Scapegoat

Knots Landing

Season 2 Episode 8

Original Airdate: January 15, 1981

Recap:  Karen wakes up to sounds coming from downstairs, she wakes Sid up who goes down to check.  She follows him down, and they find Michael walking in circles.

   The next morning Sid says that he was just sleepwalking, Karen tells him that he was wide awake.  Eric tells them that Michael does it all the time.

   Sid and Gary are talking about how they aren’t doing well at the moment, when Linda comes in asks Sid to come check on the engine.

   Michael is painting in class, he goes over to get more paint and ends up fighting with another boy in class.

   Laura goes over to Karen’s she tells her that she wants to talk about Richard and Abby.  She says that at first she thought it was just an act, but now she really thinks that they might be having an affair.  Karen asks her if she has talked to Richard.  Laura tells her that she hasn’t, she wanted to talk to someone else to see if she was just imagining things.  Karen gets a phone call from the school and asks Laura if they can talk later since Michael is in trouble again.

   Sid is going over what Abby will be doing at the dealership, she tells him bookkeeping is the same whatever you are selling.  Gary comes in and tells Sid that he is going to a meeting and that he can handle it on his own.

   The principal tells Karen that they are suspending Michael and that she should think about a learning disabled class.  This principal keeps taking phone calls, which makes Karen angry, which I don’t blame her, what kind of secretary keeps sending in calls when she knows that the principal is meeting with a teacher.   Karen tells her to look at Michael’s records, she doesn’t think he needs to be in a special class, the principal tells her that she will look at the records, but tells her to think about it.

   At the meeting Roy and Frank give Gary a sheet of part that they can sell to them for $50,000.  Gary asks if they are used, they tell him that they are in good condition.  Gary takes their deal without talking to Sid.

   Karen tells Sid about Michael, he tells her he thinks Michael is just a normal kid, and that she should just back off him.  She tells him that Michael is in trouble and that she thinks that he needs to talk to a therapist.  Sid says that it’s too extreme, she says if he gave Michael half the attention that he gives to his engine that they would all be better off.

   Gary tells Sid about the parts, Sid wants to know why they are giving them such a good deal.  Gary says that it was because they helped them out that they just want to return the favor.  Sid tells him that the parts are worth a lot more, and that he doesn’t want to do business with them any longer.

   Laura comes downstairs and tells Richard that she wants to talk, he acts like and ass, and she goes back upstairs.

   Sid talks to Michael about school, and Michael tells him that he can’t keep up with what the teacher is talking about and that he just wants to be like everyone else.

   Abby goes into Gary’s office and asks him why he is there on Saturday.  He asks her why she isn’t at the beach with the rest of the neighborhood.  She leaves his office when Roy and Frank come in, Abby turns on the intercom and listens in on the meeting.

   Karl is with Ginger at the beach, he asks her why she hasn’t told Kenny about the baby yet.  She tells him that she is afraid, and confused.  He tells her that she can depend on him, and he doesn’t care if she is pregnant.

   Michael runs over and gets Richard and Laura to join in the volleyball game. 

   Gary tells them that Sid knows that the parts were stolen and that the deal is off.  They let him know that the deal is still on and give him a few days to get the money together.

   Michael is running all over the court and finally knocks Olivia over trying to get the ball.  Sid tells him to get off the court, Michael runs off and Sid follows him.  Michael asks him what’s wrong with him.  Sid tells him nothing is wrong.

   Michael asks why he has to go to the therapist, he tells them that he isn’t crazy.  While Karen and Sid are talking to the therapist Michael is tearing the room apart, ripping magazines, and throwing cushions around.  At home Karen tells Sid that he made up his mind about the therapist before they went to see him.  Sid tells Michael that he will take him to work with him.

   Gary goes into Abby’s office, she tells him about some big oil conference, she tells him that JR probably will be there, and that he could give him the money he is looking for.  He realizes she knows what is going on with Roy and Frank.  She tells him that she admires what he is doing for Sid, and that she doesn’t want to see him get hurt.

   Sid is explaining everything at the garage to Michael, who is no longer paying attention, when Sid has to take a phone call Michael starts to play with the air and water hose, spraying water everywhere.  When Sid gets back he tells Michael to stop.  Michael says that he will clean it up and rushes over to get a rag, he slips and hits his head on a tool.  Sid says he is going to take Michael to the hospital and asks Linda to call Karen. 

   At the hospital Karl is checking Michael out since their normal doctor is out of town.  He tells them that Michael is fine, but they are going to keep him over night, he tells them that he has a few theories about what is wrong with Michael and wants to run a few tests, he tells them he will know more the next day.

   During dinner Gary gets a phone call from Roy and Frank, he tells them that Sid isn’t a part of it and to leave him out of ti.  Val asks him about the phone call and he tells her that he doesn’t want to talk about it.

Eric asks when Michael is going to come home, Diana goes on about how much he will be a pain.  Karen gets upset and Eric tells her that they will help Michael.

   Abby and Gary get to the garage, and find Roy and Frank waiting they go inside.  Gary tells them that he can’t come up with the money right away, they drop a wrench on Gary and tell him that the parts will be delivered next week and they want the money upon delivery.

   Karl tells Sid and Karen that Michael is hyper kinetic.  He tells them that it isn’t their fault, that they need to help him burn his energy.  He tells them that it can be tough on a family, Sid tells him that they are a tough family.

   Abby asks Gary if he is alright.  She tells him that he has got to come up with the money somehow.

Michael tells Sid that he is sorry, Sid tells him that he has nothing to be sorry about.  Eric comes in to play card with him.

   Karen tells him that it scared her how they were before they found out what was wrong with Michael.  She tells him that hse knew that he wasn’t the one responsible, but she did think that she was.  He tells her that now they know that it was not their fault at all.

Final Thoughts:  Gary is getting into a big mess, and I’m sure that it’s going to come all out and he’s going to lose a good friend.  First he start an affair and now he’s getting the business  into buying stolen parts.  I think that Ginger just needs to divorce Kenny and marry Karl, he seems like he’s a good guy.  That principal really got on my nerves, it was so unprofessional for her to keep taking calls while she was talking to Karen.  I don’t blame her for getting angry.

Best Outfit:  Another muumuu, stop wearing them.