Today’s General Hospital recap for October 20, 2023, has Alexis trying to extort a judge, Charlotte reuniting with Laura, and Spencer needing to face some facts.

Alexis Did Her Best for Drew

Alexis (Nancy Lee Grahn) and Gregory (Gregory Harrison) did their best to try to get the judge who sentenced Drew (Cameron Mathison) to slip up and admit to bribes and corruption, but no such luck. The judge knew what they were up to and told Alexis that it was no wonder she was disbarred. Maybe Alexis should have been more subtle.

Judge Kim was not happy to be lured into an interview under false pretenses but was infuriated when Alexis said she wouldn’t print what she learned about his bribery fishing trip if he commuted Drew’s sentence. Rather than giving in to her demands, Judge Kim told Alexis she belonged in prison right beside Drew. That’s because blackmail is a crime just like insider trading.

All Alexis could do was kick herself for the way she handled things because she knew she didn’t do Drew any favors. She also may never get her law license back now. However, she soon got a call from a former law associate telling her that Judge Kim was taking another look at Drew’s file.

Liz (Rebecca Herbst) visited Drew in his GH room before he was set to be transferred back to Pentonville. The two exes caught up with one another and Drew learned all about Aiden’s goal to go to a Parisian pastry academy. He was already saving the money for tuition by selling cupcakes online. Drew was also surprised to learn that Jake had a girlfriend.

Before Liz left, she suggested getting TJ (Tajh Bellow) to run more tests on Drew to keep him out of prison longer, but Drew told her that he had to go back to Pentonville because there was no point in delaying the inevitable.

Anna’s Fears, Charlotte’s Troubles

Anna (Finola Hughes) had a chat with her Sonny-assigned bodyguard and wondered if he’d seen anything suspicious but he had nothing new to report. At least Valentin (James Patrick Stuart) soon stopped by to find a shaken and lonely Anna. She tearfully told him she felt like a sitting duck but Valentin didn’t bother telling her she was really the target of his teenage daughter.

Charlotte (Scarlett Fernandez) was excited when she returned home to find Grandma Laura (Genie Francis) there to see her. Valentin let them spend some time alone together and Charlotte admitted that Valentin was worried about her when he didn’t have reason to be.

Laura later asked Charlotte what she thought of her new house so she put on a happy face and said she loved it when she was really thinking about the prospect of Anna moving in — something she never wanted to happen. She told Laura she wanted a home for herself and Papa — and nobody else.

Laura ended up telling Charlotte how many mistakes she made as a teenager. She promised to be there for Charlotte and asked her to share anything with her because she was there to listen.

Esme Stands Her Ground With Spencer

Spencer (Nicholas Alexander Chavez) was angry that Esme (Avery Kristen Pohl) didn’t tell him about Ace’s doctor appointment but he showed up anyway and argued with her in the hall. They had agreed he’d go to all appointments and Esme wanted to know why. She was his mother and she could take care of Ace without him.

When Esme chose to see the doctor without Spencer, he was furious and asked Kevin (Jon Lindstrom) what it was all about. Kevin was blunt and told him it was Esme exercising her parental rights, something Spencer didn’t have because he was not Ace’s parent.

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