What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

🥢 Weekday Nibbles…                                                                      

Monday: 

At the stable, Cody and Felicia looked for James’s riding gloves, and Felicia found them. Felicia said she and Mac thought he and Molly were a wonderful couple and so did James. Cody said, everyone did, except Molly.

At the Port Charles Grill, Molly told Kristina that she’d managed to ruin an otherwise perfect evening with Cody.

Tracy said she was reinstating her father’s tradition of family cocktail hour. It gave them the opportunity to socialize. Ned said the vodka in his drink was a little light, and Tracy said it was soda with lime. Ned said some doctors thought it was beneficial to have a drink, but Brook said, some thought it should be avoided completely. Ned wondered what the point of surviving was if it wasn’t to enjoy life, and Olivia said they had more time to spend together as a family. Ned said alcohol made it more palatable.

Wiley asked if Jacinda played video games, and she said she’d had 5000 followers on Twitch. Wiley asked if they could play his new game tomorrow.

Drew and Willow got home, and Drew said Carly spilling the drink on him was humiliating, but Willow suggested letting it go. He said he couldn’t do that, and tried to get romantic with Willow, but she said the stain would set and ran off with his shirt.

Kai asked Alexis if it would be confidential, and Trina said she was putting what Alexis had done to her mom aside because they needed help. Alexis asked who they thought shot Congressman Caine, and Kai said they didn’t think. They knew it was Willow. Trina said they knew because they were there that night.

Cody told Felicia that Molly couldn’t say no fast enough, but he said yes. He thought New Year’s Eve was the start of something special, but he guessed Molly didn’t think so.

Kristina said Molly and Cody had sex in Turner’s office? and Molly told her to say it louder. Some of the men in the restroom didn’t hear it. She didn’t need Kristina judging her. Kristina said she was celebrating Molly, but Molly said it was already over. Kristina asked what went wrong, and Molly said she did.

Jacinda made a game date with Wiley for next Monday, and Michael took him up to bed.

Tracy said Judge Golden had signed off on a court order requiring Drew to return the family’s possessions or face an invasive audit. Olivia said, all fighting Drew brought was misery, and Ned flashed back to his heart attack. Olivia asked if they really needed old tchotchkes, but Tracy said some of the items came over on the Mayflower. Olivia suggested making peace, but Ned said, absolutely not. Not after he… Tracy asked, what did Drew do?

Nina went to see Willow and asked how she was feeling after her testimony. Drew said his testimony set hers up perfectly. There was no way Willow wouldn’t get acquitted.

Alexis asked if they saw Willow shoot Drew, but Kai said they’d hidden in the bedroom. Alexis asked what they were doing there, and Trina said they were looking for evidence of Drew blackmailing her mother. When they were in the bedroom, they heard gunshots. Alexis asked if they saw Willow fleeing the scene, but Kai said they never actually saw her, and Trina said they heard her.

Felicia suggested talking to Molly, but Cody said he hadn’t heard from her. He thought he’d scared her off since her break-up with TJ was still fresh. He couldn’t get her out of his head.

Molly told Kristina about saying she wasn’t Cody’s girlfriend and that she hadn’t heard from him. She just blurted it out and now they were over. Kristina said it was just miscommunication. Just clear it up.

Michael suggested he and Jacinda go out. He’d do anything to avoid Tracy’s cocktail hour. She told him, say no more, and he took her hand.

Tracy asked again what Drew did, and Ned told them about their confrontation outside Bobbie’s before his heart attack. He’d found it harder to breath and collapsed. Drew said he was faking it and walked away. Tracy said, Drew left him to die?

Nina told Willow that she’d been worried, but Alexis managed to turn things around. Drew said, as soon as Alexis pointed the finger at Michael, everything fell into place, when Martin came to the door with the court order. Drew said they’d show Tracy what she could do with the court order, and they left. Nina said she thought Drew would never leave… Sorry. Willow said, don’t be sorry. She felt exactly the same way.

Alexis asked what they heard, and Kai and Trina told her about the ringtone. Trina said they’d deduced it could be the shooter’s phone, and Alexis suggested Michael, but Trina said they’d arranged for Wiley to call him. Kai said Michael’s ringtone was Wiley’s voice, and Trina said Willow got a call from Wiley. Kai said Willow’s ringtone was Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.

Michael and Jacinda saw Kristina at the PC Grill, and Jacinda said Kristina’s brother had forgiven her for lying. Michael asked if Kristina wanted to hang out with them, and Jacinda said they’d love for her to join them in a drink.

Alexis said a ringtone alone proved nothing, and Trina said, not if you factored in the other evidence. Kai said Willow lied with her first alibi and her second alibi was thin, and Trina said Turner had other inadmissible evidence. Kai said the gun was found in Willow’s room, and Alexis said asked why Willow would marry Drew if she shot him. Trina wondered if Willow married him to cover her tracks or to throw people off, but in throwing away GH’s credo that two things can be true, Alexis said, all this time, Willow fooled everyone. Instead of being a warm, kind mother and nurse, she was a cold-blooded killer who shot a man in the back twice. (As I always say, even Ted Bundy had a mother.)

Nina said Willow didn’t love Drew and now it seemed like she disliked him, but Willow said he’d just been overly attentive and she needed breathing room. Nina said he almost destroyed case with his unhinged performance, and Willow said instead of defending her, he attacked Michael. Nina said it seemed obvious that Michael shot Drew and tried to pin the crime on her innocent daughter.

Ned said he loved them, but they could be a lot, and Olivia said she never aspired to be a little. Tracy said Ned had been waiting to weaponize it against Drew, and he said he learned from the master. She said he still should have told them, and Chase said, by now, Drew knew Ned wasn’t faking. Did he apologize? Ned said, not one word, and Olivia said Drew left him to die. There was a commotion in the foyer, and the group went out to find Yuri trying to keep Drew and Martin from coming in. Tracy called Yuri off.

Felicia asked if Cody planned never to speak to Molly again, and he said if he could swing it. He couldn’t think of anything worse than the let’s-just-be-friends speech. Molly arrived, and Felicia said she was just leaving. When she was gone, they both said they were sorry at the same time.

Michael told Kristina not to be mad at Alexis, and Kristina said she didn’t agree with Alexis’s tactic of throwing him under the bus. Wiley called Michael and he stepped away. Jacinda said she was glad she and Kristina were alone. It gave her a chance to apologize.

Ned said they’d take it from there, and Yuri left. Tracy asked what Drew and Martin were doing at the house, and Drew said, her ridiculous court order. Martin would appeal and tie it up in court for years. Tracy said it wasn’t in Martin’s best interest. She’d have him brought up on fraud charges for forging Monica’s will. Drew asked if she’d do the same with Ronnie… He didn’t think so. Tracy suddenly realized that it was Martin who sent the note.

Willow said she nearly had a panic attack, and Nina said she handled it beautifully. Willow said, everything she did, she did for her kids.

Kai told Alexis that there were muddy footprints by the backdoor and they heard the shooter leave that way. Willow used it all the time to avoid the press. Tracy said they left the bedroom and Kai picked up the bat, and Alexis said, that’s why the bat was there. Kai said he dropped it when they saw Drew. Then they realized Drew was still alive. Trina said they were going to call 911, but saw headlights and ran, and Kai said he left the bat. Alexis asked why they didn’t say something sooner, and Trina said they’d have to explain why they were there, and at the time, Drew was blackmailing her mom. Alexis said now it was public knowledge, and Kai asked what Alexis was going to do. Alexis said, absolutely nothing.

Molly told Kristina that things were awkward and she panicked. She’d thought it was what Cody wanted to hear. An honest answer would have been, she’d like to be Cody’s girlfriend, but now it was too late.

Kristina said Jacinda had nothing to apologize for, but Jacinda said she never should have taken the money and should have left town. Her staying made it worse for Kristina’s brother. She returned the money and it was at Michael’s house. Kristina asked if that meant Jacinda was staying for good, but Jacinda said that remained to be seen. Kristina said she hoped so, for her brother’s sake, when Michael came back. He said Wiley couldn’t sleep and asked for 30 more minutes of Tron to work on beating Jacinda. Kristina said she knew Michael was putting up a good front, but was he worried about the potential charges for attempted murder?

Alexis said Trina and Kai’s story was compelling, but didn’t prove anything. It was her obligation to defend her client. Trina asked if her obligation wasn’t to make sure justice prevailed, and Alexis said she had a judicial responsibility to defend her client to the best of her ability. Kai said, this was a mistake. They should have gone to the police and still could. Alexis said they’d implicate themselves in a crime they committed by their own admission. That’s why they came to her. Had they shared it with anyone? Trina said, no, and Alexis reminded them again that if they went to the police, they’d be implicating themselves.

Willow said the only thing that kept her going was the hope of being reunited with Wiley and Amelia, and Nina said she would be. Did she think it was true that Drew paid off Judge Haran? Willow said Drew insisted it was Michael and she prayed that was the truth. She was counting Drew to regain custody. Nina said Willow didn’t need Drew, and if they divorced, she stood a better chance. If they took Michael away for attempted murder, she wouldn’t need Drew at all.

Tracy said Martin was the reason she had to testify against Michael. Admit it, you worm. Like the coward he was, he sent an anonymous note. Martin said he didn’t know what she was talking about, but Brook said it didn’t matter. Drew did nothing when her father collapsed from a heart attack. Drew said he’d thought Ned was faking, and Brook said he’d caused the heart attack, then refused to help. What kind of monster was he? Drew said they were being overdramatic, when Olivia stood on the stairs and cocked a big gun.

Olivia said Drew left her husband to die like a dog and the only reason she wasn’t pulling the trigger was because Ned was still alive. If he knew what was good for him, Drew and his bootlicking barrister would vacate the premises immediately. Drew said she wouldn’t shoot him in front of her son-in-law cop, but Chase said he was suspended and they were trespassing. Martin said he was out of there and left. Olivia said asked if Drew wanted her to finish the job someone else started, and he left. Olivia said the gun wasn’t loaded, but it would be a while before they darkened the Quartermaine doorstep, and Tracy told Olivia to consider the gun hers. She’d earned it.

Molly said, of course (🍷). It was too late. Cody said, too late for takebacks. She said it and he heard it. She wanted to be his girlfriend, and he’d like to be her boyfriend. They kissed and he carried her upstairs.

Alexis said she’d pretend they never had this conversation, and Kai told Trina that they said what they needed to say. He left and Trina followed after staring daggers at Alexis. In the hallway, Trina said Alexis didn’t believe them, but Kai said she didn’t want to believe them. What did they do now?

Michael said, no more trial talk. Let’s have fun. He, Jacinda, and Kristina clinked glasses.

Willow said one she got through the trial, she’d figure out how to get her kids back, and Nina said, whatever Willow decided, she’d support her, emotionally and financially. Willow said it was good to know she had options. Cutting ties with Drew wasn’t that simple. They were far from finished.

Alexis looked through the phone records, and called a number. Wiley answered, but said he didn’t know her and wasn’t supposed to talk to strangers. He hung up and Alexis closed her eyes.

Tuesday:

Jacinda went to court with Michael, who said he wanted her to be with him. She said she wanted to be with him too.

Curtis found Trina in the courtroom and he said, if Willow was found guilty, it could be bad news for Michael and Aurora. Why did she still care about the case?

Sidwell asked Jordan to be at the trial. He was starting to think Drew wasn’t the politician he wanted in DC and he typically got what he wanted.

Britt found Marco in an exam room. He’d gotten an appointment with her because a concern had come up. They were falling behind the competition. Britt asked why they couldn’t leave her alone, but Marco said he didn’t see that happening.

Pascal told Anna to stand up, face the wall, and put her hands where he could see them. He brought in some food, and when she picked up a glass, it slipped from her hand. He wondered why she was so clumsy, and she said something was wrong.

Valentin told Carly that he needed her to search Jack’s hotel room.

Dante found Jack at the courthouse and asked if the WSB tampered with the evidence. Jack feigned ignorance.

Ava decided to see how Nina was holding up, and Nina said she was jumping out of her skin. She wasn’t sure Willow’s testimony was enough to undo the damage Drew did.

Drew told Willow that no one could doubt her and the jury would say she was innocent.

Alexis went to the office and found Diane there. She said she needed to speak to her attorney with the privilege that came with that. She couldn’t defend her client anymore. Willow shot Drew.

Trina told Curtis that Kai needed to be there to look like he was supporting Drew and she was there supporting Kai. He said, everyone needed someone to lean on, when Jordan walked in.

Alexis said she found out last night and needed to recuse herself, and Diane said if she stepped down, there would be a mistrial. Alexis said, someone was at the house that night hiding in the bedroom and heard Willow’s ringtone for Wiley, and Diane said walk her through it. Alexis showed her the back-up paperwork and said, the call hadn’t been answered, so she thought it was immaterial, but when she called it, Wiley answered. Add the traffic cam footage, and Willow was in the vicinity. Diane said the arguments were compelling, but Alexis would be disbarred if she said anything in closing arguments.

Dante told Jack about the missing evidence. He’d been an agent and the WSB was one of the few who could hack into a system like theirs, but he couldn’t figure out a reason they’d do it.

Ava said Willow wouldn’t need Drew anymore, but Nina said Willow wasn’t ready to let Drew go.

Drew said when Michael went to prison Willow would get full custody.

Carly said she wasn’t a trained agent and told him how she’d gotten caught trying to plant a bug in Jack’s office. He said, do better this time, and she said if Jack caught her, he’d never trust her again. Valentin said, don’t get caught.

Britt said they needed a lab, and Marco said his father set up a state-of-the-art lab on Spoon Island.

Anna told Pascal that her hand went numb and explained about her cancer. She required regular phlebotomy treatments and needed one now. She was no use to them if she was dead.

Jack assured Dante that they weren’t interested in Willow, but maybe Drew convinced someone in the PCPD to do it. Dante said the WSB and PCPD had worked together before and brought up Anna, but Jack said he had nothing to do with that.

Britt asked how she would explain going to Spoon Island. If Lucas got a hint of what they were doing, he and Marco would be over. Marco told her not to use Lucas to threaten him.

Valentin said Carly was only person Jack trusted. He’d be careful not to keep incriminating documents in his office. He kept hard copies and she was to take a picture of anything damning or top secret. Once they knew what Sidwell was working on, they could incriminate Jack and exonerate him. Then Jack would be the one rotting in Steinmauer. Or she could continue to sleep with a man she despised.

Trina went to look for Kai, and Jordan said it sounded like Trina might consider her and Curtis a unit. Sidwell had asked her to come, and she knew he’d be here. Curtis said she was distracting, and Jordan told him, try extra hard to pay attention.

Drew whined about where Alexis was just to be a pita.

Nina asked why Jacinda wasn’t at work, but Jacinda had everything covered. She and Michael went into the courtroom.

Drew’s phone rang and he left to take the call. Willow saw Michael and Jacinda come in.

Diane said it was Alexis’s duty to defend her client, and Alexis said she knew Michael didn’t do it. What if Willow was acquitted and Michael was arrested? Her gut told her that the jury would acquit Willow unless she used her closing to tell them what really happened.

Britt said she couldn’t get to Spoon Island in secret, but Marco said he could arrange for transport. Or she could reside at Windymere. They had her medicine and she was indebted to them. Come up with a cover story. He left.

Carly agreed, and Valentin said he’d get her a scanner to check for bugs. He told her Jack’s usual hiding places and said he wouldn’t be there when she got back. He was paying a visit to Windymere. Carly was concerned he’d get caught.

Pascal told Sidwell about Anna and said he thought it was legit. Ava showed up at Windymere to see Sidwell. She asked if Lucy was around since she was jelly, but Sidwell said that was Lucy’s problem.

Trina and Kai wondered where Alexis was.

Dante told Turner that Jack denied involvement, but he didn’t trust him. She asked if he didn’t want to consider someone closer, and he said he didn’t think Chase did it, but now he wasn’t so certain. Turner said she agreed, and Dante said he was still looking into it. She told him, find the leak and shut it down.

Willow was shocked to see Michael and Jacinda, and Drew said, don’t let him get to her. He was there because when you were guilty, the best thing to do was hold your head high and proclaim your innocence.

Diane said if Alexis did that, it was definitely unethical and would result in a mistrial, not conviction. She didn’t want to lose her license again. Alexis said a would-be murderer married the victim to cover it up. Since her daughter wasn’t there to protect Scout, she had to. Diane asked what would happen when Alexis wasn’t able to protect Scout because Scout was excised from her life? Drew seemed to think he and Willow were an epic love story and would never believe she was guilty because the evidence was circumstantial. Alexis said she knew Willow did it. How could she tell the jury otherwise? Diane said not all of their clients were angels and she wanted Alexis to look at the whole picture. What was more important, Scout’s future or her duty as a lawyer? Alexis said her granddaughter’s future, and Diane said, if that was her priority, she knew exactly what she had to do.

Alexis arrived at court, and Drew bitched at her. Judge Sullivan came in.

Carly knocked at Jack’s room, but there was no answer. She went inside.

Ava said Sidwell had been interested in a Columbian artist whose pieces were hard to come by, and five new pieces were going on the market. She’d arranged for a video chat with the artist, and Sidwell suggested they go to his study for a larger screen.

Carly took the bug scanner out of her bag.

Turner gave her closing argument, saying, it was premeditated. Willow chose to take the gun and kept it, biding her time. On September 2^nd, 2025, she stopped considering and took action. She’d learned Judge Haran had been killed and believed her visitation hearing would be delayed. It was clear that her ex wouldn’t let her near her kids as long as she was with the congressman and as they saw on the stand, Drew was clear he wasn’t letting Willow go. If he was going to be in her children’s lives, Willow needed to take matters into her own hands – and she did. She drove to Drew’s house, let herself in, shot him twice in the back, and returned to General Hospital. She stood by when her mother lied, giving her an alibi. It was planned, calculated, and kept with the definition of Willow’s M.O. The day of the wedding, Willow found out Drew had an affair with her mother and waited until they were at the altar to publicly humiliate him. No judgement, but she wasn’t acting rashly. Perhaps she’d intentionally snuck the gun back to Elizabeth’s or never expected a search or thought she’d be considered a suspect. Not the sweet nurse who loved Drew so much that she married him. The defense tried to distract them with another suspect and asked them to have pity on Willow. Anything so they didn’t look at the facts. And the facts say Willow Tait (whose name I’ve been spelling wrong for years) is guilty.

Carly checked Jack’s room for bugs and found paperwork underneath the bottom of a drawer. She spread it out on the coffee table and took photos.

Alexis gave her closing argument, saying her client was innocent. She was a pillar of the community, a loving wife, and a loving, dedicated mother to two children she missed dearly. She’d made mistakes, falling in love with another man while she was married. Her ex was extremely bitter and angry, angry enough to keep Drew away from his children permanently. He shot Drew with his great-grandfather’s gun and planted it in Willow’s things. They heard Tracy’s testimony that she saw him at Drew’s house that night and heard from Elizabeth that Michael had been alone at her house. The question they must ask themselves was why someone who attempted murder would hang onto the thing that tied them to the crime. The only piece of evidence that tied Willow to the crime was the gun. The question they needed to ask themselves was, when did Willow take the gun? She hadn’t lived at the Quartermaines’ for some time, but Michael had lived there since he came back from Germany. Willow had every opportunity… Alexis apologized, saying her client was foremost in her mind and continued. Michael had every opportunity and reason to shoot Drew. He despised Drew who broke up his marriage to her client, who only wanted a chance to be with her children. Why do something that would put her in a situation that would keep her away permanently? Her client was innocent and framed by her ex. She just wanted a chance to be with her children. Find her innocent and give her the chance. She deserved it.

Pascal looked in at Anna, who was lying on the floor. She didn’t answer him and he went inside. He checked for a pulse, and she grabbed his gun.

The judge said he wanted a unanimous verdict and dismissed the jury for deliberation. Trina said, Willow might get away with this, and Drew told Willow that she’d be a free woman. Kai and Trina stared at Alexis.

Carly heard Britt and Jack in the hallway. Britt said she needed to speak with Jack. They could do it there or in his room. They went in, and Carly hid in the bathroom and put on a robe. Britt said Jack’s strategy for her getting information to him wouldn’t work.

Valentin snuck around Windymere and felt around under the fireplace. Ava came in and said if he was looking for the passageway switch, she’d gotten rid of it. She wondered if Sidwell knew he was harboring a fugitive.

Anna got the better of Pascal and held his own gun on him.

Dante told Turner that she’d had a good closing, but Turner said they didn’t have all the evidence, and it was far from a slam dunk. Drew told Nina that it was a smart move hiring Alexis. She’d argued brilliantly and got Michael convicted. It was playing out how he’d promised Willow it would.

In the hallway, Michael told Jacinda that Turner gave the jury the facts, while Alexis went with feelings so the jury would feel sorry for Willow. He prayed they’d see who Willow really was.

Willow thanked Alexis, who said, don’t thank her yet. Willow said if she went free, it would all be because of her.

Wednesday:

Carly heard Britt and Jack coming into his room, and hid in the bathroom, grabbing a robe. Britt told Jack that his strategy to get Sidwell’s info wouldn’t work. They’d be watching her and there was no way she could sneak anything out. He said her options were limited, and she said Sidwell wanted her to finish her work on Spoon Island.

Ava caught Valentin looking for the passageway trigger and said she’d gotten rid of it. She asked if Sidwell knew he was harboring a fugitive, and Valentin said Sidwell hadn’t mentioned she was paying a visit. They went way back

Anna backed up out the door and a hulk grabbed her in a chokehold. She passed out.

Jason went to the hospital looking for Britt, and Elizabeth said she’d be back later. She asked if Jason was upset that she had compassion for Willow. Some people thought it meant she was taking sides against Michael.

Alexis found Sonny in her office, and he asked if she was okay. She said she had a headache and had a good idea why he was there. She’d implicated his son for a crime he didn’t commit.

Sonny asked if she didn’t think Michael was guilty, and Alexis said it didn’t matter what she thought. He said she had alternatives, and she said, Portia worked out well. It ruined Portia’s life and made her out to be a monster. Drew was holding her grandchild hostage. Unfortunately Michael had means, motive, and opportunity. Sonny asked if Turner would be picking up where she left off, and she apologized, but said her granddaughter was her priority. He asked if that was it and everybody else be damned.

Elizabeth said she hadn’t intended to make Michael look guilty, and Jason said she’d told the truth. He stayed away from the trial so Drew didn’t use him to antagonize Michael. She said they still didn’t know who shot Drew, and he said it was a result of Drew’s actions. He’d pushed a lot of people. Elizabeth wondered how he’d lured Willow back in. She was in denial and not strong enough to admit she was wrong about so much. He said the real victims were the kids, including Scout and Danny.

Sidwell went to Anna’s chamber and hulk said she’d be fine. She’d tried to escape and he’d had to render her unconscious. He gave Pascal back his gun and said, try not to lose this again. <snort> Pascal said he thought she was unconscious, and hulk asked if Anna still had no idea where she was.

Britt said if she got caught, it wouldn’t do them any good, but Jack thought she’d find a way. He told her get out and when she left, he heard the shower. He grabbed his gun. Because intruders are always showering.

Valentin said Sidwell was thrilled with Ava’s art pieces and made it sound like he’d been there all along. He asked about Nina, and told Ava to give her his love… Maybe don’t do that. He talked about the interior renovations and said he wished he was there to ride more. She asked how long he’d be staying, and he said his plans were up in the air. She said Sidwell was on a business call and asked if she should get him, but Valentin said he’d rather she didn’t. They had an agreement that he’d keep a low profile during the day. Sidwell didn’t want the WSB to know he was hiding his old friend. Ava said she had the passageway sealed up, not liking the idea of someone possibly appearing in her living room. She suggested she give Pascal a shout and called to him, but when she turned around, Valentin was gone.

Jack came into the bathroom with his gun, and Carly was doing her makeup.

Alexis asked what Sonny would do in her shoes. Scout wouldn’t see any of her family until she was 18. She was a child and it gave Drew time to turn her against her family. Letting Drew warp her daughter’s child into a copy of himself would kill her. Sonny said Drew wanted to swap out Scout’s family at his son’s expense, and Alexis said, and her own. Sam wasn’t there to fix this, so she had to. Michael was the biological father of his children and could fight for custody. She couldn’t. And just because Willow was acquitted didn’t mean Michael would be charged. Sonny said Michael couldn’t walk away from this because Drew was a congressman. Somebody had to take the fall, and she’d decided it was Michael. She said she’d had no choice even if it meant jeopardizing her friendship with him.

Elizabeth said Scout missed Danny, and Jason said it was hurting Danny too. He felt like he was letting Sam down. Drew had made it clear that Danny couldn’t see Scout again. Drew saw Danny as an extension of him, and hurting Danny was the only way to hurt him. Elizabeth said maybe Willow’s influence would soften Drew if she didn’t go to prison. She had to get back to work, and Jason turned to find Brad there. Brad told him to stay away from Britt.  

Carly said Jack scared her, and he said he’d come close to shooting her. What the hell was she doing there?

Hulk said they had to deal with Anna’s escape attempt, and Sidwell told Pascal to send Ava home. Pascal left, and hulk said this had almost ruined everything. Sidwell said Pascal wouldn’t be fooled again. He’d made Anna think she was in a foreign country by only speaking French. Hulk said, this wasn’t the plan, and Sidwell said Anna had gotten too close and he’d had to improvise. Hulk said it was holding up their operation, and they had to complete Faison’s work. If the lab was ready, having Anna there was a bad idea. They needed a more permanent solution.

Brad said, if Jason cared about Britt, he’d leave her alone, but Jason said that was Britt’s decision. Brad said Jason had broken her heart twice, once by marrying Carly and then when he died. Every time he rescued her – paying her tab at Café Cherie or rescuing her in Croatia – he made her believe she could count on him, but she couldn’t. Carly, Sonny, Michael, and Danny would always come first. Britt joined them and asked what was going on. Jason asked if she had a minute, and Brad said she wasn’t interested. Right, Britt?

Carly said she was sorry. She’d wanted to give Jack a sexy surprise. Jack said it was a bad idea. He’d almost killed her. She said it wouldn’t happen again. Her afternoon was free and she’d wanted to spend it with him. He said she could never do this again, especially with Valentin out there. He was never going to risk letting her get between him and Valentin again. (Um… Did he mean letting Valentin get between him and her? That made it sound like he’s involved with Valentin.)

Pascal said Sidwell sent his apologies, but Ava said she wasn’t going anywhere until she spoke with him. Pascal said it would be some time, but he’d pass along a message, and she said, tell him it was about his houseguest, and she wasn’t referring to Lucas. She’d wait.

Hulk said too many people were aware of their work. There was the explosion at the Five Poppies, Dalton going to the police about the lab break-in, and Dalton’s subsequent disappearance. It jeopardized their project. Sidwell blamed Britt for the Five Poppies and said she’d been working against them. He didn’t think she was reliable. Hulk said Britt was a handful, but understood Faison’s thinking better than anyone. Not just because she was his daughter, but she’d worked side by side with him in his final years. Sidwell said, having Britt and Anna on the island was too risky. What should they do with Anna? Their cover story wouldn’t hold up forever. Hulk said Anna had become more trouble than she was worth.

Sonny said Alexis hadn’t lost his friendship. He wasn’t happy, but he could understand why. Alexis said all of her choices sucked and she’d never be sure she made the right one, and Sonny said he wasn’t sure she’d had the right one. She said she appreciated his understanding, and he said Michael was a grown-up with resources. Scout was a little girl who’d lost her mother and was being kept from her family because her father was a vindictive little man, a sorry pathetic excuse for a human being. Scout deserved to be raised by somebody better, but here they were. She deserved Alexis and her love to counterbalance her father’s pettiness and ugliness. Alexis asked if she could still do that if she compromised her ethics along the way.

Sidwell told hulk that they should keep Britt there too. If she came across Anna, she wouldn’t be able to tell anyone. Hulk said it wasn’t practical. Britt’s sudden disappearance would be a problem and lead to more scrutiny about them. Sidwell said it was a last resort, when Pascal came down. He said Ava had insisted on speaking with Sidwell and he thought Sidwell should hear what she had to say. Sidwell left, and Pascal apologized again. Hulk said Anna wouldn’t be there much longer.

Jason said it wouldn’t take long, and Brad said he needed to talk to Britt. Britt said she’d be right back, and left with Jason. Brad asked if Elizabeth was okay with that.

Jack said Carly needed to understand him and take him seriously. Valentin tried to kill him twice. Carly said she was there. she’d saved his life in Germany. Jack said she’d drunk the poisoned champagne intended for him and he didn’t want to lose her. It was then he realized how deeply he was falling in love with her. She asked if he knew at that moment, but he said he’d always known. She was the smartest, most brilliant, sexiest woman he ever knew, and he didn’t want to lose her. That hadn’t changed. His phone dinged, and she said, work? He said, sorry. He couldn’t stay.

Jason asked if Britt wanted to go out with him tonight.

Jack promised to make it up to Carly, and she told him, go save the world. He said she was his world and she saved him. They kissed and she left. She looked sick in the hallway.

Sidwell said he was sorry to keep Ava waiting, and she told him that his purchase was complete. She’d run into his houseguest on her way out. He had every right to his privacy, but he could trust her. He said he wasn’t following, and she said she knew it was none of her business, but did he think it was a good idea helping Valentin Cassadine?

Hulk said Anna was coming to and told Pascal, stick to protocol. Keep his distance and always remember Anna was smarter than him. (Ha-ha!)

Anna yelled, asking who was keeping her there. What did they want? She struggled to get up and fell again. Watching through the window, Pascal said, bravo! He wouldn’t fall for her tricks again. He left.

Elizabeth told Brad that she didn’t think Britt was right for Jason, but it wasn’t their business. She thought it would end in disaster, but they couldn’t do anything about it. They shouldn’t do anything about it. Britt would resent Brad if he manipulated the situation. Be her friend. If she confided in him, listen, but otherwise, stay out of it.

Britt said, define out, and Jason said, going out somewhere together. Spending time together, just them. Britt wondered if he was going to interrogate her, but he said, no interrogation. She asked if it was about the kiss on New Year’s Eve, and he said it was. She said she wasn’t jumping into bed with him, but he said he didn’t expect her to. He liked seeing her on New Year’s Eve and would like to see her again.

Alexis said she knew she was putting her self-interest above everyone else’s and it was the last thing she should be doing, but Sonny said it didn’t matter why she wanted Willow to go free. She was a defense attorney and had to do her job to the best of her ability. But she was only one piece in the courtroom. The jury would tell her. If they came back and said Willow wasn’t guilty, at least she wasn’t a danger to the community. She said she hoped not, and he said he didn’t see Willow as capable of shooting Drew. She said, what if she did it? and Sonny said he thought there was a thin line between love and hate. Even good people could be pushed to do bad things.

Britt said she enjoyed New Year’s Eve too, and Jason said, so let’s go out on a date. She asked if it was an official date, and he said it was if it got her to say yes. When was she free? She told him that she hadn’t said yes yet. Where were they going? He said she’d have to trust him.

Ava said Valentin acted like he was Sidwell’s guest and knew she was his art dealer, and Sidwell asked if Valentin threatened her. She said, not at all. He was quite pleasant. She suspected he was lying and played along. Sidwell commended her for her cool head and discretion, and she wondered if Valentin had been hiding there all this time. He said he’d have security do a sweep, and she said, not the PCPD? He said he preferred to deal with such matters directly and not get the police involved unless absolutely necessary, and asked her not to mention she saw Valentin. She said, of course (🍷). She understood completely. He could count on her.

There was a knock at Jack’s door, and he opened it to hulk. He said, Director Cullum, please come in. They needed to discuss the Valentin situation. Cullum said they’d lost Anna Devane. (How careless of them!)

Carly gave Valentin her phone and told him what happened. She asked how his field trip to Windymere was, and he said Ava saw him. He asked if this was all she got, and she said it was all there was. He said that couldn’t be right, and she asked what he meant about Ava seeing him. He said he got in fine through the access tunnel he’d created, but when he’d searched for the existing tunnel system, the passageway had been blocked and sealed. Ava showed up, but he convinced her that Sidwell was allowing him to hide out there and he got out. Carly said this was a disaster, but he told her, relax. Her name didn’t come up and he wasn’t followed. The authorities already knew he was in Port Charles. It’s not like the situation had changed. Carly had heard Britt tell Jack that she’d be working at Windymere. Sidwell wasn’t going to want the police involved. Whatever he was hiding was on Spoon Island.

Anna struggled to get up and made it to the couch. She realized her nose was bleeding and said, oh God, no.

Thursday:

Jack asked what Cullum meant by losing Anna, and Cullum said she’d vanished on assignment. Jack asked the nature of her assignment, and Cullum said, here’s a hint. When Anna is in play, all roads lead to Cesar Faison.

Lulu brought James to the hospital with a head injury and Nathan showed up.

Emma told Gio that winter was not in the apartment.

Martin went to Laura’s office and said he’d had another incident involving Tracy.

Chase went to the solarium and said Yuri told him that Tracy wanted to see him. Tracy asked if he was cheating on her granddaughter.

Carly and Josslyn were at the hatchet range, and Carly said they hadn’t had a girls’ night in forever. Josslyn said it was the price they paid for busy schedules and asked, what was Carly’s excuse? Carly said between Bobbie’s and the MetroCourt, she’d been burning the candle at both ends. What about Josslyn? Josslyn said it was school, school, and more school. She threw a hatchet and got a bullseye, and Carly wondered when Josslyn got such great aim. Jason and Britt came in.

Carly said she couldn’t believe Jason and Britt were on a date, and Britt told Jason their date was ruined before it began. Carly was short circuiting and they were surrounded by weapons. Jason said he’d talk to Carly and say they were there together, and Britt said it was an official date. He said it didn’t matter what Carly thought, and Britt went to get drinks. Jason went over to Carly and said, get it out. She asked what the hell he was doing there with Britt.

Jack said Faison’s brain was in a jar and Anna knew this, but Cullum said his network lived on and was very much operational. Jack said reinstatement after expulsion was rare, and Cullum said Anna was unpredictable and volatile where Faison was concerned, but the higher ups believed she had inside knowledge. Jack said Anna had known Faison longer than anyone, and Cullum said the evidence suggested she’d disappeared by choice.

Emma told Gio that the thermostat was stuck on 86 and repair guys were working on it, but she wasn’t sure when it would be fixed. There was no reason they both had to sweat it out. Gio said it was like hot yoga without the yoga and asked if she remembered what she told him on the footbridge. She said, where you go I go, and he said, where you sweat, I sweat.

James said it was the best skating he’d ever done, and Lulu said until he took a header. She should have called Nathan first thing. Nathan said Officer Jeffers saw it and told him, when Isaiah came out. James said he was skating and fell, and Isaiah said they’d take x-rays, but first had to clean the wound and check for a concussion. He’d need a parent or guardian to sign the paperwork. He left with James, and Nathan followed. He asked if Lulu was coming.

Martin said he was on the patio and happened to hear Tracy and Michael, and Laura asked if he was waiting for them to invite him in. He said, they were talking about lying to the cops and perjuring themselves in court, and she said, he didn’t. He said of course (🍷) he did. It was his civic duty. Willow was innocent. Laura asked if Tracy knew, and he said Tracy was on the warpath. She said she loved him very much, but couldn’t take any more of him fighting with Tracy. It had to stop. He asked how she intended to stop it, and she said Tracy had to be dealt with head on.

Chase said, of course (🍷) not, and Tracy said, never or yet? He asked what she was talking about, and she said, Willow Cain. He’d conducted an investigation outside the parameters of his job and against Brook’s advice, then got suspended. He said he didn’t regret it. Willow was innocent and keeping the kids from her was wrong. Tracy said Willow was a grown woman with a good lawyer. His loyalty to Willow had to stop before it negatively impacted his marriage. He said her insinuating he’d cheat was ridiculous, when Brook walked in and asked what the hell was going on.

Tracy said she was telling Brook’s husband that she was concerned about their marriage, and Chase said Tracy had accused him of infidelity. Tracy said she hadn’t accused him, she’d questioned him, when her phone rang. Laura asked if she could stop by, and Tracy said she’d be right there.

Jason said he didn’t see how it affected Carly, and Carly said she didn’t want to see him heartbroken, but it was his call. Britt sat down with Josslyn and said she just wanted to have a good time. Josslyn said Carly and Jason were just talking, and Britt said about her and how wrong she was for Jason. She asked Josslyn to put a muzzle on Carly, but Josslyn said, no. And why would she do anything for Britt? Britt said maybe because she could tell Josslyn’s mom that she was a WSB agent secretly working for her mom’s boyfriend.

Jack said, Anna would never leave her granddaughter behind, but Cullum said Anna didn’t think rationally where Faison was concerned. Time and again she prioritized the mission over her family, especially if Faison was in the mix. Jack asked if he had evidence, and Cullum said the photo Jack had asked him to check out was a fake.

Emma told Gio that she was worried about her grandma. She’d missed the holidays completely, which was unlike her, and there was no indication of when she was coming back. He asked if anyone else had heard from her, and Emma said her parents got a short text on Christmas day. She didn’t think her grandma would be gone this long and she’d been feeling alone. Gio said she always had him.

In the exam room, Lulu found some lollipops and gave one to Nathan. She said she was sorry and felt responsible, but he said it was an accident, and accidents could happen anywhere with anyone, including him. It wasn’t James’s first time in the ER, and he guessed it wouldn’t be the last. Lulu was a good mom. She was wonderful with James and James trusted her. With Maxie away, that meant everything. Lulu said she’d always be there for James. It was more about paying it forward. She loved James, but Maxie had taken good care of her when she was in a coma, and she’d do anything to repay that debt.

Brook said she’d always have Chase’s back, and Chase said he’d never cheat ever. He wouldn’t even think about it. She said she knew that, but her grandmother wasn’t entirely wrong.

Emma said she’d been there a year, and Gio said her grandmother knew she could take care of herself. She said the secrecy thing felt off, and he said he was sure Anna had her reasons and would tell Emma when she got back. Until then, she had him to distract her. He picked up a bag and said, dinner? She said they could reschedule. The tropics weren’t for everyone. He told her that they’d said Bobbie’s and Hulu and that’s what they were going to do.

Jason said they were there to have a good time, and Carly said she didn’t like Britt for him. He said he felt the same way about Brennan, but his opinion didn’t matter, and she said Britt was involved in something dangerous. If he got hurt, Danny could lose the one parent he had left. He said she wasn’t wrong, but deep down, Britt was a good person even if she didn’t see it. She said Britt saved Josslyn and she did see it, but Britt was reverting to the old Britt, and he said, let her be tonight, please. She told him to stick to his target and she’d stick to hers.

Josslyn said she’d do her best to referee, but Britt and Jason could leave. They were there first. Britt asked where Josslyn’s boyfriend was – Mr. Nash – and Josslyn said he’d been reassigned. Britt said, savage, and Josslyn said Jack didn’t mess around. He got what he wanted whether you liked it or not.

Cullum told Jack that he needed to know what had been uncovered with Faison’s network in Port Charles.

Carly told Josslyn that she wanted Jason to be happy, but Britt was bad news. She was a wild card.

Britt threw a hatchet, getting close to the bullseye, and Jason asked if she’d been practicing. She said her last boyfriend was a lumberjack and thanked him for convincing her to stay. She was having a good time. He said he was too.

Emma made mojitos and thanked Gio for bringing dinner. He thanked her for inviting him. They’d be talking about this night for years to come. She said, cheers to that, and they clinked glasses. He said he had a confession to make. All summer long, when he saw her at the pool or anywhere, he wanted to do this. He kissed her.

Tracy arrived at Laura’s office and when she saw Martin, she said she might not have come if she’d known the company Laura was keeping. Martin said, always a pleasure, but Tracy said, never once on her end. He should be dealing with the inmates in Lodi. Laura said she thought it was time for Tracy to move forward with the fraud charges against her brother.

Brook said she didn’t doubt Chase’s love, and they put on a united front, but she wasn’t blind. It wasn’t him that she didn’t trust. It was Willow. They’d been close once. Chase said they were married, and she said, exactly. Willow knew him and was in the perfect position to play him. Willow was taking advantage of him and he didn’t see it. He said she must think he was a fool.

Nathan told Lulu that it wasn’t the first time James had gotten hurt and his reckless behavior couldn’t be a pattern. How did he enforce that… Lulu said, without crushing his adventurous spirit? Rocco thought he was invincible at James’s age. She tried to teach him to make better choices and trust him to put them into practice. Nathan said, and if he didn’t? and she said she had to follow through with consequences if her expectations weren’t met. He said he and James were just figuring out who they were to each other and he didn’t want to ruin it, but she said he wouldn’t. Children needed boundaries. It made them feel safe. Being away for a long time, she felt the same way about Rocco and Charlotte. He thanked her for the advice and said he’d see if he could follow through, and she said he had this.

Britt got a bullseye and so did Jason. They threw hatchets while there was a song part. Britt won the round and suggested they up the stakes. Jason asked what she had in mind, and she said, a wager. The loser owed the winner a kiss and the winner got to choose when to collect. He said she was on.

Josslyn asked if Carly ever thought her worry for Jason was tied up in how she felt about Jack. She was very hurt when Josslyn told her that Vaughn was a WSB agent and said Jack had been putting her in danger. Was she trying to make it right? Carly asked if Josslyn was saying she wanted to be right about Britt, and Josslyn said, maybe. Carly said she and Jack worked through their situation and were back on track. He wouldn’t lie to her again. Josslyn asked how she was sure, since he was a spy, and Carly asked how she knew so much about spies.

Jack told Cullum that his information was limited. He had pieces, but not the whole picture. Faison’s research had been linked to Sidwell and another unidentified partner. Dalton had also been linked to it, but was MIA, and two of Faison’s dead children had resurfaced. Possibly one of them had the key. Cullum said he’d asked for results, but Jack gave him theories. He demanded full disclosure. Jack said, with all due respect, Cullum wasn’t get answers from him.

Chase told Brook that Willow had been through hell. He was sorry the PCPD messed up, but he couldn’t stand by and do nothing. It wasn’t fair to Willow. Brook said Chase wasn’t responsible for that, but he said he had no tolerance for injustice. She said she loved that about him and wasn’t asking him to change. All she was asking was for him not to lose himself in this. For me, for us.

Martin said Laura wanted Tracy to turn him into the cops? but Laura said she wanted to put an end to the threats. She wanted Tracy to follow through and free him from all this. Tracy said she couldn’t. Then Ronnie would have to be prosecuted, and her family would never forgive her. Laura said, so how did they fix this? and Tracy said she’d handle Martin in her own way. Laura said the borderline blackmail had to stop, and Tracy said the anonymous tip Alexis received would have lasting repercussions to her family and made Michael vulnerable. Laura said it was truly unfortunate, but all Martin did was expose a lie and reveal the truth, not unlike what she did when she outed him and Ronnie. Martin was her brother and she loved him, but Tracy was her friend and they shared so much, like Lulu and Luke. She cared about them both very much and now that Doc and Ace weren’t there, she needed them to be in her life for reasons she couldn’t go into. She wanted them to stop fighting, for her. Don’t put her in the middle.

Nathan said he was relieved James was okay, but he scared Lulu and his sisters and cut into their fun time, and James said he knew if he asked, Lulu would have said no. Nathan said the point was, he didn’t ask because he knew the answer. He knew it was wrong, but did it anyway. Last year, the same thing happened and his grandma was scared and upset. He didn’t seem to be learning his lesson, so this time there would be consequences. No riding lessons with Cody for three weeks. They were just trying to keep him safe. James said his mom would say the same thing, and Nathan asked if he had something to say to Lulu. James said he was sorry, and Lulu said she was happy he was okay and hugged him.

Tracy said, fine. She’d look the other way for Laura, but if Martin ever crossed her family again, she would come at him with a wrath so fierce not even her great love for his sister would stop it. Martin said, understood, and Laura asked if they had a truce. Martin said it worked for him, and Tracy said, the best thing that ever happened to him was having Laura for a sister. She left, and Martin said she was right. Laura told him that she thought Tracy meant what she said. And she meant what she said. She loved him, but swore if he went after Tracy again, she wouldn’t lift a finger to help him.

Chase said he wouldn’t let anything or anyone come between him and Brook. She was the most important thing in his life, and he was sorry she felt otherwise. Brook said she didn’t. He was her safe place, and she was so grateful they could be honest. He said the hard conversations made them stronger, and she said they had so far. She loved him. He said he loved her too. She’d never know how much. They kissed.

Josslyn told Carly that she’d dated a spy. Everything she knew about them, she learned from Vaughn. He told her that lying was not what she’d thought it was. He didn’t want to lie to her. He wanted to tell the truth, but the truth wasn’t his to share anymore. At first, she thought he didn’t care about her, but it was the opposite. Because it hurt him, it proved he cared. Carly said Josslyn didn’t have to worry. Her eyes were wide open. She knew exactly who Jack was. They left.

Britt got another win, but Jason’s throw was a fail. She said she’d let him know when it was time to collect and asked if he wanted another round. He said, sure, and when she went to get the drinks, he got a bullseye.

Cullum said Jack would tell him what he knew, starting with Spoon Island. Did he have assets with eyes on Sidwell? Jack said there had been enough leaks already to justify caution. Agent Moreau’s actions nearly cost him two agents. He wouldn’t make that mistake again. So respectfully, he wasn’t divulging information on his assets. Cullum said that wasn’t what he wanted to hear, and Jack said he was aware and apologized. Let him concentrate on Spoon Island, while Cullum found Devane. Cullum left.

Gio asked if Emma was okay with this, and she thanked him for asking. He said, always, and she said, yes. He asked if she was sure, and she said she’d thought a lot about this. You, me, us. She was definitely okay with it. They got busy and there was a song part.

🫔 Friday’s Enchilada Barely Tasted…

Gio and Emma bask in the afterglow, and he asks what her beautiful smile is for. She says, nothing. She’s just really glad he’s here. They kiss.

Anna wakes, and says, what are you doing? Stop. I need a doctor. I don’t know who you are. You don’t know anything about my condition. Obrecht says, I know all about you, scarecrow.

At Alexis’s office, Trina says they know she was doing her job and had to defend her client to the best of her ability, but what they have trouble with is the truth and the fact it doesn’t matter to anyone. Willow can get away with everything. How is that justice? Kai says, unless she doesn’t believe them. They could see it then. How Willow’s ringtone isn’t the smoking gun for her like it is for them, so she doesn’t believe Willow shot Drew. Alexis says she actually does believe them.

Outside of Bobbie’s, Dante says, Chase must have left early this morning, and Chase says he had a meeting with IA. He owned up to everything. Dante says, good. He’s glad to hear it. Chase says he knows why Dante is pissed at him. He skated right up to the line. Dante says, yeah, he did, and Chase says, but he didn’t cross it. He needs Dante to know he’d never destroy evidence.

Nina goes to Drew’s house, and he says, it’s a little early, but she says, they don’t need to chat. She’s here for Willow. She’s surprising Willow with a day out. Drew says, listen… but Nina continues, they’re going shopping then maybe to see the new exhibit at The Chuck. Then lunch at the Port Charles Grill. She wants to take Willow’s mind off of the trial. Drew says, she should have called first, and Nina says she’s Willow’s mother. Is he saying she needs an appointment to see her own daughter? Drew says, she should have called because Willow’s not here.

Willow meets Michael at Café Cherie, and he thanks her for coming. She says she almost didn’t. The last time she accepted an invitation from him, she was dragged away in handcuffs in front of her children. What’s in store this time? Is he planning an encore with leg irons?

Gio asks if Emma is having second thoughts, and she asks if she looks like she’s having second thoughts. He says, no, but maybe she’s just being nice. She says, right. Because she’s such a people pleaser. She’s been ready to take this next step. What about him? Any regrets? He says, not a chance, and they get busy again.

Anna says, stop it. She needs a doctor. She needs her doctor. Obrecht says, for now, she is Anna’s doctor. Anna has polycythemia vera, which means they need to lower her red blood cell count. They don’t want a thrombotic incident. Anna asks, what happened to her? She knows they’re not friends… Obrecht says, no, they’re not, and Anna says, but they’re not enemies anymore either. Obrecht wouldn’t hurt her. Obrecht asks if she’s certain of that, and Anna says she is certain and she’s certain that Obrecht wouldn’t help these people. Obrecht says, she’s right. She wouldn’t have moved Anna here, but then, he insisted. Anna says, no. He’s dead. Cesar Faison is dead. Obrecht says they know better than that. He can fool the whole world, but not the two of them. They both know he can survive anything, and he has. Anna says, after everything that man did to Obrecht. He tormented her. Obrecht says, you only hurt the ones you love and sometimes you hurt for them. She has to do whatever he needs doing for him. Anna asks, why? She doesn’t understand. Obrecht says, he will never let Anna go.

Obrecht finds Britt at the hospital and says, it’s good to see her acclimating to her rightful position. Britt thanks her, and Obrecht asks how soon before she returns to her former appointment and is running the place? Britt says, what? and Obrecht says, Dr. Robinson’s situation left a power vacuum and she’s the natural choice to fill it. Britt says, Portia wasn’t fired, and Obrecht says, not yet, but it’s only a matter of time, but Britt says she doesn’t know. She’s in a good mood. Obrecht says, of course (🍷), now that I’m here, but Britt says, that’s not what she… She doesn’t want to spoil her mood by fighting with Obrecht today. Obrecht says, today is her lucky day. She’s not here to fight. She’s here for Rocco.

Alexis says she looked into what Trina and Kai told her and unfortunately, it checked out, and Trina asks why she didn’t do anything, especially since they had evidence of Willow’s guilt. Alexis says, it’s evidence she can’t admit. It’s the prosecution’s job to prove Willow guilty, not hers. Willow is entitled to a lawyer who will defend her presumption of innocence, just like anybody else, and even if Willow confessed, she wouldn’t be able to say anything, since she’s not the police, judge, or jury. Trina says she doesn’t know how Alexis does it, defending someone when she knows they’re guilty, and Alexis says she has to defend her clients to the best of her ability whether they’re innocent or guilty. Trust her. She’d much prefer they were innocent, but they can see that’s not always the case. She had to make the strongest argument for Willow’s freedom, and she’ll do the same for both of them, if and when they choose to go to the police.

Drew tells Nina that Willow went for a walk. She said she needed to get some fresh air. He offered to go with her, but she said she preferred to be alone. She wanted to think. Nina wonders if Willow needed to get away from him, and he says he’ll be sure to tell Willow that she stopped by. She says, do that, and sits down. She says she’s sorry she missed her daughter, but she’s glad they have a moment alone. He says he has nothing to say to her, but she says she does, so he can just listen. She wants to thank him. He’s done a great deal for her daughter and she appreciates it. He says, that’s interesting. She’s never shown any appreciation for anything he’s done for Willow in the past, like loving her, asking her to move in, and marry… Nina says she’s talking about the trial. He hired Alexis to defend Willow. He says, with the right incentive, Alexis came through, and she says, Alexis did her very best, but if after all this, they still don’t get the verdict they’re hoping for, she would ask him to let her take care of her daughter from now on. He asks what she means. Does she want to bake a cake with a file in it? Nina says she means they tried it his way. Now it’s time to do it her way.

Chase says he loves his job and cares about getting his badge back, but it’s not just about that, and Dante says, what else is it about? Chase says, you and me. They were partners and they are family. Dante’s got to know he didn’t tamper with the evidence. Dante says he believes Chase, but they still need proof. He still has to investigate what happened. Chase says he understands that, and Dante says he needs to also understand that the traffic cam footage puts Willow in the vicinity of Drew’s house at the time of the shooting. Chase says he gets that, but Michael was also in the vicinity, and Dante says, he was, and he understands Chase believes Willow is innocent. Chase says he does, and Dante says he needs to know how far Chase would go to protect her. Just like he needs to figure out how far he went to protect his brother.

Michael asks if Willow showed up just to relitigate the past. He’s not interested in doing that. She says, that’s what the custody hearing is for, and he says, actually, that’s what he wanted to talk about. He wants them to put aside their personal issues for now and focus on Wiley and Amelia. She says, that’s all she ever wanted, and he says, they have time while the jury is still out. She says, to do what? and he says, discuss what happens with the kids if she’s found guilty. She says they’ve got to do that, and he says, yeah, you and me, together.

Britt asks why Obrecht wants to talk about Rocco, and Obrecht says, Rocco joined his school’s hockey team. She wants to buy season tickets so they can attend. They just posted the schedule, and she thought she’d purchase jerseys with Rocco’s name on them. Britt says, presumably to wear at home where no one can see them, especially Rocco, and Obrecht says she wants to also get them two custom made giant polyurethane fingers. Waving them about is an odd custom, but very effective. Britt says, yeah, if you want to embarrass yourself and the person you’re waving them about for, but Obrecht says she doesn’t wish to embarrass anyone. She’s simply looking forward to cheering Rocco on in the rink. Britt asks if Rocco’s told her that he wants her there. Did he ask her to buy fingers and jerseys? Obrecht asks why he’d have to. They love him and this is how they show support. Britt says, maybe she’d be showing the opposite. It makes no sense. No one in Rocco’s family wants them to be there. Obrecht says, they are Rocco’s family, and Britt says, except, not exactly. Why make Rocco’s life more stressful than it has to be? Obrecht will do what she wants, but as for her, she thinks it’s better if she kept her distance from Rocco.

Nina says she’s not really judging or complaining how Drew and Alexis managed the initial defense, but if Willow is found guilty, she wants her lawyers to handle the appeal process. Drew says he’s going to do her a huge favor, and she says, okay, fine. He needs this and it would be noble of him to hand over the reins…  He says, not that. He’s never going to tell Willow that they had this conversation. She’ll never know that her own mother was hoping she’d be convicted, so she could swoop in and save the day.

Trina says, Alexis told them not to go to the police, that they’d be tried for trespassing and obstruction, and Alexis says, that’s right and they probably still would be. Kai tells her that it feels like she’s saying it’s the only way for them to share what they know about Willow… and Alexis says, if they’d stayed on the scene, not taken anything out of the safe, and went straight to the police, the situation would be different, but they didn’t. Kai says, couldn’t they have made some kind of deal? and Alexis says, maybe. If they’d come to her sooner, she might have set them up with Diane or Marco and they could have gone to Turner and struck a deal immediately as an exchange for evidence, but that didn’t happen. Trina says, there’s no verdict yet. There has to be something they can do. Kai says they should have just stayed on the scene. Then it would have been an open and shut case. Alexis says, not necessarily. Keep in mind that Turner thought circumstantial evidence was enough. She didn’t think she needed an eyewitness to swing the jury. Kai says, and she thinks there’s still a chance that could be true? but Alexis says she doesn’t know. Which is why she’s advising them not to do anything. Wait for the verdict, then decide what to do. Trina says, what about Michael? If Willow is found not guilty, will Michael be prosecuted next?

Michael says, a lot happened to him in his childhood that messed him up, and Willow says she remembers. He says he tried to hide that part in himself and thinks he’s gotten pretty good at it, but still feels it every day. He knows she suffered growing up. She says, it’s true she has ghosts too, and he says, there’s not much they agree on these days, but he knows she doesn’t want their kids to carry the same kind of damage that was inflicted on them. He knows she doesn’t want them to carry the things they do. She says, of course (🍷) she doesn’t. She wants them to feel safe and loved. She never wants them to feel the desperate need to make things right and please someone at all costs. She wants them to feel secure and sure of themselves. He says he wants that too, and she says, so what exactly is he asking? Why is she here? He says, there are programs for incarcerated mothers with young children. They’re afforded special visiting hours and granted greater exposure to their kids. He promises he’ll make sure she gets to see and speak to Wiley and Amelia as much as possible. She says she wishes they’d made that arrangement months ago. So what is he proposing they do now? He says he thinks they should tell the kids where she’s going together. He wants them to know they both love them and want what’s best for them. She says, to be clear, he’ll let her have access to her kids if she goes to prison, and he says, yes. It’s taken too much of a toll on them as it is. Can they please be together on this? She says, they can, but just one question. What if she doesn’t go to prison? What happens to all this unity if she’s found not guilty?  

Gio brings out some pastry boxes and says he just keeps expecting to hear Emma’s grandmother walk through the front door. Emma says she wouldn’t worry about it too much. Don’t get her wrong. When her grandmother first left, she kept everything exactly as it was – perfect and pristine, just in case. She just got used to living alone. He asks if she’s sure about that, and she says, yeah. This place is great and she loves the perks. And trust her, it’s a lot easier not to wake the neighbors than not to wake her grandmother. He says, she’s a cop and a spy. She probably sleeps with one eye open. Emma says, exactly… and he says, what? She says, as embarrassing as it would be if her grandmother came home right now… He says, she misses her, doesn’t she? and Emma says, yeah. She really does. He kisses her.

Obrecht asks if Rocco wants Britt to keep her distance, but Britt says she wouldn’t know. She hasn’t heard from him since he texted that he community service after the break-in. Obrecht says, wunderbar, and Britt says, it’s better than jail time, but Obrecht says she means Rocco wanting to share his good news with her. Britt says she guesses, and Obrecht says, no guessing. It’s a lovely moment with a child and the woman who gave him life. What did she text back? Britt says she told him that she was happy he was okay, and Obrecht says, and? Britt says, and nothing, and Obrecht says, that’s it?: Not even a thumbs up emoji? Britt says, Lulu is on the warpath and doesn’t want Rocco to have anything to do with her, and Obrecht says, so she knows what Lulu wants. What does Rocco want? Britt says she’s not going to force herself on the kid, but Obrecht says, she’s his birth mother. Britt says she was his surrogate, but Obrecht says, she’s more than that. We are more than that. Rocco is alive and exists because of her. She brought him into the world. That’s why he needs to know he matters to both of them, mostly her, because she’s his mother. Britt says she doesn’t know about that, and Obrecht says, that’s fine. Because she does.

Nina says she’s pretty sure that Willow will be grateful that she stepped in after Drew led her to the brink of a life sentence with his crack legal strategy. Drew says, Willow will be found innocent because of him, and she says, being found innocent is not a thing, but she might be found not guilty in spite of him. He coerced Alexis to put him on the stand to stroke his own ego, and instead of defending his wife, he attacked Michael. Drew says, he deserved it, but Nina says, Drew came off unhinged. The only good thing that came out of it was, everyone could see why so many people wanted to shoot him twice in the back. He says, she’s delusional, and she says, her daughter had to testify. Why does he think that is? Oh wait. She had to clean up his mess. Because if Alexis would have rested her case after his sorry performance, the jury would have come back with a verdict, and her daughter would be headed to prison. Drew says he’s the only one Willow can count on. He’s the one who got Alexis in line. She says, in line? Alexis basically said Willow was guilty to the jury in her closing statement. He says, it was a slip of the tongue, and she says, it threw Willow’s defense in jeopardy. She is not having her daughter spend twenty years of her life in prison because she had the bad taste and misfortune of hooking up with him.

Dante tells Chase that he’s going over the case again, starting with the night of the shooting. He’s going over the physical evidence and seeing if there’s anything he missed and anything he might have missed implicating Michael as the shooter. Chase says, good. It’s the right thing to do. Dante says, it could go either way. It could mean either Michael or Willow could be the shooter. Chase says, sounds like reasonable doubt to him, and Dante says, it is… until it’s not. Chase says, maybe for Michael, but right now, only Willow is on trial. If the verdict goes against her, promise not to stop investigating. The only way they can set aside a guilty verdict is if they can prove Michael did it. (Because there were no other suspects. <sigh>)

Alexis says, a lot has to happen before Michael is held responsible for Drew’s shooting, and Trina says, but it could happen. Alexis says, the courts don’t like hunting expeditions. The court wants the prosecution’s ducks all in a row in the first trial. If there’s a second trial, the new defendant will have to be ironclad. Forget reasonable doubt. No doubt at all. Trina asks if she’s saying it won’t happen, and Alexis says she’s not psychic. She doesn’t know if it will or it won’t. Kai says, if it does and they come forward… Trina says, then Michael could get off the hook, and Alexis says she still stands by her advice to do nothing until the jury comes back. Then they can decide. She leaves.

Willow asks Michael to answer one question. Is he open to revisiting custody… Not even custody, visitation if she’s found not guilty. Or does she have to go to prison to see her kids. Michael says, that’s an entirely different discussion and she knows why. She says, because she married Drew, and he says he doesn’t want his kids anywhere near that man. She says, whatever happens, they need to put their children first and put their hurt and anger aside. Can he do that? Her phone rings, and she says, it’s the courthouse… Hello… Yes… Thank you for letting me know. She tells Michael, the jury is in. They’ve reached a verdict.

Turner tells Dante that she got a call from IA. Before a decision is made about Detective Chase’s reinstatement, they need to know exactly how that footage disappeared. Because as far as she’s concerned, Chase still is the most likely suspect. Dante says he’s thinking that right now all they can do is wait until Internal Affairs finishes their job.

At the courthouse, Trina says she wishes they could tell Michael what they know, and Kai says he thinks Alexis is right. There’s not much they can do right now. However, there is one thing he can say. He goes over to Michael and says, Mr. Corinthos, I hope I’m not overstepping. He was in the courtroom during the congressman’s testimony, and Drew has been good to him, but that doesn’t mean he agrees with anything Drew said. Michael thanks him and says, that means a lot. They shake hands as Drew walks in and sees.

Obrecht says she and Britt belong at the games. Rocco deserves to look into the stands and see Britt cheering him on like the maniac she knows Britt can be. Britt says she’s been called a lot of things, but maniac… No. She could definitely pull that off. Obrecht says, even a more restrained Britt without a foam finger and jersey deserves to be at Rocco’s games. She has the right to watch Rocco doing something he love. She has the right to be proud. Britt says she wants to be there. She wants to be part of Rocco’s life, but doesn’t want to make life harder for him. Obrecht says, she is his mother. It’s an inevitable part of the job description. Britt says, not like this, it isn’t, and Rocco already has a mother, one who wants her to stay far, far away from him. Obrecht says, Britt carried him and gave birth to him, two things Lulu was physically and medically incapable of doing, and Britt says, that part is true, leaving out a couple of things that really matter to Lulu. Obrecht says, whether Lulu likes it or not, Britt matters to Rocco. So she needs to make him a priority. Take her advice. Don’t repeat the mistakes she made with her.

Emma says she knows her grandmother is out there somewhere, doing her duty, saving the world, and that’s great. Gio says, it really is, and Emma says, but she wishes her grandmother would just wrap it up and come home. He says, even though she drove Emma crazy? and Emma says, she did, especially at first. Her grandmother was always wondering where she was at, what she was doing, who she was with, and her grandmother didn’t trust her at all. He says, well… and she says, they know she lied and got expelled after committing a couple of minor infractions… which she has now committed on both coasts. But as someone who’s spent decades in espionage, she thinks her grandmother has seen a lot worse. He says, that is such a low bar and she’s Anna’s granddaughter. She says, yeah. She’d love nothing more than to tell her grandmother about her life. She really just wants to tell her about him. He says, what exactly does Emma want to tell her? and she playfully shoves him, saying, relax. She’ll keep this part to herself. He says, good. He doesn’t want to get on Anna’s bedside. She could probably kill him with her thumb. Emma says, she totally could, and he says, you know what? She’ll be back soon. She says, he thinks so? and he says, she’d better be. His Grandpa Sonny is itching to have Emma over for dinner and wants her to bring Anna. He wants to do the whole deal with the four of them. Emma says she’d love that. All she wants to do is call her grandmother and tell her to come home. Anyway, she takes it that things are going good with Sonny. He says, yeah. Things are great. He’s a great guy and super easy to live with. She says, counting his blessings, and he says, yeah. Still, at some point he’s got to find a place of his own. She asks if Sonny said that or… and he says, Sonny wouldn’t. He just needs someplace where he’s not crashing, like with her, his grandfather, and the Quartermaines. She says, great. He knows what he doesn’t want. Any thoughts about what he does want to do?

A woman in scrubs leaves Anna’s room, and Pascal asks how Anna is. The woman says, she’s stabilized. The phlebotomy treatment was successful. He asks how she responded to the other treatment, and the woman says, just as he’d hoped. Anna was convinced that she was Dr. Obrecht. He says, good. That means they’re ready for the next phase.

In the courtroom, Chase thanks Alexis for everything she did for Willow. She went to bat for Willow and he knows why. Alexis says, he does? and he says, she knows Willow couldn’t do what she’s accused of. She just couldn’t. Drew wonders where Willow is and asks if Nina has heard from her. Nina says, no, she hasn’t, and he says he doesn’t understand. There’s just no way she’d turn off her phone while they’re waiting for the verdict. Nina says, maybe she panicked and ran off, but Drew says, she knows nothing about her daughter, and Willow walks in.

Obrecht says she was furious when Britt disappeared and left her to grieve her death, and Britt says she hasn’t forgotten. But is it over? Obrecht says, not entirely. Some rage and disappointment linger. Mostly, she’s sad. Britt says, why sad? Anger she can understand. Betrayal even. But why sad? Obrecht says, Britt felt she needed to run away from her. She missed her chance to be a real mother to her when it mattered most. Britt says, that’s not true. Obrecht was there for her when she died. Obrecht says, she didn’t die, and Britt says, but she didn’t know that. When she closed her eyes for what she thought was the last time, all that was left was peace… and her. She never needed her more than at that moment and she was there. Obrecht says, it’s the least she could have done, the very least. She wasted so much of her life on Cesar, neglecting her in the process. Britt learned over and over again that the only person she could trust was herself. Why would that change when she was facing her own death?

Gio tells Emma that he could go back to PCU. There’s still time to register for spring classes. She says she doesn’t want to influence him one way or another, but that would be great, and he says, then he wouldn’t have a scholarship. That means he’ll have to ask Grandpa Sonny to help out with tuition. So… She says, he really doesn’t want to go back to music? and he says he’s not ready to make that call. Not yet at least. She’s says, that’s okay. Tons of people go to college, and they don’t know what they want to do with their lives. He says, that’s the thing. He did. He thought he knew. He had no doubt that music was going to be in his life, but now… She says, he’s lucky music was his passion then. Not everyone has that. She knows she certainly didn’t. He says, really? She’s such an activist. She says, you can’t exactly major in animal rights, but you can in veterinary medicine. He says, what? She wants to be a vet? That’s great. How long has she known? She says she just decided. Not right this second, but recently. It took a long time for her to figure it out. He says, it was definitely worth the wait, and she says, think so? It’s a really competitive field. He says, and she shies away from competition. She says she’s a total wallflower. He’s right anyway. She felt like it was time for her to declare a major. All she’s ever wanted to do is help animals. He says he knows. He’s seen her in action. She’s been amazing. She thanks him and says, the point is, she didn’t always know what she wanted to do either. He says he gets that. It’s just hard to picture going back to doing anything that’s not music. She says she thinks that’s why going back is a great thing. He can take a bunch of new classes and can find a new passion. He says, it’s not as easy as she’s making it sound, and she says, nothing worthwhile is. He’s smart and capable. They rescued ten dogs from Dalton’s lab. She thinks they can find a couple of classes for him to take. He says she’s hard to say no to, and she says, good. She promises him that they’re going to find the next thing together.

Willow apologizes for cutting it close, and Drew asks, where was she? but the bailiff says, all rise. Judge Sullivan says, be seated, and tells the bailiff to bring in the jury. The jury files in and the judge asks if they’ve reached a verdict. The forewoman says they have, and gives the verdict to the bailiff, who gives it to the judge.

Gio says, if anyone is going to help him figure out what to do next, it’s Emma, and she says he’s just telling her that she’s super pushy, isn’t he? He says, the night he found out about his birth parents, he went back to the Quartermaines to grab his stuff. He didn’t have anywhere to go, and she said they’d figure it out. And they did. She says, because you never know how things are going to turn out. Just like how she thought they’d just be friends… best friends. He says, they’re like besties? and she says she’s just trying to tell him that she wasn’t sure he’d ever return her feelings. He says, look how wrong she is, and they kiss.

Obrecht says she wasted so much of her life on Cesar. Her children, especially Britt, deserved more from her. Now Cesar is nothing but a brain in a jar. Britt says, yes, he is, and Obrecht says, he’s not a priority. Her priority is her family. Britt, her brother, and Rocco, genetics be damned. Britt says she doesn’t know how many games she can make, but order her a jersey, and Obrecht says she already did. They laugh and hug, and Britt asks what Obrecht knows about ice hockey. Obrecht says, only that you can never see the puck. Their boy will be playing, and they’ll be there to cheer him on.

Anna says, Liesl? Are you still here? She sees an ashtray with a cigarello in it, still burning. She sits up, and over the loudspeaker, Faison’s voice says, Anna. Don’t be afraid. I’ve been watching over you.

Judge Sullivan reads the verdict (sneak preview perk!) and returns it to the bailiff. The bailiff hands it back to the forewoman, and the judge says, Willow Tait, please rise. Willow stands and he says, proceed. The forewoman says, we, the jury, find Willow Tait not guilty. Soap looks all around.

On Monday, Alexis says she came through for Drew and expects the same in return; Turner says, thanks to Chase’s interference, he may be the one who ends up in prison; and Sonny says he’s going to make sure Michael doesn’t go down for this.

🧼 All the Soap News Fit To Print…

The latest in Directors.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/general-hospital-comings-goings-andrew-hawkes-debuts-as-wsb-director-ross-cullum-sidwells-accomplice/

What Anna has.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/what-blood-cancer-does-anna-have-on-general-hospital-her-polycythemia-vera-diagnosis-explained/

Why they chose her.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/general-hospitals-head-writers-reveal-why-they-chose-willow-as-drews-shooter-exclusive/

Welcome back!

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/general-hospital-comings-goings-carolyn-hennesy-returns-as-diane-says-fans-got-me-through-injury-excl/

I’m so psyched!

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/general-hospital-comings-and-goings-shocker-anders-hove-returns-as-cesar-faison-but-with-a-twist/

Phase one of Tony Geary tribute.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/general-hospital-sets-date-for-anthony-geary-tribute-featuring-genie-francis/

Still to be determined.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/general-hospital-is-working-on-a-story-to-honor-tristan-rogers-and-robert-scorpio-says-exec/

💉 A Dose Of Reality…

Below Deck Mediterranean

In a nutshell, Max does not want to listen to Nathan who is his actual boss. It was at the point where they argued loudly within earshot of the guests, which is a huge no and pissed off Captain Sandy. I would hate working with Max, although he does counterbalance his lack of work ethic by being a stellar boatmancer with Cathy. Too bad Cathy isn’t ready for commitment conversations. Worse than anything, even the weather, was Eyebrows Joe and Kizzy. I don’t care how much Joe weeps and wails in his interviews, he’s a d-bag and he found his d-bag person on this boat. Even Nathan had to tell him to cool his jets, and Kizzy doesn’t even pretend to be sorry. There was a big to-do with Cathy about chicken nuggets at the end, but I didn’t get it.

Below Deck Mediterranean Season 10 Episode 16 Recap: Death by Nuggets

The Real Housewives Of Salt Lake City  

It was the Reunion Part 1, and I’d like to know what was up with several of the women wearing prom dresses. Since they’d reached 100 episodes, we went down Memory Lane. There were receipts, proof, timelines, and screenshots, and Lisa informed us that she did big things with big people and guess what? She was a big deal. It was determined that Heather and Mary had changed the most. While I concur that Mary is a newer, more pleasant version of herself, Heather’s changes were more of the Ozempic variety and she’s also become snarkier.

Real Housewives of Salt Lake City Season 6 Episode 17 Recap: A Truce Was Broken

Vanderpump Rules

At a photo shoot for TomTom merch, LVP found out that not only had a couple of SUR employees and a friend of Audrey’s caused mayhem at TomTom – screaming, crying, and ripping things down – Jason had a penis pump. I should have kept count at how many times they said penis pump throughout the show because they never shut up about it. Seriously, when is this season over and can we reboot the reboot?

Vanderpump Rules Season 12 Episode 6 Recap: Audrey Was Over Angelica’s Antics

Southern Charm

After Salley went out and got a whole set-up to raise chickens, with Craig’s encouragement, she decided to confess she was catching feelings for him while they were at the grocery store. Craig made it clear they were just friends, and admitted to the guys later that he’d invited Salley to his hot tub just so Charley would come along. Charley felt guilty about her date with Craig, but not so guilty that she wasn’t going to go. Madison had a girls’ sleepover, where Salley told them about her conversation with Craig, and Venita left, insulted by something Salley said. The guys crashed the sleepover, sans Craig. When Austen spilled the tea about Craig talking smack about Salley (for some reason he’s pissed at her now), Salley said she realized Craig had been manipulating both of them and Charley would eventually realize it. She wished Craig was there so she could slap him in the face. I often think this while watching the show, so I identified.

And in a Venita update, on Watch What Happens Live, she said she and Carl (Summer House) are taking it one day at a time.

Southern Charm Season 11 Episode 7 Recap: The Love Triangle Implodes

Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills

Still in Sedona, the women had to cook for themselves. Oh, the horror! There was a lot of discussion about Sutton and Avi. Apparently, a friend of Amanda’s said she should give Avi a call and he’d give her the dirt on Sutton. And if she hired Avi, it would really piss Sutton off. Amanda is working my last nerve already. Not only is she a person who flaunts labels – nothing wrong with designer pieces, but not glaringly obvious head-to-toe – she consistently talks about how much she has and how much her stuff cost. She also claims to have manifested her Abercrombie model boyfriend. Hey, if manifestation was a real thing, I’d be a skabillionaire by now. Anyway, this woman is seriously rubbing me the wrong way. Sadly, Jennifer told Kyle that she thought one of the reasons Garcelle left was because it was always about Sutton. This made me feel bad because Jennifer and Sutton seem to be such good friends and it sounds like cracks are forming. I’m also not so sure that’s true. Who it’s about seems to depend on the storylines focused on. Of course I don’t hang out with Sutton personally, but as long as she pays for lunch, it can be about her all she wants.

Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Season 15 Episode 5 Recap: Who Is Suspicious of Amanda?

The Valley: Persian Style

The new people aren’t firmly implanted in my brain yet and I continue to mix them up, so I’m grateful to hear Reza J., the other non-white Reza, being called RJ. When newbie Sky had a trunk show of her jewelry in the backyard, a bored Golnesa fired up a joint, causing Sky to nearly have a coronary. Now, no judgement whatsoever – and she did say it kept the crazy away – but I have to agree she should have asked first. Sky was freaking so hard, I actually looked up to see if it was illegal or something, but no. However, I do get doing the polite thing. Same with smoking a cigarette. When you’re at someone else’s house, you don’t just put your feet up on their coffee table like at home.  Golnesa met with Dennis, who she was married to for two weeks before it was annulled. After which he wasted no time hooking up with her best friend. Alrighty then. Since she needed to move, Reza suggested Golnesa downsize, but she told him that she wouldn’t live south of the Boulevard because it’s not safe. I dunno. I think anyone that tried anything with her would be the one who wasn’t safe.

The Valley: Persian Style Episode 3 Recap: Long Time No See

Random Reality Items

I actually saw this episode last night. While I think it’s been made a bigger deal than it should be and I honestly don’t think he meant it in a derogatory way, that’s not my call to make.

Michael Rapaport Branded ‘Homophobic’ After Traitors Clash With Colton Underwood

A little confusing, but it sounds like she’s actually doing well, despite having bad days.

John Mellencamp Gives Emotional Update on Daughter Teddi’s Stage 4 Cancer Battle

This sounds promising.

Real Housewives: Ultimate Road Trip Cast Revealed

Aww, congrats!

RHOC Star Gina Kirschenheiter Shares Engagement Video After Boyfriend Travis Mullen’s Proposal

👀 Last Weekend’s Watch…

Borderline. Amazon Prime, Peacock. Believing they’re destined to be together, an obsessive, deranged fan enters the home of a pop star uninvited and planning to marry her. He’s brought along two cohorts who have broken out of the asylum with him and are helping him in his pursuit of love. There are some fun and action-filled moments, but I have to agree with the reviewer who said it left them feeling like there should have been more.

https://www.movieinsider.com/m21788/borderline

https://nofspodcast.com/borderline-review-a-twisted-thriller-that-doesnt-quite-cut-deep-enough

Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale. Peacock, Amazon Prime. Unlike one reviewer below, I didn’t find the first two films pointless, but more an extension of the series, of which I was a fan. I resisted watching it for a long time until one hung over New Year’s Day where I caught some episodes on PBS, decided it wasn’t bad, and got a free DVD boxed set of the entire series when I made a mere $300 donation. Hey, I said I was hung over, and it was/is a good cause. In this final film, a lot of attention is paid to Mary being a divorcée, which gets her disinvited to many events. But the times, they are a changing. A lot of the staff is retiring or moving on, and a subplot concerning Robert passing the estate torch to Mary. A visit by Noel Coward, with Thomas in tow, brings everyone together. It was a delightful, fitting ending to a wonderful story.

Movie Review — “Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale”

Great photos.

Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale (2025)

Juror #2. HBO MAX. Yeah, I know, late to this party. It’s been on my short list for a while. The plot is simple, but the twists and turns are not. A man is on trial for a hit and run, and juror #2 thinks it might be him who’s guilty. Anything with Toni Colette in it is worth watching, and this film doesn’t disappoint.

https://mamasgeeky.com/2025/01/juror-2-review.html

htting gops://www.pluggedin.com/movie-reviews/juror-number-2-2024/

Suddenly Amish. TLC, HBO MAX. I had to laugh when I saw the name of this show. It sounds like they woke up Amish or something. What’s sudden about it is the fact that none of these people, with the exception of one Amish afficionado, knows a damn thing about the culture and their beliefs. They seem to be surprised at every aspect of it that even the average person knows, like they don’t show a lot of skin and don’t use electricity. News flash. There are ways of living off the grid that don’t involve going full-on bonnet and carriage.

https://www.tlc.com/shows/suddenly-amish

https://www.tvinsider.com/gallery/suddenly-amish-cast-season-1-tlc-photos/

🐉 Beyond the Wall…

I’ll believe it when I see it, but I live in hope.

https://ew.com/jon-snow-game-of-thrones-sequel-reportedly-revived-hbo-11886345

I didn’t like the ending either, but remaking it is ridiculous.

https://ew.com/game-of-thrones-kit-harington-genuinely-angered-fan-petition-remake-final-season-11883974

And while we’re on the subject.

https://nerdist.com/article/a-knight-of-the-seven-kingdoms-review/

🏆 As the Globe Spins…

The wins.

https://ew.com/2026-golden-globes-winners-full-list-11881675

 The fashion.

https://ew.com/golden-globes-2026-red-carpet-photos-11882596

The best and worst moments.

https://ew.com/golden-globes-2026-best-and-worst-moments-11883217

🐶 They’re the Top…

🐕 I’ve been to this a few times. The best moment was when a Golden Retriever pooped in the ring. We applauded.

https://caninechronicle.com/breaking-news/over-30000-champion-dogs-from-all-over-the-world-to-compete-at-the-historic-150th-westminster-kennel-club-dog-show-january-31-february-2-3-in-new-york-city/

🪞 Pfft! The Kardashians got nothing on these dogs.

https://nypost.com/2026/01/16/lifestyle/westminster-kennel-club-dog-show-2026-behind-the-scenes-with-the-glammest-dogs/

🥍 And what’s a show without a flyball tournament?

https://caninechronicle.com/breaking-news/fan-favorite-flyball-tournament-returns-for-milestone-150th-westminster-kennel-club-dog-show/

🎰 Quotes of the Week

I just wanna say, this award goes to people who have had their doors closed at them, and that I can confidently say rejection is redirection. And so never give up, and you know, it’s never too late to shine like you were born to be. – Ejae, accepting the Golden Globe for KPop Demon Hunters’Golden

You can only grow if you are willing to feel awkward and uncomfortable when you try something new. – Brian Tracy

I’m not as young as I used to be. I was never as young as I used to be. – Jennifer Tilly, The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills

Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow; it empties today of its strength. – Corrie ten Boom

Those who do not find time for exercise will have to find time for illness. – Earl of Derby (I don’t have time for illness either.)

One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well. – Virginia Woolf

Sounds like a coronary. Just walk it off. – Coronado Elder (Brian Thompson), Fallout

🛷 A Lingering Season…

Until next time, stay safe; stay taking care of your health during flu season; and stay remembering you never know how things are going to turn out.