Tag Archives: Vanderpump Rules

December 5, 2024 – Carly Plants a Bug At the WSB, Soap Suds, Salty Talk, Resumed Charm, Just Bickering, VanderNews, Happy Ending & If

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What I Watched Today

(The whole GH enchilada on Fridays; the other days, who knows?)

General Hospital

Dante is waiting for Sonny in his office. He says he didn’t know where else to go. He had no one else to talk to about Lulu waking up.

Isaiah looks into Jordan’s office and says he must be in the wrong place. She tells him, says who?

Kristina goes to Deception, and Natalia says, Maxie is gone for the day. Kristina says she’s not here to see Maxie. She’s here to see Natalia.

TJ thanks Curtis for coming over, and Curtis asks, what’s up? TJ says, see for himself, and Curtis comes in. He says, Molly moved out? and TJ says, she’s gone.

Molly tells Alexis that she has a car full of boxes to unload and wants to get it done, but Alexis says, Molly doesn’t want to think about her heartbreak. Molly says, some people don’t think she has a heart, and Alexis says, she has a beautiful heart that’s breaking. Molly says she doesn’t want to think, and Alexis says, she’s grieving and should take a break, but Molly says, if she stops moving, she’ll fall apart.

Jack discusses some WSB business with Colette, when Jason comes to his office. Jack says, the answer to their prayers just walked in.

Anna asks if Spinelli is nervous, and Spinelli says he’s bracing for impact. Does she think this is wise? She says, which part? and he says, the entire operation. They want the same thing, to find Charlotte. Anna says, Lulu has been separated from her daughter for too long, when there’s a knock at the door. Carly asks why she’s here. Why is Spinelli here? Anna says, they need to step up the search. They have to bring Charlotte back. Carly says she’s not sure how she can help, and Anna asks if she’s willing. Carly says, of course (🍷). She’d do anything to help. Anna says, including planting a bug on Jack Brennan?

Isaiah asks what floor he’s on, and Jordan says, five. He says he’s looking for the notary, and she says, it’s three doors down to the left. There’s no sign, just a sticker with a surfboard on it. He says, that screams notary, and she asks if he’s on GH business. He asks how she knows, and she says her son works there and she recognizes the header on the stationery. He says, it’s his employment agreement, and she says, so he’s decided to accept the offer. He says, it looks like he’ll be sticking around, but she says she can’t let him sign that contract.

Sonny says, Lulu was determined to get out, and Dante says, Cyrus was hanging around. Sonny says, she has good instincts, worthy of the Spencer name, and Dante says, Luke would be proud. Sonny asks how Dante is doing now that Lulu is awake, and Dante says he’s trying to figure out what life looks like now. He was already trying and now Lulu is back. Sonny is the king of blending families. He’s got kids from different relationships, and he kept them together. How did he balance it? Rocco is over the moon, and Danny and Scout are grief stricken.

Jack introduces Jason to his Deputy Chief, Colette. He hopes Jason is taking him up on his offer. They were just discussing how the WSB needs new blood. Jason says he’s not here about that, and Jack asks Colette to give him and Jason a moment. Colette leaves, and Jack says, Jason has his attention. Jason says he’s not sure if Jack heard, but Lulu Spencer woke up. Jack says, the family must be thrilled, and Jason says, Charlotte needs to come home and see her mother. Jack says he swears he doesn’t know where Valentin is, and Jason tells him, stop lying.

Carly says, Anna is out of her mind. Why does Anna think she can get near Jack? Anna says, she’s one of the few he trusts, and Carly asks Spinelli to tell Anna that she’s crazy, but Spinelli says, she has a point. The man has taken a shine to her. Carly asks why they think Jack knows where Valentin is, and Anna says, Spinelli has been looking for him. Spinelli says, it’s like Valentin vanished into thin air, and Anna says, no one disappears that smoothly unless they’re getting help from a powerful man like Brennan. Carly asks if she’s saying Jack helped Valentin escape, and Anna says, Valentin and the WSB have ties to Pikeman and it’s motivation to keep Valentin gone. Carly wonders if she’s asked Jack, and Anna says, Jack claims he doesn’t know where Valentin is. Carly says, Jack is a friend and he’s done more than one favor for her. He saved all of them. Anna says, he can be charming and useful when he decides to be, but make no mistake, favors and information are his currency. Spinelli says, if Georgie was forced to go on the run, he would do what it takes to find her. He’s sure Carly would do the same if it was Josslyn or Donna. Carly says, of course (🍷). Fine. She’ll do it. Give her the bug. But just so they’re clear, she’s doing it to prove Anna wrong. Anna says, understood.

Kristina says she wants to thank Natalia for her help in the courtroom. She knows that she swerved into Natalia’s lane. If a jury heard what really happened, it would have helped the defense. She knows Natalia committed perjury. Natalia says she told the truth as she remembered it, and Kristina says, let her be grateful. Thanks. Natalia says she’s so, so welcome. (I absolutely love Kristina’s coat and can’t take my eyes off of it. I often get distracted by the wardrobe choices.)

TJ tells Curtis that he came home, and Molly was packing. She said she was staying at her mom’s now. She cleared out in the neatest, most orderly, efficient way. He wishes he was surprised. Molly’s not grieving at all. It’s like when Irene died. She mourned at the funeral and moved on. She calmly packed up and left. Curtis says he’s sorry, but TJ says he’s not being fair. Curtis says, maybe not, but it’s how he feels.

Alexis says she gets it. Molly is doing whatever and keeps doing it, so she feels like her life isn’t spinning out of control. Molly says, if she stays in motion, she can gradually pick up the pieces. Alexis says she does the same thing. She’s Molly’s mom and will support her no matter what. She loves Molly, but Molly also needs to hear none of this is her fault. Molly says she hears it, but she doesn’t know if she believes it.

Jason tells Jack that Charlotte’s family will do whatever it takes to bring her home. Lulu is awake and desperate to see her daughter. The Spencers will weaponize everything at their disposal to locate Valentin. Jack said, if Anna found him, it would not go well for her. He wants Jack to get in touch with Valentin. He’ll meet Valentin wherever he wants, Valentin gives him Charlotte, and he’ll bring her home. It’s not a trick. He won’t even touch Valentin. He’ll bring Charlotte to her mother and Valentin can go free. He’s offering Jack an out. Take it. There’s a knock at the door, and Colette reminds Jack that they have a meeting. Jack tells Jason, always a pleasure, and Jason says, think about what he said. He leaves, and Jack says, Colette’s timing is impeccable. She asks if Jack got anything useful out of Jason, and Jack says he did. Now he has to figure out how to play it.

Jordan says she can’t let Isaiah accept the offer until she looks it over. She knows contracts and knows GH. She has access to other information. He asks if she’s using her position to help a civilian, and she says, unofficially, she can tell him that the hospital is due a windfall of federal money when the development plan gets the go ahead. She looks through the papers and says she also knows GH can afford to pay up, but they can’t afford to lose a surgeon like him. He asks why she’s doing this, and she says, maybe she likes the idea of him sticking around. He says, maybe? and she says, maybe she feels like she owes him one.

Sonny asks what it’s like, all three of them together, and Dante says, it’s like the pieces of a puzzle fitting back together. It’s an old one, but everything is different. Things have changed. Danny and Scout are a big part of Rocco’s life. Sonny asks if he thinks they resent Rocco, and Dante says, Rocco is worried they do. Sonny says, it’s tough to balance happiness and grief, and Dante says, Lulu will be spending time at the Quartermaines and he doesn’t know how to broach it when she’ll want Rocco to spend nights with her. Sonny says, he can’t solve everything at once. He’ll lose his mind. Dante says he feels like that’s already happened.

When Carly arrives at Jack’s office, Colette is sitting in his chair. She introduces herself as his second in command, and they shake hands. Carly asks, where’s Jack? and Colette says, he’s finishing a meeting in the war room. Is she here to cause problems or help solve them? Carly says she’s here as a friend. Jack comes back and tells Colette that he’d like a moment with Carly. She tells him not to allow himself to get distracted for too long, and leaves. Jack asks, to what does he owe the pleasure? and she says she came to talk about Lulu. He says, it’s wonderful that she’s awake. Jason stopped by to inform him. She says, then Jason probably asked him the same thing she’s about ask, and he says, the answer is the same. He doesn’t know where Valentin Cassadine is.

Jason goes to Anna’s place and tells her that he went to see Jack. He told Jack that all he wants is Charlotte. Whatever Valentin does after that is none of his business. Spinelli comes out from another room and says, the equipment is a go. Jason asks, what equipment? and Spinelli says he was setting up a server. Jason says, she called Spinelli for that? and Anna admits he’s helping to set up a bug in Brennan’s office. Jason says, Brennan is probably the hardest person to bug, and Anna says, that’s why she asked Carly. Jack likes and trusts her. Jason asks why she put Carly in a dangerous situation, and Anna says, she was married to Sonny and Carly is a grown woman with a mind of her own. Spinelli says, they’re on the same side, in pursuit of the same thing – bringing Charlotte home to her mom.  

Curtis says, they always wind up mad at the people they care about. The way TJ feels is normal. Don’t judge himself and don’t get trapped in it. Eventually, he’ll remember who Molly is. TJ says he doesn’t want to feel indifferent to Molly. She’s been his world for so long. Is he not supposed to care anymore? Curtis says, not at all. He and TJ’s mother reached a place where he thinks they’re friends who can talk to and lean on one another. TJ says, they’re family. They have to get along. Curtis says, there are plenty of families who can’t be in the same room. They made a conscious decision to be friends. Maybe he and Molly will too. Or if they decide it’s temporary and belong together… TJ says he doesn’t think that’s happening, and Curtis says, don’t let his anger put him in a box he can’t get out of.

Molly tells Alexis that she shouldn’t have told Kristina not to see Ava. Kristina always does the opposite of what she tells her. Alexis says, Kristina is responsible for her own actions, and Molly says she’s holding herself responsible for hers. The last time she saw Sam, she was fighting with Kristina instead of telling Sam how much she loved her and how proud she was that Sam was Lulu’s donor. It’s her fault she and TJ are breaking up. She couldn’t grieve the baby the way he needed her to. She was too focused on controlling her emotions and throwing herself into work. She couldn’t be there for the boy she’s loved since she was 16, the man she was going to spend her entire life with. It’s her fault.

Kristina tells Natalia that she knows what they both said and asks if they agree on what happened the night of the accident. Are they on the same page? Natalia asks why it matters, and Kristina says she needs to know that what she remembers is accurate. If it’s not, then she’s not remembering what happened at Ava’s hotel suite. She got on the stand and swore Ava caused her to fall out the window. She needs to know what happened and needs to know Ava is lying. Natalia says, they just want justice for Kristina’s child, and she admires Kristina for telling her story. Ric was just waiting for her to take the stand and testify. It was a beautiful act of maternal courage. There’s no way she would let Ric undercut Kristina’s testimony. A, who hasn’t cried while they’re driving? and B, the whole nightmare started with her horrible recording. Kristina says, exactly. Ava recorded her. Natalia says, it wouldn’t have happened if she hadn’t said those words. She’d do anything to take it back. The things she said were horrible about anyone, let alone her own daughter and the woman she loves. She’ll literally regret it until the day she dies.

Jack says he would help Carly if he could, and she asks if she could have some water. He says, of course (🍷), and while he’s getting it, she looks around and puts the bug under his desk. He gives her the glass and says he has to be careful bending the rules. She says she’s the one he’s bent them for the most. It’s been a day. She doesn’t know how to face Lulu. Waking up after all those years, it’s like a long nightmare, and now she’s slammed with another one. He says, she has family support, and Carly says, when the explosion happened, she and Lulu hadn’t been close in a long time. She’s hoping to change that. He asks if that’s why she’s desperate to fix things, to make up for lost time, and she asks if he’s a therapist now. He says, reading people is a requirement of his job, and she says she’s sorry for asking so much. He always makes the impossible possible and she wants him to know that she appreciates him. He’s a good man. She thanks him and leaves. Jack says, if only he was as good a man as she believes. (Mrs. Jack Brennan… Mrs. J. Brennan… Mrs. Brennan… Theresa Brennan… 💘)

Anna says, it’s not like she held a gun to Carly’s head. Spinelli was here. Spinelli says, Anna was straightforward, and Carly was willing to tackle the assignment. Jason says, she thinks Jack is telling the truth. That’s why they should have left her out of it. She believes Jack is someone she can trust and they all know he’s not. Anna says, she’s not in danger, and Jason says, not yet, but what happens when Jack finds out she planted the bug?  

Jordan says, the woman whose life Isaiah saved is the ex-wife of a detective she used to work with. He says he met Dante when the PCPD was trying to find out who tried to kill him, and she says, Lulu’s absence was tough on the family. They were scared they were going to lose her, and because of him, they didn’t. He asks if this is her way of saying thanks, and she says, it’s the least he’s owed. He says, she saved his life, and she says, it’s her job to serve the community. He says his job is to serve patients his, and she says she guesses they’re both good at what they do.

Alexis tells Molly that no one could have stopped Kristina from confronting Ava, and they had no control over how Ava would react. They may never know what really happened, but whatever it was, they couldn’t have stopped it, so let it go. Molly says, it’s hard, and Alexis says, it’s especially hard because she grew up watching her mother try to control the world. Look how that turned out, at the bottom of a bottle. Molly says, Alexis climbed her way out, and Alexis says, so will she. She understands Molly’s last words to Sam weren’t what she wanted, and she’s sorry Molly has to carry that. Know that Kristina holds a lot of blame for the rift between them. She tried to do what she could to help them both, but when she asks Molly to make peace, she’s not saying Kristina is right. Does Molly understand? Molly says she does.

TJ says he’s upset, but Curtis is right, and Curtis says, later on, he’ll see even more clearly and figure out what he really wants. In the meantime, he thinks they should hook this place up. TJ asks if he means move things around, and Curtis says, they could start with a chair. They can go shopping. It will be great. TJ has seen his place. Does he think it was all Portia? Curtis picks one of Molly’s journals up off the floor and asks if it’s TJ’s. TJ says, it’s Molly’s old journal, and Curtis says he’s got matches… He’s just messing with TJ. They can drop it off at Alexis’s house and leave. Whatever TJ Is comfortable with.

Dante says, it feels wrong to be the slightest bit happy, and Sonny says he gets it. Dante says, Rocco is on cloud nine, and Sonny says, they’ve been given a miracle. Dante wonders how he can help Rocco navigate when he has no idea how to deal with it himself, and Sonny says, two things can be true at once, joy and grief. Dante and the kids need to allow themselves to feel it, but also know it can change on any given day. He remembers family dinners… Dante says, where Sonny did the cooking, and he pretended to help. He’d hide so he didn’t have to chop onions. Sonny says, Dante should have his own version with Rocco, Danny, and Scout. Not just dinner, but being together. Dante asks if he thinks there’s a world where Lulu fits into that, and Sonny says he does. Just because he’s welcoming Lulu back into their lives doesn’t mean he won’t miss Sam. Dante says, sometimes Sonny gives not terrible advice, and Sonny says, he has his moments, and they hug.  

Carly comes back and says, mission accomplished… What’s wrong? Anna says, Jason isn’t happy about the bugging, and Spinelli says, bugging. It sounds like a horror movie… I’m not helping. Jason tells Carly, stay away from Jack, especially if he finds out about the bug. Carly says, he’s not going to find the bug, but Jason says, it’s the WSB. They sweep for them all the time. Anna says, it’s standard procedure, and Carly says, it can’t be traced back to them, can it? Spinelli says, it’s a very low probability, and Carly says, Jack isn’t the monster they think he is. She knows him. Jason says, nobody does. Spinelli searched for him and what did he come up with? Spinelli says, the man is a ghost, and Jason says, that’s how lethal Jack is, to cover his tracks to that extent. The last thing any of them need is for him to know they had anything to do with planting the bug.

Isaiah tells Jordan that medicine is his passion. Helping people is what he loves doing. It feels wrong negotiating for more money to provide a basic human right. She says, that’s why writers and athletes have agents. So they’re paid to do something they’d do for free. He’s helping, but it’s a job he does well and should be compensated for. He says, now that he’s stateside, he’s back to life’s amenities, and she says, her job is to size up clients. In this case, she’s doing it for a friend. He says he heard friends go out to dinner from time to time. Maybe they should try it. She says, maybe they should.

Alexis says, Molly and TJ had a lot of years invested in their relationship. She thinks it’s too soon to know for sure if it’s ended, but if it has, Molly needs to take the time to grieve it and remember there was so much good about it. It’s not her fault it didn’t work. It takes two. Molly says she wants TJ to be happy and have a place he’s not afraid to come home to and live a life he loves. Alexis says, it’s okay for her to want that for herself too, and Molly says she does. She doesn’t know what that looks like, but she believes it’s out there. Alexis says she knows it is, when there’s a knock at the door. Molly answers it, and invites TJ in. He gives her the journal and says, she dropped this. He figured she’d want it. She thanks him and says she could have picked it up. He says he didn’t read it, and she says she knows. That’s not who he is. He says he’s glad she feels that she still knows him, and she says she thinks she’ll always know who he is and she will always love him. He says he’ll always love her too. Take care of herself. She says, him too, and he leaves. She watches through the window, then cries. Alexis puts her arm around Molly.

Natalia says she’d do anything to take back her words, but all she can do is learn from it. She’s not that person anymore. She grew to be better. Kristina says she certainly knows what that’s like to wish you could go back. She wishes every day that she didn’t go to Ava’s room or that Ava didn’t answer the door or that a fire alarm went off or anything. She was starting to think the baby was hers. Not just hers, but hers and Allie’s. They were envisioning a whole future life with their baby girl. Natalia says, that would have made the baby her granddaughter, and she laughs. She says, believe it or not, she would have loved that. Kristina says she believes her, when Kristina’s phone rings. She answers and says, thanks for letting her know. She tells Natalia, the jury is back.

Colette says, so that’s Carly, and Jack says, she’s a spitfire. Colette says, she’s a distraction. His duty is to the Bureau, not to the citizens of Port Charles. He says he’s aware, and she says, the drone strike and the explosion suggest otherwise. Not to mention what’s happening with Sidwell. Are there any updates? He says, it’s above her clearance level, and she says, he’s a brilliant agent and she’s lucky to be working with him… He says, but? and she says, be careful. Using his power for personal matters is the quickest way to get burned. He asks if that’s all, and she leaves. He makes a call and says, it’s me.

Spinelli says, Brennan is making a call, and they hear Jack say, Lulu’s awake. He has an offer to bring the child back. What do they want him to do?

Tomorrow, Brook tells Maxie that she has to bring out the big guns; Kai asks how he can make it up to Trina; Lucas thinks something might be a bad idea; Stella says, Portia just made a big mistake; and the verdict is in.

🫧 Blowing Soap Bubbles…

Will they or won’t they get back together?

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/kristen-vaganos-opens-up-about-molly-and-tjs-future-on-gh

Nepo baby birthday. I’ll bet he’s a great dad.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/maurice-benards-birthday-message-to-his-son-joshua

I’ll take anybody’s fitness secrets. At this point, my only solution is to not eat from now to Christmas.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/kirsten-storms-shares-her-fitness-secrets

This is too funny!

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/ghs-james-patrick-stuart-cant-escape-memories-of-anna

🧂 Adding More Salt…

In case you want even more of Angie getting the boot. I’d liked her, too, but Lisa was right, she skips over her instigation.

Yeah, yeah. What I just said. That woman was winding up.

Moving on.

👒 Charming Once More…

The usual suspects are back, but I guess no one told the digital TV guide people that Kathryn Dennis is no longer on the show. A lot of it centered around a big party for a horse race called the Carolina Cup. In Venita’s interview, she said, the Carolina Cup was technically a horserace, but it was really a Lilly Pulitzer fashion show. She said she had no memories of it because she’d been too lit. Alrighty then.

The best part of tonight’s episode was Shep trying to make conversation with Taylor at the party and Taylor being polite, but not having it. Or setting boundaries as she put it. He was hella uncomfortable. She has a new boyfriend now and I’m glad she’s moved on. Shep treated her horribly. There was a lot of whining on Shep’s part because he’d been to some kind of psychedelic therapy retreat, and the other guys had hurt his feelings. Whitney was nowhere to be found in this episode, but Patricia made an appearance, and it made me sad to think about Michael. Hopefully, he’s now the one being served martinis. Angelic martinis of course.

As of this posting, there were no recaps, but there was this. It seems all the guys had been working on themselves over Charm’s hiatus. Except for JT, which is probably why he quit mid-season.

Newcomer Molly was definitely a breath of fresh air. In her interview, she talked about how a thyroid condition caused her weight to fluctuate. When she gained 45 pounds, she lost her modeling career, and it had been a mind f***.  She looked absolutely perfect, so I guess she must be in a good space right now.

👠 Straight From the Marge’s Mouth…

Apparently, it was just bickering amongst Housewives.

🍸 The Latest On the Rules…

Unless you live in a bank vault, you probably knew this. It’s going to be a whole new day on VPR.

You can’t fire her. She quits.

Andy approves.

She’d better not exit and it would not be a good thing. What LVP needs is a new brood to take under her wing, and I’m thinking this might be that. I wasn’t that thrilled with Vanderpump Villa – too much of a distasteful cast and not enough Lisa – but I might give it another go since Stassi has signed on.

Pretty much everyone saw this coming. Except for Sandoval, who was probably looking in the mirror practicing real tears. You’d think in the wake of this, they might have gotten on their game, but it looks like they just gave up. I am no good with a slow bartender. The slower you are, the lower your tip gets.

🪃 Karma Happens…

Sometimes we actually get to see the reaping what we sow principle in action.

https://nypost.com/2024/12/05/us-news/florida-dog-trooper-tied-to-fence-during-hurricane-milton-finds-his-forever-home-while-cruel-ex-owner-awaits-court-date/

❄️ Let It Snow…

Come on by tomorrow for soap and Friday’s free-for-all. Until then, stay safe; stay considering volunteering during the holiday season; and stay knowing two things can be true joy and grief and allowing yourself to feel it.

October 4, 2024 – Lucas Comes Home To Port Charles, A Review, Reunited, Her No Good Very Bad Look, VanderWeen, Engaged, First One, Sorry About That, Pet (!) Costumes, OctoQuotes & Thrill This

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Gino plays his violin outside of Bobbie’s, when Trina puts a dollar in his violin case. She asks if he knows any Billy Eilish.

Chase says he can’t put his finger on it, but something is different around here, and Brook says, good different or bad different? He says, definitely good. Listen… It’s quiet. She says, the kids are all in school, Tracy is out on a ride, Olivia is at the MetroCourt. Somehow, all of the planets are finally aligned, and they have this entire place to themselves. He says he has the afternoon off work. The planets can’t get any more aligned than that. He kisses her, when her phone rings. He asks her to ignore it, but she says she can’t. She looks at her phone and says, it’s Violet’s school. They’re sending her home.

Ric asks if Ava is suggesting someone at General Hospital altered Heather’s test results, and she says, it wouldn’t be the first time. He asks, who would do that? and she says, somebody who wants Heather kept behind bars. He says, lab tech?… Someone with maybe a little bit more authority. Somebody who could go in and out of any room in the hospital without being stopped. It’s also got to be somebody who is so invested in keeping Heather in prison, they’d be willing to risk anything to keep Heather behind bars.

Lucky knocks on Sonny’s office door and says, sorry to disturb him. He knows it’s been a long time. They hug.

Carly tells Josslyn, the doctors need to do a secondary screening of Lucky’s liver to make sure everything is okay, and then they can move forward with the transplant. Josslyn says, but Lulu’s going to be okay, and Carly says, it’s looking that way.  There’s a knock at the door and Carly opens it to Lucas. They hug, and he says, she’s looking good. She says, he’s home.

On the phone, Brook says, of course (🍷) … Absolutely. They’re on their way. She tells Chase, Violet’s fine. Physically fine. He says, so she’s not sick or hurt? and Brook says, no. He asks why they called, and she says, she hit a boy in her class. He laughs and says, no. Violet wouldn’t do that. She says, her teacher saw her do it, and he says, she got in a fight or something? Brook says she doesn’t know. Violet wouldn’t tell the teacher what happened. He says, since when does Violet not talk about anything? Something’s up. He’s going to go get her. Brook says, they’ll both go. It might take the both of them to get the truth out of her.

Ric asks if there’s someone at the hospital who was attacked by Heather, because that person would definitely want her to stay where she was, and Ava says, Heather and her hook put her in the hospital. So she won’t exactly be shedding any tears if she stays where she is. He says he’s sorry, and she says she’s just saying, the hospital is a big place and there are probably a lot of people who weren’t too excited about the possibility of running into Heather at the supermarket. He says, that’s a fair point, but if he’s going to prove GH’s tests are untrustworthy, connecting it to somebody might be helpful. She tells him to go ahead and prove his grand conspiracy. In the meantime, his client Heather will be rotting in Pentenville. He says, not if he connects the dots real fast, and she says, if he accuses a hospital employee with tampering with the tests, every lawyer GH has is going to come running, and nothing about his case will move fast. He asks if she thinks he should ditch the whole tampering theory, and she says she thinks if he wants things to move quickly, he should give GH an easy out. Just tell them up front that he thinks it’s probably an honest lab mistake. The hospital is sure to agree it’s a faulty test. He asks when she became such an expert in legal strategy, and she says, just giving him an alternative. If he wants to do it his way, do it his way. She doesn’t care. She has no dog in this fight. He says he thinks she does. So who is she protecting?

Lucas and Josslyn hug, and he says he’s missed her so much. He can’t wait to hear all about her life. He wants pictures, videos, all of it, especially the embarrassing stuff. She says, that’s most of it. She’s going to just reschedule with Trina. He says, go be with her friend. They have plenty of time to catch up. She says, it’s going to take a lot of time to get him fully caught up, and he says he’ll block out three hours. She leaves, and Carly says she knows they’ve been talking about him coming back for a while now, but until he texted her that the plane had landed, she just didn’t believe it. He says, it was time, and she suggests they sit down and talk. They go into the living room, and she asks if it was hard leaving Boston, but he says he didn’t have many ties there. Boston’s great, but he was working all the time. It made him a better doctor, but he didn’t want to live like that. He missed the family. She says, they missed him too. She’s so happy he’s here. He can stay as long as he likes, but just be warned. Donna is really into crafts, and he’s going to find beads and glue everywhere. He says he’ll keep an eye out, and she says she’s so glad he’s home. She knows it’s hard for him to be in Port Charles. He says he’s sorry he didn’t stick around after mom’s funeral, but she says, it’s okay. She gets it. He says he knew she would, and she says she just wants him to be okay. He says he’s getting there, and she says she knows he’s excited about the job. It’s just that after everything he’s been through, is he sure he’s up for it?

Sonny says he can’t express how happy he is that Lucky is home safe, and Lucky says he’ll never be able to repay Jason or Anna or Carly for everything they did to get him back here. Sonny says, even though Lucky got all the help, he heard it was hell to get back. He’s sure Lucky’s dad would be very proud that he did this for his sister. Lucky says, his dad might be relieved, but he’s not so sure he’d be proud. Sonny asks, what makes him say that, and Lucky says, because they both know he should have been here all along.

Gio finishes playing, and Trina applauds. He says, thanks, but he still needs to work on that bridge. She says, it sounded perfect to her, and he says he’s glad, but he needs something perfect to both of them. She says, that’s fair. What is he even doing out here? He says, change of pace. It’s a nice vibe. Fresh air, sound of the birds, the wind. Kids laughing, people talking. She says, so he likes to play surrounded by… life, and he says, when he plays outside, he feels like he’s part of this big orchestra that’s always playing, but they forget to listen to it. She says, and here she thought it was just about the acoustics. She’s glad she ran into him. She felt terrible that his performance at the gallery got canceled. He says, it wasn’t her fault, and she says she knows, but she’s been working overtime getting Harriet Nakia’s show back on the book and she finally did. She’d love to rebook him. He thanks her for the offer, but says he has to pass, and she asks, why? He says he knows how much she cares for Ava, but she pushed Uncle Sonny’s pregnant daughter out of a window and killed her baby. He’d never work for that woman now.

Ava says she’s not protecting anyone, and Ric says, she’s right. He doesn’t need to find out who did this. She says, really? Two seconds ago, he was Columbo. Now he’s going to walk away? He says, no. He’s just reevaluating the new information. She asks, what new information? and he says, the fact that she doesn’t want him to know who did this. He’s not going to pressure her into telling him who it is. She says, that would be a waste of time because it isn’t anyone, and he says he thinks he’s gotten to know her pretty well, and he knows she wouldn’t stick her neck out for anybody. So this person must mean a lot to her. He guesses he’s just going to have to figure out Heather’s case with what he’s got. He says he’ll see her later, and leaves.

Lucas asks if she’s questioning his skills as a surgeon, but Carly says, not at all. She just knows it isn’t easy for him to be back in Port Charles. He says, when he saw an opening for a trauma surgeon at GH, he didn’t even think about it; he just applied. She says, if there’s anything she can do for him to make it easier, let her know, and he says, just her being here makes it easier and better. He thinks this job was the universe telling him that he can’t run away forever. He doesn’t want to be that kind of man. She says, a man who runs from difficult situations? and he says he knows he will never be Wiley’s father, but he’d sure like a shot at being uncle. He thinks he could really nail that. (Isn’t Wiley, like, in college by now?) She says she thinks he’ll be a great uncle. Has he talked to Michael? He says he emailed Willow and Michael before he accepted the position. They’re both completely on board. She says she knows it’s going to be difficult to see Wiley, but if anyone can navigate that situation, it’s him. Speaking of navigating a difficult situation, has he been in touch with Brad? He says, no, and he’s not going to be. But while they’re on the subject of past relationships, what is this he hears about her and Sonny?

Sonny says, they all make the best decisions at any particular moment, and Lucky says he can’t help wondering how his dad would feel about him letting Lulu waste away in that bed. Sonny says, if Aiden messed up, would Lucky judge him? and Lucky says, of course (🍷) not. He loves Aiden. Sonny says, there’s his answer, and Lucky says, that’s just part of being a parent. Sonny says, not all parents. Even with him. He made that same mistake with Michael and still regrets it to this day. He can tell Lucky something about his father. He wouldn’t judge Lucky because he loved him. Lucky thanks him for saying that, and Sonny tells him that he’s saying it because it’s true. Don’t beat himself up. He’s here. That’s all that matters. Lucky says he has a lot of work to do, and not just the stuff with Lulu, and Sonny says, then do it. Has he seen Aiden? Lucky says, not yet. He’s been to some of the most dangerous places in the world, and here he is in Port Charles afraid to see his own son.

Trina says, Gio really won’t play at the gallery? and he says he’s sorry. Uncle Sonny’s been good to him. Maybe if Ava gets cleared, he’ll consider it. Trina says, it’s fine. If that’s how he feels about it, she’ll just ask someone else. But don’t worry. She’ll never ask him to play at the gallery again. She goes inside Bobbie’s.

Brook and Chase walk into the nook with Violet, and Chase says he knows Violet didn’t want to tell her teacher about what happened today, but she can tell them anything. Brook says, they love her like crazy, and Violet says she doesn’t want them to get mad. Chase says, she must have been pretty mad to hit that kid. What was his name? Violet says, Garth, and Brook says, what’s the story with Garth? Violet says, he’s a mean bully and he lies, and she hates him, and Chase asks what he lied about. Violet says, her dad, and Chase asks what he said. Violet tells him that Garth said her dad’s a drunk.

Carly says, Lucas is in town all of two hours. How does he know what’s going on with her and Sonny? He says, Joss, and she says she should have known. He says, she really should have. So? She says, so, it’s complicated. Can they just leave it at that? He says, for now. She’s going to tell him eventually. She says, probably, and he says, Joss also told him about Ava and Kristina. Does she think Ava did what they’re accusing her of? She says she doesn’t think Ava is innocent of anything, but to be honest, nobody knows what happened in that hotel room except for Kristina and Ava. And it’s a whole mess right now. Molly and Kristina are… Is he sorry he came back yet? He says, no. He thinks it’s good he came back when he did. He’s sorry if he sounded judgmental about her relationship with Sonny. After the relationship he had with Brad, he has no right to judge anyone. She says she understands, but she also knows he’s not going to let her off the hook that easily, and he says, definitely not. Now while she comes up with her Sonny story, he’s going to GH to fill out some forms and get his new ID. She says she’s happy he’s home. Their family really needs him right now. He says, somebody’s got to keep an eye on her, and leaves.

Lucky says he doesn’t even know if Aiden wants to see him, and Sonny asks why he wouldn’t want to. Lucky says, because he dropped the ball. They used to email and videochat every couple of weeks and he hasn’t made contact in a long time. Sonny says, Aiden still cares what Lucky thinks, but Lucky says he doesn’t know about that. Sonny asks if Lucky cared about what Luke thought about him, and Lucky says, more than anyone. Sonny says, then that’s what’s got to be at the front of his mind. Not what he wants to change, but what Aiden needs from him. Lucky says he doesn’t even know what that is, and Sonny says, he’s not going to get it by sitting here talking to him. He’s just got to show up no matter how tough it is. He’s got to show up. Lucky says, Sonny is right. He’s going to go see Aiden. Sonny says, he’s probably in school, right? and Lucky says, something else he should have known. Sonny says, he’s going to figure it out sooner or later, and when he does, they’ll change the start time of school and change the vacation schedule, and he’ll have to start all over. Lucky says, good to know. He guesses he’ll swing by GH and check up on Lulu and his buddy Isaiah. He thanks Sonny, and Sonny says he’s glad Lucky is back. Lucky says, him too. It’s good. Sonny says, that means he’s supposed to be here, and Lucky leaves.

On the phone in Bobbie’s, Trina says she saw their ad online and she was wondering if they’re still available. Give her a call back and they can talk details.

Outside, Gio puts away his violin, when Josslyn comes into the courtyard. She says she didn’t know he’d be here, and he says he was just rehearsing. She says she was about to head inside and hang out with Trina. Does he want to come? He says, it’s probably not a good idea. Trina isn’t going to want him there. She asks, what happened? and he says, they don’t see eye to eye on something, and neither of them is going to change their mind. She says, that doesn’t sound like Trina. She’s always down to share other people’s points of view. He says, not about Ava Jerome. Trina wanted him to play at the gallery and he said he couldn’t. Not after what Ava did to Kristina. Josslyn says, that’s it. Come with her. He follows her inside.

On the phone in her office, Portia leaves a message for Trina, letting her know she was thinking about her. She hopes school is going well. Trina doesn’t have to call her back. She just wanted to let Trina know that she loves her. There’s a knock at the door, and Ava walks in. Portia asks what she can do for her, and Ava says, as Portia is probably aware, Ric Lansing is representing her in her current legal difficulties. Portia says, okay… and Ava says, he’s also representing Heather Webber. Portia says she did know that, and Ava says, what Portia may not know is, Ric had several blood panels run to test Heather’s cobalt levels, four to be exact. Three were normal. One was not. Does she want to guess which one? Portia says, not really, and Ava says, the one test that showed Heather Webber still had elevated levels of cobalt in her blood was conducted right here at the GH lab. Portia says, their lab is excellent. She’s sure if there’s a problem, they can do another test. No issue at all. Ava says she’s surprised to hear Portia say that, and Portia says, why is that? Ava says, because Ric has come to the conclusion that someone here at GH tampered with those test results. Someone with an interest in keeping Heather in prison. Someone with access. Portia says, someone like her?

Brook asks what Violet thinks Garth meant when he said that about her dad, and Violet says, a drunk is someone who drinks too much. Brook says, it’s not a nice word, and Chase says, her dad has a disease. Brook says, we don’t call people unkind names because they’re sick, and Chase says, that’s right. Violet says she told her friend Jamie her dad couldn’t take her to the pumpkin patch this year because he was in a special hospital, and Brook says, that’s right. Violet tells them that she was saying that her daddy is going on lots of hikes and talking to people. But then, Garth said he wasn’t in a hospital. That he was in rehab because he was… Chase says, got it, and Violet says, then she hit him as hard as she could, but then he poured grape juice all over her shirt. Brook says, her dad bought her that shirt, didn’t he? and Violet says, yeah, and now it’s ruined because of stupid, mean Garth. Chase hugs her and says he’s so sorry any of that happened to her. He thanks her for telling them the truth, and she says she’s sorry she hit Garth. He just made her so mad. She’s sorry about her shirt. Brook says, that’s okay. Why don’t they go upstairs? Violet can change and she’ll throw the shirt in the washing machine. She’s sure she can get the stain out. Violet leaves and Brook follows her.

Isaiah walks around on crutches in his hospital room, when Lucky walks in. He says, not bad. Now pretend the Yankees won the series and jump up and down. Isaiah laughs and says, about time. What did he do, walk from Sidwell’s? Lucky says, looking pretty smooth there, and they shake hands. Isaiah says, this is actually him improved. It’s good to see him. Lucky says, it’s good to see Isaiah too. He guesses he owes Isaiah one. Isaiah says, oh yeah, and one day, he might actually take Lucky up on it. Lucky says he knows Isaiah is joking, but he’s not. They may not be trapped in Sidwell’s compound anymore, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have Isaiah’s back. Isaiah says he knows, and Lucky says, good. Because he does and he always will.

Carly walks into Pozzulo’s, and Sonny says he can make Carly an espresso in 25 seconds. She says, that’s impressive, but that’s okay. She’d feel like she was cheating on his old machine. He says, she doesn’t know what she’s missing, and she says, one more mystery she has to live with. He says, have it her way, and leads her to his office. He says, guess what? Lucky was here earlier. She says, how’d that go? and he says, he’s adjusting to being back in Port Charles. She says she’s sure it’s a lot for him, and he says, he’s a lot like his father. He’s tough. He’s going to be okay. She says she doesn’t know if he’s heard, but Lucas is back. He says he heard. How is he? She says, he’s good. He’s ready to start the next chapter of his life. He’s also concerned that they’re getting back together. Sonny says, this is going to be over soon, and she says, good, because that’s why she’s here.

Terry lets Lucas into her office and says, everyone is excited about him rejoining the staff, and he thanks her for making his transition back so smooth. She says, they’re lucky to have him. She’s sure he had his pick of hospitals. He says, GH was always his first choice. He’s looking forward to a fresh start in his hometown. She says she wants that for him too, but there’s something she thinks he should know.

On the phone, Trina says, if they’re schedule changes, let her know. She turns around to see Josslyn with Gio, and says, whatever they’re trying to do, the answer is no. Josslyn says, Ava is not worth losing a friendship, and neither is Sonny, but Trina says, this is between her and Gio. Josslyn says, they both see good sides to Sonny and Ava. How, she doesn’t know, but it doesn’t matter. She’s not here to waste her time or her energy trying to convince them that they’re wrong. Trina says, the world won’t end if everyone doesn’t have the same opinions, and Josslyn says, she’s right, but they don’t have to fight Sonny and Ava’s battles for them. Let them screw up their own lives, but don’t let them change one thing about theirs.

Portia asks if Ava really thinks she’d risk everything to get back at Heather, and Ava says, what she thinks is, if her daughter were in danger, she’d do everything she could to protect her. Changing a test result? That’s nothing. She’d pull strings, she’d pay bribes, she’d even kill if it meant keeping her child safe. And she’d sleep very well at night. Portia says she guesses they’re different in that way, but Ava says, no, they’re not. But Trina doesn’t know how far Portia would go to protect her. She’s getting her life back together. She’s going back to school. For the first time in a long time, she’s thinking about the future. Portia says, that’s exactly what she’s been praying for, and Ava says, well, it’s happening, and Trina doesn’t need to see her mother’s career crash and burn because of something she did to protect her daughter. Portia says she appreciates Ava coming to speak with her, but she doesn’t know what Ava is talking about. Ava says, come on. It took her all of three minutes to realize it was Portia who messed with those test results. And she won’t be the only one. So like it or not, Portia is going to need her help.

Lucas walks into the lab where Brad is working. He says he heard Brad was working here.

Trina says she understands why Gio feels the way he does about Ava. She was at the pool when Kristina fell. It was horrifying. Gio says, if Josslyn hadn’t done everything exactly right that day, Kristina would have died, and Trina says, that’s why he doesn’t want to do anything with Ava, and if he doesn’t want to perform at the gallery, don’t. He thanks her, and she says she’s just asking as his friend to consider the possibility that the fall was an accident. He says he wasn’t in the room with Kristina and Ava, so he’ll let the judge in the case decide who’s guilty. As far as the gallery gig, he won’t do it for Ava, but he’ll do it for her. She asks how he knows she hasn’t found his replacement.

Brook asks if Chase wants to go beat up Garth with her. She’s kidding… mostly. He asks how Violet is doing, and she says, she’s doing better. She’s upstairs changing her clothes. She’ll be down in a minute. Has he seen her phone? He says, she left it here when she went upstairs, and gives it to her. She checks something, and he asks what she’s doing. She says she’s looking for Garth’s parents’ phone number in the school directory. She’d like to have a little chat with them. He says, that’s probably not the best idea right now, and she says, he’s right. They should drive over there and have the conversation in person. That way, they can get eyes on Garth, see what his story is. He says, that might make things worse. Although there’s nothing stopping him from putting a boot on their car. She says she likes where his head is at on this, and he says, but you know who wouldn’t? Finn. She says she hates it, but he’s right. They need to focus on Violet. He says, there’s always going to be Garths in this world. They need to teach her how to deal with them. Short of her uncle tasing them. She says, that’s a good idea. The teaching, not the tasing. They just need to put their feelings aside and listen. He says he thinks Violet misses Finn more than they realized, and Brook says, it’s her way of crying out for help.

Lucky asks what Isaiah thinks of Port Charles, and Isaiah says, all he’s seen so far is the airport, the side of the street, and inside the hospital. Lucky says, all the hot tourist spots, and Isaiah says he’s also gotten to know some people around here. Lucky says, anyone interesting? and Isaiah says, one or two. Lucky says, sounds like Port Charles is growing on him, and Isaiah says, Lucky never told him much about his life here, which is cool, but now might be the time to tell him anything he needs to know. Lucky says, like what? and Isaiah says, like anything that might keep him from putting his foot in his mouth. Lucky says, Isaiah has met his ex, and Isaiah says, she’s pretty awesome. And he’s looking forward to meeting Lucky’s son. Has Lucky seen him yet? Lucky says, not yet, but he will soon, and Isaiah asks if Aiden knows what Lucky’s been doing. Lucky says he hasn’t given him too many details. He didn’t want to scare him. Isaiah says, he should know that Lucky’s been helping people. Isaiah is happy to tell him that, and more if Lucky wants. Lucky says he might take Isaiah up on that at some point. There are going to be a lot of questions, and he certainly doesn’t have all the answers. Isaiah asks if Lucky is worried how Aiden is going to react, and Lucky says, that, and he’s focused on his sister. He’s waiting to hear if he’s a match. Isaiah asks if he’s concerned about the surgery, and Lucky says, which one? Lulu’s or his?

Brad says, Lucas is back, and Lucas says he is, but not for Brad. They’re both going to be working here, so he thought he’d make some things clear since they’re bound to run into each other. If they speak to one another, it will only be about work. No catching up, no hashing things out. Nothing. The past is the past and that’s not going to change. He’s moving forward with his life and that doesn’t include Brad. Are they clear? Brad says, crystal, and Lucas says, good. Because he wants nothing to do with Brad – ever.

Portia asks why Ava wants to help her. What’s in it for her? Ava says, Trina. She doesn’t deserve to watch her mother lose everything. She’ll think it’s her fault, and she’s been through enough without adding that to it. Portia says she was just trying to protect Trina, and Ava says, keep doing it. Do what Ava tells her to do. No one has to know she’s doing it. Portia says, it’s already too late. Brad Cooper is back working at GH. He’s working in the lab and he’s already suspicious of her. Ava says, lie low. Don’t try to cover her tracks. Don’t try to hide what she’s done. The bigger deal she makes it, the bigger deal it’s going to become. Portia asks what she does about Ric Lansing, and Ava says she’ll handle Ric Lansing. She can certainly keep him away from Portia. Portia says, it’s not going to work. Ric Lansing will get Heather out of prison. They have to stop him.

Carly says, Sam told her that Alexis is protecting Kristina by not defending herself, and Sonny says, Alexis isn’t doing herself any favors in this case. Carly says she gets that, but Alexis shouldn’t be punished for a crime she didn’t commit, and he says, that’s why he hired Martin Grey to represent her. He’s already working on her defense. She says, he’s going to let this go to trial? but he says, no. He believes Alexis’s case is going to fall apart. She says, what if it doesn’t? and he says, it will. She says she’s on his side. She always has been and always will be. He asks why she thinks he came to her for an alibi, and she says, why does he think she gave him one? She doesn’t want anyone to go down for Cates’s murder. The world is a better place without him in it. He can’t destroy another life. Sonny says, he won’t, and she says, okay. Then he needs to tell her what they’re going to do to protect Alexis.

Violet comes downstairs, and Brook asks if she feels better. Violet says, yes, and Chase says, Garth shouldn’t have said what he did, but her dad wouldn’t want her to hit someone either. Brook’s phone rings, and she says she has to take this. She steps away, and Violet says, if Garth hadn’t said those mean things about her dad first, she wouldn’t have punched him. Chase says he knows, but he needs her to believe in her dad right now. Can she do that? Violet says she guesses so.

On the phone, someone tells Brook, the principal would like to speak to Violet’s guardian as soon as possible.

Violet says she’s sorry she hit Garth. Does Chase think she’s going to get in trouble? He says, even when you have a good reason for doing something, if you break the rules, there are consequences.

Gio asks if Trina is saying she already got someone to play at the gallery. Where did she find them? Trina says, the internet? and Josslyn says, there’s no way they’re better than him. Gio thanks her, and Trina says she will tell them that the musician she found is a little sketchy, so she’d be very happy if Gio would reconsider her offer and take the job. He says he’d be very happy to accept the offer – for her, and Josslyn says her work here is done. Gio says, if the environmental science degree doesn’t work out, she could always be a talent agent, and Trina says, very true. She could.

Ava says, unfortunately, there’s nothing they can do to stop Ric from trying to get Heather released from prison, but Portia says, there has to be. Ava says, he’s got three tests that prove the GH test was faulty. Heather Webber was affected by cobalt in her system. Portia says she can’t just sit here and do nothing, but Ava says, she can’t be seen anywhere near Heather’s case. Ava’s phone rings, and she says, it’s Ric. Ric says he’s got great news. He filed a summary motion on Heather’s case. He asked that her conviction be overturned immediately, and there’s a good chance it will be. Ava says, congratulations, and he says, don’t worry. Her mystery friend will remain a mystery. She thanks him and says she means it. Can she call him later? He says, no need. He just wanted her to know about the motion. He hangs up, and Ava looks at Portia.

Brad says, Lucas must hate him, and Lucas says, all of this would be easier if he did. He does feel sorry for Brad. He understands all the reasons Brad did what he did. Brad says he still shouldn’t have done it, and Lucas says, Brad was drawn into a nightmare. But Brad pulled him in too, and it’s a nightmare he never wants to think about or experience again. So goodbye, Brad. He walks out.

Isaiah says, so if Lulu’s body accepts Lucky’s liver, it will take her back to her baseline. He’ll have given her the best possible chance to wake up from her coma. Lucky says, don’t kid a kidder. The odds of that are pretty slim. Isaiah says, slim is better than none, and Lucky says he guesses. Isaiah says, Lucky is going to need about a week in the hospital, and another six to eight weeks after than to recover from the surgery. That being said, there are risks. There’s no such thing as a routine transplant surgery. Lucky says, and Isaiah wouldn’t consider… Isaiah says he’ll give advice and offer support, but he’s never going back into surgery. Lucky says, sorry. He never should have asked. Isaiah has done more than his part. Isaiah says, he means the whole risking his life to get Lucky help thing? and Lucky says, without him, he’d still be in the desert. Whatever happens next is on him.

Sonny says, don’t worry about it, and Carly says, he does have a plan to help Alexis, doesn’t he? He says, they can protect Alexis and everybody involved. All they have to do is find the gun Alexis threw away. She says, what if he doesn’t find it? and he says, then he’ll prove Alexis didn’t kill Jagger Cates. She says, how? and he says he’ll turn himself in.

On Monday, Willow says, maybe she and Michael can figure it out together; Robert tells Diane, Holly’s back in town; Terry has Lucky’s test results; and Lucky owes someone a huge apology.

🪥 Brush Up On Your Lucas…

A refresher course or an introduction.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/abc/general-hospital-lucas-jones-ryan-carnes-158930

🎉 Mother and Child Reunion…

Laura’s head is going to explode when Lulu wakes up.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/genie-francis-returns-to-general-hospital-2024

I dunno about him being like Luke. Luke was never that altruistic.

https://ew.com/general-hospital-will-reunite-laura-with-lucky-genie-francis-jonathan-jackson-8723567

🎉 Receipts, Proof, Timelines, Lemons In a Bowl…

I really do feel badly for her, but she seriously needs to curb her drinking.

Confirmation!

🍸 Something About Horror…

It beats the horror of the last two seasons of VPR.

💍 Charming Proposal…

She’s finally moved on from creeper Austen. Good for her.

🥸 That’s a Lot Of Laughs…

Wow. Fifty – 5-0 – seasons.

https://ew.com/how-to-watch-first-snl-episode-after-saturday-night-movie-8722822

💸 Regrettable Millionaire…

This came after the shame of being included in The Dark Side of Reality TV. I kinda, sorta remember it, but I’m not a fan of the finding love shows. I always feel embarrassed for the contestants. No doubt they feel embarrassed for themselves too, after it airs. And it’s rarely love that they find.

https://ew.com/joe-millionaire-producer-regrets-convincing-women-to-do-show-8714985

👻 Get Your Ideas Here…

This article shows costumes you can buy and where you can buy them, but it’s not that hard to DIY some of these ideas. I’m no seamstress, but I’ve handmade dog costumes a few times. You try to find Rocky Horror costumes for dogs.

https://www.cnn.com/cnn-underscored/pets/best-dog-halloween-costumes

Omg, the little football.

https://blog.homesalive.ca/dog-blog/20-funny-creative-outrageous-pet-costumes

💡 Quotes of the Week

The really magical things are the ones that happen right in front of you. A lot of the time you keep looking for beauty, but it is already there. And if you look with a bit more intention, you see it. – Vik Muniz

It is better to remain silent at the risk of being thought a fool, than to talk and remove all doubt of it.Abraham Lincoln

October is the fallen leaf, but it is also a wider horizon more clearly seen. It is the distant hills once more in sight, and the enduring constellations about them once again. – Hal Borland

Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right. – Terry Simpson

Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face. – Mike Tyson

You’re going to come across people in your life who will say all the right words at all the right times. But in the end, it’s always their actions you should judge them by. It’s actions, not words, that matter. – Nicholas Sparks

I said no cilantro. I might as well shove a bar of goddam soap in my mouth. – Oz Cobb (Colin Farrell), The Penguin (Same.)

No one knows what it is, or how it works, but everyone wants to possess it. – Nomad (Michael Berryman), Beastmaster 2: Through the Portal of Time

🍁 Here’s To October…

Get your weekend on, then join me on Monday for soap and seeing what’s on Sail. Until then, stay safe, stay within the parameters of a party (in other words, don’t be nosy about the host’s home), and stay never calling people unkind names because they’re sick.

September 18, 2024 – Ric Gives Heather Bad News, Return From Nowhere, Salt This, A Saint, Not Allowed, Surprised, VanderFilming, Two To Watch, Runaway Capybara & Night

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Judge Otis says he’s made his decision. The defendant is to be held without bail and remanded to Pentenville to await trial. Alexis says, given the nature of the charges, it’s not unusual to deny bail, but there are other options for incarceration. Noah says, it’s not her first time in Pentenville, but she says she was transferred from Pentenville to a minimum-security facility. Noah says, the charge is the murder of an FBI agent, and it’s the only appropriate course of action. The US government asks that the judge stand by his decision. Alexis says, it’s cruel and extreme, and the judge says they can address the charges at trial, but his decision stands. Kirstina jumps up and says, he can’t do this.

On the phone, Sonny tells Brick that he doesn’t care. Just get him here. There’s a knock at the door, and Natalia asks if it’s a bad time. He says, it’s been a day, and she comes in carrying a bottle of champagne. She says she thought they should take a moment to celebrate.

At the hospital, Portia asks Elizabeth, why do they want to be in charge again? and Elizabeth says, she seems to be in a good mood. Portia says she’s having dinner with Trina after work, and Elizabeth tells her to give Trina a hug and enjoy their time together.  

Ric visits Heather, and she asks how her handsome attorney is today. He asks how it’s going, and she says, the sandwich sitch isn’t great, but it won’t be much longer, right? He says, sorry, but she’s never getting out of here.

Heather asks, why? and Ric says he received the results of her blood test and there need to be significant differences before and after surgery. According to the results, the difference is negligible. Heather asks how that’s possible. It’s not like she’s sucking cobalt lollipops all day. He says, she can ask the health experts there, and she says, they have one lame doctor and a couple of nurses. Maybe they’re feeding her cobalt rich food. Her bacon did look a little blue. He says, her previous hip didn’t poison her. She committed the crimes of her own accord.

Kristina says, this is a huge mistake, and Judge Otis tells Alexis to get her daughter under control. Alexis says she’s so sorry. Her daughter has been through a series of traumatic events. The judge says he’s sympathetic, but he won’t tolerate disruptions in the court. His ruling stands. Pentenville, no bail. Court is adjourned.

Sonny asks what they’re celebrating, and Natalia says she thought he’d like an update on his investment. She just closed a 3-year deal with Goddess Gleam Beauty that will generate more than 10 million dollars minimum. She wonders why he’s not more excited, and he says he’s got a lot on his mind. She says she knows Alexis’s arraignment is today, and honestly, she was trying to take his mind off of it. He says he can’t focus when he knows Alexis is facing time for a crime she didn’t commit, and she says, he seems sure. He says, she’s not capable of it. She will defend and protect her daughter, but that, no. She says, they need to just have some faith, and he says he’s not on good terms with the Almighty. She says she’s talking about the legal system. If Alexis is innocent, the authorities will figure it out and find the actual murderer. (She clearly hasn’t been in Port Charles very long.)

Sonny says, Alexis is Kristina’s mother, and they don’t always see eye to eye, but they’d both do anything for their daughter. Natalia is impressed that he’s still communicating with some of his exes, and he says, for better or worse. She says, Ava is the worst. She can’t stand to be in the same room with Ava for more than ten minutes. He says, sometimes two, and she says, they can drink to that, when Sonny’s phone rings.

Kristina hugs Alexis, and Sam joins her. Molly stands to the side, but Alexis brings her in for a three-way hug.  

Heather says, what she needs help with understanding is, her former lawyer was sure this was a solid case. He convinced her to pursue it. Ric says, they both should have managed her expectations better, but the case had a lot of potential. She says, it makes no sense. She’s been better since the hip replacement. Her dark thoughts have stopped, and she can make no sense of her actions before that. He says, maybe she anticipated feeling that way even if her condition had nothing to do with it, but she says, no. She doesn’t think she’s different, she is different. She’s never been an angel, but when she was consumed with hatred and revenge, something was off, and she’s so much better now. He says he can’t see a path forward with the case, and she says, that’s just it? He says he’s sorry, and she says, thanks for trying. It’s not his fault or what he wanted. It would have been a big payday. He says, that was the hope, and she says, for a lawyer, he’s honest. There’s value in that. It was never about the money for her, but it would have been great. It would have allowed her to be a better grandma to Ace. It would have allowed her to be a grandma at all… He just lost a grandchild, didn’t he? She takes his hand and says she’s so sorry. There’s nothing worse than losing someone who’s supposed to outlive you. After losing Esme and Franco, this was her last shot at having a family. He says he’s sorry, but he’s afraid he has to go.

Alexis is handcuffed and the guard leads her out. At the door, she smiles and nods at her girls.  

At the hospital, Sam tells Kristina to sit, and Kristina says, they should be helping. Sam wonders how, like breaking Alexis out? Kristina says, if she could, she would, and Sam says, they’re helping now. Kristina asks, how? and Sam says, Kristina is getting the help she needs. She fell out a window and nearly died. She lost a baby… Kristina says, and a sister, and Sam says, and everything Cates put her through. Kristina says she wishes she’d killed him, but Sam says, it’s not right to take a life out of revenge. Kristina says, Jason and her dad would agree, and Sam says she’s not a professional, but after everything Kristina has experienced, it had to cause PTSD. Kristina says she feels like she’ll never be the same. It’s like she’s… broken. Sam says, she’s not broken. She’s getting professional help because she can’t do it on her own. Kristina suggests they call her dad. He knows what to do in situations like this. He always has a good idea. Sam tells her, stay put and talk to the professional. She’ll be right back. Stay here. She leaves and Kristina takes out her phone.

Sonny’s phone rings again, and Natalia says, Mr. Popular. He asks, what’s going on? and Kristina says, the arraignment is over. Her mom was denied bail and sent to Pentenville to await trial. Sonny says, she’s no danger to the community, and Kristina says, it was the murder of an FBI agent, and they sent a Fed to prosecute her. There’s no death penalty in the state of New York, but there is in a federal case. He tells her, just breathe. Where is she at? She says, GH. Sam took her here. Sam thinks she needs help. He says, Sam did the right thing. She can’t handle this herself, none of them can. Let him take care of her mom’s situation. The best thing she can do is help herself. She tells him that Sam said the same thing, and he says, when she’s right, she’s right. They exchange I love yous, and Natalia says, that didn’t sound like it went well. He says, no bail and Alexis was remanded to Pentenville. She says she’s sorry. It’s crazy. Is there a trial date set? Sonny says he’s going to do everything he can so that Alexis doesn’t spend one more second than she has to in Pentenville.

Alexis’s mug shot is taken. She puts her jewelry in a bag and has her fingerprints taken. (No ink needed anymore!) The guard searches her and gives her a uniform. (Do they not get underwear?) She hands her clothes to the guard and changes.

Elizabeth asks Ric what he’s doing at the hospital, and he says, saying hi to his favorite ex-wife. She says she’s probably the only one who doesn’t want to kill him, and he says, and she’s probably the one who should want to the most. She says, that almost sounds like an apology. What’s the real reason he’s here? He says, to confirm test results. It was going good for a while, but now it’s all over for Heather.

Felicia says she’s glad Kristina is here. She’s amazed Kristina is still standing. Kristina says, so is she, and Felicia says, they have a wide array of support resources and services, and suggests they go to the conference room where it’s more private. Sam promises to stay, and Kristina leaves with Felicia. Dante comes by and Sam hugs him.

In the conference room, Felicia says she’s here solely on Kristina’s behalf. She can speak openly and honestly. Kristina says she doesn’t usually hold back, but lately she doesn’t know where to start. Felicia asks how she’s doing right now, and Kristina says she’s upset and angry. She feels sad and guilty and feels like a failure. She feels empty. She cries and Felicia says, what she’s feeling is normal after going through what she experienced. Kristina tells her that Sam said she had PTSD, but Felicia says she’ll let the professionals decide. Losing a child is devastating. Kristina says, when she was pregnant, she had all the fears of what could happen to her child, but she never imagined they actually would. Even when she was in the hospital, she never let herself think Adela could… She’s sorry. Felicia says, don’t apologize, and Kristina says she guesses it’s true that grief comes in waves. Lately, it’s been tsunami after tsunami. Felicia says, she’s been through a number of traumas. She just fell out a window. Kristina says she keeps replaying it in her mind, and Felicia says, to add to her injury and loss is her relationship with her sister. Krisina says, it’s a lot to process, and Felicia says, most women in her situation have postpartum depression, hormonal changes, and PTSD. As her advocate, she’ll walk Kristina through the mental health resources, but as a mother, one who lost her own child, she wants to help Kristina get through it. She’s not alone. She knows what it feels like. Kristina asks, what’s next? and Felicia says, that’s up to her. She can connect Kristina with the hospital’s psychiatrist who’s a specialist in postpartum depression, and there are grief support groups that meet weekly. Kristina says, no offense, but she hates that idea, and Felicia says, bereft mothers find connecting with each other to be invaluable. Kristina says, okay, but she has to tell Sam. She knows if someone doesn’t hold her accountable, she’ll never go. Felicia says, it may not feel like it right now, but if she does the work, the pain will be significantly less.

Elizabeth asks if Ric will still be staying in Port Charles, and he asks if she wants him to. She says, idle curiosity, and he says he’ll be staying for a while. Molly needs him since Alexis was remanded to Pentenville. They were all blindsided. Ric’s phone rings and he steps away.

Sam tells Dante that she wonders how things got this bad. Kristina being Molly’s surrogate was a terrible idea, but no one could have predicted this insanity. Dante says, it’s tragic, and Sam says, even before that, Kristina was thinking about keeping the baby and Molly felt betrayed. She understands both sides. Dante says, Kristina made a promise that was impossible to keep, and Sam says, it’s all anger and blaming, and they haven’t even begun to grieve. Dante says, then Cates openly went after Kristina, and Sam says she’s glad he’s gone. He says he doesn’t think many people are going to miss him, but he’s like a roadblock to her family grieving. Where’s Molly? Sam says, probably somewhere being upset because the focus is still on Kristina, and he says, Kristina is needier? Sam says she thinks Kristina doesn’t remember that Molly also lost a child, and he wonders how neither one of them cannot understand the other’s grief and loss. She says, they’re not dealing with it head on and making it about each other. She’s terrified about what’s going to happen to her family.

Sonny opens the door to Martin, who says, Sonny’s communications director is very persuasive… Mr. Brick. Sonny says, just Brick, and Martin says, of course (🍷). Sonny asks if Brick explained why he needed to see Martin, and Martin says he’s got the gist. If Sonny wants him to step in for Diane, he’ll be more than happy to act as Sonny’s counsel. Sonny says, Diane is his attorney, and with all due respect, she’s the best. Martin isn’t here to represent him. He wants Martin to represent Alexis Davis.

Alexis is walked to her cell.

Kristina thanks Felicia, who tells her to reach out with any questions. She hopes she didn’t overwhelm her with information. Kristina says, it’s not that. She feels behind in her grief. There are already so many things she should have been doing. Felicia tells her, you know what they say about planting trees, and Kristina says she’s not exactly a gardener. Felicia says, the best time to plant is 20 years ago. The second-best time to plant is right now. There’s no timetable for life. She’s here getting help right now. Kristina says, what if it’s not enough? She knows she won’t get over it, but she thinks she can learn to carry it. Felicia says, it’s possible. Believe her. She knows. Kristina says, what she thinks she doesn’t know is how. How does she carry her guilt? Felicia says, for what? and Kristina says her baby died because of a fall that happened because she was somewhere she shouldn’t have been. Felicia says, one thing she’s learned about guilt is, it does no good and doesn’t help, and Kristina says, it could have been different if she never went to Ava’s hotel room. Her sister Molly blames her for what happened to the baby and her biggest fear… is that Molly is right. She is responsible. Felicia says, Kristina didn’t jump out the window, but Kristina says she created the circumstances for the accident to happen. Felicia says, the accident. Sometimes terrible things happen and it’s nobody’s fault. Kristina says, even if it’s nobody’s fault, there’s always someone accountable, right? Losing the baby, the rift with her sister, and everything that’s happening with her mom is all because of her. Felicia says, what if it is? What is she going to do with it? What if it isn’t? How is she going to deal with that? Kristina says she guesses that’s what she’s here to figure out, and Felicia says, the best thing for her to do for her mom is to work on herself and her mental health. That’s what she’s doing and it’s a great first step. Kristina cries and Felicia holds her.  

Sonny tells Martin that Diane can’t handle Alexis’s case because she’s representing him in the same case. Martin asks how Sonny is involved, and Sonny says he was a person of interest before Alexis. Martin asks who her current attorney is, and Sonny says, she’s representing herself. Martin says, she’s making a mistake. It’s a fool’s errand. Scotty would be better. Sonny says, Alexis likes doing things her way, but Martin says, she can’t. She should know that. Sonny says, that’s why Martin is here. He needs somebody to represent Alexis who can beat these charges. Martin says he’d be a fool to not be interested. The murder of a federal agent? That is huge. You can’t buy that publicity. Sonny says he needs somebody who’s doing it for the right reason and would do anything to win, and Martin says he certainly has no intention of losing. Sonny holds out his hand and asks if they have a deal. Martin shakes it, and says, they have a deal.

Sam tells Dante, no one is thinking clearly. All the sanity is up to her. He says, that’s a scary thought. They have to focus to help her mom. Sam says she did have a chat with Michael about that. He said they should focus less on who killed Cates, and more on finding the evidence to clear her mom. Dante says, it makes sense. The only thing involved is the gun. She says, it’s not the gun that killed Cates, and he says, ballistics will prove it, but it’s still in the river. The police divers can’t find it. She says she wishes they knew an expert diver… She is. He says, the water is choppy, but she says she can handle an undercurrent. (so does everyone who drowns here due to one every summer.) He says he’s not loving the sound of this, but assumes there’s no talking her out of it. She says, waste of breath, and he says, so what’s next? She says she’s going to find the gun her mom tossed off the bridge and end this nightmare for her family.

Elizabeth says she sees Ric is still here, and he says he was wondering if he could ask her a question involving a medical issue. She says, as long as it’s not violating a patient’s privacy, and he shows her some paperwork. He says, the results from both labs are from the same blood same taken at the same time. Shouldn’t they be redundant? She says, the test results are wrong. They’re not even close. The level from the outside lab is much lower. The tests should be done again. Something is seriously wrong.

Alexis sighs, and a guard comes by. She says she was told she has a cellmate, but she’d like to lie down and doesn’t know which bunk… The guard keeps walking, and another guard arrives. She unlocks the cell, and Heather walks in. Alexis sighs again. (I’m dying laughing.)

Cyrus sats, somehow, he will help someone; Ric says, Elizabeth is the one person he’d do anything for; Dante says he wants Rocco to be prepared; and Jason guesses he and Anna caught a break.

🧴 Blink and You Missed It…

I’m not sure if you can return if you’re not really gone, but okay. I’m also not sure if Drew and Nina posing as a power couple is going to help his campaign, but double okay because I’d rather he be with Nina than creeping on Willow.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/cameron-mathison-returns-to-general-hospital

🧂 Salt On the Snowflakes…

My bad yesterday. I forgot Million Dollar Listing LA was over and has no Reunion. So on to Salt Lake.

During the gorgeous opening shots, I was immediately reminded of how much I love and miss snow. While it’s not like I live in the south, near the ocean, the winters are often mild, and nowadays, we’re lucky if we get one good blast during the entire winter. But I digress.

After Mary told her that she looked thin, Heather made the disturbing comment in her interview that she finally cracked the code. She lost 25 pounds, and Mary loves her. She does look great, but it’s sad how much being liked is tied to appearance, whether it’s a real thing or just perception. Although Mary did get Angie an invite to Kathy Hilton’s Christmas party, so maybe it’s wise to be on her good side, no matter what that entails.

New Housewife Bronwyn (no, not that one) has six dogs, so she’s okay by me. They all look like Boxers too, so I doff my cap. Those dogs can be a handful. What I didn’t like about Bronwyn was her anecdote about meeting Lisa (whose coattails she rode in on). She and Lisa first met at an upscale department store and when Lisa complimented her on what she was buying, Bronwyn brushed her off because she was wearing sweats. Bronwyn said she didn’t remember it – it was what Lisa had told her – but it sounded like something she would do. As the Countess would say, don’t be all uncool.

And what’s up with Angie and Mary in the Burger King crowns?

🍊 And In a Shocking Twist…

Maybe he should have stayed with the devil he knew.

🚫 No Friends For You…

Gina stuck herself in the middle with Fancy Pants and Katie. And who said she’s not allowed to be friends with Katie? Bowling for Soup was right, high school never ends.

🃏 Maybe She Is Just Stupid…

Has she watched herself? Was shutting up about Johnny J. and his blackmail Ring tapes not an option?

🍸 Only Andy Knows For Sure…

Is it a spinoff? Is it a reboot? Is it something completely different? Does anybody really care? Okay, I might if LVP is involved.

💻 What Else To Watch…

I wasn’t sure how I felt about this film, other than the enjoyment of seeing Jason Momoa shirtless through most of it, but had I known it was a meditative art film wrapped in a bloody genre blanket, buried deep in a scorching sci-fi desert, I might have put more thought into it. While I didn’t pick up all the nuances this reviewer did, no one enjoys an apocalypse more than I do (okay, maybe Murphy from Z Nation), and I still appreciated the hell out of it. This review is years old (from when the movie actually came out), but the film remains the same and is now on Netflix. Warning: Major spoilers ahead.  

https://www.rogerebert.com/features/why-the-bad-batch-is-one-of-the-best-films-of-2017

I’d been waiting a while for this one to stream, since I love an animal/human hybrid theme. This is no Sweet Tooth, but it still contains the element of people fearing what they don’t understand and ridding the world of those who are different. I would have liked to see more of the animal/human hybrids, but it was a fascinating watch all the same. I also would have preferred a different ending, but that doesn’t make it bad. Actual animal, the main character’s dog Albert, added a touch of realism since he was no Lassie, and ran off in the face of danger as my dogs would. You can stream this on Hulu or Disney+ – in French with subtitles. Minor warning: A few small spoilers, but they don’t give the whole film away.

https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-animal-kingdom-film-review-2024

🦔 Where In the World Is Cinnamon…

Capybaras are one of my favorite animals. They’re kept as pets in some places and seem pretty chill, so I’m wondering why she’s so hellbent on not going back, especially since her capybara family is there. I hope it’s just because she has an adventurous soul.

https://people.com/cinnamon-capybara-runs-away-from-zoo-found-in-nearby-field-8714849

🦥 Dreaming Through September…

Join me tomorrow for soap and the OC for sure. Until then, stay safe, stay not sacrificing comfort (or safety) for style, and stay not carrying guilt. It does no good and doesn’t help.

September 17, 2024 – Alexis Is Arraigned, Soap Suds, Goodbye Dubai, VanderNew, Canceled Vows, Pieces Of Emmy, Watch These, Different Strokes & Skyline

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Trina meets Stella at the Surf Lodge, and Stella tells her about a secret menu for the nightclubbers, so they can restore themselves before crawling home. She suggests Trina memorize it for when she’s out all night, but Trina says, that’s not going to happen. Stella says, she might be surprised.

Nina discusses a catering job with Sasha, a fashion event for Drew’s campaign with high dollar donors. She’ll pay for the staff to help. Sasha says, Tracy is unhappy with her right now, and she thinks she should keep her head down and be available for the family. Nina says, Drew is a Quartermaine, and she thinks he’s going to make a fantastic congressman. Sasha says, Nina has turned into an ardent supporter, and Nina says, Drew has made quite an impression on her.

Willow is doing yoga outside the boathouse, when a shirtless Drew comes by. She almost falls, and he catches her. (Please.)

Michael lets Sam into his office, and asks, what brings her by? She says, their sister Kristina, and he says, what about? Sam asks him to tell her Kristina’s whereabouts and actions the night John was killed, but he says he wasn’t with her. Why would Sam think he knows? She says, because they’ve been joined at the hip since Cates’s murder, and he says, she’s been struggling. Sam says she thinks he knows what Kristina’s been struggling with. Did she kill Cates? he says, of course (🍷) not, and she says he seems pretty sure. Is that because he knows who did?

On the phone, Sonny says, Alexis needs help and whatever it costs, he’ll pay it. There’s a knock at the door, and he tells them to just take care of the situation. He opens the door to Molly, and says he’ll call back. He invites her in and asks if it’s an official visit or personal. She says, her mother is being arraigned today, and he says he knows. He’s going there to support her. Molly says, that’s absolutely the worst thing he could do.

Kristina comes into the interrogation room, and Alexis asks what she’s doing here. They hug, and Kristina says she’s sorry. Alexis says she’s fine, but Kristina says, nothing about this is fine. Alexis asks again why Kristina is here, and Kristina says she’s going to do what she should have done when they brought Alexis in. She’s going to confess.

Molly says, if Sonny is in the courtroom, he’ll tank Alexis by association. He says he’s going to pay her bail, but Molly says, that’s not necessary. He says he knows he’s not her favorite person, and he and Alexis have had their ups and downs, but they come together when it comes to Kristina. They both want to be there for her. Molly says, this is for her mother, and he says, Kristina needs to see that her father shows up for her mother. Molly says, it’s not about Kristina. It’s about their mother.

Alexis asks what Kristina has to confess, and Kristina says, she got home, and when Alexis went to the kitchen, she took Alexis’s keys and took her car. Then she went to her dad’s and got his gun. She’d overheard John telling Anna that he was going to the Quartermaines, and she went to kill him. She pulled into the driveway and sat. She couldn’t get herself out of the car. She couldn’t do it, so she went to Adela’s grave. Alexis knows the rest. She wishes Alexis hadn’t found the gun, but if she tells the police, they can retrace her movements. Alexis says, she can’t do that, but Kristina says, it will let Alexis off the hook. Alexis tells her, it will do the opposite. It will make her look guiltier.

Nina tells Sasha that she admits Drew surprised her. She thinks he’d be great and thinks he can actually win this. Sasha says, with Nina in his corner, she doesn’t see how he can’t, and Nina says, Sasha can make up and amazing menu and supervise the catering. If Tracy has a hard time with it, she’ll talk to her, or Tracy can take it up with Drew. He’ll convince her. He can charm the pants off of anyone. (Interesting choice of words.) Sasha says, they’ve really come far, but Nina says, not far enough.

Willow says, the yoga centers her before work, and Drew asks, how’s it going? She says she’s busy, good busy. She loves being back at the hospital. Then there was the back-to-school flurry, which is thankfully over. She should get going. She drops her water bottle, and when Drew reaches for it, she says she’s got it. She retrieves her bottle and jets.

Michael says he’s not a cop and doesn’t know any more than anyone else, but Sam says she’s been putting the pieces together. Kristina had a messy night. Cates charged her in the death of her own child, and she was a wreck, emotionally driven with the potential to be unstable. And she was probably mad as hell. He knows how impulsive she is, and she’s worried their mother is protecting her, so she framed herself for a murder she didn’t commit. Michael asks if anyone would believe Alexis would kill someone, and Sam says, the evidence has been piling up and a lot of convictions are based on circumstantial evidence. The one way to free Alexis is to find the person who killed Cates and bring them forward. Michael says he just found body, and she says, they both know Sonny killed Cates or paid for it. Which one is it?

Stella says, it’s clear Trina has an eye for art and the passion to go with it, and Trina says, it’s coming back. Stella says, don’t let it blind her to the bigger picture. Her appreciation for art is impressive and she’s great at sales, but she can’t live her life in the gallery. She needs to get her butt back to school.

Sasha asks if Nina and Drew are seeing each other on the downlow, but Nina says, it’s not about romance. They’re focusing on the campaign. Sasha says, all those long hours into the night? Nina is invested. Nina says she’s dedicated to getting him elected, but Sasha says, there’s more to it, isn’t there? Nina says she feels they could definitely pick things up after Drew wins. Willow hears them from outside on the patio.

Michael tells Sam that Sonny wouldn’t discuss that with him. Her mother is an exceptional attorney. Outside of Diane, there’s no one better, and she’s innocent. Cates hasn’t been dead long, and evidence will surface. If the gun is still in the water, the police will do a ballistics check. She says, they haven’t found it, and he says, they need the gun to prove their case. Trying to track down the guilty party isn’t the way to go. They need to find evidence that clears Alexis. Everything else is a waste of time.

Sonny says he knows what Alexis is facing, and Molly says, then focus on her. Sonny says, the truth can’t change the fact that Kristina went through something horrible. He needs to be there to support his child. She says, Alexis is not his child, and his support drove Kristina all the way to Ava’s suite.

Alexis says, it will look like Kristina is crafting a story to cover for her, but Kristina says she can’t let Alexis take the risk. If they come forward together, they can make it right. Alexis says, they need to let it play out. Neither one of them killed Cates, but if Kristina comes forward it will either make her look guiltier or Kristina will inadvertently incriminate herself. She doesn’t have an alibi, she stole the gun, took Alexis’s car, and went to the Quartermaines. She had the means, motive, and opportunity. Kristina asks how the police can do an investigation if they don’t know the truth, and Alexis says, it’s their job. Kristina’s job is to not incriminate either one of them. She said she hated Cates and wanted to kill him. Don’t let anyone else hear her say that. Kristina says she just wants to help, and Alexis says she’s begging her, do not take this further.

Willow comes in and says she could smell Sasha’s scones, and Nina says she hasn’t seen Willow for a while and misses her. Willow says she’s getting back to her routine, but thinks she has time for tea. Sasha goes to get the tea, and Willow asks why Nina is here. Nina says she asked Sasha to cater a donor event for Drew, and Willow says she saw him at the boathouse. Nina says she’ll try to catch him. She wanted to say how proud she is about everything Willow is doing at GH, but they need to make time to see each other. Willow says she would love that and will get back to her. Nina leaves, and Sasha comes back. She asks where Nina went, and Willow says, she left to find Drew at the boathouse. Congratulations on her catering job. Sasha says, Nina just offered it to her, but she’s still unsure. Willow says, there’s a lot of that going around, and Sasha asks if she’s okay.

Alexis tells Kristina to promise her, when Dex comes in and says, Alexis will be leaving for her arraignment soon. He leaves, and Alexis asks Kristina if they have an understanding. This probably won’t go to trial. The police will find real evidence and the charges will be dropped. She has an arraignment to work on and can’t be worrying about Kristina. When she makes bail, she’ll come home, and they’ll talk about it. Kristina says she’s sorry about everything she’s put Alexis through, and Alexis says, she wasn’t thinking clearly. Now let her fight the battle for both of them. She’s a mother and that’s what they do. Kristina would do the same thing.

Sonny says, there’s no way Kristina could have known what would happen, but Molly says, she went to Ava looking for fight. Sonny says, Kristina wanted to persuade Ava not to make her testify, but did she think she’d lose her child’s life? No. Molly says, if Kristina hadn’t gone at all, her child would still be alive, and he says, she knows Kristina is suffering. She says, what about her and TJ? and he says, they’re all suffering, but it’s Ava’s fault, not Kristina’s. She says, Kristina should have known there was no way she was going to change Ava’s mind. She was reckless and impulsive like always. She was there when Kristina got the subpoena and coached her through it, but Kristina wouldn’t listen. They need their mom to make bail more than seeing him offer support. That’s what’s best for his child. He says, she’s made her point. He won’t go. She thanks him, and he says, one more thing. Since he can’t be there for Kristina, he needs Molly to be there for her. He knows Molly is hurting, but she needs to put her anger away for her sister and be there. He doesn’t think Kristina can handle it otherwise. She says she can’t make any promises, and leaves.  

Michael says he’s not losing sleep over Cates’s death. Is Sam? Sam says she’s glad he’s gone, and Michael says he’s sure the Feds aren’t shedding any tears. She says, even though he went rogue, he’s still an agent and they’ll close ranks to catch the killer. She hopes they find evidence to clear her mom, but if they don’t, will he let an innocent woman go to prison? She leaves.

Stella says, it looks like Trina is maintaining, but she thinks Trina is stalling. Trina says, maybe that’s all she can manage, and Stella suggests she’s afraid taking the next step will mean losing Spencer. She said if she stopped grieving, she would lose him, but he wouldn’t want her to put her life on hold forever. It’s time to take the next step and reach for her dreams. Trina says, the last time she reached for her dreams, she went to Paris and Spencer died, and Stella says, but she didn’t. She still has her whole life ahead of her. How is she going to spend it? Hiding at the gallery or is there something bigger she wants to accomplish?

Nina knocks at the boathouse and tells Drew that Willow said he was here. She was talking to Sasha about the fashion fundraiser. It’s not the celery and carrot stick crowd. They’re serious foodies. Drew says, this is not working for him.

Willow says she’s finding a balance with her schedule, and Sasha says, Willow doesn’t have to talk to her, and if Willow tells her to mind her own business, she will. When she was cleaning up during the 4th of July celebration, she saw them kissing. She’s not judging, but she gets the sense that what happened is weighing on Willow, especially with what she just said. If Willow ever needs to talk to someone, she’s here. Willow says, there’s nothing to talk about. It was just a kiss. They got caught up in the moment. Sasha says, no big deal, and Willow says, it wasn’t… then it… happened again.

Michael asks if Sonny was able to dispose of the gun that killed John, and Sonny says, Jason handled it. Michael says, Alexis is being arraigned today, and Sonny says, Molly was here, but he knew already. Michael says, Sam came to see him. Does he think it was coordinated? Sonny says he thinks they’re worried about their mother. Molly was adamant about him not going to the arraignment. She made some good points, so he’s not going. Michael says he thinks it’s for the best. Sam is suspicious. She’s got no proof, but she’s doing the math. Sonny asks if Michael thinks she’s going to push this, and Michael says, she’ll do what it takes to clear Alexis. He encouraged her to find evidence that Alexis didn’t do it instead of focusing on who did. The problem is, Kristina has time not accounted for. Sonny says he knows. If Kristina talks, it won’t be good for either of them. Michael says, if things start going bad, Kristina won’t let her mother take the fall, and Sonny says, they need to do something that can ensure that won’t happen.

Sam and Kristina meet outside the courtroom, and Sam asks how Alexis seems. Kristina says, she’s confident that she’ll make bail, and the case will be dropped before it goes to trial. Has she seen dad? She thought he’d be here. Molly joins them and says, he won’t be. It’s for the best. Kristina says, Molly told him not to come, didn’t she?

Molly says she spoke to Sonny. He’s doing what’s best for their mom, and Kristina should too. Kristina goes into the courtroom, and Sam and Molly follow. Sam sits with Kristina, and Molly sits behind them. A man walks in, and Sam asks if Molly knows him, but Molly says, no. Alexis is brought in and the guard takes off her handcuffs. She nods to her girls and sits down. The bailiff says, all rise. The Honorable Henry Otis presiding. The judge tells them be seated. He’s unfamiliar with the man who walked in and asks him to present his credentials. The man introduces himself as Noah Reynolds, representing the FBI. He’ll be prosecuting the murder of one of their own.  

Willow tells Sasha that she doesn’t want to have feelings for Drew, but she does. Sasha knows she loves Michael, their kids, and the life they’ve built together. How could she do something so reckless? Sasha says she’s sure Willow’s feelings for Drew didn’t happen in a vacuum. Maybe something isn’t working with her and Michael? Willow says, no. They’re happy and they will be as long as she keeps her distance. Sasha says, Drew isn’t pressuring her? and Willow says, not in the least. He respects Michael and understands how important family is to both of them. Sasha asks how she’s going to keep her distance when they both live here. They’re bound to run into one another, like at the boathouse. Willow says she supposes they could move out, but if Drew is elected, he’ll spend most of his time in DC. She’s doing everything she can to keep away from him. She even went back to her job at GH, so she didn’t have to work with him. She thought that would make her remember what matters most and stop her before she stupidly destroys her life, the life she dreamed of and fought hard to have. She feels out of control and wonders what’s wrong with her. Sasha hugs her and she cries.

Drew wonders if he’s uprooting his life and putting everything on the line for his ego, and Nina says, he wanted to get into politics to do good. He asks if it’s worth it. His private life is a mess and he’s four points down in the polls. Nina says, there’s a four-point margin of error, and Drew says his opponent is a mom with a husband and kids she totes around. She’s got the family values thing locked down. He can’t compete. She says, he has Scout, and he says he thought about it, but he can’t use Scout as a prop. Nina says, then use me.

Sonny says he doesn’t regret killing Jagger. The bastard deserved to die, but he didn’t want Michael to witness it. He didn’t want Michael to carry the weight of the secret and lie or cover for him. Michael says, Sonny never asked him to, and Sonny says, the night he killed Jagger and saw Michael standing there, for a split second he thought, he’s got me. Killing a federal agent point blank is going to put him away forever. Michael says, but he didn’t, and Sonny asks, what stopped him?

Judge Otis says he understands Alexis is defending herself, and she says she’s a fully accredited attorney. He says if she thinks she’s laying the groundwork for an appeal or mistrial, she’s not. She says, that’s not her intention, and he says, she’s being charged with a felony count of murder in the first degree. How does she plead. She says, not guilty. She asks that bail be set, and because she’s an officer of the court, be released on her own recognizance. Noah asks that the request be denied. Alexis has proven she’s a danger and threat to the community, and the prosecution requests she remain in custody.

Stella says, Trina used to talk about being an art curator or an art professor. Has she given those up? Trina says, not really, and Stella asks what kind of degree she’d need. Trina says, a Bachelor’s, an MSA, and eventually a doctorate, and Stella asks if there’s anything else she’s interested in. Going back to school will broaden her options. She can just take a few classes to start moving forward. Trina says she doesn’t know if she’s ready. It scares her. Stella says, it feels scary now, but don’t do it for herself today. Do it for herself ten years from now. Give herself some options and opportunities, so she doesn’t have to remain stuck. She has the day off, so they’re heading to campus to get Trina registered for the fall semester. Trina says, Stella seems sure registration is still open, and Stella says she may have called and asked. Trina says she’s not surprised. Okay. Let’s do it. Let’s get unstick. They hug.

Sasha says she can see how Willow would have feelings for Drew. He saved her life. Willow says, that’s gratitude. These feelings snuck up on her. Sasha asks if she’s clear that she loves Michael, and Willow says, yes. It never went further than a kiss. Sasha says, so it was a mistake. They all make mistakes. Willow says, that goes for Drew too. He’s not a sleaze. He loves Michael too, and doesn’t want to hurt him. Sasha says again, everyone makes mistakes, and Willow thanks her for not judging. Sasha says she’s far from perfect. So what is Willow going to do about this? Willow says she doesn’t know what to do.

Nina says, if she and Drew are together, they can push the campaign over the top. If she’s front and center on his arm supporting him, people will jump to conclusions about their status. He asks if they’re supposed to do the no comment thing, and she says, there’s nothing wrong with potential voters perceiving that they’re the country’s newest power couple. He says, she’d do that for him? and she says she thinks she owes him one. He says, she kind of does.

Sonny tells Michael that he killed Jagger for the family. He came after Kristina and kept coming after her at the worst time of her life. He knew Jagger wasn’t going to stop and Jagger would go after all the people close to him because of his stupid vendetta. He had to be stopped. Michael asks why Sonny is telling him this, and Sonny says he never wants to put Michael or any of his children in a position to cover for him. Michael says, all that matters is protecting Kristina, and Sonny says, if Michael had called the cops, he wouldn’t have stopped him. Michael had all the power in that moment and chose him. He’ll never forget that. He touches Michael’s chest and says he loves him. Michael says he loves Sonny too, and he will always choose their family. They hug.

Noah says, it’s not the first time the defense was sent to prison for a serious assault, but Alexis says, that has no bearing on this case. Noah says, she procured a firearm, and multiple witnesses saw her illegally dispose of it, and Alexis says, alleged disposal. She thought this was a bail hearing, not a trial. Noah says, she’s a flight risk, and Alexis says, he’s reaching. Noah says, the defendant shares a child with Sonny Corinthos, who has unlimited resources, and Judge Otis says, enough. Does Alexis have anything to say on her behalf? Alexis says, plenty. The prosecution’s laundry list is rife with innuendo, speculation, and condemnation. She’s not perfect, but she’s not a cold-blooded killer. Beyond the courtroom, which she holds in the highest esteem, she’s a mother. She has three adult children and grandchildren who need her. She’s not going to risk that. She served her time honorably and with humility, and it’s with humility she asks that bail be set. The judge says he appreciates her impassioned response. She’s a gifted and talented lawyer, but he’s made his decision. The defendant is to be held without bail and remanded to Pentenville while awaiting trial.

Tomorrow, Elizabeth tells Ric that it almost sounded like an apology; Heather says, it’s a compromise she’s not going to have to make much longer; and Natalia tells Sonny that they’re going to find the actual murderer.

🧼 All the Soap News Fit To Print…

Apparently, Lindsay Hartley (Temp Sam) filmed this week’s scenes at the same time she filmed Irene/Adela’s funeral scenes.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/lindsay-hartley-fills-in-for-kelly-monaco-on-gh-again

His untimely death was so sad, but I have to ask. Were they an item?

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/kelly-monaco-remembers-billy-miller

There’s not too much information here. So do they get together on the regular?

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/jophielle-love-reunites-with-her-gh-parents

Our Southern gentleman returns. I love him in this role.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/michael-e-knight-returns-to-general-hospital

🐪 Two Camels and a Priest Walk Into a Bar…

As Reunions go, this one was pretty mild. While there was plenty of finger pointing, some lackluster receipts, and Lesa calling Stanbury the Wicked Witch of the Middle East, the women managed to stay seated, not fling any Solo cups, and no one called anyone a see you next Tuesday. The best part was when Andy ran a video compilation of the group’s lack of athleticism. It was especially fun to revisit the golf game.

The question of Sergio wanting a baby came up, and we found out that Sergio had never googled dealbreaker, so he didn’t actually understand what Stanbury mean when she asked if not having a baby would be one. Andy suggested Sara be a surrogate, and said it would be a Housewives first, as we could hear the cash register ringing in his head.

At the end, there was a weird gift exchange where Brooks acted like a total a-hole, refusing to open Taleen’s gift or card. Maybe she smelled the one worthy receipt of the night. The card was a copy of a Twitter post – excuse me X (can Elon Musk not spell or something?) – that Brooks made, saying, said blah-blah-blah, Taleen had a crappy wardrobe, and she wanted Taleen to show her one article of clothing that Taleen had lent to her. Inside the box was a dress of Taleen’s that Brooks had worn for sure, since Taleen also produced a photo of her in it. D’oh! Lesa made Stanbury the president of her fan club, gifting her with a starter pack, the ID showing a photo of Stanbury post facelift surgery. Stanbury took her gift with her usual good British humor. She can dish it out and she can take it. Andy said these were like gifts at a red wedding, yet no swords were really drawn.

Sara closed things out by saying if they didn’t have empathy for each other, what were they even doing here? Good question.

I hate to admit it, but I might miss this show. I don’t think Bravo has technically renewed it, but I can’t imagine them not.

🍸 VanderSpinning…

Presumably, this is a spinoff, not a reboot, but who knows? Maybe the old cast should be the ones who do a spinoff. No Rules For You.

🛟 Yachtie To the Core…

Chef Ben cannot be tied down.

🏆 Just One More…

I never watch awards shows. Rather than sit through hours of mind-numbing monotony, I’d rather just read stuff like this afterward.

https://ew.com/emmys-2024-best-and-worst-moments-8712955

💻 Last Weekend’s Watches…

I love nothing more than a dystopian post-apocalyptic film, and Uglies delivers. It’s a shame it wasn’t on the big screen though, since the action and special effects sequences are big. Another streaming selection taken from a YA novel series, there were moments when it seemed like an After School Special, but overall, I loved it. Of course, now I’m reading the books.

https://people.com/joey-king-uglies-trailer-8692521

Definite spoilers here.

https://people.com/uglies-ending-explained-8713501

The Dark Side of… is a great series, and reality TV is as dark as it gets. I never watched The Swan, as I found the premise of a plastic surgery competition disturbing. I did see a couple episodes of Kid Nation, but it just didn’t seem like a situation children should be in. Sure enough, I was right.

https://ew.com/chicago-fire-actor-daniel-kyri-recalls-drinking-bleach-on-kid-nation-8707380

🐕 They’ve Got the Look…

By God, they’re right.

https://www.dailypaws.com/pet-news-entertainment/celebrities/goldendoodle-layla-looks-like-will-ferrell-goes-viral-on-twitter

Normally, I prefer pets to have human names, but Milkshake is perfect for this one.

https://www.dailypaws.com/pet-news-entertainment/celebrities/milkshake-the-pink-pug

However, her life is never a drag.

https://www.dailypaws.com/pet-news-entertainment/feel-good-stories/meet-miss-pickles-the-drag-pug

🧘‍♀️ Of Crickets, Crows, and Retrospects…

Come by tomorrow for soap and what’s Listing in LA. Until then, stay safe, stay continuing to wear sunglasses even during the colder months, and stay giving yourself options and opportunities, so you don’t remain stuck.

September 11, 2024 – Molly Makes a Bad Choice, Back To School, Finale In LA, VanderTroth, Ring-a-Ding Gone, About Those Moonmen, Sad Remembrance, Vote For Sally Jo & Out

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Willow tells Elizabeth that she’s officially back at GH, and Elizabeth says she’s excited to have her best nurse back. She’ll feel better now that Willow is on Lulu’s rotation. Willow asks how Lulu is doing, but Elizabeth says, not well. But she’s hopeful it’s just a matter of time before Lucky comes home to save his sister.

Ava finds Trina at the gallery, and Trina asks how she is. Ava hasn’t returned her calls. She heard what John did. It must have been terrifying. Ava says, thank God for Jason. He saved her. Trina hugs her and says she’s happy Ava is safe. She doesn’t know what she’d do if anything happened to her.

Ric is working while having coffee at the MetroCourt, and Nina asks if he needs refill. Or can she tempt him with something stronger?

Anna goes into Isaiah’s room, and he asks if there’s any word on Lucky. She says, unfortunately not, but she has some questions she’d like to ask him. He says he’s told them everything, but she says she thinks there’s probably more than what he told them. What has he done to make someone want to kill him?

Jack tells Carly that they’ll inform him if the satellite finds anything on Lucky. For now, they wait, which allows them to enjoy this fine whiskey. He pours, and she says, he comes prepared. He says, always. He understands John Cates was murdered, and she’s not crying any tears over his untimely demise. She says, he made her life hell, and he says, with Cates gone, her life just got less complicated, but she says, yes and no. Her ex-husband is a person of interest in his murder.

Molly finds Alexis in the interrogation room and hugs her. Alexis says she didn’t want Molly to worry. Diane is taking care of it. It’s a misunderstanding, but none of this would have happened if Molly’s father hadn’t gone out of his way to make her look as suspicious as possible.

Ava says, at least she has an airtight alibi. It’s the only decent thing John did. She can’t believe she was so wrong. He got her to lie to the cops, saying Kristina attacked her, but afterward, he wanted her dead so she couldn’t recant. Trina says, she was brave to admit she was lying. It could be used against her in Avery’s custody case. Ava says she couldn’t let Kristina be prosecuted for the death of her baby. It was truly an accident. Trina says she hopes Ava fond a good lawyer, and Ava says, not yet, but Nina is working on it.

Ric says he’ll stick to coffee, and Nina sits down. He asks if she’d like to join him. He’s actually working. She says she’s here to discuss business – Ava – and he reminds her that he declined. She says she’s surprised, and he says, she’s accused of causing the death of his granddaughter. Why should he help her? Nina says, it was a tragic accident. And they both know he’d do anything for buck, even trick someone into marrying him.

Isaiah says he told Anna everything. He escaped and Sidwell tracked him. Anna asks if he has any other enemies, and he says, none that he knows of. She says, so dumb luck. He’s a doctor? He says he’s the best at what he does, and she says, there are a lot of great doctors out there, but Sidwell picked him to kidnap? He says, not greater than him, and she says, his God complex aside, why would Sidwell go to the trouble of sending someone after him to Port Charles? He says, she’ll have to ask him, and she says, maybe he saw something he shouldn’t have. He says, there were a lot of guys with guns, and she says, could anything else in his life have precipitated this attack? What was he doing before Sidwell kidnapped him?

Jack says he assumes Carly is talking about Sonny. The murder of a federal agent is a capital crime. He hopes Sonny has a good alibi. She says, ironclad. They were together, just the two of them. He knows how it is with exes. Sometimes you fall back into old habits. He says, so he’s heard. He only knows Sonny from his reputation. It’s a bit of a mixed bag, but if she’s willing to reconnect with him, it speaks well of Sonny… and of her.

Molly asks if Alexis is blaming her dad, and Alexis says, he told the police she disposed of a possible murder weapon. Molly says, Elizabeth backed him up, but Alexis is sure Ric influenced her. He messed with her and the investigation, and now it will take more time for the police to find out who killed John Cates. Molly says she doesn’t think that wasn’t his intention. She knows Alexis would never kill someone. Alexis says she knows Molly loves her dad, but frankly dragging her into this investigation is beyond malicious. Molly says she’s not happy with him either, but they both know it’s Kristina’s fault she’s in this mess, not her dad’s.

Elizabeth says, it’s been 12 years since Lucky lived in Port Charles, and Willow says, it must be tough on her and Aiden. Elizabeth says, it’s not ideal, and Willow asks if she’s worried Lucky might not come back. Elizabeth says, Lucky loves his family, and he’ll do what he can to help.

Isaiah asks if Anna is accusing him of something, but she says she’s trying to understand why a renowned transplant surgeon would leave to do humanitarian service in Africa. He says, it’s no big mystery. He has a specific skill and goes where he’s most needed. She asks if he and Sidwell had crossed paths before, but he says, no. She tells him that he said he felt someone was following him, and he says, working in a war zone made him hyper-aware of his surroundings. She says she thinks he knows more than he’s saying, but he says, she thinks he’s lying. She says she hopes not. If it wasn’t for the well-timed Jordan… He says, the guy who stopped it, the Deputy Mayor. He’d love to meet him and say thank you. Jordan walks in, and Anna says, he’s in luck. Here she is. He says, the hit parade continues.

Jack says, it’s admirable that Carly and Sonny reconnected, but they’re definitely in the minority. She’s smart and knows what she’s doing. He trusts her judgement. Does that mean a reconciliation is in the works? She says, absolutely not, and he says he understands they’ve gotten back together before. She says, he’s been checking on her, and he says he asked a few questions. She says, facing federal charges for Sonny’s business was a one-time thing, and he says, she has nothing to worry about. The charges were dropped. She says, it was lucky there was a break in the FBI’s chain of evidence. Someone out there must like her. He smiles. (Writing Mrs. Jack Brennan on my notebook.)

Alexis tells Molly that Ric sent the police, not her sister, and Molly asks if she’s saying Ric is lying, that she didn’t dispose of a gun. She needs to tell the police everything and quit protecting Kristina from the consequences of her actions. Alexis says she loves Molly and Molly doesn’t need to be involved. They can’t have this conversation. Molly says, Alexis needs to tell the police why she had a gun and where she got it. Stop sacrificing herself for Kristina. Alexis says, Molly needs to take care of herself, not her. She hasn’t been charged. Molly says, not yet, and Alexis says, it’s important she keep her mouth shut and not incriminate herself. Diane will handle it and she won’t be charged. There are far more likely suspects. Molly says, far more likely suspects that would cover their tracks.

Ava thanks Trina for stepping up. She did an amazing job, but it’s late and she should go. Trina says she has no plans, and Ava asks how things are with her and Joss. Trina says, they’ve agreed to disagree, and Ava says, about her. She appreciates Trina standing up for her even when it put her at odds with her best friend. Trina says, Ava was supportive of her relationship with Spencer even when her mom wasn’t, and Ava says she hopes Trina never feels she paid a price for their friendship.

Ric says he’s sorry he married Nina for her money, but he can’t defend someone who hurt his daughter. Nina says she’s sorry for Molly’s loss. She lost a child too and wouldn’t wish that pain on anyone. But how does it help to blame an innocent woman? He says, Ava hasn’t been innocent since she found out she was a Jerome, and Nina says, Ava did horrible things, but she didn’t do this. She and Kristina did argue, but Kristina lost her balance and fell. Does he think if anyone else was there that they’d be brought up on manslaughter charges? They both know what it’s like to be despised and the first person accused. From one black sheep to another, she’s asking him to fight to prevent Ava from being persecuted for her past rather than the supposed crime she’s been charged with.

Trina says, Ava hasn’t cost her anything. Ava didn’t ask her to choose between her and her family. She’s grateful to have Ava in her life. Ava says she’s sure most of the people in this town think the worst of her, and Trina asks how she can help. Ava says, unless she has a defense attorney, there isn’t much she can do. She wishes people would believe it was an accident. Trina reminds Ava that she said, when something horrible happens, it’s easier to have someone to blame. For a while, she felt blaming Esme for Spencer’s death helped her. Now she thinks hating Esme made her grief worse. She thanks Aunt Stella for her family being able to move on without being angry, but they’re still looking for someone to pay for the baby’s death. Ava says, her, and Trina says, it’s a terrible loss, but Ava going to prison won’t lessen the grief, and she’s innocent.

Ric says, he had a personal history with Nina’s father and has done a lot of counterproductive things by holding onto his anger, and Nina says, it’s a no brainer how much better life would be if he let go of his grudge against Sonny. He says, it’s not a grudge. His brother purposely tried to ruin his life and never suffers the consequences for the bad things he does. She asks, what better way to get back at his brother than getting Ava out of the charges? and he says, she makes a tempting argument, but his daughter means the world to him. She’s the best thing in his life, the only thing he’s proud of. He’s afraid his answer is still no. She says she had to try. Her daughter is a better person than she’ll ever hope to be, so she understands him wanting to protect Molly. She thanks him for listening and leaves.

Willow introduces herself to Lulu and says, they’re all rooting for her, especially her family. Like Willow’s family did when she needed a stem cell transplant. Her husband never gave up hope and Michael’s uncle risked his life to bring her donor back. Don’t give up hope. There’s always something that can be done.

Anna says, Deputy Mayor Jordan Ashford, and Isaiah laughs. Jordan says she feels like she’s missing something, and Isaiah says, him making a fool of himself assuming she was a man. He introduces himself and thanks her for saving his life. He stares at her, and she asks if there’s something on her face. He says he’s sorry. Staring is rude. He’s not used to bureaucrats looking so… It doesn’t look like she spends her time in committee meetings. She says she promises her job is more challenging than that, and he says he believes it. She single-handedly saved his life. Why? She says, it seemed like a good idea at the time, and he asks, why visit a random John Doe? She says she wanted to help. She figured his family is wondering where he is. Someone is out there who’s missing him.  

Jack says he’s glad Carly’s legal troubles are over, and toasts to freedom. They clink glasses, and she says, just so there’s no confusion, she hasn’t involved herself in Sonny’s business. She wants to focus on her family. He says, finding Lucky for Lulu, and she says, he’s her best chance for a donor, so she’s going to do what she can to bring him home. He says he admires her determination, and she says, he hasn’t seen anything yet. Is life in Port Charles what he hoped? He says, and then some, and she says, she has a feeling a few people have issues with him being here. He says he’s not sure the Police Commissioner is happy with his presence, when Anna walks in and says, cooperating? Jack says, drink?

Molly says, the animosity between Alexis and Cates is public knowledge, but Alexis says, a lot of people hated him. Molly says, how many of them were caught with a gun? and Alexis says, circumstantial. She didn’t kill Cates. Molly says, what about Kristina? and Alexis says she hopes Kristina is home and resting. Molly tells her to start thinking like a lawyer. If she doesn’t come up with an alternative explanation, she might find herself charged with capital murder. Molly slams out of the room.

Willow tells Lulu that she’s lucky to be alive. She’s not about to screw up the chance, and she came back to GH so she could go back to the life she had before the things with Drew happened. She can’t have feelings for Drew. She loves Michael and the kids and everything they’ve built. She’s going to get Drew out of her head once and for all. Elizabeth is in the doorway and says, Willow? (Rut-roh.)

Diane walks into the interrogation room, and Alexis asks if she’s free to go. Diane wonders if Alexis is doubting her skill, but Alexis says, never. Diane says, yes, she’s free to go. Of course (🍷) it’s a temporary reprieve. Alexis has no alibi and won’t tell the police where she was when John was killed. Now she’s digging a hole with the gun. Alexis says she panicked when she saw the gun. When they find it, they’ll see it wasn’t the murder weapon. Diane says, if they find it, and Alexis says, Diane doesn’t think she did it, does she? Diane says, of course (🍷) not, but Alexis threatened Cates just hours before the murder and two trustworthy witnesses saw her getting rid of a gun. Alexis says, Ric is hardly trustworthy, and Diane tells her to focus. They both know it’s not about what she did or didn’t do. It’s what she can prove in a court of law.

Isaiah says he appreciates Jordan’s intentions. He wouldn’t be breathing if not for her. She says, he didn’t answer her question. Does he have family? He says, it’s more like an interrogation. Is she sure she’s not a cop? She says, she was, and that’s another question. She answered. When someone dodges a question, it usually means they’re hiding something. He says he has nothing to hide, but there are things he’d rather not revisit. He doesn’t expect her to understand. She says, he’d be surprised.

Nina goes to the gallery and asks how Ava is doing. Ava says, she’s hopeful. She just spoke to Trina, and she was reminded that she’s lucky to have someone on her side who believes her. It makes the ordeal easier. Nina says, for what it’s worth (🍷), she believes Ava too, and Ava says she’s surprised Nina is being supportive. Nina asks if it’s hard to imagine her doing the right thing, and Ava says she’s glad to have Nina in her corner. She’s grateful. Nina says she’s been down, as Ava knows, and remembers how badly she needed a friend. Ava asks how it’s going with Ric, and Nina says she’s sorry, but Ric still refuses to take the case.

Molly finds Ric at the MetroCourt and says, he told the police that mom disposed of a gun? He says, she did, and Molly asks if he’s trying to set Alexis up. He says he and Elizabeth saw her the night John Cates was murdered. He’s an officer of the court and obligated to report it. And he wants them to catch the killer. She says, mom didn’t kill Cates, and whatever she’s going through is Kristina’s fault. He asks if she has more information about the case, and she says, not for sure yet. He asks if Kristina owns a gun, and she says, Kristina could have gotten one from Sonny. Michael is covering for her too. Kristina is desperate not to go to prison and maybe she finally snapped. Ric says, Ava changed her story. She said Cates pressured her into making a false statement. Knowing that, does Molly still believe Kristina was the aggressor and responsible for her own fall?

Elizabeth says she’s glad Willow was talking to Lulu. Sometimes even the nurses forget there’s an actual person in the bed and not just a body. Willow says she thinks Lulu can hear on some level. She was filling Lulu in on the things happening in Port Charles. Elizabeth says she thinks it’s great and apologizes for snapping when they were talking about Lucky. Willow says she didn’t mean imply he was avoiding his family, but Elizabeth says she thinks that’s exactly what he’s doing. He’s been running from something for a long time, but she doesn’t know what it is. Sometimes she thinks it’s her. Willow asks, why? and Elizabeth says, it’s a long story. She is a big reason why he left, but she didn’t realize he’d be gone so long. His son barely knows him. Aiden is excited about his dad coming back, but her biggest fear is that Lucky will come back, save Lulu, and leave. What happens when Aiden loses his dad again?

Anna says, this is cozy, and Carly says, Jack is helping them find Lucky. Anna wonders how having a drink helps, and Jack says, they’re waiting for the satellite photos from where they think Lucky is being held. Anna asks what he can tell her about Jenz Sidwell, but he says, nothing he hasn’t read in the papers. His phone rings, and he asks if they’re sure… Send him the link. He tells Carly and Anna that they found Sidwell’s compound, and Carly asks if Lucky is there, but he says, it appears to be abandoned.

Nina says she’s sorry, but Ric isn’t budging, and Ava thanks her for trying. There are a lot of good lawyers in this town, and she can afford the best. Nina says, Ava is taking it better than she expected, and Ava says, Trina reminded her that she’s not alone. She has Trina and now she has Nina. She spent so much time scheming and manipulating situations, she knows she’s lucky to have any friends left. Nina says she knows the feeling.

Molly tells Ric, it doesn’t matter. If Kristina hadn’t gone to Ava’s room, her baby would still be alive. Ric says, they should stop talking about it. It’s making her upset. Molly says, of course (🍷) she’s upset. She lost her baby and her sister that day. He says, isn’t it possible that it was just a terrible accident? but she says, the evidence says otherwise. Ava was arrested. Ric wonders what happened to innocent until proven guilty, and Molly says she needs to know who’s responsible for her baby’s death and they need to pay.  

Elizabeth says she doesn’t know what to say to Aiden. He saw Jake having a relationship with Jason, and he might be hoping that it will be the same with him and his dad. Lucky loves his son, but he doesn’t love living in one place for long.

Jack says, the satellite photos show signs of recent activity. It looks like they missed Sidwell by a few hours. Anna wonders if they can find him and tells Jack to gather all the satellite photos from the area. Maybe they caught Sidwell leaving. Jack says he doesn’t work for her, and he can’t dedicate a satellite to finding one man. Anna says, Lucky’s family helped the WSB for years, and Jack says he knows, but even if he locates Lucky, getting him out can be extremely difficult. Anna tells him to ignore what she said. She’ll find Lucky with or without his help. She leaves, and Carly says, please. She’ll pay for whatever resources they need to have to bring Lucky home. Lulu needs her family. They can’t lose her. Jack asks if they haven’t already lost her. (Apparently not, according to GH casting.)

Diane asks if Alexis thinks Kristina killed Cates, but Alexis says, absolutely not. Diane says, then she has to get Kristina to come in and talk to the police and tell them what happened. Alexis says, she can’t. She’s not in her right mind. She doesn’t know what she’s saying. She’s glad Cates is dead. What if she says that to the police? Diane says, that would be bad, and Alexis says she can handle the scrutiny with the police. Kristina can’t. It’s not an option. Diane says, Alexis doesn’t have the luxury of protecting Kristina anymore. When she disposed of the gun and got caught, it made her suspect number one.

Nina says she’ll have her assistant compile a list of the best criminal attorneys, when Ric walks in. He says, good. They’re both here. Ava says she hopes he didn’t come by to gloat, but he says he’s changed his mind. He’ll take the case. They both ask, why? and he says he’s doing it for his daughter. Molly needs to know what happened. They’ll start in the morning, but if he finds out Ava is lying, he’ll bury her. Does she still want him as her attorney? She says, yeah, because she’s innocent.  

Alexis says, if she’s charged, Diane will convince the jury that she’s innocent, and Diane says, yeah… Alexis knows she’ll always do what she can, but if Alexis is charged, she can’t be her lawyer.

Molly comes into the station and says she needs to make a statement. She has information about the murder of John Cates.

Jack says, Lulu has been in a coma for 4 years and with a transplant, her odds aren’t good. Carly says, as long as Lulu is still breathing, she won’t give up, and he says he won’t take her money. He’ll continue without it, but don’t thank him yet. What he said to Anna was correct. The territory is extremely unstable. Even if she finds Lucky, what’s the plan? She doesn’t have a SEAL team, and the area is too dangerous for civilians. Who is she going to send in to rescue him?

Molly says, the night John Cates was murdered, nobody knows where her sister was. She has no alibi and had a motive to kill him.

Jordan says she lives in Port Charles, but she’ll always root for the Baltimore team. Go Orioles. Isaiah says, what about the Ravens? and she says she told him where she’s from. Now it’s his turn. Anna comes in, and Isaiah asks if they found Lucky. Anna says, after Isaiah escaped, Sidwell made his getaway and the compound was abandoned. Does he have any idea where Sidwell might have gone? He says, Sidwell was always careful about what he said. How are they going to find Lucky now?  

Tomorrow, Sasha asks if Cody is ready for something fun and exciting; Jason tells Carly not to get involved with Jack; and Diane wants to know what Sonny is going to do about this.

📚 School’s In For Autumn…

Celebrities. They’re just like us.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/gallery/general-hospital/soap-stars-celebrate-back-to-school-time-see-the-photos

💰 Listings Goals Hit…

Once again, I drooled over JoshF’s 30,000 square foot, 2 and a half acre, $36 million (in Pasadena!) mansion with the elevator going to the museum and bar in the basement. It’s truly an amazing piece of property. If I had a spare $36 million, I’d buy it in a heartbeat. Tracy felt it was a small buyer pool for the price point, and it would have to be some kind of collector. She took an embarrassing photo of JoshA, posing as a statue in the museum, and even he laughed his ass off. He begged her not to post it, but no surprise, she did. She told him it was payback for setting her up on last week’s date with the splooge. I bet it got a billion reactions.

The Altman Brothers’ Orange County office was hardly finished, and Heather was having a panic attack, since the ribbon cutting had already been set with the Chamber of Commerce, et al. It was 15 days away, but the magician contractor promised it would be ready. And it was. The outside of the front anyway, which is all they needed. At the ceremony, Tracy sympathized with Heather, whose calendar was way too full, and suggested Heather say no once in a while.

It was the finale, so in wrapping it up, JoshA said the business had surpassed its goal of 500 million in listings. Tracy said, while it had been a slow start, she was excited to move forward, but she wasn’t letting JoshA set her up again. JoshF said he’d done well in a bad market and was a month into the process of reconstructing his dreamhouse. He’d also started seeing Andrew again. The Joshes toasted to high sales, low sales, and no sales.

I don’t think they have a Reunion, but if they do, I’ll be there for it. I enjoy this show more every season, and I’ll miss it. Maybe it’s just as well there’s a break though, since it makes me long for houses I could never afford, and even if I could, I’d probably regret buying something so mammoth. It was tough moving from an apartment to the house I’m in now. It seemed like a mile to the bathroom after having to walk 15 feet.

Flagg spills the tea on the BFFs. Okay, it’s like a couple of drops.

💍 Hope It Sticks This Time…

I always have hope that VanderPeople have changed and matured as they’ve gotten older. So Mazel Tov to Kristen for achieving one of her goals, even though I’m a wee bit skeptical that she’s matured.

https://people.com/vanderpump-rules-alum-kristen-doute-is-engaged-to-luke-broderick-8707625

🪡 Needed, One Ring On a String…

What is wrong with this woman that she keeps losing jewelry worth tens of thousands of dollars?

🏆 Giving Them the Moon…

The best way to get the CliffsNotes version.

https://people.com/mtv-vmas-2024-live-updates-8710617

And of course, the best part. I don’t know what Miranda Lambert has going on there, but no. Just no. As always, Taylor Swift is perfection.

https://people.com/red-carpet-arrivals-2024-mtv-vmas-8710673

🥀 A Day To Remember…

I remember not being able to get all the channels when I got up and thinking it was the cable. Then I found a news station that was on and saw that a plane had flown into the WTC. My first thought was, well, it finally happened. Some idiot crashed into it. Then as the newscasters talked, behind them on the screen, the second plane hit. That’s when I knew it was no accident.

https://www.history.com/topics/21st-century/9-11-attacks

🐶 Bringing Joy To the People…

Meet the latest addition to my pack, Sally Jo Buck. I’ve had her a few months, and like her sister Hannah, she brings happiness wherever she goes. I’ve entered her in the Daily Kibble Summer Lovin’ Fun Contest, so click on the link (or copy and paste), scroll down, and give a like to the pictures below.

Sally Jo sez: Vote Fur Me!

🍂 Season Of the Soul…

Join me tomorrow for soap and OC in the shade. Until then, stay safe, stay reestablishing lost or taken for granted relationships, and stay not giving up hope. There’s always something that can be done.

September 5, 2024 – Tracy Hires a Tutor For Lois, Isaiah, Her Brothers, Remembering, Bad Johnny J in the OC, His Disorder, VanderBaby, They Will, Extra Salt, New Reality, Joker Plus One, He Lied & Gurls

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Josslyn goes home to the apartment, and Trina says, it looks like she’s wearing yesterday’s clothes. Josslyn says, she may or may not have spent the night at Dex’s. He graduated from the police academy and got his badge. He’s now one of Port Charles’s finest. Trina says, he could have broken in his badge here last night, and Josslyn says she was gone one night. What happened?

In Isaiah’s room, Elizabeth tells TJ, it’s unusual to see a patient in this state. He’s not in a coma, but not unconscious. TJ says he’s not experienced in this, and she wonders if it’s a vegetative state or twilight. He did open his eyes last night. TJ says, but it was brief, likely caused by a seizure, and she says, maybe it’s the key to finding out who he is.

Jordan asks Dante how Lulu is, and he says, she’s holding steady. She says she heard Laura met her contact. She’ll let him know if there are any leads about Lucky. Dante asks if she’s ever wished she could be in two places at once, and she says, all the time. He says, Laura is off and he’s here with Lulu. He wishes there was something he could do, that there was some way to help from here.

The Invader headline is about John’s murder with his picture underneath. Ned wonders why Cates called himself Jagger. He wasn’t in a rock band. Tracy says, he wanted a name that sounded like an adolescent body spray, and Brook says she shouldn’t speak ill of the dead. Tracy says, she’s right. You should do it face to face when they’re alive. Olivia says, it’s tragic no matter how they felt about him, and Tracy, a crime was committed in her sacred space. Her bed looked like someone wrestled a bear. Who would do that? Ned says, they all have their own beds to wrestle in, and Lois says, one guest in particular came down looking a little mussed. Tracy chokes on her orange juice, and the others laugh.  

Carly says she needs coffee, and Sonny asks how she slept. She says she slept fine, but it’s kind of hard to get a good night’s sleep if you’re worried about waking up to an accessory to murder charge.

Diane goes to Alexis’s house and apologizes for not getting here sooner. Jason’s snafus present themselves at all hours of the day or night, but Jason’s misadventure is the Davis family’s good fortune.

Nina says, Cates was going to kill Ava and she came to work? Ava says she doesn’t have the luxury of taking a me day. Cates is dead, but his legacy lives on. Robert is going ahead with the ridiculous charges involving Kristina’s accident. Nina says she found a lawyer for Ava and asked him to meet them here. Ric walks in.

Diane tells Alexis that Ava took back her revised statement overseen by the late, not great, John Cates. Alexis asks why she would do that, and Diane says, Cates tried to have her killed. Apparently, he felt she might be susceptible to pressure from Sonny to recant. Alexis says, the written affidavit to her latest statement? and Diane says, that’s the one he could have used against Sonny. Alexis asks how they dodged that bullet, and Diane says, Cates allegedly hired a third party to murder Ava, but Jason threw in a monkey wrench. She’s surprised Alexis isn’t doing a victory dance. Alexis says, Kristina is out of one murder charge, but possibly face with another, and Diane asks whose murder she’s liable for now.

Nina introduces Ava and Ric, and realizes they know each other. Ava says, he’s Sonny’s brother. He represented her in the matter of… Rick says, Connie Falconari’s murder, and Ava asks if this is Nina’s idea of a joke. Nina says, obviously, she didn’t make the connection, or she never would have requested his help. This is where they’re at. Ava needs a lawyer, and Ric is an able one. He might as well give it a go. Ava says, might as well, but Ric says, not on your life.

Sonny says he’s sorry Carly lost sleep, but neither of them is going to get charged. She says she wishes she was as sure as he is, and he tells her that her help means a lot. She says, it’s a habit she’s trying to break. If she’d just taken more time or known how far he was going to take it, it would have been a different chat about the alibi. He asks if she would have thrown him to the wolves, and she says she doesn’t want him going to jail, but she’s not taking it further than she absolutely has to. She has to go. He asks, why the hurry? Is he so terrible?   

Tracy says she’s going to be sick, and Brook tells her to take a deep breath. Ned says, stop being so dramatic, but Tracy says she’s never dramatic. Olivia says she’ll burn the sheets. She’ll buy a new bed. She’ll call an exorcist. Tracy says she can’t believe those reprehensible people made her a party to their four-legged urges by using her bed, and Ned says, that sounds like the name of a new band, Four Legged Urges. Brook says, she’s not going to catch cooties, and Tracy says she’s going to be permanently nauseous. Olivia tells her to have a croissant, and a woman comes in telling her how to pronounce it correctly. It’s far kinder on the ears.

Diane tells Alexis to find out what she can from Kristina. Not as a mother, but as a lawyer. She’ll circle back and they can compare notes. Alexis thanks her, and Diane says she’ll try not to keep Alexis waiting so long next time. She leaves, and Kristina comes downstairs. She asks why Diane was here.  

Nina asks if Ric is saying he won’t represent Ava, and he says his caseload is full. She says she thought he went to the Scotty Baldwin school of law, where it doesn’t matter as long as it’s billable, but he says, even he has his limits. Nina asks why he came if the answer was no, and he says, she was careful to omit the details. Nina says she thought he’d get over his objections when she reminded him that he owes her a favor for trying to rob her blind during their mercifully short marriage.

Olivia says she doesn’t know who the woman is or what she’s doing here. She pronounces croissant the way she eats one. The woman says, incorrectly? Brooklyn, 15th Avenue and 85th Street. Maybe further inland, but no more than 83rd. Olivia says, she’s freaking her out, and Ned asks, who is she? The woman says she’s Robin Finch, dialect theorist and tutor to the stars. Lois must be her new student. She holds out her hand as if for a kiss, but Lois shakes it.

Carly says she and Sonny have a beautiful family together, and he says, they had a lot of good years. She says, the bad ones were a special kind of hell. She loves him, but they’re done. He says he knows, but what’s the harm in playing out the alibi? She says, when the family finds out what they were doing when he was really talking to Cates.  

Trina says, Chase put the whole place on lockdown immediately, and Josslyn says, Cates was no friend of Sonny’s. Trina says, she doesn’t think… and Josslyn says she’s trying not to. There’s a knock at the door, and Gio asks if he can hang with them. Lois told him to steer clear of the big house. Josslyn says, the Quartermaines must be losing it, and Gio says, most of them. Tracy is having a meltdown because two of the dinner guests used her bed. Trina says, eww, and Josslyn says, tacky. Gio says, it was his Uncle Sonny and Josslyn’s mom.  

Lois says she’s sure Robin is great, but she doesn’t know about a tutor. Robin says, it’s tyooter, not tooter, and Olivia says, Robin said she was a coach to the stars? Robin asks if they’re familiar with Meryl Streep, and Lois and Olivia both say, a dingo ate my baby, in an Australian accent. Ned asks if Robin isn’t kind of young to have worked on A Cry in the Dark, but Robin says, she worked with Meryl as a mother. She coached her daughters. Brook says, there’s nothing wrong with the way Lois talks. She didn’t hire Robin. Tracy says she did.  

Josslyn tells Gio, her mother did not sleep with Sonny. They’re messing with him. Gio says, they seemed serious… maybe, and she asks when this happened and how. He says, last night and probably the usual way, and she says, this is a mistake. Trina agrees and says, it sounds like a big game of trashy telephone. Gio says he’s sure heard the wrong thing the wrong way, and Josslyn says she’ll be back. She leaves, and Gio asks, what happened? Trina says, Carly and Sonny’s breakup was mutual, but not amicable.

Carly tells Sonny, it was one time. They’re not back together. He says, they’ll think he’s a sleaze who preyed on poor, vulnerable Carly, but she says she’s not poor or vulnerable. She walked into this with her eyes wide open. He says he’s glad he could count on her, and he’d do the same for her. There’s a knock at the door and Diane comes in. She sees Sonny and Carly, and says, oh no.

Jordan asks if there’s any update on the John Doe, but TJ says, there’s been no change. He’ll let her know if he’s coming to. He leaves, and Dante says, no ID, no phone, and no record of prints, so he’s not ex-military or had any run-ins with the law. Jordan says she’ll call the WSB, and he asks if she thinks they’ll care. She says, possibly, if she drops Laura’s name. She intends to pursue every avenue. That man matters to someone.

Dressed in scrubs, the guy from the airport walks into Isaiah’s room. Elizabeth asks if she can help him.

Ric says, good times, and Nina says, for him, rolling around in her inheritance. He says, and she was a real blast. Almost as much as the prospect of defending Ava in front of Sonny. But Ava kicked his niece out a window and killed his grandchild. Ava says, it wasn’t that way, but he says he can’t take the case. Sorry. He leaves, and Ava asks if Nina has any other bright ideas.

Kristina asks again why Diane was here, and Alexis says, Ava recanted her statement. She’s no longer claiming Kristina tried to kill her. That means without her statement, the FBI’s case is groundless. She still has to file a petition, but she can’t imagine it won’t be dismissed. Kristina says, then it’s over, but Alexis says, not quite. John Cates was shot and killed last night. Kristina says, one down and one to go.

Elizabeth says she hasn’t seen him. Is he new here? The man says he is. He’s here to clean up. She tells him to come back later. The patient needs rest. He says, of course (🍷), and leaves with her.

Dante tells Jordan that he’s going over to the scene and see if he can find anything. He goes to the elevator, and Ric comes out. Dante heaves a Jason sigh and goes into the elevator. Ric goes over to TJ at the reception desk and asks how TJ is doing. TJ says he’s doing okay, and Ric says he’s worried about Molly. She’s putting on a brave face, but he knows she talks to TJ. He was hoping TJ could tell him what’s really going on. TJ says, they’re doing okay… he thinks. They’re in different places with the loss. He doesn’t want to put any more thought or energy into what happened at the hotel room, but that’s all Molly thinks about. She wants to assign blame. Ric says, she wants to see someone punished, and TJ says, him too, but then what? There’s no Irene at the end and they’ll just go in circles causing more pain. He hopes Molly can see it before she loses more than she already has.  

Kristina says she’s not going to cry because Cates is gone, and Alexis says, it’s probably not a good idea to applaud either when Kristina openly threatened him. Kristina says, it’s a good thing only one person heard her and it was her lawyer. Alexis says she’s also Kristina’s mother and she’s concerned. Kristina is talking about a human like he was nothing. Kristina says, she’s had no sleep, had the threat of prison hanging over her, and a daughter worth dying for. Cates was worth killing. Alexis says, did she? and Kristina says, no, but Alexis thinks she did. Alexis says she was gone a good amount of time, and Kristina says she was at the grave and forgot she had the gun with her.

Ava says, maybe she’ll skip town, but Nina says she can’t go on the run. Ava says she has the money and the means, but Nina says, she’ll be looking over her shoulder for her entire life. Ava says, instead of being behind bars. She’s been in prison and doesn’t want to go back. Nina says, stay and fight. Don’t go on the run. It won’t just be Port Charles she’ll never see again. She’ll never see Avery.

Ned says, how Lois speaks is none of her business, but Tracy says, Lois is her employee. She sells products on Home & Heart, and the sales are directly linked to her presentation. Brook says, they’re doing fine, but Tracy says, if they were, Brook wouldn’t be tripping over herself getting Sonny to invest and taking on the hoochie mama that comes with it. She believes the numbers will improve if Lois’s rough edges are smoothed out. Olivia says, what about her? Does Tracy think her numbers will improve if she spoke snob? She knows some great sign language. Brook says, no one is signing anything, when Josslyn comes in the front door. Olivia goes to the foyer, and Brook says, Tracy had no right to hire Robin without her mother’s buy-in, but Tracy says, Lois implied that she did buy-in.

Josslyn says she hopes she’s not interrupting, and Olivia says, of course (🍷) not. Josslyn says, Gio told her something insane about her mom and Sonny, so she’s checking in with Olivia. She sees Olivia’s face and says, oh my God. It’s true, isn’t it?

Diane says, so while John Cates was being gunned down, Sonny and Carly were bedding down in a Quartermaine bedroom. Carly says, they got caught up in the moment, but Diane says she doesn’t believe it and doubts anyone else will. Sonny says, no one can prove otherwise, and Diane asks if they’re sure they weren’t spotted somewhere else on the property. Sonny says, it was dark and raining and everyone was inside. There’s no way they can ID who killed Cates. Diane says she’s praying it doesn’t come to that. She doesn’t relish the idea of selling this rekindled relationship. Carly says, it’s not a relationship, and Sonny says, it was a moment. Diane says she’ll need more than that to sell it. She needs an ongoing pattern. She needs an affair.

On the phone, Jordan tells someone to thank Jack Brennan for his help. TJ asks if she doesn’t think the police can ID the John Doe, and she says, another set eyes doesn’t hurt.

Ric tells Elizabeth that John Cates was murdered not long after they witnessed someone toss a gun off the bridge.

Kristina says she went to take the gun out and it wasn’t there. She thought Alexis took it or she lost it along the way. She never used it. Alexis says she thought Kristina was going to hurt herself. (Me too.) She thought she was going to lose her.

Sonny says, an affair is a non-starter, and Diane says, they have to protect themselves. Sonny says, that’s what he pays her for. Do her job. Carly says, she doesn’t know why she’s doing this… and Diane says, don’t finish that sentence or utter a similar one to anyone. Carly says she can’t do this and leaves the room. Diane says, before she goes, she has a piece of good news. Kristina is out of the woods. Ava recanted her statement. Ask Jason. One more thing, he and Carly need to be in sync on every detail and own it. She can only hold off the police for so long. Unlike her, Anna will not suspend her disbelief. She leaves.

Trina says, Gio is incorrect. He made a mistake. Gio asks her to tell Joss how sorry he is, and leaves. Josslyn comes back and says, her mom is reading her texts, but not responding. Trina says, take a deep breath. She doesn’t know what happened, and if they did, so what? They’re consenting adults with a history. Josslyn says, Sonny has a history of hurting her mom, and Trina says, Josslyn got back with Dex. Josslyn says, he doesn’t use her, and Trina says, maybe that’s how her mom feels about her relationship with Sonny. There are multiple reasons Josslyn and Dex shouldn’t be together, but Josslyn thought it was worth it. Maybe that’s how her mom feels. Does she want to get in the middle of their dynamic? Josslyn says, she’s right. Her mom is a grown adult and it’s her choice. She’s going to focus on her own life, and if her mom wants to mess hers up, she can do it by herself.

Tracy says, Lois was open to the idea unless something changed, and Ned tells Lois that she doesn’t have to give in to his mother’s classism. Tracy says she wouldn’t have hired Robin if she didn’t think Lois was on board, and Lois says she admits that the caller on Home & Heart got to her. It’s one thing to sell a band to a record label, but it’s another to look into a camera and talk to a million people. Her accent can be… Tracy says, toneless? Offensive? Unnecessarily cruel? Lois says, different, and Robin says, different is not always better. Ned tells Lois that she doesn’t have to give in to his mother, and Olivia says, it’s better to be Lois than a phony. Robin says she doesn’t wish to rob Lois of her authenticity, just give her the tools to refine it, if and when she chooses to do so. She’s coached front facing corporate personalities who choose to deploy and drop it at will. It’s not her goal to recreate Lois. She wants to empower her.

Tracy says she’s just trying to help Lois help herself, and Brook says, she doesn’t need help, but Lois says, maybe she does. She asks Robin to stick around and show her what she’s got, and Robin says she shall.  

Jordan tells TJ that if she can find out who John Doe is, it might help her feel less powerless. He says, she’s the most powerful person he knows, but she says she couldn’t help save him from his pain. She couldn’t help save her granddaughter, but if she can just find a name, maybe it will make up for all she couldn’t do. TJ hugs her.

Dante looks around the accident scene. He takes out a handkerchief and picks up a phone.  

On the phone, the man tells someone to put him through to Sidwell. He tells Sidwell that he has eyes on Gannon. Instructions?… Understood. He will never wake up.

Ava tells Nina, of course (🍷) she can’t leave Avery, but she can’t go back to prison. She needs a lawyer. Nina says she’ll talk to Ric again, but Ava says, he made it clear he’s not going to represent her. Nina says she’s sure she can convince him, and Ava asks why Nina is helping her. She betrayed Nina. Nina says she wants Avery to have her mom and Ava can thank Willow. She gave Nina a second chance and she feels like Ava deserves one too.

Carly asks if Diane left, and Sonny says, they’ll have to talk to the police soon. She says she needs to go, and he asks if she doesn’t think they can make people believe their story. They have history on their side. She says, and necessity. She wants him out of prison and in Donna’s life. They have to make people believe what they say happened, happened. He thanks her and she says she’ll add it to his tab. She leaves, and in the hallway, she runs into Josslyn.  

Kristina tells Alexis that she’s sorry. She wasn’t going to hurt herself and never would. Alexis thanks her and says she’s relieved to hear Kristina had nothing to do with the shooting. Kristina says she’d better get the gun back, and Alexis says, back where? She says, it’s dad’s. She took it from the penthouse and he’s going to notice it’s missing. Can she have it back? Alexis says, it’s gone. Possession of a gun is a bail violation. If Kristina was found with it, she’d be in jail, so she got rid of it off the bridge over Blackstone Canyon.

Sonny calls Jason and says, they have a problem. He discovered a gun is missing from his safe.

Ric says, they were witnesses to a crime, and Elizabeth says, they saw a woman drop a gun into the water. It’s not a crime. He says, she may have killed the FBI agent. The police have to know what they saw. He and Alexis have a history, and they might not believe him on his own. Elizabeth saw it and they have to come forward with what they saw together.

Tomorrow, Lucky tells Holly that he can smell a con a mile away; Josslyn asks if Carly slept with Sonny or is she giving him an alibi; and Sonny tells Jason that this is the only thing tying him to the murder.

🎓 Smartest In the Room…

All about Isaiah.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/who-is-isaiah-on-gh-sawandi-wilson-speaks-out

👠 Rich Reunion…

I didn’t watch Dynasty during its original run, but I caught it when it was on late night in the 90s and I loved it.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/emma-samms-reunites-with-her-dynasty-brothers

🥀 Tribute To a Friend…

The Talisman is one of my favorite books.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/michael-easton-remembers-his-friend-peter-straub

🍊 Do You OC What I See…

Fancy Pants Heather invited the group to wine country where they stayed at Dawn Ranch in some sweet little bungalows. She was having a tasting of a champagne collaboration she’d done with Family Equality, the organization getting 100% of the sales profit. Four sparkling wines had been created, loosely based on four of Heather’s children. On the way there, Tamra made a big deal about an Instagram post of Shannon sitting by herself at a bar like it was no big deal. Newsflash. Women are allowed to do that now. Shannon claimed she wasn’t drinking alcohol, but in her interview, Heather said she’d never sat in a bar and ordered a mocktail. I’ve never done that either, but another newsflash. Only Shannon and the bartender know for sure, but I have friends who do that all the time. Apparently, if Fancy Pants hasn’t done it, it just isn’t done.

Alexis prompted Katie to bring hairspray on a nature hike in case they came across any bears. I’m guessing that would just annoy the bear, so drop Alexis’s IQ twenty more points. Gina spilled the beans during a small group conversation by saying something about that video thing, prompting Shannon to say, what video thing? several times while everyone looked at the floor, into space, and anyplace but at Shannon. Emily said it was the worst, longest, most drawn out, traumatic breakup ever, and in her interview, Gina wondered, why do you want to hurt someone so badly if you’re so happy in your new relationship? My guess is, he’s not that happy. He’s just a real piece of work who wants to get back at Shannon, and when he’s done, he’s going to dump Alexis. Hey, I can dream.

My biggest question was, who did Alexis give a BJ to in order to get tickets to the Oscars?

https://people.com/rhoc-recap-shannon-beador-says-ex-john-janssen-suing-her-is-extortion-8706651

🩺 Diagnosis In the Valley…

This explains a lot, but my diagnosis is, he’s still awful.

https://okmagazine.com/p/jax-taylor-diagnosed-bipolar-disorder-ptsd-checking-inpatient-facility

🍼 Giving You Lala’s New Baby…

No name yet, but I’m sure it will be something spectacular. I’m voting for Stream or Rivulet.

💏 Charming Engagement…

Aww. Rodrigo and boyfriend Tyler are two of the few cast members I like. Hoping it’s all rainbows and more rainbows.

🧂 Salt Lake City Multiplied…

I’ll probably be skipping this one. RHOSC is enough for me.

💣 Outplaying In Secret…

Another one that probably won’t be on my list. Not that it doesn’t sound good, but I get confused when Jeff Probst lists the challenge steps on Survivor.

🔥 A Match Made In Hell…

Apparently, this is a musical. I’m intrigued.

https://people.com/joker-2-first-reactions-folie-a-deux-venice-film-festival-8697650

Taking it to the Venice streets. Amazing. Joaquin Pheonix is actually smiling. And not as the Joker.

https://extratv.com/2024/09/04/joaquin-phoenix-and-lady-gaga-bring-the-joker-to-the-venice-film-festival/

🐈 No Cats Allowed…

I’m with Travis on this, but I have to admit, I laughed at Jason’s ingenuity.

https://people.com/jason-kelce-says-it-ll-be-hilarious-when-his-kids-meet-taylor-swift-s-cats-8706379

🪁 Seeing You In September…

Join me tomorrow for soap. whatever entertainment rabbits come out of my hat, quotable quotes, and perhaps an earworm. Until then, stay safe, stay embracing the change of seasons, and stay not giving into four-legged urges on somebody else’s bed.

August 20, 2024 – Kristina Is Arraigned, Soap Bubbles, Sergio Wants a Baby, Salty Talk, VanderBail, Best R Ever, Zoo Babies & Afternoon

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Laura asks, what hell are you doing here? and Cyrus (didn’t see that coming) says, hell had nothing to do with it. Laura tells Lulu, mom is here. She’ll be right back. She and Cyrus go out into the hall, and Laura says, Lulu’s doctor called her. Why is he here? He says he hasn’t seen Laura in months and assumed she had her hands full with the baby, her mayoral duties, and Heather. He visits frequently, so he’s surprised he hasn’t run into her.

Ava leaves a voicemail for Scotty. She asks, where’s the pharmacist? Is everything okay? She needs for him to call her back. She throws her phone as Nina walks in. Nina picks it up and says she thinks Ava dropped something.

Dante comes home, and Sam hugs him. She says she brought Scout home from her softball game. She was awesome. She’s upstairs and she’s sure she’ll tell Dante all about it. She’s headed over to her mom’s, since Kristina is there. Is he okay to stay and watch the kids? He says, the kids aren’t a problem, but Kristina isn’t at her mom’s.

Molly meets TJ at the hospital, and he says he heard about Kristina. He’s so sorry. She says, her mom is with Kristina, but she’s had no chance to talk to her. She did have time to be reprimanded by his mom. She used her authority as ADA to confront Ava in jail. Scotty complained to the DA’s office, and it landed on the Deputy Mayor’s desk. All she could think about was that her child was gone because of Ava. She could have been suspended or fired, but instead she got more than her share of professional courtesy and grace off the books. She doesn’t regret confronting Ava, but she’s sorry about so many other things. She hopes he can forgive her.

Alexis tells John that her emergency hearing should be granted soon, and John says, Kristina assaulted and threatened to kill a federal witness. She says, this is malicious prosecution and doesn’t serve him, which he’ll find out in court.

Sonny goes into the interrogation room, and Kristina asks why this is happening. He says he’s going to take care of everything.

Kristina tells Sonny that John claims she threatened Ava and tried to kill her, but that’s not what happened. Ava grabbed her. She only threatened to tell the court the truth about Ava on the witness stand. Sonny says he’ll tell her what’s going on. Is she up to hearing it? She says, yeah, and he says, he and Jagger go way back to a time when he did things he’s not proud of. That’s a weight that he’ll have to live with. The guilt is his weight, not hers. She says, his past doesn’t matter, but he says, Jagger has come back to settle the score. Jagger knows how much he loves her, and that’s why Jagger is targeting him.

Nina says, her life is in her phone, and hands Ava’s phone to her. Ava asks what she wants, and Nina says she managed to squeeze out half a page for the artist Ava is so excited about. Ava says, under other circumstances, she’d be thrilled, but she has bigger concerns. Her lawyer isn’t answering his phone. Nina says, Scotty isn’t always reliable, and Ava says she was arrested for murder and the FBI agent who was helping her clearly has his own agenda. Go ahead and say it. She has nobody to blame but herself. Nina says, it’s true she wanted to see what Ava had coming to her, but this is not what she had in mind. Ava says, Nina wanted to see her suffer. She got her wish.

Molly says she’s sorry she was hiding behind work and left TJ to handle everything, but he says, she’s grieving too, and he wasn’t always understanding. She says, it’s like living in a slow-motion nightmare. She’s living in one horrible moment when the next comes. Sonny and Kristina got off the elevator, and Kristina was ready to go home, when Agent Cates stormed in and arrested Kristina. He claims Ava is a witness in a RICO violations case, and Kristina assaulted her. He says, that doesn’t sound right, and she says, their mom went into lawyer mode, but now she’s starting to wonder if she shouldn’t have defended Kristina.

Laura asks if the doctor has been in there, and Cyrus says, no one’s been in there since he got here. She asks how often he visits Lulu, and he says he tries to be here two or three times a week. He reads the Bible to her. He’s her uncle, and he hopes it brings her a little comfort. Laura asks why he didn’t tell her, and he says he knows she’s got a lot going on, so he thought he’d help. He sees now that he should have cleared it with her, and he apologizes. If it causes her distress, he’ll stop. She says she appreciates his intentions. She’s worried about Lulu. He asks, why? and she says, the doctor asked to see her. She said something’s not right with Lulu’s tests, and there was an urgency about it. He asks if she’d like him to pray with her, and she says, her only prayer is that if her daughter needs help, she has the strength to give it to her.

Alexis tells Kristina that she got the emergency hearing, and Kristina wants to know how this happened. Alexis says, it’s a desperate miscalculation by a desperate man, and it’s going to blow back on Cates big time. She’ll be in the courtroom and meet Kristina outside. She leaves, and Sonny says, they’ve got this. Don’t worry. He leaves, and Kristina says, it isn’t her fault. Ava grabbed her. She flashes back and says, Ava grabbed me.

Doc asks if Lulu is okay, and Laura says she only saw Lulu for a moment. Cyrus was there. Cyrus says he’s only seen the nurse since he’s been here, and Laura says, apparently, Cyrus visits Lulu regularly. Cyrus says, among other patients, and Doc says, ministering, he supposes. The doctor joins them and says she’s run some tests and is waiting for the results. She’ll see if the lab can put a rush on them. She wants to have the most current information in hand before she updates Laura. Doc asks if she has any indication of what’s going on, and she says, when they get the results, they can decide on what course of action, if any, they want to go for. She leaves, and Cyrus says he doesn’t wish to intrude. He’ll pray for them both. He leaves, and Doc asks if Laura is okay with Cyrus visiting. She says she doesn’t know. She can’t think about anything but Lulu.

Nina asks why an FBI agent would concern himself with a custody case. It’s not something they usually take on. Ava says, he wanted information he could use against Sonny. She told him that she had nothing to give him, then Sonny showed up at her hotel suite. He was livid about the custody battle. Nina knows how he gets quiet and intense, and Cates stepped in. Nina says, Sonny can be intense, but she doesn’t believe he’d harm Ava, and Ava says, Sonny hates her and Cates was there for her like a hero. He said he’d help her with the custody battle, so she threw in with him. The only thing she cares about and that matters to her is Avery. Now she thinks she made a gigantic mistake.

Dante tells Sam about Kristina’s arrest, and Sam asks if Anna and her mom know. He says, her mom is all over it. Cates is saying Kristina went after Ava, who’s a witness in a RICO case against Sonny, and Sam says, unreal. He says, her mom is trying to get Kristina arraigned. He just got back from seeing Laura. She asks if the mayor is in on this too, but he says, something is going on with Lulu.

Molly says she showed Ava the autopsy photos. She wanted Ava to know what she’d done and live with the memory of the images. The autopsy photos upset and horrified Ava, but it didn’t make her feel any better and Ava didn’t confess. So what did she accomplish? She jeopardized her own career. She wanted to take action, and what she did, she did out of anger. She can see why Kristina would do the same thing. He asks if she thinks Kristina threatened to kill Ava. She says, Kristina wouldn’t mean it and wouldn’t physically attack her. He says, they have photos, and she says, a picture can tell a thousand lies. It’s how it’s interpreted. Maybe Ava was grabbing Kristina. Maybe she was fending Kristina off. He asks if she thinks that scenario is possible, and she says she doesn’t want to, but maybe Kristina’s actions are responsible for the death of their baby.

Alexis says, Sonny will say and do nothing, no matter how much Cates goads him. If he can’t do that, he has to leave. Sonny asks how she is. She hasn’t had a case in a while, and this is their daughter. He wants to know if she’s up for it. She asks if he’s doubting her. If she had any qualms, Diane would be here. When she sees Cates’s smug mug, she’ll be filled with righteous indignation and a strength she forgot she had. He says, that’s what he likes to hear. His presence here will present a problem for Cates, not him. Cates hates the fact he’s breathing, so he’s going to watch as she pokes holes in his bogus arrest. It’s going to drive him crazy.

The FBI lawyer shows up and tells John that he doesn’t feel comfortable about the case. It’s not clear cut. John tells him to make it clear. It’s part of an ongoing investigation involving Sonny. He needs Kristina to stay put until the trial. The lawyer says, got it, and they go into the courtroom. The bailiff says, all rise… Judge Sullivan presiding. Judge Judy The judge takes her seat and tells them, let’s get going. It’s late.

Dante says, the doctor wanted to see Laura because Lulu had a setback, and Sam says she’s sorry. Does Rocco know? Dante says he wanted to know more first. Lulu has been a prisoner in that bed so long, he hopes miracles happen, but he feels like the chances are slim. Sam’s phone rings, and she says, it’s Diane. She listens for a moment, then thanks Diane for calling. She tells Dante that the emergency hearing was granted. It’s starting now. He tells her to go and keep him posted. She says, let her know what happens with Lulu and if he needs anything, and he says, he needs to figure out what to try and say to Rocco. (I thought Laura told him to hold that thought.)

Ava tells Nina that she and Sonny had a falling out and he gave her the boot. The next thing she knows, they’re lining up character witnesses for family court. She got involved with Cates, but now she sees how obsessed he is with taking Sonny down. Nina asks if it won’t help Ava’s case, but Ava says she’s still facing criminal charges for Kristina’s fall. She can’t take care of Avery from behind bars. Nina thinks it’s not going to come to that, and asks, what happened? Ava says she swears it was an accident. She and Nina were friends before she blew it, and Nina knows whatever else she is, however selfish or bad she is, she’d never hurt a child.

TJ says, Molly’s not only one who saw Ava. He went to the gallery. She asks, why? and he says, for the same reason. He needs answers, and the two of them have been so far apart. She says she feels terrible, but he says, she’s dealing with the same loss, and he understands. What Ava suggested lines up with what Molly told him. He doesn’t think Kristina is blameless. She says, Kristina made the choice to go see Ava. If she hadn’t done that one thing, their child would be alive. (These two are idiots on a good day. If Kristina had gotten hit by a bus that went through a red light, I’ll bet Molly would say, she shouldn’t have been crossing the street.)

Alexis tells judge Sullivan that there’s no witness statement, no report, no video. Besides that, her client was just released from the hospital where she had an emergency C-section. It’s not only an unjust arrest, it’s jeopardizing her health and bordering on malicious prosecution. She asks that her client be released immediately. The judge asks where the evidence is to back up the charges, and the lawyer looks at John, who’s got nothing. He gets up and says, they have a report from a reliable citizen, but the FBI has a heavy workload and has yet to file a formal transcript. In light of this, he asks for a continuance. Judge Sullivan says, denied. This has been a colossal waste of everyone’s time. The defendant is released on her own recognizance, effective immediately. John jumps up and says, no. She’s making a mistake (I wait for her to say, you again?)

TJ says he loves Molly and he’s sorry, and she says she loves him too. She was too scared to handle her own grief and too heartbroken to handle his. He’s her best friend and partner and she let him down in every possible way. He says he accepts her apology and loves her so much, and they hug. She says, there’s so much to take care of, and he says, they’ll figure it out. They’ll go someplace quiet. Molly’s phone dings, and she says, it’s a friend from the courthouse. Kristina’s been granted emergency bail. TJ wonders why Alexis didn’t call, and Molly says, since she works in the DA’s office, they thought it was better if she kept her distance. He tells her, go see about her sister and don’t worry about anything else. They’ll figure it out together tomorrow. She leaves.

Laura tells Doc that when the doctor called and said it was about her daughter, she had a surge of hope that the doctor would say Lulu was awake and asking for her. It has happened so many times, a sort of irrational spark of joy, only to be followed up by a crash when she hears them say, there’s no change. This is worse than no change. She can tell by what the doctor isn’t saying. Lulu is getting worse.

Dante leaves a voicemail for Laura, saying, he’s checking in. He hears Rocco and says he didn’t know Rocco was downstairs. Rocco asks if there’s any truth to the rumor they’re getting pizza, and Dante says he ordered pizza, but he’s got to talk to Rocco about his mom.

Ava tells Nina that Kristina came to her suite. She was furious about the subpoena. Sonny attacked Dex and she saw the whole thing. Nina says, it must have been traumatic. She’s fond of Kristina and knows Sonny is protective of her. Ava says, Kristina was beyond. Kristina barged in, screaming at her. At some point she put her hand on Kristina, and Kristina jerked away. She stumbled and tripped on some luggage, then crashed through the window. It happened so fast. She had nothing to do with it. It was an accident. Nina says, Kristina lost the baby and nearly died, and Ava says, it was tragic and horrible. Nina says, the luggage was just right there? Was Ava going somewhere? Ava says, Carly threw John out and she let him keep his bags in her room, since he was helping her with the custody fight. After Kristina fell, she supposes she was in shock. She didn’t know how to explain the bags of an FBI agent, so she did something stupid. She hid them. She put them in a closet, and of course (🍷) the cops found them. Nina says, Ava altered a crime scene and lied about what made Kristina fall. Of course (🍷) they’ll wonder why Ava would lie if it was an accident. Ava says, but it was. She didn’t push Kristina. Nina has to believe her.

John says, as soon as the defendant leaves the courtroom, her father will have her on a plane to a country with no extradition treaty. Judge Sullivan says, the only reason John hasn’t been cited for contempt is because of his FBI badge. He has 48 hours to get his case together, including documents that show Ava is listed as a witness in a RICO case, or he’ll be the one in a cell. (Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! John’s face.) The bailiff says, all rise, and the judge leaves. John asks the lawyer, what the hell was that? and he says, it was a lousy case, and they got treated accordingly. John better get it together and his evidence had better be bulletproof or he’ll have John’s badge, and John will be sitting in a cell. John glares Sonny on his way out, and Sonny asks Alexis, how’d I do? Alexis smiles and Sonny winks at Kristina. (Our Sonny is back.)

Ava says she sees Nina isn’t convinced, and Nina says she believes a lot of it. It was a confusing situation and probably happened fast. Ava says, Kristina fell, but everybody assumes she pushed her, and Nina says, life isn’t fun when your credibility is shot. She knows about that. When you meddle with people in a life changing way, nobody gives you the benefit of the doubt, especially when you need it most. She hopes Ava gets out of it. She’s a good mom. Let her know about the magazine space, and if she sees Scotty, she’ll tell him to call Ava. She walks out, and while she’s looking in her bag in the hallway, Ava says she’s sorry. Nina says, her too, and leaves with tears in her eyes.

Laura says she wishes she had an update for Dante. Thank God that Doc is here. He says, waiting is excruciating, but he appreciates that Lulu’s doctor is so thorough. Laura says, hearing no change would be good news today. She can’t bear thought of Lulu living out her life like this, so she has hope. He says, it’s okay to be hopeful, and she says she needs to be strong for Lulu. She cries and he holds her. He says, hang onto that and hang onto him.

Sam sees Molly at the courthouse, and says, mom was on fire and Sonny kept his composure, and Molly says she’s not surprised about mom. Sam says, what Molly missed was Cates’s meltdown, and Molly says she’s had the misfortune of dealing with him. He waves his badge around like it’s proof he walks on water. What evidence did he have? Sam says, nothing, and the judge told him he has 48 hours to get it or he’ll be brought up on charges. Finally, justice in action. Kristina gets to go home and heal. Molly says, she still has the charges hanging over her head, but Sam says she believes they’ll be dropped. Cates has nothing even resembling evidence. It’s just a way to get at Sonny.  

Dante says he’s sorry Rocco’s grandma can’t be here for their video game rematch, and Rocco says he thought that’s why they were having pizza. Dante says he went to see Rocco’s mom, and Rocco says he likes visiting. It’s quiet and peaceful and mom knows he’s there. He tells her stupid stuff that happened in school and reads her horoscope from The Invader. He remembers she used to read that. Dante says he wants to talk to Rocco’s grandma. The doctors ran some tests and got the results, but he doesn’t know more than that until he speaks to Laura. He asks if Rocco is okay, and Rocco nods. He says he has pictures of mom, so he’ll never forget what she looks like. There’s footage and recordings, but her voice never sounds right, like her. He’s afraid he’s going to forget what her real voice sounds like.

John goes to the gallery and tells Ava that Alexis was granted an emergency bail hearing. The judge practically walked Kristina and Sonny out of the courtroom. Ava says, Kristina was arrested? and John says, after they went over her story – how Kristina was the aggressor, came to her suite uninvited, forced her way in, and threatened Ava – the next logical step was to file charges. Ava asks if he’s talked to Scotty, and he asks, why? She says she hasn’t heard a peep from him all day, and something tells her that she’s going to need her lawyer. He says, Scotty is obviously busy, but she doesn’t need him. He’s the only hope she has left. (I think the only hope she has left is coming clean.)

Kristina thanks Alexis, and Alexis says she gives credit to Kristina’s father. He behaved no matter how much Cates goaded him. Sonny says he’d do anything for his daughter, even listening to the rants of an FBI agent. Kristina says she didn’t think she’d be back in this house again, and Alexis says, they both love and adore her. Sonny says, they’ll always protect her.  

On the phone, Nina says that someone owes her a favor and she’s ready to collect.

Rocco says he believes if his mom wakes up and says one word, it will all come back, and Dante says, that’s a good way to look at it. Rocco says, as long as she’s alive, it can change. They can’t give up hope that she could wake up tomorrow or next week. She’s hanging in so they need to. When the day comes and she opens her eyes, he hopes he’s sitting there and he’s the first thing she sees. He wishes it could be soon. He misses her. Dante says he misses her too.

Sam says she thinks it’s absurd. Kristina just lost the baby and could have died. She should be home grieving and taking care of herself, instead of winding up in a courtroom… She’s so sorry. Why wasn’t Molly here? Molly says, her office was concerned about a conflict of interest, and Sam asks if she wouldn’t have heard. Molly says she was caught up in something with TJ. They have to plan the baby’s funeral. Sam hugs her and says she’s sorry.  

John says, they have to rehearse Ava’s story for the record on file, but she says she’s given her statement. He says, give it again, but this time, she’s going to say what he tells her to say and do it how he wants it. She says, it’s been a long day. She’s going to close up and head back to her hotel. They can start tomorrow. He says, the judge gave him 48 hours. He’s not losing his badge or Sonny’s case over this. Let’s get started. They’re going to work on her statement until it’s perfect.

The doctor apologizes for the wait and tells Laura that they did a test on Lulu’s liver, and it’s been compromised. If they continue on this trajectory, her liver will fail. Laura asks if the doctor is telling her that her daughter is going to die.

Tomorrow, Alexis says, TJ never needs to know what Kristina intended to do; John tells Ava that the only thing Sonny responds to is leverage; and Anna tells someone that they have to choose.

🧼 All the Soap News Fit To Print…

I’m thrilled that Brad is back, but bummed that Britt is no longer around to cause trouble with him.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/parry-shen-celebrates-his-return-to-general-hospital

In case you don’t know him.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/abc/general-hospital-brad-cooper-parry-shen-171676

Background on Lulu, much of which I don’t remember. On the show, it sounds like she’s going to die, but there was that Soaps In Depth article that said they’re recasting, so who knows? Whenever they change writers, it’s a surprise a minute.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/abc/general-hospital-lulu-spencer-falconeri-169139

Still pretty incensed about this.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/jacqueline-grace-lopez-shares-a-special-message-with-fans

Do you think he really says things like, holy heck?

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/nicholas-chavezs-netflix-series-gets-a-premiere-date

🐪 A Camel Walks Into Dubai…

In one of the creepiest moments in Housewives history, Sara revealed that her housekeeper had been plotting to kidnap her young son. She was also sharing his picture with various creepers, who responded with how cute he was, which is pretty f***ed up. To add insult to injury, when Sara told her to start packing, she packed some of Sara’s things as well. Thankfully, she’s now in jail. A thousand showers can’t wipe that away.

Sergio wanted to have a baby with Stanbury, and it sounded like it might be a deal breaker. If I were her, I’d have that baby lickity-split, since a puppy at her heels he might be, but he’s also a real find who adores her and who’s actually thoughtful. For her birthday, he took her on a private yacht cruise and had a cake made that looked like their new house. I love stuff like that. I mean the cake, but the yacht is good too. They finally have the leeway to use a surrogate, and money is no object as far as a nanny or anything else goes, so why not? She said it would be life changing, but not so much when you have a life like theirs. It’s not like he’ll have to take a second job.

Stanbury and Lesa had lunch, and Lesa did one of those things I hate that many of the Housewives do – play the family card. You know, what you said effects my family. Well, if people don’t get that you’re on a reality show and nonsense is going to be said about you, maybe you need a new address book. It just seems way overused. Fancy Pants Heather made the same claim just last week on RHOC. It’s just doubtful anyone cares about secondhand hearsay from a co-star.

And the rest…

🧂 Pass the Salt…

Coming September 18th.

In case you need an explanation.

https://ew.com/real-housewives-salt-lake-city-season-5-trailer-explained-8697919

🍸 Adding Bail Bondsman To Resumé…

That’s a lot of weed. How stupid is he to be carting that to another country?

🦸 You’re Welcome, Canada…

Movin’ on up.

https://ew.com/deadpool-and-wolverine-beats-joker-highest-grossing-r-rated-movie-of-all-time-8696677

🦥 New At the Zoo…

It doesn’t get much more adorable.

https://people.com/atlanta-zoo-excited-about-birth-of-baby-two-toed-sloth-8697807

🐼 No surprise, Ying Ying looks exhausted.

https://people.com/giant-panda-hong-kong-gives-birth-twins-worlds-oldest-first-time-panda-mom-8696512

🦩 The times, they are a-changin’.

https://people.com/same-sex-chilean-flamingo-couple-hatch-and-care-for-chick-8696536

🌊 Good Tides, High Vibes…

Join me tomorrow for soap and what’s being listed in LA. Until then, stay safe, stay speaking about others as though they were standing next to you, and stay never throwing in with an FBI agent who has their own agenda.

August 13, 2024 – Blaze Makes Two Decisions, New Heather, Old Friends, Next Chapter, Dubai Swings In Bali, Watch Party With Awful People, VanderSales & Sugar

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

I was busy with something else at the beginning, but my main takeaway point was Tracy having a tea party for Violet and her stuffed animals. And Ava, John, and Scotty showed up…

At the MetroCourt, Carly says she doesn’t understand why Ava is here and not in jail, and Ava says she pled not guilty and made bail. Carly says, Kristina could die and her baby did die, and Ava sails in here like she doesn’t give a damn. She’s not capable of shame. Ava says, Kristinka’s fall was an accident, and Scotty tells her to hold her peace until the trial. Ava says she wants to collect her things, but Carly tells her, good luck. Her room is a crime scene. Ava says, that’s ridiculous. Nothing happened. Carly says, she’ll also have to find other accommodations. They’re booked. Ava says, of course (🍷), and Carly tells her to contact the PCPD for her things. John asks if they can have a table, and Carly says she’ll send someone over.  

Anna wonders what Jack wants with Carly, and he asks if the table and the wine don’t give it away. She says, a romantic dinner for two? and he says, exactly. Valentin must have used that tactic on her. She asks why he’s using it on Carly, and he says he enjoys Carly’s company. She wonders if he’s incapable of giving a straight answer, and he asks if it’s difficult to believe he’s intrigued by a woman, enjoys her company, and wants to see where it leads. She says, yeah. Something big is definitely in the works. Why else would the WSB open an office here? Jack admits that the WSB never does anything without an ulterior motive.

Kristina says, Blaze worked her whole life for a break like this. Her mother is right. She has to go. Blaze asks why Kristina is pushing her away. Yes, she focused on her career at the expense of everything else. Love, happiness, and belonging were things she was afraid to hope for because she was afraid to lose her mother and family’s love. Then Kristina happened and became her everything else. Now Kristina wants to push her away. Go ahead, but she’s not leaving Kristina alone to deal with her grief because she loves her. Kristina says, she really does, and Blaze says, so much. Kristina says, then she really has to leave.

Sonny tells Jason that Ava will say anything to save her skin, and Jason says, they’d still have to prove or disprove what she says. If it wasn’t her, who was it? Sonny says, she had easy access, and Jason wonders, what if the switch didn’t happen here? Sonny says, then it’s the pharmacy. Jason needs to go and find out who’s filling his prescription and see what they have to say, and Jason says, copy that. Sonny’s phone rings, and he tells Jason that it’s good news. Ava made bail. Jason asks why he wants Ava out of jail, and Sonny says, it’s easier to even the score.

Ava says, John being there made all the difference. Who knew she was being called to testify as a material witness in an ongoing FBI investigation? Carly approaches the table and asks, what kind of investigation? If she contacts the FBI, how surprised will they be that there’s an investigation? Ava asks what she’s implying, and Carly says, the FBI isn’t interested in Sonny, but that’s all Cates cares about. John says, it’s his job to arrest criminals, and Carly says, he’s using Ava like he used her and Jason. The only thing he cares about is sending Sonny to prison.

Anna says, something else is going on, and Jack says, absolutely yes, but he has no idea what. The WSB’s hidden agenda remains hidden. She says, he expects her to believe he has no inkling, and he says he’s been demoted to lowly station chief. She sits down and tells him to level with her. She’s already figured out his arrest and Valentin being revealed as the head of Pikeman was a charade. John asks, how many syllables? (BA-DUM-CHH!) and she asks if Valentin is really on the run. She imagines he’s cozied up with Charlotte in a chalet in Switzerland courtesy of the WSB. He says, Valentin was allowed to flee their jurisdiction, and asks whose side Anna is on. Anna says, whose side indeed, when her phone rings. She answers and tells them, thank you. She tells Jack, it’s been fun, and he says, either jaywalking or a parking violation. She says, trespassing. Enjoy what’s left of his evening. The wine is really good. She leaves.

Violet asks if Tracy’s mother liked tea parties, and Tracy says, she loved them. She was a proper Englishwoman and had tea every afternoon. Violet says, there are a lot of pictures of her all over. She was pretty. Tracy says, she was a beauty, and Violet says, she seemed nice. Tracy says, she was the nicest and down to earth. She could put someone in their place and still be kind. She was impossible to argue with. Violet asks, if she was so nice, why argue with her? and Tracy says she doesn’t know. Sometimes families argue and the Quartermaines do it more than most.

Kristina tells Blaze that she loved the baby so much and had so much hope, but all her hope and love went with her. She’s empty and has nothing left to give, even to Blaze. Blaze asks if Kristina is saying she doesn’t love her anymore, but Kristina tells her that she’s saying she can’t love anything or anyone, and it’s not fair for Blaze to give up something that could make her life great, when Kristina will make her life miserable. Blaze says, what if it’s the grief talking? What if they can navigate it and Blaze can see her through this hell, and they find heaven on the other side? Kristina says, it sounds beautiful. It seems like it belongs in a song. Maybe Blaze can sing it on tour. What if, in the best-case scenario, they get through this, then what? What if every time Blaze sees someone performing and living the life she could have had, Blaze hates her, or worse resents her? She’ll leave anyway and they’ll be where they are now. Is Blaze telling her that some part of her doesn’t want to get on the plane to Hong Kong and open for Miguel Morez? Blaze says, of course (🍷) she wants to go, but why is Kristina making her feel like she has to choose her career over her? Kristina says, because she has to live her best life right now and Blaze’s best life is not here with her.

Jason says, Kristina is strong. She’s made it through so far, and she’ll make through this. Sonny says, Jason didn’t see her eyes when she asked him to make Ava pay. Jason says, of course (🍷) she was angry. She should be, but when she calms down… Sonny says, Kristina didn’t know that kind of hate, but he understands because he has the same hate. Ask Alexis. She walked in and asked him not to kill Ava. Jason says, she believes in the law and thinks that’s the way to get justice, and Sonny says, she thinks if Ava dies, Kristina will think it’s because of her and not be able to live with herself. But if she goes through a long trial and Ava walks or worse… Kristina deserves peace. Jason asks what he’s going to do. 

John says, how dare Carly question his integrity? She just squirmed out from under RICO charges because the evidence conveniently disappeared. She escaped justice. Carly says, John was using her. He doesn’t care about justice or the law or his son. John gets all ruffled, and she asks if he’s been in the city where his son lives or where Sonny lives. It’s only a matter of time before the FBI finds out what he’s been doing. She leaves and Scotty says, some celebration. He’s going to split. He leaves, and Ava thanks John. She tells him not to let it get to him. Carly is naturally abrasive, and Sonny brainwashed her for decades. John asks, then why doesn’t she let Donna stay with him? and Ava says, only Carly can judge Sonny. Speaking of Sonny, there’s something she’s been meaning to tell him. When she was in lockup, Sonny sent Jason to intimidate her. She’s afraid her life is in danger.

Sonny says he can’t make a move now, especially with Jagger here. He’s going to bide his time. Jason asks, what about Kristina? Is she willing to sit back and not take matters into her own hands? Sonny says, Kristina doesn’t have it in her on her own to kill Ava. There’s a knock at the door, and Frank says, the Police Commissioner is here. Anna comes in and says, it’s like old times. She learned Ava made bail. Sonny asks what that has to do with him, and she says, nothing and it needs to stay that way. If Ava so much as skins her knee, she’s going to come down on him with full force. Do not touch a hair on Ava’s head.

Tracy says, no argument with her mother lasted long. Everybody adored her. She was the perfect combination of fun and elegant. Violet asks if elegant is the same as fancy, and Tracy says, yes and no. It can also mean tacky, which is the opposite of elegant. When you’re elegant, everything is just right – your words, your voice, the way you carry yourself. Her mother made it look effortless. Violet asks if Tracy is elegant, and Tracy says, on occasion. Violet asks if she is, and Tracy says, for a nine-year-old, very elegant. Keep at it. It takes work. Strive to be elegant and avoid animal prints. Violet says, but she loves animals.

Kristina says, Blaze wants to do what’s best for her and them. She can’t stay here just to be with her or feel like she has to or because she thinks she loves Kristina. All she’ll think about is the tour. Blaze says, if she goes on tour, all she’ll think about is Kristina, and Kristina says, Blaze can be living her dream or living Kristina’s nightmare wishing she was living her dream, and Blaze says, fine. She’ll go, but she’s just a phone call away if Kristina needs anything. After the tour ends… Kristina says, stop. They can’t make promises. They don’t know what they’ll be doing or who they’ll be after the tour. Blaze says she knows she’ll still love Kristina, but Kristina says she can’t put a timeline on grief and healing. She can’t guess what her life will be like. Blaze asks if they can at least check in and see how the other is doing, and Kristina says, deal.  Blaze says, finally, a win, and Kristina says she just wants Blaze to be happy and free to live her life. Blaze says she can’t if Kristina isn’t there, but Kristina says, she’d be surprised. Blaze says, great. Another surprise. She cries and takes Kristina’s hand. She says she’s going to miss Kristina so much, and Kristina says, she’s going to be doing the thing she was born to do. Watching Blaze soar will make her happy. She’ll be so proud. Blaze kisses her and leaves, and Kristina cries.

Anna tells Sonny, stay away from Ava, and he agrees. He says, she’s not a priority. He has Donna, Avery, and Kristina to worry about and no time to worry about Ava. Anna says, see it stays that way. The same for Jason. Sonny says he knows he’s been out of line. He went through some stuff and wants her to know he’s handling it. She says she’s glad he’s doing better, and he thanks her. She says, but she has a job to do, and he says, to serve and protect. Even Ava? She says, even Ava, and he says, she doesn’t have to worry. It’s good seeing her. She leaves.

John asks if Jason threatened Ava, but she says, he’s not much for talking, but he got the point across. He asks what Jason said, and she says, he accused her of replacing Sonny’s medication with the placeboes. She said she didn’t do it, which is true. The point is… He says he knows. The pharmacist is safe and out of Sonny’s reach. She can finally tell him who paid Clement to sabotage Sonny’s mental health. She says she doesn’t know, but don’t tell Sonny. Jack walks in, and John says, unbelievable. Ava asks, who’s that? and John says, somebody who’s supposed to be in prison. At the bar, Trish asks if she can help Jack, and he asks if Carly is still around.

Tracy says she likes animals as much as the next person, and Violet says, she doesn’t like Annabelle II. Tracy says, Annabelle II has one virtue – she’s housebroken. Other than that, she’s ill-mannered and ill-trained. The house is full of antiques, and they might as well put them on the lawn and make an obstacle course. Violet asks if they can ask Monica’s permission, but Tracy says, no. She’d probably say yes, and she’s not turning the house into a canine obstacle course. Violet says, it’s Monica’s house. Alan gave it to her. Tracy says, Alan was too generous for his own good.

Kristina hugs her blanket when there’s a knock at the door. Molly asks how she is. Is she in pain? Kristina says, not so much. She’s able to come home in a couple days. She asks how Molly is doing, and Molly says she was just with TJ at Woodlawn Cemetery. She went to see Ava in jail. Kristina asks, why? and Molly says she wanted Ava to know she’s not getting away with it. Kristina says, she won’t, and Molly says she wishes she was so sure. Kristina says she is sure. She promises Ava is going to pay for what she did. Molly says she doesn’t know how strong a case they have, and Kristina says, there are photos. Has Molly seen them? Molly says she found a note in the case folder, but she hasn’t, and Kristina says she had Michael send them to her. Everyone, including the jury, will see that Ava is the reason she went through that window. She shows Molly the photos on her phone.

In the car at the airport, Natalia tells Blaze that the tour manger will be waiting for her. She’s got to snap out of it. She hasn’t said a word. Blaze looks at her, and Natalia says she knows leaving is hard. She knows leaving Kristina behind in pain is hard, but Blaze must know that the tour is going to boost her career. Opening for Miguel Morez on an international stage in front of millions is not something to pass up. Blaze says, it’s not like she had a choice, and Natalia says, of course (🍷) she did. She can go and be a huge success or stay… Blaze says, and wind up a failure, but Natalia says, it will just take longer. Blaze says she agreed. Natalia doesn’t need to sell it, and she isn’t coming. Natalia says she has to tie up some things in Port Charles and will meet Blaze in Europe, but Blaze says she meant Natalia isn’t joining her at all. She got what she wanted. Kristina broke up with her. Now she’s breaking up with Natalia. You’re fired.

Ava asks what Jack did to get John so spooked, but John says he’s just surprised to see him here.

Carly asks if Jack and Anna got things settled, and he apologizes for the interruption. He suggests she come back and finish the bottle of wine, but she says she doesn’t think that’s a good idea. He says, if he buys her a drink here, is it a better idea? and she says she thinks that would be okay.

John tells Ava not to worry. Sonny won’t get his hands on Clement. Not yet. Ava asks what he means, and he says, when the time is right, he’ll lead Sonny right to him.  

Jason says, Anna doesn’t make empty threats, but Sonny says, nothing is going to happen to Ava. They have other problems. He doesn’t want Avery being influenced by Ava. He’s going to let the court handle it, but don’t forget he has pictures of Ava putting her hands on Kristina. It’s Ava’s fault Kristina went through the window and the baby died. Ava is going down and he’s getting full custody of Avery. Ava is going to prison. Jason wonders what happens once Ava is in prison, and Sonny says, bad things happen in prison.

Violet asks how someone could be too generous for their own good, and Tracy says, her brother was a good man, but sometimes he gave too much of himself. He liked to make others happy, and that side of generosity can be exhausting. Violet says, there are a lot of pictures of him too. Sometimes he looks happy and sometimes he looks serious. Monica said he was a doctor, and they were very much in love. Tracy says, they were a perfect match and loved each other, but it took a while for them to realize it. She thinks Alan giving Monica the house was a stretch. Violet says, they wouldn’t have a place to live or have tea parties, and Tracy says she can’t argue with that. Who was it who told her to say, this is Monica’s house, and Alan gave it to her? Violet says, everybody, and Tracy laughs and says she’s not surprised.

Blaze says she’s firing Natalia, and Natalia says, she doesn’t mean that. Blaze says, doesn’t she? Natalia is always dismissing her. Nothing she wants or feels matters. Natalia is her parent, but as a business manager, Natalia works for her. This is happening whether she wants it to or not. You… are… fired. Now she’s done. She gets out of the car.

Kristina says, the pictures show what happened, and Molly agrees. Kristina says she asked Ava to withdraw the subpoena, and Ava went after their family. She said, their mother was a pathetic drunk and her father was a violent thug not fit to be around a child. Kristina said she’d testify that Ava was the reason Morgan died and that she shot Connie in cold blood and got away with it. She’d tell the court everything she knows about Ava. That’s when Ava grabbed her.

Jack toasts, to new friends, and Carly asks if that’s what they are. He asks if there’s some other zone she prefers, and she says, pals. They clink glasses and she asks why he’s in Port Charles. He says, like she heard him tell Anna, the WSB opened an office here. She says, the real reason, and he admits he didn’t tell Anna everything. She asks what he held back, and he says he was given a choice of positions, here or Bali. She says, and he chose Port Charles? Why? He says, once you’ve seen one tropical paradise, you’ve seen them all, and because she’s here. Carly says, that’s a line, but he says he always speaks the truth.

Ava says, sorry, she doesn’t think she heard right. John wants Sonny to find Clement? John says he’s using Clement as bait. When Sonny goes after him, he’ll be there to arrest Sonny. Ava says, in order for John to do that, doesn’t Sonny have to do something to Clement first? John says he’ll make sure Clement survives to testify. He’s going to use Sonny’s relentless pursuit of vengeance to take him down once and for all.

Jason says, either Ava is lying and she got to the pharmacist, or she’s telling the truth and it’s someone else. Either way, there will be a trail. Sonny wonders if there’s anybody out there who’s actively coming at him, and Jason asks, what about Ava? Sonny says he’ll wait as long as it takes. Kristina doesn’t know that the last words Ava is going to hear will be, this is for Kristina and her baby.

Tomorrow, Tracy says she’s planning on taking Cody for a ride; and Sonny asks, what if he gives Natalia another reason to stick around?

⛓️‍💥 Change Of Heart…

Portia’s head is going to explode.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/alley-mills-on-the-new-heather-on-general-hospital

🎊 Double the Fun…

Lucky and Stone Cold, together again.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/ghs-steve-burton-jonathan-jackson-reunite

📺 Grotesque Return…

Doubtful he’s ever coming back to GH. He was using it as a springboard. I’m not sad about it though. Gio is a much better match for Trina. Spencer was too loud and talked too fast. If they decide to bring Spencer back, they should recast.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/nicholas-chavez-teases-his-return-to-tv

🐪 Dollar Stores In Dubai…

This was the end of the trip to Bali, and I had mixed emotions. The women who griped about wearing the traditional dresses decided that, rather than be seen in these beautiful creations, they just wouldn’t show up. Nice. I was disappointed in Stanbury. Being British, you’d think she’d have more manners than that. She evened it out by making up with Ayan and afterward, they got on a Bali Swing (see below). It looked absolutely terrifying, so better them than me. The episode ended on an all-around positive note, when Ayan announced that the group was like sisters who fought and made up. She’s not wrong, even if that’s because it’s against the law to publicly display your anger at others.

Apparently, these swings are a thing in Bali.

https://www.walkmyworld.com/posts/the-bali-swing

There was also a palm reader who told Stanbury that she’d have a boy. It was unclear whether she meant a baby or just that Stanbury would remain married to Sergio. It looks like there’s a possibility of both happening.

👠 Unreunion In Jersey…

This was kind of weird, but not entirely an awful premise. The group was split in two and had watch parties for the last awful episode. They consisted of Teresa, JenniferA, and Jackie in one room, and Danielle, Rachel, Marge, and JennF in another. According to the recap, Delores played Switzerland and switched between the two rooms, but it seemed like she was mostly with the former group. Admittedly, I wasn’t totally paying attention, but I don’t think she spent much time with the latter. JennF was a bit of a tie breaker, since she was late and chose her own room. Although that might just be a sign that production didn’t care. At the very end, the women gave individual thoughts on their feelings about the season – a need for change seemed to be the universal theme – and Rachel announced to her group that she was pregnant.

Looks like Rachel wasn’t buying what Teresa’s group was selling.

And there are still questions. I, too, was somewhat disappointed, although I don’t know why. Maybe because I decided to watch it in the first place.

👕 Something About Merch…

I’m surprised they bothered opening. That’s some chunk of change for T-shirts and whatnot.

🌇 Left a Mediocre Job In the City…

Come on by tomorrow for soap and the LA art of the deal. Until then, stay safe: stay standing up to rude behavior, but not losing your cool; and stay striving to be elegant and avoiding animal prints.

August 7, 2024 – Donna Is Rushed To the ER, Tough Scene, Listing Millions, Her Life, Trying To Move On, Lala Speaks, They’re Contenders, More For the Pool, Giving Them a 10 & Taylor’s August

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Dex and Josslyn wake up, and Josslyn says she forgot for a second about Kristina. Dex says he texted a cadet who was on the nightshift, and Kristina made it through the surgery. He has no information on the baby though. She thanks him for finding out, and he asks what else he can do. She says, he’s already doing it, and they snuggle.

TJ looks at memorial services online, and Molly asks if he’s seen her briefcase. He asks why she’s dressed for work, and she says, her caseload is insane. He says, she can’t go in, but she says she has to. They need her. He says he needs her more.

At the hospital, Portia says, Elizabeth is just the person she wants to see, and Elizabeth asks, what’s up? Portia says, she and Terry looked at Elizabeth’s proposal for the nurses’ schedule change and they love it. She’s doing a fantastic job as head nurse.

In her cell, Ava tells the guard to take the food away. She doesn’t eat slop. (FYI, it does not look like slop or even like jail food. Maybe Denny’s.) Trina comes in and asks if it’s okay that she’s here. Ava asks why it wouldn’t be, and Trina says she didn’t know, considering her statement helped put Ava in a cell. Ava says, the police asked Trina questions, and she answered honestly. It’s all she could do. She’s still reeling from yesterday. It was a terrible, tragic accident. Trina asks, was it an accident or did Ava push Kristina?

Jason asks Carly if things are good, and she says, Avery and Donna are playing with Pilar. He asks if Avery had any questions, but she says, none. She’s here all the time, so it’s nothing out of the ordinary. She’s glad Sonny is okay and took it upon himself to reach out and see Doc. Jason says, that shows how hard it hit, and she asks how Sonny seemed when Jason drove him home. Jason says, he was quiet. He didn’t talk much. She says, but he did ask Jason to drive him, and Jason says, he did. She says, Sonny is coming back to them. She knows he is.

There’s a knock at the penthouse door, and Doc comes in. Sonny says he didn’t know doctors made house calls, and Doc says, touché. He thought he’d come and see how Sonny is feeling. Sonny says his mind is clearer, and Doc says, good. That means the meds are working. To be honest, he’s concerned about Sonny’s emotional state. What does he think about discussing what happened last night?

Carly tells Jason that she’s relieved Sonny realized there was a problem. She was convinced he’d stopped taking his meds, but she saw that she was wrong. She hopes Doc was able to recalibrate them. Jason says, he still has to deal with what happened, and Carly wonders what the hell Kristina was doing in Ava’s room. Jason says he talked to Dante, and Ava had served Kristina with a subpoena for Avery’s custody case. She says, because Kristina saw Sonny beat up Dex. Ava wanted to force her to put it on record. He says, they’re assuming Kristina was served and went to confront Ava, and they argued. She wonders if Ava could push Kristina hard enough to break a window, and he says, they don’t know exactly what happened, but Kristina was there to protect her father.

Dex says he’s going to make coffee. Didn’t Josslyn tell Donna that she’d be with her today? Josslyn says she did, but she’s willing to skip coffee to stay in bed with him. He asks if she’s avoiding the real world, and she says, yes. It’s a horrible, scary place. Only good things happen in this bed. Is it terrible she wants to stay? He says, no, and kisses her. They get busy.

Elizabeth says she’s just doing her job, and Portia says she made a promise to herself that if the staff was doing a good job, she wants them to know it, and Elizabeth is doing a very good job. Elizabeth says she learned from the best, and Portia says, Epiphany. Elizabeth says, Epiphany was the type of nurse she aspired to be. Professional and no-nonsense, but kind and compassionate.

Sonny tells Doc that he was sent to the dark side. He felt responsible for Kristina losing the baby, and his niece Molly told him as much. Doc says, it must have been hard to hear, and Sonny says, Jason and Carly figured out something was off, that he wasn’t thinking clearly, but he didn’t trust them. Doc asks if that isn’t unusual when it comes to Jason and Carly, and Sonny says, it should have been a warning sign, but he didn’t understand. Doc says, Sonny was fine according to himself, and Sonny says, until last night. That’s why he went to Doc’s office. Obviously, his pills need readjusting. Doc says he got the results of Sonny’s blood test. He put a rush on it. There was no lorphenadine or lithium in his system – none. Sonny says, that doesn’t make sense. He takes his medication every day like clockwork. Doc says, and as prescribed? and Sonny says, yeah. Doc says he’d like to schedule some sessions until Sonny’s meds are recalibrated, and they determine a new protocol. How does Sonny feel about this? Sonny says, confused, but relieved he has something physical to blame. Doc says, just a triple check. Sonny never skipped a dose? Sonny says, never. That’s why it makes no sense.

Ava tells Trina that she had nothing to do with Kristina’s fall. Kristina was in a rage, manic, there was no reasoning with her. She tripped on a shoe and fell through the window. It happened so fast, she’s still spinning from it. She would have grabbed Kristina if she could have. Trina asks, if that’s true, why was she arrested? and Ava says, when something this awful happens, people need someone to blame. It can’t be the woman who lost her child. That’s too cruel, so it falls on her. She knows how most of the people here feel about her. It’s easy to make her the scapegoat. Trina asks if that’s really all it is, and Ava says she’s completely innocent.

Molly says she thought TJ’s mom was coming, and he says, she is, along with Aunt Stella and Curtis. They’re going to help pack up the nursery. Doesn’t she want to be here? She says she can’t, and he says he knows how incredibly hard it is. She says, it’s impossible. The nursery is like a time capsule, but instead of the past, it’s the future they’ll never have. She knows she has to let it go and she will, but she can’t physically get rid of what’s in there. Does he understand? He says, yeah, but some things can’t wait. Like a name for their daughter. They still need to plan a funeral. Molly says, they’ll talk later. Pick what he wants. He says, it happened to both of them, when there’s a knock at the door. Molly lets Jordan in, and says she’s got to go to work. Just for an hour or so. She’ll check on the urgent cases and be back. She leaves, and Jordan asks if she’s all right, but he says, how can she be?

Stella tells TJ that she’s so sorry. It’s the most unfair, unfathomable loss. She hugs TJ, and Curtis asks, where’s Molly? but Jordan shakes her head.

Finally. We see what we all need right now – the moss bowl🎍– and Carly tells Josslyn that she just missed Jason. He went to check in on Sonny. Josslyn says, it must have been tough, and Carly says, it was tough on Josslyn too. It’s good to see her. Josslyn says she texted, but Carly says, it’s not the same. She needs eyes on Josslyn to know she’s okay. Josslyn says she’s fine, and Carly says she was so worried about her. She was the lifeguard on duty, and it had to be devastating. Josslyn says she’s happy she knew what to do in that moment, and Carly says, her too. She’s proud of Josslyn and glad she had Trina to be with to decompress. Josslyn says she wasn’t with Trina. She spent the night with Dex.

Molly goes to see Ava, and says, Cadet Heller is here as an impartial witness. The ADA isn’t allowed to speak to a defendant without a third-party present. Ava asks, how’s Kristina? and Molly says, she survived. Her baby did not. That’s one reason Ava is here in a cell. Ava says she’s so sorry. She knows what it’s like to lose a child and it’s unbearable. Molly takes out some papers, and says, it’s the autopsy report. She’d like to take a look at the facts. The patient was a newborn female, 5 pounds, 2 ounces. Death occurred one minute after delivery by emergency C-section. The examination determined the death to be from blunt force trauma to the head and body.

Stella says she’ll make some food, but TJ says he’s not hungry. She says she won’t accept that answer. She’ll scrounge something up. Jordan says she’ll help, and they go to the kitchen. Curtis sees the laptop and asks if that’s what TJ has been doing. TJ says he wanted to bring up the funeral to Molly, but whenever he mentions the baby, she shuts down. Curtis says he knows it can’t be easy, but if it’s any consolation, people deal with grief differently. TJ says he’s worried Molly’s not dealing with it at all.

Jason goes to the penthouse, and Sonny thanks him for bringing him home. Jason says he was happy to, and Sonny says, he’s not going to ask questions? Jason says, no, but he’ll listen to what Sonny wants to tell him, and Sonny says he talked to Alexis. Jason asks how Kristina is, and Sonny says, she’s resting after the surgery. It’s got to be tough on her, not just the injuries, but the emotional toll from losing the baby. Jason says, luckily, she has family and friends to help her through it, and Sonny says, Molly blaming him for the fall hit him hard. She’s not wrong. He always hurts the people he loves. He didn’t want to do that anymore, so he went to the roof. Jason says, of the hospital? and Sonny says he just wanted the pain and suffering to end, and felt it was the only way out. Jason asks, what stopped him? and Sonny says, Morgan.

Trina shows up at Portia’s office and asks if she’s got a minute to talk. Portia says she has infinite minutes for Trina, and hugs her. She asks, what’s wrong? and Trina says she can’t stop thinking about Kristina. She was doing an amazing thing for her sister, and she was almost at the finish line. Now the baby died, and she feels awful for her, Molly, and TJ. They had the baby’s whole life planned out and now it’s over. Portia says, it’s heartbreaking, and Trina asks why some people are taken too soon. Portia says she wishes she knew the answer. This time, Ava shoulders the blame. How could she push Kristina that hard? Trina says, that’s not what happened. Ava told her. Portia says, she went to see Ava in jail? and Trina says, that’s where she just came from.

Molly continues to read, the infant died from internal bleeding and blunt force trauma to the head and body. Because of Ava, her child’s life ended before she had a chance to live. Ava says she could never intentionally hurt a child, and Molly says, that’s why she’s being charged with manslaughter instead of murder. She didn’t plan it, but her actions led to the baby’s death and it’s time for her to take responsibility.

TJ pushes away his plate, and says, it’s delicious, but he can’t eat any more. Stella says she understands, and he says he’s glad someone does. None of this feels real. How can his daughter be gone? Curtis says, they’re all trying to wrap their minds around it, and TJ says, everything was fine. Despite his worrying, Kristina was healthy, and the baby was healthy. It was a standard pregnancy, except for the surrogacy, and she was due in 3 weeks. They finally built the nursery, when Kristina goes to Ava’s hotel about a stupid custody battle. He feels like such an idiot. Jordan asks, why? and he says, out of all the ways he imagined Sonny could endanger his child, not once did he expect this.

Sonny tells Jason that he was convinced his children were better off without him. Then Morgan showed up and kept telling him that his kids needed him and pleaded for him to live. Jason says, maybe it was that part of him that knew something was wrong, his medication was wrong, and Sonny says, when he figured it out, he had to do something. He couldn’t sit in that darkness anymore, so he went to see Doc. Jason says he’s glad Sonny did, and Sonny says, him too. Jason asks what Doc said about Morgan, but Sonny says he didn’t tell Doc. He doesn’t want to talk to Doc about it. Jason is the only one.

Josslyn says she was surprised to realize that Dex was the one person she wanted to see, and Carly says, after her mother and the moss bowl 🎍. Josslyn says, of course (🍷). He makes her feel safe. That’s the only way she can explain it. Carly says, it sounds perfect. Does that mean they’re back together? Donna runs in and says, Josslyn came. Josslyn hugs Donna, and Donna asks if she wants some vitamins. Josslyn asks, what kind? The chewable ones? and Carly asks what she’s talking about. Donna says, daddy’s vitamins, and shows her the bottle of lithium. Carly asks if she took any, and Donna says, she took a bunch, but doesn’t want any more. Her tummy hurts. Carly tells Josslyn to grab her keys. They’re going to see the doctor. (I’m guessing these are the placebos, but Donna seems a little old to be doing something like that and you’d think she would have been told not to touch prescription bottles.)

Stella says, they’ll take the boxes to the shelter and asks if there’s something TJ wants to save. He says, no, but she asks if he’s sure. He says, it hurts to look at it, but she says, someday there might be something he wants to remember his daughter by. He looks in one of the boxes.  

Trina says, Portia knows she and Ava are close, but Portia says, given what just happened, she doesn’t understand what compelled Trina to visit Ava. Trina says she felt guilty, and Portia says, for what? Trina says she told the police that she saw Ava looking down from the window, and Portia says she didn’t know that. Trina says, just because Ava was looking down and standing there doesn’t mean anything. They don’t know what happened. Ava is more than her optics. Everyone always thinks the worst of Ava, but she’s seen another side of her. Ava would never hurt a child on purpose. Ava was there for her when Spencer died, so she doesn’t want to abandon her. Portia asks if Trina believes Ava is innocent, and Trina says she wants to. Portia asks if she’s not sure, and Trina says, deep down, Ava is a good person. She knows she is. Portia says, sometimes good people are capable of doing bad things.  

Molly tells Ava, plead guilty. Do the right thing and save them the pain of a trial. Ava says she did nothing wrong – the opposite. Has Molly asked herself what Kristina was doing in her suite? She didn’t invite Kristina over for a chat. Kristina forced herself in and refused to leave. She lost it, attacked Ava, tripped, and fell. She’s sorry for Molly’s loss, but she needs to face reality. She’s not responsible for the baby’s death. Kristina is. (Did she forget about all those pictures that show her with her hands on Kristina?)

Curtis and Jordan leave with the boxes, and Stella tells TJ to let it out, but he says he doesn’t want to. She says, the only way past pain is through it, but he says he can’t. It’s too much. When he tries to envision his life now, it’s blank. There’s nothing. She says, they say that grief is love with no place to put it. What feels like sadness and anger is actually the love he had for his baby girl that has no place to call home anymore. That’s why it feels so heavy. She’s here to help shoulder the burden and collect the love piece by piece and find a new place to put it. TJ says he’s not ready to let go, and cries. She says, he doesn’t have to. They’ll cross that bridge when they come to it. She hugs him as he cries, and he says he can’t do it.

Carly tells Elizabeth that they need to see a doctor now. Donna may have taken some of Sonny’s lithium. Elizabeth tells a nurse to page Dr. Fernandez and tells Donna and Carly to go to a room. She asks Josslyn to give them a minute, and Josslyn hands her the bottle. Elizabeth says, they’ll do everything they can. She promises.

Sonny says, he was happy that Avery stayed with Carly last night, and Jason says he was just there, and Avery and Donna were having a great time. Sonny’s phone rings, and he sees it’s Josslyn. He says, that’s strange, and answers. Josslyn says, he needs to get to the hospital right now. Donna might have taken some of his lithium pills and they brought her to the ER.  

In the hallway, Jordan cries, and Curtis hugs her. She says she can’t stand to see TJ like this. She’d do anything to take away the pain. He says him too, but all they can do is show up and show their support. Jordan says, just like his domestic partner… She’s sorry. That was bitter and immature. He says, it was human, and she asks, where’s Molly? She should be here. They should be together. Curtis agrees and says he’s sure she’ll be here soon. Jordan hopes it’s sooner rather than later. They need each other. He says he’s sorry for her loss. He knows she had big hopes and dreams for her grandchild. Jordan says, now she’s gone. She wants to be strong for TJ. Curtis says, she is, but she says, it doesn’t feel like it. He says, remember he’s here for TJ and her, and she thanks him. They go back inside, and Stella says she thinks they should leave. Jordan asks if she’s sure. She was planning on staying. TJ thanks them for everything and says he’s grateful for their support, but they have lives to get back to and he could use the alone time. Curtis says, they’re only a phone call or text away, and hugs him. Jordan hugs him and tells him that she loves him, and they leave.

Trina asks if Portia honestly thinks Ava would push a pregnant woman out a window, and Portia says, she didn’t jump. Trina has a big heart and is afraid she’s trusting someone she shouldn’t. She said herself that she’s not sure she believes Ava. Why? Trina says she doesn’t know exactly. Ava did feel off. That being said, Ava just spent the night in jail. She’d be off too. Portia suggests they go a different route. Who’s most likely to lie? Ava or Kristina? Ava has been arrested and is behind bars. The police must have evidence that makes them believe Ava is guilty.

Doc goes to see Ava, who says she’s a popular girl today. She can’t believe this is happening. The incident keeps playing over and over again. It’s like a nightmare she can’t wake up from. She’s worried about Avery. Doc says, she spent the night at Carly’s and she’s fine, but Ava says, she needs her mother. Sonny is out of control and can’t be counted on. She suggests Doc come to her arraignment and speak on her behalf. Tell them that she needs to make bail and get emergency custody of Avery. Avery’s wellbeing depends on her. He says, she can rest easy about Avery, and she says, how? He says, Sonny won’t be a concern. He’s getting treatment.

Sonny and Jason come into the hospital, and Carly tells them that they’re pumping Donna’s stomach. It happened so fast. Sonny asks if Donna is scared, and Carly says, a little. He thanks them for calling him, and Josslyn says, he’s her dad. Sonny asks, what happened? and Carly says, Donna found a bottle of what she thought were daddy’s vitamins in Avery’s overnight bag. How many pills did he have left? Sonny says he’s not sure, and asks what Pilar was doing. Carly says, she was in the playroom with Avery and Donna didn’t want to share. Sonny asks if Donna was still talking, and Carly says, she seemed okay, but said her stomach hurt. Jason says, it’s good they got her here fast, and Carly says, their little girl’s got to be okay.

TJ looks at a pair of baby socks and cries, because we all haven’t wept over this story enough. Molly hears him from outside, and he clutches the socks to his chest. She almost leaves, but then goes in.

On the phone, Portia says, when?… She understands. Thanks for the heads up. She tells Trina that she needs to go. That was Pentenville. Heather Webber is on her way to GH for a follow-up.

Ava asks what Doc means, but he says, that’s going into doctor/patient confidentiality. He’s already said too much. The main thing is Avery is safe and not in danger. Ava says she’s pleased to know Sonny is getting help, when Doc’s phone rings. He says he has to take this, and walks out as he’s talking. He says, what kind of problem with Sonny’s meds? and Ava hears him.

Elizabeth comes out and Carly asks, how’s Donna? Elizabeth says, she’ll be fine, and Josslyn says, thank God. Elizabeth says, she’s still groggy from the anesthesia and her throat will be sore, but she’s doing great. Jason wonders, what’s the problem? and Elizabeth says, the remaining capsules weren’t lithium. Sonny asks, what was it? and she says, nothing. He asks what she means, and she says, there was no medication in the pills. Carly says, she was holding Sonny’s prescription bottle and said she’d taken the pills from the bottle, but Elizabeth says, not only was there no lithium in the pills, there was none in Donna’s system. She would have had different reaction – vomiting, confusion, seizures, a coma. Sonny asks if she’s telling him that he’s been taking a placebo.

Tomorrow, Anna says, the list is long, and someone is about to add their name to it; Heather asks, what’s in it for Scotty; and John tells Ava, Sonny’s days of trampling over people are coming to an end. Hmm… I think it’s John’s trampling days that are coming to an end.

💣 Up On the Roof…

Wow. He did these scenes after he took a break for his own mental health.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/ghs-maurice-benard-on-shooting-the-difficult-rooftop-scenes

💰 Welcome To the Market…

Tracy had a listing with a glass bathroom. No. Just no. This time, JoshF’s listing had no dead rat, but there was a rat trap to which the potential buyer said, eww! as we all would. In an ironic twist, JoshA had a listing that JoshF made an offer on for himself, since his childhood dreamhouse turned out to be a bust. To be specific, he had Tracy make the offer, which she told JoshA was going to be lower than [he’s] gonna like.

🎉 Fabulous Mid-Life Existential Crisis…

What happened with Whitney this week.

https://www.accessonline.com/videos/my-big-fat-fabulous-life-whitey-says-shes-having-a-mid-life-existential-crisis

Whitney also planned a bachelorette party for her niece and had to explain adult toys to her half-sister.

https://popculture.com/reality-tv/news/my-big-fat-fabulous-life-whitney-way-thore-goes-all-out-bachelorette-party-planning-in-exclusive-sneak-peek/

🌾 Not So Welcome Anymore…

While everyone tries to tie up loose ends, the usual suspects – Ethan and Barry – still hang on by a thread.

https://people.com/welcome-to-plathville-recap-olivia-plath-says-ethan-plath-still-texts-her-8691420

🍼 Have Some Lala…

She’s ready for single motherhood, round 2.

https://okmagazine.com/p/lala-kent-declares-single-motherhood-suits-best-await-baby-no-2/

I’m with her here. Yeah, the whole thing sucked, but Sandoval was certainly getting ripped a new one from just about everyone, and there could have been a workaround for the show.

🏆 Nom, Nom, Nom…

This year’s nominees.

https://ew.com/2024-mtv-video-music-awards-nominations-full-list-8690719

🦸 Because I Can’t Stop…

All the cameos.

https://ew.com/deadpool-and-wolverine-cameos-8681113

Another good reason to stick out the credits.

https://ew.com/deadpool-and-wolverine-post-credits-scene-chris-evans-dirty-monologue-exclusive-8689972

Puberty sucks sometimes.

https://ew.com/walker-scobell-kidpool-deadpool-and-wolverine-exclusive-8686020

🐳 The Olympics Are For Animals Too…

The only time I ever watched the Olympics was when Tonya Harding was whining over her skate lace, but I would definitely watch these two.

https://people.com/whale-breach-during-paris-olympics-surfing-semifinal-tahiti-8690769

https://people.com/polar-bear-at-alaska-zoo-goes-viral-for-diving-in-exhibit-watch-8687366

Imagine the possibilities. I’m pretty sure all of my dogs would be an Olympic fail. Unless there was cheese involved.

https://tlcfirst.com/news/if-olympic-sports-were-designed-for-pets-a-whimsical-look-at-the-possibilities

You, too, can make an Olympic champion out of your dog!

Doglympics 🔥

🎢 Riding Life’s Rollercoaster…

Join me tomorrow for soap and sitting in the OC shade. Until then, stay safe, stay not being afraid to ask for help when you need it, and stay helping to shoulder someone’s burden, because grief is love with no place to put it, and it feels so heavy.

August 2, 2024 – Dante Questions Ava, Exclusive, Happy Anniversary, She’s Got Texts, Future Plans, Done, VanderDish, New Reality, Big Baby, Excellent, Pool Noodles, Stripes X 4, Pickle, Quote Tenner & Take

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Ava says she’s so looking forward to sitting in that courtroom while Kristina testifies that her father is a violent brutal thug who doesn’t belong anywhere near their daughter. Kristina says, if Ava forces her to get on that stand, she’ll tell them that Ava messed with Morgan’s bipolar meds. She replaced them with placebos and caused him to have a mental breakdown. She won’t stop there either. She’ll also share that Ava murdered Connie Falconari. If Ava forces her to tell the truth about her father, she can be damn sure Kristina will tell the truth about her too. Ava grabs Kristina’s arm, and Kristina says, don’t you touch me. She takes a step back and trips over John’s bag, stumbling backward and crashing through the window. She falls down several stories into the pool, screaming all the way. Everyone is horrified. (The looks on their faces makes me want to burst into tears.)

Sonny says, Lois is one of his dearest friends and he loves her, but his is not a good time. Can they table this conversation for another time? She says, no. They cannot table it when it affects her daughter’s future.

TJ tells Alexis that he and Molly have done the research. When the biological parents aren’t married to each other, courts tend to favor the mother in terms of physical custody which gives Kristina a definite advantage. Alexis says, he’s getting way ahead of himself, but he says he disagrees. Their baby is almost here. It’s time to know where they all stand. Alexis says she doesn’t know what Kristina is going to do. She doesn’t have control over her. She’s an adult. He says, this is his child they’re talking about. He wants to know if he’s going to spend the first few months or years of their life in family court. She says, again, he’s asking her to respond to a hypothetical situation that they don’t know will happen, and he asks if that isn’t what lawyers do. Weigh every possible angle so they can prepare their client for every possible contingency. She says, he’s not her client, and he says, no, he’s not. He’s her daughter’s partner. He’s family. She says, he is family, and so are her three daughters, two of which are in an impossible situation right now. He tells her, she just said it. She’s Molly and Kristina’s mom, and they’re both going to look to her. What is she going to do when Kristina tries to take their baby?

Kristina floats face down in the pool, threads of blood coming from her nose and mouth, and Josslyn tells everyone to stay back. She tells Brook to call 911, and Brook says she’s on it. Gio asks what he can do, and she tells him to get the backboard. Ava looks down from the smashed-out window, and Josslyn turns Kristina over. Blaze yells, Kristina! and now, everyone is doubly freaked out.

Blaze tries to run toward the pool, but Natalia holds her back and tells her to let Josslyn do her job. Help is on the way. Trina looks up and says, Ava? and Ava quickly closes the curtains. On the phone, Brook says, they need help. She fell from one of the upper windows into the pool. She’s unconscious… She doesn’t know. Just tell the paramedics to hurry. She’s pregnant.

In her room, Ava tells herself to think and picks up her phone.

Josslyn tells Kristina, hang in there. Help is on the way.

Ava leaves a message for Scotty. She needs him like she’s never needed him before.

Lois asks, is the money Sonny is going to invest in this record company legit? Yes or no? Sonny says, yes, and she says, fine. Then she wants to see proof. She wants to see the financials. She wants to see where the money originated and the taxes he paid on it. She’s not trying to offend him, but as much as she loves him, she’s a mother first, and has to make sure Brook is protected. He says he’ll call his accountant, and Lois can talk to him. She can ask him anything she wants. She says, don’t push her off on his accountant, but he says, it’s not a good time. She asks if he’s mad at her, but he says he’s not. He just has a lot going on. She says, fine, but Brook’s involvement in this record company depends on her seeing the proof, and he says, fine. She says she’s sorry. She hates leaving things like this between them, but she guesses for now this is how it’s got to be. He gives her the number, and she leaves.

Natalia continues to hold Blaze back, when Gio returns with the board. Josslyn says she’s going to need his help to get Kristina out of the water, and he asks what she needs him to do. She says, he has to get the backboard under her, but he has to be very careful. She doesn’t know if Kristina injured her back or her spine. He’s going to turn the board on its side and turn it back very swiftly when it’s in the water. Then get it under Kristina as it floats back up…. Very good. Now they have to get her head stable, so she can get Kristina to the stairs. Place one hand firmly under her chin… Very good. Now place his other hand under the backboard. Now they have to get her strapped in.

Alexis tells TJ that she hopes to God it doesn’t happen, but she can’t be put in the middle. She can’t be put in a position where she has to choose between her daughters. He says he wishes she didn’t have to. He knows what a terrible position this is for her to be in, but it’s time. She says, her girls have done without a lot, but they’ve never done without her, and they count on that. Again, she can’t be put in a position where she has to choose one daughter at the expense of another. He says, that’s just where they are now, but she says, not if he and Molly don’t force the issue. He says, Kristina says she and Blaze, who she’s known less than a year, would make better parents than him and Molly. She’s testing the water. Alexis is the one who told them about the law surrounding this before they ever agreed to the surrogacy. Who has the strongest claim to the baby? She says, Kristina, and he says, if Kristina decides to exercise that claim and keep the baby, then he and Molly have already lost. Is she going to say, the law is the law? She says, the law is the law and there’s nothing she can do about it, and he says, so in other words, she’s a coward. He walks away.

Josslyn asks if Kristina can hear her. Can she open her eyes? She listens for a heartbeat, and Trina brings over towels. Trina asks if anyone has called Kristina’s parents, but Gio says he doesn’t know. She says, shouldn’t they? when the paramedics come in. Josslyn tells them that Kristina fell out of that window and into the pool. She’s been unconscious since they got to her. They tried to be careful. She doesn’t know what injuries Kristina has. A paramedic says, they’ll take it from here, and they get to work.

Dante and Chase arrive at the scene with some officers, and Dante tells an officer to clear everyone away from the pool and clear this whole area. Brook goes over to them, and Chase asks, what’s wrong? Brook says, it’s Kristina, and Dante goes over to Kristina and says, it’s me. He’s here, okay? She’s going to be all right. They’re taking her to the hospital and they’re going to take care of her. She’s just got to hang in there. Chase tells the officers that the entire place needs to be locked down immediately. He doesn’t want anyone leaving here without his okay. They have no idea what they’re dealing with. He asks if Brook saw what happened, but she says, not really. She was here meeting with Blaze and Natalia. Everything was completely normal, and literally out of the clear blue sky, this. The paramedic says, they’re ready to go, and Dante tells Kristina that he loves her. She’s going to be fine. Blaze says, she’s coming with them, and the paramedic asks if she’s family. Josslyn says she’s Kristina’s sister. She’ll go and they’ll meet Blaze there. Crying, Blaze asks her to hold Kristina’s hand for her. She just doesn’t want Kristina to feel like she’s alone. Josslyn says she will, and they leave. Natalia tells Blaze that she’ll drive and they follow. Chase asks if Brook is okay, but she says, not really. Such an awful thing to see. Her hands are still shaking. Would it be okay if she just went to the ladies room to splash some cold water on her face? He says, sure, and she leaves. Dante calls Sonny.

Ava leaves another message for Scotty asking, where the hell is he? She needs him and she needs him right now. She looks at John’s bag and flashes back to Kristina threatening to tell the truth about her and Kristina’s subsequent fall. She says, everything is falling apart, and peeks out through the curtains. Please. She needs him. Come to her room at the MetroCourt as soon as he can. She flashes back to Kristina tripping over the bag and out the window, and says, everything’s going to be all right. She didn’t mean for that to happen. It was an accident. She remembers touching Kristina, and Kristina backing away before she tripped. She says, but no one’s going to believe it… unless she helps them believe it.

Alexis says she knows TJ is under a lot of stress. She just doesn’t know what he wants her to do. She doesn’t know what she can do. He says, so she’ll say nothing and do nothing, and doing nothing about the situation is the exact same thing as choosing Kristina. If she does nothing, Molly is going to interpret that as her supporting what Kristina is doing and that’s going to devastate her. Alexis says, and if she supports Molly and doesn’t support Kristina, Kristina will be devastated. She warned everyone from the very beginning. This was her biggest fear. It’s an unwinnable situation. He says, the only reason Kristina is even pregnant is because he and Molly wanted to have a baby. If she changes her mind, that’s wrong. It’s theft. That’s something Sonny would do, so he guesses she’s her father’s daughter, right? Alexis says she told everyone from the beginning that the law is on Kristina’s side, and he says, she’s not powerless. Her hands are not tied. She asks what he’d have her do. Seriously, tell her what she’s supposed to do. He says, talk to Kristina. He thinks Kristina will listen to her. Explain to her that if she decides to keep their baby, that will destroy her relationship with Molly. It will decimate it. Talk to her. Kristina will listen to her. She can get through to Kristina and might be the only one who can.

In the ambulance, the paramedic reads Kristina’s vitals, and Josslyn says, oh God. Her blood pressure’s dropping. He asks, how far along is her pregnancy? and Josslyn says, eight months. Why? Kristina’s eyes flutter open, and Josslyn says, it’s her. They’re on their way to GH. Kristina asks if the baby will be okay.

Sonny’s phone rings, and he says, what? Gio says, Uncle Sonny? and Sonny asks, what’s up? Gio says, Dante’s been trying to call him, and Sonny says he’s been busy. What does he need? Gio says, it’s not… He’s at work at the pool at the MetroCourt. Something’s happened. Sonny asks, what’s wrong? and Gio says, there was an accident. At least he thinks it was an accident. She fell out of a window and into the pool. She’s hurt. Sonny says, who? and Gio says, Kristina.

Chase asks how Dante is doing, and he says he’s fine. Seeing his sister on that gurney… She looked pretty terrible. Chase says, Kristina’s a fighter, just like Dante. She’s going to be okay. He can take it from here. Dante should go to the hospital. Dante asks if he’s sure. They don’t even know what this is. Chase says he can handle it. It’s more important for Dante to be there for his sister and his family right now. Gio says, sorry to interrupt. He got through to Sonny. Dante thanks him for doing that, and Gio says, of course (🍷). He steps away, and Dante says, his dad can make sure Kristina is taken care of. He needs to figure out what happened to Kristina, if she fell out of that window. If she didn’t fall out, that means a crime was committed. He has to find out what it was either way. Chase says, okay. Let’s get to work. Dante asks how many witnesses they have, and Chase says, they’re still collecting them, but from the people he’s talked to, they don’t know much. They were focused on the pool and only saw Kristina after she fell. Dante says, they’ve got to talk to security. They have footage and they have to get their hands on that. They have to get inside that room. Kristina fell out of the window with the curtains closed. Wouldn’t she have grabbed onto them and wouldn’t a curtain be following her down to the pool? Chase says, he’s right. Someone must have closed them after she fell. Kristina wasn’t alone in that room. Trina walks over to them, and Dante says, what is it? Does she know something?

TJ tells Alexis, Sonny is going to back Kristina no matter what. They can’t count on him to be the voice of reason, but Kristina knows Alexis will say the truth to her even if it’s hard to hear. Please help guide her to doing the right thing. Be her parent. Alexis says, being a parent is a lot harder than he thinks. He’s going to find that out soon enough. He says he may never get that chance if Kristina gets her way. He may not have the years of parenting experience Alexis does, but if he gets that chance, he’ll make sure his child knows family is to be cherished above all else and is the only thing that can be counted on, which he’s sure Kristina knows, given that she’s had Molly’s unwavering support for her whole life. Alexis says, it’s true, she has, and he says he’ll make sure his child understands the ramifications of taking family for granted. She says, understood, and he asks if she understands if she takes Kristina’s side over Molly’s, that will not just cause a rift between the sister, she could lose Molly, and that could shatter her entire family. She says she did try to prevent this. She warned everyone that this could happen. He says, so that’s the best she’s got; I told you so.

Brook takes a breather in the ladies’ room and flashes back to seeing Kristina crash through the window and into the pool. Lois comes in and runs to Brook and hugs her. She says, Chase told her that Brook was in here. He didn’t have time to tell her what was going on, so she asked an attendant. They said, someone fell out of a window and into the pool, and that Brook saw everything. Is she okay? Brook says, not just someone. It’s Kristina.

Kristina looks around, and Josslyn says she’s right here. Kristina asks where she is, and Josslyn says, she’s in the ambulance on the way to GH. Kristina asks, why? What happened? Josslyn says, she fell through a window and into the pool, but she’s going to be okay. Kristina says she’s scared, and Josslyn says she knows, but the paramedics already alerted the doctors at GH. They know what’s happened and they’re ready to treat her and the baby. She’s in the best possible hands. Kristina says she wants her dad and mom, and Josslyn says she thinks they’re already on their way. She’s going to see them soon. Just try to hang on, for her and for the baby. Kristina says she’s so scared, and slips into unconsciousness again.

TJ thanks Alexis for clarifying, but she says, instead of blaming her, sit down with Molly and talk. They’ll get through it. He says, they’ve already talked. Actually, they’re in perfect agreement. The baby is theirs. That’s been the expectation and the agreement for the last eight months until Kristina decided it wasn’t. So now it’s all on her. She has all the power. She thinks it’s her kid to do whatever she wants with; him and Molly be damned. Kristina is wheeled in, and the paramedic tells Dr. Park that she’s pregnant and fell through a glass window. She’s been in and out of consciousness. He gives the doctor her vitals and says, her abdomen is very firm. She may be abrupting. TJ and Alexis realize it’s Kristina.

Trina sits with Gio and says, he should be proud of himself. He says, for what? and she says, he doesn’t have any medical training, does he? He says, not really, and she says, but he still jumped up and helped Joss. He says he was kind of just going on autopilot. He just did what she told him to. He should have known to go straight for the backboard without her having to say it. She says, he can’t beat himself up. He didn’t have any training. He says, still, and she says, if it’s on him, then it’s on all of them. None of them knew what to do. They just froze, so thank God for Joss. He says, she was amazing. He just doesn’t get it. How could something like this happen? How can you just fall out of a window? Did she see the fall? She says, no. She just looked up after. It’s Ava’s room. She saw Ava standing at the window. He says, Ava her boss? and Trina says, Ava’s not just her boss. Ava’s her friend. He asks how well she really knows Ava, and she says she’s not sure. Maybe she doesn’t really know her at all.

Kristina is wheeled into one of the rooms, and Dr. Park says, they’re going to do everything they can. She’s in great hands. TJ says, Kristina is carrying his child. He can help. Where is he needed? Dr. Park says, don’t worry. They’ve got this. Just stay here with the family. Alexis asks, what happened? and Josslyn says, she fell out of a window in the MetroCourt and into the pool. Alexis says, what? and Josslyn says she doesn’t know what happened. She gave Kristina first aid until the paramedics got there. That’s all she knows. TJ says, the paramedics said the placenta is separating from the uterus, and Alexis says she doesn’t know what that means. How is the baby? He says, Kristina’s hanging in there. The baby has to be hanging in there, right? Alexis says, how the hell did it happen?

Ava ditches John’s bags in the bedroom, then takes an ice bucket full of ice out of the credenza. She dumps it all over the floor, throws down a water pitcher, and drops her shoes in front of the window. She says, Kristina did this to herself, when there’s a knock at the door. She opens it and Dante is there.

Josslyn says she doesn’t know how it happened. All she knows is, Kristina fell from the window and into the pool. It happened very quickly. TJ wonders what she was even doing at the MetroCourt, and Josslyn says she doesn’t know, but she’s going to give them a minute. Blaze comes in with Natalia, and Blaze says she’s so glad Alexis is here. Where is Kristina? Alexis says, they’re working on her, and Natalia says, any word on her condition or the baby? TJ says, they don’t know anything yet, and Blaze asks, where’s Molly? TJ says, in court. He hasn’t called her yet. Everything happened so fast. He doesn’t know how to tell her. Blaze says, that’s okay. She’ll help him. They leave, and Natalia asks if she can get Alexis coffee or water or something, but Alexis shakes her head, trying not to cry. Sonny comes in and they hug.

Ava says, thank God Dante is here. She knew the police would show up eventually, so she didn’t dare leave. How is Kristina? He says he’s not here to answer questions; he’s here to ask them. He takes out his notebook and says, why doesn’t she tell him what happened? She says, Kristina showed up here about forty-five minutes ago. She wasn’t expecting her, but thought Kristina was here to help with her custody case. He says, she thought Kristina was going to help her take Avery away from her father? and she says she was under the impression Kristina had witnessed enough of Sonny’s irrational behavior to know he’s unstable right now. She’d hoped Kristina knew that Avery isn’t safe with him. He says, that’s what she believed? and she says, yes, but she was wrong. He says, why doesn’t she tell him why Kristina was really here, and checks out the curtains. She says, because she thought Kristina was willing to help her. Her attorney, Scott Baldwin, subpoenaed Kristina to get her deposition. She thought Kristina would be willing to talk to him, but she wasn’t. She was irate about the subpoena. He says, so she didn’t ask Kristina to testify first. She just served her with the subpoena? She says she misjudged Kristina, and he says, clearly. She says, Kristina demanded that she recall the subpoena. She told Kristina that she didn’t think she could do that, that things had already been set in motion, and that just made her angrier. He says, she’s eight and a half months pregnant. Ava is trying to turn her against her father. Of course (🍷) she’s going to be angry. She says, this was not about being pregnant. This was a lot more. Kristina lost it. Kristina was trying to attack her. She went for Ava’s throat. He says, that just doesn’t sound like Kristina, and Ava says she knows. That’s why she was so shocked. She didn’t want Kristina to hurt her, but she didn’t want Kristina to hurt herself. She moved away. She was trying to get some distance between them, but Kristina kept coming at her. He says, why doesn’t she tell him how Kristina went out the window, and she says, Kristina lunged at her. She moved out of the way and Kristina tripped over her shoes. She fell into the glass, then to Ava’s horror, she fell through it. He says, let him get this straight. Kristina showed up here so irate that Ava was trying to turn her against Sonny, that she came at Ava physically. Ava evaded her and she trips, flies through the curtains, and into the window and down to the pool below. Ava says, that’s right, and he says, the curtains were open. A witness saw her standing at the window after Kristina fell through. They saw her close the curtains. Does she want to revise that part of her story? She says, now that he mentions it, yes. She did close the curtains. She was so horrified by what happened, she was afraid to look down. He says, so she closed the curtains, then she opened them, then she closed them again? and she says she thinks that’s correct. He says, and there’s no sign that Kristina went through the curtains or tried to grab at them to stop herself from falling, and she says she doesn’t know. It was such a blur. He says, or she’s lying through her damn teeth about the entire thing.

Lois says, Kristina? Sonny’s daughter? That’s who fell? Brook says, it was horrible. At first, everything was completely normal, and all of a sudden, there was this loud noise of glass breaking and a woman screaming and then Kristina in the pool just not moving. Lois says, but she’s pregnant. She’s in her last trimester. Brook says she knows. And yeah, the fall was horrible and shocking, but she didn’t know who it was until Josslyn turned her over. It’s not just Kristina. It’s the baby too. They fell at least three stories. Lois asks if they know how badly she’s hurt, and Brook says, there was no way to tell. Josslyn was terrific and Gio helped her. Josslyn was holding Kristina up in the pool, when Gio went to get the backboard. Then they maneuvered her out of the pool. She wanted to help, but all she could do was call 911. Lois says, that was the best thing she could have done, and Brook says, Blaze was going out of her mind. Her mother had to hold her back. Then the paramedics came, and they were preparing Kristina for transport. Josslyn rode with her in the ambulance. Kristina was still unconscious when they left. Lois says, poor Sonny. He said he wasn’t in a good place. When he gets this news, he’ll be out of his mind. Brook asks, what happened with her and Sonny? but Lois says, that doesn’t matter now. Brook says, Lois just told her that Sonny said he wasn’t in a good place, which implies, A, she was with him, and B, they were having a relatively serious conversation. Lois says, they were, and Brook says, about? Lois tells her that she and Sonny are old friends. They talk about all kinds of things. Brook says, Lois is doing backflips not to give her a straight answer, which leads her to believe that Lois and Uncle Sonny were talking about her, weren’t they?

Sonny says, Gio called him and said Kristina was in some kind of accident. What happened? Alexis says, Josslyn was there, and Natalia says, Josslyn saved her life. Kristina fell out of a window from several stories up. She fell into the pool and Josslyn jumped in right after her and put her on a backboard to stabilize her spine in case she had injuries, then stayed with her until the paramedics came. (I wonder why Natalia is answering for Josslyn.) Alexis thanks Josslyn and says, they’re very grateful. Josslyn says she’s just happy she was able to help in any way. But she rode in the ambulance with Kristina. She woke up for a second and asked about the baby and asked for them. She just told Kristina that they were on their way to the hospital, and that the doctors would help her and the baby, and that they’d be here. She just tried to ease Kristina’s mind as best she could. Dr. Park comes out, and Sonny asks, how’s our daughter?

Trina tells Gio that Ava’s always been a good friend to her. Ava is her mentor. Working at her gallery is the reason she got the invitation to study at the Sorbonne. (And we all know how that turned out.) He says, that’s a big deal, and she says she knows Ava isn’t a saint. Ava can be pretty tough, and she’s done some bad things, and she’s not excusing any of that. He says, but she sees a different side to her, and Trina says, yeah. They’ve been through some pretty difficult things and Ava’s always had her back. Ava’s always been there for her. She’s had her doubts about Ava, but sticks up for her because she feels that Ava is more than the mistakes she’s made in the past. He says, but now… and she says, but now – she looks up at the window – maybe she was right to doubt Ava. Maybe she’s everything everybody says she is… or worse.

Ava says, this is preposterous. What does it matter if the curtains were open or closed? Dantes says, it means she’s lying about something. It means she’s trying to hide something. She asks what exactly he’s accusing her of, and he says, she can figure it out, can’t she? She says, everything happened just the way she said it did. This is her hotel suite. Kristina showed up here to confront her. She was angry. She was out of control. He says, that’s one of the parts where she loses him. She’s talking about someone who doesn’t have a violent bone in her body coming at her and attacking her, putting herself and her unborn child in jeopardy. She tells him that she didn’t say it was rational. Kristina was unhinged. Just like her father. He goes over to the shoes and says, this is what she tripped over, huh? and Ava says, yeah. He says, she’s telling him that Kristina flew out this window with such force, breaking a hotel window, from a pair of shoes? He’s not buying it. She says she doesn’t know what to tell him. Like he said, Kristina is very pregnant. Maybe she’s not so light on her feet. Kristina came rushing at her and she tripped. She did not touch Kristina. In fact, everything that happened here is of Kristina’s own doing. He says he guesses that’s one possibility. The other is that she assaulted Kristina. He takes out his handcuffs and says, now she’s lying about it. She says she did no such thing. He’s arresting her? He puts the cuffs on her and asks what it looks like. She says, this is ridiculous. She’s innocent. He says, she’d better hope Kristina and her baby make it alive or she’s going to be facing two murder charges. That’s if she makes it that far. She’s under arrest. She has the right to remain silent… etc., etc., etc.

Lois says she had questions about the origin of the money Sonny plans to invest in the record company, and Brook says, questions. Lois says, more like concerns. She’s not privy to the details, nor does she want to be, but suffice it to say not all of Sonny’s income comes from legitimate sources. Brook says, she actually thinks Uncle Sonny would use mob money to invest in the record label he wants her to run? Lois says she doesn’t know, but she had to be sure, and Brook says, excuse her, but that’s not Lois’s call to make. She’s an adult. She’s a businesswoman and if she has questions about the source of the money Uncle Sonny gives to her or any other investment, she will ask those questions. Lois says, okay, but Brook has a blind spot where Sonny is concerned, and that is her fault. She adores Sonny and raised Brook to adore her Uncle Sonny, and they give him all the benefits of every single doubt. But when it comes to his finances and the compliance with federal law, as much as she wants to trust, she’s got to verify. Brook says, then bring those concerns to her instead of going behind her back to Uncle Sonny, but Lois says she doesn’t see it as going behind Brook’s back. Brook says, be honest. Put herself in Brook’s place. If Grandma Gloria did to her when Lois just did, how would she feel? Lois says she would feel like Gloria went behind her back, but she’d know she did it with love. Brook says, no question, but then she would set appropriate boundaries, would she not? Lois says, yes, and Brook thanks her and says, that’s all she’s asking, for Lois to respect her and her judgment as a businesswoman. Lois says, understood, but as much as Brook is an adult, she wants Brook to respect the fact that she’s always going to be her little girl and she’s always going to look out for Brook’s best interests. Brooks says she knows Lois will. She knows Kristina is probably feeling… If anything happens to Kristina and that baby… Lois suggests they not jump to any conclusions. Kristina is a very strong woman and she’s sure the baby is strong as well. Brook says, she didn’t see how pale and still Kristina was. She’s been carrying that baby for nearly nine months. It would be cruel for something to go wrong now. Lois says, let’s pray that it doesn’t, okay? and they hug.

Dr. Park tells Sonny that his daughter suffered multiple internal injuries from the fall, causing severe hemorrhaging. Kristina has gone into hypovolemic shock. The baby is in fetal distress and the placenta is separating from the uterus, which is the baby’s lifeline. We see them prepping Kristina, and Dr. Park says, they’re going to take her to the OR for an emergency C-section. We see Kristina hooked up to machines and wearing an oxygen mask.

On Monday, TJ tells Jordan, whatever happens, it’s her fault; Josslyn tells Dex, that second could have made all the difference; Anna asks if Trina noticed anything after Kristina fell; and Sonny says, they will pay.

🏨 Showdown At the MetroCourt…

Excellent scene and spectacular fall.

💐 And Many More…

I love Scotty, and he’s so funny IRL too. I only wish GH would recognize what a gem of a couple they have in him and Obrecht.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/kin-shriners-special-anniversary-message-to-fans

🍊 Shannon’s Shade Is Leaking…

I wonder who the disgusting friend is. There are so many choices.

💰 Jumping On Josh’s Coattails…

She could do worse. I’d actually love to see this.

⚔️ A House Divided Must Reboot…

Now On Display is going to be stuck in my head for God only knows how long.

🦄 And a Black Swan In a Rosé Tree…

Of course she’s nice. Was there ever any question?

🐦‍🔥 Complicated Things…

Loved her first reality show and I’m hoping this one has the same outlook. It left you feeling good instead of like you wanted to punch someone.

🦌 Reindeer Games Continue…

This is just stupid. And like she’s really making her case for being a sane person who’s done no wrong. She’s literally scary.

https://ew.com/baby-reindeer-richard-gadd-responds-fiona-harvey-lawsuit-8686363

https://ew.com/netflix-concedes-alleged-baby-reindeer-real-life-martha-not-convicted-stalker-8687694

🎭 Next Stop For the Telephone Booth…

I’d love to see this. I saw John Glover in Waiting for Godot years ago. Too bad Broadway is so damn expensive. And don’t get me started on the cost of transportation.

https://ew.com/bill-and-ted-stars-keanu-reeves-and-alex-winter-reunite-broadway-8687596

🦸🏻‍♂️ Blowing Collective Minds…

I’m going to see it this weekend. I can’t wait!

https://ew.com/deadpool-wolverine-elektra-blade-gambit-x-23-action-scene-breakdown-exclusive-8687405

If you’re a superhero supernerd and need all the background.

https://ew.com/how-to-watch-x-men-movies-in-order-8683590

Best variants ever.

https://www.marvel.com/articles/comics/dogpool-catpool-mousepool-infinity-comics-marvel-unlimited

🦓 Quadruple the Stripes…

A precious quartet.

https://people.com/disney-world-welcomes-4-baby-zebras-animal-kingdom-park-8683181

🥒 And If He Plays Ball…

Love, love, love the name. It goes without saying he’s cute.

https://people.com/demi-lovato-new-dog-pickle-with-fiance-jutes-instagram-photos-8685696

🥁 Quotes of the Week

Darth Vader polling higher than all potential 2016 candidates. – The Washington Post, analyzing polls on what Americans thought of their options for the next president in 2016.

Take your camera and your selfie stick and your dog and get the f*** out of here. – Rita, Neighborhood Wars

Always forgive your enemies. Nothing annoys them so intensely. – Percy Colson

A lifetime isn’t forever, so take the first chance, don’t wait for the second one! Because sometimes, there aren’t second chances! And if it turns out to be a mistake? So what! This is life! A whole bunch of mistakes! But if you never get a second chance at something you didn’t take a first chance at? That’s true failure. – C. JoyBell C.

To handle yourself use your head; to handle others, use your heart. – Eleanor Roosevelt

No individual has any right to come into the world and go out of it without leaving behind him distinct and legitimate reasons for having passed through it. – George Washington Carver

I’ve learned to never say never because when you say never, it happens. – Olivia Plath, Welcome to Plathville (Truth! This has happened to me more than once.)

Our most significant opportunities will be found in times of greatest difficulty. – Thomas S. Monson

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

Sh*t doesn’t get real until it’s real, and it’s real. – Gina Kirschenheiter, Real Housewives of Orange County

⛺️ Sing Around the Campfire…

Enjoy what life holds for you over the weekend – be it rowing down the stream or streaming – and join me on Monday for soap and Med antics. Until then, stay safe, stay practicing wildfire prevention, and stay not going behind someone’s back, even if it’s with love.