Tag Archives: The Real Housewives of New York City

November 5, 2024 – Willow Confronts Sasha About Cody, Drink Up, Soap Suds, A New York Minute, Film Watch, Prediction, First Derry, Releasing Soon, Never Enough & Boogie

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What I Watched Today

(rambling, random thoughts, recaps, and the whole GH enchilada on Fridays)

General Hospital

Willow finds Sasha in the nook and says she thought Sasha was her friend. Sasha flashes back to getting busy with Michael, and says she is. Willow asks, then how could she do this?

In TJ’s office, Alexis asks if they know what caused it, but he says, not yet. They’re doing everything possible to find out. Molly says, it makes no sense. She and Dante just got engaged. (Like that negates the possibility of death.) TJ says, that reminds him, and gives Alexis Sam’s ring in a plastic bag. Kristina says, it should be on Sam’s finger, but TJ says, not during an autopsy. Alexis says, Portia told her, but Kristina says, they’re not cutting open her sister.

On the phone, Jason asks if Carly minds staying at the Quartermaines. He’d feel better if she was there for Danny and Scout. Carly promises to stick around, and Jason says he’s got to go. She says she loves him, and he says he loves her too. Drew comes in and Carly asks, how’s Scout? He says, she fell asleep in his arms. It’s hard seeing his girl in that much pain… It’s hard knowing she’ll wake up and find out her mother’s not there and there’s nothing he can do. Carly says, he can be there, but he says, it’s not enough. She needs Sam. He needs Sam. What does he know about raising a little girl? She says she knows how much he loves Scout, but he says he doesn’t know how to raise her on his own. She tells him to lean on the family. Let them help him. Michael comes in and asks Drew, what’s wrong? Are his poll numbers down?

Nina meets Ava for drinks, and says, Ava wanted to ask her something? Ava says she does. She wants to start by saying she knows she’s a fool for throwing their friendship away. Nina says, no argument there, and Ava says she’s grateful Nina forgave her, but wanted to ask if Nina thinks they’ll ever be able to get back to the friendship they had.

Diane knocks at Robert’s door, then comes in. She says she’s sorry. She thought he’d be alone, but that’s obviously not the case.

Carly says, there’s something she needs to tell Michael, and Drew says he’ll be upstairs with Scout. He leaves, and Michael asks, what’s going on? Carly says she has terrible news, and he asks if it’s Lulu, but she says, it’s not Lulu. It’s Sam. Michael says, Dante texted him that everything went great, and Sam was fine. Carly says, she was fine. Then she wasn’t. They lost her. He asks if she’s saying Sam is dead.

Kristina says, no, but TJ says, an unexplained death… Kristina says she doesn’t care, and Molly says, stop. Doesn’t she want to find out what happened? Kristina says, of course (🍷), and Molly says, that’s how the find out. Kristina says she doesn’t want them to cut Sam open, but Molly says, it’s the only way. Kristina tells Alexis that she’s sorry, and Alexis says she wasn’t thinking. Molly says she never does (and I slap her in my mind), but Alexis says, not today. They have to make arrangements for Sam. TJ says he can have a patient advocate walk her through the process, and he leaves. Kristina says she’s sorry, and Molly says, her too. Alexis says she needs them both to stick together, and they agree they will.

Sasha says she’s sorry, but Willow says she doesn’t want to hear Sasha’s excuses. She told Sasha in confidence. Why did she tell Cody? Sasha says she trusted Cody, and Willow asks if she knows he got drunk and punched Drew. Sasha says she heard, and Willow says she trusted Sasha. Now Michael found out in the worst possible way. He didn’t come home last night. Sasha asks if they’ve talked today, and Willow says, he’s willing to give her another chance. He values their marriage. Sasha flashes back to getting busy with Michael and says she’s sorry. She never meant to hurt Willow. Willow says, then she should have kept it between them. Who else did she tell? Sasha says, no one. She only told Cody because they were in a relationship. Willow says she hopes Sasha dumped him for violating her confidence the way Sasha violated hers, and Sasha says, Willow will be happy to know they’re not together anymore, but that’s not why

Holly says she was just leaving. It’s good to see Diane. Diane says, it’s good to see her too. She’s here so often. Holly tells Robert, until next time, and leaves. Diane says, and there always is a next time with that one. She didn’t mean to interrupt. Robert asks if she’s here on business or pleasure, and Diane says, business, alas. She’s dropping off a motion to dismiss the Colban case. He asks if she’s kidding, but she says she’s not. Read ‘em and weep. Until next time. She leaves.

Alexis says she doesn’t know how to get through, and Felicia says, just keep moving from one minute to the next. Alexis asks what she does this minute, and Felicia says she can walk Alexis through the necessary forms, and as a friend, make it painless as possible. Alexis says, just do it (I’m pleased that she pulls out a raggy tissue, as we all would, or at least I would), and Felicia says she has to decide on a funeral home. Alexis says, Dante said he’d prefer she make the arrangements, but she has nothing yet. Kristina says she’ll be back, and leaves. Molly suggests the funeral home that they used for Irene, and Alexis thanks her. Molly and TJ leave, and Alexis cries.

TJ asks how Molly is doing, and she says she’s fine. She has to be. He takes her hands and asks how she’s doing really. She says, heartbroken, angry, scared… She just lost Irene, then there was that craziness with Kristina, now losing Sam. She’s not sure how much more she can take. He hugs her.

Michael asks how Sam is gone, and Carly says, it doesn’t make sense. He says, Sam’s been here for him like the big sister he never had. He asks if she wants any help, and she says, the kids are asleep and she’s staying in case they need her. He asks if Willow knows, but she says she doesn’t think so. He doesn’t have to make it better for everyone else. He says he can’t sit around feeling sad, when his phone rings. Kristina asks if he’s heard, and he says, just now. Where is she? She says, at GH in the chapel. Can he come? She needs him.

Nina tells Ava that she gave up everything for a man and values her female friendships more highly now. (Hear her, ladies. In my dating days, I never once ditched my girlfriends. Men might come and go, but your girlfriends are forever.) It will take time and effort, but she’s willing to work at it. Ava says, so is she, and they toast to friends. Nina’s phone rings, and she looks at it, but ignores it. She says she’s worried about Willow. She’s not all right because Drew convinced her that he was a decent guy. Ava says, Drew the candidate or Drew the Quartermaine? and Nina says, Drew barely escaped a scandal. Cody got drunk and punched Drew in the face at the Brown Dog Bar. (I so badly want to go to a dive called the Brown Dog Bar.) Drew was fine and Cody went to jail, but not before he announced Drew was kissing his nephew’s wife. Ava says, Nina’s not telling her that Drew and Willow…  

Willow asks why Sasha and Cody broke up. What did he do? (Ha-ha-ha! As pissed as she is at Sasha, she figures it was him.) Sasha says, Cody is a great guy. He probably wouldn’t have said what he did if they were still together, but it’s not that. Willow asks, why? and Sasha says, they can’t be together. It turns out they’re cousins – first cousins. She found out Robert Scorpio is her father. Willow asks, how? and Sasha says, after lying to her for her whole life, her mother told her the truth. Willow says, Sasha told her that her mother was dead. She lied? Sasha says, yes, and Willow says she’s starting to think she doesn’t know Sasha at all.

There’s a knock at Diane’s office door, and she says, her favorite client. Jason walks in, and she says, what’s up? He says, something happened, and he wants her to hear it from him. Sam had a heart attack this evening. Diane asks if she’s okay, but he says, they couldn’t save her. Sam died.

In the chapel, Kristina looks up and says, here I am. Why did You do it? She gets up and almost leaves, but comes back. She says, look. I said I’d go to therapy. I said I’d go to group. I said I’d learn how to be a better sister. I did all those things and now this. After I already lost my daughter and can barely breathe, now You go and take my sister too? Why? Why, God, why? Answer me. I don’t get it and I want answers. I want to know how and why did You do this. You just took her from me and left me here with nothing. I have nothing left and I don’t know what to do. She cries and says, haven’t I suffered enough? Michael comes in, and Kristina says, Sam is dead. She’s gone. He holds her as she cries.

Sasha says she told everyone her mother was dead, but she only wanted it to be true. She may as well have been, since she was never there. Her mother never told her who her father was. Willow says, but when she realized Sasha was seeing Cody… Sasha says, she decided to do the right thing for once. She’s a two-faced, lying… Willow says she’s sorry Sasha and Cody can’t be together, but she’s fighting for her marriage because Sasha couldn’t keep her mouth shut. Sasha says she’s sorry, and Willow says she grew up in a cult and it was hard for her to trust anyone. Michael is willing to give her another chance. This hurt him. Sasha says she never should have told Cody something Willow shared in confidence (oh come on, stop acting like no one does this), but Willow needs to accept that everything that happened, happened because she kissed Drew. And not just once. If she’s so concerned about trust and honesty, look in the mirror. She has no one else to blame for this mess but herself. (Brava and grazie.)

Holly goes into her hotel room and can see it’s been tossed.

Diane says she can’t imagine what’s happening with Alexis. She should call her. Jason says, she’s making arrangements, and Diane says she doesn’t understand. Sam was fearless. She was invincible. Nobody was tougher and to lose her like this is unthinkable… She’s sorry. She can’t imagine what he’s going through. She knows how much Sam loved him. Jason says, he loved her, and she says, they all did. She was somebody who faced their problems head on. She always admired that about Sam. He says he thought she should know, and she thanks him. He asks, what’s wrong? (because that’s not enough) and she says, her problem is inconsequential… All right. He seems to want an extra helping of grief. They sit down, and she says she took something to Robert’s office and when she walked in, there was Holly. He asks if something happened, and she says, not overtly, but she just has to face the truth. Robert is still in love with Holly.

Nina says, Drew told Michael, and Ava asks, why? Nina says, somebody videoed Cody’s rant and sent it to Ned, and Ned threatened to blackmail Drew. Willow wanted to tell Michael, but she had no chance. And because Drew wanted to save his campaign, he convinced Willow not to tell Michael in the first place. It goes to show how Willow is a better person than she and Drew will ever be. Now Willow knows the kind of man Drew is. He’s a slick, smooth backstabbing bastard. Ava says, Nina is taking it rather personally, and Nina says, Willow is her daughter. Ava says, there’s more than that. Spill. Nina says she and Drew have had sex more than once, and Ava nearly chokes on her martini.

Sasha says, Willow keeps talking about the kiss, but they know it wasn’t just one time. Stop blaming everyone else and tell the truth. Willow says, it was a mistake, and Sasha says, both times? Willow says, yes, and they agreed there was no reason to hurt Michael. Sasha says, so she decided to lie. Be mad at Drew or herself, but leave her out of it. Willow says, if Sasha hadn’t told Cody, Cody wouldn’t have announced it, and Sasha says, she’s sick of everybody justifying their bad behavior. She was warned about the Quartermaines, but she had no idea. Willow will fit right in. Willow says, that’s not fair, but Sasha says, what’s not fair is Willow judging everyone else for her own mistakes. She’s quitting. She can’t work in this snake pit any longer. She can’t be with the man she loves, and she’s lost her best friend. Why stay? Carly walks in, and Sasha says, what is it?

Alexis asks Molly where her sister is, and Molly says, she’s in the chapel with Michael. Kristina asked if Alexis needed anything, but she didn’t say Alexis needed her here. Alexis says, Molly is still grieving her own child. If she’s holding it together for herself, that’s the way she needs to grieve. If she’s holding it together for her, don’t. It’s too much. It’s just all too much. They hug.

Kristina tells Michael that she was thinking about the time Sam went with her to get birth control for the first time. Sam took her there. Sam was there for all her firsts. Sam taught her self-worth and not to pick a partner that treated her like crap, but she didn’t listen. Michael says, they all make mistakes, and Kristina says, when she was with Dawn of Day, Sam risked her life to save her. He says, Sam would do anything for the people she loved and who loved her, and Kristina says, there was never judgement. If she wanted advice and guidance and couldn’t go to her mom, she’d go to Sam, and Sam wouldn’t think any less of her. He tells her to take the advice and guidance and use it. Be there for her mom and Molly like Sam was for her. Kristina says, to be honest, she’s the middle sister and still figuring it out. She can’t be the big sister. He says, he’s not saying she should fill Sam’s shoes, and she says she can’t be the big sister. She’s not supposed to be. He says, it’s not supposed to be this way, but it is, and they have to face that.

Diane says, when she found them together, she could tell by looking at their faces that she’d interrupted something. Sasha is Robert and Holly’s daughter. Jason says he’s surprised, and Diane says, it was a surprise to Robert too. He’s thrilled to have another daughter. Jason asks if things have changed, and she says, Robert told her that she’s the only woman in his heart. He says, she thinks he’s lying? and she says, only to himself. She believes he cares, but the way he feels about her is not the way he loves Holly.

Michael puts his arm around Kristina, and she cries. Willow calls, but he ignores it.

Willow leaves Michael a message that she heard about Sam. She’s so sorry. His mom said he was with Kristina. Call back when he has the chance.  

Ava says, oh boy, and Nina says, it started out as hate sex, but when she found out about the thing Drew was having with Willow, she started sleeping with him to distract him from her. It’s not a great plan. Ava asks if Willow knows, but Nina says, no, and she can never find out. Ava says, Nina can’t guarantee Cody doesn’t know about it, and Nina says, he does. He threw it in their faces at the bar. Ava says, so Ned knows… and everybody in the bar. Nina says, Drew convinced them that Cody is a drunk who lies, and she’s sure he paid them off. It won’t go viral. In spite of Ned’s threat, the Quartermaines don’t want a scandal. Ava says, Nina needs to tell Willow before she hears it from someone else, and Nina says, Willow will hate her. Ava says, at least Nina can say they’re through. Don’t let a man ruin her relationship with her daughter. She learned the hard way. Put her relationship with Willow above everyone else. Nina says, her child will always come first. She just hopes Willow’s marriage survives Drew’s selfishness.

Willow knocks on Drew’s door and says she just heard. She’s so sorry. Drew says he keeps losing the people he loves, and she hugs him. She says she’s so sorry, and he says he keeps thinking about Scout having no mom. He doesn’t know how to help her through. She says, he’ll find a way, and he says he wishes he was the man she sees when she looks at him. That man is the father Scout needs. Willow says, he is that man. Whatever is ahead, he’ll handle it. He says he doesn’t know how to be a parent, and she promises he’s not alone. He pushes her hair back, and as many times as I yell, no, no, no! at the TV, she kisses him.

Alexis says, Sam’s not coming back, and Molly says, no, she’s not. She doesn’t know what she’s supposed to do. Nothing is going to be the same. It’s never going to be. Alexis says she’s glad Molly has TJ, and Molly says, Alexis has her. Alexis says, and her sister, and Molly says she and Kristina promised to be there for each other. Alexis says she needs Molly to mean that because it’s just them now. They’re going to have to hang in there for each other. Not just for them, but for Sam and all the people she left behind. That’s what they’re going to do. She leans on Molly’s shoulder and says, it’s just the three of them. Molly says, the three of them.

Drew kisses Willow’s hand and they get busy. There’s a song part. (I’ve always suspected Willow was a little stupid.)

Holly goes to Robert’s office, and he asks, what’s wrong? She says she swore she’d never do this to him again, but he says, spit it out. She says she’s in trouble.

Sasha says she can’t believe Sam is gone, and Carly says, Jason told her. Sasha says, Dante must be devastated, and the kids, and Carly says, it’s heartbreaking. Sam was a great mom. The kids meant everything to her. Sasha says, they were lucky to have her. What do they do now? Carly says, be there for them, and Sasha says, of course (🍷) no one can replace their mom, especially one as loving and caring as Sam.

Suddenly, several masked men come in, along with Sidwell. One of the men grabs Sasha’s arm, and Sidwell says, if she’ll be kind enough to come with them… Carly says she has no idea who he is, but he has no idea what he’s messing with, and Sidwell says, don’t I, Miss Spencer? Call the authorities, and Sasha dies. Carly says she has better people to call, and he says, while she’s calling her friends in the underworld, tell Sasha’s mother that he wants his diamonds back. They leave, dragging Sasha with them.

Tomorrow, Michael asks if Brook has seen Willow; Willow says, this can never happen again; Anna says, Holly can’t be counted on to do the right thing; and Carly asks Jack what Sidwell is doing in Port Charles when the WSB is looking for him.

🍷 New drinking game. Whenever someone says, this can never happen again, take a shot. Take another when it does happen again.

🧴 A Little Bit Of Soap…

While everyone is doing a stellar job, I’m with Kristina. Why?

Very cool that she found a whole new niche for herself.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/kimberly-mccullough-reveals-her-exciting-new-project

I’m definitely looking forward to this. It’s been a while since we’ve gotten a new soap and it’s about time we got a predominantly Black cast. I’ve been disappointed with GH on this front.

🗽 Biting the Big Apple…

Racquel explained why she wanted to keep her engagement quiet and why she’d kept her previous breakup quiet. Apparently, the art world is very shallow, and she was concerned that the business she and her ex-husband shared would be hit in the wallet. Even more sadly, when the breakup became public knowledge, Racquel’s fiancé Mel was painted as a homewrecker, even though it was like a year later. Evidently, gossip is also part of the art world. Are they bored or just boring? Raquel had difficulty with revealing the relationship to her mom, who wouldn’t have the perfect image to present of her daughter. She hadn’t visited Racquel since her divorce, and Racquel and Mel discussed the possibility of her not coming to the wedding. I dunno. I’d be pretty proud of Racquel. She has an amazing career, isn’t doing bad at all financially, has a beautiful wardrobe and home, and is happy in her personal life. What more can you ask for?

Sai gifted Ubah with a book called Pigeon Watching, which was pretty funny. In Ubah’s interview, she said, the women were all in the book and she probably was too.

Jessel and husband Pavit went out to eat, and while Pavit was busy snapping pix of his food, Jessel tried to discuss their embryos on ice and how they needed couples therapy. At Erin’s Cinco de Mayo event in celebration of her new mezcal (🤮), Brynn flirted with Erin’s dad. In Sai’s interview, she pointed out how Brynn got mad about the sugar daddy stories, yet perpetuated that view of herself. Once again, loving Racquel, but Brynn, not so much.

Speaking of Brynn. Yeah. It’s always the editing.

👀 Do Watch Don’t…

I checked out Don’t Move last weekend and finally, a movie without a disappointing ending. No spoilers because this is in the film description. A woman about to commit suicide meets a stranger who causes her to rethink that plan. Later, said stranger kidnaps her, injecting her with a paralyzing drug. Angst and tension ensue. Kelsey Asbille (Iris) and Finn Wittrock (Richard) are the main players who carry the movie, and they’re superb. And with a lot of physically demanding scenes, no doubt came home from filming with bruises.

🎱 Magic 8 Ball Says…

I hate to say it, but it was probably just dumb luck that they were right before and ditto if they’re right tonight. It’s not like there’s anyone voting in the poll outside of the viewers.

https://pagesix.com/2024/10/31/entertainment/wwhl-poll-predicts-who-will-win-2024-election-after-viewers-correctly-predicted-previous-years/

☠️ Hail To the King…

Yay. Something else we have to wait until 2025 to see.

https://ew.com/it-welcome-to-derry-first-look-black-spot-hanlon-family-jovan-adepo-taylour-paige-exclusive-8736735

https://people.com/welcome-to-derry-it-prequel-show-everything-to-know-8737860

🦸‍♂️ Now Streaming, Marvel Jesus…

Disney+, November 12th. Be there or be a peanut.

https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/deadpool-and-wolverine-disney-plus-release-date

👻 Leftover Candy…

Random parade.

https://baynews9.com/fl/tampa/news/2023/10/27/hyde-park-halloween-pet-parade

This is nothing less than genius.

https://www.aol.com/famous-corgi-dad-over-top-150000807.html

Omg, the mouse in a trap. Some very clever ideas here.

https://www.startribune.com/the-winners-of-the-2024-star-tribune-halloween-pet-costume-contest/601172476

In case you were wondering.

https://www.al.com/news/2024/10/donald-trump-is-no-2-pet-halloween-costume-this-year-whats-no-1.html

BeetlePeke

🍂 October In Every November…

Join me tomorrow for soap, a little Salt, and more to watch (or not). Until then, stay safe, stay leaving election anxiety to the amateurs, and stay just continuing to move from one minute to the next when life is too much.

October 29, 2024 – Michael Gets a Double Whammy, Temping, It’s Time, A New York Minute, My Watch, Slammed, Knight Guide, Two Holidays In One, Transformed, Costumed, Keep Them Safe & Cat

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What I Watched Today

(rambling, random thoughts, recaps, and the whole GH enchilada on Fridays)

General Hospital

Dressed as Sherlock Holmes, Wiley tells Temp Michael (see below), the game is a-foot.

Laura hugs Aiden, who asks if there’s any word on Lulu, but Laura says she’s still in surgery. Elizabeth joins them and says, it’s going well. Aiden asks if he can get Laura anything, but she says, seeing him is enough.

Sam wakes up, and Dante says, welcome back. Lucas said she was a five-star patient. She did great. She asks, how’s Lulu? and he says, she’s going to save Lulu’s life.

Holly says she’s the only mother Sasha’s got. Sasha needs her more than she thinks.

On the phone, Tracy says, no comment. She tells Ned to block the last five callers, and he asks if it was a reporter. She says, they want to know about Drew’s campaign, and Lulu is in surgery. Every time the phone rings, her heart lurches. Ned says, it won’t be a problem much longer.

Cody tells Drew that they need to talk, and Drew tells the other Navy SEAL that he’s sorry. He’ll just be a second. He suggests he and Cody move to another spot, but Cody says he’s fine where he is. Drew says, Cody seems a little drunk, but Cody says, nope. Drew says, he looks like he needs some air, and Cody asks who Drew is to tell him what he needs. He calls Drew a smug bastard and punches him in the face. He says, Drew’s been making out with his nephew’s wife while he’s banging her mother. Drew punches Cody, and Nina tells the SEAL to call the police. At the bar, Elaine films what’s going on.

Lucky asks Laura if there’s any news, and she says, Sam is out of surgery. It went well. Lulu’s surgery is still in progress. Lucky says, she’s in good hands, and Elizabeth says she and Aiden are going home. Laura says she’ll call if she hears anything, and they leave. Laura says, a lot of people have come to see her, but she’s happy to spend time with Lucky. He wonders if she’s not going to ask where he’s been, and she says, if he wants her to know, he’ll tell her. He says he spent the day at the federal building jumping through bureaucratic hoops to get an emergency passport. She asks if he’s planning on using it.

Michael asks, what made Wiley think of Sherlock Holmes? and Willow says, says, he’s been reading books about kid detectives. She told him about the OG, Sherlock, and they watched some old movies. He was hooked. Wiley gives Michael a Watson hat, and Michael asks what gives Wiley the impression he’d sign on as his sidekick. Wiley says, elementary, my dear Watson.

Sasha says, that time is long gone, and she’s not talking about her childhood. She thought Holly would show up when her baby died or when her husband was murdered. Holly says she found out long after it happened. She was devastated for Sasha. Sasha says, her sympathy card must have gotten lost in the mail, but Holly says she was respecting Sasha’s wishes and stayed away. Sasha says, since when has Holly cared about what she wanted? She stayed away because she couldn’t be bothered. Her mother-in-law stole all her money and put her in an asylum where she nearly lost her mind. She would have welcomed help, even from Holly, but she was nowhere to be found. So this is way too little way too late.

Drew says, Cody is drunk, and Cody says, Drew’s a cheating bastard. Drew says he doesn’t know where Cody is getting this, and Cody asks how Nina is okay with Drew messing with her daughter to placate his massive ego. Dex comes in with another officer and says, someone complained about an assault. The bartender says, this guy tried to attack Mr. Quartermaine, and Dex asks Cody to come with him to the station. Don’t make it worse. Cody says, fine, but this isn’t over. He leaves with the other officer, and Drew tells Dex that Cody had too much to drink. He’s not going to press charges. Dex leaves and Nina says, that’s not what she meant when she said, get down and dirty. Drew thanks her for her suggestion. It’s time for damage control. He tells the bartender, a round for the house on him, and everyone cheers. Elaine quietly leaves.

Tracy asks why Ned thinks Drew’s campaign is going to tank, and he says he has a hunch that things are not as they seem. His phone dings, and Ned says, a video. They can watch together. He shows her the bar fight, and she says, tell her this is real. He says he hired a P.I. after learning some incriminating evidence. She asks, from whom? and he says, an unusual credible source. He had Drew followed to get confirmation. She says, he’s a genius. They have the ammunition and now they need to figure out how best to use it.

Lucky looks at the blank passport and says, it’s like the last decade never happened. Laura says, there’s so much she doesn’t know about his life. What’s he been up to all this time? How did he meet Dr. Gannon? He says, they were in the same refugee camp. He was security and Isaiah was with an international medical team. He could tell Isaiah was a good doctor and couldn’t turn down a seat at a poker table. Isaiah even beat him a couple of times. She asks if Lucky let him, but Lucky says, Isaiah is pretty good at everything he does. Eventually, the camp staff was full, so they decided to move on to where the need was greater, and it became a pattern looking for the next challenge, while at the same time living in the moment. She asks if that’s his way of telling her that he and Isaiah got through dangerous situations together, and he says, maybe. She says, they’re both very brave, and he says he could say that about Isaiah, but for him, he thinks he’s just been running.

Sasha says, when she got committed, Cody rescued her, and Holly says, thank God. Sasha says, when she got out, she was still broken, and Holly says she’s sorry. Sasha says, Cody believed in her and put her back together. He’s the reason she started believing in herself again and trusting again and opening her heart again. Holly says, she’s grateful and truly wishes they could stay together, and Sasha says, but they can’t.  

Dex brings Cody to the interrogation room and says he’ll get Cody some coffee, but Cody says, just throw him in a cell. Dex says, Drew’s not pressing charges, and Cody says, if Dex knew the whole story, he’d think Drew deserved it. Dex says he thinks the bar owner would disagree, and Cody says, it will probably be brushed under the rug like the fat cats do. Just put him in the drunk tank and let him sleep it off. He doesn’t need to talk to anybody else. Mac walks in and says, not even his dad? He heard Cody had quite a night.

The bartender tells Drew, that guy was drunk and out of line. He’s glad Drew put him in his place. He’s a class act and Drew’s got his vote. He goes back to the bar, and Nina says, it’s just a matter of time before Michael finds out. Even if he dismisses it as gossip, it’s bad. It could ruin his relationship with Willow. Drew says, Cody will be contained until he sobers up. When he sees Drew didn’t press charges, maybe he’ll be more cooperative. He’ll settle Cody’s tab and with any luck, that will be the end of it.

Tracy says, remind her to give Cody a raise, and Ned says he hates bringing negative attention to the family. Tracy says, Drew did that, and Ned says he thought Tracy approved of Drew being a Quartermaine. She says she thought Alan should have one child to carry on his name, but Drew’s not worthy. He deserves what he gets. Ned says, when he shows this to Drew, he’ll sign over his shares to yours truly, and Tracy asks, why not rid them of Drew once and for all? He asks, how? and she says, tell Michael everything.

Dante tells Sam that Lulu is still in surgery, but they’ll let him know when she’s in recovery. Sam asks if he’s seen Lucas, and he says, Lucas told him that her prognosis is excellent. She can come home next week. She says, he has to make sure the kids are organized and don’t forget to pick up the cupcakes for Scout’s fall bake sale. Dante says, she left notes all over. He’s got it. There is one thing he’d like to ask her… She says, Scout likes the cupcakes from Eckerd’s, but he says, it’s not that. He takes out a ring and asks if she’ll marry him.

Mac says he’ll take it from here, and Dex leaves. Cody says he had one too many, and Mac says, one? Cody says he lost count and he’s as drunk as a skunk, but Drew had it coming. Mac says he doesn’t want to know why Cody did what he did, but he wants to talk about why Cody was tossing them back in the first place. Cody says, he knows, and Mac says, he does. Let’s talk about Sasha.

Holly says, Sasha deserved a better mother. She didn’t do the hard things. Sasha says, she didn’t do anything, but Holly says she always loved Sasha. She wasn’t cut out to be a mother. Sasha says, it was easier to leave her with Nona. Nona loved her, and for a long time, she was the only person who did. When Nona was gone, she tried to make a life for herself and got close more than once, but every time, it fell apart. This time it fell apart because of Holly. Holly says, it’s not her fault Cody is Sasha’s cousin, but Sasha says, it’s Holly’s fault she didn’t know until now. And now, she’s alone again. Holly says, she has her father and her father’s family, and Sasha says, that Cody’s a part of. Holly says, she knows it cost Sasha a lot, but it cost a lot for her too. She’s lost the love of her life forever. (Wow. Way to be self-centered.)

At the gatehouse, Nina says she hopes it’s okay that she came by, and Willow says, she can check out Wiley’s Halloween costume. Wiley hugs Nina, and Nina says, it’s the perfect choice. It’s chic. Tweed is in this season. Michael says, they’re going to the main house to show Monica and pick up Amelia, and Wiley asks if Nina wants to come, but Nina says she wants to talk to Wiley’s mom. Wiley and Michael leave, and Willow asks what brings Nina by. Nina says she gave Willow some bad advice about Drew. She needs to tell Michael the truth as soon as she can.

Tracy says she detects more than flicker of daddy’s ruthlessness in Michael, and Ned says, that baby face belies the heart of a shark. She says, now Drew’s been sniffing around Michael’s wife. They can engineer it so he drops out of the race and out of their lives forever. He says, or they can look at it another way. If Drew wins, he can use the video as leverage. He’ll have a congressman under his thumb. Her too. He’s willing to share. Drew comes in, and Tracy says, someone’s had a rough night.

Sam says, Dante is asking now? She’s on painkillers. He says he’d hoped that would work to his advantage. He wanted to ask her when she woke up. Sam says, in this romantic setting. There’s just one thing she wants him to know. It’s okay if he still loves Lulu.

Laura says she’s sure Lucky has his own perspective on the situation, and she wants to hear it. He says, of course (🍷), and she says, he didn’t grow up in a normal stay-put family. She and Luke were fugitives for the first half of his life, until he was 11 years old. That’s why his idea of home is different than just about everyone else’s, including his sister. By the time Lulu came, they were settled in Port Charles. The need he has to… when the going gets rough, to run out and get an emergency passport, that instinct is in him because of how he was raised. Please don’t beat himself up about that. He says he tries to tell himself that even if he can’t stay in one place, at least he can do some good while he’s there, and she says, he does. He has. He also protected Isaiah, and because he did, Isaiah is able to be here to help save his sister. He says he’s so grateful for that, but in the process, he left Elizabeth and his son behind.

Sasha says, Holly is making this about herself, but Holly says she wants Sasha to know that coming clean was for her sake. Despite her failings, she wants to provide for Sasha. Sasha says, she can provide for herself just fine, and Holly tells her, as they say, tout ce qui te rend heureux, whatever makes you happy. Sasha wonders how Holly knows she couldn’t be a mother when she never tried, and Holly says she could have tried grinding out an existence, but she would have been an unhappy mother. Sasha says, at least she would have been there, and Holly says she’s here now. She just pulled off the biggest job of her career and she did it for Sasha. She’s in a position to make sure Sasha is set for life.

Cody says he’s sure Mac has better things to do, but Mac says, it’s a tough break and one they didn’t see coming. Cody says he’d been keeping honest, working at being worthy of Sasha, being a better guy. Mac says, he still is, and Cody laughs. He says he’s in jail, and Mac says, he’ll get past it, but it will take time. Cody says, it won’t change the fact that he and Sasha are cousins. He has to leave Port Charles.

Nina says, Willow should have followed her instincts and told Michael. She needs to be honest. Willow says, Nina told her that she’d just be easing her guilt at his expense. She’s committed to Michael and their family. She had a harmless crush on Drew, and barely anything happened. Nina says, they kissed, and she needs to tell Michael before someone else does. Willow says, only a couple of people know, and she trusts them both, but Nina says, her circle of trust isn’t as tight as she thinks.

Drew asks, what’s going on? and Tracy says, it’s not as exciting as his evening. He says he broke up a fight in a bar, and Ned says he was hoping to discuss the future, but Drew says, it’s not a good time. Ned says, no time like the present. He thinks Drew should be more supportive of the family, so from now on, Drew will do exactly as he says. Drew says, why? and Ned shows him the video. Drew rubs his forehead like he has a headache, and Tracy says, so he wasn’t breaking up a fight. He was an active participant. Drew asks if Ned thinks it’s enough for blackmail, and Ned says, Drew kissed his nephew’s wife while he was sleeping with her mother and he’s running for congress. He’s got to hand it to Drew – time management. (Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!) Drew says, and Cody wouldn’t lie, but Tracy says she’d take Cody’s word over his any day. (Me too.) Drew says he’ll handle Cody, but Ned asks how he plans to handle James West? Does he plan to tarnish James’s reputation or punch him out like Cody?

Laura tells Lucky that most teenagers who meet and fell in love rarely end up being the people they share their lives with. People grow up and change. Lucky says, especially when one of you goes down a dark hole, and Laura says, the important thing is, he climbed back out of it. Everyone is so happy he’s here. He says he needed to hear that, and they hug. He says, no matter where he goes, home is where she is, and she says she needed to hear that. She loves having him here and she’s not the only one. Elizabeth comes back and says she’s going to wait with them. Isaiah comes out and Laura asks, how’s Lulu? He looks grim, but you know how they do.

Cody flashes back to dancing with Sasha, and then Sasha telling him that they’re first cousins. Mac says, no judgement, but he’d hate for Cody to go. They just started to figure things out. Cody says, it’s too hard to be near Sasha without being able to be with her, but Mac says, it won’t make a difference. It’s not easier somewhere else. He speaks from personal experience. Sasha didn’t make him a better man. She may be the reason, but he did the work. It would be a shame to give up now.

Holly says she took the biggest risk of her life, and it paid off. She’ll never have to work again. Sasha says she’s happy for Holly, and Holly says, she’s going to liquidate her share of the proceeds, then Sasha can do and be whatever she wants. Let her do that for her. Sasha says, no thanks. Holly is telling her that this is her last job, but Sasha knows it won’t be. There will be another score and another after that, because she loves the high of living on the edge. Telling lies, using people, and getting away with it. That’s just who she is. Sasha walks out.

Nina says, Cody was drunk, but convincing, and Willow wonders how he knew. Sasha was the only one who saw them, and the other time, they were alone. She must have told Cody. (Seriously. She’s a teacher and can’t do the math?)  Nina says, that’s why Willow needs to tell Michael. He needs to hear it from her before he hears it from someone else. Willow says she could lose everything, but Nina tells her, be strong. They’ll go together, but they need to go now. They’re running out of time.

Ned says, it’s simple. Unless Drew wants Michael to know about his involvement with Michael’s wife, Drew will side with him on every vote. Tracy says, starting with confirming Ned as CEO, and Drew asks if they think he’d go along with that. Ned says, if he wants to be congressman, and Tracy says, and Willow will stay the dutiful wife, and Michael will be none the wiser. Ned says, deal? when Michael comes in with Wiley. He asks, what’s wrong?

Isaiah says, the surgery went well, and Lulu is in recovery. They have to wait and see if her body accepts the transplant, but he’s more optimistic about her prognosis than he was earlier. Lucas hugs him, and Laura says, Lulu has a second chance because of Isaiah and Lucky. Lucky says, they got through together.

Sam says, Dante doesn’t have to propose to thank her for being Lulu’s donor or prove that he loves her too, but Dante says he’d like to marry her because he wants to grow old together. Because he loves their life and loves their family and loves her. She says she loves him too, and he says, good, because they’ve been dancing around this for a while and he’s tired of dancing. But if she’s not ready, he’ll keep dancing. She says she’s ready and tells him to put a ring on it. He does and they kiss. (They’re going to kill her off, aren’t they?)

Mac says, Cody’s family is here – him, Felicia, Maxie and her kids. Cody says, and Robert and Sasha, and Mac says, running isn’t going to make them less related. James will be heartbroken. Cody says, he’s playing dirty, and Mac says he’s not above stooping low. Stick around a while. Cody says he can do that, and Mac says he’ll find Cody a bed. He doesn’t want to go back to the Q’s tonight. Cody says he’s not grounded? and Mac says, they’ll talk in the morning. They walk out together.

Sasha goes to the Brown Dog Bar and the bartender asks if anyone is joining her. She says, not tonight, and orders, vodka, rocks. (Whoa. That sounds like she’s been here before with someone, and the bartender remembers her.) She flashes back to Cody saying he knows it’s true because he spent his life reaching for things he couldn’t have. So of course (🍷) when he finds the best thing, it turns out he can never have it.

Michael says, Drew’s been in a fight? and Drew says, a misunderstanding with a constituent. Michale says, it feels like he walked in on something, and Ned says, they were discussing how the importance of endorsements, the right ones, can make or break a candidate. Drew says, there’s something he needs to tell Michael, and Ned says, think carefully… Willow and Nina walk in, and Willow says she needs to speak to Michael, but Michael says he wants to hear what Drew has to say first. Drew says he’s sorry, and Michael says, for what? Drew says, last 4th of July, he kissed Michael’s wife. They didn’t mean for it to happen, but it did. Michael asks Willow to tell him that Drew is lying, and Willow says, it didn’t mean anything. She starts to cry and says, please believe she loves him. Michael walks out, and Nina holds Willow, looking at Drew behind her back.

Tomorrow, Maxie says, it looks like Cody is going as someone who made a big mistake last night; Sasha says, neither one of them planned on this happening; and Willow asks why someone would come here.

🧴 But You Already Knew This…

It was just for today anyway.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/general-hospital-temporarily-recasts-michael-again

🏥 Time Of Death…

Either it’s Sam and not Lulu or they threw us a helluva red herring.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/general-hospital-spoilers-week-october-28-2024-time-of-death-548

🗽 Not Taking the A Train…

Jessel said her friend group was a Monet – fabulous from afar, but close up, they were a total mess. Welcome to the Clueless version of RHONY, and also the theme of Jessel’s 41st birthday party. I’m actually on board with this, since I’m a fan of Clueless and all its fashion statements. Sai went plant shopping for her new garden, since she thought the prices at Whole Foods were getting out of hand. Her husband asked if the plants were for food or to take pretty pictures of, which is kind of sad. She said, both, but still. Live your life instead of taking pictures of it. Sai also decided that her mom’s ashes had been in her closet long enough and was going to plant them along with a tree. It was sad when she talked about how this person she’d known and loved her whole life had been reduced to a bag of ashes. This got me on a train of thought about the body really just being a container for love and not the love itself. It reminded me of when my father passed away. I felt that way about the house I grew up in. Once the love (i.e. my father) was gone, it was only an empty container. Hey, I have my moments of depth. Although not usually during a Housewives episode.

Ubah and Racquel discussed the dust-up Ubah had last week with Brynn. Ubah said, Brynn was telling her on the side to watch her behavior, so she wasn’t painted like an angry Black woman. In Racquel’s interview, she said, it was confusing, since Brynn was triggering Ubah into being painted like an angry Black woman. She apologized later on Watch What Happens Live for this remark, but I didn’t understand why. I thought she was spot on. They also talked about how appreciative they were of the freedoms they enjoyed in the USA, which made me appreciate where these women came from and the journey they took to get where they are. Jenna got a job as Editor-and-Chief at large with online fashion magazine Coveteur. During her first roundtable discussion with the staff, one topic was women going to Turkey for eyebrow transplants. Seriously? This is where we’re at?

To prove her ever-growing maturity, Brynn talked smack about Ubah behind her back, saying grown women living in NYC don’t act like that. She also called Sai a miserable troll that lives under the Brooklyn bridge. End of story. Ubah told Raquel that whatever Brynn had against her, she was having it alone, but Racquel suggested she let it out. If she kept it to herself, she’d be stewing and brewing. Erin was deep in the stew and brew, staying annoyed at Jenna for basically not paying enough attention to her. But of course, telling everyone but Jenna. Breaking out the violins.

Here’s the whole deal:

👀 Last Weekend’s Watch…

In keeping with my tradition of being late to the party, I’ve also started watching Stranger Things. Everybody and their mother tried to get me to watch it forever ago, but I was busy watching other things. I finally caved when I just had to know what those flower-headed things were all about.

Warning: Spoilers ahead for just about everything.

My favorite first. I can’t count the ways I love this show. The acting is amazing, the special effects are creepy AF, and the story is unique. One of my favorite horror/sci-fi sub genres is the isolated town people can’t leave where something creepy is going on.

I was caught up, but now have to watch last Sunday’s episode. Another show with superb acting and Colin Ferrell is remarkable. I’d honestly expected it to be more comic bookish, but it’s more film noir.

https://www.inverse.com/the-penguin-episode-6-release-date-start-time-trailer-plot

Same deal. Caught up and now behind again. The deaths of both Isabelle and Genet in episode 4 surprised me. Genet milked her death for all it was worth, but Isabelle’s was a bit of a trip to the cornfield. No judgement, but when horror turns to corny, it makes me break out in eyerolls.

https://www.cbr.com/the-walking-dead-daryl-dixon-season2-episode5-recap-spoilers/

https://winteriscoming.net/review-daryl-dixon-fights-for-laurent-s-future-in-the-penultimate-episode-of-his-walking-dead-show-01jb12561ext

https://screenrant.com/the-walking-dead-genet-villain-death-disappointing/

This show is absolutely crazy. In a good way. Without giving it away here, let’s just say they did an entire 180 last week. I was going, wait… what? through the entire two episodes. They’ve kept the viewers guessing from the jump, but this was insane. I’m thinking, Emmys all around. I’ll bet Nicholas Chavez is glad he left GH. And we all know how much I love GH, but whoever is guiding his career path makes good moves. I did have to wonder though. Why would detectives wear white to investigate a grisly murder scene?

https://screenrant.com/grotesquerie-episodes-8-9-recap-most-shocking-reveals/

💣 Not a Very, Very Fine House…

I’ve been watching this a little bit and I don’t hate it.

https://ew.com/richard-hatch-slams-messy-house-of-villains-costars-after-episode-4-elimination-8730199

🐉 Thrones For Dummies…

I always think, if it needs to be explained, should I be watching it? TBH, I don’t think there will ever be another Game of Thrones. Although I wish we could go back and redo the ending. <sigh>

https://ew.com/a-knight-of-the-seven-kingdoms-beginners-guide-game-of-thrones-spinoff-8695634

🎄 When Halloween Is Christmas…

This is a great article on another perspective of the holiday.

https://www.them.us/story/halloween-gay-christmas-lgbtq-history

🦛 When Is a Hippo Not a Hippo…

She’s channeling her inner Moo Deng.

https://people.com/woman-transforms-viral-baby-pygmy-hippo-moo-deng-halloween-costume-photos-8734607

🎃 More Couples’ Costumes…

The corn dog. I love it.

https://www.countryliving.com/life/kids-pets/g4897/costumes-with-dog/

🐕 Safety First…

While it’s fun to get them involved, above all, keep them safe.

https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/pet-owners/petcare/halloween-pet-safety

👻 All the Spirits Stirring…

Join me tomorrow for soap and something Salty. Until then, stay safe, stay rethinking your pet’s Halloween costume if it causes them anxiety, and stay not running from your problems. It’s not easier somewhere else.

October 22, 2024 – Marshall Gets a Big Sendoff, Circling the City Drain, Pavlova, Best Parade Ever & Spell

Standard

What I Watched Today

(rambling, random thoughts, recaps, and the whole GH enchilada on Fridays)

General Hospital

At The Savoy, Curtis tells the crowd about their family relying on each other’s love and tenacity. By the grace of God, they come through and they soar. There’s no finer example than his father, his dad, his pop. All Marshall’s life, he practiced his art in the shadows, and in the studio sessions, cruises, and dive bars, he was working on his craft while working on developing a reputation of respect from his fellow musicians. Today is a long overdue and very well-earned time for him to step into the spotlight and show the world what he does. Everyone toasts to Marshall.

Dante goes to see Sonny in his office and says, for the first time in a long time, everything is okay. They found a donor for Lulu. It’s Sam.

Elizabeth says she scored an extra pillow for Sam and asks if she can get her anything else. Sam says she’s okay, and thanks Elizabeth for taking good care of her. Elizabeth says she’s happy to, and leaves. Felicia comes in and says she’s here as Sam’s patient advocate and friend. How is she doing? Sam says, good, and Felicia says, things are moving fast because of Lulu’s condition. She wants to make sure Sam’s not feeling rushed and see if she has any questions or concerns. Sam tells her that Lucas is stopping by to go over everything, and Felicia tells her to try and get some rest. Maxie and Spinelli come in with balloons, and Maxie thanks Sam so much for doing this.

At (I think) the Bistro, Ava says, Ric rehearsed her for hours, grilling her on what to say and how to say it. He says he wants her to feel comfortable taking the stand. How does she feel? Ava says, good… confident… ready… What? Ric says, usually defendants testifying is risky. It makes it easy for the prosecution to score points cross examining. Ava asks if he’s saying she wasted her time rehearsing and he’s not letting her take the stand.

Holly goes to Anna’s office and Anna thanks her for coming. Holly says she’d have come even if Anna hadn’t reached out. Anna says, there are developments with Sidwell… and Holly says she and Robert have a daughter.

Spinelli says he’s speechless, and Sam says she’s glad to help Lulu. Maxie asks where Molly and Kristina are, and Sam says, somewhere. Felicia says, Sam has revelers a-plenty, even though she’s supposed to be getting some rest, and Maxie says, organ donation is a beautiful thing and so is Sam. Sam thanks her.

Josslyn tells Dex that they owe Trina for the invitation, since they never get a night out. There aren’t enough hours in the day. He says, they have a night out here now, and kisses her.

At one of the tables, Molly’s phone rings, and TJ asks if she’s not going to answer. She says, it’s just her mom, letting her know what time Sam’s surgery is tomorrow, and he asks if she wants to see Sam. She says she’s not sure Sam wants to see her. Besides, she wants to be here for him and his family.

Gio thanks Trina for inviting him and asks if she thinks her grandfather is going to play. Trina says she doesn’t know, but she has recordings if he wants to hear them. She wanted him to meet Marshall before he takes off.

Marshall says he hopes he can live up to Curtis’s words, but Curtis says, he already has. Portia says, they’re proud of him, and Curtis says he’s been checking the tour dates so they can get tickets. Stella asks if Marhsall would mind if she tagged along, and Marshall says he would love that.

Ric says, if Ava can keep her composure the way they practiced, he thinks she can convince the jury. She’s compelling when she wants to be. She asks if he finds her compelling, and he says, at times, very. He’s going to do best do his best to make sure she doesn’t go to prison, and Ava says, that’s his job. Ric says he’s good at it, and she asks if he thinks she’s guilty or does he believe Kristina’s fall was an accident.

Holly repeats that she and Robert have a daughter, but Anna says, that’s not possible. She never said anything all these years. Holly says she’s sure Anna understands not telling the father, and Anna asks if Robert knows. Holly says, this morning history repeated itself, and Anna is in no position to throw stones. Anna says, Robin was five, and Holly has been sitting on this since when? Holly says, since the WSB tried to kill Robert, and they all believed they’d succeeded. Anna asks if she knows where her daughter is, and Holly says, she’s in Port Charles. Sasha Corbin is their daughter. Anna says, this is low, even for Holly.

Sonny says, so Sam is the donor, and asks Dante, how are the kids? Dante says, Rocco is excited. Scout and Danny are happy. They’re scared for their mom, but there’s been so much bonding of the family, they feel closer together. Sonny says, it’s great the way Dante and Sam co-parent, and Dante says, the families blended better than he’d hoped. Sonny says, Dante has a great family, but Dante gives Sam all the credit. She did the heavy lifting.

Ava says she swears Kristina’s fall was a terrible accident, and Ric says he wouldn’t have taken the case if he’d thought otherwise. She asks how Molly is reacting, and he says, rough. Molly can’t see it yet, but he took the case for her sake. The only way for her to get past her anger and drive for revenge is if she accepts Kristina’s fall was an accident. Hopefully, then she can move on. She says, he’s a good father, and he says, few people would agree. She says, that doesn’t make it any less true. People say the same things about her, but she loves her daughter with her whole heart. His phone rings and he says he has to take it, and steps away.

Anna says she’s not sure anyone has hurt Robert as much as Holly. Now she’s kept this information for 20 plus years. Holly says, glass houses and all that, and Anna asks if Sasha knows. Holly says, she just found out, and Anna says, it’s shameful. Sasha has been through so much, and now she’s dating Cody, Mac’s son. Holly asks why Anna thinks she told Sasha, and Anna says, she gets no points for that. Holly says she doesn’t care what Anna thinks. She just lost her daughter and the man… Robert and Sasha will never speak to her again. Anna asks if Holly can think of a reason they should.

Gio says, Marshall has played with the greats, and Trina says, so will he. She introduces him to Marshall, and Dex tells Josslyn that it’s good to see her enjoying herself. She says, Alexis was exonerated and now her mom can concentrate less on Sonny, and Dex says, there have been a lot of coincidences lately.

Stella asks how Portia is doing, and Portia says, stressed. The fact that a judge is even entertaining Heather’s case makes her nervous. Stella says, they can’t do anything to change that, not tonight. Don’t let something out of their control make her miss good times with family and friends.

Ric comes back and tells Ava that he took care of the bill. He says he has to go, and jets.

Sam asks Maxie to run interference if her sisters show up, and Maxie says she’s on it. She knows about sister drama… and every other kind of drama. Spinelli tells Sam to focus on being the courageous heroine of her own story, when Lucas joins them. He wonders if he missed his invitation to the party, and Sam says she’s glad he’s here. They hug, and Felicia says, they need to let Sam get some rest. They say their goodbyes, and Sam tells Spinelli, don’t break into any databases without her. Lucas says, she’s the popular one. He stopped in to see if she had any questions or needed anything. Sam says she’s good on both, and Lucas says, Dr. Comstock will be by to discuss her surgery. He’s a great surgeon… Sam says she thought Lucas was doing her surgery, but he says he thought she knew he can’t do that.

Ric goes into the hospital and tells Elizabeth that he needs to speak with her. It’s important. She says, what has he done now?

Jordan picks up an order at Bobbie’s and sees Isaiah at a table, pouring over papers, an untouched burger in front of him. She says she sees he’s absorbed, and he asks if she’s coming from a run. She says she missed her morning one, and he says he admires her dedication. She says, back at him. Laura told her that he’s doing Lulu’s surgery. He says he was grabbing dinner before he went to the hospital, and she says she thinks he should do more than grab it. He might want to eat it too. He says, busted. But if she sits, he might have a better chance. She sits down and asks, what changed his mind? She thought he was done performing miracles. He says, Lucky asked for his help. His sister pulled him out of trouble more than once. Jordan says she hopes he has one more miracle left in him.

Marshall says, it’s good to see TJ and Molly. They made it through a terrible time. Molly says, each day is better, and he says, have faith that in the future they’ll have a family. Don’t be afraid to try again. TJ says, when the time is right, and Marhsall says, they’re going to make spectacular parents one day. Molly excuses herself.  

Josslyn tells Dex that she doesn’t think about Cates’s murder or Sonny. She realized it’s not her job to make Sonny face justice or his conscience. She’s going to stay as far away from Sonny as possible. Dex says, wise move.

TJ finds Molly at the bar, looking at her phone. She says, her dad said he was going to stop by, but she hasn’t seen him. TJ says he just came to get a drink. (Or five.)  

Ric says, Judge Orvis ruled in favor of Heather. He agreed that there was cobalt poisoning, and therefore, Heather was not in her right mind. He was hoping she’d be transferred to minimum security or something. Elizabeth says, that’s not what’s happening, and Ric says, Orvis vacated Heather’s sentence. She’s being released.

Anna says, Robert must be in shock, and Holly says, he definitely is, but Sasha’s reaction is the most troubling. She’s in complete denial. She’d told Sasha that her father was dead, and Sasha thinks this is another lie. Anna says, clearly, Sasha knows her, and Holly says she doesn’t know what to do. Anna says, leave. If she ever loved Robert, then she should leave town and maybe never come back. Her being here is destructive and she thinks it’s hurting Robert and their daughter. Holly says she’s Sasha’s mother, and Anna says, then put the welfare of her child first above her own. Holly says, Anna thinks she deserves this pain, but Anna says she doesn’t know. Holly asked her what she thought she should do and she’s telling her. The best way to help the situation is if she goes. Holly walks out.

Dante tells Sonny that he keeps worrying Lulu won’t make it through surgery. He’s scared. Sonny says, he’s probably preparing for the worst, but he should hope for the best, and Dante says, Lulu is a fighter. Sonny says, there’s still a chance because of Sam. Don’t count her out.

Lucas says, it’s against policy to perform surgery on family members, and Sam asks if Dr. Comstock is a better surgeon. Lucas says, he has stellar credentials, and Sam asks again, is he a better surgeon? Lucas says, no, and she says she shouldn’t be penalized just because she’s family. Lucas says, she’s not being penalized. That’s the way it’s done. She asks if he thinks he can perform surgery on her or not.

Isaiah says he can’t discuss Lulu’s surgery with Jordan, but the odds of rejection in a transplant are high already. Jordan says, her odds weren’t great and here she is. He says, she’s a recipient? and she says she received a kidney a few years ago from an unlikely donor. Her situation was dire, and her family was losing hope, but look at her now. He says he is, and she says, figuratively. She just ran six miles. He asks if that’s why she looks so good.

Ava thanks Nina for coming. Ric was called away and she’s not ready to call it a night. Nina asks if they were having dinner, but Ava says, a strategy session. She thanks Nina again for the referral and says she feels good. Ric is a tenacious lawyer and he’s in her corner. Nina says, unscrupulous is a better word. All he cares about is Ric. If her well-being aligns with his love of money, Ava is golden. Ric married her when she was in a fragile state of mind, tried to steal her money, and put her in the looney bin. Ava says, people can change. She sees how much he loves his daughter and he’s passionate about the law. He’s working hard to defend her. Nina asks if Ava is interested in Ric, but Ava says, no.

Elizabeth asks when Heather is being released, and Ric says, tomorrow. He never thought she’d be freed. He doesn’t believe she’s a threat to society… She says she’s sure the families Heather terrorized don’t feel that way. Why come to her? He says, the Ashfords are having a going away party for Marshall and Molly is there. She says, all the people he needs to tell in one room, but he says he doesn’t want to spoil the celebration. She asks if he doesn’t think they should know before they see it on the news, and he asks if she’ll go with him. She says, it’s all him. He needs to take responsibility for just doing his job. (I love when Elizabeth gets snippy.)

Portia tells Curtis, it was a wonderful speech, and Marshall says he was incredibly touched. The party is beautiful. Curtis says he’s glad to see Portia smiling again. She says, it’s a good party with a good turnout. It’s a good day.

Trina introduces Gio to Marshall, and Gio says, Wynton Marsalis is one of his favorites. Marshall says his too, and Gio says he’s sorry he won’t get to hear Marshall play. Trina says she’s going to miss him, and Marshall says he’ll miss her too. She should pursue her own music. She has the voice of an angel, and it would be something if she trained.

Stella tells Molly that it’s good to see her and TJ making an effort, and Molly says, they’re still healing. Stella says, it takes time, and Molly says, sometimes it’s so hard, she can barely breathe. Stella asks if she’s shared that with TJ, but Molly says, he has his own grief. She doesn’t want to put it on him. Stella says, after she says this, she’ll butt out… for a minute. Right now, she just sees them going through the motions. She understands that sometimes all you can do is go through to get through, but the words they don’t say are building a wall between them Tell TJ how she feels and listen to how he’s feeling. It’s the only way they’ll have a future together.

Curtis asks if Stella is sure that she wants to drive Marhsall to the airport, and she says, they’ll be fine. (Hmm… At this point, I trust nothing.)

Marshall tells Trina, be happy, and she says she loves him. He says he loves her more. She’ll be just fine. Stella says he doesn’t want to miss his plane, and he says, she loves bossing him. There are hugs and goodbyes, and Marshall says, y’all be kind to each other. Much love. He throws them a kiss, and leaves amid applause.

Nina says, Ric is not relationship material, and Ava says she can take care of herself. She’s not helpless and naïve. Nina says, she’s vulnerable and it’s worked against her in the past. Ava says, if Nina is referring to the late, lamented Cates, he was using her, and she was using him. Nina says she was talking about Nikolas.

Felicia tells Maxie and Spinelli to get some rest, and leaves. Spinelli asks, what’s on Maxie’s mind? and she says, it’s so strange that Sam ends up being the one to save Lulu. If Lulu wasn’t in a coma, she and Dante would be together. Spinelli says, they were divorced, and Lulu was engaged to Dustin, but Maxie says, Lulu confided in her after the explosion that she still loved Dante, but she didn’t get the chance to tell him. Maybe she should have told Dante. Maybe she still should. Spinelli asks, to what end? Wouldn’t Lulu want Dante and Sam to be happy? Maxie says she wouldn’t, and Spinelli says, just leave it alone and let fate decide. Maxie says, she and fate have never been besties.

Sonny says, letting go is hard, but sometimes moving on is harder, and Dante says he thought Lulu was it and it’s his fault he lost her. He never had the chance to tell her how he felt. Sonny says, thanks to Julian, and Dante says, Sam came out of nowhere. She snuck up on him and became everything. She put him and Rocco back together, and now she’s going to save Lulu’s life. He loves her more than he thought possible.

Sam asks if Lucas is worried his emotions will be involved, and Lucas says, it’s an important question and the answer is of course (🍷) he’ll be effected, but Lulu is the more serious risk. She asks how many times he’s done this surgery, and he says, dozens. She asks if she has to call her advocate, and he says he’s sure the lawyers have a waiver she could sign. She says, as long as he does the surgery. There’s no one she trusts more than her brother. He says, she wins again, and they hug.

Molly says she’s going to miss Marshall, and TJ says, there are lots of goodbyes these days. They hug, and Ric walks in. Molly asks where he’s been, and he says he needs to speak to Curtis and Portia.

Portia says, there’s something she’s been meaning to tell Curtis, when Ric joins them. He says he’d like to speak with them in private. It’s important. Curtis says, they can use his office, but Portia says she’s not going anywhere with Ric.

Isaiah says, a Deputy Mayor’s work is never done? and Jordan says she loves it on a good day. She hopes he has one tomorrow. Good luck. He says he doesn’t need luck, just skill, and she says, his ego is still intact. He says, you have to think you’ll be the best to be the best, and she says, that’s just what Lulu needs.

Dante kisses Sam and asks how she’s doing. She says, better. She got Lucas to agree to do the surgery. He says, as long as she’s comfortable. He wishes he could find the words to tell her how grateful he is. She says, just hold her, and he says, it would be his absolute pleasure.

Cricket sounds come from Anna’s computer, and she sees it says, ALERT! She says, Interpol? and sees a headline: Wanted Suspect At Large. Sidwell Spotted in Miami. There’s a photo of Sidwell at the airport, and Anna says, what are you coming for, Sidwell?

There’s a knock at Sonny’s door, and Frank says, his appointment is here. Sonny says, show her in, and tells Holly, we meet again. She says, good to see you, Mr. Corinthos, and he tells her to call him Sonny. She thanks him for meeting her, and he asks her to have a seat. What can he do for her? She says she hears he’s a man of many resources. Someone who can make things happen. He says, depends on the things, and she puts her tote bag on his desk. She says, in that case, she has a business proposition for him.

Ava says she and Nikolas are over, and Nina says, that doesn’t make being alone easier. Don’t be so quick to get involved with something new and shiny. Ava says she’ll take it under advisement, and Nina says she hopes Ava does. Underneath that charming exterior is a man who loves two things, himself and money. Expect anything more, and she’s courting disaster.

Elizabeth tells Terry, heads up. They’re going to need to support Portia. She’s about to get very bad news.

Portia says, this can only be about one thing – Heather Webber. Ric says, yes, and she says, what is it? Everyone! Listen to the news about Heather. Curtis tells Ric to say what he came to say, and Ric says he received a call from Judge Orvis. He ruled in Heather’s favor and vacated her conviction. Trina asks what that means, and he says, as of tomorrow, Heather is a free woman. There’s shock all around.

Tomorrow, Isaiah tells Lucas that if Lucky’s sister has a shot in hell of making it through this, she’s going to need him; Ric tells Molly, that’s why he can’t drop the case; Anna tells Holly, stop lying for once; and Sonny says someone must be in some kind of trouble.

🗽 No Sleeping In the City…

I wasn’t totally paying attention, but zoned in when Erinn had the women over for Shabat. In her interview, she wondered how anyone could be a Jew and a Scientologist. I assumed she was talking about Rebecca and rolled that over in my mind. I can actually see it meshing, although I’m sure it’s uncommon. It was story time, and Jenna told an interesting tale about dating a writer who was writing about sex clubs in NYC and going with him to one. She thought it was disgusting, and it sounded disgusting. Then they played Never Have I Ever with, no surprise, sex questions. I’m not a prude by any stretch of the imagination, but I’m tired of the Housewives version of this game only involving one subject. Especially when it’s people whose freak number I do not want to know.

Brynn and Erin thought it would be amusing to put fake cockroaches in the beyond fabulous pavlova dessert, which made Sai literally run to the bathroom to throw up. I’m not sure what Brynn was wearing, but it looked like something stolen from a circus clown. Again, wrong people with the money. Ubah told the groups that whenever she was out of alignment, it was because of Brynn. Brynn told Ubah not to come off angry, and Ubah begged Brynn not to be condescending, which only stoked her anger. Brynn said she didn’t like and wouldn’t take anyone calling her names, and Ubah said if Brynn acted condescending again, she would call her a snake again. A snake? I’m pretty sure Brynn has been called worse. I know I have. In Brynn’s interview, she said she didn’t want Ubah to be a stereotype. And so we circled that drain again.

Next time, Sai’s birthday; and Erinn doesn’t want to be close to Jenna.

Here’s the full story outlined, if you crave more.

🩰 Not Just a Dancer Anymore…

That pavlova looked so good, I googled it.

🐕 Taking It To the Streets…

The best parade of the year.

https://people.com/2024-nyc-halloween-dog-parade-photos-8730799

Best in Show? I vote for Bob.

https://nypost.com/2024/10/20/us-news/nyc-tompkins-square-halloween-dog-parade-pups-take-to-streets-for-34th-annual-costume-event/

🐦‍⬛ Quoth the Raven…

Join me tomorrow for soap and a shaker of Salt. Until then, stay safe, stay not giving out boxes of raisins on Halloween (no one wants raisins, no one); and stay focused on being the courageous hero/heroine/human of your own story.

October 16, 2024 – Sasha Asks Michael To Help Cody, What Happened In Salt Lake, Earrings Live, Extra NYC, Never Enough Costumes & Bad

Standard

What I Watched Today

(rambling, random thoughts, recaps, and the whole GH enchilada on Fridays)

General Hospital

I missed the beginning, but there’s nothing you won’t figure out.

Jason is with Anna in her office, and Anna gets annoyed when Jack just walks right in. He says, they found a number of dead bodies at Sidwell’s compound and Sidwell wasn’t one of them.

Felicia shows Holly a picture of Cody in Crimson and says, they all adore him. He briefly modeled, but he takes care of the Quartermaine horses now and gives James riding lessons. He’s also good with children. Holly says, it sounds like he’s a man of many talents like his father.

Robert tells Mac that Diane is the only woman he wants to be with, and Mac says he doesn’t want Robert blowing his life apart for Holly. Robert sounds like him when he talked smack about Cody, but really wanted a relationship with him. Robert insists he’s not in denial, but Mac says he’s still worried about Robert. A part of him still feels Robert and Holly have unfinished business.

At the hospital, Portia asks if Jordan is here as Deputy Mayor or a friend of the family. Isaiah says, Lulu’s ventilator failed, but Portia says, they still have to investigate. Ventilators don’t fail for no reason. Isaiah says, mistakes happen, and Portia thanks Isaiah and asks Elizabeth to debrief her. (Portia might have a point. I thought it was suspect when Cyrus said he wanted Lulu to be released from her condition.)

Sam says, Lucky and Nikolas were matches, but didn’t pass the secondary screening, and Terry says, the main goal is to eliminate risk. Ordinarily, she’d say sleep on it, but Sam needs to decide if she wants to go through the screening to see if her liver is viable. Lulu’s condition requires them to move quickly. There’s not a lot of time, and she’d like to do it now.

Portia says she’s never seen a ventilator stop working, and Elizabeth says, neither has she, but machines break down. Portia says, their maintenance team is meticulous, and Elizabeth asks if she’s thinking lawsuit. Portia says, they got lucky, and Elizabeth says, their luck is about to run out. Portia says, Lulu’s blood pressure and pulse are low, and Elizabeth says, if Sam isn’t a viable donor, Lulu is going to die.

Terry tells Sam, no pressure. It’s her decision to make. She asks if Sam wants to talk it over with someone, but Sam says, no. Let’s do it as soon as possible. If there’s a chance to save Lulu, she wants to make that happen. Terry says she’ll get Sam set up, but Sam says, just one thing. They can’t tell Dante.

Isaiah tells Jordan that he’s been discharged. So if she came to check in on her favorite patient… She says she’s here see Laura. She’s Lulu and Lucky’s mother. He says he knows, and she asks if Laura knows about the ventilator, but he says he doesn’t think so

Holly asks if Mac and Cody are close, and Felicia says, it was rocky in the beginning, but Cody saved James from almost downing and that cut through Mac’s stubbornness. She thinks Mac would have opened up eventually. Cody has a good heart. He and Mac have a lot of similarities, and it was only a matter of time before Mac wanted to get to know his son. She, Maxie, and Cody’s girlfriend worked to make it happen. She points to the issue of Crimson that Holly is looking at and says, that’s her. Sasha Corbin.

Sasha tells Michael that she doesn’t know how… never mind. He says they’ve known each other a long time. Their friendship has been tested and it’s only grown stronger. Ask him whatever she needs to. She says, it’s not for her; it’s for Cody. She was actually thinking it’s for Michael and Cody. Serenity, the estate where Cody grew up, is for sale. It’s always been his dream to buy it and turn it into a horse rescue and sanctuary. Cody could explain it better. Michael says, Cody is the best stableman they’ve ever had, and she says, Cody loves his job, but wants a place of his own. He needs an investor to help with the down payment. Michael says he respects that she came to him. She looks out for the people she cares about. But he’s afraid he’s going to have to say no.

Anna says, their mission was to retrieve Lucky. They weren’t there in a WSB capacity, and didn’t make an agreement to eliminate Sidwell. Jack says, Sidwell is a dangerous loose end, and it was uncharacteristically sloppy. Jason says, the possibility Sidwell survived isn’t news. Why are they here? Jack says, the pilot he hired to get them out of Africa has been found murdered.

Jordan tells Isaiah, Laura has enough on her plate. She’ll catch her later. Isaiah asks if he can buy her dinner. He owes her at least that much for saving his life, and a Lannister he likes to pay his debts. Unless she has a policy against dining with people she’s saved. She says, no, but she has other policies, and he says he’d love to hear about them over dinner. Shall we? They go into the elevator.

Jason says he’s sorry to hear about the pilot and asks if he was freelancing. Anna says, he could have been hired for another operation, but Jack says, this is the only one that would have put him in harm’s way. Anna says she’s sorry. Was he a friend? Jack says he has a vested interest in why he died and who’s responsible. The private plane was brought back and found ransacked in the hangar. Anna says, it’s clear someone was looking for something, and Jack asks if they brought back any souvenirs from their travels.

Felicia asks if Holly is surprised Cody and Sasha fell for each other, and Holly asks if it’s serious. Felicia says she can’t speak for them, but they’re a lovely couple. She thinks Cody only became a model because Sasha was. Then Sasha quit and started working as the Quartermaine family cook. She thinks in part to be closer to Cody. Holly says, she stopped modeling for a man who works with children and horses. It’s romantic. Felicia says, she seems happier, and they know how irresistible Scorpio men can be. Holly orders a double scotch.

Robert asks what unfinished business he and Holly have, and Mac says, Holly always had a hold on him. Between work, spy games, and cons, they played fast and loose with rules. And if they didn’t like the rules, they made them up. Robert says, that’s in the past, and Mac says, for Robert, but not for Holly.

Sasha says she’s sorry she put Michael on the spot. She’d never want him to think she’d take advantage of their friendship. Michael says he has no problem discussing money, especially with her. If it was for her to help with a specific dream or goal dream she had, he’d be all in. But he doesn’t know Cody that well. She says she wishes he knew Cody like she does, and he asks if Cody has a business plan. She says, not yet, but she’s sure he’s working on one, and Michael says, it’s not that he doesn’t like Cody or doesn’t respect him, but he’s not sure it’s wise to use his funds that way. Sasha says she understands and hopes this didn’t make it weird. He says, never go into a business deal without realizing the other party can say no, and she says, it’s not easy, especially with a friend. Michael says, it’s all good, and leaves. Tracy walks in and says, correct her if she’s wrong, but she could have sworn Sasha just asked her nephew for money.

Terry says, Sam will be a patient at GH and her privacy will be protected. May she ask why Sam doesn’t want to tell Dante? He’d only be loving and supportive. Sam says, that’s the problem. He and Rocco have already been through so much. They thought Lucky would save Lulu, and it fell apart. She doesn’t want them to go through that again, not until she knows 100% that the transplant is a go. Terry says she understands, and Sam says, let’s see if I can save Lulu.

Anna says, they barely made it out with their lives. They didn’t have time to grab nicknacks. Jason says, the only thing he brought home was Lucky, and Jack says, after Jason threw the card game, they were locked in a cell. Jason says, the only time they were let out was when Sidwell was planning on killing them, and Anna says, then Jack’s drone strike happened. Jack says, they’re welcome. Where were Spencer and Sutton? Anna says, he’ll have to ask them, but he says he’s asking her. Jason says, when they found Lucky, he was with Sidwell, and Anna says, with his hands around Lucky’s neck. Jason says, he was incapacitated, and Jack says, it was the perfect opportunity to take Sidwell out. Anna says, they were avoiding the drone strike and trying to get out alive, and Jack says, where was Sutton? Anna says, it’s unclear. They ran out and Holly pulled up in a vehicle. That’s what got them to the airfield. Jack says, so she had time unaccounted for.

Robert says, times changed, but Mac says, not for Holly. She still keeps secrets. He knows when someone is lying, and he can feel it. Holly is not telling the truth and what she’s telling them is not entirely true. He hopes Robert doesn’t let Holly blow up what he’s got going on with Diane.

Holly says, Felicia mentioned Cody’s past was unsavory, and Felicia says, he was a con man. No offense. Holly says, none taken, but how does she know he’s not pulling a con now? Felicia says, she’s sure he’s not. Initially she wasn’t. At first, Cody said he wasn’t Mac’s son because he was afraid Mac would reject him, and he was right. But it doesn’t matter now. Cody is a Scorpio. Holly says, hurrah. We can never have too many of them.

Sasha says she did ask Michael for money, but it’s not what Tracy thinks. The money isn’t for her; it’s for Cody. Tracy asks why Cody needs money. Is he sick? Sasha says, no. He wants to put a down payment on Serenity, the estate where he grew up. Tracy says, and the best way is for Sasha to ask her married ex and employer? Sasha says, Cody didn’t know, and Tracy asks, why is she acting as Cody’s broker? Sasha says she knew asking Michael was better than the alternative, and Tracy says, which is? Sasha says, Cody asking her for money.

Dante goes to the reception desk and says he thought Elizabeth was going to update him and he’s wondering what’s going on. Elizabeth says, they want to give Lulu the best possible care, so she has to follow procedure. She’s entering an incident report regarding the ventilator. He apologizes and says he should be thanking her. If she hadn’t gone in, he doesn’t think Lulu would have made it.  He thanks her, and she says, everybody is invested in getting Lulu through this. He says, what if it’s not enough. What if Lulu doesn’t survive this latest setback?

At the Surf Lodge, Jordan says, Lulu would have died without Isaiah, and he says, before he went to Africa, he specialized in transplant surgery. He loves the challenge. Even when it’s successful, a lot can go wrong, but when it goes right… She says, you save a life, and he says, it’s an amazing feeling. She says, yet he gave it all up, and he says, people change. Goals change. She says, just like that? and he says, just like that. Is Deputy Mayor her calling?

Diane goes to Robert’s office and says she got her client’s charges dropped and avoided going to trial. He says, that’s something to celebrate, and she says she has a question. What did Mac want?

Anna says, they didn’t have eyes on Holly at all times, and Jack says, Holly was with Sidwell for months and had full access. She was familiar with the layout. If anyone knew where to find something of value, it was her. Anna says, then ask her. They brought Lucky home. That’s it. That’s why they were there. Jason says, if Jack figured it out, it’s likely that Sidwell figured it out too. Anna says, if anyone is in danger, it’s Holly, and Jack says, they’re both capable and resourceful, but keep their eyes open. Sidwell has the resources to track down anyone in his way.

Tracy says, Cody is too proud to ask her for money, and Sasha says, he is, but that’s not the only reason. He knows she has a history with people, mostly men, targeting her for money. He didn’t say it in those words, but he doesn’t want her to think he’s just another person after her money. He cares about her and thinks of her as a friend. Tracy says, it’s kind of Sasha to tell her what Cody is thinking. She’s aware Sasha and Michael had a romantic relationship, but remained friends of sorts. Sasha asks if that’s a problem, and Tracy says, yeah, when she doesn’t remember her place. (Did we circle back to this again? Tracy doesn’t seem like the type who doesn’t get it the first time.)

Elizabeth says she knows Dante is exhausted and scared, but try to stay optimistic. He says he doesn’t know where his head is at. He doesn’t know how she stays professional. She says she’s been doing this long enough to know people are scared when their loved ones are in the hospital. They feel hopeless and desperate and put it on someone else. She knows he loves Lulu. He says, look at them, falling for Spencer kids, and she says, it’s an exclusive club. He says, there was never a dull moment with Lulu, and she says, the same with Lucky. But they’ve moved on and found happiness with other people. He says, they did, but that doesn’t mean they love them any less. Her phone dings, and she looks at it, then looks at Dante. We see the text says, Spencer donor screening results in.

Sasha asks, what is her place? and Tracy says, she’ll put it in simple terms, so Sasha understands. (Ooh, mean!) It was egregiously inappropriate. Sasha is not a guest, not a friend. She’s an employee. And despite her considerable talent, it would behoove her to remember that. Sasha says, is that all? but Tracy says, no. If anything like this happens again, she’ll be seeking employment elsewhere. (Geez, she’s tougher than Gordon Ramsay would be.)

Mac meets Felicia, who says, he just missed Holly. She’s happy for him and Cody. Mac says, that makes him feel like crap, and she says, that wasn’t the response she expected. He says he told Robert to stay away from Holly because she’s nothing but trouble.

Diane says she has a sneaking suspicion it wasn’t police business, and Robert says, Mac is convinced he’s still hung up on Holly. She asks if he’s correct, but Robert says, no. Holly is his past. Diane is his present and future. She says she needs more convincing. She’s not quite sure. He asks if there’s anything he can possibly do to put her at ease, and she says, maybe. He kisses her.

Anna says she thinks Sidwell cares more about his bottom line than revenge, and Jason says, following them wouldn’t be cheap. Anna says, Sidwell is probably more likely to invest in rebuilding his operation than payback. Jack says, the plane was ransacked, and someone must have been looking for something valuable, and Anna says, and was willing to kill for it.

Sasha sits on the steps in the foyer, when there’s a knock at the door. She opens it and Holly is there. Holly says, she looks more beautiful than she did in Deception’s ad, and Sasha says, what are you doing here, mother? (Wow. Did not see that coming.)

Jordan says she wouldn’t say it’s a calling, but her job has a purpose. Laura is amazing, but it’s not a one woman job. Isaiah says, Laura has a lot on her plate, and she says, thanks to him, Lulu has a chance. Let’s say miracles happen and they find a match. Can he resist the temptation to step in? He says he can. The work he did was at best miraculous, but even though he believes in them, he’s not in the business of performing miracles anymore.

Dante sits at Lulu’s bedside and says he knows she’s tired and might not want to fight, but he needs her to. He’s fighting for her, and Rocco too. Their kid needs his mom. He needs her too. Sam comes in, and says, it’s her. Dante asks what she’s talking about, and she says she’s the match. She can save Lulu.

Tomorrow, Cody says, if it’s a pattern, he doesn’t want to be part of it; Dante tells Rocco the good news; and Kristina says, someone will pay for what they’ve done.

🧂 Salt Over My Shoulder…

Bronwyn talked about getting pregnant at 19 and how the father’s parents were a-holes and the father didn’t want to be involved. They tried to shame her, and she said, it was embarrassing to everyone else, but not to her. When her daughter Gwen was two, she found out on Facebook that Gwen’s father had died. Gwen was about to be 18 now, and had never met her father’s parents. In a weird twist, it turned out that Meredith knew Gwen’s paternal grandparents, and told Bronwyn that Gwen’s grandmother had said, it’s time.

Jared was pestering Britani about seeing him, and we found out that Lisa had left Whitney’s jewelry gift in the trash at the hotel. Whitney thought Lisa was trying to sabotage her business because she’d said Lisa was the RHOSLC villain on a podcast.

Mary’s son Robert Jr. is 35 21 and still living at home. Mary said she wanted him to get a job, but he wasn’t in a good space for working. Wow. Before my senior year in high school, I wanted to take a trip to NYC, and my father said, get a job and pay for it. Mary said, it had to do with his lifestyle, but didn’t clarify what that meant. Is he smoking weed all day? Playing video games? Both?

Heather and Lisa went to some salt room – an actual room made of salt – that was supposed to be grounding and healing. I’m not so sure it was effective, since it looked like Heather couldn’t wait to bring up Angie saying she wouldn’t let her computer be a babysitter, which was apparently a dig at Lisa’s parenting. In Heather’s interview, she said, it didn’t seem indicative of Angie. It was mean and she thought Lisa should know. Probably, but not from Heather, and if Lisa recognized herself in that comment, which didn’t name names, maybe she should look inward.

Fellow podcaster Adam confirmed to Whitney that Lisa was spreading the smack about her jewelry line. On a side note, Salt Lake City is beautiful, but with those mountains all around and the big capital building or whatever it is, it makes me think of the isolated town scenario in a sci-fi/horror film. Britani met with Jared and my take is that he wants to be more like f*** buddies than in a serious relationship. In Britani’s interview, she said, he posts nothing about her on his social media, won’t get off dating apps, and if they walk past cute girls, he drops her hand. In other words, he doesn’t act like an SO. Oh girl, come on. Dump him already. Don’t be friends. Don’t be anything. He told her that he gave her everything he could, and she said she’d gotten her answer.

Bronwyn talked to Gwen about her grandparents, who Gwen said didn’t respond to her in a loving way. In Britani’s interview, she said, Gwen’s grandmother had texted that they were excited to meet Gwen, but only if she was in a place where she was ready to accept them. It turned Gwen off. Gwen told Bronwyn that they’d said they wanted to make sure she was ready to meet, but she felt that she wasn’t the one who wasn’t ready. She really just wanted to know her dad. In Bronwyn’s  interview, she said, Gwen was the only one who hadn’t made any choices in this situation, yet she was the only one who felt the weight of the choices everyone else made for her. Gwen said she didn’t want to be disappointed later if she didn’t take the opportunity.

Heather, Mary, Britani, and Lisa did some ziplining. Apparently, Mary is a pro at this and does it every chance she gets. That woman is full of surprises. She’s so different this season, it makes me wonder if she wasn’t putting on an act for TV previously. Or maybe she is now. Heather said she didn’t want to look, and I wondered, what’s the point of doing it then? Mary said she thought ziplining was liberating and fun, and it looks like fun, but it also looks really scary. At lunch, Britani told the group about her meeting with Jared and said she thought Lisa was too invested in her relationship. They were all too involved in her personal life. Truth!  Mary said, ain’t nobody got time for this, which I haven’t heard in ages, and in Mary’s interview, she said, Heather is always in the middle of something, yet hides her hands. She felt that Heather left a trail of lies.

Next time, Shawn and Angie’s mob wives 25th anniversary party; and Whitney confronts Lisa. It looks like that will be at the party, which should be no surprise to anyone. And I still keep forgetting Jared is an Osmond.

As of this posting, there were no recaps, but I did find this.

https://people.com/real-housewives-of-salt-lake-city-recap-lisa-barlow-throws-necklace-whitney-rose-gifted-in-trash-8729268

📺 In related news: On Watch What Happens Live, Bronwyn had literal chandelier earrings. Like, little chandeliers.  I love her costumes fashion.

🗽 Yesterday’s Apples…

Another perspective of this week’s RHONY.

🎃 Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop…

Hey, Halloween only comes once a year. Omg. The cat in the curlers.

https://www.cnn.com/cnn-underscored/pets/editor-favorite-pet-halloween-costumes

It’s always debatable whether they’re the best ever, but it doesn’t matter. They’re all cute.

https://www.thelist.com/646383/the-best-celebrity-pet-halloween-costumes-ever/

🔥 A Torch Flung To the Trees…

Stop in tomorrow for soap and the OC’s invasion of London. Until then, stay safe; stay calling instead of texting if you can’t attend a party at the last minute; and stay never going into a business deal without realizing the other party can say no.

October 15, 2024 – A Donor Match Is Found For Lulu, Soap Suds, A New York Minute, Weekend Watching, Fresh From, WWDD, They’re Here & Moon

Standard

What I Watched Today

(rambling, random thoughts, recaps, and the whole GH enchilada on Fridays)

General Hospital

In the solarium, Drew talks to someone on the phone about contributions, when Willow walks in. She says she thought Michael would be here, and Drew says, he should be here any minute. She puts some keys on the table and starts to leave. He asks if they can’t even be in the same room, but she says she has a busy day. He says, they should talk, when Ned walks in. He asks if he’s interrupting something.

Sasha finds Cody in the nook and asks what he’s hiding. Is it a present? Is it something naughty? He says, Serenity is on the market, and she says, call a realtor. They do virtual tours now. He says, it’s on the market at $6 million.  

On the phone, Tracy tells someone at the school that she wants a roster of who witnessed Violet’s emotional distress, when Brook takes the phone out of her hand. She says, disregard that. No one is suing anyone. She hangs up and tells Tracy that they just put out a fire at Violet’s school, and now she wants to start another one? Going after a little boy isn’t going to help. Tracy says she’s going after his parents, and Olivia comes in. She asks, what’s the racket?  

Laura tells Lulu that she knows how hard it is, but try to hang on a little bit longer. She knows Lulu can do it.

Dante meets Sam at the batting cages, and she tells him that he needs to focus on practicing. The softball playoffs are coming up. Dante says he’s not in the mood, and she asks if he’s going to let those sons of bitches at The Invader take the pennant. He takes the bat from her.

On the phone, Elizabeth tells someone to send her the final report. She’ll be ready as soon as she gets it. Isaiah comes by, and she asks, how’s the knee? He says, better. He just came from PT and thought he’d check on Lucky. Is he getting prepped? She says she thought he’d heard. Lucky can’t be Lulu’s donor. They were all disappointed, especially Lucky. He says he’s sure Lucky took it hard, and Elizabeth says, it looks like she may still have a chance.

Martin asks Laura how Lulu is doing, and she says, they’ve both had better days, but she’s not giving up. Is that him? He says, don’t start. He’s taking his new look for a test drive. Does she want to stretch her legs and gab a bit? She says, sounds good.

Willow says, if they’d make sure Michael gets his keys, she’d appreciate it, and she leaves. Ned tells Drew that the lawyers successfully argued that Valentin’s shares be returned to the company, but it will be a couple of months before they’re returned. He and Michael can take care of the details if Drew trusts them to do it. They all want the same thing. Drew says, to keep the company in the family and secure its future, and Ned says, they’ll keep him apprised. Drew says he’d like to discuss it with Michael, but Ned asks if he doesn’t have better things to do. Drew says, like what?

Sasha says, it might seem like a big place, but that doesn’t mean Cody shouldn’t go after it. He says, it won’t just be for him, and she says she doesn’t know if she’s ready… but he says, not that yet. He wants to fix the place up and create a rescue, an animal sanctuary. He can invite the Scorpios to visit and teach James to ride on his own horse. As soon as he found out, he’s been dreaming about it every day. He always felt a connection to it. Nothing ever measures up to the possibility of going home. She says, then go for it. Whatever it takes. He’ll find a way to make it happen. He says, there’s no time. This might be his only chance. She asks how he would feel if he let it pass, and Cody says he has one idea. Does she think Tracy might lend him the money for a down payment?

Brook says she and Chase handled it, and Tracy says she’s afraid the school doesn’t have Violet’s best interests at heart. Their primary objective is to protect themselves. Violet’s well-being is secondary. She has to do what’s necessary since Finn isn’t here. They hear Ace cry on the monitor, and Tracy says she’ll take it. Olivia says she never asked Tracy to take care of Ace, and Brook says, she’s threatening to sue the parents of a 9-year-old. Olivia says, it’s kind of badass, but Brook says, don’t encourage her. She doesn’t understand that she’s just making everything worse.

Dante practices batting and Sam brings over some hot dogs. He thanks her for being so good to him, and she says, he takes care of everybody and deserves an afternoon off… But not a dry dog. She forgot the mustard.

Laura tells Martin that Lulu hasn’t worsened, but unfortunately, Lucky can’t be a donor. He says he’s sorry. He got tested, but he’s not a match. Is there anything else he can do? She says, explain the sudden transformation.

Elizabeth says she found out there’s another possible donor, but she’s waiting to get all the information before she tells the family. Isaiah says, that’s wise, and she says, after finding out lucky didn’t pass the second screening… He says he’s sorry her family is going through this, and she says, they tend to take donations for granted. He says, transplants aren’t possible without the extraordinary gift so someone can continue living, and she says, not everyone is willing to make that sacrifice, especially if they’re not related.

Sasha says she’s not sure Tracy will go for it, and Cody says, she’s right. It’s a lot of money to lend the guy who keeps her horses. It was a bad idea. She tells him that she said she’s not sure. Clearly, Tracy likes him. Tracy comes in and says, Ace woke up hangry. And the chocolate pudding cup he was given only insured his emotional pain. She asks if it can be switched with vanilla, and Sasha says she just bought some. She’ll get it. She leaves, and Tracy asks Cody, what’s the smirk for?

Olivia tells Brook that Violet needs all of them in her life. Tracy will never stop fighting for the people she cares about, and if Brook tells Tracy that she said that, she’ll deny it. Brook says, her secret is safe, but she wishes Tracy didn’t feel the need to take on this particular fight. Olivia says she thinks Tracy wants to do what she can for Violet because there’s nothing she can do for Lulu.

Dante says he needed this. It’s hard taking a leave of absence. Sam asks if he regrets it, but he says, not at all. The timing is perfect. He’s glad that her mom’s trial is over. She says, that makes two of us, and he says he ran into Dex at the station. Dex told him that they found the gun her mom threw in the river. Sonny was going to a meeting to confess in order to get her mom out, and after all these years of walking the tightrope between son and cop, there he was nearly putting his career on the line to stop him.

Elizabeth asks if Isaiah has heard from Lucky, but he says, Lucky hasn’t reached out. He assumes Lucky left town. Elizabeth says she hopes not, and he says, Lucky might need distance. She asks if that’s what he’d do, and he says he and Lucky understand each other. He admits he’s dipped when it got too real, and she says, sometimes it feels like the only solution is walking away. He says, there was a surgery that didn’t go as planned. They learn in med school that sometimes people die, but that doesn’t change the fact that he walked away. He ran away as far as he could. She says, refugee camps aren’t the easy way out, and he says, that didn’t change what happened or that he ran away, but he thinks Lucky is wrong this time. He thinks they need him to stay.

Martin says he needed a confidence boost after Lucy, and Laura says, when Lucy sees the new him, he might be in for a few more go arounds. He says, she already tried, but he’s been able to withstand her charms. He thought a new haircut and suit would go with the new him, as well as a new sound. He was tired of people asking him about fried chicken and has his talented vocal coach Miss Finch to thank. Laura says, for what it’s worth (🍷), she loved the old him too, and he says he’s sorry he wasn’t here when she was going through all this, but she says, he’s here now. All they can do is pray they find a donor before they’re out of time. He asks if she minds if he kisses his niece before he takes off, and she says, of course (🍷) not. They go back to Lulu’s room and find Cyrus there. He says, the poor girl was here all alone.

Sasha tells Tracy that Cody was telling her about an interesting idea, and Cody says he’s thinking of switching from oats to alfalfa. Tracy says she supports that decision, takes the pudding cup, and leaves. Cody says he clutched, but Sasha says, his instincts were right. He needs to show that he’s thought this through. Make a business plan and try again. He says, or scrap it. Tracy might think he was pretending to be her friend hoping for a payday. There was a time he would have, but not anymore. He has so much to lose now.

Ned tells Drew to let them take care of the details, when Michael walks in. He says, sorry he’s late. He asks if it’s about Valentin’s shares, and Ned says he was giving Drew a proposal regarding equally dividing the shares between the next generation of Quartermaines, including Leo and any children Brook might have. It puts ELQ back in the family’s hands and secures the future. Drew says, the kids are too young to vote. They’ll need proxies. Ned says he can represent them until they’re of age and ELQ belongs to the future Quartermaines, and Drew says, there’s no rush, but Ned says, the shares will need to be put in a blind trust. Drew asks, who would be the trustee? Him? Ned says, it stands to reason, but Drew says he’s not ready. Ned says he thinks with Drew’s record with the SEC, he’d like to get it done, and Drew says he’ll have to get back to Ned. Michael says, they’ll table it for now, and Ned says he thought the only way for them to get through this was together. So much for family unity. He leaves.

Brook tells Olivia that she’s trying to be understanding. Tracy is second guessing her decisions and she’s already doing that herself. Olivia says, Brook and Chase were thrown into the deep end of parenting. Don’t take no or we’ll see for an answer and don’t be ashamed to ask for help. They can’t do it alone. Ned comes in and says he should have known they’d betray him. Drew and Michale are trying to freeze him out again. Olivia suggests they continue outside, and they go into the foyer. Ned says he can’t believe he believed Michael’s crap about family unity, and she says, he’s her husband and she loves him, but she can’t do this right now.

Dante tells Sam that Anna was going to let Sonny confess, but Sonny didn’t have to because Martin came in with the news. Sonny clammed up, but he was on the verge of deciding between being a cop and a son. Sam says, it’s hard to think straight when one parent is in trouble, but he has so many people. With Lulu’s condition, it’s no wonder everything is blurry now. He says, the person he thinks it’s taken the most toll on… She says, Rocco, and he says, the only thing that matters is that he’s a good father. She says, he’s a great dad, and he says, is he? He made Rocco a promise he doesn’t think he can keep.

Laura says she thought Cyrus was going to notify her when he wanted to see Lulu, but Cyrus says he was visiting other patients. He expected to see her, but Lulu was alone. She thanks him for keeping Lulu company, and he says, they need to pray together that Lulu will soon be delivered from this terrible ordeal.

Elizabeth tells Isaiah that she doesn’t know if Lucky ran, but she thinks he’s disappointed that he couldn’t save his sister. She hopes he and Isaiah can connect. Lucky could use a friend like him. The desk computer chimes, and Elizabeth says, it’s a match. She knows who can save Lulu’s life.

Sasha says, Cody will have to ask someone else. Tracy isn’t the only person who could invest. He has to see it as an investment, not a handout. He says he’s not a guy people invest in. He knows how to turn on the charm, but that’s not him anymore. As much as he wants to, he’s not going back to his old ways. He promised James, no more lies. She says she’s not asking him to do what he doesn’t want to, but don’t give up on his dream.

Olivia says she’s doing everything to keep the family together, and Ned says, she doesn’t need his grousing and foolishness. He apologizes for adding to her list of worries. He’s in awe that she’s still standing. He’ll handle the problem on his own. He heads for the door, and she asks where he’s going. He says he thought she didn’t want to know, and leaves.

Michael asks what he walked in on, and Drew says, since he’s bowing out, Ned taking the opportunity to take control of ELQ by using the kids. Now it’s going to be a battle. Michael says, Ned will cool off eventually, but Drew says he doesn’t know about the leadership of ELQ. Michael is vital at Aurora, but he’s needed at ELQ. Michael says he’s focused on keeping the family unified, and Drew asks if Michael thinks Ned would promote unity or himself. He’s got an idea, but he needs Michael to make it work. He needs Michael to agree that when he wins the election, Michael will take over ELQ.

Willow finds Brook, who says she’s hiding out. Willow’s a teacher. Can she give Brook some advice? Willow says she’ll try, and Brook says, her grandmother believes that the school doesn’t have Violet’s best interests at heart, that the administration and teachers are just going to protect themselves. She wonders if Tracy is on to something. Willow says, that’s a cynical way of looking at it, but from the school’s perspective, she’s probably right.

Dante says, Rocco was upset that Lucky couldn’t be a donor, so he said he thought there would be another donor. He gave Rocco false hope. He made Rocco believe Lulu could fight through this. Sam says, that doesn’t mean she can’t or won’t, but Dante says, they both know the chances aren’t good. It feels like he lied when he needed to be honest. He couldn’t give Rocco the truth.  

Martin tells Cyrus that he’s got news about their mother, and they step outside. Cyrus asks, what’s wrong with their mother? but Martin says, nothing. She’s as healthy as a horse, but he doesn’t think Laura needs Cyrus hanging around. Cyrus says, he’s been there while Martin was off getting a makeover, and Martin says he didn’t know Cyrus was the only person allowed to change his image. He seems to remember a ponytail and expensive Italian suits. Cyrus says he’s given his life to God and is making almonds amends, and he’s not bothering Laura. Just the opposite. He’s giving her a greater gift than Martin could know.

Elizabeth goes into Lulu’s room and says, there’s something she needs to tell Laura. They may have found a match for Lulu.

Willow suggests a collaboration. Make a plan with the teachers, the school psychologist, and the principal or vice principal. Brook asks if it won’t be on Violet’s permanent record, but Willow says, elementary school permanent records are more myth than reality. It’s important to get support. She bets the school will want to work with them, but if they resist, be pushy. Brook asks if Willow’s met her, and Willow says she knows it’s hard, and Brook says, this is just temporary, but it makes her wonder if she’s ready for the real thing.

Michael says he and Drew don’t have the votes. Tracy will vote no, Ned will vote no, and Brook will fall in line. He doesn’t want to cause a rift. Drew says, they’ll divide the control three ways, and Michael says, the shares will have to be put in a blind trust. Drew asks if Michael will be the trustee, and Michael says, if that’s what it takes to remove Ned as CEO, it’s on.

Ned meets Elaine and Mavis in a parking lot and says he appreciates her meeting him. She comes highly recommended. She asks the reason for their meeting, and he says he believes a family member is having an affair with another family member’s wife, but he needs actual proof. The name is Quartermaine. She asks if it’s the good looking one running for congress, and he says, the woman is Willow, the wife of his nephew Michael. She asks why he believes they’re having an affair, and Ned flashes back to James telling him that Willow feels guilty for kissing Drew. He says he heard it from a reliable source.

Dante tells Sam, it feels like a lie. He told Rocco what he wanted to believe. Sam says, he told Rocco to not give up, and he says, maybe he’s lying to Rocco and himself. She says she doesn’t think hope is lying. Her phone rings, and she says, it’s GH. She answers and Terry introduces herself. She says she was hoping Sam could come in as soon as possible. It’s important. Sam asks, what’s wrong? and Terry says she’ll fill Sam in when she gets here. Sam says she’ll be right there, and tells Dante that it’s Dr. Randolph from GH. The doctor wants to see her, but didn’t say why. It sounded important. Dante says he’ll take her to the hospital and visit Lulu.

Tracy says, Ace has the table manners of a goat, and Olivia says, he’s one year old, and Tracy can cut the tough guy act. She knows Tracy likes Ace. Tracy asks if Olivia was waiting to tell her live her authentic life, and Olivia says she’s telling Tracy to lighten up on Brook. Her second-guessing everything Brook does isn’t helping. She needs to butt out. Tracy says, Olivia is right. If she wants authenticity, here it is. She hates feeling powerless and she does. She can’t help Finn. He needs to help himself. And Lulu, the daughter of the love of her life, the bright comet she raised from adolescence is dying. Nobody wants to say it out loud, and all she can do is threaten a primary school and hand out pudding cups to toddlers. Olivia hugs her and Tracy says, that’s all she can do.

Cody tells Sasha that he dreamt of owning Serenity and retiring there with his own family, but it’s not realistic. His life is great as it is. They kiss, and he says, what more could he want? He leaves.

Michael says, Drew’s plan comes with a risk, and Drew says, more than Ned having control? They’ll have the majority share, and Ned won’t have enough to fight that.  

Elaine says she’ll be in touch if she finds proof, and Ned says, what if she doesn’t? She says, unlikely. He seems to think there’s something, but her fee is the same either way. Ned puts an envelope on her car and walks away. (Kind of clandestine when they’re meeting out in the open.) She takes the envelope and looks inside. She tells Mavis that mommy is going to buy her a new doggie bed.

Willow tells Brook that parenting is hard. It’s often thankless and exhausting, but the joy and love you experience is unlike anything you’ve felt before. It’s the best thing she’s done. Brook says she’s happy for Willow, when Brook’s phone dings. She says, oh my God. It’s Chase. Finn is out of rehab. Willow says, Violet will be so happy to be with her dad, and Brook says, she will.

Laura goes to Doc’s office, and says, thank God he’s not in session. He says, she looks happy, and she says she’s trying to remain realistically optimistic. They found a donor. He says, that’s wonderful news, and she says, they won’t tell her their identity because they have to tell the person first. She prays they say yes, and after that comes the secondary level of screening like with Lucky. He says, no wonder she’s being cautious, and she says, it could be the answer to her prayers. She’s kind of afraid to be hopeful, but 15 minutes ago, there was no hope. Now she’s back to walking that fine line. They have to pass the secondary level, but the worst case is them deciding they don’t want to have the surgery. Doc hugs her.

Dante asks how Lulu is doing, and Elizabeth says, she’s hanging in. Isaiah is with her now. There’s a beep from Lulu’s room and they both run there. Isaiah says, code blue. Lulu is crashing. Elizabeth says, start compression, and Isaiah calls for a crash cart.  

Terry thanks Sam for coming, and Sam says she doesn’t know why she’s here. Is it about her sister? Terry says she’s sorry she was so cryptic, and asks Sam to have a seat. It doesn’t have to do with her sister. They have a possible liver donor for Lulu. Sam says, that’s great. Dante is visiting Lulu. Terry should tell him, not her. She gets up, but Terry says, wait. There’s a reason why she’s telling Sam and not Dante. The person is her.

Tomorrow, Mac says he and Robert have unfinished business; Sam says she can’t tell Dante; and Jack asks if Anna or Jason brought back a souvenir from their travels.

🧼 All the Soap News Fit To Print…

I love when they say they’re returning and I didn’t even realize they were gone.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/asher-antonyzyn-teases-his-return-to-gh

Wednesday – The Locher Room – YouTube – 3 pm ET.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/chat-live-with-atwt-and-gh-star-van-hansis

Be sure to check out his Instagram NYC montage. Pedicabs are the best!

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/steve-burton-had-the-best-nyc-trip-with-his-girlfriend

Another totally underused character. So glad he’s got a new gig on Beyond the Gates.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/real-andrews-says-goodbye-to-gh-and-hello-to-an-exciting-new-role

🗽 Pigeons Roost In the Hamptons…

The group took a trip to Erin’s Sag Harbor house. After Ubah made sure Brynn and Sai were alone to mend fences, and said no one would come in, the entire group trickled in. Their original issue came from Brynn supposedly saying that Sai hated Jenna, and Sai hearing it from Jenna. It took me ten minutes to get that sentence to make sense. That shows how stupidly complicated it is. Brynn called in Jenna to verify, but Jenna claimed she hadn’t specifically said it was Brynn. However, in the gift receipt that is a flashback, we saw she did. The whole thing seemed like it was more trouble and took more time than it was worth, but after hugging it out, all was well in the end. For now, as Erin pointed out. I just don’t like Brynn and would avoid her at all costs in a friend group. She admittedly likes to stir the pot and then claims she doesn’t want to hurt whoever this week’s target is. The look of distain mixed with amusement that’s always on her face is infuriating on its own. Since she’s not in middle school, I assume she’s just emotionally immature. And once again proves all the wrong people have the money.

Erin gave fabulous gift bags, specifically geared to the recipient. I have never been to one weekend where I got a gift bag. Unless you count tiny shampoos, conditioners, and lotions in a hotel. Racquel showed off her engagement ring, which is the size of Sag Harbor, and in her interview, she said she had an art piece on her hand. Agreed. Not many would be able to pull it off, but it suits her. Still, I think it must be tough to wear all the time.

Later, Ubah tried to get Brynn to understand how Sai was feeling, and it degenerated into Brynn yelling, dah-dah-dah, no-no-no, over Ubah trying to talk. Remember when Sheree and Marlo (RHOA) had that nonsense talk argument where they were going yabba-dabba-ga-ga-ga-zibby-do-pfft at each other? It was kind of like that, but one sided. Honestly, I don’t know if it’s geographic, financial, generational or what, but I have never once had an argument with friends like they do on any Housewives show. I guess if they weren’t ridiculous, there wouldn’t be a show, but I think you can be entertaining without the drama. I kind of like Ubah, who seems like she’s just trying to be fair. I felt badly for her when she said she was hesitant to open up because of all the potential shade. In Brynn’s interview, she said, Ubah resorted to name calling, which was lowbrow fighting. She was raised to use better words, but no name calling. I dunno. I could agree, but one, English is not Ubah’s first language, and she’s still wading through that; and two, better she gives a hardy f*** you, and you know where she’s at, than smiling in your face and playing Brynn’s game behind the scenes.

Ubah said they were all pigeons with no right address.

At the time of this post, there were no recaps, but there was this.

👀 Last Weekend’s Watch…

Over the weekend, I watched the latest Grotesquerie episode – which made a blink-and-you-missed-it reference to Port Charles. I was like, wait. What? Did I just hear that? I also caught up with The Penguin, which I’m appreciating for its sense of humor. I’ve yet to be caught up with Agatha, but these weekly drops make me cranky. I’ve been spoiled by the opportunity to watch a series in its entirety.

Since I don’t have enough series going on, I’ve added Teacup to my roster. While Inverse was disappointed, I was not. Except for the aforementioned weekly doling out of episodes like methadone.

No spoilers.

https://screenrant.com/teacup-2024-show-rotten-tomatoes-score/

Pretty much a blow-by-blow of the first two episodes.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/obsessed/teacup-review-new-horror-series-will-shock-you-with-gruesome-twists

The film disappointment I set myself up for was The Platform 2. Some of it makes slightly more sense, at least from the perspective of the prisoners trying to find a way for everyone to survive. There seemed to be some kind of Christian parallels with someone called The Master aka Dagin Babbi, who eventually turns into more of a Pharisee when he creates more rules than the ones the prisoners were originally stuck with. This causes things to get so out of hand, his opposition decides to kill to build a future where no one kills anymore. in other words, kill for peace.

I’m not sure if there’s something philosophical that I’m missing or maybe this is just horror for horror’s sake, but I still don’t get it. Is there an end game? Who is actually in charge and why? Since it’s a combination of forced containment and volunteers, why are the volunteers surprised at what they’ve gotten themselves into? And most important, why isn’t anyone thinner by the end of the movie?

The prisoners are allowed to choose the one dish they’ll eat daily, unless they exchange with someone else, and I was surprised to note that many didn’t choose very carefully. Like, only eating dessert is not a good choice for sustenance. There was a time when I used to say I could live on Wendy’s hamburgers. Until I had to. After Hurricane Sandy hit, the only thing open was Wendy’s and by day three, eating those burgers got old. It was also just before Halloween, and I never even want to look at a Reese’s cup again.

The one blatant message was, we’re all prisoners of ourselves and from that there’s no possible escape. If that’s the moral to this story, I think there are better and less cryptic ways to tell it. Be forewarned, this movie is extremely brutal.

And try saying, double dereliction of duties three times real fast.

I often think, if you have to explain it to me, maybe I shouldn’t be watching it, but here you go.

https://www.cbr.com/the-platform-2-plot-explained/

https://www.cbr.com/platform-2-ending-explained/

I also watched the documentary, The Menendez Brothers, and it was riveting. It looks like they’re moving toward releasing them from prison and I have to admit I agree with that. Either they’re the best actors in the world, or they told the truth. There was also corroborating testimony. I’m actually surprised they got such a harsh sentence, but I think their spending spree post murders did them no service.

https://collider.com/menendez-brothers-docuseries-netflix/

And in related news.

https://ew.com/cooper-koch-nude-scene-monsters-8728083

🏡 If a Tree Falls In the Road…

This stupid show has made me cry twice already this season. So will we be getting a Season 4? There will be spoilers.

⚰️ This Week In Daryl…

Walking Dead might be one of the best post-apocalyptic TV shows ever, but it was also the most stagnant. One of the best things about Z Nation (yep, still bitter about that cancelation) was that they didn’t stay in one place for long and we got to see how a lot more of the world, at least the USA, was dealing with the apocalypse. It was more realistic in the sense that not everyone would be on the same page, whether it was growing weed from zombies (Z-weed) or electing a board of directors and working together as a business. As for Daryl, kudos to breaking him out of TWD mold.

https://www.cbr.com/the-walking-dead-fans-wrong-about-daryl-dixon/

This week’s recap – spoilers ahead.

https://www.avclub.com/the-walking-dead-daryl-dixon-recap-season-2-episode-3

I love a variant zombie.

https://screenrant.com/walking-dead-daryl-dixon-variant-zombies-explained/

🐼 They’ve Arrived…

And there will be a Panda Cam.

https://nationalzoo.si.edu/news/giant-pandas-arrive-smithsonians-national-zoo-and-conservation-biology-institute-china

🎨 Painting the Countryside…

Join me tomorrow for soap and shady Salt. Until then, stay safe, stay steering clear of culturally offensive or controversial costumes, and stay never being ashamed to ask for help.

October 2, 2024 – Baseball Day 2, Scrubbing Up, Salt Lake Invades Milwaukee, A Note, A Fact, Pigeons, Last Talk, Mrs. Gaga, Two Coming Up, It’s Started & Season

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What I Watched Today

(rambling, random thoughts, recaps, and the whole GH enchilada on Fridays)

General Hospital

Still batting runs in today, but I think GH is on tomorrow… I think.

🧼 Soap Dish…

I’ll bet she’s a blast.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/gallery/general-hospital/an-evening-with-soap-star-rena-sofer-see-the-pics

Omg, they look like babies.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/jonathan-jackson-opens-up-about-liz-and-luckys-reunion-on-gh

It sounds like maybe she wanted a quid pro quo with the pay cut. Like maybe some changes for her character.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/ghs-kelly-monaco-promises-a-proper-statement

🧂 There’s Salt In My Lake…

While I don’t know new Housewife Bronwyn at all, kudos to her fashion sense. Just remember, it’s fashion, not a costume. In Heather’s interview, she confused Alice Cooper with Gene Simmons, and said, honest mistake. Aren’t all actual mistakes honest? And does that really apply here? More like a you-don’t-know-your-rock-legends mistake. In a Housewives first, there was a girls’ trip to Milwaukee. A suite at the Bucks game seemed like the usual, but not so much a trip to the Bobblehead Museum. We flashed back to Mary calling Whitney a bobblehead, but in Mary’s interview, she said Whitney had passed the bobblehead baton to someone else. Do tell.

Bronwyn was upset over Lisa not coming to her defense during last week’s gang-up on her, but she said she wasn’t throwing Lisa under the bus… yet. However, she was turning the bus on. Whitney, Bronwyn, Mary and new Wife Meili went to the museum, where there were over 10,000 bobbleheads, and they were given a scavenger hunt. The collection was quite impressive. Nearly everyone even moderately famous has been made into a bobblehead. There was also a casino close by where the rest of the group gambled. Apparently, there are rumors swirling on social media that Whitney resells jewelry she gets from Alibaba, which is not a good look.

The suite was amazing and the buffet even more so. Heather said she was as happy as a puppy with two peters over the lobster corndogs, which sounds like something Captain Lee would say. Brittani found out that her boyfriend was hitting on Angie’s brow girl, and I’m not sure how much of the game was actually watched. After alerting Brittani, Angie hoped Brittani wouldn’t be pissed at her, which she shouldn’t be, but probably will be. Bronwyn confronted Lisa for not having her back and Heather for her needing her back covered in the first place. In Bronwyn’s interview, she said she wasn’t going to stop until they all realized that all of them talked about each other. She said she wasn’t part of the problem, but she was the best dressed part of the problem. I concur.

Next time, a dance-off, a curling game, and dinner table screaming. In other words, the usual.

🎵 Side note: I’m not loving Heather these days. I think she lost a few other things along with that weight, like her appeal and decency. Her ego must have gotten even bigger when she was on Watch What Happens Live tonight with Sarah Paulson. Sarah scolded her for not coming backstage when she saw Sarah on Broadway in Appropriate. Apparently, Sarah had alerted the entire cast, who’d been very excited about Heather’s presence. Is there really such a meager choice of amusement in the stage world?

Fun Fact: Mary Cosby’s father once lived a street away from Jeffrey Dahmer and wondered where a funky smell was coming from. A week later, Dahmer was arrested, and he saw the whole thing go down. Of course, Mary could be making it up, but that’s pretty random. Six degrees from my part, I once met a guy who was a counselor of Dahmer’s when he (Dahmer, not the guy I met) was in prison. He said that Dahmer was a really nice guy when he was on his medication, but you didn’t want to be near him when he wasn’t. Take from that what you will.

🗽 Rats With Wings…

It wouldn’t be NYC without them. Although there is the eternal question… Why don’t we ever see baby pigeons?

https://extratv.com/2024/10/01/rhony-stars-sai-de-silva-and-ubah-hassan-tease-drama-with-messy-pigeons-exclusive/

🌁 Best On Last…

Hey, we take what we can get until 2025.

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/the-last-of-us-season-2-trailer-1236013278/

https://ew.com/the-last-of-us-season-2-kaitlyn-dever-abby-first-look-teaser-8718711

For the gamers.

https://www.eurogamer.net/the-last-of-us-tv-trailer-remade-with-gameplay-footage-gets-neil-druckmann-seal-of-approval

https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/the-last-of-us-naughty-dog-secret/

🦄 Putting the Modern In Bride…

I don’t know about you, but I’m there for the unicorns. We can still have Chinese food though, right?

https://extratv.com/2024/10/02/lady-gaga-talks-wedding-ideas-courthouse-and-chinese-food/

🎬 Waiting To Watch…

This drops on Shudder tomorrow and I can’t wait to see it. Tusk was one of the best films I’ve ever seen, so I have high hopes for Justin Long’s work on this.

https://ew.com/justin-long-vhs-beyond-tusk-like-fur-babies-brother-christian-exclusive-8716575

This looks very promising as well. The trailer gave me Lovecraft Country vibes. This one is a wait though. It comes to theaters on March 7th, 2025.

https://collider.com/sinners-michael-b-jordan-ryan-coogler/

🐩 Never Too Early For Dress Up…

Get those pets used to wearing a hat now and they’ll have it down by Halloween. Maybe. If they feel like it.

📢 Calling Each Vagabond By Name…

Come by tomorrow for (hopefully) soap and the OC nightmare before Halloween. Until then, stay safe; stay erring on the side of caution and professionalism at office costume parties; and stay never being part of the problem, but being the best dressed part of the problem.

October 1, 2024 – Batter Up, Speculation, Back In the NY Groove, Plathville Revelation, Real Parody, WWDD, From This Week, Fairwell To a Trail Blazer, It’s Showtime, Have Some Pilaf & Hey There

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What I Watched Today

(rambling, random thoughts, recaps, and the whole GH enchilada on Fridays)

General Hospital

The Mets won, and it looks like there will be a game on Thursday as well. <heaving Jason sigh>

🧴 No Body Not Dead…

He’s not telling us anything we don’t know already, but the odds of him returning as Spencer are nil to none.

https://ew.com/nicholas-alexander-chavez-speculates-return-of-his-general-hospital-character-8720972

🗽 Cooking With Gas…

Brynn was moving to a bigger place, since she’d gotten a puppy, and I could identify with her feeling that moving in the city was its own hell. But 16 boxes of thongs? Brynn does laundry less than I do. A lot of the episode revolved around things said about Jenna. Are these women jealous or something. Jenna is the least likely to say anything about anybody. Why are the playing telephone using her name? Rebecca Minkoff made an appearance, and I really like her. That makes two out of the whole cast. It’s not that I dislike them, but I can’t imagine being friends with any of them, even if I had the money to travel in the same circles. And I find Brynn especially annoying, right down to her tween hairbows. Although, TBH, I did go through a butterfly clip phase – and I don’t mean the clip style, I mean little butterflies – for a while when I was probably too old for it. Right now, I’m liking new Housewife Racquel, but the jury is still out. Jessel might not have been too keen on husband Pavit’s trip to Chinatown for his food influencing side gig, but where else are you going to get a decent dumpling? That’s another thing. Most of this group takes snobbery to a new level.

https://people.com/rhony-premiere-recap-one-housewife-is-called-a-gaslighting-narcissist-8721690

🏡 Welcome To Redundancy…

I’m not satisfied with her answer either.

https://people.com/welcome-to-plathville-recap-moriah-reveals-she-is-back-with-her-ex-ethan-is-furious-8721671

🦹‍♀️ Real Housewives Of Marvel…

It’s funny, but it would be funnier if Deadpool was one of the Housewives.

https://ew.com/marvel-heroes-get-a-real-housewives-parody-8721676

⚰️ Going By the Book…

This sounds awesome.

https://ew.com/walking-dead-daryl-dixon-bioluminescent-zombies-exclusive-8715574

Warning: spoilers. I haven’t actually seen this yet. I was doing something else or watching something else, maybe both, and then ran out of time. So I spoiled it for myself, but I don’t care. If you haven’t seen it yet and you do care, don’t read this.

https://collider.com/walking-dead-daryl-dixon-season-2-premiere-recap/

Fewer spoilers, but still spoilers. They obviously weren’t as enamored of the first season as I was.

https://www.avclub.com/the-walking-dead-daryl-dixon-season-2-premiere-recap

A spoiler or two, but nothing major. It’s mostly about Carol as a character.

https://www.cbr.com/twd-daryl-dixon-carol-peletier-evolution/

New guy in Dixonland.

https://collider.com/the-walking-dead-daryl-dixon-season-3-stephen-merchant/

Holy! Talk about rushing the season. They just started Season 2.

https://screenrant.com/the-walking-dead-daryl-dixon-season-3-explained/

🌳 My Favorite Watch…

Is there anything he felt was genuinely terrifying? How about the whole premise?

https://www.cbr.com/from-tv-season3-ricky-he-interview/

Warning: spoilers ahead.

I like Boyd/Harold Perrineau/From so much, I decided to give Lost another go too.

https://collider.com/from-tv-show-survival-horror/

🪽 His Soul Has Soared…

Wow. I haven’t seen one article that mentioned The Beastmaster, and it wasn’t like he had a minor role in that film.

https://ew.com/john-amos-dead-good-times-roots-actor-84-8721443

THE BEASTMASTER, Tanya Roberts, Josh Milrad, John Amos, Marc Singer, 1982, © MGM

🎃 Big Screen Halloween…

For your Halloween viewing pleasure.

https://ew.com/hocus-pocus-nightmare-before-christmas-showtimes-halloween-2024-8721093

🐶 World’s Tiniest Model…

This dog is so unbelievably cute. Of course she stole the Instagram show. You can tell she loves that little nugget too.

https://www.instyle.com/demi-moore-pilaf-instagram-8721650

https://www.instyle.com/demi-moore-parachute-pants-blazer-outfit-matching-dog-8718926

🌒 When the Night Wind Howls…

Join me tomorrow for baseball a dip into Salt Lake and who knows what else. Until then, stay safe, stay respecting those who don’t celebrate Halloween, and stay not being a restaurant snob. The best food is found in the most unlikely places.

September 30, 2024 – On the Ground In Port Charles, Soap Suds, Big Apples, Salty Talk, The Real Hills, Two To Watch, Final Bow, Funny Finalists & September

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What I Watched Today

(rambling, random thoughts, recaps, and the whole GH enchilada on Fridays)

General Hospital

Carly sits with Lulu, and Jack knocks at the door. He tells her, all passengers are safe, sound, and on the ground in Port Charles.

Lucky and Jason walk into the hospital, and Lucky introduces himself to Portia. She says, they’ve been expecting him. She’s been treating his sister. Terry introduces herself, and Porta says she’ll run some tests on Lucky. Jason tells Lucky that he’ll be here, and Lucky leaves with Portia. He asks how Lulu’s condition is, and Portia says, it’s deteriorating. They’re running out of time.

Anna gets home and flops onto the sofa. She flashes back to Jason kissing her, and says, Devane, what are you doing?

Nina goes to Curtis’s office and tells him that Crimson was delayed because of a hailstorm. She stares at him for a moment, and says, his new position looks good on him.

Elizabeth says she needs to talk to Aiden. His dad called and he’s on his way back to Port Charles. Aiden asks when he’s getting here, and she says, today.

On the phone, Robert says, they’re overdue for a catch up… Now? Perfect.

James opens the door, and Holly is there. She says, he may or may not remember her… He says, she’s Holly, and she says, and he’s James, like the king. He says he was named after his dad, and she says, either way, it suits him. She asks if there are any boring grown-ups around, and he yells for Mac. Mac comes out and asks what he’s yelling for… Holly… She says, hello, Mac.

Mac asks when Holly got in, and she says, just now. He says, a red eye? Her? She says, a private jet. While she’s pleased to see him, she was hoping to find Robert. She tried his house and his office, but had no luck. She thought he might be here. Mac asks if Robert knows she’s in town, but she says she wanted to surprise him. He says he has to take James to school, and asks if she can wait here. She asks if there’s coffee, and he tells her to help herself, and he leaves with James.

Felicia asks if Anna is all right, and Anna says, it was an exhaustive trip. Felicia says, Anna never gets tired. So what’s up? Anna says she thinks the mission was more than she expected, and Felicia says she needs to know everything that happened from start to finish.

Luck asks, what now? and Portia says she has to make sure he’s a match. He asks if the odds aren’t pretty good, and she says, with the same parents, the chance is good, but she still needs to confirm it. After the results come back, she’ll send him for more tests to make sure his liver is heathy. He asks if they can’t run them now, and she says, he’ll be undergoing major surgery, so she can’t risk skipping anything. She’s moving as fast as she can. He says he appreciates everything even if it seems like he doesn’t, and she says she needs to figure out if he’s in good enough physical shape to be a donor. Then all they have to do is wait for the results. He says he’s not great at waiting.

Elizabeth asks how Aiden feels, but he says he’s not sure. She says she knows they’ve been emailing and video chatting. She also knows it’s difficult when someone is in front of you, especially when it’s your dad. He says, it’s been a long time since he heard from Lucky. He’s always been the first one to reach out. One time, he waited five months, but nothing. He’s not sad or mad. He’s like, okay, whatever. She says she’s sorry, and he says he doesn’t hate Lucky. He’s glad Lucky is coming back, but it’s not like Lucky is coming back for him. His dad is here to save Aunt Lulu. How can he be mad?

Carly says she knows Jack risked his job, but he says, it’s all good. It turns out haranguing an international law enforcement agency on her friend’s behalf paid off. She thanks him and he says, they make a good team.

Curtis tells Nina, Crimson’s numbers are up, but he thinks they can make them go higher. He found a distributor in Australia. Nina says she’ll give them a call, but he says he already called. It’s a go. Nina says, it’s exciting and embarrassing for her. She should have seen the opportunity. He says, she’s been busy with Crimson and saving the nation, and she says she likes hyperbole in a man. He says, if working on Drew’s campaign distracted her, it’s the price they pay to make sure Drew gets in office. She says, he is distracting… She means, with the campaign and politicking. It’s all very distracting.

Anna tells Felicia that she planned to steal Sidwell’s phone and put it back before he realized. Jason was going to engage Sidwell in a card game, and he did very well. He occupied Sidwell and challenged him. She was about to copy the phone’s chip, and Felicia will never believe who stepped out of the woodwork to stop her. Sidwell’s girlfriend – Holly.  

On the phone and sipping champagne, Holly says, hear that? It’s the sound of ice. Which is exactly what she’s calling them about.

Portia says she’ll let Lucky know when he can see Lulu, and Jason asks how he’s doing. Lucky says he’s doing okay. They ran a lot of tests. All this time, and now he’s here. Jason says he knows, and Lucky says, it’s been a long time, but coming back is harder than leaving. Carly joins them and hugs Lucky. she says she can’t believe he’s here, and he says he can’t either. She says she’s trying to get in touch with his mom and Doc, and he asks where they’re at. She says, at the refugee camp where he was last staying, but the weather is bad, and the service has been spotty. He says he can’t believe they went to Africa, and she says, it’s Laura. What does he expect? He says he expected her to be at Lulu’s bedside, and she says, when they found out Nikolas wasn’t a match… He says, she took off. He got Carly’s email and meant to write back. He was sorry to hear about Bobbie. She says, Bobbie was a hero to the end, and he says he’s sorry he wasn’t here. She says, her mom loved him, wherever he was, when Portia comes back and says, Lucky has been cleared to see Lulu. She’ll let him know if he’s a match as soon as she hears. Lucky says he’s going to see his sister, and Carly says, she’s on 10.  

Elizabeth says, Lulu is the main reason Lucky is back, but not the only reason, and Aiden says, they both know that’s not true. Elizabeth says, Lucky loves him, even though he has a terrible way of showing it. She didn’t want him to be caught off guard. He says, Lucky might help Lulu, then take off again. There are days he doesn’t think of Lucky, and he kind of feels bad about it. Elizabeth tells him, don’t. He has a big heart and so does his does dad. She can’t imagine anything changing that. He says, it’s going to be weird, but he wouldn’t say no to hanging out with Lucky before he leaves again. She asks if he wants her to let Lucky know, but he says, Lucky knows how to reach him. Does she think he’s like his dad? She says, they’re both very handsome, and he tells her that people say he’s like her and he hopes that’s true. He knows that means they must think a lot of him. They might call him a mama’s boy, but he doesn’t care. He’s good with being his mom’s son. He kisses her on the cheek and leaves.

Jack comes to Robert’s office, and Robert says he’d like the like latest on the foray of the Bureau into the field. Jack says, he’s not with the Bureau anymore, and Robert says, tell him anyway. Jack asks, why? and Robert says, Anna is the mother of his child and almost died on Jack’s watch. Jack says, works for him, and sits down. He says, the WSB satellites pinpointed Jenz Sidwell’s location. Considering his strip-mining efforts, it wasn’t difficult. Robert asks if Sidwell converted what he stole? and Jack says, of course (🍷). Robert says, Sidwell leaves the countries he strips more destitute than ever. So Jack used the Bureau’s resources to curtail Sidwell’s operation. Is he still alive? Jack says, unknown. Nobody in the mission is safe if he is.  

Mac comes back, and Holly says, breakfast? indicating the champagne. He says, it’s a little early, but she says she’s on Africa time, calling him grandpa. He says he wears the title proudly, and she says, he should. It suits him. He says he’s getting a lot of practice, and she says, his family tree is growing. He tells her that he has a son by Dominique, and she asks if he’s met him. Mac says, he lives in town. He works for the Quartermaines. She asks if he was raised by Leopold Taub, and Mac nods. He says she’s sorry he didn’t get to know his son sooner, and she says, Dominique lived a complicated life. He probably won’t believe it, but she’ll always regret how Dominique’s jealousy of their friendship helped split them up. He says he doesn’t believe it, and she says she’ll always be grateful for their friendship. He says, back at her. He asks about Ethan, and she says, Ethan is currently out of trouble and doing splendidly. He asks what brings her back, and she says, her last visit was bittersweet. So when chance tossed her toward their shores, she took it. She asks, what’s going on with Robert? and he says, Robert has built a life post-WSB, and it makes him happy. He’s worried her visit will ruin it.  

Anna says, Holly confirmed Lucky was at the compound, and persuaded Sidwell to invite them back. Felicia says, she put her life on the line, and Anna says, they all did. They all went back, and Holly knew where Lucky was, but it was tricky to get him out. Then they found out their covers had been blown. Sidwell insisted that Jason and Lucky play a final card game. Felicia says she has the feeling it wasn’t for money, and Anna says, no. If Lucky won, Holly kept her life, and if Jason won, she kept hers. If Sidwell won, they were all going to die.

Carly asks how Jason is, and he says, fine. She says, really, and he says he’s fine. She asks, what about Lucky, and don’t say fine, and he says, Lucky is physically okay. She says, otherwise? and he says, coming back this way is tough. She says, their situations are different, but after the transplant, they can help Lucky figure things out. He says, if Lucky stays long enough, and she asks if he’s leaving. Jason says he doesn’t know, and he has no idea what Holly is doing. She says, that’s a name she didn’t expect to hear. What was she doing there? She wasn’t a part of the mission. He says, she was on her own mission, which she started before them. She helped them, and he’s got to give that to her. If Holly didn’t love Luke so much, they’d probably be dead.

Terry shows up at Elizabeth’s house, and tells Elizabeth that she can’t stay long, but she wanted to tell her that Lucky is at the hospital. Elizabeth asks if he’s going through tests, and Terry says, Portia is running them now. Given Lulu’s numbers this morning, he’s just in time. Elizabeth says, that’s Lucky, heroically skidding through the door just in time, and Terry says, he came straight from the airport. He was exhausted and anxious, and she didn’t get the hero vibe. He seemed like he’d been through some stuff, but he still looked good.

Lucky goes to Lulu’s room. He sits next to the bed and takes her hand. He says he’s here and kisses it. He flashes back to talking to Baby Lulu.

Curtis says he’s impressed. It wasn’t that long ago, Nina got Drew sent to prison. Nina says, for something he totally did, and Curtis says, and look at them now. Working together and helping each other. She says, being Drew’s campaign wife is incredible, and he says he didn’t realize that was her title. She says, people draw their own conclusions, and he asks where she finds time for herself. She says, 12 hours a day devoted to Crimson, 12 to the campaign, and 12 to her. He says, a 36-hour workday. That’s a lot of time to invest in someone who’s just a friend. She says she never thought it would happen. She thinks her and Drew’s relationship has evolved into something more, something real.

Mac says, Holly will disrupt what’s going on and say she needs help getting out of her latest jam. She wouldn’t ask if there were anyone else, and on and on until the last shoe she threw up in the air falls on the ground. Then she’ll be gone and leave Robert to pick up the pieces of the ruins she’s left behind. She thanks him for his honesty and says she’ll send over a bottle of champagne to replace the bottle she opened. He says, not necessary, but she says she doesn’t want to ruin anything more than she already has, and leaves.

Carly asks how Jason and Anna aren’t dead, and Jason says, Sidwell ordered his men to kill him and Anna, and they would have if it hadn’t been for the drone strike. She says, that was her. She knows a guy. He says, Jack Brennan? and she says, yes. She asked him for help, and he was amazing. She watched the drone strike in real time. They watched it together.

Robert says, he takes it all protocols were put in place to protect the Bureau’s exposure, and Jack says, he followed them to the letter. Robert says, they require no civilian witnesses. Were there any? Jack says, other than the intended targets, no, but he’s not worried about three of the four rescued being a risk. Jason isn’t going to talk, Anna is Anna, and Lucky won’t bite the hand that saved his sister. Robert asks, who’s the fourth? and Jack says he’s not familiar with them. That’s why he came right over when Robert called. He’s hoping Robert can tell him how worried he needs to be about Holly Sutton.  

Terry asks if there’s anything about Lucky coming home that’s a good thing, and Elizabeth says she’s happy for Lulu and the family, but she and Lucky are practically strangers. He called the hospital, and she happened to answer. Terry asks what it was like to hear his voice, and Elziabeth says, there were a lot of feelings for the person he was, the man she used to love and had a child with. Feelings for the voice she used to hear every day, but hasn’t heard in years. Terry asks if she’s okay with it, and Elizabeth says she’s not surprised Lucky would come back to help his sister. Terry says, that can’t be the only reason (like it isn’t enough), and Elizabeth says she told Aiden that, but she gets why he’s doubtful. Lucky isn’t coming to rebuild a relationship with his son and build a life here. Terry says, Elizabeth doesn’t have to answer, but part of her wonders if Elizabeth is going overboard in managing her expectations. What does she expect?  

Lucky says, the first time he met Lulu, she was so small. She made all these noises, but now she’s so… quiet. Lulu Spencer isn’t supposed to be quiet. He promised to take care of her, and he wasn’t there when she needed him the most. He was too busy hiding out in Ireland or Africa or anywhere but here. He told himself that he was doing good in the world, but they both know he was just running and hiding, and if he’d stayed in Port Charles and fought for his family, maybe he could have stopped all this from happening in the first place.

Lucky tells Lulu that their mom is looking for him too. That’s how much she loves Lulu. He loves her too, and prays she can forgive him for not being the brother she deserved or needed. But he’s here now and who knows? Maybe he can still save her and when she’s in the clear, awake and talking again as loud as ever, they can figure out then if he deserves her forgiveness… or anyone’s.

Felicia asks how they got away, and Anna says, Sidwell’s guards threw Jason in a cell with her and were ordered to kill them. There was no bomb to diffuse and no bullet to dodge. Felicia says, there was no way out, and Anna says, they had a kind of understanding that they could lose their lives. Felicia says, at least Jason was there. He must have been a comfort in that moment like he was with Robin all those years ago, when she was staring death in the face.

Jack says he was hoping he could impose on Robert, since he’s the expert. He did debrief Holly. Robert says he’s no longer part of the Bureau, but Jack says, workarounds are his thing. Off the record, does Robert think Holly is a security risk? Robert says, absolutely, but not in the way Jack thinks. After he’s spoken to her, he’ll get back to Jack. Jack thanks him and says, always a pleasure. Robert says, he’s such a liar, and Jack leaves.

Curtis asks how Drew feels about their relationship, and Nina says, the vibe between them is nice. He says, when he hears about their relationship evolving from pretend to real, it’s not that much different from what happened in Nixon Falls. She says, it’s completely different (agreed – Drew never thought he was someone else), and he says he doesn’t want to see her hurt. She asks why he thinks she’ll be hurt, and he says, when she cares about someone, she’s vulnerable. In the circles she and Drew are traveling in, she can’t afford to be vulnerable. His phone rings, and he answers. He listens a moment, and says, thanks for reaching out. He tells Nina, that was the music promotor congratulating him. His father is going to be touring with Wynton Marsalis. She says, that’s a good thing, right? and he says, yeah, but why was his father hiding this?

Elizabeth says, Lucky saved her and her sanity during a difficult time. After she was raped, he helped her realize that she’s a lot stronger than she thought and everything she didn’t think was possible, was. She’ll forever be grateful for that. Terry says, he sounds like a helluva guy, and Elizabeth says, he was. He probably still is, but 15 years can change a lot. Terry says she wishes she could stay, but she has to get back to the hospital. She’s going to leave Elizabeth with one infuriating thought. Everything she said makes perfect sense, but sometimes things that should make sense, don’t anymore. She leaves.

Anna says she doesn’t think she and Jason were a comfort to one another when they were so close to dying, and Felicia asks how they got away. Anna says, the drone strike occurred. She thinks it was a group effort. Felicia says, so the drones took out their would-be killers and left her and Jason unscathed, and Anna says, pretty much. They managed to get Lucky away from Sidwell and get away. Holly stole a jeep and drove them to the airstrip where the WSB had a jet waiting. And here she is. Felicia says, wow. All she can says is, she thinks Anna should do that more often.

Jason says he doesn’t like Carly working with Brennan, but she says she’s not. She just worked with him so that Jason could be safe, and now he and Lulu are safe. He says, she can’t trust Brennan. She seems to think he’s helping her because he likes her. She says she actually does think that, and he pulls her aside. He says, it’s what they call an investment, and Brennan is going to want a return on his investment. She says, owing Brennan it’s a small price to keep them alive, and he says he hopes she doesn’t regret it when Brennan wants to collect. She says, he already has, and he asks what Brennan wanted. She says, a burger from Bobbie’s. She’s got this. What else happened on the mission? Jason says, nothing, and walks to the elevator. She says she knows him. What else happened? He says, nothing, and the elevator doors close.

Robert looks through some paperwork, and outside, Holly is about to knock on his office door. She decides not to and walks away.

Portia looks at the computer, and Terry asks about the test results. Portia says, they just came in. (Her face looks grim, but you know they like to mess with us.) Terry asks if she can see, and Portia turns the screen toward her. She says, it looks like they found their donor just in time.

Lucky goes to Bobbie’s and looks through the window. He sees Elizabeth and goes inside. She turns and sees him.

On Thursday (we hope), Ava says she likes the sound of that; Lucky says he can’t give Elizabeth promises he can’t keep; and Heather refuses to go down without a fight.

🧼 All the Soap News Fit To Print…

GH is preempted for baseball on Tuesday and Wednesday. And depending on how those games go, possibly Thursday.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/general-hospital-is-preempted-multiple-times-this-week

I just don’t get this. It sounds like she didn’t either.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/kelly-monaco-has-taped-her-last-scenes-at-gh

I can’t keep these kids straight anymore. Lucky won’t be able to recognize him, and not because it’s been a long time.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/colin-cassidy-is-the-new-aiden-on-general-hospital

Farewell to yet another soap legend.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/days-of-our-lives/days-co-stars-remembers-drake-hogestyn

🗽 From the Wide-Awake City…

I find it hard to believe they’re going through the same sh*t everyone else is going through.

Shout out to the Bronx!

https://www.thewrap.com/who-is-racquel-chevremont-real-housewives-of-new-york-city/

🧂 Shakers Of Salt…

Well, if she doesn’t know, how are we supposed to know?

https://people.com/meredith-marks-mary-cosby-fight-real-housewives-of-salt-lake-city-season-5-explained-8720027

She can’t win because she’s not doing it for the right reasons. There, I said it.

https://www.eonline.com/news/1407421/why-rhoslcs-heather-gay-feels-like-she-cant-win-after-losing-weight-on-ozempic

💎 Giving the Real Real…

So was it not real before?

I can’t imagine this show being good for anyone’s spirit or career.

👀 This Weekend’s Watch…

The critics are right. Colin Farrell is unrecognizable and amazing as Oswald Oz Cobb aka The Penguin. The show is like Batman meets Boardwalk Empire, weirdly set in today’s world, but with a 1930s feel. Admittedly, a lot of it feels cliché, like Oz’s accent – he commits a moider – but it woiks. Of course, Gotham is a city in its own world, so it can be what it wants. All of the visuals were captivating, and I was fascinated with the view of the Times Square like center of the town. TBH, I haven’t paid much attention to the Batman films. I loved the comics as a kid, but I leaned more toward the female villains like Cat Woman, Harley Quinn, and Poison Ivy. A friend once showed up at a karaoke Halloween party dressed as Poison Ivy, and said I was the only one who recognized who she was, but I digress. Filled with murder, mayhem, and style, I thought The Penguin was a worthwhile watch, and since it’s only 8 episodes, I’m in it for the not-so-long haul.

https://www.cbr.com/the-penguin-big-splash-hbo-premiere/

Forget that other guy.

https://www.cbr.com/the-penguin-differences-from-the-batman/

How he became Oz.

https://www.bbc.com/reel/video/p0jtmqbj/colin-farrell-describes-how-he-transformed-into-the-penguin

The other series on my short list was Grotesquerie. The story was compelling and sucked me in right away. Niecy Nash-Betts is world weary, alcoholic detective Lois Tryon, who has to solve a series of murders committed by an entity only known as Grotesquerie. Helping her track down the killer is a crime writer and amateur detective, who also happens to be a nun. Lois’s husband is in a coma, but returns in flashbacks, suggesting her drinking is turning from a pastime into a profession, and her job has become more of an obsession than a profession. The characters are captivating, the acting is award worthy, and it’s directed beautifully. Fresh off playing Lyle Menendez in Monsters, Nicholas Chavez is amazing as a young priest with some odd proclivities, who is also the nun’s best friend. IMO, if he continues with the trajectory he’s on, he’ll be up there with Brad Pitt, George Clooney, et al. My only complaint, a SWAT team sneaking around a building after loudly busting down a gate with their vehicle to get on the property. I think whoever was inside would hear that.

Only slight revelations here.

https://www.thewrap.com/grotesquerie-review-niecy-nash-betts-fx/

He had a good time.

https://www.thewrap.com/monsters-grotesquerie-nicholas-chavez-interview/

Warning: spoilers.

https://deadline.com/2024/09/grotesquerie-niecy-nash-betts-talks-premiere-episodes-fx-ryan-murphy-1236101830/

👒 Never Complain, Never Explain…

Downton Abbey will never be the same.

https://ew.com/downton-abbey-creator-and-cast-pay-tribute-to-maggie-smith-8719727

Some of her best.

https://www.sheknows.com/entertainment/articles/1108201/dowager-countess-quotes/

🦧 Same To You, Monkey…

The amusing side of wildlife.

https://people.com/2024-comedy-wildlife-awards-finalists-photos-8719560

🧶 A Sweater Is Like Life…

Join me tomorrow for a glance at NYC and who knows what else? Until then, stay safe, stay always leaving them wanting more, and stay occasionally reevaluating, because sometimes things that should make sense, don’t anymore.

September 27, 2024 – A Final Battle With Sidwell, Soap Sliver, Tough Love, Boo Hoo, NYC T, In Development, Weekend Watch, Wheel Love, More To the Story, Sea Ghost, 7 Quotes Of Substance & September

Standard

What I Watched Today

(rambling, random thoughts, recaps, and the whole GH enchilada on Fridays)

General Hospital

Felicia asks if there’s anything else they can do for Lulu, but Elizabeth says she thinks their only hope is for Anna and Jason to get back here with Lucky… now. Felicia asks what she’s saying, and Elizabeth tells her that Lulu is running out of time.

Sidwell asks if Holly doesn’t think he knows she was after the diamonds all along. Does she think he’d let her cheat him? She grabs his gun and aims it at him. She tells him to keep his hands off of her and don’t even think of calling for the guards. She asks if Lucky can get free and he says he’s way ahead of her. He asks if she knows where Jason and Anna are, and she says, same cell, but while she’s looking at Lucky, Sidwell gets the better of her and takes the gun. He and Lucky struggle over it, and Holly pinches the back of Sidwell’s neck like a Vulcan death grip. Lucky grabs the gun, but Sidwell grabs Holly and holds a knife to her side. He says, drop the gun, but Lucky says, can’t. He’s got somewhere he has to be. Sidwell says he doesn’t think so.

Anna says she and Jason are dying tonight and she hugs him. It looks like they’re about to kiss, but a clanging door distracts Jason. He listens for a moment, then grabs Anna’s face and kisses her. Two guards come, and one says, they’re saying goodbye. He opens the door and Jason looks at Anna. You can see the wheels spinning in both their heads.

Tracy walks into the stables, and Cody says, the only reason Sasha is here is because he invited her. Sasha says, that’s not true. She surprised him. He had no idea she was coming down here. He says, no. He’s in charge of the stables. It’s his responsibility. He shouldn’t have let it happen… Sasha says, no, stop, and Tracy says, anybody who’s not her, stop. A word of advice. In any interrogation, if you want to get to the truth quickly, you let the suspect speak. He will always eventually hang himself. Cody says he didn’t realize she spent a lot of time getting perps to sing, and Tracy says, another general rule. Do not apologize for anything until you know what you’re being accused of. Cody says, okay. Then tell them straight up. Is she going to fire Sasha? Because she should know if she does, he’s going to go too. And he’d be willing to bet she’s going to miss him, because he knows he’s going to miss her.

Sonny and Carly are at the MetroCourt, and she looks at her phone. He says, anything? but she says, nothing. It’s so weird. Martin walks in and goes to the bar. Sonny says, excuse him. He’ll be right back. He approaches Martin, who says he would have come by to say hi, but he saw the champagne and flowers and thought he could find a better time to interrupt. Sonny says he appreciates the thought. Has Martin seen Alexis today? Martin says he has. All things considered, she’s… coping? Sonny asks if they settled on a strategy, and Martin says he thinks so, but he thinks that’s best left between him and Alexis. Attorney/client privilege. Sonny says he’s paying Martin to get her out of Pentenville as soon as he can. And he would hope Martin would do whatever he can to make that happen. Martin says, whatever it takes. That’s the plan.

Also at the MetroCourt, Diane tells Robert that she met the new WSB station chief this morning, and he says, Jack Brennan? She says, he was chatting with Carly this morning when she walked into Bobbie’s. He asks what she thought, and she says she can’t say she’s that impressed. He was clearly trying to get some kind of information out of Carly, but she managed to scare him away with very little effort. He says, she’s disappointed, and she says, yeah, a little. Of course (🍷) she’s just glad he’s not somebody she has to spend time worrying about. He says, don’t be too sure on that.

On the phone in his office, Jack tells someone to wait for his order, when a woman (Colette) walks in. She asks, what order would that be? and he says, they got word that Jenz Sidwell is holding three US citizens hostage at his compound in Somalia. If the WSB doesn’t intervene now, Morgan and Devane aren’t going to make it out of there alive. Neither will Lucky Spencer. So he intends to give their escape a fighting chance. She says, with all due respect, he doesn’t have the authority to make that call.

Lucky says, Sidwell won’t do it, and Sidwell says, watch him. Last chance, and then she bleeds. Lucky slowly drops the gun, and Holly stomps on Sidwell’s foot. He lets her go, and he and Lucky struggle.

Two guards take Jason out of the cell, while another takes Anna out. Jason frees himself from their grip, and the fight is on, handcuffs or not. Anna pushes a guard into the cell, then struggles with him, while Jason fights the other two. Anna clamps her hand onto the guard’s face, then elbows his nose. He falls and she runs out. Jason tells her, go, but she runs toward him, and the guard literally picks her up from behind.

On the phone, Jack says, that’s right. Get them in the air… Yes, all of them. That area needs a little rain. Colette says, in all her years with the WSB, she’s never heard of a regional station chief calling in a dawn strike in East Africa. He says, if she sticks around, she may find that she uses the words never and unprecedented less than she has in her other postings. These are highly unusual circumstances. Sidwell and his plundering operation won’t be missed. She says, but they have no authority or formal request to be in that location. They have no treaty in place. They don’t even have a handshake agreement. He says, they’re not likely to get one now, and she says, what if the UN finds out that they took an unauthorized military action in East Africa? He says, then he’ll be tried for war crimes and his career, such as it is, will be over. She says, and hers? and he says, she’ll be fine. He’ll tell them she tried to stop him. (Drawing a heart on my notebook that says, JB + TK in the middle.)

Diane says she gets the impression that Jack Brennan is a low-level bureaucrat who was trying to get information out of Carly so he can use it to climb his career ladder, and Robert says, that’s what she’s supposed to think. She says, but in reality, he’s much more powerful and dangerous that that, and he says, smart and beautiful. She laughs.

On her phone, Carly says she’s sorry. Who are they? Deputy station chief? Sonny comes back, and she asks if she can talk to Chief Brennan. This is very, very important… What do they mean, he’s busy?… She understands that. Can they please ask him to call Carly Spencer as soon as possible? Thank you. Sonny asks, what’s wrong? and she says she thinks Anna and Jason are in trouble. He says, is Brennan going to get back to her? and she says she doesn’t know. Yesterday, she would have said yes, but she doesn’t know. She doesn’t know this guy. He tells her, just calm down, but she says, the calm ship has sailed. She has to figure this out. She’s sorry. She gets up, and he says, go, go. She kisses his cheek and leaves. Martin, Lucy and Natalia all notice.

Lucy tells Natalia, as she was saying, when Sonny came back from Nixon Falls, he and Carly, despite everything, tried to get back together. Natalia says, that sounds very adult to her, and Lucy says she guesses. The point is, does she know how many times they tried to get back together? She’s completely lost count. And every time they do, there’s some big drama, which is kind of who they are, but frankly, she finds the whole thing gets really boring after a while. Natalia says she thinks that’s usually how people feel if they’re not involved and just hearing about it, and Lucy says, true. So anyway, Sonny comes back from Nixon Falls… Sonny approaches the table from behind Natalia, and Natalia says, and what? Lucy tells Sonny, hi. It’s a lovely evening tonight, isn’t it? Natalia and Sonny smile at each other.

Felicia says she imagines Elizabeth has some feelings about Lucky coming home, and Elizabeth asks if he even considers Port Charles his home anymore. Felicia says she guesses they’ll find out soon enough. How does Elizabeth feel about Lucky coming to town? Elizabeth says she hasn’t sorted her feelings out yet, but she can say she’s nervous for Aiden. He doesn’t even know his dad, and Lucky certainly doesn’t know his son. Felicia asks if she thinks there’s a chance they’ll get to know each other while Lucky’s here, and Elizabeth says, possibly. She’s watched Jason and Danny bond. Although it helps that they’re into the same things. Felicia says, speed, fast things, extreme everything? and Elizabeth says, and for all those reasons Sam has double the same things to worry about when it comes to Danny. Felicia says, there’s always the possibility Jason might leave again, and Elizabeth says she wants to protect Aiden. But she also feels that if he wants to get to know his dad, he should have the chance to do that. Felicia says, then she might have to let Aiden and Lucky navigate this for themselves. Let Aiden figure out what kind of relationship he wants with his father. Elizabeth says she just hopes she doesn’t have to pick up the pieces.

Holly watches Sidwell and Lucky fight, when Sidwell headbutts Lucky. Lucky yells, Holly! but she’s gone. Sidwell gets Lucky down on the card table, and puts his hands around Lucky’s throat, saying, she left. He dies.

Jason and Anna are brought down some stairs to the courtyard. She wonders if Lucky made it out, and Jason says he gave him a chance. A guard tells them, on their knees, and they kneel down. The guards cock their guns.

Carly goes into Jack’s office and asks, why didn’t he call her back? Does he know if Anna and Jason are okay? Does he know if they’re safe? He points to his computer screen and says, see for herself. She asks what she’s looking at, and he says, satellite images. That’s Sidwell’s compound in East Africa. Take a mental snapshot because it’s not going to be there for long. Carly asks, what’s going to happen? and he says he got word her friends needed back-up. This was the best back-up he could get together in such short notice. He only hopes he’s in time. She says, he doesn’t know if he’s in time? and he says, not yet, no. They look at the screen, and he says, okay. This is it. See the long, rectangular building there? She says, yeah, and he says, watch closely. And three… two… one…

Jason and Anna hear the planes overhead, and there’s an explosion. Everyone is thrown to the ground and parts of the place are on fire.

Jason comes to and coughs. The guards wake up and one says, let’s go. They jet because this is above their paygrade, but one lies on the ground, presumably dead. Anna wakes up and Jason asks if she’s okay. She says, yeah. Him? He nods and takes the guard’s gun while she searches for the handcuff keys.

Tracy says, there’s no question she would miss Cody as well, which is one of the reasons why she’s not going to fire Sasha. For one, she couldn’t, because Monica would never let her. And in addition, Sasha makes the lightest pastry this side of Paris and she loves light pastry. Sasha thanks her, and Tracy says, now why is she here. She came to the unfortunate conclusion that her behavior around his family brunch was… unkind, unwarranted, and quite possibly and overreaction. Cody asks if she’s all right, and she says, of course (🍷). She’s fine. Doesn’t she look all right? Sasha says, she looks really good, and Tracy thanks her. She says she’s taking the advice of a friend who suggested she might want to… reevaluate her behavior, and Sasha says, it’s perfectly understandable. Tracy was upset that she hosted Cody’s family without her permission. Tracy says, she’s right, but it’s not that simple, and Cody asks, what’s going on with her? Tracy says she’s sure they’re both aware that she’s often at odds with her family. Which is the price she pays for being the sane one. But she digresses. When she came down to the boathouse and saw him so happily ensconced with his family, it really caught her off-guard. Cody says he’s really sorry, and she says she’s not going to bore them with the details of her journey to self-awareness. Suffice to say, she was wrong, and she’s so sorry.

Anna gets the handcuffs off Jason, and he asks if that’s who he thinks it is. She says, yeah, and heads up the stairs. At the top, she covers Jason as he follows. They go back inside.

Sonny says he didn’t mean to interrupt. He just thought he and Natalia could go over the plans for Deception. Lucy says, that’s a great idea. They’re finished anyway. He says he doesn’t want to kill the night. It’s just that they were supposed to go over the plans this morning, but it didn’t work out. He just saw her, so he thought he’d give it a shot. Natalia says, it’s fine, and so efficient, and he says, that’s a good thing, right? Lucy says, it’s a great thing. The best. She gets up, and Sonny tells her, have a good night. She says, you have a good night. Ta. She leaves and he sits down. Lucy goes over to Martin at the bar.

Jason and Anna come into the room where Sidwell is trying to strangle Lucky, and Jason hits Sidwell in the back of the head with the gun butt. Sidwell falls onto the table, and Anna asks if Lucky is all right. He says he’s fine, and she asks, where’s Holly? He says, no idea, and she calls Holly’s name. Jason says, they have to get out of here, but Lucky says, no. Just leave. Anna says, they have to get out of here before the whole place goes down, and she starts to search Sidwell. She grabs something off of him (a gun?) and they run out.

Natalia tells Sonny, here’s the thing. Over the years, she’s learned that there are two sure fire paths to misery. He says, only two? and she laughs. She says, one, never get involved with a married man, and he says he’s not married. She says, and two, never get involved with a man who’s involved with someone else. And with that in mind, what is going on with him and his ex-wife?

Tracy says she hopes they accept her apology, and Cody says, yes, of course (🍷). Sasha says, absolutely. That was very brave, and it meant a lot. Tracy says, while she’s at it, they do make a lovely couple, and Cody says, okay. She can stop now. It’s starting to freak him out a little. But thank you. He loves this job and she’s a big part of the reason why. She says, bigger than Comet? and he says, don’t make him lie to her face, but yes. In many ways, she’s made this life that he loves possible. He’s really grateful. Sasha says, they both are, and Tracy says she’s glad. Sometimes it can be very hard to find a place to call home. Cody says, it can. And sometimes you find someone, or someones, that make it a lot easier. Tracy says, that’s always the hope, isn’t it? and he says, for what it’s worth (🍷), he’s been working with her and her family for a while now, and he doesn’t think she’s at odds with them as much as she might think. She says, they have their good days. So get on with their evening and she’ll get on with hers. He says, she still owes him that backgammon game, and she says she’ll make time for him in her very busy schedule, and when she does, prepared to be schooled. He says, backgammon doesn’t really lend itself to taunting, and she says, it doesn’t. And get a room… with a door… that locks. She leaves and they laugh.

Elizabeth tells Felicia that she and Lucky only have a child together. That’s it. They’re done done. Felicia says she gets it. If Frisco were to parachute into town right now, she’d say the same thing. Elizabeth says, there you go, and Felicia says, because she loves her life, and she loves Mac, and she knows that it’s possible to move on. But it’s taken her years to get to that place. Elizabeth says, it’s been years for her and Lucky, and Felicia says, when Frisco left, she felt like she was losing a part of herself that she’d never get back. She was a mess, and she made one out of her life. She doesn’t know what would have happened if Frisco had come back before she got her life back together again. Elizabeth says she felt the same way when Lucky left. She probably would have fallen apart if it weren’t for her kids… and this place.

Lucy sits down and says, Martin looks absolutely fantastic. Whoever did his makeover should work for Crimson. It’s just so perfect. (For the record, he’s now clean-shaven, but I’m not sure I like it. I kinda liked the young Colonel Sanders look for him.) He thanks her, and she asks how long he’s been in Port Charles. He says, a few days. He was called in to represent Alexis Davis. She says, that is a tough one. So she guesses it’s kept her pretty busy. Is that why he hasn’t called her?

Robert tells Diane, Brennan plays a political game that he never could, and she says, meaning? He says, he comes across as a pushover, but make no mistake. He’s the real deal, a heavy hitter. She says she’s dealt with more than a few of those in her career, and he says, Brennan knows where all the bodies are buried. Why? Because he helped put more than a few of them there. She laughs and says she’s had experience with that type of personality, and he says he’s painfully aware that she’s a difficult woman to play. She tells him, some would say nearly impossible, and he says, but in Jack Brennan, she may have met her match. She says, hang on a second, counselor. She just has to powder her nose before he makes his closing argument.

Sonny says his relationship with Carly… Natalia says, complicated, and he says, they live separate lives that occasionally intersect. She asks if that’s what’s happening right now, when Diane comes over. She asks Sonny, where’s Carly?

Carly says, they bombed the compound. How do we know they got out safe? Jack says, the strike was to draw Sidwell’s men away from the building Anna and Jason were last seen entering. She says, what about Lucky? and he says, it’s believed he was being held there as well. Sidwell’s guards are paid mercenaries. They’ll be busy trying to get out of there and save themselves, and that should give their guys a chance to escape. She says, assuming they got out, how are they going to get out of the country? and he says, there’s a private WSB jet, fueled and ready to take off at an airstrip near the compound. She says, they have to get there on their own? and he says he’s done as much as he can. The rest is up to them. (Geez. What more does she want? Him to personally walk them to the plane?)

Jason, Anna, and Lucky go back down the stairs, and Lucky says, does anyone have a plan? They hear a horn blowing, and a jeep pulls up. Holly says, don’t just stand there. Get in. They get in, and Holly asks if they thought she was going to leave them there. Lucky says, yeah, and Holly says, where to? Anna says, the airfield, and Holly speeds away.

Sonny tells Diane that he did champagne and the whole thing, but Carly had to go, and Diane says, so he decided to replace her with Natalia Ramirez. He says, she’s his business associate, and Diane says she doesn’t care what Natalia actually is. She cares how it looks. He asks if it looked like they were talking, because that’s what they were doing, and she tells him that she said these exact words to Carly this morning. She doesn’t understand why the two of them aren’t doing everything in their power to solidify his alibi. He does realize Alexis is in prison. He says he doesn’t want Alexis in prison another minute. That’s why he got her a great lawyer. She says, so he understands her fate hangs in the balance, and he tells her that she doesn’t have to say that. She says, while Alexis is facing the prospect of life behind bars, he can’t seem to make it through even one dinner with his ex-wife, and he says, she had to go. Did Diane want him to chain her to the chair? He didn’t know what was going to happen next. She says, he understands his freedom relies on his alibi. So next time, he just might want to plan a little better. He says he knows, and she needs to know, without a doubt, Carly will not let him down. She says, he’d better pray she doesn’t, and leaves.

Elizabeth says she had to keep it together for her kids, and Felicia says, she’s fortunate that her family was there for her. Elizabeth says she is. Epiphany is the one who saved her. Epiphany taught her to put one foot in front of the other. Felicia says she wishes she’d worked here when Epiphany did, and Elizabeth says, she was amazing. She used to always remind them that they’re part of something bigger than just themselves. Felicia says, when you walk into this hospital, it’s tough not to feel that way, and Elizabeth says, and Epiphany never let them forget it. It didn’t matter how you felt when you walked through those doors. When you walked out, you always felt better. Felicia says, this job distracted her, and Elizabeth says, every day she would help people who were scared or vulnerable and she never realized at the time, she was actually helping herself. Then one day she got home from work and didn’t have that knot in her stomach, and she could breathe without that lump in her throat. It felt like she’d found herself. She doesn’t know if Lucky ever did that. She always felt that he was looking for something that was missing in himself. Felicia says she knows the feeling, and Elizabeth says, but things have changed. Maybe he’s changed. Felicia says she hopes so for his sake, and Elizabeth says she doesn’t know what it’s going to be like having Lucky back in town, but she’s just going to do what Epiphany taught her and put one foot in front of the other and just see what happens. Felicia says, she found her way through it once, and if she has to, she will again.

On the plane, Jason says, Lucky’s friend Isaiah is the reason they found him, and Lucky says he knew Isaiah would make it back to Port Charles. Anna gets up and groans, rubbing her back, and Holly asks, how bad is it? Anna says she could really use a hot bath, and Holly says, that makes two of us. Anna says, that was good work, grabbing that jeep, and Holly says she wasn’t going to walk out of there. Anna says, she could have driven off without them, but Holly says, they’ve settled this. She’s not going to be the one who tells Robert that Anna is dead. Also, she doesn’t think the WSB would have let her on this plane without Anna. Anna laughs and says she doesn’t think they would have either.

Anna goes over to Lucky and asks how he’s doing, and he says he owes them both. He doesn’t know how or if he can ever repay them, but will they take an IOU? Anna says, they weren’t the only ones. Doc and Laura were looking for him too. (Oh yeah. What happened to them?) Lucky says, what? Where are they looking? She says, his mother left before Isaiah came to town, so his last location, which was the refugee camp. He says, okay. It’s remote, but it’s out of the line of fire, so she should be safe. What can Anna tell him about Lulu?

On the phone, Jack says, thank you. He tells Carly, they made it to the plane and the wheels are up. He’s curious though. The pilot counted four passengers. She says she doesn’t know anything about a fourth passenger, and he says he guesses they’ll have to wait to find out who their mystery passenger is. She says, maybe it’s someone who helped them escape, and he says, whoever it is, let’s hope they’re a good luck charm and the plane makes it into international airspace. She asks where they are now, and he says, in prohibited airspace. If they’re spotted, the jet will most likely be brought down. She says, what? Why would that happen? He says, prohibited is prohibited. They’ll most likely be on the end of a surface to air missile. She asks if the people on the plane know this, and he says, the flight crew does. She says, and the other people? and he says, what good would it do if they did? It’s best to just let them breathe easy and pray they keep doing it. The pilot has done this many times before. He’ll do everything he can to fly them to safety.

Tracy sits down at a table in the MetroCourt, and at the bar, Martin tells Lucy, it’s true the case has been keeping him busy, but that isn’t why he hasn’t been in touch. She says, why then? and he tells her, like she said, he’s made a few changes. She says, he definitely has and it’s all good, and he says he learned a thing or two when he was out of town. She might even say he’s a new man. But make no mistake, this new version of him doesn’t want to spend time with her any more than the old one did.

Sonny says, to answer Natalia’s question, to be honest, he’s not involved with any of his exes or anybody else. But Carly will always be in his life. He knows that complicates things. She says she’s got her own complicated past to deal with, so who is she to judge? and he asks if that past is a problem now. She says, no, but the details of it tend to scare some people off. He says, she’s in luck because he’s not most people. (Ooh, I’m intrigued.)

Lucy says, no interest? and Martin says, none. She asks how he can say that to her. He says, it’s surprisingly easy, and she says she thought maybe they could let bygones be bygones. He says, they could, but one of the perks of self-improvement is knowing when to cut your losses, and she says, so this is the new and improved him, just cutting. He says, give his best to Scott Baldwin, and walks out. Lucy looks over at Tracy, who’s busy on her phone.

Sonny says, Natalia is asking a lot of questions about his personal life. Is there a reason for that? She says, no. As a matter of fact, his personal life is none of her business. He says, if there was a problem, he’d say something, and she says she appreciates that. That did just remind her of a third path to misery. He says, let him hear that, and she says, getting involved with a man you work with. She thanks him for the desert and the honesty. She tells him, goodnight, and leaves.

On the phone, Jack asks if they’re sure… Thank you. Carly says, just tell her, and he says, the plane just crossed into international airspace. She says, and they’re safe? and he says, they’ll be arriving in New York in the morning. She thanks him, throwing her arms around him and hugging him.

Two guards help Sidwell outside, and he says, they’re going after Holly. Find a car. One of the guards says, she’s probably dead, but Sidwell says, she’s not dead. She has his diamonds. Find a car.

On the plane, Holly picks up her tote bag and looks at the pile of diamonds inside. Jason comes by and sits across the aisle. She pretends to be trying to sleep.

Anna tells Lucky, Lulu has what’s called medically induced cirrhosis of the liver, which means obviously her liver is failing. He asks what they’re doing for her, and she says, they’re giving her dialysis daily. Because she’s been in a coma for so long, she’s not really eligible for the national donor registry. He says, so it has to be a family member. What about Nikolas? She says, he was a match, but for some reason, his liver wasn’t healthy enough to go through the transplant. He says, so he’s it, and she says, he is. Is there anything at all she can do for him? He says he needs to make a call, and she gives him her phone.

At the hospital, the phone rings. Elizabeth answers, 10th floor. Nurse Elizabeth Baldwin. After a pause, Lucky says, Elizabeth?

On Monday, Terry asks if any part of Lucky being back is a good thing for Elizabeth; Jack asks Robert how worried he should be about Holly Sutton; and Mac tells Holly that he doesn’t believe her.

🛀 Soap Bubbles…

What was wrong with the old Lucas? Now that Brad is back, will we circle that drain again?

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/atwts-van-hansis-is-the-new-lucas-on-general-hospital

Surprised me too, but I got the vibe it was a distraction of some kind.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/finola-hughes-opens-up-about-jason-and-annas-kiss-on-gh

In theaters today, but no doubt it will be streaming before you know it.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/ghs-tabyana-ali-cant-wait-for-you-to-see-her-new-movie

Aww!

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/watch-maurice-benard-surprise-his-wife-on-her-birthday

💎 And She’d Been Doing So Well…

It sounds like there must be more to this story, but I couldn’t find anything. Yet.

📉 Reaping What He’s Sown…

And so the karma begins.

🗽 Big Apple Picking Season…

They’re not all that impressive. I’ve heard better.

Details, details.

🌴 Selling Miami…

Fredrik can be a d-bag, but I’ve always found him entertaining. And I think the Miami vibe will be a bonus.

👀 Stuff To Watch…

Apartment 7A looks like a winner for me. My weekend plans included checking out The Penguin and Grotesquerie, along with the new episodes of From and Agatha All Along. So much streaming, so little time. If I could only stop that pesky need for sleep.

https://www.tomsguide.com/entertainment/streaming/9-new-movies-and-shows-to-watch-this-weekend-on-netflix-apple-tv-and-more-sept-27-29

https://www.billboard.com/culture/product-recommendations/what-to-watch-online-streaming-1235750113/

https://decider.com/2024/09/27/best-new-movies-shows-weekend-netflix-hulu-amazon-prime-hbo-september-27-2024/

👠 Her Time With the Wheel…

I know this is random, but I thought it was sweet. I’ve never actually watched Wheel of Fortune, but Vanna is a legend.

https://ew.com/vanna-white-wheel-of-fortune-does-not-need-her-but-fans-love-outfits-8715934

🦤 Fur and Feather Update…

The latest on Jennifer and her dogs🐶, Pesto the baby penguin🐧, and Moo Deng the baby pygmy hippo🦛. That livestream is going to break the internet. Who wouldn’t want to watch her?

https://people.com/how-jennifer-aniston-just-fell-in-love-with-first-dog-norman-during-joey-and-chandler-friends-scene-8718549

https://people.com/why-is-pesto-the-baby-penguin-so-big-aquarium-answers-8718471

https://people.com/how-to-livestream-moo-deng-baby-pygmy-hippo-from-thailand-8716444

🐡 Ready For the Season…

Yep. This is one creepy fish. Last year, the day after Halloween, five – I kid you not, five – buzzards were sitting on my neighbor’s roof. I was like, where were you last night?

https://people.com/new-species-of-ghost-shark-discovered-pacific-ocean-8717383

🐐 Quotes of the Week

For it’s not light that is needed, but fire; it’s not the gentle shower, but thunder. We need the storm, the whirlwind and the earthquake in our hearts. – Frederick Douglass

Elegance is not standing out, but being remembered. – Giorgio Armani

We can’t be afraid of change. You may feel very secure in the pond that you are in, but if you never venture out of it, you will never know that there is such a thing as an ocean, a sea. Holding onto something that is good for you now, may be the very reason why you don’t have something better. – C JoyBell C

Real difficulties can be overcome; it is only the imaginary ones that are unconquerable. – Theodore Vail

Make a pact with yourself today to not be defined by your past. Sometimes the greatest thing to come out of all your hard work isn’t what you get for it, but what you become for it. Shake things up today! Be You…Be Free…Share. – Steve Maraboli

We do not remember days, we remember moments. The richness of life lies in memories we have forgotten. – Cesare Pavese

If it was a horror movie, she’d be the first one to die. – Rory, 90 Day Fiancé: Before the 90 Days

🍂 Gold In Autumn’s Pocket…

Hunker down if you’re in bad weather’s path, or if not, venture out and do some leaf peeping. Then come back on Monday for soap and what to watch (or not). The Med Deck is done, although there’s one of those never-before-seen shows on Deck if you’re so inclined. Until then, stay safe (extra safe if you’re in the aforementioned path); stay making an effort to do the right thing, regardless of other people’s behavior; and stay never apologizing for anything until you know what you’re being accused of.

September 20, 2024 – Sidwell Extends an Invite, First Day, OC Tea, Iconically Salty, Big Apples, Expanding His Territory, Oh No They Didn’t, An Octuplet Of Quotes & Fair

Standard

What I Watched Today

(rambling, random thoughts, recaps, and the whole GH enchilada on Fridays)

General Hospital

At The Savoy, Curtis says he’s glad they did this tonight, and Portia says, her too. She really needed it. N’neka brings their drinks and says, this is what she likes to see. Two beautiful people in love, and her favorite boss back where he belongs. Curtis say he appreciates it, but don’t get used to it, and N’neka says she’d hoped seeing him was a sign he’d be around more. He says, unfortunately, no. He does miss this place and he misses them all, but Aurora’s keeping him crazy busy. Portia says, maybe, but it is a Quartermaine business. They could be at each other’s throats any minute now. Drew walks in with Nina, and Portia says, unless Nina gets to Drew first.

In the nook, Michael says, let him deal with it, and Ned says, he told Michael, let him handle it. Willow says, maybe they should table the ELQ business for now, and Lois says, and discuss matters closer to home, like the fact the boathouse is still a crime scene. Michael says he’s concerned about that too, but right now, they need to get this situation squared away. Ned says he has it covered, and Michael says, nobody’s seen ELQ’s majority shareholder and it’s been weeks since he disappeared. Ned says he has their best people working on tracking him down, and Michael says, and yet, the FBI says his trail has gone cold and Ned is saying he can find him. Ned says he can, and Michael says, they can’t count on Valentin being caught. They need to lock ELQ down so Valentin can’t offload his shares to fund his new life. Ned says he doesn’t need Michael’s constant reminders about not locking down ELQ, and Michael says, maybe if Ned had sided with him and Drew instead of collaborating with Valentin, they wouldn’t be in this mess. Ned says, yes, and maybe if Michael hadn’t invited Sonny over to the house, John Cates might still be alive.

Looking very broken and beaten up, Lucky is thrown into a cell by two guards. One says, maybe that will teach him to keep his mouth shut. At least they’ll have peace and quiet until he wakes up. The other guard says, if he wakes up.

Holly says, Anna seems to have her hands on a phone that doesn’t belong to her, and Anna says, stay out of this, but Holly says she’s afraid she can’t do that. Anna is a thief, and she’s caught her red-handed. What choice does she have but to sound the alarm?

At the table, Sidwell throws down his cards and says, a straight flush. So what has Jason got? Don’t keep him in suspense. Jason folds, and Sidwell says, you fold, you lose. He’s going to collect his winnings and his woman and call it a night. Jason says, not yet. Their night isn’t over.

Portia says she loves Nina’s dress, and Nina thanks her and says she loves Portia’s dress too. 🥱 Drew says, Curtis looks okay, and Curtis says, just okay? He did his hair and everything. Portia says, they both look amazing, and Curtis says, before he forgets, he has a call for Monday. Their negotiators are closing the Tokyo deal, and he wants to run some things by Drew. Drew says he’ll make sure to be there. They’re going to get a table. Curtis tells them to enjoy their evening, and Nina and Drew go to sit down. Portia says, those two seem awfully close. She wonders what’s going on between them. Curtis says, who knows? and she says she guesses she’ll find out eventually. That stuff with the Tokyo deal sounds pretty positive. He says, she’s not disappointed, is she? and she says she wants him to succeed. She doesn’t begrudge him his success. He says, but she might wish he found it someplace else, and she says, it’s not that. It’s just that she has heard some stories at the hospital. Individually, the Quartermaines are lovely people, but as a group… He says, their family battles are legendary, but he’s noticed it’s usually confined to ELQ business. Drew and Michael get along great at Aurora. She says, still. Please have his exit plan in place. Just in case. He laughs and says, there’s no reason to leave Aurora. He has some plans for their family and it’s going to pay for it all. So stop worrying. Things are only going up from here.

Nina says, someone is in a good mood, and Drew says, why wouldn’t he be? The election’s coming up and he’s ahead in the polls. She says, don’t get cocky. He’s up by 7% with a 4% margin of error. This election is by no means a done deal. He needs to direct his full attention to the final push for votes. He says he will, but he really doesn’t want to talk about politics tonight, and she says, great. Then they’ll talk about business instead. He says, there are a lot of other things to talk about, and she says, it’s impossible for him to take that Monday call and do his debate prep at the same time. He can’t do everything. She thinks it’s time for him to turn over the reins at Aurora.

Lois says, everyone, time out. Take a few deep breaths. Willow says she thinks that’s a good idea, but Michael says, no. He thinks if Ned has evidence that his father wasn’t where he said he was when Cates got shot, he should turn that over to the police. Lois says, and if not, zip it, and Michael says, they need to focus on ELQ. They’re in a position to remove Valentin from the company and from their lives entirely. Ned says he’s instructed their ELQ lawyers to get in touch with the SEC and they’re moving to stop Valentin from making any ELQ stock transactions. Does that suffice? Michael says, all he wants is to keep ELQ growing long enough to provide for their families, and Lois says she thinks everyone can get behind that. Ned says, great. Then stay out of his way and let him do what he does best. Michael asks if that’s betraying their family, and Willow says she knows they planned to stay in tonight, but she could really use a night out. What does he say? Michael says, yeah. He’d love to take his beautiful wife out on the town. She says, great. Let’s go get ready. He says he’s right behind her, and she leaves. Michael follows, and Lois gives Ned a thumbs up and says, way to clear a room.

Sidwell says he’s had enough gambling for one night, and Jason asks if it really counts as gambling if he cheats. Sidwell says he doesn’t cheat, and Jason says he doesn’t lie. He grabs the wrist of the woman next to him, and she says, let go of me. He pulls an ace out of her sleeve, holds it up, and says, it’s a lot easier to win if you have help. Sidwell signals the guards to take the woman away, and says he doesn’t know that woman, much less be in cahoots with her. Jason says he’d like to believe that and he’s sure everyone else in the club would too. How can they be sure? Sidwell sits back down and says, deal. Jason says, he’ll take another 50,000, and a fresh deck.

Anna says, Holly doesn’t know what she’s doing, and Holly says she’s interrupting a crime. Anna say she thinks she’s doing exactly the same thing. Is Sidwell aware of Holly’s… what should they call it? Her colorful history? Maybe he would really appreciate an old friend’s perspective on her. Holly says, let’s not be hasty. Sidwell has more than enough to go around and she’s more than willing to share. She asks for Anna’s discretion, and Anna says, Holly can keep his money. She just needs help replacing his phone before he realizes she’s taken it. Holly says she wants no part in whatever WSB shenanigans Anna and Jason are cooking up right now, but Anna says, this isn’t for the WSB. This is for Luke.

Lucky groans and tries to get up, but he can’t. A woman smooths his hair back, and we see it’s Elizabeth.

Anna tells Holly, Lulu’s in trouble. She needs a transplant in order to survive and she doesn’t qualify for the national registry. Sidwell’s guard listens from outside the door, and Anna says, their best hope is to get a donation, and Lucky is their best chance. So she and Jason have come here to find him and bring him home. That’s assuming he’s still in one piece. Holly says, he was yesterday, and Anna says, she saw him? She saw him and didn’t do anything to help him? Holly says she didn’t have the opportunity, and Anna says, of course (🍷). She’s still lining up her latest score. Holly says, Sidwell surrounds himself with a small army, and he has redundancies in place of security apparatus. Anna says she’s trying to circumvent his security by getting the information off his phone, but Holly says, it won’t do her any good. He changes the passcode every day. It doesn’t matter how good she and Jason are. The chances of them getting in and out undetected are nil. Anna says, it’s going to have to be an inside job then.

Sidwell places a bet and Jason says, call, putting in more chips. Sidwell turns over his cards, then Jason turns over his. Sidwell sighs and says, damn it. Jason looks over at the bar and sees Holly.

Drew asks if he can borrow Curtis for a minute, and Portia says, go. Just don’t be too long. He says he’ll be back before Portia finishes her drink, and leaves with Drew. Nina says, Portia is a good sport. Talking business isn’t exactly how she wanted to spend her night either. Portia says she didn’t expect Nina to spend her night here with Drew, and Nina says she thinks it’s good for Drew to be seen out and about before the election, and she’s happy to help his campaign. Portia says she just doesn’t remember Nina being interested in politics before, and Nina says, she wasn’t… until Drew.

Drew thanks Curtis for getting Aurora Wellness up and running. He’s doing an amazing job. Curtis says he can’t take all the credit. He has a terrific team and great leadership from the top. Drew says, that’s what he wants to talk to Curtis about, and Curtis asks if he should be worried. Drew says, no. He’s just saying his campaign requires his full attention. So does Aurora, and neither can reach their full potential if his focus is split. Curtis says he knows Drew isn’t stepping away from the campaign trail, and Drew says he’s stepping away from Aurora effective immediately and leaving Curtis as acting CEO.

Ned tells Lois, Michael has the worst qualities of all of his parents. AJ’s self-importance, Carly’s bad faith, and Sonny’s hypocrisy. Lois says she wishes there was a way for Ned to get along with Michael. She wishes he was able to put his problems with Sonny behind him. He says, that’s not going to happen, and she says she’d be happy to sit down with him and Sonny and hash it out. He asks why she’d want to put herself in the middle of all this, and she says, the last thing she has time for is to be a peacemaker, but if it would help… He says, it won’t, and no one’s asking her to. She says, being part of a family is not waiting for an invitation. He and Michael and Sonny are a family. He says, that’s a bit of a stretch, and she says, Sonny is Michael’s father. They’re always going to be a part of Ned’s life. Why does he want to hold onto this hatred for Sonny? How does he benefit? He says he’s never going to change how he feels about Sonny Corinthos, and she says, he spent all last summer thinking he was Eddie Maine. He pushed everyone away except for one person – Sonny. He says, that was Eddie. Obviously, he was delusional. She says, it didn’t matter to Sonny. Sonny still looked out for him. Isn’t that something that family does for each other? Gio stands at the door, and Ned asks why it’s so important to Lois that he get along with Sonny. How does she benefit?

Portia says, so the man Nina sent to prison for insider trading enticed her to work on his campaign, and that kickstarted her interest in politics. Nina says, she and Drew both had to make amends for their past, but she thinks her opinion of him started to change when she saw how much Congressman McConkey respected him. It was the congressman who suggested Drew run for office. Portia says she was sorry to hear about Mr. McConkey. He was a good man. Nina says, a very rare, good man, and when she saw how much he liked Drew, she started to wonder if her combative relationship with Drew blinded her about all the good he could do. He saved the life of someone she loves more than anyone else in the world. Her daughter.

Michael and Willow come into the club, and N’neka says, it’s nice to see them both. She has a great table for them, unless they’d rather sit with their family. Willow looks over to see Drew talking to Curtis.

Drew says he knows it’s a lot to ask, and Curtis says he’s shocked. Being acting CEO wasn’t even on his radar. Drew says, Curtis is his righthand man and he knows he’s been clear about how happy he is with the work Curtis has been doing. So is he in? Curtis says, hell yeah, he’s in. He thanks Drew for believing in him and says he won’t let Drew down. Drew says, it never crossed his mind, and Curtis says, one question. How come he didn’t ask Michael to be acting CEO? He’s run Aurora. Drew says, Michael will be available if Curtis needs his help, but the better part of Michael’s attention is required elsewhere.

Lucky says he must be worse off than he thought, and Elizabeth says, contusions, bruising, and lacerations. They all need stitches. Probably internal injuries and a concussion. He says he thinks the concussion’s pretty obvious since he’s talking to someone who’s not here, and she says, let’s get you upright. He moans as she helps him sit up, and she asks, what happened? He says, she’s going to have to be a lot more specific, and she says, helping people is all well and good, but he’s right. This is as far as he can go. He’s run right up to the edge of his very own grave. Now what?

Jason says, luck must be on his side tonight, and Sidwell bangs his hands on the table. He gets up and goes to the bar, and Holly says, don’t worry. He’ll win it back. Anna goes to the table, slipping Sidwell’s phone back into his jacket pocket. Jason says, it took her long enough, and she says she knew he could handle it. He says he’d like to cash out please, but she says, so soon? Quietly, she tells him, change of plans. Keep winning. She has it on good authority that Sidwell really enjoys the competition, so if he plays his cards correctly, they’re going to get an invite to his camp. He says he can’t guarantee he’s going to keep winning, and she asks if he learned anything from his card shark ex. If he runs into a problem, just think, what would Sam do?

Gio says he’ll just grab this and get out of here, but Lois says, he doesn’t have to go, and tells Ned, if a truce between him and Sonny brings nothing more than a little peace and quiet, it would be worth it. Ned says he might actually believe that if he could trust a word she says, and she says she’s the most trustworthy person in this house. Gio says, she’s not wrong, and Ned says, she was, then she ditched her accent. She threw away something that made her unique like it was nothing. She says, words, consonants, vowels, and in her Brooklyn accent, she says, who cares? Ned says he does, because it’s her. He’s known her for years, and he loves her accent. This other person she sounds like, he doesn’t even know who she is. So does she blame him for wondering if he can trust a word that this new her says? Gio says, a little harsh, and Ned says, the truth often is, and leaves.

Sidwell tells Holly that he’s lost enough already, and he wants to be alone with her. She says she’s never known him to walk away from a table with so little to show for it, and he says he prefers to leave with something rather than leave with nothing. She says, that’s not very sporting of him. Does he really want to leave empty handed? Go back to their guest and tell him that he encountered another player as good as him and turned tail and ran?

Jason says, it’s risky, and Anna says she knows, but she thinks it’s better than breaking into Sidwell’s camp uninvited. Sidwell comes back and says, Jason has had quite a run lately. Congratulations. He puts on his jacket and says, it’s getting late. He’s done. Anna says, perhaps he can point them in the direction of the high rollers table then, and Holly says, this is the high rollers table. Anna says, oh, this is, and Sidwell sits down again. He says, maybe he has one more hand in him, and Anna and Holly exchange glances. The dealer gives out the cards and says, place your bets. Jason puts a bunch of chips into the pot, and Holly whispers to Sidwell that maybe he could draw on his credit… unless he’s reached his limit. Does he have any cash? He says he can do better than that, and takes a jewelry box out of his pocket. He opens it, displaying a diamond bracelet, and puts it on the table. Anna says, that’s beautiful, and asks Jason if he can win it for her. Jason says, done.

Portia says, Nina was just telling her about her political awakening. She said Willow had a lot to do with that. Willow says she doubts she had anything to do with it, but Michael says, she’s being too modest. Not only did she encourage Nina to get involved in the campaign, she’s Drew’s biggest cheerleader and she got the entire family together to support him. And they know how rare unity is for the Quartermaines. Portia says, here’s to hoping for unity… and victory, and Nina says, from her lips. Portia says she’s going to find her husband. Enjoy their night. Portia leaves, and Willow says, so Nina and Drew are here together. Nina says, Drew asked her to accompany him in public in the final stretch of his campaign, and Willow says, and she doesn’t mind? Nina says, no. It’s a small favor she can do for him, especially if it means helping him get to DC. Willow says, right, and looks over at Curtis and Drew. She says she needs to freshen up and asks them to excuse her.

In the hallway, Willow asks N’neka to do her a favor. She’s not feeling so well. N’neka asks if she can get Willow something, and Willow thanks her, but says she thinks she’s just going to get a car and go home. Would N’neka let her husband know she left? N’neka says, of course (🍷), and creeper Drew says, N’neka doesn’t have to worry about that. He can tell him. (Because even though he’s only about 50 feet away, Willow can’t do it. Didn’t N’Neka think this was in the least bit weird? Like, her ride is right there.)

Lucky says he needs Elizabeth to know… and she says, save his strength, but he says he needs her to know, being away from her was the hardest thing he’s ever had to do. She says, that’s interesting, because he never looked back. He struggles to speak and says he thinks about her every day, and their family all the time. She says, Aiden is great by the way, and he thanks her for taking such good care of their son. She says, he misses Lucky, and Lucky says, really? He misses Aiden too… constantly. He winces in pain and says he couldn’t be the father Aiden deserves. That’s why he had to leave. She asks if he would do it again, and he says he doesn’t know, but he did do it. He has to live with that, and helping people here was the only way he knew to atone for everything. She says, great story, but she’s not buying it. She thinks the truth is, he’s too much of a coward to face his family as anything but a hero. Easier to dodge bullets in the desert than own up to being flawed. He says he messed up, but he’s flawed, and she says, he could have come to her. She would have helped him. He says, she wouldn’t if she’d known who he really was, but she says she would have helped him anyway. He says, of course (🍷) she would have, because she’s so much better than he is. He was torn. To see the disappointment in her eyes, he couldn’t live with that. He couldn’t take it. Not from her. She says, so he just decided for all of them. No one else gets a say. He says he’s sorry, and she says, if he’s so sorry, then come home. Not as a hero, but as a man who messed up and has the guts to admit it. He asks if she thinks he can, and she caresses his face. She says, you tell me. Are you brave enough to come back to your family?

Standing to the side, Holly says, so Anna and Jason, huh? Alan would be rolling in his grave. Anna shushes her, and Holly says, does Robert know? Robin? Anna says, oh, shut up. She looks at the table and says, that’s going to look good on her wrist.

Anna goes over to Jason, and Sidwell leaves the table. Anna says, remind her to send a thank you note to Sam, and Jason says, making Sidwell angry isn’t getting them any closer to Lucky. She says, just wait for it.

Holly says, Sidwell promised her those diamonds, and he says, there will be plenty of others. She says, not like those. Get her bracelet back. He says he has nothing more to play with, and she says, he has plenty of diamonds back at the compound. If he wants to get back in her good graces, invite them to the camp and win her bracelet back. She walks away, and the guard comes up to Sidwell. He says, a word? and Sidwell says, get lost. The guard says, Sidwell will want to hear what he has to say. It’s about his competitor’s girlfriend and a conversation she had with his. (Rut-roh.)

Nina asks how Michael and the kids are adjusting to Willow being back at the hospital, and he says, it’s taking a little time. Her schedule is kind of up in the air right now. She says she’s sure it will calm down once it becomes routine. Although that might change if Drew wins the election. He asks, why? and she says, because he’s going to have to hand Aurora off permanently. He asks what that has to do with him and Willow, and she says she already told Drew that he’s going to have to step aside and name an acting CEO until the election is over and he seems like the natural choice.

Willow says, Nina told her that Drew asked her to accompany him for the final push on the campaign trail, and he says he did. She says she’s glad Nina could help, and he asks if she’s okay. He saw her notice him and kind of bolt out. She says she convinced Michael to go out tonight to get away from their… troubles. She doesn’t want to cause any trouble so she’s going to leave. He says, wait. They can’t take turns leaving every time they run into each other. People are going to start to notice and it’s going to draw attention to a problem that doesn’t exist. She asks how he can say that, and he says, because nothing is going on between them and nothing ever will. Nothing at all.

Gio asks if Lois is okay, and Lois says she stopped letting Ned get to her a long time ago. He says, as far as he’s concerned, no matter what anyone says about her accent, she’ll always be the same person who took him to his first punk show. She laughs, and he says, but he kind of misses her sounding like the Aunt Lois he grew up with. She says, he’s got her. Always have, always will. He says, she doesn’t mind? and she says, is he kidding? It’s a relief. And she’s so glad that he remembered the first show she took him to. He says he loved it, and she says, everybody remembers their first down and dirty punk rock show. Sonny took her to hers. (Somehow, I can’t quite envision that. I see Sonny as listening to Italian opera or classic rock from the 50s.) He says, that doesn’t surprise him. They both have great taste in music. Somehow (he stole my word), he can’t see Ned going to see a punk rock show. She says, Ned is a good guy. He’s just stressed. He says, that does not make it okay the way he talked to her, and she says, he’s right. No one should take their issues out on anyone. Remember that. He says, what’s his problem with Uncle Sonny anyway? and she says, there is a lot of bad history there. It’s too much to get into. He says, it seems like everyone has bad history when it comes to Sonny. Sonny has always been so nice to him, it’s hard to believe. She says, believe it.

Michael asks if Drew has seen Willow, and he says he just bumped into her a few minutes ago. Sorry to leave him stranded with Nina. Michael says, no. They had a pretty interesting conversation. She said that Drew was stepping back from Aurora. Drew says he is. Michael was next on his list to tell. Michael says, that’s okay. He’s ready to step up if Drew needs him. Drew says he appreciates that, but he just talked to Curtis and he’s going to step up as acting CEO.

Curtis and Portia clink glasses, and she says she’s so proud of him. He says he’s pretty surprised, and she says she was worried that he was spending too much time at Aurora, but she was wrong. He’s more than proved himself, and now he’s being rewarded for it. He says, if Drew wins this election, chances are the CEO job could be his permanently.

Michael says, Curtis doesn’t have much C-suite experience, and Drew says, Aurora is in a really good place right now. This is just until the election is over. He thought Michael would agree with him that his focus is better spent on the situation at ELQ. Michael says, Drew is probably right. He got into it with Ned earlier about Valentin. Drew says, he wants to act quickly on this and get ELQ back under family control, his and Michael’s. Michael says, and Aurora? and Drew says, let’s just wait and see how the election plays out. (Like Michael needs another job. What’s wrong with him and why does everyone want one more thankless position?)

Willow comes back in the club, probably confusing the hell out of N’neka, and Nina asks if she’s okay. It’s Drew. Willow says, no. She looks over at Drew and says, it’s nothing at all.

Lois says, Gio is going to hear a lot of rumors about Sonny, and he says he’s heard a lot already. She says, a lot of those rumors are rooted in fact. Not all of them, but enough. He says, it’s just hard for him to put the Uncle Sonny that he knows square in his head with the Uncle Sonny people hate, and she says, that’s because, like everyone, you can’t be reduced to just one thing. For every one of the bad things Gio is going to hear about him, there are qualities about Sonny that are admirable. Sonny is the most loyal friend he will ever have. He’s also the most reliable and the most generous. Gio needs to remember that when he starts hearing all the bad stuff. He says he hopes she doesn’t mind him saying it, but he’s heard some bad things about Ned too. She laughs and says, Ned will deny it until he’s blue in the face, but he and Sonny share a lot of the same qualities. Those two are more alike than either one of them are wiling to admit.

Sidwell says he’s impressed. Jason is the second-best player he’s ever had the pleasure of losing to. Jason asks, who’s the first? and Sidwell says, a guest in his camp. Anna says, he has a camp? and Holly says, it’s a lovely spot just a short flight away. Please come and join them. Anna says, no. They couldn’t possibly impose. Sidwell says, nonsense. Please. They never get the chance to socialize. Holly says, they’ve got plenty of room. It’s a tad rustic, but very charming and they have all the necessary comforts. Sidwell says, and cards. Please come. It will give him a chance to repay them for such an entertaining evening. Holly says, and maybe Jason will give Jenz a chance to win back everything he lost, and Anna says, how can they possibly turn down such a lovely offer?

Alone again, Lucky struggles to get up. He takes a knife out of his pocket, and crawls over to the cell door. He pulls himself up and starts to pick the lock with the knife.

Sidwell says his driver will be waiting for them outside. He’ll take them to town, and they can grab their things. They’ll be right behind them. Anna says, great. They’ll see them later then. She and Jason leave, and Holly says she’s glad they’re coming back to the camp. She’s sure he’ll find a way to win back the diamonds he promised her. Jason’s luck can’t hold on forever. Sidwell says, it wasn’t luck, and she asks what he means. He says, there’s more to those two than they’re letting on. But don’t worry. Win or lose, she’ll get her bracelet back. And Jason and Anna will get what they deserve for lying to him. Holly looks worried, as we all would be.

On Monday, Brook says, if Gio repeats that, she’ll deny it and she will hurt him; Molly says, maybe the universe is trying to tell her something; Portia asks why Terry didn’t tell her Brad was back; and Jack tells Carly, things and people aren’t always what they seem.

🧴 Getting His Soap Legs…

It’s funny how he’s hooked on the show now.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/carlo-rota-opens-up-about-learning-to-love-daytime-on-gh

🍊 All That OC Jazz…

When did she become Switzerland?

Ugh. Jim  looks like that weird uncle who you don’t want to dance with at a wedding.

In related news. Also be sure to check out the video of Alexis’s Sorry-not-Sorry apology tour.

Does she tune up her photos much?

🧂 Just For the Salt Of It…

At least one meme included in every show!

🗽 Making It Here…

The new season premieres October 1st.

https://www.bravotv.com/the-daily-dish/the-real-housewives-of-new-york-city-season-15-photos-spoilers

Love her hair. Her life ain’t bad neither. I heard her speak at a business seminar and she was great. Definitely one of the best speakers.

https://pagesix.com/2024/09/19/style/spend-a-day-with-new-rhony-star-rebecca-minkoff-during-nyfw/

🌏 Riding Wasn’t Enough…

This sounds like fun, but I’m geographically challenged, so I’d probably be the first one out.

https://people.com/jeffrey-dean-morgan-announced-as-host-of-new-travel-competition-series-destination-x-8715507

🐼 When Is a Panda Not a Panda…

Craig Conover is going to have a field day with this one.

https://people.com/zoo-china-reveals-its-pandas-are-painted-dogs-8716240

You can see the panda pups here, but yeah, no. They’re definitely cute, but they look more like dogs than anything else.

https://people.com/chinese-zoo-dyes-chow-chow-dogs-to-look-like-pandas-8646638

🦞 Quotes of the Week

I actually want to cry, but I can’t cry on TV. – Jamal Lake, contestant on Halloween Baking Championship, when his dessert was deemed a dud

Maturity is achieved when a person accepts life as full of tension. – Joshua L. Liebman (Some of us mature faster than others.)

Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept no one’s definition of your life, but define yourself. – Harvey Fierstein

If you are clear where you are going and you take several steps in that direction every day, you eventually have to get there. If I head north out of Santa Barbara and take five steps a day, eventually I have to end up in San Francisco. So decide what you want, write it down, review it constantly, and each day do something that moves you toward those goals. – Jack Canfield

Ignorance is like a delicate exotic fruit; touch it and the bloom is gone. – Lady Bracknell, The Importance of Being Earnest, Oscar Wilde

You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.Mae West

People will always have opinions about your decision because they’re not courageous enough to take action on their opinion. – Steve Maraboli

If you’d have a drink, I’d make a lot more sense. – Nucky Thompson (Steve Buscemi), Boardwalk Empire

🤹‍♀️ A Mosaic Of the Seasons…

Enjoy your weekend of choice, be it in the great outdoors or the adequate indoors. Then meet me here on Monday for soap and a proposal on Deck. Until then, stay safe, stay not putting your summer clothes in storage yet, and stay never taking out your issues on anyone.