General Hospital Recap: Monica Dies, Britt and Carly Clash and Trina Gets Closer to Reuniting With Kai
The September 17 episode of General Hospital was filled with tension, humor and suspicion as Britt (Kelly Thiebaud) had a scratchy reunion with Carly (Laura Wright), Michael (Rory Gibson) and Willow (Katelyn MacMullen) had an ugly confrontation, Chase (Josh Swickard) struggled with his conscience, Trina (Tabyana Ali) and Kai (Jens Austin Astrup) inched closer to reconciliation and Dante (Dominic Zamprogna) vented to Cody (Josh Kelly). But the hour will best be remembered by its poignant final scene, which featured a heartbroken Jason (Steve Burton) informing Tracy (Jane Elliot) that Monica (Leslie Charleson) had passed away. Keep reading to find out how it all went down.
Mess Haul
In the Quartermaine kitchen, Dante returned from a long run to blow off steam and was met by Chase, who wanted to discuss the link between Drew and Judge Heran. Chase thought Drew either killed her or had her killed to cover his tracks, and was convinced that keeping Willow from her kids was what Drew wanted all along.
That didn’t make sense to Dante, who noted that getting Willow’s kids back for her would make Drew look like a hero. Chase’s theory was that Drew wanted to isolate Willow from everyone but him, to make Willow completely dependent on him. Dante pointed out that if Michael or Willow had found out about the bribe, that would give them each motive to shoot Drew. “The more we dig into this, the uglier and messier it all gets,” groaned Dante.
Class Act
In the Quartermaine foyer, Brook Lynn, Tracy and Michael hyped up Wiley before his first day of school. Wiley went to answer the door when the bell rang and was thrilled when he saw that it was Willow, with Scout in tow. He threw himself into his mom’s arms. As Tracy, Michael and Brook Lynn glowered at her, Willow explained that she’d brought Scout by to get a hug from Grandma Monica before school, a yearly tradition.
Before things got too tense, Brook Lynn whisked the kids upstairs to see Monica. Tracy then accused Willow of using Monica as an excuse to see Wiley. Willow insisted that Scout had simply wanted to see her grandma. Michael failed to come to Willow’s defense, so she reminded him that their custody issues were poised to be heard by a new judge, one who would likely be more sympathetic to her as their children’s mother. “This is your chance to make nice,” Willow told Michael. “I suggest you take it.”
Tracy continued her tirade, hissing at Willow, “You have some nerve, using Monica’s granddaughter as a key to my front door.” Michael told Tracy to back off, then turned to Willow and told her that until a new judge was assigned to their case, Judge Heran’s ruling stood. “You know, I actually felt bad for you after that ruling,” he sneered. He twisted the knife by telling her that now, he wouldn’t change their custody arrangement even if he could because she was an unfit mother.
“I’m unfit?” Willow spat back. “Drew told me he thinks you’re the one who shot him!” Tracy eyed Michael as Willow added that when Michael went to prison, she would get custody of their kids and make sure that he never laid eyes on them again. Michael dismissed what she’d just said as “pure fantasy,” insisting that he hadn’t shot Drew and wasn’t going anywhere.
Brook Lynn returned with Wiley and Scout, who had successfully completed their first-day-of-school hugging tradition with Monica. Wiley was sad that they couldn’t all travel to school together, but was appeased when Willow told him that it wouldn’t be long before they got to spend “lots and lots” of time together. She shot a pointed look at Michael.
Kitchen Confidential
After Dante left, Chase flashed back to the conversation he’d had with Willow before Drew’s shooting, telling her about how he’d put in a good word for her with Judge Heran — and how Willow had told him she’d come up with a different plan to get her kids back. Brook Lynn came in and vented to her husband about the maneuver Willow had just pulled, using Scout as a means to see her own children.
Chase remained sympathetic to Willow’s plight and told Brook Lynn that Drew had done another awful thing — something that he wasn’t at liberty to tell her or Willow because it related to an ongoing police investigation. Brook Lynn softened, feeling bad for the bad position Chase was in. Chase said it was killing him to know something that would stop Willow from destroying her life, but to be unable to tell her without violating his duties as a cop. Brook Lynn reminded him that everyone had already tried and failed to talk sense into Willow. Brook Lynn worried that if he threw away his career and Willow still stayed with Drew, he’d have done it all for nothing. Whatever Chase decided to do, Brook Lynn said, she would support him. She kissed him before heading out for the day.
Later, Willow slipped into the now-empty kitchen, flashing back to the harsh words she and Michael had just exchanged. Chase returned, interrupting her reverie. Putting on a cheerful demeanor, Willow explained that Scout had left her favorite water bottle behind, so she’d come back to fetch it. Chase called her out for sneaking in through the back of the house. Willow said she’d hoped to avoid running into anyone, and Chase said Brook Lynn had filled him in on the drama from earlier. Willow asked if there was anything new in the Judge Heran investigation. Chase stammered that there wasn’t.
Honor Among Thieves
At the stables, Cody read an article on his tablet about the murder of Judge Heran and asked his adorable interloper, Outback, who he referred to as “Sandwich Stealer,” if she was a true crime fan. When the dog barked, Cody hushed it so that Tracy wouldn’t hear and get him in trouble for having an unauthorized pet on the property.
When Cody heard Dante approaching, he ordered the dog to hide (“Quick! It’s the law”). Outback ran into the other room. Cody was floored when Dante revealed that Britt was back in town, thanks to Jason. Dante went off on Britt for a bit, then took in Cody’s pained expression and apologized for how thoughtless he’d been; he forgot Cody and Britt had had a thing. Cody understood why Dante wasn’t happy Britt was back, and Dante made it clear that he would never forgive the doctor for what she did to him and Lulu. Cody defended Britt, saying she knew what she had done was wrong and had been trying to turn her life around. Dante scoffed that Britt had just let her own mother believe she was dead for two years, which in his eyes proved that she was “just as twisted and deceitful as she’d ever been.” He vented his upset that Jason had just reintroduced Britt into his family’s lives with no warning. “I gotta stay clear of this guy,” he fumed.
Rude Awakening
A disoriented Britt woke up and took in her surroundings, sighing, “I really am here. It wasn’t just a nightmare.” She let out a frustrated cry, then grumbled about Jason sticking her in a “hovel above Kelly’s or Bobbie’s or whatever they’re calling it these days.” She left to go take a shower, complaining all the while about the lack of a private bathroom. When she returned, clad in a towel, Britt realized she was locked out and threw a tantrum.
Meanwhile, Jason stopped by Bobbie’s and Carly told him they had important business to discuss: Drew was going to pin the blame for his shooting on Michael. Carly implored Jason to find a way to protect her son “because there’s a chance he may be guilty.” She explained that she didn’t have proof that Michael was the shooter but knew that Drew pushed Michael’s buttons. She also filled in Jason about how Drew had provoked Michael into punching him at the Metro Court.
Carly asked Jason to talk to Michael to see if he’d confess to him, warning him that from now on, if Jason found out something about one of her kids, he had to tell her. “No more secrets!” she cautioned. Jason looked guilty, given that he was keeping a huge secret from her about Joss. He then advised Carly not to worry — if Michael was guilty, he would do everything in his power to make sure he didn’t go down for it.
As Carly mentioned that she couldn’t believe Britt was alive, the woman in question stomped into the dining room, still clad only in a towel, to scold Jason for not telling her that his door locked automatically. Carly’s jaw dropped as she took in the sight of her half-naked patron. “Wow,” she said, standing up from her seat. “Good morning to you. All of you.”
Jason tried to explain to Carly why he hadn’t had the chance to give her the heads-up that Britt was staying in his room. Britt snarked that none of this was Carly’s business and muttered “Don’t I know it” to herself when Carly spoke of trusting Jason. The matter was her business, Carly told Britt, because she was the property’s owner.
Carly’s patience wore thin as Britt continued to disparage Bobbie’s. Britt sniffed that she had expected a warmer reception from Carly, since Britt saved Joss’s life. Carly shot back that she had been more grateful when she thought Britt had sacrificed herself for Joss. Jason played referee, reminding Carly that she had given him free reign over the room and reminding Britt that she didn’t have other housing options. He then got a call from Tracy, summoning him home, leaving the women alone to continue their scratchy reunion.
After more snippy exchanges on the subject of Jason, Britt asked Carly, “Why am I such a threat to you?” Carly laughed at the thought. “You can’t hold a candle to the history that Jason and I share, to the trust that we have,” she insisted. Britt, aware of what Jason wasn’t telling Carly about her daughter, made a mocking reference to that trust, earning a suspicious look from Carly. Britt covered, then declared that she had no desire to compete with Jason and Carly’s bond. In fact, she wanted nothing to do with Jason. Carly didn’t hide her skepticism.
Over Easy?
In Australia, Joss and Vaughn returned from surfing, with kissing and playful banter ensuing. The mood turned serious as Vaughn reminded Joss that this was the end of the line for them — the 24 hours Brennan had granted them was almost up. Joss pointed out that they’d at least be in the same city, him working under Brennan and her working undercover at PCU.
Vaughn voiced his doubt that Joss could maintain her cover. She reminded him that Jason had promised not to breathe a word. He countered that Britt didn’t have any incentive to stay quiet, but Joss thought Jason could convince Britt to keep her mouth shut. Vaughn thought that if her cover did get blown, Brennan would relocate her. The thought made Joss sad, as she didn’t want to be separated from Vaughn. Vaughn proposed that living in separate cities might make it easier on them, as the WSB rules didn’t allow them to have a relationship, “for a very good reason.” He concluded, “You and I have to figure out a way to sever our feelings for each other.” He added that he didn’t think anything would make that easy. Soon, the duo began to make love again.
Maybe Happy Ending
Kai and Trina met up for coffee. She was eager for an update on his encounter with Drew and was relieved when Kai assured her that Drew didn’t have a clue they had been in his house on the night of the shooting. Kai shared that Drew had tasked him with bringing the contents of Drew’s safe to him at the hospital, which shocked and appalled Trina. Kai explained how he had gotten out of doing so, and Trina noted that Drew still didn’t know that Heather’s test results were missing and that he no longer had blackmail material to hold over Portia.
Kai wasn’t feeling much relief, though. He fretted to Trina that he was likely to be considered a suspect, as the police know he has access to Drew’s house. He told her he didn’t think they should be seen together anymore. Trina was confident that the police wouldn’t suspect him, but Kai thought that could change if they could place him at Drew’s on the night of the shooting and didn’t want her to get in trouble because of him.
Trina reminded him that they had both been at the house that night. Besides, Trina pointed out that they had a legit reason to be seen together, since they used to date. Kai stressed the “used to” part, but Trina thought it was plausible that they could be trying to work things out. Kai didn’t want her to have to pretend to be giving him another chance. Acknowledging the big risk Kai took for her and her family, Trina said that perhaps it wasn’t a lie — maybe they really were working things out. She told Kai how bad she felt for dragging him into such a crazy situation. “No,” he corrected her. “I wanted to help.”
Trina then explained to Kai why she had decided against telling Portia about getting Heather’s medical records. They agreed they didn’t want anyone else to know they’d been at Drew’s or inside his safe — they just hoped they’d covered their tracks well enough. They went over what had happened on the night in question and they realized they’d heard Drew’s phone go off, playing the sound of Scout’s ring tone. With a start, Kai realized that he’d left the softball bat he’d grabbed in the living room. “Oh no,” groaned Kai, realizing he’d left the bat in the living room and that his fingerprints were all over it.
Eternal Slumber
Jason joined Tracy in the living room and she closed the door to ensure privacy. She informed him that she had seen Michael fleeing the scene of the crime the night Drew was shot, adding that she had no plans to tell the police. He thanked her for her discretion and assured her that he would stop Michael from going down for the crime. Tracy then reported that while she had managed to keep Monica from finding out about the shooting, it was only a matter of time before she did. She felt Monica should hear it from Jason, who agreed to break the news as gently as he could. Tracy voiced her appreciation, and Jason left to perform the difficult task.
After Tracy read the riot act to the guards over the phone for allowing Willow onto the grounds, Jason came downstairs, his eyes brimming with tears and his shoulders slumped. Tracy immediately sensed that something was wrong. “How’d she take it?” Tracy asked. “I never had to tell her,” Jason replied softly. “She was already gone.” Tracy let out a pained gasp.
Are you emotionally prepared to say good-bye to Monica? Has Kai done enough to earn a second chance with Trina? Would Jason and Carly’s friendship survive her discovery that he didn’t tell her about Joss being in the WSB? Let us know your thoughts on today’s GH in the comments below.
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