Life and Vincent: I don't get it.

Sunday, April 20, 2008

I don't get it.

A prize to the person who can answer the questions below - I will make a post of your choosing.

In Smothered, the rich family is the Van Ackers. The junkie is Dale Van Acker. The mother is Priscilla Van Acker. Her father was Lance Van Acker. The Van Ackers are worth millions.

Yet when speaking of the codicil in her late husband's will, Mrs Van Acker says that if Dale has a child, her current husband doesn't share in the inheritance at all.

So was she married to her brother? Surely the fortune would be hers if it comes from her father. How does husband number one figure at all, except to father Dale?

How do the members of this dysfunctional family relate to each other and to the Van Acker fortune?

Even Bobby is puzzled:

20 comments:

Anonymous said...: val, i don't have an answer for you; but, do you really expect ANY of us to have one after seeing these pix? c'mon! they render me mindless and i'll bet that i'm not the only one.

i just love that clenched fist and that look on his face when he arrives at that realization.

teriffic pix and post!; 5:22 pm
judith said...: you've got me on that one val!!!!!!!!!!!; 6:13 pm
judith said...: you've got me on that one val!!!!!!!!!!!; 6:13 pm
BobbyG said...: You see, Val, Bobby isn't puzzled at all. He's just daydreaming about ME! LOL

I'll have to get back to you on the Van Acker name mystery. I've been troubleshooting computer problems all morning and have a headache. I'm sure some other astute LOCI follower will come up with the answer for you.; 6:43 pm
Anonymous said...: Maybe the writers didn't mean for anyone to figure it out. It may take a legal mind to understand that. Maybe it's about passing the fortune on to a direct line? To a male? I guess we just don't know enough about the family. There's probably some backstory that relates to all this.; 9:32 pm
Music Wench said...: Perhaps it's one of those discrepancies they didn't catch? It happens even to the best of shows. LOL I never really thought about it until you asked. Another reason for me to have to watch the episode again. Love VDO in street clothes! :); 9:55 pm
JoJo said...: Maybe her new husband took his wife's name b/c she had $? Or did the new husband share the Van Acker name? B/c he was Dale's step father, not father.; 1:06 am
Anonymous said...: I’ve NEVER posted before, usually because I’m too weak to type after looking at all the gorgeous pics you post here. However, your question intrigued me and I think I have the answer:

As the sole heir, (presumably,) Priscilla inherited the Lance Acker fortune. Her only son, Dale is her “heir apparent”. After Dale, her second husband is her “heir presumptive”. However, if Dale has a child, that child would become the ‘heir presumptive”, displacing Priscilla’s second husband. The second husband therefore would get nothing because after Priscilla’s & Dale’s death, the fortune would go, in its entirely, to the child.

In all important dynastic situations, the person in power always has 1.) an “heir apparent” and 2.) an “heir presumptive”, incase the heir apparent dies before the person in power. It’s like Prince William and Prince Harry. If William dies before his father, Charles, then Harry, the “heir presumptive”, becomes his “heir apparent” and a new “heir presumptive” would be named. Unless, of course, William had a child. Then the child would be the “heir apparent” and Harry would remain the “heir presumptive”.

I know it’s complicated, but does this make the situation any more clear for you, Val?

And thank you, thank you for all the magnificent screen caps you give us each day. You can’t imagine how happy it makes me!; 1:45 am
Anonymous said...: please val don't let music wench post here. he or she has been causing trouble at another vdo blog. and i didn't want the same thing to happen to your blog.; 2:26 am
Anonymous said...: Just for the record, I'm not the same "anonymous" who just posted the above. I'm the "anonymous" who wrote about the heirs.; 2:39 am
SnarkAngel said...: Bobby must hear me calling his name from just outside that window ... LOL; 2:55 am
jazzy said...: I wish I could solve the confusing relationships of MY family. So don't count on me, val. Sorry.; 4:56 am
Claire said...: I agree with the explaination of anonymous #1.; 5:16 am
Anonymous said...: I don't need any explanation at all, I just need to look at Vincent :)

Sarah L; 8:49 am
Eliza said...: I've never even thought about it before,but I guess anonymous#1 makes the most sense...maybe I'll watch it again just to check :-); 1:49 pm
Anonymous said...: Good grief, there are PLOTS??! I'm way too busy Bobby-watching...

Hey Sarah, glad I didn't frighten you away altogether ;0); 2:51 pm
Anonymous said...: Well...I was close.; 7:16 pm
Anonymous said...: Bobby is VERY SEXY when thinks veryyyyyy deeply!!Mmmmmm...!!!; 7:19 pm
Anonymous said...: Okay, I thought about the question some more, (I love dynastic puzzles!) and I’ve come up with the following: When Priscilla married Dale’s father, Lance Van Acker must have given the new husband some sort of “dowry”. This “dowry” would then have become part of the marital estate, with the husband retaining the right to leave the “dowry” money to his grandchildren.

Normally, a “dowry” reverts to the estate when the husband dies and that’s how the second husband might have inherited. But since Dale’s father made a codicil in his will that the money should go to Dale’s firstborn, all future husbands were out of luck if there was a grandchild.

This might also explain why Priscilla was so anxious to get rid of Dale’s pregnant girlfriend….

Anonymous #1; 7:58 pm
Goddessdster said...: For the record, Anonymous #1 has the right idea (heir apparent vs. heir presumptive, etc).

Anonymous #2, on the other hand, wtf?!?

As usual, Val, great screen caps. I know no matter how crap my day is, I can always come here and cheer up. Thanks!; 4:25 pm