General Hospital Recap: Laura Threatens Dalton, Dante Blasts Gio, Ric Makes Alexis an Offer and More
Emotions were running high in the November 17 episode of General Hospital. Sonny (Maurice Benard) questioned Justine (Nazneen Contractor), Ric (Rick Hearst) made Alexis (Nancy Lee Grahn) an offer he hoped she couldn’t refuse, Portia (Brook Kerr) and Curtis (Donnell Turner) had an awkward conversation about her pregnancy, Trina (Tabyana Ali) made a horrific realization about her mother, Lulu (Alexa Havins) leaned on Carly (Laura Wright), Dante (Dominic Zamprogna) railed at Gio (Giovanni Mazza), Britt (Kelly Thiebaud) gave Emma (Braedyn Bruner) a reality check, and Laura (Genie Francis) regretted losing her cool with Dalton (Daniel Goddard). Here’s how it all went down!
Justice Is Blind
In the courtroom following Rocco’s arraignment, Ric told Sonny about making a deal with Turner, and Sonny lashed out at Justine for double-crossing his grandson. She tried to explain that Professor Dalton had come forward with additional evidence after she’d spoken with Ric, but Sonny didn’t care and wanted his grandson out on bail. Justine assured him that the state wouldn’t oppose bail, but Ric was skeptical about trusting her, given her behavior in court today. After Ric stalked off, Sonny informed Justine that Dalton was clearly setting up Rocco — and she was falling for it. Justine insisted she was just doing her job, but Sonny countered that if she was, she would be investigating Dalton’s claims, given that Rocco insisted he hadn’t done damage to the lab. Justine wondered how sure Sonny was that his grandson was telling the truth. He declared that he knew his grandson, and he was a good kid.
Justine noted the photos that Dalton provided, and Sonny pointed out that the cops had never actually investigated the lab, He insisted that Dalton was hiding something and framing Rocco to keep it quiet. Justine admitted she wasn’t happy about prosecuting Rocco, but it was her job. Sonny argued that things aren’t always black and white, and sometimes the system fails. She assured him that Dalton’s evidence would be thoroughly investigated, and given that Rocco was a sympathetic figure, the jury might side with him. When she reminded him once again that it was her job to prosecute the case on Dalton’s behalf, Sonny wondered if it was just that or if she was hoping to advance her career.
Quid Pro Quo
At her law office, Alexis met with Felicia to go over the investigation into Portia. She wondered when the doctor could have gotten Edward’s gun, and Felicia revealed that Portia had visited Monica twice a week with hospital updates. Next, Alexis questioned what Portia’s motive would be to shoot Drew and tasked Felicia with finding that out so she could have more potential suspects (in addition to Michael) to help create reasonable doubt for Willow. Ric arrived to speak with Alexis, so Felicia said her goodbyes.
Alexis remarked how surprising it was that Ric was representing Rocco, given how much Sonny hates him. Ric explained he and his brother were making peace for their daughters’ sake and suggested that he and Alexis do the same. He then revealed that he’d heard Danny and Charlotte were with Rocco in the lab, and he needed them to come forward to help his client. Alexis shut that down immediately because Danny coming forward would be terrible for him, and she couldn’t trust Ric’s promises that he would protect her grandson. Ric tried sweetening the deal by helping her clear Willow’s name by giving her another suspect: Portia. Intrigued, Alexis inquired why she would have shot Drew.
To Tell the Truth
Kai rushed to the gallery to check on Trina, who informed him that she wanted to tell her parents that they were at Drew’s house the night the congressman was shot. He wondered what changed her mind, and Trina ranted about Jordan stealing her father away from her mother before noting that it was Drew who had created the strain between her parents. She believed that if she could assure them the blackmail evidence was gone, that strain would disappear and they would stay together.
Kai gently suggested that perhaps the blackmail wasn’t what drove her parents apart, noting that without the evidence, Drew hadn’t come after Curtis and Portia in a while. So Trina began wondering what else could be keeping her parents apart, aside from Jordan. Kai tentatively reminded her that they didn’t see the shooter that night, and while Curtis had an alibi, Portia didn’t. Trina couldn’t believe he was talking about the possibility that her mother, the doctor, had tried to take a life, and wondered if she even knew her parents at all. Kai assured Trina that her parents love her, so if she told them she was at Drew’s that night, they might tell her the truth, adding, “And is that a truth you really want to know?”
Baby Talk
At the hospital, Portia was looking at a sonogram picture and reassuring her unborn baby that things would work out when Curtis arrived to ask about her checkup. She hid the sonogram and reported that everything looked good. Curtis was excited to tell everyone they’re expecting, but she reminded him that her age meant the pregnancy came with higher risks, so she wanted to make sure the baby was completely safe before revealing it. Curtis confided to her that Stella had figured out that she was pregnant, but was more concerned about their divorce and hoped they would reconcile. Portia couldn’t believe he would think about staying together for the sake of the baby and revealed she’d seen him kissing Jordan the other day. Curtis apologized, but Portia understood that they had split up and he was going his own way, which was back to Jordan. Curtis argued that they didn’t work as a couple, but they could still work as parents. Portia thanked him for the heads-up about Stella, and Curtis was about to let her get back to work until he spotted the sonogram. She reluctantly handed it over and shared that it’s too early to tell if it’s a boy or a girl. “Whoever they are, they’re just perfect,” he declared happily. He asked if he could keep it, and when she hesitantly agreed, Curtis walked out into the hallway, looking at the image and crying.
A Shoulder To Cry On
Carly was cleaning up a table at Bobbie’s when Lulu rushed in, frantic because Rocco had been charged with felonies that the teen swore he didn’t commit. Carly urged her to do whatever it takes to save her son because prison would change him. Lulu revealed that she could prove that Dalton’s claims about the vandalism were false if Danny and Charlotte came forward. She hoped that their testimony could help clear Rocco, but also feared they’d just get in trouble themselves, and didn’t want to do anything until she knew they’d be safe. She started crying as she apologized to Carly for what had happened back when Michael was convicted of killing Claudia. “Dante and I were sure we were doing the right thing,” she sobbed. “We thought we knew what would happen in that courtroom, that Michael would be okay. We were so wrong!”
Tearing up, Carly hugged Lulu, who insisted she couldn’t be wrong again because “Rocco has too much to lose.”
The Blame Game
Gio and Emma arrived at the hospital looking for Dante when Britt appeared and grabbed Emma’s arm, demanding to talk one on one. Gio offered to stay, but Emma assured him she’d be fine, so he got in the elevator. Britt informed Emma that she knew she was the one who got Rocco to steal the key fob out of her bag, so it was her fault that Rocco was in jail. Emma argued that Rocco could make his own decisions, and Britt then realized that the interest that he’d shown in her since finding out she was working for Dalton was all an act.
Emma confided that Rocco does actually like her and wants to get to know her, so Britt assumed Emma had been telling him all the terrible things about her. “Actually, the first time Rocco ever asked me about you, I told him that he should get to know you for himself,” Emma replied. “And maybe you’d changed from The Britch who threw my doll on the barbecue when I was a kid. Jury’s still out on that one.” When Britt continued to blame her for putting Rocco in prison, Emma declared she was done trying to make her feel better. As Emma walked away, Britt angrily told her that the next time she wanted to come at her to do it herself and not use a child. Emma repeated that she was sorry, but Britt said that, as someone who has made a lot of screw-ups, sometimes an apology doesn’t cut it, and you have to just live with the mistake.
Oh Brother
Dante ran into Brook Lynn at the hospital and told her about Rocco’s arraignment and how he had been helpless as the cops took his son to jail. As Brook Lynn wondered how Rocco got involved in something like that, Gio got off the elevator and interrupted to announce, “It was me.” He explained to Dante that he had teamed up with Emma to get into Dalton’s lab to prove he was doing illegal testing on animals. He and Emma had recruited Danny, Rocco, and Charlotte to help with a distraction while they broke in. But Dante pointed out that he and Emma hadn’t broken in; his brother did.
Gio tried to explain that they’d called the whole thing off after Ned had his heart attack, but Dante bitterly noted that Rocco still went in his place, complaining that Gio should be the one sitting in a cell. Brook Lynn tried to defuse the situation, but Dante got emotional as he informed Gio that Rocco would do anything for him. “Maybe you don’t give a damn about being a part of his family,” Dante spat, “but all Rocco cares about is being a part of yours.” As Dante was railing at Gio for putting Rocco in danger again, Emma interrupted to insist that the plan had been her idea, not Gio’s. Then, Dante accused Gio of screwing over his little brother to impress a girl, and when he protested, Dante fumed, “You know what? Just get out of my face. Get out of my face and walk away from me, please. Please just walk away from me before I say or do something I’m gonna regret.” Gio stalked off, and Emma followed as Brook Lynn just shook her head.
The Slap Heard Round Port Charles
Liz had just finished voting when Laura arrived at the polling place with the bad news about Rocco. Nathan showed up to let Laura know he’d gotten Rocco settled in his own room at the juvenile detention facility. Laura blamed Dalton for this mess, noting that, in the beginning, the professor had said nothing about the lab being vandalized. Liz assured her the PCPD would not stop until Rocco was cleared, and Laura took a breath and excused herself to cast her vote. After that was done, Laura thanked Nathan for his help with Rocco and was about to grab lunch with Liz when Dalton strode in and gloated about how it would be difficult for Laura to protect her grandson now that she’d lost the election.
Laura reminded the professor that the votes hadn’t been counted yet, and she didn’t need to be mayor to protect her family. When Dalton taunted that Rocco and Sonny could now swap prison stories, Laura lost it and accused him of manipulating the situation. The other citizens in the room were watching, some recording on their phones as Dalton claimed he was the victim and Laura angrily declared, “No you’re not. You are a liar!” Dalton accused her of using her mayoral power to help her grandson skate, and when she laid into him about railroading an innocent teenager, he loudly wondered in front of all the spectators if she was threatening him. Laura accused him of faking the damage to his lab and promised to fight him with everything she had. When Dalton continued looking around the room during her rant, Laura shouted, “Look at me!” and slapped him across the face to get his attention. “You are trying to frame my grandson for a crime that he did not commit,” she hissed. “And I promise you, that will not end well for you.” But then Laura followed Dalton’s gaze and saw all the assembled voters, many of them recording with their phones, and her face fell.
Will Laura’s outburst cost her the mayoral election? Can Ric and Lulu protect Danny and Charlotte if they come forward to help Rocco? Should Sonny use his influence with Justine to help his grandson? Share your GH predictions and opinions in the comments below!
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