he’d hold on to the ring and prove every day that he was in it for the long haul. She said she believed him, but he had to ask himself, would it really make him happy?

Trina said she hoped Drew would focus on someone else and get off Portia’s back for a while. The doorbell rang, and Trina opened the door to Marshall. He asked how his favorite granddaughter was, and they hugged.

Maxie said, Sonny’s investment kept Deception afloat at a crucial time, but they’d made the money back several times over. Their Youth Truth serum was going through the roof, and the more demand for the product, the more zincite they needed. Sonny asked if Sidwell was the only one who could access it, and she said if he knew someone else who was sitting on a pile of it, introduce her. She’d heard the stories, and wasn’t happy working with Sidwell, but right now they were making money because of him. Money she needed because her kids refused to stop growing and eating. So she was putting her misgivings aside until he gave her a reason not to. Natalia walked in, saw Marco, went to the bar, and ordered a vodka soda.

Jason asked what Carly had to do with it, and Anna said, the new professor at PCU, Henry Dalton, was doing extensive research. It looked above board, but she was concerned that it was more dangerous than he was letting on. She needed help to prove she was right. Jason said he didn’t see what that had to do with Carly, and she said, Dalton hired a new research assistant – Josslyn.

Josslyn asked if she should get close to Sidwell, but Jack said he’d take care of Sidwell. Concentrate on monitoring Dalton. What was inside this box would allow her to clone the contents of his phone. He also knew Anna was suspicious of Dalton. She said, because of Emma, and he said Anna was determined to go after him. She said they needed to find a way to discredit Emma so Anna would stop looking, and he said they couldn’t attract Anna’s attention to the Bureau and had to let it blow over.

Ric asked, how inebriated was Michael? but Sasha said he’d have to ask Michael. He asked if drugs were involved, and she said, absolutely not. He asked if Michael had cheated with other women, and Diane objected. He withdrew the question and said, her witness. Diane said, let’s talk timelines. Sasha testified that she’d witnessed Willow and Drew share a kiss on July 4th, 2024. In a subsequent conversation, did she tell Sasha about a second kiss in early September? Sasha said, yes, and Diane asked if Willow confessed the nature of her feelings. Sasha said Willow told her that she had feelings for Drew that she couldn’t control, and Diane said, let the record reflect both the kisses and Willow characterizing her feelings happened before October 30th. Judge Haran said, so noted, and Diane had nothing further. The judge told Sasha to step down, but Ric had a redirect and asked how much Michael paid her to hid the fact she was carrying his baby.

Natalia said she was glad she ran into Marco, and he introduced her to Lucas. She said, nice to meet him. She needed to talk to Marco alone. Lucas said he’d be at the bar, and left. Marco asked if she realized how incredibly rude she was, and she said she was sorry, but they had important family business to discuss. Allison still wasn’t returning her calls. Could he please ask her to return one text or call. She’d like to join Allison on tour, and they needed to discuss things. Marco said, despite his better judgement, he introduced her to Lucas, who was important to him. Instead of making an effort, she wanted him to convince his sister to bring her on tour. Natalia said stop making her the bad guy. Allison needed to stop her tantrum and realize she needed her.  

Maxie told Sonny that she needed to take care of something quick and went over to Lucas. She said, please tell her that complete snack wearing the hell out of that swimsuit was Marco. He said it was, and she said she needed details. He could start with what Marco and his mother were fighting about. They didn’t look happy. Natalia told Marco to let her explain, as Sonny watched them.

Marshall said it was good to see them, and Curtis said, Aunt Stella and TJ were sorry, but they had to work late. Marshall said he was sorry he wouldn’t be there long enough to them, but it was just a short stop over, then the tour was back on the road. Curtis said they loved him and were proud of him. He was touring with Wynton Marsalis. Trina introduced Kai to Marshall, and Kai said it was nice to finally meet him. Marshall said he’d enjoyed Kai’s games. He had impressive improv skills and Marshall was sorry his career got cut short. Kai said he was on his way back to playing. It was miraculous. He’d met some who made it their mission to get him on the field again.

Elizabeth said she fell in love so young. The feeling had never gone away, and she couldn’t imagine it ever would. Loving him meant she wanted his happiness as much as her own. He said, being with her made him happy, but she said it meant being in Port Charles, the same town, the same house, and the same routine. She knew it was too small of a place for him and the last thing she wanted was for him to live an unfulfilled life just to prove himself to her. Was Port Charles really where he wanted to be?

Sasha said, Michael didn’t pay… She doubled over and Ric asked if she was all right. She said she was fine, and he asked if Michael told her to keep their tryst a secret, but she said they both felt no one else needed to know. He asked, why? and she said because she worked for his family, loved her job, and didn’t want to jeopardize it. He asked what Michael’s reason was, and she said she couldn’t speak for him, but she knew he still loved Willow, even after he found out she’d kissed his uncle, so maybe that. He said, when she found out she was pregnant, did she tell Michael? and she said, yes. He asked if Michael instructed her to keep it secret, but she said, no. She was the one who insisted. Michael was willing to claim the child publicly, but she asked him not to. She knew what was coming for Michael and Willow and didn’t want her baby going through that. She wanted to protect her baby from a life where the people around them tear each other… She gasped in pain.

Lucky said he loved Elizabeth and wanted to be with her, but maybe she was right. Port Charles would always be important, but it wasn’t his home anymore. Being there full time wouldn’t fulfill him, at least right now. Elizabeth thanked him for being honest, and he said he’d give anything to be the kind of person who was content staying, but she said, if he was, he wouldn’t be the person she loved. He said it was unfair. They’d just found their way back to each other. She said it would be more unfair if she asked him to stay, and he suggested she leave with him instead. They could go see the world together.

Trina told Marshall about the day Josh came early and Kai was on his pain meds. He just kept petting her sweater and saying, fuzzy. They all laughed, and Kai said Josh was a great guy, but he couldn’t wait until he could play again and his part in the documentary was over. Trina said, or they could go out in public without someone following them asking questions. Marshall said it was both flattering and a chore, and Kai said, Congressman Cain was generous enough to arrange and pay for his surgery. He felt the documentary was the least he could do.  

Anna said Josslyn would be working closely with Dalton, and Jason said she needed to tell him everything she knew about the professor. Anna said she became suspicious when the Emma thing didn’t add up. Dalton taught at Emma’s previous university. She was arrested for protesting his research, but instead of charging the students, the university swept it under the rug. It was almost as if the school didn’t want to call attention to it. After that, Dalton turned up there at PCU. Jason said none of that told him that it was worth investigating, but she said, the fact that the WSB was looking into it should.

Marco said Ally had worked up the courage to tell Natalia who she really was, and Natalia pushed her aside, like she did him. Natalia said she was trying to be better, and she was better, but Marco said, not enough. In the years when he needed a mother, she wasn’t there. The best thing to do was leave Ally alone and stay away from him too.

Sasha said she thought she was in labor, and Rick suggested it was cheap theatrics. Michael yelled at him to back off and ran up to Sasha, and Judge Haran adjourned the court while the witness got medical attention. Michael promised Sasha that it would be okay, and she said it wasn’t supposed to happen for another month. She couldn’t lose the baby. It couldn’t be like Liam. He said it wouldn’t. They’d get her to the hospital on time. She said there was no time. The baby was coming now. Willow said, let her help.

Willow asked if Sasha was feeling pressure or the urge to push, and Michael asked if she thought she could make it to the hospital, but Sasha said she wasn’t going anywhere. The pain was too strong. He said the paramedics were on their way, but Willow said they wouldn’t be on time. Sasha’s water broke and her contractions were two minutes apart. The baby was coming any second.

Lucky said they could see the world together. Elizabeth was an amazing nurse. Think of the good they could do. Every day would be an adventure. (Packing now.) Elizabeth said, what about their son? and Lucky said he could come too. His parents bounced around. She said he was born into that life and didn’t know any different. Aiden had friends and family here. He had school and Tobias. He was graduating soon and would apply for college. She didn’t know if he wanted to be uprooted. He said, Aiden came first, but when he went to college, they were free and could go wherever they wanted. Elizabeth said it wasn’t just Aiden. She had a life here too, that she loved. She had friends and family and a career that she didn’t want to leave behind. It would make her as unhappy as he would be if he stayed.

Natalia said she knew she made a mistake and wanted to make it right if Marco would give her the chance, but Marco said he had. And she disappointed him every time. He was done thinking she was going to change and done with this conversation. Go get drunk somewhere else. She walked away and Sonny asked her to have a seat. She sat with him and said, when she tried to fix things with her kids, why did she make it worse? He said they were hurt. She needed to give them space. They’d come around when they were ready. She said Marco’s father was doing everything in his power to keep them apart, and Sonny said, Marco seemed like a smart guy. Sooner or later, he’d realize he needed his mommy. Natalia asked why Sonny was being so nice.

Jason asked how Anna knew the WSB was involved, and she said, Brennan. He said, Jack told her? and she said, he may as well have. When she told him her suspicions, he completely dismissed them out of hand. He said her judgement was clouded because of Emma. Jason asked if there was any chance he was right, and she said she was good at what she did. It didn’t behoove Jack to wave off her suspicions. He asked if she thought Jack was trying to throw her off, and she said she was certain of it. The fact that he said there was nothing there meant there was definitely something there. She had no idea about the WSB’s plan, but if it warranted their attention… He said, it’s got to be big, and she said, and therefore dangerous. Josslyn had no idea what she was being pulled into.

Jack said, in order to avoid Anna’s scrutiny, she needed to believe Josslyn was who she thought Josslyn was, and Josslyn said she was a hard-working college student with a job in a science lab. Josslyn said, if Anna asked any questions, she didn’t know what Anna was talking about. Jack said if Anna popped in the lab, Josslyn would be surprised. Under no circumstances was she to run interference. Was he clear?   

On the phone in the hallway, Carly said, what did they mean, the paramedics couldn’t get through?… There was a protest about Measure C? Tell them that a woman was having a baby and to come now.

Drew told Ric that he was nervous at first… Nina interrupted and said, what the hell was Ric doing? He said his job, and she said she gave him everything, even the contact information on the bartender who saw Sasha and Michael leave together. All he had to do was establish they’d had an affair. Carly stormed over and said, it was her. Nina was the reason Ric found out it was Michael’s baby.

Lucky said he fell in love with Elizabeth the moment he saw her sneaking a cigarette outside Kelly’s all those years ago, and he never stopped loving her. He’d always love her. She said she’d always love him. She wouldn’t be who she was today without him. They used to want the same things, but the people they grew into… He said, not so much.

Lucas asked what was with Marco’s mom, and Marco said, same as always. Lucas said he was sorry. If Marco wanted to talk, he was there. Natalia seemed upset. Marco asked if that was Lucas’s way of telling him that he was too hard on her.

Sonny said he’d been where Natalia was at with his son Michael. They were able to find their way back to each other and he thought her kids would do the same. She had to back off and let it happen. Maxie waved to him from the bar, and he said he had a meeting and asked her to think about what he said. She said, yeah, and thanked him. Sonny left, and she looked at Marco. She called Sidwell and said she was done letting him put her off. He owed her and she was coming over to collect. She drained her drink and left.

Portia said, Michael showed up? and Trina said she left out the part about Willow seeing Wiley running into Michael’s arms. It was quite an entrance and exit. He picked up Wiley and walked out. Portia said she was sorry she missed it, and Trina asked why they had to leave early. Portia said she told Trina. They both had work in the morning, plus her father had to phone some affiliates in Japan. But they were there for the most important part, Trina’s song.  

On the patio, Marshall said Kai seemed like a solid young man, and Curtis said he was and he treated Trina well. Marshall said that was all that mattered, but something Kai said had him worried, and Curtis said he thought positively about Drew. Marshall said they both new Drew Cain didn’t deserve his admiration, and Curtis said Drew had been good to Kai, but he hoped Drew didn’t turn on Kai the way Drew turned on him.

Willow said Sasha was doing great. She could do this. Sasha said she couldn’t lose another child, and Michael said the baby would be fine. From the information she’d sent him, he knew the baby was healthy and strong. She’d done everything right and she was going to come through the pregnancy. She was one of strongest people he’d met, and he knew she could do this one last thing. Willow said the baby was crowning. This was it. Take a deep breath and one last big push. Sasha pushed.

Carly said Sasha was Nina’s friend. How could Nina betray her like this? Drew said it happened because Carly insisted on a court date. Now Michael would know she betrayed him, and he’d lose custody of his children. Carly said he didn’t give a damn about Wiley and Amelia. He was helping Willow to hurt Michael. Nina said Carly was trying to take Willow’s children from her to hurt Willow, but Carly said she was protecting her grandchildren. Willow had lost all sense of decency and common sense to be with Drew. Drew said they loved each other and wanted to spend the rest of their lives together. He didn’t know why she couldn’t accept that. Carly said she wasn’t the only one who had a problem with him. She knew for a fact Nina was the one who hired Jacinda and had him drugged.  

Sasha wondered why the baby wasn’t crying. Please tell her the baby was okay. The baby began to cry, and Willow picked up the biggest preemie in history. She said, it’s a girl.  

Elizabeth asked if Lucky planned on leaving Port Charles soon, and he said, yeah. He knew it was sudden, but being here and knowing they couldn’t be together hurt too much. He should find Aiden and talk to him. He had no clue how to tell Aiden that he was leaving again. Elizabeth said she might have a thought.

Josslyn told Jack that if she saw Anna, she was her friendly neighborhood student assistant, and he said he’d take care of Devane. She asked what he was going to do, and he said he was just informing her. It was her job to concentrate on the mission and not question outside her purview.

Anna said she couldn’t be 100% certain her suspicions were correct, but Jason said, the fact that the WSB was interested pointed to her being right. Anna said, now Emma was going after Dalton. Emma denied it, but she knew and couldn’t allow her to get involved where she might get hurt. She needed to find out what Dalton was working on and what he intended to do with it. Jason said, and if Josslyn is in danger, and Anna said she couldn’t get directly involved. Dalton would know the WSB had eyes on him. She needed him to look into Dalton for her, but promise not to confront him directly. He said he’d take care of it.

Sonny thanked Maxie for the meeting, and she said she wanted to make sure he wasn’t offended. He said, no, but he thought they should be more careful. Sidwell knew when he invested in Deception that Sonny was an investor. He was positive Sidwell’s interest in Deception was actually an interest in him.

Lucas told Marco that his relationship with his mom had a lot of ups and downs, but they were both willing to work on their issues and got through it. It was hard to believe she was gone. They lost a lot of time fighting, but when they worked things out… Marco asked if it was Lucas’s subtle way of telling him not to cut his mother out, but Lucas said it wasn’t his place. He was just offering his own experience. Marco said he was glad Lucas did, and took his hand.

A police officer gave Natalia a breathalyzer test and said it was .12, way over the limit. Natalia said she felt fine, but the officer said she was under arrest for driving while intoxicated. She argued as he cuffed her and read her rights.

On the patio, Kai left to get Marshall a refill, and Trina said, so? Marshall said he seemed like a nice young man. Did he make her happy? She said, so happy, and he said that was all they needed to worry about. She said she missed him, and he said he missed her too. More than he could ever say.

Portia said she’d told Trina that she and Curtis left early because they had work in the morning and he had a call from affiliates in Japan, and he said she was good at making up stories these days. Portia said she was sick of it. The snide comments, the tension, and straight up anger he’d been throwing her way. He said, deal with it. They can’t figure out what to do about their marriage until he finds Jacinda and pays her off to say Drew hired her for sex then took ketamine on purpose. (He’s out of the loop.)

Willow gave the baby to Sasha and Sasha said she was so beautiful. Michael said she was amazing, and thanked Willow, who nodded. They all looked at the baby, and the paramedics came in with a gurney.  

🫔 Friday’s Enchilada…

Marshall says he’s overjoyed at how happy Trina is with Kai, but Kai’s admiration for Drew Cain is a bit unsettling. Curtis says he doesn’t like it either, but he hopes Kai sees the truth about Drew. Marshall says he hopes it happens sooner rather than later.

Molly goes into the interrogation room and as she’s looking at a folder, she says she’s here to ask a few questions of… Miss Ramirez. A still drunk Natalia says she doesn’t appreciate being held like a common criminal. She holds up her cuffed wrists and says, look at this. It’s harassment because she knows Sonny Corinthos. Tell the police they’re not going to get away with it.

Jordan says, since the Nurses Ball, Sidwell has been well-received. She thinks he should donate to the July 4th celebration, keeping him in the spotlight as a philanthropist both corporately and as a citizen. He says he’d like to look into it, when Marco comes in. Marco says he doesn’t mean to interrupt, but Sidwell says, he’s not. They’re just wrapping up. Unless of course (🍷) … Jordan says she has one last question, about Henry Dalton.

Jason says he’ll get what he can on Henry Dalton and confirm the WSB’s interest in him, and Anna thanks him. He says he’ll be discrete, and she says she appreciates it. ADA Turner comes by and says, it’s a nice night for a stroll, but a curious place for a chat. Or did she interrupt a meeting?

In Sasha’s hospital room, Michael says, the baby is so beautiful, and Sasha says, the doctors say she’s perfect, even if she did come early. Sonny comes in and says he could have told her that. He and Michael hug, and he asks how Sasha feels. She says, better than ever, and Sonny says, congratulations to both of them. Michael introduces him to his new granddaughter Daisy, and Sonny says, hello, little one. Welcome to the world.

Carly and Felicia hug, and Felicia says, Bobbie would be so pleased. Another Spencer woman in the world who also happens to be a Scorpio. Carly says, Daisy has a flair for the unconventional, which means she’ll fit right in with in both families. She’s just thankful Daisy is healthy and safe. Felicia says she thinks the woman Carly should thank is Willow, and Carly turns to see Willow standing there.

Nina knocks on Drew’s door and says she knows he’s in there. He needs to listen to her. He opens the door and says, don’t waste her breath. It’s too late. Nina says, Willow knows? and he says, not yet, but the second she comes home, he’s telling her that her own mother set him up. She tried to destroy his life and reputation. She says, if he does that, they’ll both lose Willow. She guarantees it.

Curtis says he really missed Marshall, and Marshall says he missed his family too. He’s sorry Portia got called back to GH. He kind of got the feeling that she was using work as an excuse to get out of the house. Is there something Curtis wants to tell him?  

Molly says, according to the arresting officer’s report, Natalia blew a .12 on the breathalyzer. Then she grabbed the breathalyzer out of the officer’s hand. Natalia says she doesn’t want to cause any more trouble. This has taken so much of her time already. Just let her pay the fine or whatever. She wants to go. Can she go? Molly says she doubts that’s going to happen, but it’s up to whoever is prosecuting the case, and Natalia asks if she isn’t it. Molly says, normally she would be that, but she’s going to recuse herself because of personal bias. Otherwise, Natalia’s lawyer could claim she’s not impartial. Natalia says she doesn’t know Molly, but Molly says she knows Natalia, for the homophobe that disrespected her sister.

Sidwell tells Jordan, Henry Dalton has innovative ideas on forms of clean energy and he’s funding Dalton’s research. She says she thinks that would be more proof of him being a philanthropist, but he says, not yet. The research is promising, but he’d like to wait to highlight his involvement once it’s successful. Marco says he assumes this is part of Sidwell’s push to position himself as a legitimate alternative to Sonny Corinthos, and Sidwell says, maybe. Before Jordan goes, he’d like her to show Marco more of the latest polling. She says, the latest polls show that 62% of the voters want Sonny’s piers taken from him using imminent domain. That means Measure C is on track to pass. Marco says, that’s the last thing Sidwell wants.

Anna says, not that it’s any of Turner’s business, but she and Jason were discussing her granddaughter, Emma. Emma and Jason’s cousin Gio left the Nurses Ball together. She can understand their concern. She was there, wasn’t she? Turner says she was, and nothing brings you closer together than family. Jason asks if this is official or is he free to go, and Anna says she doesn’t know. Maybe Turner is going to arrest him for speaking to her or her for talking to him. Turner says, they’re both free to go, and Jason leaves. Turner says, Anna has to see how bad it looks meeting in secret. Even if nothing happened, the implication of impropriety is there. Anna is a public servant and needs to be aware of how she’s perceived. Anna says, suspicious minds will always find something wrong. There’s nothing she can do about that. Turner says, her behavior is compromising the public’s trust in the city of Port Charles and their leaders, and Anna says, save it for her stump speech. Turner asks how Anna knows, and Anna says she respects ambition. In Turner’s case, it’s the sheer volume. She’s obviously set her sights on being the new DA. Turner says, Port Charles needs newer, younger blood and a DA who actually lives in Port Charles and is doing their job. Anna says, Robert is a hard man to beat. She’s going to need more than mudslinging.

Curtis tells Marhsall that when he found out about Trina, he and Portia agreed that the only way they could continue their marriage was to be completely honest with each other. He just found out she’s been lying to him for months. Marshall asks if he’s talking about… Curtis says, she hasn’t been unfaithful. That’s all he thinks he wants to say right now. Marshall says he’s truly sorry, but something is different this time. Whatever happened, Curtis is still here. Curtis asks what he means, and Marshall says, he could have walked away, but he didn’t. Why not?

Nina says, if Drew tells Willow about Jacinda, she’ll tell Willow that while they were falling in love, he was also sleeping with her mother. She’ll turn her back on both of them and be completely alone at Michael’s mercy. Is that what he wants? He says he can’t see Willow forgiving either one of them, but he can’t believe Nina had him drugged and paraded around Port Charles. Nina says, no one made him go clubbing or take body shots off a sex worker, and technically speaking, she didn’t drug him. He asks how she could do this to Willow. Willow’s pain at being betrayed was horrible. What kind of mother would do that? She says, the kind desperately trying to save her daughter from him, but now she knows that’s impossible.

Carly says she owes Willow a huge thank you for coming to Sasha’s aid, and Willow says she’s glad she was there to help. She’s happy for Sasha and Michael, and Carly. Carly thanks her, and Willow says, hopefully this means no more fighting. The truth is out there, and the judge’s decision should be obvious now. Carly says her greatest hope is that her grandchildren, all her grandchildren, end up where they’re safe and loved. She leaves, and Felicia asks if Willow is good. Willow says, yeah, but Carly doesn’t understand. Now that Michael’s secret is out, Michael lost.

Michael says he’s sorry he didn’t see Sonny before this, but Sonny says he hears Michael’s been busy. Michael says he’s not the only one. Sonny’s seen two new grandchildren is just as many days. Gio, now Daisy. Sonny says, life is full of surprises and miracles, and he and Michael hug.

Nina says, Willow is completely in love with Drew and will believe anything he tells her. It’s cost her so much. She doesn’t want Willow to lose her kids too. Drew asks, how could she? It’s out there now on record that Michael cheated first and fathered another child. When the judge rules, they’ll finally be free to get out of Port Charles. Nina asks what he’s talking about, and he says they’re about to start a new life in DC, away from all this. Away from all his haters. She says she knows that’s what he wants, but what does Willow want?

Sasha tells Daisy that she’s been waiting for her all along. She loves Daisy so much. In a baby voice, Cody says, I love you too, mama, and comes in. He says he won’t stay. He wanted to make sure she was okay after her courtroom birth. Sasha says, she’s perfect, and he says, they both are. She thanks him and tells Daisy that this is her big old cousin Cody. He says, hey, Daisy. I have so much wisdom to pass on, tiny grasshopper. He tells Sasha that he guesses he has a few apologies to give to Jason, and she says, yeah, he does. Daisy was conceived on the night they broke up. She was at the Brown Dog Bar, and she was devastated. Michael was there. He says, at least something good came from their doomed romance. He’s glad she found her happily ever after. She thanks him and says she hopes he finds his too.

Natalia says, Molly’s sister forgave her, and Molly says, Kristina has a big heart. Now Natalia sees why she can’t be the prosecutor. Another ADA will come. Natalia asks, how long will that take? She didn’t even get her phone call, and someone has to take these off. She shows Molly the handcuffs again, and Molly says she’ll talk to the desk sergeant. Good luck. She leaves and Natalia says, thanks… for nothing.

Curtis tells Marshall that the knows Portia loves him and God knows he loves her too, but the lying hurts. It’s twice that he knows of and he doesn’t want to make the same mistakes he made with Jordan. Marshall asks what he means, and Curtis says he reached a boiling point. It was one lie too many and that was it. In retrospect, Jordan’s lies were work related. They were tied up around bringing Cyrus to justice. For him to ask her for answers just wasn’t fair. Marshall says, he was just trying to make it work, and Curtis says he was fighting for what they had. He quit and sometimes he thinks he gave up too soon. Marshall says, from the sound of things, maybe he should give Portia the second chance he didn’t give Jordan. Curtis says, maybe.

Michael says, Jason told him that there was another attempt on Sonny’s life, and Sonny says, yeah. Brick saved his life. He’s thinking the person behind it could be responsible for whoever bombed the penthouse. He hates that Michael was hurt because of it, and not for the first time. Michael paid a high price for being his son. Michael says he wouldn’t change it if he could. Nothing his kids could ever do would make him stop loving him and the same went for them. Sonny says, thank God, and Michael says, Sonny did everything in his power to protect him, but now he’s an adult and he’s protecting himself and his family. Sonny pats his shoulder.

Marco says, support for Measure C would be going against Sidwell’s own interests. If Sonny sold him the piers and Measure C passed, it would be his property that would be seized. Sidwell says, it won’t come to that. They’re using Measure C as a strategy to get rid of Sonny. Jordan says, so far the strategy is working, and Sidwell says, in passing Measure C, they’re using it to pressure Sonny into selling the piers. Once the piers are his, the voters wouldn’t care about Measure C. Sonny’s hold on Port Charles will be gone. Jordan says, on that note, good night, gentlemen, and she leaves. Marco says he hopes Sidwell has a Plan B, and Sidwell asks, why? Marco says, Sonny Corinthos isn’t the type of man to give up without fight.

Sonny tells Michael how Diane thought Michael would probably be better off if he stayed away from the hearing, and Michael said he knew. She’d said something to Jason. Sonny asked how it was going, and Michael said, honestly, he didn’t know. When his paternity came out, he thought his biggest nightmare came true, but when Sasha gave birth, he got to be there. It felt like a miracle. Sorry he didn’t tell the truth about the baby. Sonny says, as long as the baby is healthy and he and Sasha are on the same page, and Michael says he thinks they are. Sonny says, Drew has been pulling Willow’s strings, and Michael says, it pushed him to the point where he had to fight for Wiley and Amelia. Sonny says, maybe everybody coming together will bring them an opportunity. A smart man knows sometimes compromise is the only solution. And Michael is a very smart man.

Jason visits Sasha, and he says, the baby is beautiful. It looks just like her. Congratulations. She thanks him for everything he did for them. He took a lot of flak from a lot of people for nothing. The secret came out anyway. Jason says they did the best they could in the situation. The good news is she and Michael get to be Daisy’s parents. She wonders if she can ask one more favor. She’s had no time to run it by Michael, but she’s sure he’d agree. Would Jason be Daisy’s godfather? He says, it would be an honor, when Carly asks if she can come in.

Jordan tells Curtis that she’s sorry to just drop by. TJ told her that Marshall was in town and she wanted to say a quick hello. Curtis says, he would have loved that. Unfortunately, he had a late flight. She says she’s sorry she missed him, but please tell her that they had a good visit. He says, it was wonderful and it couldn’t have come at a better time. He needed his dad’s insights. She asks if Portia is there, and he says, no. She’s at GH. They’re both making a lot of excuses not to be alone together. She says she’s sorry, and he says, so is he. He doesn’t know what’s happening with his marriage.

An officer uncuffs Natalia and gives her phone to her, and she says, it’s about time. Privacy please. She makes a call.

Marco’s phone rings and Sidwell asks if he needs to get that, but he says, no. He’s already said all he needs to say to her.

Natalia says, voicemail. Perfect. She leaves a message saying she gets it. Things ended badly earlier at the MetroCourt, but she’s in real trouble. She needs him, so can he please come to the PCPD as soon as he can? Please, Marco. Please.

Molly goes to the pool and sees Cody with a beer, his feet in the water. He yells, Molly! Come join the celebration! Even she must be off the clock by now. She says she has to be… Why the hell not? and he says, a beer for the lady, but she says, actually, she’ll have white wine.

Turner tells Anna she’s not campaigning. Not yet. She’s doing her job. Two of the city’s top officials – the mayor and the Police Commissioner – have close personal ties to known criminals, Sonny Corinthos and Jason Morgan. Why not bring them up on charges? Anna says, give her evidence that will stick in court and she’ll arrest them immediately. Turner says, sounds good, but she’s read Mr. Morgan’s arrest record. All the times he was arrested, he never once saw a conviction. Anna says, that’s the DA’s department, not hers, and Turner says, the DA’s office is limited by the evidence collected, or lack thereof, by the PCPD. Anna says, goodnight, and leaves. Turner says, goodnight, and answers her phone. She says, really? They made an arrest… You know what? She’ll take care of it herself.

Sidwell asks if something happened between Marco and Natalia, but Marco says, just more of the same. She is who she is. He suggests they focus on Sonny. It’s not going to be easy dealing with him. He’s been running Port Charles for decades and stopped other hostile takeover attempts. Sidwell says he sees Marco has done his research, and Marco says, you bet. Sonny’s a heavy hitter. He should never be taken lightly. Sidwell says he’s also done his research. Marco’s friend Lucas is an extended member of Sonny’s family. Marco says, another reason he wants nothing to do with Sidwell’s campaign for getting Sonny out of town.

Nina says, Drew is the main reason Michael and Willow’s custody fight got so vicious so quickly, but now they have the opportunity to cool things down. So why doesn’t he step back a little bit and give Michael and Willow room to talk about a custody arrangement that doesn’t include ripping the family apart? If he advocates for that, Willow will give him all the credit. Drew says, Michael is a Quartermaine, and those people don’t stop until they have everything. So the only way to protect Willow is to convince her that Michael is relentless and not to be trusted. Willow needs to get custody of the kids. Otherwise, Michael will take them from her.

Willow sees Michael at the elevator and asks if he’s leaving. He says he’ll be right back. He’s picking up Wiley and Amelia so they can meet their baby sister. He gets in the elevator.

Jason says he’ll give them a minute, but Carly says, don’t go far. He says he’ll be right outside, and leaves. Sasha says, Michael knew everything, and Carly says she understands. She knows Sasha did everything she could to protect Michael’s baby. All she can ask is that they be honest with each other. Sasha thanks her, and Carly thanks Sasha back. She says, if Sasha and her daughter need anything, please ask her.  

On the phone, Drew asks if Willow is coming home soon, but she says she’s sticking around a little longer. Michael is bringing Wiley and Amelia and she’s hoping to see them. He says, don’t worry. Soon she’ll have full custody, and she’ll get to see them every day.

Cody says, get over here. The water’s great. Molly says she has a few more emails and she’s not messing up her suit. He asks if she can’t be the least bit spontaneous, consequences be damned, and she says she’s perfectly comfortable. Besides, the pool is closed. He says, that’s an easy fix. Just turn the sign over. Does she sleep in her business suit? Does she color code her underwear and organize her socks? She says, okay, okay. Fine. She’ll show him that she’s not uptight. She takes her shoes off and rolls up her pants. She sits next to him and puts her feet in the ware. She says, happy? and he says, elated.  

Turner tells the desk sergeant that she heard Natalia Ramirez was brought in this evening, and he says, she was. Is the acting DA taking DWI cases now? She says she’d like to see Natalia’s file, and he gives it to her. She flips through it and says she needs them to check on priors. She wants everything she can get her hands on about Natalia Ramirez.

Sidwell asks how it’s going with Lucas, and Marco says, they’re taking it slow. But he’s not unsure about the feeling that Lucas could be someone special. He doesn’t want to screw it up. Sidwell says he’s happy for Marco and Port Charles to have the both of them. Marco asks why he wants the piers, and Sidwell says, it’s the perfect place to expand his interests as a mineral importer, as well as his less public pursuits. Marco says he’s going to stop Sidwell there. He represents Sidwell in his legitimate business dealings only. That’s their agreement. He has nothing to do with anything illegal. Sidwell says he does business all over the world. What’s illegal in one place is legal in another. Marco says, Sidwell is a successful businessman many times over. Does he really need to push for more?

Curtis says he told Jordan at the Nurses Ball, Drew was pressuring Portia to have him run favorable coverage about what he’d doing. She asks if he found out what Drew has on Portia, and he says, it’s pretty bad. It could ruin Portia’s life. He saw all the signs, but didn’t want to believe Portia would lie to him to do Drew’s bidding. She says she’s sure Portia felt backed into a corner, and he says, the problem is even worse. The pictures of Drew’s mystery woman. Portia set him up. She hired Jacinda and gave her ketamine to give to Drew. Jordan says, wow. What a mess. Curtis says, after Trina, Portia promised him, no more lies. She broke her promise and chose to manipulate him instead of telling him the truth.  

Nina visits Sasha, who says, she just missed the star of the show. Nina says, that’s okay. She’ll go to the nursery and see her through the glass. She came to see if Sasha was okay. Sasha says she’s a bit tired, but so happy, and Nina says, good. She’s sorry for the way Ric went after her. She’s sure the shock of his harsh treatment probably led to Sasha’s premature labor. She never meant for anything to happen to Sasha or her baby. Sasha says, that’s on Ric, not Nina, and Nina says she wishes that were true. She was the one who told Ric that Sasha and Michael had sex.

Jason tells Carly that Michael asked him not to tell her. At first, he only knew they’d slept together, but when Michael asked for her in the burn ICU was when he put it all together. Carly says, what about the rumors he was the father? and he says he didn’t deny them because they were trying to protect Michael and Sasha. She says, that’s awfully noble. She has to know. For Michael, would he have continued to lie to her?

Sasha asks how Nina knew, and Nina says she just recently figured it out. She was in the Brown Dog Bar and the bartender confirmed it. Sasha says, and she ran to Ric. How could she do that? Nina says she hated doing. She’s sorry she exposed Sasha’s secret, but she couldn’t let Willow’s children be taken away. Sasha says she knows Nina loves Willow, but does she really think the children will be better off with Drew full time?

Jordan says she doesn’t believe Portia set out to lie. Fear is the driving force behind a lot of lies and bad decisions. Curtis says he realizes that, but they just want to keep how far apart they are from Trina, and she says, they can’t keep it from her indefinitely. Trina is too smart. Curtis says, she definitely is and will figure it out. Jordan says, the kindest thing for him and Portia to do for each other is not rush to judgment. Take a beat and look for a way to repair what’s broken instead of fixing his discomfort by ending the marriage. He says, easier said than done, but she says he’s the strongest man she knows. If he wants to save his marriage, he’ll find a way.  

Molly says, Cody told her that he was celebrating, and he says, Sasha had a baby. It was a little premature, otherwise, she’s perfect. She says she can definitely drink a toast to that, and he says, it was a big adjustment finding out Sasha was his cousin. He didn’t react well. She says, yeah. She thinks she remembers a few arrests. They laugh and he says he was feeling pretty miserable and sorry for himself. But seeing how happy Sasha is reminded him that sometimes things don’t you don’t expect to be happy turn out to be great.

At the hospital, Anna congratulates Sonny and says she guesses he and Robert are officially related. He should probably expect a box of cigars. He says, the big exploding kind? and she says, even enemies can find common ground. They have Robin and now they have the baby. He says, love is a powerful thing, and she says, it is. In the spirit of peaceful coexistence, she’d like to share a conversation she had with ADA Turner. She’s making it her mission to go after him. He says he’s aware. Many have tried. Anna says, Turner wants Robert’s job, and she doesn’t think Turner will rest until she puts him behind bars.

Wiley runs to Willow, and she says she’s happy to see him. She loves him so much. He tells her, daddy says they have a new baby sister. He’s taking them to meet her. Can mommy come too? Michael says, absolutely. Please join them.

Molly says she’s surprised Cody came here for a one-man celebration, and he asks if she means instead of a dive bar. Dive bars are more his speed. He guesses he was just feeling nostalgic. This was the spot where he first arrived in Port Charles. Actually, he parachuted in right here. He knocked Britt Westbourne into the pool. Molly says she remembers. There’s a GIF out there of Britt looking like a wet rat. He says that was his fault. It took her a while to forgive him. To Britt. They clink glasses. He says, it was three years ago. That’s a long time. Molly says, it’s not that long, and he says, before he lived here, he barely ever stayed in any place more than a few months at a time. This time he’s glad he stayed.

Sidwell says he understands what Marco is asking of him, but respects him too much to tell him what he wants to hear. Instead, he’ll be honest. He has no interest in changing the way he does business or lives his life. Marco asks what Sidwell is telling him, and Sidwell says, the offer for Marco to be his righthand man is still on the table.

Anna says, Turner wasn’t sharing anything, but she knows Turner is actively investigating Sonny, and Sonny says he appreciates the warning. ADA Turner can dig all she wants. He’s a law-abiding citizen and she ain’t going to find anything.

Turner goes to the interrogation room and Natalia asks if her son is here. He’s her lawyer. Turner says, not yet, and Natalia says, Turner can’t ask her anything without her lawyer present. Turner says, fine, and sits down. Why don’t they talk about Sonny Corinthos while they wait?

Jordan says she’s sure Curtis will figure out the right thing to do, and he says he appreciates her faith. He only knows for sure that Portia is completely vulnerable to Drew. He can’t decide what to do about his marriage until he knows she’s safe from Drew.

Jason says, it would have been difficult, and Carly says if she’d asked if Jason was the baby’s father, would he have lied to her? He says he’s glad she never did, and she wonders why Michael didn’t trust her enough to tell her. He says, Michael thought once she knew, she would be too exited and never be able to hide it, and she says she doesn’t know if she’s mad or grateful, but now that the truth is out that Michael cheated, Willow is convinced she’ll get full custody of the kids. He asks if she thinks Willow is right, and she says, yeah. She’s afraid Willow is right.

Nina said she couldn’t defend what Willow and Drew were doing, but she loved her daughter. As a mother, she had to tell Ric about Sasha and Michael. But she loves Sasha and she’s very sorry that what she did hurt her. Sasha says she’s too tired to fight or hold a grudge. She has her daughter now and that’s all that matters. She does feel sorry for Nina though. They both know Willow is making terrible choices and she’s going to keep making them as long as Drew’s in her life.

Michael and Willow look at the baby along with Wiley and Amelia. They smile at each other as Drew watches.

On Monday, Drew tells Portia that they’ve barely scratched the surface of what she can do; Lulu says she and Danny need to get a few things straight; Jason asks if Dante is threatening to charge Danny with manslaughter (again, no one died, so what the…?); and Sidwell wants to make a deal with Sonny to their mutual advantage.  

🧼 All the Soap News Fit To Print…

Boo! Hiss! I’m not really into the romance on the show, but why is it every time I like a couple together, one of them leaves?

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/its-official-jonathan-jackson-is-leaving-general-hospital/

That whole thing was so powerful, from his violin performance to him smashing it.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/gh-exclusive-how-giovanni-mazza-brought-gios-pain-to-life/

💉 A Dose Of Reality…

Below Deck

The OG Deck is back with Captain Kerry and Chief Stew Fraser. I will miss Captain Lee and Kate forever, but this is what we’ve got. Deckhand Kyle is also back, so turn on your closed captions. The other deckhands and stews were all new to the boat. The only stews that stood out to me were Rainbeau de Roos, whose name I would love to steal, and Solène Favreau, who seemed inept, harried, and not good at receiving correction. They were off to a great start, leaving the guests’ luggage at the dock, and the bosun saying too many things were happening. The first charter brought small children, and Fraser playing princess with the primary’s little daughters was precious. Primary Sam was not as precious, using a black light to comb his room and being super nit-picky with the food. After sending steaks back and having the chef making new dishes, he decided they didn’t want them. It didn’t look like anyone else got a vote, so good thing there were more courses. By the end of the episode, Chef Lawrence babbled at production and was ready to quit.

Meet the cast.

The Valley

I really feel badly for Brittany, the recipient of rage texts and failed party plans. She tried – the operative word being tried – to organize a nice trip to the beach, but apparently Jasmine had been storing up beef at Janet and let fly. Apparently, Janet is a sh*t ass friend, a vibe killer, exhausting, had sh*tty friends, and gave Karen energy. Now tell us how you really feel. Seriously, like Summer House, these people are too old for this. Hell, people ten years younger are too old for this.

Next Gen NYC

I already like this series a lot, but whenever a show is set in NYC, I wonder how much of my liking it is about loving the city. Poor Georgia, the only native New Yorker, is wondering why she suddenly feels like an alien when she gets questions like, who the f*** is Ben Affleck? and discovers that no one saw When Harry Met Sally. Riley Burress says she doesn’t know that show. Perhaps it reminds me of my early NYC days. If I’d the looks of a model, the money of a rock star, and an apartment that wasn’t a railroad flat with a triangular closet. Regardless, it was more fun than you can imagine, and I hope to relive a little of that with this group.

Meet the cast.

Summer House

In the Reunion Part 2, there was a lot of rehashing Lexi and Jesse’s on and off situationship. I was very much over this already, so I kind of tuned out. Not to mention how much I cringe everyone someone talks about Toegate. Oddly enough – or maybe not, since motherhood will mature you – Lindsay was the voice of reason, one of the cast calling her Mother Hubbard. Not so surprisingly, Kyle was an a-hole and did his best to steal her thunder. Gabby’s dress, if that’s what we’re calling it, continued to be distracting.

Random Reality Items

Because he got high.

Will make beds to stay there.

Slade Smiley! NOLA! Shannon’s vajayjay! Premieres July 10th.

👀 Last Weekend’s Watch…

Creep. Netflix. I thought this film was genius budget-wise. Two actors, one handheld camera, and no need for special effects, this could have been made for about 25 bucks, so kudos. It didn’t hurt that the story was original and pretty intriguing. A filmmaker takes a gig documenting a dying man’s story for his unborn son. It isn’t long before the filmmaker, and the audience, start to wonder if that’s what’s really going on. Well executed, with twists and turns, and an ending I never saw coming, which is saying a lot. This is kind of an old film, 2016, so there wasn’t a whole lot on it, but apparently, there’s a sequel.

https://www.fortressofsolitude.co.za/creep-netflix-horror-movie-mark-duplass/

Fear Street: Prom Queen. Netflix. Adapted from RL Stine’s book series, this is the third in a trilogy. Nothing new to see here and it’s been done better, but it was worth a quick trip to the 80s. There’s also something to be said for a movie you need absolutely no brain power to watch.

https://www.newjerseystage.com/articles2/2025/06/03/new-release-review-fear-street-prom-queen/

Sirens. Netflix. Julianne Moore is one of my favorite actresses. She is incredible in Boogie Nights, the Midnight Cowboy for the 90s. But I digress. I’ve only watched a couple of episodes so far, but I’ll be in for the rest. The bad sheep sister, who also takes care of a homebound, sick father, tries to rescue her younger sibling from what she believes is a cult. Funny, witty, and keeps you guessing.

Cold Case: The Tylenol Murders. Netflix. A three part docuseries on the obvious cold case. I really didn’t know a whole lot about it, especially what was most disturbing. James William Lewis who was tied to the murders, has never been tried.

https://decider.com/2025/05/27/cold-case-the-tylenol-murders-netflix-review/

Day of Reckoning. Amazon Prime. This was a weird film, and I could see why a lot of people didn’t like it, but I enjoyed it. Fifteen years after a load of weird monsters have devastated mankind, they’re back for the survivors. There’s never a concrete explanation as to why this is happening, or why people aren’t better prepared for their return. The plot has more holes than Swiss cheese, but I didn’t care. I loved the monsters. They were reminiscent of the old Ray Harryhausen effects, but a lot gorier. And they all can’t be Godzilla Minus One. I thought it was a good time.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5742568/

Some user reviews. A few spoilers here.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5742568/reviews/

🔮 Looking Forward To Watching…

The second part of Squid Game Season 6 premieres June 27th.

https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/squid-game-season-3-trailer

Season 7 of Stranger Things premieres November 26th, December 25th, and December 31st. Cute, huh?

https://www.eonline.com/news/1418123/stranger-things-final-season-premiere-date-revealed

https://deadline.com/2025/05/stranger-things-5-premiere-date-netflix-1236414933/

The Black Phone 2 is in theaters October 17th, and will eventually stream on Peacock. I honestly don’t know how I feel about this. The first one had such a perfect ending, I can’t fathom a sequel being as good. That doesn’t mean I won’t watch it though.

https://www.syfy.com/syfy-wire/the-black-phone-2-debuts-eerie-official-trailer-for-blumhouse-sequel

🐶 Snips, Snails, Puppy Dog Tales…

🏆 The Stanley Pup returns June 6th on TruTV, as well as on NHL Network on June 8th.

https://people.com/stanley-pup-dog-hockey-game-returns-how-to-watch-11749775

🐕 A dog-endorsed book.

https://people.com/the-dogist-elias-weiss-friedman-new-book-exclusive-11749240

🐩 The ray of sunshine that is Pilaf meets some new friends.

https://people.com/demi-moore-announces-she-and-her-tiny-dog-pilaf-are-caring-for-even-smaller-baby-ducks-11748457

🪅 Quotes of the Week

If you don’t have time to do it right, when will you have time to do it over?John Wooden

Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none. – William Shakespeare

A champion is defined not by their wins but by how they can recover when they fall.Serena Williams

Conformity is the jailer of freedom and the enemy of growth. – John F. Kennedy

I believe the most important single thing, beyond discipline and creativity, is daring to dare. – Dr. Maya Angelou

The only real mistake is the one from which we learn nothing. – John Powell

Sometimes you make the right decision, and sometimes you have to make the decision right. – Dr. Phil McGraw

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

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

There’s plenty of time for finger pointing later. Let’s stay focused. – Joey Armstrong (Jon Lindstrom), Beyond the Gates

🎡 Are You Ready For the Summer…

Until next time, stay safe; stay being careful to watch out for rogue waves at the beach; and stay knowing that sometimes compromise is the only solution.

May 30, 2025 – GH Weekdays, Nina Has a Decision To Make, Soap Suds, This Week In Reality, Weekend Watching, Last Last, New Age, Alexander Does the Tonys, Cosplay This, Outside the Yard, 7+1 Quotes & Out

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

🥢 Weekday Bites…

Monday:

Nothing to see here. Memorial Day rerun.

Tuesday:

Brook asked Lois if Gio was really her son and Lois said, yes.

Emma followed Gio to the Quartermaines and he told her that his entire life was a lie. He couldn’t stay there. She said she wasn’t going to stop him. She was coming with him.

Michael said he’d missed Wiley, and they were having a sleepover at Grandma Carly’s. He left with Wiley, and Jason told Willow and Drew if they followed Michael, they’d never see Wiley again.

Lulu and Cody had a beer on her porch. She asked how Dante was, and he said Dante was mad, confused, and in shock. He told Dante what he’d known. Lulu said she was sorry the way it came out, but at least now Dante knew the truth. Cody wasn’t sure they made the right call.

Lois told Brook that she and Gloria were trying to do the right thing. They decided to keep Gio close, and they were only trying to look out for Brook’s child. No child was ever more loved. Brook said she couldn’t breathe, and Lois held her.

Emma asked where Gio wanted to go, and he said, anywhere but here. On the way out, they ran into Tracy coming in. She said Drew framed her and had her arrested. Then Jason left her stranded at the police station. She asked what they were doing there instead of the Nurses Ball. What was wrong? Gio flashed back to overhearing he was Brook and Dante’s son and smashing his violin. He said Tracy kept reminding him that he wasn’t a Quartermaine, but the joke was on him. It turned out he was family.  

Willow asked Jason where Michael was taking Wiley, when her phone rang. She asked the nanny where Amelia was now and told Jason that he had no right to take her baby. Jason left and Carly said she would see Nina in court. Sonny said he had something to take care of and Nina asked him to hear her out.

Trina brought Kai back to the apartment and he said he couldn’t get over how beautiful her voice was. Every single thing about her was beautiful.

Cody asked if Lulu was the one who told Gio, and she said she was pretty sure he’d overheard her and Lois talking. Cody said it was on him too, but maybe confronting Lois at the Nurses Ball wasn’t the best idea. He hadn’t given enough thought to how it would affect Gio and equated Gio’s experience to his, but their situations weren’t the same. He’d never felt like he fit in, but Gio grew up with a family who adored him, and they blew it all to hell. Lulu flashed back to Carly saying she’d put this train in motion and needed to get off the track before she got leveled.

Lois brought Brook some water and Brook wanted to hear everything. Lois said Gloria knew Camilla desperately wanted a baby and Camilla was thrilled with the opportunity to be a mother. It was a relief that they could watch over Gio, and she could tell Brook with absolute certainty that her baby went to a loving home. It seemed like the perfect solution, but then Camilla got sick and passed. Gio’s world had fallen apart, and they thought it was wrong to tell him at that point. She was trying to do the right thing. Dante came in and asked, the right thing for who?

Sonny said Jason was acting on Michael’s wishes and Michael had a right to see the kids. Nina said she thought Michael’s return would calm things down and they could make him see compromise was what was best. Sonny said, unless or when Willow got away from Drew, this was how it was going to be. He wondered if Nina could get Willow to see who Drew really was. Drew had runed Willow’s life, tanked her marriage, and she was about to lose her kids. He hoped Drew was worth it.

Michael came back to the house and Sasha was there with the kids. He said he’d missed them so much.

There was champagne waiting at the apartment, and Trina said it was Stella’s way of celebrating her performance, since she couldn’t be there. Kai made a toast to Trina’s undeniable shooting star and to Aunt Stella for being Aunt Stella. Trina felt bad that she was having an amazing night while Gio was having a night from hell. At least Emma was with him and would make sure he was okay. Kai said he had experience in thinking everything was fine and having it suddenly come crashing down. Trina had it too when she’d lost Spencer. Trina said she’d been thinking about it lately, and her mom helped her realize that she didn’t want to lose someone else she cared about.

Tracy told Gio that she’d spent the better part the evening being detained by the man. What was she supposed to know? He said he’d assumed she was in on it. Brook and Dante were his parents, which made her his great-grandmother. Congratulations! It’s a boy! She told him to start at the beginning, but he told her to ask Lois. She said, it was him all this time. He was her great-grandson. He started to leave, but she told him, don’t take another step.

Brook told Dante that she was sorry. She got pregnant that summer – their summer – in camp. She couldn’t tell him because she didn’t know how. She was young and scared out of her mind. She felt so lost and didn’t know what to do. She only knew she couldn’t terminate the pregnancy, so she had the baby and gave it up for adoption. She’d sworn she’d never tell anybody, and swore she didn’t know their child was Gio until tonight.

Emma told Tracy that they were heading out, but Tracy said that wasn’t okay. She wanted Gio to tell her what happened and why he believed that Brook and Dante were his parents. Gio told her that Lois had said they were. He’d overheard her, but it was the truth. Tracy said she understood wanting to run, but he didn’t get to say he was family and just waltz out the door. He was her family. She had two sons, a granddaughter and a grandson. Now she had a great-grandson. She showed him a photo of Edward and Lila, and said they were his great-great-grandparents. Everything in this house was his and everybody who lived there was related to him. Don’t push them away.

Cody said he’d never forget the look Gio’s face, and Lulu said, he looked so lost and betrayed. It made her heart hurt. Cody said, for Gio, Brook, and Dante. He knew she hadn’t wanted it to go down like this, but he couldn’t help feeling guilty. They’d been blinded by the lie and couldn’t see the reason the lie was there in the first place. So many people’s lives had been ripped apart. (Like someone didn’t tell Lulu that was going to happen every five minutes.) Lulu said, things had changed, but it was for the better. It was good that Dante knew. Cody said now Gio knew Camilla hadn’t been his mom, but Lulu said, no one could take away the love they’d shared. Cody doubted Gio appreciated that right now, and Lulu said, maybe someday. Cody said he hoped Gio wasn’t out there alone.

Dante wondered why Brook never told him later, and she said, once she decided to give the baby up, she felt it would be cruel. She didn’t want to burden him with something that couldn’t be changed and make him suffer like she was. He said they had to put all that aside. They had a son who was in trouble. She said she had to find Gio, when Tracy texted that Gio was at the house and to come quickly. Lois wanted to come with them, but Brook said, like hell.

Michael tucked Wiley in and said they would talk in the morning. He told Wiley about flying over the ocean and said his love for Wiley and his sister was bigger than the ocean. Bigger than anything. He was back and now everything would be different.

Trina said she never thought she’d feel so strongly about someone again, then Kai came along. At first, she thought he was a bit of an arrogant jerk and was embarrassed she’d judged a book by its cover. He was neither of those things. She didn’t know how to handle the attraction and felt guilty because of Spencer. Kai said he was a goner from the night Trina dumped her drink on him, and she said she got there at the end. He told her, it was just the beginning, and they kissed.  

Trina said Josslyn had texted and was spending the night at her mom’s, so she and Kai had the place to themselves. Kai asked if she was sure she wanted to do this, and she said she definitely wanted to. They got busy and there was a song part.

Continuing to justify her thoughtlessness, Lulu said, even when change was good, it was hard, and Cody said, Gio’s entire reality had been turned on its head. She said it was worth it if it meant the truth came out. Dante was an amazing father, and despite her many faults, Brook was a loving person and had Chase to rein her in when she went off the rails. She thought Brook would be a good mom. Gio believed he was an orphan and now had a whole other family who would accept him the way the Scorpios had accepted Cody. (It’s mindboggling how clueless she is.)

Brook said it had been her baby and Lois had pretended like she was calling the shots. Meanwhile, she had nothing to do with it. She’d agreed to a closed adoption with the understanding that neither of them knew where the baby went. If Lois changed the plan, she should have told her. They could have figured it out together. Lois reached for Brook’s arm, but Brook shook her off and said what she’d done was unforgiveable. She had zero excuse. She’d lied to everybody, including her own daughter, for 22 years, and lied to Gio his entire life. The list went on. Lois said she wished she could go back, but Brook said that meant nothing to her. Stay away from her and her son. She left, Dante following after giving Lois a look, and alone, Lois sobbed.

Trina and Kai basked in the afterglow. Trina said she hadn’t wanted Kai as a partner, but was glad. He was one of the best things to happen to her. Kai said he felt the same way.

Michael flashed back to Sasha telling him that she didn’t think it was healthy to raise her child as a Quartermaine. He told her that he’d missed the kids so much, and she said he looked great. She asked if he was in any pain, but he said nothing he couldn’t manage. He asked about her, and she said she was great. He thanked her for helping with Amelia, and she said, Amelia knew her from the Quartermaines’. She and Jason thought it would be less scary if she went with him to pick Amelia up. He thanked her for sending the sonograms and said he didn’t want her to start worrying he’d go back on his word and try to be part of the baby’s life. He wouldn’t do that unless she changed her mind.

Drew and Willow ran into the station, and Drew told Mac that they wanted to report a kidnapping. Willow said it was her daughter, and they knew where she was. Drew said, Jason is the one who kidnapped her.

Cody told Lulu that family did Gio no good if he couldn’t trust them. He didn’t know how you came back from a lie this big. Lulu suggested it would happen with love, patience, and time. It wouldn’t be bleak forever. Everyone would help. He said he’d do what he could, and she said she would too, but he said she might want to lay low for a while. He said, goodnight, picked up the rest of his six-pack, and left.

Ned found Lois in the MetroCourt garden and looked at her grimly.

Tracy told Gio that the Quartermaines weren’t perfect, but they were his family, and he said he got that it wasn’t her fault, but he had a family. He loved his mother more than anything and lost her. Now he found out none of it was real. It was a complete lie. The family had now were a bunch of liars, so excuse him if he didn’t jump on the Quartermaine bandwagon. Brook and Dante walked in.

Wednesday:

Maxie met Nina at the Brown Dog Bar and Maxie said she watched the whole thing on TV. Nina said, it got worse when Willow found out Jason took Amelia. This would change everything for the custody hearing. The only way Willow would keep her children was if she ended things with Drew and there was one thing that could happen to push Willow to the edge. Maxie asked if Nina was going to tell Willow that she’d slept with Drew.

Drew said Mac had to arrest Jason, and Willow said Jason took Amelia. Mac asked, where? and Drew said, to Carly’s, but they might not stay, so Mac had to move quickly. Mac asked why Jason took Amelia, and Willow said, Michael told him to. Michael showed up at the Nurses Ball and left with Wiley. She assumed they were headed to Carly’s. Mac said what he was hearing was that the children were with their father. That wasn’t kidnapping. Drew said Jason wasn’t welcome in their house and had terrorized the babysitter. They police had to do something.

Carly came back to the house with Josslyn and Jason, and Josslyn hugged Michael. Carly hugged him and said nothing had been the same without him. He thanked Jason for getting Amelia and told him that it was smart to bring Sasha. He asked Carly if it was okay for them to spend the night, and she said it was more than okay. Donna would be thrilled to see him at the breakfast table, and she would too. Josslyn said his timing was impeccable, and Carly asked how he knew to come home.

Ned asked, why? and Lois said she was really sorry. He said, Brook had a baby when she was practically a baby herself and kept it from him? It was the biggest crisis of their daughter’s life and when she needed support, where was her father? Nowhere because Lois cut him out.

Gio said he was just leaving, but Brook said, don’t go. Please. Dante said they had to talk, and reached for Gio’s arm, but Gio said, don’t touch me. He had nothing to say to them. Brook said Dante didn’t know she’d been pregnant and didn’t know about him, and Gio asked, what was her excuse?  

Ned wondered if Brook thought he’d be angry or ashamed. Did she think he’d disown her or think he didn’t care? Lois said, it wasn’t like that. What teenage daughter wanted to tell her father that she was pregnant? Brook was ashamed and needed her help, so she did what she thought was best for their daughter. Brook didn’t want to terminate the pregnancy, so Lois had to figure out how to get Brook out of town before she started showing. She didn’t want Brook’s whole life derailed because of one careless moment. Ned said he would have supported Brook and helped, and she said, maybe. Or maybe the Quartermaines would have swooped in and taken the baby as if it was another asset.

Brook told Gio that she had a baby and gave them up for adoption. She didn’t know if she had a boy or a girl or where they ended up, except it was a loving home. She didn’t know it was him. Gio said she didn’t want him and gave him away. Out of sight, out of mind. Brook said, that couldn’t be further from the truth. It wasn’t that she didn’t love or want him. She wasn’t ready to be a mother – she was just a kid – but she never forgot him. Gio asked if she ever came looking for him, but she said she didn’t think it was right to bust into his life and upend his whole world. He said, like what happened tonight, and Dante said Gio was angry and confused. He was too. Gio said they’d all been lied to, but it made no difference about what he thought. Brook said she was there to answer any questions, but Gio said it was too late. He was leaving. He walked out the door and Emma followed. Tracy said Brook had to let him go.

Nina said, Drew sold Willow on a fairytale romance, saying he was so in love with her, and Maxie said, and the whole time he was sleeping with her mom. Nina said if she told Willow, she’d see Drew for the liar he was, and Maxie said, one would only hope, but it didn’t guarantee Willow would get back with Michael. Nina said, all that mattered was getting Michael to a more equitable place regarding custody, and Maxie asked if Nina thought it would be easier if Drew was out of the picture. Nina said, exactly, but she didn’t know if she had the guts. What if she lost Willow? Maxie said it was a definite gamble, and Nina said Willow would know she said nothing while Willow threw her life away for a man she knew was lying the entire time. Willow was never going to forgive her for that.

Nina said, as a mother, she knew if she told Willow the truth, Willow might have a chance to hold on to her children. But as a mother, she couldn’t bear the thought of losing Willow. Maxie said she got it. Nina didn’t get the chance to raise Willow. Nina said she didn’t get the chance to be a mother to Nelle and Willow is her only child, and Maxie suggested she stay quiet for now.

Michael told Carly, as soon as he was strong enough, he called Diane and she told him about the court date. He arranged for a flight home asap. Josslyn said he looked great and asked if he was holding out on them, and he said he didn’t want to get their hopes up. After he talked to Diane, he thought surprise was the best strategy. Josslyn said, Willow was definitely surprised, when the doorbell rang. Jason left to get it, and Michael said he knew everyone would be at the Nurses Ball and figured it would be the best time. Jason brought Mac in and Carly asked what he was doing there. Mac said, investigating a kidnapping.

Ned said, the Quartermaines would have loved Brook’s child, and Lois said they would have, but they would have felt it was within their rights to control the child. Gio had the right to grow up to be whoever and whatever he wanted to be. It was her mom’s idea, but she was on board, and Gio grew up happy and healthy, and they were right there in case anything went wrong. She wasn’t thinking about how it might affect anyone 20 years later. Ned said he’d been living with his own grandson for over a year, and Lois said, it wasn’t fair, but she felt it was the best solution. She told herself it was what Ned would have wanted. Ned said she was right in saying it wasn’t fair, when Olivia came in. Ned said he was done here, and Olivia told him, go ahead. She had some words for her good friend Lois.

Dante said Gio was their kid, who Brook never told him about, and he barely knew, and Tracy said she’d let them talk privately. She wanted them to do her a favor. Try not to let their pain obscure the fact they met their son and he’s a wonderful boy. She left and Brook said Dante had every right to hate her. Dante said he didn’t hate her. He just didn’t know why she didn’t tell him. She said she was completely freaked. All she could think was that she’d screwed up and was in huge trouble. She didn’t want him to deal with that trouble too. They hadn’t made any promises. It was a summer romance. What would he have done if she’d told him? He said he had no idea. She never gave him the chance to have a choice. She knew he cared about her and respected her, and she returned that sentiment by lying to him for 22 years.

Emma brought Gio to the footbridge and said, this place was important to her mom. Whenever she needed a minute to think, she came here. Gio said it was peaceful, and Emma agreed. She thought he could take a minute to catch his breath and decide what he wanted to do next. He said he had no idea, and she put her hand on his.

Brook said she’d lied to Dante, and she was sorry, but she did what she had to do. He said she did whatever was easiest, but she said, none of it was easy. She didn’t know the first thing about being a mom. He said he’d like to think if she’d told him, he’d have done the right thing and stepped up. He got why she didn’t tell him then, but why not now? They were friends and she could have told him at any point. She said, too much time had passed, and the fallout seemed like it would be worse. Her only choice was to keep it buried. He asked if she would have told him if she hadn’t been forced to, and she says, probably not. When she gave the baby up, she thought they’d only meet if he came looking for her. She’d made peace with the fact he never did, because it meant he was content in his own life. She had no clue it was Gio, and they were living in the same house. Dante said, so Gloria and Lois knew. Who else? They heard Chase calling for Brook in the foyer, and then he walked in. He asked Brook if it was really Gio, and she nodded. He held her as she cried.  

Lois told Olivia that there was nothing she could say that she hadn’t said to herself, and Olivia said they’d been best friends since preschool. They did everything together their entire lives. How could she? Lois said, Brook didn’t want anyone to know, but when she needed help, obviously, Lois told her mother. Olivia said, Lois was the closest thing she had to a sister. She would have never kept a secret like that from Lois. Lois said, until she was in the exact same position, Olivia couldn’t say what she’d do. She did what she thought was best for Brook and Gio’s privacy. Olivia said, Lois did what was best for herself. She set it up to keep her grandson close, so she didn’t have to share him with anyone, even his mother. Shame on her. Lois said she guessed the glass house Olivia was living in helped her to see clearly. How dare Olivia look down on her when she didn’t tell Sonny that Dante was his son.  

Nina said, Drew’s strategy was to portray Michael as an absentee father who took off on his kids, and Maxie said, to have fun in a burn unit? Nina said it wouldn’t work anyway now that Michael was home, and Maxie said Ric was a good lawyer. Nina said she hoped he won, and Maxie said Sasha had gotten a subpoena. Ric probably thought she saw or heard something at the Quartermaines that would work in Willow’s favor. Nina said, Sasha would probably be a hostile witness now, with Jason in the mix. He thought of Michael as his son. Maxie said, if Cody hadn’t blown Sasha’s cover story, they would have believed Sasha met some guy in a bar, but Cody found out it was Jason. Nina asked when Sasha said she met a random guy, and Maxie said, the night before Halloween, the night before Sam died. Maxie’s phone chimed and she said, Bailey Lous was awake and asking for her. She had to go. Nina thanked her for the talk, and Maxie said she was sorry she wasn’t much help. Nina said she was more help than she knew.  

Carly asked Josslyn to stay the night, and Michael said Wiley and Amelia would be glad to see her in the morning. Josslyn said, okay, and Carly said, a slumber party! Michael thanked Sasha for her help, and she said she was happy to do it. Welcome home. Michael thanked Jason for everything, and Jason said he was proud of Michael, and they hugged.  

Chase asked if Brook was okay, but she said she didn’t know. Dante asked if Chase knew, but Chase said, not about Gio. Brook told him about the baby a few months ago. Dante asked if Chase didn’t think he should know, and Brook said he wanted to tell Dante, but she begged him not to. It was her job to protect Gio’s life, and she knew Dante wouldn’t stop until he found his son. It wouldn’t be fair for Dante to confront him and completely upend his life and tonight proved it.

Olivia told Lois that she didn’t tell Sonny about Dante because she had to protect her son from being weaponized by his father’s enemies. What was she protecting Gio from? Lois said she didn’t lock Gio away in a tower. He grew up in the neighborhood, surrounded by the best people. He was happy and didn’t want for anything. Olivia said, except his real parents, but Lois said, he didn’t long for them. He had a mother who loved him. Olivia said, until he didn’t. Lois let him be orphaned when he had a mother and father right there. Lois said, by then it was too late. She had to respect the choices that were made. Olivia asked if she’d ever talked to Brook about the possibility of keeping the baby, but Lois said she knew Brook wasn’t ready to be a mother. Olivia asked if Lois thought she was ready when she was pregnant with Dante. Yet it was the best decision she ever made. Lois said, but it came at an incredible cost. Olivia gave up so much when she gave birth. She was the life of the party, and then she was a scared, tired, single mother. Brook knew she didn’t want that and she didn’t want it for Brook. Olivia said, they could have helped Brook and Dante. And for the record, she sacrificed nothing. She didn’t know Lois at all and if this was the real Lois, she didn’t want to know her. She walked out.

Sonny walked in and Lois told him, have at it. She deserved it and everyone else had taken their shot. Sonny said he would have helped, and she said he did help, even though he didn’t know Gio was his grandson. He said he could have done more, and Lois said when Brook got pregnant, they didn’t know Dante was his son. When Camilla died, the truth came out and Sonny had so much on his plate, she didn’t want to add another whopper on top of it. He said, Gio lost his mom. Didn’t she think he’d want more family? She said, he loved Camilla. They had an otherworldly connection, and she couldn’t take that away from Gio too. He asked if she was trying to give him a relationship with his grandson when she asked him to pay for Gio’s musical education, and she said she thought that way, she could share Gio with him without the truth ruining all these lives. He said he wished it had been different, but he appreciated what she was trying to do. She said she appreciated him saying that. Brook and Olivia were done. Her daughter and her best friend wanted nothing to do with her anymore. Sonny touched her arm.

Tracy said she was glad Chase was here. Dante was hurt and angry. Brook said Dante had a right to be, and Dante said, Dante is still here. Tracy said he was and his anger was justified. Just don’t direct it at Brook. Direct it at Lois, whose unilateral decision making got them into this fiasco. Brook said Lois betrayed her trust. If that wasn’t bad enough, she confided in Grandma Gloria, and Brook didn’t know the half of it. Lois let her worry and wonder how the baby turned out while she was watching him grow up. They’d asked if anyone knew besides her grandma, but Gloria was the only one she knew of. Dante asked how the hell Gio found out. Why now? Tracy looked at Brook.

Willow asked where her kids were, and Mac said, at Carly’s, fast asleep. He looked in on them himself. Drew said Willow was their mother. Did he have to go above Mac’s head? Mac said, he could try, but it wouldn’t do him any good. He handed Willow a paper and said it was a court order. Michael had been granted emergency custody until the hearing. It was all legal and above board. There was nothing they could do.

Carly said she was happy Michael was home, mostly for Wiley and Amelia. They needed him. Michael said he needed them too. Being separated from them was the hardest part of his recovery. Josslyn went upstairs, and Michael said, Carly told Diane to move on with the divorce without telling him. She said she wanted him to focus on her recovery, but if he thought she overstepped… He said she did the right thing and thanked her, and she said she was so relieved. Was he sure he didn’t leave too soon? He said, if he did, he didn’t care. It was time for him to come home.

Nina asked the bartender if he’d worked the night before Halloween. It was actually the night Congressman Cain got punched. She thinks she asked him to call the police. The bartender said that was him. Why? She said a friend came in the same night and she was wondering if he remembered seeing her. She showed him Sasha’s picture, and he said, Sasha Corbin, the Deception model. He had a huge crush on her. She was hitting the vodka hard. Nina asked if she met up with anyone, and he said he wasn’t into gossip. She said she didn’t like gossip either, but she’d make it worth his while. She slid a $100 bill toward him, and he said, a dude did eventually join her. Nina asked if he’d be able to ID him, and he said, you don’t forget a $500 tip. She showed him Jason’s picture, but he said, that’s definitely not the guy.

In the car, Drew asked Willow, please don’t do this, but she said she had to try. He asked if she wanted him to come with her, but she said the guard wouldn’t let him in, and his presence wouldn’t make things easier. He said he’d be there if she needed him and she said she knew. She got out of the car.

Lois said Brook told her to stay away from her and Gio. She was so afraid she’d lost them both. Sonny held her as she sobbed.

Gio said he couldn’t believe what his Aunt Lois said. Really his Grandmother Lois. Emma said his head must have practically exploded, and he said that’s what happened when he said Brook and Dante were his parents. He was in a daze when Emma found him. She said she knew something was wrong and he insisted on playing, and he said, the show must go on. He looked out to the audience and saw his family, people he’d known his entire life, and part of him shut down. The other part lost it completely. Emma said she didn’t blame him, and he said all he could think was, did they know? Ned, Olivia, and Sonny are his grandparents. Is that why Sonny paid for his music school? Emma said she knew from her mom that Sonny helped people whether they were family or not. She wondered if she could ask him something, and he said, sure. She asked why he smashed his violin. She knew how important it was to him. He said, because the violin was the biggest lie of all.

Chase told Brook that it had been a rough day. Maybe they should go to bed and start fresh in the morning. Ned walked in, and Brook said she needed a minute with her dad.

Willow was about to knock on Carly’s door, when Michael opened it. She said, please don’t do this. Don’t take her children away from her.

Nina asked if the bartender was absolutely positive this wasn’t the man with Sasha that night, and he said it was Jason Morgan, and she wasn’t with him. Nina said, the other man who was a big tipper, did he leave with Sasha? and the bartender said, they were both hammered. They had their hands all over each other. Nina asked if they left together, and he said, lucky bastard. She said, it wasn’t his man, was it? and showed him a picture of Michael. He said, yeah, that’s the guy, and Nina smiled.

Thursday:

There was a knock at Lulu’s door. No surprise, it was Dante.

Tracy met Olivia in the foyer and said she guessed congratulations were in order. Olivia and Tracy’s son were grandparents.

Brook told Ned that she was sorry. It wasn’t that she didn’t trust him or love him… He said it was all right and he understood. He hugged her and she cried.

Emma asked why Gio smashed his violin, and he said, because the violin was the biggest lie of all. He thought he got his talent from his mom and after she died, it made him feel like he was carrying a piece of her with him, but it turned out she wasn’t his mom.

Dante told Lulu that it was a messed-up night and he didn’t want to go around in circles. Did she tell Gio that he and Brook were his parents?

In the nook, Jason thanked Sasha for helping with Amelia, and she said she was relieved Michael was back. He deserved to be home with his children. She protectively touched her ever-growing bump.

Michael said he wasn’t discussing custody with Willow now. Go home. She asked him to let her say goodnight, but he said the kids were asleep. She said he knew the kids belonged with her, but he said, not anymore.

Lulu said Brook must have told Dante how she accidently on purpose found out, and he said he assumed she was the one who figured out the baby was Gio. Did she tell Gio? She said, no, but she did confront Lois in a dressing room at the Nurses Ball and thought Gio overheard. He asked why she did it, and she said, for him. She thought he deserved to know the truth and was only trying to help. He said she didn’t help anyone and made everything worse.

Tracy gave Olivia a drink and asked if she was all right, but Olivia said she didn’t know how she was. Gio was her grandson. She remembered when he was a baby. The whole neighborhood fell in love with him. She held him all the time and should have felt that she was holding her own flesh and blood. Tracy said Olivia wasn’t psychic – Olivia gave her a look – at least not then. Olivia wondered how Lois could do this to her and Ned, and Tracy asked if she’d talked to Ned. Olivia said, briefly, but he was in the living room with Brook now.

Brook said Ned had to be disappointed. She’d kept a huge secret and kept his grandson from him. He said he wished she’d come to him, but it was her life and he wasn’t going to second guess the choices she made. She said all she could think about was Gio. She’d wanted to meet her child for so long and it was a total nightmare.

Sasha said she was glad Michael was back and with his kids, but when it came to her and her baby, nothing had changed, and Jason said, obviously, they needed everyone to keep believing he was the father. She said, especially now that his custody case was coming up, and Jason said that he understood it wasn’t about Michael, but about what she needed. She said she felt like a hypocrite, but he said, it was two different situations. Michael could trust her, but couldn’t trust Willow. She said it was like nothing mattered but Drew and Willow was about to lose her children because of him.

Willow asked how Michael could say that. She was the children’s mother and had been their sole parent for months. He said she’d uprooted them from their home and forced them to play family with their great uncle, but she said they loved Drew and Scout and their new home. He said when he talked to Wiley, Wiley always had the same two questions. When was his daddy coming back and when could he and Amelia go home? That’s when it hit him that Willow had been putting her own wants and desires above the kids’ welfare. He had a court order to back him up. She said it was temporary, but he said he was going for full custody. He’d let her have a relationship with the kids on one condition.

Cody found Sasha in the nook, and said he’d come to check on Dante, but Yuri said he left. She asked why Dante wouldn’t be all right, and he said she didn’t hear what happened at the Nurses Ball.

Gio said he should go, and Emma said she wasn’t telling him what to do or how to feel, but she wasn’t leaving him alone. He said he didn’t need a babysitter.

Lulu told Dante that she was sorry. She’d never meant things to come out like this. He said she should have minded her own damn business, but she said she kept thinking about her experience with Charlotte and the time she missed out on. She didn’t want him and Gio to miss out. He asked why she didn’t just tell him, and she said Brook begged her not to. He said she’d never cared about Brook’s feelings before, and she said she never searched for his son. Things just started happening and she suspected it was Gio. Brook wasn’t just keeping a secret; she was lying. Dante said, Brook didn’t know it was Gio. He could buy her wanting to bring them together, but she just wanted everyone to see Brook as bad as she made Brook out to be. It didn’t excuse what Brook did, but Lulu allowed her petty rivalry to upend so many lives. And the one who paid the biggest price was the only one innocent in all of this – Gio.

Willow asked, what condition? and Michael said he’d give her access to the children if she ended her relationship with Drew. She also had to move out and have no contact. Willow said he was being spiteful because he hated seeing her happy, but he said he didn’t care if she was happy or not. He didn’t want that man around his kids. Drew was an awful person and had made her awful. Her life was imploding, and she was making one bad decision after another. Who did she love more, Drew or the kids? It’s time she made that decision. He closed the door, leaving her outside.

Willow went back to the car, and Drew asked, how’d it go? She told him to take her home. She wanted to get out of there.

Michael thanked Jason for coming back and suggested they talk outside. He wanted to thank Jason again for everything he did tonight and looking out for Sasha. Jason said it was no big deal, but Michael said it was a big deal letting everyone think he was the baby’s father. Jason said he’d do anything to protect Michael and his kids, and Michael said it felt wrong not helping Sasha, but Jason said she wanted to raise the baby on her own. Plus, he couldn’t give Willow more ammunition to use in court. Michael said, seeing Sasha made it hit home that the baby was coming soon, and Jason asked if he was hoping Sasha would change her mind. Michael said in an ideal world he’d like to be a father to his child.

Sasha said she felt bad for Gio, Brook, and Dante, and Cody said, it was a colossal mess. It didn’t have to be, and he believed it wouldn’t have been if he hadn’t stuck his nose in it. She said it sounded like Lulu would have uncovered it with or without his help, and he asked why he kept shooting his mouth off. First about Jason being her baby daddy and now this. She said she hated the term baby daddy, and he was just trying to do right by someone he cared about. He said he was sorry he hadn’t been a better friend to her, Dante, or Lulu. He should have told Lulu to drop it.

Ned asked if Brook was able to talk to Gio, and she said she tried to explain that she didn’t know he was her son, and she hadn’t lied. Gio was so angry and so hurt, he accused her of not wanting him and forgetting about him, which couldn’t be further from the truth. Ned said he’d understand when things settled down. It was Lois and Gloria’s doing, not hers. Brook said, just because you understand the facts doesn’t change the way you feel. What if he never gave her a chance to love him? Ned said he highly doubted that would be the case and they hugged.

Olivia said she kept thinking how Gio brought them all together, and Tracy said, oh God. Now she had blood ties to Sonny Corinthos. Olivia said, now she was a member of a large and ever-growing club, and Tracy said, all the more reason to run Sonny out of town. He’d been a terrible influence already and would do more to corrupt Gio. She wouldn’t have it.

Jason said he’d gotten to know Sasha and understood where she was coming from. She thought Michael was a great father. She wouldn’t have helped with Amelia if she didn’t believe that. She’d been through a lot and valued her independence. Michael said he’d do his best to respect her decisions. He knew it was going to be a knockdown, drag out fight with Willow and Drew. Jason asked if there was any room for compromise.

Willow told Drew that Michael was so cold and calculating. She’d never seen him like this. (I believe that’s what she said the last time he was like this.) He’s not the Michael she knew. Drew said, he wouldn’t let her see the kids? and she said, no, and if he got his way, she’d never see them again unless… she breaks things off with him. He said, obviously, that wasn’t going to happen, right? and she said she didn’t know if she had any choice. (What is wrong with this woman? If it was a choice between some guy and my dogs, I’d pick the dogs. Also, if everyone is calling you a donkey, you need to start looking in the mirror for the ears and tail.)

Gio said Emma had been great and now he was yelling at her. She said she was an old pro at getting yelled at. Go for it. He said what he needed was to wake up from this nightmare. Who knew what and when? And were they ever going to tell him? Emma said she thought Brook and Dante were telling the truth. They didn’t know he was their son. Dante didn’t know he had another son. Gio said he believed they weren’t lying. When Rocco had alcohol poisoning, Dante was honest about what he thought of him. He’d always wanted to know what his father thought of him and now he did. His father hated him.

Lulu said it wasn’t about trashing Brook or making her look any kind of way. Dante deserved to know he had a son… Dante said she should have told him immediately, as soon as she suspected it was Gio, and she said she wanted to. Carly warned her… He said, Carly knew? and she said she had to confide in someone. He said she confided in everyone – Carly, Cody, but not him. She said she was sorry, but she wasn’t the bad guy. Brook gave up their baby. He said he was pissed at Brook and would hash it out with her, but that was between them. Gio was feeling like trash now because she wanted to prove how terrible Brook was. For what? To get in his good graces? She asked if he thought she did this to win him back.

Michael said he told Willow that unless she left Drew and severed contact, she couldn’t be part of their children’s lives, and Jason said, assuming the case went his way. Michael said it would, and Jason asked what Willow said. Michael said she thought he was punishing her for being happy, and Jason asked if there was any truth in that. Michael said, maybe a little at first, but then he thought about Wiley and Amelia. The only thing that mattered was what was best for them. Willow kept putting her needs and Drew’s above the kids and he didn’t see that changing.  

Willow said she didn’t want to end things with Drew, but Michael threatened to keep the kids from her, and Drew said he couldn’t. Michael just wanted her to think that. She said, why not? Now that Michael was back in Port Charles, everything changed. Drew said a judge would decide that. She didn’t want to surrender before she went to court. She wouldn’t lose. Trust him. He wouldn’t let that happen. Willow said she did trust him, but it was a huge risk, and he said, even if she gave in, who’s to say Michael would hold up his end of the bargain? She’d be all alone and at his mercy. Willow said he was right. She couldn’t trust Michael at all. She knew he could be a ruthless man, but how he spoke to her was just plain cruel. Drew wondered, what kind of person made a woman choose between her kids and the man she loves? Michael was using it as leverage, to get revenge. She said Michael told her that she was putting her needs above the kids, but that’s what he was doing. He kidnapped them just to keep her apart from them. Drew said, it was an ambush, and she said she couldn’t have such a vengeful cold-hearted man raising her children. She took off her rings and put them on the dashboard, and said she was planning on taking them off after the divorce was official, but after tonight, her marriage was over. She’d return them in the morning. Drew took one of the rings and said, not this one. This stayed with them.

Olivia went into the living room and asked how it was going. Brook said, better, and asked if they could talk. Ned left to give them privacy, and Brook said she understood if Olivia was furious with her. She gave away Olivia’s grandchild and never told her. She was so sorry. Olivia said Brook was under no obligation to tell her anything. No one understood more than she did. She’d been a scared pregnant teenager once herself. Brook said Olivia kept the baby and it worked out, and Olivia said, until Dante went undercover and was shot by his own father because she never told them about each other. She understood more than anyone. Just remember one thing. She was always here for Brook, no matter what. Brook said she wouldn’t mind a hug, and they hugged.

Tracy told Ned that she had a confession to make. She knew Brook had a baby. He asked, for how long? Why didn’t she tell him? She said she just found out and Brook swore her to secrecy. She had started to look for her great-grandson, but somebody beat her to it. He asked if she knew who it was, and she said she had a pretty good idea.

Dante told Lulu that he never said she was trying to win him back, but she said, close enough. It never once crossed her mind to use the information to get back together with him. He said, it will never happen, and she said, obviously. He said she blew up the only chance of him having a relationship with his son, and she asked how it was her fault. He said, Gio wanted nothing to do with him, and she said she was sorry. She hoped he and Gio worked things out, but as far as they were concerned, she didn’t want him back – ever.

Sasha said she couldn’t think of what Cody could have said to get Lulu to back off, and he said he could have tried. It broke his heart tonight. Gio was so hurt and angry. He smashed his violin to pieces on the stage. He saw so much of himself in Gio. Discovering his life was a lie was super painful, and he didn’t like the people who raised him. Gio loved his mom, or at least he thought he did. Sasha said things worked out for Cody in the end. He was welcomed into an amazing family. Maybe the same would be true for Gio. He told her, that’s what Lulu said. He only hoped they were right. It didn’t have to be like this.

Michael told Jason that he didn’t like the idea of taking the kids away from their mother. They loved her, but he had to protect them. Jason said he knew it was a complicated situation, but he trusted Michael to do what was right. As always, Michael had his full support. Michael said that meant a lot, but he wasn’t sure the kids would feel the same way, and Jason said it was only a matter of time before Wiley and Amelia would know he did the best for them.  

Willow said, that ring belonged to Lila, and Drew said she was his grandmother. He had as much right to it as Michael did. He understood if she didn’t want to wear it, but maybe one day when she was old enough, they’d give it to Amelia. Willow said Michael was going to use her infidelity against her, but Drew said Michael wasn’t squeaky clean. They’d dig up whatever Michael was hiding and then blow him out of the water. He started the car (I wondered, where’s Kristina with the wire cutters when you need her?) and they left.

Michael watched a sleeping Wiley and promise that he’d never leave him and his sister again. He kissed Wiley’s forehead.

Sasha said Cody couldn’t go back and change what happened. All he could do was learn from it. He said it wasn’t up to him to expose other people’s secrets, especially when a child was involved, and she said, sometimes parents kept secrets to protect their children. Those decisions should be respected and left alone. She caressed her bump.

Ned said, Lulu knew about the baby too? Was he the only one left in the dark? Tracy said Lois and Gloria were extremely unfair to him. He was an excellent father and would be an even better grandfather. He needed to work on being a better son though. While he was sipping cocktails, she was left to rot at the PCPD. Jason bailed her out. He said he called to check on her several times and was told she wasn’t available. He knew she could take care of herself. She was one of the strongest people he knew. It’s where Brook got her hutzpah. Tracy said he was flattering her to get her to forgive him, and he asked if it was working. She said, no, and he laughed.

Brook wondered if she’d made a mistake and should have kept baby like Olivia, but Olivia said the choice Brook made was as valid as hers. They both required massive sacrifice. They did what they thought was best at the time for themselves and their children. Nobody could fault them. Brook said, except Gio. She tried to talk to him, but he couldn’t get away from her fast enough. Olivia said, once he calmed down – and he would – they’d find him – and they would – and make sure he knew how much they all loved him.

Emma said Dante didn’t hate Gio, but Gio said she didn’t hear the things Dante had said. She said, even if Dante hated him – which he didn’t – he wasn’t alone. He had so many people who cared about him, her included. Why not come back to her grandma’s and stay for a while? She’d love it. He said he couldn’t impose, but she said, we can’t stay here. It was chilly. He said, we? and she said, where he went, she went. He just needed to decide where that was. He said, anywhere but here. The further away, the better. She said, okay. Let’s go.

Lulu told Dante, from now on, they’d stick to co-parenting Rocco. She didn’t even see the need to be friends. He said, sounds like a plan. He’d be back in the morning. He’d be the one to tell Rocco that he had a half-brother, not her. Other than that, stay out of his life please, and stay the hell away from Gio. She’d done enough damage. He left and she cried.

🫔 Friday’s Enchilada…

Elizabeth says, it’s been such a long time since she had a yogurt parfait from Perks. Now Ric just happened to show up with one. How weird. He says he does know her. He also got her a dragon berry juice. It’s good for everything. This stuff is going to change her life. She asks if he’s saying her life needs changing, but he says, no. She sounded like she needed cheering up, being cooped up in the house. Elizabeth said, it’s not that bad. She’s sad she missed the Nurses Ball. He asks if she got to watch it on TV, and she says, of course (🍷). The nurses were amazing, and it was hard to top Lucy, Felicia, Anna, and Spinelli. The fact that Spinelli filled in for Tracy at the last moment made it better. He says he can’t imagine which performance was denied because of Tracy’s arrest on the red carpet. There’s a knock at the door and Laura walks in.

Alexis tells Kristina and Lucky, for the record, this meeting is covered by attorney/client privilege. Please start by telling her everything that happened the night Kristina tried to kill Ava.

Carly asks if Curtis has a minute. She didn’t mean to interrupt. He says, no problem. Have a seat. He heard Michael was back from Germany and doing great. She says, better than they expected. They’re thankful and grateful. He says, Michael deserves it. He’s sure the rest of the family has a lot to catch up on. Tell Michael that he’ll reach out later. What can he do for her? She says she’s not sure if he’s aware, but Michael’s divorce proceedings start today. Michael would never ask for a favor, so she’s here to do it for him. Michael could really use his help.

Michael asks Sasha how she’s doing. Is she sleeping okay? Does she have any strong cravings? Does she want to sit down? The baby kicks, and she says, whoa. That was a good one. It’s been happening a lot lately. Does he want to feel it? She puts his hand on her bump.  

Ava goes to Nina’s office and says she sounded panicked on the phone. What’s going on? Nina says, a little. She just got new information that could guarantee her daughter getting full custody of her children. Ava says, wonderful, but Nina says she doesn’t want to use it.

Emma wakes up (in a hotel room? a cabin?), but Gio isn’t there. She gets up and hears the door. He comes in and asks if she’s okay. She says she is now. She thought he took off. He says, no. He would never do that to her, especially now. She’s the only person on earth that he trusts.

On the phone, Brook thanks Anna for letting her know. Even if Gio’s not here, at least he’s with Emma. She’s sure they’ll hear from them any minute… She knows they will and just had to say thanks. Lois walks in and Brook tells her that Gio is with Emma. Lois asks if he’s okay, but Brook says she doesn’t have the right to ask that question. How could he possibly be okay?

Laura says she doesn’t usually barge in, but she didn’t want Elizabeth to stand up. She sees Elizabeth has company, so she’ll see her later. Elizabeth says, it’s okay. She and Ric were just catching up and drinking dragon berry juice. Would Laura like some tea? Laura says she’d love some, but can handle getting tea. Ric offers to get it and goes to the kitchen. Elizabeth says Ric just surprised her by stopping by with breakfast and dragon berry juice. Laura says she’s never heard of it, and Elizabeth says, Ric swears by it. He says it’s good for everything. Laura says she wouldn’t be surprised if Ric stopped by with dragon berry juice every time Lucky stepped out of the house, and Elizabeth asks if she’s suggesting Ric is watching the house and waiting for Lucky to leave. Laura said she’s suggesting he’s not above that behavior, and they laugh.  

Alexis says, Kristina intended to kill Ava, and the accident hurt two other people, so that’s two other crimes. Kristina says she knows she shouldn’t have done it, and Alexis says, the crash was labeled an accident, but if the police investigate, they’ll tie her to the cut brake lines and she’ll go to prison. The question is, for how long? They both need to tell her everything that happened that day. Don’t leave anything out. Kristina says, they told her everything, but Alexis says she’s looking at mitigating circumstances, anything that can reduce Kristina’s culpability. So please walk her through the entire day. Kristina says she went to see Ava. They day before, her dad had collapsed, and Ava just stood there and didn’t do anything.

Curtis says, Michael is his friend, and he’ll help in any way he can, and Carly says, Willow and Drew are accusing Michael of abandonment. Curtis asks what the hell they’re thinking, and Carly tells him that they’re saying Michael could have gotten treatment in Baltimore and been close to Wiley and Amelia. He says, getting the best medical treatment shouldn’t cost Michael his kids, and she agrees. She says she hopes the judge sees through Ric’s argument, but just in case, it would be helpful if Aurora Media would remind people that Drew Cain is a con artist. He’s not a man who uses his position as congressman to help people. He uses his position to get revenge and settle scores. Curtis says, she’s preaching to the choir. He knows exactly the kind of man Drew is. She says, if they focus a media attack on showing all of Drew’s missteps since he took office, it could sway public opinion or it could help the judge rule in Michael’s favor. What does he think?

Nina tells Ava, the night Drew admitted he kissed Willow, Michael stormed out and stayed out all night. Willow told her because she was so worried. It was the same night Sasha found out Cody was her cousin, and they had to break up. The bartender at the Brown Dog Bar told her that Michael and Sasha were there. They got drunk together and left together. Ava says, so maybe they slept together, which would mean Michael is probably the father of Sasha’s baby. All Ric would need was the implication to get a judge to believe Michael cheated before Willow. Plus, that means Michael was hiding a pregnant mistress, which might be enough to get a judge to give Willow full custody. Nina says, exactly. Willow will get everything she wants. Ava asks why Nina hasn’t told Ric, and Nina says, one reason is that she loves Sasha and to exploit that Michael is the father of her baby would be a big betrayal. She doesn’t want to hurt Sasha.

Michael thanks Sasha for letting him feel the baby. It was a good one too. She says, they all are lately. She’s glad he was here when it happened. He says, him too. Actually, he was hoping to ask her for another favor. She says, of course (🍷). Whatever he needs. He says his divorce hearing is today. It would be great if she stayed with Wiley and Amelia while he was in court. She says she loves spending time with his adorable children, but she can’t watch them today. She’ll be at the hearing too. He asks, why? and she says, Ric is calling her as a witness.

Gio looks at his phone and sees tons of unread messages and missed calls. Emma says, a lot of people are probably trying to get in touch with him, but he says he’s not ready for any of that yet. She says he doesn’t have to be. At least not yet. She bets everyone is worried though. He says, half the messages are from people he doesn’t know. People who are so close to him, he doesn’t even have their numbers in his phone. Now they’re family. No. He doesn’t buy it for a single second. That’s also a lie. He’s supposed to believe Tracy prizes family blood relatives more than anything, and now that he’s an official Quartermaine, she cares what he thinks. Emma says, to be fair, Tracy doesn’t really care what anybody thinks, and Gio says, and there’s Sonny. He had some cool conversations with him about music. That’s it, and he’s supposed to think of Sonny as his grandfather now. No. Knowing they’re related doesn’t make him feel different. He’s not having fake relationships with any of them. She says she knows it’s hard, and he says, it’s also a lie. And he’s supposed to believe that Tracy prizes family above everything.

Brook asks why Lois is even here, and Lois says she was concerned about Gio. She knows Brook is furious with her, but she just wanted to make sure Gio was all right. Brook says she doesn’t know how he is. He couldn’t get out of here fast enough last night. All she knows is that Emma told Anna that they were together somewhere. Lois says, they’ve got to find him, and wonders if Anna can track Emma’s phone, but Brook says, no. Gio’s entire life blew up in his face. She needs to explain herself and ask forgiveness, but it’s not more important that Gio’s need for time and space. She’s not going to do to him what Lois is doing to her. Lois asks what she’s talking about, and Brook says, Lois came to get forgiveness and have Brook say she understands. She has no interest in taking care of Lois’s feelings after Lois betrayed her trust.

Lois says she hates what she did, but she only did it because she thought it was best for Brook and Gio. She did exactly what Brook asked and found the baby a good home. Brook says, with her own family, and Lois says, Camilla just lost her husband and said she felt like she had nothing to live for. Ma told her about the baby, and they could feel the light come back to her eyes. All she wanted to do was raise Gio and love him. She promised Brook that she’d find her child a good family and that’s exactly what she did. Brook says, Lois also lied to everyone, including her. Now she knows why Lois encouraged her not to tell Dante about the baby. Lois says she was trying to shield Brook. She was going through so much and she was so scared. Brook says, of course (🍷). All she wanted was to not be pregnant and for this to not be happening. Lois gave her the closest thing to it. She told Brook to tell no one, not even her dad. She could go on tour with Lois for a few months, have the baby, and go back to her life like nothing happened. Lois offered her a lifeline made of secrets and God forgive her, she took it.

Carly says, up until now, Aurora has been neutral, some would say charitable, about Drew’s behavior, but Curtis says he didn’t think it was right to use his platform to further his personal agency. That’s something Drew would do. She says she respects that, but isn’t asking him to print anything that’s not true. She just wants the world reminded that Drew seduced his nephew’s wife. Then he tried to dig up the Quartermaine crypt just to get back at Tracy. And let’s not forget the congressman embarrassed everyone in Port Charles with pictures of him with a sex worker. Curtis says, what about Drew accusing Tracy of drugging him? and Carly says, ketamine is a party drug. It’s more likely Drew took it recreationally. Otherwise, are they supposed to believe Tracy got her hands on some ketamine, dosed Drew, and left the evidence in her car? She doesn’t think so. Curtis admits the scenario seems unlikely. He wants to help Michael, but he can’t.

Michael wonders why Ric would want Sasha to testify unless he found out Michael was the father of her baby, and Sasha says that was her first thought too. But the only people who know are her, Michael, and Jason. Danny knows Jason isn’t the father, but doesn’t know who the father is. She thinks their secret is safe. He asks if she’s sure, and she says, yes. During her deposition, Ric’s questions were pretty straightforward. He wanted to know about Michael and Willow, but no baby related questions at all. Michael says, okay, good, and Sasha says, Diane, on the other hand, asked thoroughly about her seeing Drew and Willow kissing on July 4th, and the fact Willow asked her not to tell him, which Ric hated. Diane doubts Ric will call her as a witness. He says he’s glad Diane is on his side, and she says her too. He asks, what’s wrong? and she says, during the deposition yesterday, she realized if she had told him about Drew and Willow kissing when it happened, maybe it would have prevented all of this. Maybe he and Willow would have worked it out and they’d still be married.

Nina said she’d seen firsthand how much being pregnant again meant to Sasha, and Ava said, after what Sasha went through, she was sure. She was happy for Sasha. Nina said her too. Sasha had gone to great lengths to conceal Michael’s paternity. If that information were revealed, Sasha’s whole life would be turned upside down. Ava says, considering the father’s dysfunctional family, that’s the least of what could happen, and Nina says she doesn’t want to ruin Sasha’s happiness. Ava says she understands that, but Sasha did sleep with Michael. Why do they get to keep their dirty little secret when Willow’s life is out there on social media for everyone to comment on? Nina says, it’s not fair, but Drew is at fault. He turned Willow’s life into a circus. That’s another reason she doesn’t want to give Ric ammunition. If Willow gets full custody, she is never ever going to leave Drew.

Michael told Sasha that Drew made his way into the existing cracks in his and Willow’s relationship. If it had been as strong as he thought, there was no way Drew would have gotten between them. Sasha asks if he really believes that, and he says, absolutely. Looking back, as much as he loved Willow, he never saw her clearly. She says, Willow made it hard to see the real her, and he says he was so desperate to make her happy, he doesn’t think he knew who she was. He thought she was a good, honest person, someone better than him. So he made sure to show her only the best parts of himself. He kept a lot from her. He doesn’t think Willow ever got to know the real him. Sasha says she hears him taking responsibility, but what about Willow? He adored her and gave her everything she ever wanted, and she threw their marriage away. She deserves a sleaze like Drew. Michael says, she can have him. They can’t take away his kids.

Curtis says he would like nothing more than to remind the world how unfit Drew is for public office, but it could backfire spectacularly. He may run Aurora Media, but Michael is the majority shareholder. If he runs a smear campaign, Drew could wind up looking like a victim. He wants to take Drew down as much as Carly does, but that ain’t the way to do it. She says she guesses he’s right, and he says, don’t worry. He’s working on something else.

Elizabeth thanks Ric for breakfast, and he says, anytime. Madam Mayor, always a pleasure. Laura says, him too, and he leaves. Elizabeth says she hates to admit it, but the dragon berry juice is really good. She and Ric will always be friends, but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t set firm boundaries. Laura says she’s sure Elizabeth has, and Elizabeth thanks her. She says, when it comes to Lucky, Ric is nothing but a problem, and Laura says, of course (🍷). Lucky sees Ric as a potential rival.

Kristina tells Alexis that she wasn’t thinking clearly. If not for Lucky telling her to leave when he did, the cops probably would have seen her. Alexis asks, how? and Kristina says she was freaked out and openly at the scene, but off to the side. Alexis asks, how many were at the scene? but Kristina says she doesn’t know. Lucky says he thinks there were two cops, four paramedics, and at least a couple of firefighters. At the time, everyone was too busy to notice, but cops have bodycams and could probably obtain the footage. Kristina says, the police definitely know she was there, and Alexis says, why? Was she interviewed? Kristina says, no, but she did tell Dante that she saw Ric’s crashed car.

Emma asks if Gio slept at all, and he says, no. He just lied there all night thinking about all the people who’ve been lying to him. Emma asks if he thinks there are people besides Brook and Lois who knew, and he says, not Brook and Dante so much, but Sonny. He and Lois have known each other forever. If she told anybody, it would be him. And that would explain why Sonny’s been so generous, paying for his entire education and all his music stuff. Emma asks if he thinks Sonny lied, and he says he didn’t think his mother… Camilla would. Emma says, she didn’t tell him the whole truth, but she didn’t lie to him about her feelings. She was his mom and loved him. He says, Emma doesn’t know that, and she says she never met Camilla, but the way he talked about her and the stories about him growing up… All he needs to know is that he loved her and she loved him too.  

Lois says she doesn’t have to apologize to anyone. She did what was right. Brook says, it wasn’t right. Instead of the closed adoption she agreed to, Lois gave the baby to her cousin. He grew up down the block. She used to babysit him and play with him, and she never knew he was her son. Lois says, it tore her up every single time, but when Ma suggested Camilla, she was too selfish to say no. She was so scared to send the baby out into the world. This way, she didn’t have to and could look over at him and make sure he was okay. Brook says, he wasn’t okay when Camilla died. She was an adult. Why not tell her then? Lois says, Gio was devastated when his mother died. What was she gonna do? Add to his grief by telling him that his mom wasn’t his mom? Brook says that’s an excuse, and Lois says, Brook was an adult trying to make it in the music business. She was taking every gig she could. Should she have called Brook and told her to come home? No. She gave Gio a good home and gave Brook her freedom and that was the right thing to do.

Alexis asks if the police know Lucky was there, and he says he ran over when he saw Elizabeth was one of the victims. He talked to the paramedics and followed the ambulance to GH. Alexis says, it doesn’t necessarily matter that Kristina witnessed the scene, and Ric and Ava’s footage from the garage doesn’t show Kristina cutting the brakes. Lucky says he thinks the only thing that’s incriminating is the car. That’s why he went to the impound, but the guy said it had already been crushed. He thought that was the end. Alexis says, now they know Ava bribed the guy to say that, because the car is hidden somewhere nobody knows. He asks, what’s the next move? and Alexis says, they need to stay as far away from this as possible. Even if the police know they were both there, it doesn’t necessarily connect them. Lucky says, that’s it? He wants to help in any way he can. Alexis says he’s been very helpful. She has a better idea of how the day went and where they’re most vulnerable. He says, okay, and Kristina thanks him. Not just for helping, but believing she never intended to kill anyone. He says, just call if they need him, and leaves. Kristina asks what Alexis thinks. Is there any way out of this?

Elizabeth says it sounds like Laura knows something. Did Lucky talk to her about Ric? Laura says, no, not at all, and she certainly never asked him about it. Mother’s intuition. When she watched Lucky looking at Elizabeth, it was so clear she was the woman he never fell out love with. Now they were living together again. Elizabeth says, it’s wonderful having him here. She just doesn’t know if it’s enough. When you love someone you know is good at rescuing you, but not so good at the mundane day to day stuff, what do you do to make the relationship work? Laura says, Lucky is so much like his father, and Elizabeth says, yes, and she knows how much Laura and Lucky’s father loved each other. Yet they couldn’t make it work. Maybe she’s naïve to think she and Lucky could.

Portia goes to Curtis’s office, and he says, they need to talk. She says, about what? and he says, the fact that Carly came by and asked him for help with Michael. He couldn’t do it because Drew was holding Portia’s crimes over their heads. She says, he’s not the only one who’s frustrated. She tried to stop Drew herself, but she failed.

Nina says, if she tells Ric the truth about Sasha and Michael, Willow will probably get full custody, and it will have worked out exactly the way Drew promised her. Ava says, and Nina doesn’t want to give him credit? and Nina says, no, but Drew already bought a house in DC. He was talking about bringing Willow and the kids there permanently. If Willow gets full custody, she’ll lose her daughter and her grandkids. Ava says, what happens if Michael gets custody? and Nina says she has no idea, but she knows Willow will want to stay here where Wiley and Amelia are. She has to believe that if Willow’s relationship costs her the children, she’ll eventually leave this man. So maybe she’s just better off in the long run if Willow doesn’t get full custody.

Elizabeth tells Laura that it’s wonderful having Lucky here, taking care of her the way he has. She actually feels like she can depend on him 100%. Does Laura think he’s happy here? Laura says she hopes so. But she thinks that’s what she wants. She wants him to live here with Elizabeth, the woman she knows he loves, and raise their child together. Elizabeth says, those are not bad things to want, but Laura says she doesn’t know if it’s right for both of them. She’d like them to figure out what’s right for them.  

Ava says, Nina is in a no-win situation. Whatever choice she makes is a gamble. If Willow found out she knew about Michael and Sasha and didn’t tell her… Nina says, Drew made it perfectly clear that he wants Willow all to himself. And if he gets that, he’ll move them to DC in a heartbeat. Ava says she doesn’t envy either choice. They have ugly consequences. As a friend, the best advice she can give is for Nina to choose the consequences she can best live with.

Wiley says he was afraid Michael would be gone for a really long time, and Sasha asks why he thinks that. Wiley says, Uncle Drew told them that daddy couldn’t come back for a very long time, and Michael says, Drew was wrong. He’d never stay away a second longer than he had to. Daddy’s doctors fixed him up and he’s all better. Carly comes in and says, it’s so good to see him. Wiley asks if they can go swimming, and Carly asks what daddy thinks. Can they go swimming? Michael says, absolutely, and Wiley asks if mommy can come, but Michael says, not today. Sasha suggests they get their bathing suits on and takes the kids upstairs.

Alexis tells Kristina that the only way out of this mess is Ric’s car. As long as it exists, there’s proof the brake line was cut. Nothing Kristina or Lucky said could mitigate the attempted murder charges. Kristina says, so Alexis is going to continue to pay off Ric and Ava until they bleed the Cassadine trust dry? She hopes no one catches Alexis embezzling. Alexis says, until they find the car, Ava and Ric have the upper hand… until… unless she can get them to turn on each other. They’re both greedy, disgusting, duplicitous people. Kristina says, if they’re not in it together, they can turn on each other. How can we make that happen? Alexis says, we don’t do anything. Kristina doesn’t do anything. Let the PCPD investigate this. She’s got to stop being impulsive. Kristina says, maybe she should pay for what she’s done, but Alexis says, it will devastate Molly. If Kristina doesn’t intend to save her own life, do it for her sister.

Portia says she knows it was crazy to hire a sex worker, but she and Nina thought it would work, and Curtis asks if Nina knows what Drew has on her. Portia says she never told Nina why Drew wants to bring her down. It was enough that both of them needed to stop him. Curtis asks if they happen to know where Jacinda is now, and she says, Australia maybe. Nina gave her a lot of money to take an extended vacation somewhere remote. He says, so Drew can’t track her down, and Portia says, there’s one thing she hasn’t figured out. She and Nina drugged Drew. How did Tracy end up getting arrested or it? He says, Drew framed her.

Gio says he keeps remembering things about his mom, and Emma says, like what? Gio says, his dad Francis was in Iraq and before he died, he sent photos. Camilla never said Gio looked like him. She never said he had his dad’s eyes or his smile. She said he looked more like her side of the family. Emma says, now they know why, and Gio tells her, Camilla said when his dad was killed, she found out she was pregnant. She said having him saved her life. She called him her little miracle. Emma says, that was her truth. It makes sense, except the pregnant part. Having him come into her life at the lowest point, no matter how it happened, gave her a reason to keep on going. And he’s going to stand there and tell her that she’s not his mom. Gio says, she was definitely his mom. Brook is just the woman who gave him away.

Lois says, if she’d told Brook that Gio was her son after Camilla died, she wouldn’t have the life she has now. She wouldn’t be a strong, successful businesswoman working at Deception. She wouldn’t have met and married Chase. Would she have been willing to throw that away? Brook says, she’s asking the wrong question. Gio is her son, and all the choices Lois made robbed her of making her own choices for him. Now he’s an adult and she’ll never get the chance. Lois says she doesn’t know that, but Brook says, he won’t talk to her. She can’t help him through his identity crisis because he doesn’t trust her. Lois says, in time, he will, but Brook says, no, he won’t, because Lois showed them both that the one person you trust more than anyone in the world can lie to your face for years. So Lois should be asking how Brook can ever trust again, or Gio. She took away everything he knew about family and now he is no one.

Curtis asks how Drew knew she’d done something, and Portia says she has no idea… Wait a second. Brad is the only other person who knew. Curtis says, something else to hold over her head and it comes with serious jail time. If he can prove it. She says, he can’t prove her involvement. The ketamine traces back to Brad, an ex-con. Who’s going to believe an ex-con over her? He says he hopes she’s right. He has an idea on how to neutralize Drew. She says, okay. What is it? He says, they’ve got to do something Drew can’t do. They’ve got to find Jacinda.

Emma’s phone dings and she tells Gio that her grandma wants to know when she’s going to be home. He says, she should go back, but she says, he’s not getting rid of her that easy. He says he needs to get away and is thinking of a road trip to Canada. She says, okay, road trip it is. But he can’t just keep avoiding everybody. He needs to take care of how he really feels about family. Are they going back? He says, they’re going back.

Lois says she can make sure Gio knows no one was ever trying to hurt him, but Brook says, two things will never change. Gio will always know she gave him up, and she’ll always know Lois lied. Gio doesn’t want anything to do with her and she doesn’t want anything to do with Lois. Gloria walks in and says, hey! Don’t you dare talk to you mother like that. If you want to have out with someone, have out with me.

Alexis finds Laura in her office and asks if she forgot an appointment. Laura says, they didn’t have an appointment. She was looking over Ace’s trust fund and she’s very concerned. There seems to be a lot of money missing.

Elizabeth asks, how was the meeting? and Lucky says he went to see a lawyer about her car accident. She asks why he did that, and he says, because he knows more about her accident than he told her.

Michael tells Carly that he asked Sasha to watch the kids, but she couldn’t. She has to be in court. Did Carly know she was on the witness list? Carly says, Diane mentioned it. She thinks it’s a waste of time. What can Sasha testify to besides knowing Willow was sneaking around with Drew behind his back?

Ric goes to Nina’s office, and Ava says she didn’t expect him so soon. How did he make it back from his meeting in Beecher’s Corners so quickly? He says he has a fast car and knows a shortcut, and Ava says he’ll have to tell her all about it later. She’ll leave them both to it. She leaves, and Ric says he wanted to come by and make sure Nina is ready to testify. Nina says she actually doesn’t know what she’s going to say now, and he says he’s surprised. She has to testify to what she saw after Michael found out about the affair. She says, Michael let Willow take the children, and he asks if she has something new to add. Nina thinks about it.

On Monday, Brook asks if Lois regrets giving her baby to Camilla; Elizabeth asks what Lucky knows about her accident that he hasn’t told her; and Laura tells Alexis that 10 million dollars has been removed from Ace’s estate.

🧼 All the Soap News Fit To Print…

Take a peek. You know you want to.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/photos/behind-the-scenes-at-the-gh-nurses-ball-2025/

💉 A Dose Of Reality…

Below Deck Down Under

How does a superyacht not have enough dishes for a 7-course meal?

The Valley

Wah-wah-wah. Poor Jax. He claimed it was the first time he’d allowed himself to be vulnerable, but I swear we’ve heard that several before. Keep throwing that against the wall, Jax. Maybe it will stick eventually. Brittany let him see Cruz and got a horrible therapy session for her trouble. In her interview, she said he wanted to re-live his pre-Brittany days and it was sad since he was a 45 year old father. Agreed.

On my wish list.

Summer House

The Reunion Part 1. I gritted my teeth during the Toegate discussion, especially the debate over how much time should be taken with a toe. The set design evoked a sleepover, which was kind of cool, but I was less than impressed with the wardrobe. As for Gabby’s… dress? No, just no. No. Usually, my only Reunion outfit complaint is it being too extra, but this made me wonder if they knew they were going to be on TV. Kyle had once mentioned on Watch What Happens Live that certain companies would not hire cast members from Summer House, which didn’t surprise me. Imrul also found out there was a downside to letting the world see your party side. He was disinvited from a nephew’s birthday party after they’d seen the show, not feeling he was the best example. As Dr. Phil says, when you choose the actions, you choose the consequences.

Random Reality Items

New Housewives and new Villains, which are kind of the same thing.

He’s off to a great start. I’ve been following that story. Very creepy and very NYC.

Could Kenya be twirling back anytime soon?

👀 Last Weekend’s Watch…

Pee-wee as Himself. HBO/Max. 2-part documentary. I loved this film. At the end of his life, Paul Reubens said, I wanted somehow for people to understand that my whole career, everything I did and wrote, was based in love. From the moment the film started, I got that from his eyes alone. I was a Pee-wee’s Playhouse fan and often watched it Saturday morning, usually with a hangover, along with Lighting Force, a half-hour poor man’s A-Team starring Wings Hauser and a half-hour Tarzan starring a very hot Tarzan. Reubens discusses his entire career and the evolution of Pee-wee Herman, which was fascinating. Some of it is not new news, like his arrest in a porno theater and later for possessing child pornography, both of which were ridiculous. His so-called possession was his vintage erotica collection, which was shown. It was a big stretch saying the photo in question, one out of hundreds, was of someone underage. Still, he bounced back. Speaking of collections, I thought I had a lot of needless stuff, but Reubens was quite the collector of everything, especially pop culture items. I could have spent days combing through his impressive treasure trove. My only complaint is that the film wasn’t longer.

https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/pee-wee-as-himself-max-documentary-tv-review-2025

A few spoilers here.

https://people.com/paul-reubens-reveals-true-self-shares-his-final-words-in-new-pee-wee-herman-doc-11740098

Mickey 17. HBO/Max. Whenever Bong Joon Ho is involved, I’m in. Mickey is an Expendable, who does the most dangerous work while testing a planet for habitability and when they die – not if, when – they’re simply reprinted and sent back out again. This did make me wish we could reprint our bodies. Make mine thinner please. Only one version of an Expendable is allowed to be alive at the same time, and two Mickeys collide when one is presumed dead. It was a very busy film, so you might have to concentrate, but it was definitely a new concept worth watching.

https://movieweb.com/robert-pattinson-mickey-17-streaming-max/

A few spoilers here.

https://decider.com/2025/05/27/mickey-17-streaming-movie-review

Southern Comfort. AMC+, Amazon Prime, TubiTV, et al. This is an old film from 1981, but it doesn’t feel dated. I’d seen it long ago and for whatever reason, it popped into my head, and I had to watch it again. During the Vietnam War era, a group of National Guardsmen participate in a training exercise in the Louisiana bayou. It’s the perfect cautionary tale of don’t act like you own the place when you don’t. Brion James is exceptional as a local they capture when the stupidity of one of the Guardsmen gets out of hand. Even after all these years, it did not disappoint.

https://www.cbr.com/war-movie-southern-comfort-perfect-for-clint-eastwood-fans/

⚰️ Finale Of the Dead…

As I always say, if I need the ending explained, maybe I shouldn’t be watching it. Obviously, spoilers here, and although I won’t spoil anything, let it suffice to say, it wasn’t exactly uplifting.

https://ew.com/the-last-of-us-season-2-ending-explained-11740827

👑 Gilded Once More…

Great show. Great cast. The Gilded Age returns on June 22nd.

https://www.tvinsider.com/gallery/the-gilded-age-season-3-premiere-date-photos/

🏆 Another Shot…

If you’ve never seen Hamilton on Disney+, you’re missing out. I actually call my subscription to their service a perpetual rental of the show.

https://ew.com/original-hamilton-cast-to-reunite-at-78th-tony-awards-11744341

🩰 Don’t Dream It, Be It…

It always amazes me how much work is put into these costumes. Although I do tend to put a lot of effort into my yearly Halloween theme.

https://ew.com/best-anime-central-2025-cosplayers-from-squid-game-star-wars-fantastic-four-11741525

🐾 Reaching For the Stars…

🐶 Dogs are college students too.

https://people.com/doug-the-pug-receives-unique-honorary-degree-11741828

🐩 A canine at Cannes.

https://people.com/who-is-the-fashionable-dog-on-the-cannes-red-carpet-11737825

🐕 Everything is beautiful at the ballet.

https://www.purewow.com/news/demi-moore-striking-photo-instagram

👄 Quotes of the Week

By hero, we tend to mean a heightened man who, more than other men, possesses qualities of courage, loyalty, resourcefulness, charisma, above all, selflessness. He is an example of right behavior; the sort of man who risks his life to protect his society’s values, sacrificing his personal needs for those of the community. – Paul Zweig

It isn’t enough to talk about peace. One must believe in it. And it isn’t enough to believe in it. One must work at it.Eleanor Roosevelt

I know now a loss can be a gift. A chance to grow. Losing has taught me to be a better winner and a better person, one who is always looking for opportunities to learn. – Serena Williams

We’re flawed because we want so much more. We’re ruined because we get these things and wish for what we had. – Don Draper (John Hamm), Mad Men, The Summer Man

Don’t spend major time on minor things. – Jim Rohn

If you can get someone to laugh with you, they will be more willing to identify with you, listen to you. It parts the waters. – Robert Orben

Always forgive your enemies. Nothing annoys them so intensely. – Percy Colson

He talks in the cadence of a leprechaun. – Kalani Faagata about Florian Sukaj, Pillow Talk: 90 Day Fiancé :The Last Resort

🌞 The Song Sings Itself…

Until next week, stay safe; stay using sunscreen now that you’ll (hopefully) be outside more (better yet, do your skin a favor and consider using it year-round); and stay never taking a lifeline made of secrets.

May 23, 2025 – GH Weekdays, Two Bombshells At the Nurses Ball, Soap Suds, This Week In Reality, Weekend Watching, Wait List, Rites Of Pet (!) Passage, Two Quartets Of Quotes & Glow

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

🥢 Weekday Bites…

Monday:

Brook called a family meeting, and Ned asked Lois if something was going on at Deception. Tracy seemed distracted lately. Lois said it seemed like Tracy being Tracy.

Dante saw Sasha in the nook, and she asked how Rocco was doing. He said he thought Rocco had learned his lesson, and she said he was a really good kid. So was Danny.

Ned asked Brook what the meeting was about, and Brook said it had been tense since Rocco went to the hospital and Gio was walking on eggshells. He’d been beating himself up. Jason said, so had Danny, and Brook said, for the sake of family unity, could they please move on. Gio listened from outside the door.

Cody it was strange there was no record of Gio being born, but was still skeptical, but Lulu said, the more she thought about it, she thought Camilla had never been pregnant. Camilla had been on tour and the Bensonhurst crew wouldn’t have known.

Drew said he was surprised Portia had said anything to Curtis. In order to be blackmailed, a person had to do something wrong, something that could even cost a doctor their medical license.

Sonny said he knew Willow didn’t want an ugly custody fight. Nobody would win. Willow said it was the last thing she wanted for Wiley and Amelia, but Carly and Michael seemed determined to take her kids from her.

Nina asked Carly if Michael was coming home, and Carly said she hadn’t expected the hearing so soon. Nina said the simple solution was to postpone it, but Carly said, nothing doing. Nina said she’d thought they were together on this, but Carly said Willow would never leave Drew and she had to protect her grandchildren. Nina said they were her grandchildren too, and Carly wasn’t doing this.

Drew gave Curtis a hypothetical situation that was actually real about Portia tampering with Heather’s test results. He assumed the hypothetical doctor’s career would be over and it would be devastating for her daughter too.

Lulu found the name of the group Camilla toured with- The Nicola Quartet. They’d been performing in New Zealand when Gio was supposedly born in LA. Cody said they had to be certain if they were going to upend people’s lives, and Lulu said she wasn’t stopping until she had proof. She was going to find the other members of the quartet.

Tracy didn’t think two teenage boys getting drunk was unheard of and Brook said none of them would have called Rocco’s parents when they were Gio’s age. Gio came in and said he’d used bad judgement that Rocco had almost paid for. He couldn’t change things, but would work to gain back everyone’s trust. Lois followed him out to the foyer, and he said she and Brook needed to stop making excuses for him.

Sasha said Danny was sorry for talking Rocco into going to the party, and Dante said Danny was a good kid, but still reckless. Sasha said Danny was taking it seriously, and Dante said he loved Danny, but he was too much like Jason for his own good.

Sonny said Carly should never have interfered and he thought Willow should get a postponement, but Willow said she was sick of having it hanging over her head and Ric said she could win. Sonny said nobody would win, especially the kids. She should wait until Michael got home and they should compromise. Michael had told him that he wasn’t looking for full custody.

Carly said she was hoping Nina would get through to Willow, but she wanted the kids away from Drew now. Willow would never see him for who he was and she had to do something to protect the kids. Nina asked if Carly had just been pretending to work with her to keep her distracted.

Cody looked up a song that Camilla had once played in concert and found it on a file sharing site. Lulu looked for contact info on the remaining quartet musicians and told him that she’d say she was doing a story on touring musicians and had known Camilla. After doing a search, she found the viola guy.

Ned said he was impressed with Gio, and Jason told them, Gio said it all, and left.

Lois told Gio that she wasn’t excusing his behavior, but they’d all made mistakes. It was part of growing up. Gio said he wasn’t a kid anymore, but she said he always would be to her. He said he didn’t know what he would have done without her. Thanks to her and Sonny, he had an amazing life. He could stand on his own now because of them.

Sasha said she thought Jason was fundamentally a good man, and Dante said Jason loved his kids, but wasn’t a huge help when disciplining them. Danny needed boundaries and with Sam gone, he wasn’t getting a lot of them. Jason had to step up the way father should. Jason walked in.

Lulu left a message for the viola guy.

Curtis told Drew to keep his daughter’s name out of his mouth, but Drew claimed it was just hypotheticals. What if the patient found out a doctor was trying to deny her freedom and got a lawyer? The doctor would be facing a crippling lawsuit, and the doctor and her husband would be responsible for part of the enormous settlement.

Sonny said he’d talked with Michael before the accident, and he’d only asked for full custody as a negotiation tactic. If he hadn’t gotten hurt, he and Willow would have worked out joint custody. Willow said Michael wasn’t open to a compromise anymore. She’d flown to Germany, but he’d refused to see her. Sonny said it didn’t seem like Michael at all.

Nina said Carly had gone behind her back and lied to her face. Carly said she never made any promises and Nina was the one lying to her daughter. Nina said she had to stay on Willow’s good side, but Carly thought it was just an excuse to stall. Nina wasn’t a mother and never would be.

Nina said she was a good mother, and Carly said, then act like it. She was acting like a friend. Nina said she’d already lost Nelle and wasn’t losing Willow. Carly said Willow would come around. A good mother sacrificed their own happiness for the good of their child. Nina said Carly had never sacrificed anything. She did what she wanted no matter who it hurt. Carly said Willow should be thankful Nina didn’t raise her, or she’d be a worse mother than she was now.

Dante jetted and Jason wondered what he’d interrupted. Sasha said they’d been talking about Danny, but she should have kept her mouth shut. Jason was glad Danny had so many people looking out for him. There was a knock at the door and a woman served Sasha with papers. Sasha told Jason that she’d been called to testify in Willow’s custody hearing, and Jason said, thanks to Carly, it had been fast tracked. Sasha wondered if Willow knew that Michael was her baby’s father.

Dante came back, and Tracy said he’d missed the family meeting. Dante asked what it had been about, and Brook said, him and Gio. Olivia said the consensus was, Dante was being too hard on Gio and she agreed.

Curtis said, there was no proof, but Drew said a hypothetical doctor wouldn’t give in without it. He was sure the hospital’s system could verify it. A digital footprint lasted forever. Curtis said, so did photos and videos, and no amount of good press would erase the damage done.

Willow said the receptionist was clear that Michael didn’t want to see her, but Sonny said he knew Michael. He wouldn’t want to put his kids through what he’d been through. Willow said she’d been shocked, and Sonny said all the more reason to let it go. Call for a postponement until Michael came home and could speak for himself.

Nina said Willow was an excellent mother, but Carly said Willow was too blind to see who Drew really was. Even if she could, she’d be too gutless to admit it. she just whined and blamed other people. For all they knew, Drew would move them all to DC. Drew was going to do everything in his power to keep the kids from Michael, and Willow would blindly follow. Willow didn’t deserve the kids or to be a mother. Nina slugged Carly and they got into some hair pulling.

Josslyn came in and broke up the fight. Carly told Nina, get the hell out, and Nina said, gladly. There was no way she’d let Carly take willow’s children away and would do whatever it took to stop her. Josslyn asked what was going on.

Jason said only he, Sasha, Diane, and Michael knew Michael was the father. Danny only knew that the father wasn’t him. Sasha said she hadn’t told anyone, and Michael’s name wasn’t on any paperwork. She wondered how Ric thought she could help Willow’s case.

Drew said he intended to prove he was drugged, but Curtis said people would think he was a politician who would say whatever he could to save himself. They’d dismiss him and think less of him. Drew said he had the situation under control, and Curtis said they’d see what happened. Drew said he looked forward to Aurora’s endorsement of Ezra Boyle and Measure C, suggested some editorials on how organized crime was bad for Port Charles, and left.

Dante said he was surprised at Olivia, but she said Dante wasn’t a saint back in the day. Dante said she’d done something about it and gotten him on the right track. No one was doing anything about Gio. Just talking.

Gio said he never realized how much Lois and Gloria shielded him when he was younger, but Lois said, Dante was exaggerating. Gio said he wasn’t. He needed it when he was younger, but didn’t anymore. Lois said family looked out for each other, and Gio said it was clear nothing would change Dante’s mind about him.

Lulu left messages for everyone involved and mentioned Camilla. Her phone rang and it was the cellist, Margaret Harper, returning her call. She said she hadn’t thought of Camilla in years, and it was a tragedy she’d died so young. Camilla had quit the tour with no notice and left them in the lurch, which wasn’t like her. They’d had to cancel the New Zealand leg of the tour. Lulu asked if Camilla had been having a rough pregnancy, but Margaret said, Camilla wasn’t pregnant.

Brook said Gio regretted what he’d done, yet when he was young, Dante couldn’t see that breaking in and stealing was wrong. Gio didn’t need the tough love that Dante had needed. Dante said, as a parent, he got it, and knew Olivia had been trying to make him a better person. He didn’t think Gio was trying to hurt Rocco, but had screwed up, and sometimes you had to be hard on a kid. Brook would see it when she had her own kids.

Gio told Lois that he was sure Dante was trashing him right now.

Josslyn was surprised about the hearing, and Carly said Willow needed be out of Drew’s house. Josslyn wondered how a hearing could be scheduled when Michael was still in Germany, and Carly said she was looking for emergency custody. Josslyn said Carly needed to call Michael and tell him about the hearing.

Jason said some witnesses were never actually called, and Sasha wondered if Ric was hedging his bets. Jason said it was no secret she and Michael had dated and were still friends. Maybe Ric thought she’d overheard or seen something make Michael look bad. Sasha said Ric would be disappointed.

Lois said Dante didn’t think Gio was a bad person, but Gio said Dante had a terrible opinion of him. He’d just stay out of Dante’s way. There was no reason they needed be friends. Olivia came out and told Gio that there was something she needed to say.

Willow said it was only right Michael should be there. She didn’t want Carly to be speaking for him. Nina ran in all disheveled, and Willow asked, what happened to her face? Nina said, Carly happened. She went to see Carly, and she refused to postpone the hearing and said Willow didn’t deserve custody. She told Sonny that Carly had made it clear she was trying to take the kids from Willow, and Willow said there was no room for compromise with Carly involved. She was calling Ric and would tell him to do whatever it took to keep the kids with her where they belonged. She left and Sonny told Nina that he came this close to getting Willow to postpone the hearing. Nina said his ex was a psycho bitch and there was nothing they could do at this point. Carly had gone too far. Sonny said Nina was the one who got Willow’s kids taken from her.

Jason told Sasha not to worry, and she agreed that Ric had no reason to suspect Michael was the father of her baby. Her secret was safe.

Sonny told Nina that he’d been Willow’s last hope. He’d come there for her. If Willow lost her children, Nina had no one to blame but herself. 

Carly said she wasn’t calling Michael, but Josslyn said they were Michael’s kids. He had the right to know. Carly said she didn’t want him to cut his recovery short and come home, and Josslyn asked if she really thought the judge would side with her over Willow who was the children’s mother. Carly said she hoped the judge would look at the facts and see that the kids were in an unhealthy environment. If her strategy didn’t work and Michael lost custody of Amelia and Wiley, he was never going to forgive her.

Dante said when Brook had a child, she’d look at things differently. She was going to be an awesome mom. Brook thanked him, but wouldn’t let him dismiss her opinion. Gio had apologized over and over. What did he want?

Olivia told Gio that it took guts to own up to his mistake. Next time he’d do better. Period. The end. He thanked her and she said her son would come around too. He told her, that’s what Lois had said, but he didn’t think so. She said Dante was upset because he saw so much of his younger self in Gio. 

Lulu told Cody that Margaret was going to send her a picture of her and Camilla on the beach. When the picture came through, Cody said Camilla was hot, but didn’t look pregnant. Lulu said Lois and Brook had been hiding Dante’s son in plain sight.

Curtis listened to the recording he’d made of the conversation with Drew. He looked at Portia’s number in his phone.

Drew called Mac and said he remembered more from that night. He knew who’d drugged him.

Tuesday:

Nina and Drew both tell someone on the phone that the answer is no.

Nina and Drew host on the Nurses Ball red carpet. Nina made sure to make a dig at Drew, asking if his name is Cain or Quartermaine. He tells her, Quartermaine, like there was never any question.

Tracy complained about being late and Olivia asked if Tracy shouldn’t be on vocal rest since she was singing lead. Tracy said she was nervous about Lucy, who was a walking, standing, singing disaster. She didn’t want Lucy’s underwear ruining her act. Olivia said, at this point, Tracy was basically fate’s passenger, and in unison with Ned, she told Tracy, something always happens at the Nurses Ball.

Lulu told Cody that she was riding over with Dante, and he asked if she was going to tell him about her theory. She said she was, but not yet. She had no definitive proof, but if she was right, he deserved to know.

Ric showed up to bug Alexis as she was leaving. He brought her all the paperwork she’d need to cover up her embezzlement and make the investments look legit. She told him to give it a rest.

The Mistress of Ceremonies, Lucy, arrived with a llama. The llama was too precious, and Lucy looked so cute in a red twirly skirt and Nurses Ball T-shirt that I must have.

Nina asked Lucy to tell them about her date, and Lucy said the devastatingly handsome and soft fella was Sebastian. They were on a mission to promote rescue for llamas. She thanked Drew and Nina for replacing the original host who had to drop out. She said they made a glamorous, fabulous, gorgeous pair. Nina asked about Lucy’s special guest, but Lucy said, a lady never tells, but promised it would be worthwhile and fantastic. She told them, Sebastian says, ta, and they left. Sonny and Donna came in.

Brook wondered why Lulu was at the Quartermaines, and Lulu said Dante had offered her a ride. Lois was meeting Sonny at the Ball, and Tracy called her a traitor. Dante was like, really? They were surrounded by Sonny’s family. Olivia and Ned left, Ned telling Tracy to get a ride with Brook and Chase.

Drew blabbed about Measure C to Sonny, but Sonny said the people of Port Charles needed to choose what was best for the city. That was politics, but tonight they were here for something more important. Nina welcomed Donna, who is the cutest child on earth and has Sonny’s dimples. Carly was next, and Drew said, too bad Michael couldn’t be there. Carly said she was sure he missed his favorite nephew. She knew how much they loved to share things. (Snap!) Drew said it was tragic that Michael had been the unintended victim in the attempt on his father’s life and they should pass Measure C for Michael’s sake. (Hard to believe even Drew would think this was the appropriate place and a good look for him.)

Carly said she was against Measure C, which was clearly one politician’s attempt to make himself important at the expense of one of Port Charles’s most generous citizens. Nina asked, what politician? and Carly said, Councilman Boyle. Jordan came in with Sidwell, and Nina asked about her resignation. Jordan said it was about opportunity, and she was now the COO of Sidwell’s company, SRE Worldwide. Sidwell was also picking up the tab for the entire Ball. Sidwell said he’d gotten such a warm welcome from the good people of Port Charles, it was his way of saying thank you to the city. Drew started talking about his own agenda again, when Felicia and Isaiah arrived. Felicia said Isaiah was her friend and co-worker, but not her date, and Nina pointed out that she was married to Chief of Police Mac Scorpio. She asked if Isaiah was single, and he looked at Jordan and said, very.

Ric thought the paperwork would help, but Alexis said it would help if he’d stop blackmailing her. Ric said it wouldn’t be happening if Kristina hadn’t tried to murder Ava, but if their arrangement was unacceptable, he could have Kristina thrown into prison. Kristina came in and wondered why Ric was always there.

Some guy named George told Nina and Drew that they made a great team, and Nina said, lucky her. She introduced Port Charles’s favorite power couple, Ned and Olivia. Drew said he was happy to see how well the family was represented at the Ball, and Ned said he didn’t realize how important the family was to Drew other than using the name. Olivia hustled him off. Portia, Curtis, and Trina came in, and were introduced. Drew said they had a last minute arrival, and Kai said, surprise!   

Kai told Trina that Stella talked to the doctors who gave him the all clear for the night. There was no way he was going to miss her performance. Nina asked about Kai, when Drew interrupted and introduced him as the once and future football star at PCU. Kai said if he got back into football, it was because of the congressman’s generous support. Curtis said he thought the next arrival was coming.

Tracy wanted to walk the red carpet with Lulu and Brook, but Lulu said she was walking with Dante. Dante said he’d promised Charlotte and Rocco that he’d escort their mom. Tracy said, at least her beautiful granddaughter wouldn’t desert her, but Brook said she was planning on walking the red carpet with her husband. However, Tracy was welcome to join them.

Dante and Lulu came in, and Nina remarked on Lulu’s triumphant return. Josslyn and Gio followed, and Josslyn talked up Gio’s violin playing. Gio said he played mostly classical music, but was changing it up tonight, and Josslyn said his performance wouldn’t make up for Nina’s piece of trach co-host. She and Nina had their differences, but she was sorry Nina was stuck working with him. Nina said Josslyn had a feisty spirit like her late grandmother Bobbie Spencer.

Chase’s phone rang and he said it was work. He told the others to go ahead, and Brook walked in with Tracy. On the phone, Chase said, Mac wanted him to what?

Alexis told Kristina that Ric came to see if Molly was there, but she told him that they were meeting at the Ball. Kristina said the Ball wasn’t there, so why was he? Ric asked what happened to her putting her anger away, and she said, that stopped when he decided to help Willow steal her brother’s children from him. Ric said Michael’s mother had pushed the date and reignited the custody battle, and Kristina told him that it said a lot about Willow to choose a bottom feeder like him to represent her. Ric suggested she might want to watch being on her high horse. All it took was one little push. He left and Alexis said Kristina needed to be nicer to him. Kristina said maybe Alexis was losing her mind.

Gio asked if Sonny had seen Lois, but Sonny said it was hard to keep track of her. They talked about Gio’s upcoming number and Sonny asked, how was Gio’s first red carpet? Gio said, Josslyn made it memorable. Josslyn told Carly about taking shots at Drew on the red carpet, and Carly said Drew tried to use Michael to bait her so he could use it at the custody hearing, but she kept cool. Tracy and Brook were introduced, and Tracy grabbed the mic to express support for Measure C. She added that she was heartened her congressman nephew was leading the charge to rid the city of the blight that was Sonny. Drew said it was nice to be on the same side for once, when Chase approached. Nina asked if he wasn’t slated to perform, but Chase said he’d been put back on duty. He asked to talk to Tracy, but she said, in a minute. She was talking about an issue important to the people of Port Charles. Chase said it couldn’t wait, but she said, this couldn’t either. He said he was sorry to do this, but she was under arrest.

Nina took the mic, and Chase suggested he and Tracy discuss it off camera. Tracy said, clearly, it was an erroneous accusation, and she wanted the people of Port Charles to see how ridiculous it was. He said he was arresting her for assault, drugging an individual without their knowledge or consent. Tracy asked, who was drugged? and Chase said, Congressman Drew Cain. Tracy said it was a mistake, but Drew said, no, it wasn’t, and Chase handcuffed Tracy. Dante told Lulu that he hoped Tracy didn’t make Chase use the taser, and Chase read Tracy her rights as he led her away. 

Portia said Curtis seemed distracted, and he said he had some calls to make. He left, and Isaiah looked at Portia, remembering overhearing her say if Curtis found out she lied, her marriage was over. Isaiah brought her a glass of champagne and said, if she ever needed to talk, come find him. Dante told Sonny that he missed Chase arresting Tracy. Drew accused her of drugging him. Sonny said, it couldn’t happen to a nicer person.

Nina introduced Anna and Emma, and said she heard Anna was slated to perform not one, but two acts. Anna said that remained to be seen. The leading vocalist in one act had been led off in handcuffs, and her partner in the other act was the arresting officer. Nina said she was sure Anna would figure it out. Her resourcefulness was legendary. Drew asked if Robin was coming, and Emma said her mom couldn’t make it, so they were here to represent. Anna said there had been so much progress since the first Nurses Ball in 1994. People with HIV were living long and happy lives thanks to the dedication and resourcefulness of scientists and researchers. She believed it was just a question of time before a cure was developed. (Truth. I have a high school friend who has been living with HIV for many, many years now.)

Alexis suggested they not let Ric ruin the evening, and Kristina wondered why she was defending Ric. Alexis said they’d made a truce for Molly’s sake, but Kristina said, since he was going after Michael, all bets were off. Alexis said it would be better to keep things even, and Kristina asked if was because she was emotionally volatile and asked if Alexis was going to have her committed.

Cody saw Molly outside, and they smiled.

Cody continued to stare at Molly, who asked if she had a stain on her dress. Cody said, no, and asked if she was heading in. She said she was waiting on her mom and Kristina, but they hadn’t responded to her texts. Cody said, in that case, and held out his arm. He said he promised to leave his pants on, and she took his arm.

Alexis asked if every time they had a difference of opinion, Kristina was going to accuse her of thinking she was crazy. Kristina said Alexis had tried to have her thrown into a mental institution without her consent and It was hard let go of. Alexis said she was just trying to give Kristina advice, but Kristina said she wasn’t going to be nice to Ric when he was fighting to have her brother’s children taken away. Alexis suggested she stay out of Ric’s face. He wasn’t someone they could afford to piss off for Kristina’s sake. Kristina asked what she was talking about.

Nina asked if Molly and Cody were an item, and Cody said Molly had the pleasure of prosecuting him more than once. Molly said she didn’t technically prosecute him, and Cody said they met while he was in custody. Part of his sentence was to escort beautiful women on the red carpet.

Ned said the MetroCourt looked amazing, and Carly and Olivia clinked glasses. Carly left to check on the waitstaff, and Brook asked if Ned saw what happened to granny. Ned asked what she’d done now.

Chase brought Tracy to the interrogation room where Mac was waiting. He uncuffed her and said, for what it’s worth… (🍷) She told him, save it, and Mac asked him to tell Felicia that he was sorry he couldn’t make it. This was definitely going to take a while.

Lucy said there was a problem, and Anna said she’d heard about Tracy. Lucy asked if she or Felicia could sing, but they were both like, no way. Lucy suggested Maxie could replace Tracy, but Felicia said Bailey Lou was sick and Maxie was home with her. Spinelli had brought Georgie and James without her. Anna said she thought Felicia might have solved their problem. 

Curtis told Jordan that Drew was definitely blackmailing Portia – hypothetically – and she asked what he had on Portia – hypothetically. He said he needed to confirm some things before he said, and she asked if he’d talked to Portia. He said, not yet, but he would… eventually. He looked over and saw Portia with Isaiah. A guy named Scott asked Molly who her date was and said he looked familiar. He wondered if he’d seen Cody in Deception ads, and Cody said that was in his past. He was no longer in the Deception business. Molly told Scott, so he says, and Cody said he’d better get her inside before she realized how much better she could do. 

Nina said it had been the last of the arrivals and their work was mercifully done. She thanked Drew, but he said it seemed they’d saved the best for last. Willow stood at the end of the red carpet sporting a funky new haircut.

Drew walked to Willow, said she looked incredible, and kissed her as cameras flashed. Nina looked sick.

Molly told Cody that neither her mom nor Kristina were responding to her texts. 

Alexis said she thought it was healthier if Kristina let go of her anger. That was the plan and as despicable as Ric was, it was a good plan. Kristina said she changed her mind, and Alexis said, change it back. Kristina accused Alexis of trying to control her like she’d done since Kristina was a child. Alexis was policing what she thought and did, and she was sick of it. Alexis said she was trying to keep Kristina from making a terrible mistake, but Kristina said her mistakes were her own. She didn’t need Alexis to protect her. Alexis said, she did, and if she didn’t protect Kristina, they’d both be going to prison. Ric knew Kristina had tried to kill Ava. 

Mac tossed a folder on the table, and told Tracy that Drew said she was the last person he’d remembered being with the night he was drugged. Tracy said that didn’t mean she drugged him, and she wasn’t the last person he’d been with. Mac said he’d seen the video, but he got a search warrant, and they found a vial of ketamine in her car. Tracy asked why she would have… He framed her.

Ned said if Tracy did drug Drew, she wouldn’t have gotten caught. Something was fishy. Brook got a text from Chase: On my way back, will explain everything when I get there.

Nina said Willow looked amazing and introduced her beautiful daughter who was also one of General Hospital’s finest nurses. She said Willow looked absolutely radiant and asked, what was her secret? Willow said she thought it was because she’d never been so happy.

We saw a man watching the red carpet on a tablet in a private plane. Willow said it was all because of Drew, and Nina said, obviously, they were serious. Willow said they were absolutely, totally committed to each other and to their future. She was thrilled to be blessed with blending a beautiful family. Michael The man continued to watch on the tablet.

 To Be Continued…

Wednesday:

Lucy screeched for her gown and Amy brought it. Lucy said all of their hard work was about to pay off, and Sebastian wanted to say, all of you folks, it’s showtime.

Alexis said she knew Kristina tried to kill Ava. It didn’t matter why she did it. She did it and it couldn’t be undone, so they had to cover it up.

Drew and Willow walked into a less than warm reception, and Willow left to change for her performance.

An announcer said, ladies and gentlemen, please help give a warm welcome to our host Lucy Coe, and Lucy came out in a sparkly gown. She said she was excited to be host for the celebration of community and contribution and was so delighted to welcome everyone to the 2025 Nurses Ball. She promised it would be a night they’d never forget. There was applause and a scream was heard from backstage.

Lucy said she was sorry. Everything was fine. Apparently, a stagehand got too close to Sebastian and llamas were very territorial. The stagehand… Let’s just say he won’t do it again. So yay. Moving on. She shared that she’d started the Nurses Ball 31 years ago – applause – to raise awareness and funds in the fight against HIV/AIDS. It was a teeny idea, and a one-time event grew into a Port Charles institution that she was proud of. They got together with the community to do something for the greater good. Some might think they didn’t have to do so much now, but they had to continue to fight the good fight. She thanked everyone for being there and thanked their amazing benefactor who underwrote the entire ball. That meant every penny went right to the cause. There was more applause, and she thanked everyone. She said they were also going to see all the fine, home-grown talent showing off their stuff. If you saved a life, you were a hero, but if you saved a thousand lives, you were a nurse. She was excited to start the evening by bringing back to the Nurses Ball stage the talented, hardworking, gorgeous medical staff at General Hospital. Once again, proving angels weren’t always wearing wings. Sometimes, they were in scrubs. A group performed Holiday, with Amy and Deanna on lead vocals. Willow and Isaiah also joined them, and they got a standing ovation.

Kristina said she did cover it up and wondered how Alexis knew. Lucky was the only person who knew. Alexis said she talked to Lucky, but after she knew the truth. Kristian said she never meant to hurt Ric and Elizabeth. She’d meant to cut Ava’s brakes. Alexis asked what the hell difference it made. (Right?) Kristina tampered with a car with the intention of hurting somebody and she did hurt two people. Good thing it wasn’t worse. Kristina said she felt terrible. It was all she could think about. She’d give anything to go back and change what she did. She tried to stop it. She called Ava to warn her, but Ava didn’t pick up and she was too terrified to leave a message. Alexis said, good thing she didn’t. It would have been another piece of evidence against her. They knew what she did and could prove it.

Kristina asked, who was they? Ava and Ric or the police? Alexis said Ava and Ric. Ava showed her a video from the security cameras in the garage of Kristina holding the wire cutters and heading toward Ric’s car. They had the car. Kristina said, the car was destroyed. Lucky checked. Alexis said she was sure Ava paid off the impound lot person to say that. They hid the car and only Ric and Ava knew where it was. If the police found it, they would see the brake lines were cut and Kristina would be charged with attempted murder. Kristina said, they hadn’t gone to the police. Why go to Alexis? Alexis said because they were blackmailing her.

Josslyn said she was happy Kai didn’t have to go back, and Kai said he had help. Trina said, Aunt Stella, and Josslyn said, now Trina didn’t have to rush off to see Kai and they could hang out. Trina said, Kai would also get to watch them in person, and Kai said he couldn’t wait. Josslyn noticed Willow and Drew coming in and watched as Willow went past them. She said she’d be back, and left.

Chase apologized for being late, but Brook said she was just glad he made it back. What was going on with granny? She didn’t drug Drew, did she? (Try saying that three times real fast.) Chase said that Mac took over before he got any details, and Brook said she knew Tracy hated Drew, but she couldn’t imagine her doing anything that horrible. Dante suggested her anger had reached epic proportions, and Cody called Drew trash with abs. Chase said Tracy would want Brook to have fun, and she said they had to be there or Gio’s performance. Tracy probably had her legal team on it and there was nothing worry about.

Josslyn found Willow in the bathroom and said she didn’t think Willow could sink any lower, but somehow, she had. It took a lot of nerve being here and all over Drew. Willow said she wasn’t leaving and asked if that was all. Josslyn said Willow would never take Michael’s children away from him.

Drew asked how Kai was feeling, and Kai said, pretty good. He thanked Drew again for everything, and Drew said he was sorry he wasn’t there more after Kai’s surgery. Kai said he’d read about it and hoped everything was okay. Drew said it would be. The documentary was going to be great for both of them. Since Drew is always working, he zeroed in on Portia.

Sonny asked if ADA Turner  was enjoying herself, and she said, perhaps it was the only Nurses Ball they’d be at together. He might find it difficult doing business in Port Charles if Measure C passed. Perhaps he’d relocate to a more welcoming climate. Sonny said Port Charles was his home. Nobody was pushing him out

Drew said he needed Portia to do something, but Portia said he needed to leave her alone. He asked if she’d check on Willow in the ladies’ room, but she said she wasn’t answering to him tonight. She was enjoying a night out with her husband.

Willow said it was none of Josslyn’s business. She was Wiley and Amelia’s mother, and they belonged with her. Josslyn asked, what about their father, the one she was still married to? Out of sight, out of mind? Willow said she hadn’t forgotten Michael. She flew to Germany to talk about all that and he refused to see her. She wanted to work things out, but he didn’t. It made her realize that she couldn’t sit around waiting for Michael to come home and there was nothing more important than moving on with her life and being with Drew. (Wow. Not too admittedly selfish.) She wasn’t going to let Josslyn or anyone else harass her. Drew knocked at the ladies’ room door and asked if Willow was all right. Josslyn said Willow’s hero was there now. Did Willow think he was late because he and his white horse were off scoring blow? Drew walked in and Josslyn reminded him that he was in the ladies’ room. Was he looking for his girlfriend or another hooker? She was sure Willow could help him out. She left. 

Portia met Curtis in the garden and said, the Nurses Ball was a magical night. It made you feel like anything was possible. She was lucky to be there with her handsome husband who she adored… What was wrong? Curtis said it was hard to enjoy the night when he knew she wasn’t being honest with him. She said, about? and he said, Drew blackmailing her.

Lucy introduced Gio, listing his accomplishments, and saying he combined classical sophistication with fresh street energy. It was his first time on the Nurses Ball stage and she asked for a warm welcome. There was applause and Gio did this amazing performance, leaping around the stage while playing. A light show went on around him and smoke from dry ice covered the stage floor. Lulu watched Lois get emotional while watching him. (I have never seen a musician perform on any instrument like this guy just did. It was phenomenal.)

Lois told Gio it was the best performance she’d seen him give. She’d told everybody in the neighborhood to watch him on TV and her phone was blowing up. He made them all so proud. Gio said he missed performing the most. He felt close to his mom on the stage. He felt like she was with him. She would have loved the Nurses Ball. Lois agreed, and Lulu asked to talk to Lois. Before she could, Lucy came backstage and said they needed the area clear for the magician’s water tank act. She told Lois that she needed her – chop-chop – and Lois told Lulu that Lucy was chop chopping already. She left with Lucy, and then Gio left.

Chase said he didn’t know Gio was that good, and Brook said even she was blown away and she saw him rehearse. She asked if it changed Dante’s mind. Or did he still think Gio was spoiled and irresponsible? It took a disciplined, responsible, hard-working guy to play like that. Dante said he thought Gio was great.

Kristina said, Alexis was stealing from the Cassadine estate to pay off Ric and Ava? Alexis said Ace would be fine. There was enough money that he couldn’t spend it in five lifetimes. The real issue was, now she was involved in an embezzlement scheme with the two of them. She needed to play by their rules. If she didn’t, they’d go after Kristina for attempted murder. Kristina was worried about Alexis getting caught, but Alexis said she wasn’t so sure. Ava and Ric thought they had it planned beautifully with shell companies, so their names were hidden. But the bottom line was, if she went down, so did they. The money would stop flowing and all three of them would be in jail. Kristina said they were dangerous. She hated them and they couldn’t be trusted. Alexis said there was no other way, but Kristina said they could tell her dad.

Cody asked if Lulu talked to Lois, but she said she couldn’t get Lois alone. She saw Lois’s face when Gio performed, and she knew she was right. She just needed to confirm her suspicions.

Jordan asked how Sidwell was enjoying his first Nurses Ball, and he said it was absolutely delightful. Isaiah joined them and said Jordan looked beautiful. He congratulated Sidwell. It was shaping up to a very successful event, and it was nice to see his blood money do some good for a change. Sidwell laughed, Isaiah told them to enjoy their night and left. 

Portia admitted Drew was blackmailing her, and Curtis said, over what? She said, Brad figured out that she’d altered Heather Webber’s cobalt levels – which Curtis knew – and he was using it as leverage over her. At first, he asked for small things and she didn’t want to tell Curtis because it was a hospital matter. She thought she’d handle it herself. Curtis was already dealing with so much at Aurora, she didn’t want to add to his stress. She was managing it. Curtis said, until Drew got involved, and she said, that’s when it escalated and became something much bigger. He said, how big? He needed to hear everything now.

Alexis said Kristina couldn’t go to her father. He’d take extreme measures. Kristina said she couldn’t let Ric and Ava blackmail Alexis, but Alexis said she was going to do what they told her. It wasn’t just about doing this for Kristina. She was doing it for Kristina’s sister too.

Curtis said he didn’t get how Portia put them in this position after everything they’d been through in the past, the secrets and lies. She was doing it again. She said she was afraid of exactly what was happening right now, and it was a hospital issue. It snowballed when Drew found out. Then it was too late to tell him. She knew he’d be furious. He said that’s one thing she got right. When he found out Trina was his daughter, Portia promised no more secrets, they’d always be honest. After all that, here they were. Portia said she meant it. She’d never keep something that affected him as much as that did. It was a hospital issue… He said she didn’t get it. It did affect him, all of them. It could be the end of her career. She could end up in prison and it could destroy everything.

Olivia and Carly got on stage, and Carly said they were honored and proud to be the hosting venue. Olivia said the incomparable Lucy Coe was going to delight them with the next performance, and introduced Lucy, Anna, and Felicia… Carly said, hold on. In another expect the unexpected Nurses Ball snafu, welcome to the stage a surprise guest. Anna, Lucy, and Felicia came out in Western wear, along with Spinelli who sang lead on These Boots Are Made For Walking (a karaoke go-to for me).

Kristina said Alexis drew up the commitment papers because Alexis knew what she’d done, and Alexis said it was a strategy to mitigate Kristina’s culpability for what she’d done. She was afraid to tell Kristina because she might tell her sister. Or Molly would find out that she had a mother, sister, and father who were criminals and going to jail. Kristina said she’d be all alone, and Alexis said Molly was also an officer of the court. She’d have to turn Kristina in or look the other way and become an accessory after the fact. She had to protect Kristina to prevent her from going to prison and had to do what Ava and Ric were asking. Kristina needed to let her handle this. Kristina said she’d judged Alexis harshly when Alexis was trying to protect her, as if the guilt she felt about Elizabeth and Ric wasn’t bad enough. Now she had to live with this too. Alexis said it was a mother’s job to protect her children and this was her choice. They exchanged I love yous, and Alexis said Kristina needed to let her handle Ric and Ava. Let her do it her way. Kristina said she was so sorry. Alexis was an incredible mother and woman, and she was so lucky. They hugged.

Curtis asked what Drew was making Portia do, and she said Drew wanted her to get Aurora Media to run positive stories. He said, not only was she lying to him, she was manipulating him. She used their love and marriage to make him play nice with a man that treated him like garbage and was treating her the same way. She said she knew it was wrong, but at that point, she was trying to protect their marriage. He said she didn’t. What she did was keep her mouth shut, first about Brad, then about Drew blackmailing her. She lied because Drew ordered her to and left him and the entire family vulnerable. She didn’t protect their marriage; she ruined it. What kind of marriage runs on lies and manipulation? She asked him to please not walk away. He couldn’t throw away their marriage.

Lois said Spinelli brought down the house. She knew he was brought in at the last minute to replace Tracy, but he was spectacular. Spinelli said, it was an honor to be asked. He didn’t know the music or the moves… Anna said they wouldn’t take no for an answer, and he asked how he could refuse the terrifyingly charming trio. He needed a stiff drink. He left, and Lucy thanked Anna for her brilliant idea. She saved the Nurses Ball. Felicia suggested they get changed and get back to their seats, and they danced out. Lois started cleaning up, and Lulu said she needed to talk to Lois. It couldn’t wait. She had to talk to Lois now. 

Brook told Gio that he was a star, and Gio thanked her and said it meant a lot. Dante watched them, frowning. 

Lois asked what this was all about, and Lulu said she saw Lois watching Gio performing, how emotional and proud she was. Lois said, of course (🍷). He was amazing. Did Lulu not see him play? Lulu said, he was truly great. His mother passed down her music gene. Lois said, she did, but Gio did the work, and Sonny helped with his education and training. She told Lulu that she was going to watch the rest of the Ball. She was sure Dante was waiting. Lulu said Dante was a patient guy. He didn’t mind waiting. That’s what made him a good detective. Lois said Lulu didn’t have to sell her on Dante. She was already a fan. Lulu said he was more than that. He was family. So was Gio and Brook. Lois asked what she wanted, and Lulu said she wanted the truth. She knew Camilla cut her tour short, but not because she was pregnant. Camilla didn’t give birth to a son in LA, but she know Brook did give birth to a son with Dante. And that son was Gio.

To Be Continued…

Thursday:

Portia told Curtis not to walk away. They had a beautiful daughter in there. He said, the daughter she’d lied about and kept from him for years. She said Trina loved him and was part of both of them. Don’t undo what they’d built because she’d made a mistake. He said he was the only one thinking about their family and Trina. He didn’t put them at risk, and what was already done couldn’t be undone.

Nina found Carly in the ladies’ room, and said she was hoping to get Carly alone, but not for round two. Carly asked what she wanted, and Nina said Carly had forced her hand by pushing up the court date. Whatever happened next was on her.

Ned said it was very generous of Sonny to pay for Gio’s musical education. What he saw on stage was exceptional. Sonny said Gio was a great kid and he was happy to help out. Ned said there was no denying Gio’s training had paid off. He noticed Willow and Drew walking in and excused himself. He walked over to Drew and said, you son of a bitch. Don’t think for one second I’m going to let you get away with setting up my mother.

Brook praised Gio’s performance and said her goosebumps had goosebumps. Dante said Brook was right. Gio was awesome and incredibly talented. He congratulated Gio, when Lucy grabbed him and Cody. She told them, let’s go to the dressing room now, and hustled them off.

Lulu asked why Lois looked surprised. She already knew Gio was her grandson and she’d been keeping the truth from him for his entire life.

Curtis said he knew what he and Portia had and what it took to build. She took what they built and broke it. She didn’t trust him enough to tell him the truth, so she lied. Portia said she was sorry. She didn’t know what to do. He said, so she manipulated him. She did Drew’s bidding and left their whole family, and herself, open and vulnerable to Drew. She asked him not to give up on them, and he said he wasn’t. At least not tonight. It would send a signal to Drew that they weren’t a united front and leave her exposed. He wouldn’t do that to her or Trina. They were going to smile and be every bit the loving, happy couple everyone expected. She said, and tomorrow? and he told her, let’s get through tonight, and walked away.

Drew said he had no idea what Ned was talking about, and Ned told him to cut the crap. They both knew his mother wasn’t sloppy. She’d never leave evidence of a crime she committed in her own vehicle. It had Drew written all over it. Drew said Tracy thought she was above the law. That kind of confidence caught up with someone and made them sloppy. Ned said they were going to find out who planted the drugs in Tracy’s car, and told Willow that Drew was an unconscionable ass. They’d all attempted to give her the benefit of the doubt. They’d believed Drew manipulated her and she was as much a victim as Michael. Willow said she was no victim and neither was Michael. He couldn’t be a victim when he wouldn’t even try to solve the problem. Olivia asked what she was talking about, and Willow said she flew to Germany to compromise with Michael, and he wouldn’t see her. Drew was the only person acting in her best interest. Olivia said Drew wreaked havoc and Willow stuck by his side cheering him on. Don’t expect sympathy when the whole thing blew up in her face. Ned and Olivia left.

Carly asked what was next, and Nina said they were going to prove Michael abandoned his children. Perspective was a funny thing. The night of the holiday party, when Michael played the video of Willow and Drew, he wanted Willow to take the children. Carly said, Michael didn’t want to scare the children. That’s how much he loved them. Nina said that was open to interpretation. The facts were the facts. Michael left the children with their mother without so much as a challenge and went to Germany, abandoning the kids. Carly said, for burn treatment, and Nina said, then he refused to see Willow, to speak to the children’s mother, when she flew over. She made the effort and was rejected. That looked bad for Michael. Carly said it was Nina’s spin. Like she’d said, everything was open to interpretation. Nina said there had only been one parent there, a consistent, loving, and stable force for the children, giving them everything they needed, and it wasn’t Michael. It was their mother, and she was going to make sure the court saw that. She left.

Emma talked to Gio about his performance, and Brook said he was great. Gio told Emma that maybe they should make this a regular thing. 

Lois said whatever Lulu suspected, it was absolutely none of her business. Stay out of it. Lulu said she knew Gio was Brook and Dante’s son and could prove it. Dante got Brook pregnant at summer camp. Should she finish or was Lois starting to remember now? (For a while, I couldn’t remember why I hated Lulu before she went into the coma. Now I remember. She’s an entitled mean girl.)

Lucy thanked the audience and told them to check on their silent auction items. We want to take your money away for a good cause. Two detectives, a gifted surgeon, and a cowboy sounded like the beginning of a joke, but she assured them it was no joke. They were the finest Port Charles had to offer, and they were lucky to have them. She introduced Chase, backed up by Cody, Isaiah, and Dante, singing The Look of Love. Chase is a dynamite singer, and the back-up guys were cute.

Lucy wanted to acknowledge one of the newest residents of Port Charles, the CEO of SRE Worldwide. Jenz Sidwell had moved his business and a member of his family to their fair city. He was fitting into their city of communal generosity and had sponsored the festivities. There was scattered applause, but Lucy said they could do better, and the audience applauded more enthusiastically.

Backstage, Chase and Brook kissed, and she said he sounded amazing. Lucy came in and said, no PDA. They’d make people jealous, like her, and it was a working area. Lois joined them and asked if they’d seen Gio. Lucy said he was in his dressing room, and Lois said the tango was about to start.

Portia said she and Curtis couldn’t wait to see Trina on stage, and Trina said she hoped she didn’t let them down. Curtis said she could never let them down, and left to get Portia a drink. Portia asked if Trina and Kai were enjoying themselves, and Kai said they were. They were going to the silent auction. Portia said she was going to wait for Trina’s father and that drink. Bid on something for her. Surprise her. They left, and Nina came in. She told Portia that Curtis was suspicious, but Portia said he was more than suspicious. He knew about Brad and Drew and what they were holding over her. She was worried about what he’d do next.

Jordan said Curtis didn’t seem to be enjoying the evening like the rest of them, and Curtis said Drew was blackmailing Portia. Portia confirmed it. Jordan said she was hoping his instincts were wrong for once, and he said him too. She asked what he was going to do.

Josslyn asked what Vaughn was doing there, and he said, enjoying the evening, supporting a good cause, and keeping an eye on her. Carly joined them and asked, who was Josslyn’s friend?

Lulu told Lois, Brook confided in Cody. Dante got her pregnant at summer camp. Cody drove her the bus station and Lois took her on tour with Miguel Morez, so no one knew. Cousin Camilla was going to keep the baby and went on tour with the Nicola Quartet to cover it up. Gio was born, but not in LA on June 4th. He was born in San Francisco on May 15th as Baby Boy Cerullo.

Vaughn said he knew Josslyn from PCU, and Carly introduced herself. Vaughn said the event was a lot of fun. He’d see Josslyn around and it was nice to meet Carly. He left, and Carly said, he’s cute. What’s the deal with that guy?

Lois asked why Lulu was digging up information on a situation that had nothing to do with her and messing with people’s lives. Lulu said Lois was the one messing with people’s lives. (No, you.) She’d been lying for decades and lying to Gio his entire life. She’d hidden him in plain sight, Dante’s son. She knew Lois and Brook were lying. Lois said Brook didn’t know about Gio. For all she knew, her sone was on the other side of the world and no one could tell her otherwise. She and her mother Couldn’t let Gio go, so they kept him close and kept it a secret from Brook. As Brook’s mother, she made the best decision she could at the time. Lulu said, maybe for her, but not Gio. His whole life was a cover-up. He had no idea where he came from. He wasn’t Camilla and Francis Palmieri’s son. He was Dante and Brook’s. The only question was, who would tell the truth? Gio stood outside the door, overhearing everything.

Lucy said, the next performer was from Australia, but she lived and made music in sunny LA. She asked for a warm welcome for Edie, who sang Old Her

Lois asked if Lulu knew how many lives this would touch and destroy, and Lulu said, like hers? She didn’t mean to be callous. She’d thought of nothing else for months. What Lois had been doing was wrong. Enough lies. It ends now. Either Lois was going to tell Gio and Dante the truth or they’d hear it from her tomorrow. Lulu walked out.

Sonny asked if Anna got a chance to talk to Robin, and Anna said Robin was sorry she couldn’t be there. She and Emma were holding down the fort, and Emma was taking behind-the-scenes photos. Anna said she’d missed a lot of important years, and it felt good to honor Robin and others impacted by HIV, like Stone. ADA Turner asked if she was interrupting, and Anna said, not at all. She had to change for another performance. Mr. Corinthos was all hers. She left, and Turner said, it certainly looked intimate, but Sonny said they were talking about Robin and his great friend Stone Cates. They’re the reason this is happening tonight. She should look them up. He walked away, leaving her look like the jerk she is.

Jordan told Isaiah, nice moves. She wasn’t at all surprised. He said that was nice of her to say, especially since he wasn’t friendly to her date. Jordan said Sidwell wasn’t her date. He was her boss. Isaiah said she was on his arm. Was that part of the job description? She should be on his arm tonight.

Willow said she was relieved Drew’s name was cleared. It made her more confident about her custody hearing. Drew said they were on a winning streak. (Winning!) She’d get permanent custody and then they’d figure out how to start their lives, here in Port Charles or even in DC. Nina approached and said she hoped they were having a great evening. Ric called her and asked if she’d testify on Willow’s behalf at the custody hearing. She told him nothing would give her more pleasure than telling the court what a wonderful mother Willow is. The children belong with her and Drew. She wants them to know, with Tracy’s arrest and Drew’s exoneration, going forward, they had her full support. Willow thanked Nina and hugged her. Drew said it made them happy to hear they had Nina’s support. It meant the world to have her in their corner. Watching all this, Josslyn told Carly that they made her want to throw up. She couldn’t wait for Carly to take Wiley and Amelia away from Willow. Carly said it wouldn’t be long now.

Emma told Anna and Chase, break a leg, and Chase said he had a great partner. He just followed her lead. Emma said her mother would be proud and asked if anyone had seen Gio. Anna said if he didn’t turn up soon, she’d have to put out an APB. Emma left to find him.

Willow told Isaiah that he’d been fantastic, and he said he was glad to contribute to his first Nurses Ball. Maybe she could be his date next year. She said, after his performance, the odds were good. He seemed to be having a good evening. He told her that Willow said the same thing.

Emma found Gio in the garden and said she’d been looking everywhere for him. What was wrong?

Lulu told Cody that she confronted Lois. Lois stonewalled and didn’t make it easy, but finally copped to the whole thing. He asked where she left it with Lois, when Dante approached and asked, what’s going on? 

Kai thought he might contribute to the next Nurses Ball, and Trina asked if he had a hidden talent. He said, other than creating ridiculous paintings, not that he knew of, but he was up for dancing and singing classes if it meant performing with her. She said, a two person act, and he said, the best were. Team work makes the dream work. Trina agreed and they kissed.

Lois saw Lulu talking to Cody and grabbed Brook. Brook asked if it was about granny, and Lois said, no, but they needed to get out of there right now.

Anna and Chase practiced, and Lucy asked where Gio was. Anna said she wasn’t sure, but Emma went to find him. Lucy said that meant he was missing or lost, but Chase said he was probably somewhere. Lucy said he had to be on stage. Nobody liked a silent tango. He wasn’t being professional, like Tracy. Where was he?

Emma asked, what’s going on? Her grandma and Chase were about to go on and were waiting. They needed him to play. Gio said he had to play. That was the gift he got from his mother. He was a violinist, and his mother taught him everything. It was all he had left of her. Emma asked if he was okay. If he was sick, she could tell them that he couldn’t go on. He didn’t have to do this. He said, yeah, he did. The show must go on. He walked to the stage. 

Lucy said Gio scared her half to death, and they were running behind. She handed him his violin.

Dante said Cody and Lulu looked intense, and Cody said Lulu didn’t want to tell Dante, but she’d confided he was by far the standout in their number. No one was looking at the rest of them. Dante said he knew Cody was lying. They were only looking at Chase, who had another performance with Anna. They’d better get a seat.

Lois said she’d explain it at home, but they had to leave, and Brook said, only if it was about granny. Anything else could wait. Gio was about to play, and her husband was dancing the tango. She’d seen the rehearsals, and she wasn’t missing it. Brook left, and Sonny asked if Lois was all right. What was going on? Lois said she was in terrible trouble, but he said they’d fix it after the show.

Lucy said it was a great night. The next act started in the streets of Buenos Aires and Montevideo and was still going bright, this beautiful and ever-evolving art form. She introduced Anna and Chase, with Gio accompanying them, and there was applause. Gio started to play, but stopped and stared into space. Anna went over to him, and he said he wanted to do something he’d never done before. He was dedicating this performance to his parents – Brook Quartermaine and Dante Falconari. Two people who didn’t want him and who didn’t claim him. Who gave him away and lied his entire life. He smashed his violin on the stage floor and walked off.

I wanted to cry and hoped Lulu was happy now.

To Be Continued…

🫔 Friday’s Enchilada…

Lucy asks if everybody is having fun and there’s applause. She says, it’s such a great night and a lot of fun. The next act started in the streets of Buenos Aires and Montevideo. She wishes she could take them there, but she can’t. She can do this – present this beautiful, ever-evolving art form. Keep a long, cool drink handy, because coming at you to tango is Police Commissioner Anna Devane and Detective Harrison Chase and accompanying them on the violin once again is the extraordinary Giovanni Palmieri. There’s more applause, and the three of them come out. Looking grim, Gio begins to play. Anna and Chase begin dancing, but after the first few measures, Gio plays a sour note and stops. Anna goes over to him, saying his name, and he looks at the audience. He says, ladies and gentlemen. I want to do something I’ve never done before… I’m going to dedicate this performance to my parents… Brook Quartermaine and Dante Falconari. Two people who didn’t want me, who didn’t claim me, and gave me away. They lied to him for his entire life. He smashes the violin on the stage floor, looks at a piece of it in his hand, throws it down, and walks out. Everyone looks shocked, and Dante looks at Brook, who has tears in her eyes.

At home watching on TV, Elizabeth says, that was intense even for the Nurses Ball. Poor Gio. Lucas knocks at the door, and she tells him, come in. He walks in wearing a tuxedo and she asks what he’s doing here. He shows her a bottle of champagne and says, happy Nurses Ball.

Emma jets, and Lucy says she told them anything can happen at the Nurses Ball and it just did, but never fear. The show will go on. The show must go on. Picture it like a tiny hiccup. Brook and Lois both leave, and Lucy says, if you have a hiccup, you can drink backward from a glass of water. Have they ever heard that? No? What about a bag? She read if you breathe in and out of a bag it stops the hiccups. Right about this time she bets some of them would like to grab a bag for obvious reasons. Let’s get a drink. Then she’ll get the show going again. Cody goes over to Dante and Dante says he had a child? What was Gio talking about? Lucy says she’s going to do an intermission. Please don’t leave. Have two drinks. She’ll figure something out. They’re going to do something. Dante asks Cody, what happened? as Lucy walks off the stage.

At the station, Mac says it’s the first time he’s ever been glad to see Jason, and Jason says, thanks, I guess. Mac says, the prisoner is in there, nodding at the interrogation room. Jason goes in, and Tracy says, please. Now is not the time for the strong silent act. Get me out of here.

Sonny leaves the room, and Olivia and Ned follow. Lulu starts to go out, but Carly stops her and says, don’t. Hasn’t she done enough already?

Olivia asks if Sonny knew Gio was their grandson, and he asks if she knew anything about Brook having a baby. Ned tells Sonny that he’s embarrassed to say he did not. Chase joins them and Olivia asks, what the hell is going on? 

Walking into an empty room, Dante asks Cody, what was that? What the hell just happened in there? Cody wanted to talk to him. Let’s talk. Cody says he knows it’s a lot to take in, and Dante says, what is this? What does Cody know? Cody says he doesn’t know the whole story, but he knows one thing for sure. Brook had Dante’s baby.

Jason tells Tracy that Diane is calling the judge. Once she’s finished, he’ll post bail, and Tracy will be released. She says, the charges should be dropped. She was framed by that wretched brother of his. He says, even if that happened… She says, even if? Drew sailed up in that barge of his and trespassed on the property. Then he planted that… Jason says, ketamine, and she says, yeah, that, in her car, then called the PCPD and lied that she drugged him. Jason says, that’s probably what happened, and she says, that is what happened. Why is he giving her the dead eye? He says he’s thinking it wasn’t a good idea to team up with Drew.

Josslyn and Trina go backstage, and Josslyn says, could this be happening? Could Brook and Dante be Gio’s birth parents? Trina says she thinks so, and Josslyn says, he’s been told a lie his entire life. He looked crushed. She feels so bad for him. Trina says so does she, and Josslyn says, of course (🍷). Trina knows the feeling better than anybody. Trina says, when she found out Curtis was her dad, that one little piece of information changed everything. Josslyn says she wishes there was something they could do, but Trina says, all they can do is be a safe space for him. Josslyn says, Trina is her safe space. She doesn’t know what she’d do without her. Trina says, I got you, and Josslyn says, maybe they should find him, when Lucy comes in. She says, there they are. What are they doing? Why are they not in costume? Josslyn says, they’re not on for another twenty minutes, but Lucy says, they’re on now. Come. Go change. Run like the wind.

Chase says, it’s not his story to tell, and Olivia says, Brook had a baby? When? This is family they’re talking about. Is it true or not? Chase says, yes, and she says, yes what? He says, yes, Brook had a child in high school with Dante, but they need to talk to Brook. Ned asks what he means. Where did Gio get the idea they were his parents? Clearly Chase knew and was sitting on this. Chase says he has no idea. For all he knows, Gio is just as confused as the rest of them. Sonny says he bets he knows who could clear this up, and Olivia says, not Lois… She was the first one to run out after him. Sonny says, Lois has to know something. He’s sure of it.

Dante asks how Cody knows about this, and Cody says he’s known since that summer. That’s why Brook left camp early. She was pregnant. Dante says, she went to Cody? and Cody says, she needed a ride to the bus and he took her. She was freaking out. Dante says, because she was pregnant with his kid and Cody knew about this and didn’t tell him. They were supposed to be best friends. Why didn’t Cody tell him? Cody says, Brook swore him to secrecy. It’s not a great excuse, but he didn’t know what to do. He was young and stupid. When he didn’t hear anything else about it, he assumed she’d terminated the pregnancy. So what was the point in telling Dante? Dante says, she had the baby, his baby, and Cody says he just found that out yesterday, he swears. Dante says, and that baby was… is Gio, and Cody nods. Dante says, Gio Palmieri is his son, and Cody says, yeah. Dante says his brain is short circuiting, and Cody says he doesn’t blame him. Dante says, Gio is still the little kid lighting sparklers at the 4th of July block party. That was his boy. Cody says, yeah, and Dante asks if Brook knew. Cody says he doesn’t know. Dante has to ask her.

Lucas says, Elizabeth was watching the Nurses Ball? and she says, of course (🍷). The nurses were fantastic and knew she was there in spirit. Lucas says his spirit is there too, but it’s staying off the stage and completely dressed this year. She says, speaking of being dressed, isn’t he overdressed? He says he was working and heard she’d be home because of her injured wheel, so he thought he’d bring the Nurses Ball to her. She says sorry to disappoint him, but she’s not changing, and she won’t look as hot as he does. He takes out a paper crown and puts it on her head and says, there it is. It works on her. She has the perfect head for the camera. She tells him that she’s been saying that all her life, and he says he’s sorry he doesn’t have one for Lucky. She says, Lucky stepped out to run an errand. She’ll fill him in on everything he missed. She’s sure he’s not in a hurry to get back. He’s missing out. Lucas asks if she’s on medication, and she says, no. He says, then she’s not missing out, and he pours the champagne. 

Tracy says, teaming up with Drew was inspired, and Jason says, until it wasn’t. Look at where she is. She says she has no regrets about what she did, but Drew is going to regret what he did to her. Mac comes in and says he doesn’t know how she does it, but Diane worked her magic again. As soon as Tracy signs off, she’s free to go. Tracy goes into the squad room with Mac, and Jason gets on the phone. He asks what they need him to do.

Tracy signs the paperwork and says Mac is lucky she’s not suing the entire department. He says, for what? and she says, false arrest springs to mind. Anyone with a brain can see she was framed. He says, she might want to get a move on unless she wants him to arrest her again for harassment. She asks who she’s harassing, and he says, she’s looking at him. Jason comes out, and Mac says, good. He’s here. He’d say he was going to miss Tracy, but… She says, the feeling is mutual, and tells Jason to take her home. He says he can’t. She’ll have to find another ride. She says, what? and he says he’s got someplace to be. She says, someone’s got to take her home, but Mac says, they’re not a taxi service. Although she happens to be in luck. The number 8 bus stops out front. He leaves.

Lulu and Carly go into the ladies’ room, and Carly asks how Gio found out. Did Lulu tell him? Lulu says, no. She would never do that. Carly says, but… and Lulu says, but she did confront Lois in one of the dressing rooms. It’s possible Gio overheard. She’s got to find Dante. Carly asks, why? It doesn’t matter how Gio found out. At this point, they both know the truth and it’s what Lulu wanted all along. Lulu says, not like this, and Carly says, Dante needs to learn the truth, but he needs to hear it from the people who were actually involved. That means Lois and Brook, not her. She needs to calm down. She set this train in motion and needs to get off the track before she gets leveled. Carly heads for the door, and Lulu asks where she’s going. Carly says she’s going to watch her daughter perform. She suggests Lulu do the same, but the decision is hers. She leaves.

Olivia tells Sonny that Lois is her best friend. How could Lois not let her know they share a grandchild? How could she not let any of them know? Dante comes by and asks if they know where Brook is. Did Sonny know about this? Did Olivia? Olivia says, none of them knew. This is crazy. Dante says, it’s a lot to take in right now, but he has to find Brook. Sonny says, no one knows where she went, and Dante asks if she didn’t tell Chase. Chase says, no, and Dante leaves. Chase starts to follow, but Sonny stops him. Chase says he can’t let his wife go through this alone, but Sonny says, it’s not just about Brook anymore. It’s about Dante too. Ned says, they have to let them hash it out. Does Chase understand what he’s saying?

Lucy gets back on stage and says, see? It’s back? It’s fine. Everything is fine. It’s going to be more than fine. It’s going to be fabulous. The next act is especially powerful and by two PCU students. You know how people say, what’s wrong with kids today? These are two perfect examples of what’s exactly right – Trina Robinson and Josslyn Jax. There’s applause and Trina and Josslyn sing a duet, I’ll Be with You. When they finish, there’s lots of applause and a standing ovation. They hug.

Elizabeth says, it’s more fun to watch with someone else, and Lucas agrees. She asks if he wishes he was there, but he says he doesn’t know. She says, as she recalls, Brad proposed to him at the Nurses Ball. He says, Brad did. And as he remembers, Ric proposed to her at one as well. Elizabeth says, and Carly shared an insight or two with the entire audience, and he says, some things never change. She says, and some things do, and Lucas says, to friends who we love. She says, to friends who love you. They clink glasses and she says, the kids are performing the last song, and he says, yeah, per tradition. His initial instinct was to go watch them perform, but then it hit him. It’s not his job to sit in the audience and fawn over Wiley. She says, they’re in a private living room and he can gush all he wants if he wants. He says, buckle up. It’s going to be a night to remember since they’re in a private living room. She says, they can say all the inappropriate comments they want that they couldn’t say if they were there, and he says, that doesn’t sound like the Elizabeth Baldwin he knows… Like what? She says, the kids are going to be so off-key. Tracy got arrested on the red carpet and she wonders if they had to use a taser. Lucas says he’s just hearing about it now. He’s so glad he came. She says her too. 

Backstage, Portia and Curtis applaud Trina, and Portia says, she was wonderful on stage. Curtis says, it was an amazing performance. She never sounded better. He’s seen a lot of acts at The Savoy, and she and Josslyn killed it. Kai says, her dad is right. She blew him away. It was the best act of the night. Portia says, hands down, and Kai gives Trina a bouquet. Curtis says, nothing can top her and Josslyn tonight, and Kai says, no way. Portia says, that’s why they’re heading home, and Trina asks if everything is okay. Portia says, everything’s fine. It’s just been a long day, and they have work tomorrow. Curtis says, obviously, Trina should stay, and Portia says, have fun and socialize. Trina says she loves them, and Curtis says, they love her too. They leave, and Trina thanks Kai for coming. He says he wouldn’t miss it. Now can he get her autograph? They kiss. In the hallway, Curtis thanks Portia for making it easy, and she says she didn’t want to ruin Trina’s night. Look at how happy she is.

Carly tells Josslyn that their performance was so good, and Josslyn says Lucy begged them to go on early. They were supposed to go on after Anna and Chase’s performance. Then Gio did whatever Gio did. What does she even call that? Carly says she doesn’t know. It was awful. You would have never known Josslyn and Trina were put on the spot. They were amazing and she’s so proud. Josslyn thanks her and says she can’t stop thinking about Gio. It feels awful. And if he’s right, then what? Sonny is his grandfather? Willow and Drew approach, and Willow says they’d like to talk to Carly for a second. Drew says, preferably in private, and Josslyn asks if Carly is all right. Carly says, yeah, and Josslyn leaves. Willow says she wants to end this terrible fight over the kids. It’s not good for anyone, especially Wiley and Amelia. Drew says they want a peaceful path moving forward. That’s why they’re willing to find common ground. He guesses the question is, is Carly?

Olivia says she’s got to find Dante, and Sonny says he knows Dante is hurting, but Dante doesn’t want to hear what he has to say. She says, Dante heard what he had to say. This is life altering, relationship changing, never going to be the same kind of huge. He says, they have to let their son handle things himself. He knows where to find them if he needs support. The same goes for Chase and Brook. They know where to find them. What they need to do is go back into the ballroom and distract their minds. Let the kids do what they’re going to do. Olivia leaves with Sonny, and Ned says he’s right behind her. He says, clearly, Brook confided in Chase and for that, he’s grateful. Chase says, Ned wants to know why she didn’t tell him the truth, and Ned says he’s her father. Did she think she couldn’t trust him with that?

Drew says, Carly knows they have the upper hand when it comes to the custody hearing, but Carly says she doesn’t believe that at all. Drew says, now who’s being delusional? He and Willow talked and really want to try and find a compromise. Carly says, it would be nice if Willow could speak for herself, and Drew says, they’re a unit. (We are Borg.) Carly says she knows. The whole ballroom knows. But the kids are Willow and Michael’s, not his. Willow says she and Drew believe that together they can come up with a custody arrangement that satisfies both sides. Carly says, great. Joint custody. Willow tells her to be realistic, but Carly says she is being realistic. Willow says, they’re willing to let Michael have the kids every other weekend, and Drew says, plus two weeks in the summer. Carly says, really? and Drew says, that way, if they move to Washington, it won’t be as much burden on the kids. Carly asks if Willow agrees with moving Wiley and Amelia to DC. And don’t get her started on Drew. Scout just lost her mother, but they’re going to take her away from her remaining family. Drew says they’re the only family Scout needs, and Willow says she never intended to take the kids away from Michael. They love their father. Carly says she knows that, and Drew says, it’s a fair deal. Carly says she’ll see him in court, and Willow leaves. Drew tells Carly that she can’t say they didn’t try, and she says he may want to run after Willow, but grab some tissues first. He says, the best part about this is when she loses Michael’s kids, he’s only going to have her to blame. He walks away.

Ned says he feels terrible about what Brook had to go through. He had no idea. Chase says, he couldn’t, but Ned says he should have. He could have been there for his little girl. My God. Going through pregnancy and labor at that age, then giving the child up for adoption. Imagine what she went through and how it affected her emotionally. He knows he needs to talk to Brook. chase says, Brook is his daughter, and she loves him so much. She agonized about keeping that part of her life from him. He thinks she thought the truth might hurt Ned. Ned asked if that was really what Brook thought or what Lois made Brook think.

Lucy said, good news, everybody! We did it. We broke our fundraising record. There’s applause and she says, awareness and support for HIV/AIDS research is amazing. She thanks all of them. She’s proud to be a part of all of them. She thanks the amazing performers and the incredible hard-working crew and all the people who did the tiny jobs that made this night possible. Give themselves a round of applause. She thanks them again.

Lucas comes out with a plate of baked goods and says he can’t believe Elizabeth has all these lying around. She says, Aiden is always perfecting his craft, and he says, that kid has a gift. What else did he miss while he was working and driving over. Did anyone faceplant on the red carpet? She says, just Tracy’s arrest and the Quartermaines have a new family member. He asks if someone gave birth on stage, and she says, not exactly. The show comes back on, and Lucy sits in the audience.  

Lucy says she’s very excited for the last performance of five up and comers. It’s special because as they close out this wonderful evening it reminds all of them of what’s truly important. Please enjoy. Georgie, Scout, Wiley, James, and Donna come out, and Elizabeth says, how cute. Lucas says, the cutest, and the kids sing I’ll Be There, cutest kid in the world Donna starting them off. The song ends and there’s applause. Suddenly, Wiley says, daddy! and nuMichael walks toward the stage. Wiley runs to him, and Michael picks him up. Everyone is totally shocked, as one always is at the Nurses Ball, but they’ve outdone themselves this year. Michael looks at Willow, and says, come on, buddy. We’re going home. He walks out carrying Wiley.

Alrighty then.

On Monday, Cody tells Lulu that he doesn’t know if they made the right call; Kai asks if Trina is sure she wants to do this; Emma says she’s not trying to stop Gio, she’s going with him; and Brook says what Lois did was unforgiveable.

🧼 All the Soap News Fit to Print…

The die has officially been cast. We’re moving on.

I still can’t get over his performance.

https://parade.com/news/does-gio-on-general-hospital-really-play-violin

A major part of the Nurses Ball. Why can’t we all have that T-shirt… sniff…

💉 A Dose of Reality…

Below Deck Down Under

I’m not even pretending to watch this. Too boatmancy. I’m saving myself for the OG Decks.

The Valley

Is it me, or do all these people look alike? Other than Brittany. Luke looked at a $14K engagement ring for Kristen. When Danny said it made a statement, Luke said the statement was that he had more money than he did. That much for an engagement ring is insane to me. Unless you actually are a millionaire, why? A good portion of the episode revolved around the discussion of Danny being an alcoholic. My jury’s out, but unless it’s an obvious problem, I’m not too keen on making those judgements.

Summer House

The best part about the finale is that the Jesse/Lexi saga is put to rest – for now anyway – and no more Toegate. Although I’m sure all that will be rehashed at the Reunion. The show finally caught up to real life news with Paige and Craig breaking up. No surprise that Craig was a big baby about the whole thing. Hey, sometimes it just doesn’t work out. Get over it and move on. I do love a costume party and there was a huge party with a spooky theme. The specifics were unclear, but it looked Halloween-ish. Lots of gravestone decorations and such. Amanda had zombie contacts which were pretty cool.

Thumbs down on the wardrobe overall.

He’s dead to her.

Random Reality Items

I’m with Melissa. Just make a damn decision already.

Her lawyers are probably exhausted.

You can’t fire me; I quit.

👀 Last Weekend’s Watch…

Crimes of the Future. Hulu. I’d wanted to see this when it came out, figured I’d wait for streaming, and then forgot about it. It’s another one you might not want to eat dinner while watching, but it’s Cronenberg, so what else would you expect? Taking place in a grim future world, new organs spontaneously grow in random people. It’s some sort of evolution, but it’s not clear whether it could actually be beneficial in the long run. A sort-of cult has turned it all into performance art and murders abound. The whole thing is rather weird and depressing, but the special effects were amazing, as was to be expected. I’m not sorry I watched it, but I doubt I’d watch it again. If you’re a fan of Cronenberg, this is definitely for you.

https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/crimes-of-the-future-movie-review-2022

Well, I didn’t think it was that disturbing.  

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-14673037/Disturbing-horror-film-caused-mass-crowds-people-walk-screening-set-air-BBC.html

I’m still waiting for The Substance to come to more mainstream streaming.

https://www.cbr.com/body-horror-movie-like-the-substance/#thread

Nonnas. Netflix. On the other end of the spectrum, this is a tug at your heartstrings, feel good, mostly true story that made me want to move to Staten Island. I loved the cast and it brought me back to the days of Sunday dinners in my Aunt Agnes and Uncle Jimmy’s home – Italian and Lithuanian food for days on the table. It was feel good without being saccharin, and I just loved it.

https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/nonnas-movie-review-2025

https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/vince-vaughn-called-his-netflix-hit-nonnas-outlaw-movie

Con Mum. Netflix. I love a true crime story and this one didn’t disappoint. A documentary about a con artist who conned her own son, it has twists and turns, and I have to admit, at one point I wondered if it was possible she was telling the truth. It’s not a story I was familiar with beforehand, so that’s always a plus. It also makes you wonder what you’d actually fall for. I’d like to think I was smarter than that, but you never know until you’re in it.

https://people.com/where-are-graham-hornigold-and-dionne-now-con-mum-11704400

🪤 Will Wait For You…

Coming for sure, I think, June 27th.

https://www.purewow.com/entertainment/squid-game-season-three-theory

Hopefully, the apocalypse doesn’t come before Season 2.

https://deadline.com/2025/05/fallout-renewed-season-3-prime-video-1236394147/

I still haven’t finished Season 3 yet, but I’m in.

https://deadline.com/2025/05/yellowjackets-renewed-season-4-showtime-paramount-plus-1236405285/

🎉 Business In the Front, Party In the Tail…

🐈‍⬛ I’m sure I’ve spent money on worse things and kudos for helping a shelter while she’s at it. Love the cake!

https://people.com/15-year-old-cat-gets-lavish-quinceanera-exclusive-11740275

🐶 That one led to this one. Admittedly, it’s a big chunk of change, but if I had that kind of money, I can’t say I wouldn’t do the same. Hey, don’t judge.

https://people.com/pets/gabriel-iglesias-throws-100k-quinceanera-for-his-chihuahua-risa/

🐕 They stole my idea.

https://people.com/animal-shelter-holds-puppy-prom-for-rescue-dogs-11738785

🪻 Quotes of the Week

It doesn’t have to be the ten year plan. Just the next step. – Kristen Kish, Top Chef

To bear defeat with dignity, to accept criticism with poise, to receive honors with humility — these are marks of maturity and graciousness. – William Arthur Ward

Sometimes all you need is a ticket to Disneyland. – Jamal Menzies, Pillow Talk: 90 Day Fiancé, The Last Resort

Your imagination is your preview of life’s coming attractions. – Albert Einstein

Setting goals is the first step in turning the invisible into visible. – Tony Robbins

I have learned over the years that when one’s mind is made up, this diminishes fear; knowing what must be done does away with fear. – Rosa Parks

Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day. You shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Aim for the middle. You’ll never miss. – Paradox (Matthew Macfadyen), Deadpool & Wolverine

Remembering those who served on Memorial Day.

❤️‍🩹 Hope In Valor…

Until next week, stay safe; stay never leaving a lit grill unattended; and stay letting the truth be told by those actually involved.

May 16, 2025 – GH Weekdays, Sonny Wants To Make Peace, Soap Suds, This Week In Reality, Last Weekend’s Watch, Postponed Knight, Tails Of All Kinds, Lucky Number Of Quotes & 16th

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

🥢 Weekday Bites…

Monday:

Laura met with Jordan and asked what was going on with Sidwell. Jordan said she thought Laura was in big trouble.

Curtis told Portia that even Willow thought the coverage about Drew was fair. It was factually accurate, and Drew hadn’t yet proved he was drugged. He asked why Portia was defending Drew and she said because she had to.

Lulu said she was trying to get Ned to endorse her mother for mayor, but Tracy said she thought it was about Lulu and Brook. Brook spoke out of fear, panic, desperation, and pain. Lulu said she didn’t know Brook and Chase were planning to adopt, and Tracy said Lulu did know Brook gave up a child when she was young. She’d found the shattered pieces of Brook’s broken heart in Martin’s hotel room and had been tormenting Brook ever since.

Brook wanted Chase and Anna go over their tango number for the Nurses Ball. Gio came in to play the violin and said he’d had a rough night last night.

Emma went to see Dalton and he told her that she didn’t get the research assistant position.

Josslyn met Carly at the MetroCourt to catch up. She asked what was going on with Carly and Sonny.

Sonny said he was considering selling the piers to Sidwell, and Jason asked if Sonny really felt comfortable handing his territory over. Sonny said it was the only chance they had to walk away from the business and for their family’s sake, he wasn’t passing it up.

During the commercial, Gio filled everyone in on Rocco and said he was good. Maxie asked Brook about a tango outfit for Chase, and Brook said Chase would rather break his own leg than wear it. Maxie suggested she just say, pass. Brook said she should never have asked Maxie to pick sides, and she was sorry. Maxie accepted her apology and asked what changed. Brook said she and Chase were starting the adoption process and she thought it was a good time to start acting like an adult.

Emma said she got the best grades in class and thought the job was hers to lose, and Dalton said, unfortunately, that’s what happened. He couldn’t have a research assistant who couldn’t put together a decent data model. Emma said it was perfect, but he said it was a mess. He showed her and she said that wasn’t her work.

Carly said nothing was going on, but Josslyn said Donna had been worried her father was sick. Carly told her that Sonny had heart surgery, and she was sorry she’d lied. The surgery was a success, but they had to keep it quiet. Sonny had been a part of her life for a long time, and she needed to be there for him, but she and Sonny were over. She was with Jack now. His supersonic ears hearing his name, Jack came to their table. Carly asked if he’d been spying on them, but Jack said he kept his business and personal life separate.

Jordan told Laura about the meeting with Sidwell. They’d all decided to put their differences aside to focus on their common goal of driving Sonny out of Port Charles. Because Laura was tied to Sonny publicly, they were probably gunning for her as well, so they could install Boyle as mayor. Laura said if Tracy hadn’t defended her, she really was in trouble. Tracy had a lot of sway in this town. Jordan said it might be Sidwell who came to Laura’s rescue.

Sonny told Jason that he could walk away with millions and put it in legitimate businesses. Sidwell bet if Sonny wasn’t associated with the piers, the referendum would go away. Jason said Sidwell would take control of their territory, and he had the feeling it was a trap.

Curtis asked why Portia had to defend Drew, and Portia said, she had to play devil’s advocate for him. If he ran the editorial, Drew wouldn’t let it stand and might bring a lawsuit. Curtis had forced Drew out of Aurora, and it had the potential to backfire in a big way.

Lulu said she wasn’t aware that Tracy knew about the baby, and Tracy said Brook told her that Lulu stumbled on the information in Martin’s hotel room and had been poking around in Brook’s life ever since. Even if they couldn’t get along, how could Lulu not have compassion for something she’d been through herself? Lulu said she did feel for Brook, but it was complicated. Tracy said Lulu’s father told her that people got to choose the burdens they carried, and she was sorry for adding to Lulu’s, but she didn’t understand why Lulu wanted to add to Brook’s.

Maxie said she hadn’t spoken with Lulu because they’d been busy, and Brook said she was sorry for asking Maxie to choose, but if she had to… Maxie said she loved them equally and would never choose.

Emma said that wasn’t the work she’d completed, but Dalton said he’d have to choose someone else. He was sorry. It wouldn’t affect her grade, and she was still his top student. She said he had no idea how important that job was to her.

Carly asked Jack to join them, and Carly said Jack knew the real reason she was in LA. He’d given her a ride home. Josslyn got a text from Dalton and said she had to leave.

Sonny told Jason, the pros outweighed the cons. There would be a power vacuum, and someone would try to take over. Jason said all the families would make a play for it and Sonny’s conditions went away if he wasn’t in charge. Sonny said selling it to Sidwell would avoid a war. Sidwell would lay down the law real fast. Jason asked if that’s what they wanted for Port Charles. Sidwell was ruthless and they’d be handing him the keys to the city and putting targets on their backs.

Lulu promised Tracy that she wasn’t judging Brook for giving up her child. The article wasn’t judging adoption. She’d pitched three ideas, and the editor had chosen that one. Tracy said Lulu had pitched the adoption article anyway and couldn’t be blamed if it was chosen. She didn’t understand why Lulu was involving herself in something that happened 20 years ago, and Lulu said she thought Brook should tell the baby’s father, but Brook didn’t agree. Tracy said it wasn’t her business and wondered if it was Lulu’s way of disagreeing with Brook publicly. How would Lulu feel if she’d been keeping a big secret for a long time, Brook found out and decided to produce a song about it? Lulu said she wouldn’t love it, and Tracy suggested she rethink things and kill the article.

Emma told Gio that she didn’t get the job with Dalton.

Dalton gave the research assistant position to Josslyn. She’d completed the course work and handed in an impressive data model in a short amount of time. She was smart, motivated, and focused, and he had high hopes for her. She said she was sure she’d learn a lot.

Curtis promised he’d consult with his lawyers before publishing, and Portia wondered how it was going to look for Aurora if Curtis slammed someone who might have been victimized. It might look like he was bullying Drew. Willow’s devotion was sincere, and she could sway public opinion. Could he please do what she was asking for her sake? Curtis asked what it had to do with her.

Jordan said Sidwell was making a move that might unintentionally make life easier for Laura. She told Laura about Sidwell’s offer to buy the piers and that Sonny said he’d think it over. The referendum would no longer be about Sonny and Laura would be a shoo-in for reelection. Laura said Sidwell would be the de facto mob boss of Port Charles, and if she had to choose between them, she’d choose Sonny.

Sonny said Sidwell was on his best behavior and if that changed, they’d let the Feds, and the PCPD shut him down. The people could vote against Sonny and send him packing, and he didn’t want that to happen. He wasn’t getting out of the business unless he sold to Jason and Jason didn’t want it, so he’d have to sell it to the highest bidder. Jason said maybe it was their one shot, and Sonny said there was just one piece of information he needed to know.

Emma wondered how her data model got screwed up, and Gio asked if the original wasn’t on her laptop. Emma said her latest work hadn’t been included and Dalton had already picked someone else. Gio asked if it wasn’t worth giving it one more shot and Emma said she guessed she could talk to Dalton.

Maxie asked Anna if Sidwell had done anything illegal lately, but Anna said not to her knowledge. Maxie said Deception was making a lot of money off his zincite and she was scared he’d do something to pull the rug out from under them. Anna told her to keep documenting their dealings with him and keep looking for other supply chains. Gio told Anna that Emma was headed back to school, and Brook said it was time for Anna, Chase, and Gio to get their act together.

Josslyn wondered when she’d get started, and Dalton said the real work didn’t start until the end of the semester, but she could help him get organized. But before she did anything, there was one condition that was a deal breaker.

Carly told Jack that Josslyn didn’t like how Sonny’s trouble seemed to rub off on her and she wasn’t wrong. She’d lose her mind if she knew Carly was anywhere near the attempted assassination, but she was fine thanks to him. He’d done Brick and Sonny a huge favor and she appreciated it. He said he’d done it for her.

Laura said Port Charles had always had an organized crime presence, and she didn’t see it changing. With Sonny in control, it had been stable and relatively peaceful. When a challenger showed up, it got ugly. Jordan said that’s why she was undercover. If Sidwell gained control and broke the law, she’d be there to catch him. Laura said his offer was an intriguing development, and Jordan said Sidwell was never dull. Laura told her to be careful, and Jordan said she knew what she was doing.

Sonny said before he made a deal with Sidwell, he had to make sure Sidwell wasn’t behind the firebomb. Jason said, if he was, he was probably behind the assassination attempt in LA, and Sonny said it was time they did some digging. Jason said he was on it.

Portia said Willow was her employee and if Curtis went hard against Drew, it could make things difficult for her and the hospital. Curtis said he couldn’t let drew have his way, but Portia said he should let the city handle it. There were legitimate arguments against Measure C and Laura’s reelection, and they should let those arguments speak for themselves. Curtis agreed to lay off Drew – for now.

Dalton said Josslyn had to sign an NDA. She couldn’t talk to anyone about the work she did as his assistant. All the research was exclusively his and she couldn’t use anything as the basis of her own work. She said she was happy to sign it, and he welcomed her on board.

Lulu said this was her journalistic comeback, but Tracy said Lulu could do anything she set her mind to do. Lulu asked if Tracy couldn’t tell Brook to let it go, and Tracy asked if Lulu would be able to let it go. Please do this for her. Lulu said, fine. She’d call the editor and pray they agreed, but she was only doing it for Tracy. She loved Tracy even though she’d gone full stepmonster.

Anna and Chase danced as Gio played that same tango music we always hear when there’s a tango. Maxie was impressed with Chase’s moves.

Carly said Jack hadn’t kept his personal and professional lives separate when he’d helped her. Wasn’t he worried he was going to get in trouble? He said he hadn’t done anything he couldn’t justify, and she wondered if he shouldn’t be doing his actual work. (My eternal question.) He told her that multitasking was the hallmark of being a good agent. Besides he was doing what needed to get done. He’d dedicated his life to the Bureau and earned the right to take a few things for himself. She was everything. They were about to kiss when Lulu interrupted, saying she needed to talk to Carly. In private.

Portia called Drew. She said she thought she made some inroads, and he’d get what he wanted.

Jordan met Curtis at the Brown Dog Bar, and he said he needed someone he could trust. He though his wife was lying to him.

Emma went to Dalton’s office and found Josslyn there. Josslyn said she worked there.

Jason met Tracy at the MetroCourt, and she said she thought he could put his skills to good use for their family. She wanted him to find her great-grandson.

Maxie said she thought it was going to be the performance of the night and took Anna to find her costume. Chase told Gio that he wanted to dance the tango with his wife. Brook said she didn’t know how to tango, but he said, just follow his lead. Gio played and they kissed.

Carly went to Lulu’s house, and Lulu said Carly had warned her not to blow things up the way Robin did, but there was a difference between keeping a secret and perpetuating a lie. Right now, someone was lying – Lois or Brook or maybe both – which was why she needed to find Dante’s son.

Sonny thanked Laura for coming by and said he wanted to discuss a few things. She asked if he was okay, and he said he was doing great. The doctor said he’d make a full recovery. Sidwell wanted to buy his piers and he was considering it. It would solve his problems and hers.

 Tuesday:

Maxie, Lucy, Anna, and Felicia wanted to rehearse their number for the Nurses Ball, and Felicia wondered where their fearless leader was.

Josslyn told Emma that she was Professor Dalton’s research assistant, and Emma said Josslyn stole her job.

On the phone in her office, Portia told Drew that she’d gotten through to Curtis, but couldn’t be at his beck and call 24/7. Trina showed up.

At the Brown Dog Bar, Jordan said she thought Curtis would be better off confiding in someone else about his wife.

Sonny said selling could solve both his and Laura’s problems, but Laura said Sidwell was a horrible man and Sonny couldn’t sell to him. Sonny said she had to see the bigger picture. He didn’t trust Sidwell, but sometimes it was worth making a deal with the devil.

Carly said the child wasn’t Lulu’s and Lulu might think she was doing the right thing, but she was making a huge mistake.

Tracy told Jason that he couldn’t give the information to anyone and explained that Brook had a baby boy she gave up for adoption in high school. She needed Jason to find him.

Josslyn said she’d earned the position fair and square, but Emma said Josslyn should have told her, especially when she’d opened up about how important it was to her. Josslyn promised she didn’t tell Dalton anything that Emma had confided in her, and Emma said Josslyn had stabbed her in the back.

Maxie said she’d fill in for the absentee player, and Lucy said she wanted the number to be a showstopper. They really had to bring it. Sidwell walked in as they were about to rehearse. He said he thought he’d make sure things were running perfectly. (Because he puts on shows in the barn on Spoon Island.)

Jason said it must have been hard on Brook, and Tracy said Brook went to her mother for help, but Lois never told anyone except her own mother. They’d arranged a closed adoption. Jason asked if Brook wanted Tracy to find her son.

Sonny said Sidwell was willing to pay a lot of money for the waterfront property. If he sold, Measure C became a non-issue, and Laura would be free of him. He was a burden to her politically. Laura said she was strong enough and tough enough to do it. She didn’t want Sidwell to build a powerbase in Port Charles, and was surprised Sonny would allow it. If he was willing to sell his property, it could only mean one thing. He was planning his exit strategy.

Lulu said she wanted to find out who Dante’s son was. Then she’d decide if they should be reunited. (Now I remember why I hated this character so much before she went into a coma.) Carly said Lulu was playing God with other people’s lives and looking for a way to justify it. Lulu said she was pretty sure she already knew who Dante’s son was. She thought he was in Port Charles and Dante had been interacting with him without knowing they were related. It was Gio.

Curtis said Jordan was the only one he could talk to about this, and she asked if Portia was in trouble. He said he hoped not and was hoping Jordan would tell him that he was misreading the situation. Portia had become a Drew apologist overnight.

Portia asked what brought Trina by, and Trina said Kai was in physical therapy, so she thought she’d hang out with Portia. Kai had to put on a good front because of the cameras in his face. All she wanted to say was how she felt about Drew. Portia said it wasn’t their job to convince people about Drew’s true nature. Aurora was going to print a negative editorial about Drew and she talked Curtis out of it. Trina asked, why?

Josslyn admitted she should have been more upfront and apologized. Emma said Josslyn had used her daddy’s influence and asked if Josslyn had brought Dalton a check. Josslyn said her father had nothing to do with it and if she found out Dalton was doing anything unethical, she’d let the authorities know. Emma said she’d been an idiot to trust Josslyn and thought they’d bonded. Josslyn said they had, but Emma said she was right about Josslyn all along. Josslyn was nothing more than a selfish, spoiled, untrustworthy bitch. She left and Josslyn had tears in her eyes.

Lulu said Gio was the right age, but Carly said Gio wasn’t adopted. Lulu said, when Camilla died, Gloria and Carmine had taken Gio in with Lois’s help. Carly said it was a huge leap, but Lulu said not if Carly had seen what she did last night.

Sonny told Laura that he thought it was time for him to step back from the business and concentrate solely on family. She wondered if guys in his line of work got to retire, and he said it would be tricky. He wasn’t leaving Port Charles and would have a target on his back. He’d need some security, but he thought it was time for a fresh start. Laura said she had to think about what his retirement meant to Port Charles, especially if he was handing off his territory to Sidwell. He said Sidwell claimed to be legit, and they both laughed. He told Laura that she and the PCPD would keep an eye on him, plus they had the WSB. If he sold to Sidwell, the transition would be peaceful and prevent wars. She said he was selling to a dangerous man, and she was concerned about what Sidwell was planning to do in Port Charles.

Lucy said they’d show Sidwell what they’d been working on, when Emma came in looking for Gio. Anna asked if they could take five so she could talk to Emma, and she and Emma left. Lucy told Sidwell that everything would run like clockwork at showtime, and thanked him for underwriting the Nurses Ball. He said it wasn’t completely selfless and admitted to having an ulterior motive.

Josslyn locked Dalton’s office door and checked the office for bugs. She looked in Dalton’s desk and found a notebook. She started looking through it, then heard someone at the door.

Curtis told Jordan that Portia talked him out of printing an editorial that said Drew hadn’t proved his innocence. She’d said he’d be asking for trouble if he used Aurora Media to attack Drew. Jordan thought maybe Portia was just looking out for him, but he said he’d walked in on several of their private conversations. Something felt off. 

Jason said Tracy couldn’t look for Brook’s kid without her permission, but Tracy said she had a great-grandson out there. Didn’t he think the boy deserved to know his family’s legacy? Jason said it didn’t matter what he thought. It wasn’t his business, and he didn’t want to get involved.

Carly asked why Lulu was convinced Gio was Dante’s son, and Lulu said Dante had ripped into Gio and it got heated. Then Lois intervened, but it was more than meddling. It was over the top protective and Lois said Dante didn’t know who Gio really was. She tried to cover, but Lulu thought it was a slip of the tongue. Carly wondered if Brook knew, and Lulu said Brook was a good liar and she was 50/50 about it. Her theory made sense, and if Gio was Brook and Dante’s son, she had to tell Dante.

Emma told Anna about Josslyn getting the research assistant position. There was no way Josslyn had time to put together a data model that was as good as hers, and Dalton said hers had been corrupted. She told Anna about dropping the thumb drive at the beach, and said Josslyn had sabotaged her.

Dalton’s office door opened, and Vaughn came in. Josslyn asked why he was there, and he said he thought she could use help from the maintenance department. She told him that Emma was upset, but he said it wasn’t their concern. Let’s get to work.

Carly asked if Lulu had thought about what Brook and Dante’s son needed. She had to consider how profoundly she’d turn Gio’s life upside down. Lulu said she’d be giving him a family, but Carly said Gio would learn everyone he loved had lied to him, including his mother. It would be devastating. Lulu asked if it wasn’t better for Gio to know the truth than live a lie, and Carly said even if Lulu was right, she had to let it go. It wasn’t her secret to tell.

Tracy said in exchange for Jason’s services, she would withdraw her support for the anti-Sonny campaign and advocate for Sonny to keep his waterfront property. That’s how much it meant to her. She trusted Jason to do whatever it took, even if it meant breaking the law. Brook’s son was a Quartermaine and deserved to know that.

Sidwell told Lucy that she’d pointed out his donating might change people’s perception of him, and she was right. People had been more welcoming. She was a fantastic ambassador, and he couldn’t thank her enough. She said, in the beginning, she’d had some misgivings, but when she saw how generous he was and how much he loved his son, it became her mission to let everyone else know how special he was.

Laura said Sonny’s presence kept the peace among the local crime bosses and she didn’t think Sidwell gave a damn about it. She thought he’d usher in a new level of crime in the city. Sonny said they both had reservations, but was it his responsibility to make sure Sidwell didn’t get out of line or was it up to her? Laura said she hadn’t been fair in asking him to put the city ahead of his family and himself. If he thought it was time for him to walk away, she fully supported him.

Portia told Trina that she didn’t want Curtis or Aurora to be open to a libel suit. If Drew proved he was drugged, Curtis would be on record casting doubt on the victim. She hadn’t been in favor of Kai’s surgery, but it worked out. Maybe they should back off Drew a little bit. Trina said Kai seemed happy, and Portia said she’d love for their family to find middle ground with Drew. Trina asked if Portia wanted Curtis to make peace with Drew.

Curtis told Jordan that he believed Portia hated drew, and felt she was taking a kinder, gentler position because she had to. That meant Drew had leverage on her.

Vaughn and Josslyn snooped around, took pictures, and copied data.

Anna said maybe Emma was being paranoid, but Emma was positive Josslyn had stolen her data model and passed it off as her own. She wanted to tell Dalton, but Anna said she couldn’t without proof. Why was it so important? Emma said she needed to be a part of Dalton’s groundbreaking research, but Anna said a decision had been made. She knew Emma was disappointed, but felt Emma should let this go.

Watching Lucy and Sidwell with their heads together, Maxie noted that Lucy had gotten over her reservations about Sidwell. Felicia asked, what about her? and Maxie said Sidwell’s zincite had made Deception a lot of money, but she was worried their association with him would come back to haunt them. Felicia said if Maxie kept her eyes open, things would be fine. Sidwell had to leave, and Lucy promised it would be worth the wait to see their performance at the Nurses Ball.

Laura didn’t want Sonny using her political future as a factor in his decision making. He deserved to be secure and happy, and that should be the only thing guiding his thoughts. He wasn’t sure if that meant walking away or staying with the status quo. There was risk in both. She said he was smart and would make the right decision. Whatever he decided, he’d always have her love and respect. He said he wasn’t sure what he was going to do, but he’d let her know.

Jason said he felt for Tracy, but he couldn’t help. Brook made a decision, and he had to respect that. If Brook wanted his help, she could come to him, but he had to hear it from her. Tracy said she’d have to find her great-grandson through other means, and trusted Jason would keep this to himself. He had sealed Sonny’s fate. She was willing to back off, but now she wasn’t going to stop until she ran Sonny out of Port Charles for good. Jason walked away.

Lulu told Carly that the secret affected a lot of people she loved besides Dante and Rocco. Gio would be Tracy’s great-grandson and Sonny’s grandson. Carly said she felt bad, but would still keep it from Sonny, and Lulu said Sonny being in Gio’s life only proved she was right. She didn’t think Sonny knew, but thought Lois went to Sonny for help because he was Gio’s grandfather. Carly said, if Lulu was right, it was one huge mess, and Lulu said, if she was wrong, she’d stop searching. If she was right, she had to tell Dante. Carly said Lulu needed proof and if she didn’t get it, this would blow up in her face.

Portia told Trina that she’d settle for coexisting. Let Drew do his thing, and they’d do theirs. She made her pitch, and it seemed like Curtis was listening.

Jorand said Curtis had good instincts, but needed to talk to Portia. It was better than wondering and being suspicious. But a word of caution from someone who’d caused friction between them by telling him lies. After the first lie, it was hard for her not to dig herself in deeper. There didn’t seem to be a way out. Maybe Portia fell into the same trap, and he should hear her out. Curtis said he’d try, but prayed he was wrong.

Vaughn said he’d have the Bureau run an analysis, but didn’t think Dalton would leave anything incriminating lying around. Josslyn said she signed an NDA about working in the lab, and Vaughn said what they were looking for wasn’t in Dalton’s office… She said, it was in the lab, and they smiled at each other.

Lulu said Ned didn’t know, but she’d fished for info. Like where Lois and Brook were around the time Gio was born. They’d been on a tour with Miguel Morez. Brook claimed she gave birth in San Francisco, but Lulu wondered if the tour stopped in LA where Gio was born. Carly said, good start, but don’t whisper a word until she could back it up. Lulu said she knew she needed proof and knew just where to find it.

Tracy saw Sidwell and said she was doubling down on her effort to rid Port Charles of Sonny. Sidwell said he was just as determined, and she said they’d talk later. She was late for rehearsal. She went into the rehearsal room and told the women, let’s get this show on the road. She wouldn’t be dancing, but would stay put and sing while they danced around her, Maxie said that was how they were doing it and they took their places.

Sonny said Laura’s friendship and support meant everything, and Laura said she felt the same way. She told him to take care of himself, and when Sonny opened the door, Jason was there. Laura left, and Sonny said he told Laura about Sidwell’s offer and how it solved all their problems. Laura didn’t like it, but understood and accepted it. Jason said Tracy offered an alternative. She would cut off her support for Measure C if he did a personal favor for her, but it wasn’t something he was comfortable with. He turned her down, so it still left them in a bind. Sonny said, in spending time with Laura, he got clear on a few things. One thing she’d said was that he needed to take care of his family and that’s what he was going to do.

Wednesday:

Kai’s PT coach was impressed with his progress. Stella stopped by and Kai said he needed a huge favor.

Josslyn told Trina about getting the job with Dalton, and Trina wondered if that wasn’t the job Emma wanted.

Nina showed up at Willow’s and asked if she could come in. Willow said that depended on whether or not Nina accepted her and Drew.

At the MetroCourt, Boyle wanted to gossip with Drew about Laura, who was at a nearby table with Lulu and Lucky, but Drew wanted to focus on Measure C. Boyle asked what Drew had done with Jacinda.

Laura told Lulu not to be too hard on Rocco, and Lucky said Elizabeth was getting better every day. Lulu said they wanted to know the good stuff. Were he and Elizabeth officially back together?

Ric stopped by to see Elizabeth and noticed Lucky’s absence.

At Lulu’s, Kristina told Dante that her mom didn’t think she turned out too great.

Spinelli went to see Alexis, who said she had a job for him.

Jason thanked Carly for helping with Danny while he was gone, and Carly said he was a lot like Jason. He was wild at times, but a good kid. Diane came by and said they had a disaster on their hands of Carly’s making.

Lucky said things between him and Elizabeth were great, and Laura was glad he was there to help Elizabeth. He said it felt right, and Laura asked Lulu how the adoption article was going. Lulu said she put it on hold.

Boyle said he’d never known Jacinda to leave town and wondered if Drew had paid her off. Drew asked if Boyle had seen the press conference where he said he thought she was hired to drug him. Boyle said Willow’s mother had come up to him and Jacinda when they were hanging out.

Willow made it clear she was standing by Drew, and Nina said seeing Willow at the press conference was inspiring. She trusted Willow’s judgment and if Willow believed Drew, she did too.

Diane told Jason and Carly that a court date had been set for June 2nd. Did Carly think Michael would be healed and stronger by then?

Spinelli was intrigued, and Alexis said she was the client and confidentiality was crucial. He said not a day went by when he didn’t think of fair Samantha and he’d do anything for anyone she loved. Alexis said what she was going to ask him to do might save Kristina’s life.

Kristina told Dante that Alexis was trying to have her committed without her consent, but he said that didn’t sound like her. Kristina said she’d seen it for herself. She thought Alexis believed she was overwhelmed, since she’d had a hard year, losing a baby and Sam. Dante said no one would judge her if she decided to get better. Kristina said it would have been different if someone else had come to her, but it was her mom. She couldn’t move past it and didn’t know if she could forgive and trust Alexis again.

Elizabeth told Ric that Lucky was having breakfast with his family. They couldn’t spend every second together. Ric asked if she needed anything and she said she was fine. She noticed he bought a Porsche, and it made her think about the accident. She said before they crashed, he’d said something about the brakes.

Stella said she couldn’t get Kai released if the doctor wouldn’t sign off on it, but Kai said he wanted to support Trina at the Nurses Ball like she’d supported him.

Josslyn told Trina that she felt terrible about Emma. She hadn’t thought she’d actually get the job. She never thought Dalton would choose her. Emma wasn’t happy and Josslyn didn’t blame her. Trina said it wasn’t like Josslyn stole the job. She got it fair and square.

Carly said family court usually took forever, and Diane said the judge had an unexpected opening. Carly said she had to get the kids out of Drew’s house as soon as possible. It was what Michael would want.

A server came by Drew’s house and served Willow with the divorce papers. Michael was filing for divorce and wanted full custody of the kids.

Lucky left, and Laura asked Lulu why she’d put off the article. Lulu said writing the piece might hurt the people she loved.

Dante said Alexis loved Kristina, but Kristina said that didn’t make what she’d done okay. Dante said he didn’t trust Sonny for a long time, but through talking and connecting, they got past that. If it was possible for them, it was possible for Kristina and Alexis. Kristina just wanted to bring their family back together. It’s what Sam would have wanted. When she’d confronted Alexis, Molly had her back, and they were closer than ever. Dante said she had him too, but he felt like something else was bothering her.

Alexis said Spinelli had to find Ric’s totaled car. No one seemed to know where it was. He asked what she wanted with Ric’s car and what did she think she’d find, but she preferred not to say. Could he find the car or not? He said her annoyed exasperation made him feel like he was talking to Sam, and he thought he could find the car by lunch.

Elizabeth said Ric wasn’t able to slow down, and Ric said it was because of the black ice. The insurance company had collected the car, and it was gone. He thought the best thing to do was put it behind them, but if Elizabeth had been seriously injured, he would have made sure someone paid for it.

Drew came home and looked at the papers. Willow said it didn’t make sense, but Drew thought Michael was being vindictive. They needed a lawyer, and he knew exactly who to call.

Diane said she could ask for a postponement, but it risked giving Drew and Willow ammunition. They would say Michael’s health prevented him from raising his children, and it was a persuasive argument. Jason said they may have opened the door for Willow to get full custody.

Josslyn and Trina discussed the Nurses Ball and Josslyn wondered if they should go to The Savoy afterward. Trina said she was excited about performing with Josslyn, but when they were done, she was leaving.

Kai wanted to walk the red carpet with Trina, but Stella said she was sorry. That wasn’t going to happen.

Willow gave Ric the background on her and Michael’s breakup and said Michael had agreed to let her take the kids. Nina said, just for the night, not forever, and Willow said when she went to DC without telling Michael, he filed for full custody. Drew said it had Carly’s fingerprints all over it, and Ric agreed to come on as counsel. If the whole thing aggravated Sonny, all the better.

Carly said they’d keep the court date, and Diane said she’d contact Michael, but Carly said he couldn’t rush his recovery. She’d fight on his behalf.

Stella said the doctor told her, no way Kai could be released this soon, but Kai said he felt great. Stella told him to keep working hard. Tomorrow was another day.  He wondered if he could still be discharged in time for the Nurses Ball, and she said anything was possible.

Trina told Josslyn that Kai had been going through a lot and needed her. He’d handled everything so well, but football and his team were everything. She knew what it was like to have your world ripped away from you and also have somebody there for you at your lowest point. Josslyn had been that person for her, and she wanted to pay it forward.

Spinelli found the lot number Ric’s car was taken to after it was towed, and the lot had Ric’s car marked as destroyed. Alexis said she had reason to believe someone paid off the lot to remove the car. Could he find any tow trucks that had picked up, but not dropped off?

Lucky went home and asked if Elizabeth was doing okay. She said Ric stopped by to show off his new Porsche and she remembered something about the accident when he was there. She’d told Ric to slow down, and Ric said he’d lost control because of black ice.

Laura said both the mayor and journalist positions were similar. They had to be responsible to the people and do the right thing. Lulu said she wasn’t sure what that was. The truth could change lives, and she wasn’t sure she was ready. Boyle butted into their conversation and Laura told him to make an appointment. Or go on social media. He was such a rat. He asked if she was going to sic her best friend Sonny on him.

Diane thought they could file emergency petition for custody. They had video and photos of Drew’s debauchery, and Drew’s press release. One could argue that the children were in danger living with Drew. Carly said there was a good chance she could beat Willow and Drew and rescue her grandchildren.

Ric said he’d get the files from Martin, and Willow said Martin hired a P.I., but found nothing on Michael. Ric said they’d have to ask for a postponement, and Drew said he had the perfect strategy.

Lulu said she thought she just found her next piece, but Boyle said no one would take it seriously if it was written by the mayor’s daughter. Laura thanked Lulu, but said she’d handle it. Boyle prattled on and talked smack about Rocco. He wouldn’t stop, and Laura ended up throwing a drink in his face. She and Lulu laughed. (Me too.)

Kristina told Dante not to worry. Alexis probably picked up on her worry about Molly’s dad. His car had been smashed up and it was triggering. Thank God Ric and Elizabeth were okay. Dante wondered how she’d seen Ric’s car that night.

Spinelli said, victory was theirs. Four tow trucks had visited the impound lot three days after Ric’s car was brought there. Three went to legit destinations and one went to a storage facility on 12th Street. Only one account was opened there that day – Jerome, Ava. They high-fived.

Elizabeth told Lucky that the insurance company had taken the car and there was nothing to do but move on. Lucky seemed surprised that Ric said an insurance company took the car.

Diane said Willow had placed the children in an unsafe environment. Keeping the children in Drew’s home reflected poorly on Willow’s judgement. All the evidence might get the children removed from Willow’s custody, but that didn’t mean Carly was going to get them. They could be placed with their other grandmother, Nina. Carly was willing to take the risk.

Drew said, judges didn’t take kids away from their mothers when they’d done nothing wrong, but Willow begged to differ. They hadn’t had the most stable home life. Drew said, judges understood people fell in love (he’s such an idiot), but Ric wanted to talk legal strategy. Drew said Michael chose to leave the country for treatment when he could have stayed close by. He hadn’t reached out to his kids once through their mother. As far as Willow was concerned, Michael was MIA. Michael had encouraged Willow to take the kids, so they’d paint him like an absentee father. There was no chance he’d get custody.

Thursday:

Outside the boathouse, Brook looked up and says she hoped her child was happy, healthy, and loved. Make today really special. Chase joined her and asked, what’s wrong? She said it was her son’s birthday.

Donna burst in on Gio practicing and asked him to play her song. He played Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.

At a coffee shop, Lulu was on the phone trying to track down a Catholic adoption agency based in Brooklyn… St. Ignatius… She told them she could be reached at this number, when Cody walked in. He asked if she was still doing research for her adoption story. Tracy said she’d walked away from it.

Kristina told Dante that she was on her way to work and saw there was an accident. She didn’t know whose car it was, then Molly got the call about her dad, and she figured it must have been Ric. The car looked so bad, she didn’t think anyone was going to survive.

Alexis was getting ready to go when Ric walked into her office and asked where she was off to in such a hurry.

Elizabeth asked why Lucky cared so much about what happened to Ric’s car.

Sonny told Lois that the kids were rehearsing, and Donna heard Gio playing the violin. Lois said, then there was no stopping her. How was he? He said, hanging in, and Donna said Daddy had been sick, but he was all right now. Gio asked if she liked Sleeping Beauty, and she said that was her favorite princess. He said then she’d know this one and played The Garland Waltz by Tchaikovsky (otherwise known as Once Upon a Dream in the Disney classic). Donna danced to the music.

Brook told Chase that she couldn’t stop thinking about her son now that they were starting a family. She’d completely missed his whole life. It had been an abstract thing before, and now it was a gaping hole. Chase said for over 20 years, she’d tried to bury it, and she said, he’d be 22, older than she was when she had him. He said, after all this time, it had been dug up, so of course (🍷) she was thinking about him. She said she dreamt about him all the time now and would give anything to meet her son.

Lulu said she gave up the adoption article, and Cody asked what was with the phone call. She said she was tying up loose ends, and he said he knew she and Brook had stuff and probably always would. But Tracy said Brook was really hurt and found the article invasive and insensitive now that she and Chase were starting the adoption process. Lulu said she wasn’t looking in them, and he wondered why she was asking about agencies. He kept catching her in lies and she explained them with half-truths. He needed the whole story. Lulu said she needed more time to give it to him, but he said, no. Digging into his friends’ personal business wasn’t cool. She said she was looking into adoption agencies that were around when Brook was in high school. Brook gave birth to Dante’s baby, a boy, then gave him up. (Yep. I hated Lulu back in the day and was glad she went into a coma. Now I remember why.)

Lucky told Elizabeth that he was surprised Ric wasn’t suing half of Port Charles. He never expected Ric to let his insurance company handle it. Lucas came by with flowers (white lilies – aren’t those usually for funerals?) and said he wanted to catch up, but could come back if it was a bad time. Lucky said he had a quick errand to run and left. Lucas said he was sorry he interrupted something. He was hoping at least it was the sexy variety.

Alexis said the office was closed and she was on her way out, and Ric said they needed to adjust her investment schedule for Dolos. She said she’d offer him something he never offered her – a way out. With all of his meticulous planning, it was still embezzlement. The more they embezzled, the more likely they were to get caught, and if they got caught, they’d go to prison. He and Ava had already made s pretty penny. If they got out now, she’d let bygones be bygones. She didn’t want to see their daughter get hurt and she would be if she knew her father was blackmailing her mother. He said Ava wouldn’t care, and she asked if he did. He said, of course (🍷), but it was Alexis’s caring that mattered. She asked if he thought she’d be doing this if she didn’t care, and he said they’d now come full circle. Even if he considered her offer, what make her think Ava would? She said, leave Ava to her.

Ric said, they were in this together and would all go down together, and Alexis said don’t come crying to her when Ava dragged him to hell. Out. Now. They left.

Elizabeth said Lucas didn’t interrupt anything. Ric was showing off his new car and she was telling Lucky about it. Sorry to disappoint him. Lucas said the upside was, it sounded domestic, and she said they were living together. He said the temperature had to be rising, and she said it was, and it was incredible, but at same time, terrifying.

Chase said it was okay for Brook to change her mind, but she said she needed to let her son be. It didn’t matter how badly she wanted it. It was probably a good thing St. Ignatius was closed. He said they’d get through the fallout together, but she said, people would get hurt, especially Dante. If her son wanted to find her, she’d face any consequences, but he had to be the one who wanted to find his birth mother. Chase said she had what it took to make a good mom, putting her son’s needs before her own. He couldn’t wait to see her in action with their baby. She was going to be a wonderful mom. She said she had to go to rehearsal and thanked him for being the best husband on the planet. He said it was hard work, but someone had to do it.

Cody told Lulu that he’d assumed Brook didn’t have the baby. She never mentioned it again. Was Lulu positive? Lulu said she was, and he asked if she had proof. She said she broke into Martin’s hotel room to get information on Valentin’s whereabouts. He had nothing on Valentin and Charlotte, but she did find his notes on Brook putting her baby up for adoption. She thought he’d met with Lois, who told him everything. Dante was listed as the father, and she confronted Brook who confirmed it.

Rocco came home and Dante asked, how was school? Rocco said, fine, and Kristina told him that she was glad he was okay, and left. Dante said, now that everything had settled, tell him everything that happened at the beach party.

Donna twirled and bowed as the number ended, and asked if Gio could play another, but Sonny said she had to get to rehearsal. Donna asked if Gio could play at her birthday party, and Gio asked when it was. She said, September 30th, and he said that was a long way away. She said she wanted to make sure no one got him to play at their party first and asked when his birthday was. He said, June 4th, and she asked if he was having a party. He said he wasn’t sure, but if he did, she was definitely invited. Sonny said they had to get to rehearsal… now, and she left with him. Gio began to play, and Lois quietly said, Happy birthday, Gio, and left.

Lois went to the boathouse, and Chase said she’d just missed Brook. He thought she was here for the same reason. It was Lois’s grandson’s birthday.

Lulu told Cody that she tried to get Brook to tell Dante, but Brook said it was better that he didn’t know since the adoption was closed. She thought Dante deserved to know and begged Brook to do the right thing. Brook sicced Chase on her and he threatened to arrest her. Brook said she didn’t send him, but they knew she was a liar. Cody said he never thought she’d keep a secret this big from Dante. They’d been friends forever. Lulu said she tried to stay out of it, but she couldn’t. Brook knew they had a grown son, but Dante didn’t, and it wasn’t right… Forget she said anything. Cody said he’d been lied to most of his life about who he was. Now she was telling him that Dante had a son Brook had been keeping from him. That wasn’t happening. He wanted to help. (This is making me crazy, since Brook didn’t know until Lulu told her, but of course < 🍷> Lulu left that part out. And Cody should know better than to take what she says at face value.)

Rocco told Dante that it was fun at first, then he got dizzy. After that, everything was fuzzy. Danny had nothing to do with it. Dante said Danny shouldn’t have left him alone, but Rocco said Danny shouldn’t be his babysitter. Danny had no way of knowing what he’d do. Dante told him not to defend Danny or Gio, and Rocco said, Gio did nothing wrong.

Sonny told Gio that apparently, parents weren’t welcome at rehearsal and thanked him for playing for Donna. She got a kick out of it. Gio told Sonny that he meant what he said about Donna’s birthday party. He heard her say Sonny wasn’t feeling well. Sonny said he had a minor surgical procedure and then someone attempted to assassinate him, but he was following doctor’s orders and on the mend. He heard it had been an eventful couple of days with Rocco. Thank God he was all right. Gio said, especially since it was all his fault.

At the storage facility, Alexis told the manager that she had an order signed by a judge. What was inside pertained to an ongoing case. He barely looked at it, and told her, whatever you say, unlocking the gate. He left, and she opened it. It was empty except for an oil stain on the floor and an envelope propped up against the wall that said, ALEXIS.

Kristina flashed back to talking to Dante and texted Lucky: You around?

Alexis took out a note that said: LOOKING FOR SOMETHING? She crumpled it and tossed it across the floor, where it bounced to where Lucky was standing.

Lois told Chase that every year on her grandson’s birthday, she allowed herself to remember. Or forced herself to. She wasn’t sure which. He said, probably a mix of both, and she said, it was so tough on Brook. Going through labor and having to give the baby up. She tried to support and comfort her. Brook had more strength in her eyelashes than most people had in their entire body. She was so proud. Chase said Brook was lucky to have Lois by her side. She was scared, but she told him that she felt safe and loved because of Lois. Lois said she wondered how he could be so kind and supportive, then remembered she’d met his dad. He said he also loved her daughter, and she said, Brook loved him too. It had to be brutal keeping it from Dante.

Rocco told Dante that he didn’t see Gio at the party and was almost positive Gio didn’t know he was there either. When Danny came to look for him, he could barely keep his eyes open. The next thing he knew, Gio was there. He didn’t want to get in trouble because of London and the debate trip. Dante said Gio was the adult in that scenario. The last thing he should have worried about was Rocco getting into trouble. Seeing the state Rocco was in, Gio should have called him first thing. Rocco almost got killed. What was Gio thinking?

Gio told Sonny that he should have called Dante or Lulu. Instead, he snuck Rocco into the boathouse. He thought Rocco could drink some water and sleep it off. Sonny asked how he could know Rocco had alcohol poisoning. He was a musician, not a doctor. Gio said, Cody knew, and Sonny said Gio did the best he could at the time. Gio said Dante didn’t see it that way, but Sonny said Dante was afraid for his son and unloaded on the nearest target. Gio said he wished he could go back and do it all over, and Sonny (and I) said, don’t we all? If he knew Gio did something wrong, he’d be angry, but he didn’t think Gio did. He appreciated what Gio did for his grandson. If he was ever in a jam, Sonny wanted to be the first person Gio called. Gio said Sonny might come to regret that, but Sonny didn’t think so.

Elizabeth told Lucky that it was nice to talk to someone about it. She loved Laura and Lulu, but clearly, they wanted her and Lucky back together. Lucas asked if she wanted them together, and Elizabeth said she loved Lucky. Lucas asked if she was in love with him, and she said she didn’t think there was ever a time she wasn’t. She’d been with other men she loved deeply, but with Lucky, there was an intense connection since the beginning and they’d been through so much, good and bad. Since he’d been back, it had been amazing with him and Aiden. It made her want to believe they could make it work this time. Lucas asked if she didn’t think they would.  

Lucky said he never took Alexis for the littering type, and she said she was just having a dramatic moment. He handed her the crumpled paper, and she asked what he was doing there. He said he thought they were there for the same thing. He was under the impression Ric’s car had been crushed at the impound, but apparently, it had been moved. She asked why he was looking for Ric’s car, and he said, the brake lines were cut. That’s what caused the accident. She asked if he knew who cut them, and he said, so did she – Kristina.  

Cody said he was in, and Lulu said it was a relief to know someone had her back. Everyone told her to stay away, but it was time to tell the truth. Her phone rang, and she thanked them for getting back to her… Really?… Were they positive?…. That was all she needed. She thanked them and told Cody that Brook said she used St. Ignatius for the adoption, but they closed their doors in 1987. There was no way Brook placed the baby with them. Cody wondered, why lie? (I guess it doesn’t occur to these two dolts that Lois might have lied to Brook. I’m sooo disappointed in Cody.)  

Brook ran into Gio’s rehearsal room, apologizing for being late. Kristina said she was hoping to watch Donna, but apparently, family members are distracting. But she got to see them. Sonny said they could watch Gio practice, unless it made him nervous. Brook said, Gio played The National Anthem in the PCU stadium, but Gio said it was worse playing for family.  

Elizabeth told Lucas that what she needed in a relationship, Lucky might not be able to give her. He was the kind of guy who always left. What would make a difference now? Lucas said, time… circumstances… life, and she said there was always a part of Lucky that wanted to be out in the world. She wasn’t like that. She liked being settled here with family, friends, and her work. Lucas suggested that in coming home, maybe Lucky realized that’s what he wanted maybe same, but she said, Lucky may not be made for a settled down life. Her biggest fear was asking him to stay and him trying, but in the end, it just not working. Luke called Lucky cowboy, and that’s basically what he was, riding off into the sunset on the hunt for his next adventure.

Lucky told Alexis that he knew it was Kristina the night of the accident. She came into Charlie’s and wasn’t making sense. Then she took off again. He was worried, so he followed her. She pulled over at the site of the crash and said, it was supposed to be Ava driving, not Ric. He realized she was responsible and told her to go back to Charlie’s and act as normal as possible. He went to the impound lot, but they said they’d crushed it already. Alexis said, if only that had been true, and he said, today, Ric told Elizabeth that the insurance company took the car. Somebody is lying. Alexis asked how he ended up here, and he said, instead of destroying it, the impound lot had it towed to this location, but he had to work for the information. What the hell was going on? Why was Ric lying?

Lucas said, what if Elizabeth talked to Lucky? and she said he honestly thinks he’s going to stay this time. Obviously, he loves her and she knows he wants to be with her, but she also thinks he’s so afraid to let her down, she can’t trust him to be honest.

Lucky told Elizabeth that he’d done what he could to protect Kristina. He’d lied to everyone, including Elizbeth. So he felt like he had the right to know. Alexis smoothed out the paper and gave it to him. She said Ava and Ric left it for her, and he said, they had the car? She nodded and said she didn’t know where. They also had footage that strongly implied Kristina cut the brakes. She had to keep paying them or they’d tell Molly what Kristina did and blow up what was left of her family and see to it Kristina was charged and convicted for attempted murder.

Dante said it was all Gio’s fault, but Rocco said, Gio didn’t know how much he had to drink. Dante said it didn’t matter. Gio should have called Rocco’s parents. Rocco had no idea how close they came to losing him. If Cody hadn’t found him, he doesn’t know what would have happened. After losing Sam, he doesn’t want to think about losing his only child. Gio screwed up big time and it’s on him.

Everyone encourages Gio to play, and he begins.

Chase told Lois that keeping it from Dante was difficult, but Brook was his wife, and he made the decision to stand by her. Lois asked if he thought she made a mistake not encouraging Brook to keep the baby, and he said, Brook was so young. Lois said she did her best to protect Brook, but sometimes wondered how all of their lives would have been had she made a different decision. He suggested they focus on the here and now. Soon – God willing – he and Brook would adopt a child and start a family. Wherever Brook’s son was, he was surrounded by a family that loved him. Maybe one day, they’d be lucky enough that he’d come looking for his birth mother.

Lulu said she thought Brook lied because she knew exactly where Dante’s son was, and Cody said that made him think she did too. Did she know where the kid lived? She said she did. He was at the Quartermaines. Cody laughed and said, that would be funny… Oh my God. She was serious. Who was he? She said she thought Gio Palmieri was Dantes son, then smiled like a cat who ate the canary. I want to smack her.

🫔 Friday’s Enchilada…

Isaiah practices a dance for the Nurses Ball when Willow comes in. She said, nice moves, Dr. Gannon, and he says, thank you, Nurse Corinthos. How about her? He assumes she’s here to rehearse. She says, honestly, right now she’s just grateful to have a distraction. He asks, from what? Her job? She says, no, her marriage. She won’t be Nurse Corinthos much longer.

Nina tells Curtis that she can’t figure out why he and Aurora Media aren’t going full court media press to take down Drew.

In her office, Portia is reading The Invader’s headline, Set Up Or Cover Up? on her tablet, when Ava comes in. She asks if it’s an okay time, and Portia says, yes. She was just perusing the latest developments of Drew’s drug fueled night out on the town. She hands Ava the tablet and Ava laughs and says, on the town, on a bar top, on a woman who for once is not his nephew’s wife. She has to admit, when the story broke, she had to wonder if this was Portia’s handiwork.

Tracy meets Drew at the boathouse and asks how he even got on the property. He says he drove over in his new boat, and she laughs. She says, of course (🍷) he did. How nautical of him. He says he figured he’d be welcome though, since they’re working together to take down Sonny.

Sonny brings Donna home to Carly’s, and Carly asks, how was rehearsal? Donna says, so fun, and Carly says she’s sure Donna had a good time. And she’s sure daddy was proud to see her. Sonny says, daddy couldn’t see her. It was a closed rehearsal. They wouldn’t let him in. The kids get too excited with dads watching. Donna says, before they rehearsed, Gio played the violin for her and daddy.

Lulu tells Cody that she knows she’s right. She just needs to slow down and think. The baby Brook was pregnant with… Cody says, Dante’s baby. She thinks the baby is Gio? Gio walks in with Brook.

Gio asks if he heard his name, and Cody says, yeah. They were just talking about what happened at the Quartermaines with Rocco. Gio says he’s sorry about what happened. He should have handled it differently. Lulu says she’s just glad Rocco is okay, and Brook says, it’s a good thing Gio got Rocco back to the boathouse. If he hadn’t, Cody wouldn’t have found them and then gotten Rocco home. Cody says, it was definitely a team effort. What matters is they were looking out for Rocco. Gio says, as long as Rocco is all right, and he asks if Brook wants to get coffee. She says, let’s do it, and they go to the counter. Lulu says, a mother/son coffee date? (Hating her more every day.)

Sonny says, Gio played Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star for them on the violin, and Donna says, it was perfectly beautiful. She can’t wait to see him perform at the Nurses Ball. Carly tells her, it’s time to tackle homework, Donna thanks Sonny, and goes upstairs. Carly says, she’s a mess, and Sonny says he can’t wait to see her perform at the Nurses Ball. Carly asks, how is he doing? She hopes he’s not overdoing it. He says, Dr. Gannon told him to stay active, and Donna is the best medicine. Carly says she hates to ruin a good mood, but since he’s here, there’s something she needs to tell him. He asks if he should take his pills, and she says, he should keep them handy. They’ve got a court date for Michael’s divorce and custody hearing.

Willow says they’ve got a date for the divorce hearing, also custody, and Isaiah asks when it’s happening. She says, June 2nd, and he says, that soon? She says she figured it was a long way off. Michael is still in Germany getting treatment. Now the date is on the calendar and in her face. He says, when they talked, she was worried the judge might find her and Drew’s relationship unfavorable. Is that still the case? She says, no. She has complete faith in Drew. He says, even with… you know, but she says, Drew was set up and a judge will see that. Drew will do whatever he has to, to protect her and her children.

Tracy asks how far Drew is pushing this, and he says he thought he made himself clear. She gives him what he wants when he runs Sonny Corinthos out of town. When Measure C passes, they’ll take over the piers and have Ezra Boyle running for mayor on the anti-Sonny ticket. She says, Ezra Boyle is an idiot. He’s also a slob. She doesn’t understand why he, of all people, is a piece in the getting rid of Sonny puzzle. Drew says, Ezra getting elected is going to eliminate Sonny’s hold on the mayor’s office, but she says, drop it and drop him. They can get Measure C passed without removing Laura. With the exception of an obvious blind spot, she’s a good mayor. He says, clearly, she’s soft on Sonny and as long as Laura is in office, Sonny has a foothold on the city. If she truly wants Sonny gone, Mayor Collins has to be collateral damage.

Portia says, whoever tried to take Drew down seems to have failed, but Ava says she wouldn’t be too sure about that. People aren’t buying his story about being set up. Portia says, he seems to have a lot of support, but Ava says, not really. Poor, deluded Willow believes him, but that doesn’t mean anybody else does. Just think. Drew could be out of office and out of her hair in a month. Portia says, as wonderful as that sounds she highly doubts it, but Ava says, we’ll see. The people of Port Charles can be downright puritanical when comes to passing judgement against others. Portia says, here’s hoping, because right now, Drew is putting more pressure on her than ever.

Nina says she doesn’t get it. Curtis should want to nail Drew against the wall as much as she does. Curtis says he does, but Portia persuaded him not to sensationalize Drew’s story. Nina says, Drew did it to himself when he went on a ketamine bender and did body shots off a woman at a club full of people with cameras. He says, even so, Portia thinks it would make Aurora look bias, but Nina says, Drew has a financial stake in Aurora and negative coverage would show the opposite of bias. He says his feelings for Drew aren’t exactly secret, and she says, what she doesn’t get is that Portia knows better than anyone what Drew has done. She doesn’t understand why Portia would want to go easy on him. Curtis says, Portia is being blackmailed.  

Gio thanks Brook for sticking up for him with Lulu, but she says she didn’t have to. She was pointing out the truth. He was looking out for Rocco and Rocco is alive because of him. He says, because of Cody, and she says, because of both of them. If Lulu can’t see that, it’s her problem. He says, and Dante’s. Things have been tense since the night of the party. He doesn’t know how long he can keep dodging Olivia. He hates the idea of her being angry with him. She says, everything will go back to normal soon. She promises. The barista calls out, Brook Lynn and Guyo, and Brook laughs. She says, that’s us, and they get their coffee. On their way out, Brook asks if they’ll see Cody and Lulu at the Nurses ball, and Cody says, oh yeah. Lulu says she wouldn’t miss it, and Brook says, this guy will knock their socks off. Gio says he doesn’t know if he’ll do that, but Brook says, he’s a star. Cody says, he’s all right, and Brook says, see ya. They leave and Lulu says, I rest my case.

Portia tells Ava that Drew is already disappointed she hasn’t come through with more than she has, but his latest demand is impossible and ridiculous. Ava says, Drew is impossible and ridiculous. What does his majesty insist on now? Portia says, he wants no negative coverage on him in all Aurora Media outlets. That’s one. Ava says, good luck with that. What else does he want? Portia says, he wants Curtis to support him on the Measure C referendum and also wants to get Curtis’s endorsement for Ezra Boyle as mayor over Laura. Ava asks if either thing is even remotely possible, and Portia says, no. She doesn’t give a damn about Measure C and if all of a sudden she takes a strong interest, Curtis is going to get suspicious. Ava says, Drew thinks everybody is as easy to manipulate as Willow, and Portia says, as Curtis’s former friend, he should know better. Curtis is Laura’s friend and supports what she does as mayor. He’s not going to go against her. Ava says, everybody knows that. Drew certainly should. Portia says, maybe he knows and doesn’t care. No way Curtis would support a cretin like Boyle, even if Laura wasn’t running. Ava says she’s sorry to add to Portia’s already full plate, but she should know Drew appears to be making demands on Trina as well.

Nina asks why Curtis thinks Portia is being blackmailed, and he says, it’s the only thing that makes sense. She says, and he suspects that because Portia asked him to have Aurora go easy on Drew? and he says, she supported all his programs at GH. At first, the whole thing seemed innocuous, but then asked himself why Drew only asked Portia. She’s Co-Chief, and as far as he knows, Drew never approached Terry. Nina says, the Pediatric Sports Initiative (🍷) is a good program, and he says he knows. At first, he thought Portia was being objective in acknowledging the program’s merits. That’s the thing. If you look at each thing separately, you can explain it away. Nina says, but if you look at it all together… He says, it’s the only thing that makes sense. Drew has leverage over his wife. He found her at Drew’s house. Nina asks why she said she was there, and he says, she said she was there to try and talk Drew out of pressuring Kai to have his surgery. Nina says, that’s not unreasonable, but he says, then she tried to mitigate the situation by saying if Kai’s surgery went well, then it would show Drew had good intentions all along. Nina says, it doesn’t make sense. She doesn’t believe Portia would ever willingly support Drew. He says, so she’s thinking he’s holding something over Portia? but she says she doesn’t know. He tells her that he’s already said too much. He should be having this conversation with Portia. She says he knows where to find her if he wants to talk. She can’t believe how much damage Drew has done. It seems like everything rolls off that man’s back. The latest scandal should have been enough to send Willow running, but it somehow bonded her closer to him and it’s going cost Willow her children.

Willow tells Isaiah, don’t get her wrong. It’s not like she doesn’t have regrets about the way things ended with Michael. She made choices that weren’t fair to him. Isaiah says, most people in relationships can say that at one time or another, and she says, maybe. She’s genuinely sad about how she and Michael ended things, but she knows she’s finally where she’s supposed to be with Drew. He says, since they’re talking, if she doesn’t mind him asking… She says, go ahead, and he asks where the kids fit in with all this. She asks what he means, and he says, in a perfect world, what would she want after the divorce was settled – the ideal scenario for her children? She says, Michael is a good father, but she wants the kids with her, and in an ideal world, Michael would understand the children belong with their mother. He says, and Drew?

Tracy says, remind her when Laura was soft on Sonny as mayor, and Drew says, even the appearance of impropriety is unacceptable. Tracy and I laugh, and she says, sorry. Are there photos of Laura doing body shots off a hooker on top of a bar somewhere? He says he was set up. Laura is protecting the resident mobster. They revised the plans for the esplanade and the reason Laura called for the referendum is because she’s cornered. Tracy says she doesn’t like it any more than he does, but it’s not Laura’s fault law enforcement is so incompetent they haven’t put Sonny behind bars. Drew asks why she’s protecting Sonny, because that’s what she’s doing when she sticks up for Laura. She says, Laura is her friend and Lulu’s mother, and Sonny has been a plague on this city and her family – Drew says, our family – for decades. Sonny has to go. He says he couldn’t agree more. Sonny has to pay for the pain he’s caused all of them. That’s why he agreed to work with her. They have a common goal, a common enemy, but they do need to get really clear on the terms of their deal.

Sonny asks how a divorce hearing could be scheduled when Michael is out of the country, and Carly says she had Diane petition the court for the earliest possible date. Michael served Willow with divorce papers before the fire. It’s exactly what he wanted. Sonny says, when he was here, and she says, he made his wishes clear. They had the paperwork and all they did was get a date. He asks, when is it? and she says, June 2nd. She thought they were safe until August, but an earlier date popped up, so they were slotted in. He says, but Michael’s not here. Please tell him that she didn’t ask Michael to cut his treatment short in Germany for this. She says she wouldn’t do that. She’s going to handle this herself. He says, that’s a mistake.

Back at the nook, Gio asks how Rocco is feeling, and Rocco says, good. He cleaned every inch of his mom’s house twice and is basically grounded until he’s 54, but good. Brook says, glad to hear it. Not about the grounded part. Rocco tells Gio that he wants to apologize. He put Gio in a really bad position that night and he’s sorry. Gio says, Rocco can’t take the blame. He was the adult… Rocco says, Gio didn’t make him play the game. Gio didn’t force him to get drunk. Gio didn’t even know he and Danny were at the party. He begged Gio not to call his parents, and he told that to his dad. Gio says, his dad is still mad, isn’t he? and Rocco says, yeah, but he needs to understand that Gio helped him get back here and he’s grateful to Gio for that. Gio wishes he’d done more to help him, and Rocco says, it stinks that Gio is being blamed. None of this is his fault. He’s so sorry.

Portia asks, exactly what kind of demands is Drew making of her daughter? and Ava says, fortunately not the same kind he’s making of her, but imagine her surprise when Trina stopped by the gallery with a camera following her every move. Portia says, Drew’s documentary, and Ava says, so she knows about it. Portia says, Drew’s guy Josh wanted to be in the operating room when Kai was having his surgery. Finish telling her what happened with Trina. Ava says, Josh was quite polite and did his best to seem invisible but… Portia says, he was following Trina around with the camera, and Ava says, yes. Trina was lovely of course (🍷), as always, but she could tell Trina was uncomfortable with a camera in her face. She shooed Josh away. Portia says, thank you for that, and Ava says, of course (🍷). Then Trina told her that Drew was behind the documentary. Since he was paying for Kai’s surgery she felt a need to be a part of the project. She and Kai are sort of together now and she felt it was the least she could do. Portia says, Drew is so good at that, convincing people to do his bidding, then making them feel like it was their idea. Now he has her daughter in his tentacles. Ava says, just a little. She’s keeping an eye on things. Portia says, more than a little. He’s pressuring her and Trina to weaponize themselves against Curtis. She doesn’t want to hate anybody, but she truly hates Drew Cain and all of it. It’s got to stop. Ava says, she’s right about that. She thinks Portia has clearly reached the point where she needs to change tactics. Portia says, how? What can she do? Ava says, at this point, she needs to tell Curtis the truth.

Curtis asks Nina if there’s been any movement in Willow’s custody case. She still has the kids, right? Nina says, yes, but who knows for how long. The court date is June 2nd, which doesn’t leave much time. Drew convinced Willow to embrace it. Curtis says, Drew doesn’t have a problem doing that, does he? and Nina says, no, he doesn’t, and now he wants Willow to push for full custody on the grounds that Michael has abandoned them. He says, because he went to Germany? and she says, yes. He has Willow believing that if she goes after Michael in court when he’s out of country for recovery treatment in a burn unit, it will somehow end with her getting permanent sole custody of her children. He says, even if that was possible, Michael’s family won’t stand for that, and she says, never ever. She has a bad feeling this is going to end in disaster.  

Willow tells Isaiah, Drew is a great father. He should see Drew with his daughter Scout and her kids. He loves them and they love him. They’re really building a new family together. Isaiah says he’s not judging. He’s happy for her. She thanks him, and he says, but he hopes she’s prepared for the possibility Michael won’t feel the same way. She says, he asked her what she wanted in an ideal world. Ideally, Michael would see what’s truly best is for the children to be with their mother. Their mother is with Drew, and being with her and Drew gives Wiley and Amelia love and stability they wouldn’t have otherwise. He asks what she means by otherwise, and she says she doesn’t want this to turn into an ugly situation where she has to fight Michael for sole custody, and he never gets to see his kids. Isaiah says, so she’s going for sole custody?

Sonny asks if Michael knows he has a court date, and Carly says, technically, no. He asks what she means, and she says, the court notified Diane, then Diane notified her, and she asked Diane not to tell Michael. Sonny says, she knew he’d want to be here, and she says, yes, but she doesn’t want him to give up one minute of his recovery. Trust her. She’s got this. He asks what she means by she’s got this, and she says, Diane is going to argue that Willow put the children in an unsafe environment. She’ll get an emergency custody order, and the kids will come home with her until their father comes home. He asks if she thinks it’s going be that easy. Willow is going to have her lawyer, Drew, and Nina there for back-up. Willow is their mother, and since Michael can’t physically be in court, she’ll be the only parent at the hearing. Carly says, that’s right. And Drew will be by her side playing hero and he’ll be the reason she loses those kids. He’s proof she’s unfit. Sonny says, he’s a congressman, and she says, a congressman who partied on ketamine and did body shots off a call girl in a bar on video. A congressman who slept with his nephew’s wife in the kids’ nursery, also on video. He says, when they show the video in court… She says, no judge will let Michael’s kids within ten feet of Willow or Drew. They’ll come home with her and stay with her until their loving father comes home.

Cody says, no offense, but when it comes to Gio and Brook, he thinks Lulu is seeing what she wants to see. Lulu says she thinks she saw what she saw, and he says, okay. Gio is a good kid with no parents. Lois helped raise him and Brook saw him grow up. He thinks the way they treat Gio is more Bensonhurst than anything else. Lulu says she’ll give him this. She’s not sure Brook knows Gio’s her son. She’s not positive. He says, she doesn’t know if Gio is Brook’s son, but she says she knows Brook is a good liar. She’s experienced it firsthand. Brook has been lying to Dante for years and lying to Cody since he came to Port Charles. He says, that may be so, but none of it adds up to Gio being Brook and Dante’s son. Lulu says, everything in her gut is telling her he is. She just needs to prove it.

Gio says he appreciates Rocco letting him off the hook, and Rocco says, he shouldn’t have been on it in the first place. Gio says he can handle Rocco’s parents being mad, but Rocco’s got to promise, no more drinking until he’s 21. Rocco promises, and Gio says, okay. He says, Rocco and his dad are lucky to have each other. Don’t let what happened with him cause it to go wrong. Rocco says he won’t. So they’re good? Gio says, they’re good, and Rocco leaves. Brook says, Gio handled that well, and he thanks her. She says, it’s big of him to protect Rocco and Dante’s relationship like that. He says, Rocco needs his dad and at this point, he can’t worry about what Dante thinks. Brook says, he’ll get over it. He’s just a hothead worried about his kid. Gio says, everyone keeps telling him that Dante is just worried about his kid, but that doesn’t mean Dante doesn’t feel the way he feels about him. Dante made it perfectly clear that he has no use for him and he’s good with that. Brook says, everyone also says it’s temporary, but Gio says, he doesn’t want her or anybody else trying to convince him that deep down, Dante really likes him. It’s obvious he doesn’t and there’s no point in pretending. He tells her that he’s got to go study, and leaves.

 Drew says, if and when he succeeds in removing Sonny, he wants the Quartermaine name back, and Tracy says, they already established that. She’s only giving him one thing. He says he wants to be clear on the terms. He gets access to the Quartermaine estate and grounds again. She says, good luck with that, and he says, as of now. She says, that’s not the way deals work. If he wants access, he’ll have to talk to Monica, and she doesn’t think what happens to Sonny is going to matter. Drew asks if she doesn’t think it will matter that he’s rid the town of the man who murdered the only child Monica had with Alan. It feels to him like it would hold a lot of weight. She says, Drew destroyed Michael’s marriage and prevented Monica from seeing her great-grandchildren. He says, that’s not what… but she says she’s not debating this. He’ll get the name back when he gets rid of Sonny. For the rest, he’s on his own. He says, that’s not good enough, but she says, it better be good enough. Find another dock. Get back on his damn barge. It’s Monica’s property… Alan gave it to her. (Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!) Tracy leaves, and Drew laughs. He’s about to leave, then doubles back.

Willow tells Isaiah that when Michael refused to see her in Germany, it sent a really clear message. She has to do whatever it takes to protect her children and get custody of them. He says he hears her. He’s sure she’s had plenty of advice from other people and doesn’t need more from him. She says she’s sorry. She shouldn’t have snapped at him. He says, it’s fine. He just wants her to know that he thinks she’s an excellent nurse and during the time he’s known her, he’s only seen her to be a good person with a kind heart. Trust it. He leaves.

Sonny says he gets that Carly has a plan, and she says, let her guess. He doesn’t like it. He says, it’s not her call, but she says, Michael can’t be here to fight for his kids, so she has to do it for him. He says, there’s no guarantee it’s going to work, and she says, with that evidence, she thinks there’s a pretty good chance, but he says, she’s overstepping. This is Michael’s life. It’s his family and he’s not going to thank her for making decisions without his permission. He’s just saying, it’s going to cost her. She says, Michael will understand she’s doing this to protect him and his family. And if he’s mad at her, she can live with that. It’s worth it to make sure her grandchildren are happy and safe, and the only way to do that is to get custody of them.

Tracy asks Brook if everything is all right, and she says she feels bad for Gio. Dante came down on him and he’s taking it hard. Tracy says, Gio is a good kid and Dante is scrupulous to a fault. They’ll figure it out. Brook says she hopes so, but that’s not the only reason she feels a little blue today. Tracy asks, what is it? and Brook says, it’s her baby’s birthday today.

Lulu tells Cody, the way Lois reacted to Dante tearing into Gio. Then she got into it with Dante. She was protective in a way that goes way beyond cousins. Cody says, like she was tapping into her primal grandmaternal instinct, grandmama bear, and Lulu says, yes, and if Brook is telling the truth, Lois handled the baby’s adoption. Paired with the fact that Gio’s mother was conveniently a Cerullo cousin, it all makes sense… Cody’s still not buying it. He says he’s not not buying it, but if it’s true, Lois went through a lot of trouble to cover this up. She wonders how they prove it. Gio’s so-called mother is Cousin Camilla. She’s the key.

Ava says Curtis already knows Portia tampered with Heather Webber’s blood tests. All she has to tell him now is that Brad and Drew found out and they’re using it as leverage. Portia says, he’s going to wonder why she didn’t tell him right away and she doesn’t have a good answer for that. Ava asks, how is, I couldn’t tell you because I was being blackmailed, not an acceptable answer? It’s the point of blackmail. Portia says, Curtis won’t see it that way. She made a choice the moment she started giving into Brad and left her whole family vulnerable. Ava says, she got in over her head. It happens. She can still fix it and Curtis can help her get out. Portia says she knows Curtis and there’s no third chance. He’ll never forgive her for this.

Curtis asks if there’s any way Willow can get a postponement, and Nina says she suggested it, but Drew shot it down and Willow fell right in line. He says, what was the reason? and she says, because this is the perfect time to steal Michael’s children right out from under him and present the children to Willow as his gift. He asks if those were Drew’s words, and she says, no, but his thoughts were so loud, they might as well be spoken words. (Love that!) Drew thinks that he and Willow are going to walk into court looking like the perfect stable couple with the perfect stable built-in family, and Michael won’t be there to defend himself, so they’ll win. Curtis says, all the more reason to make a postponement happen. If Drew won’t listen to reason, then she needs to find someone who will. Maybe a lawyer or someone who has sway over Michael. She says, there might be one person Michael will listen to. She’s got to go. She thanks him for listening and thanks him for everything. He says, anytime, and she leaves. He makes a call and says he needs to see someone in his office now.

Sonny asks if Carly thinks Willow is a bad mother. The Quartermaines would do anything they could to keep their kids safe. Carly says, hell yeah. Willow’s not the woman they thought she was. She’s not the woman Michael married, and not the woman Michael allowed to adopt his child and start a family with. Sonny says, she changed, and Carly says, hell yeah. She’s trying to take Michael’s kids from him and raise them with their great uncle. She’s infatuated with Drew, who isn’t the man they thought he was. Sonny says, they all bought his act, and she says, yeah. If he’s asking her if she questions Willow, absolutely. She doesn’t trust Willow anymore and doesn’t want Drew or Willow anywhere near Michael’s children. He says he hopes it works out for her. If it doesn’t, and Michael loses his children because of her, she could lose her own child.

Brook tells Tracy that now with everything that’s come out, all these feelings are back and coming out with a vengeance. She can’t stop them or push them away. Tracy says she doesn’t think Brook should. The only way out is through. Brook says she’s going through it all right. She can’t stop thinking about her son and wishing him a happy birthday. He’s 22. Tracy says she has something that might cheer Brook up, and Brook says, by all means. Tracy says, consider this a little birthday present for her and her boy. She spoke to Lulu and she’s dropping the adoption article. Brook says, really? How did she… It doesn’t matter. She’s so relieved. Tracy says she thought Brook might be, and Brook says she hated that Lulu was digging around with no consideration for anyone else. She doesn’t want Lulu disrupting her son’s life. Tracy says, she’s not gonna, so Brook can relax. Unless Brook chooses otherwise, no one will know she gave up a child for adoption. They hug.

While on her laptop, Lulu tells Cody that Brook said she gave birth in San Francisco. According to this, Baby Boy Cerullo was born on May 15th, around the time Gio was born. The records also indicate the mother is Brook Cerullo. He can’t think it’s a coincidence. Cody says, no. Using Lois’s last name was probably the easiest thing to do. Lulu says, and Brook wasn’t a legal adult. Lois didn’t go to a lot of trouble to hide this. He says, why would she? She had no reason to believe anyone would dig up Gio’s real origin story. She tells him, Gio said he was born on June 4th in LA. According to the records, a lot of baby boys were born that day in LA, but no Baby Boy Cerullo or Palmieri. He says, all this proves is there wasn’t a baby born under that name in LA County. He could have been born in Orange County or Ventura, or Camilla used a different name. She says, he’s absolutely correct, and he says, statistically, it was bound to happen someday. She says, there’s only one way to prove Camilla’s not really Gio’s mother. Find out where Camilla was and what she was doing the day Brook gave birth.

Portia says, when it comes to secrets and lies, Curtis has zero tolerance, and Ava says, he’s going to have to get over that because it’s an impossible standard. Portia says, it’s why he and Jordan broke up. They didn’t grow apart. He left because Jordan lied. Ava says, if he forgave her for keeping Trina a secret all those years, this is nothing, but Portia says, not when she’s been lying to him for months. Ava says, stop lying now and her marriage might survive. After another six months, not so much. She’s digging herself in deeper. Isaiah approaches the room and hears them, and Portia says she can’t. If Curtis finds out that she lied to him again, her marriage is over.

Drew goes to Curtis’ office and says, Curtis wanted to see him? Curtis says, yeah, he did, and Drew says he sounded stressed on the phone. What’s wrong? Curtis says, Drew’s been blackmailing his wife.

Sonny finds Willow and asks if she’s got a minute. She says, yeah… What does he need? He says he heard she and Michael have a court date, and she says, they do. He says, it’s going to get ugly, and she says she thinks so too, but he says he thinks they can stop it before it starts. She says, how? and he says he knows how much she loves her children, and she knows how much he loves his grandkids. She says, they love him too, and he says, then she should know that they can figure out a compromise. Willow wonders if they should be talking without… He says, no lawyers, no Drew, no Carly. Just cooler heads trying to figure out what’s best for the kids and also find a way to make peace.

Nina knocks on Carly’s door, but Carly says she doesn’t have time for this. Nina tells her to make time. It’s their last chance to stop this before Drew completely wrecks their grandchildren’s lives.

On Monday, Lulu tells Cody that she’s not stopping until she has proof; Drew tells Curtis that he has the situation under control; Sasha wonders why Ric Lansing is calling her to testify; and Nina slugs Carly.

🧼 All the Soap News Fit To Print…

A bittersweet comeback.

https://www.tvinsider.com/1192056/general-hospital-nurses-ball-2025-details-lynn-herring-exclusive/

A reminder that Monica isn’t really upstairs. And Lesley isn’t with her either.

https://soaphub.com/general-hospital/news-gh/rivals-monica-lesley-two-legends-gone/

💉 A Dose Of Reality…

Below Deck Down Under

I remember the disco ball helmet!

The Valley

So now that Jax has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, does that mean Brittany will get double the rage texts?

I can’t wait to see Lala with this group.

Summer House

Lexi broke up with Jesse for the last time… I think. It’s really been hard to keep score with those two. Lindsay made an Instagram post detailing what the last year had brought to her, and Carl was miffed because it all started with their break-up. I don’t see why he’d care unless he still cared, but maybe he didn’t want everyone to be reminded about how he blindsided her on camera. It wasn’t the worst episode, but the finale looks great. Not just because it’s finally the end of the season, but it’s some kind of costume party.

Lindsay’s Freedom Dinner.

Random Reality Items…

They’re probably waiting to see if they get a better offer elsewhere.

For those brave enough to go.

A miscommunication? Sure. I believe it if she believes it.

I love how some of the old case shaded the reboot. Did they think they’d be on it until retirement? They don’t even work at SUR anymore.

👀 Weekend Watch…

The Ugly Stepsister. AMC+/Shudder. Subtitled. Whatever you do, don’t watch this while eating dinner. And this is coming from someone who has a strong stomach for gore. I actually loved the real Grimm’s Fairytales as a kid, and this is closer than any Disneyfied version. Cinderella’s stepsister will do anything to marry the prince, including cutting off body parts and swallowing tapeworms.

https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-ugly-stepsister-horror-movie-review-2025

A Deadly American Marriage. Netflix. A true crime documentary that kept me guessing for a while.

https://people.com/a-deadly-american-marriage-true-story-11733406

The first wife.

https://people.com/all-about-margaret-fitzpatrick-jason-corbett-first-wife-11734052

The kids.

https://people.com/where-are-jason-corbett-kids-now-11730696

The killers.

https://people.com/where-are-jason-corbett-killers-molly-thomas-martens-now-11730846

Heart Eyes. Netflix. At first, I sighed and thought, typical slasher film with typical slasher film characters, but I have to admit, the ending was one I didn’t see coming. I appreciated a chaotic drive-in movie scene, but not so much the cornfield that was bigger than the one that clown is hiding in. Still, so much better than I expected it to be and not a waste of my time. Takeaway point: Never underestimate the underdog.

https://www.cbr.com/heart-eyes-netflix-streaming-hit/

https://www.pajiba.com/film_reviews/heart-eyes-is-a-killer-box-of-chocolates-you-never-know-what-youre-gonna-get.php

⚔️ No Knight Yet…

Looks like I got excited about a year too soon.

https://www.avclub.com/a-knight-of-the-seven-kingdoms-delayed-to-2026

🐾 All Pets All the Time…

🐩 The famous.

https://vocal.media/petlife/the-famous-pets-of-celebrities

🐕 The not-so famous.

https://bestfriends.org/stories/features/10-inspiring-pet-adoption-stories-2024

🦚 And the fashionable.

https://www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/instagram-famous-dogs-model-springs-top-10-fashion-trends

🪇 Quotes of the Week

Gardens, scholars say, are the first sign of commitment to a community. When people plant corn they are saying, let’s stay here. And by their connection to the land, they are connected to one another.Anne Raver

Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world. – Albert Einstein

To forget how to dig the earth and to tend the soil is to forget ourselves. – Mahatma Gandhi

It’s a general moral principle that the more power you have over someone, the greater your duty is to use that power benevolently. Well, who is the one person in the world you have the greatest power over? It’s your future self. You hold that life in your hands, and what it will be depends on how you care for it.Rick Hanson

If you have integrity, nothing else matters. If you don’t have integrity, nothing else matters. – Alan K. Simpson

Attitude, not aptitude, determines altitude.Hilary “Zig” Ziglar (Corny, but I like the alliteration.)

Hell was made for people like you, Leslie. Enjoy the burn. – Mona Wilson (Karan Kendrick), Beyond the Gates

🌾 The Gateway To Summer…

Until next week, stay safe; stay celebrating the rebirth and renewal of spring; and stay never forgetting, the only way out is through.

May 9, 2025 – GH Weekdays, Sidwell Makes Sonny an Offer, Soap Suds, This Week In Reality, Weekend Watch, Dandy At the Met, Fashionable Pets (!), Sextolet Quotes & Coming Home

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

🥢 Weekday Bites…

(Trying to streamline a bit…)

Monday:

Lulu said the last thing she expected was for Dante to say he loved her too, and then he told her that he was also still in love with Sam.

Lois asked how Tracy found out about the baby, and Tracy asked if the decision had been Brook’s or Lois’s.

Willow asked why Carly was at Nina’s, and Carly said she was just checking up on the kids. Willow said to check with her first next time and not just show up.

Mac asked, what was the last thing Drew remembered? and Drew flashed back to talking to Tracy. He told Mac that he remembered nothing after getting to the Port Charles Grill. As soon as he knew anything, Mac would too.

Emma asked if Josslyn knew Vaughn, and she said, no, but she’d seen him around campus. Emma couldn’t find her thumb drive and freaked out. Meanwhile, Danny found Rocco passed out on the beach by the rocks.

Marco went to GH to pick up some client’s files and used it as an excuse to see Lucas.

Mac suggested pulling footage from the PC Grill, but Drew insisted his memory would come back. When that happened, he’d see that justice was served.

Brad told Portia that he wanted a big promotion. He had new leverage over her after putting two and two together about the ketamine and Drew. Portia said she wasn’t behind Drew being drugged; Brad was.

Carly asked how Michael was doing, but Willow said he’d refused to see her. She insisted Drew had been drugged and nothing had happened between him and that woman. It was the only explanation that made sense. Carly said it was the only explanation Willow could live with, and left. Willow asked Nina if she agreed with Carly. Was she an idiot for believing Drew?

Lois told Tracy that the decision had been Brook’s. She’d supported Brook and Brook had sworn her to secrecy. Tracy would have done the same for Ned. Tracy said Lois had avoided the family, and by keeping it from them, Lois and Gloria didn’t have to include their input. Lois said the only thing she did was convince Brook that she wasn’t a terrible person for getting pregnant. She did the best she could, and it had weighed on her. Tracy said Brook didn’t know where her son was, but Lois did.

Rocco woke up and told Danny that he’d been playing a drinking game with some frat guys. He just wanted to go back to sleep.

Gio asked if Emma had another copy of the drive, but Emma said her new data hadn’t been included on the back-up. Josslyn pretended to find the drive in the sand and gave Emma the corrupted one. Emma hugged her, thinking it was the one she needed for Dalton.

Lulu told Dante, you didn’t stop loving someone because they’re gone. That’s why she didn’t want to say anything, and Maxie had no right to share what Lulu didn’t choose to share. She wondered, why would Dante tell her how he felt if he had no intention of acting on it? and he said he couldn’t pretend that nothing was there, but she was using it to take out her frustrations on Brook. Brook didn’t deserve it. Lulu said he wouldn’t say that if he knew, and Dante said, knew what?

Danny found Gio and said he needed Gio’s help.

Lulu said Brook had done things… stuff. She wasn’t an innocent. Dante said Lulu had been given a second chance at life, but instead of mending relationships, she was tearing them apart. Dante wanted to know what Brook had done, when Carly walked in.

Marco admired and respected that Lucas loved what he did, and Lucas said he thought their date had been a success. He thanked Marco for opening up, and Marco was excited to see what their next date looked like.

Danny brought Gio to Rocco, and Rocco recognized Gio, which Gio said was a good sign. Gio wanted to get Rocco home, but Danny wanted to do it without Dante knowing. They heard Emma coming and Gio ran interference. He told Emma that he had to get back to the boathouse but would be back. Rocco conked back out and Danny and Gio helped him off the beach.

Lois said, the adoption was closed, and Tracy wondered why the Quartermaines had known nothing. They had the means to give the child every possible advantage. Lois said, in spite of all their money – and with them, the money was what it was always about – money didn’t make every decision easy. Brook hadn’t been ready to be a mother, and Lois had supported her. Tracy said, then the baby should have been there until she was ready, and Lois said, like Tracy dumped Dillon on Ned and Lila and Edward? Lois married into this family and knew how they operated, and her grandson deserved better. Tracy said that’s why Lois gave the baby up, and Lois said it wasn’t her motivation, but it was a hell of a bonus.

Nina asked, what changed? and Willow said she’d gotten caught up in the noise. When she’d had time to think, none of it made sense. She and Drew didn’t keep secrets. Nina asked if it was possible that Willow didn’t want to face the fact Drew wasn’t the man she’d believed he was because it was an indictment on her choices.

Deanna gave Drew an IV to replace his fluids and told him things would come back as the drug wore off. She asked if he’d checked his phone’s GPS. It would tell him where he was last night. He remembered shaking hands with Tracy again and saw he’d been at the hospital. He remembered talking to Portia.

Portia said she’d heard Brad had gotten his hands on some ketamine and Brad said she’d asked him to. She wondered who would be believed, an ex-con or a Chief of Staff. Blow his whistle and see what happened. She knew he’d want to use it to blackmail her and if he didn’t leave her and her family alone, she’d make sure he went down for drugging the congressman.

When Dante left, Lulu told Carly that Dante thought the only reason she had problems with Brook was because she was still in love with him. He thought she was jealous because he and Brook had a past, but the problems were mostly about the proof of the baby. Carly suggested she not tell Dante.

Josslyn told Vaughn that Emma had the corrupted version of the thumb drive, and she told the others that she’d seen him around campus. If he wanted to sell the story, he should spend more time there. He asked if she was homesick yet.

Gio and Danny brought Rocco to the boathouse. Danny said he’d stay the night and tell everyone they went camping. Gio said he’d stick around just in case, and Danny said he’d go to the house for supplies. He left and Gio looked for Rocco’s phone, when Cody came in.

Tracy suggested Lois leave if she found dealing with the family so insufferable. She’d help Lois pack. Lois said sorry to disappoint her, but she would be staying close to Brook. Tracy said she couldn’t wait for the day she rid the house of Lois and had the feeling that day was fast approaching.

Carly reminded Lulu that she, Jason, and Michael were a happy family and when Robin told AJ that Michael was his son, it changed their lives forever. Lulu said, AJ had a right to know, but Carly said, it wasn’t Robin’s place to tell him. Lulu said, Dante wasn’t Jason, and Carly said it still wasn’t Lulu’s right. Lulu asked if Jason was in Dante’s position, wouldn’t Carly tell him? and Carly said if Lulu exposed the secret, she’d regret it for the rest of her life.

Josslyn said it would be strange to feel homesick when she was home, and Vaughn said this used to be her life, but now she was pretending it was. Josslyn said it was surreal. She was there to sabotage someone’s chances at getting a job. He said, not just someone, a childhood friend, and she said Emma didn’t know what was at stake. He asked if she missed her old life, and she said, parts of it, but those parts were gone already when she joined the WSB.

Brad couldn’t believe Portia had learned from him and he watched Lucas with Marco though the window, also imagining them together at home. Lucas suggested he and Marco go to honky-tonk night, and Marco said he was going to love this town. Lucas said the town would love having Marco, and they clinked hash browns. Brad was uber jealous.

Cody said he’d seen the lights on and came to check it out. Gio told him what happened, and Cody said they did good getting Rocco home safe. He covered Rocco with a blanket, but then said Rocco’s breathing was off. They had to get him to the hospital now.

Carly said Brook’s child might not know he was adopted, but Lulu said that didn’t mean Dante shouldn’t know. Carly said it was Brook’s call since she’d carried the child, and Lulu whined some more. Carly told Lulu to make sure she wasn’t doing it because she hated Brook and wanted to be the one to tell Dante instead.

Gio and Cody talked to the doctor who thought Rocco had alcohol poisoning.

Dante looked for Brook, but Lois said she hadn’t seen her. He said the thing going on between her and Lulu was driving him nuts and he was tired of being in the middle. He tried to explain to Lulu that he and Brook were friends, but she couldn’t hear it. Lois said, sometimes strong women don’t get along, and he asked if he should stop trying to help. Lois suggested he stay out of it. His phone rang, and Cody told him that Rocco was in the hospital and to get there as soon as possible. Lois said she’d go with him

Emma couldn’t believe Josslyn didn’t play volleyball anymore, but Josslyn said she had too much going on and was still trying to catch up in Dalton’s class. She was a different person now, but still busy. Emma offered to share her notes and thanked Josslyn again for finding the drive.

Willow wondered how much of this was her refusing to accept being wrong about Drew, but in her heart, she didn’t think that was it. Nina said she’d never do anything to hurt Willow, but Drew wasn’t being honest. He’d been unfaithful. A mother knows. He wasn’t the man Willow thought he was. He pursued her when she was married to his nephew, and a decent man wouldn’t do that. She begged Willow to think long and hard before forgiving him. Willow said they’d found ketamine in his system and Nina suggested he was experimenting, but Willow insisted he’d been drugged. They both knew who did it.

Brad went into Drew’s room and said he had the name of the person behind Drew’s body shot party.

Emma and Josslyn remembered the old days with Spencer and Cameron. Emma said, Spencer could be your best friend one second and the next, stab you in the back, but she didn’t think hurting people necessarily made you a bad person. Josslyn told Emma not to freak if she didn’t get the research position, but Emma said she’d worked hard for it and it had to be hers. Vaughn watched from a distance.

Brad said he’d tell Drew who did it when he knew how much it was worth to Drew.

Nina said, Drew was ashamed of what he’d done and needed someone else to blame, but Willow asked if it was more likely Drew would do drugs with a call girl or that something else happened. She thought the escort gave it to him, but it hadn’t been her idea. She thought someone hired the call girl to set Drew up.

Dante and Lois got the hospital along with Lulu. Cody said the doctor thought it was alcohol poisoning and they were pumping Rocco’s stomach. Gio said he’d been at a PCU party. He didn’t go with Rocco, but had seen him there. Dante told him to start talking.  

Tuesday:

Dante interrogated Gio about Rocco like it was Gio’s fault Rocco got drunk. Gio said he didn’t realize how bad off Rocco was and thought water and sleep would set him right. Dante said if something happened to Rocco, it was on Gio. (Um… maybe he should have been watching his own kid?)

Brad said he knew who hired Jacinda, and for the right price, he’d tell Drew everything. Drew said he’d make sure Brad was handsomely rewarded.

Trina fretted over Kai who was sleeping after his surgery. Portia was proud of her for standing by him. Kai woke up and said he felt like the hard part was over and nothing could stop him now.

Lucky met Kristina at Charlie’s and told him that her mother was trying to have her committed.

Alexis left a million messages for Kristina and looked at the dagger. Diane came by and wondered why Alexis was brandishing a weapon.

Lois tried to talk Dante down, but Gio said he was right. Cody said it took him a while to figure it out too.

Portia said everything looked great, but Kai needed to rest. She left to update Dr. Mohinder, and Kai said he couldn’t thank Trina enough for her encouragement.

Ava picked Ric up from the hospital and he asked how it was going with Alexis. Ava said the next payment had arrived, and Ric said he’d be getting his cut directly, but Ava said she’d thought they were a team. He said he set up a shell corporation and bitched about Alexis’s psycho daughter trying to kill him.

Kristina told Lucky that the papers had been drawn up, but Alexis had changed her mind. He asked how she found out, and Kristina said Molly found out after her papers got mixed up with Diane’s. Lucky asked what Alexis’s reasoning was, and Kristina said she’d had a rough year and Alexis thought she could use some help. Lucky wondered if Alexis wasn’t completely wrong.

Diane asked Alexis to talk to her, and Alexis said Molly and Kristina were no longer speaking to her because they’d found the commitment papers when Diane’s stuff got mixed up with Molly’s. Diane apologized profusely and offered to make things right, but Alexis said what was done was done. It was on her to fix it.

Brad wondered how handsome handsomely was, and Drew asked how half a million sounded. Brad said it sounded like the truth and told Drew that Portia had set him up. He hoped Drew would blow her out of the water.

Dante continued to be unreasonable, when the doctor came out with an update on Rocco.

Alexis said she thought the girls may not forgive her, and Diane wondered how Kristina was blindsided. Alexis said she hadn’t been completely transparent. Kristina didn’t know Alexis was aware that she tried to kill Ava.

Ava told Ric not to forget she was the intended target, but Ric said he was the injured party. Ava said they were in this together regardless and it seemed like he’d decided to go rogue. He said he’d set up the shell corporation for both of them and let her take the lead on the blackmail since she despised Alexis. He knew Alexis’s priorities and extra money wouldn’t be a problem. Ava said they deserved to have some fun.

Dante and Lulu went in to see Rocco and the doctor said he was stable and would be fine. The alcohol content had been at a life-threatening level, and he was going to be okay, but Cody likely saved his life. He could have ended up in a coma, but would make a full recovery.

Diane wondered how Alexis found out about Ava’s brake lines being cut, and Alexis said it was a long story that Diane didn’t want to touch with a ten-foot pole. Kristina had been shocked and felt betrayed. Diane said they were just trying to protect her, and Alexis said Kristina couldn’t know that she knew about the accident.

Lucky said Alexis wasn’t wrong and it was okay to need help, but Kristina said she’d been talking to someone. Lucky said his mom sought treatment for a lot of years, and Kristina said she went into therapy when she lost the baby, but she thought Alexis was being extreme. Lucky suggested Kristina extend a little grace to Alexis.

Danny called Gio wondering where everyone was, and Gio told him what happened. Rocco was okay but they’d had to pump his stomach. Danny said it was his fault, but Gio said it was all on him. Carly asked to talk to Danny and told him to stay at the boathouse. She was coming there. Lois hugged Gio and told him not to let what Dante said get him down, but Gio said Dante had a point. Lois said no one could have predicted what happened and Gio was a good kid. Gio said Dante didn’t think so.

Rocco woke up and said he was sorry. Dante said they’d discuss it later and asked if he remembered anything. Rocco said some guys asked if he wanted to play a drinking game and he’d felt lame saying no, so he went along with it. Next thing he knew, he was in the boathouse. Dante said they loved him, and he didn’t know what he would have done had he lost Danny too.

Brad said Portia made him pull Drew’s medical records, then asked him to get ketamine, but there was no actual evidence. He asked what Drew was going to do about it now that he knew.

Kai was all grateful to Drew for giving him football back, and Trina said anything good that came out of it for either Kai or Drew was due to Kai. Kai said nothing could hold him back now. He knew Trina and her mom had been worried about the possible paralysis and wiggled his toes, saying, the worst-case scenario was off the table.

Carly told Danny that Rocco would be okay, but they needed to talk. He had no business going to that party. Danny agreed it was stupid. He’d just wanted to have some fun, but before he knew it, things were out of control. He convinced Rocco to go with him and went to play volleyball. He wasn’t gone long and wasn’t sure how Rocco got so wasted. Carly said he shouldn’t have left Rocco to his own devices and Danny said he felt terrible. Carly suggested he take responsibility. He had to promise he’d never do something like this again and sincerely apologize to Lulu and Dante. Jason gave him a lot of space, but he had to earn the trust. He needed to prove it to her that he could handle the responsibility.

Dante left and Rocco told Lulu that he thought Dante was angry with him, but Lulu said he was just scared, and it came out as anger. Dante was relieved to know he was fine. Rocco said he was sorry, and she said the Falconari boys knew how to keep things interesting.

Dante said Rocco would be okay and asked to talk to Gio. Lois went with them.

Kristina wondered, why now? and Lucky asked if she’d told Alexis about the car, but she said of course (🍷) not. He was the only one who knew. Alexis had seen she was anxious and was misinterpreting it. Lucky said it sounded like Kristina had a chance to keep her promise to learn from the accident and focus on bringing her family together.

Ric and Ava showed up at Alexis’s house and barged their way in. They gave Alexis the paperwork for the shell company, so she could put money in and make it look like investments. Ric said what she’d been paying wasn’t enough and he wanted separate transactions for his and Ava’s payments.

Carly told Danny to remember how he felt and how lucky he was and pay it forward. He said she sounded like his mom.

Cody went to see Rocco and told Lulu that he talked with Gio. She thought she should see how it was going and left Cody with Rocco. Rocco thanked Cody for saving his life, and Cody said Dante was his best friend. Rocco thought Dante was angry with him, but Cody said he was mad that it happened not mad at Rocco. Rocco said he wasn’t going to drink for a long time if ever again. Cody said getting in trouble was part of growing up and hopefully you did better the next time. Dante would come around. He was one helluva father and Rocco was lucky.

Dante asked if Gio took Rocco to the party, but Gio said, no. Lois tried to intervene, but Dante said it was between him and Rocco. Gio said he was there with other friends when Danny asked for help. He hadn’t known they were there. He got them home and made sure Rocco had a bucket and water. Dante asked why he didn’t call and Gio said he realized he should have. Dante started squawking about how giving alcohol to a minor was a crime and he could have Gio arrested, and Gio said he didn’t even see Rocco drinking. Dante asked how he knew Gio wasn’t just covering his ass by saying that, and Lois said Gio didn’t lie. Dante jumped all over her too and said her covering for Gio wasn’t going to work this time.

Trina and Portia accompanied Kai in his wheelchair, and Portia said the doctor wanted to try to get Kai on his feet, but don’t be upset if he had to try more than once. He got up holding Trina’s hands and took a step. She said she thought he could do just about anything and hugged him, but he looked a little worried.

Drew said he had to think about this, but Brad told him to just go and ruin Portia’s life. Drew said he’d double the money if Brad would do one more thing for him.

Alexis said it wasn’t a game. Doubling the money was a problem and it was enough money that someone would see it. She wasn’t a magician and if their greed raised enough red flags and she got arrested, she’d take them down with her. Ric said Kristina would go down as well, when speak of the devil walked in and asked what was going on.

Danny promised to apologize and tell Jason what happened. Carly said he’d dodged a bullet and should think about almost losing someone he loved before he picked up his next drink.

Dante said other people had always made decisions for Gio and it was time he grew up and made his own decisions. If Cody hadn’t shown up, Rocco could be dead just because Gio was afraid to get Rocco in trouble. Lois told him to stop it. He didn’t know what he was saying. He didn’t know who Gio really was. Lulu overheard.

Wednesday:

Chase and Brook were at the Brown Dog Bar to get time away from the family. Chase said, pretty soon, nights like these would be a thing of the past. After they had a baby, they’d be sleep deprived. Brook couldn’t wait.

Emma said Josslyn was different from the girl she remembered growing up, and Josslyn said Dex’s death had changed her.

Vaughn told Jack about Dalton being with Anna at The Savoy.

Kristina went to Alexis’s and found Ric and Ava there. Ric said they were there to see Molly, but she was running late at work. Ava said an apartment opened in her building and Ric thought Molly would like a place of her own. Kristina seemed skeptical about the late hour, and Ric said he was actually there about his car accident.

Laura went to visit Rocco and met Cody, who said Lulu asked him to keep an eye on Rocco while she tracked down Dante. Laura thanked him for getting Rocco to the hospital in time, and Rocco woke up.

Dante continued to act like a moron, going on and on and on, screeching at Gio, as Lulu listened in from around the corner. Lois said he didn’t know what he was talking about or who Gio really was, and Dante said he’d watched Gio grow up, but please enlighten him.

Vaughn said Josslyn couldn’t hear them, but it was possible Anna and Dalton weren’t talking about anything of interest to them. Josslyn’s biggest competition for Dalton’s assistant was Emma, and Anna might have been talking her up. Josslyn had also seen Dalton going into a lab at GH, but didn’t know why he was there. Jack told him to hold off on breaking in and asked how close Josslyn was to getting intel from Dalton.

Josslyn told Emma that Dex’s life hadn’t been great, but he became a better person because of it. Now they’d never know the man he would have become or what he would have achieved. It made her feel like she had to make her life matter in any way she could. That’s why she tried so hard to excel in class. Emma said that’s what brought her to PCU and asked if Josslyn could keep a secret. She was on a mission.

Brook told Chase that she’d been honest with Tracy about giving up her baby. Tracy had asked why Brook was threatened by Lulu and kept pushing. She didn’t tell Tracy that Dante was the father, not wanting to burden her with the truth.

Dante kept going, accusing Lois of shielding Gio from the consequences of his actions. He said Gio’s carelessness could have cost Rocco’s life. Gio said Dante was right, but he hadn’t given Danny or Rocco alcohol. He hadn’t even known anything happened until Danny came to get him. Dante gave kudos to Danny for knowing when he was in over his head, then blamed Gio some more. Lois said Rocco would be fine and she had enough of Dante beating up on Gio. Dante said if she didn’t like it, she could leave, and if he found out Gio gave booze to Rocco, Gio would face charges. Rocco could have ended up in a coma or at the morgue. Lulu came out and said, but he didn’t, and told Dante to stop. Dante said their son could have died tonight.

Laura thanked Cody again and Cody left. Rocco said he was sorry, and Laura said the most important thing was that he was all right. Rocco said he’d done something really stupid.

Kristina asked why Ric had to talk to Alexis about his car crash, and Ric said he’d taken a hard look his own life and wanted to build on getting along with Alexis. Alexis said she’d always do what was best for her daughters, and Ric fake hugged her. Kristina said, before they left, they should get something straight about the car crash.

Emma told Josslyn that Dalton engaged in certain unethical and illegal practices in his research at her other school. He’d been testing on mammals, and they’d decided to get proof by breaking in. Before they could, they got caught and expelled and Emma had to sign an NDA. Anna was the only other one who knew. She told Josslyn not to fall for Dalton’s good guy Aussie thing, and Josslyn asked why Dalton hadn’t been exposed by the school, but Emma didn’t know. She thought maybe it was embarrassing and incriminating and that he was doing the same thing at PCU, which was why she wanted to be his assistant. She needed to be the one to prove it.

Kristina said Ric’s accident helped her understand how important he was to Molly, and she had to honor that. Ric said Kristina was important to Molly too, and Kristina said she had to let go of her anger at both Ric and Ava. The anger had been eating at her, and she couldn’t live her life that way. She wanted to make peace. Ric thanked her and Ava said Ric’s accident had turned into an unexpected gift that kept on giving.

Chase said he was glad Brook told him about the baby, but it was hard for him to make Dante see how out of line he was about Lulu when he couldn’t tell him why. Still, he agreed with Tracy that it was Brook’s choice to tell who she wanted. Brook said it was a relief not to carry the secret by herself anymore. Cody came by and told them about Rocco being in the hospital.

Rocco told Laura that he and Danny thought it would be fun to crash a college party, but it was just weird. He didn’t know anyone or know what to say. He didn’t want to ditch Danny even though he wanted to leave. He was drinking a spiked punch, and some guys asked him to play a drinking game with them. He didn’t want to look more pathetic than he already did, so he played and lost track of what he was drinking. Laura said she remembered what it was like to be young and find yourself in a situation where you were over your head. She’d made mistakes and angered her parents, but they always forgave her – eventually. He was lucky to have parents like she had.

Dante screamed some more at Lois, and she said he was blaming Gio for something that wasn’t his fault. Fully gaslighted, Gio said it was all on him and he was sorry. He took off, and Dante insulted the parenting Gio had been given. Lois said, at least Gio was there. Where was Dante when his son needed him?

Kristina wanted to talk to Alexis, when Molly came home. Alexis said she didn’t think the Drew thing was going to blow over soon and asked if the girls could put their anger at her aside for Scout’s sake.

Vaughn was worried that Josslyn lacked the discipline to put the mission first, but Jack said Vaughn’s job was to support her.

Emma wondered, why the NDA? and Josslyn said it was suspicious. Dalton had to know people were on to him, so maybe he was legit at PCU. Emma thought he’d picked up where he left off, when Josslyn got a text and had to leave. She said someone would stop Dalton, and Emma said, damn right she would.

Chase thanked Cody for helping and Cody left him and Brook to their date night.

Lois said Dante was taking his guilt out on Gio. Most college kids would have left Rocco to sleep it off on the beach. Gio may have made a mistake, but he tried. Dante said all they had was Gio’s word that he didn’t know Rocco was drinking, and Lois asked if he had evidence or witnesses. Gio wasn’t like that, and Dante should know. Dante had a good heart, so how could he not recognize the same good heart in Gio? She said, shame on you, and left. Dante asked if Lulu thought he was being unfair, and she said she thought he was terrified, but had gone too far.

Ric and Ava went to the Brown Dog, where Ava produced her black card. Cody ordered at the bar and asked to start a tab, giving the bartender his regular, measly card.

Alexis said, Drew was completely out of control, and Molly asked if she thought he needed to be committed. (Ouch!)

Josslyn went to Jack’s office and found Vaughn there. She said she thought the mission went well, and he said the objective had been achieved. She said she wished she would have gotten the flash drive back quicker, but she still accomplished the goal. He said he’d seen her talking to Emma afterward and wondered if she was assuaging her conscience, but she said she didn’t bail on the job and never would. She was glad she’d talked to Emma who knew more than she’d thought.

Gio found Emma at the beach, and he told her about Rocco. He said Cody had realized Rocco needed to go to the hospital and now Dante thought he was the one who gave Rocco alcohol. Emma joked that everything about Gio screamed bad influence. Dante should know better. Gio blamed himself again.

On the phone, Lois told Gloria about Dante screeching at Gio and said, if he only knew.

Dante told Lulu that Lois and Gloria had always intervened, and Gio never learned responsibility. Lulu sarcastically said, being a classical musician took no discipline, and Dante said, Gio had lost his mom when he was 12 and never knew his father. He was never called on anything because Lois and Gloria would swoop in when they thought the others were being too hard on him. Lulu asked if Brook swooped in too, and Dante said, Brook was a softie with all the kids.

Alexis wished Molly and Kristina would understand why she did what she did, and Kristina said she wanted to move forward. They’d already lost so much, she couldn’t lose Alexis. Alexis was her mother and Kristina loved her, but what she did wasn’t okay. Alexis said she was just concerned, and Kristina wondered why Alexis didn’t ask her about it. Alexis said she’d made a mistake and was sorry, and Kristina said she understood and appreciated the apology. Molly suggested they have breakfast together in the morning for Scout’s sake.

Vaughn said Dalton was working on something he wasn’t disclosing at PCU, and Josslyn said, illegal animal testing. Jack came back and said, another reason he wanted Josslyn to get the assistant position was because he didn’t want Anna near Dalton. She couldn’t know anything, or she’d get in the way. Vaughn said Josslyn needed to focus on getting the job, and she asked what Jack wanted her to do when she got it.

Gio told Emma that he blamed himself for not calling 911. Dante refused to believe he didn’t give Rocco alcohol because that was the kind of person Dante thought he was.

Laura told Rocco that kids died from alcohol poisoning, and she expected there would be consequences. He said it couldn’t be worse than how he felt right now. He was never going to drink again. Laura said they all made promises like that after their first hangover (yep), but she’d settle for him waiting until he was 21. He said he’d still be grounded by then, his parents were so mad, and she said it was because they loved him. So did she. He said, even when he was an idiot? when Lulu walked in and said, even then. Dante followed her in, and Rocco said he was sorry he’d scared them.

Jack said they had reason to believe Dalton was working on a new technology with global implications, and Josslyn wondered if it was a biological weapon. Jack said she could let them know when she got in the lab. They might not be the only interested party, so look out for Dalton talking to or partnering with someone else. Josslyn wondered why they didn’t just arrest him, but Jack said they wanted him to finish his research. The WSB wanted his technology, not just his theories. Vaughn would still be on as her handler and was getting a job in the facilities department. Josslyn laughed and said he’d be a janitor, but Jack said his job was to help her. It was her op. Don’t screw it up. And if she saw Dalton talking to Anna again, he needed to know asap.

Molly said it would take Kristina time to forgive Alexis, and it would take her time too. She went upstairs and Alexis looked at the paperwork from Ric and Ava.

The bartender gave Cody Ava’s black card by mistake, and Cody said it wasn’t his. He’d never seen a card like that. The bartender said they didn’t get many around there. It had a very high limit. Cody watched as he returned it to Ava. Lois came in and Brook said that Cody told them Rocco would be fine. She asked why Lois was a mess and Lois said Dante had been tearing into Gio, blaming him, and accusing him of giving Rocco the booze. He’d said, if Cody hadn’t come by, Gio would have let Rocco die. Chase said Dante was overreacting, but he was Rocco’s father, and he couldn’t blame him. Lois said she could absolutely blame him. Gio took it to heart, defended Dante, and blamed himself. Brook said he’d get over it and wondered why it was upsetting Lois so much.

Emma said Dante was just wrong. Gio had helped her when he didn’t even like her. He’d never let anything bad happen to anyone. She thought Dante would apologize when he calmed down, but Gio said he thought Dante finally told him what he really thought of him. Now he knew Dante didn’t respect him at all.

Lulu walked Laura out to the hallway and wondered if this was payback for all her bad choices. Laura said Rocco would be fine, and Lulu said, but he was still grounded. Laura said, spoken like a true mother.

Rocco said he knew what he did was stupid and would be mad too if he was Dante. Dante said he was angry, but mostly glad Rocco was okay. He promised his love for Rocco would always be stronger than any anger he had. Rocco was his son, and he loved him. He’d never turn his back on him. Lulu watched through the window, then told her phone that she needed to find out where Lois was when Gio was born.

Thursday:

Nina sat at the MetroCourt bar, when Portia called and told her to look at the news. Drew was holding a press conference where he pretended to be an upstanding guy who was set up.

Jordan saw Curtis at the MetroCourt, and they talked about Drew. Curtis wasn’t sure how Drew was going to bounce back. Meanwhile, Drew said he’d stop at nothing to clear his name, along with his bestest pal Willow at his side. Nina sighed.

Lucas walked with Elizabeth down the hospital hallway, when they saw Brad wearing fancy new duds.

Sasha asked Danny to help her clean up the kitchen, and he asked if she was going to pretend that she didn’t know what he’d done to Rocco.

Making a house call, Isaiah was pleased with Sonny’s progress. He told Sonny to stay on his meds, avoid stress, and he’d be good as new in no time. Dante came by and immediately got annoyed with Jason, saying that Jason’s son almost got Rocco killed last night. He told Jason that Danny left Rocco at the PCU party and Rocco ended up in a situation that could have killed him. Jason didn’t supervise Danny enough and he blamed Jason more than Danny. Isaiah reminded Dante not to stress out Sonny. (Good luck with that. Dante is on an idiot roll.)

Sasha said she’d heard about what happened, and Danny said he could handle everyone being mad, but not the disappointment. Gio wound up getting involved and he felt like a jerk. Sasha said if he didn’t, he’d really be one. We had to hold ourselves accountable when we did something wrong, but we all made mistakes. If someone said they didn’t, they were lying or a psychopath. Making a mistake didn’t make you a bad person.

Brad said he was making some changes and, Lucas said his outfit made a statement. Brad said he was headed to HR because he was leaving town. He left and Lucas wondered, what the hell just happened?

Curtis joined Nina and she asked if he’d seen the press conference. Willow was right there supporting her man. It wasn’t supposed to be like this.

Jordan, Tracy, Sidwell, and Marco sat at a nearby table, and Sidwell introduced Marco to Tracy. Tracy wondered how much Drew’s PR faceplant had hurt their collective effort to get rid of Sonny.

Isaiah left, and Sonny asked if Dante was going to be okay. Dante said he’d never been that scared in all his life.

Sasha told Danny, based on her mistake experience, when you made a mistake it wasn’t about the apology. An apology was a big part of taking accountability, but what mattered was what you did going forward. Danny said nothing like this would ever happen again, and she said it couldn’t. You had to own your mistakes, take accountability, do better, and be better. Unless you went for the other option; believe you dodged a bullet and pretend like nothing happened.

Brad went to see Portia, who told him to get lost. He handed in his resignation, saying there was nothing left for him there and he was starting fresh. She’d have to find someone else to do her dirty work.

Nina told Curtis that Willow was supposed to know better and have more self-respect. Not blindly follow a man who paraded a prostitute around town and ended the night doing body shots off her. Willow found them in bed together, but still insisted on believing Drew.

Sidwell acted like it was no big deal, and Jordan said the general public would shortly move on to the next scandal. She wanted to discuss the location of the esplanade, but Tracy wanted to discuss getting rid of Sonny. Marco said that wouldn’t happen until they got serious

Sonny wondered how Rocco and Danny were at a college party, and Dante said he canceled plans for the Woodchucks game on them. He should have been supervising them. Sonny said Dante couldn’t predict everything, and Dante said Danny was a great kid, but reckless at heart. Sam had to set boundaries to keep him safe, but Jason didn’t. It was on him, and he had to make sure Rocco didn’t hang out with Danny anymore. Their relationship wasn’t worth it if his son died. Gio was untrustworthy and making things worse.

Danny said he cared about Rocco and would never pretend like nothing happened. Sasha asked what would happen the next time something seemed fun, but also dangerous and stupid, and Danny said he’d have to think about it differently. Sasha said it was a challenge to make better choices, but that’s how you made amends. Jason listened in, and Sasha said she thought Danny would learn from this. She hoped Danny was around to teach her baby the things he’d learned.

Portia said if Brad quit, he was done and not to think about blackmailing her again. Brad said blackmail was no longer in his future, but something told him it was still in hers.

Willow found Elizabeth sitting in the waiting area, and said they missed her. Portia texted Willow wanting to see her and she left. Isaiah came out of the elevator and Elizabeth wondered where he’d been hiding.

Curtis told Nina that Drew released the test results and ketamine had been in his system. Nina said he wouldn’t be the first to indulge, but Curtis said he’d never seen Drew use drugs or drink in excess. Drew had a lot of enemies, and he wouldn’t be surprised if Drew had been set up.

Tracy said she was deadly serious, but Marco said he saw an uncoordinated social media effort that hadn’t broken through to voters. They needed to get better organized. Sonny was loved by the common man and a philanthropist. Tracy said he was a crime lord, but Marco said the race was closer than she thought. Drew joined them all pleased with himself.

Jason said he got Danny’s text and Sasha made herself scarce. Danny said he took Rocco to a PCU party, and it was all his fault Rocco almost died from alcohol poisoning.

Elizabeth said Isaiah had flaked on dinner three times, but he was forgiven. She and Lucky thought he was spending time with a mystery woman. He said, hypothetically, if he was seeing someone, they’d chosen their job over him, and she said, hypothetically, maybe he shouldn’t give up on them just yet.

Portia asked how Willow was doing, and Willow said it was all a big misunderstanding. Portia asked if the police found any other evidence, and Willow said Drew was set up and he was going to prove it.

Drew told Tracy that he was the victim of a crime and the woman he was with was a person of interest. Tracy said, apparently, the drink Drew had with her was the first of many. She didn’t know it was a prelude to a bender that would tank their efforts. Drew said he’d been targeted and the person behind it would be brought to justice.

Nina wondered what the meeting was all about, and Curtis said they had one thing in common. Nina said, to take down Sonny.

Dante told Sonny that Gio had been at the party and got Rocco back to the Quartermaines, leaving him in the boathouse with a bucket. If Cody hadn’t shown up, Rocco could have died. Danny was the one who wanted to go to the party, but Gio had made a bad decision. Sonny suggested Dante put himself back when he was Gio’s age. Maybe Gio thought Rocco just needed to sleep it off. Dante said Sonny sounded like Lois.

Portia wanted to speak to Willow as a friend. She could understand Willow’s loyalty to Drew, but thought it might shade how she perceived things. Willow said she was fine with her choices, and Portia asked her to look at everything with her eyes wide open.

Drew said nothing had changed, and Tracy laughed, saying he’d been publicly disgraced. Drew said he’d be exonerated and have the person he loved by his side. He left and Tracy said he had a lot of hubris, but Jordan said that might be exactly what they needed.

Willow expected Isaiah to tell her that she was crazy for sticking by Drew like everyone else had, and he said he thought she was stressed, not crazy. He’d seen the news, but had no opinion. Willow said Drew was innocent, and Isaiah said, good for her in trusting her own gut.

Jason said Rocco would be okay, and Danny was relieved. Danny said he’d gotten distracted and caught up in the party, and Jason said brothers looked out for each other. Danny said Rocco only went because of him, but if he’d known Rocco was drinking, he would have stopped him. Jason said allowing the situation to get out of control could never happen again, and Danny promised it wouldn’t. He had to take responsibility and make things right with his brother. Jason believed Danny could make good choices, but he was still responsible for Danny and took it seriously. They would check in with each other at 9 pm every night from now on. He believed in and trusted Danny, and knew he could do better.

Curtis told Nina that it had been a mistake putting the referendum on the ballot. Sidwell was trying to take over the piers and Tracy had hated Sonny for years. Nina said Drew hated Sonny and Jason, but despite everything she was still Team Sonny. She noticed Curtis left out Jordan and wondered where he stood with his ex and Sonny.

Jordan said the public loved a comeback story and it might be the key in taking down Sonny. Sidwell said, to be continued, as he and Jordan had another stop to make.

Dante told Sonny that Lois defended Gio non-stop. He knew Gio was a good kid, but needed to be held accountable. He should have called. Sonny said Dante was looking for somebody to blame. The kids had made mistakes because they were kids. Olivia said Dante screwed up all the time as a kid. With kids, you couldn’t protect them 100% of the time and had to accept that. Dante said his son almost died and he didn’t know what he’d do if he’d lost his son. He couldn’t take it.

Brad met with Drew and asked if Drew didn’t just want to take Portia down, and Drew said he was going to, but on his time. There would be plenty of destruction to go around.

Curtis said he believed Jordan chose the wrong side, and Nina wondered where it left Sonny. Curtis said he was going to give Drew the opposite of what he wanted, and Aurora would support Laura, endorse her as mayor, and encourage voters to oppose Measure C. They were backing Sonny by default in opposing Drew.

Drew went to Portia’s office and said she was supposed to keep him in the loop about anything that Curtis printed that would negatively affect him. She said Drew had generated the headlines and she didn’t have the power to tell Curtis what to print. Drew said maybe she thought he’d disappear, but he wasn’t done with her. She had to get Curtis to give him more favorable coverage. He still had evidence that would cost her medical license and her marriage. He wanted Curtis to endorse Ezra Boyle for mayor and voting yes on Measure C. Her husband was going to help him take down Sonny.

Willow told Isaiah she’d had her doubts about Drew, but went with him to have his blood tested. He had ketamine in his system, and she believed him that he’d been drugged. Now she needed a judge to believe it too. If Drew couldn’t exonerate himself and prove he was drugged, it would be bad for her divorce and custody fight. She could lose her kids.

Lucas said, whatever blackmail Brad had over Portia was over, and Elizabeth wondered if they should keep pursuing it. Lucas said a handsome stranger had sidelined him, and she said their main concern had been Portia being vulnerable to Brad. He said, whatever Brad had on her was leaving with him, and noticed Brad at the elevator. He went over and asked if Brad was really leaving. Brad said he figured it was time to move on since he had no reason to stay, and Lucas said a fresh start would be good for both of them. Brad said the whole world was open to whatever he wanted, and Lucas told him, good luck. Brad said, him too, and the elevator doors closed.

Jason told Danny that his Uncle AJ wasn’t much older when he started drinking heavily. It cost AJ, it cost Jason, and it cost his family so much. He didn’t want that for Danny and told him to be careful. He screwed up, but Rocco was okay. Danny should learn from it and don’t do it again. Danny said he wouldn’t, when Dante came in. (I heaved a huge Jason-like sigh.) Danny told Dante that he was sorry for everything, and Jason asked for minute with Dante. Danny left, and Jason said he understood Danny made a huge mistake, but it wouldn’t happen again. Dante said Rocco had nearly been killed, and Jason said he’d talked to Danny and Danny got it. Dante said, when Sam had caught him drinking in the park, she’d talked to him, but maybe talking wasn’t enough. Rocco almost died and Danny could be charged with accessory to manslaughter. (Maybe I’m wrong, but I think Rocco would have to be dead for that.)

Tracy asked where Marco’s dad was going, but Marco said he didn’t know. His dad let him know when there was something he should be aware of. She said she’d been resistant to doing business with Sidwell, and her reservation still stood. She asked Marco to give his father a message. If he helped her get rid of Sonny, all of Port Charles would be open to him, and she’d personally make sure he got the key.

Sonny’s guard told him that he had visitors, and Jordan and Sidwell came in. Jordan asked if they could have a moment of Sonny’s time, and Sidwell said he was quite certain they could make it worth Sonny’s while.

🫔 Friday’s Enchilada…

Outside Miller and Davis, Brook says she’s feeling really nervous. What about Chase? He says he’s nervous, but just accepting it, and she says she feels like she’s going to crawl out of her skin. Suzanne tells them that Alexis is ready to see them and asks if they need anything. Water or coffee? Brook asks if they have herbal tea, and Suzanne says she can run out and get some, but Brook says, never mind. Suzanne says, it’s fine. Who needs a lunch hour? She tells Alexis that Mr. and Mrs. Chase are here (I get confused for a moment, forgetting that Chase is actually Chase’s last name), and Alexis thanks her. Suzanne leaves, and Alexis says she was surprised to see them on her calendar. What can she do for them? Brook says, they want to adopt a child.

On the phone, Lulu said she’s looking for the history of L&B Records and their clients. They represented Miguel Morez… They’re kidding. Is there any chance he was touring on the dates she asked about?… She hears the door and says, sorry. She has to go. She’ll call back. She goes to the door and finds Danny, who asks if Rocco is here. He really needs to talk to him. Lulu says, he’s upstairs, but first they need get some things straight before he sees her son.

Jason asks if Dante is threatening to charge Danny with manslaughter, but Dante says, no. (And I’m still wondering how manslaughter can be charged when no one died, but okay.) He’s trying to get Jason to understand that what happened last night could have ruined Danny’s life, all because Jason wasn’t paying enough attention to him.

Willow goes into an exam room and says she needs to take Sasha’s vitals before Sasha sees the doctor. Sasha says, no offense, but she’d prefer another nurse, and Willow says she’s the mother of Michael’s children and Sasha is about to be the mother of Jason’s child. That makes them family. They can continue to hate each other or accept that they’re going to be in each other’s lives whether they like it or not.

Curtis finds Tracy at the MetroCourt and asks if she has a minute. She says, actually, she has two, starting now. Curtis sits down and says he couldn’t help but notice her meeting with Sidwell, Drew, and Jordan. She says, he was was wondering why she was working with someone she loathes, and he says he guesses they were talking about taking down Sonny, but why does she want to help take Laura down too?

Portia says, Curtis will never turn his back on Mayor Collins, but Drew says she’s got to find a way. He’s been incredibly patient so far, and so far his patience has gotten him very little. She says she’s done everything he’s asked her to do. She supported him when he announced his Pediatric Sports Initiative (🍷) campaign and Aurora gave him positive coverage, but there’s a limit. If Curtis is pushed too hard, he’ll get suspicious. He says, then she’ll have to step up her game. He doesn’t care how. He needs to find a way drive Sonny Corinthos out of Port Charles.

Sonny says, whatever Sidwell is selling, he’s not buying, but Sidwell says, actually, it’s the other way around. Sonny says he’s not selling the piers, but Jordan says she thinks he needs to hear them out.

Dante tells Jason that he’s tried to understand both sides. He gets why Sam was worried about him spending time with Danny. He wants to be Danny’s friend, and he gets that Jason did that when Sam was here. But they’ve all got to be aware… they should be aware – Lois walks in – that Danny’s got enough friends and doesn’t need Jason to be his friend. He needs Jason to be his father. Lois asks, what’s going on? and Jason says he guesses Dante is letting him know what he thinks of him as a father. Dante says, which isn’t much, and leaves.

Lulu says, Danny needs to tell her everything that happened last night at the party, and Danny says, going to the party was his idea. He convinced Rocco to go. He thought it would be fun. They got there and they met people. Lulu says, and they were both drinking? and Danny says, yeah. He was playing volleyball and lost track of Rocco. He didn’t realize how much Rocco had to drink. It was all his fault, not Rocco’s. He should have paid closer attention. He was really a bad brother, and it will never happen again. She says, they were incredibly lucky it turned out the way it did and wants Danny to remember that. Danny says he will, and she says, good. She calls for Rocco to come downstairs, and Rocco comes down carrying a bucket and rags. Danny says he’s so sorry for what happened at the party, and Lulu asks, how sorry? Rocco is cleaning the entire house and could really use some help.

Sasha asks if Willow is trying to use her child to smooth things over with her, but Willow says, not at all. She’d like to start over and bury the hatchet. Sasha says, because they’re family. For that to be true, Willow would have to act like Wiley and Amelia are Michael’s kids. Willow says she was always clear that Michael was their dad, and Sasha asks, when was the last time Michael laid eyes on his kids? Willow says, Kristina… but Sasha says, not Kristina – you. What is Willow doing to keep their dad in their lives while he’s recovering from nearly being burned to death? Willow says she flew to Germany for the kids’ sake, but Michael refused to see her.

Tracy says, Laura is a capable, smart woman and can take care of herself, and Curtis agrees, but he’s concerned about his friend. Ned comes to the table and says he’s meeting someone and he’s early, and Tracy says, by all means, join them. Ned says he’d love to, and sits down. She says she was telling Curtis why she’s chosen to support Drew on one issue and one issue only – Sonny Corinthos, and Ned says, here we go. Tracy says, Sonny has been a blight on this town and their family, as every Quartermaine can attest, and Ned says, yes, Sonny’s done terrible things to their family. No one would disagree, yet he’s not sure teaming up with another blight – Drew – is the answer. Curtis says, or Jenz Sidwell. They know little about him, and evidence suggests he did questionable things in Africa. If she opens the door to Sidwell, who knows what kind of things he’d do to their family.   

Sonny says he respects the former Commissioner enough to listen to her, but Jordan says he may not like her answers. Sidwell says, consideration is all they’re asking, and Sonny says he thought Jordan would keep better company. Jordan says she joined Sidwell’s company as COO and she’s excited about it. He’s a very efficient businessman with an amazing vision for Port Charles. Sonny says he’s not interested in Sidwell’s vision, and Sidwell says, even if what he’s planning is to Sonny’s advantage? Sonny says, Sidwell wants to make a deal? and Sidwell says, yes, to their mutual advantage. Sonny says, tell him exactly why he should want to help Sidwell.

Lois tells Jason that Dante is coming from a place of pain and not to let it get to him. Jason says, Dante told him that he was terrible father, and she says she knows, but she was with Dante when he got the call from Cody to come to the hospital. It was like watching a building fall on someone. Jason is a dad and knows what that kind of phone call would be like. Rocco will be fine, but Dante knows they could have lost him and he’s throwing blame everywhere. He attacked Gio, even though he knows Gio isn’t at fault. Jason says, attack seems to be Dante’s default position, and she says, it is now, but Dante knows he can’t go after Danny, so he’s coming after Jason. Jason says he can handle it. He’s just not sure Dante is wrong about him. Lois asks what he means, and he says he missed a lot of Danny’s childhood for all kinds of reasons, not all of them his fault. The bottom line is, he wasn’t there, and Dante was. She says, everyone knows he loves Danny, and he says, very much. But Danny was able to sneak out because he was off with Sonny. Dante was right. He let his son down.

Portia says, Drew doesn’t understand what he’s asking, but Drew says he actually does. He wants the best for Port Charles and thinks they both agree the city would be safer without Sonny Corinthos. Her own daughter was hurt because of Sonny’s violence. If there was no Sonny, there would have been no Cyrus (not sure how he figures that), and she and Trina wouldn’t have had to deal with that nightmare. He’s sure Trina still has scars from it. She says, he’s not using her daughter to manipulate her, but he says he’s telling her what she already knows. Once Curtis stops trying to tear him down, they can concentrate on what they both know is the right thing for Port Charles.

Lulu tells Rocco and Danny, don’t forget the gutters. The last owner never cleaned them, so they’re going be pretty special. She goes inside, and Rocco says, sorry Danny got stuck, but Danny says, it’s the least he can do. He’s really sorry about the party. Rocco says, it’s not his fault. Danny didn’t make him drink the punch or do shots. That’s all on him. Danny says he’s the one who got them both in trouble. They went to the party together, even though he knew Rocco felt weird. He should have made sure they stayed together. Rocco says, Danny came looking for him and helped him make it home. He can do better and from now on he will. Lulu comes out and says she has an appointment to get to. Can she trust the two of them to stay alone and not get into trouble? Rocco says, absolutely, and she says she expects the front and back porch to be so clean you can eat off of them, including the windows. The kitchen also needs cleaning. Can they handle that, or does she need to stick around and supervise? Rocco says she can trust them, and she says, because if they screw up, it’s back to square one with the trust thing. Understand? They both say, yes, and she says, good. She gives Rocco a kiss and leaves. Danny says, the back porch too?

Willow tells Sasha that everyone thinks she’s a terrible mom. Meanwhile, she flies all the way to Baden-Baden and Michael couldn’t be bothered to talk to her about a custody arrangement. But that doesn’t matter. She’s still the bad guy. Sasha says, Willow paid Michael back. She’s sure he saw Drew’s ridiculous press conference and saw her standing there holding hands with that sleaze after the photos of him doing body shots with some woman. What’s wrong with her? She should have more self-respect. Willow says, Drew was drugged, but Sasha says, only Willow believes that, and she believes it because she has to. Willow says, no one tells her what to believe, but Sasha says, people have, and Willow fell right in line when they did. Willow tore her life apart for Drew and if she had to admit she did the wrong thing for the wrong guy, she’d fall into a thousand pieces. She’s sorry, but Drew is the wrong guy. Willow says she tried to salvage their relationship for the kids, but obviously it was a mistake. She’ll send in another nurse. She leaves.

Sidwell says, their meeting was supposed to be about building the esplanade, but thanks to Ezra Boyle and Drew Cain, it became a referendum on Sonny. Sonny says, so he heard. He’s trying not to get his feelings hurt. Sidwell says, a fight would be time consuming and costly and Sonny could still lose the property to eminent domain. Jordan says, and it will still cause more negative publicity to fall on Mayor Collins. Considering how close she and Sonny are, is that something he wants to do? Sonny asks, so what are they proposing? and Sidwell says, Sonny can circumvent the democratic process and make a fortune while he’s at it. Sell the piers to him.

Curtis says, Tracy doesn’t have to take his word for it, but he doesn’t trust Sidwell. And he feels Ezra Boyle would be a terrible thing for Port Charles. Sonny is a known entity and what you see is what you get. Tracy agrees Boyle is a bottom feeder and would be terrible for Port Charles, and Ned says, in his own way, Sonny is – Tracy says, a criminalcivic minded. Curtis says he has his own issues with Sonny as well, but they need to think long and hard about joining forces with Sidwell. He has to go. It was nice seeing them both. He leaves, and Tracy says, good God. If one more person tells her that Sonny Corinthos is good for Port Charles, she’s going to lose her mind. Don’t start. Ned says he wouldn’t dream of defending Sonny. Besides, there are so many better things to talk about, like Brook and Chase having a meeting with Alexis today. They’re discussing adopting a child. Tracy says, Alexis? Isn’t that a little claustrophobic? Ned says, who better to help his daughter? and she says, to each his own. So how does he feel about becoming a grandfather? He says he’s still wrapping his brain around it. How did she feel about becoming a grandmother? She says she was sure she’d hate it and she really does.  

Brook says they wanted to talk to a lawyer. They need an expert to go through the options and make sure nothing goes wrong from a legal perspective. Alexis says, to be honest, adoption is quite complicated. There are a lot of factors involved. Brook says, before they get their hopes up, can they discuss the things that would disqualify people from becoming adoptive parents? Alexis says, like what? and Brook says, like if she had a baby in the past and gave it up.

Brook tells Alexis that she gave her baby up for adoption. The adoption was sealed and she never made an effort to find her child, who’s a legal adult by now and who never made an effort to find her either. Alexis asks if she’s worried that her previous pregnancy could be held against her, and Brook says she’s terrified it will disqualify them. Alexis says, it’s no secret that she, too, was pregnant as a teenager and gave up her daughter Sam for adoption. Everyone’s circumstances are special to them, but she wants Brook to know she’s pretty sure she knows how Brook feels. She’s also happy to tell them that agencies typically focus on the adoptive parents’ current situation, not the past. Chase says, great. They want to start a family and they’re ready to be parents. If he’s half the dad his dad was, he’ll be happy. Alexis says, Gregory would be happy to hear him say that, and Brook says she feels the same way. Her childhood was untraditional, but filled with the kind of love she wants to give their child.

Ned asks what Tracy means, she hates being a grandmother. She loves it. She’s finally the undisputed boss. Tracy says she’s always been the boss. She just worked behind the scenes. Now she’s out in front, trying to protect the family and her efforts are completely unappreciated. Ned asks what she’s talking about, and she says she heard him railing around about her helping to oust Sonny. He says he’s on her side, but she says, if that was true, he’d stand up to Lois, Brook, and Olivia when they gather to worship at the altar of Sonny Corinthos. He says he learned a long time ago, when it comes to Sonny, he and Lois agree to disagree. And with Olivia, he knew he’d get himself involved in a parental relationship, but no one has asked him to ignore the fact that Sonny is a mobster. Tracy says she’s asking him, her beloved firstborn, to help her campaign. Yes on Measure C and no on Sonny Corinthos. He says, she’s already bankrolling it. Why does she need his help? She says, money’s not the only thing that talks. Sonny has the current mayor on his side, and she has him. A former mayor’s endorsement means something to people. He says, her phone is on vibrate, and she says, it’s Lucy Coe. Lucy’s sole motivation in life is annoying her. She has to take it, but he has a decision to make – mom or the mob. She leaves.

Lois says, if Jason is talking about spending more time with his son, she’s all for it, but if he’s doing it because of what Dante said, don’t. Dante is too close to the situation to put what happened in perspective. Jason says he understands how Dante feels, and she says, they all do. What happened was serious and they all need to put the fear of God into Danny and Rocco and make sure it never happens again. Jason agrees and says, they’re way too young to be drinking. Lois says, Rocco also looks up to Danny and Danny needs to realize he can’t lead Rocco around by the nose. Jason says he didn’t know that was happening. He guesses he should have. She says, he gives Danny a lot of latitude. Danny knows he can count on Jason. He’s really a great dad. Jason thanks her for saying that, but Danny needs him, and in order for that to happen, he has to make changes.  

Rocco says, even after all this, his parents are going to be watching every move they make, when Dante comes in. He says he sees Lulu put them to work and asks where she is. Rocco says, she had an appointment and said if they weren’t done with the cleaning when she got back, it would be bad. Dante asks if they need help, and Rocco says, really? Dante says, they missed a spot. Does that help? Rocco says they need more soap, and Danny leaves to get it. Rocco tells Dante that he knows he shouldn’t be asking for any favors, but please don’t unload on Danny when he comes back. It will make Rocco feel even guiltier because Dante is blaming everyone but him. He’s not a kid. No one poured the alcohol down his throat. He did it himself. Danny comes back, and Dante says, both of them know they messed up. He knows they’re kids and that’s what kids do. That’s what he did, but when he was a kid, he was an only child. When he messed up, it was only him. They’re brothers, so when they do stupid stuff, brothers suffer the consequences with their brothers. Remember going forward that whatever happens, good or bad, they’ll always have each other. (Aww! I’m glad Dante is done with his tirade now.)

Portia says, there’s no way she can convince Curtis to do what Drew wants. He’s not going to change his position on the mayor, Measure C, or Drew. Drew tells her not to sell herself short. He’s seen what a skillful operator she can be, and they had a deal. He would not expose her if she helped him, but she’s just been stringing him along. She says, that’s not true, and he says, she made nice with the documentary team and stood next to him up there, but she’s done nothing substantial. Don’t think he hasn’t noticed. She says she’s doing the best she can, but he says she’s barely scratched the surface of what she can do. He believes in her. He leaves.

Sidwell says he’s willing to pay a premium price for the docks, significant enough to get even Sonny’s attention, and Sonny says, what about Measure C? Sidwell could buy them only to lose them to eminent domain. He won’t be able to recoup his losses unless he uses his new COO and her city hall connections to make sure he holds onto the piers. Jordan says, the mayor put Measure C on the ballot for a reason. She wants the people to decide on the future of the waterfront. The only person who can remove it from the ballot is Mayor Collins herself and she’s not going to do that. Sonny clutches and Sidwell asks if he’s all right. Sonny says he’s just bored. When he gets bored, he gets agita. Let’s wrap this up. Sidwell says he’s a gambling man. He always has been and he’s willing to bet once the piers aren’t owned by Sonny, the referendum will be purely about the esplanade and not what some people term Sonny’s unsavory business ventures. The good people of Port Charles will agree and vote to keep the esplanade built at the original location. Sonny says, it’s a risky bet, and Sidwell agrees it’s risky, but the risk is all his. For Sonny, it’s a win-win. He’ll get paid substantially more than market value for the piers and escape the whole political mess. Jordan says, and his name will no longer be associated with Mayor Collins.  

Sasha finds Jason and says she’s glad he’s here. They need to talk. He asks if everything is okay with the baby, and she says, everything is good. The doctor said the baby’s heart is good and there’s movement. Although she didn’t need the doctor to tell her that. This little thing is doing backflips. That’s not what they need to talk about. It’s Michael. Does Jason know Willow went to visit him in Germany? Jason says he told her to go. He thought they should have a face-to-face conversation about the custody situation. Sasha says, it didn’t happen, and he says he’s not surprised Willow backed out, but she says, Willow went. She flew all the way to Germany, but Michael refused to see her.  

Ned meets Lulu at the MetroCourt and says he’s curious as to why Lulu wanted to see him. Lulu says she’s reaching out on her mom’s behalf. She doesn’t know Lulu is doing it. Drew and Boyle’s campaign is gaining ground thanks to his mother. Because of her involvement, Lulu’s mom is going to lose her chances for reelection and her mom is a damn good mayor. Losing her would be a tragedy. He says, Boyle is a bum, and he thinks her mom is doing a terrific job, and she says, as a former mayor who still has influence with the voters, would he consider endorsing her mother? He says, of course (🍷). He plans on voting a split ticket – yes for her mother and no for Sonny. She thanks him and says she appreciates it. Anything she can do for him, ask. He says, actually, there is one thing. Could she break the news to his mother?

Willow sees Curtis at the hospital and says she wants to thank him. When that horrible story was published in The Herald, it was picked up by The Invader and spread on social media, but not by Aurora. He says, Aurora did cover it, and she says, they covered the facts. They didn’t publish those awful photos and that disgusting video. He says, they’re not a tabloid, and she says, they were completely fair to Drew. She can’t tell him how much that means. He says, objectivity is good for business, and they don’t want to seem bias, and she says, that’s what journalism is supposed to be. Drew was drugged. Are they going to publish an article about that? Curtis says they’re going to print a statement, but not take a position, and she asks what he means. He says, ketamine is a party drug. Whatever anyone thinks privately, they only have Drew’s word that he didn’t take it voluntarily. She says, Drew would never take ketamine on purpose, and he says he’s aware of her position on the matter and will keep it in mind, but Aurora will report unbiased and objectively. He asks her to excuse him and leaves.

Lois goes to Lulu’s house and says, the boys did an amazing job. Rocco says he knows she drove his dad to the hospital and thanks her for being there. Danny says they’re sorry for what happened, and she says she’s sure they are. Just don’t scare them like that again. They love them both too much. Rocco says he’d do anything to take back what happened, but since he can’t, he wants to make up for it. Danny says him too. Is there any more cleaning that needs to be done? Dante says, they’ve done enough. Take a break. Go, before he changes his mind. They leave, and Dante says, listen… He was out of line. Lois tells him that she shouldn’t have said anything.

Lulu says she guesses she could tell Tracy, but Ned says, as much as he’d love to farm out that particular conversation, he has to do it himself. She says, good, and he says, nothing is better at creating family friction than a political discussion. She says, when he was mayor, she bets he wished he was still on the road with The Idle Rich, and he says, all the time. Those were the days. She says she bets and asks when he stopped touring. He says, years ago, and she asks if Lois continued to manage him. He says, she did, but Miguel Morez was her main focus. He was the big money maker. She says, he was huge back then, and he says, Lois was on the road with him all the time. She saw the world with Miguel. Lulu says, it sounds amazing, but how did Brook handle being away from her mom so much? He says, obviously, Brook missed her, but he thinks she loved staying with Carmine and Gloria. When Brook got older, Lois took her out of high school to go on tour with her.

Alexis says, most prospective parents work with an agency or possibly a private adoption. An adoption can be opened or closed. These days, birth parents have a choice. Brook says she didn’t know that, and Alexis says, things have evolved. Some parents want no contact after they’ve given up a baby for adoption and some want to leave the door open for a possible relationship in the future. Either way, both are protected by a legal adoption and the adoptive parents always have full custody. Brook says they’d prefer a closed adoption. They’re definitely planning on telling their child later, but feel a relationship with the birth parents could be confusing. Alexis says she thinks it’s a good idea to set boundaries before they start, and Brook asks how soon they’ll be able to adopt. Alexis says, it’s hard to say. She knows some good private adoption attorneys and will reach out to them and see if they have any pregnant clients who want to give their child up for adoption. But she warns them, the process takes a while. It’s unpredictable and they’ll feel like they’re not in much control over anything. Prepare to be patient and know the process takes a long time.

Drew finds Willow at the hospital and she says she didn’t expect to see him here. He asks if she’ll get into trouble since she’s on the clock, but she says she wouldn’t care if she did. She’s glad to see him. It’s been a tough day. He says he’s sorry to hear that and they hug. Something in his coat pocket pokes her and she says, ow!

Curtis tells Portia, despite everything, Willow is still standing by Drew. It’s crazy. One of his editors is doing a write-up on ketamine and its popularity as a recreational party drug, noting Drew did nothing to prove he didn’t take it himself. Another black mark on the man’s character. Portia says, what if Drew is telling the truth? So far, Aurora hasn’t commented on the scandal. Maybe it should stay that way. Curtis says, it almost sounds like she wants him to back off Drew.

Drew hands Willow a vial and says, open it. She says, what is it? and he says his doctor gave it to him. It’s a vitamin infusion to help get his immune system back on track. That’s why he came to the hospital.

Dante tells Lois that he was scared about Rocco, got angry, and lashed out. He’s sorry. Lois says she never should have stuck her nose where it didn’t belong. She said a couple of things she shouldn’t have. He’s a great father to Rocco. He thanks her and says he knows Gio did what he felt was right given the information he had at the time. Lois says, Gio would never hurt anyone on purpose. He would have taken Rocco to the hospital if he’d known that’s what he was supposed to do. That’s the kind of good kid he is. Dante says, he’s never going to lack defenders with her and Gloria around.

Lulu says, going on tour must have been exciting, and Ned says, Brook loved it. Lois went on a huge international tour and Brook tagged along on the North American leg. She says, Brook must have been gone a long time, and he says, she missed five months of her senior year. His phone rings, and he steps away to take it. Tracy approaches the table and asks what Lulu is up to.  

Suzanne comes back with the herbal tea, but Brook and Chase are gone. She tells Alexis, Mr. Sidwell is outside. He doesn’t have an appointment. Alexis says, he never does. Send him in. Sidwell comes in and Alexis says she told him that she didn’t want the dagger, but he says, it’s hers. Dispose of it as she sees fit. He’s here because he needs her to draw up a contract. He’s about to make a very large real estate purchase.

Jason walks into Sonny’s and says, Paul told him that Sidwell was here with Jordan Ashford. Sonny says, Sidwell wants to buy the piers. He’s going to deal with all the riffraff. Jason says, Sonny’s not going to do it, is he? but Sonny says, maybe he is.

On Monday, Emma says, something is really wrong here; Curtis asks why Portia is defending Drew, and she says, because she has to; Jordan thinks Laura is in big trouble; and Sonny says, for their family’s sake, he’s not passing it up.

All the Soap News Fit To Print…

I loved that scene too.

https://people.com/stephen-a-smith-reacts-to-going-viral-for-general-hospital-scene-exclusive-11731374

First Monica, now Lesley. Are we going to pretend she’s not dead too?

💉 A Dose Of Reality…

Below Deck Down Under

Admittedly, I paid zero attention to this show this week.

The Valley

Jax rage texted everyone from rehab, begging the question, why do they allow phones? The Valleyites are another group who give offside commentary when two friends or a couple are trying to discuss something privately, like they do on Summer House. I get a debrief afterward, but sideline analysis is just weird. And intrusive. Kristen organized a healing/gratitude ceremony (ha-ha-ha!), and Brittany suggested passing a joint would be more productive. I concurred. When they went around the circle describing a beautiful moment in their lives, Jesse said he’d pass as he sniffled. Dude is such a drama queen.

Summer House

Since I never totally pay attention, I never noticed this one headboard made out of a huge piece of driftwood. All the others are the standard quilted thing, and this is like a piece of art. Since I’m sure something like that costs a fortune, I’m thinking about a DIY, but it will probably never get past the thought stage. Jesse and Lexi were back together again, and Ciara was over the both of them. Bye, boy, and Felicia. Kyle wondered who ate muffins, then marveled at his eating a whole one, but I asked, who eats less than a whole muffin?

Random Reality Items

Housewives updates – the vague, the doubtful, and the new.

The next season in the south, sans JT.

Now here’s something I can get behind. I’ve missed the Shahs and their mountains of wonderful Persian-ness.

👀 Weekend Watch…

Another Simple Favor. Amazon Prime. Silly, fun, and enjoyable, if not a little complex. The characters of Emily and Stephanie return for mayhem in Capri, along with the usual filling in the blanks with flashbacks necessary for a sequel. While I thought it was a fun sort of female buddy movie with more twists and turns than a ride at Disneyworld, I have to agree it doesn’t compare with A Simple Favor. The original was a smartly comical whodunit, while this was plain outlandish, throwing everything against the wall to see if it sticks. I didn’t hate that, and magnificent fashion never makes me mad. While it perhaps went too far at times, if another favor is needed, I’ll watch that one too.

https://screenanarchy.com/2025/05/another-simple-favor-review.html

That hat was crazy big.

https://people.com/about-blake-lively-sunhat-another-simple-favor-11725260

Don’t Blink aka Last Stop (2014). Amazon Prime. A group of friends vacationing at a lodge arrives to find nobody home and it looks like they left in a hurry. Not having enough gas to get back to town, the group has to stay, and one by one begin disappearing. It’s got a good cast and wasn’t awful, but I wasn’t thrilled with the ending. It also felt reminiscent of a TV movie, albeit a high quality one. A better choice in a similar vein would be the unfortunately named Reeker, one of my favorites.

Peninsula. Netflix. Set four years after Train to Busan, this is a sort of sequel, but not really. Even though it’s during the same zombie apocalypse, it’s a standalone story with different characters. This time, a soldier has taken the job of helping to get a truck of money (why money would be important in this world is beyond me) behind enemy lines. Once again, the point is, the enemy is us. While there’s nothing new about that, the zombie action scenes kicked ass and I wasn’t sorry I watched it.

https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/train-to-busan-presents-peninsula-2020

Dead City. AMC/AMC+. Don’t watch this back to back with The Last of Us or you will get confused.

https://collider.com/the-walking-dead-dead-city-season-2-premiere-recap/

Does anyone really go by these scores anyway?

https://www.cbr.com/the-walking-dead-dead-city-score-rotten-tomatoes-season-2/

🎩 Tailored to Perfection…

Fashion at the Met Gala.

https://ew.com/met-gala-2025-red-carpet-photos-11727880

https://ew.com/met-gala-best-and-worst-theme-looks-11727174

https://extratv.com/photos/image_jpg_20250506_19cf109c1f044b86a204e8eddaca8b61/

🐩 The Better Gala…

Recreating the look.

https://nypost.com/2025/05/03/us-news/nyc-dogs-are-recreating-celebs-met-gala-looks-at-this-years-pet-gala/

https://www.vogue.com/slideshow/pet-gala-nyc-2025

Puppy on the red carpet.

It’s not a party without Pilaf.

https://pagesix.com/2025/05/07/style/demi-moores-dog-pilaf-wears-adorable-matching-met-gala-2025-look/

🐄 Quotes of the Week

I’m convinced of this: Good done anywhere is good done everywhere. For a change, start by speaking to people rather than walking by them like they’re stones that don’t matter. As long as you’re breathing, it’s never too late to do some good. – Maya Angelou

Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can. – Arthur Ashe

I believe that one of life’s greatest risks is never daring to risk.Oprah Winfrey

Decisions are made by those who show up. – President Jed Bartlett

Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future. – John F. Kennedy

He looks big in his little shorts. – Paige Desorbo referring to Kyle Cooke, Summer House

🪟 The Music Of Open Windows…

Until next time, stay safe; stay not disturbing springtime wildlife nests; and stay cleaning your gutters before they become special.

And a Happy Mother’s Day to all mothers, mother figures, and pet moms!

May 2, 2025 – GH Weekdays, Brook Tells Tracy Everything, A Soap Bubble, This Week In Reality, Weekend Watch, Pending Awards, New Dead, Outside the Usual, An Eight-Spot of Quotes & Month

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

🥢 Weekday Bites…

Monday:

Alexis asked where Kristina got the papers, and Molly said she got her files mixed up with Diane’s and went to Kristina with it. Alexis wanted to explain, but Kristina said obviously Alexis thought she was crazy and needed to be committed.

Anna found Felicia at the hospital and asked why she wasn’t dressed to go out. Felicia said there had been a slight change in plans.

At the Savoy, Curtis saw Trina with Kai, and said it was a big night. Trina said Kai’s surgery was coming up tomorrow, and Kai said he wanted to celebrate. He asked to speak to Curtis, and Trina stepped away. Kai said he owed Curtis an apology.

As Josslyn walked down the street, someone grabbed her from behind. Vaughn asked if she was already rusty.

On the phone, Carly said she was happy too… No complications… The doctor says he’ll make a full recovery… Sonny is going to be fine.

The shady nurse got a syringe ready to plunge into Sonny, when Sonny opened his eyes. They looked at each other and she smiled. Sonny went back to sleep, and as she was about to inject his IV, Brick walked in. He said he was sorry to interrupt, but he needed to see some ID.

At Bobbie’s, Sonny sat at the counter and asked for a menu. Mike turned around and said it was good to see him. He missed Sonny. They hugged and Sonny said he couldn’t believe it had been five years, and Mike said, time flies when you’re having fun. Sonny asked if this meant he didn’t make it through surgery and… Mike said, he’s dead? No. The surgery was a complete success. Sonny asked how he was there, and Mike said Sonny had been sedated pretty good, and he’d seen an opportunity to visit… if that was okay. Sonny said he could visit any time, and Mike said he tried to show up when he was needed. Sonny said there was something he wanted to talk about. Mike was right about all of it.

Alexis said the last thing she wanted was to commit Kristina, but Kristina said the papers suggested otherwise. Alexis said she didn’t sign or file them. She’d changed her mind and realized she couldn’t do it. Molly asked, then why draw up the papers? and Alexis said she appreciated Molly’s support for her sister, but needed to speak to Kristina alone. Kristina and Molly said, no, in unison, and Molly said Kristina wanted her there. She wasn’t going to abandon her. Kristina said Alexis had prayed for them to stick together and anything Alexis had to say, she could say in front of Molly too.

Josslyn said she thought this was a meeting, not an al fresco training drill, and Vaughn said he had to keep her on her toes. She asked, what if the cops had seen him? and he suggested he was an overly affectionate boyfriend. Josslyn said, in his dreams, and he asked what her problem was. She said she’d spent the entire night catching up in Dalton’s class. He asked if she’d made any progress on getting the research assistant position, and she said she was doing everything she could, but the competition was stiff.

Trina said she was glad Emma had come out to join them, and Emma asked how she and Kai were doing. Trina said, for the most part, things were great. Did Emma know Kai was having surgery? Emma said it was an experimental thing that would give him the potential to play football again, and Trina said, or it could go very wrong.

Kai said he’d asked for Curtis’s advice, then did the opposite. He valued Curtis’s opinion and hoped he wasn’t offended. Curtis said Kai had been under no obligation to take his advice and he admired Kai thinking for himself and pursuing his dreams. He wished Kai nothing but the best and prayed it all worked out.

Tracy asked if Gio was registered to vote in Port Charles, and Gio said he was registered in Bensonhurst. She said he needed to rectify that so he could vote for Laura Collins for mayor. And while he was at it, vote yes on the Measure C proposal to put the McConkey esplanade on Piers 55 and 56. He said those were his Uncle Sonny’s piers, and she said she knew they were on opposite sides in regard to his benefactor. She gave him a tablet and told him to read the website. He’d think twice about supporting Sonny.

Brick said, ID now, and shady nurse said, of course (🍷). Instead, she pulled out a gun, but Brick was faster and shot her with silencer. She slumped across the bed and Brick got on the phone. He said, yeah… Got a body here you guys might be interested in.

Anna hoped Felicia wasn’t backing out on having drinks with Jordan. She’d been looking forward to it. Felicia said, so had she. She was just going to be late. She was waiting on authorization from a patient’s insurance company. They couldn’t move forward until it was resolved. The minute it was, she’d put her party clothes on and come to the Savoy. Plus, the Nurses Ball was soon, and they were going to rock the red carpet in all their glory. She told Anna to go ahead, but Anna said if Felicia didn’t get the authorization in the next 15 minutes, she’d go.

Jordan got a text from Anna saying: Felicia and I are running late.

Emma said she got that Trina was worried, but it sounded like Kai’s mind was made up. Trina said, 100%, and Emma said she had to stay positive for him. He was lucky to have her by his side. Trina was great at her protest. Trina said, that reminded her. She’d run into ADA Turner, who had a bunch of questions about why Emma was expelled. Emma asked what Trina told her, and Trina said, nothing. She didn’t know anything, but thought Emma should know. Emma asked if Trina had any idea why the ADA was interested, and Trina said she got the feeling it was less about Emma and more about grandmother. Professor Dalton came by and said he hoped he wasn’t interrupting. He wanted to say hello. (Is he a creeper too?)

Curtis asked what brought Jordan to The Savoy, and she said she was meeting Felicia and Anna for drinks, and they were running late. Curtis asked if he could keep her company, and she said that would be great. She needed to give him a heads up. There was a new development where she and Drew were concerned, and she wanted him to hear it from her.

Brad brought a humongous folder to Portia’s office and said it was Drew’s entire medical history since he’d arrived in Port Charles, including the Jake Doe files. He didn’t know what she was looking for, but there was nothing scandalous. She said she was sure it would still come in handy still have another assignment for him.

Carly walked into Sonny’s room and said, oh my God. Brick told her to keep her voice down. Sonny was fine. She said she wasn’t fine. What the hell happened? Brick said they’d had a little situation.

Felicia said Anna and Emma seemed to get along better, and Anna said they’d had some nice heart to hearts lately. She practically had to force the details out of Emma, but she gained insight on her granddaughter and her sudden transfer to PCU. Bottom line, Emma had been involved in something reckless that could have resulted in a horrible outcome. She’d said it was in the name of protecting animal rights, but she didn’t think Emma looked before she leapt and got in over her head. She blamed Robert. Felicia said she wouldn’t argue with that, especially since he wasn’t there. Anna said she’d realized Emma was still the granddaughter she knew and loved, and Felicia asked if she was willing to cut Emma some slack. Anna said she was still going to keep a close eye on her.  

Emma introduced Dalton to Trina, and he asked for a word with Emma. She said, of course (🍷), and they went over to the bar. Dalton asked how her extra credit was going, and she said she’d been working on it for weeks and was almost done. He said it was needed to be considered to the research assistant position, and she said she hoped he’d be impressed. He said he did too.

Vaughn said the whole mission hinged on her securing a spot close enough to Dalton to gain his trust, and Josslyn said she was trying. Besides having to catch up in the class, there were three other applicants already. He asked if she was saying she couldn’t do it, and she said she couldn’t just snap her fingers and become Dalton’s assistant. He told her to do something to make herself stand out, so when the time came for him to choose, she’d be the first and only student Dalton considered.

Gio said the website was a total hit piece and painted his Uncle Sonny as a ruthless criminal mastermind, but Tracy said she thought Ezra Boyle’s PR firm nailed it. She was working with a committee whose common goal was to devest Sonny of his waterfront property. Gio asked, why? and she said, without it, Sonny couldn’t do business, and she wasn’t talking about his coffee business.

Sonny told Mike that he should have gotten out a long time ago. They used to fight about it and he should have listened. Mike said, why? He hung Sonny out to dry for years, then swooped in and told him how to live his life. That’s the reason he was living that life. Sonny said, nobody told him what to do, but Mike said he’d put Sonny on the path to begin with. Sonny said he should have listened, but he was stubborn, and Mike said, he was young. Sonny said, Mike was right, and he should admit he was wrong, and Mike asked, why the change of heart? Sonny said he’d been thinking about getting out for a while, and Mike asked, what drove it home? Sonny said, what happened to Michael, and Mike said he was sorry about that. He wished he could help. Sonny said it wasn’t Mike’s job, and it was his fault, and Mike said he knew Sonny wanted to beat himself up. Sonny said, someone came after him and Michael paid the price. It wasn’t the first time someone he loved was caught in the crossfire, and it was the second time for Michael. It was going to be the last. This had to be the last time.

Carly asked how Brick knew something was going on. He was headed for Dubai. Brick said he was leaving and saw a drop of blood in front of the supply closet. He looked inside and found a woman in her underwear. She was breathing and he called a nurse, then went to Sonny’s room and found the woman. Carly said, she would have killed Sonny if Brick hadn’t shown up. He saved Sonny’s life. They hugged.

Molly asked, why commitment? and Alexis said none of them could deny how difficult this year had been. Molly said, but why now? and Kristina said she’d been doing better. Alexis said she noticed Kristina’s progress when they had girls’ night and changed her mind, and Kristina said Alexis did it without talking to her. It was like something out of a horror film. Now, when she was finally stable and grounded, Alexis went behind her back. Alexis said Kristina left her no choice.

Gio asked why Tracy was going after Sonny, and she said she’d lived in Port Charles longer than he had and seen the violence and crime Sonny brought to the city and her family. He said, Sonny did good things for other people and had been nothing but great to him. She said she hoped that was always the case. Sonny was a dangerous man, and if you were in his life, you were exposed to danger. She didn’t want that for him. He asked what she thought would happen, and she said she didn’t know, but she knew Sonny took advantage of the people who trusted him. If you were pulled into Sonny’s world, you either ended up in prison or in the ground. It would devastate her if that happened to him.

Felicia looked at her tablet and told Anna the insurance wanted more forms. Anna should definitely go, and she’d do her best to catch up. Have a cocktail for her. Anna said Felicia could count on it and left.

Emma told Dalton that she’d been fascinated by today’s lecture, when she received a text from Gio: Need you at the Qs. ASAP. She told Dalton that she had to run and left.

Vaughn said Dalton was going to be at The Savoy, and Josslyn asked what he wanted to know. He said, who Dalton talks to and what are his interests besides physics. Just be smooth. The last thing they needed was for anyone to figure out what she’s up to. She said smooth was her middle name, and left.

Portia said Brad needed to get her some ketamine, and he said he didn’t know that’s how she rolled. She said it wasn’t for her, and he asked if it was for Congressman Cutthroat. Portia said, please, just do what she asked, and he said he could get fired. She said, don’t get caught. If he didn’t do what she asked, he’d get fired. Brad said their new arrangement sucked, and she told him, better pucker up then. She opened the door, and he left.

Jordan said, to be an effective COO, she had to bury the hatchet with Drew, and Curtis asked if they were friends again. She said, yes, and she’d likely be helping to further Drew’s agenda, to which he and Curtis were on opposite sides.

Kai said Curtis was nice about him not taking his advice. He was lucky to have Curtis in his corner, and luckier to have Trina. He knew she wasn’t all in about him having surgery. Trina said she was all in for him achieving his dreams, and he said the surgery was going to work. Even if it didn’t, he’d know he did everything he could to get back on the field.

Molly said, Alexis was blaming Kristina? and Alexis said Kristina wasn’t doing as well as Molly thought. Kristina said she was standing right there. What did Alexis mean? Alexis said Kristina had a difficult year. She’d lost the baby, post-partum, Sam, then Michael. Anyone could crack under the strain. Molly said, Kristina hadn’t and was still standing, and Alexis said she sensed Kristina was covering. She was saying the right things, but not feeling them. She thought if Kristina had to work that hard at putting on a façade, she could break. That’s what happened when she tried to cover up her alcoholism. Kristina said Alexis never asked her if she needed help, and Alexis said she knew Kristina would refuse and push her away. Molly said, this is better? and Alexis said Kristina would be in a place where she could be honest and up front about her feelings. She was trying to protect Kristina. Kristina said because she was a danger to herself and society, and walked out.

Sonny told Mike that he couldn’t find a way out and keep his family safe, and Mike asked, what were the options? Sonny said, if he disappeared, it would be like Nixon Falls and his family would be in even more danger. Mike asked if Jason could take over, but Sonny said, Jason was out too. Mike said he was sorry. He wished he had the answer, but have faith. He knew Sonny would find a way. Sonny said, if he stepped back, he’d be thought of as vulnerable. If he showed more strength and went in deeper, he’d need to find a solution, or his family would never know what it was like to live in true peace. Mike put his hands on Sonny’s shoulders.

At The Savoy, Anna sat next to Dalton at the bar. N’neka brought him a continental sour, and Anna said it used to be her favorite. Dalton ordered another one for his friend, and she asked if that’s what they were. He said, here’s hoping.

Brad put a vial of ketamine on Portia’s desk and asked if there were any other crimes she wanted him to commit. She said he wouldn’t be in this position if he hadn’t blackmailed her to begin with. Lose the attitude. He left and Portia called Nina. She said she’d gotten what they needed… Of course (🍷) she had reservations, but Drew left them no choice.

Curtis said he understood Jordan’s delicate position and admired her taking down Sidwell. She said if Drew and Sidwell did anything that would negatively impact him, she’d try to let him know, but he told her not to jeopardize herself. His main concern was that she stayed safe.

Jack said he’d heard about the attempt on Sonny’s life, and Carly asked if Brick called Jack for back-up. Brick said he called the WSB, and Jack said he was already in the LA office for a west coast meeting. The Bureau would take it from here. Brick asked if Carly was good, and she said, because of him, and hugged him. He said he’d do anything for Sonny and her, and left. She asked Jack if no one knew anything had happened and he said that was precisely why he was here. She hugged him and said she was relieved and grateful, and he said he felt the same way Brick did – anything for her.

Mike said he let Sonny save himself his whole life, but even when Sonny was furious with him, he saved him. When Sonny was Donna and Avery’s age, he dropped out of Sonny’s life. He surrendered to the choices he made, but Sonny not only lived his, he triumphed over them. He knew in his heart that Sonny would find a way to protect his family… their family.

Kristina went to Adela/Irene’s grave and said she missed Adela every day. Mama messed up this time. Something really bad. She tried to kill Ava, and doing so, she hurt Ric and Elizabeth, the kindest soul ever… Molly would never forgive her if she found out. They were finally in a good place and like sisters again. She didn’t want to lose that, but their mom had misinterpreted her guilt and thought she’d lost it. She didn’t know. Maybe she had.

Alexis said she thought she was helping Kristina, but Molly said she wasn’t. Kristina had been her rock since her dad’s accident and didn’t act like she was falling apart. Alexis was doing what she’d done Kristina’s entire life. In order to protect Kristina, Alexis undercut her and it didn’t help. It did the opposite. Alexis said she’d made a mistake and hadn’t filed the papers, but Molly said the only thing that mattered was that she’d had them drawn up in the first place. Molly snatched up the papers and left.

Alexis’s assistant Suzanne brought in a box and told Alexis it had just been delivered. She left and Alexis opened the box. She took out a note and read: Despite the intriguing history, it didn’t feel right keeping a family heirloom. It’s better in your hands. She opened the box inside and took out the dagger.

Molly said she thought she’d find Kristina at the cemetery, and said she was sorry. Kristina thanked Molly for having her back, and Molly touched the gravestone. She said they were all that was left. They might need to work on some things, but they were sisters. They didn’t have Sam and didn’t have their baby girl, but they had each other. Did Kristina know how important that made her? Kristina said she did, and Molly took her hand and said, me and you, forever. Kristina said, me and you, forever.  

Curtis said the new job suited Jordan, and she said it was like old times. He said, be careful, and she promised she would.

Kai told Trina there was one thing he hadn’t told her about the surgery. Drew was having it documented and hired a camera crew. She asked how he felt, and he said, a little weird, but to be honest, he felt like he had to say yes. It was a small price to pay considering. She said, to everything going his way, and he said he could definitely toast to that. 

Dalton introduced himself to Anna and said, judging from her accent, she wasn’t from around there. She said she’d lived in Port Charles a long time. Him? He said he’d moved there in January and took a teaching gig at PCU. Anna said her granddaughter went there, and he said it was a bit of a change, since he’d moved from California. Josslyn came in and saw them together.

Gio brought Emma to Tracy and said Emma had earned Tracy’s respect when she’d defended the crypt. Tracy said she owed Emma a debt of gratitude, and Gio said he hoped Emma could talk her out of her plans. Tell Emma what she was planning on doing to Uncle Sonny.

Carly asked if the west coast meeting was planned before or after Jack knew she was coming to LA, and he said, both. He’d been putting off being there and when he found out she would be, he pulled the trigger. He hoped he could take her out to dinner, and it may have been an excuse to check up on her. On the off chance something happened with Sonny’s surgery, he didn’t want her to be alone. She asked if anyone ever told him that he was extra thoughtful, and he said, not as often as she’d think. She said sometimes words weren’t enough. Actions mattered the most.

Mike said, speaking of families, Sonny had to get back to his, but Sonny said they had a lot more catching up. Mike said they had time. Until then, know he was always with Sonny. Sonny said he loved Mike and promised to try and be the man Mike saw when Mike looked at him. Mike said he already was. He always had been. They hugged and Sonny woke up. He said, thank you, dad, when the door opened. Carly said he was awake. Thank God. How was he feeling? He said he was still out of it, but all right. Was everything okay? She said he missed a lot.  

Tuesday:

Anna said, so Danton transferred to PCU from the Bay area. Why did he come there? He said they had the funds for his research, and he couldn’t pass it up, and she asked what he taught. He said, environmental sciences, and Anna said she had a feeling it was something like that.

Gio asked what his Uncle Sonny did that was so bad, and Tracy said Sonny had been a plague on their family for decades. Jason walked in and she said, exhibit A.

Lucas congratulated Marco for officially landing the job. He thought it was a good time to move on to the getting-to-know-you phase of the date. Marco said he knew what Lucas was getting at. He’d heard more about Marco’s dad. That’s not what he wanted to do on their date. Sidwell and Lucy walked in.

Cody met Lulu at The Savoy and apologized for being late. He’d been kicked by a horse. She said they could have done it another night, but he said he was happy for a reason to leave the stables. Aside from hanging out with Dante, his social calendar wasn’t booked.

Curtis said he was glad Jordan came out and wouldn’t ask any more questions about her new job. He always cared about her safety, and truth had a way of coming out.

Nina called Portia and said she had the ketamine and had the trap set. They just had to decide when and where Drew would be lured into it. Drew walked into Portia’s office and said they needed to talk, and Portia said she’d call Nina back. She said Drew couldn’t just barge in. She had a job she had to do. He said, unless she did what he told her, she’d be fired anyway. Did he need to remind her that he held her career and her relationship in his hands? Both were hanging by a thread.

Nina thanked Jacinda for coming on short notice, and Jacinda said, money talks. Nina said, as long as Jacinda didn’t. This needed to stay between them. Jacinda said, discretion was a given in her line of work, and Nina took out the ketamine. She said, here’s what they were using to drug Drew Cain.

Lulu asked Cody to let her buy him a beer, but he said he needed to get her a drink for giving him something fun to do.

Curtis said it sounded like Jordan was on her own and it wasn’t a small-time operation. Going after international criminals like Sidwell was another league. Jordan said he was looking at it the wrong way. It wasn’t whether she could handle Sidwell, but whether Sidwell could handle her.

Lucas said he hated to be the bearer of not so good news, but Marco’s dad just walked in, and Marco said he guessed they were doing this. Sidwell came over to their table and said, what a lovely surprise. He introduced Lucy to Marco, and Lucy said his name sounded familiar. She thought she’d emailed him some paperwork when his father purchased Windymere. Marco said Lucy had a good memory, and Sidwell said Marco was one of his many attorneys and happened to be his son. He just moved to Port Charles. Lucy welcomed him and said Port Charles had lovely, amazing people, and obviously, Marco had good taste like his father. Lucas said, good seeing her, and Sidwell told them to have a good evening. They left and Lucas said they couldn’t have asked for a better segue. Now they had to talk about their dads.

Dalton asked how a lady so beautiful could get a job like that, and Anna thanked him and said it was a long story. He said he had nowhere else he needed to be, but Anna said she had a rare night off. The last thing she wanted to talk about was work. He said he understood and asked what she wanted to talk about, as Josslyn watched them.

Tracy said she was just about to tell Gio and Emma about the suffering Sonny had wrought on the family, and Jason asked, what prompted it this time? Gio said that Tracy was supporting the campaign to steal the piers from Sonny, and Emma said they were trying to talk her out of voting for it. Jason said, good luck, and Emma told Tracy, please don’t. Tracy had said she owed Emma for saving the crypt. Tracy said she did owe Emma and was grateful Drew… There’s an idea. Gio asked what she meant.

Drew asked how many times Portia thought she could fail before he pulled the plug on their little arrangement, but Portia said it wasn’t easy to convince Curtis to change course about anything, especially when it came to Drew. She’d tried repeatedly. He said, that was why she had to pivot. Get Curtis to go after Sonny. He wanted to get Aurora to his Sonny with every media outlet. The referendum on the esplanade location was really a referendum on Sonny. They were going to yank him away from the waterfront and maybe even Port Charles. She said, Curtis and Laura were good friends and Laura supported Sonny. Curtis wasn’t going to go against Sonny that way. Drew suggested she reframe it. Sonny almost got Trina killed. She said he wanted her to use their daughter against Sonny? and he said he wanted to get results, or he would expose her secret. She said she’d try, but needed time, which he said was in short supply. His phone rang and Tracy said she needed to speak to him on a matter of their mutual interest. She could assure him it was of the utmost importance to him. He said, the PC Grill in a half hour, and she said fine. He told Portia that he wanted her to press Curtis again about Sonny and she had a week to make it happen. If she didn’t, he’d go to Curtis and tell him everything he knew.

Gio said Tracy was working with Drew, the man who nearly bulldozed her parents’ grave? They hated each other. She may not like Sonny, but he’d seen the good Sonny had done for the city. She said if Sonny was no more than the man he saw, she’d be fine with it, but he wasn’t. She wasn’t taking the risk of him harming anybody else in the family, including Gio. She was sure Jason was about to embark on telling some heroic and heartwarming stories, but don’t forget to tell them what Sonny did to his brother.

Jacinda said, ketamine was dangerous, and asked Nina where it was sourced. Nina said it was 100% clean, pharmacy grade. Jacinda would have to take her word for it. Jacinda said, she’d take it from here then, and Nina said, as soon as they heard back from Portia. She wanted to Drew to have a night he never remembered and a night everyone in Port Charles would never forget.

Portia joined Curtis and Jordan, and Anna told Dalton it looked like her plans had been canceled. It was just as well. She could use the sleep. He asked if he could interest her in showing him around town, but she said tour guide wasn’t in her job description. He said, how about giving him her phone number so he could take her out to dinner or coffee? but she said Port Charles wasn’t as big as it seemed. She was sure they’d run into one another somewhere. She left and Dalton asked for his tab. Josslyn sat next to him and introduced herself, and he said, the latecomer.

Lucas told Marco that Tony Jones was his adoptive father, but the one he was talking to Marco about was Julian Jerome, his biological father. Marco said he didn’t know Lucas was adopted, and Lucas said it was a long story. His adoptive parents were amazing and made sure he had a loving home and a loving extended family. When he found out about his biological parents, that family got bigger. Marco asked how Lucas’s parents reacted to him coming out, and Lucas said his dad was fine with it. His mom took a couple of minutes, but looking back, it wasn’t the judgement thing. He thought she was worried that she didn’t know how to protect him. Ultimately, she was his fiercest supporter. Was Marco comfortable sharing more of his experience? Marco said his dad accepted him with no problem. His mom couldn’t and still can’t. The only downside of living in Port Charles was that she lived here. Last year, she made headlines with her homophobic rant against his sister who happened to be gay as well and it went viral. Lucas asked who his sister was, and Marco said she was a singer. Her stage name was Blaze. Lucas said, his mother is Natalia Ramirez?

Emma told Gio that she wished she could stay, but she had to meet her grandmother. He said he appreciated her coming, and she said she was dying to know what she meant about Sonny and Jason’s brother. Gio said he was going to ask Jason when he came back, and she said she hoped that chatterbox told him something. Text if he found out anything. She left and Jason came back. Gio said, obviously, Tracy had a grudge and was angry when she was talking about Jason’s brother. What did Uncle Sonny do to him? If Jason didn’t tell him, he’d find someone who would. Jason said Sonny killed his brother.  

Tracy said she was bringing Drew an opportunity. For once, they had a common goal, to rip the piers out of Sonny’s hands and take the criminal element elsewhere. Drew said it would be waging public war, but he could make that happen. What was the proposal? She said, to join forces. If they put their differences aside and rid Port Charles of Sonny, it would send a powerful message. Together, they were unbeatable. Drew said he couldn’t argue with that, but he didn’t come cheap. Tracy laughed and said she didn’t expect he would. Name his price. Drew said, the Quartermaine name.

Portia told Nina that Drew just left for the Port Charles Grill and Nina said everything was set. Jacinda was here and knew what to do. She was sending her over now. Nina told Jacinda that if everything worked according to plan, she’d see her for the final payment, and Jacinda said, then she’d leave town and go far away from there. Nina said, exactly. And no one would ever know what really happened.

Cody asked what was new, and Lulu said her job as Brook’s assistant didn’t work out. He said, shocking turn of events, and Lulu said she still needed a job, so she decided to go back to her roots – journalism. She hadn’t done it for a while, obviously, but she loved it. She pitched some ideas to the Llanview Banner and got the green light on one. He asked what she was writing about, the abundance of handsome men in Port Charles? She said, weirdly, they didn’t pick that one. They picked the adoption story. Cody said it was a subject near and not so dear to his heart.

Curtis said Jordan did an amazing job as Deputy Mayor and Police Commissioner. He had no doubt she’d excel in her new job. She was always happiest undercover… He wasn’t saying that’s what she was doing. He was just making an observation. She said her life felt stagnant. When she caught the guy in Isaiah’s hospital room, chased him down the stairwell, and took him down, she felt alive again.

Lucy said Sidwell’s son was as handsome and charming as he was. It must feel incredible to have him in town. Sidwell said he did, and Lucy said she couldn’t believe Natalia never mentioned she had a son. She did not know Natalia at all.

Marco said his parents divorced when he was young and his father was barely around, so he didn’t have much of a relationship with him. Lucas asked if he and his mom were close then, and Marco said, very close. She was incredibly strong. She remarried and had Allison and things were great. He thought he could tell her anything Lucas said, until he came out, and Marco said, exactly. He was just a teenager, and she had a look on her face he’d never forget.

Dalton said Josslyn was facing an uphill battle after coming into the class late, and she said she had to work hard to a catch up, but it was worth it. He said he’d seen how engaged she was, and she wasn’t afraid to participate, and she said she was very into the class, but she wanted to make a strong impression. She wanted the summer research position. He said he didn’t think that was going to happen.

Portia met with Nina, who said Jacinda was on her way to the PC Grill. Was Portia sure the ketamine couldn’t be traced back? Portia said, absolutely. The less Nina knew, the better. Was everything set at Drew’s place? Nina said, the kids were sleeping, and Willow wouldn’t be back until morning. Portia said, the plan came ether quickly, but it seemed to be working perfectly, and Nina said, who knew when they’d get another opening? It would break her daughter’s heart, but she had to believe that in the end, it would all be worth it.

Jacinda walked into the PC Grill, noticed where Drew was, and went to the bar. The server went to get Drew’s drink, and Tracy said she wasn’t surprised at Drew’s asking price. Drew told her that he’d never said she was stupid. She knew what the terms would be. Did they have a deal or not? The bartender put Drew’s drink on the bar and Jacinda took the ketamine out of her purse. She poured it into the drink, and the server came back to take it. Tracy said when the vote passed and Sonny was driven from their fair city, she would rescind the obstruction. The Quartermaine name would be his. By agreeing to join the family in getting the piers from Sonny, he was worthy of the name, which he’d never been able to do before. They shook hands.

Nina looked at her phone and said, Drew had the laced drink. Portia said there was no turning back now, and Nina hoped Willow would be okay. Believing he cheated was going to devastate her. Portia said, he’d given them no choice, and Nina said, after tonight, she’d have be no more problems with Drew, and believed Portia wouldn’t either. Portia said, after tonight, Drew’s reputation would be beyond repair. Even if Aurora Media kissed the ring, it wouldn’t be enough to fix it. He’d have no more use for her and would move to DC, out of their lives for good. She had to meet Curtis at The Savoy, and Nina said, after tonight, no more worries. Portia said she hoped not, and left.  

Drew told Tracy that he looked forward to taking Sonny apart piece by piece. If Carly and Jason felt the sting, that was okay too. Tracy said she had no interest in Drew’s personal vendettas, but she was gratified he was using his talents for the common good as opposed to destroying his nephew’s marriage and the family mausoleum. She left and Drew finished his drink. Jacinda came over to his table and asked if the seat across from him was free. He said, sure. This is a strong drink. She asked if he was okay, and he said he was good and getting better all the time. He asked her name, and she said, Jacinda. He asked why she came over to join him, and she said he looked like someone she’d like to get to know. He said, likewise, and she said, this place is dead. Why don’t they go somewhere livelier? He said he knew just the place and drained his glass.

Dalton said it wasn’t Josslyn’s fault. It was the timing. He’d have to give the position to someone who’d been doing the work all semester. She asked if there was anything she could do to improve her chances, and he said, keep working hard. He didn’t want to discourage her, but wanted to manage her expectations. She said, fair enough, and he asked if he could give her some advice. Do her best on the assignment, but know it wasn’t likely she was going to get the position. There were plenty of other summer jobs. She was intelligent and charming and could find a position that matched her abilities. She thanked him, he said he’d see her in class, and she left.  

Gio said he didn’t believe it, and Jason said he wasn’t in town, but Sonny walked in on AJ attacking Ava. To save Ava’s life, Sonny had to shoot AJ. Gio said, Ava, Trina’s boss, and Jason said, that was the story. The trouble was, Monica and Alan loved AJ, but it was Sonny’s story and it’s what he believes. The Quartermaines, especially Monica, questioned Sonny’s version of events and there was a difference of opinion. Gio said, if Jason wasn’t there, how did he know? and Jason said he chose to believe what Sonny told him.

Marco told Lucas that his mother’s reaction devastated him, so he reconnected with his dad, who welcomed him with open arms. If not for his father’s love and support, he doesn’t know what would have happened to him. His father was his rock. Lucas thanked him for being open and sharing, and Marco said it was good to talk to someone who understood. He suggested they switch it up and hit a club, but Lucas said, no way. He was retired from dancing. Stripping in front of the whole town for charity could do that. Marco said he wanted to hear that story on the way to the club. He was taking Lucas out of retirement.

At the café, Emma apologized for being late, and Anna said since her plans were mostly cancelled, she thought she could salvage the evening by meeting Emma. Emma said she was thrilled to be Anna’s second choice. She needed the caffeine, since she was pulling an all-nighter with her project. Anna asked if it was her environmental physics project, and Emma said, that’s the one. Anna said she met someone at The Savoy who Emma might know – Professor Dalton.

Lucy told Sidwell that she couldn’t imagine a mother rejecting a son who she loved. She was so glad the ladies at Deception learned about Natalia’s deception and fired her. Sidwell agreed and said Natalia robbed herself of a relationship with her wonderful son. He was smart, determined, and passionate about what he did. Sidwell was a man with few regrets, but missing Marco’s childhood was the biggest one. She said she liked seeing the softer side of him, and he said there were many sides to him. His brilliant son was just one of them.

Portia said Jordan and Curtis looked like they were having fun, and Curtis said he was just congratulating Jordan on her new job. Portia said, already? and Jordan said she was working with Sidwell as his COO. Curtis said, that meant she’d be working with Drew sometimes, and Portia said, congratulations. Good luck.

Marco and Lucas walked into The Savoy, and Lucas said he was having flashbacks about his Magic Milo days. Marco said they were going to have fun, when Josslyn joined them. Lucas introduced Marco and said Josslyn went to PCU. Marco said. college students knew the best clubs. Josslyn was here, so he knew they chose wisely.

Lulu said, so meeting his adoptive father made Cody’s life better? and Cody said when he met his biological father, Mac changed his life. He was one of those dads that he was jealous about his friends having. But when he saw Mac with James, he felt a twinge, like it was a glimpse into what he missed out on. He was grateful for the time now, but it hurt knowing he couldn’t get the time back. Lulu looked sad, and he asked if she was okay.

Jason said he knew how Gio was feeling. The Quartermaines warned him about Sonny too. It got so bad, he completely cut ties with the family. He went to work for Sonny and Sonny became his family. It made the Quartermaines angry. they felt Sonny took him away from them. Now he had Danny and some life experience and saw things differently. He did think Sonny had always been his friend and was genuinely supportive. Gio said that’s how he felt, and Jason said it was a decision Gio had to make for himself. Did he trust his relationship with Sonny or did he listen to everybody else?

Emma said, Professor Dalton was at The Savoy? and Anna said he shared that he’d transferred to PCU from the Bay area. Now he and Emma were both at the same school at the same time. Emma said, it was just a coincidence, but Anna said in her line of work, she didn’t believe in coincidences. The last time they talked, Emma swore she was there for a fresh start, and she was just wondering if Emma had something she wanted to tell her. Emma said, fine. She deliberately made sure she was in Professor Dalton’s class.

Drew and Jacinda came into The Savoy, and Drew looked higher than a kite with his shirt half untucked from his pants. Curtis asked what the hell was going on. Did Drew forget he’d banned him? Portia said it looked like he’d forgotten a lot of things, and Drew went into extreme PDA mode with Jacinda. Curtis said he had to stop this, but Portia said, drunk Drew was making a fool of himself. Curtis said, let him bury himself, and Drew said, a round of shots for the bar – on me, and the patrons cheered. Jordan said she didn’t know what Drew was doing, but it was going to be a disaster for her new position with Sidwell. She had to get him away from that woman and out of here.  

Emma said, Dalton’s class at her old school was too difficult to get in. When she saw his name on the list, she jumped at the opportunity. It felt like fate. Anna said she might not believe in coincidences, but that didn’t mean they don’t happen. Emma said Dalton told her that he was eager to see her data model and she had a good shot at his summer research position. Anna hugged her and said she was so proud.

Gio said he respected Tracy, but had to trust his instincts about Uncle Sonny, and Jason said, Sonny wouldn’t want him to alienate himself from the Quartermaines because Gio was defending him. He’d faced worse than Tracy and Drew or any politician trying to take the piers away. Sonny was going to be okay, but Tracy chose to align herself with Drew and had already lost.

Drew got loud and said, this was so much fun, and Cody said he knew he was right about that SOB. Lulu said, that SOB was going to land her the top story tomorrow morning, and Drew said they should do body shots. Jordan went over to Drew and said he’d had enough, but he said he felt fine. He felt happy. Jacinda said they were just having fun, and Jordan said this was a really bad idea. Drew said, did she know what a really good idea was? Body shots! It would help her to relax. He lifted Jacinda onto the bar, and she stretched out. He went behind the bar and got out a bottle. He poured a shot into her belly button and slurped it out. (Yuck.) On the phone, Portia told Nina that Drew and Jacinda had shown up, and Nina asked how it was going. Portia said, better than they’d hoped. Much better. Lulu took a photo and Drew did another shot.  

Wednesday:

Willow was headed to the house while leaving Drew a phone message. She said reporters were camped out in front and wondered what was going on. She saw a high heel, picked it up, and looked at it.

Sonny woke up and said Jack was still there. Jack said, only as long as he had to be.

Jason arrived at the hospital and asked Carly how Sonny was. She said, alive and safe, thanks to Brick.

Kai found Trina waiting at the hospital, and she said she took the day off to give him moral support. He told her that the documentary film director was coming up. He was hoping Drew was here. Trina said Drew might not be there and asked if he’d seen The Herald. Felicia joined them and asked to steal Kai so she could get him checked in and go over paperwork.

Curtis went to Laura’s office and said he assumed she’d seen The Herald, complete with Lulu’s photo footage, and she said she couldn’t wrap her head around how Drew made such a huge error in judgment. He said if he hadn’t seen it, he wouldn’t believe it. Thank goodness Lulu was there to put it on record.

Lulu thanked Alexis for agreeing to meet with her. She was doing a piece for the Llanview Banner on the experience of adoption. Alexis said she had to postpone their meeting to take care of her granddaughter. Lulu said she didn’t write the piece in The Herald, but she did forward the footage. Alexis said none of it was Lulu’s fault. The mess was Drew’s mess, and she couldn’t let Scout know what her father had done.

Nina asked if Portia had seen the video, and Portia said she wanted to put it on loop to watch when she was having a bad day. She’d been hesitant about Nina’s plan, but hiring Jacinda was pure genius.

Willow approached the bedroom and saw clothing on the floor. She found Drew in bed half naked, and Jacinda came out, buttoning up a man’s shirt. She asked if Willow’s mom had taught her to knock.

Carly told Jason that Brick had to go to Dubai, so she’d called him. Then she went to check on Sonny and Brick was there with the woman they thought was Sonny’s nurse. She’d been shot dead. If Brick had shown up five seconds later, Sonny would have been dead.

Jack told Sonny that Carly explained that Brick had killed the assassin, so he called in a few favors, ran interference, and did clean up. Sonny said he appreciated it and thanked Jack for taking over his security. Jack said it was just until Jason arrived, and he had. He wished Sonny a speedy recovery and left.

Curtis told Laura that he thought it as best for Aurora to hold back until the story was picked up elsewhere. Lulu did him a massive favor. Laura said Curtis and Drew hostility wasn’t a secret, so he’d want to avoid the appearance of bias, and Curtis said he wanted it public before he moved forward. Drew was now radioactive politically speaking. Laura said, even Ezra Boyle was keeping his distance, and Curtis said her Drew problem may have been solved by Drew himself.

Alexis said Drew was many things, but she’d never known him to be reckless, and Lulu said he was very intoxicated. Alexis said she didn’t recall ever seeing him drunk, and Lulu said she wasn’t the only witness. There were a lot people recording on their phones, and Drew and his… date were hard to ignore. Alexis said it was out of character, and Lulu said that’s why she forwarded it to The Herald to alert them that their representative wasn’t just tipsy. He was out of control.

Nina said there was no way Drew could spin the video, and Portia said he’d be too busy doing damage control to meddle in other people’s lives. Nina said Willow would be home soon and was going to be devastated, but Portia said, a little pain now would save her a ton of misery down the road. Nina had to get Drew away from her daughter and grandchildren no matter the cost.

Willow said this was her bedroom, and Jacinda said Drew told her that Willow would be away. She wouldn’t have stayed over otherwise. Don’t be hard on him. Men needed to let off steam now and then. She took her shoe out of Willow’s hand and left. Willow slammed the door and shading his eyes, Drew asked if that was her.

Laura said she longed for the days politics was about issues and criticism was based on that (me too), and Curtis said Drew had neglected his duties. She said Drew was too busy picking fights and making friends who could carry out his vendettas. Whose lives had he bettered? Nobody. She’d love to debate him on the issues and not based on one night of bad behavior. Curtis said she had to admit it revealed Drew’s true character. He was self-serving, disloyal, and hypocritical. How could he be trusted? Shed said something felt like it was a distraction, and Curtis asked if she wasn’t going to comment publicly. She said she was being criticized for the company she kept, and couldn’t do that to anyone else, and he said that’s why she’d always get his vote. Kai’s surgery was today, so he was going to the hospital to wait with Trina. On the bright side, Laura was on safer ground with the referendum. With any luck, Drew would be voted out of office. Had she considered congress?

Lulu told Alexis that she wanted to give Drew a platform to explain, but when his team reached out, they couldn’t find him. Alexis said she used to be Editor-in-Chief of The Invader, and Lulu didn’t need to apologize for anything. Drew was a congressman, not a private citizen. His constituents had a right to know how he behaved in public and who he spent time with. But someone had to keep Scout away from it and if Drew wasn’t up to the task, she had to intervene.

Felicia said a gentlemen came to the hospital and had equipment with him, and Kai said Drew had arranged to film a documentary about his surgery. He said it was an inspiring story that would help people. Since he was paying for the surgery, it was the least Kai could do. Felicia said it was more Kai’s project since Drew wasn’t there. He was the star of the show. If he wanted privacy, just signal her and she’d make it happen. She was scrappier than she looked and happy to be the bad guy. She could just say it was hospital policy. Trina came in and Felicia left. Kai asked if there was any word from Drew, and Trina said, not yet. Was he still going along with the documentary without Drew?

Jacinda told Nina and Portia that the ketamine didn’t take long to kick in. After that, it was easy to get Drew to go to the club, but what happened there was all him. Portia said, what happened after? and Jacinda said when they got home from the club, Drew passed out cold in the bedroom. She set the scene and crashed on the couch, making sure she was awake when Willow arrived. She got an eyeful. Portia asked if anyone saw her leave, but Jacinda said she slipped out the back to avoid the reporters. Nina said now was the time for her to leave, and handed Jacinda an envelope. When she got to Sydney, she was to go underground. No social media or texting. Jacinda said she was happy to leave that behind too, and if anyone tracked her to the Australian Outback, she’d tell them the truth… that Congressman Drew Cain solicited her company at the Port Charles Grill, took her to The Savoy, then back to his place where the party continued. Nina thanked her, and Jacinda said it was a pleasure doing business with them. She left, and Portia said she should go too. Kai’s surgery was today, and Drew had a documentary director filming. Nina said of course (🍷) he did. Keep her posted. Portia said she would. Nina needed to be there for Willow, who needed her now more than ever.

Drew asked, what happened? and Willow said his date just left. She couldn’t believe he did this to her. She ran out, and Drew said, wait, then grabbed his head.

Carly told Jason that Brick showed up just as the assassin was about to inject Sonny’s IV, and Jason said, but she didn’t. Brick shot her. Jack came out and Carly said she’d been filling Jason in. Jason thanked Jack and Jack said Sonny was awake. Carly left, and Jason said he’d take it from here. Jack asked if Jason knew the woman who tried to kill Sonny, and Jason said, not yet. Why? Jack said because he did.

Carly asked how Sonny was feeling, and Sonny said, could be worse. She said, good news. Jason got a red eye and was there. He said that meant she could head home. There was nothing for her to do there. She said he’d almost been killed, but he said Brick came back and the assassin was dead, not him. She said, what if they send another assassin? and he said Jason was there and nothing would happen on his watch. Carly wanted to stay, but Sonny said he didn’t need her right now, but there was somebody else who did.

Director Josh asked Portia how likely it was that Kai would play football again. The surgery was risky. She said all surgeries had some risk, especially experimental ones. Josh said some patients had been left paralyzed. Was the risk worth it? She said it was a groundbreaking procedure, and they were lucky to have Dr. Mohinder as a guest surgeon. If it was a success, Kai could continue his athletic career. As the doctor refined his technique, it could improve the lives of people everywhere. Josh asked if the risks had been discussed with Kai, and she said, all parties involved had been informed, but she had full faith in the team at General Hospital and Dr. Mohinder. She saw a bright future for Kai. 

Kai said he’d already agreed, and Josh had shot footage, but Trina said he could stop it. He asked if she meant the documentary or the surgery, and she said, the documentary. He said he thought they should continue recording the procedure, and she said she’d help him every step of the way. He said he might have an idea. Josh wanted to interview him, and he might say she’s his girlfriend. She said she liked the sound of that, and they kissed.

Looking messed up, Drew stumbled around. There was a knock at the door, and when he opened it, reporters fired questions at him. He let Alexis in and asked what was going on. She said she was here to pack a bag for Scout. Scout was staying with her.

There was a knock at Nina’s door, and she opened it to a crying (weeping?) Willow, who fell into her arms. 

Jack told Jason that the assassin was well known in the intelligence community, but was the type that usually went after political or military leaders, not Sonny. Jason said, like Soliski, and Jack said they had similar backgrounds. They’d started in intelligence and branched out to the private sector. Jason asked if Jack knew who hired her, and Jack said, the WSB was investigating. She’d been found on the dark web and paid in crypto like Soliski.

Sonny said he was grateful for the support, but their daughter needed Carly more, and she said that’s why she wanted to stay, to make sure he got home safe and sound. He said Jason was handling that. Their daughter knew her father was sick and needed mommy by her side to tell her it would be okay. She said, fine, but only because he wasn’t supposed to be stressed, and he said he’d enjoy it while he could. He was already feeling better. He thanked her for getting him through this, and she said she wouldn’t have been anywhere else.

Lulu went to Laura’s office and Laura said she’d missed her. Curtis had been singing her praises about her piece in The Herald. Lulu said it wasn’t her piece. They did give her a byline, but she only sent the footage, so they knew the person sitting in congress and his friend were enjoying their night out. Lulu said she thought she detected an air of schadenfreude, and Lulu said she was worried that people would think she was a tabloid journalist, but Laura said people knew she was a responsible journalist. Lulu said she’d rather focus on her adoption story. She was interviewing a ton of people, and their stories were fascinating. She was wondering if she could interview Laura.

Willow told Nina that she came home to find every reporter in Port Charles on the front lawn. Her phone was dead, and she had to charge it on the way home. Nina said, so Willow had no idea. She was so sorry Willow was blindsided on top being betrayed. Willow asked how Nina knew what happened, and Nina said, everyone knew. It was in The Herald and all over social media. She showed Willow her phone and the headline, Congressman Cutthroat Cuts Loose!!! along with a photo of Drew doing body shots off Jacinda. Willow said, oh my God. That’s the woman she found in her bedroom.

Alexis said she refused to allow her granddaughter to deal with the gauntlet of reporters, and Drew asked why they were there. She said he really had no idea, and he said he couldn’t find his phone and last night was a blur, Alexis said, let her enlighten him, and showed him the body shot video.

Carly said Sonny wanted to see Jason, and Jason left. Jack said they’d had a productive conversation, and Carly asked if that was code for quietly threatening each other, but he said, no threats. He was handing over the reins and moving along with the plan. She asked what the plan was, and he said he was heading back to Port Charles. She said, what a coincidence. So was she.

Jason said he should have been there, but Sonny said Jason was where he’d asked him to be. Brick handled it. Their team wasn’t looking for someone like her. Jason said, somebody with ties to intelligence. They added more security to keep Sonny’s family safe, and Sonny said someone gave him an important message that had him looking at the big picture. They’ve talked about it before. They had to get out of this business. Jason asked, who sent him the message? and Sonny said, Mike

Lulu said she wasn’t sure Laura wanted to talk about her history and didn’t want to put her on the spot, and Laura asked if Lulu was concerned about her privacy. Lulu said she was keeping all of her sources anonymous. It was less about privacy, and more about Laura never talking about her adoption. Laura said that was because she wasn’t really adopted. She was switched in the hospital at birth. She had two families. It was very complicated. Lulu asked if Laura was sure that it wouldn’t open old wounds, but Laura said she thought she could talk about it. Lulu put her phone on record, and suggested they start with Laura telling her what it was like when Grandma Lesley entered her life. Laura said she didn’t understand who Lesley was, but knew she had a really great connection to a woman who was a stranger, and Lulu asked if she thought the Vinings saw it. Laura said it was possible, but she didn’t know. Eventually, Lesley told Laura that she was her mother, and in that moment, she felt a sense of relief, because it all made sense. The ease she felt and the connection she had to a total stranger. Lulu asked what it was like building a relationship with her birth mother, and Laura said she thought it would be easy and natural, but it wasn’t. They had challenges and there was a time she didn’t want anything to do with Lesley at all. She eventually ran away from home at 14 and joined a commune. Rick and Lesley found her, and Rick explained that her mother made all her choices about Laura based on love for her. Laura wanted to talk to her again and wanted to listen, she did, and then things got better. Lulu asked if she ever wished that she didn’t know any of this, and Laura said she still sometimes found herself wondering what it would have been like to have a normal childhood, but she loved both her mothers and couldn’t imagine her life without Lesley in it.

Curtis went to the hospital, and Portia said Trina was in with Kai. Josh, the director of Drew’s documentary, was also in there. He’d interviewed her and actually asked thoughtful questions. Kai was taking it in stride, even though it was unnecessary added stress before his surgery. But who cared what she thought? She was just a doctor. Curtis asked if Drew had shown his face, and she said, Trina told her that Drew promised to be there. He said, Drew made a lot of promises, and she said she was sure he promised to be faithful to Willow. He said, even after everything Drew had done, he found it hard to believe Drew would hurt Willow that way.

Josh asked how Kai was feeling, and Kai said, hungry, but good. He was ready, but he was glad Trina was by his side. Josh introduced himself to Trina and said he was wondering if she’d participate. He’d love to include her perspective. Trina said, sure, and Josh said she was an important part of Kai’s story. She said she’d try not to be boring, and signed the release. Josh asked if Kai was ready, and Kai said he couldn’t wait.

Willow asked if the kids knew anything, and Nina said Amelia was with her playgroup and too little to understand. Wiley and Scout were in school and not allowed to access their phones during class. Willow said she needed to get them home before lunchtime. Even if they were kept from their phones, their classmates would have theirs. How was she going to explain this? Nina said they’d figure something out. Willow just experienced a terrible shock. Give herself a minute to process. Willow said none of it made sense. Drew would never hire a prostitute. Nina said it looked like he did, and Willow said nothing about this seemed like the man she knew and loved. Drew had to be able to explain.

Drew said he had no idea who the woman was, and Alexis said, clearly, she knew him. He said he didn’t remember, and she said she had her share of mornings when she didn’t remember the night before. Was this the first time he’d had a blackout? He said, yes, and she said he was in big trouble. So do the right thing and let her pack a bag and let Scout stay with her. He said, for how long? and she said, tonight for sure. Preferably until he got this big old mess sorted out. He said, Scout should stay with her, and she said she’d do what she could to shield Scout from his bad press. He thanked her and said he’d get to the bottom of this. She suggested he do it quickly. She went to pack Scout’s bag, and he found his phone under the couch along with a red bra. He stared at it like he was considering putting it on.

Lulu asked if Laura could argue that children and their birth parents should be reunited, and Laura said, each case was different. Lulu said, it worked out for her, and Laura stopped the recording. She asked why the subject was so important to Lulu right now. This was about more than the article, wasn’t it?

Carly said Sonny wanted her to go back and be with Donna, and Jack said Sonny was right. She asked if maybe he could give her a ride to the airport pick. She’d have to stop by the hotel to pick up her stuff and book a flight. He said, commercial?… Absolutely not. She was flying as a VIP guest of the WSB.

Sonny told Jason that Mike said he’d find a way out of the business. Mike was proud of him for putting his family first. But he couldn’t make a move without someone coming after him. Jason said they had to get rid of whoever was coming after Sonny, and Sonny said, and whoever was giving them their marching orders. Jason said, the first step was getting Sonny back to Port Charles in one piece. 

Curtis told Portia that Drew seemed sincere in his commitment to Willow. He was so sloppy, showing up in public in that condition. The last thing he thought he’d see Drew do was hurt Willow in public with another woman. Portia said she never thought Drew would double-cross him, but here they were. Drew was a master at hiding his true nature and he dropped the act.

Nina told Willow that it seemed like Drew lost control. Had he been drinking more than usual? Willow said she’d only seen him have a cocktail every so often, and Nina told her that she wasn’t saying Drew was an alcoholic. Willow said, what if Nina was right and she’d been blind the whole time? Maybe her being out of town was a chance for Drew to cut loose. Was that who Drew really was? There was a knock at the door and Drew called for Willow. He said, please, they needed to talk. Willow looked at Nina.

Thursday:

Josslyn found Emma on her laptop at the hospital. Emma said Kai was having surgery and she was there to support Trina. Josslyn said, small world. Her too.

Josh asked what Kai’s hopes were for the surgery, and Kai said he wanted to play football again, get back on the field, be with his teammates, and feel the rush of the win. Deanna popped in and said it was time to prep Kai for surgery.

Dante fixed something while Danny and Rocco helped. Dante said afterwards, they’d go to the Woodchucks game with Lulu. Dante’s phone rang and he said, they did what?

Laura said Lulu was her daughter and she knew Lulu wasn’t being forthcoming about the subject of adoption. What did the topic have to do with her?

In the nook, Tracy laughed as she looked at her tablet. Brook wondered what was so funny, and Tracy said she was reading the article in The Herald. Lulu had gotten the ball rolling and sent footage of Drew’s debauchery at The Savoy to the paper, who sent a representative to cover it. Thanks to Lulu, Drew was no longer Congressman Cutthroat. He was Congressman Cad. Lulu was a national treasure. Chase and Gio walked in, and Brook wondered if they could go one day without Tracy giving an ode to the glories of Lulu. She couldn’t take it. She left, and Tracy wondered if it was something she said.

Drew said he knew Willow was in there. Please let him in. Nina told Willow that she’d call security, and they’d make him leave, but Willow said she needed to face this head on. She opened the door and asked what Drew wanted.

Gio asked what that was about, but Tracy said she had no idea. Did he see the news about Drew’s public meltdown? Or should she say, hoedown? Gio said, the video went viral on social media, but didn’t it mess up her plans to take down Uncle Sonny? She said it was a minor setback, but wasn’t going to stop her from making Port Charles a Sonny-free zone.

Drew begged to come inside, asking Willow to hear him out. Willow let him in and he wanted to speak privately, but she said she wanted Nina there. He said it was a huge misunderstanding, but Willow said she found him in their bedroom hooker. He asked if that sounded like him, and Willow said she didn’t know who he was, but she knew what she saw. And right now, she trusted her eyes more than him.

Josslyn told Emma that they were taking Kai in at 3. Did she want to get coffee? Emma said she had to finish her data model for Professor Dalton. It was the extra credit required to apply for the research assistant position.

Deanna told Josh, that’s a wrap, and he left. Trina asked if she and Kai could have a moment, and Deanna went out to the hallway. Kai said he thought they’d never leave, and Trina said he was doing great. Then again, he was pretty great. He took her hand.

Brook told Chase that if she heard one more person extol the virtues of Lulu, she was going to tear her hair out. Lulu was holding the truth about her and Dante’s child over her head and tormenting her with it. Lulu wanted to drive her insane and she though it was working.

Lulu told Laura that the Banner chose the topic out of three that she pitched, but she may not have been honest as to why she wanted to tackle that particular subject. Laura said she knew how to keep a confidence, but Lulu said it wasn’t her secret to tell. She wasn’t supposed to know. Laura said, so she stumbled on it? and Lulu said, stumbled, snooped, stuck her nose in where it didn’t belong. It depended on who you talked to. Laura said she couldn’t help unless Lulu told her what it was, and Lulu said she had knowledge about a child given up for adoption, but not all parties were aware of it and she could change that

Josslyn found Vaughn in a hallway, and he said he hadn’t heard from her in a while. Was anything going on? She said she was getting caught up in Dalton’s class, but she saw Dalton here. She followed him to a lab. He was carrying a briefcase. She didn’t know what was in it, but she got the lab number, and you needed a keycard to get in. She also saw Dalton speaking to Anna at The Savoy. She couldn’t hear what they were saying, but she knew they didn’t exchange numbers or information. Vaughn asked if the position as research assistant was hers yet, and she said, no, but she had a lead on that.

Drew asked again if he and Willow could have privacy, but Nina said she was staying. He had some nerve, barging into her home and demanding privacy after publicly humiliating Willow. He said he didn’t remember any of that. He would never do that. Nina told him, the entire internet says otherwise, and he said he didn’t remember anything. Nina said that was convenient, and he said he barely remembered anything after he left the office. Something was wrong.

Gio said he and Tracy didn’t agree about Sonny, but he got it. He spoke to Jason, who told him why she held Sonny responsible for AJ’s death. Tracy said, AJ was murdered, and he was her brother’s son, and Gio said Jason told him that Sonny shot AJ to save Ava. Tracy said, of course (🍷). To justify Sonny’s crimes. Gio said Jason lived in the house and had come back to the family, and Tracy said he took a long road to get there.

Chase suggested they stop the harassment right now by going to Dante and telling him everything, and Brook said she’d been tempted. She was tired of getting beaten up over the secret. But it wasn’t just about her comfort. It was about her child. She had a son out there and a big part of her wanted to find him, but a bigger part, the better part, wanted to protect him and not disrupt his life. She respected Lulu’s right to make her own choices, but she wished Lulu could respect hers. Chase said she would. He was putting an end to this once and for all. He walked out.

Laura said, a child was involved? and Lulu said, technically. Laura asked if they were in physical danger, and Lulu said, not that she was aware of. Laura said, so there was no threat to anyone, and Lulu asked, what about emotional threat? Laura said, to whom? and Lulu said, everyone. She thought they deserved to know the truth, but all she kept hearing was, it wasn’t her secret to tell. Laura said, yet she knew and carried it, and Lulu asked if that didn’t make it her secret to share. Laura said, no. She could see it was weighing on Lulu, but as a mother, she felt she had to advise Lulu to be really careful playing God with someone else’s life.

On the phone, Dante said he had this. They were here, but they’d see him soon. He told the boys that it was Yuri. They’d left such a mess in the boathouse, he felt he had to call. Danny and Rocco apologized, but Dante said, sorry wasn’t going to cut it. They were back to clean up or there would be no games in their future. They were old enough to know if they made a mess, they had to take responsibility and clean it up. Then they’d go to the game.

Kai said he was glad Trina was supporting his decision despite the risk, and she said she knew how much it meant to him and admired him for it. Deanna said it was time, and Trina said she’d see Kai on the other side. He thanked her for everything, and Trina left. Outside, she looked worried.

Emma told Josslyn that she had to turn in her work in the morning. She promised Gio that she’d go to the bonfire with him. She thought it was a nice way to blow off steam. Josslyn should come. Josslyn said maybe she’d meet Emma there. Trina joined them and said she was freaking out, but Kai was surprisingly excited and calm. It didn’t help that Drew’s documentary director kept shoving a camera in Kai’s face. Josslyn said Drew shouldn’t send a camera after anybody after his performance at The Savoy. He should hide under a rock.

Willow said the footage was out of Drew partying with the woman she found half-naked in their bedroom, and Drew said he had no idea who she was. Willow suggested there wasn’t much conversation and said neither one of them looked like they were there against their will. Nina said Drew was lucky Willow was speaking with him. He was angry that Willow wouldn’t ignore what she saw in her home with her own eyes simply because he said it didn’t happen. Drew said he loved Willow with all his heart and was asking her to trust that, and Willow said all she’d been doing was trusting him. She’d given up her life and her marriage because of him, and now she was going to lose her kids. 

Lulu said she wasn’t playing God, and Laura said, not intentionally, but it wasn’t her child. Lulu said, no, and Laura said, so she wasn’t going to be directly impacted by the information coming out. It sounded like she had a luxury perspective. She could step back and look at what she did without having the burden of angst after making the choice to give up a child. If she can’t imagine that, imagine having her agency taken away and being told what’s best for her and her child. She hoped Lulu didn’t take the position lightly.

Tracy gave Jason credit for being honest about his version of the truth, and Gio said, her version was different. She said her version was the truth. Jason’s perception was seen through the distorted lens of too many years at Sonny’s knee. He wasn’t the boy she knew and was largely Sonny’s work. Gio said there was a lot to admire, and she agreed Jason had a lot of admirable qualities, but he had more potential before Sonny robbed him. She hated that Sonny stole from Jason and a lot of people would be better off when Sonny was gone.

Chase knocked at Lulu’s door and Dante answered. Chase asked if Lulu was there, and Dante said, no. Was there something he could do? Chase said, tell Lulu to back the hell off his wife.

Josh hunted Trina down and wanted to film, but couldn’t unless Emma and Josslyn signed release forms. They sat close on either side of Trina, and Josh said he needed them to sign before he could film Trina with them. Josslyn said she didn’t like the camera and Emma said, talk to her agent. Josh asked if Trina would consider moving, and they just looked at him. He said he got it, and left. 

Dante said Chase was coming in hot, and Chase said he got hot when someone tried to hurt his wife. Dante said it was just the Brook and Lulu thing. They had history and both gave as good as they got. Chase didn’t want to get involved. Chase said, that wasn’t an option. He and Brook were planning on adopting and expanding their family. Lulu knew they were trying to have a baby and knew it was a sensitive, painful matter. Also private. In spite of that, she had to write an article on adoption. It was no coincidence. Dante asked if Chase didn’t think that was an overreaction.

Brook found Tracy in the solarium and apologized. She said she didn’t mean to snap. Tracy said she didn’t need an apology. She needed an explanation. She was sick of Brook and Lulu’s tit for tat. They weren’t teenagers anymore. Why was Brook so threatened by Lulu?

Lulu told Laura, in lieu of playing God, what should she do? What would Laura do? Laura said the family didn’t meet Nikolas until he was a teenager. That was a choice she made. Lulu said, there were extenuating circumstances, and Laura said, there always was with these decisions. She made a choice, then Lulu became ill and there was a chance to save her life, so Laura chose to bring Nikolas back into their lives. Lulu said she was grateful, but it cost her Laura, and starting to cry, Laura said, all choices in life cost something. Some of it easy, some of it took the rest of your life to pay. Choosing to expose someone else’s secret or truth was hubris and Lulu would be responsible for everything that happened after that. She hoped Lulu would think long and hard before she did anything. Lulu thanked her and they hugged.

Danny told Rocco that he wasn’t going to the game. There was a bonfire party on the beach. It was on the lake and they could walk from there. The kids at PCU were having it because of the heatwave. Rocco said they wouldn’t be able to get in, but Danny said it wasn’t an official party. They could just show up. He wanted to have some real fun.

Nina asked why Willow said she’d lose her kids, and Willow said she hadn’t had a chance to tell them how things went with Michael in Germany. He refused to even see her, much less talk. He hated her and blamed her. He was going to do everything to hurt her, and he was going to take her kids. Drew said he wouldn’t let that happen, but Willow said he couldn’t stop it. Not after this. She risked everything to be with him. He promised to protect her and her children, and he ruined everything.

Trina said she owed them, and Emma said she was done with her data model and Trina didn’t owe them. They were happy to be of support. Josslyn said, of course (🍷). Always. Emma said she was going to back-up her work later, but wanted to take a minute to take in this beautiful moment. Trina said it was nice to see someone as into their major as she was, and Emma said she wasn’t letting it out of her sight. She was going to call Gio to pick her up now. Josslyn said she could stay with Trina, but Trina said she could handle Josh. Josslyn said she’d see Emma at the bonfire, and stood by Vaughn at the elevator. She quietly told him that she needed help with something tonight, and they got in the elevator.

Drew said he’d fix this, and Nina asked why they should believe his meaningless words. Willow came to her in tears when she found another woman in the home he shared with her and her children. She wasn’t going to stand there and watch Drew gaslight Willow. He needed to leave. Drew told Willow, don’t listen. Go with what she knew. Nina said what Willow knew was what she’d seen with her own eyes, and Drew asked if Willow ever knew him to drink excessively or take drugs. Willow said, no, and he said he had to explain what happened. All he was asking was for her to give him a chance to prove it.

Brook said she wasn’t threatened by Lulu, and wasn’t jealous, and Tracy said, make her understand. She could see why Lulu would be threatened by Brook. She was a successful businesswoman, had lots of talent, and a wonderful husband who was devoted to her. They were at the beginning of starting a family. Yet with all that, Lulu’s mere existence riled Brook. Why was that? 

Chase said Brook asked Lulu not to write the article, and Drew said he could see how sensitive the issue was, but Lulu came up with three ideas to present to the editor at the Banner. She chose the article. It was a think piece, and the names would be changed. Lulu was just trying to be a journalist again. She got a gig and couldn’t turn it down. Chase said Lulu wasn’t just doing a job. She was intentionally hurting Brook. Dante said there was no proof of Chase’s accusation, and Chase said he was asking as a friend. Could Dante get Lulu to back off? 

Vaughn stopped the elevator, and Josslyn said Emma was the leading candidate for research assistant. She was going to the college bonfire and had a thumb drive with the data model she was turning in tomorrow. She needed to get the drive, copy it, corrupt the drive, and get it back without Emma noticing, and before Emma had a chance to back it up. He asked if she needed back-up, and she said, possibly. Did he think he could come up with a reason to be on King’s Beach? He said he had one question. Was she prepared to sabotage a friend?

Emma said, maybe Josslyn wasn’t so bad, and Trina said there was more to Josslyn than Emma gave her credit for. Gio arrived.

Danny said now that Rocco lived with his mom and sister, it wasn’t the same. Rocco’s phone rang, and it was Dante. Rocco told Danny that his mom and dad couldn’t go to the game and were going to have Yuri take them. Danny said it was fate, and Rocco said, fine. He’d go to the party.

Laura found Trina and told her that her dad said her friend Kai was having surgery. She thought Trina could use a friend to keep her company. Trina slid over and put her head on Laura’s shoulder.

Drew told Willow that he’d go to GH and get a blood test. All he asked was for her to wait and see what the test said. Come with him. She could make sure nothing was tampered with. Nina said Willow didn’t have to feed into his lies, and Willow said Nina was right. She didn’t want any more lies. That’s why she had to find out the truth for herself. She’d come with him. He held out his hand, but she ignored it and said, let’s get this over with. She walked out and Drew followed. Nina was obviously frustrated.

Lulu told Dante, sorry she was late, and said hi to Chase. Chase barely looked at her and left. Lulu said she’d just grab her stuff, and they could go, but Dante said he didn’t know if they should. He needed her help with something. They needed to help Brook.

Brook said Tracy wore blinders when it came to Lulu. She didn’t see Lulu as she was. She saw Lulu as the last remaining tie to Luke. Tracy said she was wrong. Lulu was so much more than her father’s daughter. She saw Lulu and knew her as she was, warts and all, and wouldn’t apologize for loving her. Lulu was trying to rebuild the life taken from her and finding her place in the world and reconnecting to her children. Why did Brook begrudge her? Brook said she didn’t, but Tracy said it seemed like Brook didn’t want Lulu to have anything. She didn’t want Lulu to have a house, a family, or a job. Brook said she didn’t care about that. She cared that Lulu knew she’d gotten pregnant in high school and gave the baby up for adoption. She cared that Tracy’s precious Lulu had been holding it over her head and threatening to blow her life up. Tracy was in shock.

🫔 Friday’s Enchilada….

Arriving at the beach, Emma tells Gio, it looks like things are getting started, and Gio says, people are swimming. She says, why not? when Josslyn runs over and she and Emma hug. Emma says she’s glad Josslyn came, and Josslyn says her too. Gio asks if Josslyn would go swimming in this, and Emma tells him, give it up. All she wants to do is dance. Josslyn says, sounds great, and Emma says, looks like everyone is dancing. Vaughn approaches and Emma asks, who’s that?

Carly goes to Nina’s and asks if Willow is here, and Nina says, no. Carly says, did Nina deliver or what? She has to admit she didn’t think Nina would come through. This is amazing. Nina says, excuse me? and Carly says, come on. This was her, wasn’t it? She shows Nina her phone with the video of Drew acting the fool.

In the nook, Lucy, Maxie, and Lois are having a meeting. Lucy says, they need to take the Nurses Ball to the next level. Right now, Port Charles is a divided city, and they need to pull everyone together with song and dance and as many wardrobe changes as possible. Maxie says, people are going crazy over the referendum, which is about a sidewalk, but Lucy says, it’s not a sidewalk. It’s an esplanade. Lois says, call it what she wants, but what it really is, is a vote on supporting Drew screwing over Sonny. Lucy says, which reminds her. She disinvited Drew. Maxie says, she can’t disinvite someone or make the decision by herself, and Lois asks if Lucy also means she’s refusing his donation. Lucy says, of course (🍷) not. It’s for charity. Fine. She’ll heed the conventions of common courtesy, but does that mean she can’t have a silent protest deep in her soul when she appears on the red carpet… if he’s still a congressman by then.

Drew thanks Willow for coming to the hospital with him. He hopes to prove… She tells him to stop trying to sell her. She’s not one of his staffers. He says he knows. He’s sorry. He needs to prove that he wasn’t in his right state of mind. He’d never disrespect her or their relationship in that way. (Does that mean he would in other ways?) She says she can’t get the image of the half-naked woman in their bedroom out of her head, and he says he promises he’ll get to the bottom of this. Amy is talking with an orderly nearby and says she can’t believe they’re here together. The orderly says, maybe Drew is there to take care of his hangover, and Amy says, or tested for an STI.

Dante says, hear him out, and Lulu says, all right. He says, she’s already got a big win with Drew’s story. She’s shown what a great journalist she is. She says she’s already gotten calls from news outlets, and he says, she’s already on her way. Maybe now she doesn’t need to write the adoption thing. She says, don’t, and he says, she was using it to get her freelance career back up and running, but she has Drew’s story and doesn’t need it anymore. Do it for him. Maybe choose to write something else. She says, no. She’s a journalist and won’t let Brook dictate who or what she writes about.  

Tracy says she wants to make sure she heard correctly. Did Brook say she had a baby? Brook says, in high school, and she gave it up for adoption. Her father doesn’t know, and the baby’s father doesn’t know. Tracy asks, who does know? and Brook says, until recently, the only person she told was her mom.

Vaugn says, Josslyn is standing on his towel, and she moves. He asks, what’s going on? and she says, a PCU party. Gio says, there’s going to be a bonfire, and Vaughn says, nice. Emma says he’s not here for the party? and he says he was getting in his daily swim. She says, the water is super cold, and he says, that’s the point. Swimming is great. It strengthens the immune system and does a body all kinds of good. They should try it. Emma says, right now? and asks Gio, what about him? Gio says he has no swimsuit, but she says she’s not afraid if he isn’t.

Carly tells Nina that it took her a minute to figure it out, but the woman is Jacinda. She used to work at the MetroCourt sometimes. Drew can’t be stupid enough to hire a professional escort, so how did Nina swing it? Nina says, when Drew was at the MetroCourt, she saw an opportunity with Jacinda, and Carly wonders how she got Drew to do it. Nina says, it was super simple. Jacinda slipped something in his drink and once it hit, Drew did the rest. Carly says, so The Savoy was his idea, and Nina says, it was. The original plan was for Jacinda to go home with Drew. That’s why she had the kids for a sleepover. Jacinda was never going to sleep with Drew, just stage the scene for Willow to walk in on. Which she did. Carly asks, how bad a scene? and Nina says, she found a half-naked woman in her bedroom with Drew passed out on the bed. What else would she think but that her knight in shining armor slept with another woman? Carly says she knows how hard it must have been to hurt Willow, and Nina says she just kept telling herself it had to be done. Willow can’t lose her children. But when Willow showed up here with tears in her eyes, she just hated herself.

Brook says she’s so sorry she lied, but Tracy says she didn’t lie. It’s her life and her choices and she gets to decide who she wants to tell. Brook says she didn’t want to tell anyone. She knew the only way of dealing with the pain of giving up her child was to force herself never to think about him. Tracy says, she had a boy, and Brook nods and says her mom and Grandma Gloria didn’t tell her, Lulu did, but it got to the point where she couldn’t keep it from Chase. Tracy asks how he took it, and Brook says, he was wonderful. Tracy says, of course (🍷). Like father, like son… Wait a minute. How did Lulu find out? Brook says, she broke into Martin Grey’s hotel room, and Tracy asks, why? Brook says, he’s Valentin’s lawyer and Lulu was looking for leads on Charlotte. Instead, she found Martin’s notes about her baby and Lulu hasn’t let up on her since.

Dante asks Lulu to please listen to him, and she wonders if Chase asked him to talk to her. Obviously, he listened to Brook’s sob story about her delicate feelings. Dante says he’s worried about his wife, but Lulu says he doesn’t have to be. Brook is overreacting as usual. She pitched three stories, and the editor chose this one. Dante says, she told him that, and she says, that should have been the end of the discussion. He says, whether or not she thinks Brook is overreacting – Lulu says, she is – the bottom line is, Brook is truly hurt by the article. So why can’t she entertain using another idea? Lulu says she was hired to write this one and she’s not willing to risk her credibility at this stage of her career for Brook’s sake. He says, what about his? His friends, Brook and Chase, are struggling for real. The same way they were when they thought about getting a surrogate, harvesting eggs, and doing IVF with Maxie. It was hard. She must remember how hard it was. She says, it felt awful, waiting through Maxie’s pregnancy, only to find out Georgie wasn’t theirs; she was Maxie and Spinelli’s. He says, Brook’s not behaving rationally, but were they being rational? How can you be rational with kids? There’s too much love and it runs too deep. It’s too important. She says she couldn’t have made it through that time without him, and he says he couldn’t have made it without her either.

Gio says, let’s do this, and Emma asks if Josslyn is coming. Josslyn says she thinks she’ll grab a drink first, and Emma asks if Vaughn is going back in. He says, absolutely. Let’s go. Emma says, they’re doing this? and Gio says, yeah, they are. They strip down to their underwear, and run to the water, holding hands. Josslyn looks through Emma’s stuff, finds the thumb drive, and takes it.  

Tracy says she doesn’t understand how Martin is involved, and Brook says her mom went to him for legal advice. Tracy says, that’s what Lois was doing in his room. Go ahead. Brook says her mom wanted to make sure the adoption couldn’t be unsealed. Lois was trying to protect her, but instead left a paper trail for Lulu to follow. Tracy says, Martin shouldn’t have left sensitive paperwork lying around, and Brook says, Lulu shouldn’t have broken into his room. She knows Tracy doesn’t like Martin and loves Lulu, but she can’t keep make excuses for Lulu. Not to her. Tracy says, enough. Go on. Brook says, despite it being none of Lulu’s business, Lulu confronted her and accused her of doing everything wrong. Tracy asks what Lulu thought was wrong, and Brook says she insisted the father had a right to know. Maybe she should have told him, but she was scared. She didn’t know… Tracy says, stop. Don’t keep second guessing herself. She completely supports Brook having given the baby up for adoption. If that’s what she truly wanted.  

Carly tells Nina that she’s sorry Willow had to go through that. She knows what it’s like to find the man you love in bed with another woman. (D’oh!) Nina says she knows Carly does, and Carly says, Nina did the right thing. Willow is better off without Drew. They all are, especially their grandchildren. Now that Drew’s spell over Willow has been broken, she and Michael can reach an agreement that puts the children first. Nina said she thought so too, but that’s not going to happen.

Danny and Rocco see the makeshift bar, and Danny tells Rocco, relax. It’s not like anyone is going to be asking for ID. They’ll be fine. They’ve just got to blend in. Rocco asks, how? and Danny says, follow him. He goes over to the bar, says, what’s up? and he and the guy tending bar fist bump. The bartender asks what he can get them, and Danny says, a beer, but the bartender suggests they stay away from that. The keg was dropped and there’s a lot of foam. Try the grog instead. He hands them solo cups, and as they walk away, Rocco asks, what’s grog? Danny says, punch, and sniffs it. Spiked punch. Rocco says he’s not drinking it, and Danny tells him to just hold it. That’s how they blend in. Everyone has a cup. Two girls join them and ask if they go to PCU. Rocco just looks at them, and Danny says his brother is an extrovert introvert. Or is it introvert extrovert? One of the girls asks, what’s the difference? and Danny says he has no idea. Once the punch kicks in, Rocco will tell them all about it. The girl says, his name is Rocco? That’s so cute. She’s Zoe. Rocco says he’s Rocco and holds out his hand. She says she knows, and the other girl says she’s Keri. Danny says, nice to meet them. He’s sure the girls can tell they’re both freshmen.

Looking at the seating chart, Lucy says she thinks she needs to add another table, and Maxie says she knows Lucy wants to sell more, but bringing more people together doesn’t mean forcing them to sit on each other’s laps. Lois says, she can make more room, but they’re already pretty jammed in, and Lucy says, proximity breeds pleasantries, so patrons will get to know the strangers at their table. Maxie says she’s all for reminding people what they have in common is greater than what divides them, but this is the Nurses Ball. Lucy asks what she means by that, and Maxie says, they’ll be lucky if no one throws a drink in someone else’s face. Lucy says, sad, but true. Which begs the question., do they think maybe there’s a tactful way to ask Carly to stay backstage the whole night?

Amy says she wants to tell Willow how brave they all think she is. She’s willing to be seen with Drew after the display he made of himself. She’s a saint. Willow thanks her, and Amy says, of course (🍷). So they’re all on the same page and they’d hate for rumors to start, Willow’s not actually staying with him. Willow says, it’s none of her business, and starts to walk away, but Amy says she totally understands if Willow feels she has to. She did wreck her marriage to be with him. But don’t let embarrassment or regret make her feel obligated to keep a man who cheated on her. She could do better.

Brook asks what Tracy meant by, if it’s what she wanted, and Tracy says, she was forced to make a very difficult decision at a very young age. She guesses she’s asking if Brook regrets the choice. Brook says, all the time, but then she thinks about it and remembers how difficult it would have been to raise a child. She had her music. Hearing herself say that seems selfish. Tracy says, she would have been a child raising a child, and Brook says she knew she wasn’t ready to be a mom for sure. She told her mom, and she agreed. She came home from camp and told her mom two things. One, that she was pregnant and she didn’t want to terminate the pregnancy; and two, she wanted to give her child a better life than she could as a teenager. Tracy says, that’s a mature decision for a teenager to make. She’s proud of Brook. She knew her mind and that’s a good thing. Brook says she hopes so. Her mom made arrangements for the adoption, and it was a huge relief. It was a huge responsibility and when her mom needed help, she told Brook’s Grandma Gloria. When Brook found out that Lois told her, she was floored, but she realized her mom wasn’t just helping her deal with her baby, she was giving up her own grandchild. Tracy says, Lois needed support, and Brook says, she knows. Tracy says, Brook never told her father, and Brook says, no. She feels terrible, but feels it’s too late. Or she’s telling herself that to feel better. Be honest. Does Tracy think she’s a coward?

Danny tells the girls that he’s more of a basketball guy, and calls Rocco over. He says, the girls want to play volleyball, but Rocco says, it’s almost dark. Zoe says they have a glow in the dark ball, and Danny says, just come with them, but Rocco tells him, go. Danny says he’ll stay with Rocco, but Rocco says, just go. Danny says, if he’s positive, and gives Rocco his cup. Danny leaves and Rocco drinks.  

Dante thanks Lulu and says he knew she’d understand, but Lulu says she’s not going to drop the story. Dante says she just said she agreed with him, and she says she agrees there’s nothing rational about having a child. What he said proves the story she’s writing is important and deserves attention. As a journalist, she can’t walk away from it. He says he hates it when she does this. She gets fixated on something and barrels through with no consideration for other people’s feelings. She says, this is her career. She needs this to get her life going again. What she wants to know is, why Brook’s needs are more important than hers. He says, they’re not, and she says, it feels that way. Brook isn’t a damsel in distress who needs to be rescued. If Dante knew the things she knows… Dante asks what she knows. He and Brook had a fling as teenagers and he didn’t tell her because it was way before they met. She says she knows more than that, and he says, it was a fling that meant nothing and wasn’t important, but she’s still mad. Fine. Be mad, but it’s not about Brook. It’s about him and her because… She says, what? and he says, because she’s still in love with him.

Maxie says, it’s Carly’s hotel. She can’t ask Carly to make herself scarce. And she’s not forcing Carly to hide in a closet, so don’t ask. Lucy says, wherever Carly is, they’ll still hear her. Bear in mind, Carly is Bobbie’s daughter – may she rest in peace – so she’s keeping in mind that Bobbie was never afraid to call someone out. Neither is Carly. What if she goes off on Drew and Willow and causes a big, fat scene? Maxie says, Lucy has caused more scenes at the Nurses Ball than Bobbie and Carly combined, and Lois says, true. Lucy says, that can’t be true… Boy, is it dark out. That means she has to go. She’s got lots of stuff to do and it’s very, very dark. She leaves and Maxie says, great meeting. She wishes Brook was here, and Lois says, speaking of Brook, how is she doing at work? Is she okay? Maxie says she thinks Brook is going through something, but doesn’t confide in her, and Lois says she’s sure Brook will. In the meantime, she’s thankful Brook and Maxie are good friends. She’s glad they’ve gotten so close. Maxie says, they’ve been through a lot and Brooks friendship is important to her, and Lois says she thinks Brook is going to need a friend like Maxie now.

Tracy says she doesn’t think Brook is capable of cowardice. She was strong then and she’s strong now. She takes Brook’s hand, and Brook asks if she really thinks so. Tracy tells Brook that she’s often said Brook is the best Quartermaine, and Brook says, she has? When? Tracy tells Brook that she says it behind her back. Now she is saying it to Brook’s beautiful face because she’s more convinced it’s true. For the record, Brook does not owe it to Ned to tell him about the baby. Brook didn’t owe it to her to tell her, but she’s glad Brook did. She wipes a tear from Brook’s face, and Brook says she’s glad too. Tracy says, now she has to ask, with everything Brook and Chase are going through, has it occurred to her to find her son? Brook says, it has. It’s tempting, but the whole point was to give him a better life. If she barges in now, it goes against that. The only way she’ll see him is if he comes looking for her. Tracy says, so generous, and Brook says, Lulu doesn’t agree. Tracy says, Lulu doesn’t get a say, and Brook wonders why Tracy always takes Lulu’s side. Tracy says she’s not. She knows Lulu can be arrogant and self-righteous, but she’s frequently wrong, like her father. Loving somebody doesn’t mean you agree all the time. Brook says Tracy is just telling her that to make her feel better, but Tracy says she’s not. She’s sorry Brook was heartbroken and afraid to tell her, but she never wants Brook to doubt how much she loves her. Brook says she loves Tracy too, and they hug, Tracy now in tears.  

Lulu says, of course (🍷) she loves Dante. She always will. They have a child together. Dante says, that’s not what he means, and he thinks she knows that. Is she saying it isn’t true? She says, no. Who told him? He says, it doesn’t matter. He shouldn’t have said anything. Lulu says, he did, so talk, and he says he’s grateful she’s back, but ever since she woke up, she’s had him at wit’s end. So he went to Maxie. She says, of course (🍷), and he says, Maxie told him what she was going to say before she collapsed. She says, fine. When it happened, she was on her way to find him to tell him that she wanted to be with him. He says, that’s a lot to hear. He wanted her back then. She says she never got a chance, and the next thing she knew, four years had gone by and he was in love with Sam. He says he didn’t know she felt that way and thought she’d moved on with Dustin. He didn’t set out to fall in love with Sam. It just happened. Is she saying he should have waited for her?

Nina says, Willow forgave Drew already. She could tell Willow wanted to believe it when he said he didn’t remember what happened last night. Carly says, that doesn’t change the fact that it did, and Nina says she knows, but Willow went with him to get a blood test at GH. Carly asks what the blood test is going to prove, and Nina says, it’s going to prove there are traces of ketamine in his system. Carly asks why she didn’t use a drug that left the bloodstream faster, and Nina says, ketamine is a recreational drug, and it can’t be proved Drew didn’t take it voluntarily. Carly says, if seeing Drew in bed with another woman didn’t prove it and the blood test proves it’s in his system, Willow will believe he was drugged and she’s going to forgive him. Nina says, hopefully, his constituents won’t. At least it’s something. His political career won’t survive the scandal. Carly says, if Willow thinks Drew’s the victim, it will just tie them tighter. And if she finds out Nina did all of this, it’s going to be one big disaster.

Willow tells Amy that her relationship is her business, and Amy should know better than to believe everything she sees on the internet. Amy says she’s just trying to help, and Willow says, if she wants to help, stop gossiping and start nursing. Amy jets, and Drew comes back. He says, security is keeping the press at bay. He can get her a bodyguard… She says she’s fine and doesn’t need a bodyguard. He says, if it becomes a problem, he’ll do it in a heartbeat, when Isaiah comes out with the test results. Drew asks if the results prove he was drugged.

Rocco gets another drink and a guy says they need one more. Is he up for it? Rocco says, yeah, sure, and goes with him. Emma, Gio, and Vaughn come out of the water, and Emma says, that was great. Gio says, at first, now he’s freezing. Vaughn gives Emma his towel, and she wonders where Josslyn is. Josslyn joins them and Emma asks where she was. Josslyn said she took a walk and watched the sunset. She surreptitiously shows Vaughn the thumb drive in her hand, and he says he’s going to the bonfire to warm up. Do they want to come? Josslyn says, sounds great, and Emma says she’s got to get dressed first.     

Isaiah says, the tests show that ketamine was in Drew’s system, and Drew says, what? He knew he’d been drugged. Can he get a copy? Isaiah says, there’s a copy in his patient folder and he can have this hard copy. He hands the papers to Drew, and Willow thanks him for handling it personally. Isaiah says, his pleasure, and leaves. Drew asks if Willow believes he was drugged now, and she says, yes, she does. He thanks her and says, she has no idea how much that means to him. She says she’s glad. She just wants to get home. Drew says he has one more thing to do. Take the car and he’ll call a Ride Share. She says she’ll see him at home, and he says, their home or Nina’s home. She says, their home, kisses him on the cheek, and leaves. Drew sees Mac talking to Felicia and goes over to him. He says he needs to report a crime.  

Nina tells Carly, there’s no way Willow can find out. Partly because Jacinda is halfway around the world by now and there’s no one here to corroborate the story. (Yeah, except for Portia whose known to be wishy-washy AF.) There have already been calls for Drew to resign. The more pressure they put on the man, the harder it will be for him to play Prince Charming to Willow. At some point, he’ll slip up, and when he does, Willow is going to see who he really is. Carly says, they can’t sit back and wait for that to happen. The photos and the video have gone viral and they’re invaluable. Nina has to use them to convince Willow that Drew got high on purpose and cheated on her the first chance he got. Nina says, Willow can’t know how much she hates Drew. Willow will think she did something and turn on her. Carly says, Nina has to take the risk. If she doesn’t, they could lose everything. She promises there’s no way in hell Michael is going to let Willow raise his children with that man.

Lulu says, of course (🍷) she didn’t want Dante to wait. No one even knew if she was ever going to wake up again. She’s glad he moved on with his life. He asks if she’s sure, and she asks why it’s so hard to believe that she wanted him to be happy. (I dunno. Because she’s usually selfish?) Dante says, for what it’s worth (🍷), it wasn’t easy moving on, and she says she’s sure it wasn’t. Hard as it was to imagine him moving on without her, she’s truly happy Sam was there for him and Rocco. He says, Sam would appreciate her saying that. Him too. She says, it turns out she’s not jealous of Brook. She’s jealous of Sam and Sam died saving her life. She feels like that makes her a horrible person.

Vaughn asks, what happened? and Josslyn says she got here as fast as she could. Why didn’t he keep them in the water longer? He asks if she has any idea how cold the water is. Maybe he’s overthinking it. Maybe she could make Emma think it got lost in the sand. She can make another. Josslyn says, it’s got to be this one. Emma’s work is it and it’s corrupted. She has to give Dalton the corrupted one. He says, Josslyn will have to plant it on Emma, and she says she knows. Any ideas? Josslyn turns and sees Danny right there.

Carly says, Nina knows Diane will use the video and photos for Michael to get full custody, but Nina says she can’t push Willow. If she pushes any harder, she’ll lose Willow and she’ll be isolated with Drew. They’ll never get her away. Carly says, the longer this goes on, the more Willow will be hurt, and Nina says she can’t risk making Willow suspicious. Willow walks in.

Mac says, ketamine is a recreational drug. Any chance Drew took more than he could handle? Drew says he’s never taken drugs, and he doesn’t remember the woman in the photo. Mac asks, who was the last person he remembers talking to? and Drew remembers talking to Tracy at the MetroCourt. He flashes back to them shaking hands.

Lois finds Tracy and says, they need to talk about the Nurses Ball, since she’s a member of the hospital board, but Tracy says, there’s only one thing she wants to hear. Where is her great-grandson?

Brook finds Maxie and thanks her for sticking around, and Maxie asks, what’s going on? Brook says, just Quartermaine insanity, and Maxie asks if she’s sure. She wants to help. Just tell her what to do. Brook says, one thing, and Maxie says, name it. Brook says, pick a side, and Maxie says, what? Brook says she hates to do this to Maxie, but she can’t confide in her as long as she’s friends with Lulu. Maxie says, Lulu is her best friend. So is Brook. Brook says she cherishes that, and Maxie says, Brook knows she tries to stay neutral. Brook says she thinks things have gone way too far. Maxie’s got to decide. Is she Brook’s friend or Lulu’s? Brook walks out.

Josslyn tells Danny, neither one of us was here. Deal? Danny says, deal, they shake hands, and he leaves. Vaughn asks if he’s going to be a problem, but she says, absolutely not. The last thing he wants his parents to know is that he was at a college party. Emma and Gio come back, and Emma asks what Josslyn was talking to Mr. Aquaman about.  

We see Rocco passed out near the rocks on the beach.

Dante says, Lulu isn’t a horrible person, but he can’t pretend he wasn’t in love with Sam. Lulu says she’d never ask him to. She knows he’s still grieving, but she needs to get on with her life without him. She’s trying, but losing four years and being stuck in the past, sometimes she just feels so lost… It’s not his problem. The painful truth is… She’s in love with him, but he’s still in love with Sam. He says, yeah, but he’s still in love with her too.

On Monday, Emma says her thumb drive is gone; Brad says he’s come to collect; Drew says, as soon as he knows, Mac will; and Danny tries to wake up Rocco.

🧼 All the Soap News Fit To Print…

For there being so much last week, there was nothing new for GH this week. So in lieu of that, some sad news. She was on Dallas, so it counts.

https://ew.com/priscilla-pointer-dead-carrie-dallas-star-amy-irving-mother-100-11724668

💉 A Dose of Reality…

Below Deck Down Under

I could definitely vibe with a circus theme.

The Valley

Michelle said, Jesse was worse than Jax, but how is that even possible when Jax has a winning streak in being Worst Human Being Ever? Sandoval usurped the throne for a hot minute, but Jax is back to wearing the sash and crown. Michelle was all upset because Jesse had said she’d slept with a billionaire for money. I wish a billionaire was offering me money. True, $1500 sounded a bit cheap for a billionaire, but still.

Summer House

Kyle and Schwartz said they’d be good dads. Definitely, if the kid wants a younger brother. I guess I’m going to have to live with this toe thing for the rest of the season. Lexi claimed to be done, but Jesse wasn’t, and I’m still no sure if they’re still together or not.

Random Reality Items

I would not be heartbroken.

I would expect no less.

Get your reservation now. Men not included. Or the $25,000 taco.

👀 Weekend Watch…

Patient Zero. Amazon Prime. Purchase or rent. I still can’t believe after over a year of trying to hunt this down, I debated whether or not I should spend the $3.99 to watch it. I spent it and got my money’s worth. The zombies aren’t zombies in the usual sense, but super strong, super intelligent killers. An underground team has been assembled to try and find a cure, and one of them, Morgan (Matt Smith), can communicate with the infected, having been bitten, but not turned. There’s the usual cast of characters, like the beautiful scientist who has a romantic relationship with Morgan and a military brute who just wants to kill the infected, to hell with a cure. But the best character of all is The Professor. Stanley Tucci gives a stellar performance as he tells the tale of how he got infected and tries to discourage the search for a cure.

https://collider.com/matt-smith-stanley-tucci-patient-zero/

A Different Man. Max. You likely already know what this film is about – an actor with a deformed face a la The Elephant Man undergoes surgery to make himself look, for lack of a better word, normal. The twist is that he ends up being jealous of a man with a similar condition who is happy with himself as is. The bottom line, you can change all you want about the outside, but if you have issues inside, it ain’t gonna make a difference. Definitely worth a watch.

https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/a-different-man-film-review

I was happy to hear this got Adam Pearson, who plays the happier of the two, another job. Now I’m jealous.

Bright. Netflix. Apparently, the reviews weren’t great, but I thought this was a fun escape. Similar to Alien Nation, the main characters are partners on the police force – one human, one an Orc – in a world where all kinds of creatures exist. It’s like an extended version of the Cantina scene in Star Wars, and who doesn’t love that? There is an actual plot about hunting down a certain fairy and a magic wand on the loose, and the action scenes were great, but I’d watch this again just to look at the details.

https://www.cracked.com/article_40602_the-best-will-smith-movie-is-bright.html

https://www.cbr.com/netflix-bright-negative-reviews/

Tau. Netflix. Imprisoned by a rich inventor to work on technology, a grifter befriends the computer who is supposed to help keep her there, by hurting her if necessary. While it had many good moments, some cool special effects, and Gary Oldman voicing the computer Tau, there were one too many trips to the cornfield for me.

https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/tau-2018

Black Mirror: Season 7. Netflix. The individual episodes.

Common People – Usually the theme is technology gone bad, but this was more like merchandising gone mad. In this world of the future, there’s a company that has the ability to keep you alive and mobile even if you’re practically dead, for a monthly fee. No surprise, you need to keep upgrading and the price climbs as you do. Sound familiar? Even though the premise was slightly amusing, it was nonetheless depressing.

Bête Noire – A woman working for a food company finds out an old schoolmate, who is also their co-worker, isn’t who they seem to be. They have an ability that’s both awesome and dreadful. I loved the ending to this one, although I don’t know if I’d call it happy.

Hotel Reverie – The very definition of bittersweet. Futuristic technology allows an actress to replace the lead actor in a Casablanca-ish old film and she falls in love with the lead actress who has been dead for years. It made me cry.

Plaything – a lot of the episodes had a melancholy tone and this was one of them. A man invents a video game back in the Donkey Kong days and becomes personally involved with his tiny minions. Then tragedy strikes.

EulogyPaul Giamatti is magnificent as a man asked to participate in a memorial service, but to do it, he has to relive his memories through a few photographs. Again bittersweet.

https://collider.com/black-mirror-season-7-episode-5-eulogy-explained-paul-giamatti/

USS Callister: Into Infinity – If you know, you know, and know it’s the follow-up episode fans have been waiting for. A nerd invents a video game based on his favorite show that’s not quite Star Trek. He becomes part of the game and drags his co-workers in against their will. This time, other real players are added to the game. It was a relief after all the angst of the other episodes.

https://ew.com/black-mirror-season-7-episode-guide-11712277

⚰️ Bring Out Your Dead…

Season 2 of Dead City premieres this Sunday, May 4th. Be there or be a stiff.

https://bleedingcool.com/tv/the-walking-dead-dead-city-season-2-preview-negan-has-big-plans/

🏆 Awaiting the Honors …

The Tonys.  

https://extratv.com/2025/05/01/tony-nominations-2025-the-complete-list/

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

🍹 Three Dogs and a Fish Walk Into a Bar…

🦈 And then the fish ate the diver. Just kidding. This is pretty cool.

https://people.com/living-fossil-fish-thought-extinct-for-70-million-years-photographed-for-the-first-time-in-2025-11724699

📸 One way to meet the neighbors.

https://people.com/woman-offers-portraits-to-neighbors-one-brings-dog-exclusive-11725264

🐕 The big and the small of it. What’s really funny is how the Great Dane is the one who looks worried.

https://people.com/guinness-world-records-tallest-shortest-dogs-meet-11724914

🥠 Quotes of the Week

We don’t receive wisdom; we must discover it for ourselves after a journey that no one can take for us or spare us. – Marcel Proust

Sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together. – Marilyn Monroe

The more you are grateful for what you have, the more you will have to be grateful for.Hilary “Zig” Ziglar

Never bend your head. Always hold it high. Look the world straight in the eye. – Helen Keller

It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit. – Harry S. Truman

If you always do what interests you, at least one person is pleased. – Katherine Hepburn

I don’t have any anger. Stop pissing me off.Florian Sukaj, 90 Day Fiancé: The Last Resort, Tell All Part 5

As mad as he gets, his hair is perfect. – Big Ed Brown, talking about Florian Sukaj, Pillow Talk: 90 Day Fiancé: The Last Resort

💐 It’s Gonna Be May…

Until next week, stay safe; stay off your phone while you take a walk and enjoy how spring has sprung; and stay not taking it lightly if you’re in a luxury position.

April 25, 2025 – GH Weekdays, Drew Keeps Willow From Michael, Soap Suds, This Week In Reality, Weekend Watch, Shenanigans In the Wild, A Revolutionary Number Of Quotes & Day

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

🥢 Weekday Bites…

Monday:

Josslyn heard Emma’s voice coming from a dumpster. She asked if Emma was okay, and Emma said she was fine. Josslyn could go. Josslyn asked if she was sure about that.

Maxie asked if Anna was going to arrest Sidwell, and Brook said, if she did, his assets would be frozen, and they wouldn’t be able to fulfill pending orders. Maxie said Anna had to tell them – how bad is this guy?

Jason asked why Sasha sold out to Sidwell, and she asked what he was talking about. He said she claimed to have a stash of money. Yes or no, did the money come from Sidwell? She said, yes.

Sidwell asked when Sonny was getting heart surgery, but Natalia said she didn’t know, but soon. She happened to walk in when Sonny was having an episode and got him his medication. Sidwell asked if she was saying it was fatal and the surgery would be lifesaving, but she said she didn’t know. She told him everything she knew. Now she had to do damage control after what he’d told Lucy.

Lucas met with Marco, who said he wasn’t sure Lucas was going to show since he didn’t answer Marco’s text. He knew Lucas was thrown by finding out Sidwell was his father. Lucas said he wanted to give Marco a chance to explain before judging him.

Isaiah said, now that Jordan had decided to infiltrate Sidwell, they were done? and she said, yes. He said he didn’t want them to be over (me neither). He’d been having a good time. Wasn’t she?

On the phone, Alexis asked what Sidwell wanted, and he said he understood there’d been an impending job offer for his son, but it had hit a snag when they’d found out he was Marco’s father. She said they thought it was pertinent information that should have come out in the interview, and she had no time for this. She hung up, startling Sidwell.

Sonny said, Carly was coming to LA? and Carly said he’d need someone there and that someone was going to be her. He said she couldn’t do that, and she gave him a look.

Jordan said she’d enjoyed their time together, and Isaiah asked why they couldn’t keep doing what they were doing. She said she couldn’t take the risk. She had to focus on her new job and Sidwell would probably have eyes on her. He asked if she was DEA, but she said, no. He said, so she was just on her own? She was going to disrupt her life and put herself in danger for the possibility of bringing Sidwell down? She said it wasn’t about ego, but she was in a unique position to stop him, and he said Sidwell had been operating under the radar for decades. Anywhere he went, he committed crimes, but his rap sheet was clean. Her chances of incriminating him were slim to none.

Lucas said Marco’s father hurt a lot of his friends and family, and all of them thought he was a criminal. Marco said he didn’t grow up with his father. His parents had divorced when he was young and his mom wouldn’t let him see Sidwell. When he was in high school, he and his mom had a falling out. She didn’t want a gay son and definitely not one who was openly gay. Lucas said he was sorry Marco went through that, and Marco said that’s why he reached out to Sidwell. His father didn’t care who he was or that he was coming out. His father was there for him. Lucas said he didn’t know his father until he was older, and Marco asked if they were close now. Lucas said, Julian died four years ago, and they were estranged at the time. Were Marco and his father close? Marco said they were. When his father was moving to Port Charles, he suggested Marco move there too, and he said yes. Lucas asked if Marco knew who he was and that he lived in Port Charles when he offered to buy Lucas a drink in Miami.

Emma said she was fine, but Josslyn said she didn’t sound like it. Emma said she was just trying to get her foot unstuck, and Josslyn told her to hold out her hand. Emma insisted she was fine, but Josslyn said she didn’t look it. Come on. Emma took her hand, and she pulled Emma out of the dumpster.  

Carly told Sonny that she’d say she was scouting hotels because she wanted to expand the MetroCourt. It was believable that he’d give her a ride to LA. Wishing he could bring the moss bowl 🎍 instead, he said they couldn’t stay in the same room, and Carly suggested they say they’re interviewing doctors for Michael’s follow-up treatment. Sonny said he didn’t want to use Michael as a cover, but she said, Michael would approve, and it would explain their presence at the hospital. She thought it was perfect and that it would work.

Anna told Maxie that she had no reason to investigate Sidwell. Since he’d distanced himself from Africa, he’d broken no laws. Maxie asked if they should distance themselves from him, and Anna asked if that wouldn’t destroy their business. Sidwell had every incentive to keep his dealings with them above board. He was looking to establish himself in Port Charles as a legitimate businessman. Ultimately, it was their decision and their company, but if it was her, she’d stay the course. She thought that was the safest thing, but whatever they did, don’t trust him. She left and Lucy came in. Lucy said they were never going to believe what she heard. Natalia is Jenz Sidwell’s ex-wife. In unison, Maxie and Brook said, Jason told us.

Jason asked why Sasha would take anything from Sidwell. He kidnapped her and held her at gunpoint. They barely got her out alive. Why take money from him and lie to Maxie and Brook? He thought they were her friends. Sasha said they were, and she didn’t exactly lie. She told them that it had been Sidwell’s response to her mother conning him and stealing diamonds from him worth hundreds of millions. She wasn’t saying he wasn’t dangerous, but he was provoked. Deception needed Sidwell’s zincite and Maxie said Deception wouldn’t use him because of what he’d done. They could have lost everything. She downplayed it because she wanted Deception and her friends to succeed. She didn’t think he was a danger, and they could make up their own minds. Jason said she didn’t have to take Sidwell’s money, but Sasha said she did.  

Sasha said she wanted to know that she could support herself and her child. She grew up with a mother driven by money, who transformed herself into whatever her mark wanted her to be. She didn’t want her child to think it was a valid way to live. He said, but her mother was acting alone. She had family and friends. Sasha said she didn’t want charity. This was compensation for what Sidwell had put her through. She took it and they’re done. Jason asked if she’d be okay if Maxie and Brook knew she took it, and she said, he wasn’t going to tell them, was he? He said, no, but the fact she didn’t want to, told him that she wasn’t okay with it.

Jordan said there was no evidence that Sidwell was doing anything illegal, and Isaiah said Sidwell was dangerous and ruthless, and too smart to leave a paper trail. She said, all the more reason to get close, and he said he was afraid for her. If Sidwell found out, she’d just be gone. She said she assumed as much, and he asked why she was hellbent on risking her life with no back-up. She said that was why she was saying goodbye now. If they’d been in a relationship she would have had to make him understand. The cold, hard truth was that it was her choice own and no one was talking her out of doing what she needed to do. He took her hand and said, please be careful. He left and Anna came along. She asked Jordan, what’s wrong?  

Sidwell walked into Alexis’s office and thanked her for seeing him, but she said she already told him that she had no time for him. What did he want? He said, they were on the verge of hiring Marco, and the presumed the stumbling block was him. She said, the fact he was Marco’s father was a factor, but Marco wasn’t the only candidate they were considering. He said none were as well qualified, and Alexis said Sidwell was one of Marco’s clients. Did he possibly know that Sonny and Jason were their clients and brought Marco in to infiltrate them? He said it wasn’t even a remote possibility, and she said, did he ask Marco to relocate? He said, yes. He was moving stateside and looking forward to being close to his son, but it was Marco who wanted to work at the firm. What could he do to alleviate their concerns? She’d be a fool not to hire him.

While downing gummi bears, Lucy told Maxie and Brook that they’d be fine. Brook said they could invoke the morals clause and sever ties with him, but Maxie said he’d never been implicated. Brook said, that would imply they knew something was illegal, and Lucy said if they cut their losses, it would take them months to build up a new supply chain. They’d have to postpone their global launch and would lose all momentum. If they stayed with Sidwell, they could keep an eye on him. They didn’t have to like him to do business with him. Maxie said, which brought them to their CFO. What were they going to do about Natalia?

Sonny said he didn’t want Carly to disrupt her life because of him, but she said left to his own devices, he’d push himself and his recovery would suffer. He said she wasn’t going to tell him what to do, and she said she had a better shot at it than anyone else. Sonny trusted her judgement enough to listen to her, and she was worried that Natalia knew as much as she did. Sonny said he he’d known Natalia was Sidwell’s ex, he would have acted differently, but he didn’t think she’d wish harm on him. His phone rang and Brook asked if he could come to Deception right away. They had to talk about Natalia.

Emma noticed Josslyn was limping and asked if she was okay. Josslyn said she was fine. She’d twisted her ankle during a hike on Easter Island. She’d been fine until she put weight on it hauling Emma’s ass out of the dumpster. Emma said Josslyn did not just call her fat, and Josslyn asked why Emma was always so angry with her. Emma said she was so sick of Josslyn getting everything she wanted, Easter Island, Dalton’s class, even though it already started. Everything always worked out for her. Josslyn said, when they were kids, she was jealous of Emma. She was perfect and could do no wrong. She was never in trouble. Emma said, because she was being who everyone wanted her to be, and Josslyn said, look where that got her. She had a criminal rap sheet. Emma said, public enemy number one, and they laughed.

Anna said that Jordan seemed tense, and Jordan said she’d just broken up with Isaiah. Anna said she didn’t realize they had something going on, and Jordan said, not anymore. She liked him too. Anna asked, what happened? and Jordan said, Jenz Sidwell came to town just when things were getting interesting. Anna said, so given his and Isaiah’s history, she cut Isaiah loose. She didn’t want Sidwell to be suspicious while she was cultivating him. Jordan said, exactly, and Anna said she’s cultivated targets in her lifetime. Jordan said she and Isaiah tried to see each other on the downlow… Anna asked, what changed?

Jason arrived at Sonny’s old kitchen and said he’d gotten Carly’s text. She said she found out Sonny was having open heart surgery, and he asked if Sonny told her. She said, just now, and asked how long he knew. He said he’s known for a while, before the penthouse. Sonny didn’t want anyone to know. Isaiah knew because he was monitoring Sonny’s condition, and Brick knew because he got the specialist in LA. Carly asked what Natalia brought to the party, and Jason said, she found out when she walked in while Sonny was having an episode. She got his pills, and he confided in her. Jason didn’t like it. She said, now it came out that Natalia is connected to Sidwell. Why didn’t he tell her what was going on? He said, Sonny didn’t want her to know, and she said, that never stopped him before. Why didn’t he trust her now? Was it because of Jack?

Marco said he dropped his card because he knew Lucas would find it. Once he did, he knew Lucas would get so drunk, he’d have to carry him back… Lucas said, stop. He didn’t know why he constantly embarrassed himself. Sorry. Marco said he didn’t know who Lucas was. He was just relieved to get his card back and intrigued by the cute boy who found it. Lucas caught him off guard and the next morning he had no reason to think he’d see Lucas again. Surprised again. Lucas asked if Sidwell being Marco’s father was a good surprise. Did Marco work for him? Marco said Sidwell was one of his clients, and Lucas asked if Sidwell was a criminal. Marco said he had no knowledge of his father doing anything illegal, and Lucas said, interesting phrasing. Was that because his father is legit or is Marco being willfully ignorant because he doesn’t want to know?

Brook said Natalia had been in Port Charles over a year, and Lucy asked if she believed Natalia said anything that could hurt them. Natalia walked in and said she wouldn’t have even if there had been something to tell. They had a right to be upset, but she asked that they hear her out. Maxie said, go ahead, and Natalia said her ex had been out of her life for decades. They broke up when their son was a baby. The last she heard, he was in East Africa. She had no reason to think he’d be in Port Charles. Brook said, but he was, and Maxie asked why she didn’t say something, but Natalia said it had nothing to do with their business decisions.

Emma said she’d been envious of Josslyn when they were kids. Josslyn was the super cool girl who lived part-time in Australia, surfed, and never cared what people thought. She pushed boundaries to go after what she wanted. Josslyn said they remembered things differently, and Emma said she was bugged that Josslyn was so fearless, while she was stuck being good. Josslyn said she was jealous of Emma. She had everything figured out and didn’t need to break rules or push boundaries to get what she wanted. Emma said now she just wanted to fight for what was right, and she was covered in paint and gum a tiny child put there. How did Josslyn get into Dalton’s class when there were at least 10 people on the waitlist?

Marco told Lucas that his father was powerful and ambitious. He knew there were parts of his father’s business that his father kept from him, and he preferred it that way. Lucas said he understood too well. He ignored everything his father did until he couldn’t. That’s why they were estranged when he died. Marco said, that’s new. He would tell Lucas his life story on date three. Lucas asked if this was a date.  

Jordan told Anna that after she resigned, Sidwell offered her a job as his personal lobbyist. It wasn’t official and she’d appreciate it if Anna didn’t say anything, especially to Curtis, and Anna said, of course (🍷). Was Laura in on this? Jordan said they’d come up with the plan together. She knew Boyle couldn’t resist grandstanding and putting her on the spot and he didn’t disappoint. And any good cover story works if there’s an element of truth. She’d never been comfortable with Laura’s closeness to Sonny.

Carly said she’d never tell Jack that Sonny needed help, and Jason said he knew she’d never divulge Sonny’s secrets to Brennan. She had a right to have a life, separate and apart from Sonny. In the past, she’d try to distance herself, and he’d pull her back. She said, those were her own choices, and he said, Sonny cost her a lot. She changed after Sonny and Nina. He saw how painful it was, and it wasn’t fair to ask her to come through for Sonny again.

Alexis asked why Sidwell was working so hard to get his son hired, and he said maybe he was overcompensating. He and Marco’s mother divorced when Marco was young. As a father, he was mostly absent. Marco’s mother had him – Natalia Ramirez. Alexis asked if he was Allie’s father, but he said, no. Natalia remarried and their divorce was so acrimonious, he missed out on Marco’s childhood. She asked when they reconnected, and he said, Marco reached out when he was in high school. He was happy to pay for Marco’s college and law school. He was grateful for the chance to bond with his son and was looking forward to living in the same city. Alexis said she could see he loved his son. Unfortunately, his feelings had no bearing on the firm’s hiring decision. She’d have her assistant see him out.

Natalia said she should have told them the second she walked in. She was sorry, but when she saw Sidwell, she froze. She didn’t know he was in North America, let alone Port Charles. Maxie said she was sure it was a shock, and Brook said, it was two months ago, and Natalia continued to keep quiet. Natalia said, Lulu was so passionate with her objection, she didn’t think they’d be able to move forward, and too much time had passed… Sonny walked in and said he didn’t know Natalia would be here. Natalia said, of course (🍷). She owed the women an explanation and an apology. Maxie said, Natalia explained why she kept her ex a secret, and Sonny asked what they decided. Lucy asked if they were still all in agreement, and Maxie said, yeah. Let’s not drag it out. Effective immediately, they were terminating Natalia’s contract.

Anna asked what happened when Jordan got Sidwell, and Jordan said they both knew he was up to something. He hired her to be his public facing, but once she was inside, she’d been in the perfect position to keep an eye on him. Anna asked if she thought she could get evidence against him, and Jordan said, maybe. She was hoping her presence in his organization would make it harder to pull something. Anna said it sounded too good be true, she and Laura having a man on the inside.  And she couldn’t think of a better man for the job.

Sonny said he’d made the decision, and Brook said that’s why she’d asked him to come. Maxie said, except they had a CFO they couldn’t trust, but in the light of things, it was a necessary evil. Lucy said they couldn’t have Sidwell’s ex-wife near their financials, and Natalia told Sonny that he knew she could be trusted. Don’t let it happen. He said he was sorry, but she needed to understand and accept the decision. She said, after all she’d done. Where was his loyalty? He said, business is business, and Natalia left.  

Lucas said he had no idea Marco’s standards were so low, and. Marco said it wasn’t the worst date he’d been on. Lucas said him either (me neither), when Marco’s phone rang, and he said his mom didn’t usually call him. Lucas said he was looking forward to date three, and left.

Carly thanked Jason for taking her life into consideration as she gazed at the moss bowl🎍. It seemed like it had been forever since Sonny’s name had come up in their conversations. She’d always love him. They had kids together. But she loved Jason for thinking about her and supporting her choices even when he didn’t agree. It was her choice to go to LA. She wanted to be there for Sonny. They’d been through a lot, and he was always there for her, just like she was going to be there for him. Jason said he was glad Sonny told her. Sonny was going to need a lot more help than he thought.

Josslyn told Emma that she didn’t know how she got in the class, but she did know she didn’t ask for a special favor. Emma said the school would do what it took to keep her dad happy. They could pay for a new sports center. Josslyn said she knew it was unfair that she got into class when there was a long wait, but now that she was in it, she was going to work her ass off. Emma thanked her and left.

Anna said she supported Jordan’s reasoning, but thought the bottom line was that Jordan missed the action. She was good undercover, but what was worse was that she loved it. Anna was worried that if Jordan focused on Sidwell, it would cost her, and Jordan said it already had. Anna said Sidwell wasn’t an easy target. He was dangerous, and for someone in town for a short time, he had powerful connections.

Alexis came into her office to find her assistant telling Sidwell that he needed to leave. Alexis said she’d take it from here and asked Sidwell if she needed to call security. He said, no, but he wanted to tell her one more thing. Marco had never done anything remotely illegal. He was proud of his son and loved him. Did she think he’d condone any form of criminality? Alexis said she had no idea, but she’d take it under advisement. Sidwell said she was a hard woman to impress, but Marco could rise to the challenge, as could he, and he left.

Jason said Carly had her work cut out for her. Keeping Sonny still while he was recuperating wouldn’t be easy. She said she’d gotten him through the original injury 25 years ago, and they’d get through this too. She was more worried about what Sonny had shared with Natalia. Did he think Natalia had told Sidwell Sonny’s secrets? He said Carly was Sonny’s ex. How much did she tell Sonny? She said, everything, and he said there was her answer. They’d have to assume Natalia told Sidwell everything.

Marco met with Natalia, and she said she didn’t know who she was angrier at – his dad or Sonny. His dad just blew her life to hell and after all she’d done for Sonny, he just fired her like she was nothing.  

Lucy said she was going to look for a new brand scout, and Brook said she was sorry. Natalia was furious. Sonny said she was, but they couldn’t ignore her connection to Sidwell. Since he brought her to Deception, he felt it was right for him to be involved in letting her go. Maxie said, but what happens now? and he said, they just deal with it.

Tuesday:

Ava visited Rick wearing a (faux) fur coat and said, Ava Jerome is back.

Alexis apologized to Diane for being late, and Diane said she couldn’t keep living like this. They needed to revisit the idea of having Kristina committed to a psychiatric hospital. Alexis said she couldn’t do it, and Diane asked if prison for Kristina was okay.

Lucky opened the door to Kristina who wanted to make sure Elizabeth was okay. Lucky said he told her that Elizabeth was fine, but Kristina said the guilt was eating her alive. She couldn’t last like this.

Trina met Curtis at the café, and said she had a feeling her mom told him about the conversation they’d had about Kai. He said he thought she might want someone else to talk with. He knew she was nervous about Kai having surgery. She said Kai was excited, but there was a good chance of it not working out. It would break his heart if that happened or worse. Something could go horribly wrong, and he wouldn’t be able to walk.

Kai went to Drew’s place and Drew said he was sorry about the other day, but Kai had all his attention now. Kai said he thought over Drew’s offer and wanted to have the surgery.

Nina walked into Sonny’s old kitchen and told Carly that she’d gotten a call from a friend in DC. Drew had been asking for the name of a realtor there. Hoping for a calming effect from the moss bowl 🎍, Carly said they couldn’t let that happen, but Nina said, first things first. What was Carly thinking with that ridiculous outburst? They were supposed to break up Willow and Drew, and Carly pushed them closer together. Carly said she was beginning think that’s what Nina wanted.

Willow went to see Jason, and he asked why she wanted to see him. She said she needed his help, and he sighed. He said he didn’t think it was a good idea, but she said he was her last chance. He’d gotten through to Tracy and Tracy compromised. No one knew Michael and Carly better than he did and he was the only person Carly would listen to. She begged him to tell Carly not to take her kids away.

Nina asked where the hell Carly got that idea, and Carly said she thought their alliance was about breaking up Drew and Willow. Now Drew was shopping for a real estate agent, and Nina just stood there after she laid into Willow. She could have used some back-up. Nina said Carly barely took a breath, and Carly asked if it was Nina’s plan all along to be there to comfort her daughter. Nina asked if Carly was done.

Curtis said he was surprised Kai wanted the surgery after Portia told him that she didn’t recommend it, and Trina said Kai ignored Portia’s professional opinion even though he’d asked for it. She thought he’d made up his mind the second he heard about it. It was Kai’s call and she knew she needed to be there to support him even if she didn’t agree. She didn’t want to be dishonest or lie, but she thought he was making a huge mistake.

Drew said he was hoping Kai would go through with it, and Kai said his fear got in the way of him saying yes. Drew said it was normal to be afraid to get his hopes up, but the doctor said he was an excellent candidate. He could call the doctor now if Kai wanted. Kai said he was amazed how generous Drew was, and Drew said, what was the point in having money if you didn’t use it to help people? Just give him a shout out when Kai won the Heisman. Kai said Drew was changing his life and had given him the best gift he could ask for – hope.

Alexis told Diane that Kristina and Molly were closer than ever. It was almost like it used to be. The only thing missing was Sam. Molly was now able to move forward, and Kristina was over the hump. If the truth came out, they were done, and she couldn’t let that happen. Diane said if she had Kristina committed, they would have secured an insanity defense as back-up, and she could keep Molly in the dark about the accident. Alexis said Molly was too smart and would keep digging until she found out and nobody would recover. The best option was to leave it alone and pray the truth stayed buried. So far, it had. Diane said that was all well and good except for one thing – Ric.

On the phone, Ava said she’d take the Maserati… Rose gold of course (🍷)… Fabulous. She couldn’t wait. Ric asked what she was doing, and she said she had plenty of the money left and more was coming, but he said she couldn’t be blowing it on lavish gifts for herself. She said she didn’t forget him, and gave him a giftbag, a thank you gift for standing by her. It was a limited-edition watch. She’d seen his was damaged in the accident. He said, no. It all had to go back. She couldn’t keep anything.  

Nina said Carly could trust her and she didn’t want Willow and Drew together. She wanted the relationship over permanently, but she was in a delicate position. If she was too obvious, she risked alienating Willow and didn’t want to blow it for the likes of drew. If Willow pulled away, she had no influence. Now she was in Willow’s ear. Barely, but it was better than nothing. Carly said Nina had to do more, and Nina said she was trying. Carly was a better mouthpiece anyway and most of what she said was spot on, until she brought up Nelle. Nina refused to let Nelle be weaponized, and moving forward, Carly needed to respect that. Carly said that was fair, but the slow approach wasn’t working. Willow had moved in with Drew and they were running out of time. Nina said she wanted Willow out of Drew’s house as much as Carly did, and Carly said she was done waiting. She was going to get Wiley and Amelia out of Drew’s house with or without Nina’s help.

Jason told Willow that Carly was angry, but meant what she said. Wiley and Amelia meant everything to Michael, and Michael meant everything to Carly. Michael couldn’t fight for himself, and Carly wasn’t going to back down. Willow said she knew no one approved of what happened, but it wasn’t fair for her to put her life on hold. He said that was her choice, but she was wrong about him being her least chance. Her last chance was herself.

Lucky asked if something happened, but Kristina said, nothing new. She kept replaying the accident in her mind and could barely sleep. She had nightmares and when she woke, she realized it was her life. She almost killed two people. Lucky said it was fine. Everyone was healing and would eventually move on. Kristina said she couldn’t move on from this. The only way to free herself was to confess

Ava said Ric couldn’t tell her how to spend her money, and Ric said he got it. He was happy for her and glad her luck was turning, but if she showed her wealth, people would notice and he expected her to be smart. Instead of Alexis transferring the money directly to her account, they needed to set up an offshore account and needed to put the money in Ava’s account slowly, make it look like the galleries were getting stabilized and doing well. She had to fly under the radar if she wasn’t going to get caught. She said, all right. She’d cancel the car and send everything back, but she was keeping the coat. She closed the blinds and said she found it kind of sexy when Ric gave her financial advice. Money was her aphrodisiac. She got in bed with him, and he said, blackmail was his. She said, it would be foolish to waste this serendipitous event, and they kissed.

Alexis said Ric didn’t remember the accident, and Diane said, yet. He’d remember the failing brakes or Elizabeth would, and Kristina would be in for a world of hurt. Did Alexis want to take that chance? Alexis was her best friend and Diane loved her. This was as close as she’d ever come to begging. Please take her advice. Alexis said she could handle Ric, and she loved Diane too. She thanked Diane, but told her to shred the papers. Alexis left and Diane put the papers in a folder.

A nurse gave Portia some paperwork to sign, and Portia noticed they were hosting a guest surgeon, Dr. Mohinder… and the patient was Kai Taylor. The nurse said, yes, the football star.

Drew said the hospital should be receiving the surgeon’s request shortly. If all went well, the doctor was optimistic that Kai would fully recover before the first game in the fall season. Kai said he didn’t know how he’d repay Drew, but Drew said it was the best use of his money… There was something Kai could do for him though. Kai said, anything, and Drew said he came across a documentary producer who did thought provoking work. He thought Kai could do a documentary story – from surgery to recovery to return to the field, a hero’s journey. It was a story that would inspire people. Defying the odds was something people wanted to see. Kai said he’d do it. He owed Drew and if Drew thought it was a good idea, he was in.

Curtis told Trina that deceit didn’t sit well with him, but sometimes in life, circumstances forced your hand. She said she’d been thinking of all the things that could go wrong and how much pain it would cause because Drew thought it was a piece of cake and a sure thing. Curtis said Trina had one choice, to stand by Kai’s side and support him, no matter the outcome.

Lucky said he was sorry it was hard, but he couldn’t tell Kristina to confess. It wasn’t his decision. Kristina said she knew that, but thought if she did, she’d feel lighter and be able to sleep. He said, but at what cost? and she said Molly would never get over the fact she almost killed her father, and she’d lose the only sister she had left. Her whole family would implode. It would destroy all of them. He said, the question was, what was more selfish? Her keeping the secret and protecting herself or confessing and hurting everyone she cared about?

Nina said she was completely committed to breaking up Willow and Drew, but she and Carly had to change their approach. Fighting only reinforced their romantic delusion of them against the world. Carly asked, what if Willow never sees the light or the real Drew? They couldn’t just hope she came to her senses. Nina asked what the alternative was, and Carly said, going to court to fight for custody of her grandchildren, but Nina said, no judge would give a grandparent more rights than the mother. If Carly did that, she and Michael would lose the kids for good.

Willow said nothing she’d done seemed to work and they were in this endless cycle of fighting, but Jason said that was because she surrounded herself with people who shoved their opinions at her. None of that mattered. They were her and Michael’s kids and the rest was noise. She had to shut it out and stop listening. He thought she should go to Germany and see Michael. They needed to meet face to face and end this war once and for all.

Lucky told Kristina to remember one thing. She’d been incredibly lucky. Everyone survived. She’d made a terrible mistake. She couldn’t change that, but she could learn from it. Make almonds amends in any way she could and let her family have peace. Stop letting her emotions rule her. Kristina said she’d been reckless and completely running on emotion, and he said, and more than anything, let go of her vendetta against Ava.

Alexis went to see Ric and said she thought she’d check in. He said she seemed nervous and asked if she was okay.

Portia went to see Drew and said she couldn’t believe Kai was going through what Drew was willing to do to him, and Drew said, nice to see her too. She said she saw the schedule and wasn’t going to sit by while he toyed with this kid’s life. The surgery was dangerous and not going to happen. He said it was, and Kai was the ideal candidate. She said, Kai was young and his whole life had been upended. He wasn’t thinking about the repercussions or how his life could be worse after the surgery. Drew said Kai was just there and was feeling excited, and she said that would end quick if Kai was left in a wheelchair for the rest of his life. How would Drew feel if he did that to Kai? (My guess is, Drew would say, oopsy, and move on.)

Carly told Nina that nothing was going to change until Michael came home. Then everything would change. Nina said that’s what she was hoping. The more room they gave Willow and Drew, the more they’d get complacent and comfortable. When Drew screwed up – and he would – she would be in Willow’s ear and tell her all about it. She’d agree to 50/50 custody and everyone would win, especially Wiley and Amelia. Were they in agreement on the plan moving forward? Carly said they were, and Nina said she’d keep Carly in the loop, but she had to stay away from Willow. She’d be in touch. Giving a last look at the moss bowl 🎍, Nina left, and Carly made a call. She asked if they were busy. She needed to talk to them.

Ric asked if Alexis was sure she was okay. He knew her and she was never this stressed unless it had something to do with Kristina. Alexis said she was fine, and Ric said she could talk to him. Their truce extended to him listening. She said she appreciated that and asked how he was. He said, better every day. He’d actually started to remember things about the accident. She said, like what? and he said she was too smart to be this dumb. She wouldn’t be there if she didn’t think he knew her lunatic daughter tried to kill Ava and almost killed him and Elizabeth instead.

Diane walked into Sonny’s old kitchen and asked, what fresh hell was she here to prevent or cause? Carly said, Michael and Willow’s custody case.

Willow said it seemed drastic to go to Germany, and Jason said he did it. He needed to hear something directly from Michael, so he flew over, talked to him, and got a clear answer. She said she and Michael hadn’t spoken since he left. Kristina set up the video chats with the kids. Michael probably hated her. Jason said he saw Michael before the explosion, and Willow said that was the day she was served in DC. He said he saw Michael’s face and it wasn’t something he wanted. He believed Michael loved her and the kids and wanted the best for them. She said she never doubted it, but Michael came out swinging and asked for sole custody. Jason said they were in this situation because they stopped communication. She had to see Michael face to face, and they had to be on the same page once and for all. It was the only way.

Alexis said, Ava and Ric were in this blackmail scheme together. Of course (🍷) they were. He said she was damn right. If she wanted to thank him for not turning Kristina in, he was all ears. She said he’d never change, and he asked if that meant their truce was over. Kristina belonged in prison. She could call if she preferred. She could end this. Alexis said it would kill Molly, but he said Molly deserved to know the truth. The horrible way Kristina behaved during Irene’s death was the person her sister was. It would break her heart, but at least she’d be free of Kristina. Alexis said, what about the money? and Ric said the money was nice, but for Molly to see who Kristina really was and that Alexis would always protect Kristina over Molly was the best gift he could give his daughter.

Trina sat next to Kai in the park as he watched some guys practicing football. He said everything was set for next week. He talked to his parents. They were out of the country, but supported his decision. He knew Trina wasn’t sure about it, but he appreciated her caring about him and looking out for him. She said she did care about him, and he said if he had the surgery, it would give him a shot at playing football again. It was a long shot, but that was all he needed.  

Drew said he would feel terrible if something happened to Kai, but the doctor was an incredible surgeon and wasn’t going to let anything happen. Portia said, every surgery was a risk, but this was a massively high stakes procedure. She was a doctor and the Chief of Staff. Maybe he shouldn’t argue with her. Drew said, maybe she shouldn’t throw her medical license and credentials around, since she knew she shouldn’t have them. She only did because of him. She said, now the threats, and he said it was a reminder, but he didn’t know why he was keeping her secret. She hadn’t helped him with Curtis at all. It was clear she had no sway with her husband. Maybe it was time Curtis, and the world found out the truth. There was a knock at the door, and it was Curtis. He asked what Portia was doing there, and Drew said they’d just talking about him.

Curtis asked what they were saying about him, and Portia said she’d come to tell Drew that she didn’t support Kai’s surgery. Curtis said he’d come about the same thing, but Drew said they were both wasting their time. He wasn’t going to yank the chance away from Kai. He promised them, the surgery was happening. Curtis said they’d just have to pray the surgeon could pull off a miracle. Not for Drew’s sake, but for Kai’s. Drew asked if they were done, and Portia said, absolutely. She and Curtis left, and outside, Portia said they’d have to pray the surgeon pulled it off and Kai became one of the rare success stories. Curtis said he hoped so for Trina’s sake as well, and Portia said, if it went well, it would prove Drew’s intentions were good and they could put it behind them and move on. Curtis said that wasn’t likely.

Trina said, the last time she saw Kai smile like that, he was in a football uniform, and he said football always made him happy. She said she remembered when she snuck in the tunnel and saw him smiling, and he said it killed him that he couldn’t play now, but the chance for the fall was keeping him going. She said she’d be on the stands supporting him, no matter what, and he put his arm around her.

Kristina thanked Lucky for listening, and he said he hoped it helped to clear her head. She said, it did. She wasn’t going to confess. It wouldn’t accomplish anything, and she didn’t want her family to suffer more than they already had. If anyone should suffer, it had to be her. She learned from it and was going to let go of her vendetta against Ava. She just wanted Elizabeth and Ric to get better. She wanted the people she’d to be okay and the people she loved to never get hurt.  

Alexis said she and Ric had a long, horrible history, but one thing she was sure of was that she thought he loved Molly. When he left, it was her who took care of Molly, raised her, and wrapped a loving family around her, including Kristina and Sam. Could he acknowledge that? He said, sure, why not? and she asked why he would purposely do something to hurt her by taking away her family. She gave in to Ava’s demands and funneled money from the Cassadine estate. Please don’t expose Kristina. He said, since she begged so nicely. He always enjoyed watching her smug moral superiority crumble when it came to Kristina. The blackmail wasn’t the best part. The fact that she had to embezzle from a child to do it was the gift that kept on giving. (Like Ace would even miss it. He could probably live off the interest alone.)

Willow said she didn’t know how it all spiraled or if Michael would want to hear from her, but Jason said he thought Michael would. They owed it to each other and the kids to talk. Somebody had to make the first move, and it had to be her.

Carly asked what the status of the custody case was, and Diane said it was at a standstill until Michael was back in town. Carly said Willow was served in DC. Could they move forward on Michael’s behalf? Diane said, not at the moment. It was hard to have a custody battle when the plaintiff was halfway around the world. Carly said she could handle getting Michael there as long as they were ready to go. Diane said they would be, and Carly said, good. Drew could decide to move at any time, and she wanted to get a court date on the books for the hearing. Diane said she didn’t keep the court’s calendar and there was a good chance they wouldn’t get one until later. Carly said that was okay. She wanted to keep it quiet until a date was found. She wanted Drew, Willow, and Nina to think the hearing was far off in the future. She wanted reality to blindside them.

Wednesday:

Laura goes to visit Lulu and see her new house and thought it would be a wonderful home. She couldn’t stay, but she could come back to help. Lulu said she thought she was good, and Dante came out. He said he thought he heard Laura’s voice.

Boyle stopped by Tracy’s table at the MetroCourt, and said he hoped they could let bygones be bygones and put their unfortunate property dispute behind them. She asked if he meant when he tried to bulldoze her deceased relatives. Did he want something? He said if she ever needed a friend in city hall… and she told him to sit. She said despite his unfortunate relationship with Congressman Cain, she did find herself liking some of his positions. Actually, just one position. The one where he put Sonny Corinthos out of business.

At another table, Nina thanked Portia for meeting with her. Drew was out of control, and they had to do something to stop him before he cost Nina’s daughter her children.

Carly was chopping vegetables in Sonny’s old kitchen, when Jason came in. She said they had something to talk about before she went to LA. She finally figured out how to get Michael’s kids away from Willow for good. Jason said he needed her to put the knife down.

Drew told Willow that he’d talked to his lawyer about the kids. If something happened to her and Michael, they could stay with him. She didn’t have to worry they would end up with Carly. His lawyer would make sure they wouldn’t. Willow asked if he could stop them.

Boyle said the locale of the esplanade should be left up to the people, but Tracy said she didn’t want to talk about the esplanade. No one gave a damn about the esplanade, and if she never heard the word esplanade again it would be too soon. Boyle said that’s what the referendum was about, and she said not to talk to her like she got her news from social media. The referendum had absolutely nothing to do with a sidewalk. He asked what she thought it was about, and she said she thought it was about getting rid of and extremely dangerous criminal in Port Charles. Sonny had wormed his way into the graces of important people. Her only regret is that it took this long to find the perfect way to shut him down. Boyle said he couldn’t agree more and asked if she was willing to put her money where her mouth was.

Dante said the garbage disposal was now working, but not some of the outlets, and asked where the panel was. Lulu said she didn’t even know her zip code, and he said he’d find it. He left, and Laura said Lulu really didn’t need her help. Lulu said Dante’s handyman skills had been a lifesaver, and Laura said she was sure they had. Lulu said, fine. She was enjoying his company, but she’d always need her mother. Laura said, nice save, and she was only a phone call away. She’d miss having Lulu and the kids there, but was thrilled Lulu had found a home for her family. Just don’t forget that her home was also Lulu’s home – always. They hugged and Laura left. Lulu found a giftbag among the boxes and took out a vase. Dante came back and said the outlets were working, and she said, don’t tell her that he picked out the vase. He said, Tracy did. He was just the messenger. She took out the card and read, Love, Your Stepmonster. Dante said, new house, new vase, and old, but functioning, garbage disposal. It looked like Lulu was back on her feet. Lulu said, not quite, but soon.

Brook told Lois that she and Chase would like to start a family, so they decided to explore adoption. Chase said Brook thought it would be a nice way to pay it forward, and Lois said she thought it was an amazing idea. She’d do what she could to help. Brook said, one thing they knew for sure was that they wanted to use the same agency where Lois placed her baby.

Carly told Jason that she wasn’t going after Willow with a knife. Michael served Willow with divorce papers when she was shacking up with Drew in DC, but there was no follow through because of his injuries. While he was in Germany, Willow was living out her romantic delusional fantasy with no consequences, like losing her children. She told Diane to prepare for Michael’s custody battle. Jason asked if they were going to inform Willow, and Carly said when they got a court date, but Diane thought it was far off. Jason said, what if Michael wasn’t ready? and Carly said they’d postpone it, but if and when he was ready and back in Port Charles, they’d have tons of evidence that Willow was an unfit mother. Jason said, but they didn’t know what Michael wanted.

Willow said she didn’t think extreme action was best, but Drew said it wasn’t extreme. Willow still had Michael’s medical proxy. She said she wasn’t using that as leverage again, and Drew said Willow had to consider her position. No one was filling her in on Michael’s medical condition. She said, Carly updated her when she asked and Michael was doing better, but Drew said, all they had was Carly’s word. What if he was getting worse? What if something happens to her? She said she didn’t want to talk about that, but he said, consider the possible outcome. That if Michael succumbed to his injuries and she became incapacitated? She needed to make it super clear in the eyes of the law that the kids wouldn’t end up with Carly. She said before they went any further, there was one more person she needed to face – her husband.

Brook said either she never knew the name of the agency or didn’t remember, but she was sure Lois and Gloria vetted them within an inch of their life. Chase said Lois told them she was grateful to the nuns, and Brook said, that’s why they thought it would be a great place to adopt a child of their own. What was the name? Ned came in and asked what he just heard about a child.

Portia said she was confounded by Willow’s faith in Drew, but it seemed to be a pattern. People fell under Drew’s spell. Nina said it was because he was a master manipulator, and Portia said Drew used half-truths and subtle pressure to convince people to do what he wanted, then made them think it was their idea. Nina said he had Willow convinced it was the two of them against the world and Willow never questioned it despite other people’s warnings. Portia said he tried to manipulate Curtis into giving him controlling interest in Aurora again, but when Curtis saw who Drew really was, it changed his perception for good. Nina said Drew would never show Willow any side of himself except the hero. If only she knew what he was capable of. Portia said, if Nina knew what Drew was hiding, the simplest way was to tell Willow.

Carly said her son wanted his children back, and Jason asked if she’d talked to Michael. She said, early in his treatment, she’d talked to him on the phone, but he was tired and in pain and she didn’t want to push it. Did he talk to Michael? He said they’d had two conversations that lasted about three minutes. He just wanted his kids to be okay. The only two who could fix this were Michael and Willow. She said, Willow was too enthralled with Drew. She didn’t even remember she had a husband. Jason said, she remembered. Willow was going to Germany to see Michael.

Drew said, Willow was going to visit Michael? and she said, that was the plan. He didn’t approve? He said it wasn’t that. He was surprised. She said she should have gone a long time ago, but didn’t know for sure what his condition was. She needed to see it for herself, so she was going to Baden-Baden. If Carly was lying about his progress, they’d know what legal action to take. The sooner she knew his current condition, the better, and if he was improving, they could have a productive conversation. Drew said, Michael filed for sole custody. Did she think he wanted to talk? She said, when she was served, it was petty and cruel, but Michael wasn’t. He’d had no chance to explain, and they only had Carly’s take on it. She needed to hear it from him. Drew said she might not like what he had to say, and she said, maybe not. There was a reason their marriage didn’t work, but they had cared for each other and the one thing they could always agree on was the kids. He said, the kids Michael was trying to take away from her, and she said, which was also not like him. Even when the video was shown, he stood up to Carly and let her take the kids because he knew they belonged with her. Drew asked, what changed? and Willow said she spoke to the one person who knew Michael better than anyone. She talked to Jason.

Boyle looked at a check and said he couldn’t thank Tracy enough. She said she didn’t want thanks, just results, and he said he was confident the referendum was going to go their way, but it wasn’t a slam dunk. Sonny had powerful friends who were fine with the status quo. Tracy said she wasn’t and she wasn’t the only one. Boyle said, if she aligned herself with them, she would be going up against Sonny’s powerful friends – Laura approached the table – such as their illustrious mayor.

Laura asked if Boyle was making amends to those whose family he tried to have disinterred, and Tracy said he promised to make every effort to make it up. Boyle said Laura should know he got the internal polling on the referendum. Sonny Corinthos’s days on the piers were numbered. Laura said, then they were. Excuse them. Boyle said given the way the wind was howling, Laura should jump on board with their position, but she said, unlike him, she didn’t choose her position based on polls. She did what was best for Port Charles. Tracy said Boyle had his money. Go put it to good use, preferably as far away as he could get. Boyle left and Laura sat down. She said, Tracy gave him money? She couldn’t trust him. Tracy said he was loathsome, but she thought they needed to listen to him.

Lulu told Dante that she was looking for a new job to go with her new place, and she’d found something perfect. He asked what she was going to do, and she said she reached out to her old contacts at The Invader. She was pitching herself as a long form journalist. She was starting as a freelancer and had a great call with the managing editor at the Llanview Banner. She felt good about this one. She got to make her own hours, so she’d have plenty time for the kids. Dante said, they’d love that, especially Rocco. He felt Rocco could use his mom.

Carly said, Jason told Willow to see Michael in Germany? and Jason said he did. She asked why he was talking to Willow, and he said Willow had tracked him down and wanted him to stop her from taking the kids like he’d stopped Tracy. He told her that only she and Michael could figure out their marriage and needed to have a face-to-face conversation. Carly said it was a bad idea. Michael was in no condition to figure things out. He was still in love with Willow.

Willow told Drew that she took the kids to see Monica and ran into Jason. They talked and he asked why she hadn’t reached out to Michael. The truth was, she was afraid of what Michael would say and do, but Jason said he’d be willing to hear her out. Drew said she couldn’t trust anything to do with Michael, but she said she couldn’t make decisions based on fear. She had to face him and try to find common ground for the kids’ sake. Was there something she wasn’t seeing? He told her that he couldn’t believe he was saying this, but he thought Jason might have a point. He was in favor of anything that brought the family peace.

Nina told Portia that she could expose Drew, but had no tangible proof. If she openly challenged Drew, it would just push them closer. Portia said that Drew wasn’t just a manipulator. He was impossible to call out. You could try, but it could backfire. Nina wondered if she was talking about Curtis, but Portia said Curtis could hold his own. She was worried about Trina’s friend Kai Taylor. Nina asked if he wasn’t the spokesperson for Drew’s Pediatric Sports Initiative (🍷). Didn’t he play football? Portia said, he was football until he got hurt. Drew convinced him that he could play again if he underwent an incredibly risky surgery. Nina said, if it was a success, Drew would be the hero for saving a young man’s future, but if it didn’t work… Portia said, Kai could end up paralyzed. Trina was terrified and they’d both tried to talk to Kai. Nina said, but he bought Drew’s act, and Portia said, if it didn’t work out, Drew would say he never promised anything, like making Curtis CEO. Nina said Drew could weasel himself into anything, and Portia said he lured them in until they were trapped, then convinced them they did it to themselves. Nina said then they’d just have to set a trap of their own.

Tracy said, a broken clock was right twice a day, and Laura said Boyle pandered to donors and polls. He was eager to get back and Sonny. Tracy said it was worth working with him to get rid of the blight on her family. Sonny stole Michael from AJ, then murdered AJ. There was no love lost between her and AJ, but he was Alan and Monica’s son, and it was a murder. She could understand Laura’s conflict and it wasn’t her intention to put her at odds with Sonny. That’s why she wanted to meet. She wanted to give Laura a heads up before she made her position public. She apologized for the timing. Laura said she didn’t care about that, but Tracy aligning herself with Boyle was a mistake, and Tracy said if Boyle was willing to go head-to-head with Sonny Corinthos, she had no choice but to support him.

A beautiful woman went to the bar and asked Boyle if the seat next to him was taken. Portia wondered how she and Nina would pull it off. Councilman Boyle was here. He was Drew’s lackey and did his dirty work. They looked over to Boyle and the woman laughing and clinking glasses, and Nina said maybe they could use that. Portia wondered what that woman was doing with that troll, and Nina said she’d seen that woman here before several times.

Lulu asked if Dante was concerned about separating Danny and Rocco, and he said, a little. He was more worried about Danny being without Rocco’s influence. Danny also let Rocco loosen up, but she shouldn’t worry. Rocco wouldn’t get in as much trouble as he did at Rocco’s age. Lulu dropped something and Dante suggested they take a break.

Ned hugged Brook and said adoption was wonderful. He adopted Leo and considered it a great joy, the gift of life. Chase said he hoped they were half as lucky, and Ned said the child they adopted would be happy and lucky. He’d do everything he could to help. Lois said, absolutely, when her phone rang. She said it was a lighting director she was trying to nail down for the Nurses Ball and left. Chase thanked Ned in advance and said they didn’t know if they wanted to adopt an infant or an older child. Ned said, the proper mindset was an open mind. You never knew who your child would be until the day you met them.

On the phone, Lois told Gloria, Bingo can wait. Brook was asking what agency they used to place the baby. What was she supposed to tell her? Clearly, there was no agency.

Lulu said they were using the glasses they’d got when they took Rocco to Disneyworld, and Dante said they were the first glasses he’d found. She said she remembered how excited Rocco was to meet Goofy, and Dante said he did too. That’s why he made sure they were still around. When she got sick and he packed up her house, he made sure he got what he thought she’d find important. He was hoping they’d get use one day. Lulu’s phone rang and she said it was the Llanview Banner.

Lois came back and Ned said he had to get to a meeting. They’d talk more tonight. He couldn’t wait to meet his grandchild.

Laura said she felt there was nothing she could say to change Tracy’s mind, and Tracy said there wasn’t. She was sorry it was going to create friction between them and understood it put Laura in a bad position. She hoped Laura understood the wisdom of ridding Port Charles of a mafia boss. Laura said Tracy thought driving Sonny out of town was going to rid them of organized crime, but it wasn’t. Somebody else would slip in behind him and she thought she knew who – Jenz Sidwell. She asked what Tracy knew about him, and Tracy said she wasn’t a fan. Unfortunately, Deception needed him and his rare mineral. Laura said he wasn’t just that Sidwell was a dangerous criminal, she believed he wanted to take Sonny’s place in Port Charles. By driving Sonny out, they were inviting someone worse in.

Carly said, if Willow saw Michael, she’d try everything to get what she wanted, but Jason said it was Michael’s decision. Carly said he was in no condition to decide and couldn’t have a full conversation. Willow wasn’t the woman he remembered and would put her person put selfish desire ahead of the kids. The Willow that Michael loved was gone. Jason said, if that was true, Michael needed to see it for himself, but she said he wouldn’t see it. Willow would cry and do what she could to get what she wanted. He told her to try to have faith and trust that Michael would see through that and figure it out, and she said he would if he was 100%, but he’s not. Jason said he was still Michael.

Drew said he only wanted what was best, and Willow said she was going to book her ticket now. Drew said he’d do it. They’d fly first class, and he’d find an incredible place for them to stay. He could take a couple of days off. Willow said as amazing as it sounded, she needed to go on her own, and he said she didn’t want him to go? She said, if it was a holiday or a long weekend, but she was seeing her husband who was in a burn clinic. On top of it, if Michael found out Drew came, he could take it the wrong way, and he wouldn’t exactly be wrong. She needed to focus doing what was best for the kids. He said if that was what she needed to do, he was behind her 100%, and they hugged.

Nina went over to the woman and said she didn’t mean to interrupt, but she was Nina Reeves, editor of Crimson. Boyle said he was off the clock, but she said she was talking to his friend. The woman introduced herself as Jacinda, and Nina said Jacinta must already be represented by an agency. She assumed Jacinta was a model. Jacinda said she was a freelancer, and Nina handed her a card. Boyle said they had to get going and asked for the check. Nina said, of course (🍷). Call her. She gave Jacinta a wink and went back to the table. Portia thought it was no time to scout models for Crimson, but Nina said, that woman was no model.

Laura said Sonny kept certain elements away from Port Charles, and Tracy said, like drugs. She understood he was the evil they knew, but she was willing to roll the dice on a brand-new devil. Laura said if she couldn’t sway Tracy, could she talk her out of aligning herself with Boyle. Boyle asked her to resign… Is that what Tracy wanted, for her to step down? Tracy said, of course (🍷) not, but why didn’t she distance herself from Sonny. Don’t let that man take her down with him.

Lulu told Dante that the Llanview Banner accepted her 2000-word article, and he said, which one? She said she pitched three and they went with the adoption story.

Brook said she felt terrible that Lois never met her own grandchild, but Chase said their child would still be a new member of the family. Lois said she’d welcome them with open arms – the whole family. Chase said, Tracy might complain, and Brook said, at the beginning, but then she’d be happy there was another Quartermaine, or adjacent. What was the name of the agency? Lois said, Saint Ignatius, and Brook said she’d give them a call. Lois said, unfortunately, they closed down 15 years ago.

Jason told Carly that they weren’t married to Michael. Willow was. Carly said, not for much longer, but he said, until that happened, Michael would say how and when the marriage ended. Carly said she wasn’t calling off Diane. They’d lay the groundwork for Michael to get his kids back and there was nothing Willow could do about it.  

Drew said he was proud of Willow for facing Michael alone, but she said he seemed to have his doubts. He said, never about her. He was going to miss her a lot. They hugged and she said she wasn’t gone yet. They kissed and moved to the bedroom where they got busy.

Boyle left with Jacinta and Portia asked how Nina knew she wasn’t a model. Nina said she recognized Jacinda from the hotel security footage. When she was co-owner, she had to have Jacinda removed from the premises several times for plying her trade. Portia said, she’s an escort? and Nina said, she was, and they had a job for her.

Thursday:

Brook brought Cody to the hospital and he told Felicia that Hades had kicked him. He’d made a rookie mistake, and it wasn’t the horse’s fault. Felicia said she’d find a doctor.

Lucas went to Lulu’s place and thanked him for meeting her. She wanted to interview him for the Llanview Banner. He asked if she needed a medical expert, but she said it was more personal. How did he feel about being adopted?

At the batting cages, Jason told Danny that Rocco was going to be late. Danny said Jason didn’t have to stay, but Jason said he hadn’t planned on leaving. He suggested Danny take some swings.

Alexis thanked Marco for coming back to the office, and Diane said she wanted to cut to the chase. They’d extended him an offer and wanted him to work there, but before they could consider moving forward, there was one thing she had to make abundantly clear.  

Molly walked Ric down the hall at the hospital, and he said he wasn’t the most popular guy. His only regular visitor besides her, was Ava. She said that’s what she was afraid of.

Dante came by Sonny’s old kitchen to see the moss bowl 🎍 Kristina. She said she’d made pancakes with Donna, but was crawling out of her skin a little bit. Dante said he was worried about their dad too.

Brick asked if Sonny was ready to do this thing, and gave Carly a hug. Sonny smiled.

Dante told Kristina that their dad appreciated her staying with Donna. Carly and Sonny were lucky. Kristina said since Carly was going with Sonny to LA, she was grateful she could help out, and he said Donna was here and safe with her. He was grateful too, that she got Sonny to tell him about his health issues. They were family and their dad needed them, especially now.

Brick asked how Sonny was doing, and Sonny said, better now that Brick was here. Brick said he already seemed to be in good hands. He was glad Carly came with Sonny. Sonny said Brick had connected him to the cardiologist, set up the appointment in LA, and kept it discreet, and Brick said, you know I got you.

Jason said Rocco had a great swing, and Rocco said his mom taught him. It was more Rocco’s sport, but he liked it. Jason asked how he felt with Rocco living at Lulu’s half the time, and Danny said, Rocco had missed his mom, and he was happy for him, but it was already weird enough with Scout gone. They were supposed to stick together. Jason said, like mom wanted, and Danny said, now that she was gone, he guessed it didn’t matter.

Molly said Ric was doing great. He’d come a long way. She’d been terrified when she got the call. He said he was tougher than people thought, but Molly said she thought people knew he was tough. She would have lost it if not for mom, Kristina, and Cody. Ric said, Cody the horse guy? and she said, actually, he’d shown up for her a couple of times and turned out to be a good friend. He said, good friends were hard to come by, and Molly said she was grateful Cody got him and Alexis to make a truce. She was concerned about his support system and worried that Ava was the only person showing up for him.

Diane said she didn’t like slip-ups. She introduced Marco to a valuable client, when she wasn’t aware of his controversial parentage. While he hadn’t been obligated to tell them, it was absolutely pertinent. Alexis said it wasn’t a disqualifier. Marco was an excellent attorney, and considering her background, she made it a point to not hold anyone’s lineage against them. While they appreciated the billable hours and Marco bringing in his client list, they needed assurances. Marco said, that his father’s business wasn’t a conflict in working with Jason and Sonny.

Felicia came back and told Brook and Cody that she’d thought Lucas was there, but there’d been a schedule. As soon as a doctor was free, she’d let them know. Brook got an ice pack and said Cody had to get the swelling down. She opened his shirt and said, let’s go, big baby, and put on the ice pack.

Lucas said his parents handled things the right way. They never hid that he was adopted, and he knew he’d been chosen and loved. He didn’t feel they love was any different than their love for BJ, his dad’s biological child. His mom loved both of them. Lulu asked if it made him more receptive to being an adoptive parent, and he said he didn’t know, but he had no hesitation. She asked if the aftermath changed how he felt, and he said, not at all. Adoption was the greatest gift to give or receive. Lulu said that might be the title of her article. He’d been an adoptive parent and been adopted. What was it like when his biological father came into his life as an adult?

Jason said he knew Danny missed his mom and felt he had no one to talk to except Scout, but Scout was young, and he wasn’t seeing her as much as he’d like to. Danny said he was happy about Rocco getting his mom and sister Charlotte back, and Jason said it made sense that Rocco would be feeling mixed up with losing his mom. Rocco could talk to him about how he felt missing her. He missed her too. They were similar and stayed in their heads too much and didn’t talk. He and Danny’s mom did. Nobody got him to talk like she did, and it helped, so he was there. Anything and everything Danny wanted to say, whenever he needed.

Lucas said Tony Jones would always be his dad, but Julian was part of the reason he existed. Despite not being raised by Julian and his many flaws, he found he had room in his heart for his father. He asked if that was awkward or terrible, but Lulu said, neither. She appreciated his honest answers. Julian was a flawed man, but if Lucas could choose, would he still have Julian re-enter his life or would he have been better off never knowing him. Lucas said their relationship was a rocky road filled with highs and lows, and Julian fighting demons until the day he died. He knew Julian loved him and he was grateful for that and Julian, so yes. He was glad Julian came back into his life.

Cody said he thought Brook was annoyed at him for running his mouth to Lulu. Now she was staying in the lounge with him. Brook said she’d told him that she wasn’t mad, and she meant it. She was mad and annoyed at Lulu for manipulating him and digging into something that was none of her business. He said he was sorry, but she said, don’t be. He was there when it counted. She was scared and didn’t know what she would have done without him that summer. He said he was glad to help, and she said she was there for him now and glad to help.

Brick said Dr. Abbott was the best cardiologist in the country, and Sonny said, whoever tried to kill him and hurt Michael was still out there. Brick said he’d find out who it was. He gave the order and got a security team together in case Sonny was under surveillance. He was going to check in now. Carly was in charge, so behave himself. Try to do what the lady says.

Dante told Kristina that he thought Sonny would be around forever. It made him realize he was taking the people he loved for granted and needed to tell those people how much they meant. Kristina said she needed to get better at it. Their dad was her anchor when she bottomed out and didn’t judge her. He just loved her. Dante said Sonny did the same for him after he lost Sam. Kristina told him, both Sam and their dad said they weren’t their mistakes. They did bad things, but were still worthy of love. Dante said, true, and Kristina was super loveable. Donna ran in and asked if Dante wanted to go to the park, but he said he had to pick up Rocco. Her big sister was there though, and she was a blast. Donna said, Kristina was the best, and he said she certainly was.

Marco said he could keep his work for his father siloed and had no problem representing Sonny or Jason, but Diane said, him representing them was highly unlikely. Marco said if a situation was a conflict of interest, he would recuse himself, and Alexis welcomed him aboard. She had to leave for a meeting with Kristina, and Diane would take it from here. Alexis left and Diane handed Marco a folder, saying the cases were still in the preliminary stages. He pulled some papers out and asked if she was sure she wanted him to work on this. He handed her the involuntary commitment papers for Kristina.  

Ric said Ava was his client and friend, but Molly said he wasn’t talking to a ten-year-old. She knew Ava was more than a friend. He said he and Ava had an understanding, and she said that scared her. Ava appealed to the worst parts of him. He said that wasn’t fair, but she said, Ava was never fair. Or she’d never seen it. While Ava wasn’t directly responsible for Irene’s death, she was responsible for a lot of bad. She wanted better for him and wanted him to be batter. He asked if having Ava in his life meant she wouldn’t be, but she said she wasn’t giving him an ultimatum. She just wanted him to think long and hard about being involved with Ava before she wrapped him up in something he’d regret.

Diane told Marco that the paperwork had obviously been misplaced. It was a private matter that she assumed he’d regard with discretion. He said he understood and was going to his office to work on the prelims. He left and Diane wrote Davis on a manila envelope and put the papers in it.

Donna and Kristina did some coloring, when Donna asked for a glass of water. When Kristina went to get it, Donna picked up Kristina’s phone and called Sonny. Sonny answered and when he saw it was Donna, he asked where her sister was. Kristina popped in and said she was there, but Donna shouldn’t take other people’s phones without asking. Donna said she wanted to call her daddy. Where was he and what was he wearing. Sonny said he was at the hospital for a check-up. Mommy was here with him. Carly said hi, and Kristina said they should let their father focus on his check-up. She had things under control despite what it seemed like. Sonny said he loved them. When the call was over, Sonny asked if Carly thought Donna was scared, but she said she thought Donna was more afraid he was getting a shot. Sonny said Kristina looked terrified even though she was trying to act like she wasn’t. Dr. Abbott came in and Sonny introduced Carly as his friend, and she said, friend and ex-wife. Sonny told the doctor that whatever he had to say, he could say in front of Carly. Let’s hear it.

Felicia brought Lucas to Cody and said he’d been kicked by a horse. Lucas asked if Cody could walk, and Cody said he could and left with him.

Rocco asked how Lulu’s interview went, and she said, fantastic. Lucas opened up about how it felt to be adopted. Rocco said that’s how he felt, like Danny, him, and Scout adopted each other when they moved in with Sam. She asked what it was like blending families and having new siblings, and he said, weird at first, but they figured it out. It was mostly bathroom schedules and what they liked to eat, but it didn’t take long. Lulu said when she and Dante agreed he’d live with her part-time, she thought it was important that they spend time together. They’d missed out on so much. She knew he had a real family who loved him – his dad, Danny, and Scout. She knew he had that with Sam too… Rocco said he’d spent years praying for this, to see and talk to her. He loved his family, all of them – dad, Danny, Scout, and Charlotte – but when he was here with her, it’s exactly where he wanted to be. They hugged.

Dr. Abbott said he was going to repair Sonny’s heart damage from the shrapnel. It sounded scary, but he’d survived a great deal, and the doctor expected him to heal well. Carly said he was a fighter and incredibly stubborn, and the doctor said that would help too.  

Donna asked if Kristina was mad at her, and Kristina said, of course (🍷) not. She could never be mad at Donna, but she shouldn’t take anyone’s phone without asking. Donna asked if their daddy was going to be okay, and Kristina said he’d be just fine and back before they knew it. She suggested they made Sonny a get-well card, but Donna said she couldn’t find her glitter. Kristina (who probably hid the glitter, as anyone whose made crafts with kids would) said she had the feeling it would be just perfect without glitter, and Donna said she was glad Kristina was here with her. Kristina said she was too.

Diane went to Ric’s hospital room, and he asked what brought her by. She said she was filing a request in family court. Sonny wanted to take Avery on a trip to the island this summer. She thought he should have a hard copy so there were no inconvenient delays. She dropped the folders she was carrying, knocking down Molly’s folders with them. She said she was sorry. She guessed it was one of those days. She and Molly picked everything up, and Molly said they all had those days. Ric earned some rest, so she was going to leave him to it. She left, and Ric said, about that trip out of the country with his client’s daughter…

Dante picked up Rocco, and said he was sorry he was running late, but Lulu said it gave her more time to work on her adoption piece. There was a chance it might reach a lot of people and hopefully change some lives.

Lucas came back and Brook asked how Cody was. Lucas said Cody was in radiology. He wanted to take some x-rays to be on the safe side. He should be fine, but he’d be sore for a bit. She said she was glad to see him, since they were told there was a change in schedule, and he said he had to step out for a quick interview. Brook said, tell her more. Was he being asked what it was like to be a sexy, single doctor? He said, sadly, no one asked that. Lulu was writing a piece for the Llanview Banner, her first piece for her freelance gig. Brook asked what it was about, and he said, adoption. She pitched the subject to the editor, and they gave her the green light. She was excited about it and it seemed like she was doing a really deep dive.

Jason said, either he was getting slower, or the pitch machine was faster, and Danny said he remembered when Jason first came back, his mom didn’t want him hanging out with Jason. He thought she was more worried that Jason wasn’t sticking around. She changed her mind when she figured out Jason could take care of him. Jason said he would, always, and Danny said it was cool to have people who cared. He was glad he had Jason and hoped his knew Jason had always been there and he hasn’t felt so alone. Jason said he bet she did and hugged Danny as he looked up.

Molly saw Cody and asked what he was doing at the hospital. He said he was kicked by a horse, and she said, the same one he rescued her on? Cody said it wasn’t the horse’s fault, but she said she knew it. She could see kicker in his eyes. Cody said it was a natural reaction to being startled. He was a good horse. He was waiting for his x-ray results. Brook was here, but she disappeared. Why was Molly here? Molly said she was visiting her dad and guessed she had work she could do here. He shouldn’t have to wait alone. She asked him to button his shirt, and they flirted a little. (I’m not really feeling these two.)

Diane said Ric was obviously bored and enjoyed squabbling, but she didn’t. If he wanted to contest the response, he could do it in family court. Until then, happy healing. Ric said he thought she was a proponent in calling a truce, and she said she was, but any interaction that had to do with Ava was inordinately exhausting. He said she was being overly dramatic, and she said, he might enjoy helping his financially strapped clients by doing pro bono, but she didn’t. On the day Avery turned 18 and was finally an adult (which, in soap years, should be about five years from now) there would be no one more excited to handle their client’s interests, through the proper channels. Truce or not, he needed to give Alexis a break. Ric asked, why?

Alexis asked why they were meeting in Sonny’s old Carly’s kitchen, and  Donna said they were making a get well card. She was going to get her markers that smelled like fruit. Kristina said that was exactly what the card needed, and Donna went upstairs. Kristina told Alexis that she was staying while Sonny was seeing a doctor in LA. Carly went with him so she was helping out. Alexis said all she wanted to know is if Kristina was okay, and Kristina said she’d been scared out of her mind. Donna was so sweet, she was glad she was there. It made her realize that she was glad Alexis was here too. Kristina had been so close to not being there.

Carly said she was thinking about the gunshot that almost killed Sonny. It was 25 years ago, but she remembered it like it was just yesterday. Sonny said, things like that got seared in your memory, and she said, he flatlined. They’d lost him. He said she wouldn’t let him go, and she said they made him keep fighting and he knew he was fighting. Do not give up. Not for anything. She didn’t care if St. Peter was waving him in at the Pearly Gates. Turn around and come back. He was going to make it through this. Sonny said he promised he would, and the nurse came to prep him for the OR. She said Carly would need to go outside, and Carly told Sonny that she meant what she said. He said he never doubted it and promised he would. She left.

In the waiting area, Carly told Brick that Sonny was gone, but he said he came back to see if she’d mind some company. She said she’d like some company, and he took her hand.  

The anesthesiologist asked Sonny if he was ready for a great nap. Think of good, positive things. Count back from ten. Sonny said, ten… nine… eight… seven… six… … five… He thought of making pancakes with Donna and Kristina saying he was the only one she could turn to. He remembered Dante saying he was going to keep his oath, and Sonny saying, even if Dante had to arrest him, he’d always love him, and them hugging. He thought of Donna asking him to show her his father’s picture and them looking at a picture of Mike. Donna asked if he missed Mike, and he said, every single day. The anesthesiologist said, he’s ready.

Marco found Lucas at the hospital and said he’d been officially hired by Miller and Davis. Lucas said, congratulations. He owed Marco dinner. Marco said he’d be happy to collect.

Danny asked Rocco how his new house was, and Rocco said cool. The boys went to do some batting, and Jason said he knew Rocco meant a lot to Danny. Dante said the same with Rocco. They were brothers. They had to make sure the boys didn’t lose their connection. Jason said, Sam would love seeing this, as the boys used their bats like light sabers.  

Lulu looked on her computer at a list of facts and questions about Brook’s pregnancy and the baby’s adoption. There was a knock at the door, and Lulu opened it to Brook who asked what the hell she was trying to pull.  

Ric asked for a reason he should take it easy on Alexis, and Diane said, aside from common decency? No. Their truce or lack thereof was none of her business. She was going to file the petition. Do as he will. She left and in the hallway, she banged herself in the head with her hand. In his room, Ric said, nice try. Alexis told you the truth.

Kristina told Alexis that she’d been a mess since the baby died. Losing Sam was hell and she’d been putting Alexis through hell since she was ten or so. She was so grateful, but more than that, she was grateful for her life and to see how much good she had waiting. Alexis said she’d wanted Kristina to let the past go. In knowing the good that was waiting, she was putting herself in a position to receive it. They hugged.

Molly looked through some papers and Cody suggested she get out more. She said paperwork was comforting. Sometimes she went to a restaurant, ordered a glass of wine, and worked for hours. It’s a world she understood and where she was in control unlike him and his devil horse. She took out the paperwork for the involuntary admission and said, oh my God.

🫔 Friday’s Enchilada…

At the MetroCourt, Sidwell thanks Jordan for sitting in on his meeting with Congressman Cain. He knows she’s not his biggest fan. Jordan says, true, but as Sidwell pointed out, he’s a powerful ally. He hired her to make the right connections, so she’s going to grin and bear it. Sidwell says he appreciates that. He’s determined to make this fair city his home, especially since his son put down roots here too.

At the office, Alexis says she’s glad she caught Marco. She wanted to talk over some concerns she had about work he’d be doing for his dad. Marco says, as he promised when they hired him, all his services to his father’s company are completely above board. He wouldn’t involve the firm in anything illegal. She says she certainly hopes not, but this is about something entirely different. It’s about a deal he’s already made.

Molly looks at the commitment papers and says she can’t believe this, and Cody asks, what’s wrong? She says, according to these documents, their mom wants to have Kristina committed.

Kristina tells Donna, it’s the best get well card ever. Dad is going to love it. Donna says she thinks it needs more dino stickers, and Kristina says, of course (🍷) it does. Everything needs more dino stickers. Donna asks if daddy is really going to be okay, and Kristina says, yeah. He’s going to be just fine. He’ll be home before they know it.

Carly brings Brick some coffee and says she thought he could use the caffeine. She owes him big time for taking care of Sonny and getting him in to see Dr. Abbott. Brick says, Sonny is in great hands. Dr. Abbott is one of the best cardiologists in the country. She says, and he’s in LA, far away the people who want to take advantage of Sonny’s vulnerability. Brick says, even so, they can’t take their guard down. The person who firebombed Sonny’s apartment is still out there.

Lulu asks what Brook wants now, and Brook walks past her. Lulu says, please, by all means, come in. Would she like a tour or is Brook just going to start ripping into her? Brook says she’s so angry, and Lulu says, about what? Brook says she wants Lulu to stop using her baby to torture her, but Lulu says she hasn’t said a word to anyone about Brook’s baby. Brook says, stop playing dumb. She knows Lulu is writing an article on adoption. Lulu says, so? and Brook says, obviously, Lulu chose that particular topic because she had a child with Dante when she was a teenager and gave him up. It was her not so subtle way of letting Brook know that she could tell him about it anytime she wants. Lulu says she pitched three ideas to the editor, and they decided she should write about adoption, and Brook asks why she suggested it in the first place. Lulu says, it’s an important topic that a lot of people are interested in. Brook isn’t the only person whose given up a baby for adoption. Brook says she’s sick and tired of Lulu’s twisted little games. Fine. Tell Dante the truth if it means so much to her, but be ready for the consequences.

On the phone, Willow says she just got to the clinic. She’s a lot more nervous than she thought she’d be. Nina says, when she sees Michael, she’ll relax and they’ll both feel the old connection they had. Willow says, maybe… until she tells Michael that she and the kids are moving in with Drew, and Nina says, it will be hard for him to hear. They both know he may be angry at first, but stay calm and focus on the kids, and she’s sure they can work something out. Willow says she hopes Nina is right. She’ll call later and let her know how it went. Nina says, please do. Good luck. She’ll be thinking about her. Nina tells Portia, sorry. Where were they? Portia says, Nina was telling her about how they can hire a prostitute to solve their Drew problem.

Drew arrives at the MetroCourt, and tells Sidwell that he didn’t realize Jordan would be joining them. Sidwell says, Drew probably knows that Jordan recently resigned as Deputy Mayor, and Drew says he was lucky enough to have a front row seat for the fireworks. Sidwell says, the city’s loss is his gain. Jordan has agreed to join him as his COO. Drew says, wow. Congratulations. Jordan thanks him and says she’s excited for a fresh start. If she’s being honest, she was hoping they’d have one too.

Marco asks which deal Alexis is referring to, and she says, Sidwell’s contract with Deception. Marco asks, what’s the problem? and Alexis says, Lucy Coe. She’s known Lucy a long time and she’s a lovely woman, but just a little flighty. She may change her mind 15 times. Marco says, thanks for the warning, but the contract was already executed, and Alexis says, somehow, she doesn’t think that’s the end of it. Keep that in mind. Also, Tracy Quartermaine is shrewd and could pull a fast one. He needs to stay ten steps ahead of her. He says he’ll keep a close eye on Tracy, and Alexis says he’s got his work cut out for him. He says he got a sense of Tracy from his mother too. She went on an epic rant after Tracy fired her. Alexis says, Natalia was fired? and he says he didn’t realize she knew Natalia was his mother. She says his father told her in passing, and he says, after the way his mother treated Kristina, was sure Alexis wasn’t shedding any tears about it.

Cody asks if Molly is sure she’s reading it correctly, and she says she knows how to read the papers and they clearly state her mother’s intention to have her sister committed to a mental facility, even if it’s against Kristina’s will. He says, that’s extreme, and wonders where it came from, but Molly says she doesn’t even… Her and Diane’s files got mixed up and she must have picked it up by mistake. He says, Kristina has no idea? and Molly says she doesn’t know how she would. Just the other night, they all hung out and had a great time. They watched a movie and ordered food. Her mom wasn’t acting like somebody committing their daughter and Kristina wasn’t acting like somebody who needed to be committed. Cody says he feels bad for Kristina. He knows what it’s like to be held against your will in a mental facility and wouldn’t wish it on anyone. She say she wants to hear that story another time, but she needs to do something right now, and Cody gets up. She says, he shouldn’t do that, but he says, it’s just his ribs. Don’t worry. He’s been kicked before and bruised. What can he do?

Carly says, having Brick here makes it easier, and he says, it’s the least he can do. Sonny wants him to find the person responsible for hurting Michael. He promised he would, but so far, no luck with the electronics found in the man’s apartment. It’s driving him crazy. She says, if there’s anything to find, he will, and he says he appreciates that. What’s going on with Michael? How’s his progress going at the clinic? She says, as far as Michael and his doctors tell her, he’s doing great, but she can’t help worrying that he’s going to have some kind of setback. He says, she’s a mama and worry comes with the territory. Unless something else is in play to cause it. She says, there is. Apparently, his cheating wife is on her way to Germany to visit him right now.

Willow asks the reception nurse at the clinic if she speaks English, and the woman asks how she can help Willow. Willow says she’s Willow Corinthos and she’s here to see her husband Michael.  

Nina tells Portia, Willow is enthralled with all things Drew. She won’t be able to get Willow away from him until she sees him for the sleazy master manipulator he is. Portis says, so they’re going to hire a sex worker to seduce him, and Nina says she hates giving Drew the tiniest bit of credit, but she doesn’t think he’d cheat on Willow. Not this soon anyway. They have to frame him. Portia asks how that would work, and Nina says, that’s where Portia comes in. She’s counting on Portia to concoct something, just enough to knock Drew out. Portia says, a mickey, and Nina says, call it what she will, but when Drew is out, their friendly escort will climb into bed with him just in time for Willow to come home to her knight in shining armor with another woman. Portia says she can’t believe she’s saying this, but it’s not a bad plan. She only has one issue. She can see how it benefits Nina, but what about her?

Lulu asks if Brook is threatening her, but Brook says, not at all. She’s just pointing out that if Lulu reveals the truth, it won’t just hurt her. Lulu will be hurting everyone involved, first and foremost, Brook’s son. When he was born, her mom gave him to the nuns at St. Ignatius who found him a loving family. He may not know he’s adopted. Lulu says, Brook is worried that if Dante tracks him down, it will uproot his life. They’ve been over that. Brook says she thought about what would happen if he rejects Dante, or worse, hates Dante for telling him that the only parents he’s ever known have been lying to him his entire life. Dante just lost Sam and he’s still grieving. If she tells him, that could make it worse. Lulu says, Brook doesn’t know how it will play out. Maybe her son has known his entire life. Brook says, Lulu is taking a huge gamble with her own son. How will Rocco feel about finding out he has a new older brother? Lulu says, maybe he’ll love it, but Brook says, maybe he won’t. That’s her point. Lulu is just guessing at everything. Go ahead. Tell Dante the truth. She’ll take the fall for her gut-wrenching decision she made when she was a teenager, but she’s an adult now. Lulu will have to tell everybody why she so cavalierly blew up everyone’s lives. Lulu says she’s not being cavalier. If she was, she would have told Dante the day she found out. Brook said, it must be so fun to have something to hang over her head, but Lulu says, not enough to make up for her having to keep lying to those it directly effects – Dante and Rocco. Every time she sees them, she hates this thing. Brook asks, then why can’t she let it go? and Lulu says, because Brook decided it’s best it stay buried forever? She doesn’t necessarily agree. Dante walks in and asks, what’s going on in here?

Alexis says she has no ill will against Marco’s mother. She made amends to Kristina. That’s all that matters. Marco says, then maybe that means there’s still hope for his own relationship with her, and Alexis says she’s sorry. They’re not close? He says, not really. They had a falling out when he was in high school. They had different ideas of what his life should look like. She says, given Natalia’s relationship with Allie, she has an idea of what that means, and Marco says he’s sure. He’s sorry about all the problems she caused Kristina and her sister. Alexis says, no need to apologize. None of it was his fault. It wasn’t even entirely his mother’s fault. Kristina was going through some difficult things and got through it. She had a tough go of it. He says he’s glad she’s better now, when there’s a knock at the door. Ava asks if Alexis has a minute, and Alexis asks what she wants.

Kristina tells Donna, this is amazing. It’s the best get well card ever. Dad will love it. Donna thanks her for helping and says she’s the best sister ever, but Kristina says, that’s impossible since Donna is the best sister ever. There’s a knock at the door, and Kristina asks if Donna ordered ice cream again. Donna says, no, and Kristina asks if she’s sure. She opens the door to Molly and Cody, and Molly sees that Donna is there. Kristina asks, what’s going on? and Molly says she ran into Cody at the hospital, and he was telling her how he was teaching James… Cody says, how to tie knots, and Molly says she thought it sounded like so much fun, Donna might like to learn too. Cody asks what Donna thinks. Does it sound cool? Donna says, not really, and Cody laughs and says, okay. One of these – he shows her a lollipop – for every type of knot she learns to tie. Donna says, I’m in, and he says, let’s do it. They need to find some rope or cord… or shoelaces. Donna says she has those, and he says, all right. Let’s go. Donna leads him away as he grips his side with his other hand. Kristina says, okay, tell her what’s really going on, and Molly says there’s something she needs to see. She shows Kristina the papers and Kristina says, what the hell is this?

Kristina says, this can’t be real. Their mom is acting to have her committed? Did she ask Molly to file this? Molly says, no, and she wouldn’t have if their mom did. She doesn’t even know Molly has seen them. Kristina asks where Molly got them, and Molly says, Diane’s envelopes got mixed up with hers, and she came as soon as she saw them. She swears she didn’t even know their mom was thinking about this. Kristina says she’s an adult. Can their mom have her committed without her consent? Molly says, she can have Kristina held for observation, and Kristina says she doesn’t get why their mom would do this to her.

Alexis says she doesn’t believe Marco has met Ava, and he holds out his hand, saying, Marco Rios. Alexis says, he’s new to the firm, and Ava says, he’s a lucky man. Alexis is one hell of a lawyer. Every time she’s had the pleasure of working with Alexis, she always delivers. Alexis asks Marco, do you mind…? and Marco says, of course (🍷). Nice to meet Ava. He leaves, and Alexis asks why Ava is here. Ava says she needs to make a change in their payment schedule.

Nina tells Portia, when Willow kicks Drew to the curb, there will be nothing left to keep him in Port Charles. She guesses he’ll take Scout and move to DC permanently. Portia says, as nice as it would be not to run into him, it doesn’t solve her problem. He’ll still have leverage over her. Nina says, true, but what good is Portia to him in Washington DC? He’ll be so busy with his new life as congressman, he won’t even remember her. He’ll move on to terrorizing someone else. Portia says, what if he doesn’t? and Nina says, then they’ll arrange to have salacious pictures taken of Drew’s indiscretion. Portia says, now you’re talking.

Jordan says she regrets letting herself get dragged into the disagreement between Drew and Curtis. It was never any of her business. She’s just hoping they can put it behind them and get back to what they used to be. She’s missed their friendship. Drew says he appreciates her saying that and he’s certainly open to it, and she says she fought hard for him during his campaign because she believed in him. And no matter what’s happened between them, she still does. He thanks her and says, that means a lot. Sidwell says, isn’t that delightful? (I absolutely love him at this moment. He’s just such a happy guy.) Speaking of delightful things, can they all agree the McConkey esplanade should be moved to the piers currently owned by Sonny Corinthos? Jordan sort of nods, and Drew says, True. Yes. Sidwell says, in that case, Drew should double down on his opposition to Sonny. He was a very persuasive and powerful man and could sway the majority voters over to their side. Drew says, can do, but Jordan says, before he says yes, there’s something to consider.

Brick tells Carly, maybe seeing Michael face to face is a good thing. Maybe Willow will come to her senses, and they can agree on a reasonable compromise they can live with. Carly says, there’s nothing reasonable with Willow lately, and he says, it’s a lot easier to deal with a person when you don’t have to be face to face. Maybe when she sees Michael, he can convince her to do what’s in the best interest of the children. Carly says she’d like to believe that, but she’s lost all faith in Willow’s ability to do the right thing. She’s worried this trip to Germany is going to be one big disaster.

The reception nurse apologizes for taking so long, and Willow asks if Michael is having a good day. Can he have visitors? The nurse says, yes, and Willow asks if she can have his room number. The nurse says she doesn’t quite know how to say it, but Willow’s husband doesn’t want to see her.

Lulu wonders why Rocco isn’t with Dante, and he says, after the batting cages, Rocco and Danny went to see a movie. He could have gone, but didn’t know he was going to walk into World War III. Something is going on. What are they arguing about? Lulu asks if Brook wants to tell him, and Brook says she heard Lulu was writing an article on adoption and it’s a problem for her. Because the truth is, it hits way too close to home.

Alexis asks what change Ava needs, and Ava says, another transfer as soon as possible. Alexis says, how much? and Ava says, 150 thousand. Alexis says, she’s kidding. What does she need the money for? Ava says she has her reasons, just like Alexis has her reasons for giving Ava’s money to her. Alexis says she can’t just blatantly skim from the Cassadine trust and not get caught. And if she gets caught, they both go down. Ava says she’s sure Alexis can come up with a way to do it, and Alexis says, she’s being completely unreasonable. Ava says, that’s one of the downsides of being blackmailed, isn’t it? and Alexis says, just take more time between transfers or settle for an amount that’s smaller. Ava says, if it’s not something Alexis feels she can do, Kristina will be the one to pay the price.  

Molly says, maybe their mom wasn’t planning on filing, but had it drawn up just in case, and Kristina says, what case? In case she had some sort of mental breakdown? Molly says, Kristina had been going through a lot. Maybe their mom had them drawn up after the baby died. She did have post-partum, and they were all worried about her. Kristina says, no. She had them drawn up a couple days ago. The date is the same day they had their Davis girls night. She did this then and hung out with them like everything was completely fine. She asks if Molly remembers Alexis being nervous. She was planning on having Kristina committed. Molly says she’s so sorry. She can’t imagine how betrayed Kristina feels. Kristina says she feels betrayed, confused, and devastated, but grateful. She thanks Molly for bringing her the papers, and Molly says she wasn’t going to let her sister get ambushed. Kristina says she’s surprised, and Molly asks, why? Kristina says, usually her and their mom have the same perspective and it’s her against the two of them. Molly says she’s not a psychiatrist, but if a person came to her and said they’d decided they wanted take to take a break from life and work on themselves, she would support it 100%. But she doesn’t support going behind their back and taking the decision out of their hands, even if she agreed. She doesn’t want Kristina to feel ganged up on ever again. Kristina thanks her and says she’s grateful to hear Molly say that, and they hug.  

Jordan says, it’s fine if Drew comes out against Sonny, but she cautions him against attacking Mayor Collins, if that’s his plan. Drew says, Jordan quit her job, so why does she care if he went after her? and Jordan says she’s concerned about what Laura might do. She still has a high approval rating and people love what she’s done for Port Charles. The only thing badmouthing the mayor will do, is make him look bad. Drew says, for the record, despite their disagreement, he loves what Laura has done as mayor. Very much so. He also doesn’t feel she needs to defend Sonny. Sidwell says, that’s a wise stance at the moment, and Drew says, if anyone is going to attack Laura, it’s Councilman Boyle. Sidwell says, that’s perfect to keep the blowback far away from himself. He doesn’t know about them, but it’s clear to him that the three of them make a great team. With the congressman’s pull and resources, they can be assured Sonny loses control of the piers. Drew says, that’s good news for everyone.  

Willow tells the nurse, please. She has to let her speak with Michael. She flew here from New York. The nurse says she’s so sorry, but she has to respect the patient’s wishes. Willow says she understands, but it’s important. It’s about their kids. Just tell him that. Please. The nurse says, honestly, she doesn’t think it would make a difference. He made his feelings clear that he wants nothing to do with her. (Um… Doesn’t she still have his medical proxy?)

Brick tells Carly that he’s heard great things about the burn clinic in Baden-Baden. From what he understands, it’s pretty close to impossible to get into. How did she get Michael in? She says, John Brennan from the WSB pulled a few strings, and he asks if they’re friends. She says she’s seeing Jack Brennan, and he says, damn. Another one slips through his fingers. Jack is a lucky man. She asks if Brick knows him, and he says, a little, mostly by reputation. She says, what reputation? And he says, he’s very smart, a heavy hitter in intelligence communications, and apparently has great taste in women. Carly laughs, when the doctor comes out. Carly says she didn’t expect Sonny’s surgery to be over so soon… Is Sonny okay?  (Before a commercial, the doctor always looks grim no matter the outcome.)

Dante asks what the article has to do with Brook, and she says she and Chase are exploring the idea of adopting a child. Dante says he didn’t know. He thinks it’s great. Brook says, Chase hasn’t told anyone. They’re just at the beginning stage and feeling it out. She heard Lulu was going around interviewing people about adoption and the whole thing felt too coincidental. Lulu says she had no idea Brook and Chase were thinking about adoption, and Brook says, now she does. Can she think about another subject? Lulu says, why? If anything, maybe Brook will learn something. Brook says, or Lulu could use it to stick her nose in other people’s business under the guise that it’s work related. Dante says he doesn’t think Lulu would do that, and Lulu says she wouldn’t. Truly, she wishes Brook and Chase the best, but she’s also trying to get going as a journalist again. If the Llanview Banner wants her to write about adoption, that’s what she’s going to do. Brook says, great. Knock herself out. Brook leaves, and Dante says, that could have gone better, but he guesses they’ve had worse. It’s just them. Is there any truth to what Brook said?

Jacinda arrives at Nina’s office and Nina says, lovely to meet her. Have a seat. She thanks Jacinda for coming, and Jacinda says, arriving is the easy part. Let’s cut to the chase. As much as she’d like to believe she was going to be the next Crimson cover model, something tells her not to write home about it just yet. Nina say, she is a stunning woman, but she’s right. They have a slightly different job in mind that she guesses is more in line with Jacinda’s current profession. Jacinda says, Nina doesn’t need to beat around the bush. They’re all adults. She’s a sex worker and she’s proud of that. Portia says, in that case, she won’t be offended at their offer. Jacinda says she’s been doing this a long time. It’s not the first time two women have brought a proposition to her. Portia and Nina trip over themselves saying no, and Portia says, the job doesn’t involve sex at all. Nina says, but it does require pictures.  

Jordan says she’s going to make some calls to get the ball rolling on their agenda, and Sidwell says, that’s what he likes to hear. Drew says he’s glad they had a chance to talk, and Jordan says, her too, and leaves. Drew says, Jordan is very smart and motivated. Hiring her was a great move. Sidwell says, the key to making Port Charles his new home is having the right friends. Jordan has become one and he’s hoping Drew will become another. Drew says he believes they have a mutually beneficial relationship, considering Sonny is a thorn in both their sides, and Sidwell agrees. He says he looks forward to the day Mr. Corinthos is no longer a problem to anyone.

Carly asks if Sonny is okay, and Dr. Abbott says, he’s fine. (What I said.) They repaired his heart with no complications. Brick asks if that means he’ll have a full recovery, and the doctor says, he needs to avoid strenuous activity for several weeks, so his body can heal completely. Carly says she’ll make sure he follows the doctor’s instructions, whether he likes it or not. Can she see him? Dr. Abbott says, he’s still settling into his room. He’ll let them know when he’s done. Carly thanks him, and he says, of course (🍷), and leaves. Carly says, Sonny’s okay, and Brick says he never doubted it for a second. They hug.

Alexis tells Ava that they both knew she’s not going to expose Kristina, since she and Ric are milking this tragedy for millions of dollars. Ava says, Ric? and Alexis says she knows he’s part of her blackmail scheme. He couldn’t help throwing it in her face that he was getting a cut. Ava says, Kristina did almost kill him. It’s the least Alexis can do. Alexis says she’ll give in to this installment, but Ava is to stay the hell away from her office and her daughter. Ava says, Kristina is the one who has to stay away from her. As far as coming by, she’ll pop in when she sees fit. Alexis isn’t the one calling the shots. She is. Don’t forget that. She leaves.

Kristina tells Molly that she’s done things that she deeply regrets in her life, but she’s seeing a therapist. She’s getting help and their mom would do this after she’s getting help, and didn’t talk to her. It’s just wrong. Molly says, their mom would never intentionally hurt Kristina. As bad as it sounds, she thinks it was coming from a place of love. Their mom had never been able to find the balance between loving Kristina and controlling her. She watched it for years. Kristina says she thought their mom was finally out of that pattern and trusting her to make her own decisions. She guesses not. Molly asks what she’s going to do, and Kristina says, what choice does she have? She’s going to confront their mom – now. Molly says she’s going with Kristina. Cody can watch Donna. Kristina says she doesn’t need to. It’s not her fight. Molly says she wants to be there to support Kristina… unless Kristina doesn’t want her to, and Kristina says she does. It means a lot to her.

Dante says he thought Lulu agreed to go easy on Brook, and Lulu says she has been. She had no idea Brook and Chase were thinking about adoption. And Dante knows the editor chose the topic, not her. He says he knows. Obviously, she should tread carefully as adoption is a touchy subject with Brook. Lulu says, clearly.  

Jacinda asks if their telling her that her mark is a US congressman, and Portia says, trust her. He’s not a good guy. Jacinda says, that’s the problem. She’s seen that movie before and people like her who do things like this tend to end up dead. Nina says she’s not stealing state secrets or bomb codes, and Portia says, they promise she won’t be harmed. Jacinda says, they expect her to take their word. That’s a big ask. It’s going to cost more than her usual rate. Nina says, how much more? and Jacinda says, six thousand. They laugh and Nina asks if she didn’t hear them say they don’t want her to have sex. Nina’s phone rings, and she says she has to take it; it’s Willow.

Nina asks how it went, and Willow says, Michael wouldn’t even see her. Nina says, maybe he’s just not prepared and needs time to pull himself together before he sees her again, but Willow says, no. They have nothing left to say to each other. Obviously, he’s cutting her out of his life. That’s fine by her. She’s going to fly home tomorrow morning. Nina tells Willow to hold on a second and puts the call on hold. She tells Jacinda that they have a deal, then goes back to the call. She tells Willow that she’s so sorry, and Willow says she never should have come here, and she can’t wait to get home. Drew would never treat her this way. They communicate when there’s a problem. Michael shuts down on her. She’ll call Nina when she lands. Willow leaves and the nurse makes a call. Drew asks, is it done? and she says she did exactly as he asked. He says, she lied to Mrs. Corinthos, and she says she told Mrs. Corinthos that her husband refused to see her. He says, excellent. Her payment is on the way.  

Donna gives Cody a cup and tells him that her mom says it helps the medicine go down. He says, her mom is a smart lady. He takes his pill and says, she’s right. It did help. She says, Kristina was upset. Does he think her daddy is okay? He says, of course (🍷). Kristina just had to run an errand with Molly. They’re lucky. They get to stay here and tie knots. Show him her square knot. She asks if he has lollipops.

Alexis makes the transfer to Ava when Kristina and Molly walk in. Alexis says, a nice surprise. What’s going on? Kristina says, you tell me, mommy dearest.  

Brick says he’s sorry to hug and run, but he has to race to the airport. There’s a security issue in Dubai… Unless she needs him to stay. Carly says, no. Go. He’s done so much already. Brick tells her to keep him updated and they hug. She says, thank you so much. Safe travels. He leaves and she calls Jason. She says, Sonny is out of surgery. The doctor said it was a success. He’s going to be fine… She hasn’t seen him yet, but she’s so happy. There were no complications, and the doctor said he’d make a full recovery. There’s a nurse skulking around, listening, and Carly says she’s sure Sonny is going to be fine. The shifty nurse goes into Sonny’s room and turns off the monitor. She takes out a syringe, and Sonny opens his eyes.

On Monday, Brad tells Portia. this new arrangement sucks; Tracy tells Gio to think twice before supporting Sonny; Vaughn asks if this is Josslyn’s way of saying she can’t do it; and Carly goes into Sonny’s room and says, oh my God.

🧼 All the Soap News Fit To Print…

Here’s hoping she’s good at her assignment.

I want one too!

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/general-hospitals-finola-hughes-is-a-real-doll

I want to start watching Will Trent. This gives me one more reason.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/gh-alum-jophielle-love-reveals-her-new-gig

I don’t watch this, but kudos to them. His untimely death was so sad.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/how-suits-la-honored-billy-millers-character

If his last two projects are any indication, I can’t wait.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/nicolas-alexander-chavez-lands-a-prestigious-new-project

💉 A Dose Of Reality…

Below Deck Down Under

I’m not sure why these crews are always at odds. They’re busy AF and when they’re not working, they get to have fun in magnificent places, and spend big, fat tips.

The Valley

Jax finally recognized his coke problem that the rest of us have been talking about for years. Or has he?

Summer House

One of the most annoying things this group does is discuss another couple’s relationship on the side while watching the couple talk, analyzing every word and giving commentary. I did, however, learn that yellow flags are a thing. Unfortunately, so is Toegate. A lot of this episode was the Jesse/Lexi flirting-or-not thing. I’m already over it, but glad Lexi is starting to get a clue that this might not be her true love. There was another theme party, Snoozefest. No comment. Oh, and there was Schwartz.

He’s been at this rodeo before.

Random Reality Items

I haven’t kept up with this, but I might start now.

Maybe she’s desperate to meet Boy George.

A pleasant surprise. Their whole parting of the ways was just messy.

I’ll watch anything with this guy in it, especially when he’s being himself.

👀 Last Weekend’s Watch…

2073. MAX. Well… This was an odd film and not exactly what I’d expected. It takes place in a grim future, but interspersed with what-got-us-here footage. Some of it real, some of it taken from other films about a grim future. I got the point about two seconds in, and let me say it this way, I could have read the plot and it would have been good enough.

Companion. HBO/MAX. I found this one endlessly amusing. I don’t want to give much away, since there are some fabulous twists and turns, but a non-spoiler is that Iris is a robot. She’s also a good time and Sophie Thatcher is wonderful in the role. I appreciated all of the unexpected moves in the plot and a few little tugs at the heartstrings didn’t hurt.

https://wrif.com/2025/02/05/companion-non-spoiler-movie-review/

https://www.cbr.com/jack-quaid-companion-hit-max/

Discuss among yourselves.

One of Them Days. Netflix. This was great. Pure escapism and fun, with a message about friendship wrapped in slapstick, capers, and characters you know are based on somebody’s auntie/uncle/cousin/the guy on the corner. A female buddy movie, two roommates and best friends have to make the rent in a few hours or be evicted, and hijinks ensue. The cast is excellent, and it will make you forget about your troubles. I loved the female friendship aspect.

https://www.purewow.com/news/netflix-one-of-them-days-movie

https://www.purewow.com/entertainment/one-of-them-days-review

I also finished Black Mirror: Season 7, but it’s been one of them weeks, so coming soon.

🐾  Animal Hooligans…

🐶  Valerie has been captured! She is now living her almost best life in captivity again.

https://people.com/missing-wiener-dog-valerie-rescued-from-rugged-island-after-529-days-11722228

🐦 I know a cardinal who could give this woodpecker a run for its money. He peck at my gazing ball when he sees his reflection. I haven’t figured out if he’s trying to fight with the other bird or he’s gay and trying to spark a romance.

https://people.com/massachusetts-woodpecker-vandal-destroyed-25-car-mirrors-exclusive-11721462

🙉  Can you blame them? Sometimes you need a break from throwing poop at each other.

https://people.com/wild-chimps-filmed-bonding-over-alcoholic-fruit-11720149

🐘 Quotes of the Week

Don’t be afraid of missing opportunities. Behind every failure is an opportunity somebody wishes they had missed. – Lily Tomlin

If you are not where you want to be, do not quit. Instead reinvent yourself and change your habits.Eric Thomas

Thinking will not overcome fear but action will. – W. Clement Stone

The worst walls are never the ones you find in your way. The worst walls are the ones you put there. – Ursula K. Le Guin

I don’t believe you have to be better than everybody else. I believe you have to be better than you ever thought you could be. – Ken Venturi

The good we do today becomes the happiness of tomorrow. – William James

Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence. – Vince Lombardi

Slow down just a kiss. I can’t understand you.Alec Baldwin, The Baldwins

If you’re covering up cracks, you missed a big one. – Samuel (Nyambi Nyambi) seeing Mike bent over while doing basement reconstruction, Mike & Molly

🤸‍♀️  A Little Madness In the Spring…

Until next week, stay safe; stay not planting before Mother’s Day (trust me); and stay keeping in mind that any good cover story works if there’s an element of truth.

April 18, 2025 – GH Weekdays, Natalia Gets Blindsided, Soap Suds, This Week In Reality, Weekend Watch, In My World & One

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

🥢 Weekday Bites…

(new and improved for easier reading)

Monday:

Jack asked Carly how it went, and she said she’d planned to have a strong stance on Michael’s behalf, but Willow was so smug and condescending, she lost it. She may have just handed Michael’s children over to Willow and Drew.

Willow said it was supposed to be a joyous time, but Carly ruined it, and Drew said he wasn’t going to let Willow lose her kids. She said she knew Carly could be mean and vindictive, but this time she was on the receiving end. Carly had just been giving Michael what he wanted, and never really gave a damn about her.

Portia told Trina that the procedure was brand new, and Trina said, even if Kai could play again, one bad hit and he could end up paralyzed, but he’d already made up his mind without Portia’s opinion. Portia said she finished her research and Trina asked what she found out.

Ava visited Ric, who asked how things went with Alexis. She said she told Alexis everything and if Alexis didn’t meet their demands, she’d talk to Molly and cops about the attempted murder. Alexis had until 9 am tomorrow.

In front of her house on the phone with Diane, Alexis said she hadn’t signed the commitment papers yet, but she’d do it tonight. She went inside and Kristina was there. Kristina said she looked spooked. Sonny went to Laura’s office to talk about the political hurricane she’d mentioned, and she said it was still a possibility the city could seize control of his waterfront property.

Sonny said he’d thought the esplanade location had been settled, and Laura said so did she. Sidwell and Drew tried to force her to move the esplanade from the original location to Sonny’s piers using eminent domain. She’d thought she shut it down, but they wouldn’t let it die. She’d decided to allow the people of Port Charles to decide where the esplanade should be located in a city-wide referendum.

Carly told Jack that she’d thought it was Drew’s influence, but it was 100% Willow. They welcomed her into the family, stood beside her, rallied behind her, and this was how she was repaying their love and kindness. Carly blew up, they went at it, and it got bad. Jack said they’d come up with a plan and mitigate the damage together.

Drew said Carly was a user. He went to prison for her and when the relationship was over, it was as if nothing they’d shared mattered. Willow said Carly had told her that she’d always care about Drew, and Drew said they both know Carly was a liar. The battle Carly was waging said more about Carly than Willow. She’d done everything she could to meet Michael halfway and none of it was her fault. Willow said she didn’t think so either. Moving in was what she wanted and good for the kids. Nina came back, and Willow said, this was supposed to be a day of celebration. Drew said he would make sure Carly never set foot in this house again and wondered if he should get a restraining order. Nina thought that would be rash, but Drew said, Carly literally almost hit Willow. Nina said Carly was clearly in the wrong, but they weren’t going to gain or fix anything by being as extreme as Carly. They needed to stay calm and focused, and compromise. It was the only way they were going to have peace. They were the reasonable ones and being cool and rational would work in their favor with the judge later. The doorbell rang, and Drew opened the door to Kai, who asked if it was a bad time.

Portia said Kai had asked her medical opinion, so she couldn’t disclose it to Trina. Kai had a tough decision, but it was his decision. Trina said he could live a good life the way he was. He’d already accepted that he wouldn’t be playing football and was working hard to find peace and move on. Portia asked this wasn’t really about Spencer.

Ric said it may not be the done deal Ava thought. Alexis might love her high-minded principles more than her daughter. Ava said Alexis wasn’t letting Kristina go to prison and the mere accusation would tear her girls apart, probably for good. Ric said he’d never underestimated Alexis, and while Ava thought she’d given Alexis 24 hours to make a decision, she also gave Alexis 24 hours to come up with a strategy to save Kristina.

Alexis said it had been a long day and asked why Kristina was there. Molly came out and said she told Kristina that Alexis would forget, and Kristina said, welcome to their Davis girls night – Noodle Buddha and a movie. She asked for Alexis’s phone, and Molly said they were unplugging, shutting out the rest of the world, relaxing, and having fun. Alexis said it was exactly what she needed.

Trina said it had nothing to do with Spencer, but Portia said she’d had a horrific, traumatic loss and Kai was the first young man she’d had feelings for since then. Maybe she was worried she’d lose him too. Trina said she didn’t want to watch something terrible happen to someone she cared about. She’d watch him play and get hit, praying he didn’t get hurt, but knowing at any given moment he could get seriously injured. She didn’t know if she could go through it again.

Drew said he was in the middle of a family crisis, and Kai said, no problem. Drew said they’d talk soon, and Kai left. Drew left to handle something, and Willow wondered how Nina could ask her to compromise. Carly compared her to Nelle, and even though they were twins, they were nothing alike. Nina said Carly was just trying to push her buttons, and Willow said she felt horrible about hurting Michael, but Carly implied she’d never loved him, was more manipulative than Nelle, and that she was trying to take Wiley from him like Nelle did. Nina said it was a gross exaggeration, but Willow said maybe deep down she was scared there was some truth to it.

Carly told Jack that she’d laid down the law and she and Willow both lost their tempers. She’d said Willow was taking advantage of Michael’s absence, and when Willow told her that Michael had no say because he wasn’t there, she lost it. Jack asked if Carly thought it was Drew’s influence, and Carly said she used to think so, but Willow had changed. She was glued to the idea of being a victim who loved her children and had just fallen in love. Everybody else didn’t know what they were talking about. When Willow said things about Michael, she lost it and almost hit Willow, but Nina had texted Jason, who showed up and stopped her. Jack said, as he saw it, she did exactly what needed to be done.

Sonny asked if somebody was pressuring Laura to come after him, and she said it was no secret that Congressman Cain and Councilman Boyle were making an issue out of their friendship. They were going to make it public that they believed the mayor was protecting the local crime boss. Sonny said that wasn’t true and they were just bullying her. Don’t let them. She said she didn’t, but she had intervened so Sonny could hold on to the piers. Not because of him, but because she believed it was the right thing for Port Charles. She’d recently come to realize the location shouldn’t just be up to her or him or Drew or Boyle. The esplanade was for the people of Port Charles, and they should decide where it went. Sonny disagreed and said he ran a legitimate business at the piers. If they tried to take it from him, he wasn’t going to let them. She said she needed him to trust her. She had another reason, but couldn’t go into it. Rocco showed up and asked if everything was okay.

Ava told Ric that Alexis couldn’t strategize away evidence. She had video footage and had the car. When she found out the wires had been cut, she had the car moved to a storage facility she used for the gallery. It was her most treasured piece of art. Ric asked how she managed it, and she said she bribed the mechanic of course (🍷). If anybody else asked, he’d say it went through the crusher. He said, what if she needed to prove Kristina’s guilt? and she said she’d have it towed back and call the PCPD. They’d establish the brakes were tampered with before the crash, but it wouldn’t come to that. Alexis was going to meet their demands.

Kristina said eating Noodle Buddha was odd without Sam, and Molly said Sam would be happy they supported the restaurant since it meant so much to her. Alexis said, she and Jason were married there, and Molly said, Sam would be happy the Davis women were back together. She’d really missed Kristina. It was like a part of her had been missing. Kristina said she was sorry she’d made it impossible.

Trina told Portia that she’d developed strong feelings for Kai. He was a kind, generous, and funny guy. Portia said, and he wasn’t bad looking. She understood Trina was afraid to lose him, but she couldn’t force him to live in a bubble. Trina said it wasn’t about her feelings. She was genuinely scared. Kai was putting his trust in Drew and this miracle surgery. What happened if it failed?

Willow told Nina that she was unnerved about being Nelle’s fraternal twin, and even though their DNA wasn’t identical, she’d wondered if she was capable of the same cruelty. Nina said there was nothing cruel about standing up to Carly and refusing to be verbally beaten up, and Willow wondered why so many people had turned against her when she didn’t do anything wrong. (Okay. The jury is back and has confirmed Willow is a moron.) She could see why Nelle felt misunderstood and angry at the world. Nina said Willow wasn’t her sister. Nelle was mentally unwell; Willow wasn’t. Look at everything she accomplished and had to overcome to become who she was. Wiley and Amelia belonged with her because she was a wonderful mother. Willow took Nina’s hand and thanked her, and Nina said she still thought Willow needed to compromise with Michael and his family… Drew came back and asked if they could table this for now. He thought they all needed time to decompress. Nina told Willow to try and relax and have a good evening. They hugged and Nina left.

Carly said she knew she’d made it a thousand times worse, but Jack said, on the contrary. She put on the necessary pressure, and they were going to go on the attack. Trust him. She may have just helped Michael win custody of his kids.

Sonny said he and Laura were just talking business, and Rocco asked if Laura could listen to his debate speech. Sonny said Rocco’s grandmother was the consummate public speaker, and Laura asked if it was okay if Sonny stayed to hear Rocco’s speech. Rocco said, if he had the time, and Sonny said he was never too busy for Rocco. Dazzle him.

Ava said if Alexis didn’t want her family blown up, she’d have to pay, and Ric asked if she didn’t think her desire for revenge was a mistake. Ava said, nope, and Ric said Kristina had graduated from being reckless and out of control. She had a screw loose and if she wasn’t brought to justice, she’d be free to come after Ava again. Ava said she’d constantly have to watch her back. The money was no good to her if she was dead. Ric asked if she thought her plan was really a good idea.

Kristina told Molly that she’d missed this. She couldn’t stop thinking about the terrible things she did and said and wished she could take them back. Molly said her too, but all was forgiven, so it was time to move past it. That may be the one good thing to come from her dad’s accident. She wanted her sister back and this brought them together. Kristina asked how her dad was doing, and Molly said he was upbeat, but still had a long road ahead. He and Elizabeth were lucky to be alive. Alexis said they were going to make a full recovery, and Molly said after that, they’d never have to think about this nightmare again.

Kai called Portia and she asked Trina to step outside. He asked if Portia was able to do the research, and she said she’d like him to stop by her office.

Willow said Drew was telling her that there was no way she was going to lose her kids, Michael listened to Carly, and she was going to push. She was ruthless and lethal when she needed to be. That’s why Willow was afraid to tell Michael that she was moving the kids into Drew’s, but now she thought she made it worse. If Michael came at her, guns blazing, how was she going to stop him?

Carly said she failed to see how she’d helped, but Jack said they knew she’d fought for her children before and was relentless. She’d made a declaration of war today and history predicted the future. Willow was going to panic and be the damsel in distress, prompting Drew to be her knight in shining armor. Drew was so arrogant, he would do something big to save the day. He’d overreach and make a mistake that Carly would be able to use against him.

Ava said she could live with uncertainty, especially if she was being well-compensated. She could hire security. She asked if Ric was getting cold feet, and he said he guessed he could console himself with a fat payday. She said, even if Kristina didn’t pay? and he said Molly couldn’t lose another sister. Despite how he felt about his daughter, she couldn’t handle another tragedy. On a less noble note, Alexis was a woman of integrity, and if she had to swallow her self-righteous principles and commit embezzlement, that sounded like justice to him. Ava said Alexis didn’t know about his involvement and she thought she’d keep it that way. As long as Alexis didn’t know about his part, it would be smooth sailing for him and Molly. He said that was very generous, as long as Ava didn’t keep his share of the cut.

Molly said, rom-com or legal thriller? and Kristina said, rom-com. She’d already had too much drama. Alexis asked if she was letting go of her anger and resentment, and Kristina said she thought she was. Not just in her relationship with Molly, but about the baby. Her toxic need for revenge had swallowed her up and she’d lost sight of what was important. That wasn’t her. Molly asked if she’d come to that conclusion all on her own or was she in therapy, and Kristina said, both. Alexis said she was glad Kristina was doing better.

Laura said Rocco’s speech was brilliant, and Sonny said he was as good a public speaker as his grandmother. Laura suggested he make more eye contact, and Sonny told him, when he believed in himself, other people would believe in him. Rocco left, and Sonny said maybe he could get Rocco to make a case for the esplanade. Laura said that was one reason she wanted to put the location to a public vote. She didn’t want it coming between them.

Willow said maybe she needed to compromise, but Drew said she had all the power. She said, what if Carly tried to take the kids? but he said that wasn’t going to happen. Willow was their only functioning parent and had custody, but God forbid if something happened to her. They had to make sure Carly and Tracy never got their hands on the kids. Willow said he couldn’t guarantee that, but he said he actually could. He took some papers out of his briefcase and said he had the answer right here.

Portia told Kai that she’d looked into the procedure and the surgery was cutting edge. She was surprised Drew heard of it. Did he mention how? Kai said, no, but he was glad Drew was looking out for him. He was going to tell Drew tonight that he was ready to meet the doctor, and he didn’t get the chance, but he really did want to hear her opinion. She said she’d researched it thoroughly and her honest opinion was that she couldn’t in good conscience recommend the surgery. There were dozens of cases, and it was confirmed that three patients ended up paralyzed as a direct result of the procedure. He said, some of the surgeries were successful, and she said, two. He said he was going to be the third.

Drew said Willow shouldn’t put off protecting her family and kids. If something happened to her, if she was hurt or incapacitated, the papers made him the kids’ legal guardian. She would also be legal guardian of Scout if something happened to him. Willow said it was a huge step, and he said it was a necessary one. Did she agree it was a good idea? After a moment’s hesitation, she said, yes. Carly wouldn’t stop until she got her hands on Willow’s children. She had to protect them and trusted him more than anyone in the world to look after her kids. It was exactly what she wanted. He took a convenient pen out of his back pocket, and she signed the papers.

Jack said Carly was going to use Drew to win custody, but she said Jason told her that she’d made the battle harder. He thought she should suck it up and play nice. Jack said, the only reason to play nice was to convince the opposition to compromise. With Drew, she had to trick her opponent into making a mistake, which he was certain would happen. She’d laid the trap beautifully. She needed to sit back and wait while he took the bait.

Sonny said he respected that Laura was stuck between their friendship and her position as mayor, and she said, for what it was worth (🍷), she wanted the vote to go his way. He said if it didn’t, his lawyer would put up a helluva fight – not with her. Rocco reminded him they’re family and family always comes first. Laura said, always.

Ava said she’d never cut Ric out of the deal. She may have been the intended target, but he almost died. He deserved a payday as much as she did. He said people got shifty when it came to a jackpot like this, and she said, if Alexis decided to protect her lunatic daughter, she’d have to pay double.

Alexis took the papers out of her bag and looked at her girls. Kristina told her to hurry up and she put the papers back in her bag.  

Tuesday:

Gio was playing a tango on his violin outside when Brook came along. She said she was hoping to get him to help her. Lucy got her in a bind.

Chase found Lois in the solarium, and said he was glad he was back. She said she thought he’d never be happy to see her again.

On the phone at the gallery, Ava told Ric there was no sign of Alexis. She was cutting it close. Dante went into Ric’s room and Ric hung up on Ava. As Ava wondered what happened, Trina walked into the gallery.

Lucky brought Elizabeth home, and Lulu, Laura, and Aiden were there to welcome her. Josslyn did classwork at the Surf Lodge, when Emma came in.

Kristina went with Molly to visit Ric, and Dante asked to talk to Kristina.

On the phone in the office, Diane talked to someone about petitioning the court for an involuntary commitment. Alexis walked in, and Diane said everything was set. All she needed was the papers. Alexis said she couldn’t, but Diane said it was the only way to save her daughter.

Josslyn told Emma that catching up was a little overwhelming. She had no regret about going to Easter Island, but she saw some all-nighters in her future. Emma said when she transferred, everyone had a support system already. It was hard at first, but she found her footing and thought Josslyn would too. Emma had to get to class and left, when Josslyn suddenly remembered that she, too, had a class, and left.

Lucky put Elizabeth on the sofa, and Lulu told her that Aiden and Lucky had been working to make sure everything was perfect. They’d set up a bedroom on the first floor and Aiden had been cooking up a storm. Amy arrived and said, reporting for duty.

Trina told Ava that Drew suggested a cutting-edge surgery to Kai so he could play football again, but she doubted it was out of the kindness of his heart. It was risky, but there was no changing Kai’s mind. If it went wrong, Drew would lose nothing, but Kai was risking his health and maybe his life.

Chase said Lois wasn’t an easy person to stay mad at, and she said she knew he was in a difficult position. All those years ago, she’d told Brook not to tell Dante about the baby, and when it came out, she told Brook not to tell Chase. Chase said he resented it for a while, since he’d put himself in Dante’s shoes and he’d want to know.

Kristina asked if she was under arrest, but Dante said, not yet. He asked how their dad was doing, and she said, good. She thought it was a huge relief that he was able to tell Dante and asked what a detective was doing investigating a car crash.

Diane told Alexis that Kristina had severely injured two people in an attempt to kill a third. There was no choice. If there was an investigation, they’d have an insanity defense ready. Alexis said she didn’t sign the papers and didn’t intend to, but Diane said it was the only way to protect her daughter. Alexis asked what good it did to protect her if she destroyed her in the process.

Chase told Lois that he’d wrestled with telling Dante, who was both his best friend and his partner. But it was Brook’s secret, not his. He couldn’t be angry for a decision made a lifetime ago. He had to honor her choices and not say anything.

Brook said she was co-producing the Nurses Ball and Gio was the first person who came to mind. How did he feel about a solo act? He said he didn’t think he was the best fit. Classical music for the wrong audience would put them to sleep. Brook insisted that wouldn’t happen.

Amy threw out a lot of instructions for Elizabeth, and said any food that caused inflammation should be tossed out. She gave Lucky a list and Lulu suggested they look at Elizabeth’s new bedroom. We heard Amy say they needed a humidifier, refilled every l2 hours and cleaned at the end of the day. Aiden said she was already too much.

Molly brought Ric a double espresso and he said she was an angel. She told him that it was Kristina’s idea.

Dante told Kristina that he came to see how his uncle was doing. His mom would want him to do the Bensonhurst thing, stop and check on a relative, regardless how he felt about them. It was nice that Molly and Kristina were talking again. Kristina said, the accident changed everything. Her sister needed her, and she needed her sister. Diane asked, what changed Alexis’s mind? and Alexis said, Kristina and Molly came over. They were loving each other and laughing, and she knew Kristina needed the support and love of her family. If she sent Kristina away, it would shatter Kristina’s trust in her. Diane said Kristina would understand Alexis putting her well-being first, but Alexis said she knew Kristina would never forgive her and she’d be the one destroying Kristina’s relationship with her sister for good.

Trina told Ava that her mother talked to Kai and advised against the surgery, but she didn’t think it mattered. She was sure he was going ahead with it. Ava asked if there wasn’t a chance success, and Trina said she’d love to believe that, but still thought it was the wrong decision. Ava asked what Kai said about her concerns, and Trina said he wanted her to support his decision, but how could she do that if it was the wrong one? Ava said it would be hard, but ultimately, she had respect Kai’s right to make the choice for himself.

In the kitchen, Lulu asked Aiden to help Amy move Elizabeth’s bed, and when he left, she asked Lucky how it was going. He said, fabulous. He had no idea what he was doing. She said, with the fridge or Elizabeth? Laura said she was happy Elizabeth was back in Lucky’s life, and Elizabeth said it would be worse if he wasn’t there. She was happy to have both him and Laura here. With Cameron and Jake away, it would be a lot for her and Aiden. She was glad to have family she could rely on. Laura said she always would. Elizabeth was a very important part of the family.

Kristina asked what Dante and Ric talked about and he said, sports. He was hoping Ric could let go of some grudges. Kristina wondered if it was possible to move on after so much had happened that was bad.

Molly asked what Dante wanted, and Ric said, to check up on him. They didn’t have much to say. Dante probably had the same opinion of him as Sonny did. He’d thought Dante was investigating the accident. She wondered what there was to investigate about an accident, and he said, the mystery of black ice in spring. She said, it would be nice if something good came out of it, and he said, him and his nephew or her and her sister?

Alexis told Diane that Molly would want to know why and when she found out Kristina tried to kill her father, and she’d be done. Alexis would lose what was left of her family. Diane said if there was an investigation, Molly would find out anyway, and it was better if she heard it from Alexis, but Alexis said, if there was no investigation, she’ll have destroyed her family for nothing. Diane asked if Molly wouldn’t be relieved that Kristina was getting help, but Alexis said she’d know it was a legal strategy. Diane said she might, but she couldn’t think of another way to keep Kristina out of prison. Their options, legally speaking, were limited. Alexis said committing Kristina couldn’t be the only way to handle the situation. She was going to keep quiet and cover it up. Her phone dinged with a text from Ava: Don’t be late.

Kai brought Trina to the Surf Lodge and said he had something important to tell her. Her mom was against the surgery and thought it was a longshot, but he’d beaten the odds before. Football meant too much to him and if there was even a chance, he needed to take it. He was going to have the surgery.

Lois told Chase that after Brook gave birth, she didn’t even want to hold the baby. She knew if she did, she’d never let it go. She put her child’s needs above her own on day one and loved her child with her whole heart. Chase said it wasn’t easy for Lois either. She had a grandkid she’d never met. Lois said she had faith in the nuns to find the right adoptive parents. She was choosing to believe her grandchild was healthy and loved.

Brook said she’d seen Gio play, and he said, okay. He’d do it. It’s the Nurses Ball for cryin’ out loud. (Aww. I miss Scotty.) He was glad she was producing him and not Lucy. Not that there was anything wrong with that. Brook said there was plenty wrong. Stick with her. He’d knock their socks off.

Lulu said, Lucky and Elizabeth were spending more time together since the accident, and Lucky said he wanted to take care of her as long as she’d have him. Laura came in to get tea for Elizabeth and Lulu took it to her. Laura asked how Lucky was, and he said, good, but she said she knew when he was holding something back. She guessed it had something to do with Elizabeth. Aiden told Elizabeth that Amy made him move the bed four times and Elizabeth couldn’t use her comforter because of dust mites. She was going to be there eight hours a day every day. Was Elizabeth sure about this? Elizabeth said it was just a few weeks before she’d be back on her feet. Until then, they could go through anything. Lulu said, famous last words.

Emma said she couldn’t believe they’d let Josslyn into Professor Dalton’s class. She had to beg to be admitted after being on the waitlist. Josslyn said she was grateful, and Emma was Dalton’s star student. Emma said she was just lucky, but Josslyn said she’d certainly impressed Dalton.

Diane said she was Alexis’s lawyer but was her friend first. She knew Alexis was a wonderful mother, but what Alexis was suggesting scared her. Kristina committed a serious crime and wanting to cover it up could have serious consequences for Kristina and Alexis. Alexis said she’d cross that bridge when she came to it, and Diane said, fine. If Kristina was arrested, she’d do everything in her power to protect them both. But she’d be charging Alexis double for not taking her advice. Alexis said she knew what she was doing seemed unreasonable, but she had to do it. She thanked Diane for helping, but she was going to take it from here. She left.

Josslyn said, the professor commended Emma’s performance in class. It was refreshing. Emma was obviously listening. Not everybody did. Professor Dalton appeared and said, maybe it was because Emma was easy to listen to. Josslyn jumped up and introduced herself and said it was the first lecture of his she’d attended. She’d been away on a grad trip, but she was back and would be there for the rest of the semester. Dalton asked if she wasn’t starting late, and Josslyn said she’d been determined to get in. She found the subject fascinating. Dalton said he was accepting applications for an undergrad research assistant and thought she should apply. He went to another table, and Emma told Josslyn that she knew what she was doing this summer. (D’oh!)

Lucky said Laura’s advice wouldn’t be the worst thing, and Laura said he and Elizabeth had always had a powerful connection. Just be brave and say it. Be honest. He said he appreciated her advice. He missed her while she was away, but he could hear her in his head. He didn’t always follow her advice, but he heard it. She said it was because she was his mom. She’d always be with him. Aiden set up a Scrabble board, when Amy came in and said it was time for Elizabeth’s nap. Laura said, maybe it was for the best. She had to get to a press event, but they’d play next time. Aiden took Lulu to the side and said, whatever she does, don’t leave them alone with that woman.

Trina told Kai that she had concerns. She felt he was being rushed into a risky procedure and didn’t like that Drew was the one making it happen. Kai said he understood, but the surgeon was legit, and he was aware of the risk. He was going into this with his eyes open. He had a good feeling about it and had to go for it. It would mean a lot if she was by his side.

Ric asked if Kristina apologized for saying Irene was not Molly’s daughter, and Molly said, Kristina acknowledged all of her mistakes. After the accident, Kristina was her rock. She didn’t know what she would have done without her. Ric said, what about when the crisis was over? and Molly said Kristina was a flawed person and she didn’t think Kristina would be perfect for the rest of their lives, but she thought this time it was different. He said, how so? and she said, because now they knew what they stood to lose.

Dante said it was possible to move on, and Kristina asked, how? Dante said he did it. After his assignment with the WSB, he was in bad shape. He had setbacks, but eventually moved on and put it behind him. She said it seemed like a part of life she didn’t think she could forget, and it didn’t seem possible to move on, but he said he saw her putting in the work. He was proud of her.

Alexis went to the gallery, and Ava said she thought Alexis wasn’t coming. She was about to go to the DA’s office to have a chat with Molly. Alexis said Ava was getting what she wanted. She had the funds from the Cassadine estate transferred to a Swiss bank account where they’ll be transferred to Ava’s account in installments. The first one should arrive as they speak and by July, every dime of her divorce settlement would be back. Their business was concluded. Alexis started to leave, and Ava said, about that. The price has gone up. Her divorce settlement was a great start, but that wasn’t all she wanted.

Trina said she’d have Kai’s back – no pun intended. He kissed her and said he’d be back on the field in no time, and all this would be worth it.

Lucky went to get Elizabeth’s book from the car, and Lulu told Aiden, don’t worry. Everything would work out fine. Aiden said, famous last words. Lulu followed Lucky outside, and he said she could make a break for it. She said, Amy may not work out. She’s a bad fit. Lucky said there was no other option, but she said there was – him.

Gio was playing his violin outside, when Lois came by and wondered if she’d heard him playing something from this century. He asked if it was okay, and she said, it was amazing. He said he was trying out pieces for the Nurses Ball, and she said Brook would make sure he was great. He said she was producing him, and Lois said she loved that they were teaming up. Gio said him too. His mom said practicing on his own was the only way to grow as an artist, but working with other artists and the right collaborator was the key to being great. Lois said his mom was always looking out for him, and he said she still was, in a way.

Brook found Chase in the solarium and said Lucy wanted to know what song he was performing, but he said he didn’t know if was up for that. Brook said he had to. It wouldn’t be the same without him. He said he needed incentive. If he did it, he’d need a very hands-on producer. She asked, how hands on? and he said he’d need help with the music, and getting in his wardrobe, and getting out of his wardrobe. She said, in that case, sign her up, and they kissed.

Alexis said the point of blackmailing her was for Ava to get her divorce settlement back. What changed? Ava said the divorce settlement was already hers. Alexis was giving her back what was stolen in the first place. Alexis asked what she felt entitled to now, and Ava said, compensation pay for Kristina’s attempt on her life. And compensation for Ric’s pain and suffering. Alexis asked how Ava was going to compensate Ric, and Ava said what she did with her money was her business. Alexis’s business was to keep the payments coming. Ava’s phone dinged and she said the first payment had been deposited. Alexis said she was going, and Ava said, one more thing. Keep a leash on her daughter or the price might skyrocket.

Kristina said she’d made a bad choice and was trapped in rage and hate, and Dante said but she saw it and stopped it now. Or she was trying to. She said she had to not let the things that went wrong in her life hold her back.

Ric said he knew what it was like to be estranged from a sibling, and Molly asked if he wished things had been different. He said, no. Things were different, briefly, once upon a time. Molly told him that their mom said they’d need each other someday, especially now that Sam was gone. They both put up a helluva a fight, but their mom wouldn’t let it go. She was right and now Molly had her sister back. Ric’s phone buzzed and there was a text from Ava: $$$$$. He said he was glad Alexis was able to give that to her, and Molly said her too.

Josslyn said, the professor only invited Emma to apply. She was still competing with other applicants, right? Emma said, of course (🍷). Everyone would want to assist Dalton. Josslyn said he did single Emma out. That was good news. Emma said now she needed to spend the rest of the semester showing him that she was the best person for the job. She couldn’t wait to work with him. She left and we saw Dalton sitting at another table.

Wednesday:

Amy tried to get Elizabeth to rest, but Elizabeth said she was all napped out and Lucky said he could handle Elizabeth.

At her press conference, Laura said she believed the McConkey esplanade was a valuable addition to Port Charles. It would be a financial boon, an avenue for tourism and public transportation, but most important, it would foster community for the citizens who gathered there. The matter at hand was the location on which she and Congressman Cain strongly disagreed.

Sidwell went to see Tracy in the solarium and Tracy told him that Yuri would be staying for their entire interaction. It would be brief. Sidwell said he hoped not. He’d found they had so much in common.

Diane went to see Sonny along with Marco, and Jason answered the door. She introduced, Marco Rios, the newest member of Miller and Davis, and Sonny asked why he didn’t have his father’s last name. Jenz Sidwell was his father, right?

Elizabeth said she wasn’t big on being handled, and Lucky amended it to helping make her comfortable. It was great having Amy, but a nurse with her experience and impressive bedside manner must be needed at the hospital. Amy said Elizabeth was her most important patient and she was going to stay right there until she was fully recovered. Elizabeth sent a text to someone: 911!!! Help!!!

Laura said she supported the site originally proposed by Congressman Cain, and Boyle interrupted, asking if the esplanade wasn’t Congressman Quartermaine’s idea. Laura said the funding was based on the original site, and Boyle asked if Drew hadn’t secured the funding. Laura said he had, but then had a change of opinion on the location. As a result, the federal funds were now frozen. The new site Congressman Cain had proposed would require the use of eminent domain to forcibly seize Piers 55 and 56, private property owned by a citizen of Port Charles. The design had been modified to address environmental concerns and since she thought it would benefit all of them, she was announcing a referendum to let the citizens of Port Charles to decide the location. Boyle asked if she didn’t think the public had a right to know who owned the piers. Did she forget to mention they were owned by the resident mob boss Sonny Corinthos?

Diane said she didn’t know that Marco was Sidwell’s son, and Sonny said he had a conversation with Natalia. She’d told him that she had a son by her ex-husband Jenz Sidwell. Diane said, color her surprised, and Marco said he and his father didn’t share a last name. Now that he was aware it was an issue, he’d include it on his resume. Diane said they’d talk about it later, and Sonny said he wanted a private conversation with his lawyer. Marco left, and Diane said she was sorry. She had no idea Marco had any connection to Sidwell. Naturally, she’d terminate him immediately. Sonny said he had a better idea.

Tracy said Sidwell being a supplier to Deception was the only reason she was entertaining a conversation. Her only interest in the company was to keep it profitable for her granddaughter. Sidwell said that was something they had in common. They both cared deeply about their families. They also shared a common thorn in their sides. Tracy said the only thorn she had was him and she’d like to be rid of him, and he said he felt she’d like to be rid of Sonny even more.

Lucas went over to Elizabeth and asked Lucky how the patient was. Lucky said, as well as could be expected under the circumstances, and Lucas said, what circumstances? Amy yelled for Lucky, and Lucky said, that was the circumstance. Lucas said he’d gotten Elizabeth’s text. Where was the fire? Elizabeth said, Amy was the fire. Aiden’s nerves were already frayed, and she wasn’t sure if he was even coming home. She couldn’t take another nap, and she didn’t need a nurse. She’d figure it out. Just do this for her. Amy came in and asked what Lucas was doing there, and he said Portia and Terry got their wires crossed. She was needed back at GH. They couldn’t spare her. Lucky got her bag, and Amy said, if she left, who would take her place? Lucky said he’d do it.

Tracy told Yuri that he could go, but stay close. Yuri left, and Sidwell said he was happy to supply the rare mineral Deception needed and enjoyed spending time with the ladies on the team, but he had grave misgivings about their not-so-silent partner’s involvement. He’d feel more secure if Sonny was gone. Tracy asked why he was bringing it to her, and he said, as the majority shareholder, she was in a unique position to get rid of him.

Diane said they’d vetted Marco carefully, but didn’t ask about his parents, and Sonny said there was no way she could know. But Sidwell knew she was his attorney and put Marco up to it. It wasn’t a coincidence. Jason agreed, and Sonny suggested Jason have a friendly chat with Marco. Jason left and Sonny told Diane, you know what they say, knowledge is power.

Laura said it was no secret that Sonny owned Piers 55 and 56. It was a matter of public record. But the forcible seizure of any citizen’s private property wasn’t a subject she took lightly. That’s why she was proposing a referendum vote – to let the people have their say. Boyle said they already had their say when they elected her to look out for their best interests. Sonny’s piers had been a blight on the city for years and were the site of countless violent crimes. Seizing them and giving them back to the city of Port Charles solved two problems – a home for the esplanade and eradicating a hotbed of crime. She could make happen. Why put the people of Port Charles through unnecessary time and expense with a voter referendum? Laura said she didn’t believe it should be a unilateral decision since it impacted every citizen, and Boyle asked if she was worried it would impact the people or Sonny. She had a personal relationship with Sonny and dined with him publicly. Maybe the people wanted to make sure her MetroCourt meals weren’t paid for by the city’s dime. Laura said she and Mr. Corinthos shared a grandchild and she made no apology for that. However, she took offense at the suggestion she’d shown Sonny any partiality. In fact, she’d chosen to put the decision in the hands of the voters so there would be no question of bias. Boyle asked if she wasn’t really just abdicating her responsibility of allegiance to the people, and she said her allegiance was to the citizens of Port Charles and the US Constitution. Boyle asked, how about the Deputy Mayor? How could she support her boss’s obvious refusal to stand up to organized crime and support dumping her decision in the people’s lap just to avoid standing up to Sonny’s criminal empire that had taken over their beautiful city?

Jordan said she wouldn’t allow Boyle to drag her into his public debate with the mayor, and he said, what about the good people of Port Charles? She said she wouldn’t be manipulated, and he asked if refusing to stand up to organized crime wasn’t extreme. She took no position, and neither was she willing to do the job she was elected to do. Jordan said she’d asked Laura privately to reconsider. She couldn’t in good conscience endorse the referendum, so out of respect for the mayor and the position of Deputy Mayor, she was choosing to resign effective immediately.

Lucky said he’d stay around the clock, but Amy said they needed a medical professional. Elizabeth said she was a medical professional, and Lucky said he knew where to find Amy and wouldn’t hesitate to find her and wouldn’t hesitate to reach out for help. Elizabeth poked Lucas, and Lucas said he’d be checking in like he lived there. Amy said she’d be available day or night, and Elizabeth needed to text her every day. Elizabeth promised, and Amy said all the nurses loved their head nurse, especially her, and left.

Tracy said she never wanted Sonny involved with Deception, but her partners felt it was necessary, and Sidwell said he believed they needed zincite more than they needed Sonny. Tracy said that was their agreement despite her misgivings, and Sidwell said, between the two of them, they had the leverage to convince the others to part ways with Mr. Corinthos. Tracy asked why she should choose him over Sonny. They both brought more risk than reward. Sidwell said, right now, their agreement was for him to supply an amount of zinc, but that amount was finite. She said, so he could cut it off or demand an exorbitant renegotiation fee, and he said she could use that as leverage to convince the team it was worth parting ways with Sonny. She said then they’d get to negotiate a price in perpetuity. They’d get the zinc they needed and get rid of Sonny, but there was one problem. She didn’t trust him any more than she did Sonny.

Diane asked what Sonny wanted her to do, and he said, for now, keep an eye on Marco, but that’s not why he asked her to come. Laura gave him a heads up on a big vote coming up. Diane’s phone dinged and she said, apparently, the vote was about him.

Jordan said, no questions. She had no comment until after she formally submitted her resignation. She left and the press bombarded Laura with questions. In the hallway, Anna asked what Jordan was doing, and Jordan said she never intended to call out Laura in public, but she had her own concerns about Laura’s relationship with Sonny. Anna said, Laura’s integrity was beyond reproach, but Jordan said Laura was still too close. She and Sonny shared a family and socialized, and Laura wasn’t willing to distance herself. It was reflecting badly on Jordan as well. Anna said she strongly disagreed, and Jordan said she loathed Boyle, but he wasn’t wrong. Laura was too cozy with Sonny and Sonny was a criminal. She couldn’t continue to defend Laura. Anna asked if they couldn’t just agree to disagree, and Jordan said she tried to look the other way, but it wasn’t working for her. Laura said, questions would have to wait until later and got down from the podium. Curtis told her that he was sorry. When he asked her to put it up for a referendum vote, he didn’t expect it to blow up. She said it wasn’t his fault. Boyle was determined to turn this into a circus. Curtis asked if she had any idea Jordan was resigning, but she said, it came out of the blue. He hadn’t put pressure on her to do this. It was her decision, and she stood by it. Drew appeared and said he couldn’t agree more. He was happy she’d come around to his way of thinking.

Lucas left, and Lucky said it was a good thing he’d shown up. Elizabeth said she may have texted him. Only a doctor who Amy liked and respected could convince her to go. She apologized for putting him on the spot. He definitely didn’t need to stay. He said he wanted to. Everything that happened had been part of his master plan. She said, for taking care of her around the clock? and he said he’d almost lost her and he couldn’t let her out of his sight. She wasn’t getting rid of him now.

Diane told Sonny that Laura was putting the McConkey esplanade site to a referendum ballot. The people would decide whether to build it on the original site proposal or issue an eminent domain order and seize his piers to build it on. Sonny said, that can’t happen. The piers were crucial to his business. Diane asked what he wanted her to do, and he said, put together a defense team. Get the best real estate and constitutional law lawyers and fight the city. She said she could hire a thousand lawyers, but it would be a waste of time and money. It was a clear-cut case of you can’t fight city hall.

Drew told Laura, well played and smart. The decision was now out of her hands. Sonny couldn’t blame her when the people voted to take away the piers and she could pretend the will of the people was responsible. Curtis told him not to be so sure yet. Sonny had the respect of the town. Drew said the people weren’t stupid or gullible, and Curtis said that remained to be seen, but he’d get no help from Aurora in his war against Sonny. Drew said he expected Curtis to think better of the citizens, but he guessed not, and Laura said, how dare he? When they first undertook the project, he was clear about the location he chose. This whole thing was his idea and now it was tainted. He allowed his antagonistic relationships with his brother and Sonny to be more important than the people he was elected to serve. She walked away.

Marco went into Diane’s office to find Jason at her desk. He said he thought Diane had asked to see him, and Jason said Diane was his lawyer too. He had a question for Marco.

Sidwell thanked Tracy for meeting with him. He suspected Deception’s partnership with him would benefit them more than their entanglement with Sonny. Tracy said Yuri would show him out, but he said he could manage by himself. He told her, enchantée, and left.

Sonny said he’d owned the piers for decades and they could just take them? and Diane said that’s exactly what eminent domain was – when the city determined the needs of the people outweighed the needs of a private property owner. Sonny said he was being targeted by Drew’s power. Drew wanted to come after him and Jason because he got his little feelings hurt. Diane said she didn’t disagree. The violence and alleged criminal activity at the piers had never proven welcome. She’d research precedents and case law, using the angle that his needs outweighed the city’s needs. But if the people of Port Charles voted to seize the piers, ultimately, she didn’t think there was a legal way around it. Sonny said that was unacceptable. His business required ownership of the piers. She said he may have to find a new way of doing business.

Anna said she guessed Aurora would be giving a press conference and Curtis said he’d be covering the fallout for a while. But something wasn’t right. Jordan going against Laura and resigning. There was no way she’d let an obvious sleaze like Boyle force her hand. Jordan’s moral compass was firmly in place and Boyle questioned it repeatedly. Anna said she felt Jordan was at her breaking point. They both knew that Laura had never been able to come to terms with Sonny’s activities. Curtis said, even when TJ was little and Sonny took him in and paid for his education, and she said, Sonny definitely helped occasionally, but she thought Jordan reached her limit. He said he knew from experience when Jordan was done, she was done, and Anna said it was ideal for someone running a criminal enterprise to have close ties to a city official. Jordan wasn’t wrong.

Boyle went to Drew’s office and Drew said, great job with the press conference. Boyle said it was fun, but he didn’t have Jordan resigning in his purview. He thought she and Laura would stick together. Drew said Jordan was an independent thinker. Laura’s career was tanking, and the rats were starting to jump ship.

Jordan brought Laura her letter of resignation, and Laura said she hadn’t seen it coming. Jordan said she needed Laura to be genuinely surprised, and they wished each other good luck. Jordan left and Laura said, good luck to all of them.

Marco said he’d try to answer Jason’s questions, and Jason asked why he picked Miller and Davis when there were other law firms. Marco said he’d interviewed at four and gotten three offers. This firm practiced the kind of law he liked and had a good compensation package. Jason said his father placed him there, but Marco said his father didn’t place him anywhere. It had been his choice to leave Miami. Jason said, so it was a coincidence, and Marco said they did happen. Jason said, not like this. Just after Marco’s father moved his operation there, there was an explosion in Sonny’s penthouse and Sonny’s son – his nephew – was severely burned. He almost died. Marco said he was sorry, and Jason said, was he? Him showing up made two coincidences. He’d be focused on Marco’s actions. Right now, it was peaceful, but if that changed, he’d stop Marco and stop his father. Marco asked if Jason was threatening him, and Jason said Marco was a smart man. He was sure Marco knew what a threat was. Lucas came in and asked what was going on. Did he interrupt something?

Elizabeth told Lucky that he could still bail, but he said he wanted to help if she let him. She said if he thought he had to make up for something, he didn’t, but he said that wasn’t true, and they set up the Scrabble game.

Lucas said Diane told him to come in. He’d seen Marco and Jason had met. What was happening? Jason said he was trying to get a straight answer out of Lucas’s friend (I nearly die laughing at the – I think – unintentional joke), but obviously he wasn’t capable of it. Maybe Lucas would have better luck. Jason left.

Drew told Boyle that Laura was an impediment, but she was giving them an opportunity with the referendum ballot. She wasn’t coming out strongly about taking away the piers and kneecapping Sonny’s criminal operation. It looked like she was on Sonny’s side. It was Boyle’s opportunity to run against her in the next election. He could be the law-and-order candidate. He wanted to stop crime while Laura was in bed with the mob. She was vulnerable and they could take her out. Do everything Drew said, and he’d be in the mayor’s office, where he’d continue to do everything Drew said.  

Diane said, the more she read about the referendum, the less she liked it, and Sonny said he wished Laura hadn’t gone through with it. It opened the door to all his enemies coming after him. Diane said Drew had already come for him, directly supporting his take down. She didn’t think it was something Sonny could win in a courtroom. He had to convince people that he was the one they wanted to get behind. He’d been a generous benefactor for many years, most of it anonymous. That had to stop right now, and he had to paint himself as the generous benefactor he was. Sonny said if he stepped out of the shadow, he put himself in the position of a lot more scrutiny, and she said, the more notoriety, the greater the risk. It wasn’t a referendum on the pier, but a referendum on him.

Curtis told Anna that he understood Jordan not wanting a connection to Sonny, but didn’t understand her public resignation blindsiding Laura. Anna said it wasn’t Jordan’s style, but what other explanation was there?

Jordan flashed back to her resignation, when Sidwell called. He said he hoped she didn’t mind him calling, but her resignation was all over social media. He was impressed with her standing up for her ideals. Perhaps they should talk. She said, about? and he said, about her future of course (🍷).

Thursday:

Curtis went to see Jordan, who was packing up her office. He said, so it was true, she did resign, and she said she and Laura privately disagreed about Laura’s relationship with Sonny. Boyle put her on the spot and she gave her honest opinion. She had to either quit or Laura would have fired her for insubordination. Curtis said he understood that was the story she was telling, but he’d like to hear the truth.

A sign over Sonny’s mantel said, Happy Birthday, Dante, and Olivia said his new place was great. Sonny said he wanted to have more family gatherings there, when Lulu and Donna came out. Lulu asked, where’s the birthday boy? and Sonny said he was outside with Rocco.

In Sonny’s old kitchen, Felicia asked how Michael was, and Carly said, as well as could be expected. His doctors were happy with is progress, but she hadn’t had the heart to tell him that Willow was moving into Drew’s. She thought Willow would change her mind, but she didn’t know Willow at all. Felicia said she had an ulterior motive for inviting herself over. Mac needed Carly’s help.

Lucas told Marco that Jason didn’t seem happy, and he wasn’t the guy to have a problem with, and Marco said he knew Jason was Sonny Corinthos’s righthand man. Lucas said Jason and his sister were tight, but he’d come to congratulate Marco on his new job. Alexis came in and said, that might be premature. The minute Diane found out, Diane told her. Lucas said, told her what? and Marco said Jenz Sidwell was his father.

Brook told Chase they were going to be late, but he said he wasn’t sure he was in the right headspace for a party. He had a lot on his mind. (The 60s called and wants their headspace back.)

On the side of a road, Molly was on the phone saying she just needed someone to change a tire… No! Don’t put her on hold again… Cody came by on Hades and said, howdy, ma’am. Was there anything he could do?

Chase told Brook that he’d been talking to Lois about what Dante’s reaction would be to having a child he didn’t know about. It made him realize how bad he wanted to be a dad.

Felicia said Mac was worried that the referendum made Laura look like she was passing the buck to the voters instead of standing up to Sonny herself. He’d like Sonny to accept what the voters decided and not fight it. Carly said if they decided to take Sonny’s property, he wasn’t going to say okay, and Felicia said that’s why she needed to talk to him and convince him to do what was best for Laura.

Jordan said she was telling the truth, but Curtis said he knew her. There had to be more to the story. She said Sonny thought he was above the law and Laura knew, but still considered him a friend. That was a problem for her. She resented that Sonny was a factor in major decisions Laura made. Boyle opened the door and put her on the spot, and she couldn’t stop herself from walking through. Curtis said the only time he’d seen her out of character like this was when she was working undercover, and she said she was going to stop him there.

Cody said he was heading home and came across a damsel in distress, and Molly said she wasn’t a damsel, but she’d been on hold with the garage for 46 minutes and no progress. She put her phone back to her ear and said, great. When are they coming… no… She told Cody that somebody was coming, and he said he heard hours. Did she have a spare in the trunk? He wasn’t leaving her by the side of the road, and he could change a tire.

Lucas said he wasn’t expecting that, and Alexis said Marco neglected to mention it. Lucas tried to leave, but Marco said he didn’t conceal it and didn’t lie. They’d never asked. Did they ask other candidates about their family tree? Lucas said this had nothing to do with him and left. Alexis said, technically, it wasn’t a lie, but there were lies of omission, and Marco asked if she was rescinding the offer.

Lois, Gio, and Danny arrived at the party, and Lulu flashed back to Lois knocking on Martin’s door when she was rifling through his papers. Sonny said he’d get Dante and Rocco. On the patio, Rocco told Dante about the negative comments on social media about Laura. #MobsterMayor was trending, and his phone was blowing up. Dante told him not to worry about his grandmother. It was all politics. Rocco said he was the link between Sonny and Laura and the debate would make it worse. He didn’t want to go if that was going to happen, but Dante said he’d worked hard and couldn’t bail on his partner. Sonny came out as Rocco said he didn’t know what to do unless his grandfather didn’t go to the debate.

Cody changed the tire and Molly wondered who named a horse Hades. Cody said, Tracy. It probably reminded her of home. He warned Molly that Hades could sense her fear, then informed her that her spare tire was punctured. She said she’d forgotten to get it fixed, and he said it was time for Plan B.

Marco said he was still qualified for the job and bringing the same clients. His father had no criminal record and had never been charged with a crime. The same couldn’t be said for their biggest clients, Sonny and Jason. Their client list was more problematic than his.

Carly and Felicia gravitated to the moss bowl 🎍, and Carly said she and Sonny were in a good place. She had no intention of butting back into his business. Felicia asked if she didn’t think getting rid of the piers would make Port Charles safer and more peaceful. If Sonny didn’t own the piers anymore, could it turn out to be a good thing for Carly’s family?

Kristina told Danny about their perfect Davis girls night, and he said he was glad she and Molly were fine. He knew his mom would be too. Outside, Dante said it wasn’t what it sounded like, and Sonny asked if Rocco didn’t want him to go. Rocco apologized and told Sonny that he shouldn’t have said it. It wasn’t that he didn’t want Sonny to come, but after the press conference, he was worried it would be bad if Sonny and Laura were seen together. Dante wondered if they could sit separately, but Sonny said it was best for him to stay home and asked if Dante was going to record it. Dante said, of course (🍷), and Sonny said he was proud of Rocco for looking out for his grandmother. Rocco went inside, and Sonny said he was proud Rocco told the truth. He’d see the video and it was all good.

Carly asked if Felicia thought Sonny could be a legitimate businessman, and Felicia said it was possible. Carly said people generally didn’t walk away from that business, but Felicia said if it could happen, eminent domain could be a blessing in disguise. (Ugh. Eminent domain is a pet peeve of mine, so my blood boils whenever they mention it. It’s nobody’s blessing except those whose pockets are lined from it.)

Lucas came into Sonny’s old kitchen and said Carly wasn’t going to believe… Sorry for interrupting. (He does that a lot.) Felicia said she needed to get going and asked Carly to think about what she’d said. Lucas asked Carly if Jason was gunning for Marco Rios.

Alexis said there was a difference in doing something illegal and getting caught, and Marco said the difference was a good lawyer. He admired how the firm kept Sonny from being brought up on RICO charges. Alexis said she’d met his father, and her first impression was that he was charming, intelligent, and completely ruthless. Marco didn’t disclose it on purpose. He said she was right, but he’d thought she of all people would understand. She was a Cassadine, but didn’t use the name and had distanced herself from her problematic family. They had a dark international reputation, and she wanted to be judged on her own merit. That’s what he wanted too.

Jordan said if Curtis still cared about her, he’d drop the subject or leave. Curtis asked if she was in trouble. Was she being blackmailed? She said, no. She’d promised herself that she’d never lie to him again. She’d thought she was protecting him, but he needed honesty and deserved it. She’d lost him because of it and they’d worked at being friends. She didn’t want to jeopardize that, so he had to let it go.

Chase said it had been hard to accept he couldn’t get Brook pregnant. He felt he’d failed her. Brook said he was so wrong. She wanted to be worthy of him, but didn’t think she’d ever deserve him. All she wanted to do was think about a future with him. He said he wanted to move forward with the child they could have and wanted to raise a kid with her. Did she feel the same way?

Cody suggested they get moving with Plan B, but Molly said she’d wait for a tow. He asked if she thought he was leaving her there when it was about to get dark, but she said she’d be fine. Cody said they had an obvious solution.

Everyone sang Happy Birthday to Dante, who said he couldn’t think of a better way to spend his birthday than with family. He felt lucky to have them in his life. Even Michael had called. Sonny said family showed up, no matter what that entailed, and Dante thanked them and said he loved them.

Brook said she wanted to start a family with Chase, and he said they had to decide which option was right. She said she wanted to rule out IVF with a sperm donor because of Molly’s experience. She couldn’t go through that. Chase agreed, and she said they were back to adoption. He said he thought it was the best fit, but didn’t know how she felt.

Carly said, Miami Marco? and Lucas said Marco had gotten a job with Alexis and Diane’s firm, although he wasn’t sure it was going to work out. She asked what Jason had to do with it, and he said Marco texted him with the good news, so he stopped by to congratulate him. When he got there, there was a lot of tension between Jason and Marco, and it sounded like Jason had threatened Marco. Marco’s father is Jenz Sidwell, who he knows is a bad guy. Carly said, Sidwell kidnapped Sasha and held her at gunpoint. Officially, it didn’t happen because Jack took care of it. Lucas said he and Marco had only been a possibility, but now even that was gone.

Gio thanked Sonny for inviting him, and Sonny said Gio was family and the neighborhood stuck together. Did he have plans for the summer? Gio said the Port Charles Symphony apprentice program accepted him. Lulu asked if Lois was okay, and Lois said she’d been thinking about all the years she and Sonny had been friends. He never missed a chance to help her family out and had made Gio’s education a priority. Lulu said Sonny had always been generous.

Jordan asked Curtis to accept what she said for what it was and leave it at that. He said he’d lost the right to have her explain herself and respected her right not to tell him. She said she didn’t want to lie to him again. It had already cost her too much. He said it had cost them both, and she thanked him for checking in and understanding. He said, just know his understanding came with a price.

Brook told Chase that giving up her child made her respect the adoptive process more. Her son went to people who wanted him and would give him all their love. She’d always prayed for a chance to pay it forward and give a child a loving home. He asked how she felt about an older child, and she said, Monica and Alan adopted Emily when she was 12. Even though she remembered her biological parents, she was accepted as a Quartermaine. He said they could start looking into it. He knew there was a kid meant for them, and it didn’t matter how old they were.

Carly said it seemed like a good reason to walk away, but Lucas said nothing he’d seen made Marco look like his father. Marco didn’t lie. It had never come up. But after Brad, the last thing he needed was another man he couldn’t trust.

Alexis said she understood coming from a problematic family and Marco keeping his own life separate from his father, but Sidwell wasn’t just his father. He was also a client. Marco said, one of many, and Alexis said, true, but they preferred not to hire someone whose client wanted to kill their clients. It wasn’t good for business. Marco said the optics weren’t good, but his reputation was. JS and Associates was his father’s firm, but his father had never been involved in a criminal enterprise. He wasn’t going to distance himself from his father even if it meant losing the job. He loved his father, but hoped he’d be judged on his own merit.

Cody said Hades could easily carry both of them and it was totally safe. Safer than Molly waiting by the road for a tow that was never coming. Molly said it sounded like a horror movie, and he said a lot of them started that way. He’d bring her back to the stables and drop her off on the way to Dante’s party, or she could call a Ride Share if she didn’t want to wait. She said, okay, and brought her briefcase out of the car. He suggested she leave it, but she said she couldn’t leave legal documents there.

Sonny said he couldn’t make Rocco’s debate. Some business came up. They’d talked through it, Rocco understood, and Dante was going to record it. Olivia asked to talk to Sonny outside and they left. She said it was the first time his grandson was putting himself out there. Sonny was his grandfather and Rocco adored him. Not going wasn’t an option. Dante came out, and Olivia said she never thought she’d see the day Sonny would put work in front of family. Dante said Sonny would be there if he could, and Olivia went back inside. Dante asked if Sonny was okay, and Sonny said he was taking his pills and he was fine. Dante said he was going to tell Olivia for Rocco’s sake, but Sonny said, no. She would be mad at Rocco. Let her be mad at him. He was a big boy and could take it.

Molly sat in front of Cody on the horse and said, don’t let it gallop or jump over anything. He told her to trust him, and she said she trusted he was good with horses.

Curtis asked Jordan to promise to call him if she was up against something. He wouldn’t ask questions, but he’d be there. She promised and thanked him for understanding. He said she could count on his discretion should she need it, and she said it meant the world to her, and left.

Carly asked what Lucas was going to do, and he said he didn’t know. Think some more. She said that was progress. In the past, he’d use it as an excuse to walk away. He asked where the lecture was on his horrible taste in men who would break his heart, and she said, that would be annoying. He said she was doing unto him and Marco what she wished he’d do unto her and Jack.

Alexis said she knew how awful it felt to pay for the sins of a family you didn’t choose. Her family did horrible things she had no part of, yet she was still associated with them. They had family backgrounds in common, but walking the fine line between legality and family was trickier than he thought. At some point, he was going to have to choose between the life he’d made for himself and working for his father. Marco said, the question was, should that day come, would he be working for the firm? and she said she had to talk it over with Diane, but he should know there would be an extensive background check. He said, knock yourselves out, and left.

Chase said, they were doing this? and Brook said, they were doing this. He said he was nervous at first, but now he was excited, and she said he was going to be an amazing father. He said any kid would be lucky to have her as a mother, and they kissed. (I’m thinking they’re going to adopt Gio.)

Danny, Gio, and Rocco sat on the patio looking at their phones, and Danny said he couldn’t believe what they were saying about Sonny. Gio said they were idiots. He got into it with one of them, but they didn’t want to hear it. Danny said, be careful. They were crazy. Gio went inside to grab a soda before he wrote something he shouldn’t, and left. Danny said Rocco dodged a bullet. If both of his grandparents were here, people would be posting that it was proof Laura favored Sonny. Rocco said that was garbage, and Danny said he knew that, but it was probably best that Sonny wasn’t coming to the debate.

Dante said he was sorry this was happening before Sonny’s surgery. People were probably saying nasty stuff. Sonny said it was nothing he hadn’t heard, and Dante asked if he was planning on fighting back. Sonny said he was ready for it, but didn’t want anybody getting caught in the crossfire.

Lulu asked if Gio missed home, and Gio said, sometimes. He knew one day he’d leave to pursue his music career. His mom did. Lulu asked if she was away a lot, and Lois said, before she had Gio. Once she had him, she cut back on travel. She hated to be away from Gio. Olivia said, but she worked until the second Gio was born, and Gio said, she was in California playing a concert when she went into labor. That’s why he was born in LA.  

🫔 Friday’s Enchilada…

Sonny brings Donna to his old kitchen, and Carly says, there’s my girl. Did she have fun with daddy? Donna says, they went to Dante’s birthday party and it was great. They had to the hide cake from the boys. Carly says, sounds like a good idea. She’s glad Donna had fun. Donna says, guess what? Rocco is doing a debate. Carly asks if she knows what a debate is, and Donna says, nope, but she knows everybody is going to be there except daddy. He’s staying at home with her.

In an examining room, Isaiah tells Josslyn, no ligaments or tendons are damaged, but it’s swollen. From the scans, he can see she suffered bad sprain and aggravated it a few days later. What on earth was she doing?

At the hospital, Anna asks how Emma is doing, and Emma says, for someone about to start their first day in court mandated community service, not too bad, invigorated even. Where’s Aunt Felicia? Felicia appears and says, right here and ready to keep her busy and on task, and Emma says, Felicia is babysitting her. Felicia says, call it what Emma wants, and she will too. Ready to start? Emma says, bring it on. She practically grew up in this place and she’s very excited to start giving back, even if it’s judge ordered. Felicia says she likes this can-do attitude and knows right where to start her. Right this way. As they leave, Anna says, have fun.

On her phone in Maxie’s office, Lucy says, yes… okay. She definitely sees… okay. Thank you. She’ll be in touch. Maxie says, spit it out, and Brook says, just tell them already. Lucy says, the boutique in Los Angeles says their Deception patented overnight wrinkle cream is flying off the shelves. Brook says she’s not seeing the numbers… wait… Lucy asks if the numbers are good, and Brook says, spectacular. They’re only two weeks into Q2 and these put them in the black for the rest of the year. Lucy says, and to think they’d be scrambling for zincite if it wasn’t for their white knight at Windymere.

At Windymere, Jordan says, the pay is substantial, and Sidwell says, wait until she sees the health plan. She says, it’s a great offer, but the job description is vague. What exactly does he expect her to do for him?

Sasha looks at the sonogram screen and smiles. She puts her hand on Jason’s arm and he says, it’s amazing.

Sasha and Jason look at the sonogram, and Sasha says, ears… eyes… see that? Jason says he does. Almost fully developed. Does she feel okay? She says, better than okay, and he says, good. It might be none of his business… She says, if it is, she’ll tell him to butt out, and he says he knows her due date is a few weeks away. Does she have a birth plan in place? She says she does, but look who’s in the know? and he says he’s had some experience. Some of his closest friends are women. Sasha says she hopes she’s one of them, and he says, the chances are pretty good. They are having a baby together. Would she mind if he sent the sonogram picture to Michael so he can see the baby’s progress? She asks why he’d want to do that.

Josslyn tells Isaiah that she rolled her ankle hiking in Easter Island. Then a week later, they had a research trip that included a 10 mile walk on the beach. Isaiah says, and she powered through, and she says, yeah. She didn’t want to wuss out in front of people. He says, that sounds right. He’s never been to Easter Island and bets it’s amazing. Josslyn says, it was. Sometimes she can hardly believe she was really there. He says, now that she’s back – he hands her a prescription paper – call this guy. Six weeks of PT and please stay off her ankle. Josslyn thanks him and says she’ll do her best.

Anna says she’s got to get back to the precinct, but Felicia asks if she has a second. It’s about Mac. Anna asks if everything is okay, and Felicia says, Mac is deeply concerned about the referendum. He thinks it’s going to tank Laura’s mayorship. Anna says, he’s not wrong. If only the city realized they’re better with having Laura as a mayor. Felicia says, what about Anna? Police Commissioner is a mayoral appointee. Given the optics, isn’t she worried about her position being secure if Laura is still in office? Anna says, 100%, especially with Justine Turner breathing down her neck, and Felicia says she doesn’t get it. Why is ADA Turner so determined to tear Anna down?

Emma comes out looking bedraggled with gum in her hair, and Josslyn says, wow. She loves the new look.

Brook says, sales have skyrocketed, and Enchantment hasn’t even gotten their skin cream to market, and Lucy says, eat your heart out. Erica Kane. Maxie says she’s got to hand it to Lucy. She had reservations about Sidwell at first, but he came through just in time. Lucy thanks her and says she’s right. It was one of her more inspired ideas, bringing Jenz into their fold. She’ll see them later. Brook says, they still have work, and Lucy says, as does she. Ta! She leaves.

Sidwell says as far as he’s concerned, Jordan’s title can be whatever she likes – CEO, CMO, CFO – he doesn’t care. Jordan says, those are each very different things and very different responsibilities, and he says, what he needs her to do is represent his interest to Port Charlies. She’s in a position that’s unique and ideally suited to do so. She says, because? and he says, personally and professionally she has relationships with the most important people in town. She’s good friends with the Police Commissioner and the mayor and Congressman Drew Cain. Jordan says, the extent of her relationship with Drew is largely negative, but he says he’s sure it can be repaired and renewed. She says, outside of the job, she and Laura aren’t particularly close, but that could work to their advantage. He says he likes that. Is there any chance she could renew her friendship with Drew? She says, he can’t pay her enough.

Carly asks, who’s going to Rocco’s debate? and Donna says, Dante, Kristina, Danny, Aunt Olivia, and Rocco’s grandma. Carly says, that’s a lot of people, and Donna asks if she can go too. Carly says she knows Donna wants to, but she’ll have way more fun with her dad, and Sonny says, her big brother Dante is going to take a video. They should get together one night and watch it. Donna nods, and Carly says, that sounds like a great idea. Say goodbye to daddy. Pilar is upstairs waiting to take her to school. Donna hugs Sonny and says she loves him, and he says he loves her too. Donna leaves, and Carly says, so he’s going to miss Rocco’s big night. He says he’s got his reasons, and she asks if they have anything to do with Laura.

Jason says he’s not sure he understands. Sasha asked him to send Michael a sono a month ago. She says she’s worried if she sends every one of them, it might send the wrong message, but he says he doesn’t think it will. Michael understands she wants to raise the baby on her own and he agreed. She says, if she includes him in every step, he might want to be involved more, but she thinks what she needs is the opposite. He says he understands, but thinks it would help Michael. He’ll be glad to see she and the baby are happy and healthy. She says she doesn’t know, but she’ll think on it, and he says, of course (🍷). He’s got things to do. Can he drop her at her house? She says she drove here. He doesn’t have to… She’s really glad he came today. He says him too, and leaves.

Sidwell says he’s sure Jordan’s distaste for Drew is more than justified. But Drew is more than a powerful man and they should have him on their side. Plus, her new position will give her the perfect view to keep an eye on him. She says she doesn’t know if she wants to watch Drew, but she’ll check in now and again. He says he’s sure she’s done far worse for far less. So do they have a deal? She says she’ll have her lawyer look it over, and he says, good. She says, it’s a generous offer, one might say excessively so, and he says, it’s charming that she thinks such a thing exists. He warns her, in exchange for her excessive salary, the job is going to be demanding on her intelligence, energy, and time. There will be precious little room left for her personal life. She says, what personal life? when Lucy strolls in. She says, the butler let her in… She tells Jordan, hi. What are you doing here?

Sonny and Carly admire the moss bowl 🎍, and Sonny says, at the party, he overheard Rocco tell Dante that he didn’t want him at the debate for Laura’s sake. Carly says she’s sorry, but he says he can’t blame Rocco. He’s protecting his grandmother. She says, still, it had to hurt, and he says, yeah, but Rocco’s not wrong. Plus, that idiot Boyle is gunning for Laura. She says, the last thing Laura needs is her picture with him splashed on the cover of The Invader, and he says he values his friendship with Laura and loves that they share this family, but their connection is a liability for her. So he’s going to steer clear. She says she hates that he has to miss Rocco’s debate, but he says he saw Rocco practice. It’s important. The last thing Rocco needs is to be overshadowed by politics. She says, aren’t all debates political? and he says she knows what he means. She says, for what it’s worth (🍷), she thinks he’s doing the right thing, and he says he’d do anything for Rocco. And if Laura needs help, he’ll be there. She asks if he means that, and he says, what does she mean? She says, if he really wants to help Laura, he needs to get out of her way.

Emma says she was helping in art therapy, and Josslyn says, it looks like things got a little messy. Emma says, a little bit. A couple of children, very small children, not almost ready to drive children, did this to her. Apparently, kids in the hospital expect a lot today. She was the canvas. Josslyn says she’s impressed that Emma found time to volunteer, between school and her animal rights group. Emma thanks her, but says, full disclosure. This is not volunteering per se. It’s community service. Josslyn says, for the incident at the Quartermaine crypt? Emma was awesome by the way. Emma says, a huge thank you to Trina for live streaming. She’s a rock star. Josslyn says, she always is. But doesn’t it seem a little blown out of proportion for protecting a family’s crypt? Especially since they ended up in the right. Emma says, the judge wasn’t happy with her priors, and Josslyn says, she has priors? Who would have thought she had a shady past? Emma says, not everybody has a millionaire daddy to buy them out of trouble, and Josslyn says she touched a nerve. Emma says, actually, she has no bandwidth for this right now. She has to get some gum out of her hair. She leaves, and Josslyn sees Professor Dalton go by with a briefcase.

Sonny tells Carly, don’t talk to him about the referendum. He’s heard about it so many times, it’s ridiculous. She says, sorry, but she’s going to pile on it again. Don’t fight this. He says, is she asking what he thinks she’s asking? She says she is, and don’t try to convince people to vote no or challenge it in court if he doesn’t win. He says he can’t just let the city take what belongs to him, and she says, if he fights, he’ll ruin his relationship with Laura. He says he didn’t know Carly was a fan, and she says, Laura is a good businesswoman and a great mayor. It won’t destroy him if he gives up the piers. He can afford to let them win. He says, that’s beside the point. It’s not going to happen. If he doesn’t lift a finger to stop it, his enemies will think he’s weak, and she knows how dangerous that can be.

Lucy says she was sorry to hear what happened between Jordan and the mayor. Laura couldn’t ask for a better Deputy Mayor. Jordan thanks her and says she still has the greatest respect for Laura, and Lucy says, who doesn’t? Jordan says, but it was time to part company, and Lucy asks if that’s what she’s doing here, looking for new company. Sidwell laughs and says, Jordan is going to work for him. Port Charles’ loss is his gain. Jordan tells him that she hasn’t said yes yet, and he says, no, but she will. Lucy says, so good. Greener pastures await. She can speak from experience. Jordan says, good to hear, and tells Sidwell, they’ll speak soon. She leaves and Sidwell asks why Lucy is here. Lucy says, their innovative product sold out, and he says he heard. She says she thinks he means… this, and holds up a jar of the cream. He says, isn’t that elegant? and she says, it’s what customers have come to expect. This is from the first batch, made from his zincite. She thinks he should have it. She hands it to him and says she’s not saying he needs it. He has perfect dermis. Their whole project was a huge success. They’re up to their eyeballs in people waiting to order more. He wonders if they should open some champagne, and she says, on an occasion like this, doesn’t he think it’s always bubbly time? He says he’ll call for a bottle, and she says, do, but they have business to discuss first, about when they can roll out the next shipment. He says, they’ll want more zincite, and she says, that’s why she invited their CFO to over the details. He says, having Natalia there will make things simple. She always a great head for business. Lucy says, sorry. Always? He says, yes. Natalia is his ex-wife.  

In the solarium, Sasha asks if Olivia has any requests for lunch, and Olivia says, the cook’s choice is fine. They’ve got to talk about when Sasha is planning her maternity leave. Sasha says she hasn’t thought about it much. How would maternity leave work? Olivia says, you have a baby, skip work, and take care of your baby. In her case, she’ll also have to fight off the lunatics trying to hold her baby. Sasha asks if it won’t be awkward, living here for a few months and not being the cook, but Olivia says, not at all. She’s family. She hired Sasha because she knew Sasha could handle the lunatics in this asylum. She never guessed Sasha would fit in as perfectly as she has. Sasha asks if Olivia is calling her crazy, and Olivia says, in the nicest possible way. Sasha is so great with the kids, and she’s got the adults trained perfectly. She can dish it out to Tracy faster than Tracy can serve it. It’s truly a thing of beauty. Sasha says, scorn is Tracy’s love language, and Olivia says, she gets them. To her, that means Sasha is well on her way to becoming a true Quartermaine.

Emma says, task one done and Anna is still here, and Anna asks, how did it go? Emma says, they got more paint on the paper than her. She takes that as a win. Felicia says, victory. Her next class will be easier. Emma says, great. More painting? Felicia says, paper mâché, and Emma says, cold, smelly, stick, and wet. Kids love that… So does she. Felicia says, have fun, and Emma says, try and stop her. She leaves, and Felicia says she thinks doing community serviced is doing Emma a world of good… Anna says, but? and Felicia says, Mac hinted that some shady circumstances led to it. Anna says, Turner practically admitted she used Emma to come at her, and Felicia asks why the ADA is coming at her. Anna says, Turner thinks Jason is behind Cyrus’s disappearance and she’s covering for him, and Felicia says, that’s ridiculous. Anna would never cover for Jason. Anna says she wouldn’t, but Turner believes she’s giving Jason special treatment… What? Felicia says, Anna wouldn’t cover for Jason, but she does give him special treatment.

Maxie says her email is blowing up. Orders from boutiques, department store chains… Brook says, now they just have to keep up with the demand. There’s a knock at the door, and Jason comes in. Brook asks if everything is okay at home, and Jason says, everything’s fine. Sonny asked him to come by. An employee has been lying to them for months and may have compromised their entire company. Maxie says, oh my God. Who? Jason says, Natalia Ramirez, but Brook says, Natalia’s been great. Maxie asks what Natalia lied about, and Jason says, her ex-husband is Jenz Sidwell.

Anna tells Felicia that there are instances when she’s lied for Jason, but they were special circumstances. She’s made it clear to Jason and others that if he’s implicated in a crime, she will not look the other way. Felicia says she knows Anna wouldn’t let it slide, and Anna says, Turner doesn’t. And to get her own way, she’s holding Emma’s freedom over her head. Felicia says, she wouldn’t dare do that if Robert was still here, and Anna says, who knows where he is? He’s looking after Holly and her latest catastrophe. Felicia says, Robert’s absence is all the more reason for Laura to stay in office. The more people Anna has in her corner, the better. Felicia’s phone dings, and she says, sorry. There’s something she needs to take care of upstairs. Do what she needs to do. Anna tells Felicia to do the same and leaves.  

Lucy asks if she heard correctly. Sidwell and Natalia were married? He says, it was a long time ago. In fact, they have a grown son. When they first met at the Deception meeting and he saw his former wife, it was all he could do to hide his shock. She says she’s not trying to hide hers, and he says he’d assumed Natalia told them, so he thought he’d do the same. Lucy asks if he didn’t find it odd, and he says, of course (🍷) he did, but he assumed Natalia would tell them the moment he left. Lucy says, one would think that, and he says, now that they’re collaborating, going forward, she can be sure of full transparency. Natalia walks in and says she heard they sold out… What’s going on? Lucy says, nothing. She was going over some details with Natalia’s ex-husband. Why didn’t she say anything? Natalia says she didn’t think it was relevant, and Lucy says, not relevant? Natalia says, when the deal was finished, she was going to tell them when they were all together, but Lucy says, after all this time. Really? Sidwell says, please, calm down. He for one is comfortable having Natalia there. Lucy says she’s sure he is, but he’s the only one. He says, nothing has changed except for the fact they now know a personal detail that happened a long time ago, a very long time ago. He hopes they can move forward from this.

Brook says, so they’re all on the same page, their CFO used be married to one of their primary suppliers and they’re just finding this out now. Jason says, yes, and Maxie says, it was going so well. Brook says, Sonny insisted on bringing her on. Did he know about this? Jason says, he just found out, and Brook says, Natalia played Sonny. That takes skill and guts. Maxie says she knew she couldn’t trust Sidwell, and Brook says, but he had the zincite and had it at the right price. Maxie says, maybe, but Sidwell was throwing out red flags and this is the last one. She’s not working with him again. She doesn’t care what Sasha says. Jason asks what Sasha said, and Maxie says, Sasha told them the whole kidnapping thing was really Holly’s fault, so it was okay if Deception worked with him. She thanks Jason for coming by to tell them, and he says, they’re welcome. He leaves and Brook says she’ll tell Tracy later. She’ll probably want to end their association with Sidwell. Maxie says she couldn’t agree more, but Brook says she doesn’t know how iron clad their deal is. Maxie says, nothing is iron clad.

Sasha tells Olivia, don’t take this the wrong way, but do they consider her family because her baby is a Quartermaine? Olivia says she knows the last thing Sasha wants is to be dragged into the family’s crazy drama. That’s the way she and Ned first got together. As much as she loved Ned, she always felt like someone was looking down on her, especially Tracy. Sasha says she can’t imagine why, and Olivia says, to top it off, Tracy didn’t come to the wedding. She was sure Tracy was boycotting it, then she got this note – she gets a paper – welcoming her and Leo to the family. Sasha reads it and says, wow. She had no idea Tracy could be so warm. Olivia says, compassionate and kind, and Sasha says, all of the above. Olivia’s been carrying this around how many years? Olivia says, eight. Every time the family puts her to her wit’s end, she takes it out, looks at it, and remembers that the Quartermaines can be picky, snobby, and downright cruel, but if they choose you, it’s not because of who your mother is or that they fell in love with your baby. It’s because you earned it. We might be dysfunctional, but we take care of our own. Whether she likes it or not, Sasha is one of their own now.

Josslyn follows Dalton as he goes into a lab. She listens at the door.

Carly says she’s all too familiar with the risk of looking weak, and Sonny says he knows she is. She says, it will look worse if he fights the referendum and loses, but he says, it’s a risk he doesn’t plan on losing. She says he can’t guarantee he’ll win. He needs to find another way to show he’s strong. He says, they’ll think he doesn’t want to go up against Laura. His family’s safety is first. She says, he can’t give that as an excuse, but he says, it’s not an excuse. If it was, their son wouldn’t be in a burn clinic across the world, and he wouldn’t have to book a doctor’s appointment across the country. She asks what he’s talking about, and he says he has a problem with his heart.

Dalton comes out, leaving the briefcase inside. He closes the door and walks down the hall, and Josslyn follows.

Maxie tells Anna that the conducted numerous background checks, and Sidwell’s name never came up, even though Natalia is his ex. Brook says, they needed her, but it never came up. Anna says, for whatever reason, it was scrubbed or destroyed, and Maxie says, for whatever reason, they need to tear up their contract with Sidwell. Brook says, Anna’s not a lawyer, and Maxie says she knows that. Maybe Anna can help them find some hard evidence to prove he violated the contract. Maybe from the events that happened in Africa. Maybe she can dig up some dirt to kick Sidwell to the curb. Anna says, that’s the worst idea ever, and Maxie says, give her one reason why. Anna says, Lucy Coe.

Lucy says, they stood up for Natalia and this is how she repays them? and Natalia says she swears she never meant… Lucy says, do not speak. Don’t bother. Her days are numbered. Lucy leaves, and Natalia says, what the hell? Sidwell asks why she’s angry with him. If she’d disclosed this in the first place, none of this would have happened. She says, he knew they didn’t know, and he says, it’s a tempest in a teapot. Once they’re over the initial shock, her colleagues will understand. They haven’t had anything to do with each other for years. She says, it won’t alter them or Sonny. He says, she told Sonny? and she says, yes, and he’s out for blood.  

Carly asks when the episodes started, and Sonny says, around the first of the year. She says she’s just hearing about it now? and he says he wanted to keep a tight circle of the people who knew. She asks, who knows? and he says, Dr. Gannon is treating him. Jason, Brick, Laura, Kristina found out and told Dante. She says, yeah, it’s a tight circle he’s got there, and he says, and Natalia. She found him when he was having an attack. Carly asks if he trusts Natalia, and he says, not anymore

Jordan taps Isaiah on the shoulder, and he says, this is a surprise. She says, there’s more where that came from, and he says she has to make an appointment. These days, he’s operating out of a cozy, discrete-type place across town, and he happens to have appointment available at 7:30. She says she can’t. She’ll be too busy. He says she’s never been busier than when she was unemployed, and she says she decided to take a new job. He says, great. What’s the gig? She says, Chief Officer of Operations for Sidwell, and he says, she can’t be serious.

Dalton leaves the hospital, and Josslyn follows. She takes out her phone and sends a text: Spotted r friend from school. Fill u in later. (We don’t see who she’s texting, but I assume it’s Vaughn.)

Anna tells Maxie, say she gives them damning evidence against Sidwell. If and when Lucy finds out… Brook says, Anna thinks she’ll tip off Sidwell, and Anna says she thinks Lucy will tell him out of a misguided feeling of loyalty or attraction. Brook says, Lucy is definitely into Jenz Sidwell. And she’s a terrible liar. Maxie says, she can’t not lie, and Anna says, she’ll place herself and them is Sidwell’s crosshairs. Brook asks what they can do. They can’t stay in business with Sidwell. Anna says, they just have to sit tight and carry on like nothing is wrong, and Maxie tells her, easier said than done. Anna says, they can try. She promises to take care of this.

Felicia says, rough first day? and Emma says, a little bit, yeah. She’s carrying a big, black garbage bag, and Felicia asks if she needs help. Emma says she’s got it. She needs to throw it in the dumpster before it inevitably springs a leak and paint goes everywhere.

Isaiah says he knows Jordan needs to get close and he wants Sidwell brought down as much as anyone. But dinner was dangerous enough. Working for Sidwell is on a new level. Jordan says, that’s how undercover ops work. You have to put yourself inside to find evidence. He asks if she’s considered the possibility that Sidwell is already onto her. Maybe she’s not playing Sidwell. Maybe he’s playing her. She says, he’ll like her better when Sidwell is prosecuted, but she has to find evidence to take Sidwell down. He says, what about them and what they have? and she says, what they have has to end. (Aww! I like them as a couple.)  

Sasha tells Jason that she’s been thinking about what he said, showing Michael the latest sonogram. If he thinks it’s a good idea, she’s okay with it… What is it? He says, how could she sell out to Sidwell?

Sidwell asks how Sonny reacted when Natalia told him, and she says, he severed their relationship. He asks, what exactly was their relationship? and she says, it was professional. Sonny is a majority investor in Deception and made her CFO, but she doesn’t see that lasting much longer. He says, forgive him for asking, but is their professional relationship the reason they went to LA on a bus trip to a cardiologist?  Natalia says, he had them followed, and he says, enlighten him. Don’t tell him that she’s protecting Sonny’s secrets after he cut her loose. At this point, he’s the only one who can protect her, and Sonny will make damn sure she’s out at Deception.

The moss bowl 🎍 between them, Carly wonders why Natalia didn’t tell Sonny, and he says, it doesn’t matter. She kept it from him, and he can’t trust her. Carly asks what he’s going to do about his heart, and he says, Brick found a cardiologist in LA. He’s one of the best, and the surgery is scheduled for next Friday. She says, what? and he says, just in and out. She says, okay, and he says, when he gets back, they can go over the referendum stuff or whatever together. She says she’ll make sure of it, and he asks what she means. She says she’s going with him to LA and she’s going to be with him for the whole surgery.

Sidwell says, on the remote chance Natalia is staying at Deception, she’ll need his backing. All he needs is a morsal of information. He found out her reunion with Marco was as bad as it could get. She says she’s not discussing Marco with him, and he says, she should. He doesn’t want her son estranged from his mother. Natalia asks if he thinks she does, and he says he and Marco have a wonderful relationship. He could speak on her behalf and perhaps Marco would be more open to having his mother back in his life. He knows how pain she feels being estranged. Almost as much as being estranged from her daughter. He and Marco have grown close. If she could just help him a little bit, he’ll see what he can do. Natalia says, Sonny went to a cardiologist because he needs open heart surgery.

On Monday, Josslyn asks why Emma is always so angry with her; Jordan tells Isaiah that Sidwell needs to be stopped and she’s in a position to do that; Sidwell says Alexis would be a fool not to hire Marco; and Lucas asks if Marco knew who he was and that he lived in Port Charles.

🧼 All the Soap News Fit To Print…

The professor is in.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/daniel-goddard-cast-on-general-hospital-as-professor-dalton

One person’s villain can be another person’s hero. I like it!

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/ghs-adrian-anchondo-on-marcos-relationship-with-sidwell

Even Drew hates Drew right now.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/cameron-mathison-on-being-hated-by-soap-fans

He’s in it for the long haul.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/maurice-benards-special-anniversary-message-to-fans

Extra gigs.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/ghs-kate-mansi-shares-a-peek-at-her-upcoming-movie

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/gh-alum-kimberly-mccullough-lands-a-new-movie

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/the-story-behind-will-trents-gh-crossover

Here’s hoping the show sticks around. I love how oddly old-fashioned it is, yet they can stick an alarming number of trendy words and phrases into an episode. And the fashion. It’s no surprise there was an article on it. I only wish they’d included where the clothes are purchased.

https://www.tvinsider.com/1183786/beyond-the-gates-ratings-2025/

💉 A Dose Of Reality…

Below Deck Down Under

More boatmance! More terminations!

I might have to start actually watching this.

Real Housewives of Beverly Hills

Dorit baited Sutton, then the mean girls jumped on Sutton. No surprise. Ho-hum. The visit to Reba was probably my favorite thing this season, and we strolled down Stell Magnolia Memory Lane. Garcelle gave the most profound comment about Sutton’s search for validity via her mother – once they’re gone, you don’t get answers. It was the usual rehash of old fights and getting mad all over again, especially since they’d now seen the show. At the end, Andy asked what surprised them this season, and to no one’s surprise, Kathy said, what was the question again? Garcelle walked out when they were about to take a cast photo and in her dressing room, she said they were all f***ing a-holes. She’s not wrong. Although she forgot she was having dinner – or rather, supper – with Sutton, who wandered around looking for her. I fully expected her to ask if that meant they weren’t having dessert.

Not much here, but it is LVP.

The Valley

This show is hard to watch for obvious reasons – Jax and Jax. While it’s nice to see Britany finally stand up for herself, I’ve wondered from the beginning why she felt the need to be with this neanderthal. Even though she seems to enjoy being on the D-list, she doesn’t strike me as someone who’s in it for the TV exposure. I still don’t have all the other couples straight or the beefs between them. Kristen was vindicated, having been right about who was zooming who, but she doesn’t get that it’s the delivery.

Summer House

It was Lindsay’s birthday and she was 24 28 30 38. We also continued to watch the demise of Paige and Craig’s relationship. Although I keep telling Lexi, no, just no, when it comes to Jesse, she keeps insisting on gaslighting herself into believing he can keep in the parameters of a commitment. Schwartz also showed up, which makes me wonder if Sandoval is going to try and sneak in the back door.

Random Reality Items

So how many tweets (X’s?) do you think Adrienne got with #HumanStain on them?

It’s kind of a shame, but Schwartz could have put on his big boy pants and stepped up.

I’m with Lisa. She was essentially a kid in an age group where we all make asses of ourselves in one way or another.

👀 Last Weekend’s Watch…

The Deep House. Netflix. Coolest haunted house ever. A man-made lake has covered an evacuated town, but one house’s inhabitants still aren’t gone. Two divers unwisely decide to investigate and end up in a maze of ghostly happenings. The two actors playing the divers carry most of the film and their work is top-notch. The setting is unbelievable, from the underwater house to the fish making occasional appearances. There are both jump scares and slow burns, and while there are cliché moments, this film is unique overall and well worth watching. I wasn’t happy with the ending, but I’m a little picky and you can’t have everything.  

https://www.themirror.com/entertainment/tv/netflix-fans-advise-dont-watch-630856

The atmosphere was everything.

https://www.slashfilm.com/645916/the-deep-house-review-the-directors-of-inside-revitalize-the-haunted-house-movie-by-sinking-it-underwater/

Bad Influence. Netflix. I’d never heard of these kids, but I find it disturbing nonetheless since children can so easily be influenced by the internet. There’s also the flipside where parents are exploiting their children for a buck, which is the focus of this three-episode documentary. Even worse is a momager who abuses the children in her daughter’s posse in disgusting ways. A cautionary tale.

https://people.com/netflix-docuseries-bad-influence-trailer-exclusive-11694701

https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/bad-influence-where-are-tiffany-smith-piper-rockelle-now

The OA. Netflix. A two-season series of 8 episodes each, I’ve only just started watching this, but it’s intriguing. A blind girl disappears and returns as a woman with her sight intact. The twist is that she has a second sight that seems to look into other dimensions. Like I said, I’ve only started watching it, but I’ve seen enough to keep me coming back. Unfortunately, I’ve read that the viewer is left hanging at the end as the cancelation was unexpected. It’s one of the things I hate about getting invested in a series. I’ve been disappointed a few times when a third season is in the works, and then the streaming service decides it’s not.

https://www.themirror.com/entertainment/tv/shows-like-severance-oa-netflix-934695

https://www.vox.com/culture/2016/12/17/13903980/the-oa-review-netflix

Black Mirror: Season 7. Netflix. Because, so much to stream, so little time, I’ve only seen the first three episodes, so I’m waiting until I’m done to do a blow-by-blow assessment. I will say, Hotel Reverie made me cry.

https://www.cbr.com/black-mirror-season-7-viewership-numbers-score/

https://www.cbr.com/black-mirror-season-7-best-episodes/

🐾  As It Should Be…

🦕 I would definitely love to see this. I love capybaras, and I doubt they’d eat someone’s dog, especially since they’re herbivores. Like that dinosaur in Jurassic Park.

https://people.com/capybaras-taking-over-a-gated-community-11718000

🪿 I wonder if I could get my husband to bring back an axolotl the next time he goes to Arby’s.

https://people.com/man-leaves-to-get-his-wife-lunch-then-comes-back-with-a-duckling-exclusive-11715589

🐶 How badly do you think that dog with the Easter Bunny wants to escape? That reminds me, the bunny ears are upstairs…

https://moderndogmagazine.com/articles/happy-easter/

Ralph, no longer with us, but the ears live on

🐳 Quotes of the Week

Aerodynamically, the bumble bee shouldn’t be able to fly, but the bumble bee doesn’t know it so it goes on flying anyway. – Mary Kay Ash

Confidence comes not from always being right, but from not fearing to be wrong. – Peter McIntyre

Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not his own facts. – Daniel Patrick Moynihan

This whole world is wild at heart and weird on top. – David Lynch

Wrong turns are as important as right turns. More important, sometimes. – Richard Bach

In the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity. – Albert Einstein

Believe you can and you’re halfway there. – Theodore Roosevelt

Go interview him about the history of the history of the history of leaves falling off trees. – Hilaria Baldwin to the producers about Alec, The Baldwins

🐇 Hippity Hopping Into the Weekend…

Until next week, stay safe; stay not eating that whole big chocolate rabbit (you will be sorry); and stay believing in yourself. Then other people will believe in you.

April 11, 2025 – GH Weekdays, Josslyn Gets Her First Mission, Soap Suds, This Week In Reality, Weekend Watch, Future Watching, Awarding, Fluffy Tales, Novenary Quotes & Believe

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

🥢 Weekday Bites…

Monday:

Jack went to Anna’s office and she asked if something happened. He said she was trapped. Lucy asked if Trina wanted to perform at the Nurses Ball with Kai or do another duet with Josslyn. Carly hugged Josslyn, saying she didn’t know Josslyn was coming home, and Jason told her, welcome home. Carly wanted to hear about Easter Island, but first, Josslyn wanted to talk how Carly almost died. Elizabeth thanked Lucas for checking on her and he said the guy he met in Miami was in town and they’d gone for a drink. Ava came by wanting to talk to Elizabeth about the accident. Molly said it was a miracle the ambulance got there as quick as it did, and Ric had a hazy recollection of seeing Kristina there. He told Molly that he just remembered something about the accident. Kristina said she didn’t mean to hurt Elizabeth, but Lucky said, she almost died. Kristina said Ava kept pushing her (bad choice of words), but he said she needed to take responsibility. She hadn’t even apologized for almost killing two people. She said she was glad they were both okay and she was sorry. He said she’d gone too far and needed to pay for it. Elizabeth and Ric had to know what she did.

Kai said he’d have to pass, and Trina said she didn’t know if she could perform, but Lucy said she was always a huge hit. Trina said a lot had changed since the last Nurses Ball. Carly told Josslyn about the poisoned champagne, and Josslyn asked if Carly and Jack were sleeping together. Jack told Anna that ADA Turner had asked for every file the WSB had on her. He sent them, but between what was confidential and redacted, what he’d sent was her birth date and shoe size. He’d come to warn her. It was disturbing that the ADA was asking about her at all. Molly asked what Ric remembered, but he said it didn’t make sense. He lost control of the car and swerved all over. Molly suggested it might have been black ice, when her phone rang. Ric said, the law never sleeps, and to take it. Molly left, and Alexis said they’d finally made a truce and Ric got in an accident. He’d rather die than be on good terms with her. Elizabeth said it was still fuzzy, and Ava said Ric had been at her apartment – they’d gotten close – and Elizabeth dropped by to bring him some paperwork. Elizabeth said her kid had her car and Ric offered to drive her home, but all she remembered was the car swerving and that no one else was involved. Why was Ava asking? Kristina begged Lucky not to tell anyone. She wasn’t thinking straight and tried to stop it when she came to her senses. Lucky said she wasn’t fast enough, and Kristina said he was the one who told her not to leave the scene and not to tell anyone. He said that was before he knew she’d almost killed the mother of his child and the love of his life. He couldn’t look the other way. Kristina needed to turn herself in or he would.

Anna said she thought she could handle an ADA, but Jack said if she wanted to oust Anna as Commissioner, it wouldn’t be hard considering the company she kept. She asked why he cared, and he said he didn’t want to deal with another Commissioner. She was a pain in the ass, but a pain he was familiar with. Carly said it was none of Josslyn’s business, and Josslyn took that as a yes. Carly had been down that road with Sonny, and she wanted to know when Carly was involved with a dangerous man. Carly said she and Jack had gotten closer, and Jason wanted to leave, but Josslyn said Carly wouldn’t lie if he was there. Carly wanted to talk about Easter Island, and Josslyn said she’d drop the Jack thing for now. The trip was amazing. She showed Carly the pictures on her phone, and Carly wondered why she wasn’t in any of them. Josslyn said the trip was for school, not the Gram. Jason asked if she’d hiked the crater and looked at her pictures. Ava told Elizabeth that she hadn’t been able to talk to Ric and she was confounded since he was a good driver. Elizabeth said the only unusual thing was that they’d taken Route 42 to miss the traffic. Maybe it was icier since it was less traveled. Ava said she was glad they were both okay, thanked Elizabeth, and left. Lucas wondered what that was about, and Elizabeth asked if it wasn’t obvious. Kristina asked Lucky to just hear her out. Ava found out personal information about her dad that no one could know. Ava threatened to blackmail her dad and use it to get full custody by going public. Lucky said it would jeopardize Sonny’s whole family, and she said Ava was going to let her dad die and threw Morgan and Adela in her face. She lost it and snapped. She saw Ava’s car in her parking spot and found some wire cutters. Before she knew it, she was cutting the wires to what she thought was Ava’s car. She guessed Ric was in Ava’s spot. He said it was attempted murder, and she said she wasn’t in her right mind, but when she realized, she raced to Ava’s apartment. Just because someone survived an accident didn’t mean it couldn’t destroy their lives and she wouldn’t wish that on anyone, not even Ava. Did he believe her?

Kai said Lucy’s excitement got him excited, so he’d do it, and Lucy said the sports fan niche was a tough nut to crack, but now they had their very own Josh Allen. If Trina changed her mind, she always had a spot. She’d be in touch. She left and Trina said she didn’t take Kai as the type of guy who Lucy terrified. Why did he agree? He said because of her. Josslyn asked when Jason went to Easter Island, and he said during his time away from Port Charles. Jack arrived, and Josslyn said, this guy. He almost got Carly killed and she was still seeing him. Turner went to Anna’s office and said she assumed it was about Emma, but Anna said, no, it was about herself. Why did Turner ask the WSB for her files? If Turner had a problem with her, she preferred to be dealt with directly. Turner said she was gathering evidence against Anna. She was tired of Anna letting her friends like Jason get away with murder. Lucky said, had it been him, he would probably have gone crazy, but it didn’t excuse Kristina. She couldn’t walk away from this… Maybe there was a way for her to be held accountable without any legal consequences. If she talked to her mom, maybe Alexis could cut her a plea deal. Kristina said she couldn’t take that chance. Alexis would tell Molly and Molly could never know about this. Elizabeth told Lucas that it was Ava’s not so subtle way of staking a claim on Ric. Lucas asked if she cared, and she said, if Ric fully embraced his good side, maybe there might be a world where she’d change her mind about him. Lucas said Ric and Ava were both comfortable in that grey area, and Elizabeth said she was no different. She used Ric to find out more about what was going on with Portia and Brad. They were putting it together when they crashed. Ava told Ric that Elizabeth was no help. She went to see his car at the impound lot, and the mechanic told her that someone had cut the brake line. It was no accident. Somebody tried to kill him.

Anna asked what Jason had to do with it, and Turner said nothing came of his arrest for Cyrus’s murder. Anna said there was no body and no other evidence of a crime being committed. They had to let him go. Turner said, there was also Sonny Corinthos, Duke Lavery, and Valentin Cassadine. Anna had a habit of keeping questionable company. Anna said it had no bearing on her professional life, but Turner said she believed it did. Anna was misusing her power to protect them. Now that DA Scorpio was on leave, she was investigating it. She knew how close Anna and Robert were and would never put him in an awkward position. Anna said she’d dedicated her entire career to law enforcement, but Turner said that didn’t make less true. She was sure Anna would do the same for her granddaughter. Anna said she’d brought Emma in herself. She also brought in Valentin, Sonny, and Jason several times. She did everything by the book. Turner said she hoped so. Unlike Anna, she never looked the other way. She left. Josslyn said Jack had a lot of nerve showing up after almost killing her mother, and Jack said she had a reason to be upset. He wanted to discuss it further, but he needed to talk to Jason about something alone first. They went to another room and Jack told Jason to contact Anna, but be discreet. Jason left, and Jack told Josslyn to let him have it. Alexis told Molly that Ric would be back to his old self in no time – God help them – and Molly said she couldn’t have gotten through this without Alexis. The last few times she needed Alexis, Kristina did too. It was nice to have Alexis to herself and nice to have Kristina to lean on too. Kristina told Lucky that she and Molly were finally in a good place. Molly couldn’t know she was the reason Molly’s father was in an accident. Molly would never forgive her. Her mom already lost Sam and if she lost another daughter to prison, she couldn’t survive that. Lucky said his family would always be grateful to Sam for saving Lulu, and Kristina said losing Sam almost broke them. If they lost her on top of it, it would break them. He said, thank God Ric and Elizabeth were okay, and he didn’t see how Kristina going prison would help anything. Her family had been through enough tragedy and Kristina had to live with the guilt of almost killing two innocent people. If she was anything like him, that was punishment enough. She thanked him, they hugged, and he left. She texted Alexis: In the chapel. Can you and Molly meet me? Ava wondered who wanted Ric dead and he asked how much time she had. It couldn’t be Alexis. Sonny would be at the top of the list if it had been her car. She said, the day of the accident, he parked in her spot. The spot has her name on it and their cars look almost identical… Oh my God. His car wasn’t the target; hers was.

Kai said if he hadn’t volunteered, that lady would still be there talking. They way she talked, Trina’s past performances must have left an impression. Trina said she loved performing and guessed she was like Marshall. On stage, you connect with the music and the audience goes with you. There was nothing like it. He said that was how he felt on the field and hoped he got a chance to see her in her element. Don’t give up her chance to be in the spotlight. Maybe he couldn’t do the thing he loved because of his injury, but she could and should. Trina agreed and said she’d perform with him. Lucy went to Elizabeth’s room to discuss the Nurses Ball and Lucas tried to jet, but Lucy said she needed his help. When he did Magic Milo, he was a huge hit. He said it was his final bow. He’d bared it all and literally had nothing more give or show, but he’d cheer in the audience. Lucy said she’d circle back to him, but Elizabeth was the heart and soul of the nursing staff. She had to perform. Elizabeth said she’d be in a cast for six to eight weeks, but Lucy said that fit in her schedule. She would put both of them down for a duet.

Josslyn asked how she was supposed trust Jack. What if someone hurt her or Donna? Carly said it had been a terrible mistake and not Jack’s fault, but Jack said Josslyn had a reason to be angry. It was important to him to protect them both. Josslyn said she couldn’t control who her mother chose to date, but Jack needed to promise to take Carly’s safety very seriously. He said she had his word, and Carly suggested Josslyn stay the night, but she said she was dying to see Trina and wanted to sleep in her own bed. Carly said Donna had gotten Josslyn a gift and left to get it. Jack said Josslyn gave an impressive performance. He almost believed she wanted him to have nothing to do with her mother. She said, who told him that she was performing? Carly came back with a giftbag, and Josslyn left. Jack said it was unanimous. Carly’s entire family hated him. Jason met Anna in the park, and she said she was in ADA Turner’s crosshairs. Turner had questioned her about releasing him after his hair had been found at Cyrus’s cabin. She thought Emma’s arrest had brought her front and center. Jason said Robert was also gone, and Anna said she wasn’t worried, but Turner would use any excuse and might find something hidden in her career. Jason said their friendship meant a lot and he didn’t want her to get into trouble for protecting him. If she had a reason to bring him in and build a case against him, do it. Alexis asked if Kristina had been in the chapel the whole time, and Kristina said she’d been going over it and wanted to apologize to Molly. They hugged and she told Molly that she was so sorry for everything. Ric said he didn’t believe Sonny would try to kill the mother of his child, and Ava agreed. Sonny would never risk Avery being in the car and she doubted Sonny would go that route. Too many variables and he wasn’t sloppy. She did know someone who was that sloppy though. Ric said, Kristina, and Ava said before he left with Elizabeth, Kristina had been in her apartment. He heard what she’d said. She was furious. We flashed back to Kristina saying Ava had taken her brother and daughter and wasn’t going to take her father. Ava said Kristina blamed her for what happened to Sonny and Morgan and got feral when she suggested Michael’s injuries were Sonny’s fault. It was like the fight at the MetroCourt all over again, but this time it didn’t end with Kristina falling out a window. We flashed back to Kristina saying she would stop Ava, and Ava said, Kristina threatened her. Kristina must have cut the brakes thinking it was her car and tried to kill her. Ric said, and Kristina almost killed him.

Elizabeth told Lucy that even when she got the cast off, she’d have to take it easy. She was sorry, but she couldn’t perform. Lucas said she couldn’t have the whole staff in the audience. He’d help out. Lucy said he wouldn’t regret it. She was good at finding hidden talents for a good cause. He said he had none. He’d help, but not perform. She said he didn’t have to perform, she promised, and crossed her fingers behind her back. Carly said, not everyone in her family hated Jack, and he said, name one. She said Donna loved him, but the only approval that mattered was hers. They’d agreed to keep their relationship separate from the WSB and the further the WSB was away from her life, the better. Kai and Trina were kissing when Josslyn came in. She said Trina was probably sorry to see her, but Trina said, never, and they hugged. Anna said everything would be fine. She and Jason could continue to work together, but he needed to keep his head down. He said he’d do his best not to put her in a position where she needed to look the other way. She said they had to be strategic and couldn’t be seen in public for the foreseeable future, and he said they could meet in his room above Bobbie’s. Anna said she wanted to make it clear that their friendship would stay the same, and he said, they just had to keep it private.

Lucky went to the impound lot and asked if there was any way he could check the crashed car for his girlfriend’s wallet. The mechanic said they were lucky to be alive; the car had been totaled. He made a call and told Lucky that the car had no location at the impound, so it had gone to the crusher. Lucky said, so it was already destroyed, and the mechanic said he was sorry. Molly asked why Kristina was apologizing again, and Kristina said she’d been thinking about how much Molly had lost. Losing Sam… losing their daughter… She couldn’t stop thinking about how selfish she’d been. Consumed with her own grief, she didn’t think how Molly had lost her daughter too and lost her sister too. She didn’t even see that; she was so selfish. She said she was so sorry, and Molly thanked her. Kristina said she’d caused everyone pain and she was really sorry. Alexis said she’d been hoping to get to this place, and now that they had, look at them, all taking care of each other. Sam would be happy. They had a three-way hug. Ava said the garage camera showed Kristina looking at her car and reaching for some wire cutters, and Ric said he remembered Kristina being at the crash site. It didn’t make sense, but now it did. Ava said, she was checking to see if the deed was done, and Ric said it would destroy the relationship Molly had with Kristina. Truce or no truce, Alexis needed to see Kristina for who she really was as the cops dragged her away for attempted murder. He was calling the police now and was going to nail Kristina’s ass to the wall. Ava said, no, Uncle Ric. Don’t be so hasty.

Tuesday:

Chase and Brook thought things were quieting down, and Chase asked if Lois leaving was a good call. Brook said they’d needed space, when Olivia came in and said she had a surprise – Lois was back. Lulu went to the stables to apologize to Cody. She lied to him when she said she’d known about Dante and Brook. Dante came in and asked for an explanation. Alexis went to the office, and Diane said she was perky and early. Alexis said she’d gone to the gym and worked out, and Diane wondered who she was. Did Ric die? Alexis said, as far as she knew, he was still alive, but she’d gotten her girls back. Kristina brought flowers to Elizabeth, and said she was sorry this happened, but Elizabeth said she and Ric were both okay. Kristina said Elizabeth had been there for her and she wanted to do the same, when Lucky came by. Ava told Ric that it was a rare opportunity. Kristina was certifiable. Ric thought they should go to the police, but Ava wanted to aim higher and use the information to their advantage. Ric said blackmailing Sonny would get them nowhere, but Ava said she had something far better in mind.

Lois said, Olivia wanted it to be a surprise, and Brook said, mission accomplished. Brook said she needed to leave for a Deception call and Chase said he’d help her with the technology. Olivia wondered why Lois and Brook couldn’t be in the same room together. What the hell was going on? Lulu told Dante that she’d tricked Cody into telling her. She had a hunch Dante hadn’t been open about his and Brook’s history. Cody said he’d thought she already knew, and apology not accepted. He left to feed the horses, and Dante asked, why dig up old dirt? Lulu asked, why lie for years? Alexis told Diane that Kristina was able to put aside her animosity toward Molly and they’d connected. Lucky was sneaking in contraband to Elizabeth, baked goods from Aiden. He told Kristina that he had to speak with her about a Charlie’s thing, and they left. Ava said Alexis would be the one to pay, but Ric said Kristina would go free. He almost died and Elizabeth could have been paralyzed. Ava said Elizabeth could handle herself, but Ric thought she should have her day in court. Ava asked how Molly would feel if her remaining sister was sent to prison. Chase found Brook outside and she said she’d gone into fight or flight mode. Seeing her mom got her fired up again. Chase wondered if she was a reminder of the secret Brook had kept from Dante. Dante said he and Brook were teenagers and it was nothing, and Lulu wondered, why lie? She rehashed Brook trying to break them up, and Dante wondered why she was laser focused on Brook. Lulu said she’d always thought there was something more and had been made to feel like she was crazy. She didn’t know if she could trust him. Alexis told Diane that Kristina and Molly had different grieving processes, but now Kristina realized she couldn’t heal without her sister. Diane said Alexis had weathered the storm and there were fairer days ahead. Ava said if Kristina had been made to pay for her mistakes, she might not be such a trainwreck, but Ric said by covering for Kristina and blackmailing Alexis, Ava allowed Kristina to escape culpability. It wouldn’t take much for her to try and kill Ava again. Lucky asked why Kristina was visiting Elizabeth, and Kristina said she wanted to make sure Elizabeth was okay. Lucky asked if she’d thought about confessing, and Kristina said, maybe. Elizabeth almost died and she almost killed her sister’s father. She didn’t know if she could live with that.

Lois told Lois that she’d made decisions where Brook was concerned, thinking they were in her best interest, but Brook had every right not to agree. She couldn’t handle the distance. Brook told Chase that she didn’t need Lois to remind her that she had a son out there. It hit her how many people would have loved her child. It was easier when she was younger. Adulting stunk. Chase said if it was a secret she wanted to keep, he’d go to his grave with it, but she had to do a better job of hiding the truth. Dante said he omitted a detail he didn’t think mattered, but he should have told her even though it amounted to nothing. For one summer, he and Brook were training to be camp counselors and hooked up. It was over before it started, and they made lives with other people. Nothing that summer mattered. She said, what if it did? Lucky said guilt meant Kristina wasn’t a sociopath, but she couldn’t put the guilt on Elizabeth. It would end up getting her caught. Was that what she wanted? Kristina said she didn’t want to put Elizabeth in any more harm, and Lucky said she could go to her mom and work on a confession to get a plea deal that didn’t send her to prison for the rest of her life. Elizabeth called Deanna and asked for help getting into a wheelchair. Ric said Kristina could make another attempt to kill Ava, but Ava said she was on her guard and did her best to steer clear. She wanted them both to have a peaceful path forward, but it was the last grace she was extending. Ric said, how generous, especially when she was extorting Alexis. Ava said, that was business. She was willing to work with Alexis on a beneficial transaction… or multiple transactions, steady, like an IV drip. Marco arrived at the office and Diane introduced him to Alexis. Diane had been called to the judge’s chambers, and it would give them a chance to get to know each other better. She told Marco that Alexis was the good cop, and left. Alexis said, on most days.

Olivia said she could be objective and help sort things out, but Lois said, it might make things worse. She thought it was something they needed figure out for themselves. Olivia said if Lois needed help with anything, she would always be there for her. Chase said someone else would have noticed the tension, and Brook wondered if she should avoid Lois, but he said they needed to fix it. She loved her mom. Brook said her mom was her ride or die. That was why it hurt so much. Chase said he’d give anything for one more day, hour, or even minute with his dad, and the last thing he’d want to do is spend it fighting. If Brook wanted to keep the secret, she had to get over the hurt and forgive Lois. Dante thought Lulu was grabbing onto Brook because of the changes in her own life, and Lulu said she had Doc if she wanted psychoanalysis. Dante said it wasn’t rooted in anything real, and she was making Brook out to be more than she was. They were two kids with a crush. Lulu asked if there were lingering feelings when Brook came back to Port Charles, but Dante said the only woman who truly had his heart was Lulu. Alexis told Marco that their goal was to strike a healthy balance between being rainmakers and justice seekers. She leaned toward pro bono work, while Diane leaned into billable hours. Most of their income came from criminal law retainers, which was his specialty. Marco said, at one point, but now he was focused on entrepreneurial clients. She asked how he’d feel about a client involved in an alleged illegal enterprise, and he said it depended. Lucky told Kristina that he was putting himself on the line lying to the woman he loved, which he hated, but would do because he believed she was a good person who made a mistake. He’d made a few and he’d help her cover it, but it would only work if she got help. Elizabeth went to see Ric, and he said he was relieved to find out she was all right. He’d been driving and if anything happened and he’d lost her… He would have never forgiven himself.

Olivia said Lois would work it out with Brook, and Lois said she didn’t know what she’d do without Olivia. What they had was special. Olivia said what they had was ancient, since before they were in pre-K. they weren’t just friends; they were family. When Lois was ready to open up, she was a vault. Olivia left to check on Monica. Brook told Chase that her grandma had lied to her for decades and it hurt. Her mom let her think they told each other everything, which made it the ultimate betrayal. It also made her the biggest hypocrite on the planet, since she did same thing to Dante and about a million other people. Chase said it wasn’t the same thing, and she said she was glad she could be honest with him. He said if the secret ever got too big, too heavy, or too anything, he’d be by her side when she came clean. Dante said he should have told Lulu so it wouldn’t have blown up like this, and Lulu said her gut had been right again. He said it had also given her a reason to distrust Brook. He wanted them to be able to trust each other. It was important for Rocco. No more secrets between them. Lulu said they were good, and he left. Cody asked what Lulu was trying to pull. Elizabeth told Ric that her surgery went well, and she’d be walking the halls in no time. She’d been worried about him and asked if he remembered what happened. Alexis told Marco that said client masked their alleged illegal activity behind a thin veil of hypotheticals, and he said, so they’d have legal deniability. As long as it didn’t put them in legal jeopardy, the client was entitled to a defense. But if the client crossed the line of a deeply held belief, he had no problem recusing himself. All money was not good money, and sometimes it’s best just to say no. Alexis thanked him and said she’d confer with her partner, but it was safe to say a job offer was forthcoming. He said he’d look forward to it and thanked her for the meeting. He left, and Ava knocked at the door. She told Alexis that they had business to attend to.

Lulu told Cody that she said she was sorry, and he told her that he said he refused to accept it. She implied that Brook had told her already. She spun a lot of stores to a lot of people and he knew a con when he saw one. What was really going on? Dante went to the nook and saw that Lois was back. Brook came in and said she needed to talk to Lois. Ric asked what Elizabeth remembered, and she said, not much. She remembered getting in the car and buckling her seatbelt. They were talking about helping Portia when the car swerved. Ric said he remembered wanting to avoid traffic, so he took Route 42. They were going along fine when he lost control of the car. They must have hit black ice or something. Kristina told Lucky that she couldn’t confess. Her parents were going through too much. Her father had health issues and her mom had gone through enough. She couldn’t add Kristina goes to prison to the list. But what would she do if someone found out? Lucky said there was no police investigation and they were treating it like an accident. He went to the impound lot and the car went to the compactor already. As long as they both kept their mouths shut, it was over. Alexis asked if it wasn’t exhausting showing up in places where she wasn’t wanted, but Ava said she didn’t give it much thought. She thought Alexis would change her tune once Alexis heard what she had to say. She was sure Alexis could make time to discuss Kristina, couldn’t she?

Wednesday:

Brook said there was something she needed to tell Dante, but Lois interrupted with news about the old neighborhood. Dante felt that wasn’t what Brook wanted to tell him. Cody asked Lulu what was really going on. Clearly, it was eating her alive. Spill. Isaiah cooked a three-course meal for lunch at Jordan’s apartment, and she said she’d make herself available anytime he wanted to cook. He asked how much longer they needed to keep hiding. Marco was waiting for someone at the MetroCourt, when he saw Sidwell. Curtis met with Laura and said he had bad news, but Sidwell interrupted saying that Laura was just the person he wanted to see. She wondered if he was part of the bad news. Sonny and Kristina lunched on the MetroCourt terrace, and Kristina said she had a confession Sonny wasn’t going to like. Alexis told Ava to go away, but Ava thought she could make time to discuss Kristina’s future. Alexis told her to get out and that Kristina’s future was none of her business. Ava said she could make it the business of the police.

Sidwell said he’d been trying to set up a meeting, but Laura’s office wasn’t calling back. She said then it was safe to assume she didn’t want to meet with him, and Curtis said they’d been having a private conversation. Sidwell said if she changed her mind, call him, and left. Laura asked Curtis to distract her with the bad news, and he said Ezra Boyle had it out for her and he didn’t know how much longer he could protect her. Kristina said she’d invited Dante to lunch because he needed to know about Sonny’s heart issue. Sidwell saw Natalia and told her that Marco was waiting. If possible, show some tact when she talked to him. Jordan said Isaiah knew Sidwell couldn’t know they were together. That hadn’t changed. He said all he was asking for was a timeline. Was it weeks? Months? She told him that she couldn’t say, but was he asking because they couldn’t go public, or he was concerned for her safety? He asked if it couldn’t be bother. Her phone dinged and she said, guess who was asking if they could see her? Lucas looked at the text he’d sent Marco: Had a great time. Maybe I can show you around town sometime soon. LMK. He saw the usual three dots, then they disappeared. Marco put down his phone, and Natalia said she was sorry she was late. They made small talk, and Marco told her that he’d had a great interview at Miller and Davis. He was expecting an offer and if the terms were satisfactory, he’d be staying in Port Charles. She said, practicing law was a tragic waste of his talent. Alexis asked what Ava was alleging, but Ava said she wasn’t alleging anything. Kristina had tried to kill her, and she could prove it.

Cody said he was invoking the code of the lollipop, and Lulu said, whoa. He told her it was just them and if he told her in confidence, he’d honor that. What couldn’t Dante know? She said that she was still in love with him. Dante left to meet Kristina and Sonny, and Lois said she couldn’t imagine Brook was going to tell him about the baby. Natalia said Marco could be on tour, selling out venues, but he said he wasn’t having that conversation again. He’d been a lawyer for ten years and any other mother would be proud. She said, proud that he threw away everything he’d worked so hard for because he was angry? He trashed his career to spite her. He said he told her that he was gay, and she tried to shove him back in the closet, and she said she wished she’d handled it differently. He said it wasn’t about who he loved or what he wanted to do with his life. She didn’t accept who he was. She said she just didn’t want him to waste his potential, and he said she couldn’t accept Allie either. He guessed she wasn’t answering Natalia’s calls. She said Allie was busy on tour and she respected that, and he said she didn’t respect him, but she said it was his choices. He was a talented musician and could have been a star. Instead, his father manipulated him into going to law school so he could mold Marco into one of his flunkies. She blamed him, but she also blamed herself because she didn’t fight hard enough for him. At Jordan’s place, Sidwell thanked her for meeting him. He wondered if a civil servant’s salary met her needs. He needed someone he could count on and would like her to work for him.

Lulu told Cody that the last thing she wanted was to divorce Dante, but he went completely off the rails and dropped out of his own life. She couldn’t stay married to him and moved on. She met a great guy who asked her to marry him, but then she realized she hadn’t moved on. She couldn’t because she still loved Dante. She realized the night after the explosion, then she woke up and four years had passed for Dante, but for her, nothing had changed. She was glad Dante met Sam, and they built a life together. He and Rocco were happy, but now Sam was gone, and Dante was still grieving. Cody asked if she thought Dante still had feelings for her, and she said she thought Dante loved her, but wasn’t in love with her. Did Cody think she should tell him how she felt?  Brook said she was going tell Dante that they’d patched things up and she was glad Loise was home. She and Chase discussed how people would talk, and those same people were good at finding answers. Lois said, Tracy and Ned, and Brook said Tracy was already asking questions. Tracy would nudge her dad until he helped find out what was going on. Lois said Olivia had been grilling her, and Brook said trouble had already stated and eventually they’d find out about the baby. Lois said they’d want to know who the father was, and Brook said she didn’t think she could lie, especially to Dante. She loved these people, and didn’t want them to be hurt because she’d been keeping a secret. Lois said it sounded like Brook was leaning toward coming clean, but Brook said she also didn’t want to hurt Lois.

Marco said Natalia wanted him to be a musician, but he wanted something different. She wanted him to be straight, but he wanted to stay true to himself. She said she wanted him to be happy, but he said, on her terms, not his. He’d been away a long time, and this was a reminder why. She trashed her relationship with her daughter because of her bigoted opinions that she shared with the world. She hadn’t learned. She said she’d learned so much and if he gave her a chance, he’d see how much she’d changed. He asked how she could say that when they were still having the same conversation. Charge whatever she wanted to the room. He was done. He left and she ordered a vodka gimlet – a double. Curtis said Boyle published an editorial about Laura’s friendship with Sonny. He was trying to draw a line between her refusing to move the esplanade to Sonny’s piers and the firebombing in the penthouse. Laura wondered how they were connected, and Curtis said, Boyle made a point in saying, if someone could attack the penthouse, what was stopping them from blowing up the docks next? Laura asked if he made an argument that the threat would be eliminated by moving the piers, and Curtis said, exactly. She said it was absolutely maddening, since Sidwell was the first to propose moving the esplanade for his own selfish reasons. Curtis said, unfortunately, the appearance of impropriety was just as damaging as actual impropriety. Even though she backed the original plan, Boyle would say she was pulling strings to protect Sonny.

Dante joined Sonny and Kristina, and asked Kristina how Molly was doing. Kristina said she was doing better now that her dad was going to be okay. Sonny said he was happy for Kristina’s sister. She loved her father. Dante said the family had suffered enough loss, and Sonny said, Ric should be more careful on the road. Alexis asked what Ava was talking about, and Ava said Kristina came to her apartment and Ric was there. She barged in, hysterical over a minor custody dispute Ava had with her father. Kristina was out control and accused Ava of taking her daughter and brother away. She said she wasn’t going to let Ava take her father too. She and Ric drove cars that were almost identical, and on the night in question, Ric parked in her spot. Elizabeth came by with papers for Ric and he offered her a ride home. They know what happened next. Ric’s brakes failed, and Kristina had the perfect opportunity to tamper with them. Alexis asked what proof she had that the brakes failed or that Kristina had something to do with it, and Ava took out her phone. She showed Alexis the footage from the garage and asked if she should do her civic duty and give it to the police or could they come to an understanding.

Curtis said he’d do what he could to make sure Laura’s voice was heard, but prepare herself. It might be hard to justify. Sidwell told Jordan that he was solidifying his position in Port Charles and the United States and needed an ambassador. Someone to do PR or public service, a righthand man… or woman. Someone to smooth the way. Jordan said he wanted her to be his lobbyist, and he said she was well-liked, well-connected, and respected by all the players – Mayor Collins, Curtis Ashford, and Congressman Cain, to name a few. She said she and the congressman weren’t seeing eye to eye these days, and he said he could add honesty. He was sure she’d repair her relationship with the congressman. It was no secret she’d proved herself indispensable to the mayor, but she must have her own aspirations. Let him help her achieve them. Jordan said it was a generous offer… He said she didn’t know how generous, but she said she wasn’t interested. Isaiah asked if Lucas could take his shift in the ER tomorrow, and Lucas said he thought he’d be showing a guy he met around town, but the guy hadn’t gotten back to him… Could he give Isaiah an answer in a couple of hours? Isaiah said, no rush, and Marco walked in. Cody said he advised against it, for now, but Lulu had to shift her attitude. Not telling Dante was selfless and she was showing restraint by giving him space to heal. It showed how much she cared, but as with everything else, it was temporary. Just give Dante time. Sonny said he had something he needed to tell Dante, and Dante asked how worried he should be. Sonny said he had health issues, heart stuff. He’d been shot years ago, and it damaged his heart and it got worse. He was taking medication, but it wasn’t a permanent fix. Kristina said Sonny needed surgery, and Dante asked why Sonny hadn’t told him. Sonny said he didn’t want his enemies thinking he was vulnerable, so he left them out of it. Dante could thank his sister for Sonny telling him. Dante said he did. He was happy to be looped in, but why now? Sonny said, Ava knows. Alexis said, how much? It was obviously an attempt at blackmail, so she was trying to get an idea of how much. Ava said, a great deal, possibly millions, and Alexis said she didn’t have close to that. Ava said, good thing she was administrator of the Cassadine estate, and Alexis asked if Ava thought she could embezzle funds from it. Ava said, yes, but Alexis said she couldn’t. She asked for proof, but all Ava has is circumstantial evidence. She had nothing to show Kristina tampered with the car. Ava asked what she thought the wire cutters were for. A manicure? Alexis asked what proof she had that the brakes were cut, and Ava said she had the car. It was moved from impound and was in a safe alternate location. Alexis said, congratulations on breaking the chain of evidence. Maybe Ava cut the wires and was framing Kristina. Why not go to the police? Didn’t she think they’d buy her theory? Ava said, Ric knows the brakes were cut and he was a witness to Kristina threatening her, but Alexis said, neither one was proof. Ava said all she had to do was point the police in the right direction, and they’d prove the brakes were tampered with. While they built a case, she’d let the DA’s office know about the investigation. How did Alexis think Molly would react when she learned Kristina nearly killed her father?

Marco said he got Lucas’s text, but he’d been in the middle of something. He wasn’t avoiding Lucas. Lucas said he’d been busy and hadn’t realized Marco didn’t reply, and Marco asked if the offer still stood. Lucas asked how much time he had, and Marco said, quite a bit. A job offer is imminent and he’s moving to Port Charles. Sidwell said they hadn’t discussed compensation or what Jordan’s role could be, but Jordan said she didn’t want to waste either of their time. She was happy being Deputy Mayor. He said he understood, but if she changed her mind, the offer was still on the table. He left. Lois said she was relieved, but was the real reason Brook wanted to patch things up because people would talk? Brook said she didn’t like that Lois told her grandma, and Lois said she was so sorry. Brook said, but she understood that Lois needed someone to confide in, like she’d needed to confide in Chase. Lois said Brook had every right to tell him. It was her truth. Brook said she doesn’t know what she would have done without him, but it dawned on her that when she told Lois that she was pregnant, she’d expected Lois to have all the answers. It turned out that Lois needed her ma like she needed Lois. Lois said she did try to steer Brook in the right direction, but she wasn’t a teenager anymore. Did she want to tell the family about the baby? Brook said, what was done was done, and she didn’t want to hurt her relationship with Lois, but Lois said it was about Brook. If she thought it was important to tell the family about the baby, Brook had her full support. Brook said she’d given it a lot of thought to telling Dante what happened, but then what? They can’t change anything and all that’s left is disappointment and a huge gaping hole. Letting the past stay in the past and focusing on the future was what was best. Lulu told Cody that she was conflicted. She was alive because of Sam. Cody said she wasn’t taking anything away by her feelings, and she said she would love Dante even though she couldn’t be with him. Cody said, right now, and she said she recognized that he was still grieving, and it was all he could deal with. Cody said, right now, and gave her a lollipop. She asked if that meant she was in the clear and not running a con, and he said he thought she was just a woman in love. She said she didn’t think there would ever be a day she wasn’t in love with Dante Falconari, and left. Sonny said he was with Ava when he had an extreme panic attack. Dante asked if they were arguing, and Sonny said he was doing what he could to avoid stress, but they started going at it about their custody agreement. We flashed back as he spoke, and he said he couldn’t breathe. He tried to take his pills, but couldn’t reach them. Luckily, Kristina was in with Donna and came out at the exact right time. Kristina said, their dad was struggling. She gave him a pill and he was okay. Sonny said now Ava knew information she shouldn’t. She could go public, and he had to be one step ahead of that. He was having surgery a month from now in California. Laura came out to let them know she’d be able to be there for Rocco’s debate tournament, then went back to her table. Dante said all that mattered was that Sonny took care of himself and that he was around a long time for Avery, Donna, and Rocco. Kristina said, and Wiley and Amelia, and Dante said, all of them. Curtis said he guessed Laura wasn’t distancing herself from Sonny, and Laura said they shared a grandchild and had decades of history together. She’s never tried to hide that they’re friends. Boyle was just using that fact as a way to amass power. Curtis said he was doing a good job, but she said she didn’t care. She cared about the people of Port Charles. If they decided they didn’t want her to serve, they were free to vote her out. She wasn’t going to suddenly hide her and Sonny’s friendship and start lying. She wasn’t doing that for one bad opinion poll. Curtis said, then remove herself from the equation. Put the esplanade location up for a vote. Let the people decide.

Brook said she was grateful for Lois. She didn’t scream at her or shame her, but helped her. Lois said she loved Brook, always and forever, no matter. Brook said she was sorry they fought, and Lois said her too. Brook said she was glad Lois was home, and Lois said she was Brook’s ma. She’d always come home. On the phone, Isaiah asked what Sidwell wanted, and Jordan said he offered her a job as a lobbyist for his company. Isaiah said, and she turned him down, but she said she started tomorrow… She was just kidding. He said he hoped she was done and got the dirt on Sidwell, but she said she had Sidwell just where she wanted him. Marco said it was a great city and he and Lucas would have a chance to get to know each other better. Lucas said if Marco didn’t think they would jinx it, they should celebrate, and Marco said he could use a celebration. Alexis said the way she saw it, what Ava had were baseless allegations. She had a video out of context and a witness with a head injury. If she went to the police, that was on her, but be careful. She might end up in the hot seat for tampering with evidence and wasting law enforcement’s time. Ava said maybe Alexis was right. Maybe she should head straight to Molly. She knew it was a lot to process, so she was giving Alexis until 9 am tomorrow to decide what she was willing to do to protect her daughter’s future. If she didn’t hear from Alexis by 9 am, then she’d go right to Molly. She walked out, leaving the door open. Laura said, Curtis wanted her to hold a public referendum on the location, and he said, let them decide if they wanted to use eminent domain to seize the pier. Laura said they wouldn’t just vote on the location, but it would end up being a vote on Sonny. While waiting for the elevator, Sonny noticed Natalia at the bar and told Kristina and Dante to go ahead. Sonny went to the bar, and Dante told Kristina that they’d get through this. She said they had to. Ava had done enough damage. Natalia asked Sonny, how was the lunch with his kids? and he asked what she was doing with Jenz Sidwell.

Thursday:

Josslyn met Gio and Emma at the Surf Lodge and told them she had to say thank you to Emma. At the MetroCourt, Carly told Jack that she’d missed Josslyn so much, and he said Josslyn was a remarkable young woman. He was sorry he ruined her homecoming. Carly said she’d come around about them being together. She and Jason also had a heart to heart and although he didn’t approve, they weren’t going to let it affect their friendship. In the nook, Tracy said she needed a word with Sasha’s baby daddy, but Sasha said she had no idea where he was. Tracy said Sasha needed to keep better tabs on him, when Jason walked in. Sasha said Tracy needed a word with him and she needed to put a tracker in his jacket. Tracy said Jason was conspicuously absent when the family crypt was threatened by his odious brother. Jason said he knew she could handle it, but she said his presence would have been appreciated. Now that he lived there, he needed to step up and help protect the family. A man knocked at the door and said he was from PC Moving & Storage. They were picking up boxes from the gatehouse and delivering them to 419 Crestview Lane. Tracy said that was Drew’s new place. At Drew’s, Willow said Drew had made Wiley so happy and she’d never been happier, and they kissed. Laura went to Jordan’s apartment, and Jordan said she needed Laura to do her a favor, but it needed to stay between them. She needed Laura to fire her. Sidwell met with Maxie and Lucy at the MetroCourt and asked if Tracy would be joining them. Maxie said she would. They needed to make sure they were on the same page. Sidwell asked, what page is that? Sonny and Natalia went to Pozzulo’s where Sonny said Sidwell couldn’t monitor them. He said he’d seen Natalia talking to Sidwell at the MetroCourt. It was obvious they knew each other outside of Deception. What was her connection to Sidwell? She said Jenz Sidwell was her ex-husband.

Laura asked why she should fire Jordan, and Jordan said she had a unique opportunity to find out what Sidwell was up to, but she couldn’t in her current position. Sidwell had shown up and offered her a job as his lobbyist. She didn’t want to seem eager, so she turned it down, but he left the offer on the table. Now she needed a reason to accept it. Laura said it would be hard to justify her termination, and Jordan said there was one thing she and Laura didn’t see eye to eye on – Sonny Corinthos. Sonny said Brick did a background check on Natalia and wondered how her and Sidwell’s marriage was missed. She said, probably because they’d eloped decades ago before there were digital records. The marriage was a disaster and didn’t last long. The only good thing to come out of it was their son. Sonny asked if that’s who she’d been talking to at the MetroCourt, and she said Marco had come to town last week. Their relationship was worse than hers and Allison’s. Sonny said he could see why she didn’t tell him about her son, but why didn’t she tell him about her ex? Lucy told Maxie that they’d agreed on the terms, and they’d been incorporated into the contract. There was nothing to discuss. Maxie said she was grateful that Sidwell was willing to sell the zincite to them, but Deception was a legitimate business, and they needed to make sure their imports were screened. Sidwell said he had nothing to hide and welcomed their protocols and safeguards. Lucy said she agreed, but Maxie asked if they shouldn’t wait for Tracy. Lucy said they could still get the ball rolling. Tracy told the moving guy that if he moved a single item, she’d have him arrested for trespassing and theft, and he said he was going to go now. He left, and Tracy said she couldn’t believe Willow was moving Michael’s kids to Drew’s house. Jason said he’d handle it, and she told him, good luck with that. She left, and Jason said he was going to tell Willow that she couldn’t move in with Drew, but Sasha said that was a bad idea. Drew opened the door to Nina, who handed him a package for Congressman Cain. Willow said she hated that he was forced to give up his name, and Nina said, cutting ties with Monica was a huge mistake. Josslyn thanked Emma for stopping the crypt from being bulldozed and getting arrested, especially since Michael didn’t need any more heartache from his disgusting uncle. Emma said she couldn’t have done it without Gio, and he said he was happy to be there. The Quartermaines had been good to him. He asked Josslyn how Easter Island was and if she saw the big heads. She said it was amazing and showed him the pictures, when Vaughn walked in. He and Josslyn exchanged a glance. Jack said his schedule was clear and Carly could have him to herself if she was interested. She said she was definitely interested, and he asked if she’d like to do dinner and a movie. She said she had something else in mind, and he said he was very interested in that, as he felt her leg under the table. From the terrace, Sidwell showed Maxie and Lucy that his ship had docked. They just needed Tracy’s signature to conclude their business. He took out a vial and showed them a sample of the core component of their miracle cream in crystal form. Lucy said it was so stunning; it was a shame they had to crush it up into a powder. Sidwell said anyone who appreciated how beautiful it was deserved a piece of it for their own, and Lucy said, if he insisted, taking the vial. She wished she could see the look on Erica Kane’s face when she found out they’d snagged her supply. Sidwell said they hadn’t quite closed the deal. Drew said, Monica had cut ties with him when she took away his leverage over Tracy and saved the crypt, and Nina said threatening her wasn’t the way to go. Even so, Wiley and Amelia adored their great-grandmother, and they were the ones being punished by cutting Monica out. Willow said she had a point and they’d been asking about Monica. She knew they missed her. Nina said it would behoove them to play nice with at least one family member, and that person may become an ally. Willow said, true, and the Quartermaines listened to Monica. Wiley came out and hugged Nina. He told her about his new room and asked Willow for help with the sheets. Willow left with Wiley, and Drew said he didn’t need Nina coming there with helpful advice. Nina asked if he was throwing her out, and he said, not yet, but watch herself. This was his house, and she didn’t want to wear out her welcome. Tracy found Carly and said she thought Carly should know that while she was doing… this, Willow was moving her grandchildren into Drew’s house.

A server brough Vaughn a take-out bag and he left. Josslyn looked at her phone and said she’d forgotten she needed to meet her lab partner so they could show her what she’d missed. She left, and Emma said she gave credit to Josslyn for thanking her for something other than her leaving town. Gio asked what was up with the frenemy vibe, and Emma said it started when they were kids. She had a crush on a guy named Cameron when she was around 10 and they hung out for a while, but he and Josslyn got together in high school. Gio said, a playground love triangle, and she said when Cameron found out Josslyn had cheated, it broke his heart. He was past it, so she supposed she should be too, but Josslyn was an entitled girl who created chaos, then threw money at it to make it go away. She never faced the consequences of her actions. he said Emma could create chaos, but paid the price, like getting expelled. She said she knew he’d understand, and he said he’d understand more if he knew why. Jordan said she and Laura differed in their opinion about Sonny, but she’d chosen to steer clear of Laura’s relationship with him. Laura asked if she was saying that now was the time to voice her concerns, and Jordan said they could find a way to publicly disagree about Laura’s ties to a notorious mob boss. Laura said she thought she knew how they could do that. Natalia said she was sorry she didn’t tell Sonny. She’d hoped Sidwell would go away for good. Sonny asked how likely that was, especially since he was involved with Deception, and she said she thought it was too late and didn’t want to ruin the trust he had in her. It meant everything. He told her that she should have said something. How did he know she wasn’t feeding Sidwell information about him? She said, no, and swore they barely talked. They parted after Marco was born and had barely spoken since Marco was grown. They hated each other. She hadn’t told anyone about his heart condition and would die before she told Sidwell. He said he still needed discretion. He’d told Kristina and Dante what was going on and was going to tell the rest of the family. She said she was glad he let his family, and he would be able to lean on them, and he said he appreciated her support and wouldn’t forget it, but it was time their association came to an end. Sasha said if Jason gave Willow an order, it would make things worse. No matter how civil and sweet he was, she’d see what he said as an attack. She saw herself as a victim in this star-crossed lover story and it worked perfectly for Drew because he could play the hero. Jason would only be moving them closer together. He asked what he should do then, and she said, nothing. He didn’t have the legal authority. She got that it was hard for him as a man of action, but he had to stand down and let this go. Nina said she thought the house was Drew’s and Willow’s, and Drew said it was. She said she was just trying to keep the peace and do what was best for the children. He said she’d helped them sneak off in the middle of the night, but she said it was to establish physical custody. Now that Willow had that, she’d have to play her cards carefully. The move didn’t help, and she couldn’t antagonize the Quartermaines further or they’d fight back with a vengeance and Michael would do the same. Drew said he wasn’t afraid of them. He had the power and connections to make sure Willow got custody. He would protect her himself. She said what he wanted was a showdown with the Quartermaines so he could ride in and rescue Willow and be her savior, so she’d be forever in his debt. He said all he wanted was for Willow to be happy and Nina couldn’t stand that Willow was happier with him than with her. Carly told Tracy that she thought the situation had been handled and Willow was moving out on her own, and Tracy said, it had to be stopped. Jason said he’d take care of it, but she had her doubts about trusting him to take the right steps to rectify it. Jack asked if Carly thought Michael should know, but Carly said she didn’t want to upset him. Tracy said, for Michael and Monica’s sake, this cannot happen. Tracy joined the Deception team and apologized for being late. Maxie said they’d signed the contract and just needed her signature, but Tracy said the deal was not going to happen.

Emma said she couldn’t talk about why she was expelled. She couldn’t even tell her grandmother. Gio asked why the school wanted to silence her, but she just looked at him, and he said, got it. Before they ordered, he thought she had the wrong idea about Josslyn. She’d been though stuff since them. She’d dealt with boyfriends dying and Trina told him that she’d been the target of revenge porn. She’d been knocked hard, but got back up, and she’d been nothing but kind and helpful since he got there. Emma said he was a fan, but he said he was a friend. Didn’t Josslyn donate to Emma’s charity? Emma said, so she didn’t have to volunteer and actually do something. She didn’t see Josslyn believing in anything enough to risk putting herself or her future on the line. Josslyn found Vaughn in the park and said she’d followed the scent of onion rings. She asked what he was doing in Port Charles, and he said Brennan had put him on as her handler. Was that a problem? She said, not at all, and he suggested they go over the assignment.

 Laura told Jordan that Boyle published an editorial about her and how she allegedly favored and protected Sonny. Curtis killed the story, although she was sure Boyle would go to another outlet. Curtis also gave her great advice, suggesting she have a public referendum and let the public vote on the location of the esplanade and if they wanted it move. Jordan said, Sonny and the public wouldn’t have a reason to be mad at her. Smart move. Laura said when she made the announcement about the referendum, Jordan could take that moment to publicly criticize her and say she was too buddy-buddy with Sonny. She could say she didn’t support Laura’s decision to hold a referendum. Jordan said, then Laura would have grounds to fire her for insubordination. She loved it. Let’s do it. Sonny told Natalia that he had a lot going on. He had to be able to trust his inner circle completely. Natalia said she understood, and he said, for what it was worth (🍷), he misspoke. He said they had an association, but they had a friendship. He’d miss it. Through her tears, Natalia said she would too. She told him to take care of himself and left. Maxie said they already took a vote. Remember? Tracy said, and she abstained. Remember? She spoke to Lulu and Lulu told her that Sidwell kept Lucky locked up on his compound. Maxie said Lulu told them and Tracy said, and they still wanted to do business with him? Sidwell said he didn’t like friction. He could take his business elsewhere. Lucy said everything was fine. Lucky was a Spencer and used to being kidnapped. Maybe it was his fault. And this wasn’t about Lucky. It was about Tracy wanting to destroy and sabotage her company. Tracy said, that she owned 51% of, and Lucy said, to Tracy, Deception was a whim. If everything tanked, Tracy had a lot to fall back on. She didn’t. Deception was her baby, her livelihood, and she wasn’t letting Tracy destroy it. Tracy said she wasn’t. She was trying to protect them from doing business with an international criminal. Carly said, obviously, Willow didn’t reveal her plans, and Jack said he gathered she wasn’t going to tell Michael. She said she wanted Michael to focus on getting better and coming home. The doctors didn’t want to give a timetable. She should have kept an eye on her grandkids. They’re going to be confused, and Michael was counting on her to look out for his kids. Willow needed to be told there was no way in hell she was moving them in with Drew. Jack suggested she do it.

Sidwell told Tracy, the tales were told about his work in East Africa. His business in Port Charles is completely legitimate. Maxie said they’d vetted Sidwell as best they could and made it clear they were going to monitor his business activity closely. There was a morals clause, which they all signed. They just need Tracy’s signature. Tracy asked if they were going to ignore his criminal past, and Lucy said, they ignored Tracy’s. Tracy said, Lucy was one to talk, and Maxie said they’d all broken the law at one time or another. This was Sidwell’s chance to prove he was legit, and the future of Deception depended on it. Laura said before she and Jordan put their plan in action, she needed to know something. Did Jordan really want to do this? She’d talked to Lucky about his encounters with Sidwell. Sidwell was ruthless and really dangerous. Jordan said she was sure, but was Laura? Their falling out would be a fabrication, but the political consequences would be real for Laura. She was worried it would backfire and Laura’s close relationship with Sonny would her constituents’ focus. It could cause problems in the future. Laura thanked her and said Boyle was going to cause her problems, whether they did this or not, but Jordan said, this could make it worse. It could cost Laura her career. Laura said, if this would keep Port Charles safe from Jenz Sidwell, they had to do it. Sasha told Jason that he had to be strategic. Let Willow move in and settle in, and let Drew think he won. From a custody standpoint, Michael held all the cards. Jason said, Michael cheated too, and Sasha said, that’s why he was pretending to be the father of the baby. If Willow found out Michael was really the father, it would be all the ammunition she needed. Jason said he wished he could talk sense to Willow, but Sasha said it was like Willow had fallen for another cult. Not Dawn of Day, but Dawn of Drew. Willow said Nina was right. Wiley missed Monica and the dogs and the staff. Now that they were settled, they’d make sure to visit Monica. Drew asked if she was sure it was a good idea, and she said the kids deserved a relationship with their great-grandmother. Drew said, of course (🍷), but it would be better if Monica came there. The kids might be confused if they go back to their old home. Carly wondered if she should confront Willow and Jack said, as an experienced agent, appeasement never worked. You had to go in and show force. Let the opposition know you were willing to fight to the death. She said, what if she made it worse? and he asked if it was worth the risk. Willow needed to know that just because Michael was laid up, it didn’t give her carte blanche. Carly had Sonny and the Quartermaines on her side, and she could let Willow know that she had the WSB office at her disposal. Carly said he sounded sexy when he talked like that, and he said, Willow needed to know that she was in for the fight of her life. This was the moment she needed to find out you don’t mess with Carly Spencer.

Emma told Gio that there was a class she didn’t want to miss. Environmental Physics with Professor Dalton. Josslyn told Vaughn that she had to go back to PCU and pick up her classes, and he said she had another class she was taking, but she said, the semester already started. He said her enrollment was taken care of. All she had to do was show up. She said, what class? and he said, Environmental Physics with Professor Dalton. (Like we didn’t see where that was going.) Tracy signed the contract and said she hoped they were satisfied. Sidwell thanked them and said it was the beginning of a very profitable association. Lucy said she’d be in touch about the Nurses Ball, and he left. Lucy thanked Maxie for getting Tracy to see reason, and Tracy said this had the potential to go very, very wrong. Lucy said, or very, very right. By the elevators, Jack told Sidwell, a word to the wise. The sole suspect in the penthouse bombing was found with his neck broken in Toronto. Sidwell said he’d heard. It had nothing to do with him. Jack said, people who cross Sonny have a way of coming to a bad end, and Sidwell said he didn’t know the WSB cared. Jack said they didn’t. The WSB was continuing their investigation of him. Sidwell asked if Jack was going to call a drone strike. They weren’t in Africa, and in the US, Jack didn’t have as much authority. Jack said, try him, and find out. (More sexy talk!) Laura called Sonny and said she needed to give him a heads up. He was about to be at the center of a political hurricane. Jason told Sasha that he appreciated the advice, and she said, enough to take it? He said he’d stand down for now, but in the meantime, they’d have to ride this out together. Sasha said, the together part was tough. She’d been putting it off, but she was still planning on moving out. Willow said she didn’t want to confuse the kids about home, but Monica had been so ill and the kids did miss being there. She thought it was better to go to the Quartermaines. Nina said that was smart. With Monica being ill, it was more pragmatic. Willow thanked Nina for suggesting an olive branch. She’d let Monica and Michael know she wanted peace, not harm. The doorbell rang and Wiley ran to answer it. It was Carly, and he asked if she came to see their new house. She said she sure did. When she heard about it, she couldn’t wait to visit him and his mommy.  

🫔 Friday’s Enchilada…

Portia finds Curtis in her office and asks if he’s okay. He says, yeah, and she says, liar. Let her guess. It has something to do with Drew. He asks how she knows, and she says, because most things do these days. What did the congressman do now?

Willow says, Nina is distracting Wiley and Amelia, but who knows how long it will last? and Drew tells Carly to say what she has to say, then leave. Carly wonders if Willow is sure moving in with the kids is what’s best for them, but Willow insists it is. Carly says, Willow can move in with her or with her mom. She could stay at the MetroCourt or find her own place. Willow says, Carly has no right to dictate their lives, but Carly says, Michael does. She’s here because he can’t be here. They’re Michael’s kids too, and if he can’t be here to fight for them, she’s going to do it for him.

Kai meets Trina at the Surf Lodge and says, sorry he’s late. She says, there must be a good reason, and he says, it’s all thanks to her. He’s going to play football again.

Sasha tells Jason that she’s been thinking a lot and decided moving out of the Quartermaines is what’s best for her and her baby. He asks why, and she says she has to walk the walk. She’s been saying she wants to be independent and make a life for them on her own, but it can’t happen while she’s living there. Is he mad? He says, no. She gets to raise her baby however and wherever she wants. He guesses he was hoping the wherever would be here.

Emma comes in and says, hi, grandma, and Anna says, they need to have a little chat about her prior arrest in California. She won’t be violating the NDA and has the WSB to thank for that. The particulars don’t matter. What matters is, she got ahold of Emma’s sealed arrest records and knows everything.

Josslyn says, the WSB wants her to get enrolled in Environmental Physics? That’s her mission? Vaughn says, that’s right. They want her to get close to her instructor, Professor Dalton. She wonders why they want her to cozy up to him, and he says, she’s on a need-to-know basis. She says, then tell her what she needs to know.

Alexis walks into the office and Diane says, the Longeron deposition was a complete scene. There she is, grilling the louse of a husband about his alleged infidelity, when Mrs. Longeron goes rogue, leaps across the table, and tries strangling him with her bare hands. She loves her job… Guess you had to be there… What’s wrong? Alexis says, it’s bad, really bad, and Diane asks, what is it? She tells Diane to close the door before she tells her. First, she needs to hire Diane as her lawyer.

Anna says, everything Emma told her since she arrived has been a lie, but Emma says, not everything. Anna says, so she wasn’t thrown out of her previous school because a party got out of hand? and Emma says, no. The party happened. Anna says, as a distraction for the actual crime she got kicked out for. She has it here – breaking and entering, trespass, assault… Has she missed anything?

Vaught tells Josslyn that he can say the WSB arranged for her enrollment. Her mission… She says, should she choose to accept it… Sorry. He says, her mission is to secure a spot as Professor Dalton’s research assistant. She says, how? She’s starting the semester late. He’s got to have other students lined up for the position. He says he suggests she make her way to the front of the line, and she asks if he has any suggestions. He says, they recruited her for a reason. She’s received instruction and the tools. It’s her school and she’s resourceful. It’s up to her to do the rest. She can handle that, can’t she?

Curtis tells Portia that he and Laura agree the original location for the esplanade is what’s best for Port Charles, but Ezra Boyle – who’s obviously in bed with Drew and Sidwell – wants to move it to Sonny’s piers. Portia says, Boyle wants to make it look like Laura is doing Sonny’s bidding and hiding behind her position to do it, and he says, if Laura wants to be seen as not abusing her power by protecting Sonny, she’s going to have to do what Boyle wants. She says, that’s what Drew wants, and Curtis says, exactly. She says she knows Sonny and Laura have history, but she’d never put her friendship with Sonny over her duty as mayor, and Curtis says, they know that, but perception is reality. Boyle will get the story out and it could likely end Laura’s career. She says, but it’s Drew doing this. Boyle is just his puppet. Curtis says, pretty much, and she wonders if there’s anyone’s life Drew’s not trying to ruin. He says, that’s why he’s trying to keep Drew away from Kai, and she says, what does any of this have to do with Kai?

Kai says, the hope and goal is for him to play football after his surgery, and Trina says she thought he was waiting to decide until her mom did some research. Then he’d figure out if he wanted to go through with it. Did he consult with the surgeon? He says, not yet, but he realized his hesitation, his asking for advice, was fear talking. What if it doesn’t work out or what if he’s not as good as he was before the surgery? He can’t let what ifs hold him back. Trina says, fear can be healthy and is evolution’s way of keeping us safe in some situations, like this one. If there’s the smallest chance of getting his dream back, he should take it, but football is the reason he got there in the first place. He agrees there are risks, but says, it’s what makes his life worth living. It’s been that way since he was a kid. She says she doesn’t know. She thinks it’s a big decision and feels like he’s making it really fast. He wonders if he can ask her something, and she says, of course (🍷). He says, is she worried about the actual surgery or that it’s a gift from Drew?

Willow tells Carly, her children, her decision. She doesn’t need permission to do anything. Carly says, child. Wiley isn’t technically hers. Drew says, wow, and Willow says, that might be the worst thing Carly has ever said to her. Carly says, it’s true. Michael made her Wiley’s mother. He didn’t have to, but he gave her that gift because he thought she was a good person, one who would put the kids’ needs before her own. Willow says, that’s exactly what she’s doing, but Carly says, she’s not. She’s repaying Michael’s extraordinary kindness by shacking up with his uncle and uprooting and confusing the kids in the process. Willow says she is a good person. (I trust no one who says that about themselves.) At the bare minimum she’s safe. Carly chose Sonny to be Michael’s father and look how that turned out. Carly tells Willow, say her romantic story works out. What will she tell Wiley and Amelia when they get older? What is she going to say? Sorry she blew up their lives and abandoned their father, but she couldn’t keep her hands off their great-uncle? Willow says she didn’t abandon… The children love Drew. Carly says, of course (🍷) they do. He’s family. Drew says, Carly wouldn’t know about getting involved with multiple family members. He could start listing them, but he doesn’t think they have the time. Carly says, the Willow that Michael married wouldn’t do this to him, and Willow says she’s sorry for hurting Michael. She truly means that, but it didn’t happen in a vacuum. Carly says, as she recalls, it happened in the Quartermaine nursery, and Willow says she and Michael were having problems before she got together with Drew. She’s not apologizing for wanting to be with Drew and certainly won’t apologize for falling in love with him.

Sasha asks why Jason wants her to stay so badly, and he says he thinks it’s good for her to be here and he knows it would be good for the baby. He knows the Quartermaines drive each other crazy, but underneath, they love and take care of each other. She asks if he really believes that, and he says he does. She says, then why has he spent most of his life avoiding them.

Curtis tells Portia that no one knows better than he does how cutting-edge surgery can change your life, but he hates that the offer came from Drew. He doesn’t like it. Portia asks what he thinks Drew wants from Kai, and he says he doesn’t know yet, but he doesn’t want to stand in the young man’s way. She says, Drew has proved nothing but untrue and questionable motives, and he says he knows that and knows they’re biased. Why did Kai want to talk to her? She says, he asked about the surgery, and she looked into it like she said she would. She has to say, it’s a great option. He says he knew she’d give her honest assessment as an objective third party, and she doesn’t owe Drew anything.

Trina says, if the surgery is a success she’s afraid Kai might get hurt if he plays again. And if it isn’t successful, she knows his hopes and dreams will be gone and he’ll be devastated. Kai says he has a lot of the same concerns. What about the Drew part? She says, he wasn’t concerned, but she is. She’s worried about the Drew of it all. He says, Drew has only been decent to him. His dream was over, and Drew gave him hope that it might not be. He knows the risk. She says he had to make the decision quickly, and he says, it increases the success of the surgery. If he gets over his fears – the surgery and recovery – then it was all worth it, as long as he has her cheering him on. He takes her hand, and she says she knows football is his dream. If there’s a chance it can happen again, he has to pursue every option. He thanks her and says he couldn’t do it without her. She says, he could, but he doesn’t have to. She needs to take care of something for Ava. She’ll text him later. She leaves, Kai looks at his phone, and she peers at him from around the corner.  

Diane says, engagement signed, and asks why Alexis needs a lawyer. Alexis says she doesn’t, and Diane says, Kristina. With everything she’s been through, what’s happened to her now? Alexis says, nothing happened to her. Something happened because of her. Diane tells her that she has to come out and say it, and Alexis says, Kristina caused Ric’s car crash. She’s the reason Ric and Elizabeth were almost killed. Diane says, that can’t be true, but Alexis says, Kristina cut the brake lines on Ric’s car. Diane asks, why? She knows there’s no love lost between Ric and Kristina… Alexis says, Kristina wasn’t trying to kill Ric. She was trying to kill Ava.

Nina says, the kids are okay. She got them settled down with a movie. She turned the volume up, but it would be great if things would settle down in here. Carly says, Nina missed the big announcement. Willow is in love with Drew. Does she realize she doesn’t know him? Drew asks what she means, and Carly says, he has many different personas. No one knows what they’re getting at any given time. Willow says she knows who Drew is and how he makes her feel, and Carly says, and she’s not apologizing for any of it. She’d think at least using Michael’s burnt body as a bargaining chip might merit an, I’m sorry, my bad, but no. Willow says, everything she’s done is in the best interest of her children. She’s a mother like Carly. Carly says she would never keep her kids away from their father, but Drew says he thinks AJ would have something to say about that. Carly says, if he thinks Michael is anything like AJ, he’s too stupid to be standing in this room (HA-HA-HA!), and Drew says, what he’s seeing is mind blowing. Carly says, what Willow can’t see that everyone else sees is that he’s a liar. It’s repulsive. Willow says, for the millionth time, Carly doesn’t get a say, and Carly says, but Michael does. And she’s going to make sure there’s no doubt of his position. Drew says, if Michael has something to say, he needs to stop using his mommy as a mouthpiece. He has to heal, get back here, and say it for himself.

Anna suggests Emma start with the party, and Emma says she thought Anna knew everything, but Anna says she wants to hear it from her. Amma says, fine. They invited everyone they knew because they needed the crowd to be big. Anna says, because they wanted to distract campus security so they could break into the lab? and Emma says, because they suspected the lab was doing animal testing. Once they were inside office, they could see everything was totally true. The animals were banging around in their cages. It was heartbreaking. Their plan was to get the animals out, but building security caught them before they could start. Anna asks, what happened then? and Emma says, when security got there, it was total chaos. The animals were trapped in their cages and people were tearing off in all directions and she was one of them. Anna asks, what happened next? and Emma says, she tried to get out, but a guard grabbed her and swung her around. The crowbar she used to break in hit him, but she didn’t mean for it to. It was an accident. Obviously, she was arrested. Anna says, and charged with multiple counts, and Emma says, the school didn’t want the testing exposed, so they offered her the NDA to drop it in exchange for her expulsion. It’s ironic. She thought the party was the perfect cover for her, but it turned out to be the perfect cover for the school. She’s telling the truth. Anna says, her account is consistent with her arrest record, but she doesn’t think Emma is grasping the severity of the situation. She believes Emma when she says hitting the security guard was an accident, but he could have been severely hurt. What if he’d died? Emma says she knows. Things spiraled so out of control. Anna says, because of her choices and the way she handled them, and Emma says, what Anna is doing is why she didn’t want Anna to find out.

Josslyn asks if she was hired because of her resourcefulness, and Vaughn says, that’s one of the reasons. She says she’ll find a way to get in with Professor Dalton. She’ll have him begging her to be his assistant. He says, that’s the spirit. See how smooth things go when you nod and say, yes, sir? She says she didn’t do any of that and doesn’t think she will in the future, and he says he hopes the professor likes spunk. They have no other agent for this mission. She asks if the reason they recruited her is because she attends PCU, and he says, Brennan is the best of the best. He saw something special in her. That’s why she’s here. She says, okay. She guesses she should be relieved that her first mission is doing something she knows how to do – be a college student. He says, she’s not a student anymore. She’s an agent posing as a student.  She says, on to a new life and new beginnings.

Jason tells Sasha, it’s true he’s been estranged from the Quartermaines for most of his life. But since he’s been back, he thinks he finally understands what it means to suck things up for the family’s sake. She says, he does his share, and he says, there is value in living here, especially for Danny. He’s around his relatives and he loves that it’s a big, crazy family, emphasis on crazy. Even when they’re annoyed at each other, Jason can still tell they love each other. He thinks they’d love the baby too. Sasha says she always wanted a big family, but never had one. She’d hoped to give her kids one. He couldn’t give Danny that on his own, but she can. He says he doesn’t mean to guilt trip her… She says, he’s about to bring up Monica, and he says, yeah. She may not know who the real father of the baby is, but the baby is still her family. He thinks it would be nice for the baby be close to Monica, especially since Michael’s other kids can’t be. Danny comes in and says he wanted to make cake pops for Scout. They’re her favorite and she misses having them. He promised to make them using Sasha’s recipe, but it’s not go too well. (They look like UPS drop kicked them there.) He’s not a baking person and it’s harder than he thought. Jason’s phone dings, and Sasha says she’d be happy make a new batch, but Danny says he told Scout that he’d make them, so they have to be from him. Sasha says, how about if she oversees things? Jason looks at a text from Nina: Come to Drew’s. It’s Carly. 911. Danny says, that would work great, and Sasha says, excellent. Jason says, good. He’s got to go. Good luck with those. Danny thanks him, and Jason leaves. Sasha says, let’s get started. It will be fun.

Carly asks if Drew is faulting Michael for not being here when he’s recovering from nearly dying, and Drew says, as much as his heart breaks for Michael, despite what she thinks, Michael can’t be a father from Germany. Carly says, he’s fighting to get back. They both know that. Willow says she wanted Michael to stay close. She advocated for Maryland. Remember? Carly says, she’d have Michael get subpar care because his cheating wife thinks that’s what’s best? and Willow says, it didn’t matter what she thought. Michael chose to go to Germany. Carly pushed it and Michael did what she wanted. Now she’s whining about the fallout. Carly says she can’t believe Willow is the woman she walked down the aisle. If she had it to do again, she’d drag Willow as far away as possible. She can’t believe she didn’t see it. Willow has been like her all along. Willow says, like who? and Carly says, Nelle.

Alexis tells Diane that Kristina tried to kill Ava. Apparently, things got heated between them and Kristina went into a rage. She cut the brake lines of Ava’s car – or at least what she thought was Ava’s car, because it was Ric’s car, who happened to be in her space at the time. Apparently, their cars are similar. Diane asks if Molly knows, but Alexis says, just herself, now Diane. She guesses it’s a blessing. Diane says she’s so sorry. She knows how thrilled Alexis was to have her girls close again. Alexis says, maybe Kristina was doing it because she felt guilty. This cannot get out. Diane says, if it does, her girls may not recover, and Alexis says she can’t think straight. She needs Diane to come up with some legal options. Diane says, Kristina is facing three counts of attempted murder, the failed attempt on Ava and the two nearly successful attempts on Ric and Elizabeth. Alexis says, there’s no way out. She can’t think of a way to begin, a way to defend Kristina. Diane says, she can. Alexis needs to have Kristina committed.

Brad goes to Portia’s office, and she tells him, close the door. He says, saying please wouldn’t kill her, but she says, it actually might. Sit down. He says, it was a lot more fun when he was blackmailing her, but she says, those days are over now. He’s going to do what she says or get fired. He asks what she wants, and she says, every file, test, and screening related to Drew. Brad needs to go back all the way to when Drew arrived in Port Charles. Don’t forget the John Doe files. Brad says, that’s going back ten years. It’s not even his job. She says, it is now. The only alternative is finding employment elsewhere, somewhere far, far, far away from his precious Lucas. He says, Lucas wants nothing to do with him, and she says, that could change, but it probably won’t if he’s not here. He says, fine. He’ll do it. What is she looking for? Drugs? She says she’ll know it when she sees it. Don’t forget… He says he knows. Shut the door behind him. He leaves, shutting the door behind him.

Kai sees Curtis at the Surf Lodge and says, he just missed Trina. Is he here for lunch? Curtis says, no. His auntie dropped hints about how wonderful the fish tacos are, so he thought he’d surprise with some takeout. Kai says, the food is great, and Curtis says, Portia told him that Kai had asked for her advice. Kai says he did, but he made his decision. He’s going to do it. He thinks it’s the right choice. Curtis says, if Drew has taken an interest in Kai, he’s got to believe there’s an ulterior motive. Kai says he knows Curtis and Drew have a history and he respects that, but all Drew is doing is connecting him to the doctor, and Curtis says, be careful. Kai saw what Drew did to his nephew and he threatened to bulldoze the Quartermaine family crypt. If he can betray his family like that, what does Kai think Drew could do to him?

Alexis says, Diane wants her to commit her own daughter? but Diane says, of course (🍷) not, but this is the best way, the only way out. Alexis knows this. Alexis says she doesn’t know anything. She can’t do it. Diane says, even if she gets the charges reduced to attempted murder, second degree, that’s three stacked charges. In the state of New York, she’d be looking at 15 years in prison. That’s the best-case scenario. Alexis says, maybe it won’t come to that. Nobody knows. There’s no investigation, no charges, and the police don’t know anything. Diane says, they both know whatever is done in darkness always comes to light. The question is when. Does Alexis want to live like that, jumping out of her skin every time there’s a knock at the door or the phone rings? Is it the cops, or isn’t it? This is Kristina’s best chance. Take it.

Nina says, Carly went too far and needs to leave right now, but Carly says, no. Willow’s good, right? Using her own voice, making her own choices. She’s fine, right? Willow says she and Nelle are nothing alike, and Carly says, she’s right. As sick as Nelle was, she actually loved Michael. She can’t say same about Willow. Willow says she did love Michael and part of her always will, and Carly says, she has an interesting way of showing it. At least with Nelle, she knew who she was dealing with, but with Willow, she had no idea who Willow was. Willow asks if she hears herself. Nelle told Michael that his baby was dead and gave it to another couple. Carly says, she’s right. Nelle stole Michael’s child, but Willow stole two. She guesses that means Willow is the winner. Willow says, how dare she? and Carly says, how dare she? Drew tells Carly, get out or he’ll have the cops take her out, and Willow says, Carly has a lot of nerve coming into their home and speaking to her like that. The days of Carly telling her what to do are over. She can say she’s here for Michael, but she’s here for herself. She’ll do what she wants with her kids, so shut up already. Everybody here knows Carly’s altruistic mother act is about as fake as she is. Carly pulls her hand back to smack Willow, but Jason grabs it.

Alexis tells Diane that she can’t do it. Kristina would never go along with it. Diane says, after everything Kristina’s been through lately – the fall, losing the baby, Sam, Michael’s accident – she wouldn’t need to get permission. Alexis says, what? and Diane says, Kristina is in therapy. Alexis can have her committed involuntarily. Alexis says she can’t. No. Kristina would never forgive her. Diane says she thinks Kristina would, and Alexis says, on what planet? Diane says, on the planet where she understands it’s a far cry between a few months in Ferncliff and 15 to 25 years in Pentenville. Alexis says, Sonny would never go along with it, but Diane says, Sonny has shared his mental health struggles and was the one who suggested Kristina seek a therapist to begin with. Alexis says, a therapist is a far cry from a mental institution, and Diane says, Sonny also understands the law better than most, and sometimes you have to think outside the box to protect yourself and those you love. Alexis says she can’t do this to her family, but Diane says, she’s not doing it to them, she’s doing it for them. Besides, it sets up Kristina in the perfect position for a great defense when the truth comes out, and it sets up Molly to forgive her sister when everything is exposed. Even without those reasons, Kristina needs help. Alexis went on trial for a murder she didn’t commit because she disposed of Kristina’s gun. There’s a pattern here. Kristina gets herself in trouble and Alexis comes in and cleans it all up. It’s not helping. It’s having the opposite effect and it’s time to take drastic action.

Emma asks if Anna wants to know what she was thinking about when she was in that jail cell. You. Anna says, me? and Emma says she wasn’t thinking about her mom and dad or her record or her regret. She was thinking about Anna and how disappointed she’d be in her. She was thinking about how Anna is looking at her now. Anna asks how she’s looking, and Emma says, like sad. Like she can’t believe Emma turned into this thing or something. Anna knows she loves her mom and dad so much, but she was raised to believe if she did everything right and followed the rules, life would fall into place. It’s not true. Playing by the rules doesn’t stop injustice. She wants to spend every day of her life fighting for what’s right. Anna says, she’s not giving her parents enough credit. That’s exactly what they do, help people. Emma says she knows. Trust her when she says what they do and who they are is absolutely amazing. Anna says, they agree on one thing at least, and Emma says she’s more like Anna. She does what’s right and fights for people who can’t fight for themselves. Sometimes that means stepping over the line and breaking the rules. That’s why she thought of Anna when she was in her cell. They do what they think is right, don’t they?  

Carly says, Drew must be happy. Everyone thought he was the master manipulator in this situation, but it’s been Willow all along. She made her choices. Willow says, she doesn’t need anyone to make choices for her, and Carly says, she wants everyone to believe she’s the victim and heroine in this fairytale, but she’s nothing but a selfish little bitch. They deserve each other, but they don’t deserve those kids. Willow says, Carly crossed the line and almost slapped her grandchildren’s mother, and Carly says, for now. Willow asks what she means, and Carly says she’s going to help Michael get his kids back and Willow is never going to see them again ever. She and Jason leave.

Anna says, whatever she thinks Emma is, she has a lot of admiration for her. She helps people and animals in need, but she wonders if Emma is remorseful for her actions. She got lucky. Nobody was hurt – this time. Emma says she knows. She’s not saying it’s a bad thing to hurt animals and an okay thing to hurt people. If something had actually happened to the security guard… Believe her when she says she doesn’t always sleep well at night. Anna says she’s been there and has to live with the consequences of that. She thinks they are alike in many ways, except there’s one profound difference. She always has a fine-tuned plan and significant resources and training to back her up. For her, it’s been the PCPD and the WSB. Emma says she sees what Anna is saying. She knows they had a rocky start, but she’s determined to do better. She still wants to change the world, but going to do it Anna’s way. It’s safer. Anna says, and smarter, and Emma says she’s already enjoying her class with Professor Dalton. She thinks he’s touched on some pretty cool ideas. Anna says, thank goodness. She found a class she can stand. That’s a good start. Emma says she’s sorry being here has stressed Anna out, but Anna says, her being here is a gift. She loves Emma profoundly, without any hesitation, and no conditions. So never forget that. She just wants Emma to be safe and smarter. Emma says, safer and smarter, and they hug.

Josslyn asks, what happens after she secures her position? and Vaughn says, keep gaining Professor Dalton’s trust and wait for further instructions. Josslyn says, okay, got it, and he says, just remember what he said. It might feel the same going to class, going out with her friends, and getting assignments in, but this isn’t school anymore. There are no makeup exams or extra credit. If she fails her mission, there will be serious consequences for all of them.

Trina is waiting in Portia’s office, and Portia says, a visit from Trina’s father and now Trina. What did she do to get so lucky? Trina says she wishes the reason was good, and Portia asks, what’s wrong? Trina says, Kai isn’t waiting for Portia’s opinion about the surgery. He’s made up his mind. He’s going through with it.

Kai says he appreciates the warning and appreciates Curtis’s family looking out for him, and Curtis asks him to promise to be careful. Drew is shrewd and manipulative and there’s always something in it for him. Kai says he doesn’t see what Drew could possibly get from him. He’s in college and the guy is a congressman. Curtis says he wishes he could tell Kai what Drew is after, but he hasn’t figured it out. Just know that the favor Drew is doing will come at a cost, maybe higher than Kai could ever imagine.

Willow says she can’t believe that just happened, and Drew says, she did great. Nina says, holding your own against Carly is no small feat, and Willow asks if she can really take Wiley and Amelia. Drew says, Carly has her resources, but so does he. He promises with everything in him that he won’t let her lose her kids.

Carly says, Jason doesn’t need to drive her home, but he says, she’s too upset right now. Carly says, did he text you and tell you to come and get me? and he asks what she was thinking. She says, is that a real question? and he says, attacking Willow is going to push her and the kids further away and make Drew look like a savior. She says she doesn’t care. She gave Willow space to make the right decision, and it didn’t work out. Now it’s time to fight and she can fight a hell of a lot harder than they can.

Diane says she knows it’s a lot to take in. Alexis doesn’t have to decide this second, but don’t take too long. Diane is about to leave, when Alexis says, do it. Draw up the papers and have Kristina committed.

On Monday, Willow tells Nina that she’s scared there’s some truth to it; Ric tells Ava it may not be the done deal she thinks it is; Sonny asks if someone is pressuring Laura to come after him; and Carly tells Jack that she may have just handed Michael’s children over to Willow.

🧼 All the Soap News Fit To Print…

It’s about time.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/ghs-van-hansis-dishes-lucas-new-romance-with-marco

Amusing, but not life changing.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/the-line-you-didnt-get-to-hear-on-yesterdays-gh

I love this storyline too.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/why-ghs-eden-mccoy-loves-josslyns-new-spy-storyline

Ric gets roughed up.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/behind-the-scenes-of-rics-accident-on-general-hospital

The professor is in.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/daniel-goddard-cast-on-general-hospital-as-professor-dalton

So cool how they found certain items. That happened to me after the flood, and it was really weird how certain things that ended up under water emerged unscathed.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/ghs-cameron-mathison-shares-an-inspirational-post-fire-update

💉 A Dose Of Reality…

Below Deck Down Under

This boat just sounds so messy.

Captain Jason attempts to clean up.

Real Housewives of Beverly Hills

Memes and jokes were revisited, no doubt to be forever remembered like Erika’s panties and Crystal’s ugly leather pants. Lots of blah-blah-blah about Kyle and Morgan, and no surprise, Jennifer was the highlight of the entire Reunion. Snacking while watching the ping-pong match that is part of every rehash, she didn’t disappoint. She talked about a necklace considered the most important piece of American jewelry that she’d worn for a photo shoot and explained that it had once belonged to Cole Porter. She’d fallen in love with it before she could afford it, and when she could, chased it around until she scored it. The best part of the story? I could tell Erika and Dorit were just boiling with jealousy. Another highlight was Kathy managing to find her seat without getting lost. She did bring her pocketbook with her as we all would.

Aww. This is what I like to hear.

https://www.bravotv.com/the-daily-dish/how-denise-richards-jennifer-tilly-sutton-stracke-supported-garcelle-beauvais-career-move

Because inquiring minds want to know.

Denise Richards & Her Wild Things

In this week’s finale, Sami thought her car had been stolen when it had really been repossessed. Even though she makes a ton of money on OnlyFans, she literally forgot to make the payments. And this is the second car this has happened with. Good to see she learns from her mistakes. On the upside, Denise brought her feuding daughters together with a photo shoot. I hope this show gets another season. It’s funny enough, relatively harmless, and rather charming.

https://people.com/denise-richards-daughter-sami-sheen-car-repossessed-season-finale-11711617

https://www.bravotv.com/the-daily-dish/where-denise-richards-family-daughters-are-today-april-2025

Summer House

Jesse invited the group to Shabbat, and he was very impressive with his singing. This is the kind of reality thing I enjoy, observing a culture other than my own. Since Lindsay will never, ever really let go of Carl, she continued to harangue him about speaking to some girl before they’d broken up. Carl had receipts, but Shabbat prohibited him from using his phone. However, Jesse spoke to God, who said it was okay. Problem solved and Carl exonerated.

This was possibly one of the most surprising things I’ve ever seen. And I’ve seen a lot

Random Reality Items

This has possibilities as long as their mother’s footsteps aren’t followed in and no Solo cups, tableware, or actual tables are thrown.

https://ew.com/bravo-next-gen-nyc-real-housewives-gia-giudice-brooks-marks-nyc-chaos-exclusive-11707585

I still feel badly about Kenya. She twirled her way into my heart.

https://www.essence.com/op-ed/kenya-moore-brit-eady/

So what’s up with those Top Chefs now? And wasn’t Brooke Aaron Phyper’s hall pass?

https://www.eonline.com/news/1415807/bobby-flay-brooke-williamsons-basketball-date-night

👀 Last Weekend’s Watch…

Deadpool & Wolverine. Disney+. Yes, I watched this again even though I saw it in the movies. Not only is it one of those films you can watch a hundred times and still see something new, it was all I had the bandwidth for that day. I love this movie and already posted ad nauseum about it, so here’s something new.

https://collider.com/deadpool-and-wolverine-hugh-jackman-breathing-video/

Anna Nicole Smith: You Don’t Know Me. Netflix. Probably nothing you haven’t heard before, but she was an icon, and her story is just so sad.

https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/anna-nicole-smith-you-dont-know-me-release-date-trailer-news

Upgrade. Netflix. This wasn’t at all what I thought from the preview, but it was interesting nonetheless. In the future, a quadriplegic plays amateur detective investigating his wife’s murder. Somewhat humorous with a relatively satisfying ending, and kudos for actually being something different.

https://movieweb.com/upgrade-netflix-sci-fi-thriller-top-10/

Talk To Me. Hulu – also on Netflix and Paramount+. An interesting take on possession with a good cast of newcomers. An embalmed medium’s hand becomes a tool to open an entrance to the dark side. My jury is still out about the ending.

https://movieweb.com/terrifying-debut-talk-to-me-streaming-success/

https://www.slashfilm.com/1434605/talk-to-me-haunted-hand-true-story-inspiration/

🔮 The Future Is (Almost) Now…

It’s finally here. Season 2 of The Last of Us begins April 13th. Oddly enough, it hasn’t even started yet, and it’s been renewed for a 3rd season.

https://ew.com/the-last-of-us-gabriel-luna-rutina-wesley-tease-season-2-infected-attack-11709833

https://ew.com/the-last-of-us-season-3-official-renewed-11711769

Season 7 of Black Mirror began on April 10th. I’m hoping to catch a few episodes this weekend. I can’t wait to see what’s happening on the USS Callister.

https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/black-mirror-season-7-review-netflix-sci-fi

🏆 All the Awards All the Time…

All the awards dates you need to know.

https://deadline.com/feature/awards-season-calendar-oscars-emmys-golden-globes-list-1234814076/

This year’s Emmy nominations and predictions.

https://ew.com/2025-emmy-nominations-predictions-main-acting-categories-11706398

🐾 Game Of Bones, Thrones, and…

🐈‍⬛ It’s Choupette!

https://people.com/karl-lagerfeld-s-former-housekeeper-reveals-how-his-cat-choupette-lives-as-a-multi-million-dollar-heiress-11712255

🐕 Be still my heart.

https://people.com/glen-powell-dog-brisket-meets-demi-moore-tiny-pup-pilar-exclusive-11707737

🐺 Yes, you heard right.

https://people.com/joe-manganiello-seen-the-future-after-dire-wolves-brought-back-de-extinction-exclusive-11711202

📲 Quotes of the Week

Success does not consist in never making mistakes, but in never making the same one a second time.George Bernard Shaw

In matters of principle, stand like a rock; in matters of taste, swim with the current. – Thomas Jefferson

To know how much there is to know is the beginning of learning to live. Dorothy West

Keep your eyes on the stars, and your feet on the ground.Theodore Roosevelt

Experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first, the lesson afterward.Vernon Sanders Law

A people that values its privileges above its principles soon loses both.Dwight D. Eisenhower

Happiness is not a goal… it’s a by-product of a life well lived.Eleanor Roosevelt

Always remember that you are absolutely unique. Just like everyone else.Margaret Mead

I understand. I just don’t care. – Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard), General Hospital

👒 Donning My Easter Bonnet…

Until next week, stay safe; stay respecting others’ beliefs, even those who have none; and stay remembering, whatever is done in darkness, always comes to light.