The Friends of Laura Collins was a special episode for the ABC soap opera General Hospital, celebrating its 15,000th episode on June 17, 2022, centered around one of the show's longest-running cast member, Genie Francis as Mayor Laura Collins.
This episode features a pivotal op-ed published in The Invader that criticizes Mayor Collins and calls for her recall. As Laura's friends and the townspeople unite to uncover the identity of those behind the article, they strive to protect her from being removed from office and to determine who would launch such a public attack. The episode culminates in a gathering at Charlie's Pub following a town softball game, where all the characters come together to express their support for Laura.
Storyline[]
After a scornful op-ed is published in The Invader by a group of citizens known as "The Friends of Port Charles," they target Mayor Laura Collins and call for her resign. In an effort to uncover the individuals responsible for the article, Laura's friends and the town's citizens unite to prevent her from being ousted and to identify the source of the attack in the press. The story includes several sentimental flashback clips featuring three current longest-running members of the cast: Scott Baldwin, Bobbie Spencer, and Laura. The audience is shown flashbacks of Scott and Laura's wedding, as well as Bobbie Spencer's behavior when she competed for Scott's love against a teenage Laura.
As Laura attempts to uncover the author of the op-ed, Sam McCall and Carly Spencer confront the Quartermaine family, whom they suspect. Meanwhile, Curtis Ashford receives a tip from Selena Wu that Laura's half-brother, Cyrus Renault, is responsible. After the Quartermaines proclaim their innocence, Laura heads to Pentonville Penitentiary to confront Cyrus. She inquires if he is the mastermind behind "The Friends of Port Charles."
Cyrus claims he is merely an advisor, explaining that the group consists of individuals disillusioned with her governance. He becomes angry, vengeful, and emotional, criticizing the corrupt PCPD and the tax breaks given to ELQ International and Cassadine Industries at the expense of the less fortunate. Laura questions why people with such high moral values would hire a criminal like him as an advisor. Cyrus responds that it is up to God and admonishes her to be less self-righteous. Laura retorts by asking where God was in the hate-filled op-ed he wrote. She then forgives him and leaves, leaving Cyrus stunned.
Later, Scott proposes to his girlfriend Dr. Liesl Obrecht in front of Laura, Bobbie, Agent Anna Devane, Felicia Scorpio, and Lucy Coe, but she turns down his marriage proposal. Liesl feels they have a good thing going, so why complicate it with marriage at this point. Subsequently, Laura meets up with Maxie Jones, who is visiting an institutionalized Elizabeth Webber. Maxie brings her some cosmetics from Deception due to the poor lighting in the facility.
Ultimately, when all the characters gathered at Charlie's to demonstrate their support for Laura, she announced her readiness to compose her rebuttal. In a voice-over, Laura addressed the essence of Port Charles and its inhabitants, emphasizing their robust community, which she is proud to be a part of, and her enduring legacy over generations. Dr. Kevin Collins proposed a toast to Laura, who remarked that if she loses the recall, so be it, adding that if her successor is a lifelong resident of Port Charles like herself, the town will continue to thrive.
Trivia[]
- During the opening and closing voice-overs of Laura, a subtle piano rendition of the former General Hospital theme song "Faces of the Heart" can be heard as the background music.