One Life To Live Discussion Group -- About the AA meeting....

One Life To Live Discussion Group

Topic: About the AA meeting....

Topic Posted by: sea
Date Posted: Sat Jul 19 15:28:45 2008
Additional Comments:

It looks like Charlie (whom I've always thought was rather.....slow) is putting it together that Brody is talking about Gigi and Shane. I don't remember if Charlie has ever met Brody, but I'm sure he has heard his name mentioned ---- was Charlie at Rex's wedding? I wish I had the memory of some of you, but please fill me in.

Anyway, if doh-de-doh Charlie has figured that out, was the look on his face indication that he knows Rex is Shane's father? If so, if he is truly recovering in AA, he can't tell anything he has heard there.

Spoilers say that Rex finds out that Shane is his son. I really hope he finds out some other way.

Posted by: River
Date posted: Tue Jul 22 15:51:56 2008
Message:
The AA meeting was not realistic, people don't converse like that. People just share their experiences, but there is no "cross talk".

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While I didn't think it was realistic either, it was not because of the cross-talk thing. Each group is autonomous so if they want cross-talk, they can have it. What I found unrealistic was that in real life, not one person would have believed a word Charlie said and would just have him talk with his sponsor. I was in Al-Anon for many years, and the meetings are basically the same. If a person talks too much, the others don't get a chance to help each other. It is sharing that makes people better, not dominating the meeting. eom/sea

I don't believe that anyone would have believed Charlie, initially. But it wasn't as though everyone believed him either. There were those questioning him. However, no one would be allowed to dominate that much of the meeting! They would have had just a few minutes to share & someone would have spoken up & said that he either needed to seek out his sponsor or a trusted therapist to go over this in depth with. In a lot of ways I think it would have been more interesting if he had been listening to others sharing & had more fuzzy thoughts about his time in Dorian's bedroom. eom

Posted by: GHFan
Date posted: Tue Jul 22 3:40:58 2008
Message:
I don't get what is the concern about Charlie telling a confidence from AA. Why would he? He isn't the kind who breaks confidences or the rules of AA. He's a long term member of recovery there and knows better. Rex will find out (hey, soap secrets ALWAYS come out) but not by Charlie blurting it out.
Charlie is a good guy, who was run over by a blonde truck named Roxy who insisted he be Rex's father and announced it before he actually agreed to it and too polite to call her a liar in front of others, he was stuck. He obviously was very uncomfortable with that lie. I don't see that as enough to condemn him. He was pretty disappointed with himself for falling off the wagon, but sensed there was something not right about it--it didn't add up. I like Charlie a lot. I like his scenes with Viki--two excellent actors always make for good entertainment.

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Charlie may be a good guy, but I still think he is slow. If you know anything at all about the AA program, you know that lying is a sure-fire way back into the bottle. There is a saying 'you're only as sick as your secrets' and that is why I'm concerned that the writers will let Charlie somehow betray an AA confidence. And Roxy may have started it, but Charlie perpetuated it. That makes him a liar--not a victim. He still had the choice to tell the truth. eom/sea

Thank you for posting this -- there has been no indication that Charlie will violate the confidentially of the AA meeting. And frankly, information rarely gets relayed in such a straightforward fashion on soaps. I too like Charlie and like him with Viki. -- Rhonda eom

Posted by: Rosebud1
Date posted: Sun Jul 20 16:39:49 2008
Message:
Throughout the AA meeting, I kept thinking that before Charlie started sharing at a meeting, he should have been talking w/his AA sponsor about it.

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Another good point. eom/sea

Charlie sort of took over the whole meeting, didn't he-give other people a chance to talk! Their problems are as important as yours.-lj

It wasn't as if Charlie took over the whole meeting. They take turns. Old timers don't necessarily speak unless they have new stuff to say. Charlie would be as apt to speak to the group as his sponsor. If he had a problem between meetings he would call a sponsor. Seemed like a pretty typical meeting, even to welcoming the newcomer that way. No, I'm not AA but I know people who are and Charlie having a lot to say would be natural enough. GHFan

I'm not AA either, but the oldtimers would have probably told him to shut up and listen. eom/sea

Posted by: SheilaT
Date posted: Sun Jul 20 7:44:49 2008
Message:

I'm positive Charlie was at the wedding. After all he was the "father" of the groom.

Of course, I don't actually remember seeing him there . . . a lot of that wedding is a blur to me . . but why wouldn't he be there? As Wanda says, this was before Charlie was exposed.

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Isn't it funny that none of us really remembers? It would make sense for him to be there but since none of us remembers, maybe the writers are on to something. eom/sea

He was there . . . I found a wedding scene from youtube. Check inside for the link. /SheilaT

Thanks, SheilaT. That begs the question, then, why didn't Charlie and Brody recognize each other at the meeting? Just because you can't talk about what is said there, doesn't mean you can't know each other while you are there. Hmmmm. eom/sea

maybe he was off with rex or someone this was after gigi proclaimed her love 4 rex. or maybe has killed 2 many brain cells 2 remember.

I think Charlie did recognize Brody as soon as Brody stood there in the doorway, but Brody doesn't know Charlie. At the church, Charlie was one of the crowd, and Brody came in, caught everyone's attention, and immediately left with Gigi, so he may not have ever seen Charlie. GHFan

Posted by: LuvJerry
Date posted: Sun Jul 20 0:49:54 2008
Message:

The writers HAD BETTER be sure that Charlie doesn't tell what he hears in an AA meeting, if they really want to portray Charlie as a recovering alcoholic in the AA program. That is part of the recovery program-working at the discipline to keep confidences.

A soap is a soap is a soap, but the writers opened this can of worms. I hope they stay with it. If Charlie repeats what he hears in a meeting, the characters blows all credibility he has about being in a recovery program. If this does happen, I wouldn't blame Viki at that point is she did kick Charlie to the curb. The character wouldn't be worthy of Viki anymore.

Breaking a confidence is like drinking, because it paves the way for drinking. People who are working the program keep confidences.

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And, hopefully, Charlie will just go to Brody and encourage him to tell. I don't see how that would happen, though. I do know that you are correct. If Charlie betrays the confidences expressed in the room, he is more despicable than he was when lying to Rex. eom/sea

I didn't think Charlie was worthy of Vicki even before the AA meeting. Luna

Posted by: Wanda Wolek
Date posted: Sat Jul 19 23:14:37 2008
Message:

You know, I can't remember if Charlie was at the wedding. He should have been. That was before Rex learned he wasn't his dad. I think the writers forgot about that. (In other words, it's not just Charlie who is a little slow...) As for Rex learning the truth - I don't think Charlie will be the messenger. He's pretty much with the AA program and would know that what is said in that room stays in that room.

But I've been wrong before...

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I think it is hilarious when the camera is on Charlie and he is supposedly thinking. I think the look of constipation doesn't apply only to Cole. eom/sea

Posted by: Gallagher
Date posted: Sat Jul 19 21:31:00 2008
Message:
THANKS FOR SHARING THE SPOILERS!

Jeeeeez.

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All that was said was that Rex would find out... Honestly, did we really not see that coming? ~Soaker

You're welcome. Actually, if you are paying attention, that is far from a spoiler. eom/sea

It's a spoiler until it happens onscreen. That said, I agree that this one isn't exactly hard to figure out. //SqueezeMe

Posted by: YurSoakinginit
Date posted: Sat Jul 19 16:22:39 2008
Message:

Brody is just so weird to me. He has only one facial expression, and it looks as if there's an alien mutant reptile (with a long, two-pronged tongue) trapped underneath!

I hope his stay in Llanview is a VERY short one. He's either boring or annoying. I'd actually rather watch John Brotherton's Jared wildly chew scenery than sit through an entire Brody scene.

BUT if he does ever tear off that rubber face mask and tries to eat Gigi and Shane, then I might let go of the fast-forward button!

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I do know what you mean, although I still find him preferable to Jared. eom/sea

Posted by: Miss.Bear
Date posted: Sat Jul 19 16:05:40 2008
Message:
I can't wait to see the look on Shane's face when he finds out Brody isn't really his dad. Classic!!

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Gee, mean much? Poor kid's been jerked around his whole life , now his Momma's gonna pull the rug out for good and all.Nice. L.A.

Miss.Bear, what is wrong with you? eom/sea

I'm sure he'll be devastated -- not only at the loss of the heroic father he's imagined his whole life, but also because his mother lied to him. And even though he and Rex have bonded, it will take some time for the poor kid to adjust. I definitely want Rex and Shane to know the truth -- it will be good drama but sad too. However, I'm certainly not looking forward to the poor kid's anguish! -- Rhonda eom

I am. I can't stand the kid.

No surprise, Miss. Bear. /SheilaT