Tag Archives: What We Do In the Shadows

Dec7

December 6, 2024 – The Jury Reaches a Verdict, Sad Farewell, Squid Arriving Soon, Last Release, True Reprise, Furrytales, Quotes Of VII & Last

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Outside the courtroom, TJ arrives, and Molly tells Alexis that she’ll just be a minute. Alexis says she’ll check on Kristina, and goes inside. Molly thanks TJ again for bringing her journal by, and he says he wanted to make sure she got it. She says she’s actually been rereading it. She’s embarrassed. There’s some pretty sappy entries. She made a long list of all the places she hoped they’d travel… He says he’s sorry they didn’t get to make those trips, and she says her too.

Inside the courtroom, Kristina hugs Sonny and says she’s so glad he’s here. He says, of course (🍷) he’s here. Is she ready? Ric walks in with Ava, and Kristina says, more than ready.

At the hospital, Lucas says, Lulu’s awake? That’s amazing. Elizabeth says she’s sure Sam would be really pleased, and he says he’s sure she would. Has she spoken to Lulu yet? She says, all she knows is what she and Lucky saw on the security footage, but she’s not only awake, she snuck out of Turning Woods and made her way back to Port Charles. He asks why she snuck out, and she says, apparently, she saw Cyrus Renault lurking around and she was worried about what he might be up to. He asks if she’s okay, and Elizabeth says, last she heard, Lulu is safe and surrounded by family. He asks if this means Lucky will be sticking around, and she tells Lucas, he says he wants to. Lucas says, she doesn’t seem thrilled, and she says, Lucky told her part of the reason he’s staying is for Lulu… He says, and the other part? She says, me. In case she needs help if she’s found at fault in Sam’s death.

In the breakroom, Brad says, when he and Lucas were apart, he would have given anything to see that handsome face again. Now he realizes seeing him every day hurts more than not seeing him. He deserves this, right? The pain of seeing the man he loves with no hope of ever being with him again. Is he crazy to be thinking like this? Stella puts her hand on his and says, no. He’s just human.

Trina walks into the gallery on the phone and tells Ava to let her know when she’s heard the verdict. Kai comes in wearing a suit, and she says she’s beyond flattered, but he didn’t have to get dressed up just to work on their project. He says he hates to disappoint, but he just had an interview about the championship game. The coach made him wear a suit. She says, he’s doing interviews now, and he says, the whole world wants his insights. She says she’s really enjoying his insights. She loves the artists he added to the section on modern art in New York in the 1980s (Banksy?). He says, about the project, there’s something he needs to tell her.

Lois is getting her makeup done at Home & Heart, and the makeup artist tells her that since she lost her accent, she’s really become a wonderful spokesperson. So clear and professional. Using her learned voice, Lois says, thank you. I really appreciate your kind words. The woman leaves, and Brook comes along. She asks Lois, what’s wrong?

Kai promises it’s not going to be a problem. He won’t leave Trina hanging. They can get an extension. He’ll complete his half of the project and fuse it seamlessly together with hers, then boom! They’re golden… She’s pissed. She says, no, not pissed. Disappointed.

Lucas asks if Lucky staying in Port Charles isn’t a good thing, but Elizabeth says she can’t think about Lucky right now. Not when she’s stressed about what might have happened with Sam. He asks how that’s going for her, and she says, not great. She’s under review because she was the nurse assigned to Sam the day she died.

Lois says, nothing’s wrong, and Brook asks if she’s sure. Lois says, what could possibly be wrong? and goes over to Haven on the set. Maxie comes in and Brook asks, where’s Lucy? Maxie says she has some bad news and Lucy not being here is directly connected to it. Brook says, let’s start with the bad news, and Maxie says, they have to hit $75,000 in sales. Brook says, why so high? and Maxie says, sales have been really slow lately. Brook says she’s noticed, and what happens if sales don’t pick up? Maxie says, not only does it have to pick up, it has to pick up during their segment today. She’s not sure they can move that much product. Brook says, they need to bring out the big guns, and Maxie tells her, that’s what Lucy said. Brook says, let her guess. Lucy’s idea of the big guns is her being on camera? Maxie says she managed to convince Lucy that she’d be better working on the social media people promoting Lois’s spot. Does Brook think they should bring her mom in on this? Brook says, absolutely not. Something’s up with her today and she doesn’t want to add more pressure.

Alexis takes Kristina and Molly’s hands and says, before they get started, there’s something she wants to say to both of them. Regardless of what the verdict is, they’ve lost so much already, and she doesn’t want them to lose each other. Kristina says, of course (🍷), and Molly says, absolutely. (I say, yeah, right.) Ric sits next to Ava, and she says, if looks could kill, she’d be flayed alive. He says, all that matters is the jury, and the bailiff says, all rise. Court is in session. The judge (who apparently doesn’t have a name) comes in and tells them, be seated. Has the jury reached a verdict? The foreman says, we have, and hands it to the bailiff who gives it to the judge. She reads it and asks the defendant to please rise. Ric and Ava stand.

Brad says, Lucas deserves someone much better than him, and Stella says, this isn’t about Lucas. This is about him. He says, what he’d really like is to just be worthy of him, and she says, that’s almost the right attitude. He asks, what’s the totally right attitude? and she says, be the person you’re promising to be. But instead of doing it for Lucas, do it for himself. He says, so be selfish and make it about himself. He guesses he could swing that. She says, a man can reflect on his mistakes, be genuinely remorseful, and do better. If Brad can do that, there’s hope for him yet.

Lucas says he really believes the Board will find that Elizabeth did nothing wrong, and she says, here’s hoping. Portia asks if she can speak to Lucas in her office for a moment, and he says, sure, and follows her.

Kai says he’s 100% positive the professor will give them an extension, and Trina says, of course (🍷) she will. He’s Kai Tyler, QB1 of PCU’s Tigers. If there need to be any accommodations, there will be no question. He says, okay. Then great. They’ll work together and get it done… just a little later. She says, when? The class will be over before the game happens. He says he’s sorry he can’t do this project right now. He needs to focus on being best for the game. She says she really thought he genuinely cared about this class, but now she sees it’s not even a priority for him. He says, it is a priority. It’s just… She says, not his first priority. Well, it is for her. She needs to ace this class if she’s going to go to the grad school she wants or have the life and career that she wants. He says, PCU’s never been in the Northeast Classic before, and she says she doesn’t know what that means, but it sounds major. He says, if they beat Llanview, it would be huge, for the entire school. He can’t let everyone down. She has to see that. She says she does, but does he see where this puts her? Most people who major in Art History want to make learning interactive. That’s why the professor made this a presentation. He says, and they will still present it, and she says, to who? They can’t force their classmates to come back. He says, what if they do a slideshow? They can play it when everyone else presents their projects. She says, he doesn’t get it. Professor Donahue is a big deal in the art world. To present to the professor is a can’t miss opportunity for her. She can’t blow it off and present a slideshow. He says, so what are we going to do? but she says, there’s no we here. He needs to do what he needs to do for his future, and she’s going to do what she needs to do for hers.

The foreman says, we, the jury, find the defendant, Ava Jerome, not guilty, and the judge says, the court thanks the jury for its service. She thanks the attorneys and tells Ava, in accordance with the State of New York, she’s been found not guilty of manslaughter in the first degree, and she may not be retried for those crimes. She is free to go. Kristina is stunned, and the bailiff says, all rise. Ava thanks Ric and hugs him. Molly follows TJ out, but Kristina just sits there, a blank look on her face. Sonny asks her to look at him, and Alexis asks if she’s okay. Kristina doesn’t respond.

Lucas tells Elizabeth, good news. He went from surgeon under review to surgeon selected to represent GH at a medical symposium in Miami. Elizabeth says, that’s fantastic, and he says he knows. And apparently, it’s exclusive. He’s one of five doctors here that they tapped to go. She says, congratulations, and he says he’s really excited. Brad listens from around the corner.

On the air, Lois says, if they’re like her, always running from one thing to the next – work, family, maybe a night out with the girls. You’re looking for a shortcut to look and feel your best. Is she right? Haven says, absolutely, and how can Deception help with that? Lois says she’s so glad Haven asked. Their new cream dabber makeup, Deception Color Eyes, Cheeks, and Lips is the perfect solution. This unique and versatile and revolutionary product does exactly what it says… As she talks, Haven goes to the side and tells Maxie and Brook, they know how much she loves their product and how much she loves having them here… Maxie says, they love being here, and Haven says, Lois has 20 more minutes in her segment, and she hopes they make their number. Lois says, you can fit it in your purse, or you could put it right into your pocket. Haven thanks her and says she just loves the new product. Why don’t they take a caller? She welcomes the caller and asks how Deception has inspired them, and the caller says she loves Haven, and loves Home & Heart, and she loves Deception, especially The Deceptor. Fine lines and wrinkles, gone. Lois says she knows that voice. That is Francesca DiFrancenzi from her neighborhood. She thanks Franny for calling in and says she loves hearing her voice. Franny says she’s not loving the sound of Lois’s voice. She called to call Lois out. Haven suggests she call out which Deception product she likes best, and Franny says, all the girls were so proud of Lois when she landed this gig. They threw her a party. They even let Tony G.’s wife bring her macaroni salad… the one with the mayonnaise? Lois makes a face, and Franny says, and they ate it – for her. And now she’s talking different. She ditched her accent. Why? Is she ashamed of where she comes from?

Sonny asks if Kristina can hear him and Alexis says, she has to talk to them. Please. Kristina looks at her, and Sonny says, she had them worried for a minute. Alexis says she’s sorry about the verdict, and Kristina says, that’s it. It’s over? Alexis says, yes. There is no legal recourse. Kristina says, okay, and they stand up.

In the hallway, Molly tells TJ that she’s sorry, and he says, for what? The verdict? She says, for the verdict and everything. She knows he’s hurting right now. He says, is she? How does she feel about the verdict? Be honest with him. Don’t tell him what she thinks he wants to hear. She says she thinks nobody knows what happened in that hotel room except Ava and Kristina. She thinks Ava is a despicable person, but she doesn’t think Ava pushed Kristina out the window. Yes, she thinks it was an accident. He says he didn’t ask her what she thought. He asked her what she felt. And based on what she just told him, he thinks she feels satisfied with the verdict. He’s glad she got what she wanted. He walks away, and Kristina is there. She asks what TJ meant when he said Molly got what she wanted. What exactly did she want?

Brad gives some paperwork to Portia and says, sorry it took so long. She thanks him and says, but in the future, he doesn’t have to hand deliver lab results. As a matter of fact, she wishes he wouldn’t. He says he wouldn’t have, but he wanted to talk to her about something. She says she doesn’t have time, and he says he’ll be quick. The lab could use someone knowledgeable about advances in virology diagnoses. She tells him, get to the point, and he says he thinks he should go to the symposium in Miami. She says, the symposium is for doctors, but he says, there’s a lecture series on this very subject. The test results she’s holding would have been expedited with that knowledge. She says, that might be true, but it doesn’t change the fact that GH is only allotted a certain amount of resources… for doctors. He says he’ll pay his own way. She can even take the fee out of his salary. She says, he’s wasting his time. He’s wasting her time. He’s wasting the lab’s time. Stella comes by and stops to listen at a distance, and Portia says, and they both know the real reason he wants to go to this conference, and it’s not because of work. He says he just wants to become a better viral diagnostician, but she says, he found out that Lucas is going, didn’t he? He says he still thinks it would be a good idea if he went, and she says, this conference is vital to this hospital, and it’s too vital for him to use to repair a personal relationship. Now if he doesn’t mind, she needs to get back to work. He walks away, and Stella tells Portia that she just made a big mistake.

Trina tells Kai, last semester, she had to take a break from school for personal reasons, but the opportunity to be in Donahue’s class is what got her back here. This is her Northeast Classic. He asks how he can make it up to her, and she says, he took this class because he saw it as a challenge. He wanted to win. He loves to win. She just wishes he hadn’t won her over by telling her that he cared about this class. He says he does care. This isn’t about winning. He loves learning about art with her. He never studied Black artists before this project. She helped him use a different part of his brain for once. She says she’s glad that her passion provided an amusing sidetrack while he’s going to the NFL, but right now, she’s trying to salvage this presentation without him. He says he wishes she wouldn’t talk about football like it’s something stupid, and she says she doesn’t think it’s stupid. She might not get it, but everybody in her life, including her best friend, are into football. He says, exactly. We can’t all be wrong, can we? She says she understands it’s a passion. Football means to him what art means to her. He says he knows, and she says, so just give her the notes so she can put this together and present it herself. She’s sure he’ll still get his A. His phone trills and he says he’s late for a meeting with his coach. She says, he’d better get going. Good luck. She really hopes everything works out for him. She walks out of the room.

Ava tells Sonny that she’ll be by to pick up Avery, and he says, don’t test him. She says, the trial’s over. They share custody. She wants to see her daughter and he has no grounds to keep Avery from her. He says, Avery is better off without her as a mother, and she asks if Avery said that. Alexis tells him, whatever he’s about to say, don’t say it, but Ric says, please do. Threatening to indoctrinate Avery against her mother will only help him win custody. Sonny says, the answer is no, and Ava says, look her in the eye and tell her that her daughter hasn’t asked for her. Avery needs her mother, and he knows it. Sonny tells Alexis, let’s go, and Ric says he’ll just file an emergency order and have Avery removed today, maybe permanently. Alexis says, knock it off. He won. Take his win and go. Have some semblance of grace. Ava says she’s just trying to do for Avery what Alexis should have done for Kristina many moons ago and get her away from Sonny.

Molly says she’s lost so much. She just wants to make peace with what’s happened. Kristina says, peace? There can be no peace. Ava killed her child, their child, and she got away with it. Molly says she knows that’s how Kristina sees it, but Kristina says, that’s the only way to see it. Molly says, but the facts… and Kristina says, the fact is, Ava pushed her through a window. She almost died. Their baby did. Molly says she knows it’s easier when there’s someone to blame. She’s wanted that for so long, too, but after hearing everything in that courtroom, she believes neither Kristina nor Ava are to blame. It was an accident. Kristina says, so essentially, Molly believes Ava’s version of events over hers.

Brad looks at some lab results, and says, this is not what Stella meant by being a better person. Blackmailing his way to Miami isn’t it, so he’s not going to do it. He brings the paper over to the paper shredder and says he’s not going to do it… Unless… He looks at his phone and says, the weather in Miami… February… 70s and sunny? That’s beach weather. Fun in the sun weather. Fun in the sun with Lucas weather. If only he can convince Portia to make it happen. He looks at the paper again.

As they walk down the hall, Stella says she couldn’t help but notice Portia’s chat with Brad, and Portia says she still can’t believe he’s working here again. Stella asks why he was allowed back in the lab, and Portia says, because he was Britt’s best friend and Dr. Randolph hired him back for sentimental reasons. Stella asks if he’s done anything questionable or if any of his work has been suspect, and Portia says, no. But it’s hard to forgive and it’s hard to forget the things he’s done. Stella says she understands how hard it is to trust Brad. She was there when everyone found out what he’d done to little Wiley Corinthos. Portia says, when he tried to swap a dead baby for a live one and pass it off as his own, and Stella says, Brad did his time for that and as hard as it is to believe, he’s trying to be a better man. Portia says, the bar is really low. She’s surprised Stella is standing up for Brad. Stella says, this isn’t about Brad. She’s looking out for Portia. Portia asks what she means, and Stella says, she’s too open in her dislike for him. Portia asks what she’s supposed to do. Wave pompoms? Do cartwheels around here? Stella says, she can be professional. She’s Chief of Staff. She needs to rise above her dislike for any of her staff. At the very least, seem impartial. Think about that. Stella leaves.

Lucas finds TJ in the breakroom and says he thought TJ would be at the courthouse. TJ says he was, and Lucas says he takes it things didn’t go the way TJ wanted them to. TJ says, no, and Lucas says, if he’d rather be by himself… TJ says he thought about going home, but all that would do is remind him that Molly isn’t there anymore. Lucas says, if it’s not any of his business, tell him, but why is Molly… TJ says, they separated. She left. Lucas says he’s so sorry, and TJ says, his daughter’s dead and his relationship might as well be, but Ava Jerome just keeps trucking along, path of destruction in her wake. But hey, so what? Lucas says, Ava… and TJ says he shouldn’t be talking like that to Lucas, but Lucas says, it’s fine. They’re not close. TJ can say whatever he wants about her, about anything. TJ says he doesn’t want to be a total downer, and Lucas says, they’re members of the same club. But one thing he’s learned is, you can never predict how people are going to cope with loss. Some people scream, others withdraw, some people kidnap his nephew’s baby and pass it off as they one they adopted. TJ says he hears what Lucas is saying. He just can’t let go of what happened and Molly can. Lucas says, it’s got to be hard for both of them, and TJ says he just feels like Molly is sharing her grief with anyone but him. He’s so angry, he’s terrified it’s going to consume him, so that’s why he’s here today. He wants to work and forget. Lucas says he thinks that might be a bad idea.

Franny says, the lips match the words, but that is not Lois’s voice, and Haven says she thinks they should just move on to another call. Franny says she thinks Lois has changed because she’s there breathing the rarified air of the ritzy Quartermaines. Lois says, they’ve known each other forever. They know each other’s secrets and heartaches. And if the way she’s talking has caused Franny to assume she’s ashamed of where she comes from – she switches to her normal voice – then this fancy pants way of talking has got to go. Brook says, you go, ma, and Lois says she loves her family. All eight million of them, she loves her people. But right now, she loves Franny most of all, because she’s reminded Lois to be proud of who she is, and no matter where she is, she loves where she comes from. Bensonhurst forever. Franny says, that’s my girl, and asks if everybody is seeing this. Lois is back. Lois says, that voice was a cosmetic choice. It was a deception, and the only deception cosmetic choice she should be pushing is Deception Cosmetics. Is Franny still with her? Franny says she is, and Lois says, good, because she knows Franny is one crazy busy woman, and Deception Color Eyes, Cheeks, and Lips is going to be a game changer for her. As Lois continues, Brook looks at her tablet, and Maxie says, tell her how their sales are doing. Brook says, they’re skyrocketing, and Maxie asks when their sales went up. Brook says, when her ma started talking like herself again, and Maxie says, she means their problem this whole time was they should have let Lois be herself? Brook says, it was granny’s idea for Lois to use a professional accent, and Maxie says she’s not going to be the one to tell Tracy that she was wrong. Haven says, it’s so great to have Lois here, and at this time, they want to welcome Pearl’s Picks with their favorite fashion/beauty guru Pearl. Pearl thanks Haven and says, coming up next, her top ten must haves and a deal on the original Deception favorite. She picks up The Deceptor. Can they guess what it is? Haven says she can. The Deceptor. She’s been using The Deceptor and can see real results. Lois says, they love to hear that, and Brook asks Maxie how the sales are now. Maxie says, they surpassed their target number.

Alexis says, when it comes to parenting, Ava is in no position to throw stones. The only reason she’s free today is out of sheer luck. Ric says, twelve impartial jurors decided Ava’s fate today. Not her, not Sonny. They chose to believe his client’s story over her daughter’s. Alexis says, they’re talking about parenting. Oh, she sees where she lost him. He says, that’s what’s really tearing Sonny up, isn’t it? The fact that people chose to believe Ava’s story over Kristina’s. Alexis says, again, not the topic, and Ric says, isn’t it? Sonny walks around like Father of the Year, but they all know, he’s never going to stop being a criminal. And that is why Ava’s daughter is always going to be in danger. Sonny says he’s not discussing his daughter with Ric, but Ric says he’s Ava’s attorney, so he’s afraid Sonny’s got to. Ava tells Sonny, please, be reasonable. Not for her sake, but for Avery’s. He knows how much they love each other. She knows he doesn’t like it, but they do. She’s just asking him to think of their daughter and what she needs.

Kristina says, who the hell is Molly to decide what was an accident? Molly wasn’t there. She fell three stories out of a window. That was her. Molly says, Kristina’s right. She wasn’t there. Kristina says, but Molly still blames her. Molly blames her because she went to Ava’s hotel room, even though Molly told her not to. Molly says, yes. It happened because Kristina confronted Ava. It happened because Ava pulled on her arm. It happened because there was a duffle bag on the floor. Kristina says, no. It happened because Ava pushed her. Molly tells her, so she said, and Kristina says, that’s what happened. Molly says she knows Kristina believes that, but she believes no one is to blame. Blaming Kristina is the same thing as blaming Ava, which is the same thing as blaming the duffel bag. Nobody could have predicted what was going to happen when Kristina went to that hotel room. So she’s sorry, because at times, she’s blamed Kristina. Kristina says, at least that’s good to hear, and Molly tells her that she shouldn’t have said the things she did at Irene’s grave. That wasn’t right. Kristina says, it didn’t help to hear Molly’s dad recount all the painful details while torturing her on the stand, and Molly says she knows. She just wants them to move on. Kristina says, move on? There is no moving on. Molly says she has to. She’s lost her baby. She’s lost her sister. She’s lost… She needs this to be over. She walks away, but Kristina follows her. Kristina says, maybe Molly can stuff it down, but for her, it’s not that easy. Molly tells her that she didn’t say it was, and Kristina says, Molly makes it look easy. Molly says, if Kristina wants to hang on to this anger and bitterness the rest of her life, have fun, but she’s not going to do it. Kristina says, of course (🍷) she’s not. You know why? She’s too afraid to fight for justice for their daughter. Molly says she has been fighting. She’s been fighting for months for Ava to be brought to justice, to survive her own grief to keep from going insane. She’s tired. She just wants… Kristina says she knows what Molly wants. She heard her the first time. She got it. Molly wants peace. Of course (🍷) she does.

Haven thanks Lois and Deception, and Lois thanks Haven for having them again on Home & Heart. Haven says, they’ll see everyone next time… and Lois says she wants to throw one last shout out to her friend, Franny DiFrancenzi. Haven thanks Franny for calling, and Lois says, Franny reminded her, you can take the broad out of Bensonhurst, but you can’t take Bensonhurst out of the broad. Haven says, they’ll see everyone next time on Home & Heart, and the producer says, and we’re out. Haven says, Lois did great, and Lois thanks her. They walk off the set, and Brook says, good news. Maxie says, they sold more in the last twenty minutes than they did in the first forty. They surpassed their target number. Brook says, it’s the best selling Home & Heart segment they’ve ever had. For whatever reason. Lois says she wonders what could have happened in the last twenty minutes, and Haven says she wonders. Whatever it was, Home & Heart loves it. Home & Heart wants more of it. She tells Lois, welcome back, and goes off with the producer. Lois takes the tablet and walks toward the makeup artist. She says, my, my, my, my, my. Would you look at that? Record sales. She tells the makeup artist, how do you like them apples? and walks out with Brook and Maxie.

Trina leaves a message for Ava that she’s sorry, but got stuck finishing her art presentation alone, so she won’t be coming in for the rest of the week. Again, she’s really sorry to let Ava down.

Portia goes to the lab and asks if Brad has a moment. He asks if there’s a problem with the test results, but she says, it was perfect. As a matter of fact, all the work he’s done since he’s been reinstated is exemplary. He says he’s pleased his efforts are living up to GH’s standards, and she says, actually, that’s why she’s here. Maybe she was a little bit hasty in her decision making before. He made some excellent points about improving lab efficiency. So she’s changed her mind. He can go to the symposium.

TJ says, the last time he and Lucas talked, they agreed it’s good to use work to get out of your head, but Lucas says, that was then. Before the verdict came in and before TJ and Molly. What they do requires they be on their game 100%. One wrong move, one bad decision, could put their patients at risk, and right now, with things so raw… TJ says, he can’t work and can’t go home. What is he supposed to do? Lucas suggests they go to the boxing gym. They can spar and hit the bag, blow off some steam. It would be a good outlet for some of TJ’s anger. TJ says, that sounds perfect, but he has a lot of rage right now, and Lucas says, okay, so then just the bag. They laugh, and TJ says he’s just trying to figure out how to navigate all of this loss without Molly. Lucas says, he doesn’t have to do it alone. Not tonight.

Sonny says, Ava can come see Avery tomorrow afternoon. He’ll be there to supervise. Ric says, Sonny has zero grounds supervising, but Ava stops him and says she’ll be there. She looks forward to seeing her daughter. Sonny and Alexis leave.

Molly says she should have known Kristina would never understand, but Kristina says, no. She understands. Alexis and Sonny come into the hallway, and Kristina says, Molly is able to find peace and move on because she was never really Adela’s mother. Alexis jets over and says, Molly… but Molly says she’s done. We’re done. She walks off and Alexis looks at Kristina.

On Monday, Cyrus tells Dex that he wasn’t there to see Lulu on Halloween; Laura says, it’s not going to work; Molly says, if Alexis sides with her, she’ll lose Kristina; Kristina asks if Sonny has any ideas, and Sonny says he just might.

🥀 A Gentleman and a Scholar…

I met him at a convention years ago and he was very gracious and funny. I’m sure he’ll be missed.

https://people.com/thom-christopher-dead-one-life-to-live-star-8757470

Tonja Walker Remembers ‘Beloved Leading Man’ Thom Christopher

🐙 Get Ready For the Game…

Santa is saving one thing for the day after Christmas.

https://www.cbr.com/squid-game-season-2-bts-video-old-new-characters/

Not being trans, I don’t feel this is a viewpoint I can speak to. On the acting side, however, I always think, isn’t that the point of acting? To play something you’re not?

https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/squid-game-season-2-transgender-character-casting

🌁 It’s Getting Here…

I’m not sure about their definition of soon though. Spring of next year isn’t exactly tomorrow.

The Last Of Us Season 2 Release Window Confirmed by HBO (And It’s Soon)

🦇 Shadow Play…

This is pretty funny.

https://ew.com/alexander-skarsgard-reprises-true-blood-role-in-what-we-do-in-the-shadows-8754247

🐾 Random Pawprints…

🐈 A cat walks into a classroom…

https://www.thedodo.com/close-to-home/stray-cat-tombi-joins-izmir-elementary-school

🐶 This is an amazing optical illusion. It took me a minute.

https://www.thedodo.com/daily-dodo/one-eyed-orb-creature-isnt-what-she-seems

🐕 No way would I name my dog something like Cheddar or Velveeta or Charcuterie Board. I can see Nacho for a Chihuahua though.

https://nypost.com/2024/12/03/lifestyle/trendiest-pet-names-of-2024-inspired-by-celebs-shows-and-snacks/

🦜 Quotes of the Week

Nothing changes an opinion faster than gonorrhea. – Loren, 90 Day Fiancé: Before the 90 Days, Pillow Talk

Hold fast to dreams. For if dreams die, life is a broken-winged bird that cannot fly. – James Langston Hughes

At the end of your life, you will never regret not having passed one more test, not winning one more verdict, or not closing one more deal. You will regret time not spent with a husband, a friend, a child, or a parent. – Barbara Bush (Or your pets!)

No one should be ashamed to admit they are wrong, which is but saying, in other words, that they are wiser today than they were yesterday. – Alexander Pope

True progress quietly and persistently moves along without notice.  – Saint Francis of Assisi

It is common sense to take a method and try it. If it fails, admit it frankly and try another. But above all, try something. – Franklin D. Roosevelt

I might be hung over, but at least I’m here. – Amy Slaton, 1000-Lb. Sisters

❄️ Be Like Snow…

As trite as it sounds, take time for yourself amid your holiday chores/errands/celebrations over the weekend. Then join me on Monday for soap and Sailing. Until then, stay safe; stay not putting a price on love – it is really the thought that counts; and stay remembering, you can take the broad out of Bensonhurst, but you can’t take Bensonhurst out of the broad.

Oct25

October 24, 2024 – Sam Is Prepped For Surgery, Doubtful, Steven Lars, Just a Bowl Of Oranges, Salty Talk, Movie Watch, On Backwatch, Full Circle, Vampire Review, Matching & Hour   

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Jason goes to Sonny’s office and asks, what’s up. Sonny says, it’s time to tell him what went on in Africa, and holds up the diamond.

At the Surf Lodge, Alexis, Danny, and Scout talk about Sam’s surgery. Scout says, it’s a big deal. Sam is saving Lulu’s life.

Jack calls Carly, and when she answers, he says he was starting to think she was avoiding him. She says she’s in the middle of something, but he says he needs to see her right now. She says, now is not a good time. She’s at GH. Jack says he insists. This is important. She says, so is this, and goes in to see Sam.

Laura tells Lulu that she knows it’s hard to hang in there, but help is on the way thanks to Sam. She’ll be here and Lucky will be here when Lulu comes out. She can do this. Dante and Rocco arrive, and Laura says, they’ll all be here waiting for her.

Isaiah is in the locker room, earbuds in, when Lucas says, sorry to interrupt. Isaiah says he likes to visualize a procedure before he does it, and Lucas says, they all have their pre-op rituals. He knew a surgeon who had to wear the same shoes and eat two banana muffins before surgery. Isaiah asks if Lucas is ready, and Lucas says he and Sam have the easy part. Isaiah says, it’s going to take all of them to give Lulu the help she needs. He leaves, and Brad opens his locker, finding a bag from Eckerd’s. He takes out a sweet roll and bites into it. Brad comes in and says, Lucas used to always have Eckerd’s before surgery. Unless he’s hungry for something else.

Ric visits Heather and she says she misses Alexis. He says, that’s something you don’t hear very… ever, and she says, her roommate isn’t good at conversation, but she does make a delicious toilet wine. He says, you win some, you lose some, and she says she wouldn’t mind winning some. Did the judge do what he was supposed to? Ric says, he did. The judge vacated her sentence. She’s going free.

Ellizabeth tells Portia that she heard about Heather, and asks if there’s anything she can do to help. Portia says, it’s enough that Elizabeth understands how she feels, but if Plan A fails, she might take Elizabeth up on it. Elizabeth asks, what’s Plan A?

Curtis’s assistant tells him that his 9 o’clock is here, and he says, let them in. No interruptions. Steven Webber (aka Steven Lars) comes in and they shake hands. Curtis says, Heather Webber’s prodigal son.  

Portia says, they have a big day they need to focus on, and Elizabeth says, they have to get ready to make sure the surgery goes smoothly. Portia says, Curtis is taking care of Heather, and Elizabeth tells her to be careful. Heather has a powerful ally in Ric, and if he sees someone moving against his client, he’ll respond in kind. Portia says, Heather is the one who needs to be careful.

Steven says he’s not a doctor anymore, but Curtis says he was highly skilled before he was incarcerated. Steven says, and financially stable. He thanks Curtis for paying his way here, and Curtis says, it’s the least he could do. Steven says, that depends on why Curtis is asking. He doesn’t have good memories of Port Charles and he’s not planning on staying long. Curtis says he’s not planning on standing in Steven’s way, and Steven asks what he can do for Curtis. Curtis says, when Steven does leave, he wants him to take his mother with him.

Heather asks if Ric is messing with her, but he says he got the call last night. She asks if she’s going to a halfway house or a minimum-security facility with a nice volleyball court, but he says, she’s being released. As soon as the paperwork is done, she’s out of here. She asks if she has to check in with a parole officer, get drug tests, or wear an ankle monitor, and he says, her violence stemmed from a medical condition that’s been eradicated, so she no longer needs those constraints. She says she’s free? Totally free? He says, yes, and she says, oh my God. She jumps up and hugs him. She says she got her second chance, and he’d better believe she’s going make the most of him. She kisses him on the lips, like, mwah, and hugs him again.  

Lucas says he thought he made the boundaries clear, and Brad says he brought Eckerd’s for the staff and wanted to make sure Lucas had what he needed for his pre-op routine. He was just being supportive. Lucas says he doesn’t want any misunderstanding, and Brad says he’ll throw it away, but Lucas says he already took a bite. His towel falls and he grabs it, but Brad says, relax. It’s nothing he hasn’t seen before… but that mole is new. He should get it checked out.

Laura tells Dante and Rocco that Sam is going to be prepped for surgery. If there’s anything they want to say, now’s the time. Rocco goes to Lulu’s bed and sits. He takes her hand, and says, it’s me. Rocco.

Carly asks how Sam is, and Sam says she just wishes they could get this show on the road. Carly says, waiting is the worst. It will take a miracle for Lulu to pull through, but what matters is Lulu getting a chance because of Sam. Sam says she’s just doing what anyone would do, and Carly says, if Sam needs anything, tell her. Sam says, Carly didn’t come to chat. She wants something. She always does. Carly admits she does. She wants to say thank you.

Jason asks where the diamond came from, and Sonny says, Africa. The same plane that brought Jason back. How did he find Lucky? Jason hands back the diamond and says, Jenz Sidwell was holding Lucky captive. They met at a casino in Nairobi and Sidwell invited them back to the camp. Sonny says, smart, but Jason says, not really. They’d been made at the casino and Sidwell took them back to have them killed. Sonny asks how they got out, and Jason says, there was a WSB drone strike. Sonny says, it’s nice to know they’re good for something, and Jason says, it saved their lived. When everything went to hell, they got out. Sonny says, but not alone, and Jason says, Holly was working an angle with Sidwell, but at the end, she helped them escape. She  had the diamond? Sonny says, plural, and Jason asks, how many? Sonny says, enough to know Holly is trouble, but the kind of trouble that might be worth it.

Heather says, the first thing she’s going to do is go to Kelly’s for a BLT, and Ric says, she needs to think about the state of her finances. Probably look into getting a job. She says, what about the millions from the quacks who gave her a poison hip? but he says, even if they get a settlement, it could take a while. In the meantime, she needs to support herself. She says, in the words of Scarlett O’Hara, she’ll think about it tomorrow, and he says, today, she needs a place to crash. Does she know anybody who will take her in?

Steven says he was hoping to have nothing to do with Heather, and Curtis asks if he’s aware of what’s happening. Steven says, Elizabeth caught him up, and asks if Heather got a reduced sentence. Curtis says, her sentence was vacated, and she’s being released today. He’s guessing that’s not happy news. Steven says, their relationship is complicated, and Curtis says, Heather wanted his daughter killed and she’s been allowed out in the world. Steven says, without the medical device that made her violent, and Curtis asks if Steven would bet his daughter’s life on it. He wants them to reunite far away from Port Charles. Steven says, Heather gave birth to him, but she’s hardly been his mother, and Curtis says he thought Steven might feel that way. So he’s prepared to make it worth Steven’s while.

Sonny tells Jason that Holly had a bag of them she wanted him to offload. He’s thinking the haul is close to a hundred million. Jason asks what he’s going to do, and Sonny says he’s inclined to work with her. Jason asks if Sonny knows if they’re registered, and Sonny says, no. There are no qualifiers; they’re stolen. Jason says, Sidwell might disagree, and Sonny asks if he didn’t die in the drone strike, but Jason says, he survived and he’s back in the US. He’s guessing Sidwell is looking for Holly.

Alexis tells Scout to go wash up, and Scout leaves. Alexis tells Danny that he’s a good big brother, and he says he’s the oldest. It’s his job. Alexis says, it’s not easy. His sister can be a little a lot, and when he needs to step up, Danny does. She thinks Danny is awesome and so does his mom.

Carly says, it’s no small thing, and Sam says she’s doing it for Dante and Rocco. Carly says, it means the world to all of them, and Sam says she may actually start to believe Carly can dish out compliments. She may have to bank this one. Carly says, please do, when Jack pops in and says he needs a word with Miss Spencer.

Laura says, Rocco is getting so big, and Dante wonders if Lulu will recognize him. She says, he was just a kid when the accident happened that put Lulu in a coma. He’s had to spend so much time without her. Rocco tells Lulu that he brought this for her, and puts a medal in her hand. He says his first cross country meet. He won. It’s all about endurance. Sometimes you feel like you’re not going to make it, but never give up. He thinks he got that from her. They’re so close, don’t give up now.

Outside, Carly tells Jack that her cousin is having a very complicated liver transplant. She was with the woman who’s going to be her donor. Jack says, Carly’s support is commendable. Why doesn’t she do that and then come to his office? She asks what he needs, and he says he needs Jason’s cooperation in giving him vital information from the rescue. She says, just ask him, and he says, it’s clear Jason is holding something back. She says, good luck, and he says, apparently, Jason made a nasty enemy in Jenz Sidwell when he was in Africa. He’s a gem of a human being and he’s now in the US, probably on his way to Port Charles. She asks what he expects her to do, and he says, she begged him to facilitate a rescue that could turn into a full-blown international incident. Doesn’t it seem reasonable to help? She asks why he went out on a limb for her, and he says, if she has to ask, she’s not as smart as he thought she was.

Sonny wonders how Sidwell survived, and Jason says, Lucky didn’t want him dead, and after the drone strike, there was no time. Sonny says, Laura would be proud, and Luke would be rolling in his grave. If he gets it done fast, Holly can be gone before Sidwell connects them to it. But he can’t do it today. He has to be somewhere. Sonny steps out, and Jason’s phone rings. It’s Carly.

Heather says her best bet is Laura taking her in, but Ric says, Laura is going through a family crisis. Heather says she could knock on Alexis’s door. They got along and she’s sure Alexis can give her an air mattress, but Ric says, she’s going through a family crisis as well that’s connected to Laura. Heather says, Laura can drop her off at the Quartermaines. She could hang out there for weeks before they know she’s there. Ric says, when they do notice, they’ll have her arrested. Think. Is there anyone she can call?

Isaiah sees the Eckerd’s box and asks if it’s for anybody. Portia tells him to help himself, and Brad says he’s glad they’re enjoying them. Isaiah says, duty calls, and Brad says he’s just about through. He’s going to the Woodchuck’s game. Elizabeth says, he’s leaving early for a baseball game? and Brad tells them that he could say, never mind, but Portia tells him, have fun, and he leaves.

Curtis says, what if he could get Steven’s medical license reinstated? He has a friend running for office who has influence. Steven says he can’t throw Heather over his shoulder and drag her out, but Curtis says he’s sure she’ll go willingly. He knows family means everything to her and he’s all she has left. Steven says, she has a grandson, but Curtis says, Laura will give her limited access and if it’s not good, she’ll cut Heather off altogether. All Steven has to do is crack the door open. Steven says, but he’ll be the one who has to keep her in line. He doesn’t want to be responsible for what his mother does. Curtis says, then he’ll be responsible for what becomes of her.

Alexis says, Sam has visitors, and Scout gives her some flowers. Sam says she noticed they don’t have schoolwork with them, and Danny says, it’s in the car. They want to stay here and not go to school. Sam tells Alexis not to let them work her. Stay strong. Alexis says, Sam is amazing, saving a life. There’s not many who would do that, but it’s no surprise that Sam is.

Dante and Rocco are in the waiting area, when Laura joins them. She hugs Rocco, and Dante says he’s got to get Rocco to school on time. Rocco says he’s not going, but Dante says they talked about this. Laura says, it’s a good distraction. His mom will still be in surgery after school. Rocco says he wants to be here. Please? Isaiah approaches, and Dante says he’ll make a deal with Rocco. They’re going to see Sam and it’s cool if Rocco does his schoolwork here. They leave and Laura asks Isaiah if everything is okay. Isaiah says he wanted to let her know, it’s time.

Carly asks why Jack keeps helping her, and he says, chivalry. She says, he doesn’t do anything without an ulterior motive, and he says, by definition, Anna is bitter and cynical, but Carly says, she’s not wrong. Jack says, Carly is cynical too. Almost agent worthy. She asks if he’s trying to recruit her, and he says, her talents could be put to better use than a concierge. Jason arrives and says, Carly didn’t tell him that Jack would be here. Carly says, she needs a favor, and Jason says, who’s asking? Carly or Jack? Carly says, both.

Portia says she realized Terry hiring Brad was in the hospital’s best interest, and Elizabeth asks if she thinks Brad is playing Terry. Portia says, does she? and they see Lucas headed toward them. They get quiet and he asks if they’re talking about him. Elizabeth says, they were talking about Brad, and Lucas asks, what’s he done now? Elizabeth says, pastries, and he says, bastard. Elizabeth says, Brad got his job back on Terry’s recommendation. Britt was Brad’s best friend and Terry was Co-Chief of Staff with her. Britt is dead and Brad needed a job. You do the math.

Curtis tells Steven, it’s about family. He’s protecting his and Steven needs to take responsibility for his. He thinks Steven and Heather should leave town and go far away. He’ll supplement Steven’s income until he’s on his feet. Provided Heather goes with him and stays gone. Steven says, and if he can’t convince her? and Curtis says he has alternative outcomes that are much less pleasant. (Very disappointed in Curtis.)

Elizabeth answers the hospital phone, and Heather says she can’t believe she got Elizabeth on the first try. Elizabeth asks why she’s calling, and Heather says she doesn’t know if Elizabeth heard, but she’s being released from Pentenville. Before she asks, it’s 100% legal. Elizabeth says, congratulations, and Heather thanks her. She says her head is spinning, and Elizabeth asks what she wants. Heather says she was wondering if Elizabeth can pick her up at prison… for Franco’s sake, when Ric walks in.

Lucas tells Brad that he hopes the Woodchucks do better than last time in the playoffs, and Brad asks if he wants something. Lucas asks if Brad manipulated his way back into the job. People are saying he played Terry. Brad asks, which is it? Keep it professional and stay away from each other or be in each other’s business. Lucas says, Brad’s right. Sorry. Brad says he did mention Britt, but he needed a job. He’s not proud of it. Lucas says, Britt would probably be proud, and Brad says he hopes so. He’s doing the best he can.

Elizabeth asks why Ric doesn’t pick Heather up if she’s worth millions, and Ric says, he’s going to be in court. Elizabeth says she wants nothing to do with Heather, and he says, just say no. Elizabeth says, they both know if Heather is left alone, she’ll find trouble. What does he want her to do? Take Heather into her home? Ric says he doesn’t like that idea, and Elizabeth says she was looking forward to ice cream and binging Dance Moms. Ric says he has an idea. He’ll move in too. Elizabeth laughs and says, that’s the opposite of helping.

Isaiah tells Laura that Lulu has been given anticoagulants to minimize the risk, but there are no guarantees. Laura says her daughter has been fighting for her life since she was a tiny girl and winning. She takes his hands and says, if he gives her the chance today, she will win again.

Alexis tells Sam that they have a standing invite to dine at the Quartermaines. She’s torn. There’s free food, which she loves, but there’s also… Sam says, Tracy. Sonny comes in and says he should have known the party was in here. He’s proud of Sam. Alexis says, so proud, and Sam thanks him. Danny says he knows she’s tired of hearing it, but she’s a real hero. Dante joins them and asks, who made Sam cry? Rocco has something he wanted to say. Rocco says, thank you so much, and Sam says she hasn’t done anything yet. Rocco says, she’s saving his mom’s life and he doesn’t know how he’ll repay her. She says, Rocco, Danny, Scout, Dante, and her mom, all of her people, including Sonny, have been so good to her. She’s just glad to be able to return the favor.

Carly says, Jack needs to know what happened in Africa, and Jason says he told Jack, but Jack says, he omitted some key details. Carly says, Jack came through for them. He’s the reason they got home. He saved their lives, and she owes him. She thinks Jason does too. Please help him. She leaves.

Jason says he told Jack everything he knew at the time, and Jack says, very good. He’s being honest while disclosing next to nothing. There was more to Jason’s adventure than he knew at first. Jason asks if Holly is up to something, and Jack says, she took something valuable. Jason says, diamonds. She stole a fortune. Jack says, thus Sidwell’s revenge tour, and Jason asks if they’re done. Jack tells him to thank Carly and tell her to watch her step. Jason says, nobody hurts Carly. Bad things tend to happen to people who do.  

On the phone, Portia says, Curtis is taking care of Heather. She’ll call Marshall after she speaks to him. Curtis comes in and nods. Portia smiles and goes to him. She throws her arms around him.

The prison gates open and Heather says goodbye to the guard. She sees Elizabeth walking toward her, and Steven approaches from the other side. She says, Steven Lars, and he says, hello, mother.  

Curtis says, it took some convincing, but Steven is on board. He’s going to take his mom and get out of town and out of their lives. Portia asks if he thinks it will work, and he says he doesn’t think Heather will be able to resist. It’s over. It’s finally over. She hugs him and sees Brad going to the elevator.  

Sam is wheeled out, and Lucas asks if she’s ready. She says, as long as she’s got him, and he says, she’s hard to refuse. There are some people who want to wish her luck. The whole gang is there, and Laura says she can’t possibly thank Sam enough. Sam says she’s glad to do it, and Danny says, kick butt. Scout tells her, what he said, and Rocco says, she’s his hero. Alexis says she loves Sam so much, and Dante kisses her. the elevator opens and Jason joins them. He says, she’s got this, and she says, piece of cake. Jason puts his hand on Danny’s shoulder, and Lucas says, the OR is ready. There are goodbyes and I love yous, and Sam says she loves them. She holds her fist up as she’s wheeled away.

Tomorrow, Anna tells Laura that she’ll find Valentin and bring Charlotte back to her family; Nina asks why someone is confessing now; Steven tells Heather, that subject is off limits; and the paternity results are in.

🩺 But It’s Her House That Alan Gave Her…

This is a real shame. I can understand the accidents she had. I’m pretty sure I’m going to meet my end by tripping over a dog toy, a dog bed, or an actual dog.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/leslie-charleson-unlikely-to-return-to-general-hospital

🚑 The Prodigal Son Returns…

Apparently, the stars aligned.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/scott-reeves-opens-up-about-his-return-to-general-hospital

🍊 A Dose Of Vitamin OC…

Jenn confronted Tamra and in Jenn’s interview, she came to the conclusion that Tamra had no soul. I concur. She also thought Heather should get out of Tamra’s ass and be her own human being. In Emily’s interview, she said when Tamra didn’t respect someone, she had no boundaries. Shannon met with her daughters and they hung out in London.

The group had an English dining etiquette lesson, and in Tamra’s interview, she said, there were too many rules. Here’s etiquette for you. She then gave us the finger. Seriously, why bother? Immediately after the lesson, Tamra called Shannon a liar and a drunk. Gina told Tamra to stop with the alcohol thing, and Jenn seconded it. In Fancy Pants Heather’s interview, she said, everyone gets an F. As happens occasionally, I agree with Fancy Pants.

Shannon needed an enema, which Katie graciously administered. Constipation, the great equalizer. Just as uncomfortable no matter what your income. And just in case you’re ever thinking about it, I’m not that friend. Staying on brand, Tamra told Fancy Pants that Katie’s daughter was watching Emily’s kids, and they said they didn’t like Fancy Pants because she was mean to their mom. When Fancy Pants relayed this to Emily, Emily said it was Katie’s daughter who told her kids that Fancy Pants was mean. She told them not to talk like that again. She told Fancy Pants that she’d never involve her kids in an adult situation and would never talk negatively about her friends in front of them. Fancy Pants said, Katie f***ed with the wrong marine. She was done.

In a rare humorous moment, Gine hit the fire alarm in a restaurant, thinking it was a device to flush the toilet. Sitting outside, Shannon said she’d told Fancy Pants about texting Johnny J. after the accident and shown her the photo in confidence. Fancy Pants made a million excuses for passing that information along, and said she felt that Shannon was controlling the narrative, but eventually apologized for breaking Shannon’s trust. She claimed she didn’t know it was private.

Meanwhile at the table, Tamra said Shannon told her that there was a rumor about Gina throwing Travis down the stairs. I’m sure there’s a big ball joke in there somewhere, but I’ve had a long day. In Gina’s interview, she said, Travis’s ex was telling lies. She wasn’t appreciating Tamra’s interrogation since she’d just stopped living with the love of her life to get away from this insanity. Tamra said Shannon had come between her and Jenn and was now trying to come between her and Gina. When Shannon returned to the table, Gina said, Tamra told her that Shannon was trying to dig up information on her before the Reunion. Shannon said, Tamra was the one who told her about the business with the stairs, but in Tamra’s interview, she said, when the story circulated in June of 2022, she and Shannon weren’t speaking. Shannon said, Tamra always got super drunk and talked sh*t about people, and in Jenn’s interview, she said, Tamra didn’t know how to be a friend or what an apology meant. She was a mean girl bully and thrived on it.

Shannon walked out, and in one of those ironic life moments, the birthday cake came out, along with singing servers. Tamra blew out the candles, and in Shannon’s interview, she said she wasn’t allowing toxic people to penetrate her life anymore. Tamra was evil. Again, agreed.

Katie summed it up best when she said in her interview, has there ever been a dinner with these women that’s pleasant? Nope. I don’t think so.

Next time, Jenn and Ryan have a wedding (not sure if it’s real); Jenn thinks she f***ed it all up; and Gina says, Jenn ruined her own life.

If you want more:

Real Housewives of Orange County Season 18, Episode 16 Recap: Tamra Is Throwing Everyone Under the Bus

🧂 Extra Salt…

If you didn’t get enough.

Real Housewives of Salt Lake City Season 5, Episode 6 Recap: Keep Your Frenemies Close and Your Housewives Closer

👀 Forgotten Watch…

No surprise I forgot I watched this last weekend, since I almost forgot I wanted to watch it. I did kinda, sorta watch the first two. Frankly, I saw a sex scene I can never unsee in I can’t remember which other one, and a disturbing dance with a scarecrow, so it’s doubtful I’ll rewatch those. But I love an 80s atmosphere, so I was looking forward to this one. I definitely liked this the most out of the three, and what’s not doubtful is Mia Goth’s excellent performances. She did not disappoint and the story was a good one. Probably not for those with weak stomachs though.

https://screenrant.com/maxxxine-movie-timeline-how-long-after-x/

https://www.msn.com/en-us/movies/news/maxxxine-theda-baras-walk-of-fame-star-explained-how-it-calls-back-to-pearl/ar-AA1sKVYf

https://1428elm.com/do-you-need-to-watch-pearl-and-x-to-enjoy-maxxxine-01jard0y8033

🏃‍♀️ Behind In Watching…

Obviously, there are spoilers here. While I’ve still only seen the first two episodes, they’re so short, this is really better suited for binging.

https://ew.com/agatha-all-along-aubrey-plaza-death-reveal-rio-vidal-episode-7-8733310

I’m just behind by one here.

https://ew.com/walking-dead-daryl-dixon-reunion-between-daryl-carol-changed-exclusive-8729288

🤷‍♀️ What’s Weirder…

Wearing a costume or being one?

https://ew.com/rob-lowe-received-bigfoot-costume-60th-birthday-wore-outside-8630889

https://ew.com/rob-lowe-recalls-st-elmos-fire-halloween-costumes-8727923

🧛🏻 Final Shadows…

I haven’t been a faithful watcher, but the episodes I’ve seen are very funny. I love that there’s an energy vampire and they live on Staten Island.

https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/what-we-do-in-the-shadows-season-6-review-hulu

👻 It’s Not Just Me…

As long as I’ve had dogs, we’ve had a costume theme every Halloween. Last year was Barbie. This year… Well, you’ll see.

https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/holidays/halloween-ideas/g39918082/dog-and-owner-costumes/

🧟‍♀️ Where the Wild Things Are…

Come by tomorrow for soap, a dash of entertainment, and my own Halloween movie list. Until then, stay safe; stay keeping all Halloween treats, costume pieces, and decorations away from pets; and stay never giving up, even when you feel like you’re not going to make it.

Jul31

July 30, 2024 – An Arraignment Surprise, Soap Bubbles, Messy New Jersey, Ramonacoaster Return, Ending the Feud, New Freedoms, Where’s Whitney, Last Of the Shadows, Super Rescue & Suddenly

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Anna goes to the WSB and introduces herself as the Police Commissioner of Port Charles, New York. She asks if the desk agent can point her in the direction of someone who knows what happened to Jack Brennan and why he was removed from Pentenville.

Wiley is celebrating his birthday at the pool and tells Willow that he thought daddy was coming. Willow says, he wanted to, but had to do something with grandma. Wiley says, Grandma Nina! but Willow says, no, his other grandma. Wiley says, no. Grandma Nina is here at the pool.  

John tells Sonny, Carly is going to lose her children, her hotel, and the restaurant left to her by her deceased mother. Jason is going to talk. Sonny says, no one has anything to say to John, and John says, Jason is going to testify against him, and Sonny is going to be in that courtroom with all his money while John is beside him listing all the crimes he’s committed. John ends his tirade with calling Sonny a miserable son of a bitch, and Sonny is ready to punch him, but Michael grabs him and says, calm down. Sonny says, let him go, and John tells Michael to listen to the guy who’s not his real dad. Listen to the one who blew his real dad away. For once, he took care of it himself. Michael tells Sonny not to give John the satisfaction. Donna may lose her mother. Does Sonny want her to lose her father too?

Michael tells Sonny, just walk away. It’s not worth it. His family needs him. Sonny says, Jagger finally showed his true colors, and John says, same for Sonny. Sonny laughs, and John says he’s looking forward to seeing more of Sonny. Michael and Sonny step away, and John says, nice uncle. She’s an officer of the court. Why is she protecting him? She says she’s not, and he says, it’s a point of integrity for the county. She tells him to make a formal request. Fill out an official form, and she’ll have it processed. Then if he wants to drag Sonny to court and put him in prison, he’s more than welcome. He’s been waving his badge around, making demands, and using his power to service his own vendetta. He says, she has more than enough to go on and is hiding behind bureaucracy instead of serving justice, and she says, be her guest. Have Sonny arrested and prosecuted, but if he wants assistance, fill out an official request. He accuses her of being in bed with Sonny, and she tells him to request a court order. Until then, their business is done. Good day.

Nina hugs Wiley, and James says, greetings and salvations (not a mistake; he gets Spinelli’s hello a bit wrong). Willow says she’s happy that James’s mommy brought him to the pool, and Maxie says, no one needs to remind them whose birthday it is. Nina looks at Willow, who nods, and she says she brought something for the birthday boy. Spinelli tells Maxie, so far, so good. Wiley is happy to have one of his grandmas at the party. Maxie says, they all know Carly has to appear in federal court, but they don’t know why, and Spinelli says he found out Cates is using the incriminating evidence he has on Carly as a threat to coerce Jason into working for him. Maxie says, that snake, and Wiley thanks Nina for his gift. He tells James that they can show Nina how fast they can swim, and the boys get in the pool. Nina asks Willow if that was okay, and Willow says, Nina has great taste, as always. Wiley definitely liked it. (I think it was a truck, but I wasn’t totally paying attention.) Nina says she’s in the middle of a workday, so when the boys are out of the pool, she’ll be on her way, but Willow asks if she’s sure she has to leave.

On the phone, Dante says, Jack Brennan was at the hotel in December of 2023… Then go up the chain of command to the co-owner Olivia Falconari. Tell her it’s Dante Falconari… Right. He’s her son. He thanks them for their cooperation. Molly comes into the station looking for Anna, but Dante says, she’s out of town. Molly asks if he knows when she’ll be back, but he says he doesn’t. Is there something he can help her with? She says, there’s a rogue FBI agent roaming the courthouse and Dante’s father is hellbent on tearing him limb from limb.

Michael asks if Sonny is okay, and Sonny says he’s fine. Michael is right. Jagger’s not worth it. Diane joins them with Josslyn and Jason, and asks if everything is all right. Michael says, it’s fine, and Sonny looks at Jason then walks into the courtroom. Diane asks if she needs to worry, but Michael tells her to focus on their mom. She says she can multitask, and he says, they all rely on that. Josslyn asks if Jason is sure Sonny is taking his meds, and Jason says, Carly checked. Josslyn says, it’s possible they stopped working, and John lurks behind them. He stares at Michael and moves on. Jason asks what they missed, and Michael says, he can probably guess. How’s Donna? Josslyn says, she keeps asking where her mom is and they keep saying she’s on a business trip where there’s no cell service. She’s going to grow up to be a cop or detective. Pilar has her at Wiley’s birthday party. She’s sorry Michael is missing it, but they’ve got to figure out what to tell Donna if Carly doesn’t make bail. She asks if Jason thinks she will.  

Anna tells the desk agent that Brennan’s time in Pentenville was completely wiped out, as well as the PCPD records of him. That only happens when someone high up wants it. Whoever that is, is who she needs to speak to. He says, she probably knows what he’s about to say, but she says she needs to hear it. He says, the information she’s seeking is probably highly classified. Without a federal court order, they can’t and won’t provide it. Anna says she’s not a civilian, she’s a Police Commissioner, but he says, she’s local law enforcement. She says she’s a former WSB agent, but he says, all that gets her is in the door. She needs a special clearance. She suggests he get ahold of Mia Granahan, the Deputy Director. She’ll be happy to wait. Brennan was arrested for crimes in her jurisdiction. She arrested him herself and won’t sit by and allow the WSB to disappear him. She’s not leaving until she gets an answer. Brennan comes out of a nearby office and asks, must she always make a nuisance of herself? (I love Jack. He’s so much fun.)

Dante asks, how bad was it? and Molly says, words were exchanged, but John was way up in Sonny’s face. He wanted more to happen and almost got it. Sonny took a swing at him. Dante says, but there was no assault? and she says, the punch never landed. If it weren’t for Michael, Sonny would be in federal custody.

The kids play in the pool, and Willow thanks Nina. Nina says, of course (🍷), and Willow says, not just for the present, but for arranging for Michael to meet Congressman McConkey. Nina says, it’s her pleasure, and Willow says she’s sure it was as difficult for Nina to say yes as it was for Michael to ask. He considered asking Monica or Tracy, but Nina has a closer relationship with McConkey. Nina says, wise move, and Willow says, she wasn’t sure, considering how things are between Nina and… Nina says, Willow wasn’t sure if she would go to bat for Carly, but Willow says, no undue influence. They just want the congressman to look into Agent Cates’s abuse of authority. She thanks Nina, and Nina flashes back to Michael saying that she owes his family one and can make it right with one phone call. When his mom is free, he’ll make sure Willow knows all the credit goes to her. Nina tells Willow, spoiler alert. She may be shocked by why Nina did it. No matter what their differences, she knows how important Carly is to the family. How could she say no?

John wanders around the hallway and runs into US Attorney Wilcox. He tells John that he read the files and asks if there’s anything else he should know. John says, plenty.

Carly is brought into the courtroom and hugs Josslyn, but the officer says, no contact. She asks how Donna is, and Josslyn says, she thinks Carly is away on business. John comes in and Carly stares at him, but Diane says, look at her. From this point on, she’s not to look at Cates. Not a glare, not a side-eye, not looking backwards when she tosses her hair. Carly says she never tosses her hair, and Diane says, she’s not to speak to him. Carly says, she’s not an idiot, but Diane says, she’s impulsive. Carly says, Diane made her point, and she can hear Jason agreeing. Diane says, the most important thing to remember is, once the arraignment starts, no words. Not a peep, not a noise, no audible breathing until she argues for dismissal. Josslyn asks if she thinks it will work, and Diane says, no, but the court expects it and it starts the road to acquittal. Michael says he’s meeting with McConkey and asking him to look into Cates’s conduct, and Carly says she hopes they turn over every rock to find something. If she’s going down, Cates is going down with her. The bailiff says, all rise.

Alexis comes to the station and says she’s dropping off some paperwork for Anna. Dante says, it’s official, and she says, once again she’s a licensed and practicing attorney. Dante says, now they can have a different picture on their dartboard instead of hating on Diane. Sam wanted to have them over for dinner, and he thinks this would be a good excuse to celebrate. Alexis says she looks forward to it, and Dante takes the paperwork and leaves. Alexis asks if Molly’s got a minute, and Molly says, she must have spoken to Kristina. Alexis says, yes, she did.

Anna goes into the office and says, it’s good to see Jack, especially since every trace of him has disappeared. He says, there’s a reasonable explanation. He was never there. She says she kept a hard copy of his intake arrest record, and he says, damn. Now he’ll have to burn down the police department – again. He swore it was the last time. Anna tells him to stop whatever game he’s playing. He’s won. He says, what was that last bit? and she says, he won. He’s out and free, and she, the lowly, local Police Commissioner, can’t touch him. What’s going on? He says, sorry, she has no clearance, but she says, that’s never stopped her before. Or him. He says, the Bureau found a use for him. It’s as simple as that. Why does she ask? Was she worried about him? She says she was really worried… that he wouldn’t pay for the crimes he’s committed and that’s exactly what happened. He’s been rewarded for them. He says, he’ll be running a local station in the hinterlands. Some reward. She says, the WSB needed to divorce themselves from Pikeman. It did a good job for them, but things were getting conspicuous. The FBI wasn’t on board, so the WSB let them take Pikeman down and walked away clean. Is she close? He shrugs.

Maxie tells Spinelli that she knows she said she was okay with it, but she wants to know what happened. He says he can’t divulge his methods, and she says, but he could deny them in detail. He says, for instance, he absolutely did not access the evidence Cates is using against Carly, and Maxie says, of course (🍷) not. How would he do that? He says, not by having Sam distract Cates and borrowing Cates’s digital ID. She wonders why he couldn’t use the ID to get rid of the evidence and throw it away, but he says, even The Jackal couldn’t pull that off.

The judge says, the defendant is charged with racketeering violations, and Diane says, they can waive the reading. Wilcox has no objection, and the judge asks if the defendant understands the charges. Diane says she’s making a motion to dismiss. The prosecution hasn’t shared the evidence, which consists of a single recording. There’s no eyewitness testimony, just one audio file recorded by an FBI agent. A guy comes in and whispers something to Wilcox, and Diane says, Carly is a long standing pilar if the community and the charges are lacking in merit. She voluntarily turned herself in hoping to get this whole thing over with. It reeks of malicious prosecution, and she hopes the court sees it for what it is. The judge says, it always pleases her to hear Diane argue a motion, and Wilcox says, the people don’t oppose the motion to dismiss. We all go, whaaat?

The judge bangs her gavel and asks if she heard correctly. Are they agreeing to dismiss the case? John jumps up and says, they’re not, and Wilcox asks, who the hell is he? The judge says she’ll ask the questions. Who the hell is he and what business is it of his? John says he’s Special Agent Cates. He brought Carly in and the US Attorney is making his job impossible. The judge asks the attorneys and John to approach the bench, and John says, they have an iron clad case, but Wilcox says, the audio file is gone. It no longer exists. (I laaaaugh.)

Anna says, the FBI was closing in on Pikeman and Jack got himself arrested knowing he’d never face trial. The WSB left him in Pentenville until everyone forgot about him. He says, everyone but her, and she says, now he’s a free man. And Valentin his scapegoat is also fine? Lounging with his daughter on some extradition free beach? Jack says, she’s right. There. He said it. It’s all true. Anna says, but none of it will see the light, and he says, that’s how the game is played. Speaking of games, he doesn’t think she came to the nation’s capital just to badger the WSB into divulging his whereabouts. She wants something. Anna asks, what kind of leverage does he have against John? and Jack says, John is FBI and he’s WSB. Why would she think he has pull? She says, because you’re you. You have connections. Jack says he’s flattered, and she says, John is off the rails and targeting Jack’s friend Carly.

John says he has an official summary on his phone, but Diane says, in this day and age of deepfakes, evidence isn’t evidence unless there’s a chain of custody. John says, there is, and accuses the DA’s office of being incompetent. Maybe they should look for the file. Wilcox says, they did, and the last time it was accessed was by John. The judge says, so they have no evidence, and Wilcox says, none. She thanks them, and Carly asks Diane, what’s happening? Diane says, wait for it, and the judge asks if the prosecution wishes to proceed. Wilcox says, they’re not moving forward with the case, and the judge says, case dismissed. Carly looks at Jason and everyone looks stunned. Sonny smiles. (I can’t stop laughing.)

Carly asks, what happened? and John says, it can’t be gone. The judge asks if he didn’t hear the dismissal. One more word, and she’ll hold him in contempt. He’s stopped talking? Good. Now listen. For the record, she recommends he take his questions, accusations, and excuses to his superior. His conduct is not for court. Understood? John nods, and she says, good. Now they’re done. Court is adjourned. The bailiff says, all rise, and the judge leaves. Carly hugs Josslyn and Michael, and everyone is happy. John says he doesn’t know how they pulled it off, but it’s not going to work. It’s evidence tampering and he has a good idea who’s behind it. He flashes back to Diane assuring him that this is going to blow up in his face, and Anna telling him to ignore the evidence. Carly says she’d love to send a thank you note to whoever did this, but Jason says, it’s not over. Michael says, it is, and John tells Sonny, enjoy his reprieve. It won’t last. He’s going to put Sonny behind bars for the rest of his life, and make sure Jason and Carly are rotting beside him. He stomps out.

In the interrogation room – where everyone goes to talk – Alexis says she spoke to Kristina and has one question. Molly says, hit her with it, and Alexis asks, what was Molly thinking? Molly says, nailed it, and Alexis says, she jumped the gun and tried to force Kristina to sign the termination of parental rights on the spot. Molly says she just presented Kristina with documents she’d always intend to sign, but Alexis says, it wasn’t a formality. By Molly’s own admission, she said Kristina was being cagey. Molly says, it was obvious that Kristina wanted to keep the baby, and Alexis says, Kristina said she tried to explain that she was protecting Molly and TJ’s privacy. Molly asks if Alexis buys that, and Alexis says, Kristina didn’t want to discuss Molly’s fertility issues without permission. Molly says, then Kristina should have asked her before the interview. How could it not come up in the prepping? The obvious assumption is that Kristina and Blaze are having a baby together. A message Kristina perpetuated.

Nina says, Wiley and James are fast, and Spinelli says, especially for children with their mass and density. Wiley asks if Nina wants a hot dog, but Nina says she has to go back to work. Spinelli goes to get hot dogs for the kids, and Wiley thanks Nina for coming. He hugs her and everyone smiles. (Oh wow. This episode is way too happy. An asteroid is surely hitting Port Charles soon. Or the Ice Princess. Or something.)

Carly hugs Jason and says, it’s over. He’s free. Jason sighs, and Josslyn and Michael hug Carly. Sonny flashes back to Carly telling him about the recording, and Josslyn says, the look on Cates’s face… Michael says, priceless, and Jason asks if she knows how it happened. Carly says she has an idea, but Diane strongly suggests they keep their theories to themselves forever. Michael says, it’s a solid plan, and Wilcox says, Diane had an excellent argument. She says, it’s a pity they’ll never know, and he says, almost. He tells Carly, on behalf of the US Government and the Justice Department, their sincerest apologies, and Carly says, they were just doing their job. He says, it’s come to their attention that Agent Cates has been less than professional on other fronts, and they’ll be looking further into his conduct. Carly says she hopes they take a long hard look, and Wilcox leaves. Carly asks if she can walk out, and Diane says, unless she has a burning desire to stay. She strongly suggests Carly go to the PCPD and pick up her personal items. Michael says, it’s cause for celebration. He knows of a party already in progress. Carly wonders if it’s still going on, but Josslyn says, if it’s not, they’ll get the party started again. Michael asks if Sonny wants to come, and Sonny asks, what’s wrong with you people?

Alexis says she doesn’t think Kristina’s reasoning is up to par. Her body is flooded with hormones that are telling her to protect the baby and keep it. But she wants Molly to have it. Molly asks if that’s why Kristina is claiming she and TJ are breaking up. It’s like she wants it to happen for an excuse just to keep the baby. Alexis says, they both have her genes. Molly has the ones that want justice, law, and order, and Kristina’s got the ones that make her think she’s right, she’s the smartest one in the room, and her ideas are better. Lucky you. She has another great idea – back off please. Just talk to her and accept her explanation. Trust her to be honest. Molly’s impulse was to have Kristina sign the termination on the spot. If she pushes back, Kristina will push harder, double down, and dig in. Molly knows she’s right.  

Jack says he’s sorry Carly is experiencing difficulty, and Anna says, she’s been charged with RICO violations. He says he doesn’t see her as a racketeer, and she says, Cates is targeting her ex-husband and using it for extortion. They have an agent running roughshod over the law in town. He’s a wrecking ball and she’s not letting him play out his vendetta. Jack says, a code of honor and actual honor are very different. If anyone knows… She says, it’s them. How many people’s lives has he destroyed in his performance of duty? Does he keep track? Does he care? Jack says, she has a tendency to jump to conclusions. It’s a bad habit for a spy… She says, ex-spy, and he tells her, try to have patience. She may discover that he’s not in the business of ruining people’s lives if he can help it.  

Sonny says, this did not have to happen. Carly should have told him what was going on before it was too late. Jason should have called him three years ago and told him what Jagger was up to. He could have stopped it. Jason says he tried to explain what he could, but Sonny says, Jason didn’t trust hurt him. None of them did, but that’s all right. He’s going to take care of Jagger himself. He walks out, and Jason looks at Carly.

This was a great episode.

Tomorrow, Anna tells Jason that she has a debt to repay; Molly apologizes to Kristina; Ava tells John that she has every reason to believe she’ll get the outcome she wants; and Dante tells Sonny that he can only push everybody so far, even him.

🧼 All the Soap News Fit To Print…

A blast from the past returns.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/emma-samms-returns-to-general-hospital-2024

So many of the soap stars love cooking, the Food Network should create a show for them. I miss Soap Net… sniff…

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/ghs-kirsten-storms-shows-off-her-incredible-cooking-skills

Sounds like she had a pretty normal life, but still, it must be weird.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/ghs-kimberly-mccullough-on-growing-up-on-tv

She should thank her lucky stars that she practically skated. Uber. It’s called Uber.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/general-hospitals-haley-pullos-sentenced-for-dui

This sounds like a good time. I actually considered going for a hot minute, but couldn’t think of anyone I could force coerce into going with me.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/dont-miss-the-2024-general-hospital-fan-celebration

👠 What Happens In Jersey…

I love Marge sending Teresa a funeral bouquet in memory of her dignity. Apparently, she has tea to spill.

RHONJ Season 14 Finale Will See Margaret Josephs ‘Drop Bombs’ on Jackie Goldschneider

Danielle’s take.

https://www.eonline.com/news/1405006/rhonjs-danielle-cabral-confirms-the-season-14-finale-is-just-as-shocking-as-youd-expect

The uncivil war rages on.

https://okmagazine.com/p/rhonj-season-14-finale-war-revealed/

Seriously, Andy, reboot that thing or get rid of it.

https://people.com/andy-cohen-teases-rhonj-reboot-heres-the-truth-exclusive-8685366

What happened last week.

Real Housewives of New Jersey Season 14, Episode 12 Recap: Marge’s Funeral for Teresa’s Dignity

🗽 And In a Surprise Crossover…

Come on. What does anyone expect from this clueless throwback? If she was a dude, she’d be one of those guys from Manhattan who wouldn’t date you if you lived in Queens. A word about New Jersey. It’s like any place else. It has its good points and bad points. It’s geographically beautiful, there are tons of things to see, and the food is fantastic. On the other hand, the taxes are high, the government is corrupt, and it’s way expensive to live here. But best of all, you’re highly unlikely to run into anyone like the cast of RHONJ. Or Ramona.

Ramona Singer Faces Backlash for Shading State of New Jersey
Melissa Gorga Claps Back After Ramona Singer Shades New Jersey, as Fans React to “Offensive” Post & Call RHONY Star “Out of Touch,” Plus Margaret Pokes Fun at Ramona

🛟 Making Up Off Deck…

Hannah is a mom now. She’s too tired to argue.

Below Deck Med’s Captain Sandy Reveals How She Ended Hannah Ferrier Feud

🚜 They’re Moving On…

Interesting how both Barry and Ethan can’t let go of their respective relationships, yet their exes are moving on quickly. No crying and eating ice cream for them.

‘Welcome to Plathville’ Recap: Kim Cries Hugging Ethan During Reunion

🪄 Looking For Fabulous…

Note: As of this posting, there was no recap for My Big Fat Fabulous Life, but I did watch it and it was very touching. The episode revolved around the Thores’ second Christmas without matriarch Babs, and the first time actually celebrating. Shopping for a tree, a Christmas costume party, the family together – including Hunter’s new girlfriend Karen – and Goosie in a Christmas sweater. There was nothing not to like. Hopefully tomorrow will bring a recap.

🧛🏻‍♀️ Fading Shadows…

The beginning of the end airs October 21st.

https://ew.com/what-we-do-in-the-shadows-final-season-preview-exclusive-photos-8676830

🐕 Best In Pool…

If you take nothing else away from my obsession with this dog, remember that a rescue dog (or other pet) can be the best thing that’s ever happened to you, and you to them.

https://people.com/all-about-dogpool-the-canine-rescue-star-of-deadpool-and-wolverine-8685503

📝 The Back To School Slippery Slope Arrives…

Join me tomorrow for soap and new Listings. Until then, stay safe; stay keeping dirt/grass outdoors and not tracking it inside; and stay remembering that a code of honor and actual honor are very different, and choosing wisely.

Apr6

April 5, 2020 – Beta Leads the Horde Forward, Fear Coming, Jill Says Thanks, Binging, Rudyard’s If & the Shadows

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What I Watched Today

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

 

The Walking Dead

Yumiko asks who the stranger is, and what she wants. The woman says, they’re the ones making a racket. She thought they needed help. She hasn’t seen real people in over a year, and now she meets a bunch of meanies. Ezekiel says they weren’t sure if she was going to attack, and she says, if she wanted to attack, she’d be pointing the gun at them. She demonstrates, and says, pointing it the other way means hello. Even though they can agree she wasn’t attacking, now she’s not so sure. Maybe it’s up to them. Are they going to hurt her? Yumiko says if she keeps pointing the gun at them, she’ll find out. Ezekiel says they have no intention of hurting her. They were just admiring her displays. Are they hers? She asks if they like them. She out them up as decorations. They were a pain in the ass to put together, but they make the place more alive. Now that she’s met actual live people… They are real, right? Yumiko asks if she’s joking, and the woman says she’s never hallucinated before, but there’s a first time for everything. She asks them, what’s the capital of Pennsylvania? Eugene says, Harrisburg, and she says she knew that. Maybe they are a hallucination. Maybe she’s been on own too long. It’s been over a year, and totally sucks. She should be nicer. Talking to real people is making her freak out, so she’s going to shut up. She covers mouth, and Ezekiel asks her name. She says she never liked Juanita, so call her Princess. He asks, why? and she says, queen makes her sound old and pretentious. Ezekiel says it’s a pleasure to meet her, and introduces his friends Eugene and Yumiko. Princess says she can show them around. There’s plenty of space. They can chill out and put their feet up. She asks if they need food. She’s also got a neat place to swim. Eugene says they appreciate the hospitality, but they can’t stay. They’re on an important mission. Princess asks, what’s the story? and Yumiko says, it’s their business. Princess says she can show them the best way through the city, but Yumiko says they don’t know her. Princess says, of course they do; she just introduced herself. A few zombies approach from behind the three, and Princess says, watch how helpful she can be. She wipes them out with her automatic weapon, and the horses jet. She says, damn. Sorry about that.

Ezekiel says, it’s not a total loss. They can find the horses tomorrow. Eugene hates to be the naysayer (even though I don’t notice, later, Chris Hardwick points this out to be a horse pun), but they should just travel by foot. An additional day spent searching will put them outside the window of the meeting time. Yumiko says, too many people are counting on them; they have to start off now. Ezekiel says Princess offered to help. Why not take her up on it? Yumiko says, absolutely not, and Ezekiel asks, what can it hurt? She says, plenty. Princess is selfish and crazy, and they can’t trust her. Ezekiel says he’s not suggesting they follow Princess blindly, but if they know she has transportation… Yumiko says, if she did, she wouldn’t be there alone; it’s a trap. Eugene agrees Princess is a few bananas short of a bunch, but at present, they have limited options. There’s a slim possibility that it will be worth the invitation, so his apologies, but his vote is with the king.

Ezekiel calls Princess over, and she thanks him. She says she feels bad about what happened. She can make it up to them. She has access to transportation; a garage full. She can take them there. Yumiko says if they’re going to follow her, she has to hand over her weapon. Princess says she wants to spend time with living people, but she’s not so sure she wants it to be them. She’s outnumbered. She doesn’t have a death wish, but she’s been living there alone for so long… Fine. They can have it. She gives her gun to Eugene, and says she knows where she can find more. Ezekiel says, she knows of a garage? and she says, all those in the market for a new set of wheels, follow her. Yumiko tells Ezekiel that Princess is selfish and crazy.

The horde follows Beta, who is asking Alpha’s spirit (I guess) where he should go. He stops at an abandoned Alexandria.

What’s left of the Alexandrians, Hilltoppers, Oceanside, and the Kingdom have gathered together at an abandoned hospital tower. They quietly get ready for whatever is coming. Gabriel tells Dianne, it’s her turn to watch. Luke is concerned that everyone is counting on him, but one of the women says he’ll come through. He says, she thinks so? He needs somebody to run an errand, and Carol says, she’ll go.

In the woods, Daryl is on the radio. He says they’re making a plan; there will never be another one like it. It reminds him of the old gang. He asks if Michonne can hear him, but only gets static.

Beta stands on the windmill balcony, observing the horde. A Whisperer says, there’s no sign of them. They left quickly. Another says they’ll search elsewhere, but Beta asks, where? Alden peeks out from a window above. He signs to Aaron, who writes something on his mechanical arm. They both watch Beta, and Alden peeks a little too far out. Beta turns, but the window is empty. Aaron and Alden sign to each other. Beta says they’re going to walk. Aaron mouths, come with me, and he and Alden look out the opposite window.

Lydia pets a cat, and Judith says, sorry about her mom. Lydia says she doesn’t have to be. Judith asks if Lydia misses her, but Lydia says, no. Not everyone gets to have a mom like Judith’s. Judith walks away looking sad. Negan watches, and sighs.

Carol and Kelly meet a guy watching the horses in the woods. He asks if everything is okay, and Carol says they’re running an errand for Luke, and getting some exercise.

Elsewhere in the woods, Judith stabs a zombie in the head. Daryl sees her, and asks what she’s doing. She says she’s fine, and he asks who she’s with. She says, no one, and he tells her, come on; he’ll take her back. She says she wants to stay, but he says, no; let’s go. She says she hates it there, and he asks what she wants to do. She says she wants to do what he does, in case something happens. He says he walks the perimeter, looking to see what’s wrong. If anything does happen, she’s to go somewhere safe, where there’s a radio. There’s no room for mistakes. She says she knows, and he tells her to do what he says, and stay next to him. She promises.

Beta tells a Whisperer, they expect them; the path isn’t clear. The Whisperer says they believe in his wisdom, and follow the Alpha… the Beta. She apologizes, and he takes out a huge knife, but then stops. He says, wait, and listens. He says, show me. Show me the path. He moves forward, and the horde follows. Tons of them. From a hilltop, Aaron and Alden radio Gabriel that the horde is heading toward them, as expected. Gabriel says one of them should stay, and if anything changes, send word.

Princess leads the group, and Eugene asks, how much longer? Princess says they’re almost there, and Yumiko says, it’s a waste of time. Princess says, it will be worth it. Stick close and watch their step. She goes through a gap in a metal fence, and counts in Spanish as she walks. Eugene tells Yumiko, he’s starting to wonder if she’s right, and Yumiko says she is, but she wants to figure out what Princess is up to first. Eugene asks Princess if this is her navigational technique method, or is she meandering about? They come across a dead horse, and Princess says she thinks it’s one of theirs. Yumiko says, walkers? but Princess says, probably stepped on a mine. Eugene asks what she means, and she says, the things you step on that go boom. Ezekiel asks if this is a mine field, and she says, yeah, but a small one. Yumiko asks why she kept that information from them, and Princess says she didn’t want to worry them. She walks there all the time; it’s no big deal. Ezekiel asks if she can get them out, but she says she kind of lost count. Yumiko says if Princess doesn’t get them out safely, she’ll kill Princess herself. Princess says, that’s fair. She drinks down the water in her canteen, and throws it, hitting a mine that explodes. Princess guesses no one has an extra canteen.

Carol tries to hotwire a car, and tells Kelly, she almost had it. Kelly takes over, and is successful. Carly thanks her for coming; she didn’t have to. Kelly says, it’s okay, but Carol says, no; it’s not. If she could go back… Kelly says Connie isn’t dead. Because she’s so tough, she can survive anything. Maybe a part of her won’t accept Connie is gone, and understands why Carol did it. When Kelly started losing her hearing, her sister told her it was her superpower. Now look. Everyone learning sign because of her. She asks if Carol thinks the way she is, is a weakness. She’s heard stories about her from the old days; they all have them. Carol would just go off, and do the thing only she can do. It’s her superpower. She can’t give up everything about herself because bad things happen. Carol has to believe that. Carol smiles.

Lydia pets Dog, and Negan says he doesn’t think she ate anything today. He holds out a bowl of food, but she says she’s good. He says he can’t tell. Is it one of those things, the craziness of moving to an abandoned tower, or is she avoiding him? She says she’s avoiding him, and he says, sh*t. That’s honest. She asks if he wants her to lie to make him feel better. He says, no, and she tells him to give someone else the rat. He says, it’s possum, which is basically a big rat, but he just wanted to say that he liked her mom. She did horrible sh*t, and there’s no excusing any of it, but he liked a lot about her. He wishes he didn’t have to do what he did. If there’s something she wants to say, she should say it. Lydia says, mostly, she wishes Alpha had died too, and leaves.

Princess thinks, then counts. Yumiko says this is exactly the kind of thing she was afraid of happening. Ezekiel says, he’s been afraid of many things, but this one is new. Eugene says, FYI, they’re running out of time on all fronts. A zombie comes out of the woods, and explodes. Eugene says they don’t want to be stuck there when the zombies start popping off, and Ezekiel says, maybe there’s something he can do. Princess says she kind of lost count. She didn’t mean to; she’s sorry. She says, eenie, meenie, no miney, mo, and walks. She stops, and says she’s still here. It should be good from there. They follow her.

Daryl leads Judith through the woods. He tells her, just spot things that don’t belong or don’t feel right. Take a look, and tell him what she sees. She looks around, and he says, living or dead? She says, walker, and he says, stay behind him. Several zombies come by, as they hide behind a tree. Daryl shoots one with an arrow, and it runs. Daryl stabs the others, and he and Judith take off after the other one.

Princess and company come to a street sign that says Fleetwood Drive. Eugene says they passed it earlier, but Princess says, there’s five of them; Street, Drive, Boulevard… – which I understand, having lived in Queens – but Eugene says he most certainly remembers it was Drive. Yumiko says Princess led them around when they could have walked straight there. Maybe she missed a turn? Princess says she was having fun, taking them by the scenic route, and Yumiko says, fun? Going through a mine field? Princess says it was bad, she knows. She’s been there a billion times, and never thought it was a problem – until it was. She wanted to show them the garage, and hoped they’d think it was amazing, and maybe they’d stay and be friends, but she screwed it up. When she was first there by herself, she figured someone would show up. She waited days and months, but it stayed empty. It really didn’t feel much different than before. Maybe it’s her, and she deserves it. All day she heard a voice in her head, saying it’s her. She knows she should have told them the truth, but she didn’t want the voice to be right, so she’s sorry. Eugene says, he has an all too familiar sense of how she feels. He puts a hand on her shoulder (his hand; I realized I have to be specific with this show), and says she made a poor decision to lie to them, because the alternative meant being left alone. No one wants that. Just to clarify, she does have access to wheels, correct?

Daryl sees the shot Whisperer, lying on the ground, and takes aim. The Whisperer takes off her mask, and takes out a knife, although I’m not sure why, since she’s at a total disadvantage. Daryl says, roll over now, and she says she can’t die like this. It ain’t natural. He tells her, drop the knife. She thinks about it for a millisecond, and does as he asks. He asks where her people are at, and she says, a few miles east; headed to the ocean. Daryl asks if they’re with the horde. Is she a scout? She says she was. She went out on own. He asks, why? and she says she had no choice. She loves them, but he’s… She’s not going to stay there. Daryl says, he’s what? and she says, he lost it after what they did to her. Daryl asks if she knows where they are, and she says she doesn’t know, but they’re going to keep coming for them. They’ve taken too much. Please. She wants to walk. He asks again if she knows where they are, and she say she doesn’t. She shoots her, finishing her off. Judith says he didn’t have to do that, and he says she had no information for them. She was going to die, so it’s better to be quick. Judith asks if they’re leaving her, and he says, come on. She says, maybe she has a family, and he says, they’re only a few miles away. They can spot them at the top of the tower. He urges her along, and she looks back as they’re walking. At first, I agreed that he didn’t have to kill her, but if she was going to die anyway, it was the better thing to do. They don’t need one more zombie hanging around.

Beta walks, and says, be my strength. He looks up, then sees a cat run across the road. A zombie gets up close and personal with him, and he laughs. Alden and Aaron walk parallel to the horde, without being seen. Alden says they always thought with Alpha dead, it would be easier, and Aaron says, they have to be sure they don’t lose again. Whatever it takes. He sees the horde is changing direction, and takes out the out the radio. He radios Gabriel, saying, it’s no good. They’ve got to leave now. He and Alden start to run, but they’re surrounded by Whisperers. One puts a gun in Aaron’s face.

Lydia comes back to Negan, and says he doesn’t get to tell her what to do. He says, she’s right. If she thinks hitting him will make her feel better… She says she feels fine, but he says she has to mourn; to say goodbye. Otherwise, it will eat her up inside. Trust him. Alpha was still her mom, and you only get one, so she should hit him. Just try it; let it out. Otherwise, she’ll drift further away from these people, and he knows she doesn’t want to. She asks how he knows what she wants. He’s a selfish a-hole. He killed Alpha so they’ll think he’s a hero, but nothing he does will make him that here. He cares about himself, and now he’s trying to get her to do this. Telling her how he liked her mother. She hated her, and wanted her dead. Screw him, telling her she can’t do that. He says, it’s okay, and she says, it’s not okay. She starts hitting him, and he stands there and takes it. Finally, she collapses, crying, into his arms, and he holds her. Wow. I absolutely love him at this moment.

A garage door opens. Ezekiel, Eugene, Yumiko, and Princess look into the garage, which contains bicycles. Yumiko says, they’re wheels, and Ezekiel says it wasn’t the ride he was picturing. Eugene says, fifteen miles per hour is a significant increase past walking speed. Ezekiel says, to be fair, Princess wasn’t lying. She came through with a garage. He laughs, and Yumiko approaches Princess. Princess says she’s not a bad person. They have every reason not to trust her. It’s hard to take a chance on people in this world, and when they lie… Yumiko knows; it sucks. Princess says she blew it; she knows. She’s sorry. She wishes she’d done better. Her people skills are rusty. Yumiko says, they’ll have to work on that. She came over to see if Princess wants to join them. Princess says, for real? and Yumiko says, as long as she doesn’t lie again. Princess hugs her, and says, yes, and Yumiko says Princess knows the area. Ezekiel laughs some more, and Princess says, if they’ve got time, she has food, clothes, a cool spear, and candy. Can she have her gun back?

Daryl asks Judith, what is it? Judith says she can’t believe Daryl left her in a ditch. What if he was lost, and no one could find him? He asks, where this is coming from? and she says she just wants them to be back together; at home again. Daryl says he radioed Judith’s mom, so she knows not to go home, and to let her know Judith is safe, and where to find them. Judith asks if he talked to Michonne, and he says, no, but he’s going to keep trying. Judith says she talked to her mom after the fire. Maybe she won’t come home. Daryl asks what Michonne said, and Judith tells him, she went to help people she met who needed her. She didn’t want to tell him. He asks, why is that? and she says she knew he’d be mad, but he says he won’t. He promises he can’t, and he can’t lie to her. He doesn’t know what’s going to happen; no one can. What he does know is that there are a whole bunch of people who would do anything for her, and when she’s older, she’ll do anything for them. She’s got a whole lot of family. Nothing can take the place of someone you love being gone, but it doesn’t mean everything that follows will break your heart. She hugs him, and wipes her tears away. He says they’ve got to go. The radio crackles, and Daryl says, Gabriel? Gabriel speaks, but there’s so much static, Daryl can’t understand what Gabriel is saying. Daryl says, he’s breaking up, and Gabriel says, come back… surrounded…

Beta continues to walk. He stops, and says, we walk. The Whisperers say, we walk, in unison. They stand in front of the hospital.

Next time, Daryl says they won’t all make it through, but it’s the only way; Eugene thinks he missed his rendezvous; Kelly puts on a Whisperer mask; Ezekiel says, they must try; Gabriel tells the kids, together, you’re a mighty weapon; and Maggie gets the news in a letter from Carol.

⚰️ Fear the Walking Dead will return this summer.

🩺 Good For Jill…

We should all support medical workers, and those on the new frontlines any way we can, even if it’s just a thank you for their service.

https://pagesix.com/2020/04/04/jill-zarin-supports-medical-workers-with-noshes-for-nurses-program/

👀 Well There’s That…

We finally have the time to binge watch all those shows we’ve been meaning to.

https://pagesix.com/2020/04/04/sean-mcvay-is-finally-watching-game-of-thrones-while-under-quarantine/

📖 Now For Something Completely Different…

Not Monty Python, but different for my blog. While the majority of people are being good about the world being in crisis mode, some aren’t handling it very well. It goes from those speculating that every cough must be the virus, or laying blame anywhere they can. (Hint: Now is not the time.) I can assure you, crystal balls do not really tell the future. No one expected this, everyone is flying by the seat of their pants, and surprisingly, most are doing the best they can. Today, this poem came to mind, so I thought I’d pass it along. If you follow the advice, you’ll not only be a man (or woman), but you’ll end up being a decent human being overall.

💆🏽 If by Rudyard Kipling

If you can keep your head when all about you

Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,

If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,

But make allowance for their doubting too;

If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,

Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,

Or being hated, don’t give way to hating,

And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise:

 

If you can dream—and not make dreams your master;

If you can think—and not make thoughts your aim;

If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster

And treat those two impostors just the same;

If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken

Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,

Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,

And stoop and build ’em up with worn-out tools:

 

If you can make one heap of all your winnings

And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,

And lose, and start again at your beginnings

And never breathe a word about your loss;

If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew

To serve your turn long after they are gone,

And so hold on when there is nothing in you

Except the Will which says to them: ‘Hold on!’

 

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,

Or walk with Kings—nor lose the common touch,

If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,

If all men count with you, but none too much;

If you can fill the unforgiving minute

With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,

Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,

And—which is more—you’ll be a Man, my son!

 

🦇 And Don’t Let the Bed Bugs Bite…

Or anything else. I had the pleasure of watching the first few episodes of What We Do In the Shadows this weekend on FX. I hadn’t seen it before, and thought it was a lot of fun. So stay safe out there, be it from human illness or something more otherworldly.