What I Watched Today

(Nada enchilada summer – condensed because life is short & summer should be fun)

General Hospital

Monday:

A shirtless Chase walked into the gatehouse and asked Willow what she was doing there.

Brook told Tracy that her advice got through and she wasn’t doing anything to jeopardize her marriage. Tracy said Willow was moving back into the gatehouse.

At the hospital, Lucas and Fitzpatrick argued about the softball game. Lucas said Fitzpatrick had cheated to win.

Lucy found Serena at the pool and said Michael was single.

Michael met Josslyn at the boathouse, and she said she needed him to help her out of the trap her dad and their mom had set for her.

Hudson went to see Carly and asked how she found him. She said Jax had put him up at the MetroCourt, which she owned, and she wanted to know what he was doing to convince Josslyn to take the job. He said as far as he was concerned, it was a dead end, and she said, wrong answer.

Tracy told Brook that she’d let Willow move in at Michael’s behest. It was his latest maneuver in their never-ending war. Brook was shocked Tracy had agreed. She told Tracy to get Michael in there and remember it was her house. She had the power.

Willow told Chase that Michael broke up with Jacinda and wanted to spend more time with the children. She’d agreed to move back, so Wiley and Amelia would be around their parents. He said she was one of the most selfless people he’d ever met.

Fitzpatrick said he hadn’t cheated and the ump had agreed, but he hoped he hadn’t hurt Lucas by running into him. Lucas said he was fine, but would remember it the next time Fitzpatrick needed anesthesia.

Michael said most people would kill to be CEO of a multi-million dollar company, and Josslyn said send her their names. She’d add them to the list. She wanted to get back out in the field and she couldn’t even yell at her father since he was off the grid. He said their mother must have told him that she was working for the WSB and got shot, and she said, of course (🍷) she did, but he said he couldn’t give her back-up.

Hudson told Carly about the list and she told him to stall until Josslyn could be convinced to take the job, but he said he didn’t take orders from her. She said Jax would want the process stalled and the list destroyed, and Hudson said Josslyn was incredibly stubborn. She was the best person for the job, but they’d gotten off on the wrong foot and she didn’t trust his opinion. He hadn’t handled the situation with as much patience as he should have, but there were a lot of livelihoods riding on this. He needed someone who was interested in JJE.

Michael said, as a parent, he understood why Carly was doing this, and Josslyn said it was her life. She wasn’t giving it up. It would be a lot of work finding someone to run JJE who she trusted and she was hoping he could help. She asked him to help her vet candidates, and he said he’d need something from her in return.

Lucas asked if Fitzpatrick thought the jury got it right, and Fitzpatrick said he respected their decision. He’d testified truthfully as to what he saw and the rest was out of his hands. Lucas said he was glad it was over and hoped everyone would move forward. He asked how the apartment search was going, and Lucas said he’d found a place he loved this morning and signed a lease. Fitzpatrick said Lucy was showing him one of the apartments that was on the list Lucas gave him.

Lucy told Serena about Jacinda disappearing. Poor Michael was all alone nursing a broken heart and needed a shoulder to cry on. Like Serena’s. Serena said she and Michael weren’t having a romance.

Tracy said it was too late, and Brook said she and Chase had just recommitted to their marriage and raising Phoebe together. Tracy said she was proud of Brook, but she didn’t have a choice. Michael had thrown Monica in her face, reminding her that Wiley and Amelia were Quartermaines and belonged there full-time. But she’d also done it for Brook.

Yuri brought Wiley and Amelia’s things to the gatehouse, and Chase asked Willow if she was sure she was doing the right thing. He remembered what it was like for her the last time. He was aware living with the Quartermaines wasn’t for the faint of heart. She said she could get used to anything for Wiley and Amelia’s sake. They deserved a stable home base and this was the best solution. But this time she had Chase and promised to have his back if he had hers.

Carly told Hudson about Josslyn getting shot and almost dying. She said there was a good chance of it happening again if Josslyn didn’t take the job at JJE. Jax sent Hudson there to protect his daughter and he had to convince Josslyn that she was the only person who could assume control of the business. Lucas came in to say hello to the moss bowl🎍.

Serena said she knew how important it was to Lucy, but she’d rather not help by lying and taking advantage of Michael. They should be able to find another way. What if they proved to Michael they deserved the shares? Lucy said he wouldn’t just hand them over, but Serena said there had to be a different way. Lucy said they’d consider other ideas, but Serena had to promise to keep an open mind and not close the door to romance.

Michael told Josslyn that in return for helping her find someone for Jax’s company, he needed her to keep the peace with Willow. Willow was only able to hurt him because he hadn’t seen her for who she really was. Now his eyes were open and he could get ahead of her.

Tracy said she had her concerns about Willow living in such close proximity to Chase, but if she’d refused Michael, it would have meant she had no faith in Brook and Chase and their marriage. She believed their marriage was stronger than ever. Brook said she did too, but Willow would invent a thousand reasons to see Chase and a thousand reasons to lean on him. Willow moving back onto the property changed everything.

Willow told Chase that the last time she’d lived there, she’d let Michael push her around and convince her that his family would accept her, but they never did. By the end, she barely recognized herself. If Michael and the Quartermaines thought she’d just roll over this time, they couldn’t be more wrong.

Brook told Tracy that the first time she let an honest observation or feeling slip out, she and Chase would be back where they were. She didn’t understand why he only saw the good in Willow. She didn’t help her case when she admitted to framing Willow, and Chase could never know she was the person who left the scene of Jordan and Curtis’s accident. Tracy said Brook hadn’t known there was an accident, but Brook said it didn’t matter. She never came forward. Tracy said she and Brook were the only ones that knew and she’d never say anything. Brook had to make sure she never did either.

Yuri brought in more things, and Willow said she didn’t want to keep him. He left, and Chase said he’d help her unpack. He was shocked at how much stuff he had when he’d moved in with Brook. She said the move would have a silver lining after all. The kids would be close to her all the time. He said after adopting Phoebe, he couldn’t imagine not being with her. Willow must have been going out of her mind. She said she was. It felt like a part of her had been ripped away. Sometimes the fear of not getting them back was still there. He said now that he was a father, he understood the lengths she’d go to get her kids back in a way he hadn’t before.

Michael said he believed it was the right call and Josslyn would have to trust him on that. She said she needed his help and he was the only person she trusted to give it. So she’d stand down where Willow was concerned.

Carly pointed Hudson to Josslyn’s apartment and he left. Lucas asked, who the hottie was and why was she sending him over to Josslyn’s place? and she said his name was Hudson Parker and he was VP of something at Jax’s company. She’d told Jax about Josslyn being in the WSB and he wanted her out of the Bureau and running one of his companies, but she didn’t want anything to do with it. Lucas said it was quite the dad move, and she said she had to make sure the other candidates looked unqualified so Josslyn would decide to run the company herself. Hudson was going to help her do that. He said, let him guess. She was doing it for Josslyn’s own good.

Carly said she was and wondered, what was the big deal? and Lucas asked if she’d say she and Josslyn were a lot alike. She said, yes, and he asked how she felt about people meddling in her life. She said she didn’t care for it, and he said, when somebody told her not to do something, what did she do? She did the exact opposite every, single time. How often did their mom meddle in her life? She said, never, and he said, exactly. She knew meddling in Carly’s choices would send her running in the opposite direction. She said this was different. Josslyn’s life was at risk. He said he knew Josslyn chose a life that scared her, but her choice was a testament to how Carly raised her. She’d raised a strong woman with a will of her own and a desire to help people. She had to stop trying to control Josslyn and let her live her life. Once she did that, they’d both be better off.

Hudson found Josslyn at the boathouse and said she hadn’t been returning his calls. She said she’d been busy securing her consultant, and introduced Michael. She told Hudson to give the list to him, but Hudson said he didn’t feel comfortable handing over their proprietary research to an outside party. She said she was CEO and decided what happened with her research, and he gave Michael the list. Michael said he’d look it over and left. Josslyn thanked Hudson, and he said whatever she said goes. She asked if he put his name on the list, but he said, no. She asked if he didn’t have enough faith in himself.

Serena said she was sorry, but didn’t see herself and Michael together in that way, but Lucy said Serena’s homecoming had dovetailed into Michael getting his freedom. It was fate with a capital F. Fitzpatrick called and asked if he could see that apartment now, and Lucy said, of course (🍷). Serena asked if she had something important to get to, but Lucy said nothing was more important than Serena and Serena’s future. Promise she’d think about what she said,

Willow told Chase that Amelia’s favorite stuffed animal wasn’t there. She’d be heartbroken. Chase said, worst case, he’d put out a BOLO, but he found it and said he should get something like that for Phoebe. Brook approached carrying an orchid plant.

Yuri told Tracy that the last of the boxes were inside and the unpacking was underway, and he started to leave, but she said, one more thing, and it had to stay between them. She wanted him to keep a close eye on their new tenant in the gatehouse. He said, of course (🍷). What exactly did she want him to look for? She said, anything out of the ordinary or alarming, especially where it concerned her granddaughter’s husband. He said, Mr. Chase, and she said, if Mr. Chase and Willow were ever alone together, she wanted to know about it. He said, they already had been. Mr. Chase had been helping unpack at the gatehouse all afternoon.

Willow said if they hadn’t found the toy, they’d be able to hear Amelia all the way to the main house, and Chase said, Tracy would. She had ears like a bat. Brook came in and said, she definitely did. She heard Willow was moving back, so she brought her some flowers to brighten up the place. Willow thanked her, and Brook’s phone chimed. She told Chase that Olivia said Phoebe was all ready for their afternoon at the lake, so they should probably get going. Chase said if Willow needed any help, let them know, and he left with Brook.

Carly said she knew Lucas was right, but Josslyn’s life was on the line, and he said, find another way to get through to her. She said, all right. No meddling. He said, gentle, non-judgmental advice was always welcome, and she asked if that went for them too, but he said, no. She said, as long as he lived with Ava, he needed all the advice he could get, and he said he’d signed an e-lease on an apartment this morning. She asked where it was, and he said, Marine Towers. Apartment 5E to be exact.

Lucy let Fitzpatrick into 5E and said he’d absolutely love it. He looked around, and she told him to picture the fabulous life he’d have there. He said he liked what he saw so far.

Michael went to the gatehouse, and Willow asked when Wiley and Amelia could come over. He said, tonight, as long as she followed the rules.

Hudson said he liked the job he had, and Josslyn said she knew he thought she was just some spoiled nepo baby who wasn’t qualified for this position. He said it was her own insecurity talking. It didn’t matter what he thought. Her father had complete faith in her, so take this opportunity and run with it. Prove the doubters wrong. Or was she afraid she’d run the company into the ground? She said, normally, him calling her a coward would make her want to take the job just to prove him wrong, but not today. She took an oath with the WSB, and that was where her focus was, and nobody was forcing or manipulating her out of it.

Tuesday:

Anna went to Sonny’s and said Dante told her that he’d be focusing on the coffee business. He said he wanted to spend time with Donna and Avery, and she said their families had gotten closer. He asked if she had a problem with Gio and Emma being together.

At the Surf Lodge, Gio and Trina were working on songs, but Trina said she hadn’t done her homework. All she could think about was her dad going to prison.

Lucas invited Ava to lunch at the pool to thank her for her hospitality and support. They were also celebrating him finding an apartment.

While she was showing him the apartment, Fitzpatrick said he had some questions involving Lucy’s statement about Willow.

At the boathouse, Josslyn told Hudson that he could go away until she made her decision, but he said she knew nothing about JJE and needed him. He wasn’t going anywhere.

In the park on the phone, Britt complained to Brad about having to attend softball league management meetings. She ran into Jason who said he also had to go to the meetings. She noticed he was wearing an ELQ shirt, and he said he wasn’t a partner in Corinthos Coffee anymore.

Anna told Sonny that she was thrilled that Emma and Gio found each other. Gio had been a real support for Emma while she was sick. He said he’d insisted Gio stay with the Quartermaines while Sidwell was around, and she said he must be relieved Sidwell was going to prison. He said it was one of the reasons he’d gotten back into the coffee business, and she said she knew what it was like to be the reason your family was suffering. He asked if she was in some kind of trouble.

Trina apologized, but Gio said she was more important. She would make it through this and so would her dad. Show her lyrics to Simon when she was ready. It would be fine. He’d handle Simon.

Fitzpatrick told Lucy that Drew had confirmed Willow wasn’t home that night, but when he’d testified, he said she was. Lucy wondered how Drew would know. Did Fitzpatrick ask him? He said, no. He found out when Drew was on the stand. She said Drew must have been trying to help Curtis, who would now be in his debt. Drew was more interested in leverage and blackmail than the truth. If Fitzpatrick wanted proof, read the transcripts of Willow’s trial. He asked how certain she was of the time Willow left, but she said Jordan had caused the accident. Whoever was behind the wheel faced no legal repercussions. She asked again about the apartment, and he said it was everything he was looking for.

Lucas told Ava where he was going to be living, and she said she hoped Lucy didn’t rush him into signing a lease. He said Elizabeth helped him find it and he loved it, and Ava said her guest room would always be ready if it didn’t work out. He said he thought she’d be relieved, but she said she didn’t think it was the right place for him. He said, because the neighborhood was too noisy or because she wanted to keep an eye on him, and she said, both.

Chase and Brook came by with Phoebe, and Josslyn introduced Hudson. She congratulated them on finalizing the adoption.

Jason said he’d made a decision not to work for Sonny, who’d agreed to buy out his half of the company, and Britt asked if he was now working for ELQ. He said he was just helping out, when her phone rang. She said she ran into the ELQ rep and they were on their way. She told Jason that he could fill her in afterward, and he said they had all the time in the world.

Hudson asked how old Phoebe was, and Brook said, 5½ months. Brook asked if Josslyn had quit the WSB, but she said she was just filling in at her dad’s company, and Hudson left with Josslyn.

Lucas told Ava not to worry, but she said he was still grieving and Sidwell had almost killed him. She wasn’t sure living on his own was what was best for him and she liked having someone to come home to. He said he liked it too, but it was time for him to go. He couldn’t hide from life anymore.

Emma and Quinn joined Gio and Trina, and Emma said Quinn volunteered at the animal shelter. He said he gave Emma a ride and was grabbing some take-out, and Trina suggested he wait with them.

Lucas said he’d felt himself retreating again and needed to nip it in the bud. Otherwise, he’d be disrespecting Marco’s memory. A big reason he could move forward was because of Ava’s support. She said she was proud of him, but reserved judgement until she saw the place. He said he had the keys and could show it to her now.

Fitzpatrick said, let’s do this, but when Lucy tried to submit the lease on her tablet, she couldn’t. She said she’d take care of it back at the office, and he said he’d stay and take measurements.

Chase asked if Brook was okay, and she said her life was perfect. He said, except Willow was living at the gatehouse, and she said she was surprised, but it was better for Wiley and Amelia. He said he didn’t want to be tone-deaf to her feelings, and she said she didn’t want to be the kind of wife who told her husband who he could and couldn’t be friends with. He said she and Phoebe were his top priority and he was sorry he’d given her a reason to doubt that.

Hudson said he’d liked meeting Josslyn’s friends and Phoebe was very cute, and she said Phoebe had hit the jackpot with Brook and Chase. He said it sounded like there was a story, and instead of wondering why the hell this guy was so interested, she said Brook and Chase had found Phoebe’s birth mother passed out in the park before she went into labor. They’d gotten her to the hospital, but she’d died giving birth. He asked if Phoebe didn’t have any family, and Josslyn said Phoebe’s mother died before she could give them any details.

After the meeting, Britt said she thought there was nothing worse than a tiny man with a little bit of power, and Jason said she’d come off as cooperative and hid how annoyed she was. He almost didn’t recognize her. She said she’d been stunned by his news. Didn’t he think Sonny would pull him back in? Did he think he could do nothing if Sonny got into real trouble?

Anna said she was fine but had residual anger, and Sonny asked what it was about. She said she couldn’t get past this delusion that Faison was still alive and holding her prisoner. Except it wasn’t real. He said when you were in it, it seemed real, and she said she was able to fight her way back to reality. He said he felt bad and knew what it was like not to trust your mind. You felt like the people trying to help you were your enemy. She said the hardest part was being trapped, and he said she was back and home. She said it was good to be home, but it wasn’t completely over. There was something she hadn’t told anyone.  

Lucas showed Ava the view, and she said it had potential. She’d help him decorate. It just hit her that this was really happening. He said he wasn’t skipping town, and she said she’d had enough of men disappearing on her. Lucas said he’d thought Ethan had a good reason for leaving, and she said, he was trying to do the right thing.

Chase said after Willow was found not guilty, he should have left it alone, and Brook asked why he didn’t. He said he’d been overprotective knowing she was framed, but now his family came first, and she said she promised to be honest with him moving forward. He said honesty was the most important thing, and she said she wasn’t thrilled about Willow living there. He said he was surprised Tracy allowed it.

Trina said they had to pick a song to record and Simon wanted it yesterday, and Quinn asked who Simon was. Trina said he was an exec at their record label and he wanted them to sing a song at the Cat’s Eye Lounge three weeks from now. Quinn said he’d have to check it out and asked if Trina hadn’t planned to work at the gallery after graduation, but she said Gio’s mom had changed everything.

Sonny said he’d keep what Anna said in confidence, and she said her time in France had made her a bit claustrophobic. It made her yearn for open space, something completely private. She’d been thinking that maybe she should buy a place of land and build a retreat for herself. She knew Sonny owned some land on Mount Emerson. He said, a couple hundred acres, and she asked if he’d be open to selling a parcel to her.

Jason said it would be hard, but he had to get out of the business for Danny’s sake, and Britt said she worried that it put Jason in an impossible situation. As long as she’d known him, Sonny had always been his top priority. Maybe second to getting Carly out of trouble. He said Danny had to come first now, and she said, he should, but working for Sonny was all Jason had ever known. He said Sonny gave him a life when he didn’t know who he was, and she asked if he really thought he could walk away. He said he didn’t think Sonny would ask him to go back on his word, and she said, maybe not, but how would he feel if something bad happened to Sonny and he did nothing to stop it? Life had a funny way of pushing them to do things they didn’t want to do. He asked if that’s what happened to her.

Trina said having Gio by her side gave her confidence, and Gio said it had been working so far, and Emma had been super supportive. Quinn said he knew Kai was happy for Trina, when his order came. He said it was good to see Trina and left. Trina said she would have never pegged Quinn as the volunteer type, but Emma said he’d started working at the shelter three months ago and the animals loved him. Trina said she guessed it proved that first impressions weren’t always right.

Brook said Tracy told her that Michael wanted to keep the kids close and she loved having them around even if it meant putting up with Willow, and Chase suggested looking for a place of their own. She said it would break her grandmother’s heart and she wanted Phoebe to grow up surrounded by family, and he said he hoped Michael and Willow could find a way to coexist peacefully. She said that was a big ask. They just needed to steer clear of Willow and Michael’s relationship. He said they should put all of their energy where it should be, giving Phoebe the best possible life.

Hudson said if it wasn’t for Josslyn’s friends, Phoebe would be alone in the world, and Josslyn said they were able to track down Phoebe’s biological father. He and Phoebe’s mom weren’t really together, so he’d consented to a closed adoption. It must have been difficult. He said he couldn’t imagine letting his child go.

Jason said Britt didn’t tell him what happened to her after he got shipped off to Jakarta, and she said Cullum was horrible and forced her to follow his orders. He asked if she bought the WSB’s story that Cassius was behind everything, and she said she didn’t want to, but she wasn’t sure what her brother was or wasn’t capable of. She knew for a fact that Cullum was no hero. He said he was sorry she’d lost her brother, and she said her mother was taking it hard. She was so desperate to give her mother answers, she even went begging to Anna. Anna said she’d look into it, but keep that to himself.

Sonny said he wasn’t thinking of selling, but for Anna’s peace of mind… She said that was the plan, and he said she could tell him that it was none of his business, but was she in therapy? She said, no, and he said, don’t take this the wrong way, but he thought she should be. He’d fought against therapy in the beginning, but now couldn’t imagine his life without it. People like them had to deal with everything alone and felt they had to be strong. They had to prove to themselves and everyone else that they were, and therapy made you stronger. It gave you clarity and a different perspective. She said she thought she could use that, and he said he thought they all could. He learned the hard way that sometimes it wasn’t good to be alone.

Jason said he was sorry he wasn’t there to help Britt out with Cullum, but she told him, never apologize for saving Rocco. She’d always be grateful for that. He said, it was just instinct, and she said, sometimes when there was no good outcome, instinct was all they had. They just had to find their way through it. He said they were all still standing. She and Rocco were safe and he had to find a way to make things up to Danny. She said she was sure distancing himself from Sonny’s business wouldn’t be easy, but if anyone could pull it off, it was him. From what she’d seen, he could do damn near anything. He said, for the people he loved, he could, and they kissed.

Looking at photos, Emma said Trina’s baby brother was the cutest, and Gio said, Dez may be the cutest baby brother, but in the baby sister category… He showed them Phoebe’s picture and Trina gushed over it. They looked at more photos, while someone watched them.

Ava told Lucas that Ethan left because he had to help someone else and she gave him credit for it. He was sincere, but she got the feeling there was some risk involved in whatever he was doing. She hoped he was okay and that whoever he was looking out for was okay too.

Chase told Brook that Phoebe had really put everything in perspective and needed to be the focus of their lives right now. Brook said Phoebe completed their family, and he said she’d help them never forget what was truly important. She said as long as they had Phoebe, nothing could go wrong.

Josslyn told Hudson that everything that needed to be signed was signed. Have a nice trip. He asked where he was going, and she said she assumed he was going back to Australia. He said he wasn’t going anywhere. Her father had tasked him with bringing the new CEO up to speed and right now, that was her. She said, exactly. She was his boss and she was telling him to go back to Australia. He said if she really wanted to get rid of him, pick her replacement. He’d be at the MetroCourt until she did. He came there to do a job and wasn’t leaving until it was done.

Anna said she appreciated Sonny opening up to her, and he said anytime she wanted to talk, he was there. He couldn’t wait for the day that they were just friends, without conflict. She said her too, and he said he’d tell Diane that she’d be calling about the land, but she asked if they could just keep it between them. It didn’t sound completely rational, but she really didn’t want anyone to know about this place. It was just hers. He said they’d figure it out. He was going to talk to the psychiatrist and maybe he could get a referral if she was interested. She said she’d definitely consider it, and he suggested they go out to dinner with Gio and Emma some night. She said she’d love that, and she left.

Outside, Peter said she didn’t need to see a shrink. She had him.

Wednesday:

At Sonny’s, Donna made a guest list for their barbecue and wanted to invite Turner.

Elizabeth told Dante that they’d gotten crushed, and he asked if she wanted to watch his game, but she said she’d bought a bookcase that came unassembled. She’d been dreading it, but the time had come. He asked if she wanted help, and she said only if he wanted to. He said it would make his day.

At the Surf Lodge Gio introduced Emma to Simon, who said they were going to go over song choices and set up a photo session. He trusted they’d been told about his marketing idea. They’d make a bigger splash if he introduced them as a couple.

Jordan watched as Curtis held Dez and told him that he was going to have to say goodbye.

Kai went to the gatehouse to tender his resignation as Willow’s intern.

Drew saw Nina at the pool and said she may have forgotten what happened at the lake, but he sure as hell hadn’t.

Sonny said he didn’t think Turner could make it because she was a busy lawyer and she was working, and Donna said she liked Turner a lot and so did Sonny. He always smiled when she was around. Ric came over, and Sonny told him that they were making invitations for a family barbecue. Ric hoped he was on the list, and Donna said he was. He said he couldn’t wait, and Donna pointed out that Ric was a busy lawyer. Sonny asked why Ric came by, and Ric said he had a personal emergency.

Dante said he’d help Elizabeth with her bookcase, and she apologized in advance for the complicated instructions in languages she wasn’t even sure were real. (Truth!) He said he liked a challenge and learning new languages. He’d see her later.

Curtis told Jordan that he didn’t know if he could do this, being separated from Dez for what could be ten years, but Jordan said he’d be paroled in two, and she and Trina would make sure Dez knew who his father was. Dez would still be young when Curtis got out and it wouldn’t take long for it to be like he never left. Curtis said he’d always remember he missed Dez’s first words and steps, and she said, like he did with Trina. It wasn’t fair, but once he got out, he’d make up for lost time. His phone chimed and she said it was Michael. He wanted to stop by and said it was about Aurora.

After telling Nina not to get too close to the edge of the pool, Drew moved on. Jack came by, and Nina said Drew hadn’t forgotten that she’d shoved him in the lake. He said good thing she had ammunition against him, and she asked if he could dig up dirt on someone else.

Ava joined Drew, and he admitted he’d done regrettable things to Nina and Willow, but it was nothing compared to what they’d done to him.

Kai said he thought it would be more respectful to resign in person, and Willow wondered where the respect was when he’d spread rumors about her to Michael. He said he was at the house the night she shot Drew. He told her how he knew, and she asked if he’d seen anything. He said, no, but he’d known it was her since he heard her ringtone in the courthouse. She asked why he hadn’t gone to the police then, and he said he should have. For the record, he still could.

Nina told Jack about the signed affidavits that Michael had from Trina and Kai. He was forcing Willow to move to the Quartermaine estate and she was essentially a prisoner. They needed to stop him. Jack said he thought she needed to stay out of it at this point. Michael and Willow had created a very toxic situation, but it wasn’t her job to fix it and she could get in serious trouble. She’d nearly killed Drew by pushing him in the lake and couldn’t keep going to extremes to fix things for Willow. Nina wondered what Drew was doing with Ava.

Drew told Ava that Sonny and Jason were no longer working together. Apparently, Jason was going legit. It would leave Sonny in a weakened position and he needed to take advantage of that and go in for the kill. To do that, he needed her help.

Sonny set Donna up on the patio and asked Ric what the emergency was, but Ric said he was probably being a tad dramatic. He needed Sonny’s input on something. He took out an engagement ring and Sonny asked when he was proposing. Ric said, tonight.

Michael arrived and told Curtis that he was sorry this was happening. Curtis said he appreciated Michael’s support, both personally and with Aurora, and he asked Jordan to stick around.

Willow said she didn’t think Kai would go to the police because he’d have to explain why he broke into the house and left Drew to die. He said he hated staying quiet, but after she was found not-guilty, there didn’t seem to be much of a point. She said the police might think he shot Drew, and he asked if her move was shifting the blame to him. She said the police would have questions, like why he consented to be her intern, and he said he wanted to make sure she didn’t hurt Drew. She’d thrown his wheelchair into the lake. She said she hadn’t, and asked if that’s why he went to Michael. He said she was going to take Michael’s kids away and there was no way he was going to let that happen. If Michael had been arrested, he would have come forward then too. She said she knew he thought he was doing the right thing, but he shouldn’t have interfered with the custody of her children, and he said all he did was tell the truth. She said if he was all about honesty, why was he pretending Trina wasn’t with him the night Drew was shot?

Willow said she knew both Kai and Trina gave Michael affidavits claiming she shot Drew, but Kai said he didn’t speak for Trina. She said he could give her the message. Stop spreading false accusations against her, or she’d get her lawyers involved. He asked when she was going to stop lying. They’d told Michael what they’d witnessed and he only wished they’d done it sooner. He got that Drew was a jerk, but shooting someone wasn’t something normal people did. Curtis got ten years for punching someone, and she was walking away with nothing when Drew almost died. He sat on this for months, and now she tried to take Michael’s kids away and let everyone think that Michael was responsible. No. She said it was none of his business, and he said she was right. Now that he wasn’t her intern anymore, he was done with this whole messed up thing. She said walking away unscathed wouldn’t be as simple as he thought, and he asked if that was a threat, but she said, no. It was advice, from someone who knew. When you got yourself mixed up in something this complicated, it was really tough to get yourself out of it. He said, watch me, and left. (Applause.)

Jack said he wouldn’t dig up something scandalous on Michael and it was for Nina’s own good. She gave Willow advice and Willow didn’t take it. Now Willow would have to face the consequences. There was a fine line between support and enabling, and in his opinion, she’d crossed that line.Nina needed to pull herself back before Willow took her down with her.

Emma said Gio hadn’t mentioned it, and he said it was because he and Trina weren’t doing it. Simon said he strongly urged them to reconsider since they were being promoted as a duo. Fans would be more interested in their success if they thought Trina was performing with the love of her life, singing first and foremost to him, and vice versa. (What is this? The 50s?) Trina said they weren’t comfortable with that, but Simon said that they weren’t being asked to really date. Just don’t say they weren’t. Let the fans draw their own conclusions.

Dante went to Elizabeth’s and she asked, what happened? He said he was stealing home – winning the game – and must have messed up his knee. She suggested he have it checked out, but he said he’d walk it out. He didn’t need his knee to use a screwdriver. She realized she wasn’t going to win this battle and showed him where the bookcase was.

Ric told Sonny to be honest, and Sonny said it hadn’t been that long since Ric and Elizabeth got back together. Had she mentioned anything about wanting to get married? Ric said they hadn’t talked about it, and Sonny said then he was worried Ric was moving too fast. Ric said he’d loved Elizabeth for twenty years. He’d made mistakes, but they were good now and he didn’t want to risk losing her again. Sonny asked if there was some other guy in the picture.

Dante sat on the couch and said Elizabeth should have let him finish, but she said he was wincing in pain every time he moved his leg. She was getting him some ice and ibuprofen. Did he need anything else? He said, a ladder, so they could nail the bookcase to the wall, but she said she wasn’t letting him get up on a ladder. It was an insurance risk. And it would be awkward to step over his body every time she needed a new book.

Ric said there was no other guy at the moment, but if he waited too long, there could be. Sonny said it sounded like he was making a decision based out of insecurity and fear, and that usually didn’t end well, and Ric said he loved Elizabeth. He wanted to spend the rest of his life with her. He’d always loved her. Sonny said he wasn’t questioning that. He was asking, why now? Ric admitted that he felt if he waited, something would screw things up, and Sonny said, in the past, Ric’s devotion became obsession, but Ric said he’d changed. When he was with Elizabeth now, it was like he became the man he wanted to be and the man who Elizabeth could love back. He wanted her to be happy forever and hoped she gave him a chance to do that.

Trina said they’d have to keep their real relationships a secret, and Simon said, just pretend Kai and Emma were their friends. Gio said he wasn’t willing to do that, and Trina said they didn’t want to seem unappreciative… Gio said, but they couldn’t agree to his plan, and Simon said he thought they were making a huge mistake. Kai came in and said he was sorry to interrupt, but he needed to talk to Trina real quick. He and Trina left.

Outside, Kai told Trina that he’d resigned as Willow’s intern, and she asked how Willow took it. He said she wouldn’t be writing him any letters of recommendation.

Simon said he was fine with Gio not being involved with Trina. He didn’t want things to get messy. Gio said that’s why they wanted things to just stay about the music, and Simon said that was great on paper, but it was never just about the music. He thought Gio was awesome and Trina was a total star, but there were a million and one musicians out there and if they wanted to break through, they had to stand out. This could do the trick. Think about it.

Ava said, like Jason, she was no longer in the business of killing people, but Drew said he didn’t mean literally, although he liked her enthusiasm. He needed to eliminate Sonny’s power base and the best way to do that was build up his own at his expense. He planned to bid on some of Sidwell’s holdings when they went up for auction and he knew Sonny was also planning on doing the same thing. He planned to bid on the piers and wanted her to advise him on the rest since she and Sidwell were close. She said she thought she could guide him, and he said he knew Sonny wasn’t his only competition. Valentin Cassadine was also in the mix. She said if she could help him beat out Sonny and Valentin, he had her complete cooperation.

Curtis said he wanted to tie up as many loose ends as possible, and Michael said his plate was full, so he’d have to bring in a new CEO. Just temporarily. Of course (🍷) Curtis would be reinstated upon his release. Curtis asked if he had any candidates in mind, but Michael said he’d hoped Curtis had a suggestion. Curtis said he did – Jordan.

Ava said Drew might want to bid on some of the art pieces she’d sold Sidwell. She could help him resell them to the right buyers. He said that was exactly the kind of intel he was looking for, when Jack approached. He said Ava might want to reconsider her choice of companions, and Ava asked, why is that? He said he’d caught Drew being rude to Alexis this morning and understood he was also unkind to her friend Nina. He told Drew that it was unwise to make so many enemies, especially as a man who had so much to hide, and he left.

Willow was tossing things out of boxes, when Nina came in and asked what was going on. Willow said Kai resigned as her intern and things got a little tense, and Nina asked if she confronted him about the affidavit. Willow said, even though they didn’t see it, Kai and Trina were convinced she shot Drew, and Nina said Willow had known that since she’d overheard them at the office. She told Willow to fire Kai then. Willow said she should have listened. Not just about Kai, but about Michael too. Nina had warned her not to escalate things after Jacinda drugged her. She was so stupid. She could have used that to strike a truce, but all she could see was the possibility of having the kids to herself. Nina said it was understandable, but Willow said if she hadn’t pushed so hard, maybe Kai and Trina wouldn’t have gotten involved. But now Michael had all the power.

Jordan said, Curtis wanted her to step in for him? and he said she told him that she wanted to stay in corporate. He assumed that’s why she entertained working for Valentin. She said, as a consultant. That was a far cry from being CEO of a multinational corporation. He said he believed she could handle it, when Dez started to cry. Curtis told Michael to work on Jordan while he checked on the baby, and left. Jordan said Michael must want someone with more experience, but he said he knew she’d done good work at SRE and Curtis would rest easier knowing she was working at Aurora. Curtis trusted her and so did he. He thought she’d be a great fit, and if it was something she wanted, the position was hers.

Ric said now he didn’t know if he was making a mistake, and Sonny said he just wanted Ric to see it from Elizabeth’s side. He knew Ric loved her. Was Ric positive she loved him? Ric said he was, and Sonny said only Ric knew what was best for both of them. Ric said he and Elizabeth were committed to being open and honest with each other. If he didn’t let her know he wanted to marry her… Sonny said he’d feel like he was being dishonest, and Ric asked if that was crazy. Sonny said he wished Ric all the luck in the world and they hugged. Ric said it was a gamble, and Sonny said, what in life isn’t? Ric said Elizabeth was worth the risk.

Dante said the ten minutes were up, back to work, but Elizabeth said she wanted to do a quick exam. He said it was just a bruise or something, but she pressed on his knee asking him if it hurt there. He said, no, and she pressed another area, and he said, ow! Oh wow. She said there was swelling and she thought he should get it checked out, but he said he wasn’t going to the hospital. She asked if he would at least let her take a closer look, and he said, okay. She said, now take off your pants.

Emma said it was better for Gio’s career if it looked like he was with Trina, but Gio said he didn’t care. It wasn’t worth it to him or Trina to pretend they were a couple. She said she didn’t want to hold him back, but he said she wasn’t. The only way he’d ever achieve success was with her by his side. If it looked like anything else, he didn’t want it. They hugged.

Trina asked if Willow admitted she’d shot Drew, but Kai said she was too smart for that. He’d tried to keep Trina’s name out of it, but Willow knew she was a witness too. She said she figured when she had to sign an affidavit, but she was glad they didn’t have to keep it a secret anymore and could move on. He said he hoped she was right.

Nina said she was sorry Michael was blackmailing Willow, and Willow said, it could be worse. At least Jacinda was gone. Nina said maybe he’d back down eventually, and Willow said, until then, she had to live by his rules. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad. When she’d lived there before, she felt powerless and alone. Nina said, now she was a congresswoman, and Willow said, and this time she wasn’t completely without allies.

Ava said she’d email Drew about the art, and he said, she wasn’t going to ask him about Jack? She said she didn’t pry, but since he brought it up, she was surprised he’d let Jack speak to him that way. Drew said Jack thought he had power over him and for now he was playing along. But soon… She said, tables will turn.

Curtis asked if Jordan was going to take the job, and she said, only if she was sure it was what he really wanted. He said he trusted her. If she took the CEO job, she’d be doing him a huge favor. She said she’d do it, and Michael said he’d put together the paperwork. He’d visit Curtis as soon as he could. Good luck tomorrow. He left, and Curtis said, just knowing that Aurora was in Jordan’s capable hands would make this whole thing a lot easier for him. She said she just wished he didn’t have to go, and he said him too. They hugged.

Sonny told Donna that she’d done a great job with the invitations. He’d have Vito hand deliver them tomorrow. She said, sounds great, and hid Turner’s invitation under the table.

Ric came up Elizabeth’s walkway, and glanced in the window, seeing her and Dante in what looked like a compromising position. He walked in and said, what the hell?

Thursday:

Elizabeth told Ric, flowers down and please come here, and Ric said, or he could just leave her to it.

At Isaiah’s cabin, Portia said she’d missed being there, and him.                                                                                

As Valentin cooked, Carly said she’d missed having him as her personal chef when he was living there. And there were a few other perks. He told her, name one, but she said she’d rather show him, when Lulu burst in and asked if Valentin knew where Charlotte was.

Jason brought Britt to the boathouse and as they were about to kiss, Josslyn showed up. She asked if Jason was sure he knew who he was kissing.

At the pool, a server brought Anna a drink and said it was courtesy of that man over there. Tristan raised his glass.

Elizabeth said she’d rather Ric stay and he said, so he could watch? She said so he could give her his opinion. Did Dante’s knee warrant a hospital visit? Dante said he was too old to steal bases, and Ric said he wasn’t a doctor, but shouldn’t Dante be in the ER instead of half-naked on her couch? Elizabeth said he wasn’t going anywhere.

Tristan introduced himself and said he was a huge fan of Anna’s. She was a legend at the WSB. He was an ex-agent. She said she’d drink to that.

Portia asked how Isaiah was doing, and he said, even though the guilty verdict was justified, he wasn’t taking any victory laps. She said she felt the same. Before the trial, she just wanted Curtis to take accountability and take the plea deal. Now they were faced with the worst case scenario. Isaiah said he had to remind himself that it didn’t have to be this way, and she said Curtis was the one at fault. She thought he was accepting his fate, spending every possible moment with Desmond. Isaiah said he’d do the same. That’s why he kept his distance. He was so grateful for her and the time they spent with the baby, but felt like they were taking advantage of Curtis’s bad choices and he’d never do that. She said she knew he wouldn’t.

Leaving an AA meeting at the hospital, Alexis said she noticed Curtis didn’t share tonight, and he said he was still wrapping his brain around being separated from his infant son for what might be ten years. It seemed wrong and unfair. She said it was, but if he leaned into that, he may never come home to Dez.

Josslyn welcomed Jason home, and he said he knew she was shot. She said she was fine, but she’d gone through more than he realized thanks to Britt.

Lulu said she was concerned about Charlotte, and Valentin said he was aware that she was on her way to Egret Island with Danny in Jason’s boat. Lulu said it was dark, and he said that happened at nighttime. (Ha-ha! That’s exactly what I’d say.) She asked why he’d allowed it, and he said he trusted Charlotte. She said he was supposed to supervise her, and he said he was. He was tracking Charlotte like she was. Carly said, for what it was worth (🍷), Jason knew they had his boat and said Danny was a safe and capable driver, but Lulu said she didn’t care. She cared that Charlotte could drown. Was Valentin okay with this or did he not care as long as it didn’t interrupt his date? Carly said Lulu needed to get a life. (Geez, how does she let Charlotte go to the pool?)

Alexis told Curtis that she’d been where he was going. It was less the conditions and more about the traps he could fall in there. The sense of injustice he felt could either fuel the fire for him to reclaim his life or fuel resentment that quickly crumbled into futility if he gave into that. He’ll think he deserved relief, which was everywhere in the prison. For her, it was alcohol, for him, there were drugs.

Tristan told Anna that he was a doctor and his last assignment had been in Jakarta. He’d recently joined the staff at General Hospital. It was a well-renowned institution, and like Anna, had a storied past with the WSB. She said she was sure her name popped up a few times, and he said, her, Robert Scorpio, Sean Donnelly, Frisco Jones, the list went on. She said it was an exceptional hospital and she thought he’d fit in just fine. It would be a big change from working as a WSB operative.

Ric put the flowers on the table and said they were for Elizabeth. He’d clearly interrupted something. She asked him not to leave, and Dante said there was a bookcase in the other room that needed to be taught a lesson, but Ric said he had to go and left. Dante said he was sorry, and Elizabeth said her too.

Lulu told Carly to stay out of it, but Carly said Lulu had barged into her house and interrupted her evening. Valentin said he got that Lulu was disappointed because he’d allowed Charlotte to go out, but there was nothing he could do about it now. Lulu said he could text her to come back, but he said he wasn’t willing to do that. Lulu said she would, and Carly asked if it was about Lulu trying to control Charlotte, but Lulu said it was about her parenting. Or should she take the hands-off approach Carly did with Josslyn now that she was in the WSB? Carly was judging her and didn’t have a leg to stand on. (Um… Charlotte is 16. Josslyn is an adult.) Valentin asked if Lulu was dating. It seemed she needed something better to do with her time. Or she could take up a hobby. He thought she’d be better served by doing something other than tracking their daughter on her phone.

Josslyn said she’d been locked up for months beneath Windymere because she’d been abducted by Britt’s brother Cassius, who Britt knew was pretending to be Nathan and said nothing. Then she told him that Josslyn was WSB. Britt said she was sorry for what happened, but Josslyn said it was what Britt did to her. Britt said she didn’t know Cassius would take Josslyn prisoner. She was just trying to warn him. Josslyn said Britt knew Cassius was up to his eyeballs in whatever Cullum and Sidwell were pulling. Britt had every reason to believe Cassius would kill her. The only reason she was still breathing was because of Cassius, not Britt. (Okay, that made no sense.)

Dante said he shouldn’t have insisted on coming. Everyone knew Ric was crazy about Elizabeth and he felt bad. Elizabeth said Ric’s reaction wasn’t just about him. He would have gotten the wrong idea about a pizza delivery guy. He was insecure and had no reason to be. Dante said funny she should mention a pizza delivery guy – the doorbell rang – because he’d ordered some thinking they’d be working up a sweat with the bookcase. She suggested he put his pants back on and went to the door.

Tristan said he was a field operative for five years a long time ago, and Anna said, once an agent, always an agent. He said that’s why he left the WSB. He wasn’t constantly dealing with lies and half-truths. In a hospital, it was life and death, but at least it was honest. She said she thought he got out at just the right time, before there was nothing honest left.

Curtis said he had to figure out how to hold onto his sobriety in prison, and Alexis said he could do it. She went to the 12-step meetings there and took advantage of the community. Then she found ways to keep herself grounded and remember who she was. She gave free legal advice to the inmates and wrote letters to her family. Anything to keep her focused. He said he was afraid the only thing he could focus on was missing his children, and she said he needed to repurpose that and think about what was waiting for him on the outside. Use that to give himself strength. He said he would. He would be a model prisoner so he could secure his release at parole. She said they were all in his corner, and they hugged.

Portia told Isaiah that she had to remind herself that Curtis was up for parole in two years. Dez and Trina needed their father, and Curtis knew that. She hoped if he was released early, they could put the negativity behind them. Isaiah said, to that end, he was going to drop the civil suit.

Carly said Valentin was right, and Lulu asked what happened to family loyalty. Carly said Lulu was a wonderful, loving mother, but instead of living her own life, she was managing her children’s and pushing them away. She had to find something to focus on. Lulu said she didn’t want Carly or Valentin’s opinion. She told Valentin to make sure their daughter got home safe, and she left.

Josslyn said Jason had sacrificed so much for Britt, but at least now he knew exactly who he was dealing with. Jason said they all made choices and somebody could have been hurt by his mistakes, but Josslyn said Britt’s choices were intentional. She had one goal this entire time, to help herself. If he gave her enough time, Britt would sell him out the same way she did her. She left, and Jason asked for Britt’s side.

Carly told Valentin that she had to practice what she preached and give Josslyn space to make her own decisions, but he said the situations were different. Charlotte was hanging out with a trusted friend, while Josslyn was pursuing a career that was dangerous. She said when she was Josslyn’s age, she made decisions that set her life in motion. She had regrets, but wouldn’t change anything. He said he’d call that a success story, and she told him, who says it couldn’t happen for Josslyn?

Britt admitted she’d told Cassius that Josslyn was WSB, but she’d never knowingly set her up to be killed. Jason said he believed her. She’d saved Josslyn’s life more than once. But why protect Cassius? She said because he was her brother. He had no clue Josslyn was investigating him and was falling for her cover. Jason said Cassius had a cover himself, and she said, of course (🍷) it was horrible that he impersonated Nathan, but he’d been doing it to protect her. He was trying to help her. Jason asked if that was why she didn’t tell him who Cassius was.

Tristan asked if Anna was proud of her time with the WSB or did she regret it, but she said she didn’t do that equation anymore. She couldn’t change anything, so what was the point? When she first started it was about the Bureau’s objective. Now she got to prioritize her own, and she’d do anything in her power to make sure the people she loved were safe. Josslyn arrived, apologized for being late, and asked who Anna’s friend was.

Portia said Isaiah didn’t have to drop the civil suit. He was entitled to the money after what Curtis did. He said he knew. Maybe he’d feel differently if the prognosis wasn’t so promising, but with a little luck, he’d make a full recovery and be able to perform surgery again. The last thing he wanted to do was put her in a position of fighting with her family. The stress wasn’t good for her or Dez. It could be the first step in them finally getting some peace. She said it was the greatest gift he could give her, and he said it wasn’t just for her. It was for them. They kissed.

Elizabeth said she wished Ric would have stayed, and Dante said, obviously, his pride was hurt a little bit and they all got jealous, but she said it went deeper with Ric. He’d changed for the better, but they were taking things slowly and enjoying each other’s company. She’d started believing they could have a future. He asked if she was now thinking they couldn’t, but she said, no. She just recognized that his insecurity was always an issue for them. She hoped it didn’t get in the way of what they could be.

Lulu met Ric at the pool and asked, what was so urgent? Was it Rocco? He said the real problem was Rocco’s father. He just came from Elizabeth’s house where he got quite an eyeful. She said, of what? and he said, of Dante with his pants off. Dante and Elizabeth were getting together unless they acted now.

Jason said Britt had come clean about Sidwell and Cullum, but didn’t tell him about Cassius pretending to be Nathan. Why? She said, at the time, she thought it was highly likely she’d die from Huntington’s. His secret was going to die with her. He asked if she was sure Cassius didn’t know Cullum was giving her placebos, and she said, yes. Cassius wasn’t a monster. They both did bad things, but Cassius wasn’t cruel, and if she’d told Jason the truth, he would have intervened. He said he wouldn’t have allowed Cassius to continue pretending to be Nathan, and she said so she did what she did best. She lied to everyone to protect herself. She didn’t think he was going to hurt anyone. That was her mistake and if it was a mistake that was unforgiveable, she’d understand.

Isaiah said Portia was still recovering and he didn’t want to push things, but she said Britt told her that she was fully recovered. She kissed him and he asked if she was sure, and she said she was. And if he stopped her again, she was leaving. He said they couldn’t have that, and they got busy.

Lulu said, so Ric was telling her that Elizabeth was checking Dante’s knee to see how badly he was injured? What were they going to do? Ric said it wasn’t funny, but she said it was a little bit, because Elizabeth was a nurse and he’d said Dante was wearing compression shorts. It wasn’t exactly Dante’s sexiest look. He said he saw what he saw, and she said, it sounds like nothing. He said maybe it was – this time – but next time… There was a growing connection between the two of them, and if they didn’t break it, he and Lulu would lose the loves of their lives.

Elizabeth said Dante didn’t need to listen to her whine about Ric, but he said she’d spent months listening to him talk about Rocco. She said she was happy to listen, and he said he was too. He wanted it to be a two-way street. She said, in that case, let her fill up his glass, and she poured Dante some wine.

Anna introduced Tristan to Josslyn and said the three of them had something in common. Josslyn was a WSB agent and the doctor was an agent until this summer. Tristan said he’d heard about Josslyn. He’d gotten intel about an operation that took place on Spoon Island. She was the hero of that op, and from what he heard, her star was rising in the Bureau.

Basking in the afterglow, Portia told Isaiah it was perfect. Everything outside these walls was so tragic, but right there, right now, she couldn’t be happier. They got busy again.

Curtis thanked Alexis for talking to him, and she said she wasn’t sure he’d talk to her because she’d turned him down when he’d asked her to represent him. He said she had her reasons and he respected that. Besides he was the one who decided to take his case to trial. He had to accept the consequences and move forward. She said she was proud of him, but he told her, save it for two years from now. She said she had plenty of it to go around. One day at a time. That’s all he had to do to get through this sentence and get home to his family. One day, one minute, one second. Whatever it takes. It wasn’t new advice, but it was solid. He said he’d take it and left.

Lulu said she knew Ric was scared of losing Elizabeth, but coming up with crazy theories about her and Dante would just push her away. He asked if he was supposed to do nothing, but she said she thought he should trust Elizabeth. Did he think Elizabeth would be with him if she didn’t want to? He said, no, but what if she didn’t realize yet that she wanted to be with somebody else?

Elizabeth said, hopefully, Ric would see he had nothing to worry about and this would blow over, and Dante asked, what if he didn’t? She said she guessed that meant they weren’t supposed to be together, but it wasn’t what she wanted. He said, give Ric a chance to come around. He knew Ric didn’t want to lose a good thing and she was that good thing. He raised his glass and said, to it all working out. She said, hear, hear, and they clinked glasses.

Valentin said he had a confession to make, and Carly asked if she should be worried. He said, no, but if she told Lulu, he’d deny it. It was relatively easy knowing Charlotte was out with a trusted friend, but it was difficult knowing there were things he wanted and didn’t want for her life and knowing those were her choices to make. Hopefully, she’d be able to live with those choices. In six years, when Charlotte was the age Josslyn was now, he’d need Carly to remind him of her wisdom. She asked if he thought they’d be in each other’s lives in six years, and he said if he had his way. She said, in general or with her? and he said, both. She said she looked forward to that and kissed him.

Tristan apologized and said he was just trying to pay Josslyn a compliment, but she said he was fine. He said he knew the situation all too well. His advice was to just focus on what went right. What good she did. It tended to take the sting out of everything else. He said it was nice meeting them and left, and Anna said he was right. Whenever possible, just look for the good. What Josslyn didn’t want to do was lose herself. Never give herself so fully to a mission that she was unable to find her way back.

Britt said Jason loved Josslyn. She was like a daughter to him. She wasn’t wrong. Cassius could have killed her. But he didn’t. In her opinion, it was proof that there was more good than bad in her brother. It might not make a difference to Josslyn, but it made a huge difference to her. Jason said he didn’t regret trying to help her get out from under Cullum and Sidwell’s control. Please, just no more lies. This had to be it. Was that the end of it? She said there was nothing else, and he said, good. She thanked him for believing in her, and he said he wanted this. He wanted them. She said so did she, more than anything, and they embraced.

🌞 Summer Friday…

Portia asked Trina to watch Desmond while she was out, and Trina asked if she didn’t want to stay, since Curtis was coming by before he left. Portia said she knew. That’s why she made other plans. She thought the kindest thing she could do for Curtis was not be there. It was going to be hard enough as it was.

Curtis got out of bed and said he couldn’t put it off any longer, but Jordan said she wasn’t letting him go. They got busy, and there was a song part.

Laura thanked Rocco and said all he had to do was stop by her apartment a few times a week, pick up the mail, water her plants, take a quick look around, and make sure everything was okay. She’d leave a set of instructions for everything on the fridge. Rocco said she didn’t have to pay him, but she said she wanted to. He was giving her peace of mind so she could enjoy her trip with Doc and Ace. He thanked her and said it was probably good to make some extra money anyway, in case Drew had his hours changed at the pool. He was worried Drew would find out he was secretly hanging out with Scout.

Danny went into the boathouse and said he’d gotten Scout’s text. Was something wrong? She said, no. She just wanted to hang out with her brother. He asked if her dad knew, and she said, of course (🍷) not. He said, maybe it wasn’t such a good idea.

Ava sat at a table by the pool sipping a drink, when Drew came along. She said, no cane, and he said, no need. Physical therapy had been brutal, but worth it. He asked if the other seat at the table was taken, and she said, not yet, but she was waiting for someone. He said he’d keep her company while she waited and sat down. He got the list of artwork she sent and had some thoughts. She said she’d be happy to hear them some other time, but right now, he had to make himself scarce. She was dining with one of his sworn enemies. He asked if he should take a guess, but she said the list was so long, they didn’t have the time.

Pentenville Prison. Sidwell came into the visitor’s area and saw Sonny waiting. He said he knew it was only a matter of time before Sonny showed up, and Sonny said it was good to see him again. Beige was not his color. (No orange as the new black here.)

Danny said he was worried Scout’s dad would find out and she’d get in trouble, but she said, don’t be. If someone told him, she’d just saying she was training for her open swim. He asked if she was okay lying, and she said she didn’t love it, but her dad gave her no choice. Danny said he hated this. Her dad was being ridiculous. He was basically keeping her prisoner and was a total psycho. She said don’t talk about her dad like that, and walked out.

Laura asked if Drew told Scout not to see Rocco specifically, and Rocco said, not yet, but if he knew they were meeting up, he might have a problem with it. She said, because he was Sonny’s grandson, and he said, yeah. She didn’t think it was bad that they were meeting behind Drew’s back? She said, normally, she wouldn’t be thrilled about it, but these were extenuating circumstances and it wasn’t like he was going directly against Drew’s wishes, so she thought it was okay. He said he was mostly trying to stay off Drew’s radar so Drew didn’t think about him at all, and she said that was smart, but if Drew did forbid Scout from seeing him, don’t defy him. This is a very vindictive man.

Ava said she was having breakfast with Portia and she was aware that Portia and Drew despised each other, so it was time for him to hit the bricks. He asked if she minded if he stuck around and just talked to Portia, and she said she was happy to team up with him against Sonny. She was looking forward to it actually. But she couldn’t let it interfere with her friendship with Portia or her relationship with Trina. She would choose them over Drew every day. He said she should, but he thought she was misunderstanding his intention. He wanted to apologize to Portia. He was trying to make amends to as many people as he could. He wanted to focus his attention on a select few of his enemies and that didn’t include Portia.

Basking in the afterglow, Curtis said he was going to hold this memory and every memory close to his heart for the next two years, and Jordan said she was worried about him. He said, don’t be. Alexis had advised him to take it one day at a time and that’s what he was going to do. Just knowing he had her and his kids waiting for him at the end of this nightmare would help him through it. She said they’d be there the second he was released to pick him up, and he said he was counting on it. She asked what time he wanted her to take him to Pentenville, and he asked if she didn’t have a meeting with Michael. She said she could reschedule, but he suggested going with her to Aurora. She could keep her meeting and he could go say goodbye to his kids. Because if she was with him, he didn’t know how he could tear himself away.

Danny told Scout that he was sorry. He was just frustrated. He shouldn’t have to sneak around to see his sister, but he shouldn’t have insulted her dad like that. She said she was sorry too. She knew her dad hadn’t been fair to him and she hated it, but he was still her dad and she loved him. She just felt so stuck in the middle. Danny said, from now on, he’d do his best not to make her feel stuck, and she thanked him. He suggested she start her swim and then they could play video games or whatever she wanted to do, and she said video games sounded great. She’d be quick. Maybe she’d set a new record. He said he’d stay there and keep an eye on her in case she got a cramp. He wouldn’t want her to drown. She said, even with a cramp, she was a much better swimmer than him, and dove in the water.

Jordan and Curtis arrived at Michael’s office, and Curtis said he was hoping to have time to get Jordan acclimated, but Michael said he’d get Jordan up to speed. He respected how committed Curtis was to Aurora’s success, but work was the last thing he wanted Curtis thinking about while he was gone. Trust that he and Jordan could handle this. Curtis said he trusted them both and knew the company was in good hands, and Michael said, if he needed anything at all, don’t hesitate to reach out. He’d do what he could to make sure Curtis got it. Curtis said he’d proved to be a true friend and thanked him, and Jordan said she’d walk Curtis out. Outside the office, Jordan cried and said she didn’t know how to say goodbye. Curtis said, then don’t, and kissed her. He said he loved her, and she said she loved him too. He left and she cried some more.

Ava said Drew was almost inspiring, but he said he wasn’t playing nice with everyone. She said, of course (🍷) not. You’ve gotten better physically, but you’re still you. What about Jack Brennan? Which list was he on? Drew said Jack was on his minor annoyance list, but his real focus was on Sonny, and she said Sonny was an extremely tough adversary. Getting to him would require Drew’s full attention. He said that’s why his alliance with her was so important. Together, they could take Sonny down. She said, cheers to that.

Sidwell said seeing him like this must give Sonny enormous satisfaction, and Sonny said he didn’t want to seem like he was gloating, but yes. Believe it or not, he would have preferred a different outcome to their conflict. Sidwell said, possibly a bullet to the head, maybe two, and Sonny told him, you said it, not me. Sidwell said they both know what Sonny would have done if that lovely ADA Turner hadn’t stopped him. She obviously had more sway with Sonny than he’d thought.

Lulu went to Laura’s office and asked how excited she was to see Doc and Ace, and Laura said she couldn’t wait. They videochatted, but it wasn’t the same. She and Doc had been apart six months. Lulu said she didn’t know how they did it, and Laura said it had been horrible. The trip would be wonderful, but she couldn’t wait until they could be a family again. She wanted her husband beside her and missed him more than she could say. (Good luck with that since he’s now on the opening credits of Beyond the Gates.)

Charlotte joined Danny at the boathouse and said his sister was fast, and he said Scout really loved being in the water. The situation with her dad was really starting to get to her. She felt like she was stuck between her dad and their family, and it was starting to stress her out. Charlotte said, all the more reason to come up with something to force Drew’s hand, and he said it had to be something bad enough where Drew would do anything to keep it quiet. She said, and believable enough that it didn’t seem made up. What kind of stuff got Drew into trouble in the past? He said, the guy can’t keep it in his pants. He slept with Willow when she was married to Michael, and he heard Drew also slept with Willow’s mom. Then when he and Willow got together, he got caught getting high with a hooker. She said, gross. Maybe they could frame Drew for a similar kind of scandal. Rocco approached and asked why they were trying to frame Drew.

Portia arrived at the pool and said, what an unpleasant surprise, and Drew told her not to be mad at Ava. He’d begged Ava to let him stay so he could talk to her. Ava said she knew how Portia felt about Drew, but why didn’t she just hear him out? and Portia said, fine. Make it quick. Drew thanked her and said he deeply regretted how he’d treated her in the past. He’d made her life a living hell and wanted her to know how sorry he was for it. He wanted to start fresh with a number of people, her and Curtis included. Portia said that was unexpected. Why the sudden change of heart? He said he was in a wheelchair for months, trapped inside his own body with nothing to do but reflect and reevaluate his own actions and now saw how horrible they were. She said she had no idea whether he was sincere or not. Even if he was, she didn’t know if she was ready to forgive him. She had a lot going on in her life right now and wasn’t interested in continuing any feud with him. How about if they just stayed out of each other’s way? He said that worked with him and thanked her. He thanked Ava for letting him crash her breakfast date. He’d give her a call to strategize the auction. He left.

Jordan told Michael that she was sorry. It wasn’t a very professional way to start her tenure as CEO. He said, don’t worry about it. It was a very difficult situation, and if she didn’t react this way, he’d think there was something wrong with her. She thanked him for being such a kind boss and giving her this chance. It was something concrete she could do for Curtis while he was gone. Michael said he was glad they could give Curtis peace of mind, but he wouldn’t have hired her if he didn’t think she was the right person for the job. He saw what she was able to accomplish at SRE Worldwide, despite her boss’s reputation. The results spoke for themselves. She said she’d always despise Sidwell and was glad he was finally paying for his crimes… some of them anyway. But working for him helped her discover how much she enjoyed the corporate world. Michael said, at least he did one good thing.

Sonny said he wasn’t going to kill Sidwell in front of the ADA because she’d made it clear she wasn’t going to cover for him, and Sidwell said, even though Sonny had just saved her life. Now she had a conflict of interest if she had a chance to prosecute him. She must be so disappointed. Sonny said she’d have to be satisfied with her big win against him, and Sidwell said his incompetent lawyers insisted he take the plea deal, but he should have taken his chances in court. Sonny said, he would have been convicted. The jury would have seen what everybody else sees. Sidwell wasn’t a victim. He did this to himself. Sidwell said his son was dead, and Sonny said Sidwell nearly killed his son with a firebomb, but Sidwell said, that was all Cullum. Sonny said Sidwell was going to blame it on the dead guy? That was classy, but it didn’t matter. He was partners with Cullum and that made him just as culpable. Sidwell said Sonny had gotten his pound of flesh. He didn’t know what else he could give him. He’d be locked up in there for some time. Unless of course (🍷) Sonny tried to cut his sentence short. Accidents happened all the time in places like this. Maybe Sonny had arranged one for him. Sonny said he didn’t foresee any accidents in Sidwell’s future. He’d be content knowing Sidwell was rotting away while his life got stripped for parts. Sidwell said he’d heard about the auction. He supposed Sonny was thinking of reclaiming his piers. Sonny said he was thinking of taking some of Sidwell’s key holdings if they fit. He was making changes to his business operations to make sure they complied with the law. Sidwell laughed and said that’s because they’d always been a priority for Sonny. He thought he was going legit? Sonny said he’d discovered a new way of doing things thanks to Sidwell, and Sidwell said, good for him.

Danny said Drew wouldn’t let him and Scout see each other and it was starting to get to her, and Charlotte said the only way to get Drew to change his mind was making it look like he’d done something terrible and using it to blackmail him. Rocco said he got that Danny wanted to help his sister, but their plan could go wrong in so many ways. They were better off playing nice with Drew. Danny said he’d tried that and it hadn’t worked. It only made things worse. Rocco said he knew it was hard for Danny, but for once in his life, just be patient. If Drew saw how hard it was for Scout keeping her from her family, he might eventually give in. But if he tried to blackmail Drew, Drew would just hate him even more. Charlotte said she thought Rocco was right.

Ava said that felt like an ambush and she was sorry, but Portia said it was fine. She could handle Drew. Ava said, for what it was worth (🍷), he seemed sincere, and Portia asked what was going on with them. They barely knew each other and now they were strategizing together. Ava said she and Drew recently discovered they had something in common. Namely, an adversarial relationship with Sonny. Portia said, be careful with him. Behind that smile, he’s a snake. She couldn’t trust him. Ava said she knew, but she and Sonny were always on the verge of open warfare over Avery. It was stressful and exhausting and she just needed an ally. Portia said it was hard being at odds with the father of your child. She wished things hadn’t gotten so ugly between her and Curtis. Ava said, today was the day he went to prison, right? and Portia said that was part of the reason she’d called Ava. She needed Ava’s help.

At Portia’s house, Curtis asked where Trina’s mom was, and Trina said she wasn’t there. She’d wanted to give them some privacy. He said he appreciated that, and she asked how he was holding up. He said, in a weird way, he was anxious to get this sentence started. The sooner it started, the sooner he could get it over with and be home with his family. She promised to look after Dez while he was gone, and he said he wanted her to spend as much time with Dez as possible, but wanted her to make sure to keep on living her life. This was not her responsibility. Portia was a great mom and he completely trusted her ability to raise their son. Trina said she was surprised to hear that, and he said he and her mom had their issues, but she’d done a wonderful job of raising Trina. Trina was smart, kind, and cared about other people. He couldn’t be more proud of the person she’d become. Under Portia’s watch, he was 100% confident that Dez would turn out to be just as wonderful as his big sister.

Michael said he knew he and Jordan’s situations were different, but they’d both been through things that left them with physical and emotional scars. So if she ever needed to vent, he was there. She said he may be sorry he offered, but he was already helping. Giving her the opportunity of throwing herself into the CEO position was exactly what she needed. She couldn’t wait to get started. Drew walked in and said that was great news. Congratulations.

Laura told Lulu that it was different from her other two marriages. It was special in its own way. Lulu said Laura was lucky. Most people just got one great love in their lifetime. She got two. Laura said she was grateful for that, but it could happen for Lulu too, and Lulu said she didn’t know about that. She thought for a little while that she had something special with… Nathan. She was clearly way off base there. Laura said it wasn’t her fault, and Lulu said sometimes she thought Dante was it. Laura asked if she was saying she still had feelings for him.

Charlotte said, if they tried to mess with Drew, he wouldn’t take it lying down. He’d find a way to get back at them. Rocco said, he absolutely would, and Danny said he knew it was risky, but he wasn’t going to abandon his sister, especially when she was hurting. Charlotte said, think about it another way. If Scout ever found out he tried to blackmail her dad, she might never forgive him. Change the subject. Scout’s coming back. She knew Rocco was still mad about this, but could he please not say anything? Rocco asked if Danny was going to drop this crazy idea, and Danny said, yeah. Scout came up on the deck, and Rocco said he’d gotten her text. Did she still want to hang out? Scout said, yeah. She’d just get some water and they could all play video games. Rocco went with her, and Danny said he was surprised Rocco got Charlotte to change her mind. She said, please. She just let him think he did.

Michael asked what Drew was doing there, and Drew said he had an idea that he wanted to run by Curtis, but it looked like Jordan was in charge now. Jordan said, just until Curtis came back, and Drew said she was the person he’d like to make his pitch to. As a major shareholder, he’d like to be more involved with Aurora. Maybe just as an advisory role. Michael said, not a chance, and Drew said he knew they had personal differences, but he’d like to put those aside for the sake of the company. Michael said Aurora didn’t need Drew, and Drew said he disagreed. Michael said, either way, it didn’t matter, because he didn’t trust Drew. Drew said he didn’t blame Michael, but he’d had a second shot at life and was hoping they could have a fresh start. Especially considering they were both screwed over by the same conniving individual. Michael said, don’t expect any sympathy from me. Drew got exactly what he deserved. As for Aurora, he was the controlling shareholder and wouldn’t allow Drew to have any say over anything that happened in the company, not even the bathroom wallpaper. Jordan said she didn’t want to overstep her bounds, but she thought he should reconsider.

Portia said she’d appreciate it if Ava kept an eye on Trina for her. She had Kai, but she felt like Trina could use all the support she could get. Ava took Portia’s hand and said she didn’t even have to ask. Portia knew how much she cared about Trina. Portia said she was glad Trina had Ava to lean on, and Ava said she always would. Just so she knew, Portia could always lean on her too.

Curtis held Desmond and said, hey, little man. Your daddy loves you. I’m going to think about you and your sister every day I’m gone. I’m sorry that I won’t be with you, but I know your mom, she will send pictures. Trina said he’d have more than pictures. She was going to bring Dez to see him as often as possible. He said he wasn’t sure that was a good idea. It could be traumatizing for both of them. Trina sat next to them and said, Dez was so young, he wouldn’t even know what was going on. He’d just hear Curtis’s voice and see his face and be happy. The rest wouldn’t even matter. He said how she felt mattered too, and she said she was old enough to handle it. Plus, seeing him will make her happy. He asked if she was sure, and she said he was their father. They needed him and he needed them. Curtis said he did. He’d better get going. Trina said they’d walk him out and took Dez. He said that wouldn’t be necessary. He thought it would be easier this way. He kissed them and said he loved them both more than life itself, and she said, bye, daddy. We love you. We’ll miss you. He took a last look and left.

 Lulu told Laura that she loved Dante with all her heart and they’d gotten to a pretty decent place co-parenting Rocco. But that relationship was over and she wasn’t interested in revisiting it, despite what other people might think. Laura asked what that meant, and Lulu said she had her shot at love and that might be it for her. Laura said, absolutely not. Don’t you dare give up hope like that. Lulu had just been through something horrible, but she knew love hadn’t given up on Lulu.

Charlotte said she only agreed with Rocco so he would back off. She didn’t want to put him in a position where he had to lie. Same with Scout. It would be better if they kept her in the dark too. Danny said, no problem. The two of them could find something to use against Drew. She said it had to be even worse than him getting caught with the sex worker.

Sidwell said he didn’t think Sonny would ever go straight, and Sonny said he was sure a lot of people felt that way, but he preferred the view from the outside of these walls. And beige wasn’t his color. He’d see Sidwell later. Sidwell said he didn’t fault Sonny for thinking he’d won, but it wasn’t over. Sonny said it looked over to him. And Sidwell shouldn’t have such a bad attitude, because a bad attitude in there was no good. He left.

Michael asked if Jordan really thought Drew should have an active role in the company, and she said, setting aside any personal issues, Drew was a good businessman, and he was right. He knew Aurora inside and out. She believed it was worth giving him a shot. (No pun intended, I’m sure.) Michael said she was the CEO, and if that was her decision, he deferred to her. She thanked him and told Drew that she’d be in touch about what his participation might look like. Drew said he’d love to have some office space… and she said she’d think about it, and he said, fair enough. He thanked them both, promising they wouldn’t regret this, and left. Michael asked if Jordan really thought she could trust the guy, but she said, absolutely not. It’s like that expression, keep your friends close and your enemies closer. He told her that he’d say they had the right person for the job.

Trina sang a song about saying goodbye to Dez as she walked around the room, holding him in her arms. We saw Curtis check into Pentenville as she sang, giving them his belongings, and being fingerprinted and photographed. He changed into his prison uniform, looking better in beige than Sidwell. He went into his cell and the guard locked it. He sat on his cot alone.

On Monday, Brook asks Hudson what he’s doing all the way out there; Willow says she doesn’t think Tracy has any idea what she’s capable of; Anna asks who is going to take over in Laura’s absence; and Valentin tells Carly that the idea was his and his alone.

🧼 All the Soap News Fit To Print…

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, new Michael is better than old Michael. He’s just more Michael-y. When he filled in before, I thought, this was the guy who should be playing Michael. Wish granted.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/general-hospital-chad-duell-reveals-he-didnt-expect-michael-to-be-recast

Wow. It literally sounds like something out of GH. Life imitating art. So glad to hear there was a happy ending.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/general-hospitals-sawandi-wilson-gives-update-on-new-daughter-after-harrowing-birth

Considering the low level of actual mob activity in Port Charles, Sonny might as well be just a coffee importer.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/general-hospital-fans-weigh-in-on-the-future-of-port-charles-mob

I don’t imagine he’s intimidated by much.

https://ew.com/the-pitt-star-jeff-kober-replaced-2-actors-on-24-intimidated-by-kiefer-sutherland-12064222

💉 A Dose Of Reality…

Below Deck Mediterranean

In Eyebrows Joe’s interview, he said Max was going to help him prove self as bosun. In Cooper’s interview, he said he thought Max was dope. In Max’s interview, he said he was still disappointed that he hadn’t been made lead deckhand. Kat and Cooper continued hiding their relationship from the other crew members, and Luke continued to text Joy. In his interview, Joe said he was going to do a better job than Nathan could ever do. The new charter came on board, and immediately wanted cheeseburgers and shrimp. Joy said if she made them a meal, it would interfere with her dinner prep, but she couldn’t leave the guests hangry. Captain Sandy continued to look for a new deckhand for the next charter. The current or whatever began to drag the boat toward shallow water, and captain said the deckhands had to get all the toys in and they had to get moving. In Joe’s interview, he said if they didn’t get it done in time, it would be the end of the season, but they did and it wasn’t. Norma got the captain a deckhand, and the guests had dinner with an outer space Pride theme. There was a bunch of stuff about avocado, then no avocado, and the same with the watermelon, and Kat kept messing it up. When the guests wanted more shrimp, they had to be told they’d eaten it all, and in Joy’s interview, she said she felt embarrassed, like she was the worst chef in the world. Kat said she wasn’t far behind. Joe griped endlessly about Nathan, and Max said it was a plot twist. Kay led the guests through an historical tour on shore, while Cooper fixed the tender as it started smoking on their way there. Cooper seems like an okay guy, but something about him rubs me the wrong way. In his interview, Joe said he was better than Nathan and thought Cooper felt it. Nathan texted Max and said he knew Joe was in Max’s ear, but if Max had his back, he’d make him lead deckhand. The main takeaway point was, this show makes me want to eat.

While the guests might have been demanding, there’s no excuse for this.

The Valley – Reunion Part 3

I was pretty sure Brittany was going to pop out of the top of her dress, but thankfully, that didn’t happen. Apparently, there was an afterparty post Jasmine and Melissa’s wedding, and Nia asked Jesse to fetch Danny when he disappeared. He was located at the bar watching the game and drinking sans shoes, not happy to be hustled back to his room. Nia made excuses, and Brittany said the way Nia protected Danny was like how she’d protected Jax, and there was more talk about Danny’s drinking. Zzzz… I admit to dipping in and out of this episode, since I really don’t like most of the cast. Danny claimed bad moments like that were rare, but Andy just wasn’t having it and said his bad moments had been consistent on the show. Danny whined that Jax had created a false narrative about him and called people, but Lala said Jax wasn’t there and wasn’t the problem. Andy said he loved Zack’s resolve to go out after getting whacked in the head by the street sign, and Zack said it had been his birthday and he wasn’t missing it. Janet having been sexually assaulted when she was young was talked about, and Kristen apologized for her lack of support. Brittany said watching what Kristen had said about her drinking was worse than when it actually happened, and we flashed back to Jax screeching about it. Andy said Brittany’s Halloween party turned into an all-out bloodbath, and there was a whole thing about Michelle and Jesse introducing other partners to their daughter. We heard about Melissa and Jasmine’s wedding, and that children were on the horizon next. At the end, champagne was brought out (apple juice for Lala), and Jesse made a toast.  

Next Gen NYC

It was Friendsgiving time, and Gia went over the list of who was bringing what. Ariana and Liam were bringing carrots, and in Hudson’s interview, he said, in his opinion, if you were cooking together, you were sleeping together. What kind of convoluted deduction is that? Liam invited Ariana to his family’s Thanksgiving dinner, and in Ava’s interview, she said no one had boundaries anymore. Omar and Charlie met, and in his interview, Hudson said he thought Charlie was the most malicious person he’d ever met. He wanted to manipulate Charlie before Charlie manipulated him and Ariana. Rowan said, Brook don’t cook, but Brook still tried to help her make squash soup. We saw everyone’s attempts at cooking, and Emira made her grandmother’s pecan pie. In Ariana’s interview, she said she’d be drinking. She was off probation and coming back hard. She’ll be going back hard if she gets another DUI. At the Friendsgiving dinner, they drew names and said why they were thankful for that person, and in Georgia’s interview, she said she thought everyone was a little d*ck sucky. Ariana said she appreciated Charlie’s douchey-ness, and Georgia said not liking pie was her only flaw. In Charlie’s interview, he said Liam was good rebound material for Ariana, and in Liam’s interview, he said he didn’t really know Charlie, but if it looked like a duck… He didn’t know the whole saying, but the duck was a d*ck. Ava moved into her new apartment and said only women and gays were allowed in it. The news came out that Kandi and Todd were divorcing, and Riley said she’d known Todd her whole life. Now she’d have to deal with not only the divorce, but public opinion and questions. We flashed back to his and Kandi’s wedding where he gave Riley a ring too. Emira told us how everyone spent Thanksgiving, and we saw Georgia walking in the Macy’s parade. Ava had gone $2000 over her moving budget, and her mom had to explain that you have to pay back what you’d borrowed on credit cards. Unreal. Liam invited the group to go skiing at his house in Windham, and in Emira’s interview, she said Charlie wanted to push the boundaries and Ariana didn’t, but didn’t stop him either.

https://www.primetimer.com/features/next-gen-nyc-season-2-episode-9-recap-the-group-gathers-for-friendsgiving-leading-to-a-few-dramatic-moments

https://pagesix.com/video/next-gen-recap-riley-shocked-by-kandi-todd-divorce-ava-exposes-arianas-fling-with-charlie

Real Housewives Of London

UK Juliet invited the group to Glenapp Castle in Scotland where she’s an investor. Karen’s sister passed away, and Amanda had a visit with Dorinda Medley (OG – RHONY), who she said was an inspiration to her. The group took a private jet to Scotland and we learned that Eisenhower had stayed at a castle up the road to plan D-Day. They played games like Distillery Dash, where the women raced wheelbarrows through weave poles while wearing a kilts over their clothes. I have no idea how any of that applies to a distillery. At dinner, Amanda got into it with US Juliet again, calling her a pea brain and a stupid idiot. In US Juliet’s interview, she said Amanda’s last job had been a catalog model, then she created her own job by getting the men’s money she was married to. Nessie finally yelled at them to stop, but Amanda just got more insulting. In Nessie’s interview, she said she couldn’t believe Amanda was doubling down. I can’t believe they all just sit there and watch this woman act that ridiculous. The next day they dabbled in falconry, and US Juliet and Amanda buried the hatchet, but who knows for how long. A bagpiper recited Robert Burns’ Address to a Haggis. Why Burns wrote this, I’ll never know. Haggis is like the SPAM of Scotland. They did some Scottish line/square dancing, and Nessie toasted to them ending on a positive note – long may it last. Wow. She expects a lot.

Real Housewives Of Orange County

The women went to the Grand Canyon, and Shannon brought a scooter for Vicki, who immediately crashed into her. Jenn took a Valentino bag from Shannon in exchange for changing rooms, but Shannon borrowed it back since she could only take the green bag to the Grand Canyon. There was no explanation for that, but somehow I understood. In Vicki’s interview, she said she thought something was wrong with Carmella and no one else saw it. At the Canyon, they went out on the Sky Walk, which is a U-shaped walkway where you can look down into the abyss. Emily said she felt like her vagina was going to fall off, but I’d feel like my whole self was going to fall off. Some workers brought out champagne and it all looked like great fun. Afterwards, they watched a tribal dance by Native Americans from the area, then ziplined over the Canyon. In Jenn’s interview, she said she thought she blacked out, but from the parts she remembered, she enjoyed it. Emily asked if Jenn could maybe speak to Shannon about her tantrums. At the end of the day, she’d been angry because Fancy Pants Heather got the better room. Jenn and Emily told Shannon that she needed to talk to Fancy Pants, and to her credit, she did. She told Fancy Pants that it wasn’t about the room, but that the decision had been made without including her, and Fancy Pants gave her a non-apology apology. The women went gambling and we found out that Shannon loved blackjack. Not something I would have guessed. At dinner, Vicki decided to give Carmella an earful about her parenting, saying she’d left her kids to come there, and all the while Fancy Pants was going, no, no, no, don’t do it. Carmella seemed dumbfounded, and Vicki finally scootered off. In Carmella’s interview, she said, f*** that bitch and her scooter. While I only have four-legged children, and it’s unlikely anyone would talk smack about my dog parenting, even I understand this topic is a huge no. Gina was excited about them going to a club, sans Vicki, and in her interview, she said she’d been a club rat. She also said that when they were in the car on their way there, Vicki had told them repeatedly not to engage with Carmella or get to know her. In Vicki’s interview, she said you had to vet people, and cited her experiences with her exes. So she basically admitted she’s projecting. As Vicki scooted down the hotel hallway, I expected those twins from The Shining to come out and ask if she wanted to play with them. The next day, the group went on the Heather Dubrow Scavenger Hunt, which actually looked kind of fun. In Gina’s interview, she said they’d probably be looking for money, diamonds, and Chanel bags. The women were to walk down Fremont Street, an entertainment district, do five of the things from a list, then choose a person to zipline to the finish. Fancy Pants gave them all fancy sashes with their stripper names on them, and they were off. Against all odds, Vicki won for her team against Shannon, but they were very close. Gina arranged for a Cartzilla to take them back, and it’s just what you’d imagine, a giant cart with a driver. Vicki apologized to Carmella, and in her interview, she said she wanted all the ladies to stop yapping in her ears. She’d apologize and see where it went. Carmella was thrilled that Danny had really stepped up to take care of her kids while she was gone, and Fancy Pants told Shannon that she’d never been with someone who deserved her. They toasted to showgirls forever. This was probably one of the best Housewives episodes I’ve seen lately. It was actually fun from start to finish, despite Vicki’s outburst.

Random Reality Items

Very messy and disappointing.

In and out, but was never really in.

What’s the matter? Cleveland not good enough? Hey, I heard that.

Her good angel won for once.

Ultimate Girls Trip Roaring 20^th

While I’m not exactly recapping this, it’s an interesting show as the core group is going to all of their cities, meeting up with the other cast members there and honoring iconic moments. Last week was the OC, and this week it was Beverly Hills. Kyle got text from Mauricio on their 30^th anniversary, causing her to weep and wax nostalgic. She recovered and hosted an old Hollywood glam PJ party. In her interview, Porsha (RHOA) said Vicki’s love language was clients, once again surprising me in how much I’ve come to like her. When we met Porsha, she thought the Underground Railroad was an actual railroad, but she’s come a long way. There was an Ugly Leather Pants Party, where Vicki mistook Crystal for Sutton and they played a game of Let the Mouse Go, following clues to a pair of $25K sunglasses and ultimately a caged human in a mouse costume.

https://pagesix.com/video/rhugt-recap-kyle-confronts-gizelle-over-suggestive-mauricio-comments-luann-calls-out-vicki

https://www.bravotv.com/the-daily-dish/every-party-recreated-on-rhugt-season-6

👀 Last Weekend’s Watch…

Black Knight. Netflix. I am drawn to a dystopian future like bees to a flower, and if it’s a Korean effort, even better. To put the cherry on my k-cake, one of the cast members of this series is Song Seung-heon, who starred in my all-time favorite k-drama, Black. But this time he isn’t a hot grim reaper who longs to be human, but a hot, corrupt head of a corporation. It’s 2071 and most of humanity has been wiped out by a comet crashing to Earth. Those left must deal with air so polluted, it’s visible, and drought, the earth now being a vast wasteland. As always, there are the haves and have nots. The wealthy live a wonderful life and literally breathe easy, while the poor have to contend with everything from famine to groups of scavengers. The Knights are deliverymen who bring supplies to the poor people, and a man known as 5-8 is their leader. To make his job even harder, he’s trying to uncover what’s going on with the megacorporation controlling the narrative. I’ve only watched a couple episodes, but so far, so good. The story and acting are solid, the special effects aren’t bad, and the fight scenes are excellent. Perhaps not at the top of my list, but certainly not at the bottom. I have to mention that it was the first time I ever noticed product placement. A can of Coke has never changed hands so slowly.

https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/black-knight-cast-guide

Elysium. Netflix. Not a new film (2013), but new to Netflix, I didn’t hate this film, but there were places where I thought it was lacking. In 2154, Earth is a mess, overpopulation, pollution, and poverty abounding, but the wealthy have separated themselves, this time in a space station called Elysium. Elysium is especially desirable because they have a device that can cure anything. Since merely living a perfect life isn’t good enough for her, the Defense Secretary – Jodi Foster doing her best standard American speech voice – is planning a coup to take over. She thinks the people on earth are the scum of it, and they keep trying to sneak onto the station. On Earth, Protagonist Max has run into an old childhood friend, Frey, whose daughter is in desperate need of medical care, and he vows to get them to Elysium. Perhaps this could be seen as a statement on the ridiculous cost of healthcare today since the disparities aren’t far off. The acting was good, the story adequately interesting, and I couldn’t argue with the special effects, but I would have liked a little more Elysium and a little less of the poverty on earth.

https://www.polygon.com/matt-damon-elysium-netflix-august-2026

https://mbh4h.substack.com/p/elysium-movie-ai-ethics-healthcare-trillionaires

Saccharine. Shudder/AMC+. Another in the line of body horror films, this one focuses on a medical student with body image issues. After getting a diet pill on the black market that’s too much for her budget, she analyzes it and finds out it contains human ashes. Since she has access to dead bodies, she decides to make her own, and it works like a charm. Unfortunately, one of the side effects is being haunted by the specter of the dead she’s eaten, and along with it, sleep binge eating. It’s both an effective and disgusting film, and a great commentary on the GLP-1 culture of today… if you can stomach it. Pun intended. I’m guessing women will identify and men will just wonder, WTF?

https://certifiedforgotten.com/saccharine-review

Normal. HBO/MAX. Ulysses is the interim sheriff of Normal, Minnesota, a thriving small town that could rival Mayberry. But he begins to notice that something is off. For one thing, there are too many guns everywhere. Soon he finds out that the sleepy town he thought he’d have an easy gig in is not so sleepy and the gig not so easy. I haven’t seen Bob Odenkirk’s Nobody films, but I’m more prone to now. I enjoyed him in Better Call Saul, but had no idea how hard he could kick ass. While this kind of film isn’t my usual fare, I found the story interesting, although it didn’t matter nearly as much as the sublime shootouts. I always like a little humor with my violence, and it also filled the bill on that front. Henry Winkler also did a fun turn as the town’s mayor. Nothing deep, just a good time.

https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/normal-bob-odenkirk-movie-review-2026

https://www.slashfilm.com/2237574/bob-odenkirk-underrated-2026-action-movie-normal-streaming-hbo-max

🏰 Welcome To the Castle…

The latest on Traitors.

https://ew.com/the-traitors-new-blood-civilian-edition-move-to-nbc-cover-story-exclusive-12061124

https://ew.com/the-traitors-new-blood-first-ever-all-civilian-cast-revealed-exclusive-12056293

🎼 Making the Whole World Sing…

And you wondered how Taylor’s life could possibly get any better.

https://ew.com/madonna-taylor-swift-lead-2026-mtv-vma-nominations-see-the-full-list-12062228

🐾 More than Ten Pets and a Bear Walk Into a Bar…

🐶 Those ears!

https://www.vogue.com/article/dogue-2026-competition-winner

🐈‍⬛ Kudos to them. Although there are days my four dogs seem like more than ten.

https://people.com/celebrities-who-have-more-than-10-pets-12012522

🦘 Hey, armadillos need love too. Just kidding. No one has an armadillo here… yet.

https://www.cuteness.com/1711866/celebrities-that-have-most-unusual-pets

🐻 I can’t say I’ve ever seen a silver bear, but one time I saw a bear act at a county fair (before we knew better) and a baby bear made a break for it. No one noticed, so I jetted to the fence before he could climb out of reach and grabbed him before he could go up and over to the highway. As a reward, they let me pet him for a while. He was cute and bristly.

https://people.com/rare-silver-bear-cub-spotted-on-alaskas-famous-katmai-bear-cam-12058193

🐣 Quotes of the Week

Aim for the moon. If you miss, you may hit a star. – W. Clement Stone

Let others lead small lives, but not you.. Let others argue over small things, but not you.. Let others cry over small hurts, but not you. Let others leave their future in someone else’s hands, but not you. – Jim Rohn

Focus on solutions, not problems, and momentum will follow. – Jordan Ellis

What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make. – Jane Goodall

Nothing in this world is harder than speaking the truth, nothing easier than flattery. – Fyodor Dostoevsky

Don’t let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do. – John R. Wooden

Some people think with their d*ck. I think with my stomach. – Luke Brumer, Below Deck Mediterranean (I’m pretty sure he proved himself wrong during this season.)

Not my turkey, not my Thanksgiving. – Shai Fruchter, Next Gen NYC

🌄 Golden Days and Fading Light…

Until next time, stay safe; stay doing some back-to-school shopping whether you’re going back to school or not; and stay not crossing the fine line between support and enabling.

🤽🏼‍♀️ It’s time for me to take a little break, revamp the blog sitch, and enjoy what’s left of the summer. I got places to go and people to see. I’ll check in when I can. Call if you need me.

Video > (7) August – Taylor Swift (Music Video) – YouTube