|
 Dr.
Skyler Gates is presented in 1992 by Warren Lockridge to his friend B.J.
Walker, to help her to conquer the terrible memory of the rapes she
suffered as a child from Frank Goodman, a friend of her parents. Skyler,
a psychiatrist specialized in oriental medicines and meditation, has
known Warren during trips in Asia. He thus welcomes the young B.J. in
therapy and forces her to face her suffering to surpass them better.
The
mystery surrounding the murder of Frank is at the heart of Skyler's
interventions, both with B.J. and with Cruz Castillo, B.J.'s biological
father. This is why he is able to doubt of Cruz's guilt when this latter
leaves the United States, leaving behind him a letter confessing the
murder. During hypnosis sessions, B.J. turns out to have memories of
Frank's death. Skyler understands that she was present and participated
in the scene.
Physical
evidence accusing B.J. are found by the police officer Connor McCabe and
B.J. is arrested. Skyler fears to have lost her confidence, when B.J.
wrongly accuses him of having betrayed the confidentiality of her
sessions with him to report her to the police. While her trial begins,
Skyler encourages B.J. to continue her therapy. But his work leads B.J.
on a wrong track, stating in court that she killed Frank with her own
hands, while the rest of the story will prove that Frank has actually
committed suicide.
Alongside
his appointments with B.J., Skyler receives in psychotherapy Kelly
Capwell. He helps her in her questioning after her many love stories
which have all turned to be failures, the latest being with Cruz
Castillo. He falls under her charm and begins to date her outside their
sessions. But meanwhile Kelly got closer to Connor, and Skyler
understands that he will not have a chance. He finally disappears a few
weeks before the end of the show.
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Zen
and the art of soap opera acting,
1992
