Carolyn tells Julia that she knows she's in love with Barnabas. Julia tries to convince Carolyn help her treat Barnabas' condition. Carolyn tells her that she should give her the notebook and then leave Collinwood. As they stand before the grandfather clock, Carolyn points out that it didn't go off on the hour. There's a knock at the front door, and Carolyn answers. It's a stranger named Anthony Peterson to see Roger. Carolyn goes upstairs to get him, and Julia suggests Peterson would be more comfortable in the drawing room.
Once she's alone, she opens the clock to retrieve her notes when Roger calls to her from the top of the stairs, startling her. He mentions it was a wedding gift the original Barnabas made for Josette. Julia points out that it's not working, and Roger indicates the prior caretaker had died before being interrupted by Peterson. He says he represents Tim at the Cannery. He says he's called and written numerous times. He tells him not to bore Mrs. Hoffman and takes him into the drawing room. They discuss an accident that has prevented Tim from working.
While they discuss the case, Julia retrieves her notebook from the clock. Carolyn catches her red handed, and tells her to give her the book.
Peterson storms out on Roger, interrupting Julia and Carolyn. Julia asks him if he'd mind taking her into town. Carolyn tries to intercede, but Peterson agrees and the two leave together. Roger comes out and hears the clock, and points out that it's working. Carolyn says it fixed itself. He asks her to join him for a game of chess, offering to let her win—once. She says she has to go into town, and leaves.
In Peterson's office, Julia paces. She hears dogs howling outside. She asks Peterson why he hates the Collins family. He speaks of jealousy of their wealth. Julia sees he has a safe in his office. She asks him to put her notes in his safe. She explains that someone will kill her if she leaves with the notebook. He asks if Roger wants to kill her, and she starts laughing, which turns to crying. He offers to put it in his safe, and she asks him to promise that he won't read it. He tells her to lock the notebook and keep the key. She says the man will try to get it at night. She also asks him, in the event of her death, to immediately take it to the police.
Alone in his office, Peterson opens his safe to put Julia's notebook in. Carolyn enters, and tells him she's there to apologize. Carolyn eyes the notebook on his desk. She flirts with Peterson while fondling the notebook.
Peterson tells her he was a lifeguard on the beach the day she wore her first bikini, and one time he was her golf caddie. He mentions that she didn't want him to drive Julia into town. Carolyn says that Julia isn't great company. He points out that he's her lawyer, and then picks up the notebook to place in the safe. Carolyn asks him to buy her a drink. He locks the notebook in the safe, and then grabs her arm and demands that she tell him why she came to see him.
Our thoughts
John: I'm assuming the accident at the cannery involving Tim was just a McGuffin to introduce a new character to get Julia out of the house safely.
Christine: Roger was in fine form arguing with our new Collinsport lawyer, but even more delightfully animated during his exchange with Carolyn. I wonder if Louis Edmonds ad libbed the line about the younger generation.
Carolyn: Uncle Roger? Who is Mr. Peterson?
Roger: A most unpleasant young man!
Carolyn: Aside from that.
Roger: So angry! From my reading, I understood the younger generation to be obsessed with love. He certainly didn't get that message.
John: Not sure about this Peterson character, coming out of nowhere with a Burke Devlin-sized chip on his shoulder. And in the blink of an eye, he's Julia's attorney! Has Collinsport grown so big that the Collins family wouldn't know an attorney who has set up shop in their little township?
Christine: It was interesting that Carolyn asked if Roger's great-great grandfather came to Collinsport with only a bible and $18. It got me thinking about a bible thumping character we'll be meeting in the near future. Incidentally, how did Peterson know Carolyn was wearing her first bikini when he was a lifeguard? That is a really creepy thing to say to someone.
John: Who believes that Julia would have left Peterson's office before her notebook was safely locked up? And before you say Peterson would demand privacy before opening it, then it would be safe to assume he would have locked it up as soon as a stranger entered his office, rather than leaving it standing open.
Christine: Yes, but it was far more interesting watching Carolyn finger the notebook and wondering if she was going to worm it away from him with her womanly wiles. Peterson seems to have a propensity for grabbing the ladies. It's possible he may rival Barnabas for violence towards women.
8 comments:
That grabbing part has always bothered me too. I don't pretend to know the Mickey Spillane stories directly (so this name is just an example), but it gives Tony Peterson a sort of "Mike Hammer" quality that clashes with Dark Shadows.
Of course, Peterson is also a sort of loose Bogart imitation, which makes sense considering the actor who plays him.
I hadn't considered it that way, but I think you nailed it, Grant. Peterson does have a bit of a Mike Hammer vibe.
Jerry Lacy makes a fine accounting of himself in his very first DS episode. He had quite a bit to do here and makes quite an impression. The tough guy/Bogart vibe is certainly there. Of course, he did actually play Humphrey Bogart in Woody's Allen's 1972 film Play It Again, Sam (which Woody wrote and starred in, but didn't direct). Call it creepy if you want, but I'd certainly remember Carolyn in a bikini!
It was creepy that he remembered her FIRST bikini. Sounds like stalking to me. ; )
I can see how Tony Peterson exudes a touch of Bogart and Hammer, but all I could think of was Trask. He is clearly a descendant. But I've said too much already.
Ixnay on the Asktray!
Spoiler alert!
Watching this right now; how could I not recognize Jerry Lacy?
Tony reminded me of the kid from Caddyshack that got hooked up with the rich blonde. Barnabas might as well be Chevy Chase, since he got to her first.
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