Tag Archives: Tom Sandoval

June 1, 2023 – Anna Threatens the WSB, Soap Mix, Blame Game, VanderChaos, Coming Last, Prosperous Pets (!) & Style

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

THE POOL IS OPEN!!! Josslyn and Trina walk in, and Spencer jumps out. Clearly, he’s been working on his summer body. He says, finally. They have no idea what he had to do to defend their chaises. The dirty looks, and he’s gotten the oh-so polite questions from the staff as to when the rest of his party will be here. Josslyn says she’s sure it was a hideous strain, but she thanks him for enduring it on their behalf. Trina asks how they can ever repay him? and he says, for her, he’ll think of something. Josslyn doesn’t owe him anything. He wasn’t saving the chaise for her, but he knew she’d be with Trina, and Trina would want her to have one. Josslyn tells Trina, don’t worry; she still gets a chaise out of it. Trina asks if they’re going to do this all day, and Spencer says, just like old times. Trina says, before the DNA test results? Josslyn says, before the SEC charges? and Spencer says, before Greenland? Josslyn leaves for a moment, and Spencer says, the only one missing is Cameron. Trina asks if he’s going to make this weird, and he says he won’t… He might though. Trina sees Dex and Josslyn kissing.

Portia nearly runs into Curtis at the bottom of the stairs, and she says, there’s a fresh pot of coffee on. She’s got some fresh fruit and there’s eggs in the fridge… He says he’s not a houseguest. He can make his own breakfast. She says she guesses she’s just adjusting to him being back home. She wasn’t sure he’d come back home after finding out Trina is his biological daughter. She asks what made him decide to stay, when the doorbell rings. It’s Stella.

Jordan brings TJ coffee at the hospital, and he says, thanks; he needed this. She says, clearly he does. He forgot they were meeting for coffee. He says he’s sorry. It’s been a rough morning, and it completely slipped his mind. Molly spent the night at her mom’s house. Jordan asks if something happened, and he says he really messed up.

There’s a knock at Laura’s door, and she answers it to Valentin. He says he believes she has something that belongs to him.

Anna paces, when Hursley walks in. She asks why she’s under arrest, and he asks if she reads The Sun. She says she doesn’t read that rag, and he says, she should. The WSB got wind last night that she made the front page. He tosses the paper on the table, and she picks it up, seeing her picture with ANNA DEVANE DOUBLE AGENT underneath it. He asks if she has any idea how she made the cover.

Josslyn says she didn’t think Dex would show up, and he says he couldn’t say no to her, but he’s not sure her plan’s going to work. Spencer hates his guts and he doesn’t see that changing.

Spencer asks Trina if Dex doesn’t have some crimes to commit. Some kneecaps to break; suckers to punch. She says, Josslyn invited him, and he asks when she’s going to realize he’s a dead end loser and dump him. She says, he’s important to Josslyn, and they’re all spending time together unless he wants to lose Josslyn as a friend. He says, it won’t be the first time he’s lost a friend to Dex, and she says, Cameron got a soccer scholarship at Stanford. Dex’s relationship with Josslyn didn’t force him to leave. He says, it certainly made things easier, didn’t it? He knows if push came to shove, Josslyn would choose him over Dex, and Trina looks at them, and says, oh yeah. Josslyn is definitely not dumping Dex for him. He says, Josslyn may forget about Cameron, but he won’t. Josslyn and Dex walk over to them, and Dex holds out his hand, saying, no hard feelings?

Stella asks if Marshall is here. She just came by for his gumbo recipe. Portia says, he’s out, but she can tell him that Stella stopped by, and Curtis asks if Stella came by to chat about gumbo. Stella says, Marshall called her last night, and he told her about Trina’s paternity. She thought it was time for her and Curtis to clear the air.

TJ tells Jordan that he’s sorry. He didn’t mean to open a vein. She says, he’s free to unload on her any time. What’s going on with him and Molly, or is it none of her business? He says, she knows he and Molly have been talking about starting a family. They met with Dr. Navarro, and they’re having some fertility issues. She says she’s so sorry, and he says, things got really tense between them. He said some things he shouldn’t have. Molly raced out of the apartment, and went to her mom’s. He spent the night pacing. He wants her to come home. Jordan says, she will. He and Molly have the kind of partnership other people dream about. They’ll get through this. He says he hopes she’s right. He feels like, just when Molly needed him the most, he pushed her away. She asks if he’s sure about that, and he looks up to see Molly.

Laura says, Valentin missed the reading of his father’s will, but Valentin says he didn’t. Martin filled him in on the details. She says, so he received his inheritance then? and he says, she means the finger? It was cute. He laughed himself silly, but the man’s still dead. She says, he managed to get his point across, even from beyond the grave, didn’t he? and Valentin asks if she saw what he left for Anna. She says, he said he left her the truth, which didn’t make any sense until she got up and read the morning paper, and he says he saw that too. Anna’s been arrested by the WSB. She says she didn’t know that, and he says, a source of his at the Bureau said Victor obviously stole a copy of Anna’s personal file before going missing year’s ago, and made arrangements to have it made public in the event of his untimely death. She says, the paper claimed to have obtained classified documents from the WSB, and he says his father obviously isn’t done ruining people’s lives. Luckily, he won’t have any influence on the younger generation of Cassadines. Anyway, he digresses. Martin said Victor left something else for him, aside from the finger. She says, it’s not for him; this is for Charlotte. She hands him a velvet pouch, and he takes out a pendant necklace with the Cassadine crest on it.

Anna tells Hursley that she doesn’t need to read any more of that. It’s her life after all. He says, her cover is blown, but she says, there’s nothing in that article the Bureau didn’t know about already. He says, don’t go any further. They’re doing this by the book. She asks what they’re doing, and he tells an agent to bring him in. She asks, what’s happening? when the agent lets Martin in through another door. She asks what he’s doing here, and Martin says, Valentin called him late last night, and said she was arrested. They’ll have to forgive his appearance. The Bureau kept him waiting for hours. Anna says, so this arrest is a mistake. Someone overreacted while talking to the higherups. Hursley says, on the contrary. She’s being accused of a crime against the state. She says, what crime? and he says, treason.

Laura says, even though it was meant for Charlotte, she thought it was best to give it to Valentin, and he says, the Cassadine crest. She says she hates that thing, and he says he can’t say that he blames her. He left his in a box for many years, until he was ready to come forward and claim what he thought was his rightful inheritance before he put it on his finger. She says, her first instinct was to throw that thing into the harbor. It represents everything she loathes about the Cassadines; everything she doesn’t want her granddaughter to be. But it belongs to Charlotte, and as her father, he gets to decide. He says he doesn’t know that throwing it in the harbor will make Charlotte any less of a Cassadine. His father’s gone, and with him, his influence and expectations. So it’s his hope that Charlotte can create a new legacy for her family.

Portia says, maybe she can move things around at work and stay, and Stella says, thank you, but this conversation between her and Curtis is long overdue. Portia says she’s the one responsible for the tension between the two of them. Maybe she should stay and be a part of this. Stella says she wishes Portia had been honest from the beginning, but she’s not entirely to blame. Curtis is a man who wants the truth, and there are some hard truths they need to talk about. Go on; they’ll be fine. Portia leaves, and Curtis brings Stella some coffee and sits next  to her. He says, now that they know Trina is his, does she want to explain why she kept that information to herself?

Spencer shakes Dex’s hand, saying, he’s glad Dex could join them, and Dex says, him too. Can he get anybody any snacks or drinks? Trina says, orange juice, and Spencer says, make that two. Dex and Josslyn go to the bar, and Spencer says he can’t believe he’s being forced to spend time with that thug. Trina tells him that she’s only going to say this once more; let… it… go. He says, Heller is the one who punched him. He did let it go. He shook the man’s hand, didn’t he? She says, like he was diseased or something. Spencer says he spends enough time taking care of his little brother. Doesn’t she think he deserves a morning with his friends? She says, maybe he should think about his brother. He’s the one who took the first swing at Dex, right? He says, yes… so…? and she says, if he starts another fight, it could possibly blow up into something worse. Does he think a judge would be happy to see he got in trouble again? Is that what a responsible guardian would do?

Anna asks if Hursley is insane, and Martin says, now that he’s finally in the room, he’d like to speak to his client in private. Hursley says, of course (🍷), and he and the other agent leave. Anna asks, what’s going on? and Martin says, the media, and she’s officially a sitting duck. They’re particularly interested in what aspect of the file Victor got released, detailing her life as a double agent. She says, the Bureau knew about this already, and he says, maybe they did, but the public didn’t. Now The Sun’s got hold of it. Her name, hell, her entire history is about to be splashed across the front page of every paper, website, and cable news broadcast in the entire country. This is bad. The public will want answers. They’ll think they want justice. She asks how she’s supposed to defend herself against accusations that are true.

Valentin puts the necklace in his pocket, and Laura brings him coffee. There’s a lot of that going around today. She says she was wondering if he could help her with something. Has he by any chance seen the Cassadine property in Chechnya? He says, on the Terek River; yes, he has. Several years ago, he had to see it for himself. It’s been in the family for 200 years at least. He’s a little surprised the Soviets didn’t take possession of it, and why it’s not in the hands of the current government. She says, it seems Victor has left it to Nikolas, and hands him the deed. She thinks this may be where Victor took Nikolas to recuperate… from when Valentin shot him. He says, that was in self-defense, and she says, let’s not revisit it. He agrees, and asks if she thinks Nikolas is at the property. She says she doesn’t know; it could just be wishful thinking. He says, anything’s possible, but if he is there, given the current political climate, it will be tougher to leave the country without raising red flags. That’s assuming he wants to leave. She says she’s sure he doesn’t, but she has to find him and bring him home.

Spencer tells Trina, fine. He’ll play nice with Dex, but he’s not going to forgive Dex for what he did to Cameron. She says, they may never know exactly what happened between Joss and Cam, but everyone could see it wasn’t working at the end. But now Cam has a scholarship at Stanford, and Joss and Dex – she looks over at them – seem really happy together. Doesn’t Joss deserve that? Josslyn and Dex come back with the drinks, and Spencer says he’s sorry about the punch yesterday. Dex says he’s sorry he hit Spencer in the face, and Spencer says, Dex got him pretty good. Dex doesn’t seem to have a mark on him though. Dex says he can teach Spencer how to block… Never mind. Spencer says, no, go ahead, and Dex shows him some moves as the girls laugh together.

Jordan says, it’s been a while, and Molly says, it’s been too long. She suggests they put it on the calendar, and Jordan says she’ll text Molly some dates. She says she has to check in with the station, and leaves. TJ asks if Molly got a good night’s sleep at her mom’s, but she says she tossed and turned all night. What about him? He says, same. Spending the night apart is not fun. She says she’s sorry she spent the night away. She just needed some time to think. He says she has nothing to apologize for. He was the one who was totally inconsiderate. The words came out wrong, and he doesn’t blame her; he never would. Can she forgive him?

On the phone, Jordan says, no word from the WSB on Anna’s arrest?… Let her know if they hear anything. Portia says she hopes she’s not interrupting anything, but Jordan says, not at all. What’s on her mind? Portia says she was just wondering if Jordan has spoken with Taggert at all recently, and Jordan says, no; why? Portia says, he might need a friend right about now, and Jordan says, the DNA results came back. And Curtis is Trina’s father.

Stella says, why didn’t she tell Curtis that she suspected he was Trina’s father? She’s been asking herself that question a lot lately. He asks if she was able to find an answer, and she says she was trying to get back to the day of his wedding, and why she couldn’t officiate. He tells her that she said something about her conscience, and she says she couldn’t in good conscience marry him and Portia, knowing Portia hadn’t told him that he might be Trina’s father. She didn’t feel she should be the one to tell him; she convinced herself of that. That she couldn’t interfere, because he and Portia seemed so happy, and she didn’t want to get in the way of that. He says, so what changed? Why now? She says, ultimately, she caused more pain and heartache by keeping silent, and she’s sorry. She hopes he can forgive her.

Anna tells Martin, early in her career, she was compromised by the DVX, specifically, Cesar Faison. She thought she could outwit him, but she couldn’t. So she ended up leaving here for a bit, then she came back… eventually. She gave them full disclosure; she told them everything, and she was reinstated. She’s had a clean record ever since. The Bureau has trusted her for decades. He says, none of that’s going to make any difference to the general public. That article does a good job of painting her as a total Judas. A trusted agent, somebody with clearance, access to privileged information. Somebody who betrayed her own agency. She says, this is all ancient history. The only difference now is the media spotlight… and the fact Frisco has been replaced as Director. Now the Bureau wants to distance themselves from her actions. They’re charging her with treason to cover their own asses. He says, that’s exactly what they’re doing, which is why Valentin was right to call him. It’s time for him to protect her. This isn’t cloak and dagger. It’s public, it’s Federal, and that story’s not going away.

Valentin says, Laura wants to go to Chechnya to look for Nikolas? and she says, didn’t they do that for Charlotte? He says, Charlotte was in a boarding school in Switzerland; not exactly a war torn country. And Charlotte wanted to come home. They don’t know what Nikolas will want. She says she’s not that concerned about what her son wants. He’s needed here. Valentin says, and certainly wanted by the PCPD, and she says she’s sure he’s going to face some very unpleasant consequences for his behavior. He says, he held a pregnant woman in a tower at Windymere, and she says, at least he’ll be back in Port Charles and near his sons. He says, what about the people in Port Charles who need her? What happens if she doesn’t come home safe? She says she can’t think about that. She feels like a part of her is missing. She needs to find that part. He says he understands. And if she’s not going to worry about her own safety, somebody has to. So if she’s going to Chechnya, he insists on going with her.

Martin says he knows Anna said she was going to do this, but hear him out. She says, they have different rules, and he says he’s sure, but he really doesn’t care. He’s been sitting out there, growing old, drinking bad coffee, waiting to do his job, and she’s going to let him do it. He doesn’t know a whole lot about the inner workings – she says, he doesn’t know anything – but he knows she needs representation. Valentin was crystal clear. She’s not the only person in the world who’s good at their job. He’s already on retainer with Valentin. Valentin has ordered him to protect her, and he will comply. She says, fine, and sits down. He opens the door and says, we’re ready for you. Hursley comes in, and he and Martin sit. Hursley says he trusts Anna’s lawyer has brought her up to speed, and she says, yes, that the Bureau is hanging her out to dry. She’s aware. Martin says, there’s something he doesn’t understand. Perhaps Hursley can help him. Anna’s been honest about her history with the DVX for years, and since that time, she’s proved over and over again that she’s loyal, courageous… Hell, she’s a solid gold asset to the Bureau. Why all of a sudden is her dedication being called into question? Hursley says, it doesn’t matter that they appreciated Agent Devane’s work; their hands are tied. Her entire dossier has been released, and the public knows she’s never been held accountable for her crimes. Not until now.

In the pool, Trina tells Spencer, don’t dunk her or splash her, and he asks if those are the Trina Robinson pool rules. She says, set in stone, and kisses him. Josslyn and Dex are sitting on chaises, and Josslyn thanks Dex for not punching Spencer, but he says, Spencer’s not so bad. She says, he’s crazy about Trina. She thinks they might actually be in love. Which for Spencer means showing off, and Trina hates when he does that, but he knows Dex is ex-military, and she thinks he just wanted to prove he was tougher than Dex… and couldn’t. She hopes he’s embarrassed. He says, they’re going to be spending a lot of time together, hopefully poolside, and he wants her friends to like him. She says she likes him, and he says, the feeling’s mutual. He’s surprised she wanted to do this today. He thought she’d be at the hospital. She says, no, but there is something she wanted to talk to him about, and he says, about Willow? She says, no, Willow’s great, considering everything. Her doctors are optimistic. It’s about Michael. Things are pretty bad between them right now. He says, because of him, but she says, everything. Everything’s just gotten spun out of proportion. He says he’s sorry; how can he help? She suggests they go somewhere private to talk, and they leave. Trina thanks Spencer, and he says, for what? she says, for making an effort. She knows it wasn’t easy. She knows Joss appreciates it; so does she. He says he’s doing this for her, and she thanks him. With everything else going on in her life, she doesn’t want to worry about their relationship. He says he didn’t want to pry, but if she wants to talk, he’s here, and she says she honestly doesn’t know what to say.

Martin says, Hursley is talking about crimes that are decades old. That’s not who Anna is, and he knows it. What about the valor and bravery she’s displayed in the last two weeks alone? She got out of a hospital bed to take on Victor Cassadine. She stopped him from deploying a pathogen that would have wiped out millions. Anna tells Martin, stop. He’s wasting his breath. Hursley says, the new head of the WSB can no longer turn a blind eye to the agency’s past. If Agent Devane chooses to dispute the charges, the Bureau might need to take a closer look at Robert Scorpio, or Annie Donnelly, or any other colleagues who might be stained by her misdeeds. Anna says, hold on a minute. If she’s being asked to do what she thinks she’s being asked to do, then she needs assurances, but Hursley says, they’re not in the business of negotiating with double agents. Anna says, really? That’s a shame. Because what if her file is incomplete? What if there are other missions she took; other black ops that didn’t make it into her dossier or the WSB official books? Suppose she has evidence of these hypothetical ops hidden in some secure location? Evidence of activities that would seriously embarrass the WSB, far more than any news that’s being tallied around. Hursley asks if that’s a threat, and Martin says, oh no. He thinks what Anna is saying is… Anna says, what she’s saying is, if anything happens to Robert or Annie or anyone else she cares about, she’s taking the Bureau down with her.

Josslyn says, her mom has the chance to avoid these insider trading charges if she gets evidence against Sonny, and Dex asks, would she do it? Josslyn says, no. Of course (🍷) not. She won’t even consider it, but she doesn’t have to. Josslyn can do it for her.  

Spencer asks if Trina regrets taking the DNA test, but she says, no. She just misses her family the way they were. He says, she’ll find her way back to them. It’ll be different, but she and her mother had a great relationship. He’s always been jealous of it. She says she knows it could be way worse. At least everyone is healthy and safe and relatively sane. He looks off in the distance and she asks where he went. He says he was just thinking about something his Uncle Victor told him. He said something about Spencer having to safeguard his family, but all he left Spencer is a key to a safety deposit box. (That’s all? Geez, there could be billions in there for all Spencer knows.) She asks if he’s opened the box yet, but he says, no. He doesn’t know what he’ll find in there, considering everything Victor did while he was still alive. She says, safeguard his family. He meant Ace, right? Spencer says he thinks so, and she says, then the next question is; safeguard them from whom?

Molly says, of course (🍷) she can forgive TJ, but she understands why he was so confused. She’s been all over the place. He says, for good reason. He hates that she’s been in pain because she went undiagnosed. She says, she should have pushed it with the OB/GYN, but he says, that’s the doctor’s responsibility. They should have listened to her experience and asked for details. It’s the first thing they teach you in med school; you listen to your patient. You respect them. That didn’t happen for her. She says, it’s been a long time since she’s thought about it. Yes, it was isolating, scary even, to be told your pain is all in your head. (Wow. I didn’t think doctors told women that anymore.) He says he’s so sorry, and promises he never has and never will say that to anyone under his care. She says, that’s why she loves him so much. She thought she had to deal with this diagnosis on her own, like always, but now that she’s told him and her mom and her sisters, she knows that’s not true. She’s not alone, and if she’s not alone, anything is possible.

Curtis tells Stella that he and Trina are making progress, but it’s not easy, and she says she can’t imagine it would be. He says he’s just trying to take it slow, and make it abundantly clear that he’s not trying to replace Taggert, and he trusts that one day, he and Trina can develop their own special relationship. She says, they will. May she ask him about how he and Portia are doing? He says he’s not sure, and she says, but he moved back in. That’s progress, right? He says, it’s possible, and she asks what made him move back. He says, a situation arose between him and Jordan. They’d been spending some time together. She was helping him through all of this, and it happened. She says, oh my goodness, and he says he quickly realized that he needed – he wanted – to give his marriage to Portia a chance. So he came home. She says she’s glad to hear it; she truly is. How did Jordan take it? I’m wondering what Stella is thinking, given that Curtis made it sound like it was more than a kiss. A situation and it happened?

Portia tells Jordan, honestly, she doesn’t know how Curtis is doing either. They knew he could be Trina’s biological father, but now that it’s been confirmed, now that they know the truth… At least Stella stopped by, and she’s hoping Curtis can work things out with her. Jordan says, Stella’s back in town? and Portia says, she came to check on Trina after everything that happened in Greenland. So she’s hoping when she gets home from work, maybe Curtis and Stella will have made some progress. Jordan says she’s a little confused. What does Portia mean, home? Portia says she’s sorry; she’s all over the place. It’s the one thing that’s given her hope. Curtis decided to move back home.

Laura says, Valentin wants to go to Chechnya with her? Valentin says, does he want to? No, of course (🍷) not. But if she’s determined to go, he’s not letting her go alone. Besides, he knows a little Russian. She tells him that she honestly doesn’t know what to say, and thanks him. He tells her that she doesn’t have to say anything. Just say she wants to do this incredibly dangerous thing, and let him know when they’re leaving.

Curtis says he hasn’t spoken to Jordan yet, and Stella says, Jordan doesn’t know he moved back in with Portia? He says, there’s a lot of moving pieces… and she says, oh Lord. She’s in no position to tell him what to do, but please don’t wait. He needs to talk to Jordan, and he needs to do it now.

Jordan says, Curtis moved back in? and Portia says, they both decided it’s the only way to really make their marriage work.

TJ asks what Molly means, anything is possible? and she says, if he’s open to it, there’s more than one way to start a family. They hug.

Anna asks Hursley, what’s it going to be? Unlike the WSB, she does not make idle threats. Hursley is silent for a moment, then says, her friends are safe. He leaves, and Martin asks, what the hell just happened? Is he going ahead with the charges or not? Anna says, not, and he asks, why? What was all this about? What did he want? She says, he didn’t want anything. She doesn’t think the Bureau did. This is all just Victor. He wanted her resignation. She’s no longer an agent, nor will she ever be again.

Trina gets out of the pool, and Spencer says, taking off? She says, they’re going to the bank. They need to see who Victor thinks is the biggest threat to his family. He says, forget it. He doesn’t exactly trust his not-so dearly departed uncle. She asks who Victor would see as the biggest threat to his baby brother, and he asks how she expects him to know that. She says, by opening the deposit box – now, and he says, she’s not going to take no for an answer, is she? She asks what he thinks, and he gets out of the pool.

Dex says, Josslyn’s mom doesn’t want to make a deal with the Feds, so Josslyn is going to make one for her? She says, all Dex has to do is give her the evidence of Sonny working with Pikeman, and she’ll do what her mom can’t, and she’ll turn Sonny in, once and for all.

Tomorrow, Mason comes back to bother Austin; Michael says, there’s a way to insure Carly never has to open her mouth; and Sonny says, Ned’s not going anywhere.  

🛀🏽 Slow Week In Soaps…

The good.

The bad.

🔐 Pick a Prison Lane…

She’s a moron.

https://www.eonline.com/news/1375854/teresa-giudice-accuses-melissa-gorga-of-sending-her-to-prison-in-rhonj-reunion-shocker

🍸 Reviewing the Situation…

I don’t blame her.

https://okmagazine.com/p/chrissy-teigen-livid-john-legend-messing-vanderpump-rules-live-stream/

He’s even infected cosmetics.

The only one putting on a front was Sandoval.

This amusing recap was written by someone who doesn’t watch the show, but says they may watch it now. Don’t bother. As sad as it is to say, this was the best thing that could have happened to the show. New cast members weren’t really helping. I can’t even remember the names of the ones who’ve come and gone, although Charli stuck around. I have the feeling, it will all be downhill after this season. I’ll always be watching to get glimpses of Lisa, Puffy (!), and the palace/zoo that is Villa Rosa. But sometimes when you know it doesn’t get any better (or more dramatic) than this, it’s time to say goodbye. I stopped watching American Idol after the season where there was a hero – Scotty McCreary – and a villain – Haley Reinhart – and Lady Gaga sang Edge of Glory. They couldn’t top it if they tried. I also stopped watching the Academy Awards after the year I knew two people who were up for one. Short of receiving one myself, I can’t imagine anything more exciting.

https://ew.com/tv/vanderpump-rules-reunion-part-1-recap/

Just because I’ve grown to like Lala. And Sandoval gets more awful by the day.

https://www.etonline.com/lala-kent-says-shes-disgusted-by-tom-sandovals-vanderpump-rules-reunion-comment-about-her-daughter#taboola_organic

A blow-by-blow on Sandoval’s big baby tantrum with the producers. He acts like he’s Brad Pitt, and even Brad Pitt doesn’t act that way.

https://www.etonline.com/vanderpump-rules-star-tom-sandoval-threatens-to-stop-filming-after-scene-with-raquel-leviss-200441#taboola_organic

🌋 News Of the Last…

The latest on the apocalypse aftermath.

https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/the-last-of-us-tlou-season-2-casting-on-hold/

https://collider.com/the-last-of-us-season-2-cast-plot-release-window-creators-pedro-pascal-bella-ramsey/

🦔 Pets With Bank…

But they deserve every penny of it.

🪣 Talk Clean To Me…

Drop in tomorrow for the Friday free-for-all of soap, a cup or three of tea, some astute words, and an applicable tune for the month. Until then, stay safe, stay not blocking the aisles in the grocery store, and stay never believing pain is all in your head. Even if it is, it still needs to be treated.

Psy‘s Gangnam Style became the first video to reach 2 billion views on YouTube on May 31st in 2014. (A little late, but still worthy.)

May 31, 2023 – The Identity Of Trina’s Father Is Revealed, Part 2 of Rehashing Some VanderAwful Stuff & West

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Spencer wonders what’s in the box, and Ava asks if it’s ticking. Laura says, after everything they’ve been through with his uncle, he doesn’t need to open that.

Josslyn tells Carly to call Diane and make the deal. Testify against Sonny. Carly says she doesn’t know how much of the conversation Josslyn heard… Josslyn says, she heard enough. It’s a no-brainer. Carly doesn’t belong in prison, but Sonny does.

On the phone, Sonny says he wishes Nina were here. She should be here with her daughter. She tells him not to worry; she’s not giving up. She’s going to do whatever it takes to be with the people she loves.

Alexis walks into her office, and Esme is saying, she’s going to get fired. Gregory says, it’s not that bad, but she says, and on her first day. She hyperventilates, and he tells her, take a breath. Alexis asks, what’s going on?

Trina shows her ID at the desk to get her lab results, and the nurse leaves to get them. Taggert comes in, and Trina runs to him and hugs him.

Stella says, DNA results? For Trina? Portia says, Trina decided she wanted to know who her biological father was, so she had her DNA tested against Marcus’s and Curtis’s. Stella says, and now the results are in, and Marshall tells Portia and Curtis to get their butts over to the hospital, and be with Trina. Curtis says, sorry about dinner, but Marshall says he’ll save Curtis a bone. Just go. Curtis says he can’t believe it. In minutes he’ll find out if he’s going to be a father.

Trina asks how Taggert got here so fast, and he says, she called; he came. That’s the way it is, and that’s the way it’s going to be. In fact, he doesn’t mind having a little you and me time. She says she called Curtis a few minutes ago, and the nurse just went to get the results, so they should be good. He asks how she’s feeling, and she says, all over the place. Relieved that it’s over; terrified that the results won’t be what she’s hoped for. He says he hears that, and she says, mostly, she’s worried about the future. She knows they said nothing is going to change… He says, nothing is going to change between them, and she says she wants to believe that, but it happens to people all the time. They think nothing’s going to change, then in a heartbeat everything is different. He says, that’s people, not us, and she says, that’s what she keeps telling herself, but it’s not realistic. The truth is, those results could change everything.

Stella says she just wants Curtis to know no matter what those results say, they all love him and they’re here for him. She and his father would be happy to come with him if he needs the support. Curtis says he appreciates it, but he and Portia will be fine, and Portia says she doesn’t think Trina would want her there. Curtis says, Trina’s her daughter. This is a potentially life-changing day for her. Portia says, and whose fault is that? Trina called him, but didn’t call her. She thinks that speaks for itself. Curtis says he knows they have some things to work through, but one day, Trina is going to look back and be glad her mama was there for her. Portia says, okay, and Stella says, if either of them need anything… Marshall says, they’re going to be here, holding down the fort, just a phone call away. Curtis holds out his hand, Portia takes it, and they leave.

Carly tells Josslyn, yes, Sonny hurt her. He hurt all of them. She’s not saying they forgive and forget, but they move past it; they move on. What she definitely won’t do is have someone else pay for her mistakes. Sonny comes back, and says he’s sorry to interrupt, but he has to be somewhere. Can Michael tell Willow that he’ll see her tomorrow? Michael says, will do, and asks if he’s going to see Nina. Sonny says, yeah, and tells Carly to take care of herself. He leaves, and Josslyn says, he’s still choosing Nina over his own family, but Carly says, it’s his fiancé. Josslyn says, if Carly doesn’t make this deal, and actually goes to prison, he gets Donna full time, with Nina. Why is she still sacrificing herself for him after everything he’s done? Michael tells her, enough. This is mom’s choice, and they need to respect that. Josslyn says, and he’d know all about making choice that hurt innocent people, wouldn’t he? Carly looks at Michael.

Esme tells Alexis that she’s so sorry. She so screwed up. Gregory says, it’s hardly a disaster, and Alexis asks if one of them will tell her what’s going on. Esme says she’s so sorry, but Alexis says, not her. She just got five million text messages in the last half hour. What happened, and why is Gregory here? Gregory says he’s here because he was made aware of a minor snafu, and thought he might be able to help put out some fires. Alexis says, fires, plural, and Gregory says, it seems Esme inadvertently forwarded an email from a source to the global address book. Alexis says, opening them up to being scooped and making their source vulnerable? and Esme says, it was an accident. She thought she was just going to be answering the phones, and she’s doing everything that’s expected of her, but all she can think about is that Ace is staying with people who are trying to take him from her… Gregory says, Esme was already pretty frazzled by the time that email came in. He worked with the staff, and everything’s handled. It’s all fine. Alexis says, really? and Esme says, really? Gregory says, really, and Alexis tells Esme that she needs to be able to count on her to handle sensitive information responsibly, but it’s her first day, so Alexis is going to trust that she can, and that she’ll learn from her mistakes. Esme says, so she’s not fired? and Alexis says, not today, but you never know what tomorrow will bring. Clock out. Esme says, thank you. She’s so sorry, and promises Alexis won’t be sorry… at least not more than she already is. Esme runs out, and Gregory asks if Alexis thinks she’ll show tomorrow. Alexis says she’s calling a temp agency.

Spencer says he feels like he should at least know what it is. Everyone else’s gifts were innocuous enough. Ava says, open it or don’t, but whatever it is, don’t keep it. Laura says, it’s up to him, when there’s a knock at the door. Laura answers it to Anna, who says she’s sorry. She got held up at GH. Laura introduces her to JB, and Anna says she saw his name on the invitation to this… whatever get-together. She asks Laura if she even wants to know what she missed, and Laura says, Victor has found a way to be present from beyond the grave. JB says, please, take a seat, and Spencer says he’ll open this later. Let’s get this over with. JB puts the video back on, and Victor says, and now for his other nephew, Nikolas Cassadine, or should he say… Laura asks JB if Nikolas was invited to this. Does Victor know where her son is? JB gestures to the screen, where Victor is still saying Nikolas’s full name. He says, Nikolas came to his aid when he needed him. While Nikolas’s family mourned his death, they helped each other build new lives. Sadly, hard times finally caught up with Nikolas, but when the going gets tough, you need a home away from home. He trusts Spencer will take good care of his gift to Nikolas until Nikolas returns. JB pauses the video, and hands Spencer an envelope. JB puts the video back on, and Victor says he’s saved perhaps the greatest gift of all to his formidable opponent, special agent Anna Devane. Oh my dear Anna. They’ve both been in this business long enough to know eventually their sins catch up with them. So he leaves her the truth.

Taggert asks why Trina thinks everything is going to change, and she says, the only way nothing is going to change is if that test says he’s her biological father. He says, if not, he’s still her father and she’s still his daughter. No test is going to tell them how they feel about each other. She tells him, it’s not about what the test says; it’s about what blood says. She knows they’re not going to stop loving each other, but they’ll both have to live with the fact that she has another father, who she’s missed out on twenty years of getting to know. He asks if she regrets spending all that time with him instead, but she says, of course (🍷) not. He says, then what’s the problem? and she says, if it turns out that she and Curtis… She’s concerned the more she gets to know Curtis and his relatives, and the closer she gets with them, the more she’ll hurt Taggert. This is kind of a non-issue, since she would have gotten close to them anyway because Curtis married her mom.

Alexis asks if Gregory can explain to her what really happened with that email that Esme sent to the entire planet. What are they going to do about the fallout? How did he manage that? He says, the editors were divided on the best way to handle the leak, so while the staff tried to reach her, and they did try… She says she was at her homicidal uncle’s will reading. She couldn’t take any calls. He says he’s had some experience with sources in the past, and fortunately, this one was communicating with them through an anonymous email account. They refused comment to anyone who called to follow up, and legal watchdogged to make sure everything was minimal damage to The Invader. All in all, a great way to spend the evening. Alexis says she appreciates that he came in to handle it, and he says, his pleasure. She says she admits she’s a little surprised to see him, and that he’s been ghosting her.

Sonny hugs Nina, and she says, it’s kind of him to come and keep her company. He says he knows she’s worrying about Willow, so here he is, and she thanks him. She says she just keeps thinking if she stays away now, she might be able to get Willow back later, but she doesn’t want to talk about this subject anymore. She wants to talk about something happier. He asks what she has in mind, and she says she does have something in mind, and that’s a little bit of a clue. He says he thinks he knows what it is, and she says she has some ideas about their wedding, and she’d like to share them with him. She knows he really doesn’t care about that. Grooms usually don’t care about things like this. He says, you know what he cares about? Spending his life with her. She says, knowing he cares about that is what keeps her going.

Carly , what the hell is going on? and Josslyn suggests Michael tell her. Michael says, mom’s got enough on her plate right now. They can figure this out on their own. Carly says, or they could just tell her, when her phone rings. She says, it’s Pilar. She has to take this. If this isn’t over when she comes back, she wants to know. She leaves, and Michael says, Josslyn can be as pissed off at him as she wants. She thanks him, but says she doesn’t need his permission, and she doesn’t want to be mad at him. But he… He says he knows what he did, but they don’t need to involve mom. She’s got enough going on. She doesn’t need anything else right now. Josslyn says she doesn’t want to drag mom into what Michael is doing to Dex either. Maybe it’s a good thing he didn’t turn Sonny in.

Gregory tells Alexis that he’s sorry for going radio silent. He thought about reaching out many times. She asks why he didn’t, and he says, when he was diagnosed with ALS, all he could think about was not wanting to be a burden to anyone. Even though she urged him to tell the truth, he felt like he was putting this massive burden on her. When he didn’t hear from her, he assumed that’s how she felt; that he’d scared her off. That is until he got that last text message. She says, the reason he didn’t hear from her is she was afraid he’d think she was disrespecting his boundaries. Then she talked to her daughter – she didn’t tell her any details – and she told Alexis that there’s a big difference between inserting yourself in someone’s life when you’re not wanted, and simply reaching out to let him know she’s thinking about him. He says he convinced himself he could go it alone, but then her text made him realize he was wrong about that. How much he needs a friend.

Marshall tells Stella to eat this gumbo before it gets cold, but she says she doesn’t even want to think about food right now. He says, don’t think, just eat, and she says, as they speak, Curtis, Trina, and Portia are going through something momentous, and need the support of their family. He says, they’re supporting them by giving them the room they need to deal with this issue, regardless of what happens. Then they’ll come back to them. She says, Curtis might come to him, but her nephew wants nothing to do with her. He’s still upset that she ran away from his wedding. Marshall says, she may have run and hid, but at least she came back. Took her long enough. And here she is, letting his gumbo get cold. She says she appreciates what he’s trying to do, and she knows he thinks Curtis will forgive her, but she wasn’t there for him when he needed her the most. She’s just afraid she lost him forever.

Taggert says, when he sees Trina, he sees that little baby who he used to hold in his hands and sing to sleep at night. He sees that girl who demanded he take her training wheels off her bike. The same little girl whose skinned knee he was patching up when she crashed moments later. They laugh, and he says, when he looks at her, he sees her whole life – the good, the bad. He sees parts of her life he wasn’t even a part of. She’s always going to be here; he points to his heart. She’s always going to be a part of his life, and he’s always going to be a part of hers. Even if she ends up being part of another family, that doesn’t mean she’s not his. He puts his arm around her, and Curtis and Portia come out of the elevator.

Anna says, so that’s it? Victor wanted to taunt her one last time? Are they finished? JB says, not quite. He puts the video on, and Victor says, finally, to their illustrious mayor, Laura Collins. Oh my dear, dear Laura. If she’s watching this, it means she’s won. She’s the sole survivor of the great game they began all those decades ago. So he leaves her to live the rest of her life in peace – Laura looks surprised – with his respect and admiration, knowing she was indeed a worthy adversary. He lifts his glass, and says, congratulations, taking a drink. I almost want to cry at how fair he is here, and JB says, that concludes the reading of Victor Cassadine’s last will and testament. He leaves them to their grief. Spencer nearly chokes, and Laura thanks JB for everything, and for coming to the apartment. She appreciates that a lot. She gets the door for him, and he leaves. She says, so, and Ava says, so Spencer, open the envelope. Spencer says, this is a private family matter, and she’s no longer… Laura says she’d like to know what’s in it too, and he says, okay. He opens it, taking out a document, and says, it’s in Russian, so anybody? Laura says she thinks Anna can speak Russian (which is very different from reading it). Anna is daydreaming, and Laura gets her attention and asks if she can read Russian. Anna says, a little, and Spencer gives her the document. She says, it looks like a deed to a property. Right here’s the address. She shows Spencer, and says, sorry she can’t be of much help. He thanks her, and Laura asks if she can get Anna something. She thinks they could all use a stiff drink at this point. Anna says she has to get going, and Ava asks what she thinks this truth she’s inherited is about. Anna says, it’s just a mind game, isn’t it? Victor’s attempt to get her to obsess about something… drive her to distraction, whatever. Ava says she knows that song well, but Anna says she’s not worried about it. She doesn’t think any of them should take a gift from Victor at face value, and Laura says, they know better. Anna thanks her, and leaves. Laura wonders why Victor would leave Nikolas property.

Josslyn says, now that Michael’s left Dex out to dry, their mom can defend herself against the insider trading charges, but he says, they don’t even know if the Justice Department is going to make her an offer. Josslyn asks why Carly has to wait. She could bring the offer to them and save herself. And Drew, once Michael gives her the smoking gun. The recording Dex risked his life to make. The one that makes sure Sonny goes to prison for the rest of his life.

Nina tells Sonny that she wants to set the date far enough away so Willow’s recovered, in case she wants to go. She knows it’s a long shot. He says, whatever she wants, they’ll do. Anna walks in, and he says he’ll be right back. He says good to see her, and she says, him and Nina too. He says he knows she just got back from answering questions about Greenland. They need to catch up. Anna says she’d like that, and Nina says she’s sorry; she has to do this. She hugs Anna, and says, Anna risked her life to save her aunt so her aunt could save her daughter. For that, she’ll be grateful to Anna forever. Anna says, it was nothing, but Nina says, it was everything.

Michael says he has his reasons for not wanting to use that footage against Sonny, and Josslyn asks how those reasons compare to their mother going to prison, something he has the power to stop. Give the video to mom, and let her take it to the Feds. Carly comes back with TJ, and says, look who she found. TJ says he was just coming to find Michael. He has an update about Willow. Michael asks if the transplant is finished.

Spencer says he looked up the address; it’s in Chechnya. Laura says, the Cassadines are originally from Russia, so maybe it’s an old home of theirs? Esme comes in, and asks if the will reading is over. Laura says, they just finished, and Esme asks what Ace’s favorite blanket is doing here. Why isn’t it with him? Where is he? Spencer says, he’s asleep, and she says, Spencer put him down, without his blankie? She can’t leave him alone for a second. She goes to find Ace, and Spencer says, can you believe her? Laura says, she just got Ace back, then she had to leave him again for work. It’s just hard on a mother. Victor said Nikolas had helped him, and they know Nikolas gave him shelter, then Victor returned that favor. Ava says she got Windymere in the divorce, so maybe Victor is using this as a replacement, and Spencer says, in Chechnya? Ava says, a guarantee she won’t visit, and Laura tells them, Victor said, when the going gets tough, you need a home away from home. She’s wondering if this is where Nikolas has gone to hide.

Trina says, they’re still waiting, and Portia says she hopes it’s okay that she’s here. She can leave if… Trina says, she should stay. She’s sorry. She should have called Portia. Portia says, that’s okay. She was with Curtis when Trina called. Curtis says he moved his things back in tonight, and Trina asks if they’ve worked things out. Curtis says, one day at a time, when the nurse gives the results to Trina. Trina says she guesses it’s now or never.

Trina opens the envelope and reads. She tells them, it says that Curtis is her biological father, and Taggert says, it’s okay, a bunch of times, and hugs her. Trina says she wanted to know the truth, and now she does, but she wants to make one thing clear. She cares about Curtis, and she knows they have to figure out where they go from here. Whatever their relationship is, wherever it goes from here, she needs Curtis to know she’s not looking for a replacement father. And she hopes he can accept that.

Marshall says, Stella has raised Curtis to be loving and trusting, and have faith in his opinions, to hold himself and others to high standards. But she also raised him to be forgiving. As upset as he was with Portia, he still decided to move back in here to work on his marriage, and it was Portia’s secret Stella was holding. She also held Marshall’s secret. If Curtis can forgive him and Portia, he can definitely forgive her. Stella says, he really thinks so? and Marshall says, girl, I know so.

Alexis thanks Gregory for admitting he needs a friend. She needs a friend, and she’s glad they’re friends. He says, it’s mutual, and she promises to follow his lead regarding his illness, and hopes he’ll just let her be a part of it while he’s going through it. He says, deal, and she says, awesome. Thank you. I notice a piece of art that looks like toilet seat on Alexis’s bookcase, and she also thanks him for handling Esmegate. He says, it was nice to feel useful, and she says, he misses it. He says, of course (🍷) he does, and she says she was expecting a little pushback, but go on. He says he really liked volunteering here. It was exciting and gave him some purpose; he missed it… and her. She asks if she can make an observation, and he asks if his objection ever stopped her. She says she knows he wanted this job, but didn’t take it because he was sick, and if people knew he was sick, they’d think he wouldn’t be able to handle it. Tell her if she’s wrong.

Ava says, if Victor has Nikolas safely tucked away in Chechnya, why reveal it here? and Laura says, but if Nikolas was aware of the place already, maybe he went there without Victor knowing. Esme comes back, and says, Ace is sleeping safely with his blankie. Spencer excuses himself, and leaves. Laura asks Esme to sit down, but she says she’s been sitting all day, and it wasn’t exactly a good day to begin with. Whatever it is, please just tell her. Laura says, they might know where Nikolas is, and Esme asks if he’s in Port Charles. Laura says, no, but if this information is what she thinks it is, it’s possible Nikolas is holed up in some remote part of Chechnya. Ava says, or not. There’s no proof that Nikolas is there. Laura says, but it’s the best lead they’ve got. Maybe they can find him, and finally bring him home.

TJ says, Willow’s bone marrow transplant is complete, and Michael says, thank God. What are the next steps? TJ says, Willow will remain in the hospital to give the bone marrow cells time to create new cells in her body. The process can take some time. Michael asks, how long? and TJ says, every patient is unique. Sometimes as little as two weeks, on the other side, sometimes six or more. Once engraftment has occurred, Willow can go home, but they’ll want to track her recovery in case complications arise. Willow’s body is essentially rebuilding its immune system, so she’ll be highly susceptible to infection. They want to monitor that. Another possible major complication is graft versus host disease, which is when the patient’s body rejects the donated cells. Michael says, it’s a lot to take in, but TJ tells him, try not to worry. Willow’s getting excellent care, and they’re optimistic she’ll make a full recovery.

Anna asks how Willow is, and Sonny says, receiving her bone marrow transplant, thanks to her. Anna says she’s happy to hear that, and notices two serious guys in suits standing by the door. Sonny asks if she’s okay, and she says, probably not. Hursley comes in, and says, Agent Anna Devane? She asks how she can help him, and he shows her his badge, saying, she’s under arrest.

Ava tells Laura, even though things ended badly between them, she wants Nikolas back with his family, but Laura can’t go on some wild goose chase to Chechnya. It’s dangerous. Laura says she’s been in worse places, and Ava says, Nikolas has managed to vanish more than once before. He’d find someplace no one would think to look, not some old family property. She just doesn’t want Laura to set herself up to be disappointed, or shocked. Laura says she appreciates that, but she can’t just sit around here wondering. She has to see for herself. If there’s even a chance she could find Nikolas, she has to take it.

Spencer sits on his bed looking at the box. He opens it, and as I thought he says, the doves he was going to give to Trina. Uncle Victor saved them for him, but why? He lifts up the cotton they’re on, and finds a key.

Gregory says, it’s true he was afraid to take Alexis up on that editorial board position. He didn’t want anyone to find out he was sick. She says she didn’t tell anyone, and she’s not going to tell anyone, so they’re over that hurdle, and he says, and he wasn’t sure he was up to the job. She says, is he kidding? He just proved to her and the entire staff that he’s more than capable of getting in the thick of things. And more important, he proved it to himself. He asks if the position on the board is still open, and she says, funny he should ask. As luck would have it, she never got around to filling it.

Stella says, Curtis means everything to her, and Marshall thanks her for being there for his sons when he couldn’t be. She thanks him for stepping up when she wasn’t strong enough to face Curtis herself, and he says, that’s what family does. They help each other out. She says, when we’re at our best, and he says, and when we’re at our worst. That’s when we need the most help, right? She says, what she needs right now is some of his gumbo. He says, let’s partake, and asks her to say it. They join hands and she says, dear Lord, thank You for our family.

Curtis tells Trina that he understands, and he wants her to know the last thing he’d ever try to do is take her father’s place. He cares about her a lot, so from here on out, he’ll just take her lead. She says she appreciates that, and Taggert says, she could do worse than having two dads, especially one as good of a man as Curtis. He’s going to leave them to work this out. He leaves, holding back tears. When he gets in the elevator, he does that waving thing people do when they don’t want to cry, then punches the wall. He weeps, sinking to the floor.

Michael thanks TJ, who says he’s just happy to finally deliver some good news. Michael asks if he can see Willow, and TJ says, of course (🍷). If they need anything, he’s here. He leaves, and Carly says, full recovery. Michael says, they still have to be careful, and Carly says, they’ll follow all the guidelines. At the end, Willow is going to be okay, so whatever’s going on with Michael and Josslyn, just end it. Because nothing’s more important than being here as a family. Josslyn says, she’s absolutely right. They’re going to do what’s best for the family. Right, Michael? Michael looks at her, and leaves.

Anna asks what she’s being arrested for, but Hursley says he can’t tell her anything until they’re in a secure location. She says she has a right to know why she’s being arrested, or she’s not going with him until she finds out. He says he’s sure she clocked the agents in the room. She says she expects there’s more of them stationed around the hotel to prevent escape. She’s flattered. He says, it would be best if she came voluntarily, but if not, they can do this the hard way, and Sonny asks if she wants him to call Diane. Anna says she’s good, and tells Hursley that she looks forward to finding out what the truth is. He starts to read her rights, but she says she knows them, and he handcuffs her. She gets in the elevator with Hursley and the agents, and the elevator doors close.

Tomorrow, Dex isn’t sure Josslyn’s plan is going to work; Portia asks what made Curtis decide to stay; Valentin believes Laura has something that belongs to him; and Anna says she’s taking the Bureau down with her.

Vanderpump Rules – The Reunion – Part 2

Lala lambasts Sandoval, and James boos him. Sandoval says, he’s taking accountability, but Lala’s not, and Lala asks, what did she do? since his comment makes no sense. Lisa says, sometimes Lala is aggressive, and James tells Lisa not to stick up for Sandoval. Lisa says she’s not, and James gets up and walks out. He says he’s not listening to this sh*t. Just f***ing die. Sandoval calls Lala a narcissist, and she says, he has an ago the size of this building. They call each other morons, and Sandoval says, Lala pulled her IUD the second she found out Stassi was pregnant. I don’t know if I totally missed what led to that, but I don’t think so. I think Sandoval is just yelling about random stuff. James comes back, and apologizes to Lisa and Andy, who asks him to just stay in his f***ing chair. Because we all need a break, Andy says he’s switching gears. Lala said she and Randall were splitting at last year’s Reunion. He asks when they last spoke face to face, and Lala says, never. The other day, he brought Ocean up the driveway because the nanny was sick, and Lala just grabbed her quickly. Andy asks if it was by design that Ocean wasn’t on this season, and Lala says, Randall sent a legal letter, saying she’s not allowed on camera. Not even pictures or videos. Andy introduces the LA Times article about Randall, citing his casting couch, drugs, and a ton of lawsuits. He says, Randall’s spokesperson denied the allegations, and Lala points out that Randall’s spokesperson was also Harvey Weinstein’s spokesperson. Andy asks if she was shocked, and she says, yes and no. Her DMs had been flooded with disturbing allegations, then the LA Times article came out. Andy asks if Lala didn’t meet him at an audition, but she says, she met him when she was a hostess at SUR. He sent his assistant to speak with her. He was a fan of the show, and asked if she had a manager. She went for an audition, and surprise, she got the part. Andy asks if that’s when they started sleeping together, and Lala says, it was September of 2015. Lisa reminds Lala that she said she let him hit it the first night, and we flash back to Lala saying that, and saying she got a car the next day. Lala says, it was the first time they went out, and Andy asks if she felt like she had to, but she says she didn’t. She was from Utah, and didn’t realize Hollywood worked that way. James says, Sandoval slept with Kristen to get on a TV show. He’s 40, and still making the same mistakes. Lala says, she has a different view of life now; if it’s too good to be true, it is. Andy says, sobriety will do that, and asks how long she’s been sober. She says, almost four years, and they break to eat. Everyone leaves, but Schwartz stays behind and does push-ups. Okay… Sandoval goes to Raquel’s trailer, and they hug, since they’re still not kissing on camera. She asks how he’s doing, and he says, it’s rough out there. It got emotional right off the bat, and James is literally how he knew James would be. James is focused on everything he does; Look at him blinking. James is out of control, Scheana is groveling to Katie because she wants to be back in the group, and Lala doesn’t give a flying about either of them. Raquel says she saw everything, and Sandoval says, they’re making them out to be pathological liars. Raquel says, they haven’t lied about anything except the affair. In the makeshift cafeteria, James says, they can go live in a yurt in the desert together now, and Lala says, Sandoval is going to be off doing things like he always has. Ariana says, and when the homewrecker makes demands on the relationship, she’s not going to be so cool and chill. Raquel clearly only knows what Sandoval is telling her.

In the trailer, Raquel says, in watching what was taped, it looked like Sandoval and Ariana had a solid relationship. We flash back to Scheana saying, they were intimate and in a good place. Sandoval shakes his head, and says, it literally went from him asking Ariana something simple like, should he wear these pants? and her saying no; to her literally (apparently his favorite word of the moment) saying, he’s so good at fashion, he should wear what he wants. Raquel says, it felt like he wanted to keep working at his and Ariana’s relationship because they never broke up. Sandoval says, he should have done it earlier, and Raquel says, you think? He says, Ariana is going to unleash on her, but he’s glad she came. Raquel says her entire character is being questioned. She went through a transitional phase, and the pendulum swang [sic] too far the other way. This is her wakeup call. He says he believes in her, she says she knows, and Sandoval tells a producer that they need a real break where they’re not being filmed. Raquel says, that would be nice, and they both go outside. The producer says, the cameras are up when any two people are together. If anyone needs time to themselves, they can have it, but not if they’re together. Sandoval argues like an idiot, and the producer says, it’s part of what it is. Sandoval whines, legally, they should get a break, and the producer says, they can have a break, but they’re filming lunch. Big baby Sandoval says he’s going to call a Lyft; he needs a break from filming. The producer tells him to go eat lunch, and Sandoval practically stamps his foot, and says, stop filming. He doesn’t want camera in his face. He wants to talk to Raquel off-camera. He doesn’t feel relaxed, and they have to watch what they say. He’s in a delicate position.

Ally joins the group, and Sandoval checks his hair. Andy welcomes Ally, and asks about meeting James at his show with Sandoval and the Most Extras. He asks if she saw Vanderpump Rules before meeting him, and she says she went down the Bravo rabbit hole during covid. Andy asks if anything from James’s past bothered her, and she says, for sure, but meeting him was different. It gave him a chance to show her who he is. Andy says, Raquel had broken their engagement only six weeks before James met Ally. Did he really think it was long enough to get over a five year relationship? James says, everyone is different, and Ally says, they’d planned to take it slow, and had a lot of conversations. Andy says, Raquel revealed some awful things James said about her parents, and we flash back to that. James says, it’s not a proud moment, and he takes it back. Andy ask how it made Ally feel, and she says she didn’t like it. She doesn’t think the word fat should ever be used to insult someone. James says, Raquel’s parents said nasty things to him. Her mom talked about his penis size. Andy asks if it was in a favorable way, and he says, she was asking if he was circumcised and wondered what it looked like. Grandma Buttons was at the bloody table. Andy says, James was easily triggered by Raquel this season, and we flash back to James throwing the drink at Schwartz. Andy asks if Ally ever thought James wasn’t over Raquel, but she says, not once. He was triggered because he felt betrayal in losing a friend. Andy asks if she worries about James’s drinking becoming an issue, but she says, not at the moment. She doesn’t like it when he’s drinking a lot, but she’s not drinking as much right now, and neither is he. Andy asks why she’s not drinking, and she says she thought she needed a break, which she does sometimes. James says he’d never go back to the boy he was two and a half years ago, and Sandoval says, they had an ongoing job in Atlantic City, and they brought James in. He became belligerently drunk with no shirt on, and got kicked out. The manager said James had smacked a waitress on the ass, and he’d had her sign a form that she wouldn’t sue them. James lost them the job. James says, the Toms show up and get drunk. His DJ business makes tenfold what they do. Lala says, it’s a sensitive topic, but at the end of the day, both Toms drink heavily, and have no say on James’s drinking. Sandoval says, he doesn’t smack girls on the ass, and Ariana says, no, he f***ed her friend. James calls Sandoval, a mustache pr*ck p*ssy ass bitch; a f***ing mustache worm bitch. He walks off. Again.

A producer says, as you were, and Andy says, Ally told James that he needed a therapist; why? She says she thinks everyone should see a therapist, especially men, and especially James. James says he met a nice therapist, and it’s going good. Andy asks if they’re helping with James’s anger, because it doesn’t look like it, and Ariana says, there are extenuating circumstances today. Andy says, they spent a week in Cancun celebrating Scheana’s wedding, but Scheana revealed she and Brock were already married for over a year. Why did they keep it a secret? Scheana says, they wanted to celebrate their love privately, and she’d wanted to get it going because of the green card. They only married for them. Andy says, Katie said Schwartz wanted to be friends with Brock over her, and she says, he was prioritizing someone he sees three times a year over her. Schwartz has known Scheana a long time, but she didn’t feel Schwartz was close enough to Brock to consider his feelings over hers. Schwartz says, Katie has a long history of diminishing his friendships, and Katie says, Schwartz wants to be friends with everyone. He’s a serial killer’s wet dream, since he makes friends with strangers. Andy says, Lala pulled Ally aside, and talked to her about dealing with James’s temper. We flash back to that, and Andy asks Ally if she ever felt like telling Lala and Raquel to stay out of her relationship. Ally thinks at the time she was open to hear what they had to say, and looking back, it feels like they  were being protective. Lala says she was triggered (WOTD), and she didn’t want what happened to her to happen to someone else. Lisa says she’s loving Lala’s emotional side. She doesn’t want to see Lala’s angry side. Lala says, life was a lot this summer, and she was hypersensitive. She felt like an idiot and a fool, and wanted to baby Ally. James says he knows how much Lala has gone through, and how strong she is. As a woman, she’s conquered a company and a baby, and dealt with a lot of sh*t. She knows he’s not that guy at the Canyon Club. Andy asks, what happened at the Canyon Club? and we flash back to Raquel telling some of the others that James was arguing so loud with Ally, security had to escort him out. James says, the club was noisy and he was tired, and he shouted to Ally that he wanted to go f***ing now. Security was immediately there, and said he couldn’t be shouting. Ally says, they weren’t in a screaming match. No one saw it, and she doesn’t know why Raquel feels the need to narrate. Sandoval says, they’d been arguing, and James grabbed Ally’s arm or wrist. It was the second time, and he got kicked out. James says, the first time, he was with all of them. What was Sandoval doing? Making out with Raquel in the back? Andy thanks Ally for joining them, and she leaves.

Andy says, they’re going to discuss the fallout from Sandoval and Raquel’s affair, and they’re bringing Raquel in. Because of the restraining order, Scheana has to leave, but before they go, he wonders what’s the latest? Scheana says, the court date is the 29th. Raquel claims Scheana punched her, and she can’t speak about it now. Andy asks if anyone else thinks Scheana punched her, and Lisa says, maybe slapped her, but Katie says, look at Scheana’s fingernails; not possible. Andy asks Sandoval what he thinks, and he sighs heavily, says he wasn’t there, and sighs again. Lisa asks why it’s so difficult, and he says he’s between a rock and a hard place. Ariana says, then he should keep his mouth shut, but Tom says he wants to tell the truth. HA-HA-HA-HA-HA! Good one! He says he was there when Scheana was on speaker, but Ariana says, he ran back into TomTom, and Scheana said pushed, not punched, but Sandoval tells her, Scheana said she punched that bitch in the face. It’s 100% what Scheana said. Lala says, they talked on the phone, and it’s not what Scheana said. Sandoval says he f***ing heard it, and Scheana tells him to keep his f***ing mouth shut. Andy says, Scheana and Raquel were close until the truth came out. They were on Watch What Happens Live together the night Scheana found out. He asks if she thinks they’ll ever be friends again, but Scheana says, never. Andy asks if she knew something was going on with Raquel and Sandoval; she’d said she was suspicious. Scheana says, she heard things Lala said, and what Katie had seen, and started to suspect. She had lunch with Ariana, and they discussed it, but Ariana didn’t think there was any truth to it, and said they’d never do that to her. Ariana says, Scheana came to her respectfully about it, and she appreciated it. She knew Scheana wouldn’t come to her about it lightly because she cared about the two of them. Andy says, Scheana had heard Sandoval told Raquel that he and Ariana were in an open relationship, and we’re shown unseen footage where Scheana is telling Ariana, while she was sleeping, Sandoval and Raquel were in the hot tub. He told Raquel that he and Ariana were in an open relationship, and started coming on to her at Coachella. Sandoval protests that he never said that, and Ariana says, maybe he should stop hanging out with a liar. She brings up Sandoval coaching Raquel like he tried to coach her, and Sandoval says, if anything, Ariana coached him. Ariana says, he needed it. Andy says, Raquel had something for Scheana that she’s not allowed to give her in person, so he has it.  

In his personal interview with Raquel, Andy says, she and Scheana have to stay 100 yards apart, so they won’t be interacting. He asks how Raquel feels, and she says she feels regret about filing the restraining order. She’s taking measures to get it dropped. She spoke to her lawyer, and he’s filing a request to dismiss it. She shows Andy the paperwork, and says, the request for dismissal is being filed today. Back at the Reunion, Andy says, Raquel is in the process of dropping the restraining order, and everyone applauds. Ariana says she’d rather Rachel didn’t; none of them need to be around her. Lala says she’s glad for Scheana’s sake, even though she wanted to fight. The court system is a bitch, and she’s glad Scheana can be present with her kid. She cries and says, it’s taken a toll on Scheana. Sandoval – who should just stay quiet – says he gets it. Scheana says, having this betrayal of two best friends is heartbreaking in itself, but to throw this on top of it, when she did nothing but take care of Raquel. She gave Raquel a home when she had nowhere to go. Raquel was the sister she never had, and for Raquel to do this, it’s taken a toll on her. She cries, and Bambi Raquel looks blankly at the screen in her trailer. Scheana says she hasn’t been completely present for her daughters, and they’ve been affected by her emotions about it. Raquel was someone who she loved, and she knew would never do something like that. She’d told Raquel, please don’t do anything to change the friendship, and Raquel promised she’d never do that. Andy reminds Scheana that she’d said she trusted Raquel in bed with her husband when they were in Vegas. We flash back to that, and Scheana says, Raquel crashed with them one night in Vegas, although she slept in the middle. She trusted Raquel with everything. At this point, even I start to cry. I can’t even fathom how I’d feel to find out a close friend had been lying to me this way, and for so long. Sandoval mumbles that he’s sorry, and in her trailer, Raquel says she’s thinking she should have written a personal note to Scheana to go with the paperwork. More regrets are unfolding. Sandoval says, he lied about something for 7 months, and it spiraled out of control, but that doesn’t mean he’s been fake all the years Ariana’s known him. It wasn’t malicious. Ariana tells him to watch what he says; it was malicious. He says, the intention wasn’t malicious, and Ariana says, he’s done it before. He says she’s always been unapologetic throughout their relationship, and she says she heard him say he didn’t care about Scheana. Scheana says, she asked him about the affair and he denied it. She would have been doing Ariana a disservice if she hadn’t asked. Lisa says, Sandoval would never tell Scheana before telling Ariana, and Andy says, it’s time for Scheana to go the appropriate distance so Raquel can come out. Sandoval says he needs to leave for a moment, and Scheana says, before she goes, she has something for Andy. Ten years ago, at the Season 2 Reunion, he said, by 2023 she’d have an album. We flash back to that, and she gives him a 12-inch gold press of Good As Gold. She says she’ll be back at the end, and leaves. Sandoval wanders around the parking lot.

During the break, I download Good As Gold to one of my playlists because, why not?  

Andy wants Raquel to sit between the Toms, but it’s a hard no, including from Ariana. In their personal interview, Andy asks Raquel how she feels about seeing the group, and she says, a little nervous. But it’s important for her to take accountability for her actions, so she’s here to do that. He asks her to explain how the relationship started; the first kiss or spark of emotion. Raquel says she and Sandoval had been friends for a while. He was always somebody who was in her corner and rooted for her. It got more romantic after the girls trip. He made her feel heard and seen, and she’d never felt that before. We flash back to her crashing guys night, and his smile is glaringly obvious when she walks in. Like, you don’t smile like that for just anybody. Andy asks if she never felt that with James, and she says, never with anyone. Andy asks if she thought there would be a path forward with Ariana, and she says she thinks she was living in her own reality, hoping it would work out. Andy says, it’s incredible how many signs Ariana ignored, like The Abbey, and Sandoval not coming back from the barbecue. Ariana rode for Raquel every time. Sandoval said he felt like Ariana didn’t want to know. Is that what they told themselves? Were they in denial? Raquel says, it seemed that way. Ariana never pressed or confronted Sandoval. From what he told her, Ariana didn’t question him, and believed what he told her. Andy says, it sounds like she’s blaming Ariana, and she says, at the time, that was her mindset. Now she knows that Ariana did want to know. It was deceitful, and she’s ashamed. Andy says, Ariana called Raquel and confronted her. What was the conversation like? Raquel says she felt pain from Ariana, and Ariana begged Raquel to tell her when it happened. At this point, she and Sandoval just wanted to get their story straight. Sandoval felt Ariana would be more hurt if she knew how long it had been going on, and Andy asks if they were going to truncate how long it had been going on. Raquel says, yes, and I’m surprised she knows what truncate means. Andy says, Ariana wanted specifics on the phone? and Raquel says she told Ariana the truth, and Ariana thanked her and said, Sandoval never would have told her the truth. Andy asks if she and Sandoval prepped for the Reunion, and Raquel says, they’ve talked about how to approach things. He asks how she feels about seeing everyone in a group setting, and Raquel says she’s preparing for the worst, and hoping for the best. Spoken like a true beauty queen. He asks how she feels about seeing Ariana, and she says, scared.

Andy says, Raquel is here and ready to join them. Scheana is 100 yards away. We see Scheana in her trailer, watching, and Andy says, Ariana hasn’t seen Raquel since she found out. How is she feeling? Ariana says, not great, and he asks how Sandoval is feeling, but Sandoval says he doesn’t know. Raquel walks to the set accompanied by some weird music, and Schwartz takes out a bottle of Xanax. Ariana says, it’s funny that Schwartz is taking it, and James wonders why he has a pill bottle on hand. Andy steals the bottle, and someone suggests he pass it around, but he gives it back to Schwartz. Schwartz says he only takes it about once a month, and Lisa asks why he’s taking it now. He says he’s nervous, and Raquel hits the stage. Ariana won’t even look at her, and Sandoval stares straight ahead. Crickets are heard, and Sandoval hangs his head.

Next time – Part 3 – Ariana says she cried in Raquel’s arms, and Raquel thought she’d go f*** her boyfriend; Raquel compares her and Sandoval’s affair with Lala sleeping with James, causing some uproar; Katie says, Raquel’s a c-word and Sandoval’s a drunk; James thinks Raquel flirting with Schwartz is incesty, dirty and weird; Sandoval cries, and says he’ll always love Ariana; and Ariana says she can’t think of two worse people.

🍨 Eating My Feelings…

After you’ve recovered from these awful people, come back tomorrow for a kinder, gentler soap and tea. Until then, stay safe, stay pushing in your chair when you leave the table, and stay knowing the difference between inserting yourself in someone’s life when you’re not wanted, and simply reaching out to let them know you’re thinking about them.

May 26, 2023 – Willow’s Transplant Begins, B&B Reunion, OC Coming Up, VanderNatter, Begging, Revelations, Who Is It, Fashion Cat, Half a Dozen Quotes Plus One & We Gotta

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Carly tells Sonny that Donna wants pancakes tomorrow, and he says, there’s plenty in the freezer. Carly tells him that Donna also wants to save some for Willow, and he says, it’s a great kid they’ve got. Carly’s phone rings, and she steps out to take it, leaving Sonny alone with the moss bowl🎍. Drew asks if there’s any word from the hospital, but Carly says, no, but they’re about to head over there because she wants to be there when Willow has her procedure. He says, of course (🍷). He’s sending good thoughts. She says, he’s not coming? and he says he thought he should stick around to see if he can dig up any dirt on Tracy to leverage Ned to use his influence on the SEC. She says, they’re going ahead with Plan A, huh? and he says, absolutely. There’s one way out of this, and they’re going to find it. She goes back in the kitchen, and Sonny tosses her a towel, and hands her a bowl to dry.

On the phone, Nina says, the patient’s name is Willow Corinthos… She is family. Nina Reeves. She’s Willow’s mother… Her daughter was scheduled to do a bone marrow transplant, and she just wants to see how she’s doing… She knows they can’t… There’s a knock at the door, and she says she’ll call them back. She tells them, thanks – she hangs up the phone – for nothing. She lets Diane in and says, Diane’s a lawyer. Diane agrees that she is, and Nina asks if there’s any way she can sue the hospital to get information on her daughter. Diane says she never – almost never – gives out free advice, but in this instance she will for the good of everyone involved. If Nina would like to find out about her daughter, ask her. Now will Nina tell Sonny that she’s here; he’s expecting her. Nina says, he’s not here. He had to share some news with Carly. Diane says, that’s right. May I? She says she heard congratulations are in order, and looks at Nina’s ring, adding, for the jeweler.

Anna meets Robert at the MetroCourt, and thanks him for making time in his busy schedule. He says, she made it sound important. Is it a business proposal? She says, personal. Holly. She’s trying to reach Holly, but she’s gone radio silent. Given their last conversation, she’s a little bit concerned something’s happened. Robert says, something has happened, and it’s all his fault.

Tracy says, that’s gratitude for you. After all she went through to get Brook and Chase back together. Olivia says, that explains the serenade on the terrace, and hugs Brook. She says she’s happy for Brook, and Ned says he’s glad Chase finally let Brook out of the doghouse. If only they could all be that lucky. Olivia says, it’s neither the time nor the place, and Brook says, Olivia still can’t think Ned is the one who blew the whistle on Carly and Drew, but Tracy says, of course (🍷) he did, and he deserves a medal. Ned says, no he doesn’t because he didn’t. Brook believes him. Why can’t his own wife? Drew comes in, and Olivia says she’d like to believe Ned. Drew says he’d like to believe Ned too. Just give him one good reason.

Sonny asks how the SEC situation with Carly and Drew is going (didn’t they just have this conversation?), and she says, they’re not going down without a fight. Sonny says his offer still stands. If she wants to turn him in to the Feds, she can. Just let him know what she’s going to do beforehand. She thanks him, but says, it’s too big of a risk, and he says, let him be the judge of that. She says, if the situations were reversed, would he turn her in? He asks what she thinks, when Josslyn walks in and asks, what’s he doing here?

TJ tells Willow that it’s not going to hurt. The donating was the hard part. The transplant itself isn’t that different from a blood transfusion. So all Willow needs to do is sit back and relax. Wiley knocks at the window, and says, hi mommy. Michael calls, and Willow asks, who is this, and how did you get my number? He says, her fan club misses her, but she says, not as much as she misses them. Wiley says he loves her, and she says, her too.

Ned asks how he could do this to Drew and Carly when Willow is so sick. The answer is simple; he couldn’t, and he didn’t. Drew says he would believe Ned, if he hadn’t threatened to do just that, and Olivia says, he’s right. Ned said he was going to do this. Ned tells her, he said he might consider it, which was an empty threat, but even if he had considered it, he never followed through with it. Brook says, that’s enough. Get back to their corners. Shame on Ned. And shame on Drew for focusing on the SEC and that whole mess. None of that matters compared to what Willow is facing today. Tracy says, exactly, and thanks Brook for reminding this family of what’s really important. Why can’t they come together instead of pulling each other apart? Olivia can’t believe this is what it’s come to, and Tracy says, when Brook is the voice of reason, no one is more surprised than she is. Olivia says, and Tracy being the voice of family unity, but Tracy says she’s always advocated for family unity. Drew asks if she didn’t withhold medication from Edward when he was having a heart attack (ha-ha!), and Brook says, she sure did. Ned says, famously, and Tracy says, if there was one person who could attest to her devotion to the well-being and the happiness and the harmony of this family, it would be her granddaughter. Olivia laughs, and says she gets it. Tracy got Brook and Chase back together, and now she wants Brook to feel like she owes her something. Tracy says, it’s not always quid pro quo. There are such things as altruism and sacrifice. Ned asks if Tracy is feeling well, but Olivia says, trust her. Tracy is feeling just fine. How exactly is doing right by her granddaughter’s heart a sacrifice? What exactly did she give up? Or by some chance did she stand to gain something. Brook says, of course (🍷) she’s grateful for her grandmother helping get her and Chase back together – Tracy says, Brook is more than welcome – but like her dad said, kindness in this house usually comes at a price. Ned says, whatever the price was, he hopes she can afford it, and Brook says, let’s just say she’s glad she’s back at work. Olivia asks, what work? and Brook says she’s back at Deception. Ned asks, what about her music? and she says, he knows she can’t sing anymore. He says he thought she was putting together a list of artists to manage. Things were going well, right? Why give that up?

Diane says, maybe she should just wait in the lobby until Sonny gets back, but Nina says, now that she and Sonny are engaged, she was hoping his friends can be her friends. Diane says she might just have to settle for cordial, and Nina says, in the spirit of cordiality, maybe they can get past their differences and try to get along. Diane says, their differences? Like the time she shredded Nina on the stand, and got a judge to deny her visitation to see her grandson? Nina says, Diane was doing her job; it wasn’t personal. Diane says, no, it wasn’t, and Nina says, the least she can do is admire Diane’s skill. Diane says, and she admires Nina’s, and Nina says she doesn’t think Diane is as cynical as she wants the world to believe. Diane says, Nina’s got her. She’s absolutely right. In fact, what Nina sees standing before her is the warm and fuzzy Diane. Nina says, let her just throw something out there. As one woman speaking to another… Diane says she’s going to be charging Sonny for this conversation, but Nina says, this isn’t legal advice. This is just a get to know ya thing. Diane says, now she’s charging him double, and I can totally see her in a Noel Coward play. Nina says she loves her job at Crimson, but it wasn’t until she was in Nixon Falls that she realized the magazine shouldn’t be her whole life. Diane asks if she’s considered a puppy, and Nina says she has a family, a small one; a daughter and two grandchildren who are in her thoughts. Is there someone in Diane’s? Is there anyone special in her life? If not, why? I’ve never thought of it before, but other than Max being a boyfriend for a time, we’ve never seen Diane’s family.

Carly says, Sonny stopped by to talk to Donna, and Donna insisted her daddy make her pancakes. I get distracted by the way they’re standing around the moss bowl🎍, and Josslyn asks if he told Carly that she stopped by his office. Carly says, he did; he did not tell her why. Sonny says, that’s because it was a private matter between Josslyn and him, and Josslyn says, she asked him for a favor, and he said no. Sonny says he told her to have her friend come to him, but they don’t need to rehash this. He’s got to go. He asks Carly to tell Michael and Willow that he’s praying for them, and she says she will. He leaves, and Josslyn says she thought there was a schedule for visitations. Carly says, there is, but some things need to be said face-to-face, and Josslyn says, like what? Carly says, like Sonny and Nina are engaged.

Wiley asks if Willow is coming home, and Willow says she’s going to do her best. TJ scraps his sterile jumpsuit, and Michael asks if there’s anything he can do to make things easier for Willow. TJ says, it looks like he’s already doing it. Seeing all of them is the best medicine she can get. Sasha joins them, and says, looks like a party. She takes the phone, and says, how’s the guest of honor? Willow says, just happy to see everybody, and Sasha suggests she keep the kids entertained so Michael can have some time with Willow. Michael asks if Wiley wants some playtime with Aunt Sasha, and Wiley says he’ll ask Amelia. He whispers to Amelia, then listens, and tells them, she says, yes. Sasha says, let’s do it, and TJ asks if he can join. Sasha says, the more, the merrier, and they leave. Willow thanks Michael for bringing them, and he says he didn’t have much of a choice; Wiley insisted. She says she’s so scared, and he says, him too. One thing he does know is, they didn’t make it this far, they didn’t go to hell and back just to lose each other now. She says she wishes she could kiss him one last time, and he says, she will, but it’s not going to be the last time. This is just the beginning.

Carly tells Josslyn that they need to get to the hospital. Willow’s procedure is starting soon, and she wants to be there for Michael. Josslyn says she doesn’t know if Michael wants to see her right now, and Carly asks, what’s going on? Josslyn says, they had a fight. And now Sonny wants to officially make Nina a member of the family that she set out to destroy? Carly says, first of all, this family is just fine, and Sonny and Nina being engaged is kind of a relief. Josslyn asks how Carly can say that, and Carly says, Sonny’s committed to Nina, and she’s committed to Drew. Josslyn says, so no harm, no foul? but Carly says, there was a lot of harm and a lot of foul, but it’s just like a clean break. Josslyn wonders why Sonny didn’t tell her when she was alone with him in his office, and Carly asks, why would he? He knows how she feels about Nina. Josslyn says she hasn’t made that a secret, and Carly says, the secret here is why Josslyn went to see Sonny in the first place. Josslyn says, she told Carly; she was asking him for a favor. Carly says, Dex, and Josslyn says, yes. She went to see him about Dex. Carly asks, why? Did she want Sonny to give Dex a raise? Josslyn says, no. She wanted Sonny to fire him.

Anna says, so Holly just left town without so much as a farewell, and Robert says, at least she didn’t have to fake an escape from the towering inferno, third degree burns, and hospitalization. This time it was just goodbye. Anna says, it never is just goodbye with the two of them though, is it? and Robert says, they decided you can’t recapture the past, no matter how much you might want to. And this time when they said their farewells, they really meant them. Anna takes his hand, and says, sorry. Did Holly tell him about Ethan? Robert says, yeah, and all the trouble he’s in, and she asks if Holly told him that she was willing to go back to the Bureau to pay off his debts. He says, apparently, she decided on a shortcut. A deal with the devil… Selina Wu. He told her there were alternatives; that he wanted to help. She doesn’t want him involved. Anna says, Holly’s protecting him, which proves she still does really care about him. He says, caring was never the issue, and she asks, what is the issue? Is her name Diane?

Diane tells Nina that she’s sorry. There seems to be some kind of confusion that she wants to dispel Nina of. They’re not friends, and as such, questions into her personal life and relationships are unwelcome. She knows Nina is going through a tough time, wanting to see Willow and not being able to do so. She feels for Nina. Nina say she gets it. She’s never been able to make friends very easily. Just so Diane knows, she’d be with Willow right now. She’d be in the hospital room if she didn’t owe Sonny so much. She didn’t want to run into Carly or Michael, and have another clash. She doesn’t want to make Sonny’s life more complicated than she already has. Diane says she admires that restraint, and just so Nina knows, she hopes Nina really does make him happy. Nina says she does, when Sonny walks in and asks if everything is okay. Diane says, yeah. Congratulations. Sonny says, thanks, and Nina asks how it went with Carly and Donna. He says he and Donna made pancakes, and Diane suggests they talk in private, but Sonny says he was going to tell Nina anyway. Diane says, there’s talk going around town, but Sonny already knows that, and Sonny says, it looks like the DOJ may have made Carly an offer. Nina asks if they’re pressuring Carly to turn on Drew, but Sonny says, no. They’re pressuring Carly to turn on him.

Drew says, it’s no secret how Brook feels about music. She must have had a compelling reason to go back to Deception. Brook says, after all the craziness with Linc, she was craving stability and a little less drama, and Ned says, but she really enjoyed being a manager, and she was damn good at it. Brook says she realized she wants to write music, not manage it, and working back at Deception allows her the freedom to do that. Drew says, she’s got romance, she’s got freedom, she’s got creativity. It’s almost like she has her own fairy godmother. He looks at Tracy, and Brook says, you could say that. Drew asks if Tracy doesn’t wish she had one. She could wish herself straight back to Amsterdam. Tracy says she could also buy a plane ticket, and everyone says, don’t let us stop you, in unison. Tracy says, wow. If she didn’t know better, she’d say her loving family couldn’t wait to get rid of her. Drew says, come on. They don’t feel that way… Do you? Everyone gives soap looks.

Tracy says, as much as she hates disappointing her loved ones, she has no plans on leaving any time soon. Don’t all cheer at once. Brook says she’s glad Tracy is here, and not just because Tracy helped get her and Chase back together. Tracy tells her that she’d say she did a little more than help, and Olivia says, and she has. Ned says, repeatedly, and Brook says, Tracy is always there when she needs her, even if it’s just to tell her no. Tracy asks when she’s ever denied Brook anything, and Ned says, this is all too much. Olivia says, on that happy note, she has to go. Big meeting at the MetroCourt. Tracy says, no words of reassurance for her mother-in-law? and Olivia says she has plenty of words for Tracy.

Ned follows Olivia out, and tells her that he’s not the one who turned them in. How can he convince her? Olivia says, as it happens, she ran into Carly at the MetroCourt last night. It was pretty tense. Carly was demanding to know why she didn’t kick him to the curb. He says, maybe because he’s her husband, and she says, and Carly’s her best friend. That’s not nothing. And asks much as she wants to believe him, the thing she can’t get out of her mind, he flat out accused Carly and Drew of insider trading, and the next thing anybody knows, somebody blows the whistle. He says, somebody, but not him.

Nina says, to think she felt sorry for Carly that she has to worry about Michael and Willow during all this, and now she’s going to throw Sonny under the bus to save herself? Sonny says, she won’t, but Nina asks how he can know that. Diane says she really thinks she and Sonny… but Sonny says, no. He wants Nina to hear it. It’s not the first time the Feds have come after him using someone who’s close to him. Nina says she knows Carly told him that she wouldn’t do it, but what else is she going to say? He’s making pancakes for the daughter he shares with her. She had to have been tempted. He says he told her that she should do it. The Feds come after him, he’s prepared. She made it clear she won’t do it. Nina says, what if the Feds come to Carly and make her choose between her children and him?

Michael tells Sasha that Willow’s asking for her, and she leaves. TJ says he should go check on the preparations. He’ll see Michael in a minute, and Michael sees Wiley coloring. He says he’s going to let Wiley in on a little secret. Color outside the lines. That hardly seems Michael type advice.

Carly asks if Dex wants out or does Josslyn want Dex out. Josslyn says, Dex wants out, and Carly says, then Dex can tell Sonny himself. Josslyn tells her, that’s what Sonny said, and Carly says, sounds like Sonny. What did Dex say? Josslyn says, he wasn’t happy about it at first, but… Carly says, he knew her heart was in the right place. Is this what’s going on with her and Michael? Josslyn says, Michael just doesn’t approve of her and Dex, and Carly says, overprotective big brother. Josslyn says, something like that, but if he needs them, that’s all that matters, and Carly says, he needs them. So let’s go.

Willow picks up the phone, and Sasha says, she rang? Willow says she did. She thought if anyone could understand, it was Sasha. She remembers when Sasha was in isolation. Sasha says she hated it, but she made it through, and so will Willow. Willow says, ever since she’s been in here, she’s felt like a soldier in a foxhole, and Sasha says, that just means Willow is a fighter, which they already knew. Willow says, it got her thinking. You hear about soldiers that with their last dying breath, call out for their mothers. If worse comes to worse, who does she call out for? The mother who raised her and turned out to be a fraud and a murderer, or the mother who gave birth to her and couldn’t stand her until she found out they were related? Sasha doesn’t need to answer that; she’s just being silly. Sasha says, it’s not silly. It’s just something she won’t know until it happens, and it’s not going to. Willow says, they don’t know that, but Sasha says, they know they’re in the homestretch. So don’t think about dying; think about living. Think about Michael and Wiley and Amelia. Think about all the people who love her so much, and need her. Today is just like any other day in her life, except she’s been given a great gift. Willow knows how precious life is, and how quickly it can disappear, so she can be the soldier who fights for every breath, for every second, and win. Willow says, no wonder Sasha was such a hit on TV. She can sell anything. Even hope.

Carly and Josslyn find Michael, and Carly asks if they missed the kids. Michael says, the nanny just took them home, but Wiley left him a crayon so he wouldn’t miss mommy. Carly says she loves Wiley, and she loves Michael so much. He says he loves her too, and they hug. He says, hi to Josslyn, and Carly says, everything is okay, right? Josslyn says, everything is fine. All that matters is that Willow gets better, right? Michael says, right.

Sonny says, Carly isn’t giving him up, and Nina says she’s sure he knows best. She has to go to the MetroCourt. She loves him. Just let her know how he is; let her know how Willow is. He says he’ll keep her posted. Willow is in good hands; so is he. Nina leaves, and Sonny tells Diane, go ahead. Tell him what she knows that he doesn’t.

Robert says, Holly’s a friend, and Anna says, he comes barging into her house, when she’s jetlagged and exhausted, demanding they talk. He bites Valentin’s head off, all because, she thinks, he’s love torn. He says he had a moment of weakness, but she says, no, he was flummoxed about how two bright, beautiful women could be interested in him. He says he wasn’t flummoxed or love torn, and she says, conflicted, confused, whatever. She thinks maybe Holly did him a favor by bowing out. Because while it might be disappointing not to have two women vying for his affections, on the bright side, he still does have one.

Olivia says she’s doing her best to stand by Ned. She knows how much ELQ means to him, and she knows how hurt he was when he felt pushed aside. He says he sided with Valentin because it was the right thing to do for ELQ. Yes, he lashed out when he thought the company – their family legacy – was being threatened by a hostile takeover, but he’s not a snitch and he’s going to prove it to her. She asks what he’s going to do, and he says, show her once and for all that he’s the man she married; a man deserving of her love and her trust. He kisses her, and she asks him to promise her that he’s not going to do anything stupid. She leaves, and Tracy says, that’s touching, but if he asks her, he’s wasting his time.

Drew says he gets the impression Brook is less than thrilled having her grandmother back, and she says she loves her grandmother, and owes her big time. He says, for helping her and Chase get back together, and she asks where he heard about that. He says, the tenth or eleventh time it was said, he picked up on it, and Brook says, she can be very generous, and he says, but? She says, but her grandmother’s generosity usually comes with a price.

Olivia asks if she’s late or Nina is early, and Nina tells her, let’s just say, we’re both here at exactly the right moment. Olivia says she’ll take it. She sees Nina’s ring, and says, that’s quite a rock. She sees why Nina and Sonny were in such a good mood last night. Nina says, they’re engaged, and Olivia says, congratulations. She wishes them every happiness, and Nina thanks her. She says, in case Olivia was wondering, Sonny already told the news to Carly and Donna, and they all made pancakes together. Olivia says, so Carly’s taking it in stride, and Nina says, apparently. She’s sure Carly will tell Olivia how she really feels, given how close they are. Olivia says, not anymore. Carly can’t understand why she hasn’t kicked Ned to the curb for what he did to her and Drew. Nina asks, what did Ned say? and Olivia says, Ned swears up and down he didn’t turn them in to the SEC, and Nina asks if Olivia believes him. Olivia says she’d really like to, but she keeps asking herself; if Ned didn’t do it, who did?

Diane says, it’s just a rumor, but Sonny said himself, it’s not the first time the Feds have come after him using someone close to him, and who’s closer to him than Carly? Sonny asks if the rumors say who gave up Carly and Drew, and Diane says, no. The insider trading tip was anonymous, but there’s a strong suspicion that it was Ned Quartermaine. He tells her, that’s what Carly says, but why would Ned do that to Carly and Drew a year after the fact? Now that the Feds are involved, he thinks Carly and Drew are just a means to an end. Diane says, so he thinks the Feds have been monitoring him, and saw Drew and Carly mess up, and pointed the SEC in her direction in order to pressure her to flip on him? That would mean there was no insider tip, and this whole thing was just an excuse to get this investigation rolling. That means the SEC is doing the Justice Department a favor. Sonny says, maybe, but he’s not letting Ned off the hook just yet, because he’s more than capable of stabbing Drew and Carly in the back. Do him a favor. Find out how and why the Feds got involved. Anything she can come up with. She says she’s pretty much exhausted all her resources, and he says, what about the DA? She says, Robert Scorpio? Why would the District Attorney of Port Charles have any information as to the government’s investigation? He says, it’s no secret that Robert has strong ties to DC through the Bureau, and she asks, what makes him think Robert would tell her? He says, because she’s the best. She has a way of being persuasive. She says she has to go, and he says, to see Carly? She says, confidential. She can’t possibly tell him. And as for Robert Scorpio, she’ll think about it. Before she goes, he tells her, don’t think too long. She leaves, and Sonny tells the guard, bring the car around now.

Carly and Josslyn come to the window, and Michael says, more of Willow’s fan club. Carly takes the phone, and says, they just want to tell her how much they love her. Josslyn says, she’s the best sister-in-law ever. Willow says, back at her, and TJ says he’s sorry, but he means it this time. Everyone leaves except Michael, and he says he had a speech planned, all these things he was going to say, but right now all that matters is she knows how much he loves her. She says she loves him too, and he leaves. She hangs up the phone, and tells TJ that she’s ready.

Robert tells Anna that as far as he knows, Diane isn’t interested anymore, beyond them sparring in court. Diane comes in, and Anna says, why doesn’t he ask her? She’s going to take her cue. She leaves, and Diane and Robert look at each other.

Nina says, for what it’s worth (🍷), she’s sorry Olivia has cause to doubt Ned, and Olivia says, her too. Nina tells her, she can’t believe she’s saying this, but poor Carly and Drew to be put in this position, and Olivia says, what position? Nina says, it’s just rumors; she shouldn’t have said anything. Olivia says, where there’s smoke, there’s fire, and knowledge is power. Why doesn’t Nina tell her the rumors, and she’ll decide for herself if she wants to believe them. Nina tells her, like she said, it’s just talk, but it seems like the government is using Carly and Drew’s legal problems to get to Sonny.

In the foyer, Ned asks if Tracy is home to stay, and she asks if that would be a problem. He says, of course (🍷) not, but you know what they say about idle hands. She says, don’t worry. She knows how to stay busy. He says, that’s what he’s afraid of.

Brook says, what makes Drew think he owes Tracy anything? and he says, maybe because she was trying so hard to sell everybody on the joys of being back at Deception. She says she loves her job; it’s steady and plays to her strengths. He says he knows what music means to her, writing it and managing artists, so if anything or anyone is making her choose… Tracy comes in and says she needs to borrow her granddaughter, and Drew leaves, turning to look at Brook before going out the door.

Sasha says, Willow may look fragile, but she’s tough as nails, and Michael thanks her for coming. She asks him to call her when Willow’s awake, and leaves. Josslyn says, Sasha’s right. Willow is unstoppable. Carly tells Michael that he and Willow love each other like crazy. Now there’s Wiley and Amelia, and their love is stronger than ever. Don’t forget that. She hugs him, and Sonny walks in.

TJ asks if Willow is ready, and she says she can’t wait. He tells her, like he said before, all she needs to do is sit back and relax. Let the bone marrow do its thing. If all goes well, she’ll have nothing but healthy cells in her body, and a whole new lease on life. The transplant begins, and Willow flashes back to bringing Amelia home, and telling Wiley that Amelia will need his help.

On (presumably) Tuesday, Curtis says he has two choices, give up or give in; Portia says she has other options; Spencer says, it’s funny how your life can change in an instant; and Drew says, the less someone knows, the better.

🕺🏻 Still Duke To Me…

He’s allowed in the clubhouse since he was once on GH.

🍊 What Happens In the OC…

Frankly, I was glad to see Tamra go. Now we have to watch her very lit throughout the season. Cringing at the thought.

🍸 Welcome To the Cheap Seats…

He’s not just the most awful human being on earth, a title once only held by Jax, he’s also an idiot.

Another genius and more tidbits.

About that open relationship thing.

Brittany deserves to be heard. Apparently she tamed the previously reigning king of awful people. Maybe. We’ll see.

🍑 Will Work For Hair Extensions…

I could definitely see her at the casino. It kind of bummed me out when the news of their divorce broke. Surprisingly, I liked their Don’t Be Tardy show with its kookie family vibe. Oh well.

👨🏻‍💼 Likes and Dislikes…

Andy reveals all. Well, some anyway.

⚰️ Guessing Game…

Something to ponder.

🐈‍⬛ Karl’s Furry Muse…

It’s not always about the dog… although it should be. (Just kidding. Kind of.)

🐡 Quotes of the Week

Ends are not bad things, they just mean that something else is about to begin. And there are many things that don’t really end, anyway, they just begin again in a new way. Ends are not bad and many ends aren’t really an ending; some things are never-ending. – C. JoyBell C.

When you’re through changing, you’re through. – Martha Stewart

The reading of all good books is like a conversation with the finest minds of past centuries.René Descartes

If we command our wealth, we shall be rich and free; if our wealth commands us, we are poor indeed. – Edmund Burke

Peace cannot be kept by force; it can only be achieved by understanding.Albert Einstein

Animals are such agreeable friends — they ask no questions, they pass no criticisms. – George Eliot

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

🙃 And In Confusion…

Enjoy your long weekend if weekends are on your agenda in this new world. If not, enjoy whatever you want to call it. Join me on Monday really Tuesday for what’s on Deck and a reunion of awful Summer people – GH will be a rerun. Until then, stay safe, stay not chewing with your mouth open, and stay remembering, it’s not always quid pro quo. There are such things as altruism and sacrifice.

May 25, 2023 – Curtis Picks a Lane, Backstory, Are They On, The Usual, VanderTalk, Future Fear, Shark Host, Pets (!) Celebrate & Dream

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Donna runs into Sonny’s old kitchen – the moss bowl🎍 displayed prominently – and hugs him. She asks if he’s going to have breakfast with her and mommy, but he says, that depends on what’s on the menu. Carly says, what else? Something from a box. Sonny tells Donna to get dressed and they’ll figure something else out. Donna runs out, and Sonny says he should have asked Carly if it was all right first, but she says, it’s fine. He says he has news, and she says, let her guess; he’s getting married. He says, she heard, but she says she saw. She was at the MetroCourt last night. She guesses congratulations are in order.

Nina tells Ava that she has no choice. She has one option. It’s time for the gloves to come off. She can’t continue to let Carly come between her and her family. Ava says, which is why Nina stupidly and compulsively sicced the SEC on her when it could definitely backfire, and tank not only her relationship with Sonny, but any potential relationship with her daughter. Nina says she knows. She has to make sure the charges against Carly stick, and that she goes away for a good, long time.

TJ leaves another message for Molly, and says he won’t keep blowing up her phone. He just didn’t remember if he said he was sorry in that last message, but he is, and he loves her. Just call him back, or even better, come home. There’s a knock at the door, and he opens it to Stella. He says, this is a surprise, and she says, and by the look on his face, not a welcome one. He says, just the opposite. She’s exactly who he needs. They hug.

TempMolly into Alexis’s house, and hugs her, crying. Sam asks, what’s wrong? and Molly says, everything’s falling apart.

TJ says he’s always happy to see Stella, and she says, something’s weighing on him. She can tell. What is it?

Jordan says, Portia is giving her way too much credit, but Portia says she’s actually not giving Jordan enough. Jordan tells her, stop. She’s not the person Portia thinks she is. Portia says, that’s dramatic, and Jordan says she just means she doesn’t deserve all this praise, especially considering what she’s done. Portia asks, why? What has she done? Curtis comes out of the elevator.

Sam says she thought Alexis said everything was fine. Alexis says, it’s not life-threatening. Everything is going to be fine. Molly hugs her again, when Kristina comes out, and asks, what’s wrong? Molly says she’s been diagnosed with endometriosis, and Alexis says, so the biopsy confirmed it. Kristina asks, how bad is it? and Molly says, it’s not good. It’s not going to kill her or anything, but it’s when the tissue from the uterus grows outside the uterus. Sam says she’s heard of it. It’s really painful, isn’t it? Molly says, it can be. It comes and goes. Sam says she’s so sorry, and Kristina says, me too. Alexis says, me three, and Sam asks what they can do for her. Molly says, that’s just it; there’s nothing to do. Kristina says, the doctors can give her something for the pain, right? and Molly says, the pain is manageable. It’s the rest. She and TJ may never be able to have a baby.

TJ says, he and Molly have been trying to get pregnant, and Stella says, that’s wonderful… but she’s guessing they’re having a hard time. He says, they just found out because of medical challenges, it might not happen for them, and she says she’s so sorry. She can see he’s heartbroken, and she imagines Molly is too. He says, and he didn’t know.

Portia tells Curtis that she was just thanking Jordan for all she did for Trina, but of course (🍷) she’s too humble to accept it. Curtis says he does appreciate Jordan running interference while they were on the island, and Jordan says, and while she was safe in Port Charles, he was the one in harm’s way. Portia says she thanks them both. Because of their team work, Trina’s home. A nurse approaches them, and says she has a question for Portia about a patient. Portia says, of course (🍷), and leaves with her. Curtis asks what he walked in on. It looked like Jordan was about to say something to Portia. Jordan says, about their kiss? She considered it. He asks her to promise him she won’t do that, and she says, why? Because he’s still not sure what it meant? Or because he decided it didn’t matter? Anna joins them, and after saying hello to her, Curtis says he should get going. He leaves, and Anna says, the air’s a bit charged in here.

Curtis walks over to Portia, and she asks if he needs her. He says, that’s exactly what he’s been trying to figure out.

Nina tells Ava that she’s been assured by Martin that no one will find out she was behind the anonymous tip; she’d be protected. Ava says, from the government finding out maybe, but there are people in Port Charles can put two and two together. Nina says she gets that. That’s why she needs Carly gone. Without Carly looming over everything, she has a clear path to be with Sonny, and try to forge a relationship with her daughter. Ava says, she’s dreaming big, and Nina says, why not? Doesn’t she get to be happy? To be with the man she loves and try to get to know her daughter? Why does Carly get the storybook ending while the rest of us are left with nothing?

Sonny says he knows Nina’s not Carly’s first choice, and Carly says, it’s not her choice. It’s Sonny’s life and he’s got to live it. He says, that’s the plan, and she asks why he came by, to fill her in? He says he wanted to tell Donna and the moss bowl🎍, but he didn’t know if Carly wanted him to do it alone or if they should do it together. She asks, what’s the rush? Did he and Nina set a date? He says, nothing like that. It’s just that Avery saw Nina’s engagement ring. She says, they all know how Avery likes to spread the good news, and he says he’s going to tell all his kids, obviously, but he didn’t want to tell Donna without talking to her first. She says she’ll follow his lead, and he says, she’s refolding towels she already folded. She tells him that she’s really distracted right now, and he asks if she wants to tell him why.

Carly says, Sonny just missed Diane. Diane was here discussing the SEC’s case against her. He says he asked Josslyn about that, and she asks where he saw Josslyn. He asks if Diane has a good defense teed up, and she says, unfortunately, the case against her is very strong, so even a lawyer as skilled as Diane has an uphill battle ahead. He says, there’s a chance the SEC was pointed at her to get to him.

TJ tells Stella, they were both blindsided. They went from this vague idea of wanting to start family in the future, to realizing they want a child now, to finding out they can’t – at least not the conventional way. She says, it’s a delicate subject matter for sure, even for partners like him and Molly who have been together forever. He says he keeps sticking his foot in his mouth, and she says, here’s the thing. Yes, this is happening to both of them, but right now, Molly can’t see that. This is agony for her. The sensible woman he’s used to is still there, but this could take her a while to find her way. He says, so what does he do? and she says, nothing but pray.

Molly says, as to the severity of her condition, the chances of conceiving are incredibly low, but Kristina says, not impossible though, right? Molly tells them, it wasn’t actually said, but strongly implied, and Sam says she’s sorry. Alexis asks what they can do, but Kristina says, nothing, right Molly? Molly is the one who always has everything figured out. Molly says, not this time, and Kristina says she’s sure the doctor gave Molly and TJ other options, like adoption and IVF… Alexis makes a cutting motion, and says, not at this time, but Kristina says, it’s Molly they’re talking about. She identifies the problem, then boom… Molly tells Kristina, just stop, and walks out. Kristina wonders what she said.

Anna asks if Jordan wants to talk about it, but Jordan says she doesn’t want to keep Anna from whatever she came here to do. Anna says she’s finished with her phlebotomy, and has a little time before her next debrief with the WSB, and Jordan asks how she’s feeling. Anna was still recuperating in the hospital when she charged off to Greenland. Anna says she feels like a million bucks, but Jordan doesn’t look so good after whatever that thing was with Curtis. Jordan says she’s tried to move on; to get over Curtis and put the whole marriage in the rearview. Anna asks how that’s working for her, and Jordan says she guesses what they say is accurate; objects in the mirror may be closer than they appear.

Portia asks why everyone is talking in riddles today, and Curtis asks what she means. She says, Jordan alluded to doing something wrong, and when she asked what it was, Jordan wouldn’t say. He says, she knows how by-the-book Jordan tries to be. She had to bend a lot of professional rules to help Trina. Portia says, maybe. Is he going to leave her hanging too? He says, no. He wants to talk about him and her.

Alexis goes outside, and Kristina asks Sam to tell her what she did wrong, since she’s become so skilled at it. Sam says she’s sorry. Kristina is really excited about her project, and she… Kristina says, completely rained on her parade, and Sam says, yes. Kristina says, Sam made some decent points, and Sam says she knows, but it was the wrong time and place. She actually learned something from mom, that sometimes encouragement is better than a fix. Kristina says, which is exactly the mistake she just made with Molly.

Alexis tells Molly, she meant well. Her execution left a little to be desired, that’s all. Molly says she knows. Krissy isn’t the problem. She’s just feeling a little overwhelmed right now in the most unfamiliar way. She hates it. Alexis says, because she feels not in control, but Molly says, because she feels like a failure.

Stella brings TJ coffee, and says, it’s one of those situations where it’s all you can do. No actions to take; certainly no one to blame. He says, but Molly’s blaming herself, and Stella says, right now she is. Right now, she’s up, she’s down, she’s all over the place. She’s mourning a dream. He is too, and she’s not trying to minimize that, but as a woman… He says, it’s different, and she says, yes. The best advice she can give him is to know that. Molly is going through something really difficult that he can’t fully understand, but he can love her. Keep reminding her of that. Just be there. He says, that, he can do.

Jordan wonders if Anna remembers when she asked for advice last summer, and Anna says, Jordan asked if she’d ever come clean to an ex about something that would impact his relationship. She’s assuming by whatever’s going on with Curtis and Portia, that information came out. Jordan says, Anna suggested she question her motivation for revealing the truth, and yes, she wanted to protect Curtis, but that wasn’t the only reason. So ultimately, she didn’t tell him. Anna says, but someone did. Is that why things are tense between the two of them? He’s angry with her because she stayed silent? Jordan says, Curtis is far from angry, and now there’s a new secret weighing on her conscience.

Curtis asks if Portia has time to talk, and she says, he’s her husband. If she doesn’t have time, she’ll make time. He says his experience in Greenland got him to thinking, and she says she was afraid she was never going to see him again. He says, same here. He doesn’t want to leave anything between them unsaid.

Ava tells Nina, Carly may be on her way to prison for insider trading. She hardly calls that a storybook ending. Nina says, Carly needs to do some serious time. Let’s not forget, she’s going to prison for something she actually did. Ava says, and she’ll be conveniently out of Nina’s way, and Nina says, finally Carly won’t be swooping in every time she tries to have a conversation with Willow. Ava says, she doesn’t have an issue with Carly going away; her issue is with Nina blowing up her own life to make that happen.

Sonny tells Carly that he has business dealings with a group of people who have very powerful enemies. In government, he thinks, and they’ve targeted him at least once that he knows of. Now he thinks they’re coming after Carly to get to him. Carly asks how that would work, and Sonny says, the SEC only started coming after her after he started dealing with these people. Carly says, that explains the timing. Why months after the failed merger, the SEC started asking her questions. He says, somebody’s playing the long game. They’re threatening her so she’ll flip on him. Once he’s out of the picture, it compromises the people he’s working with. She says she gets it, except for Ned. Sometimes the simplest solution is the truth. Ned threatened to turn her and Drew in to the SEC, and he did it. Sonny says, at some point, the justice system is going to figure out that by her being in trouble is the easiest way to get to him. She tells him, Diane says that’s already happening, and he says, based on what? She says, on confirmed intel here in the DA’s office, and Sonny says, they’re talking on a federal level, right? Carly tells him that the US Attorney may cut a deal if she turns state’s evidence against him, and he says, do it. He can get through this. He’ll be in court, he’ll fight the charges. She says, he doesn’t know that. He can’t control the narrative. He says he has Diane. She’s fantastic. She’ll get him through it. Carly says, no. She appreciates his nobility, but no. He says, this has nothing to do with being noble, but she says, yes, it’s noble. She appreciates him stepping up for her, especially given their recent history, but no. It’s a hard no.

Sonny says, Carly’s not thinking this through, and she says, it’s all she’s been thinking about. He says, it’s too late to roll the dice, but she says she’s not. He asks what he’s supposed to do. Just let the mother of his children go to prison? She says, it’s not like she’s going to Pentenville. Even if she goes down for insider trading, it’ll be a minimum security situation for a couple of years. It won’t be fun. She’ll hate it. She’ll hate being away from her kids, but hell, she’s been through worse. He says, so it’s either/or. Unless Diane pulls a rabbit out of her hat, Carly is either going to have to turn him into the Feds or do time. She says, there’s another option. Turn on Drew.

Ava asks if Nina is really willing to risk the possible consequences just to get revenge, and Nina says, it’s not about revenge… Okay, maybe when it all first started, it was about revenge, but it’s not anymore. It’s such a mess, and she’s just trying to hold on to her relationship and trying to build a foundation with her daughter. Unless Ava doesn’t want that for her. Ava says, stop it. Of course (🍷) she does. She’s on Nina’s side. She’s made some hasty and regrettable decisions; decisions that have had real ramifications. She just wants to make sure Nina is considering what hers might be. Nina says, she knows. If the end result is for her daughter to not turn to Carly, and God willing, turn to her, any ramifications are worth it.

Kristina says she feels terrible, but Sam says, don’t. Kristina was just trying to encourage Molly. She gets it, and she’s sure Molly will too. Kristina says she’s never seen Molly like that, and Sam says, she knows, but fertility issues are a whole different beast. It’s like being dropped down into the most barren and inhospitable place, and you’re thinking it’s your fault you’re there. Kristina says she forgets sometimes that Sam struggled to get pregnant, and Sam says, that’s something she’ll never forget, but I still can’t remember it. Kristina says, this is crazy. She can’t possibly think it’s her fault. Sam says, she does. Kristina’s right, she shouldn’t, but she does. Her body is betraying her. it’s the worst, most isolating feeling ever. So their rational, level-headed Molly isn’t going to be so rational about this. It’s not possible.

Alexis says, it’s not her fault, and Molly says she knows that intellectually. Alexis says, feeling it’s another thing, and Molly says, what if she’d gone to the doctor sooner? What if she’d taken charge of her health the way she’s taken charge of everything else in her life? Maybe this wouldn’t be happening. Alexis says, maybes aren’t going to help anything right now, because the truth is, she’ll never know. So the important thing is to just stay in the here and now. Molly says she despises the here and now, and Alexis asks how TJ is handling it. Molly says, just another area where she screwed up, and Alexis says, there’s no sure way to navigate this. Molly says, TJ is worried about her. He’s surprised she suffered in silence for so long, which is when she got super defensive, and then came here. Alexis says, this is raw. It’s going to take some time, and Molly has to give it some time. She knows Molly and TJ will figure it out. Molly says, you know something strange? A few months ago, it wasn’t even something she was sure she wanted. Alexis says, to be pregnant? and Molly says, they’d talked about having kids, but it was way down the list. So why is she so devastated?

Stella asks what she can do for TJ, and he says, she can distract him. What brought her back to town? She says, family of course (🍷). How’s Curtis? TJ says, she hasn’t been to see him yet? and she says, this was her first stop. He says, getting the lay of the land, and she asks if she’s that obvious. He says, only to him, and she says she felt badly about the conversation she had with Trina the night of the wedding. the whole reason she skipped the ceremony was so she wouldn’t complicate things, and she ended up complicating them anyway. He says, it’s not her fault; the truth was bound to come out. She says she’s sorry she ran off, and at the worst possible time. First, all the upheaval with the family, then the craziness with Trina getting kidnapped? He says, inadvertently, but yeah, and she says, when she read about what happened on that ship, she had to come back. He says, thank God everyone’s in one piece, except for Victor Cassadine. She says, good riddance. So did the ordeal bring everyone closer together? He says, Trina’s back at home. Things seem to be fine between her and Portia. Stella says, what about Curtis and Portia? and he says, that’s another story.

Anna says, you guys kissed? and Jordan says, it would have gone even further if she hadn’t stopped it. Anna says, wow. What does she think this means? Jordan says, that’s the problem; she doesn’t know. What’s worse is, she doesn’t think Curtis knows either.

Curtis and Portia go to her office, and Curtis says, he and Portia have been in limbo for a while now, and he doesn’t want it to go on any longer. She asks what that means. That he’s decided to forgive her, or is he saying he’s officially ending things?

Ava says, it sounds like Nina’s mind is made up, and Nina says, it is. Ava asks, what’s the plan? How is she going to make things worse for Carly than she’s already made them? Nina says she’s still figuring things out. Ava is going to think she’s callous, but from what she understands, Diane is only Carly’s attorney. Ava says, so Drew has separate representation, and Nina says, right. So it’s going to be tough to present a united front when you’re being advised by different attorneys. She thinks that’s fertile ground for miscommunication and mistrust to grow. Ava says, Nina wants to break up Drew and Carly, but Nina says, it’s bigger than that. She wants Drew to believe Carly will turn on him, so he turns on her first.

Carly says, Sonny is definitely the biggest get, but the CEO of a big company and a Quartermaine; Drew has a target on his back too. Sonny says, too bad she won’t consider it either, but she says, no, not for a second. She’s guilty. He says, that’s never mattered before, and she says she did it. She got insider information, and she acted on it. Despite Michael and Drew telling her not to. He says, probably because they told her not to, and she says she’s not going to let someone else pay for her mistakes. He asks where that leaves her. When it comes to prison, it doesn’t matter the level of security, it’s not an option.

Kristina hates that she made Molly feel worse, but Sam says, she didn’t mean to. Kristina says, maybe not consciously, but if she’s being honest, she’s still licking her wounds from their previous conversation. Molly would never do something like this. She would never try to execute a half-baked plan like this, and she’s envious of that. Sam says, they’re all envious of how big Kristina dreams. She and Molly wish their imaginations stretched as far. Kristina says, they’re envious of how strong Sam is. She’s the most resilient Davis… Sam says she doesn’t know about that, and Kristina says, at least Sam and Molly aren’t the ones keeping mom up at night. Sam says she can assure Kristina, as a mother, you worry about all your kids all the time. It’s part of the job. Kristina says, what if Molly never gets to do that job? and Sam says, then they’re going to have her back, like they always do. She puts her arm around Kristina.

Alexis says, if she could take the pain away from Molly, she would, but she can’t. She’s Molly’s mother, but she was a lawyer. Molly says, that’s relevant how? and Alexis says, as Molly’s mother, she can console her, but as a coach, she can help Molly game this out. So tell her, who does  she need more right now? Molly falls into Alexis’s arms, and cries. Alexis says, mommy it is.

Stella asks if TJ thinks Portia and Curtis are over, but he says he doesn’t know. All he knows is, Curtis still hasn’t moved back home. She says she was afraid of that. Curtis has always placed a premium on transparency. TJ says, that’s basically why Curtis and his mom got divorced, and she says, speaking of Jordan. Was Curtis upset to find out she knew about Trina? He says, Curtis was hurt, but he also understood it wasn’t his mom’s story to tell, and she says, it sounds like Curtis is on better terms with his ex-wife than his current wife.

Jordan tells Anna, Curtis was so insistent that he not tell Portia about their kiss. It’s like she’s gone from being his ex-wife to being his dirty little secret. Anna says she sees how that would sting, but her instinct is telling her that this whole situation is confusing for everyone involved, and that Curtis is trying to navigate it without hurting anyone. Jordan says, it’s impossible. Whether he decides to give their relationship another chance, or chooses to go back with Portia, one of them is going to get hurt. Deeply.

Portia tells Curtis that she knows she made a monumental mistake, but she won’t accept the end of their marriage. Marcus told her that she should fight for what she wants, and what she wants is him. She wants to fight for him, for them, for what they’ve built together. Please don’t throw it away. He says he doesn’t intend to. There’s a lot to sort through. He can’t guarantee there’s a way forward for them, but they’ll never know unless they try. She asks what that looks like. Dating? Therapy? He says, let’s start with me moving back home.

Molly comes back inside with Alexis, and Kristina says she’s sorry. What she should have said is, she loves Molly and she’s here for anything Molly needs. Sam says, they all are, and Alexis says, always. Molly thanks them, and says she’s sorry for being so on edge. Sam tells her not to apologize. What she’s going through is real and heavy, and she gets to feel all the feelings. Molly says, some more pleasant than others, and Sam says, they’re in her corner, putting her arm around Molly. Kristina says, Davis girls unite, and they put their hands together. Alexis joins them, and Molly says she prays she and TJ have a family, but even if it never happens, she’s so grateful for the family she already has.

TJ hugs Stella, and says he’s so happy she’s back. She says, here’s hoping his uncle feels the same way, and TJ says, of course (🍷) he will. She says she’s not so sure, but she does know this. Whether it’s TJ and Molly, Curtis and Portia, or this family that needs mending, love is always worth fighting for. She kisses him on the cheek, and leaves.

Portia says, Curtis is coming back home? and he says, unless she has any objections. She says, objections? No. She’s been hoping and praying for this. He says, then he’ll move his things in right away. He’ll be staying in the guest room. She says, if that’s what he thinks is best, and he says he does, but if that’s not enough for her… She says, it’s plenty. She just wants him back home, and will do whatever it takes to make it happen. It’s not about pride for her. He says, it’s not going to happen overnight, and she says she can be patient. Because she knows it’s just the first step to them becoming a family again.

Jordan thanks Anna for listening, and Anna says, of course (🍷). Anytime. Jordan says she didn’t mean to make Anna late for her meeting, and Anna says, Jordan makes it sound so civil. And mutual, as if she has a choice in the matter. Jordan asks if she’s worried, and Anna says she’s skated this line with the WSB before. She’s thinking an association that’s gone on this long isn’t easily broken. Jordan says, so she’s realizing, and Anna asks what she’s going to do. Jordan says she has two choices. She can either bow out, or she can go after what she wants, but does she even have the right to do that if it means destroying the life of another woman?

Ava says, Nina has her work cut out for her. Does she really see a stand-up guy like Drew Cain flipping on his girlfriend? Sending her to prison, no matter how much she deserves it; no matter how guilty she is? Nina says she can, under the right circumstances, and Ava says, which are? Nina says, first, they need Drew to know he didn’t do anything wrong. They don’t even know if he was the one who gave Carly the information about the merger; it could have been Michael. Nina bets Drew didn’t even want her to invest in Aurora, but Carly probably did what she always does. She barged in, she went after what she wants. She doesn’t think about anyone else’s feelings… Ava says, stop. She’s getting off track here now. She’s not trying to rain on Nina’s parade, she’s just wondering how realistic it is to expect Drew to give up Carly. Nina says, it’s not unrealistic to expect Carly to give him up, and Ava says, if it was Sonny or Jason, she’d say absolutely not, but with Drew, there is room for doubt. The relationship is relatively new. Maybe threatened with serious prison time, Carly would give him up, but it’s not certain. Nina says, it doesn’t matter. It doesn’t matter if Carly would turn Drew in. The only thing that matters is that Drew believes that she would. They need Drew to get this information from somebody he trusts; that Carly is planning on turning state’s evidence against him. Ava says, neither of them fits that description, and Nina says, no, but she can think of someone who does.

Carly says, Drew has a plan, and Sonny asks if it’s a good one. Carly says, it’s a long shot, and she still may lose everything. Donna runs in, and Carly says she loves Donna’s outfit. Sonny says, she looks sharp, and Donna asks if they can make pancakes. Sonny says, if she’s serious, because he’ll need her help, and Carly says, those chocolate chips aren’t going to make it there on their own. Donna says, they can count on her, and Carly says she knows they can, because she’s such a big girl. And because of that, she and Donna’s daddy need to talk to her about some changes coming up. Donna says, fun changes? and Sonny says, everything’s going to work out. Carly tells her, what daddy said, but she looks pretty worried.

Tomorrow, Tracy asks when she’s ever denied Brook anything; Robert tells Anna, something has happened, and it’s all his fault; Drew says, there’s a way out of it, and they’ll find it; and Sonny wants to know what someone knows and he doesn’t.

🕶 Before He Was Brick…

Very cool story.

🧼 Memorial Day Soap…

ABC will be airing a GH will rerun with both Rory and Epiphany.

🥱 No Surprises Here…

Teresa storms off.

Bo Dietl isn’t having Louie’s lies.

🍸 If Yesterday Wasn’t Enough…

Ariana has more revelations.

Ariana claps back and more.

Charli might be questionable as far as truth goes, but she has surprising insight on the former prom beauty queen.

A replay of the action.

https://www.eonline.com/news/1375356/vanderpump-rules-reunion-part-one-every-bombshell-from-the-explosive-scandoval-showdown

⚰️ Fear Coming Up…

Theories on PADRE.

https://screenrant.com/fear-walking-dead-season-8-troy-return-theory-padre/?newsletter_popup=1

Another reunion.

https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/news/fear-the-walking-dead-season-8-episode-3-odessa-clip-reunites-madison-clark-june-dorie/

🦈 Doo-Doo, Doo-Doo, Doo, Doo…

Aquaman knows what he’s talking about.

https://ew.com/tv/jason-momoa-shark-week/

🐕 Pups At Parties…

Don’t give me any ideas.

https://people.com/pets/new-york-dog-wedding-by-high-low-hostess-amanada-orso/

At one time, I had 8 little dogs, and I don’t think I have one picture of all of them together. Major kudos.

https://people.com/photo-30-posed-dogs-birthday-party-wins-nextdoor-contest-7503586

🚶🏽‍♀️ Walking On the Tame Side…

Take a break tomorrow for soap, tea for all, interesting things people have said, and music befitting the month. Until then, stay safe, stay listening like you mean it, and stay recognizing when encouragement is better than a fix.

May 24, 2023 – Diane Presents Carly With Her Options, Temping, Part One Of Sandoval’s Reunion Awfulness & Hero

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Diane visits Sonny’s old kitchen, aka home of the hallowed moss bowl🎍, and Carly asks if she wants coffee. Diane says, bless you, and Carly asks if she had a rough night. Diane says, rough morning. She forgot to set her alarm, then the line at Kelly’s was out the door. Carly asks why Diane didn’t just text and say she’d be late, but Diane says, never. Punctuality is her trademark. Carly says, one of many, and Diane says, before they get into the nitty-gritty, catch her up. What’s been going on? Carly says, Nina and Sonny are getting married, and Diane chokes on her coffee.

Nina is admiring her ring when Sonny comes out, and says, cappuccino for her, and espresso for him. She asks what he thinks people did before espresso machines, which is a good question, and he says, live a sad unfulfilled life. She takes a sip, and he says, so? She says, it’s delicious, but he says he was talking about the ring. Is she still a fan? She says, considering she’s obsessed with it, she thinks so, and he says he can get her a different one, but she says, it’s perfect. The setting is perfect, the stone is perfect, the coffee is perfect, he’s… He says, perfect, but she says, even better. He’s all hers. They kiss.

Alexis writes a text to Gregory: Just checking in. Here if you need me. She says, here goes nothin’, and sends it. Sam knocks at the door, and Alexis says, she’s early; how unlike her. Sam asks if that’s Alexis’s not so subtle way of saying she’s usually late, and Alexis hugs her. Sam says she came early because she wanted to talk to Alexis before Krissy got here. Alexis says, also, so Sam doesn’t lecture her, she reached out to Gregory. Sam asks if he responded, but Alexis says she just sent it a minute ago. Sam says, actually, she didn’t come here to talk to Alexis about Gregory. She wanted to talk to Alexis about her sister. Alexis says she’s worried about Molly too, but Sam says, not that sister. What’s going on with Molly?

TJ comes out as Molly is getting her bag ready for work, and she says she’s sorry if she woke him; she was trying to be quiet. He says, like she was last night? He didn’t hear her come in. She says, it was late, and he says, she must be tired. Why doesn’t she take the day off? She asks if he can please not treat her like she’s about to break, and he says he’s sorry. She tells him, there’s no reason for her to take the day off. She’s not sick. God knows she’s not pregnant, and she never will be.

Curtis lifts weights at Volovino’s, when Drew comes in. He says, hi, but Curtis doesn’t hear him because he’s busy flashing back to his conversation with Jordan, and Jordan asking if he’s on the rebound or are he and Portia really over; and if so, do they get a second chance?

At the hospital, Jordan is flashing back to her and Curtis kissing. Portia says she needs to speak with Jordan.

Sam tells Alexis that she knew something was up at Michael and Willow’s wedding. Molly seemed a little off to her, and she asked TJ if Molly was okay. He said she was fine, but he was glad she had her sisters. Two SEC agents showed up and questioned Carly, so the conversation got derailed, and now she feels terrible because she didn’t follow up. Alexis doesn’t want her to feel terrible. She thinks Molly will tell Sam about it when she feels the time is right for her, and she thinks the time is soon. Sam asks how worried she should be, but Alexis says she shouldn’t be worried. This is not life threatening. She’ll be fine. What about Kristina? Sam says, the foundation Sonny is helping her set up. She thinks it’s an amazing idea, and can do a lot for the LGBTQ+ community. However, she doesn’t think Kristina is grasping the reality of what she’s getting herself into. She feels like Kristina needs guidance. Alexis asks, who doesn’t? when there’s a knock at the door. Alexis says, it’s her middle girl, and she and TempKristina (see below) hug. Kristina tells them that she’s about to change Port Charles forever. Wanna see?

TJ tells Molly, it’s still too soon to say they can’t have children, but she  tells him, she didn’t say that. She said she can’t get pregnant. He says he just meant that they can still create and raise a family together. It might not look like they thought it would, but when have they ever been conventional. She asks if it’s okay if they don’t talk about their options right now. She knows they need to figure it out, and they will, but right now, she’s a little bit overwhelmed. He says he gets it. They have all the time in the world to figure out what’s next. Honestly, he’s more focused on her right now. Endometriosis is a serious condition, and Dr. Navarro says she has a serious case. Which means she’s been suffering symptoms all this time and he didn’t know. Why didn’t she tell him?

Drew comes over to Curtis, and asks if he’s okay. Curtis says, all good, and asks if he and Drew are good. Drew asks why they wouldn’t be, and Curtis says he heard Drew and Carly have been seeing each other for a while now, and if memory serves him correctly, he said some not so nice things about Carly’s lies to Nina. Drew says, that’s not why he kept it a secret. There’s some things Curtis doesn’t know. Plus, Curtis was just telling the truth, and he likes that he can count on Curtis for that. If anyone knows their own mind, it’s Curtis.

Jordan suggests they go somewhere more private, but Portia says she doesn’t need privacy for this. She wants to say thank you. If not for Jordan, Trina wouldn’t have made it back to Port Charles. Jordan says, what she did was a team effort, and Portia says, Jordan was a major part of that team. She put her career in jeopardy to hold off the WSB. She just wants Jordan to know she’ll forever be grateful.

Nina says she wishes this could last forever, and Sonny says, that’s the plan; til death do us part. She says she means the part where it’s just them; the dinner, the coffee this morning… Pretty soon, the whole world is going to know they’re engaged. He asks if she doesn’t think they know right now, and she wonders if they should have celebrated so publicly last night, but he says, they have nothing to hide. She says she agrees with him, but they have to face it. Not everyone is going to be as happy about them getting married as they are.

Diane asks how Carly feels about the Nina situation, as she soaks up the radiance of the moss bowl🎍 , and Carly says she’s not exactly thrilled about it. Her heart’s not being ripped out of her chest or anything. She and Sonny are divorced. They’ve both moved on, and she’s happy that he’s happy. It’s just… Diane says, Carly wishes he was happy with literally anyone else, and Carly says, it’s Nina. That woman devastated her family, and now she’s positioned to be even closer to them. It’s appalling to her, but there’s no stopping Sonny once he’s made up his mind, so she just has to figure out a way to live with it. Diane says, Sonny is a difficult man, and Carly says, ya think? Diane says she knows this because he’s a difficult client, but a relationship with him has to be an endurance event. Carly says, Diane doesn’t think Nina can handle it, does she? and Diane says she thinks if Nina wants to, she’d better start her conditioning now, but she’s not optimistic. Carly says she doesn’t have the energy or the desire to unpack Nina, and Diane says, fair enough. Let’s get down to business, shall we? Carly says, her case with the SEC. Go. Diane says, Carly has options, but she’s not going to like them.

Molly says, it’s not like it was excruciating, and TJ says, but she was in pain often. Was it constant? She says, no, but it was often enough. She guesses it depended on where she was in her cycle. He asks if it hurt when they had sex, and she says, sometimes, not all the time. He asks why she didn’t say anything, and she says, because she didn’t want it to hurt. Everything else about it – being close to him, cuddling with him, having him hold her in his arms – she loved those things, and didn’t want to ruin it by saying she’s feeling a little crampy tonight and doesn’t really want to. He says he feels like a monster, but she says, no. He says, his partner has been in pain and he didn’t even know, and she says, because she didn’t let him know. He asks why she’d hide something like that from him, but she says she wasn’t hiding it; she was dealing with it.

Kristian spreads out a blueprint on the table, and says she has to talk to the contractor, but she wanted to show them first. Sam says, then she’s already hired an architect, but Kristina says she doesn’t need one. All she’s doing is knocking down a couple of walls. Sam says, which requires a permit, but Kristina says, the contractor’s going to figure all that out. This is her chance to really make a difference. She knows she’s said that before, but it’s for real this time, and would mean the world to have their support, especially Alexis’s.

Sonny tells Nina, last night was perfect (WOTD). He doesn’t care what people think. Nina says she agrees with him, but unfortunately, they don’t live in a vacuum. There’s a knock at the door, and he says, they don’t? That’s Ava dropping off Avery, and he doesn’t want Avery to know until he tells Ava first. She says, her lips are sealed, turning her ring around, and he answers the door. Avery hugs Sonny, then runs to Nina, and Ava says, Avery was excited Nina was going to be here today. Nina says she’s super excited. She’s been thinking about this. Playground, park, carousel. Avery says, yeah, and Nina asks, which one? Avery says, all of them, and Sonny says, what about me? Nina asks if Avery thinks they should let her dad join them, and Avery notices the ring, asking, what’s that? The sparkly ring? Mommy used to wear one just like that.

Curtis asks Drew, what’s this with the SEC? They questioned him? Drew says, thanks to Ned Quartermaine, he and Carly are being charged with insider trading. Curtis says, Ned turned them in? and Drew says, he didn’t admit it of course (🍷), but he doesn’t know who else it could be. Curtis asks if they have a case, and Drew says, they have a strong case. The SEC is coming at them hard, for whatever reason, and it doesn’t seem like they’re interested in a deal. At least not with both of them. Curtis helps Drew get boxing gloves on, and Drew says, of course (🍷) his Aunt Tracy had the brilliant suggestion he should turn Carly in. Curtis says, damn, that’s cold, and Drew says, it’s not an option, but just between them – Curtis says, of course (🍷) – he needs to disarm Ned. He’s rich and he’s got power. He could strongarm the SEC and make this whole thing go away. Curtis doubts he’ll do it willingly, and Drew says, Carly doesn’t deserve any of this. He’s going to do everything in his power to make sure he protects her. He punches the heavy bag.

Diane says, before they get into strategy, she wants to be walked through Carly’s actions as though she’s never heard it before. Carly says she knew Michael and Drew were planning to merge ELQ and Aurora, and Diane says, arguably a sacrifice for Drew. Carly says, Drew liked having his company independent of ELQ. The only reason he agreed to the merger was to help his family. Since Michael’s her son and at the time Drew was just a friend, she wanted to help them. Diane says, so Carly bought stock in Aurora before the merger, and Carly says, yes. Aurora is the smaller company, so the more it’s worth, the more equal the merger would be. The irony is, Drew told her not to do it. And Michael did too. Diane says, fortunately, Michael has no part in this because he owns no stock in Aurora, and they’re going to leave him out of it. So Drew cautioned her not to buy the shares, and she… Carly says, didn’t listen. Now Drew is caught up in her mistake. She didn’t mean for it to be insider trading. She was just trying to help. Diane says she gets it. The SEC probably gets it too. The problem is, they don’t care. Carly knew before the public that there was a merger planned, and she acted on it. Carly says, that makes her guilty, and Diane says, her and Drew both.

Molly tells TJ that she’s always had painful periods; cramping and bloating and tenderness. This was more severe, but it wasn’t completely foreign, so she thought it was just what happens as you get older. So she took ibuprofen and got on with life. TJ asks if it even helped, and she says she’s sorry, but he says he’s not asking her to apologize. He just wants to understand. Did she ever think to get checked out? She says, no. She just told him that she thought it was normal. He says, being in pain all the time is not normal, and she says, it wasn’t all the time, but he says, she’s not casual about her health. She asks what he wants her to say. She got used to it. He says, but why? If you’re not feeling well, you go to the doctor. Obviously, something was wrong. She says, not to her, and the last thing she needs is for him to keep piling it on right now. She feels guilty enough. He says, for what? and she says, because she ignored her symptoms; she didn’t get examined. She cries, and says, if she’d just gotten diagnosed earlier and started treatment sooner… but it’s too late for that. It’s all her fault.

Kristina tells Alexis and Sam, so this is the common space. A place to hang out, have fun, and support each other. She wants the kids to feel safe. Like when they walk through those doors, they know that everything is fine and they’re going to be okay. Alexis says, sounds wonderful, and Kristina says, the offices will be here, with the staff; they’ll be nearby. She wants to hire young people. Less like administrators and more like their peers. It’s going to be bright and airy and open, and really colorful. Sam says, it sounds like a major renovation, but Kristina says, actually, it’s not. Sam says, she’s knocking down walls and stuff. Won’t it increase her property taxes? Kristina says, maybe, but it will be so worth it in the long run, and Sam asks if she’s even started fundraising yet. Kristina says, no. She needed to have something to show before she started asking for money. Sam says, mom… but Alexis says she trusts Kristina. If she thinks it’s worth it, it’s worth it. Kristina holds up a paper printed with the letters CD covered by a roof in rainbow colors, The Corinthos-Davis House underneath, and says, and this is their logo. How beautiful is it? Do they love it? Alexis says she loves it, and Kristina asks Sam, what now? Sam says, nothing. She just thinks it’s a little premature to hire a graphic designer. Kristina asks how she’s supposed to have a website if she doesn’t have a logo, and Alexis says, an online presence is very important. Sam says, absolutely, but so is hiring an accountant and registering as a non-profit, and Kristina asks, so what is Sam’s deal? Does she just not believe in this project? Or is it her Sam doesn’t believe in?

Drew finishes with the heavy bag, and tells Curtis that he thinks Tracy is Ned’s Achilles heel. If he could just scrounge up some dirt on her. Curtis says, if Drew needs a man, he’s got one. Drew has always been there for him. Drew says, no way is he dragging anyone else into this mess. Besides, Curtis has enough on his plate. Any developments on the Trina front? Curtis says, she took the DNA test; the results should be in soon. Drew says, good. He thinks if the positions were reversed, he doesn’t think he’d be handling it as collected and cool as Curtis is right now. Curtis says he’s been living at the boxing gym. It helps keep his mind off things. Drew asks if Curtis and Portia have been discussing the next steps, but Curtis says, they’re all in a holding pattern, just trying to see what’s what. Drew says, the reason he’s asking is, he thought after Greenland, they were on the same page, and Curtis says, about bringing Trina home, yeah, but everything else, no. After his time in Greenland, he reevaluated his plans. Drew says, such as? and Curtis says, if he should have ended his marriage so quickly to Jordan.

Portia says, Jordan has gone above and beyond. When they needed Oz Haggerty’s testimony, she bought them time. Jordan says she doesn’t know what Portia is talking about, and neither does Portia. Portia says, it’s just that ever since Trina came home, it’s become clear to her that Jordan’s been looking out for her family, and she never gave Jordan credit for it. So this is her saying thank you, and she’s truly sorry that she’s just realizing it now. She just hopes Jordan can accept her apology.

Sonny says Avery knows he loves Nina very much. He took a chance, and asked her to marry him. Avery asks if she said yes, and Nina says she did. Sonny asks what Avery thinks about that, and Avery asks if she can be a flower girl. Nina thinks that can be arranged, and Sonny says, she’s already been practicing. Avery says, this is the best news ever, and hugs Nina. Nina says, Avery has no idea how happy that makes her. She can hardly wait to be part of Avery’s family. Avery says, her neither, and asks if she can go on her tablet. Sonny says, it’s by her bedside, and Avery runs off. Nina says, Ava’s been very quiet. Isn’t she going to say congratulations?

Diane tells Carly, here are the people responsible. The person who gave out the insider information, and the person who acted on said information. Carly says, me, and Diane says, ultimately, they are both culpable. From a legal standpoint, not a moral or emotional one. Drew has the option to say Carly acted without his knowledge. That he wasn’t even a participant. That he wasn’t even the one who gave her the insider information. Carly says, in other words, lie, and Diane says, likewise, Carly can say Drew came to her and asked her to purchase stock in Aurora. He gave her no private information; she was just following instructions. Carly says, that’s literally the opposite of what happened, and Diane tells her, she’s just saying this is how Carly can strike a deal with the Feds. She had no private information; no private knowledge. She was just doing a favor for a friend. Carly says, no. Drew wouldn’t do that to her, and she’s not going to do it to him. Diane says, in that case, there is another alternative. She was speaking with a friend in the DA’s office, a trusted source. She had an interesting tidbit to share. They gravitate back to the moss bowl🎍, and Diane says she thinks they can all agree, the SEC is least interested in Carly. Carly says, Drew is definitely the more high profile get, sure, and Diane says, in terms of high profile, a corporate CEO pales in comparison to Sonny Corinthos. Does she know who’s right across the hall from the SEC? The Justice Department. Carly says, no, and Diane says, Carly knows where all the bodies are buried, so if she decides to give them Sonny, she can write her ticket to freedom. I’m shocked at Diane’s suggestion, and Carly says, no. Diane says, even though he’s marrying a woman she can’t stand? and Carly says, he can be marrying Hannibal Lecter for all she cares. She’s not giving up Sonny. Diane says she just wanted to make sure Carly understood the parameters, and Carly says, let’s just focus on her other options, but Diane says, she has none.

Sonny says, they planned to tell Ava first. They didn’t want to spring it on Avery like that, but things happen. Ava says, for better or worse, nothing gets by their daughter these days. She tells them, congrats, and Nina thanks her. Ava asks when Sonny popped the question, and Nina says, last night. Ava asks if Carly knows, and Sonny says, not yet. Ava says, he might want to get on that. She knows Avery. She’s going to tell the mailman, and Donna, and the barista at Charlie’s, and anybody and everybody who will listen. Sonny says, she’s probably right. He’s going to head over there right now. He asks if Nina is all right with Avery, but Ava says she’ll hang around. Nina says she’d like that, and Sonny leaves. Nina says, he’s gone. So does Ava want to tell her what she really thinks?

Sam says, of course (🍷) she believes in Kristina, but Kristina says, it doesn’t sound like it. Sam says, Kristina’s compassion, her vision, her creativity, all of it. Sam wants to see her get the shelter up and running more than anything, but it’s going to be difficult. There’s going to be a lot of hoops to jump through, and she doesn’t think Kristina is getting that right now. For starters, she’s going to be housing a lot of at risk teenagers, who have been emotionally traumatized, possibly exploited, and she’s going to need professionals to help her with that. So instead of picking out colors for paint, she’d hire a psychiatrist as a consultant. Kristina says she knows; she’s getting there. Sam says, it’s like Kristina’s priorities are all in the wrong order, and asks why Alexis isn’t chiming in here. Alexis says she’s trusting that Kristina knows what she’s getting into, and Kristina thanks her. Sam says, they’ve heard this before. Kristina has all of these great ideas and this vision, and then it doesn’t work out the way she wants it to. It’s not because Sam doesn’t believe in her. It’s because Kristina never follows through.

TJ says he doesn’t blame Molly at all, but she says, he was just upset because she didn’t see a doctor. He says he was upset because she was in pain, and he hates that; not because he thinks she’s at fault. She says she feels so guilty. She feels like she let him down. He says, no, but she says she was supposed to carry his baby, now she can’t. He says, she’s not supposed to do anything. Nothing is expected of her. They’re in this together. She tells him, he says that and she knows he really believes it, but it’s different when you’re a woman. She so wanted to give him this gift. To do this thing that women do every single day, and they have been for centuries. And to know that she can’t… He says, we can’t, and she says, except there’s nothing wrong with him. It’s her. She thinks she needs some time to come to terms with that. He asks what he can do, and she says, honestly, nothing. She has to get to work. He asks her not to leave, but she keeps walking and goes out the door.

It’s Curtis’s turn at the heavy bag, and Drew says he must be losing it. He could have sworn Curtis said Jordan. Curtis says he did. They’ve been spending a lot of time together lately, and recently Jordan admitted she still has feelings for him. So now he’s asking himself, did he give up on their marriage too quickly? Drew says, that’s a big question. He can certainly understand why Curtis would be drawn back to Jordan, but has he talked to Portia? Curtis says, about Jordan? but Drew says, no, about him and Portia. Before he starts reevaluating his relationship with his ex, shouldn’t he examine the state of his marriage?

Jordan says, Portia has nothing to apologize for, but Portia says she kinda does. Jordan gave her great advice. She told Portia to tell the truth to Curtis about Trina. If she’d listened to Jordan, if she’d done it sooner… But what did she do? She accused Jordan of trying to break them up. It’s so ironic. Jordan says, the what if game never does anyone any good. In all honesty, she should have never interfered. Portia says she’s glad Jordan did. It’s far messier than she could have imagined, but at least the truth is out. Maybe she should ask Jordan what she should do next. If Jordan were her, how would she save Portia’s marriage?

Curtis tells Drew, Portia’s the one who lied to him. He doesn’t owe her anything. Drew says he agrees, but Curtis just said he’s afraid he ended things too quickly with his ex. Isn’t it possible he’s making the same mistake with Portia? Curtis says he can’t get past it. Every time he’s in the same room as Portia, all he can think about is the dishonesty, and Drew asks how much time they spend together. Curtis says, not much, and Drew says he’s going to stand by Curtis, no matter what, but unless he can say for certain that he doesn’t love Portia anymore… Curtis says, it doesn’t matter. Love or no love, it doesn’t change what she did. Drew says, but it does affect Curtis’s capacity to forgive.

Portia tells Jordan, sorry. She’s going to retract that question. She’s been so worried about Trina, she hasn’t gotten an ounce of sleep. She thanks Jordan for the talk, and starts to leave, but Jordan asks her to wait. She can’t offer advice on Curtis, but she can say this about Trina because she’s been there. Focus on forgiving herself. Mothers are human; they make mistakes too. In time, Trina will see that.

Kristina says she would have expected this from mom, but not Sam. Sam says she wants Kristina to be successful, but Kristina says she doesn’t. Sam just wants to suck the joy out of everything she gets excited about. Alexis says, that’s not true, and Kristina asks if she’s even been listening. Kristina’s phone rings, and Alexis says, both she and Sam are supportive of her. Sam says, absolutely, and Alexis says, if anyone can get this shelter going, Kristina can. Kristina says, now she’s going to be on the call with the contractor, and it’s actually perfect timing. She steps away, and Sam says, that went well. Alexis asks if Sam didn’t come down a little hard on Kristina, but Sam says, Kristina is an adult. She needs to understand what she’s actually getting into. Alexis says she agrees, and Sam says, you could have fooled me. What are they supposed to do? Alexis says, last time she interfered with Kristina’s career, Kristina didn’t speak to her for a month. Sam says, now Kristina isn’t going to speak to her for a month. She probably hates Sam more now. Alexis says, just give her some time, and she’ll value the advice Sam gave her, and Sam says she’s actually proud of how Alexis bit her tongue. Alexis says she’s proud of herself. She’s getting better. She also can’t predict the future, so if that’s the case, why not just have faith?

Diane says, Carly is in a very poor position. Technically, she’s guilty of insider trading. She has two paths that could get her out of it… Carly says, which are non-starters, and Diane says, which leaves Carly holding the bag. Carly says, for her own actions. She wants Diane to do everything in her power to fight these charges, but at the end of the day, it’s her mess, and if she has to pay for it, she will. Diane says, understood. She thanks Carly for the coffee, blows the moss bowl🎍 a kiss, and leaves.

Ava says she already told Nina that she’s happy for her, and Nina says, once more, this time with feeling. Ava asks what Nina wants from her, and Nina says, for starters, the truth. Ava says, does she? The truth is, Nina’s relationship has been a ticking time bomb since she turned Carly into the SEC. Nina asks why Carly shouldn’t pay, and Ava says, because she’s Carly. She doesn’t know how to tell Nina this, but Carly and Sonny have been through everything – the good, the bad, the ugly – for well over twenty years, and Nina’s been in a relationship with Sonny for like, two? Nina says, that shouldn’t matter, and Ava says, but it does. If Sonny finds out that Nina turned Carly in, it’s over forever.

On the phone, TJ leaves a message for Molly, saying, he doesn’t like how their conversation ended. He’s so sorry for all of it, but most of all that she felt alone in this. Just know he loves her and he’s here. Always.

Sam says, Alexis’s support means so much to Kristina. Maybe with this extra boost of confidence she might be able to pull this off. Alexis says, who knows? Stranger things have happened. Don’t tell her sister she said that. Sam says, never.

Drew tells Curtis that he’s sorry. This is such a tough spot. He wishes he could help. Curtis says, he already has, and leaves.

Portia says she can’t tell Jordan how much she appreciates that, but Jordan says, Portia is giving her way too much credit. Portia says she’s not giving Jordan enough credit, but Jordan tells her, stop. She’s not the person Portia thinks she is.

Ava says, there’s really no easy way out of this. Either Nina comes clean, and accepts she and Sonny are over, and maybe they can find their way back to each other in a few years; or she keeps digging the hole she’s digging, and prays she gets to China. Nina says, Ava is right. Because of her stupid, impulsive decision, she planted the seeds to lose both Sonny and Willow. Ava says she’s sorry it’s come to this, and Nina says, so is she. She doesn’t have any other options. She only has one choice. It’s time for the gloves to come off.

There’s a knock at Sonny’s old kitchen door, and Carly says, come in. Sonny walks in.

Tomorrow, Portia asks if Curtis is officially ending things; Jordan tells Anna that there’s a secret weighing on her conscience; and Carly tells Sonny, sometimes the simplest solution is the truth.

👟 Stepping In…

I knew I knew her from somewhere.

Vanderpump Rules – The Reunion – Part 1

FYI, I’m sure I missed a bunch of stuff. There was a lot of yelling and separate conversations going on. That’s why I hate a Reunion. They all talk at once, then start yelling, and I lose track of what’s being said. Anyway, here we go with this sad awfulness.

Andy says, this is a reunion that may be more explosive and dramatic than anything seen in the show’s ten year history.

The players in this season’s triangle did separate interviews with Andy, and we see that first. Andy asks how Sandoval is doing; it’s his final chance to come clean. Sandoval says he’s doing okay, and agrees that he’s the most hated man on television.

Andy asks how Ariana is doing, and she says, better than a few weeks ago. He tells her that she looks great despite what happened (upside!), and asks about her and Sandoval’s current living status. She says, Sandoval is staying in the guest room, and she tries to avoid run-ins with him. They have people running interference and go-betweens.

Andy asks how Raquel is feeling about seeing everyone in a group setting, and true to beauty queen form, she has her prepared response of, she’s preparing for the worst, and hoping for the best.

Andy asks if Ariana has seen or spoken to Raquel, and she says, no. It took Raquel – who she calls Rachel now, as they all do – 48 hours to text her. She told Ariana that she didn’t know what to say, and she was sorry. Ariana told her, f*** off, you f***ing rat, and blocked her.  

Andy asks when Sandoval realized he had feelings for Raquel, and Sandoval says, throughout last year, he started to see who she really was. I’ll refrain from adding who I think that is. Andy asks when they first hooked up, and Sandoval says, they’d been at guys night, then the next time there was a See You Next Tuesday, the show was filming, but they weren’t a part of it. Some of them went to The Abbey that night, and he and Raquel had sex.

Andy asks if Ariana was suspicious, and she says, absolutely not. Andy says, in watching the show, she vehemently stood up for Sandoval, and we flash back to Ariana saying she trusts and loves both Sandoval and Raquel. She says she felt like he was a loyal and committed partner, and she trusted him.

Andy says, Sandoval claims he and Raquel weren’t together when they went glamping, and Sandoval says, after that first time, they took a break. Andy asks when it kicked back up to romance, and Sandoval says, after they went to Life is Beautiful; after they’d wrapped filming. Andy says, before Bravocon. He wonders what Sandoval was thinking when, during his concert, he looked out to see his girlfriend and his mistress (I thank him for using that word, and I’m sure Lala does too) next to each other. Did it get him off? Tom says, no, but I bet it did.

Andy asks Ariana, looking back, are there situations where she wonders how she missed it? and she says, of course. More so with Raquel than Sandoval. They all know men are trash – no offense – but she trusts her girlfriends. This was someone who’d ingratiated themselves in her life. How could they be so close? She’d expect it more from a guy, but she can’t imagine doing that to one of her friends.

Andy asks how Sandoval could cheat on his girlfriend of nine years with one of her closest friends, and Sandoval says, he and Ariana kept their relationship private for many years; they had issues. He felt like her gay BFF, and they put on a front for filming. He even talked to a showrunner about it. We see some unseen footage, where Sandoval tells some guy that he feels guilty. He feels it’s important to talk about sh*t and not pretend it’s all amazing. He doesn’t think it’s fair to the rest of the cast.

Andy asks Ariana if there were elements of the relationship that she and Sandoval were hiding, but she says, she felt they showed everything. Sandoval is framing it now as something else, because he’s desperate to throw anything at the wall, hoping it sticks. He used to coach her like he coached Raquel. They’ve got to get their lies and stories straight, and get their spin right, so they can have matching answers Andy says, it looks like she’s moved on from tears to anger, and she says, the indifference is becoming strong.

Andy asks how Sandoval feels about seeing everyone. He says he’s nervous and scared, but ready to face it.

Schwartz is the first on the set, and Andy asks if he was silent or was silenced. Schwartz says, both. On her way in, Lisa says she feels like she’s dressed like a gladiator, and might need to be. She sees Ariana, and says, that’s a revenge dress if she ever saw one. When Sandoval comes out, Ariana says, he looks like sh*t, and Lala says she hates him. Me too.

Andy says, let’s dive in to the Season 10 Reunion, and introduces everyone – minus Raquel who is not legally allowed in the same room as Scheana, due to a restraining order. We see Raquel watching from her trailer. Lisa says, normally she doesn’t like Reunions, but this one is much needed. Andy asks how Ariana is feeling, and she says, as good as she could be feeling. She did have a great night’s sleep, which she usually doesn’t before a Reunion. Andy asks if it’s Sandoval’s first time seeing the group since news of the affair broke, and Sandoval says, yes. Andy asks how he’s feeling, and he says he’s all over the place. Andy says, it’s the first time Schwartz isn’t sitting next to Katie at a Reunion, and Schwartz says, it’s strange, and kind of sad. He tells Andy that he and Katie put in post-divorce work on their relationship, but Katie disagrees. Andy says, since most women are angry at Sandoval and Schwartz, is James now the number one guy? And James says, it’s not hard to compete with Schwartz and a clown. Andy congratulates Scheana on her wedding, and asks if they’re still in the honeymoon phase. She says, they are, and that Brock cut all his hair off. Andy says, the most burning thing they have to talk about is the affair that happened right under their noses. We flash back to Ally’s interview, where she talked about seeing Sandoval with Raquel at The Abbey, and wondered where Ariana was. Next, we relive Ken saying that Sandoval had Raquel over when Ariana wasn’t home, and then Lala saying Sandoval was with Raquel all day after Ariana’s grandmother died. Andy says, they’ll get in a bit now, and talk about it more when Raquel comes out. He asks if there’s anything Sandoval wants to say, and Sandoval starts sniffling. James tells him to pull himself together, and Ariana says, the sad sack act is f***ing BS. James says, it’s not an audition. He accuses Sandoval of crying crocodile tears, and calls him a p*ssy. Sandoval says he appreciates everybody being there for Ariana, and the world collectively rolls its eyes. He says, no matter what was going on in their relationship, she didn’t deserve to have this happen. Ariana says, nothing happened; he did it. He says he’s sorry for doing the one thing he said he wouldn’t, and he did it in the worst way possible. James and Lala are both unimpressed, and Ariana says, he’s been victim blaming her 100%, and this is bullsh*t. Andy asks if Sandoval is still living in the house, and Sandoval says, off and on. Andy says, when Lala and Randall broke up, she got out quickly, and he asks if Lala thinks this is healthy. Lala says, no. Given ten years, Sandoval is Randall. She couldn’t get Randall to stay home, but once they broke up, she couldn’t get him out. That’s a narcissist, and Sandoval is a dangerous human being. Lisa thinks that’s a ridiculous stance, and Lala says she didn’t ask Lisa’s opinion. When someone does that to a life partner, there’s something wrong with them. Sandoval says, who is she to be judging his character? and she tells him, STFU. Lisa says, they’re here for ten hours. They can’t start like this. Andy asks what Ariana thinks caused the divide, not spending quality time together? but Ariana says, Sandoval f***ing other people. Andy asks if there were more than Raquel, and we flash back to Sandoval telling Scheana about cheating with someone else. Ariana says, Sandoval made these choices, and Andy asks what Sandoval thinks caused the demise of the relationship, and Sandoval says, communication dissipated, but Ariana says, it’s not like they never had conversation. Andy says, Sandoval claimed they hadn’t been intimate in years, but Ariana says, that’s not true. Besides, having intimacy issues doesn’t excuse anything. You work on it or break up. Andy asks if the rest of the group sensed there were significant issues in the relationship. Schwartz nods, and Scheana says, not until recently. She and Lala had a conversation where Lala said she thought something was going on with Sandoval and Raquel. Scheana said, they were fine and in a good place. Andy asks Lala when the conversation happened, and she says, in January. James keeps sending jabs Sandoval’s way, and Sandoval says, he’s been supportive of James. Lala says, Sandoval paid for half of James and Raquel’s engagement, and James says, it just goes to show how much of a friend Sandoval wasn’t. James gets up, and Sandoval tells James to get out of his face. Andy separates them.

During the commercial break, my feelings take the shape of gummi bears, and I eat them.

Sandoval says he stood up for James, and James says, Sandoval is a nobody, nothing, a loser, a backstabbing ho. Sandoval says, if James gets in his face again, he’s going to f*** James up. This is all the provocation James needs, and they have to be separated again. James says he’s going to beat Sandoval’s ass, and Andy tells him to stay in his chair. James says he’s going to the bathroom, and calls Sandoval a worm with a mustache. When James leaves, Sandoval says, James pees on a fire hydrant like a dog, and Raquel is his fire hydrant. Lala tells him to stop bringing in things from 500 years ago. This was Sandoval’s life partner, not Kristen Doute. Stop pulling out the history books. James comes back, and Andy asks why Sandoval didn’t come clean. Lisa says, the million dollar question, and Sandoval says, Ariana was going through a lot, and he didn’t want to add anything. Andy asks when Sandoval told Schwartz, and Schwartz says, in July, Sandoval was saying he wasn’t happy, then after guys night out, he confided in Schwartz the next day. Ariana says, when Charlotte’s body wasn’t even cold, and we flash back to her leaving the girls trip because of Charlotte. Schwartz says, he didn’t know that, and Katie asks when he found out, and Schwartz says, late August. He and Sandoval met up, and Sandoval broke it down for him. Sandoval is like, what? and Lala asks if they didn’t put their timelines together. We see a clip of Andy’s interview with Sandoval, and he says, it was mid to late January. Andy asks if Schwartz knew when he kissed Raquel, but he says, no, and we flash back to that. Andy asks if he had a gut feeling, since he talked about Raquel possibly having a crush on someone else. We flash back to that, and Schwartz says he wasn’t talking about Sandoval. Sandoval had said it was a one night stand, and would never happen again. It was a mistake, alcohol. After that, things went back to normal. Scheana asks if this was before they went glamping, Schwartz says, yes, and we flash back to Schwartz saying Raquel has a type; men that are taken. Schwartz says, Sandoval and Raquel spent an inappropriate amount of time together, and Andy asks why Sandoval encouraged Schwartz and Raquel to make out. Was he a decoy? Sandoval says, absolutely not. After he and Raquel hooked up, he said it was never going to happen again. Lisa says, it’s perverse, and Katie says, it’s a great excuse. Look over here instead of at us. Andy says, Sandoval cheated with Miami Girl early in the relationship, and we flash back to that. Sandoval’s excuse for this is – wait for it – he wanted to feel single one more time before getting serious. Andy asks Ariana why she was forgiving of Miami Girl, and Ariana says, they weren’t exclusive, and she wanted everyone see best in him. Like I said, a lot is going on, and Sandoval brings up Kristen again, but no one cares. Lala tells him, it’s not that serious. It wasn’t like being in a committed relationship, then f***ing his partner’s best friend.  

Andy says, it’s easy to forget that, before the affair, the group was dealing with three seismic breakups; Lala and Randall, James and Raquel, and Schwartz and Katie. He asks what made Katie realize it was the end of the road, and she says, realizing she wasn’t happy, and Schwartz prioritized everyone over her. Schwarz says, prioritizing the bar was a necessity, but Katie says, and everything else; friends, parties, strangers. So she made a choice she didn’t want to. Schwartz says, their intimacy had dwindled, and he was going through a lot, losing his father, his brother, and his money. But he’d never expect Katie to put her feelings on hold to stay with him out of pity. Katie says, they went from being husband and wife to being friends. Looking back, she thinks she’d do it differently, and not be friends right away. Schwartz says, he would have been reasonable had Katie fallen for someone else in the group. When they were still living together, Katie was hooking up. Katie says, Schwartz could have done the same thing, but Schwartz says, the friend code is murky. If the roles were reversed, and she’d made out with Peter, he would have been okay with it. He’s sorry he hurt Katie’s feelings in Mexico, but somehow the kiss was liberating. I don’t necessarily hate Schwartz. I just want to pat him on the head and tell him to go lie down. Lala says, Schwartz felt that way and Raquel was f***ing his best friend the whole time. Sandoval says, one time, but Lala says, it doesn’t matter. Andy says, no one has clean hands except Katie and Lisa. James cheated on Kristen – James points out he was in his early 20s – Ariana was with Sandoval before he broke up with Kristen, Schwartz made out with everyone while he was married, and James and Lala often had something going on. Lala says, none of them were f***ing their best friend’s man, and Andy moves on. He asks where Schwartz and Katie stand in building a friendship, and Katie says, she looks for honesty, respect, and integrity. Schwartz complains that he has to abide by her terms, like that’s unreasonable, and Katie says she’s setting boundaries. James says, staying out of the friend group is the least Schwartz could do out of respect for her as a woman, and Sandoval says, that’s sexist. The world gives a collective blank stare. Andy asks if Jo is a girlfriend to Schwartz, and he says, she’s a friend, although it evolved into a friend with benefits thing. They were both coming out of long term relationships, and were each other’s happy place. Katie says, Jo is a creep and no one likes her, and Schwartz says, Katie is going to get a cease and desist if she doesn’t quit commenting about Jo on social media. We see some comments, but I’m like, eh, grow up. Andy asks Katie if Jo is in the friend group, and Katie says, by proxy. She was a friend of Kristen’s, but she blocked Kristen as soon as she moved in with Schwartz. Andy asks if Jo and Schwartz didn’t double-date with Sandoval and Raquel, but Schwartz says, they just all went snowboarding. James says, Raquel hates snowboarding, and just went to s*ck Sandoval’s d*ck.

Andy asks the Toms how far away they’d thought the opening of Schwartz & Sandy’s was after they had their first party, and Schwartz says, they’d thought the end of August; it was naïve. Andy asks when they ended up opening, and Schwartz tells him, November 2nd. Andy says, the food seemed to be holding them up, and Sandoval says, they’ve been through three chefs. Andy wonders why they just didn’t open the bar with minimal food to start, and Sandoval says, they would have loved to. Lisa says, Greg didn’t want to, and Andy asks how it’s going now. Schwartz says, it’s great. They have good food and gotten good feedback. Lisa says, they didn’t know what they were doing, and why should they, since they’d never done it before. She didn’t like Sandoval saying they didn’t need her, and we flash back to Sandoval’s interview, where he said they were glad not to be under LVP’s thumb. Lisa says she’s done everything to give them a start. She gave them 5% of TomTom. It cost $5 million, they each put in $50K, and she ended up giving it back when they needed the money before Schwartz & Sandy’s opened. It’s a sh*tshow, but she’s been on that side, and it’s not an easy place to be. Andy asks if they took a hit after the news of the affair, and Schwartz says, a little bit. There was boycott momentum at first, but it’s good now. Lala says, people were writing Team Ariana on the tips, and Schwartz admits there was Team Ariana and F*** Tom graffiti in the bathroom. Andy asks if Ariana is going to stop speaking to Lisa since she’s still friendly with Sandoval, and Ariana says, they won’t be as close. Lisa asks what Ariana expects her to do, and Ariana says she doesn’t expect anything from anyone. Andy asks if Ariana thinks Lisa should pull out of the business, and Ariana says, Lisa knows what’s best for he. She’s not someone who should give Lisa business advice. Lisa says, if it comes at a cost of friendship and loyalty… but Ariana says she’ll always love Lisa and support anything she does. It just won’t be a place she frequents. Lisa says she doesn’t want her and the Toms partnership to affect her and Ariana’s friendship. Andy says, Schwartz & Sandy’s wasn’t the only restaurant talked about this season. Ariana and Katie are going to make their bread and butter from a sandwich shop, Something About Her. Ariana says, they haven’t opened yet, but expect o by the end of May. Andy says, they started selling merch after the affair news broke, and Ariana says, they’ve made $200K. They thought they’d do it down the road, but people were asking how they could be supportive. Katie says, they brought Andy a shirt to replace the TomTom hoodie Raquel gave him. Andy says he’s switching gears. Last year, Lala was hard on Brock, and she and Scheana weren’t in a good place. Scheana says she thinks the kids brought them closer together, and they understood what they needed out of a friendship. Lala even bought the house next door to her in Palm Springs. Andy wonders if this is an issue with Katie. Schwartz had said Katie felt she didn’t get the same level of loyalty from Lala as she’s giving Scheana.

Katie says, if the roles were reversed, Lala probably wouldn’t be happy, but she didn’t make it an issue. Lala says she went to Scheana’s wedding, but aborted the mission on a lot of things. The kids were the reason they created the friendship. Katie says she understood that, but in the past, Lala said, anyone who talked to Scheana was dead to her. Andy asks if Scheana feels any differently, since she’d encouraged Schwartz and Raquel to make out. Scheana gets weepy, and says, she got a different perspective when she saw the show, and wishes she’d had more empathy for Katie. What she heard from Raquel about how Katie was treating her took over, and she was watching Raquel’s back. After watching the show, she feels different. Katie isn’t the person Raquel explained to her. She let what Raquel told her be bible, and it took her back to where she was bullied by Katie and Lala. We flash back to that, and Scheana says she felt like she needed to protect Raquel. Lala says, they’re not teaching pre-K; this is Bravo. No one is bullying anyone. Sandoval asks if Lala gets a get-out-of-jail-free card, and Lala tells him, STFU. Both he and Raquel triggered her, and now they know why. Sandoval says, Lala used Raquel as a scapegoat, but Lala says, she sniffed Raquel out a mile away; she moves like a snake. Sandoval says, it takes one to know one, and Lala says, and he has the balls to say, accountability, Katie. Lisa says, Lala has been aggressive in the bast, and Lal tells her not to stick up for Sandoval. Lisa says, she’s not; she’s talking about Lala. Everyone starts talking at once, and James gets up and leaves, saying, he’s not listening to this sh*t. In her trailer, Raquel says, oh my God.  

Next time – Part Two – Schwartz says, Katie has a history of diminishing his friendships; more of the one-on-one interviews; and Raquel joins the group.

🍸 Having My Own Kiki…

See you tomorrow for soap and recovery from this awful VanderMess. Until then, stay safe, stay bringing in ‘da noise and ‘da funk, and stay just having faith, since you can’t predict the future.

May 19, 2023 – Josslyn Asks Sonny To Fire Dex, See You, Returning, New Gig, Ramona’s a Jerk, She Knows, VanderDirt, Upcoming Dead, Cute Pets (!), Precisely 10 Quotes & Places

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Jordan says she’s sorry Curtis is hurting, but if there’s one thing she knows, it’s that Curtis Ashford can weather whatever comes his way. And he won’t have to go through it alone. She takes his hand, and says, he has so many people who love him, and they’ll be right by his side, no matter what. He kisses her. Then he kisses her again.

Walking into Portia’s office, Taggert says, Portia can’t go off half-cocked gunning for Spencer. It’s going to backfire on her. Portia says she’s tried to look the other way, especially since it might alienate Trina, but all the while, Spencer keeps becoming more and more a part of her life, and alienating Trina from her. He says, but she’s seeing progress. Why blow it now? She asks why he’s not with her on this. She doesn’t get it. He says, when Trina was rescued from the Haunted Star, he told her to back off, but she’s doing the exact opposite; she’s doubling down. Portia says, maybe that’s because Trina came back closer to Spencer than ever before, and he says, which they anticipated, given what they went through. Are there valid concerns about Spencer being in Trina’s life? Hell yes. But he’s starting to wonder if she’s laser focused on Spencer because she doesn’t want to focus on herself, her husband, and the state of her marriage.

Outside Kelly’s, Cody tells Scotty that he’s not asking for a team to salvage the Haunted Star like it was the Titanic. The necklace was on the boat when it went down. So why can’t they just cut through the red tape… Scotty says, because the WSB is all about the red tape. They’ve been down this road before. Scotty told him, it’s because they have to establish that the necklace belongs to Cody, which means he has to sign an affidavit that says he’s Leopold Taub’s son. Cody says, more red tape. Is that absolutely necessary? Scotty says he knows it’s like saying Genghis Khan is Cody’s father, but the WSB isn’t going to give Cody money just because he says so. They go inside, and Scotty says, Cody has to suck it up for 35 million dollars, and say he was the Taub he was born to be. Sitting at a table, Obrecht and James watch them.

Nina looks at a glossy color photo of Sasha that says, Beauty isn’t magic, it’s Deception, and another photo of Sasha with The Deceptor. Sasha asks if those are the new ads, and Nina shows her. Sasha says, it is amazing what good lighting can do, but Nina says, the woman in these ads doesn’t need any lighting to look beautiful. And she also looked beautiful on the Home & Heart shopping channel. Sasha says, Nina saw that? She’s not going to lie; it was white-knuckle time in front of those cameras, especially when she heard the sound of a baby crying in her earpiece. Nina says she couldn’t believe it when Lucy told her that someone deliberately tried to sabotage Sasha, and Sasha tells her not to underestimate how low some people will sink to get what they want. Nina says she never has, and she never will.

On the phone at the hospital, Michael tells Carly not to worry. He’s honoring Willow’s wishes. Nina won’t get anywhere near her. Dante comes out of the elevator, and says he couldn’t help overhearing, and Michael can tell him to mind his own business. Is that what Willow wants, or is that what Michael wants for her?

There’s a knock at Sonny’s office door, and Frank says, he has a visitor. Josslyn comes in, and Sonny says, this is a surprise. Is everything good with her mom and Donna? She says, everyone’s fine. This is about her. He tells her, go on, and Josslyn tells him that he always says he’d do anything for her. He says, no matter how she treats him, that always stands, and she says, good, because she’s about to take him up on that offer. He asks if she’s in some kind of trouble, but she says, it’s not about her. He says, then what’s it about? and she says, Dex. She wants Sonny to fire him.

Gladys walks into Pozzulo’s as Dex is saying hello to Frank. Dex says he needs to speak with Sonny, but Gladys says, take a number. Family first.

Michael says, Dante is right. It’s none of his business. Dante says, that’s not the first time he’s heard that today. He was interviewing a perp in the ER who said the same thing. He was in the building and thought he’d check in on them, but he’ll take his nosy butt out of here. Michael tells him, wait. He doesn’t tell Willow what to do. If she wants to make room for Nina, he won’t stand in her way, but she’s going through a lot right now, and he won’t stand for Nina intruding. Dante says he hopes for Michael’s sake and his kids’ sake, that changes. He had Sonny at his wedding. Anything can happen.

Sasha tells Nina that she’s gathering something else is brewing besides Deception’s ad campaign. Would it have to do with Carly or Willow? Nina says, no psychic channeling please. Sasha isn’t here to give her a reading or to listen to her sob stories. Sasha’s here so they can talk about the Crimson spread for her new product, The Deceptor; which she tried and it’s great. Isn’t Maxie joining them? Sasha says, of course (🍷). Maxie knows Deception has a lot riding on this campaign.

Scotty tells Cody, as Taub’s heir, they have to stake a legal claim. He knows Cody doesn’t like his father, but 35 million dollars will buy him a lot of sports cars, and a lot of therapy. Is Cody listening to him? Cody says, give him a minute, and walks over to Obrecht’s table. Scotty says, these kids have no priorities, and Obrecht introduces Cody to her grandson James. James shakes Cody’s hand and says, nice to meet him. Cody says, they have an ice cream sundae here, so is it a celebration? Obrecht says, yes. They just came from James’s moving up ceremony. Cody says, congrats; that’s awesome. Does James have any plans for the summer? Obrecht says, James is going to a great summer camp. She tells James to guess where Cody works, and James says, where? Cody says he works at the stables. Does James like horses? James looks away, and Obrecht says, James is a little afraid of horses, which might be a problem at his camp. Cody says, maybe they can do something about that.

Portia says, worrying to death about Trina going missing is the only thing that’s keeping her from replaying every wrong move she made with Curtis. She can’t stop thinking about hearing the hurt that was in his voice, and seeing the distrust and betrayal in his eyes when he looked at her. Taggert doesn’t know how hard she prayed for forgiveness, and wished she could go back in time and tell him and Curtis the truth from the start. Taggert asks if she’s told Curtis that, and she says she’s tried, but he won’t stick around long enough to listen, much less have a conversation with her. And Jordan, of all people, warned her more than once that lies are what drove a wedge between them. So how can she even blame Curtis for being mad about being deceived all over again? Taggert says, Curtis loves Portia and will forgive her, but she has to forgive herself. She has to stop feeling guilty and stop tiptoeing around Curtis. Tell Curtis she loves him, before it’s too late.

Jordan pushes away from Curtis, and he says, come on. Let’s get out of here. She says she’s tempted; he doesn’t know how much. But this isn’t the first time they felt that old spark. He says, maybe they should do something about it, but she says, before this goes any further – if this goes any further – they need to know why.

Cody says, James is friends with Leo, right? So is he. Something else they have in common is, Cody went to camp too. Is James looking forward to going? James says he doesn’t know. He hates mosquitos. Cody says, that’s something else they have in common. Take it from him, camp is worth a couple bug bites. James asks, why? and Cody says, when he was James’s age, his summers were really lonely. Until he went to camp, and met his best friend ever, Dante Falconari. They had a blast. James says, Cody knows Dante; he’s James’s godfather. Cody says, Dante is his oldest friend, meaning he’s known Dante the longest; not that he’s old. Funny. I always feel the need to clarify that too. He taught Dante how to ride horses, and Dante taught him how to paddle a canoe. James says, at camp? and Cody says, that’s where they first became friends. He bets when James goes to camp, he’s going to meet a kid he’ll become friends with forever too. And he might be able to paddle a canoe. James asks if Cody likes sundaes, and Cody says, who doesn’t? Of course (🍷). James hands him a spoon, and says he’s kind of scared of canoes too… and bats. Cody says, bats are awesome; they eat mosquitos. He takes a bite of James’s sundae, and James smiles.

Sasha says she thinks the text in the headline would pop more in white, but other than that, everything looks great. What does Nina think? Nina says, sorry. Sasha was talking to her. Sasha said, color, white… Yes, she can see that. Sasha says, Maxie’s not here, but it seems neither is Nina. They can reschedule. Nina apologizes, and says she can’t get her mind off of Willow. She’s alone in the isolation room; she doesn’t have the ability to hold her own children. Sasha says, or be held by her own mother, and Nina says, stop getting into her head. Sasha says she understands in her own way. Nina can talk to her. Nina says, it’s just that, if Michael and Carly have it their way, she’s never going to get close to Willow. She’s trying not to dwell on that. She just wants this transplant to give Willow her life back, whether she’s in it or not. Sasha says she’s going to talk to Carly and Michael on Nina’s behalf, and Nina says she appreciates the offer, but she wouldn’t put Sasha in that position. She has enough to handle lately. Sasha says, actually, she’s feeling very confident lately. Despite that attempt to get her to melt down on television, she held it together and came away stronger than ever. Nina says, yes, she did, and Sasha says she’s made up her mind. She’s going to petition the court to end Gladys’s guardianship. She’s taking charge of her life again.

Gladys says, tell Sonny that his Cousin Gladys is waiting, but Frank says, he’s in a meeting; door’s closed. Even the President and the Pope would have to wait. Gladys steps away, and Frank gives Dex and envelope, and says, the boss gave him this to give to Dex. He said Dex earned it. Gladys sees that there’s a ton of cash in it.

On the phone, Sonny says, let him know what they come up with. He apologizes to Josslyn, and asks why she wants him to kick Dex to the curb. She says, because she wants him to be free to make his own choices and live his own life, and Sonny says, if that’s what Dex wants, Dex should respect him enough to ask him to his face and not send her. Josslyn says, Dex doesn’t even know she’s here; she’s the one asking. Sonny says, she knew Dex was on his payroll when she met him. So why is she coming now. What’s changed?

Scotty comes over to Obrecht’s table with a bakery box, and says, the waitress said these cupcakes are for her, and James asks if he can have a cupcake, but she says, these are for later. James asks if Cody can come home with them and have one, but Scotty says, he and Cody have to take care of some legal business. Cody has to sign an affidavit. Cody says, he’s right. Sorry, pal. Obrecht says, an affidavit? and Scotty says, it’s no big deal. Cody tells her that he needs a legal document to establish his family background. It is nothing, but Scotty’s right; they have to get back to work. James asks if Cody can’t stay, and Cody says, for a few minutes. Does James like brownies? James says he loves them, Cody says, cupcakes later, brownies now, and they go to the counter.

Nina says, that’s great news that Sasha is taking charge of her finances and her life again. She’s so proud of Sasha. Sasha says she’s honored Nina is proud of her. She’s still a very important person in Sasha’s life. Nina says, it’s ironic, isn’t it? She once thought Sasha was the daughter she’d always wanted, and that turned out to not be the case, but now she’s closer to Sasha than her own biological child. Sasha says, Willow doesn’t know what she’s missing. For Willow’s sake, she hopes that changes soon. Nina says, Sasha’s a little biased, and Sasha says she is. Nina could have turned her back on Sasha when she found out Sasha misled her. Nina says, she kinda did, but Sasha says, after a while, Nina forgave her. If she’s the daughter Nina always wanted, Nina is the mother that she always wished she had. They hug.

Dante says he’s glad Willow could at least wave at them before she went to sleep, and Michael says, him too. Glimpses of her awake and alert are rare occurrences these days. Dante asks if Michael is okay, and Michael says he just has to keep telling himself that this will be over soon, and Willow will have a full recovery. Home stretch. Dante says he believes that, and tells Michael not to feel he can’t reach out for support if he needs to. He knows they don’t agree on some things, but Michael knows Dante’s got him, right? Michael says he does; thanks. About Sonny, they’re actually in a better place. As long as Sonny doesn’t lobby for Nina. Dante says, he’s going to do that; he loves her. Michael flashes back to Sonny agreeing to let Nina and Willow figure out their relationship on their own. Can Michael do the same? Michael tells Dante, at the end of the day, he’s counting on Sonny to choose his family over Nina, but Dante says he doesn’t know about that. It’s a long shot. Michael says, maybe; maybe not.

Josslyn tells Sonny, nothing’s changed. She fell for Dex, despite the fact he works for Sonny, and she owns that. I laugh, since I can’t imagine telling my father that I fell for someone. Sonny says, she’s her mother’s daughter; direct, and honest to a fault. She says she thought he valued honesty, and he says he’s come to an understanding with her brother Michael. Does she think they can’t also? She says she’s game. He can start by letting Dex go. He says, if Dex wants that, he knows where to find Sonny.

Dex puts the envelope in his pocket, and Gladys says, nice work if you can get it, huh? What did he do? Place a bet for Sonny? Ponies? Something else. Dex says he only bets on sure things; Sonny’s one of them. Josslyn comes out, and Gladys jets into Sonny’s office. She closes the door, and says, Cousin Sonny, this is your lucky day. Outside, Dex asks Josslyn what she’s doing here.

Portia says, it might be too late for her and Curtis, and asks if Taggert knows something. He says he doesn’t know anything. He just knows from experience that things can get out of hand. They can go too far, and you can’t go back. She asks if he’s saying she and Curtis have reached some sort of turning point, and he says, the guy dropped everything and risked everything to bring Trina back home. A lot of it was because of Trina, but a lot of it was because of her. Now it’s her turn. She has to decide what she wants, and then she needs to fight for it. He’s talking about the focus and tenacity she has when she fights for her patients. She says, what about fighting for their daughter? Is she supposed to just let Trina fend for herself against Spencer Cassadine? They both know how that ends. He says, she can’t send Trina to her room any more than she can make Trina forgive and forget what she’s done to her by turning her life upside down. Trina’s not her little girl any more. Portia says, she might be his though, and he says, she’s always going to be his, no matter what the tests say. Nobody can tell Trina how to run her life. He knows how stubborn Portia is, and no matter how hard it is to let this go, Portia has got to let Trina live her life. Then maybe Portia can concentrate on living hers.

Curtis says, he and Jordan have always had strong feelings, which is why they got together in the first place. Those feelings… He’s always had them. Maybe he always will. Jordan says he had other feelings about her too. Remember? Ones he couldn’t get past, involving mistrust and betrayal. She lets go of his hand, and says, that’s why they split up, and he moved on to Portia. The two of them rekindled their relationship and fell in love. He says, but that was before… and she says, let her finish. He and Portia were happy. She saw that. They bought a house together, and made it a home for Trina and his father. They exchanged heartfelt vows and got married in front of their friends and family. They had the fairytale ending. He says, but they didn’t, and she knows why. And here we are. She says, yes, here we are, but is this the last grasp for something that’s ended? Something they should let be over? Or will these feelings always be here, just waiting for them to rekindle them?

Josslyn says she’s not here, and leaves with Dex. Sonny asks what Gladys wants, and she says she has a proposal that’s in their mutual interest. As he knows, she’s in charge of Sasha’s day to day decision making, including investments. He says, for the time being. He heard during Sasha’s last TV appearance, she was doing okay and holding her own. Gladys says, thankfully, Sasha didn’t fall to pieces like the last time, but Sasha isn’t ready to handle her finances. He says, so Sasha should keep trusting her, and laughs. She says she knew he’d understand, and sits down. As it turns out, she has a knack for finances, which is why she’s letting him in on the ground floor of an amazing opportunity. Take it from her, it can’t miss.

At the Bistro, Maxie thanks Sasha for meeting her, and Sasha asks, what’s so important that Maxie had her run out of Nina’s office where they were supposed to have a meeting about Deception? Maxie says, that can wait. She has something to tell Sasha, and thinks she’ll want to know.

At Kelly’s counter, Cody shows James how to tie knots, and Scotty tells Obrecht that he thinks that kid is going to have a hell of a stomachache. She says, Nathan never got the chance to spend time with his son, and Scotty says he’s sorry about that. Nathan would have made a hell of a father. James has got a lot of people who care about him; even Cody. He’s not family, but maybe they’ll have more of these outings. She asks where this new and unexpected fondness for Cody came from. What’s his legal action all about? Scotty says he thought they weren’t speaking any more, and she says, they’re speaking now. He says, then hear this. He doesn’t want to ruin the surprise.

Portia says, if living her own life means ignoring all the big flashing warning signs when she sees Trina and Spencer together, Taggert can forget that. She won’t let this go. He says he’s not asking her to let this go. He’s just asking her to be smart about how she approaches their daughter. Trina has them, Curtis, Marshall, Jordan; all these people who care about her. Portia asks what he means by Jordan, and he asks if Portia thinks it’s a coincidence that Jordan was stuck in the elevator long enough for Portia to talk to that bartender and convince him to testify on Trina’s behalf. Portia asks if he’s telling her that Jordan did that deliberately. Did she tell him that? He says, she didn’t have to. They’ve been partners long enough; he knows her. The point is, Jordan also cares about Trina. Which means Portia can stop using Trina as an excuse, and start putting her energy into working on her marriage.

Jordan tells Curtis, it never ended for her. Even when things were at their worst, she was still ready to fight for them. He walked away from her… right into Portia’s arms. She’s not blaming him, or Portia. She’s come to terms with her part in things, and trying to be more mindful going forward, but did she ever stop caring, stop feeling, loving him? Never. She truly wanted him and Portia to be happy. She told Portia that she needed to tell him the truth, so Portia wouldn’t make the same mistakes she did. He tells her that he always said she was a class act, but Jordan says she wouldn’t give herself much credit. Does he know why she didn’t come to his wedding? In part, she was sitting it out because she knew what Portia was keeping from him. But mainly, it was because she couldn’t bear to hear him pledge his love to someone else. She still loved him that much. So before they go any further, she needs to know where he is, what he feels, what he wants. Is he on the rebound or are he and Portia really over? And if so, do they get a second chance?

Outside somewhere, Dex says, it’s just him and Josslyn now. What went down in Sonny’s office? She says she told Sonny that she wanted him to cut Dex loose, and Dex says, she told Sonny to fire him? She says, it was the only way she knew how to get him out of Sonny’s world, and he says, unbelievable. What did he say?… Don’t bother. Sonny said, if he wanted out, it was up to him to ask for himself. She says, he knows Sonny well, and he asks why she got involved in this. She says, maybe because Sonny will kill Dex if he finds out Dex has been working against him, and he says he knew the risk when he took the job. He doesn’t need her constantly trying to rescue him. She asks if he’s sure. So far, her track record’s awesome. He says he appreciates that. He appreciates her. They’re supposed to be in this together. She says, exactly. So no more risking his neck without telling her. He says, that’s unrealistic. He can’t run it by her every time Sonny asks him to do something, and he can’t have her going to Sonny on his behalf and asking Sonny to fire him when he doesn’t even know about it. She says she wants him free and clear of Sonny. She’s sorry. She thought that’s what he wanted too. He says, she knows he does, and kisses her.

Sonny tells Gladys, they have to wrap this up. He has somewhere he needs to be and something he needs to do. She says she’ll make it quick. It’s about Deception – the company. The thing Sasha was hyping on the Home & Heart shopping channel was just the tip of the iceberg. There’s a whole new line in the works; maybe a whole new division. New products need new investing. He says he’s sure Lucy and Maxie have all the financing taken care of, but Gladys says, there’s always room for more. This is a golden opportunity. He gets in now, he makes bank when this line hits the market. He asks, what’s in it for her? and she says she was thinking a finder’s fee. He laughs and asks, how big? She says she hadn’t thought of a percentage. She was just circling around, doing some calculating. He says, it sounds like a winner, but it’s a no from him, because his portfolio is fine. And she knows about the trouble Carly got in with the insider trading thing. It pretty much falls under the same umbrella. And she doesn’t want to open herself up to that, does she? She can thank him later, because he does everything he can to protect his family. He hustles her out the door, and asks Frank to get his cousin a big box of biscotti. He leaves, and Gladys wonders what just happened.

Dante looks at his phone, and tells Michael, apparently his perp just remembered he had a partner. He has to go back to the ER. Michael says he’s glad Dante stopped by, and Dante says, he is too. Michael sounded cryptic before. Is everything cool with him and Sonny? Michael tells him, let’s just say they found one point of understanding, and Dante asks, with Willow or Nina? Michael suggests Dante save his skills for he perp downstairs, and Dante asks him to tell Willow that they’re thinking about her; him, Sam, and the kids love her. Michael says, will do, and Dante says, don’t make Sonny choose between him and Nina. Michael tells him, say hi to Sam, and Dante says he gave it his best shot. He goes to the elevator.

Sasha says, Cody was in the studio the day of The Deceptor pitch? and Maxie says, according to Lucy, Cody found out they were messing with Sasha, and threatened to streak in front of the camera. And she believes it. He did it at the Nurses Ball. Sasha wonders if he’s still at Kelly’s, and Maxie says, when she spoke to Liesl, he was still there, checking up on James. Sasha says, excuse her. There’s something she needs to take care of.

Curtis tells Jordan that he’d love to say he has all the answers. But the truth is, his life’s up in the air. Jordan says, because of the DNA test? and he says, that’s a big part of it. He’d be lying if he said he knows how he’ll react if he finds out he’s Trina’s biological father. Or if he’s not. She says, that’s understandable. What about the other parts? He says he guesses after what he experienced in Greenland – that Victor Cassadine madness – coming out of an intense experience like that, shook things up for him. What is he doing with his life? He’s made this place a success, and he’s proud of that, but then he wonders, is this all there is? Because he’s feeling like it’s not enough. She says, sounds like he’s restless again. Is he wondering where his heart lies? He says he doesn’t know. He cares about Jordan way to much to make promises he’s not sure he can deliver. She says, why couldn’t she have been a little more honest with him, and him, a little less honest with her? He says, we are who we are, and asks if she can give him some time until he can figure out the rest.

Dex and Josslyn kiss, and she says she’s got it; they’re in this together. He says, they have to trust each other, and she says, she’ll trust him when he has to act alone sometimes, and he has to trust her. Does he? He says, of course (🍷), and she quickly kisses him, saying she’ll see him later. He asks where she’s going, but she says, trust me, and leaves.

Jordan tells Curtis to take the time he needs. Once he unravels the knots in his marriage, and deals with the results of the DNA test, he knows where to find her. He kisses her cheek, tells her, take care, and she leaves.

Portia and Taggert walk down the hall, and she says she’s glad he stopped by. He says he feels like he did all the talking. Did any of it stick? She says she heard what he had to say, and appreciates it, but she can’t be the only one to make their marriage work. Curtis has to want it too. Curtis knows how desperately she wants things to work out. So in the meantime, she’s not going to take her eyes off the other love of her life. She’s not going to let Trina become another casualty of the Cassadines. She’s going to make sure Trina sees Spencer Cassadine for who he really is.

Frank gives Gladys the biscotti, and she says she saw him hand Dex that big fat envelope earlier. What was that about? Some big deal he and Sonny pulled off? Frank says, she knows better than to ask that, being family and all. Gladys takes out her phone, and goes outside. She calls Selina, and says, she knows what she owes Selina, but she may have something that’s more valuable than money.

Josslyn asks if she and Michael can talk somewhere private, and he asks what she wants to talk about. She says, him… and Dex.

Scotty says, he and Cody have to get that thing signed ASAP, and Cody tells James that he’ll talk to James’s grandma or mom, and they’ll figure out a time James can come to the stables with him and Leo. Scotty walks them out, and says he has his car. Can he give them a lift? Obrecht asks where he parked, and he says, in the lot. She walks toward the parking lot, and Scotty says, things are looking up.

Cody eats the cherry from James’s sundae, when Sasha walks into Kelly’s, obviously looking for him.

On Monday, Carly asks how she and Drew beat this without turning on each other; Tracy tells Chase, forgive her and skip off into the sunset, or cut her loose; and Sonny tells Nina, peace comes with a condition.

🪀 Hello I Must Be Going…

The door is always open though.

🏥 Coming Back…

Hopefully, he stays put a while.

🕺🏽 It’s Carrrlos…

And he was the guru at the end of Mad Men.

🗽 She Also Forgets Her Age…

Typical Ramona. I met Kristen once at a cocktail party and she was lovely.

🐀 Not the Rat…

But she was there? What does that mean?

🍸 Just a Little…

If you can’t get enough, a blow-by-blow of the VanderMess.

https://people.com/tv/vanderpump-rules-season-10-finale-sandoval-and-ariana-address-raquel-affair-fallout/

Not for one second did I think it was staged.

https://www.insider.com/vanderpump-rules-ariana-madix-scandoval-not-staged-2023-5

⚰️ Spawn Of the Dead…

What’s happening soon in the Deadverse.

https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/news/fear-the-walking-dead-midseason-finale-dead-city-premiere-amc-plus-specials/

🦔 Boop That Nose…

Cute animal videos. No need to say more.

https://digg.com/animals/link/tiktok-cute-animal-videos-5cHGPcMnYu

🐚 Quotes of the Week

Never look down on anybody unless you’re helping him up.Jesse Jackson

Faith is daring to put your dream to the test. It is better to try to do something and fail than to try to do nothing and succeed. – Robert H. Schuller

Courage is the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can’t practice any other virtue consistently. – Maya Angelou

It’s a general moral principle that the more power you have over someone, the greater your duty is to use that power benevolently. Well, who is the one person in the world you have the greatest power over? It’s your future self. You hold that life in your hands, and what it will be depends on how you care for it. – Rick Hanson

Listen to what you know instead of what you fear. – Richard Bach

You give but little when you give of your possessions. It is when you give of yourself that you truly give. – Khalil Gibran

The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing. – attributed to Edmund Burke

Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not his own facts.Daniel Patrick Moynihan

Clichés are tropes because they’re true. – Wesley Fists (Austin Crute), Daybreak

If you tell the truth, you don’t have to remember anything. – Mark Twain

🌪 Never Was In Kansas…

There will perhaps be some Dead here on Sunday, but for sure there will be soap, Sailing, and awful Summer people on Monday really Tuesday. Until then, stay safe, stay letting other people finish their sentences, and stay not making promises you’re not sure you can deliver.

May 18, 2023 – Holly Makes a Decision, Like Mother, Write Out, Bad Move, Postponed, Soap Moms, Engaged, Paused, VanderChatter, Oldest Pup (!) & Mind

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Trina says, what happened on the Haunted Star taught her how much she relies on everyone she loves. Even though she values her independence, knowing someone will be there to catch her means the world to her. Portia says, that’s what happens when you become a parent, and a messenger comes out of the elevator. He asks Spencer to sign for the fancyish envelope, and Trina asks what it is. Spencer says, let’s find out. He opens it, and says, it’s an invitation to the reading of his Uncle Victor’s will. Trina wonders what Victor left him, and Curtis says, more trouble.

At the station, Jordan leaves a message for TJ, saying, she feels like she’s spoken to his voicemail more than him lately. She was thinking of him, and hoping she could grab dinner with him and Molly soon. Let her know. Text if he must, but a phone call would be most welcome. She loves him.

TJ waits with Molly in an exam room, and asks if she wants anything. She says she wants him to relax. She’s nervous enough for both of them. He says he’s very relaxed, but she says, he’s such a liar. He asks if she’s kicking him out, but she says she needs him here. Her mind is racing. No matter what she tries to think about, she just comes back to the same question – what if she can’t get pregnant? He says, it’s too soon to go there; they need more information. She says she can’t help it, she’s terrified, and he holds her.

Alexis shows Esme around The Invader, and finds Sam in her office. She says, this is a surprise, and Sam says, so is this. What’s going on?

At The Savoy, Holly tells Robert, what a lovely surprise. He says, nice try, but it’s not going to work. She’s up to something. She asks what he thinks she’s up to, and he says, conspiring with Selina Wu.

Esme says she saw Sam at Spring Ridge. Sam asked her about Maggie Fitzgerald. Sam said Maggie was Esme’s former nanny, and that she was a private detective. Did Sam lie to her? Does she really work at The Invader? Was Sam just trying to get her to say Ryan Chamberlain was her father? Sam says, no. She is a private investigator, and Alexis is her mother. Esme asks if Sam’s last name isn’t McCall, and Sam says, it is. Esme says, Sam’s a Cassadine too, and Alexis says, long story. Maybe some other time. Esme says, she gets it. Sam tried to manipulate her like every other Cassadine, and Alexis wants her to believe there’s no ulterior motive in offering her this job?

Robert asks what Holly is getting involved in here. She knows what Selina Wu does for a business. What’s next? Dropping in on Sonny Corinthos? Holly says, he doesn’t know what he’s talking about, but he says he knows her. She likes to play fast and loose with the law. N’neka comes in, and says, excuse me. Who let them in? They’re closed. Robert introduces himself, and says he’s here on official business. Holly says, which is now over, but he says she’s not getting off that easy. Holly says, he’s right. Maybe he does need to be filled in. She suggests they go somewhere more private.

Dr. Navarro comes into the exam room, and says, as they suspected, Molly’s biopsy revealed she has endometriosis. Unfortunately, it’s severe, but Molly hasn’t complained of pain previously. Molly cries, and says, the pain has been more severe lately, but warm baths help, and an occasional missed period, like right now, but she’s not pregnant? Dr. Navarro says she’s sorry. Irregularity is common with endometriosis. Per Molly’s request, they conducted a fertility test, and Molly says she needs all of the information before making a decision about treatment, and she doesn’t want to delay trying to get pregnant. What did the fertility test say? The doctor says she’s sorry. It’s not good news. Molly cries harder.

Portia looks at Spencer and Trina walking away, and wonders if Trina will ever be free from this horrible family. Curtis says, Victor’s dead now, so there’s nothing he can do to harm Trina, but Portia says, in the meantime, Trina and Spencer are closer than ever. He says he knows she’s wary of Spencer, but he witnessed firsthand how Spencer stepped up for Trina in Greenland.

Trina says, Spencer’s his Uncle Victor tried to control him, and when he realized he couldn’t, he turned against Spencer. Nothing in this will is going to be good for him. Spencer says, probably not, which is exactly why he should deal with it now, rather than putting it off until later. If Uncle Victor had succeeded, there would be no need for this will. She says, he planned on ushering in the new age, and Spencer says, this is worst case scenario; this is a contingency plan in case of disaster. In order for this will to mean anything, Uncle Victor would have had to assume he’s A, dead, and B, his plan had failed. She says, then why let him have the last word? and he says, because if this will is Uncle Victor’s last shot at revenge, if it sets something in motion, he has to be the one to stop it.

Curtis tells Portia that Spencer didn’t care about himself; he only cared about Trina. He put himself in the line of fire to protect her. Portia says, so did Curtis, and she’s grateful to him for bringing Trina back home. He says he cares about Trina, and she says she knows he does. And Trina cares about him. She could see the look in Trina’s eye when she looked at Curtis. She thinks Curtis has a permanent place in Trina’s heart. Taggert walks on to the scene.

Trina  runs to Taggert, hugging him, and he asks, how is his baby girl? She says, when she woke up this morning, he was gone, and Portia says, they were up so late last night celebrating her return, her father crashed in the guestroom. Trina says, Taggert wanted to camp out in the living room, like they did when she was little. Sorry for being a party pooper and asking to sleep in her own bed. He says he understands, especially after she’d been gone for so long, but they did do the fireplace s’mores, which is the next best thing. Curtis looks like he feels awkward, when the tech tells them, the lab’s ready for them. Who’s first?

Sam says, Esme works here now? and Alexis says, meet their new receptionist, but Esme says she’s out. She should have gone with her first instinct. I can’t believe I keep getting fooled by you people. She starts to leave, and Alexis says she’s sure Esme must be very scared, and now that she’s lost her memory, she must be so confused. But her nephew Nikolas, the father of Esme’s son, has disappeared. So her only motivation is to keep the rest of her family intact. Whether Esme likes it or not, her son is a Cassadine, and through her son, Esme is now extended family. She’s offered Esme a job so she can financially support her son. Isn’t that something any mother would be grateful for? Esme says, fine. She’ll try. Alexis says, good, and Esme says, for now. Alexis says, that’s all. Esme can go to HR and complete her paperwork, and when that’s done, she can start immediately. Esme leaves, and Sam asks, what’s going on?

Dr. Navarro says, the results of Molly’s hormone testing show that she’d be unlikely to conceive. She’s sorry. TJ says, many women with endometriosis are able to get pregnant; why can’t Molly? The doctor says, in some cases, endometriosis doesn’t mean infertility, but in Molly’s case, it’s different. Molly says, because of her condition is that severe? and Dr. Navarro says, there’s still a lot of uncertainty about how the condition affects some and not others. Her condition is severe because of where endometrial tissue occurs in the body and how far it’s spread. But the condition can also affect fertility on a microscopic level. It can change the hormonal level around the eggs as well as affect the quality. The reasons aren’t well understood. Molly says, so that’s it? She’ll never be able to have children?

Curtis says he’ll go first, and follows the tech. Portia asks if Trina is doing okay, and Trina says, yeah. She wants to do the test. Taggert says, it’s okay to be nervous, and Portia says, it’s totally understandable. Trina says she really wants to take the test and put an end to all the secrets. But what if they find out Curtis is her biological father? How do things not change? Taggert says, no test is going to tell him how he feels about his girl. She is, and always will be, his little girl. She says she hopes so, and he says, she can count on it, and hugs her.

At Pier 54, Holly tells Robert that she does need money, but not for her, for Ethan. Robert asks if he’s in trouble already, and she says, he stole from the wrong people. Robert asks, who? and she says, it’s a long list. Dictators, a hedge fund billionaire or two… Ethan only kept a little bit of it. Most of it, he gave away. He says, worthy causes he’s sure, and she says she can give him the contact information of the orphanages Ethan supports if he doesn’t believe her. He says he believes her. And believes Ethan. Ethan has a larcenous soul, but he’s not greedy. He likes the rush. So did Luke. So does Holly. Holly says, they’re people with obscene amounts of money, and they’re willing to spend it to see Ethan dead. That’s why he’s gone back to Australia to hustle enough money to pay them back. Robert says, that’s a whole bunch of problems in itself, isn’t it? and she says, that’s why she needs a large influx of cash. He asks why she didn’t come to him. He cares about Ethan, and sure as hell cares about her. She says, it isn’t as simple as asking a friend for a loan. She wouldn’t have spoken to Selina Wu. She even inquired about working for the WSB, but that wouldn’t have paid off fast enough. The only way to get these people off Ethan’s back is to compensate them, and she has to do that before they find him. He asks why she didn’t bring this to him sooner; he still could have helped her. They help each other. That’s what they do. She says she’s gotten him in so much trouble already, and doesn’t want to do that to the man she loves.

Spencer leaves to try and get more information about the will reading, and Trina says, he did that so she and Portia could be alone. Portia asks if that’s okay with Trina, and Trina says she’s happy Portia is here. She knows it’s hard on her too. Portia says, the hardest part is that she had to put Trina in this position in the first place, but she’s proud of Trina’s courage. She wishes she was as brave as Trina is in the beginning. When she found out she was pregnant, she should have told Curtis and Taggert that she wasn’t sure who the father was. Then Trina never would have had to make this decision. She’s sorry. Trina says she knows they haven’t unpacked everything, and she’s still angry that Portia chose not to be honest with her, but she’s not as mad as she was anymore. Portia says, it means the world to hear Trina say that, and they hug.

Esme comes out of the elevator, and sees Spencer. He asks if she’s okay. Where’s Ace? She says, he’s with Spencer’s grandmother. She hated leaving him, but she had no choice. He asks what she’s doing here at the hospital, and she says she’s here to drug test for her new job. He says, she’s never worked a day in her life. Who would offer her a job? She says, his Aunt Alexis?

Alexis says she fully expected to get that look, and Sam asks if she has to remind Alexis what happened the last time she invited a snake into her life. Alexis says her eyes are wide open as to who Esme is, and isn’t. Esme isn’t snowing her. She really is doing this for the family. When she went to Laura’s, Esme was halfway out the door with that baby. She was going to take Ace and leave, with nowhere to go and not a penny to her name, because that’s how much she doesn’t trust Laura, Spencer, or anybody else. Sam says, Victor did try to steal her son. She knows what Alexis is doing. Alexis got her a job at the paper to keep her in Port Charles, which keeps her in close proximity to Alexis, a set of eyes… Alexis says, exactly. Laura asked her privately to help keep Esme here, so she and Spencer wouldn’t be separated from Ace. Sam says, that’s lovely for them, but Alexis is the one who has to work with Esme. What happens when this noble gesture comes back to bite her? Alexis says, duly noted. Now why doesn’t Sam tell her why she’s here? There’s a knock at the door, and the messenger has Alexis sign for the infamous envelope. Alexis says, looks like she got invited to the party too, and Sam says, she knows about this? holding another envelope up. Alexis says, Sam got one too? So did Laura and so did Anna. Sam says, Victor hated both of them, and Alexis says, he hated her too. He was never too fond of her for rejecting his call for family solidarity. Sam says, so anyone Victor disliked or downright hated was invited to the reading of his will? That doesn’t bode well, does it? Alexis says, no, it doesn’t.

Holly says she loves Robert – not just in the past, but in the present. She’s in love with him. He says, Holly… but she says, let her finish. They’ve been through so much since she returned last year. Victor taking Ethan… staging the fire in the cabin… Greenland. She hasn’t had time to dwell on her feelings, but now that Victor’s been dealt with, she realizes that she’s still hugely in love with him. She wants to be with him. She wants to devote herself to him. And them. But first she has to help her son. And if that takes her to shady places, so be it, but she refuses to pull him in. They played fast and loose enough with Scotty, but she won’t drag him down; he’s the DA. He says, yeah, and he takes those duties seriously, but there are things that are more important in life. She says she can’t keep asking him to cross the line for her; she doesn’t want to keep asking him to do that. She can handle this on her own. He says, she doesn’t have to. It’s you and me; it’s us. She doesn’t have to do it on her own, and shouldn’t have to. She asks if this is his choice, and he says, question. Where does this end?

Curtis goes to the club, and asks N’neka how everything is looking for tonight. She says, the sound system was glitching, but the technician is already on his way, and he thanks her. He asks if she’d wait for the delivery driver out back, and he’ll look over the paperwork. She gives him a folder and leaves. As he’s looking at it, Jordan comes in.

Dr. Navarro says she realizes this is a lot to process, but there are options, and Molly says, but conceiving a child isn’t one of them. The doctor says, it’s not impossible to get pregnant. Like she told them, the condition still isn’t fully understood, or how it affects fertility. Molly says, but the possibilities are slim, and TJ tells her, let’s not call it a day yet. There are still treatments. Dr. Navarro says, TJ’s right. She’s happy to discuss all treatments available for Molly’s condition, as well as alternatives to help her have a child. She’ll give them time to talk, but please don’t lose hope. They’ll find the best option. TJ thanks her, and she leaves. Molly clings to him.

Robert says, it’s a pattern with Holly. She gets involved in all these below board things with questionable payouts. If, as she says, she loves him, and doesn’t want to drag him in with her, he doesn’t get what kind of a relationship that is. She says, all she knows is that she loves him, and he says, love is certainly part of the equation, but if this is her life, and that life says she has to keep things from him, how does that work? Maybe they’re not compatible. Maybe there’s not meant to be a me and you. All he knows is, he’ll always be there for her. She tells him that he doesn’t have to say it. After all these years of fighting to make this work, maybe she missed her chance.

Curtis asks if this is official business, but Jordan says she just wanted to see if he was all right. Is that a problem? He says, of course (🍷) not; thanks. She asks if something is bothering him, but he says he’s good. She says, it’s her. What’s up? He asks if he made a mistake going through with that DNA test. He might be upending a perfectly healthy family.

Spencer says, Esme is working for his aunt? and she says, believe her. It wasn’t her first choice. He asks when this happened, and she says, Alexis was visiting his grandmother, and she was about to leave with Ace… He says, to go where? and she says she hadn’t decided yet. Trina and Portia walk over to them, and Esme says she wasn’t sure, but Laura gave her a million different reasons why it was a bad idea. She said she wanted her independence – which she does – and that’s when his aunt offered her a job. Trina asks, what’s going on? and Spencer says, Esme got a job. Esme says, as a receptionist, and Spencer says, so Alexis just offered her a job out of the blue? Esme says, she didn’t do it out of the kindness of her heart. She had an agenda, just like every other member of his family, but she can play the game too. And if she’s going to build a life with Ace far away from here, then she’ll need money. He says, wherever she goes with his little brother, he’ll be right behind her, and she says she won’t let him take Ace away from her, but he says, that’s not what he means. She can leave Port Charles. She can go to the ends of the earth, and he’ll be right there to buy a home next to her. She says, as long as she’s with Ace, she really doesn’t care what he does. Wow. I’d have popped him in the nose by now. Esme leaves, and Spencer wonders, what was Aunt Alexis thinking? but Trina says, this is a good thing.

Sam says, whatever Victor had in mind, she’s not up for it, and Alexis suggests they be grateful that Spencer and that baby are back safe, Victor’s stopped, and nobody else was harmed. Sam says she is grateful for that, and the story Alexis put in The Invader was pretty amazing. Alexi says she had help, and Sam says, from whom? Alexis says, from Gregory, and Sam says, the last time they talked, Alexis thought she’d never see Gregory again. Alexis says, he’s full of surprises. After Sam left, he showed up. Sam asks if they worked things out, and Alexis flashes back to Gregory telling her that he has ALS. She says she thought so, and Sam asks what that means. Alexis says, Gregory told her what he’s been dealing with, and Sam says, that’s good, but Alexis says, it’s not good. It’s good he told her, but she hasn’t heard from him since.

Holly says she always thought one day it would be their moment, but Robert says, it never is. She says, and it never will be, and he says he’ll always love her. Nothing’s ever going to change that. He takes her hand, and she cries, saying, but you’ll always be you, and I’ll always be me. She so wishes he was wrong, but he’s not. Love can’t fix this. He says, what now? and she says she has to help her son, one way or the other. He asks how she’s going to do that, and she tells him not to ask questions he doesn’t want the answers to. But she’ll take care of it. He doesn’t have to worry about her. He says, too late.

Sam asks if Gregory and Alexis got into another fight, but Alexis says, they didn’t. In fact, after he told her what was wrong with him, she thought he’d be more accepting of her help. From what he told her, he could use the help. Sam assumes he swore Alexis to secrecy, and Alexis says, he asked her not to tell anyone. Sam says she won’t pry, but it must be pretty hard on Alexis, and Alexis says, what’s hard is, she doesn’t know if this radio silence means he’s in some kind of trouble. Apparently, she’s the only one who knows about this, but if he doesn’t tell her, how can she help him? Sam asks if she tried to talk to him, but Alexis says she’s not comfortable doing that. Sam says, why not? and Alexis says, because he insisted she respect his privacy. Sam says, she can respect his privacy without ignoring him, and Alexis says, if she recalls, Sam is the one who told her to trust him, and if he needs her, he’ll reach out. Sam says, he did. Didn’t that change everything?

Spencer says, if Esme can afford it, she’ll disappear with his brother, and Trina says, or the job can be the reason she stays. The longer Esme stays in Port Charles, the more time he has to convince her that his brother needs him. He and his grandmother can show Esme how important it is for Ace to have a support system. He says, what about Trina? The more Esme is involved with his family, the more Trina is exposed. She says, don’t worry about her. She’s gotten used to having Esme around. Portia listens, and Trina says, Esme will always be part of Spencer’s family, job or no job. That’s part of the deal when you have a family. He asks if he’s told her lately how amazing she is, and she says, about a thousand times, but he can tell her again. Portia doesn’t look thrilled as Spencer kisses Trina’s hand. Taggert asks, what’s wrong? and Portia says, just history repeating itself. This time she’s ready for it.

Jordan asks how Curtis is responsible for what happens to Trina’s family. Did he push for the DNA test? He says, no, Trina wanted that, and she says, then why is he blaming himself? He says, because he’s the complicating factor. Everything was perfect between Trina and the people who raised her. They had the perfect, stable dynamic for twenty years, and here he comes, complicating things. Jordan says, their so-called stable dynamic was already complicated, and not because of him. Portia made her choice, and right or wrong, it’s what she needed to do at the time. But with the revelation that she doesn’t know who Trina’s biological father is, that dynamic was bound to change. Curtis says, but it doesn’t have to. Taggert is always going to love Trina as his daughter, and Trina is always going to love him as her dad. So wouldn’t the best outcome be for those results to show he was her biological father? If that’s the case, Trina can go on living her happy life. Jordan says, spoken like a true father, and he says, honestly, he just wants what’s best for Trina. But selfishly, he wants those results to show that he’s her father. He wants that so bad, it hurts. The only thing that would hurt worse is finding out he’s not her father.

Molly tells TJ that she’s sorry. She feels silly. He says, she just had a bomb dropped on her. Of course (🍷) she’s upset. She says, but she’s a logical person. Her brain completely understands that they can still have a child, and they’ll love that child whether she carries it or not. He says, they will, but her brain isn’t her heart. Her heart is broken. She cries, and says she feels like she just got hit with a baseball bat. She came expecting the worst, but when Dr. Navarro actually said the words, it’s unlikely you’ll get pregnant… He says, it’s not impossible, and she says she told herself it didn’t matter either way. They’re non-traditional people, and if they have a baby by non-traditional means, no one would be surprised. But she thinks it took finding out how unlikely it would be for her, to realize how badly she wanted to be pregnant; how badly she wanted to carry his baby. She cries and says she’s sorry. He puts his forehead against hers. and says he can’t imagine what she’s going through, but they’re here together; he’s with her. They’ll figure this out.

Alexis wonders how she can insert herself into Gregory’s life, and let him come to her at the same time, and Sam says she’s not telling Alexis to press him to talk. She’s just saying Alexis can reach out without being intrusive. She can just call. Send a text or a voicemail letting him know she’s there for him if he needs her help. Alexis asks if she means act like a normal grown up. How did Sam get to be so grown up and so wise? Sam hugs Alexis, and asks, what is normal anyway? It’s in her DNA.

TJ tells Molly that Dr. Navarro downloaded a bunch of information on endometriosis for them to look at… Whenever she’s ready. She asks if it’s okay if she’s not ready yet, and he says, more than okay. Like Dr. Navarro said, she has a lot to process. Molly says, they both do. He doesn’t have to just make this about her. He says he’s thinking positive. They can, and they will, expand their family. She says, just not in the way they thought they would, and he puts his arms around her.

Holly says she should go, and Robert says, right now? She says she wishes they could shut out the world, but they can’t. Letting go of him is going to be the hardest thing she’s ever done… It’s what they both need. She truly wants him to be happy, and she thinks the best is yet to come for him. She kisses his cheek, but it turns into a romantic kiss, and she tells him goodbye. He tells her to take care of herself, and she says she always does. She leaves the pier, and Robert says, goodbye Holly.

Spencer asks if Trina is ready for the DNA test, and says he’ll walk her. They leave, and Taggert says he’s just as upset as Portia is about this, but no good is going to come of her continually talking to Trina about Spencer. Portia says, this is beyond talking, and time for action. He asks what she’s saying, and she tells him that she’s not standing by and watching Spencer take their daughter down. She wants to make sure Spencer is out of Trina’s life for good.

Jordan tells Curtis that she’s sorry, but if there’s one thing she knows, it’s that Curtis Ashford is strong enough to weather whatever comes his way. And he won’t have to go though it alone. She takes his hand, and says, he has so many people who love him, and they’ll be right by his side, no matter what. They stare at each other for a moment, then kiss.

Tomorrow, Sasha tells Nina that she’s taking charge of her life again; Scotty tells Obrecht that he doesn’t want to ruin the surprise; Josslyn says she’s about to take Sonny up on that offer; and Portia tells Taggert that Jordan did that deliberately.

👯‍♀️ Footstep Following…

Now that they mention it, there’s quite a resemblance.

📝 Not Again…

He has said this before. They wouldn’t dare… would they?

🚓 There’s This Thing Called Uber…

This explains the recast.

🏆 Waiting On Their Award…

No ETA on this or the strike.

💐 Celebrating Moms…

What the soap stars did for their big day.

💍 Congrats, Mate…

I’m happy for him. I like Ben.

https://people.com/tv/below-deck-ben-robinson-engaged-kiara-cabral/

Apparently, everyone’s happy for him.

🍹 Hitting Pause…

Yeah, we’re all tired.

https://www.tvfanatic.com/2023/05/real-housewives-of-new-jersey-put-on-pause-following-exhausting/

🍸 Post Finale Tidbits…

It’s on the Today show, in the New York Times. Scandoval has reached every corner of the globe. Sandoval: Every woman wants to spit on him, and every man wants to distance themselves.

https://www.today.com/popculture/tv/ariana-madix-vanderpump-rules-scandoval-interview-rcna85063

Don’t believe it. If they were that good of actors, they be… actors.

Wednesday morning quarterbacking.

https://www.vox.com/culture/2023/5/18/23729087/vanderpump-rules-finale-scandoval-tom-sandoval-ariana-madix-raquel-leviss

🐶 Who’s a Good Boy…?

Congratulations, Bobi!

https://people.com/pets/worlds-oldest-dog-bobi-turns-31-birthday-party/

🤸🏽‍♀️ Feeling It Still…

Let us join together tomorrow for soap, tea but no VanderSympathy, words to think about, and music for May. Until then, stay safe, stay not hogging the remote, and stay not asking questions you don’t want the answers to.

May 12, 2023 – Michael Changes Terms, Goodbye Barbara Jean, Molly Sub, Social Feud, No Comparison, Just No, Fear’s Return, Cool Dead, Sweet Renewal, 3 Awards, Dogs Of Anarchy, Good Boy, 2 x 4 Quotes & Mama

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Nina meets Ava at The Savoy, where a martini is waiting. Ava says, let’s get the party started, and Nina sit next to her at the bar. Ava says, Trina and Liesl are home, which means Willow has a donor. What should they drink to first?… She says, Nina doesn’t look like she’s in the mood to celebrate anything. What’s wrong?

Carly and Drew walk hand in hand at the hospital, and Carly tells him, she has to say, their relationship being out in the open… He says, makes the whole SEC investigation worth it? and she tells him that she wouldn’t say that, but it is the one silver lining. They hug, and Josslyn walks in. She says, don’t mind her, and hugs Drew, telling him, welcome home. He says he’s so glad to be here; she has no idea. She says, seeing him is like confirmation everything is going to be okay, and thanks him.

Dex comes out onto the hospital roof, and checks a text: Need to meet ASAP. GH roof.

Michael looks in on Willow, when his phone rings. A text says: I’m here. He flashes back to Willow saying the conflict between him and Sonny affects everybody they love. He remembers telling Sonny that eventually Sonny will be forgotten, like he never existed, Sonny replying, he’ll always love Michael, but if he wants Sonny to forgive, he’ll have to pay.

Frank lets Valentin into Sonny’s office, and Sonny says, hail the conquering hero. Valentin says, Sonny can just call. He doesn’t have to send his staff. Sonny says he doesn’t want to inconvenience Valentin, but there are some matters they have to discuss, and no one’s leaving this room until they do that.

Carly asks if Josslyn talked to Trina, but Josslyn says, she’s with her mom and dad. Trina texted her that she and Spencer are alive and back in Port Charles. She thanks Drew, saying, he rescued her best friends, but he says, it was a huge team effort. Spencer and Trina were pretty heroic themselves. Josslyn says, they’re so grateful he was able to get Dr. Obrecht back in time to save Willow. Seriously, he’s a hero. Drew tells her not to get carried away, but Carly says, Josslyn’s right, even though he didn’t get the hero’s welcome he deserved. Josslyn asks, why? What happened?

Nina says she really appreciates Ava coming out with her tonight, but maybe she should go see Trina. Nina knows how worried Ava was. Ava says, she’s safe and with her parents. They should celebrate. At the very least, they should raise a glass to Nina’s Aunt Liesl. She survived being kidnapped by Victor Cassadine – again – and she made it home in time to save Willow’s life. Nina says, yes. Her Aunt Liesl had the procedure to donate her bone marrow, and Willow’s going to have the transplant as soon as she completes her chemotherapy. Ava says, that’s wonderful. Why so glum? Nina says, this morning, Willow offered a way for her to make peace, and Ava says, another reason to celebrate. Nina says, it would be, except she already screwed it up.

Obrecht knocks on Willow’s window, and the phone next to Willow’s bed rings. Willow picks it up, and says, hello, Aunt Liesl. Obrecht says she’s sorry she kept Willow waiting, but she was abducted by a homicidal madman, and Willow tells her, don’t let it happen again. Obrecht says, don’t worry; it won’t. Willow says she’s just glad Obrecht is all right, and Obrecht says, she, too, is quite pleased by her survival. It was a great relief to donate her bone marrow today. Willow says, so it’s done? and Obrecht says, yes. Willow asks if she’s okay, and Obrecht says she had the easy part. She was under anesthesia. Aside from some mild soreness, she feels absolutely fine. Willow tells her that she doesn’t know what to say. Thank you doesn’t even cover it. She starts to cry and says, she’ll be able to watch her children grow up… Grow old with Michael. She’ll be alive, all thanks to Obrecht. Obrecht says she did what she had to. After all, Willow is her family.

Michael comes out on the roof, and thanks Dex for helping Josslyn bring Wiley and Amelia to the hospital. It meant a lot to the both of them. Dex says he’s glad to help. How’s Willow doing? Michael says, she’s tough. She’s determined to pull through for her family. But true to form, she’s more concerned about others than herself, which is why he called Dex here. Dex says he thinks he knows what Michael is going to say. He’ll admit, he thought Michael would want to wait until his wife was better to turn Sonny in… Is there another problem?

Sonny says, he spoke to Anna, and she told him how Valentin got Trina and Spencer and Liesl home. Valentin says, Victor was his father. It was kind of on him to stop Victor, and Sonny says, he’s the reason Nina got her aunt back, and now Willow’s going to get her bone marrow transplant that he hopes saves her life. Valentin says he’s just glad Liesl made it back in time, and Sonny says, Valentin stepped up. He’s not going to forget that. Valentin says he appreciates that, and Sonny says, now can they get to how Valentin’s associates nearly go him and his people killed?

Valentin says he’d never get in the way of Sonny’s operation, much less harm his people, and Sonny says, let him explain the new developments in the Pikeman deal, which Valentin facilitated. It seems like he left out a few important details. Valentin says, with respect, he told Sonny everything he knows. He’s just a middleman; they’re not going to give him specifics. Sonny says, Valentin went on the run after that, so let him fill Valentin in. He was preparing for the first shipment, and a sniper tried to take him out. Fortunately, he missed. When they were discussing this deal, Valentin said something about there being significant risks. Was that code? Did he or did he not know that Sonny could have a target on his back? Doesn’t Sonny always have a target on his back? He is a mob boss.

Willow says she’s grateful for everything Obrecht is doing and has done, and Obrecht says, Willow doesn’t really know her, certainly not well. She understands Willow’s fear that accepting her into her life means accepting Nina, who she thinks she does know well. But she wants Willow to know she has no agenda. Regardless of how Willow feels about her, she considers Willow family. Obrecht has lost almost all her relatives. When that happens, we tend to latch on to whatever family we have left. Sometimes we even put too much pressure on those relationships. Willow asks if that’s a hint for her to be more receptive to Nina, but Obrecht shakes her head, and says, there will a time and place for Willow to consider what role, if any, she wants Nina to have in her life. It doesn’t matter right now. The important thing is that Willow heal, so that someday she may have the opportunity to make that decision and a lifetime of other, happier ones. Willow says she can’t make any promises about Nina. Right now, she’s just praying she comes out the other side of this. Obrecht says, she will, and Willow says, she sounds so certain. Why? Obrecht says, because she’s aware of the tribulations Willow has endured in her life. Tell her. Does it annoy Willow when people assume she’s fragile? Or does she use it to her advantage, so they underestimate her? Willow says she doesn’t know that she’s ever thought about it that way, and Obrecht says, no matter. She sees Willow for the strong woman she is. Even in this weakened state, it’s obvious. She is a survivor. She knows, because it’s in Willow’s blood.

Nina tells Ava, her daughter asked her for a favor, which she’s never done before, so she thinks that’s a step forward. Ava says, it sounds promising. What was the favor? Nina says, unfortunately, it’s something she can’t give Willow, and Ava asks what she wants. Nina says, Willow wants her to drop her vendetta against Carly, and Ava says, that’s all? She fails to see the problem here. She knows how much Nina hates Carly, but compared to having a relationship with her daughter… Do this for Willow. Lay down her arms. Nina says, it’s too late. She made sure of that when she ratted out Drew and Carly to the SEC.

Drew says, then Diane showed up, and she kind of shut the whole thing down, at least for now. Josslyn says she can’t believe they dragged Drew out of there after he risked his life to rescue Victor’s hostages, and he says, the important thing is, they haven’t been charged with anything; this is an ongoing investigation. Carly says, that’s right, and Diane’s on her way here now to discuss the case, and Josslyn says, if Diane’s on it, she’s not going to worry too much. Carly says, Josslyn needs to know, while the SEC is conducting the investigation, her accounts and assets are frozen, and Josslyn asks if Carly needs her to get money from her trust fund, but Carly says, no. She just wants Josslyn to be aware. She doesn’t want Josslyn worrying about her, because Diane is on it, and they’re going to figure it out. Josslyn wonders how long it’s going to take, but Drew says, unfortunately, there’s no way to tell. His phone rings, and he says, it’s the lawyers from Aurora; he has to take it. He steps away, and Josslyn says, it’s really great to see Carly and Drew together out in the open. She can tell Carly is happy, despite everything. Carly says, they are. Speaking of a secret relationship being out in the open, does Josslyn want to talk about showing up here with Dex?

Michael says he’s decided he’s not using the Pikeman evidence against Sonny, and Dex asks if Michael found something else to use against him. Michael says he’s not turning Sonny in at all, and Dex says, why not? Michael says, Willow helped him realize, by sending Sonny to prison, he’ll just be tearing his family apart, and Dex says, Michael told him that he’d be willing to accept that. Michael says, for himself, but not for his siblings. Josslyn wants to see Sonny face justice, but Kristina would never forgive him. And Donna and Avery will be stuck in the middle. It’s not fair to make them choose between Josslyn and Kristina, or him and his father. Dex says, Michael is the boss. He has the right to change his mind. But he was hired to do a job. A job he’s risked his life for a year now getting done. He’s been shot, hung from a meat hook, and threatened with torture. He’s had to spend every day with the knowledge that if Sonny finds out he’s working against him, he’s dead. He knew there were risks when he started working for Michael, but decided it was worth it. (Well, shut up then.) He’s since come to understand Sonny better, but that doesn’t change anything for him. His options are limited here. Michael says he knows he put Dex in a tough spot, and he’s sorry, but for his family’s sake, he can’t turn Sonny in. Dex says, great. He’s really happy for all of them, but where does that leave him? The way he sees it, he only has two options here. He keeps working for Sonny indefinitely, or he puts Sonny away. Michael says, there is one more option. He disappears. Um… How about Dex tells Sonny that he can’t work for him because of Josslyn? I hate when they give Sonny no credit for being a somewhat understanding guy.

Valentin says, Pikeman has a lot of enemies. The kind of people who are going to want to keep Pikeman’s merchandise out of their own enemies’ hands. He didn’t know Sonny was going to be targeted, but he can’t say he’s entirely surprised. Sonny says, the Pikeman rep is cagey any time he tries to ask them for any information, and Valentin says, as with any Pikeman employee. It’s all need to know. Sonny says, the sniper was a ghost, but here’s the thing. He wasn’t a mob hitman; he was black ops. From the espionage world. Valentin’s world. Valentin says he’s not going to get Pikeman to confirm or deny that, but he has good news. He spoke to his source at Pikeman, and they’re happy with the way the shipment went down. They want to work with Sonny again. Sonny says, tell them he’s not interested.

Scotty sees Obrecht going down the hall at the hospital, and says, she’s back. She says, yes, and he says, in one piece he might add. She says she’s unharmed. She should be… He says, he moved heaven and earth to find her, and got chloroformed for his trouble. She says she heard, and he says he’s sorry he almost got her blown up, but he had to do something. She says, on the bright side, his misguided efforts to save her, effectively blew up Victor, and Scotty says, good riddance to him. She says, yes. As she said she should be… She starts walking away, but he says, wait a second. He knows they had a lot of problems before Victor grabbed her, and a lot of stuff to work out, but he thinks about her – she turns around to face him – in the morning when he wakes up, and he thinks about her before he goes to sleep, but the trouble is, he doesn’t sleep anymore. So he was wondering if she feels the same way. Not that she doesn’t sleep. He wouldn’t wish that on anybody, but maybe they could get things back on track. Is there any way things might work out with them?

Josslyn tells Carly, Dex was a big help getting the kids here, and there’s no real reason to hide their relationship anymore now that Sonny knows. Diane comes out of the elevator and walks over to them, and asks if she’s interrupting a mother/daughter catch-up. Josslyn says, nothing they can’t talk about later, and Carly says, and they will. She thanks Diane for coming here, since she didn’t want to stray too far from Willow, and Diane says she understands. Josslyn says she’ll leave them to it. She knows they have a lot to talk about. Now that she knows Diane is the one helping out, she’s sure it will be okay. Diane says she appreciates the vote of confidence, and Josslyn leaves. Diane asks, where’s Drew? and Carly says, he’s making a call. She thanks Diane for getting him released, and Diane says, it was a little too easy… Drew comes back, and thanks Diane for coming. Let’s hear it. What are he and Carly looking at? Diane says, unfortunately, it’s going to get worse before it gets better.

Nina and Ava go to a table, and Nina says she hates that she turned in Carly and Drew to the SEC. She let her jealousy get the better of her for Carly becoming more of a mother to Willow. Now she did something she can’t take back. Ava says, when Willow asked her to make peace with Carly, did Nina tell her it was too late? and Nina says, not exactly. When Willow asked her to make peace with Carly, she lied a little bit, and said she wouldn’t get into it with Carly anymore. Ava says, technically, it’s not a lie though. Nina talked to the SEC before she promised Willow. Nina says, it won’t matter to Willow that she took revenge on Carly before Willow asked her not to. That loophole is not going to work for her here. Ava says, Carly will weasel her way out of it somehow. Hopefully after she’s suffered a little bit. In a way, Nina bought herself some time to find her way out of this. Nina says, that doesn’t change what she did to Drew. That man went to Greenland, he faced off with Victor Cassadine, he brought Aunt Liesl back so Willow could get a bone marrow transplant. Almost as soon as he brought Aunt Liesl back to GH, he was intercepted by the SEC. Ava says, that is not ideal, and Nina says she was there; it was horrible. Ava says, there’s nothing Nina can do. What’s done is done. She can’t change it now. Nina says, maybe so; maybe not. Ava asks what she’s thinking, and Nina says she needs to mitigate the damage here. So the only thing she can do is tell Willow the truth.

Diane says she’s been working to get Carly’s private bank accounts unfrozen. Unfortunately, the judge has ruled that they’ll remain frozen for the duration of the investigation. Drew says he’s sure he can arrange for a loan from the Quartermaine assets, but Diane says, no. She strongly advises against that. While the SEC is deciding whether he used his private relationship with Carly to divulge business secrets, how’s it going to look if he loans her money? Carly says, Diane’s right. She doesn’t want him to get in any more trouble. He asks what she needs for money, and Carly says she has some liquid assets to keep her afloat. Besides, Diane is going to get their names cleared. Diane says, about that. Unfortunately… Carly says, no. Diane’s been saying that word a lot today. Diane says she knows. She’s sorry. However, she can’t represent both of them.

Obrecht says she’s just been through a harrowing experience with Victor, and Scotty says, he knows. That’s why… She says, please, let her finish, and he says, anything you want, my schnitzel. She says she dreamed of him calling her that. She confesses that in moments her survival was in question, she did think about him. He has her heart. He takes her hand and says, she has his as well. So with that, they can probably get through anything. She says, if only it were that simple, and pulls her hand back. Her heart doesn’t belong to him alone. He shares that space with her children who are no longer with her; Nathan and Britta. He says he knows that he hurt her, and he’ll do everything he can in his power to make it up to her, but she says, sadly, he cannot. She was a captive on the Haunted Star, the very vessel where her Britta breathed her last breath. When the air strike destroyed it, she thought, it’s gone, the place where her Britta had the best night of her life, and she had her worst. She didn’t know what to think, how to feel, but Scotty was involved, no matter how inadvertently, in its destruction. And it felt like a gift. He says, maybe he did do something right, and she says he’s done many things right, but as much as she loves him, it’s hard for her to even look at him right now. All she can see is Elizabeth, and how he sided with her. And while she understands he sees Elizabeth as a daughter, she must side with the memory of hers. That is our truth, mein Lieber, and unfortunately, it doesn’t set us free. She walks away.

Michael says he’ll give Dex all the money he needs to start somewhere new. Somewhere Sonny can’t touch him. It’s the least he owes Dex. Dex says, that’s not what he agreed to. The deal was, he’d get enough evidence for Michael to put Sonny away forever, then get out of his business. Michael says, Dex did everything he asked Dex to do. He gained Sonny’s trust, he braved the brutality of Sonny’s world. He can’t thank Dex enough for all he’s done. He realizes changing the terms comes at great risk to Dex. Dex says, but Michael’s not going to change his mind, is he? and Michael says, no, he’s not. Dex says, then he’s screwed, and Michael says, Dex knew this job could go wrong a million different ways; he signed up for that too. Dex says he signed up for exactly two possible outcomes. Either Sonny goes to prison, or Sonny catches him and he winds up dead. And since option one is off the table now, the only other one is him not breathing. Michael says, there’s a way for Dex to escape with his life if he lets Michael help him get away. He’ll protect Dex from Sonny. Dex says, if he disappears, he has to say goodbye to his life, and he’s grown very attached to… to this city. Michael says, he’s grown attached to this city or attached to Josslyn?

Josslyn stands at Willow’s window, and on the phone, Willow says she’s happy to see her. Josslyn says she’s surprised Willow is even awake. How’s she feeling? Willow says, if she’s being completely honest, the chemo’s taking a lot out of her. But it will all be worth it, providing Liesl’s donation takes. Josslyn says, it will, and asks if there’s anything she can do for Willow. Willow says, tell her what’s going on. What’s happening in the outside world? Josslyn hesitates, and Willow says, it doesn’t have to be anything big. Tell her something small and personal. Like how she’s studying for her finals. Is she a flashcards or an outlines student? Josslyn laughs, and says, Willow’s lowered the bar. They can do better than that. She’s sort of seeing someone. Willow says, Michael and Carly sort of hinted she was, but didn’t give her any details. She was very annoyed they respected Josslyn’s privacy like that. So tell her. Is Josslyn seeing anyone she knows?

Sonny says, the cargo was a lot riskier than they discussed, and Valentin asks, what was the cargo? Sonny says, just one of the most powerful plastic explosives in the world. Did Valentin know that? Valentin says he knew they dealt in explosives, but he didn’t expect them to ask Sonny to traffic it. Not on his first job with them anyway. Sonny says he’s not in the market of arming terrorists, but Valentin says, he’s not. Their main client is the US military. They make limited covert exports to small countries that need to defend themselves from larger, better equipped military forces. Sonny says, meaning countries that have a vested interest in making sure Pikeman doesn’t move their merchandise, and Valentin says, and would go to extremes to eliminate anyone facilitating the move of said merchandise. Sonny says, there’s no way he’s going to sit back and be Pikeman’s collateral damage, and Valentin says, so Sonny wants him to tell them no deal?

Ava says she loves Nina, but that is a terrible idea, and Nina says, it’s the only thing she can think of. This whole thing is horrible. They froze Drew and Carly’s assets. Ava laughs, and Nina says, it’s not funny. Ava says, it’s not funny when it comes to Drew, but Carly? Considering she lost her shirt in the very deal she’s being investigated for, it’s lucky she has any assets to freeze, and it’s delicious. Nina says, Willow’s not going to see it that way. They could be facing serious prison time, and if there’s any way of salvaging this, building any kind of relationship with her daughter, she’s just going to have to come clean. She’ll have to apologize to Willow for all the pain that she’s put her and her family through. Ava says, let her remind Nina of something. None of the former or current members of the Corinthos family are forgiving people. That includes Willow. If Nina comes clean, Willow will be furious with her. Nina says, what if she finds out later? and Ava says, then she’ll be furious later. If Nina admits what she did, Carly will be out for her blood. Not to mention Michael and Drew, and the whole Quartermaine clan. And of course (🍷) there’s Sonny. Nina, who certainly can’t foresee the consequences of her actions, says, what about Sonny? and Ava says, Carly’s the mother of his children. Does Nina think he’s really going to be fine with her turning Carly over to the Feds? Nina says, he loves her, and Ava says, he does now, but when he finds out she threw Carly to the wolves, she promises Nina, that will change. Nina says she knows there’s going to be consequences. Shouldn’t she face them? Ava says, when Nina dropped the dime on Carly and Drew, was she lying? Nina says, no, and Ava says, exactly. What they did was illegal. All Nina did was report it. If they didn’t want to go to prison for insider trading, maybe they shouldn’t have done it. All Nina will get for her honesty is lifelong and very powerful enemies. She’ll lose Willow, and she’ll lose Sonny forever. Does she really want to throw away everything that makes her happy?

Willow asks Josslyn if she’s happy, and Josslyn says she is. Willow says, good, and thanks Josslyn for sharing at least that much with her. Josslyn promises to share everything eventually with Willow, and Willow says she’ll hold Josslyn to it. She thanks Josslyn for being here; it means the world. Josslyn says, it’s not just her. It’s Michael and her mom and Drew; they’re all here. All of them are going to be here for her every step of the way. Willow says, love and support from the whole family has kept her going through all of this; the way everyone’s coming together. Josslyn says, they love her, and Willow says she loves all of them too. And as nervous as she is about the transplant, she’s also feeling hopeful for all of their futures again. Josslyn tells Willow, goodbye, hangs up the phone, and then says she feels the same way.

Sonny says he wants Valentin to deliver a message from him. He might be open to another deal, one that would facilitate another shipment; the way it was before, not under these circumstances. Pikeman needs to get their affairs in order, and figure out who came after him. Then they can move forward, but not until then. Valentin says he’ll convey that message and get back to Sonny, and leaves.

Nina says, Ava brings up some good points, and Ava says, that Nina obviously hasn’t considered. Nina says, but where does she go now? Does she just go forward with this huge secret hanging over her and everyone she loves? Ava says, yep, and Nina says, what if she gets caught? Ava asks if anyone else besides her is aware Nina knew Drew and Carly were romantically involved prior to the merger, and Nina says, Martin Grey. Ava says, attorney/client privilege; he can’t say anything. Nina says, he assured her that there’s no way to trace the tip back to her, and Ava says, great. She’s not going to say anything, so good news. Nina’s already gotten away with it. She’s the last person anybody would suspect. Nina asks why Ava says that. Her animosity toward Carly isn’t a secret. Ava says, whose animosity toward Carly is a secret? Aurora’s assets were frozen too, right? And Aurora owns Crimson, so why would she undermine her own business? Nina says, that’s true, and Ava says, Nina’s gotten away with murder. Don’t tell anyone where to find the body.

Diane says she was happy to step in and get Drew released, but moving forward, it wouldn’t be in his best interest to have the same representation as Carly. Carly says she doesn’t understand. Won’t it help if they both have the same strategy? Diane says, the SEC is going to pit the two of them against each other. If this goes to trial, they’ll be separate defendants, so they should have separate attorneys fighting their respective cases. Drew says, then Diane should represent Carly, but Carly says, no. He’s the CEO of Aurora. He engineered the merger. He should have the better representation. He says, the Q’s have a shark tank full of lawyers he can use. Carly should have somebody that knows her implicitly and has represented her and her family for years. Carly asks what Diane thinks, and Diane says she thinks Drew is a very smart man who makes a compelling argument. Carly says, okay. Then that’s what they’ll do. Diane says, now that that’s settled, she’ll be in touch. In the meantime, the two of them look great together. She leaves, and Carly puts her head on Drew’s shoulder.

Nina asks if that’s Scotty, and Ava says, he has that lost puppy dog look. As he passes the table, Nina asks, what’s up? and Ava asks if he’s all right. He says he tried to mend some fences with Liesl, but they’re finished. Nina says, she’s just been through a lot, and he says he knows. He thought she might come to his waiting arms, but no such luck. Nina says, just give her some time, and Ava says, the woman obviously loves him. If she didn’t, she wouldn’t be so mad at him. What did she say exactly? He says, she told him that their truth does not set them free, which it seems to him means, if you love somebody and mess with the family, there is no coming back.

Carly asks how Drew thinks the SEC is going to pit them against each other, and he says, if they want to play dirty, let them. They can handle whatever the SEC throws at them. The way he sees it, they can take on the world as long as they’re together. They hug.

Scotty tells Nina and Ava that he’s not good company. He’s going to go have some martinis. He heads for the bar, and Ava asks Nina, so what are we doing here? Celebrating, or is Nina planning on ruining her relationship with Willow? Nina says, Ava’s right. She can’t tell Willow that she turned in Carly and Drew to the SEC. Ava says, exactly. Trust her. Nothing good will come of Nina clearing her conscience. Ava lifts her glass, and says, to seeing reason. Everything is going Nina’s way. Liesl is going to save Willow’s life; Carly and Drew will face the consequences of their actions. The best thing for Nina to do is to keep her mouth shut and her eyes forward. Nina lifts her glass, and says, and hope for the best. They clink glasses and drink.

Josslyn comes to the roof, and hugs Dex, asking why he needed to see her. What’s going on? He tells her that he has to say goodbye.

There’s a knock at Sonny’s office door, and he says, come in. Frank says, Sonny has another visitor, but Sonny says he’s not expecting one. Frank says, he’ll want to see this one, and Sonny says, send him in. Frank leaves, and Michael walks in.

On Monday, Lucy asks if Sasha is absolutely sure she’s ready for all of this; Josslyn says she’s going with Dex; Drew tells Nina, it’s just not an option; and Michael tells Sonny that they need things to change before it’s too late.

🥀 Farewell To a Legend…

This made me so sad.

⚖️ The ADA’s Temp…

We’ll be having a temporary Molly for a bit.

📱 Oh For Pete’s Sake…

Is it me, or is this all as stupid as it seems?

🍸 Wrong As Usual…

No. It’s not all the same. Actually, this is apples and oranges territory.

🚫 Can’t Blame Her…

There probably are more important topics.

https://okmagazine.com/p/the-view-under-fire-whoopi-goldberg-refuses-discuss-forced-vanderpump-rules-topic/

⚰️ Happy Mother’s Day…

Fear the Walking Dead will be back on Sunday, May 14th.

https://www.thedigitalfix.com/the-walking-dead/fear-the-walking-dead-season-8-release-date

🗽 City Trailer…

This one is a must watch for me.

🦌 Third and Final…

I love this show. I’m almost done with Season 2, and it’s even better than Season 1. It can be borderline Disney, but not in a bad way. And it’s something different.

https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/news/sweet-tooth-renewed-for-third-and-final-season-at-netflix/

🎭 Not This Time…

You can check out the nominees here as well.

https://playbill.com/article/2023-tony-awards-will-not-broadcast-as-announced-wga-strike-waiver-denied

🐎 A Lot Bit Country…

The ACM Award winners.

https://people.com/country/acm-awards-2023-complete-winners-list/

The ACM Award fashion.

https://parade.com/tv/acm-music-awards-red-carpet-fashion-outfits-2023

🎥 Not Your Mom’s Awards…

The MTV Movie & TV Awards winners.

https://www.mtv.com/news/wlwids/mtv-movie-tv-awards-winners-list-2023

The non-fashion.

https://www.lofficielusa.com/film-tv/mtv-movie-tv-awards-2023-red-carpet-winners-writers-strike

🐶 Bikers and Dogs Reunion…

It doesn’t get cooler than this.

https://ew.com/tv/sons-of-anarchy-reunion-peta-psa-emilio-rivera-theo-rossi/

🐩 Going To the Dogs…

Westminster winner. Click on Rummie the Pekingese for a tweet treat.

https://www.cnn.com/2023/05/09/us/westminster-dog-show-winner-cec/index.html

🥠 Quotes of the Week

We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals. – Immanuel Kant

I’ll join this conversation on the proviso that we stop bitching about people, talking about wigs, dresses, bust sizes, penises, drugs, night clubs, and bloody Abba! – Bernadette (Terrence Stamp), Priscilla, Queen of the Desert

The purpose of life is to contribute in some way to making things better. – Robert F. Kennedy

Life is not easy for any of us. But what of that? We must have perseverance and above all confidence in ourselves. We must believe that we are gifted for something and that this thing must be attained. – Marie Curie

A leader is a dealer in hope.Napoleon Bonaparte

The pendulum of the mind alternates between sense and nonsense, not between right and wrong. – Carl Jung

His first word was a paragraph. – Rosetta McMillan (Cleo King), Mike & Molly

I believe in Liberty for all men: the space to stretch their arms and their souls, the right to breathe and the right to vote, the freedom to choose their friends, enjoy the sunshine, and ride on the railroads, uncursed by color; thinking, dreaming, working as they will in a kingdom of beauty and love. – W.E.B. DuBois

🤹🏽‍♀️ A Mother Of a Day…

Follow the breadcrumbs back on Monday really Tuesday for soap, Sailing, and Summer smack talk. Fear the Walking Dead begins Sunday, so we’ll see on that. Mondays is rough. Until then, stay safe, stay loving your mom even if it has to be from a distance, and stay not messing with the family of somebody you love. There might be no coming back.

May 11, 2023 – Hursley Makes Curtis an Offer, Sandoval and Raquel Edge Out Jax For Most Awful Human(s) On Earth, PS & Some Breakfast

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Tracy says she recalls Brook saying she owed her when she helped Chase get reinstated, and she wondered when Tracy was going to ask her to pay up. Brook says, right, and Tracy accused her of being like her father, only thinking in terms of money and stock market shenanigans. Tracy says, relax. She’s not going to ask Brook for money or stock, but she has thought of something Brook can do for her that will settle the account. Brook says she really does want to pay Tracy back, but right now’s not the right time, with Willow’s life hanging by a thread, and Michael needing their love and support. Everyone’s distracted. It’s not the time for her to take on a new project. Tracy says, exactly. The family is distracted. It’s the perfect time for Brook to do something without attracting unwanted attention from her nearest and dearest. And lucky for Brook, Tracy knows exactly how she’s going to do it.

Sasha says, Maxie wants her to take her place on the Home & Heart shopping channel? Go back on the same show where she had a nervous breakdown on national TV? Maxie says she wouldn’t be asking, but she has this stupid sinus infection, and Sasha is the only one who can step in and tell everyone about the wonders of their beauty breakthrough, The Deceptor. Gladys says, what about Lucy? and Maxie says, the whole world thought she was dead. Knowing Lucy, she would feel the need to explain she wasn’t really dead; she was being held captive by Victor Cassadine. She would make the whole thing about herself and the product would get lost. No. No, Gladys. It has to be Sasha. Sasha says, her last appearance was a literal nightmare. She hallucinated Liam, which almost cost them the company, not to mention the toll it took on her mental health. Besides, she can’t imagine Home & Heart would want her back on the air. She’s sorry, but… Maxie says, if she says no… She’ll forgive Sasha, but there is one person who never will.

At The Savoy, N’neka places a glass in front of Selina, and says, her usual, the house mocktail with a twist of lime. Selina says, it’s kind of her to remember. As for her private party… N’neka says she has instructions to reserve the backroom for her nephew’s birthday party, and Selina says, excellent. Then everything’s being taken care of. Cody comes over, and says, not everything. She still needs someone who knows his way around a deck of cards. He produces a Jack of Hearts playing card.

Chase walks into the squad room, and everyone applauds. He and Dante bro hug, and says, it’s good to be back. He finds a card alongside a Red Sox mug on his desk, and says, here he wondered if anyone cared he was back to work. Dante pulls out a stack of folders, and says he especially cares, because these are for Chase. He puts them on Chase’s desk and says, have at it. Chase opens the first folder and sees Cody’s picture, and Dante asks how it feels. Chase says, honestly? It kind of feels like he never left. Why isn’t Dante at GH? Dante says he was, but Willow’s in isolation now. There’s only so many times he can tell Michael, it’s going to be okay. Chase asks how Willow is doing, and Dante says, she’s weak, but everyone is optimistic because Drew’s back with Obrecht. Chase says, the bone marrow transplant’s going to work, and Dante says, here’s hoping. In the meantime, he’s going to distract himself with work. Chase asks if he needs help, and Dante points to the pile, and says, those. Chase says, things look pretty bad for Dante’s friend Cody, but Dante says, sometimes things aren’t always what they seem.

Portia says, Trina finally made it home, and Taggert says, and they have Curtis to thank for that, going over to Curtis and shaking his hand. Curtis says, it wasn’t just him. It took a whole team to make this happen. Laura says, yes, it took all of them, and Trina says she wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for Curtis, Laura, and all the others, but most especially, she wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for Spencer. Well, technically, she wouldn’t have been there if it wasn’t for Spencer. Taggert says, Curtis is right. Trina’s safe and so are all the other people who could have been hurt if Victor had his way. Spencer says, the good thing is, Uncle Victor didn’t get his way, and Laura says, amen to that. Now it’s time to focus on the living, starting with her sweet little grandson, who hopefully will be growing up in a much better world. First of all, they need to have him checked out to make sure he didn’t suffer any injuries during his captivity or rescue. Portia says, of course (🍷). She’ll take Laura to pediatrics. Laura says, that’s okay. They’re waiting for them. Trina asks if Spencer wants her to come, and he says, thanks, but he thinks his grandmother can handle this. He thinks it’s probably best that Trina be with her family right now. They leave for pediatrics, and Portia tells Trina, despite everything Spencer’s baby brother has gone through, he’s far too young to understand everything that’s happening, so she thinks he’s going to be fine. On the other hand, Portia needs to make sure her little baby girl is all right. Trina says, she’s fine, but there’s one thing she needs, and Portia says, anything. Trina says she needs to talk to her dad.

Sasha wonders who wouldn’t forgive her for not going on Home & Heart. Is Maxie talking about Valentin, or one of the other investors? She embarrassed them once, and won’t risk another meltdown on air. Maxie says, if Sasha doesn’t get back on that horse, or bicycle, or any metaphor she wants to use, the only person who’s never going to forgive her is her. The last time, she was in a really bad place, and Maxie saw her get through that. She knows Sasha is much stronger than she’s ever been before. She wouldn’t be asking Sasha to do this if she didn’t fully believe that. Let’s be real. Sasha’s not just another person in this company; she’s the Face of Deception. And while it’s true, some people get a twisted thrill out of watching others fall down, what people love even more is a redemption story. There’s not a woman out there who didn’t feel Sasha’s pain, and they want to see she’s come back from that. She absolutely cannot say no. Gladys says, maybe Sasha can’t say no, but she can.

Cody holds out the card, and says, it’s Selina’s for the taking. She says, if that’s supposed to be his calling card, it should be a Joker. As for tonight’s poker game, his presence won’t be required. He says, since when? and she says, her guests enjoy playing for high stakes, not with known common criminals. Not only was he foolish enough to steal a bracelet at the Nurses Ball, he made it worse by getting caught. He says he’s innocent, and she says, for his sake, she hopes that’s true. Prison can be so confining. Regardless, didn’t he recently tell her that he wanted out of the game? He says he did, but times change. Defense attorneys don’t come cheap. Have a heart and let him play for his usual cut. She says, he may dream big, but at the end of the day, he’s just a petty thief, and there’s just no room at the table for that.

Chase asks if Dante buys that someone planted a bracelet in Cody’s pocket, and Dante says, ever since he’s known Cody, he’s been in trouble; trouble finds him. When he landed in town last year, Dante thought maybe he left all that behind, but maybe he’s still working angles whenever he can. However, this friendship with Sasha seems legit. Why would he steal her mother-in-law’s bracelet and hide it in his coat pocket? It’s ridiculous. Chase asks if Cody wasn’t friends with Britt Westbourne. Didn’t that involve some jewelry too? Dante says, yeah, but sometimes people do the wrong things for the right reasons. He gets that, and thinks Chase is familiar with that concept as well.

Brook says, helping Chase get his badge back is worth any price, and Tracy says she wants Brook to go back to Deception, the sooner, the better. Brook says, Tracy wants her to get her old job back? and Tracy says, she didn’t burn any bridges when she left, did she? Brook says, no, of course (🍷) not. Those women are all her friends, but she only started working there in the first place to help Maxie. Brook was pretending to be Bailey Lou’s mother, and the only time Maxie could see her child was when Brook brought her to daycare at work. Tracy says, and when Maxie got her child back, Brook stayed at Deception, correct? and Brook says she did. She liked working there; the people, the products… But it’s not what she wants to do with her life. Her passion is music, or doesn’t Tracy remember telling her as a kid not to follow in her dear old dad’s footsteps when he was singing as Eddie Maine? It’s a good thing she didn’t take Tracy’s advice. Not only has she reclaimed the rights to her songs, but all these opportunities are opening up for her now; to produce music and rep musicians. Tracy says, Brook can write all the songs she wants after Brook does this for her, and Brook asks, what part of I quit is unclear to her? Tracy says, unquit. Tell Maxie that she misses working with her. Make nice to Sasha, and God forbid, flatter Lucy Coe. Tell Lucy she wants to learn from her. Brook says, this doesn’t make any sense. Why does Tracy care if she works at a cosmetics company? What is she really after? Tracy says she wants Brook to make herself indispensable, and Brook says she always tries to do that. Tracy says, while she’s at it, keep her eyes open. She wants Brook to find out what’s happening at Research and Development. She doesn’t want to know what the next hot thing for summer is, or what’s going to sell in the fall. She wants to know what’s down the pipeline. Brook says she doesn’t get it. Tracy doesn’t care about ELQ, and now all of a sudden she’s into the cosmetics biz? Tracy tells her, let’s just say I’m curious. From time to time, she’ll check in with Brook, and Brook will tell her what the next big thing is. Brook can do that for her, can’t she? After what she did for Chase? Does that sound like a fair deal to her? Brook says, it sounds like corporate espionage. Is Tracy asking Brook to be her personal spy?

Chase says he’s mad his share of mistakes, but stealing expensive jewelry isn’t one of them, and Dante says, that’s good. It’s also good to have him back. Chase says he didn’t do it on his own; he had help. Dante says, so he and Brook… and Chase says, if Dante were to ask him before the Nurses Ball, he would have said, no way. Dante says, but after she did that thing, standing up to her dirtbag ex-manager? and Chase says, it saved him the trouble of smacking the guy again. Not that he would have. Dante says, never, and Chase tells him, it’s like Dante said about Cody. Sometimes you do the wrong thing for the right reasons.

Cody says, if Selina vouches for him, the other players will come around, and she says, what keeps the poker games running smoothly and profitably is avoiding the curious eyes of authorities. And yet he expects her to allow a common jewel thief to sit at the table? How can she explain that to her guests? How could she retain their trust? He says, by telling them the truth. She says, and what is that? and he says, that he’s not a thief. He was framed.

Gladys says she’s sorry, but she can’t let Maxie use her daughter-in-law to sell some newfangled beauty product; not when her mental health is at stake. Sasha thanks Gladys for standing up for her, but she knows Maxie means well. Gladys says, maybe if it was a different show or  a different studio, but to go back to the same place where Sasha had her breakdown? She won’t agree to that. Maxie says, Gladys is actually proving her point. It is Sasha’s well-being she’s thinking about. She needs to face her fears by doing the same show. Gladys says, what if she’s not ready? and Maxie says, isn’t that for Sasha to decide? Sasha asks if Maxie is sure no one else can make this presentation, and Maxie says, she and Sasha are the only ones who’ve been following this product since its planning stages. Nobody knows how to sell it like they do. She wishes she were up to the challenge, but her sinuses are holding her back. But Sasha is up for it. Maxie knows she is. Sasha says, maybe Maxie is right. Maybe the only way to conquer her fear is to face it. Gladys says, legally, it’s up to her to decide, and she won’t let Sasha do it.

Portia asks if Curtis is sure he doesn’t need to see a doctor, but he says, it’s just cuts and bruises. She really should see the other guy. She says she wasn’t only worried for Trina. If anything had happened to him, she doesn’t know… He says, it’s over, and she says, is it?

On the phone, Laura says, they’re all here at the hospital. She thinks they really want to be here.

Spencer promises Ace that this exam is not going to hurt, when Laura walks in, and asks how Ace is doing. Spencer says, he’s good. He was telling Ace that when Laura used to take him to the doctor, she told him if he was good he’d get a lollipop. He wishes things were still that simple. She says, they’re not that simple because things change, but some things never do. She produces a lollipop. Presumably for Spencer, since Ace is way too young for that.

Taggert and Trina go to Portia’s office, and he says, it’s just the two of them. Does she need to tell him something about this Spencer boy? She says, this isn’t about Spencer; it’s about him and her. She wanted to tell him first what she’s decided, because it could impact him more than anyone else. He asks what she’s decided, and she says she’s changed her mind. She wants to take the DNA test and find out the truth. She wants to be absolutely clear. No matter what the test results say, Taggert is still her dad. He says, like he’d let her forget that, and she says she’s serious. He says he was just trying to make it easier for her, but can he ask her why she changed her mind? She says, because of the last few days, and everything she’s been through. When things were at their worst, she saw how Spencer loved his little brother. It reminded her there’s nothing more important than family. That’s when she made the decision that if she made it through, she wasn’t going to let secrets come between her and her family ever again. He says, like her mom did, and she says, twenty years ago, her mother swept things under the rug because she was afraid to face the truth. And one day in the future, hopefully she’ll forgive her mom, but Trina’s not repeating her mistake. They all need answers, and she’s the only one who can get them.

 Portia says, when Curtis walked through the door, her heart skipped a beat. Just the thought that she might never see him again… He says he’s not going to lie. There were times out there when he thought he wasn’t going to make it. Hursley comes out of the elevator, and says, Curtis Ashford? Curtis asks, who wants to know? and Hursley says he’s an agent with the WSB, showing Curtis his ID. Curtis says he was already debriefed in Greenland, but Hursley says, not by him. Can he ask Curtis to join him for some additional questions? I wonder if coffee comes with that, and Curtis says, okay, let’s get it over with. They go into the elevator, and Curtis looks at Portia as the doors close.

Brook says she can’t be back at Deception, unless Tracy wants her employee discount for wrinkle cream. Tracy says she doesn’t have wrinkles; she has character. (She does look amazing, and aging naturally, thank you.) The only interest she has in cosmetics is lining her pockets with green. Brook can have all the music she wants, but this way, she can also have health insurance. It sounds like a win-win to her. Brook says, not a chance. She doesn’t know what Tracy is actually up to, but music is her life. Tracy laughs, and says, so Brook is telling her that Chase has no part in it. She called Tracy in tears. She begged Tracy to help her because the Board was about to deny his request for reinstatement. Brook says she’s repeatedly expressed her gratitude for Tracy’s help, and Tracy says, well that help, just like that shiny badge, comes at a price. Or is Brook deluded enough to think that little speech she gave single-handedly convinced them to give Chase another chance? She wonders how Chase would react if he knew he owed his badge not to Brook, but to her, and the very expensive strings she had to pull.

Chase says, Brook would have never gotten mixed up with Linc Brown again if she hadn’t been trying to get his badge back, and Dante says, so Chase is telling him there’s a chance. Chase asks if Dante doesn’t have a lot of work to do, and Dante says, actually, he does. He wants to start digging into that SEC case and see what they’ve got on Drew and Carly. The entire Quartermaine family, his mother included, believe that Ned was behind it. He’s not convinced. But then again, he wasn’t convinced when they found that stolen bracelet in Cody’s pocket either.

Cody tells Selina, Gladys Corbin set him up. She knows he’s onto the scam she’s running to bilk her daughter-in-law. Gladys is trying to discredit him before he blows her and her plan out of the water. Selina says she simply doesn’t care, and he says he respects her point-of-view, but he’s been a regular in that backroom poker game for a while now. Suddenly, if he’s a no-show, someone’s going to start asking questions. She says, such as? and he says, why was a petty thief allowed in the game to begin with?

Maxie says, it’s not up to Gladys to let Sasha do anything. She’s a grown woman with a mind of her own. Gladys says she knows that, but it’s not just her responsibility as Sasha’s court appointed guardian, but as a member of her family. Maxie says, so what Gladys is really telling her is, she’s afraid she’s going to lose money if Sasha has another meltdown, and Gladys says, that’s a low blow. Maxie’s talking about Sasha facing her fears, but what if those fears are too strong right now? What if she cracks again, and they can’t pick up the pieces? Sasha says, Gladys is right. She does have a say, but Sasha’s friends and partners at Deception have stood by her, and she’s ready to return the favor, and start living her life again.

Spencer thanks Laura, and says, orange too; he likes orange. This brings back memories. He puts the lollipop in his bag, and says he just wants to get the all-clear from the doctor so they can go home. He knows that means more time around Esme, and he hasn’t even told her that they’re home yet. He knows she has every right to be here because she’s Ace’s mom. She says she knew he was going to feel that way, so she hopes he doesn’t mind… He says, mind what? when Esme comes in, saying, where’s her baby? She takes Ace from Spencer, and cries happy tears. Laura says, Esme would be proud of her son. He was just as brave, if not braver, than everyone on the Haunted Star. Spencer says, they all made sure he was safe and warm, and Esme says, by we, he means him and Laura, right? He says, the two of them helped, but Trina also did a lot, and Esme says, tell Trina that she owes her a huge thank you, especially after what all these people say she did to hurt Trina. He says, if she knew Trina, she’d know Trina would never take it out on Ace, and Esme says she’s just glad the nightmare is over, and Victor Cassadine is… Laura says, dead. It’s really okay to say it. The world is a better place without him. Austin comes in and says he’s here to examine Ace. Esme is his mom, so she can stay, but Mayor Collins and Mr. Cassadine, let’s go. Spencer and Laura leave.

Trina tells Taggert, it’s been three months since her world turned upside down, and she found out it might be possible that Curtis… He says he gets it. She wants to know. She says, want to? No, but she feels like she needs to know. if Curtis is her biological father, then that means she’s related to Stella, and Marshall would be her grandfather. Taggert says he appreciates Trina sharing her decision with him. That’s very kind. That’s who he and Portia raised her to be. With that said, she doesn’t need his permission. She says, maybe not, but she’d like his blessing, and he says, she has it. Today, tomorrow, and forever. He kisses the top of her head and says, and he agrees with her. Secrets tear families apart. So go learn whatever she needs to learn, but if she thinks that these results will change who she is or him being her dad… She says, not ever, and hugs him.

Curtis says, so a WSB agent wants to talk with him alone. Is this where Hursley gets rid of him to close the book on Victor Cassadine? Hursley says, they don’t play those games anymore, and Curtis says he’s sure. So if Hursley doesn’t want to silence him, what is it that he wants? Hursley says, the Bureau is very impressed with the way Curtis handled himself amid all the chaos in Greenland, even if he went rogue in doing it, and Curtis says he’d do the same thing again if it meant saving someone he loves. Call it reckless if they want to. Hursley says, they call it initiative, and Curtis says he’s been around the block a few times. He knows if they’re looking at him, they already did their research into his background, so they know it wasn’t all pretty. Hursley says, they know he was a damn good cop before… Let’s just say he made some bad choices, but that was a long time ago. The bottom line is, they could use a man like Curtis. Curtis says he already has a job. He assumes the WSB already knows that. Hursley says, the WSB can’t be everywhere at once. They need assets in the fields; strictly off the books of course (🍷), but ready and able to help when needed. So what does Curtis think?

Maxie says, that is the Sasha Gilmore she knows and loves, and she’s not the only one. Sasha’s one appearance on Home & Heart made quite the impression. Sasha says she bets, but Maxie says, not in a bad way. People sympathize with her. They’ve been following her ever since. They’ll be rooting for her. Sasha says, that’s nice to hear. If she can just find a way to look into that camera again and think about the people watching as friends, as people who have problems just like she does, then maybe she can help them, as well as help herself. Maxie asks if she’s ever told Sasha that she’s her hero. And there’s nobody else she’d rather have… She sneezes, and Gladys hands her a tissue. Gladys says, the last thing she wants is to hold Sasha back. if Sasha really thinks she’s ready for this, Gladys won’t stand in her way. Sasha thanks her, and they hug. Gladys says she just hopes Sasha doesn’t regret it later, and leaves.

Brook says, okay, fine. She can admit Tracy may have persuaded the Review Board to give Chase his job back, but Chase also proved he deserved to be reinstated. Tracy says she agrees. Chase is a straight shooter; exactly her point. How does Brook think he’s going to feel when he finds out she went behind his back to Tracy? Better yet, let’s find out. Tracy gets out her phone, and Brook says, she’s bluffing. Tracy says, is she? As luck would have it, she has Chase on speed dial. She calls, and Dante asks who it is, but Chase says he doesn’t recognize the number. He’s about to hit ignore, when Dante says, hold on. Maybe it’s that anonymous SEC source. Chase answers, and Tracy says, Detective Chase, this is Tracy Quartermaine. Their paths crossed at Michael and Willow’s wedding, remember?

Curtis tells Hursley that there was a part of him that enjoyed all the action in Greenland. Who wouldn’t want to kick ass and take names, especially when the name’s Cassadine? Hursley says, so he can tell his superiors they can count on Curtis? but Curtis says, not exactly,  because there’s still a part of him that enjoys working at his nightclub; listening to live music, and making sure his customers are okay, and letting someone else be the tough guy. Hursley says he’ll take that as a maybe. He takes out his phone, and says, there’s no need to give him a definitive answer right now. Curtis’s phone dings, and Hursley says he just texted Curtis his private number. Think about it and give him a call, because that nightclub of his may seem a little tame after saving the planet.

Selina says, Cody’s not going to play his hand with her. The guests at her table trust her. He says, no doubt, but she’ll still have a lot of explaining to do. He thinks the better play is to double down on her faith in him. Gladys flies in, and says, don’t listen to him. He asks Gladys, what’s the matter? Guilty conscience? Gladys says she doesn’t know what lies Cody’s been feeding Selina, but the man was caught with his hand in the cookie jar, so to speak. If Selina is as smart as Gladys thinks she is, she’ll get rid of him. Selina says, Gladys is half right, because she was thinking of getting rid of both of them.

Chase says, yes, of course (🍷) he remembers Tracy. Brook tries to grab Tracy’s phone, but Tracy shrugs her off, and says, isn’t he sweet. He asks what he can do for her, and she says, her granddaughter just told her that he got reinstated. Congratulations. He says, actually, he owes her granddaughter for standing up for him, and Tracy says, she’s nothing if not loyal. Since she’s back in town for a while, she’s decided she wants to take a better interest in the community. Shall they have lunch? Chase says, lunch? and Brook makes a cutting motion with her hands. Tracy says she’ll be in touch, and ends the call. Chase says, Dante’s mom is married to Ned, right? Does he speak Quartermaine? What the hell was that about? Tracy asks Brook, so what’s it going to be? Is Brook going to take the deal, or is she going to take the lunch?

Sasha tells Maxie that she doesn’t want to hurt her mother-in-law’s feelings, but she can’t depend on Gladys forever. Sooner or later, she has to take charge of her own life; her own choices, her own mistakes. Maxie says, the biggest mistake would be trusting Gladys more than she trusts herself. She’s not saying Gladys doesn’t care about Sasha, but she seems to see Sasha as some sort of victim; someone who needs protecting. Sasha asks how Maxie thinks of her, and Maxie says, besides the fact that Sasha is completely gorgeous, she sees Sasha as strong, capable, someone who has grown leaps and bounds this past year, and is ready to take on the world again. But before Sasha steps in front of those cameras, the only thing that matters is if she feels the same way.

Esme asks if her little boy is going to be all right, and Austin says, considering he survived an adventure on the high seas, and narrowly escaped an international incident, he’d say Ace is doing all right. But he could really use one thing. She says, please tell her, and Austin says, his mom, handing Ace to her.

Curtis asks if Trina and Taggert are still in Portia’s office, and Portia says, yes. Is everything okay? He says, nothing he can’t handle, when Taggert and Trina come out of the elevator. Taggert says, why doesn’t he just take off, but Trina says, no, stay. She was telling her dad, and she wanted Portia and Curtis to hear this from her, so they can stop asking questions and start living like a family again. In order to do that, she wants to get a DNA test.

Austin comes out with Esme and Ace, and Spencer asks, how’s Ace? Austin says, his little brother is doing great. He’s ready to go home. Spencer says, home, meaning all of them going back to living at his grandmother’s place, assuming it’s okay with Laura. Laura says, normally, she doesn’t like to speak for Doc, but she can say with real confidence that they wouldn’t have it any other way. Esme thanks Austin, and they get in the elevator.

Chase asks why Dante thinks Tracy wants to have lunch with him, and Dante says, if it were anyone else, he’d say she wants to talk about Chase and her granddaughter, but it’s Tracy Quartermaine. He thinks she’s got another agenda. Chase asks if Dante thinks he should stay away, and Dante says, he could, or he could be a detective and go out to lunch.

Tracy says, just remember, Detective Chase is only a phone call away, but Brook says, that won’t be necessary. Just as always, Tracy wins. When does Tracy want her to go back to working at Deception?

Sasha tells Maxie, how does she feel about going back in front of the cameras at Home & Heart? Part of her wants to run and hide, but she won’t give in to that fear. Even if she fails… Maxie says, she won’t, and Sasha thanks her, but says she won’t know until she’s there. Maxie says, so she’s in? and Sasha says she’s in. They high-five.

Selina tells Gladys and Cody to consider themselves warned, and says, if Cody can play his cards tonight the way he played them with her, he can have a place at the table. He thanks her, and says she won’t regret it. Gladys clears her throat, and Selina says she hasn’t forgotten about her. She, too, has a place at the table. Who knows? Maybe her luck will change.

Portia says she wishes she’d never put Trina in this position in the first place, but she’s proud of Trina for wanting to know the truth. Taggert seconds that, and Trina thanks them. It means a lot to her. Laura, Esme, Ace, and Spencer come out of the elevator. Spencer says, the doctor gave Ace the thumbs up that he’s healthy, so they’re going to take him home now to his grandmother’s. Trina says, she’s glad his little brother is okay, and they leave, Spencer touching Trina’s arm as they go past.

Tomorrow, Willow tells someone not to let it happen again; Diane tells Drew that it’s going to get worse before it gets better; Scotty is wondering if Obrecht feels the same way; and Dex says he only has two options here.

Vanderpump Rules

At Villa Rosa, Lisa welcomes Velvet, a new friend for Diamond. This has zero to do with anything else in the episode, but the pony is super cute. Ariana and Katie talk logistics of their sandwich shop, when Chef Consultant Penny arrives. She says the shop has good energy; it’s so charming. She’s immediately flooded with ideas. Katie says, they’re having a look-see party, and afterwards, having drinks at SUR. In Katie’s interview, she says, they’ve had to do a lot of work to change a vision to reality. Just like they have trailers for a movie, they want to get the buzz out there. Let people see the shop and taste the sandwiches. Even though opening a restaurant has been difficult, they have one advantage the Toms don’t. They’re willing to ask professionals for help. Katie asks Ariana if everything is okay with Lala, and Ariana says she doesn’t think the situation with Tom not leaving the barbecue is as big of a deal as it was to Lala. Katie says she had flashbacks about Schwartz now showing up for her, and Ariana says, she’s not getting mad at anyone for asking questions. In Ariana’s interview, she says, what Tom did at the barbecue isn’t important to her right now. She’s just annoyed because it puts her in a position for people to undermine her relationship by gossiping.🚩

Raquel and Charli go for retail therapy, and Charli asks how it was at TomTom. Raquel says, it was fun… Actually, it wasn’t fun; it was awkward when she said hi to Katie and her mom. We see a clip of that, and they return the greeting, barely, but say nothing else. She tells Charli that she had a conversation with James. She didn’t appreciate him saying he regretted Rachella. She said, obviously, he loves Ally, and he told her, it’s a different situation. He could never ask for a love like this. She’s pretty sure Ally doesn’t feel the same way. She thinks James is more into Ally than she’s into him, and Charli says, 100%. In Charli’s interview, she says, James sees Ally as his future wife, and Ally sees James as her current boyfriend. Raquel says, that’s why she called Ally her replacement, and in Raquel’s interview, she says she’s turned over a new leaf in overcoming her relationship with James. She needed to see him for who he is, and see Ally in her old position to comprehend it. She’s decided to choose herself over relationships, and stopped compromising in ways that took away from her as a person. Charli asks if Raquel was invited to the sandwich party, and Raquel says, no, but she’s okay with it. She thinks that they’re coming to SUR afterward, and Charli says she’s not taking time off anymore. It says a lot that she’d rather serve Pumptinis than party. They look at some jewelry, and Raquel buys the infamous lightning bolt necklace as birthday gift to herself.🚩Charlie says, she’ll never regret buying good jewelry. It’s an investment.

A long awaited couch arrives at Schwartz & Sandy’s, and In Schwartz’s interview, he says, this booth the last missing piece of the puzzle. They’re so close to being able to open the doors. It’s going to be glorious. Sandoval says he’s jealous of Katie and Ariana, and Schwartz says, their shop is so manageable. They’ve come this far, but still can’t open because they have no line cooks; it’s brutal. They have temporary cooks, but it never ends. He misses his family. Sandoval says he wants to go somewhere cool with Ariana, and Schwartz asks if they’ve been okay. Sandoval says he feels like his very presence annoys her🚩, and we flash back to several times Ariana told him, go away🚩, as we all would. Schwartz says he thinks it speaks to a bigger issue.🚩In his interview, Schwartz says, based on what he’s seen, Tom and Ariana have devolved to roommates.🚩 They lack the intimacy they once had when they hang out, and don’t even acknowledge each other.🚩It’s not looking good.🚩Sandoval says, Ariana doesn’t go out of her way for him like he does for her, and it hurts him at times.🚩Schwartz says, they need to address those things or it magnifies over time, and you become comfortable being d*cks to each other. In Sandoval’s interview, he says, there’s definitely a disconnect, and they argue more than they did earlier in the relationship.🚩In their nine years together, he can count on less than one hand the times Ariana has said he’s right. Schwartz tells him not to be like him and procrastinate. Don’t be Mr. Eventually.  

Ariana tells Sandoval that they’re doing four sandwiches, and shows him their logo. He asks if there’s anything he can do to help, but she says, just come and have fun. They talk about Lala questioning Sandoval🚩, and Ariana says she told Lala that she wasn’t mad at him for not leaving the barbecue, but he had to answer for himself; she’s not his spokesperson. Ariana does think he should have left when he saw there was no way for him to get a ride later🚩, but Sandoval says, he knew if he went home, he would want to do something and there was nothing he could do.🚩 Ariana says she’s not annoyed at him, but she’s annoyed at life, and he says, it’s been a lot. He feels like they’re not as connected lately. A lot of things have been bothering him, and they’re stacking up and being swept under the rug. It seems like his very presence annoys her.🚩Ariana tells him, those aren’t words she would say🚩, and he says, she snaps at him and belittles him in front of their friends. We flash back to her telling him that he’s acting weird🚩, and Sandoval says, it hurts his feelings. She says, he’s the only person she wants to hang out with more. It’s never just them, and she’s said that for months. Everyone else gets him peacocking on a night out, and all she gets are the leftovers.🚩 Sandoval says, the sh*t they’re both dealing with, he doesn’t feel as connected as they should be.🚩 They don’t even have a picture together from Scheana’s wedding. We see a few pictures of him with Raquel🚩, and Ariana says she doesn’t think pictures are a marker of connection. Sandoval tells her that he thinks it is, and wonders if she’s going to disagree with everything he says.🚩She says she agrees they’re not as connected as they used to be. They used to put on music and cook together, and don’t do that anymore.🚩 He says he wants them to be better; to be more intimate. Having sex four times year affects him.🚩 Ariana says, maybe he should spend time with her. She can’t have sex with someone who feels like a stranger.🚩 In her interview, she says, they need to focus on each other and have quality time. She wants emotional and physical intimacy🚩, but you can’t telepath a d*ck to a vagina from The Abbey. He asks what she sees as quality time, and she says, taking a walk together, making dinner together, not necessarily getting drunk together. It’s the definition of quality time. He says, that’s her definition🚩, and in Sandoval’s interview, a producer asks what his idea of quality time is. He says, taking mushrooms together and watching the sunrise. Skinny-dipping in the pool. Hang-gliding. He likes stimuli. Sandoval tells Ariana that she goes out with Logan, drinking and singing songs, but she says Sandoval doesn’t like the same things they like.🚩He’s not going to sit and watch Love Island with her. He says he doesn’t have time to watch fifty episodes of Love Island🚩, and she says, that’s literally all they talk about. He says he loves her and wants them to be better. She says she does too, but he has as many guards and walls up as she does.🚩

James and Ally’s cat dodges Ally’s pet, which has nothing to do with anything, but it’s pretty funny because, cats. In James’s interview, he says, the time has come for him to perform at the Imagine festival for three days in Georgia. Whenever he reads his name on the flyer, he feels butterflies in his stomach. We see the flyer, and he’s like the 5000th one down. He says, Ally is coming. They support each other in things that make them happy and help fulfil their needs, like how his DJ’ing pays the rent. He tells her that a car is picking them and taking them to the sandwich party, then taking them to the airport. She asks about the attire, and he says, Lisa is going to be there. She wonders if that means she should wear a gown. He asks if she’s okay with chatting with Lisa, and in his interview, he says, first impressions are important. He feels like introducing Ally to Lisa is like introducing her to his mom. He wants everyone to get along, and for them to be invited to Villa Rosa dinners. He tells Ally that he’s setting up a therapy session on Monday, and she says she’s holding him to it. He hasn’t been bad or crazy, but throwing the drink at the beach wasn’t cool. She knows his emotions come out intense, and he directs them at his friends and the people he loves. He says, there’s only so much he can take before he gets pissed off, and in his interview, he says, when he sees therapy in the movies, it’s because someone’s life is in shambles. Everyone wants to tell him that he has a problem, but take a look at his life with Ally and talk about their own life problems. He doesn’t need to talk about his engagement fail and his world class proposal going to sh*t.  

Sandoval goes to Schwartz’s place to get ready for the sandwich party. Schwartz says he’s going in positive, and Sandoval asks if he’s cool with Katie. Schwartz says, if he senses she’s uncomfortable, he’ll dip out. Katie’s still pissed at him. A gossip blogger claimed he saw Schwartz and Raquel making out all night, and Katie was texting him about it being thrown in her face. In Schwartz’s interview, he says he never would have kissed Raquel had he known what the fallout would be, and how much it would hurt Katie. It was a lovely kiss, but not worth the blowout. He tells Sandoval that he thinks Katie’s at the tail end of this Raquel thing, and Sandoval asks if he saw Katie’s mom. Schwartz says, she’s upset with him because she sees her daughter distraught and upset, and he’s the one causing that.

Everyone gets ready for the party. Penny tells Ariana and Katie that if Lisa has a sandwich named after her, she’d better get one too. James and Ally are the first to arrive. Ariana gets them a welcome cocktail, and they taste the Greek salad sandwich, which they rave over. James asks if Schwartz is coming, but Katie says she hasn’t talked to him. If he comes, he comes; if he doesn’t, he doesn’t. Lisa comes in, and in Lisa’s interview, she says she’s happy to see them moving forward with the space and the concept. As she always says, if you want something said, ask a man; if you want something done, ask a woman. James tells Lisa about the festival, and she asks how many people he’ll be playing to, but he says that doesn’t matter as much as the connections he’ll make. And his baby is going to be there to support him. Lisa says, more like keep an eye on him, but Ally says, no. She’s coming to support James. James tells Lisa that Ally’s no pushover; she stands her ground. Lisa says, Ally needs to hold tight and stand strong. James can be disrespectful. In her interview, Lisa says, Ally needs to put a strong bit in James’s mouth. If he’s on his own, she’s not sure he’s going to make it. Ally says, James is going to see a therapist, and Lisa says, he’s getting better, but he’s not there yet. They leave, and Lisa samples a sandwich. She says she likes the presentation; it’s unique and sexy. She loves it, and says she knew Penny would come in useful one day. Katie’s mom Teri comes in, and in Katie’s interview, she says she’s so happy her mom is here to see her take a step as a business owner. She also wants Teri to be comfortable there, since she’ll be putting her ass to work ASAP. Kristina comes in with Lala and some guy, and she asks Ariana if Raquel is coming. Ariana says she texted, saying she didn’t want to make Katie uncomfortable, but she’ll be at SUR. In Ariana’s interview, she says, once again she’s in the middle. She’s not picking a side, but this seemed like a compromise that will make everyone happy for once. Lisa leaves for SUR. Scheana calls and says she feels fine, but she’s testing positive for covid. The Toms arrive with flowers for Ariana and Katie. Schwartz says he loves his and Sandoval’s spot, but this is perfect, and Teri takes a photo of Katie and Ariana by their sign. Katie says, this was just the beginning of the vision for Something About Her. Ariana says, it’s just a taste of what’s to come, and they head to SUR for drinks and more sandwiches.  

Schwartz tells Sandoval, the sandwich shop is going to open before them; it’s scary. He tells Lisa, happy birthday, and more sandwiches come out. In Sandoval’s interview, he says he and Ariana have been together nearly ten years. He loves her, but because they’re different as people, they’ve grown apart.🚩The issues they’re having aren’t just her fault; they’re his also. He’s hoping get back to where they were. It’s the best relationship he’s ever been in. Schwartz tells Teri, as hard as the breakup was, he misses holidays with her, and she says she told him that he’ll always be family, but he blew it. They had a mutual agreement; nobody in the friend group. Schwartz says, Katie was the one who divorced him, and it was the right decision, but it broke his heart. Six months went by, he was drunk in Mexico, and made out with Raquel. He wasn’t thinking about the agreement. He admits it was insensitive, and Teri says she understands, but it was kind of a real slap in the face. She tears up, and says, it would be so hurtful to any woman. What he did hurt Katie. Was it worth it? He says, no. He loves her and Katie so much. Raquel and Ariana go to the garden bar, and Ariana says she’s glad Raquel is here, but she understands Katie’s feelings. If she were in Katie’s shoes, she’d feel some type of way (I hate that phrase so much – can we not even label our feelings anymore?), but she wants to reiterate that Raquel is still the same sweet person, and she loves Raquel. Raquel isn’t the one Katie had an agreement with, but when she reminded Katie of that, Katie reminded her of what was said in the wine shop. We flash back to Raquel telling Katie that Schwartz was respecting her boundaries, and Katie asking, what about Raquel?🚩Ariana says, they cried together and hugged. Does Raquel feel like things changed in Vegas? Raquel says she realized she shouldn’t put so much emphasis on what people think about her, and earn people’s friendship. She doesn’t need to be friends with Katie and Lala. The trip showed her that. As Dr. Phil would say, so how’s that workin’ for ya? Raquel asks how Ariana and Sandoval are, and Ariana says they had a big argument last night. Sandoval feels like he’s not being heard, and that’s why he’s the loudest in the room. Raquel asks if Ariana remembers when she told her about her and James not having sex, and Ariana said she and Sandoval go through dry spells.🚩 Ariana says, when she comes home from working all night, and then he whips his d*ck out, she’s going to say, oh yeah, let’s f***? It’s never going to happen. They need to spend time together. Raquel says she thinks if you’re in a relationship, you should want to have sex🚩, and Ariana says, you have to be emotionally intimate first. Raquel says, Ariana and Sandoval were on the same wavelength at some point, and Ariana says, they need to work on their connection. She asks if Ariana is still sexually attracted to Sandoval🚩, and Ariana says she thinks he’s so f***ing hot (another dude where I can’t see it), but she’s not hot. She begins to criticize her own body, and Raquel stops her, saying, she’s in her own head. She does this to herself too, and it’s f***ed up. She gets all weepy and says she believes they’re a lot prettier than they think they are. They’re their own worst critics and it translates into their sex lives. Apparently, she’s been reading Cosmopolitan again. In Raquel’s interview, she says, she’s sure body image and insecurities have a role in Ariana and Sandoval’s issues. If you’re not feeling good about yourself, no way can you have good sex.🚩Raquel says, Ariana clearly wants to stay in the relationship, and Ariana says, she wouldn’t have had this conversation if she didn’t. Raquel says, not everyone is that way. She should have broken up with James earlier. She wasn’t attracted to him anymore. Ariana says she thinks they’ll talk things out and they’ll be fine. She and Raquel drink a lemon drop shot.

The sandwiches are a big hit, and Raquel and Peter toast to a great summer. Lala asks if Ken and Lisa like the sandwiches, and Lisa says she tasted some before. They’d already had a taste test at her house. Ken says, it will all be hers when Lisa kicks him out, and Lisa says, when she sees the light after 40 years. Lala asks if Lisa thinks someone her age can find someone that they could be with that long, and Lisa says, of course. It depends on what you put into it. Lala says, she just wants another baby. She’s scarred by what she’s going through, and the next go around she wants an absolute on the future with her kid. In Lala’s interview, she says she wants to give Ocean a sibling, but wants no chance of the baby being taken from her.  She tells Lisa that she doesn’t want being with her child every day dependent on someone else’s behavior, and in her interview, she says, the next step is to find a sperm donor, and her co-parent will be her mom. Lisa says, it’s a helluva line to draw in the sand, and asks if Lala doesn’t want a loving relationship. Lala says she hopes her future holds someone to love and adore and grow old with, but she doesn’t want to put her life on hold waiting for a man. She recognizes herself again for the first time in a long time.

Somebody tells Schwartz that he doesn’t smell great, and he blames it on the new shirt he didn’t wash before wearing and sweated on. He takes a lemon wedge, and uses it as deodorant. Raquel strolls over to Katie and sits next to her. She congratulates Katie on the sandwich shop, and says, after the vibe at TomTom, she thought it best not to come, but she tried the sandwiches and they taste bomb. Moving on, she says she knows Katie heard about her and Schwartz making out, and then rage texted Schwartz about it. Katie says, she didn’t rage text, and Raquel wonders if she asked if it was true. Katie says, yeah, and Raquel asks, what’s her point? Katie says, Schwartz keeps gaslighting her that she’s overreacting about the Cancun thing. We flash back to that, and Raquel says, Katie filed for divorce. If they make out, it’s none of her business. Katie asks what the f*** Raquel is doing right now, and in Raquel’s interview, she says, Katie’s never been one of her friends, and Schwartz told her how much the rage texts bother him, but he doesn’t have the balls to say anything. In this situation she would appreciate someone standing up for her. Katie says, they were together for twelve years, which Raquel can’t comprehend, and Raquel says, Katie shouldn’t be texting Schwartz these things. It’s not Katie’s place. Katie asks why it matters to her., and Raquel says, Katie’s been living her life, and has a boyfriend. Katie says, she doesn’t have a boyfriend, and she and Schwartz had conversations about this and about respect. Raquel says she doesn’t appreciate Katie threatening to take the dogs from him, and Katie says, Raquel doesn’t have to appreciate anything. In Katie’s interview, she says she doesn’t know what possessed Raquel to tell her how to run her life. She’d sooner take advice from someone off the street. STFU. She asks Raquel, how thick is her skull? This is her husband, and he and Raquel have been friends for five minutes. Raquel has zero respect. No empathy and no respect. How the f*** was she raised? Raquel says, maybe she has more empathy for Schwartz, and Katie says, that’s clear. She suggests Raquel take her opinion and stick it up her ass. She asks if Lala is hearing this sh*t, and Lala says she’s in awe. Katie thinks Raquel should leave, and Raquel says she just had a bomb ass glamping trip with her best, closest friends🚩, and Schwartz is a new addition to her life🚩. Katie says she’s losing her f***ing mind, and Lala says, she’d have a more productive conversation with a pig; be done with it. In Lala’s interview, she says she doesn’t know why Katie is wasting her time arguing with this buffoon of a person. They’ve known her a long time. She’s going to get nowhere. Teri asks if her conversation with Raquel meant anything, and Raquel says, oh God.🚩Katie says, that’s her mom. Have some respect. Lala asks how Raquel was raised, and Katie says, Raquel is a little c-word. Walk away.  

Katie says she’s so f***ing done with Raquel, and at this point, it’s getting pretty loud and getting more attention. Lisa wonders what’s going on, and Raquel says, in her experience, with her f***ing friends who support her… Katie says, what f***ing friends? and Teri says, Raquel was disrespectful and it hurt her so much. Raquel says, she was just being honest. Her first step to being a Housewife, since that’s Housewifespeak for being a bitch. Acting like he has a dog in this fight – oops, he does🚩 – Sandoval says, Katie and Schwartz weren’t together, but Katie says she hasn’t signed any papers yet. Ariana tells them to let Teri finish, and Teri says, Katie and Schwartz love each other, and they’re selling the home they wanted to raise a family in. That’s so hurtful. In Sandoval’s interview, he says, it’s tacky for Katie to have her mom fight her battles. No one is going to clap back at Mrs. Maloney (even though Raquel did just that). It’s kind of f***ed up. Raquel says, Katie told Scheana… and Teri says, that’s so wrong, but Sandoval says, that actually happened. Katie tells him go away, and he says, she thinks she owns the floor. She thinks she owns every situation. When she was still living with Schwartz, she was banging another dude. How did she think Schwartz felt? Raquel says she’s sorry it hurts, and tries to put her hand on Katie, who says, don’t touch me. Raquel says, sorry she’s jealous, and Katie tells her again to walk away. Raquel says she’s done, and walks out. Sandoval tells Teri that it seems the only perspective that matters is hers and Katie’s. Peter asks Schwartz if he’s hiding, but Schwartz says, he’s just taking a breather. By now, Ariana is full-on crying, and tells Lisa that she just wants to go home. She loves both Katie and Raquel, and now there’s all this yelling. Lisa says, it’s been a long time coming, but she doesn’t like that they’re all on Raquel’s case, and she doesn’t think Schwartz hiding is helping anything. Schwartz looks at the ceiling and whistles nonchalantly. Ariana tells Lisa that she’s emotional, and Lisa says, she just lost her dog and her grandmother. Ariana says, she wants to show up for her friends, but she can’t, and in Ariana’s interview, she says, she hates being stuck in the middle of her friends or her friends and her boyfriend. She’s tries to help and give advice and be there for everybody, but she literally feels like she’s being shredded apart from the inside. Sandoval says, Katie never takes accountability for doing anything wrong, and Kristina suggests, instead of focusing on Katie that he focus on his girlfriend, who is clearly upset.🚩That’s his relationship. Katie says, unless Sandoval can start treating her like a human, she’s done. She walks out with Lala, and as she passes Schwartz says she’s done with him too. No surprise, he wonders what he’s done. On the way out, Lala says, Raquel is snickering with Schwartz because she’s a stupid bitch, and Katie does an about-face and goes back in. She asks if Schwartz is laughing with Raquel, but Schwartz says he’s just trying to figure out what happened, which is probably true. Lala tells Katie, Schwartz wasn’t laughing; it was Raquel.🚩In Lala’s interview, she says, Katie is seeing red, and all the emotions she’s been feeling are coming out in this very moment. Schwartz follows Katie outside, and asks, what’s going on? Ariana tells Lisa that she’s not processing things, and Lisa says she’s been through the same thing herself. Outside, Katie tells Schwartz that her self-worth and confidence have been torn down, and Schwartz did that. Clearly too self-centered and stupid to know when to quit, Raquel comes out, and says, sorry to interrupt. Katie says, they’re in the middle of a conversation. Go away.

The text says, in September of 2022, filming wrapped, but then the unimaginable happened, and they turned the cameras back on.

Raquel tries to talk, and Katie tells her again to go away. Raquel says she’s empathetic… but Katie says, she has zero empathy. Raquel says, Katie was hurt by Schwartz making out with someone, and the fact it was her hurt Katie more. She’s sorry for hurting Katie. Katie says, okay, and Raquel says, it wasn’t her intention. Schwartz says, it wasn’t malicious, and we flash back to him telling Raquel it’s forbidden fruit, and Raquel saying, since she’s being accused of it, she might as well do it. Katie says, it was malicious, and Schwartz says, he and Raquel are buddies. Clueless idiot Raquel says, they were just experimenting with a flirty thing; she sees it was nothing now.🚩In Katie’s interview, she says, she gave them a shot and they blew it. Take you and your sick personalities and get the f*** out. Raquel says she’s sorry, and Schwartz feels the need to point out she’s apologizing. Katie says, fine, she’ll go away, and Schwartz is like, no, don’t leave. Raquel finally gets the hint and makes herself scarce. Schwartz says, it was a sincere apology, and Katie asks what he’s talking about; this is done. Schwartz says, it’s not, and Katie says she doesn’t need an apology from Raquel. Schwartz tells her, come sit, since he’s just as clueless as Raquel, but Katie says she doesn’t want to talk to him, and goes inside. The cheese Schwartz sits alone. 

Guillermo brings out a cake, and everyone sings Happy Birthday, very badly for people who are in borderline entertainment jobs. There are five candles on the cake, so Lisa is a lot younger than we thought. Lisa blows out the candles, and says she’s still great at a BJ. She tells everyone that she’d say life has been very challenging, then wonders, where Schwartz is when she needs him? Katie says, no one needs him, but Lisa says, because he’s part of this equation. She’s seen them go through so much this last year. Life throws sh*t at you, but it’s not what’s thrown at you; it’s how you deal with it. Schwartz comes in, and she asks where he’s been. He should have been fighting the fight. She’s seen what Lala had been through, and the way the boys have struggled. She loves all of them… Her voice breaks, and she says, they’ll learn how to deal with their problems as they get older. They have the tools and talents and personality now to go forward and solve their problems. She’ll always be there for them. Not just because they work for her, but because of the journey they’re on and they’ve done together, is why she feels so deeply for them. They all love each other; that’s why it gets so intense. Don’t let life get the better of them. She loves each and every f***ing one of them. She Guillermo that no one here eats cake, and to give it to the customers. Everyone laughs, and Lisa tells Ariana, see? They’re laughing again.

Next time – the finale – Sandoval says he was going to break up with Ariana regardless; Scheana says, instead of breaking up, Sandoval f***ed Ariana’s best friend; Sandoval says he felt things he hasn’t felt in a long time (ugh – he’s so basic); Raquel says, it turned out so horribly wrong; and Ariana doesn’t give a f*** about Raquel, and regrets ever loving Sandoval.

🍸Note: There were a lot more exchanges during that melee at SUR. I could barely keep up, but tried to get the highlights. It was ruthless. Congratulations, Tom and Raquel, for wresting the Most Awful Human Being in the World crown from Jax. The other Tom gets a Most Clueless sash. I honestly do think he’s that stupid.

🎂 Let Them Not Eat Cake…

Get some relief from the awful tomorrow, and come by for soap, tea, quotes and a bit of music. Until then, stay safe, stay focused on long term goals rather than short term satisfaction, and stay not being Mr. Eventually.

May 5, 2023 – Lots Of Action In Greenland, Behind It, Her Why, Happy Anniversary, Almost, Snub Drama, It’s Her, Closing, VanderKarma, Baby Off Deck, Accused, Brave Pets (!), 10 Quotes To Ponder & Listen

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Sonny says, they heard about Willow; how’s she doing? Carly says, Michael’s with her now, and Nina asks, what happened? Carly says, she collapsed. They’re waiting to hear from Dr. Randolph, but they talked to TJ, and her condition has deteriorated. Nina asks, how bad? and Carly says, hopefully, they can find Nina’s Aunt Liesl, and Drew can bring her back here in time to have the bone marrow transplant. But in the meantime, Willow has to stay in the hospital.

Michael thanks Willow for agreeing to stay, and she says, the whole, if you go home you might not make it argument was pretty persuasive. Michael says he guesses he pulled out all the stops, and Willow says, he made her see she needs a controlled environment for now, so she can go home to him and their kids later. She’s fighting with everything she has to stay with their family.

Somewhere in Greenland. Trina asks if Jordan can hear her, and Jordan says she can. Where is Trina? Trina says, on the Haunted Star with Spencer and Ace, and Jordan says, they have to get off that boat now. Trina says, they know, but… Jordan says, no buts. There are drones on the way with orders to drop bombs on the entire island. They have no way to stop them. Take the baby and get to the seaplane before it’s too late. Spencer says, he can’t leave his grandmother behind, and Trina says, or Curtis. She asks Jordan, what about the others? and Jordan says, every second counts. Take the baby, and get off that island. Spencer tells Trina to take Ace and get to the seaplane; he’ll look for the others. She says, what if he runs into Victor, or his guards? She’s not leaving him. Felicia takes the phone, and tells Spencer, they both know his grandmother would want him and Ace to be safe. Jordan says, exactly. Their job is to get themselves and the baby to that plane before it takes off.

Holly tells Victor to drop his gun, but he asks why he would do that. Especially if she’s going to drop her gun and let him pass. Holly asks why she would do that? Obviously, he’d shoot her if she did. Obrecht says, stop talking, and shoot him, and Victor puts Obrecht in front of him, saying, be careful or she might shoot Liesl. Obrecht tells her not to worry about that, and shoot him, but Victor says, what about poor Willow? She’ll die. Obrecht says she’ll instruct Holly how to harvest her marrow. Now pull the trigger! Victor holds up the cannister, and says, if anything happens to him, they all die. This makes no sense, since if he’s dead, he can’t release it, never mind the sunlight part, but we’ll let that pass.

Anna looks at Valentin through the window of the isolation room, and calls to him. He says, she’s not real; she’s an illusion. She’s just like Helena; he’s imagining her. She says, no, she’s here. She’s absolutely real. He has to hang on.

Alone in her office, Portia says, God, if You can hear me, please keep Trina and Curtis safe. Just bring my family home. There’s a knock at the door, and she says, come in. Elizabeth says she hopes she’s not interrupting. She just wanted to check on Portia. Portia says, Marshall was here with her earlier, but she sent him home because he needs his rest. Elizabeth says, he’s not the only one, and Portia says she knows. She’s so tired, but she can’t stop thinking, what if she never sees Trina and Curtis again?

Laura tells Curtis, wait a minute. The display on this computer… The program it’s running; she’s seen that before. He asks, where? and we see a map on the screen with a spot that says, Target Area. She says, forty years ago, in another underground bunker, also owned by Mikkos Cassadine. She sits, and says, look at this. He says, it’s a map of the mid-Atlantic states, and she says, it’s all the same. He says, same as what? and she says she thinks there might be another weather machine.

Trina says, they hear what Jordan is saying, but the others have to be warned. Robert says, he promises they’ll tell everyone in the bunker about the drone strike, and Felicia says, they have to get to the seaplane now. Otherwise, they’re putting themselves and Ace in grave danger. Spencer says, they’re right, and Trina tells Jordan, please tell her mom and dad she loves them. Jordan says she will, but they can tell them themselves when they get home. Now get herself to the plane. Good luck, and stay safe. Spencer says, they have to hurry. They can do this. Trina says, together.

Portia says, it’s one thing for Trina not to speak to her. She guesses Trina is angry; she should be. She’ll take the silence, but for Trina to listen to Spencer, someone who’s been known to hurt every single person who’s cared about him… Elizabeth says, Spencer can be difficult, and Portia says, all she was trying to do was give Trina some time and space to process everything that had happened, and now the window she might have had to make things right is gone forever? Elizabeth says, no, and Portia says she doesn’t know why she waited. Why didn’t she just go to Trina, and do everything in her power to make things right when she had the chance? Elizabeth says, Trina is as big-hearted as she is stubborn. When she comes back, they’ll be able to work things out. There’s another knock at the door, and Portia says, come in. Jordan walks in, and Portia asks if there’s any word. Jordan says, they just heard from Trina and Spencer.

Anna calls to Valentin, and tells him to focus. Look at her. He says, the real Anna’s in the hospital. His father shot her. She told him to come and get Victor. Anna says she knows she told him that, but she came after him. He looks at her, and says he wishes she were really here, so he could hold her against him one last time; tell her how much he loves her. He cries, and she says she loves him too. Listen. She loves him. That’s why she’s here. To help him. She’s going to get him out of there. He says, no, she can’t.

Robert calls to Agent Hursley (I’ve been spelling it wrong), and Hursley says, it’s brave of Robert to speak to him without a lawyer present. Robert says, unless Hursley is here to tell him that the Bureau now realizes how stupid it is to bomb an island with ten people on it, get out of his face. Hursley says, but he’s on orders to stay and monitor the situation, and Robert says, do it where he can’t see him. Hursley says, let’s keep each other posted, shall we? and walks off. Robert tells Felicia that he’s going to talk to this director himself, and see if he can get through to him, and leaves.

Curtis tells Laura that he’s heard stories that the Cassadines had a machine that could control the climate. He thought it was just an urban legend. Laura says, no, it wasn’t. It was absolutely real. It was based on something called carbonic snow. The weather machine was capable of creating an artificial blizzard in a targeted area, and in the summer of 1981, Mikkos Cassadine aimed that thing right at the city of Port Charles. A group of them – Luke, Robert, Tiffany Hill, and Laura – managed to stop him. That weather machine was destroyed, but this is the same program. He says, the computer’s from the same era. If it’s the same program, is it hooked up to another weather machine?

Sasha arrives at the hospital, and goes over to Sonny and Nina. She says, Brook told her that Willow was here, and Sonny hugs her. She turns to Nina, and Nina says she’s so scared. They hug, and Josslyn and Carly see them while walking down the hall. Josslyn says, Michael is not going to like that Sonny and Nina are here, and Carly says she hopes they have sense enough to keep their distance. Nina thanks Sasha, who asks, how is Willow? Nina says, the updates are not good. Her condition is deteriorating. Sasha says she knows this must be agony for Nina; for everyone. Is there any word on Liesl? Nina shakes her head.

Holly tells Victor, give up. Back-up is on the way; there’s nowhere to run. He says, come on. That old trick. She disappoints him. Holly says, it’s not a trick, and he says she’s wasting her time here. Just let him go, and she can get on with looking for her son Ethan. Apparently, he didn’t get the memo, and she says, Ethan’s perfectly fine, thank you. She found out about the auction – sick little affair that it was – and Ethan is now safe and far from his reach. He failed – again. He says, it doesn’t matter. Once he releases this pathogen, it has an 80% mortality rate, and he’s the only one with the antidote. Holly says, at this point, why bother? and he says, why bother try to save the world? Why bother living? She asks, what’s to live for? For him? Bearing in mind his unfortunate condition. He asks what she means by that, and she says she would have thought by now he’d have figured out that it was her who arranged for the little addition to his cocktail. Obrecht says, she’s not too good at it. He’s still alive and kicking. Holly says, alive, yes. Kicking? Not so much. She’s glad they’re finally face to face, because she really wanted him to know it was her. Obrecht says, she doesn’t mean… and Holly says, no more heirs for Uncle Victor. In fact, he can’t even try, can he? Victor says, you bitch! and aims his gun at her, but Drew pops out of nowhere, grabs Victor’s arm, and karate chops his neck. Victor falls face down in the snow.

Carly goes into Willow’s room, and says she doesn’t want to interrupt. Michael asks, what’s up? and she says, Sonny and Nina are here. Michael asks if she can tell them… but Willow says, wait.

Drew checks Victor’s pulse, when Holly calls to him. Obrecht also lies in the snow, and Drew says, no, no, no! Holly asks if Obrecht can hear her, and when she takes her hand away from Obrecht’s head, there’s blood on it.

Valentin says, Anna can’t open that door; he’s infected. She says she knows. They’re here to help him. He asks, where’s Victor and Obrecht? They have the cure. She says she doesn’t know; the others are looking for them. He says, the others? Oh God. She tells him not to worry about them. She’s going to try and find him a hazmat suit or something that they can put on him, and get him to safety. She’ll be right back. He says, no, don’t go, but she says, there’s no use arguing. They don’t have time. He says, it’s already too late.

Curtis says, they could be looking at an electronic ghost. An old program that started up when the computer booted up. As long as it’s not connected to an actual weather machine, it’s harmless. She says, except Mikkos Cassadine was never harmless; he was relentless. He was obsessed and absolutely thorough, and he knew there were agencies, including the WSB tracking him, trying to stop him. Curtis says, seems like a guy like that would have back-up, and she says she thinks he’s right. He says, that would explain this, indicating all the machinery. He says, why would someone like Mikkos Cassadine equip a bunker in literally the middle of nowhere without telling his brother? So he could retreat if he needed to with two weapons; two ways to hold the world hostage. The pathogen and the weather machine. This is real and it’s running. They have to stop it. He’ll find a way to cut the power. He starts looking around, but she says, don’t do that. They can kill the power to this computer, but that doesn’t mean they’ve killed the power to the weather machine. He says, she’s right. If they interrupt the power, the computer might shut down, lock them out entirely, and they’ll never find them. She says, it’s calibrated its target… the same as last time. He says, Port Charles.

Jordan tells Portia, Trina and Spencer agreed to head straight to the plane. With any luck, they should be home before daybreak. She moves toward the door, but turns, and says, Trina said to tell Portia that she loves her. Portia thanks Jordan, and Elizabeth looks outside. She says, is that snow? Man, I’ll bet longtime watchers are going out of their minds. Portia says, oh my goodness, and they all look out the window.

Sonny asks if they can just go, but Nina wants to stay a while longer. Just in case. Michael comes by, and Sonny asks how he’s doing. Michael says he’s okay, all things considered. He says, Nina… and she says she’s not here to cause trouble. He says, no. Willow wants to see her.

Drew says, come on, Liesl. Please. Holly says, she’s got a pulse, and asks if Obrecht can hear her. Drew asks, how bad is it? and we see Victor’s hand move.

Curtis says, there must be a way to stop the process, and Laura says, it’s already begun. (Where is Spinelli when you need him?) It will only get worse as it slowly works its way up to full power. The longer the machine is in operation, the greater the devastation will be. Curtis says, they have to try something. He has an idea. He pulls the keyboard over, and types. He says, suspend operations, and hits enter. He reads, to terminate functions, enter chemical formula and operation. Chemical formula for what? She says, carbonic snow. She told him, that’s how the machine works. It creates a blizzard by using carbonic snow. He says, who has the formula for carbonic snow? and Laura says she does.

Trina follows Spencer, who’s carrying Ace, and she asks if he’s sure this is the right way. He says, they’re heading east. She says she didn’t take him for a Boy Scout, and he says he learned it in prep school. They hear something, and he says, someone’s coming. She says, maybe it’s Curtis, but he says, maybe it’s not. They duck down behind a rock with this amazingly good baby, and Victor stumbles past, carrying the cannister. He says, Uncle Victor still has the pathogen, and Trina wonders where Curtis is. He says he doesn’t know, but he has to go after Victor. She says, he can’t.

Felicia says, any luck? and Robert says, yeah, all bad. Hursley was right about one thing; this new director is definitely not going to take any of his calls. Anybody he managed to get through to pretty much said the same thing. She says, they have to follow protocol in the even of a bioterror threat; she got the same drill. He says, they’re dealing with ten people here, as far as the Bureau’s concerned, and not billions. She says, even if those ten people are their friends, and he says, speaking of which, he was hoping to have heard from Anna by now. Felicia says, well, she’s a little busy.

Valentin asks Anna to please tell Charlotte how sorry he is, and that he loves her. And she was always the best thing in his life. Anna says, she still is, and he says he should have known better. When he looked into Alex’s eyes, he should have known she wasn’t Anna, because there’s no kindness there. Anna has compassion in her eyes. Even all those years ago when she rejected his affection, she still knew his heart, and she still had compassion in her eyes. He wishes he could have held onto that. Then Alex couldn’t have poisoned what they had. But she did, and he let her, and he wishes he hadn’t let anger and spite control him. Because then they might have found each other sooner, and he could have been the man he is with her. He likes the man he is with her, so if this is how he dies… Anna says, no, this is not how he dies, but he says, it’s okay, because she redeemed him. Thank you. I love you, Anna Devane. I’ll always love you. He chokes, and she calls his name.

Carly tells Willow that she’ll check on Wiley and Amelia, and make sure Tracy and Brook aren’t teaching them any bad habits. Nina walks in, and says, Michael told her that Willow wanted to see her. Willow says she did, and thanks Carly for everything. Carly says, remember, she needs to rest; no excitement. She leaves, and Nina asks how Willow is feeling. Willow says, the fluids are helping, and Nina says, that’s good. Willow says she wants Nina to do something for her, and Nina says, name it. Willow says, leave Carly alone.

Holly tells Drew, it’s not a bullet wound; she must have hit her head when she fell. Drew says he needs Obrecht to open her eyes, and she moans. He tells her to take it easy, and he and Holly start to help her up. She says, where’s that vile insect? and Drew says, wait. He’s gone. He’s gone, and so is the cannister. He might be headed back to the Haunted Star. Holly says, she’ll go. Get Liesl to the plane. Obrecht says, nein. Valentin is dying. He needs the antidote.

Victor walks into the main salon, and asks, what happened? Where’s Spencer? Goon32 says, some guy showed up out of nowhere. They did their best to fight him off. He took out Ivan, the only guy with a name and knocked him out. Victor says, what about Sir Ace? I make a mental note to name my next pet Sir Ace, and Goon32 says he checked the stateroom; both he and the nanny are gone. Victor says, the hell with the nanny. Find his nephews… Wait. Get the ship underway first. They’re leaving, with or without his family. He puts down the cannister and rubs his head.

Trina says, Spencer can’t go after Victor. They agreed to get Ace to the plane. That’s the plan. Now let’s go before one of Victor’s men sees us. He says, you go. He’s not going to let his Uncle Victor escape. Not when he has a pathogen that he intends to release and kill half the planet. Take his brother and go. He’ll be right behind her. He hands her the baby, and she asks if he promises. He says he does, kisses her, and jets.

Jordan says, snow in May, and Elizabeth says, it happens. The last time was three years ago – Aiden even did a report on it – but this is especially bizarre because it was in the 70s this afternoon. Portia tells her, what she said about Aiden’s report makes her think about Trina. All the reports and homework they helped the kids with over the years… until Trina said she was old enough and could do it by herself. They’re both mothers, so she knows they understand, but even though Trina’s in college, she’s always going to be Portia’s little baby girl. When she looks at Trina, she sees this little trace of a grin that she had when she was in her terrible twos. They laugh, and Portia says, sometimes she thinks Trina never grew out of them. But that smile. No matter how old Trina gets, that’s what she’s going to see. They watch the snow fall.

Laura says, right after they stopped Mikkos, she found the formula in the stateroom, and she studied it as she was falling asleep (as we all would). When she woke up, she realized no one should ever have access to that information, so they burned the paper, but the formula is seared into her memory. Robert was always afraid about that. He was afraid if someone found out, that they might come after her for it. She flashes back to when we were all children, and a very young Robert says, it’s not the kind of information she should have rattling around in her head. It could be dangerous. Laura tells Curtis, but this might be the very thing that saves everyone.

Anna stands in front of Valentin and says his name. She touches his face, and he asks what she’s doing. She can’t be in here. She says she knows, and he asks why she’d do that. She says, because she loves him. He says he’s contagious (something not even hinted at before); he’s infected. She caresses his face.

Laura types, and Curtis says, that was over forty years ago. How sure is she that she memorized that formula exactly? If she gets it wrong, the whole system could lock them out. They’ve got one shot at this. She says she knows. Does he trust her? He says, absolutely. She hits enter, and some beeping happens. She says, it worked! and they hug.

Victor slugs back a drink, and says, Valentin’s not his son after what he did to him. But Victor supposes he’ll just have to take his chances with the rest of humanity. He finishes the drink, and says, right. Let’s get this pathogen somewhere safe and the antidote somewhere safe. He opens the cannister, looks inside, and says, no!

Drew helps Obrecht stand upright, and tells her, take it easy. She says she stole the antidote when Victor wasn’t looking. I’m not sure how, since he had a death grip on that cannister, but she’s pretty resourceful. She says, if he releases the pathogen, there’s an 80% chance he’ll be killing himself as well. Drew asks if that wouldn’t stop him, and she says, Victor is both an idealist and an extremist. The Cassadines are willing to go down with the ship, so to speak.

Curtis leads Laura through the ship, gun drawn. Holly pops out, and Laura stops him from shooting her. She says, it’s Holly. What’s she doing here? What’s going on? Holly hands Laura a phone and says, she needs to call Robert and Jordan. Tell them Victor’s getting away. He’s got the pathogen with him. Last she saw, he was heading toward the Haunted Star. Where’s Valentin?

Valentin asks what Anna has done, but she says she doesn’t know. She thought she could find some kind of suit or protection. She just didn’t want him to be alone. He says he doesn’t know if dying together is all it’s cracked up to be, and she laughs. She tells him to look at her. She wants to tell him about someone; Valentin Cassadine. He’s a man who’s not going to die in some obscene plot of his father’s, because he – you – have a destiny. He’s going to be an even greater father to Charlotte. He’s going to be her partner. Because he knows her darkness. He knows what she’s capable of, and he’s capable of those things too. She knows it sounds a little twisted, but it’s not really, because she thinks that kind of connection elevates them in a way. It allows them to love the people they love, without any kind of restraint or restriction. She cries, and says, including each other. She thinks that’s why she came into this room. He says, but she’ll die, and she says, not necessarily. There’s a 20% chance she’s immune to this thing. She can beat those odds, and she’s willing to risk them just to be with him.

Sonny and Sasha stare at Willow’s closed door, and Sasha says she’s sure everything is fine. He says, really? and she says, no, but they haven’t heard any yelling yet, and Nina hasn’t bolted out of the room in tears. Sonny says he appreciates her optimism, but when his dad was at Turning Woods, he hated to wait. They’d pace back and forth and wait. They’d hold his hand, and wait. He just felt hopeless. She says, even though he didn’t know Sonny was there, she thinks Sonny just being there helped Mike. Sonny says he hopes so.

Josslyn doesn’t see what Willow could possibly have to say to Nina, and Michael says, maybe it was a mistake letting Nina in there. Carly says, he did what his wife wanted him to, and he says, his wife. He and Willow are married. He just wishes the day hadn’t been so hard on her. Carly says, next time, she promises to wait until after the reception to be called in for questioning, and he says, what next time? She says, birthdays, anniversaries, vow renewal. He has a lifetime of celebrations ahead; she knows it. As for his wedding day? Willow doesn’t regret a second of it. He says, even now?

Nina says, Willow wants what? and Willow says she wants Nina and Carly to make peace. Nina says she can try, and Willow says she knows Nina and Carly will never be friends, or even friendly, but promise she’ll at least keep her distance? Stop keeping score of who wronged who when, and just let it all go. Nina doesn’t say anything, and Willow says, wow. Nina hasn’t changed at all when she claims to care about her? Nina says, no, she cares about Willow a great deal… Willow says, then promise her. Whether she survives this or not, Nina will drop her vendetta against Carly.

Jordan comes out with Portia, and asks Robert if there’s any word. He says, not yet, when Jordan’s phone rings. Curtis says, it’s him; he’s got her on speakerphone. Jordan says she’s putting him on speaker, and Portia asks if Trina is with him. He says, not at the moment, but he’s seen her. She’s okay. Jordan says, he’s got to get out of there. The WSB has ordered a drone strike on the island. Curtis and Laura both say, what?! and Jordan says, they can’t risk the pathogen getting released on the world. The drones are already on their way. Curtis says, but the pathogen isn’t here, and Robert asks, where is it? Laura says, they ran into Holly, and she said he was trying to escape on the Haunted Star, and he took the pathogen with him. Bombing the island is not going to do any good. They’ve got to stop the airstrike. Robert yells over to Hursley, and says, tell his boss to call off this airstrike. Hursley says, for the millionth time… and Robert says, change in circumstances. Victor’s left the island, and he’s taken the pathogen with him. All they’re doing now is killing innocent people, and helping Victor escape.

Nina tells Willow, okay. She won’t get into it with Carly anymore. Michael walks in, and Willow thanks Nina. Michael says, Willow needs her rest, and Nina tells Willow, she’s not perfect. She makes mistakes all the time. She’s going to try to be a better person. If there’s anything else Willow needs, just ask. Willow says, keep her promise.

Robert hassles Hursley while he’s on the phone, telling him to hurry up. Jordan tells Curtis and Laura that the drones are on their way. They don’t know exactly when the strike will happen, but it could be any time. They need to get out of there. Robert joins them, and says, Laura, you’re okay. The Bureau listened this time. The strike’s been called off. Everyone looks relieved, and Laura says, what about Victor?

Victor locks the cannister again, and says, Liesl double-crossed him. He is not having a very good day. He has another drink, and hears someone come in. He says, they need to turn the ship around. They’re going back. Spencer says he doesn’t take orders from Victor anymore, and Victor says he thought Spencer might come crawling back. If Spencer thinks he’s going to forgive… Spencer says he’s not here for forgiveness. It’s over, uncle.

Outside, Trina finds Curtis and Laura, and says, thank God she found them. Curtis asks what she’s doing here, and Trina says, they have to get out of here; there’s going to be an airstrike. Curtis says, they know all about the airstrike. They’ve got it under control. Laura says, it’s okay. They got in contact with the WSB. They told them that Victor’s trying to escape on the Haunted Star. Curtis says, the airstrike has been redirected, and Trina says, redirected where? Curtis says, the new target is the Haunted Star, and Trina says, but Spencer’s on that ship.

Victor says, now calm down, dear boy, and Spencer says, he’s not Victor’s boy. He walks up to Victor, and says, give him the pathogen, and they can both walk out of here alive. Victor says, how dare Spencer threaten him? He’s the head of their family. This is finished when he says it’s finished. Spencer tells him, he said, give him the pathogen. Hand it over. Victor says, Spencer will have to rip it out of his cold, dead fingers, and Spencer says, fine. He spins Victor around, cracking Victor’s head on the bar. Victor drops to the floor. Well if it was that easy, why didn’t Spencer do this long ago?

Nina comes out of Willow’s room, as Carly and Josslyn are walking toward it. Carly’s phone rings, and it’s Drew. Wow. These calls are going to cost a fortune. He asks if Carly can hear him, and she asks if he’s okay. What happened?

Michael asks, how was Willow’s talk with Nina? Did Willow get what she wanted out of her? Willow says she hopes so. Who knows? She wants to believe Nina’s sincere. Carly bursts in, and says, there’s someone who wants to talk to Willow, handing her the phone. Drew says, Willow? and she asks if he’s all right. He says, not only is he okay… Obrecht says she’s okay too. Not that anyone has asked. Willow says, Dr. Obrecht… Aunt Liesl. She’s so glad Obrecht is all right. Obrecht says, they’re on their way back. Then Willow can literally suck the life from her bones. Carly says, they can’t wait, and Drew says, he and Obrecht are on their way back. He’s not sure who’s joining them, but everyone should be back soon. Carly says she can’t wait to see him, and he says, him too. He and Obrecht move on.

Valentin says, Anna, and she says she loves him too. The door opens, and Anna says, get out. You’ll get infected. Holly says, kind of her to care, but don’t worry. She’s got the antidote. She holds up the vial, and Valentin smiles.

Hursley says, their satellite has eyes on the Haunted Star. It’s on the move. Robert says, Victor is trying to escape, and Hursley’s guys are going to stop him.

Spencer checks Victor’s pulse and says he’s glad he didn’t kill Victor, but that might not be a good thing. He bends down to get the cannister, and suddenly looks up.

Trina, Curtis, and Laura all look up, and Laura says, Victor’s on the Haunted Star, and Trina says, they have to call the WSB. Suddenly, the sky lights up, and Laura gasps.

On Monday, Michael says, that’s not going to happen, but Willow says, he doesn’t know that; Dante tells Carly that he thinks they have a case; and a body is recovered from the wreckage.

❄️ Building an Island…

It’s definitely impressive.

🤸🏽‍♀️ Pursuing Other Goals…

You can’t blame her. It must get old after a while when you have other things on your to-do list.

💐 Celebrating Amy…

A bouquet of gossip makes the perfect gift.

🎭 Close to Quitting…

It took me a while to warm up to her, since I really liked the other Trina, but she’s really made the part her own.

👠 From Her Arsenal…

Maybe Veronica is a psycho.

📠 Common Denominator…

Normally, I wouldn’t waste space on this harpy, but it struck me how she leaves a trail of unhappiness no matter which side of the Housewives fence she’s on. And if everyone else is an a-hole, maybe it’s time to look in the mirror.

🥀 Bringing Down the Curtain…

But where will everyone go on Gay Pride Day? Does she have to close down half of her name as well? Has James gone back to drinking heavily yet?

https://people.com/food/lisa-vanderpumps-la-restaurant-pump-is-closing-down/

🍸 The Karma Keeps On Comin’…

Check out the empty seats photo. I would say it’s sad, but it’s just not. He’s a pig.

Another gem from the Most Awful Human Being On the Planet. Maybe. He has a contender now.

She’ll give Howie some Lala and a run for his money. He’d better brush up on his VanderKnowledge.

👶🏻 Ahoy, Little Matey…

That kid looks full of mischief already. And he does kind of look like Chef Ben.

💸 Real Housewives Of Deadbeat…

I love the attorney’s pic.

🐕 Don’t Touch the Dog…

It’s about time for a salute to the ones who made it.

https://the-line-up.com/final-pets-horror-movies

🔥 Quotes of the Week

Whatever we believe about ourselves and our ability comes true for us. – Susan L. Taylor

To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt. – Mark Twain

When you judge another, you do not define them, you define yourself.Wayne Dyer

Never confuse movement with action. – Ernest Hemingway

We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit. – Aristotle

Honest towards ourselves and towards anyone else who is our friend; brave towards the enemy; magnanimous towards the defeated; polite always: this is how the four cardinal virtues want us to act.Friedrich Nietzsche

Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success.Henry Ford

The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you. – B. B. King (They can’t take integrity away from you either.)

People are making apocalypse jokes like there’s no tomorrow. – Ellie (Bella Ramsey), The Last of Us

🏃🏾‍♀️ Going Ahead and Jumping…

Boomerang back on Monday really Tuesday for soap, what’s on Deck, and the nightmare that won’t stop, Summer House. Until then, stay safe, stay not taking the last cup of coffee without making more, and stay letting it all go. Stop keeping score of who wronged who.