Tag Archives: The Staple Singers

February 28, 2023 – Josslyn Tracks Down Dex, Lots Of Weaponizing In Beverly Hills, Here Comes Another One & Respect

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Lois is looking through wedding dresses in the solarium, when Brook comes in with Maxie. Brook thanks her for the private wedding dress viewing. She feels like a celebrity. Maxie says, she’s the bride, so she basically is, and Brook asks if Lois is crying. Maxie says, she hasn’t even tried anything on yet, and Lois says she can’t help it. Her baby girl is getting married. Brook is standing in front of her this beautiful, accomplished woman, but when she looks at Brook, she sees a toddler with jam all over her. She sees a 9-year-old girl playing bride with one of her scarves on her head, and she sees that 12-year-old girl who came home crying because all the girls were mean to her, and she sees Brook at her high school graduation. They’re all mental snapshots that she has in her head, and this is just going to be another one of them; Brook Lynn trying on wedding dresses. This is going to be an image that she holds in her heart for the rest of her life. Brook says, no pressure or anything, but Lois says she’s going to be beautiful no matter what dress she chooses. Maxie says, and they will find the dress. Don’t worry. Brook says, it’s not Cinderella. The dress doesn’t have to be magical or legendary. It just has to look good. Lois says, what? No. It has to look more than good. The dress has to make her feel as beautiful as she is. Brook says, it’s really not that big a deal.

Chase shows up at Finn’s apartment, and Finn asks what the drop-in is all about. Chase says he needs to ask Finn something and he wanted to do it in person, and Finn says, sure. As long as it’s not a best man request, knock himself out.

Scotty puts some flowers on a grave and says, happy birthday, Karen. John asks if it’s okay if he joins Scotty, and Scotty says, Jagger? Johns says, Scott. It’s been a while.

Josslyn is sneaking around somewhere, when her phone rings. At the boxing gym, Michael says he was just checking in. Seeing how she’s doing since… She says, since Sonny drove Dex out of town? He says, yeah. He’s sorry. She says, don’t be, because she’s going to find Dex and bring him home. He says, what? and she says, he heard her. She’s not going to lose Dex. Not like this. He says, that’s not a good idea. If Sonny finds out… She says she has to go, and ends the call.

Dante comes into the gym, and Michael thanks him for coming. He wasn’t sure Dante would. Dante says, because of him and dad? That’s Michael’s business. Michael says, so they’re good? and Dante says, they’re good. Michael says, glad to hear it because he could use a favor.

Carly asks if Donna is ready to tackle this playground, and Donna asks if Carly thinks she can climb to the top a dome of monkey bars, but Carly says she doesn’t know. It is tricky. Sonny walks up and says, if anybody can, Donna can, and Donna runs to him, hugging him. Donna asks him how he is, and he says, better now. I involuntarily smile because this kid is just so damn cute.

Chase says he did actually come over here to… Finn says, ask him to be best man? and Chase says he’s seriously reconsidering that decision right now. Finn says he was kidding. Of course (🍷) he’ll stand up for Chase at his wedding. Chase says he doesn’t want to force Finn, and Finn says, he’s not. He does want to warn Chase, he might not be good at best man duties. He’s usually the guy at bachelor parties sitting in the corner. Chase says, nobody puts his brother in a corner, and Finn laughs. Chase says, Finn knows he doesn’t care about that stuff. He just wants his brother to be by his side when he marries Brook. Finn says, then Chase has him, and Chase says, Finn scared him there for a minute. Finn says, Chase was kind of tripping all over himself. It makes him wonder. If he’s this worked up about the best man thing, how does he feel about the wedding in general?

Brook says, they should get started, and Lois says, if she didn’t know Brook any better, she’d think Brook was implying she doesn’t care about her own wedding dress. Brook says she cares. It’s just not the be all, end all for her. Not everyone gets a dress like Lois. Maxie says she loved her mother’s wedding dress, when Tracy comes in and says, really? Which one? Brook asks how many times Tracy got married. Six? Seven? And she wore something different each time, so she’s in no position to judge. Maxie says, it was a Spanish style dress with a mantilla made of lace, and Brook says she saw pictures. It was gorgeous. Maxie says, she’ll never forget Robin coming back for Lois’s wedding. She went on and on about Lois’s dress. She said it was straight out of Gone with the Wind. Lois says, that’s so sweet and so accurate. She loved that dress, that big, full skirt made her feel like she was floating on air, and it was surprisingly sturdy. She had to run 17 blocks in that dress. It actually held up really, really well. And that beautiful cream-colored satin… Tracy says, one other small detail about that dress. It wasn’t Lois’s. The dress she’s raving about belonged to Tracy’s mother. Lois says, who was gracious enough to let her borrow it. Kindest woman alive, Lila Quartermaine. Tracy says, if only others could emulate her, and Brook says, Cerullos have been coming out of the woodwork for years begging for that dress. Remember Cousin Francie wanted to turn it into a jumpsuit? Lois says, can she imagine? and Brook says, that gown is something else. Lois says she wishes she could pass it on to Brook. Unfortunately, it’s not her dress to give.

John places flowers on Karen’s grave, and Scotty says, good to see him. What’s he doing back in town? John says he’s with the FBI now. A case brought him here. Scotty says, Jagger Cates, FBI? and Jagger says, John. He would have reached out, but… Scotty says, he should have, but John says, honestly, he wasn’t sure if Scotty would want to see him after the divorce and everything. Scotty says he was disappointed when John and Karen broke up, but he respected John then. He respects John now. He pulled himself up from nothing. John says, that means a lot, and Scotty says, so did Karen. Both of them never were looking for things to be handed to them. They struggled. That’s what he calls true grit. John says, they were so young. He often wonders what would have happened had they met later in life. Scotty says, people grow up and then they just grow apart, and John says, but the love that started it all, that was real. Scotty says, people change. Everything changes. So, has he seen Corinthos? John says he has, and Scotty says, tell him that’s why he’s here, to take that criminal down.

Donna asks if Sonny wants to watch her climb, and he says, of course (🍷) he does. But before she goes – he points to his cheek – right here. She kisses him, tells him that she loves him, and runs off. He says he loves her too, and Carly says, be careful. As Donna plays, Sonny asks, how’s Josslyn? and Carly says, devastated, heartbroken, desperate to have Dex back. Sonny says he’s sorry. His back was against the wall. He had no choice. Carly says she knows he’s not here just for Donna. What’s going on?

Josslyn approaches a sketchy stranger, and says, sorry to bother him. She was wondering if he could help her. She’s looking for somebody. Has he seen this man? She shows him a photo of Dex in a tux, and he says, nope. She asks if he can look again. Maybe he had a beard or was wearing a hat or something. The man looks again, but says, sorry, handing her back her phone. She thanks him and asks if he knows where someone new to town would look for work. The man laughs and says, good luck with that. There’s not enough jobs for the people who live here now. His bet is, her friend moved on. He leaves, and Josslyn takes Dex’s dog tags out of her bag. Dex peeks at her from the shadows.

Josslyn is about to leave, when Dex says, Joss. She says, oh my God. Dex. They hug and he kisses her. He asks what she’s doing here, and she says she had to find him. He says, someone could see them. They have to go. He takes her hand and leads her away.

Chase says he feels great about the wedding, and Finn says, it’s okay to have cold feet. Chase says, his feet are perfectly warm, and Finn asks if they’re sweaty. Does he have sweaty feet? Chase says, warm, not sweaty, but Finn says, if they’re warm, one might assume they’re sweaty, and Chase says, he’s impossible. Gregory comes in and asks what all the fuss is, and Finn says, Chase has got sweaty feet. Chase says, ignore him, and Finn says, Chase also asked him to be his best man and he accepted. Chase says, in the most roundabout way, but yeah, and Gregory says, his sons supporting each other. He loves to see it. Finn says he might need a little help with the toast, and Gregory says, happy to help. So what’s this about sweaty feet? Finn says, there’s a slight smell but he’s also detecting a little nervousness from his brother. Gregory says, about the wedding? He’d be worried if Chase wasn’t feeling anxious. Chase says he’s not anxious, but thanks Finn for that. Finn says he’s there for Chase. He’s welcome. Gregory says, weddings can be joyous occasions, but they can also be very stressful with all the planning. Not to mention, Chase is about to make the biggest commitment of his life. Chase says, it’s a commitment he can’t wait for. Okay, fine. There was a little anxiety in the run up to the proposal. It was hard for him to get past the fact that Brook was keeping things from him, but they’re in a great place now. A phenomenal place actually. Gregory says he couldn’t be happier for them both.

Maxie asks, so how did Lois end up with Lila’s dress? and Lois says she was planning on wearing her own mother’s dress… Brook says, but it got eaten by squirrels. Maxie says, no way, and Lois says, hand to God. Gloria is going up to the attic to get it down, so she can get it cleaned before they get it altered. It was a squirrel’s nest, nothing but scraps of fabric left. Tracy says, only in Brooklyn, and Lois says, if they ever talk to Gloria, don’t say a word. To this day, it still pains her, the loss of that dress. Brook says, another thing she would never tell Grandma Gloria is, as much as she loved that dress, she thinks those squirrels did her a favor. Lois definitely traded up, getting to wear Lila’s dress. Lois says, ain’t it the truth? But she didn’t know that at the time. There she was, about to walk down the aisle with nothing to wear. She was this close to calling off the wedding. Then Tracy’s mother came to her rescue. Brook says, an angel sent from heaven, and we flash back to Lila telling Lois, in that box is the dress from when she married Edward. She’d hoped Tracy would wear it, but it wasn’t boutre enough for her. So it became her desire to pass it on to her granddaughter and that’s Lois. Baby Lois says, Lila wants her to wear her wedding dress? and Lila says, if she likes it. Go on, take a peek. Brook says she loves that story, and Lois says, her too. Brook asks why Tracy didn’t wear great-grandmother‘s dress, and Tracy says, the dress was definitely of that period. It was the late 30s, early 40s, and when she got married, the first time, it was way out of style. Her mother asked her to try it on, which she did, but the color and those big, puffy sleeves, she felt like she was wearing a costume. Lois says, she didn’t tell Lila that, did she? and Tracy says she didn’t, but mother was perceptive and knew the dress wasn’t for her. So she said it was Tracy’s wedding and she should have the dress that she wanted, so that dress went back in the box until she lent it to Lois. Lois asks, where’s the dress now? and Tracy says, in storage she assumes… somewhere. Are they going to keep discussing weddings from the past when they should be looking for a dress for Brook to wear for her wedding to come?

Dante says, if this is going to be about dad, he doesn’t want to get involved, but Michael says he wants to make things right with him. Dante says he knows, and he wants to help Michael, but Sonny’s pretty pissed off right now. He tried to get Sonny to forgive Michael. Michael says, let him guess. He wasn’t having any of it? Dante says, it’s too soon. Michael has to give him some space. Michael says, in an ideal world, he would, but who does Sonny have left? He’s not the only one Sonny pushed away. Dante says, no, but Michael’s the one who hired Dex to be a spy, and Michael says, at first, he did, but he didn’t go through with it. Whatever Dex found to incriminate dad, he didn’t use it. He changed Dex’s assignment. He was there to protect dad and let him know if dad got in over his head. Dante says, there you go. Michael hurt his pride. Michael says, exactly. That’s the exact reason dad is lashing out, because he and mom thought he was vulnerable. They dared to try and protect him. But they were right, and Dex is gone. Sonny has already shut Michael and his mom out. Who does he have? Brick is great, sure, but he’s not based in Port Charles. Nina’s a liar and their marriage is practically over, and who’s left? Ava? Would Dante take her advice on anything? Dante says he gets that Michael thinks dad’s allies are dwindling, but Sonny has him. Michael says he’s grateful Dante is willing to look out for him, and Dante says, of course (🍷) he is. He’s his son. Michael says, but he’s also a cop, and they both know dad will never let him in, not fully. That makes him vulnerable.

Carly says she knows things aren’t great between them, and Sonny says, that’s an understatement. She says, something’s wrong. She can tell. He says he used to believe under any circumstance she would understand and have his back, but that was before she and Michael paid off Dex to spy on him. She says she told him why they did it, but he says he didn’t quite buy it then and it feels like betrayal. She asks if he’s kidding. She’s had many, many opportunities to betray him over the years, the latest being when Nina turned her in to the SEC. She could have made a deal and given them information, but she’d never ever do that to him. He says, this is family. She violated his trust after everything they’ve been through. Like he said, he just never thought she would do that, that’s all. She says, whatever. He’s going to believe whatever he believes. They watch Donna climbing, and Sonny says, look at her on that thing. Carly says, she’s fearless, and he says, just like her. She says, don’t do that, and he says, what? She says, when he says fearless, he means a risk taker. She gets it from both of them. He says, maybe, and she says she’s worried about him. He says, contrary to popular belief, he can take care of himself, and she says, Olivia Jerome is dead and she doesn’t want to think about who’s next.

At a surprisingly nice hotel room, Josslyn says, this is where Dex has been staying? and he says he’s got to keep a low profile. Gabe made it very clear when he dropped him off that he’s not out of the woods yet. She says, why? He said Sonny might still change his mind? and Dex tells her that Gabe said he needed to lay low and not make himself a target. She says, he must be so lonely, but he says he has some books to pass the time. (If I was Dex, I’d be on my own private island, sipping umbrella drinks.) He asks how she found him, and she says she traced Gabe’s number. She saw that he was in Rockland for a couple of hours, so she figured this is where he brought Dex. He says, and she thought it would be a good idea to come look for him? Flashing his picture around, asking questions? She asks, what else she was supposed to do? and he says, stay away. She was supposed to let him go.

Sitting on the smallest bench ever, Sonny asks what Carly heard, and she says she heard the attempts on his life were part of a larger conspiracy. She knows he can’t tell her everything, but she’s worried. He says, she shouldn’t be, and she asks if he’s sure about that. They share children. He says, she knows he does the best he can to protect his kids. He always does. She says she knows the FBI is involved, because she now has a regular at Bobbie’s, and Sonny knows him very well. He’s now a Fed. He says, so she’s met Agent Cates. That son of a bitch. He gets up.

Scotty says, the last time John was here, Corinthos was a small-time hood, and John says he remembers. Scotty says, a couple of seedy businesses. He lived over his own strip club. Now he’s living in a penthouse, and he walks around like he’s the mayor. John asks why Scotty hasn’t done something about it. Wasn’t he the DA for a while? (He was? I missed that.) Scotty says he was and he tried many times, but Sonny is very slippery. He’s convinced people he’s a good guy instead of who he really is. John says, Karen was so smart. Smarter than him. Scotty says, she was, and John says, that’s why it’s always driven him crazy that Sonny was able to get to her the way he was. Scotty says, you and me both, and John says, he made her believe that she needed him, like without him, she’d cease to exist. (Seriously, I remember none of this.) And he put her to work as a stripper, convincing her that it was something she chose. Sonny figured out where Karen was vulnerable, and he exploited her. Scotty says, she’s dead, so make him pay. Take him out.

Lois tells Brook that they’re ready, and Maxie says she’s so excited. Tracy says, her too, and Brook comes out. (Love the long sleeves, but that’s about all I love. No, just no.) Brook asks what they think, and Lois says, she should try on all the other dresses, but sometimes lightning strikes and you just knock it out of the park on the very first try. (Are we seeing two different dresses?) Brook says, she likes it that much? and Lois says, yeah. She likes it, but she’s not the one getting married. Brook looks in the mirror, and Lois asks if she can see herself walking down the aisle in this dress, saying her vows to Chase, and dancing with her father at the wedding. Tracy says, it depends on what kind of dance. Is it a waltz or a polka or what was that – she does hand motions – Y-M-C-A? Brook says, all three of course (🍷) and maybe a little line dancing too, and Tracy asks if she can line dance in that. Brook dances a little and says, probably. Maxie is the wedding planner, so what is her professional assessment? Maxie says, Wedding Planning 101, never give your opinion on a prospective wedding dress, but her mom is right, she needs to feel beautiful. So does she? Brook says, she does, and looks in the mirror again. She likes it. It’s definitely a maybe. Lois asks if Brook loves Chase, and Brook says, of course (🍷) she loves Chase. What kind of question is that? Lois asks if she intends to be with him until death do they part, and Brook says, of course (🍷) she intends… How did this go from trying on wedding dresses to Lois questioning her commitment to Chase? Lois says she’s not questioning Brook’s commitment to Chase, she’s merely pointing out that, if everything goes according to plan, this is going to be Brook’s one and only wedding, and her one and only wedding dress. Unless of course (🍷) when she has her 25th wedding anniversary vow renewal, they’ll find something else. Tracy says, good grief. Could they just get her married first, and at her 25th anniversary, they’ll take care of it then? Maxie says, but Lois is right. This isn’t like picking a dress for the Nurses Ball. One year, you pick something good enough, the next year, you end up in something spectacular. This is like going to the Academy Awards. Not just taking pictures on the step and repeat, this is the equivalent of holding the gold statue. Brook is going to see photos of herself in this dress for the rest of her life. She has to feel beautiful in whatever she chooses. Brook says, not all of us can have perfection handed to them. Some of us just have to accept what’s available and move on. She flounces out.

Finn says, what Chase and Brook have is truly aspirational. No one deserves it more. Chase thanks him, and Gregory says, quite the winding road to get here, wasn’t it? Chase says, worth every step. He found a true partner in Brook. Gregory says, it shows, and Chase says, she gets him. She knows how he’s going to feel about something before he does, and God, does she make him laugh. Gregory says, it’s probably the most important ingredient in a marriage – laughter, and Finn says he couldn’t live without it. Chase says he doesn’t know how else to describe it. They’re safe with each other. They’re in step together. He doesn’t have to wait for the other shoe to drop because he knows it’s not going to. Brook is his best friend, and he trusts her more than anybody. Chase’s phone dings, and Finn says, speak of the devil… He means, angel. Chase frowns at the phone, and Finn says, what’s with the long face? Chase says, it’s from the Quartermaine lawyers. Brook wants him to sign a prenup.

Brook looks at Lois and Ned’s wedding photos on her phone and sighs.

Lois says she didn’t mean to upset Brook, but Maxie says, Lois didn’t. She did. Her Academy Award metaphor was a huge fail. Lois says, she’s the one who put Brook on the spot. She just wanted Brook to understand how important her wedding dress is. Maxie says she can understand why Brook is frazzled. She’s been putting in a lot of hours at Deception and things have been crazy. Tracy says, that’s why they call it work, and Lois says, stop running Brook ragged. Tracy says, if anything is running Brook ragged, it’s this, trying to pull together a wedding so quickly. She can definitely understand why, but she thinks Brook is smart to be realistic about her wedding dress. She doesn’t have time for perfect. She needs to content herself with good enough. Lois says, good enough? On her wedding day? Tracy says, yes, and Lois says, this is so sad. Trying on wedding dresses is supposed to be a happy occasion. Maxie says, it is. Or it will be. Lois asks, how? and Maxie says she hasn’t figured that out yet. Brook comes back, and Lois says she’s so sorry. She didn’t… Brook says, it’s time she was honest about her feelings, and Lois says, about the dress? Brook says, about the wedding itself.

Chase looks at his phone and says, how long is this thing? Gregory says, he’d take a look, but he can’t read it on there, and Finn asks if the phone is connected to his printer. Chase says, yeah, and Finn says, print it out and he’ll get it. He leaves, and Chase says he can’t believe this is happening, but Gregory says, don’t jump to conclusions. Chase says he’s not jumping to anything. It’s right here in black and white. Literally. Gregory says, prenuptial agreements are very common these days, especially when both parties bring assets to the marriage, and Chase says, Brook is just bringing a few more than he is. Gregory says, still, he’s sure the document is meant to protect them both, and Chase tells him, it says something here about a termination event. That’s code for divorce, right? Finn yells, or annulment, and Chase says, this is just great. Right when they’re preparing for their wedding, Brook’s already planning a way out.

Dante says, Michael is right. Dad’s circle of trust is shrinking. But whether or not Michael thinks Sonny is going to let him in or not, he’s still going to protect him. Michael says, Dante knows that’s not going to be enough. That’s no reflection on him, but Dante is bound by the PCPD’s code, and whoever is targeting dad is playing by a completely different rule book. Again, that makes him vulnerable. Dex made him less so, but he’s gone now. Dante says, so Dex is gone. What’s done is done. Trust him. Michael says, okay. Any progress on the case? Dante says, a little bit. They’re just trying to make some headway on the Olivia Jerome killing. Michael asks how Olivia Jerome’s killing is connected to Sonny.

Carly says, John came into Bobbie’s a couple of times, but the first time, she didn’t know who he was, and Sonny says, but he would talk to her. She says, he was very friendly, and Sonny asks what he said. She says, just what she told him, that the attempts to kill Sonny were part of a larger conspiracy and also related to the killing of Olivia Jerome. He asks if Agent Cates told her that they have a history together, and she says, yeah. He also said Sonny belongs behind bars. Sonny says he can’t believe John even has the nerve to talk to her. He’s a punk with a badge who has an ax to grind who thinks he’s just doing his job. She says, which is? and Sonny says, to protect him. Carly says, so he doesn’t trust John, and he says he doesn’t trust anybody at this point, but he knows the truth about Agent Cates.

John says, nobody wants to go after Sonny Corinthos more than he does, but he can’t, and Scotty asks, why not? John says, because he’s been tasked with saving Sonny’s life, and Scotty says, John is telling him that he’s here to protect Sonny? John says he can’t share the details because it has to do with a case he’s working on, but the bottom line is, Sonny’s in danger and he’s supposed to find the person who’s after him. Scotty says, so John is going to forgive him for what he did to Karen? and John says he’ll never forgive, but he has a duty to uphold. Scotty says, come on. Just look the other way. Let nature run its course. Sonny is gonna go bye-bye. It’s inevitable. So why not let this be the time now? John says, because he’s not that kind of agent, or man, and Scotty says he sees. So John doesn’t think Sonny should get what he deserves.

Josslyn says she went to Dex’s apartment, and he was gone, but Sonny was there, and he gave her Dex’s letter. She would have thrown it in his face, but it was too precious. She hates Sonny. She hates the way he treated Dex. He forced Dex to leave and expects her to be grateful that Dex is still breathing, and she didn’t even get to say goodbye to him. Dex says he hated leaving her, and she says she missed him so much. He says he missed her too. She has no idea. She says, then show her, and they kiss, moving quickly on to getting busy.

Basking in the afterglow, Dex says he missed them. She says, so has she, so much, and he says he must think about her every five minutes. Who she’s with, what she’s doing. She says she’s been looking for him. She finally found him. He kisses her, and she says, it’s really going to be complicated. He says, what is? and she says, going back to Port Charles. But Sonny’s just going to have to accept there’s no keeping them apart.

Carly says, the truth about John Cates, what does that mean? and Sonny says he’d love to be able to tell her the truth, but because of what went down with Dex, he thinks he’s not going to. She says, if John comes by the restaurant again, she’ll let him know, and he thanks her. She says she doubts he will though, because she made it clear where her loyalties lie. He starts to leave, and she asks if he doesn’t want to say goodbye to Donna. He looks at Donna, playing on a rocking horse, and says, she’s having too much fun. Just tell her that he loves her. She says, okay, and he says, bye. She says, bye, and he leaves. She shakes her head.

Finn says, it could be Brook’s family is pressuring her. Brook could want nothing to do with a prenup. He hands the papers to Gregory, and Chase says, maybe. Gregory asks if Brook hasn’t been spending a lot of time with Tracy at Deception, and Finn says, a prenup is very on brand for Tracy. Gregory says, not out of malice, but out of a desire to protect her family, and Chase says, now that he thinks about it, when he and Brook told Tracy that they were engaged, one of the first things she said was, they should sign a prenup. But Brook wasn’t having it then. Maybe Tracy changed her mind. Gregory says, why speculate? Call his fiancé. Chase says he needs to talk to her face to face, and Gregory says, let’s go, but Chase says, Brook’s trying on wedding dresses this afternoon. Finn says he doesn’t think Brook would want Chase to stew on this, and Gregory says, she’d want it out in the open. Chase says he’s right, and Finn Chase and Gregory, good luck. Violet’s going to be home any minute and he needs to be here for her. Chase and Gregory leave, and I wonder why it takes more than Chase to do this. And really? Crashing the wedding dress try-on?

Lois tells Brook, talk to them, and Maxie says, planning a wedding can be stressful. Nobody knows that better than she does. It’s okay to have big feelings about it. Lois says, they just want her to be happy, and Tracy says, her mother is right. She can’t believe she just said that. Brook says she is happy, and Lois says, really? Because she doesn’t seem like it right now. Brook says she can’t wait to marry Chase. To become his wife is literally her dream come true. Lois says, but… and Brook says, but she can’t help but wish they could just run away and elope. Tracy says, God forbid, and Lois says, she’s kidding. If Brook and Chase want to elope, they’re going to elope. Is that what Brook wants? Brook says, no, and Lois says she didn’t think so. Brook says she can’t wait to say their vows to each other in front of both of their families. For Gregory to officiate and Violet to be their flower girl. And dance with her father at their wedding reception, including the YMCA. She just doesn’t want to agonize over the dress and all the other wedding details. Tracy looks at her phone and says, uh-oh. Brook asks, what’s wrong? and Tracy says, there’s been an error. One Brook unfortunately might have to pay for.

Brook says, a prenup? How could she? Tracy says, the lawyers sent it to Chase in error. They were supposed to wait until after she and Brook had a chance to review it. Brook says, Tracy reviewing her prenup to Chase? Wouldn’t she be the one to review it if she even wanted one, which she doesn’t? Tracy says, please don’t be naïve about this, and Lois says, Tracy can just butt out. Tracy says, I beg your pardon? and Lois says, Tracy heard her. Whether Brook and Chase want or don’t want a prenup is completely up to them. Tracy said she was throwing this wedding for Brook, which means that her only job is to smile and sign the checks, and not run around trying to control things that are none of her business. Tracy says, Brook is her granddaughter. Safeguarding Brook’s future is her business. That said, it was sent to Chase prematurely, and she’s sure when Brook explains that to him, he’ll understand. Brook says, understand what? That she thinks he’s after her money? Get her out of this stupid dress. She needs to find him. Maxie says, she’s not going to have to look very far, and Brook turns to see Chase walk in with Gregory. Well, now she can’t get that dress.

John tells Scotty that he’ll do his job, but don’t lose the hope that Sonny will pay for his crimes. He learned a thing or two since he left Port Charles. Scotty says, like what? and John tells him that he said it himself. For people like Sonny, it only ends one way.

Donna runs over to Carly, who asks if she’s having fun. Donna says, yes. Where’s daddy?

Michael holds the heavy bag while Dante punches it. He says he should have realized that Olivia Jerome’s death could be connected to the attempts on dad, and Dante says, they’re going to catch the killer. Michael says, will they though? and Dante asks, what the hell is that supposed to mean? Michael says he just doubts there’s going to be much urgency from the PCPD to protect a gangster. The worst part is dad probably knows that. And that anger and isolation will cause him to lash out. What if he crosses paths with the wrong person? Sonny walks in.

Dex says he thought Josslyn understood. He’s not coming back to Port Charles. And now he’s leaving Rockland as soon as possible. She says, he’s disappearing again? and he says, this is the last time they can be together. This is goodbye… for good.

Tomorrow, Chase tells Brook that there’s a chance they might not make it; Lois asks when Tracy is going to stop interfering in Brook’s life; Josslyn tells Dex that they can beat Sonny, they just have to call his bluff; and Sonny asks someone whose side they’re on.

The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills – Reunion Part 1

Oh Lord. It’s in three parts.

Sutton is accompanied by a French bulldog, putting me immediately on her side about everything. Garcelle waves sage around, and I don’t blame her. Everyone gets their glam on, and Annemarie says it’s been the hardest year of her life. Dorit tells Erika that Kyle claims she exaggerated their friendship, and we see a clip of that. She says she hasn’t heard from Kyle in a couple months, then she got a text trying to silence her. It was manipulative and calculated. Erika reads Kyle’s text saying, the interview comments hurt her feelings. She doesn’t want to lose someone else in her life over a TV show and doesn’t see the need in bringing certain things up. Dorit says, fair is fair. This is the Reunion. Erika says she hears Dorit, knows where she’s coming from, and hates every moment of this. Dorit has to be sewn into her dress and is the last one on stage. Ugh. Her dress has a hood, and she looks like Mary Magdeline in Jesus Christ Superstar.

Andy welcomes us to the Season 13 Reunion, and says, it’s a backyard cocktail party in the Hollywood hills. He asks what Dorit was going for, since her dress is so radically different, and she says, fashion, fashion, fashion. I say, no, no, no. Erika says she’s the happiest she’s been in this situation in two years, and Kyle says she wishes she felt like Erika. Andy says, when Erika was on Watch What Happens Live, she said she’d been eviscerated last year, and would like to see everybody get the same treatment. Kyle says, she saw the headline, and we see something about Erika saying it’s Kyle’s turn. Kyle says her feelings were hurt. She values Erika as a friend, but she thought it was more about Erika than her and didn’t take it personally. Andy asks what Dorit’s reaction was to Kyle’s comments about their friendship, and Dorit says she was hurt when she saw Kyle said she’d exaggerated their friendship. Kyle tells her that she said it in response to what Dorit said throughout the season. She’d asked about Kyle’s marriage on camera when they were supposed to be good friends. We flash back to Dorit asking how things are going, and I’m thinking, so is everyone supposed to watch what they say in regard to Kyle, even in casual conversation? After 13 seasons, I think she knows it’s a reality show. We see a flashback of Dorit saying she feels like she’s been replaced by Morgan, and a clip of Dorit on WWHL, saying, the closer Kyle gets to Morgan, the further Kyle goes from her. Dorit says, Mauricio and PK are best friends, but Kyle says she and Dorit don’t have that kind of friendship. She invited Dorit to workout, but Dorit didn’t have the stamina. Dorit says, Kyle and her friends think a brisk walk is ten miles, and Kyle says, that doesn’t mean Dorit isn’t important to her. Dorit knew by saying something, it would create a problem with the Morgan situation in the media. Dorit says, it had already been in the media, and not because of her. Kyle says, just because she has a friendship with Morgan, that doesn’t mean Dorit isn’t important. She loves Dorit. Dorit says, Kyle is a punisher. When she says something that upsets Kyle, Kyle shuts her out. They haven’t spoken in months. Wow. I guess the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. That’s exactly what Kyle complains about with Kathy. Dorit says, then she gets a text the day before the Reunion. Kyle thinks she’s an idiot. It felt manipulative. She’s not trying to destroy Kyle. Kyle says, it wasn’t meant as manipulative, and I guess Andy wants to move on, because he tells them that he knows they love each other, and he thinks there’s a resolution in the future.

Andy says, Garcelle had a balancing act between movie premieres and teaching her boys to become young men. And she had some tough discussions with her friends. We flip through Garcelle’s season, and Andy congratulates her on her ASTRA Award and NAACP nomination. Garcelle says, the reason she took the reality job was that she needed to be home. Films were taking her away too much. Andy says, on the after-show, Garcelle said she wishes Mike had told the boys about his infidelity, and Garcelle says, he never talked to them. (Coward!) That’s why she takes on so much responsibility for talking about sex and feelings. If they don’t get it from her, they won’t get it anywhere else. He says, there was tension between Garcelle and Dorit, when Garcelle said she couldn’t trust the group with her kids. Dorit says, it hurt her feelings, and Garcelle says, it hurt for her to see her friends laughing at the situation of a 14 year old being cussed at. We flash back to Dorit, PK, Kyle, and Mauricio finding it a laugh riot. Garcelle says, let’s call it even, and Dorit says, Garcelle seems to be holding a grudge. Garcelle says she felt how she did. She shared her feelings, but Dorit was being defensive and not letting her have her feelings. She told Garcelle that it happened a year ago, so she should be fine. And she’s not singling Dorit out. Dorit says, she felt sad that Garcelle felt that way, and Andy says, Garcelle said she doesn’t believe Dorit is a racist, but she’s an unconscious Karen. Garcelle says, Dorit is unaware. Using the word attack seemed unnecessary. Dorit says, she doesn’t know all the words, but Garcelle should judge on character and intent (again telling her how to feel). She would never deliberately hurt Garcelle, and if Garcelle is hurt, she should tell her. Garcelle says, Dorit was attacked by strangers and knows that’s different. She lived it and it was horrific. Yet Dorit said Garcelle attacked her when she knows what an attack really is.

Annemarie says, Garcelle told Dorit that you don’t call Black women angry and aggressive. At Sutton’s store, when she asked about Sutton’s esophagus, Sutton asked why she was yelling, when she was clearly not yelling. We flash back to that, and Annemarie says, Garcelle was right there and said nothing. I can tell you from personal experience, there are people who will tell you that you’re yelling when you’re just speaking in a firm tone. I do think it’s a controlling move and it pisses me off. Annemarie says she’s a Black woman too, and she was being weaponized. Garcelle says, Annemarie can stand up for herself, and Annemarie says, who stood up for her? Dorit did. Andy tries to talk, but it’s not going to happen. Dorit says, Sutton labeled Annemarie, and Garcelle says, Dorit labeled her as angry. It changes someone’s perception when they meet her. Dorit says, Garcelle said she lives in a bubble, and we flash back to that. Garcelle says, then Dorit went online and said she’s happily living in a bubble. She doubled down. It felt like she’s clueless. Dorit says, in hindsight, it was a mistake, and Garcelle says, why not take it down? but Dorit says, the next one clarified that it was a love bubble. Does Garcelle still believe she was sticking her middle finger up? Garcelle says, that’s how she perceived it, and Dorit asks if Garcelle thinks that was her intention. Garcelle says, yes, and Andy says, it was cut and run. Dorit says she wanted to clarify it. It was a big accusation. Garcelle says, so was the word used for her, and Andy says, two things can be true, which we know from General Hospital. One thing he’s learned is that it’s important to listen and say less in situations like this. So where do they go from here? Erika says, on a break because she needs one, and Dorit asks if Garcelle likes her. Garcelle says, sometimes, and Dorit asks if Garcelle has a problem with her. Garcelle says, there’s something, obviously, and Dorit asks if Garcelle wants to have a friendship. Garcelle says she’s not sure, and Andy says he wants to move on and shift to something not so heavy. When it comes to sex talk, the women were not afraid to let their freak flags fly. We flash back down Sex Talk Memory Lane, ending with Erika saying, if Sutton’s d*ck riding is like her bull riding, it’s no wonder she doesn’t get a second date. Sutton says, bull riding is tough. The other riding is easier. Andy says, Coco on X wants to know about the driver Sutton made out with, and Sutton says, it was her personal guy. Andy asks if it was more than once, and she says, maybe. Andy says he wants a driver with benefits, and Sutton says, he’s very good looking. Andy brings up Kyle saying she’d date a woman, and she says she doesn’t know what the future holds. Sutton says, no one would be judgmental or care. They’d be supportive.

Andy introduces Annemarie as a new wife, busy mom, and fitness fanatic, whose husband says she’s an 8.5 at everything, which is a solid B. The questioning of her job title and Sutton’s esophagus had Crystal calling her a B. We flash back to Annemarie’s season, and it actually looks like she downplays her own career by getting upset by others saying she’s a nurse. Andy tells her, condolences on her mom passing, and we see photos of her. Annemarie says she had a terrible cough, and a tumor was found in her lung. Andy can’t believe this was going on during filming and wonders why she didn’t share. Annemarie says she wanted to compartmentalize, and Andy says he’s going to make a right turn. Annemarie wasted no time in calling things as she saw them. She seemed confident. Annemarie says she speaks her mind and she’s honest with her observations. It’s the only way to get to know people. Andy says, in some viewer’s eyes, Annemarie can do no right, and asks, what’s the hardest part about the negative feedback, and Annemarie says she was an athlete, so she’s used to criticism, but she internalized it. Andy says, there’s no preparing anyone for the criticism that comes with the job. Annemarie says, Crystal was awesome off camera, but as soon as they were on camera, she was different. Andy says, Crystal said Annemarie claimed to be a doctor when they met, and Crystal says, Annemarie said she was an anesthesiologist. She told Annemarie that her sister is one too and has a private practice. Then Annemarie changed it and said she was a nurse anesthetist, and people often get them mixed up. Annemarie says she’ll tell them what really happened. When they first met, Crystal said she was a housewife (it’s unclear whether she meant being on the show or being a homemaker), but Crystal says she’d never talk like that. Annemarie is proven to be liar. She thinks Annemarie intentionally misrepresents herself because people don’t know the difference between an anesthesiologist and a nurse anesthetist. Annemarie then launches into an account of how there are political issues between the two, and says, it’s like a market turf war. Kyle says, because they can do same thing, but at a different price (I’m sure it’s more complicated than that), and Crystal says, Annemarie weaponized (the word of the night) her profession against Sutton, and Andy asks why Sutton’s esophagus bothered Annemarie. Annemarie says, the way it was presented was odd. Now that she’s watching it back and seeing how she behaved and handled situations, she apologizes. She hated watching it and is begging to be brought back. Sutton says she’s not angry about the esophagus thing. It was the talking behind her back and saying she had an eating disorder and was hiding behind an ailment. It was hurtful. Andy says there was a lot of response to it, and thinks Sutton spread awareness. Sutton says, who knew so many people shared her medical issue? and Annemarie says, she’s very sorry and please give her another season. Sutton says, they all make mistakes in this group. She got that one right.

During the break Kyle tells Andy that Crystal met LVP and told Lisa that she’s on the show. Lisa asked if Kyle was still on. I don’t think this is farfetched, and not just because Lisa can do no wrong. She’s said she doesn’t watch the show and she is kinda busy with her own stuff. Andy welcomes us back even though he’s the one who left, and says, when she was first on the show, Crystal was accused of not speaking out, but with Annemarie on the show, she found her voice. We flash back over everything Crystal, then specifically Crystal and Annemarie. We end with Dorit calling Crystal a child bride in her interview, and Andy says, Rob said the reason Crystal is quiet is because she’s preoccupied about how skinny everyone is. Crystal says she’s spent her life uncomfortable in her own skin. She’s constantly looking and comparing. Andy asks, what about Annemarie in the moment pushed her to call Annemarie a bitch? Crystal says, that Annemarie accused her of saying Sutton had an eating disorder. She’d never say that about someone. She suffers daily and has felt like she was crazy. She wonders if Annemarie is ever going apologize, and Annemarie says blah-blah-blah. Okay, I spaced out, but I’m sorry wasn’t in there. Andy moves into Spain and Annemarie’s accusation that Crystal called the women uneducated. Crystal says she probably did say that, but she tells people they have dumbass conversations. Annemarie says, there are instances where Crystal is less than truthful, and Crystal says, don’t throw rocks. Proving that they do have dumbass conversations. Annemarie, who must have taken her leisure time to watch previous seasons, says, Crystal talked about Sutton saying something dark, then said that wasn’t the case. She doesn’t want to be part of the system of lies. (Huh?) Crystal tells her, don’t worry about it, and Andy says, Dorit seemed most offended by the slight about their education. Dorit, who lives in a bubble inside another bubble, says she’s the only one with a degree, but it turns out there’s three of them. Crystal asks if she knows the term child bride is akin to mail order bride for an Asian. She stands by uneducated. Dorit says, Pricilla Presley was called a child bride, and Garcelle says, that’s what she’s talking about. Dorit says, that’s not what she was insinuating, and Crystal says, she was 24 when she got married, had gone to college, and built her coconut water company, that’s now worth $100 million. So to say they were all in college and building businesses when she was getting married at 12 is bullsh*t. Dorit says, that wasn’t her intention. Lesson learned (her phrase of the season). She appreciates it.

Andy says, Beverly Hills OG Kyle showed up this year almost unrecognizable. Tattoos, a fitness regime, no booze, and no people pleasing. We flash back, and Andy says, a big motivation for Kyle’s changes was when she learned her best friend since age 7 committed suicide. He asks where she is in the grieving process, and Kyle says she learned in therapy that she uses disassociation. When something is too painful, she tries not to think about it. There are other days when she can barely move. It depends.  Andy says, last year, Kyle said she was disappointed how Dorit handled the Kathy situation at the Reunion, and we flash back to Dorit trying to explain Kathy to Kyle, and Kyle telling her to butt out. Dorit says, she can say with absolute assurance, she wants nothing more than Kyle and Kathy to be okay. She has a relationship with Kathy that’s independent from her relationship with Kyle and didn’t want to get in the middle. Kyle says, Dorit doesn’t know Kathy the same way, and Dorit says, she and Kathy never spent time together until Kathy was on the show. Kyle says, by the conversations she and Dorit were having, Dorit led her to believe she was disappointed in Kathy’s behavior. Dorit says, when Kyle told her stories she didn’t know from the past. That was the only time she said that. Kyle says, in Aspen too. It feels like people she doesn’t even know are coming after her and are rah-rah about Kathy. She just wants support and thinks Dorit wants to be on the side of the audience. Dorit says she doesn’t follow what the audience says, but Kyle says, Dorit cares more about the audience than her. Dorit says, that’s the most hysterical thing she’s ever heard.

Next time, Dorit says, it’s been a difficult two years; Garcelle says she thought it was strange for the burglar to leave Dorit’s phone at the gate because she asked (it is weird); Dorit says, Garcelle is peddling a false narrative; Sutton says, Kyle was relentlessly mean to her this season; and Kyle says, her family is falling apart. There are things she could have said, but didn’t.

⚖️ Watching What Happens…

Again, flabbergasted that the lawsuit I was sure was coming, is against Andy personally. I guess he just got too big for his jock. Brandi can kiss my backside, but Leah’s story has the ring of truth.

https://people.com/leah-mcsweeney-sues-andy-cohen-bravo-discrimination-culture-drugs-alcohol-8601411

🦔 Raining Cats and Hedgehogs…

Join me tomorrow for soap and a mix of entertainment knowledge. Until then, stay safe, stay shielding your lemon when squeezing, and stay remembering that laughter is the most important ingredient in a marriage, or any relationship really.  

February 12, 2024 – A Major Decision Is Made About Ace, Dicey First Docking On Deck & There

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Doc comes into the living room to find Laura with Ace on her lap. He says, he’s in better spirits today, and Laura says, her too. She finally got him to sleep through the night. Their little baby has been shuttled between so many homes, and he’s not even a year yet. He says, she’ll give him all the love and stability he needs, when there’s a knock at the door. Laurah hands Ace to Doc, and opens the door to Martin, who apologizes for coming by unexpectedly. She says, that’s okay. What brings him by? He says he has some very important paperwork for her that concerns her and her grandson.

Tracy sees Gregory sitting at a table at the MetroCourt, and says, this is a nice surprise. May she join him? He says he supposes he could handle another cup of coffee before he starts packing. Today is his last day living at the MetroCourt. She says she hopes he’s not moving back to the west coast, and he says, no. He’s moving in with Finn. It seemed like the thing to do, considering. She says, congratulations. Not only will be living with his adorable granddaughter, Finn is a decent backgammon player. He won’t be bored. Suddenly, she’s hit with a roll, and turns to see Lucy behind her. Lucy says, that’s all the dough Tracy is getting out of her.

Ava nearly collides with Dex at the gallery and asks if he and Frank can’t be a little bit less conspicuous. They’re going to frighten her customers. Dex says, sorry. Sonny wanted her to have a little extra security right now. She says she thinks he and Frank are a little excessive. Doesn’t he? Trina comes in and asks if everything is okay, and Ava asks what she’s doing here. Trina says she’s all cried out. She needs a distraction. She knows Ava hired someone else. Ava says, she can come back here anytime. She’s putting up a new show and would really love Trina’s input. On phone in the hallway, Frank says, don’t worry. He has eyes on him. Sonny says, good. Don’t let him out of his sight.  

Sonny asks if Brick found something on Dex, and Brick says, yeah. Sonny’s going to want to hear this.

In the MetroCourt elevator, Drew says, Carly seems excited and happy about today, and she says she was unsure of taking over as Editor-in-Chief, but since she saved the Prinzer and Golden account, she feels like she’s getting into her groove. They came up with the best ideas last night. He says he knew she could do it. She’s going to be the best editor Crimson has ever seen. She suggests they not get ahead of themselves. First, she has to get the first issue out, but from what she’s seen, it’s going to be great. He says, she’s great, and kisses her. (Bleh.) The elevator doors open to Crimson, and there are tarps, ladders, and buckets everywhere. Carly says, what the hell?

Willow sits up on the couch and looks at the time. Michael comes in with coffee and tells her, no worries. Wiley’s off to school and Amelia’s been fed. She actually drank out of a sippy cup. He thinks she’s starting to get used to it. She says, he did all that? Why didn’t he wake her up? (Maybe she better check the kitchen to see if he cleaned up after all that.) He says he thought she could use an extra hour before work, and hands her a cup. She says, wow. It’s so nice when someone else makes the coffee. He says, she’s so not a morning person, and she says, guilty. (Same.) She didn’t mean to pass out here last night. Where did he sleep? He says, in the chair. It’s not the first time. He used to sleep there when she was sick. She says, he took such good care of her, and he says, she paid him back by getting better. She says, it was really nice having him here last night, and he says he liked it too. (He likes it! Hey, Mikey!)

Gregory asks if Tracy is okay, and Tracy says, she is a lunatic. She always thought Lucy would go off the deep end one day. At a nearby table, Robert tells Diane, oh goodie. The floor show is about to start. She laughs and says she has to cut this date short, as pleasant as it’s been. He says, date? and she says she misspoke. She doesn’t really equate omelets and toast with dates. Before they go, a colleague gifted her with two tickets to the Port Charles Ballet. Is he interested? He says he’s really not much into the ballet scene. Try Alexis. She says she has to confess, she asked Alexis first. She’s booked. He says he’ll try not to be too insulted, and she says she supposes she could have picked a more opportune time. Gregory Chase was in Alexis’s office, and he’s still mad at her about arguing the malpractice suit against his son.

Gregory asks Lucy, what’s wrong with her? and Lucy says, he should be grateful. It could have been much worse, because this friend of his has systematically destroyed her life. Tracy says she gave Lucy an out. Thanks to her kind companion, she went to Martin and explained that she’d been misleading him. That Lucy was, in fact, true blue. Lucy says, gee, thank you. But her change of heart came just a little too late. Tracy says, too late for what? She starts laughing and says, this is rich. Gregory asks if he’s missing something, and Tracy says, Lucy did really sleep with Scott Baldwin.

Martin says he took the liberty of drawing up the paperwork for Laura’s petition before he left. The forms are all ready for her. When she makes her decision, just put down her John Hancock. She says, a petition for what? and he says, to legally adopt Ace.

Drew yells, who the hell is in charge here? when a man in a work uniform comes out and says, it’s not safe. They shouldn’t be here. Carly says, this is her office. What the hell is going on? Nina comes in, says she’s got this and tells the man to go about his business. She appreciates him. Drew asks, what happened? And Nina says she’s so very sorry. There was a flood a few floors above and it leaked into the walls last night. The building notified all the employees on the floor to stay home today. They didn’t get the notice? Drew says, Aurora has a lease. She can’t come in here and rip out all of their offices. Nina suggests he check the lease, because as owner of the MetroCourt, she’s allowed to address all safety and health matters. The construction team needs to get into the walls to repair the damage, and more importantly, they need to dry out the water to prevent the mold from spreading. Obviously, some of the fiber optic cables needed to be temporarily replaced, so the internet on the floor is down. But not to worry because this isn’t a long-term project. The crew should be out of here in three days or so. Carly says, and the deadline for her first issue is tomorrow. But then again, Nina knew that, didn’t she?

Tossing a folder on Sonny’s desk, Brick says he did an in-depth background check of Dex last year, and it came back clean. But now it seems like Dex came into a huge windfall twice last year, through some untraceable shell corporation. Sonny says, twice? When were these payments? Brick says, the first one was after Sonny was attacked last March. The second one was just last week, the day after Sonny and Ava were targeted on the island.

Laura tells Martin that she thinks there must be some mistake. She and Doc were only supposed to watch Ace until Nikolas gets out of jail. Martin says, come on. Nikolas confessed to kidnapping. It’s going to be quite a while before he’s even eligible for parole. He’s already been talking to Nikolas about ceding his parental claim to her. She says, he what? and he says, don’t forget, Heather Webber and their brother have ties to this little guy. Doc says he did see Heather at Esme’s grave and she seemed interested in Ace. Laura says, Cyrus got out of jail early, and God forbid Heather… Martin says, yes, God forbid. She would most likely win if they ever decided to challenge her guardianship, but he thinks the best course of action is for her to have permanent custody, and the best way for her to do that is for her to officially become Ace’s parent of record.

Tracy says she’s right about Lucy. She cannot resist Scott Baldwin. Lucy tells her, zip it. Does she want to announce that to every single person in the restaurant? Tracy asks if she thinks anyone would be surprised. Lucy has been having her tawdry affair with Scotty on the installment plan. A few years on, a few years off, and now she’s back on. She’s been sleeping with Scotty. Lucy insists she hasn’t… Well, since she and Marty broke up… Tracy says she’s not responsible for Lucy’s rebound choices. But Lucy is definitely responsible for her dry-cleaning bill. Lucy says, but Tracy is responsible for orchestrating all of this. Tracy says, Lucy had Scotty romance her with the intension of swindling her out of her Deception shares, and now Lucy is whining because she paid her back. Gregory says, perhaps she can afford to be gracious in victory, and Tracy says, really? She likes gloating. Okay, if he insists. If Martin is open to it, she would be willing to try and mend fences. Lucy says, fat chance. He’s sending all her calls to voicemail. Gregory says he spoke with Martin this morning to thank him for his help with Finn. He mentioned he was going to his sister’s to drop off… Lucy says, Laura. Perfect. She’ll know exactly how to make Marty forgive her. Thank you. Ta. She leaves, and Tracy says, ta? They sit back down, and Gregory says, Scotty was romancing her? Tracy tells him that she said he tried. Only Lucy Coe would think he had a prayer of succeeding. He asks if she’s immune to Mr. Baldwin’s charms, and she laughs. She says, charms? Once, in a spectacular moment of bad judgement, she did get close to Scotty. He says, how close? and she says, close. Blame it on the 90s. The good news is, she learned her lesson. Lucy obviously never will.

Willow asks, how many of Wiley’s magic tricks did he sit through last night? and Michael says, about four, but he is getting really good with the ball one. She says she knows, right? It was good having him back home last night. It felt right. There’s a knock at the door, and Willow opens it to Josslyn. She says she’s sorry to interrupt. She was on her way to see Dex and found this in the car. She holds out a stuffed giraffe and says, Amelia’s lovie. Willow says, there it is, and thanks her. She has to get ready for work, but Michael can make Josslyn some coffee if she wants. She goes upstairs and Josslyn says, well? Michael says, well, does she want some coffee? but she says, no, she wants the tea. Spill, please. He spent the night last night? Are things back to normal? He says, they’re taking it a day at a time. There’s still a long way to go, but they’re making progress. She says she’s happy for them and the kids. Nina is not worth them fighting. Michael says he agrees, and Josslyn says she can’t wait for Sonny to divorce Nina so she’s out of their lives. He says he saw Sonny yesterday, but he doesn’t know what Sonny is going to do about Nina. She asks, how was seeing Sonny? and he says, they talked. He thinks things are better. She says, good. When there’s friction between him and Sonny, it freaks her out and she thinks it makes things more dangerous for Dex.

Trina carries a painting and stares at a heart on it. She drops it, and says, oh no. Dex rushes over and says he’s got it.

Brick tells Sonny, the shell corporation was created for the soul purpose of funneling money to Dex. He doesn’t know who set it up, but it sure tells a story. Dex gets paid to tip them off about Sonny’s location, his enemies, and of course (🍷) to highlight his vulnerabilities. Sonny wonders why he’d do this to Josslyn, and Brick says, maybe he used Josslyn to get closer to Sonny. Sonny says, it’s genuine, and Brick says, maybe Josslyn disapproves of his life with Sonny. Sonny says, she does, and Brick says, maybe he’s going to get out of this life with her. What better way to avoid a bullet from Sonny then to set Sonny up to take one?

Nina says, Carly’s not insinuating she’s trying to sabotage Carly’s next issue of Crimson? but Carly says she’s not insinuating anything. She’s accusing Nina. This has her written all over it. She is surprised Nina would jeopardize the jobs of her former employees, the ones she claims to care so much about. Nina says, editors have back-ups of all their articles, templates, and spreads on the cloud. Carly doesn’t know this? Carly says, yes, she knows that, but coordinating all the back-ups from around the cloud could make them lose a day’s work easy, which would make the issue late to the printer, which is exactly what Nina intended. (Are we using the same cloud? It’s not that hard to find something.) Nina says her focus is on the hotel. She’s just wanting what’s best for the MetroCourt. Carly says, if she talks to Olivia, the other owner of the MetroCourt, she’ll back up Nina’s story? and Nina says she has authority to sanction emergency construction. Olivia could disagree and she could overrule Nina, but the process has already begun. It could take a few days and even more to get all the offices back together even if they stopped, and it’s certainly not cost effective. So she thinks they all know it’s best to just let the repairs play out. Then they can come back when it’s all done. Carly says she thinks she’s heard enough. Nina will be hearing from her lawyer. Until then, she has a magazine to put out. Nina says, good luck, and Drew tells Carly to go ahead. He wants to have a word with Nina. Carly says she’ll call him later and leaves. Drew tells Nina, keep playing with fire and see where it gets her. (Just a thought, but Drew probably shouldn’t be threatening his landlord.)

Robert asks if Diane thought Finn was capable of negligence, and she says, uh-uh, but it wasn’t her place to decide that. It was her job to present the strongest argument possible that Dr. Finn was guilty of negligence and let the jury decide. Of course (🍷) the jury was never able to deliberate, so they’ll never know if her argument was convincing or not. He says, fair enough. The rule of law doesn’t always make for winning friends. She says, he must have come up against that, where he has the evidence to convict, but his gut its telling them that the defendant just might be innocent. He says, unfortunately, yeah. It’s happened where an innocent person has pled out. The system isn’t always fair. She says, maybe together, they could make the system a little more fair, one day at a time.

Trina says she’s so sorry she broke the stretcher, but Ava says, that’s why they have insurance. She asks Dex to take the painting to the backroom. Her assistant will send it out for repair. He leaves with the painting, and Ava says, see that? The crisis is finished. They sit down, and Trina says, but it’s not. She starts to cry and says she can’t stop crying. It’s like everything she sees, everything she hears, reminds her of Spencer. It’s like she’s losing him all over again. And there’s a pit in her stomach and she can’t breathe. She’s gasping for air. She doesn’t know how to live with this feeling. She can’t live with this feeling. She wishes it was her who died instead of him. Ava tells her not to say things like that. She knows the feeling. When Kiki died, she was in so much pain that she didn’t want to live. She would have done absolutely anything to trade place with her, to die so she could live. But she was gone, and Ava was here, and she realized she needed to stay here for Avery. Just like Trina needs to stay here for her mom and for Curtis. She has a strong, wonderful family and they’re going to get her through this, okay? And truthfully, she’s very grateful to Spencer that he did what he did so Trina could live. Because Trina is here with her. Trina and Avery are everything to her. She holds Trina as she cries.

Laura says she guesses this is the obvious next step. She just hadn’t considered it before. What did Nikolas say? Martin tells her that Nikolas gave him permission to start the paperwork. Just be honest. Is this not something she wants to consider? She tells him that she’s not saying that. It’s just a lot to consider. He says he knows. He just wanted to make sure she was set up. The paperwork is right there. She wants to make that decision, wants to cross that bridge, she’s got everything she needs. They’ll have to forgive him. He’s got to get out of here or he won’t make his flight. He’ll be gone from Port Charles for a while. He’s only a phone call away, and he’ll come back if she needs him. She says she loves him and tells him to travel safely. Martin leaves, and Doc says, so, what are her thoughts? She says, everything her brother told them makes sense. It would be better for little Ace to have a permanent parent instead of a temporary guardian, but this is not just her decision to make. Doc says, if she wants to adopt Ace, he’s totally on board, but she says, no. We would adopt him together.

Doc tells Laura that he moved some appointments around at the hospital so they could talk, and she says she hates that he has to rearrange his schedule. He says, this is so much more important, and she says, and it came completely out of the blue, but she can’t imagine doing this without him. He says, which is why they need to spend some time with it, and there’s a knock at the door. This time, it’s Lucy, who asks if she can come in. Laura says, yeah, and Lucy says she was so sorry to hear about Spencer’s unbelievably tragic… She’s sorry. Laura thanks her, and Lucy says she was just wondering if Martin was around. She heard he was here. Doc says, Martin left just a little while ago, and Lucy says, darn it. She needs to catch up with him and he’s avoiding all her phone calls. Do they know where he went by any chance? Laura tells her that Martin said he was going to visit his mother and he was going to be gone for a while, and Lucy wonders how he can leave like that, without saying goodbye. She can’t believe Tracy Quartermaine did this to her. Okay. She did it. She did it to herself. Like she always does, right? She just thought this time it was different. She thought she was different. Why does she do this? Why does she always sabotage the very best things that happen to her? Maybe she just doesn’t deserve to be happy. Laura says, that’s ridiculous. Everyone deserves to be happy. Life is too short. Marty was just here, and he was going straight to the airport. If Lucy hurries, she might be able to catch him before he gets on the plane. Lucy hugs Laura, thanking her, and runs out the door. Laura asks Doc if that was foolish, but he says, it was generous. Which is exactly what he expects because that’s who she is. Now where were they before they were so rudely interrupted?

Gregory looks at his phone, and Tracy says, breaking story? He says, no, it’s from Finn. The move is on for this evening. She asks if he needs any help, but he says he just has a few things. Books, papers, stuff like that. She says, figures. So what brought this on? He knows how fond she is of Finn, but his place has limited space. He says he’ll manage. As to what brought this on, he’s starting to feel a little irresponsible living on his own, especially since he’s trying to make it to the big wedding… Don’t do that please. She says, do what? and he says, she’s the one person in his life who doesn’t give him that look. So don’t start now please. He doesn’t want her pity. She says she doesn’t pity him, but she thinks she does know him a little, and she thinks he has reservations about this move. Is she right? He says he doesn’t like depending on anyone, even his family. He knows Finn’s just trying to help, but he hates the idea of giving up his own agency. It’s been his greatest fear ever since he was diagnosed. He knows at some point he’s not going to have control of what his body does or even what happens to him. She says, and the move? and he says, it’s forcing him to face that reality. It feels like this might be the first part of his final chapter.

Carly tells Diane that she’s sorry to interrupt. Diane’s assistant told her that Diane would be here. She needs to talk to Diane. It’s an emergency. Robert says, that’s his ticket out of here, but Diane says, don’t you move, and asks Carly, what’s up? Carly says she’ll give Diane three guesses as to who’s trying to sabotage Crimson, and the first two don’t count.

Nina tells the construction worker that she wants all these walls checked. It’s better to replace all of them than have the mold spreading. (Having had a house flood, if indeed there had been a leak, Nina would be correct in rebuilding walls.) She asks Drew if he was on the phone with his lawyer, because everything she did just now was completely legal, so don’t be threatening her with a lawsuit. He says, she made the choice to escalate, and she’s going to have to live with the fallout, but she says, it can’t be any worse than what’s already happened to her. She lost her husband and her family and her magazine. Sure, she regrets some of the things she’s done. She’s made mistakes, just like the rest of them, but she doesn’t understand why she has to continually pay for a crime Drew and Carly committed. She’s through with the injustice and the indignity of being the pariah. Legally, she did nothing wrong, and she’s not going to take it lying down anymore. He asks if she went to prison. She doesn’t know the meaning of the words indignity and injustice. He gets in the elevator and says, but believe him, she will.

Michael tells Josslyn, it’s not like Dex is working for Sonny against his will. He insists he’s found purpose in Sonny’s organization. She says, don’t remind her, please, and he says, there’s something else. This arrangement with Dex has gotten more important lately. Dex is keeping everybody in their family safe. She asks what that means, and he says, things have gotten more dangerous lately. She asks if he’s talking about the shooting in Puerto Rico, and he says, the fact that somebody got to his dad on the island, and somehow, they were apparently able to bypass security, means they have inside access. She asks if he’s saying it’s someone inside Sonny’s organization, and he says, sometimes the simplest explanation is true. Someone who Sonny trusts sold him out.

On the phone Sonny asks if Dex has made any calls or sent any texts… All right. He’ll be in touch. He tells Brick, Frank said Dex is just doing his job, protecting Ava. He’s not jumpy, he’s just… Brick says, look, he was just presenting a theory, and Sonny says, but he’s got a lot of evidence. Brick asks what they’re going to do about this.

Drew joins Carly, who says she was just telling Diane about how Nina was trying to undermine Crimsonagain. Drew says, great. Tell him how they can strike back and teach her not to mess with them again. Robert says, this really does sound like his cue. He’ll talk to Diane later. He leaves, and Drew says, that’s probably for the best. Any talk about retaliation should be kept between attorney and client privilege, right? Carly asks, who’s talking about retaliation? She just wants to get their offices open as soon as possible, so they can get the issue out on time. He says, so Nina can sabotage the next issue? They’ve got to shut her down. Carly says, they can’t focus on Nina. She’s a distraction and she’s getting what she wants. They need to think about the magazine. His magazine. He tells her to do that. He needs to take a break. He leaves, and Diane asks why she has the feeling Carly’s frustration isn’t just with Nina, but also with Drew.

Trina tells Ava that she’s really sorry about the painting. She thought she was ready to get back to work, but she guesses not. This grief, the sadness, is it ever going to go away? Ava says, no, but it dulls and somehow you get used to it. Between Trina’s mom and Curtus, Marshall, Stella, and her, they’ll get her through it. Count on it. Dex brings them chamomile tea, telling them that Josslyn says it helps calm her down. He thought it was worth a try. They thank him, and Frank tells him, let’s go. Dex says, they’re supposed to watch Ava, but Frank says, change of plans.

Josslyn says, if there’s a traitor inside Sonny’s organization, Dex is in trouble, right? but Michael says he doesn’t know. The thing is… Willow comes back and asks if everything is okay. Josslyn says, yeah. She’s meeting Trina at the gallery, but it was so nice to see Willow. Willow says, her too, and they hug. Josslyn tells Michael that they’ll talk soon, and she leaves. Michael says, not that Willow asked, but he and Josslyn were discussing a family matter that involves Sonny. She asks if it’s something she needs to know about for the kids’ safety, but he says he doesn’t know. He promises if there’s something she needs to know, he’ll tell her. Although she has every right not to believe him. She says, of course (🍷) she believes him.

Martin waits for his flight at the airport, while Lucy goes to a desk and says, her boyfriend is on a flight to North Carolina, and she really needs to talk to him. They won’t let her through security without a boarding pass and she needs to tell him something. The clerk tells her that she can’t go through security without a boarding pass, but she says she has to apologize. Just let her run down there. She won’t delay the flight. He can send a little guard with her. He says, she can’t get through security without a ticket, and she hears Martin’s flight being announced. She says, okay, fine. She’ll buy a ticket. When’s the next flight? He asks where she’d like to go. They have a flight to Bora Bora, Duluth… She says, eww. Not Duluth. They were so rude to her. She lost an earring at a Coco Cosmetics convention, and they were not helpful at all. She puts her credit card on the counter and says, Duluth it is.

Laura says she knows Doc didn’t sign up for this, the idea of having a child. And having a baby at their age? It’s going to be a daunting task. He says she’s right, for both of them. She’s been a parent. She knows what it takes. For him, outside of a brief stint as a stepparent with Lucy, this would be a new experience for him. She says, if they become the parents of record, Ace will grow up with them. He’ll rely on them. It’s a huge responsibility. If he has any hesitation, he should say so now.

Laura brings Ace into the room, and says, from the shortest nap ever, and Doc says, all right. She asked for the truth. Here it is. He’s never felt more a part of a family as he has since he married her. He’s seen her capacity for love and her children and her grandchildren. And her love for him has opened his heart in ways he couldn’t imagine. But adopting a child at this stage of their lives is complicated. She says, it’s a little crazy, and he agrees. But it feels right. It feels like them. She says, so like them, and he says, if this is what she wants, he’s in. He’s all in. He asks what Ace thinks, and says he thinks Ace approves. They kiss.

Martin boards the flight, and the airline employee closes the door. Lucy calls to him, and yells, wait! She says, it’s too late. He’s gone. He’s really gone.

Tracy says, Gregory has a lot of decisions he’s going to have to make about his future. Some sooner rather than later. But moving in with his family doesn’t have to be something that holds him back. She comes and goes time and time again, but always ends up back at Monica’s. Why? Because as much as every single person in that house infuriates her, living under the same roof as them, it feels like… He says, home? and she says, home.

Carly tells Diane that she can’t blame Drew for hating Nina and wanting revenge for everything she’s done to him, but she wants that parasite out of her life. Diane says, that’s easier said than done. Nina has considerable resources and she’s obviously willing to devote all of them to undermining Carly. Carly says she knows. She’s still grieving her mom, and the last thing she wants to do is go to war with someone she doesn’t care anything about. And every move that Drew makes to go after Nina just keeps pulling her back into Nina’s twisted orbit.

On the phone, Drew says he wants a list of everyone that’s done business with Aurora who’s interested in working with Nina Reeves… It’s time they drew a line in the sand.

Nina asks the worker how long it will take to put all this back together, and he says, they’re making progress. They should be done in another day or two. Nina says, that won’t do at all. She wants them to take all the time they need to make sure this job is done correctly. She hands him a wad of cash and says, understood? He smiles and tips an imaginary hat.

Willow says she believes Michael regrets the way he handled things. And she believes he wanted to protect them and that’s why he did what he did. He says he should have believed she could handle it. They’re always so much stronger when they work together. He’s sorry he forgot that. She says she appreciates him giving her the space she needed to process everything, but last night having him here felt right. She’s not saying she wants everything to go back the way it was; they still have things to work out. But maybe he doesn’t go back to the main house. What if he comes home for good? He says, that would mean the world to him. Is she sure that’s what she wants? she says she’s willing to try if he is and kisses him. She says she’s really got to go, or she’ll be late. She’ll see him later. He says he’ll be home, and she leaves. He sighs with relief.

Josslyn comes to the gallery and asks Trina, how’s it going? Trina says she thinks she came back to work a little too soon, and Josslyn hugs her. Josslyn says, something smells good, and asks if that’s peppermint tea. Trina says, Josslyn’s boyfriend made it for them, and Josslyn says, Dex is here? Ava says, he was. She just missed him. He and Frank left in a hurry.

Frank brings Dex to a car and tells him, get in. Dex gets in the backseat next to Sonny and says, boss. What’s going on? Sonny says, how about you and I go for a little ride?

Tomorrow, Gregory tells Finn that he can’t put it off any longer; Molly asks Kristina if this is why she’s not pursuing things with Blaze; Brick says, it’ll all be over soon; and Dex asks if Sonny thinks he’s the one who betrayed him.

Below Deck

La Phare Bleu, Granada. Primary Rebecca tells Fraser that dinner is delicious, but they need to speed it up. Fraser asks Chef Anthony to get the next course out asap, and Anthony says, French people spend an hour on a bite of steak. In Fraser’s interview, he says he’s got to be that bitch, and finally, at 10:55, the Tomahawk steak entrée comes out, and it literally is just a bite. Rebecca wants more wine, but guest Leigh suggests water might be a good idea and it would be best to focus on that. Kyle realizes one of the stews is stacking plates while clearing, and in his interview, he says, don’t put a plate on a plate. This is not the Waffle House. There’s poached pear for dessert and guest Lyne says, it’s the best pear she ever drank. No more for her. In Anthony’s interview, he says, day one was a crazy motherf***ing day. He loves to take his time. He’s making love on the plate. Rebecca tells Fraser that everything is delicious, but they need it quicker. The guests get in the hot tub, and Barbie bitches about Cat not stocking the bar. In Barbie’s interview, she says, Cat is a sweet girl, but she’s taking her sweet time. The guests decide to let the crew off the hook and go to bed, except for the newlywed primaries Brian and Rebecca, who stay and get nakey. Barbie tells the others that she’s pretty sure they’re f***ing upstairs. In her interview, she says she promised her dad and herself that she wouldn’t hook up on the St. David, so she’s not hooking up on the St. David. In Kyle’s interview, he says he doesn’t have much trouble with the ladies. The accent turns them on. In Barbie’s interview, she says, especially not Kyle. She can barely understand what he says.  

Fraser compliments Xandi on her tablescape and asks if she’s interested in going on the kayak excursion. In Xandi’s interview, she says she doesn’t go in the sun. She’s like translucent. F***ing Twilight. She doesn’t need sun or human contact. Jared goes over priorities with the captain, and Kyle wishes Lune a happy birthday. He tells the guests that the table is ready for breakfast, and Rebecca announces to the table that she and Brian got nakey in the hot tub. In Kyle’s interview, he says, good for them, but now he has to drain it. Dirty bastards. In Sunny’s interview, she says, Jared is a complete mess, but she has to respect him as a superior. That’s what yachting is. Maybe she should tell some of the others (especially Natalya) about that. Fraser talks with Barbie and says, Cat needs to be given a sense of urgency. Fraser asks if Ben will make sure the refreshments go over to the beach and explains everything in detail. In turn, Ben tells Jared to tak the bags, but when the guests get to the beach, they have no refreshments. In Captain Kerry’s interview, he says, it’s a bit what the f***. When it’s an excursion with stews, it’s their screw up. He tells Fraser that the refreshments were forgotten, and he says he gave the information to Ben. His mistake. He thought it was done. In his interview, he says, now this is the captain’s first impression of him. He looks like an idiot because Ben didn’t do what he asked Ben to do. He stupidly trusted someone else to help facilitate his job, and it won’t happen again. Jared hustles the bags over to the beach.

In Jared’s interview, he says he was diagnosed with ADHD, but never gave the medication a chance to work. When he’s under stress, his attention is at a deficit. Once in a while he’s like, a squirrel! but then he’s right back to it. Xandi gets the bags from him and says, the party’s here. The guests do some kayaking, while back on the yacht, guests Michelle and Leigh have stayed behind and wonder if the bar is stocked. Leigh says, it could be better if she was on a steady beer diet. Fraser radios Cat and Barbie, telling them that he’s leaving for the beach and to keep checking on the guests that are still there. Fraser gets to the beach, and in his interview, he says, it’s an absolute travesty. The next time, he’ll go first. The set-up is horrific. But Kyle looks like a rugged farmer and my crops need cutting. He’ll turn this around. Barbie asks where Captain Kerry is from, and he says, southeast Asia. He shows her where he’s been on a wall map. Cat tries to find out if Barbie has checked the guest cabins, but Barbie is snippy with her, and in her interview, Cat says she doesn’t understand the attitude. In Barbie’s interview, she says, Fraser knows that she knows her job. Cat is the kind of girl who will make a burn book, but to your face, it’s all good. In Cat’s interview, she says, Barbie is giving her Regina George vibes. Fraser tells Ben that because of him, the captain now thinks he’s sh*t. In Ben’s interview, he says, Jared hasn’t worked on a big boat and he’s missing the mark. It’s just a cooler, and now he put a wave through the whole boat.

Cat tells Fraser that she doesn’t feel respected by Barbie. She wanted to get their tasks lined up, but when she asks what Barbie is doing when she’s not doing anything, Barbie asks why she wants to know. It’s disrespectful. Fraser says, her telling him is helpful to them as a team, and in Cat’s interview, she says she doesn’t want to deal with Barbie all charter. She’s stressed enough with the guests already. She doesn’t want stress with the crew. The lunch set-up is super cute with conch shells and the Cuban sandwiches are a hit. Back on the boat, Xandi shows off her sunburn and in her interview, she says, it looks like she was burned at the stake.

It’s 80s Miami night, and in her interview, Barbie says she’s from Miami and went to school for design. Now she gets to show what she does best. She loves aesthetics. Brian falls getting into the tender to go back. I only mention this because it’s pretty damn funny watching him fall on his drunken face. Fraser tells Ben that Cat finds it difficult to take direction and criticism from Barbie, and I wonder how he got that from the conversation they had. In Anthony’s interview, he says he’s bringing a Latino vibe tonight. When he was 21, he opened his first restaurant, and it had Miami vibes. It’s going to be mucho caliente tonight. Ben tells Barbie that Cat is unhappy with her. What is wrong with these people? Better question, how many times have I said that about a reality show? Barbie says she was schmoozing with the captain, but she’d worked her ass off the day before. Barbie tells Fraser that Ben told her Cat was talking sh*t about her, and Fraser wonders why Ben is meddling. Barbie tries to blame Cat, but Fraser is like, no. Ben’s been watching all day. In Fraser’s interview, he says, he doesn’t know what Ben’s game plan is in stirring the pot with the girls. He’s getting the attention he so desires. He asks Ben not to get involved with interior drama. He’s riled Barbie up and she’s fiery. In his interview, Fraser says, Ben doesn’t give a sh*t what he does to them as the interior team or the crew. F*** off and leave his girls alone.

Everyone gets ready for Miami night. The stews agree Ben is only deckhand worth checking out, if he shaved his head. I could agree that he doesn’t have the best haircut, but why so extreme? For dinner, Anthony makes Venezuelan chicken, and Cuban beef stew (Ropa Vieja), and the cutest cake ever with a flamingo sitting on top. No, not a real one. The crew dons wigs, even Captain Kerry, and they bring in the cake, singing Happy Birthday. The deckhands chat, and Kyle says, he’s been single for six years. In Jared’s interview, he says he’s separated from his daughter’s mother. His daughter is the love of his life, but he and her mother’s lives took different directions. When you love someone, you have to let them go so they can flourish and fly. He tells the other deckhands that he’s now port to port.  

This is so boring, I can’t stand it.

Anthony announces, the stove is a piece of sh*t. In Captain Kerry’s interview, he says his kids are the best kids. His son is a huge character with a big heart and sensitive, and his daughter is a firecracker. They’ve had a close bond since the children were small. He’d been gone for ten months, so when they got a little older, he found jobs where he was there more often. He’s a family man 100%. He tells Xandi that when he’d fly with his kids, he’d apologize to the people sitting around him in advance and buy everybody drinks. Xandi says, when she’s on a flight with kids, she considers birth control. Then, in the most glorious food porn moment of all, lobster benedict is served. It’s total art and I have no doubt it tastes like heaven. The captain has a docking meeting, and the deckhands pretend to listen. In the captain’s interview, he says, he hopes they’re good on the radio. It’s a tight area, and the crew isn’t familiar with the boat. There are no airbags on boats. Brian says, leaving is breaking his heart. He doesn’t want to go. Barbie tells Cat to speak to her instead of everybody on the boat, and in Cat’s interview, she says, the only person who could have told her is Fraser and she’d be shocked if he gossiped. Barbie says, if Cat has any complaints about her, she’s here. During the docking, Kyle spaces out or gets confused or something on stern and isn’t giving the distance. Captain Kerry says, he’s sh*tting himself. He’s in trouble.

Kerry flies around boat and yells for fenders. In the captain’s interview, he says he’s not getting calls back, and he’s a bee’s d*ck away from bailing out. In 20 years, he’s never been in that situation. We see each deckhand in their interview all saying the same thing – f***. It’s time for guest departure and Brian says, the food was awesome and otherworldly, and the tablescapes were on point. He gives Captain Kerry the tip envelope, and says, they also brought a bit of Texas, giving two food baskets to the deckhands and stews. Afterward, the captain says, the guests had a fabulous time, and he wants to see the deck crew in the wheelhouse. Fraser tells the stews to do a quick wash up, and Ben says, the captain was not happy with the docking. When they get to the wheelhouse, Captain Kerry says, first docking. He’s not real happy. Actually, he’s pretty pissed. He can’t have people on deck if they’re not going to tell him what’s going on. Jared says, he didn’t have it set up the way he wanted. He’s still scrambling. The captain says, not enough time isn’t an excuse. If Jared isn’t ready, tell him. He needs to know the distance since he can’t see the stern. In his interview, the captain says, Jared is used to a smaller boat, but he’ll get there. Fraser says he wants all the bathrooms to be stunning.

It’s time for the tip meeting, and Captain Kerry says he’s like a dog with two tails. The guests were happy with the food and the service was amazing. It was incredible. Well done. Excellent work. They need to eliminate the schoolboy errors, the little stuff they’re getting wrong, but he believes they’re a great team and can make the season successful. Surprisingly, even with the slow food issue, the tip is $25K or $1923 each. They clink glasses and get ready to turn the boat over. Fraser tells Cat and Barbie to meet him on the sundeck, and in his interview, he says, last year, he focused on his team as individuals, but it’s important they see the team as one. It’s not about you; it’s about us. And success calls. He tells the stews that they want to try and treat each other with respect and care, like they were all at the level of captain. Barbie says, on the first day Cat was slow, and that’s why she was talking to Cat the way she was. She wasn’t up to par. Then Ben told her that Cat had said negative things about her. She was wondering why Cat was talking about her when Cat was working at a snail’s pace. Cat says, the first day, she was stuck in the pantry with non-stop dishes. She’s levering different roles and has to change directions when asked. The last person that was a floater had the same complaint, so maybe it’s not her. Fraser says, they wouldn’t have known this if they hadn’t had this conversation. Cat could also make the decision to finish a task and then move on, because she’s doing a fluid job. Fraser thinks it’s all good, but Barbie says, Cat came down before the picnic and said they were supposed to be working. Cat says she didn’t, but we flash back and she kinda did. Barbie says, Cat needs to be sensitive about how she speaks, and Fraser says, this is going nowhere constructive and it’s getting petty. He has no time to be petty. So they can be good stews and they’re going get along. If they can’t, they’ll both be gone.

Next time, Ben says, everything he told himself that he wasn’t going to be doing, and here they are; Captain Kerry tells Anthony that they need crew food out more often and faster; and Fraser tells Barbie that she’s rude.

💭 Thoughts: This season is starting off as a real snooze. And why is it only the female deckhands seem to understand that your superior is your superior at work?

🐶 Team Ruff For the Win….

Make a U-ey back tomorrow for soap and the latest Rules. Until then, stay safe, stay taking it easy on yourself for that holiday weight gain (but maybe take it easy on the Valentine’s candy too), and stay knowing that grief and sadness might never go away, but they dull and somehow you get used to it.

February 25, 2022 – News Of Peter’s Death Travels Fast, Kelly’s the Worst, Dolores’s Take, Heather Whines, Absent, Bribery, a Possibility, Dog, a Dozen Quotes For Black History Month & Taking You

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Sam sees Dante near the hospital reception desk, and runs up to him. She says, Anna called, and said they were back in town. Is he a patient here? He says, no, he’s fine. He just has to do a follow-up for the hit in the head he took. He tells her that she looks beautiful, and apologizes for not calling on the way back. The WSB is debriefing him pretty much indefinitely. She says, he’s healthy; that’s the most important thing. Now will he shut up and give her a kiss? He says, yes, ma’am, and does.

Monica says she knows how disappointed Willow must be to postpone her trip to Paris, and Michael says, she doesn’t have a passport, and she’s having difficulty tracking down her birth certificate. Willow says, according to the State Department, they have no record of her. It’s almost like she never existed.

Alexis calls Harmony, and says she’s just checking in. At Charlie’s, Harmony asks if that’s what Alexis is calling giving her a gentle nudge in the right direction, but Alexis says she’s calling to offer moral support. She knows it’s a big day for Harmony. At one of the tables, cash changes hands for what’s no doubt a shady deal, and Alexis asks if Harmony is there. Harmony says Alexis is right; it’s probably one of the most important days of her life. The day she tells Willow that she’s not her biological daughter. Alexis says her boss is here, and she’s got to go. She’ll check in later. Good luck. Shawn walks into Alexis’s office, and says, Harmony, huh? She asks if he has a problem with that.

Elizabeth looks at the card from Betsy, and flashes back to finding her ring in her locker, getting stuck in the art therapy room, and discovering her dress was slashed. Finn asks if she’s okay, and she says she just zoned out for a minute. She needs some caffeine. He says, with the double-shifts she’s pulling, he’s not sure caffeine is going to do the trick. She says, maybe not, and he asks if that’s the card Franco’s mom sent her. She says, she was going to throw it out, and put the bad memories behind her, but unfortunately, she doesn’t think it will put an end to things. He asks what she means, and she says, something big is going on.

Carly looks at the family photo on her desk, along with her divorce papers. Her assistant says someone is here to see her, and Carly says, send them in. Drew walks in, and she asks, what happened?

Nina says, Sonny wouldn’t have called her if he hadn’t been drinking, but he says he would have called her sober. She says, that would have been a first. He’s looking down the barrel of a divorce because he played fast and free with his meds. He says, she doesn’t know that; he doesn’t know that. All he knows is that he’s going through a divorce, and she’s here. She says, he’s changing the subject, but he says he forgot what the subject was already. She says she can’t remember the subject right now, and he takes her hand. He pulls her to him, and they hug. Then he kisses her.

Monica says, Willow had a rather unorthodox childhood, but the fact that the government can’t produce her birth certificate is egregious. Willow says, it’s very frustrating, and Monica says, it’s ridiculous. If there’s anything she can do to help, please let her know. Willow thanks her, and the doorbell rings. Willow opens the door to Harmony, and says, hopefully, her mother can give her all the information she needs.

Shawn says he wouldn’t want someone to judge him based on the worst chapter of his life. He made a fresh start, and Harmony is owed one too. If Alexis says she’s changed… Alexis says, he’ll believe she has? He says, he’ll believe she believes it, and she says she’ll take it as a win. She’s sure he doesn’t want to talk about her personal life on company time, and he says she’s right. He has news of his own. News that’s going to change the future of this company.

Sam says, so it’s all over? and Dante says, it’s all over. Peter’s dead. Speaking of which, there’s some people he’s got to tell. She asks if she can be his back-up, and he says he’d love for her to be his back-up, but he should probably do this on his own. Can he meet her at her place afterward? She says she’s going to hold him to that, he kisses her again, and leaves.

Sonny takes Nina’s hand and starts to lead her to the bedroom, but she tells him, wait, stop. What they’re doing, it’s a huge mistake.

Carly tells Drew, she’s sorry; that wasn’t a great welcome home. She’s glad he’s back and safe, but she heard he went with Dante and Anna to find Maxie, and he has a really somber look on his face. He says, it’s all good news. Maxie is home, and she’s safe, and she’s reuniting with her daughter as they speak. Carly says, that’s wonderful news. When she heard what Maxie and Brook did to protect Maxie’s baby, it broke her heart. He says, the good news is, they never have to look over their shoulder again because Peter is dead. The nightmare he brought over all of them is over now. Maxie and her family can be together again.

Nina says she doesn’t want to cross the line with Sonny, but he says, the line’s already been crossed. She tells him not to joke this away. She thinks she’s made a lot of mistakes, and a kiss between them should mean a lot more than a distraction technique from the real issue of him and his meds. He says, it’s not a technique, and she says, the point is, he went on another bender. She doesn’t claim to be an expert here, but aside from the physical health concerns, alcohol can dull the effects of the medication. Even though he’s back on his meds, he could still be emotionally vulnerable until it kicks in. So what they were about to do would be wrong, just like it was wrong the other day. He says, what happened between them, that wasn’t drinking, and she says, no, but he was drinking heavily days before, and his body is readjusting to all the meds. That would explain what happened between them at the Haunted Star. Then Carly walked in on them. He says, what if he doesn’t want to explain it away? What if his drinking had nothing to do with what happened between them?

Finn says, something big is happening. Like what? Sam approaches them and says she’s sorry to interrupt, but have they spoken to Anna this morning? Elizabeth says, no, and Finn says he hasn’t spoken to her in a few days. Why? What’s going on? Sam says, she was in Europe, looking for Peter, and he’s gone. Elizabeth asks if he got away again, but Sam says, no. She means the other kind of gone; he’s dead. She knows she’s had a lot more time to process this, so she’ll say what they’re probably thinking. Peter has always managed to come back when they thought he was gone, but not this time. He’s finally dead, and he will never be able to hurt them, their families, or anyone else ever again.

Drew says, he knows it’s a lot to process about Peter’s death, but he thought Carly would be happy about Maxie. She says she is. She’s so happy Peter is dead. She just wishes Jason was here to see it. He says, Jason, his brother, and her… How would she describe Jason? She says, he was her person. He loved her unconditionally despite her many faults, and she loved him. She still loves him. Drew says, he died saving the lives of people he cared about. He set a course in motion that led to Peter’s downfall. He died a hero because that’s who he was. She says, he was certainly her hero. Always there when she needed him. She still needs him.

Sonny says, the medication and alcohol does explain the connection between him and Nina. They’re drawn to each other like a moth to a flame, and the night at the Haunted Star was a mistake for many reasons; the timing, hurting Carly. Then they talked that night at the chapel. He fell in love with Nina in Nixon Falls when he didn’t know who he was, and those feelings don’t just disappear. Maybe the silver lining is, they now finally get to unpack what they really mean to each other, without all the baggage and deception. She says she understands what he’s saying. They had all that baggage because she’s the one who created that. She described their love in Nixon Falls as pure, and it was, but that was only part of the story. The whole time, she was drowning in guilt. It was wrong of her to fall in love with him when he didn’t have his memory, just like it would be wrong if they explored anything between them when he’s so vulnerable. She goes to freshen up, and there’s a knock at the door. Frank says, there’s someone on the list to see him, and Dante comes to the door. He says, bad time?

Alexis says Shawn doesn’t sound very positive about that news. Should she be worried? Should she be updating her resumé? He says she knows how he keeps his cards close to his chest; it’s actually good news. The circulation for The Invader has actually increased. Aurora Media is downsizing its print division. They’re holding on to The Banner in Llannview for legacy reasons, but they’re divesting from their west coast news readers. She asks how this is affecting him, and he says he’s thinking of buying them up to expand The Invader’s reach. She says, that’s a huge deal; congratulations. He says, there’s just one catch. The offices are located in San Francisco, and he’d have to move there to make this work.

Harmony says, it’s good to see Monica, and Monica says, hopefully, Harmony can help Willow out with this birth certificate issue. Willow asks if they can use the living room, and Monica says, of course (🍷). Willow and Harmony go into the living room, and Monica asks Michael if he thinks Harmony will solve the mystery of the birth certificate. He says he doesn’t know. She’s been pretty evasive so far.

Willow says, Harmony mentioned on the phone that she has some news about Willow’s birth certificate, and Harmony says she does. Willow asks if everything is okay, and Harmony says, there’s something she needs to tell Willow.

Shawn tells Alexis that he’ll have to move his non-profit base of operations to San Francisco, at least for a while. Maybe someday, he can split his time between there and Port Charles. She says, it sounds like a wonderful opportunity. San Francisco’s a beautiful city. She’s so happy for him. He says, and yet, she doesn’t sound like she is, and she says, selfishly, she liked having him around again. She liked when they were rooming together; it was domestic and it was happy, like their happy little playing house. He says, like it would have been years ago, if he hadn’t screwed things up as a couple. She tells him, she didn’t say that, and he says, but she was thinking that. She says, they were good together… when they were good together. He tells her, he’d say they still are. He knows there are a million reasons for him to move to the west coast. He was just wondering if there was one better reason for him to stay.

Willow says, whatever it is, Harmony can tell her. She knows they’ve had their ups and downs, but she’s Harmony’s daughter; she’s here for her. Harmony says, she managed to find Willow’s birth certificate, and Willow asks, how? Harmony says she still has some connections in Claiborne County, and their record-keeping system is badly outdated, but she called in a few favors, and they’re going to send her a new copy of the birth certificate. Willow says, that’s great news, and hugs Harmony.

Elizabeth says, Peter’s dead? Is Sam absolutely sure? Sam says, according to Dante, yes. Anna saw Peter take his last breath. The WSB has possession of his body, did an autopsy, and they’re filing all of the paperwork. The reign of terror that Peter had is finally over. Finn asks if Elizabeth is okay, but she says she doesn’t know how to answer that. Peter was responsible for so much loss; Franco’s death and Jason’s death, all those months Maxie was kept away from her baby. It just feels like there should be something more. Finn agrees, and says, there’s certainly something appealing about Peter rotting in prison for the rest of his life, alone, knowing the world’s completely forgotten about him. At least there’s no possibility of escape this time. Elizabeth says she thought after all this time she’d feel some kind of closure. She’s relieved, but it doesn’t lessen what they lost. Sam says she knows how Elizabeth feels, and Elizabeth thanks her for telling them. She says, Sam doesn’t have to stick around, but Sam says, the way she sees it, her and Elizabeth had their lives significantly turned upside down in the past year and a half, but Jake and Danny are Jason’s sons, so they’re always going to be connected. Elizabeth sought her out when she found out Jason was marrying Carly, because she knew how Sam felt. What she’s trying to say is, she’ll always have Elizabeth’s back. Elizabeth thanks her, and says she’ll continue to have Sam’s. Sam says she’ll give them some private time, and leaves.

Drew says, he takes it things haven’t gotten any better between Carly and Sonny, and she says, it can’t get much worse than walking in on Sonny in bed with Nina; that was definitely a low point. And when she saw Sonny in bed with Nina, all she wanted to do was run to Jason. He had this way of making her feel like the world wasn’t going to end, even though the sky was falling. But she’s glad she ran into Drew. He has the same touch. He says he was worried he just made everything worse, considering they almost… They flash back to almost kissing, and she says, almost.

Nina is still in the bathroom, and Sonny invites Dante in. Dante says, he doesn’t know if anyone told Sonny, but Peter August is dead. Sonny says, really? and Dante says, he won’t be hurting anyone ever again. He wanted to let Sonny know before the news broke. He has to go to the Quartermaines, and let Monica and Michael know, unless Sonny wants to let Michael know. Sonny says, it’s better coming from Dante. Is he saying Anna took Peter out? Dante says, it was a team effort, and Sonny says, he’s going to check in with Anna; see what’s going on. Nina sees Dante is there, and stays hidden, and Dante says he’s not in any rush, and he knows Peter is the reason Jason is dead. So if Sonny wants to talk… Sonny says, he appreciates the offer, but he’s doing fine. Dante says, he’s not. Everything that’s going on with Carly, and his best friend that he’d normally confide this stuff in, isn’t here anymore. He’s not saying he’s Jason, but he’s here for Sonny. Sonny says he has nothing to talk about; he’s fine. He just wants to be left alone, that’s all. Dante asks if it’s a business problem, or is there another reason Sonny’s trying to get rid of him. Nina listens in.

Drew says, he and Carly made the right call stepping back that night. Whatever hole was drawing them together, he doesn’t want it to jeopardize their friendship. She says, they were both having a really bad night. She thought she’d spend the rest of her life with Sonny, and she’s sure he thought the same thing about Sam. And like that – she snaps her fingers – everything changed. He says, they’re not in the same boat; she and Sonny are married. She shows him the papers, and says, they’re getting a divorce. He says he’s sorry to hear that, and she says, her too. She feels like she didn’t have a choice. She kept asking Sonny over and over again to tell her what happened in Nixon Falls, and he just wouldn’t. He wanted to focus on the present, and she gets that, but when the truth came out, because it always does, she couldn’t believe how many secrets Sonny was keeping from her. Then when she walked in on him in bed with Nina, she had to choose herself. How could she be a good role model for Josslyn and Avery and Donna if she stayed in a marriage where she wasn’t respected? He says he can’t argue with any of that. So that’s it; it’s over? She says, they met with lawyers, and kept it as civilized as they could. They agreed, for Donna and Avery’s sake, they wanted to make it as seamless as possible, but they can’t really do that. Life is complicated. Her mouth drops open, and Drew asks, what is it? She says, she just realized. Does Sonny know Peter is dead? Does he have any idea the man who killed Jason is gone?

Dante says, Sonny should know by now, he can’t push Dante away that easy. He’s seen this before. He knows what it is, and knows walking away would be a bad idea. Sonny says, Dante is right. He shouldn’t have snapped at him like that. He had a bad day yesterday. He met with Carly and the attorneys to hammer out the divorce, and it didn’t go very well, so he’s embarrassed to say, he went out and had a lot of drinks, and he feels like hell today. He’s hung over. No big mystery. Some other time, they can have coffee and talk. Dante says he didn’t now Sonny and Carly were doing divorce proceedings. He’s sorry about that. He loves Sonny, and he’ll check in later. Call if he needs anything. Dante leaves, and Nina comes out. She thanks Sonny for not telling Dante she was here. She doesn’t feel like answering a bunch of questions. He says, she doesn’t owe anybody any explanations, and she says she’s just curious. Why didn’t he tell Dante that she was here? He doesn’t say anything, and she says, right. That’s just proof the kiss was a mistake.

Willow tells Harmony, she’s glad the answer was so simple. She was going crazy; it was like she didn’t exist. Harmony says, the way she raised Willow, it’s her fault, but Willow says, Harmony is a seeker. She asks the big questions, and sincerely wants to find a better way to live, a better way to be in the world. And the underlying impulses are good ones, even if some of the outcomes have been horrible and difficult. Harmony says she’s sorry if this process dredged up some memories of the past, but Willow says, that’s all it is now; the past. She’s glad they can move on together. She takes Harmony’s hand.

Alexis says, she’ll give Shawn two reasons; TJ and Molly. He says, TJ is a full-grown man, and his son wasn’t what he was talking about, and she knows that. When they reconnected last year, it felt like fate. She says, it did? and he says, it felt like they were given a do-over in their relationship, without repeating the same mistakes. She helped him get out of jail; now he’s helping her get some purpose back in life. They’re helping each other get back on track. They care about each other. So is he right? Has there been something bubbling up to the surface in the last few months? She says she hadn’t really thought about it, and he says, liar. She says, does she want him in her life? Absolutely. 100%. But when Neil died, a part of her shut down, and she’s not sure how to turn it back on again. He says, but she’d like to, right? when Sam comes to the door. Shawn says he’ll get Alexis those reports, and greets Sam on his way out. Sam says she hopes she wasn’t interrupting anything.

Finn tells Elizabeth that he doesn’t talk about it much, but he knows better than anyone, you don’t get over losing your spouse. It took him a long, long time to make peace with Rieko’s death. There may be a path forward for her, where she can hang onto the good Franco memories, and keep them with her, and at the same time keep the trauma of his death in the past. She says, if only it was that simple. She hasn’t told him what’s been going on with her, and Franco.

Michael asks, what’s the good word? and Willow says, her mom was able to track down her birth certificate. It should be arriving soon. Harmony says she should get going, and Willow opens the door. Dante is on the porch, and Michael asks what he’s doing here. Dante says he wanted to talk to Michael, and Harmony says she doesn’t need to be here for this, and leaves. Willow says she imagines Dante is here to talk about Sonny and Carly; she’ll give them some privacy. Dante says, actually, she should stay, and Monica as well. It involves all of them. He wanted to be the one person to tell them that Peter is dead. He’ll never hurt anyone again.

Drew tells Carly that he has no idea if Sonny knows about Peter. He’s been kind of busy getting debriefed by the Bureau. Carly hates the thought of looking at Sonny right now, but Jason’s family. She should be the one to tell him that Jason’s death was avenged. He says, if she wants some back-up, he’s happy to go with her. She looks at the family photo again, and he says, or he could break it to Sonny himself and take it off her plate.

Nina says, Peter’s dead? She can’t believe it. He made so many people miserable. What happens now that the horrible nightmare is over; it’s ended. He says, what usually follows an ending is a new beginning, and she says she should go. He grabs her arm, and says, she doesn’t have to go now, but she says she does. Whatever happens next, she hopes he considers cutting down on his drinking, or not drink at all. He deserves to have a clear mind when he figures out what he wants to do next. He says he’ll think about it because he believes he owes her that much, but she says, he doesn’t owe her anything. She touches his face, and says, he owes it to himself.

Finn says, so there was more to this besides the ring. Why didn’t Elizabeth say anything? She says, because she felt like she was imagining things, and he says, but it’s real. Tell him. She says, it was Valentine’s Day. She’d decided to donate the dress she wore when she married Franco. She wasn’t going to wear it again, and it had just been hanging in her closet in a garment bag. When the bag was opened, the dress was torn to shreds. She knows all of this seems so random on a case by case basis, but when you combine the ring, the dress, and this card… He says, it’s a pattern. She shouldn’t dismiss that. She says, she just feels like someone is doing this deliberately, and he asks if she’s sure the boys aren’t upset about them and acting out. She says, Cameron is so happy with Josslyn and PCU, his heart is not in a destructive place. He says, Jake and Aiden, and she says, she asked both of them, and they both insist they had nothing to do with the ring. She knows when her boys are lying, and she doesn’t think they are. She guesses she could ask them again. Finn’s phone dings, and he says he has to check on a patient. He’ll see her back at the house. It’s going to be okay.

Alexis asks if Peter’s death gave Sam any closure, and Sam says, closure and relief. Not only for herself, for the entire city, including Alexis. Peter was the one who gaslit Alexis into thinking Franco was a threat to her. Alexis says, she was drunk when she assaulted Dante, and can’t blame Peter for that. Prison, unfortunately, was a wake-up call that she needed to be sober. Sam says, then she reunited with Shawn. How are things going between the two of them? Alexis says, they’re just good friends. He’s also her boss, so anything beyond that would be inappropriate anyway. Sam says she can accept that, even though Alexis is the happiest Sam’s seen her since Neil died. And the way he died was so sudden and unexpected. Alexis pulled herself together, and keeps moving forward. Neil would want her happy. As a matter-of-fact, Sam thinks Shawn was probably the most stable relationship Alexis has been a part of since Sam’s known her. Alexis says, it’s a pretty low bar she’s set, and Sam says, true, but can’t Shawn be Alexis’s confidante, and not Harmony with all her baggage? She knows Alexis said she was giving Harmony a second chance, but has she really changed?

Harmony sits with the shady guy at Charlie’s, and he says, sorry. That seat’s taken. She says, yeah, by her. She’s seen him handle some shady business here and in the alley. Word on the street is, he’s good at forging documents. He says, maybe. What’s it to her? She says, how good is he at forging a birth certificate?

Elizabeth calls Betsy, and says, she knows it’s been a while. She got Betsy’s card, and has some news she thinks Betsy wants to hear. Is there any way she can come to town and talk in person?

Sam says, she freely admits that Harmony has gone above and beyond to redeem herself. She did help them track down Drew, but there is so much history between her and their family. Alexis says, they’ve been through this, and she appreciates it and understands, but she’s going to stop Sam her. Shawn is her friend, and Harmony has been her friend. She cares about both of them. That’s why she’s so grateful that Sam and the girls, including Shawn (I swear, she said it that way) are accepting the possibility that she may have changed.

Harmony gives a wad of money to shady guy, who says, it’s a pleasure doing business with her. He’ll be in touch when he has something. He leaves, and Harmony gets up. She turns around to see Shawn.

Michael says, this is a long time coming. To Jason. He, Willow, Dante, and Monica lift their glasses, and he says, and to all the people not here to see the justice they deserved. They clink glasses, and say, to Jason. Michael says, now they’ll be able to focus on putting all the people whose lives were torn apart by Peter, back together again.

Sonny says, he’ll think about cutting back for his own well-being, and wants to let Nina know it means a lot that she cares. She says she should know better, but she can’t seem to help herself. Sonny opens the door, and Carly and Drew are there.

On Monday, Shawn tells Harmony to watch her step, Alexis asks if Diane doesn’t trust her judgement, Elizabeth wonders if Jake is trying to tell her something, and Drew says he and Nina aren’t going to talk about Carly.

😲 Oh No She Didn’t…

How dare Kelly shade Queen LVP, she who can do no wrong?

👠 A Question Of Loyalty…

Has Dolores seen the show? Teresa isn’t a runner? Since when? Storming off is one of her specialties.

👶🏻 Boo Hoo…

Apparently, someone told Heather this was a sorority.

🧂 Skipping Mary…

Nothing really newsworthy, but amusing.

https://www.eonline.com/news/1320637/see-the-exact-moment-the-rhoslc-cast-learns-mary-cosbys-skipping-the-season-2-reunion

💵 No Accounting…

At least it tips her toward less boring.

💔 Not the Bubbas…

Let’s see. She doesn’t get along with his best friend and business partner, and she’s a go-getter while he’s unambitious AF. And no one saw it coming?

Katie Maloney: Did She Just Announce That She’s Divorcing Tom Schwartz?

🐕‍🦺 All About That Dog…

The article says, everybody was astonished at what the dogs could do, but I’ve had German Shepherds, and I can vouch for the fact they’re no dummies.

https://ew.com/movies/dog-co-director-reid-carolin/

👑 Quotes of the Week

Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome while trying to succeed. – Booker T. Washington

Never be limited by other people’s limited imaginations. – Dr. Mae Jemison, first African-American female astronaut

I have learned over the years that when one’s mind is made up, this diminishes fear. – Rosa Parks

For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others. – Nelson Mandela

Racism isn’t born, folks, it’s taught. I have a two-year-old son. You know what he hates? Naps! End of list. – Dennis Leary

I am lucky that whatever fear I have inside me, my desire to win is always stronger.Serena Williams

If they don’t give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair. – Shirley Chisholm

Life has two rules: number 1, never quit! Number 2, always remember rule number one. – Duke Ellington

Black history isn’t a separate history. This is all of our history, this is American history, and we need to understand that. It has such an impact on kids and their values and how they view black people. – Karyn Parsons

True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic. It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever cost. – Arthur Ashe

A man without knowledge of himself and his heritage is like a tree without roots. – Dick Gregory

The soul that is within me no man can degrade. – Frederick Douglass

☁️ Drifting To Dreamland…

See you at Deadtime, but until then, stay safe, stay supporting equality for all, and stay not saying, I found your birth certificate, when what you really mean is, you’re not my biological daughter.

February 3, 2022 – Peter Is Transferred to Pentenville, Fashion Week Winner On the Runway, Slipping In For Sam & Let’s Go

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Sonny walks into Charlie’s, sees Phyllis, and says, there she is. She says, someone’s in a good mood, and he says he’s a man who doesn’t see the glass half empty. They hug, and Phyllis says she likes his optimism. Care to share what inspired it? He asks her to give him a minute, and goes over to Britt at the bar. He says he wants to thank her for her discretion, but she says, just doing her job. Confidentiality is a big part of that. He seems to be doing better. He says he’s good, and last night is almost forgotten, when Drew walks in.

Victor asks if Esme is worried Spencer abandoned her, and she says, he would never, but there isn’t much time before he has to report to Spring Ridge. She wonders what’s keeping him, and Victor says, a word to the wise, we Cassadines live by our own set of rules, and our own timetable. Laura comes in with Doc, and strides over to the table. She hands Esme her purse and says, Esme doesn’t mind if she borrows Victor, does she? She sits in Esme’s seat, and Victor asks what he can do for her. She says, he can start by telling her what the hell he’s up to.

Maxie tells Anna, she’s confused. How could Valentin find out something Anna, her mom, and the police couldn’t? Anna says, that’s a very good question. She imagines Valentin just kept digging until he found something, because ever since he was told Bailey wasn’t his child, he’s been even more determined to reunite Maxie with her daughter. Austin flashes back to seeing Maxie and Brook together, Maxie telling him to steer clear of Gladys, and Maxie insisting she and Brook aren’t friends. Austin says, my God, and Maxie asks, what is it?

Substitute Sam (see below) knocks on Maxie’s door, and Spinelli, who’s been playing video games, answers. He says, gracious gravy, and lets her in. He says he’s babysitting; Georgie and James are asleep. Maxie is at the Quartermaines for Ned and Olivia’s nuptials renewal. She says she actually came to see him, and he asks what gave him the honor? She hesitates, and he says, let him guess. He knows Peter is being taken back to prison tonight, and Dante is his escort. Is she worried for his safety? She says she’s not worried about Dante; it’s her.

At the hospital on the phone, Mac says, they’re readying the prisoner for transport now. He’ll let them know when they’re on their way down. Felicia says, there’s her favorite man in uniform, but he says he doesn’t wear a uniform, and she says, that’s okay. She likes him better out of it anyway. She kisses and hugs him, and he says he can guess why she’s here, and it’s not to see him. She asks if he thinks she’d miss a chance to wish Peter bon voyage when he’s on his way back to Pentenville. She needs to make sure that the man who caused them so much grief is finally out of their lives.

Peter tells Dante, these cuffs are a bit too tight, and Dante says, are they? If Peter doesn’t like shackles, he probably shouldn’t go on a crime spree. For now, why doesn’t he face saying his final goodbyes to freedom. Peter says, he hates goodbyes. How about, until we meet again?

Sonny and Drew address each other, and Phyllis steers Sonny away. He asks what she’s doing. She doesn’t have to run interference; Drew’s not a problem. They sit, and she says, he could have fooled her. Anyway, she wanted to tell him, she and Nina have been playing phone tag. Nina won’t tell her what’s going on in her messages, and Phyllis is assuming Nina is concerned about him. He says, she’s probably worried about his medication. Phyllis asks, why? and he says, because he stopped taking them.

Drew orders a beer, and Britt asks what he did to get on Sonny’s bad side. He asks if she wants the short answer. He’s not his brother.

Ava says, she thought Spencer would be spending the evening saying goodbye to his family, and Spencer says, he was, but this is more important. She tells him, now isn’t the time to toy with Trina’s happiness, but Trina says, it’s fine; she’ll lock up. Ava says she’s just a text away, and leaves, and Spencer thanks Trina for not tossing him out. She says, the night is young; there’s still time. He says he deserved that, and she says, that’s why she said it. He says he’s been trying to reach her ever since he left the cabin, and she says, she ignored his texts, then deleted them. He says, there’s so much he has to say. There’s so much he has to tell her before he has to say goodbye.

Victor tells Laura, he’s there to say farewell and good luck to Spencer. Unfortunately, their young prince seems to have slipped away. Doc comes up behind Esme, and asks what they’re saying. She says she doesn’t know. She was just wondering what might be keeping Spence. Any theories? Doc tells her, he said he had something to do. He’s sure Spencer will be back.

Laura says she doesn’t want Victor there when her grandson returns, and he says, were it not for his intervention, young Spencer might be headed to Pentenville right now, instead of a soft landing at Spring Ridge. Nikolas approaches the table, and says, if Victor really cares about Spencer, he’ll heed Laura, and go. Victor gets up, saying, it’s not in his nature to cause a scene, but please remind his nephew that he’s always on his side. He leaves, and Laura says she’s glad Nikolas is here. He says, Spencer might not feel the same way.

Esme asks Doc if something’s wrong, and Doc says, is it him, or did Victor seem a little too excited to have a reason to leave? Laura comes over, and says, she noticed the same thing. It was like he had somewhere to go; something important to do.

Outside on the phone, Victor asks if everything is in place, and Yohan says, they’re right on schedule. Victor says, let him know when the package arrives.

Austin tells Maxie that he’s seeing the whole picture, and she says, he’s seeing what, exactly? He says, how much it means to Maxie… and to everyone else in Port Charles that Peter’s going back to prison tonight. Maxie says, her safety, her sanity, her whole future depends on Peter being locked away for good, and Austin says, from what he understands, Anna has a personal interest in what happens with Peter as well. Anna says he’s her nephew, but any familial bonds have long since gone, and he says he thinks Maxie would feel a lot better if Anna were there when the transport took place. Anna asks if he’s trying to get rid of her.

Mac tells Felicia that Peter’s transfer has been planned down to the last detail, but he can’t let her observe him being put in the transport. She asks if she can at least watch him take Peter away; Maxie deserves a witness. He says he can live with that, and she says she wants him to promise to call her as soon as Peter is processed into Pentenville. That way, she can let Maxie know the danger is over, and Peter is gone for good.

Dante says, the next time he sees Peter will be at Peter’s trial, where he’ll be convicted. Peter says he thinks Dante is taking this much too personally; very unprofessional. Dante says, Peter left a trail of blood and carnage from here to Cassadine Island, hurting people Dante knows and loves. He’s damn right Dante takes it personally. If he wasn’t wearing this damn badge… Peter says, but he is, and even though he’s Sonny Corinthos’s son, he’s still going to enforce the law, so when it comes down to it, Dante is the last person on earth Peter needs to fear. Dante says, Peter knows nothing about him. He wants Peter to live a long life behind those walls. Waking up every day, constantly worrying that someone is going to have a shiv to stick in his back or a wire to wrap around his neck. He wants Peter to grow old and grey, and realize everyone forgot about him. Peter says, there’s one thing he’s quite certain about. No one here will ever forget him.

Spinelli says he thought things were good with Sam and Dante, and she says, they’re great. They love the same movies, and love the same pizza toppings. Spinelli asks if he can pose a theory, and she says, that’s why she’s here. He says, Dante’s a cop, a noble profession, but it does come with inherent risk. Jason also had risks in his profession, and she ended that relationship to get a different life for her and her kids, a more stable life. Not unlike the one she had, albeit briefly, with Drew. She says, so? and he says, so Drew is back.

Drew tells Britt, he made the mistake of trying to referee a disagreement between Sonny and Curtis, and that’s when Sonny reminded him that he’s no Jason. She says, there’s only one Jason. Just like there’s only one Drew. He says, so what she’s telling him is that he’s unique and special – they finish together – just like everybody else. He says she really knows how to make a guy feel better, and she says she’s a doctor; that’s her job. Britt says maybe he should cut Sonny some slack. He’s had a rough year. Drew says he knows the feeling. He definitely doesn’t fault Sonny for missing Jason, that’s for sure. She says, a lot of people do, and he says he’s sorry. She probably came here to forget. She says, actually, she didn’t. She came here to meet her mother, the matchmaker.

Phyllis asks why Sonny stopped taking his meds, and he says he got careless. He forgot to get the refill, and he got angry and confused. He wanted to make it right with Carly, and worked hard to make it happen. She says, maybe too hard? Where does Nina come into all of this? He says, things got heated at The Savoy with Drew. Nina intervened, and drove him home. Phyllis says, whose home? and he says, his home. She didn’t want to leave until he got help, so she stayed the whole night. Phyllis puts her head in her hands, and he says, nothing happened. The next morning, they went to GH, and everything’s good now; he’s doing good. She says, in that case, she takes it his wife knows what happened, and how Nina got him through it.

Nikolas asks if Laura thinks he can just shake hands with his son, and forget how Spencer treated his wife, with a little help from his friends? Esme says, she apologized. She should have seen Spence was taking things too far, and reigned him in. Laura says, this is not the time for recrimination, and Doc says, agreed. They need to pull together as a family. Esme says, if only Spencer was here, when Ava comes in. She tells Esme not to worry. Spencer’s in very good hands. He’s at the gallery… with Trina.

Trina says, if she was ignoring Spencer’s calls, it’s because she didn’t want to talk to him. He says, fine, but this is his last chance to tell her that he realizes Esme turned what should have been a fun weekend into an excuse to dredge up old news about Trina and Cameron. Trina says, let’s make one thing clear. Everything Esme does, from the way she eats to the way she laughs, to the way she pours her coffee is a red flag. He says he’s not excusing her. His world turned upside down when he learned his father was still alive and married to Ava. Esme made him feel like he wasn’t alone; like he mattered. She says, please. Of course (🍷) he matters. He doesn’t need Esme to tell him.

Anna hugs Maxie, and says, this nightmare is almost over. Once Peter is safely and permanently put away, they’ll be able to concentrate all their efforts into finding Louise and bringing her home. She leaves, and Maxie says, so about that kiss… Austin says, about that kiss. He’d hoped she kissed him because he’s charming, irresistible, and wildly attractive, but he suspects she kissed him to distract him so he wouldn’t figure it out. She says, figure out what? and he says he knows what happened in the woods, and what happened to her daughter.

Sonny says he didn’t reach out to Carly for a good reason, and Phyllis asks if Carly will see it that way. He says he doesn’t want Carly to help him because she feels obligated to help him, but Phyllis says, she is his wife; in sickness and in health, remember? He says he doesn’t want her to come back because he’s off his medication and she feels she needs to. He wants her to come back to him because she wants to come back to him. That’s what tonight is all about. She says, maybe Carly would be all in if he was more forthcoming about how his brain chemistry affected his behavior.

Drew says, Obrecht is now playing Cupid? and Britt says, this isn’t funny. He says, it’s funny, and she says, her mother is so in love with Scotty, she’s determined to find Mr. Right for her. So far, she’s avoided the insanely high priced matchmaking service, but Obrecht is meeting her here in five minutes, and is expecting a full report with names and faces. He says, and here he thought he had it bad, but she says, the worst is over for him. From now on, he controls his own life. There’s no one with a claim to his heart… or is there?

Spinelli and Sam play a video game, and he tells her, video games have rules and strategies. Real life doesn’t always come with such clarity in circumstance, especially when someone you’d thought you’d lost forever is suddenly alive and well. They look at the screen, and he says, it appears her starship has vaporized.

Drew tells Britt, no claims on this heart. Being held captive, held far away from everyone you know will do that to you. She says, and if Sam wasn’t with Dante? He says, she is with Dante, and Britt says she sees; he doesn’t poach. Which is probably for the best, since Sonny is Dante’s father. He’s already on Sonny’s bad side; no need to make it worse. The bartender puts a drink in front of Drew, and he says he didn’t order this. The bartender says, courtesy of Mr. Corinthos. Drew looks at Sonny, who raises his glass.

Esme says, it’s just like Spence to think of Trina at a time like this. The poor thing was taken ill at the cabin, and put a real damper on what was supposed to be Spence’s goodbye party. Ava says, Esme’s concern is noble. She’s sure Esme was devastated. Esme says she’s going to make sure Trina knows all her friends support her. Then she’s going to give Spence a proper send-off. Doc says, doesn’t she think they should all… but she’s gone. Doc wonders if they should go to the gallery, but Ava says, trust her. Trina can take care of herself. Laura says, but Spencer is there too. Who’s going to take care of him? Nikolas says Spencer doesn’t want his help, especially when he has Victor and his connections to lean on. Laura says, that’s exactly when Nikolas should show up. They all know Victor’s connections come with a heavy price.

Anna and Felicia hug, and Anna says, she just left Maxie. Felicia asks, how is she? and Anna says, she’s counting every second until this is over, but luckily, she’s with someone. Felicia says, it wouldn’t be the good doctor, would it? and Anna says, it would. Felicia says, so Anna noticed, and Anna says, it’s hard not to. Austin tried to get rid of her so he could spend more time with Maxie alone. It was sweet. Felicia says, she appreciates the distraction while they make sure Peter becomes ancient… Peter is led out, and he says, Anna Devane. It’s so good to have family around at a time like this. Anna says she’s there to see he’s remanded to prison, where he’ll be kept from Maxie and her daughter for the rest of his life. He tells Felicia to give Maxie his love, and Felicia says, why, when he doesn’t know what the word means? He says, on second thought, never mind. He’d rather tell her himself. Mac says, let’s go, and Peter is brought into the elevator. He gives them a super creepy smile.  

Maxie says, whatever Austin thinks he heard in the woods… He says, he knows what he heard. He heard her and Brook, and heard Maxie tell Brook that it was her idea to pass her baby off as Brook’s, and from that moment, Louise was Bailey. Maxie says, he’s right. Brook’s baby is her Louise. It’s been such a burden keeping the truth from everyone, but now he knows, and he understands. He says he doesn’t understand. Why would she do something like that?

Drew asks Britt to wish him luck, and she says, he’s going to need it. Drew goes over to Sonny’s table with the drink, and Sonny asks if Drew is going to throw it in his face. Drew says he was thinking about it, but it would be a waste of good bourbon. Phyllis asks if Sonny is okay, and Sonny says, yeah. She leaves, and Sonny tells Drew, have a seat. Drew sits, and Sonny says, about the other night at The Savoy… Drew says, apology accepted, but Sonny says he didn’t apologize yet. Drew says, then what’s with the bourbon? Sonny says, let him get this out. He wasn’t himself the other night, and knows Drew probably talked to Carly and knows he’s dealing with some stuff. They’re going through some things, and he took it out on Drew, and for that, he apologizes.  

Britt says, Sonny is full of surprises, and Phyllis says, he is. So was Mike.

Ava thinks they’ve given Esme enough of a head start, and asks if they should head over to the gallery. Doc’s phone rings, and he steps away to take it. Nikolas says, what if Spencer is on his way back, and they miss him? and Ava gives him a look. He says, right. Spencer is caught between Esme and Trina; he’s not going anywhere. Doc says, he’s on his way, and tells Laura that he’s sorry. He really wanted to be with her when she took Spencer to Spring Ridge. She says, patient emergency, and he says he’s afraid so. She tells him, go. She’s perfectly capable of getting Spencer to Spring Ridge on her own. Doc asks her to tell Spencer that he’s confident Spencer can handle this, and she says she’ll pass the message along. They should get going. Spencer can’t turn himself in late. Nikolas says, he’s sure Uncle Victor would smooth it out, since he’s well connected at Spring Ridge. Laura says, that’s what worries her. Victor didn’t come back to make nice with his family. Let’s not forget, a few months ago, he was working with Peter August. Ava says, Victor turned on Peter, and Laura says, after Peter turned on him. Ava says, they’re enemies then, right? and Laura says, unless one of them needs something from the other. Nikolas says, Peter is going to be in Pentenville. He can’t do anything for Victor in there, but Laura says, maybe Victor can do something for Peter.

Trina tells Spencer, people are disappointed in him because they see him both for who he is, and for who he could become. He says, but who is that? and she says, obviously someone amazing, or they wouldn’t all be so disappointed. He says, that might be the most Trina thing she’s ever said to him, and she tells him, all she’s trying to say is, it’s never too late to start believing in yourself. He says, we can’t all be Trina Robinson, and she says, and no one else is Spencer Cassadine. He says, maybe that’s a good thing, and she says, oh, boo-hoo. He says, who knows? Maybe thirty days in Spring Ridge won’t be a  total waste. It brought him here. She says, it did; lucky her. Ava said he needed to speak with his family, so he’d better go. He says, not yet, and takes her hands. He says, Doc told him that he should say goodbye to the people who matter most to him, so that’s what he’s doing. He leans in to kiss her, when Esme shows up.

Maxie asks how Austin can not understand? He’s met Peter, and knows how dangerous and psychotic he is. He says he understands why she wants to keep Louise away from Peter. It’s the other stuff he doesn’t understand. It’s a lot. She says she didn’t have a choice, but he says she did. There were other people besides Brook she could have trusted; she should have trusted. She says, the more people who knew, the greater chance Peter would come after Louise. She didn’t even tell her parents. He asks, what happened to Brook’s child? but she says, Brook was never pregnant; she just pretended to be. He says, of course (🍷) she did. She wanted to get her hands on Valentin’s ELQ shares. Maxie says, part of it was about the shares, but Brook really cares for Louise. She’s taken care of Louise all these months, and somehow they’ve become friends through this. He asks where Chase figures in to all of this, and she says, when Gladys blabbed to Valentin, Chase stepped in and told him… He says, another lie? and she says, given what’s at stake, she can live with the decisions she’s made. If he doesn’t understand that, she’s sorry. She starts to leave, but he says, wait.

Anna looks at her phone, and Felicia says, she knows Mac is being extra cautious, but is she expecting updates already? Anna says, no. She’s sure the transport is going smoothly. She’s more concerned about Valentin. She didn’t tell Felicia this, but he left her a message that he had a lead on Louise, and she hasn’t heard from him since. Felicia says she’s sure he’s fine, as long as Peter doesn’t know what he found. That’s all that counts.

In the van, Peter says he’s so sorry for preventing Dante from spending the evening with Sam. Then again, it’s nice having Drew back in her life, isn’t it? Dante smiles, and says, that’s not going to work. Nothing Peter says matters. Peter is going away, and he can’t wait to see those Pentenville gates closing behind him. Peter says Dante should enjoy the journey. You know what they say; getting there is half the fun. Mac asks if the driver sees the sign, and the driver says, icy conditions ahead. He stops short, and Dante says, what the hell? He asks Mac what’s going on, and Mac says, a car must have hit some black ice and skidded off the road; there might be casualties. Dante asks if they’re stopping to help, but Mac says, they’re not taking any chances. He’ll call it into the state police and let them handle it. Dante thinks it’s a wise choice, given the current circumstances, and tells Peter, nice try. Peter says, a car going off the road? He hopes he’d think of something more interesting than that.

Drew tells Sonny that he does know one thing; he’s no Jason. But just to  be clear, he doesn’t want to be. Sonny says, Drew is a good friend and a good man, but most important, a good father. They both know what it’s like to lose people they love; great people that can’t be replaced. Drew says, they do, and Sonny says, Oscar was one of a kind. Drew says, so was Jason.

Britt tells Phyllis, wow. They reached detente in like, two minutes. Is that how Mike was, a kinder gentler Sonny? Phyllis says, if Britt knows about Mike, she must be friends with Nina. Britt says, one of the few, and proud, and Phyllis says, her Lenny was a Marine; he’d do anything for a buddy. Britt says, if she’s drawing comparisons, she and Nina aren’t that close, but they did share a brother. Phyllis asks if that was Jay, and Britt says, Nina was the only one who called him that. Everybody else knew him as Nathan. She and Nina aren’t not that close, but they share things that bond people for life. Phyllis says she’s glad Nina has a friend, and a sister. Kind of. Britt says, in a way. The thing is, with Nina, what’s the right thing to do? Does she fight for Sonny, or does she sound the retreat?

Esme acts like she just came in, and calls to Spencer. She says, there he is. It looks like she showed up just in time. If he checks into Spring Ridge late, it could add to his sentence. She’s sure Trina wouldn’t want that on her conscience, especially after how things ended at the cabin. Spencer says, that wasn’t Trina’s fault, but Esme tells him, she didn’t say it was. Anyway, she’s glad Trina isn’t showing any ill effects after drinking too much alcohol, and Trina says, it wasn’t the hot toddy. Esme says, that’s right. It was their little game that upset her, but let’s put all that aside, for Spence. Trina says, she can if Esme can, and Laura comes in. She says, sorry to interrupt, but they really need to get going. Spencer says, he’s ready. He’s said goodbye everybody that matters. He looks at Trina, and Nikolas and Ava come in. Nikolas says, not everybody.

Austin tells Maxie, he’s sorry. He’s a little confused, and his feelings are a little hurt that she didn’t trust him, but he understands. Brook says Maxie is the bravest person she knows, and he feels the same way. Maxie says, really? Because she feels like she’s terrified all the time. He says, that’s what makes her so brave. He was there when she brought Louise into the world, and he cares about her. He cares about that little life. He gets it. Nobody would ever blame her for keeping her little girl safe from Peter. She thanks him for forgiving her. She should have told him the truth… He says, really? She should have? She says, first she was wrong for not telling him, now she’s right? Pick a lane. He says she didn’t know him. He was some stranger in the woods with a headlamp. She says, that was then, this is now. He’s not a stranger anymore.

Peter asks, what time is it? and Dante says, why does he care? Where he’s going, he’ll have all the time in the world. Mac tells the driver, the roads look clear. Let’s step on the gas, and make up for lost time. The driver floors it, and the car starts to jerk around.   

Phyllis tells Sonny, that didn’t seem to go badly, and he says, if Drew can put the past behind them, he’s hoping Carly can. Starting tonight.

Britt says, that looked like the beginning of a friendship, but Drew says he wouldn’t go that far. She says, since her mother is late… He says, she’s late? She’s Swiss and German. Britt says, it shouldn’t be possible, but it means while she’s been waiting to talk about her dream man, her mother has been with hers. Even the world’s greatest clockmakers lose track of time when they’re in love. He says he vaguely remembers what that’s like, but she says, forget the vague; it just stirs up memories. Since he’s no longer on Sonny’s bad side, and things with Sam and Dante are still new, why not see where he stands with Sam? He tells her, she said it herself, he doesn’t poach. Besides, it was never about that. She says, then what’s it about? and he says, Sam and what she wants. She says, what about what he wants? and leaves.

Sam tells Spinelli that she’s beyond grateful Drew is back. It’s been wonderful for Scout to have her father back, and as for Danny, losing Jason has been very hard, but having his uncle to lean on has been very helpful. He says, how about her? and she says, this game is too difficult for adults. She puts down the controller, and he says, perhaps, but perhaps her concentration is divided. She says, fine. She’s crazy about Dante. They’re great together. It’s just that, when she’s with Drew… He says, she doesn’t have the history with Dante that she has with Drew, and she says, she’s reminded of all the things they planned. He says, then Jason came back, and things ended with Drew, and she says, exactly. He says, now she has the chance to see where things with Drew might have led… If that’s what she wants.

Nikolas tells Spencer, thirty days is going to feel like forever, but remember, he’s not alone. Esme says, his father is trying. Can’t Spencer meet him halfway? Spencer thanks Nikolas for being here, and says, maybe when he gets out they can… Nikolas says he hopes so. Spencer tells Trina, see her in a month, and she says, not if she sees him first. Esme says she’s going to miss him so much, but she’ll be interning at Spring Ridge, so she’ll  never be far away. Laura says, time to go, and Spencer leaves with her.

Outside Kelly’s, Victor’s phone rings. Yohan says, the package is right on time.

Felicia says, Valentin can take care of himself, and Anna says she knows. Felicia says, look on the bright side. Peter is going to be locked away for good, and now, God willing, they can find Louise, and bring her home to Maxie.

Austin says, Maxie’s secret is safe with him, and she says she knows that. Now she knows a lot of things she didn’t know before. She kisses him.

Dante and Mac stand outside the van, and Mac asks if there’s any sign as to why the driver lost control. He and Dante look around with flashlights. Inside, a guard tells Peter, the driver must have hit an icy patch, and skidded off the road. Mac and Dante look at the tires, which are flat, and Dante says, all four tires were punctured. They didn’t hit ice. They see headlights coming toward them, and draw their guns.

Tomorrow, Austin wonders if Maxie’s kiss is another diversion, Obrecht says she did Nina a favor, and Sonny wants everything to be perfect.

Project Runway

We flashed back a little, then went to three months before Fashion Week.

Christian’s first stop was Miami, where he visited Shantall. He said it was exciting to work with women who had so much passion and were from different cultures and countries. Shantall was happy, excited, nervous, and filled with anxiety. She said she needed Christian to calm her down. She explained her fabric/texture concept to him, reinventing a snake with feathers that was cultural, and making it kind of art deco. Christian wasn’t keen on the yellow pieces in her collection, saying one piece was reminiscent of his mom’s 80s Easter outfit. In Shantall’s interview, she said she’d have to start from scratch. Being a businesswoman and a mom was hard, but with the possibility of son Franco having autism, she’d wanted to be with him. Christian had dinner with Shantall and her family, and said her aesthetic was great. If she got the changes done, her collection was going to be insane.

Visiting Chasity in Houston was next. In Chasity’s interview, she said, personally, she need a kick in the butt, but was she ready for it? No. Christian said she needed to figure out a story. Every brand had a vision. Chasity said she’d felt like the black sheep of the family, and Christian said maybe that’s what it was. In her interview, she said if she wanted a chance at winning she had to lock down the story and let go. Her oldest daughter told Christian that she was proud of her mother. She never quit when she was frustrated, and kept going. Chasity said, she couldn’t put into words how blessed she was that her mom, sister, and fiancé rallied around the girls, while she chased her dream in order to give them a better life.

Christian then went to Los Angeles to see Coral. He wanted to check out how much macramé Coral had around the house. It was a lot. In Coral’s interview, she said she’d gone to Mexico City, and it made her proud to see where she came from. With the collection, she wanted to celebrate indigenous makers. Christian said it was amazing to come from a heritage that celebrated crafts and color. He came from Maryland, and wondered what he got. Blue crabs? He told Coral that her work was insane. Having something signature was important, and not a lot of brands had this. He suggested she use her macramé skills in a weird, unexpected way. He thought her work was distinct and powerful, but needed more shape and ideas. He asked Coral to give him a class, and Coral’s son joined them. In her interview, Coral said, she wanted to show her son not to give up on his dreams. She’d never won a challenge, so it was important for her to win. She wanted to show him that he could do it too. Christian said she could be the winner, but go more abstract than beautiful and perfect. Her silhouettes were too classic.

Christian’s last trip was to Queens, New York to meet with Kristina, who he thought was a true artist. Kristina showed him the prints she’d been working on, and how they’d evolved, and he mistook a celery print for weed. He told her, focusing on a print could overpower everything to the point of losing the clothes. He also pointed out that everything was completely covered up in her outfits, and thought she should make at least one silhouette that was different than anything she’d made. In Kristina’s interview, she said it was all about how they pushed themselves, and who could think bigger.

We jumped ahead three months to Fashion Week when the designers would spend two days finishing their collections before the show. Chasity said it felt like she had arrived. She was in it to win it, and ready for the runway. Kristina said it was a dream come true, and an amazing platform, and Shantall said she’d been waiting for this moment since she began. It was important for her as an artist. Coral thought it was amazing the doors that could be open with winning the competition. It was better than a dream. The women met in the workroom, and were all super excited. As they opened their collections, Shantall said it felt like Christmas. Chasity had worked out her designer’s block once she figured out her story; how it felt to be the black sheep.

Christian did his walk of the room, and Coral said she tried to be bolder in using color. He suggested she do the unexpected, and create weird, asymmetrical detail with the macramé. Kristina said she hadn’t changed how she wanted things, but did go for more feminine and sexy. Shantall had taken out the yellow and added grey, but didn’t know if her collection was going to be on time, since she still had a lot to finish. Christian said they would be having the show at The Shed at Hudson Yards, the city’s newest art and culture destination.

They decided on models, and Kristina said it was about the whole aesthetic. She wanted her final model to be on a hoverboard, and Christian said she’d have to work that out in casting. Chasity wanted strong Black models, Shantall was about diversity, and Coral wanted warriors. They met with the models, and did the casting, Kristina saying, the models were the ones selling the clothes. Chasity said she had powerful women to help tell her story, and saw her reflection in them. The chosen models came in, and Kristina checked out the hoverboard herself. She said it was ideal for her vision, but thought it was dangerous. One model wanted to try it, and was pretty good for a first timer. Five of the models stayed for fittings, and the other five would come the next day.  

Shantall’s models were all wearing these enormous black square enamel earrings that I loved, but I’m sure can’t afford. In Coral’s interview, she said, growing up, she’d never seen herself in fashion magazines, and wanted everyone to have representation. Christian told Chasity that her beading was stunning, but wondered if there was anything she didn’t need, which I think was his way of saying it was too busy. In Chasity’s interview, she said she needed to be further along for sure. Christian told Kristina, if the hoverboard went bad on the runway, it would be over. He checked out her first piece, which was a totally see-through caftan, and said, there was sexy and there was a little vulgar. The one person she’d have to convince would be Nina. In Kristina’s interview, she said she didn’t think it was vulgar, but Christian made her think. The designers discussed makeup with the Maybelline people, and then went to a hotel with an amazing view of the city.

The second day, Kristina said she was just focusing on finishing; her mind was in shambles. She wanted her first look to be light, fresh, and sexy, but Christian had convinced her to cover more. Seeing the garment on a half-naked model, Christian said she couldn’t do it. Kristina said she’d use nipple covers, and Christian said they were stupid. He asked how the model felt, and she said she was French, and he said, it didn’t count then. The designers and models consulted with the TRESseme hair people, and Shantall said her second fitting wasn’t going as well. She couldn’t figure out who should wear what. Christian came by and told her to sex it up; her designs had no sex appeal. He went through Coral’s outfit order, and suggested she open with the only dude in the show. She thought it was a great idea, since the audience would assume she was doing menswear. Kristina showed Christian the basis for a bra she was going to make for the sheer caftan, and he said it was the smallest bra in the history of the world. Apparently, he hadn’t seen all the bras in the history of the world, because I can assure him, there are some that are smaller. All the women helped each other and were supportive of one another, which I really appreciated. Christian came back at the end of the day, and told them to go in feeling confident. A lot of work, heart, and culture, where they came from, had gone into their designs. He wanted them to know, you are design, and there was a group hug.

In Chasity’s interview, she said she had learned she was good enough for the world to see. She wanted to build an empire, and hand her kids the keys. In Shantall’s interview, she said she thought she’d achieved what the judges wanted. It is what it is. She still couldn’t find the right model for a grey dress she wanted to include, and decided to wear it herself. The show started.

Christian acted as MC, introducing the judges, and he said he was loving the energy. Elaine wasn’t able to be there, so as guest judge, they had the face of American fashion, icon in the fashion industry, Tommy Hilfiger.

Kristina was first, her parents watching virtually. She said the collection embodied the spirit of renaissance and her life. She was so excited, it almost made me cry. In her interview, she said, how the fabric was moving, the hair and makeup, everything worked. Each look was a story, and one wasn’t complete without the other. There was a lot of pink, flowers, and flowy material, and I’d describe the collection as romantic. The hoverboard worked, and the model looked like a being out of the future.

Shantall said her collection was all about her heritage. In her interview, she said she was scared the judges might think it was too much, but she loved what she’d done. It was the best moment of her life. I thought it was amazing how she revamped all this stuff in a few hours, with cut outs and rearranging things. My personal favorite was a short red dress with gigantic buttons. Shantall thought the texture and shape was magical, and her family gave her flowers.

Chasity explained that she often hadn’t fit in; with society, her family, and the design community. Her collection was about the black sheep that blossomed, and she dedicated it to her younger self. In her interview, she said she’d struggled with who she was, and had to overcome thinking she wasn’t good enough. She now felt the industry needed her voice, and saw herself as confident. She was needed in the industry, and would make it, no matter what. The journey was long and difficult, but worth it.

Coral said she called her collection My Beautiful Mexico. In her interview, she said it was edgy with the warrior vibe she’d wanted. She had to fight from the beginning, and showing where you came from was meaningful. She wanted to be a good example to her son; showing that she was a fearless a warrior, willing to fight. It was just the beginning. Her friends and family gave her a standing ovation, along with some other audience members.

They interviewed a bunch of attendees, and Fern Willis, one of the creators of New York Fashion Week, was impressed. Gina Kirschenheiter (RHOC) was there, and said she loved Shantall’s collection, and would wear several of the pieces. Model Coco Rocha said she loved Chasity’s collection. Chasity’s oldest daughter said they were proud of her for believing in herself.

The judges talked to the designers, sans audience. Nina congratulated them, and said she was moved and proud. They were all powerful women who had come into their own. Brandon said, on behalf Elaine, he congratulated them, and thanked Tommy, who was impressed. The models were brought out, and Nina said Kristina’s presentation was great, but more abstract than usual. Kristina said she’d wanted it to be more conceptual, and Nina said she thought the hoverboard was a great idea, but Brandon said he didn’t need it. He said each look had its own print, and there was a lot of softness and beauty. Kristina had an eye for detail that was inherent. Tommy said some of her pieces looked couture, like they could be on a Paris runway. He thought they would sell, and the basis of commerciality was what would keep a designer in business for years. Brandon mentioned Coral’s standing ovation, and said it was a surprise how she opened with a man. She said her son was her muse, and he said he thought it was a good idea. Her pieces were laced with soul, and that was a rare gift. Tommy said she had two style types – tailored with zippers, and macramé. Coral said the macramé came from her roots, and Nina said, the pieces with color took her breath away. Brandon asked how Chasity felt, and she said she felt accomplished and like she had arrived. He said her brand was modular and transitional, but could also be sparkly eveningwear. Tommy asked her the dreaded interview question, where did she see herself in five years? and she said she saw her brand going worldwide, and also helping the next generation. He wondered if she’d considered making costumes for stars, and told her if top performers saw her pieces, she’d get orders. Nina said, Chasity did terrific work, but it didn’t have to be all beads and ruffles. However, being in a niche, she did well. Brandon said Shantall’s snake pattern was definitely a signature, and Nina was amazed at how she’d manipulated the fabric into a shape and print. Tommy said it looked couture, and didn’t know how she was even able to sew it. Brandon said it was very her, and Tommy said they were all oozing with talent. He was sure they’d all be successful.

The designers gone, Nina said she wished they could give all of them the win, and Tommy agreed they were deserving. Nina said they were all uniquely different, and Brandon said they’d surprised him; he could see their growth. He felt Kristina’s collection was evocative of what they’d already seen, and Tommy said, it was relevant for today, but would it be tomorrow? A print was just for a season. Tommy said Coral could go either way – macramé or zippers – and Brandon said it was surprising that she’d never won a challenge, yet she was there tonight. She had a strong point-of-view. Tommy said Shantall could commercialize, and Nina said, her details looked impeccable; her pieces had elegance. Tommy said, while prints were just for one season, Shantall’s snake cut-outs could change with the seasons. Brandon said it wasn’t the most modern design, but Tommy said fashion was cyclical, and it felt right. Brandon said the earrings I loved were so wrong, they were right, and Tommy had a point. Tommy thought it came down to who had the biggest potential for a global business. Chasity could be a designer to the stars, but there was still a marketplace for her clothing. Young women would want to look like those stars. She had a vision.

They came back to the audience runway for the win announcement. Nina said she wished she could give all of them the win. They’d all shown tenacity, creativity, and talent. Tommy said they had an amazing amount of talent, and he was totally impressed. Brandon told them, no matter what, know they made it here, and made it through a lot; what most people couldn’t. Remember that on their hardest day, and they’d be a success. They were very proud. Nina said the winner had what it took to be a household name, and had a brand that could carry on.

Shantall was announced as the winner, and in her interview, she said she’d dreamed of this moment for so long. It wasn’t just about her winning. It was about her family winning. She cried, and said, so many doors had been closed. She’d wanted to be seen and recognized, and was proud of herself. She was proud of all of them. Dreams could really come true. It was a struggle, but worth it. She was sure she was going to get here, and she did.

🖨 Temp Work…

She’s been Sam before, so she knows the ropes.

📖 Gotta Book…

Come on down tomorrow for soap, a cuppa tea, and words from the wise. Until then, stay safe, stay unruffled, and stay knowing that you’re unique and special – just like everybody else.

July 9, 2021 – Britt Has the Last Word, New Son, Joining GH, Celebrations, Harry Has the Feels, Collection, Sorry, the Squad, AHS Update, Dragon News, Amazing, 4 Great Quotes & There

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Finn sees Elizabeth at the hospital, and says they have to stop meeting like this. He asks, on a scale of one to ten, how’s her hangover? and she says, bad enough to give her a headache, but not bad enough to make her forget she and Sam started a fire on the pier. He says, or Sam and Dante falling in the harbor, and she says, at least it gave her something else to think about… besides the secret hanging over them. He tells her, let’s go.

Maxie comes out of the elevator at the MetroCourt, and sees Austin. He says, it’s nice to see her, and she says, he’s back. He says he is, and asks how she’s doing. She asks what he’s doing in Port Charles.

Anna drinks coffee at the bar, and flashes back to her kiss with Valentin.

Valentin is also daydreaming at the Quartermaines, and Monica asks if she’s interrupting. He says, no. He’s just waiting for his lawyer; he’s late. She asks if they’ll be discussing ELQ, and he says they will. She asks if he doesn’t see the conflict. He’s living in her house (Alan gave it to her, in case you didn’t know), and he’s stealing from her family’s company. He asks if she intends to evict him, and she says, why shouldn’t she?

In the elevator at the hospital, Carly wonders if Monica is going to hate this more or less than when she found out AJ was marrying her, but Jason says, it was a long time ago. She says she and Monica have a grudging truce. Monica has never forgiven her for what she did to AJ, and as a mother, Carly can’t say she blames her. Now she’s marrying Monica’s other beloved son. She’s going to hate this. The doors open and Britt is there. She says she’ll get the next one.

Portia looks at a photo of her and Curtis on her phone, and Terry says, Dr. Robinson. Portia wonders since when they’re being so formal, and Terry says since she wants to make a formal pitch to Portia. Portia says, about? and Terry says, backing her campaign for Chief of Staff.

At Charlie’s, Curtis asks if Stella said something to Portia about him and Jordan, and she says she most certainly did. She told Portia that he needed to recover from the end of his marriage, and the last thing he needed was a rebound relationship. He asks where Stella gets off telling Portia something like that.

Jordan takes a flashdrive out of her computer, and tells Molly and TJ, Judge Carson starts off by speaking in code. Molly says, taking into consideration each defendant’s previous record, and Martin says, how they’re raised; what they’re future’s likely to be. TJ says, Judge Carson actually said, some people only respond to incarceration, and Martin says, one thing’s for sure. She absolutely admitted to handing down different sentences to different defendants based on race. There’s no denying how obvious her biases are. TJ asks if Jordan thinks the recording is enough to call the judge’s sentences into question.

Alexis tells the guard she can’t. She looks at Shawn, and says she can’t go back into solitary. He says she knows what they practiced, and the guard reaches for her. She backs up, and says, no!

Austin says he has some business in Port Charles, and Maxie asks if it’s something new. She’s never seen him anywhere around Port Charles. Anna joins them, and Austin says it’s nice to see her. She says she’s been meaning to thank him for the use of his home in Pawtuck, and he says, his pleasure. He hopes she and Mr. Cassadine were warm and dry. Are they any closer to finding Maxie’s baby? Anna says, no. She’s afraid the rain washed any evidence away. He says he’s sorry to hear that, and to let him know if there’s anything else he can do. He gets in the elevator, and Maxie and Anna smile at each other.

Valentin thanks Monica for letting him and Charlotte stay in her beautiful home. It means the world to be close to Bailey, and she’s so young, he’d hate to have to schedule bouncing her from house to house. She says, enough. She’s not going to kick him out. She’s put up with a lot worse over the years. Her sister-in-law comes to mind. He says he hopes he can repay her sometime, and she says, when they vote him out as CEO, be gracious in defeat. She goes to the door, and Yuri opens it for her, saying something in Ukrainian. Or Russian. Or wherever he’s from; I forget. She responds in kind, and he watches her go.

Portia says, so Terry is serious about becoming Chief of Staff, and Terry says she seems surprised. Does Portia think she’s too young? Too inexperienced? Portia says, hardly. GH could use some fresh faces, and some fresh air from Cyrus and his reign of terror. Terry says, so she can count on Portia’s support when she presents her case for Chief of Staff to Dr. Quartermaine? Britt has joined them, and asks if Terry is trying to get the popular kids on her side. Did she put up election posters in the cafeteria? Terry says, if Britt’s worried about this being a popularity contest, perhaps she should question why she’s so unpopular. Britt says Terry can retract the claws. She’s leaving as soon as she drops this chart off. She’s welcoming a new doctor to their team; a responsibility of the Chief of Staff. As Britt walks away, Terry tells her, enjoy it while she can, and Britt says she will. For years to come. Terry tells Portia, sorry. She kind of took the low road there. It’s so not her style. Portia says, Britt tends to bring out the worst in all of them, but never mind her. Before Terry talks to Monica, she wants Terry to understand how difficult and time-consuming the Chief of Staff position really is. Terry thinks she must be speaking from experience, and Portia says, that’s because she is.

Curtis says Stella has no business meddling in his private life, and she says he’s still a married man, and Portia was getting ideas about him. He says, that’s between him and Portia. He guesses Portia would have ideas, since they kissed. She says, he’s kissing another woman and his marriage isn’t even over? He says he signed the divorce papers, and she says, has Jordan? He says she will, and Stella says, then he’s not divorced yet. She sits down, and he says, auntie, the marriage is over, and sits with her. He says, the trust has been broken, and Jordan broke it repeatedly. She says, and he thinks he can trust Portia, and he says, so far, so good. They enjoy each other’s company. Who knows? They might be on to something good here, but he’d at least like to explore the possibility, so why is she meddling? She says, because someone has to save him from himself.

Jordan says she’ll be sending Martin’s recording of his conversation with the judge to the Judicial Review Board. While the review is pending, she’ll be petitioning the Attorney General to put Shawn and Alexis somewhere that they’ll be safe. TJ says, the recording is legal, since New York allows single-party consent. If one person knows they’re making a recording, the other can be recorded without their knowledge. Martin says, that is correct, but it’s no guarantee Judge Carson is going to face consequences, even with recording and documentation. Jordan says, judges are extremely protected. It’s not easy bringing accusations against them. TJ says, but there’s hope, right, that this will all be worth it in the end?

Shawn asks Henry to let him handle this, and Henry steps away. Shawn tells Alexis, remember what they talked about; breathe in for four, breathe out for four. She says she can’t, and he says, Henry already did him a solid in letting him see her. He can get in serious trouble, and so can she if she doesn’t go back to solitary. Henry says, he’s right, and grabs Alexis’s wrist. She jerks away, and drops to the ground, clutching her wrist and crying.

Carly says, Britt didn’t look happy, and Jason says, no she didn’t, Captain Obvious. She guesses Jax wasn’t as much of a consolation as Britt thought. She should be enjoying that, after Britt rubbed their noses in the fact they were sleeping together. But she’s been where Britt is. Lashing out because it’s the only way to stop yourself from curling in a ball and crying. He says, Britt believed she could count on him, and then he blindsided her. She says he didn’t have a choice, and he says, he didn’t, but he still hates that he hurt her. Carly puts her arm around him.

Elizabeth says she’s glad Finn didn’t turn himself in to the PCPD. Maybe because the discovery of Peter’s death would gain him nothing. It would cause him to lose Violet. Not to mention, it would cause GH to lose a brilliant infectious diseases specialist. He says, the longer Peter is down there, the more likely it is someone’s going to find his body, and she says they need to figure out how to move him. He says he’s open to suggestions, and she says, what if they involve Jason? He says he doesn’t think so. If he gets caught, it makes things worse for them. She says, Jason doesn’t get caught, but he says, everyone gets caught eventually. Right now he doesn’t want to risk Jason’s luck running out when their future is on the line.

In her office, Britt thanks Austin for helping Maxie give birth, even if it didn’t have the happy ending they all hoped it would. He says, no, the end was him getting knocked out cold, and some psychotic nurse stealing Maxie’s baby. So not ideal. He hopes that doesn’t preclude him from getting the job. She says, if anything, it makes her more inclined to hire him. He delivered a baby in the woods under less than ideal circumstances. If it was up to her, she’d pin a medal on him. He says, it was his understanding that he’s already been vetted and approved, and his meeting her is just one final hurdle before becoming one of the staff. She says he’s correct, but he has a private practice in Pawtuck. Why would he give that up to join a hospital staff in Port Charles?

Maxie joins Anna, and says, what’s this about her and Valentin seeing Austin in Pawtuck? Anna says, he was very kind. He leant them his rental for shelter because it started to rain. Maxie says, Anna told him that they didn’t find any evidence that would lead to Louise, and Anna says, that’s true. Maxie says, Anna doesn’t think Austin had anything to do with Louise’s kidnapping, does she? and Anna says, does she? Maxie says she’s 100% certain he had nothing to do with it, but Anna seemed sort of suspicious of him just now. Why is that? Anna flashes back to showing Valentin the photo she found, and saying she knew Austin’s father. Anna tells Maxie, no. She doesn’t think Austin had anything to do with the nurse or her accomplice. It’s just strange that when she found out Austin’s last name, she wondered if he could be related to someone she knew years ago.

Valentin says, Yuri and Dr. Quartermaine have gotten pretty close, and Yuri says, she’s very nice lady. Valentin asks if they speak often, and Yuri says, Dr. Quartermaine says he’s very good listener, and Valentin says, really? Was he listening to what Monica said to him just now, because he wasn’t really paying attention. His mind was elsewhere; he was thinking about something else. Well, someone else. He guesses it’s to be expected, since they have a long history together, and they’ve been through a lot lately. He says Yuri is a good listener, but he’s not much of a conversationalist, and walks away.

Jordan says she’s going to give a copy of the recording to Warden Alvarez at Pentenville. Hopefully, this will be enough to have Alexis and Shawn released into PCPD custody. She says she can try to keep Molly’s role out of all of this, and Molly says, but the more details Jordan provides to the Review Board, the better the chances Judge Carson will be reprimanded or even removed. TJ says Molly might lose her job, and Martin says, at the very least, she won’t be very popular with her colleagues. Jordan asks what Molly wants her to do, and TJ says he has Molly’s back, whatever she decides. Molly tells Jordan, do whatever it takes to make this right, and Jordan leaves. Martin tells Molly that she did great, and follows. TJ hugs Molly.

Shawn tells Henry that Alexis has osteoporosis and has to be taken to the infirmary. Henry says, nice try. Step aside; she’s going back to solitary. Alexis says, no, please, and Henry pulls Shawn away. Shawn stands between Henry and Alexis.

Martin apologizes to Valentin for being tardy. He was talking to Commissioner Ashford about a delicate matter. Valentin asks if it’s anything he should know about, but Martin says, no. He’ll probably hear something about it tin the next few days, but he thinks right now they should focus on the upcoming ELQ shareholders meeting. Valentin says he gave Brook her ELQ shares back as a way of gaining access to Bailey, and before Martin says anything, he’d do it again even though it reduces his room to maneuver. Martin says, indeed. Valentin’s only hope is to sway some of Ned or Michael’s loyalists to his side. Valentin says, that’s not going to happen, and Martin suggests he pay Michael a visit at Aurora. He’s got his own company to run now. He might be interested in some sort of power sharing arrangement. His impression is that Michael’s always been a pragmatist, and he’ll know Valentin is good for ELQ’s bottom line. It’s worth a shot. Many a successful partnership… Valentin is staring into space, and Martin says he’s sorry to bore Valentin. He should have attempted to be more entertaining. On their next rendezvous, perhaps a rubber nose, oversized shoes… Maybe some pants that explode. Valentin says, what? and Martin says, a rubber nose, oversized shoes… Valentin says, Martin isn’t boring him. His mind is on something else. Martin says, judging by the look on Valentin’s face, if it’s not business, he’s distracted by matters of the heart. Valentin says, it’s a personal matter, and Martin says, they’re talking about Anna Devane, aren’t they?

Maxie asks if Anna really waited out the storm with Valentin. If she hadn’t been scared out of her mind, she would think the cabin would be cozy… in the rain… a fire crackling in the fireplace… Anna asks if Maxie is writing romance novels now, and Maxie says, come on. Everyone knows Anna and Valentin are… intense. Anna says, no. They’ve become good friends. They trust each other. That’s all.

Austin tells Britt that he has business in Port Charles that requires him to put down roots. For him, it’s convenient to practice medicine in the town he lives in. Britt asks how long his business is projected to last. Will he be sticking around? He says, that’d be the idea.

Carly says she’s sure Jason gave Britt an explanation. He didn’t just say, I’m marrying Carly, and that’s it. Jason says, he told Britt that they decided it was best for the family and each other to get married. But he also told her that he’d still be there for her. Carly says she’s sure Britt told him to go to hell, and Jason heaves a sigh. Monica comes by, and says a pleasant surprise. Jason asks if she has a few minutes to talk in her office. Monica says, sure. They can talk in her office. She walks ahead, and Carly says she thinks it would be better if Jason spoke to Monica alone. She doesn’t want to be there when Monica tries to talk him out of it. He says he thought she wanted to do this together, and she says she’s just being nice. She doesn’t want to spoil their engagement by having a big fight with his mother. So go break the happy news.

Portia tells Terry that both of her parents were doctors. She’s obviously very proud of them. Terry says she’s sure Portia’s parents are proud of her for following in their footsteps. Portia says, a while back, her father become Chief of Staff at the hospital where he worked his whole life. The job quickly fell short of his expectations. Terry says, let her guess. He was suddenly schmoozing Board members instead of diagnosing and healing patients? Portia says, not to mention dealing with the mounds of paperwork. She saw him grow to resent her mom, who still had that connection with her patients. Terry strikes her as someone who loves treating patients above all else. Terry says true. Her feelings about Britt aside, she knows she would do good as Chief of Staff. GH is great, but there are still institutional blind spots. Some prevent trans patients from getting the care they need. She knows she could make a difference. Portia says, wow. That’s a good answer.

Stella says Curtis may be a grown man, but she’s known him since he was born. When someone hurts him, he puts walls up so high, there’s not a ladder big enough to scale them. He says, her point? and she says, when she had her issues with Jordan, and he nearly kicked her out of his life. Eventually he came around, and forgave her. He asks if she’s saying he should forgive Jordan, and she says, she’s asking him to lower the walls, and really listen to her. Listen to the love she still has for him, and the love Stella knows he still has for her. He says he’s not denying his love for Jordan, and she says, but he wants to box it up and stow it in the attic. Loving Jordan was complex and difficult. What he might have with Portia looks simple in comparison, but believe her, it’s not.

Henry says, stand down inmate, and Shawn says, make me. Henry raises his club, and Jordan walks in. She asks if there’s a problem, and says Henry is the one who needs to stand down… now.

TJ beings coffee to Molly, who’s waiting in Jordan’s office. He says, the coffee here tastes like sludge, and hands her one. She asks how he’s doing, then asks if it’s a dumb question. He says she never asks dumb questions. He’s doing about as well as she is. He takes another sip, and tosses his cup away. She says, when she thinks Shawn is in prison for a crime he didn’t even commit… TJ says, he could have been out by now. Despite pleading guilty, it doesn’t make sense that he was denied parole. Molly says TJ must be angry for Shawn, and sad about the time they lost. He says he and Shawn were close before he knew Shawn was his father. Since he found out, he hasn’t been able to hug Shawn. How messed up is that? Molly hugs him.

Jordan asks, why is a guard from the male wing escorting a female prisoner back to her cell? Shawn says, it was a misunderstanding, and she says, apparently. Alexis is still sitting on the floor, and Jordan crouches down, and says, she’s so sorry this happened. Alexis says she’s been in solitary for days. She can’t go back there. Jordan says, she won’t. She’s safe now. She tells Shawn, they both are.

Valentin asks, what makes Martin think he’s talking about Anna Devane? Martin says, Valentin and the divine Miss Devane have a long and complicated history. He believes at one point, Valentin was infatuated with her. Valentin says, they studied together ages ago. Anna was bright, driven, stunning. It was easy to become infatuated with her. They had a falling out. Martin says, only because of Anna’s sister Alex. Would he be right in guessing Peter’s disappearance brought the two of them closer together? Valentin says he might be on the right track. Martin says, he is? and Valentin says he might be on the right track about him meeting with Michael. He pays Martin for legal and business advice. If he wants it about his personal life, he’ll ask for it.

Maxie asks how the whole trust thing is going with Valentin, and Anna says, good. He’s a skilled investigator. She would trust him in a dangerous situation. He’s a valuable colleague, and that’s it. Nothing more. Maxie says, okay. Maybe Anna hasn’t noticed how Valentin looks at her, but Maxie has definitely picked up on it. Anna thinks that after all the lies she’s told, she doesn’t feel she deserves anything more, or anyone, right now. Maxie puts her hand on Anna’s, and says she’s sorry about how angry she got over Peter. Recently, she’s come to see things from Anna’s point-of-view. How secrets can be worth it if you’re trying to protect someone you love. Anna asks what Maxie means, and Maxie says she forgives Anna, and wants her to forgive herself and be happy. Anna doesn’t know if any of them can be happy until they find Maxie’s baby. Maxie says it’s been great talking to her, but she has to pick up a prescription for James. Anna asks if he’s okay, and Maxie says, he’s fine. She suggests they do this again, and Anna thanks her. Maxie smiles at her, and leaves.

Elizabeth says she knows Finn is uncomfortable with Jason helping them, but what about Anna? He says, out of the question, and she says, Anna wouldn’t turn them in. He says, she used to work for the WSB; she’s in law enforcement. If they tell her the truth, that he killed Peter and Elizabeth helped him hide the body, that’s like asking her to break the law; it’s accessory after the fact. Elizabeth says, Anna loved him. She doesn’t think Anna would sacrifice Finn’s freedom to uphold the letter of the law, especially to get so-called justice for Peter. He says, it’s still a risk he’s not willing to take. She says, then she guesses it’s up to them. They’d better move while the loopholes Cyrus put in GH security are still in place.

Jason and Monica go to her office, and she says she doubts he’s there to congratulate her on her return to GH. He says, that’s not why he’s there, but he’s happy for her, and the hospital. She’s definitely the right choice to undo the damage Cyrus caused. She says, it’s daunting task, but she’s determined to succeed. She thanks him for his faith in her, and asks how he is. He says he’s fine, and she says she heard he got shot. He says, it’s not bad, and he’s almost fully recovered. She says, good. She also heard all the charges against him were dropped, and he says he’s sorry for worrying her. She says she knows everything he does has a reason, and he says, that’s why he’s there. He and Carly are getting married.

Carly asks Britt if she has a minute, but Britt says, nope; super busy. She goes to the computer, and says, actually, let’s get this over with. Jason saved her life, and she sort of balanced the scales by keeping him from bleeding to death. They were fugitives together, and it was a crazy time. Jason was really good to her, but that’s over, and he’s marrying Carly. Britt starts to walk away, and Carly asks if Britt knows why.

Portia says Terry officially has her support, but don’t say she didn’t warn Terry about the long hours. Terry says, lucky for her, she has no personal life, and Portia says she wouldn’t call that lucky. She, Terry, and Elizabeth are long overdue for a ladies night out. It’s been a long time since she’s been somebody’s wingwoman. Terry asks, who says she’s not going to be trying to find someone for Portia? Unless she’s off the market and failed to tell Terry.

Curtis tells Stella, when he and Portia originally met, she was married and had just started rehab. She says, which neither one of them knew because of him wanting to keep it simple. Here they are, years later, and he’s thinking he might have another chance. He says, what he thinks is his business, and starts to get up. She puts her hand on his, and says she has no doubt Portia has feelings for him. Why wouldn’t she? But it’s unfair going into this thinking she’s any less three-dimensional than Jordan. Portia has flaws and secrets like everyone else. He asks how that justifies her warning Portia away from him, and she says she was looking out for him as discreetly as possible. He says, discreet? That translates into, don’t tell Curtis. So how does that make her any different from Jordan? She says, a woman who’s willing to move heaven and earth, and willingly sacrifice everything for the people she loves? She’s been compared to worse. He gets up, and she says, he’s leaving? He says he has some unfinished business to settle, and walks out.

Jordan and Shawn help Alexis up, and Jordan tells her that she’ll make sure a doctor sees her. Rest. She tells Henry that she has permission from Warden Alvarez to take Alexis and Shawn into protective custody, pending an investigation into their respective trials. Alexis doesn’t understand, and Jordan says, it turns out TJ and Molly didn’t listen to Shawn. She couldn’t be more proud.

TJ touches Molly’s face, and thanks her. She says, for what? and he says, loving him. She says, as if she had a choice, and they kiss. She asks if he’ll still love her if she loses her job, and he asks if that’s a real question. She’s his hero; risking the career she’s so passionate about to save her mom and his dad. She says she’s not sure she’s so passionate about the law anymore. It allowed Judge Carson to impose biased sentences and inflict harm for years. He says, he thinks the law needs fewer Judge Carsons, and more Molly Lansing-Davises. She says, and TJ Ashfords. She knows medicine is his passion, but he’d make a spectacular attorney. She couldn’t have done it without him. He says, if they don’t try to right the past, what future will they leave behind for their kids? They kiss again.

Monica says, Jason and Carly, and he says, yes. She says maybe she should ask… He says, ask what? and she says, was it Carly’s idea or his idea? He says, they decided together that getting married was what’s best for the family and each other. She says, she and Carly have certainly had their differences in the past, but she knows Carly loves him. Obviously, he loves her, and they’re both tremendously loyal to each other, which is a good foundation for a marriage. Jason says, they think so, and Monica asks if he thinks he can be happy. She’s not talking about Carly. She’s talking to him, her son. He says he thinks he can, and she says, okay then. She’s happy for him. She hugs him, but neither one looks happy.

Carly tells Britt that she and Jason admitted their feelings for each other a month or so after Sonny’s funeral. Before Franco died; before Jason was arrested. But it felt wrong. It was too soon after Sonny, so they decided to take a step back, and let it go. But since Jason came back from Pentenville and being on the run, they realized they can’t hold their feelings back, so they decided to make it official. She’s sorry. They didn’t intend to hurt Britt. Britt says, it just comes so naturally.

Anna waits for the elevator, and the doors open. Valentin is standing inside, and he makes that crooked smile he’s so good at.

Maxie sees Austin again, and says, so his business was at the hospital, and he says he had some paperwork to fill out. He’s officially on staff. He’s moving to Port Charles, so she’ll be seeing more of him. Nice to see her. She says, him too, and he jets.

Valentin tells Anna, he was hoping to run into Michael; he’s supposed to be meeting an associate here. She says she didn’t see Michael, and he says he’ll wait at the bar then. He leaves, and she smiles. Her phone rings, and she says, Kurt. Has he found information on the helicopter pilot they were looking for… Great. Thanks. He’s a good friend.

Finn and Elizabeth walk out of the elevator, and he says, maybe they’ll do the whole thing in reverse. Since the elevator in the subbasement only goes to the roof, they can take Peter up there, take the stairwell back to 10… She says, Cyrus made sure all the cameras leading to the roof were turned off, and he says, yes. Monica comes by, and says she’s sorry. She couldn’t overhearing, and they have nothing to worry about. She’s talked to security, and they assured her the cameras have been restored everywhere. Nobody is sneaking anything illegal in or out of the hospital. Finn smiles, but he’s probably not feeling it.  

Portia tells Terry, actually, she’s not seeing anyone, so put a night on the books for them, and they’ll go searching for Mr. Right. Terry says, sounds like fun. It’s time for her to do rounds, and she says she’ll text Portia. Terry leaves, and Curtis comes out of the elevator. He says, just the doctor he was looking for. She says, concerning what? and he says he didn’t like the way they left things. He thinks it’s time they finally fix that.

Jordan brings Alexis and Shawn back to her office, and Molly hugs Alexis. Shawn walks up to TJ, who says, dad, and they hug. Everyone looks happy… for now.

Britt tells Carly, so, what she and Jason had was a fling to take his mind off Carly? She doesn’t believe it for one second. Carly says she can’t make Britt believe what she doesn’t want to believe, but what Britt and Jason had was a moment; it was fleeting. What she and Jason have is forever. Jason returns, and says, Britt. Britt says they can both go to hell, and walks away. Jason asks Carly, what’d you do? Neither one of them looks happy.

In case I haven’t said it, I hate Carly. I would love it if this is the straw that finally breaks the back of her friendship with Jason, but I know that’s asking a lot.

On Monday, Maxie tells Brook that they’re in huge trouble, Austin is having the time of his life, Obrecht apologizes to someone, and Carly asks if Jason is hoping for the same thing.

👨‍👦 His Father’s Son…

Nikolas weighs in on his new progeny.

🌲 Latest Addition…

Another Pine Valley transplant comes to Port Charles.

🎇 Better Late Than Never…

What the soap world did on the 4th.

⚔️ Ursula Andress Be Damned…

Harry isn’t comfortable with the age gap. Scott is old, and has three kids, but #WhatDidHarryDo?

https://people.com/tv/rhobh-lisa-rinna-husband-harry-hamlin-feelings-daughter-amelia-romance-scott-disick/

💰 Mixed Feelings…

She shouldn’t have gone along with it, but on the other hand, it’s seriously taking from the little guy in comparison. And I would never say she didn’t work hard for the money.

https://ew.com/syndication/tom-girardi-embezzlement-victims-can-collect-payments-from-erika-girardi-judge-rules/

🍸 Apology Tour…

Hopefully, she stays out of the bushes for good now.

https://pagesix.com/2021/06/29/luann-de-lesseps-apologizes-to-her-daughter-victoria-de-lesseps/

🦈 Rain On Me…

Behold. The new Suicide Squad movie. The Rain trailer rocks.

https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/article/everything-we-know-about-the-suicide-squad/

https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a837989/suicide-squad-2-cast-trailer-release-date-plot-news/

https://www.dccomics.com/videos/the-suicide-squad-official-rain-trailer

👹 Here’s the Story…

John Carroll Lynch, Danny Trejo, and a drive-in. I will love this.

https://comicbook.com/horror/news/american-horror-stories-trailer-released-spinoff/

https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/ustv/a29396639/american-horror-story-season-10-release-date-cast-theme-trailer-plot/

https://ew.com/tv/american-horror-stories-preview/

🐉 Dragon Game…

All you need to know about House of the Dragon.

https://ew.com/tv/2019/10/30/house-of-the-dragon-thrones/

🦒 Something To Aspire To…

Can you believe the fabulousity of this place?

https://www.essence.com/lifestyle/lance-gross-kenya/

👩🏽‍💻 Quotes of the Week

You miss 100 percent of the shots you don’t take. – Wayne Gretzky

PB&J. It’s only twenty-five cents a sandwich if I use the grape jelly where grapes aren’t an actual ingredient. – Kyle (Christoph Sanders) Last Man Standing

The bridge between despair and hope is a good night’s sleep. – E. Cossman (Or sometimes a good stiff drink.)

Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do.If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle.Steve Jobs

⛅️ Early Night, Early Morning…

Wrapping it up because I have to get up early, since my hair is out of control, and the only appointment available was at the crack of dawn. And I called two weeks ago. Not her fault. Covid has caused a long wait for hairdressers and veterinarians. It’s also time for me to switch hats and become a copywriter for Mupo & Friends celebrity interview show on YouTube. Airing soon will be Marc Singer, my all-time favorite actor, and I’ll be making a cameo appearance. The actual interview is this week, so I’m pretty excited about that. See you on Deck on Monday, and make sure you stay safe, stay perceptive, and stay righting the past to give everyone a better future.