Episode 117 - 12/6/66

Mrs. Johnson tells Liz that Carolyn's car is gone, and assumes she drove Vicki to Bangor. Liz is concerned that Vicki is in trouble and that Matthew hasn't been found yet. Joe arrives, and Liz was surprised that Carolyn wasn't with him. Liz believes that must mean Vicki and Carolyn are together.

Burke and Carolyn are in his apartment for a nightcap. Burke toasts to many happy times ahead. Carolyn tells Burke that she didn't tell anyone where she was going for the night. Burke asks if Vicki knows, and Carolyn says no—she's spending the weekend with her new boyfriend, Frank Garner. Carolyn asks why Burke cares what Vicki is doing. Burke asks about Joe Haskell, and Carolyn deflects him. Burke suggests they forget the others and they sit down on the couch. He offers her more brandy.

Joe asks Liz when Carolyn disappeared. Liz says she's not as worried about Carolyn as she is about Vicki. Joe says he'll call the Inn to see if Vicki is there. He asks Maggie if she's seen Vicki, and Maggie confirms that she hasn't seen her all day. Liz mentioned that Carolyn had Mrs. Johnson press a dress, which makes her think she was on a date - and not with Vicki. Joe and Liz realize what this means, and Joe offers to go find her if Liz asks him to. She does.

Burke compliments Carolyn's skin. She says she wishes she understood him better. She wants to believe what he says, but she's a Collins. He says his issue is with her uncle. They kiss, and Carolyn says she believes him. 

They're interrupted by a knock at the door, and it's Joe asking for Carolyn. Burke lets him in, and he sees Carolyn lounging on the couch, drink in hand. She asks if he's spying for her mother. He says he's here because her mother asked him to find her. He asks her to come with him, and she says she's not ready. Burke tells him it's time to go, and Joe punches him. Burke lands two punches on Joe. Joe says the only reason he came was because of Vicki. They thought she was with Carolyn. She never got to Bangor, and appears to have vanished. Burke says they're all going up to Collinwood to find her. They all leave the apartment.

Liz receives a call from Frank, who says there's still no sign of Vicki. Joe, Carolyn and Burke arrive, and ask Liz about Vicki. Liz sends Carolyn to her room. Joe hangs up his coat, almost tripping over Vicki's suitcase. Burke tells Liz that he's here to help find Vicki. Burke asks Joe to help him search. Liz says they know she's gone because her suitcase is gone. Joe says the suitcase is in the foyer. Burke declares that she never left Collinwood.

Our thoughts

John: What an epic episode! Burke lays a couple of kisses on Carolyn! Joe punches Burke! Burke punches Joe! Let's get ready to RUMBLE!

Christine: Joe Haskell has finally kept his promise to punch Burke in the mouth from Episode 24. That certainly was satisfying. Carolyn gets a more passionate kiss than the first one she got from Burke in Episode 86. What's next for the Carolyn-Burke relationship?

John: You know Carolyn has to be thrilled to have Joe and Burke fighting over her; and yet that sentiment is short lived as she's quickly cast aside over the men's shared concern for Vicki.

Christine: After initially balking at being sent to her room by her mother, she must have finally agreed so she wouldn't have to face losing the attention of both men.

John: Thank goodness Joe almost tripped over Vicki's suitcase. I was wondering who would be the first to finally do that, with it left right beside the front door...

"Half the female population in the world would trade their souls for skin like yours."

 

Episode 116 - 12/5/66

Vicki tries to get out, but Matthew won't let her. He warns her not to scream. He says Collinsport was the last place he thought anyone would look for him, and that her snooping around led her to him. Vicki asks what he's going to do, and Matthew says he won't let her leave. He says that everything that has happened to him is her fault. He tells her to forget trying to escape, or he won't be responsible for what happens. He leads her into a secret room behind a bookcase.

There's a knock at the door at Collinwood, and Mrs. Johnson answers it. It's a cab driver. She invites him in and calls for Vicki. Mrs. Johnson says she must have gotten a lift into town, and sends the driver away.

Vicki looks around the secret room. Matthew says only he knows about it, so no one will ever find either of them there. Vicki asks how he can live or eat. He says someone is looking after him. She asks who, and he only says it's a friend. He says Vicki turned Mrs. Stoddard against him. He asks why Vicki hates him. He doesn't believe her. She says he's insane, which sets him off. He says he should have choked her when he had the chance, and throws her to the ground.

Liz asks Mrs. Johnson if she's seen Carolyn. She explains that she thinks she went out on a date. Liz is surprised Carolyn didn't tell her. Liz also asked if Vicki got off alright. Mrs. Johnson says yes, and then mentions the cab driver showed up. Liz checks where she thought Vicki's bag was, and it's gone. But we see it's in the foyer still.

Liz and Mrs. Johnson discuss Matthew. Liz feels bad for him, but Mrs. Johnson does not, feeling too connected to Bill Malloy. She's surprised Liz considers Matthew a friend. The phone rings, and it's Frank calling asking about Vicki. Liz says she must have just missed the bus, since her suitcase was gone.

Matthew tells Vicki to get up. She does, and he tells her she's lucky he didn't kill her. She says she'll do whatever he says. She says that everyone knows Bill's death was an accident. She says that Liz told the sheriff that. Matthew says that someone told him the police were all over the place. Vicki says they've been gone for days.

Liz talks to Frank, who confirms Vicki didn't arrive on the next bus. Mrs. Johnson suggests maybe Carolyn drove Vicki to Bangor, and they stopped along the way. Liz calls Joe to see if he can confirm that. She leaves a message for him. Mrs. Johnson offers to check for Carolyn's car, as if she were on a date with Joe, it would still be there. If it's gone, she probably drove Vicki to Bangor.

Matthew says he believes her. He'll go outside to look around, and if what she says it true, he'll leave. All he says is that she has to stay in the room and be quiet for the next couple of hours. He says she better do as he says, or she'll be sorry. He leaves the secret room, and leaves the old house to look around. Vicki opens the secret passage and steps out into the old house. She goes to the front door, opens it, and steps outside. Matthew grabs her from behind and drags her back inside. He says he knew he couldn't trust her, and she screams as he approaches.

Our thoughts

John: So it appears David is trying to manipulate Matthew into staying by telling him the police are still around searching for him.

Christine: David must enjoy feeling needed. How is it that nobody can see Vicki's enormous suitcase standing next to the door? It was pretty funny the way Liz had to walk to the foot of the stairs and stare at the floor to determine that this huge piece of luggage wasn't still standing there. I was wondering how many plausible stories Mrs. Johnson would come up with to explain why Vicki did not cancel her cab and has not arrived in Bangor.

John: So was Matthew just waiting to see if Vicki followed his instructions? Or did he actually look to see if the police were about?

Christine: I like how Matthew tells Vicki that no-one will find them in the secret room when we can still clearly see his footprints leading up to it.

John: Oh, Vicki, all you had to do was be a little patient, but no... you had to leave immediately, running the risk of bumping into Matthew.

Christine: That wasn't very smart of her, and she can't expect to escape so soon. So, Carolyn is out and didn't tell her mom where she was going, which means it's likely she's in a certain hotel room and not on a date with Joe, and her missing car will have the two ladies believe she drove Vicki to Bangor.

What was that loud sound that made Liz pause?

The Collingsport Star?

Episode 115 - 12/2/66

David brings a bag of food to the old house. Matthew appears and startles him.

Vicki comes downstairs with a suitcase. Liz asks her what she has planned in Bangor. She says she'll see Frank, and also plans to see a concert. Liz tells her to go to Bangor and put the bad things out of her mind.

Matthew asks David for his dinner. He sets up a table and chair in the old house. He tells David he'll never forget what he's done for him. David says there are a lot of secrets around here, and he knows them all.

Vicki tells Liz she admires her strength. As Liz sends her on her way, she asks if she's seen David. She says David is likely at the old house. Vicki offers to get him before she leaves.

Matthew eats the food David brought him. He says David brought a lot of food, and asks if he thinks they'll miss it. David says Matthew could stay for years, since everyone else is afraid of the old house. Matthew says David is a true friend. Matthew says there are reasons he can never be found in the old house. David says it's because of ghosts, and Matthew says it's not. He tells David when it's time to leave, he'll share the secrets of the old house. Suddenly. Vicki calls out to David. Matthew scrambles to hide.

Vicki tells David his aunt is looking for him. She walks in and sees food lying on the ground. When she grabs it, she drops something. She explains that David is wanted at the house, and that she has a bus to catch to Bangor. As they leave, David yells out to the house that he'll be back tomorrow. The two leave, and Matthew picks up what Vicki dropped.

Liz calls the sheriff for an update on Matthew. Vicki and David walk in, and Liz explains they haven't found Matthew yet. David says he doesn't think they'll catch Matthew. Liz makes David apologize for wasting Vicki's time. As she's about to leave, Vicki realizes she dropped her wallet. David offers to help her find it, but she's sure she can find it on her own.

Liz tells David that he was responsible for Vicki losing her wallet. They discuss loyalty, and Liz explains that she'll love him no matter what. David asks if he has to be loyal to his father. Liz says he should be loyal to his family first,

Vicki searches for her wallet at the fence near the old house.

Liz asks David who he's chosen to be loyal to. He says there may be someone who needs him.

Vicki enters the old house. She looks around for her wallet, and sees footprints leading to a bookcase. Matthew appears behind her with wallet in hand, and asks her if she lost something.

Our thoughts

John: Clearly Matthew isn't the smartest tool in the shed. He can't expect to hide out in the old house forever with David bringing him supplies.

Christine: It could be he's waiting for the police to clear the roadblocks so he can head up to his brother's place, though he's probably thinking he can take advantage of David a little while longer.

John: One might think no one would notice Vicki was missing until she doesn't return from Bangor after the weekend, but the luggage should still be in the foyer at Collinwood.

Christine: Is that why the camera zeroed in on her suitcase as she left?

John: Someone should be doing a better job hiding the secret panels in the old house. If they're going to leave footprints leading right through a bookcase, that's a dead giveaway.

Episode 114 - 12/1/66

Roger drinks his coffee while reading the morning paper. Vicki offers to get him more coffee, and he says her attempts to be friendly don't change anything. She asks for forgiveness, and he says he's trying to forget it. The phone rings. Roger answers, and it's Burke calling for Vicki. He asks her to meet him in his hotel room. Roger asks her what Devlin wants. He says he can't stop her from seeing him, but if she continues to, he'll regard her as an enemy of the family.

Vicki arrives at Burke's hotel room. He says he's concerned for her, and wanted to be sure she was all right. Roger asks if she thinks Matthew might have been lying. Vicki says that he wasn't. Burke asks if when Roger admitted to finding Bill's body, if the subject of what Bill knew about the manslaughter trial came up. She says she doesn't have any information that Roger is guilty of that. Vicki says she won't do anything to harm Mrs. Stoddard. Burke kisses her. She leaves.

Burke gets a call from Blair with good news.

Liz asks Roger if he intends on going to work in the morning. He says he's waiting to hear about Vicki's meeting with Burke. Liz catches David leaving the house, and Liz asks how he completed his homework that he only just started. She sends him back up to his room, but when she goes into the drawing room he sneaks into the kitchen.

Liz receives a call from Burke, letting her know he's the new owner of the Logansport Enterprises.

David fills a bag with food.

Roger suggests Liz can always just sell the cannery to avoid a fight with Burke. While they argue, David sneaks out of the house with a bag of food. Roger expresses his disappointment that Matthew didn't strangle Burke at the Blue Whale when they had their confrontation.

David makes his way to the old house with food for Matthew.

Liz finds out it's too late to increase their offer on Logansport Enterprises. Roger argues with Liz until Vicki arrives, and he asks her to join them. He asks what their appointment was about. She says he was concerned about her well being. Roger asks if he told her about his latest victory. Vicki explains that she's never going to see him again. Vicki says she told Burke that she wouldn't do anything to hurt the family, because she feels like she's part of it. Even Roger is happy to hear this. Vicki heads off to see David, and Roger suggests that if Liz loses all her money fighting Burke, David and Carolyn will be the ones who suffer. Vicki comes down to say that David isn't upstairs. Liz says she caught him trying to sneak out earlier, and Roger says David's whereabouts are not important.

David leaves the old house without the bag of food.

Liz asks Vicki if she's okay, as she looked flushed. Vicki says she was upset with Burke, and then David comes in. Liz tells him she's upset with him for disobeying her. She sends him upstairs with Vicki. He asks if anyone has heard about Matthew, and Roger says the sheriff says he seems to have disappeared.

Our thoughts

John: Where's Frank Garner while Vicki's off getting kissed by Burke? And for that matter, where's Carolyn?

Christine: Here's the stuff soap operas are made of, my friends. Vicki finally gets the old smoocheroo from BD. After which, she promptly declares she can't see him again. Why are you so flushed, dear Vicki? Just wait 'til green eyed monster Carolyn finds out.

John: Roger once again rails against Vicki, until she says she doesn't plan to see Burke again. If only he could bend his sister to his will, he might be happy.

Christine: When it comes to Collinwood and the Collins' holdings, it's a losing battle. Elizabeth has a greater respect and value for what the Collins family represents than Roger.

John: I can't see Matthew remaining hidden much longer the way David is bumbling about, bringing him food in the middle of the day when he should be working on his schoolwork.