The Golden Child

Wednesday, Ken convenes his children. Only Daniel knows why. Ken is going to tell the others what Daniel did, and that he lied to protect him. When he does, they turn on Daniel. Of course Dad would protect him, the golden child.

Next they turn on Ken. And then on each other. The others realize that Adam had seen Ken at the foot of the stairs and had left him there. Adam defends himself in Trumpian fashion: deflect it to someone else. Granddad let him rot in prison but, for his mini-me, he will perjure himself.

Can’t you see Daniel is ill, Ken asks. Peter argues the same point as Adam. Making up an illness for Daniel to get him off the hook. Implied is when would Ken ever do that for him, or Tracy or Adam.

Enough!

Ken has enough. He tells them that he had been suspicious of all of them, all four of them. What does that tell you, he asks. They’ve all made mistakes, himself included.

But he’s had enough misery, he’s tired. He forgives them all for what they’ve done, past and present. He asks only that they — a pause, what’s he going to say? — in return, forgive Daniel.

Two interpretations

In that pause, I filled in what I expected him to say – ‘please forgive me.’ So I was surprised to hear him ask them to forgive Daniel. My first thought was that Ken was absolving himself. That he was saying; I’ve made mistakes but never mind about that. Let’s forget that and move along. And here’s where I can be the hero, the big man, the all-forgiving and all-protective father. Look after your rather pitiable brother.

My husband came in during this scene so we watched it again. Wow, he said. Ken did the right thing, he said. Ken is telling his kids never mind about me. If you can’t forgive me, all right, but please forgive your brother. Do not allow anything I do, or you do, to break your bond. That is what a parent wants; their kids to stay united, to stay a family, with or without the parent around.

So two different interpretations of a few words. My husband’s is more charitable toward Ken than is mine. Which is more accurate, I don’t know.