the colbys episode 30 - “The Gala”

Connie has had some time to think about her conversation with Monica and decides it is better to express her feelings via letter (how long does it take to send a letter from India) than to call Monica again. Connie tells Monica to forget her past with Cash. Arthur Gates, who was Connie’s lawyer at the time, took care of everything. Clearly, there is something more involved than just an affair while Monica was a teenager in Washington. There really is no sense in guessing what since we find out at the end of the episode (we’ll get to that later).

Now that we know Monica and Cash have a history together, Jason will make sure to force the two of them to work closely together. It would make more sense for Cash to work closely with Miles since he is the head of the Aerospace Division. No matter. Jason commands Monica to fly out to San Francisco with Cash on some business matter even though Monica makes it pretty clear that she does not want to work with Cash - of course she does not tell Jason why. That may have been important. On the plane ride back from San Francisco, Cash finally brings up the relationship they had eight years ago when he was a first term married Senator. (Let’s just ignore the obvious age difference and the creepiness of it all.) Cash claims to still be in love with Monica and has had thought of her every day since. Monica is doing her best to take Aunt Connie’s advice and just ignore what had happened in the past.

Since Channing is now a Colby, it is her royal obligation to provide babies to the family. Miles wants at least seven, one for every day of the week. Channing does her best to insinuate that she is not ready for children. It does not work that way Channing, especially when Sable wants Channing to provide Miles with an heir. Jeff is already up one Colby child and soon it will be 2-0. When Sable brings up children to Channing, she pushes back hard, just as Fallon had advised Channing to when interacting with Sable. I’m not sure that was the best advice. Is it really worth it to knock heads with Sable? Granted, we know Sable’s style. She will just pressure Miles to pressure Channing to have children.

We get a glimpse as to why Channing does not want to have children. She has a flashback to the death of her mother. She just happened to be there when her mother died during childbirth. They let a child in the hospital room for that. Even better, they let Lucas in the room who was quick to tell Channing (as a child) that her mother was dead, but she now has a baby brother. Channing blames her younger brother for the death of her mother. Channing may want to see a therapist about this, or tell Miles. But, that won’t happen. When Miles begins pressuring her to have a child, Channing tells Miles that she is barren. Since Channing probably is not barren, I wonder what she will do to prevent getting pregnant, especially since her and Miles make love all the time.

Bliss decides to interrupt Kolya while he is practicing to bring him a milkshake. Should ballet dancers be drinking such thing. Further, she must get Kolya away from Sasha’s spying. When Bliss convinces Sasha to do an interview, Bliss and Kolya have time alone to express their feelings for one another (people sure do not waste time on the Colbys) but they quickly change their tune when they realize that someone is spying on them. At least they will be able to see each other at the Gala that Sable is throwing for the inauguration of the Colby Dance Theatre.

Sable is an expert in these matters and turns down an offer to help from Frankie. Why does Frankie even try? She is such a glutton for Sable’s abuse. Later, Frankie tells Jason that she feels useless (because she is) and would like to be responsible for protocol on the IMOS project - whatever that means. Jason just prefers to have Frankie at his side (pretty much acknowledging that she is useless) but will consider giving her a role on the IMOS project.

Miles is actually doing a decent job on the IMOS project. He learns that someone is trying to take over Onishi Electronics, the major microchip supplier on the IMOS project. Jason sends Miles to Silicon Valley to find out who it is. Oh, come on, we all know that it is Zach, and sure enough it is. At Sable’s gala, Jason confronts Zach about his attempted takeover of Onishi and then is happy to inform Zach that it will not happen since Jason just acquired controlling share of Onishi. Any success that Zach may get from the IMOS project will be limited.

Clever as that move is for Jason, he may not be able to effectively block Zach’s major move - to use Sable to get influence at Colby Enterprises. Zach asks Sable about the divorce settlement and Sable says she is getting Class A stock. Zach tells her that she wants Class C stock since that is the voting stock and the stock that will give her a seat on the Board. Arthur Gates tells Sable that Jason will not be willing to give her that stock unless he is so eager to marry Frankie that he does not want the divorce to drag out. Sable really wants that seat on the Board. She already believes that she will have Monica on her side and will try to convince Jason to put Miles on the Board (once Miles has a child, which is the real reason for Sable pushing Channing to have a kid). This will give Sable great leverage against Jason. Also, Sable may be use the delaying tactics to try to get Jason back. I mean she did call him to her room to zip up her a dress, something that made Frankie jealous (as Frankie should be).

Jason is still bitter with Arthur for helping Sable to get Connie declared incompetent. Side note, with Connie was a former client of Arthur’s, I doubt he could have ethically represented Sable in the incompetence hearing against Connie. Oh well. Like a great lawyer, Arthur tells Jason he was just doing his job and intimates that Jason should be more concerned with the closeness between Sable and Zach. Jason may be able to prevent Zach from taking over a supplier, but what can he do to stop Zach from taking over his soon to be ex-wife. Hmmm . . .

As always, the Gala at the Colby Mansion is beautiful. Kolya dances for the guests and tries to have a private moment with Bliss. That is made possible when Anna distracts Sasha. The two sneak off to the pool house (uh, doesn’t Frankie live there) where they express their love for each other in Russian (I assume). Little do they know that Sasha was not distracted long enough and he spies the intimacy between the two.

Meanwhile, Miles gets drunk when he learns that Channing cannot have children and presents a giant panda bear to Fallon as a gift for the baby. One wonders where the stuffed animal came from. It is clear that Miles still loves Fallon. Sable can totally see it (another reason to encourage Channing to have children). Jeff cannot stomach Miles giving the gift to Fallon and confronts him. The two trade punches and end up in the pool. Fallon is definitely going to love that. Others at the party feel that is an invitation to strip down and jump into the pool also. Sable is definitely going to love that.

Finally, Cash is able to find Monica alone and the two kiss. Monica pulls away and tells him that they cannot be together, especially after Cash asks Monica why she could not trust him with the truth. Cash, who does have a wife and child, seems too persistent. They are interrupted by Jason. After Monica runs off, Jason tells Cash that he better not make a move on Monica again or else he will do to him as he do to his father. An upset Monica runs into Arthur and tells him that Cash is here and wonders if Arthur said anything. Arthur assures Monica that he has not and will never say anything. That’s good because if Cash ever finds out Monica had Cash’s baby, Monica does not know what she will do. What?!? She had his baby and Connie and Arthur hid it from everyone. I am dying to see how they explain this away.

Memorable Dialogue

Frankie: I could help with the Russians. I might know some of the people from the Soviet consulate.
Sable: Of course from your days when - was he your second husband - the diplomat.
Frankie: Peter Hamilton - he was posted in Moscow. My Russian is a little rusty but I’d be happy to play interpreter.
Sable: Oh that’s very sweet of you, Frankie, but I think I can manage very well by myself. I don’t really trust interpreters. Something always seems to get lost in the translation. You know, a husband here, a husband there.

Channing: A child?
Sable: I happen to know that’s what he wants more than anything.
Channing: There’ll be plenty time for that later. I’m not ready, thank you.
Sable: Then get ready, Channing.
Channing: You make that sound like a royal command.
Sable: Yes, well you are royalty now or Cinderella my dear. And if you want a happy ending, not Jeff and Fallon winding up with the kingdom, I suggest you get busy. Start a family now.
Channing: That’s a decision I’ll make, Sable, not you. If and when I decide I’ll have a baby, I’ll let you know. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’d like to finish my dressing, my way.

Jason: All this time, I thought you were a loaner.
Zach: Only in business. There I’m very particular who I crawl in bed with.

Zach: I just want to share your success - that’s all.
Jason: That’s fine with me so long as its a minority share.
Zach: Minority?
Jason: At 4:15 this afternoon, I bought control of Onishi Electronics. To your success Zach, your limited success.

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