From: MZ6@psuvm.psu.edu
Newsgroups: rec.arts.tv.soaps
Subject: Re: Y&R : Scott's using little Scottie!
Date: 26 Jul 92 15:34:00 GMT
Article-I.D.: psuvm.92208.113400MZ6
 <1992Jul26.010532.10991@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu>
Distribution: world
Organization: Penn State University

I'm going to agree with what Sandra said, sort of.

I like the brewing custody trial between Scott and Lauren (I wish I'd
actually get to see it), because there is no "right" party.  I'm
not sure who should win.

(Longtime viewers of the soap will remember a similar situation many years
ago--when EVERYONE was talking about who should get little Brooks Prentiss.
Leslie Brooks Prentiss was his mom--but she got amnesia and lived out of
town under a new identity for almost a year.  Laurie Brooks, needing someone
to love, acted as mother to poor, abandoned Brooks--and did a remarkably
good and loving job at it.  When Leslie finally got back, and got her
stuff together, she wanted her boy back.  This led to a custody fight,
made all the more poignant given the long and complex and troubled history
between Leslie and Laurie, and the fact that both women genuinely loved
the boy and each other.  I think Leslie ended up getting the boy--which
I STILL believe was wrong--and Laurie had a lot of hurt in her soul after
that.  Neither of the sisters lasted on the show much after that--
Leslie got involved with Robert Lawrence, and then left the show.
Laurie got framed for her ex-mother-in-law's murder--one of the greatest
plots of all times!!!--then faked a romance with Victor Newman [pretending
to want to marry him so she would get shares in a company owned by her
ex-husband, Lance Prentiss] but actually fell in love with, and
abandoned him at the altar].  I REALLY WISH THE BROOKS GIRLS COULD COME
BACK!)

Anwyay--to the point.  Scott is somewhat justified in his actions:  I'm
not sure Scotty has to stay IN THAT APARTMENT, but he certainly needs
to stay with his father for a while.  As it is, I'm afraid the kid is
already going to have long-term psychodynamic consequences of his
ambiguous parentage.  Scott is UNJUSTIFIED in using marriage and sexual
relations with Lauren as the sole criterion by which she gets unrestricted
access to her son.  His inflexibility with regard to custody and visitation
rights is blameworthy in him.  Worst of all, his drunken pass at Lauren
LOOKED a lot like near-sexual-abuse--Lauren had said NO.  She is right
not to feel comfortable in his home--but this should affect visitation with
her son.

Lauren, of course, is justified in her actions.  She is the non-custodial
parent through no fault of her own.  Unfortunately, she is also showing
some inflexibility by wanting to take Scott to court--if she could just
take some cooling-off time, the situation might resolve a little.
(E.g., why not work out a deal like "For Scotty's sake, Scott gets
sole custody of the boy for 6 months, with FREQENT visitation for
Lauren.  After that, we'll move into a duplex--Lauren has the money--
and share joint custody).

For long term viewers, of course, the question of "fitness for parenthood"
comes up.  I think Scott is a dumb dolt, but he has already proven
(by marrying Sheila) his willingness to make personal sacrifices for the
love of his son.  The stability of his son's life has long been a consideration
for Scott--and this is too his credit.  (Although he didn't seem too
concerned with stability when he planned to divorce Sheila and fight
for custody of the child!).  Lauren has always shown a manipulative,
deceptive, shallow side--which makes one wonder how good a mom she would
be.  Malcolm points out, for example, that she slept with Scott a few
months ago but now refuses to.  Why?  Because back then she was sleeping
with Scott to hurt Sheila--using Scott as a pawn.  This is not the mark
of an emotionally stable woman.

(I also find it interesting that Lauren doesn't radiate ANY of the maternal
warmth to Scotty that she showed in her scenes with Dylan.  It seems like
the deprived-bonding that Scotty experiences for Lauren may also have
affected Lauren.)

My prediction:  I believe that Scott WILL get custody of the boy.  Lauren
will get generous visitation rights, but she will become the hateful,
embittered Lauren of old.  This will free her up to unscrupulously pursue
Brad Carlton--and resume her rivalry with Traci.

Secondary prediction:  The judge mandates joint custody, and we get to
experience the joys of Scott and Lauren trying to share some kind of
close space (neighbouring houses, a duplex...whatever) while trying to
engage in separate romantic lives.  The continual jealously between
them (expressed as concern for "propriety" in the face of their son)
makes for ongoing sexual tension.

I prefer prediction one; I believe it has the most dramatic possibilities.

We'll see (or maybe I won't!  arrggh!)

Mike
Newsgroups: rec.arts.tv.soaps