the saga continues
At this point I thought for sure she was going to seduce him, but my phone rang and when I hung up they were talking about his mother. She finally got him to kiss her, but it fades out to Lana at home. The doorbell rings! It's Mr. Rossi, with a message for Allison (?) who isn't home. He complimets the house, complains about his motel room, pries about her dead husband, and tells her that Allison is valedictorian.
Lana goes on about learning to live with loneliness, and he hits on her - I think. The movie was made in 1957, so who can really tell. He invites her to the graduation dance - not very romantic if you ask me, but I think they gazed into each other's eyes for 2 seconds.
Rodney's father disapproves of Betty and makes him break up with her. Say, it was Rodney making out with Allison at her party. I wish I'd paid attention. Anyway, Rodney takes Allison to the dance. I wonder how they got that one past Lana. Maybe she figured it would be OK since she's chaperoning. Lana is the trampiest dressed there, and dances with Mr. Rossi. Rodney dances with Betty. poor Allison. Oh, but here's Norman. He doesn't dance well. Poor Norman.
Rodney and Betty neck in his new car. She turns cold, but I don't think she means it. Nope, she doesn't. Oh, wait, she does. She hit him with her purse! Go, Betty!
Back inside, Miss Thornton gives a boring speech followed by everyone holding hands to sing Auld Lang Sein. Kill me now.
Oh my god. I just checked, and one hour in there's still and hour and 45 minutes to go. I'll never make it.
The kids all gone, Lana and Mr. Rossi walk through the halls, talking about the school. He gets her alone in a classroom and kisses her, but she's a cold fish too.
Sheesh. maybe Allison, Rodney, and Mr. Rossi should get together. They're the only ones interested in sex.
Some boy named Ted asks Selena to marry him. Maybe I spoke too soon. Back then I'm pretty sure people just got married so they could have sex.
So she goes inside to find her mother and Joey (the brother, remember, the one who didn't leave town) MIA and her stepfather drunk as usual. All the drunks I know sober up occasionally, but maybe that's just me. Anyway, Lucas apparently rapes her, but the sound of a train drowns out her protests and we cut to a sunny lawn where Allison is giving a poetic valedictorian speech.
There are fireworks and an Allison VO about summer.
Allison gives Mr. Rossi her stories to read, but he thinks they're too libelous, and she should go to college. "I don't want to study about writing, I want to write." She's an idiot, but I agree. Anyway, Mr. Rossi gets her a job at the newspaper.
At the doctor's office (have I mentioned the doctor?) Selena finds out that she's pregnant and tells Doc that she can't have the baby, it's father is married. He gets it out of her that Lucas done it to her, and goes to confront him. Stupid doctor, Lucas has an axe. Hey, Lucas IS the janitor. A one-drunk town, this Peyton Place. Doc gives Lucas a statement to sign. He does so, forgetting all about his axe. Doc tells him to leave town, or else. Uh-oh. Mom overheard the whole thing.
Selena comes home and Lucas chases her around the yard and through the woods. I bet she gets away - she's young and he's drunk. See? He fell down. But wait - he's up again and she's hiding instead of running. That never works! The suspense is murdering me. She runs again but slips and falls.
Grrl Genius is back to tell us about Lana Turner's scandelous life. I really hate Grrl Genius. Her voice makes me want to gouge out my eardrums. So anyway, it's been an hour and a half (almost) and this is the first commercial break. Great set-up, except for the movie. And the hostess. I wonder if I'd have any luck if I petitioned to replace her.
According to this Honey Nut Chex commercial, fathers and sons put their differences aside to bond over breakfast. Okaaaay...
Ooh, After the movie I can watch Backstory. I DON'T think.
GG's back and blathering on about Peyton Place the series, starring Mia Farrow. Back to the show.
The doctor and nurse are talking about Selena's miscarriage. He's calling it an apendictomy. I love the doctor. Poor Nelly. I bet this is where she kills herself.
Allison & Lana visit Selena, followed by Ted. He brings her a gift and tells her he's got a job and may be able to go to college to be a lawyer. But he wants to marry her. But she's crying. Oh, the drama.
Cut to a parade announcing a picnic. I'm so glad I don't live in Peyton Place.
Nelly comes into work at Lana's. She cries and Lana comforts her. Allison thinks she's crying because Lucas left town.
At the parade, Allison flirts with Norman and there are shots of the marching band and cute babies.
Some guy (I can't keep track of the characters) mentions being prosperous and east of the Alleghany. I feel so knowledgable - I know where the Alleghany is. Oh, he's Rodney's father. Right.