General Hospital Transcript
Transcript provided by Jim
THIS STILL NEEDS EXTENSIVE EDITING!
Hi. Thanks for coming by so quickly. Well, your tone was rather…demanding when you summoned me. What’s wrong? [ Exhales heavily ] My daughter. You have many daughters. You’ve got to be more specific. Avery. Has something happened to her? She’s not hurt, is she? Not yet. My daughter is not safe with Ava, and I want Avery with me. Put him on.
I don’t care if he’s busy. Put him on the phone now! Or I will see to it that you don’t have a job by the morning! Thank you.
I need to see you. And obviously I can’t come there, or someone might see me and associate me with the story on Natalia, so you have to come here to my room. Just to take the elevator up to the pool level and take the stairs the rest of the way. Yeah, yeah. The stairs. You can handle it. We can’t risk anybody seeing you come to my door! Y-You got it? [ Exhales sharply ] Good. And hurry up about it! Okay, I have narrowed down the list of people to fill in for me at the center while I’m on maternity leave. Okay. These are the top five. Can you take a look, let me know what you think? Okay, honey, but I don’t know what I’m gonna see that you haven’t seen. I’m sure whoever you picked is gonna do a great job. Honey… [ Sighs ] But they’re… I knew there’d be a “but.” I’m not that concerned about the center right now. I’m concerned about you.
[ Cellphone dings ] Oh…my God! [ Devices beeping ] [ Chuckles ] Wow! Oh — Okay. It looks like all of us have our phones set for Deception’s news fee– This is a-amazing. Maybe it means our stock prices are sky-high. Lois: Oh, I-I bet you’re right. I bet you Blaze’s fans are ditching Fenty for Deception in droves right now! Girls, I bill by the hour, so if you want to look at your phones… or do you want to talk contracts? The contract is irrelevant! Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no. Blaze, why don’t you and I go into the conference room and talk in private? Why? What’s going on? I’ll tell you what’s going on! The Invader has posted a recording that at least a dozen other sites have picked up. A recording of what? [ Sighs and chuckles ] Your mother. You know, for someone so overly cautious about media exposure, you really need to learn a lesson about a hot mic. What are you talking about? If you people have started some sort of a media disaster, then tell me what’s going on. Oh, there’s a disaster, alright, but we’re not the ones that caused it.
Come in, come in! DeWitt: [Breathlessly] Water! [ DeWitt breathing heavily ] Did anybody see you? Water! Just give me some answers. No. The coast was clear. Alright. Good. Which was lucky because anyone I encountered would have definitely recognized me. But Mommy Dearest’s big exposé has spiked The Invader’s web traffic through the roof and made me Port Charles’ most sought-after talking head. I’m already booked on TMZ, and Andy Cohen wants me to bartend. Don’t you have anything without bubbles? You listen to me. I don’t care how many interviews you do or how you exploit this to raise your own personal profile. Just keep my name out of it! I took great care to edit myself out of that conversation. I don’t want the blowback should anybody figure out I was the person that Natalia was talking to. I was a successful society columnist for many years, and the first thing you learn is always protect your sources. Now, I know how to keep your secret. Glad to hear it. And besides… you’re not the story. Natalia is. All anyone cares about is what she said, not who she said it to. You agreed to joint custody with Avery’s mother. Yeah, well, I don’t agree anymore. I want sole custody. I-I don’t even want Ava to have visitation. She’s a snake, and my daughter shouldn’t be around her. [Chuckling] Okay. Yes, Ava’s a horrible person. But what else is new? Exactly. No, no. No. What I mean is, everyone already knows about Ava’s history, including her stint in prison. What’s important here is, has she committed any new crimes that we can prove? Because I can make a case to change custody if Ava has harmed Avery or endangered her in any way. Breathing the same air. Isn’t — Isn’t that… [ Both chuckling ] Hmm. Would that it were. No. Sonny, the court takes the parent/child relationships very seriously. In order to get you sole custody, we have to prove that Ava is not simply unfit to raise Avery, but that she is more unfit than you. Because — trust me — for every reason that we give as to why Ava is corrupting Avery, she’ll throw one right back at you. Sounds like you’re already prepared to lose. No. My job is not only to plead your case, but to provide you counsel. And I think you need to know the steep hill that you are about to climb, not to mention what happens if we take this to court. What’s that? Avery’s not a baby anymore. Okay. If she sees you trying to take her mother away from her, that might permanently alter her relationship with you. Are you willing to risk that? Well, I’d rather her hate her father than become her mother. Your call.
[ Beep ] Get dates and other details for a family-court proced– [Phone beeps] What’s the problem? Well, it’s a big one. Do you, um — You mind if I make a phone call?
You’re in the homestretch of your pregnancy, and this last part is gonna be challenging physically and emotionally. It could be daunting. It could be scary. And I love you. And I just want you to know that I am here for you no matter what. I do know that, but it never hurts to hear it. Thank you. I’m lucky I have Allie, too. She’s been amazing. I’m happy for you. [ Cellphone rings ] Excuse me one second. [ Cellphone rings ] Hello? I just saw The Invader’s news alert. What on earth are you doing?! I’m here with Kristina. We’re celebrating because I quit my job at The Invader. Tabloid life is behind me. Um, and I-I don’t know anything about any news alerts. Unless it’s — it’s a picture of my face on a dartboard that they’re running.
[Whispering] Alexis is with Kristina. No, it’s not about you, but it’s bad. You need to go to The Invader’s website now. What am I looking for? Believe me. You’ll know it when you see it. And make sure you turn the audio up. And tell Kristina I’m sorry. Okay.
Huh. What’s going on, Mom? Is everything okay? It’s an article about Natalia. I have it on audio. I’m gonna push play. [ Beep ] Natalia: Well, they’re not really a “normal” couple. Are they? Kristina’s pregnant with her sister’s baby. She’s holding hands with Alison out in public. I was scared to death that somebody’s gonna take a picture and sell it to the tabloids because my daughter’s career is just taking off. It’s gonna be such a scandal. I’m not a prude. Whatever people do behind closed doors, that’s their own business. I just feel like gay people or whatever alphabet soup they’re calling themselves these days, they’re flighty. They’re just not very serious about life. It just seems like Kristina and Alison just think, “Wouldn’t it be so fun to have a baby? As long as we don’t have to do any of the hard work or be serious about it.” I do try to stay open-minded. But if my way of thinking is considered old-fashioned, then so be it. Well, don’t hold back, Mom. Tell us how you really feel! Natalia: I do try to stay open-minded. But if my way of thinking is considered old-fashioned, then so be it. Turn it off. I’ve heard enough. I get the gist. Are you okay? No, I’m not okay. I am so mad. My blood is boiling. I can’t imagine how you feel. I mean, I’m gonna be fine. I’m not the one who was just outed and discriminated against by my own mother for — for the whole public to hear. I’m angry, obviously, but I’m gonna be fine. Is there any word from Blaze? No. Nothing. And usually we text constantly. Well, maybe she hasn’t seen it yet. I doubt that. Deception PR probably reached out to her immediately, and I’m sure they’re locked in a room together, strategizing a response. Do you want to go talk to her? No. Allie doesn’t need me to swoop in. She’ll call me when she can. I honestly don’t understand how any mother can talk about her daughter that way. I know. You don’t. And that’s why I’m so grateful. I just realized… Forget about me taking a maternity leave from the center. After this, they’re not even gonna let me in the front doors. [ Beeping ] Ho, ho, ho, ho, ho! My phone is blowing up! [ Gasps ] Do you want to join me and celebrate? Listen to me, you little worm. Forget you know me. When I say my name is not to cross your lips, that means not anytime and not to anyone. Especially not Nina. Ooh! Sounds like there’s a story there. Care to dish? Ask me that again, and I’ll see to it that you are typing with your toes from now on! And don’t think I won’t do it. Men have killed on my behalf for a lot less. So just stick to our agreement. As far as the rest of the world is concerned, you and I have never met, we’ve never even spoken. I already told you — And take down the recording! Okay? By now, it’s had the desired effect. There’s no reason to have it posted online anymore. Are you crazy? I can’t do that. Taking it down would just draw more attention to it. People would be asking why it disappeared and all sorts of other questions, questions to which every answer is “Ava Jerome.” Exactly what you don’t want. And, besides, the wire services have already picked up the story. It’s everywhere. There’s no going back now. I-I don’t — I don’t know what that was, but — I-It’s not like it sounds. It — Really? Are you denying it was your voice on the recording? I’m not denying that. It obviously was me, but — Alright. Alright. She said it. The tape is real. Deception has a PR mess right now. Do you — Do you have any crisis-management people on retainer? -Um, we did. -Oh. Uh, but we let them go when we needed to save money. -Lucy! -Well, that wasn’t a good idea. You know what? I had no idea that something like this would happen! Lucy, I know a guy. No! Everybody just stop talking, okay?! This is what’s gonna happen. Lucy, you’re gonna call our regular PR team and coordinate a response. Lois, text Brook Lynn, tell her to lock down all of our social-media accounts. No comments allowed. Scott, guard the door. From who? From Tracy! We’re all gonna need protection if our stocks take a nosedive! And you — you’re gonna tell me everything you know about that recording. Where did that interview even take place? There was no interview. There was — I’ve never spoken to a reporter ever on that topic. I don’t even remember saying those words or — or who I could have said them to. Because you say such vile, disgusting things so often? To so many people? Cannot believe it’s Natalia Ramirez. I didn’t realize that you knew her. Right. But, then, of course, you would. Yes. She’s Kristina’s girlfriend’s mother. Listen. You know, I knew she had a problem with her daughter being gay — Blaze. But I didn’t think she would spew that kind of garbage. Could it have been faked somehow? A.I.? Well, technically, it’s possible, but I doubt The Invader would have run such an inflammatory story without being able to authenticate it. Not to mention… [ Chuckles ] …they’re opening themselves up to a hell of a lawsuit. It doesn’t make sense. That Natalia is a homophobe and has a gay daughter? You’d be surprised how many times that happens… and how easily some people can hide their ugliness in polite company. Even if Natalia believes what she says, I thought she would be smart enough not to be talking to somebody who could be recording her. Sometimes people let their hatred get the better of them. Why did Alexis publish it? Alexis didn’t. What do you mean? Alexis quit The Invader this morning. The first she heard about any of this was when I called her. Well, whoever did this, you know, they hurt my daughter. And that means there’s a target on their back. arning right now very seriously. Even things that are said in the privacy of your own home, behind closed doors, run the risk of being exposed to the public. I know the dangers of being recorded. Good. Okay. Because it’s things like this, things that are said in anger, that will work against you in your custody fight for Avery. The court needs to see you as a reliable, stand-up parent that the court trusts. [ Cellphone chimes ]
How good of a parent would I be if I don’t do anything about this kind of garbage? Has something else happened? [ Stammers ] See for yourself. Activists on social media are calling on Kristina to resign from the LGBTQ center that she… that she founded. They don’t think that she should be running the outreach because she’s dating somebody in the closet. They think that Kristina — [Scoffs] has too much “internalized homophobia” to be trusted. Well, I’m sorry, but that’s — That far from describes Kristina. But, boy, people love to get worked up over things they know nothing about.
Don’t jump to the worst case scenario. That center exists because of you, and you will be able to work this out. I don’t know. You heard the tape. Natalia was saying such ugly things about gay people. It was appalling. Appalling. Worse is she robbed Blaze of her chance to come out on her own terms. And now everybody knows. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t something that we can do about this. What? No, no. Mom, no. No, I’m not gonna interfere between Blaze and her mother. I’ll let Blaze handle that. But I am going after the person who made that recording public. I didn’t set out to hurt Kristina or Blaze. Or me. But if you just keep your mouth shut, I will have plausible deniability. And if anybody comes poking around asking for the identity of the person who provided you with the recording — It came to The Invader via its anonymous tip line. That’s right. It did. Now go. Get out of here. Hey! Have you — Have you learned nothing?
-Go. -Okay. Okay. Okay.
I have been going over it and over it in my head, and I have no memory of ever saying any of those words to anyone. I’m just — I-I’m wondering. Maybe my phone was tapped. It doesn’t sound like it was over a bad connection. It sounds like it was in person, but… I don’t think that’s the real issue here. [ Chuckles ] You are so right. It’s not about how or why. It’s about… what the hell are we gonna do now? I know you need to respond because I’m the “Face of Deception,” but, to me, this is so much more. This will impact my music career. You’re right. Yeah. No. You’re right. So, um, Alison and I will put together a joint statement that we can release to some friendly outlets. Absolutely not. Why would I ever want to publicly associate with you after the whole world has heard what my mom really thinks of me? Alison. [ Sighs ] Those weren’t specifically about you, those words on the tape. It was more just a — It was just a generalization, really. You mentioned both me and Kristina. But would it really matter if you left my name out of your bigoted stereotyping? Alison. Look — No. Tell us, Mom! Which gay people are disturbing and offensive to your delicate sensibilities? Does the sight of a drag queen on a Pride float make you angry? If the thought of Kristina and I holding hands in public makes you sick to your stomach, are we the problem or would any two women in love disgust you?! Oh, yeah. You’re real quiet now. You couldn’t shut up on the recording, but the minute you have to defend your homophobia, you have nothing to say?! I just think we should talk about this in private, please. Why? The whole world… has heard your words by now. You know, I should have known something like this was gonna happen eventually because this is the way you always talk about gay people. Dismissively. Pityingly. Reducing us to how we look and talk and who we love like we’re not real people to you! Myself included! You know, it really is ironic that the same person who locked poor Blaze in a closet is the same person who just outed her. Lucy, you are not helping. You know what? I am a victim here, too. [ Lucy scoffs ] Somebody has used me to try to damage my daughter’s career. Why are we not talking about that?! You haven’t heard a single thing I’ve said, have you? I let you convince me to portray the kind of straight person you thought my career needed, and now you and your words have destroyed it all! Along with any hope I have for a future and a life in music!
really sorry. Um… My daughter gets very emotional sometimes. I think she has a right to be. Blaze is very upset. Do you want to go after her? No. No. I don’t think it would, um, do any good because she’s not really in the frame of mind to continue that conversation right now, so… I mean, believe me, I know my daughter. Do you? Okay. Um, I have nothing more to contribute. I should go. No, I think you should stay. We might need legal advice. You know, you’re right. I-I think a lawyer probably should be here — as we finalize the very last addendum on Blaze’s… contract. What are you doing? You can’t — You can’t do that! My daughter is known everywhere as the “Face of Deception.” Stop it! If you do that, if you try to get rid of her, there’s gonna be such a backlash in the press — and in the courts. Actually, I — I think we’re well within our rights. This will change our relationship with Blaze.
Oh, hi. Hi. Didn’t you hear me knocking? Uh, sorry. I was just zoned out on my phone. The Invader article, I’m guessing. Yeah. I was hoping you hadn’t seen it yet. Although, then I would have had to have been the one to break the news to you. Uh, no. I’ve definitely seen it. These comments are just awful. The ones on Instagram are particularly brutal. Wow. Looks like I’m canceled. I think we both are. Oh! Uh, bring me a margarita pitcher and the guac trio — extra salty chips. And put it all on Nina Reeves’ tab. Right away, sir.
You’re in my sun. Better than being all up in your business, which I will be if you don’t agree to play ball. I had to harass your poor assistant until he cracked so that I could find out where you were. Note to self — fire assistant. Anything you want to discuss can wait until tomorrow. Now, you are intruding on my hard-earned afternoon off. Good. Because by posting that loathsome recording, you intruded on my daughter and her girlfriend. [ Chuckles ] Is that what’s snapping your brassiere? Hm-hm. Keep yukkin’ it up, DeWitt. ‘Cause it’ll just be more fun for me when I sue both you and The Invader into oblivion. Are you saying that my daughter is no longer good enough to be the “Face of Deception”? The — Her services are no longer needed since she’s been outed? And she can’t sell your fragrances because she’s gay? Uh, Maxie, could I have a word before you open yourself up to — I’m saying the exact opposite, actually. What Deception cannot afford is to have a face representing us who is ashamed to be gay. Lucy: That is so right. Deception has a very diverse clientele that we are proud of. YouTubers, TikTokers, makeup artists, influencers. A lot of whom are gay and have a very large social-media presence. What Deception cannot do is align itself with someone who is ashamed of her identity, an identity a lot of these people also share and are very proud of. Deception is a gay-friendly company, so you and Blaze needed to either get with the program or kick rocks. Lois: Look. Um, listen. [ Chuckles ] I think we’re all parents who love our kids, and this is a very difficult situation that’s evolving. It’s — It’s less about contracts, as it is about a mother and daughter trying to find their way back to each other, so maybe we can just — we could just be a little… careful with our hurtful words. I’m not being hurtful. I’m telling the truth. She is. And you have a point. We love Blaze, but we just can’t sacrifice Deception’s reputation for her. I agree with you 100%. We can’t do that. I’m just saying that maybe we could just put the contract negotiations aside. We can work on our PR response. That gives Natalia the chance to go after Blaze and try to make peace with her daughter. Right? So what do you say? My relationship… [ Clears throat ] …with my daughter is none of your business. Lucy: Whew! Any of your business. [ Lucy chuckles ] Excuse me. But when it comes to the contract… of Deception and my daughter, if any of you do anything to hurt her, you’re gonna have to deal with me.
I’m so sorry. [ Exhales heavily ] I read some of the posts on the way over here. People are saying horrible things about you and the center, and it’s all my fault. No. It’s not your fault, Allie. It’s your mother’s fault. Come on, Kristina. We wouldn’t even be having this conversation if I had just been truthful about being gay. You — You did what you thought was best, Allie. No. I did what was easiest. I didn’t want to rock the boat with my mother, so I tried to have it both ways, and now it might have cost me everything. Including you. I know how much the center means to you. If… you can’t forgive the damage my mom and I have caused your life, I understand. We could go our separate ways. No hard feelings. But I — You don’t have to decide right now. I’ll — I’ll leave. Let you figure it out… Don’t you dare. You are not going anywhere. You haven’t caused any damage to my life. I was already planning on handing over the reins to the center. And, you know, as far as I’m concerned, the only thing that I’ve lost is the title of “undercover Girlfriend.” We’re already out. There’s nothing to hide anymore. Yeah, well, there also might be nothing left to salvage. What if I lose everything that I’ve worked so hard to make? Allie, that’s not gonna happen. Your career is not gonna suffer just because you’re gay. It’s not because I’m gay. It’s because I hid it. People hate liars, and I can’t blame them. Okay. You are breaking my heart. I can’t stand to see you beat yourself up over something that isn’t even your fault. I know it feels like everything is falling apart right now, and I get that, but it’s gonna be okay. Alright? We’re gonna be okay. We can — We can get through this. I have faith in us. Allie, you feel the same way, right? Hey. I’m sorry, Kristina. No, I don’t. Go ahead. Do your worst. [ Chuckles ] I mean, if your legal skills are anything on par with your ability to publish a newspaper, I think I’ll be just fine. Cute. Besides, I have the Bill of Rights on my side. No, you don’t. Even the Bill of Rights has limits, even to freedoms of speech and the press. I distinctly remember warning you about that, DeWitt. I told you to be very cautious how you deploy secret recordings. Secret?! Is Natalia Ramirez boo-hooing that she didn’t know she was being recorded? Oh, ho. Too bad. New York is a one-party consent state. [ Gasps ] Perhaps you should consult the legal books before your triumphant return to court. Perhaps you should seek counsel, because Nina is gonna cut that little tightrope that you walk on and send you plummeting to the ground when she finds out how exposed you’ve left The Invader… and Nina. Did you ever hear of “reasonable expectation of privacy”? Blaze is the “Face of Deception” and a famous singer. Public figures don’t get to claim privacy. True. Blaze is public. But her mother isn’t. See, you and The Invader have monetized and commercialized the name of a private citizen without her consent. I mean, that’s a pretty big softball you left hanging, waiting for me to just hit it right out of the park. It’s also a career killer. I think I’d like to consult my lawyer. Why? You have a lawyer right here. Me! In fact, I’ll just — I’ll just waive the whole retainer. Wait. I will just make the whole thing go away in exchange for one small thing. What do you want? I want the name of the person who supplied you with that recording. [ Breathing shakily ]
[ Beep ] Natalia: I just feel like gay people or whatever alphabet soup they’re calling themselves these days, they’re flighty. They’re just not very serious about life. [ Beep ] [ Beep ] It just seems like Kristina and Alison just think, “Wouldn’t it be so fun to have a baby? As long as we don’t have to do any of the hard work or be serious about it.” [ Beep ]
Who was I talking to? Why the hell would they record it and send it to the media?
Okay. Let’s brainstorm. Besides the press release, what is our next move? Okay, well, maybe I should cool it with my appearances. Okay? We don’t want the world mistakenly thinking t-that it’s business as usual at Deception while I’m out there slinging bronzer! No, we — we need you slingin’ because you are now the only “Face of Deception” we have left. Look, I think it’s important you to be out there even more to show people we aren’t hiding anything and we have absolutely nothing to be embarrassed about. Yes. Lucy is — is right. We should deal with this Blaze thing head-on! Okay. You know what? This might not be popular, but I’m just gonna go right out and say it. You know, we can’t afford another stumble with Deception, so maybe we need to just put it out that we are completely not going to associate in our contract with Blaze right now. Just like you said. like you said. No, Lucy, I didn’t mean that part, okay? I only said it to prompt Natalia into sacrificing herself, but I seriously underestimated that woman’s self-absorption. Lois: I just don’t think we should be hasty, okay? Why can’t we just take a day to think about it? Because we don’t have time! We need to issue a statement immediately. We need to make sure that everyone knows that we do not agree with Natalia’s views. Otherwise, Deception could implode. We could be inundated with candlelight vigils and marches and — and we could be canceled on social media. What’s it gonna be, Maxie? Should I draw up a statement? Blaze in? Or is she out? I’m not saying I want us to break up. The thought of not being with you anymore… I just don’t see a way for us to move forward after this. Okay. Okay. Then I-I do. I-I will guide us both. That’s a huge responsibility, Kristina. I don’t care. I-I don’t care, Allie. You’re worth it. And I love you. I-I refuse to accept that — that your enormous talent and your huge heart won’t override every ugly thing that anyone will ever say about us. And it is not love that is making me say this to you right now, but it is love that will make me continue saying this to you over and over and over again until you believe it. We will talk again after you set up a strategy to get me sole custody of my daughter. I have a lot of research ahead of me. [ Door opens ] Sonny. I’ll be in touch.
[ Clears throat ] I can, uh, tell by the look on your face that you’ve heard the recording. Yeah. I have. Yeah. I know that, uh, you must be pretty upset by what you heard and that you, I’m sure, don’t have a very high opinion of me now. Pretty obvious, huh? I don’t blame you. I’m not gonna force my presence on you here, so I’ll be going, but first I just wanted you to know — I wanted you to hear where that recording came from. You were on the tape… Yes. …insulting your daughter a-and my daughter. Yes. Unfortunately, those are my words. Yes. Um… But they were to someone close to you… who secretly recorded it. Who? It actually took me a little while to remember who I even had that regrettable conversation with, but when I — [ Chuckles ] When I finally realized who it was… The person who edited out their part of that recording is the same person who supplied it to The Invader. Ava Jerome. My room service was supposed to be here 20 minutes ago. Is there a problem? [ Knock on door ] Ah. There it is now. Thank you.
We need to have a conversation.
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