General Hospital Recap for Friday, December 6, 2024: The verdict is in

At the courthouse, Alexis and Molly saw TJ in the hall, so Alexis went into the courtroom to give them a moment to talk. Molly thanked TJ for bringing her journal and had been reviewing some of the entries.

Ric joined Ava at the defense table. Alexis told Molly and Kristina that they had lost so much already and not to let this tear them apart. The judge came in, and the jury announced the verdict: not guilty.

Kristina was numb while the judge closed the case and told Ava she was free to go. She couldn’t speak or react as Alexis and Sonny tried to talk to her. Molly ran out of the room after TJ, who had stormed out.

Kristina finally looked at Alexis. “That’s it. It’s over?” Kristina asked. “Yes. There is no more legal recourse,” Alexis told her. Kristina simply said okay and stood up.

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In the hallway, TJ asked Molly how she really felt about the verdict. Molly carefully said that she thought Ava was despicable, but it was an accident. TJ repeated that he didn’t ask what Molly thought. He wanted to know what she felt. “Based on what you just told me, I take it you feel satisfied with the verdict,” TJ noted. He told Molly he was glad she got what she wanted and walked away. Kristina came up behind Molly and asked what TJ had meant — and what exactly was it that Molly wanted.

Molly explained that she had lost so much, and she just wanted it all to be over. As they began to argue, Molly told Kristina that she believed it was an accident and no one was to blame. “So, essentially, you believe Ava’s version of the events over mine,” Kristina clarified.

Kristina and Molly continued arguing about what happened. Molly said that blaming Ava is like blaming the duffel bag that Kristina tripped over. Molly added that nobody could have predicted what was going to happen when Kristina went to Ava’s room. She apologized as she knew she had blamed Kristina at times. “I shouldn’t have said the things I said to you at Irene’s grave. That wasn’t right,” Molly told her sister. Kristina said it didn’t help having Ric repeat it all when she was on the stand. Molly asked her to move on, but Kristina couldn’t. “You are too afraid to fight for justice for our daughter!” Kristina yelled. Molly said she was exhausted, had lost too much, and just wanted peace.

In the courtroom, Ava asked to see Avery, but Sonny told her she couldn’t. He said that she was better off without her. Alexis interrupted before Sonny could say anything else. Ric told him to continue threatening to indoctrinate Ava’s daughter so he could use it against him. Ava asked Sonny if he was really going to look her in the eye and tell her that Avery hadn’t asked for her. Ric threatened to file an emergency order immediately to have Avery removed from her home. Alexis interrupted and told Ric to knock it off. She said he should take the win and go and have some semblance of grace. Ava told Alexis she was trying to do for Avery what Alexis should have done for Kristina years ago and gotten her away from Sonny.

Alexis told Ava that no matter how Ava spun the verdict, she was still responsible for a death and suggested again that they take the win and leave. Ric countered that the jury decided his client’s fate, not Alexis or Sonny. “We’re talking about parenting, Ric. Ah, I see where we lost you,” Alexis swiped. Ric told Sonny that he would always be a criminal, so Avery would always be in danger. Ava implored Sonny to just think of Avery’s needs. Sonny reluctantly told Ava she could see Avery the next day and told her to come by late afternoon.

Alexis and Sonny came into the hallway as Kristina told Molly she understood that she could focus on finding peace and moving on because she had never really been Adela’s mother. “I’m done. We’re done,” Molly said before walking off.

At the hospital, Elizabeth updated Lucas about Lulu. “Last I heard, she’s safe and surrounded by family,” Liz told him. Lucas wondered if that meant Lucky was sticking around. She shared that Lucky wanted to stay in town in part for Lulu but also to be there for Elizabeth in case she’s found at fault for Sam’s death.

Elizabeth shared with Lucas that she was under review because she was the nurse assigned to Sam the day that she died. Lucas was called away to be invited to an exclusive symposium in Miami. Brad overheard Lucas telling Elizabeth the details.

In the hospital break room, Brad shared that it hurt to see Lucas at work, knowing he couldn’t be with him. He wondered if he was crazy to put himself through it but thought he deserved the pain. Stella puts her hand on Brad’s and told him he’s only human.

Brad noted that he’d made a lot of mistakes; Stella corrected him and said they were called crimes. She advised him to make the changes he needed to be for himself, not for Lucas. “Be genuinely remorseful and do better,” Stella added.

Trina told Kai she had been reading his insights for the project and found them interesting. He told her that he needed an extension and was going to ask the professor for one. Trina was outraged that he needed to put the project aside and prioritize a game. Trina said she needed to ace that class if she wanted the life and career that she wanted. Kai explained that he couldn’t let down the school, either.

Trina noted the class would be over by the time the game happened. Trina explained that presenting the project to Professor Donohue was a can’t-miss opportunity for her. She told Kai to do what he needed to, and she would as well.

Kai asked how he could make it up to Trina. She told him he saw it as a challenge and wanted to win, but she wished he hadn’t convinced her he cared. She snidely remarked that football was more important than her needs. Trina understood that football was a passion, but art was hers. Kai wished that she wouldn’t speak about football like it was stupid. Trina asked for his notes and wanted to complete the presentation without him.

Once alone, she called Ava and left a message that she couldn’t come in for the rest of the week as she had to finish her art project. She apologized for letting her down.

At the studio, Lois was told by a makeup artist that she was a great spokesperson — now that she’s lost her accent. Brook Lynn walked up and could tell Lois was off. Maxie arrived and told Brook Lynn that they had to hit $75,000 in sales during their segment.

Maxie told Brook Lynn she had convinced Lucy that it would be better for her to focus on media and getting the word out about Lois’ spot. Maxie said they’ll lose their spot on Home & Heart if they don't succeed. Brook Lynn didn’t want to add to Lois’ pressure because she could tell something was wrong, so they didn't tell her about the sales requirement.

During the filming, Lois was promoting Deception when they got a caller named Franny. She was from Lois’ old neighborhood, and although Lois said how great it was to recognize and hear her voice, Franny told Lois she wasn’t happy to hear hers. ”I’ve called in to call you out,” Franny said. She recalled how her old friends in the neighborhood threw Lois a congratulatory party when she succeeded, and now she’s ditched her accent. “Are you ashamed of where you come from?” the woman asked.

Haven thought they should move on to another caller, but Lois stopped her. Lois told Franny that they had known each other forever. “If the way I’m talking has caused you to assume that I’m ashamed of where I come from, then this fancypants way of talking has got to go!” Lois barked. “You go, Ma,” Brook Lynn whispered from backstage.

Lois’s accent returned as she ranted into the camera that she and her voice were back. She explained to the audience that she had made a cosmetic choice with her voice, but the only deception she should be pushing is the one in her hand. She went back to selling the products and including Franny in the pitch.

Maxie asked how the sales were doing, and Brook Lynn checked on her tablet. She told her they were skyrocketing, adding that the sales went up when Lois started talking like herself again. Maxie said she wouldn’t be the one to tell Tracy she was wrong.

Lois gave one more shout-out to Franny as she and Haven signed off for the segment. Maxie and Brooklyn told them about their incredible sales figures. “How do you like them apples?” Lois asked the makeup lady as they walked by.

Brad looked up information on the symposium and then asked Portia if he could go. He pointed out that lab knowledge would be valuable for a viral diagnostician. Stella watched and listened as he pitched reasons for him to go. Portia guessed that Brad found out that Lucas was going. She told him that it was too important for the hospital that Lucas went for him to be there to try to work on his personal relationship.

After Lucas went back to work, Stella told Portia she made a big mistake. Portia said it was hard to forgive and forget what Brad had done. Stella agreed, but said he had done his time and he was trying to be a better man. Stella warned that Portia's disdain for Brad was too obvious. She said that professionally, she needed to seem more impartial.

Meanwhile, Brad went to the lab and decided to put the incriminating report in the shredder. He paused and didn't shred it, noting that he needed to convince Portia to let him go to Miami. Portia came in and surprised Brad when she said his work had been great since he returned. She thought that maybe she had been hasty about turning down his request to go to the symposium. Portia told him that she had changed her mind and he could go.

TJ returned to the hospital. He told Lucas about the trial and that he and Molly had split up. He ranted about what he had lost, yet Ava kept trucking along. Lucas said he had learned that you can’t predict how people deal with loss as everyone handles it differently.

Lucas said that when doctors were distracted, they risked their patients. He suggested that he and TJ go let out some steam in the ring. TJ said he had a lot of rage, so they joked he should just use the bag. TJ noted it was harder to figure out his feelings without Molly. Lucas told him he didn’t need to figure it out alone.