Rj: You know you can tell me anything, right? Luna, I can clearly see that you’re upset. Just tell me this isn’t me. Did I do something wrong?
Luna: No.
Rj: Well, maybe I was texting you too much and you just wanted to be alone. But I– I’m sorry, I was just really concerned because I’m so used to you always texting me back. It was really unlike you. No, I’M… I’m not upset with you.
Rj: Okay, then what? You said that I needed to know something about last night?
Zende: Hello, luna.
Luna: Hi, you.
Luna: I– I– I saw rj. It was him. He was here. He’s the only guy that I’ve ever… I don’t understand. This doesn’t make any sense.
[ Door slams ]
Zende: Poppy, what are you doing here?
Poppy: We’re alone now. I need to know exactly what happened last night with my daughter.
Deacon: Hey, sweetheart. I haven’t seen you in a while.
Hope: Yeah. And sadly, we both know why.
Deacon: Uh-oh.
Hope: Uh-oh is right. Dad, I’m here to make one last appeal. I miss you. End your relationship with sheila.
Hope: I mean, do you miss me? Dad, do you miss the kids?
Deacon: Of course, I do. I miss you more than anything.
Hope: Okay, so what is it then? What– what is the pull to sheila that’s stronger than your want to– want to be with us? I mean, dad, do you know how hurtful that is? I mean, you are choosing an actual psychopath over your own family.
Poppy: Luna is in love with rj. She had no intention of being with you.
Zende: I would never take advantage of someone. I will say it as many times as you need to hear it. I thought luna reached out to me. She was waiting for me when I came home. I had no idea that luna wasn’t herself. She seemed into it, let alone that she thought I was rj. Now, all because of your so-called mints.
Luna: All because of your disgusting mints, mom. Now our relationship is tainted.
Poppy: Honey, no.
Luna: Yes, mom, it is.
Zende: I respect you wanting to be truthful. But your mother’s right. There is absolutely no reason rj needs to know.
Rj: Luna, look at me. Whatever it is that you gotta tell me, just know I love you. And that you’re safe, and that I’m always gonna be here for you. Nothing you could ever do is gonna change that. Just please tell me what’s going on.
Luna: You have no idea how much I wish I stayed at that party. And came back here with you last night.
Hope: Dad, I don’t know how else to frame this for you, to get you to understand, but… dad, I love you.
Deacon: I love you, too.
Hope: Okay, so why are you doing the one thing that you know is going to drive a wedge between us? I don’t understand, dad. There’s– there’s millions of women in los angeles. Millions. That– that aren’t sheila. That aren’t someone who– who could potentially turn on a dime and hurt one of us.
Deacon: She wouldn’t do that.
Hope: You don’t know that. And there are children involved, so why even risk it? Please, put an end to it. I don’t understand.
Sheila: I, uh, I couldn’t help but overhear.
Deacon: Hey, babe. I’m sorry. I didn’t want you to have to…
Hope: No, dad, don’t apologize. Please, not on my behalf, because I meant every word.
Deacon: So, uh, where did you take off to?
Sheila: I just needed to see someone.
Deacon: Really? Who?
Sheila: Just someone from my past. No– no one important, really, but hope… I know how much you hate to see your father and me together. And I am sorry you feel that way. I truly am sorry. But the fact remains, we are in a committed relationship. We love one another. Could you please find it in your heart to just give me a chance?
Hope: Well, the fact remains, sheila, I will never be able to accept that. Because I don’t believe that you have changed. I don’t think you are capable. I think you are pulling one over on my dad. And I love him too much to watch him risk destroying the life that he has worked so hard for for you. Dad, I’m going to fight for us. For our family. And I am not going to lose you to her.
Zende: None of last night would’ve happened. None of it. If you hadn’t been so careless with your drug-laced mints.
Poppy: Do you think I’m not horrified by what happened? I still can’t believe that luna’s mints got mixed up with mine.
Zende: Look, you’re upset. I am too. I care about luna. I would have loved nothing more than to be the man in her life, but… that’s rj. I would have never inserted myself in that situation if I hadn’t believed that she wanted me to. Now it’s just a big mess.
Poppy: Yeah, it’s about to get messier.
Zende: What does that mean?
Poppy: I’m afraid that luna’s gonna tell rj what happened, risking everything they could have together.
Rj: I mean, I wish we could’ve been together last night too. I couldn’t believe how much I missed you.
Luna: I missed you too. Way more than you know.
Rj: Luna, is that what you’re upset about? That we missed a night together? Because I think we’re gonna have a lot more. I mean, I’m just saying.
Luna: I hope so.
Rj: Why would there be any doubt? Luna… seriously, did I– did I do something wrong?
Luna: No, no, you’re perfect.
Rj: No, come on. I don’t know about that.
Luna: I do. I mean, you’re so sweet and kind, loving.
Rj: You– you’re all those things. And more, luna. Like I said, like I got back here at the apartment and I was thinking about you. Alone, in your bed.
Luna: You’re always so fun. Zende? Wait, where’s rj? Rj?
>I just wished I could’ve been with you.
Luna: If you were, everything would be so different. Head & shoulders is launching something huge.
Sheila: I– I know you don’t believe I’ve changed, but I– I can prove it to you. Okay, but just open that door a little bit.
Hope: You know what? Forget it. No, hope. Please. You’re kind. You’re compassionate. Why can’t you extend that to me?
Hope: Because you don’t deserve it, sheila. I mean, you know what this is, right? This is the I’ve changed speech, which I have heard from many people over the years. But no, you might have my dad fooled, but I see you clearly. You are the same manipulative, lying killer that you have always been.
Deacon: Okay, hope, please. Come on.
Hope: No, dad, it is true. You want to show me that you’ve changed?
Sheila: Yes, I do.
Hope: Okay, then. Show some growth… and walk away. End the relationship, because clearly my dad isn’t capable of doing it. But if you actually care about him, if you actually are in love with my father like you say you are, you will see what your relationship is costing him. And it is costing him his family, a relationship with his daughter, a relationship with his grandchildren, which I know that you understand.
Deacon: Okay. So please, sheila, he’s lost enough time already.
Deacon: Let’s– let’s just leave this right here for now.
Hope: Yeah.
Deacon: I promise I will speak with you, but right now I need to speak with sheila alone.
Sheila: Don’t, deacon. Don’t let hope get to you.
Poppy: I love that luna is such a good person. But sometimes my daughter can be too honest for her own good. She could lose the only man she ever loved.
Zende: Not could. Will. I know rj. He won’t understand. Especially since I’m involved. This will be a deal breaker. This isn’t even her fault. It’s because of you and your damn mints. I can’t help worrying… that luna’s about to lose everything.
Rj: Luna, if you just tell me what’s bothering you, we could fix this. Together. You could share with me anything. Anything. We’re– we’re a team. I’m– I’m just here to help you. Wait, is this about your first time, and–
Luna: No, no, never.
Rj: So you’re not having regrets about that, or…
Luna: I mean, I have regrets, but they’re not about you.
Rj: Hey. I’m so in love with you. And it means everything to me that you hate being apart as much as I do. And if it were up to me, we’d never spend another night apart.
Sheila: Don’t let hope come between us.
Deacon: I’m not doing that.
Sheila: Okay. Good. Because I know hope wields an enormous amount of influence with you, and I don’t think she has too high of an opinion of me.
Deacon: Well, look at you putting things all nicely.
Sheila: Still… you stick by me. You always have. It’s one of the reasons I fell in love with you. And I can’t wait. I can’t wait for the world to know that the feeling is mutual. I cannot wait for the day that we can tell everyone that you proposed to me.
Deacon: Yeah, um… about that. I just– I think that maybe the news about my proposal, you know, shouldn’t come out in advance.
Sheila: Wait, what are you…
Deacon: That I– I– listen, I’m not ending our relationship. Okay? I’m just– I’m just trying to say–
Sheila: No, what are you– what are you trying to say?
Deacon: Sheila, I’m talking about hope. I’m talking about the effect that us getting married would have on my daughter. Sheila, I barely see hope as it is. My contact with– with douglas and beth, it’s hit and miss. If you were my wife, hope would cut me off completely. I would never see my daughter or my grandkids again.
Sheila: Are you saying you don’t want to marry me?
Deacon: Not yet. Not-not now.
Sheila: Not ever?
Deacon: Sheila, the last thing that I want to do in this world is hurt you. But I cannot just keep ignoring what hope’s saying to me. Please tell me you understand.
Sheila: You don’t wanna hurt me? You just did.
Zende: What?
Poppy: You think I’m a terrible mother, don’t you?
Zende: Does it matter what I think?
Poppy: In the long run, no. But since we’re stuck in this situation, we might as well have our cards on the table.
Zende: Okay. Since you asked.
Poppy: Mm-hmm…
Zende: I don’t think you’re a terrible anything. I don’t know you. But I know luna, and she is amazing. You raised her by yourself, so, you had to have had a lot to do with that. I also think that you’re careless and irresponsible.
Poppy: Okay, okay. You don’t have to say it again. I am painfully aware. My daughter wouldn’t have gone through any of this if it weren’t for me. And I still can’t believe that luna accidentally took my mints and ended up in bed with you.
Zende: I’m sorry.
Poppy: I am too. What I won’t accept is that one innocent, albeit horrible mistake, could destroy luna and rj’s relationship.
Rj: You know, I used to hear growing up that love comes when you least expect it. That’s been you. Really. Like the last thing on my mind was getting in a serious relationship. And then there you are, at my granddad’s house, and you’re just this beautiful, stunning woman, and you’re funny, and you’re kind. You’re so honest, and there’s this purity about you that I just love. I know I’m going on and on, but I just– I love you. I do. And nothing could change that.
Luna: I feel the same way. I mean, I– I never thought that I could love someone like this. And the last thing that I ever want to do is hurt you. You know, what we’ve found together, it means the world to me. And I never want to lose you.
Rj: You’re never going to lose me.
Luna: Can you say that one more time? I really need to hear it.
Interview with Maahra Hill of “THe Irrational” on NBC by Suzanne 2/13/24
This was a fun audio interview with the actress who plays FBI agent Marisa Clark on “The Irrational” (and ex-wife to star Jesse L. Martin’s Alec Mercer). I love this show, so it was fun to pick her brain about it (even though they haven’t started on season 2 yet). I hope you enjoy the season finale tonight! I know I will.
“The Irrational” follows world-renowned professor of behavioral science Alec Mercer (Jesse L. Martin) as he lends his unique expertise on an array of high-stakes cases involving governments, law enforcement and corporations. His insight and unconventional approach to understanding human behavior lead him and the team on a series of intense, unexpected journeys to solve illogical puzzles and perplexing mysteries.
The cast also includes Maahra Hill as “Marisa,” Travina Springer as “Kylie,” Molly Kunz as “Phoebe,” and Arash DeMaxi as “Rizwan.”
Arika Lisanne Mittman, Mark Goffman, Sam Baum and David Frankel executive produce. The show is based on best-selling author Dan Ariely’s book, “Predictably Irrational.”
The show is produced by Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group.
Maahra Hill
Marisa, “The Irrational”
Maahra Hill stars as Marisa on the new NBC drama “The Irrational.”
Hill starred as the title role in the OWN series “Delilah” from creator Craig Wright. She garnered rave reviews for her work and was included in Variety’s 2021 lead actress Emmy Awards contenders list.
Prior credits include guest starring on “Black-ish,” “The L Word: Generation,” “How to Get Away with Murder,” “Life in Pieces” and “Speechless.”
Why would Chad take the risk of trying to put out the fire in the Horton house? He has two kids who lost their mother. It didn’t make sense for him to try and put out the fire. He didn’t need to try and be a hero and save the house. Instead of watching the fire, he could have called for help. The fire department might have gotten there in enough time to put out the fire. We understand what he was trying to do, but he took a risk playing hero when he could have lost his life.
We have a theory about Everett. It feels like he’s behind the drug case. When the people set the Horton house on fire, shot at Lucas, and shot Harris, nothing happened to Everett. Everett was the one who wrote the story about the drug cartel, yet nothing happened to him. If anyone should be suffering, it should have been him. Everett could be the one working with Clyde.
Why would Johnny get married without EJ being there? Chanel wanted to make sure her mother was at the wedding, but he didn’t want his father there. Why wouldn’t Johnny want his father to see him getting married? Also, why didn’t he invite the rest of his family? They may have been getting married at the hospital, he could have invited his family.
What made Kristen think Brady wanted to reunite with her? She blackmailed him when he was with Chloe last year. Did she really think he would get over what she did to him? We know Brady bounces back and forth between her and whoever is available, but she shouldn’t have thought that he would have gotten back together with her that fast.
The opinions in these articles are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of TVMEG.COM or its other volunteers.
EJ and Nicole celebrated her and Holly being home. Rafe talked to Goldman about the shooting. Jada came in and gave her back her gun and badge. Goldman said she was happy to be back in the field. When Goldman left, Jada gave Rafe a gift. Leo asked Everett about the fire at the Horton house. He asked Everett why the fire started. Leo told Everett he didn’t have plans. Everett told him he had plans. Leo guessed he had a date with Stephanie. Everett told him they were going on a double date. Rafe liked Jada’s gift. He gave her a gift as well. She enjoyed her gift. Nicole thanked EJ for bringing her and Holly back home. He said he did it because he missed her. She said Holly was breathing on her own and her wonderful husband made it happen. Jada and Rafe talked about meeting Stephanie’s boyfriend. Rafe told her he met Stephanie’s boyfriend while he was doing a story for the paper. Jada said her ex was a reporter.
While Alex and Theresa were out, she searched around to see if he hid the ring. He asked her if she was going to visit Tate with Brady. She said she was excited to see him. Theresa said Tate would be excited about Holly breathing on her own. Alex said he was sure she would have good news to share with him. Theresa said she hoped so. Nicole and EJ talked about what has been happening in Salem. EJ told her Harris’ shooting was tied to the person who sold Holly the drugs. Stephanie met Jada and Rafe at the pub. Jada asked where Stephanie’s boyfriend was. Stephanie said he was on his way there. Jada said she couldn’t wait to see him. EJ gave Nicole a healing bowl to put in Holly’s room. Nicole loved her gift. When Alex went in his pocket, Theresa thought he was giving her the ring. Theresa wanted him to propose to her. She said her answer was yes. Jada said she has to go to the bathroom. Everett showed up when Jada left. Nicole told EJ that Holly had to get better. Theresa told Alex that she saw the ring. She apologized for ruining the surprise. Alex said she got it wrong. Theresa was upset that he wasn’t proposing to her. He wanted to talk, but she walked out of the restaurant. When Jada came back from the bathroom, she called Everett Bobby.
Jada told Stefan and Ava that Harris wasn’t out of the woods yet. Stefan wondered what she wanted from them. He let her know they didn’t know anything. Ava wondered if Jada had any leads. Jada told her what she knew. She let Ava know that she was the one who sent him a message to meet at the docks. Ava assured Jada that she wasn’t the one who reached out to Harris. Chad told Everett that someone tried to kill them at the Horton house. He told him what happened at the house. Brady let Kristen know that he’s been seeing Theresa lately. She tried to badmouth Theresa, but he didn’t want to hear it. Kristen wasn’t happy about Theresa has been getting his attention. She thought there was a chance they could get back together. He thought she was certifiable. Ava prayed that Harris would survive getting shot. Sarah was with Xander and she assured him that she believed that he didn’t shoot Harris. Justin arrived at the station to help Xander. Xander was lost so Sarah and Justin told him about the fire at the Horton house. He realized he heard sirens. Stefan followed Ava to the chapel. He didn’t see Ava as the praying type. Stephanie showed up at the police station and talked to Jada about spending Valentine’s Day with their guys. Jada agreed to hang out with Stephanie and her guy.
Brady reminded Kristen about what happened when they were together. Kristen explained why things went wrong with them. Brady wanted to talk about the people she hurt. He reminded her that she raped his brother. Kristen said that Eric forgave her for that. She reminded him that he tried to kill her. He listed the things she did to him. Rachel heard the things Brady said and wanted him to stop talking to her like that. She wanted them to stop fighting. Rachel yelled at Brady and Kristen. Kristen told Brady to leave. Everett realized the article he wrote played a factor in what happened. Chad told him that he had to go after Clyde because of what he did to his wife. Everett wanted to help him stop Clyde. Ava told Stefan how hard it was to stay away from Harris. She wondered if Clyde would go after Gabi and Tripp. He wasn’t sure. Ava didn’t think they would be free of him. Justin questioned Xander about what he did when he went out. Xander explained what he did. Justin said the police would want to see his phone records. He admitted that he received a call about killing someone. Jada went in the interrogation room and Justin wanted Xander out. She showed him the gun. Rachel wondered why Kristen and Brady always had to fight. Kristen tried to make her feel better, bur it didn’t work. Stefan and Ava didn’t want to feel vulnerable. Ava felt like she was supposed to strong and no one is supposed to intimidate her. She blamed herself for Harris being on the dock. Stefan let her know that she wasn’t alone. He would be there for her. Stefan assured her they would get through it together. Jada told Justin that the gun was recovered in Xander’s apartment and it’s the same gun that was used to shoot Harris.
Heather: Okay. But the good news is as far as your daughter is concerned, you have more than made up for it. I mean, she loves being here with you. And that’s a beautiful thing that we can give her.
Daniel: No. Yeah. Me and my dad, he, uh, said something to me earlier that really resonated with me. Um… he was talking about how you should never waste a single moment that you’re given. I think moving forward, that’s exactly what I intend to do.
Heather: Your dad is a very wise man. But has he shared with you his secret pasta sauce recipe?
Daniel: No. And he’s being a real jerk about it too. I guess all of that, you know, make every moment matter crap doesn’t apply to spaghetti.
**************”””””””””””””””””””””””””””
Daniel: Level 72. Wow, that is impressive. I mean, that takes some serious commitment to get in that deep.
Heather: Well, I had to familiarize myself with chancellor-winters content. Didn’t I? I mean, and how would i be totally effective at my new job if I didn’t do that? Besides, you have all those legal issues that you’re expecting that I need to prepare for.
Daniel: I knew it. You are a loophole lawyer, aren’t you?
Heather: Sh. In all seriousness though. I, um, I really found the game truly rewarding and challenging. I– I swear, I– I could not put it down.
Daniel: Well, that is high praise coming from you. You know, you hear it from critics, you hear it from strangers. But hearing you say it means a lot.
Heather: It was fun. And I feel like I even learned a few new things about myself in the process.
Tucker: Why good morning, Audra. Did you sleep well?
Audra: Um, why are you shouting? Are– are you looking for something? Or someone?
Tucker: Ah, just giving young Mr. Abbott ample time to collect his stuff. Get back to jabot.
Audra: Oh, look, you’re wasting your breath.
Tucker: Is he in the shower?
Audra: You know, tucker, this fixation with me and Kyle–
Tucker: No, no, no. It’s no fixation. I think you’re young. I think, uh, you ought to live it up. Take advantage. Just keep your head in the game. We’re cool. We’re cool. You just gotta give me what I want.
Audra: Which is?
Tucker: I just gotta know this guy is trustworthy. Isn’t he supposed to be coughing up secrets, so-called secrets, from the sanctum sanctorum of jabot? Yes? Where are they?
Sally: Yeah, that seemed like more than just not wanting to be around the two of us.
Adam: Well, Newman family business takes its toll. Something is up. They’ve all been Mia at work lately. And when I dared to ask him about it, I can tell that I struck a nerve.
Sally: I’m sorry.
Adam: No, don’t be. I assume I will find out what the big mystery is soon enough. But in the meantime, you did not answer my question. Good is a place filler. You tell me how you really doing, now that Nick’s gone, you don’t have to dance around it.
[ Sally clears throat ]
Sally: I’m fine. How are you doing? I mean, what have you been up to since the last time we saw each other?
********************* *†**********””
Michael: Did Jordan try to contact you after your arrest?
Interview with Maria Russell of “Jury Duty” on Freevee by Suzanne 1/25/24
It was lovely to speak with Maria. I binge-watched the show, which I hadn’t really heard of, for some reason, even though it was a big hit last spring. I’m so glad I did because it’s hilarious and unique. I hope you can watch it if you haven’t already. I really hope that they find a way to have a second season, too. Please watch and enjoy the video, too. This is an audio-only video, but I’ve made it into a video slideshow of photos of Maria.
This transcript still needs more editing!
Maria: Hi, Suzanne.
Suzanne: Hi, uh, I watched the show last night. I somehow missed it last spring when everyone else was, I don’t know. So many shows to watch,
Maria: I know,
Suzanne: but it was great. I loved it. I enjoyed it. So unique and it’s funny.
Maria: So funny. Thank you so much. It was a wild ride.
Suzanne: I’ll bet. uh, when the, the press release I got said, uh, docu series, similar to the office. I’m like, uh, not at all like that. It’s way back. Yeah, exactly. It’s very unique indeed. And who would have known it would become part of pop culture. It’s. Really bizarre and amazing. It’s really, the only thing I could think of that was similar is there was a reality show years ago. I don’t think it lasted more. And it wasn’t that successful called Joe Schmo where it was like a reality show. But the joke, I was the only one who didn’t know that everyone else was actors. But it wasn’t.
Maria: Yes. I, I heard of it. I never got to see it though.
Suzanne: Yes. I never saw it. I never saw it either. I just saw like the ads for it and I thought,
Maria: Oh, got it.
Suzanne: This is again, way better. So, so, uh, tell us about your character, uh, Inez.
Maria: Yes. Inez de Leon is fabulous. She’s this self-proclaimed boss babe with a real passion for fashion. And when she finds out that, that there’s a position for, foreperson, that’s her goal. She wants to be foreperson. and then she sadly loses that role to Ronald, no hard feelings, but then she ends up finding her new purpose in this courtroom, this jury and being the lunch-ordering queen, and also, the point-person to coordinate all of the outings like going to Margaritaville.
Suzanne: Right. And, uh, but you’re not, I mean, you’re playing the character, but….
Maria: Yes, that’s what’s weird about this show. It’s like you’re playing the character, but then you’re really you. So it’s strange.
It is strange. And, and honestly, we have, I have this conversation many times that I always say that we’re all kind of like our characters in a way. And the beautiful thing about this show and even starting out with it is that the producers and directors and everybody involved really gave us carte blanche to really, create this, these, give us creative freedom to create these, these characters from the ground up.
Suzanne: Well, that’s good.
Maria: Yeah, no, it was wonderful because, one thing that they did say was that be careful of going way too far off because then we’re going to have to remember everything because, this went on for three and a half weeks. So what I, I had to, what I did was every night I would go home and write down everything that Ronald and Inez spoke about because I had to keep track of the lies. Or the not truth or what I told him, so I had to just be very wary of that because he caught on, he was really smart, he was really sharp, so he would remember a lot of things. And I was, Inez and Ronald were very close, so I had to remember everything, like, on the show at the time I was married and in real life, Maria. And on the show, I was divorced, but I still had my wedding ring on because I, Maria couldn’t get it off because Maria gained weight during COVID. So I kind of use that as also as part of my, uh, part of my backstory.
Suzanne: Well, that’s cool. I noticed that in the last episode when they did a lot of flashbacks and talking about stuff that there were scenes we didn’t get to see in the show, and I hope that maybe they’ll do a DVD if they haven’t already, so that we can see a lot of the stuff that they cut out, because I’m sure there’s lots they cut out, because it’s a lot.
Maria: Oh my gosh. I think we were, yeah, I think we were saying it’s probably like more than 50 hours.
Suzanne: Yeah, when he wants to see the boring courtroom scenes that you had just to throw off the scent,
Suzanne: I read a good article yesterday. An interview with James Marsden. So there was a lot of information there that I enjoyed reading. so was it, was it nerve wracking at all? Uh, I know you got to create your character and there was a lot of improv involved, right?
Maria: Oh, oh yeah. 90 percent of it was. Improvised because and then the rest of it, there were suggested lines or scenarios. But again, we were, we were at the mercy of Ronald because we didn’t know what he was going to say or do. So, Ronald goes to the left, we have to go to the left, so a lot of it was the unknown.
Suzanne: Wow.
Maria: So. Yeah. It was, it was quite scary at moments because you didn’t want to be the one to, to blow them up. Yes. To blow up the whole thing.
Suzanne: Oh my gosh. I can’t imagine what they would have done if you, if somebody had done that, it’s like, or what if Ronald had turned out not to be the, such a nice guy, that would have been all different.
Maria: Yes. Yes. I mean, literally at any given moment, the gig could have been up, the jig would be up.
Suzanne: Yeah. Well, you lucked out that it wasn’t. So had you done some improv before?
Maria: Yeah. So my, I’ve done a lot of, hidden camera shows. I did a lot of sketch. I had a Broadway show that it was, Thought of bright autobiographical called little Tina Christmas special. So I had improv in my background, but is as far as long form improv. I didn’t, more of a comedic actress. That’s my, that’s my background really. But, sketch and creating characters.
Suzanne: Yes.
Maria: That’s my, that’s my, my, my space.
Suzanne: So, Are you all still keeping in touch? Good friends? You get together? What?
Maria: We do. I’m actually going to see Ronald over the weekend. Yeah. And, and Tricia, we’re going to go play pickleball. So yes, we all very much love each other. We’re on different group text, uh, texting chains, and we all very much love and support one another. It’s, it’s like this little family. It’s like this little club too, because, doing the show. We had to have such a level of trust for one another and that we’re going to have each other’s back because it was scary. Like, I think more than anything initially, it was scary because it was, everything was just the unknown and you really, the pressure of, of messing it up, of blowing it up, that was, scary, but at the same time there had to be. This, this part of yourself to surrender to the moment and just be in the moment. And then that’s when the nerves would go away.
Suzanne: Oh, that’s, you sort of got lost in your character a little bit.
Maria: Yes, exactly. Exactly.
Suzanne: Yeah. You hear about all the time. Actors say, Oh, we were like a family. I don’t think it’s true most of the time, but you had such a unique experience that I think it probably is true.
Maria: Oh, it’s really true. Yeah, it’s like this club because this, we had to really have each other’s backs like completely and implicitly because like I said at any moment. Ronald would find out or, or, or be curious about something or question something. And so we were always, there for each other. And yeah, that’s why, it’s a little bit different than any other show, because this one was like, we had to have this complete surrender to one another as well.
Suzanne: Yeah. Yeah, that’s it’d be kind of like making a movie, except you were on more and together more.
Maria: Yeah. Yeah, exactly. Exactly.
Suzanne: So, besides the sort of working without a net aspect, what was the hardest part of working, uh, making the show?
Maria: Wow. I think there’s a few things I think. as much as I, it was. really one of the most amazing experiences of my life. I think the most difficult part was, is that what you guys don’t get to see is that, is that after the show, after I’m sorry, not after the show, after each day, after we wrapped each day, it’s exhausting because our call time, we would have to show up at the Huntington Park court at around five or six Hair and makeup ready. Okay camera ready So you couldn’t get ready there. We had to be ready, ready to rock and roll. And we would end around five or six, but it was, there was never a cut. There was never a break. So, not like in a regular show film where, there’s a break. Okay. Now you guys have, two hours for a break or whatever it is. There’s no cuts. So it’s like you had to be completely present at all times. So I think that was the difficult time. Cause I remember I would be like. I don’t want to talk to anybody. I don’t want to see anybody and the weekends. I just want to go to sleep. I just want to like veg out because we would have to take notes. What did Ronald say? Is there something important that we should know for the next day or we’re not, we’re no longer doing the scene because Ronald, Ronald. So we’re cutting this out and adding this. So it was literally, I mean, day to day, it would change.
Suzanne: That sounds very stressful and exhausting, but at least work paid off and you got a big successful show. Very funny. And I don’t say that lightly because, although I do like to laugh, a lot of today’s comedies, I don’t find very funny. I’m older, so I like the old ones. I agree with you though. Very funny.
Maria: Thank you. I appreciate that.
Suzanne: So besides the fact that it was successful and you made these friends, what was the best part of making the show?
Maria: Oh gosh. I think the best part of it was, I mean, it’s going to sound so like Pollyanna. The friendships made. With all these wonderful actors and I think it, it shows because there was such chemistry with all of us and we didn’t test together either, by the way.
Suzanne: Wow.
Maria: We didn’t, we didn’t test. We met for the first time during rehearsal day one. So it was, we, we all connected on so many levels and I think it’s, it’s such a rarity to have that, I mean, at least for me and I get along with everybody, but it’s just such, it’s such a deeper connection with, with your, with your cast mates just because of the nature of the show and, and it’s special. So I would, and, and also I have to say with, with our producers and directors, they had our backs at all times. I mean, we were so lucky to have them so lucky to have them because we never felt like we were going to fall. whenever, I mean, we may not have known what we were doing at times. They’re like, do you know what you’re doing? And they’re like, no, I’m like me too. I don’t know what, what are we doing? So, but we never felt like we weren’t taken care of. So that was really important. We didn’t feel alone.
Suzanne: Yeah. When they showed the people on behind the scenes, behind the cameras and everything, it looked like they were really had a tough job, but they were on the ball looked like,
Maria: Oh, 100%. They were with us. 100%. So that was nice to know that there was. there. that you weren’t, you weren’t alone.
Suzanne: Yeah. Have you ever been in jury duty in real life?
Maria: No.
Suzanne: Wow.
Maria: I almost did. But then, so I got picked, but then they settled. Oh, so I never got to experience it.
Suzanne: Uh, yeah, you’re not missing much.
Maria: Yeah.
Suzanne: Well, I was unfortunately in a really bad experience. But the good thing about it is that now if they call me for jury duty, I just talk about how horrible it was. And they’re like, okay, you don’t have to. There you go. See, now you use my trauma.
Maria: Yes, I love it. I love it.
Suzanne: Do you think you might get a second season? You think they’ll be able to come up with something to do it?
Maria: Listen, the optimistic Maria says absolutely a hundred percent, but who knows, I know, part of me is like, yes, let’s do a second season. That would be amazing. And then the other side, the other part of me is like, We have something so special. I don’t know if we’d be able to recreate that again. And I don’t know if I would want to, because it was so special. It was one of a kind and I don’t know.
Suzanne: Yeah. Yeah. It’s almost like I think in order to do a second season, they’d have to wait a while and then have a completely new group of people, because otherwise people would know.
Maria: And see, I wouldn’t, I wouldn’t want that. I wouldn’t want that. I would want it to be me. No second season if it’s not all the same cast. Forget about it.
Suzanne: Well, it’s like an anthology show. Let’s call it that.
Maria: Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes.
Suzanne: So, are you, are you still in, Tacoma FD and are you working on season five yet?
Maria: So we did the fourth season. It’s now available on Netflix, which is really cool cause it was just on true TV. Um, so fourth season we did. And is now airing and I didn’t, I haven’t heard anything about a season five yet. So I’m hoping, I’m hoping, but, I don’t know, right. Fingers crossed.
Suzanne: Yes. Now that’s a funny show, too. I haven’t had time to watch it very much, but the little bit I’ve seen of it, it’s been very good.
Maria: Oh, my God. It’s so fun. And it’s, oh, my God. Those guys are hilarious. My Lord.
Suzanne: So do you have anything else coming out that you’d like to tell us about?
Maria: Well, I can’t talk about it per se, but I am going to be working on a film in March, which is very exciting, but I’m not able to talk about it.
Suzanne: Yeah. But yeah, that’s good. I’m glad you have more, more to do.
Maria: Yes, it’s exciting. And, with the strike over, it’s kind of, it pushed everything. It kind of, with the award season too, it’s been, it’s been very busy on that front. So things are starting to pick up a little bit more now too, which is great because, the whole year basically was like,
Suzanne: Yeah, I know. I didn’t have a lot of interviews. Yeah, you guys were all on strike.
Maria: We couldn’t talk about anything.
Suzanne: Yeah, no, I was, I had like directors and, and, uh, producers, writers. I mean, it was interesting. Don’t get me wrong, but I have very many. So, yeah. Okay. I’ve had enough of you. No, it’s just, I like, actually, I wish I got to speak with more writers because they’re the ones that like create the show and they know more about the stuff going on. But, but I like to talk to actors. So it’s hard.
Maria: I know. I know. I know.
Suzanne: Well, I really appreciate you talking to me today
Maria: and of course it was so nice talking to you, Suzanne.
Maria Russell (Mexican/Lithuanian descent) stands out in the comedic realm, gaining prominence through her role as the self-proclaimed boss babe ‘Inez De Leon’ in the acclaimed series “Jury Duty” on Amazon Freevee/AmazonPrime. Vying for the role of foreperson, she sadly loses to Ronald, but finds her purpose as the lunch ordering queen and coordinating all the fun outings for the jury.
This documentary-style show, a runaway hit starring James Marsden, offers a behind-the-scenes look into the American jury trial system. The series has garnered significant acclaim, earning numerous award nominations, including recognition at the Golden Globes (Best Musical/Comedy Series), Emmys (4 nominations), Independent Spirit Awards (Best New Scripted Series), and the prestigious honor of Best Ensemble Cast in a New Scripted Series. Additionally, the AFI Awards have recognized “Jury Duty” by including it in their top 10 television series of 2023 and winner of a 2023 TV Critics Award.
Maria has built an illustrious career in both television and film, earning her international acclaim, while establishing a solid foundation in Hollywood. On the television front, her versatile talent has graced hit series such as MTV’s “Teen Wolf,” ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy,” CBS’ “Criminal Minds,” “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” and recurring roles in the award-winning soap operas “General Hospital” and “The Bold and the Beautiful,” among others. Recently, Maria showcased her comedic prowess in HBO Max’s “Tacoma FD,” portraying the loveable, yet assertive ‘Lt. Salazar’
In the film realm, Maria is best known for her role in the Warner Bros. award-winning horror film “Lights Out,” produced by James Wan. In this chilling production, she shared the screen with acclaimed actors Teresa Palmer, Gabriel Bateman, and Maria Bello. Up next, Maria stars in the film “In Flight,” alongside Cristo Fernández (Ted Lasso) and Tiffany Smith (Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3). Additionally, she has left her mark in the independent film circuit.
Annually, Maria graces the stage in the Off Broadway sensation, “The Latina Christmas Special,” a production she co-wrote and stars in at The Soho Playhouse in New York. Her captivating performance and the show itself have garnered widespread acclaim, earning Critics Choice recognition from the Los Angeles Times for five consecutive years.
Maria showcases a diverse array of talents, highlighting an acting range that spans from lighthearted and unconventional comedy to fearless, unapologetic humor, as well as compelling and intense dramatic performances. Throughout her career, Maria has consistently aimed to forge connections with people. Looking ahead, she aspires to extend her impact by venturing into producing and directing, driven by a passion for crafting characters intricately woven into meaningful stories, with a particular emphasis on narratives centered around redemption.
With a foundation in classical ballet, Maria brings a wealth of professional dancing experience that spans various genres, including ballet, jazz, Latin/salsa, and hip hop. Beyond the dance floor, she passionately engages in diverse forms of fitness, such as kickboxing, Bar Method, and pickleball. An avid globetrotter, Maria is on a mission to explore the world, having already visited 16 countries. As a bilingual (Spanish/English) actress, she not only expresses her love for the performing arts but also extends her affection to animals.
Maria currently calls Los Angeles home, sharing her space with her beloved Maltipoo and Schnoodle, affectionately named Boris and Natasha.
Stephanie sits in the town square, participating in the geocaching event. Tripp and Wendy join her as they talk about how everyone is having a blast with it. Stephanie adds that they’ve already raised thousands for the hospital. Tripp and Wendy decide to continue geocaching before Tripp has to go to work.
At the Spectator office, Leo is with Everett. Everett talks about writing an article about the fire at the Horton house. Leo asks if anyone was hurt. Everett confirms that they got out okay. Leo talks about not usually liking kids but he does like Thomas and Charlotte. Leo thanks God that everyone got out alive even if they lost their belongings.
Theresa comes out of her room and sees Alex on the couch. She thinks back to finding the engagement ring in his pocket. Alex is surprised she got ready so quick and goes to finish getting ready. Theresa comments to herself that she is so ready.
Eric and Sloan watch over baby Jude. Eric surprises Sloan with a necklace with Jude’s name for Valentine’s Day which she calls cute. Eric makes sure that she likes it and puts it on her. Sloan then tells Eric that she got him something too and presents him with lingerie which she says she intends to wear for him tonight. Eric says he can’t wait. Eric then points out that Jude is going to fall asleep fast so they should get going. Eric then exits with Jude, leaving Sloan disappointed.
Nicole is home with Holly still in a coma in bed as EJ stands next to them. EJ calls it a relief to have them both home. Nicole says she can’t thank him enough. EJ tells her to thank Sarah as she was managing Holly’s case with the Italian doctors from here. EJ adds that Sarah guided him on everything Holly would need and set them up with the best staff. EJ says he did whatever it took to get them back home. Nicole says they know he went above and beyond. EJ hugs her and says it feels so good to have her in his arms again. Nicole admits she missed him so much. EJ declares no more missing each other since she is back home where she belongs as they kiss.
Officer Goldman meets with Rafe in his office. She talks about knowing she had no choice but to pull the trigger, but still feeling the shock of it. She prays she’s never put in that situation again. Rafe hopes she won’t be as Jada enters and returns Goldman’s gun to her. Rafe informs her that she is cleared to return to active duty. She responds that she’s never been more ready and thanks them as she exits the office. Rafe calls it a good Valentine’s Day for her. Jada talks about not knowing about her personal life. Rafe comments that Goldman had a rough couple of days, so hopefully she has someone to be with. Rafe says he’s glad that he does. Jada feels the same and presents Rafe with a Valentine’s Day gift.
Leo asks Everett if there are any leads on how the fire started. Everett says it sounds like arson. Leo bets that whoever set the Horton house ablaze was a very unattractive person who couldn’t stand that everyone in the house were all so lovey with each other. Leo wonders if jealousy could have been the motive. Leo brings up his boyfriend being in prison, so he doesn’t have plans tonight on Valentine’s Day. Everett says as lovely as that sounds, he does have plans. Leo says he should’ve known and guesses his plans are with Stephanie which Everett confirms. Leo remarks that Stephanie does seem to like him and has laughed at his jokes, so maybe he can tag along. Everett informs Leo that they are going on a double date if Leo doesn’t mind being a fifth wheel. Leo says third wheel is one thing but being fifth wheel would be too pathetic. Leo suggests he’ll check out the geocaching event and maybe he’ll find his valentine hidden in the town square. Everett wishes him luck with that. Leo tells Everett to enjoy his Valentine’s Day while he will likely be back in his hotel room for the night. Leo then exits the office.
Jada’s gift to Rafe is an antique Sherriff badge from the 1800s which Rafe calls great and acknowledges it took a lot of thought. Jada says she knows he’s been buried in work so he shouldn’t feel obligated but Rafe reveals he already got her a gift. Rafe presents her with a heart shaped box which Jada assumes is chocolates but turns out to be a bracelet. Rafe calls her the strongest, bravest, and most persistent woman he knows as Jada says she loves it. They kiss until pointing out they are still at work.
Tripp and Wendy say they love hanging with each other and that they needed this fun after everything that’s been going on lately.
Nicole tells EJ that she learned some Italian while in Italy to impress him. Nicole tells EJ that she’s so happy to be home in Italian. EJ says he’s very impressed and that she speaks Italian very well as they kiss. Nicole thanks EJ again for bringing her and Holly back home. EJ says it was selfish on his part because he missed them both terribly. Nicole says she missed him too and they kiss. EJ informs her that he had chef make them a very special meal for Valentine’s Day but he understands if she doesn’t want to celebrate. Nicole assures that she does, pointing out that Holly is breathing on her own and back home which she credits EJ for making happen.
Jada and Rafe talk about their dinner plans with Stephanie. Rafe points out that Jada will finally meet Stephanie’s boyfriend too which Jada says she’s really looking forward to. Rafe mentions that he’s met him a few times while he was covering police stuff for the Spectator and that he seems like a cool guy. Jada calls that interesting because her ex was also a reporter but he was not a cool guy at all. Jada says she doesn’t want to think about him tonight at all, especially when she’s with Rafe on Valentine’s Day. Rafe says he adores her as they kiss.
Eric and Sloan walk through the town square with Jude. Stephanie takes a picture of them for the website. Officer Goldman then arrives and looks at the Caching Cupid geocaching poster.
Alex apologizes for taking so long and tells Theresa that she looks amazing. Theresa compliments him in his suit. Theresa then gives him a gift of a scarf and they kiss. Alex says they should get to the Bistro. Theresa mutters to herself that the Bistro is a perfect place to propose. Theresa then tells Alex that she can’t wait to spend the evening with him as it’s going to be such a momentous night. They then exit together.
Everett continues working at the Spectator. His phone rings but he ignores it and then the work phone rings which he answers and it’s Stephanie, who asks if they are still meeting in the town square before dinner. Everett lost track of time and tells her that some more intel came in so he’ll need about 20 minutes to finish and then he will meet her at the Pub. Everett promises to be there as they hang up.
Alex and Theresa go to the Bistro for dinner. Theresa calls it a perfect table as they can see everyone and everyone can see them. Theresa uses their waters to toast to a night to remember.
Eric and Sloan sit together in the town square with Jude until they hear Leo participating in the geocaching event, so Eric calls him over. Leo talks about his progress in geocaching and encourages them to join in. Leo ends up arguing with Sloan before wishing them a Happy Valentine’s Day and walks away. Eric laughs off Leo and calls him harmless.
Theresa looks through the flowers on the table which Alex questions. Theresa says she was just rearranging them. Alex brings up how Theresa is going with Brady to visit Tate tomorrow. Theresa says she’s so excited and she knows Tate will be relieved to hear Holly is breathing on her own even though she’s still in a coma. Theresa guesses she shouldn’t tell Tate about the fire at the Horton house, lamenting that there is so much bad news lately. Alex takes her hand and says he’s sure she’ll have some good news to share too. Theresa excitedly responds that she sure hopes so.
EJ and Nicole return to the living room after eating dinner. Nicole talks about still being in shock about the fire at Doug and Julie’s and Harris being shot. Nicole calls it a tragedy and is thankful no one was hurt in the fire. Nicole asks what happened since she read it was arson. EJ says they think the person responsible for it was the same person behind the drugs that Holly got and they are inches away from nailing him.
Rafe and Jade go to the Brady Pub where Stephanie joins them for dinner. Jada and Stephanie wish each other a Happy Valentine’s Day. Rafe goes to get them drinks. Jada asks Stephanie how it’s going out there. Stephanie responds that the fundraiser is a huge success and she’s relieved. Jada asks where her mystery boyfriend is. Stephanie tells her that he promised to be there. Jada responds that she can’t wait to meet him.
Wendy and Tripp continue geocaching and find a heart box with Tom and Alice trivia behind their plaque. They play a game of trivia and then walk off together. After they walk away, Officer Goldman comes around the corner and follows them.
Nicole thanks EJ again for the perfect homecoming. EJ points out that she has not yet opened her Valentine’s Day gift. EJ presents her with a Japanese healing bowl to put in Holly’s room and use it to meditate, pray, or sing. Nicole calls it perfect and kisses him. Nicole points out that she didn’t get him anything in between traveling. EJ responds that he doesn’t need or want anything that she hasn’t already given him. EJ declares that having her home is the best Valentine’s Day gift he could have hoped for as they kiss.
Eric and Sloan return home with Jude. Eric holds Jude and says he should probably get him to sleep. Sloan responds that she will slip in to something more comfortable and goes to change in to the lingerie she got.
Wendy and Tripp walk to the park where Tripp plants a box for Wendy to find. Wendy at first worries that it’s a ring but Tripp promises that it’s not as they are not rushing things. Wendy opens it and it’s earrings that she pointed out in a window last week. Wendy calls it perfect and thanks him. Tripp wishes her a Happy Valentine’s Day. Wendy then reveals that she got him something too and it’s cuff links. Tripp and Wendy kiss as Officer Goldman walks in to the park and watches them.
Alex tells Theresa that dinner was great and he guesses there’s only one thing left to do, so he calls the waiter over for the check. Theresa is left confused as Alex guesses they are all done here. Theresa then complains that she’s impatient and this is driving her crazy, so she tells Alex to just do it. Alex questions what. Theresa shouts that he knows what and her answer is yes.
Jada shows Stephanie the bracelet that Rafe got her. Rafe then shows Stephanie the badge that Jada got him. Rafe and Jada kiss until Jada then gets up to go to the restroom. Everett then arrives. Stephanie gets up and greets him, bringing him over to the table. Rafe greets Everett and says it’s good to see him. They wish each other a Happy Valentine’s Day. Everett calls Stephanie his love as they kiss.
Wendy puts on her new earrings which Tripp praises. Officer Goldman approaches and introduces herself, revealing that Rafe had her keeping an eye on them as she had some intel to confirm. She informs Tripp that he may be in danger and they need to get them to a safe location. Tripp questions if this has something to do with Ava or Harris. She tells him that Rafe will give him the details later but she has to get them to safety now.
Nicole goes to Holly’s room with her Japanese healing bowl. EJ comes in and informs Nicole that the medical staff will be there in the morning. Nicole says goodnight to Holly. Nicole tells EJ that Holly has to come back to them. EJ encourages that she will.
Sloan returns in her lingerie to find that Eric has fallen asleep with Jude. Sloan then grabs her phone and makes a call, saying she’s very much alone tonight. Sloan asks them to meet at the bar.
Theresa tells Alex not to sit there like he doesn’t know what she’s talking about. Alex says he doesn’t. Theresa then reveals that she saw the ring as it fell out of his jacket when she went to put it away. Theresa apologizes if she ruined the surprise. Alex tells her not to be sorry because he thinks she got this wrong. Theresa then questions if he’s not going to ask her to marry him. Alex thinks maybe they should talk about it a little bit first. Theresa gets upset and declares she has nothing to say to him. Alex tries to stop her but Theresa storms out of the Bistro.
Rafe shows his badge to Everett as Stephanie jokes with them. Everett mentions that he and Stephanie are exchanging gifts later. Jada then returns and is shocked when she sees Everett, identifying him as “Bobby”, leaving them all confused.
Jill: Well, it’s about time. It’s about time that you idiots came and struck gold.
Billy: She’s insulting us. That means she likes it.
Jill: Listen, when we hit him, it’s gotta be painful, it’s gotta be relentless and it’s something that he cannot recover from. And I know exactly where it’s gonna hurt the most.
*************************************************
Phyllis: Hey, cricket. Hey. Look at you coming in for a beverage at this hour. Most people are winding down, but not you. What you up to?
Christine: Well, I suppose any number of things, but, uh, right now I was just hoping for a quiet moment alone to pick up my tea.
Phyllis: Oh, I understand that. I understand that. Probably contemplating your future if there’s any truth to the rumor that you’re vacating the D.A.’S office.
Christine: It’s truly fascinating. It– it boggles my mind.
Phyllis: Yeah. Yeah, that the rumor mill finally got it right this time.
Christine: No. You think what I do is any of your business.
Adam: So, any actual bets on what this meeting is about?
Nick: I’m assuming it’s about Vic’s leave of absence. And with Nate gone as well, we’re definitely shorthanded right now.
Adam: So, more musical chairs in the c-suite.
Nick: Yeah, I don’t know. Dad could be bringing someone else in.
Adam: No, I doubt that. I mean, you heard his speech about family pulling together. His plan is for you and me to work side by side.
Nick: Yeah, I’d say that’s a fantasy.
**************************
Audra: So, the strategy is to just let the news cycle die out?
Tucker: That’s right. Strategy is lay low, regroup. See what happens. People don’t have any attention span anymore. They’ll be on to the next scandal in a couple of days.
Audra: Well surely the good people of glissade won’t forget or forgive so easily.
Tucker: No, they are angry, disgusted.
Audra: Did they find a way to oust you?
Tucker: Mm.
[ Tucker clears throat ] Just the opposite. I’m firing all of them.
[ Tucker coughs ]
Audra: So, the captain is going down with a sinking ship. And you’re throwing everyone overboard first.
Tucker: No, no, I have no intention of walking away, just because of a little hiccup.
Audra: You know, well, I say it’s more than just a hiccup. It’s more like a death rattle.
Tucker: Listen, I can put together another board. I can find a new staff. I can surround myself with people who are willing to look past my missteps. So, the answer to your question is no, the Abbotts have not defeated me. They haven’t won and they won’t. Listen, your deodorant just has to work.
Lucy: The weekend’s too far away. Can’t I just go get my stuff and move in this afternoon?
Daniel: Oh, the weekend is too far away?
Lucy: Yeah. It’s like a year.
Daniel: Wow. I guess it is, isn’t it? Um, yes, sure, you can move in. I mean, it’s fine by me if it’s okay with your mother.
Heather: Oh, you’re putting it on me. Um, you’re that anxious to abandon me, I see. Just like that?
Lucy: No, I’m not abandoning you. I’m just taking a little vacay before we move into our own place in a few weeks. I mean, why would I let a cool room like that go unused.
Heather: Fair enough. I’ll help you pack a few things
Daniel: I won’t. And use a coaster if you put that tea down!
Heather: She’ll be fine. I haven’t seen her this happy in a long time. I take that as proof positive.
Daniel: Of what?
Heather: That moving back to genoa city was the right decision.
Daniel: You know, I appreciate you putting our daughter’s needs first, but what about you? Are you happy that you made the move?
***=******************************************
Lucy: Oh, Lily. Hi. Don’t you love my dad’s new digs? And my room is the coolest spot in the whole place. Oh, mom, I need your advice. You have to check out my closet. I’m gonna need more clothes to fill it and shoes, lots of shoes.
Heather: Lots of shoes.
Daniel: You know, there are times where she sounds way too much like Phyllis.
Lily: Well, let’s hope it stops at clothes and shoes.
Audra: Look, I think you’re wrong, tucker. I’ve seen the look in Kyle’s eyes. I can tell when he wants something and he wants this, badly.
Tucker: What he wants is his daddy’s approval. Nothing more. And to capture the Abbott white whale, me. Also to push Billy out of the chair he thinks rightfully should be his.
Audra: Okay. Well, if you’re right–
Tucker: I’m right.
Audra: All right then. If you really feel that way, what are we doing here? How is this plan gonna work?
Tucker: We’re gonna use the knowledge to our advantage. He’s so desperate for his dad’s approval, he’ll be easier to manipulate.
Tucker: You know what? Someone should tell him that about me. Why do you keep sticking up for him and justifying him? Audra, please don’t tell me you’re falling for this guy.
**************************************
Kyle: I wasn’t here because I had to deal with the electrical issue.
Billy: Oh, yeah. Were you up on the ladder with a voltage meter trying to get the lights turned back on?
Kyle: No, not exactly, but why do you care, Billy?
Billy: Why do I care? I– I– I find it odd that you would, you know, be late on your first day back at jabot.
Kyle: Well, I didn’t realize I was still interviewing for the job.
Billy: Kyle, you were so contrite with jack, insisting that this miraculous turnaround was real. You know, brimming with enthusiasm to be back at jabot. And no, it’s not in the position that you actually wanted, but it’s a family company and now you’re late on your first day.
Audra: Do you honestly expect me to believe that? You know, I wouldn’t be surprised if you want to know where she is because you just can’t wait to see her again.
Tucker: Yeah, but then you don’t know me at all. Because the truth is, I’ve had it with her. I’ve just– I’m sick to death of the constant arguments, the accusations, the insistence that I’m gaslighting her. I am crossing the street. I just– I don’t want her interfering. I don’t want her getting in the way of what you and I have.
****†**********
Ashley: Why? Why did you think that I’m so fragile that I’m not going to be able to handle this?
Traci: We all need each other. There is nothing weak in that. Besides, I wanted you as far away from that place as possible. It’s why I tried to talk you into coming home with me right away. Ashley, I thought the family family could discuss the ramifications of all this.
Ashley: Okay, the only ramifications here is that it proves the lengths that Tucker will go to to make me think that I’m imagining things. I mean, clearly, he has taken gaslighting to a completely different level. Who does that? Would you please stop looking at each other like that? Just stop it! You’re trying to make me think I’m wrong! I’m not wrong! He’s gaslighting me, but clearly he’s gotten to you. You guys know what he’s capable of! Why are you doubting me? Skin-carving next level hydration?
Ashley: Okay. How hard would an entire restaurant staff? It wouldn’t be hard at all. Second nature for him. And easy money for them.
Interview with Eliza Bennett of “An American in Austen” on Hallmark by Suzanne 2/15/24
This was a fun little chat with Eliza about her new Hallmark movie. It’s a thrill ride, it has time travel, and it has romance. What more could you want? I hope you watch and enjoy it Feb. 17 on Hallmark!
MORE INFO:
Eliza will co-star in the Paramount + series, Sexy Beast alongside Sarah Greene, Tamsin Greig, Steven Moyer, and James McArdle. The show is a prequel to the 2000 film which delves into the origin tales of Gal, Teddy, and Don; it is now streaming worldwide.
Audiences may recognize her work from Netflix’s current hit feature, Do Revenge, with Sophie Turner and Camila Mendes. The film re-teamed Eliza with her Sweet/Vicious, writer/director, Jennifer Kaytin Robinson. She also starred as Amanda Carrington in two seasons of the CW’s reboot, Dynasty with Liz Gillies.
Other recent television work includes recurring on ABC’s The Conners opposite Sara Gilbert and John Goodman, Amazon’s comedy pilot, People Just Do Nothing from executive producer, Ash Atalia, and guest-starring with Sterling K. Brown on This Is Us.
Bennett’s breakout came when she played Jules, a college student living a double life, one as a typical sorority girl and the other as a campus vigilante committed to eliminating abusers in MTV’s dark comedy series, Sweet/Vicious.
Variety said: “Eliza Bennett plays Jules, a sorority girl who likes sunset pictures on Instagram and has a bedroom straight out of a pastel Pinterest page. Bennett is asked to sketch all the layers of an earnest character who is pretty square and conformist, but who is also full of confusion and rage and dryly funny from time to time. She pulls off all those rapid transitions without missing a beat”.
Bennett began her career in the United Kingdom on both stage and screen. Her feature credits include the lead role in the New Line’s Inkheart, alongside Brendan Fraser, Paul Bettany, Helen Mirren, and Andy Serkis, critically acclaimed, Nanny McPhee, opposite Emma Thompson, and the Julian Fellowes feature From Time to Time, with Maggie Smith and Dominic West.
Bennett is a seasoned theater performer having starred in numerous West End productions including the lead in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and the musical Loserville.
She is a singer/songwriter, having released singles Late Twenties, Visit Me In Georgia, and Hate to Love You in 2022 and a Christmas single, All I Want for Christmas is You with Liz Gillies in 2021.
Bennett splits her time between Los Angeles and the U.K.
An American in Austen
Cast: Eliza Bennett, Nicholas Bishop
Synopsis: Harriet, who thinks that no real man compares to Mr. Darcy, is transported into Pride & Prejudice and gets an unexpected chance to find out.
Interview with Jon Lindstrom of “General Hospital” on ABC by Suzanne 2/15/24
It was great to interview veteran actor Jon Lindstrom, who has his first novel, “Hollywood Hustle” out for only 10 days, and it’s already a best seller on USA Today’s Booklist! He’s most known for playing Kevin Collins, and his evil twin Ryan Chamberlain, on “General Hospital” since 1992 (off and on). He was on the soap “Santa Barbara” before that, and of course he also played Craig on “As The World Turns” (where he met his wife, Cady, who played Rosanna) and reprised his roles of Kevin and Ryan on “Port Charles,” the GH spinoff. He’s also been in quite a few films, and many primetime series, most notably “Bosch” on Prime Video and “True Detective” on HBO.
There are many more questions I could have asked him, but we were already on Zoom for a half an hour – I didn’t want to keep him longer. I felt that he was generous enough to speak to me as long as he did. I would have liked to have heard more about his working with Genie Francis (Laura); about playing Ryan; about working with Alley Mills (Heather); about those pitches he mentioned; about Cady; and more. Buy his book here! If you love detective novels, you should enjoy this one. Of course, you can also watch him on “General Hospital” on ABC and HULU.
THIS TRANSCRIPT STILL NEEDS EDITING!
Suzanne: So, thanks for being here today.
Jon: It’s my pleasure to be here. Thanks for asking.
Suzanne: Are you feeling okay? I saw you had a cold….
Jon: Well, you can kind of hear it in my voice. I’m a little froggy, but I’m feeling better today than I did yesterday.
Suzanne: So, when did you, start writing your book and how long did it take you to finish it?
Jon: Oh boy, that’s kind of a loaded question. all in all, it took about four years, but I, I have to qualify that because I had written for about a year and was making good progress. And then all of a sudden the show I’m on being general hospital decided to bring back a dead twin. And suddenly I was working so hard I didn’t have time to write.
I was up every day at 530 to go to the studio and pull off double duty as Kevin and Ryan on GH. So I had to put it down for about a year. And then COVID hit and I was able to pick it up again for about six months. And then of course, the first shows to go back into production during COVID were soap operas.
Suzanne: Right.
Jon: I guess means we’re just a little bit expendable.
Suzanne: You did have strict COVID protocols and vaccine requirements, so..
Jon: We had very strict COVID protocols. Yeah, we, we were a lot of masks. Daily testing, a lot of swabs in the nose. but. We picked up right where we left off. So I had to put the book down again, and that was probably another six months.
And then it took me another year or so through several drafts, working with editors and getting it into shape to actually submit. So all in all, the writing process took about two years, but the entire span was about four.
Suzanne: Okay. And did you have any difficulties getting it published?
Jon: Amazingly, no. I mean, I look at my experience, and my experience really was much easier than I think most people.
Now, of course, I do have a little bit of a platform, in terms of followers and, at Insta and Twitter, and I, I just can’t seem to call it but, excuse me, I, I, I did go to at the behest of an author who I had narrated because I have this little side hustle narrating audio books, which is great for me because I just, I love books.
But one of those authors was the great Alex Finlay he’s one of the best thriller writers, I’ve ever read. I wrote to him to thank him for. The inspiration to get me over that hump and start actually writing a book. And he wrote me right back within five minutes and we’ve since become good friends. but he told me flat out, John, if you’re serious about this, you have to go to the book conferences.
And being that you’re a crime writer, which falls under Thriller Mysteries, you need to go to Thriller Fest. Which is in New York every June. And it’s, it’s huge. Takes over the entire hotel, the Sheraton Hotel in New York City. And, so I went. And that’s where I actually pitched agents. About 12 of them.
Cause there’s a thing they’re called pitch fest. And I recommend anybody do this because there’s just something about sitting down in front of someone. And not only do they get a sense of you, you get a sense of who they are. And I met my agent there. I sat down with a woman named Liza Fleissig from the Liza Royce Agency.
And as soon as I sat down, I liked her. And I think she liked me because we sat and we talked for a few minutes before we even got to my pitch. And that’s who I eventually went with. And she was able to get a deal within a few months. And we had a few offers. Settled with Crooked Lane Books because they just Kind of totally got the book.
Suzanne: So it sounds more like what you do to pitch a series or a movie nowadays than the old time where you just sent in your manuscript.
Jon: Yeah, I, that’s where I had a bit of an advantage because I have pitched movies and TV show ideas and things. So I knew, I knew the basics of how to pitch. When they say five minutes, that means get it down to three because you need a couple of minutes for them to ask questions if they’re interested.
Suzanne: Sure.
Jon: I got my pitch down to one minute, 45 , . I, pardon me, I really wanted to be succinct and straightforward and really nail it. And, and fortunately that worked for me. I had, I pitched 12 agents. I had 12 or requests for the manuscript. So what made you wanna write a detective novel? Is that your favorite genre?
Yeah. Yeah. It’s just, one of my favorite writers was, was Elmore Leonard. I used to read his stuff all the time. and I, and I love the, the OGs of the genre, the Raymond Chandler’s, Dashiell Hammett’s, James Cain, those guys just invented something that’s very specific to Los Angeles.
About that darkness that that lurks underneath the sun and the palm trees and it’s a it’s a really to me. It’s just a really layered fascinating kind of. Setting for stories. So I’ve always loved it. So I just kind of, and right. But, I’ve been living most of my adult life here, except for a few years in New York.
I’ve been here in Los Angeles since I was 20.
Suzanne: Yeah.
Jon: And so I, I know it pretty well.
Suzanne: Oh, by the way, congratulations on getting on the USA Today bestseller list.
Jon: Thank you.
Suzanne: And also congratulations for being on General Hospital over 30 years. That’s amazing.
Jon: Going on 32…
Suzanne: Off and on, but still.
Jon: Yeah, Yeah. I, I go and I come back, but you know what, as long as they keep asking Right. , why not?
Suzanne: That’s right. Well, I, I been watching off and on since 84, mostly on, and so I remember when you started on the show, .
Jon: Wow. 84.
Suzanne: Yeah. I was in college.
Jon: So that’s when people get home.
Yeah. Yeah. If you don’t have grandma or mom watching, it’s college that doesn’t, it’s either college or I watched you with my grandma.
Suzanne: So, what are some other, favorite authors or influences on your writing that you haven’t mentioned yet?
Jon: Well, film noir, definitely. my, my favorite Saturday night now is to stay home and watch TCM. because it, You know, Eddie Muller and Noir Alley comes on every Saturday night. and he digs into a very deep library of, of film noir in that canon that, that was really unlike anything else that was ever made before or since.
You know, it was post war malaise. They were lower budget, so they often had to shoot at night when the rest of the studio was asleep. Wow. There was a lot of night shooting and a lot of use of light and shadow and, beautiful, uh Cinematography. So I, I just, I don’t know. There’s something about that genre where your main character is, is faced with a choice of Do it or don’t do it.
If I do it, whether it’s for love or lust or greed or whatever, even altruism. If I do this as a very good chance, it will end me.
Suzanne: Yeah.
Jon: And he does it anyway. So I, there’s something about having to make a choice like that, that I find very interesting.
Suzanne: And, you were in Bosch, one of my favorite shows. what about Michael Connolly? Did you read a lot of him?
Jon: Oh yeah, I was a big fan. I got turned on to Harry Bosch back in the 1980s, when he started writing them. And, so yeah, to get a season of Bosch as one of his bad guys, was, was, was a bit of a dream come true. And he’s a lovely man. He, he was on set all the time.
So sorry for this cold, but, he, he’s a, he’s a big guy, now I’m 6’1 and he’s, I gotta look up at him, he, but he was the crime writer for the L. A. Times for many years, and he, he’s another one who really gets this city, and really understands how to accurately portray crime here.
And how it gets just kind of somebody asked me the other night. We have our launch event at Book Soup up on Sunset Boulevard, and there was a woman there who I didn’t know, but she asked a really good question. She said, what’s the difference between L. A crime and New York crime? And I thought, wow, that’s, I never thought of that.
But when I, once I did, I remember being down in Soho and I lived in New York and I came out of a restaurant or something right across the street was an armored car that was waiting for the guys to come out and deliver the money. And I see him come out and this crowded street and the guy, has his hand on the handle of his sidearm.
And he looks both ways and looks all around and then signals the guy to come out and they quickly got into that car, that armored car and took off. and I thought that’s the difference. It’s like New York, it’s going to be in your face. If you’re going to hit that place, you’re going to hit it right in the middle of Soho on a Tuesday afternoon.
And it’s, it’s like crime in your face. Whereas here. It’s all it’s easier to kind of hide it under so it’s all spread out. It’s so spread out here that it can happen. And it’s like, if, if a crime falls in the forest, it’s anyone here,
Suzanne: I imagine it’s harder for them to find the culprit too, because if they’re staying in the area, because they have so much more land to cover. Whereas in New York, if they’re going to be in that area, it’s a lot easier.
Jon: And everybody knows you in New York.
Suzanne: Yeah, that’s true.
Jon: Here, again, there’s another layer of this kind of hidden world. You know, I mean, fortunately, I know my neighbors. We all look after each other. But, that’s not always been the case in most places I’ve lived in LA.
Suzanne: No, in California, the whole thing is like that. I grew up there. I’m from San Diego. So we almost never knew my neighbors. Yeah, now that we’ve lived strange phenomenon and it’s, it’s, it was funny because to me that’s normal because that’s how I grew up. But we’ve lived in the South. I’m in Arkansas right now.
We, I know, and my husband just thinks it’s weird because California, but it is nice to know, especially during the pandemic when we were out walking the dog and. Everyone was like, oh, hi, because they were so happy to see, to see anybody, anybody, anybody, but their kids and their family. But, yeah, so that’s awesome.
I understand that completely. and we’re actually moving to New York in June. we, we lived there a long time ago, when I got into GH actually, when I was in college.
Jon: So, are you moving to the city?
Suzanne: No, but we’re going to be about half an hour from there.
Jon: I understand.
Suzanne: We don’t actually know what town we’re moving to yet. We have to find a place, but he’s going to work at SUNY Old Westbury. Oh, great. Congratulations. Thank you. Yeah, I’m really looking forward to it. I want to be in a city again, in a small town here. I won’t know my neighbors.
I read some of the book. I haven’t had time to finish it, but, to me, the description of when sounds a lot like Steve Burton, at least physically.
Jon: Steve was– no, no, no. Steve was not an inspiration at all. There was a Steve, but it was Steve McQueen.
Suzanne: Oh, okay. Well, then they have a lot in common [physically].
Jon: It’s not Steve Burton. Steve, Steve’s way too muscled for Win, Winston green. Now, my inspirations for Wynn were, were Steve McQueen, Kevin Costner, in terms of physicality. and I, I do describe him in there that a director that Winston had worked with described Winston Green as a landmine that’s been stepped on and you’re just waiting for you to step off before he blows, he’s wired tight.
There’s a, there’s an edge to him. but sadly, the other inspiration was, was really Tom Sizemore and some of the other people in my business who have, who came to town with just brilliant talent. I mean, just, you would take Tom Sizemore, just look at his work and Saving Private Ryan and Heat and, he was working with the very best of the best because they wanted him and, and his demons got him.
And, and it really sidelined his career and, yeah, it was very sad, but it’s, that’s, I’ve known a lot of guys like that, just their lives and careers have taken a hard left due to. Due to substance abuse and some made it and some didn’t. Yeah, well, I’d like to see Winston as somebody who made it and got himself together.
but he’s just hanging on. All he’s doing, he’s just hanging on to just trying to keep some stability. So now I hit, I’ll, I’ll let Steve. No, sorry, Steve.
Suzanne: Well, I think if I recall, it was the blue eyes and the buzz cut and I don’t remember what else, but it just sounded like him.
Jon: So I thought more of Steve McQueen in “Bullit.”
Suzanne: No, I can see that. Now that you say that. Just to touch on, you’re talking about sad things, the GH family set, whatever you want to call it, has had a lot of loss in the last year. has that really changed, how things run there or?
Jon: Well, no, it hasn’t changed how we run anything. It’s just, I think we’re all just really aware of how fragile and, and, How quickly something can end.
it’s too bad that people have to pass away before you’re reminded of these things. But yeah, we’ve taken some real hits this year behind the camera and in front of the camera and. You know, we miss them all. So, we just try to appreciate each other when we’re there, I noticed nobody, nobody raises their voice, nobody’s, popping off out of anger.
I noticed a lot, right?
Suzanne: Yeah. There’s a, the fans are very sad too.
Jon: Yeah. Yeah. There was a, there was a huge outpouring from, from people and, and we really, we all heard it and saw it and felt it, very of that. Yeah, I, I know .
Suzanne: All right. so that wasn’t on my list, but I just had to mention that.
So as a first time author, would you say that you’re still learning?
Jon: Oh, definitely, definitely. Yeah. I’m, I’m struggling with book two.
Suzanne: I just, yeah, if you’re gonna, that was my next question. Are you planning to write more?
Jon: Yeah, I, I, book two and book three, I mean, I pitched this really as. a series, maybe all of which would have the word Hollywood in the title.
They’re all crime novels. But, and I tried to keep everything grounded the way Elmore Leonard did, that’s like, this is a real world, that you find these people walking through. but yeah, I, I’m, I’m hoping to, I, suddenly being a bestseller and seeing four stars from everywhere from Amazon to Barnes and Noble, gives you a nice kick of confidence.
So I’m looking back to, I’m getting ready to get back into it.
Suzanne: I bought two of them. I bought the–
Jon: Oh thank you
Suzanne: Kindle version and the, audio version.
Jon: Oh, alright. Which I recorded in my basement.
Suzanne: I know… Oh, in your basement?
Jon: In my basement. Yeah. I have a little collapsible frame with these acoustic blankets.
Suzanne: Wow.
Jon: It’s not a whisper room, which is like silent, but it is fine. But I still have to, I have to suffer helicopters and dogs and leaf blowers. Yeah. , things like that.
Suzanne: I’m torn between… I’m not a big books on tape, what they call, I don’t know what they call them now, audios, fan, because I read really fast, but I wanted to hear your voice and, and hear it that way while, while I was, doing other things.
Jon: So I, I keep going back and forth, but I really liked the accents that you do and the voices.
Oh, great. Thank you. Thanks.
Suzanne: You have a lot of practice from all the voiceovers.
Jon: Yeah, I had a little bit of a, an easy runway to get on that airfield.
Suzanne: I have a tough question. So you can feel free not to answer it. If you don’t like it. I’ve read many good reviews and a few bad ones. Some criticize you for being overly descriptive. Is that writing style or do you plan to cut back on some of the description in your future novels?
Jon: You know, I would say what’s the matter? You never read Stephen King because, if there’s anybody who knows how to, how to, describe a place and place is very important, listen, you got to take, you got to take the bad with the good and you’re not going to make everybody happy.
There was one guy who, who took issue with my, my description of. Of firearms.
Suzanne: Oh, I saw that one.
Jon: Yeah. Yeah. and you know what? He’s fair enough. He can have his opinion, but I grew up around guns and his point was technically correct. Right? There are automatic weapons. But those are divided into semi automatic and fully automatic.
But when you discern between an automatic weapon or a revolver as in a single or double action revolver, you don’t need those descriptions. Everybody knows what you’re talking about. So, it’s funny. He knocked me off half a star for that, but you know what, Hey, listen, the guy’s got his opinion and that’s what he’d like to read.<br />
and that’s fine. That’s totally fine. the point is he, he still liked the book and the story, so, I say thank you , are you, you can’t, you can’t get bogged down in this, you know?
Suzanne: Yeah.
Jon: This thing of, I mean, that’s one guy, and, and he’s entitled to that opinion as is anybody who says, he overwrites the description.
Well, it is about la it’s also about Hollywood, so you don’t, you can gloss over.
Suzanne: You’re right.
Jon: Don’t have. You don’t have to get mired in it, it says you have to do that too. Yeah, that’s, it, they’re different writing styles and you can’t say one different styles and different tastes and that’s, that’s fine.
I mean, somebody who really knows LA, I can see why they would go, Oh man, this is really overwritten. You know, but somebody who doesn’t, and I hear this more than I hear the opposite there, they really appreciate the, the description of characters and backstory and setting and, and all that stuff. <br />
So, like I said, you can’t, you can’t please everybody.
Suzanne: And as an actor, as an actor, you’re used to people criticizing you and rejecting you and. Giving you bad reviews, all that stuff. So yeah, it’s over the average writer.
It just, yeah, it just comes with the, it just comes with the territory.
Suzanne: Now, talking about GH for a minute, do you, still enjoy playing Kevin even without Ryan?
Suzanne: NNow, talking about GH for a minute, do you, still enjoy playing Kevin even without Ryan? Jon: Yeah, well, I like Kevin very much. I think Kevin’s a really good guy. I think that there’s, there’s been kind of a, we, we’ve kind of lost a little bit of Kevin along the way, remember when Kevin was, was first around and we had first gotten rid of. Of Ryan. Kevin was an artist. He was a psychiatrist, but he was an artist who lived in a, in a lighthouse and painted all the time to paint out a demon and, and we’ve kind of, we’ve kind of veered away from that. And, we have some new writers coming in now. So I think that I, I think we’re going to have some, um. I think there’s going to be some changes, in how Kevin, but I mean, that’s a long answer, but to answer your question, I love playing Kevin. I love, I love playing Kevin. I love playing Ryan. I love, I love working with Genie. I love working with Lynn Herring and, and Ken Shriner and everybody that, that goes along in Kevin’s world. You know, he’s, to me, it’s just fun.
Suzanne: There’s so many great, stories that Kevin has had over the years. Although my favorite, I have to say, is on Port Charles. I believe it was the Miracles Happen, book, they called it, when he and Lucy got remarried and the little girl came, showed up. Yeah, but even though later, I think they took the little girl away and he got divorced and all that stuff, but that was my favorite because it was so Christmassy and so happy and, and like, we rarely get enough of those moments.
Jon: Yeah, that’s true. You know, I, I love doing, I love doing Port Charles. It was like, it was like the little half hour that could, and I’m, I know that there was somebody at the network paying attention, but it never felt like that. It always felt like we could. It was like our secret corner of daytime TV where we could do whatever we wanted.
I saw the, the executive producer the other day, Julie Hayden Carruthers, and she, she said the same thing. It goes, I, I know there was somebody at the network, but every time we said we’d like to do this, they just said, okay. You know, that’s great, and we got the vampires and we got the six week books that tell a novella style and really fun things. <br /> Suzanne: Oh, yeah. I’m such a huge fan of that show. but I just, I just occurred to me, didn’t Kevin write a novel, “General Homicide?” And it foretold your future.
Jon: There you go.
Suzanne: Let’s hope nobody gets killed in a way.
Jon: I, I, I wanted to, and it’s, they would never go for it. But, but I had this idea that Kevin could walk into the room and, and Laura is, is reading Hollywood hustle.
I said, Oh, what’s your reading? Oh, it’s Hollywood hustle. I said, Oh, how is it? Oh, it’s good. Oh yeah. Is it better than general homicide? And have her say, better.
Suzanne: That’s funny.
Jon: Kevin will take a double take.
Suzanne: Yeah, I guess the thing that most annoys me about it is that Kevin has a daughter out there that they never mention, Livvie. I mean, she might be dead. Vampire or something.
Jon: She looks just like Kelly Monaco.
Suzanne: II know. She could do a twin role, you know. You’re good.
Jon: Yeah. But it’s just. Yeah, there’s a lot of things that we left on the, on the floor. You know, with the. Yeah. With, General, General Homicide slash Port Charles.
Suzanne: So, how different is it now on GH as opposed to when you started over 30 years ago?
Jon: Well, the main thing that’s changed is the structure of production because, the, budgets everywhere have just been constricted to the point of not being choked. But, and this is true, I mean, virtually on every show that I work on because I do a lot of work outside of General Hospital.
Suzanne: Mm hmm.
Jon: You know, everything is just so damn expensive now that sometimes it can feel like if you cut 10 off the budget, you wouldn’t be able to make the week, but somehow they managed to do it. I think Frank Valentini is a terrific producer. You know, the, the shows themselves, the airtime has been cut down from, I think, 49 minutes and change the rest of being advertising during the hour down to about 36 minutes and change.
So, And yet, ABC keeps pumping money into it. You know, it was right before the pandemic. I think I went up to the editing bay and they were putting in a brand new Abbott system. So the, the network is still investing money into that show. They feel it’s, it’s viable for the future. So. You know, the main thing is, you have to show up with your track shoes on. You don’t get to kind of feel your way through scenes and rehearsals anymore. You need to, you need to show up and do your job quickly and efficiently.
Suzanne: And, so now that you’re a writer, is it, is it harder for you to say other writers lines?
Jon: No.
Suzanne: Oh, you don’t say, Oh, I wish they would have written it this way, or…?
Jon: No, but I mean, we have a lot of permission to just transpose or paraphrase things as long as you get the thought across because the writers in daytime are very good and they know the rule. If it doesn’t move the story forward or expose character, get rid of it.
And they’re pretty good at trimming things down to those two rules. So. There’s really not much you have to change. And if you were to change it, you might be messing up something that’s gonna happen tomorrow, so.
Suzanne: Right, right. And so you posted that you’re playing the president in a new movie. Can you tell us about the new movie?
Jon: Oh, it was a, what is, it’s called a Proof of concept Short.
Suzanne: Oh, okay. So it’s not yet a movie.
Jon: Yeah, I was asked to come down to, to Dallas and play the president for a day while they put together, um. A, essentially a proof of concept real that would show that this movie could work. On a as a film. So I spent the day. It was something. That’s why I have a cold right now because I pushed myself a little too hard over the last week or two. yeah, so I spent the day working with Jesse Metcalf. Who’s a lovely guy. I had worked with him on something before, 8 or 9 years ago. And, and, and then I had to deliver a page and a half monologue as the president and I did it in one take.
Suzanne: Wow, that’s great.
Jon: Well, that’s that. So daytime comes in handy.
Suzanne: Oh, yeah. I was going to mention when we were talking about Bosch…. They have a lot of former daytime stars on there.
Jon: Oh, sure. Yeah, they, that’s what was beautiful about Bosch. They, they didn’t there’s other places that will say, oh, they were on daytime. We don’t want to Bosch doesn’t care. Yeah, you’re either right for the part or you weren’t. And if you were right for it, they didn’t mind what your background was. As long as, as long as you could walk and talk and not trip over the furniture, they were happy. They wanted people who knew what they were doing.
Suzanne: II mean, it’s such a silly, prejudice to have because you guys usually are better actors and better prepared and know everything and can do so much than.
Jon: Yeah. I, listen, I liken it to, to people who knock country music usually don’t even listen to country music. And the same people would go, Oh, well they’re on soap opera.
They don’t, what do they know? They don’t know anything.
Suzanne: Or the people who say, Oh, rap.
Jon: Yeah, I think. Yeah, exactly. You know, the fact is you can dance to rap, may not be able to dance to a death metal, but you can dance to rap.
Suzanne: There’s a lot of people my age who are prejudiced against it because we didn’t grow up with it. And this new thing came along and took over the radio.
Jon: That’s it. Our parents hated the Beatles too.
Suzanne: Exactly. I think my mom loved the Beatles, but that was, I think she’s an outlier. So, is there anything else that you’d like to tell us about your book or GH or any other upcoming work that you have?
Jon: You know, I’m a, I’m a busy guy. I, I try to put everything up online. If you’re curious about what I’m doing, what book signings I’ll be doing, I’ll be doing one, actually. I don’t know when this goes up, but I’ve got one on the 17th of February in Glendale with Michael Easton. who is a terrific, in his own right. Yeah, and Michael’s just such a talented guy, but we’re going to sit down and talk at the Barnes and Noble over there.
Suzanne: Right.
Jon: Two o’clock, Saturday, February 17th. The Americana at Brand. Then I’m going to be flying to New York for the 27th, at the Mysterious Bookshop. I’ll be in Portland. Actually, technically, Beaverton at Powell’s bookstore, because it’s the Beaverton place they do their mystery and thriller events. And, and then we’re looking at, Petaluma, St. Louis, Raleigh, North Carolina, Phoenix.
Suzanne: Wow. You’re not home much.
Jon: I’m not home much. I, I’m a busy guy.
Suzanne: But I know your wife is not home much, either. She’s always flying somewhere.
Jon: she’s always flying somewhere. And I, I have to show the new cover. And the publisher sent that to me there where it says USA Today bestseller.
Suzanne: Oh, great. That’s great.
Jon: Was that backwards to you? Does it look?
Suzanne: No, it looks fine to me.
Jon: Oh, okay. It looks backward on my side, but that’s.
Suzanne: Technical stuff.
Jon: Oh, I’m very excited. I meant to mention that. yeah, I just happened.
Suzanne: I’m behind on about a little less than a month, but I happen to see that Kevin and Laura are going to, adopt ace.
Jon: Yes, yes.
Suzanne: Kevin got put in the hospital by aces by aces mother.
Jon: Yeah. You know, I do wish we had a little more Kevin as may time work out their stuff. But, cause I, and I love working with Avery Pohl. I think she’s just a. but yeah, I, I like that they decided to do that and based on what I’ve seen online, boy, there’s a lot of grandparents out there who are taking on their grandchildren to raise.
Suzanne: Yeah.
Jon: So if we’re going to do it, I hope we do it in a, in a real way. Where it’s, it’s a, it’s a huge undertaking for anybody to be a parent and, I’d like to see it. So, but, like I say, we’ve got new writers coming in. They’ve already started. So we’ll see what, yeah, see what they decide to do. You know, we’re all pretty excited.
Suzanne: II just don’t want the, Laura and Kevin to be stuck in the grandparent mode and not doing anything else.
Jon: No, we’ll try and avoid that.
Suzanne: Yeah, I hope so. All right. Well, thank you so much for talking to me. I really enjoyed it.
Jon: My pleasure. Thanks. Thanks so much for having me today.
Suzanne: I’ll send you a
Jon: again, sorry about this froggy voice.
Suzanne: Oh, it doesn’t sound that bad, honestly.
Jon: okay.
Suzanne: II have to send you a picture. I have, that I took, years ago, like 99. I went to GH convention that they have the, fan club events and I have a picture with you, so…
Jon: Oh, great. Send that to me.
Suzanne: I’ll love to. Alright. I’m gonna try to get this out as soon as possible. I’ll let you know.
Jon: Okay. All thanks. Thank you so much.
MORE INFO:
Hollywood Hustle: A Thriller Hardcover – February 6, 2024
From 4-time Emmy-nominated actor Jon Lindstrom of General Hospital, Bosch, and True Detective fame, comes a gripping debut thriller.
Set in the dark underbelly of the LA film industry, Hollywood Hustle is the perfect read for fans of Alex Finlay and Jeffery Deaver.
Winston Greene, a has-been film star, wakes one morning to find his six-year-old granddaughter at his bedside—traumatized, unattended, and gripping onto a thumb drive. She comes bearing video proof that her mother, Win’s troubled adult daughter, has been kidnapped by a murderous gang demanding all his “movie money” for her safe return. But what they don’t know is…his movie money is long gone.
Unable to go to the police for fear the kidnappers will make good on their promise to kill his daughter, Winston turns to two close friends—a legendary Hollywood stuntman and a disgraced former LAPD detective.
There’s no easy way out for Winston or his daughter—the gang is violent and willing to do anything to get the money they’re after, and Winston begins to realize that to get his daughter back, he’ll have to beat the kidnappers at their own game.
This propulsive and tense thriller will transport readers to the seedier side of LA, depicted in bold prose by a Hollywood insider.
Jon Robert Lindstrom is an American actor, writer, director, producer, and musician. He is well known for his roles of Kevin Collins and Ryan Chamberlain on the ABC Daytime soap opera General Hospital and its spin-off Port Charles.
Please visit Jon’s site or social to see his next book signing or other events!
Celebrating its 60th anniversary, “General Hospital” continues its tradition of passion, intrigue and adventure that has depicted the ongoing lives of the diverse and evolving citizens of the fictional town of Port Charles set in upstate New York. The glamour and excitement of those who have come to find their destinies in this familiar seaport town intertwine with the lives, loves and fortunes of beloved, well-known faces. As always, love, danger and mind-blowing plot twists abound on “GH” with contemporary storylines and unforgettable characters.
Cyrus tells Laura that he arranged for Nikolas to be protected in prison. Cyrus also tells Laura that he is starting a new radio show today to help the residents of Port Charles find the love of the Lord.
Dante tells Anna and Jordan that Olivia’s transport van was stopped by spike strips then Olivia was taken into the woods and shot in the head at point blank range. Anna identifies the bullets that shot Olivia as being from the guns that were taken from the WSB.
Alexis finds out from one of her reporters that Olivia was killed, and she goes to give Ava the news that her sister was killed.
Sonny persuades Dex to leave town and let Brick take him to a safe house until they can give him a new identity. Sonny tells Dex he can never return to Port Charles.
Josslyn pleads with Ava to call Sonny and ask him to come back home so she can talk to him before Sonny kills Dex. Ava tells Josslyn she would love to help her but can’t help her. Once Josslyn leaves Sonny’s house, Ava calls Sonny, but Sonny doesn’t pick up the phone. Josslyn arrives at Dex’s place and Sonny tells her Dex is gone and she can’t see him, but he left her an envelope. Josslyn cries and tells Sonny she hates him because he is a liar and a criminal.
Devon: Now we should probably make some time to get those figures down and back to accounting so we’re not making them wait anymore.
Nate: Sure, I’ll get on top of that.
Billy: Hey, you guys are back. Devon, can I steal you for a minute?
Devon: Uh, we were just about to be in the middle of something. Can it wait?
Billy: I promise, it’ll be brief. I just– I have an exciting proposal that I’d like to get off the ground as soon as we can. I wouldn’t ask you if it wasn’t important.
Devon: Okay, uh, yeah, sure.
Billy: Great, uh, nate, I promise you, we’ll make this brief.
Nate: Sure.
Devon: He can listen.
Billy: Yeah, with all due respect, this falls outside of nate’s scope.
Devon: Yeah, I don’t mind though, it’s fine. He’s been doing a great job keeping us on track with lily being gone.
Billy: Okay, great. The more buy-in, the better. The faster we can make this happen.
Devon: All right. So, what’s this big idea?
Billy: Well, on one hand, it’s not a massive step. But on the other, it’ll change the face of this company going forward.
Ashley: Worried. Worried. Is she okay? Stop. Poor thing. Shut up! Needs help. Don’t give in. Be strong. Traci? Hello? Diane? Hello?
[ Ashley sobbing ]
Jack: You finished there?
Nikki: Oh, yes, thank you. And thank you for bringing lunch. I didn’t know I was– I was so hungry.
Jack: You know what they say in the program, “halt.”
Nikki: Oh, yes, uh, “never get too hungry, angry–”
Jack: “Lonely–”
Nikki: “Lonely or tired.”
Jack: Right, your basic needs are your top priority right now. And mine.
Victor: Well, well, well. This your job now, jack?
Jack: Hello, victor. Just doing my part as nikki’s sponsor.
Nikki: Hi, darling. I didn’t expect you back this soon. Jack is here to help ease my anxiety.
Victor: I see. And what are you anxious about?
Nikki: Jordan called again.
Victor: How do you know it was her?
Nikki: I spoke to her. And she had a lot to say. As did I.
Victor: Where’s your phone?
Nikki: Right there.
Victor: Is this the number?
Nikki: Yes. What are you going to do?
Victor: I’m gonna call her back.
Jordan: Hello.
Seth: Can I help you?
Jordan: You look like a man who could use another drink. Sometimes, the lows of bipolar depression
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Jordan: I’m sorry. Am I being too forward?
Seth: Depends on what you’re looking for.
Jordan: Oh. A little company. A little conversation.
Seth: Here’s the thing, I’m not really good for either one of those right now. You know, it’s been a long– what time is it, anyway?
Jordan: Still daylight.
[ Seth laughs ]
Seth: I started early.
Jordan: How about I get us a refill?
Seth: Yeah, I’m sorry, I– i just really like to drink alone.
Jordan: Oh, I’m– I’m sorry. I must sound like some pushy stranger. Actually, we do have a friend in common.
Seth: Oh, yeah? Who’s that?
Jordan: Nikki newman.
[ Victor sighs ]
Victor: There’s still no answer. I’ll just have security track the number.
Jack: This woman managed to burn down a prison and escape. I doubt she would use a traceable phone.
Victor: So, let me ask you, what exactly happened? What did you– what did she threaten you with?
Nikki: Actually, I instigated it.
Victor: How?
Nikki: I am sick and tired of her threats. She has made me a prisoner of this house. I had to do something. So, I redialed her call from this morning and… told her that she hasn’t won, and to stay away from my family.
Victor: And this is how you helped. You encouraged her to taunt the woman that nearly killed all of us.
Jack: I found out about this after the fact.
Nikki: It’s true. Jack wasn’t here yet. Lauren was here, and she could see how upset I was. And she urged me not to let jordan intimidate me.
Victor: I thought bringing lauren in to help you at newman media would be a good idea. Obviously, I was wrong.
Nikki: No, victor, it was a good idea.
Victor: Why? She encouraged you to taunt that woman.
Jack: I am the one who suggested lauren, and I stand by it. She understands what nikki is struggling with, she’s there for her as a friend, she’s also a talented businesswoman. Nikki needs support on all those levels.
Victor: How the hell do you think you have helped her ease her anxiety? What kind of a sponsor are you?
Jack: The kind that cares deeply about nikki, not you.
Nikki: Jack dropped everything to come over here. I– I– I was a wreck. I mean, just hearing jordan’s voice again, all the old feelings came flooding back. And I desperately wanted a drink to calm my nerves. I– I asked lauren to go out to lunch.
Victor: I asked you to stay here, where you’re safe.
Nikki: That is how badly I needed to sneak a drink. But instead, lauren suggested that we invite jack over. It– it’s only because of them that I am sober at this moment.
Victor: All right, I’m glad you didn’t drink. And jack, thank you for coming over in the middle of the workday to help my wife. I think your job is done. You may as well go back and tend to your own affairs.
Jack: Nikki, are you ready for me to leave?
Nikki: I– I do feel much better now. Thank you for everything. But victor’s right. You should go back to your day.
Jack: If you’re sure.
Nikki: I am.
Jack: You can call me.
Nikki: I will.
Jack: Victor, always a pleasure.
Nikki: I know that wasn’t easy, accepting that jack is helping me.
[ Victor sighs ]
Victor: That woman threatens you, and you call jack abbott? I’m your husband!
Nikki: Victor, I am not choosing jack over you. I am choosing my sobriety over drinking. But when you challenge him like that, I get upset.
Victor: If it helps you, then… I continue supporting him as your sponsor.
Nikki: It helps very much. Thank you.
Billy: And just to be clear with, uh– with both of you, that, uh, I’ve discussed this with jill, and she agrees. We feel like it’s time for jill and her abbott name to have more representation within the company.
Devon: Well, we already consult jill on all major issues and, uh, decisions within the company, and she’s made it clear that she doesn’t want to be hands-on with our day-to-day issues.
Billy: I’m sorry, I’m not actually– not being very clear. Um, you’re right, 100%. She’s not talking about being more hands-on, I’m actually talking specifically about her name.
Devon: Oh, I don’t– I’m not following.
Billy: Look, I fully appreciate and– and respect the value and the importance of both the chancellor and the winters name, but my mother is half-owner of this merged company and she’s neither a chancellor or a winters.
Devon: Right. And what’s your point?
Billy: Jill and I feel like it’s time to add abbott to the company name. With moderate to severe plaque psoriasis,
Devon: I’m going to need you to walk me through your thinking a little bit, billy. Because chancellor industries has always been chancellor, even when jill ran it alone.
Billy: Oh, exactly.
Devon: And then when we merged these companies, I dropped “hamilton” from hamilton winters so we can simplify things.
Billy: Well, and you changed your name to winters, so you’re actually represented on both branches of the family here with your grandmother’s last name and neil’S. And just to be clear, I’m not talking about omitting one of the other names. I’m just simply talking about adding another one. Abbott-chancellor-winters or acw.
Nate: So you get top billing?
Billy: It’s alphabetical order, but of course, it’s open to discussion.
Devon: Well, let’s just– let’s pump the brakes a little bit because I don’t know where this is coming from. ‘Cause jill has never brought up having an issue of wanting her name represented or any of her names.
Billy: Yeah. [ Laughs ] She’s had a few, hasn’t she? But she always reverts to abbott.
Devon: And that’s fine. But when she ran chancellor industries, which is my grandmother’s company, she didn’t bother changing the name then. And then when we merged, she didn’t add “abbott” to chancellor-winters.
Billy: That’s true, but–
Devon: Why is it only an issue now that you’re here?
Ashley: It’s okay. This house is quiet in the day. I wasn’t expecting to see you right now.
Jack: I just– I came home to pick up a file I left behind.
Ashley: Yeah, go ahead. Go ahead. Don’t let me stop you.
Jack: Hey, where did you go off to earlier?
Ashley: Didn’t you get my text?
Jack: That you were okay? That I shouldn’t worry about you, yeah, but we were in the middle of a very important conversation.
Ashley: I just needed some air, jack, okay? I just needed some air. That’s all.
Jack: Look, I know you’re going through a lot right now.
Ashley: I think I passed the worst of it.
Jack: Okay, if there’s any way I can help, any way at all.
Ashley: Yeah, uh, no. This is something that I have to deal with on my own.
Jack: No, that’s where I disagree with you. Don’t do this, ashley. This is what family is for. I want to be here for you. Don’t shut me out.
Ashley: Please, jack, okay? I wish there was something you could do for me. I really do, but you can’T. There’s nothing you can do. I’m barely hanging on. I’m barely hanging on right now.
[ Ashley sobbing ]
Victor: Well, clearly, the call to jordan was upsetting to you.
Nikki: Oh, yes, it was. I really let her have it. I told her that she couldn’t beat us, and I challenged her to come after me here at the ranch, give me a reason to cross the line.
Victor: Hm.
Nikki: That woman is a psychopath. We have to stop her.
Victor: Yeah. Certainly do. I’m setting a plan in motion to stop that nightmare once and for all.
Nikki: What is it?
Victor: I have it under control, okay?
Nikki: But, victor–
Victor: Do you trust me?
Nikki: Yes, of course.
Victor: I have it under control. All I want you to worry about is to get better. Kerendia presents…
Seth: So, what do I owe you?
Jordan: Oh, it’s on me. One of my favorite things about this place is that happy hour goes from noon to 8:00 P.M.
Seth: Thank you. Did you tell me your name?
Jordan: Isabel.
Seth: Isabel. I’m seth.
Jordan: I know.
Seth: Oh, really? How? And how do you know nikki newman?
Jordan: That’s a bit of a sad story.
Seth: Well, look around. Seems like the place for those.
[ Jordan laughing ]
Jordan: Yeah, nikki and i used to be great friends. I mean, we– we partied together. We– we closed down bars and clubs. Drank for free. Charmed all the bartenders.
Seth: The good old days.
[ Both laughing ]
Jordan: We had fun until we didn’T. I mean, it took a while, but eventually, all the hangovers and the broken relationships took their toll, and, um– yeah, it was hard. And so we both got sober together, and– and it– it changed our friendship. It made it deeper. We went to meetings together. We did the steps together. Nikki was my rock, and I was hers.
Seth: Okay, so– so what happened?
[ Jordan sighs ]
Jordan: That’s the sad part. I stumbled. And I wanted to get sober. Desperately. But nikki cut me off. She felt that I was dangerous for her sobriety.
Seth: Yeah. Must have been hard.
Jordan: Devastating. Look at me now. [ Laughs ] Oh, but don’t get me wrong. I mean, I don’t blame nikki. How could anyone hate nikki newman?
Nikki: Victor, please don’t do that. Don’t keep me in the dark. You have to tell me what you’re planning. Otherwise, I’m going to conjure up all kinds of horrible images in my head.
Victor: I will not be threatened, okay? I’m not in danger. I’m setting a trap.
Nikki: What kind of trap?
Victor: I’m going to convince that woman that I want to make amends for what happened to eve howard.
Nikki: And how do you intend to do that?
Victor: By getting a message to her.
Nikki: Well, I don’t see how. Your security team hasn’t been able to locate her or trace her phone. Victor, you’re not going to use claire as a way to get to jordan, are you?
[ Footsteps approaching ]
Victoria: That’s exactly what dad wants to do, but I’m not going to allow it.
Billy: Look, this is not about a power grab at all. This is a benign proposition where frankly no one loses anything.
Devon: But what you’re suggesting isn’t easy, billy. It’s not like we can go around, and just put “abbott” on all the stationery.
Billy: No, I agree, devon. It’s not trivial at all. This is about adding a name to reflect jill’s role and legacy in building this company to the success that it is today.
Devon: Okay, but you understand that this is going to cost the company money to do a rebrand like this. You have to redesign the logo.
Billy: That’s exactly why we have a marketing department, isn’t it? And if you ask me, it’s a small price to pay because the truth is, without jill abbott, none of us would be sitting here right now.
Nate: Look, I totally get where you’re coming from, billy, and I’m sure devon does as well. Everyone here recognizes jill’s importance to this company.
Devon: Yeah, nobody’s dismissing that at all. Um, how about this, though? How about we get lily on the phone and we discuss it with her?
Billy: That sounds great. Why don’t you set a call, and I’d be happy to pitch it to her.
Devon: That’s not necessary. I have a grasp on what you’re suggesting, I can do it. So we will talk it over with her and we will get back to you about it.
Billy: Okay, then. Well, gents, thank you for your time, and I will, uh, let you two get back to it.
Devon: Thanks. I’m all for protecting jill’s legacy, but I don’t think that’s billy’s motivation at all. But you were pretty quiet, what do you think about all this?
I have type 2 diabetes, but I manage it well
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Nate: After he brought up the order of names, I figured it was best to keep my mouth shut, because I didn’t want to start an argument. But I am with you.
Devon: Yeah, right, because, like, abbott is just one of jill’s last names and it’s his one and only.
Nate: Yeah, his “no big deal, let’s just change the company’s name to include mine” approach? It feels a little coy.
Devon: Yeah. If he would have just admitted that it’s about him a little bit, it would have been less suspicious.
Nate: Yeah, yeah, and you pushed him on that.
Devon: I tried to, but he wouldn’t budge an inch.
Nate: Maybe he’s testing the waters. Seeing how far he can get, trying to see how much sway he has with you.
Devon: Well, he’s got none in this case because I’m not going to approve it. The fact that jill didn’t come to me herself tells me everything I need to know. This is billy’s power play.
Nate: You know, the other day I was trying to convince aunt mamie that her suspicion that jill was out to get her was wrong, that she’s just being paranoid. And I tried to get billy to back me up.
Devon: And what did he say?
Nate: He turned it around on me. He said aunt mamie was the one to watch out for and warned her not to go after jill. What’s funny is, he said most of it with a smile, but he was dead serious.
Devon: Well, we’re going to need to keep an eye on him.
Billy: Hi.
Chelsea: Hi.
Billy: Hi. Sorry, I’m late. I got held up with devon and nate. So, what’s the update on connor?
Chelsea: Um, well, adam and i have agreed to go with the school’s recommendation, to let him talk to an on-campus therapist instead of somebody here.
Billy: Okay, good. I mean, that’s good, right? They’re the experts and they’re with him every day, so…
Chelsea: Yeah, and– and, um, we spoke to his psychiatrist and we like her. And, um, she said she’s going to order more evaluations. The problem is, she said so many things could be wrong with him, you know? They– they just have to figure out what it is.
Billy: Okay. They give you a timeline?
Chelsea: No, I wish. I mean, she just said that they’d– they’d give us news when they can figure it out.
Billy: Okay. So, we wait.
Chelsea: I mean, I get nervous when he has a sore throat.
Billy: I know.
Chelsea: You know, I– I at least can take him to the doctor and give him medicine, but this? Not knowing what this is, it’s torture.
Billy: Yeah, it’s always the worst when our kids are hurting, but you’re doing the right thing, okay? You gotta know that. And I know this is difficult, but you gotta let go of the anxiety. You know, spinning all those what-ifs, it’s not gonna help. You gotta take care of yourself. Because you need to have the bandwidth to take care of connor when, if, you and adam decide it’s time to step in.
Chelsea: Yeah. I know you’re right. It’s just, um, impossible.
Billy: Hmm. Well, good. Because that’s why I’m here. I’m– I’m here to make the impossible possible.
Chelsea: Well, you always make it better.
Billy: You’ll be all right.
Chelsea: Yeah. Enough about me. You. What’s going on with you? Tell me about your, um, please tell me about your meeting with devon.
Billy: Yeah, my meeting with devon, uh, didn’t go great, but that’s not surprising. Um, I didn’t think he would be very receptive to the idea, you know? Devon doesn’t like change.
Chelsea: So he shut you down?
Billy: Not exactly. He said that he would discuss it, which means he didn’t want to say no to my face. I’m not optimistic.
Chelsea: So, what now?
Billy: Well, I’m not giving up. That’s the right thing to do. Now, I just need to find a way around devon.
Jack: Tell me what you’re feeling. You don’t have to tell me how I can help. We’ll figure that out together.
Ashley: Okay. When I left, um… I had our driver take me for a ride and I just needed some fresh air. Then, we got in an accident.
Jack: Wait. Today?
Ashley: It was a minor accident.
Jack: Did they call an ambulance?
Ashley: No.
Jack: Were the police there?
Ashley: Yeah, the police were called, but just for insurance purposes. I mean, everybody’s fine. Physically.
Jack: And emotionally?
Ashley: It was just very jarring. It was very eye-opening for me. I… I had a lot of feelings come up. A lot of old emotions just came up for me.
Jack: Okay. Tell me about those. Tell me about what– what feelings?
Ashley: I don’t even know where to start, jack. I feel like I’m never going to stop crying and I feel like I want to curl up in a ball. And I feel like I’m going to run away. I’m going to run away and never come back.
Jack: Hey, hey, hey. It’s okay. It’s okay. Listen to me. You are not alone. It’s going to be all right. I promise.
Ashley: I don’t know what’s happening.
Jack: I promise.
Victoria: Daddy broached this with claire at the hospital. He wants her to get a message to jordan if she contacts her.
Victor: Well, she’s open to it.
Victoria: Yeah, but I made it very clear to you that I’m opposed to the idea. I spoke with claire after you left.
Victor: What did she say?
Victoria: It doesn’t matter.
Victor: Yes, it does. Because I know that claire wants us to be free of that woman once and for all.
Victoria: Because you made her feel like she owes us for her part in jordan’s scheme.
Nikki: Victor, tell me that you didn’t manipulate her in some way.
Victor: No. I did not. I just know that she wants to be rid of that woman as much as we do.
Victoria: But still, that doesn’t mean that she should do it. Look, I understand your goal. All right? It’s the same as mine. As– as all of ours. Cole and I discussed it, and we very nearly convinced ourselves to let claire go along with your plan. Because getting jordan out of our lives would be good for all of us, but the more I thought about it, I– I just– I cannot let her do it.
Victor: It’s the only way.
Victoria: It can’t be. And I– I can’t believe that you even had me considering letting my very fragile daughter, your granddaughter, be a part in this. I mean, putting her in this situation is just going to undo all of the work that she’s done, all of the therapy, all of the progress that she’s made. That’s not fair to claire. We have to find another way.
Rsv can severely affect
Seth: Okay, so, listen, you still haven’t explained to me how you know my name.
[ Jordan laughs ]
Jordan: Well… I’ve been going in and out of aa meetings ever since I first slipped and um, I mean, sometimes I sneak in and I sit in the back. I’ve heard you share. And I heard enough to realize that you and nikki are friends.
Seth: Mm. Were. Were friends, right? Pa– past tense. And I can relate to your story a lot, you know? So, me and nikki were friends. In fact, I was her sponsor. And– and then I started drinking again, and she was the first one to call me out and cut me off.
Jordan: Stings, doesn’t it?
Seth: Yeah. I mean, I don’t hate her for it, though. I failed her.
Jordan: Oh, don’t say that. I mean, if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that self-blame leads to nowhere good.
Seth: Yeah, but how– how can you not? Huh? I mean, I– I feel terrible. She needed me and– and I let her down. And the worst part is– is I– I do– I– I miss her friendship. And I realize now that– that she was probably really there for me way more than I was there for her.
Jordan: Do you want to get sober?
[ Seth laughs ]
Seth: Want to? Sure. Can I? I mean, look at me. Drink in hand. And the first step they teach you is that you have to accept that you’re powerless. Well, here I am. Powerless. I’m the last thing nikki needs right now.
Jordan: What about what you need? Doesn’t that count for something?
Seth: Look, nikki doesn’t want to have anything to do with me, certainly not like this.
Jordan: Oh, seth. Don’t let your pride get in the way of reaching out. I mean, a friendship with nikki newman is a rare and beautiful thing. Don’t throw it away.
Nikki: I agree with victoria. I don’t want claire put at risk.
Victor: Nor do I. What are you thinking? She’s our granddaughter. There’s no way I’d allow any harm to come to her.
Victoria: But you can’t use her as bait.
Victor: Sweetheart, claire’s much stronger than you think she is. One phone call will set things in motion. She’s safe where she is.
Victoria: Jordan has already reached her there. More than once.
Victor: And she will again. This is the only way to deal with this. Trust me.
Nikki: There’s another way to get to jordan.
Victor: And what, pray tell, is that?
Nikki: Through me.
Chelsea: I should head upstairs. I need to get some sketches to summer.
Billy: Okay. Are you sure about that? You don’t really seem like you’re in the right headspace for that.
Chelsea: I’m not in the right headspace, but work doesn’t stop just because I’m a worried mom.
Billy: Well, that’s true, but maybe you, uh, could take a little break, you know? A little self-care like I was talking about.
Chelsea: I don’t really have time in my schedule for a massage today, but I promise you I’ll try to relax.
Billy: What about if i take you for lunch?
Chelsea: Thank you, but I already ate.
Billy: What about a walk in the park? We could make a snowman.
[ Chelsea chuckles ] Watch a movie. Anything.
Chelsea: You’re very sweet for trying to distract me.
Billy: I’m not trying to distract you. I’m just trying to take away that look that’s in your eye right now, even if it’s for a minute. All that stress. You gotta know that the hard days, they don’t last forever. Okay? And you’ll find those moments of peace. They’re there. You just gotta search for them.
Chelsea: I know you’re right. I’m just not sure how to be gentle with myself right now.
Billy: Let me show you. Before my doctor and I chose breztri for my copd,
Chelsea: You’re really lovely, you know that?
Billy: Who, me?
Chelsea: You’re my, um, my moment of peace. And so much more.
Billy: It’s nice to hear because you’re mine.
Chelsea: Oh, I wish we could just stay here all day.
Billy: We can.
Chelsea: No.
Billy: We definitely can. No, we can’T. Can we?
Chelsea: No. No, we can’T. I have to get back to work.
Billy: Yeah. I should get back to the office. Although, it’s just so warm and cozy in here with you.
Chelsea: Go. Go. I say so. You know, I, um… I know you’re gonna achieve all your goals. I just feel it.
Billy: If I do, it’ll be because of the confidence you give me.
Chelsea: Can i admit something?
Billy: Of course.
Chelsea: I feel guilty. Like, how am I allowed to feel such… happiness when my son is hurting?
Billy: Well, you have to. That’s the balance. The good days help you get through the tough ones. You’re an amazing mother, chelsea. Connor’s very lucky to have you. So am I.
Jack: Oh, I wish I could take this pain away. It’s gonna be all right. I promise. You’re gonna find your way to the other side of this. You’re gonna be all right.
Ashley: Yeah. Yeah. Thank you. I’m better.
Jack: Hey, you don’t have to pretend for me.
Ashley: I’m not. I’m not. You’re right. I’m gonna get through this. I’m a lot stronger than tucker thinks I am.
Jack: You’re damn right.
Ashley: I’m gonna be fine.
Jack: You’re sure about that?
Ashley: Yeah. Thank you again for your wise words. I definitely see things more clearly.
Jack: I don’t know that i said anything that healing. I–
Ashley: Then maybe it was your hugs. Your hugs are miracle workers. Give me another one.
Seth: You know, you have a lot of really strong feelings for nikki newman.
Jordan: Well, as I told you, we were very close.
Seth: Well, why don’t you take your own advice and you call her?
Jordan: No, it’s too late. I lost my chance.
Seth: So why do you care what I do?
Jordan: Well, because maybe i see a bit of myself in you. I know how much it cost me to watch that friendship die and I don’t want that to happen to you.
Seth: No, no. It’s– it’s– it’s too late for me too. Okay? I blew it. I blew it. I can’t be her sponsor anymore. And even if I could, you know what they say. You can’t be somebody’s sponsor until you’ve had at least one year sober. Right? Right?
Jordan: I’m not talking about being her sponsor. I’m talking about saving your friendship. Now listen to me. Saving your friendship with nikki could change your world.
Victor: I will not use you to lure jordan.
Nikki: She’s already coming for me. She made that very clear.
Victoria: Wait. You spoke with her?
Victor: Yeah.
Nikki: Yes. And it was a terrifying conversation. She is by no means done with us.
Victoria: Oh, my god. This is such a nightmare.
Nikki: No. It gives us the power.
Victoria: How do you figure that?
Nikki: She’s fixated with me. I will keep taunting her until she makes a move, and we will be ready for her.
Victor: How are you going to do that if we can’t reach her?
Nikki: She’s going to keep contacting me. She can’t help herself. She wants to get under my skin. I won’t let her do that. I will turn the tables on her.
Victor: And push her buttons? Is that it?
Nikki: Yes, I will push her buttons until she makes a mistake. A fatal mistake.
Announcer: Next week on the young and the restless…
Devon: I’m still sorry to tell you that we’re going to be keeping the name, chancellor-winters, as is.
Amanda: Well, jill will be very sorry to hear that.
Ashley: I’m worried. Shut up! Shut up!
Nikki: I’ll tell the security guard that I’m expecting you.
Jordan: Where are you meeting her?
Seth: At the– at the newman ranch.
Jordan: Oh. Well, this just keeps getting better and better.
I just got off the phone with martin. Oh, did his office get the paperwork? They did, and I’ve been officialto the adoption petition, which means everything is on track for us both to become ace’s parents. Music to my ears.
[ Chuckles ]
[ Knock on door ] I’ll get it. Hello, sister. All right. Thanks for that. What do we got? Pentonville confirmed that they were relocating olivia jerome. Csi says that the, uh, transport van was sabotaged. The two guards were restrained, but unharmed. This is all just an overview. We’ll know more when we get the crime scene report. Okay. So far, sounds like a prison break gone wrong. Yeah, but with olivia jerome, nothing’s ever that simple. You didn’t have to come over. Well, you seemed a little frazzled when you bailed on lunch, not to mention vague. So I thought, why not meddle? You okay? Yeah. I’m just keeping an extra eye on danny. Danny. Why? Okay, I’m gonna tell you, and then you’re gonna tell me that I’m worried over nothing and nothing serious is going on with my kid. Sonny isn’t here. But you’re more than welcome to come in and wait for him. Okay. Uh, well, can you call him? Because he’s not picking up for me, so… I’m sure he’s just busy. Yes, but you’re avery’s mom, so he might not be
as busy for you. Maybe I can help. Why — why don’t you tell me what’s going on? No, no, ava, it’s really sonny that I need to speak to, and it’s very important. Okay. Well, like I said, y-you’re more than welcome to wait. Okay, well, do you know when he’ll be back?
[ Chuckles ] No, no. Not precisely, no. Okay, well, then I’m gonna go look for him. Thank you. Josslyn, wait. Don’t do that. You didn’t run. Haven’t even started packing. No point. You have at least one guard stationed nearby. You know where, ’cause you know how I operate. That’s why you’re carrying. You also know your only way out is through me. What are you gonna do, dex? You gonna take a shot? I
Nedto the ground rules? You’re supposed to call me before you come over. I know, but I was in the neighborhood, and I just wanted to say hello to my sister and, uh, my grand-nephew. Well, now’s not a good time. We’ve just put him down for his nap. Well, I promise this will just be a quick visit. I have another engagement immediately after. And yet he found time to stop by. One should always find time for family, don’t you think? Come in. Thank you.
[ Baby crying ] Uh, could I just have a glimpse of him? I’m afraid even a glimpse is out of the question. Naps are just so important at his age. It seems ace isn’t the only one in need of a nap. Yeah, well, don’t let us keep you from your next appointment. Uh, before I go, uh, have you been in touch with nikolas since he left for pentonville? I have. I-I know how hard this must be for you and ace. Thank you. And how have you taken to being ace’s temporary guardians? Yeah, well, I-I guess there’s no reason that I shouldn’t tell you. We are, uh — kevin and I have decided to legally adopt ace.
[ Laughs ] Oh, my god! That’s wonderful news. Congratulations. Well, thank you. I’m — I’m pleased that you’re so pleased, although I am a little bit surprised. B-but why would my happiness at your good fortune surprise you? Yeah, I suppose it shouldn’T. I can’t think of two better people to shepherd our little angel through this world. Oh, okay. I think there’s something we need to get clear right now. Ace’s adoption does not guarantee you a bigger role in his life, as a matter of fact, or any role. Why don’t I want to go look for sonny? You know where he is, don’t you? Sonny doesn’t apprise me of his movements. But you know what he’s doing. What I know is that it’s a waste of time to scour the city looking for him when the one place we know he’ll show up is here. And if what you have to say is so important, then stay. Can you just call me when he gets back here, please? Josslyn. You’re obviously very upset, and — and you can tell me. Has something happened?
[ Scoffs ] It’s personal. I see. So this must be about dex. Or michael. I don’t want to hurt you, sonny. But I’m not going down without a fight. If I wanted you dead, you’d be rotting in the ground right now, no matter what carly said. But you’re right about one thing. What’s that? You joined my organization under false pretenses, working for michael the whole time. My job was to protect you, and I did. You know too much about my business and about me. And all I know about you is I can’t trust you. So if you were in my position, dex, how would you handle this? I’ve got the crime scene report. Hmm? What do we know? Transport van, uh, hit a spike strip, blew out the tires. They pulled the van over. Then they were ambushed by two masked men. They tied up the guards and took olivia jerome. And shortly thereafter, they heard a gunshot. They freed themselves. One of them called for help. The other went into the woods in the direction of the gunshot and found… olivia’s body. Wow. That’s grim. Did we pick up the gunman’s trail yet? Not yet. I need to see the body.
Danny was drinking? Yeah.
Danny? I know. Would you be less surprised if it were rocco or scout? I couldn’t be more surprised. Wow. Danny? Mm-hmm. I never in a million years. I know. But here we are. Did you flip out? I would have flipped out. I have flipped out. Trouble kristina used to get into took years off my life. Actually, no. Really? I mean, I was angry, but I didn’t, like,
really raise my voice or give him a long lecture or anything. A short one? We just — we had, like, a good conversation about it. Good. It was actually quite mature — of me, not him. Did you ground him? Hell, yes, I grounded him. How long? Until he learns responsibility. So I guess you didn’t want to tie yourself down to a specific timeline? Well, I didn’t think of it that way, but I like the way you think. Let me see. Ah. I think somewhere between one month and forever sounds good. That’s reasonable. But we did. We got to a good place, mom. Okay. You ready for me to be honest with you? I don’t know. Is it something I’m gonna want to hear? I think so. I think what you did was very normal parenting. You do? Actually, it sounds like excellent parenting.
[ Sighs ] But you’re still bothered. Uh, well, taking the whole, “you’re grounded, but if this ever happens again and you find yourself in this position, you can call me or dante, and we’ll come get you, no questions asked” route is…normal course of action, right? Last time I checked. But danny is jason’s son, and he’s getting more and more like him every day. And jason was drawn to danger. What if danny is, too? Of course I will respect your wishes as ace’s adoptive mother. Good idea. But I must ask… you know, that was fast. …Why would you want to deprive him of family after he’s already lost so much? It’s because of how much he’s lost that I want you to keep your distance. I want him to have some kind of stability in his young life. But I would only bring stability. I would be a constant presence — well, as constant as you deem appropriate. No more, but certainly no less. Look, I-I appreciate your good intentions, I really do, but you just have to rest assured that ace has a lot of family who really love him. Yeah, I-I know that. And it gives me comfort. But it’s a family I dearly long to be part of. I-it’s one reason I stopped by today — to offer you whatever comfort I could after losing spencer and — and seeing nikolas go to prison. I-I care about you. Yes, I know. You keep telling me that. And you keep doubting. How long are you going to distrust me? God, I think I’ve proven by now that I-I’ve turned over a new leaf. Yeah. Look, cyrus, it just wasn’t that long ago that when you expressed your sympathy for somebody else’s misfortune, what you were really doing was rubbing their nose in it. You don’t deny that, do you? I do not. I own my misdeeds and carry the shame of them. Okay, okay. Well, the rest of us remember it. Okay. Okay? So if you would like us all to believe that you’ve turned over a new leaf, then it may take more than just your word. You know? You — you may have to forgive us our trespasses if we need more time — more time to forgive yours. Yeah, I understand. Okay. Which is why I asked you about nikolas. Not to rub your nose in it, but because I want you to know that I’ve arranged for nikolas to be protected in pentonville so that you can have the peace that comes from knowing he’ll be safe. This is exactly what I’m talking about. Really? How can you expect me to believe that you’ve turned over a new leaf when you’re offering to pull strings in prison? What makes you think this is about michael? Michael came by. And he confessed to sonny. I happened to overhear. Shocker. Now, come on. This can’t be the first you’re hearing of this. What did michael confess? He didn’t mention it. And I don’t think it occurred to sonny that you and dex are — you’re much too crazy about each other to keep secrets. Especially big secrets. Like the fact that michael hired dax first to spy on sonny and then to protect him. Fine. Yes, I knew.
[ Sighs ] That’s a heavy burden to carry. I empathize. If you’d like somebody to talk to… thank you, but I think I’ll just talk to my mom. Yeah, of course, but it looks like you need somebody to talk to right now. And since I’m here right now… ava, [Chuckles] Why do you care so much? I expected you to handle it the way you almost did. And in your opinion, what should I do now? If it were my call? Yeah. Start over. All the cards are on the table. I’m fresh out of secrets. And you know what? It feels good. Yes, if it were up to me, I would keep working for you. But I know that’s not possible. I’ve become a liability that you can’t afford. Perceptive, as usual. And for what it’s worth, I didn’t just learn about your business. I learned about you and the man you are. When michael hired me, this was just a job. But then I got to know you and your family. And I realized that you have a code and principles that guide you. I know you have no reason to believe me, but I wasn’t lying when I told you how much I admire you. Even now. I know I shouldn’t, but I do. Yeah. That’s olivia. Shot point blank in the back of the head. Olivia jerome was executed.
I have long since cut ties with the criminal element, those who kept me trapped in the dark, far from the lord’s love. Okay, then, if it’s not your henchmen who’d be looking after my son in jail, then who are you talking about? Oh, I found a-another group of men in prison, lost souls seeking redemption, just like me. Well-intentioned men living with the consequences of their mistakes. My mission is to provide them an example to live by, to offer counsel, to guide them through their sentences, and hope that they can turn their lives around in prison and out. Right. But they’re more inmates, criminals. You haven’t said they’re not dangerous. Well, of course they’re dangerous, laura. They wouldn’t very well be able to provide protection if they were meek little lambs. Yeah. Okay. Well, I guess I was just hoping that maybe — I don’t know — that maybe you’d bribed a few guards or something. With what? I have no riches to bribe anyone. Maybe with those hidden riches that you use to bribe people secretly.
[ Laughs ] If only I were half as colorful as I am in your imagination. Then you’d be wearing half an orange jumpsuit.
[ Laughs ] Oh, you are so funny. Look, all you need to know is that after my release, I never abandoned my flock, nor have I abandoned my cause. Uh-huh. What is your cause, cyrus? With the lord’s blessing, my flock is about to get bigger. This afternoon is the inaugural broadcast of my radio show. Soon — very soon, in fact — I will be spreading god’s word to everyone in port charles. It was valentine’s day. Dante and I decided to have a date night here at the house. He cooked for me. We thought all of the kids were in their rooms. And then there was a knock at the door just as we were about to get romantic, and dante opened the door and there was a cop with danny. Perspective. Danny is not the first teenager to sneak out of the house with his friends and wind up drinking. Mom, sneaking out is one thing, but sneaking out via a fire escape that’s suspended from the side of the building on — on a penthouse floor? Clearly, danny doesn’t have any fear of heights.
[ Laughs ] Yeah. Gee, I-I wonder who he takes after? I mean, what if danny hadn’t gotten caught and he would have tried to sneak back in the same way — up the building, mom? What if he slipped or lost his balance? Okay, you are right to be asking all these questions, and you are right to be extra vigilant. However, one incident is not a pattern necessarily. Okay. So this is normal teenage stuff? All I know is what kristina did to me.
[ Chuckles ] Kristina’s an angel right now compared to those things. Honey, I never raised a boy, so I have no idea what’s normal for boys. I get that all teenagers take chances. But what if danny’s hardwired to take bigger chances? And if so, how do I keep him safe? Because if he’s anything like his father, the more I try to control him, the harder he’s gonna fight to be free. All right. I debriefed the detectives who were on the scene. They found this nearby. Oh, yeah. Can I have a look? Oh, yeah. Find something? Yeah, see that marking right there? Mm-hmm. Wsb put it on all the guns they seize. That means whoever tried to kill sonny is also behind olivia jerome’s murder. You had a lot of potential, more than I’ve seen anyone have in a long time. You proved your abilities to me. But you reminded me that being capable and trustworthy don’t really go hand-in-hand. I wish I could just let you go, forget you ever existed. But you’re too big of a liability. I understand there’s a risk that your enemies might use me to get to you. But I was willing to take a bullet rather than give up carly and michael. You know I can hold up under pressure. I have kids to consider. You said yourself, I’m not gonna, you know, take chances when it comes to protecting my family. So what now? The only way I see it, you’re gonna have to disappear. I know I’m not your favorite person, but you still went out of your way to get spinelli and dex to find me when mason took me. Well, of course. And, you know, I did that for avery. You still did it. I owe you my life for that. So if there’s anything that I can ever do for you, no matter what it is, all you have to do is ask. You really mean that? Absolutely. Then please help me find sonny. Oh, josslyn, I told you, I don’t know where he is. Then call him or get the guards to summon him home. I really think it’s best if you just come — ava! Sonny is gonna kill dex, all right? You know that, and I know that. I need to speak to him before he does something drastic, okay? I might have helped, but dex is the one who rescued you. Okay? Twice. Once at the quartermaines’ when heather webber attacked you, and once in pautuck. You owe him your life twice over. Please help me protect him.
you expect me to let you kill me? I expect you to leave town. Leave? I’m gonna have frank take you to one of my safe houses until brick sets you up with a new identity — passport, driver’s license. And then once you’re gone, we’re gonna cover your tracks and set you up with money. What about josslyn? No. The way this works, brick and I are the only ones that have to know what’s going on. We bring josslyn into this, she’s gonna drive my enemies to you. But we know how to be careful. Okay. I know josslyn loves you. She loves her family, too. But we involve josslyn, it’s all for nothing! Then shoot me! It’s not worth it. Okay? Joss made my life worth living. Without her, you might as well finish me off now. I would absolutely help if I could. But you won’T. So everything you just said — if I ever need anything — that’s all crap. I-I meant every word. And I am aware of how unsparing sonny can be with those who cross him. But he didn’t cross him, ava. Literally the opposite. How many times did dex almost give sonny his life? And that counts for nothing. I know it seems unfair, but you know as well as I do that sonny can’t risk fairness when it comes to his family’s safety. So you’re saying there’s nothing I can do? Yes. You have a radio show? Who would put you on the air? Someone who sees the value in my message? No. Unh-unh. Something’s off here. Something is deeply off here. It saddens me that you still doubt my intentions. Ugh! Fortunately, the lord provides me strength to continue proving I’ve changed. I know I can never erase the terrible things I’ve done. But I can at least counteract them by putting some good in the world. That’s my purpose. Mm. But what is your motive? Dear sister, I can only hope one day you will believe the change I’m showing the world and accept the man I have become. I must take my leave. My debut is about 15 minutes away on kzpc-radio. I do hope you’ll tune in. It’s a miracle, but ace is still down. Then again, maybe he was trying to avoid our company. Laura? What did cyrus want? The same thing he always wants. My trust. I tried to shield scout and danny from jason’s life, and when I realized I couldn’t, I broke up with him. Sam, you — you seem to give your kids stability, despite all that. Mom, what if it wasn’t enough? Danny always wanted more time with his father. Jason was in and out of his life, and then all of a sudden it wasn’t enough. Danny took jason’s death really hard. And what if a way to feel close to his father, danny is trying to take the sort of chances that jason used to take? And if so, how long has this been building up in him, and why haven’t I seen it before? Listen to me. I understand how you feel. At some point, every parent does, one way or the other, but you did not cause this. Do you understand that? Yeah. Do you believe me? I want to. Whatever danny is going through, you will get him through this, because you are a wonderful mother. Olivia jerome’s long history with the mob certainly tracks with our gunman’s pattern — e leadS. Yeah, absolutely. Okay, so forensics needs to confirm that the bullet that killed jerome matches that gun. Yeah. Let’s see if they can put a rush on it. Oh, yeah. We need to act fast, because as soon as the feds are apprised of this development, then agent cates is gonna want to take over, and we all know how thrilled he was that we didn’t back off in the first place. Oh, whatever. It’s not like he could be any less cooperative. It’s not like he could.
[ Sighs ] You know, it’s common knowledge that there won’t be any tears shed over olivia. But those guards, — they could have been injured or worse. And curtis already got caught in the crossfire. Agent cates needs to understand we have to put a stop to this before any more innocent bystanders are hurt.
Thank you for the encouragement, mom, because I don’t feel like a good mom, much less a wonderful one. You know who thinks they’re wonderful moms? Terrible moms, that’s who.
[ Laughs ] So it’s good to doubt. Yeah, it’s like if you think you’re going crazy, the fact that you’ve asked that question means you’re way ahead of the game. That’s good to know.
[ Sighs ] In the meantime, just take it one step at a time, okay? This is just one incident. I know, but what if it was just the first? Then you will know if you see it escalate and you will do something about it. You will take care of him, just like you always have. And you’re not gonna have to do it alone, ’cause you got me, and you can always count on me. And together we will figure it out. Is that a deal? It’s a deal.
[ Cellphone rings ] Okay. That’s my phone.
[ Laughs ] Okay. Oh. It’s one of my reporters. Hey. What’s up? Mom? Is everything okay? Our best lead is the gun dealer philip o’neill. His lawyers want a deal, but the fbi isn’t biting. What, he’s still not talking? Dante: Yeah, which doesn’t make any sense. And then, like, this guy’s got a target on his back, don’t you think? I mean, he can id who he sold the guns to. Yeah, that is concerning. But interestingly, whoever it is that’s after organized crime figures, they waited until olivia was out of prison before they made their move. Right. Well, that just makes me think that whoever this is doesn’t have access to anyone on the inside. Okay, so then I think I’m gonna talk to agent cates and try to persuade him to keep o’neill at pentonville rather than moving him out of our reach. Do you think we can get something out of o’neill? You know, just because he’s not talking to law enforcement doesn’t mean he won’t talk to anyone. Well, I should have known better. Thank you, ava. This conversation was a big help. Josslyn, I-I didn’t mean to upset you. I just need someone to help me, ava. I love dex. I love him. Do you understand? I cannot and I will not give up on the people I love. I won’t do it. If I pull this trigger because you asked me to, I won’t be breaking josslyn’s heart. You will. I love her, and I never thought — I thought it would be beaten out of me and that it would never happen for me. But then it did then. Okay — and now — you know it’s the best thing for josslyn to leave town. My enemies are gonna be tracking you down for the rest of your life. You want to put her in danger? You want her to be the target? I can’t lose her, sonny. Okay, here’s the deal. You want to keep your life? You’re never gonna come back here again. You’re not gonna have any contact with anyone again. It’s up to you.
[ Cellphone rings ] I need an answer… now.
O’neill won’t talk to us, but he might talk to someone in pentonville. Plant an informant in his cell. Mm-hmm. Could work. I don’t know. It seems like a long shot, doesn’t it? I mean, given this guy’s line of work, you’d gotta think he’d be pretty tight-lipped, no matter who he’s talking to. Exactly. Right now, he’s probably even more surprised than we are that he’s still alive. There might be something he wants to get off his chest, just in case.We’d have to find someone who was good at extracting that kind of information, and also someone that robert would be willing to offer a deal to. So a lesser sentence in exchange for some information — I mean, that would be pretty good incentive. Yeah, but no one who poses a significant risk to the general public on release. Right. On top of finding this person and making a deal with the da’s office, the informant also has to establish some kind of trust with o’neill in order to make this work. That’s all gonna take time. Yeah, that’s time we don’t have. Yeah, well, until we think of something faster.
[ Cellphone chimes ] Something wrong? It’s from laura. What is it?
[ Static ] Cyrus: This is kzpc-radio. And welcome to “searching with cyrus.” You’re probably asking, what could I have in common with you? After all, I’m an ex-convict who was serving hard time in pentonville. But one thing I learned there is we are all prisoners. But if we give our burden to the lord, he will set us free. That’s why I’m here — to help you share that burden and give voice to your troubles so that you may live a life of peace. [ Baby crying ] I was once the most lost… I’ll get ace. I’ve heard enough of this that I can stand, anyway. …That god never gives up on any of us… why don’t you just turn that off? [ Sighs ] Oh, no. I’m going to listen to every word. I need to understand what cyrus is really saying. …Someone who knows what it is to… good luck with that. If I can find my way to a better place, so can you.
Where’s dex? I’m sorry, josslyn. He’s gone. No, I definitely intend to run it in the morning. I just want to be able to check it first before it goes to press. Mm-hmm. But I’m gonna have to call you back because there’s something I have to do first. Hi.
[ Knock on door ] Oh, alexis, hi. Are you looking for sonny? Actually, I’m here to see you.
[ Cellphone rings ] Do you need to get that? Um, [Chuckles] Pentonville. I’m sure it’s your darling nephew calling collect. Oh, I don’t think that it is. May I come in? Yeah, please. So is this a-a social call, or are we on the record here? I heard from one of my reporters, and I think julian would want you to hear it from someone that you know. Conjuring my late brother’s name. This can’t be good. Julian would want me to hear what? Your sister olivia is dead. Is that so? Huh. Well, then, I’m sorry for your loss. Are you really? ‘Cause after what she did to you, I think that you’re probably wondering what circle of hell she’s roasting in. I want to see him. That’s not possible. Where is he? What did you do to him? Dex is alive, but he’s not coming back to port charles. You’re a liar. He would never leave me. Dex did what he had to do, what was best for everyone.
[ Crying ] Not for me. Especially for you. He wanted me to give you this. I hate you! You’re a criminal and a liar, and I will never forgive you for this! I know.
[ Door closes ]
[ Sobbing ] Emily, tell everybody who’s on the show to day.
[gasps] “Flower cart toy found another donation.” Ka-ching.
Hey.
Hey, guys. Are you having fun?
Oh, having a blast. I mean, as is everyone. Pretty obvious, right?
Yeah, what about the fundraising? How’s that going?
Oh, even better than expected. We’ve already raised thousands for the hospital.
That’s great.
What?
Well, hey, we better keep looking if we wanna find some more before I have to head to work.
Yeah. Okay, um, let’s go that way.
All right. See ya, Steph.
See ya.
Hey, Ev, make sure you spell “geocaching” right. It keeps autocorrecting to “geocatching” for me, as does “cache” and “cupid.”
Well, I’m not writing about the fundraiser right now, Leo. I’m covering the fire at the Hortons’.
Oh. My gosh, all that Horton history gone. Nobody was hurt, though, right?
Everyone got out in time.
Including those sweet kids, Thomas and Charlotte. I don’t normally like children, but those two, cutest little punims I’ve ever seen. And they’re not, like, greedy, obnoxious, and rude like most kids. Thank God everybody got out alive, even if their precious belongings didn’t survive. But the way I see it, trying to find joy by acquiring things, it’s like trying to satisfy your hunger by taping pigs in a blanket to your belly.
[curious percussive music] Oh, yeah, I’m not quite as shallow as you thought I was, am I?
[soft mysterious music]
[gasps]
[clears throat] Hello there.
Hey, babe. I’m gonna need a minute. I didn’t think you’d be ready so fast.
Oh, yeah. Well, I am ready. I am so ready.
Hey.
How’s our sweetheart doing?
He’s great. Look at that little smile. It’s because of that teddy bear. I know it is.
Is that new?
Yeah. It’s his first Valentine’s Day gift.
Oh.
And, of course, we got Mommy something too. Let’s see if Mommy likes it.
Oh. Eric, it’s–it’s so cute.
You do like it, right?
Mm-hmm. Yes, of course.
Well, let me put it on you.
[serious piano music]
There you go. Let me see. It’s beautiful.
Mm-hmm. And I got you a little gift too.
Oh, really? Shall we see what Mommy got me?
[both laugh] Oh. Um, I don’t think it’s my size.
It’s definitely mine. And I intend to wear it for you tonight.
I can’t wait. You know this guy is gonna fade fast, so we should get going, right?
[tense music]
Great.
[sighs] It’s such a relief to have you home. Both of you.
It’s such a relief to be home. And–and, EJ, I just– I-I can’t thank you enough.
Thank Sarah Horton. She’s been managing Holly’s case. From here, the Italian doctors have been sharing everything with her.
Yes, thank God.
Not to mention, she’s guided me on everything that Holly would need, set us up with the best staff she could find. I just did whatever it would take to get the two of you back home.
And we both know you went above and beyond.
Oh, my love, it feels so good to have you in my arms again.
I’ve missed you so much, EJ.
Mm. Well, no more missing each other. You are back home where you belong.
Yeah.
[laughs]
Mm-hmm.
Much as I know, I had no choice but to pull the trigger. I can still feel the shock of it. And I pray to God I’m never put in that situation again.
Yeah, well, hopefully you won’t be.
Here you go.
Yeah, you can return to active duty whenever you’re ready.
I’ve never been more ready, Commissioner. Thank you so much. Thank you both.
Okay.
[gentle music]
[door slams shut]
Well, she’s having a good Valentine’s Day.
Yeah, she definitely seems relieved. But you know what? She’s–she’s pretty private. I’m not sure if she has a romantic life or, really, what her personal story is.
Yeah, well, she’s had a rough past couple days. Hopefully she has someone that she can be with. I know I’m glad I do.
As am I. And to show my gratitude…
Happy Valentine’s Day, Commish.
[soft orchestration] announcer: Like sands through the hourglass, so are the “Days of Our Lives.”
Any leads on how the fire started?
Um, from what I’ve heard so far, it sounds like it was arson.
Arson? Huh. Well, I will bet that whoever set the Horton house ablaze was a love-starved, probably very unattractive person who couldn’t stand that all the Hortons and Williams and anyone else that’s inhabited that house over the years were all so lovey-dovey with each other.
[gasps] Could that have been the motive? Plain old jealousy?
[curious music] And speaking of romance and Valentine’s Day–
We weren’t.
Well, we are now. So though I know you know this, everyone does, I will remind you that my boyfriend, my gorgeous boyfriend, who I miss with every cell of my being, is in the slammer. So I don’t have plans tonight. Hint hint.
Oh.
Mm-hmm.
As lovely as that sounds, Leo, um, I actually–I do– I have plans tonight.
Oh, damn it, I should have known. With Miss Stephanie, right? The beautiful brunette with the legs that won’t quit?
That would be her.
Mm-hmm.
Well, she does seem to like me. She has laughed at several of my jokes and has very rarely sneered at me, unlike most people in this town. So maybe I can tag along.
Yeah, um, we’re, like, going on a double date sort of a thing. But if you don’t mind being the fifth wheel, I can–
No, no, no, no, no, no, no. A third wheel is one thing, but a fifth wheel would make me feel way too pathetic. Perhaps I will check out C-A-C-H-I-N-G Cupid. Maybe I’ll find my valentine hidden in the square.
Good luck with that.
Thank you. And Happy Valentine’s Day to you, Everett. Enjoy your double date while I– since I think I will be batting zero at the scavenger hunt– will likely be back in my room watching “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” for the hundredth time, munching on Nutter Butter Bites. See ya.
Wow, Jada, this is so great.
It’s an antique sheriff badge from the s. It took me a while to find the perfect one.
“To my personal Wild Bill, you will always be my hero.”
You know, he may have died in Deadwood, but he was born in Illinois, you know.
Oh, I know. I know.
[both laugh] Wow, this–Jada, really. This took a lot of thought. Thank you.
Yeah, well, I enjoyed doing the research. And I know you’ve been buried under all of your work, so don’t even feel obligated to–
To have got you a gift? Hmm? Hmm?
[romantic music]
Aww, chocolates.
Mm.
Yum.
Try one.
Oh. Well, maybe after dinner. I don’t wanna spoil my appetite.
Oh, okay. So you’re gonna deny me having one?
Oh, no, of course not.
Oh, okay.
Okay. What? Oh, Rafe. “Nevertheless, she persisted.” Aww. Look at my man embracing his inner feminist.
Mm-hmm. To the strongest, bravest, most persistent woman I know.
Uh, no fair. You have to find your own clue, sir. Here, take this.
Mm, mm, mm, mm.
[gentle guitar music]
What?
Nothing. I just love hanging with you.
Well, I love hanging with you. And given everything that’s been going on lately, I think we needed this, some escapist fun.
Definitely.
Okay, so I learned a little Italian while I was there.
Oh.
Yes, of course, to impress you. And Italian’s, like, your second language, right?
Mm.
[speaking Italian]
Oh. Oh my. Okay. Okay, so here we go.
[clears throat]
I mean…
[speaking Italian]
Oh.
[both chuckle] Oh, EJ, thank you again so much for bringing Holly and me back and for setting everything up so beautifully.
It was rather selfish on my part. I just–I just missed you both so terribly.
Missed you too.
And to celebrate your homecoming and Valentine’s Day, I had Chef make us a very special meal. But I completely understand if you don’t want to celebrate.
Oh. Yes, of course I do. And Holly’s home now and she’s breathing on her own. And my valentine, my wonderful, thoughtful, generous husband made it all happen. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
You’re welcome.
All right, cool. So I am glad we’re on the same page for tonight.
Well, yeah, of course we are. I mean, really? Have dinner with my beautiful, sexy girlfriend, or stay at work? It’s really not a tough choice.
Great, then I will text Stephanie and let her know that we’re on our way.
Okay, cool.
Mm-hmm.
You finally get to meet her boyfriend, right?
Oh, yeah. You know, I’ve been really looking forward to that.
Yeah, you know, um, I’ve actually met him a few times when he was covering business, police business for “The Spectator.”
Oh.
Seems like a pretty cool guy.
Interesting.
Yeah.
You know, my ex, he was– he was also a reporter. But it turns out that he was not a cool guy at all.
Real SOB from what you’ve told me.
Yeah. But you know what? I do not wanna think about him tonight at all, especially when I’m with one of the coolest of cool guys I know on Valentine’s Day, whom I absolutely adore.
Who adores you right back.
[hums] Ooh, stop right here. Ah, yes, one terrific shot for the website. Thanks, you guys. Ah, Leo Stark is here. If I don’t get a shot of him, I will never hear the end of it. Excuse me.
Sure. Hey, big guy.
Oh.
Hey, you wanna see what’s going on in the square tonight?
Yeah, sure.
Okay.
Let’s, um– let’s just go that way. More interesting window displays for you.
Okay. Great.
[soft music]
Sorry that took so long. Wow. You look amazing.
I’d say you look pretty spiffy yourself too, Mr. Alex Kiriakis.
Oh, it’s the same old suit.
Yeah, but you wear it so well.
Thank you.
And I have something for you.
What is this? Babe. This is so nice. Are you kidding? This is great. Thank you.
You’re welcome.
Oh, I love it.
It matches my dress. You want to wear it?
Oh, please, yes. It does match. How does it look?
I would say that you and I look pretty damn fine.
I agree. Mm. We should probably go to the Bistro, right?
Mm-hmm.
Okay. Let’s go.
The Bistro, a perfect place to propose.
Did you say something?
No. Mm-mm. I just said, “I can’t wait to spend the evening with my very handsome honey.” It’s gonna be such a momentous night.
Thank you.
Mm-hmm.
[phone ringing]
This is Everett Lynch.
[gasps] Couldn’t hurt to answer your phone.
Oh. Hi, Steph.
Hey, where are you? I thought we were gonna meet in the square before dinner.
Wha–what time is it? Oh, my God, I-I’m– I’m so sorry. Um, more intel came in and I– it–it–it doesn’t matter. Um, I probably just need, like, minutes to finish this up, and then I’ll change and I’ll meet you at the pub. Does that–does that work?
Yeah, sure. That’s fine.
Okay. I’ll, uh– I’ll be there, I promise.
You better be.
Here we are.
Wow. Thank you.
You’re welcome.
[gentle ambient music]
Well, this is a perfect table. We can see everyone, and everyone can see us.
That is true.
[laughs]
Oh, no, none– none for me, thank you. I’ll just have a mocktail. Just cranberry juice and soda. Thank you.
Same for me, please.
Of course.
Thanks.
Let’s drink to us. To a night to remember.
To a night to remember.
Yes, yes, yes! Oh, how I love this game.
Leo must have found another container. Leo.
Excuse me, what are you doing?
Let’s see what he found.
Look who’s here. Two of my favorite people in the world. And Sloan. Hey, you little cutie patootie, remember me?
Please, Leo, don’t touch him. He’s sleeping.
No, he isn’t. Check out the way he’s looking at me, like he’s known me since the day he was born.
Mm, so, Leo, how’s the scavenger hunt going?
Amazing, I have found six containers so far. Unfortunately, none of them large enough for a hottie to hide in, though.
[laughs]
So what are you saying?
Oh, here, you guys should try it. All you need are your phones and the app– ugh!
Don’t touch that, please.
Jeez, Sloan. Today is supposed to be a day for romance, not grumpiness. Can you at least try pasting on that radiant smile? Ugh, I guess all we’re getting is Frau Farbissina.
Uh, I’m sorry, what?
From the “Austin Powers” movies? Dr. Evil’s henchwoman and founder of the militant wing of the Salvation Army, who helps Dr. Evil in his plans to terrorize and take over the world? You get it, don’t you, Sloan?
See ya, Leo.
Happy Valentine’s Day. Bye-bye.
[quirky playful music]
[laughs] Oh, he’s a lot. But he’s harmless.
Huh.
Mm. I think we’re gonna need more butter for the bread. Waiter, uh, excuse me. Uh…
[sighs] What are you doing?
Hmm? Oh, I’m just, um… rearranging the flowers. They’re so lovely, aren’t they?
[sniffs]
They are lovely, yeah. You need another mocktail?
Nope, I’m good.
Mm. Okay. So tomorrow, you’re going to go visit Tate with Brady, right?
Yeah. It’s actually, um, the first time after he went to rehab, and I’m so excited. And I know he’s gonna be relieved to hear that Holly is breathing on her own, even though she’s still in a coma. And, um, I guess I shouldn’t tell him about the fire that happened at the Horton house. Oh, jeez, so much bad news lately, huh?
Yeah. Well, I am sure that you’re gonna have some good news to share with him too.
[exhales pointedly] I sure hope so.
[romantic music]
Oh, my goodness, what a dinner. Cook outdid himself.
Mm-hmm. All for you, my darling. Care to join me for a drink?
Yeah, I’d love to. Wow, I am still so in shock about the fire at Doug and Julie’s and Harris Michaels being shot. It’s such a tragedy. And thank God no one was hurt in the fire.
Quite a miracle, really.
Yeah. So what happened? I read that they think it’s arson.
Apparently it was. And we think that whoever was responsible for it is the same person behind the drugs that fell into Holly’s hands.
What? Oh, my God.
And we are inches away from nailing him.
I’ll get us drinks.
Okay. A glass of red for me.
Okay. And there’s Steph.
Hey, guys.
Oh, Stephanie!
Hi.
Hey. Happy Valentine’s Day.
Same to you.
Yeah. I was just about to get us drinks. What would you like?
Ooh. Um, red wine for me, please.
Red wine, okay.
So how’s it going out there?
Oh, fundraiser is a huge hit. And since “The Spectator” is a sponsor, I’m really relieved that it’s such a success.
That’s so good. And speaking of “The Spectator,” where is this mystery boyfriend of yours? I mean, he does exist, right?
[laughing] Yes, he does. He said that he would be here. He promised.
Okay, great. I can’t wait to meet him.
Okay. It’s telling me there’s a cache… there. Oh!
Oh, very nice.
[Wendy laughs] Let’s see. Oh, cool.
Oh.
It’s Tom and Alice facts. Tom and Alice trivia, ooh, okay.
Look, I’m– I’m not sure that I’m gonna be a whiz at this one.
Yeah, me neither, but we can give it a try, right?
Okay.
Ah, multiple-choice.
[clears throat]
Okay.
Four facts about Tom and Alice, and you have to guess which is true. One, Alice Horton’s donuts were once spiked with weed and got Salem’s finest woman toasted. Two, the Hortons once ran the Salem clinic out of their own home.
Uh-huh.
Three, Tom Horton was once a beat poet named Norm De Plume. And four, there was no more beloved couple in Salem than these two.
Well, I mean, it’s gotta be number four, right? Because I hear all the time how amazingly wonderful Tom and Alice were and how everyone totally worshipped them.
It’s true. It’s true. But wrong. All the answers are correct.
What?
Mm-hmm.
Okay, well, first of all, how did the donuts get spiked and who else got stoned? We’re gonna have to look into that. Oh, and also, where can we read the poetry of Norm De Plume? Because we’re gonna have to look into that too.
We will. We will. I promise we will, but, uh, let’s stick to the topic on hand. You lost, so I get the point.
No fair.
Yeah, that’s how it works.
No. It was supposed to be multiple-choice. How’s it multiple-choice if every answer is right? Might as well be called no choice at all.
Don’t be a sore loser, Shin.
Okay, Johnson. Oh, I’m so gonna get you on the next one.
Mm-hmm.
[unsettling music]
[clears throat]
Ah.
Thank you for the perfect homecoming. Oh, my gosh, I’m thanking you again, aren’t I?
Mm-hmm. And I predict more thanks to come since you haven’t yet opened your Valentine’s Day gift.
Okay.
Oh, my God. Here, come with me.
Okay.
[soft uplifting music] Oh. EJ, that’s gorgeous.
It’s a Japanese healing bowl. Listen.
[bowl ringing softly]
Wow.
You can put it in Holly’s room and use it whenever to meditate or pray or if you want to sing to your precious daughter.
[grumbles playfully, laughs]
Oh, you have a beautiful voice.
EJ, I-I love it. It’s perfect. Oh. Come here. But I-I-I didn’t get you anything. You know, between traveling and settling in, I–
I don’t need or want anything that you haven’t already given me, and that’s your presence. Having you home is the best Valentine’s Day gift I could have hoped for.
Mm.
Look at him. He’s sleeping like a puppy. You know what, I should probably get him to sleep.
Mm. Well, then I will slip into something more comfortable.
[light music]
[sighs]
Hey, check that out, over there.
Check what out?
Uh, uh–
Wait, what are you looking at?
Oh, maybe–maybe I meant over there.
Another container?
Yeah, um. No, no. Like, there-ish.
What is this? And why does it have my name on it? Tripp. No.
No, what?
This isn’t–
No. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, this is not a ring. This is not a ring.
Oh, okay.
Yeah.
‘Cause I just thought that would kind of feel like–
Like I’m rushing things, which I’m not, okay? This is not a ring, I promise.
Right. So…
Oh, Tripp.
Those are the ones, right?
The ones I pointed out in Baron’s window last week? Yes, these are definitely the ones. And they are perfect. Thank you.
Happy Valentine’s Day.
I got something for you too.
Mm.
Mm-hmm.
Ooh.
[laughs]
Whoa, cuff links. Oh, caduceus cuff links. These are awesome!
Yep, to wear on crisp white shirts, just like James Bond’s.
[as James Bond]
Ah, I’ll be sex personified.
You already are.
[music darkens]
Theresa, thank you for setting all this up. The meal was great, with even greater company.
Oh. I know. I couldn’t agree more.
Well, I guess there’s only one thing left to do.
[gasps]
Waiter, check please.
Huh?
Thank you, sir. Oh.
[gasps]
[gentle ambient music]
Okay. I guess we are all done here.
Oh, come on, Alex! Come on! You know I’m such an impatient person! This is just driving me absolutely crazy, so could you just do it?
Do what?
You know what. You know, and you also know my answer is yes. Yes!
See what my very tasteful man got me.
Oh, wow. It’s beautiful.
Thank you. Yeah. I never in my life took me an advantage of an enemy.
Huh?
Wild Bill Hickok, you know. Just the greatest sheriff of all time.
Oh.
Well, next to you.
Oh, baby.
Okay, I’m going to run to the ladies’ room, okay?
Okay. All right, hurry back.
Steph?
Mm, I’m good. I’m good.
[gasps] You made it.
Yeah, I said I would.
Yeah.
[tense music]
Well, hey, hey.
Hey, hey.
Good to see you, pal.
Good to see you too. Oh.
Oh, also, uh, Happy Valentine’s Day.
Happy Valentine’s Day. Thank you so much. But not as good as it is to see–sorry, no offense– my best girl, my love.
So what do you think? How do they look?
Classy.
[Wendy laughs] You have excellent taste.
Why, thank you.
But sadly, my wonderful cuff links will have to wait for the right attire.
Tripp Johnson?
Yeah?
I’m Officer Goldman, Salem PD. Hey, Wendy.
Has something happened out there, Officer?
Uh, no, and I’m not here for the scavenger hunt. Rafe had me keeping an eye on you two.
Wait. On–on us? Why?
He had some intel. Had to confirm it, and he has. Tripp, you may be in danger.
What?
I need to get you to a safe location–both of you.
Wait, wait. What–what is this about? Does this have anything to do with my mom or Harris?
Rafe will give me the details later, but I have to get you to safety. Now.
Hey, baby. Honey, look what EJ got us.
[bowl ringing softly] Isn’t it lovely?
[gentle piano music]
[monitor beeping steadily
[
The medical staff will be here in the morning. In the meantime, we have the alert monitor right there. And that will let us know if anything changes.
Okay. Night, darling. EJ… she has to come back to us. She has to.
And she will. She will.
[heartfelt music]
[whispers] Eric.
[mutters]
Eric.
[baby grunts]
[tense music]
Hey, what are you doing tonight? Well, I’m all alone too. Happy? Oh, very much alone. Meet me at Small Bar? Great, I’ll see you there.
Oh. Please, come on, don’t sit there like you don’t know what I’m talking about.
I don’t know what you’re talking about, I’m sorry.
[sighs] I saw the ring, Alex. I wasn’t snooping. I just–it fell out of your jacket when I went to go put it away. I’m sorry if that ruined the surprise.
[suspenseful music]
Don’t be. Um, I’m not.
You’re not what? You’re not sorry?
Baby, I am sorry. Um… I think you got this wrong.
What?
[sighs]
You mean you… you weren’t– you’re not gonna ask me to marry you?
I just think maybe we should talk about this a little bit first.
No, we should not. We should not talk about this. I-I have nothing to say to you.
Okay. I think– I think we should– Theresa.
I have–no.
Theresa.
I’m just–
[chair clatters] Happy Valentine’s Day, everyone!
Oh, yeah. It’s pretty cool. I like it.
“Pretty cool,” huh? It’s from the Wild Bill era.
Okay.
Oh-ho. Don’t get him started. Do you know how many quotes he’s memorized by heart?
All of ’em.
[Stephanie laughs]
I am impressed, very impressed. Though, I have nothing to show for it yet since Steph and I are exchanging gifts later.
Well, well, well, is this the elusive Everett Lynch?
Maria Russell (Mexican/Lithuanian descent) stands out in the comedic realm, gaining prominence through her role as the self-proclaimed boss babe ‘Inez De Leon’ in the acclaimed series “Jury Duty” on Amazon Freevee/Amazon Prime. Vying for the role of foreperson, she sadly loses to Ronald, but finds her purpose as the lunch ordering queen and coordinating all the fun outings for the jury.
Eliza will co-star in the Paramount + series, Sexy Beast alongside Sarah Greene, Tamsin Greig, Steven Moyer, and James McArdle. The show is a prequel to the 2000 film which delves into the origin tales of Gal, Teddy, and Don; it is now streaming worldwide.
Suzanne: NNow, talking about GH for a minute, do you, still enjoy playing Kevin even without Ryan? Jon: Yeah, well, I like Kevin very much. I think Kevin’s a really good guy. I think that there’s, there’s been kind of a, we, we’ve kind of lost a little bit of Kevin along the way, remember when Kevin was, was first around and we had first gotten rid of. Of Ryan. Kevin was an artist. He was a psychiatrist, but he was an artist who lived in a, in a lighthouse and painted all the time to paint out a demon and, and we’ve kind of, we’ve kind of veered away from that. And, we have some new writers coming in now. So I think that I, I think we’re going to have some, um. I think there’s going to be some changes, in how Kevin, but I mean, that’s a long answer, but to answer your question, I love playing Kevin. I love, I love playing Kevin. I love playing Ryan. I love, I love working with Genie. I love working with Lynn Herring and, and Ken Shriner and everybody that, that goes along in Kevin’s world. You know, he’s, to me, it’s just fun.
