General Hospital Recap, January 8: School teacher cult member turned nurse Willow Tait (Cain) shot Drew Cain

Here is your General Hospital recap for Thursday, January 8, 2026.

What happened on General Hospital

Sonny and Kristina want Gio to play the violin | Image: ABC

When Gio opened the door to leave Sonny's house, he found Kristina standing there. She noted that he seemed to be in a rush to get somewhere. Kristina mentioned the violin performance on Boxing Day, but Gio said he wasn't sure when he'd play again. He thanked Sonny for the violin. Sonny said he would figure things out about his love for music eventually.

After Gio left, Kristina told Sonny she was there to get her tablet, but she was then headed to the courthouse to support Michael. Kristina feared that Alexis was building a case to go after Michael. Sonny explained that Alexis was using a legal tactic. It may have been hard to watch, but she wasn't prosecuting Michael.

Kai and Trina met up in the courthouse halls. Trina assured Kai that Gio was on his way to the Quartermaines to deal with Wiley's ringtone. "We can't mess this up. This may be our last chance to identify who Willow's shooter is before it's too late," she said.

Dante discussed Chase with Brook Lynn | Image: ABC

When Dante encountered Brook Lynn in the Q foyer, he mentioned that it felt like she'd been avoiding him. Brook Lynn admitted that she had been avoiding him. She was still upset that he had suspended Chase. Dante said that he didn't want to do it, so Brook Lynn told him to fix it.

Dante said that he couldn't do that until internal affairs had finished their investigation. "I can't agree with his methods, but I can't say that he was wrong about Willow," Dante admitted. He added that he and Chase both had a hard time being objective. "Chase's blind spot is Willow, and mine is Michael," Dante said.

Gio got Wiley to call Michael | Image: ABC

Gio walked in and overheard his parents talking. He was surprised to hear that Dante thought it was possible that Michael set Willow up. Dante spotted Gio and stopped the conversation. Gio claimed he was there to check on Wiley. Brook Lynn went to find Wiley, so Gio asked Dante if there was really a chance that Michael set up Willow. Dante said they'd have to wait until the jury decided before leaving.

Brook Lynn soon set Wiley and Gio up with video games in the solarium. Wiley asked for his phone. Brook Lynn whispered to Gio that Wiley had a kid-friendly phone he could use to call his parents in emergencies. Gio told Brook Lynn about Sonny making chicken piccata, so she left to cook with Sonny.

In the courtroom, Drew took the stand and was reminded that he was still under oath. "My wife, Willow Cain, has been falsely accused of shooting me, and I am here to set the record straight," Drew stated.

Alexis took Drew through what happened after Drew told Michael about kissing Willow. He included Jason's election night attack, as well as every other thing Drew thinks Michael initiated as a result of Drew's affair with Michael's wife. He told the jury that Michael sent Jason to attack him after secretly recording him and Willow having sex.

Alexis asked Drew to state Jason's occupation. When he said "hitman," Justine objected. Alexis then submitted a big, fat folder outlining Jason's criminal history. Justine's subsequent objection was sustained. When Alexis asked if Michael had ever assaulted him, Drew offered an emphatic "Yes. He punched me in the face at the Metro Court hotel."

Justine then recalled hearing Drew blackmail Sonny with the knowledge of Michael's assault, which he seemed to instigate. Drew also told the jury that on the night he was shot, he had told Carly that he and Willow had reunited. Justine then took her chance to cross-examine.

She asked about Drew and Michael's professional relationship at Aurora. He admitted that they were once close, but Michael took his company from Drew after the affair with Willow came to light. "Congressman, did you seduce your nephew's wife?" Justine asked.

Drew began to lose it right then and there, claiming that wasn't what happened. "Did you have sex with the defendant on the floor of your child's nursery playroom while the defendant was still married to Mr. Corinthos?" she asked. Drew had to say yes, but he claimed he and Willow fell in love.

Drew pointed his finger in Justine's face, saying, "That is a lie," when she cited the judge's reason for Willow losing custody was her relationship with Drew. Justine also brought up the one-million-dollar wire transfer receipt in his safe to Judge Heron. Drew claimed it was fake.

"It was clearly a setup. Why would I want my wife to lose her children?" Drew asked. He then pointed at Michael and said that he put it there. Drew began screaming that he didn't need any evidence for his accusation. He began pointing and shouting, and looked like he might start foaming at the mouth. "Michael takes everything. He took my company. He took Wiley and Amelia. He turned my whole family against me," Drew yelled.

Justine then brought up Monica's injunction against him using the Q name. That is when Drew lost it completely and proclaimed himself to be Alan's son. Willow begged Alexis to put a stop to this, but Alexis told her to shush. "I am a Navy SEAL. I am a patriot," he screamed. He then looked right at Michael and seethed, "What you have, you don't deserve. And I take one thing from you, and you turn into a homicidal maniac and put two bullets in my back...You are going to rot in prison and my wife and I are going to take our kids back home," he screamed.

"No further questions, your honor," a smug Justine said. The judge called a recess, but as Drew stood up, Nina warned him not to go anywhere near Willow. Nina asked Alexis how badly Drew screwed the case up. "He was unhinged," Alexis spat. She told Willow that she was the only hope. She had to testify.

In the hall, Trina and Kai heard Wiley call Michael, but "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" wasn't his ringtone. Wiley asked for Michael's permission to play Tron. Michael told Gio it was okay. Michael hung up and said he got that ringtone when he was in Germany. Kai and Trina made note of that.

Back in the courtroom, Willow was sworn in. Alexis asked her about the gun. Willow claimed she didn't take one or place one in a drawer at Liz's house. She told the jury about the time that she found Michael alone at Elizabeth's house. She explained that Michael wanted them to go to therapy, which she did the next day. "I was arrested for shooting Drew in front of my children," she said.

Willow said that she believed that the gun was planted. She didn't want to believe Michael planted it, but she knew she didn't shoot Drew and knew he didn't want her to be with her children. She also told the court that she thought Michael shot Drew and framed her.

Willow regaled the tale of how she and Drew grew close, falsely stating once again that Drew saved her life when he flew home on a plane from Greenland with Liesl. He was always there for her, so she didn't have a choice but to fall in love with him. Alexis asked if Michael made any effort for Willow to see the kids right after she dumped Drew at the altar. Willow said he had not, but she was doing everything she could to get Michael to allow her visitation.

Willow claimed she reunited with Drew out of love. She claimed that is why Drew lost it on the stand. He loved her and couldn't help himself. She said she was in court at that moment because it was what Michael wanted. When Justine cross-examined, she asked if Drew cost Willow her kids.

"Drew loves my children. He promised me that we would fight for them together and I know that we will," Willow said. Justine showed Willow a picture of the gun, and Willow recalled taking it from the lockbox in Edward's study. She lied and emphatically said she never touched the weapon.

Justine asked about where Willow was when Drew was shot. She gave the same story about driving around in the rain after learning Judge Heron had been killed. She was just too upset to work and had to leave General Hospital. She remembered her tears and hysterics, but claimed she didn't remember where she went.

Willow claimed she didn't stop anywhere as she flashed back to taking the gun from her glovebox. Justine then asked if her life had improved since Drew Cain entered it. Willow lied again and said, "My life isn't perfect. I haven't made perfect choices. But I do love Drew, and he is the only person I trust with my children," she said.

Trina and Kai got their answer | Image: ABC

"Mrs. Cain, what would you do for your children?" Justine asked. Willow remembered exactly what she did. She walked into Drew's living room and shot him in the back. Then, she pumped another bullet into him as he lay on the floor for good measure. "Anything. I would do anything for my children," she said. Willow left the stand as the court recessed.

Back at the Q house, Gio went to get Wiley cookies, so Wiley called his mom. Trina and Kai heard the ringtone and knew who shot Drew. Willow picked up, excited talk to Wiley, as Kai and Trina looked at her in disbelief.

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