Well, sorry about the lapse! SOMEONE (me) didn't get this up early enough so...the clips of the day are out of order. Gotta see what I can do about this. Let's get this show on the road.
Ms. Newland. She brings out a lot of our boy! Todd in his desperation steals from her, and we all knows how that ends. Of course, we have to suspend disbelief, because what elderly woman would allow a stranger into her apartment in NYC? Not too smart, but it makes for a great story turn. I love all of this; Todd reading about himself in the paper, Todd eating one of the rolls early, Todd making up his alter-ego, Ted Lampley! I really like this whole part of the story. Amazing stuff. His tone when reading the article - so....Toddian. This reminds me of when he's a nun in later years and makes up those crazy names!
Seems the major thing here is that Mrs. Newland gives Todd a new outlook by suggesting that Rebecca did not turn him in and has not betrayed him.
During the conversation about his stealing, he tells her "I don't trust anyone." This is a HUGE RECURRING THEME that carries throughout his life.
UGH, I have to get myself through the fake laugh and Powell's fake nose....before we see some Todd.
"Ted" decides to tell Mrs. Newland everything.....kind of. Finally, Mrs. Newland convinces him to go back and confront Rebecca! Now you know we were all cheering this on!!! Todd gives her a sob story about being a victim; he almost makes himself sound like Powell in the tale. Another sign that he can't face up to who he is and what he's done fully, yet. He talks as if it's Powell talking. If you listen to that AGAIN and imagine that he's initially talking as one of his alters, it's so uncanny. He really gives her a huge lie, so that she will pity him. "Oh, Ted." Poor Mrs. Newland doesn't even know what she's listening to.
THEN, he begins to give her SOME HALF TRUTHS.....about Powell taking everything that was his - and all he had was Rebecca's love, and that's what he felt he lost. "I just want the woman he stole from me, the woman I love." Todd's in FULL FORCE MANIPULATION. He's still acting as the "innocent one" and is smirking along her offer of the car. "I really - it's not my fault!" I don't know....interestingly enough, he reminds me AGAIN of 2000s Todd, the slight stutter in his words and the half-black comments. It's actually humorous if you watch with an open mind here, and realize that ALL ALONG, he threw in black comedic aspects to this dark character.
"You're too good to me!" He says he can't take her money, and does. I believe he does learn a little about trust and about kindness from this woman. Sure, he totally manipulated her, but inside, he learns something, even if small. At the very end of his talk with her, he finally "sees" this; that she has been kinder to him than his own flesh and blood has been, and it does have an effect on him.
UGH for the Powell and Rebecca stuff...and onto Todd with a flat tire. Already. Something ALWAYS seems to go wrong for this guy. And WHAM a cop!
The sticky-sweet Powell and Rebecca stuff has to go. Todd gets by the cop somehow, and with a slightly stuttery innocent act (we've seen that before) and goes on his way. Todd's going to ditch the gray convertible and move on!!!
And here we are back to the stalker act. He's back! And he's watching and listening to Powell, Rebecca and co. talk about the Spring Festival! Oh joy, Zorro on the way!
Ending sentence: "Too bad he's not at the bottom of the river, where he belongs."
FAIL: Obvious, almost not worth saying anymore, but without Powell, we'd never have the Zorro fight scenes we're getting!!
Sound off!!
Yeah, I love how he glances at the lamp in the living room before giving her the alias.
ReplyDeleteOne thing I've always wondered about:
"They'll never take his word over mi--, they'll never take MY word over HIS." I think RH botched the line, but for whatever reason, they went with that take...possibly because it actually worked perfectly (Todd tripping over his own lies)?
Then again, I kind of get the feeling they pretty much did everything in one take back then. All the "continuity errors" seem to suggest as much.
It's interesting that Todd sort of gives himself the "Powell" role in his account of what happened to Ms. Newland. He must have figured it would evoke sympathy, knowing how Powell had everyone rushing to defend him.
Lastly, I've always kind of wondered if she knew all along he was the "Todd Manning" guy he read about in the paper. Just the way she reacts when he leaves...and the fact that Bo talks to her on the phone about him later on. Either somebody told her, she figured it out on her own, or she'd surmised from just listening to him during his visit.
@kim and ToddManning9394
ReplyDeleteThis is just to let you both know That I read each and everyone of your comments You both are very eloquent in your commentaries that there usually isn't much left to say.
That being said I do have one comment to make about our boy.
Todd is a master liar and fabricator. The way he manipulates people as he weaves a story is a marvel to behold. but one wonders when the lying became second nature to him. Was it when he was younger and had to tell tales to explain his burnt hands or the bruised back at gym. Of course at this point in time we the audience are unaware of that portion of his past so we watch him spin his tale of woe for Sarah Newland. Of course he sees the opportunity to finally have someone believe him for a change instead of Powell and he takes it. Sure he manipulates her but to have someone not judge him based on his face or an already preconceived theory that he is all bad has to be a relief for a little bit.