Guiding Light Discussion Thread

[DRW50]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iP-MiQmxWKc

[Paul Raven]

This is the background and audition scene for Justin Marler,from his wife Marcy's blog http://thomasorourkeactor.blogspot.com.au

REVISED CHARACTER SKETCH

Dr. Justin Marler, 32, Cardiologist, Divorced

When Justin Marler looks back on his childhood, the memories are not pleasant ones. As a child, he never really admired his father. His father was what his mother called “weak-kneed: a fifth grade teacher – patient with ten year olds and gutless with anyone older. No ambition. Content with mediocrity. The family never got out of the rut of the middle of the middle class, despite his mother’s efforts. She would say, “It doesn’t matter what I do…I’m still married to a grade school teacher. It follows me everywhere.” His father hated his mother for her daily put-down. Of course Justin didn’t have a chance to understand his father. His mother dominated his life. So growing up was a two-fold struggle: to please his mother and to find his father.

Justin’s mother had high hopes for him. She was determined he wouldn’t absorb the lackluster complacency of his father. He would be something. He had wit and charm and drive – not at all like his father. Over and over she described to Justin all the things that could be done, could be achieved in this world. If only you go after them. If you refuse to settle for less. If you fight – because almost everybody wants to get to the top and few people make it.

As a result of this instilled ambition, Justin drove himself to become one of the best cardiologists in the country. He is aggressive and ambitious – almost every issue becomes a battleground. But he is a skillful fighter. Not every fight is labeled as such. He married and divorced a young woman whose personal demands would have curtailed his career. When he comes to Cedars, he is bent on establishing himself at the hospital and elsewhere. Nobody kicks Justin Marler around.

AUDITION SCENE FOR JUSTIN MARLER

FADE IN

STAFF ROOM. 10 A.M.

JUSTIN IS SEATED AT A TABLE HAVING

A CUP OF COFFEE WHEN SARA ENTERS CARRYING

A NEWSPAPER. SARA IS UPSET.

SARA

Justin…

JUSTIN

Hi. Sit down join me.

SARA

(IGNORING THE OFFER, GESTURING TO AN

ARTICLE IN THE NEWSPAPER) What is this?

JUSTIN

What is what?

SARA

That interview you gave…

JUSTIN

Oh yes…A very attractive young reporter from the

Times asked me if I would made some comments on Cedars

Hospital from the point of view of a new doctor.

SARA

(ALMOST EXPLOSIVE) Yes, I know…

but such comments….!

JUSTIN

(WITH HUMOR) Sara, sit down…

SARA

(ON HER OWN TRACK) I really do think it requires

some sort of explanation.

JUSTIN

Why?

SARA

Well…there are several things… What about that statement

you made… (PARAPHRASING) There have got to be some changes made at Cedars Hospital… some of the dead wood removed… some new young energetic talent brought in.

JUSTIN

Sit down… (SHE DOES. HE CONTINURES WITH A WRY SMILE) Tell me… Do you consider yourself part of the dead wood?...Is that what you’re so upset about?

SARA

That’s beside the point…You can’t make a statement like that without…

elaborating. What are you talking about?

JUSTIN

Be glad I didn’t elaborate.

SARA

What does that mean?

JUSTIN

I could have talked about …Steve Jackson, for instance.

SARA

(AGHAST) What about Steve Jackson?

JUSTIN

(SOMEWHAT MORE INTENSE) Sara, no one’s disputing

the fact that he’s a good doctor, but… he’s getting old.

SARA

Steve is an incredibly good doctor and he’s not getting old…

Old is not just a matter of years, you know…

JUSTIN

I don’t see why you’re so upset…

SARA

Because I think you’re outrageous…You don’t know how good

Steve is or you wouldn’t say something like that.

JUSTIN

I have an idea… He’s consulted on some of my patients…

SARA

Was there a problem?

JUSTIN

(SCRUTINIZING HER A MOMENT, THEN PROCEEDING

WITH SOME HUMOR) The way you sound, I don’t really think

we should talk about it at the moment, do you?

SARA

Yes, I do.

JUSTIN

Would you believe what I’d say?

SARA

I don’t know…

JUSTIN

I doubt it. You sound like you have a closed mind on the subject.

SARA

(VERY SERIOUSLY) You’ll get yourself a reputation, Justin…

if you go around shooting off your mouth.

JUSTIN

I've never minded being controversial.

SARA

To say that to the press…!

JUSTIN

I didn’t name him.

SARA

No. Thank goodness for that. But what you said…

JUSTIN

(NOW VERY SERIOUS) What I said is that Cedars Hospital

could use some improvement…and I hope to institute a few

changes… Nothing and no one I’ve ever met is perfect around here…

(NOW RELAXING) except thee and me…Don’t worry. I think you’re

a wonderful doctor… brainy and attractive. It’s an unbeatable combination.

I wouldn’t want you to leave the staff… not until you’re Steve’s age.

SARA

(UPSET, ANGRY) You’re incorrigible.

JUSTIN

It’s always surprising to me how people don’t want to

face the truth…(THINKING OF A SIGNIFICANT AND

PRIVATE PAST INCIDENT) WE have some truths,

you and I… don’t we…?

(JUSTIN SMILES. SARA LOOKS AT HIM FOR A LONG

MOMENT, THEN GETS UP AND LEAVES THE TABLE, DISTRESSED.)

FADE OUT

[DRW50]

Thanks. I wonder if he was ever actually like this on the show. If he was, I guess he wasn't for long. It was interesting to read more about the Marler parents. Ross mentioned their mother a little when Ben Warren showed up.

It sounds like the Dobsons were using Justin to give their opinion of the show.

[zanereed]

It certainly seems that way, doesn't it? I don't remember Justin being quite that arrogant back then. He might have started out that way, but it could have been that the Dobsons "tamed" him a bit after a while.

At first I was thinking that Justin was the Dobsons' first character that they brought to the canvas, but that's incorrect - I think their first characters were the Stapleton family. Saynotoursoap might be able to clarify this a bit better.

[AdelaideCate007]

[Bright Eyes]

Is that Joan Bennet after the Quint and Nola picture? I never knew she was on this show.

[Matt]

She appeared as herself on the show in 1983. I forget the circumstances, but I believe that this was her last acting appearance onscreen (even though she was playing herself).

[silascrocker]

All of My Favorite Characters!! Thanks for posting these pics!

[DRW50]

Promo at the start.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnwMai4JldI

[Vee]

Is that..."Clarence" in that promo?!

[~bl~]

Yes Clarence used to do promotions for all of the CBS shows back in the 90s.

[DRW50]

Bitch Julie was one of the only things I enjoyed on GL in 1994.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hkYtD5WZ7E

[DRW50]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEOo1IsAVb0

[katie_9918]

As much as it was too short, the 50th anniversay (television, not including radio, mind you) tribute was a lot better than the cancellation tribute.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MY9yYnHb6o

Edited March 28, 2013 by katie_9918

[jam6242]

Nola's best friend Gracie (also pictured) was a hairdresser and moved to Hollywood where she became Joan Bennett's hairdresser. I think Gracie had actually met Joan in Springfield while doing her hair for an appearance and Joan offered her the job. If I'm remembering correctly, this was Joan's hotel suite. Gracie asked Joan to meet Nola because Nola was an old movie fanatic. I couldn't find the scene in the picture but Joan is at the beginning of this clip when Nola and Gracie say goodbye at the airport (I hated to see Gracie go, she and Nola were a great team).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YofU6-tzZYc

Edited March 28, 2013 by jam6242