General Hospital Recap: Michael’s Lie Is Exposed, Nina Makes A Deal With Jack And More
Tensions were running high on the December 16 episode of General Hospital. On the eve of Willow’s (Katelyn MacMullen) trial, Michael (Rory Gibson) and Drew (Cameron Mathison) had an intense face-off while someone overheard information that could put Michael back at the top of the suspect list! Meanwhile, Charlotte’s (Bluesy Burke) brutal honesty wrecked Lulu (Alexa Havins), Dante (Dominic Zamprogna) and Gio (Giovanni Mazza) reached a tentative compromise, and Nina (Cynthia Watros) made an arrangement with Jack (Chris McKenna). Here’s the breakdown of what happened.
The Truth Hurts
Lulu and Rocco returned home with the great news that he’d received community service rather than prison time. And while Rocco hugged Charlotte, he stiffened when Dante embraced him, not ready to forgive his father until his father forgave Gio. When a sullen Rocco retreated to his room, Dante left for the station, not wanting to be the reason the teen holed himself upstairs for the rest of the night. Giving Rocco time to cool off, Lulu checked in on how Charlotte was doing, and her daughter reiterated that she felt like a prisoner with all the extra attention that’s been focused on her. Lulu replied that they were all just concerned Valentin was going to show up, and Charlotte snapped that her father would never approach her that way. Alarmed, Lulu asked if Charlotte had been in contact with Valentin, and Charlotte replied honestly that she hadn’t seen him since Steinmauer.
As they argued over Valentin’s crimes and punishment (with Charlotte feeling that the standards were higher for her dad than for others), Charlotte revealed that she felt like she was being punished for her father’s actions. When Lulu promised that living under a microscope was temporary, Charlotte huffed that it would only end once her dad was captured and returned to prison. They then had a heart-to-heart about how much Charlotte loved and appreciated her mom, and how Lulu only wanted to help her daughter but didn’t know how. Lulu was devastated when Charlotte confided that when she thought of “home,” she thought of her father. Although apologetic for hurting her mother’s feelings, Charlotte explained that she had more memories from her life with her father — and that was neither parent’s fault. Glad that her daughter was honest about her feelings, Lulu hoped that someday Charlotte would think of home as being with her well. After Charlotte went upstairs to bed, Lulu broke down in tears. Meanwhile, in his room, Rocco sent Britt a text to let her know that he’d been sentenced to community service.
Gotta Start Somewhere
At his office at the PCPD, Dante was told by an officer that his son was there to see him. Expecting Rocco, Dante was stunned when Gio entered instead, wanting to find a way to ease the tension between them for Rocco’s sake. Each man acknowledged they’d made mistakes, and Dante asked Gio to concede that his interactions with Rocco had contributed to the teen’s problems over the last several months. Dante added that their relationship needed time to be repaired — that is, if Gio even wanted to fix it — and Gio stated that he’d never wanted Rocco to take a stand against Dante because of him. Needing to set boundaries, Dante informed Gio that he’d have to be present when the brothers visited. When Gio took offense at Dante playing babysitter, Dante expressed that he was trying to compromise. He next suggested that Gio join the family at Lulu’s house to put up the Christmas tree, and Gio thought that was a good place to start. “I think if we keep reminding ourselves that we’re doing this for Rocco, it could work,” he allowed.
A Favor For A Favor
Across town at the WSB field office, Jack demanded Nina’s help in finding Valentin, expecting her to lure her ex-husband out of hiding so he could be taken into custody. However, Nina wasn’t keen on doing Jack any favors until he made good on the one he owed her for convincing Lulu to let Charlotte visit Valentin at Steinmauer. Cashing in that chip, Nina told Jack to get rid of the prosecution’s evidence against Willow, but Jack tossed back that evidence tampering could send him to prison if discovered — and that surpassed him repaying her for running interference with Lulu.
Nina agreed to let Jack know immediately if she heard from her ex-husband as long as he scratched her back first, but that wasn’t good enough. “No, no. If I am going to make the move that keeps an alleged shooter of a sitting congressman out of prison, I am afraid I’m going to need a great deal more than that,” he taunted. Wanting to know the exact moment that Valentin reached out to Charlotte, Jack instructed Nina to take advantage of the distance between the teen and Lulu by being the person Charlotte confided in. When Nina refused to exploit her former stepdaughter, Jack dismissed her. Having second thoughts, Nina asked what she’d get in return if she did cozy up to Charlotte, and Jack vowed to deliver exactly what she asked for. With that promise between them, Nina nodded once and left Jack’s office.
Property Hunter
Tracy questioned why no one had unpacked her family heirlooms while she was gone, so Brook Lynn had to tell her grandmother that Drew had intercepted the boxes from the delivery truck. Furious, Tracy called Drew and demanded her belongings back, but he refused since he had just as much of a right to them. Even madder after Drew hung up on her, Tracy was determined to recover the mementos that very night.
Summoning Martin to the mansion, Tracy instructed Drew’s attorney to have his client return the stolen property immediately, or else she was going to have Martin charged with felony fraud for trying to steal the estate. Stammering, Martin reminded Tracy that he’d been promised by Chase and Ned that the family wouldn’t press charges if he confessed it all to Laura, but Tracy retorted that that mercy came before his client stole family heirlooms. As Brook Lynn walked Martin to the front door, he begged her to convince Tracy to reconsider, since they both knew it would be impossible to change Drew’s mind, but she told Martin to get creative with his problem-solving before tossing him out.
Show at the Garden
Josslyn was catching up with Michael at the Metro Court Garden when Willow and Drew entered the restaurant. Josslyn wanted to throw her power around as Carly’s daughter to have them kicked out, but Michael felt that making a scene would be playing into Drew’s hands. Meanwhile, Willow felt people were staring at her and wanted to move inside, but Drew insisted they not be intimidated. Unable to eat with Michael and Josslyn glaring at her from across the restaurant, Willow picked at her food and moaned about what Michael’s family was telling Wiley and Amelia about her. Replying that Michael and Joss were just trying to throw her off her game, Drew decided they should confront the holier-than-thou siblings.
Sauntering over to Josslyn and Michael’s table with Willow at his side, Drew suggested they put their tensions aside to share space at the restaurant. He was momentarily taken aback when Michael brought up Willow’s clandestine attempt to see the kids through Chase, but covered up that he’d been unaware. Willow remained quiet as a smug Drew insisted that he saw no problem with his wife visiting the family home where she’d once lived. When Michael shared his intention to have Brook Lynn and Chase submit affidavits that Willow broke the custody arrangement, Drew retorted that Michael might not be in a position to submit anything at all by the time the visitation hearing rolled around.
After Drew escorted his wife back to their table, Josslyn commented on how twisted it was that Willow had stood silently and let Drew speak for her. Expressing his concern that Willow’s actions proved she still hadn’t learned anything, Michael worried that if Willow wasn’t convicted, he’d have to share his kids with her and Drew. Joss questioned if Michael and Willow would have stayed together had Drew not slimed his way in between them, but Michael felt that he never really knew Willow, and they wouldn’t have lasted anyway.
Back at their table, Willow apologized for not telling Drew that she’d gone to the mansion to see the kids and blamed Brook Lynn for shutting the whole thing down. Assuring his wife that she didn’t have to apologize, Drew urged her to tell him when things like that happened, so he could protect her. Shortly after, Drew stepped out to take a phone call from Martin, who advised him to return Tracy’s things before she went public about the family squabble. Again refusing, Drew reiterated that the heirlooms were just as much his as they were Tracy’s. And since Martin was already at the Q mansion, there was something Drew wanted him to do.
On her way out of the restaurant, Joss approached Drew and Willow’s table and informed her former sister-in-law that she was no innocent victim and had no one to blame for herself for whatever consequences came her way during her trial for attempted murder. Seeing how upset Willow was after Josslyn’s diatribe, Drew reassured his wife that they’d prove her innocence and she’d regain custody once she was exonerated. “That is all I’m living for,” she stated sadly.
Dark Shadows
After dinner with Josslyn, Michael returned home and ran into Tracy in the kitchen. As Tracy complained how nobody had called her while Ned was fighting for his life, a figure watched them from outside the kitchen door. Tracy also revealed that she was glad to be home, but she would have stayed in Europe if it meant she didn’t have to testify at Willow’s trial. As the person eavesdropped, Michael updated Tracy about the new evidence that was uncovered just when it appeared that the charges against Willow were going to be dropped. When Michael added that he wasn’t looking forward to testifying, Tracy questioned if that was because he didn’t want to send the mother of his children to prison… or if he was worried about perjuring himself on the stand since she’d seen him parked in front of the house just before she found Drew lying on the floor with two bullet holes in his back.
Do you think it was Martin eavesdropping on Tracy and Michael, or someone else? Will Gio and Dante be able to find a middle ground? Do you believe Nina will betray Charlotte to save Willow? Share your theories and predictions about GH in the comments below.
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