7/27/98 I know Timothy's RJ was on today, understandably OLTL was interrupted by the shootings in Washington, DC; therefore, I have no updates for today.
7/27/98 OLTL was pre-empted by ABC News of the shootings in Washington, DC. My sympathies to the families who lost their loved ones.
Although Max was the only person that RJ spoke to the whole time he was on today, at least he isn't hidden off with the only other person he happens to have dialogue with at that time.
I saw TDS on BET tonight; I think it was a repeat and I missed the first fifteen minutes. Darn. Peter Parros, Kevin Mambo and Kristoff St. John were also guests on Tavis Smiley's talk show along with Brad Sanders of the "Clarence Updates of Y&R".
Max is greeting Christian and Jessica at Club Indigo; and RJ walks straight to the bar and he looks furious.
RJ: "Who put on this musak?" Max: "I did."
Max is behind the bar and cleaning up after some patrons when RJ walks behind the bar and starts cleaning up after Max. Max notices...
Max: "Hey, hey, what are you doing?"RJ: "This is not Rodi's, this is Club Indigo. We have a certain style (as RJ picks up the rag that Max left on the bar) and we don't leave wash rags on the bar."
Max: "May I point out that I'm co-owner of this bar and of that wash rag? This is OUR watering hole, not yours."
RJ: "This is not a watering hole; there will be no hoe downs here. This is a jazz club and I don't care if you do own 50%, I'm not going to let you lower it's standards."
Max: "This is a bar, RJ. It's just a bar." RJ: "NOT TO ME."
RJ returns to the bar and Max is still bartender.
Max: "Did you change the music?"
RJ: "Yes. Yes I changed the music and will continue to when ever I feel the need."
Max: "Let's get this straight, this place wouldn't be open if I hadn't bought it."
RJ: "No, this place wouldn't exist if I hadn't created it. My whole life is wrapped up in this club right now. So it's much more than a bar to me. This is the first place I've ever owned, it's the first legitimate business investment."
Max: "hmmm, I almost believe that."
RJ: "Well believe this I'm not gonna let you turn Indigo into some...some white bread steak and ale joke. Alright? When Rachel get's out of prison she'll have a job here waiting for her."
Max: "Ok. You just make sure you don't bring in any of your other ex-con friends 'cause I don't want to turn this place into a half-way house."
RJ: "Don't go there, Max. We'll just call Rachel the co-owner's assistant, ok? Meantime, while we are on the subject you just make sure to keep your hangers on and cronies to a minimum."
Max: "You just expect to see alot of Blair Cramer."
RJ chuckles: "And you're warning me about Rachel?"
Max: "Ok, listen we have some differences we need to work out."RJ: "AMEN!"
Max: "For right now what do you say we retire to our separate corners?"/td>
I really liked that RJ wasn't going to participate in the "Pity Party" Rachel was trying to throw for herself. Rachel's emotions have been all over the place. I like that RJ has given Rachel something to look forward to come back to.
On the other hand the jury is still out on RJ and Max's partnership. I just hope the PTB are not going to try to turn RJ into Max's lackey like they tried to do when Carlo came back to town. RJ was doing fine as the town villain, and for some unknown reason they decided Carlo should come back; and that took alot of villainy scenes away from RJ. I can see RJ and Max would make a fun team; I like how the spark has come back into JdP's eyes working with TDS. I think that these two men enjoy working with each other, and I think that they would be a welcomed change to what I have been seeing recently.
However, I don't appreciate that they had Max come into Club Indigo and act as if RJ didn't have a class act goin' on. I don't recall RJ and Jacara running a tacky joint, and for the PTB to insinuate that it was and now it will be classy because Max is in the picture...I don't think so. RJ oozes class and he may just pass some of his class on to Max, not the other way around.
Max, Asa and Renee are sitting at a table together at the Country Club when they are interrupted by the Host apologizing for RJ.
CC Host: "Sorry Mr. Buchanan, I tried to explain the membership policy to this gentleman but he insisted...
Max: "The gentleman is my guest, I invited him."
Asa to the CC Host: "Oh, and bring this gentleman a chair."
RJ: "If I didn't know better, I would think you's lackey isn't used to seeing my people here at the Llanview Country Club except, of course, in the kitchen or maybe carrying some golf clubs.
Renee: "If by my peoples you mean kidnappers, you got that right."
RJ: "Uh, ok (as RJ turns to Max) see I knew immediately...matter of fact, meeting you anywhere is a mistake.
Max: "Wait, wait, wait. We have business to discuss."
Asa: "You're going in business with him?"
Max: "He took a bullet for my kids."
Renee: "and who put your kids in the line of fire to begin with?"
Asa: "Exactly."
RJ as he looks at ASA: "Oh, you don't need me for this. I'm not going to stand around and be judged by you paragons of virtue."
Max as he leads RJ away from the table: "But I need you, more importantly, you need me."
RJ: "For what, a character reference?"
Max: "To take Club Indigo off your hands. It'll just take 30 seconds to hear me out, hear my offer."
RJ: "Look, I don't know what you're up to. If this is some kind of psycho Daddy revenge thing against me or you just want to test the chains Massa Buchanan has on you, I don't know, I don't care, Indigo is not for sale.
Max: "Look, you and I, we have a lot in common...the way we think, the things we know. For instance, uh you and I both know that everyday that Indigo is boarded up it's hemorrhaging money.
RJ: "Well, I've got cash for bad days."
Max: "You and I both know you can't get a liquor license as long as you're on parole. And we both know you can't get a credit line from any bank. We both know you should be happy to unload Indigo."
RJ: "We have nothing in common. You see these problems you ticked off as some list of reasons for me to sell; I see them as incentive to fight to keep her."
Max: "Her?" RJ: "Indigo is my baby; it's my family. I don't sell family."
Max: "I will take of your baby. Come on RJ, you need a fresh start. I pay you a fair price, you get a fresh start, everybody wins."
RJ: "I know you think I owe you, but I don't. I certainly don't owe you my club. It's the one good, true thing I created. It's more pressure because Rachel believes in me and that allowed her to believe in me; now she doesn't believe in anything. I think you know what that's like."
Max: "Yes, I do." RJ: "So now you understand why I'm gonna hold on to the club and why I'll be the one to reopen her, make it better than ever."
Max: "What about being partners? Obviously being partners is not the first choice either of us would make in this life, but, uh well you know, in some sick way you got to admit, it makes sense."
RJ: "I don't gotta admit anything."
Max: "Look, I understand what the place means to you; the value it has and whether you like it or not I can help you keep it. You need cash to reopen the place, I got it."
RJ: "You got Papa Buche's cash."
Max: "And once that cash is in my hands, it's mine. He's got nothing to do with this. I can do things you can't do right now. I can get a liquor license, I can get a line of credit, I can..."
RJ: "Yeah, yeah, yeah."
Max: "And besides that, you know what. We trust each other enough just to make us perfect business partners. Come on, you know not that long ago we were, were spending an awful lot of energy to destroy each other, do a lot of nasty tbings..."
RJ: "Yeah, yeah and if we spend half that energy in something fine like Indigo, mmmm hmmm...we could have one slammin' club."
Max: "Yeah, maybe even slammin' enough that Rachel would see there's something in this world worth while waiting for."
RJ: "mmm ohhhh I hope I don't regret this half as much as I know I will. (deep sigh). We'll talk later.
Max and RJ shake hands.Uh huh.
Later,
Rachel and RJ are at Club Indigo and RJ is taking inventory.
Later at the club Max walks in to the Club and sets the dresses that he tried to give Blair on the bar; RJ walks in behind him and around to the other side of the bar facing Max.
Rachel: "You wanna know what Miss Georgie Phillips said to me? She said Rachel you had all the advantages but what did you do? You either quit, or failed or you did drugs. She even, um...she even called me a loser."
RJ sighs: "The girl was sick; she couldn't even deal with her own life."
Rachel: "All in my head I keep hearing her voice, 'you're a loser, (louder) you're a loser!"
RJ: "Don't listen, Rachel. For years I heard Hank's voice in my head. Don't punish yourself that way. It turn's into a bad habit."
Rachel: "Well if not her voice, it's gonna be someone else's voice. Right? Because I'm one big loser."
RJ: "Stop it, just stop it Rachel. You made some mistakes, you owned up to them, now just move on."
Rachel: "Oh, right, 'til the next time I screw up, right?"
RJ: "Cut it out."
Rachel walks behind the bar picks up a towel and starts wiping the bar in circles : "but hey, you know what, I have less and less to lose as my life goes along, because I'm a loser. First, I'm a druggie, then...or should I say then; now I'm a murderer and I just feel like I'm, I'm watching my life just...just swirling around, and around, and around down the drain. (at this point she throws the towel on the floor). Bye, bye Rachel, see you in the sewer. Mmmm, mmm, because you know what, there is no great loss."
RJ: "Look, why don't you just take me and Indigo along with it? (RJ's voice gets louder) Why not, why not just end it all (as he sweeps the glasses that were on the bar with his arm onto the floor).
Rachel's eyes widen as she brings her hands up to her face and just looks at RJ's burst of anger. Next scene they are sitting on the steps.
RJ: "If you start to believe them when they tell you that you're a loser than the game's over because you're thinking what's the point in ever playing the game anymore by my rules or anyone elses. It happened to me and I'm not gonna watch it happen to you."
Rachel: "It already has."
RJ: "Look, the Holden kidnapping started me on my trip to the bottom; I get shot, I almost died; they shut down my club and I'm on probation. So in slimes my old pal Jackie Mac, like a serpent in the wilderness offering temptations. He offers me a way out, his way."
Rachel: "Only you didn't take it."
RJ: "Why was that?"
Rachel: "because you're too smart?"
RJ: "Maybe, maybe not, but the point is there was a time when I wouldn't have let it stop me."
Rachel: "Oh well gee, Uncle RJ, you've changed."
RJ with a sigh: "You walked in here and said you wanted to work with me."
Rachel: "And?"
RJ: "And you didn't treat me like bad Uncle RJ, the hood. You gave me something, a reason to try to clean up my act, so now I'm gonna return the favor."
Rachel: "Gee, well you know, a little too late."
RJ: "Listen. You're gonna listen to me.(Rachel turns away and RJ turns her to him) Listen to me. It's okay to be scared, it's okay to feel weak, but it's not okay to quit. Whatever they give you, whatever deal made, you will play it out. You will play it out straight if it's cell time, probation, I don't care. It does not matter, you're gonna do it and you gonna stay straight while doing it. I need you to do that, ok?"
Rachel: "Why?"
RJ: "To help keep me straight."
Rachel sighs: "Please, you're not gonna put this on me."
RJ: "Oh yes I am. Sorry, it's too late, I'm giving you no choice. I'm gonna be here waiting and so will Club Indigo...and so will Club Indigo, I promise." as RJ hugs Rachel
RJ: "Get your clothes off my bar.
Max: "Our bar. I'm a half owner, remember? I think we need to make some changes."
RJ: "I like it fine just the way it is, so do my customers."
Max: "I've been meaning to speak to you about that. You see, I'd like to aim for a little higher class of customer; you know...ones with a little money to throw around that will hopefully end up in our pockets. Which is the whole reason for the this little enterprise, isn't it?"
RJ: "Now this club isn't just about money to me, Max. My souls in this place." As RJ watches Max pick up a lamp off one of the tables.
Max stands up and looks around: "Oooh, this is tacky. (Max sets the lamp down a walks around ) You know maybe we can uh...hey that's a great idea; what's it take to get a permit for some tables outside? You know, kinda go for a Paris cafe atmosphere; class the joint up. Oh, I know, how about a cigar bar?"
RJ: "cafe tables" Max: "yeah." RJ: "cigar bar" Max: "yeah." RJ: You know Max, people come here to listen to the music."
Max: "Oh yeah, I've been meaning to speak to you about the music."
RJ: "No. NO. Keep your paws off the music. I know music."
Max: "I suddenly have a taste for big band music."
RJ in Max's face: "If you destroy my club, if you even try to turn her into something she was not meant to be, I'll destroy you; partners or no, you know I'll do it."
Max gets a little twinkle in his eyes and smiles: "You haven't changed a bit, have ya?"
RJ: "No Ma'am and neither will my club. When Rachel comes back I want her to find it just the way she left it."
Who would have guessed that RJ would be only one that made any sense. I wish that I could have watched RJ go through his feelings of remorse for what happened to Max's twins and that crime doesn't pay. Who did RJ talk to while he was convalescing in the hospital? I wish to see a lot of things regarding the Gannon family but instead I only get to see the Lords, Buchanans and Cramers with their emotional traumas.
RJ and Rachel have such a unique relationship. I hope that Nora and Hank realize how important RJ is too Rachel. RJ is the only one that will not molly-coddle Rachel's every whim; he listens to her but he makes her face reality. I can see why Rachel loves her Uncle RJ; RJ doesn't treat Rachel like a baby. She is an adult; she committed an adult crime and RJ made her face it. Go RJ.
RJ looks into the cell straight at Rachel: "So...you're a murderer. Rachel we've seen each other through a lot, but I never, never thought I would see you on that side of these bars. How does it feel?"
Rachel: "How do you think? I would rather die than be in here."
RJ: "I'm not talking about jail. How do you feel about what you did to Georgie?"
Rachel: "Uncle RJ I know you mean well and everything, but you know, I'm not in the mood."
RJ: "Well, that's too bad. I don't think you are going anywhere. See, in my long career on the wrong side of the law I've done lots of things I regret but you know what? I learned you must own up to your actions."
Rachel: "It was self defense."
RJ: "You ended a human life."
Rachel: "She was trying to attack me."
RJ: "I'm not arguing that."
Rachel: "So, what's your point?"
RJ: "Did you have to kill Georgie? Are you absolutely sure that was the only way? because until you can answer that question, until you know, it's going to eat at you. It's going to grow in you like a cancer and eat till there's nothing else. Take it from me, I've been there. Sooner or later, one way or another, you will pay, in jail or out. You will not become me. Look around you, look at me, look at my life; I lost my club, my fiancee and do you know why?"
Rachel: "No."
RJ: "Because nothing is ever my fault. I never had to deal with guilt, consequence, taking responsibility; a useless concept. So I just kept doing the same old thing; making the same old little mistakes until they grew, gathered momentum, and came back to smack me in the face."
Rachel: "the twins."
RJ: "I was lucky. I didn't go to jail, but I still live with what I let happen to those kids. I always will."
Rachel: "So what are you trying to tell me? That I'm going to live with this the rest of my life?"
RJ: "Probably."
Rachel: "hmmm"
RJ: "I'm just telling you how it is."
Rachel: "I thought about this alot, about whether there was another way; wondering whether If I should have called the police or run out the door; Georgie was gonna go, you know, more nuts?"
RJ: "Or not have gone in the first place?"
Rachel: "I guess...I guess there was this deep, dark part of me that wanted to make Georgie pay for what she did to my mother. When she picked up that poker and I grabbed for the bat, instead of running away, I killed that woman, I killed Georgie Phillips."
Nora and Hank come back telling Rachel that she can go home and that it will be over soon. Rachel tells them that it will never be over; not for a long, long time. As she leaves the jail cell RJ hugs her. Rachel, RJ, Hank and Nora are walking through the police station and Rachel notices the people looking at her, she holds her head down.
RJ: Rachel, if you don't want them looking down on you, don't look down on yourself." Rachel raises her head and Drew is standing in the doorway; they look at each other; then Drew steps aside and lets her go by.
Hank, Bo, Sam and RJ are now in Bo and Nora's living room discussing how they will handle Rachel's case.
Hank: "Sam, just be straight with me. What's our best bet?"
Sam: "It's a tough call, Hank."
Bo: "It's a tough situation."
RJ: "No joke!"
Sam: "So my best thinking on the subject..." Nora comes in.
Hank: "She ok?"
Nora: "She's exhausted; she got right in bed." She sits down on the sofa and looks at Sam "I'm sorry, you were saying?"
Sam: "I was saying that from looking at all the angles that Rachel should plead guilty."
Hank frowns.Nora: "Are you serious?"
Sam: "Yes. If we're lucky she may get 3-5 years; be out on parole in six months.
Hank: "No. That's out of the question."
Nora: "The plea should be not guilty."
Bo: "Wait a minute. We're trying to help the kid, right?"
Nora: "of course we are."
Bo: "Well you gotta stop thinking like her mom and dad and see Rachel the way a judge and a jury would see her."
Nora: "That's exactly what I'm doing."
Hank: "Look, a reasonable judge would give her a suspended sentence."
RJ: "Since when is a judge reasonable?"
Nora: "Look. This was self defense, right? Once her case goes to trial she's gonna make a very sympathetic defendant."
Bo: "Not with the attitude I saw this morning."
Nora: "Can't you say something positive, Bo?"
Bo: Excuse me; would you folks excuse us for one second." Bo and Nora walk towards their front door as Bo tells Nora that he thought he could help but he is just getting in the way. Nora says that he isn't totally in the way. Bo tells her that he is going to go to Harrisburg to see the Governor to try to get Drew his job back; and that he will be gone for a couple days. Nora tells him she loves him and ask if he thinks if they will make it; Bo thinks so but not right away.
Nora back in the living room asks Sam: "What about temporary insanity?
Sam: "You know how I hate that."
Hank: "I hate it too, but if it works."
RJ in disbelief: "Excuse me!"
Sam: "No. He's right. It may be the quickest way."
RJ: "No. You can't do that to Rachel."
Hank: "It's a legitimate legal tactic."
RJ: "I know what it is. I'm telling you I don't think the girl is ready to handle it."
Hank: "Look, our goal is acquittal, period. Anything else we can clean up afterwards."
RJ: "Anything? The brain trust can handle anything and what about a mental breakdown? or maybe she'll just pick up again."
Nora: "Rachel won't go back to using drugs."
RJ: "Never say never."
Hank: "Would you just butt out?"
Rachel walks in and shouts "Stop it! I'm not a saint and I know what I did. I don't need my peers to tell me that. I've already judged myself, I've killed a woman; I killed Georgie Phillips. I'm guilty and that's how I want to plead."
As a Native American I was very pleased to hear RJ explain our ritual of smudging to rid spirits from our home. My family and I had to do that not long ago at my sister's home. My niece had been killed in an accident at the young age of 22; on the day she was buried we believed that her spirit hadn't gone on. My cousin-in-law is a medicine man and he told us what we needed to do to send her on her journey alone; smudging all of us and my sister's home was one of the ritiuals. That was the first time for me to actually be a part of one of our rituals as I wasn't taught about our ways as a child.
Megwetch Timothy!
RJ greets Andrew with "it's a little warm to be wearing that collar today?" Andrew responds that must be why he is so hot. RJ laughs. Andrew goes onto say that he didn't think that Rj would be this good with the kids. RJ tells Andrew that he can relate because he felt alienated as a teenager and that he hated it. Andrew says "and now you hate drugs which is good for the clientele. You're doing a great job."
Enter Jackie McNaughton; he says hello and looks around asking if this is the way they treat heroes in Llanview. RJ introduces Jackie to the Rev as an associate from New Jersey. Andrew leaves. Jackie tells RJ that he and the boys want to help him get back on his feet; that they made a great team back in the days with Carlo. Rj says: "Jackie Mac I don't mean to impugn...." and Jackie asks what impugn means; RJ tells him to look it up. Then RJ thanks him but says that he can take care of himself; he isn't into sharing. Jackie says they used to be a team; and RJ says that was when he thought the team was family. Jackie leaves saying he will be hearing from him.
The Rev walks in offering his opinion about how tough it is; RJ says he will go with the flow; Rev. tells him he knows that it can be tough but he is doing a great job and good begets good.
Rachel walks in looking frazzled telling her Uncle RJ that she was looking all over for him; RJ looking concerned asks what is the matter. Rachel: "Everything" She tells Rj that she can't stop thinking of Georgie; her place feels like it is haunted. RJ tells her that she is spooked and that maybe she needs to do a ritual; chase out the bad spirits. Rachel looks at him and asks, "like voodoo?"
RJ: "No need to kill any chickens; but you might want to smudge the place; you burn sage bundles. Native Americans used the smoke to purify things, people, places" as he looks at the Rev. The Rev says that he can't recommend rituals outside of the church but maybe that would be a good idea. Then RJ tells Rachel that he would be worried if she went on as if nothing happened; her place isn't haunted her heart is. It will pass in time. Then he goes on to tell her that she can call him anytime as he hugs her.
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I have had some time to think about Timothy's recent appearance, and as usual the "Man" gives us viewers his best. I was so thrilled to see him that I hadn't given much thought to what I thought about RJ, Hank and Rachael.
Here goes. Yes if I were RJ I wouldn't be too happy either. Not that he received 1,000 hours but that he is the only one that has to pay for a crime even though he was indirectly involved. I am not condoning the kidnapping or his part in it; BUT he is the only one that is paying for a crime in Llanview.
What is up with RJ not being able to run Club Indigo while he is doing community service? Excuse me but when did he have a substance abuse problem? Bye, Bye Club Indigo. Only reason I can think of why PTB are doing this is because RJ will be returning to his loansharking, or they are just gettin rid of a Labine storyline (more likely the latter).
I can handle the 1,000 hours of community service if this means that we will be seeing RJ during the majority of those 1,000 hours. Me, I would like to see him for all the two thousand hours. I figured it out and that is doing some major time; if you figure it out using 40 hours a week -- that is like six months. If this is going to push RJ off the backburner, than I am all for it; if not, then PLEASE give this man his Club back.
What really upsets me is that all of Rachael and Hank's emotions evolve around Bo and Nora. It is like they don't have time to be worrying about how RJ feels. They don't have to time to even discuss how they feel about how let down or betrayed they feel about RJ's participation in the kidnapping; or even the rescue. It is all about Bo and Nora. Come on PTB, let the Gannons explore their own FAMILY DYNAMICS. The Buchanans have plenty of Family Members that they don't have to be sucking up airtime away from the Gannons, too.
6/4/98 - RJ was in his office at Club Indigo, walks to his desk, saying "there's not music here now" sits down at his desk and pick up a ring(?) he had bought for Jacara and as he looks at it, he says to himself "Why couldn't you trust me?"; then big brother Hank walks in. RJ lets him know that he is not happy getting 1,000 Hours of community service. He helped them solve the kidnapping, he took a bullet for Max's kids and he gets a 1,000 Hours of community service.
Hank replies: "RJ I kept you from doing jail time because you were so helpful finding the kids."
RJ: "a thousand hours" counseling drug addicts but I can't run the bar until I finish. How am I supposed to run a jazz club without a liquior license"?What am I supposed to do?
Hank assures him that he's lucky that that is all that he got and says: "I thought you would like to counsel because you hate drugs. If he can't do it for those addicts in need, do it for Rachel.
RJ : are you saying Rach has picked up again?
Hank: no but she has been having a rough time with this Georgie thing. She is falling apart.
Then RJ starts in on Hank's loyalty to Bo Buchanan and his current situation. He says, "So Bo messed up more lives than mine I just knew ole' massa Buchanan was just like the rest of us regular folks"!!!What goes around comes around."
Hank defends Bo vehemently and gets up in RJ's face,grabs RJ by the lapels, things are heated with voices raised and says:
"that's enough"
RJ:Go ahead hit me.
Hank: Bo is hurt too.
RJ: He deserves it. And he figured he would
walk because he is Buchanan and commissioner.
Hank: You haven't learned anything.
RJ: I have, I know what I got for rescuing Holden's kids (nothing good). Bo's time will not be easy.
The conversation is getting pretty heated when
Rach walks in: "Stop it."
RJ walks up to Rach: Rach I am sorry you had to hear that, it was my temper talking. I know you have been having a rough time.
Rach: "What will Bo's sentence be.
Hank:I could be a couple of years or he could 20 years.
Rach: I don't know how Mom will handle that.
Hank has to leave but makes a date with Rach for later.
RJ: I am sorry, I was worried and I know what you have been though. You haven't been thinking of...
Rach: Using? No. I expect this from my parents, but not you. What, Don't you trust me?
RJ: "I always trust you." and RJ gives Rachel a hug.