Y&R: Old Articles

[Paul Raven]

1976 Pt 8

At the trial, Ron’s lawyer, Mr. Lawrence, tries to get Chris to admit that she led Peggy to identify Ron because she, Chris, wanted to get him. But Chris replies that she actually commented to Peg that she “hoped to God it wasn’t him.” Lawrence then tries to shake Peggy’s identification by pointing out that she asked all the lineup participants to speak, thus seeming unsure even right after meeting Ron in the corridor. He adds that she admitted on record that she’d kept her eyes closed during the attack and tried to block it from her mind. Peggy can’t explain why she didn’t identify him immediately but insists she saw her assailant and it was Ron, she’s sure of that. Since he feels the prosecution’s case is not proven, Lawrence tells Ron he shouldn’t testify and rests the defense. But Ron insists upon making a statement. He brings up Nancy’s illness and Chris’s prejudice against him for concealing his prison record, saying Chris had believed him about that incident. Everyone notices how convincing Ron is indeed, Peggy says if she wasn’t his victim, she might believe him.

During the wait for the verdict Jack asks Peggy to marry him, saying that Joanne is strong enough now and he can be free. Peggy puts him off. The verdict is in and the court is reconvened. The jury foreman explains that they were instructed to return a verdict that upheld the facts in this case. Because of this, they couldn’t agree that Ron is guilty beyond all reasonable doubt. Though they morally feel one way, they must find him “not guilty.” Peggy, at first incredulous, is then outraged. She rails at the judge, the jury, and Ron, vowing he will pay for this. She berates the jury for knowing he’s guilty and letting him off because of a legal technicality. And then she’s  frightened, realizing that Ron is now free to roam the streets again.

Ironically, Mrs. Ralston arrives to help, but is too late. She tells Chris the real story: She met Ron in the bar and invited him in for a drink, and then he did rape her. Fearing humiliation, she didn’t press the rape charge, and now she is not proud of that. She adds that he then harassed her with phone calls for months. Chris takes Sharon to meet Nancy while Ron is out with Karen. They tell Nancy that Ron is a violent and dangerous man, but she refuses to listen, informing them that they’re leaving town to get away from Chris’s interference in their lives. But Ron later tells Nancy they’re staying put he’s not letting them all run him out of town, and he has unfinished business here.

When Chris begins to receive obscene phone calls  she tells Nancy this is what happened to Sharon — after Ron’s attack, but Nancy refuses to consider it  possible and believes Ron’s claim that they’re all against him.  Peggy has gone into virtal seclusion in her room since the verdict, upsetting her parents greatly. Brock Reynolds visits her and asks her to marry him. She» later goes to the Allegro to ask why, since they hardly  know one another. By late afternoon, when she returns home, she tells her father she now knows why. Brock loves everyone and did this to give her a reason to leave the house; they spent the afternoon walking together. Brock tells Jack he proposed to Peggy and she hasn’t said no. Jack presses Peggy for a commitment to him, but she can’t give him one. She explains that she doesn’t know if she loves Brock but she need his friendship. She adds that she does love Jack.

While visiting Lance, Laurie sees Vanessa's door move, and when Lance is later occupied with business, she investigates and finds herself face to face with a veiled woman, who, she discovers with astonishment, is Lance’s mother. Vanessa quickly lets Laurie know she knows all about her and has no intention of letting her have Lance, Laurie goes back to meet Lance, not mentioning her meeting with his mother, but, knowing that Vanessa can see and hear her, she accepts Lance’s invitation to accompany him on a business trip to Rome.  Laurie returns home to find that Leslie is on her way home and Brad intends to have his confrontation with her as soon as she arrives. Laurie wants to be there for him but doesn’t want to back down on the trip with Lance or it will be a victory for Vanessa. But the problem is taken out of her hands when Vanessa announces to her son that she’s ready to start the long trip out of seclusion by accompanying him to Rome. Lance then tells Laurie he can’t take her as planned; he must take someone who needs complete privacy. Laurie realizes she’s lost this round to Vanessa. But Vanessa becomes ill, and Lance’s trip is called off. When the doctor who attends her asks why she’s never had plastic surgery, she explains that her weak heart wouldn’t stand the strain of surgery. 

Despite Vanessa’s constant attacks on Laurie’s character and motives and her equal, diligent efforts to convince Lance he’s actually interested in Leslie, not Laurie, Lance buys Laurie a ring, and, after giving her a choice of fingers to wear it on, they decide they are engaged. Upon learning this, Vanessa calls Laurie, telling her there will never be a wedding.  Brad spends the days before Leslie’s return memorizing everything in their apartment and rehearsing his confrontation with her so that he can continue his charade. Seeing him in their home upon her return gives Leslie false hope that he’s come back, but he soon tells her he’s there to discuss a divorce. Leslie is hurt by this confrontation but later, remembering his letter, is still not convinced that he no longer loves her and decides she must see him again. But finally Leslie is convinced he no longer loves her and agrees he can get a divorce. She won’t use her baby to bring him back. Snapper is now aware of what Brad’s doing but is bound on both sides by doctor-patient confidences and can say nothing. 

[Paul Raven]

Y&R 1976 Pt 9

Learning that Kay is taking Ralph’s rejection very badly, Bill goes to visit her. Without regard to his condition (Bill has emphysema and only one, a damaged lung) she smokes in his presence, causing him to collapse. She administers oxygen and calls for help but now feels terribly guilty. Bill, knowing there isn’t much time left, asks Snapper not to hospitalize him until the very end and considers smoking a cigarette, which would solve the problem quickly and inexpensively for the family. Liz is furious to learn that he’s considered  this—it would be tampering” with God’s will.

Kay is still feeling so guilty, she refuses to attend Bill’s birthday party but sends a two-hundred-dollar check, saying she’s cutting down on her cigarette and liquor consumption this month for him. Liz is reassured when Kay tells her that Snapper’s being on staff at the hospital will mean no hospital bills for Bill, But  Kay is unaware that this medical courtesy extends to Doctor's wives and children only.

Chris feels Snapper is being overly pessimistic about his father’s condition until she notices that Bill is becoming confused about people and time. Greg insists Snapper’s wrong, as Bill is always better by evening. But when Snapper becomes firm about hospitalizing his father, Bill, objecting, collapses and has to be taken in now. Liz and Greg refuse to face the fact that Bill won’t be coming home this time.

Learning from Brock that. Snapper’s hospital affiliation won’t cover Bill’s astronomically mounting bills, Kay responds to Brock’s suggestion that she cover the costs by insisting that Jill will have to come and ask. When she does, Kay informs Jill she may have the  money if she signs an affidavit stating that her child is not Phillip’s. Bitterly, knowing she has to do it for her family, Jill writes out the affidavit Kay dates and signs it, taking the check Kay has prepared. Brock praises his mother for her generosity until he  notices Jill’s signed declaration; then he tells his mother she will never know peace of mind through a lie.

Snapper lets his father sign a right-to-die statement for his own peace of mind, but informs the family privately that it’s not legally binding. |

Jack gives Peggy a ring, saying she saying she can put it on when she’s ready. Peggy starts to think about the things Brock has told her about still being the same person no matter what Ron did, and decides she loves Jack enough to want to marry him. When Joanne sees Peggy displaying Jack’s ring, she’s hurt that he couldn’t even wait one more day until their divorce becomes final and starts eating out of frustration. When Jack tries to make her see reason, she throws him out. But Peggy goes to her and comes down hard on her, finally getting through to her who she’s hurting by this, and Joanne throws all the junk food out. 

Stuart, believing Leslie’s story that Brad’s mother is sick and they are with her, calls Mrs. Elliot and finds out they’ve never been there. Laurie tells Leslie this so she can put her parents’ minds at rest. She finally tells them she has been staying with Laurie, as Brad’s asked for a divorce, but she’s not sure she’s going to file for one. Stuart confronts Brad with the idea of talking some sense into him but comes away unaware of Brad’s blindness, due to a brilliant performance by Brad, and sure his daughter is well rid of him. 

Vanessa takes delight in upsetting Laurie by telling her she’s second choice with Lance, that Leslie would be his first choice if she were available. When Laurie retaliates by informing Vanessa that she and Lance will be married within two weeks, Vanessa hires a private investigator to check Laurie out. Laurie now feels she must be married to Lance before he finds out Leslie’s marriage is breaking up, and begs Brad to hold off the divorce until she has accomplished this. But when Leslie herself tells Lance of her marital situation, Laurie finds herself suspiciously examining Lance’s reactions to Leslie at every turn.

[DRW50]

Thanks @Paul Raven

There are aspects of Peggy's story I wish I could see, like her reaction to the verdict. There are also parts which feel convoluted. And it seems like Brock was almost paired with every woman on the canvas but Liz Foster and Vanessa Prentiss. 

Bill collapsing because Katherine selfishly smokes is a hilarious image. And this lady later became the town saint. 

No matter how many times I read about the Brad blindness story, something about it still seems gross to me.

[Planet Soap]

Rewatching some of 1991 I had to appreciate what a strong week March 5-12 1991 was. Cassandra dies, Nina shoots David, Sheila switces the babies, and drunk Nikki all occurring simultaneously.

1991 and 92 were pretty strong overall.

[SoapDope78]

I wish Brock and Peggy had married. It would have given Kay ties and storyline with the Brooks. I would loved to have seen Kay interact with Jennifer.

The Brad storyline seemed like something from a TV movie of the week.