GH Transcript Monday, January 16, 2023

General Hospital Transcript

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Transcript provided by and proofread by Suzanne

Portia: I’m not going to sit here and watch Spencer Cassadine worm his way into my daughter’s heart again.

Curtis: I get it. Just tread lightly.

Portia: Oh, it’s too late for that. I’ve already made that extremely clear, and Spencer knows exactly how I feel on the matter as well.

Curtis: I’m not talking about Spencer. I’m talking about Trina. [ Sighs ] If you try to keep her from him, you might end up doing the exact opposite and push her straight into Spencer’s arms.

Spencer: Thanks so much for coming right over, Ms. Miller. Please.

Diane: My fee for an after-hours consultation is substantial, young man.

Spencer: I’m good. And I’ll cover your retainer right now to prove it.

Diane: Retainer? Is this a criminal matter? Spencer, you just got out of Pentonville. You haven’t had time to cash your commissary check.

Spencer: I don’t need a commissary check. But don’t worry, counselor, this is not a criminal matter. It’s more of a civil one.

Diane: I’m listening.

Spencer: It involves Esme Prince’s baby. I want custody.

Elizabeth: So you’re sure the police found nothing at Wyndemere?

Nikolas: It was as if Esme was never in the tower.

Elizabeth: But how?

Nikolas: Victor took care of it.

Elizabeth: Victor knows? How did he figure out what we were up to?

Nikolas: No. He knows what I was up to. I left you out of it. He doesn’t know that you were helping me.

Elizabeth: Thank you. So the police are satisfied? They’re not an immediate concern?

Nikolas: No. But my family is.

[ Monitor beeping ]

Esme: Oh!

Laura: Oh. Hi.

Esme: Wow. God.

Laura: It’s all right. It’s all right.

Esme: [ Breathes deeply ]

Laura: I’m so sorry. I didn’t want to startle you. I was trying not to wake you up.

Esme: You’re not a doctor. Are you a cop?

Laura: No, uh, just an interested party.

Esme: Then how did you get in here?

Laura: Funny, I was about to ask you the very same question.

Carly: My guess is Nina’s in the lab, getting her cheek swabbed.

Sonny: She agreed to be tested as a potential bone marrow match?

Carly: Yeah.

Sonny: Th– that’s why you came into the chapel? ‘Cause Nina was willing to get tested. You didn’t guilt her into it, did you?

Drew: Sonny, you got this all wrong.

Sonny: W–

Carly: It was Nina who laid the guilt trip, okay?

Sonny: What do you have to feel guilty about?

Willow: Get out! Leave me alone!

Michael: Not now, Nina.

Willow: Not ever! I want you out of this room. I want you out of my life for good!

Nina: I — [ Stammers ] I’m sorry, Willow, but… your life may depend on me.

Willow: You should talk to a shrink about that savior complex of yours. Get her out of here. On second thought, don’t give her another reason to drag us into court. Call hospital security.

Nina: I’m not leaving. Not yet.

Willow: Michael.

Michael: [ Sighs deeply ] You need to hear what she has to say.

Laura: One day, you just disappeared. Some say you went to Europe. And others say that you stayed here in Port Charles and committed some pretty heinous crimes.

Esme: Well, what do you think?

Laura: I’m not…

Esme: [ Coughs ]

Laura: Sure. That’s why I’m here, actually. Drink. You want to be sure not to get too dehydrated right now. So, tell me, where were you during those months that you were missing, and how did you get here with hypothermia?

Esme: I wish I knew. Thank you. So you sat here patiently watching me sleep, gave me a nice drink of water… Do I know you?

Laura: My name is Laura Collins. I’m the mayor of this city.

Esme: Wow. The mayor? Judging by what people think of me, I’m guessing that you’re not here to give me the key to the city.

Laura: No. I’m here because I am also the grandmother of the baby you’re carrying.

Portia: I need another drink. [ Scoffs ] [ Groans ]

[ Knock on door ]

Curtis: Portia.

Portia: If that’s who I think it is — oh, no, no, no. I got this. I’m calm.

Curtis: [ Sighs ]

Taggert: Hey, sorry I didn’t call.

Portia: Oh, my god! Hi! Come, come out of the cold.

Taggert: Thank you.

Portia: I didn’t realize you were back in town.

Taggert: Yeah, I came back when I saw all the photos of Trina with that Cassadine kid. Do I need to worry about my baby girl?

Sonny: What have you done, Carly?

Dante: Hey, uh, I heard about Willow.

Sonny: I’m sorry I haven’t called you. I just got a — there’s a lot going on.

Dante: Yeah, that’s okay. Uh, I stopped by her room, but Michael and Nina were there. I didn’t want to interrupt.

Carly: I’m sorry, did you say Nina was in Willow’s room?

Dante: Yeah. What’s her prognosis?

Carly: Willow has stabilized, but she’s in desperate need of a bone marrow match.

Dante: I should, uh, I should go get tested then, yeah?

Carly: Uh, Drew, can you show Dante where the lab is so he can get tested?

Drew: Yeah. Yeah. You got it.

Carly: Can I talk to you? Nina’s Willow’s mother.

Willow: Michael, tell me what is going on.

Nina: I-I don’t want to upset you.

Willow: Epic fail.

Nina: Willow, I am so sorry for all the arguments that we’ve had. The ugliness, the bad feelings. I’m sorry for all the ways that I have disappointed you.

Willow: You’ve said all this before. It’s just lip service, Nina. You never mean it, and this time is no different.

Nina: No, this time is — it’s very, very different.

Willow: [ Scoffs ] Why?

Nina: Because n– now I know that… [ Breathing unsteadily ] …You’re my daughter.

Willow: [ Laughs ] Your daughter. You have lost your mind.

Nina: No. It’s true.

Willow: Nina, please. Stop.

Nina: I just found out. You know what? They kept if from me. They kept it from both of us.

Willow: My mother is dead, Nina.

Nina: They said that. They did. But they were lying to you.

Willow: Oh, you’re accusing someone else of lying? That’s — that’s rich. Can you believe her?

Michael: Willow, um, I do. I do believe her because… …it’s true.

Elizabeth: Why would Victor want to keep evidence of Esme’s captivity in a storage unit?

Nikolas: Why do you think? Leverage.

Elizabeth: Against who? You? Oh, that’s disgusting.

Nikolas: No. That’s Cassadine.

Elizabeth: So this isn’t over? Do you have any idea where the storage unit is?

Nikolas: Could be anywhere. Even if I knew, I doubt I would be able to access it.

Elizabeth: [ Scoffs ] So that’s it?

Nikolas: [ Sighs ]

Elizabeth: Your uncle has the power to destroy us both.

Nikolas: No, Elizabeth. I’m quite sure he doesn’t know that you’re involved. Or he would have mentioned it. He has no evidence leading back to you or I’d already know.

Elizabeth: I don’t see how you can be so sure.

Nikolas: I can’t. [ Sighs ] But I promise that I am gonna do whatever it takes to shield you from any of the trouble that I brought you. And I’ll take all the blame if that’s what’s needed. But right now, it’s not Victor we need to worry about talking. It’s Esme.

Esme: You’re Spencer’s mother?

Laura: I’m Spencer’s grandmother. His father, Nikolas, is my son. You stayed with my husband, Kevin, and me when you and Spencer were together.

Esme: Uh, Kevin Collins, the psychiatrist?

Laura: Yes.

Esme: I-I met him. He looked so familiar.

Laura: Do I look familiar?

Esme: The — the guy who came to see me was telling me his name was Spencer. But, wait, I-I’m sorry. I’m confused. You said that Spencer is your grandson, but that I’m carrying your grandchild?

Laura: It’s a lot of names to keep up with, isn’t it?

Esme: Yes.

Laura: How about that? Is this the guy who came to visit you.

Esme: Um, the guy who came was younger. That’s him. That’s my baby’s father.

Diane: All right. Take it from the top.

Spencer: How hard is it to gain full custody of a newborn?

Diane: Well, there was a time when fathers were not favored in family court, but that hasn’t been the case for decades.

Spencer: What about custody being awarded to family members?

Diane: That’s a little trickier. And given your family’s unusual history, I would say that Laura would be in the best position to petition. And don’t forget, Esme will need to be stripped of all parental rights. But given that Esme is Esme, I see that as a possibility.

Spencer: What about a sibling gaining custody?

Diane: A sibling of the baby?

Spencer: Yes. Does that happen?

Diane: Well, yes. I mean, it’s rare, but in this case, there is no — Esme’s baby isn’t yours, is it? Nikolas? Is Nikolas the father?

Michael: Drew confirmed it. Nina is your biological mother.

Willow: No. No.

Nina: Are you okay?

Willow: No.

Michael: I think we should call a doctor.

Willow: No. Drew was looking into my family. He would have told me this himself.

Nina: Well, Drew didn’t know until you were hospitalized.

Willow: How did he find out?

Michael: [ Exhales deeply ] New information came to light.

Willow: And Drew told you?

Nina: Carly told me. Willow, we’re all very, very worried about you.

Michael: Look, I know this is a lot to take in, okay? We don’t — we don’t have to have this conversation right now.

Willow: If not now, when? I may not have much time left.

Michael: No.

Willow: There is no time to wait. I need to know how this happened. And I need to know now.

Carly: That’s why I came to find Nina in the chapel. I wanted to tell her that she and Willow were biologically related, and she needed to be tested as a bone marrow match.

Sonny: Okay, stop right there. [ Sighs ] How did you come by this information?

Carly: Harmony told me.

Sonny: Harmony’s been dead for — for months. How long have — have you known?

Carly: You know, what’s important right now is saving Willow. The details don’t really matter.

Sonny: Yeah, the details matter, because they matter to Willow, they matter to Nina, and they sure as hell mattered to you because you kept your mouth shut.

Sonny: I just want to know if this is true and why you waited so long to tell Nina.

Carly: Yes, it’s true. And I can only assume that Nina is in there telling Willow right now.

Sonny: Why didn’t you say anything when you found out?

Carly: I’m not getting into the details with you. Okay?

Sonny: Yeah, well… you knew about this, too?

Nina: I didn’t know that I was pregnant with twins. My mother, Madeline, she gave my babies to two separate women. She gave you to Harmony, and she made Phyllis, my nurse, give Nelle to the Bensons.

Willow: Nelle was my sister. I fought my own sister in court. [ Gasps ] After I found out Harmony wasn’t my biological mother, I thought I had no blood relations. And now… it seems I have two.

Nina: You have more. I have my Aunt Liesl and sweet little James.

Willow: So if this is true, it makes… Wiley my nephew.

Nina: It is true, Willow. I thought I lost my only child. And you thought that there was never gonna be a chance for you to have a relationship with your real mother. Maybe this is a way for both of us to get something we never had before.

Taggert: I thought Trina was done with this Spencer creep.

Portia: Okay, let’s try to keep it down. She’s upstairs sleeping. And I know — I thought that she was done with Spencer, too. But apparently they’re friends again, no matter what we think about it.

Taggert: Oh, we’ll see about that.

Portia: I understand your sentiment. I really do. But thankfully, Curtis talked me off the ledge before I made things even worse.

Taggert: Oh, you did, did you?

Curtis: I-I was saying that I think we should give Trina space to figure things out for herself.

Taggert: No offense, but you’re not my daughter’s father.

Laura: Why do you think that Spencer is the father of your baby? Did he say that he was?

Esme: He said it was possible. It is possible, right?

Laura: The two of you have had, uh, quite a history.

Esme: I sure hope he’s the father. He was so kind to me. He told me that we used to be boyfriend and girlfriend, but that we broke up.

Laura: Yeah.

Esme: Was the first photo you showed me Nikolas? He’s your son?

Laura: Yes. Has he been to see you?

Esme: Not yet. But if he’s any bit as nice as you and Spencer, I wouldn’t mind.

Laura: Hm.

Esme: Can I ask you a question, Mayor Collins?

Laura: Of course.

Esme: I get the feeling that not very many people in this town like me. And it’s weird not knowing if I’m guilty of the accusations about me or not. I mean, someone in this town must have cared about me, other than maybe Spencer. You said I lived with you, right? Can you tell me anything about me?

[ Knock on door, door opens ]

Dante: Laura.

Laura: Dante.

Dante: Sorry to interrupt. I was, uh, hoping to get some answers.

Esme: I’ll try my best.

Spencer: Do I have a chance?

Diane: Well, the courts are not usually keen on taking a child away from both biological parents without good cause.

Spencer: It should be easy enough to convince a judge that Esme is unfit. Not only is she facing legal troubles, her state of mind and her health challenges — those are factors.

Diane: All fair points. But a good lawyer could argue all of that on — on behalf of Esme.

Spencer: Well, lucky for us, you’re not just a good lawyer — you are the best.

Diane: Well, flattery is nice. A good case is nicer.

Spencer: Look, I know that it’s possible. I know that it’s possible because Michael was able to gain custody of his sister Avery at one point.

Diane: Correct. And, yes, your Aunt Alexis won that case, but — but that was short-lived. Michael ultimately gave Avery back to Sonny and Ava, and now they have joint custody of their daughter. But I’m assuming you don’t want to just temporarily remove this child.

Spencer: No. If I get my way, this baby will never know either of its parents.

Willow: Can you give Nina and me a few minutes alone?

Michael: Uh, I don’t think —

Willow: Michael, please.

Michael: I’ll be close by.

Willow: This won’t take long.

[ Door opens ]

Nina: It’s a lot, huh? I’m reeling, too, you know? I spent years and years looking for my child, and the pain of that loss, it haunted me every single day. But I have a daughter. [ Voice breaking ] Who hates me.

Willow: Don’t put words in my mouth, Nina.

Nina: Well, it’s no secret that all we’ve done — you know, we fight with each other. But I am hoping that ends here and now, that we can move forward, that we can build a new relationship with each other, that, you know, we can look back on all of this with a new sense of wonder about how we’ve come so far. We can tell that story to Wiley, and then we can tell the story to the new little one.

Willow: You won’t be telling either of my children stories, Nina. I asked Michael to leave to spare you some dignity. But make no mistake — the fact that we have a blood tie changes nothing between us.

Sonny: You hid the truth from Nina and Willow, too?

Drew: I would have told them had I known.

Sonny: So this is a vendetta.

Carly: It’s not a vendetta!

Drew: Sonny. [ Sighs ] Carly wasn’t trying to hurt Nina. She was trying to protect Willow.

Sonny: Okay. Make that make sense to me, Drew.

Drew: Because Willow was furious after the visitation hearing. She didn’t want her anywhere near her family.

Sonny: Because she didn’t know that Nina was her mother, Drew.

Carly: Have you forgotten the hell Nina put Willow through?! Have you?!

Sonny: You know what? You can fool Drew all you want. You’re not gonna fool me. You weren’t protecting Willow. You were doing this because you wanted to get back at Nina.

Carly: You can think what you want.

Michael: Enough! Enough!

Diane: You have every right to feel betrayed, because you were, but you have no obvious legal right to your father’s child.

Spencer: Uh —

Diane: Now, look, look. I’m gonna be blunt because that’s just part of my charm. I am concerned that a judge will hear the anger that I just heard and wonder about your motive. So I’ve got to ask you — what you’re trying to do, is it in the best interest of the child, or are you — are you seeking revenge against Nikolas and Esme?

Spencer: I don’t care about my father and Esme. Although, yes, sticking it to my father would be the icing on the cake.

Diane: And there it is again.

Spencer: This is about saving a child from an amoral mother and a dangerously selfish father. This is about breaking a cycle. A cycle that I’m all too familiar with. When my father was not pretending that he was dead, he was choosing a woman over me. This goes beyond bad parenting skills. My father is a toxic and damaging person, so I do not want to sit idly by while he breaks another child’s heart or while he damages another child’s self-esteem… because my little brother or sister deserves better than that.

Diane: As did you. Well said, Spencer, and we can put forth that argument. But I got to tell you, the odds are stacked against you.

Spencer: What if there is something that I could do to even those odds?

Elizabeth: From what I can tell, it doesn’t appear that Esme will recover her memories any time soon.

Nikolas: Good.

Elizabeth: For us. Not so much for her.

Nikolas: A blank slate could be a blessing. Esme has no memories of the low-down dirty deeds she’s done. She doesn’t have to carry the guilt like I do.

Elizabeth: It’s a double-edged sword. Being spared the painful memories is kind of a blessing, but knowing there’s something you can’t access, it’s just torture.

Nikolas: Are we still talking about Esme?

Elizabeth: Like I said, I don’t think she’s gonna remember anytime soon, which makes Victor’s evidence moot.

Nikolas: Exactly. No, it’s a pile of junk. Even with Esme’s DNA, I mean, it doesn’t pinpoint time or location. I mean, Esme, she lived at Wyndemere for months on and off.

Elizabeth: Mm.

Nikolas: As long as she doesn’t remember, we’re safe. [ Sighs ] It’s gonna be okay, Elizabeth. I mean, there’s no real evidence, no testimony. Means no proof or case.

Dante: Does this look familiar?

Esme: It looks like a Christmas ornament.

Dante: Yeah. You had it on you when you were admitted. Can you take another look? It might actually give us a clue as to where you were before you turned up.

Esme: [ Sighs ] It doesn’t look familiar.

Laura: May I look? Oh, it looks hand-painted.

Dante: Yeah, it’s probably part of set. We’re trying to figure out who made them.

Laura: Mm-hmm.

Esme: I’m sorry. It means nothing to me.

Dante: If you can think of anything, if anything comes to you, can you give me a call?

Esme: No. Why would I help the police build a case against the girl I used to be?

Michael: You know, Willow’s life is imploding, and you’re out here fighting like children.

Carly: How is she?

Michael: On top of the fact that she’s sick, she’s having to deal with the idea that the woman who she actively hates, who she told to drop dead, is her mother.

Drew: Okay, look, we are here for you, for both of you, in any way possible.

Carly: I’m sorry. And we can put our disagreements aside and focus on Willow, but why the hell was Nina’s first instinct to go in there and talk to Willow and not get tested first?

Sonny: You have no right to question Nina after what you’ve done, Carly.

Carly: Go to hell.

Michael: I need to talk to you in private.

Michael: I can’t believe that Mom knew that we were looking for Willow’s family, and she didn’t say a thing.

Sonny: That’s because she wanted revenge on Nina.

Michael: I don’t give a damn about Nina. Look. Willow is my one and only priority, okay?

Sonny: Right. Okay. I want to help you. How can I help you?

Michael: By dealing with your feelings towards what Mom did later, okay? Away from me. Away from Willow.

Sonny: I can do that. How are you holding up?

Michael: [ Sighs ] I don’t care about me. I care about Willow. She’s — she’s devastated, and I have to make things better for her.

Sonny: That’s what you’re doing, Michael. You’re looking out for her best interests. You’re there for her as a partner. As a father. You’re doing all the right things, son.

Diane: What do you mean, “even the odds”?

Spencer: I was with Esme for years, and according to my father, he was only with her for one night. Who’s to say that I’m not the father?

Diane: That’s an interesting wrinkle. Look, obviously I am always and only about presenting the best possible case for all of my clients. So if you tell me that you’re the father, I will take that into court. But if you have even an inkling that a DNA test might prove otherwise, I’m not gonna go down that road. I will not be party to fraud. So if that’s what you’re looking for, then you’ve got to keep looking for another lawyer. And your father, don’t forget, can bring in his own DNA test. And what do you think those results are gonna be?

Spencer: Fair enough. Okay, Ms. Miller, what are my options?

Diane: Well, here’s my charming bluntness. Again, it is very difficult to strip a child away from its biological parents. That’s a long shot. And we would be fighting on two fronts because Esme, while she doesn’t have the resources that your father has, still has rights. But your father is gonna level everything he’s got at you. He will attack you. And you are fresh from Pentonville. Not your first stint, but your second. So you will be playing defense yourself.

Spencer: I am sure that you can handle that.

Diane: Yes, of course I can handle it. And I would present a very effective case on your behalf. But I got to warn you, Spencer, I cannot guarantee you a win.

Dante: Well, chalk one up for nature versus nurture, I guess. Right? Even in Esme’s supposed state of amnesia, her instinct was to protect herself.

Laura: Yes, I noticed that. That Christmas ornament — is that somehow related to The Hook Killer investigation?

Dante: We don’t know yet, but we are pivoting away from Esme as the prime suspect in the killings. Could she be involved on some level? Maybe. But there’s no way she committed the acts herself.

Laura: [ Sighs ] Ah, that’s such a relief. [ Laughs ] Yeah. But she is still under investigation for the revenge porn charges, right?

Dante: Yeah. Yeah. And the drugging of Oz Haggerty.

Laura: She will be discharged from the hospital soon. Will she be granted bail or held in a facility?

Dante: You know what? That’s above my pay grade.

Laura: Ah.

But I’m sure the D.A. will be calling you, and you and he will have to figure out the right answers to that.

Laura: I’m not sure there’s a right answer to this question. No matter how we choose to deal with Esme, the public will be watching and judging.

Elizabeth: I should get going.

Nikolas: Wait. All that talk of memory loss felt personal. I should have asked you this before, but did you ever figure out why you were losing time?

Elizabeth: [ Sighs ] Sorry I never told you, but yes, I did. Sleepwalking, the blackouts — they were the result of the illustrious Dr. Carolyn Webber using her psychiatric expertise to repress my memory.

Nikolas: What?! Did your father know?

Elizabeth: Yes. Anyway, I know my situation isn’t the same as Esme’s. But I’ve been where she is. I know what it’s like to not be able to rely on your memory or to be confused by the lack thereof.

Nikolas: What happened? What made your parents so desperate for you not to remember?

Curtis: Look, I may not be Trina’s biological father, but I am speaking from experience. She didn’t appreciate it when I weighed in on her personal life, and she all but told her mother to butt out of her business before she went up to bed.

Taggert: Well, that may be. I mean… Trina’s always been strong-minded and independent, but [Sighs] giving your daughter space so she can make her own mistakes is a lot different than standing back and watching her put herself in danger. Portia and I, we didn’t let her play in traffic as a child, and we’re not gonna let her play with the Cassadines. I know that family — too well. Tell the Princess to call me when she wakes up.

Portia: I will.

Taggert: [ Sighs ] Sorry for ruining your evening.

[ Door closes ]

Portia: Now, you know that I value you and your opinion and your support. It’s just that when it comes to Trina, um, Taggert is territorial.

Curtis: I get it. I totally understand. And so for now, I’m just gonna go ahead and keep my parenting advice to myself.

Portia: [ Chuckles softly ]

Curtis: That is, until we have our own.

Carly: I can deal with Sonny’s anger. I expected it. But the way Michael avoided my eyes…

Drew: We all need a little time.

Carly: And if it… affords Willow more time, it will have all been worth it.

Willow: If there is proof that you are my biological mother, I will accept that fact. But I will never accept you. You continually tried to destroy our family, first by keeping Sonny away from his loved ones, then insinuating yourself with my son and ripping our reputations to shreds in open court.

Nina: Willow, you’re not well enough for this.

Willow: I haven’t been well for months. But that didn’t stop your torment. You accused me of having an affair with TJ when he was supporting me through my diagnosis.

Nina: I didn’t know.

Willow: You didn’t care to know! You jumped to conclusions because you have been hell-bent on taking me and Michael down by any means necessary. And this is the story you want to tell Wiley someday? Not a chance.

Nina: I thought that Wiley was my only tie to a woman who I believed was my only daughter. Losing a child left me broken and untethered. If anyone understands how that affects a mother, you do, Willow. A crime was committed against me. And you. You were taken without my consent. I couldn’t save your sister, Nelle. But I’m saving you.

Michael: I have to get back to Willow.

Sonny: Of course.

Nina: As your closest relative, I stand the best chance to be a donor match.

Willow: And if you are a match, what do you want in exchange?

Nina: Nothing… [Voice breaking] Whatsoever. You don’t — you don’t owe me anything. Do — do you think I came in here to emotionally blackmail you?

Willow: I don’t know… what to believe. I… I only know I don’t trust you.

Nina: Okay. I accept the fact that this might not change anything for you, but I want you to know this — when I leave this room, I am going to the lab, and I’m gonna get tested. Look at your eyes. We have the same… eyes. This might not ever change your mind, but you’re my daughter. And if I have the power to save your life, I’m not gonna let anything stop me. Not even you.

[ Door closes ]

Portia: Well, now, discussing parenthood in the abstract is one thing, but bringing a child into the world, I mean, that’s another.

Curtis: Okay. Well, let’s do more than discuss it.

Portia: [ Laughs ] I love you so much.

Curtis: [ Laughs ] I love you, too. Look, honey, we have our entire future ahead of us.

Portia: And in that future, you really see yourself being a father?

Curtis: Oh. [ Chuckles ] I know there are no guarantees, but… hell yeah. I would love to continue the Ashford name and have a child of my own.

Diane: [ Sighs ] If you are serious about gaining custody of this baby, then I will seriously consider taking this case. But you’ve got to stop calling me Ms. Miller. From now on, you call me Diane.

Spencer: As long as I can call you. Thank you, Diane.

Diane: Don’t thank me yet. It would be a long and arduous road.

Spencer: Understood.

Diane: Is it? Spencer, you know what the most terrifying thing about wildfires is? Once they get started, once they’re lit, they are nearly impossible to control. And every time a case like this comes into a courtroom, it’s like a wildfire has been lit within a family. Look at Sonny and Michael, or more recently, look at Michael and Nina and Willow.

Spencer: I don’t have much of a family, especially not where my father is concerned.

Diane: Okay. But a decision like this will upend your young life. And it might impact every single one of your relationships. So before you call me again, I want you to think long and hard about how far you’re willing to go. Because once this wildfire is lit, it’s gonna rage with unforeseen consequences.

Nikolas: So sorry that happened to you.

Elizabeth: Well, I’m sorry your Uncle Victor is threatening you.

Nikolas: Ha. You got to love the irony of relying on Esme to evade both the law and my uncle. The fates must be laughing themselves silly.

Elizabeth: [Scoffs] We’re both at the mercy of Esme and her recollection. I know it may be hypocritical, but my self-preservation is stronger than my empathy right now. I just wish there was a way we could make sure she would never get her memory back. But that’s next to impossible.

[ Door closes ]

Nikolas: Never say never.

Laura: This is a very high-profile case, and unfortunately, I am front and center. I mean, I don’t like to sound like a politician, but I am painfully aware of the optics. Esme was my grandson’s girlfriend. She lived in the house with us for a while. The baby she’s expecting could possibly be my close relation. [ Sighs ] We can’t let her go without consequence. But how do we prosecute a woman who can’t recall the crimes that she’s alleged to have committed?

Dante: I don’t know. I don’t know. I mean, I don’t envy you and Robert right now ’cause it sounds like a nightmare.

Laura: Yeah. And I can’t help but feel for Cameron and for Spencer. Their lives were so impacted by Esme’s actions. How do we get restorative justice for them? You know, if we take it on faith that Esme’s memory is gone, gone for good…

Dante: Okay. That’s a big if right there. What do you think? You think she’s faking it?

Esme: [ Sighs ]

Drew: Revealing the truth was painful, but in doing so, you’ve given Willow a chance to survive.

Carly: I hope so. I pray, you know? Thank you.

Drew: For what?

Carly: For not making me feel worse.

Michael: [ Sighs ] Hey. Talk to me.

Willow: Why her? Why couldn’t it have been anyone else besides Nina?

Nina: Sonny… …I have a daughter.

Sonny: Yeah, you do.

Nina: It’s Willow, and… she doesn’t want to have anything to do with me.

On the next “General Hospital” —