Rape In The Afternoon Revisited

"Rape in the Afternoon Revisited"
Soap Opera Weekly, November 1990
By Mark McGarry

As one rape storyline was launched a year ago this week on Days of Our Lives, another wrapped up on Guiding Light. On Nov. 6, 1990, Days' Lawrence raped Jennifer, and on GL, Holly finally resolved her anger from when Roger raped her over a decade ago. The two soaps, however, handled the subject differently.

At first, the Jennifer rape plot sounded like an interesting challenge for Days, since Jennifer was seeing Jack, who had raped Kayla three years earlier. Jennifer would have to face loving a rapist. In turn, Jack would have to struggle with the fact that he did to Kayla what another man did to Jennifer.

Days set up the rape storyline by having Jennifer assume the identity of her longtime best friend, Katerina (a.k.a. Carly) to protect her from an arranged marriage with Lawrence. Jennifer went so far as to marry Lawrence (as Katerina), after he forced her into the union by threatening the lives of Jennifer's ex-love, Frankie (Carly's brother), and Jenn's present beau, Jack. The charade took an even more tragic turn on their wedding night, when Lawrence started having flashes of the real Katerina. Thinking she was Carly/Katerina, he forced himself on Jennifer and raped her.

Not the most credible plot foundation, but Days had a chance to redeem itself and in some ways it did: Jennifer's torment was conveyed-through Melissa Reeves' solid performance and several well-written scenes-and was moving. Days took advantage of Jack's history, not to its fullest potential, but at least it wasn't ignored.

In an ironic scene, while Jennifer was with Jack she flashed back to the night Lawrence attacked her. Seeing Lawrence in her mind as Jack grabbed her, she violently slapped him in the face, calling him a rapist! This almost put a permanent wedge between Jack and Jennifer, since Jenn was still unable to tell Jack that Lawrence had raped her.

In a rather dangerous move, though, the writers tried to redeem Lawrence in the months following the rape. Michael Sabatino was popular with fans, and Days didn't want to lose him. But the attention given to his redemption detracted from Jennifer's anguish and the overall effect. Jennifer was raped, but suddenly the conflict was sugarcoated because of a villain's unexpected popularity.

GL, on the other hand, managed to redeem its rapist, Roger, but the change in character took longer and was more convincing. Initially, the show didn't go for redemption; Roger was "killed off" soon after raping Holly.

According to Christopher Schemering's Guiding Light: A 50th Anniversary Celebration (published by Ballantine), Roger and Holly married in January 1979 and the tension between them mounted almost immediately. Confused, scared and still in love with Ed Bauer, Holy refused to tell Christina (now known as Blake) that Roger was her father. In a fit of rage, Roger raped Holly. In June of the same year, Holly relived the rape, then shot and "killed" Roger.

When Roger returned from the dead-as he did more than once-the rape storyline was put on the back burner and wasn't revived until 12 years later-a year ago this week. Alex wanted to test Roger's fidelity and dedication to their marriage, so she went to the one woman who could tempt him-Holly. Hoping to exorcise their memories of Roger once and for all, Holly accepted the offer.

But Alex and Holly's plan backfired. In several grueling scenes, Roger and Holly almost had sex in an Acapulco hotel room. Alex was supposed to interrupt them but was detained. Holly got caught up in the moment and relived the rape.
Maureen Garrett (Holly) and Michael Zaslow (Roger) lit up the screen with their intensity. The writing was equally searing.

Roger finally put the hate to rest, saying: "I didn't know how to love. All I knew . . . was how to control. And when I was sure that you really loved Ed, I just totally lost control . . . and I have regretted every moment since, because I destroyed the only woman I could ever love."

"And now I seem to have this opportunity to make some small amends," he continued. "And I never thought I'd have that chance I don't know what dark force is moving you to be with me tonight, but I know that I'm responsible for it, and I know I will never, ever hurt you like that again."

Roger meant those words then, and Holly genuinely came to terms with the rape. But when Roger discovered Holly and his wife had played him for a fool, the barriers that had come down went right up again. A year later, Roger and Holly are back at each other's throats.

So much for happy endings.