Interview with Rick Cutter

TV Interview!

 

Director Rick Cutter of the film "The Grid Unplugged" (photo from pr)

Interview with director Rick Cutter of the film “The Grid Unplugged” by Suzanne 10/5/26

Rick Cutter is an amazing guy. How many people just decide to make a documentary, with no experience? He was an expert in technology in the utilities sector before deciding to make this film. His journey is inspirational. His film tells us all about how our electrical grids are failing and need to be upgraded or replaced. Ed Begley, Jr., actor and renowned environmental activist, is executive producer of the film. It’s worth checking out this doc because it affects all of us.

 

Key art for "The Grid Unplugged" (pic from Instagram)MORE INFO: Hamptons International Film Festival  Instagram for the film   Rick Cutter on Instagram

THE GRID UNPLUGGED

*World Premiere at Hamptons International Film Festival*

Directed by Rick Cutter and Executive Produced by Ed Begley Jr.

**OPENING THIS SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3RD**

11:45AM UNITED ARTISTS THEATER, EAST HAMPTON

What if the biggest threat to modern society isn’t a single disaster, but the failure of the system that powers everything?

Public Screenings

Saturday, October 3 at 11:45AM at East Hampton Regal UA

Sunday, October 4 at 5:00PM at Sag Harbor Cinema

Directed by: Rick Cutter 

Written By: Adam Samuel Goldman

Producers: Meghan Walsh, Rick Cutter

Executive Producers: Ed Begley Jr., Kirpi Uimonen, Lauren Avinoam 

Executive produced by Ed Begley Jr., this timely documentary follows filmmaker Rick Cutter as he investigates the growing strain on aging power grids worldwide.

Using California’s devastating wildfires as a gateway to a larger global story, Cutter speaks with leading energy experts, innovators, and policymakers about the urgent challenge of modernizing the infrastructure that powers our lives. Balancing alarming risks with promising solutions, the film explores whether humanity can build a more resilient and sustainable energy future before the next crisis strikes.


The Grid Unplugged (2026) is a documentary film directed by Rick Cutter and executive produced by Ed Begley Jr. that investigates the global crisis of aging and failing electrical infrastructure.

About the Documentary
  • Premise: The film examines systemic failures in power grids worldwide, using California’s destructive wildfires sparked by faulty high-voltage power lines as a primary case study.
  • Interviews: Features energy experts, innovators, and policymakers—including figures like Inna Braverman, Ralph Izzo, Neil Chatterjee, and Willie Phillips—discussing grid modernization and renewable energy solutions.
  • Release: The documentary made its world premiere at the Hamptons International Film Festival in October 2026.

Director Rick Cutter and executive producer Ed Begley, Jr., of the film "The Grid Unplugged" (photo from Instagram)Rick Cutter is a climate-focused filmmaker exploring the invisible systems that power modern life.

A founder of August Palm Creative, Cloud for Utilities, and AAC Utility Partners, Rick brings more than three decades of experience in enterprise technology and critical infrastructure to THE GRID UNPLUGGED, his first feature documentary.

Drawing on long-standing relationships with senior government leaders and technology executives, Rick takes audiences behind the scenes of one of the defining challenges of our time: how the global electric grid can withstand the mounting demands of AI, electrification, and the energy transition.

THE GRID UNPLUGGED reveals the system we all depend on—and the urgent decisions shaping its future.

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Interview with Nick and Eric Weber

TV Interview!

 

Nick and Eric Weber of the film "Not Dead Yet" (photo from Instagram)

Interview with Eric and Nick Weber of the film “Not Dead Yet” by Suzanne 10/5/26

This was a fun interview with the father-son team that heads this film. The movie was enjoyable, and these guys have many interesting stories to tell.Eric wrote and co-directed the film, while Nick directed and acted in it.

Don’t miss the film, especially if you’re over 50. Richard Kind stars, and as usual, he shines in the role of Eliot Kelman, a hard-working adman in the Hamptons who suddenly finds himself out of work, but he’s determined to keep working. He gets his retired buddies to start a new business. This is not about an angry mad; it’s a comedy.

The Hamptons itself is another character in the movie. Real-life Hamptons places are highlighted in the movie, giving it more realism. It’s a fun, feel-good comedy with some excellent actors. You can catch it at the Hamptons International Film Festival, and at the Twin Cities Film Festival Saturday, October 24th at 7:45PM at Marcus West End Cinema.

 

 

"Not Dead Yet" scene (from the movie's PR)MORE INFO: Official Site

NOT DEAD YET

Hamptons Set Comedy Starring Richard Kind

Directed by Father-Son Duo Nick and Eric Weber

World Premiere Screening Tonight

Friday, October 9th at 5:15PM at Regal UA East Hampton 1

**World Premiere — Hamptons International Film Festival 2026**

**Midwest Premiere — Twin Cities Film Festival**

It’s More Than A Movie, It’s A Movement!

Directed by: Eric Weber & Nick Weber

Written by: Eric Weber

Produced by: Michael Goodin

Starring:

Richard Kind (A Serious Man, “Curb Your Enthusiasm”)

Paul Raci (Academy Award nominee, Sound of Metal)

Polly Draper (“Thirtysomething,” Shiva Baby)

Bill Smitrovich (Life Goes On, Air Force One)

Claudja Bicalho

Ed German (The Long Island Radio Legend)

Toby Huss (“Seinfeld,” “King of the Hill”)

Dan Mahboubian Rosen (Beautiful and Neat Room)

Mishel Prada (“Vida,” “Riverdale”)

And Tovah Feldshuhl (“Nobody Wants This,” Tuner)

Ousted from his agency by a youth-obsessed culture, a veteran ad man teams up with a rebellious Hamptons senior breakfast club to launch a bold new venture—proving it’s never too late to rewrite your story and start a second act.

Hamptons International Film Festival Screenings

Friday, October 9th at 5:15PM at Regal UA East Hampton 1 (WORLD PREMIERE)

Saturday, October 10th at 11:30AM at Southampton Playhouse

Twin Cities Film Festival Screening

Saturday, October 24th at 7:45PM at Marcus West End Cinema (CLOSING NIGHT FILM)

RT: 88 minutes

Richard Kind, star of the film "Not Dead Yet" (photo from PR)ABOUT THE FILM

After being forced out of his New York City agency by a youth-obsessed culture, veteran ad man Elliot Kelman (Richard Kind) refuses to fade into irrelevance. Retreating to the Hamptons with his wife, he teams up with a group of rebellious seniors—including Academy Award® nominee Paul Raci, Tovah Feldshuh and many local familiar faces—to launch a business by seniors, for seniors. At the same time, he keeps his creative juices flowing by developing an unlikely ad campaign that proves experience, ingenuity, and bold new ideas never go out of style. NOT DEAD YET is an uplifting story that shows it is never too late to rewrite your story and start your next act.

Eric Weber (born August 30, 1942) is a director, screenwriter, producer, author, and advertising executive whose films have been selected by Sundance, SXSW, Palm Springs, Austin, Montreal, Napa, Hamptons, and Bangkok Film Festivals.

Weber is currently the president of The Tenafly Film Company. Through Tenafly, he executive produces Football Town: Valdosta for the NFL Network.[2] He writes, directs, and stars in a webseries “Wingdad” with his son, Nick Weber, in which he plays a fictionalized version of himself as he attempts to teach Nick how to seduce Nick and Eric Weber of the film "Not Dead Yet" (photo from Instagram)women.

Nick Weber (born 1971 in East Hampton, NY) is a highly regarded figurative and abstract painter. He lives and works out of Springs, NY—only blocks away from Jackson Pollock’s historic studio.  His Official Site

  • Background & Education: He graduated with a B.A. from Stanford University in 1993. He won a nationwide drawing contest as a child, sparking an early obsession with capturing figures and rhythm.
  • Artistic Style: He is known for blending classical and contemporary portrait techniques. His portraits serve as psychological investigations of his subjects, rendering vulnerability and strength using layered, atmospheric oil paint. He also creates gestural abstract works utilizing a unique mono-printing technique involving oil paint on plastic wrap.

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B&B Short Recap Wednesday, October 7, 2026

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Recap written by Suzanne

Daphne visits the design room to hug Steffy and thank her for the incredible gift of carrying a child for her and Carter. Overwhelmed with gratitude, Daphne excitedly expresses a desire to celebrate the baby news right then and there on the office couch, making an incredibly tense Carter visibly uncomfortable as he deals with silent panic.

Meanwhile, Taylor arrives at Steffy’s place and instantly catches her daughter off-guard, noticing that she seems completely unraveled and demanding to know what heavy secret she is holding back. Across town, a stubborn Will draws a definitive line in the sand with Katie, fiercely defending his romantic feelings and ordering his mother to give Dylan a genuine chance. In the design room, Electra and RJ eagerly talk up the glowing future of their new fashion line, assuring a frustrated Zende that he is an indispensable piece of the family business even as corporate tensions continue to brew.

 

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B&B Short Recap Thursday, October 8, 2026

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Recap written by Suzanne

Eric and Ridge arrive at the main office just as the staff finishes steam cleaning the design room couch, and the two men quickly begin venting their deep frustrations regarding Katie’s scandalous, fast-rising rival startup. Across the hall, Dylan approaches Zende to ask how his recent discussions went with Hope and Katie at Logan Designs. An eavesdropping Electra hides nearby and is absolutely furious to overhear Zende admitting that Hope apologized, took full accountability, and officially offered him a position to jump ship.

Without wasting a single moment, Electra runs straight to Ridge and Eric to rat them out and blow the whistle on the poaching scheme. At the same time, Will continues to prod Katie about her unfair treatment of Dylan, pushing his mother to put aside her personal biases and acknowledge her loyalty.

 

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BTG Short Recap Thursday, October 8, 2026

Daytime Soap Opera Short Recaps

 

"Beyond the Gates" logo from CBS press photo

Recap written by Suzanne

Hayley is still deeply shaken from her harrowing near-death experience when Leslie corners her at Uptown. Leslie relentlessly forces her to have a drink and aggressively grills her to find out exactly what leverage she is holding over the men. When Leslie drops Marcel’s name, Hayley completely loses her composure and storms out in a panic. Later, Randy confronts Hayley and fiercely cuts ties with his cousin, letting her know he is completely done with her games and demands she lose his number. Over at the hospital, Anita seeks a moment of peace through music while dealing with the painful psychological trauma of being unable to sing since her cancer treatments. Nicole stands by her side, helping her process the hidden emotional pain, before having a candid conversation with Vanessa regarding the dangerous gambles she is taking with Joey.

Meanwhile, Dani and Andre face a major turning point that forces them to completely alter the rules of their marriage. Andre aggressively demands the absolute truth from Dani regarding Bill’s mounting problems. While Dani desperately tries to navigate the tension, she admits she knows Andre is hiding heavy secrets of his own. Elsewhere, Deanna dismisses Nicole’s advice and instead turns to Noah to get a completely different perspective on Vanessa’s complicated relationship. Finally, Ted prepares a major surprise vacation for Shanice, but a hidden alliance reveals that Ted and Ashley are secretly in cahoots, casting a dark shadow over his romantic plans.

 

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Days Short Recap Thursday, October 8, 2026

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Days of Our Lives logo

Recap written by Suzanne

Jada escorts an enraged EJ to the police station for a tense interrogation. While he aggressively refuses to confess, he realizes Johnny was the one who blew the whistle on his crimes. Chanel urges her husband to prioritize their family over his father, right before she heads to the hospital to celebrate a major personal triumph by ringing the victory bell to mark the end of her chemotherapy treatments. Meanwhile, Marlena shocks Belle with a massive bombshell, revealing a birth certificate that implies Belle might have another biological brother named Dominic.

At the same time, Dante arrives in Salem with a personal message from Dominic, catching a home-coming Sydney completely off-guard. Elsewhere, Paulina continues relentlessly applying pressure to the governor to secure a full pardon for Lani so her daughter can finally return to law enforcement. Far from town, a stunning twist unfolds when Kristen tracks a lead to a diner out of state, shocked to discover that Sophia actually survived her deadly attack and is very much alive.

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Days Short Recap Wednesday, October 7, 2026

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Recap written by Suzanne

EJ is firmly on the warpath as he corners Rita, aggressively demanding the absolute truth regarding Dominic and whether he might secretly be Stefano’s long-lost son. Undeterred by his intense intimidation tactics, Rita holds her ground and defiantly fires back with a dangerous threat, vowing to expose his deepest secrets if he refuses to back down. Meanwhile, Leo finds his short-lived good streak abruptly shattered when Shawn shows up to place him under arrest after authorities uncover a stash of counterfeit fashion merchandise.

Over at the hospital, Rachel’s terrifying health crisis quickly escalates, forcing her to undergo emergency surgery and leaving an utterly frantic Brady with no choice but to place an urgent call to the fugitive Kristen for help. Simultaneously, Joy desperately doubles down on her manipulation of Alex by faking paralysis to garner sympathy, but her elaborate scheme hits a massive snag when Sarah and Tate catch her flinching.

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Days Short Recap Tuesday, October 6, 2026

Daytime Soap Opera Short Recaps

 

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Recap written by Suzanne

The Kiriakis clan bands together to execute a wild plan to deliberately sabotage the mansion inspection, hoping to kill the impending property sale. Maggie, Philip, Sarah, Kate, Xander, and even Roman get their hands dirty by trashing the estate to ensure it fails to pass. During the chaotic plot, a highly charged emotional moment passes between Sarah and Xander, drawing them closer. However, the temptation of a nearby poker game looms large for Philip, threatening to pull him back into his old, destructive habits.

Meanwhile, Rachel suffers a sudden, terrifying medical crisis at the hospital, leaving Brady absolutely frantic. He faces an impossible dilemma when forced to consider reaching out to fugitive Kristen to return to Salem for their daughter’s sake. Elsewhere, Gabi approaches Theo with a plan to help her systematically take down EJ. While a brief one-day facial change makes Theo look a bit different to those around him, he steps up to the plate and makes a stunning counteroffer regarding exactly what he expects in return for his help.

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Days Short Recap Monday, October 5, 2026

Daytime Soap Opera Short Recaps

 

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Recap written by Suzanne

Johnny finally hits his breaking point regarding the medical cover-up and makes a massive move by turning over incriminating evidence against his own father to Belle and Jada at the police station. Meanwhile, Chanel provides steady support for her husband during this incredibly tense family betrayal. Over at the hospital, Kate catches Joy hiding muscle relaxers as she schemes to weave a web of lies about her condition, ultimately manipulation Alex into asking Stephanie if Joy can move into their place.

In other parts of town, Kate uncovers something highly suspicious buried within the legal paperwork for the final sale of the estate property. Sensing a deceptive plot, she immediately approaches Maggie with a strategic idea to help her regain leverage. At the same time, Chad checks in with Shawn to express his deepest sympathies regarding the painful loss of the family mansion.

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Y&R Short Recap Tuesday, October 6, 2026

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Recap written by Suzanne

Following the horrific highway wreck, Matt regains consciousness with a severe head injury only to discover that a manic Patty has already fled the wreckage and vanished into thin air. Meanwhile, a deceptive Nick actively conceals a dark secret regarding his recent violent encounter with Joe, the drug dealer responsible for putting Marie in the hospital. While Nick stands by his story to an interrogating Nikki that the criminal simply walked away, he secretly flashes back to pocketing the dealer’s illicit substances and leaving him unconscious on the ground. Witnessing his increasingly erratic behavior, Nikki and a concerned Sharon compare notes and fearfully suspect that Nick is spiraling back into his dangerous addiction habits.

In the corporate sphere, Victor follows through on a long-standing promise to Phyllis, granting her an unexpected show of professional respect to finalize their latest business venture, though a cautious Cane warns her that the powerful patriarch might be setting a dangerous trap. Nearby, Nate actively pushes a terrified Lily to open up to Cane about her impending health diagnosis and cancer fears, while a supportive Devon vows to provide emotional backing during the agonizing wait for her medical scans. Concurrently, Nate’s budding romance with Stephanie catches both Devon and Lily off guard, leaving Stephanie deeply anxious about how to eventually break the relationship news to her protective son.

 

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GH Short Recap Monday, October 5, 2026

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Recap written by Suzanne

Romance and law enforcement collide as Justine faces off with Sonny over recent violent prison attacks, ultimately deciding to sever their hidden romantic ties after demanding honesty. Meanwhile, Gio makes a major choice to relocate from Sonny’s residence. In a separate rogue operation, Josslyn deliberately disregards her superiors to wage personal warfare against Sonny’s enterprise, taking matters into her own hands.

Concurrently, deep marital wounds prove completely unfixable for Brook Lynn and Chase, who finally admit their relationship is shattered beyond repair as Chase initiates legal separation proceedings to shield young Phoebe. Looking for a clean break, Brook Lynn seeks help to protect her daughter, while a nearby Willow gets unexpected emotional encouragement from Britt to go after Chase. Elsewhere, a chaotic animal confrontation ensues when Serena gets dangerously caught up with falcon nests on the roof, prompting a heated stand-off with Jason and Lucy over federal protection laws.

 

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BTG Short Recap Tuesday, October 6, 2026

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"Beyond the Gates" logo from CBS press photo

Recap written by Suzanne

A stunning revelation ripples through Fairmont Crest when Anita and Dani deliver the shocking update to Nicole that all criminal charges against Hayley have been dropped. A vengeful Bill remains determined to push back against external interference, flatly refusing to let Vernon or Jacob disrupt his legal retaliation plans despite Vernon putting him on notice. While Leslie aggressively defends her recent divisive choices, interpersonal tensions peak at the mansion as Jacob confronts his brother, Izaiah, about his questionable loyalties. Meanwhile, Kat and Izaiah insist to anyone listening that they are nothing more than supportive friends, but Kat’s bold declarations nevertheless leave a deeply shaken Eva questioning her romantic security.

Behind the scenes, high-stakes leverage lines are fiercely redrawn when a gun-toting Joey corners Randy, forcing him into a tight corner to choose a definitive side as his time officially runs out. Though Hayley technically celebrates securing a major financial victory regarding her divorce payout from Bill, it carries a devastating cost. While Chelsea tries to circulate a crucial warning to protect those involved, her efforts come too late for the target. Walking completely unaware down the street, a blindsided Hayley is suddenly ambushed from behind, grabbed by an unknown figure in black gloves, and forcefully abducted into thin air.

 

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BTG Short Recap Monday, October 5, 2026

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"Beyond the Gates" logo from CBS press photo

 

Recap written by Suzanne

At Fairmont Crest, a high-stakes Banneker homecoming tailgate party becomes the epicenter of personal friction when Deanna aggressively confronts a defensive Vanessa over her relationship with Joey. Their intense face-off is cut short when Tyrell sends shockwaves through the entire celebration by walking in with a highly controversial, surprising new lady as his plus-one. Meanwhile, underlying marital and personal resentments flare at the gathering as Dani and Andre fail to mask their toxic marital issues, bringing down the festive mood alongside a disgruntled Martin. The presence of Jacob only heightens the general hostility as he aggressively locks horns in a tense stand-off with Martin and Smitty, completely derailing the family’s public facade.

Behind closed doors, dangerous secrets push families to their limits as Anita is left deeply alarmed and visibly shaken after receiving a wave of disturbing, top-secret intel from Vernon. Sensing impending doom, Joey and Bill join forces to launch a desperate interrogation of Randy, aggressively cornering him for any hidden information regarding Hayley’s whereabouts. As Bill attempts to gain structural leverage, he firmly lets Randy know that his number is officially up. To help manage the escalating fallout from these corporate and personal threats, a supportive Dani steps in to console an enraged Deanna, offering a necessary reality check by helping her realize that her blinding anger toward Vanessa is actually masking a deep-seated fear of losing Joey for good.

 

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B&B Short Recap Tuesday, October 6, 2026

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Recap written by Suzanne

At Forrester, corporate maneuvering intensifies as Katie and Hope continue to court a conflicted Zende for Logan. They actively press him to jump ship and join their rival company, capitalizing on his building frustration over being perpetually unappreciated and overshadowed by preferred talent. Unaware of this unfolding defection scheme, a passionate young couple, RJ and Electra, focus on their own covert ambitions, eagerly preparing to launch a highly confidential youth line. They remain completely confident that this new fashion project will firmly establish their professional standing and prove their true worth to the family business.

Meanwhile, deep emotional fractures threaten to derail a carefully constructed facade. A suspicious Daphne begins to voice intense questions about the unexpected transparency and bizarre timeline of her ongoing baby plans, deeply unsettling the deceptive couple. While the panicking duo, Carter and Steffy, frantically try to maintain control, the looming exposure of their illicit pregnancy cover-up continues to suffocate them with guilt. The massive secret hangs by a thread as Steffy and Carter realize they are teetering on the edge of a total psychological and marital breakdown if the devastating truth is fully uncovered.

 

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B&B Short Recap Monday, October 5, 2026

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Recap written by Suzanne

At Logan, corporate warfare and family loyalty collide as Katie and Hope make aggressive plays to expand their new fashion house. Katie courts a frustrated Zende, attempting to recruit him away from Forrester Creations by capitalizing on his deep resentment over being perpetually sidelined in favor of younger relatives. Unaware that Hope and Katie are scheming to poach him, RJ and Electra work diligently to reassure Zende that he is still an integral part of their highly confidential youth line. Meanwhile, a conflicted Will turns to his brother Wyatt to vent his frustration, opening up about how their manipulative mother, Katie, has ruthlessly used his girlfriend, Dylan, as a corporate mole to advance her own agenda.

In a parallel web of deception, Carter leaves a vulnerable Daphne completely shell-shocked by blurting out that the fertilization and implantation process for their baby has already begun. The unexpected news only intensifies the crushing guilt suffocating an unfaithful Steffy, who is being heavily pressured by her secret lover, Carter, to commit to an intricate fake surrogacy lie. While the deceptive duo desperately scrambles to manipulate the pregnancy timeline to hide their illicit affair from Finn, a suspicious Daphne inches closer to questioning why she was kept entirely in the dark, pushing the fragile arrangement toward a breaking point.

 

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Interview with Guillermo Navarro

TV Interview!

 

Guillermo Navaroo, cinamatographer of "Pan's Labryrinth." (screencap from video on official 20th anniversary Instagram.)

Interview with Guillermo Navarro of “Pan’s Labyrinth” (20th Anniversary) by Suzanne 9/29/26

Mr. Navarro is the first cinematographer I’ve ever spoken with. It was delightful to discuss this film, which is a fantasy masterpiece that has influenced many other movies, TV shows and more. If you haven’t seen this movie, you should. It’s a classic.  Although it’s a fairytale, it’s not really for children (it’s rated R). It has an unusual ending that leaves you guessing as to whether it really happens or if it’s just in a little girl’s mind. I hope you enjoy our video!

 

Key art for "Pan's Labyrinth" 20th anniversary edition from PR team.MORE INFO: Official Site  Official 20th Anniversary Site  Official Guillermo Navarro Site  Trailer

Guillermo Jorge Navarro Solares is a Mexican cinematographer and television director born on July 29, 1955, in Mexico City, Mexico. [1]
Key Details

  • Memberships: Member of the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) since 2000.

  • Major Achievement: Won the Academy Award for Best Cinematography for Pan’s Labyrinth (2006).

  • Notable Collaborations: Frequent collaborator with director Guillermo del Toro (Cronos, The Devil’s Backbone, Hellboy, Pan’s Labyrinth, Pacific Rim) and Robert Rodriguez (Desperado, From Dusk Till Dawn), as well as Quentin Tarantino (Jackie Brown).

  • Directorial & Television Work: Transitioned into television directing and producing, working on series like Hannibal, Narcos, Luke Cage, and serving as an executive producer on the National Geographic documentary series Hostile Planet (earning a Primetime Emmy nomination)

About Pan’s Labyrinth

Pan’s Labyrinth takes place in 1944, in the aftermath of the Spanish Civil War. Young Ofelia and her pregnant mother have been brought to live in the countryside, where her brutal stepfather Captain Vidal’s job is to wipe out the remaining rebels camped in the local forest. Nearby, in a hidden labyrinth, Ofelia meets an ageless Faun, who tells her that she is really a princess from an enchanted world. He gives her three tasks which she must complete in order to reclaim her rightful place. As her mother’s failing health threatens the life of her unborn child, Ofelia undertakes a quest to complete the Faun’s tasks. Written and directed by del Toro, and produced by his company, Tequila Gang, the film stars Ivana Baquero, Maribel Verdu (Y tu mama tambien), Doug Jones (Hellboy II), and Sergi Lopez (Dirty Pretty Things).

The film was nominated in six categories at the 79th Academy Awards® (2007) and took home three Oscar® wins – in the Best Achievement in Cinematography, Best Achievement in Art Direction and Best Achievement in Makeup categories. Across all awards, the film has received 106 wins from 115 nominations. It also earned critical acclaim, including top film of 2006 by the legendary Roger Ebert, and is Certified Fresh by Rotten Tomatoes with a 95% Tomatometer score.

Tickets for Guillermo del Toro’s Pan Labyrinth 20th Anniversary will be available online on September 9 and at participating theatre box offices (theatre locations are subject to change). For more information and to be among the first notified when tickets go on sale, please visit Fathom Entertainment.

About Cineverse Motion Pictures Group

Cineverse super-serves passionate audiences by distributing content across all windows and platforms, from theatrical to digital to physical. Following the breakout box office success of Terrifier 3, recent theatrical releases include the franchise returns of The Toxic Avenger, Silent Night, Deadly Night, and Return to Silent Hill.  Also on Cineverse’s upcoming slate is the 20th anniversary release of Guillermo del Toro’s masterpiece Pan’s Labyrinth, Wolf Creek: Legacy and the company’s first theatrical family feature, Air Bud Returns.

About Cineverse

Cineverse (Nasdaq: CNVS) is an entertainment technology company and studio. Fiercely innovative and independent, Cineverse develops and invests in technology and content that drives the future of the industry.  Core to its business is Matchpoint®int® – a growing tech ecosystem powered by AI and designed to prepare, distribute, monetize, and continuously improve content across any platform. Matchpoint helps studios large and small operate at scale and improve performance and efficiency in an increasingly fragmented distribution environment. Additionally, Cineverse distributes more than 71,000 premium films, series, and podcasts, across theatrical, home entertainment, and streaming; operates dozens of digital properties that super serve passionate fandoms around the world; and works with leading brands to connect them with audiences they value. From award-winning technology to the highest-grossing unrated film in U.S. history, Cineverse has created a playbook that marries tech and content to redefine the next era of entertainment. For more information, visit home.cineverse.com.

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Interview with Waleed Zuaiter

TV Interview!

 

Waleed Zuaiter of "High Value Target: The Hunt for Saddam," on TNT. Photo from his Instagram.

Interview with Waleed Zuaiter of “High Value Target: The Hunt for Saddam” on TNT by Suzanne 9/29/26

This is such a good miniseries. If you haven’t watched it yet, it’s just 8 episodes of outstanding drama. The writing and directing team ably combines military action scenes with political and personal drama. Joel Kinnaman brings his chameleonic acting to the role of John Nixon, a CIA operative who is able to finagle his way to Iraq and find Saddam Hussein because he’s also a historian who thinks he knows everything about the dictator. He’s a bit obsessed with him, in fact.  The miniseries is based on Nixon’s book, “Debriefing the President: The Interrogation of Saddam Hussein.”  Last week we had a nice chat with Waleed Zuaiter, who co-starred with Kinnaman, playing Saddam Hussein. His transformation is no less amazing that Kinnaman’s. He shares his unique perspective about Hussein and Iraq.  Please enjoy the video and the series!

You can watch the series on TNT, On Demand, or on streaming. New episodes of the political thriller premiere on subsequent Sunday and Monday evenings at 9pm ET/PT, culminating with the finale on Sunday, October 4 on TNT.

 

"High Value Target: The Hunt for Saddam" on TNT (key art)MORE INFO: Official Site Trailer 

WALEED ZUAITER, WHO STARS AS SADDAM HUSSEIN IN TNT’S 

“HIGH VALUE TARGET: THE HUNT FOR SADDAM”

 Inspired by the memoir “Debriefing the President” by CIA analyst John Nixon.

Critics are praising Zuaiter’s portrayal of Hussain, calling his performance “outstanding,” “ferociously engaging,” and the “shining light” of the series, with one critic noting, “he has such gravitas in this role that you are instantly hooked to the screen as you watch the manipulation and psychological games unfold.”

Zuaiter is a Palestinian-American actor and producer whose credits include The Girlfriend, London Has Waleed Zuaiter of "High Value Target: The Hunt for Saddam" on TNT (photo from TNT PR)Fallen and The Men Who Stare at Goats. He was a producer on Omar, which won the Special Jury Prize in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival and then scored an Oscar nom for Best Foreign Language Film. See here for his casting announcement for HIGH VALUE TARGET: THE HUNT FOR SADDAM. 

ABOUT THE SERIES:

Inspired by the memoir “Debriefing the President” by CIA analyst John Nixon, the eight-episode political thriller premiered September 13 with new episodes on Sunday and Monday evenings at 9pm ET/PT, culminating with the finale on Sunday, October 4 on TNT.

For the first time, HIGH VALUE TARGET: THE HUNT FOR SADDAM brings to television screens the story of John Nixon (Joel Kinnaman), A scene from "High Value Target: The Hunt for Saddam" on TNT (photo from TNT PR)the first CIA officer to interrogate Saddam Hussein (Waleed Zuaiter) following his capture in December 2003. Set against the backdrop of one of the most consequential military operations in recent history, the pulse-pounding series explores the high-stakes exchanges between Nixon and Hussein. As Nixon seeks answers from the former Iraqi leader in his search for weapons of mass destruction, he is forced to confront the far-reaching consequences of the U.S. invasion of Iraq and the ramifications that would reverberate around the world for decades to come.

Kinnaman leads an ensemble cast that includes Zuaiter (The Girlfriend), Lena Góra (The Eastern Gate), Rebecca Night (Fanny Hill), Tom Berenger (Platoon, Hatfields & McCoys), Paul Ryan (Brexit), Christopher McDonald (Hacks), Dar Salim (The Covenant), Matt Barr (Blood & Treasure), Ewan Miller (The Gray House), and Talia Balsam (Mad Men).

Proofread and Edited by Brenda

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BTG Transcript Wednesday, October 1, 2026

Beyond The Gates Transcript

 

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Transcript provided by Suzanne and Thane

THIS STILL NEEDS SOME EDITING!

Chelsea: You need to run some more tests on my father.

Madison: Why? What’s wrong?

Chelsea: I think Hayley’s poison caused some brain damage.

Madison: Well, I’ve already run several cognitive exams, and Bill’s mental function appears to be fine.

Chelsea: Babe, I know how brilliant you are, and you are a neurology superstar, but you must have missed something.

Madison: Okay. Why? Why are you saying this?

Chelsea: Brain damage is the only explanation I can come up with for Dad pushing to get the charges against Hayley dropped.

Madison: He what? No, that sounds crazy.

Chelsea: I know. Maybe his condition got worse. Point is, I need you to test him ASAP.

Madison: He’s already been discharged.

Chelsea: You let my sick and probably mentally impaired dad leave the hospital?


Bill: Yeah. Feels good to be back where I belong.

Dani: I thought you were insane to come straight to the office after leaving the hospital. But it’s good to see you back in your happy place, sir.

Bill: What is—? Must have missed out on a lot when I was in the hospital. That’s a lot of discovery documents. What case is this for? Hayley?

Dani: For the case of the murderous mistress. I had Caroline pack up some of her personal items. Your choice if you want to send them to her or burn them.


Martin: Kendra.

Kendra: Hi. Shonda brought me up to speed before her plane took off.

Martin: We appreciate your flexibility. Thank you for stepping in. We really want to stay on top of this. What do you got for us?

Kendra: New intel from Shonda’s source in the Coleman campaign. They know that Smitty was questioned by the police about Lia’s death.

Martin: And did you confirm it?

Kendra: We did what we could to try to persuade them. The questioning was purely routine, but… I don’t know if they bought it.

Smitty: This is exactly what I was afraid of.

Martin: You did nothing wrong, Smitty.

Kendra: That may be. But we need to come up with a strategy that convinces the public of that. And the election is in one month.

Smitty: At least they won’t have a lot of time to make an impact.

Kendra: I’ve seen last-minute smear attacks work.

Martin: But the truth is on our side.

Kendra: Unfortunately, part of that truth is that Smitty visited a key figure in a notorious crime syndicate the day before she was found dead in her prison cell.

Smitty: I am kicking myself for that, believe me.

Kendra: Even more than self-flagellation, Shonda believes that we need an on-the-record statement from the police department that Lia obtained the drugs that she took from a source inside the prison. That would shut down any insinuation that Smitty had anything to do with her dying by suicide.

Martin: Sounds good to me.

Smitty: No, there is no way the police would be willing to make a statement like that.


Jacob: Any progress in the Lia Whitmore investigation?

Chief Hawthorne: Building the case against Hayley Hamilton has taken up all of my time. But it seems like all that work will go to waste, because Bill’s not cooperating and he’s saying he doesn’t want to press charges against her.

Jacob: Yeah. How’s your wife feel about that?

Chief Hawthorne: Naomi is angry and confused, and I don’t blame her. If she didn’t know that it would result in assault charges, she’d probably throw water in Hayley’s face like Chelsea did.

Jacob: Yeah.

Chief Hawthorne: Naomi’s mad enough to double down. She’d probably pull Hayley’s weave out from the roots.

Jacob: It’s frustrating.

Chief Hawthorne: Yeah, it is. Bill left the hospital so he can come down here and witness Hayley get arrested. And then I watched him walk out while Hayley was begging and pleading for him to stay and help.

Jacob: So what happened between then and now?

Chief Hawthorne: Chief Hawthorne.

Jacob: Yeah.

Chief Hawthorne: All right, I appreciate the heads-up. It’s official. The prosecutor has decided not to pursue the case against Hayley Hamilton.


Hayley: I have been one of the best customers at your sorry-ass little hair salon. What do you mean you have to limit your client list? Which one of those damn Duprees threatened you, huh? Hang on. I have a call coming in.

Tomas: Seems like just the other day you were going all-out to apologize to me. Guess now it’s my turn.

Hayley: This isn’t a joke, Kat.

Kat: I know. And I’m sorry. I had a good talk with a friend about all the arguments we’ve been having, and I’ve realized we have some issues with our communication.

Tomas: No kidding.

Kat: Well, you’re not making this apology any easier.

Tomas: I’m still waiting for the apology part.

Kat: I already said— No relationship should be this difficult.

Tomas: What do you mean by that?

Hayley: Mm, Tomas. I just want to let you know that there are no hard feelings for you refusing to be my lawyer. Everything ended up working out for the best. All the charges against me have just been dropped.


Caroline: Hey. I’m surprised to see you working here, Naomi.

Naomi: You’re always welcome at the firm.

Caroline: Oh. Well, I know, Caroline. Thank you, but it just doesn’t feel right right now. Plus I’m addicted to this mocha latte. But, please, sit. Look, if you have safety concerns, I’ve spoken with security and made sure that our criminal paralegal will be barred from the premises.

Naomi: I’ve never liked or trusted Hayley, but… didn’t think she was a stone-cold killer.

Caroline: Really? And here I thought you were Hayley’s only friend. I mean, you were her maid of honor, after all.

Naomi: Well, maybe I should have become an actress instead of Bill’s executive assistant.

Caroline: You were pretending to be Hayley’s BFF? Why?

Naomi: Look, I’ve always operated on the premise that if Bill Hamilton disliked someone, I want to destroy them. And if he likes someone, I love them to pieces.

Caroline: Wow, that is some next-level loyalty right there.

Naomi: Oh, my willingness to go the extra mile is why your father gave me a Mercedes.

Caroline: I prefer to think it’s because he genuinely respects you.

Naomi: I really hope so. Ah, Bill can be a bastard at times, but he’s my favorite bastard. God, it pissed me off when the judge granted Hayley bail. But I comfort myself with the fact that, soon enough, that psychopathic swindler will be locked up for years.

Caroline: Mm. Unfortunately, Dad is pulling all the strings so that doesn’t happen.

Naomi: You’re joking.

Caroline: I wish. But you might be the one person who can knock some sense into him.


Jacob: The evidence against Hayley is irrefutable. She actually had the vial of poison on her person when I brought her in to the station. And it’s the same poison that was found in Bill’s bloodstream.

Chief Hawthorne: Yeah. And we know how much pull Hamilton has with the state’s attorney. This reeks of him calling in a boatload of favors.

Jacob: Yeah, maybe. But what could have happened to change Bill’s mind and make him back off like this?

Chief Hawthorne: If I had to speculate, I’d guess that Hayley, during the course of their marriage, got some real good dirt on Bill, and now she’s using it as leverage.

Jacob: I hate when leverage and favors matter more than justice.

Chief Hawthorne: Okay, well, you take that hate and you focus it back on your investigation into the Impaler and his possible involvement in Lia’s death.

Jacob: I’m still waiting on the test results to come back. And when they do, we’ll finally know for sure whether whatever was found in the pouch found in Lia’s cell actually ended her life. And hopefully help us figure out how she got her hands on it in the first place.


Smitty: Police have evidence that they think might indicate that I had something to do with Lia’s death, which I did not.

Martin: That goes without saying, Smitty.

Kendra: If this evidence were to become public knowledge… Martin, this could torpedo your campaign.

Smitty: This keeps getting worse and worse.

Martin: Hey, everyone, let’s not panic. Fortunately, Kendra, my cousin’s husband is the detective on this case, and Jacob is great at his job. We just have to trust that the police will figure out what’s going on and this whole thing can disappear. We just have to be patient.

Kendra: In my experience, patience is a very bad strategy.


Bill: I would love to burn everything. That would set off all the smoke detectors in the building.

Dani: So, no Hayley inferno.

Bill: I mean, not unless you want to explain it to the fire department.

Dani: I guess you could be right. You know, after the janitors get rid of all this stuff, I’m gonna tell Caroline to have Hayley’s office fumigated. I want everything about that woman to be eradicated from my life.

Bill: Good. Because I also called the cleaning service at your house. Had them pack up Hayley’s trash and send it off to storage.

Dani: Mm. Yeah, smart.

Bill: I mean, that way I still have a full access. I mean, who knows what other kind of blackmail material she’s got tucked away.

Dani: You know, I just… I hate that Hayley was able to pull one over on me. I mean, I’ve always prided myself on being the smartest guy in the room.

Bill: You still are.

Dani: Yeah. Eh. Just… sticks in my craw. You know? That, of all people, that lying, little… scheming con artist was able to play me.

Bill: Because she found the one thing that could make you back down.

Dani: Something that would hurt my family.


Chelsea: Sorry we were interrupted. If you were hoping I’d calm down in the meantime, it didn’t work.

Madison: Chelsea, I had to check on a patient. I’m sorry. I’m making everything about me, I guess.

Chelsea: I know you’re upset. It’s okay. I just don’t get how you could discharge him so quickly after everything that’s happened.

Madison: Oh, babe, there were no longer any traces of the poison in his system and no medical reason to keep him here any longer.

Chelsea: But him dropping the charges against his lethal side piece proves that he is not 100%.

Madison: Well, even perfectly healthy people make lousy decisions sometimes. I— I won’t pretend to understand why Bill wouldn’t want to punish Hayley for what she’s done, but you stressing out about it is not gonna change anything. You need to calm down.

Chelsea: That’s easier said than done.

Madison: Okay. What if you focus on the positive instead? Okay? Bill is fully recovered and Hayley’s out of his life for good.

Chelsea: What if she tries to come after him again? What if she tries to do something violent and there’s nothing he can do to protect himself?

Madison: Are you… are you worried about Hayley or about Allison?


Jacob: Pops, I already interviewed Smitty about that pouch.

Chief Hawthorne: And what did he say?

Jacob: Naomi hustled him out before he was able to say much of anything.

Chief Hawthorne: Sounds like your wife was concerned that her client may say something incriminating.

Jacob: More like just being a good lawyer. You know attorneys always tell their clients not to say too much to police.

Chief Hawthorne: Well, maybe they needed time to concoct a cover story. That video was damning.

Jacob: But the video had no audio. And we both know videos can be misleading when taken out of context. Would you even have any questions about the accuracy or context if Smitty weren’t family?

Chief Hawthorne: My job is to consider all possibilities, even the ones that seem unlikely. My old man taught me that.

Jacob: Don’t go throwing my words back in my face.

Chief Hawthorne: And don’t let your fear of causing trouble with your wife’s family stop you from going all in on this case.


Tomas: I was at the police station when you were arrested. I know how solid the evidence is against you. Why would they drop the charges?

Hayley: Hmm. I guess my public defender turned out to be a better lawyer than you.

Kat: More like the state’s attorney fell down on the job. I’m gonna tell Martin he needs to make replacing everyone in that office a part of his campaign platform. I have had enough of evil bitches getting away with attempted murder. First Leslie, and now you.

Hayley: Mm. You seem to have left your Aunt Dani—the woman who attempted to shoot me at my wedding—off your little list.

Kat: I guess you’re just fine with the justice system having compassion and understanding when a Dupree is involved. By the way, Tomas, you won’t be seeing me around that office anymore.

Tomas: Yeah, I should hope not. Bill will probably get a restraining order keeping you off the premises.

Hayley: Okay. He can do whatever he wants. I am thrilled I won’t have to waste any more time pushing through those dreary legal papers.

Kat: Well, good luck with your power struggle with shining star Naomi. You’re gonna need it.


Bill: While it’s true I couldn’t let my children’s grandfather go down for covering up the deaths of a couple racists, I can’t let you paint me as some noble guy. You know, if Hayley had gone public with those recordings, I would have been charged right along with Martin and Vernon for conspiracy.

Dani: No. I was just looking out for number one, the way I always do.

Bill: Two things can be true at the same time. Say what you want, Bill Hamilton, but you contain multitudes. And yes, while you can be a selfish, hurtful bastard, you can also be pretty great when you want to be.

Dani: Well, great at being conned, in this case. I know it’s killing you that Hayley’s walking away not only scot-free, but with a big chunk of your cash.

Bill: Mm.

Dani: You know who’s gonna be crazy?

Bill: Hmm?

Dani: My family. They’re not gonna understand why Hayley’s getting some get-out-of-jail-free card, especially not Kat and Chelsea. They don’t even know what happened with Martin and Daddy on that dirt road.

Bill: Can’t even be honest with them.

Dani: Hmm. I’ll tell them that the publicity from Hayley’s trial would have ruined my reputation as a lawyer. I mean, nobody’s gonna want to hire an attorney who was duped by his wife.

Bill: You wouldn’t be the first, but… guess that’s gonna have to work as a cover story.

Dani: Yeah.

Bill: Well, I hope you keep having my back the way you have been doing.

Dani: Goes without saying.

Bill: Just don’t get carried away. You worried that this is going to rekindle some… residual wifey loyalty feelings inside of me?

Dani: No, I’m more worried about your current marriage. If you keep holding my hand like this—metaphorically, of course—Andre might not like it.

Bill: Andre understands that I’m just helping a friend. You know, as much as I might hate to say this, Andre’s a smart man. He knows that what we have is a hell of a lot different than your friendships with Vanessa and Pamela.

Dani: I love all of my friends in very different ways. And right now, my love for Vanessa means that I will be checking up on her later to see how she’s holding up after this carjacking.

Bill: Mm. Yeah, well, I’m sure Andre would prefer that you were holding Vanessa’s hands instead of reassuring me.

Dani: You might be surprised. My incredible husband doesn’t have a bit of pettiness in him.

Bill: What? Saint Andre? Say it ain’t so.

Dani: Well, Saint Andre is probably happy that you’re needing a pal after you were outwitted and outsmarted by Hayley.

Bill: Who says the game is over?


Chelsea: I am not projecting my anxieties about Allison onto my dad.

Madison: But the things you’re saying are—

Chelsea: —are about Hayley. A woman who worked and schemed to destroy my parents’ marriage, and then tried to kill my dad to get her hands on his money. I mean, how twisted is that?

Madison: No argument there. Hayley should absolutely pay for what she’s done.

Chelsea: She targeted my father, Madison. She turned the biggest, strongest man I’ve ever known into a victim. My dad has always done everything he possibly could to protect me. I just want to do the same for him.

Madison: Bill knows how you feel about him. The last thing he’d want is you tearing yourself apart like this.

Chelsea: If any of my thoughts about Allison creep into this, it’s only because now I understand how scared and powerless my mom and dad must have felt when I was kidnapped.

Madison: We all did, honey.

Chelsea: Yeah, but it’s different between a child and their parents. I wouldn’t expect you to understand. You’re not really close with yours.

Madison: I think I could still understand the emotion.

Chelsea: Babe, I didn’t mean—

Madison: You were just trying to explain the difference, and you’re not wrong. I don’t have that kind of relationship with my own parents.

Chelsea: I hope you know that my family is your family now. And they couldn’t possibly love you as much as I do, but they come close.

Madison: Well, your love is really all I need. But I won’t say no to being a part of the whole warm, wonderful family. The Dupree devotion is legendary. Now, I think you should let me get back to work. And please, please try to stop obsessing about Hayley.

Chelsea: I will do my best. But I can’t make any promises.


Naomi: I can’t fathom why Bill doesn’t want Hayley to go to prison for what she did to him. But I know he always has a reason for everything that he does.

Naomi: And as his right hand, you are in a great place to get him to see reason. Get him to change his mind where Hayley is concerned.

Caroline: You are way overestimating the power I have over your father. Sure, he may listen to me sometimes, but that doesn’t mean he’ll take my advice. You know that man does what he wants to do when he wants to do it. But if you ask me, the person who has the most sway with him is Dani. Maybe you should discuss this with your mother.

Naomi: Excuse me one second. Hi, hon.

Jacob: The toxicology results from that pouch associated with Leah’s death came back.

Naomi: Okay, and you’re telling me this because—

Jacob: I have more questions for Smitty, and he’s gonna need to have his lawyer present.


Martin: My constituents know me and my family. More than that, they trust us. And if Smitty’s visit to the police station does become public knowledge, I’ll tell everyone how proud I am of my husband’s work to expose a crime ring operating in our district.

Campaign aide: Only that same work wasn’t putting your own career at risk.

Martin: Whatever happens, we will weather it together. And if they vote me out, as my grandfather would say, there’s much more to life than serving in Congress.

Campaign aide: Don’t say one more word about the possibility of you losing this election. Shonda would kill me if she knew I let you put that thought in the universe. You’ve forced us to build campaign bricks with straw here.

Martin: Shonda has put together the best team in the business.

Campaign aide: I will try to live up to that when I remind the Coleman campaign manager that we’ve been running squeaky clean here, and that we haven’t brought up any of the old rumors that he plagiarized his college thesis. But we are willing to fight fire with fire if necessary.

Martin: Fire away.

Campaign aide: Thank you.


Smitty: I really hope we didn’t make a mistake downplaying how serious this is.

Martin: Look, I know how afraid you are of the impaler trying to frame you, but we haven’t heard anything from the police ever since Jacob called you down to the station. So maybe they’ve confirmed what you told me was true, that the video of you and Max was a fake.

Smitty: No such luck.

Martin: Okay, let’s go. Let’s get a move on it.

Smitty: We— we’re not going anywhere.

Martin: No, I am not letting you talk me out of this again. No more. We’re doing this together.

Smitty: Martin. This is my problem. Please let me handle it.


Smitty: You don’t need to be here.

Martin: I disagree. And it’s not because I don’t trust you or Naomi, but if I wasn’t here, I would just drive myself crazy with worry.

Naomi: Okay. As long as you remember, I’m counsel here.

Martin: Understood.

Jacob: Thanks for coming, Naomi. Smitty, you can pull up a chair.

Naomi: I’d like to confirm that this interview is voluntary and my client is free to leave whenever he pleases.

Jacob: It is, and he is. Okay. Martin, is there a reason why you’re here?

Martin: Well, since this is an informal conversation, I figured it’d be fine if I were present as Smitty’s husband.

Jacob: It’s just a little out of the ordinary.

Martin: I say the whole thing is out of the ordinary.

Jacob: We like to keep conversations like these low-key, involving as few people as possible.

Martin: Since my opponent in the congressional race is aware of Smitty’s last visit, sounds like your efforts to keep things low-key leave things to be desired.

Jacob: I’ll instruct everybody at the station to keep quiet about this.

Naomi: Okay, let’s get down to it, shall we? What did you want to speak to my client about?

Jacob: Like I said over the phone, the toxicology reports came back on the pouch that was found in Leah’s cell, the same pouch that Max handed Smitty in the security camera footage.

Smitty: But he didn’t—

Naomi: Smitty, please. I’m saving my objections for court and to save time. Don’t take that as an admission of anything.

Jacob: Understood.

Naomi: What did the lab report say?

Jacob: There were trace amounts of powder residue matching the pills that killed Leah.

Naomi: That doesn’t prove anything. Leah had to stash the pills somewhere.

Jacob: What I want to know is how the pouch came into Leah’s possession. That’s why I asked Smitty to come down today.


Kat: Bill is going to explode when he finds out Hayley isn’t being charged.

Tomas: I don’t know about that. As much as I hate to admit it, Hayley had a semi-good point about Aunt Dani. The only reason she wasn’t charged for shooting up the country club was because my family pulled some strings. I bet that’s what happened here too.

Kat: Why would Bill let the woman who tried to kill him off the hook?

Tomas: That man may be a brilliant litigator, negotiator, and advocate, but when it comes to his personal life, he’s a damn fool. He was married to a supermodel that loved him, and he cheated on her left, right, and center before Hayley even came into the picture.

Kat: With the case being dropped, Bill will probably be the boss from hell now, taking out his frustrations on his staff.

Tomas: Well, if Bill has the bad sense to treat you with disrespect, I say you need to pick up and leave. He deserves to lose you.

Kat: He might not care to keep me around at all.

Tomas: I hope you know Hayley was just messing with your head when she said you’d lose out to Naomi. I love my cousin, but my money’s on you when it comes to being Bill’s second in command.

Kat: I am taking every word out of Hayley’s mouth with several grains of salt, don’t worry. And thanks.

Tomas: For what?

Kat: Believing I deserve to be Bill’s second. I’ve always felt that way, Tomas. I believe in you.

Tomas: That’s good to hear. Maybe I need to say it more often.

Kat: Huh.

Tomas: What?

Kat: You and me, we seem to be communicating now.

Tomas: I guess we are. It’s nice.

Kat: And we owe it to Hayley. Maybe all we needed to fix our relationship dynamic was a common enemy.


Dani: The most, please, with the most expensive champagne he’s got.

Bill: Better keep an eye on your drink. You wouldn’t want anyone to drug it.

Dani: What do you mean this isn’t over? I thought Hayley was out of your life forever.

Bill: Well, being back in my domain, I’ve been reminded I’m still the fixer. Hayley may have won this battle and a cool million bucks and that damn house in St. Barts, but she has by no means won the war.

Dani: What are you gonna do?

Bill: I’m gonna keep working on my divorce papers, which will seem generous until Hayley steps on a clause or wherefore she overlooked.

Dani: Damn straight.

Bill: I’m gonna make this little con artist think that she’s getting everything she ever wanted.


Hayley: I don’t know what you’ve heard, but the charges against me were dropped with Bill’s full support, so there’s no need to be so prickly, dear.

Caroline: Bill doesn’t always know what’s good for him.

Hayley: On that, we can agree. For the record, I really did like you. I considered you a friend.

Caroline: Any reason I should believe that now? I mean, your wedding vows sounded really sincere, but apparently the only promise you intended to keep was till death do us part.

Hayley: Now that’s a good one. I always loved your sense of humor.

Caroline: I suppose I should be flattered.

Hayley: You should. I mean, it’s not often that I compliment people I meet. Look, Caroline, the two of us can still be friends, you know. I’m gonna have a lot of free time with plenty of money. Leslie Thomas is trying to be my new bestie, which is obviously not gonna happen, but I would really like someone to hang out with. Come on, Caroline. Bill wouldn’t have to know. It would be fun.

Caroline: I’d rather have a flock of vultures peck my eyes out.

Hayley: Okay.

Caroline: The truth is, Bestie, I was putting on an act as well. I’ve always despised you.


Chelsea: Have you heard the news about Hayley?

Kat: Right from the poisoner’s mouth. She just rubbed it in our faces that the state’s attorney dropped the charges against her.

Chelsea: It’s already official? Kat, I came here hoping you could help me stop this travesty.

Tomas: This has all the signs of a cousin conversation, so I’ll leave you girls to it.

Kat: Thanks for understanding. Feels really good being on the same page again. I look forward to more of this improved communication later.

Tomas: So do I.

Kat: So if you didn’t know the charges were dropped, then how—

Chelsea: My dad told me yesterday he wasn’t going to cooperate with the prosecution.

Kat: Huh. I figured he was behind this. I just don’t get why he wants Hayley back out on the street, free to try to kill him again.

Chelsea: My instincts are telling me that it wasn’t that Bill wanted to let Hayley go, it’s that he had to do it.


Naomi: Smitty has no idea how that pouch came into Leah’s possession.

Jacob: I’d like to hear that from him. Smitty?

Smitty: I have no idea.

Jacob: I saw the video of Max handing you the pouch, and I know you went to visit Leah a day before she died.

Martin: Oh, come on, Jacob. You know Smitty’s no criminal.

Jacob: Martin, if you interfere, this conversation will turn into a private interrogation instead of a friendly chat out here in the open, and I’ll have to ask you to leave.

Naomi: He’s got a point, Martin. Please.

Jacob: Smitty, listen. I understand that you went to Leah to get her to open up and share some information with you. Now, if she asked you for a favor in return—

Smitty: But she didn’t.

Jacob: All I’m saying is, I’ll understand if she did. Prisoners ask people on the outside to bring them things all the time. Now, I’m not implying that you knew she was planning her death or that you knew what was inside the pouch. No one is accusing you of anything. But please, just level with me here. Did you hand Leah the pouch?

Smitty: No.

Naomi: There’s no proof that the pouch in this photo is the same pouch that was found in Leah’s cell.

Jacob: Come on, Naomi, that’s a distinctive shade of purple.

Naomi: Looks mass-produced to me. There could be thousands of them.

Jacob: That would be one hell of a coincidence, especially considering the timetable. Max hands Smitty a pouch. A day later, Smitty goes to visit Leah, and a day after that, an identical pouch turns up in the cell of a dead woman?

Smitty: Because it’s not a coincidence.

Naomi: Smitty, please.

Smitty: That video is fake.

Naomi: Smitty, do not say another word.

Smitty: The only way the police are going to actually be able to figure out what happened is if I tell them what I know.

Jacob: I’ve watched a lot of AI videos, and this one looks authentic.

Smitty: Maybe because it’s not totally a fake.

Naomi: Smitty?

Smitty: That video has been altered. The last time I saw Max was months before the date on the video timestamp, before he went into witness protection. And he never handed me a pouch.

Jacob: Why would someone alter a security video?

Smitty: Because the impaler wants me to take the fall for Leah’s death. Please, Jacob. You have to believe me.


Hayley: It’s not a big thing, Caroline, but I don’t buy for a second that you’ve been playing me all along. I mean, if you were that good at it, you wouldn’t be a career secretary.

Caroline: Well, my bank account is fat. My car is a Mercedes I didn’t have to pay for. My work hours are reasonable, and I sleep like a baby at night because my conscience is clear. I’m exactly where I want to be, and Bill always does right by me, so I’m loyal to him.

Hayley: Hmm. Good. Suit yourself. There’s no more hangouts. And not to worry, I’ll get along just fine without you.

Caroline: The state may have decided not to make you pay for what you did to Bill, but who knows? Maybe I’ll decide to take matters into my own hands. You should watch your back.


Chelsea: Do you think Hayley is blackmailing my dad? That’s the only thing that makes any sense. From what Tomas said, Bill was ready to lock Hayley up and throw away the key, and now he just pulls a 180. What could she have on him that is so bad it outweighs attempted murder?

Kat: With Bill Hamilton, anything is possible. I know you love your dad, but he’s hardly Mr. Morality. I wouldn’t be surprised if at some point he did something that would totally wreck his reputation.

Chelsea: Well, if that’s the case, Hayley might not stop at getting the charges dropped. If she has that kind of leverage on my dad, she could bleed him dry. Maybe if we figure out what she’s got on him, we can stop her.

Kat: Just try keeping me out of this. I’ll gladly help you figure out what Hayley’s holding over Bill’s head.


Dani: A generous divorce settlement is a different approach to payback, but you know me. I lean toward color-coordinated weaponry.

Bill: It’ll lull Hayley into a false sense of complacency.

Dani: And then?

Bill: And then, when the time is right, I will turn the tables on her. She’ll never see it coming.

Dani: Whenever that happens, promise me a front row seat, okay?

Bill: You know that goes without saying. Hey, listen, Dani, you’ve been my ride or die lately, so I at least owe you that much.

Dani: Just don’t take the “or die” too literally, okay?

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BTG Short Recap Friday, October 2, 2026

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Recap by Suzanne

The blackmail conspiracy ripples through the community during a Banneker homecoming tailgate party, where the truth about Bill’s shocking legal concession refuses to stay buried. Though Vernon tries to keep a lid on the situation, Chelsea leaks the news of her father dropping the attempted murder charges, causing the revelation to rapidly spread among the gathered friends and family. The awkwardness at the gathering multiplies as Nicole and Ted must navigate a tense environment after both showing up with their new significant others. Meanwhile, a frustrated Andre corners Dani, aggressively demanding answers about her secret interactions and continued proximity to Bill.

Behind closed doors, the true gravity of the threat becomes clear as Bill directly confesses to Elon that Hayley possesses highly damaging recordings regarding the family’s past cover-up. Knowing the walls are closing in, Elon immediately declares an emergency as the family panics over how the volatile Joey will react once he learns the secret. Unbeknownst to them, a protective Joey is already occupied with staging a fierce counter-offensive. Convinced that Heather orchestrated a dangerous carjacking scheme against Vanessa, Joey puts Heather on the spot, issuing a chilling warning to protect the woman he loves. The episode reaches a cliffhanger when a desperate Bill finally sits down with Joey, explicitly breaking the news that the family has a massive problem.

 

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BTG Short Recap Thursday, October 1, 2026

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Recap by Suzanne

The fallout from a near-fatal poisoning takes center stage as Bill returns to his office after being discharged from the hospital. Escorted by Dani, he learns that she has already cleared Hayley’s belongings out of both the firm and his home. Bill confesses his frustration over being outmaneuvered, admitting he only agreed to drop the attempted murder charges against Hayley to keep her from exposing the truth about how he, Vernon, and Ted covered up Martin’s accidental killing of a hate crime perpetrator. Meanwhile, Caroline drops a massive bombshell on both Naomi and Hayley, further complicating the web of leverage engulfing the family.

Away from the corporate tension, legal walls continue to close in elsewhere as Jacob aggressively grills Smitty once again regarding the dark details surrounding Lia’s death. Amidst the rising community suspicion, a fractured relationship finds a path toward healing. While attempting to navigate a deeply strained conversation about their communication issues, Kat and Tomas are interrupted by Hayley, who smugly boasts about her public defender securing her freedom. Ironically, discussing the dangerous threat Hayley poses to the family business helps Kat and Tomas put aside their differences and officially reconcile.

 

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B&B Short Recap Friday, October 2, 2026

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Recap by Suzanne

The surrogate scheme spirals into a dangerous web of deception as Carter and Steffy arrive at the office, where she desperately makes one final plea to simply tell the truth about how the baby was conceived. Fearing the truth will shatter their respective relationships, Carter overrides her doubts and forces her hand. When Daphne questions where he has been, Carter does the unthinkable and drops a massive bombshell, telling a stunned Daphne that Steffy was already inseminated and is pregnant with their baby.

Across town, the war against the establishment takes a major step forward as Hope and Katie lay all their cards on the table during a high-stakes pitch. Recognizing his deep frustration over being continuously sidelined and demoted to an assistant designer, they offer Zende an official escape route by asking him to jump ship and head up the design department at the rival house. Meanwhile, the complex dynamics among the younger crowd intensify as Will firmly stands up to his mother, issuing a strict defense of Dylan against the high-pressure demands being forced upon her.

 

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B&B Short Recap Thursday, October 1, 2026

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Recap written by Suzanne

The baby dilemma reaches a boiling point at the cliff house, where Carter aggressively pressures a panicked Steffy to go along with a highly risky charade. Insisting they are running out of time, Carter demands that Steffy claim she is carrying his baby as a surrogate for him and Daphne, a massive sacrifice he insists they must make right now. Steffy fiercely lashes out at his impatience, deeply terrified that this reckless timeline will alienate her husband, Finn, and completely destroy her marriage when the truth inevitably blows up. Meanwhile, unaware of the storm brewing at the cliff house, Daphne happily beams alongside Ridge and Brooke as she updates them on her supposed surrogacy plans.

At the estate, the brewing fashion war intensifies as Katie fiercely motivates Hope to weaponize their history against their rivals. Recalling how Brooke disowned her in the past, Katie declares that their impending corporate success will taste even sweeter by lighting a powder keg under the family. Part of this corporate scheme involves Dylan successfully cajoling an increasingly frustrated Zende, who is growing weary of being demoted to an assistant designer and signals he may be ready to jump ship to the opposing camp. However, the high-stakes game catches the attention of Will, who desperately tries to perform damage control by warning a reckless Dylan that she is merely being used as a dangerous pawn in Katie’s ruthless war.

 

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Days Short Recap Friday, October 2, 2026

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Recap written by Suzanne

The legal tension shifts to corporate exposure as Johnny DiMera takes the brave step to meet with Rafe, fully confessing that EJ was entirely aware of the tainted batch of Coriseal and deliberately tried to cover it up. Knowing his own freedom is on the line, Johnny stands firm in his choice to expose the truth, leaving a cornered EJ to desperately panic to Rita about how quickly the walls are closing in. At the same time, EJ’s troubles multiply when he inadvertently overhears a heavily guarded secret that Marlena has been trying to bury. Marlena, meanwhile, directly confronts Rita, demanding to know the truth about who has been pulling the strings to guide Belle right to Dominic.

Away from the high-stakes conspiracies, Salem manages a rare moment of levity during a surprise baby shower thrown by Paulina for Chanel. The event takes a hilariously chaotic turn when a silly mix-up leaves all the guests laughing, giving the expectant mother a brief break from the brewing family storms. However, the peaceful moment remains fleeting as Sydney commits a highly critical and costly error that threatens to completely upend her own elaborate plans.

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Days Short Recap Thursday, October 1, 2026

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Recap written by Suzanne

Salem is hit with major legal and corporate chaos as Melinda Trask takes to national television to publicly accuse Sarah Horton of medical malpractice, alleging her negligence led to a wrongful death. While Sarah reels from this public humiliation, Brady Black offers his support to a distressed Marlena Evans. Marlena is struggling deeply with the mind-bending discovery that she is listed as Dominic Marino’s mother on a birth certificate, leading to dark suspicions that Stefano DiMera or Orpheus may be orchestrating a sinister plot against her family. Meanwhile, Steve Johnson and Belle Black team up to investigate the validity of the mystery surrounding the document.

The corporate warfare escalates dramatically when Philip Kiriakis and Xander Cook completely derail EJ DiMera’s plans. Just as EJ thinks he has the upper hand, Philip and Xander surprise him by presenting a check that fully pays off the Titan loan, effectively saving the family business and handing EJ a massive defeat. Amidst the corporate takedowns, Philip also confesses his risky underworld alliances to Maggie. Elsewhere, Joy Wesley plays a high-stakes, dangerous game as she targets hospital drugs to secure muscle relaxers, desperate to keep Alex Kiriakis trapped in her intricate web of manipulation.

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GH Transcript Monday, September 21, 2026

General Hospital Transcript

 

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Transcript provided by Suzanne

THIS STILL NEEDS SOME EDITING!

Willow: Agent Baines, please. This is Congresswoman Tait, regarding an urgent matter. Tell him I expect to see him in my office by the end of the day. He knows exactly what this is about.  Thanks for coming.

Valentin: It’s not every day a sitting member of Congress wants my presence.

Willow: I know you’re dating Carly, and she would happily load me into an unmarked WSB van before she would help me with them. But I am hoping that you will feel differently, especially because this involves my mother.

Valentin: In what way?

Willow: In the Agent Baines way. You warned my mom about him, and it turns out you were right.

Valentin: If your goal is to free your mother from the WSB, I don’t think that phone call is the best way to do it.

Willow: I don’t know. I think my attitude is entirely justified. My mother is innocent.

Valentin: I don’t think the WSB feels that way.

Willow: She was framed.

Valentin: And who would do that? Drew, perhaps?


Carly: I get that the WSB needs to search the Crimson offices, but you’ve shut down the entire floor. That is very disruptive to my guests and other tenants in this building, so I need to know when you guys are gonna be out of here.

Baines: I can’t say. They’re investigating the disappearance of one of their own, and while I understand your frustration, I thought you’d be more good-natured about it, since you’re the one who pointed me toward Nina Reeves as the most likely suspect in Jack Brennan’s disappearance.


Danny: So Tracy’s pretty mad, huh?

Cody: Uh, I don’t think mad really covers it, bud. She caught you trying to steal a car. Again. What were you thinking? You still gotta pay for what you did to Chase’s truck and that speedboat. So, per Tracy’s instructions, you got a whole bunch more chores on top of what you already had, starting with sweeping out the stalls.

Danny: I promise, Cody, I’ll do every single chore on that list and whatever else you can think of. But first, I gotta borrow your truck.

Cody: [Chuckles]


Scout: Charlotte? Why are you in my dad’s car?

Charlotte: You need to leave right now.

Scout: Yeah, no. What are you doing?

Charlotte: Okay, Scout, you don’t understand, okay? I’m doing this for you, okay? So you need to leave before you ruin everything.

Rocco: It’s not gonna work, Charlotte. Get out of the car.


Isaiah: Britt. Hey. You in there?

Britt: Yeah, I’m here. I’m fine. I just needed a minute.

Isaiah: Looks like you need a little more than that.  Why don’t you get out of here?

Britt: What for? There’s nowhere I want to go. And nobody waiting for me anyway.


Anna: Good to see you. Thanks for coming.

Jason: Of course.

Anna: Can I ask how Britt is?

Jason: I mean, she’s a little shaken up, but she’ll be okay.

Anna: Did you talk about what happened that night?

Jason: We did. It did not go well.

Anna: What do you mean?

Jason: Britt asked me to back her story with the PCPD. And I said no.

Anna: Oh, Jason, you shouldn’t have done that.


Charlotte: What are you guys doing here?

Scout: According to Danny, we’re saving your butt.

Rocco: Even he thinks whatever you were about to do is a bad idea.

Charlotte: Wait. Danny sent you to stop me?

Rocco: That’s what his text said.

Scout: Okay, so I’m going to ask you again. Why were you hiding in my dad’s car?

Charlotte: Look, okay, it was the only way to get your dad to back off Danny so you guys can see each other.

Scout: When it comes to Danny, my dad won’t even listen to me. Why do you think he’d listen to you?

Charlotte: Scout, do you mind if I talk to Rocco for a second?

Scout: Uh, yeah, kinda.

Charlotte: You have to get her away from here.

Rocco: Neither of us are leaving until you tell me what you’re doing.

Charlotte: When Drew gets in his car, I’m gonna surprise him and throw my arms around him and make it look like we’re making out.

Scout: You’re gonna make out with–? What are you talking about? That’s crazy.

Charlotte: I know, but I’m not actually gonna do anything, okay? It just has to look like it on the video. After that, I’m gonna tell him I’m gonna post it on social media, where he’ll be labeled a sexual predator and get canceled immediately. It’s a perfect plan.

Rocco: That’s insane.

Charlotte: My God, you sound just like Danny. But trust me, I know this is gonna work, okay? You just have to get her out of here.


Cody: [Chuckles] Are you really trying to sneak off after what just happened? You know you’re not doing yourself any favors, bud.

Danny: I know, but this is really important. Someone needs my help before they do something really stupid.

Cody: You do get that Tracy’s my boss, right? And she put me personally responsible for you this afternoon.

Danny: Yeah, but—

Cody: Okay, all right, look. Nothing’s going to happen until I know what’s going on, all right? So if it’s a real emergency, I’ll go with you, or we’re calling 911. So what’s going on? What kind of trouble is your friend in?

[Cellphone dings]

Cody: Everything okay?

Danny: Yeah, I-I think so.  Um, um…So you said something about, uh,  sweeping out the stall?


Carly: Speaking of which, was it really necessary to drag the editor-in-chief of Crimson out of the Metro Court Gardens in handcuffs? I mean, it was all over social media, and I don’t want my hotel associated with criminal activity.

Baines: For somebody who wants nothing to do with the WSB, you certainly are immersed in it. Your daughter, Chief Brennan, even Valentin Cassadine. I mean, whether you like it or not, it seems like you’re going to be dealing with the WSB, whether you want to or not. But I’ll try to make this current run-in as painless as possible.

[Telephone rings]

[Door closes]

Carly: Yeah. What? What do you mean someone’s messing around in the parking lot?


Anna: I could’ve killed Britt. And she has every right to go to the PCPD. Please.

Jason: I totally understand it is her right. But I don’t– I don’t want to be a part of it. Because you’ll get locked up. As far as I’m concerned, you don’t need to be locked up. You’re committed to getting help. So what’s the point of getting the cops involved in the first place?

Anna: Well, I don’t know. I’m sure Britt would feel safer. You know? She has to be terrified of me after what happened.

Jason: Yeah, but you didn’t hurt her.

Anna: Not physically, no. But staring down the barrel of a gun is traumatic. I can’t imagine that she’s just gonna shake that off. It’s gonna leave scars on her psyche.

Jason: Yeah, possibly. But Britt has been through worse. And she’s tough.

Anna: Yeah. Do you think she did reach out to the PCPD?

Jason: I don’t know.

Anna: I think she’s gonna feel a lot more secure soon. I–I don’t think I’m going to be in Port Charles for that much longer.

Jason: You’re leaving?

Anna: I mean, not of my own choice. But I have a feeling that the WSB will show up any minute, haul me off to one of their facilities.


Willow: Do you think Drew has a motive to frame my mother?

Valentin: Well, I think considering you and Nina were injecting Drew and keeping him in a locked-in state, I’m going to say yes.

Willow: Did my mother tell you that?

Valentin: You don’t have to confirm or deny it. But if it’s true, Drew has a hell of a motive to pin Jack’s disappearance on Nina. He could pay you both back in one fell swoop.

Willow: Unfortunately, it’s not a big leap. Unlike the idea of my mother hurting Jack Brennan. There’s just no way.

Valentin: I agree. I’m inclined to believe that Jack cut his losses and left town on his own. I find it harder to believe that he would leave Nina holding the bag. I think that’s more likely the work of a certain ex-Congressman.

Willow: Look, all I care about is getting my mother out of Steinmauer. You’re the WSB expert. If you say the best way to free her is to implicate Drew, I will call them right now and say that he framed her.


Scout: You said something about a video. What video?

Charlotte: My phone’s set up and focused on Drew’s windshield. You can see everything. After this, Scout won’t have to be a prisoner in her own home anymore, okay? So can you just help me and make Scout leave?

Rocco: We’re leaving.

Scout: Wait, whose phone is that?

Charlotte: Rocco, give that back right now!

Rocco: We’re all leaving.

Charlotte: Look, Danny and I thought about this, okay? This is the only way.

Scout: The only way to what? Just tell me what the big secret is already.

Charlotte: Rocco, you better give my phone back right now before I take it from you.

Carly: Hey!  Why am I getting reports that the three of you are causing a scene in my hotel?


Britt: This whole situation with Sidwell is much worse than people know. And I’m still dealing with the repercussions.

Isaiah: How so?

Britt: Well, for once, I was the victim. Not everyone sees it that way. But the– the longer I sit with it, I wonder… maybe I wasn’t.

Isaiah: Sorry. What are we talking about here?

Britt: I knew someone was being held against their will. And I waited too long to do something about it.


Jason: Josslyn took your advice and reported me to the WSB.

Anna: Yeah. I mean, I wouldn’t want her to cover for you. No, I–I wouldn’t, Jason, because lying to the Bureau when I was an agent was the exact thing that ruined my life. I don’t want that for her.

Jason: Yeah, I don’t– Neither of us do.

Anna: You know, I was just hoping that maybe I could stay here, work with Dr. Nichols and avoid being locked up again, because that’s really just going to exacerbate my PTSD.

Jason: I mean, that makes sense.

Anna: But I don’t really think that’s a viable possibility… given my actions that night. They were both dangerous… and deranged. You know, if you hadn’t found us when you did… I could have killed Britt.

Jason: I don’t think that’s true.

Anna: [Scoffs] I wish I was as certain as you about that. Anyway, be that as it may, the reason I asked you here is… because if… Well, when the Bureau comes to take me away, that’s really going to shatter Emma. And she’s going to blame Josslyn. And Josslyn will blame herself. And so what I really need is for them both to see that I brought this on myself. And, you know, the way you would have to do that is if you could really make them understand, especially Emma… exactly what I did to Britt.


Cody: Ahem. Danny, is something going on with Scout?

Danny: What–what makes you think that?

Cody: Well, you look super stressed, and that usually means you’re thinking and worrying about her. Also, Molly might have told me that things between Drew and Alexis aren’t great. Actually, what she said is Drew’s being a jerk.

Danny: It’s like he doesn’t know any other way to be.

Cody: But you said that somebody was in trouble?

Danny: Charlotte. I told her how much I hate not seeing Scout, and she’s determined to help.

Cody: Sounds like a good friend.

Danny: Yeah, she’s the best. You know, she’s always got my back, and I’m repaying her by dragging her into this mess with Drew. Seems like my problems with Drew just keep spreading and making everything worse for everyone else in my life.


Carly: The valet told me that you guys were messing in someone’s car. Are you guys just gonna look at each other, or is someone gonna tell me what’s going on?

Scout: Rocco and I came to pick up Charlotte, and we found her in my dad’s car.

Carly: What were you doing in Drew’s car?

Charlotte: I just wanted to drive it. I was gonna, you know, take it off the road, get it all muddy, and then bring it back for you to find. You know, like a–like a prank.

Scout: That? That was your big secret plan?

Charlotte: It was stupid, and I’m sorry. But luckily Scout and Rocco came here just in time to stop me, and the car’s fine, so we should just get out of here.

Carly: No, no, wait a minute. You’re not going anywhere. You have no idea how big a problem this could have been, do you? If Drew’s car would have gone missing from this hotel, I would have had to report it to the PCPD. Do you know what would have happened to you then?

Charlotte: No.

Carly: You would have been hit with a grand theft auto charge.

Charlotte: For a stupid prank?

Carly: Yeah. And Drew would have pressed charges, taken you to court, and jumped at the chance to make me look bad. And given the situation, that would be very easy to do.

Rocco: She wasn’t gonna steal his car. She was using it to set up Drew. She was trying to film a video of them kissing to use as blackmail.


Valentin: Tempting, though I’m sure it is, to throw Drew under the proverbial bus, simply offering an alternative suspect to the WSB will not be enough to secure her release.

Willow: Okay, so what do I do? Do I call them out? Make a big public stink about a private citizen being disappeared by an overreaching WSB?

Valentin: No, don’t do that. You don’t want to be at odds with the WSB. And I know Agent Baines well enough to know he doesn’t deal well with threats.

Willow: So how do I approach him?

Valentin: With an open hand. You be his ally, not his adversary. I think the only way you’re gonna help your mother now is to help the WSB.


Isaiah: I heard a little about what happened on Spoon Island. Sounds to me like you were in an extreme situation.

Britt: It started at extreme.

Isaiah: I know from my work in some of the most complicated places in Africa that when you’re in an out-of-control situation, your own behavior can suddenly become out of control, too. Then you find yourself doing things you never imagined. Things that can be… hard to live with.

Britt: Yeah. How’d you get through it?

Isaiah: I just did the best that I could.

Britt: Me, too. But in my case, it just wasn’t good enough.


Anna: I told Emma what happened. But even as I was speaking to her, I could see her rationalizing things, downplaying everything, because she didn’t want to think that I was capable of doing such a thing. You know. But you were there. You saw how bad it was. So when the time comes, I would need you to tell Emma and Josslyn the truth, please, if you could.

Jason: Of course. I’ll answer any questions they have. Honestly.

Anna: Thank you.

Jason: Okay, so, but if the WSB does come for you, you don’t have to go quietly. I can get you out of town. I’ll take you myself.

Anna: Oh, well, thanks. Valentin made the same offer. But Danny needs you. You can’t leave.

Jason: It’ll be two to three days max. I’ll get you someplace safe. You can recover. You get stronger.

Anna: Thanks. I appreciate the offer. But I don’t think running and hiding is the solution. You know? I think… I think I really do have to face up to the consequences of what I did.

[Doorbell rings]


Valentin: The WSB will be more inclined to do something for you if you were to do something for them. And right now they have Nina because they protect their own. And they want to find Jack Brennan. If you were to offer them something that they find valuable to the agency as a whole, well, maybe the mystery of the disappearance of Jack Brennan could find its way to the backseat.

Willow: But the WSB already knows that I’m working on expanding their funding through the appropriations committee.

Valentin: Extra funding is always nice.

Willow: What I mean is that I’m obviously an agency ally, yet they still took my mother. So what else is there to do? I could offer Agent Baines a bribe.

Valentin: He can’t be bought. Any attempt at coercion will blow up in your face. It’s time you step up your game and become indispensable to the WSB.


Charlotte: The way Rocco explained it made the plan seem way worse than it actually was.

Carly: I don’t know, it sounded pretty accurate to me.  But if you have an innocent version, I’d love to hear it. Otherwise, I’m gonna go with my gut, and it’s telling me that you, a teenager, were about to throw yourself at a grown man.

Charlotte: So I could force Drew into letting Danny see Scout. Okay, people have sympathy for him right now because of the stroke, but even he couldn’t survive them thinking that he made out with a teenager.

Carly: Charlotte, what would you have done if Drew opened the car door instead of Scout and Rocco?

Charlotte: My phone was set up and recording. And, you know, once he got in, I was gonna jump up and throw my arms around him, and then it would look like we were making out from the angle of my phone, even though we actually weren’t.

Carly: You think that Drew would let you do this to him?

Charlotte: No. He’d get angry and push me away and then take off. And then once he left, I’d come back, get my phone, find the most convincing part of the video, and then I’d send it to him and tell him that I would post it unless he ends the restraining order.

Carly: And what if Drew called your bluff? What if he actually kissed you? Were you prepared for that?

Charlotte: But he wouldn’t.

Carly: You can’t know that. Charlotte, I get why you came up with this plan. Hell, it’s something I would have done it back in the day. But if you would have put it into action, that would have been a huge mistake.


Scout: Oh, are you gonna be late for dinner with your parents?

Rocco: No, I still have time.

Scout: What’s wrong?

Rocco: Danny’s blowing up my phone asking about Charlotte.

Scout: I can’t believe he didn’t show up at the Metro Court himself.

Rocco: I guess that’s Danny’s deal. He makes a mess but doesn’t clean it up.


Cody: Well, everybody’s drinking less water than usual, but the grass they’re eating is pretty hydrating, so keeping the water at 68 degrees, just the way they like it.

Danny: Hmm.

[Cellphone dings and buzzes]

Cody: Go. Check it.  Everything okay?

Danny: Yeah. Um… Rocco’s not giving me any details, so he’s probably mad at me… again.

Cody: Yeah. I noticed you guys don’t seem to hang out anymore.

Danny: There was a time when Rocco and I had each other’s backs, but a lot has changed. He’s very hung up on playing it safe. Scout’s my sister. It’s wrong that Drew is keeping us apart, so I gotta find a way to make him back off.

Cody: Okay. Now see that– see that– That’s your problem right there.


Britt: I knew someone was being held on Spoon Island. But, you know, I had– I had my own stuff going on. Most of the time, I was just trying to survive.

Isaiah: Yeah, being in survival mode can make it difficult to help other people.

Britt: I really wanted to get them out. I just didn’t know how. But I knew for sure that if I got caught, we’d both be killed. Then, before I could come up with a plan, they were moved somewhere else, out of my reach.

Isaiah: Sounds like an awful situation for both of you. I’m sorry.

Britt: Me too. Terrible things happened to this person because I didn’t act fast enough. I did care. I was really trying to figure out what to do. No one believes me.

Isaiah: That’s their problem.

Britt: Is it?

Isaiah: Yeah. It doesn’t matter what anyone believes. You know you were doing your best and searching for a way to help. So hold on to that, and everyone else be damned.


Baines: Anna Devane.

Anna: Agent Baines. WSB. Yeah. I’ve been expecting you. Please, come in. My friend was just leaving.

Baines: Actually, I’d like Mr. Morgan to stay. I understand you were involved in the incident with Dr. Britt Westbourne. I was informed by Agent Jacks that you made an attempt on Dr. Westbourne’s life. Is that correct?

Anna: Yeah, it is.

Jason: But Anna suffered emotional trauma. She was held prisoner, and the WSB did nothing to help her.

Anna: And just so you know, I’ve taken a leave of absence from the PCPD, and I’m under the care of a psychiatrist. But I understand if that doesn’t satisfy the Bureau.

Baines: Well, standard policy doesn’t quite apply, given the breadth and scope of classified knowledge to which you’ve been exposed over the years.

Anna: Well, I’m fully prepared to hand myself over to you, Agent Baines. Face the consequences of my actions.


Rocco: That whole thing with Charlotte has been a lot for you.

Scout: It was a lot for me. I can’t believe she was going to do that to my dad. I mean, she was going to ruin his reputation in the worst way possible. And then she turned around to say she was doing it for me?

Rocco: You don’t believe her?

Scout: No. No. She and Danny just hate my dad. Like everyone else.

Rocco: I don’t hate your dad. And I know you love him. I think he thinks he’s just acting in your best interest.

Scout: Well, why can’t Danny see that? He did text me to stop Charlotte.

Rocco: Because he didn’t like this particular plan. But I could totally see him blackmailing your dad if he could.

Scout: Even if that’s true, he’d be doing it so that he can see me. I’m so sick of everyone, including Danny, just using me as an excuse to go after my dad. The last thing I want is for my dad to get hurt because of me.


Danny: How am I the problem in this situation? I’m standing up to Drew because he’s a bully who keeps Scout locked in her room so she can’t see her family.

Cody: Literally?

Danny: Well, no, but my mom would want me to help her. But Drew’s got all of the power, so there’s nothing I can do.

Cody: Not exactly. You can actually take away Drew’s power by doing nothing.

Danny: I don’t get it.

Cody: All right, fighting against Drew puts you in the wrong. But if you just follow the rules, he can’t come at you with anything.

Danny: Where’s that gonna get me? He still won’t let me see Scout.

Cody: Yeah, I know, but it makes Drew the bad guy. Well, all you gotta do is just stay out of trouble, mind your own business, and people like Tracy and Alexis will go to bat for you and help you see your sister. The key is you can’t force it. You gotta just be cool, play the long game. Nice and calm, slow and steady, no sudden movements.

Danny: So, treat Drew like a horse?

Cody: More like a donkey. Remember, Drew’s an ass.


Carly: I made huge mistakes when I was young.

Charlotte: You did?

Carly: Yeah, all the time. I did things that I couldn’t take back. I ruined people’s lives. And I did it by using my sexuality to get what I wanted. And I didn’t care at all about the consequences for myself or for anyone else. And I’m telling you, you don’t want to do that. It sends the wrong message about who you are and what you want. And more importantly, how you expect others to treat you.

Charlotte: I didn’t think about that when I was coming up with the plan.

Carly: No. You’re so lucky that you had Scout and Rocco stop you today. I didn’t have anyone to pull me back. And I almost destroyed myself.

Charlotte: I promise I won’t try and trap Drew again.

Carly: Good. Glad to hear that.

Charlotte: Okay, I know I’m in trouble. Can I ask you a favor?

Carly: You can ask.

Charlotte: Can you please not tell my dad?


Willow: Baines is an extremely effective agent.

Valentin: Did you two work together?

Willow: Yeah. From opposing sides.

Carly: Excuse me. Hi.

Valentin: Hi.

Carly: Um, can you come to my office? Your daughter’s here.

Valentin: Something I should know?

Carly: She’s safe.

Valentin: I’ll be right there.

Willow: I gotta go. Thank you, Valentin. You’ve been helpful.

Valentin: My pleasure. Oh, something you should know. First piece of advice is free. Next one’s gonna cost you.


Britt: I get why people think I’m selfish. Because I am selfish. Probably because I’ve always had to take care of myself. But that doesn’t mean I won’t put myself on the line. I’ve done it before. And I’ll do it again. Thanks for believing in me. Too bad Jason doesn’t.


Anna: Will I be taken to Steinmauer?

Baines: No. Well, you’re a special case. You weren’t an active agent at the time of the incident. And I’ve vetted Dr. Nichols. I believe Dr. Nichols is fit to oversee your care.

Anna: To oversee my care. What? Here, in Port Charles?

Baines: As long as you agree to the WSB reviewing all of Dr. Nichols’ notes and you sign this NDA stipulating that you won’t publicly disclose anything that happened to you in the last year.

Jason: Okay, so let me get this clear. If Anna stays quiet about a rogue WSB agent who is developing a very dangerous cold fusion device, she gets to stay here and get help here.

Anna: I’ll sign. Yeah, there you go. Thank you.

Baines: I wish you good health, Miss Devane. And Mr. Morgan, WSB is glad that you are enjoying your freedom now that you’re back in Port Charles. Should we need you again, we trust that you’ll be available.

Anna: Wow. Oh. I get to stay here in Port Charles.

Jason: That’s great.

Anna: Oh, yeah. I’m surprised the WSB finally did the right thing, but I’m not gonna question it.

Jason: I’m not gonna question it either.

Anna: Yeah. This is all because Britt didn’t press charges, you know? God, would you thank her for me? I mean, I’d like to do it myself, but I don’t think she wants to hear from me.

Jason: She doesn’t want to hear from me either. We’re not together anymore.

Anna: Because of what I did?


Scout: You know, my dad is convinced that everyone is out to get him. But you know what? They kind of are.

Rocco: You think?

Scout: Yeah. Tracy, my grandma, Aunt Molly, they all say that they’re fighting with him for my own good. But it doesn’t feel good to me.

Rocco: Because you’re stuck in the middle, and that always sucks.

Scout: Totally does. And then all the fighting gets my dad overprotective. And then I end up lying to him about something I should never have to. Like hanging out with people. And it’s not like we’re hurting anybody.

Rocco: Because everyone around us is an insane drama machine. We have to keep it a secret.

Scout: At least we can talk with each other. Can you imagine having to watch all this craziness around us and having to keep it all in?

Rocco: No, I don’t want to. I’d be so overwhelmed without you.

Scout: Me too.


Cody: All right, well, now you got me all invested in what’s going on. Any news?

Danny: Nothing from Charlotte and nothing from Rocco. But at least I should be glad he texted me to tell me Charlotte was okay.

Cody: Yeah. Look, if Rocco came through for you today, maybe things between you two aren’t as bad as you thought.

Danny: Maybe. But they are different. I mean, he’s been through a lot, but since he’s been back, it’s like we’re on completely different wavelengths. We barely talk, and we used to tell each other everything.

Cody: I’ve been there.

Danny: We grew up in the same house, like brothers. Now every time I’m around him, it feels like we’re strangers, and it kills me.

Cody: Sorry, man. That’s the worst.

Danny: Yeah, I miss him. It’d be a lot worse if I didn’t have Charlotte. She’s my best friend.


Valentin: Charlotte? Everything all right?

Charlotte: Yep, totally fine.

Valentin: Well, that’s obviously not true. You want to try that again?

Charlotte: Dad, can we just go home, please?

Valentin: Yeah, all right. Come on, let’s go.

Carly: Charlotte broke into Drew’s car.


Jason: Britt said that she was working on getting you out of Wyndemere, but Sidwell and [unclear] moved you, and she didn’t know where. And that’s what she claims, anyway.

Anna: That’s what she claims? You don’t believe her?

Jason: Man. As much as I want to, I don’t. And I realized that meant that we can’t be together. Because part of loving someone is believing them, no matter what the circumstances. I can’t give Britt that.

Anna: I see.

Jason: We didn’t break up because of you, Anna. We broke up because of me.


Britt: What you really walked in on today was me feeling sorry for myself because my boyfriend and I broke up over this whole situation. He doesn’t believe I was trying to find a way to help.

Isaiah: I’m sorry to hear that.

Britt: Yeah, me too. I’ve always been terrible at relationships, so this isn’t a new feeling. But this one is rough. The whole point of being in a relationship is that you got someone who believes in you no matter what, against all odds.

Isaiah: If this person can’t take you at your word, Britt, then that’s on them. You’re better off without them.

Britt: Thanks. Doesn’t feel that way right now. But I’ll get there. Eventually.


Willow: Agent Baines, thank you for coming on such short notice.

Baines: Your message was insistent.

Willow: Well, I am sorry about that. But I’m sure you can understand why. I didn’t even get to say goodbye to my mother, let alone consult with her lawyer before she was whisked out of the country to a Supermax prison in Switzerland.

Baines: I imagine you have questions.

Willow: Just one. What does the WSB need from me to ensure that my mother is returned to Port Charles immediately?


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