John arrests Carly in Metro Court's lobby: General Hospital recap for Thursday, July 25, 2024

Outside the Quartermaine boathouse, Willow put the finishing touches on the table settings as Wiley told her that Amelia had fallen asleep. Willow began to unpack the food, so Wiley asked when his father would arrive. Willow assured her son that it would be soon because Michael would see the note that Wiley had left in the gatehouse. Moments later, Drew walked up. Willow’s eyes quickly dropped to his bare chest, which was still wet from a recent swim. Wiley ran over to greet his great-uncle, unaware of the sudden tension between the adults.

After draping a towel around his neck and picking up Wiley, Drew apologized for interrupting. He explained that he had decided to take a dip in the lake before heading to a town hall meeting in a nearby town to discuss increased funding for public libraries. Willow was impressed and praised Drew’s efforts. Just then, Michael arrived. Wiley scampered over to greet his father, while Willow and Drew stole a glance.

Michael asked if Drew was staying for dinner, but Drew collected his things and explained that he had a meeting. After a short exchange about the town hall, Drew left. Willow worried that few people would attend the meeting, but Wiley pulled her aside to show her some minnows he had spotted in the water. Michael took the opportunity to pull out his phone and call in a favor.

After dinner, Michael and Willow decided to teach Wiley a game called “rose and thorn.” They explained that the objective was to name one good thing that had happened during the day and one bad thing. Willow started things off by admitting her rose had been arranging the picnic with Wiley, while her thorn had been stepping in goose poop during the hunt for minnows. Wiley decided that his thorn was the bug bite he’d gotten on his finger, and his rose was his dad getting the note and joining them. Michael chose waking up to his alarm that morning as his thorn and spending time with his family as his rose because his family was the most important thing to him.

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Willow was touched by the loving words. As she and Michael shared a tender kiss, Drew returned and stopped when he saw them. Drew cleared his throat and apologized for the interruption. He explained that he’s misplaced his watch, so Michael and Willow jumped up to help Drew look for it. Willow found it and handed it to Drew. He looked into her eyes and caressed her hand as he took the watch from her. “Thank you,” Drew quietly said.

Willow pulled her hand back and smiled softly. Michael didn’t notice as he confessed that he’d arranged for one of ELQ’s nearby manufacturing plants to spread the word for the employees to attend the town hall with friends. Drew was grateful for Michael’s support. After Drew left, Willow admitted that it had been kind of Michael to help Drew. Michael explained that he’d done it for Willow because she believed in Drew’s candidacy. He added that she always lit up when she talked about Drew, so Willow was quick to assure Michael that she lit up for Michael, too, because she loved her husband.

Wiley ran out of the boathouse to let his parents know that Amelia was awake and eating a cookie. Michael and Willow agreed that it was time to go home, but Willow stopped Michael to tell him that she wanted to change her “rose.” Willow confessed that going home with Michael and their children and having everyone she cherished under one roof was her favorite moment of the day. Michael smiled and reached for her hand.

In the Quartermaine kitchen, Sasha served Violet “ants on a log.” It was a snack of celery sticks filled with peanut butter and sprinkled with raisins. Violet was dubious, but Sasha encouraged her to try it. “Trust me,” Sasha said. Violet took a bite and smiled. “Delicious,” Violet admitted. Pleased, Sasha revealed that it had been her favorite afterschool snack as a child.

The conversation took a serious turn when Violet asked about Sasha’s mother. Sasha shared that she’d been raised by her grandmother, who had been an amazing cook. Violet opened up about missing her father and grandfather. Violet acknowledged that she was surrounded by people, but she couldn’t wait to see her father again. Sasha empathized. Violet revealed that she’d been keeping a diary of all the things she’d been doing that she hoped to share with her father, but she’d also been writing about her private thoughts.

Sasha encouraged Violet to keep writing. When Violet admitted that it sometimes made her sad, Sasha assured her that it was normal. Sasha reminded Violet that Violet had Brook Lynn, Chase, and Sasha to talk to, and a house full of people who loved her. Violet perked up when Sasha shifted gears and invited Violet to be her apprentice in the kitchen. Sasha suggested they could make a recipe book of all the snacks that Sasha would teach Violet. Violet happily accepted.

“And you’ll be my cool grandma that will teach me everything I need to know about cooking,” Violet said with excitement. Sasha smiled, but she suggested that Violet call her a “cool aunt” instead.

At the courthouse, T.J. entered a courtroom where Molly had been working. Her surprise at seeing T.J. turned to concern when he asked if she had talked to Kristina. T.J. pulled out his phone and played the interview that Kristina and Blaze had done with Perez Hilton earlier that morning. Molly was upset after she watched Kristina’s response to Perez asking Kristina about the baby bump. “So, I’m not crazy. Kristina just claimed our child on live television,” T.J. said.

Molly confirmed that Kristina had essentially let Perez to believe that the baby was Kristina and Blaze’s child. Molly acknowledged that her sister hadn’t used those words, but Kristina hadn’t been clear about who the baby’s parents were. T.J. was certain that it had been intentional, prompting Molly to apologize because T.J. had been justified to be concerned about Kristina. T.J. assured Molly that she was not to blame. “This is all on Kristina,” he insisted.

“She wants our baby to be her baby,” Molly said with certainty. “And now -- thanks to this interview -- the whole world thinks that it is,” Molly said. Molly ranted about Kristina and Kristina’s need for attention, but she made it clear that Kristina had gone too far. T.J. assumed that Molly intended to confront Kristina, but Molly explained that it would only put Kristina on the defensive. “There’s only one way to handle this now…through the law,” Molly told T.J.

At Pentonville, Warden Hayes approached Anna and informed her that they did not have a record of a prisoner named John or Jack Brennan. Anna wanted to know where Brennan had been sent, but the warden clarified that Brennan had never been incarcerated at Pentonville. Stunned, Anna pulled out her phone and listed the dates that Brennan had been arrested and sent to Pentonville. She also provided dates for her visits and the dates of Brennan’s attack and his transfer back to Pentonville following Brennan’s hospital stay, but the warden was unfazed.

“My apologies, but our records don’t match yours,” Warden Hayes told Anna. Anna threatened to subpoena the guards and the man who had attacked Brennan, but the warden doubted anyone would remember Brennan. The warden claimed that, according to their records, there was no supporting documentation that Brennan had ever been there.

In Ava’s suite at Metro Court, Ava assured John that she wanted to see Sonny brought to justice. “But many others have tried and failed,” she said. “What makes you think you have what you need to take him down?” she asked. John shared that he had a lynchpin witness who knew everything, but they needed to be persuaded to testify. John was confident the witness would eventually capitulate because John had taken steps to turn the pressure up by sending the witness far from Port Charles.

Confused, Ava wondered why sending the witness away would help John’s cause, so John explained that it was against the witness’ wishes. He conceded that it didn’t really matter because the witness’ departure would throw Sonny off-kilter and make Sonny more unstable and volatile. “I like the sound of that,” Ava said with a smile. John promised that it would show Sonny to be unfit as a parent and spare Ava from having to lift a finger. Ava sat down next to John on the sofa and thanked him.

John and Ava talked about their first meeting and how different things were between them. As they gazed into each other’s eyes, sparks flew, and they shared a passionate kiss. Eventually, Ava pulled away from the kiss and offered John a cocktail. When John discovered that she only had vodka on hand, he decided to fetch a bottle of scotch from his room. After a quick kiss, he left. “Really, Ava?” An FBI agent?” she asked as she poured herself a drink. “At least you keep things interesting,” she decided.

John approached his door, but his keycard was rejected. After several tries, John decided to go to the front desk.

Outside Metro Court, Diane thanked Sonny for meeting her there. Sonny’s mood quickly soured when she revealed that Ava had been granted court-ordered visitation. “Shut it down,” Sonny demanded. Diane explained that it would be impossible, and she urged Sonny not to ask for supervised visitation because it might give the appearance that he was trying to punish Ava by keeping Avery from her. Sonny argued that Ava would be the one weaponizing their daughter because Ava would fill Avery’s head with lies about him.

Diane reminded Sonny that Ava was quick to play the victim, so it was important for him to take the high road. Sonny told Diane that Ava had been playing the damsel in distress for Agent John Cates. Alarmed, Diane feared that John’s testimony might tip the scales in Ava’s favor. Just then, Sonny spotted John through the hotel’s window as John headed to the front desk.

In the lobby, Carly saw a suitcase in the corner. She walked over to a clerk at the front desk and instructed the young man to let John Cates know that John had an hour to collect his suitcase, or it would be put on the street.

Nearby, Gio and Josslyn exited the elevator. Gio saw Sonny through the window and asked Josslyn who Sonny was talking to. Josslyn explained that Diane was Sonny’s lawyer. Both Gio and Josslyn agreed that the conversation looked intense. Josslyn excused herself for a minute and walked over to Carly to let Carly know that Gio and Josslyn had finished up for the day. However, Josslyn quickly realized that something was troubling her mother.

Carly explained that she had gotten some bad news, but she would talk to Josslyn about it at home. Josslyn refused to be put off, so Carly and Josslyn walked over to the seating area for privacy. Carly revealed that Jason had been forced to leave town. Seconds later, Carly saw John approach the front desk and ask for a replacement keycard. Carly excused herself and walked over to John.

After Carly sent the desk clerk on break, she informed John that she had evicted him from the hotel. Outraged, John demanded to know why, so Carly explained that it was her right as a co-owner of the hotel to refuse service to anyone she liked -- or hated. John suggested that Carly call Jason because he was certain that Jason would tell Carly to accommodate John. Furious, Carly told John to keep Jason’s name out of his mouth because John didn’t speak for Jason. “You would be surprised,” John told Carly.

Things quickly escalated as Carly’s temper flared. She dared John to arrest her if he thought he could get her on RICO charges and prove that she’d been a “big, bad mob boss.” John advised Carly to tread with caution, but she refused to back down. Carly denied being in the mob and committing RICO violations. Carly insisted that she wanted her day in court and accused John of being a “vindictive bastard.” John called Carly’s bluff and began to read her rights to her. Defiantly, Carly held out her wrists to be handcuffed.

Meanwhile Diane and Sonny had entered the lobby, and they watched the exchange between John and Carly from a short distance. Diane debated intervening until she saw John arrest Carly. After Diane darted over to the front desk, Anna entered the lobby and walked up to Sonny. Sonny immediately accused Anna of being in cahoots with John, but she denied it and made it clear that she did not condone Carly’s arrest. Sonny demanded that Anna stop it.

At the front desk, Josslyn ran over as John arrested Carly. Carly instructed Josslyn to go to the bus station and tell Jason about the arrest. After Gio and Josslyn left, Diane warned John that the arrest would blow up in his face, but John didn’t appear worried. Anna walked up and tried to speak up on Carly’s behalf, but John started to march Carly away. Diane promised that the charges wouldn’t stick. John stopped. “You want to bet?” he asked.

Carly and Sonny exchanged a long look until John escorted Carly out of the hotel.

At the bus station, Jason was seated on a bench as an announcement was made that the bus to Alexandria would be leaving in 30 minutes. As Jason picked up his bus ticket, he heard Danny call out to him. Surprised, Jason walked over to his son and asked how Danny had found him. Danny revealed that he had heard an announcement in the background during their phone call, so Yuri had driven Danny to the bus station and was waiting for him. Jason was impressed with Danny’s ingenuity.

Danny wanted to know where Jason was going and when he’d be back, but Jason explained that he couldn’t share that information. Jason reminded Danny about the things that had transpired at the boathouse and made it clear that he didn’t want Danny involved in that part of Jason’s life. Danny asked if Jason was still in trouble. Jason was honest as he explained that he’d made choices long before that continued to affect him. Danny wondered if his father had any regrets.

“In some way, yeah, in some way, no,” Jason said. Jason regretted that he couldn’t stay and be the father that Danny deserved. “But that’s on me,” Jason said. Danny asked Jason to call him occasionally, but Jason explained that it wouldn’t be possible. However, Jason had left the key to his motorcycle in his room above Kelly’s for Carly to give to Danny. Jason asked Danny to take care of the motorcycle, because one day, it would be Danny’s. Jason also suggested that Danny ask Sam to take him on rides, but Jason insisted that Danny wear a helmet.

Danny doubted his mother would let him ride without a helmet, and Jason agreed. Danny admitted that he would wait until Jason returned because Danny preferred riding with his father. When the announcement was made that the bus to Alexandria was boarding, Jason and Danny shared a tearful goodbye. Jason hugged his son tightly and said that he was proud of Danny. Danny assured his father that they would see each other again. Jason nodded, but Danny wanted to hear Jason say it.

“There will be a next time,” Jason said. Jason started to walk away, but Josslyn and Gio rounded the corner and called out to Jason. Jason stopped in his tracks. Josslyn ran over to him and told Jason that Carly had been arrested.