General Hospital Recap: Tracy Returns, Rocco Is Sentenced, Kevin Stands Up For Laura And More
The December 15 episode of General Hospital saw Tracy (Jane Elliot) return to town, Rocco (Finn Carr) receive his legal punishment, Charlotte (Bluesy Burke) share a secret, Nathan (Ryan Paevey) impart family advice to Dante (Dominic Zamprogna), Kevin (Jon Lindstrom) try to protect Laura (Genie Francis) from Sidwell (Carlo Rota), and Carly (Laura Wright) and Valentin (James Patrick Stuart) cement their revenge plan against Jack (Chris McKenna). And that’s not even all that happened! Keep on reading for all the details.
Cause and Effect
Cornering Emma at the hospital, Britt asked how Rocco was doing, but Emma accused her of only pretending to care about Rocco before storming off. Emma then caught up with Felicia, seeking advice about how she could help Gio after his falling out with Dante, since Felicia had managed to get another father/son duo, Mac and Cody, to reconcile when they weren’t speaking. Felicia explained that she’d made Mac and Cody see that they loved each other, and Emma replied that she believed Dante and Gio wanted a relationship, even if neither of them was willing to admit it. When Felicia suggested Emma find a common cause that could unite them, Emma smiled, realizing what she could do to bring them together.
Back In Action
Back from her extended spa vacation, Tracy learned from Ned and Brook Lynn that her son had had a heart attack while she was gone. Although hurt that the family had purposely kept the news from her so she wouldn’t rush home, Tracy understood Ned’s reasoning that he didn’t want her picking a fight with Olivia while they were both scared and stressed. Then, she joked with her son that he’s not allowed to die before her, and Ned declared that he had no intentions of leaving his family anytime soon, so he was changing his lifestyle. Gio had picked up fresh produce from the market, and Ned grew anxious over the way his grandson, daughter, and mother hovered while he ate an omelet. Brook Lynn called their overbearing concern a tribute to how much they all loved him, and Tracy ushered Ned upstairs to take his daily nap.
Returning to the kitchen, Tracy thanked Brook Lynn and Gio for taking care of Ned and remarked that she was happy to see mother and son getting along so well. Emma then arrived and shared with Gio that she felt the best way he could make things better for Rocco was to find a way to make things right with Dante.
Born To Run
Dante planned to take Rocco to the courthouse for his hearing so that Lulu could stay behind with Charlotte, but the teen didn’t want to be around his dad until Dante forgave Gio. Rocco got huffy when Dante snapped that he’d have a say in things when he wasn’t breaking the law. Defusing the tension between father and son, Lulu sent Rocco upstairs to change his shoes, then blasted Dante for being too hard on the teen. Afraid that Rocco was going to take on more responsibility for the break-in just to spite his father, Lulu declared that she would accompany him to the courthouse instead.
Outside, Charlotte told Nathan that the cops were wasting their time by guarding the house, because her father wouldn’t show up there. Danny then arrived, since he and Charlotte were planning to support Rocco at his meeting with the judge, but Nathan didn’t think it was a good idea for his co-conspirators to be present. Later, Charlotte let it slip to Danny that she’d wanted to do something to help Rocco before she went away. When Danny questioned where she was going, Charlotte swore him to secrecy before revealing that she got a message from Valentin to wait for him, so she might be leaving Port Charles. But, she also confided, she wasn’t sure if she actually wanted to leave town or not. In the past, she only had her father to count on, Charlotte explained, but now that she had her mom, Danny, and Rocco, she’d miss them all if she left.
After Lulu and Rocco left, Dante confided to Nathan that if things didn’t go their way at the hearing, he’d feel like it would be his fault. Explaining how everything that’s happened with Gio has brought up the resentment Rocco had from when Dante abandoned the family, Dante acknowledged that even though he thought he was doing the right thing at the time, he had no idea how much his absence affected Rocco until his son recently said something. And now, Rocco was pushing him away, he lamented. Suggesting his friend go back to basics to fix his relationship with Rocco, Nathan questioned what Dante would have to do to make things better between them.
Sentence Served
Ahead of Rocco’s hearing, Justine called Sonny to her office and expressed how badly she felt about what happened to Rocco at the detention center, especially since Dalton was nowhere to be found and no one could corroborate his claims. But when she insinuated that Sonny had something to do with Dalton’s disappearance, he suggested that the acting D.A. focus on Willow’s upcoming attempted murder trial and drop the charges against his grandson. Justine argued that it wasn’t that easy, since Rocco was also Mayor Collins’s grandson, and if it looked like she was giving him preferential treatment, the press would accuse them both of corruption.
Overhearing them arguing from the hallway, Ric entered Turner’s office. Justine hoped he could get Sonny to see that Rocco had broken a law, but Ric volleyed back that without any real evidence, the prosecution would be locking up an innocent kid… and he didn’t think Turner wanted that reputation at this stage of her career. Contemplating what Ric said, Justine suggested she and the lawyer go see the judge.
Sonny was waiting in Justine’s office when Lulu and Rocco arrived, and he reminded his grandson to be polite and respectful with the judge and not try to argue. Returning from the judge’s chambers, Ric and Justine updated the others that Rocco’s plea deal would either be 30 days of incarceration or 500 hours of community service, and it was up to the Acting DA to decide. The group moved over to Justine’s desk, where Rocco bravely acknowledged that he was wrong to trespass and apologized for how his actions impacted other people. Impressed by his statement, Justine sentenced Rocco to community service.
Press Your Luck
Sidwell invited Laura to the Metro Court Garden, but she was annoyed that he was parading her around in public when Ezra Boyle was supposed to be their go-between. Sidwell professed that their meeting was a special occasion since he was buying Sonny’s piers, and he expected Laura to endorse the sale at a press conference. Balking, Laura pointed out that she’d opposed Measure C, but Sidwell spun it that she’d opposed using eminent domain to seize the piers. This was her supporting free enterprise, he gleefully contended, and she’d take credit for brokering the deal. Then, Kevin showed up and pulled over a chair. Claiming they were having a private conversation, Sidwell tried to get him to leave, but Laura’s husband refused to leave her alone with her extortionist. When Jenz tried to laugh off his accusation as having no idea what Kevin was referring to, Laura informed him that her husband knew everything — which Sidwell said was unfortunate.
He warned Kevin that there would be ramifications — and not just politically — if anyone interfered with the agreement he’d made with Laura. When Laura pointed out that she’d made the deal with the understanding she wouldn’t have to deal directly with him, Sidwell smirked that it was a special occasion… and she didn’t have any choice. Not accepting that answer, Kevin interjected that his wife could always call Sidwell’s bluff. There were lines Laura would not cross, Kevin noted, and if Sidwell forced her to do so, he’d fully support his wife if she decided to turn herself in. Appreciating Kevin’s candor, Sidwell responded just as frankly that he needed Sonny and Laura, but not Dr. Collins. Then, with a flourish, Sidwell made moves to leave, telling Laura that he was looking forward to her press conference. Once they were alone, Laura warned her husband not to cross Sidwell again like that.
Fair Exchange
Jack informed Josslyn that while the manhunt for Valentin continued, they needed to contact Cassadine’s lawyer — a woman named Barbara Saunders — in their quest for the info he had on Sidwell and the Five Poppies. However, Jack didn’t believe Barbara actually existed because she’d entered Steinmauer with a fake ID, and a sophisticated infrared blocking technology in her eyeglasses prevented the prison’s facial recognition software from identifying her. After Jack ordered Josslyn to figure out who Barbara Saunders really was, she said she’d get started after she stopped by her mother’s house. When Jack shared that he expected a full report, Josslyn snarked that she’d brief him on Carly’s safety, but that was all.
Jack then called Britt from a blocked number, demanding her presence at the WSB office. Once she arrived, Jack alerted her that the WSB was investigating Prof. Dalton’s research — and the bureau was aware he’d been funneling data to someone at the Five Poppies resort, where she’d been working in the lab. With Dalton gone, Jack mused, Sidwell and his associates must be leaning on Britt. She tried to play it off that she didn’t know Sidwell, but Jack informed her that they were aware she was working with the criminal. He expected her to hand over her data, and if she didn’t, he’d tell Sidwell that Britt was working for the WSB the entire time she was on the project. Realizing she had the upper hand because the WSB needed her, Britt refused to just hand over her data and demanded that Jack get her medical license reinstated in exchange for her cooperation.
Ready And Waiting
Not trusting Valentin to be alone in her house, Carly took a personal day from work, but the fugitive wasn’t happy to be stuck hiding out there, away from his daughter, either… and he blamed Jack. As Valentin helped himself to coffee and cereal, he reminded Carly that the entire reason he’d sent Charlotte back to live with Lulu was that Brennan had betrayed him. Carly thought that Charlotte was thriving in Port Charles, but Valentin insisted his daughter needed him. Taking his breakfast, Valentin returned to the attic.
Later, Josslyn arrived with an angel for her mom’s tree that she’d picked up at the Christmas market. Claiming she wanted to get into the holiday spirit, Joss suggested she, Carly, and Donna have a Christmas cookie party that weekend. Figuring that the get-together was just an excuse for Joss to keep eyes on her (since the man who’d tried to kill her was on the loose), Carly declared that if Valentin was headed to Port Charles, he’d want to see Charlotte, not her. Joss had no choice but to agree when Carly suggested she and Donna bake cookies and decorate at Josslyn’s place over the weekend.
Once Josslyn left, it was safe for Valentin to come down from the attic. Carly freaked out about Donna’s safety when the fugitive asked where her younger daughter was, but Valentin proclaimed that the only person at risk (aside from him) was Brennan. Carly wondered what the plan was to get Joss out of the WSB and Jack out of their lives once and for all. Explaining how Jack wanted the illegal technology that Sidwell was developing based on Faison’s work, Valentin shared that they needed to make sure Brennan was held responsible once the project was exposed. Then, Jack would be sent to prison for treason. Carly wasn’t sure how they could get Jack to take the fall for something he wasn’t a part of, but Valentin was positive Brennan would find himself in the middle since he wanted the technology so badly. “And when he does, I’ll be ready,” Valentin asserted with a nod of his head.
Were you satisfied with Rocco’s sentence? Do you think Sidwell is going to target Kevin next? How is Carly going to juggle hiding Valentin in her house while keeping up appearances with Jack? Share your predictions about GH in the comments below!
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