What I Watched Today

(Weekday bites, Friday’s whole GH enchilada & media minutiae)

General Hospital

🥢 Weekday Bites…                                                                        

Monday: 

Tracy returned and told Brook that she was a new woman. She wasn’t even upset no one was at her homecoming. Brook said they were giving her and Ned space. There was something important they had to discuss. Ned asked if he was hearing the dulcet tones of his mother, and they hugged. Tracy asked what she’d missed.

At the hospital, Britt asked Emma how Rocco was holding up. Emma had gotten him into this mess and might know if he needed anything. She wanted to help. Emma said she was the last person to buy Britt’s act.

Sonny went to Turner’s office and said he was surprised she’d called him in. She said it was unorthodox, but she was only doing this because of him.

Dante told Nathan there was no sign of Valentin, and Charlotte said they were wasting their time. Her dad wasn’t coming to get her.

Lulu told Rocco to change his shoes. The last thing they wanted people to think was that he wasn’t taking court seriously. Dante would be taking him to court. Rocco said, no, he wouldn’t be.

Laura met Sidwell at the MetroCourt Gardens and asked what the point was of having Boyle as a go-between if he was going to parade her around in public.

Jack told Josslyn that he needed the information Valentin had on Sidwell and the Five Poppies. He needed to talk to Valentin’s lawyer.

While Carly was on the phone saying she wasn’t coming in to work, Valentin looked through Sonny’s old kitchen for coffee. He asked if she had a French press, and said she could go to work, but she said she wasn’t leaving him alone in her house.

Gio welcomed Tracy home, and she said she had a wonderful time, but it was good to be back. Gio said he got everything on Brook’s grocery list. Tracy asked if they were opening a juice bar, and Gio said they loved kale. Tracy said nobody loved kale, and if they said that, they were lying. Gio left to get another bag, and Ned said he was changing his diet because of a health scare. He’d had a heart attack.

Emma said Britt hadn’t wanted kids and the only reason she got pregnant was to trap Emma’s dad. Stop acting like Rocco’s mom. Britt said she cared about Rocco, and Emma said, if she did, she’d leave him alone. If she wanted to help somebody, stick with her patients. Wait. She couldn’t see patients anymore. She was a paper pusher who lived above a diner. Britt said, temporarily, and Emma said, whatever Britt needed to tell herself.

Rocco told Lulu that he’d accept his punishment, but when was his dad going to accept that the break-in wasn’t Gio’s idea? Dante walked in.

Danny joined Charlotte and said they were going to court to support Rocco. Nathan said that would be a bad way to do it.

Sonny said maybe Dalton was scared and skipped town, but Turner said it was odd that he vanished with no paper trail. He said, you never knew what people were capable of when their backs were against the wall, and she said, present company included? He asked if she was insinuating he had something to do with Dalton’s disappearance. It was good for his grandson, but also good for her. Why waste time when they both knew Dalton lied and Rocco served his time? Do him and herself a favor and tell the judge she wanted to drop the charges.

Laura congratulated Sidwell. He’d won. She was under his thumb. But if he continued to broadcast their association, she’d be run out of office. The public knew what she thought of him. She’d been honest and transparent about her distaste for him. Keep Boyle as his messenger and keep his distance from her. He told her, don’t worry. It wouldn’t be a regular occurrence. This was a special occasion – he drummed on the table and said, drumroll – he was buying Sonny’s piers. All that was left was her full endorsement of the sale.

As Valentin rooted around for cereal and milk, Carly said he couldn’t mill around her house. He was a fugitive who’d committed treason and she wasn’t risking him ordering pizza and getting caught. He said he wasn’t enjoying this. His daughter was being watched, and he was stuck there with her because he made the mistake of trusting Jack.

Josslyn asked who Valentin’s lawyer was, and Jack said, a woman named Barbara Saunders. She’d visited Valentin twice in Steinmauer, but they hadn’t been able to track her down. Josslyn suggested she was in hiding, but he said he didn’t think she ever really existed.

Ned said thank God Gio found him. Gio saved his life. Tracy said she’d speak to his doctor and surgeon, and Brook said she’d get their numbers, but they said Ned was making a great recovery. Ned said the whole family took wonderful care of him, and Tracy said no one called her. She would have come home immediately… Oh. He didn’t want her there.

Felicia asked if Emma heard from her grandmother, but Emma said, not since Thanksgiving. Felicia said she was worried, but Emma said her grandmother could take care of herself. She was more worried about Gio and could use Felicia’s advice. Gio and his dad had a fight, and she wanted to be supportive without egging it on. She didn’t know how to help, but thought Felicia did.

Jack said Saunders’s ID was solid enough to get her in, but it was fake, and Josslyn said she thought they had facial recognition. Jack said, of course (🍷) they did, but Saunders was wearing glasses that had sophisticated infrared technology, and all the video footage was useless. Josslyn said, Saunders would have had to have an accomplice, and he said, find the woman, find Valentin. She said she’d get on it, and he told her to stay in touch with security at Steinmauer. She said she was on her way to her mom’s house, and he said he wanted a full report. She said she’d report on her mom’s safety, but her mom was entitled to her privacy.

Valentin said Jack left him holding the bag, and Charlotte was left twisting in the wind. That’s why he left Charlotte with Lulu. Carly said he did the right thing leaving Charlotte with her mother. Lulu was a great mom. She knew he loved Charlotte and would never poison her against him. And for what it was worth (🍷), Charlotte seemed to be thriving. Valentin said she was, but she needed him. If Carly needed him, he’d be in the attic. He left carrying his bowl of cereal along with the box.

Nathan told Charlotte and Danny that Rocco had a lot at stake. It wouldn’t be the smartest move for his co-conspirators to cheer him from the sidelines. Sometimes the best way to support someone was to stay out of it.

Rocco said he thought his mom was taking him, and Dante was looking after Charlotte. Lulu said he needed to change shoes and he went upstairs. Dante said Rocco would be fine, and Lulu said, not because of anything he was doing. He needed to wake up.

Laura said she’d opposed Measure C, but Sidwell said she’d opposed the Eminent Domain seize. She was all for free enterprise. She’d hold a press conference to announce the deal and make it clear that she looked forward to the new ownership. It was for the greater good. Local economics would improve and the city would benefit from reduced crime. And she’d take the credit. Everyone knew she had a close relationship with Sonny, and she’d make it clear that a deal had been brokered where everyone walked away happy. Except him. She drove a hard bargain. Doc came in and said he was glad they were both still there. He sat down, and Sidwell said it was a private conversation, but Doc said Laura was his wife and he wasn’t leaving.

Ned told Tracy that it had been his decision. He knew she’d get scared, and when she got scared, she picked fights with Olivia. Tracy said she never would… Maybe once. Ned wasn’t allowed to die before her. He said he had no intention of it. What was important was his family, including her. That’s why he was changing his ways for them.

Lulu said Dante and Rocco were in a bad place. Put it aside for today even if Rocco couldn’t. He was a teenager who thought Dante wasn’t treating his brother right. Rocco had more interest in fighting with him than thinking about his future. What if he defied Dante and took on more responsibility for the break-in? Dante said Sonny would be there and Rocco wouldn’t act out, but Lulu said she couldn’t take that chance. Dante was staying with Charlotte, and she was taking Rocco to court.

Turner said she couldn’t drop the case, and Sonny said she told him that she wouldn’t use Rocco against him. She said she wasn’t. Rocco was also the mayor’s grandson and if she showed preferential treatment to either of them, it could be considered corruption. Ric came in and asked if everything was all right, and Turner said she was explaining the laws Rocco broke to a concerned grandfather. Ric said Sonny wasn’t a lawyer. They wanted to see justice served and there were reasonable terms to be found. The disappearance of her only witness didn’t speak well of her case. She had no real evidence and would be locking up an innocent kid. At this stage of her career, was it what she wanted to be known for? Turner said, let’s go see a judge.

Walking into Sonny’s old kitchen, Josslyn said she went to the Christmas market and got an angel for Carly’s tree. She wanted to stay over on Friday, and they could have a Christmas cookie holiday party. Carly said she’d love nothing more, but Josslyn wasn’t coming over because of the holiday. Josslyn wanted to protect her.

Britt’s phone rang and she asked who it was and what they wanted. Jack said it was Jack Brennan from the WSB. He’d like her to come down to the office for a chat. It wasn’t a request. He could and would send agents if he had to.

Laura said she had no idea Doc would be joining them, and Doc said he didn’t think she should face her extortionist alone. Sidwell asked what he was talking about, and Laura said Doc knew everything. Doc said they didn’t keep secrets, and Sidwell said, wonderful. One of those kinds of marriages. How unfortunate.

Emma said Mac and Cody managed to make peace, and Felicia said that was true. No matter what they said, they loved each other. Emma said she thought Dante and Gio wanted a relationship, but neither one was willing to admit it, and Felicia said, Mac kept Cody at a distance because he was hurt. Cody knew he’d screwed up and said a relationship with his father was unnecessary. Emma said, Gio told her that Dante didn’t respect him, but that was okay because he didn’t want anything to do with Dante. How did Mac and Cody bridge the gap? Felicia said, James did all the work.

Lulu and Rocco found Sonny in Turner’s office, and he said Ric and Turner were in with the judge. It may not go their way, but Rocco needed to be respectful and polite. Don’t offer any information and don’t argue. Ric and Turner came back, and Ric said he got the terms of their plea agreement.  

Dante said Lulu tended to lead with her heart, but Nathan said she wouldn’t have signed up for it if she didn’t know how to handle it. Dante said, if it didn’t go their way, it was because of him.

Charlotte said Nathan was right. She and Danny would just be a distraction. Danny said they were only in this mess because they wanted to make a difference, and she said she wanted to help Rocco before she went away. Danny asked where she was going.

Josslyn said, two things could be true. She could want more time with her family and be concerned that the man who tried to kill Carly escaped. Carly said if Valentin came to Port Charles, it would be to see Charlotte, not her. That wasn’t going to happen. Josslyn said, then what was wrong with having a party? and Carly said Friday was the PCU Holiday Concert. Josslyn and Trina always went together, and Josslyn should have fun with her friends. She and Donna could come over during the weekend and bake cookies. Her sister would love nothing more than to decorate her place for the holiday. Josslyn said, sounds great.

Jack thanked Britt for coming, but she said she had no choice. He said the WSB was investigating the research of Professor Dalton, and she’d said she was just a guest at the Five Poppies. But since then, they’d learned that Professor Dalton was funneling data to someone at the resort. She wasn’t a guest. She was working at the lab. Now that Professor Dalton was gone, she was all they had left.

Emma asked how James helped, and Felicia said Cody saved him from drowning. In that moment, Cody and Mac saw past their pride and saw each other. Cody saw Mac as a loving father, and Mac realized, despite Cody’s screw ups, he was always trying to do better. Emma said both Gio and Dante had legitimate reasons to be angry, but neither was willing to meet the other halfway. They needed something to unite them. Felicia said, a common cause, something they could put aside their differences for.

Brook asked how the omelet was, and Ned said, fine, but it would be better with cheese. First the BLT, now the cheddar. He didn’t know if he’d live longer, but it would sure feel like it. Brook suggested he take his nap, and Tracy said he had to follow the rules. She’d make sure he did naptime. She and Ned left.

Dante told Nathan that he wanted to be the dad he never had, but Rocco brought up how Dante wasn’t around for a bit when he was younger. He’d thought it was best for Rocco and Lulu if he was far away from them and that was wrong. He didn’t know how much if affected his son until Rocco let him know. Nathan said he could see how much Dante loved Rocco, but Dante said that didn’t change the fact he wasn’t there when Rocco needed him most. Now Rocco was pushing him away.

Turner said the judge was willing to accept one of two options. The first was Rocco being incarcerated for 30 days. Ric said, or a suspended sentence in exchange for 500 hours of community service. The judge left it in the acting ADA’s hands. Lulu asked what Turner decided, and Turner said, that depended on Rocco.

Charlotte said Danny had to promise not to say a word, and Danny promised. She said she might be leaving Port Charles wither her dad. Danny said her dad was a fugitive, and she said she got a signal from him. He told her to wait. Her mom tried to make her promise not to leave, but she couldn’t lie about that. He asked if she was sure she wanted to leave, and she said she didn’t know what she wanted.

Valentin said he saw Josslyn leave. He thought she’d stay longer. Carly said that was the plan, but she didn’t want to risk Josslyn finding him and she knew it hurt Josslyn to lie to her. Valentin asked, where’s Donna? and she said, at school. Was her daughter at risk? If she was, he needed to tell her. He owed her that. He said the only one that was at risk besides him was Jack, and she said prove it by telling her how to get Josslyn out of the WSB and Jack out of their lives for good.

Jack asked if Sidwell’s associates were leaning on Britt, but Britt said she didn’t know those people. He said, save the stonewalling. He knew Sidwell’s work was continuing in Port Charles. She had access to Dalton’s lab and there was surveillance footage everywhere, even the college campus. They wanted the data, research and development. If she didn’t give it to him, he’d tell Sidwell that she was working for them the entire time.

Sidwell said they’d reached an agreement, and anyone interfering with it would receive negative ramifications. And he wasn’t talking about the political arena. Laura said she agreed with the understanding that they wouldn’t deal face to face, but he said it was a special occasion, and it wasn’t like she had a choice. Doc said she did. She could call his bluff.

Sidwell said Laura would have a lot to answer for if she came forward, and Doc said she’d lose her political career and possibly her freedom, but there was no underestimating the goodwill she garnered from the people of Port Charles, and there were lines she didn’t cross. If she was forced to turn herself in, she’d have his full support. Sidwell said he appreciated Doc’s candor, so he’d respond in kind. He needed Sonny and needed Doc’s wonderful wife, but he didn’t need Doc. It was lovely chatting with them, and he looked forward to Laura’s press conference. He left, and Laura told Doc that she loved him so much right now. Don’t ever do that again.

Rocco told Turner that he thought Professor Dalton was hurting animals, but he was wrong. Even if he hadn’t been wrong, he had no right to trespass. He never meant to cause trouble. He didn’t realize how his actions could impact others, but he should have. He was truly sorry and accepted the consequences, whatever they may be. Turner thanked him for his impressive statement. The law would be satisfied with 500 hours community service.

Tracy said despite his complaining, Ned quickly fell asleep, and Brook said, he needed rest. Tracy thanked them for taking good care of Ned. Ned owed everything to Gio. Gio said he was just in the right place at the right time, but she said it was more than that. It made her happy to see Gio and Brook getting along so well. Gio said they may have worked out a few things, when Emma came in. She said it was good to see Tracy, but she was hoping to talk to Gio about Rocco. Gio asked if something was wrong, and Emma said if he wanted to make it better for Rocco, find a way to make up with Dante.

Nathan suggested the way Dante was handling it wasn’t working and he should go back to basics. He loved Rocco and wanted things to be okay. All he needed to do was make it happen. Dante asked what he needed to do.

Danny said being on the run was so tough. His mom told him stories. Charlotte said it was hard, but could also be exciting and fun. She’d miss Port Charles. Her father had been the only person she could count on, but now she had her mom, school, him, and Rocco. She’d miss them if she had to leave.

Britt said if Jack outed her, he’d let the bad guys know the WSB was watching. He needed her and she didn’t appreciate threats. If she risked her life smuggling data from Sidwell to the WSB, it would cost them. She wanted her medical license back. Jack said he had no pull with the AMA, and she said, then get some. That was the only way she was cooperating. She left.

Valentin told Carly that he didn’t think they could get Josslyn out of the WSB… yet. But he thought they could get Jack to stop exploiting her. They were investigating Sidwell’s development of dangerous and illegal technology, and when Jack wanted something, he stopped at nothing to get it. They needed to make sure that Faison’s final project was exposed and Jack was held responsible. He’d be prosecuted for his various transgressions and go to prison for a very, very long time. Carly asked how they could be sure he went down for something he had nothing to do with, and Valentin said he didn’t think they had to do anything. Jack would do what he always did – find himself in the middle. And when he did, they would be ready.  

Tuesday:

Rocco came home, and Lulu told Dante and Charlotte that he got 500 hours of community service. Dante said that was literally the best case scenario, and tried to hug Rocco, but Rocco shrugged him off. He said that until Dante could hug his brother too, he wasn’t interested.

Nina thanked Jack for seeing her, and he said a meeting with her was next on his list. She was going to help him find Valentin.

Tracy asked Brook where the things were that she sent to Lulu’s during Ronnie’s temporary occupation, and Brook said there had been a little hiccup – Drew.

Michael met Josslyn at the MetroCourt Gardens, and she said she wouldn’t stop worrying about their mom until Valentin was found. Michael said, in the meantime, she could hover over him. Everything was riding on Willow’s trial tomorrow. Josslyn said, speak of the devil, when Drew and Willow walked in.

Tracy asked how it happened, and Brook said they had movers booked to return the items, when Drew intercepted them. Tracy asked if she was saying that the family heirlooms were at Drew’s house absorbing evil. Why didn’t someone get them back? Brook said, Ned had a heart attack, and getting back her tchotchkes was low on the list. Tracy said they weren’t tchotchkes. They were family mementos and she wanted them back now.

Josslyn suggested finding the hostess, but Michael said he didn’t want to cause a scene. That’s what Dew wanted. If they wanted to parade themselves around and be stared at, let them.

Willow wondered if this was a good idea, but Drew said he wanted to show the world that he loved his wife and supported her. She had nothing to be ashamed of. She said she felt uncomfortable, but he told her to show she wasn’t intimidated. It took their power away and they could enjoy themselves in the process.

Lulu said Rocco wasn’t being fair, but Rocco said he didn’t care. Lulu said, now that the ordeal was finally over, they should be celebrating, and Rocco said he’d celebrate in his room. He went upstairs, and Dante said he didn’t want to be the reason Rocco was in his room. He was going to the station.

Nina asked how Jack expected her to help find Valentin, and Jack said she’d been married to him and they remained close. She was one of the few he appeared to trust. Taking Valentin back into custody was the only way to insure no one was hurt or killed. Nina said she wasn’t doing Jack a favor until he made good on the one he already owed her.

Drew’s phone rang, and he stepped away. Tracy said she believed he had items that belonged to her, but he said he had just as much right to them, and possession was nine-tenths of the law. The items were staying with him. He hung up, and Tracy told Brook what Drew said. He didn’t know who he was dealing with, but he was about to find out. Brook suggested they call one of the lawyers in the morning, but Tracy said she wanted her family’s property back now and knew exactly how she was going to get it.

Lulu asked how Charlotte was holding up, but Charlotte said Lulu didn’t need to worry about her. She didn’t need the extra attention. There were already too many people watching her every move. She was starting to feel like a prisoner. Lulu said they were concerned her father would show up, but Charlotte said he wasn’t stupid and would never approach her that way. Lulu asked if she’d been in contact with him.

Nina said when Jack asked her to help facilitate a meeting between Charlotte and Valentin, she did. In exchange, he’d promised her a favor and she was still waiting. He said the game had changed. Valentin was on the run. He wasn’t saying he wouldn’t help, just that he didn’t have to. What did she want?  

Willow said it was hard to sit there with Michael and Josslyn glaring at them. Michael spent every day with her kids and who knew what he was telling them. She wasn’t even allowed to see them. Drew said they were just trying to upset her and throw her off her game with the trial coming up, and she said it was working. He suggested instead of taking it, they address the situation, and let her over to Michael’s table. He told Michael and Josslyn that they just wanted to say hello. They understood tensions were running high with the trial coming up, but the restaurant was big enough for all of them and shouldn’t be a problem. Michael said he had no objection to them being there, but he did object to Willow showing up at his home for a clandestine visit with the kids that she knew she wasn’t supposed to have.

Martin said he didn’t appreciate being summoned, and Tracy wondered if he’d appreciate going to prison. Her snake of a nephew bribed the moving company and stole items that belonged to her. She wanted them back. He said he didn’t know about it, but Brook said Drew was his client. He said he didn’t follow Drew around, and Tracy said she believed it behooved him to get every single item back immediately. He said he didn’t have the power to force Drew to do anything, but Tracy said he’d better or he’d find himself charged with a felony for trying to steal her beautiful home.

An officer told Dante that his son was here to see him, and Gio walked in.

Dante said it was a surprise, and Gio said the situation between them was making things harder for Rocco. Dante said everything Rocco was going through could be traced back to the both of them, and Gio said they’d both made mistakes and were both sorry. At least he was. Dante said he was too, and Gio said he didn’t know where they went from there. He was open to compromise. He wanted to have a relationship with his brother and knew Rocco wanted that too. Dante agreed and said whether he liked it or not, it wasn’t his place to try and stop it from happening. Gio asked, what’s the catch? but Dante said there was none. Other than the fact he wanted Gio to acknowledge his interaction with Rocco had contributed to Rocco’s problems. He wanted to work with Gio going forward to make sure it didn’t continue to happen.

Charlotte said she hadn’t seen her father since Steinmauer and had no contact with him since then. Lulu said her father had escaped WSB custody, and Charlotte asked, what was the alternative? Spending his life in a supermax prison, alone and far away from everyone he loved? Lulu said actions had consequences. Valentin knew that and chose to commit the crimes. Charlotte said the standards were different for everybody and it sucked, but Lulu said it wasn’t up to them to decide punishment. Live her life. She wasn’t responsible for her father’s choices and didn’t have to face the repercussions. Charlote asked if that wasn’t what she was doing.

Tracy asked if Martin preferred luscious Lodi or scenic Sing-Sing, and he said he was under the impression that the issue with Monica’s estate had been put behind them. She said it was now put in front again, and Brook said they were now on good terms with Ronnie, who’d felt terrible about it. She’d love to tell a jury how he tried to swindle them. Martin told them that Ned and Chase said if he confessed to Laura and she interceded, they wouldn’t press charges, but Tracy said, any mercy Chase and Ned showed him was before his client stole family heirlooms. Get them back or he’d be handing out toilet bowl hooch for Christmas.

Michael said, judging from Drew’s face, he was guessing it was the first Drew was hearing about it, but Drew said, not at all. Willow told him everything. She made a harmless visit, and he didn’t see the problem. Michael said a judge might see it differently, especially when he submitted affidavits from Chase and Brook saying Willow broke the custody order. Drew said, who knew if Michael would be in position to submit anything? Things change. He and Willow left, and Josslyn said Willow stood there and let him speak for her, but Michael said he was less concerned with the words than Willow’s actions. She’d proved she’d learned nothing. She asked if he was worried about the impact on the kids if Willow went to prison, but he said he was worried he’d have to share the kids with her and Drew.

Nina said Willow’s trial was tomorrow, and Jack asked if she was guilty. Nina said Willow would never shoot anyone, much less the man she loved, and Jack wondered if a jury would see her the same way. Crimes of passion happen more often than you think. And it was no one you’d suspect. Nina said Willow deserved her freedom, but they had to remove some noise to let the jury get there. He said, by noise, she meant evidence, and she said the prosecution had circumstantial evidence that would be twisted to look incriminating. Physical evidence and video that could create a false narrative. It would help greatly if he’d do something to stop that from happening.

Dante said he and Gio couldn’t fix things overnight or with one conversation. He didn’t even know if Gio wanted to fix things, but he knew he was wrong when he said Gio didn’t care about Rocco. Him being there was another example. Gio said he almost turned back three times, and Dante said, but he didn’t. He wanted to make things better for Rocco. Gio said he did too. He knew Rocco’s stance against Dante was because of him and it was the last thing he wanted. Rocco needed his dad and he wanted a relationship with his brother.

Josslyn wondered why Willow married Drew so quickly when she knew what he’d done, and Michael said Drew set out to destroy his family and succeeded and destroyed Willow in the process. She said, given what he knew, did he think they’d be together if Drew hadn’t slimed his way in, but he said, no. He didn’t think they ever really knew each other. He wished they’d had the opportunity to figure it out for themselves. The kids wouldn’t be suffering the way they were now.

Willow told Drew that she was sorry. She knew it was stupid, but she got excited when she thought the charges were being dropped. She was hoping Chase would just let her see her kids. Drew said, then Brook was there, and she said, she shut down the entire discussion. She knew there was a chance Brook would tell Michael, but was hoping she wouldn’t. She should have told him. He said he knew it waws torture, but when things like that happened, tell him so he knew how to protect her. Michael left and they were still there. They were going to win the battle, starting with tomorrow in court.

Jack said it was far beyond the capacity of the agency, but Nina said she didn’t believe him. She knew from Valentin what the WSB was capable of. He didn’t have to tell her how or what he was doing, but she knew he could do something. He said, say he did what she wanted. What she was asking could send him to prison. That was well beyond repaying her to run interference with Lulu. She had to make it worth his while.

Lulu said she didn’t blame Charlotte for being upset, but it was temporary, and Charlotte said it would be all over when her dad was captured and back in prison. Lulu said she wasn’t the enemy. She wasn’t saying Charlotte’s father was either, but she was always in Charlotte’s corner. She knew Charlotte was scared, but she wasn’t alone. Charlotte could always confide in her. Charlotte said she knew Lulu was doing her best, and Lulu said, but she needed something more or different or something. Tell her what she needed. Charlotte said the last time she told Lulu the truth, she hurt her when she couldn’t promise not to leave. She loved Lulu and was happy Lulu came back to them. Lulu said she was Charlotte’s mother and loved her. She wanted to help, but didn’t know how. Charlotte said Lulu didn’t know her like her father did.

Martin asked Brook to please try to get through to her grandmother. When Drew made up his mind, nobody could change it. Brook said, then he had some pretty creative problem solving ahead of him. Go. He left, and called Drew from outside. Drew asked what he wanted, and Martin said he was at the Quartermaines’ and understood Drew had absconded with Tracy’s property. Drew said that’s not how he described it, but Martin said it’s how Tracy did and she wanted it back immediately. Drew got up and stepped away from the table. He said Tracy wanted a lot of things, but he wasn’t interested in any of them, and Martin said he was advising Drew in the strongest possible terms to return everything quickly. Tracy was going make things unpleasant and public, and he couldn’t afford that with Willow on trial. Drew said he wasn’t returning a single thing. He was a Quartermaine and the heirlooms were just as much his. He had something he wanted Martin to do for him.

Dante said he didn’t want to keep Gio and Rocco apart, but there needed to be boundaries, and Gio asked what he meant. Dante said when Gio was with Rocco, for now he wanted to be there too, and Gio said it sounded like he was their babysitter, but Dante said he was trying to compromise. Right now, that’s what it looked like for him. He asked what it looked like for Gio.

Nina said she was willing to do what it took to protect her child. What did Jack want? He said, Valentin, and she said if Valentin contacted her, she’d call him immediately… if she got what she wanted. He said, no. If he was going to make a move to keep an alleged shooter of a sitting congressman out of prison, he’d need a great deal more.

Charlotte said there was so much about her life that Lulu didn’t know, and Lulu said tell her about anything and everything, no matter how small. All she wanted was to know Charlotte and make her feel like this was a place she belonged. Charlotte said she loved it there. She loved being with Lulu and Rocco, and being able to see her grandmother whenever she wanted. She loved the house and her room and having breakfast together. She knew Lulu was trying so hard… Lulu said, but it wasn’t enough. When she said home, where did Charlotte think that was. What was her home? Charlotte said her home was with her father.

Michael told Tracy, welcome home, and Tracy said thanks for not letting her know her son almost died. He said, sorry. They didn’t want to ruin her vacation. Someone watched them from an adjacent room, and she said her son was more important than her vacation. He said she was there now, and she said she would have gladly stayed if it meant avoiding testifying at Willow’s trial.

Dante said there would be holiday parties and get-togethers, and Rocco would want to see Gio. Why not get together as a family? They could go to Lulu’s and put up the tree. There would be food and drinks and Christmas spirit, and they’d all be in the same room. It was something to consider. Gio said he didn’t like the idea of his and Rocco’s visits being supervised, but he thought it was a place to start. If they kept reminding themselves they were doing this for Rocco, it could work.

Rocco texted Britt, telling her about his sentence. He said he guessed it worked out.

Charlotte told Lulu that she was sorry. She’d spent more time with her dad. They’d gone to different places. He taught her French and when she was in boarding school in Switzerland, he saw her all the time. They had memories she and Lulu didn’t have. It wasn’t Lulu’s fault, but it wasn’t her dad’s fault either. Lulu said she understood Charlotte spent more time with her father and they built a relationship. She was happy Charlotte had that and glad Charlotte told her how she felt. She was so sorry for what Charlotte was going through and hoped someday this would feel like home with her too. They hugged, and Charlotte said she didn’t want Lulu thinking she didn’t like it there. Lulu said, of course (🍷) not, and suggested Charotte get ready for bed. Charlotte went upstairs, and Lulu cried.

Jack said if Valentin contacted his daughter, he wanted to know, and Nina wondered what he was asking her to do. He said Charlotte’s first instinct was to protect her father. She wouldn’t confide in Lulu, but she’d need to confide in someone. Make sure that someone was her. Nina said she wouldn’t exploit Charlotte like that, and Jack said that was an acceptable response. He couldn’t force her to do what she didn’t want to. She could see herself out. Nina said if she did what he wanted, what did she get in return? and he said, exactly what she asked for. She left.

Josslyn went to Drew’s table and said she and Michael were talking about them. Michael thought he never really knew the real Willow. Personally, she didn’t think they should have gotten married in the first place. She wondered if Willow and Drew would have a similar regret. Drew may have destroyed Willow’s marriage, but she let him. No matter how many times she told herself that she was an innocent victim, she did this to herself every step of the way. She chose this. She had no one else to blame. She chose the consequences. Josslyn left, and Drew told Willow, don’t listen to her. She couldn’t be more wrong. They’d prove her innocence, and when she was exonerated, she’d get custody back and her children would be with her again. He promised. She said it was all she was living for.

Michael said Tracy missed the excitement. They thought the charges were going to be dropped, but new evidence came to light. Tracy asked if he was worried about sending the children’s mother to prison or worried about perjuring himself on the stand. She was going to protect him any way she could for Monica’s sake, but they both knew he was lying. She’d seen him park in front of Drew’s a moment before she found Drew lying on the floor with two bullet holes in his back.

Wednesday:

Dante checked on Rocco, and Lulu said he was in school. He’d left in such a hurry, he forgot his tablet. Dante asked if Rocco was still pissed, but Lulu said he was in a slightly better mood. She didn’t want to jinx it, but maybe things were looking up.

At the hospital, Britt looked at Rocco’s text and texted back. Elizabeth said she hoped it was work related.

Curtis went to Portia’s room, and she said there had been a change of plans.

On the phone outside the courtroom, Nina asked if Jack took care of the problem… What was the hold up? Her daughter’s life and future depended on it. Carly appeared and said, conspire much?

Kristina went to see Alexis in her office, and Alexis said her opening statement couldn’t be perfect enough. She didn’t have to tell Kristina what was at stake. Kristina said their future access to Scout… also Willow’s freedom.

Willow fretted about how she looked, but Drew said the jury would see what he did – a beautiful, kind, innocent woman.

In the nook, Michael flashed back to getting in his car in the rain when Tracy came in. She said she’d gone to the crypt to talk to Michael’s grandmother. She figured his grandmother would be the most concerned about him, and she reassured Monica that she was going to do everything she could to protect him in court. Michael said, assuming he needed protection, and she said, didn’t he?

Lulu said Dante needed to be patient. She thought if they gave Rocco space, he’d come around. Dante told her about Gio wanting a truce for Rocco’s sake and said he’d invited Gio to do tree stuff. Lulu said, on one condition. Dante picked out the tree, figured out how to get it there, wrangled it into the stand, and put on the lights. She was all for this. Rocco would love to have time with Gio, and after the break-in debacle, he deserved a nice, quiet Christmas.

Britt said the text was work related, but when Elizabeth asked to see it, Britt cited doctor/patient confidentiality. Elizabeth said Britt wasn’t a doctor and they had a policy about not using cellphones while on duty. Britt said, like Elizabeth was never on the phone, but Elizabeth said she had kids. Britt said it was okay to discriminate. Good to know. Lucas came by with his letter of recommendation, and Britt said she was just about to apologize to Elizabeth for being on the phone. Elizabeth left, Britt thanked Lucas for going to bat for her, and she read the letter.

Curtis said Portia had agreed to the plan, and Portia said Trina was in the room. She’d had time to think and wasn’t sure it was the best idea. He said things had been strained, but they could set that aside to make sure she and the baby were healthy. She said she thought it would be less stressful if she stayed there one more night, then went back to the MetroCourt, and he said the staff couldn’t take care of her like he could. She said if she needed help, she’d give him a call, but she thought was for the best for her, the baby, and him. She’d appreciate it if he’d keep her updated on Willow’s trail. It was going to drive her insane wondering if either of them would be thrown under the bus.

Nina told Carly that she wasn’t conspiring, but Carly said it sounded like she was making plans for Willow to go on the run. Nina said she was asking a friend to give some positive press to Willow, and Carly said having a plane ready to go wasn’t a bad idea, but Nina said Willow was innocent. Carly said the evidence suggested otherwise. If Willow pled guilty and threw herself on the mercy of the court… Nina said then Carly wouldn’t have to worry about the real truth coming out, that Michael shot Drew… or maybe she did. Carly said everyone knew Willow was guilty. Don’t blame her. If Willow claimed extenuating circumstances, she might get a reduced sentence. Nina said Willow would be exonerated and reunited with her children. Carly said that would never happen, but Nina said the prosecution’s evidence wasn’t as solid as they thought.

Alexis said she couldn’t take the thought of Scout being cut out of their lives, and Kristina said if Willow wasn’t exonerated, Drew would force the restraining order. Alexis said, Scout would suffer the most, when Drew arrived with Willow. Kristina told Willow, good luck, and left. Alexis said they weren’t quite ready, and Drew said she should have been prepared. Alexis said she was, but Willow wasn’t.

Michael said he was sorry that Tracy saw him at Drew’s and felt she had to protect him. He swore he didn’t shoot Drew. Tracy said she could usually tell when someone was lying, but he was like his father. There was a steeliness about him that was hard to read, especially when he was hiding something. Michael said he wasn’t. Why would he lie? Tracy said the stakes were so high. This was about his children. If he went to prison, Willow would get custody, and she was married to Drew… Michael said it wasn’t an option, and Tracy said, exactly. She’d do anything she had to in order to protect the family, including lying through her teeth. He said, luckily, he was willing to do the same.

Lucas asked what Britt thought. He crushed it. She said he crushed her. She had some notes, but it was a solid first draft. Lucas said he’d already sent it to the medical board, and she said he’d sent a hatchet job. He said he spoke about her in glowing terms, but she said he made her sound like a robot. There was nothing about her warm bedside manner or how her work elevated those around. Lucas said he wasn’t going to lie. She was an excellent doctor, but a notoriously less excellent human, and he didn’t say the horrible human stuff. He should have known it was stupid to do anything nice for her. She was welcome. He left and she said she wouldn’t need him as long as Chief Brennan came through. She told Elizabeth that she was taking a break and left.

Portia told the baby that it would be okay if they got through the trial unscathed, when Brad said, knock-knock. He walked in and said he heard congratulations were in order.

Britt texted Rocco, thanking him for his text to her.

Lulu told Dante that they’d get Charlotte focused on something other than the Valentin nightmare. She asked if there had been any sign of him, but Dante said, nothing. She said she was nervous sending Charlotte to school, but couldn’t keep her home forever, and he said there were squad cars on campus. Charlotte was safe. He had to get going to the courthouse. With Anna away, Alexis was going to grill him about the PCPD investigation. Was she covering the proceedings? Try not to make him sound like a complete idiot. She said it was her job to report the facts, and he left. Lulu heard Rocco’s tablet chime and saw the text from Britt asking Rocco to meet up some time.

Trina met Kai at the courthouse and said since they were the only ones at Drew’s that night, they might catch something about the shooter that the others wouldn’t. Kai said he was there for Drew’s moral support, but her being there would be harder to explain, and she suggested she be the world’s clingiest girlfriend. He said she’d have to sell that because everyone knew how independent she was. He was glad she showed up and that they were working as a team. She said her too, and they kissed.

Tracy said she thought she could muster enough credibility to convince the jury that she didn’t see anything suspicious, and Michael said he appreciated her having his back. It wasn’t her job. She said when she inherited the house from Monica, she inherited the role as head of the family. It was her job to keep the Quartermaines together. The jury was still out whether or not she was up to the task, but she owed it to Monica to try. Michael said, for what it was worth (🍷), he thought his grandmother chose a worthy successor. He had no doubt the family was in good hands. She thanked him.

Willow said Alexis told her not to testify, and Alexis said she shouldn’t, but the jury would be watching her. They’d have eyes on her every expression. How she conducted herself was vital. The ADA would drag her whole life out in the open. She’ll say horrible things, some true, some false. Willow will be hurt and embarrassed, but she couldn’t express it. Willow asked if she should show no emotion, but Alexis said, no. She could be sad about her children, but don’t overdo it. If she lost control, they were done. If she seemed unstable, they’d believe she could shoot Drew. She had faith in Willow. Drew told her not to lose sight of the goal. She needed to be free to get her kids back. Alexis said, her relationship with her kids was what it was all about, and Willow said she’d do whatever it took to be with her children again.

Elizabeth said it was generous of Lucas, even if it wasn’t appreciated, and he said he was wondering if he made a mistake, but she said she didn’t think so. Britt was an excellent doctor, and she supported Britt’s efforts to get her license back. He said Elizabeth didn’t want to be Britt’s supervisor, and she said that was a bonus. What convinced him? He said he saw how Britt was with Portia, making sure she got he medical care she needed, and Elizabeth said, thank God Portia and the baby were okay. She was going to say hi on her break. She hoped Portia was able to relax and avoid stress.

Portia asked what the hell Brad was doing there, and Brad said, in Port Charles or in her hospital room? He missed her and his fellow co-workers, so he took a break to pop in and visit, and she said he ran through the money. He said finance shaming wasn’t cool. He was hoping they’d keep it civil. Portia said he blackmailed her and sold her out to Drew for a huge payday. Now he was back in seven months. He said, six. He was sorry. Couldn’t they start fresh? She said they couldn’t. He had nothing on her anymore, so feel free to leave. He said there was no physical evidence, but he still had quite the tale to share with Dr. Robinson and the hospital board. Isaiah interrupted and said Portia was on bed rest and Brad needed to leave. Go… now. Brad said he’d be back, and Isaiah said, not on his watch. Brad left, and Isaiah asked if that was Brad Cooper. He recognized him from her description. He gave off weasel vibes. Portia said Brad was a weasel. Isaiah needed to be careful. Brad had an incredible talent for sniffing out secrets and if he found out they were involved, it would be disastrous for both of them.

Brad ran into Lucas coming out of the elevator.

Lulu approached Britt, who asked if she could help her. Lulu said, stay the hell away from her son.

Turner thanked Dante for pulling the footage. They were able to put together her drive from the hospital to Drew’s house. Dante said it was the second alibi she lied about, and Turner said it was a big mistake on Willow’s part, and her job got a whole lot easier. Alexis came in, and Carly asked Michael how he was holding up. He said he was confident justice would be served, and Turner asked if Carly had seen Willow. Carly said she hadn’t, but she wouldn’t be surprised if Willow made a run for it.

In the hallway, Nina asked if she and Willow could talk in private. There was something she should know. Alexis came out and said, let’s go. Court was almost in session. They went in and Willow saw Michael.

Lucas said he didn’t realize Brad was back in town, and Brad said he got in today. He would have given Lucas a heads up, but he didn’t know if Lucas wanted to hear from him. Lucas said it would have been fine. What brought him back? Brad said traveling was exhausting and he needed a break. How was Lucas? Lucas said, good. Work was keeping him busy. Brad said, too busy for a personal life? but Lucas said he managed to juggle both. Brad asked if he was seeing someone. Lucas was starting to date a guy when he left. Lucas said, Marco. They were still a thing. More than that. They’d moved in together.

Isaiah said as far as anyone was concerned, Portia was his boss and they were friends, so of course (🍷), he stuck up for her. She said she was paranoid about Brad and he stressed her out, and Isaiah suggested changing the subject. When was Curtis coming to take her home? She said she told Curtis that she’d changed her mind and asked Dr. Navarro if she could stay there another night. Then she was going back to her room at the MetroCourt. He said, or they could stick to the original plan, and she could stay with him at the cabin.

Curtis said he didn’t know Trina was coming, and she said she was there to keep Kai company. Did he get her mom settled in at home? He said it wasn’t happening. There had been a change in plans.

Drew said he’d be behind Willow. If she needed a pick-me-up, turn around. He loved her. The bailiff said, all rise. Court is in session, the honorable Judge Sullivan presiding.

Britt said she was in the middle of a shift, and Lulu said Britt had been texting her son behind her back. She read, let’s meet up soon, and Britt said, the horror. Lulu said it wasn’t funny, and Britt said Lulu’s hysteria over a nothing text was. Lulu said Britt wasn’t supposed to contact Rocco, but Britt said Rocco reached out to her. Was she supposed to ignore him? Lulu said, yes, and Britt said, ridiculous. Lulu said he was a child. Britt was the adult. Britt said Rocco was nearly grown. Keep it up and Lulu would push him away. Did she threaten Lulu that much? Lulu said Britt was selfish and a liar. Britt destroyed everything she touched, and she wasn’t going to let Rocco be next. She was blocking Britt’s number and trust her, it was just the beginning.

The judge said the court called The People versus Willow Tate, and asked the prosecution to make their opening statement.

Brad said, so Lucas was living in domestic bliss. Congrats. Where should he send the housewarming gift? Lucas said he didn’t need to send a gift, but they were at Windymere with Marco’s dad. Brad asked if it didn’t cramp Lucas’s style, and Lucas said, Marco’s father or the fortress? They made it work. His phone chimed and he said he was sorry. A patient needed him. It was good seeing Brad. Brad said him too, and Lucas left.  

Isaiah said when he first pitched the idea, Portia seemed excited to stay at the cabin, and Portia said she was. It sounded ideal, but if Trina and Curtis found out, it would be tricky to explain.

Isaiah said they didn’t have to know he was staying there too. She could say he offered the place, and she accepted because it was peaceful and quiet. She said, in reality, he’d be there with her, and he said, if that was okay. He’d like to take care of her and the baby. After all, there was a chance it was his. He kissed her hand, and she said it was really tempting. He told her, then say yes.

Britt sent Rocco a text saying she was checking in to see if he got her text earlier. Let her know.

Dante asked if Lulu was okay. She seemed agitated. Lulu said she’d tell him later, and Turner said she wasn’t going to waste the jury’s time with a sales pitch. It was just the facts. The PCPD had a mountain of evidence that would make clear that Miss Tate had the motive, means, and opportunity to shoot Congressman Cain. The defense attorney could try her best to distract them from the evidence, painting Willow as nothing more than a victim. She’d throw other suspects at the wall, hoping one would stick just enough. But back to the facts, starting with motive. This man seduced Willow away from her husband and because of Congressman Cain, her family was torn apart, and she lost custody of her children. That led to her suffering two psychotic breaks, one taking place after learning Drew slept with her own mother while he was courting her. Then the night of the shooting, she found out the judge assigned to her custody hearing had been murdered and any potential reunion would be delayed. Any mother would have snapped and she did. There’s motivation. As for means, the weapon was taken from the estate where the defendant once lived. Afterward, it was found among her belongings in her temporary residence. As for opportunity, they had footage of the defendant driving from her place of work to the congressman’s house at the time of the shooting. By the time the trial was over, the facts would leave them with only one reasonable conclusion. On the night of September 2^nd of this year, Willow Tate drove to Congressman Cain’s house and shot him twice in the back and left him for dead. There were soap looks all around.

Elizabeth went to Portia’s room, but Portia was gone.

Britt saw that no texts to Rocco were going through, when Brad came out of the elevator. She said, Brad Cooper, as I live and breathe, and he said he heard she was doing both of those things, but then he thought, no. It wasn’t possible that his best friend in the world would let him think she was dead for two whole years. She said she was so sorry. The last thing she wanted was to hurt anyone, but especially not him. Was there any way he’d forgive her? He said he’d consider it if she watched the Oscars with him in March, including the red-carpet coverage, and she said her fridge was stocked with Rocky Road ice cream in preparation. He said then he guessed all was forgiven. Come here, you heartless skank. They hugged.

Alexis said Turner was right about one thing. Back in September, Willow’s state and life were a mess. Her family was fractured and she was unable to see her children, not because of Drew, but because of her ex and the father of her children, Michael Corinthos. Mr. Corinthos was very angry and jealous because his wife left him for another man. And to add insult to injury, the other man was his uncle. He retaliated in a very bad way, stripping his ex of her children. It was devastating and Willow did put some of the blame at the congressman’s feet for a brief time, but before he was shot, they’d reconciled. They just got married this past Thanksgiving. Why would she shoot the man she loves? She didn’t and wouldn’t. The only reason they were there was because the PCPD and District Attorney’s office were in desperate needed of a suspect. In fact, they focused solely on Willow, rushing to judgement at the exclusion of everybody else. There were people who had an actual motive to kill Drew Cain, but they rushed to judgment. Her client was innocent and she relished the opportunity to prove it to them. Nina smiled and there were more soap looks.

Thursday:

Lulu thanked Nathan for picking up Charlotte at school, but knew he was a detective, not a bodyguard. She was sue he had better things to do with his time. Nathan said he was helping a friend, and Lulu said a friend was just what she needed.

Brad and Britt dressed up and went to dinner at Café Cherie. They ordered the Café’s finest bottle of bubbly.

Anna heard Pascal say, stop what you’re doing and face the wall, in French. Also in French, she asked, why? and he said it was time for breakfast.

Jack gave Carly a necklace as an early Christmas gift, and said he couldn’t surprise her at the MetroCourt. She hadn’t been there for a couple of days. What was keeping her at home?

Jason went to see Josslyn, and when she asked what he was doing there, he showed her his phone. It said, did you sweep for bugs?

Alexis said Willow handled herself well during the opening statements. She needed to be attentive, but not emotional during the testimonies. She’d hear things that were unfair, but try not to react. Think of why she was here and let her handle the rest.

Turner told Dante that evidence didn’t just disappear. Where was the security breach? Dante said she’d have to figure out how to prove the case without the footage, when court was back in session. Turner called her first witness – Tracy Angelica Quartermaine.

Turner said Tracy was the first to discover Drew Cain after he was shot. Walk them through her movements. Tracy said she found Drew on the floor and ran over to check on him. She found a pulse and grabbed a throw from the couch to staunch the bleeding. Then she called 911 and when the police and paramedics came, she answered their questions. Turner asked if she moved anything else, but Tracy said, no. Turner asked if she’d moved the baseball bat found on the floor, but Tracy said she only stepped over it. Turner had nothing further, and Alexis asked what compelled Tracy to visit Drew in a rainstorm. Tracy said she wasn’t there to visit, but to give him a piece of her mind.

Carly told Jack that she loved being home at this time of year, decorating and nesting with Donna and Josslyn, when she was around. She didn’t think she’d see much of him until he found Valentin. Jack said Lulu wasn’t making it easier. She’d thrown up a wall between him and Charlotte. Carly asked if he wanted her to talk to her cousin, but he said he had other options and didn’t want to involve her. Valentin would contact Charlotte, if he hadn’t already. If Lulu wanted to protect Charlotte, she’d let him speak to her. Carly said she’d be happy to mention to Lulu that Jack knew how to keep Charlotte safe. Consider it her early Christmas present to him.

Nathan said with Valentin on the loose and friction between Dante and Rocco, Lulu had pressure on all fronts, and Lulu said she was trying to maintain a sense of normalcy. Lulu knew that Charlotte felt like it was her and Valentin against the world, and Valentin had no one but her. She was trying hard not to see Valentin as the bad guy, but couldn’t shake the fear that Charlotte would go with him and there was nothing she could do to stop it.

Britt and Brad clinked champagne glasses, and Brad asked what it was like working with Lucas. Britt said Brad was better off without him. Leaving Port Charles trailing money and models was so much better. Brad said models were vapid and shallow, and Britt said, not everyone was as deep as him. He told her, spill already. Where had she been?

Josslyn swept with a wand and told Jason that she did this every day. She didn’t trust anybody. She’d say he’d come over to invite her to the Quartermaines’ Christmas party, and he said no one could know he came to ask for her help.

Tracy said her dear friend had been arrested because of Drew’s abuse of his power, and Alexis asked if Tracy observed her client on the premises. Tracy flashed back to telling Michael that she saw him that night, and told Alexis, no. Alexis reserved the right to recall the witness, but had no further questions.

Nathan said Charlotte loved Lulu and said she’d been great about the Valentin situation. They’d had some good conversations recently. Lulu said he was easy to talk to and she was glad Charlotte trusted him. There was a knock at the door, and Jack said he needed to speak to Lulu in private, but Lulu asked Nathan to stick around.

Britt told Brad that after Heather Webber’s attack, she was sure she’d die, but she woke up in a five-star resort in Croatia called the Five Poppies. She realized she’d been drugged and apparently smuggled out of the country by the people who used to work for her father. Brad asked why they would do that, and she said they needed help with her father’s cold fusion research. She was allowed to live in a gorgeous resort with every amenity, but most important was that she was healthy. An experimental drug kept her Huntington’s in check temporarily. There was just one catch.

Anna heard, turn to the wall, hands on head, in French, and saw Pascal through the two-way mirror. She did what he’d asked, and he brought in a tray. He asked why she wasn’t working on her memoirs. No inspiration? Her code was very clever. Answering in French, Anna said she was trying to deduce where she was and how they managed to bring her there. She wondered why they let her keep the notebook. Pascal said they understood it must be tedious and admired how she kept herself preoccupied. Enjoy her meal. He left.

Jason told Josslyn that Britt had been in trouble since leaving the Five Poppies and couldn’t be without the medication that kept her Huntington’s from progressing. He wasn’t there to screw up her mission or take down the WSB. He needed to know why they were investigating the Five Poppies and how it involved Sidwell, Dalton, and Faison.

Turner said what Nina had told the police about the whereabouts of her daughter was a lie. She hadn’t seen Willow at all. Nina said, not until she went to the hospital, and Turner asked if Willow objected to the false alibi. Nina said, no, and Turner asked why she made it up. Did she think Willow was guilty? Alexis objected and said, leading the witness, and Turner said she’d rephrase. Why lie to the police? Nina said she’d wanted to protect her daughter from a witch hunt like what she was going through right now.

Britt said her work was definitely in violation of several international arms treaties, but Brad said it sounded like a small price to pay for her health. Anyone would have done what they asked. He would have. She said, it was all top secret. They built a lab at the resort, and she worked with raw data. She had a wrangler named Pascal, a little dictator with delusions of grandeur, but her orders came from the top – Jenz Sidwell. He asked if she meant Lucas’s boyfriend’s father, and she asked why he cared. He said it was just an observation and knowing how she felt about authority, he imagined it didn’t go well. She said, it did not. When she clocked a couple of WSB agents at the resort and didn’t report them, one thing led to another, and she ended up with a bomb strapped to her ankle. Then she got lucky and Jason came to her rescue.

Josslyn said she’d love to help Jason, but couldn’t. If she shared intel with anyone outside the Bureau, it was treason. He said she knew he wouldn’t tell anyone and he was acting privately. She said they’d know the intel came from her, but he said they’d assume it was Britt. She asked why he didn’t get it from Britt, but he said she wouldn’t tell him. Please. Britt saved her life twice and needed her medication. Josslyn knew she could trust him, but could she say the same about Jack Brennan?

Lulu said her daughter had nothing to say to Jack, and Jack said he could bring in Lulu as a person of interest because she shared a daughter with a wanted fugitive. He could question her for hours, or she could let him speak to Charlotte. She said he was going to have to take her in.

Carly took off the necklace, and Valentin said he knew it was gift from Jack. He’d watched Jack leave through his lonely attic window. She said she didn’t like anyone watching her, and he said, but she wouldn’t give him her Hulu log-in. She said, Jack mentioned Charlotte. He was upset because Lulu wouldn’t let him talk to her. Valentin asked if Jack wanted her to smooth things over, and she said she believed he wanted Charlotte to be safe. She believed Jack was capable of being kind. Valentin said Jack could be the kindest man in the universe when it paid off for him. How did they become involved?

Alexis asked if Willow requested Nina to make up an alibi, but Nina said, absolutely not. Alexis asked why Willow went along with it, and Nina said, at the time, Willow might have thought she was the one who shot Congressman Cain and was trying to protect her, and Alexis had no further questions. Turner asked for a brief recess, and Judge Sullivan granted it. They’d recess for 10 minutes. Michael told Curtis that he was there when they searched Aurora and took him out in handcuffs, and Curtis said they were looking at him as a suspect, but dropped the charges. He guessed they had a stronger case with Willow. Michael said, Willow couldn’t account for where she was at the time of the shooting. They hadn’t gotten to the gun yet. Drew told Willow that the prosecution was grasping at straws and the jury wasn’t buying it, and Nina said she did her best to take the blame. Alexis said she wasn’t sure it would help when they showed the traffic cam footage.

On the stand, Dante said the bullets matched a gun registered to Edward Quartermaine. They served a warrant for the estate, but weren’t able to find the gun in the cabinet. They did find it in the home of Elizabeth Baldwin in the room where Willow was staying. Willow had lived at the estate, which pushed her to the top of the suspect list. Turner asked if he believed she still had access to the estate, and he said, the family didn’t even know the gun was missing. Willow had knowledge of the property and snuck onto the estate several times. Turner asked how they’d put her at the scene, and he said her cellphone had pinged within a five-mile radius of Drew’s home. Turner said that wasn’t conclusive, but he said her vehicle was on traffic cam 65 near Drew’s home. Turner said she wanted to admit still photos from the traffic cam, but Alexis asked where the original footage was. Turner asked to approach and told the judge that they were unable to produce the footage, but they did have timestamped photographs from the traffic cam. Alexis said, without the original source material, the chain of evidence had been broken. There was no way to confirm their legitimacy, and she strongly objected to their admission as evidence.

Anna finished her meal, and realized something was attached underneath the tray. She cleared the tray and flipped it over, finding a package.

Lulu said she’d call her mother, the mayor, and her ex-husband, the acting Police Commissioner, and Nathan said she wasn’t going anywhere and not being questioned without an attorney present. Jack said, as long as Valentin was free, the longer he had to come for Charlotte. They’d been on the run before as fugitives. Did she want Charlotte hunted down by law enforcement? That’s what would happen if she didn’t cooperate. What kind of mother would let their child be collateral damage?

Carly said Jason sacrificed two years of his life with the FBI to protect her, and told Valentin about Jagger Cates. Valentin said, the charges were dropped because the evidence disappeared. You needed high tech to make those kinds of files go away. She asked if he was telling her that Jack made the evidence disappear, and he said, it wasn’t Santa Claus.

Brad asked if Jason was still in the picture, when the waiter put the check on the table and told them to take their time. Britt said Jason got the bomb off of her and gave her a ride back to Port Charles, and Brad said he was thankful she was home safe, but he had to ask if there was any part of her that was sad to leave the Five Poppies. She said, no matter how beautiful a prison was, it was still a prison, and he asked about her meds. She said she was terrified, but her meds arrived in Port Charles when she moved back. As relieved as she was to get them, she realized her medication came at a cost. She was still on the hook for the research. He said, she was still working for Sidwell? and she said, and that little creature Pascal. Sidwell had him moved into Windymere. Brad asked what she was going to do, and she said, whatever she was told. It was the only way to get her medication. Brad took her hand and said, whatever she had to do, keep doing it. He couldn’t put up with losing his friend again. She said her neither. He had no idea how good it was for her to have her friend back.

Jason asked if Josslyn was having second thoughts about joining the WSB, and she said, second, third, and fourth thoughts, especially since Vaughn disappeared. They’d breached protocol by being together and she’d trusted him with her life. Now that he was gone, she realized she trusted him more than Brennan and the Bureau. Brennon’s goals had to do with Sidwell and Faison’s final project. She wasn’t a person to him. Neither was Britt. They were tools he was using to reach his objective. Jason said he’d always protect her.  

Carly told Valentin that she went to visit Jack a lot. She told him everything that was going on and he seemed genuinely interested. Valentin said Jack was skilled, but she said they weren’t dating then. She couldn’t believe he’d do that. Valentin said, when she was granted her freedom, it felt like a miracle. To Jack it was a minor interagency clash, but look at the dividends it had paid.

Lulu said Charlotte didn’t know where Valentin was, and Jack said Charlotte was his only child and they lived as fugitives. Her daughter knew Valentin well. Nathan said, not well enough to find him, but Jack said Valentin had a way to contact Charlotte. He’d raised Charlotte to be his accessory. Nathan asked if Jack as going to be a big man and arrest a 16-year-old girl, but Jack said he was going to save her life.

Judge Sullivan said there was no way to prove accuracy and the photos were inadmissible. Turner said she had nothing further, and Alexis asked Dante if there had been other suspects. Dante said, quite a few had motive, means, and opportunity. She said, yet her client was the main focus and the suspect on night one. Would it be fair to say the PCPD was premature and reckless… Turner objected, and Alexis said, withdrawn. She said, Dante told her the theory was that Willow Tate walked onto the Quartermaine estate and took the gun, and Dante said, yes. She asked if he didn’t live their too, and he said he did. She asked how many other people lived there, and he said, about ten in the main house. She asked if there were staff and a ground crew, and he said, yeah. She said, a lot of people lived and worked at the Quartermaine estate, and they all had access to Edward Quartermaine’s gun. Readier access than her client who didn’t live or was welcome there. He said he supposed she was right, and she said, including his brother Michael Corinthos. One could argue Michael Corinthos had means, motive, and opportunity to shoot Drew Cain. Isn’t that right?

Brad said they should get going and settle up, and Britt said, go ahead, Mr. Moneybags. Let’s see your black card. He said he had one credit card left and it was maxed out, and she said she thought he was rolling in it. He said that was before Gunter, his model boyfriend who left him high and dry after spending all his money. But it should be no problem for her, being a doctor. She said he didn’t have her medical license back. She was working as a ward clerk in the ER. He said, she wasn’t a doctor? She drove a new Mercedes. She said she lived in a studio apartment above a dumpy café. She was broke. He said he was broke, and she asked, who’s going to pay for this?

Alexis asked if the PCPD ever considered Michael Corinthos as a suspect or did Dante’s personal ties interfere with his judgement… Turner objected, and the judge sustained. Alexis said, no further questions, and the prosecution called Kristina Corinthos-Davis.

Josslyn said she knew Jason wouldn’t ask her for help if he didn’t have to. Britt must be important to him. Jason said, so was she. He’d rather die than put her in jeopardy. All he wanted to do was keep her and Britt safe. She said, if it was a question about whom she trusted, between him and Brennan, she’d choose him – always.

As the moss bowl 🎍 listened intently, Carly said Jack could have told her, but he didn’t want her to feel like she owed him anything, but Valentin said her interpretation of the events was dangerously naïve. She left out that Jack did nothing unless it benefitted Jack. The reason he hadn’t told her was that he was withholding the information until he could make the best use of it.

Nathan said Jack had no warrant and no right to be there if Lulu didn’t want him in her home, and Lulu said she didn’t. She’d like him to leave. Jack said he knew Lulu thought Nathan was protecting her, but how did she know she wasn’t playing directly into his hands? She said Nathan was an old friend, and Jack said, who showed up seven years after he was presumed dead. The PCPD gave him his badge back and everyone took his claim that he had no memory at face value. Nathan said people did that with the truth, but Jack said Lulu needed to remember who Nathan’s real father was. He might go by West, but his real last name was and always would be Faison.

Anna opened the package and found a book called The Crystalline Conspiracy, by PK Sinclair, the heroine on the cover looking just like her. She opened it and an inscription read: For my muse – C. She threw the book across the room.

🫔 Friday’s Enchilada…

Turner asks Kristina how she knows the defendant, and Kristina says, Willow is her brother’s ex-wife. Turner says, isn’t it also true that they were both members of an organization known as Dawn of Day?

At the cabin, Isaiah says, they don’t have enough checkers or chess pieces to play either game, but if they put them together and use a little imagination, they can make it work. Portia says he has impressive crisis management skills, and he says he’s got to keep her entertained. Her orders are bed rest and his are to make sure she and the baby have the best possible care. They kiss.

Brad asks Britt if $63 will help, and she says, that doesn’t even cover dessert. The bill is over two grand. She can’t believe they each thought the other was paying. Why did he order those bumps of caviar? He says, the same reason she ordered a second bottle of champers. They deserve nice things. There’s got to be someone they can call. She says, who would that be? Everyone hates them. They’ll have to figure it out on their own. He says, so what else is new?

Josslyn asks what Jason needs, and he says, everything she has on Sidwell and the WSB operative against him. She says, Brennan, Dalton, Sidwell, and the Five Poppies are all connected, and he says, to what? She says, to Faison’s final project. But Britt isn’t a victim. She’s in on it.

Carly says, there’s no way Jack held on to the recording that incriminates her for racketeering just he so could use it against her one day, and Valentin asks, why? Because she’s immune to his scheming? She says, he knows what he’s doing to her daughter, but couldn’t have known what was going to happen between them. He couldn’t have been playing her that early on. Valentin says, absolutely he could, depending on the circumstances, and she says, what circumstances? He says, when she started sleeping with him.

Lulu says, Nathan is nothing like Cesar Faison. How dare Jack imply that? Jack says, they’re father and son, and Lulu says, Cesar Faison is also the man who shot Nathan and cost him seven years of his life. Her best friend, Nathan’s wife, saw it happen. Nathan says, his pregnant wife. It’s ridiculous. Jack said, with Faison, anything is possible.

Turner asks if Kristina and Miss Tate were both in Dawn of Day, and Kristina says, yes. Turner says, explain to the court what Dawn of Day is, and Kristina says, Dawn of Day branded itself as a self-improvement community, but in actuality it was a cult led by a man named David Henry Archer, who went by Shiloh. Turner asks, how long was she a member of the organization? and Kristina says, long enough to be invited into the Trust. Turner asks, what was the Trust? and Kristina says, the inner circle. The women in the trust were expected to be loyal and protect Shiloh when necessary. Turner says, how so? and Kristina says, they underwent weapons training and were his first line of defense. Turner says, she and Willow weren’t in Dawn of Day at the same time, and Kristina says, no. Turner asks if they ever discussed their experiences, and Kristina says, yes. Willow came to her and told her what she’d been through. Willow warned her to stay away. Turner asks if Willow also told her that she was part of the trust, and Kristina says, yes. Turner asks if Willow also had training and experience with firearms, and Kristina says, yes. Turner says, no further questions, and Nina leaves the courtroom.

Carly says, Jack barely knew her when the recording went missing, and Valentin says he’s known Jack a long time and he’s never committed to one woman. It would be the first time he’s broken that rule. If he had incriminating evidence after he’d fallen for her, he’d have an excuse for secrecy because he’d have been protecting her, but by her own admission, Jack had it long before that. He bets his life that Jack still does. She says, to what end? but he says he doesn’t know. She’s the ex-wife of two very powerful men and the mother of another. She’s the closest confidant of Jason Morgan, who has been on the WSB’s radar for a very long time. So she may not be the intended target, but any one of them could be.

Jack says, with all due respect, Nathan’s memory loss is an awfully convenient cover for whatever he’d been doing for the last seven years, and Lulu says, Nathan is a good man. And she trusts him a hell of a lot more than she trusts Jack. Nathan says he’s not his father. He’s a police  detective, sworn to protect and serve. Jack says, then he should want to protect Charlotte as much as he does and not feed into her mother’s fear and help her work against him at every turn. It’s not the way to do that. Nathan says, there’s a big difference between what he does and what Jack does, and Lulu says, that’s for damn sure. Jack has tried to coerce her into helping him multiple times, and now because she won’t fall in line, he’s questioned her skills as a mother and threatened to drag her in as a person of interest. May she remind him again, this is her house. He has no jurisdiction here.

Jason asks what Faison’s final project is, and Josslyn says she’s not sure, but it involves cold fusion. Jason flashes back to being on the plane with Britt, and Britt saying she was working in research. It had to do with cold fusion. No big deal. Josslyn says her mission was to get close to Dalton so she could figure out what he was researching. When they discovered Britt was alive and well at the Five Poppies, Dalton had been feeding her data, and she was analyzing it. He says, so the lab at the Five Poppies was destroyed because the WSB discovered it, and she says she knows for a fact that when Britt came back, she worked with Dalton to continue the research here and now Dalton is missing. He says, and she thinks Britt is mixed up in that, and Josslyn says she knows Britt is.

The waiter asks if he should take the check, but Britt says they might have more dessert. He wonders if they’d be interested in some fancy dessert the name of which I don’t catch. The gold flakes are truly decadent. Brad says, no, but Britt says, yes. They’d love to try it. It sounds incredible. Tell the chef to be extra careful, especially with the gold flakes. They’re not in a r ush. The waiter says, of course (🍷), and leaves. Brad asks what she’s doing. They can’t afford this. She says, no, they can’t. Ready? One… Two… Three. She runs out the door and after a moment’s hesitation, he follows.

Alexis says, Willow sought Kristina out to talk about Dawn of Day. Why would she do that? Kristina says, Willow was asked to talk to her, and Alexis says, by whom? Kristina says, by her brother Michael. He was worried about her and thought Willow might be able to talk her out of further involvement with Dawn of Day. Alexis says, so her brother trusted his now ex-wife with something that serious, and Kristina says, yes. Alexis asks if she’d agree that Willow is a good person, looking out for her best interests, and Kristina says, at the time, yes. Alexis asks if they ever talked about weapons or weapons training, and Kristina says, no. Alexis asks if she’s ever seen the defendant with a weapon in her hand, and Kristina says, no. Alexis thanks her and says, no further questions.

Portia says she hasn’t played chess in forever. She can’t even remember how each piece moves. Isaiah says, it’s easier when you have the actual pieces. Don’t worry. He’ll remind her. She asks if there’s anything he’s not good at, and he says his father taught him. It was kind of their thing. She asks if he’s okay, and he says, yeah. Just some old memories coming up. With the baby possibly being his, he’s been thinking about his dad. She asked before if he’d given any thought to being a father and he didn’t have an answer then. He does now.

Jack says she’s making a mistake, but Lulu says, no one tells her what to do when it comes to her family. He needs to leave… now. He says he only ever worked with her to stop Faison. Now he was looking for Valentin because he used to work for Faison. The longer Valentin is free, the worse it is for everybody, Charlotte included. Don’t say he didn’t warn her. He leaves and sees Nina outside. He says he hopes she’s there to honor her part of the deal.

Turner asks Brook to tell the court what she knows about the gun, and Brook says, it was kept in the study, locked away with the rest of the collection. With so many kids around, safety is paramount in their house. Turner asks when the gun went missing, but Brook says she has no idea. The family rarely goes into the study. Turner asks if she was residing at the house when Michael and Willow were married, and Brook says, yes. Turner asks if she’d ever seen Willow interact with Drew Cain during that time, and Alexis objects. Relevance. Turner says, it goes to motive, and Judge Sullivan says, overruled. Turner says, describe the nature of the relationship between Drew Cain and Miss Tate as she saw it at that time, and Brook says, they had a connection. Drew had saved Willow’s life. Turner says, so she was close to him? and Brook says, yes. Turner says, how close? but Brook says she’s not sure how to answer that. Turner says, closer than a married woman ought to be with a man that isn’t her husband? and Alexis objects. Turner says, withdrawn. Did she ever observe Drew Cain pursuing Willow? Brook says she saw them in intimate moments, and Turner says, intimate as in sexual? Brook says, yes. Unfortunately, the entire family saw graphic footage of Drew and Willow having sex in the nursery playroom. Turner says, while she was married to Michael Corinthos? and Brook says, yes. Turner says, so you could say Drew Cain had extraordinary sway over the defendant, or at least enough sway to persuade her to have sex in the nursery where her children play…  Alexis objects, and the judge says, sustained. Turner says she has no further questions for Brook, and Alexis says she has no questions at this time, but reserves the right to call the witness later, and Judge Sullivan tells Brook that she may step down.

Turner asks Elizabeth to tell the court about the day the gun was discovered in her home, and Elizabeth says, the police arrived with a warrant and searched the room where Willow was staying. Turner says, where they found the gun. Why was Willow staying with her? Elizabeth says she and Drew had a failed wedding in July. Willow was extremely upset and had no place to go, so she invited Willow to stay with her. Turner asks why the wedding failed, and Elizabeth says, right before the wedding, Willow learned Drew was having an affair with her mother. Turner says, there’s quite the motive right there, and Alexis objects. Turner says, withdrawn, and there are soap looks all around.

Britt and Brad laugh in her room, and Britt says he’s the only person in the world she could dine and dash with. Brad says he feels bad for the waiter, and Britt says, once she’s back on her feet, she’ll pay him back, but until then no Café Cherie for either of them. Brad says he’s really missed her, and she says she’s missed him too. It feels so good to laugh. It’s the first nice reunion she’s had since she’s been back. He says, same, and she says she left him messages on every app in existence. Why didn’t he answer any of them? He says, after Gunter, who spent all his money, he couldn’t pay for his phone bill. When he heard she was back, he cried, and then he begged, borrowed, and stole to get back here. Speaking of no money, if a ward clerk’s salary wasn’t cutting it, how was she paying for this place?

Jason asks how the WSB is getting evidence against Sidwell, and Josslyn says she was ordered to become close to Sidwell through Lucas, whose dating Sidwell’s son Marco and now living at Windymere with Sidwell and Marco full time. She didn’t sleep at night because Lucas has become a WSB asset and has no idea. Jason says, yeah. That would kill Carly if something happen to her brother. Josslyn says, especially now that they had a huge falling out. Carly didn’t want him to live at Windymere and she wanted to support that, but couldn’t because she was ordered to be supportive of Lucas and Marco’s relationship, even though now they live on Spoon Island… What? Jason says, nothing, but Josslyn says, no. She said Spoon Island and he had a reaction. She saw it. What was he not telling her?

Carly tells Valentin that when she was in trouble, Jack was the perfect gentleman. He was her friend. He saved Anna, Jason, and Lucky, and helped bring Charlotte home. He gave her an alibi when Drew was shot. He got Michael into cutting edge treatment when he was burned in that firebomb, and he stood there right next to her. Valentin says, so what she’s telling him is that the good deeds Jack has done for her son outweigh what he’s done to her daughter.

Nathan wonders if Charlotte heard Brennan, and Lulu says, she’s a teenager. She was probably listening at the top of the steps the entire time. The last thing she needed was to overhear Brennan’s threats.

Nina says she’s well aware of their agreement and appreciates what Jack has done, and Jack says, good. She knows where to find him. He leaves and Nina goes to the door and knocks. Lulu invites her in, and Nina says she didn’t expect to see Nathan here. They hug, and Lulu says she guesses Nina is here to see Charlotte. Nina says they’ve been chatting a bit and she knows Charlotte is feeling cooped up. WSB protection can really cramp a girl’s style. So she was hoping to take Charlotte out for a bite, if that worked for Lulu. Charlotte comes down, and Nina says, there she is. She looks great. They hug, and Charlotte says, Nina is right. She’s going crazy stuck in the house. Lulu says, it’s not safe to be out, but Nathan says he can arrange for a PCPD officer to accompany them in tandem with Brennan’s WSB detail. Charlotte says, please. She really, really needs this.

Turner asks, what happened after the wedding was called off? and Elizabeth says, Willow ran out of the church and she and her friend went looking for her. Tuner asks if they found her, and Elizabeth says they did. At her former mother-in-law’s house. She just wanted to see her kids, but she wasn’t allowed to. Turner asks how she’d describe Miss Tate’s state of mind, and Elizabeth says, distraught. Turner asks if Willow said anything about her relationship with Congressman Cain, and Elizabeth says, that it was over. Turner says, and was it? and Elizabeth says, they’ve since reconciled and gotten married. Turner says, oh. Did she ever see Willow arguing with him after that? Elizabeth says, in July, and Turner says, when? Before they reconciled? Elizabeth says, yes, and Turner asks how things were between them in the days leading up to the shooting. Elizabeth says, if she remembers correctly, she doesn’t think they were on speaking terms the day of the shooting, and Turner asks what Miss Tate told her about the congressman and her children. Elizabeth says, that if she was still with Drew, Michael wouldn’t let her see her kids, and Turner asks if it’s possible that Miss Tate saw Congressman Cain as the one thing standing between her and her children, and the only solution was to remove him permanently. Alexis objects, and the judge says, sustained. He tells Turner to be careful, and she says, yes, your honor. No further questions. Alexis asks if Elizabeth had ever seen Willow act in anger, malice, or hostility, and Elizabeth says, no. Alexis says, in Elizabeth’s experience, what kind of person is Willow? and Elizabeth says, she’s an excellent nurse. She’s a wonderful friend and a great mom. Alexis thanks her and says, no further questions. Judge Sullivan says he’d like to call a recess at this time, and leaves the bench. Willow says she doesn’t think it’s going very well, but Drew says, the jury will see through Turner’s game. Don’t worry. She says she hopes he’s right. She’s going to splash some water on her face. She’ll be right back. She leaves and Drew tells Alexis that she’s blowing this. Keep this up and he swears she’ll never see Scout again.

In the hallway, Chase asks Dante what happened with the traffic footage going missing, and Dante says he doesn’t know. He’s got to retrack it. Footage just doesn’t disappear. Chase asks if he thinks it’s a glitch, but Dante says, no. He thinks someone got to it. Chase says he hopes Dante isn’t implying it was him. He’d never tamper with evidence. Dante says, good to hear. (The way Chase is acting, it would make me think it was him if I didn’t know it was Jack.)

Isaiah tells Portia that he’s done a lot of reflecting. On his work with kids in Africa, his childhood, and the influences his father had on him. He wants her to know, if the baby is his, he’ll be the best father he can be. He’ll be the father the baby deserves. Portia says she knows that and thanks him. As soon as she can, she’ll get the paternity test. She’s not making the same mistake she made with Curtis and Trina. This time, she wants them to know the truth, no matter what it may be.

Britt tells Brad that she managed to pull some things together like she did with her car. Her quarters here at Carly’s flop house leave a lot to be desired, but she didn’t have a lot of choices. He says he’s surprised this place was a choice. How did she convince Carly to take her on as a tenant? Britt says, trust her, it took a village. She’s not anybody’s favorite person right now. Well, with one possible exception. He asks, who? and she says, Rocco. He says, as in Ben? and she says, yes. She’s glad somebody remembers his real name. They’ve been spending time together. It’s so amazing. She thinks they could get close if Lulu stayed out of the way.

Lulu says, okay. Charlotte can go with Nina if she promises to cooperate with the WSB detail and the PCPD office Nathan calls in. Nina says, of course (🍷). She’s sure they’ll still have time for some girl talk. Charlotte promises to do whatever the unnecessary security detail tells her to do, and Lulu says she’ll take it. Nina says they’ll be back soon, and they leave. Nathan says, Lulu doesn’t have worry. Charlotte has a lot of people looking out for her. Lulu says she’s more worried about Charlotte listening to Brennan talk about Valentin the way he just did. It will make Charlotte want to be with her father even more.

Alexis says she’s poured everything she has into this so she can see her granddaughter, and Drew says she could have fooled him. Because she basically just sat back and let turner get Elizabeth and Kristina to say that Willow did it. She says he has no idea what he’s talking about. Having the stills deemed inadmissible was a huge win and she hasn’t even presented her case yet. He says he’s not taking that chance. When he’s up there, he’s going to remember exactly who shot him – Michael. Alexis says, like hell he will. Turner is an excellent prosecutor and his sudden memory won’t hold up. Nina lied. Willow lied. They definitely won’t survive another one. He says he’ll take the risk. It’s worth it. She says he’ll make Willow look guiltier, and he says he’s lost all faith in her and everything she says. She tells him to listen to her. If he does this, it will make him a perjurer and her complicit. She already lost her license once and she’s not losing it again, especially for him. She will not support perjury, no matter what. Does he understand that? The bailiff says, court is back in session. All rise. Drew says she had her chance to fix this. Now it’s his turn.

Portia’s phone rings, and it’s Curtis. He says he called the hospital to check in and they said she was gone. She says she checked out a day early, and he asks if she’s sure that’s a good idea. She says, a hospital is the worst place for a doctor to be on bed rest. Imagine trying to rest at Aurora. He says, fair point. Is she craving anything? He can bring something to her hotel room. Portia says, no need. She has friend here and she’s taking good care of her. How’s the trial? Curtis says he was just stepping back in. There was a setback, but the prosecution seems to have a strong case. He’ll be glad when this is all over and they can just focus on the baby and the future.

Josslyn says she’s telling Jason what she knows. Telling her what he’s thinking about Spoon Island is only fair. Jason says, one of the first night’s he was back, he ran into Britt at the pier. She might have been headed there. She says, all the signs he needs are right in front of him, and he says he’s not denying Britt’s involvement, but motivation does matter. She’s desperate for this medicine. They could be forcing her to work in exchange for the meds. They just don’t have all the information yet. She says so she’ll get him more information, but he says, no, she won’t.

Britt tells Brad that she’s been thinking a lot about the first seven months with Ben, when she was raising him. Now he’s part of her life and she’s wondering what would have happened if the truth never came out. What her life would look like now. Brad says, come on. She knows she wasn’t ready to be a mom. He can tell she’s done a lot of growing up in the last few years, but back then…  She says, yeah. He’s right. And according to Lulu, she’s still not qualified to even own a house plant, let alone be anywhere near her son. You’d think Lulu would be thanking her. Her other kid’s father is a fugitive. Compared to him, she’s practically an angel.

At Café Cherie, Nina asks how Charlotte is holding up, and Charlotte says, fine. Nina says, Charlotte can tell her, and Charlotte says she feels like she’s caught between her parents. She knows they’ll never catch her dad. He always has contingency plans. Nina says she’s well aware, and Charlotte says, the only thing that’s ever slowed him down is her. Nina says, Charlotte is her father’s heart, his whole world. There’s nothing he wouldn’t do for her. She knows that it must killing him that he can’t talk to her. Charlotte says, he has. He’s been in touch.

Carly asks Valentin, why would Jack save Michael and then risk Josslyn’s life by recruiting her into the WSB? She knows from Anna, that path will destroy her. Valentin says, Jack has spent his life living under fictionalized identities. Lying isn’t what he does. It’s who he is. She says it sounds like he has personal experience, and he says, yeah. Jack played the role of his friend. Then one day he needed a scapegoat and Jack left him holding the bag, but that’s on him. He has no doubt Jack has feelings for her, but this recording makes one thing very clear. Their relationship was built on a lie and that lie continues. They started their relationship because she was an asset to Jack, nothing more, and by the way, the agreement they have is finished.

Turner asks where Drew was on the night of the shooting, and he says, at home. She asks if he was with anyone, and he says, nope. She says, no calls or texts with anyone? and he says, nope. She says, his cell phone records say the same thing. If he wasn’t chatting or texting with anyone, what did he do what he got home? He says he poured himself a drink and went to his safe. He went back to the living room and that’s about when he felt the bullet hit his back. She thanks him so much for recalling a very traumatic event. Does he know who shot him?

Nathan says Lulu was great for him and Charlotte and herself. She was kind of badass. Lulu says she was looking out for them and it was infuriating hearing Brennan accuse him of faking his time away. Brennan has no idea how painful it is to come back and find out the whole world has moved on without you. But she does and hates that Maxie will too. Nathan says, don’t worry about Maxie. They’ll help her together.

Nina says, Charlotte heard from her father? and Charlotte says, yeah. She doesn’t know who’s safe and has no one to talk to. It’s really hard. She has Nina and Rocco, but… Nina says, don’t tell her anything else. There are very powerful men looking for her father, both on the good side and bad side of the law. She loves Charlotte so very much, but Charlotte can’t trust anyone with this, not even her. (Brava, Nina.)

Valentin says he can see Carly’s hesitation and doubt. She can’t trust him if she doubts, so if she’s not fully invested, he can’t work with her. She says she’s just trying to figure out when Jack started to manipulate her. She realizes that every good deed he’s done is designed to make her feel safe so he could take advantage of her and her daughter. This makes her hate him even more. Let her be very clear. She has never been more committed in taking Jack Brennan down than she is right now.

Jason says he doesn’t want Josslyn to get intel for him. It could tip off Brennan, or worse, tip off Sidwell, or get her in trouble with the WSB. Josslyn says, this is bigger than her. It involves Lucas, her mom, and Vaughn. She will not stand down out of fear. He says, she’s as stubborn as her mom, and she thanks him. He says he doesn’t want to sit and argue about it, but please be careful. It will kill him if something happens to her. She says she’s sure nothing will. Besides, it’s nice working with him and it won’t be the last time. She’ll uncover everything he needs to know.

Brad tells Britt that he’s got to say he did not see dining and ditching on his Bingo card today, and she says, her either, but she had the most fun with her bestie. They dance around, when there’s a knock at the door. Brad says, who’s that? but Britt says she doesn’t know. She opens the door to find Chase with another officer and asks what she can do for him. Chase says he thinks she knows why they’re here. She’s under arrest. He sees Brad and says, good. He’s also under arrest. Put their hands behind their backs. Brad says, me? What?  

Portia says, the fact that Curtis doesn’t know the truth about the whole situation makes it difficult to relax, and Isaiah says, no matter what happens with the paternity test, everything will be fine. He knows the situation is complicated, but it has the potential to be amazing. She says she thinks so too. Thanks to him. For the first time since she found out about the baby, she believes things are going to be okay, no matter what happens.

Drew says, no. He doesn’t know who shot him, and Alexis breathes a sigh of relief. Turner says, the prosecution rests, and Alexis says she has no questions. Judge Sullivan says, the court is in recess until tomorrow when the defense will present their case, and the bailiff says, all rise. Alexis says, Drew made the right decision, and he says, for her sake, she’d better hope he did. If she doesn’t turn this around, he swears he’ll follow through with what he said. Just because he didn’t remember Michael shooting him doesn’t mean he won’t. Willow looks at him.

On Monday, Tracy tells Cody, go for it; Jordan asks how Curtis pulled that off; Nina tells Ava that she’s made far worse compromises to save Willow; and Britt says, this is all a big misunderstanding.

🧼 All the Soap News Fit To Print…

So very sorry to hear this.

https://ew.com/anthony-geary-dead-general-hospital-luke-spencer-78-11869209

From those who loved him.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/who-is-general-hospital-star-anthony-gearys-husband-meet-claudio-gama/

https://ew.com/general-hospital-star-genie-francis-reacts-to-anthony-geary-death-11869441

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/general-hospitals-laura-genie-francis-reacts-to-anthony-gearys-death-i-am-crushed/

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/general-hospitals-emma-samms-pays-tribute-to-anthony-geary-he-gave-me-confidence-exclusive/

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/stars-from-john-stamos-to-jonathan-jackson-pay-tribute-to-general-hospital-icon-anthony-geary/

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/photos/remembering-general-hospital-star-anthony-geary-1947-2005-his-life-in-photos-and-rare-quotes/

A weird blast from the past. Another sad occurrence this week that I’m trying not to think too hard about or I’ll spiral.

https://ew.com/rob-reiner-and-anthony-geary-shared-scene-on-all-in-the-family-11869911

And the good news. Brad is back and ready to watch the Oscars with Britt!

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/general-hospital-comings-goings-parry-shen-returns-as-brad-you-will-not-be-disappointed-exclusive/

Sounds intriguing. And rather odd.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/general-hospital-alum-bryan-craig-teams-up-with-rap-legend-flava-flav-for-new-movie/

💉 A Dose Of Reality…

Below Deck Mediterranean

Nathan no longer cared if Max was pissed at him. He needed Max to do his job. Captain Sandy caught Max sitting down during a docking, which was not a good look. The tip was $20k or $1600 each, plus the crew got a field trip to the Alinghi Red Bull Racing Headquarters. Aesha got an extra surprise when Scott showed up there, especially since she’d been missing him lately. In her interview, she said she was starting to think about a future that wasn’t on a boat. In Max’s interview, he said he wanted to be rebellious, and tried to compare himself to his war hero grandfather. Um… no. Since V was obviously sick, the captain told her to take the next charter off and sent her off on a mini vacay on shore. While the cat was away, Eyebrows Joe played with Kizzy. I don’t know what’s wrong with that girl. He’s an a-hole too, but that’s par for the course. Women need to support other women, and women like Kizzy are why we’re not ruling the world at this point. Captain Sandy needed a temp deckhand, and Gael was being sent until V returned.

Below Deck Mediterranean Season 10 Episode 12 Recap: ‘Stay Toxic, Queen’

Real Housewives Of Salt Lake City

I’m getting frustrated with this one. Too many loud arguments in public places. The only two things I got out of this week’s episodes were donkey rides… Okay, it was funny when Lisa wanted to know if they bite and the guide kept saying, yes, because something was lost in the translation. Britani also swooped in and trademarked high body count hair, to which Angie took offense, since she was the one who coined the term. According to Brittani, all’s fair in love and trademarks. Alrighty then.

Real Housewives of Salt Lake City Season 6 Episode 14 Recap: Britani Gets Revenge on Angie

And just what did happen on that plane? On Watch What Happens Live, Heather told us to stay tuned for the Reunion.

RHOSLC’s Meredith Marks Addresses Airplane Incident on WWHL

Vanderpump Rules

It’s all dating and gossip, and when one of the cast said they were bored, I thought I’m bored. Most of the cast is interchangeable, there is no number one guy, and Venus is just plain taxing. LVP had to break up a fight at a photo shoot and humble bragging Chris said he’d been on a few dating shows I’ve never heard of. I’m really trying to give this time, but it’s hard to watch the immaturity of a basically forgettable group.

Vanderpump Rules Season 12 Episode 3 Recap: The Friendship Throuple Was No More

Southern Charm

Whoa. Craig. Salley was after Craig, spending many nights in his hot tub to no avail. Craig seems to be into Charlie, who is definitely into him, which makes Salley not a girl’s girl. To prove this point, because Molly said something Salley didn’t like, Salley announced a man had paid for Molly’s vaginal rejuvenation. I say, kudos to Molly! Molly finally called Salley a f***ing a-hole, which I’m sure had been brewing for a while. Shep was contrite about throwing Austen under the bus, and said he thought Craig had trouble with expressing remorse. He thought it made him look weak. We got some Patricia and new butler Randy, who is no Michael.

Southern Charm Season 11 Episode 5 Recap: Molly Takes Salley To Task

Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills

Boz set up a speed dating event for her single friends. All the women showed up dressed in black, and in Sutton’s interview, she said it looked like they’d come back from some sort of witch convention. In Erika’s interview, she said it was where they were in their lives, under a black cloud. She also claimed Sutton had more game than she did. Erika on stage was one thing, but IRL, she was shy and couldn’t make small talk.

RHOBH Recap: Kyle Says Gender Does Not Matter as She Hints at Her Sexuality; Dorit Learns PK is Not Financially Supporting the Family and Amanda Opens Up About Her Relationship With Fiancé

Random Reality Items

I’m not a faithful watcher of this show, but whenever I catch it, I enjoy it.

Emmy Award-Winning Peacock Reality Show Returns With Three-Episode Premiere

Tossing this one in the I-Don’t-Care file.

RHONJ Alum Allegedly Approached To Join RHOC

Kentucky Muffin starts New Year fresh. Hopefully.

The Valley’s Brittany Cartwright Gives Huge Jax Taylor Divorce Update

This time, they’re taking it on the road.

Bravo Legend ‘In Talks’ for Dramatic Return Despite Former Lawsuit: Report

RHOC’s Vicki Gunvalson Confirms She’s Filming for New Bravo Show

👀 Last Weekend’s Watch…

Troll 2. Netflix. I don’t hate a monster movie, and the monster was the deciding factor after seeing the trailer. TBH, I think I saw the first one, but it was so long ago, I’m not positive. The review made me wonder if the reviewer and I had seen the same film. I thought there was plenty of action, some enjoyably gruesome moments, a few laughs, and a surprise history/geography lesson. The trolls were pretty cool and the scenery made me want to move to Sweden.

https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/troll-2-netflix-movie-review

House of Gucci. Netflix. If any dramatization of a true murder could be called a good time, this would be it. In a nutshell, the founder of Gucci (Maurizio) was shot by a man hired by his soon-to-be ex-wife Patrizia. While the story is what it is, the cast is what makes it a fun ride. Lady Gaga, Al Pacino, and Jared Leto are worth the price of admission, as Patrizia, and brothers Aldo and Paolo, respectively.

https://www.slashfilm.com/2053776/lady-gaga-true-crime-thriller-house-of-gucci-streaming-netflix/

The Fanatic. Netflix. Again, maybe my taste stinks, but despite the so-so to bad reviews, I loved this film. John Travolta (at his most unrecognizable since Hairspray) stars as Moose a superfan of a movie star whose autograph he’s chasing. It’s the story of what happens when a superfan becomes a stalker. Oddly enough, even when Moose turns that corner, it’s hard not to be sympathetic to him, especially since the object of his adoration isn’t too nice to him. No doubt, Travolta’s amazing performance adds to the empathy. I also don’t know if it was me, but I would swear there were little homages to Tarantino, like the inclusion of Stuck in the Middle with You in the soundtrack and Moose wanting a milkshake at a bar.

https://comicbook.com/movies/news/netflix-quietly-adds-a-wild-psychological-thriller-starring-an-unrecognizable-john-travolta/

https://theoutline.com/post/7948/the-fanatic-review-fred-durst-john-travolta

I also watched the finale of IT: Welcome to Derry, and the only disappointing thing about it was that it was the finale. I felt like I was just getting into it and who knows how long it will be before the next season. At least the story concluded, for now, and we saw Dick Halloran go off to his next job at the Overlook. And as he said, how much trouble can a hotel be?

https://ew.com/it-welcome-to-derry-season-finale-pennywise-time-revelation-exclusive-11867406

🔮 Watches Of the Future…

The trailer for Season 2 Part 2 of Stranger Things. Why, oh why, must they do it this way?

https://ew.com/stranger-things-5-volume-2-trailer-eleven-recruits-kali-vecna-seeks-new-worlds-11868910

I’m hoping to watch the new season this weekend, but I’m behind on my holiday chores. I did manage to get the wreath up on the door.

https://ew.com/justin-theroux-explosive-fallout-entrance-robert-house-means-season-2-11869600

🎭 This Year In Film…

As always, this is a matter of perspective. If I had to pick a favorite, I’d be torn between Sinners and Wicked: For Good. They were both magnificent.

https://ew.com/the-best-movies-of-2025-11763015

🏆 And the Award Is Moving To…

Why? Who knows.

https://ew.com/oscars-moving-youtube-11871380

🚀 A Final Trip Into Space…

I’ve never seen Buck Rogers, although I’m familiar with Gil Gerard’s work. But the reason I included this was because of the lovely last words he left and those of his wife upon his passing.

https://extratv.com/2025/12/16/gil-gerard-tvs-buck-rogers-dies-at-82/

🎄 🐾 ‘Twas the Night Before…

One of the funniest things I’ve ever seen.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/lifestyle/article-5176511/The-festive-pets-dressed-holidays.html

This is a new one on me, but I’m all for it.

https://paradepets.com/pet-news/dachshunds-christmas-meetup-in-nyc-and-sopranos-actor-cameo

That Pug does not look happy as a Christmas tree, but it’s a small price to pay for all those treats he gets.

https://www.boredpanda.com/10-cutest-costumes-for-your-pet-to-greet-xmas

Something old that will never get old.

https://www.popsugar.com/celebrity/lady-gaga-taylor-kinney-dress-dogs-like-santa-39377012

☃️ Quotes of the Week

Success doesn’t come from what you do occasionally, it comes from what you do consistently. – Marie Forleo

If you hear a voice within you say, you cannot paint, then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced. – Vincent Van Gogh

Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things. – Robert Brault

Maintain composure in times of heightened emotion, reacting only when thoughts are calm and clear. Being sensible will open doors for solutions and creativity. – Jaren L. Davis

Life is a dream for the wise, a game for the fool, a comedy for the rich, a tragedy for the poor. – Sholem Aleichem (Yep.)

May your choices reflect your hopes, not your fears. – Nelson Mandela

Happiness doesn’t come as a result of getting something we don’t have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have. – Frederick Koenig (Well, duh, Frederick.)

You don’t have to become something you’re not to be better than you were. – Sidney Poitier

Doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will. – Suzy Kassem

Poor Danny. All that money, no ice cream. – Moose (John Travolta), The Fanatic

🎅 He Sees You When You’re Sleeping…

Until next week, stay safe; stay not stressing over things left undone; and stay remembering that sometimes the best way to support someone is to stay out of it.