Tag Archives: The Guess Who

August 11, 2020 – Curtis Becomes a Thorn, New Sheriff In Town, InstaSoap, Witchy Woman, Challenging, Con Cancel & Time

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What I Watched Today

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

 

General Hospital

Sam sits by Jason’s bedside, and sees she’s missed three calls form Michael. She tells Jason, the doctors tell her that he’s right on track. His vitals are excellent. He can open his eyes at any time, and when he does, she’ll be there waiting.

Michael says, good news. Jason hasn’t regained consciousness, but that’s normal at this stage, and he’s expected to make a full recovery. He’s hoping they get good news in court as well. Brook asks if there are still testimonies to be given, and Willow says, everyone has said what they have to say. Michael says, the judge’s decision is all that’s left.

At the MetroCourt, Nelle tells Martin that he’s late. He says if she wants him to be on time, she needs to show up on time. He needs to get his coffee, and she says they have to think of an excuse for her not to be in court. There’s no way she’s going into the courtroom today.

On the phone, Jordan says she knows she should have given Laura a heads up. It’s within Laura’s purview to ask her to resign. When she’s done, she sees TJ, and says she didn’t know he was working. He says he got to observe a surgery, and she says she hopes he’s not skipping PT. He says he’s been going, and his leg is almost as good as new. She says, as a mom, she gets to worry about her son, and he says, as a son, he gets to worry about his mom. He heard her on the phone with the mayor. Does she think she’s going to be fired for endorsing Cyrus?

Lucy sees Cyrus at the MetroCourt bar, and congratulates him, not just on being exonerated, but for the amazingly enthusiastic stamp of approval from the Commissioner. She introduces herself, and he says he thought she looked familiar. He’s been pouring over her book. It’s helping him get acclimated to his new home town. The photo on the jacket doesn’t do her justice. She thanks him, and says, as someone who’s been wrongly accused a number of times, it’s heartening how he’s getting through the wake of inaccurate accusation. He says, it’s good to meet a kindred spirit, and she says she hopes they’ll have more in common. She’s the chairperson for the biggest, brightest, most awesome event in Port Charles – the Nurses Ball. She hopes she can count on his contribution. Frankly, I’d love to see him perform.

Brook tells Michael and Willow that she’ll do anything to help, and Willow says maybe they’ll take her up on it. Olivia and Ned join them, and Brook asks if they kissed and made up. Ned says they’re fine. He’s glad they’re all there. They have to pull together as a family. Brook asks, for what? and Michael says he’d like to know too. Ned says, it shouldn’t take long. He’s holding an emergency meeting of the ELQ shareholders. They’re officially voting on bailing GH out of their financial troubles.

On the phone, Valentin tells Skye that he’ll be there.

Sam tells Jason, Epiphany saved them again. Her parole officer was about to barge in, and would have slapped her with a parole violation, but it won’t be a problem for them anymore. Valentin comes in, and asks how Jason is doing. She says, his prognosis is good, and he says she was able to stay. He guesses she had no trouble with her parole officer. She says, thanks to him, and he says, it was a temporary fix, but he can make it permanent as soon as she signs. He has a succinct strategy. She agrees to delegate Danny and Scout’s ELQ voting power to him until their respective 18th birthdays, and if her parole officer shows up again, it will be the last time. He tells her that she doesn’t have to trust him. He has other places he has to be, so is she going to sign or not. She looks at an unconscious Jason.

Cyrus tells Lucy, the Nurses Ball was a favorite part of the book, but it was all fascinating. She thanks him, and says, the history of Port Charles practically wrote itself. He says the Nurses Ball is a colorful part, and she says, since he’s interested, now would be the perfect time… He says to give a contribution to the Nurses Ball? He’ll even underwrite it. She says, Sonny traditionally underwrites it, but Cyrus says he doesn’t see why they both can’t shoulder the burden. It’s a worthy charity, and he wants to support the hospital as an institution. She says his timing couldn’t be more perfect. The hospital is being maligned by that nasty piece of baggage, Nelle Benson. He says he’s heard, but she says she’s sure the Quartermaines have it covered.

Jordan tells TJ, she’s still employed, and he says not everybody is happy that she told the world Cyrus is a great guy. He’s not happy either. She’s despised Cyrus since his name came up. She says she doesn’t have to like someone to apply the law to their circumstance. When she learned he was framed, she had to come forward with what she knew. TJ says, that would have been enough. Why go the extra mile and vouch for him publicly?

Ned tells the group that Cyrus is making a play for the hospital. They need to act fast. Michael says they need to vote within an hour; he’s due in court. Ned says, it’s a technicality. He can’t imagine anyone voting against it, although he invited Lucy as a tie breaker. Willow is puzzled, and Michael tells her that Lucy has one share in case there’s a tie. Ned says he needs to call Monica and Skye, so she can vote for herself and Lila Raye. Sam is probably staying with Jason today, and he needs to get Danny and Scouts proxy, but it can be done after the meeting. Michael says he can vote for Brook, but Ned says Brook can vote herself. She’s always saying she wants to feel like more of a part of the family, so she can stay and vote.

Martin tells Nelle, no. It’s too late to delay. He understands she’s reluctant. The one character witness she had turned against her. She says she needs one doctor to write her a note that she can’t appear in court. Martin says, it’s not grade school where you bring in a doctor’s note. What could she possibly hope to gain? She says, the judge will have no choice to delay his decision, but he says if the judge has decided in her favor, her frivolous absence could change his mind. Why does she need a doctor’s note? She says so she can prove she’s too ill to appear, and he suggests she’ll appear too frail to be a mother. She says, okay, genius. If that won’t work, what will?

Sam hesitates, then signs. Valentin smiles.

Nelle says she needs a stall tactic, and Martin says, so she has time to do what? She tells him that he needs to get Josslyn to admit she’d be dead without Nelle’s kidney. Or have Jax admit he forced her to be an organ donor. He says the only party who forced anything was her father; he’s responsible. She tells him to get someone to testify about her terrible childhood, but he says, it’s too late. The judge will see through any tricks she pulls, like her sham of a marriage. Sorry. It’s over. She says, so there’s nothing he can do to help her be with her son. He says he didn’t say that. There is one thing.

Ned says, Monica recused herself from the vote. She thought it was inappropriate, given the hospital’s financial troubles are, in part, due to her. Michael says, she did nothing wrong. As far as she knew, Nelle signed the consent form. Willow says as long as Wiley got the help he needed, she’s grateful. Ned says, unfortunately, Nelle’s vindictiveness pushed the hospital into a corner. Ned makes a call, and says, ELQ may not be in a position to help. Skye, Maya, and Lila Ray all sold their shares. Olivia says, so Ned was right about a hostile takeover, and Michael asks, what the hell is going on?

Sam tells Jason that she should have gone over it with him first, but she knows he doesn’t care about the family business. It’s the family he loves.

Ned says he didn’t want to trouble Michael. Michael was focused on other priorities, and he thought he could handle it himself. Michael says it wasn’t Ned’s decision to make, but they’ll deal with it later. Who bought the shares? Ned says he doesn’t know, and neither do they. It was done through a mediator under the condition of their silence. Olivia says, all that matters is that they focus on saving GH. The mysterious purchaser still doesn’t have 50%. Ned says they’re still the majority shareholders; it’s a done deal. He asks if Sam gave Danny and Scout’s proxy to Michael, but Michael says he didn’t want to bother her. Ned says he’ll call her, and Valentin walks in, saying, there’s no need. Sam signed over her children’s right to vote their shares to him.

Sam tells Jason to come back to her. It’s all she wants; for him to be him, and the freedom to be with their kids. Delores is at the door, and says Sam doesn’t have that kind freedom. She needs to leave now, or Delores will send her back to Pentenville.

TJ tells Jordan, the rumor is, her press conference could have swayed the board to accept money from Cyrus. That’s the last thing they want to happen. She says, obviously, she needs to make amends in some measure, and he says, it’s none of his business. She’s doing what she thinks is right. He apologizes for being insensitive. No matter what Taggert did, he was still her friend, and she’s still grieving.

Cyrus thanks Lucy, saying she’s the first stranger in Port Charles he’s met who treated him like a friend. He looks forward to getting to know her better. She looks at the check, and says, the feeling is mutual. Ta! When she’s gone, Curtis comes over to the bar, and sits next to Cyrus. Cyrus asks to what does he owe the pleasure? Curtis says, my wife. Cyrus is to have no more private meetings with her. Cyrus says Curtis doesn’t have a say in the business he conducts with the Commissioner, but Curtis says he might want to reconsider that, in light of a certain person who resides at 1257 Wilson Avenue.

Martin tells Nelle, all he has to do is make a phone call to Michael. He’ll explain that she’s willing to share custody, and she’ll drop the sole custody suit. To sweeten the offer, she’ll drop the suit against the hospital. He’s fairly certain that Michael will give her a generous visitation schedule in return. How about giving it a try? She says, how about giving this a try? You’re fired. I saw that coming for sure.

Ned wonders why Sam would give Valentin the proxy, and Valentin says he has it in writing. Along with several other key shareholders, including Nelle. Michael wanted her out; he’s welcome. He used an intermediary, and no one knew they were selling to him. Olivia asks, why? When has the family ever gotten in his way? He says, ask your CEO, and Michael asks if it’s because he supported Sasha. Valentin says, no, but that’s when he was introduced to ELQ. Olivia asks why  why Sam give up her shares, and Valentin says, she didn’t; he has the voting proxy. He’d never ask her to give up her children’s inheritance. Olivia says Sam would never do that willingly. What did he coerce her with? He says he’s reciprocating the discretion. Brook says, interesting, but she’s booked studio time, and has to go. Ned says she needs to stay and vote, but she says, actually, she doesn’t.

Sam tells Delores, Jason had an accident, and almost died. Delores says she’s sorry to hear that, but the law is still the law. Sam says, these are extraordinary circumstances. What’s wrong with her? Delores says Sam has been flouting the law, and she’s in the wrong to uphold it? Sam says Delores is wrong to follow her around. She’s supposed to report to Delores once a week, not have Delores stalking her. Delores wonders what Sam would be up to while she was waiting around, when a guy wearing a badge walks in. He says the Deputy Chief sent him, and he wants a word with Delores.

Jordan say she feels terrible for Trina. She was hurt so badly having her father’s reputation tarnished after losing him. She wishes she could do more to help, but Trina wants nothing to do with her. She’s just grateful the people she loves are still with her, and TJ is at the top of the list. TJ says, what he’s learned in medicine is that there are no perfect answers. They just do their best, and hope their best is enough. Her work is similar. Upholding the law is her duty, but she can’t control the outcome. She asks how he got so wise, and he says, watching her.

Cyrus wonders how many Wilson Avenues there must be, and Curtis says Cyrus may recall he’s a P.I.. He’s been one for a long time, and there’s only one Wilson Avenue there. It’s an arts and crafts home, and someone Cyrus cares about lives in it; someone he cares enough about to send money every week. Sure, he can move them again and again, but Curtis will find them again and again. If he has an interest in keeping them safe, he’ll do what Curtis asked. Cyrus says he’s not sure he’s hearing correctly, but Curtis says he hears fine. He just doesn’t like what’s being said. He’s used to blackmailing and bribing to get what he wants, but justice is coming for him. Before Cyrus that Curtis can be threatened or bribed, he’s not for sale. There’s nothing Cyrus can use. Cyrus isn’t too sure about that, and Curtis says Cyrus barely has a foothold in Port Charles. His luck has run out, and he knows what he stands to lose if he comes for Curtis’s family or threatens his wife. Curtis will fight back. From here on out, they play by his rules, and he knows Cyrus hears him.

Martin strongly suggests Nelle not fire him. She needs him in her corner; he’s all she’s got. Nelle says she sees how that’s working. The case was a slam dunk, and he lost it. He says, if anyone lost it, it was her. She’s her own wrecking ball. In time, he can petition for the judge to reexamine the case, and if she stays on the straight and narrow, he might reconsider. She says he let Diane run circles around him. She portrayed Willow like Cinderella, when Willow was in a cult. He says, a cult whose leader Nelle chose to marry. She says he should have brought up how Michael’s father is a crime lord, his mother is a terrible person, Jason is a killer, and his grandma used to be a prostitute. She would have had a better chance representing herself. He says he’d love to see that, and she says she’ll find someone else to take on the GH suit; he’s fired. He says, fine. He has more reasonable and  lucrative clients to attend to. Honestly, he’s glad to be done with all this – and her. She says, the feeling is mutual, and he says she’ll be receiving his bill afternoon. She says, what bill? and he says his service was not pro bono. She says they lost; she doesn’t owe him anything. He says he’s not a bargain basement ambulance chaser who she doesn’t have to pay if she gets no money. She says, no Wiley, no money, and he says let him give her some free legal advice. Don’t ever screw over a lawyer. They know a thousand ways to affect your life. She’ll pay his fee and the court costs. She says she has no spare cash, but he says he thinks she does. She says she needs it to get as far away as possible, and he says, really? Is she planning on leaving town?

Willow says she knows how important this is, but they need to leave. Michael says it will be better if they don’t have this hanging over their heads, and Ned tells Michael to give him his proxy; he thinks he knows how Michael would vote. Michael says Ned has made a lot of assumptions on behalf of him. Let’s get it over with; they’re still the majority shareholders. Ned says they’ll start with Valentin, and Valentin says he votes no. ELQ is strong and healthy. He doesn’t want to waste their assets on supporting a failing institution. Olivia starts yelling at him, and he says despite her emotional appeal, he’s not changing his mind. She says she doesn’t give a damn about his mind. She’s trying to change his heart. It was her mistake thinking he had one. Ned says the actual family members will vote. He’ll start. He votes yes to giving GH the funds to protect itself from the lawsuit and stay afloat. Michael says, yes, and Ned says, he also has Dillon’s proxy; Brook is next. Brook says she would vote yes, and Ned says, that settles it. Michael says, Brook said she would vote yes, and Brook says, that’s right. If she had a vote. She no longer owns the shares; Valentin does. Everyone looks at Valentin, and he smiles. He did a lot of that during this episode.

Delores comes back, and tells Sam, congratulations; she’s off the case. Sam asks, how? but Delores doesn’t have a clue. The order is from the big boss. She doesn’t suppose Sam know anything about that. The guy says he’s Owen Anderson, Sam’s new parole officer, and thanks Delores, telling her she can go. Delores says, for the record, she meant no ill. She was just doing her job and upholding the law, but Sam got what she wanted after all. She leaves, and Sam asks Owen how this works. Does she have to leave? He says, of course (🍷) not. She can stay as long as she wants. Family first. He leaves, closing the door behind him.

Jordan goes to the MetroCourt, and says she got Cyrus’s text. What does he want? She just had to go on TV, and tell the city that the most evil, vile, dangerous man she knows is someone they can trust. It didn’t feel great, so stop wasting her time, and tell her what the hell it is he wants now. He tells her, call off her husband. She asks what Curtis did, and Cyrus says Curtis explained to him, that should he make a move to threaten those he loves, there will be dire consequences. She says, really? What did he threaten Cyrus with? What did he use as leverage? What could Curtis possibly know that’s bad enough to ruffle Cyrus’s feathers?

TJ tells Curtis, he told his mom that their work isn’t all that different. He guesses that goes for P.I.s too. He walked in mid phone call when Laura was chewing out Jordan about the press conference. Curtis says, she didn’t have much choice with the pressure from the DEA and the Feds to offset the damage caused by Taggert. TJ says, that’s not how she explained it to him.

Nelle says she’s ignoring any bill. Martin is worse than useless. She promises, if she loses her son, someday she’ll make him pay. Martin says he thinks she does need a doctor. Maybe Mrs. Corinthos can recommend one from her stay in Ferncliff. She’s clearly losing it. Nelle says she’s not losing anything; not anymore. Wiley is hers. Not Michael’s, not Carly’s – hers. She’s going into court to win her case; the one he gave up on. And when she does, she’s taking her baby as far away as possible.

Ned asks what Brook did, and she says the only way Linc would let her out of her contract was in exchange for her shares. He was holding her music career hostage. She had no way out, and took the deal. Ned says Valentin pointed that sexual predator at his daughter? Valentin says, Linc is a vial human being, and stuck Brook with her contract. He offered her a way out. Ned asks Brook why she didn’t come to him, and she says she did. He said he didn’t want to help, and then said there was nothing he could do, so she had to help herself. He says, by handing her shares over to that sleaze? She says, it’s just a company; it’s not the family. Valentin says he hates to interrupt, but this is supposed be a business meeting. He has voting proxy, and legally owns shares, which gives him 50% of the company. Olivia tells Ned, Lucy will cast her vote, and all will be well. Michael says he and Willow need to go, and Olivia says he was right to vote to save GH. Brook should have told them. Michael says they’ve all made questionable calls, but they’re still family. They should all remember that. Olivia tells him, good luck, and they leave.

Michael opens the door, and Lucy falls in. She says she’s sorry she’s late, but she’s sure it doesn’t matter. They don’t need her vote. Michael says they do; to save GH.

Nelle paces in the empty courtroom, and looks at her half-heart necklace. In the hallway, Michael says Willow got a full-on taste of the Quartermaine family, and she tells him, she can’t say she wasn’t warned, but nothing prepared her for that. He hopes it wasn’t too much, and she says she doesn’t know what’s going on with ELQ, but even when they’re at odds and fighting, they do what’s best for the family. He says good to know it didn’t scare her off. She says, far from it. This scares her. What if they lose? Michael thinks they’re in good shape, but no matter what, they’re in this together. They’ll find a way to make it okay for Wiley.

Nelle looks at the passports, and puts them in her purse. She looks at the tracking device on her phone. Michael and Willow walk in, and they face each other.

Jordan says there’s something she knows about her husband that Cyrus doesn’t. Curtis doesn’t bluff. If he’s pressuring Cyrus to put a leash on himself, Curtis must have something good, something important on him. Cyrus says Jordan’s husband is a brave man. Foolhardy, perhaps, but brave. He respects Curtis for taking a stand, but he’s become a tiny, irksome thorn in Cyrus’s side. If the thorn becomes any sharper or bigger, he’ll have no choice but to prune it.

Curtis tells TJ that his mom has a number of reasons for advocating for Cyrus. If she didn’t give him details, it’s because she’s conflicted. It’s not just pressure from the outside. She has loyalty to her friends, and it’s sometimes at war with her loyalty to the law. TJ says, it makes sense. If it was something bigger, Curtis would tell him, right? Curtis says he’ll always do right by TJ and his mom.

Lucy finds out the mystery interloper is Valentin. Ned says he snatched 50% of the voting shares, and refuses to bail the hospital out. Lucy asks if it isn’t the same hospital that helped his daughter when she jumped into the harbor in the dead of winter, and Valentin says he’s grateful, but that doesn’t obligate him to help them out of the consequences of their poor actions. Ned says he needs to make it official, and asks if Lucy is voting with Valentin or the family to save the hospital she loves so much. Lucy looks at Valentin.

Sam tells Jason, it worked. She just got a new parole officer, and he not only let her stay, he didn’t stick around. She took a chance on Valentin, and he came through. If it’s any indication of how the rest of her parole is going to go, they’ll finally be free. They’ll finally be a family again. Jason squeezes her hand, and she asks if he can hear her. She needs for him to wake up. He opens his eyes.

Tomorrow, Jason asks Sam why he’s there, Lucy is going to break the tie, the judge hands down his ruling, and Mike tells Sonny that he’s ready to go home. Since he seems pretty lucid, I’m wondering if he means heaven or Turning Woods. I’m hanging on as bad as Sonny is.

😵 And while we’re on the GH subject, it’s tough not typing Curtis for Cyrus, and vice versa. Especially when they’re in the same scene. Even worse when they’re talking to each other.

Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles

Josh Altman’s client, RD,  was in the business of exotic cars and private jets. He came to pick up Josh in a $3 million Ferrari, and was looking for a place he could house his 20 car collection. RD was moving from Arizona to be closer to his client base. He and Josh had met at Haynes, a mid-century, modern that had belonged to Howard Hughes’s girlfriend. Josh took him to Sunset Place, a prime location that attracted young money. He figured the one snag would be the space for the cars. The house was new, just finished, and priced at $7.390 million. In his interview, Josh said out-of-towners thought they had to spend a lot, but that wasn’t always the case. Because, you know, $7.390 million isn’t a lot. RD’s cap was $16 million, but Josh wanted to save him as much money as possible, so he would return the favor when Josh was ready to buy a car. The house had pocket doors, and infinity pool (heaving huge sigh), an entertainer’s kitchen with a stove that had a retractable vent – never saw that before, and loved it. I actually have no idea what the difference between an entertainer’s kitchen, a chef’s kitchen, or any other kind of kitchen is. All I know is, I’m doomed to a kitchen the size of a postage stamp. If by some miracle, I bought one of these houses, there would be a fluke, and the kitchen would be minuscule. RD was impressed with the home office, saying it was dope. He didn’t look like someone who would call something dope, but in Josh’s interview, he said RD was easy to read – which was dope. The one thing RD was skeptical about was, not enough parking.

Meanwhile, Josh Flagg went to Thrush, whose owner Lana had met Josh’s grandmother Edith, ten years ago. Josh felt it meant Edith was still looking out for him. He was met by Lana, and French bulldogs, Bella and Lala. Lana told Josh how she and his grandmother met at a restaurant, where his grandmother had complimented her. Built in 1990, the house had three floors, and was 4,554 square feet. In Josh’s interview, he says his grandmother never gave compliments that were unwarranted, and we flashed back to Edith being feisty. She passed away during the course of the show, and I miss her. There were city/canyon views, a Bulthaup kitchen (don’t know jack about high-end appliances either), an outside Zen oasis, and an owl. That’s right, this house came complete with its own owl in a tree in the backyard. There were outside stairs going to the master bedroom, which had a huge master bath, and automatic blinds. In his interview, Josh said that contemporary architecture was difficult to keep from looking dated, and most houses of that design needed a cosmetic update. But what didn’t need work in L.A.? In L.A. it was all about constant maintenance. Lana, who no longer lived in the house, was looking for around $5 million, but Josh thought $3.995 million was more realistic, since there was so much inventory in the area that wasn’t moving. Lana appreciated his honesty, and gave him the listing.

James and David looked at the Sunset View house, owned by developer Zach, who had a New York relationship with Fredrik, but had done business with James and David in L.A. They were glad he’d reached out to them. The house was 10,000 square feet, and featured indoor/outdoor living. It had a panoramic view, custom furniture, and Gaggenau appliances in an entertainer’s kitchen (shrugging). It had been designed by Tim Campbell, known for his sophisticated textures. There were five bedrooms, the master having dual walk-in closets, a private movie theater, a basement that had full daylight, and a home gym. Sitting on an 18,000 square foot lot, it also had a vanishing edge pool. Near Sunset Strip, the area attracted a younger demographic in the entertainment industry. While David James thought it should be priced at $14.995 million, Zach was stuck on $15.5, but didn’t want it to stay on the market. In James’s interview, he says Zach had a history with Fredrik, and if they weren’t transparent, and the house didn’t sell, Zach would go to him. They settled on $15.495 million. This was one of those L.A. houses that’s all squares and angles, so not for me. Like I might ever have to make that decision.

RD let JoshA drive his car to a Marilyn Drive house. Just having been listed, they were the first people in, and met by agent Griffin. Listed at $13.9 million, the house was 6,190 square feet, had six bedrooms and seven baths, something Griffin called a wine rack that was really a room with a glass wall, a humongous master suite that comfortably house a double king bed (that’s quite big in case you hadn’t guessed), and a sauna. The lot was an impressive 15,253 square feet, and showcased the home’s two story glass wall. RD said he loved the parking and the master bedroom, but the driveway was cracked, and he didn’t want to be driving his cars over it. In his interview, Josh said it was going to be tougher than he thought, but it was part of the job ft find a needle in a haystack. RD said he wanted a combination of both houses.

JoshF found out there was no power at the Thrush house before the broker’s open, and the caterer was freaking out. His assistant asked if they should cancel, but Josh said he didn’t care if they had to have fondue. He’d hired a charcuterie expert, which I would have never guessed was a real job. Edith had stressed good food and drink. It didn’t make someone buy a property, but it made them stay and not run away. Josh wanted them to stay so he had time to explain why potential buyers would want an older house. In his interview, he said, contemporary goes out of style quickly. People want something shinier and newer.

Heather had reminded JoshA of a property on the Bird Streets, owned by a developer who was desperate to sell. It parked ten cars, and was going to list at $22.995 million when it went on the market. Josh told RD to see if he loved the house first; there was a deal to be made. It was 9,050 square feet, with floor to ceiling bookcases, and a chef’s kitchen. It was unfinished, broker Larissa said the buyer could pick out the finishings. It had a jetliner view, and sat on a 48,351 square foot lot. RD liked that he could put the finishing touches on it and personalize it. Josh said it was an 8, and RD could take it to a 12. I was impressed with the wine station, that dispensed several different wines like a soda fountain. The library was out of this world, and the master bedroom was the size of an apartment. It had eight baths, and a garage with a lift. RD loved the privacy, and got so excited, it made me laugh.

Fredrik showed up at the Sunset View house, and James and David showed him around. Fredrik mentioned that he’d done selling for Zach on the East Coast, but David James said L.A. was their turf. Fredrik whined that the master was small, and James David James said it was bigger than a New York penthouse. In James’s interview, he said he saw through Fredrik’s BS. This is their client in L.A., so this is how he behaves. Fredrik made a point of saying he wasn’t there to take the listing, and assured them not to be worried. James said they had the listing, but Fredrik said there would be an issue when there were more listings, and said he thought it was weird that he wasn’t on this one too, along with them. James David said Fredrik should have brought a buyer, and in his interview, Fredrik said there was a new sheriff in town.

RD loved the Bird Street house, and JoshA told Larissa that RD was the right buyer. Nothing in the area had been traded in the $20 million range in 14 months. He made an offer of $14 million, plus finishing costs. Larissa said it would relieve the developer of the burden of finishing, and they countered at $18 million. While RD’s cap was $16 million, Josh offered $15 million, as is. A deal was made at $15.750. The buyer would finish it on his own, but Larissa promised he’d have all the plans, permits, and reports. Josh walked away with a $315K commission.

Next time, a house designed like an English castle by RHOBH’s ex-Housewife Carlton, the Altman brothers dress like knights, and Zack threatens to bring Fredrik in on the listing.

🧙🏻‍♀️ Yes, That Carlton…

I thought she was kind of interesting, and wish she would have stuck around for another season. No surprise she scared Kyle, even though she was more normal than the rest of them.

https://www.bravotv.com/the-daily-dish/new-housewife-carlton-gebbia-talks-life-as-a-wiccan

🧼 A New Kind Of Soap…

This was pretty cool. Quick though.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/general-hospital-stars-in-new-igtv-series-enterexit

📅 A Challenge In a Challenging Year…

I have no idea why this started, but it’s kind of funny.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/gallery/cbs/soap-stars-take-the-2020challenge-and-the-results-are-hilarious

🧙🏽 In Case You Hadn’t Guessed…

Some very impressive ice cosplay photos from 2019 though. One guy is dressed up like a Rick Astley YouTube video. I love conventions, and this photo gallery made my pulse quicken.

https://www.brooklynvegan.com/new-york-comic-con-2020-officially-cancelled/

⏱ Time Management Is Key…

It’s a shame we have to do that pesky eating, sleeping, and going to the bathroom. I’d get so much more done in a day if we didn’t. I’ll figure this new blog editor out yet. While I’m doing that, stay safe, stay inquisitive, and stay flexible to change, which seems to happen every five seconds now.

January 7, 2020 – Valentin Runs Into Anna, New Faces Old Feuds, Two Aftermaths & Wednesday Reasons

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What I Watched Today

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

 

General Hospital

Sonny finds Carly in the kitchen, and says she’s up late. She says Jax called. Nikolas apparently made quite an entrance, interrupting the wedding by walking in with Ava in his arms. Valentin had shoved her off the parapet, but she’s okay. She landed on her feet. Everything in the Cassadine estate now belongs to Nikolas, and Jax thinks Valentin will fight it, but right now he’s distracted. Instead of getting married to Nina, Nina left him.   

Nina wonders where everyone went, but Jax isn’t sure. He hands her a scotch, saying it’s appropriate for the occasion. Nina tells him, revenge tastes worse than he said it would.

Walking in Rice Plaza, Anna tells Finn to relax. Violet is asleep, and can’t be in better hands than with his brother and Willow. He asks if she’s spent time with his brother. He didn’t expect Chase to say yes to babysitting. Anna says, he’s a cop. What could go wrong? It gave them a chance to take a walk at midnight, unless he’d rather do something else. He says he’d rather be with her, and she says, good answer. They kiss.

Maxie tells Valentin, he’s not going anywhere. Not with Charlotte. He says he’ll explain everything, and Lulu knows it’s his week. Peter says he’s not taking Charlotte anywhere.

Ava walks in to where Nikolas is, and says she’s so sorry to cut this lovely reunion short, but it’s time. Doc asks, time for what? and Ava says Nikolas hasn’t told them the happy news? She and Nikolas are getting married tonight. Laura says, getting married? and Nikolas says, yes. Lulu says, to her? and Ava says, excuse me? Lulu says, no way. She doesn’t buy it. Ava tells her, suit herself. They’re still getting married, aren’t they?

Nina tells Jax, Valentin is probably telling Charlotte the wedding is off again. Impressive; breaking Charlotte’s heart for the umpteenth time. She says she should have listened to him, and cut her losses, but she wanted maximum damage. Jax says, Valentin created the situation. Jordan and Curtis come in, and Jordan asks where Valentin is. Nina says she doesn’t know, and Curtis says a warrant has been called in for him. Jordan says he’ll be charged with fraud, tampering with a corpse, and attempted murder if Ava is telling the truth. Curtis says, it is what Nina wanted, isn’t it?

Carly tells Sonny, it’s hard to believe Nikolas and Jax pulled their plan off. Sonny is sure Lulu and Laura are glad to have him back, and Spencer will feel the same way. Carly says they’re probably in shock. When it wears off, they’ll feel vindicated. Sonny says everyone is accounted for except them. What comes next?

Curtis asks if Nina doesn’t think Valentin deserves payback after what he put her through. Nina says she wanted him to own up and tell the truth; give her a reason to stay, but he didn’t do that. Curtis wishes for her sake that he would have. Jordan is sure she was invited to make sure Valentin faces justice, and he will. She did the right thing.

Anna and Finn sit on a bench. She asks if he wants to skate; she heard he’s graceful. He says, her first, but she says, no. She’s not so graceful. They should bring Violet; she would love it. Finn asks if she thinks it’s safe, and Anna says it helps coordination and confidence. Finn says, and bleeding. Mac and Felicia approach, and Felicia asks how Violet is. Finn says, she’s sleeping, and Anna says, she’s with Chase and Willow. She’s totally fine, and it gave them a chance to go for a walk. Felicia says, great minds, and Anna says she’s been trying to persuade Violet’s over-protective father to bring her there. Felicia thinks it’s a good idea, and asks if Finn has pictures. He says, only about 300 of them. While they look at Finn’s phone, Mac tells Anna, about the file she requested on David Black… and she says she knows she’s held on to it for too long, but he says keep as long as she likes. The sooner find out who wanted Franco and Andre dead, the better.

Peter suggests Valentin talk to a lawyer. Valentin tells Charlotte, he knows it’s confusing, but there are problems he has to take care of. Charlotte asks if he’s going to make it okay, and he says, better than okay. Everyone wants what’s best for her. She asks what’s going to happen, and Valentin asks Maxie to take her somewhere else. Maxie takes her out of the room, and Peter says, let’s hear it. Valentin says, what’s left to say? Just this. He punches Peter, who drops to the floor, and Valentin runs out. He tells Maxie that Peter wants to talk to her in private. Maxie tells Charlotte, don’t move, and goes back in. Valentin tells Charlotte, move, and they jet. Maxie says, oh my God, and goes to Peter.

Nina tells Curtis and Jordan, she knows it makes her a coward, but she doesn’t want to stay and find out what happens next. Jordan says they’ll need her statement, and Nina says to call her office. She’ll do it tomorrow. Curtis says he’ll go with her, but she says she wants to be alone. She doesn’t need anyone to hold her hand. She just wants out of the house now. She leaves, and Jax says he’s got this.

Nikolas says he knows this must come as a shock. Lulu says, that’s an understatement, and he says, Ava is telling the truth. Ava says, they’re a betrothed. Lulu says Ava is blackmailing him. They can get him out of it. Ava says not everyone is as embittered about marriage as Lulu. The heart wants what the heart wants. Doc asks Ava if she’s considered her state of mind for making a lifelong commitment. She just checked herself out of Shadybrook. Ava says she thinks he’ll find she’s perfectly sane, and Doc says Laura told him that she checked herself in because she was convinced she was seeing ghosts, specifically Nikolas. He assumes Nikolas was manipulating her, and made her doubt her own sanity. Ava asks what his point is, and Doc says, why marry a man who treats her that way? Ava tells him, what can she say. She’s been powerless to resist him since they fell love years ago. Laura says she doesn’t think it’s about love. Ava had Helena’s portrait for weeks, and found the codicil. Now she’s holding it over his head. Lulu says, in exchange for a tiny scrap of paper, Nikolas is going to spend his life with Ava. Ava says, he could do worse. Many marriages are founded on a lot less. Laura says she knows Ava has been through hell, and she tried to help. Ava says she knows that, and appreciates it. Laura asks if Nikolas has learned nothing from her. Nikolas says he understands Laura doesn’t approve, and Laura laughs. She says he could have come home anytime. Spencer could have had a father, but instead, Nikolas chose to let them suffer, and come home when he could pull off a cynical power grab. Ava **since conn lu go one day te don’t get marr ** Nikolas says, in time, he hopes she realizes it’s a good match, and gives her blessing. Ava asks her, please stay for the ceremony.

Carly tells Sonny, they need to get past this. They have more important things to focus on. Gladys comes in, and says she’s not the only one who loves to raid the fridge at night. It must run in the family.

Felicia tells Finn, fair warning. Anna and Mac could be talking shop. She thinks pictures of Violet are more interesting. Mac asks if Anna found anything promising, and she says she’s been going over the file, and cross-checking with the WSB files, but no luck. She has nothing actionable. He says, it’s disappointing, but tells her to keep at it. They need to know who sent Black after Franco and Andre. Anna says she won’t be satisfied until she gets all the answers.

Jordan tells Curtis, now comes the hard part. She needs to bring Valentin in to answer some questions. He says he’ll come with her.

Nikolas asks Laura and Lulu to stay for the wedding. Lulu says she doesn’t know whether to tear him away from Ava, or let Ava have him. He says it’s his choice, but even if she doesn’t agree with it, he hopes she wishes him well. Lulu says, of course (🍷) she wishes him well, just not with Ava. She can’t stand by while he makes another bad choice. She’s going to check on Charlotte. Nikolas says Laura’s approval would mean a lot. Laura says what she would be endorsing is a quid pro quo. He gets his inheritance, and Ava gets to be princess of the manor. Ava says, it’s not entirely transactional. They grew fond of each other before their blossoming romance was cut tragically short. Laura says Nikolas could have come back, but he forgot about her too. Ava says she’s forgiven him, and Laura says, for a price. Ava says she doesn’t think about regrets, but puts them in the past. With or without Laura’s blessing, they’re becoming Mr. and Mrs. Nikolas Cassadine.

Maxie asks Peter, what happened? and he says, Valentin happened. Lulu runs in, and asks, where’s Charlotte? Maxie says Valentin took her. Peter says he tried to stop Valentin, but he wasn’t so receptive. Lulu says, Valentin has no right, and Peter says he told them it was his week. Lulu says Valentin tried to kill Ava. **arr that now kind** She goes to look for Charlotte, and Maxie says they should go after her, but Peter thinks they should just go home. There’s nothing more they can do. It’s an ugly family fight that will only get worse, and has nothing to do with them. Either Jordan will charge Valentin with kidnapping or not. Maxie says, Valentin assaulted him, and Peter says, Valentin dug a deep hole, and he doesn’t want to add more pressure. Please, let’s go home. Maxie says, okay.

Charlotte asks Valentin where they’re going. Valentin says, the man Charlotte saw carry Ava in, she knew him, didn’t she? She says he’s her bodyguard, but Valentin says, he’s not. She tells Valentin that he said Valentin hired him, and Valentin says he’s sure he did. It’s complicated grown-up stuff, and he’ll tell her about it, but he needs to get her somewhere safe. Then he’ll take care of everything. He holds out his hand, and opens the secret door. She asks if she can take Nina’s bouquet, and Valentin says, of course (🍷). They go through secret door, and one blossom drops.

Carly says Gladys keeps forgetting she’s not family. Gladys says, not to Carly, but she’s Mike’s family. Carly says, that’s all well and good, but the holidays are over. Gio pops in, and asks for a word with Sonny. They go out on the terrace, and Gio says he got a call. One of their trucks has been hijacked.

Mac tells Anna, good luck with her research. Keep him in the loop. Mac and Felicia go to get hot cocoa, and Finn tells Anna, nothing actionable? Peter and the gunman, working at the same company at the same time, and then Peter shoots him? Anna says, just because they overlapped, that doesn’t mean they knew each other. Even if they did, Peter can’t be convicted for working for his father. Finn says he understands Anna wants to give Peter the benefit of the doubt, but he wonders if Peter is betting on that too.

Nina sits at the café, and Jax brings her coffee. Nina says she has to figure out where to stay, and Jax says, while the coffee was being made, he took the liberty of booking a suite for her at the MetroCourt. They can have Maxie go to Windymere and pack a bag for her. She says the last thing she’s worried about is her luggage. She can’t get over how perfectly Jax predicted how it would go. Jax says he didn’t predict Ava getting pushed off the terrace. Nina wonders if Nikolas had come in five minute later, what would have happened. She didn’t know what she was going to do, confront or marry Valentin, but she does know she gave him one last chance to tell the truth. He didn’t take it. Jax says, maybe it was a blessing in disguise, but Nina says, it doesn’t feel that way.

Lulu tears through Windymere, and goes into the living room where the ceremony was supposed to take place. She calls Charlotte’s name, and says, dammit. She makes a call to the PCPD, and says she needs to be put in touch with Commissioner Ashford, but then says, never mind. She’s here. She tells Jordan and Curtis that Valentin took Charlotte. She went to check on Charlotte, and Maxie and Peter said he took her. She wants him charged with kidnapping. Jordan says she has warrant enough to bring him in already, and Curtis says the harbor patrol is monitoring traffic; they’re not going anywhere. Lulu sees the rose on the floor, and asks, what happened to Nina’s bouquet? Charlotte must have taken it. She looks at the door, and says, they’re in the tunnel.

Valentin cuts through Rice Plaza with Charlotte. She’s cold, and wants a hot cocoa. He says they can’t get one right now, but promises it will be warm in the car. He literally runs into Anna, who asks what they’re doing there. She thought he was getting married.

Gladys asks Carly if Sonny’s workers usually drop by at odd hours. Carly wonders why she’s asking, and Gladys says, it seems strange. It’s a funny time to be doing business.

Sonny asks Gio where the truck is, and he says, the tracking shows it as being stationery. He can have it checked out, but Sonny says he can stand to lose a truck of coffee. What he can’t do, is engage before he’s ready. Gio asks what if the cops get involved, and Sonny says, they’ll impound the truck, but it will let them know he’s a legitimate businessman. Gio asks if there’s anything else, and Sonny says, on his way out, ask the guards to tighten security. They can’t be too cautious. He goes back inside.

Gladys asks Sonny if everything is okay, and he says there was a problem at the warehouse. She says, this late? Who knew Columbian roast was such an exciting business. Sonny says what kind of business it is, is his, not hers. Understood?

Ava does her makeup, and Laura asks if she can come in. Ava says, please do. She’s sure seeing Nikolas was quite a shock. Ava wants Laura to know, there’s no way she could tell her, and not risk alerting Valentin. Laura says, please. She’s still processing everything. Her son, who was given up for dead, is alive. Thank God, but she’s confused, and she’s angry. How long did ava know that? How long had he planned it?

Nikolas wanders around the living room, and Doc asks if he’s interrupting. Nikolas says he’s just taking it all in. It’s all his now. Doc says, including the ghosts. Nikolas is sure Doc is upset with him too, and Doc says he doesn’t like to see Laura, or any of Nikolas’s family members, in pain. Nikolas says he regrets the extreme measures he needed to stay under the radar, but it was necessary. He hasn’t had a chance to tell Doc how grateful he is that Doc made his mother happy. Doc says, Laura’s happiness always has a touch of melancholy. So does Spencer’s. Nikolas asks how Spencer is doing, and Doc says, he’s growing up fast. He’s changed a lot. Nikolas asks if Spencer likes France, and Doc says, as much as he likes any place. Spencer spent three years grieving him. He needs to do the right thing, and call his son.

Nina asks Jax how much he knows about Nikolas. He says, more than he’d like to, but probably not as much as he should. She asks him to explain, and he says he always thought Nikolas was the good Cassadine, until Nikolas had an affair with his then-wife Courtney. Nina says, Spencer’s mother. He says after that, he had little use for Nikolas. He admits Nikolas was a good father, until he let Spencer believe he’d been dead three years. Nina asks, why help him? and Jax says, because of Spencer. He wanted to make sure Spencer’s inheritance was secure, despite his dislike for Spencer’s father. What happened tonight did nothing to reassure him. He has no sympathy for Valentin, but that doesn’t mean good triumphed. Nikolas won, but he and Valentin aren’t that far apart. Nina says, Valentin isn’t a Cassadine after all, and Jax asks if she’d like more advice. She says, maybe this time, she’ll take it, and he says, leave them in their own misery. She has better things to look forward to. She says she’s looking forward to taking a hot bath, going to bed, and sleeping for a week. He says, good thing he booked the suite. He gets up, holds out his hand, and says, shall we?

Valentin tells Anna, there’s been an unfortunate change in plans. Anna says, the wedding didn’t happen? and he says it didn’t. They’re taking a break, and want to find someplace quiet to regroup. It’s cold and late, and Charlotte is tired. They want to get someplace warm where they can hunker down. Anna doesn’t blame them, but she’s curious. Why is he out at midnight with Charlotte when they could be at Windymere?

Laura tells Ava, it hurts to say this, but she’s worried about Nikolas in a whole new way. The ghost Ava saw in Shadybrook wasn’t a ghost; it was Nikolas. He took advantage of Ava’s grief and tried to frighten her. Why? It was because he wanted to find out the location of Helena’s portrait. Ava just looks at her, and Laura says, oh my God; it is. She never thought she’d say it out loud, but her son is acting like a Cassadine. His selfishness, his willingness to lie and manipulate. He used her weakened state. Why does she want to go into a marriage like that? Ava says, when the shock passes, Laura will see that she and Nikolas are a good match. Laura says that’s what she’s afraid of. She won’t stay. She’s not going to pretend the marriage has her blessing, but wants Ava to know she thinks they’re both making a mistake. They’ll both regret it, sooner rather than later. She walks out.

Gladys tells Sonny, she gets it. His business is his own, and she’ll stay out of it. Carly says, while they’re on the subject of boundaries, their family is a gravy train that Gladys can attach herself to. Gladys says she knows that, and Carly says she’s a guest at Mike’s invitation. For his sake, they let her stay for the holidays, but don’t take advantage. Is she clear? Gladys says she is, and Sonny tells Gladys, goodnight. Gladys leaves, and Sonny guesses he told her. Carly guesses he did.

Nikolas gives Doc’s phone back to him. Laura comes in, and asks, what’s going on? Doc says Nikolas tried to call Spencer, and Nikolas says, he didn’t answer. He must be sleeping. Laura says, it’s probably for the best. She’s not sure Nikolas is the best one to tell Spencer. Maybe it would be better coming from her. She tells Doc, she’s overwhelmed, and doesn’t trust her judgement, and asks him to take her home. Doc says there’s nothing better he’d like to do, and Nikolas asks them to stay for the wedding. Laura says she’s going to tell him what she just told Ava. He’s making a mistake. It’s something he’s going to regret, and she can’t be part of that.

Valentin tells Anna that he’d rather not talk about it; it’s personal. There’s a lot of tension at Windymere, and it’s no place for Charlotte. Lulu sees them, and says, thank God. Jordan and Curtis are behind her, and Valentin says, it’s his week. He has every right to have Charlotte. Jordan says she’s sure he doesn’t want her to go into detail in front of Charlotte. He appreciates her courtesy, but says he’s keeping Charlotte, and they’re leaving. Lulu can contact him through his lawyer. Lulu tells him to let Charlotte come with her, and Charlotte says, it’s okay. She’ll call Lulu. Lulu says Charlotte doesn’t understand, and tells her to come with mom right now. Nina and Jax show up, but Mac tells them to stay back. There’s a warrant out for Valentin. Nina tells him not to jump to conclusions.  It doesn’t look like Valentin is resisting. Anna tells Valentin to listen to her. She has no doubt he can deal with difficulties that arise, but they can both agree Charlotte this escalates. Then he can change his tactic, and figure out a way to win. It’s his fight. Use it on his daughter’s behalf. Valentin looks at Nina.

Val kneels down, and asks if Charlotte trusts him. She says she always trusts him, and he tells her, no matter what anyone says, he loves her. She says she knows; they just made a mistake. He says, they did. They chose sides without all the information, and saw what they wanted to see. He has to clear himself all over again; that’s the tricky part. He thinks Charlotte better go with her mom. She wants to go with him, but he says, it’s better this way. She says she loves him, and he picks her up and hugs her, saying he loves her too. He puts her down, and kisses the top of her head. He tells her, go, and Lulu says she’s glad Charlotte is okay. Charlotte says, they just made a mistake. Papa will clear it up. Lulu suggests they get home. Valentin and Nina look sadly at each other.

Wearing a sparkly, Malibu feather trimmed gown, Ava goes into the living room, and sees Nikolas waiting.

Carly hugs Sonny.

In the fastest wedding ceremony ever, the officiant pronounces Ava and Nikolas, man and wife. He says Nikolas may now kiss the bride, and he does.

Jordan tells Valentin, he’s under arrest, and he asks what the charges are. She says, fraud, and he says he assumes they arrested Nikolas on their way over. Nikolas is a fugitive who faked his own murder. He framed an innocent man, and left the country on a phony passport. All felonies. An officer cuffs him, and he says he sees there’s one set of legal standards for him, and another for Nikolas. Because he’s the mayor’s son? She needs to consult the Constitution; the 14th Amendment, equal protection. Violating it is a big deal. He can forgive that, except for what they’ve done to his daughter. He’s led away, while Jordan reads his rights. Curtis puts a hand on Nina’s shoulder as he goes past. Nina tells Jax, before they go to the MetroCourt, she wants to stop by the liquor store and buy a bottle of scotch.

Why does it have to be scotch? I hate even the smell of scotch, and every time they say it, I can smell it.

Tomorrow, Sonny has a surprise for Gladys, Lulu says Valentin is never getting near Charlotte again, and Carly tells Alexis and Sam about Nikolas being alive.

Vanderpump Rules

I hate my computer. You get what you pay for, and I did. It decides to update with no warning, just as Vanderpump Rules is coming on, so I handwrite the first paragraph.

Lisa doesn’t know where to start. We see clips of turmoil among the cast members, interspersed with her talking. She says, this was years of friendship, that she thought would last forever. Suddenly, everything kind of turned upside down. It’s great to see new faces, but their problems seem just as complicated as their predecessors’. Okay, let’s get started.

At TomTom, manager Max tells hostess Dayna, the Toms are coming in, and so is Lisa. Tom and Schwartz arrive, and Tom tells Dayna that friends are coming in for a bachelorette party, but he told them not to bring in any inflatable penises. She says he’d be surprised how many she sees on a regular basis. In Tom’s interview, he says it’s been a year, and it feels good to walk into TomTom and know he’s running it. Except if Lisa is there; then she’s running it. In Schwartz’s interview, he says they’ve hired the best staff on the planet. Dayna is so good, Lisa is poaching her for SUR. And Max is the glue that holds everything together. Schwartz brings in some super tiny shot glasses. He says he still sees himself getting wasted.

Scheana shows new server Brett around Sur. She tells him the girls are catty, and will probably try to hook up with him. She’s divorced – she doesn’t know if he knows that – but no big deal; it doesn’t define her. Lisa is particular; know how she likes her tea. Lisa pulls up. Raquel greets her, and Lisa asks if she’s having fun. Raquel says her pageant training prepared her to work there. She greets the guests with confidence and a big smile. In Lisa’s interview, she says Raquel has requested to work there so many times. She wasn’t sure she wanted to get involved in the complicated dynamic, because she closed the door on James. She asks how James feels about Raquel being there when he’s not. Raquel says it’s a trigger for him, and he looks like he’s about to cry when she leaves. In her interview, she says it’s like when you’re packing for a road trip, and your puppy jumps in the suitcase.

Scheana introduces Brett to Jax. In her interview, Scheana says, SUR has changed dramatically. Katie, Ariana, Brittany, and Lala don’t work there anymore. In Jax’s interview, he says, that just leaves him. Someone has to pay for the wedding. He asks if Scheana and Brett are dating already, and Scheana says they just met this weekend. In Brett’s interview, he says, a few nights ago, he was out at a bar, and Scheana invited some friends back to her house to play Scattergories. The next thing he knew, she kissed him. It wasn’t what he thought it would be; nothing against her. The producer asks if he’s saying she’s not a good kisser, and he says, that’s what he’s saying. In Scheana’s interview, she says she hasn’t talked to Adam in a couple of months. She briefly dated Max, but he ghosted her. She even bought him an Apple watch to show how much she cared, but he couldn’t even text her one it. I have no words. Jax suggests Brett not get involved with the girls. They tend to get sleazy around twelve o’clock. Brett says he’ll be sure to be there.

We find out that Dayna and Max are kind of a thing. In her interview, Dayna says he stayed over last night. She knows he’s her boss, and probably doesn’t want to be put on blast at work, but his underwear is on the floor at her house. She says she’s going to SUR, and he warns her that he’s dated some of the girls from there. She asks if that means she shouldn’t wear a T-shirt that says, I screwed Max, how about you? He says they should probably keep it on the DL, and she tells him, go manage something already.

Scheana asks Jax how the wedding planning is going, and Jax says, it’s almost done. He had a get together for the people who couldn’t come to his bachelor party in Miami. He thought Tom would come, but he hasn’t returned Jax’s texts. Are they children? In Jax’s interview, he says he hasn’t heard from Tom in weeks. He knows Tom is working on his house, but he can keep in touch. He’s decided to take the pressure off Tom, and make Schwartz his best man.

In Tom’s interview, he says Jax had a pre-bachelor party – which he wants us to know, is not a thing. Jax knew he couldn’t make it. He hadn’t seen his family in a long time. Because he didn’t cancel a flight to see his mom on Mother’s Day to go to a pre-bachelor party, he was demoted from best man to groomsman. Jax tells Scheana that Tom drifted, and it’s not about him, but she says, it’s always about him.

Beau and Stassi go to SUR for dinner. Beau asks if she’s doing okay, and she says that she feels she has to compartmentalize. She can’t live in darkness 24/7. In Stassi’s interview, she says, life is good. Her book is a best seller, and she’s got Beau, but she got a call that her grandmother passed away. It’s sobering. We see a clip of her and her grandmother Rosemary. She says her grandmother is like what she wants to be – if she was less bitchy. Lisa stops by their table, and tells Beau that she thinks the boys want to see him. Beau leaves, and she sits. She says she’s so sorry. Stassi doesn’t know how to feel. People are congratulating her, and saying they’re proud of her book. Lisa tells Stassi that she’s her grandmother’s legacy. In Lisa’s interview, she says it makes her proud that Stassi is a New York Times best-selling author, even if the name of her book is… She struggles, but doesn’t quite get it right, and says, whatever it’s called. (It’s Next Level Basic.) She says, Stassi is a best-selling bitch. She asks how Stassi’s best friend is, and Stassi says she’s been talking to Kristen, but she’s frustrated. The way Kristen tells it, she’s not being supported, but she’s telling everyone she and Carter have broken up, and they still live together and hang out every day. She feels like Kristen is lying to her. In Stassi’s interview, she says her relationship with Kristen has seen its fair share of ups and downs, but this feels different. We flash back to Kristen’s meltdown at the reunion. Stassi tells Lisa that she doesn’t know if the person she’s hopefully growing into can be friends with a person who isn’t growing at all. Lisa says lying is her Achille’s heel, and Stassi says she’s not playing this game.

Stassi tells Beau that she’s writing her grandmother’s eulogy. When she dies, she wants a haunted house theme, and the tray passers will look like her. In Beau’s interview, he says, Stassi makes everything fun. Stassi tells him that she wants to be taxidermized, so everyone can take selfies. She wants them to be able to move her body, so the selfies can be taken from their good sides. In his interview, Beau says, sometimes she creeps him out, but he just smiles. She says they’ll be missing Katie and Schwartz’s house warming, but at least she’s seen their house. She thinks it’s funny how everything is identical with the three couples’ houses. We see pictures of Schwartz and Katie’s, Jax and Brittany’s, and Tom and Ariana’s houses, and she’s right. She wonders why no one has said it’s weird that they all have the same house.

Jax mows the lawn, and Brittany wonders why it’s so hard to put things together, as she struggles with something on the porch. At Tom and Ariana’s, Tom wants to make one of the rooms a breakdance studio. Schwartz tells Katie that their post-married life is so blissful and indulgent. They eat what they want and travel. He thinks it’s time to bring the sexy back.

In his interview, Tom says, it was the great West Hollywood migration. In Ariana’s interview, she says, some people are leaders, and some are followers. Now they know who’s who. She asks if Tom has been to Jax and Brittany’s, and Tom says Jax seemed annoyed at everything he said. Jax immediately tried to one-up him, saying, it’s good for you guys, but he needs more, and a better school zone. In Tom’s interview, he says the house is a big deal to him. It’s their way of showing a commitment. They’re not getting married, or having kids. Can’t he have this one thing without Jax sh*tting on it? Ariana says Jax can’t help himself.

Jax tells Brittany that he and Tom don’t have much in common anymore. He’s getting married next month, and it’s a big effing deal. Brittany wishes Tom would reach out and see how Jax is doing. In her interview, she says Jax and Tom have been through so much. We flash back to that, and she says, they’ve done sh*t to each other, but at the end of the day, they make it through and are still best friends. One fight shouldn’t ruin everything. Jax says he needs someone else to be best man along with Schwartz. He doesn’t trust Schwartz alone.

Schwartz tells Katie that being best man is a lot of responsibility. He can’t do it by himself. He needs Tom with him. Katie suggests he talk to Tom. She says they’re not calling their party a house warming; it’s a house chilling – comfy chic. Schwartz wonders if she invited Carter, and she says he and Kristen still live together. She guesses they’re just calling themselves broken up. Schwartz thinks they should leave it up to Kristen.

Stassi says she loves Kristen’s house, and Beau says, it’s perfect. Stassi says, for Kristen, or Kristen and Carter? She has to go over there to see Kristen, and hopes they can get to an honest place. If Kristen is trying to make it work with Carter, tell her the truth. The only way to lose her as a friend is to keep lying to her.

Lala visits Lisa at Villa Rosa. Lisa tells Lala that she looks like a slob and Lala looks like a princess. Lala says Lisa has never been a slob in her life, and I agree. Lala says she’s missed Lisa, and Lisa says she’s been in Vegas. In Lisa’s interview, she says she and Ken were exhausted from opening TomTom, but then Caesar’s came along, and she created the Vanderpump Cocktail Garden. She wanted to make a low key entrance – we see a procession, with Lisa being carried in on a palanquin – but Caesar’s had other ideas. Schnookie starts to hump Lisa’s back, and Lisa says this is what happens when she gives her attention to anyone else. Lala asks if they’re not fixed, but Lisa says that doesn’t matter. Yep. You’d think it would, but no. Lala says, they’re still horny, like Randal. She tells Lisa that she’s seven months sober. In Lala’s interview, she says, it’s the biggest gift she’s given herself. She’s a happy person, and doesn’t attack people. We flash back to several of her altercations with the others. She says it’s another version of herself she never wants to go back to. Lisa is glad she turned the corner. Lala says part of it is making amends, so she reached out to James. She thinks he feels like she left him behind, but misses him as a friend. Lisa says Lala learned the hard way that her behavior wasn’t acceptable, but James hasn’t had that understanding. He needs to get sober. Lala says she doesn’t like to push her sobriety on other people, or give unsolicited advice. She doesn’t know who he is. Anyone who dealt with her was a saint, and Lisa took her into the restaurant, and did her a solid. It meant a lot. Lisa says she always believed in Lala, and Lala says she appreciates that. Lisa says she’d like to see more of Lala. What would she like to do? Lala says she’s been working with the Humane Society, and asks what Vanderpump Dogs needs. Lisa says they rely on volunteers. In her interview, Lisa says, Lala was a great hostess, but she’s in a different place in life now. She can’t expect Lala to get on a private jet to seat people, but she has an innate love for their four-legged furry friends. Lala says she’ll clean up dog sh*t, and Lisa says they have it in the vending machines.

Stassi visits Kristen, who’s packing. In her interview, Stassi says, Kristen knows how to make her outward appearance show what she’s feeling and going through. When Stassi gets upset, she likes to look presentable. Kristen looks like she’s been crying for days. Kristen says she’s tried constantly with Stassi and Katie, but they don’t understand she’s going through a breakup. Stassi feels like Kristen is lying. She says in public that they’ve broken up, but everyone knows Carter lives there. They see each other every day, and sometimes hook up. Kristen says that’s up to her, and Stassi says, it is, but she has to be honest; they’re not broken up. Kristen says maybe that’s not the way it works for Stassi, and Stassi asks if it’s working for Kristen. In Kristen’s interview, she says Stassi can be sad, but move on, and she commends Stassi for that, but that’s not who she is. She can’t say she won’t talk to Carter again. Stassi asks where Carter is going when Kristen moves, and Kristen says he’s moving in with Shawn. He told her today. In her interview, Stassi says, praise the break-up gods. Kristen says she misses Stassi.

Schwartz chants, we got a house; we got a house. Katie says as homeowners, they have to throw sophisticated parties. That’s why they’re filling super soakers with vodka. The guests begin to arrive. Katie introduces Dayna to Peter, but apparently they’ve met before. Peter talks to Dayna on the side, saying he doesn’t want any weirdness as her manger because of what happened last year. In Dayna’s interview, she says she went to Skybar, and met a lot of the people from SUR. The Toms had told her about opening the new bar, and she was looking for a job. She asks, what happened last year? and Peter says they went in the bathroom together. She says she was peeing. Is he saying something happened? He says they made out, but she says he tried to kiss her, and she leaned away, then left. In her interview, she says she has no idea why he’s saying they made out. She’s sure she’d remember the first time she made out with a pirate. She tells him, no weirdness.

On the way to the airport, Stassi tells Beau that she’s nervous. He tells her that it’s family and friends, and to speak from her feelings and heart.

Schwartz gives the house tour. Brett comes in with Scheana. Scheana tells everyone that she’s going to Palm Springs with Max next weekend. In Dayna’s interview, she says she knew Max and Scheana had dated, but now they’re going to Palm Springs on a couples vacation. She loves it. Jax asks Kristen if her significant other is coming, but she says she doesn’t have one. Speak of the devil. Carter comes in, bearing a houseplant. Max and Brett talk in the kitchen, and Brett says he feels like he’s on Scheana’s hip at TomTom, but he’s not trying be with her. Max says he had a similar situation when he was working there. All he knows is, she’s boy crazy. Katie listens in, and Max says, it was overwhelming at times. He made the mistake of hanging out with her all the time. Not that he didn’t want to, but he realized it was a lot. Katie tells Scheana that Max is saying she’s boy crazy, and he was sick of hanging out with her. Scheana approaches them, and asks what they’re talking about. Why is Max saying she’s boy crazy? Max admits he said it, but tells her it’s not a bad term. She asks if he said he made a mistake in hanging out with her. In her interview, Scheana says Max doesn’t know her and Brett’s relationship. Why is he saying something that will make Brett run away? I agree. She can do that all by herself pretty quickly. She says she thought she and Max were in a good place, and he says he’s not trying to offend her. She says she doesn’t like being called crazy. This is the part in the slasher film where she’d bring out a big knife. Max says she doesn’t have to chase anybody. Dayna asks for tequila.

While some of the guests play with the super soakers in the pool, Lala decides she’ll be a good person, and talk to Carter. Peter drains a trifle bowl of tequila. Max and Dayna go outside. Max says he wants to hang out with Dayna outside of work. In his interview, he says he had a strict policy, and broke his own rule. At work, he and Dayna couldn’t go past each other without the heat rising. Dayna says Max is going to Palm Springs with Scheana, and he says they’re not going alone, but he’s going. She asks what the deal is, and he says they haven’t hooked up since they stopped hooking up. He wants to be friends with her, and Dayna has no problem with that, but doesn’t want to be involved in any messiness. In Dayna’s interview, she says she knows people have warned her, but Max makes her twitterpated. I have to admit, I had no idea this was a real word. I don’t use Twitter much, so I thought it was a newish word in relation to that, but it is a real word, relating to twitter as a verb, and meaning infatuated or obsessed. I know. More than you wanted to know. What do you expect from an English major?

Lala calls Carter over, and they step outside. She says, Kristen cries often, and he’s still living there. Now that she’s moving out, maybe they should take some time apart. It seems like he’s latched on to a comfortable situation. He’s got his bills paid, and baby girl has a job. In Lala’s interview, she says she knows what it’s like not be financially equal, but she contributes in other ways, like running a household, and giving killer BJs. What’s Carter doing besides playing video games, and sucking the life out of her friend. Jax says Lala is really handing it to Carter out there. Carter says, if Kristen wants to cut him out of her life, she’ll tell him. He’s been doing the videos on her website, and just shot her last photo shoot. She’s not hearing both sides. In her interview, Lala says, as she’s listening, she’s officially seeing the grey area. She craves honesty, and Carter is saying he’s been honest. Inside, Kristen says she’s not comfortable right now. Why is this happening?

Everyone twerks, or tries to. Tom meets Jax at the pool. Jax asks how the house is coming, and Tom says he’s welcome to come over, but bring a chair. Jax says he would have liked to come over – if he’d gotten an invite. Tom says he didn’t want anyone over. Jax says he wouldn’t judge Tom, but Tom says he does judge a little. To him, getting the house is like his and Ariana’s wedding day. But when he was moving in, Jax was all about how much he spent, and what the square footage was, and telling Tom how he was going to do better. Jax says he’s having kids. He’ll need a bigger house, and will have to spend more. Tom says he’s known Jax a long time, and it felt like Jax was one-upping him. Jax says if there was hostility, Tom wasn’t feeling it from him. It’s a serious time for him. He’s getting married. Tom says when Jax was planning the pre-bachelor party, he told Jax it’s the one time he couldn’t do it. Jax says if once in a while he’d gotten a text, just acknowledging that the great and wonderful Jax is deigning to join himself to another human being (okay, I embellished), he would have appreciated it. Tom caused him to second guess his best man. Tom says he did send Jax a text, and shows Jax his phone, where he suggests the get together as soon as he gets back. Jax is like, humana-humana, and says, okay. In Tom’s interview, he says the wedding is this summer, and Jax is enjoying the power he has. He’s definitely taking advantage of the attention. Jax admits that he didn’t really want to demote Tom, and just did it to get his attention. In Jax’s interview, he says Tom pissed him off. He knows he’s right, but it’s not right if Tom’s not there be his side. Tom says he’d be honored to be Jax’s best man, and Jax says he’d be honored to have him. I say, ugh.

Kristen drinks out of two cups, then gives to Carter. She says he was talking a long time to Lala. Carter says Lala told him to move out, because Kristen is unhappy. Kristen starts her usual hopping around, saying that’s when she gets defensive. It’s no one’s business. Carter says he was taken off guard, and tells her that he loves her. In Katie’s interview, she says, Carter has some strange power to treat Kristen like sh*t, but when she says she wants to break up, he still lives in the house, and eats her food. It’s effed up. In Kristen’s interview, she says she’d expect it from Katie or Stassi, but not from Lala. She’d never interject with Randal. She learned her lesson with Schwartz and Katie. She tells Lala that she saw them talking, and Lala says she wanted to know what was happening. Kristen tells them that she’s miserable and crying all the time, then she calls him. She doesn’t like it when Kristen does phony confiding, when it couldn’t be further from what’s really going on. Kristen says maybe her way doesn’t work for the rest of them… and Lala says, it’s working for her? Lala tells Kristen not to call her crying, then do what she did to Katie and Stassi. She’s not going for this bullsh*t. Kristen can’t believe Lala pulled the Katie and Stassi card, which is possibly the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard anyone say on this show. And that’s saying a lot. By the pool, Tom wonders what’s going on, and Kristen calls Lala an effing bitch. Lala says do not call her out on this. Schwartz goes outside, and tells Tom, they’re going crazy in there. Brittany tells Kristen and Lala to calm down. Lala says she won’t be spoken down to by a sugar mama, and Katie tells Kristen, everyone is just trying be real. Brittany suggests they sit down, and talk; figure things out as friends. It doesn’t have to end like this. Katie says the need to stop acting like they haven’t been here before. She’s sorry, but Kristen needs to stop pretending they’re bad friends. She needs to get over herself.

Outside, Schwartz asks if that’s his wife, and Tom says that is his wife. Jax says he’s out of there. Kristen leaves, and Katie says, how many times has she cried wolf? Forgive her for wanting something better for Kristen.

This season, yachting, twerking, parties; Lisa tries on hats; Dayna does stand-up comedy; dogs; Lala talks about getting married; Raquel tells James, if he can’t get his sh*t together, they’re breaking up; and Stassi is shooken.

The Haves and The Have Nots

When we last left, a million years ago, the police had just shot Wyatt, after he shot Jim and Kathryn. Veronica had also sent a group of thugs to David’s house, to kill him and Jeffrey. But David and Jeffrey were waiting.

An officer tells George, Wyatt should be okay. The fall knocked him out, but he’s still breathing. They have to wake him up, and put the cuffs on him. George asks if Wyatt said his parents are dead, and the cop says he did. George says, dammit, and the officer says the have to clear the house. He goes inside, while Wyatt is cuffed, pulled to his feet, shoved in a car. This is obviously not the way George wanted this to go. He asks Wyatt, what happened? and Wyatt asks what he’s talking about. George tells him that he said his parents were dead. Wyatt says, take the cuffs off, and George asks what he did. Wyatt says he shot them, and orders George to get him an ambulance. George says it’s coming, and asks where Wyatt’s parents are. Wyatt says, they’re dead. Who’s got the last laugh now, bitches?

The police go through the house, saying, clear, as they hit each room. One says they’ve got a body, and another radios in that there’s a victim. It looks like a gunshot wound. They go upstairs. They hear something, and keep going. An officer goes into a bathroom, and says they’ve got another body. Kathryn is slumped over the side of the bathtub.

Veronica comes home, and says her son is gone. She pretends to weep, saying, what a girl gonna do without her family? She needs her family. She laughs, and takes a drink. She says, don’t ever try to kill me again. Her phone rings. It’s the thug in charge of the ambush. He says it didn’t turn out the way she thought. They were ready for his guys when they showed up. She says she doesn’t give a damn about him; she just wants to get it done. He calls her cold-blooded, and she says he knows that. He says two of his men died, and one was his brother. She tells him, calm down, and he says, she didn’t say they’d be ready for them; they had all kinds of guns. She says they should have known, and he says she should have told them. She asks if she has to school his ignorant ass. He’s a thug, and should know. He says his brother is dead, and she says, so sorry. He’s ruining her relaxation time, and now she has to come up with another plan. He tells her, get her ass down to the hospital. She says she just got home, and that’s not a good idea. He says she needs to get there now; he’s not playing. She laughs, and he hangs up. She says that’s what she gets for dealing with thugs. She gets her handbag, and goes back out, saying, I’m coming, a-hole.   

At David’s, it’s a mess. David tells Jeffrey to call the police, and looks at the two bodies. Jeffrey calls and says they just had a break-in, and gives the address. When he’s done, he asks David if the guy is dead, and David shoots him again, and says, he is now. He kicks the body, and Jeffrey says, dammit. He knew she would do this. David says he’s going after her, but Jeffrey says, don’t do that; just go away. David says he’s not running from Veronica. She won’t let them live. He told her to come after him, but she came after Jeffrey too. Jeffrey tells him to stop, and takes the gun out of his hand. David says Jeffrey is her son, and she tried to kill him. If they don’t stop her, she’ll try again. Jeffrey tells him, just listen. He’s okay. They’re okay. Calm down. They can have her ass arrested. David says the police won’t hold her; it will never stick. Jeffrey says, it’s okay.

On TV, Charles says he had no idea of Candace’s past. He should have had her vetted. He was confused, angry, and hurt. He’s a widower, and he was lonely and vulnerable. Things happen, and he has to be more careful – for the American people, and for his family. Watching the broadcast, Candace shakes her head. He says she had him completely fooled. She was someone he was dating, and when he learned about the people she’d blackmailed, he was blown away. He apologizes to the American people, from the heart. He trusted, and she wasn’t a good person. Hanna asks why Candace is looking at that, and Candace says she couldn’t sleep. Hanna says, looking at that won’t help her. Candace says, it was easier when she was cold. It was harder to take advantage of her. Hanna says, Candace was the one taking advantage, and Candace says, it worked for her, Hanna says, did it? Candace says, not really. Hanna says, when she was out there, was she ever really happy? Candace says, it was exciting, but Hanna says, was she happy? Candace says she can’t say she was, Hanna says, it looks like a lot of stress to her. Candace is better than that. Candace says she needed to know for herself. She asks if Hanna heard what Charles said, and Hanna says, he’s doing what he’s got to do; he’s a politician. Candace says she wants to understand how Hanna makes this okay. Hanna asks what this is, and Candace says, it’s not her house. She’s seen Hanna struggle. How does she do it? Hanna says she has a job for one, but first and foremost, the Lord has always provided. Candace asks why He doesn’t give her more. Hanna says she has everything she wants. She loves her life. It’s hard sometimes, but it’s full and it’s honest. Now that Candace is on this path, God has answered every one of her prayers. She doesn’t want a mansion or fancy cars. She wants everything she has. Candace says she clearly didn’t get that from Hanna, and Hanna suggests maybe it was from watching her around rich people. Candace says, maybe Derrick. If she knew where it was coming from, could she change it? He is her father. Maybe she has bad genes that make her do the wrong thing. Hanna says, we make our own choices, and you can change your life. She’s glad Candace is giving the money back. Candace says, it’s not for him; it’s for herself. She wants to start making right choices. Hanna says if she does, all other things will follow. Candace asks if Hanna doesn’t think she should talk to Derrick. Hanna says, as much as she hates that, she can’t deny Candace getting answers. Candace asks if she can get his number from Hanna, and Hanna says it sounds like she wants to talk to him. Candace still doesn’t know. Hanna goes to get the number. I love their new relationship. Candace seems lighter.

Charles asks Oliver how that went, and Oliver says, great, sir. He should see the responses on social media. His favorite says, let that man live. He’s been through enough. Another one says, duped, heartbroken, a good man. Charles asks what they’re saying about her, and Oliver says, it’s okay. Charles came up smelling like a rose. He did what he had to; let it be. He asks if he can get Charles anything else, but Charles tells him, have good night. When Oliver leaves, Charles takes out his phone, and I say, he is not. He says, don’t call her, Charles. I second that.

Landon pulls up to Charles’s place, and Oliver asks what he’s doing there. Charles doesn’t want to talk to him. Landon says Oliver works for him, and he heard he’s been fired. Oliver says he can have the Secret Service escort Landon out. The head guy doesn’t know Landon has been fired. Landon says he told Oliver to look after Charles, and he’s been trying to take Landon’s job. He calls Oliver a little SOB. He says Oliver’s name is going to be mud all over DC. Oliver says she didn’t do it; Charles did. Landon asks why fire him? and Oliver says because he couldn’t get the story killed. Landon wants to talk to him, and tells he guy at the door to tell the President Elect that he needs to speak to him. Oliver says he’ll do it, and Landon says, then do it. And cut his damn hair. Who wears a mullet in the White House? Oliver doesn’t exactly have a mullet, but whatever.

Oliver approaches Charles, and tells him, Landon is there. Charles asks, why? and Oliver says Landon wants to talk to him. Charles asks if Oliver told Landon that he’s fired, and Oliver says he did, but Landon came anyway. Charles asks how he got past security, and Oliver says he hadn’t informed the entire team yet. Charles says, send him in. Landon must have been two inches from the door, since he comes in pretty fast. They make small talk, and Charles asks where he’s been. Landon says there was a family emergency, but everything is all right. Charles insists on fixing Landon a drink, and Landon asks if Charles was informed that he was fired. Charles says he was, and Landon says he had nothing to do with this mess about Candace. Charles tells him to have a seat, and says, if he launched a full investigation, Landon’s prints wouldn’t come up on the knife? He was supposed to clean her up. Landon says he thought he did; he’s sorry. Charles hands him a drink, and starts taking off Landon’s shoes. Landon asks what he’s doing, and Charles says, what Landon did for him. He tells Landon to take off his jacket, and Landon says, Charles made it clear that he doesn’t want Landon to do what he’s doing now. Charles asks if Landon trusts him, and Landon says, of course. He knows how much Charles loved and wanted her, and Charles says, as much as Landon loves and wants him? He told Ellen that he wanted Charles and was in love with him. Should he call her in there? Landon says he was having a hard time, and Charles is a very likeable man. Charles says, likeable or loveable? and Landon says, both. Charles asks Landon to tell him the truth. Did he set this up, and release the information? If Charles is going to trust Landon, he has to be honest. Landon says he didn’t do it. He loves Charles; he’s right. He was in the Attorney General’s office and it was information they had already. He didn’t give it to them. Charles says Landon didn’t deny it, and Landon says, he couldn’t, so he let it ride. It’s not fair; there was nothing he could do, Now what? Charles says Landon is done. His career is over. Charles’s entire focus will be on running this country. That should scare him to death.

Landon comes out, and Oscar says, it didn’t go so well. He’s still fired. Landon says if he doesn’t get hired back, he’ll do everything in his power to bury Oliver. Even daddy and mommy’s money won’t help him, and he’ll only be hired in their restaurant. Oliver asks if Landon is threatening him, and Landon says, politics are built on threats. Oliver says he’s not going to take this lying down, and Landon says he knows Oliver doesn’t do that. Oliver says, see you, buttercup. Landon says he knows Oliver is enjoying this. Oliver says he’s not, and Landon asks why he’s smiling. Oliver says, it’s ironic. Landon treated him like sh*t. Landon tells him, don’t celebrate too early. Enjoy this moment. Oliver says Landon should take plane home, and Landon tells him to take one straight to hell. Alrighty then.

At the hospital, a buzzer rings. Madison tells the other reception nurse that it’s her turn. She says she doesn’t care; enjoy. He says he hates her, and goes into Justin’s room. Justin says he’s glad Madison is still there, and Madison asks what he can do for Justin. Justin says he’s in so much pain, but Madison says the doctor gave him pain meds two hours ago. Just ask for more, but Madison says he can’t; sorry. Justin says he won’t tell, and Madison says he knows, because he’s not giving them to Justin. Justin says he has $11K, and Madison says he’s going back to the desk. Justin says just give him the pills, and he’ll give Madison the money. Madison says he can’t do that, and asks if Justin has an addiction. If there’s a problem, he’ll call the doctor. Justin says he just wants enough to… Madison says, to what? and Justin says just give him a handful, and let him die. Madison says if Justin wants to die, he’ll have to get a mental health evaluation. Justin asks if Madison doesn’t want to get even. Put him out of his misery, and let him die. Madison says, sorry, and Justin grabs his hand. Madison says, please let him go, and Justin says, don’t leave. Why does everyone leave him? He tells Madison that he’s sorry for what he did to him, and Madison walks out.

At the desk, Madison tells his co-worker that he had to call upstairs. The patient wants to die, and need a psych evaluation. She says she would too, if she’d been though what he has. Madison says she knows what Justin did to him, and she says, that’s no excuse, but something’s not right up there. He calls for the evaluation, and she says she knows he cares. It’s sad. He says he wouldn’t be a good nurse without empathy. Veronica approaches the desk, and suggests some foundation would do something for Madison. She says, look what affirmative action has done; two girls at the front desk. It’s the whole rainbow tribe. Her favorite thug joins her, and she says, the voice of a real man. She walks away with him, and Madison says he hates her so much. The other nurse says, she kind of likes her, but kind of wants to kill her ass.

Her thug says if Veronica wants to know, he’s fine, but his brother and Tyrone are dead. They had kids. Veronica asks if he called her there for charity. He says, no, but the police are going to ask what happened. She asks if he’s threatening her right now, and he says he’s not, but it would be cool if she’d pay for their funerals. She can’t believe he called her about a thug’s funeral, and wasting her time like this. She thinks she could possibly pay for one casket. Maybe the funeral home will give her a two for one deal. If… she pulls him aside, and brings him into Justin’s room. Justin says, no, no, no. He’s in pain. Veronica says she just wants to introduce a friend. Madison comes in, and says they need to leave. Veronica says she needs him to get out. He says, visiting hours are over; she needs to leave. She says he needs this job, right? and he tells her to leave right now. She says she’s visiting a friend, and he says he means it. She laughs, and her thug says, come on. She says, okay, fine. She tells Justin that she’ll be back, and puts a card in Madison’s pocket. It’s a friend of hers who does good Botox. He could use it. When she’s gone, Justin thanks Madison, who says he’s just doing his job. Justin says, no. He’s a good guy. He asks if Madison will keep an eye on him, and Madison says, she won’t be coming back. Justin thanks Madison, and when he’s alone, he cries.

Benny’s phone rings. He wakes up and answers. It’s Mitch, who asks what he’s up to. Benny says he was sleeping, and Mitch tells him, come on. He wants to get out, and celebrate. Benny says, celebrate what? and Mitch says his family not killing Benny. Benny says Mitch thinks it’s funny, and asks where Mitch is going. Mitch says, for a drink at Joe’s, and asks if Candace would want to come. Benny doesn’t think so, but if she’s up, he’ll ask.

Veronica sees a cleaning lady, and realizes it’s Celine, one time housekeeper of the Cryers. She asks if Celine works there, and Celine asks what it looks like. Veronica tells her not to get smart. Celine tries to get past, saying she has work to do, but Veronica says she knows the board and the owner. She says she just has one question. Why would anyone want to work? Celine says, to feed their family and pay the bills. Veronica says why is she there working the graveyard shift when she has two adults in the house who are Jim’s children? She doesn’t have to do this. Veronica says she’ll help Celine get him; she can do better. Celine moves on down the hallway, and Veronica says, come by her house. She can help Celine. She adds that Celine missed a spot. Get the mop. Unless she calls.

Benny sees Candace on the couch, and asks, what’s going on? She says, nothing, and he says he’s heading out. Mitch is on his way, and wants to know if Candace would like to come with them. Candace doesn’t think it would be a good idea, but Benny says it would be good for her to get out. She says she’s staying in. Everybody knows her face; she’s staying there. He says she has her shoes ready. She’s thinking about running. She says, no. She already lost a son. She can’t stand the thought of losing another person she loves so much. What if they come back for him? He tells her to run and start over, but she says she’s not doing that. He tells her, if she wants to give back the $8 million, go ahead. She says he’s bad for her, and he says she never took convincing before. She says, have drink for her. She looks at the TV, and tells him, look. It’s breaking news of a triple shooting, at Jim and Kathryn Cryer’s house. The reporter says they’re trying to find out what happened, but the coroner’s van behind her tells her, it’s not a good thing at all.

Next time, Benny says Jim got what’s coming to him and Candace can keep the money; Landon threatens Oliver; Candace visits Derrick; and it looks like Jim survived.

🙇 Whew…

Because it’s Wednesday, it’s so late it’s early, it was a rough night of premieres, and why not?