The Decline and Fall of the Monty Empire
Week 14 (March 31-April 4, 1986) -- Part I
Monica, to Edward: "How dare you fly in the face of truth! ... And is it too painful for you to admit the fact that we've been swindled, that you have risked this entire family's fortune?"
Alan: "Well said, Monica."
Edward: "Your eloquence proves nothing."
Monica: "But your pigheadedness proves everything, Edward."
Laurelton: Oh, if only Terry, Bobbie, and Felicia heard what Monica's saying. Most of the Brownstone ladies are insufferable this week. What infuriates me is that I'm certain there's not going to be moments where any or all of them come to terms with the fact that they were deceived and behaved irrationally. I hope I'm wrong.
Anyway, most of the week's devoted to whether Jake will defend Kevin. He finally agrees on Friday, which means we have to have scene after scene of a begging and pleading Terry, an aggressive Bobbie, and a childish Felicia. I'm watching with an interest in finding the seams of Kevin's scheme; surely his insistence on being defending by Jake should have raised some eyebrows? Hell, Anna and Frisco end the week respectfully in opposite camps when he leaves her side (but not the police itself) after deciding he's got a conflict of interest. Jake could have done the same, or at least have been prohibited from taking Kevin's case.
Kevin wants Jake, by the way, because he's of the people and isn't well-known as a defense attorney. For his part, Ted is competent but apparently not capable of getting the job done. It's funny that these episodes aired in the spring of 1986, before the premiere of Matlock and new life for the Simple Country Lawyer trope.
Patrick: "Look, I don't think Jennifer Talbot had a real friend in Laurelton. Except maybe Ted Holmes." The O'Connor bros scoff and chuckle over this like d-bags.
In the midst of this, we get some awkward comedy when Kevin's professor can't immediately find the attendance sheet for March 17.
Back to Kevin's scheme ... by the time it's proven that he wasn't in class on the day Jennifer died, he's repeatedly insisted he was in the library and a librarian can vouch for him. Lucy is named for the first time on Tuesday. She's away for Spring Break. Less than two weeks until Lucy's arrival, and just over three until the reveal.
Frisco's personal conflict this week is about whether he has what it takes to be a cop. He and Sam are among the cadets on probation. Captain Lewis, who's on his way out at the police academy*, vows to make sure they absolutely know the penal code. Frisco's determined to do right by Lewis, and he also insists on sticking to his goal. Once he's got his first check as a police officer, then he'll get a marriage license and wed Felicia.
*I have no clue what this was about, if GH figured Don Dolan had run his course and would no longer need him after the cadets story, or if they wanted to move Dolan to more scenes with Finola, Bob, and eventually Tristan.
Soap Opera Digest recaps from this period were really the pits. Describing Sheriff Broder coming on Ginny's show to criticize Anna, SOD made it sound like Ginny had no integrity at all. That's not the case in the actual scenes. Yes, Ginny could have pushed back more against what Broder said, but she did ask questions and generally let the hick hang himself.
I still wonder why the people of Port Charles care so much about the Brownstone-Laurelton murders, or if they actually do. Lucy's library supervisor apparently isn't keeping up with the story, but on the other hand, an old lady in the park calls out Anna while she's taking Robin to school. Friday's episode also has Buzz making a televised statement supporting Anna. It's pretaped, so he can watch it with Anna, Robin, and Filomenta. Nice job, Buzz, now ask Anna out while you still can!
Speaking of Anna, she and Robin have a nice scene on Friday when Anna explains that even though her job means people will disagree with her, it's okay to have disagreements. Robin also shouldn't go around punching her classmates while defending her mom. I just really liked Finola and Kimberly's chemistry together.
As this storyline's gone on, I've lost a lot of patience with Bobbie. I keep wondering if the story just doesn't work, or if it doesn't work because Bobbie's in a role that she's just not right for. Could it have worked 20 years later with Lucas rather than Terry? Anyway, Terry caught me off guard on Friday. Not only is she ugly-crying and running her mascara nearly as badly as Tammy Faye Bakker, but:
Terry: "Jake, I think you have forgotten something. Before I got my head on straight, I was starvin' for love. Do you remember? When I crawled into your bed? You were so kind, and understanding, and you talked to me. You told me that someday I'd be able to find the man that would love me. And in order ... in order to get love, I would have to learn to love. You said something like that. Do you remember?"
I'm assuming Bobbie never found out about this.
The week ends with Kevin vowing to sell his Purity Water stock, part of a bequest from Jennifer, to fund a hospital in her name. That, plus the lack of a clear motive for why Kevin would kill Earl Moody or Neil Johnson, not to mention the harassment he's been getting all week, is good enough for Jake to defend Kevin. Kevin's going to trial, Frisco's also been whipped into acting on Kevin's behalf, and Anna accepts this. Devane and Jones say they'll be friendly. If either party finds something that would prove the other's right, they won't conceal it.
Bobbie: "Well, nobody seems to have noticed that a very important event has just taken place here in Jake's office. ... All of us Brownstoners are one big happy family once again." Group hug.
Man, f*ck you, Bobbie.
(Part II will be about Sean Swindles the Quartermaines, Mike's Paternity, and Bryan and Claudia, which actually isn't a total afterthought this week!)
@DRW50, @titan1978, @Vee, @carolineg, @Jdee43, @dc11786, @Khan -- After all this time, I finally realized I should tag people.
By
Franko ·
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