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.