Apparently, he’s the picture of good parenting. I’m totally in agreement with how Denise is handling this. She’s right. Her daughter is 18, and she’ll do what she wants, with or without her parents’ approval. If Denise had come down on her, she’d only distance herself.
When was she a good fit? When she accused the Richards sisters of smoking meth? When she slapped LVP? When she weaseled her way onto the show by attacking Denise? When?
On the other hand, I think these two should have their own spin-off. Poor Sutton. Awkward for sure, and perhaps at times inappropriate, but not malicious.
Hopefully, all will be well in the world of soap tomorrow, so stop by for some, along with tea, weekly quotes, and a piece of music from the vast catalog in my brain. Until then, stay safe, stay not making snap judgements, and stay not posting cryptic things on social media. It’s just annoying, and screams, desperate need for attention.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
Finn, the kids, and Gregory get to the camping site, and Finn says, the hike was a little longer than anticipated, steeper. Gregory says, they all did great, and Violet says she wants to tell Rachel about the guinea pig they saw (in the woods?), and Finn tells her not to forget about the gopher; and they bite! She runs off, and Aiden joins them. Gregory says, if it isn’t Aiden, PC Pioneer, and Finn asks if he’s on a break. Aiden says, until dinner, and Jake says, look at him in his uniform. Aiden says, Jake used to wear one too, and Cameron says, but who wore it better? Jake says, him, definitely, but Aiden says, no way. Cameron walks past Finn, who asks where he’s going, and Cameron says, he just needs a break from all this pretending. He’s grabbing his phone; it should be fully charged by now. Finn tells Gregory, nothing like getting away from it all.
At The Savoy, Britt joins Nina, who says, there she is. She took the liberty of ordering Britt’s usual, but Britt says she’s sticking to water tonight. Nina says she thought Britt subscribed to the hair of the dog for a hangover, and Britt says, that’s before she became a GIF. Nina says, don’t worry, it’ll blow over, and Britt says, so she’s seen it? Nina says, has anyone not seen it? and Britt says, that’s great. Thank you. Nina suggests they switch topics, and Britt says, please. She hasn’t talked to Nina since their girls night out; what’s new? Nina says, what’s new… Well, here’s something. She almost left Port Charles.
Carly brings Sonny to her office and thanks him for meeting her. He says, she told him it was about the kids, and she says, it is. This is a difficult situation for them. In some ways, it’s easier for Donna and Avery because they’re too young to fully understand what’s going on, and they just want to know their family still loves them. They’re doing everything they can to reassure them of that. Josslyn’s been terrific; she’s spending lots of time with them, but she’s got a lot going on. He says he loves Josslyn; she’s like a daughter to him, despite what Michael said. She asks what Michael said, and he tells her, he said that after the divorce, and everything that happened with Nina, he basically threw away his relationship with his kids. Can she believe that? She says she can believe it, and she agrees. He says, she didn’t call him here to fight, did she? and she says she didn’t. She just wants to talk about what they still have in common, mainly their kids, and she wanted to talk about Michael and what this rift is doing to him. Sonny says he doesn’t like it either, but Michael’s made it clear he doesn’t want Sonny anywhere near his life. No matter what Sonny says or does, nothing is going to change that.
At the pool, Zelda asks Cody if there’s a problem, and he says he’s sure it’s just an accounting error, but his paycheck was off by $500. She says, there was no mistake, and he knows it, and he says, it wastes both of their time to argue over such a small amount. She says she agrees, and he says, just pay him what he’s owed, and that’ll be it. She says, she’s fulfilled Society Set-Ups’ part of the contract, and he asks if that contract included a drunk woman wandering into his landing zone. Someone could have been hurt. She says, but they weren’t, and he says, an act of gross negligence is bad for business. What’s $500 to protect her image? She asks if he’s threatening her, and he says, she’s a smart woman; you tell me. Sam and Dante walk in, and Dante asks, what’s going on?
As Trina and Josslyn are going into Kelly’s, Josslyn’s phone rings. She says, finally. Where have you been? Cameron says, sorry. His phone was dead; he had to wait for it to charge. PCU decided against Trina? He can’t believe it. She says, her neither, but it’s going to be okay. They have a plan.
In the woods, Austin sees Wyatt piling some wood, and Wyatt asks, how was the kayak? Austin says, great. Sorry he missed it. Kim’s sick and they’re down a counselor, so that leaves Wyatt. Wyatt says, not for long. It looks like reinforcements have arrived. Austin says, good. He wonders who they sent, when Maxie says, Maxie Jones, reporting for duty.
Zelda tells Dante, this man is trying to extort her, and Cody says, if extort means getting what he’s owed. He takes out an envelope, and says, the deal was for $2000. He holds the check out to Sam, and asks, what’s that say? She says, $1500, and Zelda says, two thousand, minus the charges to his room. Cody says, the hotel room was part of the deal, but Zelda says, not including incidentals. He says, he misunderstood, and Zelda says, and it cost him. Sam says, he charged $500 worth of stuff to his room? and Cody says, yes, but he didn’t know… Dante says, okay. If they get this guy out of Zelda’s hair, can they consider the matter closed? Zelda says she supposes so, and Dante says, let’s go. He, Sam, and Cody leave.
Cameron says, what plan? and Josslyn says, they’re at Kelly’s. She thought he was working today. He says he decided to go on that trip; he’s in Pautuck. She says, for real? He’s out of town? He says he thought he should be here, and she says she gets it. She’s sure Jake and Aiden are super psyched he’s there. Maybe this trip is what everyone needs. He says, that’s what Jake keeps saying, and she says, he doesn’t agree? He says he just hates pretending like everything’s fine when his mom is in Shadybrook.
Wyatt drops off Maxie’s luggage, and she thanks him for the assist. He says, no problem, and she tells Austin, he seems surprised. He says he is, and she says, and maybe a tad befuddled? He says he’s always befuddled. It’s nice to see her. What is she doing here? She says, Georgie is a Junior PC Pioneer, and as such, she’s on the Parents in a Pinch list. He says, it needs a better name, and she says, parents volunteer to help out when they’re understaffed, even if their child isn’t participating. So while Georgie is at a sleepover at her friend Lena’s house, here she is. He says, in beautiful Pautuck. She said she wasn’t ready to come back here quite yet, and she says she’s not, but let’s be real. When will she ever be? She thought there would be plenty of people and enough distractions, she’d be able to hack it. She’s also communing with nature. He says, sure she is, and points to her suitcases, asking, what’s she going to do with all of that? She asks if he’s never heard of glamping, and he says he’s heard of it, but that’s not what this is. She says, speak for yourself. Mac says, camping is good for the soul, but she believes an air mattress is key. So where can they set up her tent?
Josslyn says she’s not upset, and Trina asks who she’s talking to right now. Josslyn says, she’s actually glad Cam is spending time with his brothers, and Trina says, but? Josslyn says, but this is just another example that she and Cam are out of sync. But they don’t need Cam. They have all the help they need. Spinelli walks in, and waves.
Finn asks if Cameron came back yet, but Jake says, he’s still on the phone. Violet says, with his girlfriend? and Finn says he’s pretty sure she’s not dating until she’s 30. Violet tells Gregory, grandpa, talk some sense into him, but Gregory says he’s not touching this. Jake thanks Finn, and Finn says, for what? Jake says, coming here was a good idea, especially since Aiden won’t be around them most of the time. Aiden says, take that back, and Jake says, make me. He runs, and Aiden takes off after him. Cameron comes back, and Finn asks if everything is okay. Cameron says, coming here was a huge mistake.
Britt says, sorry about the hearing. She knows how much Nina wanted to be in Wiley’s life. Nina says she even begged Willow and Michael to reconsider, and Britt asks how that went. Nina says, about as poorly as you’d think, and Britt says she gets the impulse to get out of town. She’s just glad Nina didn’t act on it. She has family here. Nina thanks her, and Britt says she means it. If Nina were to jump ship, it would just be her, Maxie, and her mother. Nina rounds out their little motley crew. Nina says she would miss Britt too. Obviously, she wasn’t thinking clearly. Britt says, but she was on her way to the airport, and Nina says, her bags were packed and everything. Britt asks what convinced her to stay.
Carly tells Sonny, Michael is a grown man and makes his own decisions, but that doesn’t stop her from worrying about him. He asks if Michael is in danger, and she says, you tell me. If Sonny’s rivals know they’re on the outs, they could assume Michael is no longer under his protection. Sonny says, that would be wrong. He’s not going to let anybody hurt his son. She says, okay, sure, and he asks what that means. She says, he doesn’t think it hurt Michael when he testified against him? He says he didn’t testify against Michael, but she says, he testified for Nina; it’s the same thing. How does he not see that? She doesn’t get him. She gets that he and Michael are fighting, but Sonny has been Michael’s father since Michael was two years old. Sonny raised him. Sonny says he loves Michael, and Carly says, then how he could sit there when Michael was being attacked?
Sam, Dante, and Cody go to The Savoy, and Cody says, the woman owns a company, for God’s sake. What does she care about 500 bucks? Dante suggests Cody relax, and they’ll get a drink, but Cody says, no thanks. Dante says, he’s buying, and Cody says, in that case, he’ll have a bourbon. Dante says, that’s what he thought, and Sam goes to the bar while he and Cody grab a table.
Britt says, now she gets why Nina is here and not on a plane to Tahiti. Nina says she was actually headed to Europe, but she’s not here just because of Sonny. She has family here. Not just their motley crew… Britt says, Wiley, and Nina says, Sonny helped her remember that she can’t abandon that little boy. Even though she can’t spend time with him, she has to stay here to prove to Michael and Willow that she deserves a place in that little man’s life. Britt says she hopes it works out for Nina, and Nina says she doesn’t sound very optimistic. Britt says she just thinks if she has unrealistic expectations, Nina is going to set herself up. Nina says, for what? and Britt says, at best, to get hurt, at worst, to do something that reinforces Michael and Willow’s decision to keep Wiley away from her. Nina says, thank you for the encouragement, and Britt says she wants Nina to have Wiley in her life, but realistically, Nina was the one who chose to go to court, she lost, and now she has to give Michael and Willow time and distance to come around. On the bright side, she still has James. Nina says, yeah, she can watch James grow up. She knows she’s suffered a great loss, but she’s also realized she still has a lot left. Britt says, including Sonny? and Nina says, she doesn’t think she has Sonny. Britt asks what she calls it, but Nina says she doesn’t know. They just have something between them. Britt says, ya think? and sees Cody looking at her.
Cody says, great, and Dante says, what now? Cody says, that Britt woman is here. She acts like he ruined her life when it’s obvious her life is already a disaster. Dante says, she’s not lacking in the complication department, but they were talking about Cody. Cody says, can they not? and Dante asks, what’s going on with him? Why is he hard up for cash? Is he in trouble?
Finn says, he and Cameron talked about this. Jake and Aiden needed a break, and it seems like they’re having fun. Cameron says, it’s not that. Yes, it’s hard being away from his mom right now, but the reason he wishes he was home is that the school made their decision in Trina’s Title IX case. They ruled against her. Finn asks what that means, and Cameron says he doesn’t know, but it is not good. Finn asks if he wants to talk about it, but Cameron says, not unless Finn can tell him what’s about to happen with his friend.
Josslyn says, they still think the phone is their best bet, and Spinelli says, to prove Esme was the one who recorded her and Cam. Trina says, Scotty asked him to examine it right, as an expert for the defense? and Spinelli says, he did, and the PCPD examined it as well. Josslyn says, the PCPD’s got nothing on The Jackal, and Trina says, The Jackal? He says, one of his many pseudonyms, and Josslyn asks if he thinks he can work his magic, and find something the police missed. He says, as honored as he is by their faith in him, he’s looked at it from every angle, and there’s nothing to connect the phone to the evil doer, or anyone else for that matter. It only exists to Trina as its possessor. Trina asks if he can’t find out where the phone was purchased, and Josslyn says, or when. Trina says, maybe someone remembers Esme from the store, and Josslyn says, she’s hard to forget. He says, alas, the phone has very little data on it. It was only used twice; once on the night in question, and once to send the email blast. Neither of which offer much information. Trina says, what about the serial number? That’s unique to the phone, right? He says, it is, but according to the serial number, this phone doesn’t even exist.
While helping her with the tent, Austin asks if Maxie did a lot of camping as a kid. She says, not a lot a lot, but enough. One time, Mac, her, and Georgie… He says, her sister Georgie? The original Georgie? Maxie says, yeah, she was an original, and he says, the OGG. She says, anyway, the trip was a disaster. It rained the entire time, and their tent had seen better days. Water was leaking in on the sides, and Georgie of course (🍷) insisted she sleep in the middle. He says, that’s love, and she says, or Georgie would rather get soaked than listen to her complain. She thinks Georgie was right. Austin says, he thinks you have to work at NASA to figure out these instructions, and Maxie puts up the tent in two seconds, saying, voila. Stick with her, and he’ll be fine. He says he’s starting to see that.
Carly says, Scotty said Michael was violent against women in open court, and Sonny just sat there, and Sonny says, they were in court. Did she want him to get up, grab Scotty, and throw him against the wall? She says, it’s what happened after. There was a recess, and he didn’t even check on Michael; he went to Nina. She watched him touch Nina’s face. He says, come on, but she says, his son weathered a vicious attack, and he consoled the woman who initiated it. She doesn’t know him anymore. The man she loved, that she fought for, that she married five times would have never done that. He’s gone. The man who came back from Nixon Falls is a stranger.
Trina tells Spinelli that she’s confused. So there’s no phone? He says, the phone exists physically, as she well knows. It’s just, according to the serial number, it never made it to the store. Josslyn says, so it was stolen, and he says, or lost in transit, but she says, let’s go with stolen. Trina says, they should have known Esme was too smart to leave a paper trail, and Spinelli says he’s sorry he couldn’t offer more help. Trina says she appreciates him trying, and Josslyn says, this is insane. They were there that night. There needs to be something they’re forgetting. Something Esme did that can now be seen as suspicious. Trina says she’s not giving up on the phone angle yet, and asks Spinelli, where would you go to buy a hot phone? He says, The Highsider, and Josslyn asks, what’s that? He says, it’s a bar… somewhere that two underage amateur sleuths should not be. So feel free to share their theories with Scotty, but please do nothing else. Understood?
Gregory says, Cameron is doing a great job, covering for the kids’ sake, but something is obviously up, and Finn says, he got some bad news about a friend. He asked if Cameron wanted to talk, but he wasn’t interested. Gregory says, Cameron strikes him as an open, personable guy; not the sullen teen type. Finn says, he’s not. If Elizabeth was here, he’d talk to her. Gregory says, Elizabeth’s not here, and Finn says, of that, he’s acutely aware. Gregory says, he means, Finn is the only option; try again. If at first you don’t succeed… Finn says he might have a better idea.
Cody tells Dante, there’s no trouble. It’s just how he lives his life; gig to gig, paycheck to paycheck. Sometimes, there’s a fair amount of time between each one. Dante asks why he doesn’t just get a steady job, and Cody says, the demand for a full-time skydiver isn’t as robust as one might think. He’s gotta go where the money is. Dante says, if Cody needs 500 bucks, he’ll loan him 500 bucks. Cody says, Dante can buy him a drink, and let him sleep on his couch. Dante can even bail him out of jail in a pinch. But Dante’s not going to pay his way. He doesn’t want to owe Dante like that. Never did; never will.
Maxie asks what gear Austin brought, and he says, he brought this, indicating his bag, and a bedroll. She says, he doesn’t even have a tent? but he says, the forecast was for clear weather, and he likes to sleep under the stars. She says, okay. What does he have in there anyway? Please tell her that he brought toothpaste. He says, all of the essential items, and he brought a change of clothes, and this. He hands her a small book, and she says, it’s a guidebook for the state park. She thought he knew every inch of these woods. He says, he does; it’s his dad’s. It has all his notes and his comments on every trail and every campsite. He knew every inch of this place. Maxie says, amazing, handing it back to him, and he says, when he’s here, it’s like his dad is with him. She says, it’s great he has a special reminder of Jimmy Lee, and he says, his father loved this place, and tried to teach him the same appreciation. She says, like father, like son, and he says, pretty much. She says she’s glad she’s here, and he says, to pitch in, in a pinch, for the win. She laughs, and he holds out his hand. She takes it, and he says he’s glad she’s here.
Carly says, that gesture of support Sonny showed Nina stripped away any illusion. He had a family that adored him, and he threw it away. He says, she gave up on them, but she says she didn’t. She walked away after she found him in bed with Nina. He says, he begged her for weeks, and she pushed him away; she said she wanted to move out. But let’s be honest, she was punishing him. The night she didn’t show up, he was a wreck. He slept with Nina – absolutely wrong – and he’s so, so sorry he hurt her, but she wanted a divorce. She wanted them to end, and she gave up on them. She says she never gave up. She asked for time and he wouldn’t give it to her. He was lying to her for months. He says, and she doesn’t know anything about lying?
Maxie paws through her stuff, and says, this is a disaster. Wyatt asks if he can be of assistance, and hands a small bag to her. She says, he’s an angel. Where did he find it? He says, near her car. He was only following PC Pioneer guidelines. When breaking camp, always recheck the area. She asks if that always includes parked cars, and he says, they moved her gear. He thought it was a little like breaking camp, and he should check to be safe. She says she’s glad he did. This is her toiletry bag; it has her toothbrush. He says, it’s important to maintain dental hygiene while camping, and she says, it says so on page 15 of the PC Pioneer’s Handbook. He says, she memorized the handbook? and she says, not yet, but she and her daughter Georgie are working on it. He says, it takes a while, but it’s worth it. She says, that lesson is true for most worthwhile things in life. If he’s learned that already, he’s way ahead of the game.
Sam brings the drinks to Cody and Dante, and asks if she interrupted something. Cody says, Dante kindly offered to help him out, but he let Dante know he’ll get the money on his own. She says she doesn’t mean to pry, but is everything okay? Is Cody in trouble? Cody says, obviously, Sam and Dante are made for each other. For the last time, there’s no trouble. He has plans. Dante says, what kind of plans? and Cody says, for the future. He’s not going to live like this for the rest of his life. He’s saving up for his dream. Sam says, which is?
Britt’s phone dings a few times, but she ignores it. Nina asks if she wants to answer that, but Britt says, no. It’s just Brad. He’s checking on her. He thinks she’s clinically depressed. Nina asks if Britt shouldn’t reassure him, but Britt says she wants to make him sweat a little. He’s the one who took the video of her at the MetroCourt pool. Nina says, Brad is the reason she’s a meme? and Britt says, a GIF. Nina says, yeah, let’s make him suffer, and they clink glasses.
Dante says, a working ranch of his own, that’s cool, and Cody says he’ll raise cattle, break horses; livin’ the dream. That’s why he’s trying to save every penny he can. Dante says, which is why he’s going to take a 4 hour bus ride to Watkin’s Glen instead of renting a car? Cody says, bingo, and Sam says, buying a ranch is quite a goal. Cody says he’ll make it happen, and she says she thought he couldn’t stay in the same place for too long, but he says, just needs to be the right place.
Gregory says he heard Cameron was worried about his friend, and Cameron asks if Finn told him. Gregory says, no specifics, and Cameron says, it’s not really a secret. One of his best friends is involved in a PCU Title IX investigation. They found her guilty. Gregory says, they found her responsible, and Cameron says, to be honest, the whole process is confusing. Gregory says, as a college professor, he’s pretty familiar with the Title IX guidelines. He can answer questions if Cameron wants. Cameron says, that would be great, and thanks him.
Spinelli says he has to depart; duty calls. Trina thanks him for meeting them, and Josslyn says, he’s the best. He says, now he’s also nervous that he’s said too much, and Trina says, they’ll tell Scotty their theory. He says, and not take matters into their own hands? and Josslyn says, they won’t do anything stupid. He says, Josslyn… She says, they won’t, and he says he’s trusting them to use their common sense here. Josslyn says she’s her mother’s daughter, and he says, that’s precisely what he’s worried about. He leaves, and Trina puts The Highsider in her phone. She says, 483 Water Street, and Josslyn asks what they’re waiting for.
Sonny tells Carly, let’s not forget when he came home, his wife was married to his best friend. She says, they thought he was dead, and he says, that’s one way to mourn. She says, it’s not like she and Jason fell into each other’s arms the next day. It took a year for those feelings to develop, and why is that? He says, let’s not bring Nina into this, but she says, that’s impossible when all roads lead to her every single time. She and Jason would have never gone there if they thought there was a chance he was still alive. He says he would have never been with Nina if he hadn’t lost his memory, and she says, why is that? His refusal to hold Nina accountable is astounding. He says, what Nina did was wrong. He hates the pain she caused Carly and the kids, but he was furious with her. Carly says, for maybe five minutes, and he says, the feelings he had for Nina in Nixon Falls happened when he didn’t know who he was. He came home and still had those feelings. He didn’t want to have those feelings, but he couldn’t shake them. The lie Nina told was wrong, but the connection they had was real. She says, and he chose that connection over his family, but he says he didn’t; she and Michael did when they shut him out. Michael’s trying to tear him down. Michael wants him forgotten; those were his words, and she’s cheerleading for him. She says, Michael’s a grown man. So if he wants to cut Sonny out of his life, that’s his decision. Just like it was her decision as an adult to file for divorce, but Donna’s a little girl. And as her mother, it’s on Carly to look out for her. He says, she’s not keeping Donna from him, is she?
Cody sees Britt at the bar, and says, last chance. She says, for what? and he says, to buy him a drink. She says, tempting… She’ll pass. Does this mean he’s leaving town? He says, tonight, and she says, it’s still a no. He says, she doesn’t give an inch. It makes it that much more unbelievable she’s letting Society Set-Ups off the hook. He thought she’d stand up for herself. He guesses he was wrong. She says, that was one weak attempt at reverse psychology, but he says he thought it was pretty good. She says, she grew up surrounded by master manipulators, and he says, sounds interesting. Her drink comes, and she says, it wasn’t. Good luck. She starts to leave, and he says he just hates to see someone leave the game with money on the table. She says, something he would obviously never do, and he says he’s not that dumb. She tells him that if he has a problem with Society Set-Ups, handle it himself, and walks away.
Wyatt says hi to Finn, who asks, what’s going on? Wyatt says he’s a junior counselor for the PC Pioneers now, and Finn says, moving up in the world. How’s school? Wyatt says, it’s great. He’s decided he wants to study music. Finn says, he plays the cello, right? and Wyatt says, sometimes, but he’s really into the guitar. He’s leading the singalong at the campfire tonight. Finn should come. Finn says, singing, huh?
Gregory tells Cameron that he knows it’s a lot of information, but Cameron says he thinks he understands it a bit better now. He thanks Gregory, but Gregory says, thank Finn. He’s the one who suggested they talk.
Finn says, singing, huh? and Wyatt says, it’s going to be great. He walks off, and Finn looks at Cameron.
Nina suggests she and Britt go to the PC Grill for dinner, but Britt asks for a raincheck. All she wants is her sweet, sweet bed right now. She feels like she could sleep for a week. Nina says, maybe Brad’s not totally off base. Britt sounds a little down. Britt says she just needs to recover from last night… and this morning.
Cody tells Sam and Dante that he should get going. It was good to see Dante. Congratulations on the job, and the girl. Cody is really happy for him. Dante says, thanks, but he thought Cody’s bus didn’t leave for an hour. Cody says he has one loose end he needs to tie up before he leaves town, and tells Sam that it was good to meet her. She says, him too, and he and Dante shake hands. Dante says, see him around, and Cody leaves. Sam says, Dante has a really interesting friend there, and he says, she has no idea.
Austin says he thought Maxie was coming over to the Pioneer’s campground, and she says she was looking for something. He says, among her many bags? and she says, her many useful bags, with her many, many necessary items. Anyway, she found what she was looking for, and she’s ready for what’s next. Violet, Aiden, and Jake come by, and Violet says, goody! She’s not the only girl. She runs to Maxie, who says, I’ve got your back, sister. Violet says, boys are okay, but some things they just don’t understand, and Maxie says, totally. Violet is so wise. Austin suggests Aiden and Jake help Wyatt get firewood, and Aiden says, they’re on it. Violet says, let’s get this party started, and they follow.
Carly says she would never keep Donna from Sonny. For Donna’s sake, not his. He says, this is how she sees him now, and she says, yeah. He says he guesses they’ve just got nothing else to say, and she says, Donna is their only connection. He’ll live his life, and she’ll live hers. He says, all right, and leaves.
Zelda gets up, leaving the pool area, and Cody follows.
Britt asks if Dante’s little friend is gone, and he says, Cody is on his way out of town. Britt says, hallelujah. How did Mr. Law and Order end up being friends with a second-rate con artist anyway? She leaves, and Sam says she was actually wondering same thing.
Zelda knocks on a hotel room door as Cody watches from around the corner. The door opens, and he ducks back, but Zelda goes inside. Spinelli wheels a room service tray out, takes a bite of something, and dashes back in.
Carly’s phone rings, and Josslyn says she wanted to let Carly know that she and Trina are going out dancing with some friends tonight. Carly says, oh fun. She’ll be there… She’s just kidding, but it does sound like fun. (That sounds like something my father would do to me.) Josslyn says she hopes so. She might be out late, and didn’t want Carly to worry. Carly says she loves her considerate daughter. Have fun and no drinking. Josslyn says she promises. Love you. Carly says, love you, and Josslyn asks Trina, ready? Trina says, let’s do this, and they go into the bar.
Sonny comes into The Savoy, and Britt tells Nina, goodnight. He says he took a chance that Nina might be here, and she says, he was looking for her? He asks what she’s doing tonight, and she says she was just headed home. He asks if there’s any way she’ll reconsider, and stay with him tonight.
Wyatt shows Violet a rock, and says, check this out; isn’t it cool? She asks where he found it, and he says, by the lake. She wonders if there’s more like it, and he says, they can check in the morning. Finn asks Gregory, what’s the verdict? Did he overstep, asking Gregory to talk to Cam? Gregory says, not at all. He thinks Cameron appreciated the gesture. Finn says, the kid’s got a weight on his shoulder, but Gregory says he thinks Cameron is strong enough to handle it. If he isn’t, he has Finn to help him. Finn says he doesn’t think Cam wants his help, but Gregory says, give him time. He bets Cam comes around.
Maxie runs up to Austin, and says she found sticks for roasting marshmallows. She shows him, and he laughs, saying, he doesn’t think her sticks are s’more sufficient. She asks if he’s saying her sticks are deficient, and he says he’s heard size doesn’t matter, but they do need to be sturdy enough – that’s right, he’s saying it – to stick them in the marshmallow. She says, okay. She didn’t know she’d taken up with the s’mores police. He says, stick with him, and she’ll be fine, and she says she’s starting to see that. They laugh, and we see that someone is watching.
Tomorrow, Selena tells Curtis, their businesses are dependent on one another; Cody says he thinks he and Spinelli can help each other; Trina asks if the bartender remembers Esme; and Sonny asks, what if he makes it worth someone’s while?
🏕 Coming Up In the World…
I honestly didn’t recognize him. Five minutes from now, he’ll be in college.
Click in tomorrow for some soap and what’s going on in Beverly Hills. Until then, stay safe, stay ready to stand up for what you believe, and stay knowing most worthwhile things in life take a while, but it’s worth it.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
Sonny asks what kind of favor Curtis is talking about, and Curtis says he knows Sonny has access to certain kinds of information. Sonny asks if he can be more specific, and Curtis says he has to get his hands on a certain police file.
Nikolas says, perhaps it’s time Victor told them exactly what he’s been planning since before he got back in town, and Victor says, maybe Nikolas is right. Nikolas says, he’s got their attention; what’s the big plan? Victor says he’s afraid the information is for family only, and Nikolas says, they are family. Victor says, some more so than others, and looks at Ava.
At the MetroCourt, Taggert tells Portia, stop worrying;Trina is only ten minutes late. And frankly, it’s giving him some time to wrap his head around this Joss and Cam sex tape. Whaat? Portia says she doesn’t think you can actually call it a sex tape when the people involved don’t know they’re being taped, and he says, that would be considered revenge porn, and that is against the law in the state of New York. She says she just thinks it’s disgusting that anyone would target Trina’s friends in that way. To her, too much of their kids’ lives are already on the internet for everyone to see, but to exploit someone’s private moments like that, that’s disgusting. He asks, what about Spencer Cassadine’s girlfriend? Really?Accusing Trina of posting this video? Portia just hopes this makes Trina realize that Esme and Spencer are bad news all around for her. He says, look who it is, and nuTrina walks over. They hug her, and Taggert says he’s so glad she could make it. He’ll tell the hostess they’re ready. Trina says she can’t stay; she has class in thirty minutes. Unless they want her to blow off class. Portia says, perish the thought, and Taggert says he’s amazed at Trina’s schedule; full time student at PCU, along with her new job at the gallery. Trina says she knows what they’re doing, and Portia says, trying to spend time with their precious girl? but Trina says, they’re trying to see if she’s surviving all this craziness. Taggert says, since she brought it up, how is she handling this Joss and Cam thing? Trina says, it’s horrible, but it’s made her realize she needs to be more careful about who she spends her time with.
Stating the obvious, Spencer says, this is a pregnancy test, and Esme snatches it out of his hand. She says, what it is, is none of his business. He wants her out of here? Fine. She’ll go. He says, wait, and she asks what else he can say, because he’s already broken her heart.
At the station, Dante asks if he can talk to Jordan, and she asks, what’s up? He says he was talking to ADA Rodriguez about possible charges against whoever put that video of Joss and Cameron out on the internet… and she says she’s stopping him there.
Cameron and Josslyn walk into an empty classroom, and Cameron asks if they’re really that late. Josslyn says, that’s weird. She thought Professor Kahn would still be there, so at least they could explain the situation. He asks if she thinks they’re the first to use still talking to the police as an excuse for missing class, but she says she thinks Professor Kahn has heard every excuse in the book. He says, Josslyn was quiet on the ride over, and she says she was thinking about her interview with Detective Lopez, going over her statement in her head, making sure she covered everything. Why don’t they check and see if the professor is in her office? He says, they don’t have to leave just yet; they can spend a few more minutes here. She asks, why? What’s wrong? He says he just thinks things are a little chaotic out there. They can spend a sec in here, while everyone is getting situated in their classes. She says, so there’s fewer people watching them walk down the hall? and he says she’s got him. She asks if he really cares what random people think, and he says he doesn’t want to care, but it’s their first day back since the video came out. It’s obvious people are talking about us. She says, about us? It’s mostly about her.
Sonny says he knows Curtis had a big part in taking down Cyrus Renault when he was living in Nixon Falls, and he kind behaved badly at The Savoy a couple months ago… Curtis says, don’t even worry about it. He knows Sonny was going through a lot. He was trying to save his marriage. Curtis’s marriage with Jordan blew up over a year ago, and he knows exactly how difficult that is. Sonny says he appreciates that. So Curtis wants him to get a sealed arrest record? Before he goes any further, who’s it for? Curtis says, it’s for his presumed dead, but very much alive, father.
Portia says, tell her more about who Trina is going to allow in her life, and most important, who she’s not. Trina says she visited Spencer at Spring Ridge, and made it very clear she can’t be friends with him as long as he’s involved with Esme. And Spencer stayed with Esme, which definitely clarifies things, and frees her from any impulse to worry about him. Portia says she’s proud of Trina, and Taggert says, good for her for standing up for herself. Trina says, but it’s hard, because she still thinks he’s a good person deep down. Taggert says he doesn’t know about that. He remembers way back when, when Nikolas was a few years older than Spencer. He was dating Taggert’s sister Gia, and he doesn’t think the Cassadines strike him as particularly deep. Portia asks what class Trina is off to, and Trina says, Social History Through Art. Portia asks if Joss and Cam are in that class too, and Trina says, no, but even if Joss was, she wouldn’t be there. She hasn’t been in any of her classes since… Taggert says he knows about the video. Her mother told him all about it. So how is Joss handling all this? Trina says she’s not sure. She’s been staying at her mom’s rather than the dorm. It’s like Joss needs to hide out for a while, which she totally understands, so she’s trying to give Joss her space. Portia says, if she were in Josslyn’s position she wouldn’t want space; she’d want her best friend. Trina says, Joss hasn’t texted her in a while. She figures if Joss wants to hear from her, Joss will let her know.
Cameron says, us, you, it’s doesn’t matter; we’re in this together. Josslyn says, they’re both in the video together, and both had a private moment stolen from them, but the fallout is different. It shouldn’t be, but it is, because she’s being slut-shamed all over the place. People are making fun of her, they’re critiquing her body, they’re judging her for even having sex at all, and Cameron tapped that. She’s just some tramp who gave it away. He says he’s sorry, and she says, it’s nothing that he did. It’s just the way things are. She knows the only way out is through, and she just has to face it down, and keep moving forward. Trust her, that’s what she’s going to do, but she hates that she has to deal with something that’s so ugly, sexist, and blatantly unfair. He says he’s sorry, and he knows it’s unfair. He saw the way she reacted when they thought people were whispering, and she says she thought she handled it pretty well. He says, no one else would have noticed, but he knows her. He knows when she’s confident, and when she’s only pretending to be. She says she loves how he knows her, and kisses him, but then pulls away, saying, she hates how this bothers her so much because it shouldn’t. They didn’t do anything wrong. He says, this is why he didn’t want to do the Invader article, but she says, they needed to go on record. They needed to state they didn’t record that or post it themselves. And it’s also important for people to know how invasive this entire experience was, and they can help other victims of revenge porn. He says he agrees with everything she’s saying. He just can’t bear to see her get hurt. She says, he doesn’t have to protect her; it’s not his job. She didn’t ask for any of this, but here they are, and she’s not going to hide. He tells her, he didn’t say they have to hide, but they don’t have to be in the spotlight either. She asks why he didn’t say this before, and he says he did. She asks him, then what is he saying? This is her fault now?
Nikolas says, as far as he’s concerned, Ava is more his family than Victor. Anything Victor has to say, he can say to both of them. Victor says he’s sorry, but no, and Ava says, that’s okay, and gets up. It’s sort of a compliment really. Nikolas can tell her later; she’ll be at the bar.
Spencer says, Esme knows he’d never intentionally hurt her, and she says, like he knows she’s not the one responsible for that disgusting video. He says, they’re not talking about the video. Why does she have a pregnancy test? She asks why he thinks? They made love that night before he went to Spring Ridge. He says, she’s pregnant?
Dante says, revenge porn is a crime in the state of New York; what’s the problem? Jordan says she’s aware of that. An investigation into the video of Josslyn and Cameron has been opened. He can provide back-up support as needed, but that’s it. Josslyn is his stepsister. She can’t risk the defense casting doubt on any information he receives. He says, who his father married shouldn’t disqualify him as an investigator, and she says, he needs to take a step back from this one. And any evidence he does uncover, he needs to take to Detective Lopez immediately. He says, by the book; got it. She says she understands his frustration, but take it from her, nothing good comes from breaking the rules. Been there, done that, and it didn’t end well.
Curtis tells Sonny, his dad who he thought was dead, suddenly shows up in Port Charles a few months ago. You would think he’d be ready to answer some questions, but instead, he’s been extra cagey about where and when he’s been.He says he wants to start over. Curtis had Drew do a deep dive into his background, which prompted Marshall to admit to Curtis that he has a criminal record, and it’s been sealed. Sonny says, with all due respect, why is it Curtis’s business? and Curtis says, normally, it isn’t. They all have a past they’re not proud of, including him. Sonny says, but Curtis wants him to get sealed information on his father, and Curtis says he has reason. Marshall’s been lying to him.
Victor says, he’s spent too many years preparing for this to have it all fall apart now, and Nikolas says he still has no idea what Victor is talking about. Victor says, Time was, the Cassadines were among the most powerful families on this planet, and Nikolas asks if that’s not a little exaggerated, but Victor disagrees. Heads of state would routinely line up to do business with them. They were true power players on the international stage, and it’s high time they reclaimed that influence.
Ava goes over to Portia and Taggert’s table, and says, good evening. She asks if Trina will be joining them, but Portia says, she’s already come and gone; she had to get to class. Taggert says, they were lucky to get ten minutes with her. It amazes him how that girl races through life. Ava says, ah, the energy of youth, when Taggert’s phone rings. He steps away to take the call, and Portia invites Ava to join her. Ava says, just for a minute. She’s actually here for a family celebration. She sits down, and Portia asks, what’s the celebration? Ava says, Spencer’s release from Spring Ridge, and Portia says, forgive her if she doesn’t find that a reason to celebrate. Ava says she agrees with Portia, but for Nikolas’s sake, she’s playing nice. Portia says, better Ava than her, and Ava says, make no mistake though, it’s going to be difficult, especially when Spencer starts work at the gallery for restitution. It helps that he won’t be answering to her directly; Trina will be supervising him. Portia says, that’s not going to happen.
Spencer says, Esme is pregnant? Why didn’t she say anything? She asks when she was supposed to tell him, before or after he called her a monster? For the record, she hasn’t taken the test yet, but she is late. She kept waiting to get her period, but after ten days, she finally chalked up the nerve to get the test. He says, she thought she might be pregnant for over a week, and didn’t say anything? and she says, it was his last week in prison. She thought he had enough to worry about without the possibility of being a father. He says, well, let’s find out. She needs to take that test – right now.
Cameron says he doesn’t want to fight, and Josslyn says, neither does she. He says they have to remember they’re in this together, and she says, yes, they are, and there’s no reason to hide in here, so let’s go. Trina walks in, and says, hi. It’s been a few days since they’ve seen each other. Cameron says, which is pretty weird, right? and Trina says, right. How are they doing? Josslyn says, hanging in there, and Cameron says, class is over. Why is Trina here? Trina says she was looking for Professor Kahn, but Cameron says, she already left. Trina says she’s got to get to her next class, but Josslyn says, wait. This is crazy. Trina says, it is. She missed them so much. Josslyn says, they missed her too, and they have a three-way hug.
Sonny asks how Curtis knows his father was lying, and Curtis says he had Drew go along with the background check. He found some information that made Curtis question Marshall’s account of where he’s been all these years. He’s all for a person’s right to privacy, but when they start lying to him, he needs to know why. Sonny flashes back to picking Marshall’s prescription bottle off the floor and giving it back to him, and says he can’t help Curtis.
Portia says she thinks Spencer’s a bad influence on Trina, and she knows Ava cares about Trina, which is why she’s asking Ava to reconsider making Trina Spencer’s supervisor. Can’t someone else do it? Ava says, when she spoke to Trina about it, she seemed fine working with Spencer, but Portia says, things change. She suggests Ava check in with Trina, and see how she’s currently feeling about Spencer.
Jordan tells Dante, don’t get her wrong. She’s done questionable things in the past when her family was involved. She learned her lesson the hard way, and it’s because of that experience that she refuses to bend the rules again. It’s a very slippery slope. He says he knows, and he doesn’t want to compromise the case, but he’s concerned about Joss and Cameron and what they’re going through, and wants to help. She says she feels the same, but Josslyn and Cameron are doing okey. Detective Lopez said their statements were clear and very helpful. He says he doesn’t want it slipping through the cracks, and she says, it won’t. Josslyn and Cameron are victims of a crime, and the perpetrator’s not getting away with it.
Trina says, it was good of Cameron to leave them alone, and Josslyn says, Trina knows Cam. He’s super considerate, and she’s in desperate need of some girl time. Trina says, her too. Did Josslyn get her text? Josslyn says, no. When did she send it? Trina says, when the video came out. She wanted Josslyn to know she was thinking about her. Josslyn says, she got so many pervy messages that day, she started deleting them without looking. She must have accidently deleted Trina’s too. Did Trina get her text? Trina says, she did, but all it said was that Josslyn was staying at her mom’s house, and then she didn’t hear anything else. Josslyn says she didn’t hear anything else from Trina either. Why didn’t she text again? Trina says, when Josslyn didn’t respond to her first text, she figured Josslyn needed space. Josslyn says, space from the world, absolutely, but space from Trina, never. Trina should know that. Trina says, how? Josslyn didn’t come to the dorms; she didn’t respond back to Trina’s text. Josslyn says, she explained that, and Trina says she gets that now, but then, she thought Josslyn didn’t want to hear from her. Josslyn asks why she wouldn’t want to hear from Trina, and Trina says, Josslyn knows how her brain works. When she doesn’t get information, her brain makes up crazy scenarios, and the longer the silence was, the crazier they got. Josslyn says, like what? and Trina says she thought Esme got to Josslyn, and she believed Trina was behind the video.
Esme says she’s not taking this test now, and Spencer asks, why not? She says, because she needs to get out of here. She can’t stand to look at him one more minute. If Laura hadn’t kept her here, she would have been long gone. He says, without telling him that she might be pregnant, and she tells him, stop making this about him. It’s her body. He agrees it is, but if she’s pregnant, it’s his baby too. She asks if he’s going to grow out of his clothes. Is he going to have morning sickness? Is he going to grow a person inside of him for nine months? He says, they’re getting way ahead of themselves. They don’t even know if she’s pregnant. They used protection. She says, which isn’t 100% effective; no one likes to talk about that, but it’s the truth. What is she going to do with a baby? She can’t even take care of a dog. He says, they don’t know there is a baby, which is why she needs to take the test. There’s a knock at the door, and he tells her to ignore it, but she opens it. Cameron says, he’s sorry. Is this a bad time? Esme says, no. She was just leaving. Spencer says, no, they need to talk, but she says, her body, her choice, and leaves. Cameron asks, did just say… and Spencer says, there’s a chance Esme could be pregnant. Outside, Esme leans on the door a moment. It’s hard to tell what she’s feeling, since she makes a bunch of faces, then she leaves.
Curtis asks if Sonny can’t help him or won’t, and Sonny says, Curtis should know the truth, and he could help, but he chooses not to. To him, it’s a family matter between Curtis and his father. He doesn’t want to get involved. Curtis says he needs to know the truth, and Sonny agrees. Curtis should know the truth, but he should get it through Marshall himself. Hear him out. Marshall’s not a fan of his, and if he gets involved, it’s going to make it worse.
Nikolas says, that’s it? All of these mentions of a momentous plan, and Victor has just been referring to a business merger? Victor says, this is no simple business merger. He can assure Nikolas, the resources they’ll gain from Bronze Hills Holdings (I think – sounds like) will be a significant step in this family regaining its former power. Nikolas tells Victor, he’s not saying it won’t be a financial benefit, because he knows it will be. He just expected more. Victor says, like what? and Nikolas says, Victor made it sound like something… Victor says, sinister? Like world domination? He’s not quite as out there as Nikolas’s grandfather Mikkos was. Nikolas tells him, he was going to say criminal. They’ve both crossed that line in the past. Victor says, true. He’s not one to arcane laws and petty bureaucracy get in his way. However, right now he’s focused on building a power base. The question is, does he have Nikolas’s support?
Cameron tells Spencer, hold on. Can they back up? Esme had her bags packed and they were obviously fighting. Does he want to know what it was about? Spencer says he accused Esme of recording Cam and Josslyn and posting it. Cameron asks what she said, and Spencer says, she denied it of course (🍷). Then she tried to blame Trina, which is absurd. Cameron says, completely, and Spencer says, he defended Trina, which made Esme furious, and they broke up. They just had the same argument at Spring Ridge, and she stormed out, but he didn’t know it was over. Esme decided they were, and she was almost out the door before he saw she had a home pregnancy test. Can Cameron believe she wasn’t even going to tell him? Cameron says, that’s a lot, and Spencer says, if Esme is pregnant, he’s going to be a father. Cameron asks what Spencer is going to do, but Spencer says he honestly has no idea, and goes upstairs with his bag.
Josslyn says, she and Trina both know it was Esme who posted that video, after she found a way to record her and Cam without their knowledge. It was her. It was all her from the jump. How could Trina think Josslyn could blame her for this? Trina says, it’s just that things got so weird that night at the cabin. The hot toddy hit her so hard, she still can’t remember everything that happened, and since that was the night the video was made… Josslyn says, please. It was Esme. Esme has hated Josslyn from the second Esme laid eyes on her. Why? Because Josslyn could tell she was psycho. It was Nelle 2.0 waiting to happen. And that’s why Josslyn got so frustrated when Esme presented Trina that phony apology at Kelly’s, and Trina went along with it. Trina takes Josslyn’s hands, and says she owes Josslyn a major apology. Esme was all upset because Spencer gave her that art book, and Trina didn’t want Esme to feel like she was taking her boyfriend. Not because of Esme, but Trina didn’t want to feel like that kind of person. She also didn’t know how she felt about Spencer. But Josslyn’s right about all of it. Esme is a whack job, and Spencer’s just… blind. She should be thanking Josslyn for calling Esme out, instead of being offended. Josslyn says, it’s okay, but Trina says, don’t tell her it’s okay. Josslyn is going through hell, and Esme is trying to blame Trina for it. She’s hateful and horrible, and Trina should have never tried to compromise with her. Josslyn says, they came to it from two very different experiences. Trina believes in compromise, and most of the time, compromise is a good thing, but not when it comes to Esme. She sees that, and takes it as a sign of weakness, and that gives her an opportunity, an opening. That’s why Josslyn shouldn’t have even gone on the ski trip in the first place, because Esme pushed so hard for it. She should have realized Esme had an agenda. Trina asks if Josslyn thinks Esme always meant to tape her and Cam, and Josslyn says she thinks Esme always meant to hurt them. Not her and Cam, but her and Trina.
Officer Perez hands Jordan an envelope, saying, this file was just delivered. Detective Lopez sent it over. It’s information on that PCU sex video from the anonymous tip line. She thanks him, and since Dante has nothing better to do than lurk around, he appears at Jordan’s shoulder and asks, what kind of information? She looks at it, and says, the damning kind. An eyewitness account, naming the perp.
Sonny says Curtis’s father has some kind of problem with him because he saw Sonny at the hospital with TJ, and he didn’t like it one bit. Curtis says, so his long lost dad doesn’t like Sonny; that’s why Sonny is protecting him? Sonny tell Curtis, he’s not saying no for Marshall’s sake. He’s saying no for Curtis. He knows what it’s like to be in a difficult relationship with a father. He didn’t speak to his dad for years. Everybody tried to intervene; everybody tried to fix it. But there was only going to be two people who could salvage the relationship – him and his dad. So if Curtis wants to know what’s in that sealed criminal record, he has to go to Marshall. Marshall walks in, sees them, and does not look happy.
Taggert says he’s so glad he and Portia decided to stay for dinner. It’s nice. What is this Trina is telling him about her and Curtis shacking up? She says, shacking up? Really? They’re buying a home together. It’s out by Queen’s Point, it’s right on the water; it’s so beautiful. He asks if they’ve moved yet, and she says, they’re in the process. He says he’s happy things are so going so well with her and Curtis, and she thanks him, adding, it means a lot, considering their history. He says, the past is long gone. The only thing is to move forward. She says, and now that Spencer’s in the rearview, things are looking up everywhere. He says, Trina and Josslyn still need to get beyond that speedbump in their relationship, and she says she thinks they will. They’ve been friends forever. It’s almost like they’re sisters. He says, he and his sister had some vicious fights back in the day, and she says, but at the end of the day, he and Gia always loved each other. The same goes for Trina and Joss.
Josslyn says, Cam’s a guy. He tried to accept Esme for Spencer’s sake, but Esme always saw both of them as a threat for different reasons. She was always going to try and take them down. Trina says, it’s so good to hear her say this. To see through that hateful… Josslyn says, bitch? Trina says she loves the way Josslyn hates, and Josslyn says, it’s a true talent. Trina says she just wishes she’d known what Josslyn was thinking, but Josslyn says she should have reached out. Trina asks why she didn’t, and Josslyn says, this whole situation was completely overwhelming.It’s total public humiliation. Everyone on social media has an opinion on it. She can’t tell Trina how many people she doesn’t even know called her some variation of a slut or a whore. But it gets even grosser. She’ll also see messages and posts calling her hot, and asking if she and Cam are exclusive. Trina says, that’s so inappropriate, and Josslyn says, yeah, but they’re of legal age now. Does Trina remember how excited and happy they were when they were turning 18 and got to vote? Trina says, yeah, it felt so grown up, and Josslyn wonders, is this the other side of adulthood? What happened to common decency? It feels like it’s been open season on her. Trina says, it’s beyond awful, and Josslyn says, it’s horrible, and when she didn’t hear from Trina, she thought Trina was embarrassed to be her friend. Trina hugs her, and says, never in a million years.
Spencer says, the more he thinks of it, Cameron had the right idea. Cameron asks what he means, and Spencer says, staying a virgin for life. Cameron says, Spencer and the whole world know he’s not a virgin, but Spencer says he seriously doubts that Cameron’s little video has been seen by the whole world. Cameron says Spencer is a poor excuse for a friend, and Spencer says, possible father here. That’s way bigger than a temporary embarrassment. Cameron says, maybe for him, but for Joss, it’s so much worse. They’re being absolutely savage to her online. He’s getting virtual high-fives, while they’re calling her a slut. It’s not fair. Spencer says, it’s awful. He’s really sorry Josslyn is going through that. Cameron says, now Spencer believes Esme is behind the video? but Spencer says he doesn’t want to believe it. Esme’s been so good to him. Cameron says, that works out nice for Spencer, but what about the rest of the planet? Spencer says he knows, just because Esme is good to him doesn’t mean she’s necessarily good to everyone else. Cameron says, Spencer has to face it. She’s sneaky and vindictive. Spencer says, and possibly the mother of his child.
On the phone, Ava asks Avery how her arm is. It hurts? She’s on her way; she’s coming right home. She tells Nikolas and Victor, sorry fellas. She hopes they had a nice chat. Avery needs her, so she’s going home. Victor says, seeing as Spencer is a no show, he’ll leave with her. Nikolas says he’s going to wait for his mother, and Ava says she’ll see him at home. Victor says, no hard feelings, and Ava says, of course (🍷) not. Nikolas sits back down, and Esme sees him from the doorway. She watches Ava and Victor get in the elevator, and goes over to the table. She asks if Nikolas will help her.
Dante says, she wouldn’t do something like that, let alone to Cam and Joss, and Jordan says, that’s what she thought too, but every possible tip needs to be checked out. He says he’ll take care of it, but she says she’ll handle this one personally, and leaves the station.
Sonny tells Curtis that he’s got to go. Think about what he said. Good luck. He leaves, and Marshall asks why Curtis was talking to Sonny Corinthos. Curtis says, Sonny was telling him about a run-in he and Marshall had. Care to explain? I’m honestly surprised Curtis didn’t ask Marshall where he got off telling him who to talk to. Especially since he’s been so cranky lately.
Cameron says, he and Josslyn gave separate statements to a detective, and Spencer says he’s glad the cops are taking this seriously. Cameron says, so is he. Detective Lopez says, whoever did this is looking at up to a year in prison. Spencer asks if Cameron knows what that means. That means his baby could be born in prison. Cameron says, way to keep it real, and Spencer says, it could happen. Cameron says, maybe Spencer should find out if Esme is actually pregnant before he starts shopping for jail baby clothes. Spencer says, Cameron is right, but he doesn’t even know where Esme went. He really hopes Esme’s not pregnant, because if she is, and she wants to have the baby, he’ll be tied to her for life.
Esme sits down, and tells Nikolas, she was going to stay at the MetroCourt for the night, so she had a place to get her thoughts together. She thought she had enough money to cover it, but her credit card was declined. He asks if she’s sure she and Spencer can’t work things out, but she says, Spencer said horrible things to her. If that’s really what he thinks of her, she can never be with him again. But what is she going to do? He’s the only guy she’s ever loved, and what if it turns out she’s… Nikolas says he remembers being her age. Every argument felt like the end of the world, but he’s sure with a good night’s sleep, things will be clear in the morning. She says she has nowhere else to go. Is there any way she can stay with him? I have an idea. Pay for her hotel room, but for Pete’s sake, don’t take her home.
Taggert asks Portia if that’s the notorious Esme Prince who Trina keeps talking about, and she glances behind her. She says, oh, he’s never seen Esme before, and he says, no, first time. She seems pretty upset. He wonders what the drama is this time, and Portia says, just be glad they’re not involved. They both look over at Esme, and Portia says she’ll bet him anything Esme is the one behind the video of Joss and Cam. She’s so relieved Trina is finally out of Esme’s orbit.
Josslyn says, it feels so good for things to be back to normal, and Trina agrees. She says she knows Josslyn wants distance from the video, but don’t tune her out. Josslyn can talk to her about anything. Josslyn says she knows and she will. It’s so nice to hear that. They’re a team, and always will be. Trina says, count on it, when Jordan walks in. Josslyn asks if there’s a lead in her case, but Jordan says she’s actually here to see Trina. Trina says she’s sorry, but she’s already late for her next class, but Jordan says, this can’t wait. She needs Trina to come down to the station, and answer some questions.
On Monday, Harmony says, it’s under consideration; Jordan asks if Trina minds answering some questions; Josslyn says, the person Dante should be talking to is Spencer’s psycho girlfriend; and Scotty asks why Nina doesn’t want to go down the legal road.
📻 Not An Oldie…
All about the song that Sonny and Nina danced to yesterday. Normally, I try to look that stuff up, but was pressed for time. Apparently, inquiring minds wanted to know.
I think Kelly might have outdone herself this time. Not only does she sh*t all over people who can’t afford as much as she can, she thinks material goods reflect good parenting. What they reflect is a future on a shrink’s couch.
We don’t have a choice in the matter. We must go where history takes us. – Bertha Russell (Carrie Coon), The Gilded Age
A person’s life purpose is nothing more than to rediscover, through the detours of art or love or passionate work, those one or two images in the presence of which [their] heart first opened. – Albert Camus
I’d bet on rabbits if you could get them organized. – Charlie Harper (Charlie Sheen), Two and a Half Men
To rule a country of a thousand chariots, there must be reverent attention to business, and sincerity; economy in expenditure, and love for men; and the employment of the people at the proper seasons. – Confucius
The history of the past is but one long struggle upward to equality. – Elizabeth Cady Stanton
You can’t cry on a first date. – Veronica Rodriguez, Pillow Talk: The Single Life
For those who fight for it, life has a flavor the sheltered will never know. – The Wiseman (Scott Glenn), Sucker Punch
When you judge another, you do not define them, you define yourself. – Wayne Dyer
Everything in moderation, including moderation. – Oscar Wilde
Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world. – Desmond Tutu
The great Western disease is, ‘I’ll be happy when… When I get the money. When I get a BMW. When I get this job.’ Well, the reality is, you never get to when. The only way to find happiness is to understand that happiness is not out there. It’s in here. And happiness is not next week. It’s now. – Marshall Goldsmith, American author (And adding my personal favorite, when I lose weight…)
What a day. What a goddam day. – Warlord Ian (Michael Biehn), The Walking Dead
🙂 Don’t Worry, Be Happy…
It’s time again for us to part company until the Dead Walk. In the meantime, stay safe, stay fighting against double standards, and stay knowing the only way out is through. You have to face it down and keep moving forward.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
Mac asks Dante if there’s any sign of what caused Kendall (apparently the driver’s name) to lose control of the vehicle. He and Dante look around the van with flashlights. Inside, the guard tells Peter that Kendall must have hit an icy patch and gone off the road. Dante says, all four tires have been punctured. They didn’t hit ice; they’ve been sabotaged. They see headlights coming toward them, and draw their guns.
Brook tells Bailey to sleep well. Mommy loves her.
Maxie says she’s glad Austin finally knows the truth about Louise. It’s been awful lying to him. He says he can imagine she’s had to juggle a lot of lies to really well-meaning people. She says she had to do what she had to do, and he says, he can’t help but wonder if her kissing him now is just another diversion.
Nina comes in to Charlie’s and, walking past Obrecht, she asks the bartender if Phyllis is around. Obrecht asks how long Nina is going to avoid her, and Nina says, Obrecht is responsible for her relationship with Mike coming out in court, so she doesn’t know. Obrecht says she did Nina a favor, and they both know it.
Chase asks if Bailey went down, and Brook says, like a champ. She had a big day. He says, all those people cooing over her. It must be exhausting being that cute. She says he should know, and he thanks her. She says she means when he was a baby. She bets he had really chubby cheeks. She puts her feet up, and he says he’ll never understand wearing shoes that hurt you. She asks, what is there to understand? These boots make her legs look amazing. He says, they do. Believe it or not, he really enjoyed today. She says, her too. She’s just glad they got out of there before the WSB came to arrest granny. He says, it woudn’t be a Quartermaine party if the police weren’t involved, and she says, that’s so true. He says he hopes it didn’t mar Ned and Olivia’s big day, but she says, no way. Nothing could diminish their happiness after how hard they worked for their marriage. He says, she’s right. Sometimes two people just belong together.
Sonny stands on the deck of the Haunted Star, wearing a white tux and holding a red rose, when Kristina comes out. She says, look at him. Carly won’t know what hit her. She asks what he’s doing out here; it’s freezing. He says he didn’t want to wait inside. He’s getting anxious, and wants to see Carly arrive so he can greet her with his rose. She says, very romantic, and he thanks her for what she did inside. She says her pleasure, and what he did to the state room looks amazing. It definitely has an island vibe. He says, not too much? but she says, no. Carly will see all the effort he put in, and see how much this night means to him. He says he just wants everything to be perfect, and Kristina says, it won’t be if she’s still here, so she’s out. She hugs him, and says, good luck, and he says he hopes this makes it right for him and Carly.
Carly walks on the footbridge, and flashes back to Sonny saying, if she’s not ready now, maybe she never will be. Drew comes onto the bridge, and says, they meet again.
Mac says, it could be an ambush, and Kendall comes up behind Dante and slugs him.
Brook tells Chase, she and Olivia have had their issues. She’s had them with her dad too, but she’s come to appreciate how good Ned and Olivia are together. He says, he’d hoped his mom and dad would find their way back to each other, but he’s had to accept that’s probably never going to happen. Maybe they don’t have what Ned and Olivia have; that connection, that something that makes you want to fight against all odds. She says, no one’s ever fought that hard for her, and he says she deserves a love that strong. She tells him that he doesn’t have to say that, but he says he said it because he believes it. She says, it’s a mighty generous thing to say to a person like her, and he says, a person like her? What is that supposed to mean? She says, it means he can cut the act. She knows what he really thinks of her. She stomps off, and out to the patio.
Felicia tells Anna, she still wishes she could have gone with Mac and Dante. She wanted to watch Peter get locked behind bars. That way, she could have taken a picture and sent it to Maxie, and Maxie would know for sure, and get on with her life. Anna says, now that Peter has been dealt with, they can get on with finding Louise. Felicia says, Maxie’s been through so much already. A dangerous psychopath is the father of her child, and all those fruitless searches for Louise. And the whole time, she’s had to handle it alone. Anna says, maybe Austin will change that, and Felicia says she likes him. He seems like a really good man. Lord knows Maxie deserves that. She doesn’t know what she’d do without Mac. How long has it been again? Anna says, not long. She’s waiting for a message from Valentin. Felicia says, Anna told her that Valentin had a lead on Louise. Wouldn’t it be wonderful? Peter behind bars, and a chance to bring Louise home? Anna says, everything would finally come together.
Maxie says she thought Austin understood, and he says he understands she was under a lot of stress, and it was really hard for her that the people she loves were really worried about Louise. She says, and she hated every minute of it; she told him that. But that has nothing to do with their kiss. She wanted to kiss him. He says he can’t help but wonder if there aren’t other factors in play, given her state emotionally. She says, that is a very clinical assessment, doctor. She knows how she feels. He says, she’s been lying to him. She’s been keeping a secret from him since the moment they met. Did she befriend him out of some kind of necessity? Everybody in this town knows her very well, and would know something was up, so she turned to him to keep them at bay because he’s new and safe. She says, he’s anything but safe. She and Brook lived in constant fear that he was going to remember what went on in the woods that night. She should have stayed away from him like she intended to, but she was drawn to him because she feels something for him. Is she alone in that? His phone rings, and he asks if they can talk later. She says, sure, and he jets.
Nina says she would have risked prison before betraying Sonny’s trust like that, and Obrecht says, that’s easy to say now, knowing it won’t happen. Nina starts to leave, but Obrecht says she doesn’t want to fight. Nina is her niece, and knows she’s always on her side. Who did Nina call to help her with Peter in Nixon Falls? Her. Nina says she did, and Obrecht almost died because of it. Obrecht says, that’s all over. She understands what it’s like to make bad choices for love’s sake; to be condemned for following your heart. If Nina needs a friendly face, here it is. Let’s sit. Nina says she was looking for Phyllis, and Obrecht says, Phyllis isn’t here, but she is. Please? They sit down, and Obrecht asks if Nina has eaten. She was supposed to have dinner with Britt, but she was a tiny bit late, and Britt ditched her. Nina says she’s not hungry, and Obrecht says, then they’ll drink. What happened to ruin her appetite? Nina says she had another run-in with Carly. It doesn’t seem to matter where she goes, Carly is there, and no matter what she says or does, Carly takes it in the worst way possible. With good reason, but Nina gets the feeling Carly is more interested in hating her than she is in helping her own husband. Obrecht asks, why does Sonny need help?
Drew asks if Carly is missing Jason, and she says, always. He was her sounding board, her voice of reason. Even when she didn’t agree with him, he never held it against her. He says he’d be willing to listen, or he can just go and let her think in peace, but she says she doesn’t want him to go. What about him? Is he thinking about Jason tonight too? He says, actually, Oscar’s been on his mind, and she says, she and Josslyn miss him a lot. Oscar and Josslyn used to come to this bridge all the time. He says he’s grateful for the few years he had with his son; he just wishes they’d had more time. She says, life is precious, and he says, they shouldn’t waste a second. She wonders why she’s stuck on this bridge trying to make a decision, and he asks what she’s trying to decide. She says, about her and Sonny.
Sonny sets the rose down on the steps, and leans on the deck railing. He says, she’ll be here.
Felicia tells Anna, still no word from Mac. She knows it’s silly of her to try. He’s got a lot going on, but she can’t help it. He said he’d call her as soon as he got to the prison. Shouldn’t he have gotten there already? Anna says, the roads are frozen. It might have slowed them down. Felicia says, maybe. Does Anna really believe that? Anna wonders if Felicia thinks something’s wrong, and Felicia says, when has dealing with Peter ever gone right? Anna says she’ll meet Felicia in the car, and takes off, Felicia not far behind her.
Carly’s phone rings, and it’s Kristina. Kristina says, it’s probably none of her business, but she wants her dad to be happy. He’s waiting for Carly on the Haunted Star. Does she want to show up? Carly says she knows Kristina loves her father, but she’s right, this is none of her business. Kristina says, he’s standing on a freezing deck with his heart on his sleeve. Can’t Carly at least meet him halfway? She helped him put everything together, and trust her, he’s pulled out all the stops to show Carly how much their marriage means to him. She can’t turn her back; it will crush him. Carly says, that’s not what she’s doing. All she asked for was a little bit of space. Kristina says, well, just show up. Please tell her that she’ll at least hear him out. Carly says she can’t do this right now. Goodbye. Drew asks if Carly is okay, but she says, no.
Nina says she wanted to talk to Obrecht, but how could she after what happened in court? Obrecht says, she only told Scotty what she suspected to keep Nina out of prison, and it worked. Thanks to Scotty’s brilliant strategy, she’s a free woman. These are different circumstances. Whatever’s going on now, she promises not to say a word to anyone; she swears. Nina says, Sonny is having some health issues, and it got so bad, she was afraid to leave him alone. She even spent a harrowing night at his place. She’s just thankful she got him to realize that he needed some help. Right after that, she ran into Carly, and tried desperately to tell her that her husband was in trouble, but Carly refused to listen to her. Obrecht says, Nina told her Sonny was sick, and she didn’t care? but Nina says she never got that far. Carly wasn’t hearing anything Nina had to say. Obrecht says, it sounds like she wasn’t trying very hard, and Nina says she’s a little conflicted because Sonny doesn’t want Carly to know what he’s going through. Obrecht says she doesn’t care what Sonny or Carly want; she cares what Nina wants. And she doesn’t think Nina wants Sonny and Carly to get back together.
Chase comes onto the patio and says, Brook can’t just tell him something like that and storm out. He puts a blanket around her shoulders, and says, besides, he doesn’t know what she’s talking about. She says, please. He acts all nice, but she knows the truth. He asks, what truth? and she says, when they first moved in, she overheard his conversation with Dante, telling him what a horrible person she is. How he wants to protect Bailey from her influence. He says he’s been trying to figure out why she’s been so hot and cold with him lately. That was just talk; he didn’t mean it. She asks why he said it, and he says, because he slipped. He said it would be a mistake if he developed feelings for her. She says, much better. Thanks for clearing that up. He says he was referring to Bailey. That’s what they’re doing here, right? If he developed feelings for her, it would complicate things, so he had to downplay it to Dante. Dante is a sharp guy, so he said all that crap about her not being his type. She asks if he really had to take it that far. He said awful things about her character. He tells her, she said herself that he’s a terrible liar, so he went too far to make sure Dante bought it. She says, so he doesn’t think she’s a horrible person? and he moves closer to her, saying, just the opposite. He says, he’s come to realize what a truly good person she is.
Spinelli tells Sam, crisis averted. James just wanted a glass of water. Where were they? Her and destiny; choosing a path. New life with Dante; second chance with Drew… She says, things with Dante are great. She loves seeing him with Scout and Danny; he’s a great father. He’s really stepped up, and taken care of all the kids’ needs. He says, what about her needs? and she says she’s not discussing her sex life with him. Okay, no complaints; none. He says, but by her own admission, she has unfinished business with Drew, and she says, if Jason hadn’t come back, they were starting a whole new life together, so it’s hard not to say what if? He says he sees no harm in asking, when Maxie walks in. She says she didn’t know Sam was here. Are Georgie and James sleeping? Spinelli says they’re both asleep, and Sam asks if something’s wrong. Maxie says, she kissed Austin, okay? Sam says, and? and Maxie says, it was horrible.
The police radio asks what the status is; please advise. Lying on the ground, Dante reaches for the radio, and says, 10-99. He repeats, 10-99. Officers down. Multiple injuries. The radio falls from his hand, and we see another man down by the van.
Carly tells Drew that Sonny planned this elaborate surprise at the Haunted Star. He’s recreated Martinique. Drew says, which is where they got married, right? She says, second wedding. Sonny really knows how to make a romantic gesture. He asks, so what is she doing here, and not there? and she says, she doesn’t need romance right now. She needs some space to figure out her feelings. Sonny wants her to commit right here, right now to fighting for her marriage. Is she wrong for not wanting to meet him halfway? He says, back up a moment. She just said she didn’t need romance; she needs time. And she said this to Sonny? She says, yes, and he says, and Sonny went ahead and planned this elaborate surprise, and wants her to come despite how she’s feeling right now? She says, yeah, and he says, that’s not about meeting Sonny halfway. That’s just Sonny being Sonny, trying to fix things on his timetable. The fact that she’s here right now is proof she has doubts. She’s 100% justified in feeling the way she does. She thanks him, and says she’s so glad he understands. He says he thinks he does, which is why he’s going to ask this. Is she positive she doesn’t want to go?
Brook asks if Chase really thinks she’s a good person, and he says, he doesn’t think; he knows. Look what she did for Maxie. Not to mention she put herself at risk to protect Bailey from her lunatic father. She says, and she lied to her family… So much lying. He says, good thing she can lie with the best of them, and she laughs. She says she never thought she’d hear Detective Harrison Chase condone duplicity, and he says, what she did was incredible. It might not have started out for the noblest of reasons, but she came through with flying colors. She stuck to her promise, and protected Bailey. Brook treated Bailey like her own daughter, all while she was taking serious hits to her reputation and character. She says she’d do anything to protect that little girl, and he says, him too, because they’re partners, which is exactly why they can’t be any more than friends. She says, but has he considered it?
Anna walks around the van, gun drawn. She looks in the van, and sees only the guard, lying across the seat. She checks for a pulse. She says, all clear, and Felicia comes out and checks Dante. She says, he’s just unconscious, but where’s Mac? Anna says she doesn’t know; be careful. Anna turns Dante over, and asks if he can talk. Felicia sees Mac, on the ground, shot, and says, oh my God, Mac. Dante asks, where’s Peter? and Anna says, he escaped.
Sonny sits on the steps, and takes a new wedding ring set out of his pocket and looks at them. He hears footsteps, and goes to the railing. He says, Carly?
Nina says, Obrecht told her that she doesn’t want to fight, but then accuses her of not wanting Sonny and Carly’s marriage to work. She gets up and grabs her coat, but Obrecht says, slow down and calm down. She’s not accusing Nina of anything, except perhaps not going after what she wants. She’s on Nina’s side, and wants her to be happy. Tell her, does she love Sonny? Nina says, Sonny is committed to his marriage, and Obrecht says, that wasn’t her question. Nina sits back down, and says, Sonny fell in love with her when he was Mike, a man without a past. Obrecht says, he was Sonny then, and he’s still Sonny now. Scotty told her that Sonny even admitted under oath that he loved Nina; that doesn’t just disappear. Nina says, it does when you have a wife and children. She can’t forget about that little detail. Sonny loves Carly. Obrecht says, perhaps he loves Nina too, but Nina says, she cannot be the woman who breaks apart Sonny and Carly’s marriage. Obrecht tells her, don’t be ridiculous. Marriages break up all the time. Is Nina going to live her life based on what others think? Does she think Sonny and Carly do? If Nina loves Sonny, and he loves her, why shouldn’t they be together?
Kristina tells Sonny, sorry; it’s only her. He says he saw her leaving, and she says, she did, but she came back. She thought he’d see her coming up the dock, but he says he was busy. He shows her the rings, saying, when he came back from Nixon Falls, he lost his wedding band, so he bought two more, since it’s the beginning. She says she’s sorry, and he says, she doesn’t have to be sorry; Carly is always late. She knows how important this night is to him. He asks what she’s doing here, and she says she wanted to be there for him… because Carly’s not coming. She called Carly. He says she didn’t have to do that, and she says she couldn’t help herself. She knows how important this night is for him, but Carly said she couldn’t do it. He says, do what? and she says, meet him halfway. He says, Carly told her that? She didn’t even want to try?… So Carly’s not coming? Kristina shakes her head.
Carly tells Drew that she can’t decide what to do. Does she show up at the Haunted Star, or call Sonny and tell him that she can’t come? He says he gets it; let’s work it through. She says, okay. She knows this much. Champagne and candles are not going to fix what’s wrong between her and Sonny, and he should respect her request for space. Drew says, agreed but is that something Sonny would really do? She says, who knows anymore? Sonny has been all over place since he came back from Nixon Falls, but he should at least try for her her sake. He says, absolutely, and she says, this is typical Sonny though. He has to be in control of everything, and he made tonight feel like an ultimatum; show up or else. Drew says, what if it is?
Mac is on a stretcher, and the paramedics tend to him. Felicia says, they have to get him to General Hospital, but a paramedic says, if they move him before he’s stabilized, they could lose him. Felicia tells Mac, please hang in there; she loves him so much. Dante asks Anna, what’s going on? and she says, Mac was shot. They’re trying to stabilize him right now, then move him to GH. He says he can’t believe he let Peter escape, and she asks if he can tell her what happened. He says he was in the van with Peter and the guard. The van lost control and was swerving everywhere. Then it just stopped. She says, spike strips; she managed to avoid them. He says he’s glad somebody did. He got out, and left Peter and the guard in the van. Mac joined him in searching for what caused the accident. He noticed the tires had been punctured. Then a light came from over here. He points, and she says, a car?Description? He says, no. It was an SUV because the lights were too high. He sensed someone walking behind him, and it was Kendall. He hit Dante over the head. Anna asks if he knows who shot the Pentenville guard or this man, pointing the guy near the van, but he says, no. He came to, and called the dispatcher. He asks, how’s Mac? He doesn’t hear any sirens. She says, they’re still working on him, and he asks if there’s any sign of Peter, but she says, no. Her guess is, he and Kendall took someone’s car. Dante says, he could be anywhere, and she says, they’ll find him. They have to.
Spinelli says, for clarification’s sake, Austin’s kiss was not satisfying? Maxie says, what? and Sam reminds her that she said it was horrible. Maxie says, that’s not what she meant. The kiss was great. It just got really messed up afterwards. Sam says she needs to hear this, when Maxie’s phone rings. She steps away, and says, Austin, hi. Austin says, they have patients coming into the ER. There was a shooting on Route 31. Maxie says, that’s the road to Pentenville. Sam asks, what’s going on? and Maxie says, there was a shooting on Route 31. Spinelli says, he’s on it, and goes to his laptop. Maxie tells Austin that she’s putting him on speaker, and asks, who was shot? He says he doesn’t have any details, but he knows one cop was injured. Sam says, that must be the prison van, and Maxie says, oh my God, Mac and Dante. Sam asks if there’s any other information, and Austin says, this is what he can tell them; multiple injured and two fatalities.
Drew tells Carly, Sonny has to know he’s in the wrong. He’s got to know that he shouldn’t be pushing like this, but it’s almost like he can’t help it. Because he can’t stand the idea of losing her and the kids and the family. All of it is way too much for him to lose.What if it’s not an ultimatum, and it’s more of a cry for help? He’s got to believe they have a future together, so what if instead thinking of it as caving, she thinks of it as throwing him a lifeline?
Sonny closes the ring box and looks like he might pitch it into the water, but he doesn’t. He opens the box, takes one of the rings out, and looks at it.
Brook tells Chase, what is she saying? Of course (🍷) he’s considered it. He’s hot; she’s hot. He says, that’s not what he meant, and she says, he doesn’t think she’s hot? He says, no… yes… definitely. He was talking about her as a person. He likes her – Brook Lyn. That’s why they’re friends. He moves closer, and she says, friends, right. Because anything more would be too complicated. He says, exactly. So it’s out of the question. She says she never even considered it, and he says, neither did he. They look as though they might kiss.
Nina tells Obrecht that she’s going to the ladies room. Feel free to order without her. She’s leaving her stuff; don’t steal anything. Nina leaves, and Obrecht says, a drink it is. Kristina comes in on the phone, saying, she was already late for work as it was. She gets the point; he’d rather not let her see him in pain, but she should have seen the look on his face when he realized Carly wasn’t coming. It broke her heart. He told her to leave, now her dad is all alone on the Haunted Star… Right… She knows. She’ll give him some time, but she’s calling him when she gets off work. Speaking of work, she’d better get going. Thanks for listening, mom… Love you too. She sees Obrecht standing at the bar.
A detective asks what Anna thinks, and she says she thinks Kendall saw the strip in the middle of the road and did nothing to avoid it. That he intentionally disabled the van to allow the gunman, or gunmen, to move in. She needs tire track prints from the other car on the shoulder. An officer walks up, and asks if there’s any news on the chief, and she says, he’s on his way to the hospital; thanks for asking. What about Kendell? Did they find him? The officer says, five miles up the road, and Anna says, great. She’ll follow him in her car. She wants answers. He says, she won’t get them from Kendall. Kendall’s dead.
Maxie and Sam come into the hospital, and Maxie asks Austin if there’s an update. He says he doesn’t know; he just got here. Felicia comes out, and hugs Maxie. She asks where James and Georgie are, and Maxie says, they’re with Spinelli. What happened? Is Mac…? Felicia says, Mac was shot. He’s lost a lot of blood, and it took forever to stabilize him, but he’s here now. It doesn’t look good. Maxie says, he’s going to be okay. Sam asks Austin about Dante, and he says, table two. She thanks him, and goes in. Dante is hooked up to a couple of monitors, but she hugs him anyway. He says, he’s okay; he’ll be fine. He’s sorry to put her through this though. He guesses it’s the downside of dating a cop. She says, there is no downside to having him in her life, and he says he’ll make sure she remembers that. She says she’s lucky to have him in her life. He says, he’s lucky to have her, and they kiss
Obrecht orders a vodka tonic, and goes back to the table. Nina has come back, along with a glass of wine that magically appeared. Obrecht says, now’s Nina’s chance, and Nina says, for what? Obrecht says, she just heard Sonny’s daughter on the phone. Kristina was saying Sonny is in a bad way. Perhaps he’s still sick. Nina says, she thought he got his medication, but maybe he didn’t. He could be in trouble. Obrecht says, there’s only one way to find out. Sonny’s on the Haunted Star… all alone.
The detective tells Anna, they’re checking for signs Kendall was injured here. He probably succumbed to his injuries, and was dumped where the police found him. Anna says, don’t waste your time, and the officer says, Kendall was shot point blank. He died instantly. His guess is that Kendall and Peter had a disagreement, but Anna says, no; it was planned. Peter hates loose ends. She tells them to send an update that the prisoner is traveling alone, and should be considered armed and extremely dangerous.
Maxie asks Austin, what about Mac? Can they see him? He says, one of them can go in there, and only for a minute. Maxie says, that would be Felicia, and Felicia goes. Maxie asks Austin to please tell her one of those dead bodies was Peter, but he says, no; he checked first thing. Peter’s still out there.
Carly tells Drew that she’s not ready to give up on her marriage. So this isn’t about what’s fair. It’s about what they both need emotionally. He says, okay, and what does she need right now? and she says she needs Sonny to know she’s still in this. She’s not giving up, but they can figure things out without closing the door on their marriage. Right? She thanks him and gives him a hug. She says, thanks for talking to her and clarifying things. He says, always. He’s glad they bumped into each other. She says, her too, and his phone rings. He says, Anna… Wait… What happened to Dante.
At the van, Anna asks if he can hear her. Mac and Dante were transporting Peter to Pentenville, and they were ambushed. They’ve both been hurt. He says, what about August? and she says, there’s no sign of him. He says, dammit, and Carly says, what? He tells her, Peter August escaped.
Sonny closes the ring box, and says, that’s that. He turns to leave, and sees Nina walking out onto the deck.
Chase says, they should get back, and Brook says, of course (🍷). Chase’s phone rings, and he says, Dante, what’s up? At the hospital, Dante says, there’s something he should know. Mac was shot tonight. Chase asks, how bad? but Dante says, they don’t know. He’s on his way to surgery now. Chase asks, what happened? and Dante says, the transport van was ambushed. Peter escaped. Brook says, what? and Chase says, the transport van was ambushed. Mac was shot and Peter escaped. She says, oh no, and runs inside. Chase runs after her, and Dante asks if he’s still there. Brook and Chase run into the nursery, and Bailey’s crib is empty. Brook starts to cry, and says, no, no, no!
In a moving car, Peter tells Bailey/Louise, hello, sweetheart. Safe and snug. They’re together, and he’s never letting her go.
On Monday, Austin says, it’s a helluva story; Chase says, all signs point to Peter; Anna asks if Robert wants to go down that path; and Sonny says, his and Nina’s time together never happened.
Fashion is a movie. Every morning when you get dressed, you direct yourself. – Thierry Mugler
For a New Yorker anything is possible. – Peggy Scott (Denée Benton), The Gilded Age
Don’t let anyone who hasn’t been in your shoes tie your laces. – Judge Faith Jenkins
You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have. – Maya Angelou
The way to right wrongs is to turn the light of truth upon them. – Ida B. Wells
The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don’t have any. – Alice Walker
Above all else, go with a sense of humor. It is needed armor. Joy in one’s heart and some laughter on one’s lip is a sign that the person down deep has a pretty good grasp of life. – Hugh Sidey
Don’t lose your sense of humor. – the only advice my father gave me when I left home. I’ve come close.
Start where you are, with what you have. Make something of it and never be satisfied. – George Washington Carver
🚶🏽♀️ Time To Skedaddle…
It’s here – the weekend for those still doing the 9 to 5, and the next two days for those off the work grid. Come join me on the third day for soap and a Deck Reunion. Until then, stay safe, stay pragmatic, and stay off any yacht you’re not invited aboard.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
Drew sits at the MetroCourt bar looking at the picture of him that Scout made. Carly comes in, and asks what he has, and he shows her, saying, it’s a portrait of him made by a budding young artist who goes by the name of Scout. It looks just like him, wouldn’t she say? She does say, and adds it’s good he appreciates the effort. He asks if she’s okay. After the other night on the bridge, he wants her to know she can talk to him. Her phone rings, and it’s Michael, so she steps away to take it. She asks, what’s up?
Laura asks Doc if he thinks there’s any chance this could work, and he says, either way, she has to try, right? She says, absolutely. She can’t just stand by and watch her family fall apart. She says they should get going on this, and calls upstairs to Spencer. He asks what he can do for her. It’s not about his take-out order of dinner, is it? She says, no. It’s about a family meeting. He says, what’s tonight’s topic? and she says, family unity. There’s a knock at the door, and Doc lets Nikolas in.
Britt says, Brad poisoned Peter? He means literally poisoned him, not a figure of speech? He says, literally, but she doesn’t believe it, and says, he’s no killer. He says he’s done some pretty horrible things, and she says, agreed; so has she. But murder? She gets up, and says, he hadn’t crossed that threshold. He says he still hasn’t. Peter’s not dead. She says, attempted murder doesn’t score him any points, and he says he didn’t know what he was doing until after the fact. She says, okay. How did he get the poison? He says, his Aunt Selena. I’m not sure why they’re both acting like this is the worst crime of the century, since, had Brad succeeded, he would have been doing the world a favor. And how come Selena wasn’t on top of this, and someone finish the job?
Ava goes to Nina’s office, and hears Martin saying that Nina’s in the clear now. It might be in her best interest to let sleeping dogs lie. Nina sees Ava, and tells her to come in. She’s just finishing up with Martin. Ava says she thought Scotty was Nina’s lawyer, but Nina says she had to fire him after he forced Willow to talk about her relationship with Sonny on the witness stand. Ava says, which got the identity fraud charges dropped. It’s thanks to Scotty that her legal problems are over, or has something new come up? Nina says, there’s nothing new. It’s still what it’s always been about; her grandson Wiley.
Michael says, Carly moved out? Where is she? She says she has a suite at the MetroCourt. She just needed some time away from Sonny so she could get her head straight. He asks if she took Donna and Avery with her, but she says, no. She couldn’t disrupt their lives, and Avery has been so clingy with Sonny since he got home. She didn’t want the girls to think she and their father were having problems. She told them that she was working a lot at the MetroCourt and had to stay over. She’ll be there at night before the go to bed, and first thing in the morning when they go to school. Michael says, that’s a lot, and she’ll probably run into dad. Won’t it be too much for her? She says, yeah, but keeping some semblance of stability and seeing the girls will be worth it. What about him? Has he talked to Sonny since Nina’s hearing? Sonny walks in, and Michael says he’ll call her back.
Ava asks how Nina expects Martin to help her with Wiley. No offense. Martin says, none taken, but maybe they should discuss this another time. Nina says they can speak freely in front of Ava, and tells Ava that she’s consulting Martin about ways to ensure she can see Wiley. Ava asks if she’s talking about taking Michael and Willow to court, and Nina says, it’s an option. Martin says, if memory serves, he and Ava were discussing the same point a while back. How in the state of New York, if a biological parent is deceased… Ava says, yes, and a biological grandparent has the right to visitation. She asks if Nina is sure she wants to start poking this hornet’s nest. She doesn’t think she and Michael can work something out between the two of them? Nina says, with Carly whispering in Michael’s ear? No, not likely.
Michael says he didn’t expect to see Sonny here, and Sonny says, he heard Michael was speaking to Frank about his whereabouts, instead of talking to him directly. Michael says he’s still processing. He couldn’t believe what he heard that Sonny said on the stand, and Sonny says he didn’t want Michael’s mom to hear that on the stand. Whatever he and Nina had is over. Michael says, what happened between Sonny and Nina is none of his business, but the look on mom’s face when she told him about it? That, he can’t forgive.
Drew finds Carly in a private lounge area, and says her name. She says, she’s sorry. It’s been a day. It’s been a really rough day. He says he really hopes things get better, and starts to leave, but she says, he’s not going to ask her what’s going on? He says, it seems like she’s got a lot on her mind, and she says, it’s because of New Year’s Eve, isn’t it? She’s sorry. She should have never put him off, and acted the way she did. He says she has nothing to apologize for. He’s not trying to take Jason’s place – been there, done that – but just know, if she ever needs a shoulder… She says she does.
Laura thanks Nikolas for coming, and Spencer says, no Ava? At least grandmother realizes she isn’t part of our family. Nikolas says, Ava is most definitely part of this family, and Laura agrees. She invited Ava, but Ava politely declined. Nikolas says, Ava was being thoughtful. She probably thought her being here would make the conversation less smooth. Spencer says, she’s probably out spending his money, and Nikolas says, what was that? Spencer says, when she summoned him to the MetroCourt to discuss the work he’d being doing for her at the gallery to make restitution – after he serves his sentence – she made it a point of throwing it in his face that she was using money from his trust fund to cover their tab. Doc comes in, and says he thinks they’re getting off track, and Laura says she’s very sorry she wasn’t here when everything fell apart between the two of them. Spencer says, translation, when Nikolas lost his mind and gave Ava control of his trust fund, and Nikolas says, because Spencer refuses to accept that Ava is part of this family. Spencer says, not his family, and Doc suggests they take it down a notch. Laura says, how about if they all sit down? but Spencer says, he’ll stand.
Brad tells Britt, his aunt told him to deliver a specific food tray to a specific cell in solitary. When he got there, he realized he was transporting a meal for Peter August, and that there might be something suspect about it. She says, he had no idea whatsoever? Why did he think his aunt was catering for anyone, let alone Peter? Brad says, he had his suspicions, but it was the only way she’d help with the parole board. Britt says, now she has leverage. Brad does her bidding or she’ll tip off the cops about Peter’s adventures in not-so fine dining. He says, nothing that satiric. He’s afraid his aunt will kill him if he tries to defy her. There’s a knock at the door, and Britt says, come in. Dante walks in, and Britt asks what she can do for him. She asks if it has something to do with a patient’s confidential medical information, but he says, no. Not currently. He has information about Peter August. She says, what about Peter? and he says he wants to discuss plans to have Peter moved to the infirmary in Pentenville. According to his doctor, he’s going to be strong enough to travel pretty soon. Brad sighs, and Dante asks if Brad has something to say. Britt says, soon isn’t now. How can she help facilitate this transfer? Dante says, that’s what he’s here to try and coordinate. They have to make sure all the boxes are checked. They need to have the medical records done by the medical director, and schedule the appropriate section meeting before they can have him released. Once that’s done, they can issue a transfer warrant. He knows it’s a lot, and he’ll walk her through it, but they can’t have anyone dropping the ball on this one. She says, agreed. Let her look at Peter’s labs, and they can talk tomorrow. Dante says, sounds good; give him a call. He stops before he goes out the door, and says, hey, Brad. What’s this he hears about Brad staying with Selena Wu? Brad says, she’s his aunt, and Dante says, that’s a good idea, right?Getting close to the head of the Wu crime family while you’re on parole. Watch your step. Britt asks why Dante is harassing Brad. Dante’s brother is the one threatening people. Dante says, Michael? and she says, yes, Michael. He threatened Brad at the MetroCourt in front of everyone. Dante asks if she was a witness to this alleged threat, and she says she heard about it. Dante says, so no, and asks if Brad wants to file a complaint, but Brad says, no need. He just wants to get on with his life. Dante says, sounds like they’re done here, and Britt says, tell his brother that Brad won’t be intimidated, and Dante says, sure. He asks her to let him know when she has those labs, and leaves. She says, that went well, and Brad pops an antacid.
Laura says, Nikolas and Spencer are so much alike, and Doc says, birds of a feather. Nikolas says he’s sorry. As the adult, he shouldn’t have let Spencer bait him. Spencer says, Nikolas keeps forgetting he’s an adult too. He has a job, and makes his own money. He’s certainly not relying on an inherited family fortune. Laura says she’s proud of him for that. She’s proud he kept his job at Kelly’s, even though it wasn’t easy for him. Spencer thanks her, and says, he’s adjusted. After he serves his time, both at Ava’s gallery and Spring Ridge, he can start saving up for his own place. Laura says, this is exactly what she wanted to talk about. He’s only got a few weeks before he goes to Spring Ridge, and serving a 30 day sentence. And going to prison, even if it’s a minimum security prison, is going to test his emotional and mental strength. She knows he can do it, and has every faith in him. Look how stubborn he’s being now. She thinks it would be better and easier if when he went to Spring Ridge, he had his whole family standing by him. She turns to Nikolas, and says, she thinks it’s important. Does Nikolas think he can reconcile with his son before Spencer goes to prison? Nikolas says, he wants that. He hates the walls between them. He misses his son. Spencer says he misses Nikolas too. He sits down, and Esme comes in. She asks, what’s going on? and Spencer says, they’re just having a meeting. Grandmother wants him to make peace with his father. She says, is that what he wants? He gets up, and says, no. She says she’s glad she came home when she did. Don’t worry. She won’t let his family gang up on him. She takes off her coat, and stands in front of them with her arms folded.
Nina tells Ava that Willow came to her last night, and suggested she give up her legal rights to Wiley as a gesture of good will to Michael. Ava says, that sounds extreme, and Nina says, she accused Willow of doing Michael’s dirty work, but Willow said it was her own idea. She promised to do everything she can to get through to Michael so Nina can still be in Wiley’s life. Ava says, Nina can’t give up her rights to her grandchild, and Martin says, he explained doing so would be irrevocable. If Nina legally abdicates her rights as Wiley’s legal grandmother, she can’t turn around and take them back if Willow failed to soften Michael’s attitude. Nina says, it’s too risky. She can’t take that chance. She picks up Wiley’s photo, and Ava says, then don’t. Do not give up her rights; listen to Martin. Nina says she did, and they were talking about the alternatives, which include going to court, so she can guarantee she has a right to see Wiley. Ava says, she’d be going on the offensive. Is she ready to do that? Nina says, what other choice does she have? She can’t just wait around for Michael’s mood to soften. She wants to be part of her grandson’s life now. Ava says, of course (🍷) she does. The question is – she looks at Martin – can Nina win? He says, shecan definitely win. The problem is, is she really ready to burn down that last bridge?
Drew asks if Carly just wants to dive right in and talk about it, but Carly wants to hear about something that makes her smile. Why doesn’t he tell her about Scout? He says, she’s amazing. She’s getting more comfortable every time they see each other, just like Sonny said she would. Him, on the other hand, he’s been gone so long, half of Scout’s life. He has a lot of catching up to do, things to learn. What’s her favorite color? Her best friend’s name? He asked her what her favorite flavor of ice cream was, and she was so confused, like, you don’t know? You’re my daddy. Carly says, that must have hurt, and he says, he just told her that he had a lot to learn, and she needs to teach him. That made her happy. It brought home how much time they’ve lost and how many things they have to get back. She says, reunions are tough. As happy as you are to reconnect, you realize the person has changed since you last saw them.
Sonny tells Michael, when he came home he was hit with a lot of things. Michael’s mom was getting married. He wanted to tell her, but then Jason died. He did the best he could for his family. Michael says, Nina lied to Sonny, to them, for months. How is it best for his family to protect her? Sonny says he understands; Michael wants to hold Nina accountable. He’s not saying anything about that. Michael says, but Sonny doesn’t understand what he’s feeling, because if he did, he would have never stood up for Nina at that hearing.
Doc asks Esme to allow him to buy her a cup of coffee while the family talks, but Esme says she thinks she should be here. Spencer says, go, it’s fine. Please go. He needs to do this on his own. She kisses him, and says, if he needs her, just text her. She’ll come right back. Doc opens the door, and says, shall we? Esme snatches up her coat, and they leave. Spencer shrugs, and says, Esme seems to be the only one who’s there for him, and Nikolas says, he wants to be there for Spencer, but Esme’s attitude of us-against-them isn’t helping. Spencer says, and Ava’s idea of family unity is? Laura asks if they can please get back to where they were. It’s really only about the two of them, father and son. Do try to leave everyone else out of it. It’s really frustrating for her, because she knows how much they love each other. Nikolas says he does love Spencer, and Spencer says he felt the love all those years Nikolas let him believe he was dead.
Drew tells Carly, it amazes him how quickly Scout warmed up to him, as if nothing bad ever happened to her in her life. She’s fearless. Who knows? Maybe there will come a time in her life when she doesn’t remember daddy wasn’t around to tuck her in. She says, the father/daughter bond is so special. She’d never want to deprive Avery or Donna of it ever. He asks, why would she? and she says, she and Sonny are having a problem. He says he’s sorry to hear that. Who threw the first vase this time? She laughs, and says, nothing was thrown. She moved out.
Nina says, maybe she should give it more thought before she take legal action, and Martin says he thinks that would be advisable. Why set something like that in motion if she’s not certain? In the meantime, he’ll see if he can find any precedents that help or hurt her cause, should she decide to go forward. Nina says she likes that idea, and he says he’ll be in touch. He leaves, and Ava sits down. She says, that must have been some chat with Willow to get Nina to contemplate legal action. Nina says, Willow was her second visitor; Carly was her first. She stormed in here, and demanded all the details about what happened between her and Sonny in Nixon Falls. Ava asks, how did that go? and Nina says she went all scorched earth; she held nothing back. Ava says, define scorched earth, and Nina says, she told the truth. That if she hadn’t said no, Sonny would have made love to her.
Nikolas says he’s sorry he didn’t tell Spencer he was alive, but he didn’t want to bring Spencer into the lie, and Spencer was better off. He can’t change his past mistakes, and will always regret hurting Spencer. Laura says, part of growing up is learning to forgive the people who’ve hurt us. Does Spencer want to keep carrying this pain around with him, or does he want to have a relationship with his father now? She thinks it’s time to let bygones be bygones, and move forward as a family. Spencer laughs, and gets up, and she asks if she said something funny. Spencer says, she sounds a lot like Uncle Victor.
At the Bistro, Doc assures Esme, Spencer will be fine. It’s just a family meeting. What has her so upset? She says she’s not upset. She just doesn’t like being dragged away from her boyfriend when he needs her. Doc says, he recalls Spencer asking her to leave, but she says, that’s because he didn’t want to look weak in front of his father. He asks if she thinks Spencer is weak, and she tells him, don’t try to shrink her. She knows a thing or two about psychology herself. He says, that’s right. How is that internship at Spring Ridge going? She says she’s enjoying it. She finds the criminal mind fascinating. She’s sure Doc can relate. She’s read his books on the subject. He says, has she? and she says, which is why she doesn’t understand how he can say Spence being with family makes him safe, considering his brother is Ryan Chamberlain. It’s hard not to notice the large succulent on the table, possibly some hybrid spawn of the moss bowl🎍. I’ll be keeping an eye on it.
Brad thanks Britt for standing up for him with Dante, and she says she’ll always stand up for him, but he needs to stop popping those antacids and strengthen that spine. Get his mojo back. Never mind how he got his parole; he’s out now. Leave that prison mentality behind, and start thinking, start acting like a free man. He asks if he wasn’t clear enough. his aunt’s hospitality comes with a price tag, and a huge spotlight. The last thing he wants is police scrutiny. She asks if his aunt has threatened him outright, but he says, not directly. In fact, Aunt Selena’s been very kind, while she controls his whole existence. That’s why he had to wait until she was out of town to visit Britt. He doesn’t know how to distance himself from her without creating offense. People who offend Selena Wu tend to disappear.
Ava says, Nina told Carly that Sonny wanted to have sex with her? Nina says, she was pushing and demanding specifics. She wouldn’t shut up about it. Ava says she knows how relentless Carly can be. But that she came to Nina tells her that Carly is worried. She asks if Nina has heard from Sonny, but Nina says, not since New Year’s Eve. Ava asks if he’s still staying at his place in Harbor View Towers, and Nina says, according to Carly, he’s home. He just wants his family back. Ava says, that doesn’t necessarily have to include Carly, and Nina says, since when? Ava says, she doesn’t know when the tide turned, but the fact Carly was here talking to Nina, instead of home, working things out, reinforces what Ava told Nina the other day. Sonny is still in love with Nina, and Carly knows it.
Sonny tells Michael, he wasn’t going to lie on the stand. Yes, Michael’s mother should have heard about Nina from him, but every time he wanted to say something, it wasn’t the right time. Michael says, Sonny could have found the time, and Sonny yells, he can’t change what happened. He can only be there for the family now; reassure them that they can count on him. Michael says, he was counting on Sonny to help him put Nina behind bars. Instead, they were all blindsided by what he said on the stand. Because of Sonny, the charges against Nina were dropped. That’s not protecting his family. They start to argue loudly, when Dante comes in and says, hey, enough!
Carly tells Drew, she can’t stay in the house with Sonny, because if she does, she can’t breathe, and can’t figure out how she’s feeling. He says, she needs to trust her instincts, and she tells him, Jason used to say that. Drew says, Jason knew her best, and she says, she’s going to be there in the morning when the girls get up, and she’ll be there at night to put them to bed. She wants to keep as much consistency as possible for them. He thinks it’s great she’s thinking about the kids. She’s an incredible mother; it’s obvious the kids are her priority. But does she know how, on an airplane, they tell you to put your oxygen mask on before your child’s? She nods, and he says, that’s because you’re not going to do your kid any good if you’re passed out. You’ve got to do what you’ve got to do for you. That way she can be the best mom for Donna and Avery. She says she doesn’t want to break up her family, and he says, from what he’s seen, she and Sonny are the real deal. They’ll find their way back together. She says, what if they can’t? and he says, then he refers her to his original advice of trust her instincts. She thanks him, and says she owes him an apology.
Nina tells Ava, Sonny’s in love with her? She hadn’t even allowed herself to consider that, even though Sonny did say on the stand he was in love with her in Nixon Falls. Maybe more of his feelings survived when he got his memory back than Nina thought. Ava says, there’s no maybe about it. Carly is running scared for a reason. Obviously, she sees Nina as a threat to her marriage. Nina says, everything is nuts right now, but if Sonny and Carly separate, does Ava think there’s a chance for her and Sonny to be together here in Port Charles? Ava says, not if Nina sues Michael for visitation with Wiley. If Nina goes to war with Michael, she’ll lose Sonny forever.
Dante asks, what’s going on? and Michael asks what Dante is doing here. Dante says he came to talk to Michael about something else, but never mind that. Why are they yelling at each other? Michael says, his mom is living at the MetroCourt, and Dante says, he’s sorry to hear that. Michael says, she moved out because dad refuses to leave the house, and Dante says, he thought Sonny was at the penthouse. Sonny says he’s not giving up on his marriage, but they’re at an impasse, and he called Carly’s bluff. Michael says, she wasn’t bluffing, and Sonny says he didn’t expect her to leave; he’s not giving up. He’s getting Michael’s mother back. Michael says, by ignoring what she wants? and Dante says, it’s a tough situation for everyone, okay? Michael says, that’s easy for Dante to say. His mom’s not the one who’s got to stay away.
Ryan says, his brother is a very dangerous man, but Esme isn’t really comparing Laura and Nikolas to Ryan, is she? She says, no. She just means people go on and on about how great family is, but psychopaths have families too. He says, yes, they do, and sometimes we’re hurt by the people we love and trust. She must been hurt when her parents died. She says, of course (🍷). She was devastated. He says, Spencer told him she has siblings, but he’s never heard her mention them. Were they separated when their parents died? She says, they’re not close, but they were talking about his brother; Ryan, his twin. Does he ever visit Ryan at Spring Ridge? She’s never seen him there. He says he monitors Ryan’s progress, but he doesn’t visit, and she asks if people with Locked-In Syndrome ever recover. He asks just how much time is she spending with Ryan? but she says, barely any. His case just stands out. Doc says, Ryan is not a simple case study. He’s a man who’s killed people, and wouldn’t hesitate to do it again, given half the chance. If she ever saw who Ryan really is, she woudn’t be intrigued. She’d be terrified, and she’d be right to be so.
Laura asks how she sounds like Victor, and Spencer says, Uncle Victor gave him a whole speech on family loyalty. Laura says, this is very important. Do not fall prey to Victor’s manipulations. Spencer asks, what happened to forgiveness? She doesn’t have any of that for Uncle Victor? She says she misspoke. We forgive the people who are truly sorry for having hurt us. That’s not Victor. Spencer says, Uncle Victor might not be the most popular person, but Victor’s always been good to him. Nikolas says he knows how important family is to Spencer, but he doesn’t have to turn to Victor. Nikolas is right here. He loves Spencer. He wants his son back.
Britt says, they can figure out a way to get the better of Brad’s Aunt Selena, and he asks if she’s been paying attention. The woman is formidable. She says, so are they. Formidable, and well-versed in wiggling out of trouble. He says, except when they get caught. He just doesn’t see a way out of this. His aunt has him under her thumb, and has already warned him to stay away from Britt. Britt says, so what? She’s there for him, no matter what his control freak aunt wants. He asks if she’s sure, and she says she’s stood up to worse than his Aunt Selena, and lived to tell. He’s her best friend. She’s not letting his aunt take him from her. He says, he’s lucky to have her, even if she did betray him by getting another wingman. She says, he’s back! She just had an idea. She might know someone who could help him.
Doc hopes Esme heeds his warning about Ryan. He’s not being dramatic; it’s for her own safety. She says, got it. How much longer does she have to wait before she can go back to Spence? He says, Laura will text when they’re finished. He asks if Esme is still worried, and says, she doesn’t need to protect Spencer from his family. It seems to him, not long ago she was pushing for a reconciliation. What happened? She says, maybe it has something to do with him being sent to a correctional facility, and his family is letting it happen. Doc says, Spencer committed a crime. There was nothing they could do about that. She says, Ava never had to press charges in the first place, and he says, she wanted Spencer to take responsibility. Esme says she guesses Ava got what she wanted, and he says, they’re all on Spencer’s side. She asks if he’ll excuse her. She needs to use the ladies room. She promises not to sneak out. He says he didn’t expect her to, but thanks for the heads up. She leaves, and he makes a call. He says, it’s Dr. Collins for Warden Brewster. It’s urgent. He needs to restrict who has access to Ryan Chamberlain.
Spencer says he wants Nikolas back too – without Ava. Nikolas says, this again, and Laura says, honestly? Spencer says, those are his terms, and Nikolas says, Spencer is being completely unreasonable. Spencer says he guesses there’s nothing left to say, and walks off. Nikolas tells Laura, he tried. He needs to go. Laura loudly says, same time next week, and Spencer stops and says, they’re doing this again? She says, he thought this was a one and done? Absolutely not. She’s not giving up on the two of them. They’re going to keep talking, because talking to each other is the only way they’ll be able to work this out.
Ava says, Nina knows how Sonny is about his kids. If he has to choose between Michael and Nina… Nina says, no contest, and any hope of her having a life with Sonny will be dashed, but what about Wiley? She doesn’t want that little boy growing up with Carly’s version of her; he’ll hate her. Ava says, Sonny’s on Nina’s side. He’ll get Michael to come around. Nina says, but won’t Michael just hate her even more because she broke up his parents’ marriage? but Ava says, seems like his parents’ marriage is exploding all on its own. Nina just has to stand back and let it happen. Maybe be around to pick up the pieces. Nina says, it’s a great fantasy, but Ava says, it’s not a fantasy. Just play cool. Play her cards right, and Nina can have Wiley and Sonny in her life. Isn’t that what she really wants?
Drew says, Carly has nothing to apologize about, but she says she does. When Jason came home, she got so caught up in having him back, she was totally focused on that, when Drew was having a hard time. He says, it was a crazy situation, and looking back, he didn’t handle it well. She says, how could he? He was still trying to come to terms with what happened to him, and who he was. He says, he pulled away from her and Sonny too; it was a tough time. She says she wishes she’d been a better friend, and he says she’s a great friend. He hopes she hasn’t been worried about this; he’s long over it. She says she doesn’t really know him that well; the real Drew Cain, separate from Jason. She’s glad she got a second chance. He says, him too. Look what she almost missed. They laugh.
Dante says, Michael is being protective of his mother; he’s being protective of his father. But neither of them are in the relationship. They’re on the outside, looking in, so they can’t judge. Decisions were made, and now they all have to deal with the consequences, right? Sonny says, that’s exactly what he’s trying to do, and Michael says, now, after the truth has come out. Sonny says he loves Michael’s mother. Does Michael know that or not? Michael says he does. He loves them both, but hates seeing mom in so much pain. Dante says, they’re all just trying to protect their family, and Michael says, that’s what he’s trying to do, but dad needs to give mom what she’s asking for, which is space and… Sonny gets loud, and yells, why does Michael keep asking him to do something? He can’t make amends if Carly won’t talk to him. Dante asks if Sonny is okay, and Sonny says, he’s okay. He’s just got to talk to Carly. Michael says, but he can’t push. Sonny says he doesn’t like waiting, but for Michael’s mother, he’ll wait.
On Monday, Laura asks if Curtis is ready to accept his father back into his life, Marshall asks why Epiphany isn’t following her dream, and Diane asks Carly if this is a step she wants to take.
Felicia’s back and feistier than ever. I have a dog named Felicia, but so far no reaction when they say Felicia on GH. And no, she wasn’t named after the GH character, but after a character in The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.
If opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door. – Milton Berle (Or kick one out.)
It is better to be hated for what you are than loved for what you are not. – Andre Gide
Integrity is telling myself the truth. And honesty is telling the truth to other people. – Spencer Johnson
Celery, useless except when used as a peanut butter delivery system. – Mike Baxter (Tim Allen), Last Man Standing
Tough times never last. Tough people do. – Robert Schuller
Remember to be gentle with yourself and others. We are all children of chance and none can say why some fields will blossom while others lay brown beneath the August sun. – Kent Nerburn
How to sell books in 2020: Put them near the toilet paper. – New York Times
The best proof of love is trust. – Joyce Brothers
Apology is a lovely perfume; it can transform the clumsiest moment in to a gracious gift. – Margaret Lee Runbeck
To free us from the expectations of others, to give us back to ourselves – there lies the great, singular power of self-respect. – Joan Didion
Before you’ll change, something important must be at risk. – Richard Bach
Success or failure depends more upon attitude than upon capacity… successful men act as though they have accomplished or are enjoying something. Soon it becomes reality. Act, look, feel successful, conduct yourself accordingly, and you will be amazed at the positive results. – DuPree Jordan, Jr. (Getting out my tiara…)
Everything you’ve ever wanted is on the other side of fear. – George Addair
🥨 Late Night Snack Time…
Whether you call the next two days the weekend, or you refuse to bow to labeling days anymore, Monday is Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Until then, stay safe, stay having a dream, and stay not judging by skin color, but by content of character.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
Carly tells Jason, Nina knew the whole time Sonny was alive. They got married, and she knew. He says she can’t burn Nina’s life down, and she says, watch her. He says, why let Nina be the victim after all the hell she’s put everybody through? Carly says, Nina needs to pay, and he says, so stand back and let her pay the consequences. Let people hate her the way she deserves. Isn’t it more satisfying that she loses everything and has only herself to blame? She says, fine; she’ll back off. She asks why he’s looking at her, and he says he wants her to mean what she’s saying right now. She says she gets it. If she goes after Nina, Nina will make her out to be the bad guy, and she can’t go down that road again. Nina is so lucky that Jason got there. He says, Josslyn told him, so he had her phone tracked. She says, Josslyn must be so worried and confused, and he says, Josslyn’s exact words were that she was meddling, but she was concerned things might escalate. She says, Josslyn was right. Can he believe Nina knew Sonny was alive? He says, Sonny told him, and was going to tell her. She says she can’t believe what’s happening. She has to go. He asks where she’s going, and she promises not to go anywhere near Nina, and walks out past Ned, slamming the door. Ned asks Jason, what happened?Or is it about to happen?
Alexis finds Shawn in the library setting up the checkerboard. He says she owes him a rematch. She sits down and says she doesn’t know what the point is; he’s going to lose. She has an idea. Why doesn’t he tell her what’s going on with Hayden’s investigation? He said they were a good team. He says, this might come as a surprise to her, but they don’t always have to be on a mission. He says maybe he’s just here for the company, but she says, maybe the company doesn’t find it very exciting to keep beating him at checkers. So let her be his sounding board. Maybe she can help him find out who really tried to kill Hayden.
On the phone, Doc says, Laura coming home soon makes him happy. How are she and Martin getting along? Any sibling rivalry over the TV remote?… That’s good. Doc’s glad he knows his place… Spencer has settled back into Windymere. Hopefully he and Nikolas can smooth things over… He’s afraid not. Ava is still leaving Port Charles. Ava knocks at Doc’s office door, and says she hasn’t left yet. She still has some unfinished business.
Cameron asks what Spencer is talking about. What could he have possibly done to make him feel like he doesn’t deserve a relationship with his own father? He’s known Spencer a long time. He’s seen Spencer at his best, and seen him at his worst, and a lot of those times, the worst outweighed the best. He hopes Spencer knows, he’ll always be there for him, no matter what he’s done. Spencer says, it’s easy for Cameron to say. He’s been in boarding school in Europe while Cameron and Josslyn were at PC High. He’s changed; they all have. Cameron says, if Spencer wants to make a list, and compare the terrible things they’ve done, trust him, he’s in no position to judge. Spencer says Cameron might not, but Trina is a whole other story. Cameron tells him, who says she has to know? and Spencer asks if he can really make that promise. What about Josslyn? The three of them are pretty tight. Cameron says they only have to know what Spencer wants them to know. Spencer says he’s got to admit, it’s been killing him, when the doorbell rings. Cameron asks if Spencer is expecting anyone, and Spencer says, whoever it is, he’ll send them packing. Spencer opens the door, and Trina says, surprise.
Sonny asks how he can help Esme, and she introduces herself. Josslyn pops her head out from around the corner, and Esme says she thought Sonny would like to know Spencer is back in Port Charles. Sonny asks when Spencer arrived, and what he’s been up to, and Esme says, he came home early this summer to surprise his dad… and it’s been one eventful reunion. He asks if Spencer is in trouble, and she says, Spence isn’t, but his father might be. Josslyn watches.
Trina says she thought Spencer would be glad to see her, given their history. She says hi to Cameron, adding that she didn’t think he’d be there. Spencer wonders why security didn’t tell him she was arriving on the launch, and she says, they remembered she had VIP status from his party. They knew she’d always be welcome. Is she interrupting? Spencer says he and Cameron were just catching up. He’s always happy to see her, but why didn’t she call first? Cameron says, good question, and Trina says she needed to show Ava some documents before she took off for Bora Bora with Spencer’s dad. Spencer says, Ava’s not here. Neither is his father. It sounds like she should be looking for them at the airport.
Doc says Laura heard right. Ava just arrived, and it sounds like she’d like to have a talk… He will… Her too. He loves her. He tells Ava that Laura wishes her safe travels, and wants him to tell her that this isn’t goodbye. She expects Ava to return to Port Charles once the police find her stalker. Ava says, sounds like an excellent plan, and asks when Laura returns from her mayor business in DC. He says, soon. Is she sure she doesn’t want to wait and say goodbye in person? She says she can’t. She has a flight booked for London, and sublet a flat. The wheels are definitely in motion. He says he’s sure Laura will understand, and Ava says she stopped by to let him know the divorce papers are filed, and she’s said goodbye to Nikolas. He says, and Avery? She says, Avery is safe with Carly… and Sonny. She’s sure he’s heard about Sonny’s return. He says he has, and he’s very happy for Sonny’s family. She says, Avery is over the moon to have her daddy back. It makes leaving her a little bit easier. He says he does have some free time right now, if she’d like to talk about what’s going on, but she says she’s not there for counseling. She needs for him to make her a promise.
Alexis gives Shawn some coffee, and he asks if Sam knows she wants to be a private investigator. She says she doesn’t have to be a private investigator. She used to be a lawyer, and she’s a Cassadine. She has a very unique perspective on the criminal mind. He says, and he’s worked with criminals for years, not to mention being locked up with them. He thinks he has a similar perspective. She says she sees where this is going. He’s afraid she’s going to get all this information, share it with TJ and Molly, and they’re going to go off on another crusade. He says, that’s a very real consideration. Speaking of Molly and TJ, they’re never home. He thought maybe they’d share dinner once in a while, watch a movie on TV. He microwaves a mean bag of popcorn. She says, nice deflection. What is it he’s trying so hard not to tell her? He knows how she is, and he knows she’s not going to let it go. He says, Jordan’s been injured, and she says she’s sorry; what happened? He says she was trying to help him. Things went sideways. She asks, how? and he says, she was helping him look into Naomie Dreyfuss’s murder. They found a passenger, Roger Barstow, who sat next to her on the plane back to Port Charles. She asks if that was helpful, and he says, Jordan went to interview him at his home. Just as she arrived, who should show up but Curtis and Portia. She asks what they were doing there, and he says, following their own lead. Curtis is helping Sam look into whether Drew is still alive, and if he is, what happened to him. She says, so his investigation and their investigation led to the same house. He says, that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
Ned asks Jason, so Nina knew Sonny was alive, and just kept visiting Wiley there at Michael’s house, and didn’t say a word? Jason says, that’s why Carly slammed out. Now he knows. Ned says he can only imagine how Michael and Willow will feel. They gave Nina a lot of time with her grandson, which she clearly didn’t deserve. She’s disrupted a lot of lives, Jason’s included. What happens to Jason now that Sonny’s back?
Did Nina make secret visits to Wiley? Because I only remember her visiting once since she went to Nixon Falls, and they’re acting like she was practically hanging out there all summer.
Jax opens the door to Carly, who stomps in, asking, what the hell was he thinking? He says he guesses she spoke to Nina, and she says, he knew Sonny was alive, and conspired with Nina… He says he didn’t conspire. He wasn’t part of Nina’s lies. She says he knew Sonny was in Nixon Falls, but he says he had a hunch; he didn’t know for sure. She says he should have told her about the hunch. She was getting married. He says they’d been fighting so much lately, if he had come to her and said he thought Sonny was alive, she would have accused him of preventing her from marrying Jason. She says he’s been trying to control how she lives her life, and he says, in what universe does Sonny not being home further his agenda? Does she honestly think he wants her with Sonny or Jason? She makes a mean, stupid face at him, and shakes her head.
Sonny asks how Nikolas is in trouble, and Esme says, it involves Mr. Cassadine and his wife, Ava Jerome. He says he knows; they’re divorced. She says, of course (🍷) he would know. He and Ms. Jerome co-parent their daughter Avery, right? She’s sure he thinks it’s none of her business, but Spence adores that little girl. The last thing she wants is for Spence to get hurt. Sonny asks, why would he? and she says she overheard Mr. Cassadine talking on the phone. It sounded like he and Ava plan to leave Port Charles today, and take Sonny’s daughter Avery with them. Josslyn leans back against the wall, and says, she wishes she could hear them.
Carly tells Jax, she loves Sonny. She never would have married Jason if she knew Sonny was alive; he knows that. He says he didn’t have time to tell her. Everything he did in Nixon Falls was to help bring Sonny home to her and the family. She asks how he even knew Sonny was in Nixon Falls, and he says it’s going to sound crazy. Does she remember when Josslyn and Trina came looking for him in Nixon Falls? Trina happened to bring home a homemade jar of marinara sauce she picked up from a bar there. Josslyn used that sauce to make him dinner the other night, and she thought it tasted exactly the way Sonny used to make it. She says, he thought Sonny was in a bar in Nixon Falls, making sauce? like this is the worst thing in the world, but he says, no. Remember the first time he was there, and he got shot? When he was on the gurney, and they were about to put him in the ambulance, he thought he saw Sonny. She asks why he didn’t tell her and Josslyn? and he says, because Nina convinced him that he was hallucinating. Carly raises her fists and grits her teeth, saying, Nina’s lied to him for months. Why isn’t he more angry? Ha! She’s such a piece of work. Because she’s more angry, everyone should be. And all the faces she makes. Ugh.
Shawn tells Alexis, because of the gas she inhaled in Barstow’s basement, Jordan’s remaining kidney was compromised. She needs outpatient treatment in a clinic in Albany that specializes in nephrology. She says, poor Jordan, but it’s good Portia is making a full recovery. She has questions. What’s the connection between Dreyfuss and Barstow, and who is the man Curtis chased into the woods, and does Shawn think he could have killed Barstow? And how does Drew’s plane crash relate to all this? He says he can’t answer any of those questions. Although they do have a tenuous connection between Roger Barstow and Drew Cain’s plane crash. She asks what it is, and he says, the Creighton-Clark clinic.
Doc pulls out a chair for Ava, and says he’s at her service. What kind of promise would she like him to make? She sits, and says, he knows how deep Nikolas’s emotions run – they’re either in a very good place, or a very bad place. Doc says, right now, he’s in a bad place because he’s losing his wife, and she says she’s hoping her absence allows him to work on his relationship with Spencer, because she won’t be around for him to worry about anymore. He says, sometimes the absence of a loved one just makes you miss them more, and she says, like he misses Laura? She is a bit worried about Nikolas. Can he look out for Nikolas? Just make sure he doesn’t give in to his darker impulses?
Josslyn takes a photo of Esme talking to Sonny. Sonny asks if Esme heard Nikolas say he’s taking off with Avery, and she says, he was booking a first class flight to Bora Bora for himself, Miss Jerome, and Sonny’s daughter. She’s sure he thinks he’s protecting Avery from the stalker, but she thought Sonny should know. He says she was right to come to her with this. Thanks for filling him in. He leaves, and Josslyn comes out, and looks at Esme.
Trina asks if Spencer’s dad told him that he and Ava kissed and made up, but Spencer says, Cameron did. Cameron says, after Trina told him that he booked first class reservations for Nikolas and Ava, he assumed Nikolas had already told Spencer. Trina says, Ava already told her, and she was so excited. Spencer’s phone rings, and he says he has to get this. Trina says, it’s not his dad, is it? but Spencer says he thinks his dad is too busy flirting with Ava to remember he has a son. Privacy please. Trina and Cameron go to the entryway, Cameron closing the door behind them. Trina asks what Cameron is doing there. He was supposed to tell Spencer the lie about Bora Bora, then leave. Thereby giving Spencer the freedom to leave Windymere, and them the freedom to tail him. The way this is going, they might never find out if he’s Ava’s stalker.
Spencer asks Esme, where are you? She says, relax. She took care of things. Daddy dearest won’t be taking off to Bora Bora with the wicked wife. He asks, why not? and she says she told him that she took care of things. He says, what did she do?
Ava tells Doc, for two people who started off manipulating one another, she and Nikolas formed a very strong bond. He says, some might even call it love, and she says, maybe it’s the difference in their backgrounds. She’s much more pragmatic. She hates leaving, but knows it’s something she has to do. She knows she’ll miss her life there, especially Avery. Of course (🍷) she’ll miss Nikolas. She’s sure she’ll probably shed a tear or two, but she knows she’ll be all right. Nikolas isn’t like that.He’s not used to compromise, to having to adjust. She’s worried that once the reality of her absence sets in, he won’t react well. That’s why she needs Doc to look after him. Doc asks, who’s going to look after her? and she says she’ll look after herself. She won’t be anybody’s victim. Never again. She thanks him for everything, and tells Doc, take good care of him. And please give that beautiful wife of his a hug. She hugs Doc, and he says he will. He tells her to take care too.
Shawn tells Alexis, Roger Barstow worked in the records department at Creighton-Clark. Drew was there for at least six months. Curtis thought there might be something in the records tied to Drew’s disappearance. Portia went with him, hoping her doctor status would encourage Barstow to share files. Alexis says, instead, Jordan found him murdered in the basement, and Shawn says he wishes he could find out if Barstow working at the clinic is relevant to him sitting next to Naomie on the plane. Or is it just some bizarre coincidence? She says, he told her they bought their plane tickets together. That doesn’t strike her as a coincidence. He says he’s more interested in her reaction when he mentioned Creighton-Clark, and she says, Drew was her former son-in-law. He says, of course (🍷). She would have heard mention of the clinic, and know Robin was instrumental in his escape. She says, there’s that, but it turns out she has a more direct family connection to Creighton-Clark.
Cameron says, what is he still doing there? What is Trina doing there in the first place? That was not part of the plan. She says she had to improvise when Joss left to tail Esme, and there was no sign of him at the pier. He says, Spencer was about to tell him something really important, and she says, Spencer told Cameron that he was Ava’s stalker? He says, it was kind of heading in that direction. He didn’t say the words exactly, but she blew it the moment she walked in.
Spencer tells Esme not to play around. How did she take care of things between his father and Ava? Are they reconciled or aren’t they? She says, don’t worry about the minor details; focus on the big picture. His father is going to be convinced to stay in Port Charles by someone a lot more persuasive than him. He says, this is not making him feel better, but she says, it’s too late. She lit the match, and the fuse is burning. Oh, one more thing. The explosion happens at Windymere, and he doesn’t want to be around.
Doc sees Josslyn, and says, hello. He asks if everything is all right. Esme realizes Josslyn has been there.
Jason tells Ned, Sonny is back, so things just go back to normal. Ned says, and by normal, he means Carly and Sonny are still married, and Jason is once again Sonny’s loyal lieutenant. Jason says, pretty much, and Ned assumes Jason is thrilled, but doubts Jason’s mother will be. He knows she said she supported Jason and Carly being married. That’s because Jason told her that he was happy, and that’s all Monica wants for him. Still, he imagines she’ll be relieved that he and Carly are no longer husband and wife. Jason says, probably, and Ned says, the downside is Sonny’s back, a man she’s loathed since the day Jason started to work for him. Jason says, it was always his choice to work for Sonny, and Ned says Jason doesn’t need to defend Sonny. He is who he is. He did what he did. The point is, now he’s back, which means once again he’ll be calling the shots, while Jason will be taking all the risks. That has to be a nightmare for his mother.
Jax tells Carly, Nina made the wrong choice with good intentions. She thought she was protecting Sonny from his old life. She says, protecting Sonny? and he says, she thought he was happier in Nixon Falls. Carly laughs, and says, she’s a liar. She was doing it to protect Sonny, she was doing it to save her relationship with Wiley, when the fact is, Nina still blames her for what happened to Nelle, so this is payback, plain and simple. He says, it’s true that Nina was traumatized by everything that happened to Nelle, but was she really wrong about Sonny’s safety? He heard a limo blew up outside of her wedding, and a couple of mobsters got killed. She asks if he’s seriously saying this to her right now? Is he kidding her? He says he’s not talking about Sonny’s physical safety in Nixon Falls. He was happier there mentally, and Nina saw that. Carly says, so she should go thank Nina?
Jax says Carly wasn’t in Nixon Falls. She didn’t see Sonny’s life there. It was simpler, less complicated. He was a guy named Mike. He worked behind the bar, and took care of… She tells him, stop. He saw what he wanted to see. He’s hated Sonny for 25 years. He’s hated how powerful Sonny is, how arrogant he is. She’s sure nothing made him happier than seeing Sonny humbled, tending bar somewhere. (Good Lord, here she goes again, looking down on normal people.) He asks if she honestly believes that his only issues with Sonny are about his ego. She knows how much he hates that Sonny’s business puts Josslyn at risk, and his return might make her life even more dangerous. Carly says, it will make Josslyn’s life safer, because there won’t be any question about who’s in charge of the business. He says, if it makes her feel better, he gave Nina an ultimatum, that if she didn’t tell Sonny who he was, he was going to do it. She says, he trusted the person who’s been lying for nine months to step up and tell the truth, and he says, Sonny’s home, isn’t he? She says, because he was trapped in a fire, and almost died. He remembered everything on his own. No thanks to Jax, and no thanks to Nina. He says, believe what she wants. It’s her life, and he doesn’t want any part of it.
Shawn asks what’s the family connection Alexis has to Creighton-Clark, and she says, her Uncle Victor ran the clinic for some time. He asks if she can get in touch with her uncle, but she says, not without holding a séance. Last she heard, he was pretty dead. He was killed when the clinic was destroyed; shot, she believes. Shawn says, another roadblock they can’t seem to get around, and she says, at the time, Victor was director of the WSB. He took over the Bureau from the inside and used it for his own ends. Her understanding is that the details are classified, but if she were Shawn, she’d contact Anna or Robert. They could probably tell him more. Ava walks in.
The doorbell at Windymere rings, and Cameron says, if it’s Josslyn and Esme, he gives up. He opens the door, and it’s Sonny with a couple of thugs in suits (sounds like a good name for a band). Trina tells him, welcome back; it’s good to see him. Cameron seconds that, and he says it’s good to see them too. He’s sure Josslyn relied heavily on both of them while he was gone. Is Spencer’s father around? Spencer asks, who’s at the door? and smiles to see Sonny. He hugs Sonny, and Sonny asks if he gets tired of people telling him that he’s all grown up. Spencer asks if Sonny gets tired of hearing people welcome him back from the dead. He looks pretty good for a guy who has a headstone at Woodlawn. Sonny says he has nine lives, and Spencer says he’d thought Sonny used them all up. He can’t believe Sonny is there, in the flesh. When he heard Sonny passed away, he knew he had to come home. He realized life’s too short not to spend it with his family. Sonny asks if his father is there, but Spencer says, he guesses Nikolas is already on his jet, or in Bora Bora. Sonny’s guess is as good as his.
Esme says hi to Josslyn. She didn’t realize Josslyn was right behind her. Esme says it’s nice to see Doc, and he says he hopes nothing serious brought her there. She says, just visiting a friend, like she has a lot of those in Port Charles. Josslyn tells Doc that she was having her ankle checked; it’s all good. He says he’s glad, and he and Laura are very happy to hear Sonny is alive. Laura can’t wait to see him when she comes home. Josslyn thanks him, and says, Sonny can’t wait to see Laura either. He says he’s sure they’ll be in touch. He starts to leave, but Esme asks him if he has as second. She and Spencer are auditing classes at PCU, and she’s in a Cognitive Psych class. She’d love to pick his brain. He says, since Cognitive Psychology directs us within, she could pick her own brain, and let him know what she finds. She says, deal, and he leaves. She turns to Josslyn, and asks why it looked like Josslyn was sneaking up on her. Josslyn asks what she was talking to Sonny about.
Jason says, Monica doesn’t need to worry about him, and Ned says, maybe Jason believed that once upon a time, but he’s a father now. If Jake or Danny came to him, and said they were going to do something incredibly dangerous, he wouldn’t need to worry? Would he worry any less? Jason says, no, and Ned says, in fact, Jason might worry more if he knew that child had no fear for their own safety. That they would run, not walk, to put their life on the line so Sonny Corinthos could turn a profit. Jason says he works for Sonny because he wants to. Sonny is his friend, the work suits him, he’s good at it; it’s his choice. Ned says, given the amount of times Jason has been arrested or injured, Jason can see how that choice would be tough on a mother. Jason says he does, and Ned says, and the rest of the family for that matter.
Jax tells Carly, he might not be responsible for Sonny’s return, but he played a part in it. One he may live to regret, so she’s welcome. She says, he’s expecting a thank you? Go to hell. She knows what the hell is going on here. Jax is protecting Nina because he cares about her, and wants her back. Even though she’s been lying for the past nine months. Keep sticking up for her. He says, the irony in all of this is, when he told Nina that she had to come clean, and had to tell Sonny who he was, she accused him of sticking up for Carly. He can’t win with either one of them. She says, poor Jax. It’s a shame he can’t get Nina back. He says, that’s never going to happen. She’s moved on.
Ava asks if she’s interrupting a game. Who’s playing? Alexis says, she was going to win anyway, so they don’t even bother playing. She heard Ava was encamping in London, and Ava says, Nikolas told her. Alexis says, he’s heartbroken about the divorce, and she’s assuming he’s not the only one. Ava says, he’s not, but she doesn’t have a choice. She has to keep her daughter safe. Alexis points to Ryan, and says she’s been doing her best to keep an eye on this psycho, but from what she can tell, he doesn’t seem to be faking his locked-in condition. Ava thanks her, and says, the sad fact is, she’s no closer now to knowing who the stalker is, than she was on Valentine’s Day when she got that first creepy gift. Alexis asks if Ava’s made all her arrangements, and Ava says, the gallery is taken care of, Kristina agreed to manage Charlie’s, she’s said all her goodbyes… All but one. She glares at Ryan.
Esme says she was talking to Josslyn’s stepfather about a family matter, and Josslyn says, she’s not family. Esme says, Spence is, and Josslyn says, and that concerns Esme how? Esme says, Mr. Corinthos has relationships with other people in Port Charles. It’s not really a good look for Josslyn, acting territorial about her stepfather. She’s at a loss here. She’s only ever wanted to be Josslyn’s friend. The way Josslyn and Trina have been treating her has really hurt her feelings. Why don’t they like her? Josslyn tell her, cut the crap, Es. Her innocent act may work with Spencer, but Josslyn is on to her. Oh, and if whatever she’s planning involves Josslyn’s family, Esme’s feelings will be the least of her problems.
Spencer leads Sonny into the drawing room, and says he’ll try to call his father again. Maybe he’ll pick up this time. Sonny says he can’t believe Trina and Cameron are in college, and he missed their graduation. Did they have fun? Cameron says, they did… mostly. There was actually some unexpected drama at Trina’s party. Sonny asks, what kind of drama? when Nikolas walks in. He says, Sonny, and Spencer says he’s been calling. Nikolas says his phone was on silent. Is everything okay? Sonny says he’s glad he caught Nikolas before he left. If the kids will excuse them, they have a lot of catching up to do.
Ned says, they may not spend a lot of time together, but they all care what happens to Jason. Jason says he can’t promise to change the way he does business, but he’s not a pissed off 20 year old anymore. He does take into consideration that he has people who care about him, and want him to be safe, and he does everything he can to stay that way. Ned says, that’s all they can ask, and Jason says he’ll stop by the hospital, and tell Monica what’s going on. Ned says, that’s a great idea. He’s sure Monica will want to see him. Jason thanks him for speaking up, and Ned says, it’s kind of his job, to speak for the Quartermaines. Like it or not, Jason is still one of them. Jason says he knows, and leaves. Ned sighs, probably catching that from Jason.
Esme says, between her classes, volleyball, and cute boyfriend, she’s surprised Josslyn has the time to be worried about her. But since she seems a tad obsessed, she’ll give Josslyn some advice. Minding her own business is great; minding Esme’s will cost her. She walks away, and Josslyn says, poor Spencer. He’s got no idea who Esme is. Apparently Esme has no idea who Sonny is either.
Ava goes to Ryan, and bends down so her face is level with his. She says she has no idea how he managed it, but she knows he’s got something to do with whoever is stalking her. And he’s won, for now. She’s leaving town, but she’s making it her mission to discover the truth. And when she does, he’ll rue the day she returns to Port Charles. Shawn tells Alexis, he can only imagine the brimstone and hellfire Ava is pouring into Ryan’s ear. Alexis says, he deserves it, and Shawn says, no argument here. She says, let’s get back to Creighton-Clark. If there’s a link between Naomi’s murder and Drew’s disappearance, then Sam’s investigation just got a lot more dangerous. He says he sees where it might concern Alexis, and she says, this somehow leads back to the Cassadines. It always does. They need to figure out how, before even more people get killed.
Jax asks, what exactly did Nina tell Carly about her life in Nixon Falls? Carly says, that she knew Sonny was alive and well the whole time, and she kept it a secret from her and his family. Why?What else does Nina know? What else is she holding back?
Spencer walks outside with Trina and Cameron, and Trina wonders if it’s her, or did the room temperature drop when Sonny saw Nikolas. Cameron says he knows what she means, but Spencer says, it’s just her. Trina’s phone dings, and she looks at it, concerned. Spencer asks, what’s going on?
Nikolas asks what Sonny means about catching him before he left. He’s not going anywhere. Sonny’s thugs stand on either side of Nikolas, and Sonny says, no, he’s not. Not if he has anything to say about it.
Tomorrow, Maxie asks why Nina thinks Sonny hasn’t mentioned it, Ava tells someone to consider themselves warned, and Sonny says he’s not leaving until he and Nikolas have an understanding.
👯♂️ Still BFFs…
I had no clue anyone was concerned. I know I wasn’t.
Of course she fought with Andy. She has to stay relevant, and there are only so many times we can talk about how addled Tom is and how many times her son’s car rolled.
As the guy said in Monty Python and the Holy Grail, I’m not dead yet. However, it’s true that everyone who gets the vaccine is going to die. So will everyone who doesn’t.
Tomorrow, overpriced real estate, soap, tea, and valuable words. Until then, stay safe, stay bold, and stay focused on the big picture. Unless Esme is involved. Then run.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
Crete, Greece. Anna and Valentin walk into a bar (not the start of a joke), and Anna says, that was totally unsatisfying. He says, just what every man wants to hear, and she laughs, saying, she meant retracing Chloe’s steps. They sit at a table, and Anna says she was hoping to find something more other than the site of the accident. He says they did find something more; they found a road to this quaint little town. He asks if they shouldn’t take a night off from sleuthing. Just one, and have themselves a little drinkie. She says she’s in, and he goes to the bar.
Drew is drowsing in his cell, when Russ comes in, and says he’s got company. Drew says Russ brought him a roommate; how thoughtful. Russ says, enjoy, and tosses Obrecht into the room, slamming the door behind her. She says, my God. Drew Cain? He’s alive? He says, Dr. Obrecht, right? She says he vanished; it’s been years. He says he’s guessing she’s not the reason he’s in there, which begs the question, who managed to capture her?
Michael and Willow sit with Wiley while he colors. Michael says his boy is the next Picasso, and she says, that’s his boy all right. He asks if she’s suggesting he’s not artistic, and she says she’s not saying he’s not not artistic. He says he’s wounded, but she says he’ll get over it. Yuri comes in, and tells them that Brook took Bailey upstairs for naptime, but he has a treat from Charlie’s for Wiley. He holds out a bag, and Willow says, how sweet. She thinks they’ll save it for dessert. Yuri lingers, and Michael asks if there’s something else. Yuri says, Wiley has a visitor, and Nina comes in.
Josslyn leads Maxie into the former home of the moss bowl🎍, and Carly asks, what’s up? Josslyn says, Maxie has something she wants to tell Carly, and Carly says, sounds serious. Josslyn says, it is, and Maxie says, she’s of two minds. A big part of her thinks, it’s not her business, just stay out of it (which gets my vote), but another part of her, also big, says she has information Carly has a right to because she’s Sonny’s wife. And if she were Carly, she’d want to know.
Jason tells Sonny, it was his idea to have the funeral. Carly wasn’t ready, nobody was ready, but he said they should do it. Sonny says he did right. Jason had to send a message that Sonny was gone, and he was in charge of the business. Jason says he hated every minute of it. He felt like he couldn’t actually grieve. Sonny says, the good news is, Jason doesn’t have to grieve anymore.
Valentin says, life is so strange, isn’t it? and Anna says, in what way? He says, it’s cyclical. It teaches us the most interesting lessons in the most unexpected ways. She says he’s in a mood, and he says he’s in an unburdening mood; is that a turn-off? She says, no. She likes it. Keep going. How is life unexpected and interesting? He says, being back in Greece for one. It helped him to see how after, in his mind, she rejected him because of the way he looked. She says, it had nothing to do with the way he looked, and he says, he told her, in his mind. He became obsessed with recreating himself, and getting his hands on the Cassadine inheritance. She says, and taking his place as that Cassadine, and he says, and all the evil crap. It was to pay for his expenses, his final surgeries, and also to fund his quest for the Cassadine fortune. It was also about circling back to her. He wanted to stand tall in front of her, and say, look at me, Anna Devane, I’m strong. And I’m rich. I’m a Cassadine. He doesn’t think he ever appreciated how much of a burden he was to himself.
Obrecht says, of course (🍷) she’s not the reason Drew is there. Does he think if she wanted to hold someone captive, she couldn’t come up with a better facility than this? He says he sees she’s not into the accommodations, but they grow on you. She says, that’s quite the professional beating he received, and digs in her bag, bringing out a syringe. He asks, what’s that? and she says, antibiotics. She’s been told to treat him for possible infection. He says he doesn’t think that’s a good idea, and she says, why not? He says, if memory serves – and he could be wrong about this – she was some kind of evil villainess, wasn’t she? She laughs, and says he has much bigger problems than her. He says, is that so? and she says, he really doesn’t know who’s holding him there, does he? He guesses she’s not about to tell him, but she says, on the contrary. She’d be delighted. She gives him the shot.
Michael tells Yuri, it’s okay; Nina is family. Yuri leaves, and Willow tells Wiley, look who’s here. Nina says she doesn’t know what kind of grow pill Wiley is taking, but it needs to stop right now. He’s grown a foot since she last saw him. She’s missed him so much. Willow says Wiley has missed her too, and Nina asks if she can have a hug. Wiley hugs her, and she says, it’s the best hug ever. She says she got him something, and hands him a box which probably contains toy trucks. He goes to the table with it, and Willow says, he loves it, although how she can tell, I’m not sure, because Wiley is not talking today. Nina says she heard Willow and Michael got back together; she’s so happy for them. Michael says they’re happy for them too, and Willow says, it seems like the whole family has been given a second chance now that Sonny’s home. Michael asks, what about Nina? Is this a quick visit, or is she back for good?
Sonny asks Jason for details of what happened when he was gone, and Jason says, ask him anything. Sonny says he knows Jason wouldn’t have had a funeral first of all, and he definitely woudn’t have gotten married to Carly if the situation didn’t require it. Jason says, they had no choice, and Sonny says, then Dante showed up when he came home. Was that as a policemen? Jason says, there was an explosion in a limo outside their wedding, and Sonny asks, who was in it? Jason says, Novak and Buscema, and Sonny says, what are the odds? He can’t see Jason inviting two guys to a wedding who he was going to blow up, but he could see them coming to a wedding to blow Jason and Carly up. He was one step ahead, right? Jason says, they owe it all to Ms. Woo, and Sonny says he always liked her. Jason says, him too.
Carly asks Maxie what it is they’re talking about. What does she know? Maxie says she’s going to tell Carly, and Carly says, then tell her. Maxie asks if she can do it her way, and in order. And please, try to reserve any judgement, which she knows will be difficult. It would be for her too. They’re kind of alike in that way. Josslyn says she gets that Maxie is trying to help, but the way she’s building this up is making it sound really bad. Maxie says, well, it is, and Carly says, what is it? Maxie says, fine. Nina has known for months Sonny was alive.
Valentin tells Anna, does he hate that Helena Cassadine is his mother? Of course (🍷) he does, but he’s free of it. She says, yes, he is, and he says he has two beautiful daughters that he loves and adores. He has money of his own; he’s his own man. Of course (🍷) they still have a messy history, and Anna says, so messy, but he says he’s not tethered by it. He doesn’t drag it around like a ball and… She says, chain? and he says, he’s free to pursue her because he wants to, because she’s gorgeous, and she captivates him, and he could make her dizzy with a dozen fancy words for why he just likes to be around her. She thinks that’s enough ouzo for him, but he says, maybe it’s not enough ouzo for her. She asks if he’s trying to get her drunk, and he says, hell yes. If she thinks he’s handsome now, wait until she gets a buzz going. She laughs, and he calls for two more. He says, this is the perfect atmosphere for this conversation. If they’d had this conversation back in Port Charles, she’d be so guarded. She says she’s not guarded. She needs to keep up a professional demeanor. He says she’s guarded. She never lets her defenses down. Here, it’s just the two of them in the field. When the sun comes up, she can pretend this never happened. She can just dismiss his words as those of a drunken fool, but tonight, he’s saying everything.
Obrecht asks what was the last thing Drew did as a free man? and he says, he sent Andre Maddox back to Port Charles. He got on a charter plane to Afghanistan – at least he thought it was headed to Afghanistan. He was going to return the money his good buddy Archer stole, but somewhere along the line, they veered off course, and landed on some island. She says, then what? and he says, two guys with guns boarded the flight. He tried to resist them, then, lights out. For him, not them. He woke up in this place, and he’s been here ever since. She asks what that tells him, and he says she must really like the game Twenty Questions. It tells him that somebody wanted him abducted. He didn’t know who then, and still doesn’t. She says, it was two people, working in tandem, and he says, and those people would be…? She says, the first, the one who originally arranged for his abduction, is none other than Peter August.
Sonny tells Jason, he assumes with Buscema and Novak out of the picture, nothing ties them to their deaths. Jason says he and Diane will have to go down to the station for a while, but there’s nothing to find. Sonny says, good, that means they’re in a decent position, but Jason doesn’t know, because Buscema and Novak wouldn’t have acted on their own. Even from prison, he’s still connected. Cyrus is definitely not gone. Sonny says, they’d better work on a strategy, and Jason says, what? Sonny says he can just picture that bastard sipping coffee, learning about the two guys that died, and he’s alive. He laughs, and says he’s standing in front of his grave, and he’s not in it. He feels like a winner. He cannot be touched. Jason says, then they need to have this conversation.
Nina tells Michael, it’s a little early to say if she’s back for good. TBD, how about that? Willow says, but no more… Nina says, Pennsylvania. She said goodbye to her time there. Michael says, when one chapter closes, another begins, and Nina tells him, that’s what they say. Wiley looks so happy. Willow says, they’re trying, and Nina says, they’re succeeding. She says there’s something she needs to tell them.
Josslyn asks if Maxie just said Nina knew, and Maxie says, yes. Josslyn says, so when she went to pick up her dad in Nixon Falls, Nina knew Sonny was there? Maxie says, yes, and Josslyn says, she was hiding him away, letting all of them grieve, and putting her mother through hell? Carly says she wants to know what Nina knew, and when, and when Maxie found out. Maxie swears she didn’t know when she planned the wedding. She didn’t find out until this morning when Nina came to her. She was really upset and very remorseful. She said she made a terrible mistake. Carly says, mistake? Is that what we’re calling it?
Valentin says, Anna’s turn, and she says, to drink or talk? He says, both. They don’t have to talk about him all night; they can talk about her. What does she think of him? She says since he’s not even going to remember his name in the morning, she’ll tell him. She missed him. She missed what they were to each other; their friendship. She knows it was her who messed it up, but then when everything happened, and he came back into her life, there was a problem. He asks, what was the problem? and she says she likes him. She doesn’t want to, and it keeps getting worse. She thinks, in a way, he understands her better than anyone else. Robert is the closest obviously, but he’s a good soldier. That’s the difference; he never sold out. Robert never compromised himself like she did. He says, they both did, and she says she’s not saying Robert looks down on her. She’s saying, she looks down on herself when she’s with him. Valentin asks if she’s with him because he’s so much worse, and she says he is, but that’s not what she meant. He says, the first thing that changed his life completely was the birth of his daughter Charlotte. And she knows the second thing. It was her.
Drew says, oh my God. Of course (🍷). Peter was in Afghanistan. Peter paid David Archer to hand him over to Helena. Obrecht says, something he didn’t remember at first, but when it started to come back years later… He says, that son of a bitch didn’t want him to rat him out. She says, Peter was anxious to keep hidden what a demented human being he is. Someone who stole Drew from his life, and scrambled his memory. He says, Peter saw him as a threat, and she says, specifically Drew’s standing with the people Peter holds most dear – Maxie and his unborn child. So Peter went extreme, as they say. Not that she hasn’t been there herself, but there’s a difference between doing nefarious things because you’re blindly in love with the person you’re doing them for, and doing them just because it’s expedient. He asks what Peter did to Maxie.
Jason tells Sonny, Carly wanted to be there to talk about it, but since the moment came up, he will. How’s Sonny doing with his bipolar disorder? Has he been on his meds? How’s he dealing with it, because he seems like he’s doing okay right now. Sonny says he was lucky, because one of the people who took him in, Phyllis, is a nurse. She noticed his erratic behavior from the beginning. Jason asks if it was bad, but Sonny says, it didn’t get really bad. He didn’t sleep a couple nights, and Jason knows how he gets when he’s having a manic episode. Anybody else would have thrown him out or call the cops, but they were fantastic. They just told him to go to the doctor and get treatment. Jason says, it sounds like a real blessing, but that doctor was treating a bartender named Mike, so Sonny should see his psychiatrist.
Nina says she can’t tell Michael and Willow how much it means to her that they gave her a second chance. To be able to be with Wiley is such a gift. Michael says, what it boils down to is, Wiley loves her, and she loves him, and Nina says, so much. Willow asks how they could take that away from him, and Nina says she’s so grateful. Not only for that, but also, that they’re Wiley’s parents. They’re really great parents. They put Wiley first, and you can tell. He’s such a happy, all-around awesome kid. She gives them all the credit. Michael says he doesn’t know about that, but Nina says she does. They’re decent, kind, good people. They didn’t have to let her be part of Wiley’s life, but they did it anyway. She knows there was a little coercion with Jax, but she believes if they thought she was bad for Wiley, there’s no way they would let her in his life. They gave her a chance. Willow says Nina is very kind to say all that, but Nina says she means it; she’s grateful. Michael says, so are they.
Maxie tells Carly, the situation with Wiley had gone bad, as she knows, and Nina wanted to get out of town to clear her head. She stopped by Nixon Falls to say hello to a friend, and she was floored when she saw Sonny. Carly says, so floored, she couldn’t tell them? and Maxie says, Nina told her that she did call to tell Carly that she saw Sonny, but they got in some kind of argument? Josslyn says, so now this is her mom’s fault? and Maxie tells her, she didn’t say that. Josslyn says her mom wasn’t nice to Nina, so that gave her the right to lie, and keep Sonny a secret for months? That is crap. Really? We can’t do better than that line?
Anna says she changed Valentin’s life? This should be good. He says it was miraculous seeing her again. She’d completely changed her life around. She’d gone from a sad, flawed, compromised sellout… She says, don’t hold back, and he says she’s become so much better. He admires her. He could never reach the level she’s reached, but she’s showed him that he can make better choices. She says she can see that; she sees him. He says he knows she does, and she says, she knows he sees her better than anyone does. He shakes his finger at her, and she tells him not to get all juvenile about this. He says, where has he heard this before? Not the juvenile part, but the other part. He knows – from himself. He’s been saying that all along. He gets her, right down to her socks. She says she’s not wearing any socks, and he says, that’s a good start. They kiss, and I’m so in.
Obrecht says, Peter and Maxie conceived a child together, and Drew says he thought Maxie had better instincts then that. She says, he won her over, and he was convincing. He completely sold Maxie on the fact that he was reformed. She fell for it too for a while. Maxie was her daughter-in-law, and Obrecht wanted to be on good terms with her. Drew asks how that worked out for her, and she snorts. She says, when Peter’s past was on the brink of haunting him, he framed her for his own crimes, and had her shipped off to Steinmaur. He says, so she was at Steinmaur, and they sent her here, but she says, there was this whole interstitial with Maxie realizing how despicable Peter was, rejecting him, and him arranging to induce her labor, so he could kidnap her and his child. Drew asks, what happened? and Obrecht says, it backfired. The woman he hired to preside over the birth, ended up stealing the baby, handing her over to someone else, and meeting an untimely end. So now that precious baby is out there, and Maxie doesn’t know where to find her. He says, so she thinks this was a set-up by Peter? and she says she’s positive. The only thing Peter cares about is finding his daughter. Which is clearly why he’s working with Victor. Drew asks, who the hell is Victor?
Nina sits down, and Michael says, they’d forgotten how much Nina came through in the original custody hearing. She told the truth about Nelle, and he knows it made a huge difference. Nina says, at the time, she didn’t know Wiley was her grandson, and Michael says, he thought about that; if knowing what they know now would have changed what Nina said, but Willow says, it doesn’t matter. Nina came through for Wiley when he needed her, and they’ll always be grateful. Michael says, it was definitely a turning point in the custody fight, and Nina says, what she remembers about that day is, she just generally wanted to do the right thing. Even though in her heart she wishes things could have been different for Nelle, and for her, the fact that things turned out the way they did for Wiley, she’s thankful for. That part, she’ll never question or regret, because Wiley has them.
Josslyn says she’s sorry. She’s not mad at Maxie; it’s Nina she’s mad at. But she’s got to say, it kind of seems like Maxie is defending her. Maxie says she’s not defending Nina. What she did is indefensible, but does she feel empathy for Nina? Yes, because she’s been at a place in her life where she convinced herself – out of fear, anger, or pain – that doing something wrong was okay. She’s been there, and isn’t in a position to judge Nina. Is Carly? Right now I want to knock Josslyn and Carly’s heads together, so I vote no.
Sonny tells Jason, he really hadn’t thought about it, since he was on his medication. He was doing well. Jason says he’s glad, and Sonny says, but Jason’s right. He’s got to check it out, take care of himself. Did Jason and Carly talk about this, about him? Jason says, of course (🍷). It’s a big deal that he’s back; it’s a lot to figure out. Sonny says, sorry Jason got stuck with this. All the hell Jason has been through, and he wasn’t there. Jason says it’s not Sonny’s fault, and Sonny says, no, it’s not. It’s Nina’s.
Valentin tells Anna that she’s a good kisser, and she says, they need to sober up. He says she told him that she wasn’t drunk, and she says, he needs to sober up. He asks where the fun is in that? and she says she’s going to get them a gallon of water and a gallon of coffee. Then they’re going to sober up, and go back to the hospital. He asks, what about her socks? and she says, oh boy. She goes to the bar and asks for water and coffee, but when she turns around, Valentin is passed out, his head on the table.
Drew says, Victor Cassadine didn’t die in that explosion at Creighton-Clark? and Obrecht says, no, he survived, and he’s been pulling strings ever since. To what extent she’s not certain. All she knows is, on her way to St. Lucia… He says, St. Lucia? and she says, to take care of Peter, as he so richly deserved. She was abducted and wound up there, with a pit stop at Victor’s lavish compound. He says he bets she’s missing that place right about now, but she says, the company is better here. He says, let him get this straight. Victor and Peter are working together because Peter wants to find his daughter. She says, yes, and he says, but Peter is an incredible lowlife; Victor’s got to know that. She says, please. Anyone who’s met Peter for five minutes knows that, and he asks, what’s in it for Victor?Obviously, he’s not doing this out of the goodness of his heart, so what’s he getting out of this arrangement?
Michael says Nina probably wants some alone time with Wiley, and suggests he and Willow take a walk. Willow says she’d like nothing more, and they leave. In the foyer, Willow asks if Michael got the feeling something is going on with Nina. She seems upset, or lost, or… Willow doesn’t know. He says, that’s probably part of the reason she’s here; seeing Wiley will be good for her. Willow says, it always does wonders for her. In the living room, Nina asks if she can help Wiley with his coloring and sits on the floor. She says she’s sorry she was gone for so long. They have to make up for lost time, right? Wiley says, yeah, and she says, lost time might be all we have left.
Jason asks what Sonny is talking about. Nina who? Sonny says, Nina Reeves, and Jason says he doesn’t understand. Sonny says, remember the Phyllis he told Jason about? She hired him to work at the bar. She was friends with Nina, and Nina left Port Charles to come and see Phyllis. She saw him, and knew that he was dead, but she saw him alive. Jason asks, for how long? and Sonny says, pretty much most of the time. Jason says, she knew and didn’t say anything to anybody? but Sonny says, it’s complicated. Jason says, it doesn’t sound that complicated to him, and Sonny says, what happened was, Nina was upset with Carly over the whole Nelle thing and Wiley… Jason says, he knows, but they went through hell. Carly and the kids were devastated. Now Sonny is telling him that they didn’t have to be devastated? That Nina held the key to all this pain, and didn’t use it? Sonny says he gets that Jason is angry, and he is also. Jason says Sonny isn’t angry enough.
Carly tells Maxie that she’s done terrible, questionable things, but that doesn’t justify what Nina did. She stole Sonny’s life for months, and for what? Out of spite? She literally took Sonny’s free will, and sat back and watched his family grieve, so no, Nina doesn’t get an excuse. Maxie says she doesn’t disagree with Carly, and Carly says, what Maxie did today was the opposite of what Nina did to Sonny. She kept him a secret because it suited her. Maxie told the truth because she believed Carly deserved to know. Maxie says she’s going to feel bad if she doesn’t say this, but she still loves Nina, even though Nina did something very wrong. Carly says, that’s the painful part of loving someone who messes up, but this was Nina’s choice, and she’s going to have to live with the consequences.
Anna tucks Valentin in. She smooths back his hair, and turns out the light. She leaves, and we see the tattoo of the Cassadine crest on his forearm.
Obrecht says Drew is a very shrewd man; he cuts right to the heart of it. Victor never does anything without an ulterior motive. There’s always a goal he’s working towards. He says, Peter is helping him achieve that goal, and she says, Peter has something Victor wants or needs, or plans to acquire. She hopes he gets it. When Peter is no longer of use to Victor, that will be the end of Peter August. He says, none of which helps them. He doesn’t know about her, but he can’t wait until it plays out between those two psychos. How are they going to get the hell out of here? She says, music to her ears, and they hear the door. Drew gets back on the cot, and Russ comes in, saying, time’s up. Obrecht says, this man is very ill. His kidney may be bruised, and she needs to see him again soon. Russ says he’ll tell the boss. Let’s go. Before she leaves, Obrecht turns and gives Drew a slight nod.
Anna asks the bar musician if he speaks English, and he says, yes. She says she’s headed to the U.S. Consul hospital to check on a patient there. Her friend is asleep upstairs, and she may not be back until morning. He says, not to worry. He’ll make sure her friend gets the message. She thanks him, and says she loved his playing. She leaves, and as he closes his guitar case, we see a tattoo matching Valentin’s on his forearm.
Jason says, Nina took nine months from Sonny. Nine months where he wasn’t living his life with his wife and kids. Why isn’t he furious? Sonny says he was furious, but what’s the point? Nina is a sad woman. Her mother screwed her over, she went through a bad period in her life. Then she finds out she had a child, and it’s Nelle. That would mess anyone up. He’s not making excuses; she absolutely should have told the truth. She made a bad decision. Jason says, it’s more than one bad decision. She took so much from Sonny. Sonny says he’s not happy about that, but he doesn’t see the point in wasting his energy on hating her. Maybe he doesn’t want to let himself get angry. He’ll have to talk to his psychiatrist about that one. Jason says, sounds like a plan, and Sonny says, let’s get out of here. He points at his gravestone, and says, get rid of it. It should have been gone yesterday.
Nina tells Wiley to say cheese as she takes selfies with him. Yuri comes in, and says, Wiley has another visitor. Nina says, of course (🍷) he does, because he’s irresistible. Carly walks in, and Nina suggests Yuri take Wiley. She thinks she and Carly will need time alone. She gives Wiley a fist bump as Yuri takes him. Carly closes the door and says, you stole Sonny’s life, and bitch, you’re going to pay.
Tomorrow, Trina says, today Esme and Spencer are going to get what’s coming to them; Scotty tells Ava that it’s her call if she wants to stay married; Sonny asks if Jason left Britt for Carly; and Carly says Nina is going to pay (again).
Vanderpump Rules
LVP and Ken discussed reopening after lockdown, and met with Nick Alain. James practiced his DJ skills in the living room, using the applause button on his keyboard for response. We saw Lala’s daughter Ocean, and Lala putting breast milk in her coffee. Scheana was also a new mother to Summer Moon Honey. Wow. Pick a lane. In LVP’s interview, she said they’d been locked up for a year, and everyone wanted to come out and party. We’re back baby. Schwartz and Katie were trying for a baby, but so far, had no luck. Luckier on the business end, Schwartz was opening a new place with Tom. We saw clips of them in the unfinished space, and talking about the features they wanted to install. Since the two of them are d*cks, LVP had to be the one to ask about what she’d heard through the grapevine, and they were too scared to tell her. Puffy! They admitted they were going to open a new bar/restaurant, and Tom said they were thinking of calling it Schwartz & Sandy’s. In Katie’s interview, she said she thought the name didn’t convey the funky and fresh vibe the Toms were going for. She told Ariana that she wanted to get involved with the new bar, and in Ariana’s interview, she said, she and Katie had gotten close, but Katie and Tom had always clashed. She wasn’t too sure how he was going to feel about that. LVP told the Toms that she and Ken were supportive, and it was all good.
At SUR, LVP asked Raquel about James, and in Raquel’s interview, she said James was two years sober, and had made progress. He’d been sober since she’d given him the ultimatum. We flashed back to that, and she said, but he still smoked weed. He was California sober. James met with LVP, and told her that he’d been self-reflecting. In his interview, he said he was actually doing better without the alcohol; his DJ’ing was on another level now. He wanted to get back into SUR, and LVP asked if he understood the boundaries. He said he never saw everything as clear as he did now, but she had some receipts showing the opposite. He’d sent Max a series of rage texts, calling Max a pr*ck, and saying Max was fat and nobody liked him, using the word fat in nearly every text. James has zero body fat, which isn’t necessarily complimentary, but I don’t know if he just knows it’s an extremely hurtful thing to say, or he actually has some huge aversion to essentially a normal body type. Regardless, I guess he’s not seeing things as clearly as he thinks. He told LVP that he and Max had a big blow-out. The sad part was, he’d known Max for a decade, and this had to do with splitting a plate of food in a restaurant. James said it was one of those little bumps in a friendship, and Max had blocked him all over the place. LVP said she’d block him too. He acted like an a-hole.
In Scheana’s interview, she told us that she and Brock were seeing each other, the pandemic hit, they moved in together, and nine months later, they had a baby. She was sure he was the one, and knew she’d said that before, but she’d never felt this secure and in love. He is really cute with the baby, and just plain cute, so I think this is a win for her. In Lala’s interview, she talked about being pregnant, and how her kid just flipped out of the cookie. Yes, we saw pictures. She’d written a book, Give Them Lala, and said she’d been writing it for a year. We saw a headline where she talked about shoving Randall’s toothbrush up her butt when they’d had a fight, and she said Randall’s reaction had been, WTF? but now when she was pissed, he thought twice about brushing his teeth. She told Katie she’d had two babies this week, Ocean and the book. While visiting Lala, Katie got a text invite to Scheana’s hibachi birthday dinner, hosted by Tom and Ariana.
Brock asked Scheana if she was going to invite Lala, and Scheana said that it was upsetting that Lala hadn’t been there for her during her miscarriage. Instead, she’d gone out to dinner with celebrities. We saw a clip of Scheana’s vlog, where she wept while talking about her miscarriage, and she told Brock, it had been devastating. She’d needed Lala, but Lala was having dinner with Megan Fox and Machine Gun Kelly. At Lala’s place, Lala asked Katie, and where was Brock? Golfing. Scheana had gone on a podcast, and talked about Lala not being there for her, and Lala had gotten some intense messages. In Lala’s interview, she said she got DM’s saying she deserved to miscarry. She was having intense hormonal depression, and it sent her into a full-on spiral. Scheana told Brock, from day one, she had Lala’s back, while Lala told Katie that Scheana was not getting an apology. You could only smack the bee’s nest for so long before getting stung.
In Tom’s interview, he said it was going to be their first get-together in the new house. When they first moved in, people were judgy about them having no furniture, but now they could shut up. You get a chair! You get a chair! Everybody gets a chair! Scheana called Tom and Ariana to thank them, but really to tell Ariana that Lala had been talking smack about her on a podcast. Ready with the evidence, Scheana played a clip for Ariana, where Lala said, with Ariana, it is what it is. Ariana didn’t give a f*** about her, and vice versa. In Ariana’s interview, she said she didn’t give a f*** about 99% of people, but she’d gone out of her way to give a f*** about Lala. She’d opened up about her anxiety and body issues, and had let Lala eat her cookie. Tom wondered if Lala just wanted to be controversial, but Ariana said, if that was the case, don’t use her to get attention. She was over being chill and reasonable. F*** her.
LVP wanted Max to work it out with James, because Max was in the restaurant five days a week. She’d invited James over, and in James’s interview, he said it was like being called to the principal’s office when he was five. If that really happened, he must have been pretty mature at five. Most of us weren’t even in regular school yet. Is he Benjamin Button emotionally? In LVP’s interview, she said out of all the people on the planet, her son was the only person on James’s side. She thought it was a relationship worth saving. Discussing it in the kitchen, Max asked why James had been so aggressive, and James said Max complained about them charging $10 to split a plate. He went off because they’d taken a pre-workout supplement. Um… steroids? I don’t know many supplements that would jazz you that much. James said it brought out the Alpha male in him, and Max said he took the same thing, so why had he been chill? James said, Max hadn’t been chill. Max bummed him out over a ten dollar charge. Max said James was playing the victim. When James used to drink, it was an escapade of belligerence every time they went out, and now this. James said he didn’t mean any of it, but Max said he didn’t want James at SUR. Because James still can’t take any pushback, he told Max that he was just the boring little boy he’d always been – which was really smart to do in front of his mom – and Max walked out. LVP said, that didn’t go well, and James started crying, one of his go-to moves. LVP said he was responsible for the situation, and James wondered why he treated his friend like that. Seriously. It was one of those times where anything other than an apology is a bad idea.
Katie wanted be involved in the new restaurant, and told Schwartz, since they didn’t have a baby, that could be their baby. She wanted to be Hot Bitch in Charge. In Schwartz’s interview, he said, Katie didn’t like people, and the industry revolved around people. The theme for Scheana’s birthday was Mom’s Night Out, and she’d asked everyone to wear pink or black, because the only cute thing that fit her was a pink dress. Ariana was wearing pink, but said her soul was black. Tom made a special cocktail called Summer’s Eve, not knowing that was the name of a douche. Ariana asked if Scheana and Lala were going to duke it out. Magician Ben was introduced, and in Lala’s interview, she said, really? A magician for a grown-ass birthday party? She loved magicians, and thought they were super cool – when Randall got them for his child’s party. Ben’s finale was making Scheana’s ring disappear on a balloon that rose to the sky, then reappear in a wrapped box. In her interview, Lala added, okay. That was pretty dope. The chef and server, both Jonathans, appeared, and dinner was hibachied and served.
Katie told Tom that she wanted to be the maître d of the new place, and Tom said, okay, but it was one of those okays that doesn’t really mean okay. Schwartz said, Schwartz and Sandy sounded like they should be serving matzo ball soup. Agreed. It sounds like a Jewish deli. Katie said it was uninspired, and in Tom’s interview, he said he’d like to see the receipts of what she’s done, and her achievements of amazingness. Then there was this huge deal about the name, and Tom told Schwartz that he was done arguing with Katie; no more. James stood up like he was going to give a toast, and invited everyone to Palm Springs. There wasn’t going to be a Coachella this year, so he thought they could recreate it. Tom said they’d make their own Coachella. Scheana told Brock that she still needed to have a conversation with Lala, and grabbed Lala as she was going inside. She asked if Lala would sit down with her, and Lala was like, now? but Scheana was insistent. She said she’d needed Lala in Palm Springs. Lala didn’t understand how hard it had been for her. Lala said she’d answered every phone call, and offered to come. Scheana said she wanted to be by herself. When Scheana said she was ready to see Lala, she was on her way to dinner. She wasn’t there for Scheana the way Scheana wanted her to be, but she was there. She wasn’t apologizing. Scheana asked if Lala ever considered she wasn’t thinking clearly; she’d just lost a baby. Lala said she got that, but what Scheana had done wasn’t cool. The day she found out she was having a baby girl was the moment Scheana chose to publicly say Lala wasn’t there for her when she miscarried. She was already fighting depression, and got messages saying people hoped she miscarried Ocean. From the stands table, Ariana relayed to the others that Lala was crying. Something is happening. Lala says she gets what Scheana went through, but Scheana should have called and told Lala that she’d hurt her. Scheana said, that’s how she reacted, but she understood; from Lala’s perspective, she felt she was there. She was sorry she’d expected Lala to be a mind reader. Lala said they needed to get on the same page. She hated that they didn’t share their pregnancy experiences. Those were moments they couldn’t get back. She wanted their kids to be friends.
Raquel asked Lala if they were all right, and in Raquel’s interview, she said, time and again, she’d experienced the wrath of Lala. But she’d rather lead with compassion and empathy, than worry if Lala was going to lash out. Lala told Raquel that she hated how she and Scheana couldn’t get their pregnancies back, and weren’t communicating. She thought they’d had a breakthrough with their friendship, and wanted to stop with the pattern. Raquel said she didn’t know what to expect from Lala. She didn’t know where she stood. Lala said she liked Raquel her right now, and Raquel said she no longer felt she needed Lala’s approval, although she did for a long time. She was over it. instead of realizing Raquel was telling Lala that she’d grown as a person, Lala took it as an insult, and asked if Raquel was trying to battle her. Raquel said she wasn’t. She wanted them to be on the same page, but had felt attacked. Lala said she thought they’d moved on from that. Raquel needed to be babied more, so she’d baby her. Raquel said, just a little bit, making a joke out of it, and Lala said she’d baby the f*** out of her. The next time she wanted to rage, she’d redirect it to Charli. She seemed like a bitch who could take it. Ariana said Lala had raged about her out of nowhere on a podcast. Lala said she talked sh*t a lot because she wore her emotions on her sleeve. She and Ariana had been surface for a while, and she didn’t even hear from Ariana ever. Ariana said that wasn’t true, and Lala asked if It wasn’t true that Ariana didn’t give a f*** about her. Ariana said Lala wanted it to be, and it wasn’t true before, but it was now. Lala said she didn’t need this, and left. Ariana said Lala consistently gaslighted her, and never apologized.
Next time, Schwartz tells Katie that he and Tom have to present a united front; Katie could have sworn Schwartz said til death do us part to her, not Tom; the group goes to Palm Springs; Raquel does the bend-and-snap; and Lala and Charli go at it. And not in a good way.
🕺🕺 Here’s my take on the Toms. They were on Watch What Happens Live afterward, and Tom Sandoval is sooo full of himself. He says Tom Schwartz has a voice and can be aggressive, but I don’t believe that for a second. I think Sandoval steamrolls right over him, as evidenced during the name argument. Which, BTW, Sandoval won. The restaurant is going to be called Schwartz and Sandy’s. When there was a vote as to who was top guy now that Jax – still the worst human being in the world – is gone, Sandoval won that too. Schwartz said he was happy being number two, and I believe that.
🤵🏽 Nikolas For Now…
GH is temporarily recasting Nikolas. There’s no explanation, but I’m guessing positive covid test, or family emergency and his scenes were already written.
Join me tomorrow for some soap and a look into the life of Erika Jayne Girardi, otherwise known as RHOBH. Until then, stay safe, stay environmentally conscious, and stay knowing that when it’s your choice, you have to live with the consequences.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
Jason and Carly light the memorial candle, as the minister says, this candle burns in the memory of those we’ve loved and lost. Our loved ones may be gone, but they’re never far from our hearts.
Sonny lies unconscious, the Tan-O burning around him. He opens his eyes and says, Carly.
Nina tells the fire chief, he has to find a way inside. Mike/Sonny is trapped in there; they have to get him out. He says they’re doing the best they can. Phyllis says, she heard the fire captain; it’s too dangerous. Nina says, too dangerous to save a life? and Phyllis says, there’s no way he survived this much time in that fire. He’s gone, and they have to accept that.
Jax says, come on, Maxie. Pick up the damn phone.
At the wedding, Maxie looks at her phone. Austin says, catering crisis? and she says, Jax knows she’s at the wedding. Why is he calling? Across the aisle, Epiphany clears her throat, and gives Maxie a stern look. The minister reads from Genesis about man and wife becoming one flesh.
Nina asks Jax what he’s doing, and he says he’s trying to reach Maxie. He needs to tell her that Peter set a fire in Nixon Falls to kill her and Phyllis. Mostly, she has to know Peter is alive and on the run. Nina says, forget Peter. They have to get Sonny out of that building before it’s too late.
Sonny struggles to get up.
The minister says, blah-blah-blah about marriage, and all the couples glance at each other. He says, as Jason and Carly give themselves to each other today, let their love be an example – Gladys steals Novak’s pocket square to dab at her eyes – and inspiration to them all. Austin asks if Maxie is okay, and she says she was just thinking about how happy she was when she was marrying Peter. That would have been an epic mistake. But watching Carly and Jason just feels right.
Nina makes a move to go back in the Tan-O, but Jax grabs her. He says she heard the fire captain. The building is on fire. Any attempt to rescue Sonny now will just result in more loss of life. There’s nothing they can do. She says, he’s still alive, and she has to get him out, but he asks how she’s going to do that? The front door’s blocked, the back hallway’s engulfed in flames. She says, he’s in there. They have to find him. They have to find Mike. Jax says, Nina, and she says, what does the name matter? There’s a man trapped in a burning building. They have to help him. She collapses, crying in Jax’s arms.
Sonny tries to push the beam off his back.
The minister says, marriage is not to be entered into unadvisedly or lightly, but reverently and deliberately, and in accordance with the purposes it was instituted by God. Only for making babies. Just kidding; he didn’t say that last part. Into this union, Carly and Jason come to be joined. If any of them there today can show just cause why they may not be lawfully married, speak now or forever hold thier peace. I have to mention, I’ve been to a lot of weddings, and even had one myself, and have never, ever heard this at a real wedding. Monica tells Ned, she keeps thinking Tracy is going to barge in there, and do anything to keep Carly from marrying into this family again. No one says anything, but there’s a lot of looking around. The minister says, good. They can proceed. He asks them if they have any reason not to get married, and to say it now before God and all these witnesses. That’s a new one on me.
Sonny finally gets the beam off, and stands up, but he falls back down to his knees, and coughs.
Carly and Jason begin their vows. I study Carly’s floral hair ornament. Ned tells Olivia, it reminds him of their wedding, and she says, her too. Gladys noisily blows her nose into Novak’s pocket square. Trina says, Joss looks so beautiful, and Cameron says he knows. The minster asks if the audience witnesses will do everything in their power to uphold this union, and everyone says they will. Novak and Buscema exchange looks.
Nina says she has to find Mike, which is getting pretty old. Jax says, it’s no use. He’s not going to let her throw her life away. Phyllis says she loves Mike too, but it’s too late to save him. I might be able to take this more seriously if Nina didn’t keep looking around like Carrie did at the end of Carrie. Nina says, it’s not too late, and Jax says he’s going to get them checked out by doctors, but Nina says she won’t leave Mike. She sinks to her knees, crying, and saying, it’s not too late.
Carly and Jason say all the traditional stuff, and exchange rings.
Jax tells Nina that he’s taking her and Phyllis over to the clinic to get checked out. They help Nina up.
The minister pronounces Carly and Jason, husband and wife. Everyone applauds. He says, those whom God has joined together, let no one put asunder. Everyone chuckles, which is really weird.
Jax asks if Nina is all right, and she shrugs off his arm. She and Phyllis watch the Tan-O burn, and Phyllis says, it’s all gone. She collapses, and Jax calls for a medic. Nina says, oh my God, and runs for the back of the Tan-O. Jax says, Nina, no, like she might listen. Behind the Tan-O, Sonny is walking out as Nina runs up. He slumps down, and she holds him.
Jason kisses his bride. Everyone applauds again, and they get a standing ovation.
Nina rocks Sonny, and tells him that he’s going to be okay.
Josslyn gives Carly the bouquet, and says she’s happy for them. Carly says she’s happy too, and Jason says, him too. The Wedding March plays, and they walk out to more applause. Outside the chapel, Jason asks what they do now, and Carly says, they shake a lot of hands and kiss a lot of cheeks. He says, that’s one option, and she asks what he’s talking about. He says, let’s go, takes her hand, and they jet.
Jax runs over to where Nina is with Sonny, and she says, he made it. Jax calls for the paramedics, who bring a stretcher over. Jax pulls her away, and suggests he take her to the clinic, but she says she’s not leaving. He almost died because of her, and she’s not going to let him die. He has too much to live for.
Olivia tells Ned and Monica, when she first heard about Carly marrying Jason, she thought it was all kinds of wrong. Sonny’s not gone even a year. Ned asks if she told Carly this, and she says, she would have, if Carly had asked, but luckily she didn’t, so she kept her big mouth shut. She’s so happy she did. Did he see Carly? She was so happy. She was positively glowing. Monica says she certainly had her doubts. Why wouldn’t she? Carly single-handedly destroyed AJ’s life (she says this like AJ had nothing to do with it). But a lot of time has passed, and Jason seems genuinely happy. Ned asks if she’s saying she approves, and she says she doesn’t know. Maybe she’s just a sucker for weddings.
Diane asks Spinelli if he’s feeling a bit melancholy, and he says, he and Ellie agreed to part ways, but he does miss her. He knows in his heart, it’s for the best. She would not have approved of today’s events. Diane says, the ceremony or the guest list? and he says, he understands the necessity of having certain business associates in attendance, but doesn’t she think they put a kind of pal on the festivities? She says, considering Carly and Jason got married to send a message to said guests, it only makes sense they’d be there to receive it. He asks if she doesn’t think they detract from the ambiance, and she laughs, saying, oh please. She thinks Carly and Jason could have cared less. She thinks they were completely oblivious. He says, that’s true. The bride and the groom seemed to have eyes for no one but each other.
Willow says she’s so proud of Michael, and he says, for handing off the ring? She says, yes. For not doing that thing he does where he pretends he can’t find the ring. That is so lame. He says, with Jason as the groom and his mom as the bride? Is she kidding him?
Austin tells Maxie, if it’s going to make her unhappy to talk to Jax, don’t do it. She says she’s not even thinking about Jax, and he’s going to have to wait. She has a job to do. She goes over to Diane, who tells her the ceremony was gorgeous, and the flowers are beautiful. Congratulations on a job… Maxie says, don’t compliment her just yet. They haven’t even gotten to the reception venue. She turns to Spinelli, and says, and on that subject, the DJ has not checked in yet. Can he check on that for her? She’ll text him his contact information. Spinelli says, on it, and leaves.
Gladys says if Brando wants to check on his baby mama before the reception, don’t worry about her. Vincent will make sure she gets there safely. He says, except the Novaks do make him worry.
Woo approaches Novak and Buscema, and says, it was a lovely ceremony, don’t they think? Novak says, no doubt about it. They’re legally married now. Buscema says, which makes them twice as dangerous in his book.
Bobbie wonders where the bride and groom are, and Epiphany says she thought the receiving line was going to be at the church. Josslyn says, her mom and Jason wouldn’t just take off, would they? but Michael says, they’re not here. Josslyn says, so the question is, where’d they go?
Jason and Carly go to where she was getting dressed, and he says he can’t believe she came with him, no questions asked. She says, he knows she trusts him completely, and he says, it’s the no questions part that surprised him. She says she thought he could use a break from all the pomp and circumstance. She was impressed he made it through the entire ceremony without wanting to bolt. He says he’d never leave her, and kisses her hand. They sit, and she says, there was this moment when she looked up at Monica smiling at her. And her mom had tears in her eyes, and Josslyn and Michael were grinning from ear to ear. He says, it’s not just about them. It’s about their friends and family; their people. She says she loves the sound of that. Their friends, their family, their life together. He says, starting now, and they almost kiss, but Josslyn and Michael walk in. Josslyn says, don’t let them interrupt, and Carly says, it’s not fair; sneaking up on them. They’re newlyweds, remember? Josslyn says she knows. Everyone’s out there waiting for them. That’s why she and Michael came to find them. Carly says she promised the church secretary that she’d clear out of there, and she wanted to get started. Michael asks if she doesn’t have people for that, and Josslyn says she doesn’t know if Carly has people, but she has a maid of honor and a best man. That sounds like a job for them. Michael says, not to mention, there’s a wedding planner that’s going to have a major breakdown if Carly deviates from her schedule any longer. Carly says, it sounds like they’re being kicked out, and Jason says he thinks so. Carly says, all kidding aside, she thanks Josslyn and Michael for standing up for them and making the day special. She loves them so much. Josslyn tells Jason, she’d say welcome to the family, but he’s already a part of it. Jason says he’ll take it anyway, and they hug. Michael awkwardly hugs Jason, and tells them, get out here.
Epiphany asks if Bobbie has any guess where her daughter and brand new son-in-law are, and Bobbie says, no. Her biggest worry was if anyone was going to object. Epiphany asks if Bobbie really thought someone was going to do that, and Bobbie says, she didn’t? Epiphany says, like who? Bobbie says she happens to know Jax is not happy with who Josslyn’s new stepdad is Jason, and Epiphany says she’s glad he realized the ceremony wasn’t the place to air his objections. Bobbie says, he’s not entirely wrong, but he’s not taking into account the bond between Jason and Carly, and how committed they are to each other and their family, which of course (🍷) includes Josslyn. Maxie comes out, and asks where the bride and groom are. See this schedule on her phone? Every minute of the day is planned, and there’s no room for Jason and Carly to go rogue. Olivia says, here are the newlyweds, and Maxie goes over to them, asking where they’ve been. Carly says, they just needed a minute alone, and Epiphany says, mm-hm. Well, they’re here now. Let them congratulate the couple. Everyone applauds.
Inside the chapel, Gladys tells Novak that they should join everyone. He tells her to go be with her son. He’ll be there in a moment. She says, he’d better, and leaves. Novak asks Buscema what he thinks. Should they join everyone? Buscema says, why not? Carpe diem. Novak says, seize the day, just in case someone didn’t know what that meant, and Woo says, most people forget the rest of that famous quote. Quam minimum credula postero. Buscema says, which means? and she says, don’t put your trust in tomorrow.
Outside, Epiphany is hugging Jason, and Bobbie says, that’s one long hug. Epiphany says, is she kidding? Jason is the groom. It’s the one time he has to let her hug him. She goes back for seconds, and everyone laughs. Monica says, congratulations, and Ned tells Carly, welcome to the family… again. Olivia says she’s glad to have another ally, and Carly says she can’t wait. Woo approaches, and tells Carly, it was a beautiful ceremony. Thanks again for inviting her. Carly says, of course (🍷), and Woo says, and the groom. She hugs Jason, whispers something in his ear, and tells Carly that she’ll see her at the reception. Woo leaves, and Carly looks at Jason.
At the clinic, Nina coughs, and Jax says, she needs to get herself checked, but she says she’s fine. She coughs some more, and he says, if a doctor says she’s fine, he’ll stop bugging her, but she may have an injury she’s not aware of. She says, she may see a doctor later, but right now, her focus is on Mike. He was in that fire a lot longer than she was. Jax gives her a look, and she says she knows who he is – Sonny. She’s not delusional. He tells her, he didn’t say she was, but she hasn’t been thinking clearly for months. He knows there’s no love lost between her and Carly, and she may not care how Carly is affected by this, but Sonny is a father. His kids have been missing him for almost a year, and that includes Josslyn. He asks if she remembers when they were dating, how close she and Josslyn were. Josslyn’s been missing her stepfather for months. That must mean something to her. This has to stop. She understands, right? He’s not keeping this secret. Keeping Sonny from his kids would just be cruel. A doctor comes out, and Nina asks how he is, but the doctor keeps moving. Phyllis follows, and Nina asks her how he is. She says, he’s conscious, but he’s inhaled a lot of smoke. Nina says, but he’s going to be okay, right? and Phyllis says, the doctor told her it was a miracle he survived. Nina asks if she can see him, and Phyllis looks at Jax. She says, he wants to see Nina, but Jax says, don’t do it. Let the doctors deal with it. Nina goes in anyway.
Nina goes into the examining room, and Sonny sits up. He’s wearing and oxygen mask, and Nina says he should lie back down after everything he’s been through. He asks if she’s okay, and she says she’s fine, thanks to him and Jax. She calls him Mike, and says if he hadn’t risked his life… He takes the mask off, and says, his name’s not Mike. It’s Sonny. She’s always known that. He remembers everything. And he means everything. Oh man, is he going to be all mean about this now?
Michael tells Josslyn, people are waiting, and she says she knows. She was just thinking, most of her friends don’t believe in marriage. That makes complete sense. Her mom’s been divorced, her dad’s been divorced, Trina’s parents are divorced, Cam’s mom is divorced… but she doesn’t know. Seeing her mom and Jason be so excited to commit to each other, she finds it refreshing and encouraging. Or is she just being hopelessly naïve? Michael says he’d use a lot of words to describe her, but naïve isn’t one of them. She says, the whole notion that everyone gets just one great love in their life, if that was the case, she’s already had Oscar. Does that mean she’s going to be alone for the next 60 years? Is that what the universe wants? He says he can’t imagine any universe wanting her to be alone for the rest of her life, and she says, what about him and Willow? She knows the first time they got married, it was to secure custody of Wiley, but are they getting married again, this time because they’re in love? He says he doesn’t want to get ahead of things, but it’s definitely a possibility. She hugs him, and says, it’s such a happy day, and he suggests they get out there. They don’t want to miss what happens next.
Gladys comes back into the chapel, and tells Novak that she knows he said to go along without him, but patience isn’t her strong suit. She just doesn’t want him to miss anything. He says he’s sorry, but something’s come up. He has business to attend to. She says she was looking forward to dancing with him, and he says, if he wraps it up quickly, he’ll be happy to dance with her. Brando comes in, and asks if everything is okay. Novak tells him to make sure his mother has a good time. He has to sort out some business. He’ll join her if he can. Gladys says she’s going to hold him to that, and Brando suggests they go join everyone. Buscema says, from what I hear, the reception is going to be a real blow out. Brando takes note of this, and I say, oh come on.
Austin tells Maxie, the guests are happy, the bride and groom are smiling. Nice job, wedding planner Maxie. She can relax for a little while now. She says, a wedding planner’s job is not done until the last tuna tartare has been eaten, and the final dance is over. She wonders why Jax called. He never calls her. He knows she’s at a wedding. Granted, a wedding he’s not very happy about, but still, it’s Carly and Jason’s big day. Spinelli flings himself at Jason, hugging him.
Phyllis tells Jax, it was one thing to hear the truth about Mike being Sonny; it was another to see it for herself. That man with Mike’s face is someone different. Kind and appreciative, but a whole different energy. He says, she just met Sonny Corinthos. She says, Nina knew who he was the entire time, and he says, unfortunately, yes, she did.
Nina says she can see it in Sonny’s eyes; he’s different now. He says it took a near-death experience to remind him of who he was before he washed up in Nixon Falls. She says, the good news is, she doesn’t have to lie anymore. They can start from scratch. Knowing who he was before, and knowing the kind of connection they made together… He says, she really believes that? and she says, the name Mike might be false, but the way they feel about each other is real. He asks why she did it, and she says, if he remembers everything, his memories as Sonny, but also as Mike, then he already knows the answer.
Maxie asks if everyone has their bubble makers ready, and Epiphany says, locked and loaded. Maxie says, okay, people. It’s time for bubbles. Inside, Michael tells Jason and Carly they’re going to be drowning bubbles. Carly takes Jason’s hand, and they walk out between the two lines of guests. Bubbles fill the air, and they kiss.
In a limo, Buscema says, now that he and Novak are alone, not to mention away from Gladys, they can speak freely. He knows Novak has questions. Novak asks if the plan was Cyrus’s idea, and Buscema says, Cyrus is in maximum security; that’s not changing. But Cyrus is right about one thing. The world is about to be a better place without Jason and Carly in it.
In their limo, Carly tells Jason, they did it. Even with a church full of Quartermaines, Corinthoses, and business associates, lightning didn’t strike the steeple. He says, let’s not get over-confident. They still have the whole reception to get through. She says she’s not worried. They deserve their happy ending, and they’re going to get it – or die trying. Why the hell would she put it that way?
On the phone, Epiphany says she understands… She’ll see them soon. Bobbie says, let her guess. GH needs her. Epiphany nods, and says, save me a piece of cake? and Bobbie says she will.
Diane says, Spinelli doesn’t approve of Maxie’s date? and Spinelli says, Dr. Austin Gatlin-Holt. He barely knows the man. Diane laughs, and says, she highly doubts that. He says he barely knows Austin personally. He’s well acquainted with Austin’s history and online presence. She says, he did a deep dive, and he says, for good reason. He’s challenging Edward’s will; he wants a piece of ELQ. She asks, who’s representing him? and he says he believes it’s Scotty. She wonders why no one reached out to her. She did the probate for Edward’s will, and knows all of the provisions. What say the two of them get to know Dr. Gatlin-Holt a little better? He says, by all means. If she’ll excuse the observation, he does seem to be hovering a little close to Maxie. Perhaps they could give her a break. He’s sure she would be most grateful. As would he. Diane laughs, and they walk over. Diane says, Dr. Austin Gatlin-Holt, I presume, and introduces herself. She says, you’re a Quartermaine. They’re just coming out of the woodwork. Come. Tell me things about yourself. He excuses himself, and Maxie says, did Spinelli ask Diane to do that? He says he thought she might want Austin out of the room when he passed along the instructions from the DJ. She says, right. Did the DJ get back to him? She steers him out at a fast clip.
Gladys tells Brando, wasn’t that sweet of Vincent to promise to meet her at the reception? Brando says, that’s not exactly what he heard, but maybe if they’re lucky, Novak’s business will keep him busy all night. She says she hopes fatherhood teaches him to be more trusting of people. Not everyone is out for number one.
Sonny asks Nina how he’s supposed to know the reasons for her keeping his true identity a secret. She tells him, think back to when she and Phyllis were trapped in the fire. He told her that he loved her, and it gave her the strength to fight for her life, and survive. Doesn’t that prove to him that what they have is real? He says, he can’t do it. He’s got to see his wife. He gets off the examining table, and she says, if he leaves there, she wants him to know something. That she honestly loves him. He tells her, don’t say that.
Carly says, when they were in the receiving line, Mrs. Woo whispered something to Jason. What did she say? He says, she was confirming something he already knew.
Buscema looks at his watch, and tells Novak, the surprise should be happening at any moment. Novak says, Gladys took his pocket square. Like he’d want it back after she blew her nose in it. Buscema says, relax. The device has been planted. Mr. and Mrs. Morgan’s love story is about to come to a violent end. Something blinks from underneath the car.
Carly tells the driver, step on it. They can’t wait to celebrate with their family and friends.
A button is pressed, and there’s an explosion near the chapel.
The text says: In Loving Memory of Joseph Behar, Director
On Monday, Valentin tells Anna that he’ll shoot someone on sight (probably Peter), Maxie says she could use a bride and groom, Nina tells Sonny he can’t leave, and Sonny says, try and stop him.
💡 Even though they didn’t show it, I’m guessing it’s Novak and Buscema’s limo that’s blown to bits.
JoshF shows off his Million Dollar Listing. Amazing photos of the tiles. I forgot to mention, the people who bought it want to remove them. I think I immediately blocked it from my mind.
Respect your efforts, respect yourself. Self-respect leads to self-discipline. When you have both firmly under your belt, that’s real power. – Clint Eastwood (This was before he started talking to empty chairs.)
Diligence is the mother of good fortune. – Miguel de Cervantes
It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it. – Aristotle
A person who won’t read has no advantage over one who can’t read. – Mark Twain
Every man must decide whether he will walk in the light of creative altruism or in the darkness of destructive selfishness. – Martin Luther King Jr.
Don’t wait. The time will never be just right. – Napoleon Hill
Here’s your reminder that you are not a robot. You’re a human being, and that means some days aren’t productive, some days are messy, and some days are just for living life – and that’s okay. – Georgie Collinson, naturopath
Happiness is not a goal, it’s a by-product. – Eleanor Roosevelt
Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept no one’s definition of your life, but define yourself. – Harvey Fierstein
If you’d have a drink, I’d make a lot more sense. – Nucky (Steve Buscemi), Boardwalk Empire
⚔️ Ending the Week…
It’s that time again. The time those using the traditional calendar system call the weekend. And for those making lines on a cave wall, it’s two more of those. It’s when I switch gears, and write interviews, the latest of which is Thaao Penghlis – the original Victor Cassadine – streaming on YouTube at 2 pm, Sunday, on Mupo & Friends. Be there or be a rectangle. Until I see you on the Deadside, stay safe, stay practical when life calls for it, and stay seizing the day. Don’t put your trust in tomorrow.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
At The Savoy, Curtis tells Nika that he just got confirmation the party is on their way. She says she can’t believe three guys booked the club for the whole night. He says, believe it, and tells her to make sure the drinks are filled and everyone is having a good time. Sam comes in, and tells Curtis that she has news about Drew’s plane crash. He suggests they go someplace else, and she says they don’t have to go anywhere; it won’t take long. He says he might not have to, but she might want to.
Dante sits at the MetroCourt bar, when Olivia comes in. He says he didn’t think she was working tonight, and she says she’s not. She’s on her way to Carly’s bachelorette party. She’s helping set it up, and has a surprise that’s going to blow Carly’s mind. So, is he seeing Sam tonight?
On the phone, Brando tells his boss that he’ll do what he’s paid for. Doesn’t he always?
Sasha sees Willow arriving at the party by the pool (🍷), and says she wasn’t sure Willow was going to be there between nursing school, Wiley, and everything else she’s got going on. Willow says, when Olivia invited her, she decided she was going to treat herself to a break. She doesn’t know if anyone told Sasha, but there’s definitely good news; Chase can walk again. Sasha says, fantastic, and Willow says she’s so happy for him. Sasha asks if something else is going on, and Willow says, Chase learned she and Michael were together before they could tell him themselves. Sasha says she’s so sorry, and Willow says she put off telling Chase, and only ended up hurting him worse. Sasha says, it was an impossible situation; she did the best she could. If Chase doesn’t realize that now, she’s sure he will eventually in time. Please tell her that she and Michael are happy. Willow says, very happy. What about Sasha and the baby? Sasha says, the baby is fine, and Willow says, and the mommy? Sasha says she’d feel better if she knew for certain Brando isn’t working for the mob again. Josslyn and Bobbie come by, and Josslyn says, Carly is on her way. Bobbie tells them to get ready, and Carly walks in. They yell, surprise!
Curtis tries to steer Sam away, and she asks, what is this? Why is she suddenly not welcome there? He says he’ll explain it later, but right now he has to get her out of there. Spinelli comes in with Michael, saying, a proper sendoff is in order, and a proper sendoff he shall have, and Michael says, it’s what his dad would have wanted. Spinelli sees Sam, and says, greetings and salutations, fair Samantha. Forgive him for asking, but what is she doing there? She asks if she’s not supposed to be there, when Jason walks in. Curtis says, this is why he wanted her out of there, and Michael tells Jason, one drink, a couple of toasts, and they’re gone. Spinelli says, maybe two drinks… Okay, one drink is acceptable. The point is to celebrate Jason’s nuptials. Jason looks trapped.
Phyllis sees the outside table, and tells Mike/Sonny, it looks lovely; like an outside café. They could be in Paris instead of Nixon Falls. He says it was his idea. His first official date with Nina. She asks how it went, and he says, it was great… until they ran into a roadblock. He doesn’t think there’s any way around it.
Ava asks what Jax could possibly have to say to her about Nina, and he says, it’s about his visit to her in Nixon Falls. She says she heard the highlights. He played the hero, and two robbers got shot in the process. He says he stopped one of the robbers, and Nina’s new boyfriend stopped the other. She says, the mysterious new boyfriend. The one who replaced him. Jax asks what Ava knows about him.
Spinelli says, libations are certainly in order. Can they head to the bar? Sam asks if she can speak to the man of the hour, and Jason tells Spinelli to order him a beer. Michael urges Spinelli toward the bar, and Sam tells Jason, tomorrow’s the big day. He says, it is, and she says she’s sure the wedding will be everything he and Carly want. He says, Maxie is working on it, and she says she’s sure Maxie is. She wishes them all the best. He thanks her, and says he wishes the same for her. He goes to the bar, and Curtis asks if Sam is okay. She says she will be. She’s had a lot of time to digest that Carly and Jason are getting married. Carly has always been really important to Jason, so was Sonny. Most of the time, Jason chose Carly first. Now he doesn’t have to choose anymore.
At the bar, Spinelli says, it never occurred to him that fair Samantha might be there, and Jason says, it’s fine. Michael says, it’s still pretty awkward. Jason didn’t want a bachelor party in the first place. Jason says, actually, he was wrong. He and Carly are getting married tomorrow; it deserves to be celebrated. They clink glasses.
Carly says, oh my God. How did she not know they were planning this? Josslyn says they fooled Carly Corinthos, and Carly says, Olivia told her that the pool (🍷) was reserved for a Sweet 16 birthday party. Bobbie says they didn’t want her to know what they were up to, and they wanted to tell her they love her. Josslyn adds, and how happy they are she’s marrying Jason, and Carly says, so there’s no imaginary Sweet 16 party she has to take care of? Josslyn says, all she needs to do is relax and enjoy herself, and Carly says, with her favorite people there, how could she not? Carly says, it’s so lovely, and Josslyn says, and exciting. It’s the day before her wedding day. Carly says she’s starting to feel like a real bride, and Bobbie asks why she’d say that. Of course (🍷) she’s a real bride.
Sonny tells Phyllis that Nina said she doesn’t want to get closer to him until he finds out who he is. She said when he finds out who he is, he’s not going to want to see her anymore. (That’s not exactly what she said, but okay.) What does he do with that? She says, his feelings for Nina are real. That has to count for something. Nina comes in, and asks Phyllis how she is. Then she says, that’s a really dumb question. Forget she said that. Phyllis says, she’ll always be grieving for Lenny, but she knows he wouldn’t want her life to stop. He’d want her to live it to the fullest; to find joy where she can. And since he’s not there to ask Nina, she’ll ask for him. Why can’t the two of them simply live in the moment?
Jax asks Ava to please tell him everything she knows about Nina’s new boyfriend in Nixon Falls, and she says, jealousy doesn’t become him. And she’s certainly not going to confide in the man who conspired to keep from Nina the death of her daughter; a daughter she didn’t even know she had, and is now dead. He says she can’t even imagine how sorry he is for his actions, but believe it or not, he’s trying to help Nina now. She tells him, just go. They’re done here. He flashes back to Josslyn telling him that the sauce is exactly like Sonny’s, and Trina picked it up in a bar in Nixon Falls. He says he’s not leaving until Ava gives him some answers.
Dante asks how many times he has to tell Olivia, his personal life is just that – personal. She says he is seeing Sam, and she thinks that’s great. He says he’s glad she thinks it’s great. They’re meeting there to investigate something. She says, right, and he says, stop. She says she’ll leave him to it. She has to make sure everything is right for Carly’s party, especially the entertainment. It’s going to be such a surprise. She leaves, and Brando comes out of the elevator, carrying a duffel bag. He asks Dante how it’s going, and Dante says, no complaints. He congratulates Brando on becoming a father, and Brando asks if he’s got any tips. Dante says, don’t mess it up. Brando laughs, and Dante says just do the best he can; trust his instincts. Brando says he met Rocco a few times while Sonny was still with them. He seems like a great kid. Dante says, he is a great kid. He’s excited to have a cousin on the way. Sonny would have loved to be there to see Brando become a father. Sasha approaches them, and asks what Brando is doing there. Dante says he’ll see them, and jets. Brando says he’s there on a job, and she says, one of those side gigs he mentioned? He says, one of them, and she asks if he’s going to tell her which one. He says he’s making sure the baby has whatever he or she needs, and then some once it’s born. She says just promise her whatever he’s doing is not mob related, and he says, trust him. He thought she was supposed to be at Carly’s bachelorette party, and she says she was taking a break to powder her nose, which is probably a poor choice of words for her. He says, Carly’s party is there? and she says, out by the pool (🍷). Call her later after his mysterious side gig. She leaves, and Dante comes back. Brando tells Dante that he has a problem.
Sam says she found out some information on Drew’s plane crash that she thinks Curtis will find interesting, and he says, information is only as good as the source. She says she and Dante were able to get ahold of the WSB files on Drew’s plane crash, and it was a charter flight, not a private rental. And there was another passenger on board, but the name wasn’t listed. It was paid for by a company called Leethy Unlimited. He wonders why the name sounds familiar, and she says, because it was the parent company for a clinic in Scarsdale called Creighton-Clark. He says he knows that name from somewhere, and she says, it burned down before he came to Port Charles, but Drew was held captive there, and Nina was a patient, along with a lot of other people. He says he knows where he heard the name from; when he was searching for Nina’s daughter. She asks if he knows anybody who worked there, and he says he just might.
Spinelli says he’s so glad to be out socializing. It’s a welcome break from heartache. Ellie is adamant that their parting be permanent. He asks Michael to please tell him that he’s luckier in the romance department, and Michael says he hates to break it to Spinelli, but he is luckier. He and Willow are together, and they couldn’t be happier. Spinelli says he’ll drink to that.
Olivia tells Willow, talk to her. There’s obviously a huge change in her relationship with Michael. Brook implied that there were some developments, but she wouldn’t go into any details, so she came to the source. What’s going on? Willow says it’s very complicated, and she definitely could have handled things better. She suggests they talk in the next day or two; after Carly’s party. Olivia says, just so she’s clear, Willow and Michael are a couple? Willow says they are, and Olivia says, Chase is a great guy, but between the two of them, she always thought Willow and Michael belonged together. Willow says, they agree. It just took them a while to figure it out. Olivia says Willow looks happy, and she’s happy for her, and they hug.
Carly tells Bobbie that she can’t wait to marry Jason. It’s just been a whirlwind trying to get everything ready. Bobbie asks if that’s all it is, and Josslyn says her mom’s been really busy. Yes, Maxie’s planning the wedding, but there’s still a million details to sort out and decisions to make. She’s helping Josslyn get set up at PCU, there’s dissention with her dad… Bobbie asks if Carly and Jax are at odds, and Carly says, really? They’re supposed to be having fun. Why did Josslyn bring that up? Josslyn says, sorry. She should have kept her mouth shut. Her mom and dad fight all the time, and they always work it out.
Jax tells Ava that he still cares about Nina. Knowing he hurt her is bad enough. He doesn’t want to see her get hurt again. Ava asks what he wants to know, and he asks, when was the last time she spoke to Nina? She says she doesn’t hear from Nina all that often. Just a text here and there, about how happy she is. He says, with her new boyfriend? and she says, Nina doesn’t really say very much. Last time she and Nina had a heart-to-heart, Nina was pretty evasive about him.
Phyllis says, right before Lenny’s diagnosis, he’d decided to live in the moment. He was going to take her dancing. She was on her way to buy a new dress when Dr. Ford showed up, and their lives changed. Sonny says he’s going to do everything he can to honor Lenny’s memory. Phyllis says she knows he will, and she hopes Nina tries to do that too. She leaves, and Sonny asks where Nina was. He was trying to reach her. She says she’s sorry she ran out on him, and he says they’re supposed to be living in the present. She says, he is, but she’s still struggling. When she saw his watch last night, a piece of his past, it made her stop and think for once. He asks if she came to any conclusions. Does he have to find out who he is in order for her to move forward with him?
Carly, who is now wearing a tiara, tells Olivia that she’s sneaky, and Olivia tells her, what can she say? She was motivated. What’s the point of renovating the pool (🍷) if they’re not going to use it? She wanted to wish Carly happiness; no one deserves it more than her. Carly says, that’s sweet, but Olivia says she’s not sweet. Neither is Carly. They tell it like it is. It was the first thing she liked about Carly. Carly says, since they’re telling it like it is, she thought Olivia would think it’s too soon after Sonny. Olivia says, if it were anybody else, she would think they were acting out of grief, or afraid to be alone. She would have been wrestling with herself; should she say something or keep her big mouth shut? But Carly has known Jason forever, and knows what she’s getting. She’s getting a Quartermaine for an in-law – Olivia hands her a drink – so good luck with that. Carly says they’re Olivia’s in-laws too. They’ll be allies. They clink glasses, and Olivia says, always.
Willow asks if Sasha is okay, and Sasha says she ran into Brando in the restaurant. He’s on the job, but woudn’t tell her what it is. Willow asks if she thinks he’s with the mob again, when Carly interrupts, saying, he’s not. Brando made it very clear that he is done. Sasha says, there was a part of Brando that liked the excitement working undercover for Sonny. What if he’s revisiting that part of his life? Getting in deep again, under the guise of wanting to support her and the baby.
Dante says, Brando is kidding, and Brando says he wishes he were. Dante laughs, and Brando asks if he has any advice. Dante says he’s got to bite the bullet. Do what he was hired to do. Make that money. Pay for that baby. Brando asks if Dante can just arrest him, and Dante says, not unless he breaks the law.
Curtis tells Nika that he has some business to take care of, and asks if she’ll be okay by herself. She says, it’s all good, and he leaves. At their table, Michael says he knows Jason and his mom never expected to get to this place, but now that they’re here, he knows they’ll be good for each other. Spinelli says, perhaps it’s fate, destiny, and if it is, how wonderful that it’s Carly. Michael says, incoming, and Joey Novak walks in with several other guys. He says, here it is. Here’s the groom, and a bachelor party that’s crying out for some action.
Sasha says she told Brando that if he wanted to be in her life, and the baby’s, he couldn’t work for Carly and Jason anymore, and Carly says, he’s not. Sasha says she heard Carly and Brando at his garage the other night. He was promising to let her business associates know that he was open for business, and Carly thanked him for helping her. Carly says, Brando offered to listen, that’s all. He’s not going to put himself in danger. Sasha says, what if the danger shows up anyway? What if Brando just can’t say no? Carly says Brando is crazy about Sasha and the baby. She has to trust him. How can they have a family if she doesn’t? Olivia announces, the entertainment is here, and says, Owen, cut the lights. The lights dim, music plays, and Brando comes out in a tux, and dances around. Everyone is shocked, and he makes lovey-dovey shark eyes at Sasha.
Sam tells Dante, she let Curtis in on the information they got about Drew’s plane crash. She figured he’d want to know since he and Drew were such good friends. She mentioned Creighton-Clark to him, and he said it seemed familiar. Then he remembered he knew someone who worked there who might be able to give them more information about the clinic. He says, that’s great, and she says he hasn’t been listening to a word she said. He says he heard everything, but she says, no, he hasn’t. He apologizes, and says he was distracted. She says, about what? and he says, about what’s going on at the MetroCourt pool (🍷) right now, at Carly’s bachelorette party.
What’s going on is, Brando is still dancing, with the girls all egging him on. He comes closer, takes off his tie, and pulls Olivia out on the dancefloor. She dances around for a hot minute, and he goes back to his solo act, taking off his jacket. He comes back to the group, and Carly tries to cover Josslyn’s eyes, but Josslyn is like, no way. Brando rips his shirt off, and Josslyn says, nice abs. He’s actually a pretty good dancer. He dances with Olivia for a second, and goes to Sasha, dancing with her, all romantic. Brando rips off his pants, and he’s in tighty blackies. Everyone comes out to dance, except Sasha, and Brando motions for her to come.
Nika tells Joey and his pals, it’s a private party. They’ll have to come back another night. Joey says, oh come on. There’s plenty of room for them. They promise not to disturb the private party. Jason gets up, and tells Nika, he’ll take care of this. Joey says, like Jason took care of him? Strongarming his uncle into getting him out of the country. He walks to the bar, and says, a round of top-shelf whiskey for the room. He wants to toast the groom, since he won’t be at his wedding tomorrow. He’ll be in Siberia. One of his cronies says, isn’t he going to Poland? Joey says, to the groom, and to his gorgeous bride Carly, who is as hot as they come. Michael gets up, and says, that’s enough, and Joey says, Spinelli agrees with him, right? Carly Corinthos is quite the babe. I’m literally lol’ing, because these guys always sound like they’re from the 1940s. Spinelli (who also sounds like that) says, stop this vulgarity at once, and Jason puts his hand on Spinelli’s shoulder. He says, they were just on their way out, and Spinelli says, they were? Jason puts some money on the bar, and says, Joey and his friends are going to drink on him. He tells Michael and Spinelli, let’s go, and they head for the door. Joey says, hey Morgan. How does it feel to be hitting your dead boss’s wife? Is it good? Like you won a stuffed toy at the fair? Spinelli comes flying at Joey, says, you creep, and punches him.
At the pool (🍷), Brando comes back out, fully dressed, and the women all applaud. Brando says, honestly, he had no idea he was reporting to Carly. His boss just told him it was a party at the MetroCourt pool (🍷). Olivia says she’s the one who called the agency to hire the stripper. She had no idea it was him. Willow asks how badly he wanted to die when he saw all of them, and he says he was hoping the ground would swallow him up. Bobbie says, they’re glad it didn’t because he was really good. Sasha says she’s sure he needs a drink, and Josslyn hands him one, saying he deserves it. Sasha takes his hand and leads him away. Carly remembers when she and Jason almost kissed. Bobbie says, hey, is she okay? and Carly says, why wouldn’t she be? Who knew Brando was so gifted, right? Bobbie says she’s not urging any scandalous behavior where Carly’s daughter is present, but she thought Carly might relax, cut loose a little, considering she is marrying her best friend. Carly says, that’s true; she is. Bobbie asks, so what’s the problem?
Nina says, Mike/Sonny will never know how much she wants him in her life, but it doesn’t seem right that he can’t remember who he was before. He has flashes of that other woman, and he knows she means something to him. He says he doesn’t even know if that woman is real, and she says, he won’t know until he finds out who he really is. He says, he’s Mike. He’s the guy who cares about her. He gets that she doesn’t want his past life to come crashing down on her. She doesn’t want to be hurt again. That’s why she came to Nixon Falls, to let go of her past. She says, so he understands, and he says, yeah, and he’s going to do everything he can to prove to her that he does. He doesn’t know how he’s going to do it, but he will. Because he’s in love with her.
Ava tells Jax, Nina probably wants to keep the new part of her life separate from the old one. Does it really surprise him that Nina would want to make a fresh start with Mike? He says, Mike? Does he have a last name? She says she’s sure he does, but she doesn’t know what it is. He says, and she didn’t ask? Ava says, Nina has made an art of skillfully avoiding her questions about him. Now here’s Jax, interrogating her about a man neither of them has ever met. Does he want to tell her what this is really about?
Curtis calls Phyllis, saying, he’s not sure if she remembers him. She says, of course (🍷) she does. He’s the private investigator who tracked her down, and put her back in touch with Nina Reeves. How can she help him? He says, he’s not a private investigator anymore, but he’s looking into something for a friend. It involves the facility where she worked, when she was Nina’s nurse. She says, Creighton-Clark? and he says, that’s the one. Is she still in touch with anybody she worked with there? She says she wasn’t there long. Besides, she was a private nurse so she didn’t really know any of the staff. He says, maybe she can think on it and give him a call, and she says, wait. There is someone. He friended her on social media a while back.
Sam says, Olivia hired a stripper from an agency that happens to be Brando? That’s priceless. Dante says, he’s making some money for his baby, and she says she’s not laughing at him. She thinks he should be proud. She thinks there’s something really charming about a guy who will do whatever it takes to provide for his child. Dante would, woudn’t he? He says he’s thankful he has a job where he can keep his clothes on, she says, that is too bad. His phone dings, and he says, dammit. He has to go. Work. He hopes to see her again soon. She says he can count on it, and he leaves.
Jax tells Ava, he’s worried about Nina. That’s all. He knows Ava tried to steer her in the right direction when it came to Carly. Ava says she did try, but apparently Nina didn’t take her advice when it came to making nice with Carly. Apparently, she did the opposite. Jax asks what she means, and she says, something happened a long time ago. She was mad, and she told Carly that as a grandparent in the state of New York, Nina has the right to sue for visitation with Wiley. Shortly after that, Nina called Carly, and Carly was all fired up and went for the jugular. He says, that’s what Nina told her? and she says, words to that effect. Everyone knows that Nina was wrong to tell Wiley about Nelle. Nina knows it. She regrets what she did, but Carly is Carly. She rarely gives anybody a second chance. He says, believe him, he knows.
Sonny says he guesses he threw Nina a curveball. He’s sorry. It’s how he feels. He really couldn’t go another minute without telling her. She tells him, she doesn’t know what to say, and he tells her, she doesn’t have to say anything.
Brando asks if Sasha sees now why he was being mysterious about his new job. He didn’t think she’d be a fan of him dancing. It’s just one of his side gigs. She asks, what are the others? Centerfold modeling? Escort service? He says, ha-ha. Try cleaning the deep fryer at Kelly’s, and after-hours custodial work at a bunch of offices downtown. He’s sorry if he embarrassed her tonight. She says she bets the money is good, and he says, it’s real good, but if she doesn’t like it, he’ll quit right now. What they have is a helluva lot more important than this performance tonight.
Willow says she hates herself for enjoying Brando’s performance so much, and Josslyn says, you and me both. Olivia says, in her day, it was empowering for women to go to a strip joint. The women could enjoy strip teases as much as the men. Willow says she can only imagine the men back then. The hair… Olivia says, the fake tan, the screaming women… Josslyn says it sounds like Olivia did a lot of clubbing, but Olivia says, bite her tongue. She was a good, Catholic girl. The only thing she knew about strip joints, and what went on inside of them, was what she read. They all laugh.
Bobbie says, when she thinks back on Carly and Jason when Michael was a baby, it was just the two of them. She used to get so frustrated with Carly at times, she wanted to tear her hair out. Jason was always good for her; he always believed the best in her. And to be fair, no matter how much the rest of them doubted her, she justified that faith. Now after all these years, they’re getting married. Tomorrow they’re going to slip into their new life as husband and wife. That’s the sweetest kind of love there is. Carly thanks her, and they hug.
Brando says he’ll call his boss right now, and tell him it’s his last gig as a stripper, but Sasha says, don’t you dare. Compared to working for Cyrus Renault, this is the safest job in the world. He says so she’s okay with women stuffing bills in his costume? She says, they can stuff as many bills as they want, as long as he always comes home to her.
Curtis asks who Phyllis’s friend was, and what he did at the clinic. She says, he worked in the records department. Would he be able to help Curtis? Curtis says, he just might. Text him the contact information, and tell him to expect Curtis’s call. She says, of course (🍷), and he says, if her friend can help, this could be a very big deal.
Michael gives Spinelli some ice in a cloth, and says, he did most of the heavy lifting… or should he say, heavy punching? Jason says, party’s over, let’s go, and heads for the door a second time. Nika is coming in, and he says, if what he left on the bar isn’t enough to cover everything, let him know. He’s sorry this happened on her watch. She says, she’s sorry, but once the fight started, she had to follow the rules. Spinelli says, what rules? and Dante walks in with some officers. A disheveled Joey gets up, and says he was raising a toast to Jason, and this little dweeb went off on him. Michael says Joey deliberately baited Spinelli, and Spinelli says he denigrated the bride-to-be. Joey says he did nothing of the kind. He was complimenting… Dante tells them, shut up, or he’ll take them all down to the station. Spinelli says, actually, they have a wedding to attend, and Dante says, maybe they’ll think more clearly in the morning.
Carly tells Bobbie, there was a time when all she wanted to do was marry Jason. She lied, she schemed, she left a trail of wreckage. Now years after she let that fantasy go, it’s happening. Bobbie says she and Jason have something magical, and Jason would do anything for her. Carly says, and she doesn’t know why that is; she never has (that makes two of us). She just knows that Jason has always been there for her. Even when he thinks she’s wrong, he’s there. Bobbie says he loves her as she deserves to be loved, and Carly says she’s a lucky woman. She’s a lucky bride.
Sonny takes Nina’s hand and says she doesn’t have to pretend she has feelings for him if she doesn’t have them. Maybe she will one day, maybe she won’t, but it feels good for him to tell her how he feels. So he’s going to leave her with that, okay? She says, okay, and he goes in the back.
Ava tells Jax, Carly and Nina must have been able to smooth things over, since Nina is seeing Wiley again, but she gets the sense it’s a fragile peace. Which is another argument for Nina to stay in Nixon Falls. She’s much less likely to cross paths with Carly there. He says, it certainly seems that way, and thanks Ava for taking the time to talk to him. He appreciates it. He starts to leave, and she asks what he’s going to do. He says, what can he do? Except make sure Nina is happy and safe.
Outside on the phone, Jax tells someone, get the jet ready. He’s going to Nixon Falls, Pennsylvania. Where I’m sure they have an airport.
On Tuesday (there’s a rerun on Labor Day – see below), Shawn tells Jordan that there has to be something to lead them to Hayden’s shooter, Nina asks Sonny what happened, and Ava is surprised.
Livestreaming September 8th, it will only be available to Xfinity Rewards members, but the series Beyond Salem will be on Peacock starting September 6th.
Our urge to speak is often rooted in an inflated view of our own opinions. – Tripp Prince
You may be disappointed if you fail, but you are doomed if you don’t try. – Beverly Sills
Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving. – Albert Einstein
There is nothing better than a friend, unless it is a friend with chocolate. – Linda Grayson
Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity. – Seneca
This is housekeeping, not Project Runway. – a hotel staff member on The Bachelorette, when asked to fix a bridal gown
Don’t worry about being worried. You’re heading out on an adventure and you can always change your mind along the way and try something else. – Tracy Kidder
Education must not simply teach work – it must teach Life. – W.E.B. Du Bois
It’s a general moral principle that the more power you have over someone, the greater your duty is to use that power benevolently. Well, who is the one person in the world you have the greatest power over? It’s your future self. You hold that life in your hands, and what it will be depends on how you care for it. – Rick Hanson
Can the world be your oyster if you’re allergic to shellfish? – Hyundai commercial
🌞 And Have a Pleasant Tomorrow…
Hope you didn’t get drenched by Ida or her remnants. We remained unscathed this time, but it only takes once for the word hurricane to cause anxiety, and wondering where you’re going to put stuff. But it looks to be a beauty of a long weekend, or the next three days, if weekend is no longer in your vocabulary. See you at Dead time, but until then, stay safe, stay saucy, and stay never denigrating the bride-to-be. Especially if she’s marrying the mobster best friend of her late mobster husband. No good can come of it.
Laura saw Robert and said it didn’t look like he’d had much rest. She asked if he was throwing himself into work. He told her the rumors of Holly’s death had been greatly exaggerated. Maxie looked at the photos from the shoot and said they were spectacular. They’d had a bumpy start, but she should have known Sasha would find a way to rally. She was a wreck this morning, but only saw blue skies ahead. Valentin said Sasha had given them a signature look they could capitalize on. Maxie said she thought he was going to be a silent partner, and he said he wasn’t going to make a habit of it. Finance was more his style, but he’d wanted to see the literal face of Deception. Now he was off to focus on other ventures. On the phone with Tracy, Ned said another party was after Dillon’s shares? That meant they were probably searching for other parties who wanted to sell. He asked her to keep him posted. Brook overheard Olivia on the phone, saying no one had ever said anything like that to her before, and they could see through to her soul like no one else. Brook cleared her throat, and Olivia ended the call. Brook said she obviously walked in on an emotional phone call, but Olivia said it wasn’t what it seemed. Brook said it sounded like Olivia was having an affair behind her father’s back. Nina told Jax that she didn’t know if she should stand up for Nelle, but if she didn’t, who else would? In court, Nelle was sworn in.
Laura asked Robert if the ship didn’t sink, but he said that wasn’t what he was saying. Mac and Anna hadn’t given him the whole story. The Bureau had a theory about the ship. Laura asked if Mac and Anna believed Holly could have survived, and he said he didn’t say that, but they didn’t know his ex-wife like he did, and until he found out what the Bureau’s theory was, he couldn’t get out there and look for her. Olivia told Brook that she wasn’t cheating on Ned, and Brook said the phone call sounded extremely intimate. Olivia said she didn’t need to explain herself to Brook, but Brook said if she didn’t, she’d repeat what Olivia said to Ned, and let him judge for himself. Olivia said Ned had enough on his plate, including the trouble Brook had caused. She asked if there was a PCPD jail cell with Brook’s name on it, and Brook said her arrests were misunderstandings. The person causing the most trouble was her father’s faithless wife. Olivia said she wasn’t having an affair. She was talking to a psychic. Valentin told Maxie and Sasha that he was bringing Deception public; they were going to be one of the main sponsors of the Nurses Ball. Maxie said that was huge, but it was soon, and he said she should try arguing with Lucy. He was impressed with the shoot, and sure they could pull it off. Maxie told Sasha, whatever she’d done had worked, and Sasha flashed back to the assistant giving her a vial of cocaine. Jax said it seemed like Nina was having second thoughts, and Nina said he’d like if she leaned into them. He said she knew how he felt, and Nina said he thought it was a mistake, and Nelle didn’t deserve a second chance. Jax said people could change, but if Nina was wrong, Wiley would pay the price, and she’d feel responsible. She said if she didn’t stand up for Nelle, and Nelle lost her child because of it, there would be no chance of Nelle turning her life around. Martin asked Nelle to tell the court how her baby was horrifically stolen from her, but Diane objected, saying it wasn’t a question. Judge Lowe sustained it, and Martin asked what Nelle’s reaction was to finding out her baby was alive. Nelle said she was confused at first. She was overwhelmed, and incredibly hurt that Brad had orchestrated it; she’d thought he was her friend. He’d switched her son for the boy he’d adopted, and she grieved for almost two years. Then he asked Michael to be Wiley’s godfather. She couldn’t imagine anything so demented. And she wasn’t the only one who was hurt. Julian had believed he was Wiley’s grandfather. Jules believed Wiley was his grandson, and when they found out the truth, they were both shocked and in pain. It brought them closer, and gave them a connection, and possibly something more.
Brook made fun of Olivia consulting a psychic, and Ned came in, saying, enough. Olivia asked how else she was going to find out about Dante? Her letters returned unopened, and she had no way of knowing if he was okay. Brook apologized, but Olivia walked out, and Ned followed. Ned said he was sorry. He’d been obsessing over ELQ, and who was buying shares to make a hostile takeover. He didn’t see his wife was obviously in pain. Sasha told Maxie, it was important to Deception, and she wanted to prove herself; people didn’t trust her. Besides, she was a partner, and willing to use every trick in the book to make the launch successful. Maxie stumbled a little, and Peter asked if she was okay. She said she was lightheaded, but she probably had too much coffee. He suggested she take a break, and they left together. Valentin asked Sasha if she was okay. Martin asked if Nelle loved Julian, and she said Julian loved Wiley, and would do anything to protect Wiley and keep him safe. He loved Wiley abundantly, and she thought he would make an excellent co-parent. He loved Wiley as much as she did. What mother could find anything more appealing? Nelle told Jax, no one was in Nelle’s corner or hoped things worked out for her. Imagine how lonely that was. If Nelle felt there was no one there to back her up, she might lash out, and end up in prison again. Jax said it would be Nelle’s own fault; Nina wasn’t responsible. Nina flashed back on Nelle telling her about making a deal with Julian to keep Wiley safe. Martin asked why Nelle felt she deserved sole custody, and she said she’d already lost two years with her son. Then Michael kept Wiley away from her. Michael was selfish and entitled, and she didn’t want those lessons passed to her child. She had a good job, roots in the community, and a husband who loved Wiley as much as she did. She wanted to dedicate the rest of her life to giving Wiley the home and family that he deserved. Martin had no more questions. Diane said, Nelle claimed to have roots in Port Charles, and was dedicating the rest of her life to make sure Wiley had the best family possible. Why was it, that when she’d first discovered her son was alive, she raced to where Willow was taking care of him, assaulted Willow, and attempted to abduct Wiley and flee the country? Martin objected, saying it was a verbal assault based on unfounded accusations.
Laura asked if Robert had any proof, other than his gut feeling, and he said the proof was there. He just needed to find it. He could use a partner, and had called Luke, but his line was disconnected. Laura said she didn’t have a current number, but his best bet was to talk to Tracy. Brook asked Ned, since when had there been a play for ELQ? and he said he became suspicious while Nelle sold her shares to a third unnamed party. Tracy told him there had been several attempts to buy Dillon’s shares, but she rejected the offers. He suggested they talk later, and Brook left. He told Olivia that Brook had no business eavesdropping, much less criticizing her, but he wasn’t sure a psychic was the best way to get help. Olivia told him that she felt helpless, and told him about Rocco bringing Dustin to Take Your Dad to School Day. She said she confronted Lulu about it, and Lulu told her that it had been Rocco’s idea. Rocco was already finding a father figure, and it was like her son was being erased. What motivation would Dante have to get better or come home? She felt like she was running out of time. She got that people thought psychics were stupid and silly, but the psychic was the only person telling her that her son was okay. Ned asked if she thought it was possible the psychic was just telling her what she wanted to hear. Brook called Linc, and said she knew he was in Port Charles. She wanted a face-to-face with him immediately. Valentin told Sasha, he gathered that she knew Michael had married Willow, and he was sorry. Sasha said her personal life was personal, and didn’t affect her role in Deception. Valentin said he just wanted to check. He’d been where she was, and knew what it was like to lose someone based on something he’d done, but nothing was ever as black and white as it seemed on the surface. Jax told Nina that he didn’t think Nelle was capable of accepting kindness; she was too damaged. At worst, she would turn an innocent child into someone vindictive and incapable of love. Nina’s phone started to beep, and she said, if she was going to testify, she needed to leave for the courthouse now. Martin said there was no evidence that Nelle was going to flee the country, but Diane said the charges were dismissed without prejudice – like the assault against Willow. She asked if Nelle loved her husband, and Nelle said with every fiber in her being. Diane said, as of this morning, it would seem, and had no further questions. Martin called Julian to the stand. Julian told Nelle that he thought he wasn’t going to testify, and she told him, buck up; plans change. Did she have to remind him what was at stake?
Martin asked Julian if it was true he and Nelle married to create a loving, stable home for Wiley. Julian said it was, and Martin asked if he’d if Julian had experience nurturing Wiley when Lucas was in a coma. Julian said that was true. Brad had been an emotional wreck, so he stepped in. Martin asked if he loved Wiley as much as he did Lucas, and Julian said, yes. Martin suggested they talk about the elephant in the room. Had he ever been sent to Pentenville? Julian said he had, and Martin asked how long was it since he’d been released. Julian said, three years, and Martin asked if he’d had any brushes with the law since. Julian said, not so much as a parking ticket, and Martin asked what he did for a living. Julian said he ran Charlie’s, and Martin asked if it was fair to say he’d cleaned up his life. Julian said it was, and Martin had no further questions. Diane asked if Julian had been arrested for drug trafficking, extortion, and assault, and Julian said none of the charges had been proven, but she said there had been enough to convict him. She asked who Alexis was to him, and he said, his ex-wife. Diane asked if it was true that he’d held a knife to Alexis’s throat, and aided and abetted his siter in trying to blow up GH. He said he was forced to do it, and she said he was perfect for Wiley. She was done. Nelle told Martin to do something. At the MetroCourt, Peter said Maxie had barely eaten, and she said she wasn’t hungry. He suggested she see a doctor, and she said she didn’t need to. She just… He asked, what is it? Olivia told Ned, they’d have to agree to disagree. Her opinion to believe in psychics was as valid as his not to. Ned said he didn’t want to see anyone take advantage of her pain, but she said he calls were the only thing giving her comfort. The doorbell rang, and it was Robert, who promised he wouldn’t take long. It wasn’t public knowledge, but Holly had been on a boat that sunk, and was believed dead. There were discrepancies in the Bureau report, and he wanted to pursue them. He wanted to ask Luke for help, and Laura said the only way to contact Luke was through Ned’s mother. Ned said Luke got scratchy if he gave out the number, but he’d call Tracy. He went upstairs to make the call, and Olivia asked how Robert was holding up. He said the only thing worse, would be accepting he’d never see Holly again, and wondered why he had the feeling he wasn’t the only person who’d been through the wringer. Brook met Linc at the MetroCourt, and said she wanted to talk business. He thought their business had concluded, and she never wanted to see him again, but she said he’d bought her shares as a front for a third party. She wanted to know who. Sasha told Valentin, when he’d asked her to pose as Nina’s daughter, she did it for the money, but she knew she was helping him with a woman he truly loved, and Nina loved him back. So after everything that had happened, she still sympathized with him. She said, sometimes you have to do the wrong thing for the right reason, and he said he knew she was a good person. That’s why he knew she’d be a good daughter for Nina. He was sorry she was still paying the price, but if it was any consolation, Deception was going to be a massive success. She was going to be a wealthy woman. She said, too bad money can’t buy happiness, and he said, too bad, and left. Sasha remembered Michael telling her that he loved her, and telling him that she loved him too. Julian saw Sam in the hallway at court, and she slapped him across the face.
Julian asked Sam to let him explain, but she said he’d just make excuses; don’t bother. She’d been with Lucas, and told him about his new stepmom. He said he’d wanted to do that, but she said she saved him the time. When she’d told Lucas that she that he’d married Nelle, Lucas’s exact words were that Julian was dead to him. She was starting to feel the same way. The worst part was, he’d used the most painful thing that happened to Lucas against him, and allowed Nelle to weaponize Wiley. If she got custody, Julian would be dead to Sam too. He said everything he’d done was for his kids, but she said she wasn’t listening. She and Lucas would be so much better off without him in their lives, and if Leo eventually came to the same conclusion, they’d be there to support him. Olivia told Robert that Brook overheard her call a psychic, and she wound up telling Ned. He was nice about it, but thought it was a total scam. Robert said he’d spent time in the Outback, and the aboriginals were very spiritual. What we looked at as superstition, they looked at as a part of life. He asked what she hoped to find, and she said, Dante. She need to have hope that he’d be okay. The whole world was moving on without him, and she had to keep fighting and believing he’d be okay. The psychic was the only person to give her hope. He told her not to give up hope on Dante, like he wasn’t going to with Holly. There was nothing crazy about it. Ned listened outside the door. Brook said Linc had stonewalled her until she’d agreed to sell him the shares. It made sense. Of course (🍷) he was just a front man. Who was pulling the strings? Linc said it was none of her business, but she said she wasn’t leaving until she got a name. Valentin saw Laura at the MetroCourt, and she asked if he’d gotten an invitation to Windymere for the unveiling. He said he had, and thought it was a joke. She hoped he chose not to go, for Charlotte’s sake, and Nikolas didn’t need any more trouble, even if he was asking for it. He said he’d thrown the invitation away. He no longer needed the estate to prove anything. Julian went back into the courtroom, and Martin said he was expecting his next witness any moment. Nina walked in.
Martin called Nina to the stand, and Carly asked Jax what the hell she was doing. Jax said he had no idea. Peter came back from taking a call, and saw that Maxie hadn’t taken a bite of her food. He asked if she was sure she was okay, and she said she thought it was just stress from work, but maybe she would see a doctor. The assistant who’d given Sasha the cocaine, produced another vial, but Sasha said she didn’t need it. The assistant told her to keep it. She’d never know when she’d need another boost. Laura called Anna, and said she was worried about Robert. Ned told Robert that he spoke to his mother, and gave Robert the number to Luke’s burner phone. He said Luke was expecting Ned’s call. Robert thanked him, and told Olivia to look out for herself. Olivia told him to do the same. When Robert left, Ned asked if Olivia was feeling better. She said she was; you never knew who would come up with the right words. Linc told Brook, it was a one-time thing. He had zero obligation to tell her, and the person who bought the shares wanted to stay anonymous. Brook said she still hadn’t gone public with what Linc did, but she could, and he could lose his career. He asked if she was threatening him. Valentin appeared, and said he’d take it from there. Linc left, and Valentin sat with Brook. He said he’d been looking forward to this moment. He’d heard a lot about her.
Nina was swore to tell the truth – so help her God.
Next time, Ned says ELQ is at risk for a hostile takeover, Nina says Nelle confirmed her initial impression, and Laura asks Cyrus what his real interest in the hospital is.
Shahs of Sunset – Reunion Part Two
Andy opened with saying he was keeping tabs on the Shahs while keeping his distance, and asked if at the beginning of the season, MJ hadn’t talked to Reza because of a contract dispute. Through the first three quarters of the show, MJ kept hopping in and out of her seat, and Destiney fielded this one. She said when she went to visit MJ in the hospital – even though MJ had said no one visited – MJ asked her to wait until the cameras were rolling, and she hadn’t signed her contract yet. MJ said that Ali had wanted to bring up Adam’s inappropriate texts, she told him that he should, but he threw in all that stuff times twenty. Destiney said both Ali and MJ changed their stories constantly. MJ said she’d already spoken to Adam and Reza, even though they insisted she hadn’t. Andy asked if MJ was slow in signing her contract because Reza broke ranks, and signed right away. Reza said there had been an amazing vibe without MJ in the beginning episodes. Andy said viewers had a hard time believing Reza and Adam’s relationship was monogamous. Reza said MJ had started rumors, and Mike said, while it was up to them to admit if their relationship was open or not, MJ inserting herself just caused problems. Andy asked if Reza knew naked Jenga (it still sounds so stupid) was a possibility, and we flashed back to Reza’s lack of reaction when Destiney told him. Reza said there was some old sh*t about Adam that only MJ knew about, and if she wanted to apologize, he’d take her back as a friend in a heartbeat, but without that, there was no future. Adam never cheated or played naked Jenga.
A viewer asked what went through Reza’s mind when Ali pulled out all the printed texts, and Reza said he’d heard from his hairdresser that Ali and MJ were in cahoots, trying to be relevant. Andy asked if Adam took ownership for basically starting all of this. Adam admitted that if he’d never given Ali the ammunition, this never would have started, and Mike applauded. Andy asked what prompted Reza to lunge at Ali, and he said it was the moment he realized his best friend of thirty years had betrayed him. MJ started screaming at him, and jumped out of her seat. Mike said as Reza’s best friend, she should have said Adam hadn’t sexually harassed anyone. MJ said Adam hadn’t; Ali had improvised. We flashed back to when Ali told MJ what happened. Ali said, that’s when he started to improvise, and MJ seemed genuinely shocked. Adam thanked her, and MJ said she was in ICU. GG wanted MJ to talk faster; she was growing grey hairs while waiting for MJ to finish. Andy pointed out that when Reza called MJ, she was recovering. Reza said his only thought was that he’d been betrayed by his best friend of thirty years, a sentence he slipped in at every opportunity. He said he was blinded by that one fact. Here’s where MJ disappeared again, and Reza said he’d wanted MJ to acknowledge the allegation that Adam sexually harassed Ali wasn’t true, but she wanted her hands to be clean. That’s where the problem started. GG watched while eating something out of a container that looked like macaroni and cheese, but was probably some Persian chickpea concoction.
Andy asked GG, Nema, and Destiney to step away while he talked to Reza and MJ, who was now back in her chair. He thought Mike would be an excellent mediator, and needed his help. Andy asked why MJ hadn’t visited MJ in the hospital, and Reza said she didn’t want visitors. MJ said he was lying, and he said he loved her. Why was she trying to make him look bad? She said no one had any sympathy for Tommy while she was in the hospital. No one gave a f***. She thought they were waiting for a camera. We flashed back to five minutes ago when Destiney said the same thing about MJ. MJ told Reza that she’d been watching their kiki, and we saw a clip from their show, Kiki with Reza and MJ. MJ said Reza hadn’t visited, and she was done. There was no more necessary conversation. She got up, and said they’d had thirty years, and he decided to destroy it. It would never be the same. It was over, and she was done. Mike teared up (so did I), and said that wasn’t true. We went back to when Reza read Mike the texts from Tommy about how MJ was going to need surgery, and wouldn’t be able to have any more children. Mike said he texted multiple times, and Tommy said MJ couldn’t have visitors, but he’d keep them in the loop. Reza said MJ was being extra about baby pictures, as she should. There was some yelling back and forth, and Mike said he was trying to fix it, but they weren’t letting him. MJ asked what would be her reason for turning against Reza, and Reza said she’d just had a baby, and someone was willing to do her dirty work. When Ali said MJ had told him that Reza had troubles in his marriage, it sounded like something only she would know. Reza said he loved her; they were like family. That’s why he called her. MJ said Reza never loved her. We reviewed the Season Two reunion, where Reza trash talked MJ. In Persian, MJ said he was a liar from head to toe. She said he’d implied she was on something, and Mike said he’d told everyone she’d robbed a bank. Andy said, at the pool party, Reza said something he didn’t even want to repeat. He didn’t have to, because we saw the clip of Reza shouting that MJ’s uterus exploded because she’d had ten abortions, which is just a horrific thing to say. Reza said, no excuses. His behavior was disgusting. He’d apologized to her, and was crying, while she sat, stone-faced, looking at him like he was crazy. We flashed back to that, and she did seem robotic. He said he wished he could take it back, and regretted it every single day. MJ said, if he regretted it, he wouldn’t have posted what he did on Instagram. Andy said he’d posted private texts, and violated MJ’s medical privacy. We saw pictures of the posts, and Reza said they were shooting a show [where it was going to air], and he’s not a doctor. Andy told him, MJ claimed he was trying to get raise, and Reza blocked her when she was dying. Reza said he and MJ were talking all the way through; he blocked her later, after Ali made the accusations. Andy asked Mike for help, and Mike said damage had been done, but begged them to reconsider. He said Reza, being a gay, Persian, Jewish, Muslim man, they should understand each other. The Persian community was judgmental, and hearing rumors that Reza had an open, weird relationship caused problems. Reza said he loved Mike, but Mike said, f*** you. He wasn’t taking a side. They needed to continue, apologize, and fix it. They knew things about each other no one else knew, and had a bond that was beautiful and unbreakable. He asked who showed up when MJ’s dad passed away. MJ started crying, and he said, he and Reza did. They cried with her, and held her, and held her dad. We saw clips of that, with MJ saying her dad was never going to walk her down the aisle, and I cried. At the time, I had been affected by that, because my father passed away a few months before I got married. She said no one had to deal with what she did, and Mike said they still felt her pain. MJ said she thought they’d make progress today, and Mike said they did. MJ said she felt like Reza didn’t want to believe the facts, the proof, or her track record as his friend. Andy asked if she didn’t accept Reza’s apology, and she asked Reza if she came for him and his marriage. Reza said she had, and she asked if she’d ever compromised his trust during their friendship. He said, yes, and she said, then there’s not an apology. Their lives would never be the same again, like with the pandemic.
We saw clips of happier times; Reza telling MJ they were blood, and MJ standing on a bar, yelling, family! Andy wanted to end with them saying something they missed about their friendship. Reza said he missed the moments of MJ laughing. He was Robin to her Batman, and vice versa. He loved her and always would. He just wanted her to be honest. The sexual harassment accusation had never been a problem for her; coming across a certain way was more important. Andy said, what about MJ, and she said she missed every effing thing about their friendship. It was half her life. Reza said the times they had would never go away. She’d shared the best moments of his life. Now, everyone was crying. Andy told them that they’d both said horrible things. The question was if they cared enough about their thirty-year friendship to figure out a way to start over on a blank slate. MJ said she didn’t know. It was like her whole life. Off-camera, Vida said something, and MJ laughed, telling her that she wasn’t in the shot. Andy asked Vida to join them, and wondered how Vida thought they could move forward. She said honesty was important in a friendship, and there was an old Persian saying, everything is good when it’s new, except friends; friends were good when they were old. She wanted them to learn a lesson from their fight, and move forward with a positive attitude. There was another saying that one enemy is a lot, but hundreds of friends are not enough. She said friends in life were important, and Andy thought that was a great place to leave it, and hopefully next time we saw them, they’d somehow have come together and talked.
Four weeks later, Reza answered a video call. It was MJ, who said she was calling because she was willing salvage their friendship. He said he was emotionally and spiritually drained, and completely exhausted. He’d been a daze since the reunion. MJ said she felt like she’d been hit by a train, truck, plane, and planet. Reza said he did care about her, and she said she never wanted to see him be hurt. Reza said he’d learned that he didn’t communicate with her and say when he felt some sort of way. He wanted her to telepathically understand it, and got resentful when she didn’t, and the resent would grow. MJ said she was sorry he felt like she wasn’t there for him, and she 100% had his back. He said when he did try to tell her how he felt, she would shut him down, and he felt like she minimized it, and they weren’t connecting in the same way. It broke his heart. He felt like there was no time and space for it in her world. He wanted her to push his problems away, and when he thought it was a problem she could push away, she didn’t. It was heartbreaking. MJ said, aside from her husband and son, Reza was one of the most important relationships in her life. He said he was sorry he effed up and broke her heart. Nema had seen Baby Shams, and he hadn’t. MJ said Reza had held GG’s Eliza first.
He said he wished he had been the first one she saw, standing next to Tommy, when she opened her eyes in the hospital. MJ said she wanted to believe in her heart, that they could accept their differences and work through them. She didn’t want to give up on something that was more important than the past horrible year. They’d said if they had one quarter, they’d call each other if they went to jail. That was Reza’s position in MJ’s heart and head. Reza was in his own category, different from her husband. She asked if he was willing, and he said, from the bottom of his heart. She said she wanted to make an effort to salvage the friendship, and Reza said he didn’t want to act like nothing had happened, but have something pure that felt like it was real. He had no space in his heart for conflict with her. She thanked him for taking her call, and he thanked her for calling, saying it was a pleasant surprise.
It was for me too.
🏥 Glad To See You Too…
New episodes of GH will begin starting Monday, August 3rd. The world breathes a sigh of relief. Hopefully, it’s wearing a mask.
You’ve got to learn to leave the table when love’s no longer being served. – Nina Simone
Overcome the notion that you must be regular. It robs you of the chance to be extraordinary. – Uta Hagen
Defining myself, as opposed to being defined by others, is one of the most difficult challenges I face. – Carol Moseley-Braun
I wish we were fairies. Our lives would be so much easier. – favorite kid quote from TinyBeans.com
Accept responsibility for your life. Know that it is you who will get you where you want to go, no one else. – Les Brown (And I’d like to add, accept responsibility for your actions & quit saying it’s because of your mother, father or somebody else.)
It is so liberating to really know what I want, what truly makes me happy, what I will not tolerate. I have learned that it is no one else’s job to take care of me but me. – Beyoncé Knowles
Success seems to be connected with action. Successful people keep moving. They make mistakes, but they don’t quit. – Conrad Hilton
You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step. – Martin Luther King, Jr.
In order to carry a positive action we must develop here a positive vision. – Dalai Lama
I always like to look on the optimistic side of life, but I am realistic enough to know that life a complex matter. – Walt Disney
🐎 Happy Trails To You…
Give yourself a change of pace this weekend. If there’s newly found freedom in your state, enjoy it responsibly, and if they’re reining you back in, don’t contribute to the issue. No 700 guest house parties please. Until we meet again, stay safe, stay in control, and stay dancing like no one is watching. Or like everyone is watching, if you like it like that.
What I Watched - TV With Theresa 