Tag Archives: Wicked for Good

February 13, 2026 – GH Weekdays, Maxie Wakes Up, Soap Suds, This Week In Reality, Weekend Watching, Watching Soon, Bringing the Bowl, Snubbed, Winning Wags, Four Quotes Doubled & Day

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

🍕 Weekday Slices…                                                                          

Monday: 

Valentin and Carly discussed Jack showing up during the snowstorm. Valentin said he was going to Windymere.

Lucy brought Sidwell a surprise picnic lunch and found Ava with him.

Mac and Laura told Dante than Anna wasn’t coming back as Police Commissioner.

Cullum told Jack that Anna was in a mental hospital in France.

Gio asked Emma where Anna was, and she said they had to leave her in France. It was worse than any of them thought it could be and she’d lost the grandmother she knew.

Felicia went to see Jason and told him that Anna wasn’t doing well, but had given her a message for him.

Carly said their plan to frame Jack wouldn’t work if Valentin was caught or Sidwell killed him. He asked why she cared.

Ava hoped Lucy brought enough food, but Lucy said she did no such thing. Sidwell said they were in the middle of an auction and Ava was helping him. He went to get supplements for the food so there would be enough, and Lucy asked how much art Ava needed to thrust on a man. Ava said Sidwell loved her taste and Windymere’s interior should be equal to its fabulous exterior. Lucy said she knew what Ava was selling and it wasn’t art. She thought Ava was trying to get back into Windymere, but Ava said Lucy knew nothing about her relationship with Nikolas and less about her relationship with Sidwell. He had the heart of a collector. All Lucy collected was husbands.

Emma told Gio that they thought Anna was having a PTSD episode, but they weren’t sure. She tried her best to get them to see Anna the way she did – fun, funny, and so strong. She’d survived so much. Emma had thought nothing could bring Anna down, but seeing how broken Anna was, she didn’t know if Anna was still in there.

Felicia told Jason that Anna was still in France. She’d been admitted to a private clinic and couldn’t leave because of open criminal charges. Anna said her suspicions were right and Cesar Faison was alive. She’d claimed he’d been holding her captive. Jason said he’d shot Faison himself, and Felicia said that’s why Anna said he was the one who had to stop him.  

Laura said, unfortunately, Anna wouldn’t be well enough to hold a coherent conversation for some time, and Dante said Anna was the best agent he knew. He asked if something went wrong on her assignment, but Mac said, according to Anna, there was no WSB assignment.

Cullum told Jack that Anna had a breakdown in the field. She went rogue and refused WSB protection. She’d deserted her post, initiated an unauthorized operation, and now she was paying the price. Jack found that impossible to believe.

Carly said, what if something happened to Valentin? She couldn’t pull off the plan without him, and what about Charlotte? She refused to tell his daughter that he was dead. He asked if she was playing the daughter card, and she said, yes. He said she knew all the right buttons to push, and she said it was one of her gifts.

Jack said Cullum’s intel was wrong, but Cullum said his source was good. Jack said he knew Anna very well and she didn’t crack. Something else was going on. Cullum said the facts were the facts and Anna was no longer a WSB problem. He highly suggested Jack concentrate on the disaster he’d made with Valentin’s transfer. Valentin had escaped on his watch. Cullum said he wanted Valentin found and left.

Lucy said she’d rather collect husbands than arrests, and Ava said she’d paid her debt to society. Lucy said she counted herself lucky that she wasn’t standing in front of an open window. She was sure Ava wanted to shove her out of one like she did Kristina. Ava said she and Kristina had made peace, and Lucy said she wasn’t going to stand by and let Sidwell fall prey to Ava. All Ava was interested in was his bank account and fat commission checks. Ava said Lucy was no different from her, except she’d been circling Sidwell for a year – flirting, posturing, and wasting his time. Sidwell came back and asked what he’d missed.

Felicia said Anna wasn’t in a coherent state and was having a post-traumatic breakdown, and Jason wondered if there was a chance it wasn’t a breakdown and Anna was telling truth about Faison.

Emma told Gio that Anna was frantic, not focused, and paranoid. She’d been rambling that Faison was after her and after Emma too. Emma tried to say she was fine and it would be okay, but nothing registered and she felt hopeless. There was a knock at the door, and Emma opened it to Josslyn, who asked if Emma was okay.

Ava told Sidwell she’d take a raincheck on lunch. She was going to focus on the auction and keep an eye on his bids and secure the pieces he wanted. She left, and Sidwell said he’d noticed a bit of tension. Lucy said she couldn’t bite her tongue any longer and she’d be happy to enlighten him on Ava’s history. He said he did his homework on all of his associates and was aware of Ava’s past, as he was Lucy’s. Lucy had gotten a second chance, so why couldn’t Ava?

Emma said her grandma was in trouble and in a mental health facility in France, and Josslyn said she was sorry. Could she help? Emma said, not unless she could bring Anna back to reality, and Josslyn asked if there was any idea what caused it. Emma said Anna left on a WSB mission on Halloween. Something bad must have happened, but no one knew what it was, and Anna claimed she’d been kidnapped by Cesar Faison.

Mac told Dante that Anna was staying for treatment and recouperation. Until her legal situation was sorted out, there were no assurances she’d be well enough to resume her duties. Laura said Dante and Mac had both led the department, and Mac said a big part of his life was now in Boston with Maxie, but Dante had done a great job filling in and he supported Dante staying. Dante said he had other commitments. He wasn’t ungrateful, but he had a lot to process. Laura said Anna was irreplaceable and asked Dante to take a few days before deciding. Dante left, and Laura asked how Mac was holding up.

Felicia said, Anna claimed Faison kidnapped her on Halloween, and Jason said he’d talked to her that day. She said she suspected Faison was still alive. He’d thought he got her to see that someone might be using Faison as a distraction, but he didn’t follow up. Felicia said Anna told them she’d been chloroformed in her car and held captive in France. She’d insisted Obrecht and Peter August visited her in her room and Faison had talked to her over an intercom. Jason asked if she’d actually laid eyes on him, and Felicia said, once, for a brief moment. Then she lost it and said Faison was watching Emma and that Faison would never stop. They were bound together forever. The doctor came in and sedated her, when Anna screamed that she had a message for him.

Cullum went to Carly’s and introduced himself. He said he had a few questions for her.

Mac told Laura that it had been one thing after another. First Maxie, and now Anna. He was trying to be strong. Emma seeing Anna like that was eating him alive. Laura said the problem with being the one who took care of everyone else was that you had no opportunity to fall apart yourself. If he needed help, she was there. He said he wished he was as confident as she was. When he’d met Anna, she’d dazzled him and he could tell why his brother fell in love with her. Laura said Anna was one of a kind, and Mac said she’d always bounced back, but maybe she’d realized how much she’d been carrying alone all these years.

In his office on the phone, Jack tried to get Anna’s status, but had no luck. Dante showed up and said he wanted answers about Anna now.  

Carly asked if she needed a lawyer, but Cullum said it wasn’t that serious. She’d been seeing Agent Jack Brennan. She asked if there was a WSB rule against having a personal life, and he said, not officially, but he was concerned the relationship was compromising Jack’s focus. Jack’s most critical case was at a dead end – the pursuit of Valentin Cassadine.

Josslyn wondered if Britt and Nathan both being alive and in Port Charles had been a trigger for Anna, and Emma said that was the word for now. Gio told Josslyn that Emma had just come in from a long flight and asked if it could wait, and Josslyn said, of course (🍷). She was sorry to bother Emma, but was there if Emma needed help. Emma thanked her and said she needed to decompress, and Josslyn left, looking at the cover of Faison’s book in the hallway. Gio said he was sorry Josslyn upset Emma, but Emma said her heart was in the right place. She’d wanted to talk to him alone anyway. She had to leave Port Charles.

Carly said she didn’t understand what capturing Valentin had to do with her, and Cullum said it should be Jack’s number one priority. She said it was, but he said, not from where he was standing. She said, historically, Valentin was a hard man to catch, but Cullum said he thought Jack was coming up empty because he’d been busy elsewhere. She asked if he thought she’d been a distraction, and he said, one of many. Jack had also gotten distressing news about his colleague Anna, who’d had a mental breakdown while on assignment in France. Carly said that didn’t sound like Anna, and he said, anyone could crack under the right conditions. A reminder they all needed from time to time. He left.

Lucy said she’d made mistakes and started over, but unlike Ava, she hadn’t required a re-do because she’d killed someone. Sidwell said there were extenuating circumstances, and Lucy said she felt like they’d gotten close and she enjoyed spending time with him, but she couldn’t bear to watch him become next in the long line of Ava’s victims. He said he was capable of taking care of himself, but she said she couldn’t sit by and watch him fall into Ava’s trap. If they were going to continue being close, he had to make a choice – Ava or her?

Emma told Gio that they’d filled in Grandpa Robert, and he decided she should tell her mom, but she wanted to do it in person. She was sure her mom would want to go and see her grandma together. Gio said she was doing what was right for her family, and Emma said her mom loved her grandma so much. She was going to be devastated. Gio said he was there if she needed anything, and she said she didn’t know how long she’d be gone or when she’d be back. He said, when she got back, he’d be there waiting, and they hugged.

Jack said he’d been on the phone, trying to get information, but was being stonewalled, and Dante asked if Anna was really on a mission. Jack said, of course (🍷), and Dante said, she swore there was no assignment.

Jason asked if Robin knew, but Felicia said, not yet. He asked about Emma, and she said, Robert decided Emma should break the news. She had a favor to ask. He said, name it, and she asked if he could reach out to Jack and fill him in on the conversation with Anna. Tell him about her suspicions that Faison was alive, and his suspicions that Faison was a distraction. He said, absolutely not.

Carly offered Valentin a drink, and he said, cocktail hour. I like it. She said she wanted him to sit down, and he said he liked it a little bit less. She told him that the man at the door was a WSB agent, Ross Cullum. Did he know him? He said he knew of Cullum, and she said he told her that Anna had a mental breakdown. He said Cullum was lying.

Sidwell said he feared Lucy was misguided. He found her charming and delightful, and he enjoyed spending time with her, but he didn’t take ultimatums from anyone, even someone he cared about as much as her. She said then she guessed she’d be going. He could keep the basket. He’d get hungry, since Ava always left people wanting. She left, and outside, she said, you’re going to regret this, Jenz Sidwell. You have no idea how much.

Mac told Laura that he felt helpless. He owed Anna so much. She brought Robin into his life. It had been a joy and privilege to raise her when Anna and Robert couldn’t. Anna changed his life for the better in so many ways and he hoped she knew. Laura said she was sure Anna did. She believed the Anna they all knew and loved would come back, and when she did, he could tell her himself. He said he hoped she found her way back, but he didn’t know when or if that would happen.

Emma brought out her suitcase, and Gio said he’d come with her. After the Nurses Ball, he’d been reeling and her grandma took him in. He wanted to repay her and be there for Emma. Emma said this was something she needed to do on her own. That’s how her grandma would handle it, and her mom. He said he got it and would drive her to the airport, and they hugged. She said she was really scared, and he said him too. Whatever happened, they’d face it together.

Jason told Felicia that they weren’t telling the WSB anything. They caused this. They knew Faison was Anna’s weakness and used it until she broke. It was lucky the French authorities got to her first, so the WSB couldn’t cover its tracks. Felicia said she trusted him because Anna did. Anna knew he’d know what to do.

Valentin spoke to the clinic in France on a burner phone, then broke the phone. He told Carly that Anna’s doctor said she’d had a psychotic break, claiming Cesar Faison was alive and had held her captive. Carly asked if he thought it was a cover story the WSB was using for protection, and he said he didn’t think they set it up, but they were responsible for what happened. And for that, they’d be held into account.

Jack told Dante that it was imperative everything they said stayed between them. He trusted Dante more than anyone here and his gut told him that something was off. Dante said him too. What Jack told him would stay there. The worst-case scenario, he wouldn’t reveal his source. Jack said the photos Anna had sent were doctored. The WSB’s official story was that Anna doctored them herself and went rogue to find Faison. There’s no way that’s true, which means Anna is in real trouble.

Tuesday:

Lucy was getting a mani/pedi to left her spirits, when Ava walked in.

Cody read Pride and Prejudice and flashed back to arguing with Molly about what she’d written. Tracy came in and was shocked that he was reading a book.

Molly joined Kristina for a manicure, and Molly said she knew Kristina had submitted her book to her agent behind her back.

Alexis met with Danny at the Quartermaines, and he said he needed to know all about the Cassadine family.

Lucas came home to find Pascal standing in the foyer. Pascal told him that Marco was unavailable. He had important business to attend to. Lucas asked what Pascal’s problem was with him. Or was he jealous?

Elizabeth brought Portia a take-out lunch, a salad with extra olives. Portia said Isaiah must have ordered it.

Jason told Sonny that it was worse than they thought.

Valentin wanted to go to Windymere, but Carly said she’d go.

Tracy said she’d never seen Cody read a book, and he said, because he was dumb, right? She asked what had gotten into him, took the book from him, then laughed. She said she would expect Hemmingway, but not a regency romance. He said there was more going on with him than what people thought. He wasn’t a bumbling idiot. She said, no one thought that except him, but he said one person in particular did.

Kristina said the book was ready for submission, but Molly said she was never going to submit it. She’d just wanted an honest opinion. Kristina said Molly would have tinkered with it forever. Admit it. Her agent loved her book.

Ava said she thought Lucy and Sidwell were having a picnic, and Lucy said she left it at Windymere along with the relationship. It dawned on her that she deserved more than being another mare in Sidwell’s stable. Something Ava couldn’t understand.

Portia told Elizabeth that Isaiah knew about her latest craving for olives. He was helpful, patient, and easy-going. They fit together, but that could change when they found out who the father of her baby was.

Alexis told Danny that she’d never been invited to a potluck, but she knew the players. She gave Danny some paperwork and said her father had been with Helena, but they weren’t married and she was illegitimate. Danny wondered where Charlotte fell.

Jason told Sonny about Anna and that she was saying Faison had held her captive. She also said Peter August had paid her a visit. Sonny asked if he believed Faison was still alive, and Jason said he believed Faison was still a threat. According to Felicia, Anna was suffering from delusions and paranoia and believed he had to stop Faison.

Valentin asked what point of entry Carly was going to use, and she said a top-secret, little-known opening – the front door. Sidwell had extended an invitation to her because he wanted her to make peace with Lucas for Marco’s sake. Josslyn was using her brother for her own agenda, and she hated that she was about to do the same thing.

Lucas said whenever he showed Marco affection, Pascal popped out and interrupted, but Pascal said he was just doing his job. Lucas said he didn’t think so. He hadn’t realized how bad it was until Pascal was away. Pascal wanted what he had and resented him. Pascal said Lucas was consumed with his paltry romance and blind to what was really going on there, when Marco showed up.

Portia told Elizabeth that she and Isaiah trusted one another. The person she was worried most about was Trina. It would be difficult if Isaiah was the father. Trina was already struggling with her parents splitting up. If Curtis was the father, it would be easier for Trina, but not her. The test was only thing holding up the divorce, but if Curtis was the father, there would be issues about custody and parental rights.

Alexis told Danny that Charlotte’s branch went back to Mikkos’s father, Ivan Stanislovich Cassadine, who’d had three sons. Danny asked if Valentin wasn’t Charlotte’s dad, and she said, herein lies the difficulty in constructing the family tree. The Cassadines had a propensity to lie – it was in their genes. Valentin thought Mikkos was his father, but Victor was. The only ancestor Danny and Charlotte shared was Ivan. Danny said, his great-great-grandfather, and Alexis said, Charlotte’s great-grandfather.

Carly said she knew Lucas moving in with Marco put him in danger, but Josslyn encouraged it, and Valentin said, it was probably a WSB order. Carly said it made her sick that she was about to do the same thing, and he said, being hesitant would get her hurt, but she said she was going. The goal was to get Josslyn out of the WSB and Lucas off the island. She had no choice but to go.

Marco asked if there was a problem, but Pascal said, it was a simple misunderstanding. H’de explained Marco was occupied and Lucas didn’t take it well. Marco said they’d appreciate some privacy and went into the living room with Lucas. Lucas said Pascal was a liar and a loose cannon. Marco had no idea what he was really like. Marco kissed him, and in the foyer, Sidwell said perhaps Pascal should have stayed in France.

Jason told Sonny that felicia thought Anna was suffering from PTSD. He didn’t believe Faison was still alive, but before Anna left, she told him that she was afraid he was. He thought he got her to consider that someone was using Faison against her. What if she’d been on the edge and he’d missed it? He knew the signs and could have helped. Sonny said Jason knew the signs when it came to him, but didn’t know what to look for with Anna, and Jason said he felt he could have done more and chose not to.

Molly told Kristina, the phrase multi-book deal might have been uttered, and Kristina said she was sorry to have rushed Molly’s timeline. Molly said she’d had no timeline. Writing the book had been her way to decompress, a creative outlet for her. Kristina said Molly wrote it for publication and just needed a push. She was welcome. Molly thanked Kristina for tanking her relationship with Cody.

Cody said Molly wrote a romance novel and based the main character on him, and Tracy said it was flattering. He said the character was rude, untrustworthy, and dumb, and Tracy said, maybe not. Had he talked to Molly? He said she never intended for him to read it, and that made it worse. What was even worse than that was that now he knew what she thought of him. She asked how Jane Austen was involved, and he said Molly told him that Casey was like Mr. Darcy. It was confusing, since Darcy was a rich, arrogant guy, and definitely not him. She asked how much he’d read of Molly’s book, and he said, a few chapters. She asked how much he’d read of Pride and Prejudice, and he said, not much. She said he had a lot of reading to do.  

Lucy said maybe Sidwell could divide his attention, but she didn’t need to accept that treatment. Ava had financial incentive. Ava said Sidwell was a client, and Lucy said, a generous one. Ava reminded Lucy how much she made on the sale of Windymere, but Lucy said it was worth every penny. Ava was taking Sidwell for a ride. Ava said that wasn’t fair. Sidwell appreciate sophisticated pieces. He wanted an upgrade and he got it.

Sidwell said he overheard the altercation and asked if Pascal couldn’t keep it together without arousing suspicion. Pascal wondered why Sidwell was trusting Lucas when he was too close. One misstep, and he’d discover something he shouldn’t. Sidwell said they’d been over this, and it annoyed him to go over it again. If Lucas was important to Marco, then… Pascal said, then Lucas was important to Sidwell, and Sidwell asked how it went in France. Pascal said, like clockwork. Anna believed she had made her great escape.

Jason said Britt needed him and he’d abandoned Anna in the process, but Sonny said he couldn’t save everybody. He got Britt’s trust and found out Cullum started the fire. He had a choice and took one. There was no guarantee he could help in France. Anna had family and was getting help. Jason said he couldn’t shake the feeling something wasn’t right. Anna sent Felicia to him for a reason, even if it didn’t make sense. Sonny said he’d never tell Jason to ignore his instincts, but Anna could just be sick and in need of medical care. Jason said, maybe, when his phone chimed. He sighed and said it was Alexis. Something was up with Danny.

Valentin asked Carly to look for an entrance in the wine cellar. He needed to know if it was still open. Carly told him that she’d say she wanted to expand the MetroCourt’s wine list or got lost finding the bathroom, but he said it wasn’t a game. Don’t give Sidwell a reason to be suspicious. If she got caught, it would be a bad day for Lucas and worse for her. More important, it would be bad for him. Play it smart. She said she’d get out safely with an invitation to come back.

Lucy said what she and Sidwell had was real, but Ava Lucy was convenient. Sidwell used her to get a good deal and found her and Lucyness quite tedious. It was obvious to everyone but Lucy. She’d worn out her welcome and didn’t know it. Lucy told the pedicurist that she’d have to reschedule, since she realized this wasn’t stress-free. On her way out, she told Ava, keep in mind that Sidwell’s love of old things extended to Greek sculpture, not his vendors.

Molly told Kristina that Cody found a copy of her book and was curious. Then he realized Casey had been inspired by him. Kristina said he should be flattered by the love scenes, but Molly said, he didn’t read that far. She didn’t think he’d be reading anything else of hers now. Not after how he was depicted.

Lucas said he wasn’t complaining, but that was weird, and Marco asked what was going on. Lucas said Pascal was outwardly hostile and he’d asked what Pascal’s problem was. He didn’t love that Lucas suggested he had feelings for Marco. Marco said, he had it coming. Maybe he could be moved to another property. Lucas said he didn’t want to trash Pascal’s life – not yet – and he wasn’t going anywhere. They kissed.

Elizabeth told Portia that she got both sides. She understood why Portia was putting off the paternity test, but she also seemed stressed not knowing.

Alexis told Jason that Danny asked her to decipher the Cassadine family tree, and Sonny asked why. She said, for school credit, but he only seemed interested in if he was related to Charlotte.

Tracy said when Molly referred to Mr. Darcy, she didn’t mean Cody was like him. She meant her hero was functioning like Mr. Darcy. In the beginning, the leading lady finds Casey deeply unlikeable. Then, over time, they fall in love. It’s a tale as old as time. Like Beauty and the Beast. Cody said, now he was a beast? but she said, Casey was repellant and became irresistible, but not before misunderstandings and arguments that ramped up the sexual tension. He should be flattered. Molly had been thinking about him for months and fashioned her hero after him. He said now he got what she was saying. What happened if Casey wasn’t what he seemed, but with him, what you saw was what you got. What if he was just a heel?

Kristina said it was fiction and Cody would get over it, but Molly said she didn’t think so. He was taking it personally and she hated that she hurt his feelings. Kristina said, he wasn’t supposed to read it, and Molly said Kristina wasn’t supposed to send it, yet here they were. If she’d intended to publish it, she would have made changes and made Casey less obviously based on Cody. Kristina said Molly had no chance to make changes, and Molly said, thanks to her

Sonny told Alexis that what she and Ric put together for Michael’s kids was the best, and she asked if Carly was in agreement. He said, not like him, but Wiley and Amelia needed their mother. Alexis said she wanted an arrangement that everyone could live with, and he said he didn’t want to use the kids as a bargaining chip, like Scout. How was Scout doing? Alexis said she was worried about her father, but starting to relax. She was settling in. Her next step was to get Willow to allow Scout to see Danny. Sonny said she might not want to do that.

Pascal told Sidwell that Anna had been sedated and put on a ship to France. There had been an altercation with a gendarme, and she was arrested and admitted to a mental institution. Sidwell asked if they still had access to her, and Pascal wasn’t certain, but said he could try. Sidwell said, don’t. Let Anna cook until they needed her. There was a knock at the door, and Sidwell opened it to Carly.

Tracy asked if a true heel would go to the trouble of reading Jane Austin to understand his girlfriend’s intentions instead of watching an adaption, and Cody asked if there was a movie. She said, several. Would he like to return the book? He said, no, and she said Molly knew there was more to him than met the eye. What happened to Molly’s character was up to Molly, but what happened in real life was up to him.

Molly told Kristina that her agent didn’t want her to change anything and thought Casey was a major selling point. The readers would fall in love with him. Kristina said Cody should thank Molly for making him look good. Give him a chance to finish the book. He’ll get it. And when he saw it on the shelf, he’d be so proud, like she was. Molly was going to sell the book, right?

Portia said, fine. She’d stay focused on work and Isaia. When her mind drifted… Elizabeth said, she pictured one awful scenario after another. Not knowing gave her more stress. Now was the perfect time to take the leap before she was further along. Then she could focus on the good stuff. Portia said she’d rather do that than spend time with her divorce lawyer. She needed to know the truth so she could move forward.

Valentin looked at pictures of Charlotte, Danny, and Rocco on his phone.

Jason told Danny that Alexis said he’d needed help with a school project, making a family tree of the Cassadine side. He was spotty about the Quartermaine family tree, but Tracy could fill in any blanks. If Danny needed help with anything, he hoped Danny knew he could ask him anytime. Danny said there was no project, and Jason said, Alexis had suspicions. Danny said he wanted to know more about the Cassadine family, and Jason said he appreciated the truth, but why lie? Was he that interested in family history? Danny said, not just his. Charlotte’s too.  

Sonny said Scout needed stability and routine and wouldn’t get it from Danny. He was focused on Charlotte. Charlotte and Danny were a good match in the thrill-seeking department. Alexis said that’s why she wanted Jason to talk to him. God knew what trouble those two could get in together.

Carly said Sidwell told her to stop by, and he said he was glad she took him up on the invitation. He assumed she was there to see her brother. She said, that was the plan, and he said Lucas was in the living room. She went in and Lucas asked what she was doing there. She said she came to apologize, and Sidwell looked all happy.

Lucy went to Sonny’s and said, sorry to barge in, but she needed to talk to him in private. Alexis said she had an appointment and left, and Sonny asked what he could do for Lucy. She said he could clean Sidwell’s clock.

Wednesday:

Curtis went to see Jordan and said he had a surprise for her.

Portia told Britt that she wanted to take the paternity test.

Josslyn looked at Faison’s book bio and the tin of cigarillos. She flashed back to finding them at Windymere, when Trina came in and asked what Josslyn was smoking.

Jason asked why Danny made up a story about a school project, and Danny said his grandma didn’t like talking about the Cassadine side of the family, but he should have been honest. Jason said his grandma would have been cool with the truth. Did he get all the information he wanted? Danny said, yeah.

Charlotte went to see Valentin and they hugged.

Carly said she’d like to speak to Lucas privately, but understood if he wanted Marco there. Marco said it was a private sibling conversation, and he and Sidwell left. Carly said she hadn’t been fair to Lucas and Marco and she was wrong, and Lucas asked, why the sudden change of heart?

Sonny said he thought Lucy and Sidwell were an item, and Lucy said it had definitely blossomed into something deep and meaningful. He asked if Sidwell felt the same, and she said, of course (🍷), but he’d messed with the wrong woman and now he had to pay.

Danny told Jason about being with Charlotte alone at the gatehouse during the storm. They’d had a moment, so he kissed her.

Charlotte said her police escort was outside the Quartermaines’ and had no idea she was gone, and Valentin said he was glad she was okay. She said, thanks to Danny, and he asked if Danny knew he was there.

Lucas said Carly had been hating on Marco and suddenly saw the error of her ways? What did she really want? She flashed back to Valentin telling her to look for the entrance to the catacombs, and she said she understood why Lucas was skeptical, but he was her brother and she missed him. She was sorry she hadn’t been supportive of his relationship. She loved him and didn’t want to fight. He said he appreciated her effort, but an apology wasn’t enough.

Lucy told Sonny that she’d thought she and Sidwell were progressing at a nice pace, when Ava came sniffing around, throwing herself shamelessly at him right in front of her face. She voiced her concerns to Sidwell and told him that he had to choose between her and Ava. He was a complete cad and said he didn’t do ultimatums. She should have listened to Sonny and not gotten involved. Sonny said he was sorry it didn’t work out, and Lucy said, then help her take Sidwell down, but Sonny said the answer was no.

Josslyn said they weren’t hers, and Trina said, let her guess. Josslyn was holding them for a friend. (Ha-ha!) Josslyn said the cigars belonged to her study partner, who accidentally left them there and asked if Trina had changed her sheets. Trina said her mom had stayed the night of the blizzard, and Josslyn asked how it went. Trina said, not great, but it could have been worse.

Britt told Portia that she put a rush on it and once they got Dr. Gannon’s swab, they’d have the results in an hour. For what it was worth (), she admired Portia for standing up for herself. She’d had a right to stand her ground when she’d been pressured for answers. Isaiah came by and said he got Portia’s text, and Portia said she’d decided she was ready to take the test. As soon as Britt got a cheek swab from him, they’d know whether he was the father of the baby.

Curtis made a fire and he and Jordan kissed.

Jason asked if it was the first time Danny and Charlotte kissed, and Danny said, yeah. He hadn’t known he wanted to kiss her until it happened. He liked hanging out with her. They really got each other. Like when Rocco was in trouble and they were on the same page. He knew she was smart, pretty, and stuff, but he’d seen her as a friend. After they kissed, it felt different, in a good way. Jason asked if Charlotte was okay with the kiss, but Danny said he didn’t actually know.

Charlotte said Danny knew everything, and Valentin said she wasn’t supposed to tell anyone, but she said the person they couldn’t trust was Nina. She’d overheard Nina talking to Agent Brennan. They had a deal where Brennan would help Nina with her daughter in return for information from Charlotte about him and she’d had to warn him not to reach out to Nina. He said he wasn’t going to, but thanks, and she said the problem was, she sort of confided to Nina that she’d been in touch with him. He said that’s why she never should have told Danny. Brennan would be looking at her and interviewing those close to her, and he was an expert at getting most people to spill. She said Danny wasn’t most people. He knew it was important to keep quiet and understood lives were on the line. She trusted him completely.

Carly asked if Lucas was saying he’d never forgive her, but he told her that he was saying he needed more. She needed to accept that Marco was a part of his life. She said, done, and he said she had to do more than tolerate Marco. She had to make an effort to know him because he saw a future with Marco. She said they’d gotten serious, and he said living together had strengthened their relationship. When he told Marco that he wanted their own place, Marco said he liked being near his dad, but prioritized Lucas’s feelings and agreed to do it in a couple of months. She said she was happy Marco put Lucas first, and Lucas said he wanted to do the same. That meant he was only letting her back in his life if she was willing to get along with Marco.

Curtis and Jordan snuggled on the sofa, when she sat up and looked at her laptop. He asked if he was keeping her from work, but she said it wasn’t urgent. Sidwell wanted her to see why Windymere had lost power. He’d said he was worried about something, but what that something was, she didn’t know, and she was no closer to taking him down than when she started. Curtis said she’d get him. He knew if she put her beautiful mind to something, nothing and no one could stop her. She said they had that in common, but he said, in his case, maybe it wasn’t always a good thing. She asked what he did, and he said he wanted Portia to take a paternity test, but she was pushing back. In his frustration, he might have made a tactical error that may come back to bite him.

Isaiah asked if Portia was only doing this because Curtis pressured her, and she said he’d threatened to get a court order, but she told him to go ahead. She’d do it when she was good and ready. She’d talked to Elizabeth and realized it was time to learn the truth and face the consequences. He said he wanted the baby to be his (me too), but knew how much it would complicate her life, especially with Trina. She said things were looking better and she and Trina were making progress. She felt it was time to settle this, so she could start planning for the baby’s future. He said, no matter the outcome, he’d still be by her side.

Lucy wondered how Sonny could say no. She thought he’d jump at the chance. Sonny said it was tempting, but what if they made up next week? She said it wasn’t going to happen, and he asked what revenge looked like to her. She said Sidwell had wormed his way into Deception and was shipping cargo under Deception’s auspices with no oversight. He asked if she thought it was illegal goods, and she said, if they were legal, why do it in secret? She was going to find out. He said maybe she was onto something, but making a move like that would be a huge mistake.

Sidwell returned with Marco and said Pascal told him that she’d wanted to see them. Carly told them that there was something she needed to say that she should have said a long time ago, and Lucas asked Pascal for privacy. Pascal left, but kept the door ajar to listen, and Carly said she’d apologized to Lucas and would like to apologize to Marco. She’d judged him unfairly because of his father. Sidwell said they did set off on a shaky foot, and she said, true, but she should have realized Marco was his own man. Clearly, he made Lucas very happy, and if they gave her a second chance, she promised to support their relationship. Marco thanked her and said he knew it wasn’t easy. Carly said she hated apologizing and admitting she was wrong, but this time she was and she was very sorry. Marco said, apology accepted. He wanted her to know that her brother meant the world to him, and he’d never do anything to hurt him. She said he’d better not. She believed they should spend more time together because she wanted to get to know him better. Marco said he liked that idea, and Lucas said they had no idea how much it meant to him. He thanked Carly and they hugged. Sidwell applauded and said he was glad it worked out.

Sidwell said he wasn’t sure Carly would take him up on his offer, especially after their rocky start. He hoped it would be the first of many visits. She was welcome any time. She thanked him and said she thought she’d take him up on it, and he suggested they start now. Join them for cocktail hour. Lucas said he had to head to the hospital, and Carly said, another time then. Sidwell said he looked forward to it, and Lucas said they could take the ferry together and catch up. He kissed Marco, and outside the door, Pascal peeked in, then made a face.

Curtis said, despite Alexis’s advice, he told Portia that he’d get a court order and make her take the test, and Jordan said she was no fan of Portia’s, but wow. Curtis said Portia told him that he was welcome to use a court order, but she was on her own timetable, and Jordan asked if he was going to. He said no. He thought it was incredibly unfair, but once he cooled off, he realized he couldn’t force her. She said he’d respected Portia’s agency as a woman and a person, and he said if he was the father, they’d have to co-parent and he didn’t want acrimony. She suggested he and Portia talk again and find a way to dial it back, when his phone rang and he said he might have chance now. He told Portia that he was glad she called. About the paternity test… Portia said he got his wish. She took it and was at the hospital waiting for the results. She’d keep him posted. He told Jordan that Portia took the test. He was about to find out if he was going to be a father again.

Josslyn said she could see why it was hard for Trina to trust Portia, and Trina said it was impossible. What if her mother hurt her, or worse, hurt her baby brother or sister? Josslyn said they should make up so Trina could be there for her new younger sibling, and Trina said, whoever the father was, she wanted a relationship with the child, which meant she was going to have to let go of her anger toward her mom. Her phone rang, and she said, speak of the devil. Portia said she wanted to let Trina know that she’d decided to take the test. The lab was rushing it, so she should have the results soon.

Valentin said he was glad Charlotte felt she could count on Danny. He was sure Danny was a devoted friend. Charlotte said they’d had each other’s backs more than once, and he told her not to rely on Danny too much. It was a dangerous situation, and they didn’t want to drag him into it. She said Danny could handle himself. He was a good friend. She really should go, since she didn’t want Officer Jeffers to get suspicious. They hugged, and he told her to be careful. She said, him too.

Danny told Jason that he was pretty sure Charlotte kissed back, but it was a blur since Rocco showed up and they had to act normal. Jason asked if they’d talked about it after, but Danny said, not yet, and Jason said he thought Danny should reach out and make sure it was something they both wanted. He didn’t want to make assumptions. His phone rang, and Danny asked if it was important, but Jason said, not more important than him. Danny said they were good, and Jason said let him know what happened. Danny thanked him for listening, and Jason said, anytime.

Trina went to the hospital and she and Portia hugged. Portia said Trina didn’t have to come, but she was glad Trina did. Trina said Portia was right the other night. She couldn’t allow their issues to affect her relationship with the baby. Portia said Trina was going to be the best big sister and asked Trina to sit with her while she was waiting for the results. Isaiah said the lab was analyzing them now, and he started to leave, but Portia asked him to stay. They’d get the results soon and he had as much riding on this as anyone. He said, if it was okay with Trina, and Trina said, whatever was happening, was happening. If he wanted to stay, it was fine by her.

Josslyn thanked Jason for coming, and showed him the book and tin of cigarillos. She asked if these meant anything to him, and he said P.K. Sinclair was Faison’s penname and it was his favorite brand of cigar. Why did she have them? She said another agent was carrying them and a copy of the book with an inscription from C to his muse. He asked who the agent was, and she said, Ross Cullum. Jason flashed back to Britt telling him that Cullum wouldn’t think twice about killing him, and told Josslyn, start at the beginning.

Sonny said Deception was Lucy’s company and she could dig where she wanted, and Lucy said Sidwell would cover his tracks before she found anything. She had to take him by surprise. Now to figure out how… She’d get back together with him. Sonny said Sidwell was a low life, but she said she knew reconciliation was the true path to revenge. He wouldn’t know what hit him. She’d say, please forgive her, and pretend everything was the same. When he dropped his guard, she’d go in for the kill.

Sidwell asked if Marco bought Carly’s apology, and Marco said he did. If she’d been super sincere, he’d be more suspicious, but he could tell it was hard to say and that seemed right. However, it may be a problem for them. Sidwell asked, how so? when Lucas came into the foyer. He heard them talking and stopped outside the door. Marco said it was nice of Sidwell to help broker peace, but as a result, Carly could end up spending more time there and he wasn’t sure they wanted her snooping around.

Josslyn told Jason that the night of the storm, she cut the power to Windymere, which forced everyone to go to the mainland, so she could search. He asked why she didn’t tell him, and she said she’d had no time to fill him in. She ran into Cullum and recognized him from the WSB. He asked if Cullum recognized her, but she said, no. Jack had done everything in his power keep her off Cullum’s radar. She pretended she was looking for Lucas and Cullum pretended to be the caretaker. She thought he bought it and when he left the room, she went through his coat pockets, where she found the cigars and the book. He asked if Cullum saw her, and she said, unfortunately, but she told him that she was using his coat as a blanket and the book fell out. Her curiosity got the better of her and she noticed the woman on the cover looked like Anna. He asked if she reported this to Brennan, but she said, no. Jason was the only person she’d told. He said, keep it that way, and she said, of course (🍷). Brennan reported to Cullum. She wondered if Cullum was some Faison superfan or had a personal connection to him, and Jason said, if he did, it was that he was working on Faison’s final project. Cullum and Sidwell were partners.

Danny texted Charlotte, asking her to meet up, and she replied, sure. When and where?

Valentin asked what happened at Windymere, and Carly said she made amends with Lucas and apologized to Marco. He asked about the catacombs, and she said Lucas had to go to work, but forgot his phone and went back before he got on the ferry. Valentin said, that’s fine, and she said she thought he’d be weird and judgy. He said he was judgy, but she opened the door to more visits. They needed to figure out what Sidwell was up to. Setting Brennan up to take the fall was the only way to protect her brother and daughter. She said, and his daughter. Next time, she was going to find out exactly what was going on at Windymere.

Sidwell asked if Marco was concerned that having Carly around would cause trouble for them, and Marco said she couldn’t keep her nose out of other’s affairs. What if she caught Britt going in and out of the catacombs? Sidwell said he’d advised Britt to be discreet, and Marco said, good luck with that. Britt was a giant pain in the ass with the subtlety of a wrecking ball. Sidwell laughed and said, not anymore. He found a way to keep her under control. He was keeping her medication at Windymere. If she wanted to stay alive and functioning, she had no choice but to complete their project. Marco said it was about damn time, and in the foyer, Lucas looked shocked and Pascal stood quietly behind him.

Sonny asked if Lucy was getting back at Sidwell by spying on him, and she said she knew she could do it. He said it was risky, and she said, no risk, no reward. If she’d use any information to find out what the shipments were. Sonny said it was easier from the inside, and she said, exactly. She’d get so close to Sidwell, she could literally stab him in the back. That would be wrong, but she wanted to make sure she lowered herself to share him with that man-eating… floozie, Ava. Sonny said, those two had no idea what they started with her, and they laughed.

Jordan flashed back to Portia saying that she’d want Curtis to be part of the baby’s life, but not Jordan, and Jordan saying that would be between her and Curtis. Portia said that Jordan took Curtis from her, but would never take her child. When it came down to Jordan or the baby, Jordan knew who Curtis would choose. Jordan paced, then sat on the hearth.

Curtis showed up at the hospital and asked if there was any word, but Portia said, not yet. She told him that she’d keep him posted. They’d get the results soon. Curtis said he was glad they were putting the matter to rest, and sat with Trina. Britt came out and said she had the results. She gave an envelope to Portia, who opened it. She thanked Britt, and Britt left. Trina asked what it said. Who was the baby’s father? There were soap looks all around.

Thursday:

Felicia, Georgie, and James visited Maxie. James gave Maxie a Valentine from him and one from Bailey Lou.

Nathan went to Lulu’s house and said he needed her help.

Chase had a tea party with Bailey Lou as Brook watched from the doorway.

Dante called Jordan to his office and said it was about Anna.

Trina asked who the baby’s father was, and Portia said she and the baby had the same father. Curtis was the dad. Trina and Curtis hugged.

James insisted that Maxie could see them and hear them when they talked, and Felicia said their mom knew they were there and that they loved her. She could see them with her heart.

Chase told Brook that he’d miss Bailey Lou when Maxie came back. He loved the little person she was becoming. When she was a baby, she was completely dependent on them, and they’d had to protect her with Peter August on the loose. It brought them closer together. It was when they first started falling in love. Even then, he saw Brook would be an amazing mother and he couldn’t wait for them to have a child of their own.

Jordan said she didn’t think it was possible for Anna to have a psychotic break, and Dante said Anna was the rock of the family. He didn’t know when she’d recover. He’d been offered the job permanently. She said it was different from being a detective, and he said, that was the problem.

Nathan had to bring the class Valentine treats and all he could think of was candy hearts, and Lulu said, no one liked them. He said he didn’t want to be the lame parent who embarrassed his son, and she said they’d figure it out together. He’d be the coolest dad in the school.

Isaiah told Curtis, congratulations, and left. Trina said she was so happy. The baby would have the best dad ever. Curtis said he was relieved to get answers. Now they had to figure out the best way to move forward. Portia thought they should talk, and Trina left. Curtis thanked her for taking the test, and she said, it was time. So where did they go from there?

Felicia said James did a wonderful job decorating and told Georgie that her mom’s nails looked beautiful. It was James’s turn for alone time with Maxie, and Felicia and Georgie left. James told Maxie that he’d only been to the ER once and it wasn’t that bad. A girl in his class had asked him to be her Valentine, but he said no. He loved Maxie best.

Dante said he’d thought he understood job, but it was so much more, and Jordan said it was a big shift going from detective to administrator. The Commissioner was the face of the department and caught all the blame. When she’d been Commissioner, she’d missed being a detective. She’d thought she was making a difference. He said he didn’t think it was the best use of his skills and he had the added pressure of filling Anna’s shoes. She said no one could take Anna’s place. He needed to find a way to make the job his own. He was a natural leader.

Chase said he didn’t mean to put Brook on the spot. He didn’t want her to think he was pressuring her about adoption. She said, right now, she and Gio were getting to know each other, and she didn’t want to jeopardize their closeness. It was too new. He said he wouldn’t make a move until they were both ready. Now he needed to prove he was good enough for the job he had to begin with. He left for work.

Ava met Trina at the bistro, and asked what was going on. Trina said her mom took the paternity test and her dad was the father. So why did she still feel awful?

Curtis said they had to figure out a way to parent their child, and Portia said she didn’t want to fight with him. He said him neither, and she said that’s why she took the test, so he wouldn’t get a court order. He said he appreciated it. That’s why he proposed they finalize their divorce and establish custody. He suggested a 50/50 split, and she said it wasn’t ideal. He said, under the circumstances, it made sense. With the custody decided, they could focus on being parents and not fighting.

Brook told Bailey Lou that she wouldn’t mind having a little girl like her, when Gio came in. He said he and Bailey Lou hung out all the time and were basically BFFs, and Brook asked if Donna agreed. He said they’d agreed to share him and asked if it was okay if he hung out with them.

Ava asked if Trina wasn’t happy, and Trina said she was. Her dad wanted to be a father again. Ava said, complicated, huh? and Trina said, when they were waiting, it hit her that things didn’t have to be this way. It should be a happy time and if her mom hadn’t cheated, it would have been. She didn’t know who the father was and everything was ugly and public. Ava said it was awful when Portia was on the stand, and Trina said she loved her mother, but wanted to get past not trusting her and didn’t know how.

Portia agreed, and Curtis said he’d have his lawyer draw up a custody agreement. She said he could handle Aunt Stella, and he said, and his dad. It made him happy that they were working together, for the baby’s sake and hers too.

Jordan said the cops at the PCPD looked up to Dante. Considering who his dad was, that was something. They respected him and his integrity, and it spoke volumes about his leadership abilities. He’d be a help to Port Charles and Laura. He said her support meant a lot and guessed that meant she didn’t want her old job back. She said, no thanks. It wasn’t where her life was headed. Her phone chimed and she saw a text from Curtis: Headed back to your place. She told Dante that she had to get going.

Lulu said Nathan didn’t want to show up other parents and make enemies in the PTA. The moms would love him, and some of the dads. She asked how many kids were in James’s class, and he said, twenty-two. She said they’d better get to it.

Georgie told Felicia that she didn’t mean to upset James, but he was talking like their mom would answer. She wanted their mom to open her eyes. She missed her so much. Felicia said so did she, but Maxie was fighting as hard as she could to come back.

James said he’d started playing hockey. Didn’t Maxie want see him play?

Chase went to Dante’s office, and Dante said he wanted to check in with Chase on his first day back in uniform. Chase said, look at them now. Dante was Police Commissioner and he was a patrolman. How things have changed. Dante said what hadn’t changed was that Chase was a damn good cop. The only thing that worried him was Chase’s ability to take orders… from him.  

Gio said Emma was going to San Francisco to tell her mom about Anna’s condition, and Brook asked when she’d be back. He said he wasn’t sure. She and her mom might go to France after. Brook said she knew Gio would miss Emma, and he said it wasn’t the same on the phone or with texts. She said his support meant everything to Emma… unless there was more he wasn’t telling her, and he said he got that Emma needed to be there for her family. Family meant everything to Emma. What if she decided to move back to San Francisco?

Ava said she couldn’t tell Trina that Portia wouldn’t lie again, but with any relationship you were taking a chance that the other person might hurt you or might let you down. Portia was taking a chance on her too. Before taking a chance, she took a step back and thought, what’s the alternative? Walking away? Trina said that wasn’t something she wanted to do, and Ava said, whatever Trina decided, she supported her. She did have empathy for Portia. Ava was a deeply flawed person, and Trina took a chance on her. Trina’s mother was flawed as well, but would walk through fire for her because her mother loved her. Was there a world where Trina would give her a chance to learn from her mistakes and realize she had to be more honest from now on?

Isaiah took a shower in the locker room and came out in a towel to find Portia there. She said she was worried about him and wanted to see how he was doing. But if he didn’t want to see her, she’d leave. He said he didn’t want her to go. There was so much he wanted to say. But not in a towel.

Jordan said, well? And Curtis said he was going to be a father again. They hugged and she said she was happy for him. He said he was thrilled and couldn’t wait to experience the things he missed out on with Trina, and Jordan said he’d be an amazing father. He said, especially if she’d be around. He couldn’t wait to share everything with her too. They hugged again.

Nathan and Lulu assembled goodie bags, and Nathan said she’d saved him serious embarrassment, but she said she was sure he’d have figured it out on his own. He said he was glad he didn’t have to. He loved James so much, but there wasn’t a lot he could do for him. She said he was willing to put James’s happiness above his own. That made him a good father and James was lucky to have him. He said he hoped James thought so too, and she said she was sure he did.

James hugged Maxie and said he missed her so much. Please come back to us.

James said he told Maxie about hockey and the school Valentine’s party, and Felicia asked about treats for the class. James said they wanted to meet his real dad. Not that Spinelli wasn’t his dad too… Georgie came out and said it was Felicia’s turn. James promised to stick around, and Georgie said she’d watch him. Felicia went in, took Maxie’s hand, and held back tears.

Jordan asked if Trina knew, and Curtis said she was there. Now he had to tell Aunt Stella. She said Stella would be thrilled. She was sure Trina was. He said Trina was still struggling to come to terms with it, but imagine how awesome she’d be as a big sis. Jordan said it was a relief that the paternity was finally settled. How did Portia take the news? He said, better than he’d hoped.

Now fully dressed, Isaiah said he had to rise the day off, and Portia said she completely understood. What she didn’t understand was how much she wanted the baby to be his. He said him too. He wasn’t going to lie and say he wasn’t sad about the baby not being his – he took her hands – but he could still love the child because it was hers. If the last months had taught him anything, it was that life was a hell of a lot better with her in it. He’d love to stick around if she’d give him a chance. She kissed him.

Trina said, what if Portia couldn’t be honest and lied to her again, and Ava said she may have to walk away, but she needed to be absolutely certain it was the right thing to do. When Kiki and Griffin got together, she walked away. She turned her back on her daughter. She’d felt betrayed and so hurt that she couldn’t see past her own pride and work through the anger. Then, it didn’t matter. It was too late. Now she knew of course (🍷) that she’d rather have KiKi as she was than spend the rest of her life without her.

Dante said he hoped it wasn’t forever, but he needed to know Chase would respect his leadership, take orders from him, and accept his limits being a patrolman. No more side investigations or building a case against Michael. It wasn’t his job. It would be Mac’s job to get evidence if there was any. Chase flashed back to putting Michael’s key ring on the nook floor, and Dante asked him to give his word that he wouldn’t interfere with an investigation. He could count on Dante to do the same.

Brook asked if Emma told Gio there was a possibility she might not come back, and he said, no, but he’d never seen her so shaken. Anna was the center of the family, and now she was gone. If her family needed her, he was worried Emma would decide to stay. Brook said she thought it was too soon to worry and asked if Emma felt the same about him. They seemed to have a genuine connection. Gio said, before, he knew Emma was smart, beautiful, and compassionate, and Brook said, Emma was a catch. So was he. If it came down to it, he could head to San Francisco and sweep Emma off her feet. What she liked most about Emma was that Emma made him happy.

Felicia told Maxie that Georgie and James were doing well. So was Bailey Lou. She stayed with Brook and Chase when they were there. She’d taken so many pictures, she couldn’t wait to show them to Maxie when she woke up. She made sure they had fun and had plenty of things to look forward to. She and Spinelli kept them on schedule, but there was still a giant hole in the family where she was supposed to be. They were waiting for her to come back to them. They loved her so much and she loved her so much. As a mom, she’d seen Maxie do impossible things her entire life, so she knew Maxie could do this too. She kissed Maxie’s forehead.

Nathan said if it turned out great, he’d share the credit, and Lulu said, James’s classmates and their parents would be impressed. He said his relationship with James wasn’t the only placed he was still finding his way. He was still figuring out where things stood with them. He’d talked to Nina about it. Lulu said she’d talked to her mom, and he asked what Laura said. She said, surprisingly, Laura wasn’t against the idea of them dating, but advised her to take it slow. What about Nina? He said, the same. Dante and Maxie made it complicated, but she thought he should follow his heart.

Trina told Ava that she couldn’t imagine life without her mom. She had no idea what it would look like with her family completely different. Ava said it wasn’t necessarily bad different. Remember, she still had the power to decide how to move forward with her mom.

Isaiah said he needed Portia to be honest. Did she think Curtis would be a problem? She said she didn’t think so. They’d decided on joint custody. They’d raise the baby together, but live completely separate lives. Isaiah asked if she was okay with Jordan being involved in the child’s life, and she said it wouldn’t be long. It would never last because no one could live up to Curtis’s impossible expectations. Their relationship would implode like last time.

Jordan said joint custody would be best for everyone, and Curtis said that’s why they needed to settle it now before a problem came up. They needed to amend the paperwork, file it, and be divorced. She said she felt it was wrong to say, congratulations, and he said he could finally put fighting with Portia behind him and focus on a future with her. She said they could finally live their lives together with nothing hanging over them and holding them back.

Dante said he meant it when he told Chase that he was a good cop. He’d be a plus to have on the force. Did he promise to stay out of the investigation into Drew’s shooting? Could he trust Chase to do the job? Chase could do the same with him. Chase said, yeah, and they shook hands. Dante told him to have a good shift, and Chase left.

Gio gave Bailey Lou some cheese and crackers, and wondered who could say no to her. Brook said he was just as cute when he was little. He’d look at her with those big eyes and big smile when she’d babysit him once in a while. Now she understood why Camilla only called her when someone canceled at the last minute. He said he got excited when she’d come. She had all the fun stories. She said she was glad they had the memories, and he said he was so angry when he first found out the truth. Now he thought he was so lucky, growing up with a cool cousin like her, who turned out to be his mom.

Nathan said he knew he wanted to be with Lulu, but he didn’t want to put her in a tough position, and she said she was worried about that too. She kept hearing her dad’s voice in her head. He’d say, well, cupcake, what would you do if you weren’t afraid? Nathan said, what would she do if she wasn’t afraid? and she said, follow her heart. He took her hands and they put their foreheads together.

James wanted to go ice skating, but Georgie said she thought they were going to the bookstore. Felicia said they could hit the rink next time, and James asked why he couldn’t go skating. From the doorway, Maxie said, James Malcolm West, you are not going skating without a helmet.   

🫔 Friday’s Enchilada…

Nina comes into the Crimson reception area to find Jacinda with a shirtless Michael. She asks if they have to christen every surface in her office.

Elizabeth puts on makeup, when Lucas comes into the locker room. He says, wow. She looks beautiful. She thanks him and says she’s going out with Ric tonight. He says, great, and she says, no snarky comment or offer to hook her up with someone else? Not even a, you could do better than him? He says, trust him. He’s the last person who should be giving her advice on men.

Marco walks into the Windymere lab and says, nice to see Britt finally at work, and she says, it’s not like she had much choice. They both know why she’s cooperating. He says they do, and he has the reward for services rendered right here.

Lucy approaches Windymere and says, Jenz Sidwell, you messed with the wrong woman. Now you have to pay… You’ve got this. Sidwell opens the door and says, she couldn’t stay away.

Nathan and Lulu almost kiss, but she says she’s sorry. She can’t.

The kids and Felicia hug Maxie, who asks if she’s in a hospital, and Felicia says, she is. Maxie says, this place doesn’t look like GH, and James says, it’s not. They’re in Boston. Felicia says they had her transferred for treatment, and Maxie says, for what? Felicia says she had a heart attack, when Spinelli returns. He runs to her and they hug.

Michael tells Nina, come on. What’s the big deal? It’s practically after hours and she already banned them from having sex in her office, so where are they supposed to? Jacinda says, he’s teasing. He spilled coffee on his shirt, so she grabbed him a clean one from wardrobe. Trust her. None of the office furniture was defiled… not today. Nina says she has a magazine to run, so she doesn’t have time to worry about her CEO and the assistant he foisted on her soiling every corner of the building. Michael says, she can relax because he’s not here for Jacinda. He’s here for her.

Elizabeth asks, what’s going on with Marco? but Lucas says, she’s going out. He doesn’t want to ruin her night by throwing all of his problems at her. She asks what he’s talking about. He skipped the Nurses Ball to stay home and watch it with her after her accident. He says he remembers. He had a good time. She says her too. Now she wants to be here for him. She won’t have a good time tonight knowing something is wrong with him. He says, all right. He just found out that Marco isn’t being honest with him. She says, about what? and he says, a few things, like who he really is and what he really does and pretty much everything.

Britt gives herself her shot, and asks if Marco really has to watch her like that. He says, as a matter of fact, he does, and holds his hand out for the used syringe. She says, that wasn’t the same top of the line syringe she’s gotten used to, and he says, so sorry to hear their medical devices are not to her liking. She says her too. It makes her worry about how they’re handling her medication in general. She’d feel better if she could see herself that it’s properly stored. He says, unfortunately, he can’t make that call, but he’ll make sure to pass along her request, and she says, how generous of him. He says he really wishes it didn’t have to be this way, but she says, if that were true, he would do something about it, and he never has and never will. He says, as he told her, he’ll talk to his dad. He wants to allay her concerns. She says, maybe he does, but what happens after dear old dad says no, right? Her health goes to hell, but at least he tried. Does pretending he cares make him feel better about his role in this? Will it be enough to convince him that he’s the good guy Lucas sees when he looks at him? Marco says he is a good guy, and she says, in what world? Good guys do not lie to their boyfriend’s face every day. She’s been there, and take if from an expert, the truth will come out. It always does. Then that will be it, and when it ends, it won’t end well for him.

Georgie says she still can’t believe mom’s awake and talking to them, and James says he told her that mom could hear them. They probably woke her up. They laugh.

Spinelli asks, what happened? but Felicia says she’s not exactly sure. One minute, Maxie was unconscious, and the next, she was standing in the doorway and talking. He says, it sounds miraculous… Does she disagree? She says she wants to talk to the doctor and find out if Maxie is in the clear before they start talking about miracles, and Spinelli says she’s right. The doctor comes out of Maxie’s room and says, Miss Jones is ready for visitors. The kids run in, Spinelli and Felicia following, and Maxie asks where Bailey Lou is. Spinelli says, at home, safe and sound. Chase and Brook have been watching her. Maxie says, okay. The doctor said it’s been about six months. The last thing she remembers is shopping for school supplies. Now it’s Valentine’s Day. She wants to hear about everything. Spinelli says that’s what they’re here for, and Georgie says, there was a blizzard in Port Charles. Maxie says, what? and James says, yeah, the snow was up to the roof. Georgie says, no, it wasn’t, and James says, almost to the roof. Maxie says, that is a lot of snow.

Felicia asks the doctor, how was the exam? Maxie is no longer in danger, is she?

Nathan tells Lulu, sorry. He’s not exactly helping her. She says he really isn’t. Being close to him, she can’t… What if Rocco or Charlotte walked in? He says, that’s a good reason, but is it the only reason? and she asks what he means. He says, once upon time, they chatted about being friends. Maybe there’s still a part of her that thinks that’s all they should be. She says she was thinking about that, but maybe after everything is said and done, they’ll both decide that they’re better off just as friends, and he says, unlikely for him at least. She says, until that time comes, if it ever does, she’d like to live in this time and space to see what these feelings are and see if maybe they’re meant to be more than just… He says, pals? and she says, yeah. He says him too. So if right now in the living room isn’t the right and time place for a kiss, he guesses they’ll have to take a look at their calendars and pick a new location and try again. He’ll wait.

Lucas tells Elizabeth that he’s always known Sidwell had shady business dealings, but Marco swore to him that he was never involved in it. He said he had nothing to do with his father’s business, and like an idiot, he believed Marco. She says, now he doesn’t? and he says, he overheard Marco and his father having a conversation at Windymere. It seems like Marco knows all about whatever’s going on, and whatever is going on, it is not good. She says, maybe he didn’t hear enough, but he says he did, and it went from not good to so much worse. Not only is Marco involved, it sounds like he’s his father’s righthand man. Elizabeth says, Marco is a lawyer. Maybe he was just giving his dad legal advice. Lucas says, what he heard was not legal advice. Marco has been lying to him, maybe since the day they met. She says, sometimes when people talk business, it comes off as aggressive and it just sounds harsher than it really is, and he says, Marco and his father were talking about coercing someone to do something to get what they wanted. He swears it sounded like he was listening to a total stranger. The Marco talking to Sidwell was not the man he fell in love with.

Lucy says she hopes Sidwell doesn’t mind her dropping by like this, and he asks why he should mind. She’s always welcome here at Windymere. Always. She says, good to hear. She wasn’t quite sure what to expect after their last encounter. She doesn’t know exactly how to say this… He says, one of the many things he enjoys in their time together is how open she is. Her honesty is refreshing. So let’s not mince words. Just say what she came to say. She says she should have never asked him to choose between her and Ava.  

Walking into Crimson, Ava says, it’s her, and Jacinda says, it is. Did she expect someone else? Ava says she doesn’t know what she was expecting. Given how unhappy Nina was the day Michael imposed Jacinda on her, she didn’t know if Jacinda would still be around. Jacinda says, well, she is. Unfortunately, Miss Reeves is busy at the moment.

Nina says she presumes the issue is the way she runs Crimson, but Michael says, not at all. Whatever their differences may be, he thinks she does an incredible job as Editor-in-Chief. She thanks him and says she’s grateful they haven’t allowed their personal issues to affect their working relationship. He says he is too, and she says she also really wanted to thank him for deciding to grant Willow partial custody. He says he thought it was time for the kids to have their mother back. Which actually leads him to the reason for his visit. He’d appreciate a little consideration in return. She asks, what kind of consideration? and she says he wants her to take it easy on Jacinda.

Marco tells Britt that Lucas is his personal life. This is business, temporary business. Once it’s over, he and Lucas can finally have a life together. She says, he thinks so? They’re not making pizzas here. They’re developing a potential weapon. What they’re doing is dangerous, and for the record, no one finds Lucas’s moral superiority more annoying than she does, but if he really loved his boyfriend, he wouldn’t lie to him. Not about something like this.

The doctor tells Felicia and Spinelli, Maxie appears to show no signs of cardiac distress and the anti-rejection meds are working like they’re supposed too. Spinelli says he’s all too aware that Maxie adheres to no other timetable but her own, but why did she now regain consciousness? The doctor says, her blood pressure and cardiac ejection fraction have improved over the course of several weeks. Over the same time period, the enzyme levels in her blood stream have decreased. In fact, the last blood test only showed a trace amount of the enzymes presence in Maxie’s system. At this rate of degradation, he thinks the next round of bloodwork will show no trace of the enzymes in her system at all. Felicia says, he’s going to confirm that though? and he says, absolutely. Spinelli asks if he foresees any long-term complication from the coma, and the doctor says, her reflexes are sharp and her vitals are strong. Her motor and cognitive skills remain intact. She’s a little weak, but that’s to be expected. Felicia says, she’s really going to be okay? and he says, they’ve been praying for a miracle. He’d say they got one. Spinelli and Felicia hug.

As he’s taking the goodie bags with him, Nathan drops some and Lulu helps him pick them up. He thanks her and says he couldn’t have done any of this without her. He’ll give these to James to pass out. She’s supposed to kiss him, but hold onto this until the right time and place. They look up to see Brook in the doorway.

 Felicia says she feels like she can breathe for the first time, and Spinelli says, she’s really going to be okay, but she’s already taken in so much. Felicia says, if he doesn’t mind, she’d like to give Maxie the news about Nathan, and he says he thinks that would probably be best.  

Maxie looks at Georgie’s phone and says, oh my God. She did such a great job and looks beautiful. Felicia and Spinelli come in, and Maxie says, Georgie was just showing her her solo in the Christmas pageant this year. And James told her that Santa brought him his very own saddle, which means he must have been on his best behavior for the past few months. James says, and Santa counts it when you try, and Maxie says she’s glad he does. She just wishes she’d been there to help out. They were all alone. Spinelli says, she’s here now and that’s all that really matters, and Maxie says she guesses they’re a family again. And nothing or nobody is ever going to change that.

Brook tells Lulu and Nathan that she didn’t expect Bailey Lou to conk out so fast. She did sing the whole way over here. She guesses Bailey Lou tired herself out. Lulu says, that’s sweet, and Brook says, it is, but she wishes Bailey Lou knew another song, because now she knows way too much about buses and wheels. She’s so sorry she showed up unannounced. Lulu says, it’s no problem. She and Nathan were finishing up the Valentine goodie bags for James’s class. Nathan says, and he was dropping stuff on the way out. He thanks Lulu again for her help and she says, anytime. He leaves, and Lulu asks how Bailey Lou was today, but Brook says, save it. Lulu says, sorry? and Brook asks, what’s going on with her and Nathan?

James says, Maxie should see him ride. He’s been on Comet and Hades let him pet him. Maxie says, okay, so if she asks Cody to tell her how his lessons are going, Cody will say, well, and James is listening to everything he says. James says, ask all she wants. He’s gotten so good, even dad wants to try it. She says, is that so? and Spinelli exchanges looks with Felicia. Felicia says, Spinelli has barely had a chance to get a word in edgewise. Why don’t they give him and Maxie some private time? Georgie tells James, come on. They can try some of the stuff that dad brought back from the bakery. James says he just hopes dad got those cookies, and Spinelli says, as promised. They leave, and Spinelli sits next to the bed. Maxie asks if he’s going to say anything, but he says he doesn’t think he has the words. She says, that has to be a first, and he says he’s imagined this moment every second of every day and night. And now that it’s here, it’s too much for him to grasp. She says she had a lot of surprises today herself, but his being by her side wasn’t one of them, and he takes her hand.

Nina tells Michael, Jacinda isn’t the worst assistant in the world. If they can manage to keep their relationship out of the office… and reception area… and the elevator, she’s sure the two of them can find a way to coexist. Michael says, good, and gets up. They shake hands, he thanks Nina, and he leaves.

Jacinda tells Ava that she can go in, and Ava thanks her. She goes into the office, and says she sees Michael’s hooker is still on the payroll. How is that going for her? Nina says, actually, not too bad, but she’s sure Ava didn’t visit her to discuss her assistant. Ava says, can’t she just visit her very best gal pal in her place of business? and Nina says, she can, but she’s not, and please don’t use the phrase gal pal ever again. Ava says, okay. Fair enough. The truth is, she needs someone to talk to about Jenz Sidwell.

Sidwell gives Lucy a drink and says he’s surprised she’s come to regret her ultimatum. Why the sudden change of heart? Lucy says, there’s not one reason. She thinks they have the best time together and since she’s met him, she’s been so impressed, since the first day. He says, as he has with her, and she says she loves working with him at Deception. He helped the company and helped her a great deal, especially in Maxie’s absence. Not to mention the fact that she shudders to think what would have happened to the company if not for his – she clinks her glass against his – zincite. He says he was happy to provide her some relief in her time of need, and she knows he’d do anything for the women of Deception. She says she knows that because he’s just that kind of man, decent and so charming. That’s why she didn’t want to throw the relationship away. She loves spending time with him, even if it means sharing his time with Ava. So what does he say? Does he think he could give her another chance?

Marco says, Britt is in this deeper than he is. She’s the last person who should be judging him. She says she’s not judging him. She’s trying to get through to him because she’s been in that position. She worked with her own father, but she was a fugitive and he was the only person she could turn to. He has options she never had, so why would he choose to be shackled to his dad? What could he possibly be getting out of this? Marco says they all have their reasons, and she says, from where she’s standing, if he wants a happily ever after with Lucas, he’s doing the one thing that will guarantee he never has it.

Lucas tells Elizabeth that it took him so long to be open to finding love after Brad. Then he met Marco and thought he could be the one. He thought what they had was real. Elizabeth says she’s seen the two of them together, the way Marco looks at him, and the way Lucas lights up around him. That is real. Just because Marco’s not being 100% honest, doesn’t mean Marco’s feelings for him are a lie. His feelings may be the reason he’s not truthful. Lucas says, that runs counter to everything he believes a relationship should be, and she says she would agree, unless Marco is into something dangerous or illegal, which it kind of sounds like he is. Maybe Marco is lying to him because he thinks he’s protecting him. And as hard as it is to accept he may not be the same person Lucas thought, that doesn’t erase everything they’ve shared. What the two of them have is love, and that love does vanish just because of some lies.

Jacinda and Michael kiss, and she asks how things went with Nina. He says, pretty well, if she could believe it. Nina practically gave them her blessing. She says, it’s a relief. Nina is her boss after all, and she doesn’t want it to complicate his custody arrangement with Willow, especially when it’s so new. When exactly was he planning on telling her about that?

Nina says, Jenz Sidwell? She’s heard nothing but bad things about the man. Ava says she’s heard those whispers as well, but it has not been her experience with him, and Nina says, as his art dealer. Ava says, Jenz the client is extremely wealthy and Jenz the man is more that. Nina asks, how? and Ava says, he’s much more loving as a father. She’s seen him with his son and he’s been nothing but supportive of Marco’s relationship with her nephew. The four of them have been spending a great deal of time together. It’s allowed her to connect with Lucas on a whole new level. Nina says, the way she’s talking, it sounds like she’s connecting to Sidwell. Does she have feelings for him? Ava says, it’s too soon to tell, but there’s definitely a little spark… something. She thinks Jenz senses it too. Unfortunately, somebody else has noticed it – Lucy Coe.

Sidwell says, of course (🍷) he’ll give Lucy another chance. She’s truly one of a kind and his position here is owed in large part to her generous guidance and extensive knowledge of this wonderful city. It’s never a dull moment with her around. She says she certainly hopes not, and he says, the idea of not seeing her any more truly bothered him. She says she’s heard that before, but it’s definitely nice to hear again, and he says he thinks they’ve evolved enough to enjoy each other’s company without any expectation of exclusivity. She says she definitely agrees, and he says they have a lot of catching up to do. How does dinner at the MetroCourt sound? She says, absolutely fabulous, and he says, fantastic. He just has one stop to make first.

Looking at Spinelli’s phone, Maxie says, hold on. Is that Brook and Lulu in the same room together? His phone must be on mute. She doesn’t hear them yelling at each other or threatening to smack each other. He says, their interactions have actually been in acceptable decibel levels and there have been no assaults, physically or otherwise. They’ve buried the hatchet to take care of the kids. She says, maybe she should have fallen into a coma earlier, and Spinelli says, ugh. She says, too soon? and he says he’s not sure if there will ever be the right time for that jest. She agrees and says, to be honest, Brook and Lulu getting along is the best news she could have woken up to.

Brook tells Lulu to look her in the eye and tell her that there’s nothing going on between her and Nathan. Then she’ll drop it. Lulu says, things have been so good between them. She doesn’t want to do this. Brook says, exactly, because they’ve been helping Spinelli and Felicia together. But if something is going on between her and James’s dad… He’s Maxie’s husband and that changes things for everyone involved. Lulu says, Maxie is her best friend, and Nathan has been out of her life for seven years. She moved on with Spinelli. Brook says, Lulu is rationalizing, which means she’s right, isn’t she? and Lulu says, yes. She and Nathan have feelings for each other.

Felicia says she just got off the phone with Mac, and he can’t wait to see Maxie, and Maxie says she can’t wait to see him too. Felicia says, the kids have a flight to catch, so say goodbye to mom, but Georgie says she doesn’t want to leave Maxie alone. Spinelli says, she won’t be alone. He’s going to fly back with them, and grandma is going to stay with her. James says he doesn’t want to leave without her, but Maxie says she’ll be okay and she doesn’t want them missing any more school. Besides, she really needs them to help her take care of Bailey Lou. Got it? James says, got it, and she says, give her a hug. She and the kids say, I love you, and Spinelli says they have their orders. They need vending machines, no doubt, and bathrooms, and anything else before they go. He looks at Maxie and says, Maximista… She says her too, and he says, come on, kids. They leave, and Maxie says she’s okay. Felicia doesn’t have to keep crying. Felicia says she knows Maxie is okay. She’s crying because she loves her so much. They hug, and Maxie says she loves Felicia too.

Lulu tells Brook that she realizes the whole situation is complicated and knows it could end up devastating Maxie and confusing James. She’s trying to navigate this. Brook says, good luck with that, and Lulu says, chances are nothing could even come of this, but how are they supposed to know one way or another if she and Nathan don’t have the time and space to explore whatever these feelings are? Brook says, so she’s supposed to give them time and space. Funny. She remembers someone else asking… Oh, right. That was her asking Lulu for the time and space to deal with the repercussions of her teenage pregnancy, but no. Lulu couldn’t give her that courtesy and went ahead and blew up her entire life. Lulu says she never told Gio that Brook was his mom. She wanted Lois to tell them both the truth. She inserted herself into Brook’s personal life and learned from that mistake. Brook says, how convenient. Lulu finally learned a lesson in discretion just in time to need it from someone else. Lulu says that’s not what she’s doing. She just knows people will get hurt if whatever the feelings are with Nathan are real. She’s just trying to be careful about everything. Brook asks if Dante knows she has feelings for his best friend, and Lulu says, no. That’s the whole point of exploring this in private, so no one needlessly gets hurt. Brook says, no. The point is that she and Nathan should never explore this at all. Dante is Nathan’s best friend and Maxie is Lulu’s. Lulu has always had faults, but her friendship with Maxie and her loyalty to her was never one of them. If she and Nathan pursue this, she’ll lose Maxie forever, and sorry, but she deserves to.

Nina says, spark or not, Ava has a far bigger problem than Lucy Coe, and Ava says, what’s that? Nina says, Avery’s father. Or has she forgotten that Sonny and Sidwell absolutely despise each other? Ava says she doesn’t take orders or relationship advice from Sonny. She thinks Lucy will hang herself as far as Jenz is concerned and he’ll focus all his attention on her. The question is, does she let him? Is Nina going on the record in saying she’s against it? Nina says she’s completely absolutely against it, but she will admit that it’s nice to see her friend with a little glow. Ava says, does she have a glow? and Nina says, it’s there, but maybe there’s enough reason to let it sit.

Jacinda asks if Michael compromised with Willow because of her, because he thought their relationship and her past would cost him more if fought her? Michael says, that was a factor in his thinking, but it wasn’t the decisive one. He couldn’t risk being charged with Drew’s shooting, then also having Willow petition for full custody. So he decided to get ahead of the situation. How did she find out? She says, Kristina thought she already knew, and he says he was going to tell her on their date tonight. That is, if she’s not too upset to still go out with him.

Marco says what he’s getting out of this is none of Britt’s business, okay? This project will be over soon and when it is, he and Lucas can finally move forward and build their lives together. Britt says, keep telling himself that, and he says, they can agree that the sooner the project is done, the better it will be for the both of them. Get it online. Give his father and Cullum what they want and then they can all be free to live their lives. He leaves.

Lucas tells Elizabeth, what hurt the most was how he defended Marco to his sister. He chose Marco over Carly, and she was right the whole time. Even after how he acted, she came to Windymere and tried to make things right between them. She accepted his boyfriend for who he is – and get this – she even apologized. Elizabeth says, she loves him, and he says he pushed away his sister for someone whose never been honest. Elizabeth says, she’ll forgive him, and he thanks her for being such a good friend. She says, hold onto that feeling. She’s about to give him some tough love. She believes he and Marco have real feelings for each other, but living in that house is not safe. Sidwell was a dangerous man when he was holding Lucky hostage and he’s just as dangerous now. So Lucas needs to go back, pack his bags, and move out of Windymere tonight.

Michael says he’d rather focus on the good things that are and one of those things is Jacinda, and she says, okay already. She’ll go out with him. She laughs and says, where to? He says, it’s a surprise, and she says, why not let her surprise him for a change? She’ll pick the place. He says, deal, and they kiss.

Ava thanks Nina for the advice. She can always count on Nina and what she says. Jenz sees her value and respects her opinion. It’s been a while since that happened and goes a long way with her. There’s a knock at the door and Jacinda says, you have a visitor. Nina says, there’s no one else on her calendar, but Jacinda says, it’s not for her. It’s for Miss Jerome. Sidwell comes in and Ava asks what he’s doing here. Sidwell greets Nina, and says he went to the gallery and Miss Robinson told him that he might find her here. He has a proposition, a dinner proposition, for her. Ava says she accepts, and he says he’s so pleased. Shall we? He holds out his arm and Ava takes it. As they leave the office, he says, just so she knows, they’re having company, and Lucy says, great news. The MetroCourt has a table for three. Sidwell laughs and says, it’s great, so great.

Marco calls Cullum and says, Britt Westbourne’s medication has been administered for the day. The next time they meet, he’d like to revisit their conversation about Sonny Corinthos. Lucas hears him.  

Britt went into her office to find Nathan, and says, he scared her. He says, sorry. He didn’t mean to. She asks what he’s doing here, and he says he’s got some bad news. She says, how bad? and he says, Anna Devane is convinced their father is alive.  

Brook says, believe it or not, she’s trying to do Lulu a favor. If nothing happened between her and Nathan, she should keep it that way. Because no unanswered question about feelings is worth risking her friendship with Maxie’s. Lulu’s phone rings, and Spinelli says he has the most wonderful news. Maxie woke up. Lulu says, oh my God, and Brook says, what is it? Lulu tells Spinelli, okay, bye, and Brook asks if everything is okay. Lulu says, Maxie is awake.

Maxie says, thanks to Georgie and Spinelli’s videos and James’s very vivid and detailed storytelling, she feels like she’s caught up on everything she missed. She thinks it’s sweet that James is calling Spinelli dad now. Felicia says, James and Spinelli have only grown closer since Maxie’s been in here, but when James said his dad was learning to ride horseback, he wasn’t referring to Spinelli. Maxie asks what she means, and Felicia says, James was talking about Nathan. Nathan is alive.

On Monday, Carly tells Jason that Sonny insists Ric doesn’t have an agenda, but she doesn’t buy it; Molly has something to tell Alexis; and Marco says Lucas isn’t going anywhere. And not in a good way.

🧼 The Only Soap News Fit To Print…

Maximista is back.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/maxie-returns-on-general-hospital-heres-how-kirsten-storms-came-back-to-the-show/

https://ew.com/general-hospital-actress-kirsten-storms-returns-after-brain-aneurysm-11906052

Glad for Cameron, but wishing Drew would drop dead.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/general-hospital-star-cameron-mathison-shares-a-cancer-update-after-his-recent-checkup/

He’ll be missed, but it’s a sweet reason.

https://ew.com/why-steve-burton-is-taking-a-short-break-from-general-hospital-11903840

Because, Roger Howarth.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/the-young-and-the-restless-comings-goings-roger-howarth-back-on-set-as-matt-clark/

💉 A Dose Of Reality

Below Deck Down Under

The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City were still on Deck, and these women argued so loudly and intensely at dinner, they ignored dessert service and Chef Ben coming up to ask about the food. Captain Jason had plans to join them for dessert, but wisely thought better of it. Sous chef Alesia thought Ben was moody, so obviously she’s never seen the show or any competition show where chefs are involved. I thought he was very accommodating and possibly mellowing as he gets older. I wondered if the Salt Lake women would be friends if not for the show and maybe that’s what the real problem is. Angie seems to be an accident waiting to happen, as she ended up with a pretty bad hand injury after dressing up like a lobster or something and getting a door closed on it. All I have to say is, they better have left one hell of a tip, especially after seeing the mess they left behind.

Summer House

We watched more Kyle and Amada’s relationship disintegrating further. It’s not a huge shock since Kyle bitched to everyone except Amanda and talked all kinds of smack about her – she smoked weed every night (his point?), they didn’t have sex (has he met himself?), and their place was like something from Hoarders (bordering; it was sloppy, but not quite a Hoarders situation). His excuse this season for being an a-hole was that Loverboy was not doing well, even though he’d sunk $500K into it and was taking no salary. I was actually surprised, since I’ve tasted Loverboy’s product and thought it was very good. He’d been supplementing his income by DJ’ing, which in and of itself, wasn’t an issue for Amanda, but he was also partying hardy, going so far as sleeping it off at a fan’s house. I’m with Amanda in saying that’s just a no. Maybe Kyle should try to get on a Housewives show since he fits right in with his drinking and screeching.  

Vanderpump Rules

We learned that there was more to Venus than just his long, pretty hair, when he talked about his struggle coming out and the struggles being out afterward. LVP gave him the task of being the host of SUR’s Gay Pride event and his confidence was bolstered. Other than that, it was the usual making up and breaking up, or vice versa. When the group went to a bar after a game of volleyball, Natalie put on lip gloss in anticipation of making out (ew, messy!) and in her interview, told us, I don’t know what says about me but there’s just something so chic about having a couple of drinks and making out with people. And that pretty much sums up the whole season so far.

Southern Charm

The best thing about the past couple episodes is the name of Whitner’s family farm – Itchy Grass Farm. The worst thing has been Craig. He keeps insisting he never said he was worried Charley would fall in love with him, yet we’ve clearly seen it on video. It must be true that they forget about the cameras. Shep insisted on talking to Austen even though Austen said he didn’t want to, and stumbled through a halfway poetic plea for Austen to let Audrey go. In Shep’s interview, he said Austen hadn’t gotten the memo, but it was Shep who hadn’t gotten the memo, since Austen had already broken up with her. He just hadn’t mentioned it to Shep or Craig. A funeral service for Chauncey was held at Patricia’s Whitney’s house, and Austen gave the perfect eulogy: [Chauncey was] a true legend. A noble companion. A four-legged, tongue-dangling potato with the spirit of a lion, and the mental fortitude of a toddler. [He was] a confidant, a snack stealer, a friend. What he lacked for in brain power, he more than made up for in spirit. All dog tributes should be so eloquent. At the end, Madison was about to have her baby.

Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills

Rachel, Kyle, and Dorit took off for the Hamptons, while the rest went to Amanda’s Manifestation Moment party. <sigh> I’m not a fan of the manifestation movement or moment or whatever. If it worked, we’d all be millionaires by now. When the women tried to get Amanda to take accountability for causing the rift between Kyle and Dorit to widen, Sutton called Amanda a wimp, which totally offended her. In Erika’s interview, she said, if Amanda couldn’t handle wimp, perhaps she was I the wrong group, and we got a montage of see-you-next-Tuesday tidings from past episodes. Dorit met with Mauricio and tried to get him to see things from her side, but to no one’s surprise except hers, Mauricio stuck by his boy. On Watch What Happens Live, Reza (The Valley: Persian Style) told Rachel that she was killing the game during her freshman season, and I concur. Loving her.

The Valley: Persian Style

RJ set up a lunch date with Tanin and Sky, where neither knew the other was coming. Then he took their purses and booked, in the hopes that they’d kiss and make up. When Tanin said, Sky made it sound like others were beneath her, Sky said, they were, reenforcing her reputation as bougie princess. She doesn’t just avoid accountability, she honestly thinks she has none. Mercedeh was frustrated at Tommy not wanting to mend fences with Reza, and even though he’d brought it all on himself, he continued to whine about the repercussions of his rampage. Reza decided to make the first move and sent Tommy a beautiful text. While still being an a-hole who refuses to take accountability (WOTD) at the beginning of the episode, Tommy wrote back suggesting they get together after filming. I’m hoping that’s because he wants it to be a genuine moment off-camera and not because he’ll want to change history once the cameras are rolling again. TBD.

Random Reality Items

Oh, the irony. Apparently, Jill doesn’t know 1) Puerto Rico is part of the United States, 2) they speak Spanish there, and 3) there were other performers. I’m thrilled that Dorinda will be replacing her. I’m not a fan of cancelation, but like Ramona before her, she got what she deserved.

https://ew.com/jill-zarin-fired-from-real-housewives-reunion-series-after-racist-rant-about-bad-bunny-super-bowl-show-11904130

Now we’re talking.

Her art is brilliant. I would definitely buy a piece. I’ll be waiting for that website to be up.

https://screenrant.com/1000-lb-sisters-amy-slaton-leaning-into-artistic-era-see-more-artwork/

👀 Last Weekend’s Watch…

Ash. Hulu. More psychological thriller than horror, protagonist Riya wakes up on a foreign planet, the rest of her spaceship’s crew dead, and she can’t remember a thing. When a man claims to have observed the carnage from a distance, he tries help her piece together what happened. Supposedly, the crew was infected by a virus that causes violence, and Riya begins to remember bits and pieces, unsure of the part she may have played in the crew’s demise. It wasn’t my favorite, but I didn’t hate it.

The Blackening. Netflix. This film had been on my not-so short list for a while, and when I saw it was leaving soon, I figured I’d better get to it. It turned out, it was just what I needed – a good laugh. Starting with a group going to a cabin in the woods for some fun and relaxation, the movie turns every horror trope on its ear and laughs at it. It’s a good time partnered with a hint of a message about Blackness. And even though a Black character is technically the first to die, they’re also the last left standing. Lots of laughs, some gore, and a unique perspective.

The Great Flood. Netflix. An asteroid has hit the earth, causing a more than great flood. It’s a catastrophe. It starts with a single mother in a flooded apartment, trying to get to safety. Then the twist comes. It was hard to even find a review without spoilers, but I’m not going to give it away. I started watching because I have a fascination with big waves, and stayed for the wild ride.

No spoilers here.

All the spoilers.

The ‘Burbs. Peacock. I never saw the film, but now I’ll have to. I love Keke Palmer, I love what I’ve seen of this series so far, and even though I’m not done with Season 1, I’m hoping for a Season 2. Samira, Rob, and their newborn move back to Rob’s childhood home in suburbia. While still on maternity leave, Samira becomes fixated on the old, dilapidated Victorian house across the street. At first it’s empty, but when the new owner moves in, Samira is sure he’s up to no good. There’s a rational explanation for everything, but she’s convinced there’s a mystery to uncover.

https://deadline.com/2026/02/the-burbs-creator-finale-cameo-season-2-ideas-1236716853/

Fallout finale. Amazon Prime. A scene with cockroaches that would make any New Yorker cringe and Max’s fight against the Deathclaws were amazing. There were some laughs – like when Steph’s offense of being Canadian is worse than the actual deception and killing she’s waged – and the magnificent setting of New Vegas. But still, like the reviewer below, I was left feeling a little ripped off. Like when I hoped for a pterodactyl in The Lost World: Jurassic Park, and there was barely a glimpse of one holding up a sign that said, Look for me in the third installment of the franchise! I get I should want to watch the next season, but give me a grand gesture at the end of the last one. I still enjoyed it, but something was missing.

https://www.avclub.com/fallout-season-2-finale-recap

🔮 Watch Of the Future…

I think she’s done enough.

https://ew.com/americas-next-top-model-returning-cycle-25-tyra-banks-11905345

🏈 All About That Bowl…

You didn’t think I meant the sports stuff, did you?

The surprises.

https://ew.com/lady-gaga-ricky-martin-make-surprise-appearance-at-bad-bunny-super-bowl-halftime-show-11902389

https://ew.com/bad-bunny-super-bowl-2026-halftime-show-featured-real-wedding-11902395

The commercials.

https://ew.com/super-bowl-2026-commercials-best-and-worst-celebrity-ads-11900001

https://ew.com/dunkin-super-bowl-2026-ad-tv-sitcom-stars-good-will-hunting-spoof-11900455

The movie trailers.

https://ew.com/super-bowl-2026-movie-trailers-11899496

The I-Can’t-Wait.

https://ew.com/once-upon-a-time-in-hollywood-sequel-super-bowl-2026-trailer-brad-pitt-adventures-of-cliff-booth-11902369

🪄 No Second Helping For You…

What Michelle Yeoh said.

https://ew.com/michelle-yeoh-reacts-to-wicked-for-good-being-snubbed-at-the-oscars-11905756

🐶 It’s a Dog’s World…

🐾 It’s the Puppy Bowl for the win.

https://www.usatoday.com/live-story/sports/2026/02/08/puppy-bowl-2026-highlights-winner-super-bowl/88568327007/

https://www.tvinsider.com/1244314/puppy-bowl-2026-winning-team/

🥇 At least he went out a winner.

https://people.com/puppy-bowl-fans-mourn-contestant-teigan-who-died-before-puppy-bowl-2026-aired-11903144

🧙 Brother from another mother… and world.

https://people.com/women-take-in-foster-dog-that-looks-like-dobby-from-harry-potter-exclusive-11903934

🦮 A different Bowl, yet the same.

https://people.com/super-bowl-2026-beth-stern-shares-super-bowl-tradition-great-american-rescue-bowl-11902067

🐕 I can just imagine the fluffy chaos.

https://people.com/goldens-in-golden-2026-largest-unofficial-golden-retriever-gathering-11903043

👰🏻‍♀️ And Golden makes three.

https://people.com/bride-and-groom-include-beloved-pet-golden-retriever-in-wedding-dance-exclusive-11902802

Happy Valentine’s Day!

🦪 Quotes of the Week

Tomorrow becomes never. No matter how small the task, take the first step now. – Tim Ferriss

Every piece of the universe, even the tiniest little snow crystal, matters somehow. I have a place in the pattern, and so do you. – T. A. Barron (So don’t step on any butterflies.)

Life lived for tomorrow will always be just a day away from being realized. – Leo Buscaglia

When your work speaks for itself, don’t interrupt.Henry J. Kaiser

Life is problems. Living is solving problems. – Raymond E. Feist

Let me tell you the secret that has led me to my goals: my strength lies solely in my tenacity. – Louis Pasteur

I can handle failing, but I can’t handle not knowing what could have been. – Evan Carmichael

I feel like I just got an emotional wedgie. – Rob (Jack Whitehall), The ‘Burbs

❄️ Fire Of the Frost…

Until next time, stay safe; stay being wary of black ice on the roads; and stay remembering, no risk, no reward.

November 21, 2025 – GH Weekdays, Laura Gets a Post-Election Surprise, Soap Suds, This Week In Reality, Weekend Watching, Watching Soon, Running To Watch, Holiday Watch, Award Watch, How Bizarre How Bizarre, Two Quintets Of Quotes & Restaurant

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

🥢 Weekday Bites…                                                                           

Monday:

Alexis wondered when Portia could have gotten access to Edward Quartermaine’s gun, and Felicia said, she visited Monica frequently and could have taken it at any time prior to the shooting. Alexis said that meant she had means and opportunity, but what reason would she have to shoot Drew?

In her office. Portia looked at her sonogram, when Curtis knocked at the door. He said he’d heard she had a check-up and asked how it went.

Kai met Trina at the gallery, and she said her parents deserved to know the truth. She was going to tell them that she and Kai were at Drew’s the night he got shot.

Dante came into the hospital and Brook asked how it went at the courthouse. He said he watched his son get taken off to juvie in handcuffs.

Laura went to vote, and Elizabeth asked how the arraignment went. Laura said, horribly wrong.

Gio and Emma went to the hospital, when Britt grabbed Emma. Emma said, get off me, but Britt said, not until they got a few things straight.

Lulu found Carly at Bobbie’s and told her that Rocco had been taken into custody, and he may go to prison unless she did something drastic to stop it.

Ric told Sonny that he had a deal. Six months community service, no felony charges, and no incarceration. Sonny asked, what went wrong? and Ric looked at Turner. Sonny asked why she double-crossed his grandson.

Felicia told Alexis that Drew’s enemy list was long and everyone had a good motive. Why wasn’t Portia on the list? Alexis said Curtis and Drew had public issues, but Portia had no direct conflict with Drew that would put her on the PCPD’s radar. Felicia said, based on the information they knew, and Alexis said that’s why she needed Felicia.

Portia said so far everything was great and on track, but Curtis needed to remember it was considered an older pregnancy. It didn’t mean they should worry, but she wanted to make sure it was safe before telling anyone. Curtis said he thought she should know that someone already figured it out.

Turner said her duty was to prosecute the case based on evidence and the law, but Sonny said she ambushed Ric with so-called evidence and worse, she ambushed a child. He thought she was better than that. Turner said she couldn’t ignore the evidence Dalton provided, and Sonny said he wanted his grandson released. She said the prosecution wouldn’t oppose bail, and Ric said, she was telling them that now, but she’d proved to be unethical and unreliable. Who was to say she wouldn’t pull the same stunt at the bail hearing?

Lulu told Carly about the charges, and Carly said they were all felonies. Lulu said Rocco swore there was no damage, and everyone believed him except the judge. She wasn’t going to let one mistake destroy her son’s life. Carly told her to do what she could. Prison would change her son forever.

Britt said, right now, she and Emma needed to have some girl talk, and Emma told Gio that she’d be fine. She’d meet him upstairs. He left, and Britt said she knew Emma got Rocco to steal the key fob and now he was headed to prison.

Elizabeth wondered how the case had escalated, when Nathan came in and told Laura that he made sure Rocco was relatively insulated. Laura asked how he was, since he’d seemed terrified, and Nathan said he thought Rocco had calmed down. Laura said this happened because of Dalton.

Dante told Brook that all he could do was stand and watch. As he was taken out, Rocco was yelling to them that he hadn’t done anything wrong. He was terrified. Gio came out of the elevator, and heard Brook saying, Rocco was a good kid and she wondered how he’d gotten involved. Gio said he was the reason Rocco broke into the lab.

Britt said Emma had been in the office when Dalton gave her the key fob. She’d told Emma to stay away from Dalton and the lab, and she set Rocco up. Emma said she thought Dalton was doing animal testing, but it turned out she was wrong. Britt said Emma didn’t break into the lab. Rocco did and was suffering the consequences. That was on Emma.  

Alexis said she couldn’t rest Willow’s case on Michael alone, and Felicia said other suspects helped shift the focus. Alexis said the PCPD rushed to judgment. She needed to present other viable suspects to create reasonable doubt in the hopes the jury wouldn’t convict Willow.

Portia asked who knew, and Curtis said, Aunt Stella. She worked with Portia every day and figured it out. She was less shocked about Portia’s pregnancy and more concerned about their divorce.

Kai asked what had Trina so upset that she changed her mind, and Trina said, not what, who. Jordan had been circling her dad like a shark. Jordan knew the strain her parents’ marriage was under, but it hadn’t stopped her going after a married man. If she told her parents that Drew’s blackmail material was gone, the strain would disappear, they’d stay together, and Jordan would be left out in the cold where she belonged.

Ric said Turner wanted to publicly persecute the grandson of Sonny Corinthos and Mayor Collins. He thought she would do what it took to secure her position. He left, saying, it wasn’t over, and Sonny told Turner that Rocco said he hadn’t trashed the lab. Dalton had set up his grandson, and she was falling for it.

Laura told Nathan that when she’d questioned Dalton, at no point did he mention the lab was vandalized. It didn’t happen. Rocco was someplace he shouldn’t have been, but she knew he didn’t lie. Elizabeth said she was sure Laura wouldn’t stop until Rocco’s name was cleared, and Laura said she hoped it was enough to get him out of the situation. She stepped away to vote.

Gio told Dante that he’d joined Students Against Animal Testing, and they’d thought Professor Dalton was doing testing at the university. They needed to create a diversion in order to break into the lab, and he recruited Danny, Rocco, and Charlotte to help.

Felicia told Alexis that she’d keep looking. Portia lying about her whereabouts begged the question, what was she hiding? Ric came in and said he needed to speak to Alexis about Rocco Falconari. Felicia said she’d be in touch, and left. Alexis said she heard Ric was representing Rocco, but assumed it was a rumor, since Sonny hated him. Ric said they were making peace for their daughter’s sake. Maybe he and Alexis should do the same.

Sonny said Turner didn’t strike him as a bully who would go after a child, and she said she was just doing her job. Any chance he just didn’t want to believe Rocco was guilty? Sonny told her, if Rocco said he didn’t do it, he didn’t do it, but she said kids lied all the time. Did he think Rocco never had? How sure was he that Rocco was telling the truth?

Emma said she brought Rocco in, but he had his own ideals and backbone, and Britt said, not only was he capable of making his own decisions, he could manipulate with the best of them. He’d shown interest in her since she’d been working with Dalton and had been playing her the whole time.

Lulu told Carly that it was Dalton’s word against Rocco’s, but Rocco said he didn’t damage anything. She could prove Dalton’s evidence was fake if a witness came forward and she had two – Danny and Charlotte.

Laura thanked Nathan and was about to leave for lunch with Elizabeth, when Dalton came in. He told Laura that it would be tough for her to protect her grandson when she’d lost the election, but she suggested they wait to see what the voters said. He was also kidding himself if he thought she needed to be mayor to protect her grandson.

Dante said Gio recruited three kids to criminally trespass? but Gio said they were just supposed to create a diversion, distract security while he broke in. Dante said, but that didn’t happen. Gio wasn’t in the lab. His brother was.

Dalton said it would be harder for Laura’s grandson to skate if she lost the election, but the upside was that he and his grandfather could now swap prison stories. Laura said he was enjoying what he’d done, and Dalton said he was the victim. Her grandson was the one who broke in. Laura said Dalton was a liar.

Sonny told Turner that he knew Rocco didn’t trash the lab because he knew who Rocco was. He was honest and kind, and anybody who knew him would say the same. Turner said Dalton was adamant the lab was trashed and produced photographic evidence as proof, but Sonny said, the police didn’t investigate the lab themselves. Dalton would know what to break that didn’t affect his research. Turner asked, why? and he said Dalton was hiding something and framing his grandson. She said those were arguments that could be presented at trial. She wasn’t happy about it, but didn’t have the luxury of choosing what cases to prosecute based on her feelings. Her job was to see that people paid for breaking the law.

Emma said Britt had it wrong. She asked Rocco to steal the key fob, then realized he was the worst person to do it. He was honest to a fault and for reasons she didn’t understand, liked Britt – for real. He wasn’t a user or a liar and said he wanted to get to know Britt, who, despite evidence to the contrary, he believed was a good person. Britt said she was sure Emma provided her unbiased take, but Emma said she’d suggested Rocco get to know Britt for himself. Maybe she’d changed from The Britch who threw her doll on the barbecue. The jury was out though.

Alexis said a lot had happened since she and Ric came to a truce. Forgive her for not accepting his olive branch. Ric said he was willing to let bygones be bygones. Maybe she should get on board. He’d heard from multiple sources that Charlotte and Danny were with Rocco when he broke in the lab. They needed to come forward.

Gio told Dante that they no longer needed a distraction. The debate was happening and everyone’s attention was on that. Then Ned had a heart attack, and they called it off. Dante said, but Rocco went anyway. So Gio was there at the hospital, and his little brother went in his place.  

Kai asked if Trina thought once her parents realized the blackmail was gone, they’d figure things out, and she said it had driven a wedge between them. She thought they’d have room to breathe if they weren’t waiting for Drew’s other shoe to drop. Kai said, maybe the strain had nothing to do with the blackmail.  

Portia said Curtis told Stella about the divorce? and he said, she’d inevitably find out. She didn’t take it well and thought they should stay together and raise the baby with two loving parents. Portia asked if he was going to suggest they stay together for the baby’s sake. He should know she saw him and Jordan kissing.

Laura said her grandson didn’t vandalize Dalton’s lab and Dalton was unfairly targeting him, and Dalton said she was going to use her position, so he didn’t face the consequences. He wondered if her constituents would appreciate it, but she said she didn’t give a damn about the election. He was trying to railroad an innocent teenager and he’d be sorry. He asked if she was threatening him. It was a blatant misuse of her power. She said any use of her power against him would be warranted.

Dante said Gio hadn’t learned anything. Rocco had almost died from the alcohol poisoning. Gio said he felt terrible, but Dante said Gio only cared about himself. Rocco had been arraigned and there were charges against him when it should be Gio. Gio said he was sorry, and Dante said Rocco would do anything Gio wanted. Even if Gio didn’t want to be a part of Rocco’s family, all Rocco cared about was being part of his.

Carly said Danny and Charlotte could corroborate Rocco’s account and clear him, and Lulu said, or be charged alongside him. She knew they could help Rocco, but couldn’t let them come forward unless she knew they were protected. Carly asked how she’d know, and Lulu said she wasn’t sure. She’d believed her son had a deal in place and now he was in the juvenile detention center.

Britt said Rocco was facing felony charges because of Emma. The next time Emma wanted to come after her, have the guts to do it herself and don’t use a child. Emma said she was wrong to involve Rocco. For what it was worth (🍷), she was sorry. Britt said something she may learn from someone who’d been sorry and made mistakes was that not everything could be cleaned up with an apology. Some mistakes you have to live with. She walked away.

Kai said Drew knew there was no longer leverage and Trina’s parents were smart people and noticed. Trina said, then what was keeping her parents from finding their way back besides Jordan? and he said they didn’t see who else was at Drew’s, but they knew both of her parents had reason to want him dead. Her dad had an alibi – Trina said, Jordan – but her mom… She said, doesn’t.  

Alexis told Ric, if Danny came forward, it would help Rocco, but it might hurt Danny. She was representing Danny and had to say no. Ric said he understood her worry, but he’d make sure Danny got out from under Drew Cain. She said she wasn’t putting her grandson in his hands. It wasn’t like him to turn the other cheek and what better way to hurt her than putting Danny in jeopardy? He said, she’d realize it was a great legal strategy if she’d just hear him out, but she said, pass. He said, what if he offered her something else?

Portia said she’d wanted to speak to Jordan and saw her and Curtis kissing in the hallway, and Curtis said, sorry. (Why?) She said it was okay. They’d made their decision to go their own ways and she knew his way would lead to Jordan. He said they’d given it a shot and didn’t work as husband and wife, but they worked as parents. They were a great team for Trina, and he knew they’d be the same for the baby. She said she thought he was a great father. They needed to be a strong united front to get past Stella’s matchmaking. He said, Stella was a force, and saw the sonogram. He asked if it was hers.

Portia said it was from today’s check-up, and Curtis looked at it. She said it was too early to tell if it was a boy or girl, and he said, whoever they were, they were perfect. Could he keep it? She said, of course (🍷).

Trina asked if Kai thought her mother shot Drew, and he said it was hard to imagine. She said, secrets could destroy a marriage, especially with her father, but her mother knew life was sacred and spent every day saving lives. He said it was hypothetical, and she said she thought she knew what both of her parents were capable of, but it was pretty obvious she didn’t know them, maybe at all. He said she did know her parents. It was just another theory. They didn’t know anything for sure, except that Trina’s parents loved her and their instinct was to protect her. So if she told them about being at Drew’s… She said maybe it would force them to tell her the truth, and he asked if it was a truth she really wanted to know.

Ric said he was prepared to sweeten the deal, and Alexis said, how so? He said she was representing Willow who’d allegedly shot Drew. What if he could insure she’d win the case? She asked if he was going to confess, and he said, no, but he had another viable suspect other than Willow and Michael. She asked, who? and he said, Portia Robinson. She asked, what possible reason would Portia have? and he said he could give her several.

Sonny told Turner that he wanted people to be accountable for their actions too, but they both knew the law wasn’t black and white. Turner said, generally speaking, it was, but the law wasn’t always applied the way it should be, and he said, sometimes, the justice system just failed. She said, yes. Innocent people went to jail for crimes they didn’t commit and the guilty went free. Maybe Dalton’s evidence would hold up, maybe not, but Rocco was a sympathetic defendant and Dalton was… Sonny said, a liar? and she said, not as sympathetic. Sonny asked if she was telling him that it would come down to Dalton’s word against Rocco’s, but she said it was too early to tell. If it did, the jury might be more inclined to believe Rocco. Sonny asked if she’d at least go easy on Rocco, and she said she was going to do her job, nothing more. But this part was black and white. Dalton was the victim of record and as long as he pushed the case, she’d pursue justice on his behalf. He asked if she was sure she was pursuing justice or was she trying to help herself professionally by putting his grandson’s future on the line? and she says, the former. He said, make sure the justice system didn’t fail his grandson.

Lulu wondered if she should risk her daughter to save her son and told Carly that there were no guarantees that if Danny and Charlotte came forward, Rocco would go free. What if she put something in motion that, instead of saving one, condemned all three? Carly said there was no easy answer, and Lulu said, when that happened to Michael, she and Dante were sure they were doing the right thing. They thought Michael would be okay and they were wrong. So wrong. They hugged, and Lulu said she couldn’t afford to be wrong again. Rocco had too much to lose.  

Emma approached the group, and Dante said Gio was making excuses for being stupid and selfish again. He’d thought Gio would learn from Rocco’s alcohol poisoning, but he got Rocco involved in something reckless and dangerous. Emma asked what was going on, and Dante said Gio’s brother had been arrested. Whatever happened to him was on Gio. Emma said it wasn’t Gio’s fault. She talked Rocco into helping and roped the kids into it. It was on her. Dante said he got it now. Gio screwed over his little brother and potentially ruined his life to impress a girl. Get out of his face before he said or did something he regretted. Gio walked away and Emma followed.  

Laura said, every word in Dalton’s statement was a lie. Rocco went into the lab, but any vandalism was done by him. Dalton said he’d pay good money to see her prove that, and she said he thought he’d get away with it why? Because Rocco was a kid and he was a professor with the power of the university behind him? She’ll fight him with every resource she had, as well as every member of her family, and the Quartermaine family.  When she saw Dalton wasn’t listening, she smacked him in the face and said he was trying to frame her grandson for a crime he didn’t commit. She promised it wouldn’t end well for him. She looked around to see all the people filming with their phones.

Tuesday:

Carly went to see Jack at the hotel bearing wine. She said she’d found it in the MetroCourt wine cellar and remembered he’d ordered it once upon a time. She remembered everything about him.

In Laura’s office, she told Sonny that her political career might be over. She’d lashed out at Dalton in public. Sonny said he saw it. It was beautiful.

Dante told Lulu that Nathan got Rocco settled in, but Rocco wouldn’t be there if he hadn’t been following his brother’s lead. It was all Gio’s doing.

Alexis asked why Portia would shoot Drew, but Ric wanted assurance that Danny would go on record on Rocco’s behalf. She said, absolutely not, and he said his strategy would keep Rocco and Danny out of trouble. He’d had a come to Jesus moment and evolved. She told him, Portia’s motive or the door.

Jason went to see Britt and she said she needed his help. Danny had to come forward and corroborate Rocco’s story. Jason said he was sorry. He’d do anything, but not that. (Meat Loaf played in my head.)

Danny and Charlotte went to the station to see Nathan and said they were there to turn themselves in.

At Windymere, Marco told Sidwell that it appeared Dalton had jeopardized their entire operation.

Carly and Jack drank the wine, and Jack said Carly showing up was the best gift. It had felt like there was distance between them and she’d made the first move. Or was he wrong?

Marco said Dalton had produced photographic evidence of the damage Rocco Falconari had done in his lab, and Sidwell said, obviously, Dalton trashed the lab himself to stick it to the kid, but Rocco’s fingerprints wouldn’t be found. Marco said Dalton had claimed there were hazardous materials in the lab and told ADA Turner that injuries and fatalities could have resulted. Now Rocco was charged with several felonies. Sidwell said, now unwanted attention would be focused on the lab. He’d take it from there. Marco said maybe it was time for Sidwell to request assistance from the guy he was running the operation with.

Britt said of course (🍷) Jason wouldn’t help her. She wasn’t Carly. But then again, since it was Danny, he probably would have told Carly no too. He said he would have, and she said, Rocco was so scared. He said, no way Rocco vandalized the lab, and she said Dalton was lying and Danny could prove it, but Jason said it would just make things worse.

Nathan asked, what for? and Danny said they were with Rocco when he broke into the PCU lab. Nathan asked if they were sure they wanted to do this, and Charlotte said, absolutely. He was their brother. Nathan left, and Charlotte asked if Danny was sure. Danny said it was the only way to save Rocco, and she said Rocco couldn’t be the only one to take the blame. Danny said his dad would be so mad, and Charlotte said her wouldn’t be thrilled either, but they had to do what they had to do.

Dante said Gio roped Danny, Rocco, and Charlotte into breaking in, and Lulu asked, why? He said, Emma admitted she was in on it. She thought Dalton was doing illegal animal testing and their son was paying the price because Gio wanted to impress a girl. When he came down on Gio after Rocco got alcohol poisoning, everyone told him that he was wrong. But if he’d kept Gio at arm’s length, he wouldn’t have gotten close enough to Rocco to potentially ruin his life.

Laura said, if he saw it, Sonny knew what a disaster it was. She attacked and threatened Dalton and no way it would go well with the voting public. He asked if she’d read the comments. They were saying she was a badass. They loved her fire and how relatable she was, how real. She stood up for her grandson and went to bat for him, and they felt she’d do the same for the city. Laura thanked him, but still felt she’d tanked her own campaign. He said they’d hope for the best and prepare for the worst, and she said she thought what might cost her the election was her own bad temper.

Ric said Alexis won and told her about Heather’s cobalt tests. One had been done at GH and one done at an independent lab. The independent lab showed Heather’s levels as normal, which proved she was no longer dangerous, but the GH test showed the levels were still toxic, implying she was still violent and dangerous, unfit to be released. Had he relied on the GH test, Heather would still be in prison. He imagined whoever altered them had access to the test and a vested interest in Heather staying in prison. Alexis said, like the mother of Heather’s would be victim. Like Portia Robinson.

Sonny told Laura to stop being hard on herself, and she said she didn’t regret standing up for Rocco, but she may be handing over the city to Boyle. He said the voters and the people of the city valued her protecting her family. It wasn’t her first rodeo, and the people of Port Charles knew what kind of person she was. She said losing the election not only meant handing over the city to Boyle. She’d be handing it over to Sidwell too.

Sidwell told Marco that he considered his partner’s identity to be on a need-to-know basis. He needed to focus on making the necessary changes to their operation. He’d put Britt in charge of the lab, the research, and Dalton, and Britt had suggested she could run everything herself. In light of recent events, maybe she was right. Britt came with her own set of complications, but unlike Dalton, she wasn’t stupid. Marco said, but Dalton knew where the bodies were buried… figuratively.

Britt told Jason that Danny was guilty, but so was Charlotte. Why should Rocco face the consequences alone? Jason asked if she’d talked to Lulu and Dante, but she said, no. They hated her. He said if Danny admitted to the crime, Drew would use all his resources to keep Danny from his sister and put him behind bars. He told Britt about Danny giving Scout a ride home and Drew saying Danny tried to kidnap her, and Britt said that was a bad kidnapping. It was the opposite of kidnapping. Jason said, after that, Drew filed a restraining order against Danny to prevent him from seeing Scout, and she said, so if Danny came forward… He said Drew would do what he could to put Danny in prison and he couldn’t let that happen. And it wasn’t just that. A long time ago, Michael went to Pentenville and he followed Michael inside to protect him, but it was too late. Michael was scarred in ways that never healed. That couldn’t happen to Danny. She said she didn’t want that to happen to Rocco either, and he said neither did he. They had to come up with a way to save him.

Dante told Lulu that he’d come down hard on Gio. He thought Gio knowing he was his father made the words cut deeper. Lulu said she wasn’t happy with Gio either, but even though he might be responsible for drawing the kids into that mess, she didn’t think he deserved all the blame for all of them. Gio and Emma roped them in, but Danny, Charlotte, and Rocco chose to get involved. Dante asked if she was saying Rocco did this to himself, and she said she did, and so did Charlotte and Danny.

Nathan began to record, and Danny said, Rocco didn’t break in by himself. They were with him from the beginning. Charlotte said, Dalton showed up unexpectedly, so they hid, and Danny said, Dalton was about to find them, so Rocco made a noise. Charlotte said, he did it to save them, and Nathan asked why they broke in. Charlotte said they’d heard Dalton was doing illegal experiments on animals, and Nathan asked where they got that idea. Danny said, did it matter?

Alexis told Ric, the only reason Portia would alter the tests would be to keep her in jail. Heather tried to kill her daughter, so it was reasonable to think Heather would hurt her again, but what was the connection to Drew? How did Portia’s grudge against Heather put a gun in her hand pointed at Drew? Ric said, hypothetically, imagine an ex had her daughter dead to rights for trying to kill someone. Even worse, the louse gets involved. She said, he’d hold it over her head and blackmail her, and he said, what would she do, hypothetically? She said, chain him up in a basement and put a ball gag in his mouth, and he said, failing that? She said she might have to shoot him dead.

Carly told Jack that she’d needed time to process. She got it in her head why he didn’t tell her about Vaughn being an agent, but it hurt. When she was hurt, she pulled back. He said he was so sorry. He’d done a lot of midnight runs and cold showers trying to figure out how to fix it. She said she’d spent a few sleepless nights herself, but she missed him. She missed talking to him and confiding in him and the ease of being together. He said it was on him, but she said, no. It was on her. She knew she’d been sending him mixed signals. Understanding, but not forgiving. She thought it came down to acceptance. Could she accept who he was? He asked if she could and she said she was there, wasn’t she?

Nathan asked if they’d found anything before they got caught, but Charlotte said, no. There were no animals or evidence of anything. Danny said he picked up some notes, but put them back, and Nathan asked if they broke or overturned anything. Charlotte said they didn’t damage anything in any way, and Nathan said he knew it was hard, but thanked them for the information. Rocco was lucky to have them. He said he’d be right back, and in the squad room, he asked an officer for Jason’s contact information.  

Sonny said Laura’s reputation spoke for itself. Meanwhile, everybody saw Dalton manhandle a teenager. He didn’t just act like a bully, but he was slimy. It rolled off him. Sometimes you had to trust that voters knew the truth. They weren’t fools. Laura said she’d feel better if she’d had the chance to debate Boyle, and he said she had the chance, but chose her grandson. It was the right thing. They both knew Rocco would never destroy the lab. She said, he wouldn’t, but he did break in, and Sonny said, but he didn’t destroy it. No way. That meant that bastard framed their grandson.

Nathan called Jason and asked him to come to the PCPD. It was about his son.

Lulu told Dante not to think she’d forgotten her daughter. Charlotte and Rocco knew better, or they should, and neither one of them gave consideration to Dante being Police Commissioner or that their grandmother was mayor. Dante said, they did. They used the debate as a diversion. She said she thought what was troubling her was there being a pattern. Rocco had lied to them before about keeping in touch with Charlotte, who protected him. Dante said, and he met with Obrecht, and she said, and now Britt. And Charlotte was there every step of the way. He said they’d address that later on. Right now, they had to get Rocco out, which may involve Danny and Charlotte. Nathan came in, and Lulu asked if Rocco was okay, but Nathan said it was about Charlotte.

Sonny said he was able to get the information from Turner that Dalton came to her privately with pictures of the damage, and Laura said, Dalton never once mentioned it when he was trying to get Danny arrested. Did he know if the PCPD had looked into it? He said, not yet, and she asked how charges were filed if the police hadn’t verified everything. He said, Turner told him that she had to come forward fast because things were rolling really good. Ignoring it would mean she favored Rocco. Laura said, whose grandmother was the mayor and father was the Police Commissioner, and he said, it was a bad look. Turner felt like she had to pursue it despite the plea deal. Laura asked if he trusted Ric, and he said, most of the time, no, but he did with the Rocco situation. Ric was hellbent on making peace with him and right now nothing was more important than getting Rocco home safe.

Alexis said, finding out Drew was holding the test results over Portia’s head explained the fallout between Curtis and Drew, and Ric said it would be one helluva bomb shell in court. It would cast doubt on Willow’s guilt and blow the case out of the water. She was welcome. Now it was her turn. Was she ready to talk to Danny about Rocco?

Marco told Sidwell that Dalton proved he’d take matters into his own hands when he felt wronged. All the more reason not to anger him more by taking him away from the research. He’d seen too much. Sidwell said Dalton may be privy to their intel, but if he went away, so did their problems. They heard the door and Britt came in. She asked to speak to Sidwell alone, and Marco said, of course (🍷). He left, and Sidwell wondered what he was accused of this time. She said she’d been the backbone of the operation. She came to Sidwell when Dalton wanted to double-cross him and given him everything. And her reward had been watching Sidwell help Dalton railroad an innocent kid.

Charlotte told Danny that it was one thing to talk about it, but being in an interrogation room made it all too real. The possibility of going to juvie was hitting her. Danny said it was worth it. It was only fair to sacrifice for Rocco doing the same. Nathan came back with Jason, Dante, and Lulu.

Jack asked how Carly knew he was there. Was her staff spying on him? Since they were being honest, did she really come across the wine by accident? Carly said, the wine wasn’t in the MetroCourt wine cellar. She had her sommelier hunt it down in case she needed an excuse. He said, not ever, and she said she did, because she didn’t have the guts to come and tell him that she was ready to put everything behind them. He took her glass out of her hand, set it aside, and knelt down in front of her. He said, good. Was she sure? She kissed him.

Nathan said, unfortunately, he was a little rusty on procedure. Danny and Charlotte were minors and needed a parent or guardian present to make a statement. Danny asked if their confessions meant nothing, and Charlotte said they couldn’t trust the police even when they were doing the right thing. Lulu said, at least it was over now, but Danny said now they could confess for real. Jason said, absolutely not, and Lulu said they’d been given a second chance. Dante said, and they weren’t going to let them blow it.  

Alexis told Ric that it was a great strategy, but the witnesses hinged on parental consent. It wouldn’t be easy. Jason called her and told her to come to the PCPD. He was with Danny. She asked what was going on, and he said Danny was determined to go down with Rocco breaking into the lab. Alexis suggested Ric come with her to the PCPD. It looked like they didn’t have to convince Danny to do anything. She thought he was going to confess.

Jack and Carly got busy, when his phone rang. He told the caller that they needed to have the conversation on a secure line. He’d call from the office. Carly said, duty calls? and he said, unfortunately so. She said, okay. Nothing was more important than the WSB. Jack asked if there was any chance she’d be there when he got back, but she said she didn’t think so, but she might come back later tonight. She left.

Laura said the election results were starting to roll in, and Sonny said she had this. She said she appreciated his optimism, and he said he believed in her. So why didn’t they get her reelected, and with any luck, Measure C would burn down in flames. She said it was out of their hands now. That’s how she felt about Rocco. She couldn’t do anything about the election, but she couldn’t stop thinking about him. Sonny said, Rocco might not be there for too long. Dalton could change his story, or somebody could change it for him.

An officer told Dante that Ric was in his office and said it was important. Dante and Lulu left, and Laura came in with Alexis. Jason said he’d called Alexis because Danny refused to let it go, and Alexis said she’d been hoping not to have this conversation with Danny. Never speak to the police without an attorney present. And by attorney, she meant either her or Diane. She asked to speak to Danny in private, but Danny said he had to do this. He got that they were trying to protect him, but Rocco was in trouble. He wanted to take full responsibility for his part. Alexis said that was admirable, and Danny said Rocco would do the same for him.  He knew it was what his mom would want. Jason said it was his choice. (I like Jason more as time goes on.)

Sidwell said he’d just learned the extent of Dalton’s actions, and Britt said he was just behind in the backstabbing. Sidwell said he’d never sanction such recklessness. It would bring attention to their work from the authorities. He was becoming more unruly. Britt said she guessed she wasn’t surprised that Dalton was doing stupid things, and Sidwell said Dalton was doing it on his own. She said she was relieved he had nothing to do with it and Sidwell said he was as unpleasantly surprised as she was, but for a different reason. Rocco could have ruined their project and uncovered evidence of what they were hiding. She said he wouldn’t have understood it even if he found it, and Sidwell asked if she thought Rocco would connect anything, but she said she didn’t think Rocco even knew she worked there. She’d never breathe a word to anyone, but Dalton made it personal. Even though Rocco wasn’t technically her son, he meant more to her than any of this. He said, meaning? and she said he had to put Dalton on a leash and get him to drop the charges today or she’d torch the entire operation.  

Ric told Lulu and Dante, as far as he knew, Rocco was okay, and he had a way to save him.

Alexis told Danny, when it was a misdemeanor, it made sense, and Danny said, quit protecting him. Charlotte asked if it was better that one fall than all three.

Ric said Dalton escalated this using manufactured evidence. Now Rocco was facing felony charges that could land him in a juvenile facility and give him a record that could follow him for the rest of his life.

Alexis said, if Danny and Charlotte both came forward and corroborated Rocco’s story, they’d prove Dalton’s was a fabrication.

Ric said they’d establish Dalton’s story was false and force him to be prosecuted for a false report and obstruction of justice.

Alexis said, they’d turn the tables and make Dalton the defendant.

Wednesday:

Just the Meat🥩and Potatoes🥔because, see Wicked: For Good Below.

Josslyn met Vaughn at the Brown Dog and told her to shake a tipsy Dalton down for information.

Sidwell told Britt that he was her savior. Without the medicine, what kind of life would she have?

Alexis told Danny and Charlotte to tell the truth.

Sonny joined Dante and Lulu, and Ric told Sonny his strategy. Dante didn’t want to sacrifice Danny and Charlotte.

Laura told Jordan that if protecting Rocco cost her the election, she’d spend her last few hours doing as much as she could for him. Boyle had taken an early lead.

Gio wondered if Rocco felt the same way Dante did, but Emma told him to stop blaming himself.

Josslyn provided a sympathetic ear to Dalton, who said, animals were a tool. (I said he was a tool.) He didn’t do any testing on campus after what had happened in California. He did all of his important work in a lab that PCU knew nothing about.

Britt said, one minute she was dying in her mother’s arms, and the next she woke up at the Five Poppies. Sidwell said she’d been saved and all he asked in return was that she finish her father’s work. He asked how much she’d told Jason.

Alexis asked Nathan what he thought about Danny and Charlotte’s confession, and he said they’d be good witnesses if their parents allowed it.

Ric said Alexis agreed with him. If it went to trial, odds were the jury would believe Danny and Charlotte. Sonny asked Dante and Lulu to hear Ric out.

Josslyn urged Dalton to talk more, saying he could win a Nobel prize. He told her there were no neighbors near his secret lab, so they couldn’t hear the dogs barking, but he wasn’t a monster. Josslyn said she never thought he was. Gio and Emma came in and saw them.

Alexis talked to Jason, who agreed that Danny’s mom would want him to do what was right.

Charlotte told Danny that she wanted to go over the story, since what they’d told Nathan couldn’t be used. She wanted to make sure Rocco walked and Dalton paid.

Emma thought Josslyn was trying to get her research position back, and Josslyn suggested she and Dalton leave. He asked if she wanted to try out the comfy couch in his lab, when Gio asked if Josslyn wanted to have a drink with them, and she told Dalton that she’d be right back. Emma told Josslyn about Rocco and told Dalton that he should be locked up instead of Rocco.

Laura apologized to Jordan for not touching base, but Jordan said she’d failed to find anything illegal Sidwell was doing. Drew came by and told Laura it was obvious a new mayor had been chosen by the voters. Jordan said he was premature and wondered what had happened to Drew. Most people took stock after a near-death experience, and she hoped he took a hard look at himself. Drew was dismissive of her, and Laura said she wanted a word alone with the congressman.

Emma wondered why she never got in the lab. She knew Dalton was doing something wrong like he did at the old university. She told him that she was behind both break-ins and when he threatened her, she threw her drink on him.

Britt said she’d told Jason nothing, and Sidwell said Jason couldn’t save her from the bomb in her DNA. Only he could.

Charlotte wanted to destroy Dalton and suggested they say Dalton hit Rocco. Danny agreed, and Charlotte practiced a convincing argument. He said her parents had no idea how much trouble she was.

Sonny said he thought the only way to set Rocco free was for Danny and Charlotte to confess, and Alexis said Jason was on board. Lulu said she couldn’t sacrifice one of her children for another, and Dante said he’d follow her lead. Alexis said they could see what happened with Danny, and Lulu went to talk to Charlotte.

Laura said if she lost the office, it would be up to Drew to protect the people of Port Charles. He wanted her to endorse Ezra, but she said he was in Sidwell’s pocket. Drew flashed back to Sidwell saying Drew would do his bidding. From now on Drew worked for him. Step out of line and his life would go down. Drew told Laura that Sidwell’s record was spotless and she turned a blind eye to Sonny’s. Laura said she believed Drew was motivated by pure spite against Sonny Jason and Michael.

Vaughn wanted to speak with Dalton alone and suggested he come to the station and straighten things out. Dalton agreed, and Vaughn said if he was even late, an armed agent would be sent to get him. Dalton left and Vaughn followed. Emma asked if the WSB had been investigating Dalton the whole time.

Jason thanked Nathan for protecting the kids. Jason said he respected Danny’s decision, but Charlotte couldn’t do anything without her mom’s okay. Lulu fretted to Nathan about the possibility of things going wrong.

Sonny said Turner would claim the kids were lying, and Alexis said, that’s where forensics came in. Dante said they had a great legal team, and Ric said all they needed was reasonable doubt. He wanted to make Dalton lose it on the stand.

Lulu told Charlotte that Rocco was fine and Danny’s word might be enough, but Charlotte said she had to do this for Rocco. Trust her.

Britt said she’d felt trapped, but wouldn’t let Dalton ruin Rocco’s life. Dalton ran in and said the WSB was after him now.

Josslyn said Vaughn had lied to her too, and Emma said none of this had to happen because he was already on the WSB radar. Rocco getting locked up was for nothing. Josslyn said it wasn’t.

Laura said she’d been thrilled when Drew was elected, but she hadn’t expected him to abuse his power by going after people he didn’t like. He said she’d appointed her ex-son-in-law as acting Police Commissioner, but she said Dante was the next best senor detective on the force after Mac. He said she constantly supported Sonny, when accusing him of promoting his personal interests. She was no better than him.

Jordan said the race was about to be called and showed Laura her phone. Jordan said, congratulations. Four more years.

Josslyn told Emma and Gio that Dalton had another lab. She had respect for Emma. She left and Gio said the WSB would find Dalton’s hidden lab. Outside, Josslyn met Vaughn, who said, good job with Dalton, and kissed her.

Lulu agreed to Charlotte turning herself in, and Jason said he was proud of both of them. Nathan said they were free to go, but how did they get the key fob? Danny said they took it from Britt’s purse.

Sonny didn’t like the odds, but Ric told him not to give in to the temptation to help out. Sonny said, no Dalton, no case, but Ric said their strategy would work.

Britt said Sidwell needed to cut Dalton loose, and Sidwell said Dalton had become a liability. Britt said Dalton was a useless tool. He was sloppy and lied. Who needed that? Sidwell agreed and shot him.

Thursday:

At Windymere, Dalton harangued Sidwell about getting the WSB to back off him, and Britt said he’d lied to the PCPD, trashed his lab to frame a teenage kid, and put their operation at risk to throw a tantrum. Sidwell said he was a liability, but Dalton argued that he was an asset. Britt said he was a useless tool and she could do his work and her own. He was sloppy and lied. Who needed him? Sidwell said he had to agree and shot Dalton. Britt asked why he did that, and Sidwell said he took her advice and cut him loose.

Lulu congratulated Laura, and Laura asked how Rocco was. Lulu said he hated being in juvenile detention. She hated it more, but Alexis and Ric had a strategy that could make this go away. It was risky and involved… Boyle walked in and said Laura thought she’d won, but he wasn’t going down without a fight.

Willow went to see Alexis and said she wanted to take a more active role in her defense.

Nina met Chase at the Brown Dog, and he said he wanted to learn more about her new assistant.

At the MetroCourt, Michael gave Jacinda a picture of a spider that Wiley drew for her. Sonny came over to the table and asked if Michael was going to introduce him to his friend.

At a table nearby, Ava and Marco waited for Lucas. Ava said if Marco ever broke Lucas’s heart, they’d have a serious problem.

Carly got in the elevator with Lucas, and he said he was dining there with Marco, but if it was an issue, they’d leave.

Britt tried CPR, but Sidwell said she was wasting her time. Dalton was dead before he hit the ground.

Laura said the voters had spoken and Boyle lost. Try to be gracious about it. Boyle said the voters were idiots. She’d said her grandson was more important than they were, and the fools voted for her anyway. She said she stood up for her grandson, and he said her grandson broke into the lab and she’d pressured Dalton to drop the incident. She reminded him about due process, and he said Rocco would get what he deserved. She asked if he didn’t have a concession speech to write, and he said Sonny bought Laura the election.

Michael introduced Jacinda to Sonny, and Sonny said Michael spoke highly of her. He told Michael that the voters of Port Charles had done the right thing, and Michael asked if he had an update on Measure C. Sonny said it was too close to call, but it would be nice if they got two miracles in one night.

Alexis suggested it was better that Willow do nothing, but Willow said it was hard to sit back. Alexis said it was best for her to stay out of trouble and away from the spotlight. Stay away from Michael and the kids. Willow said she’d already screwed up that last part. She’d found out Nina was at the MetroCourt Gardens with Wiley, but saw Michael, her son, and Michael’s alibi acting like the perfect little family.

Ava said she and Lucas had connected during his stay with her, and Marco said he understood, but Lucas might be the best thing that ever happened to him. He’d never do anything to hurt Lucas and would do everything in his power to make Lucas happy.

On the phone Sidwell asked someone to come upstairs. He seemed to have made a mess. Britt said he murdered Dalton just like that, and he said, you’re welcome. She said she wasn’t thanking him. She’d wanted him to pay Dalton off and let him leave. He said she must have known she’d sealed Dalton’s fate when she ratted him out. This is what happened when you betrayed him. It’s what happened when you became more trouble than you were worth.

Chase said Jacinda was an odd choice for assistant, and Nina said she wasn’t talking without a lawyer. Chase said he wasn’t there as a cop, but as Willow’s friend. It was off the record. He wanted to help her daughter and clear her name. She said, one way was to invalidate Michael’s alibi. The only reason she’d hired Jacinda was because Michael forced her to.

Jacinda said she’d met Michael’s son and dad, and Michael said she’d been great with both. She said, it was so easy, sometimes she forgot it was pretend. Was their fake relationship feeling like it was getting pretty serious?

Laura said Boyle tried to use her connection to Sonny, but the voters saw through it. It was time to give it up. Lulu said, speaking of that, could she get a preview of his concession speech and reaction to the election results? He said, go to hell, and she asked if she could quote him. He said it wasn’t over, but Laura said the voters had rejected him and his toxic politics. A tantrum wouldn’t change that. She steered him out the door, telling him to go tantrum all he wanted, but not there. She slammed the door behind him.

Carly said Lucas and Marco didn’t have to leave, and apologized for what she’d said earlier. Lucas said he’d meant what he said. If she couldn’t accept Marco as a part of his life, he’d have to cut her out. The elevator door opened.

Carly sat down with Sonny, and he asked if she’d seen their son with Jacinda. Carly said she was distracted. It was weird in the elevator with Lucas and if she didn’t keep her big mouth shut, she may lose her brother.

Marco asked Lucas if everything was okay, and Ava said, it was his sister, wasn’t it? Carly had a lot of nerve, having a problem with them moving in together. Lucas said he hoped that Carly would see they were happy and they’d figure out a way to repair their relationship. Right now, he had no bandwidth to fight. He thought he was going to enjoy living in Windymere again.

Sidwell told Britt that he’d hired Pascal as his new butler, and she said Pascal strapped a bomb to her ankle and threatened her. Pascal said, it was nothing personal, and she said, it was annoying. Sidwell said Pascal had his uses. He wanted Pascal to escort her home. She was shaken up and he’d hate for her to do anything unwise.

Willow told Alexis that she couldn’t believe Michael exposed her son to a sex worker. She had to help prove her innocence. Alexis said if she wanted to help, it was simple. Tell her where she was when Drew was shot.

Chase suggested Michael and Jacinda had a quid pro quo arrangement and asked how Nina and Jacinda met. Nina said, when she was co-owner of the hotel, she saw Jacinda on dates, and he asked if she checked into a room. Nina said, often enough. She had to kick Jacinda out lest the hotel get a reputation. He said she knew Jacinda would be open to being paid for unconventional services, and she said she saw Jacinda with Boyle and knew she was the type of girl Drew would go for.

Jacinda told Michael that she loved working at Crimson. Nina resented her, but there was nothing she could do about it, so she was learning what she could until Nina got rid of her. He said Nina wouldn’t get rid of her, and she said she thought she was slowly earning Nina’s respect on the job. He said maybe it was her true calling, and she said it hadn’t happened because she hadn’t been given the opportunity. Boyle came by and asked why she hadn’t returned his calls.

Carly said she couldn’t stand by and watch Lucas get hurt, but Sonny said Lucas was crazy about the guy. Nothing she could say would change his mind. She said he knew Sidwell was dangerous, and he said they were still close. Her association with him came with a certain amount of risk. It almost cost Laura the election. Thank God she won.

Laura asked about the plan to free Rocco, and Lulu said, Alexis and Ric wanted Charlotte and Danny to come forward. They were hoping the corroboration of Rocco’s story along with the trace DNA would prove Dalton trashed his own lab and framed Rocco. She was proud that the kids wanted to help, but worried about the risk, and Laura said cover-ups rarely worked out and usually did more damage when the truth came out.  

Britt said she wasn’t going anywhere with Pascal and could get home fine on her own, but Sidwell said he insisted. She said, fine, and gave her keys to Pascal. She asked what Sidwell was going to do with the professor, and he said he believed Dalton still had some use.

Lulu told Laura that the decision had been made already and the kids were turning themselves in tomorrow. She prayed it made this nightmare go away. Laura said prison was too good for Dalton, and Lulu said she saw the video of Laura going off on him. Laura said it wasn’t one of her prouder moments, but he’d crossed the line and she couldn’t stand by and let it happen.

Michael said it was a private conversation, and Boyle said he’d pay triple what Michael was. Jacinda said Michael wasn’t paying her, and Boyle said the agency told him she wasn’t working there anymore, but a girl like her didn’t do anything for free. Michael got up and said he didn’t want to make a scene. Boyle needed to walk away, or he’d throw him out himself. Jacinda said it was okay. Boyle was an old friend. She told Boyle, sorry, but she’d found a new line of work. No hard feelings. Boyle said, fine, but don’t delete his number. Michael would drop her as quick as he picked her up. He left.

Carly said Lulu was worried about Rocco, and Sonny said him too, but Ric had a solid legal strategy. Carly wondered why Sonny hired Ric, and he said, Ric came to make peace and he gave Ric a chance to prove himself. She said she thought it was the worst mistake ever, but he said his eyes were wide open, but people could change – some for the better, some for the worse. He looked at Michael, and she asked if he was talking about their son. He said Michael had been through hell and back and it changed a person. He wasn’t exactly sure Michael didn’t shoot Drew and frame Willow.  

Chase asked Nina to call if she thought of something helpful, and she thanked him. She asked if he was sure he wouldn’t get in trouble with the department for going against him, but he said it was his job to insure justice was served and he believed Willow was innocent. She said she wasn’t so confident. A huge part of her wanted to shoot Drew too. He said quite a few people felt the same way, but she said, no one else fabricated an alibi for their daughter and made it worse. He promised to do his best to prove Willow innocent.

Willow told Alexis that Nina hurt her with the false alibi, but when she was questioned, she was afraid to contradict Nina. She’d thought it was Nina’s alibi. Alexis asked where she was, and Willow said, the hospital, working. Chase had just told her that the judge charged with her custody case had been murdered. She’d been led to believe the judge was sympathetic to her and she was devastated. So she went for a walk to clear her head, but it started to rain, so she sat in her car looking at pictures of her kids on her phone and crying. Alexis asked if she drove anywhere, and Willow said she’d been too much of a mess to go inside, so she drove, but didn’t go anywhere. Alexis asked if she stopped anywhere, but Willow said, no. She pulled herself together and drove back. She got soaked in the rain, but went back to work. Alexis asked if she drove by Drew’s house, but Willow swore she didn’t go anywhere near it.  

In her room above Bobbie’s, Britt said she was home. Pascal could go now. Pascal said she hadn’t changed. She still thought she was calling the shots. She’d proven she was unreliable and uncooperative. If she’d been more of a team player, he wouldn’t have had to flee the Five Poppies. She said, that wasn’t her fault, and he said she’d been given a second chance and wouldn’t be given a third.  

Laura said she had to finish some work, but Lulu suggested she give herself a night off and enjoy her victory. Laura said she thought Lulu and Charlotte should have some one-on-one time, and Lulu said she was so proud of Laura. They hugged and Lulu left.

Alexis said, the next thing would be Willow being deposed and her testimony being entered. Her whereabouts were the first step to proving her innocence.

Carly asked if Sonny believed Willow over their son, and he said Michael had a lot of reasons to shoot Drew. If he did it, it wasn’t a problem. Carly asked if he had sympathy for Willow, and he said, she made mistakes, but he didn’t think she should hang for something she didn’t do.

Jacinda said, sorry, and Michael said, that guy is a jerk. She said Michael couldn’t afford a public fight when there was a chance Willow could walk free, but he said Boyle had no right to speak to her like that, like she was bought and sold. She asked if that wasn’t what their deal was, when his phone chimed. He said, oh my God.

At the Brown Dog, Boyle ordered a whiskey.

Ava said, her treat, and Lucas said he was grateful she was supportive. She said she was happy for them, but confessed she’d miss their evenings of wine and watching trashy reality. Lucas said that was still happening. This one – he nodded toward Marco – thought he was too good for it. Ava’s phone signaled and she said Nina was on her way, so she was staying there. Marco asked if they should head home, and Lucas agreed.

Britt told Pascal that she’d do her work and keep her head down. She asked him to reiterate that she hadn’t spoken to anyone about their project, and he said, what about Jason Morgan and her mother? She said she knew her medicine would go away if she didn’t pull this off, and he said, what about the incident? She said, as far as she was concerned, she was there all night washing her hair, and he suggested she take an actual shower. There was still blood on her. He knew she was impulsive, but if she got the impulse to confide to anyone, remember they were watching her. He left and she screamed into a pillow.

While she was driving, Laura called Doc. She thanked him for his message and apologized for not getting back to him. It had been one helluva day. She knew it was midnight in Dublin, but wanted him to know his wife was still mayor. She wished he was there. She wanted to thank him for his patience, love, and support. She loved him so much. Call her. It didn’t matter what time. She’d be up. Her car began to wobble, and she said, no, not tonight, and pulled over.

Chase told Boyle, for what it was worth (🍷), he voted for him. Mayor Collins let organized crime run rampant and it was a slap in the face to law abiding citizens. Boyle thanked him and said he had nothing but the utmost respect for law abiding citizens. Would Chase like to join him in a drink? Chase said, yeah.

Willow thanked Alexis and they hugged. Willow said, it wasn’t a good alibi, was it? and Alexis said it wasn’t the best, but it was more believable than Michael’s fabricated alibi. Believability would work in her favor.

Nina joined Ava, and Ava said she didn’t know if they were drowning their sorrows or celebrating good news, but martinis were good for both. (Agreed.) Nina said she did something to help clear Willow, but she had to throw somebody under the bus. She had no choice, but she felt guilty. Jacinda may be the way to obliterate Michael’s alibi.

Sonny asked if Carly wanted to meet Michael’s new friend, but she said there was something she had to take care of first. She looked at a text from Jack asking if he was seeing her tonight.

Sonny went over to Michael’s table, and Michael said he had great news. It wasn’t public yet, but his sources at Aurora told him that Measure C didn’t pass. Sonny could keep his piers.

Marco said, welcome home, and he and Lucas went into the living room where Sidwell was reading. Marco said he thought Sidwell would be glued to the TV about Measure C., but Sidwell said he was trying not to stress about it. Pascal was working hard to put his mind at ease.

Britt took out her medicine and prepared a shot. As she was about to plunge in the syringe, her hand started to shake and she flashed back to Sidwell shooting Dalton. She sat on the floor and cried.

Laura got out of the car and discovered a screw had punctured a tire. She remembered she had flares in the trunk and opened it. She moved a tarp and revealed a dead Dalton. She backed away and screamed.

🫔 Friday’s Enchilada…

Laura opened her trunk and wondered, what on earth is this mess? She moved a tarp, uncovering Dalton’s dead body, and gasped.

There was a knock at Britt’s door, and she opened it to Jason He asked if it was too late, but she told him, come in. She asked if he’d believe her if she said she was glad to see him… What’s wrong? He said he had news about Rocco.

At the Brown Dog, Molly said she couldn’t believe Kristina had convinced her to come out again, and Kristina said, it only took a gazillion phone calls and messages. What case was so important she couldn’t steal away for an hour and have a drink with her sister? Molly said, first of all, it was never going be just an hour, and Kristina said, fair. Molly said, secondly, it wasn’t a case. Kristina assumed work was her whole life and that wasn’t true. She had plenty of other things going on. Kristina said, really? Like what? Oh wait. Hobbies? Molly said she had creative outlets and passions that Kristina didn’t even know about, when Cody walked in. Kristina asked him to come have a drink with them.

Sonny told Gio to have a seat and asked why he looked upset. What was going on? Gio said, Dante didn’t want him as his son, but Sonny said, that’s not true. Gio said it was, and it wasn’t going to change.

At the hospital on the phone with Tracy, Brook said everything was fine. She was fine; Chase was fine. Just enjoy her trip and know that they love her. They’ll talk soon. She leaned on a door and Michael put his hand on her shoulder.

Chase went to Alexis’s office and said he was driving by and took s chance that she’d be here. She said she was on her way out. Could it wait until tomorrow? He said, not really, but he promised to make it quick and worth her time, and she said, it sounds intriguing. What did he have? He said, Michael gave the police a false alibi and he could prove it.

Laura freaked out, saying, oh God… Professor Dalton… Oh my God. She touched the pulse point on Dalton’s neck and said, oh God. No, no, no.

Kristina asked how Outback was doing, and Cody said she was doing great. She’s grooved in. She was now friends with Hades and they were plotting something. Thanks for asking. Molly asked if he’d gone on any hikes lately and found any dads fleeing Ayahuasca cults, and he said, no. So far, just hers. She said she honestly couldn’t believe he rescued her father. She just couldn’t imagine what would have happened if he hadn’t been in the woods. He asked, how’s Ric? and she said, amazing. He’s been so positive and emotionally available since he’s been back. She was seeing him now more than ever, all thanks to Cody. Cody said, it was nothing, but Molly said, it was everything. He said, seriously, he was just in the right place at the right time, and she asked why he refused to take credit for the wonderful things he did.

Chase said, Jacinda Bracken was still working as an escort the night of Drew’s shooting, and Alexis said, relevance? He said, just that it’s possible she could have taken a job that night and Ezra hired her before. Alexis asked how he knew, and he said, Nina Reeves told him that she’d seen them together a couple times at the MetroCourt. Alexis said she was going to stop him there, because Nina would do anything to exonerate her daughter. She’d already given Willow a false alibi and made everything worse. He said, but he got confirmation, and she said, that Jacinda and Ezra were together the night that Drew was shot? From whom? He said, Ezra himself.

Britt asked if Rocco was okay, and Jason said, he was fine. Ric came up with a new legal strategy. They were going to turn the tables on Dalton. She flashed back to Sidwell shooting Dalton and asked how they were going to do that. He said, Danny and Charlotte were coming forward tomorrow morning, and she said, they’re going to turn themselves in? He said, yeah. They were going to say they broke into the lab with Rocco, but they didn’t destroy the lab. It was in perfect condition when they left. She said it sounded straightforward enough. Alexis was in agreement? He said, yeah. She believed this was Rocco’s best chance. Britt said, okay then. That’s what they should do. She thanked him for coming back to fill her in, and he said he knew how much she cared about Rocco, and she said, he might be the only one. Was there something else? He said Danny and Charlotte stole the key fob from her purse. Why did she have the key to Dalton’s lab?

Michael said, it’s not Ned, is it? and Brook said, no. Her dad was doing great. He said, thank God for that, and she said she was just talking to her grandmother… actually lying to her. Mostly by omission, but still, it was Tracy’s son and she would not be happy to find out. He said, with any luck, Ned would be out of the hospital by the time Tracy got home. She had to understand that even if she was here, there was nothing she could do about it. Brook said he made it sound so reasonable, but it was Tracy… He said, so be prepared for anything, and she said she loved Tracy and knew she had the best of intentions, but she would just stress Olivia out and try to take over her dad’s care. He said, and give the doctors a hard time, and she said, Olivia doesn’t need that, not after everything she’d been through. He said, Brook had been through a lot too, and she said she’d been terrified for her father, but he was okay. He made it and could only improve his health from here. Michael said she still seemed so upset. Why? She said she couldn’t stand it. Her heart was breaking over Dante and Gio.  

Sonny said it was amazing how Gio came clean with Dante. That must not have been easy. Gio said, Dante was Rocco’s father and deserved to know what happened and he did rope Rocco into the whole thing. Sonny said he assumed Dante wasn’t happy, and Gio said, he’s furious.  Sonny said, especially after what happened last spring, and Gio said, Dante was back to his old opinion of him, except now it was worse because this time he wasn’t looking out for his brother. Back then, he was just a random kid. Sonny said, he wasn’t just some random kid and things were a little more complicated than that. There were moving pieces he wasn’t considering. Gio said, those moving pieces didn’t matter because Dante wasn’t wrong. He let Rocco down, and Dante had every right to be angry. Sonny said, once Rocco was out of the detention center and time passed, Dante would be fine, but Gio said he didn’t think so. Sonny said, he was with the alcohol poisoning, but Gio said this felt different though. Sonny hadn’t seen him. Dante wasn’t mad at what he did. It was like Dante was more mad with who he was. Sonny told him, things were said because things got heated in the moment. That’s what parents did with children when they worried and the worry came off as anger. Gio said there was nothing between him and Dante. Dante was his biological father, but that’s where it ended. Sonny said Dante knew Gio was his son and loved him with all his heart, but Gio said he just felt bad. He didn’t want to put Sonny in the middle or make him choose sides. Sonny said he wasn’t choosing sides, and he was glad Gio came and talked to him. He wanted Gio to know that, no matter what, he could love his son and his grandson at the same time.

Laura said, oh my God, and flashed back to saying Dalton was trying to frame her grandson for a crime he didn’t commit and it wouldn’t end well for him. She closed the trunk and hyperventilated. She took out her phone and scrolled through the numbers. She said, Doc couldn’t help her. He was in Dublin… Okay. She made a call and Alexis’s outgoing message said, sorry, I can’t come to the phone. Laura said, dammit… Ugh… She looked at her car, then made another call. She said, hi. I’m in trouble… I’m out on Route 23… I don’t know what marker… Yes, mile It’s mile 8… Okay. She ended to call and said, oh my God. She got back into the car, cried, and banged on the steering wheel, saying, no, no, no, no, no.

Chase said he was at the Brown Dog, when who walked in but the one and only Ezra Boyle, and Alexis said, thank God there was only one of them. Was that tonight? He said, yeah. After Boyle lost the election, he was drowning his sorrows. She said she was really glad Laura won because she was worried when Boyle was ahead in the polls for that hot second, and Chase told her it was fair to say Boyle did not take the news well. He thought it was an opportunity to learn something and sat next to him and they got to chatting. Alexis asked if Boyle opened up to him, and Chase said, he did. He told Boyle that he voted for him and bought him a drink. Boyle trusted him, so he bought him a few more and Boyle told him his tale of woe. She said, and Jacinda was part of the tale? and he said, she was. After losing what Boyle said was a rigged election, he needed some TLC from his old girlfriend as consolation. She said, Jacinda is his old girlfriend? and Chase said, she’s something. When Boyle ran into her, he was run off by Michael Corinthos. Alexis said that was all well and good, but didn’t refute Michael’s alibi, and he said, it did if the last time they hooked up was the night Drew Cain got shot.

Brook told Michael that she wasn’t saying Gio shouldn’t take responsibility for his part in getting Danny, Rocco, and Charlotte in trouble, but he had. It was obvious he’d never meant for them to break into the lab. Michael said he got it. Sometimes parents were so worried about their kid, the other person’s intentions didn’t matter. She said, Dante was entitled to his anger. She would never say anything different, but when he got angry, Michael should have seen the way he went after Gio. He didn’t have a shred of empathy or attempt to understand. Gio tried to explain himself, but Dante wouldn’t hear it. At the end, he ended up saying some pretty awful things. Michael said he was sorry. It must have been hard to watch. She said she didn’t think she’d ever be able to forget it. All she wanted to do is wrap her arms around Gio and tell him everything was okay, but she couldn’t. There was absolutely nothing she could do.

Britt asked if Jason pretended to care about her just to get what he wanted, and he said, believe him or not, he did care about her. She said, when it suited him, but when he was needed elsewhere, bye. This was her room and she needed him to leave. He said, okay. He would after she told him what she knew about Dalton. He had something to do with her work at the Five Poppies and now she was here in Port Charles with the key fob to the guy’s lab. Obviously, she and Dalton were working together.

Nathan pulled up behind Laura, who noticed blood on her wrist. She said, dammit, and looked for something to wipe it off with. Nathan came up to the window and asked if she was okay, and she said, yes.

Michael tells Brook, not all fathers and sons have effortless relationships. In fact, he’d venture to say most probably don’t. It took work, the constant drawing and redrawing of the boundaries all the time. Look at him and his dad. She says she knows he and Sonny had… could they call it challenging times? and he says, let’s call them that, but the thing that made the biggest difference for him was his mom. Brook says, how so? and he says, the thing between him and his dad, even at their worst, he always knew they’d wind up being okay because of his mom’s support. Before she said he sounded hypocritical, keeping Willow away from Wiley and Amelia, Willow isn’t the kind of mother the kids could count on the way he counted on his. He wished things were different, but that was just the reality of his situation. But it didn’t have to be with her. She asks if he thinks she can do for Gio what Carly did for him, and he says, just do it. Reach out to Gio. She says, in person, on the phone, text? She doesn’t know what to say that would mean anything. He says he thinks she’ll be fine, but she says she’s paralyzed. He knows her and this has never been her. But when it comes to Gio, she’s terrified of doing something wrong that will push him further away than he already is. He says, she’s right. He does know her. That’s why he has faith she’ll figure it all out. She says she’s glad one of them does, and he says he’s thirsty. He’s going to the cafeteria to get a smoothie. She says, that would be great, and he says he’ll be right back. She thanks him for listening and talking her off the ledge. Or trying to. He says he’s been leaning on family a lot lately and it feels good to do something for someone else, especially her, and he leaves.

Alexis says she sees Chase had given a lot of effort here, and he says he wants to help Willow. She says she just wishes it would do the trick, but he knows she can’t put him on the stand, and he says, hearsay. She says, yeah. She’d have to depose Ezra, who will say Chase is making up the story. Even if by some miracle, he said Chase was telling the truth, she’d have to depose Jacinda, who wouldn’t confirm it. He says she doesn’t have to depose anyone. He’s a detective. He’ll get proof.

Kristina says, there’s Jacinda, who she’s going to go talk to now. She leaves, and Cody says, not the master of subtlety, is she? Molly says, never quite has been, but that doesn’t stop her from trying though.

Kristina approaches Jacinda and says, hey. She tells Jacinda that it’s great to see her and she’s been meaning to reach out. How is she doing? Jacinda says, busy, but good busy. How is it going with the Charlie’s restoration? Kristina says, actually, really bad. They uncovered some pretty bad structural damage after the fire, so the whole building has to be razed. Jacinda says, so she won’t be reopening ever? and Kristina says, nope. Jacinda says she’s so sorry, and Kristina says her too. She’s trying to be positive. Looking at it as one door closing and another opening. Some days she’s better at it than others. Jacinda says, of course (🍷) she is, but that’s a smart way to look at it. Kristina says, yeah. Do her a favor. Speaking of opening doors, could Jacinda laugh like she just said something really funny? Jacinda laughs, then asks why she’s doing this. Kristina says she’s trying to give those dummies a moment. She looks toward Kristina and Cody and says, they’re totally crushing on each other and they have no idea. Not yet anyway.

Britt says she doesn’t owe Jason an explanation, but he says, whatever was going on at the Five Poppies almost got her and Josslyn killed. She says, and obviously he’s still mixed up in it , and he says, she works with Dalton and he knows she’s in trouble. He wants to help. She laughs, and he says, but she can’t keep him in the dark like this. He wants to help. She says, if she tells him, she has to know he’ll put her first. She has to know that it’s worth her risking her life.

Laura tells Nathan that she’s fine. She’s tired a bit overwhelmed. He says she’s been underneath a rough campaign, and she says, it’s been a lot. She’s supposed to be congratulating her team right now and got a flat tire and… He says, one thing too many, and she says, yeah. He says she should be out celebrating, not stuck with a flat. She’s got a spare, right? He moves toward the trunk and she jumps out of the car. Sonny says, hello, officer… Mayor Collins. Is she in some kind of trouble?

Gio comes out of the elevator and sees Brook. He starts to avoid her, but she says, hey. He says, hey. Is Michael here? She says, yeah. He’ll be right back. He went to the cafeteria to get something. He asks if everything is okay with Ned, and she says, better than okay. He’s doing great. Gio says, that’s such a relief, and she says, it really is. If he doesn’t want to hang around, she’ll give Michael a message. He says he’ll wait. Sonny asked him to come by. He said Michael needed him, but he wasn’t sure what for. She says she thinks he meant she needed Gio.

Cody asks if Molly’s sister is coming back, but Molly says she doesn’t know. From look of it, she and Michael’s girlfriend get along like gangbusters. He says, she’s quite the looker, and Molly says, ya think? He says he means if you’re into that whole vibe… and Molly says, okay. When she first met Jacinda, she was a little skeptical. He says, how come? and she says she thought Michael had gotten himself an alibi. He says, it would have been one of her easier jobs, and Molly says, that’s what she thought too, but she doesn’t know. She guesses that sometimes you meet people under unusual circumstances, for the wrong reasons sometimes, and it turns out there’s just something about them. He says, they end up seeing the best in you, even if you can’t see it yourself.

Sonny says, when he called Laura, he knew she was upset. She said she had a flat? Give him two minutes and he’ll have it changed. Congratulations. He’s sure the last thing she expected was to be on the side of the road. Isn’t she supposed to be celebrating? Laura tells Nathan that she told Sonny she was in trouble, and Sonny says he has a bunch of tow trucks, but since it’s a flat, he’ll change it himself.  He was in the area and takes pride in changing a tire. Laura laughs unnaturally, and Nathan says, weird, but between the two of them, they’ll have it changed in no time. His phone rings, and he says, Detective West… Yeah. He’s got it… He’s on his way. Sonny says, duty calls? and Nathan says he hates leaving. He can call for back-up… Sonny says he wants to prove he can change a tire in two minutes, and Nathan asks if he’s sure. Laura says, positive, and Nathan says, all right. He’ll be on his way. Congratulations again. He leaves, and Sonny says, what are we dealing with here?

Gio asks what he can do, and Brook says, he could stay and listen. She promises not to take too long. He says, okay, and sits with her. She says, he needs to know that Dante doesn’t speak for her. She believes him. She knows he was just trying to help Emma save those animals. Period. He never meant for Rocco to get into trouble and there’s no way he could have guessed Rocco would. Gio says, no, he wouldn’t have gotten Rocco involved if he’d known, and she says, he was just doing the right thing and it went sideways. He’s not the first person that’s happened to and definitely won’t be the last. She knows he had the best intention. He says, it wasn’t enough though, was it? Someone still got hurt. She says, sometimes, they do… What is it? He says, just her saying that about trying to do good and having things go in a way you never saw coming. It’s kind of like when she gave him up.  

Chase tells Alexis that he’ll bring Ezra in on solicitation. He’ll have cause to question him. He’ll get a statement that proves Michael’s alibi is false. Alexis says, disproving Michael’s alibi does not exonerate Willow, but he says he doesn’t see how it can be anything but good for Willow’s case. She says she just wants to be clear. What he’s doing is risky. He has every right legally to question Ezra, but if he does, he’ll be wading into murky territory, especially given his history with Willow. Boyle is a former mayoral candidate. He asks if that puts him above the law, and she says, of course (🍷) it doesn’t, but he has allies in local, state, and federal government and they can be undercut if he says he was deposed against his will. Chase asks if she’s saying they can’t use it, but she tells him that she’s saying it’s not a slam dunk. And is it worth his career?

Cody asks how Molly’s lariat research is going, and she says she got what she needed and she’s on to the next subject. He says, which is? and she says, country music. She didn’t grow up listening to it and isn’t familiar with the genre. He says, which one? and she says, which one what? He says, there are a lot of different styles of country music. There’s bluegrass, there’s pop and rock, there’s folk… He can go on and on. She asks, which one can you dance to? and he says, why don’t they give this one a try? He gets up and holds out his hand. He bows to her, and she takes his hand. They dance, and she says, it’s not that bad. He says, right. It’s not that bad.

Gio says Brook couldn’t know what her mother and grandmother would do, and she says, the fact that he was down the block the whole time, but right. There’s no way she could have known what her ma and grandmother would do. Just like he couldn’t have known the kids were going to break into the lab. Can she ask him something? He nods, and she says, if Rocco told Gio what he was going to do, what would he have said? He tells her that he would have said, absolutely not. Then he would have gone to PCU and made sure the kids went nowhere near the lab. She says, that’s the thing. Rocco didn’t tell him. He can’t know what he doesn’t know. She puts her hand on his and he covers it with his other hand.

Sonny opens Laura’s trunk, and they look at each other.

Jason says Britt can trust him, and she says, if she tells him the truth, he has to stick around, no matter what. She cries, and his phone rings. He sees it’s Sonny, and she says, now that’s impeccable timing. Go on. He’s got to take that, doesn’t he? He says, what’s up?… Sonny says he needs Jason to handle something for him, and Jason says, right now? Sonny says he wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t important. He’ll send Jason the location. Jason says, okay. Understood. Britt opens the door and says, go. He knows he has to. He says, sorry, and she closes the door behind him.

Sonny says, Laura did the right thing by calling him. Now they’ve gotta go. Laura says, what about her car? and he says, don’t worry. He needs to think about this. Give him a minute… Listen to him. Getting to her car and putting a body in her trunk is like kicking over the first domino. And now the rest are falling. Does she understand what he’s saying? They’ve gotta go. She says, okay, and they walk off.

Alexis asks if Chase has voiced concerns to the precinct, and he says, yes. She says, great. Then he’s done his duty. He voiced his opinion. Let it be heard and overruled. He says, no, because it’s not right, and she says, he’s taking an enormous risk, but he says, Willow’s freedom is worth it.

Brook tells Gio that she’s all for taking responsibility. It was a hard-fought lesson for her, but she finally learned it. He asks, how? and she says, life, experiences. You don’t stop growing up when you turn 18. She’s still learning. He says he guesses they all are, and she says, which makes her even prouder that he owned up to his part in what happened. That takes guts. He says he messed up and owning it doesn’t change anything, and she says, wouldn’t it be great if it did? He’s allowed to have regrets, but not allowed to blame himself. It was Rocco’s choice that night. Dante was scared and lashed out. He was wrong and she has no problem saying so. He says he bets she won’t. Thanks, mom. They hug, and Michael sees them and smiles.

Cody and Molly dance, and she moves closer to him, putting her head on his shoulder.

Britt gets in bed and pulls up the covers. She flashes back to Sidwell telling her, let this be a lesson. This is what happens when you betray me. This is what happens when you become more trouble than you’re worth. She hugs her pillow and cries.

Jason changes the tire on Laura’s car. He gets in, starts the car, and drives off.

Back home, Laura cries and tells Sonny that she’s supposed to go congratulate her team, but she can’t do that now. He says, she was planning to do that, right? and she says, it didn’t go the way it was supposed to tonight. He says, listen, if somebody wants a hug or a handshake from the mayor, it doesn’t really matter at this point, and she says she knows. It’s just that when she saw Dalton’s body in her trunk, it’s like she got frozen. And she knew she should call the police, but she just stood there. He says, listen to him. Anybody that sees a dead body gets shaken up. Did she handle the body? She says she went to see if he had a pulse. She had to check. There was blood on her. He says, good thing the body is gone. She can’t ever have Dalton tied to her car. She asks what she should do, and he says, her car will be in her driveway tomorrow morning, after it’s been detailed. Dalton is gonna disappear for good, never to be seen again. She says she can’t do this, but he says, yes, she can. Look at him. Somebody is trying to make trouble for her. She says she knows, and he says, somebody who does not like the results. Does she understand what he’s saying? She says, yes. Ezra doesn’t like the results… Drew doesn’t like the results… It’s Sidwell.

On Monday, Jason says he’s going to prove to Britt that she can trust him; Turner asks Nathan to bring someone into custody; Sonny says Laura is opening both of them up to criminal charges; and Jack says this is what happens when someone disobeys his orders.

🧼 All the Soap News Fit To Print…

Well, he had to go. There was no other way.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/general-hospital-comings-goings-daniel-goddard-exits-as-professor-henry-dalton/

I love that they gave her the opportunity to spread her wings. GH seems very good with that.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/kate-mansi-makes-general-hospital-directorial-debut-reveals-co-star-she-was-intimidated-to-direct/

If didn’t know or need to refresh like I did.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/what-did-general-hospitals-lulu-and-dante-have-to-do-with-michael-going-to-jail/

Highly doubtful he’ll be back on GH, but good to hear.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/general-hospital-alum-michael-easton-teases-comeback-after-work-sabbatical/

No surprise here. She was absolutely adorable!

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/general-hospitals-scarlett-spears-shines-alongside-ariana-grande-at-wicked-for-good-premiere/

💉 A Dose Of Reality…

Below Deck Mediterranean

Captain Sandy was steaming when she found all the deckhands in the crew mess while they were on charter. In her interview, she said Nathan knew better and as a leader should set an example. Primary Joe selected two women for dates, but they skipped out on him, while Eyebrows Joe wanted to see both Cathy and V. Or was is Kizzy and V? Or Cathy and Kizzy? Who the hell knows and does it really matter? After getting a $25K tip, it was dinner on shore and the hot tub afterward.

Real Housewives Of Salt Lake City

A celebration of Britani with high body count hair and a teddy bear station. Todd got defensive over getting caught looking at a woman on his phone and Bronwyn showed him the door. Temporarily. Mary opened her church and was rockin’ and rollin’. Britani’s boyfriend accused her of flirting with little cabin boys. Um… did he mean the deckhands? The tip amount for the charter is as yet unknown.

Southern Charm

Patricia threw Madison a baby shower, and in Madison’s interview, she said girls who claimed to love being pregnant were liars or sociopaths. Craig went blah-blah-blah, Paige betrayed him. Molly inherited some lizards and said she now had three cats and dogs, a gecko, and a corn snake. Good on her. Craig was annoyed with Venita as she’d said he was dragging out the breakup longer than need be, and Venita said Craig was a bitch and a certified a-hole, but not to his face. Salley wanted Venita to deal with Craig at the shower, but Venita didn’t want Craig to start ranting on Madison’s day. However, Craig did make a quilt for Madison that was quite impressive. Salley claimed it would be for the good of the group, which made me wonder if that really meant, for the good of the show.  

Real Housewives Of Orange County

We revisited the Amsterdam highs and I’ll say it again, these women should just stay high, and the others should get high. They’re much more watchable. There was a lot about Gretchen liking some homophobic post and I actually believed she could be mindlessly scrolling and like something. I know because I’ve caught people liking a post of mine and making a comment that clearly showed they didn’t read it. Apparently, Gretchers had an independent company do an analysis and said the worst post had been a fabrication. Her finger pointed directly at Tamra who tried to overtalk her. Tamra and Emily got into it, Tamra starting things by calling Emily an a-hole. The best part was when Tamra – who goes directly to screeching – wailed that Emily was calling her names. In a moment of collective clarity, the others pointed out that she’d done it first. The aftermath of the Amsterdam dinner was shown and there was a lot about Tamra leaking things and plotting things. Gretchen said Tamra was mad because she got caught, and Tamra said, no you, but was the only one screeching. Even Andy told her, don’t yell at me. I also noticed Tamra’s tears dry up really fast. The teacher in Fancy Pants said, this has to stop, and Emily said it was hard enough to deal with the dynamic as it was; they shouldn’t have to deal with outside people. At the end, Fancy Pants made a toast, saying, in order to move forward, the path has to be clear. Good luck with all that.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/obsessed/rhoc-reunion-explodes-over-maga-politics-and-lies/

Random Reality Items

Sure, sure. For the good of the show group.

https://www.eonline.com/news/1425112/rhonjs-melissa-gorga-on-ending-teresa-giudice-feud

Will the Tres Amigas have a reunion or will Tamra finally be given the boot?

https://deadline.com/2025/11/vicki-gunvalson-returning-real-housewives-of-orange-county-season-20-cast-1236618331/

Because, LVP.

👀 Last Weekend’s Watch…

End Times. Amazon Prime. Filed under zombie apocalypse, a mercenary and an entitled young woman go on a trek to get out of their quarantine zone. No surprise, although the zombies are no picnic (well, sometimes it is for them), the enemy is really us. The story was solid and I enjoyed the characters, Craig Stark’s mercenary being reminiscent of an early Clint Eastwood. Gory AF, the special effects were excellent, although I found the ending to be a wee bit depressing.

Paradise Hills. Amazon Prime. This film was like a futuristic Stepford Wives and I was there for it. Uma is set to marry a member of the elite class, but she’s not happy about it, so she’s sent to a different kind of reform school, where women are reformed into more docile beings. While there, she and three other young women (one of them Awkwafina, a nice surprise for me)

https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/paradise-hills-movie-review-2019

Frankenstein. Netflix. He ain’t yo mama’s Frankenstein. Half from Victor Frankenstein’s viewpoint and half from the creature’s, horror is once again elevated in this version of Mary Shelley’s classic book. Nothing like the original with Boris Karloff, but I wished Karloff was still alive to see it. (Although he’d be like 200 years old, so hypothetical.) The scenery, costumes, effects, everything is just magnificent.

https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/hot-take-i-think-frankenstein-guillermo-del-toro-best-movie

Characters with a difference.

https://www.slashfilm.com/2031238/oscar-isaac-victor-frankenstein-netflix-version-villain/

https://www.cbr.com/frankenstein-creature-jacob-elordi-designer-mike-hill-interview/

Soulmates. Netflix. A six-episode series about a test that finds your perfect soulmate and the results thereof. Needless to say, suddenly finding your surprise match is not always a good thing, especially if you’re already married, and I love a story about technology going bad. It’s nothing new, but still an amusing watch.

https://www.rogerebert.com/streaming/amc-soulmates-tv-review

Wicked: For Good. At the cinema. Long story short, I play the game June’s Journey online and at present, they’re doing a crossover story with Wicked: For Good. They decided to have a focus group/movie party in NYC, and I was able to go. The whole thing was a blast – food, beverage, and movie candy and popcorn provided – but being able to see the film ahead of time, incredible. It’s just as magnificent on screen as the first part, perhaps even more, and every question you had about The Wizard of Oz is answered. And Scarlett Spears (Donna on General Hospital) is the sweetest thing ever as young Glinda. The best part for me were the fantastical animals, but the sets, costumes, and effects were mind-blowing, and I doubt you’ll be disappointed. Personally, I liked the story better in this one, although I liked the songs better in the first one. That could be because I know them better though. So hie thee hence to be off to see the Wizard.

https://deadline.com/2025/11/wicked-for-good-review-1236620980/

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/wicked-for-good-reviews-what-critics-are-saying-1236430079/

https://www.theonlycritic.com/post/wicked-for-good-review-part-two-is-heartfelt-and-heavy-but-also-missing-a-little-magic

Where did they go?

https://ew.com/what-happened-to-the-wizard-of-oz-cast-11854142

Wicked: For Pekes

🤡 But Where’s the Clown…

I’m trying to keep up with this, but I consistently forget it’s on Sunday, and end up watching the previous week’s episode the next weekend. It might be a mental block since I’m spoiled by being able to watch whole seasons of series at once, and I resent episodes being doled out like methadone.

https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/welcome-to-derry-halloran-the-shining

🔮 Watch Of the Future…

This looks so good. Why are they making us wait so long? Isn’t that insanity with Stranger Things enough?

https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/fallout-season-2-trailer-new-vegas

I’m definitely down for this. I missed the Shahs and if a mashup is what brings them back, I’m there for it.

https://deadline.com/gallery/the-valley-persian-style-trailer-premiere-bravo/

Oh look. Renewed before it even starts. <sigh>

https://ew.com/game-of-thrones-renewals-through-2028-house-of-the-dragon-and-a-knight-of-the-seven-kingdoms-11853381

🏃‍♂️ Hoping To Watch…

Originally, I planned to wait for streaming, but after seeing the previews, this might be cinema worthy.

https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/the-running-man-review

🦃🎄 All the Holiday Movies…

Take your pick of Thanksgiving, Christmas, or both.

https://www.purewow.com/entertainment/best-thanksgiving-movies

https://www.purewow.com/entertainment/thanksgiving-movies-on-netflix

https://ew.com/best-black-christmas-movies-8763576

https://ew.com/greatest-christmas-movies-on-netflix-8761599

https://ew.com/best-christmas-movies-streaming-now-8751814

🏆 All Awards All the Time…

I’m not that into award shows, but if you are, here’s all the big ones.

https://ew.com/2025-2026-awards-season-calendar-when-are-oscars-11840259

🦤 More Strange and Unusual Than Lydia…

🫏 This is amazing. Mad respect for her.

https://ew.com/millie-bobby-brown-owns-62-pets-pregnant-donkey-blind-dog-11697789

🦌 I wonder if these are the same officers who mistook a dog with a weird haircut for a lion. Although, there was the time an abandoned dog was reported on my local Next Door and it turned out to be a decoration.

https://people.com/officers-respond-to-abandoned-dog-calls-find-reindeer-11853188

🐍 Oh… no. Just no. That thing is huge.

https://people.com/massive-python-crashes-through-ceiling-into-bathroom-11851217

🐕 And my last vacation was in 2004.

https://people.com/golden-retrievers-from-subaru-ads-going-on-biggest-adventure-yet-11847127

📜 Quotes of the Week

Living successfully… is a matter of solving the problems which stand between where we now are and the point we wish to reach. – Earl Nightingale

I am always doing that which I cannot do, in order that I may learn how to do it. – Pablo Picasso

Ability is what you’re capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it. – Lou Holtz

The way to get things done is not to mind who gets the credit for doing them. – Benjamin Jowett

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow. – Melody Beattie

What and how much had I lost by trying to do only what was expected of me instead of what I myself had wished to do?Ralph Ellison

Don’t watch the clock; do what it does. Keep going. – Sam Levenson

Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does. – William James

Don’t be an a$$hole. If you are not sure if your comment will make you sound like an a$$hole or not, it probably does. Don’t write that. – from rules of conduct for the Clutterbug Facebook group

As I’ve said before, I prefer to handle these situations the way you handle an angry driver who honks and flips you off on the highway. You just ignore them, you know, unless you’re in New Jersey. Then, technically, that’s a marriage proposal. – Seth Meyers

🙏 Thankful For All Things…

Until next week, stay safe; stay focused on being grateful for what you have and not on what you don’t have; and stay remembering that cover-ups rarely work out and usually do more damage when the truth comes out.

Happy Thanksgiving!

October 24, 2025 – GH Weekdays, Drew Pays Ronnie a Visit, Soap Suds, This Week In Reality, Weekend Watching, Watching Soon, A Rarity, An Ending, Spooky Viewing, All Dressed Up Plus a PSA, One Dozen Quotes & A Thrill

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

🥢 Weekday Bites…                                                                           

Monday:

Carly had wine with Jack and asked how his business trip was, even though the moss bowl🎍was probably more interested than she was. He told her about Charlotte’s visit with her father, and she said she hoped he got what he wanted from Valentin. He said he didn’t see the flowers he’d sent, and she said she had to throw them out.

Marco told Nathan that the arraignment was going to be handled by ADA Lansing-Davis. Marco saw Molly come in and went to talk to her.

Nina was brought into the courtroom and hugged Nathan. Willow was brought in, and she stared at Nina.

Michael asked why Dante thought he’d framed Willow. Dante said his grandfather’s gun had been found at Elizabeth’s and Willow said he put it there.

At the tea party, Olivia introduced Lucy to Ronnie, and Lucy immediately gave Ronnie a real estate spiel and her card, but Olivia intercepted it and said it wasn’t a business meeting. They were hoping Ronnie would make Port Charles her permanent home. Lucy said she was also the town historian. Ask her anything. Fun fact. This used to be her house when she married Monica’s husband Alan.

Tracy told Brook that she was glad to throw the party for Ronnie. What better way to demonstrate that she didn’t belong and never would?

Portia saw Elizabeth outside the Quartermaines and said she wasn’t just having morning sickness in the morning. Elizabeth asked if she told Curtis, but Portia said she wasn’t going to until she knew for sure he was the father. They went inside and Stella greeted them. Elizabeth asked, how’s the vibe? and Stella said there were a lot of ladies, tea, and tons of finger food. She hoped they were hungry.

Olivia introduced Felicia to Ronnie and said she was an Aztec princess. Ronnie curtsied, but Felicia said she gave up the title a long time ago. Tracy laughed, and Brook told her not to be mean. She suggested Tracy welcome Ronnie.

Jack asked why Carly threw out the flowers, and Carly flashed back to smashing the vase. She said they’d slipped out of her hands and shattered, and it seemed best to throw them out. He said he was afraid she was still mad about Josslyn and Vaughn, and she said he wasn’t wrong about that.

The judge said, first up, was The People vs Willow Tate, and Willow said she thought she and Nina were going to be charged together. Willow pled not guilty to conspiracy to commit murder and attempted murder, and they moved on to bail. Molly said Willow had a history of erratic behavior and her mother had ample means to spirit her away, but Martin said that was absurd. Willow had strong ties to the community, was a nurse, and had two children in Port Charles. She had no criminal history and the victim was there in support of her. But the judge agreed she was a definite flight risk and bail was denied.

Martin saw Lulu in the hallway, and she said she’d been covering for someone from the Port Charles Press. They’d arrived and she had to go to a tea party to meet Monica’s long lost sister. They’d been estranged, but Monica left the house and most of the estate to her. Martin said it must have made Tracy furious and that made him happy, and Lulu left for the party.

Ronnie met Portia, and Tracy told Stella that she was staying out of the way in case she got blamed for stirring the pot. Stella said she took it that Tracy wasn’t a fan, and Tracy asked, what’s not to like about a gold digging grifter? Stella said there still might be trouble. Portia and Jordan were in the same room and on the brink of open warfare. Tracy said as long as Brook couldn’t blame her.

Ronnie said Jordan was absolutely stunning (truth!) and wondered why she was single – not that there was anything wrong with that. Jordan said she’d been focused on her career, and Portia said she had a hunch Jordan wouldn’t be single long. She asked Brook if there was herbal or decaf tea and Brook went to get it.

Jack said he knew something was off, and Carly said she’d been struggling. He said he thought she understood he had no choice, and she said she thought she did, but had time to think about it. Did she really want to be with someone who was basically required to keep things from her, even if they involved the people she loved? He asked if she was ending things.

Nina said she felt terrible, but Nathan said there was nothing she could do. Focus on her own situation. Was she going to take the plea deal?

Drew wondered what the judge was thinking, and Martin said Willow would be transported to Pentenville as soon as Nina was arraigned. His hands were tied. He had to leave and suggested Willow get a lawyer to represent her at trial. He was already representing Drew, and she needed an actual criminal defense attorney, a damn good one.

On the patio, Dante told Michael that he wasn’t there as a cop, but convince him that he didn’t shoot Drew. Michael said the police had evidence that proved Willow was guilty, and Dante said Michael wasn’t there when Chase and Anna came back with the second warrant. Where did he go? Willow said he was in Elizabeth’s house. Michael said Elizabeth told him that he could wait, and Dante said he had ample opportunity to plant the gun. Michael said he didn’t. He wanted to talk to Willow about family therapy. He’d noticed that the visitation hearing was moved to January, and it was too long for the kids to go without seeing their mom. If he framed Willow, that meant he shot Drew. Did Dante think he could? Dante said between Michael and Willow, Michael had the stronger motive.

Carly said, when they met, she and Jack had an easy rapport, even though he’d been keeping secrets from her, big ones. She came to him for help with Lucky and he called in an air strike. He said he knew how important she was to him even thin, more than any woman had ever been. He’d do anything for her. She asked how he could keep her in the dark about daughter.

Felicia said Stella took no guff from difficult patients, and Ronnie said she had her share of nasty customers at the diner. Stella said she had the feeling Ronnie wasn’t a guff taker either, and Ronnie said, nope. Tracy said, et tu, Stella?

Martin found Lulu in the foyer and said she left her phone at the courthouse, but she said it wasn’t hers. She had it in her bag. He was about to leave, when Stella told them to come in and meet Monica’s sister.

Michael told Dante that Willow had every reason to shoot Drew. He’d lied to her from the beginning and slept with her mother. Dante said they’d reconciled, but Michael said maybe she had second thoughts. Dante said Michael and Drew were at odds. Drew blew up Michael’s family and was trying to get his kid, and Michael had a history of violence. Michale said he was protecting his mom and sister, and Dante said they would still use it against him. He should turn himself in. Michael said Dante gave him the same advice last time, and even though he was under 18, he was sentenced as an adult and went to Pentenville. Why would he ever take Dante’s advice again?

The judge called The People vs Nina Reeves. The charge was conspiracy to commit murder, and she asked how Nina pled. Molly said the prosecution was amending the charge to making a false statement, and Nina pled guilty. Willow asked Martin what Nina was doing.

Jack said when he and Carly started getting serious, they discussed parameters and he was clear about his work. Carly said they’d been through so much since then and she learned to trust him. She was convinced he’d never do anything to hurt her, but he did. Nothing was more important to her than her kids and he knew that, but he let Josslyn be pulled into his world and said nothing. Why didn’t he tell her that Josslyn was in danger?

Martin met Ronnie and explained he was a party crasher. He’d thought his niece left her phone at Willow’s arraignment. Stella asked how it went, but he said, not well, and Lucy asked if it was true that the gun was found in Elizabeth’s house. Elizabeth said, unfortunately, yes, and Lucy asked if she thought Willow was capable of shooting Drew. Tracy said she thought Willow would be a poisoner, but she must have thought that took too long, and Elizabeth said it wasn’t the time or place for gossip. Lucy said, it was merely conversation, and Lulu offered Portia some finger food. Elizabeth intercepted the tray and said she’d see if the other guests wanted some, and Portia looked sick. Jordan looked at Portia.

Dante said he’d never forgive himself for the part he played in Michael going to prison, but Michael said he shouldn’t have brought it up. Sorry. Dante said, don’t apologize. He knew that and wasn’t trying to upset Michael or make Michael think he didn’t believe in him, but since he’d been back from Germany, Dante had seen a different side. Michael always had the ruthless thing going on, but seemed harder and colder. Michael asked if Dante could blame him, and Dante said he couldn’t, but he’d be lying if he said he didn’t worry or wonder what Michael was capable of. Maybe shooting his uncle in cold blood.

Stella told Ronnie that everything in the house told a story, and Ronnie said, if the walls could talk. Stella said she was sure the Quartermaines were happy they didn’t, and Ronnie said she got the sense that when the Quartermaines were quiet, that’s when you had to worry. Stella said it didn’t take Ronnie long to figure them out, when Martin said he was going to get while the gettin’ was good. Stella walked him out while Ronnie sipped her tea.  

Molly said the DA’s office had a plea deal that they were ready to present. In exchange for Nina pleading guilty, she’d get probation for one year and a $10,000 fine. Willow said Nina was recanting and helping the DA to save herself, and Drew yelled, bitch! How could she do this to her own daughter? The judge banged her gavel.

Jack said he didn’t tell Carly because there was nothing to tell. Josslyn was unwittingly dating an agent, but she was never Vaughn’s target or part of his mission. She was never in any danger, but he could understand why Carly was angry. Carly said it was a betrayal like no other, and he said he hated that and felt worse because he caused it. He cared about her and couldn’t lose her. Please tell him that he hadn’t. She asked him to promise one thing, and he said he’d try. She said she knew Vaughn and Josslyn broke up, so it wasn’t an issue, but in the future, if he found out Josslyn was at risk, promise he’d tell her. He promised, and she said he hadn’t lost her. She kissed him and he said, thank God. Did she want to have dinner with him tonight? She said she had a girls’ night with Donna, and he said he couldn’t beat that offer. She suggested a raincheck, and he said, absolutely, as long as they were really okay. She said they were, and he said he didn’t know how it happened, but she was his whole world. She said she felt the same, and he left.

The judge shouted for order, and Drew said Nina backstabbed her own daughter. He hoped she felt good about it. The judge said, another outburst, and she’d have him removed. Molly said Nina had signed a sworn statement, but needed to recant vocally on record. Nina asked if it was really necessary, and Nathan said she had to, for her sake and Willow’s. Nina said, on the night of September 2nd, 2025, between 9 pm and 10:33 pm, she was in her apartment at 979 Carlyle, alone. She didn’t see her daughter until later at General Hospital after Congressman Cain was shot. Willow began to cry.

Michael said if that’s how Dante thought of him, how could he stand to be in the same room? and Dante said he couldn’t ignore what he’d seen. Before the accident, Michael let Willow take the kids. Michael said Dante was ignoring what Willow had done while he was gone and was condemning him, and Dante said the old Michael was more compassionate. Michael said Willow proved herself unfit in his absence and stalked Daisy, but Dante said he didn’t have any proof that Willow targeted Daisy. Maybe he was framing her for that. Michael said he sent his newborn to another continent. Did Dante think he’d do that if he didn’t believe she was in danger? She was growing up without him. Every time Daisy’s mom sent a picture, it was like a knife in his heart. Dante said if he was so sure it was Willow, bring Daisy back, and Michael said he’d love to, but as Dante said, he had no proof. He wasn’t risking Daisy’s life like that. Even if Willow hadn’t been the one targeting Daisy, it wouldn’t matter. He could still prove his children weren’t safe with her. Dante said Willow loved those kids. She loved Wiley like her own. Michael said, letting her adopt Wiley was his first mistake. Wiley was scared and confused because of Willow. Her needs and feelings came first, even if it hurt her children. No more. Dante said it was all just a shame, and Michael said, like Dante told him, he’d changed, and so had Willow. She’d been in a downward spiral for a while. If Dante didn’t think she was capable of putting a bullet in Drew’s back, he was grossly underestimating her.

Olivia insisted that Portia try a stuffed mushroom, and Portia ate one. She said it was so good, then dashed out. Jordan followed.  

Lucy said the house was so beautiful, but felt stuffy, and Ronnie said when she fits got there, she couldn’t tell the difference between the crypt and the main house. Lulu told Lucy that she thought Ronnie had something stronger in her tea, and Lucy said they were going to grab a water for her. Ronnie said, sounds good, and Olivia asked how she was feeling. Ronnie said, good, so good, and Olivia said she knew it was a lot. Maybe Ronnie should lie down for a little bit. Ronnie said, why? They were in the middle of a party. Besides, things are gonna get fun now. She tapped on the teapot with a metal utensil, and asked, who wanted to cut loose and have fun? They could start with the music and play something less snoozy. Who was in charge of the music? She banged on the teapot again, and Tracy said, stop banging. That was her mother’s teapot, and Ronnie could break it. Ronnie said, who cares? It wasn’t a museum. It was a home, and it was her home. She laughed and said, so, ladies, please. In her home feel free to let their hair down and just do whatever they want to do. Kick off their shoes and take off whatever they wanted. She sat on the couch, took off her shoes, and said, that’s better. She put her feet up on the coffee table.

Carly called Spinelli and said she needed his help. But if he did this, he couldn’t tell anyone, not even Jason… Yes, it was that important. Please. She didn’t have anyone else to turn to… She thanked him and said she appreciated this. He needed to create a new identity for her, starting with a fake passport with a digital trail that could stand up to an extreme background check. Can he do that, please?… Don’t ask. Just make it good.

The judge said Nina was free to go. Arrangements were being made to transfer Willow to Pentenville. Willow said, this can’t be happening. It’s not fair. Nina forced her to lie. It was Nina’s idea. Nina said she was trying to help Willow, and Willow said she was going to prison because of Nina’s help. Nina said she’d explain later, but Willow said, don’t bother. It won’t matter. She hated Nina for this. Leave her alone. She was innocent and Nina should be behind bars. Drew had to help her. He said he promised, and as she was taken away, Willow said, he promised.

Dante said Michael would do anything for his kids, wouldn’t he? and Michael said he thought he knew what Dante was getting to. He was going to ask if Michael would kill for them. The answer was yes, but he thought Dante would say the same thing. Dante said it sounded like Michael would have no problem framing Willow – Lucy and Lulu almost walked in, but listened from the hallway – and Michael said if he’d shot Drew, Drew would be dead. He wished he had framed Willow. He’d make damn sure she was guilty and his children would never have to see her again. Lucy looked at Lulu.

In the foyer, Jordan asked if Portia felt better, but Portia said she felt fine. Jordan said she saw Portia run out and she seemed nauseous, but Portia said she was perfectly fine. Jordan said Portia was pregnant, wasn’t she?

Tracy said Ronnie was clearly inebriated, but Ronnie said she was relaxed. Had Tracy ever in her whole life been relaxed one time? Tracy said, not recently. She wasn’t surprised that Ronnie had a drinking problem. Ronnie said she did not have a drinking problem, but Tracy had a problem, a big problem. Did Tracy want to hear what it was? Felicia said this wasn’t going to end well, and Elizabeth said, but she couldn’t look away. Ronnie said she’d tell Tracy anyway, and Tracy said, of course (🍷). Ronnie said Tracy was uptight, frigid, and completely undersexed. She needed to go out and find herself a debaucherous, degenerate guy to take care of them for her. Stella dropped her cup and it shattered on the floor, and Ronnie laughed, flopping onto the sofa.

Tuesday:

Drew walked into Alexis’s house and said he was making her an offer she couldn’t refuse.

Kai met Curtis at Bobbie’s and said he was getting back Trina’s trust. Curtis said that would make it easier for him to ask this.

Trina and Josslyn were at the Brown Dog Bar and Josslyn said she sensed something was weighing on Trina. She was here for Trina, always. Trina said her parents were getting a divorce.

Portia said she wasn’t pregnant, but Jordan listed everything pointing to it. She asked if Curtis knew.

Tracy asked Ronnie to repeat what she’d said, but Olivia thought they got the gist. She left to get coffee, water, or anything, and Brook suggested Tracy go out for some fresh air. Ronnie said Tracy was full of hot air, and Tracy said Ronnie couldn’t speak to her like that. Ronnie said she’d speak how she wanted to in her house, and Tracy said she was three sheets to the wind. She took flowers out of a vase and was about to throw the water on Ronnie, and Ronnie said, don’t you dare.

Trina told Josslyn about Portia altering Heather’s test results. Somehow Drew found out and had been blackmailing her parents. Josslyn said there wasn’t a hole deep enough for Drew to fall into, and Trina blamed herself, but Josslyn said none of it was her fault and there was nothing she could have done to change it. Trina flashed back to telling Kai that she wished she could let them know the evidence was gone, and told Josslyn that she might have one thing that would turn it around.

Lulu came into Bobbie’s and told Curtis that she was pursuing a lead. Curtis introduced her to Kai, and she said she had a new angle on the Congressman Cain shooting. Curtis said when she was ready, he hoped she brought her article to Aurora first.

Felicia told Tracy, put the vase down, and Tracy said it wasn’t worth ruining. Ronnie said Tracy was mean spirited and abruptly sat down, saying the room was spinning. Olivia gave her water, and Tracy said she thought the party was over. Brook wanted everyone to meet Ronnie, and they did. She was a sloppy drunk who used alcohol to give her a personality. Stella said, enough, and Tracy said she was just trying to sober Ronnie up. They could all agree Ronnie Bard in this house was an insult to the Quartermaine family.

Portia said she didn’t have to answer Jordan’s questions and told her to back off. Jordan said she couldn’t pretend not to see what she saw, and Portia said, then don’t pretend. Mind her own damn business. Portia left, and Jordan called Anna. She said she was sending out the bat signal. Meet her at the Brown Dog.

Drew told Alexis that Willow was charged with premeditated murder because Nina lied, giving her fake alibi that she went along with because she thought Nina was guilty. ADA Turner made a deal Nina in exchange for recanting the alibi. Alexis said she didn’t see what this had to do with her, and Drew said Willow had been sent to Pentenville, and Alexis said that was the risk you took when you shot someone, but Drew said Willow was innocent. Michael planted the gun in her things. She didn’t have a lawyer and needed the best. He’d double Alexis’s retainer. Alexis said, absolutely not. It was never going to happen.

Curtis told Kai that he and Portia were filing for divorce. Trina had been blindsided and he was worried she’d need support. Kai said he’d do everything he could to help her get through, and Curtis said he didn’t want her to feel like she had to take sides.

Josslyn told Trina that it sounded like other things were going on, but the blackmail didn’t help. Relationships were hard and sometimes things just didn’t work out.

Anna had a glass of wine waiting for Jordan, and Jordan said she’d just found out Portia was lying to Curtis – again.

Portia saw Isaiah at the hospital and said she’d just been at a tea party from hell.

Ronnie said the room was still spinning, and Elizabeth asked if she was on any medication. Ronnie said, no, and she hadn’t had one drop of alcohol. She wasn’t drunk. They could check her tea. Felicia sniffed the cup and said, no alcohol, and Tracy said, that’s what alcoholics did – deny. Ronnie said she wasn’t drunk and had no idea what happ… Oh wait a minute. Somebody slipped her a micky.

Drew asked why Alexis didn’t want to defend Willow. Michael separated her from her kids and wasn’t it Alexis’s duty as an officer of the court to make sure justice prevailed? Alexis said she couldn’t believe his audacity when he’d kept Scout from her family. She felt sorry for Willow. Because of his selfishness and bad advice, she’d been influenced into making bad decisions, but that was on them. She didn’t want to deal with him in this mess even if he tripled her retainer. He said he had something even more valuable.

Jordan said Curtis held on to the bitter end and finally said it was over, and Anna said she wasn’t surprised. Jordan said they were filing for divorce and now this, and Anna asked what Portia was lying about. Jordan said Portia was pregnant.

Portia told Isaia that Jordan should mind her own damn business. They’d agreed to only telling Trina, but she was convinced Curtis told Jordan. Isaiah said, like she’d told him, and Portia said Curtis running to Jordan all the time made her furious, but Curtis would have custody of Jordan in the divorce and Jordan would finally leave her alone. Isaiah said he had a sure-fire way to improve her mood.

Kai said he hoped Curtis and Portia weren’t divorcing because of Drew. He knew Drew was responsible for Stella’s investigation and targeted her just to hurt Curtis. That opened his eyes to who Drew really was. He was sorry it took so long. Curtis tried to warn him, but he didn’t listen. For that, and a lot of other things, he owed Curtis an apology.

Lucas saw Lulu at Bobbie’s, and she asked him to join her. He said Elizabeth told him that there was a tea party at the Quartermaines, and he assumed she was invited. Lulu said she went briefly, and he said, tell him everything. What did Tracy do? Lulu said she wasn’t there long, but she and Lucy walked in on Michael having it out with Dante. Michael said that if he’d shot Drew, Drew would be dead, and he wished he’d framed Willow. He would have made sure she was guilty, so she never saw her children again. Lucas said, that meant Michael didn’t do it, but Lulu said Michael was so cold and calculating. He was too smart to tell a cop that he did it, but she was convinced Michael was capable of shooting Drew and framing Willow. Lucas said he thought she liked Michael, and she said, of course (🍷) she did, but who was more likely to shoot Drew in the back, Willow or Michael? Lucas said, in his opinion, Willow was more capable of violence than most people thought.

Tracy said, someone drugged Ronnie? Ridiculous. Ronnie said she’d been a waitress all of her life, and before that, she served cocktails. She learned to tell the difference between someone being drunk and someone who’d had something slipped in their drink. The drugged ones always said the same thing. They felt free, detached from their bodies like they were outside, seeing everything that was happening. That’s exactly how she felt now, like her mind was wrapped in cotton. Tracy said, drop the victim act and sleep it off, and Ronnie said she wasn’t drunk, but Tracy was working hard to convince everybody she was. Somebody wanted to humiliate her, and Tracy was the only person miserable enough to have done it and drugged her.

Anna asked if Jordan thought Curtis would stay with Portia because of the baby, and Jordan said Curtis didn’t get to raise Trina. It looked like Portia found another way to hang onto him. Anna said, then why hadn’t Portia told him that she was pregnant?

Isaiah said the renovations on his cabin were done and it looked amazing. It was the perfect weekend getaway for him and Portia. They could go on a day trip to the village, hold hands, and stroll. No one would know them or care. They could make a fire and open up a bottle of wine, and he might be persuaded to make his famous three-cheese omelet and serve her breakfast in bed. Portia said she’d love that, but wasn’t sure right now was the best time to get away together. He said if she needed to get away and be alone, he could give her the key, and she said, he’d give up his cabin time for her? He said, if she needed it, nothing would make him happier, but she said she didn’t want to be alone. She wanted to spend time with him. They kissed.

Curtis told Kai that he knew how easy it was to fall for Drew’s lies. Drew fooled him. He’d considered Drew a good friend until he saw Drew’s true colors. He’s glad Kai wasn’t taken in. Kai said he could barely look at Drew. He was ready to resign, but then Drew was shot. Was it wrong of him to keep working for someone he had zero respect for?

Lucas told Lulu that Willow needed to be a mom. She was consumed with it and blind to everything else. She needed to be with Wiley and Amelia regardless of what was best for them. Lulu said Willow thought she was what was best for them, and Lucas said she was delusional. The things she’d done to the kids were not okay just because as a mommy she decided they were. She wasn’t thinking like a mentally healthy person or a good mom. Lulu said she couldn’t disagree, and Lucas said Willow blamed Drew for not getting visitation and sleeping with her mom when he was seducing her away from Michael. As a mom, it was enough of a motive for her to shoot Drew. She was unwell and Lulu should think twice about going after Michael in the press. Carly would never forgive her, and she’d be helping a guilty woman go free.

Drew said he’d life the restraining order on Alexis and she could spend time with Scout if she agreed to defend Willow, and Alexis said he was going to use that sweet little girl as a bargaining chip? That was the textbook definition of extortion. He’d denied Scout’s family access to a child who loved and needed them and was using it to dangle in front of her so she’d do what he wanted. He didn’t care about what was good for Scout. He only cared about what was good for him. He asked what she thought Sam would want her to do.

Brook said Tracy wanted to prove Ronnie didn’t belong and spiked her tea to make sure that would happen. Tracy said she would never, and Olivia laughed. She said they all knew Tracy got Alexis drunk, then framed her for drunk driving, and Ronnie said, that’s horrible. Tracy did that to someone else? Tracy said she did not drug Ronnie, and Ronnie said she had it with Tracy. Tracy had a lot to say today. Now shut up and let her have her turn.

Lulu told Lucas that she was just trying to report the facts. She couldn’t keep the facts from the public because Carly would be upset. Whoever shot Drew needed to be brought to justice. Lucas agreed, and she said, what if the PCPD had the wrong person in custody? Lucas said Michael was a good man, and Lulu said, so was Sonny, but he could also be completely ruthless at heart. Michael was like his father.

Alexis said she couldn’t believe Drew brought Sam into it, and he asked how many times she’d criticized what he was doing and used Sam. How would Sam feel if she rejected the opportunity to spend time with Scout? Alexis said she hated him, and he said all he was asking was for her to do her job defending an innocent woman. She said that’s why she didn’t want to take the case. He’d do anything to get what he wanted and she refused to be part of it. He said she wouldn’t be dealing with him at all. Willow would call all the shots. She said, fine. She’d take the case. On one condition.

Jordan told Anna that she couldn’t say for sure if Curtis knew, and Anna asked if she thought it was possible Portia didn’t want the baby. Jordan said she had no idea, but it could definitely be the reason she was keeping the pregnancy a secret. Portia was doing what she wanted and not thinking about Curtis’s feelings. Should she?

Kai told Curtis that he liked the work and made great contacts who would consider him for a job after graduation, but it wouldn’t happen if he quit. Curtis said, then stay. He wouldn’t be a hypocrite. A lot of people hated their bosses (truth!), and if he could create a brighter future, why not stay and learn what he could. But be sure to maintain his own sense of right and wrong while he does it.

Ronnie said she tried to get along with Tracy, but from the minute they met in the crypt, where she was trying to say goodbye to her sister, Tracy had been a complete witch to her. In her letters, Monica had said Tracy was mellowing over time, but if this was an improvement, she couldn’t imagine. When Monica sent her letters, she was so impressed with the life her sister had made for herself. A big house, a loving family, she thought Monica had it so damn good, but coming here and meeting Tracy and seeing her in action, she pitied Monica. She would rather be dead broke and sleeping in the streets that put up with Tracy’s nasty insults and temper tantrums. Tracy asked if everybody was just going to stand around and let Ronnie speak to her like that, and Olivia said it was Ronnie’s house. Ronnie said Tracy treated her like someone who snuck in to steal the silver. All she ever wanted was to find out more about Monica. She had no expectations when she came there other than to share stories about her sister, who she avoided most of her life because she stupidly let her angry teenage self, with her whole 16 years of life, determine how the rest of her life was going to go. For that, Tracy attacked her every time she could. Brook was kind to organize this party for her, and it meant a lot. She thanked Brook for that, but Brook’s grandmother had used her kindness to humiliate her. Tracy wasn’t just vindictive, but she was spiteful and cruel. She wasn’t putting up with it anymore. Get out of her house and don’t come back.

Trina asked if Anna would mind her talking to Jordan, and Anna said, of course (🍷) not. She left, and Trina asked if her dad told Jordan that he was getting a divorce. Jordan said, he did. She was sorry. She knew it was hard for Trina. Trina said it was, but they still loved each other. She thought they could work things out, but it couldn’t happen if Jordan didn’t keep her distance from Trina’s dad. Jordan said she and Trina’s dad had known each other a long time, and Trina said she knew, but Jordan needed to give her mom and dad the space to realize they still had so much that tied them together.

Anna sat down across from Josslyn, who said, please sit. Anna said, so Josslyn was a WSB agent, and Josslyn nearly choked on her drink. She said that conversation is not for the Brown Dog, and Anna said Josslyn needed to tell her one thing. When she was at the Five Poppies, did she hear anyone mention the name Cesar Faison? If Josslyn did, she needed to know. Josslyn said she couldn’t tell Anna that information. She wasn’t WSB anymore. Anna said no one knew Faison better than she did. If he was somehow involved in any of this, the situation was going to get very dangerous. Not just for Josslyn, but for a lot of people. Make no mistake, Josslyn was going to need her.

Isaiah asked if that was a yes to going away this weekend, and Portia said she’d absolutely love to spend time alone with him. It would give them a chance to talk about everything going on between them.

Curtis told Kai that Drew would do everything in his power to exonerate Willow. Don’t let Drew drag him into anything illegal, and if Kai needed anything, call him.

Lulu told Lucas that Michael was raised by Sonny and seen Sonny do whatever it took to get what he wanted. It had to have an effect on who Michael was as a person. Lucas said he wasn’t a fan of Sonny’s, but Carly and Monica countered his influence, and Lulu said she hoped he was right. The last thing Michael said was that he hoped Willow never saw her kids again. He seemed to justify anything he did as long as he thought he was acting in the children’s best interest. Lucas said, if that was true, heaven help the kids. Willow was the exact same way.

Alexis said she’d represent Willow if Drew lifted the restraining orders on her, Molly, Kristina, Rocco, and Danny, but Drew said, not Danny. Alexis said Scout missed her brother. She had the right to see Sam’s kids. He said Willow needed a great lawyer and he could ask another one. He would not have that hit man’s son anywhere near his daughter. She said Danny wasn’t Jason. It was ridiculous to pretend he was. Drew said he didn’t care, and Alexis asked, what the hell was wrong with him? How could he be horrible to Sam’s kid? He said it wasn’t his kid, and she said he was a petty little man. He said it was his final offer. Scout could see everyone except Danny. Alexis said she wanted to see Scout tomorrow, and he said, fine, after she met with Willow.

Tracy said Ronnie couldn’t throw her out. They were all okay with this? Olivia said she loved Tracy, but she’d been horrible since day one. Now she drugged Ronnie’s tea. Of course (🍷) Ronnie was throwing her out. She didn’t want Tracy at the MetroCourt either. Tracy said, wow. Thanks for that. She’d been kicked out of the house before, but always made it back. Why? Unlike Ronnie, she was a Quartermaine. Olivia said, don’t start, and Tracy said she couldn’t believe her own family siding with a con artist, whom she did not drug. Brook said she loved Tracy, but Tracy did it to herself, and Tracy told Ronnie that she said it herself. She walked away from Monica. And despite all the correspondence they supposedly shared, Monica didn’t want Ronnie in her life. So didn’t she think they would have met in person if Monica wanted Ronnie in her life? What was cruel was Monica giving this beautiful house to her sister in name only and leaving the woman who spent 45 years with her a jar of relish. Tracy seemed on the edge of crying and said, Ronnie wanted to know about her sister. She was never cruel. Something was very wrong here. This was not Ronnie’s house and would never be her home… but she was going to leave now and she was going to take every framed photograph of her family and every prized possession with her. She’d call for her things in the morning. She left.  

Wednesday:

Lois went to see Sonny and said she hoped he’d show her the same grace as last time. Sonny said, after he found out she’d lied to him and the family for over 20 years.

Josslyn saw Emma outside Bobbie’s and wanted to talk. Emma said it better be good.

At Bobbie’s, Gio told Ronnie that she was the first person to order tomato juice, coconut water, and hot sauce. She said it was the perfect antidote to… a tea party. Brook said breakfast was on her after the stunt Tracy pulled, and Gio asked what Tracy did now.

Tracy woke up on Lulu’s couch and suggested Charlotte and Rocco hit the mute button. Lulu told them, keep it down. Tracy had a rough night.

On the phone, Britt said she was aware she was late. That’s why she was calling. She didn’t know when she’d be in. She’d been detained. Anna let Britt into her office, and Britt said if she lost her job, she was holding Anna responsible, but Anna said that was the least of Britt’s problems and present her with a bill for the manpower and resources used involving her supposed death.

Nathan went to Jack’s office and Jack asked where he’d been for the past seven years.

Steinmauer. Valentin was brought into the visiting area and sat across from a woman. He said when they told him that his lawyer was there, he didn’t expect her. Carly – in a dark wig and glasses – said, Barbara Saunders. She was asked to review his case and recent developments may result in his early release.

Lois said she couldn’t change what she did, but wanted to right as many wrongs as she could. So was Sonny going to invite her in or ask her to kick rocks? Sonny told her to come in and they hugged.

Josslyn said she heard Emma got her job with Dalton. She wasn’t looking to work for him, but Emma shouldn’t be either. Emma said he hadn’t tried anything, and Josslyn said, not yet. He wasn’t the average creep. He was a lot more dangerous than Emma thought and Emma needed to trust her. Emma said Josslyn was the least trustworthy person she knew. Josslyn being unreliable worked in Emma’s favor and she planned on taking full advantage of it.

Ronnie said she’d shared words of wisdom with Tracy, who didn’t take kindly to them, and Gio said he wished he’d been there. Brook said he didn’t, and Ronnie said Tracy accused her of being drunk and she knew she wasn’t drunk, but knew something was off. It hit her that her tea had been spiked. Gio said, Tracy drugged her? and Ronnie said, uh-huh.

Lulu said Tracy was staying a little while, and Charlotte asked, how long? Tracy said it was open-ended. She’d been kicked out. Charlotte stifled a laugh and wondered why, and Lulu said Tracy was a guest and they’d treat her as such. Rocco said he needed help with his French homework, and he and Charlotte went upstairs. Tracy asked if they didn’t go to school, but Lulu said it was an in-service day and they were off. Before Tracy settled in and sent out change-of-address cards, they needed to get a few things straight.

Carly said she’d like to speak to her client alone, but the guard said they needed eyeballs on the inmate all the time. Carly said her client had the right to privacy in this situation and asked if she needed to elevate the matter. The guard left, and Valentin said her credentials must be unimpeachable. She said she had help from a friend, and he said, Jack could have gotten her in with no pretense… unless she was keeping the meeting from him. Why?

Jack told Nathan that they had footage of him getting off an exit before the accident. He’d been on the phone, but no phone was found on him or in the car. Nathan said he didn’t remember, and Jack said there had been a ping from a burner phone before the accident and it was likely from the phone he’d been using. With any luck, they’d find the person he’d been talking to. Nathan asked why he was going through the trouble, and Jack said when someone resurfaced who was presumed dead, it warranted investigation, especially if it was the son of Cesar Faison.

Lois said sitting on the boardwalk in Atlantic City with Brook was one of the best days of her life, and Sonny asked if it was the first time they’d been alone. Lois nodded and he asked if they’d spoken since. She said, no. She’d never ask him for help with that, but needed help with repairing Brook’s relationship with her son. Gio was pushing away and she had to make that right.

Brook said she thought Tracy saw the tea as a chance to show that Ronnie didn’t belong, and Gio said it wasn’t just bad. It was illegal and dangerous. Ronnie thanked him for his concern, but said she was okay today and more than got back at Tracy. She evicted her. Gio said he didn’t expect that, and Brook said, neither did her grandmother. Gio said it was good to set boundaries. If you didn’t, people walked all over you.

On the deck, Rocco said he’d lied to get Charlotte away from Tracy, and Charlotte said Tracy couldn’t just order them around. He said he knew Tracy was a lot, but she could be nice, and she was just kicked out. Be easier on her.

Lulu said Tracy was welcome to stay as long as she needed to, but Charlotte and Rocco were teenagers. That meant they were loud. Tracy said she lived with Rocco and Danny. She knew their ways. Lulu said, not in quarters this close. If she couldn’t deal with their ways, it was best she found someplace else. Tracy said she wouldn’t have to deal with their ways if Ronnie Bard hadn’t gotten loaded and convinced the entire family that she was to blame.

Josslyn asked what Emma meant by taking advantage, but Emma said it was none of her business. She was done talking. Josslyn grabbed her arm and said she knew she’d screwed Emma over and it was fine that she was mad. But don’t let herself get in deeper. She wouldn’t hurt Josslyn, but she’d hurt herself. Trust her when she said Emma didn’t want to be near what Dalton was doing. Emma asked what made her so sure Dalton was bad, and Josslyn flashed back to talking to Jack. Her phone rang, and she told Emma, don’t say I didn’t warn you, and left.

Valentin asked what the state of Carly and Jack’s relationship was, and Carly said, as far as Jack was concerned, she was knee deep work and wouldn’t see him for a few days. He said, Sonny and Jason wouldn’t be happy. She must have a very good reason to see him.

Britt said told Anna that she couldn’t afford it. It was ridiculous. Was it even legal? Anna said Acting DA Turner could find a way to make it legal, or she could feed the bill to the shredder and forget about it. Britt asked how much the memory lapse would cost, and Anna said, who helped fake her death? What was she doing at the Five Poppies and who was in charge? She needed every detail.

Sonny told Lois that Gio had moved in with him and had a job at Bobbie’s, and she said knowing Gio was there made her happy. By any chance did he get a new violin? Sonny shook his head, and she said, what about school? He said, Gio didn’t want to go right now. He was figuring out who he was and what he wanted minus the input of the people who loved him and wished him well. She said she understood why he wanted her and Gloria out of his life, but music was a big part of who he was. It was a gift from Camilla. He said, Gio associated it with the lies he’d been told his whole life, and she said she couldn’t stand it. Gio was giving up something he loved, and her daughter couldn’t have a relationship with her son. The two people she loved most were hurting because of her.

Emma told Gio that Josslyn tried to convince her to quit working for Dalton, and Gio wondered if she had a good reason. Emma said she thought Josslyn wanted her job back. They’d put Dalton on the back burner for too long and it was time to show the world who he really was.

Ronnie told Brook that her son was a good kid, but Brook said she couldn’t take credit. Ronnie said Gio mentioned he’d just found out she and Dante were his parents, and Brook said, they all did, and it came out in the most traumatic way, driving a mile wide wedge between them. They were hoping if they gave Gio some space, he’d come back, but at this point, she didn’t know if he would ever let her be a part of his life.

Nathan said his mother left her past behind and Faison was dead, and Jack said so were Nathan and his sister. He got Nathan’s brain scans and there was nothing there. No trauma or lesions. Nothing that would impair his memory from the time of his supposed death until he woke up in the hospital. Nathan asked if Jack was calling him a liar, and Jack said they had reason to believe Cesar Faison’s syndicate was still in operation. Now was the time for Nathan to tell him if he was involved.

Valentin told Carly that he was content living abroad in relative peace, when Jack tried to shoot him three feet from his daughter. Carly was collateral damage when he’d tried to kill Jack and if Jack was around her daughter, she wasn’t safe. Carly said she planned on destroying Jack Brennan and asked if he wanted to help.

Nathan asked if Jack thought he was part of a syndicate run by a dead man, but Jack said he didn’t know who was running it. He’d exchange full immunity for answers, but if Nathan declined, he would charge Nathan with the same crime – conspiracy to commit murder, attempted murder, and treason. How would his son feel about that? Nathan said he just met his son for the first time and lost seven years of his life. Faison was a criminal who’d threatened the mother of his son and shot him. Faison was no father to him. Ask Anna. Unlike Jack, Anna knew him and would tell Jack that he’d help if he could. He was glad he met Jack because now he knew who Jack was. Jack could threaten him all he liked, but don’t push him around.

Britt said the Five Poppies was out of Anna’s jurisdiction. Anna had no right to question her about something that happened thousands of miles away. Anna said she did if it affected the safety of the people there, and Britt asked if she had evidence connecting it… She didn’t think so. It was time for Anna to let go of her delusion of being an international agent and accept the fact she’d been demoted. Anna said the reason Britt was there was because she sent Jason. He’d assumed Britt was in Croatia because she was going to die and he was willing to let her live out her last days as she saw fit. She told him that the WSB was looking at the Five Poppies and that suggested Britt’s presence wasn’t voluntary. So Jason went to rescue Britt. She wasn’t trying to take Britt down. She was trying to help her.

Lulu asked if Tracy was saying Ronnie framed her. Admit she spiked Ronnie’s drink. Tracy said she didn’t. This was the second time she’d been accused of drugging someone. Where did people think she got this stuff? Lulu said people knew she was resourceful. Was she saying it was someone else? Tracy said Ronnie over imbibed, and she was an easy scapegoat, and Lulu said Tracy had set her sights on taking Ronnie down since she came to town and had her investigate Ronnie. Ronnie lived a quiet, law-abiding life. Tracy said she didn’t believe it, and Lulu asked why she was so convinced otherwise. Tracy said she knew Monica as well as she knew herself. There was no way Monica would give Ronnie a doghouse much less the family estate. That woman was hiding something and she knew it.

Charlotte admitted that maybe she was harsh. She was jetlagged and the visit with her dad was weird. Rocco asked if she meant bad weird, but she said, just weird weird. It was good seeing him, but in a huge creepy prison, it was hard. Rocco said maybe he’d get out on good behavior, and Charlotte asked how dinner with his other family was. He said, good. Liesl and Nathan were cool. She said, what about Britt? and he said she was hard to read, but he thought she cared about her mother and brother. She asked if he noticed anything off, but he said he didn’t know Britt well enough. Why? She said when she was with her dad, he asked her to pass along a message to him. He said Rocco shouldn’t trust Britt.

Valentin said now Carly saw Jack as the son of a bitch he was. What changed her mind? Obviously, Jack had done something to one of her children. She asked what he’d do if Jack recruited his daughter, and he said he wouldn’t rest until Jack was six feet under. How long had Josslyn been a WSB operative? Carly said she thought eight months, but didn’t know how Jack lured her in, and he said there were two kinds of recruits. Those who were interested and those who had to be convinced, exploited. Those prospects were vulnerable and there was leverage – money, a misguided sense of patriotism, a personal tragedy they wanted to avenge. She said Josslyn’s boyfriend Dex was murdered, and he asked if the murderer was found. She said it was Cyrus Renault who disappeared. Josslyn left town afterward. He asked if she thought Jack possibly had something to do with it.

Lois told Sonny that she kept the secret, but could have told Brook before everyone found out and given her a chance at a real relationship with her son. Sonny said she could have also given the family a chance, and she said she was happy Gio let Sonny be a part of his life. Sonny said he thought she was leaving the past in the past and moving forward, and she said that’s what she was trying to do, but needed his help. Gio needed to stop blaming Brook. He needed to know it was all on her, but he wouldn’t talk to her. She needed Sonny to get them in the same room. He said, even if she talked to Gio, it was no guarantee it would change anything.

Ronnie said she thought Gio was trying to make sense of his part in the family, and Brook said she didn’t know why he wanted to be part of the family. He knew the Quartermaines were a bunch of liars, and now he thought they’d drug your tea too. Ronnie said, what’s a family without a little dysfunction? and Brook said, that was a generous take. Ronnie said Tracy wasn’t the only Quartermaine. The rest had been so lovely since she walked in the door, including Gio, who had an open invitation to come back. The problem was, finding a way to draw him back in. Brook said she thought she may have that covered.

Emma said she thought the master key would get them in the lab, and Gio said it would have if Dalton hadn’t taken extra security measures. Between that and her grandma trying to stop them, they were up against it. She said she thought they were in luck. Her grandma had been distracted and was busy. Now what the best chance they were going to get.

Tracy told Lulu than Monica never mentioned her sister, but as soon as she died, Ronnie showed up with letters as evidence. Lulu asked if she didn’t have them looked at by a handwriting expert, and Tracy said, they could be wrong. She was getting a second opinion. She had been closer to Monica for the last two years than anyone and Michael was the center of Monica’s universe. There was no way she’d disinherit him in favor of a sister she hadn’t spoken to in a decade. The will was a forgery. Charlotte wondered what a moving truck was doing pulling into their driveway.

Britt said she didn’t need rescuing, and Anna said the evidence suggested otherwise. Britt said she’d been working in a lab on developing an exfoliant scrub, but Anna said she didn’t think they’d use a bomb to cover up a spa treatment. Britt said it was a competitive market, and Anna said they forgot to add the toxicity screening. That ran up Britt’s bill by 10K, but she’d settle for Britt telling her who she was working for. Britt flashed back to finding her meds with the note signed C, and said, that Eurocreep Pascal, but Anna said, he was the middleman. Who did he answer to? It wasn’t Cesar Faison, was it? Was her father still alive and running the Five Poppies?

Jack showed Josslyn the video of him talking to Nathan, and Josslyn asked if he thought Nathan knew something. He said, didn’t she? and she said she hardly knew Nathan, but heard he was a total Boy Scout. She didn’t think he’d do anything connected to Faison. He said, so he should take Nathan’s memory loss at face value? And she said, look at Jason, but he said, Jason’s answers were less convenient than Nathan’s.

Valentin said he assumed Josslyn felt vulnerable after Dex’s death, and Carly said, she was devastated. She told herself that Josslyn was lost in a personal vendetta, when all the time, Jack used it as a test to recruit her. Valentin said, maybe Jack pointed her in Cyrus’s direction to see how far she was willing to go and she figured it out. Carly wondered if Josslyn murdered Cyrus, but Valentin said maybe she tracked Cyrus down on her own and it was part of Jack enticing her to be a recruit. Jack couldn’t resist, especially if Josslyn finished the job herself. Carly asked if he was telling her that the man she’d been falling in love with turned her daughter into a killer.

Sonny said Lois needed to live with the possibility that things may never be the same with Gio and Brook, but she said she had to try. She was begging him to please help her make this right.

Gio asked Emma to promise that whatever they did, they did it together, and she said, obviously. She needed him for back-up. He said he preferred being her partner in crime, and they kissed.

Brook smiled, and Ronnie said she was guessing that lovely young woman was part of Brook’s plan. Brook said Emma rescued Outback. Dogs weren’t allowed in the stable, but she told Emma that Outback could stay since she figured Emma would come visit. Ronnie said, and Gio would come with her. Not bad. She guessed that Brook was Tracy’s good granddaughter.

Gio’s phone rang, and he told Emma that it was Sonny. Sonny told him that he needed to come back to the house when he got off work, and Gio asked if everything was okay. Sonny said Lois was there and it was important that Gio see her.

Lulu said, everyone knew how much Monica loved Michael. Edward left him a fortune, and she didn’t need to demonstrate her love with more money. Maybe she felt Ronnie needed both. Charlotte and Rocco brought in two big boxes, and Lulu asked what was in them. Tracy said a few items she rescued from the house, and Lulu looked out the window. She said, a few? There was a giant moving truck parked in her driveway.

Britt said she was tired of hearing that name. That man had been a blight on her entire life. Her mother was obsessed with him and ignored her. Now she might lose the only good thing she had going in her life – her job – because Anna dragged her in. She hated to disappoint Anna, but her psycho ex had nothing to do with the Five Poppies and he was dead. She answered Anna’s questions and wasn’t paying the bill. Anna could burn it or bill her, but she just wanted to move on with her life. Anna said Britt thought she was protecting herself by staying silent, but she was making herself vulnerable, and Britt said she was done. She had to see if she still had a job. Thanks for nothing. She left.  

Josslyn told Jack that she was at the Brown Dog with a friend and Anna was there. Anna made a point of interrogating her about the Five Poppies and Cesar Faison came up more than once. Jack said Anna was probably jumping at shadows. However, she did know Faison better than anyone else and they couldn’t discount that. Two of Faison’s dead children showed up in Port Charles alive while they were investigating his last project. That wasn’t a coincidence. They were connected somehow.

Valentin said maybe Jack stepped in and took care of the rest, but Carly said Josslyn was a participant in Cyrus’s death. She may not be able to get Josslyn out, but she could get Jack out of Josslyn’s life before she did something worse or he got her killed. Valentin said they couldn’t do it alone, but together they had a chance. They had the one thing that could destroy Jack. Carly asked, what? and he said, her. She was the only one Jack trusted. Anyone else he’d spot from a mile away. He’d never see it coming. She asked what she was supposed to do, and he said, the first thing was to make Jack think she loved him more than anything or anyone in the world.

Thursday:

Chase saw Michael in the steam room and asked if he saw the headlines in the Port Charles Press. The article said other suspects might be at large. Did Michael really believe Willow was capable of shooting Drew?

Cody went to the main house and introduced himself to Ronnie. She said she had to tell him that she always had a weakness for cowboys. (Nice nod to OLTL.)

Brook knocked at Lulu’s door, and Tracy opened it. Tracy told Brook that she had nothing to say to her, and slammed the door in her face.

Gio went to Sonny’s house, and Lois said she was hoping he would come. He said he almost didn’t.

At Bobbie’s, Martin told Drew that the press did a good job casting reasonable doubt on Willow. He’d do whatever possible to find her a good attorney. Drew said there was no need. He took care of it.

Willow saw Alexis in the visiting room at Pentenville and asked if Scout was okay. Alexis said she was there for Willow. She was Willow’s new attorney.

Jacinda met Kristina outside Bobbie’s and said her agency told her that Kristina requested a meeting. Kristina said she didn’t want to pry, but was going to. What did Jacinda have going on with her brother? Jacinda asked, why? and Kristina said she was concerned. She loved her brother, and he’d been through the ringer. He’d had a difficult recovery, and his ex had told the court that he’d abandoned his children. He might appear to have it all together, but deep down, he had a big heart and had been hurt badly. She was worried that he and Jacinda were getting more serious and moving too quickly.

Chase insisted Willow wasn’t a murderer, and Michael said he didn’t think they should get into this. Chase said he knew Michael and Willow had problems, but it had gone too far. An innocent woman had been arrested. Michael said Chase didn’t know Willow as well as he thought he did.

Alexis said Willow deserved the truth. Drew didn’t leaved her a choice.

Drew said Alexis agreed to defend Willow on one condition, that she be able to see Scout, and Martin said he was glad it worked out. He’d talk to the judge about lifting the restraining order. Drew said he still needed the restraining orders as leverage. He wouldn’t enforce them unless he felt Alexis wasn’t doing what she could to free Willow. Martin asked, what about the rest of the family? and Drew said, the Davis women, but not Danny or the Quartermaines. Martin said that meant Scout wouldn’t get the privilege of meeting her new great aunt. The Quartermaines had a new relationship to play with – Monica’s long lost sister Ronnie.

Ronnie said Monica had written that she was pleased the family finally found a wonderful head groom, and Cody said she loved the stable, but not every horse was hers. Ronnie said, Tracy made that clear, and Cody said the name of Tracy’s horse was Hades. Ronnie said, hard to handle, bad tempered, and bites, but Hades could stay, and Cody said he heard Tracy moved out. Ronnie said she evicted Tracy, and he said he’d gotten to know Tracy and was sorry to see her go. Ronnie said she thought Tracy would be rough to work for, but if there was another side to Tracy, she’d like to hear it. Cody said Tracy was cold, mean, and thought she was better than everybody else, but she could be extremely generous, loyal to a fault, and would literally do anything for the people she loved, and she loved Ronnie’s sister.

Brook continued to bang on the door and said, open up. She would just get louder. Tracy told her, get in here. What did she think they had to talk about? She didn’t drug Ronnie at the tea party. Brook said that wasn’t why she came, and Tracy said Brook had known Ronnie for an hour and a half and known her for her whole life. Why was Brook taking that hash slinging harridan’s word over hers?

Lois said she wanted to take the chance to clear the air, but Gio said he’d rather move on. She said she wasn’t there to explain anything. She’d heard he took time off from school and wasn’t playing music anymore. He said he was working and figuring stuff out, and she said she was worried about him. He was pushing the things he loved out of his life, like music. Music didn’t betray him and neither did Brook or Dante. The person who betrayed him was her.

Lois said he had every right to be mad at her, but she was asking him to put his anger where it belonged – on her, not Brook or Dante, and especially not on himself. Gio said he wasn’t angry, but she said, of course (🍷) he was. He said he didn’t want to be and he wasn’t mad at himself, and she asked why he was waiting tables. He said there was nothing wrong with it, and she said he should be playing concert halls or even the park. He was so incredibly talented. It would hurt Camilla to know he wasn’t playing music, but it would hurt more knowing it was because of her. He said he was still trying to make sense of his whole life, his childhood, his mom. Nothing was what he’d thought it was. She said she knew it would take time to figure all that out, but he also needed to figure out how Dante and Brook fit into his life as well. She knew he was angry, but Dante didn’t even know, and Brook gave him up because she was so young. She came to her mother for advice, and she was the one who told Brook that he’d be better off – she started to cry – if he was adopted out to a young family. She was with Brook when Brook gave birth, and giving him up for adoption was the greatest sacrifice of her life.

Brook asked Tracy, why not make peace? She wasn’t asking her to apologize for the tea party, but for treating Ronnie like dirt. Tracy said she wouldn’t give Ronnie the satisfaction, but Brook said she’d already lost her mother and grandmother. She didn’t want to lose Tracy too.

Ronnie gave Cody some snacks and said she’d gotten the recipe from her line cook, and Cody said he’d kill for the recipe. She said, tell her more about Monica, and she’d give it to him, and he said he didn’t know her as well as everybody else, but he was told that before Monica and Tracy became close, it was the clash of the titans. In the end, Tracy was Monica’s mouthpiece, bodyguard, and attack dog. She stood up to Drew Cain when Monica couldn’t do it herself. Ronnie asked why she kept hearing that name. Michael had a lot of things to say about Drew, and she was hoping he was exaggerating. Was he really as bad as Michael said? Cody said, if anything, he was much worse.

Martin said Monica left her estate to her long-lost sister, not Michael, and Drew said he didn’t realize Monica had a pattern. She cut him out of her life like she did her sister.

Jacinda told Kristina not to worry about her and Michael, and Kristina said Jacinda came to see him after his grandmother died. Jacinda said she came to offer her condolences. There was nothing serious between them, but she got why Kristina was protective. She’d do the same thing. Kristina offered to get Jacinda coffee, and they went inside. Drew said, if it wasn’t the call girl that was paid to drug him. He bet the police would love to hear about her and Kristina’s meeting of the minds.

Alexis said she agreed to defend Willow because Drew offered her access to Scout, and Willow said she was truly sorry Drew put her in this position. Scout wanted to see her aunt and brothers. Alexis said, her brothers weren’t part of the deal. At least not Danny. Willow said she’d do what she could to help change Drew’s mind about the restraining orders. She also wanted Alexis to defend her because Alexis believed she was innocent, not because she was forced to. Alexis said, coercion or not, she’d defend Willow to the best of her ability. She would listen to Willow and Willow only, but if Willow didn’t want her services, say it now.

Michael said Willow was more traumatized by Dawn of Day than anyone knew. She’d made huge mistakes. Chase asked if he honestly believed she’d shot Drew, and Michael said anything was possible. Chase said there were other suspects, and Michael said, like him. Chase said, yes. Him, his mother, and anyone else who went in and out of the Quartermaine mansion. Michael said, Willow was in and out of the mansion, but Chase said she’d moved out months ago. Michael said they hadn’t changed the locks and she was the one who’d stalked his daughter Daisy.

Lois said, giving up Gio for adoption was the hardest thing his mom ever had to do, and Gio said he thought of Camilla as his mom. Lois said he was right. Sorry. Camilla was his mother and always would be. She’d never take that away from him. He asked why the family wanted something from him that he couldn’t give. He knew Brook and Dante were his biological parents, but they weren’t much more than that. They were people he kind of knew growing up, but it wasn’t like he had a relationship with them and he wasn’t sure he wanted one.

Brook said if Tracy told Ronnie that she was sorry, Ronnie would give her another chance. She knew Tracy was angry at Monica. Tracy said she knew in her bones that Monica didn’t do that, but Brook said, don’t exile herself to make a point. A house could be replaced. She couldn’t.

Drew threatened to tell the police about Michael paying Jacinda for a fake alibi and told Kristina not to mess up the deal he’d made with her mother. Jacinda suggested he watch his step, and he said he could still press charges. She said, do it. She’d love to explain to the police how he was loaded with ketamine and hired her for the evening and night, then got caught. Next time he hired an escort – and there was always a next time – don’t do body shots in a room of people with phones. He said she didn’t want to push him, and raising her voice, she said he got a lawyer to give her $50K to stay in Australia. That wasn’t something you did when you were looking for justice. He said she knew the justice system, having been arrested three times, and she said she had a record. So big deal. He said he paid her good money to stay away, and she asked if it was taxpayer money. He said the next time he saw the police, he was pointing them straight to her.

Willow said if Alexis was willing to help, she accepted, and Alexis told her about the paper suggesting suspects had been overlooked. They had a lot of ground to cover and when she asked questions, she needed Willow to answer honestly. Did she shoot Drew? Willow said, no, and Alexis asked why the weapon was found in her belongings. Willow said, Michael put it there, and Alexis asked why he’d do that. Willow said he was framing her to keep her away from her children. Michael shot Drew, not her.

Chase said that was insane. Willow didn’t stalk Daisy. Michael asked if he remembered the night Daisy was missing, and Chase said she’d been in her bassinet the whole time, but Michael said she hadn’t. And there was the other incident after Daisy was born. There were things that never made sense. She’d been moved from her crib and was facing a different direction and wearing a different onesie. Chase said, Sasha just forgot, but Michael said, she didn’t. Then there was the first incident when Sasha was brought the wrong baby. Willow was there because of her meltdown at the courthouse. Chase asked why Michael didn’t tell him when it was happening, and Michael said he had no proof. Willow likely broke in to terrify him and Sasha. She could have easily gotten her hands on the gun.

Ronnie asked why this guy hated the family, and Cody said, after Drew seduced Willow, Monica turned on him and threw him out. He claimed all he did was fall in love. Ronnie said, with his nephew’s wife? and Cody said, exactly. After that, Drew was out for payback from Monica and the Quartermaine’s, especially Tracy. He was using his political power and money to attack them. She said, that’s a lot, and he said, there’s more. Drew went too far. He had Tracy arrested for drugging him with ketamine. She said, Tracy drugged him too?

Brook said Tracy might consider the possibility of being nicer to Ronnie, and Tracy said she wasn’t apologizing for something she didn’t do. Brook said she was asking Tracy to try and make Ronnie feel welcome, but Tracy said she couldn’t. She knew Monica did not want that woman to have that house. She wasn’t going to pretend otherwise to get along. Brook said Tracy was needlessly rude and now she was camped out in Lulu’s living room. Was that what she wanted? Tracy said if her family turned their backs on her for standing up for Monica’s wishes, so be it. At least she’d know she took a stand.

Lois said she knew Gio’s walls were up and it was all on her, but maybe someday he’d find a way to let the walls come back down. Gio said he needed to get going. He was meeting friends and stuff. Lois said, have fun, and keep his heart open to music and whatever, and he said he got it now. She never meant to hurt him. She was just doing the right thing. She said she still was. All she could do was try. Gio asked how things were with Brook, and she said, not good. He said he was sorry to hear that. He knew how close they used to be. He hoped they got back to that someday. She said, her too, and he left.

Jacinda told Drew, do your worst, and Kristina said, let it go. A public official hired a woman for her time and embarrassed himself. Let’s go. It’s a congressional scandal, nothing special. Outside, she told Jacinda that she had no idea Drew would be in there, but Jacinda said he was just a jerk. No wonder Willow took a shot at him. Kristina asked if she wanted to go somewhere else for coffee or a drink, but Jacinda said she’d take a raincheck. There was something she had to take care of. She left, and Kristina looked inside at Martin and Drew.

Willow said she prayed Drew remembered what happened the night of the shooting, and Alexis said, if he did, she hoped it was for his sake, not Willow’s. Willow asked what she meant, and Alexis said, in this instance, a sudden memory would look suspicious to the court and be exploited by the prosecution. They’ll think he was making it up to exonerate her. Willow said, so if he did remember… and Alexis said, it wouldn’t help her case. She thought she had what she needed, and they’d pick this up tomorrow. Willow thanked her and said she felt a lot better knowing Alexis was fighting for her.

Chase said Michael was being malicious, accusing Willow of stalking a baby. He had no evidence. Michael said that’s why he didn’t file charges, but it showed what Willow was capable of. Chase said, the one most capable of shooting Drew was Michael. He had more access, bigger motive, and the resources to protect himself. Willow was on her own. That was the definition of injustice. Chase walked out.

Cody told Ronnie that he didn’t know what happened at the tea party, but Tracy didn’t drug Drew. He did it to himself and when he got caught partying, he tried to put the blame on Tracy. Tracy had done a lot of things, but she didn’t do that. Ronnie asked if she should give Tracy the benefit of the doubt, and Cody said, if Tracy did drug her and she called Tracy on it, he thought Tracy would say to her face, you’re damn right and I’d do it again. Ronnie said she worked hard to get along with Tracy, and Tracy humiliated her in front of everybody. When she left, Tracy took the family photos and possession and looked like a walking estate sale. The movers left a box, and she had to call them. Cody said he’d run it over, and she thanked him. He said he was happy to help. He had to make himself look good for the new boss. He picked up the box and left.

Brook told Tracy, fine. Sit in Lulu’s house, surrounded by her pride and relics. But before she left, she needed Tracy to know she loved her and that would never change. So call her anytime. She left.

Lois called Brook.

Cody went to see Willow at Pentenville and asked how she was holding up. She said, better now. How were the kids? He said, fine, and she asked if there were any developments in the case, but he said, not yet.

Jacinda thanked Michael for meeting her at the coffee bar, and he said she wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t important. What happened? She said his sister Kristina asked her for coffee and to check on them, and he wondered if she’d asked about anything. Jacinda said, no. She was sweet and very protective of him. That wasn’t the problem. Drew was. He threatened to send the cops after her for drugging him. Michael said, let him. He had no proof. She said she had priors and took money from the congressman to stay out of town. Nothing seemed to touch him. Michael said he couldn’t argue with that. How could he help? She said she needed to disappear – again.

Brook went to Sonny’s, and Lois said, she came. Brook said just because she came didn’t mean she was going to stay.

Alexis met Kristina at Bobbie’s and asked what was going on. Kristina said Drew was there earlier and said the strangest thing. She should check in with Alexis before she ruined the deal. Don’t worry. She didn’t lose her temper. Alexis said she would have understood, but before they got into it, she had to tell Kristina that she was defending Willow.

Chase said he was going to investigate Drew’s shooting as a private citizen until Willow was exonerated, but Willow said, don’t. It would cause nothing but problems. He said she was his friend and he had to help, but she said, not if it cost his job. He said he’d do it on his own time, and she wondered if he’d get into trouble for undermining the DA’s case. He said he had every right and the department couldn’t stop him. She said she didn’t want him to risk his neck, but he said someone had to. A person should not go to prison for a crime they didn’t commit.

Jacinda said she knew Michael was counting on her, but she had to watch her own back, and he said running wasn’t the way to do that. They were each other’s best option, and she should stay put and stick to the original story. It was a terrible alibi, but he thought he had a solution that would work for both of them. He’d pay her to fall in love with him

Cody brought the box to Tracy and asked how she was doing. She said she was living with two teenagers. How did he think? He said she could impart her worldly wisdom on them, but she said what she wanted to impart involved duct tape and chloroform, but Lulu wouldn’t approve. How was Hades? He said, fine. Once this had blown over, she could see for herself. She said she should probably board Hades somewhere else, and he asked what was in the box. She said, Alan’s train set. He would put it out every Christmas for the children, but he was the only one who played with it. She thanked him for bringing it, and he said it wasn’t his idea. Ronnie… She said, do not extol the virtues of St. Ronnie, and he said they weren’t so different. She said she hated him for saying that, and he laughed. He said they were both strong women. Ronnie was just nicer about not letting people push her around.

Ronnie opened the door to find Drew and she said, thank you, but I have a nice relationship with the Lord. He said that’s not why he was there. Did she happen to be Veronica Bard? She said she was. How could she help him? He said the question was, how could he help her?

🫔 Friday’s Enchilada…

Brook asks when Lois got into town, and Lois says, this morning. There were a few things she needed to take care of, and Brook was at the top of her list. Brook says, the last time they saw each other in Atlantic City, they shared a nice moment. Let’s not ruin it. Lois says she knows things are still bad between them, but there’s something Brook needs to know.

Carly walks into the steam room and sees Britt lying on a bench with her eyes closed. Britt says she’d like to have another cucumber water and eucalyptus towel, and Carly wings a towel at her head. Britt sits up and asks what the hell Carly thinks she’s doing. Carly says, teaching her an important lesson – how to share.

Spinelli thanks Jason for meeting him at the Brown Dog Bar, and Jason asks what he needs. Spinelli says he was hoping Jason would be so kind as to impart his parental wisdom, and Jason asks, why? Spinelli says he has the utmost respect for Jason’s relationship with Danny despite their regrettable time apart. They seem close. Jason says, and? and Spinelli says he loves James like is own son, but now that James’s father is back, he fears James may be taken away.

Nathan visits Lulu, and she says she was wondering when she’d finally see him. He says he needs to thank her for saving his life, and they hug.

At Bobbie’s, Kristina says, Alexis is defending Willow after everything she’s done to Michael? and Alexis says, if they want to see Scout, yes. She’s going to defend Willow, and in turn, Drew will drop the restraining orders against them. Kristina says, that’s good news. She’s sick of Drew punishing them all. Alexis says, unfortunately, he’s still punishing one of them, and Kristina asks what she means. Alexis says she doesn’t want to get into details. Scout will be here any minute. But Drew refuses to drop the restraining order against Danny. Kristina asks if Danny knows, but Alexis says she didn’t have the heart to tell him or that theirs have been lifted. Kristina says she doesn’t blame Alexis, and Alexis suggests they cherish their time with Scout… and there she is. Scout walks in and Alexis hugs her and says it’s good to see her.

Jacinda asks if it isn’t suspicious that Michael happened to be with an escort when Drew was shot, and Michael says, it’s a terrible alibi, but he thinks he has a solution that will work for them both. She says she’s listening, and he says he wants to pay her to fall in love with him. She says, to be clear, her time is for rent, but her emotions are not. Maybe he needs to find another alibi.

Ronnie says she’s not into politics, but she knows she’s definitely seen Drew’s face on the news, and Drew says he wishes the reporting was more accurate. He’s doing what he can to right that. How is she settling in? She says, it’s an adjustment, and he says, everybody in the house was born with a silver spoon in their mouth except them. They have more in common than she thinks. She says, really? and he says, give him a chance to prove it to her.

Britt says she got here first. If Carly has a problem with the way she seems, Carly can leave. Carly says she owns the hotel, including the spa and steam bath. She’s not going anywhere. Britt says she gets it. Carly is rich and owns everything. But does she have to remind everyone every five minutes? Carly says she doesn’t want Britt here and can throw her out when she wants, but Britt says she doesn’t think Jason would like it.

Spinelli says, the situation with James’s father is tricky. That’s why he needs Jason’s guidance. He possesses valuable insight into what Nathan is thinking because he’s worn similar shoes. Jason says, when Danny and Jake thought they’d lost him until he came back, and Spinelli says, yeah. And in the wake of his absence, he had to rebuild the relationship with his sons and it’s gone well, right? Jason says he’d like to think so, and Spinelli says, good. That’s what he wants for him and James. He wants them to have an unbreakable bond like Jason has with Danny. What he doesn’t want is for James to be taken away by the father he already has.

Nathan says he’s been meaning to come by and see Lulu. He couldn’t talk at the arraignment because his sister needed him. Lulu says she’s glad he was there for Nina. If Britt got locked up, they could throw away the key. He says he sees her antipathy with his other sister, and she says she’s not going to let Britt ruin the moment. She can’t believe he was the guy in the crashed car. He says he’s grateful, but wishes he knew how he ended up there, and she asks how it is being back. He says, it’s hard not remembering the last seven years of his life. The last he remembers, he and Maxie were married and Maxie was pregnant. Now Maxie is gone and James has grown up. Lulu says, it’s a lot. Maxie has them spinning. He says he just wants to take care of James and make a good life. Get his old job back at the PCPD. Lulu says she wants him to get his job back, but he doesn’t need that to be a good dad to his son. James will love him no matter what. Nathan says he hopes so, but he’s not sure what he’s up against here, and she says she understands better than he thinks.

Scout says it’s been so long since she’s seen them, but Alexis says, it doesn’t matter. All that matters is that they’re together and today is a Davis Girls fun day. Kristina says, except for Aunt Molly. She got stuck at work, but they can video chat with her later. Alexis asks Scout’s nanny if she thinks they can spend time alone, and the nanny says she can keep an eye on things from the counter. Alexis says she’s sure, and the nanny leaves. Alexis says she wanted to make sure to tell Scout how brave she’s been and how proud of Scout she is. She was very brave when her dad was in the hospital. Scout says she’s glad he’s home, but the police made a mistake and took Willow away. Her dad said Alexis was going to help bring her home.

Drew says he’s sure Ronnie got an earful about him and just hopes she doesn’t take what she hears at face value. The Quartermaines don’t take kindly to outsiders like them. He’s been part of the family for a long time and if they can smear his name as easily as they have, imagine what they could do to somebody like her. Ronnie says she doesn’t have to imagine. Tracy says it right to her face. He says, let him guess. Tracy says she’s not good enough to be here and says she’s an opportunist just after the Quartermaine name and fortune. She’s very quick to shame and name call, isn’t she? Ronnie says, Tracy probably just hates everybody, and Drew says she’s probably right. There’s something else they have in common – Monica.

Michael tells Jacinda that he’s sorry. Every word came out wrong. She says she hopes so, and he says he didn’t mean to imply he could buy her feelings. Quite the opposite. He really liked her the night they met. That’s why he wanted to buy her a drink. He had no idea she was… She says, that she was an escort? and he tells her that he was going to say he had no idea she was the woman involved in Drew’s ketamine scandal. Now she’s involved in something a hell of a lot bigger. If they want a believable alibi, they need to find a way to have a real relationship, something other people believe because they believe it themselves. She asks if he thinks people would believe a man like him fell for a woman like her, and he says, why wouldn’t they? She’s smart, beautiful, and magnetic. No one would be surprised that he’d be with her. The real question is, why would someone like her be with someone like him? She says, maybe because he’s sexy, intelligent, and successful, and he says, they sound pretty great and pretty believable as a couple. She says, who is she to argue? and takes out her phone. He asks what she’s doing, and she says, taking a selfie. If people are going to buy this, they need to leave a social media trail. She takes the photo.

Brook asks why Lois is at Uncle Sonny’s, and Lois says, Sonny graciously let her use this place to take care of a few things. Gio was just here. Brook asks, why? and Lois says she was giving him a gentle nudge toward her and Dante. Brook says she wishes Lois hadn’t done that, and Lois says she knows. It’s her butting in again, but she had to try. Brook says she didn’t have to do anything, but she chose to anyway, and Lois says she doesn’t want to argue. She doesn’t want to leave the country with them in a bad place. Brook asks why she’s leaving the country, and Lois says, an opportunity fell into her lap and if she takes it, she’ll be leaving the country.

Lois says, because she was with L&B Records and Miguel Morez, somebody reached out and offered her a job as tour manager, and Brook says she’s happy for her. She’s a great tour manager. Lois says she didn’t expect Brook to tell her that, but it may not even happen. Not without Brook’s blessing. Brook asks what she means, and Lois says it’s for Brook’s client, Blaze. Brook says, right. Blaze finished opening for Miguel. Lois says, Blaze did such a great job, she made an even bigger name for herself. She gained so many new fans that Miguel’s people want to capitalize on it and send her on a tour all of her own. They asked her to manage it, but she’s not taking the opportunity away from Brook. So it’s her call.

Alexis says she promises to do everything in her power to help Willow, and Scout says, good. She likes Willow and hopes Willow marries her dad for real one day. Kristina says she wants to know how Scout is doing. The last time they talked, Scout was trying out for the swim team. How did it go? Scout says she made the team, and Alexis applauds. Scout says her first meet is next Tuesday, and Alexis promises she’ll be there. Kristina says she’ll be right next to Alexis, and they’ll be cheering Scout on. Danny and Rocco come in, and Scout hugs Danny. The nanny’s beady eyes watch them.  

Drew tells Ronnie that Monica was the person who welcomed him into the family. She didn’t know anything about him, but as soon as she found out he was Alan’s son, that was all she needed. He’ll always be deeply grateful for her being there during the toughest time of his life. Ronnie says, that sounds like her sister, but not from personal experience. They were not close. He says, they weren’t very close either, at least during the last year. They’d had a serious falling out. He made some mistakes and was trying to fix them, but because Tracy interfered, Monica wouldn’t even give him a chance. He wishes he’d had the opportunity to deal with it before she died. It’s painful to have to live with for the rest of his life. He’s sure that’s something Ronnie knows all about too.

Michael tells Jacinda that Willow has been charged with Drew’s shooting, but he’s still on the suspect list. He’s much, much higher than her, so he needs her a whole lot more than she needs him. She says, true, but he gets points for being honest, and he says he’ll always be honest with her. It’s the only way to make this thing work, if they have trust, and he needs her to trust him. She says, because? and he says, if they want it to work and for people to believe them, she needs to get a different job.

Outside Bobbie’s, Danny says, whatever he did, he’s sorry, but Alexis says he didn’t do anything. Drew did. Danny asks why Drew can’t just leave them alone? and Alexis says, because he’s an ass. He agreed to lift the restraining orders on all of them, except he kept Danny’s in place. Danny asks if that means everyone can see Scout except him, and she says, yes, but it’s not going to last long. She’s going to fix it. She hates this so much, but in the meantime, they need Scout to spend time with the rest of them to balance the bad influence Drew has. Rocco says, everyone but Danny, and Alexis says she knows it’s not fair, but at the moment, they need to go by Drew’s rules. It’s unconscionable, she knows, but she’s going to take care of it. Danny says he knows she will. She always does.

Drew tells Ronnie, sorry. He’s texting his daughter’s nanny. Ronnie says, that’s fine. She can certainly see how he’d made his life in politics after the speech he gave her. He clearly has a way with words. He says he was just telling the truth. He loved Monica. That didn’t stop because they weren’t speaking. She says, one thing she knows about Monica, once she made up her mind about you, it was really hard to break through. Anyway, she’s glad they had the chance to chat. He says him too, and she says she’s sorry, but she can’t shake the feeling he came to her with an ulterior motive. He says he wouldn’t call it an ulterior motive, but there was something else he was hoping to talk to her about.

Jacinda tells Michael that she’s not saying he’s wrong. Her continuing work as an escort will give people a reason to doubt their relationship, but not having an income is not an option. She has bills to pay. He says he totally gets that, but he can get her a job that pays well, and who knows? Maybe she’ll like it more than the place she’s at right now. She says he’s going to a lot of trouble to make this work. That makes her think he has something pretty serious to cover up. She wasn’t actually with him that night, so she has no idea what he did or didn’t do. He says he didn’t shoot Drew, but he did come dangerously close. He was mad that night and drove over to confront Drew, but then he got out of his car, and it hit him. What Drew was going to do was escalate things. That’s what he always does. Nothing good would come of it and he decided to move forward, for him and for his kids, and leave Willow, Drew, and all that behind. Jacinda says, every time he talks about his kids, he lights up. She can tell how much he loves them. You’re a complicated man, Michael Corinthos, but underneath it all, you’re a good guy. He says he really wants to be, and she says, by the way, she does. He says, does what? and she says, believes him about not shooting his uncle.

Lulu tells Nathan, for her, it felt like a good night’s sleep, but for everyone else, four years had passed. Her little boy and girl were teenagers, her father was dead, and so was her Aunt Bobbie. She felt like she was living in another world, an alternate universe. Nathan says he’s really sorry, and she says, yeah, so is she. He says, that stuff messes with your head, right? and she says, it’s hard to explain the anxiety, the questions, the displacement, the guilt. Dante had to raise Rocco, and her daughter went with her father, so she knows all too well what he’s going through. He says he guesses she does. He has so much guilt about Maxie. She might be the only one who can walk him through it.

Spinelli tells Jason, before Maxie was transferred to the hospital in Boston, he promised to keep the family together and James is an integral part of the family. He needs to play this exactly right. Jason says he doesn’t know Nathan too well, but everybody thinks he’s a good guy. He’s sure Nathan will respect everyone’s feelings when he gets to know his son. Spinelli says, he’s right. Nathan is a good guy. That’s why Maxie… loved him. He was arguably the love of her life, and Nathan made it clear he still loves her. Jason says, stop. He has to stop. That was the past. Maxie loves him and James has plenty of room in his life for him and Nathan. Spinelli thanks Jason for saying that. He doesn’t want to lose James.

Carly says, funny. Britt acts like she wants as little to do with Jason as possible, yet she finds a way to drop his name in every conversation they have. Britt says, exaggerate much? and Carly says she and Jason have been best friends for a very long time. She’s in his life and that’s not going to change. Jason wouldn’t care at all if she threw Britt out of the hotel. He’s seen her be way pettier and never blinked an eye. Britt says she gets why Carly would brag about that, and Carly says she tells it like it is. Britt says Carly talks a big game, but she knows it’s driving Carly crazy that Jason flew all the way to Croatia to find her. How hard did Carly try to convince him not to go after her? She’s sure it made Carly mad that he didn’t listen, and she knows Carly is upset that Jason still can’t stop thinking about her after all this time.

Brook tells Lois that she has a lot going on right now. Gio, Chase’s job, Monica’s estate is in limbo. She could never take on a position like that, even if it was offered to her. Lois says, Brook has a lot on her plate, and Brook says she usually does. Blaze just lost her mother. Even though she and Natalia didn’t have the best relationship, she can understand why Blaze would want maternal energy around right now. Things aren’t great between her and Lois, but she trusts that Blaze will be in great hands. Lois says, that means… and Brook says, take the job. Lois has her blessing. Lois thanks her and says, that means a lot. Brook asks when she’s leaving, and Lois says, today.  

Michael says it’s likely both he and Jacinda will be called to testify at Willow’s trial. So there can’t be a traceable money trail between them. She’ll still get paid a sizeable amount, just under the table. Jacinda says, that’s fine, and Michael says, good. She needs to have a reason that she left her last job. He’ll cover her expenses, and she’ll need a legit title and position. She asks what kind of job he has in mind. Does it come with health insurance?

Alexis comes back and asks, who’s ready to order? and Scout asks, where are her brothers? Alexis says she’s sorry. They had somewhere to go. They wanted to stay and said to tell her how much they love her. Kristina says, Scout hardly saw them. They didn’t get to talk.

Drew says he loves that Monica left Ronnie the estate. Keeping the house in the family is a great way to preserve Monica’s legacy. He also understands Port Charles is not her home and she might have a life she wants to get back to. If that’s the case, he’d love the opportunity to make and offer on his family’s home. If that’s what she decides, he hopes he’s her first call. Danny and Rocco come in, and Danny tells Drew, get the hell out of our house.

Carly says she’s not surprised Jason can’t stop thinking about Britt. He’s loyal to a fault, even to the people who lie to his face. Or did she tell him what she was really up to in Croatia? Britt says, who’s asking? Carly or her WSB agent boyfriend, Jack Brennan? Carly says she doesn’t do Jack’s dirty work, and Britt says, just Jason’s. Carly says she and Jason have been through things Britt can’t even imagine. Once again, the reason alludes her for Jason putting himself on the line for Britt. Why not do something to justify his faith in her, like be a decent person? Britt says she really misses the Five Poppies spa. It was so much quieter. Carly says, then she should go back… Unless she can’t.

Spinelli tells Jason that the other day, he tried to hint that what James needs is routine and consistency in his life. In other words, James should stay with him and James’s sister, but Nathan mistook that and thought he meant that James needed him to consistently be a hands-on father. Jason tells him, all he can say is, when he came back to town, he saw Sam and Dante had built a blended family and Danny loved being a part of that family. He didn’t want to disrupt that, so who knows? Maybe Nathan will feel the same way. Spinelli says, even so, things changed with Danny and Jason is with him full-time, and Jason says, only because Sam died. Spinelli says, that’s exactly his point. What if the worst happens and Maxie doesn’t make it? What happens to his family then?

Nathan tells Lulu that he can’t stop wondering if things had been different, if he’d never left, would Maxie feel the same? Maybe to him it didn’t feel like seven years had gone by, but they had. Maybe in all that time, she fell out of love with him. Lulu says, no. Maxie never stopped loving him. She was devastated when he died and mourned for a really long time. Then she moved on with her life. In true Maxie style, she made big mistakes along the way. Nathan says he heard about it from Nina, and Lulu says, Maxie never would have gotten involved with Peter August if she hadn’t been spinning out over losing him. It took years for Maxie and Spinelli to reconnect. She loves Spinelli and he worships Maxie, but she truly thinks Nathan was the love of Maxie’s life. And when Maxie wakes up – and she will wake up – she’s going to be stunned, then thrilled that he’s alive. But if he’s wondering if Maxie will choose him or Spinelli when she comes back to him, only Maxie has the answer to that.

Lois says she’s flying to Seoul later today, and Brook says, that makes sense. Blaze has a lot of fans there. How long is the tour? Lois says, TBD. She’s adding new dates all the time. It’s part of the job description. Brook says she’s sorry. She knows things aren’t great, but she hates to think that Lois won’t be here and waiting when she’s finally ready. Lois says she’ll always be there for Brook. It doesn’t matter how long they’ve gone without speaking – days, weeks, months, God forbid years – the second Brook needs her, she’ll drop everything and come running. Lois starts to cry and says, Brook is her heart, beating outside her chest. She always has been. Brook starts to cry too, and says she needs Lois, every single day, a thousand times a day. Not an hour goes by that she doesn’t wish she could call Lois, but something in her isn’t ready to move on from this. Lois says, don’t feel bad about the way she feels. She kept a secret from Brook that wasn’t hers to keep. She swears she’s learned from her mistake. She just hopes she gets the chance to prove it to Brook someday.

Scout asks if she can come over for a sleepover, and Alexis says she’d love that, but they’d have to ask her dad. The nanny says, it’s time to go. Scout’s dad wants her home. Kristina says, they haven’t even ordered, but Alexis says, that’s okay. They’ll see each other soon. Scout says, okay. She loves them. Alexis hugs her and says she loves Scout too. She’ll see Scout at the swim meet. Kristina says, they’ll be the ones cheering the loudest, and hugs Scout. The nanny says, let’s go, and she leaves with Scout. Kristina says, what the hell was that? and Alexis suggests they not make a scene. She’s sure Drew’s little spy called and told him that Danny was here. Then their time with Scout was over before it got started.

Drew says he was just here to talk to Ronnie about adult business. It doesn’t concern Danny either. Danny says, it does. He lives there. Drew isn’t even allowed on the grounds. How did he get past the front gate? Drew says, Ronnie decides who gets to be here now, and Ronnie says, okay. Let’s just cool it, okay? She and the congressman were just having a chat, but Danny is obviously upset about something. Maybe they could discuss it and work out some kind of understanding. Rocco says, she doesn’t know Drew like they do. He’s a bad guy. He’s been keeping their sister away from them and still won’t let Danny see her. Drew says, it’s a long story, and Danny says, Drew filed restraining orders against Scout’s entire family to keep them from seeing her. Ronnie says she doesn’t understand that. The way he was talking, he seemed like someone who really values family. Why is he keeping his daughter away from hers? Drew says, Danny put Scout in danger. He kidnapped her… Danny says, that’s a lie. He was bringing her home. The doorbell rings, and Ronnie says she’ll get it. When she’s gone, Drew says he’s just about had it. They’re both entitled little punks that don’t know when to shut up. It’s time that they get something straight.

Lois opens the door, and Brook says, ma, and goes to her. They hug and cry, and Lois says, hey. When Brook was growing up it was them against the world. She hopes they’ll be that way again someday. She loves Brook so very much. Brook says she knows. Safe travels. Lois says, okay, and leaves. Brook watches as she walks away from the house.  

Nathan thanks Lulu for what she said about Maxie. Most people say if she wakes up, but Lulu said when. It helps. Lulu says she can be this confident because it happened to her. She fought her way back. Maxie is a fighter, like they are, and Maxie is going to come back for James, like she came back for Charlotte and Rocco. Nathan says he hasn’t met Charlotte yet, but Rocco’s a great kid. He’s smart, interesting, and polite. She thanks him and says she thinks so too. When did they see each other? Nathan says, they had dinner last night, and she says, him and Rocco? He says, him, Rocco, his mom, and Britt.

Jason says, Spinelli has to stay strong and positive for Maxie and the kids, and Spinelli says, he’s right. Jason says he knows how hard it is on him. If there’s anything he can do to help… Spinelli says, actually, he could talk to Nathan. Tell Nathan his story and that he knows what it’s like to want to reconnect with his son, but he held back and took it slow for Danny’s sake. Convince him it’s the right thing to do in this situation. Jason says he doesn’t know why Nathan would listen to him. He barely knows the guy. Spinelli says, Jason did save his sister’s life. That should give him an in. Jason says, okay. If it will make Spinelli feel better, he’s happy to do it. But Nathan’s not a dumb guy. He may think Spinelli sent him and think Spinelli is trying to keep him away from James. Spinelli says that should have occurred to him, and Jason says, so why not be more direct? Why not invite him over and let him see James as part of a big loving family? Then he’ll see with his own eyes how happy James is. Make Nathan a partner in parenting. Spinelli says, it’s not only wise, but surprisingly full of heart. Perhaps Jason is becoming less stone cold and a little more warm and fuzzy. Jason just looks at him, and Spinelli says, or not. They get up, and Spinelli almost hugs Jason, but Jason is like, no. Spinelli says he’ll let Jason know how it goes leaves.

Carly says they all know Britt is hiding something. Between her, Jason, and Jack, they’ll figure out her dirty little secret. Britt flashes back to the note that came with her medication, and says, this place sucks. It doesn’t even have a cold plunge. She leaves.

Kristina says, what if Drew thinks they had it planned to have Danny show up and takes Scout away from them again? and Alexis says she’ll have to make sure he knows it was a coincidence – and it was, by the way. Kristina asks, what if he doesn’t believe her? but Alexis says, Drew wants Willow acquitted and knows she’s the best person to do that. But if she fails, he’ll keep Scout away from them for good. Kristina says, if anyone can get Willow free, she can, and Alexis says, the problem is, if Willow claims she’s innocent, she has to give the jury someone else to find guilty. Kristina says, please tell her that she’s not trying to pin Drew’s shooting on Michael.

Jacinda tells Michael that she has one stipulation. She doesn’t want the job to just be her cover. She wants to actually do the job, learn something new. She’s a hard worker. Who knows? Maybe this will be her next career. Michael says, don’t worry. She’ll have full autonomy. He doesn’t want to micromanage her. He wants her to succeed here. She says, good. Then she’s in. He says, okay, and holds out his hand, but she says, please. They want this to be convincing. He says, done, and they kiss.

Drew says, Scout’s nanny told him what Danny did. He showed up at Bobbie’s earlier while Scout was there. That cannot happen again. Danny says, or what? It doesn’t matter how many restraining orders he hits them with. They’re seeing their sister. He can’t watch her every second of the day. She’s not his prisoner. Rocco says, Scout is smart and she loves them. He can’t keep them away without making her hate him. Drew says he doesn’t want to play these games with them. If he feels Scout isn’t safe here in Port Charles, he will take her and relocate to DC. How often do they think she’ll see them then? In the meantime, he’s going to have both delinquents arrested and thrown in jail, just like Danny’s dad and just like Rocco’s Uncle Lucky. Ronnie brings in Laura, who says, I beg your pardon. I believe you’re out of your depth now. You have a much bigger problem than my grandson and his brother. You’ve got me.

On Monday, Curtis says, Jordan isn’t the reason his marriage is over; Trina asks if she’s interrupting Isaiah and Portia; Kristina tells Sonny that he might not be so happy when he hears what she has to say; and Drew says, all Ronnie had to do is name her price.

🧼 All the Soap News Fit To Print…

This doesn’t surprise me one bit, and she’s blowing up on Instagram.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/general-hospital-star-scarlett-spears-donna-will-star-as-young-glinda-in-wicked-sequel/

Failed retirement looks good on her.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/why-failed-retiree-jane-elliot-is-thrilled-with-her-general-hospital-resurgence-as-tracy/

At first, I was leaning toward him actually being Faison, but now I’m not so sure. I don’t think evil twin, but it’s not unheard of.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/is-nathan-really-back-on-general-hospital-fans-weigh-in-on-his-mysterious-return/

Daytime Emmy stuff.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/the-52nd-annual-daytime-emmy-awards-the-complete-winners-list-as-it-happens-live/

https://ew.com/daytime-emmy-awards-2025-winners-list-11831588

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/photos/daytime-emmys-2025-inside-the-winners-circle-with-stars-of-general-hospital-young-and-restless-and-more/

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/photos/the-2025-daytime-emmy-awards-what-you-didnt-see-behind-the-scenes-during-and-after-the-ceremony/

💉 A Dose Of Reality…

Below Deck

The captain told Nathan that he had some people who didn’t get it, and in Nathan’s interview, he said he’d given them the benefit of the doubt first charter, but now it was looking like a joke. Primary Grant wanted something to eat at some ungodly hour and Aesha stepped in, suggesting fries. Of course, he insisted on truffle being added, but by the time they were served, he wasn’t hungry anymore. He wasn’t belligerent or even demanding, but he was idiotic and insensitive to the fact that the crew members were human. After being told no swimming, guest Jack also tumbled, or rather bounced, into the water while drunk. The guests did leave a $20K tip, $1818 each, which kinda, sorta made up for a charter of idiots. Looks like a deckhand might be headed for walking the plank though.

Real Housewives Of Salt Lake City

The Below Deck trip was planned, but Heather said she couldn’t enjoy herself on a superyacht. They were savages. Lisa was annoyed that she couldn’t bring her glam squad and tried talking smack about Angie to Heather, but Ozempic Face wasn’t having it. Heather told Meredith that Lisa was never going to own it and apologize, but Meredith preferred giving Lisa the benefit of the doubt. Todd suggested Bronwyn stop getting in the gutter and rolling around in the slime. She assumed she’d be fighting with Lisa and was setting herself up for it. Whatever happened was on her.

Housewives Wife Swap

This is what reality TV should be about – learning how other people live who aren’t you. Angie from RHOSLC swapped with Lindsay, a wife living off the grid. In the 24-hour period when the swapped wives play by their rules, Mary showed up when Lindsay was demonstrating how to gut a fish. Seeing Mary’s face was priceless and was one of the many moments that made it worth watching.

Real Housewives Of Orange County

These women should always stay high. Gina and Fancy Pants did mushrooms and romped through fields of tulips, while Shannon tried her hand at riding a plaster horse. Gina was mesmerized by clogs with flowers in them! While there weren’t any knockdown drag outs, there was plenty of behind the back gossip, which I find tedious since it’s always rehashing the same stuff over and over. In Gretchen’s interview, she said if Tamra hadn’t changed when she accepted Jesus, what made them think she’d changed now? Good point. I could see why Tony Geary moved to Amsterdam. It looks amazing and so much fun – the markets! the canals! the flowers – weed included!

Random Reality Items

I smell desperation.

Tease is right. There’s not much to see there.

Yikes. It’s so creepy that people do this.

Looks promising. I was totally surprised when I realized how much I like this show. Those who can’t do watch it on TV.

Getting some Lala.

👀 Last Weekend’s Watch…

The Perfect Neighbor. Netflix. A documentary about someone who is very far from being the perfect neighbor. When the entire neighborhood hates you, they can’t all be wrong. Racist and antagonistic, Susan Lorincz is a neighbor you don’t want to have, constantly berating the neighborhood children for being children. Hand to God, I had a downstairs neighbor like that when I lived in an apartment, and I wouldn’t wish that on anyone. Lorincz takes things too far, fatally shooting a mother of four through a locked door and then using Florida’s Stand Your Ground law as a defense.

https://www.eonline.com/news/1424110/the-perfect-neighbor-what-happened-to-susan-lorincz-ajike-owens

I Know What You Did Last Summer (2025). Netflix. The reviews weren’t good, but I didn’t hate it. It is what it is. A slasher film with all the tropes. There was a more complex plot than the original, which only led to unanswered questions, but does it really matter? This is the kind of mindless film where you just kick back with your popcorn and not think too hard. Probably the best thing about it was the inclusion of actors from the original film and an amusing fantasy sequence with one of them.

https://decider.com/2025/10/17/i-know-what-you-did-last-summer-2025-digital-streaming-movie-review

https://www.splicetoday.com/moving-pictures/i-know-what-you-did-last-summer-ages-gracelessly

🔮 Watch Of the (Near) Future…

Genius casting!

https://ew.com/wicked-for-good-casts-colman-domingo-cowardly-lion-11832887

Airing November 6th, 8 pm on NBC, streaming on Peacock the following day.

https://ew.com/first-look-at-cynthia-erivo-ariana-grande-in-wicked-for-good-tv-special-exclusive-11834430

It’s almost here.

https://ew.com/welcome-to-derry-on-set-it-prequel-tracing-pennywise-origins-exclusive-11830263

👠 Over At the Frankenstein Place…

I can’t wait to read his memoir.

https://www.aol.com/lifestyle/tim-curry-makes-rare-appearance-045437579.html

🐝 Time To Buzz Off…

One of those good things that will be coming to an end.

https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/yellowjackets-ending-season-4

🎃 Halloween Watch…

Obviously, best and scariest are a matter of opinion, but there are some good ones here.

https://ew.com/best-halloween-movies-streaming-11832026

https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/scariest-movies-of-all-time

🐈‍⬛ Casting a Spell On You…

🍄 Omg, the mushroom Pug.

🗽 These costumes make me feel guilty for not being more ambitious.

https://nypost.com/2025/10/19/us-news/costumed-canines-strut-stuff-at-nycs-halloween-dog-parade/

https://hyperallergic.com/1050567/the-goodest-boys-of-nyc-halloween-dog-parade-2025/

🐕 And of course, ways to keep your pets safe.

🦉 Quotes of the Week

I don’t want to pinch your bubble. – Jasmine Pineda, 90 Day Fiancé: Happily Ever After?

You can waste your lives drawing lines. Or you can live your life crossing them. – Shonda Rhimes

A good character is the best tombstone. Carve your name on hearts, not on marble. – Charles Spurgeon

Whatever you are, be a good one. – William Makepeace Thackeray

The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don’t have any. – Alice Walker

The road to success is always under construction. – Lily Tomlin

Leaders who win the respect of others are the ones who deliver more than they promise, not the ones who promise more than they can deliver.Mark A. Clement

No man can tell whether he is rich or poor by turning to his ledger. It is the heart that makes a man rich. He is rich according to what he is, not according to what he has. – Henry Ward Beecher

We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty. – Maya Angelou

Success is defined as the ability to go from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm. – Unknown

You can never leave footprints that last if you are always walking on tiptoe.Leymah Gbowee

We’re married now. My hell is her hell. – Mike Biggs (Billy Gardell), Mike & Molly

🪄 Magic In the Night…

Until next week, stay safe; stay keeping your pets out of the mix on Halloween; and stay not doing body shots in a room full of people with phones if you hire an escort.