08-25-2017 (Friday) The Interruption

Dante comes home to find Lulu, dressed in a baseball uniform (with a still, obvious pregnant belly); she tells him that Charlotte is with Valentin and her mom has Rocco.  Dante is thrilled they have the house to themselves; they start making out on the couch.  They talk about the last time they made love – three weeks ago on top of the dryer – and Rocco interrupting them; the doorbell rings.  It’s Valentin, with Charlotte; he says he hopes they aren’t interrupting anything.  He tells them that he had something come up so he can’t keep Charlotte tonight; he says, if all goes as he hopes, all of their lives will improve for the better.  He gloats that he may be considering leaving town, if it doesn’t go well, and would take Charlotte with him, so they should hope for the best.  Lulu tells Dante this wasn’t the romantic evening she had planned.

Nina tries to pick the perfect dress for her dinner with Valentin tonight; Nelle gets a call from Morocco.  Nelle books tickets; the flight leaves in two hours.  Nina realizes she can’t meet Valentin for dinner; she shows and tells him she “can’t do it.”  He thinks she means she can’t come back to him; she explains she can’t give him her answer tonight after all, because she has to leave town.  She tells him he is really sexy when he is frustrated, and says goodbye.  He says she’ll see him sooner than she thinks, and gets on his phone.Dillon rubs Kiki’s shoulders and offers her a margarita, poolside; she tells him she has to study.  He takes off his swimming trunks and throws them at her.  She ignores him; he stands there drinking his drink – she tells him studying is now her job.  He gets a call from Nina; she wants him to fly to Morocco tonight; he asks Kiki to come with him.  She tells him she has to stay and study; he tells her she better ace that test.

Michael asks Ned if they can talk about ELQ; apparently he made a decision Michael is not happy with, while filling in for him, and they argue about it.  Michael lets Ned know, if he is setting the groundwork for a takeover, he will have a big fight on his hands.  Ned assures him he has no interest in taking over ELQ right now; Michael asks if he would be interested in coming to work for him at ELQ.  He asks what kind of role he had in mind; Michael suggests VP of New Businenss.  Ned contemplates the offer; Michael has to go pick up Nelle.  When he gets to Crimson, Nelle tells him that she has to go to Morocco with Nina; he suggests he go with her.  He says, if he stops in to check on ELQ’s North African holdings, he can call it a business trip.  He asks Ned to sit in for him for a few more days; Ned says he’d be happy to.

Scotty tells Julian that he thinks it’s good news that the judge has come back with a decision so fast; Ava asks Griffin what he is doing there.  He says he came by to offer her support; Julian is found guilty on all three counts.  They decide to start the sentencing hearing immediately.  Julian speaks, saying he accepts responsibility and regrets the pain he has caused his children and the woman he loves; he says the judge should keep him away from them.  The judge agrees many people have suffered because of his actions; she sentences him to no less than 15 and no more than 20 years.  Alexis asks the bailiff to wait when he goes to take Julian; Julian says he hopes his going away will help her move on and forget about him.  He kisses her forehead and is taken away; Alexis breaks down crying.  As Ava stands, talking to Griffin about her brother’s sentence, a news reporter storms into the courtroom; he begins asking questions to Ava about her injury.  Griffin pushes the camera man and tells them to leave; Ava steps forward and yells at the reporter, saying he assaulted her and she is going to sue him… they leave.  Griffin smiles, and says maybe he didn’t need to protect her; it seems the old Ava Jerome is back, he says.  

08-24-2017 (Thursday) Things Change

Nina is on the phone; problems in Morrocco.  Valentin brings Charlotte to show off her new ballet outfit; Charlotte tells Nina she misses her and hugs her.  Nina says she misses her too.  Charlotte tells Nina she wants to grow up just like her; Nina tells her to do whatever she wants to do in life, adding that she and her father will support her no matter what.  Charlotte questions them not being married anymore and asks if things can go back like they were before.  Nina changes the subject; Valentin tells Charlotte her class is about to start.  Charlotte invites her to come watch her dance; Nina accepts the invitation.  Afterward, Valentin asks Nina about Charlotte’s inquiry.  She tells him she has made a decision and says she’ll give him her answer over dinner.

As Finn looks through Hayden’s office, he finds a picture of the sonogram; Anna steps in the door looking for Hayden.  She asks Finn what he knows about the diamonds Hayden got from her father; she shows Finn the diamond she got from Emma.  He says he knew nothing about it; Lucy comes in and asks Finn if he wants out of the contract on the house he and Hayden were buying, spilling the beans to Anna about Hayden leaving town.  Anna apologizes about going on about the diamonds; Finn laughs that the diamonds are really what brought he and Hayden together.  Anna fills him in on her suspicions about the diamond she has; Finn tells her he will find Hayden and then she can ask her herself.  Anna says it doesn’t seem like Hayden wants to be found.  She asks him if he will not say anything to anybody about the diamond or her investigation; he says he doesn’t know anyone to tell.  Anna says she can think of one person; she suggests go he with her to talk to Hayden’s father, Raymond Berlin.

The judge gives a stern warning to Julian for his actions and tells Scotty to restrain his client; Scotty apologizes to her.  He tells Julian he needs to get himself under control; Alexis walks in the courtroom; she asks how things are going.  Julian tells her Rudge’s testimony was damning, making it seem like he and his sister were Butch Cassidy and the Sun Dance Kid.  Scotty recounts the witnesses they have for the defense, none of which are truly reliable, including her.  Alexis tells him any witness he can call, Julian has hurt in the past.  She says any good they can do will be out done by the prosecution; Julian tells Scotty to put him on the stand and let him tell his own story.  Alexis agrees.  Julian takes the stand; Alexis watches as he recounts the events that led up to his sister’s blackmailing him.  He ends by saying that his daughter and grandchildren are safe, as is Alexis now, and if going to prison is the price he has to pay for that, he is okay with that.  Scotty announces, “the defense rests.”  Closing arguments are made and the judge retires to her chambers to deliberate.  They are called back to the courtroom within half an hour.

Jason tries to explain to Carly that things were “volatile” – she can’t believe that after twenty-four years of friendship, he and Sonny would decide to lie to her.  She is pissed to think they would treat her, like they treat the cops; she is more angry that Jason would lie to her than Sonny, saying they always trusted each other before and asking when that changed.  He tells her they now know what they have to lose; he says he couldn’t ask her to be part of a cover up when this is a life she doesn’t want to live.  She says she understands, but it makes her sad, because he used to know she was always there for him; she says she’ll get used to the fact that has changed, and agrees not to say anything about Sam’s involvement.  Jason and Sam leave; Carly tells Sonny he should have told her the truth.  He says he just got her back and didn’t want to fight; he admits he’s not perfect and Carly makes a huge deal out that.  He admits that he probably should have told her.  They discuss Jason’s newfound perspective; Sonny tells Carly that Jason turned down his offer to work with him legitimately on the distillery project because he was afraid it would send the wrong message, making it look like a front, like they were still in the business together.

Sam tells Jason she doesn’t know why she didn’t trust him; he says that infection was very powerful.  She says their connection was always so strong, she felt they could overcome anything, and this time it failed her and she doesn’t know why.  He assures her she can trust him, and she says she knows that; she just doesn’t know if she can trust herself anymore.  

08-23-2017 (Wednesday) Imaginary Friends

Carly is confused about Sam’s confession; she says Garvey is the one who shot Sonny.  Jason tries to get Sam to leave, but Sam refuses.  She tells Carly, she deserves to know what really happened.  She cries as she describes to Carly, the horror of her hallucinations and how she could have done what she did, thinking what she thought; she explains how she did it, and why, still somewhat confused herself.  She describes how sympathetic Sonny was; with the gun in her hand, he told her he would never do anything to hurt her or her family.  She explains that the gun went off when Sonny tried to take it from her hand, insisting it was NOT an accident.  She cries harder as she describes how she kicked him into the hole after pulling that trigger, and left him there to die; Sonny calls her over to him and lovingly tells her she has nothing to be sorry about.  Carly glares.  As Sonny talks to Sam, Carly just shakes her head; he points out problems others of them have had; Jason says he should have noticed and feels he wasn’t paying enough attention.  Sam says she was hiding it; she questions why she couldn’t come to him when he is the person she trusts most in this world.  Sonny points out that he was out of his mind much the same way when his bipolar would get out of control; Jason points out that she had an infection, and it is gone now.  She worries it may have left some lingering effects.  Sonny tells her it’s over now; Carly says no it’s not… “not as long as the police are investigating.”  Carly tells Sam she is completely unaccountable for her actions and says she doesn’t blame her at all, but, she turns to Sonny and Jason and tells them that she can’t believe they could keep this from her.

Franco comes out and hugs Elizabeth; she tells him she misses being there with him.  She says all the art and creativity, makes her feel at home; he tells her she should start painting again and says he wants her to think of his art studio as her art studio.  She thanks him, although she doesn’t think she will have time anytime soon.  He tells her he fears his “talent” and the darkness may have been intricately connected; he asks what if one can’t exist without the other.  She tells him that “edge” is what people love about him – he says, “in the art world.”  Liz asks what other world there is; Franco says, “our world.”  He tells her she thrills him and calms in at the same time, calls her his first “sane girlfriend” and says he doesn’t deserve her.  He says he loves the world they have created and he is terrified he is going to mess it all up; she tells him he won’t.  She points out that one of his paintings stood out to her; she says it’s lighter… even hopeful.  He gets a text from Ava; she will allow him to show his work at her gallery.  He tells Liz, though, “that one” is not for sale; he describes an imaginary friend he had as a child… this is a painting of the two of them, in their respective opposite realities.  He laughs about how the nicest thing he’s ever painted is a manifestation of his childhood psychosis.  He talks about his different interactions with this ‘friend’ clarifying with Liz that he knows now that he was just imaginary; she says she loves the painting, and loves the story behind it.

Ned runs into Alexis at the Metro Court; he tells her she looks happy and says he needs her legal services.  He says he wants to update his Will; he wants to add Olivia and Leo – with Leo as his son.  He asks her if she would help him convince Julian to agree to the adoption; she says no.  He asks if that has anything to do with her still being hung up on Julian; she admits that she still loves Julian, and doesn’t know why, and knows she shouldn’t.  She deduces that she goes after men who are like her father, because her father didn’t love her; Ned tells her maybe it’s time to break that pattern.  She explains that there seems to be two sides to Julian, just like her; she knows he loves her, but that’s not enough.  She says she has to get off of this roller coaster.  Ned tells her she hasn’t been able to get out of her own way so far, but if anyone can break this cycle, it’s her; he kisses her on the cheek and leaves her sitting there.

Julian’s trial continues; the Prosecution adds someone to their witness list and Scotty objects.  The judge allows it; the people call Winston Rudge, insisting his testimony is vital to the case.  Scotty asks Julian how bad this is going to be.  Rudge gets on the stand.   He testifies that Julian says he was willing to do anything his sister needed; Scotty objects.  He’s allowed to continue; he describes Olivia and Julian’s conversations as very “conspiratorial” and describes one particular lengthy conversation between them.  He says Julian was always concerned about the legal ramifications and claims they had conversations about him claiming to be coerced, if they were ever caught.  Scotty points out that this entire testimony amounts to nothing but hearsay and points out that his client, Julian, tried to kill his sister years ago.  He also gets him to admit that sometimes he was “in the loop” and sometimes, he wasn’t; he then asks if he has any incentive for testifying today.  Rudge says he just had to make things right for Anna, Robyn, Sam and everyone else who suffered at the hands of Olivia and Julian.  Julian jumps up and tries to attack Rudge; the judge orders him restrained.  The prosecution rests.

08-22-2017 (Tuesday) To Tell the Truth

Liz calls Franco to tell him she’s off her shift; she wants to come to his loft to see what paintings where returned to him.  Ava closes the door in Franco’s face when he says he has a proposal for her; she says she has no interest in any of his hair-brained schemes.  He tells her, it’s actually her daughter’s hair-brained scheme.  She lets him in and tells him about Kiki’s idea, for her to sell his art; she says that sounds great, except she is never going to step foot in her gallery again.  She says it just reminds her of everything she lost; millions of dollars in art, not to mention her face.  He tells her his work is still in demand, especially since it’s still “up in the air” whether or not his talent left with his tumor.  He offers to up her commission, appealing to some extravagance her heart may desire; she looks over at Valentin’s business card.  Liz is surprised to see the painting Franco cut up; when he comes in he tells her he cut it up because “it’s ugly” – not in its looks but in the intention and attitude behind it.  He tells her he wants to grow and evolve for her, the boys and their future; she tells him to do it then.  He says he’s afraid that he might lose her if he stops pretending the man he used to be doesn’t exist; she says the past is the past and the future is theirs, and kisses him.  Franco tells her it means a lot to him that she believes in him, adding he doesn’t ever want to go back to who he was; Liz asks what happened to him in New York.  He gets a phone call; she starts looking through his other paintings.

An officer tells Dante that Jason Morgan was at the station, waiting for him, when the gun that was in evidence went missing.  Sam tells Jason she knows Carly is going to figure things out; he tells her not to worry about it today.  Jason goes to check on Sam’s paperwork; Andre comes in to see if she wants to talk about what she did while she was sick.  She tells him there is nothing to talk about; she was sick, and now she’s not.  He tells her it’s not that simple; he says hallucinations are like dreams – some are as random as pink elephants, and others can be manifestations of the subconscious.  Sam is confused.  Jordan sees Jason at the hospital and tells him that she wants to talk to him about an incident at the station yesterday.  Sam tells Andre that she used to think Jason could survive anything, but admits that she now worries about him dying and thinks she has to protect him.  He tells her that could have contributed to the hallucinations and suggests that she still talk to someone; she tells him he is right.  Sam comes around the corner to hear Jordan questioning Jason; she tells him that she believes he is trying to impede the investigation and says she will get to the bottom of this.  Sam backs up and goes back down the hall before Jason sees her.

Jos argues with her mother about being at the construction site with Oscar; Carly tells her, outside of school, she is never going to see Oscar again.  Jos is stunned; she says she thought her mother was okay with her seeing Oscar.  Carly says that was before she found out that she snuck out with him.  Jos excuses herself to the restroom; Alexis sees Carly and sits down for a minute.  They talk about kids, particularly daughters, and how difficult they can be, acknowledging what a hard time they gave their parents and then agreeing on what a blessing they are.  Alexis leaves as Jos returns to the table.  Carly tells Jos she has changed her mind; she can see Oscar, but there will be all kinds of rules to abide by.  Joslyn hugs her mother and tells her she’s the best.  Alexis goes to see Sonny, who is now walking with a cane again; she tells him she feels like there is always going to be some boogy man lurking around waiting to jump out and wreak havoc in all of their lives.  She tells Sonny that she isn’t sure their daughter is going to be okay; Kristina partially overhears and assumes they are talking about her, and accuses her mom of running to tell her dad about Parker first chance she got.

Alexis explains that they were talking about Sam, but suggests she tell her dad about Parker.  Kristina tells him they saw her in the park and Alexis admits she and Parker “had words.”  Kristina tells them she had her own conversation with Parker afterward and reminds them both that it is her choice whether to be with Parker or not.  Her mom leaves; Kristina tells her dad she can’t hate the person who helped her see the person she is.  Sonny tells her parents just don’t want their kids to get hurt; Kristina reminds him that we learn from falling and getting back up.  They hug.  Sam shows up at Sonny’s; she tells him that Carly deserves to know the truth.  Carly walks in and says she couldn’t agree more; just before Sam says anything, Jason walk in the door asking why she left the hospital without him.  She apologizes and tells him she has to tell Carly the truth; she tells Carly she is the one who shot Sonny.

Kristina sees Valerie at Perks; Valerie tells her she is waiting for a blind date.  Curtis tells his Auntie he feels like she is up to something; she says she just wants him to meet a new friend.  He reminds her that she wasn’t supposed to try to set him up; he is surprised to see Valerie.  They explain to Stella how Curtis “completely and utterly” broke Valerie’s trust by looking at a file when investigating a case (Morgan’s death).  She apologizes and they both tell her it’s okay; they make their apologizes to each other once more and Curtis takes Stella home.  Valerie sits down; Kristina comes back to find her sitting there and has a nice talk with her about mothers.  Valerie reminds her, having lost her mom, that time is precious and shouldn’t be wasted.  Kristina says she has to get back to work, mentioning that she is not only the owner’s daughter, but she is also the boss’s ex; Valerie says they need to talk because she has some dirt to dish.  Alexis shows up; Valerie smiles when she hears her tell Kristina that she is sorry for interfering in her relationship; Alexis and Kristina hug.  Curtis sees Jordan at the hospital; she tells him that she always loved him in that jacket.  He admits his aunt tried to set him up on a blind date, but that it didn’t work out.  He tells Jordan it’s because she didn’t set him up with her.  Jordan says she has to go and tells Curtis he should find someone who makes him happy; as the elevator doors close, he says, “so should you.”

Anna takes the diamond to an appraiser, who tells her it is stolen property.  She tells him she thought it was part of the Berlin diamonds; he says it’s not one of them.  He tells her it was part of a high-profile jewelry heist; part of a set stolen in a smash and grab in Central Europe.  Anna asks if they know by whom it was carried out; he says no, but tells her the authorities will figure it out.  He shakes her hand, leaving her with the diamond.  Andre sees her; he says she looks a little distracted.  She tells him she is just thinking about her next case, smiling with intent.

08-18-2017 (Friday) Can Franco Save Ava?

Nina a Valentin meet; she makes a list of things he will need to do to win her back.  She tells him her list goes way beyond physical endurance.  He tells her he will do anything he needs to, to bring her back to him.  She mocks promises he has made before and how they all just evaporated; he swears his priorities have changed.  They look at the next item on her list, making peace with Spencer; he says he has tried, but he will keep trying.  He reminds Nina that no body was ever discovered and there is no proof that Nikolas is dead; she tells him to put that one in brackets.  Next item; Charlotte’s custody.  He tells her he is willing to entertain the idea of shared custody; he has decided that spending time with Lulu is good for Charlotte.  Nina just doesn’t buy his sincerity.  She asks if he can promise he will never to anything to disrupt their lives again, if she were to come back to him; he says no.  He says, what he can promise her is that he will never do bad things to her or Charlotte, asking if that’s enough.  She says she thinks he can do better than that; he tells her he won’t beg, and he leaves her sitting there.

Anna asks Emma why she isn’t eating her pancakes; Emma says she is stressing over giving this gift back to Spencer, so she can go out with this other boy, Leif.  Anna says she will help her pack it up and mail it back to Spencer, but she questions the diamond in the center of this little heart-shaped rock.  She thinks it might be real.  Emma asks her grandmother if she thinks Spencer was involved in “espionage” – Anna smiles.  She says she thinks he just may have gotten ahold of it without realizing it was valuable; she gives the stone back to Emma and says she will hold on to the gem.  She asks her if she thinks it could be one of Hayden’s diamonds.  She tells Anna that Nikolas did spill them once, and maybe he missed picking one up – Spencer could have found it.

Franco and Liz come back to his loft; he reminisces about good, and bad, things that happened there.  Liz says they should work on making some new memories; he tells her she should go for now.  She asks if he is trying to get rid of her; he says he just works better alone and wants to go through all of this stuff so he can get home to her.  She says okay and leaves; he grabs two cans of spray paint, a canvas, and starts spraying… he then cuts the canvas corner to corner, and accidentally cuts himself, dripping blood on the canvas.  Liz makes it to the hospital, apologizing to Griffin for being late; Anna comes in for her appointment.  She asks Liz if she can talk to her about something; she shows Liz the diamond.  Liz looks confused.  Ava dreams of kissing Griffin; she says “I need you” and takes his shirt off.  She wakes suddently, on the couch, breathing heavily; Griffin asks Kiki if she has seen Anna yet.  She tells him her mom is late for a session with Dr. Hoffman; he mentions seeing Ava last night.  Kiki goes to see her mother; she tells her she was worried.  Ava says she was just having trouble falling asleep, claiming she felt a little feverish.  Kiki feels her forehead and says she does feel warm, and insists on taking her in to be checked at the hospital.  Kiki starts to call Griffin; Ava stops her.  She tells her she isn’t his patient; Kiki says Griffin doesn’t mind and Finn isn’t available, persisting until her mother agrees to go.  However, she says, Griffin has enough on his plate without worrying about her.  They get to the hospital; Ava goes to see another doctor.  Kiki gets a text though and asks Griffin if he would look out for her mom while she’s gone.  Turns out she has a “touch of the flu” and needs to go home and lie down; Griffin says he will take her, but Ava gets defensive and tells him to leave her alone.  Liz asks what that’s all about; he says he wishes he knew.

Franco unpacks a crate of former art, I guess, and starts to paint over them all.  He mocks himself, a crazed artist who became famous – in reality, he says, he is nothing but a psycho.  As he goes to stab his next painting, Kiki yells stop.  He tells her the only reason he wanted this stuff back was to obliterate it; he doesn’t want Liz to see these paintings, ever.  She asks if that’s what the text was about – the apartment is hers; she tells him she’s happy for him, but says his art is from another time.  Picaso had his “blue period,” she says; so he had his “dark blue period.”  They may represent a part of his life he is not proud of, but it is art and it has it’s place in the world – she tells him he should give it to her mom.  She says it’s a way to turn something bad into something good; he could put the money to use for something good, saying it would redeem the paintings.  She says he owes it to the world to put his work out there and let people react to it however they will.  She reminds him that he once told her an artist doesn’t own his work; he gives it to the world.  She welcomes him back, says she missed him and leaves.  She goes back to get her mom and takes her home; Ava looks at herself in the mirror again, and wonders what anyone could ever feel for her, but pity.  Griffin tells Liz, he genuinely likes “the woman” – Liz says, if anyone can save Ava, it is him.  Franco goes to see Ava; he tells her he has a proposition for her.