April 13, 1987

Felicia kept interrupting Mitch so he couldn't explain. She threatened [obliquely] to retaliate by lusting after another man.

Lisa fretted. Jamie soothed her. She said Cheryl was afraid.

Adam forbade MJ to go to Cheryl. [And so he should. How very unprofessional, Officer McKinnon.] The Disembodied Voice repeatedly addressed Cheryl by name. Adam wondered where the killer was. MJ had disobeyed and rushed out to her sister.

Dr Glaser asked Donna if she were absolutely certain John was in the photograph. She said it was and she didn't know why she was upset by it. He asked if she were afraid he would hurt her babies. She said John had hurt her. She sobbed about That Night. She refused to stop remembering. He soothed her. Donna said she'd known at first sight that she loved Michael and he loved her but he wouldn't take her away from daddy in spite of her pleading. He wanted to wait to make love with her. She said she'd been impatient and she'd gone to see John. She remembered finding John tinkering with a car with Jumpin' Jack Flash playing on the radio. [I am seized with a desire to prove the date wrong, but I can't for the moment date Jumpin' Jack Flash.] Donna wore vair' unDonna clothes. Jeans and a blouse and a repulsive red bow in her hair. She told John all about her being mad at Michael. John seemed to have a thing about Michael's virtue. Donna decided it would be a good idea to make Michael jealous, so she put it to John and behaved in a very provocative fashion. John was unthrilled. She made him sit in the car with her and kiss her. He was reluctant. She insisted and before you could say Jack Robinson he had pushed her onto the floor of the car and raped her, having told her he had loved her forever. Donna sobbed and protested.

The Disembodied Voice warned Cheryl to stop flaunting her body all over town, or else he would make her his next victim. Adam found speakers in order to search for a tape recorder. Scott burst in and embraced Cheryl. Vince and Mary followed. Scott said he would protect Cheryl from now on. Mary took his side against Vince.

Felicia left a message for Dr Glaser to call her. Mitch tried to explain again. Mitch: somewhere in your brain, do you think it's possible that you could believe that I'm doing this for a good cause? Felicia: what, are you dating for charity now? She gave him permission to do anything he liked with Elizabeth. Enter Matthew to visit.

Donna sobbed that John had raped her. Dr Glaser asked if she had blamed herself. She said she had been so stupid. [Granted, but that doesn't justify John's behavior. Neither do the protestations of love. I suppose the story will become that Donna sent out lures to John because he was wicked and exciting. Come what may, I will not have him in Bay City. He's no brother of mine.] Donna suffered shame. She remembered John apologizing and saying he loved her and would take care of her. She insisted she loved Michael and never wanted him to come near her again. She fled. He called after her. Dr Glaser said soothingly that no one would use that experience against her and brought her out of it. Donna said she hadn't thought Michael would have been able to accept what had happened so she hadn't told him. She decided that daddy must have known, in order to make such effective use of the photograph. Doctor Glaser asked if John could be the father of the twins. Donna thought about it and for no known reason said that she had been a virgin until John raped her and then she had been so persistent with Michael that he'd given in not long afterward. Dr Glaser suggested that she had wanted a loving experience to obliterate the bad one, but I have my doubts. [My, this story has changed.] Anyway, in spite of the evidence of Donna's heart, it's possible that John is the father. Donna suddenly realized that since John had left town months before the twins were born Reginald must have doctored the photograph to ruin her life. She stormed out to confront him.

Mitch would have preferred Matthew to leave but Felicia provided him with a monster sundae. Doctor Glaser phoned and agreed to meet Felicia at Tops.

Cheryl and Scott thanked Lisa. Jamie took Lisa home. Cheryl and Scott are thrilled to be together. Vince freaked out. Scott stood firm. [He's so masterful.] Cheryl stood right behind him.

That Old Carrot came to see what Donna wanted, tilting his head at an enquiring and infuriatingly affected angle. She told him she knew what he was trying to do. He continued with his enquiring expression. She explained. He claimed that he'd known about John all along and had made certain Michael didn't see the picture in order to protect her. It was because of John that he'd had misgivings about her marriage to Michael. Donna: you can't do this to me. Carrot: I didn't do anything, darling, you did. All I did was show you the proof. [PROOF? Since when is a photograph of a man with twin bundles proof of anything?]

Vince and Mary warned Scott and Cheryl to take the threat seriously. Scott said he loved her and nothing would happen. Vince put it to Scott very reasonably but Scott said he'd take care of her. Scott and Cheryl asked to be allowed to talk alone. They went upstairs. Vince has doubts. Cheryl will always be his baby. Adam and MJ said Cheryl had better heed the warning. Vince and Mary agreed. Vince suggested they make Cheryl leave town. Mary suggested they let Cheryl have some say in her life.

Scott and Cheryl are jerks. They are in love. She's not scared any more.

Jamie and Lisa plotted a next date. Jamie beeped. Now he has to go to deliver a baby Fernandez. Felicia and Dr Glaser got along swell. Mitch talked to Elizabeth about her ring and the Orient and the possibility of her having a traveling companion.

Donna told That Old Carrot he wouldn't stand in the way of her life with Michael.

Mary told Vince that Scott and Cheryl really loved each other. Vince was thrilled. "Loving Scott could get our daughter killed."

Scott hesitated because of the killer's threats.

Felicia's attention wandered because of Mitch and Elizabeth. Dr Glaser went home because he has an early lecture on norms and deviance. Elizabeth left. Felicia bitched at Mitch.

That Old Carrot produced the photograph from his wallet. Donna: it's fake. It proves nothing. Carrot: Donna. How could I have doctored this photograph? John Hudson looks the picture of the proud father. Donna: he's not the father of my twins. Carrot: how can you be so sure? Donna: because it's just a fake. That photograph never really happened. It proves nothing. Carrot: you seem quite sure of yourself. Donna: I am. Carrot: in that case, why don't you show it to Michael and see what he thinks? Donna stared at her reflection in the mirror, stricken.

Index

I have yet to see much rivaling the stupidity of that last scene. Of course the photo proves nothing. I've had my photograph taken with several people who are not my father. And yet they both seem to believe that Michael will see the photo and see something more than a man with a couple of blankets, or even an uncle with a couple of blankets. I also hate the rape. There presenting it in such an irresponsible light by justifying his part and all but ignoring Donna's complete innocence. I would not be at all surprised to learn that That Depriest Woman is a man.

I don't understand the McKinnons, either. Why did they let Adam use Cheryl as bait if they didn't mean to let her go through with it if there turned out to be any reason for setting a trap?

Scott and Cheryl's reunion seems so contrived and pointless. Say what you will, I cannot bring myself to care, especially since Scott has adopted such a possessive and domineering attitude. It would have worked better if Vince had been more unreasonable and he had been the sole cause of their breakups.