General Hospital recap for Monday, November 4, 2024: Everyone tries to figure out how to move on without Sam

In the D.A.’s office, Holly tells Robert she would understand if he couldn’t forgive her because she can’t forgive herself. She wanted to know if Robert would cut her out of his life if he couldn’t get past the fact that she withheld his daughter from him.

Maxie and Spinelli had a toast with cider because Mac took the kids out trick-or-treating for them. Maxie felt Mac would deem it a favor to him instead, and Spinelli felt Mac would let the kids have significantly more candy than they would, but Maxie corrected him, saying it would be “significantly more than I would.” There was a knock at the door, and the two ran to give candy to trick-or-treaters, but a sad-looking Jason was there instead.

In the hospital chapel, Rocco told Laura it was his fault that Sam died. She tried to reassure him that it wasn’t, but through tears, he asked his grandmother if she knew what was going through his head when Lulu and Sam were in surgery. He confessed, “If only one of them could live, I wanted it to be my mom.” She told him it was a natural reaction, but he felt that putting it out in the universe made it come true.

Sonny sat with Dante at the hospital and asked what he could do. “I don’t know,” said Dante, “Tell me how to live without her.”

Meanwhile, Alexis was with Kristina and Molly at Sam’s place, and Alexis was overcome with grief. They assured her things would be okay, but she said it wouldn’t, and while gasping for air through her tears, she said, “I know I’m supposed to be comforting you right now, but I can’t…I can’t. I’m so sorry, I don’t know how.”

Robert started, “Out of curiosity,” and Holly interrupted, “That killed the cat, you know.” He continued asking that if he never wanted to see her again, would she stay out of his life? She asked if that’s what he wanted, and he responded that there were times when he thought she was dead, and they were some of the darkest times of his life. She knew the feeling, but Robert said he wouldn’t want her to leave and asked if they would be able to rebuild their trust despite everything she’d kept from him over the years.

Drew walked into a room where Scout was and asked what she was drawing. She explained that she was drawing a picture of her, Danny, and Sam at the park, and he said it was really beautiful. He asked if she wanted to talk about her mom or if she had questions or worries and promised to always be honest with her. She asked if Sam was really gone, and he said “yes” and said he wished he didn’t have to say that. She doesn’t want her mother to be gone.

At the Quartermaines, Carly asked Danny if he was working hard. He explained that Sam always separated his Halloween candy, calling it “quality control” to ensure they were all safe to eat. He suspected she did that because she just wanted some candy. Carly told him the dentist across from her always gave out toothbrushes, and Danny felt, “That’s just wrong.” He separated the candy that Scout didn’t like. Carly complimented him for being a good brother, and he explained that Sam always said it was his job to look out for Scout, and that’s what he’s going to do.

Jason entered Maxie and Spinelli’s house and asked if the kids were there. Maxie explained they were out trick-or-treating, and when she asked if everything was okay, he said, “No.” Spinelli wanted to take the conversation into his office, but Jason insisted they both needed to hear what he said. He told them that Sam had a heart attack, and when Maxie wanted to go see her at the hospital, Jason said she couldn’t because Sam didn’t make it. Maxie was aghast, and Jason bluntly stated, “Sam died.”

Dante asked Sonny if he knew Sam was why he was alive. They recalled the PTSD Danted had from his WSB assignment and said she helped him put pieces of his life back together. Sonny admitted that while he couldn’t get through to Dante during that time, Sam was the one who did. Dante said she was his real friend, and Sonny added that it went both ways. Dante said it took a while, but they somehow ended up being each other’s “second chance.” Sonny was glad she got him through to the other side. Dante wondered who would do that this time, and Sonny said, “You.”

Molly asked Alexis to tell them what happened, but Alexis didn’t know. She was with Sam, who was fine but then never woke up. The girls were glad Alexis was with Sam in her last moments so she wasn’t alone. Alexis said, “This is not supposed to happen. I’m not supposed to lose my children.” The three hugged and cried together.

Holly told Robert he could trust that she loved him and was sorry for being cowardly about painful confrontations. She admitted to being terrified at the possibility of being rejected. She admitted she wasn’t truthful with him or herself but said it was not due to ill intent. Robert believed her. She figured if he didn’t know about Sasha and the things she kept from him, there was a chance they could have gotten back together, but Robert countered that she would eventually have had to tell him about Sasha. He said they’d still be where they are now if that happened. Holly also admitted that she knew she’d eventually have to tell him and Sasha everything because they’re both important to her.

Laura told Rocco that’s not how the universe works. It was tragic but had nothing to do with him. He was glad she always treated him like one of the kids, never as if he weren’t her son. He revealed that he and Sam had a secret handshake that no one else knew about, and Laura said it was special. They both agreed on that, and Rocco wondered how he could have had those negative thoughts. Laura asked if Sam was there at that moment and what she would say to him. He answered that Sam would have said he had no control over what happened. Laura agreed and said that Sam wouldn’t blame him and he shouldn’t blame himself.

Sonny told Dante he was in a different place than when he first got together with Sam. Dante said it was because she got him through it. Sonny said that Dante’s family was there for him. “It’s a long list of people who would do anything in their power to support you,” Sonny explained. Dante said it felt wrong, and Sonny agreed. Sonny stated that Dante and Sam were very right together. Dante knew he had to go on for the kids and worried that when he left the hospital, he’d have to start a new life without Sam. But he doesn’t know how to do that and doesn’t want to live without her.

Alexis assured Moly and Kristina that Sam loved them. Molly lamented that the last time they were all together Sam exited because, even though Sam was doing something wonderful by donating her liver to Lulu, Molly and Kristina made it all about them. Alexis said they couldn’t have foreseen what would happen and they should have no regrets, just do whatever they can to hang on to each other because the three of them are all they have. She said they would all love each other forever and not let go.

Maxie felt it shouldn’t have happened because it was Lulu’s life that was at risk, and Spinelli added that the procedure was supposed to be routine. Jason reiterated that she had a heart attack, and the doctors weren’t sure why. Maxie became teary as she recalled having texted Sam that morning and had told Georgie to save peanut butter cups so they could bring them to Sam after Halloween. Spinelli asked if the doctors really didn’t know what happened, and Jason said they were looking into it. Jason told them that they let him see her after she died to say goodbye.

Holly was angry with herself for not telling Robert that Sasha was his daughter when she learned Robert was alive. He said, “Fear’s a powerful motivator.” Holly said the longer she kept the secret, the harder it was to reveal it. Robert said he understood her impulse, and she asked if he could live with it. He countered, “Could you?” Holly admitted that the thing she feared the most over the years was seeing hatred in his eyes for keeping Sasha a secret. A flashback played where Robert laid into Holly for faking her death, and she ran off because of the hatred in his eyes. In the present, he reminded her that he forgave her for it. She said it surprised her, and he stated that if he forgave her once before, she should have known that he’d do it again.

Carly asked Danny how Trick-or-Treating was, and he admitted that while Scout had fun, he worried for Sam, who was in surgery then. He lamented that Sam didn’t get to see Scout in her costume. But when they got to the hospital, he knew something was off because Alexis looked scared. He noted that Jason had seen it and told Danny to take Scout to wait at Bobbie’s.

Carly said it must have been hard waiting, and Danny said it felt like hours while he hoped his dad would show up and say things were all right. She asked if he was scared when they didn’t know what was happening with Sam, and Danny said he held things together for Scout. Eventually, Scout convinced him to go trick-or-treating with her, and he was glad for the distraction. He speculated that Scout couldn’t even conceive of anything bad happening to her mom. “I knew something was wrong,” Danny said, “But I never thought my mom could die.”

Scout asked Drew what would happen next; who would make her lunch and take her to school? Drew answered that they would have to figure things out. He added that she needed to know she wasn’t alone and had a whole family that loved her. He listed off the Quartermaines, Danny, Rocco, Grandma Alexis, Aunt Molly, and Aunt Kristina. She added Uncle Jason, to which Drew agreed and assured her that she was surrounded by people who would do anything to help her get through it.

Scout said she just wanted her mother, and Drew stated he wished he could bring Sam back for her. He explained that it would be hard for anyone who loved Sam. When she asked if he loved Sam, Drew answered, “How could I not love her? She gave me the best gift in the whole world.” Scout understood that it was her, and he swore he would always be there for her. Scout sadly answered, “That’s what mommy always said.”

Spinelli couldn’t accept Sam’s death as reality. He said she narrowly escaped danger countless times, causing him needless worry. “Until now,” Maxie chimed in. “I can no longer rely on her cool head to keep me focused,” Spinelli said, “Benefit from her sage advice. Embark on an investigation or a caper. She couldn’t stand it when I called it that.” Maxie said they made great partners, and Spinelli added that even more, she was a great friend. Jason told Spinelli that Sam loved him. Spinelli credited Sam with being the first one to give him a chance, and she actually “saw” him. Jason said Sam helped him see Spinelli’s potential and that they were friends because of her. “And mine,” said Maxie, to which Jason replied that there were two more things he owed Sam.

Holly said she had faith in Robert but not herself. She explained that creating a con is an illusion which Robert said she excelled at. She said the reality was where she was lacking. The day-in and day-out grind was not what she was cut out for. “Domesticity is not my strong suit,” she said, adding that was why she left Sasha with her mother but supported them financially. Robert sarcastically commented that the money she gave them was legit, and Holly retorted that anyone she swindled out of money either had lots of it or did something horrible to someone else and deserved to lose their money. “Most ethical conwoman in the business,” he jokingly remarked. Holly admitted that when she learned Robert was alive, she didn’t want to dump her mess of a life in his lap. She knew he would help but was worried about the cost.

Danny was glad Scout got to go trick-or-treating and have fun before they learned the bad news. Carly praised him for putting on a brave face and giving Scout that moment of happiness. He asked if Scout would ever have another happy memory, and Carly responded that she knew Scout would. Danny said he used to love Halloween, and Carly recalled that he was Captain America for three years in a row. He said that even though he was outgrowing the suit, he kept wearing it, although Sam continued to buy him costumes. Carly told him that Sam knew Danny loved what he loved. He remarked that Sam loved peanut butter cups and said he would always try to get extra to have some for her. Carly hugged him. Because she knew Danny wouldn’t believe her, Carly chose not to tell him that everything would be okay but that he had a lot of people in his corner that loved him.

Drew said that even though Scout couldn’t see Sam, her mother would always be with her because love never goes away, even after death. He told her to continue going on, knowing Sam would never leave her. She was glad Drew was there, and so was he.

Laura told Rocco everyone had negative thoughts and feelings, and when he asked if she did, she said he would be surprised. He continued to beat himself up for his thoughts, and Laura said, “What we think and what we feel does not make us responsible for what happened.” She said that despite the heartache and tragedy, there would be a medical reason why Sam died that would have nothing to do with anything going on in his brain or his heart.

Rocco reassured Laura that he finally understood what she was saying, and she was glad, telling him that what Sam did was beautiful. “She gave your mother the most precious gift ever, and that is how I am going to remember her.” Rocco said he would, too.

Dante revealed to Sonny that he had proposed to Sam after she had woken up from surgery. Sonny didn’t ask what she said because he already knew the answer. Dante started to get teary-eyed, explaining that he felt he waited too long. Sonny asked why, and Dante explained they had it all, including happiness and a blended family of kids who loved them both. He figured since they already had a family, there was no need to rock the boat. Sonny asked what changed and Dante said, “I wanted more I wanted to make this beautiful human being my wife.” He said now there was nothing, and it was over before they could begin. Sonny put his hand on Dante’s shoulder.

Jason hugged a crying Spinelli as he exited the apartment. Somberly, Spinelli and Maxie walked back in, they held hands and cried. Alexis was headed back to the hospital to find out if the doctors knew what happened. Kristina and Molly wanted to go with her, but Molly got notified that a meal service she ordered for Sam wanted to know the start date. Kristina said they could cancel it, but Alexis said the kids would need it. However, Molly started to break down saying that despite being prepared, “Sam is gone. We’re never gonna see Sam again. How is that possible?” Alexis wrapped her arms around Molly.

Dante questioned why he didn’t propose sooner. Sonny asked if it would have made a difference. Dante said he didn’t know and thought about the memories of a ceremony and the vows they could have had. Sonny warned Dante that all the what-ifs were going to drive him crazy. Dante said it was a way of avoiding what he was scared to acknowledge. Sonny said it was going to be hard and scary moving forward.

Dante ruminated about all the missed memories that would never be made anymore, like hearing Sam’s key open the door so he knew she was home safe. Sonny explained that Dante needed to go on for the sake of the children, which would help him continue. Dante said Sonny better be right about that, to which Sonny replied, “I’m right about everything, and you know that.” A smile ran across his face, and he stated, “You’ve got them. We’ve got you.” Dante began to sob, and they hugged.

Rocco and Laura lit candles in the chapel. He asked Laura if they should pray, and when she agreed, he asked if she would help him. She held his hand and wrapped her arm around him, praying to God and giving thanks for how Sam’s love had brought everyone together. While she prayed, her words were heard while various scenes showed: Maxie and Spinelli sat and held each other while their kids sorted through Halloween candy; Jason walked into where Carly and Danny were, and Danny ran to Jason, who mouthed “thank you” to her; Scout showed Drew her finished drawing and he hugged her, and Alexis held Kristina and Molly tightly in her arms.

Laura finished the prayer, saying, “And we pray that Sam will watch over us until we see her again one day, Amen.” The scene cut to her bringing Rocco to Dante in the hospital, and father and son embraced.

Holly told Robert she thought it was best that she leave town. He didn’t think it was “best” whenever she left, but she countered that their goodbyes always meant they’d see each other again. A flashback showed Robert saying how he’s never loved anyone more than Holly. In the present, she said, “If this is our last goodbye, there’s something I need to tell you: Robert there never has been a moment where I’ve loved anyone more than I love you right now.” The two shared a passionate kiss.

Next on General Hospital

Molly tells TJ she can’t take much more.

Kristina calls someone over to their house.

Ava tells Nina not to let a man ruin her relationship with her daughter.

Robert asks Diane if she’s kidding, and she says she’s not.

Drew tells Carly he has no idea how he’s going to raise Scout.

Sasha tells Willow she has no one else to blame but herself.