In Paris, France, Spencer escorted Trina to a glamorous restaurant for a romantic dinner. Trina said that she loved everything about Paris, but she noted that Spencer had left her in suspense about his plans for the evening. Spencer teased that he had a surprise. When Spencer seemed distracted, Trina asked what was on his mind.
Spencer noted that the restaurant offered black gold caviar, and he recalled having once pleaded with Nikolas to try caviar many years earlier. Spencer said that he hoped Ace would grow up to be more grounded than Spencer had. Trina offered that Nikolas had perhaps learned a lot from watching Spencer. When Spencer said that he didn't want to ruin his and Trina's night, Trina said that she wanted to hear Spencer's stories and to share in his troubles. "That's what couples do," Trina said.
As he reached for Trina's hand, Spencer said that he was still getting accustomed to being in a healthy relationship, and he teased that Trina would have to be patient with him. "Of course. I love you," Trina said softly. "And I love you, Mademoiselle Robinson," Spencer quipped with a slight French accent.
When dinner arrived, Spencer told Trina that he wanted to learn what his passion was while the couple was in Paris, and he mentioned cooking as a possibility. Spencer recalled the last time he had been in Paris before returning to Port Charles in the summer of 2021, and he rued that he had wasted a lot of time with his anger toward Nikolas and Ava. Trina noted that Esme had enabled and stoked Spencer's anger, as well as having manipulated him. Spencer said that he was glad that he and Trina could put Esme behind them.
Trina said that Spencer hadn't deserved the things that Esme had done to him. "How do you do that? You're so supportive. You're so sweet. And you're so hot. You make me want to be better," Spencer said. "Well, I think you're pretty amazing," Trina replied. Spencer thanked Trina, but he said that there was still "room for improvement." "You'll get there," Trina said reassuringly.
After dinner, Spencer prepared to escort Trina out of the restaurant. "Merci, monsieur. Where are we off to?" Trina asked. "The rest of our lives," Spencer said confidently as he took Trina by the hands.
In Kevin's room at the hospital, Kevin confirmed to Laura that Esme had knocked him unconscious. Laura soon grew tearful over Esme, and she claimed that Esme was a good mother. Laura implied that Nikolas was solely to blame for Esme being "pushed over the edge" after Esme had regained her memories.
Kevin said that he believed Esme would have gone in search of Nikolas instead of heading to Toronto. Detective Bennett entered to take Kevin's statement. During the interview, Kevin had a memory of finding Esme using the Invader's corporate credit card. Laura called Alexis to ask her to visit.
In Toronto, Dante, Chase, and a Canadian police officer were welcomed into an apartment belonging to Maggie Fitzgerald, Esme's former nanny. After sharing the police's belief that Esme had gone to see Maggie, Dante was dismayed when Maggie revealed that she hadn't seen Esme in years. Dante recalled that the police had received a letter that Maggie had supposedly written to Esme with an invitation to visit Maggie in Canada.
Maggie was adamant that she had never extended an invitation for Esme to visit, and she noted that Esme was a troubled person with a criminal record. Chase returned following a search of the apartment, and he confirmed that there was no sign that Esme had ever been at the apartment. Dante asked if Maggie had any idea where Esme might be. Maggie said that Esme had been determined to reunite with her family in the last correspondence she had shared with Esme. Dante and Chase stepped out of the room to strategize on where Esme might be.
Back in Kevin's room at the hospital, Alexis learned from a transaction statement that Esme had used the Invader's corporate credit card to book a flight to Paris. "Oh, my God. She's going after Spencer and Trina," Laura realized.
At the same time, Spencer and Trina stood under the night sky of Paris. Spencer held Trina as they looked up at the stars together. "Take it all in, Trina. It's all for us," Spencer said as he kissed Trina on the cheek. "I can't believe that this is really happening," Trina said as Spencer cradled her in his arms.
Spencer asked if Trina was ready for their next surprise. "I don't need a surprise. I've got you. That's all I could ever need," Trina said softly as she and Spencer kissed. After Spencer and Trina walked away, Esme appeared from behind a nearby wall. Esme proceeded to follow Spencer and Trina.
Elsewhere at the hospital, Stella tried to discourage Curtis when he told a physical therapist that he wanted to try to stand. Curtis stood on the handle bars and tried to walk, but he quickly collapsed backwards into his wheelchair. Stella asked Curtis' physical therapist for a moment alone with Curtis, who said that it had been a mistake to try to stand so suddenly.
Stella encouraged Curtis not to give up. Portia entered, and she shared that Kevin was awake. Curtis asked if Portia had learned anything about Esme's whereabouts. Portia claimed that she was "done" with Esme and that she hoped Esme would soon be found and sent to prison. The physical therapist returned to help Curtis finish his session. Stella and Portia gushed about Curtis' progress.
At the courthouse, Alexis and Tracy joined Elizabeth, Martin, and Gregory to support and reassure Finn. Tracy said that Finn was "such a good doctor." Elizabeth said that Finn had been "used as a scapegoat." During a court recess, Mrs. Muldoon approached Finn to say that the malpractice suit had been her husband's idea. Later, Elizabeth, Tracy, Martin, and others encouraged Finn to accuse Mrs. Muldoon of fraud. When court reconvened, Martin pressed Finn for a decision.
At the hospital, Laura told Curtis, Portia, and Marshall that the PCPD had obtained security footage of Esme boarding a flight for Paris. Portia insisted Spencer was solely to blame for Trina being in danger. Laura shared that Ned had arranged for ELQ's private jet to fly her to Paris. Curtis and Portia insisted that they join Laura on the flight. The three of them left for the airport together.
On the deck of a ship on the banks of the Seine in Paris, France, Trina was astonished to discover that Spencer had arranged for a private cruise. Nearby, Esme lurked in the shadows. She unzipped a backpack and produced a long syringe.
Trina offered a heartfelt admission to Spencer. "Since being with you, I've gotten to experience the most amazing things. And not just this trip and all the amazing things we've done in Paris, or all the fantastic things you planned in New York to show how well you know me. But the entire feeling of being with you... of loving you... and being loved by you in return, it's the most amazing thing. And it's all because of you and the incredible person you are," Trina said affectionately.
Spencer took Trina by the hands as he gazed into her eyes. "You've done that for me a thousand times over. You know that, right? Before you, all I could see was pain. And you opened my eyes to a whole new world. You showed me that there's so much more to feel, and you taught me that I'm a person that's worthy of love. With you, every day has been so much better. Every single one is better than the last. You're everything that I always wanted and never believed that I could have. And I'm going to love you for the rest of my life," Spencer declared. Trina and Spencer kissed.
Moments later, Spencer received a call from Laura, who tried to warn that Esme had followed Spencer and Trina to Paris. The call dropped before Spencer could learn of Laura's warning. Nearby, a ship captain spotted Esme, and he tried to escort her off the ship. Esme grabbed a fire extinguisher, and she knocked the man unconscious.
Inside a stateroom, Trina marveled when she saw the accommodations that Spencer had made. Spencer teased that he preferred a New York hotel room, and he referenced the couple's first time making love the previous September. When Trina teased that she couldn't remember what had happened in New York, Spencer quipped that he should refresh her memory. Spencer added that he had something special planned for the following day.
Trina soon yawned, and she showed signs of growing sleepy. Spencer noted that it had been a long day, and he told Trina that they could go to bed. "If you want," he said. Trina proceeded to kiss Spencer, and she slowly nudged him toward the bed. "I want you... today, tomorrow, and forever," Trina said as the placed her arms around Spencer's neck and stared into his eyes. Trina and Spencer kissed before falling backwards onto bed together.
Moments later, Spencer and Trina lay in bed with the lights out after having made love. "How did I ever get so lucky?" Spencer whispered as he caressed Trina. Spencer chuckled when Trina said that she wasn't asleep. Spencer said that he was hungry, and he left to grab something to eat after promising Trina that he'd be right back.
As Spencer stepped out onto the deck of the ship, he noticed a trail of blood that belonged to the ship captain that Esme had knocked unconscious. Spencer froze as he stared ahead. At the same time, back inside the stateroom, Trina stood with her back to the door as she heard someone enter. Trina froze when she turned and found that Esme had entered the room. Esme flashed a familiar smirk at Trina.
On Sonny's private island in Puerto Rico, Sonny sought to reassure Ava that she and Avery were safe from whatever threat was targeting Sonny. The conversation turned to Avery. Ava said that Sonny would have to address his situation concerning Nina with Avery. Sonny retrieved Avery, and he said that he and Nina would be living apart for a while. Avery said that she missed Nina, and she asked if she would ever see Nina again. Ava joined Sonny in reassuring Avery that Nina would always love her.
A short while later, Dex discovered that one of Sonny's guards had been knocked unconscious. As Sonny continued to reassure Ava that he wouldn't allow anything to happen to her or Avery, he heard Dex's voice call out from a walkie-talkie nearby. "Man down! Someone get eyes on Sonny and his family, now!" Dex yelled. Sonny grabbed Ava, and they rushed to hide under a table as a gunshot rang out.
At Pentonville, Anna and Jordan visited Brennan, who demanded immunity in exchange for his help in answering questions about the Metro Court pool shooting. Anna and Jordan refused. Jordan noted that the rifle that had been used in the shooting had previously been in the WSB's possession.
Brennan explained that the WSB had conducted a raid in late 2019 wherein the bureau had confiscated a cache of 500 unmarked weapons. Brennan added that the weapons had been stored in a locker at the bureau's office in Berlin before they'd disappeared en route to the WSB's headquarters in London.
Brennan said that he had only learned who was responsible for the shipment's disappearance shortly before his arrest, and he hoped to use the information to secure an immunity deal. Anna and Jordan stood up to leave. As Brennan was escorted back to his cell, he quipped that he looked forward to seeing Anna again soon. Anna looked shaken after Brennan was led away.
At the courthouse, Diane announced that Mrs. Muldoon was withdrawing the malpractice suit against Finn. The judge dismissed the case. Later, Tracy indirectly admitted that she had bribed Mrs. Muldoon. Elizabeth reassured Finn by calling him "amazing" again. Finn shrugged and said, "I'm no hero, Elizabeth." Elizabeth disagreed. She said that Finn was "the very definition of a hero."
At Metro Court, an Asian woman knocked and entered the office where Nina was working. She introduced herself as Gemma Compton, the author of a popular column called "To the Nines" that appeared in the Gazette. Nina immediately recognized the writer, and she admitted that she loved Gemma's take on things, even when Nina didn't agree. Gemma revealed that she was working on a story about the recent changes at Crimson, and she was eager to get Nina's side of the story.
Nina and Gemma sat down and talked over coffee. Gemma praised Nina's contributions to the fashion industry and the way that Nina had saved Crimson from the brink of bankruptcy. Despite the flattery, Nina made it clear that she had no intention of throwing Carly under the bus. "So, there is a bus," Gemma observed. Resigned, Nina offered a statement. "I am certain that Carly Spencer will provide a fresh new take on fashion and take the magazine in a whole new direction," Nina said. Gemma admitted that she was disappointed by Nina's response because Gemma was outraged by Nina's termination.
Nina explained that she was proud of her tenure at the magazine, and she would always remember her time there fondly. However, she admitted that she had a different view off the record. "Drew Cain is no businessman when it comes to running Aurora or Crimson. He's listening more to his -- heart than his head," Nina said. A short time later, Nina walked Gemma to the door. Gemma thanked Nina for the insight into the upheaval at Crimson, but Nina reminded Gemma that the comments had been "background."
In Carly's office at Crimson, Carly thanked Sasha, Maxie, and Brook Lynn for stopping by. Carly explained that she knew each of the ladies was close to Nina, and she acknowledged that the change in leadership at the magazine had been a surprise for everyone. Carly admitted that she had wanted to leave the lawyers out of it and work directly with Sasha, Maxie, and Brook Lynn. The conversation turned to Deception's advertising contract with Crimson, which was up for renewal. Sasha carefully expressed her concern by pointing out that running Metro Court and a diner required a different skill set than running a fashion magazine. Brook Lynn agreed, and she wondered why they should trust Carly.
Carly conceded that the questions had been fair. To Sasha and Brook Lynn's surprise, Carly revealed that she had been one of Deception's original part-owners in the 1990s. "That's right," Maxie said as she suddenly recalled Carly's history with the company. Carly assured the ladies that she had affection for Deception, and it was why she wanted to do right by the company. Sasha, Maxie, and Brook Lynn agreed to hear Carly out, but Tracy suddenly burst through the door and called a halt to things.
Tracy didn't waste any time referring to Carly as a "rank amateur," who would drive Crimson into the ground. Undaunted, Carly pointed out that she'd succeed in the past when she'd been self-taught in various business ventures. Tracy wasn't impressed, but Brook Lynn reminded her grandmother that they couldn't afford to ignore Carly's offer because they were getting ready to launch the men's line with Cody and needed all the help they could get. Tracy feared that it would hurt Deception's brand to renew the contract with an inexperienced editor in chief. Frustrated, Carly reminded Tracy that that Nina had been a "baby-stealing lunatic" when Nina had taken over the magazine and that Julian Jerome had hired Nina with the expectation that Nina would fail.
"Wow! I want to object to that characterization, but that's exactly what happened," Maxie admitted. Carly remined Tracy that Julian's gamble had paid off -- just not in the way that Julian had anticipated. Carly was certain that the same would be true for her. "I think it's an opportunity that you can't afford to miss," Carly told Tracy. Tracy suggested that they wait a few months, but Sasha, Maxie, and Brook Lynn explained that they needed to make a decision right away because work would soon begin on the April issue, which was the second biggest issue of the year next to the September issue.
Maxie, Sasha, and Brook Lynn watched silently as Carly and Tracy began to negotiate, with Tracy demanding a discounted ad rate. Eventually, Carly offered Tracy a five percent discount, but she wanted an exclusive when Deception launched their contour palette. Tracy was surprised that Carly knew about the launch, but she agreed to Carly's terms. Tracy was further impressed when Carly handed her the contract, which had been written up prior to their meeting, with all the terms that Tracy had agreed to. "Well played," Tracy said.
After Tracy left, Sasha, Maxie, and Brook Lynn all agreed that Carly had earned Tracy's respect. Carly took the opportunity to have a private word with Sasha because she knew that Sasha was close to Nina. Sasha asked Carly not to make her pick sides, so Carly agreed. Carly also acknowledged that Maxie and Nina were close because of James. Maxie admitted that she loved Nina, but Maxie was not okay with what Nina had done to Carly and Drew.
After the ladies of Deception left, Carly sat down and let out her breath. Moments later, Gemma knocked on the door. After she introduced herself to Carly, she explained that she was working on a story. To Carly's surprise, Gemma told her that she wanted to get a statement from Drew on why he had fired Nina and hired a woman with no publishing experience -- and his romantic partner -- to replace her.
In the hotel's restaurant, Lois approached Olivia at the bar because she wanted to hash things out with Olivia. Olivia insisted that she was busy, but Lois explained that it had been impossible to have a talk with Olivia at the mansion because she'd been avoiding Lois since their argument. "Fine," Olivia said. She led Lois to the small seating area in the restaurant's alcove and told her to make the apology quick because Olivia had to get back to work. Lois sat down and admitted that it had been lousy of her to blame Olivia for Sonny shooting Dante. She apologized and assured Olivia that she would take it back if she could.
However, Lois revealed that she didn't have any regrets about telling Sonny about Nina because it had been the right thing to do. Furious, Olivia reminded Lois that Olivia had told Lois about Ned's innocence in confidence, but Lois hadn't hesitated to run off and blab to Sonny. "What was I supposed to do?" Lois asked in an exasperated tone. "Not that," Olivia shot back in frustration. Lois suggested that she and Olivia owed it to their years of friendship to work out their differences, but Olivia admitted that she didn't think it was possible because their problems went deeper than Lois betraying Olivia's trust.
Olivia explained that she couldn't trust Lois because Lois' friendship with Sonny trumped her friendship with Olivia every single time. Lois denied it, but Olivia argued that Lois was always tried to score points with Sonny, even at Olivia's expense. The two women continued to argue as Lois followed Olivia to her office. Nina was seated at the desk as Olivia accused Lois of turning Sonny's life into a "Dumpster fire." Alarmed, Nina asked if something had happened to Sonny, but Lois told Nina to stay out of it. Nina insisted that she had a right to know because Sonny was her husband, but Lois asked where Nina's husband was.
"Nowhere near you, that's for sure" Lois said. Things quickly escalated as Nina demanded to know what right Lois had to interfere in Nina's life and marriage. Unapologetic, Lois insisted that she didn't let people lie to her friends, especially "Upper East Side princesses." Nina assured Lois that she'd had every intention of telling Sonny, but Lois didn't believe her. "That's enough!" Olivia shouted. Nina assumed that Olivia had been sticking up for her, but Olivia quickly dispelled that notion by insisting that Nina had no right to blame Lois for Nina's marriage falling apart.
Olivia accused Nina of going to the SEC because Nina had intended to send Carly to jail in order to get Carly away from Willow, Wiley, Amelia, and Sonny. Olivia added that Nina hadn't cared about Carly's children, especially Donna, whom Nina claimed to love. Nina argued that insider trading was illegal, and Carly was guilty. Olivia laughed and said Nina was married to Sonny. "Please, spare us all your newfound position as the queen of law and order," Olivia said.
Nina was disappointed because she had thought that Olivia was one of the few people who liked her. Olivia admitted that she did like Nina, but Nina made it hard when she went around blaming others for her own mistakes. Olivia suggested that Nina might try being humble instead. After Olivia and Lois left, Nina picked up a copy of Crimson and looked at it as tears filled her eyes. Moments later, she tossed in on the desk.
Back at the bar, Olivia and Lois made peace when Lois thanked Olivia for having her back and admitted that she'd felt threatened by Olivia and Sonny's close friendship. The two friends exchanged a warm hug, and Lois apologized again for crossing the line. Olivia admitted that she'd been unable to tell Sonny about Nina because she'd seen how happy he'd been, which was all that Olivia wanted for those she cared about.
On Sonny's island in Puerto Rico, gunshots rang out as Sonny and Ava took shelter under a patio table. A few minutes later, Dex showed up and offered cover as Sonny and Ava raced into the house. The gunfire continued as Sonny and Ava made their way to the living room and crouched behind the sofa. Ava was worried about Avery, so Sonny assured her that Avery was in her room with a bodyguard and the nanny. He pulled out his phone and showed Ava a live feed of Avery's room. Moments later, everything grew silent, and Dex appeared in the doorway to let Sonny know that the coast was clear.
Dex gave Sonny a quick update on the search for the sniper, but he stopped when he noticed blood on the palm of Ava's hand. "Ava? Were you hit," Sonny asked. Ava had been grazed by a bullet and was quickly patched up. Meanwhile, Sonny spoke to one of his men on the phone to make certain that the island was surrounded and that the sniper would not be able to escape. Ava decided to check on Avery, so Sonny instructed a guard to stay with Ava.
After Ava left, Dex assured Sonny that the residence had been secured. Sonny was furious that someone had taken a shot at him while his daughter had been present. He made it clear that he wanted the sniper found and brought to him. After Dex left, Ava returned and told him that she'd passed the gunshots off as fireworks. However, Ava remained on edge because she suspected the sniper had been the same person who had killed Austin. Sonny warned Ava that it was too soon to speculate, but Ava wanted more from Sonny.
Ava reminded Sonny that bullets had whizzed over their heads on the patio where their daughter had been showing them seashells just minutes earlier, but Sonny assured her that he would not let anything happen to Avery. Later, Dex reported back to Sonny that the sniper had vanished without a trace. Dex also revealed that he'd found an unconscious guard by the front gate prior to the shooting and that it appeared the sniper had lured the guard's partner away with a disturbance near the east wing. Sonny ordered an overhaul of his security team and protocol because he realized that the sniper had inside knowledge of his security's operations.
In Paris, on the yacht, Esme confronted Trina in the stateroom. Trina demanded to know what Esme was doing in Paris. "Well, with Ace gone, I've been all by myself," Esme said. She claimed that she had missed Spencer and Trina, but her expression said otherwise.
Meanwhile, Spencer stopped short when he saw a trail of blood on the deck of the yacht. A short time later, Spencer ran into the stateroom, calling out to Trina and frantically checking the other rooms of the cabin until Esme made her presence known. "Hello, Spence," she said. Spencer was instantly on her as he pinned her to the wall and wrapped his hands around her throat. "Where is she?" he demanded. Esme calmly advised Spencer not to snap her neck because Trina would die.
Spencer warned Esme that help was on the way, but Esme informed him that she had smashed the ship's satellite tracking system, and they would be long gone before the police arrived. He assured her that he had no intention of going anywhere with Esme, but she explained that Trina's life depended on his cooperation. Esme asked Spencer how it felt not knowing where Trina was or if she was safe. "Every second is agony, isn't it?" she asked. Esme insisted that Spencer's pain didn't compare to the torture that he and Nikolas had put her through when they'd taken her child away. Esme invited Spencer to kill her, but he let go instead.
Esme assured Spencer that she would get her son back, but he vowed to stop her. "Oh, really? So, you'd let Trina die?" Esme asked. Spencer hesitated, but Esme stood firm. "I will kill Trina," she promised. Reluctantly, Spencer let Esme secure his hands behind his back with zip ties.
In the engine room, Trina's wrists were bound together behind her back, her feet were secured with zip ties, and tape covered her mouth. She looked around until she saw a large screw protruding from a pipe. She scooted over to the pipe, turned her back, and began to use the screw to saw through the zip tie at her wrists.
In the stateroom, Esme tightened a zip tie around Spencer's ankles. When he referred to her as a villain, she became defensive and painted herself as a victim in pursuit of justice. She insisted that nothing mattered except her son, and she vowed to make everyone suffer until Ace was back in her arms. Spencer demanded to know where Trina was, but Esme lied and told him that Trina had been given instructions to call Laura once Trina had worked her way free. Frustrated, Spencer explained that his grandmother could not facilitate Ace's return because she had no way of contacting Nikolas, but Esme argued that Laura was resourceful and would find a way.
Spencer warned Esme that Nikolas would never relinquish Ace, so Esme wondered if Spencer was willing to sacrifice Trina. He switched tactics and asked what Esme's plans were if she got Ace back. He pointed out that she had committed crimes and would not be able to walk free, but Esme wasn't concerned. He promised to fight her every step of the way, but she informed him that she had picked up a medication that would make him compliant. However, she admitted that too much of the drug would stop his breathing.
Spencer admitted that he was more certain than ever that he had made the right choice with Ace. Angry, Esme turned to grab her backpack. Just then, Trina threw open the door and entered, armed with a large wrench. Esme tossed the backpack at Trina and lunged for Spencer with the syringe, but Trina recovered quickly and stopped Esme. Trina and Esme struggled to gain control of the deadly syringe. Eventually, Esme released her grip on the syringe, as the two women fell to the bed. Esme began to strangle Trina, but Trina managed to shove Esme off and gain the upper hand. The altercation ended when Trina managed to pick up the wrench and bash it against Esme's temple.
After Esme fell in a heap next to Trina, Trina ran to the bathroom and returned with scissors to cut through Spencer's zip ties. Together, Spencer and Trina didn't stop to check on Esme as they left. They made their way to the deck and began to wave their arms when they saw an approaching boat. However, Esme suddenly appeared behind Spencer and jammed the syringe into his back. The drug immediately took effect as Spencer collapsed, but Esme assured Trina that she hadn't given Spencer enough to kill him.
Esme lunged for Trina, intent on injecting her with the remainder of the drug in the syringe. Trina was pinned against the stairs as she tried to keep Esme from injecting her until Spencer stood up and pulled Esme away. Spencer and Esme stumbled backwards, and the momentum threw them against a door that broke open. A horrified Trina watched as Spencer and Esme disappeared into the Seine.
At the Quartermaine mansion, Lois pitched her idea for a wedding in Bensonhurst to Chase, Brook Lynn, and Gregory. When she was done, Chase and Brook Lynn were "speechless." "I'm not," Tracy said as she entered. She thought back to her conversation with Gregory about not arguing anymore, and she claimed that she "couldn't agree more" with Lois. Gregory smiled, and Lois, Chase, and Brook Lynn were shocked. Brook Lynn asked for a word with Tracy in private, so Lois and Gregory left the room. Brook Lynn revealed that she and Chase had been counting on Tracy to tell Lois no.
Chase and Brook Lynn explained that they wanted to be married in Port Charles, which was special to them as a couple. Tracy invited Lois and Gregory back in and announced that the wedding would be in Port Charles. However, Tracy continued that they could do a Coney Island-themed rehearsal dinner to appease Lois. Lois suggested that they actually go to Coney Island, as Tracy could afford to fly everyone out there for the night. Lois figured that the wedding would be beautiful as long as it was what the couple wanted.
"You never cease to amaze me," Gregory told Tracy a few minutes later. Tracy insisted that no one was getting her on any Coney Island rides. However, Gregory figured that if he could get Alexis to go skydiving, he could get Tracy on a ride.
Drew visited Carly at Crimson and assured her that she would surpass Nina's accomplishments at the magazine in no time. He kissed her and claimed that replacing Nina with Carly was the best decision he'd ever made. Michael arrived and congratulated his mother on her new job, and he asked to speak to Drew. Carly wanted to go support Josslyn at the hospital, anyway. She whispered to Drew to take it easy on Michael, and she left. Michael revealed that he was resigning as CEO of Aurora, and he handed a letter to Drew. He believed he should have been consulted about such a huge personnel change. "Like you shared information about Nina with me?" Drew shot back.
After a small argument, Drew admitted that his anger had been misdirected at Michael. He wanted Michael there, but he wanted to know that he could trust Michael. Drew confided that he was planning to make Nina "keep losing until she's as alone, broke, and empty as she deserves." Michael refused to take part in the vendetta and advised Drew to look for a new CEO. Drew replied that Michael had just proven himself, and he ripped up the letter. He expected to see Michael at his desk the next day.
At the hospital, Felicia told Josslyn that, as a patient advocate, she was going to make sure that Adam was heard. She continued that she'd looked at his psychiatric evaluation, and it was up to Adam whether he went home, went back to school, or stayed at the hospital. Josslyn replied that Adam just wanted to live his life not feeling like a disappointment. She hoped Felicia could help him, and Felicia responded that she would do her best.
Willow carried Adam's guitar into his room, and she told him that Josslyn had gotten it from the park for him. Mr. Wright entered and revealed that he'd hoped Adam had outgrown the guitar. He went to take the guitar, but Willow ordered him outside, as he was upsetting the patient. Mr. Wright informed Adam that they had more important things to discuss than music. Josslyn and Felicia entered, and Josslyn spat that Adam owed Mr. Wright nothing.
Felicia introduced herself as the patient advocate, and she said she needed to talk to Adam alone. Mr. Wright insisted that Adam didn't need an advocate, since his father was there. "How has that worked out?" Josslyn shot back, and Mr. Wright threatened to call security on Josslyn. "No, you won't," Carly said as she entered, and she thought that Mr. Wright should be thanking Josslyn for saving Adam's life. Felicia ordered everyone out so she could talk to Adam, and they obliged.
"What happens now?" Adam asked Felicia when everyone was gone. Felicia told him that it was up to him, as it was his life, and he'd gotten a second chance. She wanted to make sure he knew that he would continue to get support after leaving the hospital, and all he needed to do was ask for the help.
Outside the room, Josslyn informed Mr. Wright that when she'd found Adam, he'd been clutching his guitar, as music had given him a reason to live. She added that, if he really wanted to do what was best for Adam, he would see and accept Adam for who he was. Felicia approached and informed Josslyn that Adam wanted to see her. When Josslyn entered Adam's room, he was all dressed. He thanked he for bringing his guitar and for saving him. She answered that she'd just done what a friend would do.
Josslyn and Adam emerged from the room a few minutes later. Mr. Wright ordered his son to accompany him home, as Adam had proven that he couldn't be trusted on his own. Adam stated that he would be going back to PCU and enrolling in the music department. He continued that he would get a job and put himself through school. "Whenever you feel like talking, we'll talk," Adam told his father, and Mr. Wright left. Josslyn hugged him and said she was proud of him "for being you."
On the ship in Paris, Dante assured Laura that the French police were thorough and professional. He updated her on finding the captain unconscious in a closet, and he told her what had happened to him. He added that the captain had picked out Esme's picture immediately. She asked about Spencer. Dante replied that there was no sign of Spencer or Esme, but they could still be alive.
In the stateroom, a crying Trina was thinking back to the altercation on the deck when Portia and Curtis arrived. She hugged her parents and told them what had happened. Trina insisted that she knew in her heart that Spencer was alive. Laura arrived and encouraged Trina to trust her heart. Laura wondered what Esme had wanted. Trina explained that Esme was going to take Spencer as a hostage in order to force Nikolas out of hiding and make him trade Spencer for Ace. She told them about the drugs Esme had and the final fight on the deck.
Dante arrived and announced that the mission was being revised from a rescue mission to a recovery mission. He somberly added that Spencer was presumed dead. Trina sobbed that she knew Spencer was alive, and she ran out of the room, followed by Portia. Curtis asked Dante for the local police contact's information so that he could stay updated for Trina, and he left. "Find my grandson," a tearful Laura implored Dante. "I wish I could," he replied. She went through a bunch of "what ifs" until she finally cried that she couldn't imagine a world without Spencer.
On the deck, Trina asked Portia how she was supposed to let Spencer go, but Portia only hugged her daughter. Trina talked about how Spencer loved to swim but hated the cold, and she commented on how cold the water was. She regretted not paying enough attention to Esme way back at the cabin, but Portia assured Trina that Spencer had seen to it that Esme couldn't hurt anyone anymore. She wanted to get Trina home, but Trina promised to meet up with her mother in the stateroom, so Portia left.
Portia met up with Curtis in the stateroom. He reported that the authorities were going to extend the search for 48 more hours, and if they found nothing, they would assume that the bodies were lost in the English Channel. He added that there was less than a 50% chance of the bodies being recovered. Portia acknowledged that she'd wanted Spencer out of Trina's life, but she hadn't wanted it to happen like that.
Trina wondered out loud how she was supposed to say goodbye to Spencer. Laura and Dante approached, and Trina asked about Kevin. After being assured that he would be all right, Trina promised not to be too much longer so that Laura could get home to him. "Take as much time as you need," Laura told Trina, and she kissed her on the head and walked away. Trina thought back to the good times she'd had with Spencer in Paris and New York. "This isn't goodbye, Spencer. Somehow, some way," she insisted. On the shore, a small dove figurine washed up.
At Laura and Kevin's penthouse, Kevin somberly welcomed Laura home from Paris. Laura expressed shock and disbelief over the fact that Spencer was presumed dead. Laura sobbed as she noted that Nikolas, Spencer, and Ace had all disappeared from her life.
Moments later, Sonny appeared. Sonny and Laura hugged after she shared the news about Spencer. Sonny tried to remain stoic, but he soon deduced that something else was on Laura's mind. Laura proceeded to lash out at Sonny for having violently assaulted Cyrus weeks earlier. Laura added that she would no longer tolerate violence in her life. "Friendship or no friendship," she told Sonny.
As Laura spoke, she and Sonny overheard a commotion from outside the penthouse. When the door opened, Cyrus appeared. Cyrus said that he genuinely grieved Spencer's death. When Cyrus began quoting scripture, Laura screamed for Cyrus to leave. Laura continued to sob as Sonny and Kevin escorted Cyrus out.
A short while later, after Sonny and Cyrus had left the penthouse and Kevin had stepped out of the room, Laura stared at an old photograph of Spencer from when he'd been a child at Lila's Kids camp. Laura heard a knock, and she gasped when she opened the door to discover Nikolas with Ace in his arms. "Hello, Mother," Nikolas said as choked back tears. Laura was thrilled to see Nikolas and Ace.
At Sonny and Nina's penthouse, Ava told Nina about being shot at in Puerto Rico. Nina asked who was targeting Ava and Sonny. Ava said that Sonny was being tight-lipped, and she told Nina to relax. When Ava quipped that Nina wouldn't be a widow anytime soon, Nina said that she didn't know if she was "even a wife." Nina was relieved when Ava said that Sonny was still wearing his wedding ring.
Ava said that she truly hoped things worked out for Nina and Sonny, but she cautioned Nina to prepare herself for a future without Sonny. Nina said that she couldn't face a world without Sonny, Willow, or her grandchildren. When Ava expressed her disbelief that Drew had fired Nina and replaced her with Carly at Crimson, Nina said that she was grateful for Ava's friendship and loyalty.
When Sonny returned home to share with Ava that Spencer had died, he was unaware that Nina was at the penthouse. Nina tried to be supportive of Sonny, who immediately shut her down. Nina said she hadn't intended to make Sonny's night worse, and she left. Afterwards, Ava was in disbelief as she tried to process the news about Spencer. Ava prepared to call Trina. On her way out of the room, Ava placed a hand on Sonny's shoulder in an attempt to comfort him. Sonny thanked Ava.
As Carly headed out of Bobbie's Diner, she encountered a man with wavy blonde hair and a light beard in a blue suit. The man said that his name was John, and he added that he had worked at the diner many years earlier. Carly welcomed the man back to Port Charles before he entered the diner.
As John headed inside, Olivia appeared with Leo. Olivia asked Leo to wait for her inside. Carly was upset that Olivia hadn't told her sooner that Nina had tipped off the SEC to the fact that Drew and Carly had committed insider trading. Olivia said that she and Ned had decided that exposing Nina's secret wouldn't help anyone.
Olivia stared inside, and she noticed Leo sitting with John, the stranger that had introduced himself to Carly earlier. John had shown Leo an FBI badge in an attempt to make conversation and to win Leo's trust. Olivia asked Leo to wash his hands. Afterwards, the man introduced himself to Olivia as John. The man claimed that he had a son who was also on the spectrum. Olivia warmed to the man as they continued chatting. Just then, the man received a call, and he stepped away to answer. "What's the word? Nobody moves until I get there," he said mysteriously.
When Carly returned, Olivia said that Carly would succeed at Crimson and at running the diner the way Carly had at Metro Court. They hugged and laughed.
At a hotel room, Anna and Jordan waited to meet with a man named O'Neil, an arms dealer that Brennan had put them in contact with. When O'Neil appeared, Anna hid out of sight. Jordan told O'Neil that she wanted to purchase weapons from him. O'Neil opened a large container of weapons, and he proceeded to retrieve a long sniper rifle. Jordan agreed to purchase the rifle. O'Neil tried to demand that Jordan accompany him to another location.
Jordan refused to leave, and she demanded that she and O'Neil finish the transaction in the hotel room. O'Neil grew suspicious, and he grabbed Jordan. O'Neil demanded that Jordan tell him who she was. Anna pointed a gun at O'Neil, and she ordered him to remove his hands from Jordan or she would remove them for him. O'Neil turned, saw Anna with her gun aimed at him, and raised his hands into the air. Both Anna and Jordan ordered O'Neil to sit down.
"Must be something in the water here," O'Neil quipped. Jordan asked what O'Neil had meant, and she surmised that she and Anna weren't the only people in Port Charles that had tried to purchase weapons from O'Neil. Anna and Jordan demanded that O'Neil admit that he had been peddling arms that had been stolen from the WSB. "You have a choice to make. You can either tell us what we want to know, or you wait for the Bureau to get here," Anna said.
O'Neil agreed to cooperate with Anna and Jordan, who asked O'Neil to provide them with a list of names of everyone that had purchased arms from the WSB shipment. Just then, John and other agents claiming to be with the FBI entered the room with their guns drawn. The men all ordered Anna and Jordan to drop their weapons.
Anna and Jordan agreed to lower their weapons. "So, I take it that you are the agent in charge?" Anna asked as she stared at John. "Don't you recognize me, Anna?" the man asked. Jordan shot Anna a puzzled look. Anna then squinted her eyes, and she stared closely at the man's face. "Wait... Jagger?" Anna asked with incredulity. The man grinned widely at Anna.
At the dorm room, Trina tearfully told a stunned Josslyn that Spencer had died. Josslyn wrapped her arms around Trina, and the two friends began crying together. Trina recalled that Spencer had saved her life from Esme before he and Esme had fallen into the waters of the Seine.
Trina added that she hadn't believed that Spencer had died the previous year in Greenland when everyone else had assumed he had perished in the explosion on the Haunted Star. "And now?" Josslyn asked. "I want to believe so badly, Joss But... something tells me that this time... this time, there won't be a happy ending," Trina said through tears.
Josslyn invited Trina to live with her at the dorm, but Trina said that she intended to take a semester off from school and to stay with Curtis and Portia. Trina paused to reflect on her and Spencer's time together. "I feel like... it took so long for me and Spencer to finally be together. And then we finally were, and we were in a happy place. And then, in a heartbeat, all of that was over," Trina said as she sobbed.
Josslyn asked Trina if Cameron had learned the news of Spencer's passing. When Trina shook her head, Josslyn reached for her phone to call Cameron. "Cam? Hi, yeah, it's me. Um... I'm here with Trina. And we have to tell you something. We need you to hear it from us," Josslyn said slowly as she fought back tears.
