What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Monday:

Molly met Laura in the interrogation room and said she was going to do everything she could to make sure Sidwell was convicted, but she’d need Laura’s help. Boyle tried to get Laura’s attention through the window, but Fitzpatrick said she couldn’t help him now.

Brook and Chase had coffee in the Nook, and Brook said the main reason she was so happy was because of him.

Willow found Tracy in the stables, and Tracy said if Willow was planning on falsely accusing her of something else, she may want to rethink that. She smacked her riding crop on her palm.

Lulu met Sonny and Ric at Sonny’s house and said Dante wanted to be there, but got called away on a case. Rocco could be in serious trouble.

Charlotte went to see Carly and asked to talk. Carly said, of course (🍷), and Charlotte asked if it would be okay if she moved in.

Valentin was playing basketball, when Brick came along and said the old movie was right. White men really can’t jump. Valentin asked if he could help Brick, but Brick said he was there to help Valentin.

Molly asked if Laura would be willing to testify in court about the Lucas set-up, and Laura said, absolutely. Molly said it would greatly improve their chances of putting him away for good.

Boyle wanted to wait for Laura before he answered questions, but Fitzpatrick said she was busy and they should get started. Boyle wanted to postpone until he found proper representation, but Fitzpatrick asked what his constituents would think if he’d shirked his duty helping the police put away a would-be murderer. Besides, he didn’t have anything to hide, right? Boyle said, of course (🍷), not.

Brook thanked Chase for convincing her to tell him about her role in framing Willow. She knew what she did was wrong and if he decided she should tell Willow… He said Willow wouldn’t be charged for a crime, but if Brook came forward, she could be, and they couldn’t let that happen. He and Phoebe needed her. She said she needed them and promised to only focus on their family from now on. He said, same here, when her phone rang, and she left to take the call.

Willow told Tracy, put that thing away. She didn’t come to fight. She called to Scout, and Tracy accused Willow of using Scout to come there again, but Scout said she’d asked Willow to bring her over. She needed to ask Tracy for a favor. Willow left to let them talk in private.

Carly told Charlotte that her dad was now at the MetroCourt, and Charlotte said she knew that, but had gotten in a huge fight with her mom about living with him. She wanted Charlotte to live with her, but Charlotte had no interest in doing that. Carly said she thought Charlotte should work things out with her mother, but Charlotte said it was like talking to a wall. Carly said Lulu was just trying to protect her, but Charlotte said she didn’t need protecting from her own father. Carly said plenty of people wanted to hurt Valentin and Lulu didn’t want her to end up as collateral damage. Even though she disagreed with Lulu, she was coming from a place of love. Charlotte said her mom wouldn’t be happy until she cut her dad out of her life, and that was never going to happen. If she cut anyone out of her life, it would be Lulu.

Sonny asked, what kind of trouble? and Lulu said, the kind that could get Rocco sent to prison for a long time. That’s why she’d wanted Ric to be there. She needed legal advice. She asked if this conversation was under attorney/client privilege, and Ric said, of course (🍷). He was Sonny’s family attorney, and she was family. She said, Jason didn’t shoot Director Cullum on the pier.

Scout said she wasn’t apologizing to Tracy for bringing Willow. Willow had been there for her since her dad got sick. Tracy said Scout was always welcome, and Scout said she’d like to spend more time there this summer.

Brick said it looked like Valentin could use some help, but Valentin said he was just waiting for his daughter. He was going to pass her the ball while she took shots. Brick asked if he was a Stockton or Magic, and Valentin said he guessed neither. Brick said, pass him the ball, and Valentin did. Brick gave him a basketball tip, then told him to take the gift the WSB had just handed him. Go away. Start a new life, far away from Port Charles. Valentin asked who he was, and he said his friends called him Brick. Valentin asked if that included Sonny Corinthos,

Lulu said, Cullum was going to kill Jason and probably Britt, so Rocco picked the gun up and shot Cullum, and Sonny said it was making sense now. Lulu said Rocco felt so much guilt, both from shooting Cullum and the pain he’d caused Danny as a result. She was sorry. They should have told Sonny, but they were just trying to keep the truth from getting out. In spite of their best efforts, more people were finding out, which meant there was a greater chance for the authorities to hear about it. Sonny asked Ric, from a legal standpoint, how bad is it for Rocco?

Nina woke up in Jack’s hotel room, and said she knew she hated whiskey. Jack brought her some coffee, and said it had been unexpected. She said, no kidding. She hoped he was still thinking about finding the black box before Drew sent her and Willow to prison, and he said he’d already told her that he’d help. She didn’t have to sleep with him for him to do it.

Willow found Chase in the solarium and said she’d brought Scout there to ask Tracy a favor, so she made herself scarce. He said he wished Tracy would treat her better, especially since she’d declined to press charges when Tracy pushed her in the lake. She’d been gracious and Tracy was… Willow said, Tracy. She was glad she’d run into him because she wanted to ask how he felt about taking a trip with her to DC.

Fitzpatrick said it had been clear to him that Boyle was aiding and abetting a known fugitive, but Boyle said he was mistaken. Fitzpatrick asked how long Boyle and Sidwell had been working together, and Boyle wondered why he was being interrogated. He’d saved Fitzpatrick’s life by calling an ambulance. Fitzpatrick said he was grateful, but still needed Boyle to answer, when Laura came out. Boyle said he needed to speak to her, and she asked Fitzpatrick if it was all right. He said, sure, and Boyle hustled her back into the room. He said she had to save him.

Brook arrived at the stables, and Tracy said Scout wanted to use the lake for swim practice. Scout said she was training for an open water swim for charity. The distance was one-mile, the distance from there to the island. Tracy thought it sounded dangerous, but Scout said she was a strong swimmer. Her dad taught her. Navy SEAL, remember? Tracy asked if she was doing this for her father, but Scout said she was doing it for Grandma Monica. The money she raised would go to breast cancer research. Tracy said it sounded like a worthy cause. What’s the catch?

Willow told Chase that it would just be one day. She was attending a conference to learn more about local police practices for a bill she’d be voting on. The people putting on the conference were all lobbyists with their own agendas and she needed someone she could trust who could explain things to her in layman’s terms. There was no one she trusted more than him. He said he was flattered, but had to decline.

Brick said Sonny was a dear friend of his, and Valentin said he’d heard about Brick. He was ex-CIA. Brick said, among other alphabets. Hadn’t Valentin walked in that world? Valentin said he used to, and Brick said Valentin’s reputation preceded him. Valentin said, so did Brick’s. He was surprised Sonny would use someone of his stature as a messenger. Brick said he and Sonny went way back, but he was also friends with Carly, and Valentin said Brick was sent to protect Carly from him. Carly knew he was no saint and knew all that was in his past. Brick said Valentin had made a lot of enemies. If he truly cared about Carly and his daughter, he’d leave Port Charles and never look back.

Carly said Charlotte couldn’t cut ties with her mom or run away, and Charlotte said all they did was fight and she was sick of it. Carly said it wouldn’t last forever, but Charlotte said it would, because neither one of them would change their minds. Carly said she and her mom were the same, but eventually worked through their differences and their relationship became one of the most cherished things in her life. She didn’t want Charlotte and her mom miss out on something like that. Charlotte said she’d always choose her dad over her mom and her mom knew it, and Carly said Lulu was afraid of losing her. Charlotte said all parents stuck together. The only one she could really talk to was Danny, but he was on some trip with his dad. Carly asked what she was talking about, and Charlotte said, she didn’t hear? Jason was back.

Molly asked how it was going with Boyle, and Fitzpatrick said Boyle was tap dancing pretty good, trying to stall, but it was clear he’d worked with Sidwell in some capacity. He just couldn’t get anything concrete so far. Molly wondered why Boyle wanted to talk to Laura, and Fitzpatrick said, maybe he thinks she can help get him out of this mess.

Boyle said Fitzpatrick knew that he’d been helping Sidwell the day Sidwell was arrested. What should he say? Laura said, tell the truth. Tell Fitzpatrick that he was being coerced. They needed people to testify against Sidwell. Boyle said, if he testified, he’d end up in a cell next to Sidwell and he wouldn’t do well in prison. She said the person they were really interested in was Sidwell. If he told them that he could provide evidence for some of Sidwell’s crimes, she bet he could strike a deal with the DA. He asked if she couldn’t say he was part of the sting operation that brought Sidwell down, but she said she wouldn’t lie for him, especially since he’d been involved with Sidwell from the beginning. He said it was a mistake he regretted and he’d tried to walk away, and she said she’d advocate for him to get immunity, but he had to testify against Sidwell.

Nina said she didn’t make it a habit of prostituting herself, and Jack said she was desperate to save her daughter. She said she wasn’t that desperate. If he’d thought she was playing him, why would he go along with it? He said he wanted to see how far she’d take it, and she said he was a disgusting pig, shoving the coffee cup into his hands.

Carly asked if Charlotte was sure Jason was back, and Charlotte said Danny had texted her yesterday. His dad said the WSB just let him go, and showed up at the Quartermaine boathouse. Then they took off on some father/son road trip. Carly checked her phone and asked, how long would it have taken to send a text or a phone call? It’s unbelievable. Charlotte said, he seemed okay though, and showed her a selfie of Danny and Jason. Carly said, he still could have called, and Charlotte said they did look happy. Carly agreed and said Jason had focused on what was most important – his son. That’s the way it’s supposed to be. Charlotte said she would have loved to have done that when her dad came back, but her mom would never allow it.

Ric said, from what Lulu told them, the only two witnesses were Jason and Cullum. Cullum was dead and they had no reason to believe Jason would change his story. Lulu said, Rocco already told some people, including Britt, but Ric said it was hearsay and not admissible in court. Sonny asked about the evidence, but Lulu said Dante was certain there was nothing to link Rocco to the shooting. Ric said as long as all the parties involved kept quiet, based on the evidence, or lack thereof, Rocco was pretty much in the clear.

Valentin said, if Brick had done all this research on him, Brick knew he was capable of protecting those he cared about, but Brick said Valentin had this pattern. He’d be sitting pretty, like he was now, and suddenly came up with a grand scheme, like stealing diamonds in the Ukraine. Valentin asked if a guy couldn’t change, and Brick said, some do. Most don’t. Valentin said he had two real incentives, his daughter and Carly. They both lived in Port Charles and he wasn’t going anywhere. Brick said he got that Carly was an amazing woman and Valentin seemed like a devoted father, but so was Sonny and he’d do anything to protect his family. Valentin said he had no intention of putting Sonny’s daughter in danger, and Brick said he hoped not. Otherwise, Sonny would get more intense and aggressive toward him, and nobody wanted that.

Laura told Molly that Boyle wanted to cooperate with the DA’s office. As part of a plea deal, he might be able to provide evidence for some of Sidwell’s crimes. Molly said she assumed Boyle would be implicated in some of those crimes, and Boyle stammered. Laura said she’d witnessed Sidwell threaten Boyle on more than one occasion. She was convinced he was coerced and deserved leniency. Molly said she’d hear him out, and Laura left.

Brook wondered why there had to be a catch when Scout wanted to swim in a charity race, and Tracy said she believed there was more to it. Scout said she was right, and Tracy said, let’s hear it. Scout said Tracy had banned her father from the estate, but she’d really like him to be able to watch her swim. Was there any chance she’d let Willow bring him over? Tracy said it wasn’t a good idea, but Scout said, please. Her dad used to go to all her swim meets. It would mean so much to her dad and to her.

Willow said she should have given Chase more notice, but he said it wasn’t that. He and Brook made a mutual decision to prioritize their family over everything else. He needed to be there for her and Phoebe. His focus had been split and he needed to fix that. Willow said she knew he’d come to her rescue more than once and asked if he’d prefer if she kept her distance.

Nina hurriedly dressed, and Jack handed her a shoe. He asked her to wait, and she wondered if he hadn’t demeaned her enough for one day. He said he was sorry. What he’d said was unkind and not how he felt. She asked why he said it, and he told her, self-defense. His defense mechanisms were up with everything that had gone on, but he’d greatly enjoyed their evening. She said she had too, and he said maybe they could do it again sometime.

Lulu thanked Sonny and Ric for putting her mind at ease, and Sonny said she should have come to him sooner. She said she did have another worry. Now that Valentin received a full pardon, he was saying that he wanted to stay in Port Charles and wanted Charlotte to live with him, but she wouldn’t allow it. Charlotte wasn’t safe with him. Sonny said that’s exactly what he’d told Carly. He didn’t want Donna anywhere near Valentin. Ric said, Carly was dating Valentin? and Sonny said, unfortunately. Carly didn’t listen to him, but he was working on another way to get rid of Valentin.

Laura told Fitzpatrick that Boyle needed a little push sometimes to do the right thing, and he said, or maybe a good old-fashioned shove, when Boyle and Molly came out. Boyle said he and the DA’s office had come to an agreement on a deal, and Molly said, in exchange for immunity, Congressman Boyle had provided some information that she believed would be helpful in convicting Sidwell… provided it all checked out. Laura thanked her, and Molly left. Laura hugged Boyle and said she was proud of him, and he thanked her.

Nina said she thought she and Jack could agree that were in a very precarious situation and it would complicate their lives if they took this any further. He said, makes sense, she agreed, and left.

Chase said if Willow was ever in trouble, she could count on him, but for right now… She told him, say no more. She got it and totally respected his decision. He thanked her for understanding, and she said all she wanted was for him to be happy.

Tracy said it was a worthy cause, so she’d make an exception for Scout’s father, and Scout said, one more thing. Tracy said there was always one more thing, and Scout said if Tracy could also make a donation to sponsor her, that’d be great. Tracy said she’d be delighted, and Brook said she’d be delighted too. Scout thanked them and ran off to tell Willow the good news. Tracy said, that girl is definitely a Quartermaine. Scout knew she couldn’t say no when she said the words Monica and breast cancer. She had to give Scout credit for hustling her. Brook said, or Tracy did it just because she wanted to make Scout happy, but Tracy said, no, she didn’t. Brook said Tracy had a heart, but don’t worry. She wouldn’t tell anyone. They hugged.

Charlotte said she guessed she wasn’t moving in, and Carly said, no. Charlotte was going to go home and work on a compromise, a way to have a relationship with both her parents. Charlotte said she didn’t see that as happening with her mom anytime soon, and Carly said her dad was a free man now. He didn’t have to worry about taking off at a moment’s notice, and that meant her parents had plenty of time to work things out with her together. The moss bowl🎍approved.

Lulu said as much as she wanted Valentin out of Charlotte’s life, she didn’t want anything to happen to him, but Sonny said that wasn’t what he meant. If all went as planned, Valentin would make the wise decision to leave Port Charles on his own.

Valentin thanked Brick for the advice on basketball and everything else, and Brick said he’d tell Sonny that Valentin was passing on it. Valentin said maybe Brick could convince Sonny to take the loss, but Brick said he didn’t think so. Remember, it ain’t over till it’s over. As he walked away, Brick threw the basketball over his shoulder and made a basket.

Tuesday:

Gio tried to get the kids at the pool to settle down, when Charlotte handed him his whistle. Lulu walked in looking for Charlotte.

Dante introduced Fitzpatrick to Anna. She said she was shadowing Dante for a few weeks to get up to speed before she went back to being Commissioner. Dante stepped away to take a call, and Anna said she heard Fitzpatrick was instrumental in arresting Sidwell, but he said all he did was get pistol whipped. She said she wanted to review all the high profile cases that took place while she was away, starting with the shootout on Spoon Island, and all the major players involved. He said, that would be Jenz Sidwell, Ross Cullum, Nathan West… or Cassius Faison, and Anna said, and his sister, Britt Westbourne.

Stella said she hoped Tristan was settling in okay, and he said the people at the hospital had been pretty welcoming. Elizabeth said the people there were pretty friendly, and seeing Britt, she added, mostly. Lucas asked if Britt had met Tristan. He was GH’s newest cardiac surgeon.

Sonny thanked Turner for coming by the secret apartment, and she said she wanted to give him a heads up. They were coming for him and he was going down. This time, law enforcement was ready and they’d been practicing. She’d been working with a coach. He said Corinthos Coffee was going to take her down, and she said only if they didn’t cheat – again. Sonny said he was going to pretend he didn’t hear that because no one was stealing the base coaches signs. And he had to ask her a favor. Were there any pending charges against Valentin Cassadine?

Valentin went to Laura’s office and said he wasn’t sure she was going to see him. She said they had too much family in common for her not to.

Brick went to see Carly, bringing her flowers. She said she knew why he was really there. Sonny wanted him to warn her away from Valentin.

Elizabeth told Tristan that he was all set, and Stella gave him his assigned parking space. He asked if he could get something closer to the building, and she said she’d see what she could do. Down the hall, Britt told Lucas they were coming for her parking space. Why don’t they just throw in the Mercedes and be done with it? Lucas said she seemed more impatient than usual, and she said she was. Dr. Randolph wouldn’t reinstate her until she met with the new Chief Administrator and the head nurse. They wanted to conduct some stupid conduct review. He said it was bold that she thought she could just walk in and get her job back. She’d disappeared for weeks. She asked if it meant nothing that she was being hunted by some rogue government agent. Besides, what did he care? She thought he was done with her since she wasn’t dying anymore. He said if she told anyone he said this, he’d deny it, but they’d be fools to let her go. That being said, if she didn’t approach this with humility, that could be exactly what happened.

Laura said, it must be nice not to be on anyone’s most wanted list anymore, and Valentin said it was a nice change of pace, but not everyone was as thrilled as he was. She said she was sure Charlotte was happy and Lulu didn’t have to worry about him taking her on the run again, provided he stayed on the right side of the law. He said he’d been given the opportunity to raise his daughter in a safe and stable environment, but he might lose that opportunity without her help.

Lulu suggested she and Charlotte talk and come up with a solution, but Charlotte said she already had one. Let her live at Carly’s.

Turner asked what business Sonny had with Valentin, and he said Valentin was seeing his ex-wife. She said he wanted her to compromise her career because he was hung up on his ex-wife? but he said it was about Donna. Carly was hiding Valentin in her attic for months and his daughter was sleeping under the same roof. Valentin was a danger to his daughter then and he was now. She said the WSB had cleaned Valentin’s slate and set him free. No one was coming after him anymore. He said, someone was always coming after Valentin. That’s why he wanted Valentin away from Carly and his daughter as soon as possible.

As Carly put the flowers in a vase and the moss bowl🎍winked at them, Brick said he had his own concerns about Carly being around Valentin. She said he should talk to Valentin, and he said he already did. She asked how that went, and he said he’d advised Valentin to get a fresh start far, far away. She asked if Valentin was packing his bags, but he said Valentin was sticking around. She said, why shouldn’t he? He had no reason to leave. The WSB cleared him. Brick said that wouldn’t stop another agency from snapping him up if evidence of his other crimes came to the surface, and she asked if he had evidence. Was this a heads up that he was going to destroy Valentin’s life, then hers? He said he’d never do that to her. She was his friend and he loved her. But he couldn’t sit by and let her get more involved with this man. Not without a full accounting of what Valentin has been doing all these years.

Tristan told Britt, we meet again, and Lucas said, they’d met before? Tristan said, briefly, and asked how the apartment hunt was going. Britt said, not great. Someone swiped the only thing she could afford. He said he had good news. Her room above Bobbie’s was available again. Unfortunately, he’d misread the listing for the room and it wasn’t what he was looking for. He talked to the owner and she was very understanding about the mix-up. She even offered him a room at the MetroCourt at the same price. Britt said, no, she didn’t. She’d saved Carly’s daughter from a hook wielding psychopath and all she did was let her rot in that greasy spoon and got rid of all her stuff. He asked if she was sure it wasn’t her sparkling personality, when Lucas asked him for a consult on the fourth floor. They left, and Elizabeth said they were ready for Britt.

Anna said Fitzpatrick seemed like a good hire, and Dante said it was one of the few decisions he’d made where he didn’t second guess himself. She said it was part of the job. If you’re not questioning every decision, you’re probably messing it up. He said he must be one hell of a Commissioner. He knew how tough it was to reenter this job after a difficult absence. She’d been there for him, so he wanted to be there for her. He promised no judgements. He’d just listen.

Valentin said Lulu had been placing obstacles between him and Charlotte, and Laura said she knew Lulu didn’t want Charlotte living with him again, but he should have this conversation with Lulu. He said he’d tried, but Lulu just dug in her heels and it was just going to place a wedge between her and Charlotte. She said she still didn’t know why he was there, and he said he thought she could get through to Lulu. She said she believed Charlotte had the right to have both of her parents in her life, but she wasn’t advocating for his relationship with her until he acknowledged what he’d done to undermine her relationship with her mother.

Lulu figured living with Carly was Valentin’s idea, but Charlotte said it was hers. Lulu didn’t have to blame him for everything. She’d already talked to Carly. Lulu said living with Carly was a non-starter, and Charlotte asked, why? Carly’s was the perfect middle ground. Lulu said Carly wasn’t her mother, and Charlotte asked why Lulu even wanted her there. It made her miserable and all Lulu cared about was keeping her away from her dad. Lulu said they’d talk later and left.

Carly reminded Brick that Valentin accidentally poisoned her when he was going after Jack and she was still choosing to be with him. He said, next to some of the things on Valentin’s resume, that actually qualifies as adorable, and she said she wasn’t trying to deny or minimize what Valentin had done, but the past was the past. She could only go by what he’d done now, not just for her, but for her family. He went to the WSB to warn them that Cullum was a double agent, knowing he could go to Steinmauer for the rest of his life. Because it was the only way to stop Cullum and save Josslyn. He said, one good deed didn’t erase a lifetime of sins, but she said Josslyn was alive because of Valentin. That would always carry more weight than anything he’d done in the past.

Sonny said there had to be a warrant for Valentin out there somewhere, but Turner said the WSB confiscated all the evidence they’d had against him. All pending charges, regardless of jurisdiction, had been dropped. He said he wasn’t thrilled with Carly going out with Jack, but Valentin was a new low. He didn’t know why she couldn’t see she was going out with the man who was going to destroy her life. Turner said she asked herself that very question every day.

Lucas asked what drew Tristan to the hospital, and Tristan said, GH’s reputation preceded itself, but some of them weren’t the way he’d pictured them. Lucas said, if he was talking about Britt, she wasn’t a reflection on the rest of them, and Tristan said that made him feel a lot better. Lucas asked how Tristan felt about softball.

Stella said, given Britt’s history of unethical behavior, the board had deep reservations about letting her come back, but Elizabeth said, despite the board’s legitimate concerns, Britt’s achievements as a medical professional spoke for themselves. Stella said, as such, the board felt she should be afforded the opportunity to explain her conduct and appeal for her return, and Britt said she’d love to. Stella suggested she start by letting them know why she’d locked Nurse Baldwin in a bathroom.

Anna told Dante that her homecoming hadn’t been as smooth as she’d hoped, when Lulu came in. She said she wasn’t there to report a crime… not yet anyway. She wanted to confirm she was picking Rocco up from the Quartermaines. Dante said she could have sent a text, but Lulu said she wanted to talk to Anna. Would now be okay? Anna said the city PR team asked her to go on record with the press to address any concerns as to whether she was fit to go back to duty, and Dante said, feel free to use the interrogation room. Anna and Lulu went in and sat down. Lulu looked at a picture of Rocco on her phone and asked what Anna’s relationship with Robin was like. Anna said, fine. Why? Lulu asked how it was impacted by her kidnapping, and Anna asked if it was what her readers wanted to know. Lulu said, they might, if they’re a mom who can’t communicate with her daughter.

Gio asked if everything was okay between Charlotte and her mom, and Charlotte said, no. Things hadn’t been for a while. Her mom hated her.

Turner asked if Sonny really didn’t see the contradiction. She jeopardized everything she worked for nearly every time she talked to him. He said it was dangerous for him too, but unlike Carly and Valentin, they took precautions so nobody knew what was going on with them. Carly and Valentin were out in the open. She said, if it was any consolation, she was ready to bring the hammer down on Valentin if he so much as jaywalked, and he said he appreciated that. It would be simpler if they had criminal charges, but he had other ways to deal with Valentin. She said if he was suggesting what she thought he was, they were going to have a problem.

Anna asked if things were a little challenging with Charlotte at the moment, and Lulu said, all the moments. There was this distance between them. It was like Charlotte didn’t want to be close with her. Anna asked if Lulu meant the way Charlotte was with Valentin, and Lulu said she just wanted to make up for the years she’d missed, but Charlotte just wanted her dad. Anna told her that she wasn’t saying it was fair, but coming back into a child’s life after losing so much time was a painful process. Don’t give up. Just keep showing up for Charlotte. Eventually, the good times would outweigh the bad and all the fighting would just be a distant memory. Lulu asked if they could reschedule, and Anna said, of course (🍷). Lulu thanked Anna and left.

Gio said Charlotte’s mom didn’t hate her. She might get upset, frustrated, or angry, but hate? No. Charlotte said her mom totally despised her dad and she was just like him, and Gio said, for a while, Dante wanted nothing to do with him and there wasn’t much he could do about it. To be honest, there wasn’t much he wanted to do about it. She asked how he dealt with it, and he said he listened to music. She asked who he listened to, and he said his favorite was Augustin Hadelich. She said she and her dad saw him in Zurich. He was incredible. Gio said, his technique is flawless, and she asked who else he listened to. He said he’d share his playlist with her, when Emma joined them.

Laura said, clean slate or not, trouble had a way of finding Valentin. If Charlotte was with him, it would find her too. He said it wasn’t an issue anymore, but she said he didn’t know that. All Lulu had done was try to protect his daughter, and he’d made sure Charlotte saw her as a villain for it. He said it wasn’t his intention, and she said, prove it. Stand up for Lulu with Charlotte. Then maybe she’d stand up for him with Lulu.

Britt said, when Elizabeth saw the passport, she freaked. She and Rocco were in immediate danger and she didn’t see another option. She was truly sorry she did that to Elizabeth. Stella said, after that, Britt fled the country for several weeks, and Elizabeth said, with a minor in tow. Stella said, and this wasn’t so long after it came to light that she’d faked her own death, and Elizabeth said, all this happened just only in the past year. Stella asked why Britt deserved another shot, and Britt said because she was an excellent doctor and GH was the only place she actually got to help people without screwing up. Elizabeth said, speaking to that, Dr. Westbourne recently delivered Delilah Wilson’s baby. Not all doctors could have handled the situation the way she did. Little Phoebe was alive and well because of her. Britt thanked her and said, saving lives was their business after all. So what did they say? Could she get her job back?

Sonny said if he was going to make Valentin disappear, he wouldn’t be hinting in front of Turner. He’d never want to compromise her any more than he already had. He thought she’d know that by now. She said she wouldn’t be there if she didn’t, and they kissed.

Brick said he hoped Valentin realized how lucky he was to have Carly in his corner, and she said they were in each other’s corner. Brick said, if that changed and Carly decided she needed Valentin out of her life, this should do the trick. He held out a flashdrive, but she said if it didn’t work out with Valentin, she’d just end things, and he said, just like she did with Jack?

Emma said it had been a slow day at the rescue, so she clocked out early. She was glad she caught Gio because she’d grabbed a couple of chaises. He asked if Charlotte wanted to join them, but she said she had to get going. Gio said he’d send Charlotte the playlist, and he and Emma walked off.

Fitzpatrick asked if there was anything Anna needed, and she said she was missing the Ross Cullum shooting. It was March 23^rd, Pier 55. He said, that’s weird. He’d thought he’d pulled everything, but he’d go back and check. Anna thanked him, and he left.

At the Quartermaines, Lulu asked Dante if Rocco was ready, and he said Rocco asked if he could stick around there a little longer. She asked, why? and he said Rocco wasn’t saying much, but he thought things were tense between him and Charlotte. She said, too bad. If they were having issues, Rocco could come home and work it out with her. Dante asked if she was sure that was the best idea.

Valentin walked into Sonny’s old kitchen and kissed Carly. She said, wow. He was in a good mood. He said he just came from Laura’s office. it was going to take some work, but he thought Laura was going to broker peace with Lulu so he could spend more time with Charlotte. She said that was great, and he looked at the flowers and said he didn’t have to ask how her day went. Did he have competition? She said, yes, Brick, and he said, Sonny’s friend? She said, yes, and he said it was funny. Brick paid him a visit too, but he didn’t bring flowers. She said Brick told her that he’d spoken to Valentin, and Valentin asked if Brick also told her that he’d tried to scare him out of Port Charles. She said he tried to scare her too, and it worked, and Valentin asked what he said, She said Brick offered to fill her in on everything Valentin had ever done to end up on the WSB’s most wanted list.

Stella told Britt that they’d come to a decision, and Britt said, don’t sugarcoat it. Just rip off the duct tape. Elizabeth said they’d decided to recommend that the board reinstate Britt as a doctor there, and Stella said, however, she’d be placed on probation – again. Her initial probationary period lapsed, and based on recent events, she was now looking at an additional six months. And during that time, if one toe was out of line… Britt said she was going, and Stella said, mm-hmm. Britt said that was fair and she promised from now on, she’d stay on the straight and narrow, but Elizabeth said that wasn’t all. Because Britt was a repeat offender, her probation would consist of extra responsibilities. Stella said Britt would be working nights every Friday and Saturday, and inventorying the lab, and working with the children in the art therapy room, and… It would be easier if she just emailed this to Britt. Britt said, sounds doable. Anything else? Elizabeth said there was one other matter that required Britt’s attention.

Tristan said he never played softball before, and Lucas said that was great. If he had no aptitude for it, that was even better. It wasn’t about being good. They’d play a few innings and hit up the Brown Dog for some drinks. Tristan said he didn’t know, but Lucas said Tristan wanted to meet people and bad softball was a great way to do that. Elizabeth came by and asked if they had a new recruit, and Tristan said it didn’t sound like he had a choice. Elizabeth said, don’t worry. He was in good company. Allow her to introduce their new equipment manager. Britt came out wearing a baseball cap.

Gio said he was hoping to get in a few laps, and Emma asked if he didn’t just spend his entire day at the pool. He said, if a lifeguard does their job right, they never even touch the water. Today was annoy the lifeguard day, so there was nothing but tension for hours and hours. She said she thought she could help, and kissed him. Charlotte watched.

Dante said, according to Rocco, he and Lulu were good. It was Charlotte he had a problem with. Lulu said he felt Charlotte had sided with Danny over him. She got that, but it was over. They had to let this go. he said he liked that the Spencers didn’t hold grudges. The Cassadines and Falconaris did the same thing. It was one thing they all had in common. She asked if she was supposed to do nothing while they slammed doors and avoided each other, and he said, if they need to cool off, let them. She said, in the meantime, Rocco felt like he couldn’t come home, and he said she could give Charlotte what she wanted, which was to go live with her dad.

Laura welcomed Anna back, and Anna said it was wonderful to be back, on so many levels. She had a lot to catch up on, but thought she could manage. She did read up on how Laura took down Sidwell. Bravo. Laura said she had a lot of help, when Fitzpatrick came in. Anna asked if he found it, but he said he didn’t. The records and the physical evidence were gone. She asked if he went to the warehouse, and he said he did. It was never submitted. She said, and the digital records? and he said, gone. Like he told her, there was nothing. Laura asked what case this was in regards to, and Anna said, the Cullum shooting. Anna asked if it was possible everything had been misplaced, and Fitzpatrick said, anything was possible, but everything else was exactly where it was supposed to be. Anna said, then someone took it, and he wondered, who? She said she didn’t know and suggested they go through it all again. Laura flashed back to Lulu telling her, Rocco shot someone.

Sonny’s phone rang and he asked Brick how it went. Brick said, as well as expected. Sonny said, she didn’t want to hear it? and Brick said, not a word. Sonny thanked him for trying, and Brick said, don’t count him out just yet. Sonny asked what he did, and Brick told him, let’s just say I put something in motion. It might take a while, but eventually Valentine would be out of Carly’s life and she would be the one to get rid of him.

Valentin said there were many things he’d done in his past that he wasn’t proud of, and Carly said she could understand why, but she was going to tell him what she told Brick. He was willing to give up everything to save her daughter. That’s what mattered to her. He said he was very glad to hear her say that, and they hugged as the moss bowl🎍hit on the flowers. Carly clutched the flashdrive in her hand behind Valentin’s back.

Wednesday:

Dante told Lulu that Valentin being pardoned didn’t make it safer for him to be around, but it made it harder for her to justify not letting Charlotte be near him. Why couldn’t they just move forward?

Carly hid the flashdrive in a drawer and asked if Valentin found out what was in the black box, but he said, not yet. He was sure it had a self-destruct mechanism and he didn’t want to destroy the contents before finding out what was inside. He was sure it was valuable. He wasn’t the only one looking for it.

Jordan saw Michael at the gym, and he said he wanted to know something and she was the perfect person to ask. She said she was thinking the same about him.

Isaiah fussed over Portia’s baby, and she said he was a natural. He said he’d had practice overseas, and she said his compassion was one of the reasons she loved him. He said he loved her too, when Curtis came to the door.

Simon met with Brook, Trina, and Gio at Deception, and said before they finalized anything, there was a serious legal matter that needed attention.

Britt told Stella that the equipment manager gig came with a longer to-do list than her practice, and Stella said Britt had to see a patient who’d requested her healing touch.

Jack met Anna in the interrogation room and said it was good to see her. She said she didn’t believe that for a second.

Simon said the original plan was to sign Trina and Gio as a duo, but after discussing it with his colleagues, the label wanted to go in a different direction. They wanted them each as solo acts.

Curtis came into Portia’s room, and Isaiah left.

Stella said Portia wanted Britt to perform her exit exam, and Britt said she’d almost forgotten what it felt like to be wanted as a doctor. She was hoping they could talk about the every weekend part of her reinstatement, and Stella said maybe it wasn’t the right hospital for her. Britt said she wanted to be there, but the schedule felt almost like a constructive dismissal, but Stella said Britt saw their offer as a punishment instead of an opportunity to prove she wanted to be there. Britt said they should have confidence in her, and Stella said Britt was a brilliant physician, but had an established pattern of reckless behavior. This was her chance to break it and get herself right with GH. If she didn’t like it, the elevator was right there.

Lulu said Charlotte’s safety was still at risk, but Dante said she couldn’t keep Charlotte away from her father forever. She said now that Valentin had been pardoned, she’d have to split custody. It worked for her and Dante because Rocco wanted to be with both of them. Charlotte didn’t. Charlotte couldn’t stand being near her right now. He said maybe if she let Charlotte choose, it would bring them closer, but she said, or it could just mean more time away from her. She’d already lost enough time and didn’t want to lose what was left.

Carly wondered who else was looking for the box, and Valentin said when he and Charlotte were at Windymere, Jack was there with Nina. Nina said she was there to find anything to shed light on what happened to Cassius the night he died. Carly said she didn’t buy it, and Valentin said he didn’t either. It crossed his mind that they were looking for the box, and Nina must have been there helping Jack, which meant Jack was desperate. It was probably Cullum’s unless Cullum took it from Jack’s office. Either way, Jack would want what was in it.

Jack said Anna must have heard about their former Director’s extracurricular activities, and she said she had. He said he should have seen through Cullum’s façade sooner and questioned her disappearance, but she said, Cullum fooled a lot of people. Jack said he’d heard whispers about Cullum, and then there was Nathan West’s mysterious return from the grave. Then it turned out he wasn’t Nathan at all. Anna said she’d been trying to piece together whose actions belonged to who, what was Cullum’s and what was Cassius’s, and Jack asked why it mattered since they were both dead. She said, Cullum and Cassius were members of a much larger conspiracy. Others were out there who needed to be brought to justice. He asked if she was speaking about Sidwell, and she said, among others. He said he was sure she knew Sidwell was in custody for unrelated charges, and she said she was aware. Had he managed to find anything connecting Sidwell to what happened to her? He said he couldn’t say for sure who was behind her kidnapping, but if he had to guess, he’d say it was Cullum. He’d strapped Jack to a bed and pumped him full of carbon monoxide, which seemed in keeping with psychological manipulation and kidnapping. She said, but if the goal was to make her believe Faison was alive, it seemed the best person to do that would be his son.

Michael asked if Jordan could give him feedback on the gym, and she said, of course (🍷). He asked what he could help her with, and she said her favor wasn’t as easy and it might be painful for her to bring it up.

Quinn met Kai at the Surf Lodge and said he wasn’t sure Kai would meet with him. Kai said he almost didn’t after how Quinn had treated Trina.

Brook asked where this was coming from, and Simon said he’d seen a clip of Gio performing at the Nurses Ball and he was brilliant. Brook said they both were. He was talking about a pretty big change, so she’d need some time with her clients. Simon said, of course (🍷), and left. Gio said it wasn’t what he’d signed up for and he had no interest in being a solo act, but Trina said Gio had worked hard for this opportunity. She’d just have her own deal. Brook said her advice to the both of them to consider the possibilities, but whatever they wanted to do was what she’d do. Trina said, although Gio’s relationship with music was rocky, he came alive when he played. She didn’t want to be the reason he walked away from it. Gio said he wasn’t walking away from anything, but it had to be them together or there was no deal.

Lulu told Dante that when she and Charlotte reunited, she told herself she’d make up for the lost years and be the mother Charlotte never had. But all she’d done was chase years she’d never be able to recover. Dante said he knew from his experience with Gio and Sonny that there was no catching up. Meet Charlotte where she was. Otherwise, she’d risk losing Charlotte forever. (As usual, Lulu was all about Lulu.)

Jordan said she was hoping Michael could tell her about his recovery experience at the clinic in Baden-Baden, and he said the clinic saved his life. He’d never regret going. She said, they did an incredible job, and he asked if she was thinking about seeking treatment there. She said she was, and he said admittance could be exclusive. He’d gotten in because of Jack Brennan, who’d done it because of his mother. She said Sidwell told her about the exclusivity and offered her a spot… in exchange for a favor. He asked if she’d turned him down, and she said, of course (🍷) she did. He asked if she was having regrets about that.

Curtis and Portia tossed around some baby names, and Portia said, if all went well, she’d be discharged tonight. He asked if she and the baby would like a ride home, and she said they’d love it. He said he was thinking since it was the baby’s first night home, maybe he could stay too. (The baby is adorable, but very noisy. I could barely hear them.)

Simon asked if they had a deal, but Brook said her clients weren’t interested in pursuing solo deals. They wanted to stick with the original deal and perform as a duo. Gio said, it’s either that or nothing at all, and Trina said, they started this together, and whatever they did next, they were doing together.

Quinn said, nothing that happened was Trina’s fault. He admitted he was way out of line and hated what it had done to his and Kai’s friendship. Any chance Kai would want to hang out again? Kai said he wanted to get past this, but Trina had become a big part of his life. It only worked if Quinn apologized to her and treated her with the respect she deserved.

Lulu said Valentin warned her that if she tried to keep Charlotte away from him, it would destroy their relationship, and Dante said he didn’t like agreeing with him, but Valentin knew Charlotte. He was also biased about where she lived. She said the space might be good for their son. He was far from over the shooting and the fallout, and needed more of her time. Dante said she had to do what was best for Charlotte too, and whatever she decided, he’d support her. She said she knew what she had to do, but wasn’t sure she could do it, and he said the Lulu he knew could do anything and hugged her.

Valentin said Jack was looking bad. He couldn’t imagine the higher ups at the WSB were too pleased. Carly said it would be worse if they found out the WSB box was in somebody else’s hands and their secrets got out, and he said, a former fugitive, no less. He was going to float a trade. His funds, his assets, unfrozen, released in exchange for the box. She said he was going to have to surrender the box to get his money. What was to stop Brennan from killing him the second he got the box?

Anna told Jack that she believed Cassius had the strongest motive to shoot Cullum that night on the pier. Cullum was in charge of Faison’s final project and Cassius might have taken issue with that. In order to inherit his father’s empire, he may have needed to take his rival off the board. Jack said that tracked, but he was certain it wasn’t Cassius. He knew who did it.

Isaiah said he’d heard they had a new equipment manager in the house, and Britt said she was declaring a moratorium on softball talk. He said he wanted to discuss his uniform number, and she said she’d let him know. She heard congratulations were in order. Portia had her baby. He said she’d heard right, and she asked how mom and baby were doing. He said Portia was exhausted, but doing well, and the baby was incredible. He just didn’t know how any of this was going to work. She said, support his head, don’t drop him, and don’t let him eat dirt. Isaiah said he knew that. He and Curtis just had another awkward run-in. Curtis came into Portia’s room while he was there with her and the baby. She said she didn’t see any fresh bruises, and he said he walked out as soon as Curtis got there so they could have space to bond with the baby. She said, smart move. Avoid altercations. He said the next time he wanted to take a shot at Curtis, he’d remind himself how Curtis ruined his life doing exactly that. Curtis’s trial was coming up and he’d refused a plea bargain. With any luck, he’d pay dearly for that mistake.

Quinn said he had no issue with Trina and hoped she had none with him, but Kai said they’d have to see. Quinn said he’d seen Kai’s socials. Trina was singing now? Kai said she and Gio were in negotiations for a record deal, and Quinn said he’d congratulate her after he apologized. Kai said Trina was swinging by to pick him up, but before she got there, he had to ask. Why was Quinn reaching out now? It had been over a year. Quinn said now that football wasn’t consuming him, he could see the game wasn’t worth their friendship. How did Kai move on? Kai said it seemed impossible, but he managed to get through it because of Trina. Trina approached and asked if she’d heard her name.

Portia told Curtis that it was a kind offer, but she thought they needed to set up some boundaries for everyone’s sake. He was more than welcome at the house, with notice, but no overnights. He wouldn’t expect her to stay with him and Jordan. He said she was right, when Britt came in. She took a peek at the baby and said it was time for Portia’s discharge exam. Curtis left to deal with the paperwork, and Britt said she’d heard Portia requested her. Portia said Stella told her that Brit was back and she thought Britt could use a friend.

Valentin told Carly that he’d be prepared. He needed money now. Lulu was gearing up for a custody fight. She said he could always borrow money from his rich girlfriend, but he said he had no interest in being a kept man. Besides, the money was rightfully his and he wanted it back. She said she got that, when Lulu knocked at the door. She said she’d been doing a lot of thinking and thought Charlotte should decide who she wanted to live with.

Jordan said, no matter what happened, she’d never regret turning down Sidwell, and Michael said he wasn’t sure if he had much sway at the clinic, but he’d stayed in touch with the doctors and staff. If there was anything he could do, let him know. She thanked him and said she didn’t know if it was appropriate to ask, but he said it was beyond appropriate. Curtis always had his back, so if he could do anything for Curtis or her, he was going to do it.

Stella asked how the baby was doing, and Curtis said he was great. He was healthy and strong. She asked how he was doing. She’d seen Isaiah exit Portia’s room earlier. How did that go? He said it was uncomfortable, but he listened to her and just focused on his baby. She said she was proud of him. Sacrificing for his family. Putting them first when everything inside of him wanted something else. That’s what it meant to be a father. She knew he was thinking she’d never even been a parent, so how would she know? but he said he wasn’t thinking that. He knew she wasn’t asking anything of him that she wouldn’t ask of herself. She was his auntie, but she’d always been more like a mother to him. They hugged.

Britt said everything looked great and Portia was cleared to go home. She thanked Portia again for requesting her. It was her first exam since she’d been back and it felt really good to be doing doctor work again. Portia said Britt was her OB and she knew what Britt was going through. She’d been given a second chance and didn’t see why Britt didn’t deserve one as well. She understood the power of starting over and was hoping she and her family could do the same one day.

Valentin asked, what’s the catch? but Lulu said there was none. If Charlotte wanted to live with him, she’d go along with it. He asked if she’d talked to her mother, and she said, no. Why? He said, no reason, and she said she’d been doing some soul searching and decided Charlotte should be given the choice. He said that was very magnanimous, and she said, especially since they both knew who Charlotte would choose. She did have some conditions. He’d have to provide an actual home for her – not there and not a hotel suite. He said, consider it done, and Carly said it was generous of her. Lulu said the way she saw it, as long as Charlotte was fighting her, she’d lose. She’d do anything for her daughter’s happiness. Even break her own heart.

Anna asked, who was Cullum’s shooter? but Jack said, sorry. Classified. She said she didn’t know why she was surprised. She’d asked to pull the case file and there was no evidence. The Bureau must have wiped it clean. Jack said it wasn’t him, and she said, Cullum perhaps. He had every reason to want to bury that file. Maybe he wanted to take care of the shooter on his own terms or just protect the operation. He said, it wasn’t Cullum either, and she asked how he knew all this. He said, when Cullum was discharged, he wanted the evidence, but the PCPD didn’t have it and it was never produced. She said, so it was missing even then?

Portia was wheeled out with the baby, and Curtis gave Stella the paperwork. She said the baby’s name was missing, but if they didn’t have one yet, she could list him as Baby Ashford. Curtis said the baby’s middle name would be Robinson, but they were still working on first names. Portia said she liked the name he’d suggested earlier. The one he’d said was his favorite. It was a strong name. He said allow him to officially introduce Stella to their son, Mr. Desmond Robinson Ashford. Stella said, hi, Desmond, as Isaiah watched.

Michael said he wasn’t out in public like Jordan, but had an idea of the burden she was carrying. If she ever felt she needed to talk, he was there for her. She said she had to get going and left, when Michael’s phone rang. He said, hey, Maxie. How are you doing? It’s been a while… Okay. Listening…

Valentin said he knew he’d harmed Lulu’s relationship with Charlotte, but would always let her know how much Lulu loved her. She said if Carly ever found out Valentin was putting her daughter in danger, she expected Carly to tell her. She glanced at the moss bowl🎍and left. Carly looked toward the drawer where the flashdrive was, and Valentin said now all he had to do was deal with Jack.

Anna told Jack, someone at the PCPD made the evidence disappear. It just fueled her suspicion that it was Cassius that shot Cullum. Yet Jack was telling her that he wasn’t the shooter. What did he expect her to do with this? He said, let it go. It didn’t matter who the shooter was. Cullum was an embarrassment to the Bureau and they never wanted to hear his name again. If she kept digging, she was only going to ruin the life of someone who just wanted to keep people safe. He left, and Peter said Anna was wasting time. Why didn’t she ask him about Britt?

Dante asked how it went, and Brook said, Gio and Trina signed their deal as a duo. Dante said that was amazing. Congratulations. The whole world would see how great Gio was, just like they had. Gio thanked Dante and Brook for being patient with him. He’d turned his back on them and music, but letting them back in opened the door to music again and he was happy he did.

On the phone, Simon said he’d stayed behind to finish up some paperwork. It was a done deal. They wouldn’t agree to sign as solo acts, so he’d signed them as a duo… Well, he’d rather have them that way than not at all. Trina Robinson. She’s the one to watch.

Trina asked if Kai was ready to go, but Quinn said, wait. He wanted to apologize for blaming her for Kai’s injuries and how he’d treated her even before that. He knew how much Kai liked her and he never really gave her a chance. He was sorry for that. He hoped she could accept his apology. She said she knew how tight he and Kai used to be, and she’d never want to get between them, and Quinn said he appreciated that. Maybe they could all hang out together sometime. Quinn went to another table, and Kai asked how it went. Trina said there was a little hiccup, but it was official. She and Gio signed a deal. She appreciated Kai and wouldn’t have been able to do it without him. He said he’d always have her back, but right now, he thought it was time to celebrate. Quinn watched.

We saw a big collage of photos of Trina, something like a stalker would put together.

Thursday:

Emma saw Gio at the pool and said she was glad he hadn’t forgotten his humble beginnings now that he was a huge rock star. Sonny came in and found Rocco folding towels. He asked how it was going, and Rocco said, pretty good, so far. Sonny asked if he could take a break. He had to talk to Rocco about something important.

Dante went to Laura’s office and said he’d gotten her message. It sounded important. She said it was. It had been a while since Lulu told her that Rocco shot Cullum. Anna was back and looking into the evidence. Should they be worried?

Chase went to Anna’s office and she asked why one of her best detectives had been demoted to beat cop.

Tracy left her 14^th message for Maxie and said her not returning the calls was unprofessional and not up to company standards. She’d devested her self of Deception’s stock and Tracy wanted it. Call her. 14 messages, Maxie. Brook asked if that was really necessary.

As she let herself into the office, Lucy left a message for Maxie saying it was very important Maxie call her back about the shares. She walked in to find Tracy and Brook, and Tracy said, you.

At Bobbie’s, Cody told Molly that Spinelli had accepted an amazing job offer in Australia and the family was moving there. They were leaving tomorrow night. He thought the family was itching to get out of Port Charles as they’d been traumatized by Cassius’s lies. James most of all.

At the boathouse, Michael watched as Alexis got ready to time Scout’s swim practice. She said if Scout did a mile in under 45 minutes, she was checking her for gills. Accompanied by Nina, Willow wheeled Drew up onto the deck, and Scout said she couldn’t believe he was actually there.

Gio told Emma not to worry. He wasn’t turning into a rock star anytime soon. He’d promised Carly and Olivia he’d stay until they had someone to replace him. She said she loved a man who honored his commitments, and they kissed, when Charlotte came in.

Sonny said Rocco’s mom told him what Rocco had been going through, and Rocco said she’d told Sonny that he’d shot Cullum. Sonny said it was a hell of a thing to have to keep from the people he loved. He was sorry he wasn’t there for Rocco. He understood why Rocco didn’t tell him, but Rocco never had to keep anything from him.

Dante said there was no evidence tying Rocco to Cullum’s shooting, and Laura said she wouldn’t ask how that happened, but there was no evidence in the case at all and that could be a problem. Anna was back and noticed the file was missing. She’d been asking a lot of questions.

Anna asked if Chase was telling her that he’d undermined the case against Willow Cain, a case she’d built and had Willow arrested for. He said he’d simply conducted an independent investigation on his own time. He’d felt there was a rush to judgement and investigated other suspects. She said it sounded like he’d targeted Michael, and he said he believed Michael framed Willow so he could get custody of his kids back. He deserved a closer look then and still did now, but he knew he was wrong. She asked about the footage of Willow driving down Drew’s road the night he was shot. Did he get rid of it to help Willow?

Scout said she wouldn’t know how to swim at all if it wasn’t for Drew. He’d taught her everything she knew. So whenever she was in the water, she was doing it for both of them. Willow suggested Scout get started, and Alexis said she was ready. They all said, three… two… one! and Scout dove into the water.

Lucy said Tracy was puffed up and proud of herself that she’d snaked Maxie’s shares out from under her, and Tracy said Lucy had taken advantage of Brook’s dissolving marriage to steal shares from her. So what was preventing her from using a grieving child to steal Maxie’s?

Molly said Maxie’s family had been through a lot lately between Maxie’s coma and Cassius, and Cody said, who wouldn’t want a fresh start somewhere far away from the reminders of what Cassius did? She said she knew part of the reason he was sad James was leaving was because it wouldn’t give James the chance to be here to forgive him. Felicia and Mac came in with James, and James pointedly ignored Cody. Molly said it looked like they’d all had the same idea. She told James that she heard they were moving to Australia. Was he a kangaroo or wombat guy, or both? He said he’d never seen a wombat, and Molly took him aside to look at pictures of them on her phone. Mac said he was sorry James was taking out the whole Cassius mess on Cody, but they were grateful for what Cody had done for him. Felicia said, telling James the truth proved how much Cody loved him, and Cody said he was going to miss the little guy, but maybe a change was what was best for him. Mac said, but James leaving Port Charles estranged from Cody wasn’t good for him. So for both their sakes, they needed to try and fix this.

Brook said she and Chase were stronger than ever, and Lucy said, thanks to her. She did help them get back on track, so it was only fair Tracy sell her all her shares, including the ones she’d just procured from Maxie. Tracy said she hadn’t procured anything from Maxie and neither had Lucy, and Lucy wondered who Maxie had sold them to.

Charlotte asked if Gio had gotten a bonus from saving that kid last week, and Emma asked, what kid? Gio said it wasn’t that big of a deal. A little kid got rowdy, fell in the pool, and he fished him out. Charlotte said Gio was being too modest. The kid’s mother freaked out, but Gio just dove in and got him. He’d totally saved that little boy’s life.

Sonny told Rocco that Brick said he was in the clear. Legally, he could put this behind him. But he knew a situation like this stayed with you. It stayed with him. He’d managed it on his own, but Rocco didn’t have to. If he ever felt overwhelmed and needed to talk to somebody, come to him and they’d work things out together. Rocco thanked him.

Dante said Anna would be looking into Cullum’s shooting and anything that had WSB involvement, and Laura asked if she’d find anything. He said he owed Laura the truth. He’d used his position to shield his son. He was the one who destroyed all the evidence in Cullum’s shooting. He did it to protect Rocco.

Chase told Anna that he’d never destroy evidence. Internal Affairs found nothing to tie him to it because he’d had nothing to do with it going missing. She said his independent investigation was a serious infraction. He was lucky they’d given him the option of a demotion. He said he’d accepted it because he loved being a cop and his conscience was clear, but she said she needed to know she could trust him.

Inside the boathouse, Willow said she hadn’t expected Michael to be there, and Nina said if Willow wanted to leave, she’d stay until Scout finished, but Willow said they both needed to be there to make sure Drew didn’t pull anything. Nina wondered why she’d agreed to bring him, and Willow said it meant so much to Scout. Once Tracy agreed, how could she not? They’d just have to keep their eyes on him.

Alexis told Michael, regardless of the prognosis, Scout believed her dad was going to recover. Maybe if he did, it might change him into a better person. Michael said he didn’t see that happening. He didn’t think it had changed Drew at all.

Cody said he appreciated what Mac and Felicia were trying to do, but thought they should stay out of it. One of the reasons he’d told James about Cassius was because he didn’t want James to be angry at them. Mac asked if Cody expected them to do nothing while he sacrificed his relationship with James for them, and Felicia said they’d respect his decision, but she thought he should consider giving it another try with James before he left. Cody said he didn’t want to force James to do what he didn’t want to and James didn’t want to talk to him. Mac said, Cody told James the truth and one day he’d be grateful, but right now, Cody had to show James how much he loved him by showing up, no matter how angry James was. Otherwise, James might think Cody had given up on him. Felicia said they knew Cody would never do that.

Gio brought Emma the highest SPF he could find, and she said he was a hero. Apparently, Charlotte’s too. Admit it. A little hero worship feels good sometimes. He said, Charlotte was just being nice.

Charlotte asked if Rocco still wasn’t talking to her or was folding towels that riveting. She didn’t get why he was so mad. Danny’s dad was free and home and no one had arrested him. What was the issue? Rocco said Danny was supposed to be his friend, his brother, and sold him out. Danny turned him into the WSB and she took his side. She said she’d been Switzerland this whole time, but if he was just going to keep whining and not move forward, then she was definitely siding with Danny.

Willow asked if Nina had heard from Jack about the box, and Nina said, no. If he’d found it, he would have contacted her. Willow said she was running out of time. Once Drew was up and running, he’d tell everyone what she did and Michael would use it to take Wiley and Amelia away from her. Nina said she knew Willow didn’t like the idea, but they were running out of options. They might have to take the kids and run. Willow asked where they would run to. Michael and his father would use their resources to hunt her down. If Jack couldn’t give her what she needed, she’d have to get help from someone else. Nina said, like who?

Chase said he was willing to do whatever it took to prove himself to Anna and this department, and Anna said, good. He was an excellent detective and she believed him when he said he hadn’t gotten rid of the footage. However, given what he’d admitted to doing, his demotion was appropriate, but she wanted to offer him a road back. She was interested in uncovering any evidence related to Cassius Faison’s and Britt Westbourne’s conspiracy with Cullum. Cassius masqueraded as Nathan for months and Britt was involved up to her neck. She wanted everything he could find for any open investigations they may be part of, including their investigation into Cullum’s shooting. The evidence from that case was missing. See if he couldn’t find it. Find what she needed, and she’d see about getting his detective shield back.

Dante told Laura that the WSB seemed happy to accept Britt’s account that Jason shot Cullum and be done with it, but he’d looked into it and found out Rocco was the shooter. He’d done it to stop Cullum from shooting Jason and Britt. His son’s blood on the gun tied him to the shooting, so he got rid of it, but he also got rid of everything else too. He knew it was wrong, but in that moment, he was a father, not a cop. She said he was a good cop and a good father and there weren’t any easy answers there. Knowing Jason willingly sacrificed himself to protect Rocco, she would have done the same thing. However, Anna didn’t know any of this. The evidence was missing and she was going to keep digging until she found answers. Dante said he’d handle it, thanked Laura, and left.

Brook said, Maxie wouldn’t sell her shares to just anyone, and Lucy said Brook was right. Shame on her for thinking Maxie would sell her shares to an old battleax like Tracy. Tracy said, nor would she sell them to a grifter like Lucy, when Michael came in. He said they were both right. Maxie sold her shares to him.

Cody told Molly that they had to check on the new arrival at the stables. He’d forgotten to tell her. They had a new arrival last night. James asked if Daffodil had her foal, and Cody said, sure did. She had a little colt. James said she wasn’t due until next week. Was he okay? Cody said he was perfect. James told Molly that they’d been worried because Daffodil was colicky. He’d helped walk her around and kept her calm. Cody said, because of James, she had a healthy, strong son, and James said he wished he’d been there to see him being born. Cody said he had the next best thing, a video of him standing for the first time. Did James want to check it out? James said, yeah, and they looked at the video. James fist bumped Cody and said, it was so awesome, and Cody said James helped make that happen.

Emma said she bet Charlotte was lonely. She loved the way Gio was able to look at how what someone was showing the world wasn’t their full story. He said he was interested in her story.

Charlotte told Rocco that he was being a real jerk. Danny’s dad went to prison for something he did. Rocco asked if she meant saving his life, because that’s what he did, and she said, yeah. Jason repaid him by sacrificing himself. Rocco could have been in that prison. So he didn’t get to be mad at Danny for that. She would have done the same thing. He said her dad would probably end up doing something awful and get arrested again, so she might have to.

Michael said Maxie called him last night. She wanted to divest herself of her shares in Deception before they moved. Lucy said he didn’t know anything about cosmetics or the global beauty market. Why would Maxie go to him? He said, Maxie wanted to sell her shares to someone who would make decisions the same way she would, for the good of the company. He gave her his word that he would. Lucy said he was a Quartermaine and Maxie knew that the Quartermaines ultimately rallied around each other. How could Maxie do this to her? Tracy said, easily and profitably. She thought Maxie made a wise choice. Now she, Michael, and Brook could be a voting bloc. Michael said, not so fast. He’d be making his decisions for the good of Deception.

Nina told Willow not to give up hope. Jack was committed to getting them out of this. Willow said Jack was a spy who lied for a living. Why did Nina have faith in him? Nina said he got rid of the footage of Willow being on Drew’s street the night of the shooting and didn’t rat them out after he was injected. He was going back to Windymere to search for the box with a special infrared device. He was proving to be quite determined and thorough. Willow said, oh my God. Nina slept with Brennan.

Sonny went see Laura and said Lulu filled him in on what happened with Cullum. According to Ric, without any physical evidence linking Rocco, there was nothing that could hurt him. Unless Jason or Britt came forward with the truth. Laura said she didn’t think that was likely to happen, but maybe there was still one loose end – Anna.

Chase said he’d get Anna what she needed as soon as possible, when Dante came by. Chase left, and Dante said he understood Anna was looking for the evidence in Cullum’s shooting on Pier 55. She said she was. Did he know where she could find it? He said she wasn’t going to find it. It was lost.

Cody said he got to name the colt, and James asked what he chose. Cody said he didn’t know. There were so many to pick from, but what did James think of the name West? James asked if Cody wanted to name the colt after him, and Cody said he did, but only with James’s permission. James said it was cool, and Cody said, West it is. Would James be okay with him sending pictures of West growing up? James said, yes, please. His mom said it was really hot in Australia, so he’d have to wear his hat all the time, but he didn’t have it anymore. Cody said, hold that thought, and left.

Willow asked why Nina thought sleeping with Brennan was a good idea. Did she suddenly think she could trust him because she’d slept with him? They’d seen how that worked with Drew. Nina said she couldn’t compare the two, and Willow said if Brennan was going to help them, it had to be now. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be able to control Drew without taking drastic action.

Dante said the evidence disappeared on his watch and he took full responsibility, and Anna said it wasn’t like him to be sloppy. He agreed, and she said she understood there were a lot of unanswered questions regarding Cullum’s conduct in Port Charles, and his death meant maybe they would never know the full scope of what he was involved in. Maybe it was best if they just left that particular case closed.

Charlotte said her dad was free because he’d risked everything to protect all of them, and Rocco’s parents were protecting him from the consequences of his own actions. She and Danny were the ones who created the distraction that gave Carly the time to save Josslyn. Would he have been up for that? Or would he have stayed home where he could be safe and protected? He said the next time she and Danny screwed up and got themselves in trouble, don’t expect him to take the fall, and he walked out.

As Charlotte walked by, Gio said things looked a little intense with her and Rocco. Was everything okay? She said everything was fine, and Emma said Gio just signed with a record label. He was about to become a superstar. Charlotte said that was amazing. Congratulations.

Cody came back, and James said, Cody saved his hat? He was so mean to Cody, he thought Cody probably threw it away. Cody said, no, never. He was going to drop it off with James’s grandparents, but now he could give it to James himself. James asked if Cody thought he’d like Australia, and Cody said he thought James would love it. There were so many adventures to have, and James was just the guy to have them. He wondered if they could do a weekly video call, and James said Spinelli could help him set it up. How did cowboys say goodbye? Cody said they didn’t. We say, see you around, partner. James said, see you around, partner, and they hugged.

Lucy said Michael couldn’t tell them how to run their company on the first day, and he said he was aware that he didn’t have the majority, but only needed one of them to vote with him. Tracy said it wouldn’t be her, and Lucy said, or her. Michael asked if Brook trusted him, and she said he was making a lot of sense. He said, let’s put it to a vote then. All those in favor of his proposal. Brook said, aye, and he said, sorry, ladies, looks like the ayes have it.

Laura told Sonny that Anna had questions about the evidence in Cullum’s shooting, but Dante told her that he felt he could take care of it. Sonny said he trusted Dante to do it, but his concern was how Rocco would deal with this in the future. She said she was concerned about that too. She knew the kind of trauma shooting someone caused. She was only 16 when she killed David Hamilton. It didn’t matter if it was accidental or not. It took a long time to forgive yourself. Sonny said she didn’t want to know what he did at 16. He couldn’t take it back. You had to carry the weight of regret and it was one of the hardest things to go through. She said they were uniquely prepared to help their grandson and she wanted Rocco to know he could come to them for help, but he’d have to heal in his own time. Sonny said they’d be ready for it.

Anna said she trusted Dante. If the evidence disappeared on his watch, that’s all she needed to know. He thanked her and said if things changed and she wanted an explanation, he’d give it to her. She said, noted. There was one more thing. Did he think he could try to be a little warmer to Officer Chase? If she had her way, they might be back as partners again soon. He said, okay, and left. Sitting at her desk, Peter said, so she figured it out, and Anna said, he was protecting his son. There couldn’t be any other explanation. Peter said, then she had her answer. Now she could put her attention back where it belonged. She said she had Chase looking into Britt, and he said she’d see. Britt and his brother were the reason she’d experienced the hell she went through. They were just like him. And they were all just like their father.

Rocco arrived at the boathouse as Scout came out of the water. She asked what her time was, and Alexis said, 44 minutes and 30 seconds. Rocco said he was sorry he missed it, but Scout said, no big deal. She was going to be practicing there every day if he wanted to come watch and help time her.

Willow told Nina that if she didn’t find a way to control Drew, he’d be swimming next to Scout next week, while she was being shipped off to Pentenville. They went outside, and Alexis told Scout to be careful. She didn’t want to get her dad’s wheelchair too close to the edge. Nina stared hard at Drew.

🌞 Summer Friday…

At Bobbie’s, Valentin said he’d take it as a good sign that Alexis was meeting with him, and Alexis said it was nice to see him out in the wild again. He said it was good to be a free man, and she said, for now at least. He said, sorry? and she said, given his track record, she was wondering how long this freedom was going to last.

Lucas was about to leave the hospital, when Elizabeth asked if he’d seen Britt. He said, no. Don’t tell him she was late for work. What was her excuse? Elizabeth said, the excuse she didn’t bother to give? and he said, she didn’t call in? Elizabeth said, no call no text, nothing. For all they knew, she’d taken off again. Elizabeth couldn’t even take an alien abduction off the table with her. He said, if that was the case, she was going to be in a mood when she got in, and Elizabeth said, I can’t with this woman. Lucas asked if she wanted him to stay, and she said, if he was offering. She needed someone to stop her from losing it, if and when Britt decided to show up.

Josslyn went to Jack’s office and he asked how she was feeling. She said it was weird not having a cover story, but she was fine. He said he was referring to her gunshot wound, and she said, also fine. He said, good. He wanted her to sit in on an interview and wanted her take, provided she could be objective. She asked if there was anything she needed to know beforehand, but he said she was ready on the subject, when Britt came in.

At the station, Dante asked if Chase had a minute. It was about Willow.

At the boathouse, Scout talked to Drew about her swimming and said he could help her when he got back in the water. Rocco brought out some electrolyte drinks and said she’d looked awesome out there. He would have needed those floaty things on his arms to go as far as she did. Danny arrived and hugged Scout. He said, look who he brought with him, and Jason joined them.

Valentin said he knew he was lucky to get pardoned and had incentives to stay on the right side of the law. He wanted to do right by those he cared about, and to that end, he owed Alexis an apology. She said, finally. For what? He said, as his relative, he knew she’d been under intense scrutiny from local law enforcement and the WSB and was sorry her privacy had been invaded. She said she’d been questioned multiple times by multiple authorities, and mostly, it didn’t go beyond that. She was just glad she wasn’t involved more. She was also glad he didn’t come knocking on her door and asking her to hide him. He asked what she would have done, and she said she would have had to close the door in his face and it would have come at a great cost to her.

Dante told Chase that they were moving on the case against Sidwell. Boyle was cooperating. He mentioned a connection between Willow and Sidwell, and Turner wanted Willow brought in for questioning. Chase said Dante didn’t have to tell him to stay out of it, but Dante said he was telling Chase the exact opposite.

Scout said she was glad Jason was home, and Willow said it was a surprise. Jason said he got back a couple weeks ago, then left on a road trip with Danny, and Danny said, it was awesome. They made it all the way up to Montana before heading home. Jason said, if Willow had a minute, he’d like to talk to her about Danny and Scout’s living arrangements, and Willow suggested setting up a time for next week, since her schedule was so hectic. Jason said whatever worked for her, and Willow asked if Nina could get Drew home. She had to make a phone call to the WSB. Nina said, of course (🍷), and Willow told Scout, great job. She’d been impressive. Willow left, and Nina said she’d take Drew home, but Scout said she wanted to talk to her dad first. Scout sat next to Drew and said they were all family and had been through so much, him most of all. Maybe they couldn’t start over, but shouldn’t they at least try to get along? Jason said Scout was right. It was time for a new chapter.

Elizabeth asked how Lucas was doing, and he said he was holding up. Throwing himself into work helped a little. Besides, helping patients fulfilled him and it was a nice way to avoid thinking about where he was going to live. She asked what he was thinking on that front, but he said he didn’t know. He was avoiding it. She said Felicia needed some time off to help Maxie with her move and asked her to take over getting Drew set up with a communication device, but Willow wouldn’t make the appointment. She put it off like, six times. He said, that’s a little weird. Most families would be begging to have access to that kind of technology. She said she needed to see Willow in person and find out what was going on. She was going on a break and going to Willow’s office, but their conversation wasn’t over. When she got back, they’d look at real estate listings. Unless he wanted to move in with her. He said he’d take the listings, and Elizabeth left.

Jack said Agent Jax would be observing the interview, and Britt said it looked like she was recovering well. Josslyn said Britt looked pretty healthy herself. It must be a relief to know she didn’t have Huntington’s. Britt said, a relief and about a million other things. Why was Josslyn there? She didn’t think the WSB was pursuing charges. Jack said, that’s true. At the moment. What happened next depended on her level of cooperation. Britt said she was a victim in all of this, and he said, a victim who elected to involve herself in a criminal conspiracy. She asked if he’d always be holding charges over her head, and he said, make herself useful to the WSB. Extremely useful.

Alexis said she may not trust Valentin as far as she could throw him, but she cared what happened to him. It was a huge relief that he wasn’t a fugitive anymore. Just be smart about that freedom. He said he was always smart. Sometimes his risk assessment was too optimistic. She suggested he engage in an activity that didn’t require risk assessment. She was sure the WSB was counting on him not to keep his nose clean. He said they had their concerns and would be watching him for the foreseeable future, and she said, but he wasn’t going to give them anything to see, right? He said, that’s the plan, and she said, good. He told her, that being said, he wasn’t going to let it stop him from taking back what was his.

Jason said, whatever problems he and Drew had shouldn’t involve the kids. They needed to work it out for their sake. Scout said, that would be amazing, and Jason asked Rocco to go for a walk. He wanted to clear a few things up. They left, and Scout asked what Danny’s dad wanted to talk to Rocco about, but he said, it’s complicated. A lot had been going on. She asked if it had to do with Rocco taking off with Britt, and he said, something like that.

Britt asked what Jack wanted to know, and he said, Director Cullum absconded with a secure file container. A black box. The WSB wanted it back. There was reason to believe he’d left it at Windymere. Had she seen it? She said, no. She was stuck in a lab. She kept her head down, did her job, and tried to avoid Cullum as much as possible. That guy was one crazy psychopath. He asked why he should believe her, and she said if she had the box and knew she could do something with it, why would she be sitting there talking to him? Her phone chimed and she saw a text from Lucas: You’re 2 hours late! Where are you? Jack said she could be selling the box to the highest bidder, and she said she knew she’d forgotten something. Let her check her eBay account… Oh bummer. No bites from the DVX. He said, very funny, and she said she didn’t know what to tell him. She didn’t have his box. She’d never heard of a box. She didn’t know anything about a black box. So if he wasn’t going to arrest her, please let her go. He said, that’s all for now, and she said, sorry she couldn’t help, and left. He asked what Josslyn thought. Was she telling the truth?

Willow tried to call Jack and asked that he call her back as soon as possible. It was an urgent matter. There was a knock at her office door, and she opened it to Elizabeth. Elizabeth said she wanted to apologize for being overly cautious and notifying the county about a possible toxin in Willow’s home, but Willow said she appreciated Elizabeth’s diligence. She’d be relieved to know the house was clear. Elizabeth said that was great news. She was also there to check in about the communication device for Drew. They were set up and ready to go, but according to them, Willow kept putting it off. She was trying to understand why Willow wouldn’t want Drew to communicate. Unless Willow was afraid of what he might say.

Lucas said, at long last, she’s arrived, and Britt told him not to start with her. She’d had a horrible afternoon. He said, and an equally bad hair day, and she said, hilarious. He asked, what happened? and she said she got dragged into the WSB for questioning. Because she knew no one would believe her, she got a note from the front desk. She handed him a paper and said it was signed and everything. He said it wasn’t fifth period gym. She had responsibilities and patients who relied on her. She said she was summoned. It wasn’t her fault. He said nothing was her fault – ever. She was a perpetual victim in a world that was just out to get her. She said it would be easier for him if he still thought she was dying. Sorry to disappoint. She was going to live. Deal with it. She walked off.

In the solarium, Jason said Danny had told him everything, including what he’d done, and Rocco said he believed Danny when he said he’d just done it to protect Jason. Jason said he did too, but he shouldn’t have done it and he was sorry that Danny did. Rocco said he appreciated that and asked if Jason thought they were going to arrest him, but Jason said, no. Cullum was dead and the fact that they released him was a pretty good indicator that the WSB wanted this behind them. But if it came to that, he had Rocco’s back. He’d tell them that Danny would say anything to get him home. He was going to take full responsibility for shooting Cullum. Rocco asked, why, when it was his fault the WSB took Jason away.

Alexis said if Valentin was talking about the Cassadine estate, Ace was the heir, but he said he wasn’t talking about Ace’s inheritance. He was talking about his hard-earned assets. She said, hard-earned, ill-gotten. Who can really say? He said all he wanted was what belonged to him, and she asked how he proposed to reclaim these belongings. He said, by going through the WSB.

Josslyn said it seemed to her that Britt was telling the truth, but Jack said she didn’t sound too confident. She said she wasn’t the best gage when it came to Britt. The night after the shooting on the pier, she and Britt decided to share information with each other. She thought they were being open and honest, and it turned out Britt was working with Cassius the entire time and she didn’t pick up on that. That error was what got her locked up at Windymere. He said she wouldn’t make that error again, and she said, not a chance. He said she’d had her own dealings with Cullum. Did she ever see the black box? She said she would have included it in her debrief if she had, but he said she might have seen something and not understood its significance. She said she assumed he was looking for something like the box he used to keep in his office. Was he looking for Cullum’s secrets or trying to uncover his own?

Dante said he wanted to give Chase the option to bring Willow in, and Chase asked if it was a courtesy or a test. Dante said it was neither. He wanted to take this back to when he trusted Chase before the trial, and Chase said, past tense. Dante said this was him trying to trust Chase again, but it was his call.

Willow asked what Elizabeth was accusing her of, but Elizabeth said she wasn’t and she wasn’t judging Willow even a little. She just wanted to help. She knew what it was like to be a caregiver and it was understandable if Drew’s condition was putting a strain on their marriage. How could it not? Willow said it hadn’t been easy, but she thought she was doing a better job of hiding it, and Elizabeth said Willow didn’t have to hide anything from her. They were friends. Willow said she and Drew had a lot to work through and she couldn’t fathom the thought of trying to hash things out while he was talking through a machine. Was it awful of her? Elizabeth said, no. She got why Willow would feel like that. But at the same time, no matter the state of their marriage, Willow had to let him have a voice. Or did she honestly not want that?

Rocco told Jason that he could have refused to go with Nathan or Cassius or whatever his name was, or he could have told his dad the truth at any point. He shouldn’t have let Jason cover for him. Jason said Rocco was in shock, so he made the decision for him. Everything that happened after that was on him. Rocco did nothing wrong. Rocco said, if Jason had known what the WSB was going to do to him, send him away from Danny, from everyone, would he still have said he was the shooter? Jason said the WSB was definitely tough on him, but it wasn’t because of that night. It was because of who he was and the things he’d done in his life. None of that was Rocco’s fault. Rocco said, but he was a minor. If he’d come forward, they would have gone easier on him and Jason would have been free. Jason said they had no idea what the WSB would have done, but he wasn’t taking that chance, and Rocco asked how he could ever repay Jason. Jason said Rocco didn’t owe him anything. It was the other way around.

Lucas said he was sorry, and Britt said, for what? Because she had multiple grievances with him. He told her, for what he’d said at Bobbie’s. It was uncalled for. She said, uncalled for, cruel, completely out of line, but she forgave him. How could she not? He was the only one who recognized she’d been through a really hard time and she was doing the best she could. He said, was she really? Or was she just doing what she always did? Per usual, instead of showing grace and gratitude, she was acting just as entitled as ever. She said she’d thought they were bonded, and he said they were. She said she’d thought they were on the road to becoming friends, but he was still judging her. He said he was just calling it as he saw it. She was fearless. She said what was on her mind. She was an excellent doctor, but he refused to give her a pass for her bad behavior. He wasn’t Brad. She said, duh. Brad would have her back and wouldn’t send her cringy messages every time she was late for work. He said, fine. No more messages. But it went both ways. No more requesting him to get her out of jail. No more asking him to cover for her with Elizabeth when she was late. She was on her own. She said, what else is new? and he said if she didn’t want to be there, leave. But if she did, she owed it to herself and everyone else around her to show up. Otherwise, what was the damn point? He walked off.

Jack said the contents of the black box were classified, and Josslyn said, above her pay grade. He said, but retrieving the box was of the utmost importance. She’d just never know why. Was that going to be a problem for her? She said the rules were there to protect the Bureau’s agents and assets. She planned to follow them. She was given a choice. She could have left the Bureau and she chose to stay. That meant she accepted her rank. It didn’t mean she liked everything expected of her, like keeping her mouth shut as he threatened Britt. He said, fair enough, and she said it was her way of saying, if she wasn’t told what the contents of the black box were, it must be for a reason. He said it seemed she’d learned some valuable lessons since her day as a recruit. She was free to go. She left, and in the hallway, Valentin said, look at her. Back to work already.

Scout said she got that Drew was angry with Danny. He messed up. She loved living with him at her grandma’s house. The only part she didn’t like was knowing he was against it. Danny said, not much she could do about that, and she said, don’t talk about her dad like he wasn’t there. It might be hard for him to communicate, but he was still her father and got upset. Nina said sometimes it was hard to figure out what Scout’s dad was thinking, but she knew he loved her very much and wanted her to be happy. Isn’t that right, Drew? Drew blinked once, and Danny said he was sorry he’d said that and for everything else. He’d talked a lot about this with his dad and wanted to do better. Scout was his sister and he loved her. So for the record, Scout could always count on him.

Chase asked if Dante would be making this offer if Anna hadn’t come back, and Dante said it didn’t matter anymore, but Anna wanted Chase reinstated as detective. She also had an idea of who she wanted to be Chase’s partner – him.

Willow thanked Elizabeth for calling her out. It meant a lot that Elizabeth was always honest with her, even when it was difficult. Elizabeth thanked Willow for hearing her out and asked if she could set up an appointment for next Tuesday to install the devices. Willow said, that would be great, when her phone rang, and she said it was the WSB calling about a congressional matter. Elizabeth said that was her cue to get out of there, and left. Willow asked Jack to tell her he’d found what she needed. Drew couldn’t speak, but she caught him moving and she was out of medicine. She was out of time. He said he was sorry, but they’d hit a dead end. The box wasn’t at Windymere, which meant Cullum either destroyed it or he shipped it off. Either way, he couldn’t get his hands on it. She said it was over then. Drew would regain his mobility, his voice, everything. There was nothing she could do to stop him from coming after her. Jack said, not necessarily. He owed her mother and Willow had done everything she said she would for the WSB. So to settle that debt, he would put her and her children on a plane tonight. They’d provide the means and she could escape with her family.

Dante gave Chase a cup of bad station coffee and said he was down with them working together again if Chase was. Chase said his goal was to get his gold shield back. The trial put them both in difficult positions, but he never felt Dante was out to get him. Dante said he wasn’t, and Chase said that was his roundabout way of saying he’d like to be partners again too. Dante said that left the question of Willow and whether or not Chase wanted to be the one to bring her in. If he chose not to, no one would hold it against Chase, including him.

Jason said Danny saved his life. And Britt’s. He’d never forget that. He was sorry for what it cost Rocco. Rocco said, don’t feel sorry for him. There were so many people who did, he couldn’t handle it anymore. Not that he wasn’t grateful for everyone who protected him. He was. Jason, his parents, Michael, Ethan, even that Cassius guy. But the person who seemed to really understand how he felt was Britt. Jason said Danny told him that Rocco took off with her, and Rocco said, she didn’t want to work for Cullum anymore, so she decided to run. Between what happened and keeping it quiet, he felt like he was making everyone’s life hard and miserable. He knew Britt had some health stuff going on, so he didn’t want her to be alone. Jason said he was glad Britt had Rocco, and Rocco said he was glad they had each other. Now that they were back, it was so weird. It felt like everything changed and he didn’t know what to do. Was he supposed to pretend that nothing happened? Jason sighed and said he didn’t think it was ever a good idea to pretend. Rocco was forced to carry a lot of heavy stuff. He didn’t have to anymore. Rocco cried, and Jason said it was okay. He knew Rocco couldn’t forget it, but he just had to put it down. He had to try and find a way to let this go. Rocco asked if that was what Jason was doing, and Jason sighed again and said he was trying.

Britt apologized to Elizabeth for being late and said she’d gotten called into the WSB last minute, but she knew that was no excuse. She should have told someone. Elizabeth said Britt didn’t have to explain it to her. She had to explain it to Stella. She’d notified Stella and HR that Britt was a no-show. It was policy. Britt said, Elizabeth couldn’t have given her the slightest benefit of the doubt and waited?

On the phone, Nina said, this can’t be happening, but Willow said she’d spoken to Brennan herself. The evidence was gone. It was over. Nina asked what they were going to do now, and Willow said Brennan told her that he could get her and the kids out of the country. They would leave tonight. She just needed to swing by the house, pick up a few things, and pick up Wiley and Amelia from Lila’s Kids. Then they were headed to the airport. Nina said Willow told her that Michael and Sonny would be able to find her, but Willow said Brennan told her that he could arrange for new identities for all of them, including Nina. But she completely understood if Nina didn’t want to come with them. Think it over. Nina had a life in Port Charles, but for her, Drew could be talking any day now, maybe sooner, and she had no choice but to run. Let her know what she decided. She had to go. Nina came out of the boathouse, and Scout said they were meeting up with their grandma at Bobbie’s. Nina said she’d make sure Scout’s dad got home, and Scout and Danny left. Nina looked at Drew.

Britt saw Elizabeth and Lucas looking at real estate listings on Elizabeth’s phone, and walked around the corner. The hospital doors opened and Jason came in. Britt smiled.

At Bobbie’s, Scout said Danny came to the boathouse after her swim, and Alexis asked if her father was still there. How’d that go? Scout said, Danny was great. He said how much he loved her and would always look out for her. Danny said Scout told him how much she loved living with them, and Scout said, together, they explained they were brother and sister and wanted to be in each other’s lives. Alexis asked if Drew was receptive, and Danny said, it was kind of hard to tell. Alexis said, of course (🍷), and Scout said she thought it would take some time for him to get used to it, but he understood. Her dad just wanted her to be happy.

Josslyn let Valentin into the office, and Jack said, Valentin Cassadine, free at last. Valentin said he was a lucky man. Here to pay it forward. Jack asked, how’s that? and Valentin said he’d come into possession of a certain WSB black box. And to prove that he’d turned over a new leaf, he wanted to return it – for a price.

Willow was about to leave, and when she opened the door, she saw Chase. She asked what he was doing there, and he said he was sorry, but he’d been asked to escort her to the police station.

On the phone, Nina said she needed to hear from Jack. She’d already heard from Willow. He needed to call her back before anyone did something they couldn’t take back. She undid the lock on Drew’s wheelchair, and he said, what’s wrong, Nina? Get some bad news? She said, not for her. Worse for him. She pushed his chair into the lake.

On Monday, Willow asks Chase to tell them that he couldn’t find her; Jack asks what Valentin expects in return; and Britt slaps Jason in the face.

🧼 All the Soap News Fit To Print…

But the door is still open.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/general-hospital-officially-writes-out-maxie

I was thinking Quinn, but Simon did say she was the one to watch.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/general-hospital-who-is-trinas-obsessed-fan

So far, she’s doing swimmingly. (BA-DUM-CHH!)

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/general-hospitals-kayden-brenna-tokarski-opens-up-about-becoming-scout-cain-exclusive

Mid-year roll call.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/in-loving-memory-the-beloved-soap-actors-who-have-passed-away-in-2026

Something happier.

https://ew.com/real-life-soap-opera-couples-11965728

💉 A Dose Of Reality…

Below Deck Mediterranean

I tuned in late, just as Nathan was telling Captain Sandy that Luke ejaculated on his sheets. Perfect timing, I thought. The captain said that the rest of the crew knowing was not okay either and she had to do something. Primary Suzanne’s dog Sugar Baby took a dump on the white rug in the hallway, which might have been a statement about the men matchmaker Amy brought for his owner. In her interview, Gen said she hated boat dogs. She told a story about a dog on a different cruise who stared at her as he peed on the white curtains. Mr. Feathers knew what he was doing. The captain texted Norma about deckhands, but none were available. Cooper accidentally ate something with peanuts in the ingredients when he’s highly allergic. Captain Sandy called the medic, and I wondered why they didn’t keep an EpiPen on the boat. Joy nearly freaked out, but the doctor said Cooper would live. A horseback excursion was set up for the guests. In Luke’s interview, he said he’d lost Nathan’s trust and respect – I said, all of us. You lost it from all of us. – and he’d rather be fired than work with a bosun who thought he was a POS. He told the captain that his presence was causing disruption and interrupting the flow. He wanted to be removed from the equation. So she shot him. Just kidding.

Side note: I saw Cooper on Watch What Happens Live and I don’t know who told him that his outfit was a good idea. It was a somewhat clingy shirt opened halfway, showing his hairless chest, along with a choker and medallion. I got the vibe that he’s a guy trying to be cool, but it just comes off as awkward.

The Valley

Michelle and Jesse signed a million divorce papers, and Jesse said it was a lot of work. I’m sure, but no doubt not as much work as being married to him was. They had champagne. I couldn’t see the brand but wondered WTF it was since it looked almost orange. Lala thought Kristen’s hatred for Janet was clouding her judgement, and Kristen and Luke went to couples’ therapy. Britttany decided to host a Halloween party with the theme Victorian Vampire Masquerade. That sounds right up my alley, but I’m sure someone will find a way to dampen everyone’s spirits. No pun intended.

In the City – Reunion – Part 1

The Reunion took place in Andy’s clubhouse, where everyone was pretty cramped. There was some talk about Amanda and Kyle, and Amanda said their marriage had been over before West, but Andy said they’d revisit the topic later. Kenny’s reunion with his dad was discussed, and the single mom card debacle. Whitney said she’d misspoke (a word I’m starting to hate) about the mom card and it was more about entitlement. Lindsay said she wanted to date just for fun, and Danielle said she’d learned her lesson about commenting on Lindsay’s relationships. Georgina said she was looking to date for keeps. Whitney cried about people thinking she was riding Kenny’s reality show coattails for fame and said she and Kenny had talked engagement, but still, no ring.

Real Housewives Of London

Not to be confused with Ladies of London: The New Reign, this is a reboot of the original RHOL show. American Juliet is the only one of the old cast returning, but it’s now confusing since there’s another Juliet. A good portion of the show was introducing the cast, all of whom were incredibly wealthy and most of whom had dogs, so upside. Amanda was hosting an International Women’s Day party, and pointing to a powder room, told her housekeeper, this loo needs to be checked every 15 minutes because it will be carnage in there. Besides pets, I guess the bathroom is the great leveler. The party was fabulous, all designer dresses, caviar, and champagne that wasn’t orange. Nessie, who owns Chelsea Cake Company, contributed a cake, but it was no Betty Crocker mix, since she’d made the cake for the Queen Mother’s 90^th birthday. It looked simple and elegant, definitely a reflection of Queen Elizabeth. Color me impressed.  In the preview, we saw Dorinda (RHONY) and I wondered, why? I haven’t found a whole lot on this show, which reenforces my belief that the Housewives franchise is dead, but Andy won’t let it lie down.

Next Gen NYC

Ariana said Hudson giving off d*ckish energy. Agreed. In Emira’s interview, she said Georgia was like a germ. You couldn’t avoid her, you were going to catch her eventually, and she made you sick. Not so much agreement on this one. I find her kind of amusing. The groups went to see the Rocky Horror Picture Show, but most of them were ignorant of the whole cult status of it and we didn’t see much. Afterwards, they attended a party where lots of sh*t hit the fan. Ariana was annoyed with Gia for telling Shai about her interest in Liam, and in Gia’s interview, she said Ariana told her to give Shai a chance, then got mad because he’d talked to Hudson. She thought Ariana had spoken too soon about Shai. I think Shai is just trying to fit in, but yeah, don’t tell him everything. Ava tried to get Brooks and Charlie to have a convo, but Charlie was his usual idiot self and whined about Brooks’s dad, saying, f*** his dad. He was the least respectable house husband. Brooks walked, and Charlie said Brooks made him uncomfortable. Poor baby. Rowan and Brian saw a fortune teller, who told them nothing, but Rowan was a bit tipsy and thought she was brilliant. Ariana talked to Shai about him spilling her tea, but he claimed that he and Charlie had just wanted to warn Liam that he was stepping in glue. This made zero sense since Ariana and Hudson had broken up. When Ariana let Hudson know what Shai said, he told her that Ava and Rowan agreed, but the flashback said no, they definitely did not.  Emira confronted Charlie about relaying to Georgia that she’d thought Georgia was being flirty with Kevin, he admitted it. But when Emira boomeranged back to Georgia, she told Emira that Charlie had repeatedly said Kevin was a gay man, so the flirting was a non-issue. Emira went off mic and just plain went off, saying Charlie had said some nasty sh*t and she was out. Brooks wondered what just happened, since he’d never seen her like this, but Charlie feigned ignorance. By then, Emira was really wound up and told the others that she’d defended Charlie and never talked about his crypto sh*t, but she wasn’t protecting him anymore. He was dead to her. Shai and Liam talked about Ariana within her earshot, and she gave the best quote of the episode: I can hear everything. What are you saying?

https://pagesix.com/video/next-gen-nyc-recap-the-cast-calls-out-charlie-over-egregious-comments-about-brooks-dad-emiras-boyfriend-more

Say it ain’t so.

Real Housewives Of Orange County

Things got emotional between Jenn and her son Greyson, who got pulled over for doing 105, Tamra was emotional about Sophia moving out, and in Carmella’s interview, she said being in Playboy was a wake-up call making her overly cautious with her kids. Emily went to Jenn’s place and said Ryan’s closet was more interesting than hers. He seemed to be in his pink era and had a floral section. I wish I was that organized. Tamra went to see Teddi and expounded on their friendship. She claimed the other girls didn’t care, and then somehow made Teddi’s illness about herself. Gina spilled the CO tea to Travis and in her interview said a prenup was non-negotiable. It wasn’t about her making more money than Travis, but about protecting herself and her kids. Shannon met Tamra and Vicki at The Quiet Woman, where Vicki tried to get the Tres Amigas back, but in Shannon’s interview, she said her hopes weren’t high for Tamra acknowledging the hurtful things she’d done. They sat in silence for a while, when an artichoke was placed in the middle of the table. Shannon finally said that the last time they were there, Tamra said she was a drunk, would never get a man, and had no money. In Vicki’s interview, she talked about Shannon blowing up at the same restaurant on the Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: Roaring 20^th. She said walked out when things got too toxic, but Tamra fed on it, and she was scared of Tamra. The Tres Amigas hugged it out and Vicki said her job was done.

Random Reality Items

I’d actually forgotten all about her. When are the Valley Shahs coming back?

Aww. This made me feel sad.

We’ll see how long his repentance lasts. Shep is getting old along with his schtick.

Speaking of, this is at least a gallon of tea in one post.

👀 Last Weekend’s Watch…

Obsession. Peacock. If you’ve seen anything on this film, you probably already guessed the theme – be careful what you wish for. Lonely, music store clerk Bear has feelings for his co-worker Sarah, but not the cojones to tell her. While looking for a crystal necklace to replace the one she lost, Bear finds a novelty item called One Wish Willow. Crack it in half and you get one wish. He buys one (only $6.99!) intending to give it to his friend Nikki, but instead breaks it open and wishes for Sarah to love him more than anything else in the f***ing world.  He’s surprised when he gets his wish, but more surprised when it’s not exactly what he bargained for. Both disgustingly gory and funny – You can’t cook the cat, okay? – it’s also a little sad. While it’s an old trope, it’s given a new spin and is well-worth watching, especially for Megan Lawless’s performance as Sarah. Since the Academy is more apt to give an award to a horror film these days, she’s deserving of one, running the gamut of emotions as Nikki obsesses over Bear, while her true self is… we really never find out where. That was actually my only question about this film. If she’s not quite the real deal, did Bear really get his wish? The film is also left open-ended, leaving the path to a sequel a possibility.

https://variety.com/2026/film/news/obsession-review-1236747795

https://theeverygirl.com/obsession-movie-review

Teach You a Lesson. Netflix. In this series, the Korean education system has broken down with kids left fending bullies off more often than learning, some of them even committing suicide under the pressure. Enter Hwa-jin (Kim Mu-yeol) from the Educational Rights Protection Bureau, a department that’s determined to turn things around, sometimes using a literal good swift kick. While at times it feels like an upscale After School Special, the fight scenes are incredible, with Hwa-jin and his female counterpart Jin Ki-joo (Im Han-rim) kicking ass and not bothering with names. Each episode is different and a story unto itself. Given the seriousness with which Koreans view education, I did find it a little unbelievable that any of their schools have eroded to this point, but here in the US, we need to only look at the nightly news to find the problems depicted in our own backyard. I’m only halfway through the series, but I’m in for the whole ride.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/laurasirikul/2026/06/07/netflixs-teach-you-a-lesson-may-be-one-of-the-best-dramas-this-year

https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/entertainment/shows-dramas/20260605/netflix-drama-teach-you-a-lesson-serves-as-reality-check-for-koreas-broken-education-system

And for those who finished The Human Vapor (reviewed last week), how hard is Ellie My Love (Southern All Stars) stuck in your head?

⛹️‍♀️ Sporty Finds Her Match…

Nice to hear the girls are still joining forces.

https://ew.com/spice-girls-reunite-at-mel-c-wedding-without-victoria-beckham-12022304

🦄 Sharks and Belugas and… Oh My…

🦈 It’s here.

https://www.discovery.com/shark-week

👽 Beam them up, Bruce.

https://people.com/forrest-galante-reveals-details-recent-alien-shark-encounter-exclusive-12022262

🐋 Not their week, but I signed petitions about these poor things, and any whale named Bertie Botts deserves sanctuary.

https://people.com/6-belugas-saved-from-shuttered-marine-park-reach-their-new-homes-12024668

🦝 And if you haven’t met him by now, let me introduce Jimothy.

https://people.com/seattle-short-spine-raccoon-jimothy-goes-viral-after-5-million-views-12021835

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/an-unusual-looking-raccoon-nicknamed-jimothy-is-winning-hearts-across-the-internet-for-his-short-round-body-180989157

🍿 Quotes of the Week

Every strike brings me closer to the next home run. – Babe Ruth

To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you. – Unknown

I think one day you’ll find that you’re the hero you’ve been looking for. – Jimmy Stewart

Success is walking from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm. – Winston Churchill

Of all the unimportant things, football is the most important. – St. John Paul II

To play a wrong note is insignificant; to play without passion is inexcusable. – Ludwig van Beethoven

Sometimes the smallest step in the right direction ends up being the biggest step of your life. – Naeem Callaway

Is this a church or a disco? – Annabelle Chua, 90 Day Fiancé

If there was a vampire bat in the US it would make sense for it to come to a slyvania… like Pennsylvania. – Dwight Schrute (Rainn Wilson), The Office

🦗 The Cricket Is Singing…

Until next time, stay safe; stay carrying a reusable water bottle; and stay showing up. You owe it to yourself and everyone else around you.

Video > Pulling Mussels (From The Shell)