General Hospital Recap: Tracy Cautions Michael, Laura and Willow Get Leverage And More
Several characters were keeping secrets on the December 29 episode of General Hospital, while others were imparting advice. On the secrets front, Alexis (Nancy Lee Grahn) asked Scout (Cosette Abinante) to keep one … only for the tween to turn around and share the down-low info with stepmom Willow (Katelyn MacMullen). Meanwhile, Marco (Adrian Anchondo) felt guilty for not being upfront with Lucas (Van Hansis), Tracy (Jane Elliot) shared some words of wisdom with Michael (Rory Gibson), Cody (Josh Kelly) gave Danny (Asher Antonyzyn) a new outlook, and Sonny (Maurice Benard) explained to Justine (Nazneen Contractor) why things weren’t always black and white. Elsewhere, Sidwell (Carlo Rota) issued a warning to Drew (Cameron Mathison), and Jordan (Tanisha Harper) shared some hopefully useful intel with Laura (Genie Francis). A lot was packed into the episode, so keep on reading for the details!
Stay In Your Lane
During the Boxing Day party at Wyndemere, Sidwell informed Drew he was troubled by Portia’s allegations that Drew had blackmailed her and reminded the congressman that he was only useful if he remained in office. Needing to decide whether to go all-in with the congressman or cut ties immediately, Sidwell asked Jordan to use her connections with the mayor’s office to find out if there was a case being built around Drew.
Willow arrived after bringing Scout to Alexis’s house, and Lucas told Marco he wanted to retreat to their bedroom so he could avoid Mrs. Cain. Instead, Marco suggested Lucas make peace with Willow — or at least put on a mask and not let her know how he truly felt. Taking Marco’s advice, Lucas struck up a conversation with Willow about her kids after noticing that Wiley and Amelia were on the lock screen of her phone. However, their conversation quickly devolved into another spat over Willow’s children. Lucas said he’d had to move to Boston after giving Wiley up because it was too painful to be in the same city as the son he’d lost, and Willow retorted that she had no intention of giving her children up or moving away from them. Entering from another room, Drew ordered Lucas to back off from his wife. Frustrated with them both, Lucas exited. Not wanting another run-in with Lucas, Willow decided to go pick up Scout from Alexis’s house, and Drew commented that he hoped that visiting with her granddaughter had reminded Alexis what she was fighting for.
Later, Sidwell and his son made a toast to the end of a brutal year that had included the death of Marco’s mother. Marco said he was grateful for the distraction of working at Miller & Davis, but insisted that Sonny still needed to pay for Natalia’s death with his own life. When Sidwell quipped that Sonny was paying in other ways, Marco complimented his dad for pinning Dalton’s murder on Sonny and Laura, then using it for blackmail. “So now you understand why I need to keep Sonny Corinthos alive for the moment. Don’t worry, once I finish with him, he’s a dead man,” Sidwell declared, and father and son clinked their glasses.
Reconnecting with Marco, Lucas shared that he’d failed at playing nice with Willow, and Marco joked that it was a good thing Lucas was a doctor, not a lawyer. Lucas then asked his boyfriend not to wear his lawyer mask with him because he wanted all the parts of Marco, even those he wasn’t proud of. Marco replied that he loved how he could be himself around Lucas and agreed with Lucas’s assessment that their relationship was “open and honest.” But as the men hugged, guilt flashed over Marco’s face, since he knew full well that he was not being transparent with Lucas….
As Drew left Wyndemere, he reassured Sidwell that there was nothing to worry about regarding the blackmail allegations. Sidwell replied that he hoped not, since he needed the congressman to go to Washington after the new year. At that, Drew stated that Sidwell shouldn’t be so quick to send him to D.C. because there was plenty for him to do in Port Charles.
Opportunity Knocks
Kevin revealed to his wife that he got a job offer to teach for six months at a college in Dublin and wanted Laura to accompany him to Ireland. Considering she’d just gotten reelected, the timing was not ideal, Laura replied, but told her husband he should still go. Then, Jordan dropped by. While Kevin went upstairs to check on Ace, Jordan told Laura that she had some potentially useful personal information about Sidwell. Jordan proceeded to fill Laura in on how, at the Boxing Day party, Lucy seemed jealous when Sidwell was flirting with Ava. Laura and Jordan agreed that if Lucy and Ava were both competing for Sidwell’s affection, they could use that to their advantage… especially Lucy’s impulsiveness.
On her way out, Jordan noticed that something seemed off with her friend, but Laura insisted she was fine. Returning downstairs, Kevin informed his wife that he wouldn’t take the teaching position. However, Laura told him she thought they should keep all their options open, especially with Sidwell blackmailing her.
Gray Matters
Sonny ran into Justine at Café Cherie, and they discussed the spiral that the trial took during Portia’s testimony. Sonny told Justine that he thought she’d shown kindness by sparing Portia from further humiliation during cross-examination. Although Justine joked that she didn’t need a reputation for being compassionate in court, he eventually got her to agree that she didn’t enjoy watching Portia be traumatized on the witness stand. Still, Justine opined, Portia committed a crime and should pay the consequences for her actions. Sonny countered that sometimes good people make bad choices for the sake of those they love, and he’d had to shield his family from his mistakes in the past.
Sympathizing with Portia, Sonny shared that he’d been on both sides of infidelity, which was never black and white. Justine replied that was the opposite of how things operated in court, and the only mercy she could exercise was either through a plea deal before a trial or after conviction during sentencing. Sonny expressed his gratitude for the leniency she’d shown Rocco, noting that he never forgets that kind of grace shown toward someone he loves. Justine stated there was a big difference between a teenager who made a mistake and a career criminal, and there was never a gray area for repeat offenders in her courtroom. When Sonny replied that she might find herself in a position one day where she was forced to do the wrong thing for the sake of someone she loved, Justine scoffed that he could talk himself into anything. Standing up, Sonny proclaimed that he didn’t have to talk himself into anything before exiting the restaurant.
Miss You Like Crazy
Thanks to Willow, the Davis girls and Cody had a belated Christmas celebration with Scout. Alexis told Kristina that Drew’s condition for allowing the gathering was that Danny wasn’t present, but when Sam’s son happened to stop by, the siblings begged to spend time together. While Danny and Scout were in the backyard building snow people (a tradition they’d done with their mom), Alexis confided to the others that she was torn over respecting Drew and not wanting to break Danny’s heart by telling him he couldn’t stay. Once the kids came back inside, Cody asked Scout for an assist in the kitchen to make hot chocolate so Alexis, Molly, and Kristina could explain the situation to Danny. Though disappointed, Danny understood why they had to bend to Drew’s commands. He then shared an emotional farewell with his little sister as the rest of the family fought back tears.
Cody offered to drive Danny home, and once they left, Alexis hugged her granddaughter as Scout cried that she hadn’t wanted her brother to leave. Scout shared that Danny was the only one who understood what it was like to not have their mom around anymore, and Alexis assured her that Danny would always be her brother, even if things between him and her dad were complicated at the moment. Alexis then suggested that Scout not tell her dad that Danny had been there, so Drew didn’t get upset and Danny didn’t get in trouble, and Scout agreed to keep it to herself. Willow then showed up to take Scout home. When Alexis thanked Willow again for bringing Scout over, she replied that she knew how important it was to spend time with family during the holidays, and Alexis was working so hard to ensure that she could see her children. After her granddaughter’s departure, Alexis broke down in tears.
Later, Alexis told Molly and Kristina that she needed to get back in Drew’s good graces and win the trial not just for Willow’s sake, but because Scout’s future depended on it. Meanwhile, Scout shared with Willow that Danny had been at Alexis’s house and asked her stepmom not to tell her dad. “Don’t worry,” Willow promised. “You’re secret’s safe with me.”
The Long Game
At the Quartermaine mansion, Michael told Tracy that Monica would have been proud of the way she led the family through their first Christmas without her. Jacinda arrived with gifts for Wiley and Amelia, so Tracy invited Michael’s girlfriend in for a nightcap to get to know her better. When Tracy thanked Jacinda for the “gratifying” negative press Drew had experienced after the former escort’s night out with him, Jacinda explained that it had been a job that was part of her old life. Tracy applauded Michael’s girlfriend for reinventing herself as Nina’s assistant at Crimson. While Jacinda stepped out to the powder room, Michael thanked Tracy for being so kind to his girlfriend, but she replied that she needed to be kind to Jacinda since they were both lying to protect him. Plus, Tracy added, she could tell that Jacinda was falling for Michael, but he wasn’t being honest about his intentions. Speaking from personal experience with men who’d strung her along, Tracy cautioned Michael to clarify the parameters of their relationship before Jacinda got hurt.
Once Jacinda returned, Tracy said good night, and Jacinda immediately asked what his great-aunt had thought of her. Michael revealed that Tracy felt he was taking advantage of Jacinda, and although he tried to convince her otherwise, she knew he was paying Jacinda to be his alibi. Tracy was sure once the trial was over, Michael and Jacinda’s relationship would be too, he added, but his great-aunt was wrong. Jacinda admitted that she wanted to believe that, but felt like she was waiting for the other shoe to drop. Attempting to convince her that things were real between them, Michael gave Jacinda a bracelet as a belated Christmas present. She was hesitant to accept the lavish gift, but he insisted, calling it a token of his genuine and deepening affection.
Arriving back at the mansion, an angry Danny complained to Cody about the way Drew had isolated Scout from the rest of the family and how helpless he felt. Imparting advice, Cody suggested Danny play the long con and make Drew think that he was going along with all his rules while waiting for an opening to reclaim his relationship with his sister.
Do you think Michael is developing genuine feelings for Jacinda, or is it all an act? Will Willow betray Scout’s confidence and use her stepdaughter’s secret as some kind of leverage? How do you think Laura will pit Ava and Lucy against each other? Tell us what you thought about the latest episode of GH in the comments below.
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