Courageous Convictions

Knots Landing

Season 1 Episode 11

Air Date:   March 13, 1980

Recap:  The neighbors are all at Karen and Sid’s house playing cards, Laura’s father Is visiting the family.  Richard gets a phone call and takes it upstairs.  It’s not good news, Richard makes plans to meet his investor the next day. 

   Diana gets home with her boyfriend, they go up to her room, they are making out, but she asks him to give her sometime before they go any further.

   At home Laura gives Richard a nightshirt, she asks him what’s wrong and what the phone call was about.  He tells her it was only business.

   Sid and Karen talk about Diana’s boyfriend, Sid asks Karen if she took any money from his wallet, he is missing $100.00, she says no and mentions that Richard took his call in the room.  Sid says it couldn’t have been Richard.

   The next morning Richard tells Laura that he’s going into work, her father is surprised since it is Saturday.  Richard meets his investor at the golf course, he tells Richard that he has lost everything, on the stocks, he tells him that there is nothing for him to do but declare bankruptcy.  Richard tells him that this could lose him his job. 

   Laura, Val and Karen are all shopping, when they go to pay the sales lady tells Laura that her credit card is over the limit, Laura says that there must be some mistake.  Val offers to get her things for her, but she tells her no.

   Richard’s accountant tells him that there is nothing he can do, but to file for bankruptcy, Richard tells him that he won’t do it.

   Diana and her boyfriend are making out in his car, he tells her that he can’t wait anymore, she says she feels the same way, but she wants it to be special.

   Laura asks Richard about the credit card he tells her that it’s a computer error, but she says that she called the company and they are over the limit.  HE tells her that he needs $20,000 by next week.  The next morning Richard gives Laura a shopping list, he tells her to invite everyone over for a party. 

   Diana’s boyfriend Terry takes Diana to a garage and shows her his car that his friend has been working on for him, she sees him pay his friend with a $100, he tells her that his grandmother gave it to him when she asks him where he got the  money.

   Richard is making everyone stakes, he takes Sid aside and tells him about his money troubles, he wants to borrow more money from Sid, he reminds him that he already owes him money, Sid tells him that he can’t help him.

   Terry tells Diana that he is going to be house sitting for his aunt and uncle and shows her the key to their house, he tells her that they could go there.  She says that she could skip swimming lessons.

   Richard asks Kenny for help, when Laura asks him what he is doing, he yells at her, telling her to stay out of it.  Sid goes to Richard and tells him that he can give him $5000, but they will have to make it strictly business this time. 

   In their room Richard asks Laura to ask her father for the rest of the money, she tells him that the only thing he’s got is his house,she suggests that they sell their house, and she could get a job.  But she won’t go to her father.

   Diana overhears that her father is missing $100.  Terry finds her on her way to school, she acts distant with him, then asks him where he got the money, he tells her that his father gave him the money, she tells him she doesn’t believe him and runs off.

   Richard and Laura’s father are at the park with Jason, Richard tells him how difficult things are and that he needs money.  Laura’s father brings up the fact that Richard has already borrowed money and never talked about paying him back.  Richard tells him to mortgage his house.  He tells Richard no.

   Terry goes to Diana and tells her how sorry he is that he took the money, Diana hits him and runs into the house.  

   Richard, Jason and Laura's father get home and they are all very quite, Laura asks Richard what happened, and he tells her that she is just like her father.  She tells him that she went looking for a job today and she talked to a realtor about selling the house.  He tells her to forget it, or forget the marriage.  

   Laura talks to her father, he tells her that she needs to make Richard take her help, just like she did for him after her mother died.  

   Diana tells Sid that Terry took the money, and Sid gives her a lesson about betrayal.  Diana tells him she doesn't want to forgive, because he came into there home and stole from them.  

   Laura's father tells Laura that he is wiring her some money.  

   Diana tells Terry that she can't hate him, but that they can now only be friends.  He tries to give her a $100, but she won't take it, she tells him that he didn't take it from her.  He waits for Sid to come home and tells him that he wants to talk.

   Richard gets home and Laura has him sit down, she has a martini waiting for him, under the glass he finds a check.  She tells him that her father loaned her the money, and that there is going to be some changes.  She is going to get a job and pay her father back, and that she is going to be paying the bills from now on, she tells him that she still loves him.  Richard rips the check up and drives away.  He passes a car that's for sale, he goes over and begins to write the phone number down, he stops and throws the number away.  When he gets home he tosses a bag to Laura, she opens it and finds a roll of tape, she asks what changed his mind.  He tells her about the car, and tells her that she is right he is terrible with money, and he tells her that he hates to be ordinary, he tells her that thinks have to change but he asks her not to take away his dreams, he still needs them.

Final Thoughts:  I thought this was a good episode, we got to learn more about Richard and why he's the way he is, I still don't like him, but I understand him more now.  I like how they made you think that it was Richard who stole the money at first. 

Best Outfit: These look like ladies slakes to me, I think it might be because of the hem.