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Sunday, June 30, 2019
Why did Baby help Penny? -- Part 3
Continued from Part 1 and Part 2
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In the Dirty Dancing story, Baby Houseman helps Penny Johnson in five steps:
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Baby learns to dance well enough to replace Penny in the performance at the Sheldrake Hotel on the day of the abortion.
Baby risked that her performance at the Sheldrake would turn out to be so bad that Penny and Johnny would suffer consequences. Johnny might be embarrassed and humiliated by the performance. Johnny and Penny might even be fired by the Sheldrake.
Furthermore, Johnny and Penny might become angry at Baby and might break off future interaction with her.
Baby herself might suffer a crisis of confidence and so might avoid many challenges during her future years.
Despite these risks, Baby did agree to take dance lessons from Johnny and then to replace Penny at the Sheldrake performances.
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One reason why Baby took this fourth step to help Penny was that she already had taken the third step. The efforts and risks of the third step -- getting the money from her father and giving it to Penny -- would have been wasted if, after all, Penny would miss her abortion opportunity because she had to dance at the Sheldrake. In other words, Baby's decision to take her fourth step was based to some extent on the sunk-cost fallacy.
If Baby had reasoned more objectively, then she might have considered that the risks of her trying to replace Penny at the Sheldrake were too consequential. Baby could have advised Johnny and Penny that they should not waste valuable time trying to train Baby -- but rather should ....
However, Baby hesitated only briefly -- "I can't even do the merengue!" -- and then agreed to take her fourth step -- to take Johnny's dancing lessons in order to replace Penny.
=======
Another reason why Baby took the fourth step was to prevent Penny from returning the money. Penny had hesitated to accept the money, and Johnny had told Penny not to accept it. If Penny decided to forego that particular abortion opportunity in order to fulfill her own performance obligation at the Sheldrake, then Penny might have returned the money to Baby. Perhaps Johnny might even have insisted that Penny return the money. Johnny and Penny might have figured that they now had some more time to get the money elsewhere.
By agreeing to replace Penny, Baby caused Penny to commit herself quickly to the existing abortion opportunity. Penny would tell Billy to go ahead and put Penny onto the abortionist's schedule. Perhaps Billy even would have given some or all of Baby's money immediately to the abortionist as an advance payment.
-----
By taking dance lessons in order to replace Penny, Baby continued and developed her relationship with Penny. Although Baby's main dance teacher would be Johnny, Penny too helped teach Baby.
In addition, Penny would help provide Baby with a dance costume and with advice about grooming and makeup for the performance.
Baby wanted to spend more time and interact further with Penny. This would happen if Penny committed herself the abortion and if Baby took dance lessons in order to replace Penny.
-----
Baby's fourth step helped not only Penny, but also Johnny. Apparently, only he had signed the contract with the Sheldrake. He was the one person who was obligated by the contract to show up, with a female partner. If he showed up with a partner other than Penny, then he still fulfilled the contract.
By helping Johnny, Baby might make him feel some gratitude toward her and treat her more favorably. Until then, his attitude toward her had been suspicious, critical and hostile. From then on, he would have to give her a real chance to make a good impression on him.
-----
Of course, Baby took the fourth step also because she wanted to spend time dancing and talking with him. She felt attracted to him sexually. She knew that he could make her a much better dancer. She would have an exciting adventure with him. She could even fantasize that her adventure might include romantic elements.
-----
One other reason why Baby decided to replace Penny at the Sheldrake performance was that she would enjoy the secrecy of such an adventure -- unknown to her family and to her boyfriend Neil.
Baby had not wanted to go on this family vacation to this resort hotel. She expected to feel lonely, bored and embarrassed during the entire three weeks. Now, however, she was embarking on a secret adventure, and it might be great fun to sneak around, to tell lies and to continually deceive the very people who felt they knew her best.
========
Baby fetches her father to treat Penny after the abortion.
This last step to help Penny was likely to reveal to Baby's father that she had lied to him that the money was not for an illegal purpose.
If Baby had not fetched her father, then the best alternative would have been to take Penny to a hospital. Johnny had a car, which he could have used for an immediate drive -- to the closest hospital, or to some clinic or doctor's office, or even back to the abortionist.
Penny was not hemorrhaging from the abortion. Rather, she was suffering primarily a fever. If she had been taken somewhere for medical treatment, she did not necessarily have to reveal that she was suffering from the aftereffects of an abortion. At least initially, she could have reported merely that she was suffering from a fever.
Baby's father treated Penny just with antibiotics, which caused her to recover quickly. It's likely that any other doctor would have treated Penny's fever symptoms similarly, without having to be informed about the abortion.
-----
Baby did not hesitate to run and fetch her father, even though she foresaw the consequences for her relationship with him. Baby did not hesitate, because she perceived the situation to be an emergency that involved herself too.
Also, Baby now considered Penny and Johnny to be her own close, real friends -- and right now she considered these two friendships to be much more important than her concerns about her father.
======
In general, the primary reason why Baby helped Penny was that Baby wanted to befriend Penny. Baby wanted to learn more about Penny, about Penny's relationship with Johnny, and about Johnny himself. This was Baby's primary reason at each of the five steps that Baby took.
Baby's helping Penny succeeded wonderfully. Baby did become Penny's friend. More importantly, Baby became Johnny's friend and lover.
The movie teaches a great lesson about the benefits of helping other people.
======
This post completes this three-part series.
=======
In the Dirty Dancing story, Baby Houseman helps Penny Johnson in five steps:
1) When Baby sees Penny crying in the kitchen, Baby fetches Johnny Castle and Billy Kostecki to help Penny.Each of Baby's steps to help Penny involved risks. In Part 1, I discussed the first two steps.
2) After Baby learns that Robbie Gould has made Penny pregnant and that Penny wants to get an abortion, Baby asks Robbie to help pay for the abortion.
3) Baby gets $250 from her father and gives it to Penny to pay for the abortion.
4) Baby learns to dance well enough to replace Penny in the performance at the Sheldrake Hotel on the day of the abortion.
5) Baby fetches her father to treat Penny after the abortion.
1) Baby's decision to fetch Johnny and Billy risked causing trouble with Max and Neil Kellerman.In Part 2, I discussed the third step.
2) Baby's decision to ask Robbie to pay risked causing trouble with her sister Lisa and her parents.
3) Baby's decision to ask her father for money and to give it to Penny risked the possibilities that her father would demand an explanation or that gossip about her monetary gift to Penny would spread among the employees.Now I will discuss Baby's fourth and fifth steps to help Penny.
=======
Baby learns to dance well enough to replace Penny in the performance at the Sheldrake Hotel on the day of the abortion.
Baby risked that her performance at the Sheldrake would turn out to be so bad that Penny and Johnny would suffer consequences. Johnny might be embarrassed and humiliated by the performance. Johnny and Penny might even be fired by the Sheldrake.
Furthermore, Johnny and Penny might become angry at Baby and might break off future interaction with her.
Baby herself might suffer a crisis of confidence and so might avoid many challenges during her future years.
Despite these risks, Baby did agree to take dance lessons from Johnny and then to replace Penny at the Sheldrake performances.
-----
One reason why Baby took this fourth step to help Penny was that she already had taken the third step. The efforts and risks of the third step -- getting the money from her father and giving it to Penny -- would have been wasted if, after all, Penny would miss her abortion opportunity because she had to dance at the Sheldrake. In other words, Baby's decision to take her fourth step was based to some extent on the sunk-cost fallacy.
If Baby had reasoned more objectively, then she might have considered that the risks of her trying to replace Penny at the Sheldrake were too consequential. Baby could have advised Johnny and Penny that they should not waste valuable time trying to train Baby -- but rather should ....
* ... keep trying to find a more experienced dancer to replace Penny.Various alternatives might have enabled Baby to get the money back from Penny quickly, so that Baby could give the money back to her father quickly. In other words, some of the third step's consequences might have been ameliorated. Her father's suspicions might have been relieved quickly, and any gossip about the money might have been curtailed.
* ... notify the Sheldrake as soon as possible to schedule another dancing couple
* ... search for other abortion possibilities on other days.
However, Baby hesitated only briefly -- "I can't even do the merengue!" -- and then agreed to take her fourth step -- to take Johnny's dancing lessons in order to replace Penny.
=======
Another reason why Baby took the fourth step was to prevent Penny from returning the money. Penny had hesitated to accept the money, and Johnny had told Penny not to accept it. If Penny decided to forego that particular abortion opportunity in order to fulfill her own performance obligation at the Sheldrake, then Penny might have returned the money to Baby. Perhaps Johnny might even have insisted that Penny return the money. Johnny and Penny might have figured that they now had some more time to get the money elsewhere.
By agreeing to replace Penny, Baby caused Penny to commit herself quickly to the existing abortion opportunity. Penny would tell Billy to go ahead and put Penny onto the abortionist's schedule. Perhaps Billy even would have given some or all of Baby's money immediately to the abortionist as an advance payment.
-----
By taking dance lessons in order to replace Penny, Baby continued and developed her relationship with Penny. Although Baby's main dance teacher would be Johnny, Penny too helped teach Baby.
 |
| Penny helping Johnny teach Baby to dance |
Baby wanted to spend more time and interact further with Penny. This would happen if Penny committed herself the abortion and if Baby took dance lessons in order to replace Penny.
-----
Baby's fourth step helped not only Penny, but also Johnny. Apparently, only he had signed the contract with the Sheldrake. He was the one person who was obligated by the contract to show up, with a female partner. If he showed up with a partner other than Penny, then he still fulfilled the contract.
By helping Johnny, Baby might make him feel some gratitude toward her and treat her more favorably. Until then, his attitude toward her had been suspicious, critical and hostile. From then on, he would have to give her a real chance to make a good impression on him.
-----
Of course, Baby took the fourth step also because she wanted to spend time dancing and talking with him. She felt attracted to him sexually. She knew that he could make her a much better dancer. She would have an exciting adventure with him. She could even fantasize that her adventure might include romantic elements.
-----
One other reason why Baby decided to replace Penny at the Sheldrake performance was that she would enjoy the secrecy of such an adventure -- unknown to her family and to her boyfriend Neil.
Baby had not wanted to go on this family vacation to this resort hotel. She expected to feel lonely, bored and embarrassed during the entire three weeks. Now, however, she was embarking on a secret adventure, and it might be great fun to sneak around, to tell lies and to continually deceive the very people who felt they knew her best.
========
Baby fetches her father to treat Penny after the abortion.
This last step to help Penny was likely to reveal to Baby's father that she had lied to him that the money was not for an illegal purpose.
If Baby had not fetched her father, then the best alternative would have been to take Penny to a hospital. Johnny had a car, which he could have used for an immediate drive -- to the closest hospital, or to some clinic or doctor's office, or even back to the abortionist.
Penny was not hemorrhaging from the abortion. Rather, she was suffering primarily a fever. If she had been taken somewhere for medical treatment, she did not necessarily have to reveal that she was suffering from the aftereffects of an abortion. At least initially, she could have reported merely that she was suffering from a fever.
Baby's father treated Penny just with antibiotics, which caused her to recover quickly. It's likely that any other doctor would have treated Penny's fever symptoms similarly, without having to be informed about the abortion.
-----
Baby did not hesitate to run and fetch her father, even though she foresaw the consequences for her relationship with him. Baby did not hesitate, because she perceived the situation to be an emergency that involved herself too.
Also, Baby now considered Penny and Johnny to be her own close, real friends -- and right now she considered these two friendships to be much more important than her concerns about her father.
======
In general, the primary reason why Baby helped Penny was that Baby wanted to befriend Penny. Baby wanted to learn more about Penny, about Penny's relationship with Johnny, and about Johnny himself. This was Baby's primary reason at each of the five steps that Baby took.
Baby's helping Penny succeeded wonderfully. Baby did become Penny's friend. More importantly, Baby became Johnny's friend and lover.
The movie teaches a great lesson about the benefits of helping other people.
======
This post completes this three-part series.
Friday, June 28, 2019
Tuesday, June 25, 2019
Why did Baby help Penny? -- Part 2
Continued from Part 1
=======
In the Dirty Dancing story, Baby Houseman helps Penny Johnson in five steps:
=======
Baby gets $250 from her father and gives it to Penny to pay for the abortion.
When Baby asks her father for $250 -- which is like asking for $2,000 now -- he agrees quickly because he assumes she will use the money to help Neil Kellerman.
Baby could not count, however, on her father's quick agreement. He might have insisted that she tell him how she intended to use the money. Surely she foresaw that he might insist, and surely she must have considered three responses to his insistence:
Baby foresaw also that any lie she told would probably collapse. In the circumstances of this family vacation away from home, she simply could not concoct and maintain a plausible lie. The only people at this resort who might agree to support her lie were the employees -- in particular, Penny, Johnny and Billy -- whom she was trying to befriend.
Therefore, Baby decided on the third response, listed above. If her father insisted that she tell him why she needed the money, then she would insist, more stubbornly, that she could not tell him. Baby's most important consideration was to keep Penny, Johnny and Billy out of her father's understanding of the request.
Baby figured that her father might assume incorrectly that she wanted the money to help Neil Kellerman. After all, her father knew that she was spending time with and acting affectionately toward Neil.
======
Suppose that Baby insisted that she could not tell her father how she intended to use the money and that he therefore refused to give her the money. Then the situation might have developed in two ways.
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Baby surely worried that her father might involve her mother in this situation. Her father might have told her mother that she had asked for such a large amount of money while refusing to tell the reason. If so, then her mother might have approached Baby and demanded an explanation.
Baby feared her mother's questioning more than she feared her father's questioning.
Baby valued her father's respect more than she valued her mother's respect.
======
Even after Baby managed to get the money from her father, her risks continued.
When Baby gave the money to Penny, she risked the possibility that her generous gift might be revealed to some other employees, who would gossip the information to further employees.
(In the July 1986 script, many of the employees were gossiping about the sexual relationship between Baby and Johnny (Scene 92A).)
Eventually this gossip might have reached Robbie Gould. Keep in mind that Baby had threatened to get Robbie fired. Now Robbie would have some information he could use to threaten Baby. Robbie could have simply threatened to tell Lisa that Baby had given all the money to Penny. Of course, Lisa would tell her parents.
=======
Baby's third step to help Penny -- asking her father for the money and giving it to Penny -- was risky primarily for Baby herself. Now Baby was deceiving her father and thus was jeopardizing her superb relationship with him.
In her first two steps -- 1) fetching Johnny and Billy to the kitchen and 2) asking Robbie to provide money -- she had not risked her own credibility much and was not risking trouble for herself much. Rather, she might merely annoy Neil, Max, Robbie or Lisa.
Baby might have stopped after the first two steps. She might have decided that the third step was too risky to her precious relationship with her father. She might have decided that she should not not ask him for the money and should not give his money to Penny.
Baby might have told her father frankly about Penny's situation and might have asked him for his wisdom about the situation. When her father advised her to stay out of Penny's situation, Baby might have accepted and followed his wise advice respectfully.
Instead, Baby took her third step and deceived her father and risked her relationship with him. Why?
Baby wanted to befriend Penny and Johnny and wanted to join their social circle.
=======
I will continue this article in Part 3.
=======
In the Dirty Dancing story, Baby Houseman helps Penny Johnson in five steps:
1) When Baby sees Penny crying in the kitchen, Baby fetches Johnny Castle and Billy Kostecki to help Penny.Each of Baby's steps to help Penny involved risks. In Part 1, I discussed the first two steps.
2) After Baby learns that Robbie Gould has made Penny pregnant and that Penny wants to get an abortion, Baby asks Robbie to help pay for the abortion.
3) Baby gets $250 from her father and gives it to Penny to pay for the abortion.
4) Baby learns to dance well enough to replace Penny in the performance at the Sheldrake Hotel on the day of the abortion.
5) Baby fetches her father to treat Penny after the abortion.
1) Baby's decision to fetch Johnny and Billy risked causing trouble with Max and Neil Kellerman.Now I will discuss Baby's third step to help Penny.
2) Baby's decision to ask Robbie to pay risked causing trouble with her sister Lisa and her parents.
=======
Baby gets $250 from her father and gives it to Penny to pay for the abortion.
When Baby asks her father for $250 -- which is like asking for $2,000 now -- he agrees quickly because he assumes she will use the money to help Neil Kellerman.
Baby could not count, however, on her father's quick agreement. He might have insisted that she tell him how she intended to use the money. Surely she foresaw that he might insist, and surely she must have considered three responses to his insistence:
1) Tell him the truth.Baby foresaw that if she told her father the truth, then he would refuse to give her the money. Furthermore, he would forbid her to associate further with Penny. Furthermore, he might tell Max Kellerman that a staff dancer, Penny, was pressuring his daughter, Baby, to provide money for an illegal abortion.
2) Tell him a lie.
3) Insist stubbornly that she could not tell him.
Baby foresaw also that any lie she told would probably collapse. In the circumstances of this family vacation away from home, she simply could not concoct and maintain a plausible lie. The only people at this resort who might agree to support her lie were the employees -- in particular, Penny, Johnny and Billy -- whom she was trying to befriend.
Therefore, Baby decided on the third response, listed above. If her father insisted that she tell him why she needed the money, then she would insist, more stubbornly, that she could not tell him. Baby's most important consideration was to keep Penny, Johnny and Billy out of her father's understanding of the request.
Baby figured that her father might assume incorrectly that she wanted the money to help Neil Kellerman. After all, her father knew that she was spending time with and acting affectionately toward Neil.
======
Suppose that Baby insisted that she could not tell her father how she intended to use the money and that he therefore refused to give her the money. Then the situation might have developed in two ways.
1) He would relent later -- maybe that evening, maybe on a following day -- and eventually would give her the money even though she refused to tell him the reason.Keep in mind that the money was not desperately urgent. Penny and Johnny did not know that Baby was trying to provide money for the abortion. They still would have been pleasantly surprised by the money if Baby had not been able to provide it until a following day. Also, Penny and Johnny still might have collected enough money from their friends.
2) He never would give her the money as long as she would not tell him.
======
Baby surely worried that her father might involve her mother in this situation. Her father might have told her mother that she had asked for such a large amount of money while refusing to tell the reason. If so, then her mother might have approached Baby and demanded an explanation.
Baby feared her mother's questioning more than she feared her father's questioning.
Baby valued her father's respect more than she valued her mother's respect.
======
Even after Baby managed to get the money from her father, her risks continued.
When Baby gave the money to Penny, she risked the possibility that her generous gift might be revealed to some other employees, who would gossip the information to further employees.
(In the July 1986 script, many of the employees were gossiping about the sexual relationship between Baby and Johnny (Scene 92A).)
=======
Baby's third step to help Penny -- asking her father for the money and giving it to Penny -- was risky primarily for Baby herself. Now Baby was deceiving her father and thus was jeopardizing her superb relationship with him.
In her first two steps -- 1) fetching Johnny and Billy to the kitchen and 2) asking Robbie to provide money -- she had not risked her own credibility much and was not risking trouble for herself much. Rather, she might merely annoy Neil, Max, Robbie or Lisa.
Baby might have stopped after the first two steps. She might have decided that the third step was too risky to her precious relationship with her father. She might have decided that she should not not ask him for the money and should not give his money to Penny.
Baby might have told her father frankly about Penny's situation and might have asked him for his wisdom about the situation. When her father advised her to stay out of Penny's situation, Baby might have accepted and followed his wise advice respectfully.
Instead, Baby took her third step and deceived her father and risked her relationship with him. Why?
Baby wanted to befriend Penny and Johnny and wanted to join their social circle.
=======
I will continue this article in Part 3.
Sunday, June 23, 2019
Saturday, June 22, 2019
Tuesday, June 18, 2019
Monday, June 17, 2019
Darren Pogson's Videos
Darren Pogson's YouTube page does not explain these videos. The venue and performers are not identified.
Photographs of Anna Grace Moore for her 15th Birthday
The photographer's Facebook home page is here. Scroll down to the post at June 3.
The young man is James Cameron Noe.
There are 37 photographs, including the following.
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| Anna Grace carrying a watermelon |
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| Anna Grace and Cameron in early lessons |
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| Practicing on the bridge |
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| Refreshing her lipstick to look pretty for Cameron |
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| There are only three days left, but you still have not taught me the lift. |
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| Anna Grace and Cameron practicing their balance on a log. |
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| Anna Grace taking a break |
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| Cameron and Anna Grace mastering the lift |
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| On her way to teach Cameron her "Love Is Strange" dance |
See also
Dirty Senior Portraits
Tara Whittaker's Photographs
Autumn Harrison's Photographs
Sarah Eden's Photographs
Dirty Ballerina Dancing
Wednesday, June 12, 2019
A Comment About the Whittle Family
My blog gets few comments. The comments it does get are mostly under articles about the Whittle family, which includes Jason Whittle, the alleged son of Patrick Swayze. A couple days ago, a commenter -- apparently Jason Whittle's nephew and godson -- complained that those comments are negative and rude.
The first article has received more than 300,000 pageviews, It's my understanding that a pageview occurs when someone comes to the article directly from somewhere else on the Internet. If my understanding is correct -- if the count does not include when someone comes to the article from inside my blog -- then that article must have been read by many thousands more people.
Compared to the number of people who have read my articles about the Whittle family, the number of comments is tiny. Something like 99.99% of the readers do not comment at all. The few who do comment express mostly curiosity, sympathy or admiration.
A few commenters do express doubt that Jason Whittle is the son of Patrick Swayze. So what? In any mystery, some people will express doubt about the common wisdom.
======
I corresponded briefly with Jason Whittle's son Noah. I asked for an opportunity to help tell Jason's story, but Noah told me that the family prefers to maintain its privacy. I respect that decision, and I told Noah that I will not bother his family any more about it.
The above comment from Jason's nephew indicates to me that Jason indeed has maintained his privacy about it to the present.
Jason Whittle was not raised by Patrick Swayze. Jason respects the relatives who really did raise him. He had a beloved mother and one or more stepfathers who devoted their own time, resources and love to raise him. That is who deserves and receives Jason's gratitude, respect and honor.
As far as I know, Jason has not requested any money from the Swayze family. (I don't have an opinion about whether the Swayze family should give him any money.)
Jason Whittle is doing what he thinks is right. He knows best how his own life and his family might be affected if he did something different.
I have the impression that Jason and his family are decent, kind and admirable. Their lives are full of activities, relationships and concerns that do not involve Patrick Swayze.
======
However, it's natural that millions of people are curious about this situation. Patrick Swayze was an immensely popular, admired celebrity. People will look for information about the situation, and many of them will find my articles on the Internet, and a few of them will comment on my articles.
The public's natural curiosity never will disappear. It's not reasonable for the Whittle family to expect that nobody in the World ever will discuss this situation and express some opinions, a few of which might be negative or rude.
Really tired of everyone's negative comments. This is my family. And its rude that no one has anything nice to say.It simply is not true that all -- or even most -- of the comments are negative and rude.
You guys don't know anything as to I don't know anything. And the factors that everyone is talking shit and saying untruthful rude things about my family as some are deceased is very very immature and not needed.
My great grandpa Milvin would not appreciate any of this nonsense. And my family does not deserve all the rude and negative things everyone has to say. If you don't know anything then why comment. Why spread rumors and talk shit?
My Cousin Jason (Uncle Jason) knows the truth. He don't have to tell anyone anything cause its his life not yours. And what does it matter to anyone if he is Patrick's son. My Uncle Jason deserves this just as much as the next person. He is a great and wonderful man. And no one can change that by all this negativity. Its just pathetic how everyone thinks its their business when it's not.
I love my Uncle Jason, my god father, the father I never had. He's an amazing man.
The first article has received more than 300,000 pageviews, It's my understanding that a pageview occurs when someone comes to the article directly from somewhere else on the Internet. If my understanding is correct -- if the count does not include when someone comes to the article from inside my blog -- then that article must have been read by many thousands more people.
Compared to the number of people who have read my articles about the Whittle family, the number of comments is tiny. Something like 99.99% of the readers do not comment at all. The few who do comment express mostly curiosity, sympathy or admiration.
A few commenters do express doubt that Jason Whittle is the son of Patrick Swayze. So what? In any mystery, some people will express doubt about the common wisdom.
======
I corresponded briefly with Jason Whittle's son Noah. I asked for an opportunity to help tell Jason's story, but Noah told me that the family prefers to maintain its privacy. I respect that decision, and I told Noah that I will not bother his family any more about it.
The above comment from Jason's nephew indicates to me that Jason indeed has maintained his privacy about it to the present.
Jason Whittle was not raised by Patrick Swayze. Jason respects the relatives who really did raise him. He had a beloved mother and one or more stepfathers who devoted their own time, resources and love to raise him. That is who deserves and receives Jason's gratitude, respect and honor.
As far as I know, Jason has not requested any money from the Swayze family. (I don't have an opinion about whether the Swayze family should give him any money.)
Jason Whittle is doing what he thinks is right. He knows best how his own life and his family might be affected if he did something different.
I have the impression that Jason and his family are decent, kind and admirable. Their lives are full of activities, relationships and concerns that do not involve Patrick Swayze.
======
However, it's natural that millions of people are curious about this situation. Patrick Swayze was an immensely popular, admired celebrity. People will look for information about the situation, and many of them will find my articles on the Internet, and a few of them will comment on my articles.
The public's natural curiosity never will disappear. It's not reasonable for the Whittle family to expect that nobody in the World ever will discuss this situation and express some opinions, a few of which might be negative or rude.
Monday, June 10, 2019
Why did Baby help Penny? -- Part 1
In the Dirty Dancing story, Baby Houseman helps Penny Johnson in five steps:
=======
When Baby sees Penny crying in the kitchen, Baby fetches Johnny Castle and Billy Kostecki to help Penny.
Baby's first decision risked causing trouble with Max and Neil Kellerman. Her father enjoys a special friendship with Max Kellerman, and so the Houseman is receiving special treatment at the hotel. Baby herself is enjoying a special relationship with Neil Kellerman -- a starter-boyfriend relationship.
Max and Neil manage the hotel's employers -- in particular, Penny. Baby should not undermine that management.
When Baby sees Penny crying in the kitchen, Baby knows that Penny is supposed to be dancing with guests in the gazebo. Baby knows that Johnny Castle had told Neil that Penny was away from the gazebo only briefly because Penny was "taking a break". In the kitchen, though, Baby sees that Penny is away from her job for a long time because of an emotional crisis.
Rather than pointing Penny out to Neil so that he could manage Penny's absence from her job, however, Baby misdirects Neil out of the kitchen. Then Baby fetches Johnny and Billy Kostecki to help Penny.
Although Baby knows the Kellermans rather well and receives special treatment from them, she helps instead a few employees whom she knows only casually. Earlier, at the wig demonstration, Baby had tried to talk with Penny in a friendly manner, but Penny had responded brusquely.
When Baby saw Penny crying in the kitchen, Baby might have optionally:
Baby's option was the least helpful to the Kellerman's because she involved two more employees in this situation, in which the Kellermans' management was being undermined.
On the other hand, Baby's option was the most helpful to Penny, because Johnny and Billy already knew more about Penny's situation than Baby knew.
------
In this situation, Baby's reasons for helping Penny this way included the following:
=======
After Baby learns that Robbie Gould has made Penny pregnant and that Penny want to get an abortion, Baby asks Robbie to help pay for the abortion.
Baby's second decision risked causing trouble with her sister Lisa and her parents.
Since Robbie had become Lisa's boyfriend and was spending time with her, Baby too had become rather friendly with him. Therefore Baby figured that she might persuade him to provide the necessary money for Penny's abortion. On the previous day, Baby had heard him tell Lisa that was making good money and soon would have enough money to buy a car.
Baby thought that asking Robbie to provide the abortion money would be an easy way for her to help Penny. Baby reasoned:
Penny's pregnancy and Robbie's responsibility are not Baby's business, and Baby is quite ignorant about the situation. Furthermore, Baby's solution is that Robbie should hand over all his summer earnings immediately so that Penny can pay for an illegal abortion.
Baby's factual knowledge and moral position are dubious. Frustrated and angry, she resorts to threatening Robbie.
At the end of the short conversation, though, she found herself creating a big scandal that would upset many people. She publicly poured a pitcher of water onto Robbie and threatened to expose his misdeeds to his employer and to her family. The Houseman family's condemnation of Robbie would become the major reason for Max to fire Robbie.
In the scandal that Baby now was threatening to create, Max probably would fire also Johnny and Penny -- not just Robbie.
------
In this situation, Baby's options included:
------
Baby had another, ulterior, selfish motive. She was curious about Penny and Johnny and their relationship. Baby felt that if she got the money quickly from Robbie, she would include herself immediately into Penny's and Johnny's social circle.
========
I will continue this article in Part 2.
1) When Baby sees Penny crying in the kitchen, Baby fetches Johnny Castle and Billy Kostecki to help Penny.Each of Baby's steps to help Penny involved risks for Baby. I will discuss each step in turn.
2) After Baby learns that Robbie Gould has made Penny pregnant and that Penny wants to get an abortion, Baby asks Robbie to help pay for the abortion.
3) Baby gets $250 from her father and gives it to Penny to pay for the abortion.
4) Baby learns to dance well enough to replace Penny in the performance at the Sheldrake Hotel on the day of the abortion.
5) Baby fetches her father to treat Penny after the abortion.
=======
When Baby sees Penny crying in the kitchen, Baby fetches Johnny Castle and Billy Kostecki to help Penny.
Baby's first decision risked causing trouble with Max and Neil Kellerman. Her father enjoys a special friendship with Max Kellerman, and so the Houseman is receiving special treatment at the hotel. Baby herself is enjoying a special relationship with Neil Kellerman -- a starter-boyfriend relationship.
Max and Neil manage the hotel's employers -- in particular, Penny. Baby should not undermine that management.
When Baby sees Penny crying in the kitchen, Baby knows that Penny is supposed to be dancing with guests in the gazebo. Baby knows that Johnny Castle had told Neil that Penny was away from the gazebo only briefly because Penny was "taking a break". In the kitchen, though, Baby sees that Penny is away from her job for a long time because of an emotional crisis.
Rather than pointing Penny out to Neil so that he could manage Penny's absence from her job, however, Baby misdirects Neil out of the kitchen. Then Baby fetches Johnny and Billy Kostecki to help Penny.
Although Baby knows the Kellermans rather well and receives special treatment from them, she helps instead a few employees whom she knows only casually. Earlier, at the wig demonstration, Baby had tried to talk with Penny in a friendly manner, but Penny had responded brusquely.
When Baby saw Penny crying in the kitchen, Baby might have optionally:
* Done nothing and thus allowed the situation to develop without her own intervention.Baby chose the last option, listed above.
* Pointed Penny out to Neil so that he could manage the situation.
* Suggested that she and Neil leave the kitchen, without pointing Penny out and without comforting her.
* Suggested that she and Neil leave the kitchen, but then come back alone to comfort Penny.
* Suggested that she and Neil leave the kitchen, but then come back with her mother or sister to comfort Penny.
* Suggested that she and Neil leave the kitchen, but then run alone to fetch Johnny and Billy to help Penny.
Baby's option was the least helpful to the Kellerman's because she involved two more employees in this situation, in which the Kellermans' management was being undermined.
On the other hand, Baby's option was the most helpful to Penny, because Johnny and Billy already knew more about Penny's situation than Baby knew.
------
In this situation, Baby's reasons for helping Penny this way included the following:
* Penny was a young woman who obviously was suffering an emotional crisis. As a young woman herself, Baby assumed that Neil, a young man, would not treat Penny with the necessary understanding, sympathy and kindness.Baby assumed that Penny might be crying about her relationship with Johnny, and Baby was curious about that relationship.
* Baby was politically liberal and idealistic, and so she reflexively favored employees over employers.
* Baby figured that this option helped Penny best (as stated already above).
* Baby wanted to take advantage of an opportunity to become more acquainted with Penny.
* Baby wanted to take advantage of an opportunity to become more acquainted with Johnny.
=======
After Baby learns that Robbie Gould has made Penny pregnant and that Penny want to get an abortion, Baby asks Robbie to help pay for the abortion.
Baby's second decision risked causing trouble with her sister Lisa and her parents.
Since Robbie had become Lisa's boyfriend and was spending time with her, Baby too had become rather friendly with him. Therefore Baby figured that she might persuade him to provide the necessary money for Penny's abortion. On the previous day, Baby had heard him tell Lisa that was making good money and soon would have enough money to buy a car.
Baby thought that asking Robbie to provide the abortion money would be an easy way for her to help Penny. Baby reasoned:
* Robbie will consider my request because his girlfriend is my sister.Baby considered her request to be simple, easy and just. She did not foresee the complications that Robbie would express immediately.
* Robbie has the cash available.
* Paying for an abortion is the right thing for him to do, since he made Penny pregnant.
* He would not admit to his girlfriend's sister that he had made Penny pregnant.Although the dialogue does not include any discussion of the morality or legality of abortion, Robbie wonders aloud that Baby is lecturing him about doing the right thing when she is telling him to pay for an illegal abortion. Robbie says:
* He had worked all summer to accumulate the cash he had available.
* Maybe some other man made Penny pregnant.
Just where do you get off you telling me what's right?Good question!
Penny's pregnancy and Robbie's responsibility are not Baby's business, and Baby is quite ignorant about the situation. Furthermore, Baby's solution is that Robbie should hand over all his summer earnings immediately so that Penny can pay for an illegal abortion.
Baby's factual knowledge and moral position are dubious. Frustrated and angry, she resorts to threatening Robbie.
You make me sick. Stay away from me. Stay away from my sister or I'll have you fired.When Baby began her conversation with Robbie, she expected that she would help Penny simply, discretely and privately. Baby intended to keep the whole matter secret from her sister and parents.
At the end of the short conversation, though, she found herself creating a big scandal that would upset many people. She publicly poured a pitcher of water onto Robbie and threatened to expose his misdeeds to his employer and to her family. The Houseman family's condemnation of Robbie would become the major reason for Max to fire Robbie.
In the scandal that Baby now was threatening to create, Max probably would fire also Johnny and Penny -- not just Robbie.
------
In this situation, Baby's options included:
* Stay out of it.Baby felt certain, however, that an illegal abortion was right and urgent. Baby herself had to provide the necessary money to Penny immediately -- on that very day.
* Collect more facts before proposing solutions. For example, Baby could have asked Lisa to ask Robbie about his relationship with Penny.
* Consult with her father or mother.
* Give Penny, Johnny, Billy and their friends more time to collect the money themselves.
* Consider that an illegal abortion might not be the "right" solution.
------
Baby had another, ulterior, selfish motive. She was curious about Penny and Johnny and their relationship. Baby felt that if she got the money quickly from Robbie, she would include herself immediately into Penny's and Johnny's social circle.
========
I will continue this article in Part 2.
Sunday, June 9, 2019
Saturday, June 8, 2019
If "Dirty Dancing" WERE Filmed in Florida
=======
In the photograph's caption, the verb WAS is incorrect. I have corrected the verb to WERE in my post's title.
See the Wikipedia article on the subjunctive case in the English language -- in particular, the section labeled Use of the past subjunctive.
Wednesday, June 5, 2019
Why was Penny crying in the kitchen?
On Thursday night, August 22, 1963, Penny Johnson and Johnny Castle performed at the Sheldrake hotel, as they did every Thursday night. After their performance, they confirmed to the Sheldrake manager that they would perform again on the following Thursday, August 29.
On the morning of Friday, August 23, Penny decided that she was pregnant. She normally would have menstruated in late July but had not menstruated. Now it was late August. On Friday morning, she had vomited. She had begun to suffer morning sickness.
Later that morning, she told Johnny she was pregnant from Robbie Gould. She said she intended to tell Robbie too, but Johnny told her not to do so yet. First, Johnny would ask Billy Kostecki to get the necessary information about obtaining an abortion.
Later that morning, Penny was demonstrating wigs. Lisa Houseman was trying on wigs there. Robbie approached Lisa and began chatting with her affectionately. Robbie remarked that he was making good money as a waiter and soon would be able to buy a car. Penny overheard that remark, and so she knew that Robbie had a lot of cash.
Johnny noticed the situation, and approached. He wanted to prevent a conversation between Penny and Robbie. Johnny still wanted to get the abortion information before Penny talked with Robbie.
Later that day, Billy Kostecki reported to Johnny that Penny could get an abortion on the following Thursday. The cost would be $250.
Johnny knew that he and Penny did not have that much cash, but he thought he might be able to get enough money by the following Thursday. He could earn some money by sexually entertaining a rich guest, and he could borrow some money from fellow employees. Johnny figured also that he could arrange for another female dancer to replace Penny at next Thursday's Sheldrake performance.
Johnny wanted some more time to consider his various options, and so he told Billy not to tell Penny the abortion information yet.
However, Billy could not restrain himself, and so he told Penny that she could get the abortion on the following Thursday at a cost of $250. Billy told Penny also that Johnny thought he could get the necessary money from rich guests and fellow employees.
Penny did not want Johnny to get the money. She knew that Robbie had a lot of cash, so she would try to get the necessary money from Robbie later that same evening.
That evening, Penny was supposed to dance with guests at the gazebo. Rather than go there, however, she went to the restaurant to catch Robbie after his waiter shift. When she arrived, a kitchen employee told her that Robbie already had departed. The kitchen employee told Penny also that Robbie had bought a car in the late afternoon and that Robbie had departed from the restaurant as soon as he could because he wanted to prepare for a hookup with a female guest at the golf course later that night.
Penny realized that Robbie already had spent most of his money and was engaged in a sexual relationship with another woman. She figured that Robbie would not provide her the money -- certainly would not provide it by the following Thursday.
And Robbie would not reconcile with Penny and marry her.
Penny tried to control her emotions, but she began to cry. She could not go to the gazebo to dance with guests there. After all the kitchen workers departed, she went into the dark kitchen and sat under a counter and wept about her ruined life.
======
On the morning of Friday, August 23, Penny decided that she was pregnant. She normally would have menstruated in late July but had not menstruated. Now it was late August. On Friday morning, she had vomited. She had begun to suffer morning sickness.
Later that morning, she told Johnny she was pregnant from Robbie Gould. She said she intended to tell Robbie too, but Johnny told her not to do so yet. First, Johnny would ask Billy Kostecki to get the necessary information about obtaining an abortion.
Later that morning, Penny was demonstrating wigs. Lisa Houseman was trying on wigs there. Robbie approached Lisa and began chatting with her affectionately. Robbie remarked that he was making good money as a waiter and soon would be able to buy a car. Penny overheard that remark, and so she knew that Robbie had a lot of cash.
 |
| Robbie chatting to Lisa during the wig demonstration |
Later that day, Billy Kostecki reported to Johnny that Penny could get an abortion on the following Thursday. The cost would be $250.
Johnny knew that he and Penny did not have that much cash, but he thought he might be able to get enough money by the following Thursday. He could earn some money by sexually entertaining a rich guest, and he could borrow some money from fellow employees. Johnny figured also that he could arrange for another female dancer to replace Penny at next Thursday's Sheldrake performance.
Johnny wanted some more time to consider his various options, and so he told Billy not to tell Penny the abortion information yet.
However, Billy could not restrain himself, and so he told Penny that she could get the abortion on the following Thursday at a cost of $250. Billy told Penny also that Johnny thought he could get the necessary money from rich guests and fellow employees.
Penny did not want Johnny to get the money. She knew that Robbie had a lot of cash, so she would try to get the necessary money from Robbie later that same evening.
That evening, Penny was supposed to dance with guests at the gazebo. Rather than go there, however, she went to the restaurant to catch Robbie after his waiter shift. When she arrived, a kitchen employee told her that Robbie already had departed. The kitchen employee told Penny also that Robbie had bought a car in the late afternoon and that Robbie had departed from the restaurant as soon as he could because he wanted to prepare for a hookup with a female guest at the golf course later that night.
Penny realized that Robbie already had spent most of his money and was engaged in a sexual relationship with another woman. She figured that Robbie would not provide her the money -- certainly would not provide it by the following Thursday.
And Robbie would not reconcile with Penny and marry her.
Penny tried to control her emotions, but she began to cry. She could not go to the gazebo to dance with guests there. After all the kitchen workers departed, she went into the dark kitchen and sat under a counter and wept about her ruined life.
 |
| Penny Johnson weeping in the kitchen |
======
Tuesday, June 4, 2019
The Philippa Gregory Trilogy on Starz -- 2
On April 27, I published on this blog an article about The Philippa Gregory Trilogy on Starz. That article had nothing to do with the movie Dirty Dancing, beyond my opinion that the people who like this movie would like also that historical-fiction series. Now, however, I can relate the substance of the two works.
The current episode of the Philippa Gregory series -- The Spanish Princess, Part 5 -- deals with the abortion issue. One of the characters has become pregnant, and so an abortion method of the early 1500s is depicted.
======
The trilogy's first part was The White Queen -- ten one-hour episodes -- which Starz broadcast in 2013. The second part was The White Princess -- eight one-hour episodes -- broadcast in 2017. Now Starz is broadcasting The Spanish Princess -- eight one-hour episodes.
The White Queen and The White Princess are the best shows I ever have watched on television. To prepare to watch The Spanish Princess, I recently re-watched the entire 18 hours of the first two parts.
I have watched the first five episodes -- the only episodes broadcast by now. I was critical during the first episodes, but now this part, too, is growing on me.
Yesterday, the Lionsgate company, which produces the series (and which owns the rights to Dirty Dancing), announced that it will produced eight more episodes of The Spanish Princess.
======
The Philippa Gregory trilogy tells Britain's royal history that took place in the late 1400s and early 1500s. The so-called Wars of the Roses were resolved by the marriages of men from the House of Lancaster (the Red Roses) to women from the House of York (the White Roses). The intermarriage of these two "Houses" established the Tudor Dynasty. The trilogy features that history's women:
* The White Queen is Elizabeth Woodville, who became the wife of King Edward IV.
* The White Princess is Elizabeth of York, who became the wife of King Henry VII.
* The Spanish Princess is Catherine of Aragon, who became the first wife of King Henry VIII.
=======
This history -- focusing on the male characters -- is told by William Shakespeare's series of plays:
=======
One narrative thread that continues through the entire trilogy is sorcery. A few of the female characters practice sorcery, and essentially all the female characters believe in sorcery. Elizabeth Woodville and her daughter Elizabeth of York use sorcery to cast curses on their enemy's future male heirs, and these curses seem to explain subsequent events.
This narrative thread remains realistic. No special effects are used to depict the sorcery. The women who use the sorcery even express skepticism about whether their curses actually have caused the apparent consequences. Basically, the characters (female and male) do believe in sorcery and witchcraft, and their belief motivates some of their actions.
======
Another narrative thread that continues through the trilogy is the disappearance of two princes -- ages 9 and 12 -- from the Tower of London in about 1483. The boys were the sons of Elizabeth Woodville and the brothers of Elizabeth of York. Those disappearances caused the two women to cast particular curses.
The disappearances of the two princes is a historical mystery that will be debated forever. The most common explanation is that the two princes were murdered by their Uncle Richard so that he could occupy the British throne. For example, that explanation is depicted in Shakespeare's play Richard III.
Another explanation is that Richard III was innocent of the disappearances and that he was framed by his political enemies. The debates about the culprits are complicated that in later years there was a series of young men who claimed to be one of the princes, who had managed to escape from the Tower of London and so remained the rightful heir to the British throne.
The Gregory trilogy explains that Elizabeth Woodville managed save her younger son Richard by substituting another boy who looked similar. The boy Richard then fled from Britain. Years later, the adult Richard returned with a French army to Britain to reclaim the throne. This is a plausible explanation that has been defended by various historians.
Gregory depicts that explanation plausibly and vividly, and it connects her trilogy's three parts. That Richard's fate continues to motivate characters' actions still in The Spanish Princess.
======
As I began to watch The Spanish Princess recently, I was annoyed by various moments in the first episodes. However, now that I have watched five episodes, this series has grown on me. The series has given me new insights and understandings about Catherine of Aragon -- the daughter of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain -- the wife of Britain's Prince Arthur Tudor and then of his brother Prince Henry Tudor, the future Henry VIII.
One of the historical mysteries about Catherine is whether she ever consummated her marriage to Prince Arthur. He died four months after the wedding. Since she claimed that her marriage to Arthur was not consummated, her subsequent marriage to Henry was allowed by the Pope. Years later, however, King Henry VIII came to believe that her first marriage actually was consummated. Therefore Henry had sinned by marrying her, and God had punished his marriage to her by killing all their male sons.
Gregory's explanation is that the marriage of Arthur and Catherine actually was consummated, but she denied it in order to marry Henry and that she maintained that lie for the rest of her life. That explanation is plausible.
======
The abortion issue comes up in The Spanish Princess because several of the minor characters are members of her entourage who accompanied her from Spain to England. These minor characters are fictional characters created by Gregory, but they enrich the story.
So, Catherine's entourage includes two ladies-in-waiting. One is a black Moor whose family converted from Islam to Christianity after the Moors were expelled from Spain at the end of the 1400s. The other is from a Gypsy family, which was nominally Christian. These two ladies-in-waiting accompanied Princess Catherine to England with the understanding that they eventually would be married to English noblemen after Catherine became the Queen of England.
Soon after their arrivals in England, however, both ladies-in-waiting fall in love with inappropriate men. The lady-in-waiting from the Gypsy family becomes pregnant, and to the lady-in-waiting from the Moorish family finds out how illegal abortions were done in London at that time. She finds out from an abortionist in a brothel, and she buys and takes the necessary stuff to the pregnant lady-in-waiting. It's quite interesting.
=======
=======
Watch the Starz trilogy from the beginning. The entire trilogy is available on demand on the Starz cable channel. For several years, The White Queen and The White Princess were not available on demand, but they are available again now because The Spanish Princess is being broadcast now.
The current episode of the Philippa Gregory series -- The Spanish Princess, Part 5 -- deals with the abortion issue. One of the characters has become pregnant, and so an abortion method of the early 1500s is depicted.
======
The trilogy's first part was The White Queen -- ten one-hour episodes -- which Starz broadcast in 2013. The second part was The White Princess -- eight one-hour episodes -- broadcast in 2017. Now Starz is broadcasting The Spanish Princess -- eight one-hour episodes.
The White Queen and The White Princess are the best shows I ever have watched on television. To prepare to watch The Spanish Princess, I recently re-watched the entire 18 hours of the first two parts.
I have watched the first five episodes -- the only episodes broadcast by now. I was critical during the first episodes, but now this part, too, is growing on me.
Yesterday, the Lionsgate company, which produces the series (and which owns the rights to Dirty Dancing), announced that it will produced eight more episodes of The Spanish Princess.
======
The Philippa Gregory trilogy tells Britain's royal history that took place in the late 1400s and early 1500s. The so-called Wars of the Roses were resolved by the marriages of men from the House of Lancaster (the Red Roses) to women from the House of York (the White Roses). The intermarriage of these two "Houses" established the Tudor Dynasty. The trilogy features that history's women:
* The White Queen is Elizabeth Woodville, who became the wife of King Edward IV.
* The White Princess is Elizabeth of York, who became the wife of King Henry VII.
* The Spanish Princess is Catherine of Aragon, who became the first wife of King Henry VIII.
=======
This history -- focusing on the male characters -- is told by William Shakespeare's series of plays:
Richard III have read each of those plays at least three times, and I have read also a bunch of history books about that period. Therefore, I can say that Philippa Gregory's trilogy tells the actual history rather well and also provides plausible explanations for the gaps and mysteries in the actual history. Also, her trilogy portrays the female characters who have been largely ignored by historians.
Henry IV, Part I
Henry IV, Part II
Henry V
Henry VI, Part I
Henry VI, Part II
Henry VI, Part III
Richard III
Henry VIII
=======
One narrative thread that continues through the entire trilogy is sorcery. A few of the female characters practice sorcery, and essentially all the female characters believe in sorcery. Elizabeth Woodville and her daughter Elizabeth of York use sorcery to cast curses on their enemy's future male heirs, and these curses seem to explain subsequent events.
This narrative thread remains realistic. No special effects are used to depict the sorcery. The women who use the sorcery even express skepticism about whether their curses actually have caused the apparent consequences. Basically, the characters (female and male) do believe in sorcery and witchcraft, and their belief motivates some of their actions.
======
Another narrative thread that continues through the trilogy is the disappearance of two princes -- ages 9 and 12 -- from the Tower of London in about 1483. The boys were the sons of Elizabeth Woodville and the brothers of Elizabeth of York. Those disappearances caused the two women to cast particular curses.
 |
| Richard (age 9) and Edward (age 12) |
Another explanation is that Richard III was innocent of the disappearances and that he was framed by his political enemies. The debates about the culprits are complicated that in later years there was a series of young men who claimed to be one of the princes, who had managed to escape from the Tower of London and so remained the rightful heir to the British throne.
The Gregory trilogy explains that Elizabeth Woodville managed save her younger son Richard by substituting another boy who looked similar. The boy Richard then fled from Britain. Years later, the adult Richard returned with a French army to Britain to reclaim the throne. This is a plausible explanation that has been defended by various historians.
Gregory depicts that explanation plausibly and vividly, and it connects her trilogy's three parts. That Richard's fate continues to motivate characters' actions still in The Spanish Princess.
======
As I began to watch The Spanish Princess recently, I was annoyed by various moments in the first episodes. However, now that I have watched five episodes, this series has grown on me. The series has given me new insights and understandings about Catherine of Aragon -- the daughter of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain -- the wife of Britain's Prince Arthur Tudor and then of his brother Prince Henry Tudor, the future Henry VIII.
One of the historical mysteries about Catherine is whether she ever consummated her marriage to Prince Arthur. He died four months after the wedding. Since she claimed that her marriage to Arthur was not consummated, her subsequent marriage to Henry was allowed by the Pope. Years later, however, King Henry VIII came to believe that her first marriage actually was consummated. Therefore Henry had sinned by marrying her, and God had punished his marriage to her by killing all their male sons.
Gregory's explanation is that the marriage of Arthur and Catherine actually was consummated, but she denied it in order to marry Henry and that she maintained that lie for the rest of her life. That explanation is plausible.
======
The abortion issue comes up in The Spanish Princess because several of the minor characters are members of her entourage who accompanied her from Spain to England. These minor characters are fictional characters created by Gregory, but they enrich the story.
So, Catherine's entourage includes two ladies-in-waiting. One is a black Moor whose family converted from Islam to Christianity after the Moors were expelled from Spain at the end of the 1400s. The other is from a Gypsy family, which was nominally Christian. These two ladies-in-waiting accompanied Princess Catherine to England with the understanding that they eventually would be married to English noblemen after Catherine became the Queen of England.
 |
| The Spanish Princess and her two ladies-in-waiting arriving in England |
 |
| The Spanish Princess and her two ladies-in-waiting at her marriage to Prince Arthur Tudor |
=======
=======
Watch the Starz trilogy from the beginning. The entire trilogy is available on demand on the Starz cable channel. For several years, The White Queen and The White Princess were not available on demand, but they are available again now because The Spanish Princess is being broadcast now.
Monday, June 3, 2019
What was in the envelope that Jake almost gave to Robbie?
A reader sent to me -- at MikeSylwester@gmail.com -- the following e-mail:
======
While the talent-show participants are singing Kellerman's Anthem on the stage, Jake Houseman notices Robbie Gould walking through the room. Jake catches up to Robbie and hands him an envelope.
They say:
=======
The July 1986 script explains much better that Jake gave Robbie an envelope containing cash, in order to help Robbie pay his expenses at medical school.
=======
The situation comprises the following elements:
======
Jake's extra tip to Robbie was an example of the Jewish charitable practice called Tzedakah, which Wikipedia describes as follows (emphasis added):
=======
An article titled Tzedakah And Jewish Education praises tzedakah gifts to promote education, especially the education of fellow Jews. The article includes the following story.
======
My article about Robbie's clothing style.
Watched Dirty Dancing last night for the 15th time.I suppose that many people have wondered what was in that envelope.
My girlfriend and I are having a discussion as to what was in the envelope that Dr. Houseman handed to Robbie wishing him luck in medical school and than grabbing it back when he found out that Robbie was the one that got Penny in trouble.
======
While the talent-show participants are singing Kellerman's Anthem on the stage, Jake Houseman notices Robbie Gould walking through the room. Jake catches up to Robbie and hands him an envelope.
 |
| Jake handing an envelope to Robbie |
Jake HousemanJake grabs the envelope from Robbie's hand and returns to his seat.
Good luck in medical school, son.
Robbie Gould
And I wanted to thank you for your help with the Penny situation. I guess we've all gotten into messes.
Jake Houseman
What?
Robbie Gould
I thought Baby told you.
Jake Houseman
Look, I'm not sure ...
Robbie Gould
Penny said so, but you know with girls like that. They're liable to pin it on any guy around.
=======
The July 1986 script explains much better that Jake gave Robbie an envelope containing cash, in order to help Robbie pay his expenses at medical school.
Jake comes up to Robbie .... hands him a thick envelope, clasps him warmly on the shoulder. Robbie holds up the envelope with pleasure.This dialogue is in Scene 130, which begins near the bottom of the first page, below. (Click on the images to enlarge them.)
Jake HousemanJake looks a little bemused, but continues smiling.
Good luck, son. A little something extra for next year at medical school. I remember what a struggle it was to buy every second-hand textbook.
Robbie Gould
Thank you, sir. Actually, this is gonna take me over the top for the stereo for my new Alfa Romeo.
Jake HousemanReaction shot -- Jake. He moves from bewilderment to dawning comprehension.
Things didn't work out the way I would have liked for this vacation, but that's not your fault. You're a good boy, Robbie, and if I can ever help you in any way --
Robbie Gould
Well, I do thank you, sir, for your help with the Penny situation. I'm really grateful to you for htat. I guess we've all gotten into these situations.
Jake HousemanJake pulls the envelope from Robbie's pocket, takes out a wad of cash, tears the envelope as if he were tearing Robbie's throat. Stuffs the money in his pocket.
What situations? Were you? Then, you were the one?
Robbie Gould
I thought you know. I thought Baby told you.
(Realizing his mistake) Look, I'm not sure. I mean, Penny said so, but but you know, with girls like that -- they'll pin it on any guy around.
Jake
Go suck your stereo.
=======
The situation comprises the following elements:
* Because Jake Houseman is a doctor, Max Kellerman assigns a medical student, Robbie Gould, to serve the Houseman family during the entire three weeks of the Houseman's vacation.Because, however, Jake figures out that Robbie got Penny pregnant, Jake rescinds this intended extra tip at the end of the vacation.
* The Houseman family always sit at a table served by Robbie, and Jake tips Robbie normally at the end of every meal.
* Jake, Max and Robbie all understand that -- if Robbie serves the Houseman family well -- Jake will give Robbie an extra, generous tip at the end of the vacation.
* Jake intends this extra tip to help Robbie pay expenses at medical school.
======
Jake's extra tip to Robbie was an example of the Jewish charitable practice called Tzedakah, which Wikipedia describes as follows (emphasis added):
In practice, most Jews carry out tzedakah by donating a portion of their income to charitable institutions, or to needy people that they may encounter; the perception among many modern-day Jews is that if donation of this form is not possible, the obligation of tzedakah still requires that something be given. Traditional Jews commonly practice ... tithing 10% of their income to support those in need.Jake took back his tzedakah tip because he realized that Robbie's misconduct with Penny made him unworthy. In the July 2016 script, Robbie also indicated that he intended to waste the money on a car stereo.
Special acts of tzedakah are performed on significant days; at weddings ... at Passover ... at Purim ...
In addition, one must be very careful about how one gives out tzedakah money. It is not sufficient to just give to anyone or any organization, rather, one must check the credentials and finances to be sure that your tzedakah money will be used wisely, efficiently and effectively ....
It is taught that tzedakah money was never yours to begin with; rather, it always belongs to God, who merely entrusts you with it so that you may use it properly. Hence it is your obligation to ensure that it is received by those deserving of it. ....
=======
An article titled Tzedakah And Jewish Education praises tzedakah gifts to promote education, especially the education of fellow Jews. The article includes the following story.
A tale from the Talmud: The wealthy Rabbi Tarfon once asked Rabbi Akiva to help him invest his money. Rabbi Akiva took the funds and used it instead to allow poor students to continue their Jewish education.Jake perceives his contribution to the medical education of Robbie, a fellow Jew, to be a valid tzedakah gift. Since Jake himself had been a struggling medical student in his own past, the gift had special meaning for himself.
Several days later, when Rabbi Tarfon asked to see his investments, Rabbi Akiva took him to the school and showed him the students as they recited their lessons from the Bible. When they arrived at the verse, “He gives freely to the poor; his righteousness endures forever,” Rabbi Akiva pointed to the students and said, “This is the investment I made for you!”
There is no greater investment than in supporting places of Jewish learning — our day schools, synagogues, and seminaries. If there is to be a Jewish community tomorrow, it will be as a result of the hardworking Jewish educators – rabbis, cantors, teachers, principals, and others – who provide a sense of Jewish identity, piety, and involvement both for children and for adults.
Without Jewish education, we cannot survive. And, as today’s Torah verse indicates, the responsibility to support Jewish education rests on each one of us. Rich and poor, together we must assure Jewish survival with our shekels, our involvement, and our hearts.
======
My article about Robbie's clothing style.
Sunday, June 2, 2019
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