From: jbeason@s.psych.uiuc.edu (Joseph E. Beason)
Subject: Re: SIS:Teddy&AIDS (spoiler)
Organization: UIUC Department of Psychology
Date: Thu, 17 Dec 1992 17:57:56 GMT

Well, I'm not sure how well i remember it, but...

The three big plotlines follow Teddy, Frankie and Alex (Georgie is off in NY,
still).

Cute subplot: Frankie (we don't see Mitch or baby this week) notices that
Georgie's family is spiraling into a pit of filth and malnutrition (okay,
I exaggerate).  Some cute scenes at the beginning that are a little over-the-
top, such as a flood of microwave popcorn spilling from the nuker which is
the boys' breakfast.  (Personal complaint: why are men always depicted as being
completely helpless/uncaring in domestic arenas.  When the wife's away, the
household implodes????  NOT!)  Frankie becomes a domestic tyrant, "killing
with kindness".  Meatloaf instead of all-you-can-eat chili bars, everything
is clean clean clean, cutesy hats for the boys, a trip to the icescapades.
Shudder.  Georgie's hubby finally tells her in his usual gentle way to
back off a little.

Family agony subplot:  Alex decides to become A Writer, joins a workshop
taught by her favoritest author in the whole world (who hasn't written
anything in aeons).  Writes horrid stuff about two sisters, one callous and
cruel, the other sweet and long-suffering.  Her recitations in class
segue into little dramatic scenes by, of course, Alex and Teddy, in the
best Sisters tradition.  The teacher praises her work in class, but
later Alex overhears him laughing about it on the phone.  She confronts him,
they have one or two soulful discussions.  She realizes she has to write
about what's real, and in doing so makes some important realizations about
how she's been feeling about Teddy.  "You weren't supposed to succeed; it
was like defying a law of nature." or some such.  Thought it was kind of
flat myself.  Nice interactions with Reed and Kirby (whom I HATE!  Does Reed
do anything but be Kirby's wife????).  All this sets up the final, gorgeous
scene...

Dramatic subplot with outsider we'll never see again until he dies:  The
big Teddy and AIDS subplot.  A photographer who was going to do an ad shoot
with some ultrasupermodel has to cancel.  While reviewing alternates, Teddy
discovers that an old flame, her first true love and first lover has moved
to Chicago.  He's hired, but is acting kind of odd.  When supermodel gets
in, she tells Teddy that old beau has AIDS "I thought he was dead."  Ick.
Teddy confronts her buddy, they process.  He got it from intravenous drug
use.  Supermodel is a real b****, can't handle the scene, so Teddy becomes
the model for the shoot.  (Saw that coming.)  They process some more.  Really
touching, I like Ward's acting a lot.  Old beau rides off into sunset.

Big finale:  Ward is poring over old photos and letters, focuses on two
photos: their high school prom (I assume) photo, and a similar pose taken
in the present, with her all dolled up for the photo shoot, and he baring
his usually-covered arms, which are covered with Karposi's Sarcoma lesions.
She completely loses it (hell, I completely lost it at that point).  Alex,
all primed to deliver her apology, calls from the school.  (She's just
gotten out of the workshop session where she reads her narrative which
contained just such an apology.)  Teddy, in anguish, says she can't
talk about it before Alex has a chance to even get started, and hangs up.
Alex looks stunned.  VERY nice sequence, IMO.

Hope this was ok.

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