Tag Archives: Yellowjackets

February 7, 2025 – GH Weekdays, Cyrus Finds a New Target, Soap Suds, This Week’s Reality, Weekend Watch, Rebirth, Coming Soon(ish), Nixed, Wins, Two Different Bowls, A Half-Dozen Quotes & Dust

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What I Watched Today

(The whole GH enchilada & entertainment minutiae on Fridays)

General Hospital

Monday:

Laura told Jordan that Sidwell was charming and cordial and was going to be a big problem for her and the city. Elizabeth and Lucky discovered a Turning Woods patient who had dementia, but was otherwise healthy, had died of heart attack. Lulu said Dante owed her no explanations and he told her about Anna not letting him near Sam’s case.

Laura was worried about Lucky going after Sidwell and told Jordan that Anna thought Sidwell was behind the fire. At the Surf Lodge, Maxie gave Emma advice on living with Anna, but when Sasha came in, she told Emma to find another table. Alexis told Sonny that nothing helped, but pain helped fuel her rage of injustice over Sam’s death.

Trina asked for Curtis’s help in talking to Kai, and Kai told his friend/ teammate Quinn that he wouldn’t be coming back. Lulu apologized to Dante for what she did in Prague and for seeming ungrateful for Sam’s sacrifice. She said he could talk to her about anything. He said he felt badly about not being home much in the weeks before Sam died, and Lulu said it was because he’d been by her bedside. Laura told Lucky about Sidwell being in Port Charles, and Jordan told Isaiah. Emma eavesdropped on Maxie and Sasha. Maxie said some people thought Jason was Sasha’s baby daddy.

Kai asked Quinn to step up because he could lead. Brook met with Lois and said the last thing Dante needed was to find out he’d fathered a child in high school. She wondered if the child even knew they were adopted. Dante told Lulu about proposing to Sam. Sonny said he was there for Alexis, and they hugged.

Sasha wondered why people couldn’t just leave her alone to live her own damn life, and it was no one’s business but hers who the father was. Emma told Gio about what she’d overheard, and Quinn blamed Trina for splitting Kai’s focus. Curtis told Kai his story and said Kai had to live his. He was never going to know if he could fully recover unless he went through the process. Lulu said she was happy Dante had a love like Sam, and he said he didn’t blame her for anything.

Trina told Quinn to check himself. Looking for something to blame wasn’t going to help Kai, and maybe he was the one giving up. Kai said everything he’d planned for was gone and Curtis said Kai’s bravery against the defensive blitz told him who Kai was as a person, and it extended beyond the field. Laura asked what Alexis knew about Sidwell, who showed up at the MetroCourt. Jordan introduced herself and asked what brought him to Port Charles and what he planned to do there. Elizabeth asked Lucky what it was like to be Sidwell’s prisoner, and he said, it was hell.

Curtis suggested Kai accept help and Kai said he couldn’t face the disappointment of his family. Curtis said, focus on healing his body and mind, and Kai said Curtis had given him a lot to think about. Curtis left his number and Kai texted Trina to come by. Emma wanted to tell Anna that Jason was the baby’s dad and Gio had a bad feeling. Maxie said, the more Sasha stonewalled, the more people would talk, but Sasha said she owed no one any explanations. Laura filled Alexis in on Sidwell and said Anna had opened an investigation about Sam. Sidwell told Jordan that he was an importer of gems and rare earths. He knew how to find things of value. Lulu said she got why she couldn’t be the person Dante turned to right now, but if that changed, he knew where to find her.

Tuesday:

NuJack (Pfft! He looks like Nathan Lane and has no accent – very disappointing) and Carly took a private plane back to Port Charles. Anna called Josslyn into her office. Drew got busy with Willow after jumping the fence to get to the gatehouse, and he said nothing could keep him from seeing her. Cody continued to pay off his debt to Selina and she told him she had a proposition for him. Lucky told Elizabeth that he’d stopped Jason from killing Sidwell in Somalia, and Isaiah went to the MetroCourt and saw Sidwell with Jordan. He asked if Sidwell was back to kill him personally. Brook set up a table at the MetroCourt for a Deception meeting.

Sidwell said he and Isaiah had an unfortunate misunderstanding while working together, but Isaiah said, it was no misunderstanding, and Sidwell had sent someone to kill him in Port Charles. Jordan said Isaiah was interrupting and Isaiah told her about Lucky being held prisoner. Lucy came over, having sensed tension, and asked if they all couldn’t get along. Drew said he and Willow shouldn’t have to jump through hoops to see each other, and Willow said everyone was just biting their tongues, but she didn’t want to cause more pain. Selina said she was setting up a high stakes poker game and wanted Cody to play with house money. She would also cancel his remaining debt. He asked for a cut of the winnings and reminded her that Mac was his father. She said anything could be negotiated and his discretion would be honored. He said he’d think about it. Lucky told Elizabeth that Jason killing Sidwell would have been purely about revenge, and he didn’t want to carry that burden. Anna told Josslyn about Dex and Sam being murdered, and that Dex had listed only Josslyn as family. Josslyn asked if Anna said they suspected Cyrus. Collette called Jack on the plane and said there was something he needed to see when he got back.

Lucky told Elizabeth about the poker game and how it had unlocked something in Sidwell, who became fixated on beating him. He’d been infuriated that Isaiah escaped, and when Lucky lost, he would die. Anna told Josslyn that they didn’t have proof, but Portia had banned Cyrus from the hospital. She knew Josslyn wanted justice, but to get it, they’d need evidence. Willow told Drew that she wanted to make things work. The kids adored Monica and this was their home. She also still cared about Michael and thought this would help his recovery, but the toughest person to deal with had been Sasha. Even though she was pregnant by a random guy, Willow felt constantly judged. Drew left, but forgot his tie on the couch. Sasha met Felicia at the MetroCourt, and Isaiah told Jordan, whatever money Sidwell brought in was blood money. Jordan told him to handle the conflict on his own time. Lucy joined the Deception meeting, and Jordan asked what Isaiah’s issue was with Sidwell.

Sidwell said that Isaiah had been his personal physician, but didn’t like the conditions and departed. He wanted to buy Jordan dinner to make up for interruption, and she said, call her office. He left and she texted Isaiah to meet her. Brook told Tracy that Natalia and Sonny went to LA to handle financing. The sales had dropped because of Lois losing her accent. Drew went to see Selina and asked about her previous association with Curtis. He asked if she was a silent partner in the club. She said she could provide interesting insight, providing their exchange was mutually beneficial. Cody came back and asked if Drew got lost helping blind orphans, Seeing Drew there confirmed that Drew was exactly who Cody thought he was.

Lucky told Elizabeth it had been like his dad was guiding him during the poker game, and Elizabeth had helped him too. Josslyn told Anna that she’d volunteered at Turning Woods and Cyrus had everyone there fooled. Anna told her that she was interfering with the investigation and don’t go back. Carly visited Willow, bearing gifts for the kids from Germany. She told Willow that Michael started treatment and wanted the kids to know he loved them. He also wanted to thank Willow. Willow asked if Carly wanted tea and Carly said she did, but when Willow went to the kitchen, Carly found Drew’s tie sticking out of the couch cushion.  

Selina said it was none of Cody’s business, and Drew said he was addressing a constituent’s concern. Cody asked if Willow knew and said Drew and his brother were alike. Drew was sleeping with his nephew’s wife and Jason got Sasha pregnant. Selina told Cody to get out and had her bodyguard escort him.  

Collette showed Jack a cabin where Cyrus had been hiding out, but she hadn’t wanted to go inside without his authorization. Josslyn told Anna that she’d do whatever it took to stop Cyrus and get justice for Dex, but Anna said, the more Josslyn entangled herself in the investigation, the more likely Cyrus was to get away. They needed proof and he already knew he was being watched. If he found out, he’d cover his tracks. She told Josslyn to let the PCPD take it from there. Jordan met Isaiah at the Surf Lodge. He said Sidwell was dangerous and hired assassins to take out those who crossed him.

Lucky told Elizabeth that he’d been close to escaping, but guards caught him and worked him over. He thought it was the end, then he saw her, and she told him that he shouldn’t quit. He should get up off the floor and fight. Jordan said, it was like Sidwell’s crimes had never happened, and Isaiah said it was because he’d committed them in war torn regions where there were no laws. She said she was going to spend time with Sidwell and find evidence to put him away. She’d had experience going undercover and Sidwell was interested in her, so she’d take the opportunity. When Willow came back, Carly was gone, and so was Drew’s tie. Drew went to the MetroCourt to meet with Anna, who had a wish list from the PCPD for federal support. Drew said he’d be happy to suggest funding as long as organized crime was the top priority – i.e. arresting Sonny and Jason. Carly came in and called out Drew for leaving his tie while he was having sex with Michael’s wife.

Jack said they’d tail Cyrus, and Collette asked if he wasn’t curious about the cabin. She wanted to insure their special project wasn’t put at risk. He said it wasn’t their objective to catch a killer, but to see what action Josslyn would take if she found the cabin. Lucky said, Elizabeth had gotten him through a lot, and she said she was glad, but she couldn’t be anybody’s angel. He said he just needed her to be her. He told her about a song he’d heard on a jukebox in Mogadishu that reminded him of dancing with her at Luke’s. He played it on his phone, and they danced.

Isaiah said he thought Jordan liked the rush better than pushing papers, and she said she’d need his help. He’d have to stay away from her because Sidwell couldn’t know about their connection. He said, no way in hell was he staying clear of her. Their connection would also go undercover. Willow left a message for Michael, saying, the kids loved him and talked about him all the time. They couldn’t wait for him to get home.

To add insult to injury, Carly said she’d bought the tie for Drew and found it in the couch. He wanted to talk privately, but she said, no. His nephew was fighting for his life while Drew was sleeping with his wife on property he’d been banned from. She wanted everyone to know he was pathetic. He wasn’t half the man Jason was. Drew said the joke was on her. Jason had knocked up Sasha – the family cook. Wow. He’s outdone himself at being an ass on so many levels.

Wednesday:

Brad confronted Cyrus at the hospital. He said Cyrus was trying to convince the world he was a changed man, but was considered a danger to the patients. Josslyn convinced the custodian at Turning Woods to let her in Cyrus’s room. Willow told Nina about Carly disappearing on her. At the MetroCourt, Sasha told Drew to make a disaster of his own and Willow’s life, but leave her and her baby out of it.

Ric told Elizabeth that she was back to work immediately. Carly told Drew that he had no right to get involved with Sasha’s private life. Tracy said she was going to warn Willow that if it Drew showed up again, she’d be out on the street without her children, but Brook said she’d convince Willow to do what was best for everyone. Anna told Drew that it was inappropriate for him to influence a case against Sonny and Jason. Kristina wanted to wait to tell Danny that Sam was murdered, but Alexis said if he found out from someone else, they risked losing him. Cody told Molly that he was sorry to hear about Sam and that he and Sam were kindred spirits, and she took Danny to see Alexis. Cody told Dante that he should be there for Danny since Danny’s dad was worthless, when Sasha walked in.

Brook told Willow about what happened at the MetroCourt and asked what she was thinking. Lucy said she didn’t see it coming that Jason was Sasha’s baby daddy, but didn’t hate it. She loved spectacles when she wasn’t at the center of them. Drew asked to talk to Maxie. Lucky asked Ric to find out Cyrus’s parole terms and Elizabeth said it would be a personal favor to her, so he agreed – on the house. At the hospital, Lucas told Carly that Jack had been there as his patient and asked if she was dating him. She said, maybe, and he asked if she’d slept with him, but she said they hadn’t crossed that line yet. Valentin had tried to kill Jack, and she’d saved his life. Sasha asked where Cody got off telling everyone Jason was the father and Cody asked if he wasn’t. Josslyn searched Cyrus’s room and noticed a pressed flower in his Bible. The custodian came back, and she said she found what she was looking for.

Sasha said it was none of Cody’s business and asked where he got the idea. He said after seeing them at the boathouse, and she told him to let it go. Brook asked, why wave a red flag at Tracy? and Willow said this was her home, but it was an easy fix, and asked to move back in with Nina. Drew asked Maxie to share her opinion, and she said she felt sorry for Michael. She didn’t think it was cool for him to pull Sasha into the drama. He said he needed a mother’s advice. Lucy pumped Felicia for information, and Lulu asked Anna where Jack was. Lucas said Carly didn’t want to be with somebody who didn’t tell her the truth.

After Ric left, Lucky said, if they got specifics, he could find a way to get Cyrus busted, and Elizabeth said he meant frame Cyrus. Tracy said everything was Sasha’s call. She could fight and would with Tracy’s support. Brook told Willow to take a step back and that Drew was the problem. When she got involved with him, her life fell apart. Nina suggested Willow take some time alone to figure out the direction of her life. Drew asked Maxie to speak to a decorator about his new house. She said he sounded like a great dad, and she’d help him. Anna suggested Lulu call Jack’s office. Lulu said she already had with no luck, but she’d get Carly to intervene. She asked if Anna had heard anything about Charlotte.

Tracy said every woman had the right to live life on their own terms and she’d do her best to watch out for Sasha. Sasha needed to have a game plan. Nina said Willow could stay with her as long as she needed, but Brook said that wasn’t the agreement. Willow said she didn’t care. Anna said she didn’t know where Charlotte was and neither did the WSB. Lulu said Jack was lying because of some spy reason and a lot of people would be sorry when she got her daughter back. Carly said Jack wasn’t like Sonny, but Lucas told her to walk away while she could. It was Jack’s literal job to keep secrets, and she shouldn’t make the same mistake twice. Elizabeth said Cyrus needed to be stopped no matter what. If they had to frame him, so be it. Cyrus noticed his Bible had been touched and the pressed flower was moved.

Thursday:

Brad asked to leave early, and Portia said okay, but Curtis wondered what was up with that. Brad showed off his muscles, and Lucas said, whatever training program he was on was clearly working. Jack met with Josslyn at Bobbie’s, and she said that she was going to prove Cyrus killed Dex. Lois went to see Martin and told him that she really needed a lawyer. Willow told Nina that deep down, she knew Brook was right. She shouldn’t have been in the gatehouse with Drew. Alexis told Danny that the authorities believed his mom’s death wasn’t an accident.

Brook blamed herself for Willow leaving. Willow said when Drew left, all she could think about was Michael, and Nina said the accident robbed her of closure. She could now focus on her next steps. Then like a bad penny, Drew showed up. Portia told Curtis that Stella seemed to like Brad, so she was willing to give him a second chance, and Curtis thought it was time for him to have a chat with Brad. Josslyn told Jack about getting into Cyrus’s apartment, but not finding anything. He said that might indicate Cyrus had a second location. While Rocco listened in, Dante asked Chase who the person of interest was, but Chase wasn’t talking. Alexis told Danny that the police and hospital believed Sam was murdered.

Molly said, Sam wasn’t the only victim, but it was being kept quiet to not alert suspects. Chase made Dante promise not to do anything reckless and told him the suspect was Cyrus. Jack said, even the best criminal left a trail and evidence would surface, and Josslyn asked him not to tell her mom, when Carly and Lucas walked in. Gio told Brook not to blame herself for the actions of others. Tracy showed up and Brook told her it didn’t go as planned. Tracy said it was time to call the lawyers.

Curtis asked if Brad was still working with Selina, but Brad said they’d cut all ties. He would never do anything to jeopardize Portia and Terry’s faith in him. Carly and Jack shared a table, and he asked her not to tell Josslyn about them. Lois told Martin that Brook had a baby with Dante and she needed to make sure no one found out. Danny agreed Scout shouldn’t know about Sam being murdered and asked if his dad knew. Chase said, circumstantial evidence pointed to Cyrus, but Dante said it made no sense. Tracy interrupted and asked Chase and Dante to check for security flaws on the property, and Rocco snuck away. Nina said Drew had put Willow in a position to lose her children, and suggested he move to DC, but he said he’d take Willow and the kids with him. Nina said if he wanted a fight, she was ready to oblige.

Alexis said it wasn’t their job to get involved in the investigation. When Danny left, Alexis said she found it unsettling that he’d brought up his father. Lucas said it looked like Jack and Carly were getting close, and Josslyn said, as long as it wasn’t Sonny, she was on board. She asked if Lucas had ever heard of Austin Gatlin-Holt. Lois told Martin that the baby had been placed with a member of her extended family, but Brook didn’t know. (Is it Gio???) She asked if Brook could find out, when Tracy knocked at the door. She asked why Lois was there.

Stella told Curtis that she believed Brad had turned a corner. Brad asked if Curtis knew about their arrangement, but Portia said, no and don’t tell him. Josslyn said Austin had testified for Cyrus at his parole hearing, and Lucas told her to stay out of it. Lois told Tracy that she’d heard what happened with Willow and that was why she was seeing Martin. Martin said the deal wasn’t legally binding and the blame lay with Tracy. Lois suggested they leave. Brook told Chase and Dante that Willow moved out. Nina told Drew that Willow still cared about Michael and Willow told Drew it was a mistake for them to meet at the gatehouse. She was still processing the end of her marriage. Drew said it would be unfair to deny their feelings, but they were free to be together since it had been made public – if that’s what she wanted.

Willow said of course (🍷) she did. They kissed and Nina saw them. Alexis was worried that Jason would seek vengeance, and Kristina said, some people didn’t look at vengeance the way Alexis did. Rocco talked with Danny and told him that Cyrus was a suspect. When Carly took a call, Josslyn asked Jack to help her find out if Austin had leased or bought a place nearby. Nina called Carly and said they had to end a problem once and for all. After seeing Tracy to her car, Lois came back to see Martin again. He said there were two ways the truth could come out. If the child came of age and requested their birth certificate… Lois said there was no way they knew they were adopted, and he said, also, if Brook met with whoever handled the adoption and asked to meet her child. Lois said it would blow his world apart, and Martin asked if she was in contact with them. She said, Brook’s son was her grandson Gio. (Ha! I was right.)  

Friday’s Enchilada:

Lulu thanks Laura for meeting her at Bobbie’s and Laura says she’s always happy to meet her beautiful daughter, but what’s so urgent? Lulu says she met with Jack Brennan, and she has news, and Laura asks if Charlotte and Valentin have been found. Lulu says, no. Valentin surfaced briefly in Germany, but disappeared before they could track him. Jack wouldn’t give her any other details. Laura says, of course (🍷) not. It’s Jack and it’s classified. Lulu says she’s got to find Charlotte soon. She knows something bad will happen if she’s with Valentin. Laura says she’ll do what she can, but Lulu says, there may be another path she can follow.

Carly brings a folder to Lucas at the hospital because he left it at home, and he says he’s glad she didn’t come to him for dating advice. He sticks by his assessment that dating a spy is a bad proposition. She says she has more important things to deal with than taking the time to point out Lucas’s questionable taste in men. Nina called and wants to see her. She needs him to convince her that it’s not a good idea to work with Nina.

Nina gives Maxie two tickets to the NYC Winter Fashion Formal and tells her that she can take who she wants. Maxie asks what Nina wants, and Nina asks what she means. Maxie says, Nina only gives her stuff when she wants something, but Nina says, that’s not true. Maxie says, Nina gave her Chanel boots when she wanted Maxie to get a million Christmas gifts for Wiley, and Nina says, fine. She needs help. It might sound crazy, but she needs advice on how to convince Carly to work with her. Maxie asks what she wants to work on, and Nina says, breaking up Drew and Willow.

Willow tells Elizabeth, happy first day back, and hugs her. She says, the doctors and nurses missed her and every one of her patients asked about her. Elizabeth says, it feels good to be back and be missed more than she should admit. Portia joins them and welcomes Elizabeth back. Elizabeth says, it’s good to be back, and Portia asks to speak to her before her shift. Portia heads for her office and Elizabeth makes a face at Willow.

At the Grill, Sidwell thanks Drew for meeting him, even if he’s interrupting Drew’s breakfast. Drew says he’s happy for the company and to welcome a new constituent to Port Charles, and Sidwell says, this constituent doesn’t want to waste more of his time than necessary, so he’ll get to it. Drew may not know, but he imports rare gems from around the world. One of the reasons he chose Port Charles was the pending development of the esplanade. He asks what the status is on its progress, and Drew says, unfortunately, it’s being held off because of environmental concerns. Sidwell says, forgive him for being blunt, but did Sonny Corinthos have anything to do with the delay?

At a hospital in Los Angeles, Sonny says he doesn’t like waiting, and Natalia says, it shouldn’t be much longer. Sonny says he owes her for coming to California with him, and she says she was just thinking, how is Sonny going to pay her back?  

Jordan asks if Anna remembers the microdot recorders she bought for the department, and Anna says, they’ve used them successfully already. Jordan says she needs to borrow one, and Anna asks, who will be wearing the device? Jordan says she will.

In her office, Portia says, as Co-Chief of Staff, she wanted to apologize to Elizabeth for suspending her, and Elizabeth thanks her for saying that. She admits it was a relief, and Portia says she never believed Elizabeth would harm her patients. Elizabeth says she knows Portia had to follow protocol, and Portia says she did, but she hated it. As much as she’s not a fan of Ric’s, in watching him fight for Elizabeth, she never realized he was such a good lawyer. He didn’t give the hospital lawyer half a chance and she came to win. Elizabeth says she’s grateful for everything Ric’s done for her, and wonders if she’s allowed to ask the status of the hospital investigation. Portia says, Elizabeth can, but she doesn’t have any new information. Everything they had on the three, almost four, deaths was turned over to the police. It’s officially a criminal investigation. Elizabeth asks if she’s sure it was only three, and Portia says, they had the lab techs go over all the deaths in the last few months and didn’t find any others. Elizabeth says, that’s good to hear. Does Portia know if the police have a suspect? Portia says she hasn’t touched base with them, but prays they catch whoever is responsible, so they don’t destroy any more lives.

Nina says, it’s ridiculous for Drew to be sneaking in behind everyone’s backs, but Maxie says, Willow is an adult. Even if they think her choices are stupid, she has the right to make them. Besides, she doesn’t think Drew would do something to hurt her. Nina says, sorry. She didn’t realize Maxie was a fan of Drew’s. Maxie says, she’s neutral. She’s Switzerland. Nina asks how she can be when Drew’s over-the-top romantic gestures and horrible advice drive Willow to make disastrous decisions? Like moving out of the gatehouse and back in with her. Maxie says she thought Nina would be happy having Willow and the kids living with her, and Nina says, of course (🍷) she wants them with her, but if the entire Quartermaine security staff can’t keep Drew and Willow apart, how can she? Maxie says, she probably can’t, and Nina says, if Drew didn’t live in a hotel room, he’d probably have Willow and the kids move in with him, and that would be a disaster… What’s wrong? Maxie says she has the feeling Drew won’t be in the hotel much longer, and Nina says, because…? Maxie says, because he’s in escrow on a new house… and she told him that she would help him find a decorator. Nina says, Drew is buying a new house and Maxie is helping him with it?

Lucas asks why Carly is considering working with Nina, and Carly says, to break up Willow and Drew. Drew wants to keep Willow to himself, and his schemes are so obvious, even Nina noticed. Jason brokered a living arrangement with Willow and the Quartermaines, and Drew blew it up. He asks, how? and Carly says she visited Willow at the gatehouse and when Willow went to the kitchen, she saw a tie she’d given Drew sticking out of the couch. Part of the arrangement was that Drew wasn’t allowed on the property, and he snuck in like they were star-crossed lovers. Of course (🍷) she loudly confronted him in public at the MetroCourt. He says, of course (🍷). He guesses it didn’t go well. She says, it was a disaster, and Lucas says he can’t talk about being on the moral high ground. He lit into Willow at Christmas, and it was a disaster. Ava had to talk him down. She says, clearly, they’re people who act first and think later, and he says, maybe it’s time they learn from their mistakes.

Natalia asks if Sonny is worried about what the doctor is going to tell him, but Sonny says he tries not to think about it. He hopes it’s not serious, but right now he has to focus on finding who put the firebomb in the penthouse.

Lulu says, it occurred to her to search in a different way, and Laura says, how so? Lulu says she and Rocco were talking about how Charlotte loved riding, and she knows Valentin let Charlotte have a phone. So she started following popular equestrians on social media. It’s a longshot, but she might find a follower with an account that belongs to Charlotte. Laura says, so her focus has changed from where Valentin could be to where Charlotte would want to go, and Lulu says she’s also looking at the best stables and riding facilities in Europe. Valentin wants Charlotte to be happy, so maybe he’ll let her take lessons. Laura says, it sounds promising. She might get a real lead. Laura’s phone rings, and she says, tell her that she got a meeting with Congressman Quartermaine… Ugh. Okay… They’re saying they think he’s there now?… Good job. She thanks them and tells Lulu that she’s got to get to a very important meeting, but keep her in the loop. Lulu says she promises. Fingers crossed it works. Laura says she’s proud of Lulu. She’s smart. Good job. Lulu thanks her, and Laura leaves.

Elizabeth calls Nurse Gail at Turning Woods and thanks her for her help when she and Lucky were there. She hopes she didn’t get Gail in trouble with her boss. Gail says, not at all. Director Furner had no issue with it. Besides, she knows the head nurse at GH wouldn’t ask her a favor if it wasn’t important. Elizabeth says she knew Gail would understand, and Gail says, they’ll talk soon. Cyrus walks in and asks how Gail is. She says, fine, and himself? He says, the same. He was about to visit Mrs. Brown. How is she doing? Gail says, the same, and he says, the poor dear. He’s going to pray with her. Gail says she’s sorry, but he can’t see patients. Not until he talks to Director Furner.

Furner thanks Cyrus for his help and says, they’re grateful for the time he’s devoted to the patients, but feel its best he not visit them going forward. Cyrus says, the decision is sudden, and Furner says, there was a complaint lodged by Mayor Collins about him misrepresenting himself as Lulu Spencer’s medical proxy. Cyrus says he couldn’t help overhearing Nurse Gail talking to Elizabeth Baldwin earlier. Might she have influenced his ban? Furner says, all he knows is Miss Baldwin was here with Lulu’s brother Lucky, and they were upset about his access to Lulu. He was also informed that Cyrus has been barred from volunteering at GH. Cyrus says, it’s a big misunderstanding, but Furner says, that’s not what he heard. Cyrus says, from whom? He’d like to know who’s spreading these lies. Is the source Elizabeth Baldwin? Furner says, Turning Woods is a private facility, and they have the right to decide who they allow to see patients, but Cyrus says, the patients need him. He refuses to abandon them. Furner says, sorry. He’s afraid they’ll have to make do without him, and Cyrus leaves.

Lucas says, the reason he let Wiley go was to make peace and he knew Michael would be a great father, but when Willow took him away from Michael, he had to confront Willow. Carly says she understands that kind of anger. When she found the tie, she lost it. It was in the house Michael shared with Willow and the kids, and it was like a slap in the face. Drew was there having sex with Willow, and she felt she needed to speak up for him. Lucas says he gets it, but don’t do anything to give Drew an excuse to come swooping in like Willow’s knight in shining armor. Carly says she can’t stand that Willow thinks he’s her hero. She’s sure her confronting him just solidified their us against the world thing. He says, they need to stop making an already bad situation worse, and Carly asks what she should do about Nina. He says, if her goal is to stop escalating the conflict with Willow and Drew by working with Nina, do the opposite of that.

Maxie tells Nina that she’s jumping the gun. Drew hasn’t even purchased one piece of furniture yet. Nina says, she’s right. They still have time. Maxie needs to do what she needs to do to delay Drew moving in. Pretend she can’t find a decorator or distract him with terrible color swatches. It will give her time to come up with something to keep them apart. Maxie says she’s not going to be Nina’s underhanded minion on this one. She doesn’t like what Willow and Drew did because it hurt Michael, but they’re adults and they can do what they want, questionable choices and all. Nina says she’s not going to sit by and watch Drew take advantage of her vulnerable daughter, and Maxie asks if she’s doing it because she thinks Drew is bad for Willow or because Willow is now with the man Nina once wanted for herself?

Drew says, Sonny has no sway in the decision. It has to do with his constituents. Sidwell asks if Sonny Corinthos isn’t one of his constituents, and Drew says he could argue that Sonny is a resident, but his business doesn’t necessarily help make Port Charles better. Sidwell asks if he’s considered Pier 55 and the surrounding area as a new location, and Drew says, Sonny owns the building there and has a legal coffee company. Sidwell asks if that isn’t what Eminent Domain is for. (Don’t even get me started on that, Jenz.) Can’t the government claim land if it’s to help revitalize the city? Drew says he’s explored moving the location, but it costs money and time, and Sidwell says, as a future businessman and tenant, he’d be willing to make a large financial commitment if it solves the funding issue. Drew says he’ll keep it in mind, when Laura walks in. She says, just the man she was looking for, and Sidwell says, how nice to see her again.

Anna asks why Jordan wants to wear a wire, and she says she met Jenz Sidwell a few days ago. Anna says, lucky you, and Jordan says, Laura was talking to her about how dangerous he is and not long afterward, he walked into the MetroCourt, so she introduced herself. They talked, and she got the idea he was interested in her, interested in a way she could use to her advantage. Anna says she’s sure Sidwell is interested in Jordan, and Jordan says, apart from what Anna’s already told her, does she have any information that would be useful to get closer to him? Anna says she doesn’t and asks what outcome Jordan is looking for. Jordan says, no law enforcement agency can connect him to his crimes, and Anna says, unfortunately, that’s true. He’s clever and has resources. He was running a small army in Somalia. Jordan says she needs to figure out why he came to Port Charles and what he plans to do, and Anna says, no one has established a real reason. Jordan says, if she can get close… and Anna says, she’ll find a way to catch him.   

Nina says she had an ill-advised short-lived fling after getting caught up in the spell Drew wove over his admiring constituents. That’s all it was. Maxie says, so Nina is really over him, and Nina says, absolutely. 100%. She saw the terrible effect he’s had on Willow, and she’s done. Willow is kind, gentle, and sweet, but with Drew’s help, she’s made one bad decision after another. Drew has a talent of bringing out the worst in people. He did with her. Maxie says she never thought she’d hear Nina say that, and Nina says she should have listened to Maxie. It was a horrible idea, trying to distract Drew from Willow by sleeping with him. Maxie tells Nina that she hates to say I told you so, but Nina tells her, say it. Maxie says, it’s not as much fun when Nina agrees. There’s only one real reason Willow is so out of character and crazy. She’s in love with Drew. Nina says she keeps telling herself it’s infatuation or hero worship thing, but she thinks Maxie is right. It’s something deeper. Maxie says, in all fairness, they’re not in a position to judge what someone will do for a person they love. Nina did stupid stuff when she loved Sonny. How is it any different with Willow and Drew? Carly stands in the doorway.

Drew says, it’s nice to see Laura, and starts to introduce her to Sidwell, but Laura says, they’ve met before. Drew says he didn’t realize they knew each other, and Laura says, that must mean Sidwell didn’t tell Drew that he held her son captive and nearly killed him in Somalia. Drew says, is that true? and Sidwell says, once again, he has to point out that his version of events differs greatly. Laura says, her son has no reason to lie about the man Sidwell really is, and Sidwell says, a more sensitive person might react to the mayor making negative accusations in public with a defamation suit, which would be terribly costly to the city. Thankfully, they have cooler heads, don’t they? Laura says she hears the threat, and Drew suggests it might not be the time or place to discuss it. Sidwell says, nonsense. He’s sure if the mayor joins them, she’ll have plenty to add to their conversation. He’d love to show her that his goal is to contribute to her fair city.

Cyrus walks over to Lulu’s table at Bobbie’s and says, it’s truly a miracle to see her back on her feet. He knew she’d woken up, but to see it for himself fills him with great joy. His prayers have been answered. She says, God does work in mysterious ways, and he asks if she’s fully recovered. She says, nothing about her is any of his business, and he says he didn’t mean to upset her. He just came in for a bite to eat. She says she doesn’t care why he’s here. Her family has a restraining order against him, and if he takes one step closer, she’ll call the cops.

Carly says, Maxie poses a good question, and Maxie thanks her and says she thinks she’ll go now. Please don’t break anything. She leaves, and Nina says, Carly will probably think she’s a hypocrite and she wouldn’t blame her. Carly says she wants to sit for this, and Nina says, watching Drew bulldoze his way into Willow’s marriage was incredibly eye opening. Because it’s what she did to Carly with her marriage to Sonny. Carly says she never thought she’d hear Nina admit she did wrong, and Nina says she did. She can’t go back and change what’s done, but at the end of the day, she’s just a mother like Carly. And like Carly, she loves her child with everything she has. She can’t sit by and watch her daughter destroy her life for a man who’s not worthy of her.

Willow asks if Lucas needed a nurse, and he says he needs to order tests, and he’d appreciate it if she’d deliver the folders. And if they could rush the results, that would be great. She says she’ll see what she can do, and Lucas says, wait. He needs to say something. She says, if it’s about Drew or her relationship with the kids, she’d rather they keep things professional. He says, actually he wants to apologize for what he said the last time they saw each other. He had no business judging her choices or telling her how to live her life. He’s very sorry. She thanks him, and he says, if she or her kids need anything, he’s here for her. No strings attached. He promises. She says she appreciates that very much, and leaves.

Laura says, actually, she’d love to hear what they were discussing, and Drew says, in light of the environmental concerns, Mr. Sidwell proposed they relocate the esplanade to Pier 55. Sidwell says, transforming a blighted area to an esplanade full of shops, restaurants, and new housing developments would be beneficial to Port Charles. Laura says, if he has a proposal, submit it to her office. She’s sure he’s only concerned with what’s best for Port Charles. Drew says he’s looking forward to working toward that end, and she says, that’s part of the reason she voted for him. He says he’s thrilled to know he earned her vote. He’ll do everything in his power to justify her faith. She says, good, because he should know that she doesn’t believe a partnership with Sidwell is the solution to making Port Charles a better place. Sidwell mimes clutching his pearls, and she says, the drama, and leaves. (Sidwell is always a good time, but I want my husband Jack back.)

Anna says she never told Jordan the full extent of what happened when she and Jason were in Somalia to rescue Lucky. Jordan says she knows they barely got out alive, and Anna says, they were almost killed. It’s clear how dangerous Sidwell is, because she believes he’s behind the firebomb at Sonny’s apartment. Jordan says, so she believes Sidwell’s arrival in Port Charles so close to the attack on Sonny is too much of a coincidence not to mean something, and Anna says, exactly. Jordan says, Anna isn’t going to lecture her on how she’s no longer a cop and using a wire undercover isn’t in her job description as Deputy Mayor? Anna says, no. She’s giving Jordan the equipment. If she needs to go undercover to bring Sidwell down, Jordan has her full support. Anna leaves to get the recorder.

Natalia asks if Sonny is going to tell his kids, but he says, they’ve been through too much already. Kristina and Dante are still mourning Sam. Michael is in Germany fighting for his life. He doesn’t want to worry them. She says she understands, and Sonny says, if his business rivals hear about it, it will give them an invitation to come after him and his family. That can’t happen. The nurse says, the doctor is ready for Sonny, and Natalia asks if he wants her to go with him. He holds out his hand, she takes it, and they walk in together.

Maxie tells Willow that she needs help with her son, and Willow asks if he’s sick. Maxie says, no. He’s great, but he’s driving her nuts. He wants her to plan a playdate with Wiley. Willow says she would love that, and Wiley would too. She’ll check her schedule, and they’ll make it happen, Maxie says, it will get James off her back. Nina told her that Willow and the kids moved back in with her. How is Willow doing?

Carly says, the only reason she’s here is because Nina convinced Willow to let her and Sonny see Michael in the hospital. Nina says she thinks they need to work together to keep Willow and Drew apart, and Carly says, okay. Don’t get her wrong. She despises them as a couple, but she doesn’t see how tearing them apart will help. The damage is done. If they find out, Willow will never let them see the kids again. Nina says she thought about that, but thinks it’s a risk worth taking. If they do nothing, that’s a worse option. Carly says she’s not sure about that. She confronted Drew in public at the MetroCourt about how he snuck onto the Quartermaine property to see Willow. It didn’t go over well. Nina says, Willow moved back in with her. At least when Willow was at the Quartermaine’s, Drew didn’t have free reign. Now that Willow is back, she can’t keep them apart. She needs help. Carly asks if they won’t be making a bad situation worse, and Nina says, worse than Drew moving Willow and the kids in with him? How would Carly feel then?

Elizabeth tells Lucas that she talked to Portia about the investigation, but she never said anything about Cyrus. That means Lucas never said anything to Portia about Cyrus being a suspect. He says he didn’t, but Cyrus was banned from volunteering at Turning Woods, and Elizabeth says she did hear that. She was wondering if his name was off the suspect list. He says he doesn’t know, but he does know they want him caught. Some people have lost too much because of him. Elizabeth says, some more than others. She and Lucky are close to finding something that will prove him guilty.  

Lulu says, Cyrus is violating the restraining order. Stay away from her. Cyrus says, it pains him that her family jumped to terrible conclusions about him. This is all a misunderstanding that’s kept him from doing his good work at Turning Woods. She says, the place where he lied about having power over her medical care, and he says, she was alone, and he cared for her. She says, when she woke up, she didn’t hear him caring. She heard him talking to the doctor about transferring her to another state where she’d be far away from the people who love her and truly alone. He says, she’s confused, but for good reason. He’s not the man he used to be. She missed his transformation from his past circumstances. He wants only the best for her. She says she sees him clearly when she opened her eyes at Turning Woods. He’s the reason she had to run away while she was still weak and recovering. She knew she had to get away from him and his sick plan for her. Cyrus says he sat by her hospital bedside. He read the Bible to her and prayed for her. She has no concept of the devotion he showed her. No one has done for her what he has. Lulu starts digging in her bag for her phone and calls Anna’s office. She says she’d like to speak to the Commissioner. Her family has a restraining order on… She looks around and Cyrus is gone.

Natalia says, getting a pacemaker and on a medical regime is no small thing. Sonny needs to do this. Why put it off? Sonny says he needs to find who put the bomb in the penthouse. It’s all he can focus on right now. He doesn’t find out who’s responsible, his family isn’t safe. After that, he can focus better. She says she hopes he can do it in the next three months. She can come with him for support when he gets it done. He says he’d appreciate the company. It has to be done. She suggests they get out, and they leave. A guy in the waiting room follows and, in the hallway, he takes out his phone. It’s the man who tried to kill Isaiah at the hospital.

Nina says, Drew is in escrow for a new house and wants there to be enough room for Willow and the kids, and Carly says, no. Even if he did, that doesn’t mean he would ask Willow to move in already. Nina says she wouldn’t put it past him, but Carly says, no. Nina says, whether they like it or not they’re connected because they’re Wiley and Amelia’s grandparents and want what’s best for them. Michael is out of the country receiving medical treatment, so for now, Carly is his proxy. As much as she loves Willow, she’s not blind to how easily Willow was convinced to go along with Drew. Carly asks what she suggests, and Nina says, what if she told Carly that they could have access to Drew’s new house. It could be useful. So what does she think? Is she in or out? Will she help do whatever it takes to protect their grandchildren?

Willow says, Maxie is one of the only people to ask how she’s doing. She’s getting lectures on her relationship with Drew and Maxie isn’t judging. She didn’t realize until now how lonely it’s been. Maxie says, they’ll schedule a playdate, and the boys can run around while they catch up, and Willow says, it will be nice. Maxie asks, who’s place? and Willow says, Maxie’s. Nina’s isn’t the best play space for kids. Maxie says she hopes the kids exhaust themselves to the point where they pass out, and Willow says, it sounds amazing. She’s grateful having a place to stay, but she needs to look for her own place with a kid friendly backyard.

Sidwell says he has no control over how people choose to see him, but hopes Drew sees him as an ally. His phone rings and he says he should take it. Drew says he’s got to get going anyway. Sidwell has given him a lot to think about. Sidwell says, that’s all he can ask, and Drew leaves. Answering the phone, Sidwell says, so? The man at the doctor’s office says he followed Natalia to a medical office. The man who she’s with is seeing a cariologist. Sidwell asks, who would that be? and the man says, Sonny Corinthos. (Rut-roh.)

Lulu goes to Anna’s office and says, Anna’s not going to believe what she saw. Cyrus was at Bobbie’s and violated the restraining order by talking to her. Anna asks Lulu to tell her exactly what happened, and Lulu says, he claimed he was just there to get a bite to eat. She was told he was banned from volunteering at Turning Woods, and she told him to leave her alone, but he just kept talking. Anna asks what he said, and Lulu says, he told her that he spent a lot of time with her when she was in a coma. It really freaked her out. Then he said, no one has done for her what he has. What does he mean? What does that lunatic want from her?

Elizabeth tells Lucas, if they find irrefutable evidence against Cyrus, they’ll hand it over to the police. Until then, it’s important that as few people as possible know he’s a suspect. Lucas says, Cyrus already knows. Josslyn ran into him at the PCPD and accused him of killing Dex. Anna must be aware or at least suspicious about Dex’s death. Elizabeth says she knows it sounds easier said than done, but he needs to keep Josslyn away from Cyrus. If he feels cornered, he’ll get more dangerous. Cyrus walks into the hospital and sees Elizabeth talking to Lucas. He flashes back to finding the flower in the Bible moved and gives Elizabeth a nasty look.

On Monday, Kristina asks Ava where she thinks she’s going; Martin asks if Willow really wants a divorce; Jason asks why Tracy would believe anything Drew says; and Carly asks how far Nina is willing to go to get Drew out of the picture.

🧼 All the Soap News Fit To Print…

I would never put down Chris McKenna’s acting skills, but he’s no Jack Brennan. If it was a matter of money, they should have given Charles Mesure whatever it took to keep him. And really, not even an accent? Come on. They could have done better here.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/gh-recast-shocker-mesure-out-mckenna-in-as-brennan

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/laura-wright-on-ghs-brennan-recast

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/chris-mckenna-opens-up-about-taking-over-as-brennan-on-gh

This is for the G’s and this is for the Hustlas.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/donnell-turner-on-snoop-dogg-guesting-on-gh

💉 A Dose Of Reality…

Below Deck Down Under

I didn’t watch this since I’m Below Deck-ed out, but here you go.

Deck OG Kate parlays her Traitors money into real estate.

https://www.bravotv.com/the-daily-dish/kate-chastain-new-florida-house-exclusive-photos-interview-details

The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills

Sutton asked Garcelle to go with her to Agusta to visit her mother, and Mauricio took Kyle to a shooting range. She cried because everything was different, and in her interview, she said she was grieving the loss of someone who was still here. Kyle joined Sutton and Garcelle, while Boz, Erika, and Dorit went to Kathy’s for dinner. Kathy called PK PJ which was pretty funny. Erika told Dorit that she had to be proactive. If she didn’t make decisions, life would make them for her. Everything Dorit had told them indicated that PK didn’t want her back.

The Real Housewives of New York City

While on break, Brynn told Jenna that everyone hated her, and she was afraid of everyone. Janna said she was apologizing but not acknowledging what she’d done. Rebacca joined the group, and Brynn said she didn’t share her real life the way the others did. Erin said Rebecca was the most self-involved human she’d ever met. The topic of Scientology was bandied about, and we flashed back to Brynn basically calling Rebecca a snake oil salesman. I don’t know what they have against Rebecca. I like her and I actually thought the prank was funny. For being New Yorkers, this is one sensitive bunch. The Brynn/Ubah situation was rehashed and it’s another drain I didn’t think had to be circled so hard. To quote Erin, it was f***ed up, but Brynn corrected herself pretty quickly. Ubah said she forgave Brynn, but they would never be what they were. Two seconds later though, they were hugging it out, so who knows? These girls hate and love each other in the same breath. If I had to pick a best dressed – they’re all beautiful, even Jenna in her robe, turban, and sunglasses – it would be Racquel. Andy said he hoped it was the first step forward. Yeah. Until next season.

Apparently, Rebecca has had enough.

Real Housewives of Salt Lake City

Britani joined the Reunion Part 3000. She’d been wearing the same dress as Angie, but graciously changed. She probably didn’t want to be included in a Who Wore It Better? list. She said she’d broken up with Jared, who sounds like a real piece of work. After their break-up, he’d gotten on social media and talked quite a bit of smack about the women. He called Bronwyn a low vibrational human being, whatever that means. Britani followed that topic with saying Bronwyn’s flying monkeys spread smack about her to her estranged daughters and Bronwyn had things to pay for.

Andy said he never thought he’d be talking about slut shaming at a Bat Mitzvah, and there was much ado (again) about Britani bringing the wine to Angie’s prayer meeting. I honestly thought it was more of a place and time thing, but I guess not. It was about the Mormon rule of not drinking alcohol. So then why does Angie say she stays pretty sober. (See below.) What does that mean? Just a glass of champagne at weddings? Just weed? So much is just overreaction. Bronwyn’s dog bite was revisited, and not only did she not sue over it – it was a rescue whose owner she knew in a dog park – she paid for the dog to be checked out. There had been a medical issue, and he was now healthy and living where he has room to run. Having dealt with this issue myself, not only do I commend Bronwyn, I suggest anyone who has an overly aggressive dog have it thoroughly checked out by a vet. End of PSA. There was a lot of talking over each other. At the end, they all said nice things about each other and toasted with Mary’s favorite, Miller High Life.

Southern Charm

Venita told Leva about JT having a girlfriend, and Leva said he was a jerk. Agreed. Craig wanted to be a farmer, but his community wouldn’t allow chickens, so he went for the next best thing – bees. FYI: Bee suits are white because dark colors remind bees of a bear. How anyone knows what bees are reminded of is beyond me, but I wouldn’t test that theory. They went to a bee ranch or whatever it’s called, and Craig was pumped. Paige was not as thrilled, but said, if he liked it, she loved it. They checked out the goats and Craig fantasized about living on a farm. Paige said she loved making up fake scenarios in her head – she was a girl – but she had a realistic streak and Craig was more sentimental. She told him that she was only 31, but he sometimes made her feel like she was 75. Yeah, she’s a New Yorker and not ready for waving from the porch in a rocking chair. I honestly think Paige just needs someone closer to home, although Craig might have moved if she’d stuck it out. Throughout the conversation, it really seemed like she was unhappy, but didn’t want to admit it. Shep was still insecure about Sienna and expressed concern in his interview that she was on a higher level than him. Aw, poor Shep. It must be tough being on the receiving end for once.

Patricia had the annual gentlemen’s dinner. Whitney’s hair looked like he’d stuck his finger in a light socket, and he didn’t find it amusing that Patricia had taken the car out with Shep when she hadn’t driven in 40 years. She told the guys that they were using Napoleonic china and Craig said he shouldn’t touch any of it. We flashed back to his previous mishaps, like spilling red wine on a white sofa. She suggested Craig propose, and in Patricia’s interview, she said, in her day, you met, dated, got engaged, and got married. With these guys, it seemed very murky, and they had a schedule with no end to things. The back broke on Whitney’s chair, and Patricia said they never had a dinner where a chair didn’t get broken. And no matter what theme she chose, the dinners turned into arguments, accusations, and breakage. Whitney said the overriding issue with Sienna was that Shep wasn’t rich enough, he was boring, and not famous enough. Ouch. Craig said it was like having dinner with your granddad who had no filter.

The JT plot thickens.

Aww! She’s ready to show her bump. As much as I’ve disliked Madison, I do like Brett, and they deserve some happy news.

Southern Hospitality

I tried to pay attention, but only a few things stood out. They went to Vegas for Maddi’s DJ gig and her face was on the side of a building, which both freaked her out and pumped her up. I’m not sure if it’s because of the cameras, but reality stars seem to get overexcited about hotel rooms. Like they’ve been living in huts and never seen one before. Except for Ramona (RHONY OG), who always complains. This group is obsessed with Will’s cheating and looks like there’s more crying from Emmy to come.

Random Reality

The two Lisas have spoken.

I really hope this works out for her. I loved It’s Complicated.

👀 Last Weekend’s Watch…

I’m still losing myself in Lost, plus doing a Swedish I’m-Not-Dead-Yet house cleaning, so the only extra thing I watched was The Menu on Netflix. It was horror, it was humor, it was surprise after surprise. A group of wealthy diners is taken to a remote island to have a meal at one of the most exclusive restaurants on earth, paying $1200+ a person. Each course becomes increasingly odd, and the final course is a nightmare. It’s detailed – a text describing each course pops up on the side – and was like nothing I’d ever seen before.

In simple terms.

A review without spoilers.

https://www.purewow.com/entertainment/the-menu-netflix-review

The particulars.

https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/the-menu-release-date-news

Obviously major spoilers.

https://ew.com/the-menu-ending-explained-8783965

🦕 Can’t Wait To Watch…

I never care about the plotlines. I just come for the dinosaurs.

https://people.com/jurassic-world-rebirth-trailer-scarlett-johansson-8712343

🦥 Awaiting New Seasons…

Coming February 16th.

https://www.cbr.com/yellowjackets-season-3-release-date-and-delay-reason/

Coming in April.

https://ew.com/the-last-of-us-creators-set-stage-dense-episodes-season-2-exclusive-8783868

https://ew.com/the-last-of-us-season-2-premiere-month-2025-8769682

Remember them? Coming this spring.

https://undeadwalking.com/walking-dead-dead-city-season-2-features-the-return-characters-villainous-ways

No date set yet.

https://www.cbr.com/everything-we-know-about-walking-dead-daryl-dixon-season-3/

Coming never.

https://winteriscoming.net/agatha-all-along-won-t-get-a-second-season

🚫 Boo Hiss…

Mean parole officer. She should still host. I haven’t watched it in years – too busy streaming – but I’d watch that one.

https://ew.com/martha-stewart-reveals-snl-hosting-opportunity-was-nixed-by-parole-officer-8781521

🏆 For the Win…

The full Grammy winners list.

https://www.grammy.com/news/2025-grammys-nominations-full-winners-nominees-list

The best, worst, and WTF? moments. Note to Rolling Stone: Not everything has to be political. Maybe people are poliweary right now.

The fashion.

https://www.eonline.com/photos/37508/grammys-2025-red-carpet-fashion

🏈 Bring On the Bowl…

Who’s performing.

https://people.com/all-about-the-2025-super-bowl-performers-8784892

Breakout shark.

https://people.com/left-shark-from-katy-perry-super-bowl-halftime-reflects-on-performance-exclusive-8779782

The commercials.

https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/best-super-bowl-commercials-2025

🐕 A Bowl Of Puppies…

Everything you need to know.

https://people.com/everything-to-know-puppy-bowl-2025-8785179

Everything you need to know and more.

https://www.discovery.com/shows/puppy-bowl

☄️ Quotes of the Week

Happy accidents are real gifts, and they can open the door to a future that didn’t even exist. It’s kind of nice sometimes to set up something to encourage or allow happy accidents to happen. – David Lynch

If you want to succeed, double your failure rate. – Thomas Watson

You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending. – C.S. Lewis

Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all. – Dale Carnegie

Advice is like snow – the softer it falls, the longer it dwells upon, and the deeper it sinks into the mind. – Samuel Taylor Coleridge

You can roll manure in powdered sugar, but it still ain’t a jelly donut. – Berta (Conchata Ferrell), Two and a Half Men

🧉 Sticking To the Punchbowl…

Until next Friday, stay safe; stay remembering, it’s just a game (unless you bet money on it, then cry if you lose); and stay not acting first and thinking later.

December 12, 2024 – A Big Surprise At the Q’s Christmas Party, Charm This, Yellow Look, More Than Extra & Wrapping

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Natalia and Sonny are having dinner at Café Cherie and Natalia says, they should do a little business. She wants to show him the latest numbers from Lois’s appearance on Home & Heart. She shows him her tablet, and he says, Lois is raking in the profits. He’s sure Natalia’s guidance helped. She says, it was a team effort, and Sonny asks what else she wants to talk about, when Ric and Ava walk in.

Alexis meets Kristina at Charlie’s, and Kristina tells her that Charlie’s is closed indefinitely until she figures out what she wants to do with it. Alexis asks what she means, and Kristina says, dad decided Charlie’s needed new ownership – mine. Alexis asks if her father is giving her Charlie’s, and Kristina says, yeah. She thinks it’s the perfect time for some reinvention.

Elizabeth visits Dex and asks if he’s feeling better. He says, more than he expected. He’s watching the PCU/Llanview game preview. If he was on duty, he’d miss the whole thing. She says she appreciates him finding the silver lining.

In the nook, Sasha looks at her tablet and says, prenatal vitamins for women. Who else would they be for? (Good point.) Carly comes in and says, the hors d’oeuvres look amazing. She sees Sasha’s tablet and asks, who’s pregnant? Sasha says, no one. She was looking for multivitamins and that popped up. Carly says, algorithms are so weird.

At the gatehouse, Nina thanks Willow for inviting her to the Christmas party, and Willow says, it’s important to spend time with family during the holidays. Nina agrees and asks why Willow seems anxious.

Tracy calls Laura and leaves a message that she’s calling again. She’d like to know when she can come and see Lulu. Call her. Ned says, she still hasn’t seen Lulu? and she says, Laura is being stingy. She’s going to go over there. Ned says, the Christmas party is important. Olivia’s been working day and night. Tracy says, while Drew is playing footsie with Michael’s wife. What could possibly go wrong?

Ric wonders if they should go somewhere else, but Ava tells him, it would be rude not to say hello. They go over to Sonny and Natalia’s table, and Ava tells Sonny that her time with Avery was wonderful. They missed each other so much, but she’s sure Avery told him. Sonny says he’s not going to discuss Avery with her, and Ric asks Natalia if dinner is payback for lying stand.

Alexis asks if Kristina is reinventing Charlie’s or herself, and Kristina says, maybe both. Why does Alexis seem unhappy about it? Alexis says, Kristina hasn’t had time to process everything that’s happened, but Kristina says she thought it would take her mind off things. What’s up? Alexis says, it’s about her sister, and Kristina says she knows Alexis wants her to apologize, but she’s not going to. Alexis says, her sister and TJ are separating, and Kristina asks if Alexis thinks it’s because of her.

Felicia asks Elizabeth if Dex is cleared for visitors, and Elizabeth says, he is, but he’s watching the game. Interrupt at her own risk. Felicia says, Elizabeth is here late. She hopes Elizabeth is making time for some holiday cheer.  

Willow says she’s dreading the party, and Nina asks, why? Willow says, all the Quartermaines will be there, and Nina says, including Drew. She knows it’s hard, but whatever Willow decides, she’ll support her. Willow says she decided the kids deserve a happy Christmas with both parents and that’s exactly what she’s going to give them.

Olivia tells Ned to mind his Ps and Qs. Carly knows nothing about Drew and Willow. Ned says, she knows Jason attacked Drew. She’s bound to ask questions. Olivia says, they have to keep it under wraps.

Chase says, Brook looks amazing, and Tracy tells them to get a room. Brook says, they might have to sneak out early to do some extra work, and Chase says, she’s making him hot. Tracy wonders if she needs to send them to the stable to get hosed off. Why are they eager to have a child? This place has become a daycare center.

Carly asks where Willow is, and Michael says, she’s getting the kids settled with the babysitter. She and Nina will be here soon. Carly asks why Nina is coming, and he says, Willow invited her. She’s Nina’s daughter. Like it or not, she’s family. Carly says, Nina and Drew seem cozy, when Drew walks in. Carly says, their new congressman.

Sonny asks what Ric is talking about. He’s not in the mood. Ava says, Ric had the right idea. This place is too crowded. They should go someplace else to celebrate their victory. She tells Sonny and Natalia to enjoy their evening.  

Kristina asks if Alexis believes Molly and TJ’s breakup is another casualty of Ava, but Alexis says, says she thinks it’s more complex than that. Kristina says she was right to fight for custody. The baby would have gone to a broken home. Alexis says, that’s an oversimplification. Molly and TJ broke up because their baby died, and they weren’t grieving the same way. Tell her that she understands what Molly is going through.

Trina comes into the Christmas party, and Josslyn is looking at her phone. She says she’s watching the game and it’s not going well. Trina asks if PCU is losing, and Josslyn says, no, but it’s too close. Kai has been sacked three times and they’re warming up his backup. Taking him out would be the worst thing for him. Trina says, Josslyn doesn’t think it’s because he was working on their project, but Josslyn says she thinks he’s just having an off day. Trina asks, is it that bad if they lose? and Josslyn says she’ll never hear the end of it from Dex. Chase and Brook come in, and Chase asks, what’s the score? Josslyn says, PCU is up one point. She asks if they can turn it on the TV, but Tracy says, absolutely not. Ned wonders if he needs to run interference, and Olivia says she votes yes.

Michael asks Drew if Scout is settled in, and Drew says, she’s with the other kids. Michael says he’s glad they have each other. He’s sure Drew is going to make Christmas extra special for her. Drew says, after having such a tough time, she deserves to be spoiled. Willow and Nina come in, and Willow goes over to Michael. She gives him a kiss, and Drew goes to get a drink.

Brook says, Tracy won’t even notice the TV. They’ll put it on mute. Ned says he wants to watch, but only gets a blue screen when he puts the TV on. He says, the cable is out, and Tracy says, it’s a Christmas miracle.

Nina tells Olivia that it’s a lovely party, and Olivia says, it would be if Tracy would let them turn on the game. Carly interrupts, and Nina leaves. Carly asks Olivia, what’s going on? Michael and Willow are acting weird. Drew had a fight with Jason. Michael is close to Jason, and Drew and Willow are friends. Does she think they’re fighting by proxy? Olivia says she’s sure they’ll work it out. She has to check on the food.

At the PC Grill, Ava says, this is more like it. He asks what they should drink to, and Ava says, the next chapter. He says he can’t wait to see what she does with it, and they clink glasses.

Natalia says she hopes Sonny doesn’t let his brother spoil his evening, and Sonny says he wouldn’t give Ric the satisfaction. He suggests they talk about her, and she asks what he wants to know. He says, what does she want to tell him? and she says, he knows she has two kids, Allison and her son. Sonny says, he’s still in Puerto Rico? and she says, yes. She misses him, but she’s not sure if he misses her. She’s close to her parents and siblings, but currently not with her children. She’s probably told him all he needs to know. He says he’s all ears. Whatever she wants to tell.

Kristina tells Alexis, of course (🍷), she understands. She never wanted any of them to experience this much pain, but the truth is, if Adela had lived, Molly and TJ still would have broken up. Molly is her sister, and she knows these things. Alexis says, Kristina has no idea what it would have been like if Molly and TJ had become parents. That doesn’t mean Kristina doesn’t have the right to love the baby and imagine what life would be like if they were in each other’s lives. The same way Molly has a right to imagine what it would have been like if she’d become a mother. Kristina says, but Molly isn’t acting as if she’s thinking about her feelings as a mother. If she was, she’d want Ava to pay as badly as Kristina does.

Felicia says she’s rooting for PCU because she went to school there, and Dex says, then he won’t tell her that he’s rooting for Llanview. She says, nobody’s perfect, and he says he heard she gave a detailed statement to the police. She says, force of habit. She’s been around cops a lot. She’s glad he’s okay. He says, it could have been a lot worse.

Michael asks if he can hide out in the nook, and Sasha asks, what’s going on? He says he’s trying not to punch Drew’s lights out, and she asks if he’s going to be okay. He says he doesn’t know. He can’t keep going on like this. After the holidays, he’s going to tell Willow everything. She asks if she doesn’t have a say in this, and he tells her that he’s going to say it was a one-night stand. He won’t say it’s her. He’s not going to pull her into this. He has to tell Willow that he was unfaithful, and he knows she was unfaithful with Drew. She says she knows the truth is supposed to fix things, but sometimes it does the opposite. He says, they’ll be on equal footing. They both cheated. She says, what about Drew? and he says, Drew pursued Willow and took advantage of her crush. Drew drove them apart, and it’s going to cost him dearly.

Ava says, it would have gone differently if not for Ric, and Ric says, maybe, maybe not. She says she’s grateful, and he says he wouldn’t have taken her case or defended her as strongly if he didn’t think she was innocent. He knows what it’s like to be judged by past actions and he didn’t want her going down for something she didn’t do. She says, he got one over on his brother, and he says, that’s just an added bonus.

Sonny says he doesn’t know Natalia’s son, and Natalia says, he’s an incredibly talented musician. It’s all he ever wanted to do. She had huge plans for him, but it didn’t work out. He decided he didn’t want her help. Sonny is so present in his kids’ lives. They confide in him and seek him out for his advice. She admires that and she’s jealous. She wishes she had that relationship with her kids. He says, she can still fix it. Don’t give up. There’s always time to make it right.

Alexis asks if she’s got to remind Kristina that her sister can’t conceive and how hard it’s been, but Kristina says, no. Alexis says, she’s not less of a mother because she can’t carry her own child, but Kristina says she disagrees. She doesn’t understand why Molly isn’t fighting for her daughter. Alexis says, they have to heal, and Kristina says she’s trying. She’d love to not be in pain and feel normal. Alexis says, she’s refusing to see that it’s not just her. She and Molly are both in agony. Molly made her promise not to get in the middle and she’s doing everything to keep that promise. Kristina needs her sister more than she realizes. Kristina says, she’s right. She needs her sister. Unfortunately, Molly isn’t the sister she needs. She needs Sam.

Felicia says she admires that Dex sees his situation in a positive way, and he asks if he can be honest. She says, of course (🍷), and he says, the last time he was hurt, it wasn’t this noble. She says, no judgement, and he says he justified working for Sonny, but the difference between what happened then and being injured while doing a job he’s proud of means everything. Felicia says, the work he does is important. She thinks about it when Mac goes to work. Dex is a good cop. She’s glad to see he’s feeling better. He says he’s excited to get out and go home.

Drew hands Willow a drink and says, she looks nice. She says, him too. Has Scout made her Christmas list? He says, she’s having a hard time thinking of anything she wants. The one thing she wants, he can’t give her. She says, it’s hard when you can’t give someone what they want.

Chase says he wishes Drew would stay away from Willow, but Brook says she knows Willow loves Michael. He thinks there’s something secretive going on, and she says, everyone has secrets. It doesn’t make you a bad person. It makes you human.

Gio comes in, and Josslyn says, PCU just scored a touchdown. Gio was just there performing the National Anthem with the band. He could have stayed and watched. What is he doing here? He says he couldn’t miss the party, and Olivia calls him an angel and kisses his cheek.  

Carly asks Willow if she can borrow Drew, and they step away. He asks, what’s up? and she says she’s happy him and Jason called a truce, and he says, this is the right place for him and Scout right now. She asks if he knows how he’s going to handle the back and forth to DC, and he says, Port Charles will be his base, and he’ll commute. Scout has had enough upheaval. He should be the one making the sacrifices. She says she’s glad he’s putting Scout first. He’s a great dad. He and Willow share a glance.

Nina finds Drew and says, they need to talk. They go into the foyer, and she asks if he doesn’t he have a phone call he can take in his downtown office. He asks what she’s talking about, and she says, steer clear of Michael and Willow. He’s not helping them or their marriage. He says, they were talking about Scout. She loves Willow. If he can arrange some time for them to be together, Scout would be comforted. Nina says, it’s disgusting. He’s using his grieving daughter as an excuse to be around Willow. He says, if that’s what she thinks he’s doing, is she going to do something about it… He didn’t think so. He goes back to talk to Willow.

Tracy sees that everyone is watching the game on Josslyn’s phone. Tracy says she needs to pull Ned away for a moment.

Natalia says, Sonny and his brother aren’t close, and Sonny says, is it that obvious? She says, you don’t do what he did to Kristina if you’re family, and he says, they didn’t grow up together, so they didn’t have that bond. She says, that makes more sense, and he says, Ric always had a chip on his shoulder. He wanted Sonny’s acceptance and when he didn’t get it, he was determined to bring Sonny down. He wishes Ric would go away. You can’t be too careful with Ric. You’ve got to watch your back because he’s not above stabbing you in it.

Ava says, they’ve come out on top. Take that, City of Port Charles. Ric says, she doesn’t strike him as someone who cares what people think, and she says she doesn’t, and she doesn’t think he does either. He says he doesn’t give a damn about what other people think, and she says, the list is quite short. Avery, of course (🍷), Trina, of course (🍷), her nephew Lucas, and Nina. What they think matters. Everybody else can kick rocks. He says, including present company? and she says she appreciates his company. He says, how much? and she says, maybe he should find out.

Alexis says she knows Kristina misses her sister. They all do. What Sam would say if she was here is that Kristina’s anger at Ava is justified, but what she was saying to her sister, what she said at the courthouse, was wrong. Molly didn’t deserve that, and the sooner Kristina realizes and apologizes, is when she’s going to heal. Sam would tell her that this reinvention isn’t going to help her skip the process of doing that. Punishing her sister is hurting herself and all of them more than she knows.

Tracy tells Ned that they should push Drew out now. There’s nobody Monica loves more that Michael and Jason, and Drew is in open combat with both of them. It would be better if they evict him. Ned tells her that she said she didn’t want to burden Monica, but she says, the situation is a thousand times worse. They have Drew under their thumb, but when he goes to DC, they don’t know how much power he’ll actually have. They need to act now. They have to. They hear cheering from the other room and Ned runs in.

Josslyn calls Dex and asks if he’s going to admit defeat, but he insists it’s Bobcat season. Still, he wishes he was there. Josslyn says she’ll bring him some popovers, and he says he’ll see her after the Bobcats win. She says, he wishes.

Michael sees Willow and Drew talking, and Ned complains about the cable being out. Michael says he can stream the game from his phone to the TV. He turns it on, and Kai is doing an interview. Tracy turns it off and says, just because she’s allowing them to watch doesn’t mean she wants to listen to those men yammer on. They’ll watch with the sound off and anybody who doesn’t like it can leave.

Kristina says she doesn’t want any of them in pain, but she can’t do what Alexis is asking. Alexis says, she made her choice. Kristina knows where to find her and Molly. Kristina says she knows Alexis doesn’t agree, but that’s okay. She doesn’t have to, but don’t give up on her. She can’t lose Alexis to Ava too. Alexis says, that will never happen. She’s Kristina’s mother and will love her always. They hug, and she says, no matter what.

Sonny tells Natalia, Ric is persistent. The longer he’s in Port Charles, the worse it will be. He’s going to want revenge, then all bets are off. She says, so he’s totally unpredictable, but Sonny says, he’s too predictable. He took Ava’s case and now he’s representing her in their custody fight. He’s a good lawyer, but he’s not going to make it easy and he’s not going to make it quick. She says she believes Sonny will still win in the end. He’s a great dad and has Avery’s best intentions at heart. He says Ava is going to fight dirty, and with the money they have, it could go on forever. They’ll be arguing until they’re both bankrupt.

Ric says, Ava is now a free woman. What’s next? She says, the first thing on her list is getting a new house, when he waiter comes with the check. She insists on paying, and the waiter takes her credit card. Ric says he can’t wait to see what’s next, and she says, stick around. He says, sounds promising, and she asks how he feels about early Christmas gifts. He says, it depends. Wrapped or unwrapped? She says, one wrapped in a great big bow, and fingers the bow on her collar. The waiter comes back and says, Ava’s credit card was declined. She tells him to run it again, but he says he ran it several times. It’s not going through. Ric’s phone dings and he tells her that her check bounced for insufficient funds. The waiter says, her card will need to be destroyed. (That’s a new one on me. I would think the card issuer would have to flag it for that.)

Felicia gives Elizabeth some paperwork and says she thinks the patient is ready to be discharged. Elizabeth says she’s glad, since his family wanted him home for the holidays. An alarm goes off, and Elizabeth looks at the computer.

Everyone is watching the game, and Michael asks who they think will win. Sasha asks if anyone wants another drink, and Tracy says she needs alcohol. There are cheers, and Chase says, one last shot for the win. Brook says, they’re tied, and Ned says he’s putting the sound on. This is the first time in PCU history. Tracy turns it off and when everyone protests, she puts it back on, but instead of the game, it’s Drew and Willow about to get busy.  😯

Tomorrow, Trina tells Kai, it’s a good place to start; Carly says, Drew finally found someone who would put him first; and Willow says, Michael took the video, didn’t he?

👒 Patricia’s Charming Easter…

I can already see why JT left the show abruptly. Everyone probably hated him by day 3. On a playdate with Craig and Shep to play virtual golf, not only did he talk smack about Austen, he tried to convince the guys that Madison’s husband was suspicious about him and Madison being together on a trip. Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! That’s a lot funnier than him passing out canes to everyone. He also decided that Madison and Austen had coordinated their polka dot outfits – her dress, his pants (no, just no) – when they went to the Carolina Cup party.  

Patricia was having a lavish Easter dinner, decorated with antique bunnies and lots of candy. There was also the traditional bunny with a trail of black jellybeans behind it, or as Whitney said, the turd pellets. Oddly enough, we have a similar tradition at Christmas here, except it’s a moose that dispenses jellybeans. I’ll leave it to you to guess from where. It always ends up in one of our stockings. Since Whitney had briefly dated new girl Molly, Patricia seated them next to each other.

The dessert was a cupcake, and kudos to Austen for showing us a whole new way to eat one, breaking off the bottom half and putting it on top of the icing, making it a cupcake sandwich. I’m definitely doing that the next time I have a cupcake. Whitney, being the debonaire Southern gent he is, said the cupcake was the last thing Molly needed. In Patricia’s interview, she said she was getting a kitty since she’d never have grandchildren.

At the end, it said, In Loving Memory of Michael Kelcourse, with a photo of him serving a martini in better days.

He’s not wrong.

This was sad.

🐝 What’s the Buzz…

From the upcoming Season 3 of Yellowjackets.

https://ew.com/yellowjackets-season-3-first-look-photos-exclusive-bonus-episode-8752456

🍍 Don’t Let Teresa Hear About This…

$500 for a piece of fruit is pretty insane.

https://www.aol.com/rare-pineapple-costs-nearly-400-192838948.html

🌁 A Shady Haze Of Winter…

Come on by tomorrow for soap and pre-weekend revelry. Until then, stay safe; stay silencing your digital watch when at a holiday gathering (or any gathering); and stay remembering, there’s always time to make it right.

March 21, 2024 – Cody Quits the Modeling Biz, True Story, Star Studded, Excuses, Nope, That Awful House, Back Again, More Waiting, Tiny Hippo & Fine

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

On the phone, Nina says, Alexis isn’t in. It’s their other boss, and she needs help. Every time she tries to use this computer, she just gets an error message, 3331. What does that even mean? There’s a knock at the door, and she says, finally. She tells the person on the phone, never mind, and thanks them. She says, come in, and Drew walks in. She says, this was unexpected. Does she need to call security? He says, they both know there’s no such thing as security, don’t they?

At the photo shoot for Bellpo magazine, the photographer tells Sasha that he wants big energy from her. Not so accessible. They want a little bit of distance. She’s strong and nobody can touch her. Sasha says, got it, and he starts to take photos. The Bellpo rep says he has some notes for the model, and the photographer tells Sasha that they just have to make a little adjustment. Everybody take five. Lucy goes over to Sasha and Sasha asks if there’s something wrong. Lucy says, no. It’s going great. They just need the photographs to be a teeny, little bit different. Why doesn’t she pretend like she doesn’t really want to be here. Like she’s kind of doing them a favor. Get it? Try that.

Spinelli gives a handout to Tracy, Brook, and Maxie, saying, lovely ladies of Deception. Follow along as they go through… Cody comes in and says, sorry. He didn’t mean to interrupt. He thought he could swing by any time. Maxie says, it’s totally all right. They’re just about to go through their new security protocols. He should stay because he does work for Deception. He says he does, and Tracy tells him, pull up a chair. Why should they be the only ones to suffer? Maxie says she thought he’d be at Sasha’s photo shoot, and Cody asks, why? It’s a solo photo shoot. He doesn’t need to be Sasha’s keeper. Maxie says, that’s true. Sasha does have Lucy there to smooth out any problems. Tracy laughs and says, doesn’t she mean create problems? Does anyone know Lucy Coe?

TJ says he’ll be observing Dr. Enoch during Heather’s surgery. While prepping, he observed there were some gaps in her chart, and he needs more information from her before the surgery. Heather says, fire away, doc, and he asks if she has any allergies. She says, only to other people, and he says, great. No allergies. Has she had any adverse reactions to anesthesia? She says, is being forced to wake up from it count? and he says he’ll take that as a no. (Ha! Sounds like me. I had it once and it was the best sleep I ever had.) His phone dings, and he says he’ll be back. Heather says she’ll be here, showing him her handcuffs. He leaves, and Willow starts to follow, but Heather asks if Willow’s not going to shave her head. Willow says she’s sorry, what? and Heather says, shave her head for the surgery, but Willow says, that won’t be necessary. The surgery is on her hip. Heather says, but she thought heads were shaved for every surgery. If not, finally things are looking up. Willow says, if she needs anything, use her call button, and leaves. Heather tells Laura that she still looks such a fright with her hair all in knots. Oh well. She used to have such pretty hair, didn’t she? Laura says, yeah, and Heather says, it’s been so long. Remember? She used to set it all the time. Laura says, it was beautiful, and Heather says, a long time ago. Another life.

TJ says he’s sure Elizabeth knows Heather Webber’s surgery is this morning, and Elizabeth says, the metalosis diagnosis is kind of crazy, but she doesn’t know a lot about that condition. He says, cobalt poisoning from the breakdown of an artificial hip can be extremely painful and it can disrupt normal organ function in the body. He asks her to excuse him and steps away. Deanna tells Elizabeth that there’s a discrepancy in the med storage area, and Elizabeth says, which is? Deanna says, simply put, the inventory doesn’t match. It’s short. Willow overhears. (Geez, it’s not like it’s opiates.)

Looking at the computer, Elizabeth says, this is the first she’s hearing about a discrepancy. Oh yeah. She sees what Deanna is talking about. Deanna asks if this is something they need to worry about, but Elizabeth says, not yet. It could be a mistake. Sometimes the pharmacy is slow with an update. That could be the issue. Willow texts Michael, and Elizabeth says, when people are selling drugs, it’s the painkillers they’re taking, not the antibiotics. (Thank you.) Willow asks if it’s okay if she takes her break a little early, and Elizabeth says, she can go. It’s actually pretty quiet right now. Willow says she’ll be back, and heads for the elevator.

The photographer tells Sasha, more defiant. Can’t be bothered… A little more edge… more danger. The rep tells Lucy, this isn’t working. There’s no risk, no aloofness. She’s too accessible, too sweet. He tells the photographer, let’s do some motion, and the photographer tells Sasha, let’s do this. Turn her body to the left and look over her shoulder. She hears Lucy talking and asks if they can just stop for a minute. They’re clearly not happy with what they’re seeing, so just tell her exactly what they want, and she can do it. The rep says, it’s not that. She’s doing a great job. Lucy says, the best, and he says, unfortunately, he just doesn’t think the shoot is going to work, for reasons that are beyond their control. Sasha says, oh wow. Okay. That’s too bad. The rep steps away, and Sasha tells Lucy that she guesses they have a free morning. Lucy says, great.

Spinelli says, the improvements he’s made to Deception’s cybersecurity have made it virtually impenetrable. Maxie will not only be the queen of Deception, but also queen of the passcodes. So to access any company file, each of them will need a new code from Maxie every day, while Maxie herself will be getting a new code every morning. Brook says, sounds super secure, and Tracy says, sounds super annoying. Spinelli says, this much security does require extra steps, but it should provide security to the companies, and it should prevent intrusion to the companies indebted and proprietary holdings, such as the ones that threatened The Deceptor not long ago. Tracy asks if he means the one that was created to find intellectual property theft, and Brook says, grandmother… Tracy says, it’s what they’re all thinking, when Maxie’s phone rings. Maxie says, it’s the rep for Bellpo. She has to take this. Excuse her. She leaves, and Spinelli tells them, as he was saying…

On the phone, Maxie asks how the photo shoot is going… It’s canceled? What do they mean?… That’s ridiculous.

Nina says, as Drew can see, she’s extremely busy. He says he sees her staring at the computer screen, but she’s not actually doing anything. She says she can’t log on and the tech is taking forever to get here, and he says, allow him. She says, why? and he says, because he wants her to finish whatever it is she’s doing so she can focus. She asks how he thinks he’s going to log her on. Telepathically? He doesn’t work here. He knows nothing about The Invader’s system. He says, since she’s sitting at Alexis’s desk, he would consider using her password, but she says, they’re not contacting Alexis. They don’t exactly see eye to eye on this writer she hired. She’s trying to post his column before he gets here to derail it. He says, lucky for her, Alexis’s password is on a little sticky note right there. She might want to try that. Nina says she’ll eventually have to talk to Alexis about that potential security risk, after she uses it this one time. She puts in the password and says, yes! What she needs to do is drag the file underneath the header and then just hit post it and done. She laughs and Drew looks like he wants to. She says she’s leaving and she’s going to lock the office, so he’ll have to wait for Alexis outside. He says he’s not actually here to see Alexis. He’s here to see her. She asks, why is that? and he says he’s just wondering how she’s enjoying running The Invader. She says, he wants to know how she likes the job she took after he fired her, and he says, just humor him. She says, okay. It’s not exactly the job she was born to do, and Alexis hates her and all her ideas for making the paper more successful. Then again, she’s getting used to being Port Charles’s favorite punching bag. Why does he ask? He says he’s just wondering, does she miss Crimson?

Laura finishes brushing Heather’s hair and Heather asks if it looks any better. Laura takes out a mirror and says, why doesn’t Heather have a look for herself? What does she think? Heather looks and says, seeing herself in a mirror isn’t something she does much these days. She usually looks better or worse than this? Laura says she thinks Heather looks really good for somebody who’s about to go into surgery, besides, hospital lighting doesn’t do anybody any favors. Heather says, it’s just so strange having this older lady staring back at her. She’s not used to it. She used to be pretty, didn’t she? Laura says she thought so. They all age, and it’s not such a bad thing considering the alternative. Heather says, that’s true, even if they’re not girls anymore. Now they’re co-grandparents. She bets Laura didn’t see that coming. She laughs, and Laura tells her that she can’t say she did. Heather asks how Ace is. Did the antibiotics work on that ear infection of his? Laura says, yes. Worked like a charm. He’s back to his normal, happy self. Heather says, good. One of the disclaimers on the form she filled out said she could die during this operation. Laura tells her not to worry about that. It’s standard procedure for anybody who’s having surgery in the hospital. Besides, her doctor is a very skilled surgeon, one of the best in New York. She’s going to be fine. Heather says, maybe she will, maybe she won’t. It was so nice of Laura to come this morning. She’s the mayor. She has a city to run. She doesn’t have to stay. Laura says, nobody should be alone before surgery. Besides, there aren’t many of us Webbers left, right? Maybe they should stick together. Heather says, it’s nice that Laura remembers her the way she was. She’s glad somebody can.

Willow meets Michael in the stable and says she’s on her break. The meds she took to treat Jason have been flagged in the system as missing. Thank God she didn’t take painkillers, or the police would have already been called, but Elizabeth will have to look into it. He asks if there’s anything that will lead back to her, and she says, no, but Elizabeth is in charge. She’s going to have to answer for the discrepancy. Michael asks if there’s any chance it’s a computer glitch or paperwork error, but she says, no. Everything that goes out of that pharmacy is scanned electronically. This was not. They know it’s missing. He says, they’ll figure this out. Don’t panic. He promises they’ll figure it out. She asks, how? and he says he doesn’t know… yet. She asks if he’s seen Jason this morning, and Michael says, he’s doing okay. He’s moving around better. She says she’s glad Jason is getting better, but she can’t see a way out of this situation for them or him. He says, it’s hard to come up with a plan when they’re still in the dark about so much, and she asks if Jason told him what happened at the warehouse that night, or where he’s been, or why he came back now. He says, what Jason told him, he already told her. Just that he was working as a mercenary for someone who has leverage over him. That’s all he’d say.

Maxie comes back and says, sorry for the interruption. Everything’s fine. Brook says, everything is not fine, and Maxie asks what she means. Brook says, Cody just texted Sasha to let her know how Dante’s doing, and she let him know the photo shoot got canceled. What’s going on? Cody says, sorry, and Brook says, Bellpo is one of the biggest fashion magazines in the world. Sasha being on the cover would have meant huge exposure for Deception. Tracy asks what she wants to bet Lucy messed this up somehow, but Maxie says, it’s not a big deal. She knows how fashion people can be. They run hot, they run cold, they probably just wanted to regroup and find a new direction for the photo shoot. She asks Spinelli what other systems they’re upgrading, and he says he’s glad she asked. He installed the strongest antivirus software available… Lucy comes in with Sasha and says, oh. The gang is all here. Tracy asks what she did to get the photo shoot canceled. Lucy says, I beg your pardon? Tracy says, they know it was called off and they also know she was there, so it must be her fault. Sasha says, it wasn’t Lucy’s fault. She doesn’t know what happened. The shoot just felt off from the start. The Bellpo creative director clearly wasn’t happy, but couldn’t articulate to her why, and the photographer just seemed annoyed that he wasn’t getting the shot. She feels like she did everything she was asked to do and still, it wasn’t working. Brook says she doesn’t get it, and asks Lucy, what happened? Lucy says, a simple problem that can easily be fixed. Sasha is just too wholesome.

Sasha asks, what is too wholesome? and Lucy says, don’t take this the wrong way. It’s just her photographs are too approachable, too radiant. They’re just too darn nice. Maxie asks what Lucy is doing, and Brook tells Sasha not to listen to her. She’s beautiful. Any woman would kill to look like her. Sasha says, let Lucy talk, and Lucy says, it’s intangible. It’s aloofness. It’s edgy. It’s like the model is just out of reach. Kind of like Kate Moss. There was a reason she was on all those covers. Because she had that look. Tracy says, so she wants Sasha to model heroin chic. They think she didn’t do her research before she took over a cosmetics company? Cody says, this is insane. Sasha’s gorgeous and if a photographer can’t capture that, they’re clearly incompetent. Lucy says, obviously she’s gorgeous. No one is saying otherwise. She doesn’t mean to be rude. This isn’t nice or polite to say, but they need exposure. They need Sasha on the covers of those magazines, and they need that kind of exposure now more than ever. So think about it. She is the Face of Deception. Beautiful, yes, but they need mystery, unavailability. They need edginess. Does Sasha think she can do that for them?  

On the phone, Elizabeth says, it’s only a small amount, no street value, only known to medical professionals. She’s going to pull the records of everybody who logged in and out of the pharmacy storage in the past few days, and she’ll get back to them. Deanna asks if she was able to clear up the discrepancy, and Elizabeth says she’s still looking into it. It’s not really enough to affect their standing supply, so it could still be just a reporting error. Deanna asks, what if the meds are really gone? and Elizabeth says, that would mean their system isn’t secure, and that would be a much bigger issue. Deanna asks if someone could lose their job over this, and Elizabeth says, the person in charge. That would be her.

Willow says, what happens if that FBI agent who tried to question Danny questions them? Do they lie? Is that perjury or obstruction of justice? And even if that doesn’t happen, what do they do about the drugs? She can’t let Elizabeth take the fall for the meds she stole. Michael says he doesn’t know. He’s trying to figure this out just like her. What he does know is, he was sent to prison when he was 17 years old. He was just a kid. He was beaten so badly. She knows what happened to him. He couldn’t protect himself. He couldn’t stop the hell he was in, so Jason got himself sent to prison too, to protect him. Jason saved his life. He wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for Jason, so whatever he needs right now, however he can help Jason, he’s going to do it. He’s asking her to stand with him and help Jason too.

Nina brings in some coffee and says she thought Drew could use some caffeine and sugar, and he asks if he should have her taste them first. She says, ten people saw her buy these. If she was going to poison him, she’d be more discreet. He says, she’s had time to think about his question, and she says she has. She could lie to save her pride, but what’s the point? She misses Crimson. Crimson is her baby, so she misses her. She has to say, being Editor in Chief of Crimson did not prepare her for the newspaper business. The Invader is like a jigsaw puzzle with the pieces constantly moving. He says, it’s the Peter Principle playing out in action. She’s advanced to her level of incompetence. She asks if he can spare her his psychoanalysis of her abilities, and he says, it’s very simple. She was successful enough at Crimson, and she’s failing at this job because subverting the truth about beauty and fashion is practically why magazines like Crimson exist, but when you lie in a newspaper, that’s not good. You’re going to get cot caught. She says she sees what’s happening here. He’s framing this as if it’s her who’s not able to do her job. She thinks it’s the opposite. Is Carly failing at running Crimson? He says he pushed Carly into taking that job. She was never the right fit. She says, and he’s expecting her to believe at some point in their pillow talk, Carly suggested giving Crimson back to her? She knows she has a youthful glow, but she wasn’t born yesterday. He says, Carly and Crimson have parted ways. He fired her. She says, that can’t have gone over well. Carly was so happy to watch her get fired. She was almost giddy when she was able to tell Nina that she was her replacement. He says, after what she did to Carly, can she blame her? Carly never wanted that job at Crimson anyway. She says, so here they are. He and Carly were so united in humiliating her, but he’s alone, asking her if she misses Crimson. Oh my God. Carly dumped him.

Cody says, Lucy owes Sasha an apology, but Sasha says, it’s fine. Lucy’s right. The beauty industry is very different from the real world. Tracy looks at her phone and says she’s sorry. As much as she would like to stay, she’s just gotten an alert that there’s something at the hospital the board members need to be aware of, so she has to go. She congratulates Lucy on another fabulous meeting, and leaves. Maxie says, might she remind Lucy that Sasha is her hand-picked Face of Deception? She can’t hire Sasha for her look, then ask her to change into something she’s not. Cody thanks her and says, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with Sasha. She radiates warmth. Her smile could light up a city block. Lucy says, that’s true, but they desperately need that exposure and magazines do not want wholesome. They want mystery. They want edge. So they need another face, a second face. Spinelli’s phone rings and he says he’s sorry. He has to take this. He dashes out.

In the hallway, Spinelli says, Michael? Michael thanks him for picking up and asks if he’s ever hacked into the GH pharmacy control system. Spinelli says he’s not sure. Perhaps in his wild, misspent youth. Why?

Drew asks if Nina is almost done, but she says, not quite. Not even close. He had his moment of victory, so she’s going to enjoy hers. He says, there’s really nothing uglier than expressing joy at somebody else’s misfortune (maybe Drew needs to be tested for cobalt poisoning), and she says she completely agrees. She’s had extensive experience with that, usually as the target, so this is a nice change. Let her guess. Carly ditched him 30 seconds after Jason reappeared. He says, it wasn’t like that, and she says, after he went to prison for her and everything. He says, Carly wasn’t the one who sent him to Pentenville, it was his own fault she was, and she asks what he wants. Obviously, he’s still angry with her. Is he really going to give her Crimson back? He says, maybe. He hasn’t decided whether he’s going to let it die or whether he’ll give it another chance at success. The magazine is costing him a lot of money right now, which they both know he can afford, but he really doesn’t like his name being associated with failure. She says, if he wants to attach Carly’s name to that failure instead, she’s good with that. (My motto: never go back to a job or a man. There’s a reason you left.)

Heather tells Laura, it doesn’t matter how good a doctor is, with surgery, there are always risks. She’s just been wondering what would happen if she didn’t wake up. Does Laura ever think about death? Laura says, of course (🍷) she does, and Heather says, and? Laura says, after the last few years she’s had, where she lost Luke and she lost Bobbie and then Spencer, those were people she never thought she’d have to live without. Heather says she knows how that feels. Laura probably hated Esme, but she misses her baby girl too. Laura says she knows, and she didn’t hate Esme. She was Ace’s mother and she treated Esme like part of the family. Heather thanks her, and Laura says she hated some of the things Esme did. She really hates the last thing she did. Heather says she gets it. She never used to care about dying. She just thought, hey, the world was fine before she was born; why wouldn’t a world without her just be fine too? But she can’t stop wondering now. If she’d just made better choices, maybe she could have had a better life. Laura knew her back in the day. Was she always this… wild? Laura says, she always took a lot of risks. She was never happy with the status quo, and she always went after whatever she wanted, whether it was men or money. She doesn’t think she would have gone about things the same way Heather did. Heather says, but was she this crazy? and Laura says, no. Heather starts to cry, and Laura says, no, she wasn’t. This is a more recent development. TJ comes in and tells Heather that they’re ready for her in the OR. They’ll give her anesthesia and then the surgery. Heather says, then what happens? and Laura asks what she means. Heather tells them, say she goes to the surgery and it’s all successful. Now she has no more pain. All that poison is gone from her body, so she’s less crazy and some people hate her less because now there’s an explanation for why she did all those horrible crimes. Then what? Her life gets better just in time for the DA to send her to that prison all the way across the country for the rest of her life? Laura says she doesn’t know how to respond to that. She doesn’t know if Heather has any options. Heather says, all right then. At least she’ll have her shows. She hears in California, everybody’s got cable TV in their cells. So she can watch Jeopardy. Come on. Let’s go. Laura tells her, good luck, and Heather thanks her, Laura taking her hand for a moment as she’s wheeled out. Heather yells, let’s get this show on the road! and Doc walks in. He says he thought it might be time for Heather’s surgery and asks Laura if she’s okay, but Laura says, no.

Laura tells Doc that she’s been so busy hating Heather and being afraid of Heather, she lost sight of how sick she really is. Or maybe was. What if she wakes up after the surgery and she’s different? Doc says, change is possible, but in the case of mental illness, even with cobalt poisoning, it’s unrealistic to think it might reverse itself overnight. Laura says, but in time she could heal, right? Get back to… Get close to the person she used to be. He tells her, look at it like this. The cobalt has been poisoning her mentally and physically for a long time, so Heather’s skewed way of thinking is now imprinted on her brain. It’s like a bad habit and they both know any habit is hard to break, even under the best circumstances. She says, which these are not, and he says, no. Then again, he’s not a neurologist and he’s never studied the effect of toxic metals on the brain, so anything’s possible. She says she just can’t help but have some empathy for Heather. She’s had her own issues with mental health. She had people around her who loved her and made sure she got the help she needed and that she was okay. What if Heather had had the same thing? Would they have noticed the cobalt poisoning earlier, and how much did that influence the crazy things that she did? What if Heather is not really responsible – she means in the most humane definition of that word – for these crimes she committed?

Drew says, there she is. There’s the Nina they all know and love. When presented with the option of getting something she loves or punishing someone she hates, she chooses revenge every time. She says, he’s the one who brought it up, and he says, there’s no scenario here where Carly is the fall guy if Crimson goes under. So she can just stop fantasizing about that. Nina says, fine. He has his pride. What would it look like if people knew he not only lost his heart, but lost his magazine because he was so blinded by love that he couldn’t see the truth about Carly Spencer? He says, there are two things he feels for her that he could never feel for Carly, and those are rage and contempt. (Way to get someone to do what you want.) She says she’s become familiar with him directing both of those things in her direction lately, and he says, but… She says, ooh, there’s a but here, and he says he’s got to admit, there’s a couple of things she’s pretty good at too. One of them is crimes of the heart, and the other is running Crimson. It seems to him that her being reinstated as the Editor in Chief of Crimson could be her ticket to people admiring her, giving her respect. Doesn’t she want that back?

Spinelli works on his laptop in the hallway and says, almost there.

Sasha says, Lucy wants to replace her as the Face of Deception, but Lucy says, no. Not replace, not ever. Just include another face. Think of it as addition, not subtraction. Cody says, this is ridiculous. If she’s suggesting changing Sasha’s position at Deception because she’s somehow too approachable and wholesome, this isn’t the kind of company he wants to be involved with. So they might as well change his face too. Sasha says, no, and Maxie fans herself and says, let’s just take some deep breaths here. Cody doesn’t mean that. He says he doesn’t? and Brook says, Lucy should have run this past her and Maxie first before she just blurted it out. Lucy says, okay, so maybe she blurted it out, but she knows a smart business decision when she makes one. She sorry, but she doesn’t really want to listen to a stable boy who posed for a few pictures. He’s not going to tell her that she’s wrong. If he wants to quit, go ahead. He’s really not a very good model, and they just kind of agreed to keep him around to keep Sasha happy. Maxie says, that is not true… but Cody thanks Lucy for finally being honest with him. Because you know what? He’s never hated a job more than he’s hated this one. Standing around with a fake smile on his face, petting an alpaca, pretending to stare adoringly at any woman, even one that he actually does adore, isn’t for him. He’d rather spend the rest of his life picking up after horses than working for her. She doesn’t have to fire him; he quits. Lucy says, that was so beautiful. That was really a great speech, but he can’t quit. Unfortunately, he does have a contract. He says, so sue him, and walks out, slamming the door.

Maxie says, let’s just give him some time to cool off, and then they’ll have a rational conversation and smooth this over. Sasha says she knows Cody pretty well at this point and can tell he’s made up his mind. He won’t come back. Lucy says, okay. If he wants to quit a great, easy job, then that’s his problem. She’s just being honest. This whole beauty business is tough, it’s brutal, and they all know that. She hopes Sasha isn’t as upset, because her perfect gorgeousness has never been in question. Sasha says she’s not offended. This is not her first rodeo. She’s heard a lot worse. Maxie says she’s glad Sasha’s not mad, and Sasha says she’s not. She promises. But hearing Cody talk about modeling and how he perceives it has made her think. He obviously finds it tiresome and pointless, and hearing his words makes her realize she feels the same way. Maybe it’s time she quits too. Maxie hyperventilates, and Brook tells Sasha not to make any rash decisions, then tells Lucy, look at what you’ve done.

On the phone, Elizabeth says, they can see all the meds have been accounted for, so can they please call off the bloodhounds?… Thank you. She turns around to see Tracy, who says she understands there was some discrepancy that the hospital board was to be made aware of, but Elizabeth says, everything is fine. That message should have never gotten to Tracy until they knew there was an actual problem. But she has to tell Tracy, their reliance on IT security has its drawbacks. The computers are so slow to update, it created an alert that suggested there was a theft in the pharmacy storage. If Tracy wants, she can see everything that’s been accounted for now. She apologizes that Tracy was brought down here for nothing. Tracy says, the timing was perfect. She was actually rescued from something that was even more tedious and more pointless. She thanks Elizabeth and leaves. Willow breathes a sigh of relief.

Doc tells Laura, given the number and gravity of Heather’s crimes, he can’t see her convictions being overturned. She says, he’s probably right, but still, to have a prosthetic implant that’s poisoning you has to carry some weight in court. He says, it seems reasonable to him, but they have to remember that reason and the law don’t always see eye to eye. Why is this weighing on her so much? He thought she’d be happy that Heather’s finally paying for what she did. She says she thought so too, but she’s known Heather most of her life and she just wasn’t this crazy before. She wasn’t. She thinks she also realizes she hasn’t been very sympathetic towards her and all the things she’s been through in her life. Life really hasn’t treated her well. He says, it hasn’t exactly been easy for Laura either, but she didn’t turn to a life of crime, and she says, there but for the grace of God, go I. Maybe it’s that the pain of losing Spencer is so fresh and watching her go through the pain of losing Esme. When she thinks about little Ace and how wonderful it would be for him to grow up without his other grandmother being in prison for a string of murders she committed… He says, she really has a heart of gold. It’s a lot more gold than his. Even with everything Heather has done, she still manages to find compassion for her. He loves her for that. She says she loves him too, and he says, first thing in the morning, he’ll do a search for any psyche diagnoses that have resulted in a conviction being overturned. He’ll let her know what he finds. She thanks him and hugs him. He says, anything for you, Mrs. Collins.

Nina asks why she’d sign up for a daily helping of Drew’s rage and contempt. That’s not exactly appealing. He says his supervision of her work at Crimson in the past was very minimal. He’ll agree to continue with that because he doesn’t have time to dedicate to a monthly scratch and sniff anyway. (Really? I was just thinking he needs a job.) She asks if Carly has even started to put together the new scratch and sniff issue. Or did she just look at a couple pictures, raid the beauty closet, and call it a job well done? He says, that’s very cute. He knows Carly was talking to advertisers and making assignments, so she and Carly can work together on this next issue. She says, that is not happening. Crimson is her baby, her vision. It’s a success because of her. She’s not going to put her name on something full of Carly’s trashy biker chick style. Not even for one month. He says, fine. The decision is made. Hell, Crimson’s sell by date has probably expired by now anyway. Easier to just let it die. He starts to walk out and she says, wait.

Tomorrow, Chase asks Brook if she’s sure it was the right thing to go back to Deception; Cody wonders if he made the right decision; Diane says she’s been expecting this call; and Michael says he’s found a way for Jason to disappear.

🔬 Art Imitates Life…

Unlike many of Heather’s delusions, metal poisoning is a real thing.

🪩 She’s the Host…

This sounds amazing. I wish it was happening closer to me.

🍹 Grief Made Her Do It…

I see she’s taking the LisaR route and blaming the passing of her mother for her poor decisions. I believe there was another car if you do. And haven’t any of these people heard of Uber?

https://people.com/real-housewives-of-potomac-karen-huger-charged-with-dui-dwi-8612507

🍑 Refusal To Film…

I’m guessing there’s more to this story.

https://people.com/nene-leakes-slams-porsha-williams-allegedly-refusing-to-film-show-together-she-is-not-star-8610146

🏊 Not Ready For the Summer…

Because even the reality site recappers need to recover after watching, a capsule of what the most awful people in reality are up to this week. Unfortunately, the only palatable part – Paige looking for a bigger apartment in NYC with Craig at her side – was left out.

🩰 Tiny Dancers…

May 1st on Lifetime

https://ew.com/dance-moms-the-reunion-trailer-maddie-ziegler-absent-8605423

📺 Banner Year Already…

2025 will be here before we know it, right?

https://ew.com/snowpiercer-saved-by-amc-season-4-will-air-2025-8609438

https://ew.com/black-mirror-returns-2025-uss-callister-sequel-8609387

https://www.thewrap.com/yellowjackets-season-3-preview-ashley-lyle

https://comicbook.com/horror/news/yellowjackets-season-3-update-tone-confirmed-tease-first-season

🦛 Hip Hippo Hooray…

Can you imagine this little nugget following you around the house?

https://people.com/rare-pygmy-hippo-birth-at-athens-zoo-has-staff-absolutely-thrilled-8611563

🌈 Following the Color Block Road…

Stop by tomorrow for a dose of soap and Friday shenanigans. Until then, stay safe, stay tasting food before seasoning it, and stay being sympathetic toward those whom life hasn’t treated well.

January 19, 2024 – Drew Makes a Replacement, A Thought, Custom Made, Side Work, Joke’s On Her, Reaction, VanderSpin, Dragon 2, Late Return, Which Ones, He’s Back, Best Bowl, One Dozen Quotes & Winter

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Laura says, Cyrus’s health must be improving. He looks better. Cyrus thanks her and says, dropping the charges against Sonny Corinthos has revitalized his spirit. His soul is unburdened, so his body can heal. She asks, what led to this unburdening? and he says, accountability. He acknowledged his role in the attack. How he provoked Sonny at the wrong time instead of giving him grace. If he’d simply turned around and walked away, the beating would never have happened. Once he realized that, he was able to let his anger go, and he found peace. She asks if that’s why he called her last night and wanted her here first thing in the morning, to share this epiphany? He says he called her because there’s a lost soul in need of her help. Spencer walks in and Cyrus says, welcome, nephew. You’re right on time.

Ava hears someone come into the gallery, and says she told Trina to take the day off. She turns around and sees it’s Esme. She asks what the hell Esme wants. She’s not welcome here. Esme says, please don’t kick her out. She needs Ava’s help.

Willow says hi to Adam, and he asks where he is. She says, he’s at General Hospital, and he asks, why? She says, because his friend saved his life.

Carly finishes with an interview for a Kelly’s Bobbie’s manager, when Sam walks in. She says, Carly looks underwhelmed, and Carly says, she’s perceptive. She guesses that’s what makes Sam such a great P.I. If she’s looking for something new, perhaps Carly can interest her in the exciting world of shift management.

Nina goes to her office, where movers are removing everything. She asks what they’re doing here, and one of them says, moving. She says, they must be on the wrong floor, but he says, they’re on the right floor. She says, they can’t be because this is her office. They have to leave immediately and tell that guy to bring her stuff back or she’s calling security. He says, they’re just doing their job, and she says, what job? Who ordered this? Drew walks in and says he did. He tells the guys, good work, and suggests they take a break, giving them money for coffee (which I notice he says like caffee) and muffins. They leave, and Nina says, what the hell? He can’t just order her out of her own office. It’s trespassing. He says, no, it’s business. He owns Aurora; Aurora owns Crimson. He knows she’s the Editor-in-Chief of Crimson, but he’s still her boss. Until now. She’s fired. (Okay. I won’t get into how many shades of wrong this would be in the real world, and the lawsuit that would happen. I’ll just keep telling myself, it’s only a soap…)

In the chapel, Josslyn asks how Dex found her, and he says, when she didn’t answer his calls, he went by her dorm. He ran into her RA Kylie, and she told him what happened. He came here and looked around until he found her. She says, her phone died. She’s sorry she didn’t pick up his call. So much was going on. He says, obviously. Why didn’t she call him when she got here? She says she didn’t want to bother him. She knows how he feels about Adam and figured he had enough. He says, if she’s going through something, he wants to know and help if he can. That’s how this works. Got it? She says, got it. She suggests they check on Adam, see if he’s awake. She needs to apologize to him. He asks what she needs to apologize for, and she says, he freaked out because she told the RA that he was in trouble, but Dex says, she has nothing to apologize for. The people who need to be apologizing are Adam’s parents.

Willow asks if Adam remembers anything from last night, but he says, not really. He’d had too much to drink at a frat party. She says, Josslyn Jax found him alone in Rice Park, and he says, sometimes when he drinks, he wanders. It’s a bad habit. She says, he also ingested a lot of pills, and he says, for a cold. She says she’ll let the doctor fill him in, but he says he’d really like to get back to his dorm. She says, he’ll have to be cleared by the attending before he can be released, and he asks when that will be. She says, he had to have his stomach pumped last night. She doesn’t want to alarm him, but he’s lucky to be alive. He says, lucky me.

Carly tells Sam, business is going great, really great. That’s why she has to hire more staff. It’s a really good problem to have, but she just wants Bobbie’s to live up to its namesake. Sam asks what she’s talking about. Bobbie’s is thriving because of her. Onward and upward. Carly thanks her and says she needed to hear that. What can she get Sam? Sam says she’s going to wait to order until Drew gets here, and Carly says, she’s meeting him now? Sam says, actually, five minutes ago. He’s running late. Carly says she hates to break it to Sam, but she’s going to be waiting a long time for Drew.

Nina says, Drew is making a big mistake, and he says, maybe, but it’s his mistake to make. She asks if he honestly thought she’d just roll over and accept this. What about Michael? Drew might own Aurora, but Michael runs it. What does he think Michael will have to say about this? Drew says, hooray?

Cyrus says he’s grateful Spencer came, and Spencer says he didn’t know Laura would be here. She says, nor I, you, and asks Cyrus, what’s going on? He says he thought they should both know he had a visitor here late last night. Somebody who needed his help, who was desperate and alone, who felt everything had been taken from her. Spencer says, Esme, and Laura asks why Esme would come here. Cyrus asks if Spencer wants to explain the rest or should he do it for him? and Laura says, enough with the mystery. Somebody better tell her something. Spencer says he saw his father last night.

Ava says, one too many knocks to the head? and Esme says, does Ava think she wants to be here asking for her help? Ava says, at least she didn’t have to break in. Now leave or she’s going to call the cops. Esme asks if she hasn’t already done that. Ava tried to send her to prison. Ava says, funny. That’s where she thinks criminals belong. Esme says, Ava’s right. She shouldn’t have broken into Windymere, and what Ava did is entirely justified. Ava asks what she wants. Spit it out. Esme says, has she seen Nikolas? and Ava says, why? Has she? Esme says, no, and Ava wonders why she asks. Esme says, because he’s kidnapped her son.

Laura says, Nikolas came back to Port Charles? Where is he? Spencer says, he was here last night. He’s already gone. Laura says, her son came and went without her even knowing. At least Spencer got to see him. It must have been quite a shock though. Did he say why he risked coming back to Port Charles? Spencer says, he came here to take Ace with him… and I let him.

Dex says, Josslyn told him about the pressure Adam’s parents put him under. No wonder he cracked. She says she just can’t believe he’s this messed up about his grades. They’re better than hers, and hers are pretty good. Dex says, it’s not about his GPA. He feels shame for letting his parents down. He wants them to be proud of him. She says, but he acts like he can’t stand them, and Dex says, just the opposite. Adam loves his parents and feels like a failure because he can’t live up to their expectations. She asks if that’s how it was for him, and he says, not exactly. If there was any part of him that wanted to please his parents, it got burned out pretty quickly. He only found peace with his family when he walked away. He just hopes Adam doesn’t have to make the same choice. She says, he really needs help, doesn’t he? and Dex says, he’s going to need a good friend, and that’s what she’s been. She says, let’s go see how he’s doing.

Adam apologizes to Willow for being edgy. He just wants to get out of here. She says she bets, but they need to have the attending check him out first, okay? Portia comes in and says, he’s up. How is he feeling? He asks if she’s the attending, and she says she’s Dr. Robinson. She’s the Co-Chief of Staff here. He says, wow. Then she can definitely sign him out. When can he leave? Willow says she’ll check on the attending and see if Dr. Wallace is available. She leaves, and Adam says he’s really sorry, but last night was just a complete, huge misunderstanding. He’s sorry if he caused trouble, but his friend Josslyn just overreacted. So if she could sign him out, that would be great. She says she happens to know Josslyn Jax, and she doesn’t overreact much. Neither does the staff here at the hospital. She thinks it’s pretty clear what happened here, and anyway, he’s going to have to be cleared by a psychiatrist before he can be discharged. It’s hospital policy. He says, Dr. Robinson… Is she Trina’s mom? She says she is, and he says, Trina’s told him a lot about her. She says, he’s friends with Trina, so she has to take especially good care of him, right? He says, cool. So let him out. She says, if after his evaluation, they all agree that what happened last night is just an unfortunate accident, then he can be discharged. If not, then they’ll have to take the next steps. He asks what that even means. Are they going to keep him here or something? Doesn’t he have rights? What if he doesn’t consent to it? She says, of course (🍷) he has rights. Absolutely, but some of those rights are determined by his diagnosis. They want the absolute best outcome for him, and if they determine he’s a threat to himself or anyone else, they can’t let him leave. It’s hospital policy and standard practice. The on-call psychiatric attending should be here soon, and his parents… He says, they can’t know, and she tells him calm down. He says, please. They can’t know.

Ava asks when Nikolas took Ace, and Esme says, during the hearing. Spencer was supposed to bring Ace to the courthouse, but he never showed up. Nikolas came to the apartment and convinced Spencer to give him her baby. Ava says, that’s unbelievable. And she never saw Nicholas in Port Charles? Esme says, no. He hid from her like the coward that he is, but Spencer let Nikolas take Ace. She can’t believe Spencer would betray her like that. She thought they were getting along. She thought Spencer hated his father… Ava says, like father, like son, self-serving, duplicitous, and Esme says, Ace doesn’t even know Nikolas. He’s going to be so scared and so confused. Nikolas doesn’t know what Ace likes. He needs his mother. She can’t be without her son. She cries and says, he’s all that she’s got. Ava says, it’s a terrible thing to be separated from your child, and Esme says, so she understands. Ava says, unfortunately, she does, but why come to her? and Esme says she thought Nikolas might not be able to stay away from her. Ava says, unfortunately, and Esme says, so she’s right, isn’t she? Nikolas came to see her. Ava says, Nikolas was here, and Esme says, thank God, but Ava says, he’s gone now, and Esme’s never going to find him.

Laura says, Spencer let Nikolas take Ace? How could he do such a thing? He says he had no choice. His little brother wasn’t safe with Esme. She says, come on. She’s proven herself to be a good mother and he knows it. Does Esme know Nikolas took her baby? Cyrus says, that’s why she came to see him last night. She wanted his help tracking Nikolas down. Laura asks why Esme thought he could help her, and Cyrus says, she thinks he has powerful contacts and thought he’d be amenable because Nikolas and Ace are his relatives. Of course (🍷) he’s related to them through Laura, so he knew he had to do the right thing and inform her. He asked Spencer here so he could be the one to explain. Spencer says, Cyrus is all about his soul, right? And confession being good for it? Cyrus says he’d hope so. Spencer is the one who took a child from his mother. Spencer says he did not take Ace, and Laura says, no. He just handed Ace over like he was returning a package. How could he do such a thing? She can only imagine how Esme is feeling right now. How could Spencer take a baby from the only family he ever knew? Spencer says, because he loves his brother, and he’s not going to allow him to be raised by some psychopath, but Laura says, he goes back to that whenever it’s convenient for him. Esme’s worked hard to overcome her past. Spencer says, Laura doesn’t understand. He knows the truth now. Esme’s been lying. She remembers everything.

Portia says, they had to call Adam’s parents because according to his PCU medical records, they’re his emergency contact. Adam asks what she told his parents, and she says she told them he was here and that he’d had a medical emergency. He asks if she told them about the pills, that he tried to hurt himself, and she asks if that’s what happened. He says, no. It was just an accident. She says, okay. Here’s the deal. He’s over 18, so he’s considered to be an adult. As far as they’re concerned, they can’t share any of his information without his permission. He thanks her, and she says, but his parents are still going to have questions. And whether or not last night was an accident, he’s still going to need a support system in place. So she’s imploring him to please be honest with the doctor who’s going to evaluate him. Be honest with his parents, and most importantly, be honest with himself.

Portia leaves and asks if there’s any word on the psyche attending. Is it Dr. Wallace? Willow says, he’s still doing rounds in the west wing. He’ll be down in a second. How’s Adam? She feels so bad for him. Josslyn said he’s under a lot of pressure at school. She just hopes if Wiley or Amelia ever feel pressured at school, they come to her. Portia says she doesn’t get it. Kids these days have so much pressure on them. The bullying, the isolation, school shootings, everything that’s going on in the world. Depression and anxiety are an epidemic for this generation, and it breaks her heart. Josslyn and Dex come by, and Josslyn asks Portia if Adam is awake yet. Portia says she didn’t know Josslyn was here. Did she sleep here last night? Josslyn says she just wants to make sure Adam is okay, and Portia says, he’s awake. He cannot have any visitors right now. That’s really all she can tell Josslyn. A man goes to the reception desk and says he’s here to see Adam Wright. He was brought in last night. He wants to see his son.

Carly says, Drew mentioned he had a meeting at Aurora this morning, and Sam says, they’ve had this on the books for a week. Carly says she’s sure it was last minute. He must have forgotten. Drew would never leave her hanging. Sam says, so she thought. Never say never, she guesses. Carly asks what that means, and Sam says she and Drew have been out of step lately. That’s why she scheduled this meeting, to see if they could iron some things out. Carly asks if this is about the situation with Scout’s school. She doesn’t believe Drew meant to undercut Sam. Sam says, actually, they’ve resolved that issue, but things are still really tense, and they have been since he got home from Pentenville. Maybe it’s just her… Never mind. Carly says, don’t do that. Talk to her. What’s going on? Sam says, Carly probably spends the most time with Drew. Since he’s been back, hasn’t she noticed that he’s changed?

Drew says, as Nina pointed out, Michael just runs Aurora. He happens to own it, so he gets the final say. Nina says she gets it. Either Micahel disagrees with him about firing her and running Crimson into the ground or he doesn’t know. Michael may have Sonny’s last name and he may hate her, but he’s a Quartermaine through and through. He doesn’t let his personal feelings interfere with the balance sheet. Drew says, don’t forget he’s a Quartermaine too, and she says, maybe he should take a page out of his nephew’s book. She has run a tight, profitable ship for years. She saved Crimson from bankruptcy when Julian Jerome tried to run it in the ground and use it as a tax write-off. Now Crimson is one of the top fashion magazines in the country. It is Aurora’s flagship title and it’s her baby. Speaking of, what kind of father tanks his company and destroys his child’s legacy? Isn’t Scout a major shareholder? He gets in Nina’s face and tells her, don’t you dare bring my daughter into this. (I say, or what? You gonna hit me? which is what Nina should say.)

Carly tells Sam, Drew had a horrific experience in Pentenville, and he’s struggling. She thinks that’s to be expected after 3 years in a dungeon in Crete first that affected him not at all. Just when he was getting his bearings, they found out Nina was the one who called the SEC on them. And that very same night, they found out her mother died. She thinks Drew’s angry. She’s angry. Sam says she understands that, but Drew is angry at the world. Carly is directing her anger toward Nina, and rightly so. Carly says, her instincts are telling her to strike back, but she wants to be more like her mom. She wants to focus on what’s important, and right now, keeping her legacy alive and honoring her is so important. She hopes she’s succeeding, but she doesn’t know. Sam says, Bobbie would be really proud of her right now. Carly thanks her and says, but Bobbie also gave people second chances. Maybe that’s what they need to do for Drew. Give him some grace and double down on their support. Sam says she hears Carly, and don’t get her wrong, she’d do anything to support Drew, aside from the issue with Scout and the school. If there’s any way she can help him… Does Carly have any idea how she can do that? She’s listening.

Drew asks what he ever did to Nina. Did he harm her in some way? She says, it wasn’t about him. It was always about Carly. He says, two people were reported to the SEC. Did she just forget about him? She didn’t care that he was collateral damage? She didn’t care that he just got back into his daughter’s life, and he was ripped away again? Right after he helped save Nina’s daughter’s life, so she just cares about her daughter, not his? She says she’s sorry, and she was very grateful. She didn’t know he’d be the one to go to prison. He says, she didn’t want to know. She didn’t care. She was just so hellbent on destroying Carly. He thinks it’s insecurity. She asks what he’s talking about, and he says, Wiley and Amelia love Carly. They’re so much closer to Carly than they are to her. Willow too, for that matter. And Sonny and Carly. Their bond is dysfunctional, but it’s also unbreakable, and he doesn’t think she can stand that, so she wanted to get Carly out of the picture. Nina wanted her out by any means possible. Nina asks if he can just stop talking. Yes. She did what she did, and she won’t deny it, but she thinks this is a perfect opportunity for him to acknowledge his part. He is responsible for putting himself at risk. He says, Carly’s investment was a well-intentioned act of support, with no nefarious motive whatsoever. Nina, on the other hand, just wanted to take Carly out. And now he wants to take Nina out. Nina says she wants to give him fair warning. Don’t use all these feelings to influence his business decisions. Talk to legal. He can’t just fire her. She may not own the company, but without her, there is no magazine. He says, she’s not telling him anything he doesn’t know, and she asks if he’s telling her that he would shutter Crimson just to get rid of her. He says he’s telling her that he would do anything to make her pay for what she’s done.

Portia introduces herself to Adam’s father, and he asks, where’s Adam? Is he okay? She says, he’s resting and he still needs to be seen by an attending. He says, Adam drank too much and made a fool of himself. Does that really require further consultation? She says, it requires them to be as thorough as possible, and he says he doesn’t want her running up their bill with all kinds of extra charges. Adam’s already squandered the money they’ve invested in his education with this foolishness, which is exactly what they were afraid of. Now when can he take his son home? Portia says she’ll go check his status, and walks away. Josslyn follows her and says, Adam can’t go. He needs to stay here and get help. He absolutely cannot go home. Wright says, and why is that? What does she know about his son that he doesn’t? (Hint: Probably everything.)

Esme asks if Ava helped Nikolas kidnap her son, but Ava says she would never do anything like that. Esme says, then why was he here? Why did he come looking for Ava? Did he want Ava to help him get her out of the way? Is that why Ava pressed charges against her? Ava says, that’s ridiculous. She didn’t know Esme had broken into Windymere. She didn’t know Laura was going to convince her to confess to it. Esme says, just tell her how to find Nikolas, please, but Ava says she can’t. He’s a Cassadine. He’s got money, he’s got resources, he’s got the private islands. If Laura couldn’t find him, does Esme really think she’ll be able to? Esme says she’s not giving up on her son. She has resources too. Ava says, Esme has no idea what she’s getting herself into, and her resources can’t possibly compete or compare. Esme asks if she looks helpless. She’ll do whatever it takes to find her son. Maybe she has a dangerous ally of her own. Ava says, oh really? Like who? Esme says, Cyrus Renault.

Cyrus says, Esme told him that Spencer threatened to have the old charges reinstated against her. When he questioned her, she wouldn’t say how this might be possible. Spencer says, because she doesn’t want anyone to know that she’s regained her memory, and Cyrus asks how he knows that. Spencer says, because of the little things she was saying. He was with her before her arraignment at the PCPD. She kept going back to how everyone hated her and how she was the one being persecuted. Then he pointed out to her that these are things that sound like the old Esme. As soon as he said that, she backed off. Laura says, how would he expect her to react? She confessed and she expressed true remorse over what was really a Class-A misdemeanor, and still Ava had to press charges. Spencer says, she told him that Ava wanted her to pay for what she supposedly did to Trina, as though Ava and Trina are the ones overreacting, and she’s the one being persecuted in this situation. Laura says she’s sorry. She doesn’t see this as proof that Esme regained her memory. Spencer says, she called him Spence. That’s what she used to call him, back when they were together. She hasn’t used that name for him since she lost her memory. Laura says, so she called him by his nickname, and he says, when he told her that his father had taken Ace, she told him that she was going to the police and was going to report the kidnapping. He threatened her and said, if she does that, he’s going to tell the police that she has her memory back and they’re going to reopen the investigation. As soon as she heard that, she seemed like she couldn’t risk it. Laura says, maybe she couldn’t risk being thought of as a suspect when she’s so desperate to get her son back. He gave Ace away based on a suspicion, not based on something he knew, and certainly nothing he could prove. Spencer says he does know that Esme has regained her memory, and Cyrus says he’s sorry to interrupt, but memory or not, Esme is still going after her son. She came to him asking for his help. Who else is she going to go to? And if Esme is successful, what will she do when she finds Nikolas?

Carly tells Sam that she thinks the best thing they can do for Drew is, just be honest with each other and keep talking, and to give him some time. She’s going to do everything she can on her end. Sam says, just so she knows, she’s not alone in this. There are plenty of people who care about Drew. Carly says, but what happened to Drew is on her. She’s the one who bought the Aurora stock because she had to inflate the price, even after Drew told her not to, over and over again. And he took the fall just to protect her. Sam says, he insisted on doing that, but Carly says, he wouldn’t have been faced with that choice if it weren’t for her to begin with. So she’s going to do everything in her power to make up for it. Sam says, as long as helping him doesn’t come at her own expense, because that’s the last thing he would want.

Nina asks Drew, what about the staff? They’re hard-working, they’re loyal, some of the best in the business. He’s willing to lay off all of those people just to get back at her. He says, that’s on her. He takes out an envelope and says, she signs this termination agreement or Crimson, with all its staff, is going out of business. One of the movers asks if they should start loading the boxes on the freight elevator, and Drew says he’ll have a look. He tells Nina that he’ll give her a moment to think about it. He leaves, and Nina tosses the papers in a box. She pauses and takes out a photo of Willow with Wiley and Amelia. Drew comes back and says, time’s up. Is she going to sign, or is she taking Crimson down with her? (I’m starting to think this is a dream or he’s really gone bonkers. A lot of it doesn’t make sense, even for a soap.)

Portia says, Josslyn found Adam in the park yesterday, and called emergency services. Wright says, she found him, or she was out drinking with him? and Dex says, Josslyn wasn’t drinking. She went to look for Adam because she was concerned for him. Josslyn says, Adam was alone and nearly passed out, and Wright says, they’ve been concerned about his behavior for quite a while. Josslyn says, really? and Wright says, this incident proves Adam is just not mature enough to live on his own. Josslyn says, it’s not a question about maturity. Adam needs help. He says he appreciates her concern and he’s grateful she called for help when she did, but he’ll take it from here. Josslyn says, he doesn’t understand. Adam has been hiding everything from him because Adam is afraid of what he’ll do. Wright asks why he would be afraid. He and his mother only want the best for Adam. Josslyn says, he just feels so much pressure, and Wright says, Adam has a very promising career ahead of him. He had the test scores to get into PCU. He’s maintained a 4.0 up until now. If he stays on track, he’ll be admitted to a top tier medical school. But now Adam is drinking and partying and squandering everything that he and his mother have worked hard to give him. She says, Adam isn’t partying. He’s self-medicating, having panic attacks. Portia thanks Josslyn and says she thinks she can take it from here. Why doesn’t Josslyn go home and get some rest? Wright asks who he has to speak to, to remove his son, and Dex tells Josslyn, let’s just let the hospital handle this, okay? Wright says, yeah. She’s done her part. Now please leave. This doesn’t concern her. Josslyn says, it should concern him that his son tried to kill himself last night.

Laura says she’s got to alert the police, but Spencer says, if she does that, the FBI could get involved, and who knows who else. Plus, if his father is captured, then Ace is going to get returned to Esme. (He really doesn’t get it, does he?) Laura says, they don’t even know if she’s regained her memory, and if she has, she still might do the right thing by her son. Cyrus says he agrees with Laura. He believes in the power of redemption. Spencer says, well, he doesn’t. Esme’s redemption is fake, and why is Laura still believing her? Is she really choosing Esme’s well-being over Ace’s? Laura says she’s being realistic, and the reality is that Ace would be safer if he was with them. He should have stopped his father. She just doesn’t understand why he didn’t come to her with his suspicions. She would have listened to him. They could have gone to the police together and made Esme face the things she’s done. Spencer says, what about his father, who up until ten minutes ago was the biggest asshat in the world? Should he have reported him as well? Laura says she would have never asked him to turn his own father in, but she knows Ace should be with them while all of the other stuff is getting sorted out. Spencer says, and what if it got sorted out in Esme’s favor? As far as he’s concerned, his father just saved Ace’s life. Laura says, don’t get her wrong. She’s glad that he’s starting to realize his father isn’t the heartless man Spencer’s made him out to be, but he has demonstrated some spectacularly bad judgement here and so has Spencer. His father is on the run. He’s being pursued by the authorities. This little baby has never been in more danger.

Portia tells Josslyn, that’s enough, and Dex says, let’s just go, but Josslyn says, Adam took a pack of antihistamines and washed it down with vodka. He knew what he was doing. Adam is so afraid of his father, he’d rather not live than face him. Wright says, she’s lying, and Josslyn says, doesn’t he even care? He pushed and he pushed until Adam reached his breaking point. Wright says he wants her gone – now! And if this girl comes within 50 feet of Adam, he’ll sue. (Um… we’ve already established Adam is over 18. I don’t think he can. Why is everyone being weird today?) Portia says, that’s unnecessary. She’s tired, she hasn’t slept all night, and she’s leaving right now. Why don’t they go to her office, and she can explain everything that’s going on with Adam, and they can wait for the attending there. Wright leaves with Portia, and Willow goes over to Josslyn and Dex. She says, Dr. Robinson won’t let anything happen to Adam, and Dex tells Josslyn, anything she says will just antagonize Adam’s father. She says, because he refuses to see the truth, and Dex says, Wright isn’t going to listen to her, but if she’s not here, he might listen to Dr. Robinson. Josslyn asks Willow to promise to keep an eye on Adam, and Willow promises. Josslyn says, okay then, and walks to the elevator with Dex, but then she quickly walks off.

Ava says, Esme is joking, but Esme says, Cyrus is going to help her find her son. Ava says, why? and Esme says, because he cares about his family. Ava says, Esme’s not his family. Ace may be a part of his family, but she is not. Esme says, but he promised, and Ava says, promised what exactly? Esme says, nothing. He promised her nothing. She starts to cry again, and says, her son is kidnapped. No one will help her and she’s all alone. She heads for the door, and Ava says, wait, but Esme says, stay away from me, and leaves.

Laura thanks Cyrus for coming to her, to them, about Esme, and he says, they’re family. Where else would he go? She leaves, and in the hallway, Spencer asks if she sees now. Esme went to Cyrus for help. Isn’t that proof she can’t be trusted? Laura says, it’s proof she’s desperate and will do anything to get her baby back, and he says, fine. Both can be true. She takes out her phone and calls the PCPD, asking for Dante. Spencer tries to take the phone, but she says, stop it. She has to do it. She tells them, it’s urgent… Dante answers, and she says, it’s Laura. My grandson Ace has been taken.

Josslyn looks in on Adam through the door window. Dex comes up behind her and gently guides her back to the elevator.

Nina signs the papers, and hands them to Drew. He says he’s surprised she gave in so quickly. She tells him, like she said, Crimson is her baby, and she’ll do anything to save her. (Besides this whole scene being in a parallel universe, is there some weird parallel with Ace here?) She’ll do anything for the employees, even if it means giving up everything she cares about. He asks if she thinks he’d really sabotage Aurora’s flagship title for her. Crimson was always going to be just fine. She says, so this was his plan all along, manipulate her sense of duty to her employees. He says, or maybe she just couldn’t pass up an opportunity to play martyr. She says, her employees are going to lose their jobs eventually anyway, and he says, former employees. She says, this magazine is nothing without her. Does he really think he’s going to get the photographers, the designers, the advertisers? The editorial staff will quit immediately. She made this magazine. This is her magazine. She’s irreplaceable. He says, and yet, he’s already replaced her. Carly walks in, and he says, meet Crimson’s new Editor-in-Chief.

On Monday, Nina says, they’re finally even; Martin asks where Lucy thinks she’s running off to in such a hurry; Esme says, you’re the only person I can turn to (Heather maybe?); and Dante says, maybe he should be arresting Spencer instead.

💭 I dunno about this. I’m guessing the closest Carly has come to editing a magazine is reading one, and wasn’t she just talking to Sam? Hard to believe Nina would say she’s irreplaceable along with all the other big talk, and this would also hardly be moving on for Carly after her speech on letting go. The whole thing was just weird.

🪆 Her Toy Story…

I keep forgetting she was in Five Nights at Freddy’s. I still haven’t seen it.

🪂 On Their Off Time…

Writing mission completed.

This sounds like a real headache. She took an amazing passport photo though.


🤡 Ha-Ha-Ha-Ha-Ha-Ha-Ha and Then Some…

Apparently, the board-certified medical professional was called out by bigger board-certified medical professionals.

😘 She Doesn’t Care…

Sleeping with him was punishment enough.

🍸 After the Rules…

It was bound to happen.

https://people.com/vanderpump-rules-spinoff-the-valley-starring-jax-taylor-brittany-cartwright-kristen-doute-premiere-spring-2024-8431186

🐉 Dragon Is Coming…

What’s up with Season 2.

https://winteriscoming.net/posts/hbo-responds-to-house-of-the-dragon-season-2-release-date-rumors

🐝 Fly Back To Us Soon…

Hopefully, we’re all still alive in 2025.

https://screenrant.com/yellowjackets-season-3-cast-story-everything-we-know/

https://www.etonline.com/yellowjackets-cast-teases-season-3-without-juliette-lewis-exclusive-217957

🏈 In Between Bowl…

The trailers anticipated during the upcoming Super Bowl.

https://comicbook.com/movies/news/super-bowl-2024-what-trailers-commercials-deadpool-3-movies-tv/

🦸🏽 You’re Welcome, Canada…

Deadpool is the best.

https://comicbookmovie.com/deadpool/deadpool-3/deadpool-3-set-photos-reveal-multiple-variants-of-spoiler-in-upcoming-mcu-threequel-a208960

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-12984525/deadpool-3-ryan-reynolds-sports-long-hair-marvel-hugh-jackman.html

🐾 Fluffy For the Win…

More on Puppy Bowl XX.

https://wagwalking.com/daily/puppy-bowl-2024

https://ew.com/meet-the-starting-lineup-of-the-2024-puppy-bowl-8425601

👸🏽 Quotes of the Week

Things just tend to accumulate after Labor Day. What can I tell you?Little Edie Beale, Grey Gardens

Your journey has molded you for your greater good, and it was exactly what it needed to be. Don’t think that you’ve lost time. There is no short cutting to life. It took each and every situation you have encountered to bring you to the now. And now is right on time. – Asha Tyson

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

Hold yourself responsible for a higher standard than anybody else expects of you. – Henry Ward Beecher

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

Comparison is the death of true self-contentmentJohn Powell

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

It’s almost nostalgic for a time that never existed. – Ruth Washington (Myha’la Herrold) referring to the TV series Friends, Leave the World Behind

Time is too slow for those who wait, too swift for those who fear, too long for those who grieve, too short for those who rejoice, but for those who love, time is eternity. – Henry van Dyke Jr.

Don’t stop until you see the whites of his pockets. – Don Draper (Jon Hamm), Mad Men

Your greatness is measured by your kindness; your education and intellect by your modesty; your ignorance is betrayed by your suspicions and prejudices, and your real caliber is measured by the consideration and tolerance you have for others. William J.H. Boetcker

It’s going to be a long learning curb.Amy Slaton, 1000-Lb. Sisters

Skating On Thin Ice…

Bounce back on Monday really Tuesday for soap and turbulent seas on the Med. Until then, stay safe, stay using your turn signals (you learned that in driver’s ed, right?), and stay focusing on what’s important, even when your instincts are telling you to strike back.

March 24, 2023 – Victor Gets the Necklace, Not Being Nik, New New York, Not Quite Fatal, VanderTalk, Second Jackets, Kitty (!), Enough Quotes For an Octopod & Cornflake

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Valentin plops a hooded Eileen down, and takes off her hood. He says, welcome back to the safehouse, and she asks if all this cloak and dagger is still necessary. He and Anna say, yes, but Eileen says she doesn’t think it is. She thinks it amuses them to torture her by having Felicia Scorpio put a bag over her head, like she’s some… Anna says, like she’s someone who would sell them out, but Eileen says she wouldn’t do that. Valentin asks if they’re supposed to take her word on that, and she says, of course (🍷) not, but they have other leverage. So their best interests are her best interests. Anna says, they’d like to keep that imbalance of power in their favor for now, and Eileen says, fine. Tell her what they want her to do, and she’ll do it. They can at least rely on her for that. Anna says she hopes so, because they can’t afford to make one single misstep, and neither can Eileen.

Spencer says, if Esme isn’t hungry, she can at least stay hydrated. He sets a cup on the coffee table, and says, it’s an organic herbal tea said to promote healthy lactation. She tells him, so he says, and he tells her, don’t worry. Drugging people is kind of more of a you thing. Laura comes in, and Spencer says, good morning. She says she’d like it to be for everyone, including Esme, so let’s not forget Esme is their guest, and he asks how he can. Laura says she expected this to be a bumpy transition, but they want Esme to feel welcome, don’t they? and he says, of course (🍷). Forgive him. Esme says she won’t stay anyplace she feels unwanted or unwelcome, so wherever she goes, Ace goes. There’s a knock at the door, and Spencer opens it to Victor. He asks what brings Victor by, and Victor says, what else? He’s come for his nephew.

Trina is on her way upstairs, and Marshall says, stop right there, young lady. She says she thought the house was empty, and he says, she hoped it was empty. Why is she sneaking in here like this isn’t her home? She says, because she’s not sure it is.

At Kelly’s counter, Cameron looks at his paycheck, when Josslyn comes in and says she was hoping she could still find him here. He says he’s picking up his last paycheck, and she says, end of an era, huh? He says, yeah, and asks why she was looking for him.

Outside on the phone, Sonny says, thanks for the update, and tells Dex, Brick couldn’t ID the contractor from the warehouse. Dex says, so that’s it, dead end? and Sonny makes another call, asking someone to meet him on Pier 55 in an hour. He tells Dex, for you to survive in this business, you never give up. When somebody’s coming after you, they’re not going to stop at the first attempt. You have to keep digging. Dex asks if Sonny thinks his family is at risk, and Sonny says, he’s taking precautions; he doesn’t know. Dex asks, why not? Sonny says, because when it’s a hit like this, a hired gun, the only thing that matters is taking out the target.

Josslyn says she was thinking about her and Cameron’s conversation about Dex, when Sonny and Dex walk in.

Marshall says he knows there’s a lot up in the air with Curtis and Trina’s mama, but one thing he can say for sure, on behalf of them and himself, she’ll always have a home with them. She says, it doesn’t feel much like home, does it? and Marshall says, it is looking mighty grim. With Portia constantly working and Curtis at the MetroCourt, to avoid the quiet, he’s been staying out. She says, out with Miss Epiphany? but he says, she’s still out of town. She got accepted to a whole slew of medical schools out of state, including… Johns Hopkins. Trina says, that’s amazing. That’s really good for her. Marshall says, it is, and she says, Maryland isn’t all that far, is it? He says, the fast train usually takes nine and a half hours, and she says, so an airplane is out of the question? He says he could do that, but that’s not what’s really troubling him. Epiphany moving to Baltimore or somewhere, and everything that’s happening here, he doesn’t know quite where he fits in. She puts her head on his shoulder, and says she knows the feeling.

Spencer tells Victor, it’s not the best time, and Laura says, he’s not welcome here. She’s going to have to ask him to leave. Victor says, at least she’s giving him a choice in the matter this time, and she says she’d prefer he leave on his own, but she can and will have him physically removed by security. She takes out her phone, and Spencer says, that’s not necessary; he’ll handle this. Victor says, Spencer of all people should know he’s not one to be handled, and Spencer says, if Victor doesn’t mind, he’d like to talk in the hallway. Victor says, very well, lead the way, but Spencer says, after you. I insist. He closes the door behind them, and Laura apologizes to Esme. She says she’ll do her best never to have Victor bother her again, and Esme says she gets this really bad feeling every time Victor Cassadine is around. Laura says, that’s because Victor Cassadine is a very bad man.

Spencer says, when he told Victor that Esme and the baby were staying here, he didn’t expect Victor to just show up, and Victor says, the baby is a Cassadine and belongs with Cassadines. He’ll go wherever he wants, and take what or whoever he wants, and woe betide anyone who gets in his way. Spencer says, including him?

Anna says, Eileen is going to call Victor and set up a meet for today, and Valentin says, and she has a very special delivery. He opens a jewelry box, showing her the fake necklace, but when she reaches for it, he snaps it shut. He says he can’t stress this enough; this is the most critical juncture of their plan. Anna says, it’s imperative that Victor believe Eileen is delivering the thing he’s been looking for, and Eileen says, something’s gone wrong, hasn’t it? Some kind of setback. Anna says, not that it’s any of her business, but they’ve had to widen their circle of trust, and Valentin says, time is no longer on their side. Eileen says, don’t worry, she won’t double-cross them, but Valentin says, she’s thrown in with Victor before. How do they know she hasn’t struck a deal with him already? She says, because she values her own life. Victor has proven anyone is disposable, even his own son. She’d be a fool to betray the only people willing to give her a chance to survive. Valentin gives her the box, and says, people have died for the information engraved on what’s left of the Ice Princess. Now they’re giving Victor what he wants. Anna says, or so he thinks. It’s actually a very good forgery. Eileen says, how very good? They know Victor will have an expert authenticate this. Anna says, that’s why Eileen has to set up the meet for today, so Victor doesn’t have a chance to call an expert in, and Valentin says, hopefully, she’ll have left before questions are raised She asks how they’re going to protect her. They know Victor doesn’t like to meet in public spaces. Anna says, they’ve taken every precaution. DA Scorpio will be nearby the location, and he’ll have back-up. Valentin says, and if the whole operation goes south, the cavalry will ride in. But to offer her that protection, she has to be wired for sound. Eileen asks if they’re insane. First they send her in with a fake necklace, and then they want her to wear a wire? If Victor catches on, he’ll kill her. Valentin says, they need to know everything that’s happening in real time, but Eileen tells him, keep that wire, or the deal is off.

Marshall says, it’s a shame Trina’s buddy Cam is leaving. Seemed like a good kid. Loyal, reliable… She says, unlike Spencer, and he tells her, nobody said anything about Spencer. She says, Marshall didn’t say his name, but she knows how they all feel about him. Marshall says, at this point, he’s not sure how he feels about Spencer, except that he seems to tie Trina up in knots. Trina says, maybe it’s best they don’t talk about him. She’s just going to grab some photos and be on her way. He tells her, sit down and tell him what’s on her mind. What’s troubling her? She says, Spencer’s living with his ex-girlfriend again. I’m not sure what she’s worried about since Esme doesn’t trust Spencer and he’s mean to her. I don’t exactly see them socializing.

Spencer says, Victor of all people understands nuance and diplomacy, and Victor says, usually. Spencer says, well this is a very complicated situation. There are many people involved, and they all want the same thing; to protect Ace. Victor says, that name, and Spencer says he knows. It’s got to go. (What? I love that name!) Despite their common goal, they all have different methods. Victor asks what Spencer’s method is, and Spencer says, putting Esme back in prison where she belongs and away from that baby. Then, as next of kin, he’ll retain custody, and he’d never dream of keeping that baby away from his Great Uncle. Victor says, a long time ago, Spencer asked for his help in this matter. Does he still need it? (Is Victor senile? That was like, five minutes ago.) Spencer says he does, but they can’t talk about that here.

Laura asks if Esme wants coffee, and Esme asks if she’s sure. Spencer said caffeine isn’t good for breastfeeding mothers. Laura says, Spencer means well, but mothers need caffeine to deal with their kids he’s no expert. Coffee is fine in moderation. She gives Esme a cup, and tells her, enjoy. She says she hopes Esme knows she’s protected here, and Esme says, even from Spencer? Spencer comes back, and says, he’s so sorry for his Great Uncle’s intrusion. It won’t happen again. He talks nonsense to the baby, and Laura asks where he’s off to. He says he’ll see them later, and asks if Laura will be there. She says, of course (🍷), and he leaves. Esme says, Cameron Spencer? and Laura says, her grandson has been accepted to a very prestigious athletic program in California. Esme says she’s glad she didn’t ruin his life too, and Laura says, the person Esme used to be did an awful lot of damage. Esme says, damage you can never forgive.

Sonny congratulates Cameron on getting into Stanford, and Cameron asks how he knew. Sonny says, Spencer told him more than once; he’s very proud of Cameron. Cameron says, it’s kind of hard to tell. Spencer makes fun of him every time it’s brought up. Sonny says he knows Spencer is very proud of him, and tells Cameron, have a great time at Stanford. He’s going to be missed. Cameron  thanks him, and says he doesn’t actually work here anymore, but he can take down their orders and let the waiters know. Sonny says, two cups of coffee to go, and Cameron leaves. Sonny asks if he can talk to Josslyn for a second, and she follows him. As he opens the door, he tells Dex to wait inside. Cameron comes back, and he and Dex stare at each other.

Outside, Josslyn asks, what’s this about? and Sonny says he’s just rooting out his enemies.

On the phone, Victor asks if Eileen has what he asked for, and she says, he knows she wouldn’t let him down. He says he sincerely hopes not. Bring it to him tonight. She says, the longer they wait, the better the chances of them noticing it’s missing, and knowing she’s the one who took it. Unless he wants it to end up back in the secure evidence locker, with zero chance of getting it out again, they need to do this now. There’s a knock at Victor’s door, and he says, his suite, the MetroCourt, forty-five minutes. Not one second later. He opens the door, and Spencer strides in, saying, sorry about earlier, but Victor says he understands. He has a business meeting starting soon, so let’s get down to brass tacks. What exactly does Spencer want to happen to Esme?

Josslyn says, what enemies? Sonny has so many. He tells her, just keep an eye out for anything out of the ordinary when she’s with her mother and her sisters. She asks if he’s going to tell her why, but he says he’s not giving her any details. She says, don’t worry about it; she already knows. He says, how?

Dex says he’ll go as soon as Sonny comes back, and Cameron says, but while he’s here, there’s some stuff he wants to say to Dex.

Esme says, the fact that she doesn’t remember what she did to Laura’s family doesn’t absolve her. She’s hurt both Cameron and Spencer, among others. Laura says, yes, she did, and Esme says, but Laura’s letting her stay here? Laura says she’s letting Esme stay here because she wanted her newest grandson to be safe and well cared for, not in a prison. That’s not entirely true; there’s another reason. She knows the pain of being separated from your child. She was separated from her son Nikolas for many years because of the Cassadines. Esme says, which is exactly what Spencer is trying to do to her, and Laura says, but Spencer has a lot of good reasons not to trust Esme. Laura is a mother, and she knows how much having a new baby can change someone. She also happens to believe in redemption. Esme asks if that means Laura believes in her. Laura says she wants to. She’s trying to. Esme says, but she’s not there yet? and Laura says, that doesn’t mean she won’t be. What about Esme? Does she believe in Laura? Can she accept Laura wants what’s best for her?

Trina tells Marshall that Esme and the baby are living with Spencer’s grandmother in her apartment, while Spencer also lives there. She knows Esme doesn’t remember all the terrible things she did, but Trina still doesn’t trust her. Marshall says, good for her. Trina shouldn’t trust her. That girl should be behind bars. He’s furious they dropped the charges, and denied Trina justice. She says, actually it was her idea to get the DA to stop pursuing the case, just for now, and he asks, what in the Lord’s name possessed her to do that? She says she’s having second thoughts about it now, even though she convinced Spencer there’s a better chance of getting the charges to stick if they wait. He says, Spencer again. Why is she the only one making concessions in this friendship?  She says, Spencer’s been there for her too. His life is just… complicated. Marshall says, and no sign of it getting simpler. Please tell him why she needs to remain friends with Spencer Cassadine.

Victor says, when Spencer first came to him for help, he was concerned Esme was going to raise her child in prison, and Spencer says, thanks to Trina, they got the DA to stop pursuing the case. Victor says, good for Trina. It’s best to keep the law at bay, at least until you know they’re on your side. Spencer says, the problem is, now that Esme is a free woman, there’s a chance she could disappear and take his brother with her. He can’t let that happen. Victor says he’s sacrificed a great deal trying to make this world a better place, and preserving their family’s legacy to the bargain. (Has he?) Sadly, Spencer’s father had neither the faith nor the resolve to help him in his aims. Does Spencer trust him? Spencer says he knows there’s nothing Victor wouldn’t do for this family, and Victor says, then understand this. There’s no way in hell Esme is raising a Cassadine heir. Not while there’s a breath left in his body.

Trina says, it’s really worth it, and Marshall asks, but is he worthy? How does he make her feel? She says, he makes her feel like she’s the best thing that’s happened to him, and Marshall says, it sounds like Spencer’s become special to her. Is that why she’s so bugged out about Esme sharing the same space? She says, it’s not like she doesn’t trust Spencer around Esme. It was strange seeing them all together, looking like a family. Marshall says, stop him if he’s wrong, but this sounds like more than just friendly concern. She says, Spencer’s more than a friend. Their relationship has evolved over a couple of weeks. She just hasn’t told anybody about it. He asks, why not? and she says, everybody’s been busy… They’re avoiding each other. He says, perhaps. Or is it because she’s not quite sure of it herself?

Esme says, from the first time she saw Laura, and definitely when Laura helped deliver Ace, Laura’s been nothing but kind to her. But Spencer is Laura’s grandson and doesn’t think she can raise her own son. Laura says, so she doesn’t know who to trust, and Esme says, even if she could trust someone, why would they trust her? Laura says, so she needs someone to take the first leap of faith. She’s willing to do that. Let’s start right now. Laura gets up and gets her bag, saying, everything is all new to Esme, and she’s got to get adjusted to her surroundings. So she’ll go out for a bit, and Esme can stay here on her own, relax, and bond with Ace. Esme says, by herself, with no one looking over her shoulder? and Laura says, yes, unless she’s worried about being alone with the baby, but Esme says, no. She’s just surprised Laura trusts her on her own. Laura says, she’s not a prisoner here, and Esme says, maybe this time. Laura hands her some cash, and says, in case of emergency. Esme says, Laura knows she can just take this and take off (it doesn’t look like enough to get her too far) , and Laura says, she could, but since she has faith Esme wants what’s best for her baby, so she knows that means staying right here. She wishes Esme a lovely morning, and leaves.

Eileen says she’ll take the necklace to Victor, but the wire is a no go. Valentin says he thought she might feel that way, and Eileen asks if he has a back-up plan. One that doesn’t involve her wearing a neon sign that says, Victor, I’m betraying you. Valentin says, if she doesn’t wear a wire, they won’t know she’s in trouble, but they have arranged for DA Scorpio to call her on official city business. Anna says, if anything feels off, raise the alarm, and he’ll come in and get her. Eileen says, fine, but she wants their promise, their guarantee that once she delivers this necklace, she’ll be free to move on. Valentin says, this isn’t over until they crack the code; find out what it’s for. Anna says, until they find out what Victor is after, none of them are free. Valentin puts the hood back on Eileen’s head.

Cameron says, after he found out about Dex and Josslyn, there were a lot of things he wanted to tell Dex. There were a lot of things Cameron wanted to do to him. Dex says he gets it, and Cameron says, despite all his anger and feelings, he realized it doesn’t matter, because all that matters is Josslyn. She’s been his friend for forever – she still is. But if Dex hurts her, he’ll tell Sonny about them, and Dex will find himself back on that hook so fast, he’ll wish he’d never met her.

Sonny asks how Josslyn knows someone’s targeting him, and she says, her mom told her there was an incident. One big enough for him to beef up security and keep Donna from spending the night? He says, temporarily, and she says she knows the drill. And Donna and Avery are young, but they’re starting to get used to it too, and think this is normal. She wishes it broke his heart half as much as it breaks hers.

Dex says, Cameron made himself clear, and Cameron says, Dex doesn’t think he’s serious. I swear, these two look like they’re on the verge of laughing. Dex says he knows Cameron’s serious, and he’ll never hurt Josslyn, and Cameron says, good. See to it he doesn’t. Dex says he means it. Cameron has no idea how much he cares about Josslyn. Sonny and Josslyn come back, and Sonny tells Dex, time to roll. Sonny reaches for his wallet, but Cameron says he’s got it. Sonny says he appreciates it, and Cameron says, of course (🍷). (I just included that exchange because of the of course – 🍷have one on me.) Sonny tells him, good luck at Stanford, Cameron thanks him, and Sonny leaves with Dex. Cameron asks what Josslyn and Sonny talked about, and she says, the usual; how his business affects the rest of them. How about him and Dex? Cameron says, they talked, and she says, sorry; that was awkward. He says, awkward is kind of their M.O., and she says, that’s what she wanted to talk to him about it. If he doesn’t want her at his goodbye party, she understands. He says he wants all his friends there. She is his friend, right? She says, it’s nice to hear him call her that, and he says, what else would he call her? She says, they’ve been friends forever, and that’s not going to change because of her feelings for Dex. He says, they’re pretty serious now? but she says she could never be with someone so soon after their break-up if it was meaningless. He says, he’ll see her, and leaves.

Victor says, if the DA doesn’t have enough proof to convict Esme, then they’ll just have to produce it, and Spencer says, he means, frame her? Victor says, they both know she’s guilty. If Spencer’s father hadn’t imprisoned her, she would have never lost her memory. Evidence can be… Spencer says, manufactured, and Victor says, the bottom line is, Esme is going to have to face the music, and Ace will be in the custody of those who love him best. Him, Spencer… Spencer says, grandmother. Does Victor mind if Spencer gets back to him? Victor tells him, take all the time he needs, but as Spencer said, Esme is a free woman, and could decide to take off at any time, taking with her Spencer’s innocent and defenseless little brother.

Esme asks Ace what he thinks. She sounded pretty sincere, didn’t she? Here they have food, warmth, and relative freedom. What more can they ask for? The baby throws us some cute smiles, as he/she desperately looks around for IRL mom. Esme says, they really don’t have any other offers, do they?… Ace is right. What’s stopping them from keeping him, and tossing her out on the street? She won’t let that happen. She looks at the money Laura left with her.

Trina tells Marshall that she trusts Spencer and the connection, but this is all new. And let’s just say some of her views are evolving. She guesses that’s part of growing up. He says, that never stops, and takes her hand. He says, learning who we are is a lifelong process. He doesn’t have to tell her, there’s circumstances in life that make us question everything we thought about ourselves. You’ve got to have good people in your corner to support you along the way, that’s all. Friends are great; family is better. She says, what if you don’t know who your family is? and he says, DNA doesn’t determine family; connection does. She puts her hand on his.

Outside Kelly’s on the phone, Laura says, Eileen has a lot to lose here… She doesn’t think Eileen ever had any real loyalty to Victor. She thinks Eileen’s always been in it for herself… She thinks Eileen will follow their instructions to the letter. Valentin says, she’d better. Because if she screws up or turns on them, this is over. Laura says, he doesn’t sound confident, and he tells her, all he’s saying is, they can’t let their guard down. Not where Victor Cassadine is concerned.

Victor opens his hotel room door to Eileen, and asks if she’s done as he asked. She says she’s a woman of her word. He says, where is it? and she takes the case from her bag. She says, as promised, and he snatches it out of her hand. He opens the case, and says, at last.

Sonny meets Selina next to a dumpster, which is maybe appropriate, since it looks like she didn’t comb her hair again, although her coat makes up for it. She says, he summoned her? and he says, someone is trying to take him out. She says she heard of his recent trouble, and he asks if she has any idea who’s behind it. She says, if only. An unprovoked attack is an unforgivable breach of decorum, and a threat to them all. Any leads? Dex takes out his phone, and Sonny says, whatever’s left of him. Does she recognize him? She looks at the phone, and tells him, not that she can say. What does Sonny want to know about him? Sonny says, if she doesn’t know, somebody in her organization must know, and Sonny heard he was spotted at The Highsider. That’s her bar, right? She says she does own it, but she’s afraid she can’t help him, and he says, can’t, or won’t?  She says, it’s purely an investment; one of the establishments she owns a stake in. She doesn’t keep tabs on the customers. Surely as a businessman, he understands. He says he’s disappointed, and don’t call him Shirley. That’s the second time she’s let him down in a couple weeks. She bought his late cousin Brando’s garage, right? She says, it was a good investment, and Brando’s mother was eager to sell. Sonny says, Gladys told him. What he wants to know is, why didn’t Selina? She says, he’s absolutely right. In fact, she should have let him know she was considering it before negotiating with Miss Corbin. Please accept her apologies. He says, let him tell her something. You mess with my family, you mess with me. Classic mob boss talk. She says, of course (🍷). All of that said, she hopes he’s pleased. The garage can be beneficial for them both. He says, the garage is the least of his concerns, and she says, the shooter’s connection to The Highsider is of concern to her as well. Her people never do business there, but regardless, she’s sure someone must know the man in the photo. She’ll make inquiries. He says, you do that, and she says she hopes he knows how much she values their association. Rest assured, this enemy is one they share. She leaves, and Dex asks Sonny, can she really be trusted?

Valentin says, Anna isn’t nervous, is she? but she says, of course (🍷) she’s nervous. Lucy just almost got herself killed. Now they’re sending Eileen back into that same lion’s den. At greater risk, with just as little protection. He says, look on the bright side; nobody likes the woman. She says, that’s very unkind, and he says, they’re this close to figuring out the insanity his father’s been cooking up, and ending it. And if anyone can finish the job, it’s them. Anna tells him, you know what they say, that most car accidents happen within a ten-mile radius of your home. They’re very close to home. He says, then he guesses, buckle up.

Victor says, Eileen did well, and she says she’s glad he’s pleased. He asks how she managed it, and she says, you don’t ask a magician her tricks. She heads for the door, and he asks where she’s going. She says, her office. She has a day’s work ahead. He says, nonsense. She can’t leave now. Not when they’re about to get to the most important part. She says, what’s more important than procuring the necklace from police lock-up? She got it. He has it. He says he wants them to inspect this masterpiece together. Come on. Take a seat. He starts to look at the necklace with a jeweler’s loupe.

Marshall says he knows Trina doesn’t know where she stands with her mom and Curtis, but whatever happens, they’ve forged their own relationship. He’s here to talk about anything. She says, even if she wants to talk about Spencer? and he tells her, he said anything. Whatever she says will stay between them, and he promises to always be honest with her. She says, thanks, she appreciates that, and he says, and in his honest opinion, if Spencer Cassadine’s life is going to remain so damn dramatic, maybe it’s time for her to exit stage left. They laugh, and the doorbell rings. Marshall opens the door to a sullen-looking Spencer.

Laura sees Josslyn at Kelly’s, and Josslyn says, she just missed Cam. Laura says she guesses she’ll see him at his party. How is Josslyn doing? Josslyn says she’s having a lot of trouble about Cam leaving, and Laura says she is too, but she’s also really proud of him. Josslyn says she is too. To play soccer at Stanford is huge, and it’s about time one of Cam’s dreams came true. Laura says, Josslyn was his first love, and Josslyn says she broke his heart. What if he never forgives her? He says they’re friends forever, but… Laura says, he’s hurt right now, and he feels alone. Josslyn says, because of her, but Laura says, Josslyn did what she had to do, and Cameron has to accept that no matter how painful it is. He just needs a little time. He’ll remember who really cares about him.

Esme picks up Ace, all swaddled up, and says, Grandmother Mayor might be on the up and up, but she’s not willing to wait around to find out. She puts the money in her knapsack, and picks up Ace’s blanket, throwing it over her shoulder. She opens the door, and Cameron is there, about to knock.

On Monday, Elizabeth tells Laura, there’s a deeper reason for someone’s silence; Josslyn says, anything Maxie needs, she’s in; Victor tells Eileen, they’re just getting started; and Cameron asks Esme, going somewhere?

📽  The Better Nikolas…

This actually sounds pretty good.

🗽 Who Are These People…?

The all new cast of RHONY. I dunno. I doubt it will have the same drunken energy as the original. It was one of the few in the franchise I still liked. Maybe the only one. Too bad the Legacy thing didn’t work out.

🧂 Look Out For That Cliff…

Maybe they needed more salt on the road. BA-DUM-CHH!

🍸 Those Crazy Kids…

I can’t wait for this.

Keep her away from the matches and lighters.

Just to emphasize how awful Raquel nee Rachel is.

🐝 Premiere Buzz…

Warning: SPOILERS AHEAD.

🐱 Not Last…

Well of course he got adopted.

https://people.com/pets/rescue-cat-named-after-pedro-pascal-gets-adopted/

🦜 Quotes of the Week

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

The elevator to success is out of order. You’ll have to use the stairs, one step at a time.Joe Girard

We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love. There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us. When we discover this, we are less prone to hate our enemies. – Martin Luther King, Jr.

I have learned silence from the talkative, toleration from the intolerant, and kindness from the unkind; yet, strange, I am ungrateful to those teachers.Kahlil Gibran

If you’re trying to achieve, there will be road blocks. I’ve had them; everybody has had them. But obstacles don’t have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it. – Michael Jordan (Or kick it down.)

In the history of men, it always emboldens them to get away with this sh*t. – Nancy Costello (Amy Landecker), Your Honor

Often any decision, even the wrong decision, is better than no decision. – Ben Horowitz

Once you face your fear, nothing is ever as hard as you think. – Olivia Newton-John

🛞 Catching the Dream…

Take the next two days off, but return refreshed on Monday really Tuesday for soap and more candidates for most awful people on Summer House. Until then, stay safe, stay dancing like no one’s watching, and stay remembering that DNA doesn’t determine family; connection does.

March 17, 2023 – Diane Makes Robert’s Day, Softball In Jersey, VanderAwful, Season 2 Buzz, Non-Reaction, Festival News, Pets (!), O’Quotes & Decide

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Valentin jumps several of Lucy’s men in checkers, and says, king me. She says she’d like to crown him. Fine. Here’s his king me crown. She slaps her checker on top of his, and he says he thinks they have Parchisi. Someone knocks at the door, and Lucy slips into the back. Laura says, it’s her, and he opens the door. Lucy runs out and hugs her, and Laura says, it’s good to see her. Lucy says, tell her there’s an end to this nightmare in sight. Please.

Eileen tells Robert, it’s too risky. She could end up dead. He says, that’s what happens when you bunk in with a Cassadine. There’s a knock on his office door, and Diane comes in. She says she knows she’s interrupting, but he’ll be glad she did. He asks why specifically he’s glad to see her, and she says, because she’s about to make his day.

Dr. I-Don’t-Know-His-Name brings Victor to an exam room, and says he can understand why Victor wants his issue resolved quickly. Victor says, any man would, and the doctor says he read Finn’s report. Unfortunately, he agrees with Finn’s assessment. Victor’s condition is likely irreversible. I laaaugh, and Victor flashes back to confronting Laura. She says, when his life falls apart – and it will – he’ll have more than her to blame, and he says, but she’ll the one who will pay most dearly. He tells the doctor, it means everything to him. He recently lost his son, and the rest of the family’s in crisis. He can’t afford to be distracted right now. He has to focus. He needs to ensure his family’s survival. Nothing can jeopardize that.

On the phone, Nina tells Maxie, of course (🍷). Crimson always supports the Nurses Ball. If she needs anything, just ask. She tells Maxie that she loves her and to give James a big hug from his Aunt Nina. She looks at a picture of her and Sonny, and flashes back to telling Sonny that she didn’t think she wanted to know about his business, but now she’s not so sure. There’s a knock at the door, and Nina opens it to Phyllis. Nina says, you’re back, and they hug.

Carly brings Donna to Sonny’s, and sees the guards outside. She asks Frank how it’s going, and he says, it’s going well. He lets her in, and Sonny says, look who it is. Donna runs to him, and he says he wasn’t expecting her. Carly asks, who was he expecting?

Laura says she does have an update, and Lucy says, please tell her it involves the word Victor and incarcerated, incapacitated, or dead. Laura asks, where’s Anna? and Valentin says, she’s in the bedroom trying to crack the Ice Princess codes. Does Laura want him to get her? Laura says, he can bring Anna up to speed later, and Lucy asks if this means she can go home, but Laura says, no; she’s sorry. Lucy says she really is grateful for being rescued and just being alive, but tick-tock, people, come on. Laura says, on the bright side, she thinks they’re starting to get to Victor, and Valentin asks, how? She says she ran into his father last night at the MetroCourt, and he was seething with rage. He said he knew what she’d done. Valentin asks if he got more specific, and she says, no, but he said she was stripping him of his power, and she was determined to rob him of his dignity in the process. Lucy says, it sounds like what they’re doing is working, so just keep doing what’s working, and Laura says, Victor is definitely fraying. He believes they’re all dead, and has no idea where Nikolas is. Spencer is actually defying him by going to live with his Uncle Sonny, so he’s lost control of his family, and it seems he’s having some kind of a medical issue. The kind that makes a man realize he’s not as powerful as he used to be. She doesn’t think it will be much longer before they bring Victor down for good, so Lucy doesn’t have to be patient much longer. Lucy says she doesn’t do patient, and the world right now needs Lucy Coe.

Robert asks how Diane is going to make his day, and she says, by offering this office the chance to save time and effort, and the chance to save the taxpayers of New York considerable expense. Eileen takes photos of a folder with her phone like there’s no way Diane would notice, and Diane says she knows Robert is intent on streamlining this office, so he’s going to want to hear her offer. Of course (🍷) if this is a bad time, she can come back… He says he and the Deputy Mayor are done, and Eileen agrees, adding, for now. She leaves, and in the hallway, she texts Victor: Need to meet. Urgent. She flashes back to offering Victor a copy of the unredacted file on Holly’s accident, and saying, it contains useful information on the necklace.

Carly tells Sonny that Donna’s ear drops are in her bag if she needs them, when Dex comes out. Donna asks, who are you? and Sonny says, he works for daddy, and introduces them. Dex shakes her tiny hand, and says hello to Carly. Donna asks if he lives here, but he says, no; he’s just visiting. Sonny says, they’re getting some work done, and Dex is going to be staying a couple of days. Dex says he was just going out to grab some things and he’ll be back soon. He leaves, and Sonny says he guesses Carly didn’t get his message. She says, no, she didn’t. What’s going on?

Lucy tells Laura, the Nurses Ball is always the event, but this year, it happens to coincide with General Hospital’s 60th anniversary. Laura says she knows, but it’s going to be televised this year, so Lucy can watch it, but Lucy says she doesn’t want to watch it. She is the Nurses Ball. She’s chaired every single Nurses Ball that ever was. Laura says, and every single one of them was magnificent, and Lucy thanks her, but says, she wants this one to be magnificent. It takes a certain type of expertise; there’s no substitute. Laura assures her that Maxie has everything under control, and Lucy says, define everything. Spare no details. Laura says she knows Maxie’s got financing from ELQ and Aurora, and Lucy says, super, but those are Quartermaine companies, and the family lives for the hospital, so really, they couldn’t refuse. Laura says, she’s meeting with more sponsors tonight, and Lucy says, super, but she might run into a snag because those sponsors can be pretty prickly. Valentin says, she can handle it. He hopes the sponsors do give her a hard time. She’ll squeeze them for every cent, and they’ll thank her for it. He just wishes he could be there to see it. Lucy says she needs to be there to see it, but Valentin says, no, she doesn’t. If she were, Victor would know what they were up to. He would make them all pay dearly, so what she needs to do is, settle down and accept the situation, because there’s nothing she can do about it. She blows a raspberry at him, and plops on the sofa. Laura says she knows how hard this must be for her, but fortunately, she has something that might make her feel better.

The doctor says, they can try to treat Victor’s symptoms, but it’s not guaranteed to work. Victor says, anything worth trying. He’s ready and willing to put up a fight. The doctor says, they’ll start with a prescription. He’ll get it from the hospital pharmacy himself. He leaves, and there’s a knock at the door. Victor lets Eileen in, and she thanks him for replying to her text. He asks, what couldn’t wait? and she says she has reason to believe Laura and Robert think she’s connected to him. He says, what better way of disabusing them of that notion than to come looking for him in a well-populated, brightly lit building with security cameras around every corner? She says she’s often at the hospital in the course of her official duties, and he says, good for her, but don’t contact him again unless she has something he can use against Laura… Unless that’s why she’s here. She says she doesn’t have anything about that, but she does have this. She shows him her phone.

Nina shows Phyllis a picture of Amelia, and Phyllis says, isn’t she a beauty. Nina says she loves Amelia already, even though she’s not allowed to be around her, and Phyllis asks if Willow is still keeping Nina at arm’s length. Nina says, not exactly. As it turns out, her Aunt Liesl is a viable bone marrow match to be a donor, and convinced Willow to keep Nina updated on her health issues. It’s a start. Every other subject is off-limits, including Wiley and Amelia. Phyllis says, if Willow sees Nina made an effort to respect her wishes, when she’s better – and Phyllis does mean when – she’ll let Nina in. She asks what Sonny’s take is on this, and Nina says, he told her pretty much the same thing, but she thinks Sonny is trying to convince himself too, because his son Michael doesn’t want to be around him. Their children have formed a united front against them. Phyllis says, it’s a shame when families shut each other out. In the meantime, it’s wonderful Nina can rely on Sonny… can’t she?

Sonny tells Carly that Donna’s in her room. The reason he called her was about Donna staying tonight. She says she’s sorry she missed his call. She was at the Quartermaines’ helping plan the Nurses Ball with Maxie, Willow, and Michael. He asks how Michael and Willow are holding up, and she says, worried, but they’re holding it together. What’s going on? Why does he have two bodyguards and Dex for protection? He says, Dex isn’t protecting him; he’s keeping an eye on Dex. She asks, why? and he flashes back to the shootout. He says, there was an incident.

At his apartment, Dex hears something and draws his gun, when Josslyn walks in. He says, she can’t just show up here without letting him know. He could have hurt her. She says she doesn’t know whether or not to text him; whether Sonny will see it or not. Why is he staying there? He says he was going to reach out, but hadn’t gotten the chance yet. She asks how he hurt himself. What the hell is going on?

Nina brings out some wine and charcuterie, and tells Phyllis, in regard to her relationship with Sonny, she’s reevaluating things. Phyllis says she thought things were good with Nina and Sonny, and Nina says, they are. It’s just that she thought she could separate Sonny’s livelihood from their relationship. Now she’s wondering if she was just fooling herself. Phyllis says, Nina knew who Sonny was when she encountered him in Nixon Falls. She knew before he did. Nina says she heard all the stories about Sonny Corinthos by reputation and in the news; that he was fearsome, and he was a violent man. Then she got to know Mike, and fell in love with Mike. Then when Sonny regained his memory, it seemed like he really changed. Phyllis says she doesn’t think Nina’s wrong about that, and Nina says, even when they went back to Port Charles, all the violence she was worried about and the reality of Sonny’s world seemed theoretical. So it was easy for her to move forward with Sonny. Phyllis asks, what’s changed? and Nina says, it turns out, peace was only temporary. And now that peace has broken.

Sonny says he doesn’t think it’s a good idea for Donna to stay here for a while, and Carly asks, how bad is it? He says, he and Dex went to the warehouse; they weren’t alone. She asks if he’s okay, and he says he’s fine. Dex got a little banged up. Nothing serious. He just wants to keep Dex close while he’s on the mend. She asks who it is this time, and he says, she’s out of this now. She says, really? Because she feels like she’s right back in it.

Diane tells Robert that she’s spoken to Trina about the criminal charges against Esme Prince, and he says, she can assure Trina that they’re doing their best to build an airtight case. She asks if he’s certain of a conviction, and he asks why he wouldn’t be. She says, Esme now presents as a very sympathetic defendant, and he laughs, saying, she’s about as sympathetic as an alligator chasing a pup. Diane says, not anymore. Now she’s a young mother who nearly died escaping captivity after literally being locked in a tower. Of course (🍷) she’s professing traumatic memory loss. Esme is something like six or seven fairytale princesses all rolled into one. Rapunzel… Snow White… Anyway, all she has left in the world is this innocent little baby. So now Esme is a traumatized, frightened young woman, and a caring mother. He asks what she suggests he do, and she says, drop the charges.

Lucy says, unless Laura has a time machine that can take her back to before she got involved with this, she doesn’t think there’s much Laura can do for her. Laura says, is that so? taking an envelope out of her bag. She says she guesses Lucy wouldn’t want this letter from Martin after all, and Lucy snatches it out of her hand, kissing it. She says she misses him so much, and Laura says she thinks the feeling is mutual. Lucy thanks Laura, and says she’s going to take her letter, run a very hot bath, grab her glass of wine, and read every single word a thousand times that her beloved wrote to her. Ta. She leaves, and Laura says she’s welcome. She asks how Valentin is, really, and he says he’s fine. Lucy’s alive, even when you’re not trapped in a confined space with her. He does have Anna, and he’d endure anything to get rid of Victor Cassadine. She says, it’s not going to be much longer. She can bring Charlotte for a visit… but he says, no. That’s the last thing he wants.

Victor wants to see what Eileen found, but she says she needs his assurance this will all be over before it blows back on her. He says, once again, she forgets how their arrangement works, and she says she found it in the DA’s office. Use it to achieve his goal quickly, so she can end her involvement before she pays for this alliance with her freedom – she hands him the phone – or with her life. He looks at it, and says, so the necklace made from the Ice Princess still exists, and Robert has it.

Valentin says, given his father’s current agitated state… Laura says, he doesn’t want to take the risk. He says, it was great when Felicia brought her by, but he’s sure Victor is watching her. It would do him a world of good to see her. Laura says, it would do them both good. Charlotte misses him terribly. He says he misses her right back, and asks Laura to make sure she tells Charlotte that. She says, of course (🍷) she will, and he says he’s grateful to her and Doc for everything they did to get Charlotte away from Victor. She says she’d do anything for Charlotte, and he says he knows she would, even if it means by extension helping him. She says, life is full of surprises.

Dex says he was with Sonny, when they were ambushed, and Josslyn says, he got shot? but he says, just creased. She says she can’t stand that word, and he says, it’s not like last time. It bled a lot, but he didn’t even need stitches. Sonny just wants Dex to stay with him until he’s healed up, but her mom and Donna came by, and he figured he’d give them some space. He just came by to grab some things. He’s sorry he didn’t tell her sooner… Please say something. She tells him to take off his shirt.

Sonny says he knows Carly is worried about the kids, and she says she’s worried about him too. He says, she saw security. He’s going to take care of it. She asks, how’s that? and he says he has a good team. She knows most of them. Dex is new, but he’s doing excellent work. Sonny is going to find out what’s going on, and he’s going to stop it. She says she’d loved to believe that, but they both know he can’t make that promise.

Nina tells Phyllis, all of a sudden, Sonny is on high alert. He assigned protection to all of his loved ones, including her. Phyllis asks if she feels safer with a bodyguard, but Nina says, oddly enough, no. She’s glad someone is there to protect her, but she’s constantly on guard that something’s going to happen. Phyllis says she can see why they would be unsettling; not just in the day to day, but in Nina’s relationship too. Nina says, to be fair to Sonny, he’s never lied or tried to hide the realities of his work, but if she didn’t know, it would be a buffer between their relationship and his… organization. Phyllis says, now Nina’s realizing there is no buffer, and Nina says, there are sides of Sonny she didn’t know that are starting to emerge. Phyllis says, now that Nina’s seeing these sides, she has to be honest with herself. Is this a relationship she can sustain?

Valentin says, Laura watching over Charlotte and taking care of her is everything to him. He couldn’t do any of this without her. He thanks her, and she says, Charlotte’s safety and future is one of the biggest reasons they have to stop Victor. He says, his father’s obsessed with his family; enriching it, controlling it. Has she heard from Nikolas? She says, no. He vanished without a trace, and she’s assuming it was intentional. She doesn’t really know, but Victor doesn’t seem to know. Valentin says he’s sorry. No matter how old they are, there’s no hell like worrying about your child. She thanks him, and says, what’s even more worrisome is that Victor seems to be focusing more on Spencer, and on Spencer’s baby brother. He says, they’ve got the name; they’re Cassadine heirs. That means they factor into Victor’s plans, whatever they are. Victor’s plans are kind of like Sonny’s mob boss job, or what the Chrisleys did for a living. If anything.

Victor says, so Robert managed to retrieve the necklace from the fire, and he’s been covering it up this whole time. Eileen says, he went through a lot of trouble to make sure no one knew it survived, and Victor says, it’s almost as if Robert knew he was looking for it. She says, that was her impression. Robert was convinced Victor needed something from the Ice Princess, and that’s why he was keeping its recovery a secret. Victor says, he and Holly were always thick as thieves. He wonders what else is in the file, but she says she doesn’t know. Robert was still in the room when she snapped the picture. She couldn’t sit there and read it in front of him, but she does know the necklace is being stored in a secure evidence locker in the PCPD. He says he has to commend her; excellent work. He hands back her phone, and she says she can’t wait to finally be done with all this, and he says, why on earth would she be done? She says, because he has everything he needs to send his men into the PCPD to retrieve the diamond, and he chuckles, saying, if only it were that simple. If he were to send his men in to storm the PCPD, it’d be a tip off. He’s afraid she’s going to have to retrieve the necklace for him. She asks how she’s supposed to get in the evidence locker, and he says, as Deputy Mayor, he’s sure she has connections who can find a graceful way to get in and retrieve the necklace. If she wants this to be done with, she’ll bring him the necklace. Don’t fail him. He opens the door, she says, understood, and leaves.

Robert asks Diane why they would they drop the charges against Esme Prince? They can prove everything they’re going after her for. She asks if the jury is going to care. Because if Martin Grey can work up enough sympathy for acquittal, Robert will lose his one and only chance to bring Esme to justice for her crimes. He asks why she’s bringing this to him now. What’s in it for her? She says she’s crushed… Okay. In addition to Trina, she also represents Spencer Cassadine. Esme is determined to keep her baby with her in prison, and Spencer doesn’t want that for his little brother; neither does Trina. He says he doesn’t give a damn what Spencer wants, and he respects Trina, but she isn’t even in the video. What does he tell Esme’s other victims? She says, Josslyn and Cameron both agree with Trina. Right now, they’re only thinking of the baby. Of course (🍷) they want justice, but some say, justice delayed is justice denied. The worst-case scenario would be to let Esme walk away Scot-Free, but justice delayed… Bring the charges, try her, when she can no longer claim traumatic memory loss. He says she might be right, but he’s not convinced, and she says, remember, she defended Trina. That young woman was dangerously close to going to prison because Esme Prince is a nasty piece of business. So as excited as she is to bring this proposal to him, it galls her to have to make it to him. Like she’s sure it galls him to have to consider it. He says, still, it might be best for all involved, and she says, he’s a smart man. He says, just because they put the charges aside doesn’t mean they take their eyes off little Esme for one second.

Dex takes off his shirt, hands it to Josslyn, and says, all yours. Does she want him to autograph it? She says, shut up. Let her see the wound. She looks under the bandage, and says, Sonny’s doctor did a much better job than she did. She gives him back his shirt, and he puts it on. He takes her hands, and says, Sonny’s doctor may have skills, but he doesn’t have her bedside manner. They kiss, and she says she should thank the doctor for bringing him back to her in one piece, but he says, the man she should thank is Sonny.

Nina says she loves Sonny, and Phyllis says she knows. Nina says, he’s been her rock. She doesn’t know if she could have gotten through this past year without him. Phyllis says she’s sure he feels the same about Nina, and Nina says, they’re good together. Phyllis says, she knows. Nina doesn’t have to convince her. She’s seen them together; both as Mike and Nina, and as Nina and Sonny. Nina says, there’s a huge part of her that thinks love is everything. She has a daughter now, and a granddaughter – grandchildren. It’s more than just her now. She’s not sure she can wrap her head around the idea of us being in constant danger. Phyllis takes her hand and says, not everyone was built for Sonny’s world, and everything that comes along with loving him. Nina says, like Carly was?

Sonny tells Carly that he doesn’t know what she wants him to say. She knows how his world is. She says she does, better than most, and he says, then she knows he’ll do everything he can to protect the family. She says, his family needs more than his protection; they need him. He says he’s not going anywhere, and she says, he doesn’t want to go anywhere. She remembers the last time she had to tell Donna and Avery that their daddy wasn’t coming home. She can’t go through that again.

Robert tells Diane, you win. As usual. She laughs, and he says he’ll drop the charges, as long as he can talk to all the victims and get them on board. She says she knows this isn’t an easy decision to make, and he says, she made a compelling argument. They can always refile the charges should evil Esme resurface. And he gets to keep his conviction record. She says, everybody wins. For what it’s worth (🍷), she has every faith that one day the justice system will hold Esme accountable. He says he hopes she’s right, and she says, in the meantime, she knows a way they can both work off their frustration. He asks what she has in mind, and she says, has he ever thrown a hatchet? He says, only in anger, and she says, why doesn’t he join her at the hatchet range? He can show her what he’s got, but she’s equally as lethal with an ax as she is with a brief. He says, Killer Miller strikes again, she laughs, and walks out.

On the phone at the MetroCourt bar, Victor tells someone that he needs them to check on Miss Sutton. He wants to know how far along she is on her road to recovery.

Robert says, back so soon? and Eileen says, not fast enough. He says, did Victor buy it? and she says, every word. He did have questions about the night Holly Sutton and the necklace supposedly went up in flames. He says he anticipated that, and notified the appropriate parties. Let’s move on to Phase Two.

Valentin tells Laura, there was a time not that long ago, if someone had told him that he and Laura would be having a conversation like this… She laughs, and says, united for a common cause. He says, if they can form an alliance… She says, then anything’s possible.  He says, Victor has no idea what he’s up against. He, Lucy, and Anna are alive and working against him, and he hopes Laura is right, and things are working against Victor. She says, now that Eileen is working for them, they finally have the upper hand, and he says, it won’t be long now.

Victor looks at his drink, sniffs it, and takes a sip. Lucy walks out of the elevator, looking like a frumpy librarian from the 1930s, and sees Victor at the bar.

Josslyn asks why she’d thank Sonny, when he’s the one who got Dex shot, and Dex says, they were checking the warehouse; getting ready for the Pikeman shipment. There was an ambush; a sniper. He saw movement before the shot was fired, and he got Sonny out of the way. She says, so he saved Sonny, and he says, they were pinned down, and Tony… She knows Tony. She says, he’s Sonny’s most experienced bodyguard, and Dex says, he gave covering fire from the entrance so Sonny could get away. Josslyn says, Sonny left him? and he says, Sonny was the target. Once he was gone, the shooter should have left. She says, obviously, he didn’t, and Dex says, the sniper took a shot at him, creased him, and he took cover, but he wasn’t going to last long with a handgun against a rifle. So he made a run for it, and that’s when Sonny came back and shot the sniper. Sonny probably saved his life… What? She says, nothing. It just almost sounds like Dex admires him.

Sonny says he knows it was hell for Carly, and for the girls, and she says, it was hell for everybody. He says he’s not going to put her through that again, and she says, a bridge went out from under him. He didn’t choose that; it just happened. Things happen. He can’t control everything. He says, he knows that. If he could control this, it wouldn’t be happening. The only thing he can do is take things as they come. As it is, he’s going to find out what’s going on and put a stop to it. She asks if there’s anything she can do, and he says, she can just stay out of it. He can deal with anything as long as she and the girls are safe. Okay? She says, okay, when Nina walks in.

On Monday, Valentin says, Anna screwed up and can’t own up to it; Josslyn says, Dex will be signing his own death warrant; and Sonny tells Nina, his children won’t be visiting him, and neither will she.

⚾️ Playing Ball…

Up close and personal at the RHONJ charity softball game.

https://www.bravotv.com/the-daily-dish/rhonj-charity-softball-game-behind-the-scenes-moments-pics-recap

🍸 #Scandoval…

Like Andy, I’m girding my loins for the Reunion.

LVP wouldn’t have to ask me to move in twice.

https://www.etonline.com/kristen-doute-says-tom-sandoval-still-refuses-to-leave-home-he-shares-with-ariana-madix-201104

Kelly Clarkson be damned.

https://www.etonline.com/ariana-madix-releases-first-statement-on-tom-sandoval-raquel-leviss-affair-what-doesnt-kill-me

I always appreciate a timeline.

https://www.etonline.com/tom-sandoval-and-raquel-leviss-a-timeline-of-the-vanderpump-rules-stars-cheating-scandal-200333

More proof Sandoval is an awful human being. If Jax shames you, you know it’s bad.

It’s even better than The Slap. Although TBH, I can’t imagine Scheana giving anyone a black eye. Not to mention, that’s a pretty odd-looking shiner. I agree with the opinion that it’s to remove herself from the Reunion.

https://www.etonline.com/scheana-shay-slams-raquel-leviss-restraining-order-filing-amid-vanderpump-rules-drama-200621

🐝 Don’t Get Stung…

I binged season one not long ago. I can’t wait.

https://mashable.com/article/yellowjackets-season-2-review-showtime

🐲 He Knows Nothing…

His reaction? He talks about everything but.

https://extratv.com/2023/03/15/kit-harington-reacts-to-possible-jon-snow-game-of-thrones-spin-off-series-exclusive/

🎸 If You Palooza…

The latest info on Lollapalooza. You can get tickets at a lot of websites. I’m not endorsing getting them through this one. They just had some good, basic intel.

https://www.songkick.com/festivals/1235-lollapalooza/id/40682629-lollapalooza-2023

🐕 Neverending Cuteness…

Adorable pets. Who cares who owns them?

🍻 Quotes of the Irish

This week, I’m taking the easy way out. Moving info, downloading programs, whatever needs to be done on a new device is a real pita. If it was the only thing I had to do, it wouldn’t be as much of a headache, but it’s not. And I keep going, oh yeah, that too. So rather than going quote hunting, I found a link that’s apropos for the week.

https://ottawacitizen.com/life/life-story/top-50-irish-proverbs-and-sayings-you-should-know-for-st-patricks-day

🍀May the wind always be at your back & may you be at the gates of heaven an hour 🍀🍀before the devil knows you’re dead.🍀

🩰 Riverdancing Away…

Make a return trip on Monday for soap and the St. David’s final charter. Until then, stay safe, stay challenging the status quo, and stay knowing things happen. You can’t control everything, but life is full of surprises.