Tag Archives: The Real Housewives of New York City

Aug7

August 6, 2021 – A Letter From Ryan, James Finally Makes a Decision, Sadness On Set, a Dinner, the Latest On Erika, Block Lifted, Everything Dead, Slightly More Than 10 Quotes & Free

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

At Spring Ridge, Nikolas asks Sam how the investigation into Hayden’s shooting is going; any progress? Sam says, working on it, and he says, if anyone can figure it out, it’s her. The hard truth is, they may never know who shot Hayden. Alexis comes in, and says she’s glad to see Sam. They hug, and Nikolas asks if he can cut in on that. Does Alexis have a hug for her favorite nephew? She hugs him, and Sam says, he’s her only nephew; there’s no competition. Alexis says, it wouldn’t matter, and Sam asks if Alexis is doing okay. Alexis says she is, but the company leaves a lot to be desired. Sam says, Ryan? and Nikolas asks, how is Ryan?

Ava sits at a table by the pool (🍷), and Shawn comes along. She says, as she lives and breathes, and he says, good to see she’s still doing both. She says, despite the efforts of many. She heard he was out of prison. How long was it? He says, six years, and she says, all to protect Sonny. Was it worth it?

Carly leads Jax to a private room, and says they can talk in there instead of by the pool (🍷). No one can hear them. He says they didn’t need to before, and she says, before, they weren’t talking about the Novaks. He says, she means the mobster who accosted Josslyn? and she says, Josslyn wasn’t accosted; she was approached. He says, it wasn’t an act of violence, just the threat of one. She just got through telling him that nothing she and Jason have done has put Josslyn in harm’s way. It was obviously a lie.

Laura thanks Dante for meeting her at the MetroCourt, and he says, of course (🍷). They sit at a table, and he asks how New York was. She says, fine: very little traffic, and he says he assumes she didn’t want to meet up to talk about congestion on the FDR. She says, no. She was there to meet with Lulu’s doctors. He asks how Lulu is doing, and she says, the news is not good.

Anna is getting a shake at Kelly’s (which seems to be a thing now), when Finn and Elizabeth come in with Violet. Violet runs to Anna, who hugs her, and says, what a great surprise. She asks how Violet is, and Violet says, daddy’s team won the softball game. Anna congratulates Finn, and says she was just on her way out. Finn says, Violet’s excited about coming over for afternoon tea this Saturday, and Anna says she’s going to make some scones; it will be great. She gives Violet a kiss, and leaves. Outside, Joey Novak sits with his cronies, being loud. Elizabeth tells Violet, victory milkshakes are on her.

Jason does pushups in the boxing ring, and Spinelli calls. Jason says, Joey Novak approached Josslyn… No, she’s fine. He just needs to have a talk with this guy. Can Spinelli fine out where he is right away? Obrecht approaches the ring, dressed like a spy from a James Bond film, and asks if Jason is plotting an assassination, or is he busy arranging his upcoming nuptials? He tries to leave the ring, but she steps in front of him and says, nein. He will not get away free and clear this time. He was with her Britta at the most vulnerable moment of her life. She gets in the ring, and says, then he abandoned her for his best friend’s widow. What kind of man is he?

Jason tries to get past her, but that’s not happening. She says her daughter trusted him with her heart. She trusted him with her life. More important, Obrecht trusted him with Britt’s heart and life. Her Britta might be jaded, but next to Obrecht, she’s Heidi the something-I-don’t-catch maiden. He says he doesn’t… and she says, Heidi the orphan girl. She swears, he’s as illiterate as he is inconsiderate. He’s one of only three people who knows Britt has the genetic marker for Huntington’s, and when she needed him, he walked away. He says he knows. He let her down.

Violet says, the game was so fun. For a while, she thought their team was going to lose. Finn says, they were all worried they were going to lose, and Elizabeth says, Violet’s daddy really gave his all today. She couldn’t believe it when he stole third. Finn says having his daughter there to cheer him on really inspired him, and they clink milkshake glasses. A woman comes in, and says, Violet, is that you? Doesn’t Violet know her? She’s grandma. Violet runs to her and hugs her. Finn and Elizabeth look at each other like, whaaat?

Carly tells Jax, Josslyn is their daughter, not just his. He asks if she’s sure, because he’s the only one acting like a parent. She says he needs to calm down and back off, and he says, he needs to back off? She painted a target on Josslyn’s back, and he’s the one who needs to back off? Carly says she didn’t paint a target on Josslyn’s back; it’s the first time she’s been approached. He says, it better be the last, and she says, it will be. He says, good. Josslyn should never be put in the position where a rival crime family can threaten Carly by approaching her. Carly says she’s handling it, and he says, of course (🍷) she is. She is the head of the Corinthos Organization.

Shawn sits with Ava, and she asks if he regrets giving up years of his life for Sonny, only to be released after Sonny is no longer around to reward him? He says he can live with the decisions he’s made. Can she say the same? She says, touché, and asks if he’s there to get marching orders from the belle of the mafia, Carly. He says he doesn’t work for Carly; his choice. She says, in that case, she has a proposition for him. She needs a man.

Alexis says, Ryan is as locked in as ever, but there’s something she finds troubling. He has an aid who’s been helping him write letters. Sam says she thought his condition had him locked off from the rest of the world. How’s he even communicating? Alexis says, with his eyes; he blinks. She saw him dictate a letter that way. An excruciatingly slow process, but psychopaths are notoriously patient, and he’s got nothing but time, right? She was wondering if he’s abetting Ava’s stalker or actually is the stalker by proxy and using these coded messages through his writing. Nikolas says, anything is possible with that guy. They need to talk to his aide. Alexis says, one more thing. His aide, they know her. Sam asks, who is it? and Alexis says, there she is now. They see Harmony dealing with a patient.

Carly says she had to step up after Sonny died, and Jax says, had to? He hears, chose to. I wonder if Carly shouldn’t be wearing some foundational support with that dress, and she says it was the only way to protect her family. He says, that’s the biggest lie right there. If she’d walked away from Sonny’s business after he died, there would be nothing to protect them from. She says, that’s not how it works. It’s really easy for him to judge a complicated situation he knows nothing about. He says he knows his daughter – sorry, their daughter – is in danger because Carly is determined to hold on to Sonny’s territory. Just like he knows her marrying Jason is a business arrangement.

Laura tells Dante, Lulu’s doctors were very direct. They’ve been caring for her for eight months, and there’s been no improvement. He asks if she’s thought about looking at medicine beyond Western medicine; some kind of alternative medicine? She says she has, but it hasn’t produced any results. He says he doesn’t get it. She’s young, she’s healthy; there’s got to be something they can do. She says she’ll never give up on Lulu, but she’s given this a lot of thought, all the way back to Port Charles, and she thinks giving up isn’t the same as moving on.

Shawn says he’s listening, and Ava asks if he’s heard about the troubles she’s been having. He says he knows she and her husband are getting a divorce, but she says, a stalker. He says he also heard she had some trouble at the gallery, and she says, that was one incident of many. That’s why she needs a bodyguard. He looks at a guy lying on a lounge chair, and says, it seems she already has one; he can tell when someone’s carrying. She says, he works for Nikolas, and she has to make it perfectly clear that she’s cut all ties with Nikolas. He says, she needs to prove that o her stalker? and she says, yes. Sadly, it’s necessary, so she needs to hire her own protection. She was impressed with him back in the day. He says he didn’t think she liked him very much, and she says, he worked for Sonny. It was the competition, and his competence made her life difficult. She’s been out of the game for quite a while now, and so has he. They woudn’t have any conflicts of interest; they’d be on the same side. So what does he say? Will he protect her? She bats her eyelashes, and he laughs.

Nikolas says, isn’t that Shiloh’s disciple from Dawn of Day, who drugged Kristina? Sam says, Harmony. She actually flipped on Shiloh, and helped get him convicted. Alexis says, after aiding and abetting him for years. Nikolas says, maybe Ryan doesn’t need to send letters to the stalker. Maybe it’s someone he sees every day. He goes over to Harmony, and says they haven’t met, but he’s Nikolas Cassadine. She knows his cousin Sam. Harmony says hello to Sam, and he says it’s his understanding that she works for Ryan Chamberlain. She says, not exactly. She works for the Department of Corrections as a health aid at this facility. Mr. Chamberlain is one of several inmates she assists. Nikolas asks if her duties include doing Ryan’s dirty work, and Sam says, Nikolas. He says, just answer the question, and Harmony says, which is? He says, someone has been using Ryan’s playbook, including recordings of his voice to stalk and threaten his wife, so if she was involved in any way, it’s in her best interest to come clean right now.

Finn says he didn’t know Naomie was planning to visit, and she apologizes for the lack of advance notice, but she just couldn’t wait to see her granddaughter. He says she couldn’t call, text, or shoot off an email? and she tells him, you know what they say about hindsight. She says hello to Elizabeth, who barely responds, and says, Violet looks so much like her mother. Violet asks, where’s mommy?

Obrecht says she must hand it to Herr Morgan. His façade of quiet concern for her Britta, fooled even her, and she lowered her guard, letting him in. He says he hasn’t broken that confidence, and she says he only broke her Britta’s heart. Tell her, was everything they discussed that day a lie, or is his sole redeeming trait that he made sure Peter August’s absence continued? Anna has come in during the conversation, and has been listening. She asks what’s going on, but Jason gets a text, and jets while he can.

Obrecht puts on gloves, and Anna say she didn’t know Obrecht boxed. She says she doesn’t; she just likes to hit things. Anna says Obrecht proved that at the Rage Room, and Obrecht says Anna was pretty good herself. She could use a spotter. Anna holds the bag as Obrecht punches, and Obrecht says, Jason Morgan is lucky there’s no sledgehammer available today. Anna says, not to undermine her righteous anger at Jason, but Obrecht does realize he was just humoring her by listening to her tirade? Obrecht says, of course (🍷) she knows that. Despite his many glaring faults, he’s a chivalrous person. Perhaps he thought listening to her tirade was a way of paying penance for failing Britta. Anna says, perhaps. He doesn’t normally let people down. Obrecht says, then there really is a first time for everything. Anna asks what this has to do with Peter, and Obrecht says she thought, or at least hoped, that Jason played a role in Peter’s disappearance, which would mean Peter is six feet under the Pine Barrens where he’s no longer a trouble to anyone. Obrecht makes one last punch, and goes to towel down. She says she heard on the news that Anna is working with local investigators to locate Peter, and Anna says they’re sharing information. Obrecht says, perhaps in the spirit of generosity, Anna wants to share what the investigation has uncovered. Anna says, nein, and Obrecht says, no need to say anything now. Her inability to bring Peter to justice has taken it’s toll. So – she shoves the gloves at Anna – it’s her turn.

Shawn tells Ava that he’s not for hire anymore. He already has a job; finding the person who shot Hayden. She says someone hired him to investigate a cold case? but he says he’s working for himself now. She says, a noble pursuit, and she sees why he’d want to do it, but so much time has passed. He says, a cold trail is still a trail. Whoever did this needs to pay for what they did to Hayden, and him.

Harmony says she knows some people – Nikolas’s aunt among them – still think Ryan is dangerous. Sam says, Ryan is dangerous, and Harmony says, maybe before he was locked in. Sam says, as long as Ryan can communicate in any way – hell, as long as he’s breathing – Ryan Chamberlain is a threat. Nikolas asks how they know Harmony isn’t following his orders. She has access to him, and he communicates through her. Harmony says, it’s not telepathy. She points to letters on a board, and he blinks to let her know which ones he wants her to wrote down. Nikolas asks if Ryan is dictating letters or issuing instructions, and she says, okay. She’s sorry for whatever happened in his life that’s made him so afraid, but she’s there to assist Ryan with his comfort and correspondence. She’s not doing anyone’s bidding outside of this facility. Sam says, they’re supposed to take her word for that after everything Harmony did to her, and especially her little sister? Harmony says she can’t apologize enough for what she did. She was literally brainwashed, but she’s not anymore. What she is, is on parole, and she has no intention of going back to prison. She’s trying to turn her life around. Sam says she actually believes Harmony. From someone who’s also on parole, she knows where Harmony is coming from. Can Harmony at least tell them how long she’s been working with Ryan? Harmony says, a few weeks, and Alexis says, the stalker’s threats were going on long before that. Nikolas asks who he writes to, and Harmony says, lots of people; she doesn’t remember their names. Most of them don’t write back. In fact, most of the letters are returned unopened. Sam asks if the letters are at Spring Ridge, and Harmony says, yeah, but their harmless. There are no threats, there’s nothing unusual. They’re screened before they’re mailed. Nikolas says, maybe Ryan’s sending coded messages, and Alexis says, it woudn’t be the first time. Nikolas asks to see the letters.

Carly tells Jax, if she’s marrying Jason for love, business, or because she has nothing better to do on Thursday, that’s her business, not his. He says, that’s funny, because the last time he checked, where Josslyn’s safety is concerned, that is his business. He says, never mind. Just tell him what this incident with the Novak family actually means. Carly says, it wasn’t the Novak family, just one rogue idiot named Joey Novak.

Joey peeps into Kelly’s window, looking like a creeper, and Violet asks if her mommy is with Naomie. Naomie says she’s sorry, but no, and Elizabeth says Violet must be sticky from her milkshake, and suggests they get her cleaned up. They go to the bathroom, and Finn asks what the hell Naomie was thinking. She says, regarding? and he says, just stopping in like this after ignoring Violet for a year. She says she was in Europe, and he asks, what was the guy’s name? She says, what does it matter? It didn’t work out. Now all she wants is her family around her, and since she doesn’t know where her daughter is, that means her granddaughter. He doesn’t think that’s a good idea, but she says, please. Let her make it up to Violet. She’s begging him. Don’t punish her for her daughter’s mistakes. Finn asks what that’s supposed to mean.

Outside Kelly’s, one of Joey’s cronies asks why they’re hanging around; there’s no action here. Joey says, there’s about to be, and gets up. Jason walks up, and Joey says, took him long enough. If I were Jason, I’d grab Joey by the ear, and bring him to his uncle.

Harmony says she can’t let them see the letters. Ryan still has a right to privacy, never mind that they’re someone else’s letters, and that’s illegal. Alexis says, mail theft. It’s a Federal crime that carries a maximum sentence of five years. Nikolas says, then he won’t get caught, and Harmony says, he won’t, because he’s not getting anywhere near those letters. Nikolas asks if she did any research. Does she have any idea what Ryan’s done? She says she’s aware, and Nikolas says, if there’s any chance Ryan is sending coded messages, and continuing to torment people, how can she let that continue? She says, because she can’t lose her job, and she can’t do more time. She’s sorry.

Shawn brings Ava a drink, and she says, now that he’s back out in the world, where is he staying? He says, TJ and Molly, and Alexis’s house, and she says, that’s great. She hopes he and TJ are making up for lost time, but he says, TJ and Molly are so busy, they’re hardly ever there. In the meantime, he’s looking for his own place. She says she can understand that. She has to ask. Now that he’s a free man, and she’s a free woman, him and Jordan? He says, that’s the past, and she says she thought they were pretty serious before he went to Pentenville. He says, before he found out Jordan was a DEA agent, or TJ was his son? She says, sometimes a fresh start is best, and toasts to fresh starts. They clink glasses.

As Anna punches the bag, she says, Obrecht knows she can’t share information from an ongoing investigation with her, but Obrecht doesn’t see why not. She’s hardly a stranger to the case. Did her family not suffer because of Peter? Anna says, yeah, and Obrecht says, was Nathan not killed because Peter lured Faison to Port Charles? Maxie was terrorized, and her baby kidnapped on Peter’s orders. Anna says she agrees with Obrecht; Peter has a long reach. Obrecht says, how disappointing to hear her speak of him in the present tense.

Dante asks if Laura has been talking to his mother, and Laura says, about what? He says, about what’s going on with Lulu. He guesses Olivia is just worried about him. Between being a cop and being a dad, and these visits with Lulu, she thinks he might be a little stuck in limbo. Laura asks if that’s how he feels too, and he says he didn’t think about it until Olivia brought it up. Laura says, now that she has? and he says, life is busy. With Rocco and being back on the force, he’s got a full plate. She says, but? and he says, there are things he could have in his life beyond being a cop and being a dad, and he doesn’t want to run anymore. He never stopped loving Lulu. She says she knows, but she doesn’t expect him to wait for her.

Carly says she’s texting Jax the contact information for Josslyn’s bodyguard, and Jax says, fantastic. A bodyguard. What every college freshman dreams of. Carly says, Devon is discreet, and he looks young, so he’ll blend in on campus. He says she just got him thinking. His daughter’s first year of college, having someone there to look out for her might not be such a bad idea. She says, Cameron will be there too, and Trina. He says, Josslyn’s been through a lot. Having two good friends there is fantastic.

Finn asks what Naomie means by Hayden’s mistakes, and she says, abandoning Violet of course (🍷). He asks if she’s sure she doesn’t know where Hayden is, and she says she only wishes she did. Now will he give her a chance to reconnect with her granddaughter? Violet and Elizabeth come back out, and Violet asks if Naomie is staying, Finn says, grandma has to go, but they’ll see about setting up a playdate in the future. Violet says they can have a tea party, and Naomie says she’d like nothing more. She’s staying at the Woodbridge Motel until she finds a more permanent place. Finn says, she’s moving to Port Charles? and Elizabeth says, permanently? Naomie says she’s wasted too much of her granddaughter’s life already. She doesn’t want to waste another second. She sends Finn her number, and says she hopes he calls soon. He says, like he told her, they’ll figure something out. Naomie says she’ll see Violet soon and leaves. No hug, no anything, which is really weird. Elizabeth says, what was that?

Jason tells Joey that he crossed the line when he spoke to Josslyn Jax. Joey says he doesn’t know; she seemed receptive. (Another clueless man!) He says, a pretty girl like that, and Jason steps closer. He says, further contact with Josslyn will result in full retaliation. Joey asks if this is coming from him or from Mrs. Corinthos. She’s the one in charge, right? Jason says Joey is in over his head, making trouble nobody wants, not even his own family. His uncle will not tolerate this show of disrespect, and neither will the other families. Joey literally snorts, and says he’ll take his chances. He walks off, the rest of his idiots following.

Laura says she prays for Lulu’s recovery every day and always will, but she knows her daughter, and knows Lulu wouldn’t want her to put her life on hold just to sit by her bedside every day. Lulu wouldn’t want that for him either. Every day they get to be in the world, laughing, crying, watching the sunrise; they are all precious, and she knows Lulu would want him to live them to the fullest. For Rocco too, because Dante has to show him how. Dante knows Laura is right, and Lulu would be okay with whatever changes may come… She asks if he’s met someone.

Sam hugs Alexis goodbye, saying she has to pick up something for her kids. The next time she won’t bring Nikolas’s problems with her. He says he heard that, and she says she meant for him to hear it. Next time he wants to question someone, go away and let her do it. Nikolas says, pity she has to go, and Alexis tells them to quit it. Kiss the kids, and get a brownie at Kelly’s; tell them it’s from her. Sam leaves, and Alexis tells Nikolas it’s too bad they couldn’t get through to Harmony. He says, maybe Sam was right and he pushed too hard, and Alexis says, she was and he did. But she understands why it’s important to him. He says, the only way to stop the divorce is to identify the stalker, and prove there’s no longer a threat. Harmony comes in with a stack of files and sets them on the table. She says, dammit. She hopes she doesn’t accidentally misplace Ryan’s file with those letters in it. She’ll just come back and look for them in about 20 minutes. She leaves, leaving Ryan’s file behind.

Shawn tells Ava that he’s sorry about Kiki. He sees her face, and says he didn’t mean to upset her, but she says, it’s okay. She’ll take any reminder. He says, and Avery? and Ava says, she’s perfect. She’s wonderful. She’s a delightful little chatterbox, always has been. She misses her dad, of course (🍷). Right now she’s staying with Carly, since Ava doesn’t think it’s safe for Avery to be with her. He says she really thinks the stalker would hurt Avery? and she says, yes. He broke into their hotel suite, and left a teddy bear for her to find; a bear with Ryan Chamberlain’s voice. He says, that’s messed up, and she says, it’s very messed up. She can’t forget it. Avery standing there with an unfamiliar toy with an unmistakable voice.

Finn puts headphones on Violet, and sets her up with an activity book. Elizabeth asks if Naomie said anything about Hayden, and Finn says, only that she doesn’t know where Hayden is. Elizabeth wonders how much contact Naomie should have with Violet, and he says he’s just worried it will make Violet miss her mother more, and ask more questions that he doesn’t know the answers to. How does he explain Hayden’s absence when he doesn’t understand it himself?

Anna says, one usually refers to the subject of a manhunt in the present tense, and Obrecht asks if she’s saying it wasn’t Peter’s body that had law enforcement crawling in the basements and subbasements of GH. Anna tells her, she can say this, if Peter were dead, she’d tell Maxie right away. She couldn’t allow Maxie to continue to be in fear of her life. Obrecht says she’ll continue to hope Peter has been dispatched, but until they know for sure, they must all be on their guard. Peter is his father’s son, and she and Anna know better than anyone how people underestimated Faison. They would assume he was dead, only to meet their own demise. Anna says she won’t believe Peter’s dead until she sees his body herself.

Anna and Obrecht sit on a bench near the ring, sipping drinks from Kelly’s, agreeing that they’re refreshing. Anna says, they could do with a smoothie bar, and Obrecht says, or a water fountain. As for Kelly’s, their attempt at schnitzel was an attempt at sadness. It’s good to know they can get something right. Anna says, despite their differences, she doesn’t think anyone understands their aggression the way they do. Obrecht says, in the meantime, she looks forward to Peter’s capture… or death. She’s partial to the latter. May it be slow, excruciating, and final.

Finn packs up Violet’s stuff at Kelly’s, and Violet says, now that grandma’s back, maybe she can take her to see mommy. He says, we’ll see, and she says, that means no, doesn’t it? Elizabeth pays the check, and Sam comes in. She says she was going to call Sam, and Sam asks what she did this time. Elizabeth says, yesterday, Sam asked her about Hayden. Guess who showed up in town today? Her mother, Naomie Dreyfuss.

Dante says he’s not seeing anyone, and Laura says, don’t panic. She’s not there to give him the third degree. Besides, she thinks Olivia probably has that one covered. He says, she does. He thinks she should be recruited for the PCPD because if she doesn’t badger a confession out of a perp, she can coax it out of them with her ziti. Laura says if he needs mayoral approval, he’s got it. When he starts dating again – and he will – she doesn’t want him to feel he needs to hide it from her. She considers him a part of her family; he’ll always be a part of her family. All she wants for him is his happiness.

Carly says, so both she and Jax are going to PCU’s Parents Week? and he says, them, and her security team. She tells him to give it a rest, when there’s a knock at the door. She says, come in, and Jason asks if she’s got a minute. Jax asks if Jason knows Josslyn was approached by Joey Novak today. Did he handle it? Jason says he did, and Carly says they can talk about Parents Week another time. Jax says he can see the happy couple wants to whisper sweet battle plans into each other’s ears, and Carly says he needs to let it go. He says he doesn’t think he will, and leaves. Jason closes the door, and Carly asks, what’s going on? He says, something’s up. Joey was way too confident when he confronted him about Josslyn. She says, confident how? and he says, when he told Joey that his uncle and the other families woudn’t tolerate this show of disrespect, he laughed it off. She asks if he thinks Joey has allies, and he says, could be. Let’s go. They leave and Jax watches.

Shawn tells Ava, this was actually quite pleasant, and she says he doesn’t have to sound so surprised. He says he’s not. He tells her to take care of herself, and leaves. His phone rings, and it’s Sam, who says she just got some very interesting news. Hayden’s mother is in town.

Ava calls Avery and asks, how was her day?… She misses her too. So much.

Nikolas and Alexis go through the letters, and Nikolas says, Seattle, Chicago, Milwaukee, Chicago again, Venezuela, Russia… It’s mostly university professors and psychiatrists. She says, offering his medical expertise on mental health. When she  thinks of the arrogance… She stops, and he says, what is it? She shows him an envelope addressed to Spencer in France.

On Monday, Scotty wonders if they’re about to get rich, Austin thinks he has a way to turn this long shot into a sure thing, and Alexis says, no need to panic.

Million Dollar Listing New York

Steve talked about how much he loved living in the apartment in Chelsea; it was where they brought Rose home and became a family. He’d convinced the owners to let him sell apartments there, and done well, so he asked for more apartments. He’d been given two 3 bedroom apartments and one 4 bedroom. They were harder to sell, so he actually put on a suit, which was rare. First up was a 3 bedroom, 4 bath, just under 3000 square feet, going for $7.450 million. Steve said the building was a piece of art in architecture, and I had to agree. It was designed by Zaha Hadid, a Pulitzer Prize winning architect, who, sadly, had passed away. The coolest thing about it was the glass curtain wall construction with hand-hammered steel, which was a constant photo op for people passing by. Amenities included a 75’ skylit pool, a spa suite that could be booked privately, a kids innovation lab that I would have loved to play in. In Steve’s interview, he said he could show the amenities with passion and pride since he knew what it was like to live there. There was a private IMAX theater, and an automated parking garage, although the garage was a little pricey, costing around another $500K for a spot. But if you’ve ever had to park in NYC, you might actually think that was worth it. In his interview, Steve said the building was amazing, but there was a lot of inventory on the market, so he had his work cut out for him.

Ryan’s Australian buyer James had been shown a million place, but none of them hit home for him. Really? Ryan was super frustrated, and I didn’t get WTF this guy wanted either. All the showings were being done virtually, and since James didn’t even know the city, he was an ignoramus. In Ryan’s interview, he wanted to sell an apartment on the other side of the world without the client actually being there, since it would be a major achievement.

Meanwhile, KJ was in Switzerland with her family, visiting her in-laws. While she was there, good friend Giovanni called he about selling one of his assets in Tribeca. He’d been renting it at $30K a month, but the tenants were moving, and Giovanni thought it was time to sell and invest in something new. Because of travel restrictions, Giovanni couldn’t travel from Italy, but agreed to have mutual friend Jacopo show her around. The apartment had been KJ’s first big sale for $3.6 million in 2012. It had been a foreclosure and took a year of negotiations. It had made her feel like a badass broker. The apartment was gorgeous (like there are ugly ones on this show), 3652 square feet, 4 bedrooms and 3 baths, and 10½’ ceilings. It was the old Sugarloaf building, built in 1882, which had been converted into condos in 1992, and housed a lot of celebrities, like Orlando Bloom, Taylor Swift, and the Olsen Twins. Although it had been renovated, a lot of original details remained, like cast iron columns. In her interview, KJ said those details equaled dollars. Jacopo thought KJ could bring in $10 million, but she thought that was a little ambitious for the market. She was thinking along the lines of $9.4, but Jacopo said Giovanni didn’t need to sell, and would rent again until the market improved if he couldn’t get the price he wanted. She had a two-week window to sell, which she said in her interview, was nearly impossible. The potential commission was $300K, and KJ said, it would be like closing the circle.

Ryan had a place on Fifth Avenue and 59th Street that he thought would be perfect for James, and checked all the boxes. It was a 2 bedroom, 2 bath, all on one level, a full-service building, and within James’s budget. He met with the seller’s rep Michelle, and noted the spectacular views (he was not kidding about that – they were to die for) and beautiful finishes. In his interview, he said you couldn’t get more NYC than being on Fifth Avenue. He got James and broker Sammi on separate phones to give the tour. The apartment was 1554 square feet and 10’ ceilings for $3.950. James said it was just what he was looking for, and they were almost there. He wanted something bigger. Michelle said she did have something bigger, but it was in the mid sixes, so a different price point. I had the feeling there was just no pleasing this jerk. In Ryan’s interview, he said it was called the upsell. You thought he didn’t have any more listings in his pockets? That’s what he had pockets for. The other apartment had the same views, but was 1954 square feet, had 2.5 baths, was on a higher floor with 11’ ceilings, and priced at $6.725 million. Ryan said he’d have to invent new boxes for James to find more to check. James whined that it was hard to tell what you could fit without it being furnished, and Ryan was like, really? James said, spot on, mate, but still made no commitment, saying he’d get back to Ryan after he and Sammi had a chat.

Emelia brought Zena over to Steve’s for a playdate with Rose, since the girls were besties now. Steve told Zena that she had better style than her father in her sweet bunny outfit. Ryan thought he might have some buyers for the 4 bedroom, but wanted to check it out himself first, so they were killing two birds with one stone. As apartments had gone down in price, Steve’s had been $12 million, but now the same one upstairs was going for $8.995 million. Steve showed Ryan around his own place, and his closet was pretty amusing with a clothes rack where 50 of the same white T-shirts were hanging. Ryan thought if the price was right, the upstairs apartment would work for his clients. He thought Chelsea was the perfect neighborhood for a family new to NYC.

KJ was busting her ass looking for buyers, but had no offers yet. She told Jacopo that it was against odds, but she was hopeful for the weekend. In her interview, she said it would mean a lot to her to sell it the second time around. KJ had several showings, including a virtual one with an Italian architect who was looking for a second home, but she said the market was speaking loud and clear, and confirming what she thought – it was overpriced.

Ryan had good news and bad news for James. The apartment he’d liked had been sold. In Ryan’s interview, he said someone had literally swooped in and bought it, which sucked, since it was the only one James showed real interest in. The good news was that there was another off-market apartment available. It was the same exact layout and footage, but on the 46th floor (the other had been on the 50th), and on the opposite side of the building. The original price was $6.7 million, and had been dropped to $6.1 million, but Ryan thought he could get it down the mid fives. James wanted to see the view, but Ryan said there was no time. There was already a potential buyer who hadn’t pulled the trigger, but was in conversation. By the time he was able to show it to James, it would already be too late. This sloth of an Australian was literally learning the meaning of the American phrase, you snooze, you lose. Still, he said he’d need to see the floorplans and have a chat with Sammi before submitting an offer. In his interview, Ryan said James needed to act quickly or he’d lose this one too. He got on the phones with James and Sammi, and James suggested starting with 30% off the original asking price, which was $4.750 million. I literally laughed out loud. In Ryan’s interview, he said, while it could sometimes be bad giving a low offer when other buyers were already bidding, he didn’t know what the other offers were, and at least James’s foot was in the door. He sent Michelle the offer, which she said was too low, but $5.5 million would get the deal done. Since James seems to have a brain issue, he offered $5 million, to which Michelle said if he didn’t come up, they were going with the other buyer. Back on the phones, Sammi suggested $5.2 million, and Ryan said he was like the United Nations of real estate right now. Ryan put in the offer, and told James and Sammi that they’d pushed, and he was sorry, but James would have to buy a condo in NYC for $5.2 million. In his interview, he said, this was the future of real estate, selling anywhere, and it felt good.

Next time, an apartment 900 feet in the air selling for $29 million, and Ryan calls one of Fredrik’s clients directly

Photo

Steve’s Chelsea Building

📽 Could Be Worse…

At least he died doing what he loved.

https://ew.com/tv/general-hospital-jay-pickett-dies-movie-set/

🍽 Drama Be Damned…

No matter the drama, you still gotta eat.

https://pagesix.com/2021/08/03/ramona-singer-eboni-k-williams-have-dinner-amid-rhony-drama/

👠 And This Is Just the Beginning…

Speaking of Wives drama, the latest Erika news.

https://pagesix.com/2021/08/05/erika-jayne-accuses-garcelle-beauvais-of-betraying-her/

https://pagesix.com/2021/08/05/erika-jayne-feels-bravo-pulled-a-fast-one-with-garcelle-spat/

https://pagesix.com/2021/07/30/erika-jaynes-inconsistent-statements-from-rhobh-to-be-used-in-court/

🔧 David’s Condition…

These kids have a shrink already, right?

David Beador Allows Daughters to Film RHOC Under This One Condition After Producers Step in, Plus Shannon Beador Shares Why Ex Wanted to Block Kids From Show

⚰️ Bring Out Your Dead…

What’s going on with Season 11.

https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/news/the-walking-dead-final-season-11-original-story-not-from-comics-producer-denise-huth-the-reapers/

https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/news/the-walking-dead-final-season-11-lauren-cohan-maggie-returns-different-person-denise-huth/

https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/news/the-walking-dead-final-season-11-trailer-live-for-them-fight-survival-alexandria/

https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/news/the-walking-dead-final-season-11-two-new-cast-members-ian-anthony-dale-laurie-fortier/

📬 Quotes of the Week

We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars. – Oscar Wilde

It’s no use going back to yesterday, because I was a different person then. – Lewis Carroll

What you’re thinking is what you’re becoming. – Muhammad Ali

Life is 10% what happens to us and 90% how we react to it. – Dennis P. Kimbro

A lie can travel half way around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes. – Mark Twain

If you can’t laugh at yourself, at least let me do it. – Charlie Harper (Charlie Sheen), Two and a Half Men

You’ve been given the innate power to shape your life…but you cannot just speak change, you have to LIVE change. Intent paired with action builds the bridge to success. You can’t just want it; you have to do it, live it…BE it! Success isn’t something you have, it’s something you DO! – Steve Maraboli   

Love does not consist in gazing at each other, but in looking outward together in the same direction. – Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

We are all ordinary. We are all boring. We are all spectacular. We are all shy. We are all bold. We are all heroes. We are all helpless. It just depends on the day. – Brad Meltzer

When two opposite points of view are expressed with equal intensity, the truth does not necessarily lie exactly halfway between them. It is possible for one side to be simply wrong. – Richard Dawkins

Never stop just because you feel defeated. The journey to the other side is attainable only after great suffering. – Santosh Kalwar

🛣 Am I There Yet…?

This week has been at least a year long, but hey, there’s another one coming. Regrouping, but until then, stay safe, stay doing things you love, and stay being notoriously patient. It’s not just for psychopaths anymore.

Aug5

August 4, 2021 – Two Secrets Are Dealt With, Garcelle Says the Wrong Thing, LuAnn’s Christmas Video & Happy

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Chase wheels himself into the Quartermaine foyer, and Austin closes the door. Chase says he doesn’t want do this yet, and Austin says, sometimes it’s easier to talk to a complete stranger than someone you know really well. Chase says, like about how he just found out his entire marriage is a lie? and Austin says, yes. Why are they bothering with this? Why don’t they go back out and get a beer? Chase says, his wife is sleeping with the guy who used to be his best friend. He needs to face them. It’s time to end this.

Stella asks if Curtis hears what she’s saying. She did something terrible. She’s not sure how to fix it, or if it can be fixed. He says, it can’t be that bad; it’s not worth her getting all worked up like this. She tells him, he says that now, but she blew up a secret that’s going to hurt him, and a lot of people.

Portia is glad to see Trina. She was worried, and calling everyone. Trina says, great. Now they’re all going to wonder what’s wrong. Portia says she’s sorry Trina overheard her conversation with Stella, and Trina says, that makes two of them. Portia cheated on her dad, and that’s why their family broke up.

Laura hugs Spencer outside of Kelly’s, and says she’s glad he could meet her. She can’t believe he’s home. Is he settling in? He says, more or less, and she asks if it’s nice to be back at Windymere. He says, it’s satisfying to know it’s back in the hands of its rightful owner instead of that interloper Valentin. She laughs, and says he made his feelings about Valentin very clear, but that’s beside the point. He was adamant about having a gap year, and traveling the world. Why did he change his mind? Why did he come home now?

Alexis pulls up a chair across from Ryan, and says she thought he’d be interested to know that Nikolas doesn’t think he’s the one stalking Ava. She led Nikolas to believe that she doesn’t think so either, but she’s not entirely convinced. Let’s see if she can make this clear. If she senses even a scintilla of danger living inside him, she’ll find a way to get his ass thrown out of this Club Med, and locked up in a hole where worthless human beings go to die. Does he understand? He blinks, and someone tells her, he said, yes. She turns to see Harmony.   

Brook takes photos of Michael, Willow, and Wiley, and Michael says he thinks they got enough. Josslyn took photos too. Brook says, never enough. It’s a momentous occasion; Wiley’s turning three. Michael agrees it’s a special day, and Willow says Wiley gets to celebrate being three, and they get to celebrate him. Chase wheels himself in, and says, an ideal family photo, and Willow says, there he is. She was asking about him. He’s just in time to open presents. Where’s he been? He says he was about to ask her the same thing. Was she looking for him, because he was looking for her. He is not going to ruin a kid’s birthday party, is he?

Trina asks if Portia can honestly say her cheating on dad didn’t lead to the breakup, and Portia says, it was complicated. They had a troubled marriage. Trina says she’s asking if the affair caused the divorce, and Portia says she understands Trina is upset. The reason she didn’t want to tell Trina was that she didn’t want it to affect her; affect how Trina saw her or her father. Trina says Portia should have told her instead of keeping it from her, but Portia says, this is the 18 year old Trina she’s talking to. She was just a little girl then. She was a child when they divorced. It wouldn’t have been appropriate. Trina says, so it was more appropriate to leave it like a ticking timebomb to blow up in her face? Portia says, as Trina knows from her father faking his own death, sometimes parents keep secrets to protect their children

Curtis guesses the conversation with Portia didn’t go the way Stella wanted. Is she finally done meddling? Stella says, yes, but she’s afraid the damage is done. She confronted Portia about the affair she and Curtis had years ago. Unfortunately someone overheard. Curtis asks, who? and Stella says, Trina.

Monica says, if the birthday boy will make his way to the living room, he can open presents. Carly asks if there’s anything she can do, and Monica says, come with her to have a little chat. Carly literally stamps her foot and makes a face behind Monica’s back.

Brook brings Valentin a drink on the terrace, and he says she’s being awfully kind. Should he worry that she has some kind of sinister ulterior motive? She says, more like a gesture of sympathy, since he’s about to lose his spot as CEO. He says she’s not worried, and she says, because of his new interloping buddy? Is he keeping Austin in his hip pocket? Where is that guy anyway? Casing Lila’s silver? Valentin says, Austin does seem to have a chip on his shoulder where the Quartermaines are concerned, which he plans to exploit without mercy when Austin claims his voting shares. But that’s weeks, maybe even months away. She says, Austin is here now, and he intends to cash in, and Valentin intends to be his co-conspirator. Valentin says, when he proves his claim, when he’s legitimized and his shares are in place, Brook’s family is going to climb over themselves to gain access to Austin. There’s no shame in it, but he’s going to do it first. She asks if he ever doesn’t calculate ten steps ahead, and he says he was spontaneous that night at the MetroCourt, and they had Bailey. He’d say she was there for the single greatest impulse he ever acted on.

Chase asks if Willow got the extra present wrapped, but she says, after her mom’s surprise visit, she needed to take a minute. He says, that makes sense. Did Michael  find her? She says, he did, and he calmed her down. Brook said Chase was tired earlier; did he get some rest? He says he had a chance to clear his head, and she asks if something is wrong. He says he’s glad she asked. There’s something he wants to say to her, and Michael.

Spencer asks if the prodigal son can’t return and make peace with his father, and Laura says, nothing would please her more, but Spencer thought his father was dead for three years. When Nikolas came back, Spencer was deeply hurt and angry. Where did his resentment go? He says, a lot has happened, and life is too short for grudges and regrets. She says she likes the sound of that, and asks how things are going between him and his dad. He says he thinks they’re making headway, and it helps that there are no distractions. She says, meaning what? and he suggests they grab a table inside. Will her husband be joining them? She says, her husband? Does he mean Doc? The man who lives with her and went to visit him numerous times in France? Doc is busy tonight, and she wanted to take the opportunity to spend some time alone with Spencer. Spencer says, good. So there’s no trouble in paradise. She says, she doesn’t understand the impersonal euphemism. Does he have a problem with her husband all of a sudden? He says he doesn’t have a problem with the illustrious Dr. Collins, brother of Ryan Chamberlain.   

Alexis asks what Harmony is doing there, and Harmony says she works there as a health aid. She asks if Ryan is ready for a nutritional break. He blinks, and she says, she’ll order up a tasty bag of protein for him. Alexis asks what this is all about. Harmony is conversing with him because of mental stimulation, the way people do with comatose patients? Does he actually comprehend what she’s saying? Harmony says, he has Locked-In Syndrome, and can’t move or speak, but his mind is alert. He can even communicate. Go ahead. Ask him anything.

Trina says, Portia claims she kept quiet about her affair with Curtis to protect her, but it seems like she did it to protect herself. Portia says, maybe on some level that’s true, but Trina will discover, once she becomes more of an adult, life is complicated. Trina says, adults always use that as an excuse, but life’s been complicated for her for a while now. She’s had to navigate a lot, including thinking her dad was dead and being a hostage, so please, don’t even. Portia says Trina has been through a lot, no question, and has a right to her feeling, but she’s still Trina’s mother, not her best friend. She loves the closeness they have, but she’s not obligated to tell Trina everything about her life, past or present; especially things she’s having a hard time reconciling herself. Trina asks if she’s shamed about what happened, and Portia says, it’s a difficult question. The deception was the hardest part. Trina says Portia made it seem like it was dad’s fault for the divorce, but Portia tells her, she never said that. Trina says, not in so many words, but that’s what she believed. She’d hear them fighting sometimes, and Portia would complain about how lonely she felt, and how distant he was because of his job and all the time he spent undercover. But now she has to wonder if Portia was at fault too. Did dad know about the affair?

Stella says she can take the anger; it’s well-deserved. She can’t take the silence. What is he thinking? He says he’s thinking about Portia and Trina, and how they’re doing, especially Trina. What did Trina say? Stella says, she ran off. When Stella left, Portia was still trying to reach her. She offered to help, but Portia refused. Curtis shakes his head, and gets up. He says, he’s going to the hospital, and see if he can help. Stella offers to come, but he tells her, stay there and finish her soup. The best way for her to help is by staying out of it. Plus, the doctor warned her against letting her pressure spike. She says she didn’t want to hurt him or Portia, but she just didn’t want what happened to her and Marcus to happen to him and Jordan. Losing out on true love has lifelong ramifications. She just wanted him to realize that before it was too late.

Laura asks why Spencer would utter their names in the same breath? Doc and Ryan are twins, but they couldn’t be more different. Ryan is a sociopath who fooled everyone, Doc included. He held Doc hostage, and could have killed him. Spencer says she could have been killed herself. Ryan stabbed Aunt Lulu, nearly killing her, and none of that would have happened if Doc had turned Ryan over to the authorities as soon as he knew Ryan was alive, instead of stashing Ryan in Ferncliff to try and treat him on his own. Laura says, the list of people Spencer detests is growing; his dad, Ava, now Doc… Is she on the list? He says she’s the one person who’s never failed him. Who else would drop their life to rush to France to nurse him back to health? She says, who else would break both legs on a ski trip? He says, foolish pride is his weakness. He doesn’t know why she puts up with him, but he’s glad she does. He loves her. She says she loves him too, so she would appreciate a bit of honesty. How are things really going between him and his dad? He says, better. He has high hopes now that his father’s hopeless marriage is truly over. He opens the door to Kelly’s.

Harmony says, the device was made so that Ryan could communicate with his health care providers and legal advocates. Go ahead. Yes or no questions are best. Alexis asks if he’s a twin, and Ryan blinks. Harmony says, one blink for yes, and Alexis says, not dry eye? Harmony tells her, try again, and Alexis asks if he has two kidneys. He blinks twice. Harmony says, two blinks for no, and Alexis says, fascinating. Harmony says, isn’t it though? Non-verbal communication opens up a world for patients with a loss of motor function. Can she imagine not being able to convey thoughts or feelings to care providers or loved ones? Alexis says, he doesn’t have loved ones. One more question. Is he still obsessed with Ava? There’s no response, and Harmony says, he’s probably tired. Going too long without rest can cause tension on the optic nerve. Time in the garden is just what he needs.

Brook says she thought it was sweet that Valentin was willing to return her shares to gain access to Bailey. He says, at that point, they were his shares, and she says she sees now that he’d always planned on out-maneuvering her and her family. As long as they’re squabbling amongst themselves, they can’t put together a majority to run him off. He says he’ll give her this. They had him worried that he’d miscalculated and they’d all rally behind her father, and she says, enter Austin. He says, speak of the devil, and Brook says, right on cue, as Austin joins them. She asks what’s up? and Austin says he wanted to see the rose garden. She says, any reason in particular? and he says, yeah. His father used to tell a story about his mom… Brook says, Beatrice LeSeur, and he says, she wanted to have a private word with Edward. Brook says, blackmailing him, but Austin says he can’t confirm or deny. They were having a conversation, when Edward saw Lila… Brook says, and he shoved Beatrice into the rose bushes. It’s a family story; they all know it. Edward might have been a dog, but he loved Lila, and never wanted her to know about his indiscretions. That’s why he left Austin’s father out of the will. Valentin asks if Austin still wants to be part of this family, and Austin says, absolutely. It will take more than that to get him to bail.

Michael brings Wiley in to Willow, and says he thinks Wiley is getting antsy, and they should open gifts soon. He asks if Chase is okay, and Chase says he was going to ask what happened with Harmony before he arrived. Willow says she opened the door, and there she was. She was hoping to celebrate Wiley’s birthday. Chase says, people show up at the most inopportune times, don’t they? and Willow says, Harmony wants to reconnect, but she still needs to be careful with Harmony. Chase asks if she’s saying she doesn’t believe in redemption, but Michael says Chase knows Willow better than that. She’s just being protective of their son. Chase says he likes to think he knows Willow better than anyone, but he agrees. It’s good to show caution when it comes to Wiley. He thanks Michael for consoling Willow. It’s nice to have a true buddy who can step in when he can’t.

Monica says she hasn’t had a chance to congratulate Carly on her engagement. Carly says, thank you? and Monica tells her, don’t be apprehensive. She knows there’s a lot of water under the bridge with them, but she’s always respected Carly’s bond with Jason. If it’s gotten to be more than friendship, who is she to stand in the way? Carly thanks her, and Monica says she figures if she can get along with Tracy, she can get along with anybody. She’s going to rally the troops. She leaves, and Cameron approaches Carly, asking if she has a minute. He’d like to discuss his intentions for her daughter. I actually say, aww, out loud. He’s being so cute.

Cameron tells Carly, Josslyn is one of his best friends, no matter what their status is. Carly says, yes, and as a mother, she just wants Josslyn to feel valued, respected, and happy. He says he does too. He never wants to make Josslyn unhappy… again. Because he knows that’s what he did when he accused Jason of killing Franco. Carly says he was manipulated by Peter and Cyrus; even his mother made that mistake at first. What concerns her the most is that he picked up a gun on impulse. He says, it was a huge mistake. He realizes how lucky he was that things didn’t end up worse for him. He’s extremely grateful to Commissioner Ashford for how she handled the situation. Carly says, her too, and he says he’s been trying to make up for everything. He hopes his mistake won’t stand between him and Josslyn being together. Carly says she appreciates his appreciates and respects him speaking up. She thinks he and Josslyn will be good  together, but making a misstep like that when he’s not dating her daughter is one thing. It’s quite another when he is. Understood? He nods, and she tells him, now have a cupcake. They have tons to celebrate.

Portia says she never told Trina’s father about her indiscretion. She was too torn up about it, disappointed in herself, and just wanted to put the whole thing behind her. Recently, Trina’s dad told her that he’d known for years, and he understood. It hurts that they weren’t able keep a home together for Trina, but they made a vow together that Trina would always feel like the most important person in the entire world. She hopes Trina recognizes it. Trina asks why Portia didn’t tell her this when they were talking about her dating Curtis. Was it because she knew Trina wouldn’t wouldn’t approve? Curtis got her to betray her husband. Portia says, Curtis didn’t know she was married when the relationship began. When she told him the truth, he ended things. Curtis is blameless. Trina says, now Portia wants to be with him again. Has she been waiting all this time for him? Has she been in love with him all these years?

Curtis says he’s sorry Stella didn’t get her happily ever after, but that doesn’t mean she gets to decide what his looks like. Whatever decisions he and Jordan make don’t concern her. Promise him that she’ll take it easy. He has to go do damage control. She says please apologize to Portia for her, and he says he’ll do that.

Laura says, it’s true, Spencer’s father and Ava filed for divorce, but between them she hopes it won’t last. He says, it will if Ava knows what’s good for her, and she asks what he means. He says Ava admitted she’s been sending his father mixed signals, and that’s why he’s been fighting the divorce. But it also might telegraph to the stalker that the break-up was just for show, and putting their loved ones at risk. She says, he knows all of this how? and he says he and Ava spoke and cleared the air. He’s capable of finding common ground with anyone. Even someone as common as Ava. Laura asks if he expects her to believe he’s formed an alliance with his sworn enemy.

Alexis asks if Harmony knows who she’s attending. Ryan makes Satan look nice. Harmony says she knows her patient’s history as well as their diagnosis, who he is and what he’s done. Alexis asks why Harmony is helping him, and Harmony says, it’s her job. Alexis says so her interest is strictly professional? and Harmony says, excuse me? Alexis says she’s been watching how Harmony ministers to him, and it seems like she’s enthralled with another charismatic puppet master. Or maybe she’s trying to resurrect DoD with a new figurehead. Harmony says she  wondered how long it would take until she had to address this, and Alexis asks if the people there know who Harmony is and what she’s done. That she was second in command to Shiloh? That she drugged and almost tattooed Alexis’s daughter? That she sex trafficked other girls, including her own daughter, all for a deranged cult leader?

Michael tells Willow and Chase that he just promised his grandmother that they’ll be right there, and she’s holding Wiley as collateral. Are they coming? Willow tells him, in a minute, and he leaves. She tells Chase, it’s been a day, and he says she probably hasn’t had time to process. Sometimes when there’s a shock, like her mom showing up, it can affect you in unexpected ways. If she wants to talk, he’s right there. She says, right now, she just wants to sing to her son, and watch him tear into his presents. Is he ready? He says he knows it’s early, but he thinks he’ll turn in. He asks her to give Wiley his present after the rocket she and Michael got him; it’s the accessories and batteries. She says he thinks of everything, and he says, not always; he misses things. She says she’ll look in on him before she goes to the gatehouse, and he says she doesn’t want to keep Wiley waiting on his account. He wheels out angrily, which  I might be projecting, but I don’t think so.

Monica says, okay, people, let’s do this. Michael asks Willow if Chase is okay, and she says she hopes so. Something felt off. Wiley blows out the candles, and they sing Happy Birthday. Wiley gets a look on his face like, WTF? It’s not my birthday. Chase watches, then wheels himself out to the foyer. Austin comes in, and says he can tell it’s not going well. Chase says they lied to his face. They had sex, and now they’re celebrating their kid’s birthday. He asks if Austin will help him pack and get the hell out of there. Austin says they could do that, or they could take a breath, and get this out.

Harmony says she deeply regrets her complicity in Dawn of Day. Shiloh had a very powerful hold on her at that time. She’s sincerely sorry about what happened to Kristina; how is she? Alexis says, it’s none of Harmony’s business. If it weren’t for Jason, both of her daughters would have been assaulted by that monster. Harmony says Alexis’s daughters were more fortunate than hers. She handed Willow over to Shiloh, and they may never get past it. Alexis says she doesn’t think many people could blame Willow for not wanting anything to do with Harmony, and Harmony says she paid for her crimes in more ways than one. She testified against Shiloh, she did her time, and yes, the administration there knows about her past and her subsequent early parole, but she’s dong her best to turn her life around. Alexis asks how falling in with Cyrus fits into that, and Harmony says he was threatening her daughter. Anything she did for him, she did to protect Willow. Alexis says she’s seeing a familiar pattern, where Harmony falls under the spell of powerful men with bad intentions. Like Ryan Chamberlain. I say, and like Alexis did with Julian, et al. Why is she being like this?

Laura asks when Spencer and Ava had this meeting of the minds? and he says, earlier today; they crossed paths at the MetroCourt, and it was more of a détente. He promised to look out for his father, and she promised to limit contact. Laura says, she’ll feel a lot better when they find the stalker. It’s bad enough he’s directing his anger at Ava and Nikolas, but it’s another thing to involve a young child. And the incident with the fake blood shows how sinister he is. Spencer says it’s his goal to help avoid the escalation of these pranks, and she asks if pranks isn’t a bit of an understatement. Maybe now that he and Ava are on the same page, he’ll see how much Ava cares for his father. He asks if Laura is on Ava’s side now, and she says she never would have predicted it, but she could see how happy they were together, and it made her happy for them. But Ava is the real target, and it does all come down to her. She convinced Spencer’s father to give her a divorce. Spencer asks if Laura believes she’ll hold up her end, and Laura says, she’s committed to it. It’s a horrible situation and breaking both of their hearts. What about him? Does knowing about Ava’s sacrifice change his antipathy toward her just a little bit?

Portia says she hasn’t been waiting for anyone; she’s been busy raising Trina, and managing a career she loves. It’s a very full life. But when you care about someone, the feelings don’t just go away. Trina says, when Portia told her that she wanted to see where things went with Curtis, she didn’t tell Trina about their past relationship. When she talked to Curtis, he didn’t mention it either. It makes her wonder if there isn’t more they’re not telling her. Curtis comes out of the elevator, and sees them. Then they see him.

Josslyn and Cameron walk into Kelly’s, and go over to Laura’s table. She says Cameron’s mother told her that they were an Item. What took them so long? Spencer says, maybe Josslyn was waiting for Cameron’s voice to drop an octave, and Cameron says, isn’t it amazing that Spencer finally grew, and now has enough body to hold that massive ego of his? Laura says, that’s enough; both of them. Laura asks where they’ve been, and Josslyn says, Wiley’s birthday party. Cameron says, it was a ton of fun, and despite Spencer’s attempt to psyche him out, he’s there in one piece. Which reminds him, he’d better get back to work. Spencer says, Cameron has to slay those kitchen dragons. While he’s at it, why doesn’t he top off grandmother’s ice tea? Laura says, really? but Cameron says he doesn’t mind. Anything his grandma wants, he’ll gladly give her. She says she’s proud of him and how hard he’s working. He thanks her, and says he’ll be right back. Josslyn follows him, and sits at the counter. Laura tells Spencer, Cameron lost his stepfather not too long ago, and has a single mom with two younger brothers. Money is tight, and Cameron is working his way through college. He could have gone to California, but he decided to stay local to help with expenses so she doesn’t want to hear any more petty comments coming out of Spencer’s mouth. Does he understand her? She’d like to see him work as hard at a worthwhile goal.

Harmony tells Alexis that she can’t say Ryan is a changed man. Her judgement has improved, but it’s not foolproof. The bottom line is she needs this job, and didn’t have a lot of options when she was released from Pentenville. She’s lucky she got the job at Turning Woods and now this facility. Alexis says, she’s working two jobs? and Harmony says, part time. She’s just grateful to be employed. Since she’s far from perfect, she can’t expect her patients to be. Alexis asks if Harmony is sure it’s not DoD speaking, but Harmony swears she’s done with that. She’s just grateful she’s been released from Pentenville, and hopefully have another opportunity with her daughter and grandson. That’s all she cares about. Alexis says she gets that part, and Harmony says she needs to get her patient back inside. That thing Alexis said about falling under the spell of bad men? She hopes the work she’s doing on herself will prevent her from making that same mistake. Alexis says, they agree on something. One day at a time.  

Curtis says he heard about what happened. His aunt is very sorry things unfolded the way they did. It must have been upsetting for Trina. Trina says, it was, but she’s glad he’s there. She always seems to be apologizing to him. He says she has nothing to apologize for, and she asks if he remembers when she asked if he and Jordan were getting a divorce because he was already involved with her mom. She was wrong. So she’s apologizing for thinking he was the cheater when it wasn’t him at all.    

Stella sees Cameron, and asks for the check. Josslyn says she’s heading out, but she’s impressed how he spoke with her mom earlier, and knows she is too. They kiss, and she says, see him around.

Austin says, everyone in Chase’s life is lying to him. He’s not going to do the same thing. He’s going to be straight with Chase, and tell him the truth. He thinks leaving tonight would be a mistake. Chase asks, why? and Austin says, because Willow is his whole world. Chase got out of the wheelchair and walked for her. Is he going to throw that away because of one day? Don’t throw the marriage away until he knows there’s nothing worth salvaging. He’s a fighter. Stay and fight. Chase turns around, and sees Willow and Michael come out of the living room.

Laura tells Spencer, she loves both of her grandsons equally. She’s confident he’ll forge his own path. He says, there are no worries on that front. He definitely has big plans of his own.

A worker tells Alexis that her AA meeting is starting soon. Harmony reads, I’d like to request improved communications technology in keeping with humane treatment standards. She tells Ryan, let’s continue. She holds up an alphabet board, and points to a letter. She says, D, and he blinks once. Alexis asks what she’s doing, and the worker says, she takes letters for him.  

Trina says she has to go, and Curtis says if there’s anything she wants to ask or say, he’s there for her. She thanks him, and says she needs some time alone, and leaves. He tells Portia that his aunt sorry. She feels awful, and rightfully so. She says he was right. She should have told Trina the truth from the beginning. She never saw Trina look at her like that before. Curtis says, it will be okay, but she says she doesn’t know. It’s like her past mistake is hurting the ones she loves the most.

Willow says she thought Chase was going to rest. Does he need help? Chase says, no. He got to talking with Austin, and he’s glad he did. Because here she is. He realized no matter how early it is, he can’t call it a night until he kisses his beautiful wife and wishes her sweet dreams. She says, sweet dreams to him, and kisses him on the cheek.

Cameron tells Stella that Curtis took care of the bill. She says she knows Cameron’s name but can’t think of it. She takes the envelope with the divorce papers out of her bag, and says, mailbox; she needs a mailbox. He says, there’s one on the corner, and it’s Cameron. She says, that’s right. She knows his mother. She gives him five dollars for a tip, and says, she’s just got to… She starts to get up, and falls to the floor. Cameron yells for somebody to get help.

Tomorrow, Curtis wonders what caused Stella’s attack, Sasha has another perk in mind for Brook, and Josslyn tells someone that Jason will definitely be looking for them.

The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills

The women came down to a disgusting kitchen full of dirty dishes. In Kyle’s interview, she said, after Erika left, there was heavy conversation. A producer asked why it turned into a dance party, and Kyle said because they like to have fun. We see a clip, and it’s more like, they had a lame dance party because they like to drink. Kyle said she needed coffee to be human, but they all seemed hung over. Kyle checked out the latest headline, and it said Tom had been secretly hospitalized with a serious illness. She told the others that it was never-ending, and in her interview, she said, every day there was a new story and new allegations. Crystal arrived wearing pants that were even more dumbass than the leather ones; some kind of leggings that had sparkly stars on them. I was reminded of my niece bawling over having to wear something similar when she was little. Erika arrived next, saying she was hungry. In her interview, she said last night had been intense, along with the lawsuits, hearings, and everything else that was happening. In Dorit’s interview, she said she knew Erika held things close to her chest, and she was having a hard time last night. She didn’t begrudge Erika not sharing how bad it was, but sometimes she wondered why Erika didn’t trust them or feel comfortable. Kyle suggested biking, and everyone except Erika, Kathy, and Sutton went. The bikers stopped for breakfast, and Kathy called Kyle, wondering if there was a straw for her shake in Kyle’s house. Kyle wasn’t sure, and Kathy asked her to bring one back. Kyle explained that Kathy had lived at the Waldorf, and thought everyplace was like a hotel. They talked some more about Tom’s cheating. I don’t know why this is such a shock. It’s not like beautiful women don’t get cheated on too. Dorit hoped Erika had someone advising her, since it seemed like she still wanted to protect Tom.

Kyle asked who wanted to decorate the tree, but Sutton was the only taker. Erika joined them, and Kyle said they were playing croquet today. Erika said they were having dinner at her place, meaning the hotel. She told them that Tom had a house nearby, but she didn’t know where it was, and didn’t know the address; she’d never been in it. Kyle told Kathy they were on a scavenger hunt for Erika’s address, and in her interview, wondered how you could own a home and not know the address. In Erika’s interview, she said she never got a straight answer, and in Sutton’s interview, she said, until the divorce, she didn’t know she was partial owner of two Minor League Baseball teams. Erika said she’d thought of all possible scenarios, including a whole other family living there. Kathy said she had homes all over, and got confused. Since this was typical Kathy, no one thought it was weird. They discussed Tom some more, and LisaR wondered if Tom’s lawyers would use the excuse that he was sick, and just forgot to dole out the money to whom it belonged.    

They went to the croquet place (Kyle’s technical term, not mine), and LisaR had to refresh her memory on the rules. In her interview, she said the family played until they got a pool. In Kyle’s interview, she said people had the idea if you’re successful, you play croquet. She thought it would be a good distraction for Erika. Erika said it was supposed to make her feel good, but was making her feel worse, so they started playing by their own rules, and wickets went flying. They ended up sitting on the ground, when Kathy joined the group, wondering if they were playing Duck, Duck, Goose. Kyle asked if LisaR was good with Garcelle, and LisaR said they were taking it one day at a time. In LisaR’s interview, she said they weren’t where they used to be, but it couldn’t be rushed, and she didn’t want to force it.

Back at the house, Garcelle showed up in a Hazmat suit with a sanitizing wand, and swept the women. I think she was only half-joking, since in her interview she said she wasn’t going in without being prepared. In LisaR’s interview, she said this was the Garcelle she wanted to see; fun, free, and non-judgmental. They discussed Tom’s cheating, which was getting pretty boring by now, and Garcelle said Erika had worn her heart on her sleeve last night, but when they were at Garcelle’s house, it had been a different story. We flashed back to Erika insisting there had been no third party involved.

The women gathered in Erika’s hotel room, which was like a house, and had a private pool. Crystal played bartender, and Erika told them that she didn’t know how to do simple banking; it was a whole new world. Erika had ordered room service, and it came in bags like Chinese food. Garcelle said she was sorry she’d missed the night before, and Kyle said she made lasagna. Kathy insisted she’d helped by sweeping the floor, and Kyle said she’d used a spatula, and we flashed back to that. Kyle told Erika that she’d googled the house, and had found the address, but it had been sold. Erika wondered how Tom could sell the house without telling her, and I started wondering if she isn’t really very smart. Like seriously, you never learned out to write a check or make out a deposit slip until you’re 65 60 55 50? Sutton said her forensics team would find it. They were the ones who looked for the spouses assets, which were communal property. The forensics team was almost more important than the attorney. Dorit said they dug deep to find out if money was offshore as well. Kathy suggested they go around the table – to which everyone responded, nooo! – and give one word that described how they thought of themselves. Kyle asked Crystal what Confucius would say, and everyone thought she was being rude, until Crystal said she was related to the philosopher. Her father had been born where Confucius was born. She was from the first generation born outside, and the 76th generation in the lineage. Garcelle said she thought she and Erika both had tough shells and soft insides, and Erika would end up on top. In Kyle’s interview, she said Erika had a tough girl persona, but still could only take so much. She didn’t know about coming out on top. All I know is, that hotel room probably costs per night more than my monthly mortgage

The next day, Crystal, Erika, and Garcelle went for a walk, and the others went shopping. I don’t think the desert is for me as far as nature goes. I need a few actual trees. Erika said there was a new story every day, and today there was a hearing in Chicago. She didn’t even know what it was about. She was hoping the walk would clear her mind. In Garcelle’s interview, she said she knew she wasn’t supposed to ask about finances, but Erika had no debit card pr allowance. She was going to ask. In Erika’s interview, she said she just got cash as she needed it from Tom. I’m guessing she must have had a credit card though. Garcelle asked if Erika got any heads up on the lawsuits coming, and that’s why they divorced. Erika said it had been a long time coming. It was a long battle with a person who had changed. When Tom got a head injury, there was a shift in his personality. There had been a severe decline. There was no more conversation. He would forget what he was talking about, or she’d hear a story ten times in one day. If she said she remembered it, he would go into a rage. She was his whipping boy. She thought he was in denial about having Alzheimer’s, like Crystal’s dad had been. Crystal said the caretakers got the brunt of it, and Erika said she tried to help, but Tom resisted everything. In her interview, she said when she got home from the Broadway run, they were eating together again, but Tom was changing rapidly, and refused to acknowledge what was happening. His own lawyer was crying on the phone, saying they had to do something. Tom was calling every day, but she couldn’t talk to him, and asked her attorney to tell his attorney to stop him from calling. In her interview, she told us that she needed to be able to say the last time she spoke to him was the day she left. Garcelle thought Tom calling was the saddest thing.

Everyone gathered back at the house, and Kathy brought tacos. In Sutton’s interview, she said Kathy couldn’t do not extra. She couldn’t get 8 tacos; it had to be 58. Kyle asked what the latest was on Erika, and in Erika’s interview, she said she had be careful. Her lawyers told her it was best to be quiet and close to the vest. She said she might go back early, depending on the news. She might need to deal with sh*t. Garcelle said Erika had shared about Tom calling her, and hoped Erika didn’t mind her saying it. Erika got pissed off, and said she did mind Garcelle saying it, since she was betraying their friendship, but please, have her moment. She said she wouldn’t take Tom’s calls, and Garcelle got it out of her once, and won’t again. I don’t know what she meant by getting it out of her, since there was no struggle for that info. Garcelle said it wasn’t her intention, and Erika said she wouldn’t sugarcoat it. Again, no clue what that meant. In Kyle’s interview, she said she’d seen Erika lose her temper, and we flashed back to several times when Erika got unreasonably angry. Kyle said she didn’t know why, but when Erika was triggered, she went from 0 to 100. In Garcelle’s interview, she said, WTF? Erika had been open, and talked about Tom’s cheating, said something had changed in his brain makeup, and she couldn’t understand why this set her off. Erika started crying, and whined that she’d shared a private moment. It was something she hadn’t said, and sometimes not everything was up for discussion. She’d been very open and honest, and thought was Garcelle had done was dirty. She got it once, and didn’t have to say something in front everyone. Once was enough. Got it? In Garcelle’s interview, she said she thought Erika wanted to share it with the group, and didn’t think it was a big deal. Erika ran to the bathroom, and Kyle said it was a lot right now. Crystal said Garcelle had already been in the car when Erika said she didn’t want to talk about it, and Garcelle said she’d never intentionally hurt Erika. Erika hadn’t told her not to say anything. In Crystal’s interview, she said she knew Erika didn’t want to talk about it, but Garcelle didn’t, and went to the worst possible place. In Sutton’s interview, she said people didn’t react like that unless something else happened. Erika whined and cried in the bathroom about being open and honest. Every time I start to feel badly for her, she does something that reminds me she’s an entitled a-hole.

Next time. LisaR wants to play a game, more headlines that Erika was complicit, and Sutton isn’t sure that she wants to be around Erika at this time.  

The Real Housewives of New York City

Eboni got the DNA test done. Sonja met LuAnn at a restaurant, and told her the matchmaker was setting her up with a serious guy, not just a fun guy. In Sonja’s interview, she said she was looking for Mr. Right, but if Mr. Right Now was waved in front of her, she couldn’t refrain; any guy would do. LuAnn asked if Sonja got sex last night, and Sonja said she could hardly walk. Ramona joined them, and in her interview, she said she was shocked that Sonja went home with Dylan, but more shocked that he took her home. They talked about Eboni’s upcoming shabbat dinner, and Sonja said Eboni’s boyfriend broke up with her. He wanted her to be Jewish, but not convert. I honestly have no idea what that meant, but in her interview, she said she couldn’t with these men sometimes, and that I get. Sonja called Eboni, apologizing for telling everyone. Ramona wondered why the guy got involved with her in the first place. Eboni told them not to feel bad for her, and they’d discuss it at shabbat Ramona wanted to know why he waited to tell her, and thought he wasn’t honest with himself. In LuAnn’s interview, she said breakups were never easy, but doing a Christmas song and video would make it all good. Sonja said she was tired of men thinking with their d*cks.

Leah’s brother Daniel and sister Sarah came for lunch. In Leah’s interview, she said Daniel was the youngest, nine years younger than her. She wasn’t sure if he was planned, but he was definitely her mother’s favorite. Daniel gave Leah the rosary that had been wrapped around her grandmother’s arm, saying it smelled like her, and he thought they sprayed it with her perfume. Leah sniffed it and cried. In her interview, Leah said they were all going through the same thing, and it was naturally bringing them closer. Sarah said she’d been nauseous and wondered if she was pregnant. Leah said in her interview, that she was the most non-adult adult. She was basically a teenager trying to be an adult. Daniel asked about Leah’s rabbi, and Leah said, he was a New Yorker, cursed sometimes, and was funny as hell. And no, she wasn’t having sex with him.

Sonja’s healer, Aleta St. James went to Sonja’s place, and we flashed back to the séance. In Sonja’s interview, she said she’d never done any work regarding her dad. She felt she might have a daddy complex, but didn’t realize it went back to her dad. Huh? She told Aleta that her dad had felt badly about being absent, and her mom’s second husband didn’t look at her as his child. In her interview, she said it became most evident when he came with his convertible, looking handsome and dashing, and all the kids clamored into the car, but he asked her to get out. Why didn’t he take her? She was a great kid, and took care if his children when her mom was working. Aleta said two things were going on; she wasn’t special to real father, and not good enough for the other one. Men abandoned her, and she didn’t want to create an unconscious pattern. She needed to take care of the trauma her father caused by not cherishing her. Aleta banged on a drum to make it all better. Then she rang some chimes, and Sonja said she felt a release in her left ankle. In her interview, Sonja said she didn’t know her worth. Don’t let people step on you to be a pleaser. She asked Aleta to do her chakras, and Aleta rang more chimes.

Eboni got the results from the DNA test, and in her interview, she said her whole life changed with that envelope. Either she opened it, and everything made sense, and she got a new family from the guy she thought was her dad, or she went back to being a fatherless child. By her face, we could tell the news wasn’t happy, and she called Ashley. She told Ashley that bloodwise, the test didn’t support that they were sisters. Ashley seemed sadder than Eboni, and said she’d wanted it so badly. Eboni said she’d felt like she had a family, and now she felt like she had to start over. She didn’t want Ashley to feel like the answer meant goodbye. Ashley wished Eboni the best on her journey, and Eboni said Ashley was special to her, and it wasn’t the end of the relationship.

In Sonja’s interview, she said Century 21 had gone bankrupt, but she’d been told she’d been their best sellout and online item. She wondered why her partner Gaurav wasn’t telling her that, and wanted to see the books. She invited Ramona to the meeting but was having second thoughts, since Ramona was so unfiltered. She might make things worse. Gaurav and VP Laura arrived, and Gaurav said they’d lost money with Century 21; there was a lot going on. In Sonja’s interview, she said whenever she asked financial questions, Gaurav gave her vague answers. She was taking Aleta’s advice to stand up for herself. Ramon joined them, and explained she was educated in business. In Ramona’s interview, she said her goal was to get Sonja her money. Gaurav threw some figures out, and Ramona thought they should be making a profit, since there was a website. There should be enough for Sonja to get something every month. Gaurav said Sonja had $10K in uncashed checks, and in her interview, Ramona said she didn’t understand. Who leaves money sitting around? She was confused. Obviously, Sonja needed a new deal with Gaurav. Sonja said she needed to see the books. She couldn’t continue with no money. In Sonja’s interview, she thought the meeting was worthwhile. They needed to renegotiate and find a new way of working together.

It was Christmas in NYC, my favorite time of year there. In LuAnn’s interview, she said she wanted the song and video to reflect the holiday, being together, celebration, and joy. She knew the vibe she wanted, but didn’t know what she was going to get. Billy thought LuAnn should do a Christmas album, and they made tentative plans to record in the summer. He said Leah could rest assured the paperwork would be in order.

Leah picked up Eboni, bringing along pup Angel Marie. In Leah’s interview, she said she was happy with the Jovani dress, and was glad she didn’t get sweat pants in a paper bag. We flashed back to her being in Sonja’s fashion show. Eboni told her that she and Ashley weren’t a match, as much as she’d wanted it. Leah said maybe Eboni’s dad was alive. In Eboni’s interview, she said at this point, she’d dealt with disappointment and what she’d been scared of. She had nothing to lose in finding out once and for all. She was meeting with a geneticist, who would use her DNA to find her dad.

LuAnn did several takes for the opening shot, and Ramona started kvetching about how long it was taking. LuAnn said she couldn’t hear her cue because she started outside, and Ramona suggested they wave. She said she got there just in time, since obviously no one else would have thought of that. In her interview, Ramona said she always captured what needed to be done. You name it, and she can do it. Leah and Eboni arrived, and Angel immediately got away from Leah. In LuAnn’s interview, she said, champagne was flying, the dog was running around; it’s supposed to be a music video. What was going on? Go eat caviar, and let her get her first shot in. In Leah’s interview, she thought this was what LuAnn viewed as eternal life. A 16 foot Christmas tree, everyone wearing Jovani, boxes from Tiffany’s, and her as the star. LuAnn told the women that she and Garth had been spotted, and the article from Page Six went everywhere. She wanted a guy that an article wasn’t going to throw off. In Ramona’s interview, she said, men were intimidated by women who were smarter, richer, and more high profile than they were, and had more connections. Eboni said LuAnn would meet another great guy.

Leah carried Angel when she did her part, and I already know the dog will be the best part of the video. Ramona told LuAnn that Sonja went back to Dylan’s hotel room, along with Dylan’s girlfriend. She saw it on the girlfriend’s Insta story. Then Hank got a call at 2 am, and Dylan told him to come get Sonja; she was passed out drunk. In LuAnn’s interview, she wondered why Sonja had to make up a story that she had hot sex with a hot guy all night, when she’d passed out and someone had to get her. LuAnn said they knew Sonja still had it. She didn’t have to prove anything to them. Ramona said Sonja had been jealous of Garth. Luann said she got it that Sonja needed an escape, but the worst part was that she’d left the caviar LuAnn had gifted her with at the hotel.

Sonja arrived, and LuAnn asked if she liked the caviar, and Sonja said she had it with Dylan, i.e. the model. In LuAnn’s interview, she said she loved Sonja but she made up stories all the time. Ramona bitched about not being able to concentrate, and LuAnn herded everyone into the other room, saying in her interview that she hoped they understood that a lot went into production, and she wasn’t just a diva. It was a lot of hard work. She explained that it was too late to get the video out properly for this coming Christmas, so it would be released next year. She made sure to tell Leah that she had enough time to get her paperwork in order. In Leah’s interview, she said she was glad LuAnn had mentioned it, even if in jest. Ramona asked Sonja how she liked the caviar, and Sonja got cagey, saying that’s not what she remembered. LuAnn and Ramona started cracking up, and Ramona did that squeaky laugh that I absolutely hate and makes me want to smack her. Sonja said Dylan was a good lover, but she had a serious date tomorrow. LuAnn suggested she focus on the marriage material and not the toy boys. Leah said it was a good confidence booster for Sonja’s serious date, still buying Sonja’s story because she didn’t know about Hank’s call. Leah asked Sonja if she had a picture of the girl, and Sonja started getting vague. Leah said she wasn’t asking for details, but wondered if the girlfriend watched or got involved. Being evasive, Sonja said it was nothing new in the book of Sonja. Ramona told Eboni that Sonja claimed it was great sex, but she’d passed out. She wondered why Sonja was lying. In Eboni’s interview, she said it seemed like Sonja felt that she had to come up with a bullsh*t story to entertain and please the group, but she didn’t have to sing for her supper.

They gathered at piano for group shots, as well as around a spinning globe. Ramona held things up somewhat since they had to wait for her. She was on the phone with a situation, trying to get Sonja her money. LuAnn said Sonja was like a diva already, holding things up. In Ramona’s interview, she said they had to wait; real money always came first. In LuAnn’s interview, she said she’d hit a wall and was diva-ed out. She told everyone it was a wrap, and they were out of there. In her interview, she said she thought it turned out amazing. At the end of the day, as much of a pain in the ass as the women could be, it turned out great.

Next time, Sonja’s serious date (ha-ha! sounds like a kid’s book), Leah has to quarantine, Eboni has her Black Shabbat, and Ramona says she was boycotted by the Jews in college. That should be an interesting fairy tale story.  

💊 Cough, Cough…

Still on the mend, so until we meet again, stay safe, stay farsighted, and stay not telling bullsh*t stories when you don’t have to sing for your supper.

Aug4

August 3, 2021 – Chase Insists On Going Upstairs, Deck Tirade Aftermath & Tonight

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Nina video chats with Brook and Wiley, telling Wiley, happy birthday. Wiley thanks her, looking at his real life mom, who is somewhere to the side. Nina asks if Wiley liked the forklift she gave him, and I assume she means toy, or she’s way off on age appropriate gifts. Brook says, he hasn’t opened gifts yet, but has a ton. She thinks he’s up for the job. Carly asks who Wiley is on the phone with, and comes into camera range. On Nina’s end, Sonny asks if he can see Wiley.

Stella tells Portia, there’s no such thing as half divorce, and Portia says, meaning? Stella says, meaning, don’t jump in head first. She doesn’t want to be the other woman in Curtis’s marriage, the way she made him the other man in hers. Trina is coming down the hallway with the food she picked up, but they don’t see her. Portia says, Curtis had nothing to do with her marriage ending, but Stella says, oh no? Portia doesn’t think taking up with Stella’s nephew  while her husband was off undercover played a part? Somehow, she doesn’t think Taggert would feel the same way.

Curtis says, Jordan makes it sound like she only signed the papers because she thought it was what he wanted, and she says, isn’t it? He says he thought it was what they both wanted. He thought they had a mutual understanding. She’s saying she didn’t want their marriage to end? She tells him, that’s exactly what she’s saying. She thinks finalizing their divorce would be the biggest mistake of their lives. Josslyn walks in, and finds Cameron, who says she’s there early. His break doesn’t start for another 20 minutes. He picks up a tub of dirty dishes, and she says she guesses she was just excited to see him. She can leave if he wants. He says, no, and asks what she’ll have. She sits at the counter, and says, she’ll have… Spencer says, a BLT and an iced something I’ve never heard of.

Austin helps Chase into the gatehouse, and Chase calls to Willow. There’s no answer, and Chase says, that’s weird. She said she was coming here. Austin says, maybe she’s upstairs. He’ll be happy to take a look. She’s upstairs all right. Getting busy with Michael. Chase says, that’s okay, he’ll go, and Austin tells him, stairs are part of upstairs. Maybe it’s better to ask her to come down. Chase says, the whole point was to show her that he’s doing better and getting stronger. It defeats the purpose asking her to come to him. Austin picks up a shirt off the floor, and says it’s not Chase’s shirt, although how he would know this, I’m not sure. Chase says, it belongs to Michael.  

Carly asks if that was Nina, and Brook says, yes, but she got cut off. Carly says she’s surprised Nina didn’t make it to the party, but Valentin says, a friend of hers is ill in Nixon Falls. Nina went back to take care of him and his wife. Carly is sorry to hear that, and hopes everything turns out okay.

Sonny asks, what happened? The call dropped? Nina says sometimes she doesn’t get service there, and Sonny suggests she use his phone. She says, that’s okay. With all the birthday festivities, she’d get in the way. He says she was just telling him that she’s upset that she couldn’t join them. Call him back. She knows she wants to. He holds out his phone.

Spencer says he thought Josslyn had a party to go to, or was she lying when she said they couldn’t hang out? She says she wasn’t lying. It’s her nephew Wiley’s third birthday, so they’re heading over to the party as soon as Cameron’s break starts. Spencer tells Cameron that they’re going to hang out outside, and he likes his bacon extra crispy. Josslyn says, he’s so high maintenance, and he says, it’s called standards, but clearly, she doesn’t know anything about that. Cameron says, hilarious, and Josslyn tells him not to spit in Spencer’s food. Cameron says he makes no promises, and she says, Cam…? He says, only for her, and Spencer steers Josslyn outside, saying he knew she cared.

Jordan says Curtis’s aunt meddles, and it drives her crazy. He says, join the club, but she says, this time, she pointed something out that Jordan was too consumed with her own guilt to see for herself. She gives up too easily. She felt terrible about the secrets she kept from him, and when he said they were done, she didn’t think she could push against it. She doesn’t want them to be over. She thinks what they have is worth fighting for. She wants to try again.

Stella says Portia is a destruction, keeping Curtis from what he should really be doing, which is getting back with his wife. Trina listens, and Portia says, ex-wife. Stella says, not yet. She knows it’s complicated, given the fact they had an affair way back when, but now it’s not her own marriage Portia is messing with, it’s his. She won’t stand for it. Portia says she doesn’t care if Stella stands for it or not. It’s none of her business. Trina looks super sad.

Willow and Michael bask in the afterglow, and Willow thanks him for finding her. She had no idea how much she needed to see him. He says he needed to see her, and asks if she’s okay. She says she wasn’t, but she is now. He says he missed her, and she says she hasn’t missed his lame jokes. He insists she has, and she reluctantly agrees. She missed all of it, and especially missed telling him that she loves him. He says he loves her too, and they kiss.

Chase wonders what Michael’s shirt is doing there, and Austin picks up Michael’s belt. He tells Chase that he’s sorry, and Chase hobbles to the stairs. Austin asks where he’s going, and Chase says, where does he think?

On a non-video call, Nina tells Wiley, happy birthday, little man. She loves and misses him. Sonny says, better? and she says, yes. He says he would have liked to talk to the little guy, but imagines she’ll introduce him at some point. Phyllis comes in, and Sonny says she’s not supposed to be there this soon. What happened with the biopsy? Nina asks, where’s Lenny? and Phyllis says, he’s not coming home.

Portia asks what Stella wants to hear her say. That she was married, went into a bar, and picked up her nephew? That’s true. Then it became real and serious. That’s also true. She stepped out on her husband? Yeah. Trina looks sick, and Portia says, but none of it has anything to do with Stella. This is her life, her mistakes. Stella says, and to hell with everybody else? and Portia tells her, she didn’t say that. Stella says she doesn’t have to, and Portia asks who Stella thinks she is. She’s speaking to Portia like she’s a teenager late for her curfew. She’s a grown woman. She can’t stop Stella from judging her, but just go somewhere else to do it. Trina walks in the other direction, but an orderly calls to Portia, who turns and sees her.

Curtis says he’s certainly not happy their marriage failed, but he saw no way he could move forward, especially when he saw how much she’d been keeping back from him. She says, what if she’s willing to put in the work to make things different? and he says, different how? They don’t have trust. She says she trusts him; she wants to spend her whole life with him. Just tell her there’s enough time.

Cameron serves Josslyn and Spencer outside, and Spencer says Cameron had better clean up before the party. He wants to make a good impression doesn’t he? Cameron says he’s been freaking out about that. Whether people who’ve known him his entire life will like him or not. Spencer tells Cameron, he’s just saying things are different now. He’s not Cam, Josslyn’s childhood friend; he’s Cameron, her new boyfriend. Josslyn says she’d better start calling him by his full name, and Spencer says nitpick all they want. They’ll see. Josslyn asks if they can go, and Cameron says he just has to clean up. He goes inside, and Josslyn looks at Spencer, who asks what he did now.

Brook tells Carly that Monica is keeping Wiley busy. He’s helping her set the table. Carly says, Brook is so good with him, and Valentin says, she’s wonderful with Bailey. Carly wonders when Bailey is going to be up. She misses holding babies that age. It’s like she blinked, and Donna was a teenager. It feels like it anyway. Valentin tells her, what do they say? The days are long, but the years fly by? He asks if she and Jason are going to have children, and Carly gives him a look. Brook tells her, congratulations. She’s so happy for them. Carly thanks her, and Brook says, they’ve been friends for so long, it’s nice to see they finally fell in love.

Willow sits up, and says she doesn’t know what she’s doing anymore. It’s like she’s dug this huge hole, and she keeps searching for the way out, but she can’t find it. Michael says, we’ve dug a huge hole. They’re in this together, remember? She says, from the second she knew she wanted to be with him, she should have told Chase. He says, she tried. When Chase collapsed, they thought he was dead, then they thought he couldn’t walk anymore. When was the right time to tell him, Chase, I’m sorry, I don’t love you anymore? She says, there was never a right time, and he says, just because she wanted to spare Chase, that doesn’t make her evil; it makes her human. Don’t beat herself up, and don’t make the mistake of thinking this is permanent. They won’t be in this place forever. She says, promise? and he says, actually, he does. She says, part of her wants to go to the main house right now and get it all out there. Tell Chase that she’s here for him, and always will be, but they shouldn’t have gotten married. That her life is with Michael now. But every time she tries to wrap her head around it, she can’t. Michael says, it’s okay. There’s no playbook on how to handle this; they’re doing the best they can. Chase will get better, and until then, she’s going to be uncomfortable, but they’ll get through this. They’ve gotten this far. She says, they should go back, and he reaches for his pants. He asks if she’s seen his shirt.

Austin says, Chase doesn’t want to go up there. Trust him. He steers Chase away from the stairs, and Chase says he has to know. Austin says, there’s a difference between knowing and seeing, and Chase says, get out of his way. Austin says, Chase physically can’t get up the stairs, and Chase says, watch him. Austin says, maybe by sheer force of will he manages to get to the top of the stairs. At what cost? He’ll break his body, he’ll damage his muscles, and set himself back weeks if not months. He worked hard to get there. He can literally stand on his own two feet. Don’t let them take that away from him.

Phyllis says she’s sorry. She should have said Lenny isn’t coming home tonight. Sonny says, that would have made a big difference, and Nina says, a big difference. What happened? Phyllis says, he had a reaction to the anesthesia; nothing dangerous, but they wanted him to stay overnight for observation. She came to grab some clothes and a toothbrush, and wanted to give them an update before she heads back. Sonny says he’ll drive her, but Phyllis says, that’s not necessary. Nina says, they’re both going because they want to, and Phyllis says, fine, but only because it will make them feel better. Sonny says he’ll call Eddie and see if he can cover for the bar, and Phyllis and Nina sit down while he goes to make the call. Phyllis says, it seems like Lenny’s illness is already spiraling out of control, and Nina says, and Phyllis is spiraling with it, right? Phyllis says, it has her really second guessing some of her life decisions.

Portia says, Trina, honey… and walks toward her daughter, but Trina runs off. Portia starts to follow, but an orderly says one of Portia’s patients has been asking for her. Stella says she’ll go after Trina and try to stop her, but Portia says, don’t you dare. Don’t go one step near her daughter.

Spencer asks if Trina is going to the party too, and Josslyn asks, why? He says, just curious, and Josslyn says, no, Trina’s not going, and no, she doesn’t know what Trina is doing later. Spencer says, maybe they should all go out sometime, and Cameron joins them. Josslyn says, on a double date? and Cameron says, that is a horrible idea. He asks if Josslyn is ready to go, and she says, very ready. They leave, and Spencer says, rude.

Jordan says, the papers are signed, but they’re not filed yet. They could call their lawyers, put the divorce on hold, and go back to counseling; do whatever it takes. They’ve come too far, and gone through too much, to give up now. She thinks that they’re worth it. Doesn’t he? He doesn’t respond, and she says, he doesn’t.

Michael finishes dressing in the living room, and Willow comes downstairs. He asks if she’s okay, and she says she has to be. There’s a newly minted three-year-old anxiously awaiting his birthday party. (Ha-ha! Love newly minted.) He says, let’s go, and they leave. Chase and Austin come out of the kitchen.

Spencer takes a bite of his BLT, and says he told Cameron crispy bacon. Is it really that difficult, Webber? Trina heads for Kelly’s front door, crying, and he says, what’s wrong?

Brook wonders where Wiley’s parents are; it’s high time for presents. Carly says, maybe they’re still dealing with Harmony, but Valentin says he doubts it. He got the impression that it wasn’t going to be a long visit. Brook asks if Austin is still lurking around, and Valentin asks if she wants him to count the China settings, but she says she doesn’t want Valentin anywhere near her family’s China. Carly says, maybe Austin couldn’t handle the drama and took off, and Brook says, ha! The guy calls himself a real Quartermaine. He’s going to need thicker skin if he’s going to roll with this crew.

Austin tells Chase, here’s the plan. They wait there for a few minutes until Michael and Willow get to the big house. Then they’ll go. Chase says he’s not going anywhere until Austin helps him up the stairs, and Austin asks, why?  Chase says he’s got to see it with his own eyes. He’s got to know.

Nina says, Phyllis always seems so steady; she’s everybody’s rock. She has such a solid beautiful life there with Lenny. Phyllis says, you can be steady, and have regrets at the same time. She misses her family. Nina says Phyllis never talks about her family; she just assumed they weren’t close. Phyllis says, they used to be, but not anymore, and Nina asks, what happened? Phyllis says, life. One of those old conflicts, layered over with time; she can hardly remember how it started anymore. She just accepted it’s the way things are. But now, with the horrible possibility of losing Lenny, those bad feelings just seem pointless. Nina tells her, why can’t she say that? Go to them, and say exactly that. Try to make things right before it’s too late. Phyllis asks if Nina is ready to take her own advice.

On the terrace, Willow tells Michael that she doesn’t know if she can do this. He says, yes, she can. Together, remember? She says, together, and they go inside. Carly says, there they are. Are they okay? She knows Willow seeing her mom was pretty tough. Willow says, not the best surprise, and Brook asks if Harmony left. Michael says, she’s long gone, and Willow says she needed a minute at the gatehouse. Michael was nice enough to check on her. Michael asks how Wiley is, and Carly says, perfect. Brook says, he’s helping Monica set the table, and Michael says he’ll go check on them. Willow asks, where’s Chase? and Brook says she hasn’t seen him in a while. Willow asks if Valentin has, but he says he hasn’t seen Chase either. Willow says, Chase got into it with her mother, and Brook suggests maybe after all the excitement, he needed a rest.

Chase and Austin go into the bedroom, and Austin says, at least they were safe, showing Chase a condom wrapper.  He tells Chase, there’s no right thing to say to a man who’s discovered his wife cheated on him. Chase says, Willow doesn’t cheat. She doesn’t fall in bed lightly. If she’s sleeping with Michael, that means she’s in love with him.

Portia say she can’t believe Stella did that, and Stella says, Trina didn’t know? Portia says, that her mother cheated on her father? Of course (🍷) she didn’t. Portia calls Trina, and leaves a voicemail for Trina to call her back. She says, or maybe Stella is referring to the fact that the man she’s currently seeing is the same man she had an affair with. She didn’t know that either, but she definitely knows now. Stella says Portia doesn’t know that; maybe Trina didn’t hear everything. Portia says, she heard something. Did Stella see the way Trina looked at her? Stella says she’s so sorry. It was never her intention… Portia says she doesn’t give a damn about Stella’s intentions. Her daughter is in pain can’t and she can’t go after Trina right now because she has to deal with her patients. Stella asks what she can do, but Portia says she thinks Stella has done enough; doesn’t she?

Spencer asks Trina, what’s going on? Trina’s phone rings, and she sees it’s Portia. She sits down, and hits ignore. Spencer asks if she wants to talk about it; she can tell him. She says she just found out something bad about her mother. She’s been lying to Trina; not really lying, but keeping things from her, things she should have known. Spencer says, he’s certainly been there, and asks if her mother explained. Trina says, she probably would have, but Trina was so pissed, she ran off. She can’t deal with it right now. Spencer says, she’ll have to sometime. Not today, but she has to give her mom a chance to explain. He was so mad at his father for so long, they didn’t speak for a year. Things got out of control. Take it from him, getting things out in the open is what’s best for all of them.

Curtis says he’ll always love Jordan, no doubt about that. But the life they had, even if he misses it, it’s no longer the life he wants. She says, because of Portia? but he says, because of him.

Nina tells Phyllis, she’s been trying to connect with her grandson, and trying to get along with his family. She’s in no way perfect, but she thinks she’s trying to take her own advice. Phyllis says she’s not talking about Nina’s grandson. She ran into Valentin Cassadine at the hospital in New York City. Nina asks if he’s all right, and Phyllis says, he wasn’t there as a patient, but Nina’s reaction makes her think the two of them have unfinished business. She told Valentin to respect Nina’s privacy. Nina thanks her, and Phyllis says she’s sure he will, even though he doesn’t want to, and Nina asks what she means. Phyllis says, it was clear as day that Nina’s ex-husband still cares for her. Sonny comes back, and says, they’re all set; Eddie is covering. Phyllis says there’s something she needs to tell Eddie about the new taps, and goes in the back. Sonny asks if it’s him, or was she thrown off when Phyllis mentioned her ex? Nina says, she was surprised that Phyllis ran into him in the hospital in New York, of all places. He says, is that it, or is she still a little connected with Valentin? 

Austin suggests he and Chase take a moment and chat about this, and tells Chase to sit. Austin says he doesn’t know Willow or Michael. He doesn’t know Chase, but he knows people. People cheat sometimes; people you didn’t think ever would, and it almost never has to do with love. Chase says, maybe most people, but not Willow. As furious as he is, he can’t see Michael doing it either. Austin says, apparently, he did, but Chase says, if he didn’t feel something real, he wouldn’t have trashed their friendship over a fling. Austin says he thinks it’s time Chase investigates the possibility that he doesn’t know his best friend or wife as well as he thinks he does.

Willow says, Wiley is the luckiest birthday boy ever, and Carly says, he sure is. Brook asks if Valentin didn’t find it strange that they had to convince Nina to turn on her camera to talk to Wiley. She figured Nina would jump at the chance to FaceTime with him. Valentin says, Nina did seem distracted. He wonders if things are okay with Nina’s friend; he’s worried about her. Brook says, enough to go to Bedford Lake, and he says, Nixon Falls. She says, whatever. Is he worried enough to go and see if Nina is okay?

Josslyn and Cameron arrive at the terrace, and she asks if he thinks Spencer was even more annoying than usual, or was it just her? He says it wasn’t just her, and she says, Spencer brought up Trina. Out of all the guys Trina could date… Cameron asks if Josslyn thinks Trina is really into Spencer, and Josslyn says, that’s what she’s seeing. She guesses it makes sense. Trina doesn’t know him like they do. To her, he seems like a  cool cultured new guy, but Spencer’s been spoiled all his life. On some level, she understands. His dad probably wanted to make up for his mom passing away, but that was the justification for him getting away with everything? Cameron says, Spencer’s definitely lived in a no limit zone, and Josslyn says, he still does. Then they have Trina, who’s the most awesome person to walk the earth. Cameron clears his throat, and she says, besides him of course (🍷). He says, of course (🍷), and she says she sees a whole lot of potential for Trina to get hurt. He says maybe Josslyn should tell Trina that Spencer’s not who he seems on the surface, but Josslyn says, it’s not her business. Unless he was abusive or a drug addict or something, Trina has to figure it out for herself. Cameron is Trina’s friend as well. If he disagrees, Cameron can spread the knowledge. He says, it’s more of a girl thing, but she says she thinks it’s more of a no thing. She just wishes Trina knew what she was getting herself into.  

Spencer tells Trina, it’s always been the two of them, and she says, him and his dad? He says he discovered his dad treated him like everyone else, not thinking if the pain he was putting Spencer through. Trina says she’s sure he thought about it, and he says, maybe it didn’t matter enough. It made him furious. Trina says she gets it. She was furious at her dad too; they went through something similar. He says, they’re on good terms now? and she says, it took a while, but yeah, they’re solid. He says what he didn’t realize is, the more he gave into his anger, the more time it cost him with his father. Now there’s a rift between them that he’s not sure they’re ever going to overcome. She says she loves her mom, and can’t imagine life without her, but she thought they were honest and understood each other, but now… He says, it’s all broken? and she says, It feels awful. He takes her hand, and says, look, the fact that Trina’s mom disappointed her like this is bad – he’s not going to pretend it’s not – but it doesn’t negate the kind of person she’s always been to Trina. Trina has to adjust her perspective a little, and start seeing her not only as a parent, but as a flawed human being like everyone else. She says she doesn’t want to see her mom like that, and he says he knows. He felt the same way about his father. He went from being Spencer’s idol to being a person capable of making huge mistakes. But he’s still Spencer’s dad, and Trina’s mom is still her mom, and her mom deserves for Trina to hear her out.

Curtis tells Jordan, this isn’t about Portia; it’s about him, and where he is in his life. She says, he’s moving on, and he says, does he regret what he gave up? Of course (🍷) he does, but he just can’t anymore. Jordan says she respects that. She had the feeling it was too little too late, but she was determined to be honest with him. He says he admires her courage, and she says, just not her timing. He says, not so much, and she says she has to go, and leaves.

Trina asks if Spencer thinks she should go back and face her mom, and he says it doesn’t have to be today, but he thinks she’ll feel better if she does. She says, the thought of it makes her feel sick, and he says he didn’t tell her it was going to be easy. He wasn’t strong enough to do it when his dad apologized to him, but she’s smarter than he is. She’ll be able to salvage her relationship with her mom. She says, she’ll think about it, and gets up, telling him, for what it’s worth (🍷), he seems pretty smart to her. She thanks him, and he says, anytime.

Nina tells Sonny, she’ll never be indifferent to Valentin, but of all people, he should know she’s moved on. He says he got that impression, and she tells him that he’d better trust his instincts. She and Valentin are done… She can tell he wants to ask her something, and he says he’s happy she’s moved on, but he was wondering, does Valentin know that? Or is he going to show up there like her other ex, Jax, and Sonny might have to take him down.  

Valentin tells Brook, he hadn’t even considered visiting Nina in Nixon Falls. Okay, maybe he considered it, but her friend Phyllis made it clear he would not be welcome there. She asks when that’s stopped him before?

Stella runs into Kelly’s, and says, thank God Curtis is still there. He says he got her message, and he was waiting for her. She says she made a huge mistake.

Portia leaves Trina another message, saying to give her a call or shoot her a text. She needs to know Trina is okay and safe. Trina suddenly appears, and says she’s safe, but she’s not okay.

Cameron and Josslyn go into the house, and Josslyn says, tell her they didn’t miss out on the cupcakes. Carly says they’re right on time, and makes a point of saying hello to Cameron. Josslyn gives her Wiley’s gift, and Carly says, he’s one spoiled little boy today. Josslyn says, he should be, and suggests they say hi to the birthday boy. She wants to take a picture, and Cameron asks if she wants him to take one of the four of them. She says, first she wants to get Wiley and his parents. They’re going to want to remember this day. She tells them, say cheese, and takes the picture. She says they’re the most beautiful family, and Willow and Michael look at each other. Wiley won’t stop saying cheese, cracking me up. It’s a riot when they start to talk.

Austin says he understands why Chase would want to stay Zen about this, and Chase says he’s very far from Zen. Austin says, all right; let’s figure this out. Willow has betrayed him, Michael has betrayed him. His whole world’s turned upside down. Chase is in a tough spot. The only question is, what is he going to do about it?

Tomorrow, Trina asks if Portia has been in love with Curtis all these years, Stella says she wanted Curtis to realize before it was too late, and Chase has something to say to Michael and Willow. I’ll bet.

Below Deck Mediterranean

Lexi is in the middle of her drunken tirade, calling Malia a fake ass bitch and Zee a kiss ass. She pushes Zee pretty hard, and David says, enough. She says she’ll smack them both, and David gets Zee the hell out of there. David tells her to stop, and she yells she’s got money. He wonders how much noise she’s going to make before she realizes she’s wrong, and she asks what his rank is. In Malia’s interview, she says Lexi opened up to her about her dad, and now she’s a horrible person. Malia sits in the hallway, crying, telling Katie that she was there for Lexi, and now Lexi is saying horrible things. Lexi tells David, the only thing he’s got going for himself is that he smells nice. She calls him a lame ass deckhand, and Zee comes back. David tells Lexi to shut up, while Lloyd tries to quietly make coffee without being noticed. David tells Lexi that she’s being toxic, and to go to her cabin. She climbs into her bunk, whining that he doesn’t know she’s Satan. Courtney manages to sleep through the entire thing, as well as Captain Sandy, who we hear snores from every once in a while. Everyone goes to bed, and Katie gives Malia the guest cabin. David suddenly realizes Mathew isn’t there.

In the morning, Katie tells Courtney that she missed everything. Lexi screamed at everyone, and she ended up putting Malia in one of the guest cabins. Courtney says, WTF, bro? and in Katie’s interview, she says she knows Lexi is going through a sh*t time, and she’s empathetic, but she never had to deal with something like this. She thought about letting it slide, but she’s confused as to the best thing to do. Captain Sandy asks Lexi if they had fun last night, and Lexi says they did, but there was drinking and an argument. She doesn’t remember what she said, but they had a little spat. Wow. I’d hate to see what she calls something big. She babbles at the captain some more, and Captain Sandy finally tells her, just apologize. Lexi whines that she wants to, but she wants it to be authentic, and doesn’t know what she’s apologizing for. The captain suggests Lexi say exactly that, and in Lexi’s interview, she pouts, saying she doesn’t apologize if she doesn’t believe one is necessary. It has to come from a real place or what’s the point? The captain says, if you stick to the truth, people can be reasonable. Give them 24 hours to feel comfortable with her again. I so badly want to dropkick Lexi off the boat, I can practically taste it. My father died suddenly too, but I managed not to take it out on my co-workers.

Chief Officer Marten tells the captain that Mathew came to the boat at 9 o’clock, saying he wanted to leave. Marten signed him off the boat; he’s gone. Captain Sandy can’t figure it out, since she was there, and thought he was happy. In her interview, she says they have a charter tomorrow, and no chef. If you sign up for a job, you show up. Lexi blows through the crew mess, talking to no one. In Zee’s interview, he says, Lexi made things tense. We flash back to her telling him to take his Afrikaans ass out of there, and he says, Afrikaans is more the white man’s language than the Black man’s language. He doesn’t know if she was trying to play on the fact he was adopted into a white family, but she threw derogatory and harsh insults at him. She’s completely ignorant. Katie tells Malia that she’s going to talk to the captain, and maybe Lexi afterward.

Captain Sandy texts Mathew, asking where he is, and if he’s oaky. Katie comes to the bridge, and the captain says, she’s not leaving, is she? Katie says, no, but there’s a big problem with Lexi. She lost her father, and she’s upset about it. The crew went in the hot tub, and they were drinking, but Katie left, so she still doesn’t know what happened exactly. She went up there, and Lexi was saying nasty things to Malia. Lexi interrupts, and Captain Sandy says, it’s about her; come in. The captain says, first, she’s sorry about Lexi’s father, but she’s getting the lowdown on what happened last night. Katie says she was screaming at Malia and saying terrible things. Then she went after Zee and David. Lexi tries to act like it’s David’s fault, but Captain Sandy suggests they mend this. She’s going to call a crew meeting. Lexi is still using the I-don’t-remember excuse, and the captain says if she doesn’t remember, be open to what the others remember, so they can move forward. They have a charter with no chef. They need to check their emotions. Plus Lexi is tired and hungover. No matter what happens, don’t lose it. The captain calls everyone to the main salon. In her interview, Captain Sandy says she had to replace the chef, and can’t just replace another crew member, so Lexi is going to have an opportunity to own it and have a second chance.

Captain Sandy says, what she wants is for the crew to have each other’s backs for charter. It’s up to them. Do they forgive, yet hold Lexi accountable? Lexi immediately starts making it up as she goes along, saying she and Malia had a thing in their cabin, and it spilled over to the hot tub. Looks like that’s news to Malia. Me too. Lexi says she doesn’t remember, but apologizes. She acts like this is all very amusing, and Malia says Lexi made personal and inappropriate comments to her, but she really owes Zee an apology as well. Lexi says she doesn’t remember… and Malia says they know she doesn’t. If she wants to get defensive, she can, but she was saying she was better than all of them. The person who doesn’t remember – i.e. Lexi – says, that’s not true. David says Lexi was insensitive, and Captain Sandy says, if Lexi doesn’t remember, just listen; don’t defend. Katie says she kept trying to mediate, and the captain tells Lexi, words affect people, and you can’t take it back. Like Lexi gives a flying. The captain says all they can do is reset. They’re all assets to her, and she believes they’ll figure it out. On top of this, they don’t have chef, and she has to deal with that, so she’ll leave them to it. Malia says they’re all aware Lexi is going through something difficult, and Lexi jets because she’s immature and can only deal with her emotions by getting angry. Courtney follows her, and Lexi says she needs five. Katie asks if everyone feels that they’ll get past this, and in Lloyd’s interview, he says Lexi didn’t give them an honest apology because she doesn’t feel bad. It is eating away at him a little.

24 hours before charter. When Mathew first became unreliable, the captain had a chef placed in quarantine. Chef Luca has two more days left in quarantine, and in his interview, he says he’s getting fat. In Captain Sandy’s interview, she says Chef Luca isn’t ready, so it complicates the charter. It’s starting in one day. Katie calls Lexi to meet her in the crew mess. In David’s interview, he says he started a game plan to make a move, but still has to be find out what that move should be. We flashed back to David asking Malia if she could look at him as someone other than a co-worker, and her saying, that’s a hard question. David tells Zee, it was a yes or no, but he’ll take a maybe. He might end up having to move on, but at least now Malia knows. In Katie’s interview, she says, Lexi was horrendous, and is now her problem because it’s her department. It effing infuriates her. The deckhands clean up, and Malia finds gum in the hot tub. Mathew slinks back onto the boat, and says he’s sorry, and full of regret. I say, that’s not all he’s full of. In his interview, he says, when he woke up, he realized he’d made a rash decision when he was wasted. Captain Sandy tells Mathew to meet her on the bridge, and Mathew apologizes to Marten, saying, he didn’t deserve it. Marten says, all is forgiven.

Mathew wonders if Captain Sandy heard about his behavior last night, and says he’d let something small get to him. He doesn’t remember what he said dinner… Captain Sandy says, that’s becoming a thing, and he says he acted extremely inappropriately. He’ll understand if she doesn’t want him back. She says she needs to trust the crew, and that they won’t get upset and walk off the boat. He says he needs to come back, and she says she has a chef. He sasy, what has he done? and she says, as a captain, she has a job to do; it’s nothing personal. But the new chef isn’t out of quarantine until Tuesday, and she needs to get through Monday. After that, he’s done. He says he’ll do it, and in her interview, she says, Mathew is unpredictable. She doesn’t want to walk on eggshells, so she’s going with the guarantee; someone who wants to be here. Mathew tells Courtney and Lexi that he owes everyone an apology. He was  drunk and overtired. Lexi says he doesn’t know the half of it.

Mathew tells Malia that he’s sorry, and she asks if he’s all right. He says he was on an emotional roller coaster. He’s sorry if he was inappropriate. She says he was a little drunk, and he says, a little? Katie says she’ll miss him, and he says she was amazing. He loved working with her. Courtney tells Malia, it’s a shame, but Malia says they need people they can count on. Courtney feels that she’s slightly in the middle, when Lexi should be in  the middle.

It’s time for the preference sheet meeting, and Captain Sandy says, primary Athena is a success coach. Her brothers Jakeson and Jameson are also coming, and Athena has organized an entrepreneur’s retreat to celebrate their success. The captain says, it’s easy to be high fiving when it’s up time, but when you’re down, you’ve got to stay up. Mathew says, wise advice, and in his interview, he says, it’s not good for your reputation to get drunk and quit in the middle of charter season. He still wants to do the best he can, even if it’s over for him. Captain Sandy says, Athena’s friends, Brook and Janine are joining them, and Katie reads that they want two cakes on day two, as well as green and gold, and black and white desserts.

Lexi tells Malia that she doesn’t want what happened to affect their work relationship, and wonders what was said. Malia says Lexi attacked her character and called her names. Lexi said when Malia had been talking about Lexi’s dad, it was for her own benefit. Lexi says she doesn’t think the thing about her dad was genuine, and we flash back to that. It looks pretty genuine to me, and Malia says, Lexi throwing it in her face is pretty bad. Lexi says, no one is calling Malia horrible, and Malia says, Lexi did last night. If Lexi is going to disagree about what was said, it’s not a genuine apology. Lexi says she has work to do, since it’s impossible for her to own up to anything.

Malia tells Katie that Mathew’s apology was genuine, but Lexi’s, not so much. Zee never got an apology at all. She doesn’t know what to say, but if Lexi is really sorry, and wants to be a team player… Lexi pops in, and says she needs to take a shower, but she’ll give them a few minutes. She mumbles that she’s done with the drama. This is why she only wants to deal with men. She hates bitches. She asks to speak with Katie, and in Katie’s interview, she says, this is draining her from every angle. She doesn’t have time to figure sh*t out, and doesn’t know what to do at this point. She asks why Lexi hasn’t apologized to Zee, and Lexi insists that she did at the meeting, which she did not. She skipped right over him. She says she spoke to Malia, and then Katie and Malia were talking about her. Katie says Malia was just telling her what happened. Katie says Lexi put her in a sh*tty situation, and she likes Lexi. She asks if Lexi wants to be there, and Lexi says she does, but all of them are wrong. Katie says, Lexi effed up massively, and she’s pissed off again. She doesn’t feel like Lexi wants to be there or like she cares. She had Lexi’s back this morning. Lexi says she doesn’t care, and Katie is like, bye. Lexi calls her mom, and says she’s quitting. She can’t deal with this. She’s not a child, and won’t be spoken to by someone being unprofessional. Katie cries in her cabin, and Lexi argues with her mom, who’s probably lived with this crap since Lexi’s birth. She tries to get Lexi to think of God, and tells Lexi to call her every day. Lloyd says, Lexi is acting like there was a wrong done to her, and David says, as long as she does her job.

In the morning, Mathew says, best day ever. David says, whatever Mathew needs, just talk to them. Everyone gets moving, and in Malia’s interview, she says it’s one of those challenges in yachting that you have to figure out how to bounce back. Lexi pissed off so many crew members, it’s going to be rough. Katie goes to Captain Sandy, saying she’s concerned that maybe it’s not the right environment for Lexi. The captain asks Katie to give Lexi another chance; just reset with her. Katie says she’ll try, but in all honesty, she’s concerned about the whole boat at this point. The captain tells her to just worry about her department. She’s a leader. Rise, and take this individual and change her trajectory. She knows Lexi has been horrible, but she apologized during the meeting. Apparently, that’s what the captain is calling it anyway. She tells Katie, It’s easy to dismiss someone, but invest in her. If it doesn’t work, she promises they’ll let Lexi go. Now go lead. Katie laughs, and in her interview, she says she understands Captain Sandy’s perspective. The captain is pushing her as a leader, and even though she’s still angry and upset, she needs to be responsible for her team, and sometimes doing that means doing things you don’t effing want to.

Katie tells Courtney that she’ll share a cabin with Lexi. No one wants to be with Lexi, and she doesn’t want to put Courtney in that position, so she’ll do it. In Courtney’s interview, she says, Katie is a good manager. She doesn’t know anyone who wants to be roommates with Satan. The provisions come in, and Katie tells Lexi that she and Courtney are switching cabins. She’d thought Lexi quit, and in terms of ethics and morals, Lexi has pushed her boundaries Lexi says, it won’t happen again. She’s not blaming the alcohol, but everyone had so much (please note the absolving word everyone – no it was just you), they weren’t in the right headspace to say what they shouldn’t. She apologizes, and Katie says she doesn’t think things will be perfect or go back to the way they were, but apologizes for raising her voice at Lexi. These things take time. Katie gives Lexi a hug, and Lexi says, trust her, it was one bad night. She doesn’t want the crew to hate her. In Lexi’s interview, she says, the lesson is to relax before you make harsh decisions. Here’s a thought. How about not drinking and keeping her mouth shut? She says she’s a good stew, and she’s going to make the season work. Captain Sandy radios that it’s 30 minutes until the guests arrive.

Everyone does last minute preparation, and the captain tells them proceed to the dock. She tells the crew, a lot has been going on, but she wants them to set aside the conflict and focus on the job. They’ve got this. She tells Lexi that she believes in her, and thanks everyone. They line up, and the guests come up the dock. The captain welcomes them, and says they’re going on their dream charter. The guests are all excited, and go, woot-woot! In Captain Sandy’s interview, she says she thinks this is what the crew moral needs; excited guests. Now she just needs to see an excited crew. Courtney passes out champagne, and Katie gives the tour. Poor Courtney is back on ironing, and tells the ironing board, Zen. In Malia’s interview, she says she’s proud of her deck crew. They keep lifting each other up, and they’ve come a long way in their skill set, which is what she wants in her team. Katie tells Lexi to make sure Athena’s champagne is topped off at all times. They’re prioritizing her. In Lexi’s interview, she says if she’s focused on the guests, she doesn’t have time to be angry; that’s her thought process. The captain asks Lexi how it’s going, and Lexi says, much better. She’s back on her A-game. In Courtney’s interview, she says she’s back on laundry after a taste of service. She gets the rotation thing, but it’s annoying since it’s Lexi on service, after what she put the crew through. It’s so sh*tty. Anchor is dropped, and the captain asks if Malia is happy with her deck crew. She is.

The water toys are set up, and lunch is prepared. In Mathew’s interview, he says he’s trying to get back into the crew’s good graces, and finish on a high note, even though he messed up, and he’s leaving. A guest takes pictures of their food, and it looks so stupid as she tries to find the perfect angle. Everyone waits with bated breath, and Athena pronounces the food delicious. Captain Sandy asks how their lunch is, and Athena says, divine. Malia tells Lexi that she’s glad Lexi is back with them, but hold off on the tequila. Lexi says, no drinking for her, and in Malia’s interview, she says she’s been there, and wouldn’t want to be judged on one bad night. Lexi says alcohol is not her friend. The guests play on the toys, and guest Jackpot enjoys the jet ski. One guest doesn’t quite make it down slide, getting stuck near the bottom. Athena talks to Mathew about squid options, and even I don’t know what she’s talking about. In his interview, Mathew says, WTF was that? How is he supposed to give her what she wants when he has no idea what she’s asking for? This is a sh*t storm, and he’s nervous.

Mathew tells Captain Sandy that the conversation with Athena was all over the place, and he still got no guidance. She wants calamari, which is squid. She wants it fried, but wants options. She wants it Croatian, but not too Croatian. She doesn’t want him to tell her what it is, and wants to be surprised, but wants a back-up. He’s laughing to keep from crying.

Lloyd has figured out a new way to bring in the dreaded slide where it practically folds itself. In his interview, he says, any time he can find a way to use engineering techniques to solve a problem, he’s going to use it. He may be able to solve a problem that others have been struggling with. As time goes on, he feels more comfortable in his place on the team. The table is set for dinner, and in Lexi’s interview, she says, she grew up Pentecostal, and they’re supposed to be kind and loving, even to people who’ve done them wrong. She struggles with loving people after they’ve crossed her, and with Katie, they’re just trying to get the job done. Captain Sandy remarks on how elegant the table settings have been. In Malia’s interview, she says she feels back that Katie is taking one for the team. Only a couple of guests are at the table, but Athena wants them to start bringing the food out. Katie tells Mathew that no one is at the table or has drinks, and it’s going to be a mess. Mathew says he’ll plate the first course, and in his interview, he says the fact that he’s dealing with this even though he’s leaving helps the captain respect him more. Highly doubtful. He says he’s rolling with the punches.

Athena gets up, saying, she doesn’t think the food is ready. She goes to the galley, and Katie explains, the chef is plating the food. In Katie’s interview, she says the way she does service, all the guests are seated, and you start water, wine, bread, whatever. She’s happy to do whatever the guest wants – it’s their charter – but don’t come running down and making it look like she’s not doing her job. Katie tells Mathew that the guest claims they’re running behind, and Courtney wants to know how they’re running behind when no one is at the table.   

Next time, Courtney has a meltdown, David flirts with Malia, and Athena is disappointed in the cakes.

🧗‍♀️ Getting There…

I scored some antibiotics, and I’m feeling marginally better after one dose. I try to avoid them unless absolutely necessary, so they usually work pretty fast on me, and this was necessary. Especially since I’m in such a fog, I totally missed The Haves and The Have Nots: Final Cast Reunion, Part 2. I’m pretty sure there was no crucial info, but when I catch up, I’ll let you know. I’m also saving The Real Housewives of New York City for tomorrow, since it pairs so well with RHOBH. Until then, stay safe, stay vivacious, and stay trying to make things right before it’s too late.

Jul31

July 30, 2021 – Spencer Fake Pleads With Ava, New Lease On Life, Soap Celebration, Happy Birthday, Support, Pushy Countess, Be Better, Possible Ax, New Status, Rumors, Dead Talk, Quotes Tenfold & Hello

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Spencer asks if Ava thinks they can put the past behind them and start fresh. Is it possible they can declare a truce? He holds out his hand, and she hesitates for a moment, but takes it, and they shake. She says she appreciates the offer, but he doesn’t have to worry about forging a relationship with her. She’s out of Nikolas’s life now. He says, it didn’t look that way a little while ago.

Jason comes into the MetroCourt, and asks if Carly is ready to go. She asks if he’s ready for this, and he says, for Wiley’s birthday party? Sure. He managed to get all the gifts in the car. She says, there weren’t that many, and he gives her a face. She says he knows what she’s talking about. This is their first family thing as a couple. He asks if she’s nervous.

Michael knocks at the gatehouse door, and Willow motions him in. He hands her some cellophane tape, and she thanks him, saying, she thought she’d have to break out the masking tape. He says he’s surprised he found any, considering the mounds of presents and all the decorations. She asks if they’re spoiling him, and he says, absolutely, but it’s Wiley’s birthday, so they get a pass. They’ll let him have all his presents and balloons… She says, don’t forget about cupcakes, and he says Wiley reminded him this morning. Now everything’s all set for their birthday boy.

Brook comes in to find Chase messing with some balloons, and says, look at him. She looks around the room, and says, look at this. He says, this is Olivia’s work. He followed her around with a tape dispenser. It is funny how Brook reappeared just when the decorating is finished. She says, timing is everything. She sent Yuri down to help. He says, good thing. He couldn’t help hang the banner for anything. She says, it will happen soon enough, and he says, not soon enough for him. He can’t wait to walk up to Willow, and show her that he’s back.

Shawn meets Sam in the park, and she hands him some coffee. She says she hopes he didn’t mind meeting her there. She had to drop Scout off at Lila’s Kids. He says he loves it outdoors; he can’t get enough of it. She says she’s the same way, and it sure beats the exercise at Pentenville. He asks why she wanted to meet, and she says she’s afraid she has bad news.

There’s a knock at Elizabeth’s door, and she lets in Nikolas, who asks if she’s okay. She sounded stressed on the phone. She mentioned Hayden; has she heard from her? She says, unfortunately, no. He asks, what’s going on? and she says Sam was there, asking about the time Hayden was shot. It made her remember something. He says, dammit. He knew this was going to happen.

Chase tells Brook, Willow is at the gatehouse and he’s upstairs. He doesn’t feel like they can start their life together yet. He’s so sick of this chair; he can’t do anything. She says, excuse me. He’s the one who sang Bailey to sleep, which is more than she can manage, and Bailey loved it. He says, she did seem pretty blissed out, which is puzzling to him since Brook took so long to get her settled. Brook tells him, let it go, and says, this place looks like a birthday party on steroids. They didn’t need her help. Kids Wiley’s age are more interested in the boxes anyway. (Truth!) He bets her 50 bucks it doesn’t hold a candle to the parties she’ll throw for Bailey, and she says, he’s on. They shake, and she says they’ll see if Wiley’s more interested in the gifts or the boxes. Valentin walks in with Austin, and says, look who he found. Brook asks what Austin is doing there.

Elizabeth says, so Nikolas knows what she’s talking about, and he says, Sam spoke to him as well. He told her that he didn’t know where Hayden was, and she should just leave it alone. The last thing he wanted was for Sam to come there and upset Elizabeth with questions about her sister, on top of everything else. She says he’s right; she’s upset. Shawn has spent all those years in prison for a crime he didn’t commit. Nikolas says, Alexis explained the situation. Of course (🍷) Shawn shouldn’t pay for a crime he didn’t do, but he pled guilty. She says, now that Shawn denied shooting Hayden, it made her wonder, who did? She remembered something Nikolas said back then; something she didn’t want to believe – that he had Hayden shot.

Ava tells Spencer that she and Nikolas plan to keep their divorce civil and drama free, but make no mistake, the marriage is over. He says, let him guess. Father doesn’t agree. She says, well, he knows his father. He wants what he wants, and doesn’t take no for an answer. Spencer says, sounds like him.

Jason asks who Carly is nervous about seeing. Is it Monica? He talked with her, and they went through all the history with AJ… She says she’s not nervous that way; it’s just the transition. All the family things they’ve gone to over the years, they’re now going as a couple. She was talking to Laura last night, and wondering if it’s too soon after Sonny, and how people’s perception might bother her, how it might diminish her love for Sonny, and how it’s hard for her. She knows they have to get married, and she knows it’s the right thing to do, but it’s difficult. He says, they both know why they’re doing this. They made the best choice they could. So now they just have to move forward with it. She says she’s glad he’s in this with her.

Austin hands Brook a wrapped gift, and says he’s there because Michael invited him. He said it was a family celebration. Brook says, it’s just that he’s early, and he tells her, his mother always said, if you’re on time, you’re late. She says, that makes no sense, and he asks if she argues with her mother. She says, all the time, and he asks if she wins. She says, okay, and puts the gift with the others. Chase introduces himself, and Valentin says he should have made the introductions. Sorry about that. Monica comes in, and says she’s glad Austin could make the family celebration. Has he met everybody? Austin says he has, and Valentin says, so it’s true. Austin is a legitimate Quartermaine?

Michael holds his finger in the middle of the ribbon, and Willow makes a bow. I have to say, I’ve never made a bow that way, or seen anyone else do it. She says, and that’s that, and he asks if she’s really okay. She says, sure, and he says she’s going out of her way to make sure Wiley’s birthday celebration is happy and joyful, but he knows this is also the anniversary of her son’s death. He’s been thinking about him too. For the longest time, Michael thought Jonah was his son, so it’s a bittersweet day. She says, this morning when she was putting flowers on Jonah’s grave, the birds were singing so loudly, like they were serenading him. He wishes they could have gone together, and she says, Chase was there. Michael is glad she wasn’t alone, and she says, it was Chase who told her that her baby had died. He held her as that awful truth sunk in, and she grieved. He comforted her, and got her through this unimaginable time in her life, and she’ll always be grateful to him, but she wishes Michael had been with her.

A woman goes to Jonah’s grave, and leaves flowers.

Nicholas says, they both know he didn’t shoot Hayden, and Elizabeth says, no, they don’t both know. She remembers that time in The Floating Rib when she asked him point blank if he’d done it, praying he’d say no, but he didn’t. He said he had Hayden shot to protect her. He says, it was a long time ago; emotions were high. She says, Hayden was blackmailing them for the mess she made with Drew, lying to him to hold on to him. Nikolas says, there was plenty of upheaval back then, but when she was able to catch her breath, and asked him about Hayden again, he came clean. He admitted he’d been lying. Doesn’t she remember?

Sam and Shawn sit on a bench, and Sam says, neither Elizabeth or Nikolas know where Hayden is, or know where to find her. Any progress on finding Hayden’s mother? He says, Naomi Dreyfuss is not returning his calls, and Sam says, they’re back to square one. He says, Curtis told him that he’d check his notes from when he originally worked on the case, but he didn’t sound too encouraging. She says, what did they expect? It’s a six year old case. It’s not impossible to turn up new leads, but it’s going to take some time. They’ll have to find some witnesses and try and jog their memories. The ones that are still alive anyway. He says she’s thinking of Drew. First, his name is Jake Doe, then he’s Jason Morgan, then he turns out to be Jason’s twin Drew Cain, the man Sam married and had a child with. She says, it’s pretty ironic, isn’t it? When Shawn was the one who was supposed to kill him that night.

Spencer says he can see his father is struggling without Ava, which is a real change, considering he’d insisted their marriage was a sham, and the only reason he stayed with Ava was to preserve their family money. No offense. She says, none taken. That was exactly how their marriage started. It was a cold-blooded business arrangement. Then she and Nikolas surprised themselves, falling in love along the way. But the stalker has made it clear he won’t stop as long as they’re together, and she won’t risk Avery’s safety. He says, then she’s adamant about going through with the divorce, and she says, whether Nikolas likes it or not. He says, then why does she keep sending his father mixed signals?

Monica says they’re still waiting for the DNA test results, and Valentin says, so this is a case of keeping your enemies close? She says she doesn’t consider Austin an enemy, and Valentin says, Ned and Michael do. A word to the wise, being a Quartermaine is a study in Darwinism, survival of the fittest. Austin says, he tries to stay reasonably fit, and Valentin says, having an ally helps. Monica says, let her guess. That would be him. Warnings, Austin; warnings all around. Valentin says he knows what it’s like to be an outsider in a powerful family, and Brook says she’s been meaning to speak to Valentin about Bailey, and drags him into the foyer. Monica thanks Chase for taking care of the decorations, and asks if she can get anybody something to drink.

In the foyer, Valentin asks if Brook really wanted to talk to him about something, or did she just want to get him away from Austin? She says, it was a big, fat attempt to stop him from sucking up to that interloper, and he says he thought he was the interloper. She tells him, stop. What he needs to do is back off. If Austin is a real Q, does Valentin really think Austin is going to side with him over his family? He says, we’ll see, and she says, overconfident much? He says he usually gets what he wants, and she says, but not always.

Willow tells Michael that they should get the gifts up to the main house. Wiley will be up from his nap soon, and the guests will be arriving. She holds open a bag, and he says, whatever doesn’t fit, he’ll carry. As they put the gifts in the bag, their hands touch, and Willow pulls away. She says, next year, on Wiley’s birthday, Chase will be walking, and they can be together. He says he’ll wake them up with a puppy, and she says, they’ll all cuddle in the bed; the puppy too. They’ll come down and make birthday pancakes. He says, they’ll see Jonah and hear the birds. They’ll have a birthday celebration with family, and when Wiley’s worn out, they’ll put him and the puppy to bed, and it’s their turn. She says, next year, and he says, next year, and they start kissing.

Elizabeth tells Nikolas, she remembers both conversations. The first one weighed on her. Then she remembers calling and asking him to meet her at work. He says, they talked in the stairwell so no one would hear them. We flash back to Elizabeth telling Nikolas that she hasn’t been able to sleep since he told her what he did to Hayden. She never asked him to do that. He says, Hayden is going to be fine. She’s talking. She doesn’t know that Jake is Jason. Elizabeth says, he had her shot, but he says, no, he didn’t. He lied. Shawn confessed that he’s the one who shot Hayden. She asks why would Nikolas say he did it? and he says, it’s stupid. He wanted her to think he’d do anything for her. She asks what she’s supposed to do with that. If he lied, how is she supposed to believe him now? He says, because Shawn confessed. Why would he confess if he’s not guilty? He’s ashamed he lied to her, but he wanted her to love him because he loves her. He sees now that’s not going to happen. In the present, Nikolas says he swallowed his pride and told her the truth. She says, told her the truth, or told her what she wanted to hear? He needs to be honest. They both know Shawn didn’t shoot Hayden. Was it him?

Monica says, Austin has met Chase, and he says he has, and asks where Chase fits in to this Quartermaine puzzle. Chase says he’s Willow’s husband, and Willow is Wiley’s mom. Dr. Quartermaine has been kind enough to let him stay there while he recovers. He tells Monica that he can’t thank her enough, and hopes to be out of there soon, but she tells him that he can stay as long as he wants. She says, Austin is a new doctor on staff at General Hospital. Chase says, that’s great, and Austin says, it is. Monica excuses herself to see if everything is ready, and when she’s gone, Austin slides closer to Chase. He says, from one outsider to another, what does he think about these Quartermaines? Does he have to watch his back like Valentin says?

Valentin says, presently, he has a beautiful new daughter, and he’s the CEO of a company that’s highly profitable, both of which he owes to Brook. She tells him, don’t count your chickens, and he asks if she really thinks the family is going to vote him out. She asks if he thinks he can stop them, and he says he thinks she’s worried he might. He believes she thinks Austin is going to prove himself and side with him, and that’s why she’s watching Austin like a hawk. She asks, who says she’s watching Austin? and Valentin says he does. He can see she’s clearly shaken by that man.

Willow and Michael kiss some more. She starts to walk away, but he pulls her back. Carly knocks at the door, and  Michael and Willow quickly separate. Carly walks in with Jason, and Michael says they were just finishing up with Wiley’s gifts. Carly hugs Willow, saying, she can’t believe Wiley is three. She asks where the birthday boy is, and Willow says, he’s at the main house, probably just waking up from his nap any minute. Carly suggests Michael and Jason take the presents, and she’ll hang out with Willow for a minute. Michael says they can all go together, but Willow tells him to go ahead. Michael and Jason leave with Wiley’s gifts, and Carly asks, what are you two doing?

Brook tells Valentin, she’s not shaken by Austin. As far as she’s concerned, the jury is still out on the guy. Austin delivers Maxie’s baby, and then leaves the crazy nurse to run off with Louise? Valentin says, after being knocked unconscious, and she says, she just wonders if he knows more than he says. He just happens to be hiking at the exact same moment in the exact same place Maxie happens to be having her baby. And then, it just so happens he owns the house where Peter and that crazy henchwoman bring Maxie? Valentin asks if she thinks Austin is involved in Louise’s kidnapping, and she says, she won’t go that far. Let’s just say she’s keeping an eye on the guy.

Chase tells Austin, the Quartermaines have always been good to him. They have strong personalities, but big hearts. Austin says, that’s not their reputation, and Chase says, they’re an intense family. They take some getting used to, but they protect their own and band together when it counts. If Austin’s claim is legit – Austin says, it is – he’ll find his place. He can’t be thin-skinned though. Austin says he’s not afraid of a little bloodletting; he’s a doctor. He asks what Chase does, and Chase says he’s a detective with the PCPD. Austin says, super. Any leads on Maxie’s baby?

Ava tells Spencer that she’s not sending his father mixed signals. She’s been clear that they can’t be together. He says, yet he just saw them in, shall we say, a close moment. She says she didn’t mean for that to happen, and he says, it doesn’t matter what she intends. It matters what she does. She says, excuse me. Didn’t he just approach her requesting a truce? What happened to that olive branch?

Brook asks what they’re talking about, and Austin asks where her better half is. She says, Valentin is feeding Bailey, and Chase says, Austin was just asking about the search for Maxie’s baby, which he can’t talk about. But how lucky was Maxie that he was hiking in the woods when he was? Austin says he’s the lucky one. He’s glad he was there. Maxie did great. The delivery was remarkably simple given the circumstances. It’s only afterwards, that things became problematic, and even then, only for him, because he keeps having this peculiar dream. In the dream, he’s there, and helps Maxie deliver her baby, and gets conked in the head. This is where the peculiar dream gets weird. He keeps hearing these two women talking, which is so weird, because Maxie was alone when he woke up. Chase says, maybe his subconscious heard the fake nurse and Maxie, and Austin says, maybe. Brook looks pretty rattled.

Willow tells Carly that she and Michael are raising Wiley together, that’s all. Carly says she knows her son, and Michael loves her. Is Willow telling her that she doesn’t feel the same? Willow says she couldn’t live with herself if she abandoned Chase when he needed her most, and Carly says, that’s because she’s a kind and loyal person. Carly admires that about her, but sometimes the best of intentions can lead to the worst outcomes. An act of kindness can cause more harm than good. Lord knows, she’s in no position to pass out advice. She’s made more than her share of mistakes, and told more than her share of lies. At the time, she told herself that she had a good reason, and she’s sure Willow does too, but it’s clear she and Jason walked in on something. She’s just glad it was them and not somebody else. Willow has a terrible poker face. It’s almost impossible for Willow to hide her feelings for Michael, and if Carly can see how much she loves him, other people are going to see it too.

Michael wonders if he shouldn’t go back and get Willow; she’s probably being grilled by his mom. Jason says, Willow told him to go, right? and Michael says his mom means well, but… Jason asks if he has something on his mind. They sit at the patio table, and Michael says, Jason knows, right? That he’s in love with Willow. Jason says, okay. Does she feel the same? Michael says, she only married Chase because of his health. They were waiting to tell Chase until he can walk again. He feels happy and guilty at the same time. He never thought he’d be the other man. Jason tells him not to fault himself for having feelings. He has to trust himself. He’ll figure it out, and make the right decision. He never worries about Michael. Michael thanks Jason for his vote of confidence. He knows Jason has his own challenges he’s going through. Jason can always count on him. Jason says he appreciates that. And now, about all these gifts. Michael says he knows it’s crazy, but he’s not going to go overboard all the time. It’s just one day, and the rest of the days, he’s going to take a page out of Jason’s book. He hopes he can give Wiley the same sense of self and confidence Jason gave him when he was little.

Shawn tells Sam, he was wondering when they’d talk about all this; get it out in the open. Yes, he was sent to deal with Drew, but he was Jake Doe back then. nobody knew who he was or what he was up to. He was doing his job. She says, on Sonny’s orders, and he says he’s just glad Jordan made him miss the shot. She says, her too. Or she woudn’t have daughter right now. She’s glad they had a chance to clear that up. Okay. Back to square one. There is some good news. The garage is still there, so she can go back to the scene of the crime. He says, six years later? He guesses… if she wants to take a field trip. She say she knows it’s a long shot, but it’s all they’ve got. He says he’ll do more work on Naomi Dreyfuss, but Sam says maybe it’s best if he doesn’t do this. He just got out of prison. Enjoy his life. Enjoy this park. Doesn’t he want that? Doesn’t he want to start a future and make a life for himself?

Nikolas says he did not have Hayden shot, and Elizabeth says, then who did? If it wasn’t him, and it wasn’t Shawn, who tried to kill her sister?

Ava says, perhaps Spencer is unclear on the concept of truce. Or maybe he’s too angry at her to make one work. He says he’s sorry; he didn’t mean to snap. He’s not angry; he’s afraid for his father. This guy got into Windymere. He must be a criminal genius to get past the security detail. Then he got into their hotel suite. Whoever this guy is, he’s a legitimate threat. Spencer already lived through losing his father once. He doesn’t want to again. Please help him protect his father from himself.

Nikolas tells Elizabeth, they may never know who shot Hayden. She has to remember who Hayden was back then. She arrived in town committing fraud. Ric paid her to encourage Drew to lie about his past. She helped herself to a fortune in diamonds from the profits of her father’s Ponzi scheme. Who knows what enemies were after her, in or out of Port Charles? Elizabeth says, she really believes Hayden wanted a fresh start there. It wasn’t until she had Violet that she turned a corner. He guesses they turned a corner too. She fell in love, and married Franco. He married Ava, and fell in love. She says, happily ever after, at least for a little while… until life got in the way.

Ava says Spencer doesn’t need to worry about his father. This divorce protects him too. As long as they’re apart, the stalker has no reason to pay attention to Nikolas at all. Spencer says he’s glad to hear her say that. Sometimes his father makes rash decisions, and doesn’t understand the consequences. She says she’s doing everything she can to protect her daughter and his father. He says he appreciates it, but the stalker is unpredictable. He heard Trina was doused in fake blood. What if the next time it’s real? She says he doesn’t have to keep reminding her. She knows what’s at stake. He says, then make him understand. Get her feelings out of it, and make his father stop fighting this divorce.  

Willow says, Carly isn’t telling her anything that she doesn’t know in her head already. She doesn’t want to hurt Chase. She truly cares about him, but her heart is with Michael. It’s getting harder and harder to hide those feelings. Carly takes Willow’s hand, and says Willow is in a tough situation. So is Michael. Willow is trying to be generous, and it seems kind and supportive, but the heart’s tricky. It can be selfish and strong-willed, and sometimes there’s no denying or reasoning with it. Hearts are stubborn that way. Willow says she’s never heard it put quite like that, and Carly say she speaks from experience. Willow is Wiley’s mom, and she’s family, and Carly is always there to talk. Willow thanks her, and says she supposes she should splash some water on her face, and Carly says she’ll get out of Willow’s hair. Willow says she’s really happy to be part of Carly’s family. Growing up, all she really wanted was to be accepted and loved for herself, even with her faults. She and her mom never had heart-to-heart talks like this. Carly asks if she means awkward and intrusive. Then she’s come to the right family, since it’s Carly’s specialty. They hug.

Valentin asks Austin how the lawsuit is going, and Austin says, great. He  asks if Austin thinks he’ll win, and Austin says, yeah. He wouldn’t be contesting Edward’s will if he didn’t think he had a legitimate cause. Valentin says they should have lunch. Discuss ELQ under his continued leadership. Austin says he does like lunch.   

Chase tells Brook that he thinks he’s going to lie down for a minute, and wheels himself out. Brook looks at Austin, and says, this is so not good. Monica brings in Michael and Jason, and says they have more guests, and more presents. Michael shakes Austin’s hand, and says he’s glad Austin could make it. Valentin says, right on time. He and Austin were just discussing ELQ and how it’s currently thriving. It’s gutsy to change CEOs; it could affect the bottom line. Michael says, it’s a strong company. One that was already thriving when Valentin took the helm. Monica says, they’re not going to discuss business today, and Michael tells her that he was just making his position clear, so Austin knows where he stands. ELQ is a Quartermaine business that should be run by Quartermaines. Ned is the CEO that ELQ needs, not Valentin.  

Chase wheels himself into another room and closes the door. He unlocks the chair, and says he can do this. He painstakingly lifts himself up.  

Shawn tells Sam, part of him wants to forget all this, and never look back. Then he sees TJ and Molly, full of hope and determination, striving so hard to make a difference in this world. They’re something else. He asks himself what he can do to make a difference. Maybe putting an attempted murderer behind bars instead of letting them get away with it. Sam says, what about him and his fresh start? He says he wants that. He wants to build a better life for himself. Of course (🍷) he wants to connect to his son, and be part of TJ’s life. But first he has to find the person who tried to kill Hayden; he has to. Who knows how many other people he’s hurt?

Elizabeth says, Nikolas is right; she has a lot on her plate right now. She’s glad to get this off of it. She hopes he’s not mad at her for grilling him. She had to know. He says he’s glad he could put her mind to rest where he’s concerned. He’s always there for her if she wants to talk about anything. She thanks him, and he says he thinks it’s best if she puts that painful time behind her. Life goes on, right? She says, right, and hugs him. He leaves, and I get the feeling she’s not buying his story.

Ava says, Spencer is right. She has been holding on to the slightest hope. Maybe even sending mixed signals, and maybe that’s why Nikolas refuses to believe this marriage is over. But that ends now. She and Nikolas don’t even need to speak. They can communicate through their lawyers. Spencer thinks that’s best, and he humbly appreciates it. He’s sorry it’s taken something this drastic for him to see her for who she truly is. She says she’s glad Spencer and his father are on better terms now. Nikolas missed him, and knows he’s glad Spencer is back. Spencer says he is too. He sees he got there just in time. Since I’m hating on Spencer right now, I wonder what such a handsome face is doing with a dad bod, especially at his age. There. I said it.

Monica says they’ve waited long enough for the guest of honor. They need to get the party started. Where is the birthday boy? Willow says, taking an epic nap. She’ll wake him. Carly asks if she can do it. She’ll take all the time she can with her grandson as possible. Willow says, enjoy, and asks where Chase is. Brook says, he decided to rest before the party, and Willow wonders if she should check on him, but Brook says, he’s fine. He’ll be back in a few minutes. Don’t worry. He’s fine.

Chase struggles, and finally gets on his feet. He says, yes. How about a step? He takes a step forward. Austin watches.

Willow tells Michael that she’s going to get Chase. He’s resting before the party, but she knows he’ll want to be there when the birthday boy makes his big entrance. On her way to get Wiley, the doorbell rings, and she yells that she’s got it. She opens the door, and says, oh…

I’m guessing the woman at the cemetery? I don’t think it’s Harmony though. Maybe Shiloh’s mom?

On Monday, Jordan asks if Portia and Curtis are a couple now, Stella can’t help but worry it will end up that way, Chase says Willow honestly thought that was a good idea, Nina doesn’t know if it’s a blessing or curse

Million Dollar Listing New York

KJ brought her younger brother Alex to West 95th Street, where there were two apartments she was listing. Built in 1971, the building had gone condo, and an investor had purchase the apartments still occupied by rent stabilized tenants. As they moved, the investor revamped the apartments for buyers. I totally get this, since I lived in an apartment that did the same thing, but went co-op. We eventually bought our apartment for cheap when the investor wanted out. Ha-ha, score one for the tenant. In KJ’s interview, she said they were smaller apartments at lower price points, and she wanted Alex to help her with his digital marketing skills as a millennial. He handled her website and social media accounts. Social media was king, since they weren’t having open houses. They met with the developer, who was also Alex. Despite covid, KJ had already sold an apartment for $770K, another for almost $1.5 million, and yet another for $1.8 million, but there were two 949 square foot, 2 bedroom, 2 bath apartments with river views, lingering. Alex2 showed her newly added closet space to one of the apartments, but even so, KJ thought they should lower the price of $1.595 million to a post quarantine price point. She thought $1.495 million would get them some bites, as well as new imagery to freshen the listing. Alex2 was amenable, but needed to check with his dad, who was head of the company. In the meantime, KJ was having Alex1 help her develop a TikTok account. In her interview, she said it was like he was speaking another language. She had no idea what young people were talking about. This seemed pretty weird, since it’s not like she’s ancient, but I guess her job and kids keep her pretty busy.

Fredrik and team member Charlé went to Harlem to visit the Ali Forney Center, where they met yet another Alex. Seriously, WTF? A drop-in center for LGBTQ+ youth, complete with a disco ball, it had been named after queer youth activist Ali Forney who’d been murdered.  Alex said they did their best to create a fun environment. They also provided homes for LGBTQ+ young people, kicked out because of transphobia and homophobia. Alex3 said LGBTQ+ youth were eight times more likely to be homeless. They were converting the Bea Arthur Residence, left to them in her will, from a rental model to an ownership model, but needed even more space. A private anonymous donor had given them a $4-8 million budget, and they were looking to house 8-20 people in a 4-9 bedroom house with community space and a yard. Fredrik said they’d donate any commission back to the center.

Fredrick and Charlé met Alex3 at Hamilton House in West Harlem, where they were joined by art director Marcia and community developer Jase. This was one fabulous house, with amazing original detailing. Built in 1910, the house was 4796 square feet, and 20 feet wide, which is a thing when you’re in the city. The asking price was $4.5 million, but Fredrik thought he could get it down to $4 million. Marcia said it had a family feel, and Jase said it was truly a home. Everyone thought it was perfect, and Fredrik said it wasn’t about the commission, but helping the kids.

Tyler’s assistant Kemba had quarantined with her bae Evan (thank God his name wasn’t Alex) when they’d only been dating a couple of weeks. His parents were relocating to Florida, and selling a family home on West 87th Street. This was another gorgeous piece of real estate. Built in 1890, it was 5231 square feet, and 18 feet wide. It had 4 floors, 5 bedrooms and 5 baths, 8 gas converted fireplaces, and 2 garden terraces. Among the other fabulous details were hand printed wallpaper, a summer kitchen with high-end appliances, a garden level living room, and a wine cellar literally in the cellar. There was even an original faucet shaped like a dolphin, eventually reproduced for Sherle Wagner, a company founded by Evan’s grandmother. Tyler said Evan knew the history of the house, and that’s what got people excited. Sometimes he made up stories for buyers, but he had the real deal this time. Tyler said one advantage he had was a good relationship with stagers who could help Evan’s parents pack and move what was still in the house. He explained the other houses on the block were either in need of renovation or, if already renovated, in the $10 million range. They needed to find the sweet spot in between, and Tyler suggested $6.995 million, which made his potential commission $209K and change.   

Fredrik and the group from the Forney Center checked out the West 87th Street house, but didn’t feel it had enough space. Fredrik also showed them another house down the block with the asking price of $3.750 million. They met with broker Ronita, who told them the house had been used for an art exhibit, so be prepared for a lot of pieces that had been left behind. Most of it seemed to be sculptures of the bottom half of a female body, or as Fredrik said in his interview, the house had a lot of ass-ets. It was 4500 square feet, and 20 feet wide, 5 bedrooms and 5 baths, but the group thought too much work would have to be put into it. They were still sold on Hamilton House, and in Fredrik’s interview, he said when someone found the perfect house, seeing anything after that just made them love it even more.  

KJ’s plan to increase traffic and get bites for the West 95th Street house was a success using the new pricing and social media push. Buyers were looking for a turnkey property with outdoor space, but as it was a buyer’s market, it was hard to make it stand out when there were a lot of listings in the same price point.

Fredrik was meeting with Alex3 and company at the Hamilton House, and when Alex3 said the donor had pulled out, my mouth literally dropped open. I wondered how anybody could pull the rug out from under a bunch of kids like that. Fredrik had the scathingly brilliant idea to try and negotiate a lease with an option to buy. Alex said the rent had to be equal to what they were paying, which was $12K a month. Outside, Fredrik called broker Ian, explaining the situation, and telling him the seller would get full asking price in 6 months. By the time Fredrik went back inside, Ian was calling back to tell him that the owner loved the center’s work, and gave them the deal. Even I had tears in my eyes.  

Next time, KJ revisits her first big sale, and Ryan and Steve work together. Maybe.

💘 Happy Anniversary…

While GH has its moments, OLTL was always my favorite soap.

Happy Anniversary to ONE LIFE TO LIVE — Relive Four Decades of Drama in Llanview!

🐭 Terry Mouse…

She wears the ears well.

Cassandra James Celebrated at Disneyland — See the Fun Pics!

💫 He Gets It…

Being a champion of mental health is one of the things I love about Maurice Benard.

GH Star Maurice Benard Supports Olympian Simone Biles

🗽 Countess In the City…

Um… no. Just no.  

https://okmagazine.com/p/luann-de-lesseps-pushing-for-kim-cattrall-sex-and-the-city-role/

🏛 A Pandemic State Of Mind…

The best piece of advice he could give is, be better? That’s right up there with just say no.

https://pagesix.com/2021/07/25/rhop-star-robyns-husband-juan-says-be-better/

🐐 Singer Scapegoat…

I doubt it’s all Ramona’s fault if the ratings have dropped.

REPORT: Ramona Singer To Be Fired From RHONY Amid Ratings Drop and Racial Tensions, Plus How Ramona Feels About Alleged Axing

⚖️ And the Award For Most Ridiculous Lawsuit Goes To…

Although I could understand them slapping her with a fine for bad taste in partners.

https://pagesix.com/2021/07/29/braunwyn-windham-burke-claims-she-was-sued-for-kissing-tamra-judge/

🗳 It’s Official…

Now if we can just free Britney.

https://people.com/tv/tom-girardi-conservatorship-made-official-court-major-neurocognitive-disorder/

👶🏼 And the Test Says…

Wow. People sure read a lot into meaningless things.

PHOTO: Is Stassi Schroeder Pregnant Again With 2nd Child? Vanderpump Rules Alum Addresses Rumors After Sharing Pic With Husband Beau Clark

⚰️ Walking Closer…

The beginning of the end starts on August 22.

The Walking Dead Season 11 Trailer Welcomes You to The Commonwealth

The last villain.

https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/ustv/a37176236/the-walking-dead-first-look-pamela-milton/

Spinning off.

https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/ustv/a37154860/the-walking-dead-spin-off-daryl-carol-hint/

🧧 Quotes of the Week

I’m a werewolf, okay? Let’s not make a big deal of it. Woof. – Carolyn Collins (Chloe Mortiz) Dark Shadows

Trust is like a mirror. You can fix it if it’s broken, but you can still see the crack in that motherf***ing reflection. – Lady Gaga, Telephone video

Some people never go crazy. What truly horrible lives they must lead. – Charles Bukowski

Quitting can be a hard choice to make, but often it’s a brave one, as well. – Susan David

Fried chicken just tends to make you feel better about life. – Minny Jackson (Octavia Spencer), The Help (Agreed.)

The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones. – Confucius

I am big. It’s the pictures that got small. – Norma Desmond (Gloria Swanson), Sunset Boulevard

Threats are the resort of the uninspired and impatient. I like to think of myself as persevering and imaginative. – Cyrus Renault (Jeff Kober), General Hospital

You cannot change anyone, but you can be the reason someone changes. – Roy T. Bennett

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

🐝 Buzzing Off…

Well, the weekend is here… I think. Are we pandemicking again? Luckily, reality TV and GH march on, so see you in three days. Whatever your pandemical status, stay safe, stay knowing all situations are temporary, and stay enjoying the box as much as what’s inside.

Jul30

July 29, 2021 – Dead Or Alive, Nixon Falls Debunk, She Doesn’t Care, Bad Week In BH, Jill’s Battle, New Miami, a Joke, It’s Over, Another Story, Renewed, Nominated, Goodbye Ron & Somewhere

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Cameron opens the door to Josslyn, and invites her in, saying he’s just got to get his keys. They start to kiss, when Elizabeth walks in. She says, sorry. She didn’t mean to interrupt.

Ava and Trina go to the pool (🍷), and Trina says this is their second time working remotely. Is Ava sure she can keep the gallery closed this much? Ava says, if someone needs her, they can call her. Besides, before she knows it, Trina is going to be off at PCU. She should take every opportunity to enjoy this time with friends. Spencer appears, and says he couldn’t agree more.

Sam sits down with Nikolas at the MetroCourt, and says her mom told her that he came to visit at Spring Ridge. What did he think? He says, it’s not bad for a minimum security prison. The facilities are imminently better than Pentenville. They focus less on incarceration and more on rehabilitation. On the whole, he thinks it’s better for Alexis. She says, but…? and he says, Ryan Chamberlain is currently being housed there.

Olivia asks who’s going to help her decorate, and Brook says, Valentin can’t. He’s missing Bailey’s feeding for an important meeting. Valentin says he thought she’d enjoy spending time alone with their daughter. He finds his phone in the couch cushions, and asks if it wouldn’t be too much trouble for Wiley not to play with it. Brook says, ask Michael or Willow; not her kid, not her problem. He rushes to the door, and Olivia asks if they can expect him for Wiley’s birthday party. He says he wouldn’t miss it for the world. He tells Bailey not to miss daddy too much, and jets.

In the foyer, a wrapped gift tumbles off of Chase’s lap. Valentin picks it up, and says, please tell him this isn’t another toy for Wiley. Between Olivia, Michael, and Willow, they have that area covered. Chase says, Willow told him to only bring himself, but Wiley’s his stepson; he didn’t want to show up empty handed. Valentin says he owes Chase an apology.

Anna looks at a picture of her and Finn on her phone, when there’s a knock at the door. She lets Dante in, and he asks why she’s holding out on him. She says she’s not, but he says he thought they were sharing their information into Peter’s disappearance. What changed?

Chase asks what Valentin has to apologize for, and Valentin says he’s the reason Peter was raised by his father, Cesar Faison. He turned a blind eye to Peter’s worst traits, and was slow to react. He didn’t do anything until it was too late. Chase says, there’s a lot Valentin should be sorry for, but putting him in this chair isn’t one of them. Only Peter is responsible for Peter. Valentin says Chase is a kind man, and thanks Chase for his willingness to let him off the hook. Chase says, almost dying had its good points. It sped up his relationship with Willow. Valentin says, that’s amazing, and congratulates Chase on his marriage. Chase thanks him, and says he’s just waiting until he can get out of this chair and be Willow’s husband in every sense of the word. Valentin tells him, they say attitude is everything. He has no doubt Chase’s positive attitude will work wonders in his life. Just know that he deeply regrets his part in the collateral damage left in Peter’s wake. He leaves.

Anna says she just saw Dante yesterday. If she found out anything more, she would have told him. He says, just like she told him that she and Finn were going to be in the subbasement? She says, it was a spur of the moment thing. It was a long shot. She didn’t know when they went down there that it was a legitimate lead. Did he hear anything from forensics? He says, they’ve been working through the night, picking up partial prints. Mostly unusable. She asks if there are any fingerprints or DNA that will help them identify Peter’s companion, and he says, blood mostly, in the corridors and elevator. (So no one noticed that on their way down?) All belonging to Peter. She asks if it’s a droplet or smear pattern, and he says, droplets. She says, that means Peter wasn’t dragged, and he says, it means Peter was carried out of there, or walked out under his own power. Either way, it means Peter is still out there.

Elizabeth tells Josslyn, good morning, and Josslyn returns the greeting, saying she’ll meet Cameron at the pool (🍷). She leaves, and Cameron says, so he and Josslyn are kind of together. Elizabeth says, kind of? They looked pretty together to her. He asks if she’s mad, and she laughs, saying, no. Josslyn’s a sweet girl. She’s been a good friend to him, and they’ve known each other forever. She’s glad they have each other. He says, him too. He’s sorry about not telling her sooner. He wasn’t intentionally keeping it from her. He guesses he’s kind of used to going to Franco with these kinds of things. Elizabeth hugs him.

Brook says, once again, Olivia is criticizing her mothering skills, but Olivia says, once again, Brook is getting defensive over nothing. She’s giving Brook a compliment. Brook is always putting down her own mothering skills, and she’s trying to tell Brook the opposite. She’s a amazing; she’s a natural. It reminded her that she trusted Brook with Leo as a newborn. She’d forgotten how good Brook was with babies. Brook says she guesses she keeps forgetting too, and Olivia says she knows firsthand that Brook has this amazing love and selflessness. Now with her own baby, she thinks Brook is being generous with Valentin because she’s afraid to let herself feel that overpowering mother love. Brook guesses she never thought of it that way. Valentin is so good with the baby, she figured why wouldn’t she support that? Olivia says, it’s okay to be vulnerable. To let herself love this baby. That tough shell of hers, the baby already cracked it.

Spencer says he’s a firm believer in friends enjoying themselves, and Trina says, old friends or new? He says, it’s always more interesting hanging out with new friends, don’t you think? Ava says she wasn’t aware that Trina and Spencer knew each other. Until the other day when Spencer exposed Trina trying to get her and Nikolas back together. Parent Trapping, she thinks he called it. Trina says she shouldn’t have gotten involved, and Spencer says it was his fault too. He and Trina learned a valuable lesson – to stay out of other people’s business. Ava says she hopes he means that, and he says he does. He’s sorry she didn’t bring Avery with her; he would have loved to say hello. Oh, he’s sorry. Is she still living with Aunt Carly? Ava tells Trina to order whatever she wants from the bar, as long as it’s non-alcoholic; her treat. She’s going to order herself a very bloody Mary. Have fun. Trina thanks her, and Ava leaves. Spencer says, that was generous of Ava, and Trina says he seems surprised. Ava’s actually been a good friend to her, and she thinks she knows how to be one to Ava. He asks, how? and she says, by finding out who’s been stalking her and Nikolas.

Sam says her mother didn’t tell her that she was in the same facility as Ryan, and Nikolas says she probably didn’t want to worry Sam. She says, but he did? and he says, there’s nothing to worry about. Ryan can’t move, he can’t talk. He’s not a danger to Alexis or anyone else. She says she’s not buying anything about that raging psychopath, and Nikolas says he parked Ryan in a corner, literally, and he couldn’t so much as twitch in protest. All he could do was blink. She tells him, she’s sorry to say this, but she thinks Ryan is capable of fooling anyone, including Nikolas and his doctors. He says, whether it’s Ryan or not, he and Ava are getting divorced, since it’s what the stalker seems to want. She says, but getting a divorce wouldn’t be his first choice? and he says, it’s not his choice. The stalker proved he could get to Avery, and that was it for Ava. It’s a line she won’t cross. How can he blame her? Enough about him. What’s going on with her? She says she’s working a case, and it’s kind of a secret that Shawn didn’t shoot Hayden. He hired her to find out who did, and that’s why she tracked him to the MetroCourt. Because Nikolas is going to help her find him.

Brook says, listen, kid, you’re cute, but she thinks it’s better if they keep their arrangement strictly professional. She knows Bailey can’t do that with her daddy, since he doesn’t know she’s not really his. Does she feel guilty about it? Yes, because Valentin turned out to be a really good father. He’s a pretty decent guy too, but no. She’s sorry to be the one to tell Bailey this, but her biological father is a wall-crawling psycho. So it’s actually much healthier for her to bond with Valentin. He’ll protect her regardless, but it doesn’t hurt that he absolutely adores her. She places Bailey in the bassinette, and says between the two of them, she thinks it’s better if neither one of them gets too comfortable. So save her adoring eyes for her real mother. Chase wheels in, and says, real mother? What does she mean by that?

Elizabeth says she’s sorry Cameron doesn’t have Franco to talk to anymore, but he’d be thrilled that Cameron and Josslyn are together. He always just wanted to see Cameron happy. Cameron thinks so too, and She says, it’s tough, isn’t it? Getting used to not having him around. Sometimes when she has a difficult day at work, she comes home and thinks she can’t wait to tell Franco about it. Cameron says she can always talk to him, and she says he can always talk to her. He thanks her and says he’ll see her later. Before he leaves, he tells her that Franco would want them all to be happy. Elizabeth flashes back to walking in the park with Finn, and telling him, the last thing she wants is for him to turn himself in to protect her, and him saying, the last thing he wants is for her to be implicated. She tells Cameron that she has some things to work through first; nothing he needs to worry about. She promises she’ll be as happy as Franco would want her to be. He says, good, and leaves.

Dante asks if Anna is expecting someone. She seemed surprised to see him. She says, Valentin. He wants to bring Peter in as much as they do. He guesses who she decides to collaborate with, is up to her, and she says, yes, it is. He says, Valentin doesn’t have the most assuring track record, but she says she thinks he’s changed. He says, people don’t change. Valentin is out for himself, no matter who gets in the way. She says she’ll take it under advisement, and Dante opens the door. Valentin is there, and asks if Dante has found Peter. Dante says, not yet; has he? Valentin says, not yet, and Dante leaves. Valentin asks Anna if they were exchanging information, and she says, not over this.

Sam tells Nikolas, Hayden visited Shawn while he was in prison, and indicated she might know the identity of her shooter, but she left Port Charles before Shawn could press her for any information. He says, the first time she left? Months after the shooting? Sam says, correct, and he says, then he can’t help her. She says he was married to Hayden, and he says, operative word being was. Their relationship was complicated to put it mildly. Technically, they were still married when he was presumed dead. She says, is that what he’s calling it? He says, how about when Valentin tried to kill him, he chose to go into hiding? and she says, for three years. He says, then he decided to take back his life. He contacted Hayden, and she and Jax worked with him to reclaim what was rightfully his, and he intended on cutting her in on a share of the proceeds, but she took off because she was afraid of Valentin. She says, leaving Violet with Finn. Finn told her that Hayden hasn’t been in contact with Violet at all. Nikolas says he tried to track Hayden down, but it was like she disappeared in a black hole. Sam says they tried to contact Hayden’s mother, Naomi Dreyfuss, hoping she could steer them in the right direction, but they hit a wall there. Can he do her a favor, and if he can find out any information on Hayden, will he let her know? He says, of course (🍷). He sees Ava go to the bar, and says, just remember, Hayden made toxic friends and questionable choices. His advice to Sam and Shawn is, stop looking for her, unless Sam wants trouble on her doorstep. Now if she’ll excuse him…

Trina reads a magazine, and Spencer clears his throat to get her attention. She says, he’s still here? and he asks if he may join her. She says, it’s a free country, and he gets on the lounge chair next to hers. He wonders what they should charge to Ava’s tab first. Does a virgin pina colada sound good? How about a Mai Tai minus the rum? She says she doesn’t think he was included in her tab. Besides, can’t Cassadines buy their own drinks? He says, a Cassadine cannot only buy his own drinks, he can supply them, along with a castle and a state of the art sound system. She asks if that’s an invitation, and he asks if she’s accepting. Josslyn comes by, and says, accepting what? Trina says Spencer if offering to throw them a party. Spencer looks pretty surprised.

Nikolas tells the bartender to put Ava’s drink on his tab. He asks if she shouldn’t be swimming in the pool (🍷) instead of a bloody Mary, and she says, the pool (🍷) bar doesn’t serve booze before noon. He shouldn’t be seen with her; their stalker could be watching. He asks if that’s what has her so upset, and she says she was just reminded she can’t be with her daughter until they’re divorced. He says he’s sorry. Does it help that he saw Ryan? She says, when? and he says, he visited Alexis in Spring Ridge. Ryan is staying in the same facility. She asks why he didn’t tell her sooner, and he says, because there was nothing to tell. Ryan’s condition is unchanged; he’s completely locked in. Nikolas doesn’t see how Ryan could be stalking anyone, or even communicating to anyone to carry out his orders. She says, if that’s true, it really just makes things worse. They have no idea who’s terrorizing them, just that they’re as sick as Ryan, and their anonymity makes them even more dangerous.

Josslyn says it’s so nice of Spencer to throw them a party, and Trina asks if they’re going to have a photo booth. Josslyn adds, a DJ and a full-lighting package. He says, slow down, he hasn’t agreed to anything, and Trina says, so much for making it up to her. Cameron joins them, and asks what Spencer has to make up for now. Trina says, first he sabotages her plan to get Ava and Nikolas back together, then he offers to throw a party to make amends. Now he’s backing out of that party. Cameron says, dude, you’ve got to throw that party. He thought Spencer was the guy with no limits. Didn’t he rent that yacht that time in I-biza. Spencer says, first, it’s pronounced I-bi-za, and Cameron says, sorry, he doesn’t know what he was thinking, and Spencer says, second, he’s not backing out of anything. Whatever the lady wants, the lady gets.

Olivia opens the door to Dante, holding a bottle of glitter. He says, that’s a lot of glitter. She has glitter in her hair too. (Take care of kids long enough, you’ll grow to hate glitter. And Play-Doh.) She lets him in, saying, Charlotte thought it would be a good idea to make Wiley a birthday card out of glitter. Rocco may have thought it would be a better idea to throw glitter all over the backyard. He says, and all over her? and she says she’s glad the boys are good friends. They’re very happy. Charlotte, not so much. Rocco told her that Dante is taking him to see Lulu in the next couple days. Dante says, that’s the plan, and she says, that’s good. Rocco should be seeing his mom. He says, why does he get the feeling she’s going to tell him something he doesn’t want to hear?

Brook says Chase could give a girl a heart attack, sneaking up on her like that, and he asks why she’s telling her daughter that she’s not her real mother? She says because she doesn’t feel like Bailey’s real mother, and he says he’s no expert on babies, but he thinks she’s selling herself short. He thinks she is a real mother to Bailey. He was her roommate. He’s seen firsthand how fiercely devoted she is to the people she cares about.

Valentin asks if Anna’s seen Finn, and she says she did. He says, and? and she says, it was him. He was on the roof with Peter. He says he’s so sorry, and she says, it is what it is. She just has to figure out a way to protect him. He asks why Finn needs protecting. What’s going on? What happened on that roof? She says, Finn pushed Peter, and he fell down the stairs. Finn is convinced he’s dead.

Elizabeth opens the door, and says, well, this is a surprise. Sam walks in, and Elizabeth asks if she brought more of Jason’s stuff to burn. She thinks they both needed to blow off some steam after hearing Jason and Carly were engaged, and asks if Dante is giving Sam a hard time. Sam flashes back to Dante kissing her, and says, it turned out all right at the end. Elizabeth asks what brings Sam by, and Sam says she needs to find Elizabeth’s sister Hayden.

Anna tells Valentin, Finn confronted Peter on the roof when Peter was waiting for the helicopter. He begged Peter for the antidote, but Peter refused, and chose to toss the vial off the roof, which infuriated Finn. Finn lost it, and shoved Peter, who fell down the stairs, smashing his head open in the process. By the time Finn got to him on the landing, he checked for a pulse, but there wasn’t one. At that point, it was more important for him to save Chase, so he took Peter’s body and deposited it in an abandoned lab in the subbasement. Valentin says, Helena’s lab, and she says, yes. He put Peter’s body in a freezer. Valentin says, by himself? and she says, he was vague about that. Valentin says, meaning he had help, and she says, possibly… probably, but he refuses to admit it. But listen, this is the important part. He put Peter’s body in the freezer because he couldn’t figure out a safe way to move it. Finn took her there yesterday to show her the body, but the body’s gone. There was no sign of Peter. Valentin says, dead or alive, and she says, that’s the million dollar question. The PCPD found traces of Peter’s blood in the lab, the elevator, and the access corridors, but it’s not clear if the body was carried out there. He says, or Peter walked out. Does Dante know? She says, just that Peter’s missing and hurt. He found a lot of blood. Obviously, the PCPD doesn’t know about Finn’s connection to any of this. Jordan said she wants to put most of her attention on the other person on the roof with Peter, which is concerning. All they’ve proven is, dead or alive, Peter was removed from the freezer.

Brook tells Chase, this whole baby thing has her rattled. She was fine when Olivia gave her Leo to take care of. Here, she feels like she’s under a microscope. He says, lots of people under one roof, telling her how to raise her baby? and she says, and not enough space to get this mothering thing right. Although, shock of all shocks, Olivia told her that she’s doing a good job. He says, if anyone can sense someone going through the motions, it’s Olivia. He wishes he could say the same for himself. She asks what he’s talking about, and he says, going through the motions. He feels like he’s putting on a front for Willow. It’s like he’s this optimistic guy who thinks he’s going to jump out of the chair any day. She says, he will, and he says he’s trying. He’s grateful to the Quartermaines for asking him back to stay in the house. She says, they’re putting up Valentin; you’re easy-peasy. He says, it’s the perfect situation for him. The house has wheelchair access because of Lila, and Willow is just down the driveway. What more could he ask for? She says, to walk, and he says, yeah, that. It’s like he’s faking it or bluffing, until one day he miraculously wakes up and feels like Willow’s husband. Brook says, meanwhile, thanks to Nelle and her scissors of doom, she can’t even sing Bailey a lullaby. He says, maybe he can help with that. Can he hold Bailey? She says, of course (🍷), and gives the baby to Chase. He tells Bailey that when his mom wanted him to sleep, she’d sing him this son. He sings Lullaby and Goodnight, and I die laughing because Bailey makes a ton of faces, like she might cry, but then this is cool, then, no it’s not. I think we might have another Wiley on our hands.   

Olivia says every time Dante sees Lulu in that facility, it costs him. Don’t get her wrong. She’s thrilled that he’s back at the PCPD, being a detective, but a job does not equal a life. He says, Lulu was his life. Now he barely has a legal right to see. Thankfully, Laura allows him too. Olivia says, of course (🍷) she does, and he says, the point is, he’s the one who wanted the divorce. She says, and he’s been beating himself up about it for months, but it seemed like he’d been lightening up lately, cutting himself some slack. She wonders if it has something to do with Sam.

Elisabeth tells Sam, so Shawn was framed for Hayden’s shooting. The judge who sentenced him is being investigated for racial bias, and now Shawn’s been released, and the governor commuted his sentence to time served. Sam says, that’s pretty much it, and now that the truth is out, whoever framed Shawn could pose a danger to Hayden. She knows Elizabeth and Hayden weren’t friends at the time… Elizabeth says, they didn’t even know they were sisters, and Sam says, but they eventually became closer. If maybe there’s some information Hayden told her that she didn’t think was important at the time, but is now. Anything that could help them figure out who shot her sister. Elizabeth remembers asking someone if they were behind it.  

Spencer asks if Trina wants something to drink or eat. He’ll put it on the Cassadine tab. She can save Ava’s offer for another time. She says she’s good, thanks, and he gets up. She follows and calls to him, and he asks if she changed her mind. She says, yes, about the party at Windymere. If he thinks his dad won’t approve, don’t have it. She and Josslyn kind of forced him anyway. He thanks her, and she says she knows things are just getting back on track with him and his dad. She doesn’t want to spoil that. He tells her, just get ready, and she says, for what? He says, for the biggest rager Port Charles has ever seen.

Ava walks to a private area with Nikolas, and says, until they figure out who the stalker is threatening them and Avery, there’s no future for them. He tells her, don’t say that, please, and she says, don’t make this more difficult. He says he didn’t mean to. Doesn’t she know, there’s nothing he wants to do more than make her feel safe, and she says she does know that, but she hates to see him hurting too. He hugs her, and she hugs back.

Valentin says they’ve got to find Peter before the PCPD does, and before he hurts anyone else. She says, but they don’t know if he’s alive or dead. Finn is convinced he’s dead. Valentin tells her that he’s saying this as delicately as he can. He’s not emotionally attached to Finn like she is. He doesn’t have to give him the benefit of the doubt. She asks where they go from there. She’s lying by omission to Dante and Jordan. He says, there are two possible scenarios. Peter is dead, and somebody moved the body, or he’s alive. And he’s hiding. And we’ve got problems. And he thinks it’s more likely Peter’s alive.

Brook says, Bailey is sleeping like, well, a baby, and Chase says his singing put her to sleep. Would she mind telling Willow that? He can’t help but feel this version of him isn’t enough for Willow. She says, any woman would be lucky to have him, and he says, Bailey is lucky to have her as a mom. He sees the way Bailey looks at her, and the way she looks at Bailey. He knows he’s not a parent, but going all in on loving your child, that’s half the battle.

Dante says he and Olivia talked about this. He and Sam are just friends. And barely that after she threw them both in the harbor on the 4th. She says, you see? This is what she’s talking about; that spark. He says he doesn’t know what she’s talking about, and calls for Rocco. She says he’s smiling, and he’s laughing. He even made spontaneous brags about the Yankees. He’s got such an amazing capacity to embrace life. Maybe it has something to do with Sam, maybe not, but she knows if Lulu was there, she would want him to stop moping around. She’d want him to live his life. He says he’s trying to be in the present moment as much as he can, but it’s really tough. Maybe he does have to start thinking about letting go of Lulu. Olivia says, so she’s right? and he says, as much as it pains him to say it, she is.  

Sam asks if Elizabeth can think of anything Hayden told her that could be relevant, but Elizabeth says, no. She can’t think of anything. She’s just trying to process what Sam told her. Sam says, Shawn seemed convinced Hayden knew who was behind her attempted murder, and Elizabeth says, Hayden didn’t talk to her about that, but there were a lot of things they didn’t talk about. She changed a lot when she became a mother. Everything she did was for Violet. She was loving and committed. That’s why it still doesn’t make sense that she’d disappear leave Violet behind. Sam says, maybe she disappeared to protect Violet, and Elizabeth says, or something happened, and she can’t come back.

Josslyn asks if Trina and Spencer were finalizing the details of the party. She and Cameron sit down, and Trina says she let Spencer off the hook, but he’s not having it. He swears it’s going to be an epic party. Cameron says, don’t get your hopes too high. Sometimes Spencer doesn’t deliver what he promises. Trina asks if Cameron is saying Spencer is a liar, and Josslyn says, more of a compulsive exaggerator. Spencer is capable of incredible things, but he thinks he needs to be all incredible all the time. Sometimes to the point of being obnoxious. Trina asks if they’re warning her away from Spencer.

Ava says she misses Nikolas, and she misses Avery. We see Spencer slipping around to watch them, and Nikolas says, him too.

Alone again with the baby, Brook tells Bailey that she’s trying not to get attached. Bailey is Maxie’s daughter, not hers. But Bailey is growing on her. Who wouldn’t fall in love with a face like hers? Already a ham, Bailey faces the camera instead of Brook.

Dante runs out of the house, yelling to Rocco, no glitter on your person. Get it off before he gets in the car. He gives Olivia a kiss on the cheek, and she tells him, come back if he needs advice. He says he knows where to go if he wants to talk, but he’s good for now. He only has one thing to say about Sam – butt out. He leaves, and Olivia smiles.  

Sam tells Elizabeth that she’s sorry if this dredged up painful memories for her. If she learns where Hayden is, Elizabeth will be her first call. Elizabeth thanks her, and Sam says, of course (🍷). As soon as Elizabeth closes the door, she gets out her phone, and calls Nikolas. She tells him that he needs to come over right away. They need to talk about Hayden. He says, what about her? and Elizabeth says, about what he did to her.

Josslyn says she’s not warning Trina away from Spencer, and Cameron says, although it actually might be a good idea. Josslyn says, she has a non-interference clause when it comes to getting involved in other people’s relationships, or lack thereof. If Trina wants to be with Spencer, or Victor, or someone else, or nobody at all, she’s there to support not judge. Trina thanks her, and Cameron says, besides, he and Josslyn are still figuring things out for themselves. Trina asks what there is to figure out, and Josslyn says, for one thing, Cameron’s mom walked in on them, and Trina says, embarrassing. Cameron says, very, but his mom was actually pretty chill about it. Trina says, lucky him. She would sink through the floor if her mother caught her kissing a guy.

Spencer sees Ava drying her tears, and asks if everything is okay. She asks what he wants, and he says he guesses he deserves her suspicion. He wasn’t very subtle in his anger toward her. She says she knows he has his reasons. She knows he needed her to testify to help him with Valentin. And when his father came home, she practically blackmailed him into marrying her. He says, no one’s perfect, and she says, certainly neither of them. He says, since he’s been home, he’s seen how much his father loves her, and she loves him. Does she think they can put the past behind them, and start fresh? Isi t possible for them to declare a truce? He holds out his hand.

Anna asks why Valentin believes Peter survived, and he says, who made off with the body? What’s the point? Unless Finn has some unknown ally ready to cover for him. This is Peter they’re talking about. He’s not the first dead man to get up and walk away in Port Charles (ha-ha!). And now he’s had weeks to go underground and cover his tracks. She says, that makes sense. She can’t help hoping he’s dead. He says he knows, and she says it would just be a relief to know she’s not the one who had to kill him. Valentin says, that’s how they’re different. He’s ready to kill Peter himself. He wants Peter dead, and buried, and no longer a threat to anyone he loves.

Tomorrow, Brook tells Valentin to back off, Elizabeth says Nikolas had Hayden shot, and Austin asks Chase if he needs to watch his back.

🏡 No Break Needed…

The mobster with a heart of gold, and faulty memory, sets the record straight.

Maurice Benard Debunks the Rumors About GH’s Nixon Falls Storyline

👠 Zero F***s…

Erika doesn’t care who believes her, but if you call her a liar, she’ll come for you. A woman of contradictions.

https://pagesix.com/2021/07/22/erika-jayne-i-dont-care-if-rhobh-co-stars-believe-me/

Zero F***s? Erika Jayne Doesn’t Care About ‘RHOBH’ Cast

Erika’s recap of Tom’s accident.

https://pagesix.com/2021/07/21/erika-jayne-says-tom-girardi-was-unconscious-after-car-crash/

🐝 Instant Karma…

Is it just bad luck, or is what came around, going around?

https://people.com/tv/rhobh-kyle-richards-hospitalized-bee-stings-teddi-mellencamp-vertigo-injuries/

💰 Mall Of Shame…

One step further from her dream of being the friend of a friend of a friend of one of The Real Housewives of NYC.

https://pagesix.com/2021/07/21/jill-zarin-in-hideously-unglamorous-court-battle-over-a-midwestern-rite-aid/

🌴 Miami, Here We Come…

They’re back, and filming in the Hamptons.

https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/the-real-housewives-of-miami-filming-montauk

https://pagesix.com/2021/07/15/real-housewives-of-miami-seen-filming-with-new-faces/

🗽 Sooo Funny…

Although now that she mentions it, I think they should do a season where some of the Wives switch places.

https://pagesix.com/2021/07/13/rhod-star-tiffany-moon-jokes-about-replacing-ramona-singer/

🍗 But I Liked Him…

Apparently, Metul wasn’t all he was cracked up to be. I’m so disappointed. He introduced me to butter chicken.

https://screenrant.com/southern-charm-naomie-olindo-ex-boyfriend-metul-shah/

🤡 Love To Hate Him…

John Carroll Lynch talks about his latest AHS spin-off role.

https://ew.com/tv/john-carroll-lynch-american-horror-stories-drive-in-interview/

🦌 Sweet Renewal…

I loved the first season of this show, and was hoping for another.

https://comicbook.com/news/netflix-sweet-tooth-renewed-season-2/

🏆 Nominations To Love…

This was a great show, and definitely deserving. What a shame HBO didn’t give them a season two.

https://www.indiewire.com/2021/07/lovecraft-country-emmy-noms-hbo-cancellation-1234650890/

https://www.purewow.com/entertainment/lovecraft-country-emmy-awards

⚙️ But Wait, There’s No More…

The grandaddy of infomercials has gone to that great Bass-O-Matic in the sky.

https://nypost.com/2021/07/28/ron-popeil-set-it-and-forget-it-infomercial-star-dead-at-86/

🌜 TGIAlmostF…

Due to Million Dollar Listing New York only being shown at 8 tonight (why? who knows? ), I’ll post it tomorrow. Until then, stay safe, stay peculiar in a good way, and stay enjoying time with friends, both old and new.

Jul28

July 27, 2021 – The Freezer Is Opened, Reunited Feels So Good, Leah’s Legal Concerns & Kool Celebration

Posted on by
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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Anna and Finn enter Helena’s old lab, and Anna wonders if Peter hid down there before he escaped. Finn doesn’t say anything, and she says, did he escape? Finn says, no, and looks at the freezer. He says, he’s in there.

At the pool (🍷), Carly and Josslyn sit with their feet in the water, and Josslyn’s face is in her phone. Carly says, her and that phone. She only uses hers for calls, texts, and email. Josslyn says, and to spy on her children, but Carly says she’d call that monitoring her children. She asks what’s going on with Josslyn, and  why she’s not hanging out with Trina and Cameron. Josslyn says there’s something she has to tell Carly, when Spencer comes out. He says, sorry for interrupting a mother/daughter moment, but he wanted to say hello. Carly says, hello, Spencer. Josslyn told her that he was back in town. So did some of her hotel staffers. He says, the staff was very helpful when he took an unexpected swim, and Josslyn says he should be more careful walking so close to the pool. He says he definitely learned his lesson, and she says, one can only hope.

Trina walks into the house, and the door squeaks loudly. She says she thought they were getting that fixed, and Portia tells her, the carpenter said he’s coming by to repair it. Trina says, on second thought, maybe they shouldn’t fix it. That thing is better than an alarm system. She heard a screech last night when Portia came home. The hospital is working her really late these days, huh?     

Sitting near the pool (🍷), Curtis flashes back to kissing Portia. Shawn walks in, and says, checking out the competition? and Curtis says he has to admit the sunset views there are better than at his nightclub. Shawn sits down, and Curtis says it’s good to see him. They bro shake, and Curtis asks Shawn how it feels to be a free man. Shawn says, the short answer is, it feels damn good, and Curtis asks, what about the long answer? Shawn says, freedom doesn’t mean free from problems or challenges, and he still has plenty of those. Starting with his search for whoever shot Hayden. He was hoping Curtis could help him out.

Jordan is looking at the divorce papers when there’s a knock at her office door, and an officer says there’s someone asking to see her. Stella breezes past, and says she knows the officer is only doing his job, but can Jordan please tell him that she’s family. Jordan says, it’s all right; she’s family. The officer leaves, and Jordan asks what she can do for Stella. Stella says Jordan can tell her what she’d doing to salvage her marriage before Jordan loses her nephew altogether.

Elizabeth comes down the hospital stairs, and thanks Scotty for meeting her. He says it’s his pleasure, but it sounded urgent. She asks how the law defines justifiable homicide.

Jason slips out of a hospital door and into the hallway. He makes a call to Spinelli, thanking him, and asking if he’s still in. There’s something else he needs Spinelli to do.

Anna says, he’s in the freezer? and Finn says, it’s all right. Peter August is dead. He killed him.

Carly asks when Spencer got back to Port Charles, and he says, a few days ago, but that’s no excuse. He should have come over by now to tell her how sorry he is for her loss. He really admired Uncle Sonny. In Spencer’s opinion, he was a great man. He hears congratulations are in order, that she and Jason are engaged. She says they are, and he says, they’re finally getting the happiness they deserve.   

Trina tells Portia, she’s just going to grab her tablet, and go back to the pool (🍷), so she’ll make it quick. She thinks the hospital is working Portia too hard. She didn’t get home until after midnight last night. Portia says she wasn’t working; she went out. Trina says, she went out out, for fun? and Portia asks if it’s that impossible to believe. Trina says it is. Did she go out by herself? Portia says, no. Terry invited her to go out, and she said yes. Trina says, that’s better than great. Where did they go? Portia says, here and there, and Trina says, imagine if she answered that way when Portia asked her the same thing. Portia says, eventually, they ended up at the Savoy with Curtis.

Curtis says Shawn knows he’s no longer in the P.I. game, and Shawn says Curtis’s ex-partner is helping him. Curtis says, Sam is one of the best. If anyone can find Hayden’s shooter, it’s her. Shawn says he’s counting on it, but he also knows Curtis did a deep dive on the case. Curtis says he got absolutely nowhere. He and Hayden were friends before she left, but he never found a smoking gun. If he had, he would have notified the cops immediately, but he never found who Hayden’s shooter was. Shawn says he was wondering if something in the old files that meant nothing then, might mean something now. Curtis says he’ll revisit his old records and see what he can find. It’s the least he can do. Shawn says he wants Curtis to know that he understands Curtis has already done plenty, and he’s grateful.

Jordan covers the papers on her desk, and tells Stella that her marriage isn’t open for discussion, and this conversation is over. Stella says she’s sorry if it takes a little tough love to get Jordan to follow her heart, and Jordan says she followed it. She did what Stella encouraged. She went to find Curtis. She was going to tell him that if he wanted to roll up his sleeves, and make this marriage work, she’d be right beside him. Stella says, now she’s talking. Did she find him? Jordan says she found him all right, at The Savoy. She also found the answer she was looking for, and it wasn’t the answer she or Stella wanted.

Scotty and Elizabeth go into an examining room, and Scotty says, just a little piece of advice. If you’re going to be talking about justifiable homicide, then you should do it when nobody’s near you, and only to your lawyer. She says nobody’s near them now, but he says he thinks it should still be a little hush-hush. Between her and him, what kind of trouble is she in? She says, this isn’t about her. It’s about… He says, a friend, right? 99% out of 100, it’s about a friend. There never is a friend. She says, this time there is, and he says if she wants to stick to her story and take him for a buggy ride, fine. So this friend, why did they kill whoever it was they killed? She says, desperation… outrage… The thing is, her friend didn’t mean to kill this other person. He says, so it was self-defense? and she says, no. He says, first things first. She didn’t kill anyone. She says, no, this isn’t about her. He says, this is about her. He’s sorry to snap at her, but if she knows that her friend killed somebody, or knows anything about it, that makes her an accessory to murder.

Finn says, after all the lives Peter destroyed is it any surprise he’d meet a violent death? Anna says not only is she having trouble believing he was killed, she’s having trouble believing Finn did it. He says, believe it, because it’s true. He’s the one who found Peter on the roof, waiting for a helicopter to help him escape. We see the roof scene again as Finn talks. He says he pleaded with Peter. He confronted him about Chase. Peter’s answer was to throw the antidote off the roof. Then when Peter tried to leave, he couldn’t let that happen. He killed Peter August. He threw him face first down a flight of stairs. Peter hit his head hard on the way down; he died. She says she’s sorry, and he says, that he killed Peter? and she says, that he had to bear the weight of what he did. He says, it goes against everything he stands for, but if he had to face Peter again on the roof under the same circumstances, he woudn’t do a damn thing different.

Spencer says, Jason and Carly will make perfect life partners. He hopes it’s not presumptuous to say, but he thinks Uncle Sonny would have approved. Carly thanks him, and he says he guesses there’s something familiar about falling in love with a friend. That explains how Josslyn and Cameron ended up together. Josslyn says, Spencer! and Carly says, Josslyn and Cameron? What? Josslyn says, well, that’s… and Spencer says he couldn’t believe it either. They’ve known each other most of their lives, but he’s always credited Josslyn with a more adventurous spirit, and thought she’d be drawn to someone that’s… He looks at Josslyn and says, what? She hasn’t told her mother? Josslyn pushes him into the pool, and tells Carly she wishes he’d stayed in Italy. Spencer pops out of the water, and she smiles at him.

Trina says, so Portia and Terry had a drink with Curtis? Portia says, no. Terry encouraged her to seek out Curtis, so she did. Trina says, so she and Curtis… Portia says, it’s a new thing, for both of them. Trina knows she hasn’t dated much since her and Trina’s father split up, at least never seriously. Trina says, and Portia never talked to her about it, and Portia asks if Trina wants her to stop, but Trina tells her, she didn’t say that. Portia says she and Curtis enjoy each other’s company; Trina must have noticed that. Trina says she knew they were close, and Curtis called the night Cyrus took them hostage and came to their rescue. When Curtis was shot, Portia kept vigil at GH. So it makes everything make sense. Portia says, she’s not interested in Curtis because he risked his life to save them; it’s because of the man he is. She likes being with him, and would like to spend more time with him. So how is Trina feeing about all that?

Shawn says, one of the worst things about prison was being locked away from TJ. He was sure TJ was on the right track and doing well in school, but he was at a pivotal point in his life, when it’s easy for a young man to lose his way and turn down the wrong road. TJ needed guidance a strong role model, and Shawn wasn’t able to be there, but Curtis was. He’s thankful Curtis came to Port Charles when he did. Curtis says it was one of the best moves he ever made, and Shawn says he respects Curtis. Curtis is someone he can count on and turn to, despite what happened with Tommy. Curtis says, they all made mistakes back in the day, and Shawn says, those mistakes could have easily put a wedge between them, but Curtis made a point of being there for him and TJ. He thanks Curtis, saying, he’s a good man. Curtis says, that means a lot coming from Shawn. Respect. They clink glasses, and Shawn says, cheers, brother.

Scotty tells Elizabeth, for it to be justifiable homicide, the person who committed the crime would have to prove he was in a situation where it was kill or be killed. She says, what if… and he says, he also recalls visiting a friend of hers who was afraid they’d be hauled in for questioning about Peter’s disappearance. And he knows that friend was very important to her. She says, so what if her friend needed his help? and he says, it would be a conflict of interest. She says, what conflict? and he says she’s his top priority, and he’s going to do everything in his power to protect her. But she has to tell him what’s going on, so he can help her out of the mess she’s in before it’s too late.

On the phone, Jason asks Spinelli if he found it.

Anna tells Finn, whatever happened, she knows he’s not a murderer, but he says, a jury of his peers might disagree. She says, Peter confronted Finn, Finn shoved him, he fell, and hit his head. Finn tried to help Peter, didn’t he? He says he checked for breathing and a pulse, but there was nothing. There was nothing he could do. Peter was gone. She asks if he was certain, and he says he didn’t spend a long time lingering over the body. He had other priorities like keeping Chase alive. She says, and he didn’t feel he could come to her? He says, her knowing Peter was dead wasn’t going to bring her any closer to finding Louise. He couldn’t risk leaving Violet without a father; her mother already abandoned her. How could he leave her too?

Spencer says, this is getting annoying, and Josslyn says, tell her about it. What the hell is wrong with him? He asks how he was supposed to know she was keeping her romance a secret from her mother. He thought they shared everything. She says, they do. In fact, she was just about to tell her before he opened his big mouth. Remind her to tell Trina not to even waste her time with him; he’s so out of her league. Carly comes out, and gives Spencer a towel. She says he’s only in town for five minutes, and he’s already causing trouble? She asks to talk to her daughter, and he leaves. She and Josslyn sit down, and Carly says Josslyn has to stop pushing that kid in the pool. She’s not kidding; it’s a safety regulation. Josslyn says she’s sorry. She’d love to promise she won’t do it again, but if Spencer is sitting close to the pool edge, and running his mouth about something that’s none of his business… Carly says, find another way to shut him up. If Spencer hits his head, Nikolas will sue her. Josslyn says, okay, but Spencer is a jerk, and totally deserved the dunking. Carly says she agrees with Josslyn, and Josslyn says she hopes Trina stays away from him. Carly says, what does she want to talk about first? Trina and Spencer, or her and Cameron? 

Trina says, she’s not sure what’s happening here, but is Portia asking her for dating advice, because that would be weird. Portia says, don’t worry. She’s not asking for advice, and definitely not asking for permission, but she does want to know if Trina has a problem with her dating Curtis. Trina can be honest with her. Trina says, all she wants is for Portia to be happy. Portia says, but…? and Trina says, how long have Portia and Curtis… She saw the signs, and thought something was there. Was she right? Portia says, yes, they had feelings for each other, but it wasn’t until last night that they owned up to those feelings, and decided to see where it’s going to go. Trina asks if Portia has any idea where it might be going, but Portia says, not yet. She’ll keep Trina posted. She wanted to tell Trina first before she hears it from anyone else. Trina says she’s glad Portia told her… Portia asks, what is it? and Trina says, does Jordan know? She thought they were friends.

Jordan tells Stella that she walked into The Savoy just in time to see Curtis and Portia in a close moment. Stella asks, how close? and Jordan says, close enough that their lips were touching. Stella asks what she did, and Jordan says, she left. Stella says, she walked out? and Jordan asks what she was supposed to do, pull out a sidearm, and yell, freeze? Stella says she understands that Jordan is hurt and angry. Portia and Curtis share a past, and that can be a powerful draw. On second thought, maybe Jordan did the right thing. This way, she can have a talk with Curtis, or Portia. She heads for the door, and says, or maybe she’ll sit them both down, but Jordan says, please just let this go. Their marriage didn’t work. Curtis has moved on. Now she needs to move on too.

Curtis says he could never replace Shawn or Tommy, but he did the best he could to be a father figure to TJ for as long as he could. Until things between him and Jordan… Shawn says he’s sorry to hear they’re splitting up, but just because the marriage is ending, that doesn’t diminish the family he’s created. If he wants proof, look no further than TJ and Molly. He wouldn’t be there now if Molly hadn’t called out Judge Carson for being hard on defendants of color. Those kids are a hard act to follow. Curtis says, sometimes he thinks TJ is the man he’s always wanted to be, and Shawn says, all they can do is try. In the meantime, besides running the hottest club in town, what else is new in Curtis’s life? Curtis says the nightclub keeps him busy most nights. In the afternoons he comes there to recharge. Shawn says, there are definitely worse places, and Curtis says, tell him if he’s out of line, but after Shawn tracks down the person responsible for Hayden’s shooting, what happens next? Shawn says he’s keeping his options open. Why? Curtis says, because The Savoy is his baby, and he working to assemble a team he can trust. He could certainly use a man with Shawn’s skills.

Scotty says, if Elizabeth’s friend killed who he thinks they did, they should be given the keys to the city. But it’s not about what’s right; it’s about the law. She asks if those two things shouldn’t be the same, and he says, theoretically, but the longer she stays quiet, and says nothing, she’s committing a crime. She needs to tell him what’s going on so he can help her. She says she would if she could, but there are other lives involved. Other people might suffer if she came forward. He says, so this friend, he really means a lot to her.

Finn says he owes Anna an apology, and she says, for what? He says, for being so hard on her about keeping things from him. He never imagined he’d be living in a glass house, throwing stones. She says, it’s not the same thing, and he says, don’t let him off the hook. She says, she only wishes she could. She needs to ask him a question. He confronted Peter on the roof. He pushed Peter, and Peter fell down the stairs and he hit his head. And then what? He transported Peter there? He says, yeah, and she says, how? He couldn’t have done it alone.

Josslyn tells Carly, she and Cameron just started seeing each other. She didn’t want to say anything until she knew there was something worth saying something about. Carly says, okay. It’s weird. And great. She’s happy for Josslyn, as long as she’s happy. Does her dad know? Josslyn says, no, and please let her tell him. Carly says Josslyn knows she can come to her about anything, and Josslyn says she knows. She wants Carly to know that it came as a surprise to her and Cameron too. Trina told them that they were the last people to know. Carly says, it does happen sometimes, and Josslyn asks if that’s what happened with Carly and Jason.   

Portia tells Trina that she doesn’t want to hurt Jordan. She hopes they find a way to remain friends through this. But before she speaks to Jordan – and she most certainly will – it was important she speak to Trina first. Trina says she’s glad Portia told her. She was expecting to grab her tablet, and be on her way, but this was kind of nice. Portia says, she’ll take kind of nice. Trina hopes it works out, that everything Portia wants to happen, happens. She texted Josslyn to meet her, so… Portia tells her, have fun. She’s glad they were able to have this talk. Trina will be living on campus soon, and it’s important they keep this line of communication open, right? Trina says, right, and leaves. Portia says, that went better than I thought it would. Outside, Trina looks sad.

Shawn asks what kind of skills Curtis is looking for. Does Curtis want him to be a bouncer for the velvet rope? Curtis says, nothing like that, although he’s sure Shawn would be good at that too. He’s looking for someone to help him run the place, and he heard Shawn has managerial experience. Shawn says he ran Kelly’s diner, not a nightclub, and Curtis says, obviously there are differences, but what Shawn doesn’t know he can learn on the job. Shawn says he appreciates the offer… and Curtis says he knows what Shawn is going to say. This isn’t a handout. Shawn would actually be helping him, because he needs someone he can trust. Shawn wants to say yes, and Curtis tells him, say it. Shawn says if Curtis is looking at this like long term, he can’t give Curtis that. His plans are to find out who shot Hayden. After that’s done, he needs to figure out what work he wants to do; what kind of life he wants to lead. All he knows is, he wants to be his own boss. Curtis says he gets it. He owned his own P.I. firm, and now the nightclub. He’s been his own boss, and sees why Shawn would want the same, but what Shawn is talking about are future plans, correct? Shawn says, there are no actual plans yet, and Curtis says, until Shawn puts those plans in place, he could sure use him at The Savoy. Shawn says, just a couple of friends helping each other out, and Curtis says, that’s what friends are for. Shawn says, then he accepts, and Curtis says, welcome to the team. They bro shake, Shawn asks when he starts. Curtis says, whenever he’s ready, and Shawn says, he wasn’t expecting to get out for a long time, and all of a sudden, here he is. Curtis says, and he’s there for Shawn when he’s ready.

Elizabeth tells Scotty, her friend needs help; she’s not turning on him. Scotty says he admires her loyalty, but his advice to her is to stay quiet. Don’t talk to anybody, because justifiable homicide doesn’t apply to this particular crime. So if the police come knocking on her door, dummy up and call him. Understood? She says, understood, and they hug. Jason looks through the window.

Finn tells Anna, Peter was on the roof when he confronted him. What happened after that is on him, and no one else. Anna says she hears what he’s saying, but if her instincts led her to him, the PCPD won’t be far behind. The more she knows, the more she can help him. He says he told her everything. She says, if he had help, it’s understandable that he’d want to protect them, but he insists there was no one else. There’s nothing left say. Once she opens this freezer, she’ll see what he did.

Carly says it was a little different for her and Jason, and Josslyn says she knows they’ve been friends forever. Carly says, more than half their lives, and Josslyn says, if they’re talking percentages, she and Cameron have been friends all of their lives. If it took Carly and Jason that long to figure it out, it’s kind of the same. Carly says, they could all wear matching outfits and stuff, and Josslyn says, no, but thanks for the offer. They laugh, and Shawn says he’s glad they’re getting along. Carly says, never have, never will, and hugs him. Josslyn says she’s got to run, but not before she does this, and hugs him. She says, please don’t tell her that she’s all grown up now, and he says, even if she is? She says, it has been a while. He’s going to make her cry at the pool (🍷). She jets, and he tells Carly, she’s all grown up, and Carly says he doesn’t know the half of it. They sit, and she says she wants to share all that with him, but first she wants to talk to him and his future, and she’s hoping it has something to do with her and her family.

Trina has come in, and Josslyn sits with her at a table, and asks, what’s going on? Trina says she’s not going to believe this, and Spencer strides in, saying, believe what? He’s already enthralled. Trina says, on second thought, maybe meeting there was a bad idea. Josslyn says, no argument here.

Portia opens the squeaky door to Curtis, and he looks at it and says, what the hell is that? She says, a souvenir from when he kicked the door in. He says, sorry about that, and she says, don’t be sorry. He saved their lives.

Jordan signs the divorce papers, and puts them in an envelope. She seals it, and puts it in her outbox, and says, signed, sealed, and on its way to be delivered to the courthouse. Stella says, feel better now? and Jordan says, actually, yes. Curtis is free, she’s free now, and now there’s no more looking back, asking herself what might have been. Stella says she thought her nephew meant more to Jordan, and Jordan says she loves Curtis. At one point, he loved her too, but their marriage didn’t work. Once the papers are filed, the rest of her life can finally begin. She cries a little.

Scotty and Elizabeth walk out, and Jason says he needs to talk to her. Scotty says, hang on. Is this her friend? He’s got his own lawyer. She says, it’s not Jason, and he says, good. She says she still needs to talk to him, and Scotty tells Jason if anything happens to Elizabeth… Jason says he knows. He’ll have to answer to Scotty. Elizabeth thanks Scotty for meeting her, and says she’ll call him. Scotty leaves, and Elizabeth urges Jason into the examining room. She asks if he got her message. She thinks Anna knows about Peter. Please tell her that he got to his body before she did.

Anna tells Finn, she was worried that someday she’d have to identify Peter’s body. That is, if she didn’t end his life herself. Those were really the only two ways it could have played out. Finn says he saved her the trouble, and she says, as much as Peter hated Faison, he turned out the same way. The choices Peter made led him here. She puts her hand on the freezer handle.

Shawn tells Carly that he had a conversation with Curtis, and he’s going to help out at The Savoy. She says she’s happy for Curtis, but sad for Jason and her. They could use his expertise. He says he has no doubt she can handle whatever comes up, especially since she and Jason are – he lifts up her hand – in it together? She says, they are, and they’re very happy. While she’s sure he’s going to make The Savoy even more successful, she wants him to know he’ll always have a place with them. He says he’ll remember that.  

Josslyn tells Trina that she promised her mom that she’d stop pushing Spence into the pool (🍷) because it’s dangerous, but she can make an exception. What did he do to Trina? Spencer says, he tried to prevent her from making a fool of herself for attempting to Parent Trap Ava and his father. Josslyn says, Parent Trapping; how? Trina says she told the server to bring them each a drink and tell them it was from each other. Josslyn says, that’s a great idea, and Trina says, it would have worked if Mr. I’m-Not-A-Fan-Of-My-Stepmother hadn’t outed her, and ruined it. Spencer says he’s done trying to help people. Au revoir. Josslyn says, ciao, loser. Trina asks how Spencer tried to help Josslyn, or is she reading that wrong? Josslyn says he helped her all right. He told her mom about her and Cameron literally seconds before she was going to. Trina asks how Carly took it, and Josslyn says, it was fine, but awkward. Trina says she feels Josslyn, Know what’s even more awkward? When your mom opens up to you. 

Curtis says, and Trina was okay with it, and Portia said, she seemed to be. He says, and she told Trina it was him, and not some other Curtis? and she says, Trina knew the Curtis she was speaking of. He says, when she told Trina that they were going to start seeing each other, she knew what Portia meant? Portia says she was very clear, which was kind of new. Not just because she hasn’t dated much after she and Taggert split, but because Trina is her little girl. But she’s not anymore; she’s a grown woman. Instead of Trina confiding in her, it was kind of like they were confiding in each other. Curtis asks how that made her feel, and she says, good. Like she and her daughter are becoming friends. And she could use one of those right about now. He says he assumes she’s thinking of Jordan, and she says, isn’t he? He says, yeah. He was thinking he’d better tell her about them before she finds out some other way.

An officer tells Jordan that she’s wanted in interrogation, and she thanks him. Jordan thanks Stella for her concern, but she does have to ask her… Stella says she knows. Mind her own business. She will, and please don’t worry about her. She’ll show herself out. Jordan leaves, and Stella says, one thing Jordan should know by now. Her family is her business. She looks up, and says, Lord, forgive me. It’s for a good cause. She takes the envelope with the divorce papers in it, and puts it in her bag.

Finn says he knew this moment would come; the end of the road, getting caught. Now that it’s here, he’s almost relieved. He’s glad it was her. She says, let’s not put it off longer, and they open the freezer. It’s empty, and they look at each other.  

Jason says he did get Elizabeth’s message. He and Anna didn’t cross paths, and Spinelli was able to get into the security cameras, so he got in unseen… Elizabeth says, just tell her what he did with Peter’s body, but he says, nothing. When he opened the freezer, Peter’s body wasn’t there.  

Tomorrow, Jordan asks if Dante knows what Anna is doing, Anna asks if Finn is absolutely certain Peter was dead, and Laura asks if Carly is having second thoughts.  

The Haves and The Have Nots Reunion – Part 1

There’s never much to say about any reunion, and even less when it’s the cast of a weekly show. That’s not to diminish how great it was to see the cast of The Haves and The Have Nots together as themselves. Kind of like a mini HAHN convention. All of the main characters – Candace (Tika Sumpter), Hanna (Crystal R. Fox), Benny (Tyler Lepley), Kathryn (Reneé Lawless), Wyatt (Aaron O’Connell), David (Peter Parros), Jeffrey (Gavin Houston), and Veronica (Angela Robinson) – were on stage. The only one missing was Jim (John Schneider), but it wasn’t explained why. There was a live audience, and plenty of flashbacks. Each character had their own montage, and the cast answered questions from host Egypt Sharrod. Questions were also taken from the audience, and a ultimate fan Yolanda, who’d been throwing viewing parties, got a video chat with Benny/Tyler, and an all-expense paid invite for her and a friend to come to the final cast party. Some takeaway points were that this had been Tyler Lepley’s first acting gig (he celebrated with Hennessy); Reneé Lawless had been raised in the South, and knows how to bury a body and keep it hidden; and – drumroll – Tika Sumpter had become engaged to Nick James who’d played Officer Justin Lewis. The best part was the obvious love the cast had for each other, and for the fans. Catch it if you can.

The Real Housewives of New York City

Ramona visited LuAnn, who had a birthday cupcake with a candle in it for her. In Ramona’s interview, she said everyone knew she loved to celebrate her birthday, and celebrated for literally a month. But because of covid, she wanted to downplay it. Ramona thanked LuAnn for hosting the party, and LuAnn said she was glad Ramona had given up control, and let her do it, even though Ramona liked to have a 50 girlfriend party. In her interview, LuAnn said Ramona was always hosting her own party. She was switching it up this time, and including Sonja. She was doing a joint party, and a party was more fun when another friend hosted it. She told Ramona that it was going to be small and intimate, and there would be a nice surprise. Ramona said she was looking forward to it.

Eboni and Sonja went see Martin, and in Sonja’s interview, she said Martin could be tough, but there was no growth unless someone got in your face. Ramona told LuAnn that the séance brought up stuff about her brother. She’d never mourned him. She was afraid Sonja was going to have an accident, since her brother had crashed his car. They’d thought he was on something, and probably a drinker too. She thought Sonja went too far with her drinking, and Ramona felt helpless like she did with her brother. LuAnn said she told Sonja that someone could have called the police when she smashed the glass to the fire extinguisher. LuAnn had been there, and it scared the sh*t out of her. We flashed back to LuAnn’s arrest, and she says, it just takes one night. Ramona said Sonja was obviously not addressing something in her life. She wished Sonja would go to a professional to deal with the pain that was deep down. At the ring, Eboni asked Sonja about her parents, and Sonja said they’d loved each other, but when they broke up, her mother invited Sonja to live with her. Her dad was a player. Martin told Sonja, what her father thought about her had nothing to do with her. She needed that experience to get ready for what she was experiencing now. In Sonja’s interview, she said her father loved her, but she was blown away that he’d matured enough on the other side to see that. She was grateful that he showed up at the séance. In Eboni’s interview, she said Sonja had taken Martin’s words to heart, and wasn’t letting anyone walk on her. She could be more balanced, but Eboni wasn’t going to nitpick. Sonja told Eboni that her daddy broke her heart, and she was working to find answers to her story. Eboni said she’d been talking Ashley, the woman who thought she was Eboni’s sister. They were getting a blood test, and getting the results together on FaceTime. In her interview, Eboni said she wasn’t scared anymore. She had nothing to lose, and everything to gain. LuAnn pointed out to Ramona that she’d gotten a piano, and said she and musical director Billy had been working on a Christmas song. She was donating the proceeds to Fortune Society, and asked everyone if they’d sing a line. They were going to have the birthday party, then do the video.  

Eboni FaceTimed with Ashley, and in her interview, she said it had been a long time coming. Since she was six, there had been rumors and suspicions, and she couldn’t wait to have some fact based evidence. She told Ashley, the little bit of family she had was dwindling, and she wanted to make the effort to see if she had additional family out there. Ashley said when she found out their father had passed away, she felt the hurt of the absence of a relationship with him because it didn’t hurt. In Eboni’s interview, she said she didn’t have a relationship with Kenneth, but there had been a handful of visits with her mother. She told Ashley that he was supposed to help her move when she went to Loyola, but he did one load, and disappeared. She felt it was better to have no relationship than feel abandoned. She thinks it cursed her in her relationships with men. She ended it before they could. Ashley said she was preaching to the choir. Eboni said she wanted to meet Ashley regardless of their status. She respected and admired Ashley, and wanted a relationship with her. Ashley had given her something special – her father. LuAnn met with the restaurant manager to plan the party, and Leah joined her there. LuAnn said there were going to be dancers, and Leah reassured the manager that they’d keep it classy. LuAnn said, famous last words, and Leah said she had a cake idea, and wanted to be in charge of that. LuAnn said they had all the needed to have fun, and Leah asked if they needed to sign a contract for the Christmas song. LuAnn said she’d just laid the tracks, and hadn’t thought about that part yet. In Leah’s interview, she said she was happy to donate her time and voice for the Fortune Society, but she wanted to make sure all her bases were covered legally. She asked what Garth thought about an article saying he was LuAnn’s new boyfriend, and LuAnn said they were laying low and taking a break. In her interview, LuAnn said she and Garth weren’t hot and heavy. They were having a good time, and liked each other’s company, but they’d sizzled then fizzled.

In LuAnn’s interview, she said she was lucky to be working with Bruce, who’d worked with Barbara Streisand and Donna Summer, and Billy, who’d worked with Liza Minelli for years. Ramona showed up first, and in her interview, she said she didn’t have a great voice. It had been until she was twelve, when her voice changed, and she hadn’t kept up with singing. This was for a good cause, so she’d figure out how to make it work. She sang, and I thought, good luck with that. In Ramona’s interview, she thought she did fine. She wasn’t the best singer, but had good energy. When she left, LuAnn asked Billy if he was exhausted, but Billy said Ramona was good natured. LuAnn said she wasn’t expecting Adele. Sonja was next, and in her interview, she said she loved working with Billy. He was iconic, nice, and made you sound good. Eboni came in while Sonja was singing, and in Eboni’s interview, she said she was not a singer, but LuAnn asked for this sh*t, so she was going to get it. She hoped LuAnn wasn’t looking for Whitney. This was not it. Billy asked for the next victim. In Leah’s interview, she said she was happy to do the song, but feeling ambivalent because she wanted a contract. She told LuAnn that she’d spoken to her attorney, who told her to ask, who owns the song? How would it be distributed, and, if they used samples, was she liable for anything? Bruce said only the three of them were publishing it, and it was totally original. In LuAnn’s interview, she said, talk about timing. She and Leah talked about this already, and now is definitely not the time to talk about it when the producer is there. LuAnn told Leah that everything they were making was going to the Fortune Society. Leah said, forever? and LuAnn said if Leah wasn’t comfortable, there were plenty of girls who would want to do it. Leah asked why LuAnn was being defensive, and LuAnn asked why Leah was. Leah said LuAnn attacking her was making her uncomfortable. Billy told her to look at it as a donation, and Leah said that was all she wanted to know. In her interview, Leah said she loved LuAnn and loved Christmas songs – even though she was converting – and it was nothing personal. In LuAnn’s interview, she said she’d had the Christmas spirit going, and it was like she’d been having a party, and Leah came in and shut the music off. Leah did some unnecessary warm-up exercises, and sang pretty well.

In LuAnn’s interview, she said her friend Hank was like one of the girls, and had done their pageant in the Hamptons. He was helping with the party. In Bershan’s interview, she said it was round two, her second chance. It was their night, so she was going to chill. In Sonja’s interview, she said she was glad LuAnn’s concept was just them. Ramona realized she didn’t need 75 friends to celebrate with; they had each other. Sonja talked about the pageant to Hank, and said it had been a fun vibe, but she wasn’t drinking tonight, since they’d been wagging their fingers at her. In her interview, Sonja said when Bershan wasn’t saying stupid things and didn’t piss her off, she liked Bershan. She was probably great when she was sleeping. She had a boyfriend for six years that way. Billy said Sonja was afraid to drink, and Ramona said, wait an hour or two. The others arrive, and appetizers are served. In Leah’s interview, she said she was forgiven after almost setting Ramona’s backyard on fire, a week after meeting everyone. She supposed she had to extend  the same grace to Bershan. Nude model Kurt joined them, and Eboni wondered if he was going to be nude tonight. In Eboni’s interview, she said she almost forgot she saw his d*ck. It was nice. Clothed model Dylan also joined the party, and Sonja asked how Ramona knew him. Ramona said she met him through people, and in Sonja’s interview, she laughed, and said Ramona obviously didn’t want know how they met. Dylan gave Ramona flowers, and Hank introduced his friend Will. In her interview, Leah wondered if they couldn’t find new men. The last time she met William, it didn’t go well. I thought, oh, he’s that William, and Leah apologized, saying she was projecting her anger at past boyfriends onto William, and she shouldn’t do that. In her interview, Sonja says, that leaves Dylan up for grabs. Hank said he and LuAnn had a treat for them.   

Two dudes in only jeans danced around, and in Bershan’s interview, she said, turning it up, strippers, music, dancing, and having fun. That’s what she thought they should be doing. In Ramona’s interview, she said she didn’t want a lap dance. She didn’t want anybody’s body close to hers. Wasn’t admiring from afar good enough? Leah reversed it, and gave one of the guys a lap dance. LuAnn gave a toast, saying she was so glad they were there together to celebrate. She’d known both Ramona and Sonja for almost 20 years, and loved them so much. Happy birthday. Now they could all drink. Sonja said, could they, or would there be things said afterward? LuAnn told Sonja to do Sonja, and in Sonja’s interview, she said it was no fun unless they did it together. Eboni and Leah literally discussed body parts on the terrace with Kurt, got confused as to the names of things, and Leah ended up googling it. In Eboni’s interview, she said Kurt seemed like the kind of man who’s studied the Kama Sutra, and had made it his business to know how to please a woman. This is why she respected him. She told the other women that she was hosting a Black Shabbat at a Jewish friend’s house. Ramona wondered why it wasn’t just a Shabbat, and Eboni said she was inviting Black friends, except for them. Ramona asked why she just didn’t say she was having people over, and Eboni said it was because they shared a culture. Ramona said, how about saying she’s having a party; want to come? In Ramona’s interview, she says she hoped it would be a fun night. Sometimes Eboni made it serious and lecture-like. Eboni said, because of covid, she was limited to the amount of people. She’d invited Black people she went to Israel with, and who had experienced the Jewish people and community with her. This was enough to make Bershan want to head for the hills, and in her interview, she said she didn’t need go to go to school for five hours. She could miss this party. Leah talked to the other women about LuAnn’s song, wondering how long LuAnn would be donating money from it. Ramona said she trusted LuAnn, and Leah said she just thought they should have gotten a release before they recorded. LuAnn caught wind of what was being discussed, and joined the group. She said Leah had come in talking about lawyers, and basically said she didn’t trust her. She was disappointed. Leah said she was just protecting herself, and Ramona applauded, saying, God bless LuAnn. She asked why Leah wanted to fight, and Leah said everyone was angry last year, when Dorinda and Sonja were on LuAnn about using Sonja and not paying her. We flashed back to that, and LuAnn told Leah not to overstep her boundaries. Leah said she would step wherever TF she wanted to. Her lawyer said if she did the song, they should have a release. LuAnn told her, lawyer up. She wouldn’t find anything.

LuAnn said she would cut off her right arm for Leah, and Eboni said Leah just wanted to ask questions. It wasn’t about LuAnn’s integrity. In Eboni’s interview, she said it wasn’t her norm, but she just figured they’d get to the paperwork later. Although if it hadn’t been for charity, it would have been the first thing she did. Leah said she hoped if LuAnn made millions later (as if), she’d give them something, and in her interview, she said, all she wanted to know was how the money was going to be donated, and for how long. In LuAnn’s interview, she said she was upset that Leah didn’t get it. Leah was talking to LuAnn’s girlfriends about legal issues that hadn’t come up, at a party she was hosting. They sang Happy Birthday, and the cakes came out – a vagina and a penis, with two candles on each of them. No surprise, since Leah took on that task. Leah told LuAnn that it wasn’t about her integrity or trusting her, but about protecting their friendship. LuAnn said she just hadn’t gotten to it yet, and Leah said she’d cut off her right arm for LuAnn too. LuAnn said Leah had nothing to worry about. In her interview, LuAnn said Leah not trusting her was upsetting. She hoped they could move on, and get to that bridge when they got to it. Ramona left, no doubt for a date, and in Sonja’s interview, she said none of them was perfect, but when she gelled with her girls, she was reminded of why she was friends with them. Ramona told William that she’d text him her address.

Next time, Leah talks about her rabbi, Eboni finds out about Ashley, Ramona argues for Sonja’s family money, the Christmas song video is made, and Dylan calls, saying Sonja is passed out in his hotel room.  

🍵 Tea You Tomorrow…

Just soap on Wednesday, since RHOBH is taking a break this week, and the finale of Family Karma and RHOP is airing. Until then, stay safe, stay taking it a step at a time, and stay keeping your hands off other people’s paperwork, even if you think it’s for a good cause.

Jul22

July 21, 2021 – Opening Night At The Savoy, NYC Séance In Salem, Erika Opens Up In La Quinta & Stompin’

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Ava walks in the park, a bodyguard trailing behind her. She sees Trina, and tells him, she appreciates the protection, but could he be less obtrusive? Like maybe ten feet back? He says, yes, Mrs. Cassadine, but she says, Jerome; Miss Jerome. She calls to Trina, who runs over and hugs her. She thanks Ava for meeting her, and Ava says, her pleasure. She asks what’s going on in Trina’s life. How’s the new guy? Any developments?

Britt goes to the now ever-present pool, and Spencer says he saved a chair for her. She says, that line doesn’t work when she could sit anywhere, and he says she knows she wants to sit next to him. She realizes it’s Spencer, and they hug.

Shawn finishes his meal at the MetroCourt, and tells Jordan, his first dinner as a free man. His complements to the chef, and the lady who made it happen. She says, she and the chef thank him. Watching him eat that meal was truly a sight to behold, and he asks if he stopped to breathe. He’s glad she convinced TJ and Molly to continue with their romantic evening, instead of hanging out with them. She says, it took some doing, and asks if he saw the smile on TJ’s face when he walked in. He says TJ will get sick of him soon enough, since he’ll be staying with them at Alexis’s house. She says they both keep pretty busy schedules. She doubts he’ll see them much. He says, still, he wants to get his own place, find a job, and get on with what he needs to do. She says, that being? and he says she knows what he’s talking about. He wants to find out who really shot Hayden. Nikolas watches from the bar.

Portia meets Terry by the hospital reception area, and Terry says, finally. Portia says she’s sorry. It’s just all this paperwork… Terry says, it never ends, does it? She just has to change, but she’s excited Portia is coming out for a drink tonight. Portia says she is too. She’s looking forward to a relaxing, uncomplicated evening. She asks where Terry wants to go; the Port Charles Grill or the MetroCourt… Terry says, oh no. The only place to be is opening night at The Savoy.

Curtis asks bartender Nika how they’re doing, and she says, the Savoy signature cocktail is a big hit. He says, hiring a mixologist was one of his better moves, and Brando comes in. He walks over to Curtis, and says it’s nice to finally meet him. He’s heard a lot of good things about Curtis. They shake hands, and Curtis thanks him, telling him to enjoy his time at The Savoy. Brando congratulates him, saying, this place is great. Curtis says he’ll leave Brando in the capable hands of his bartender Nika, and Nika asks if Brando would like their signature Savoy, but he says he’ll have a beer. He asks her to start a tab; it’s going to be a long night. At the bar, Spinelli says he seconds that, and asks the barkeep for another drink. He asks if Brando is also there to drown his sorrows, and Brando says, something like that. Spinelli says, allow him to speculate. An affair of the heart.

At the hospital, Sasha looks over some pregnancy pamphlets, and literally runs into Michael while she’s reading, dropping the pamphlets everywhere. He apologizes, and picks them up for her, asking if she’s there for a doctor’s appointment. She says, close. Pregnancy nutrition class. It starts a little person off right. Is he there for a board meeting? He says, close. He’s visiting his grandmother. It looks like she has things figured out since their last conversation, She says she’s trying. She’s going to give her baby everything he or she needs. He says she doesn’t have to do it on her own; he’s sure Brando would want to be there. She says she’s sure he would. She’s just not so sure she wants him to be.

The physical therapist is working on Chase, when Willow walks in. Chase asks if she’s done with class, and she says she is. What about him? Is he almost ready to go? He says almost, and the therapist says Chase did good work today. He looks at the parallel bars, and says, soon Chase will be over there. Chase says, why wait? and suggests they start now.

Jordan says she knows how important clearing Shawn’s name is to him, but she’s concerned how he’s going to do it. He says, carefully. He knows he has things to atone for, but attempting to kill Hayden isn’t one of them. In taking responsibility for what he didn’t do, he covered up for a would-be murderer who really wanted Hayden dead, and damn near succeeded. That person should be brought to justice. Jordan says she knows, but because he confessed and pled guilty, the DA suspended the investigation. Five years is a long time for a case to go cold. There’s a chance the perp… Nikolas apologizes for interrupting, but he needs to know if the PCPD is making any progress with Ava’s stalker. Stella watches from a distance.

Portia tells Terry that she’s been looking forward to the MetroCourt zucchini sticks all day, and Terry says she likes them too. She suggests they go there for dinner afterward; The Savoy is drinks only. Portia says they can get drinks and dinner at the MetroCourt, one-stop-shopping, but Terry says she wants to be where the action is. Portia says, that’s just it. The Savoy is going to be all crowded and noisy. Terry asks, who doesn’t love crowded and noisy? and Portia suggests they go another night, after all the hype has calmed down. Terry says, okay, spill. What’s the real reason Portia doesn’t want to go?

Britt asks when Spencer got back. Is this why he ghosted her months ago? He was planning a surprise? He says he didn’t ghost her. He was busy with graduation, and then took some time to tour Europe. She says, listen to him, sounding all continental. Let’s sit. She wants to hear about all the crazy things he did to celebrate graduation.

Ava says, don’t tell her this Victor turned out to be some kind of creep, and Trina says, undecided. Ava asks what he did, and Trina says, he’s charming and fun, but he’s also totally unreliable. Plus there’s some weirdness between him and his family, and she’s not sure what to do about it.

The therapist helps Chase up, and Chase stands between the bars. The therapist says he’s going to let go and see if Chase can stand on his own. He steps back a little, but Chase’s legs buckle, and he falls back into his chair.

Britt asks if Spencer is staying with his father at Windymere, or does Nikolas think he’s still wandering around Europe? Spencer says he already surprised his father at Windymere, and she says, so things are better between them? He says, define better, and she says he had every reason to be angry at Nikolas. He says, but he should be over it by now? She says, Nikolas let Spencer believe he was dead for three years. Spencer thought he was an orphan. Those aren’t things anyone should just get over, and if he said he did, she’d be worried about him. He says, then she doesn’t have to worry, and she says, getting over anger is a process. It is possible to come out the other side if you keep moving forward. He asks if she speaks from experience, and she says, yes. She’s not always successful at getting past her anger, but she understands that it’s necessary, and it’s a goal she’s working toward. He says, she thinks he should do the same? and she says, she thinks if he doesn’t rebuild the relationship with his father, it will hurt Nikolas, but it will also hurt him. He says, he’s here, isn’t he? Supporting father in his time of need. She asks if he’s referring to Nikolas’s divorce from Ava. Nikolas has definitely been on edge, making wild accusations. Did he tell Spencer about the stalker?

Nikolas says, it’s been going on for months now. The threats have been escalating. Ava’s gallery was trashed, and the stalker was able to leave a toy in Avery’s room. It’s unacceptable that… Stella walks over and says, Shawn Butler. Jordan says, whatever Stella has to say… but Shawn stops her. He gets up, and says, Miss Stella. She’s Thomas’s aunt. He can’t tell her how sorry… She holds up her hand and says, she’s not interested in his contrition. But she does have a few things to say to the man who killed her nephew.

Brando tells Nika to put Spinelli’s drink on his tab. It’s the least he can do after Spinelli helped rescue his mom from Cyrus. They sit at a table, and Spinelli says it was his honor. He’s glad someone appreciated his efforts. Brando says, Spinelli was taken hostage, and Cyrus was going to trade him for Brando’s mother. He’s glad they all got out okay. Spinelli says, mutual safety is cause for relief, but unfortunately, his heart became collateral damage. His partner Ellie became increasingly alarmed at his association with danger and violence. She wanted him to get out, and when he balked, she walked. Brando says, she left him? and he says, she realized that if she wanted to make a change for a better life, and maybe a future with someone else, that she had to start now, and she did. She’s gone. Brando says he’s sorry. Were they together long? Spinelli says, years. They were raising his daughter together, mostly in Oregon. They were a happy family unit. When they relocated to Queens Point, he became more involved with his friends and their business. At one point, Ellie asked if he could be a friend and not participate in the business, but it’s just not possible. His area of expertise is invaluable to his friends, and he savors the challenge. He likes doing what he does, and knowing he’s good at it. This last time cost him a relationship that he greatly treasured. Brando ponders this heavily.

Michael asks if something happened between Sasha and Brando, and she says, Brando is a great guy. She likes him on almost every level. He says, almost, and she says she thinks they want different things for their lives. He says he’s not sure he understands totally, but sometimes guys need to take a beat and process what parenthood might mean to their lives. Is he getting it? She says, that’s not exactly it. Brando definitely wants to be involved. She’s the one who’s not sure how that’s going to look. He says, noted. He’s just going to take his two cents and be on his way. She says he doesn’t have to leave. All she’s saying is, she’s ready to do it alone if she has to be a single mom. He says, at the risk of wading back into deep water – he takes her hand, and they sit – being a parent isn’t always a picnic, let alone being a single parent. He has all the confidence she’ll manage, but wants her to go into it with her eyes wide open. He’s available for any new parent freak-outs she might have. He’s pretty sure he invented some of them, so he’s at her service. He also wants her to know that he still considers her a good friend. She thanks him, and says, the same goes for her. She’s just as invested in his happiness as he is in hers. That includes talking about someone he can’t talk to anyone else about – Willow. If he ever needs a sympathetic shoulder with no judgement, , she’s there for him.

Chase takes a bottle of water from Willow, and says he wants something more effective than hydration and stretches. She says, the fact that he’s there at all and working on recovery is a blessing, right? It’s just going to take some time. He says this isn’t what she signed up for, but she says she seems to remember a clause about in sickness or in health. He says he doesn’t think that applies when he can’t even be her husband, and she says he knows that’s not true. He says she knows what he means; they can’t even share the same bed. He doesn’t want to wake her up when his legs are cramping. He knows she needs her rest because she has school, she’s got Wiley… She says she doesn’t care about sleeping in separate beds, and he says, but he does. This – he bangs the chair – is not who he is. He’s sick of their relationship revolving around his health and wants to be her husband, not her patient. He wants her love not her pity. She says she does love him, and he says, then let him do what he needs to do.

Willow says she understands Chase’s frustration, but he asks how she can. All he wants is to live a normal life with the person he loves, and that seems impossible right now. He’s sorry. He shouldn’t be railing at her. That’s exactly what he didn’t want to happen. He doesn’t want to take his frustrations out on his wife. The therapist comes back, and asks if Chase is ready for some stretching. Chase says, yeah, and tells Willow that he’ll call her when he’s done.

Portia tells Terry, so they decided to get a divorce. She has no idea if it’s gone through or anything, but it’s too soon to be getting involved with anyone. Terry tells her, says who? and Portia says, everyone. Conventional wisdom, common sense… Terry asks, since when does Portia want to live her life by conventional rules? and Portia says, nobody wants to be on the other end of a rebound relationship. Terry says, better nip it in the bud, especially when there’s chemistry. Portia says, when things were good between them, they were really good, and yes, that chemistry is still between them, and Terry says, sounds dreadful. Portia says she’s still attracted to the man; if anything, even more so. Curtis, back in the day, it was clear he was just piecing his life back together, but Curtis now is grounded and stable. Terry says, and still sexy, and Portia says she definitely thinks so. And he’s still interested. He told her where she can find him tonight. Terry asks, what happens if she doesn’t go? and Portia says she doesn’t know. Her fear is that she’ll lose him as a friend. Terry says Portia makes it sound like she’s going to lose him no matter what. Stop her if she’s being intrusive, but she thinks Portia wants a chance with the man. What’s holding her back?

Shawn asks if Stella would like to talk privately, and she supposes that would be best. He tells Jordan that he’ll be back, and they step away. Nikolas says, that was tense, and Jordan says, and none of their business. He sits, and says, the investigation into his stalker is definitely his business. Did the footprint found at the scene lead to anything? She says, they’re making progress, and he asks if she can be more specific; he needs details. She says, why, so he can set another trap? Take matters into his own hands? She says, that’s all he’s getting, and he says he has a right to know. She says he doesn’t have the right to interfere with an ongoing police investigation. Stay out of it. Leave it to the police. End of discussion.

Spencer tells Britt that he’s heard all about Ava’s trials and tribulations. He just wishes he could have been there to see Ava’s face when she found that roach. Britt says he should have seen her face when Nikolas accused her of being the stalker, and he says she has to admit, some of the stunts are clever enough to be hers. She says, they’re not stunts. They’re malicious acts designed to cause fear, and they worked. Ava is terrified. He says, well, it’s over. Now that Ava and his father are divorcing, the gifts have stopped. She says, they’re not really gifts, and he says she knows what he means. She’s always understood him. She says, likewise, and they fist bump. She says it’s good to see him. Can he hang for a bit? He says he’s been there all day, and she says she wants a drink. Does he want one? She gets up, and he says, a gin and tonic, and she says, one ice tea coming up. He says, in Europe, the drinking age is 18, but she says, this ain’t Europe. His phone rings, and Nikolas says he’s at the MetroCourt, and can give Spencer a ride home if he wants. Is he still at the pool? Spencer says he still has to change, and suggests Nikolas have a drink at the pool while he waits.

Sasha goes into the PT room, and says she heard Chase was there; how’s it going? He says, it’s going, and she says, physical therapy takes time. He says, that’s what they tell him, and she says her experience is with a different type of rehab, but if he ever wants to talk… He says, thanks, but he’s all talked out. If anything, he wishes Willow would talk more. She says, about what? and he says, something is going on with her. He wishes she would say more than the obligatory, keep it up, and, don’t lose hope. Sasha is sure Willow means every word, but Chase is sure there’s something she’s not telling him. Has she said anything to Sasha?

Willow stands outside with some coffee, when Michael comes along. He asks, what’s wrong? but she says, it’s nothing. He says, it’s definitely not nothing, and she says, Chase is in physical therapy. He’s working hard, but he’s frustrated with his progress, and he’s lashing out. He says, at her?

Stella tells Shawn, Thomas was her nephew. She lived with her sister the whole time Thomas and Curtis were growing up. They were very close. He says Thomas always spoke highly of Stella, and she says she doesn’t need him to tell her about Thomas. She knew him down to the soles of his feet. He says, with all due respect, what does she need from him? If she needs to unload, go ahead. He’ll stand right there and take her verbal lashing. He owes her that at least. He knows what he took from her. She says, please. He can’t possibly understand what he took from her; what her family lost. Thomas was a good man and a good father, but he didn’t live to see his son grow up to be a doctor. Is he going to tell her that he’s TJ’s father now? Because a father is more than DNA. He says she’ll get no argument from him. He and TJ know that Thomas was TJ’s father, but so is he.

Britt says, besides the legal drinking age, does Spencer miss France? Did he leave someone special behind? He says France will always be there. What about her? Has she found someone who even slightly deserves her? She says, not many people would consider her a catch, but he says, au contraire. If she hasn’t found someone worthy of her, she’s not looking in the right places. Nikolas comes in, and Spencer tells him, look who’s here.

Portia tells Terry that she was married when she first met Curtis, and she didn’t tell him. She and Taggert were on the outs, but she had no business starting anything with anyone. When she finally did tell Curtis, he just walked away. She’s sure he really felt hurt and betrayed, and Terry asks what she’s saying. Does she think Curtis is out for revenge? Portia says, of course (🍷) not, but she guesses she’s a little scared. What if she opens herself up to him and he has a change of heart, and walks away again? She hasn’t really let herself be vulnerable since. She’s dated, but she’s had other priorities. She has to make sure Trina is okay, and her career. Terry says, that was then; this is now. Trina is on her way to college, and Portia’s career is well-established. Sounds like it’s been a long time since she’s let herself be happy with a man, and Curtis sounds promising. But what does she know? She’s just an oncologist, not a psychologist. She’ll meet Portia at The Savoy in a few, or at the MetroCourt for dinner later. Portia’s choice.

Curtis asks if Brando is having a good evening, and if Nika is taking care of him. Brando says she is. Everything’s great. The house beer is first rate. Curtis says he’s glad to hear it, but seems distracted, looking at the entrance. Brando wonders if he can ask Curtis something, and Curtis says, sure. Brando says, has he ever had a woman give him an old tomato ultimatum? Say, you can’t do this, or you’re out of my life? Curtis says, it sounds like Brando’s lady, and it sounds like she might have a good reason. He sits, and Brando says, Sasha doesn’t like certain aspects of his life; she thinks they’re dangerous. Curtis says, sounds like she’s concerned something might happen to Brando. Does she do this all the time; ultimatums, giving orders? Brando says, no. She’s great. They respect each other. Curtis asks if he’s sure it was an ultimatum, or was she just being honest with him about what she can and cannot live with? Brando says he hadn’t thought of it that way, and Curtis says, to answer his first question, he doesn’t recall a woman doing that to him, but he’s sure he’s done it. Sometimes you have to say what you want, even if it means losing what you have.

Sasha tells Chase, Willow is a pretty honest person. What does he think she’s holding back? He says, when he and Willow got married, they thought he only had a few hours to live. Now she’s stuck with an invalid husband. She says, he’s recovering. And she says this with love, but he’s an idiot if he thinks Willow is anything but grateful that he survived. He says he knows Willow is grateful; so is he. He knows he’s lucky to be alive. He knows Willow, and there’s something behind her eyes. Something she’s holding back.

Michael says, Chase is going through hell right now, but it doesn’t give him the right to take it out on Willow. Willow says, Chase is mostly taking his anger and frustration out on himself. She just feels so… inadequate. All she seems to be able to offer are platitudes. Be patient. You’ll get there. Michael says, Chase is strong. He’s going to come back from this, and she’ll be a big reason why. She prays he’s right, and says she’s being selfish. Chase is the one struggling to get back his life, while she’s feeling sorry for herself. Michael tells her to stop beating herself up. She’s doing an incredible job supporting Chase. She says he’s biased, but he says, not at all. But he does know what all this is costing her.

Stella says, Shawn compares himself to the man who was there for TJ until he died? Shawn says, no, she is. He knows Thomas loved TJ. He loves TJ too. He couldn’t be TJ’s father because up until recently, he didn’t know he was TJ’s father. She says, and up until recently, he was behind bars, where he should have been a lot sooner for killing her nephew. He says, Thomas was his best friend, but he snapped. Thomas threatened to kill him. It was self-defense, but he’ll carry the pain and weight of it the rest of his life. She says, Thomas was his best friend, but that didn’t stop Shawn from sleeping with his wife. He snapped because of Shawn’s betrayal. Jordan comes in, and says, it wasn’t all on Shawn. They both know that. Stella says she and Jordan have made their peace, but don’t expect her to offer it to the man who ended her nephew’s life. He’s lucky to be out of prison. If it were up to her, he’d rot there. Jordan says, she’s not being fair, but Shawn says he’s going to listen. Stella says she has nothing more to say to him. Just please stay out of her way. He says he’ll do his best, and thanks Jordan for dinner. He leaves, and Jordan asks if Stella is all right. She looks shaky. Stella says, it’s been a long time coming, but she confronted him. She did it, and she stands by everything she said. Jordan asks if it made her feel any better.

As they walk through the park, Ava asks what Victor did that has Trina on the fence. Trina says, basically, he lied to her, and Ava says she doesn’t like the sound of that. Trina says, it was a normal lie of omission, which is still a lie, but it didn’t directly affect her, so she guesses she shouldn’t care. Maybe she’s overthinking it. Ava says, or maybe she’s making excuses for him? Giving him a little wiggle room? Sounds to her like Trina likes him. Trina says she does; he’s interesting. Not like a lot of the guys around here. Ava asks if she’s going to go out with him, but Trina says, they’re not dating. They’re just hanging out as friends. Ava says, oh… friends.

Nikolas says he thought Spencer was going to change, and Spencer says he was. Then he and Britt got to talking. He’ll go right now. He tells Nikolas to help himself to his ice tea, shoves it in Nikolas’s hand, and jets. Britt gets up, and says, hey… Nikolas says he’s sorry for accusing her of being the stalker. He was at the end of his rope. She says she was sorry to hear he and Ava are getting a divorce, and he says, it’s not over yet. He’s surprised that Spencer is trying to matchmake. He’s been cold since he got home. She says, but he is home in Nikolas’s hour of need. That’s something. He says, it is. He’s so glad to have Spencer back. He’s the one good thing in Nikolas’s life.

Brando thanks Curtis for the advice, and Curtis says, sometimes he just likes to hear himself talk. Brando says Curtis told him just what he needed to hear. Did he tell Curtis that he was going to be a father? Curtis laughs, and says now he understands the ultimatum. Brando says, he’s an idiot. There’s no choice to be made. How can he walk away from someone as wonderful as Sasha? Curtis says, well, congratulations. He’s happy for Brando. Brando thanks him and reaches for his wallet, but Curtis says it’s on him. Consider it an early baby shower present. And good luck to you, brother. Brando thanks him, and leaves. Curtis continues looking around.

Sasha thinks Chase is holding Willow to a higher standard than his own, and he says, what? She asks if he shares all his doubts and moments of weakness with Willow. Everyone thinks Willow is perfect, but she’s not; she’s human. And she’s scared and worried and just trying to figure things out as she goes. He says he gets it, but she doesn’t have to hold it all in. She says, like he does? Loving someone doesn’t mean you have to share every single thought with the person, especially when you’re trying to protect the other person. And they’re both doing that. He says, and he’s not protecting Willow by snapping like that, which is exactly what he did today. She says she thinks Willow understands how frustrating it is for him, and she knows Willow is committed to helping him through his recovery. He doesn’t need to doubt her.

Michael says Willow put her entire life on hold to literally help Chase get back on his feet. He sees her burning the candle at both ends while still keeping a smile on her face. He wishes there was something he could do to help. She says she knows she’s putting more than her life on hold. She’s putting them on hold; their family, their future. That’s not fair either. How long can she ask Michael to wait for her?

Ava says, it seems like Trina is willing to overlook Victor’s lie of omission, and Trina says she wants to. They sit on a bench, and Ava says, well, then do it. Take a chance. Trina says, Ava still believes that? Even after how things ended with her and Nikolas? and Ava says, yes. She believes in living life, not just watching from the sidelines. Get out there and enjoy herself. Trina says, yes, ma’am, and Ava says, be careful. And if this Victor crosses the line, he’s going to have to answer to her. Trina says, get in line behind her dad, and Ava laughs, saying, and her mom. She has quite a line of protectors. Most of all, trust her instincts. Victor sounds like he might be a bad boy. They are exciting, but they can be trouble too.

Spencer comes back, dressed in street clothes, and asks Britt, where’s father? She says, he had to make a call. Not cool, Spencer. Spencer says, what? and she says she and Nikolas are over. He loves Ava, and she doesn’t have time for distractions. He says, things change. It’s only a matter of time before father puts Ava and this farce of a marriage behind him.

On the phone, Shawn says, I heard you were still in the game. How about if we work together?

Jordan gives Stella a glass of water, and Stella admits lashing out at that man didn’t ease the pain of losing Thomas, but she needed to do it. Jordan knows she speaks her mind. Jordan says, all too well, and Stella says, go on, say it. Jordan asks, what she was thinking, telling Portia to back off Curtis? and Stella says, she was thinking Jordan and Curtis needed more time to work out their differences, and remember how much they love each other. She gave Jordan the opportunity to fight for her marriage. Why didn’t she take it?

Portia walks up to Curtis at The Savoy, and he looks at her approvingly.

Michael tells Willow, he’ll wait forever if he has to. She’s his future. So take that worry off her plate. He isn’t going anywhere. As much as he wants to hold her, and make love to her, he’ll go on being her friend and co-parent for as long as it takes. She says she loves him so much, her heart hurts. And she wants him too. She’s so sorry. She wishes things were different. They hook pinkies on the DL, and he says he understands her commitment to stay with Chase. So they’ll wait, as long as Chase needs her.

Alone in the PT room, Chase lines up his chair in front of the parallel bars. He takes hold of them, and hoists himself up, but when he lets go, he falls back into his chair. He says he can do this… for Willow. He grabs the bars again, pulls himself up, lets go, and stands without falling.

Tomorrow, Brando tells Sasha that he’s made his choice, Finn tells Elizabeth that monsters never really die, Anna says the information has to be kept confidential, Stella asks if Jordan wants her marriage to be over, and Curtis tells Portia that her timing couldn’t be better.

The Real Housewives of New York City

Sonja and Bershan were deep in a nonsensical argument, when in LuAnn’s interview, she said it was up to Ramona to reel this woman in. Ramona had brought her to the group, and it was her responsibility. But instead of telling Bershan that she was being overbearing, Ramona told her they were worried about Sonja, and Bershan was pushing her off the deep end. Whatever that meant. In Ramona’s interview, she said she didn’t disagree with Bershan. As an outsider looking in, she wondered why they were putting up with Sonja, but it wasn’t her job to figure it out. Eboni told LuAnn that she was done with Bershan, having given her all the Black extra-credit points she could. In Eboni’s interview, she said she was still navigating this circle of friends, and Bershan needed to get to know them like on the first day of second grade. Bershan told Ramona that she was a fresh pair of eyes who was telling it like it is, totally missing the point.

In the morning, Leah told LuAnn that Sonja and Bershan got in a physical altercation. LuAnn was like, huh? since when she left, everyone had gone to bed. Leah said Bershan had come to get a melatonin from her, and she and Sonja were both drunk. We saw a clip of Bershan griping to Leah about Sonja, and Sonja honing in on the conversation, saying Bershan didn’t need to be talking about her. Sonja did have a point when she told Bershan not to come into her life, and in ten seconds tell her who she is. Then it was on, with fingers in faces, and shouting while standing two inches from each other. Leah had to get between them, and she told LuAnn she was worried they’d hit her new nose. The producers ended up stepping in, and Sonja broke the glass in the fire extinguisher box as they let her away. Back to the present morning, Bershan did jumping jacks, while she recited affirmations.

LuAnn went to Leah’s room to discuss the situation, and they agreed that when Sonja was drunk, it wasn’t the time to talk to her about anything. Leah wondered if Sonja was going to act like nothing happened, and LuAnn said Sonja wasn’t going to remember what happened. In LuAnn’s interview, she said she didn’t care how drunk you were, there was no excuse for that behavior. Agreed. She said she was worried about Sonja. Ramona joined them, and Leah explained it all again, saying Bershan was being antagonistic. LuAnn said it was up to Ramona to fulfill Bershan’s expectations; Bershan was her problem. In Ramona’s interview, she said she didn’t know this Bershan. Leah thought they were being irresponsible if they didn’t talk to Sonja about her drinking, and they decided Leah, Ramona, and LuAnn would talk to her about her denial. In Leah’s interview, she said it wasn’t like Sonja was having fun. She’d want someone to talk to her if she was breaking glass. I guess she forgot about that night of the tiki torches. LuAnn said she was down for it.

Ramona wanted to talk to Bershan, and in Bershan’s interview, she said that she felt like she was being called to the principal’s office. Ramona asked, what happened? and Bershan said Sonja was being a little drunk and aggressive, but Ramona said Bershan had been pushing her. Bershan said Sonja had gotten in her face, and in Black culture, if you got in somebody’s face like that, you got hit. Really? Since when? In Ramona’s interview, she said, acting like that could get Sonja hurt. Bershan said she realized that coming into a new group of girls, not everyone was going to express themselves the way she did.

Leah filled Eboni in on what was going on, and Ramona went to get Sonja, who’d just woken up. In Sonja’s interview, she said she didn’t have a taste for cheap red wine, but if that’s what they were serving, she’d drink it. And if Bershan was serving up insults, she was going to drink. She told Ramona that they ended up with cheap wine and Bershan. She wasn’t attempting to understand where Bershan was coming from. They were headed to a lunch, and in LuAnn’s interview, she said the van ride was going to be like purgatory, but she didn’t know who was going to heaven or hell. It was a quiet ride.

After they sat down at the restaurant, Bershan said she wanted to say something to the group, and was a bit emotional. She wanted to apologize for acting familiar with people she wasn’t familiar with. She’d overstepped her boundaries. Translation: she’d tried to get screen time when she’s not part of the cast. She said she and Sonja had a connection, and Sonja agreed. Ramona tried to interject, and Sonja told her, STFU. In Ramona’s interview, she said Sonja was being passive/aggressive with her and snapping like a turtle. And it’s not turtle time. Sonja said she’d been hurt by the way Bershan mimicked her, Bershan took responsibility, and they hugged it out. Sonja was happy that Bershan apologized, and hoped they could move forward in a positive way. I predict that lasting about five minutes. Leah said they had to get ready for their séance, and Ramona said the dead were waiting for them.

They went back to the hotel to change, everyone wearing black because they like being cliché. I had no idea what Leah was wearing. Usually I like her get-ups, but… no. It was a black patent leather jacket over a white dress, but the jacket didn’t know where to quit in the front, panels of leather trailing down, and not in a good way. Sonja and Bershan ordered espresso martinis, and in her interview, LuAnn said, just what they needed. LuAnn suggested they speak to Sonja immediately, which seemed stupid, since she’d have a martini in her hand while they’re discussing her drinking. In Ramona’s interview, she said they had to do this before Sonja got too buzzed to take in what they were saying. And they too, had drinks in their hands. All kinds of wrong there. Ramona told Eboni to keep Bershan busy while they talked.  Ramona, Leah, and LuAnn had a quick confab and… Ramona went to get a drink first.

They called Sonja over, and Leah said they weren’t coming from a place of judgement. She thought it would be irresponsible and f***ed up of them not to say they thought Sonja’s drinking was going to hurt her at this point. They were worried. LuAnn said she’d been arrested for less than Sonja had done, and Sonja went through a litany of times when she didn’t drink – at home, alone, on dates, anywhere but with them. In her interview, Ramona said, sure; she believed that. She said Sonja got angry when she drank, and Leah said it didn’t seem like Sonja was having a good time. Sonja said Bershan had gotten in her face with her bad girl image, and she wasn’t having it. Leah said it was an open channel of communication, and Sonja said she had professionals in her life and did telemedicine. In Leah’s interview, she said, they tried, and in LuAnn’s interview, she said, you usually had to have a wake-up call, and she just didn’t want Sonja to wake up in a gutter. Sonja told them she didn’t feel like she was in a safe place, since they were being judgmental, which even I had to agree they weren’t. LuAnn said Sonja had gotten in a physical altercation, and when Sonja said she’d do it again, the conversation was over, since they obviously weren’t getting anywhere. In Sonja’s interview, she said Ramona and LuAnn were like broken records, and managed to hook Leah into it. They were on vacation. Chill out. She wasn’t going to explain herself anymore.

They moved on to the séance with mediums Michael and Marion, and host Sandra, who was burning incense to get rid of any negativity in the room. Ha! They’d need a truckful of sage for that one. Marion called for those to have passed away to come through. The light fixture suddenly detached from the ceiling, totally freaking the women out, except for Sonja who said, that does happen. Okay… Michael said they were safe; there wouldn’t be lights flickering or eyes rolling back. Sonja said, there might be poop. He told Bershan that she was viewed as a regular goat, but would become a mountain goat and come out of her shell. In Sonja’s interview, she said she thought Bershan should be a turtle, and pull it back in. (Hmm… Two turtle references tonight.) He told LuAnn that she’d be parting ways with a moody man in her life, but it would be positive for her, and more of a loss for him. Marion told Leah that she was trying to communicate with a female relative, but they didn’t necessarily approve of the séance, so she was having trouble channeling her. In Leah’s interview, she said her grandmother probably wouldn’t have approved of what she was doing, and Leah was also skeptical, so it was no surprise. Marion said she could see Leah studying for her conversion to Judaism, and thought it would give Leah structure. Marion was feeling Eboni’s grandmother, and said she’d just been gone for a little bit of time. Eboni said, a few days, and Marion said she liked this lady; she had a bit of attitude. She was proud of Eboni, and felt she’d been a second mother to her. She said, Eboni had a strong message for women, and had to keep going forward. Eboni started to cry, and in her interview, said it was a relief. Her grandmother had been smart and powerful, but had trouble in the past few years. Having her close was a comfort. Marion said she could feel unfinished business with Sonja’s father, and he wanted to apologize to Sonja; he didn’t know what he was doing. Marion asked if he’d had a drinking problem. Sonja said he did, and in LuAnn’s interview, she said she had no idea because Sonja never talked about her past. She felt she could relate to Sonja better now, since her own father had a drinking problem. Marion said he was mortified by what he did, but wasn’t trying to excuse it. He was trying to apologize. In Ramona’s interview, she said it was emotional and deep. She and Sonja’s childhoods had both been traumatizing, so they never talked about it. Marion said, because Sonja’s father had left when she was young, Sonja had abandonment issues that affected her relationships with men. Sonja cried, and in her interview, she said she was surprised her dad showed up because he’d always been too busy to be a dad. It was hard when you were a kid with one parent, and not knowing you had a dad to reach out to. Marion said she didn’t know if Sonja was dealing with it, and Sonja said she was consulting with a healer. Marion wisely said that was a great addition, but Sonja needed some real therapy. She put it more delicately, but that was the gist of it. Sonja said she’d just started with a therapist, and Marion said she hoped they had a PhD. In her interview, Sonja said her story wasn’t uncommon, but it put a dent in your heart not having a male figure to lean on.

Ramona had a man coming through, someone younger who Marion thought was Ramona’s brother. He’d had a lot of issues in his life. Ramona said, he was a lost soul, and Marion said, it wasn’t a suicide, but… Ramona said, he was self-destructive. She told them, he’d died two years ago, and Marion said he was okay with being gone, but was sorry for hurting her. Ramona said, he almost died ten thousand times before he did, and Marion said she was sorry to say it, but she thought he’d wanted to die. Ramona said he’d been in a lot of emotional pain, and Marion said he loved Ramona, and appreciated that she’d tried to help him. Ramona said there had been nothing she could do, so she’d eventually abandoned him. Marion told her not to blame herself; it was too big a burden. In her interview, Ramona said she’d felt responsible for him, but in the end, he was too far gone to help. She felt now she had resolution, and Marion told her there was nothing she could have done. She asked if anyone had questions, but I think everyone was too freaked out to ask anything further.

In Leah’s interview, she said these were relatively new friends of hers, and there was a lot she didn’t know. When she found out these things, it gave her more understanding of them as people. Sonja suggested they have some fun, and Leah added some wood to the fireplace. Everyone realized she had her dress on backward. Putting it on correctly didn’t make it look any better.

This season, lots of parties, boxing with Martin, Garth isn’t happy about being on Page Six, Eboni continues looking for her father, Ramona tries to sing and fails miserably, the women dress up like each other, and lots of STFU.

The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills

The women packed for Kyle’s house in La Quinta. Dorit was ready to get into something festive and fun. Sutton was staring at an empty suitcase, when Kyle called. Kyle said she thought it should be casual, but the others might be bringing ballgowns. You never knew. She told Sutton about Erika’s meltdown, and said it wasn’t like her. We flashed back to that.

Erika found someone to take over the lease for her clubhouse. She needed the furniture, and it was time to let it go. We flashed back to good times there, and Erika told assistant Laia that part of her was sad, but part of her was okay with it. In her interview, she said she hadn’t received a dime despite what everyone thought. Being on a budget was challenging, and at times horrible, but she could take care of herself. People wanted to forget that. She said, a lot of good things, good work, and great memories came from the clubhouse. They looked at the pink neon Pretty Mess sign, and Laia said, she lives on. Erika said, always. In her interview, she said, everything comes to an end.

Kyle video chatted with Garcelle, who said Kyle looked good, and Kyle said she was happy to be alive. Garcelle said she still had to shoot The Real, but she’d be coming a day late. Kyle walked around with the phone, showing Garcelle the house, which Garcelle pronounced amazing. In Kyle’s interview, she said she’d been coming to the desert since she was a baby; on weekends, holidays, and Easter, which I believe is a holiday. She told Garcelle that it was peaceful there, and in her interview, Kyle said, as soon as they hit the windmills, the energy was different. The energy shifted there. LisaR was the first to arrive with her loud self, and screeched over her bedroom. Erika, Crystal, and Garcelle were staying in a hotel, but Kathy, who usually stayed in a hotel, was staying with Kyle along with the others. Kathy arrived with the obligatory hostess gift candle, in size extra-large, and wondered if someone could help her with her luggage. In Kyle’s interview, she said it wasn’t the Waldorf, and she didn’t have a bellhop. Crystal showed up next, followed by Sutton in her new Bentley, and Dorit with groceries. In Crystal’s interview, she said the last time she’d seen Sutton, it was probably Sutton’s biggest meltdown, but Sutton had texted since, and she thought it was getting better. She was still happy she was in a hotel with a lock on the door. So I see she’s really let go of that. Kyle said her ADD was off the charts.

LisaR told the women that she’d left Erika a message, and gotten no response. Kyle said there had been a court date today, and Dorit said she’d read the government froze all of Tom’s assets while they were investigating the possible inappropriate use of at least $2 million. In Dorit’s interview, she said, imagine not being able take your own money out of your own account. That had happened to her when PK had a lawsuit against him. We saw a clip about that, and she said it had been scary, but this was bigger and more scary than what she’d gone through. Dorit said, Tom’s lawyers were asking for him to have a medical evaluation because they didn’t think he fully understood the gravity of the situation. She read an article to the women about Tom and his lawyers being cited for civil contempt of court, because they’d failed to listen to an order to examine where the funds for the airline settlement went. In LisaR’s interview, she said, the disturbing part was that the money was supposed to go to the orphans and victims of the plane crash. In Crystal’s interview, she said, $2 million seemed like a lot, but compared to what Tom had, it was an insignificant number. She couldn’t understand why he didn’t write a check, and make it go away. None of it made sense. LisaR said she was worried; this was a big deal. She called Erika, and Erika said she had to change, but would be there soon. Kathy announced there was going to be an eclipse that hadn’t happened in 600 years. Kyle washed some eggplants for lasagna, and there were a lot of penis references.

In her interview, Kyle said, joking with Kathy made her think of the times they missed together, and we flashed back to a Reunion, where Kyle said they weren’t speaking. She told us that it seemed a shame to think of the holidays they spent apart. The dynamic had changed, and they were back to speaking all the time, and laughing. She was having fun. Erika arrived, and LisaR said she was proud Erika was there. Like she was Erika’s mom. Kyle said they were there for her, and Erika told them, it’s not okay, and it’s not going to be okay for a long time. There were lots of tears and hugs. In Erika’s interview, she said, every day she woke up to something new, and it was all bad news all the time. She asked how Dorit was feeling [after having covid], and Dorit said she wasn’t symptomatic, so don’t worry about the hug. Erika said that was the least of her concerns. In LisaR’s interview, she said, you’d have thought Erika was set for life, but you just never know. Erika said she hadn’t gone to the court; it was in Chicago. She wasn’t talking to Tom, but she knew he was struggling. He wasn’t in a good place, but in some ways, she was relieved. She felt that Tom wasn’t mentally well, and maybe he’d get the help he needed now. We flashed back to her saying he was ignoring problems with his health, and not listening to her. In her interview, she said she was right about what she’d been seeing, experiencing, and hearing. It had been over time, and it was hard watching someone slowly unravel. She apologized for being drained, but she’d been dragged into all of this. Dorit said, when PK went through legal woes, the issue happened before he knew her name, but she was smeared. She hadn’t known him or even heard of him at the time. In Dorit’s interview, she said it was normal not to know all of a spouse’s business dealings. Erika said, Tom had been in business since before she was born, and Kathy said it was based on trust. Her husband could say, sign these 50 papers, and she’d sign them without reading them, because she trusted him. Although I’m not so sure she could comprehend a legal document. In her interview, Erika said ,when they entered into the marriage the balance of power had been out of whack. She’d been a bimbo and a gold-digger, and now she was a financial mastermind.

Helping Kyle in the kitchen, Crystal said she felt bad about Erika. Kyle said Tom was like a dad, and would say things like, excuse me, I’m talking. We flashed back to that dinner again where he basically told Erika to shut up, and in Kyle’s interview, she said, Tom was very much the one in charge and controlling the situation. He supported Erika’s career and dreams, and that was the price she had to pay. It was easy for Erika to detach; they’d seen it. Sutton asked about Erika’s new house, and Erika said she’d gotten a little tree. Sutton said sometimes you had to force it, and Erika said she might as well enjoy it. Sutton told Erika about her father committing suicide two days before Christmas. Porter had been 9 months, so she was excited about her baby’s first Christmas, and it was the first day of her mom’s retirement. In her interview, Sutton said, all marriages are complicated, and we saw a clip of her asking her mom if she missed Sutton’s father. Her mom said she’d been married to him, and couldn’t be expected to feel the same way as Sutton, since the relationships were totally different. She didn’t miss him. Sutton said her dad was a special and great person. Talking about him made it seem like he was still alive. Erika said Sutton’s story was more tragic than what she was going through. In Sutton’s interview, she said, if she could survive her dad’s traumatic death, she knew Erika could survive this. She was a strong lady. Erika thanked Sutton for sharing, and Sutton said, it’s effing tough.

Kyle made her famous lasagna, but I think it’s only famous in her family, since I’ve never heard of it. Kathy kibbitzed while Kyle was cooking, and in Kyle’s interview, she said she’ll always be the baby sister. Whatever they were doing, Kathy would tell her to try it a different way. Kathy used some stale bread as a percussion instrument, marching around the kitchen. LisaR put on sequined jumpsuit, saying, she had to wear this sh*t somewhere. Kathy started taking her suitcase upstairs, one stair at a time, until Dorit rescued her. In Dorit’s interview, she said, if it were anyone else, she’d tell them carry their own damn bag, but it was Kathy, and Dorit loved her. Dorit said Kathy was used to everyone doing everything for her, and Kathy proved it when we saw her idea of a tablescape was a lemon weighing down a pile of napkins, and a bowl of the stale bread she’d been goofing around with. Kyle said that was not her bread. Erika told LisaR that she’d heated the pool for three days, then got the bill and turned it off. She’d heated the pool at Tom’s house for twenty years, and never got in it or saw the bill. In her interview, LisaR said she had no idea how many times Harry had told her to stop spending so much. She didn’t always listen, but she heard it a lot. Kyle knocked down a bunch of spice bottles, and in Kathy’s interview, she said Kyle was a good cook, but easily distracted. She had ADHD GHIJK. Kathy tried to clean up the glass with the fireplace grate brush. I couldn’t even figure that logic out.

Kyle said it was the most unattractive table ever, and we found out Drake follows LisaR on Instagram. In Crystal’s interview, she said she would die if Drake followed her, which I could totally see, since she’s twelve. Kyle said it was a new moon, and they were supposed to get rid of toxic energy, and manifest what they wanted. Kathy said you thought of it, and blew out a candle, and Dorit pushed a candle toward Erika. Erika closed her eyes, made a wish, and blew out the candle. In her interview, she said she’d do anything to make it better. She’d take a prayer circle, a lunar eclipse a quaalude. She’d take anything. Anything but confession. She wasn’t confessing. Erika said she appreciated their kind words and support. Kyle asked what was going to happen with Erika Jayne? but Erika didn’t know. It was an expensive business. She’d just let go of her office space. Kathy said, the richest man in the world will try to take the jewelry back, and Erika said, that’s how tacky they are. Erika didn’t know if there was anything to get, since they’d frozen everything. In her opinion, Tom should turn in his bar card, and stop practicing. In LisaR’s interview, she said the last time she saw Tom was at his house, and he’d seemed charming and with it, but maybe something was going on. Erika said Tom’s sole identity was being a great lawyer, and he put it ahead of everything. When she’d noticed he was on the decline, he held on tighter. He was afraid and mad, and mean AF. In Dorit’s interview, she said she got why Erika was keeping it private. She’d spent 20 years defending the relationship. All everyone ever saw was an old man with a young woman. Kyle said dementia could make someone angry and belligerent, and Crystal said, when her dad got Alzheimer’s, he would get angry at himself for not remembering things. In her interview, she said her dad was brilliant, and then didn’t know the President and the year. It was like a cruel joke. Erika said when she’d told Kyle that Tom had a car accident, it was true, but she hadn’t told the rest of it. We flashed back to Erika telling Kyle about Tom having an accident where he wasn’t hurt but the car was. Erika said he was unconscious for 12 hours; she found him. In LisaR’s interview, she said, at the time, she thought Tom had broken his ankle and would be fine. This is way different. Erika told them that Tom had a head injury, and broke his ankle, shoulder, and clavicle. He’d gone off a cliff. In Erika’s interview, she said, now that the truth had come to light, she could talk about it. She’d wanted to respect Tom’s privacy. She said Tom had lived there for 30 plus years, took a wrong turn by the house, and ended up in the wrong place. He’d tumbled out of the car, and finally called her.

When she asked where he’d been, she’d assumed he was with another woman. Kyle told her to roll it back; what woman? Erika told her, take her pick. He’d been cheating on her for a while. In her interview, LisaR said, with all the effing things going on, how does Erika process this? Erika said, they had no idea what she was living through, and what she’d been through. This was her life. Kyle said it wasn’t the first time she’d heard about Tom cheating, and in her interview, she said, there was always gossip. Nothing solid; just rumblings. She couldn’t picture 81 year old Tom cheating on Erika. She was a trophy wife; treat her like a trophy. Erika said she never went through Tom’s phone. She’d never touched anything, but after Yolanda divorced David, she opened Tom’s phone, and said, wow; okay. In her interview, she said, it was text messages and pictures, and looked like it had been years long. She knew it was years long. She told the women it was hard to hide, and he became sloppy. She knew a lot. LisaR asked if Tom denied it, and Erika said, nope. Kyle wondered why, and Erika said, where was she going? Kyle said, anywhere. Erika was beautiful, and had her whole life ahead of her. But Kathy said that was the way Erika was made to feel, by how he treated her. Erika said Tom had told her straight up, this was his house. Where was she going to go? In Dorit’s interview, she said Erika wasn’t as tough as everyone  thought. Kyle said she knew Erika was a good person, and Erika said she appreciated them listening and understanding. She would be okay, but it wasn’t okay right now. It got quiet for a moment, and Sutton said, how about them Mets who’d like some pancake cake? She thought it was what Erika needed. Sutton went to get whatever the hell that is, and Kyle and LisaR hugged Erika. In Sutton’s interview, she said it was like something out of a movie. Part horror part, part film noire. It was a movie she would not want a starring role in. LisaR said she measured her days by, what was going on with covid, what was going on with Erika, and was her daughter still going out with Scott Disick? She told them to picture her kitchen at 7:30 in the morning, and Harry saying, how did Scott Disick get into our lives? Kyle asked if Amelia and Scott were still together, but LisaR said she wasn’t sure what level it was at. It felt more like friendship. Kyle told her, nice try. LisaR said she wasn’t sure how deep it was, and they laughed.

This season, a vintage sailboat ride; seals mating; lots of drinking; Erika says, if you want to know who your friends are, get old and go broke; Sutton says Kyle is pissing her off; Mauricio says, there are lies all over the place; Erika says she’d like to know where the money is; Garcelle says, f*** Tom; and Erika says she’s coming for Sutton if Sutton calls her a liar again.

🛌🏽 I’ll Sleep In the Next Life…

Join me tomorrow for a little bit of soap, some real estate that will make you cry when you look around at your own humble abode, and maybe a tidbit or two. Until then, stay safe, stay discovering new things, and stay saying what you want, even if it means losing what you have.

Jul17

July 16, 2021 – Lenny Gets Bad News, Jimmy Lee, New Songs, Other Gigs, Cameo Tease, Accusations, Crazy Like a Fox, Going Down, Togetherness, Rebuttal, Knot Tied, Update, Nominations, an Interview, an Egg Carton of Quotes & Paradise

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Carly tells Jason, it’s driving her crazy that Gladys wants them to bring Brando in, but he tells her, forget Gladys. Brando risked his life for them when he went to work for Cyrus. He’s proven he’s loyal, and if this is something he really wants… She says, so he’s okay with bringing Brando in, and he says, Brando is having a kid. The smarter choice is for him to stay away from the business, but he’s capable, he’s loyal, he’s smart. If this is the job he wants, Jason isn’t going to turn him away. Sam walks in, and looks at Carly and Jason.

At the pool, Sasha looks at Brando sunning himself, and starts to walk out. He notices her, and says he was going for a dip in the pool. Would she care to join him? She says she’ll have to pass. She can’t find any lounges to put her stuff on. He tells her to take his. He’s not letting his kid’s mom go without.

Dante tells Rocco, no cannonballs this time, but Rocco isn’t listening. Dante sees Chase on a lounge chair, and says, Chase is a cop. Can he arrest Dante’s kid? Chase says, Dante wants him to arrest his son for doing cannonballs? and Dante says he does. Scare him a little bit. He doesn’t listen to a thing Dante says. Chase says, last he heard, Dante rejoined the force, while he’s on a nice, long paid vacation. Did he bring handcuffs? Dante says, enough with this paid vacation stuff. Get himself back on the force and they can arrest his kid together. Just like old times, eh, partner?

Willow lets Nina into the gatehouse, and Nina says she got a text from Michael saying to pick Wiley up there. Are they upstairs? Willow says, Wiley is napping, and Michael is running late; a meeting with his family. Nina says she heard there was some drama last night at the ELQ Board meeting. Currently, there’s never a dull moment when the Quartermaines get together to talk about business. Willow wonders how old Wiley will be when he joins the fray.

Brook walks in, while Ned is on the phone. He says he looks forward to talking with Pasqual and his team, and Brook says, talking to the ELQ lawyers about Austin? What’d they say? Ned says, they need time to study the matter. Michael sent them the docs supposedly proving that Austin is Jimmy Lee’s son, but they’ll be asking for their own DNA test. Michael says, just to make sure the birth certificate and DNA test Scotty gave them are legitimate. She says it really burns her how great-grandfather cheated on great-grandmother Lila. The woman was a saint. Ned says, grandfather’s indiscretions are beside the point. They have to assume their own DNA test will prove Austin is Jimmy Lee’s son. He may actually be a relative. She says, but does that entitle him to a slice of the Quartermaine pie?

Austin looks at the staff photos on the wall at GH, and focuses on Alan. Monica says, doing his homework? and he says, Alan Quartermaine’s reputation was legendary. Gifted doctor, devoted father, pillar of the community. She says he forgot philanderer and scoundrel. He says he did. She’s his new boss. He’s trying to be polite. She says, or is he just trying to play dumb? Pull one over on her and her family, just like his father did back in the day.

Valentin says he thinks he may know Phyllis, but she says she doesn’t see how. Unless he’s a former patient. In which case, she apologizes for not recognizing him. He says he’s not a former patient, but he thinks his ex-wife may have been – Nina Reeves.

Sonny is about to leave the examining room, just as Anna is passing by. Anna hears the door handle, and stops, but a nurse asks if she can help Anna. Anna says, maybe she can. She’s looking for somebody. Sonny hears her voice.

Phyllis says, and he is? and Valentin says, he’s Valentin Cassadine. He assumes Nina told her about him, and supposes he didn’t come off terribly well. She says she’s sorry, but she can’t discuss her patients, former or current. He tells her that he completely understands, and for what it’s worth (🍷), he deeply regrets all the harm he caused Nina. She’s a very special woman. Phyllis says, yes she is, and she can tell him this much; Nina is doing just fine without him.

Anna tells the nurse that she’s looking for a Medivac pilot. His name is David Hopkins. Sonny listens on the other side of the door. The nurse asks if he was injured, and Anna says, not as far as she knows. The nurse says, then he wouldn’t be in the ER. She’ll take Anna to human resources. Anna leaves with her, and Sonny comes out.

Willow says, Wiley’s schedule is off this morning. He went down late for his nap, and he’s still down for it. Nina says, that’s okay. The Quartermaine pool will still be open. Willow asks if she’d like to reschedule, but Nina says she’d like to wait if it’s okay. She brought some of Wiley’s favorite snacks, and these really cute water wings. She shows Willow, and says, Willow and Michael probably have a ton of them, but they were so cute, she couldn’t resist. Willow tells her, stay, of course (🍷). Wiley will up soon, and he’d be devastated to miss an afternoon with his Grandma Nina.

Ned tells Brook, it’s too early to say whether Austin will end up with a stake in ELQ, and Michael says, it depends on the outcome of his lawsuit contesting great-grandfather’s will. Brook asks how Austin can claim rights to assets that his father never had to begin with, and Michael says, that’s for the lawyers to argue. She says, like Scotty? That’s the guy Austin chooses to go after their money? Let’s face it. Austin isn’t trying to legitimize dear old dad; he’s shaking them down.

Austin says he’s sensing Monica didn’t like his father, and she says, they had their ups and downs. He says, just like her and Alan, and she says, and Edward and Tracy. He asks if there’s a Quartermaine she didn’t have an issue with, and she says, Lila. And Annabelle. He says he doesn’t recall an Annabelle from the family tree, and Monica says, she was the family dog. He says, and a dog will never disappoint you, and Monica says, she got knocked up by a mutt way beneath her station. He says Monica doesn’t like the strays, but if she gives him a chance, he’ll try not to dig up the rose garden.

Dante asks Chase how’s newlywed life, but Chase says, married life still hasn’t begun. He can’t walk. Despite physical therapy, this is his great success. He wiggles a few toes, and Dante says, that’s great success. Chase asks when Dante became such a ray of sunshine, and Dante says since he decided he needed his partner back to stop him from doing questionable things. Chase says, like…? and Dante thinks back to kissing Sam. He says, never mind.

Sam goes to the MetroCourt restaurant, and Carly says, it’s been a while. Does she want a table or is she sittting at the bar? Sam says she’s meeting Maxie. She sees Carly’s ring, and says, nice rock. She asks if she can talk to Jason for a minute, and Carly says she’ll tell Maxie that Sam is there. Carly tells Maxie, Sam’s here, and Maxie looks over at Sam and Jason. She says, this should be interesting. Sam tells Jason, you and Carly, it’s finally happening. He’s sorry she didn’t hear it from him first, and she says, it’s not his fault. They keep missing each other. He asks if she told Danny, and she says she’s going to leave that one up to him. He thanks her, and she says she wouldn’t know the first thing to say to Danny because she doesn’t know the first thing about his engagement.

Brando brings Sasha a pillow, and asks if it’s too much sun. Does she want anything from the bar? She says she’s good, and thanks him. She asks if everything is okay, and he says, no… yeah… no… yes. He doesn’t want to invade her space, but he hasn’t seen a lot of her lately. She says she’s been busy, and it’s not like she’s seen a lot of him either. He says she didn’t tell him about her last check-up, but maybe she wanted him to stay away.

Chase says Dante just came back to the PCPD, and he’s already racking up demerits? Dante says, no, not him, and Chase asks, what’s going on? Is this even about work? Dante says, it’s about a woman.

Sam asks when Jason and Carly even decided they wanted to marry each other, and he says she knows Carly’s his best friend. She says, and he was able to express his feelings after Sonny died? He says they both know what it was like losing Sonny, and both have an empty space in their lives. She says, a shared loss, and he says, yeah. She says, and nothing else, and he says, they understand each other. They know what they’re getting into. She says she knows all about that. She’s always known where he and Carly stood with each other. First in line, ahead of everybody else. She walks away.

Carly tells Maxie that she’s not worried, and sits down. Maxie says, good. Then congratulations on her engagement. She knows Carly and Jason will make each other very happy. They’ve been friends for a long time, which is why she’s not too surprised. Carly thanks her, but says she really wanted to talk about Maxie. She’s not sure if Maxie is aware, but when Michael was a baby, he was kidnapped. Maxie says she knows; by her Uncle Tony. She knows the family lore. Carly says, the point being, she kind of knows what Maxie is going through, so if she needs a shoulder to cry on, Carly’s are available. She knows the police and the FBI are searching for Peter, but if there’s anything she and Jason can do, please let her know. Maxie thanks her, and Sam joins them, saying, sorry to keep Maxie waiting. She asks if she can speak with Carly for a second, and Carly says, of course (🍷). They step aside, and Sam takes Carly’s hands. She says she knows Carly and Jason wouldn’t have gotten engaged if there weren’t some sort of good reason, or if she hadn’t lost Sonny. So if there’s anything she can do to help, please let her know. Carly says, yeah, and Sam goes back to the table.

Nina says it’s sweet of Willow to say she made an impact on Wiley’s life, but she’s been away for so long, he’s had to get used to her all over again. Willow tells her not to sell herself short. Wiley knows when the people around him love him. He’s crazy about her. Nina says she was worried when she came back to Port Charles, that Wiley would run screaming from this stranger, but Willow says, that wasn’t going to happen. She picks up a digital photo album, and says, it was important that Wiley know who both of his grandmas are. Nina sees photo of Carly, then herself, and Willow says, she and Michael call this Wiley’s family. They tell Wiley about her all the time. Because Nina is his family.

Phyllis tells Valentin that Nina is staying with her and her husband in Nixon Falls. He says, that’s where Nina went when she was told she couldn’t see her grandson, and Phyllis says, Wiley. He thanks her for helping Nina, and she says, it wasn’t only her and Lenny. Mike had a lot to do with it as well. He says, Mike?

Sonny ponders the cap some more, when Lenny walks in with the doctor. Sonny asks if Lenny is done with the tests, and says he’ll get Phyllis. Lenny says, don’t, and Sonny asks, why? Lenny hesitates, and Sonny says, it’s bad, isn’t it?

Brook asks what they think; hold their noses and buy this guy off? Ned says, Austin is in this for his father, the late, not so great, Jimmy Lee Holt, and Brook asks if Ned ever met him. What was this guy like? Ned says he’s only heard stories, but what he does know for sure is, when Jimmy Lee left Port Charles for Pawtuck, grandfather washed his hands of him. Which is why when he wrote his will, he specifically said, Jimmy Lee and his heirs get nothing. Brook says, so if they give Austin some stock, they’re literally violating great-grandfather’s final wish, and Ned says, yes. Michael says, so they can’t buy him off, they can’t let him retain any stock… They’ve got to win him over.

Monica tells Austin that she was sorry to hear about Jimmy Lee’s passing. May she ask how? He says, in the end, it was the COPD. Not a pleasant ending he’s afraid. She says, no it wouldn’t be, and he says, there was nothing he could do to help ease his father’s passing. He could barely talk, but it didn’t stop him from asking about Edward. Monica says, after all these years. She hadn’t realized how much Jimmy Lee’s estrangement from Edward weighed on him. Austin says, he was on his deathbed, wondering how he had offended his father, begging for a chance to know how to make it right. She says, so now Austin wants to make it up to Jimmy Lee by getting a seat at the ELQ table that was denied him, right? He says, like it or not, he’s family, and he’s not going to let her, or any of the other Quartermaines, tell him otherwise.

Sasha asks why Brando thinks she doesn’t want him around, and he says, she’s busy with Deception… He pulls a chair up and sits down, saying, and then there’s his mom. Sasha asks, how is his roomie? and he says, full of unwanted advice. She asks if Gladys is the one who told him that she doesn’t want him in the baby’s life, and he asks if his mom is right. She says she wishes Gladys hadn’t said that to him, and he says he wishes he could feel better about her answer, but his mom isn’t entirely wrong, is she?

Jason asks Carly what Sam said, and Carly says, they have her support. It’s better than being damned to hell. She imagines Sam’s not too excited about their engagement. He says, Sam hasn’t told Danny. She figured he should be the one to explain. Carly asks what he’s going to say, and he says he’s going to tell Danny that they’re doing what they think is right, and that he loves Danny, and nothing is going to change. He’ll always be Danny’s father. She says, sounds good to her, and he asks her to tell him again exactly what happened with Joey Novak. She says, okay, but she doesn’t understand. She thought he said he wasn’t worried. He says, he’s not, but this guy could do something stupid; something that requires a response. She says, whatever Jason did hurt Joey’s pride, because he got up in her face and said, tell your fiancé he isn’t as secure as he thinks he is. He asks what she said, and she says she told Joey to say it to Jason’s face. Then she went to text him, but Brando stepped in, and Brando really knows what he’s doing. He says, maybe Brando saw her and thought she was going to throw down with Joey, and stepped in to do a good deed. She says, and if she would have thrown down? He says he would have backed her, but he’s glad it didn’t get that far. She says, her too, and he says he has to go see Monica. He’ll see Carly back at the house. He kisses her cheek, and she makes a soap face I can’t decipher. Maybe confused is the closest description.

Sonny asks how soon Lenny starts treatment, and the doctor says she’ll set up a series of appointments for him. She asks if Lenny has any questions, but Lenny says, not at the moment. She says she’ll give them some privacy, and leaves. Sonny says he’s going to get Phyllis, but Lenny says, she’s talking to some stranger. Let’s leave her be. Sonny says, Phyllis has to know, and Lenny says, she will, but she came here looking for hope. Let her hang on to that hope for another minute before he takes it away from her.

Phyllis tells Valentin, Mike works for her and Lenny in Nixon Falls. They own a bar called the Tan-O. Valentin says, and this Mike was helpful to Nina, was he? and Phyllis says, extremely. Anna returns, and asks if she’s interrupting, but Phyllis says, it’s perfectly all right. She has to check on her husband. Valentin says it was nice to meet her, and she says, him as well, and leaves. Anna asks, who was that? and he says, a friend of Nina’s. She says, small world, and he says, isn’t it? He asks where she’s been; he was worried about her. She says she has a lead on the pilot.

Dante tells Rocco, fifteen minutes, and sits back down next to Chase. He sees two umbrella drinks, blue in color, and asks, what the hell is that? Chase hands Dante one, and says, one sip of this baby, and he’ll be singing the name of the girl of his dreams. Dante says he’s still not going to talk, and Chase says, Dante is a cop; he knows how this goes. The harder a witness tries not to give a straight answer, the more they have to hide.

Maxie asks if everything is okay with Jason, and Sam asks if Maxie means how she feels about him marrying Carly. Maxie says she did hear Sam torched some of his belongings, and Sam says, wow, word gets around fast. Actually, she’s fine. It makes sense for Jason and Carly to get married. Maxie asks if Sam has been seeing Doc, and Sam says she doesn’t need a shrink. Really. She’s at peace with it. But it didn’t hurt to burn some of the mementos of the bad old days. Maxie says if it were her, the only way she’d feel peaceful about it is if she had someone to go home to, and Sam flashes back to Dante kissing her. She says, that wouldn’t help as much as she thinks, and Maxie asks why she’d say that. Does she have a man?

Brando says he and Sasha were doing so well when she shared their baby’s ultrasound with him. Then she went radio silent. He can’t help but wonder was it something he said or did? She says he’s been nothing but thoughtful and dependable, and he asks her not to give him that whole it’s not you it’s me speech. She says, okay, she won’t. Because it is him. He says he wasn’t expecting that, and she says, he’s exactly the kind of man she’d want to raise a child with. But if her choice is to raise this baby by herself, or to raise it with a man who’s working for the Corinthos family mob, or any mob, there is no choice.

Nina says, Willow has a picture of her and Wiley, and Willow says, she and Michael are always looking at the family album with Wiley and talking to him about his family. They want to make sure their son has relationships with everyone, even those he doesn’t see very often. Nina says, that’s really wonderful. Still, Wiley must wonder why his grandma Nina was away so long. Willow says, Wiley was at the playground a couple months ago. He fell and scraped his knee, and had to take it easy for a while. She told him that his Grandma Nina had a boo-boo of her own, and that’s why she had to go away. She had to take it easy too. Nina says, and if Wiley asks if she’s all better? and Willow asks what she’ll say. Nina tells Willow that she’ll say that she is. There’s a knock at the door, and Willow opens it to Carly, who says, Michael asked her to come by, but she wanted to see her grandson first. She realizes Nina is there.

Michael says, the closer Austin gets to them, the less likely he’ll wage war. Ned says, a charm offensive, but Brook says she has a better idea. Why don’t they hire a P.I.? Michael says, they don’t have time for an in-depth investigation into Austin’s background, and Ned says, especially when there’s no guarantee they’ll find anything defamatory. Michael says, Austin’s goal is Quartermaine recognition of his father, so why not give it to him? But Ned is the CEO-in-waiting, so it’s his decision.

Monica tells Austin, why fight a family when you can be part of it, right? He asks if she’s offering him shares of ELQ, and she laughs, saying, no. It’s not even in her control. Besides she doesn’t think he’d be all that happy with just shares. He says it wouldn’t make him happy or unhappy; it would make him family. When his father was disowned by Edward, the rest of the family never gave him a second thought. He thinks it would have been different if his father had shares of ELQ, and a vote to cast. She tells him, he said ELQ was family, and family is ELQ. He says, isn’t it? and she says he can ask her son Jason how he feels about ELQ. Jason approaches, and she says, and he’s still very much a part of the family.

Willow tells Carly, Nina has a pool date with Wiley today, but he’s still napping. Willow goes upstairs to check on him, and Carly says, Wiley has such a full schedule, she should have made an appointment first. Nina says, maybe after Carly talks to Michael, she could join them at the pool, but Carly says she doesn’t want to intrude. Nina says, it’s no intrusion. She’s sure Wiley would love having both his grandmother’s around. Plus it will give her a chance to toast Carly’s engagement.

While Austin is on the hospital phone, Monica tells Jason, Edward’s libido strikes again. Austin’s father, Jimmy Lee Holt, was the product of a dalliance between Edward and a woman named Beatrice LeSeur. Jason asks what Austin wants, and she says, he wants to be a Quartermaine. Jason says, is he? and she says, he brought his birth certificate and a DNA test to prove it. He asks if she wants him to shut this down, and she says, would he? Unless he’d prefer to keep his distance. He says, no. He’s happy to help.

Ned sees no reason why they can’t welcome Austin, until they figure out a way to shut him down, but Brook says, wrong. They don’t have time to welcome the good doctor into the family fold. He’s dangerous. Ned asks, how so? and she flashes back to Maxie wondering what if Austin got a glimpse of her and saying that everything might come back to him if he sees her. Ned asks, what makes Brook think Austin is anything more than a potential problem for ELQ? What does she know about this man that he and Michael don’t?

Anna tells Valentin, she showed her WSB badge to the head of human resources, and told her that David Hopkins was a person of interest. He says, and? and Anna says, they told her that he was at Ryan’s bar. He says, the one they just left? and she says, yes, opposite the hospital. He goes there after finishing his shift. He says, let’s go, but she grabs his arm, and says, she feels like a subtle approach is going to be necessary for this, so she wants to do this alone.

Maxie says, Sam does have a man in her life. Good for her. Who is he? Does she know him? How long has this been going on? Sam tells her, calm down. There’s nothing to tell. Maxie says, please. She has very little joy in her life, so she needs something to be happy about. Sam says, all right. There is a guy. Maxie says she knew it. Details please. Sam says, they kissed, and Maxie says, oh my God. What happened? Sam says, it wasn’t a big deal. She’d just found out Jason and Carly were getting married, she was totally wasted, they kissed, and it doesn’t count. Maxie asks if she’s kissed anyone else since she and Jason split, and Sam says, eww, no (because she’s five). Maxie says, then the kiss definitely counts.

Chase asks if he knows her, and Dante says, what part of he’s not talking doesn’t Chase understand? Chase asks if Dante wants to quickly cough something up. It’s better to just get it over with. Dante says, it was a weird night. She was in a rough place, and they got to talking. That’s all; it was nothing. Chase says, but Dante thinks it could be something? Maybe this mystery girl could turn into something if Dante gives it a chance.

Phyllis apologizes for taking so long, and asks if she missed Dr. Kishore. Lenny says, he’s afraid so, and she asks what the doctor said. What’s going on with his heart? Sonny puts his hand on Lenny’s shoulder, and Lenny says, it’s not his heart. It’s cancer. Phyllis starts to cry, and Sonny hugs her.

Dante says Chase wasn’t there; he was. She was in a bad place. He’s not going to be the guy who takes advantage of something like that. Chase says, sorry, and Dante says, Chase gets a get-out-of-jail-free pass since he’s on the newlywed train, and thinks everyone is wandering around all happy and in love just because he is. Chase says he highly recommends happiness, and if Dante ever gets another chance at it, do himself a favor and take it. Dante says he doesn’t know if it’s in the cards for him, but it would be nice.

Sam tells Maxie, okay, the kiss counts. Happy now? Maxie says, no, not yet. She’s going to dwell vicariously on this. Sam says, there’s nothing to dwell about. Maxie asked her there for a reason. What is it, and what can Sam do for her? Maxie says she needs to ask Sam a favor. She’s taking Georgie and James to Texas to visit her family for a while. Sam says, so she can stop worrying about Louise for a while? and Maxie says, and Peter. She needs to catch her breath, and put herself back together, and she can’t do it in Port Charles with everyone walking on eggshells around her. Sam asks what she can do for Maxie, and Maxie says she wants Sam to keep an eye on Spinelli. Ellie left him, and since Maxie is going to have Georgie with her, he’s going to need looking after. Sam says, poor Spinelli. Go to Texas, don’t worry about him. She’ll look after him.

Austin asks Jason where Monica is, and Jason says, she had a meeting. Austin says that he and Jason have something in common. He understands they’re both from the illegitimate branch of the Quartermaine tree, but Jason says, it doesn’t make him care any less about his family. Austin asks if he cares about ELQ, and Jason says, if it matters to them, it matters to him. He’ll do whatever it takes to protect them both; the family and the company.

Brook wonders why Austin is suddenly claiming rights to his family now. Something happened where now he thinks it’s the right time to fleece the Qs. Ned says he gets it. Brook is still trying to make up for selling her shares to Valentin, but she’s more than redeemed herself. There is no evidence that Austin is this threat she’s afraid he is.

Sasha says she overheard Brando’s mother say that he could be Jason’s righthand man, and Brando says he respects Jason. There’s worse people to work for. He worked for one. Sasha says, he only took the job with Cyrus to spy on him for Sonny and Jason, but she got close to Cyrus too, and almost died because of it. But at the time, she had no one to protect;  now she does. That’s all the reason she needs not to set foot in that world again. Is that enough reason for him? He doesn’t say anything, so she gets up and leaves.

Valentin asks if Anna is saying he can’t be subtle, and she says, yes. A woman on her own is far more approachable than a woman accompanied by a man. He tells her, play it any way she wants to, but there’s no way in hell he’s letting her go in there by herself without a wingman. She says, great, but they do it her way, and he says, she’s the boss.

Phyllis takes Lenny’s hand, and he tells her, Dr. Kishore decided to look further than his heart. He had a scan, and there’s a mass on his pancreas. She says, how large? and he says, it’s pretty far gone. Sonny says, that doesn’t mean Lenny doesn’t have options. The doctor said there’s chemotherapy, there’s surgery… Lenny says, that could put them in the poorhouse. He’s not going to do that to her. He leaves, and Sonny tells Phyllis, it’s all right, and she follows Lenny.

Nina says, Jax mentioned that Carly and Jason got engaged, and Carly says, she’s sure Jax did more than just mention it. Nina says he’s worried about Carly, and Carly says, for no reason. Her engagement to Jason, that’s the way things are supposed to be. Nina says, okay. She guesses it’s been a long time coming. Nina’s phone rings. She sees it’s Mike/Sonny, and ignores the call. Carly says she’s going to go talk to Michael, and Nina says, Carly… Carly turns back, and Nina thanks Carly for giving her time with Wiley. Carly says, the way their grandson smiles at Nina, it’s clear she makes him very happy.

Carly leaves, and Nina calls Sonny back. She says she’s sorry she didn’t answer his call earlier (like, literally two seconds ago), and he says he’s sorry to bother her. He didn’t want to make this call. She asks, why? What’s wrong? He says they need her; Phyllis, Lenny, and him. Is there any way she could come home?

On Monday, Maxie tells Brook, he could blow their whole story wide open; Spencer tells Nikolas, maybe it’s a bigger deal than he thinks; and Valentin has someone pinned to the bar with their arm behind their back.

🧔 Who’s Your Daddy…

All about Todd Franco Austin’s father.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/jimmy-lee-holt

🎼 Our Funny Valentin…

He doesn’t just sing at the Nurses Ball.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/gh-star-releases-new-album/

🧼 Soap Sunday…

See what else your favorites have been up to.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/hallmark-channel-soap-sunday-marathon

🐇 Kim Cameo…

But will she bring the bunny?

https://www.bravotv.com/the-daily-dish/andy-cohen-teases-possible-kim-richards-cameo-rhobh-season-11

👠 Not So Pretty Mess…

The divorce saga continues.

Trustee Sues Erika Jayne For $25 Million, Accuses RHOBH Star of Hiding Money For Thomas Girardi and Demands She Return Jewelry, Money, and Assets Fraudulently Transferred to Her

https://people.com/tv/erika-girardi-accused-of-using-her-notoriety-to-hide-assets/

⚖️ Get On the Scale…

If Bethenny is crazy, I don’t want to be sane.

https://okmagazine.com/p/bethenny-frankel-difficult-scale-of-crazy-says-shark-tank-star-kevin-oleary/

📉 Ratings Nosedive…

While I probably wouldn’t miss Ramona, I don’t think she’s the reason for the ratings being down. I think the audience is ready for fewer fights and more fun. Although I think NYC is the least offensive of the franchise.

https://okmagazine.com/p/rhony-ramona-singer-fired-eboni-k-williams-downplay-drama-ratings-plummet/

👗 Porter’s Debut…

But will she inherit Sutton’s wardrobe?

https://pagesix.com/2021/07/14/sutton-stracke-will-always-remember-filming-with-her-daughter/

https://screenrant.com/rhobh-about-sutton-stracke-daughter-porter-stracke/

👏 Clapping Back…

Leah is not having it.

https://www.inquisitr.com/6493808/leah-mcsweeney-claps-back-at-critics-shaming-race-conversations-

👰🏼 It’s Only Been 20 Years…

Emma Bunton finally ties the knot with her long-time love and the father of her children. Loving the dress.

https://www.the-sun.com/entertainment/3280987/emma-bunton-jade-jones-relationship-married-kids/

https://www.hellomagazine.com/brides/20210714117505/emma-bunton-jade-jones-wedding-dress-secret-detail/

💃🏽 Tell Me What You Want…

Where my guilty pleasure is now.

https://www.distractify.com/p/spice-girls-now

🏆 An Award Named Emmy…

All the nominations. You can find the categories in the drop-down menu.

https://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/2021

🐅 Be There Or Be a Rectangle…

This Sunday at 2 pm, check out the Mupo and Friends interview with The Beastmaster himself. And I helped.

👄 Quotes of the Week

Love what you have. Need what you want. Accept what you receive. Give what you can. Always remember, what goes around, comes around…  – Unknown

For most of us the problem isn’t that we aim too high and fail – it’s just the opposite – we aim too low and succeed. – Sir Ken Robinson, English Author, Speaker and Education Advocate

A woman once drove me to drink, and I never had the decency to thank her. – Sir Winston Churchill

You’re the perfect candidate for a total disaster. – Dr. Terry Dubrow, Botched

An eye for an eye will only make the whole world blind. – Mahatma Gandhi

Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it. – Roald Dahl

If you want to live a happy life, tie it to a goal, not to people or things. – Albert Einstein

To bear defeat with dignity, to accept criticism with poise, to receive honors with humility – these are marks of maturity and graciousness. – William Arthur Ward

I believe in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong. I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls. I believe that tomorrow is another day, and I believe in miracles. – Audrey Hepburn

I am so clever that sometimes I don’t understand a single word of what I am saying. – Oscar Wilde

Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you. – Friedrich Nietzsche

If God sends us on stony paths, He provides strong shoes. – Corrie ten Boom

👩🏽‍💼 See You Around the Water Cooler…

It’s here again, those two days we used to, and might again, call the weekend. Regardless of what you’re calling it these days, make sure you stay safe, stay discriminating, and stay knowing a dog will never disappoint you.  

Jul15

July 14, 2021 – Austin Tells the Qs His Agenda, Erika’s Hands Are Tied, Bershan Blows Up the Night & These Days

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Mike/Sonny asks what the doctor said about Lenny’s heart, and Phyllis says, his condition hasn’t improved. Lenny tells Phyllis, his heart’s not failing him now. There’s no need to tell him for a week or two. Sonny says, tell him what? and Phyllis starts to cry. Lenny says his old ticker is getting worse.

On the phone, Ava says she wants to get to Windymere as soon as possible, then back to town in an hour… No, she doesn’t have to wait. She’s Ava Cassadine, at least for the time being… Who, may she ask, is holding the launch at Spoon Island? Who has more right to that launch than she does? (Seriously? She has to wonder about that?)

Laura tells Nikolas that she’s sorry she brought Spencer up. She thinks she just made things worse. He says he’s fine, and he’s glad she tried to get Spencer to call him. Her heart was in the right place. A voice says, father, and Spencer walks in. Nikolas says, Spencer? and Spencer says he’s home. He tells Laura that he’s sorry he didn’t call. He wanted to surprise them all. She knows how he loves surprises. She says, he got what he wanted, and so did she, and hugs him.

Referring to Austin, Michael says, no offense, but who the hell is he? and Scotty says he’s glad Michael asked. Let him introduce… Austin says he’d really like to take care of this himself. He looks at Michael, and says, you’re Michael, right? I’m Austin. Austin Gatlin Holt. Ned says, so he’s telling them… and Brook interrupts, saying, she knows who he is. He delivered Maxie’s baby. He says, yeah, and Olivia says, in the woods? Before the baby was stolen. He asks if Brook knows Maxie, and she says she’s Brook Lynn Quartermaine. Maxie pointed him out to her the night her baby was born. She also just told Brook that he got hired at GH. He says he did just get hired at GH, which makes Monica his new boss. It’s a pleasure to meet her. Monica says, no GH staff members introduce themselves by sabotaging an ELQ meeting, and he says he thinks she knows why he’s there. Does she want to tell everybody, or does she want him to take care of it? She says, if his name is any indication, his father was Jimmy Lee Holt, and his mother was Terry Gatlin. Scotty says, that’s right, and that makes him the grandson of his old pal, Edward Quartermaine.

Anna walks through the hospital with security guard, who says, when Dr. Quartermaine brought him on as security chief, she made it clear he’s to do everything in his power to help the WSB and the PCPD with their investigations. She says she’s trying to track down a helicopter pilot, David Hopkins. He flew Medivac for GH, but she’s learned he since left Port Charles, and is living in the tri-state area. She was hoping he could use his contacts at other hospitals to pin down his whereabouts. She gives him the only photograph she has, and he says he’ll get right on it. He leaves, and Finn approaches Anna, and asks what that was all about. She says, the search for Peter.

Nina says, if Maxie needs help, she’ll get it for her. She knows that. Nina loves her, and will always love her, no matter what Maxie tells her, but Maxie has to talk to her right now. Is she afraid she’s going to steal Bailey? Maxie says she wouldn’t be stealing Bailey; she’d be bringing her back home where she belongs. Nina says Maxie doesn’t mean that. She knows Bailey’s home is with her mother. Maxie says she can tell by the way Nina is looking at her, that Nina thinks she’s lost it. She promises she’s not delusional. She’s not thinking of snatching a baby that’s not hers. She would be bringing her home. Nina says, and her home is with Brook Lynn.

Nina says she knows Maxie is hurting, and no one knows that hurt better than she does. Maxie says she was thinking about that as she was driving there; how Nina lost Nelle, and how she had to give up Avery. That must have been devastating. That’s why she wanted to talk to Nina. Nina is glad Maxie brought up Avery, because like her, Maxie can’t take a baby that’s not hers. Maxie says, that’s not what’s happening, and Nina asks, what is happening? She wants to help Maxie. Please. Maxie says Nina has to promise she’ll keep the secret forever, even if she thinks Maxie is wrong. Nina says, oh God, Maxie. What’s the secret?

Sonny says, the old ticker is still ticking, and Lenny says, for now. Phyllis says, Lenny, but Lenny says he’s just trying to be realistic. Sonny says, Lenny has to listen to the nurse standing beside him, and asks Phyllis what they do to get this ex-Marine in fighting shape. Phyllis asks if Lenny heard that. Mike’s not giving up on him, and neither is she. Lenny says, who’s giving up? He’s just trying to face facts; keep things real. Sonny says, if he’d kept it real, he woudn’t have been able to crawl out of that water. He would have just gone under and given up. Lenny says that was just him being stubborn, and Phyllis says, good thing he was. Sonny says they took him in, and gave him another chance at life. Lenny can consider this payback, but he doesn’t care. He’s not going to let Lenny go.

Laura says, Spencer is so grown, but Spencer says he’s just older, and a little wiser and cuter. She laughs, and asks how long he’s been in town. Where’s his luggage? He says he has a room at the MetroCourt, and Laura says she sees. She says Nikolas is so quiet. Doesn’t he have something to say to his son? Nikolas says, plenty, but he’s not sure if his son is there for him, and Spencer says, that’s understandable. Nikolas is the one who’s been reaching out, while he’s been keeping his distance. Laura says, none of that matters now. Does it, Nikolas? Nikolas says he hopes not. It’s good to see him. Spencer asks if that’s all he’s got, and says it’s good to see Nikolas too. He holds out his hand, and Nikolas asks if that’s all Spencer’s got, and they hug.

Michael asks, who was Jimmy Lee Holt again? Ned says, Jimmy Lee Holt was… Olivia blurts out, the bastard son of Edward and Beatrice Latour. Sorry. As a former single mother two times, she’s not judging him. Austin thanks her, and she tells the others, she read Edward’s memoirs, so sue her. Austin says, as he understands it, illegitimacy wasn’t unique among Edward’s offspring, and Olivia says, just wait until he reads the book. Brace yourself. Valentin says, that means Mr. – Austin says, doctor – Dr. Gatlin Holt is entitled to a certain number of voting shares, but Michael says, not so fast. Anybody can just waltz in here and say they’re entitled to voting shares. Austin says, can they? and Scotty tosses a manila envelope on the table, and says, here’s the proof. DNA, birth certificates, affidavits… All the proof that entitles his client to his rightful share.

Finn asks Anna how it’s going, and she says, slowly. He says, good luck, and she asks, how’s Violet? He says, she’s having one of those magical summers you only get when you’re that age, and Anna says, that’s beautiful. Tell Violet she misses her. 4th of July seems so long ago already. He says he’ll do that… or Anna could tell Violet herself. She’s at Lila’s Kids in the morning, but after that… She says she can’t do that. She’s in New York tomorrow. He asks if she’s seeing a show, and she says, nothing like that. Although she was going to pop into the store at The Plaza to see if she can find something for Violet. They loved reading Eloise together. If that’s all right. He says she doesn’t need his permission to do something nice for Violet, and she says she just didn’t want to overstep; give Violet the wrong idea. He says, about what? and she says, about you and me.

Sonny says he’s sure Dr. Ford is an excellent doctor, but Lenny is going to need a second opinion. Lenny asks Phyllis to tell this guy there’s nothing free in this life, especially the kind of second opinion he’s talking about. Phyllis says, Mike is right. There are plenty of specialists out there, and new treatments coming out all the time. And they have insurance. She starts to walk to the back, and Lenny asks where she’s going. She says, what good is her medical training if she can’t use it for her husband? She’s going online, and she’s not going to stop until she finds a cardiologist that can help him. She leaves, and Lenny tells Sonny, see what you’ve done? Now you’ve given her hope.

Anna tells Finn, forget she said that, and walks to the elevator. He follows, and asks if they can’t talk for a minute. She says, sure, and they walk to a bench. He says he’s always been up front and honest with Violet. She knows they’re not together anymore. They sit, and Anna says, good. She doesn’t mean… She means she’s glad Violet understands. He says he also made sure Violet knows she’s important to Anna. Anna says, she is, and thanks him. He says, and Anna is important to him; she always will be. She says, really? and he says, really. She says, after everything that went down with Peter and Chase, she was pretty sure he wanted nothing to do with her. He says he was angry. Sometimes he still is. When he was working around the clock to save Chase, there were moments he blamed her. She says, it was her fault, but he says, it was only one person’s fault – Peter. She says she’s going to find Peter and bring him to justice, and he says, justice would be good, but it’s more important to him that Chase is improving. She says she still has so much to make up for, and he tells her, stop. Can they stop talking about Peter for just one moment? Find a way to… She says, be friends?

Michael says, of course (🍷) they’re going to request that all the paperwork be independently verified. Ned says, Dr. Gatlin, and Austin says, he was wrong about that; just call him Austin. Ned says, Austin. He hates to be the bearer of bad news, but even if those documents are real, Austin has no right to any share of ELQ. His grandfather was explicit about cutting Jimmy Lee and all of his descendants out of his estate. As he’s sure Jimmy Lee knows. Otherwise, Jimmy Lee himself would be there. Austin says his father has the best excuse in the world not to be there. He’s dead. Six months ago. Monica says she’s sorry for his loss, and Austin thanks her. That’s why he’s here, to stake his claim. Because what was rightfully his, is rightfully Austin’s.

Nikolas says Spencer’s grandmother is right. He’s a grown man now. He’s just sorry he missed seeing it happen. Laura asks, what happened to his trip around the world? The last time she talked to him, he was on the Amalfi coast. He says, nobody goes there anymore; it’s too popular. She says it’s nice to know some things never change. He’s still a snob. Spencer says, just particular. He learned from experts. Nikolas says, obviously, he’s overjoyed to see Spencer, but after all those months of radio silence, why now? Spencer says he wasn’t sure he’d be welcomed; hence, the MetroCourt. Nikolas says, Windymere is Spencer’s home. Spencer is always welcome. He’s sorry if he made Spencer feel otherwise. Spencer says, it’s all right, father. It wasn’t him. Ava comes in, saying, who’s monopolizing the launch… She sees Spencer and stops short.

Nina tells Maxie, if there’s one thing she’s learned to do effectively, it’s keep a secret. Maxie says, good, because it’s a matter of life or death. Nina says she can see it’s tearing Maxie up. She’s here, and promises to keep Maxie’s secret, no matter what. Maxie thanks her, and says, Bailey isn’t really Brook’s baby. Bailey is hers. Nina asks what she means, and Maxie says she gave her baby to Brook to keep her safe from Peter. She starts to cry again, and Nina says, Brook had her baby in a hotel room in Ithaca, and Michael and Willow brought them back here. Maxie says, no. Bailey doesn’t exist; she never did. Brook’s baby is Louise.

Ava says hello to Spencer, and Spencer apologizes for tying up the launch. He wasn’t sure of his reception, and thought he might have to make an early departure. Nikolas says he told Spencer this is his home, and Ava says, of course (🍷) it is. Welcome home. She didn’t want to interrupt. She just came by to make sure the movers didn’t forget anything. Spencer says, grandmother told him that Ava and his father were experiencing difficulties, and she says, if by difficulties, he means divorce. He says, the last he heard, they were renewing their vows. What changed? Ava says, it’s okay. He doesn’t have to pretend to be sorry their marriage is ending. He says if he’d known, he’d have come home sooner, and she says, to hammer in the final nail? but he says, to be there for his father.

Finn tells Anna, what he’d like to think is they’re… What are they? Friends? Exes? He doesn’t think it matters as long as they’re good. She says she’d like that, but they both know there will always be this thing between them where she turned a blind eye to Peter and what he did. He says she had to learn the hard way. Peter had… has a way of bringing out the worst in people and making them betray their best intentions. He flashes back to being with Peter on the roof, and Peter telling him that Anna broke the rules. He didn’t sentence Chase; Anna did. Finn remembers throwing Peter down the stairs, and Anna asks if he’s all right. He says he’s sorry for being so hard on her. He realizes the truth can sometimes be complicated. He should have been more understanding. She shrugs, and thanks him. She asks, what changed?

Sonny asks, what’s the matter with hope? and Lenny says, it may help Phyllis now, but it will cost her a lot more in the end. Sonny doesn’t know what Lenny means, and Lenny says, whatever they do about his condition, it has to be within their means, because insurance only covers so much. Sonny tells him, don’t worry; he has it covered. Lenny says, he’s the one who pays Mike/Sonny. He knows how much Mike has. Sonny says, it doesn’t matter about the money. Lenny gave him a chance. It’s only fair. Lenny says he’s touched by the offer, but it ain’t gonna be cheap. And he can’t… He can’t drive Phyllis deeper into debt. He’s dying, and by the time he’s in the ground, Phyllis could lose the Tan-O, and for what? Sonny says, for the only thing that matters. She would do it for him.

Nina says, what about Maxie giving birth in the woods? and Maxie says, that’s all true. Nina says, and the hiker who happened to be a doctor helping deliver the baby… Maxie says, he’s real. He’s in Port Charles. Nina can ask him herself. Nina asks if Brook was with her when Louise was born, but Maxie says, it was just the hiker/doctor and Peter’s imposter nurse. Nina says, she didn’t take the baby? and Maxie says, she tried to. Maxie clocked her and ran. Nina says, after giving birth? and Maxie says, adrenaline is a wonderful thing. Nina wonders if she even has to ask Maxie how the nurse ended up in the mine shaft, and Maxie says, she lured the nurse into it, but she swears she didn’t push her. Nina asks how Brook got involved, and where’s Brook’s baby? Maxie says, Brook was only pretending to be pregnant. She was going to give Brook her baby without anyone knowing, especially Peter. It was the only way Maxie could protect her from the monster who is her father. Nina says she understands, but there’s one thing she’s unclear on. Everyone in town thinks Valentin is Bailey’s father. Is he in on it too?

Valentin says, on behalf of the Quartermaine family… Ned says, of which he’s not a part, and Valentin says he’s Ned’s granddaughter’s father, but Ned says, that doesn’t make him family. Valentin says, anyway, if Austin is joining them, the more the merrier. Olivia says, if there’s another member of the family, the voting shares get shuffled yet again, right? and Ned says, not for Jimmy Lee’s descendants. Olivia says, but he’s Edward’s flesh and blood, and Austin says, before the speculation starts to spiral out of control… Brook says, if he thinks this is spiraling out of control, he’d better head for the hills, because this is nothing. Austin says he’s heard. Their family squabbles are legendary. Olivia says if he thinks the squabbles are interesting, wait until he sees Thanksgiving. Austin says, to be perfectly clear, he’s not here for a free meal, Thanksgiving or otherwise. He was just hired at GH, and from what he understands, he’s going to be paid pretty well, so that’s not why he’s here. Monica asks, why is he here? and he says, because his father was really fond of Port Charles, even though Port Charles was never really fond of his father. Ned says, grandfather’s will was probated years ago. Scotty’s client may be related by blood, but he has no legal standing to be at this meeting. Scotty says he has news for Ned. Austin’s legal standing has just gone up a notch. Ned asks how he figures, and Austin says he’s contesting his grandfather’s will. A judge will decide his rights. Not Ned, or any of the other Quartermaines.

Lenny tells Sonny, Phyllis is his life. She’s his heart, his everything. Even so, she didn’t sign on for this; going broke just to buy him some time. Sonny asks if they promised to love each other in sickness and in health, and if they did, she signed up for it. Lenny says, til death do us part, and Sonny says, that’s not going to happen, because he’s going to find a way to meet these bills. Lenny asks how he can be so sure, and Sonny says he doesn’t know, but he’s going to find a way.

Maxie says, Valentin has no idea Bailey isn’t his daughter. Nina says, so every day he’s bonding with a baby that isn’t his? and Maxie says she’s focused on protecting her daughter from Peter. She hasn’t given much thought to Valentin’s feelings. Nina says, she gets it. Valentin is far from perfect, but… Maxie says, but what? Exactly what does Nina have a problem with? She’s trusting Nina with her daughter’s life. Nina says, all right. She won’t tell Valentin. They all have their secrets, and she swore she would protect Maxie’s. Maxie says, thank God. Nina has no idea how hard it’s been to be around her daughter, and pretend she’s not hers. She’s been doing a terrible job of covering, which is why she thinks she needs to put some distance between them until Peter is caught and behind bars.

Finn says, Anna is right; something has changed. She says it’s clearly troubling him. Is there anything she can do to help? He says, Anna… when the security guy calls her name. He hands her a paper, and says he may have found what she’s looking for. She thanks him, and Finn asks if it’s about Peter. She says, it is. Can he wait a minute? She has to make a phone call. He says, no worries, this can wait, and she leaves.

Nikolas tells Spencer not to worry about him. He can take care of himself. It’s Ava that… Spencer says, Ava what? What’s going on? Laura says his father didn’t want to worry him, and Ava says, she and his father have different priorities. Spencer says, clearly. What’s come between them that’s so insurmountable? Ava says, she’s sure Spencer recalls that her marriage to his father began for all the wrong reasons. It’s ending for all the right ones. Now if they’ll excuse her, she doesn’t want to interrupt this happy family reunion. She is glad he’s back. For his father’s sake.

Michael asks what right Austin has to challenge a will that’s already probated? Scotty asks Austin to let him handle this. Only their attorneys will be copied. He filed the papers today challenging Edward’s decision to give certain family members shares, and other family members nothing. Monica says, that was his right, and Brook says, it doesn’t have to be fair. It’s family. Just ask her grandmother. Ned says, all he left her was a jar of Pickle-Lila relish, and Austin says he’d like to know more about that. Brook says, enough about the pickles. Those were his wishes. Austin can’t just come in here and change things. Austin says, spoken like a true child of privilege, and Brook says, this family isn’t changing for him. Michael says they’ll have the documents checked out and go from there. Ned says, it won’t matter; the will is ironclad. Valentin gets a text, and says, excuse him. Normally he enjoys watching them savage themselves, but he is CEO, and can’t allow the proceedings to continue if there’s confusion as to who gets a vote, and how much vote they have. Ned says, he’s telling them, Austin doesn’t get a vote. Valentin says, either way, they can’t continue if they don’t know who gets how much voting share. It would leave the company open to all kinds of outcomes, and he’s not going to let that happen on his watch. Olivia asks if Valentin is correct, and Ned says, he’s not entirely wrong. Valentin says, this meeting is adjourned. Good day everyone. He leaves, and Monica says, for once she agrees with Valentin. They can’t pass judgement until they have all the facts.

Nina says she supports Maxie’s decision if she feels that’s what’s best for her and her baby, and Maxie says, but…? Nina says, but, if Maxie and Brook brought Valentin into the loop, he would go along with it. The only difference is, he won’t have his heart broken any more than it’s going to be. Maxie says she can’t risk telling him, and Nina promised she wouldn’t either. Nina says she won’t; it’s Maxie’s secret to tell, but she really wishes Maxie would. That way she could stay in Port Charles and fight. Lure Peter out of the shadows, and Valentin will be right by her side. So will Anna, and Britt, and Aunt Liesl, and her. They love her. She’ll have an army of people at her side, and if Peter dares show his face… Maxie says, Peter won’t show his face. And they’ve lost too many people for her to ask anyone to risk their life for her mistakes, but she can’t think of anyone she’d rather be in a foxhole with. Nina says, they’re sisters. Whatever Maxie needs. Nina hugs her.

Lenny says, fine. Mike/Sonny wants to help him live longer so he gets more time with the woman he loves, he doesn’t have the strength to fight him. Sonny says, don’t worry. When Lenny gets better, they’ll put on the gloves, and he’ll kick Lenny’s butt. Lenny says it feels like he already is. He’s not going to quit, is he? Sonny says Lenny’s not going to quit either. They can’t do that, for Phyllis. Phyllis comes back in, and says she’s been looking for just the right specialist. She sets the laptop on a table, and says she thinks she found one.

Anna says she had to adjust her travel plans, and Finn says, New York? She says, yeah, and Valentin joins them. He says he got her text. Sorry if he’s interrupting. Anna says, Valentin’s been helping her with her search for Peter. Valentin asks what she’s got, and she says he knows she was looking for the helicopter pilot. She found a lead, and she’s going to follow it to New York, but she realizes he’s working hard at ELQ, so she’ll just keep him posted. He says things are very much up in the air at ELQ, and that’s not going to stop him from going with her.

Austin apologizes for melodrama, even if it is kind of a family tradition. Ned asks what he knows about the Quartermaine family traditions, and Olivia says he doesn’t know the half of it. Austin says, she’s Olivia, right? He saw her at the MetroCourt. She says, nice to meet him. Don’t mistake her friendliness for being on his side. This is her family. He says he’s her family too, and she says, remains to be seen. Austin says, please understand. He’s not there to take anything away from any of them. He’s just there for vindication for his father, and to take his seat at the family table.

Laura says it’s so good to have Spencer home, and he says, it’s good to be home. Ava tries to slip out, but Nikolas sees her. He asks if she found something, and she says, this was left behind in one of the drawers. Does he remember? She shows him a bracelet, and he says, of course (🍷) he remembers. He saw it in the window of that boutique on Charles Street. He bid against someone for it. Spencer says he hopes Nikolas didn’t bid too high, and Laura says, Spencer. Nikolas says he would have spent ten times as much, and she says, yes. She thinks she’ll give it to Avery; she’ll love it. He says, as long as someone is enjoying it, and she says, Spencer doesn’t need the launch after all. She’ll be on her way. She’s so glad he has his son back. She hopes it’s a comfort. She leaves, and Laura says, wait, and follows. Spencer says he’s sorry Nikolas is upset. He wishes there was something he could do. Nikolas says, spare him the crocodile tears. It’s what he wants, isn’t it?

Ava tells Laura, this really isn’t necessary. Laura has always been polite about it, but Ava knows she’s never approved of her marriage to Laura’s son. Laura says, that’s not true. As time has gone on, she’s seen that Ava and Nikolas belong together. Ava says she has a choice to make. Her marriage or her daughter’s safety. It’s really no choice at all. Laura says she understands. She really does, but she wants Ava to know she’s going to do absolutely everything in her power to find this sick bastard who came between Ava and Nikolas, and bring him to justice, so that Ava can be with her family. So she can be with their family.

Spencer says Nikolas wasn’t there when Ava went back on her word, and refused to testify against Valentin. He thought Valentin had killed Nikolas. Nikolas says Ava had a badly scarred face from the fire, and Spencer of all people, should have sympathy for that. Spencer says he didn’t come home to start a fight. He’s here because… Nikolas says, because? and Spencer says, because he loves Nikolas. And believe it or not, he misses Nikolas, and if his grandmother says Nikolas needs him, isn’t that reason enough? They hug, and Laura comes in and smiles.

Austin says he doesn’t expect them to hand over the keys to the kingdom, but he does hope the next time they see each other, it’s a little easier, because there’s going to be a next time. He walks to the door, and they all follow. At the front door, he turns and says, you know, it used to make him really sad that he didn’t know his grandfather. That he didn’t know what it felt like to be in a home like this. And he really looks forward to getting to know them, and spending some time with them. Because they’re family, right? He walks out, and they stand there like a sad family portrait.

Maxie says she knows Nina has other things on her mind. Other people in Nixon Falls. Nina says, wherever she is, be it there or Nixon falls, if Maxie needs her, find her. She’s really proud of Maxie’s courage. Maxie says, courage? She’s running for her life. She doesn’t know if she’d call that courage. Nina says Maxie is doing what she needs to do to save her baby. The next time she sees Maxie, she hopes it’s in Port Charles, with her little girl in her arms. Maxie hopes so too, and thanks Nina for keeping her secret. She knew if anyone would understand, it would be Nina.

Sonny says it looks like Phyllis hit paydirt, and she reads the doctor’s credentials, and says, education and training at hospitals so impressive, even Lenny has heard of them. Professor at an even better school. She’s also director of cardio care at one of the highest rated hospitals in America, and she specializes in Lenny’s form of heart disease. Lenny says, sounds expensive, and she says, sounds like they found their second opinion. Sonny says, hear that Lenny? Phyllis has spoken. Lenny says, she does that, and Sonny tells Phyllis, do him a favor. Keep Lenny on his meds, and he’ll take care of the rest. Phyllis asks Lenny if he heard that. She and Mike/Sonny have decided they’re all going to New York Methodist Hospital whether he likes it or not.

Valentin asks Anna, what’s the new lead? Finn says he’ll leave them to it, but Anna says Finn deserves to hear this too. The helicopter pilot is now flying out of New York Methodist, and if she’s right, he was piloting the chopper that almost landed on the roof the night Peter disappeared. Valentin says, if anyone can tell them if Peter got on board the chopper, it’s him. Anna tells Finn to wish them luck, and he says, good luck. Anna and Valentin leave, and the smile falls from Finn’s face.

Tomorrow, Maxie tells Sasha that she’s taking a step back, Nina says she can’t figure Brook out, Gladys tells Brando that it’s his time, and Sonny tells Phyllis, it does seem familiar.

The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills

We revisited the stupidity of last week’s altercation between Sutton and Crystal, when Crystal tried to educate us on the definition of violate, and Sutton said Crystal had ugly leather pants. Garcelle took Crystal aside, and told her that the word she’d used wasn’t cool, but Crystal said Sutton had crossed the line. In Garcelle’s interview, she said, girl, please, which about summed it up. More hot toddies were consumed, and in Dorit’s interview, she said, insulting someone’s outfit goes below the belt. I wondered how long it took her to think that one up. Sutton apologized for what she’d said about Crystal’s pants, but said it was hard for her be with Crystal, since Crystal had been talking smack about her. Crystal refused to apologize for Sutton’s actions, and said Sutton was an inappropriate and awkward person. Period. Everyone was obviously surprised and/or shocked by this, and I wondered why no one said anything about this mean girlchild. Garcelle asked what Sutton wanted to move on, and Sutton said Crystal had hurt her, especially using the word manic; it was too much. Crystal stomped her foot and said she wasn’t taking it back. Dorit tried to explain why it was wrong, saying Sutton had confessed that her father committed suicide and was manic. Crystal said she wasn’t judging Sutton based on her father, but understood why it was a trigger. She took it back, which sounded juvenile, and LisaR made her repeat everything, which was even more juvenile. Sutton said she was more than happy to move on, and in her interview, said she was lowering her expectations and moving on. LisaR said, be true to yourself, take it a day at a time, be in the moment, and lock your door. Apparently, she’s writing fortune cookies now. Hey, she’s admitted she’s a hustler.

Kathy, Dorit, and Kyle tested positive for covid, and Kyle got seriously emotional along with it. We saw the headlines saying Erika had helped Tom embezzle from airplane crash victims, and that their divorce was a sham used to hide assets. Erika told the women, things were said that were wrong, and people were believing it. It was terrible, and she did nothing wrong. Her divorce wasn’t a sham. In her interview, she said, divorce was painful, and for it to be called a sham made it even more so. It took a lot of courage to leave, and in two seconds some a-hole said it was a sham, and had everyone believing it. The lawsuit was against the firm, and she was being attached to the firm. LisaR said Erika was strong, and would get through this. Erika said she had high anxiety because of lockdown, and she didn’t do this, and started crying.

LisaR and Crystal visited Erika in her new place, bringing muffins and liquor respectively. Erika said the best part of the house was outside, and they sat in the cabana. LisaR said it had a great vibe, and Erika said her new motto was, why not? as she poured champagne. Garcelle went over to Kyle’s place, and Kyles said she’d been cleared, but wanted to stay safe. She met with Garcelle in the backyard; her standing on the upstairs terrace, and Garcelle on the ground. Garcelle said Kyle looked good, considering, and in Garcelle’s interview, she said she and Kyle had come a long way. We flashed back to the Reunion where Kyle said Garcelle hadn’t ponied up her charity bid, and Kyle subsequently apologizing. Garcelle said she couldn’t believe she was playing Romeo to Kyle’s Juliet, but she wasn’t drinking poison for Kyle. Kyle said her family had burned rubber leaving when she tested positive, and in her interview, she talked about her character having Scarlet Fever on Little House on the Prairie. She didn’t need life to imitate art. She told Garcelle that she wanted to do a girls trip to La Quinta, and was inviting everyone.

Erika said she was not good, and had called her shrink. LisaR said it was hard when you put a person on a pedestal… and Erika said, then found out they were a POS. In her interview, Erika said she didn’t want Tom’s actions to kill what she’d created. Garcelle told Kyle that every day there was another horrible allegation. Erika told LisaR and Crystal that every day she asked herself what else was coming. In Erika’s interview, she said Tom wasn’t going down with the ship. He was taking all of them with him. People who’d stayed loyal to him. Garcelle told Kyle, she didn’t think Erika knew; they all understood husbands had secrets. Kyle said, maybe Erika saw it coming, and got out. Erika talked about being in the dark as far as Tom’s finances went, and we found out that Crystal was also clueless, which was much less of a surprise, since she’s five. LisaR said most women didn’t know anything about the home financial situation, because they didn’t make the money. She paid the bills in her household and knew everything. In LisaR’s interview, she said she’d always known where the money was, and where the dead bodies were buried. Erika said the more money Tom made, the more he shut her out. In Crystal’s interview, she said she knew Rob would be happy to share the information, but if he didn’t, it would be a red flag for her. In Erika’s interview, she said she knew how mean, vicious, and utterly dismissive Tom was. He wins; you lose. That was the way it had always been.  

Kyle visited Kathy, who showed her some Christmas wreaths she’d made. Kyle said she was still depressed, and Kathy said covid was an emotional thing. Kyle whined about not doing a good job parenting right now. Portia had slept through some of her classes. In Kyle’s interview, she said, while other parents talked about their kids missing their friends, her fear was that Portia would like being alone. Kathy said Kyle wasn’t alone, and in her interview, told us that she and Kyle hadn’t been on good terms for a while. It felt wonderful to be there for each other. They talked about Erika, and Kathy said, at the end of the day, life was a poker game, and everybody had to show their cards. Kyle told her, shut up.

LisaR visited Sutton, and met her new blonde lab puppy Waylon. Her daughter Porter was also home. In Sutton’s interview, she said Porter was her oldest child and a college freshman. She was a girlie girl like Sutton, and quiet, not like Sutton. She was double-majoring in history and French, and was a mother’s dream. Sutton wanted to keep her kids being kids for as long as possible. She also said, divorce sucked, and Erika’s was the worst ever. She told LisaR that she wasn’t making any judgements without knowing the facts, and LisaR said, why would she? I dunno. Maybe because that’s what most of them do on this show?

Kyle met Erika in the park, and Erika said she’d never been so overwhelmed. She was in a place where her hands were tied. She’d never have predicted this. She said she had a story, but couldn’t tell it. It was so hard. They were both crying, and Erika said there was nothing she could do but wait to tell her side of the story. The feeling of not knowing was huge. Things were alleged, and it was a lonely place to be. Being the possible target of a Federal criminal investigation was not cool. Things were said that were untrue, and everyone was questioning everything. It was lonely and quiet. She said Kyle would be shocked to find out how quickly people turned from you and distanced themselves, but they’d been there when times were good. In her interview, she said, if you wanted to know who your friends were, go broke, go to jail, or ask where to bury the body. Tom was a proud man. He was resistant to anything, even a conversation. She told Kyle that she’d noticed he couldn’t see or hear well, and apologized for laying all of this on her. Kyle said, that’s what friends were for, and Erika could always call her. Another headline said Tom wanted Erika to pay his attorney fees, and she said he knew she couldn’t perform. He knew everything. In her interview, she said, as much as he’d encouraged her, she thought he envied her. His view of her had changed. Who TF did she think she was? He gave her the ball, and she ran into the end zone with it, and now he didn’t like it. People didn’t know what it was like. They saw it was so great on the outside, but it wasn’t so great at home. She didn’t think anyone understood how the outside looked one way, but she’d go to hug him, and he woudn’t hug her back. She told Kyle, Tom was down to punish her ass to the ground, and Kyle said Erika had to be scared for her future. Erika said it was all she could do to wake up, and not want to go back to sleep. It was a disaster. Tom was in his own personal hell, and she couldn’t help him. It was torture to see someone melt.   

Next time, a trip to La Quinta, Tom’s assets are frozen, and Erika says she’s not going be okay for a long time.

The Real Housewives of New York City

When we last left, Ramona had literally run away from a conversation with Eboni because it was too heavy for her. She told Sonja that she knew the issues were out there, but if she talked about them all the time, she’d go crazy. Eboni said she didn’t give a damn about changing Ramona, but wanted to go forward from a place of authenticity. Ramona didn’t get to tell her to lighten up, and change the topic. Sonja said Eboni was energizing her, but Ramona only wanted to hear about the matchmaker. In Sonja’s interview, she said the women didn’t listen, and had to learn that skill. Eboni said she wasn’t mad, she just wanted to have a conversation. Ramona wouldn’t engage, putting her in a tough position. They sat down at a beautifully decorated table for a gourmet meal, and Eboni wanted to tell them something. All of a sudden, Leah started bawling, but said it wasn’t about her. Ramona wondered why the waterworks, and Leah pointed at Eboni. Eboni said she wanted to share that her grandma had passed. I think Eboni would have gotten through this announcement just fine, but Leah’s crying made her cry. There was a group hug. In her interview, Eboni said, this is where Ramona shows up. They might have their differences, but she was big sister Ramona at times like this.

Eboni wanted a tattoo, but Ramona said she was emotional and should wait. In Eboni’s interview, she said she didn’t want to wait to honor her grandmother, and knew this was the moment. She told tattoo artist Ryan, don’t f*** it up. In Leah’s interview, she said she and Eboni had lost their grandmother’s within two weeks of each other, and getting tattoos together was beautiful and special. She got the name Marie tattooed in her wrist in script, and Eboni got Katie. Sonja got drunk. In her interview, Bershan said nothing logical was coming out of Sonja’s mouth. Ramona wouldn’t quit trying to get Eboni to change her mind, and Leah finally told her, if she couldn’t be supportive, get out. In Eboni’s interview, she said, it hurt like a bitch, and in Leah’s interview, she said Ramona had the amazing talent of being annoying in every situation. In Bershan’s interview, she said Eboni’s delivery wasn’t going to work with this group. They didn’t want a preacher or a teacher, but a friend.

In her interview, Leah said the women were going to get a history lesson whether they wanted to or not. They were there to be 100% tourist. They went to Pioneer Village, a recreation of Salem 1630. Tour guide Daniel told them to put on pilgrim costumes, and in LuAnn’s interview, she said she hadn’t come this far in life to dress like that. She and Ramona suddenly had to go to the bathroom, and Eboni said, wearing the colonizer’s uniform rubbed against her spirit, and passed. Eboni and Leah discussed Sonja’s drinking, as Sonja once again blamed it on her water pill. Leah said, it was always everything and everyone else, but not the drinking.

Ramona made poopie on the bathroom floor, causing Sonja to pee herself laughing. Once again proving the casts on these shows are really five. The women went to an Italian restaurant. You could tell by the red checkered table cloths, but it was still Salem-ed up. The owner came over to their table, and LuAnn was compelled to speak to him in Italian because she couldn’t help herself. Bershan said the group was boring, and they were being grandmas, but I wasn’t sure what she wanted, since it wasn’t like they were in Vegas. In Leah’s interview, she said that wasn’t the way to get to know people. Steam came out of The Countess’s ears, and LuAnn said Bershan had the audacity to call them old ladies. She didn’t know them. Bershan said she didn’t mean to be insensitive, but LuAnn said that was exactly what she was being. In Bershan’s interview, she said she just wanted to change the mood. Are they on a girls trip or not? Again, I wasn’t sure what it was she wanted out of it. Eboni suggested Bershan tell them about herself, and Bershan said she was suing a lot of people. Sonja said never sued anyone; they sued her. Bershan said she was in some kind of fight with her ex over her eggs, and in LuAnn’s interview, she said that didn’t mean Bershan got to scramble theirs. Bershan made fun of how animated Sonja can get, and said Sonja never wanted to be normal; just an effing clown. Ouch.

Leah said Bershan didn’t know them well enough to make those judgements, and LuAnn said, how dare she talk to any of them like that? In LuAnn’s interview, she wondered where Ramona’s loyalty was, since she was laying low. In Ramona’s interview, she said, Bershan was never like this one-on-one. She was always embracing and funny. This isn’t funny. After the waitress was sufficiently uncomfortable, they ordered food. Ramona got on a nearby table, and danced, even though I don’t think there was any music. In her interview, she said she wanted to steer the boat in a new direction. Bershan was being embarrassing. Bershan said someone in the group had been dissing Leah, and in her interview, Leah said Bershan was a bullsh*t artist, who put herself in this position. She said Bershan came at her, and didn’t want to finish it. After the entire table cajoled, pleaded, and threatened, Bershan finally said that Ramona told her that she didn’t really connect with Leah a lot. This was the big reveal?  We saw a clip where Bershan asked if Ramona considered Leah a friend, and Ramona said she wasn’t sure, but they were working on the relationship. Leah said she didn’t connect with Ramona either, even though she’d just called Bershan a bullsh*t artist, and she left. LuAnn suggested Ramona dance on the table some more, and they all left Ramona and Bershan sitting at the table. I hope they tip these poor people who have to wait on their sorry asses, and then they dine and dash. In Ramona’s interview, she said she didn’t blame them for leaving. She wanted to leave too, but she was the one who brought Bershan. Sonja was straggling behind the others, and about to sit back down, probably forgetting why she got up in the first place. She said she’d stay for Ramona, and told Bershan that she was rude and not intuitive. In Sonja’s interview, she wondered, who would take advice from this woman? She wouldn’t. The three of them went outside – again, I hope after leaving a tip. Ramona said Bershan messed up big time. She went after Leah, when all Ramona had said was that Bershan should make her own decision about Leah. They were so loud, people were looking out their windows from apartments up above. Ramona told Bershan that she never said anything negative about Leah. While she was saying this, she helped Sonja drink a glass of wine through her mask.  

Bershan called them phonies, and Ramona ran back in the restaurant to get her scarf. Sonja went with her, and said Bershan was a wet blanket. Leah, LuAnn, and Eboni were already back at the hotel, when Bershan showed up, saying she was sorry; she’d had too much to drink, Leah said she didn’t get to do that because she Bershan hadn’t had a lot to drink. In Leah’s interview, she said Bershan couldn’t use drinking as an excuse, and pretend she didn’t blow up the whole effing night. Bershan said she thought Ramona set her up, although she didn’t exactly explain how, and she’d been the one to bring it up. Sonja and Ramona stumbled into the elevator, and went to the basement. Eboni told Bershan that she thought an apology would go a long way. In Eboni’s interview, she said she thought Bershan was sorry about the fallout, but not for her actions. Leah said she’d thought she and Ramona had a breakthrough in the Hamptons. That’s why it hurt to hear that Ramona said something negative. We flashed back to Ramona comforting Leah, and talking about Leah’s grandmother.

Sonja and Ramona stumbled back to the others, and Sonja said Bershan still rubbed her the wrong way. Bershan told Sonja to walk away, and said Sonja was being a clown again. In Ramona’s interview, she said she’d just put out a fire. Now Bershan was torching the room. In LuAnn’s interview, she said it wasn’t bad enough Bershan called Sonja a clown the first time. Now she was going in for the second round. Sonja and Bershan made animated gestures at each other, and Bershan said, where’s your speaking, bitch? Leah said, enough, and Sonja said Bershan was projecting. Use your brain, bitch.  

Next time, Sonja and Bershan get in each other’s faces, and security is called; LuAnn says, Ramona started this sh*t; Leah talks to Sonja about her drinking; a session with a medium; and a haunted house.   

🌅 Before the Dawn…

I had an exciting day yesterday, contributing to the next Marc Singer’s interview on Mupo & Friends on YouTube. It will be airing this Sunday, July 18th, at 2 pm. You can always catch it another time, but there’s live chat during the premiere, and we can talk. Sort of. Join me tomorrow for soap and what will no doubt be the most amazing properties you’ve ever seen, but will never ever be able to afford. Until then, stay safe, stay ethical, and stay remembering, at the end of the day, life is a poker game, and everybody has to show their cards.

Jul8

July 7, 2021 – Bad News Travels Fast In Port Charles, Sutton Has Enough Of Crystal, NYC Goes To Salem, VanderPup Marathon & Dawn

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Sonny and Phyllis walk through a 4th of July celebration, and Phyllis hands Sonny a flag. She tells him that Lenny is going to join them at the parade. He loves the high school band, and the majorettes in the unforms that are always a little too snug. He says he misses Lenny, but he’s glad Phyllis talked him into taking it easy tonight. She says, what about him? He seems to be working like crazy. Why doesn’t he take it easy, and enjoy some rare time off?

Dante asks if Sam and Elizabeth really started the fire, and Elizabeth says, it was just some harmless fun. Finn says they might not want to say anymore, and Sam says, please. Everything was under control… until she had a little bit of tequila. Maybe a lot. Dante says, that’s funny. All these buildings are full of flammable materials. One spark, the whole thing goes up. Sam says, boom, and Elizabeth says, but it didn’t. He says that’s not the point, and Sam says, seriously, take off the badge; it’s a holiday. Elizabeth gets up and says she’s taking Sam home, but Dante says, no one’s going anywhere. Not until he gets some answers. Sam says, or what? and he says, or he takes them down to the station.

Cameron says, if Dev hadn’t made him think Josslyn wasn’t into him, what would have happened? Would they have gotten together after they kissed at the dance? Would they be together now? She says she doesn’t know. They never got the chance to find out.

Maxie rocks Louise/Bailey, and says she’s so happy to see her. She’s missed her so much. With all her heart and soul. Monica comes in, and Maxie says, isn’t she beautiful? Monica says, yes, she is. She’s gorgeous. Can she hold Bailey? Maxie seems hesitant.

Anna and Valentin kiss, and Anna asks what he’s doing. None of that. He says he kissed her, and if you ask him, it’s long overdue. Ditto if you ask me.

Obrecht meets Nina at Charlie’s and they hug. Obrecht says their paths have barely crossed since Nina has been back in town. Nina says she knows, but now they have time to catch up. Tell her everything. How is she? Obrecht says, so much has happened, she wouldn’t know where to start, and Nina says, all good, I hope. Obrecht says, some wonderful, some heart-wrenching, but they can talk about her later. Nina is the one who’s been off on an adventure. Nina says, that’s one way of putting it, and Obrecht asks, what exactly is out there that’s kept her away from Port Charles for so long?

Sonny says, if the heat continues, he may take Phyllis up on her offer, and she asks what the weather has to do with it. She takes out her keys, and says, take her car. Go visit Nina in Port Charles. She holds the keys out to him.

Carly says sorry Jason has to stick around for Vincent Novak’s sake. She knows he’d rather be at the bridge. He says, wouldn’t she? and she says, hell yeah. The view of the fireworks is much better from there. He says he’ll survive, and she tells him, she used to resent that bridge. She hated it because it was a Jason and Robin thing. It felt very off-limits to her. (Have I mentioned that I hate Carly?) He says he took her there himself, and she says, it’s a girl thing. They should go back to the bridge one day. He says, whenever she wants. Deal? She says, deal. Britt and Jax come out of the elevator, laughing, and walk over to the bar. Carly asks if they’re together, and Britt says, sure are. Small world, isn’t it?

Elizabeth says, the station? and Dante says, yeah. Sam gets up, and says so he wants to detain them? Arrest them? She holds out her wrists, and he says he wasn’t going to take it that far, but he could have them for drunk and disorderly, public disturbance… She pushes him, and asks why he doesn’t add assaulting a cop while he’s at it. He says, right here, pointing to his cheek, and she takes a swing at him, but fails miserably, nearly falling. He tries to grab her, but they both fall in the water.

Josslyn asks if Cameron and Dev ever talked about… He says, they talked around it, kind of. The more he thinks about that last night, the more he thinks Dev wanted to come clean about that journal. She says, he just ran out of time. It’s so stupid. He says, what? and she says, why didn’t they all just talk to each other, and say how they were really feeling? He says, that would have made things a little easier, but she says, it would have made them real. Instead, they were just pretending. He says she has no idea. Does she remember when he helped her make Oscar jealous? She says, yeah. He brought it up a couple months ago, and let it drop. He says, if he’d had the courage to finish what he was saying, it was that when he was pretending to be into her, he wasn’t pretending at all.

Monica suggests they put Bailey back in the carriage, but Maxie says, it’s okay. Monica says Maxie’s arms must be getting tired, but Maxie says she could hold this little peanut all day long. Monica asks if she doesn’t want to spend some time with James and Georgie, and Maxie says, they’re with her mom and Mac, which allowed her to spend some time with this little one. Brook walks in, and Monica says she’s sure Bailey wants to see her mommy.

Anna backs away from Valentin, and says, this is inappropriate. He moves forward until her back is to the railing, and says, is it? She says, it’s not their relationship; it’s never been their relationship. He says maybe he’s crazy, but it felt like she kissed him back. She says, okay, fine. She kissed him back, but it can’t happen again.

Sonny thanks Phyllis for the offer, but says, it’s no time to take a vacation. She asks what he’s afraid of. That Nina’s happy where she is without him, or if he goes and tells her how he feels, she might just say she feels the same way?

Obrecht says, what’s waiting for Nina back in that Pennsylvania town? Or is it a who? Nina says, Obrecht just assumes there’s a man? and Obrecht says, is there?… There is. Nina says, yes, there is. She met someone and it’s really good for her. She believes it’s really good for him. Obrecht says, that’s wonderful. Does this mystery man have a name, and does she have any pictures? Nina says, Mike, and Obrecht says, Mike, how industrial. Mike…? Nina says, Mike, and Obrecht says, no last name, no photos… Ach nein. Tell her he’s not married.

Britt says it’s not really a surprise they’d all run into each other. Carly owns the hotel, Britt’s room is downstairs. It’s so nice, by the way. Doesn’t Jax think her room is nice? I laugh, and Jax says, very. Britt says, speaking of surprises, Carly and Jason. Wow. Carly says, kind of like Britt and Jax, and Jax says he and Britt actually discovered they have a lot in common. Vincent Novak watches, and Jason suggests he and Carly get a table. Carly tells Britt and Jax to enjoy their evening, and Britt says, them too. Carly and Jason go to sit down, and Jax asks if Britt is okay. She says she could use some air, and they go out on the terrace. Carly tells Jason, Britt and Jax came there because they knew Jason would be there. And they’re sleeping together. Does he realize they’re sleeping together? Jason says, thanks, Captain Obvious. Not really, but he should.

Sam and Dante are out of the water, and Sam says, it was just an accident. She’s thankful for it, because it’s like, 90 degrees out there, and now she’s cooled off. Dante tells her that she’s skating on really, really thin ice right now, and Sam yells, melted ice! Cuz it’s hot! Elizabeth says, obviously, they acted impulsively, arguably stupidly… Dante says, arguably? and Elizabeth says, there were mitigating circumstances. He says he’s listening. What was it? Sam was declaring her independence. From what? Sam says, not what; who. Elizabeth says, obviously they haven’t heard about the big engagement, and Sam says, Carly and Jason are getting married.

Cameron says he’s liked Josslyn for as long as he can remember. That doesn’t take away from their friendship; he thinks it actually strengthens it. She says, because the trust is already there, and he says, right. She’s someone he can talk about anything with. She says they should try that sometime, and he says, she’s someone who’s been there with him since he was a kid. Someone who’ll give him a kick in the butt if he needs one. She says, and then some, and he says, it’s really special. She says she knows, because that’s exactly how she feels about him.

Brook thanks Maxie for watching the baby, and Maxie says, any time. Monica says they were just going to put her down for a nap. Maxie says, good idea, and Brook moves to take her, and Maxie says, watch her head. Brook asks Maxie if she’d go to the nursery and grab the fuzzy blanket with the ducks; it’s Bailey’s favorite. Maxie says they can’t have Bailey getting cold, and Brook thanks her. Maxie says, no problem, and goes upstairs. Monica tells Brook that she’s got to disagree with Maxie. They have a big problem.

Anna tells Valentin, things have been stressful for her lately, and obviously, she’s not thinking clearly. He says, obviously, and she says she doesn’t know what happened. He says, it’s called a kiss, and she says, it’s called proximity. He says, so if the mailman had been there, she would have kissed him instead? and she tells him, don’t try to be cute. He says he doesn’t have to try, and she says they’re all entitled to errors in judgement, and this is not irrevocable by any means. He says he thought it was a good kiss. She says, it was, but that’s not the point. The point is, the two of them, and everything they’ve been to each other over the years. That’s why this is wrong on so many levels. He says, it won’t happen again, and she says, no. He says, why not? and she asks if he’s not listening to everything she’s saying. He says she’s so beautiful and enchanting – he pulls her to him – and he’s wanted her for years. She says, that’s the other problem. He just doesn’t see her clearly; he never did. That’s why none of this is real. He says it felt pretty real to him.

Nina asks if she and Obrecht can talk about something else. Her phone rings, and she sees it’s Mike/Sonny. She decides to ignore it. Sonny gets voicemail. He says he was wondering how her 4th of July was going, and hopes she’s having fun. Obrecht asks if it was him, and why didn’t Nina answer? Nina asks if she’s always been this nosey, and Obrecht says, yah. Nina says she has actual news she needs to tell Obrecht, but the only reason she’s telling her is because it directly affects Britt. Obrecht asks, what is it? and Nina says, Britt and Jason have gotten really close. Obrecht says, finally, the man who’s a match for her Britta, and vice versa. Nina says she’s sorry. She hates to be the one to tell Obrecht, but Jason and Carly are getting married. Obrecht looks crestfallen.

Carly tells says she’s so sorry. She knows this must be hard for Jason. He says, Britt can do whatever she wants, and Carly says, she’s rebounding so hard, she might as well be on a trampoline. And so is Jax. He’s supposed to be so in love with Nina, why the hell is he jumping into bed with Britt? Jason says it’s none of their business, and Carly looks miffed. Good. I hope he starts telling her to shut up. Vincent approaches their table, and says he tried to pay his tab, but was told it’s on the house. He thanks them for their hospitality. Carly says, of course (🍷), and he says, congratulations again. Expect a wedding gift from the Novak family. Carly says they love gifts, and Vincent leaves with his crew. She tells Jason, that went well, and he says, as well as it could. She says, now that Novak is gone, she’s going to talk to Jax. Jason tells her, don’t, but she says she didn’t listen to him before, and she’s not listening now that they’re getting married. She walks out to the terrace.

Dante says, if he’s shocked, he can only imagine how Sam is feeling right now. She says she’s fine, but he says she doesn’t seem fine. No offense. Finn goes over to Elizabeth, and asks if she’s okay. She says she and Jason were over a long time ago. It’s Sam she’s worried about. She just didn’t want Sam to be by herself. He says, that’s nice to hear, and when Sam suggested pyrotechnics, Elizabeth couldn’t talk her out of it? She says, well… and he says, it was her idea? She says it may have been her idea, but it was for a good cause, and nobody got hurt. He looks at Dante, and says, almost no one. Dante tells Sam, come on, and she asks where they’re going. He says she’ll see, and she asks if he’s taking her to the station. He says, no. Does she trust him? She says she doesn’t know. Does she? He takes her hand, and tells Finn that he’ll make sure Sam gets home. Finn says he’ll do the same there, indicating Elizabeth. Dante leaves with Sam.

Josslyn says, for the longest time, she thought she was betraying Oscar by having feelings for Cameron, so she never acted on it. He says he felt that too. Like somehow he’d be taking advantage of the fact Oscar was gone. She says, imagine if they’d just talked about this like normal people, and he suggests they talk about it now.

Brook puts Bailey in her carriage, and Monica says, if Brook heard what she heard, and she did, she’d know the situation is very serious. Brook says she doesn’t know if she’d call it a situation, and Monica says, if Maxie is using Bailey as a substitute for her pain, that’s very unhealthy.

Anna says she knows Valentin has a dark past, and all these demons and things, and she’s always been unattainable to him or whatever, but go see a shrink. He can’t go around kissing her to work it out. He asks what her therapist would say about her kissing him, and Anna tells him, she would say that he’s the avatar for all her mistakes, and she feels he has empathy for those mistakes. That’s the reason she’s drawn to him, and blah-blah-blah psychobabble. He says she gets him like nobody gets him, and she says, don’t do that. Don’t do the whole shorthand thing. He says so she admits there’s a shorthand with them, and she says, yes, but… He says, but nothing. They understand one another. He’s fascinated by her, and he’s intensely attracted to her. He doesn’t want to apologize for that.

Sonny tells Phyllis that he tried calling Nina, but she didn’t pick up. He guesses she’s busy with her grandson. She says, probably, but she bets Nina is wondering what he’s up to. She’d be jealous as all hell to find out they’re feasting on barbecues and beers before watching the fireworks. He says, it’s pretty nice, huh? and she says, like heaven. Just missing one sweet blonde angel. He laughs.

Britt tells Jax, she’s sorry he had to see that. It was childish and snarky. She’d say it’s way beneath her, but thinks they both know that would be a lie. He says he doesn’t mind that she’s picking a fight with Carly, but he wants to warn her that it’s an unpleasant experience. She says, please. She grew up with Liesl Obrecht. Carly doesn’t scare her. The devil herself walks out, and asks if she can have a moment with Jax. Britt asks Jax if he’d like to have a moment with Carly, and he says, sure. Britt says she’ll be at the bar, and leaves. Carly whacks Jax with her hand, and tells him, stop being fake. She gets that they’re consenting adults, but what’s wrong with him? He knows Britt fell hard for Jason. Don’t take advantage of that. He says he’s tempted to say, if she knew about Britt’s feelings, why didn’t she restrain herself? and she says, but he’s not going to say that at all. He says he thinks it’s kinder this way, saving Britt from what Carly put the others through. She says, what others? and he says, Robin, Courtney, Elizabeth, Sam. They all thought they had something special with Jason, right? But the truth is, they didn’t, because she has this stranglehold on Jason, and refuses to let go.

Jason sits by Britt at the bar, and heaves a sigh. I want to smack him. He says, Carly doesn’t know about the Huntington’s, and she says, okay, refusing to look at him. He says, nobody does. He hasn’t told anyone, and he’s not going to. He knows they’ve been over this, but he wants to make something absolutely clear. Just because he’s marrying Carly, doesn’t mean he’s bailing on her. He’s there for her, whatever she needs. She guesses it’s her turn to be clear, since it obviously didn’t sink in the first time. Go to hell.

Finn tells Elizabeth, it’s just him there; she doesn’t have to worry about Sam’s feelings. It’s okay if she’s feeling upset about Carly and Jason. She says Sam was feeling upset about Carly and Jason. She’s not upset, and she’s not surprised. Carly and Jason always came first with each other, everyone else be damned. He says he’s heard that before about a certain person and the WSB. No matter who you are, you always come in second. She says, look at them. Misery loves company. He tells her, that’s what they say, but he’s not miserable. Is she? She says, no. Not right now anyway.

Josslyn asks where they start, and Cameron says, the dance might be a good place, where they kissed. She says, for the record, it was an awesome kiss; she really loved it. He says he thought so, the way she kissed back. Then the Dev stuff happened. She says she kept hoping he’d bring it up, but he never did, so she assumed the kiss didn’t mean anything. He says, she thought it didn’t mean anything? and she asks how she was supposed to know. He says, it meant everything, but she says, it was so long ago. So much life has passed. They can’t go back. He says, maybe not, but maybe they can move forward.

Valentin says, if Anna is telling him it’s more than she can do right now, that’s fine; no harm, no foul. She says don’t make it about her being weak and not being able to handle it. It’s that she can’t be interested in him that way, and she never will. He asks if she’s sure, and she tells him, don’t stand there thinking he’s all irresistible. He says he is irresistible, and she laughs, saying, oh my God.

Dante and Sam go into Charlie’s, and Sam says she’ll buy the coffee. It’s the least she can do. He says he’s buying; she had a rough night. She says, that’s no excuse. Obrecht approaches them, and says, so it’s true. Jason and Carly are getting married. Sam says, word does get around. It’s true. Jason and Carly are getting married. Obrecht sits back down, and Nina says she’s so sorry. The news seems to be hitting Obrecht hard. Is she going to be okay? Obrecht says she just thought her Britta had a chance at happiness. What if it’s the last one she gets?

Britt says, Jason made his choice – Carly. Let’s move on. Jason doesn’t get to marry Carly, then make himself feel better by swooping in and protecting her. She doesn’t need help. She’s strong enough to deal with her diagnosis on her own. He says he knows, but he gave her his word, and his word means something. She says, really? Then something more important came up? She gets it. They’ve known each other three months, and he and Carly have been friends for decades. Of course (🍷) Carly is the one he’s committing to, and she gets kicked to the curb. He says, that’s not… She says, what happened? and he says, that’s not how he felt. Britt meant something to him; she still does. She says, there is no choice where everyone gets everything. It’s impossible. Even Superman had to pick a lane. (Ha-ha! Nerd joke.) Does he want to do something for her? He says, anything, and she says, be honest, and admit he’s been in love with Carly all along.

Jax says, it was inevitable, and Carly asks, what was? He says she just had to come first in Jason’s life. As soon as Sonny died, it was inevitable that she and Jason… She says, watch it, and he tells her, he’s not saying she didn’t love Sonny; he knows she did. But it was convenient that Jason was Sonny’s best friend. She could be Sonny’s wife, but keep a grip on her fallback. She says, Jason’s not a fallback, and Jax says, he’s much more than that, isn’t he? He was an idiot to think this might be a way out of this life for her. The irony is, Jason would have let her go. Sonny, probably not, but Jason would have. But it’s not what she wanted. She wanted Jason, and he comes with the mob. So here she is, as cemented in this life as ever.

Finn says, it’s nice sometimes, just letting everything go, and Elizabeth says, for a little while. She might be hungover in the morning. He says, that might be a distinct possibility. She tells him, it’s worth it. The fireworks start, and she says, they’re starting. She watches the fireworks, and Finn watches her.   

Josslyn says, Cameron asked what would have happened if Dev hadn’t forged her journal, but she said she didn’t know. She says she knows what she wanted to happen, and he says, him too. He kisses her, and fireworks go off. Literally.

Monica tells Brook that Maxie is talking as if Bailey is her own baby. She thinks Maxie needs counseling. She’s going to talk to Mac and Felicia. Brook says, Maxie is a grown woman. Monica doesn’t need to go to her parents. Monica says, then who else? and Brook says she’ll talk to Maxie. She’ll voice Monica’s concerns, gently of course (🍷), and try to make her understand. Monica says, and if she can’t? Brook says, then they’ll revisit the parent option. She promises she’ll be careful. Maxie walks in, and says, careful about what?   

Anna says, Valentin is endlessly resistible to her, and he says, but he’s charming. She says, charming, yes. He’s somewhat amoral, but he’s a good father; she’ll give him that. But then he solves his problems with blackmail and murder. He’ll just encourage her to give in to her worst impulses. That’s just it. He’s a terrible influence on her. He says, her worst impulses are the sexiest he’s ever seen, and he couldn’t influence her if he wanted to. She says she’s going to keep it that way.  

Sam and Dante look at the fireworks, and Dante says, for what it’s worth (🍷), he thinks Jason messed up. He had the chance of a lifetime, and didn’t take it. If it had been him, he’d have chosen her. Sam moves toward him, and they kiss.

Jason says, he’ll always love Carly. She always took him as she found him. Britt says, so did she, and he says, he and Carly have been to hell and back; name it, and it happened to them. But that doesn’t mean he didn’t love the other women he’s been with, because he did. With Carly, it’s not more or less; she’s just a part of him. Britt says, who wouldn’t want to be loved like that? She’ll give Carly this much; she knows it, and knows the good thing she has in him. She loves him as much as he loves her, so congratulations. She hopes they’ll be happy together. She walks away from the bar.

Carly says, nothing Jax is laying out is as simple as he makes it. She’ll tell him this, and he can believe it or not. Marrying Jason is the best choice she could make for her family. He says he knows she believes that. That’s what makes it so damn sad. Britt comes out, and says Carly’s fiancé is waiting, and Carly goes back inside.

Elizabeth says Finn isn’t the only one who needs a break from everything. He doesn’t want to start a fire, but he thinks he knows where she’s coming from. Elizabeth puts her head on his shoulder, and he says, the last few weeks, spending time with her, he doesn’t think she realizes how much it meant to him. How important she is to him. He looks at her, but she’s asleep, and he smiles.

Josslyn tells Cameron, that was awful. She laughs, and says she’s kidding. He says she’s the worst, and she says she knows. He says she’s his best friend, and she says she knows. She tells him that she has to get going. She has to get Donna and Avery. He says he should probably get Jake and Aiden at the pool, and they say goodnight. Josslyn starts to walk away, but he calls her back. He asks if she wants to hang out some time, and she says, when? He says, tomorrow? but she says she can’t tomorrow; she’s already made plans… But she thinks she can cancel them. He says, cool, and she says, cool. She leaves, and he looks up at the fireworks.

Brook tells Maxie that she was talking about being careful with the temperature. The AC can get aggressive, and they don’t want Bailey to freeze. Maxie picks up a blanket, and Brook says, got it, taking it out of her hand. Brook puts it on the baby, and Maxie says she was checking out the nursery. Monica says, it’s so sweet, and Maxie says, the sweetest nursery for the sweetest girl in the whole world.

Valentin says he can’t force Anna to see things the way he did, and she says, he can’t. He says, if it’s just a kiss, he’ll take it, but if she wants more, she knows where to find him. She asks why he keeps doing that. Act like he’s backing off, then do the opposite. He says because she denies it, when she knows there’s more pulling them together than pushing them apart. She says she’s not going to stand there, dissecting kiss didn’t mean anything. He knows who she has to find. If he hears anything from his contacts, let her know. He says, absolutely, darling, and she leaves.

Dante says, sorry, and Sam says she can’t do this. She walks away, and he sits outside Charlie’s.

Nina says she knows Obrecht is worried about her daughter. She’s sorry Obrecht has to go through this heartache, but she thinks the situation is something Britt will figure out on her own. Obrecht asks how that’s working out for Nina. Any idea what comes next?

Phyllis tells Mike/Sonny that she’s sure Nina will call back after her time with her family. He says, God knows he’s enjoying spending time with his family. Everyone watches the fireworks.

Carly tells Jason, Jax knows how to stick the knife in and twist it. Not like Sonny, where it was just cheap shots. The problem is, a big part of her is afraid Jax might be right. Jason says, come on, and she asks, where? He says, if they go to the bridge, they’ll miss the fireworks, and they walk outside. He says, they’re doing what they have to do. Whatever happens, he’s glad he’s there with her. She says, her too; happy 4th. She hugs him, and Britt watches.

Tomorrow, Nikolas talks to Martin about the divorce, Curtis asks if Jordan is going to fight their divorce, and Stella tells TJ, it ain’t over til it’s over.

The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills

The show started at a party, with Sutton asking Crystal why she’s so defensive, and Crystal saying Sutton is upset because she’s jealous. Sutton says, jealous of what? Crystal’s ugly leather pants? Sutton left the party, trailed by LisaR asking, what happened?

3 days earlier. In LisaR’s interview, she explained that Harry’s three specialties were Harry’s meat, which was Kobe beef, blueberry pie, and bolognaise. He was the domestic one, and no one wanted her cooking. She was a great cheerleader though, and could make you feel fabulous while you’re doing all the work. Sounds like a position I’d like. Erika, Crystal, and a couple of Crystal’s friends went to Kathy’s place to use her tennis court. In Erika’s interview, she said, Kathy told them, just let yourself in, and that’s what was great about friends like Kathy. Erika was trying to motivate herself to go out and do things, and not wallow. So she was there… and she was terrible. Erika spoke the truth. I probably play better, and I stink. In Crystal’s interview, she said she was a total tomboy, and seriously into sports. A lot of people said she was competitive, but whoever said that was probably a loser. I think Crystal’s problem is, she wants to be a cool girl, and ends up just sounding mean. More like a cool girl who rules by fear, and ends up on the losing end, like Regina George. I will give her this, she’s a good tennis player, and she and Erika ended up winning the match even though Erika was the worst. In her interview, Crystal said that Erika’s willingness was a 10, but her skill level was a 2. They had lunch with Kathy, and Erika said her new place was in shambles, Kathy said, but it was hers, and Erika agreed. She said she was trying to be social, and Kathy asked if she’d been social when she was married, Erika said, all the time, but it was all business. It was all of what Tom wanted. In her interview, Erika said, it was all set up already; she just inserted herself. Just because you have a lot of money doesn’t mean you’re independent. She had no housekeeper or gardener now, but she valued her privacy. Plus, she could throw her sh*t all over because it was her place. Kathy said Erika’s smile seemed genuine and not forced. I have to note, Kathy has several dogs, but one is either a Pekingese or a Peke mix. Information you need to know…   

Kyle and family took their Christmas card photo, all wearing matching red PJs. Kathy came by, and pulled an amazing amount of items out of her bag. In her interview, she said you could find everything in her bag; socks, extra shoes, a sweater, a pair of sandals for a pedicure… In Kyle’s interview, she added carpet samples, drapery samples, and wallpaper samples. I carry a lot of stuff too, but never home goods samples. Kathy said she’d talked to Kim for three hours, and Kyle said she was worried about Kim being in quarantine. Kathy said she’d asked if Kim wanted to come along, but Kim said she was too nervous. She also gave Kyle the news that Kim had changed her phone number. We saw a clip of Kyle telling Mauricio that she and Kim weren’t talking, and the relationship was strained. At times, they were okay, but it seemed hard to get all three of them on the same page at the same time. Kyle said she had a husband, children, and dogs, but Kim was by herself. Kathy said Kim claimed all this was supposed to have happened, so they could have quiet time, and figure out where they wanted to be in life.

LisaR visited Erika in her new home, which we found out costs $9500 a month to rent. LisaR said it had a good vibe, and in her interview, she said it gave her a hopeful feeling seeing Erika in her own space that she created. It wasn’t easy to go from a life where you had help and everything was done for you, to doing everything yourself. In Erika’s interview, a producer asked if she had money concerns, and she said she did, but she’d also had a bunch of lucrative projects in a row, like her book, being on Broadway, and several collaborations. She had enough for her little house. Sutton joined them, and brought Erika a housewarming gift of Dolce & Gabbana’s book, Queens. In Sutton’s interview, she said, what better housewarming present? When Erika was sad and lonely, she could see Sutton’s picture – twice. She told Erika that she hated to say it, but she seemed happier, and Erika said there was only so much time you could have with someone before you wanted to talk about real things. In her interview, Erika said she’d mentioned to Tom that she was seeing a shrink, and all he said was, okay. Because what does she have to be depressed about? Sutton said Crystal wasn’t willing to back up, and say maybe she used the wrong word. LisaR asked if Crystal was still talking about it, and Sutton said the peeping Tom thing needed to be dropped. In her interview, she said she didn’t think peeping Toms knocked on the door. They peeped.

Garcelle’s son Jax was learning Japanese, and got frustrated when Garcelle made to much noise in the background while he was taking his online class. In Garcelle’s interview, she said, being trapped inside with two teenage boys was maddening. They were home schooling, and everyone was on top of each other. She found herself going to the pantry for a quick shot of tequila. She was on the teenage hormone train, and didn’t know what was coming next. Last week, Jaid wanted her all to himself, but this week, he wanted nothing to do with her. When she was growing up, she wasn’t allowed to have those emotions.

LisaR had Harry prepare an Italian meal for the women, and in her interview, she said that Harry had lived in Italy for three years; it was in his blood. He had LisaR taste-test sauces, and LisaR discovered she liked the one with the tomatoes from their garden the best, which made sense, since they’d be freshest. In LisaR’s interview, she said Garcelle had wanted a birthday party, but couldn’t have one due to covid. They were still in the process of repairing their relationship, but knew she couldn’t force it. At the end of the day, they might not end up being great friends. Kyle visited Dorit, who had a fabulous Christmas village set up. Kyle said Dorit made her feel like an underachiever, and Dorit said Kyle had three trees. Kyle said, but she didn’t have a Santa village. In Dorit’s interview, she said she’d mostly designed swimwear and leisurewear, but was moving into bridal. Designer Nektoria had reached out to her to collaborate on a wedding dress line, and she couldn’t wait to see the first bride walk down the aisle in her design. She’d wanted something comfortable, but special, for her own wedding, and wished she’d designed her own dress.

Harry welcomed the women to Napolitano, where they sat at an amazing outside table under an arbor.  In Dorit’s interview, she said Harry was a gourmet chef, while PK specialized in, babe, can you get me a sandwich? Harry pointed out that their pool wasn’t for them. It was so their kids would come back with their kids. Kyle said she’d been Amelia’s age when she had her first child, nearly giving Harry apoplexy. When Sutton arrived, someone – I think Kathy – said, hi, Thomasina, which did not go over well. Sutton said she was ready for that to end. Garcelle reminisced about being there for a party where she and LisaR had been on the dance floor all night. In her interview, she said her assistant had been her date, and she hadn’t remembered stumbling out. Harry joined them for the meal, and LisaR said that the girls were going to Cabo for Thanksgiving. They’d originally planned on meeting them, but were concerned about the borders closing because of covid. It was the first time she wouldn’t be spending Thanksgiving with the girls or Lois. She wasn’t asking a lot of questions about Amelia and Scott, and Crystal chimed in that Rob was older, but they were the exception. Of course they are. Crystal is also a can-you-top-this person. LisaR said she was trying to be easy with it, but the tabloids had them engaged. In her interview, she said her mom saw one at the market, and called her asking if it was true. That’s what she was dealing with. Harry said the age difference between him and Ursula Andress was 14 years. He’d been 29 and she was 44 when they had their son. In her interview, LisaR said, you never think it will come back to haunt you when you have kids. Harry ate, then dashed to the kitchen, bringing out a cake. Garcelle’s birthday wish was, she wanted him hung like a horse, and Harry told her to be careful what she wished for. Garcelle said she probably wouldn’t know where to put it. She said she appreciated the party, especially LisaR throwing it. In Garcelle’s interview, she said last year, it was a rocky road with her and LisaR. They needed to figure out if they had a friendship and what it looked like. That LisaR was making an effort, definitely meant something.  

It was present time, and Crystal, Kathy, and Kyle kicked in to get Garcelle a duplicate of a ring she’d admired on Crystal. Erika gave Garcelle a fluffy jacket that was no doubt cashmere, and Dorit gave her a designer cap. Kyle asked Sutton what was wrong, and Sutton said she didn’t like being where she didn’t like people. Kyle asked who she didn’t like, and Sutton shifted her eyes to Crystal. Kyle told Sutton to come with her, and they went to a bar out in the yard. Sutton said she wanted to go home, and Kyle asked what she’d missed. Nothing had happened. Sutton said to tell the truth, she had a difficult time being fake, and in her interview, she said it was hard to sit across the table from someone who obviously didn’t like her. She told Kyle that Crystal had been talking bad behind her back, and was looking smug at her. I have to agree here. Crystal smirks a lot. Sutton said it was wearing at her, and she still felt weird. Crystal had talked behind Sutton’s back, Sutton had tried to say her piece, and Crystal never apologized. In Kyle’s interview, she said this wasn’t the Sutton she knew. Sutton was being extremely emotional and irrational. Yeah, let’s not even get into what a very poor judge of character Kyle is. If someone was smirking like that at me all the time, I’d be hard pressed not to wipe it off their face, but Sutton doesn’t know what to do because she’s polite. She told Kyle that she wasn’t over being told she violated someone. Kyle said Crystal had told them she didn’t mean sexually, and we flashed back to that.

At the table, LisaR screeched that they should do shots, and everyone chanted, shots, shots, shots! Sutton told Kyle, she was so not okay, and she couldn’t get it together. Garcelle turned into that person, and came over, asking, are you crying? very loudly. Sutton gave the standard reply that she had bad allergies. In Garcelle’s interview, she said she thought Sutton was more hormonal than her kids. Sutton said she was upset about the insinuations. It was hard to pretend things were great, and hunky dory when they weren’t. In Kathy’s interview, she wondered if Hunky Dory was someone’s nickname. Sutton told them that she just had moment. By this time, the whole miserable gang was there, and Sutton said Crystal had said a lot of things about her, and she couldn’t sit across the table from her . Garcelle asked what Sutton needed from Crystal; tell Crystal what she needed, so they could move on. Sutton said she thought it was sh*tty that Crystal had used so many words about her. No surprise, Crystal kept interrupting, and Sutton finally told Crystal to let her say her piece. The word violated was crazy to her. She asked what planet Crystal lived on, and Crystal said, not Sutton’s, as she once again looked smug. Garcelle said they weren’t going to get anywhere, and Crystal said she wasn’t changing the word, since she’d used it correctly. Garcelle again asked what Sutton needed, and Kyle said she thought Sutton wanted an apology. Crystal said she was sorry Sutton was upset, and Sutton said that wasn’t an apology, which we all know. It’s like a murderer saying they’re sorry the victim died, leaving out the fact they killed them. Crystal told Sutton to look up the word. It meant abuse of privacy. Is this woman loopy? First of all, I don’t know what dictionary she’s using, but the standard ones don’t exactly put it that way. Secondly, there are plenty of words that have several definitions, but are known by a certain one, gay being a prime example. Garcelle said that Sutton hadn’t known Crystal was naked, and Sutton asked why Crystal was so defensive. Crystal said Sutton was upset because she was jealous – period – and Sutton said, of what? Crystal’s ugly leather pants? I wondered jealous of what too. Sutton said she was out, and Kathy told LisaR, it was her house, so she should get a handle on this. Sutton headed out, asking again what she was jealous of. The rest of the women followed her, except for Crystal, who stood there with her hands in her ugly leather pockets, and smiled.

To be continued…  

Next time, Crystal says she won’t apologize, and calls Sutton an inappropriate, awkward person; Erika deals with the headlines saying her divorce was a sham to hide assets; and Erika says she could have never predicted this effing sh*t.

The Real Housewives of New York City

Leah video chatted with everyone, and said the election was driving everyone nuts. To keep their sanity, she thought they should get out of town. With covid restrictions, they couldn’t really travel, but a place she’d always been fascinated by was Salem, Massachusetts. In Leah’s interview, she said she could be kind of witchy, and was into manifesting. And these women were a bunch of witches. It would be like visiting the motherland. She wanted to do a latex and leather themed dinner party the first night, and told Ramona that she wanted to invite Bershan. In her interview, she said she pretty much wanted to do anything the women wouldn’t normally do.

Ramona met Bershan for lunch, and Bershan wondered if Ramona really had vertigo, or just didn’t like Eboni’s Night in Harlem event. Ramona asked what Bershan thought of it, and Bershan diplomatically said, it was educational. Ramona said, it was a hard sell. In Bershan’s interview, she said she thought it was long winded, but appreciated that Eboni wanted to teach the girls. Bershan told Ramona that she liked the women, and Ramona warned her about them fighting on the trip. She added that they made up, and these women were her core. Bershan said she was in.

In Sonja’s interview, she said she was glad Eboni was trying to set her up with someone. If it had been Ramona or LuAnn… She just shook her head. Sonja told Eboni that she had a hard time getting her words out around the other women because they cut her off, and they didn’t listen. Eboni said, they shut down conversations, and we flashed back to Eboni refusing to let Ramona do that. In her interview, Eboni said she was going to be patient with Ramona, because she’d actually pushed through the panic and was talking to her. She and Ramona were going to be an experiment. She was looking at the trip, not as a do-over, but a do-more.

Sonja and Eboni flew privately to Philadelphia to meet Devyn, Eboni’s matchmaker. In Eboni’s interview, she said Sonja needed to give love a chance again, so she was excited about this introduction. Sonja was afraid her reputation preceded her, but trusted Eboni. Devyn asked what causes Sonja was passionate about, and Sonja said, the vulnerable. No broke-ass men either. In her interview, Eboni said, Sonja married the bank. Where do you go from there? She told Devyn that she thought Sonja was ready for a new chapter. Sonja said she trusted that Eboni had described the real her, not the straw that stirs the drink.

Everyone packed for the trip. LuAnn said since they were going to a haunted house, she needed a good chapeau, and freaked when her assistant put her hats on the bed, which is bad luck. Leah FaceTimed with Sonja and Eboni, telling them to get their asses home and pack. In her interview, Leah said, let’s get out of our comfort zone. Let’s get spooky, bitches. She told them, no sh*t in Salem. They got on the most gigantic bus ever, and Leah said it was rock star style. Sonja thought it was so LuAnn, and they were the groupies. She thought it was getting weird because she’d packed grey and black, and Ramona was wearing those colors. Along with pink, so that was a stretch. LuAnn asked about Sonja’s matchmaking trip, and Sonja said she was ready for commitment. Ramona and Leah took naps, while the others talked about marriage and divorce. Bershan said she found out she had stage 4 breast cancer two weeks before getting married to a British banker. In her interview, she said, she was told she had three months to live, and prayed, telling God she’d be a warrior for everyone on the planet if she survived. When someone tells you, you’re going to die, you wake up. She’d been cancer free for 14 years. Leah said there would be fortune tellers at the leather and latex dinner, as well as tattoo artists, and she’d be getting one. Dinner was going to be at the tattoo shop. In Ramona’s interview, she said she didn’t want to deface her body.

They arrived at the Hawthorne Hotel, named after Nathaniel, which Leah described as spooky, but beautiful. On the way to dinner, Eboni considered the tattoo thing. This was some tattoo parlor. It looked like an upscale antique store, with a restaurant in the back. It was really gorgeous. In her interview, Leah said the women were impressed, and although they had a few days, she felt like she’d already gotten an A+ on the trip. There were a pair of spooky twins that Sonja found cute, and the fortune teller passed out fortunes. The women sat down in a large booth, and Sonja babbled on about how Eboni was new to the group, and had wanted them to understand her life’s work. In LuAnn’s interview, she said Sonja was stirring the cauldron. Eboni said, they couldn’t get to the kiki if she had an outstanding question on whether they’re aligned with white supremacy. Everyone was a little startled, and in Eboni’s interview, she said white supremacy wasn’t the Jim Crow south. In today’s United States, you were either anti-racist or a racist. In Ramona’s interview, she said she didn’t know where Eboni was coming from, since none of them had given any indication of being racist. LuAnn said all of them heard her, but Eboni said LuAnn could only speak for herself. Ramona hadn’t wanted to hear her.

Leah said she thought it was more about Eboni’s personality. When the new woman came in, they got sh*t on. She got sh*t on by Ramona. We flashed back to that. She said, Eboni wasn’t allowing that, and in 14 years, they’d never had a Black woman in their group. Could they imagine the pressure? Every news outlet was talking about it. Ramona said, ignore the press, and Leah told her, STFU. Leah said Ramona lived in a tiny bubble, and Ramona said Leah didn’t know who she was. Leah said Ramona was what’s wrong with the world. Ramona tried to jet, saying, she wasn’t enjoying the conversation. Everyone urged her to stay, and Eboni said she’d come a long way. Ramona sat back down, and Bershan told Eboni her delivery could be harsh. Eboni said she received and heard Bershan, and knew it might feel exhausting. Every MF’ing day, it was something else. Ramona got all animated, and said Eboni had a great life. Eboni told everyone that Ramona was saying something a lot of people say when they see her. In Leah’s interview, she said, no one saw Ramona struggling, but she probably had to deal with some stuff. Triple that, and that’s Eboni. Eboni said that some people aligned with Trump were white supremacists, and in her interview, said, if you support him for economic reasons, say so. You’d get pushback, but she could have a dialog. Ramona woudn’t even go there. Everyone started saying, not me, and Ramona tried to make herself really small, hoping to blend into her seat. Eboni said her mother voted for Trump in 2016, and had her reasons, but she was vocal about it. Ramona slid out, and in her interview, she said she just came for some fun. She didn’t need this. Leah asked if Eboni thought anyone who voted for Trump was a supremist, and Eboni said, no. She just wanted to know where Ramona stood on the issue. That was it. Eboni said she could respect supporting him for tax cut reasons or economics. Leah said Ramona couldn’t have this conversation; she barely knew the English language.

Surprisingly, Ramona came back, but she acted all weird, saying she wanted to play a game, and then making a cheer out of, I want a game. She was also wearing a black latex catsuit, by the way. In Leah’s interview, she said she was cringing. Ramona should have stayed wherever she was. She would probably never live down coming back and doing the I’m white dance. Leah told Ramona that they had to go through this, and Eboni said she was still Black. Ramona said she was sorry she was white. Did Eboni want an apology? Her mother came there with nothing. Leah said, it didn’t matter; this was different. Several of the women scattered, leaving Leah, Eboni, and Bershan. Leah said, and then there were three.

To be continued…

Next time, Ramona does a table dance, the women reenact pioneer days, Eboni gets a tattoo, Bershan says they’re being grandmas, and – big surprise – Sonja overdoes it.

🐶 Bravo had a Vanderpump Dogs marathon, and I love this show so much. They also train service dogs, and match them with owners, so we saw some of that. The dogs are adorable, and the stories, both pup and human, are both heart-wrenching and heartwarming. Some people have negative things to say about LVP, but I have great admiration for her work ethic and her love for dogs, which is more than apparent in this show. I’m also still wondering if she’d consider adopting an older child. My dogs and I wouldn’t take up much space. She’d barely know we were there.

📋 Past Quitting Time…

Wives as promised, and now to bed. Until we meet on the morrow, stay safe, stay engaged, and stay not rebounding so hard, you might as well be on a trampoline.