General Hospital Launches Manhunt for [Spoiler] in Can’t-Miss Dec. 8 Recap

Port Charles did not get a quiet December 8. Valentin is on the loose, the cops are scrambling, and just about every living room in town turned into a strategy session, a panic room, or both. If you like your soap episodes tense and a little messy, this one delivered.

The escape that lit the fuse

Nathan briefs Dante that Valentin slipped custody during transport. Dante immediately calls Lulu, tells her what happened, and asks her to keep Charlotte inside. Over at the Quartermaine mansion, Brook Lynn and Chase are mid-Thanksgiving debrief when Nathan rings and pulls Chase to the station. In the meantime, BLQ catches Ned sneaking a pizza, lets him break the rules for once, then drops the Valentin news. That spirals into a quick revisit of old Quartermaine grudges tied to Valentin.

Lulu vs. reality (and a very loyal Charlotte)

Outside Lulu's place, Rocco and Charlotte are hashing out how rough things have been between Rocco and Dante. Lulu yanks them in after Dante's call and lays out the situation: Valentin escaped, and Charlotte needs to steer clear. Charlotte flatly says she won't because she loves her dad, flaws and all. Nathan shows up to check the house, and later Lulu unloads on him, feeling like she's losing ground with her daughter. She also regrets ever teaming with Jack, which she thinks put Charlotte in the line of fire.

The manhunt ramps up

Joss learns about the escape and that Jack had a hand in Valentin's transport. Jack heads to the PCPD to help the search, which sends Joss into protective mode: if Valentin targets Jack, Carly could get dragged into it. Joss heads straight to her mom's to make sure she's safe.

At the PCPD

Dante updates Alexis on the escape and asks if Valentin has reached out. She says he hasn't and promises to alert the department if he does.

Meanwhile, guess where Valentin is?

Carly's house. Because of course he is. He tells her how he pulled off the escape, she patches him up, and she makes it clear lingering there is a terrible idea. Joss arrives, forcing Valentin to duck out of sight. Joss notices the first aid kit is out; Carly improvises a cover story. Once Joss jumps in the shower, Carly hands Valentin a key to the shed and tells him to lay low out back.

Wyndemere gets a sweep

Over at Wyndemere, Lucas and Marco are having dinner when Dante arrives with officers to search for Valentin. They find nothing. Later, after Lucas is asleep, Marco thanks Pascal for making sure the cops came up empty on anything tied to Sidwell or his work. Yes, that is a cluster of names; the episode drops them without a ton of context, so file them away for later.

Where things stand by the end

• Dante has the manhunt rolling; the PCPD is on alert.
• Lulu is scared and second-guessing; Charlotte is still firmly in Team Dad mode.
• Carly is secretly stashing Valentin in her backyard shed to avoid a blowup with Joss.
• Joss is hovering over Carly; Jack is cooperating with the cops.
• Alexis says she has not heard from Valentin but will call it in if that changes.
• Wyndemere is clean on paper, thanks to Marco, Pascal, and something-or-someone named Sidwell.

Bottom line: the net is tightening, but for now the most dangerous man in Port Charles is hiding behind a lawn mower. Classic GH.