Episode 137 - 1/3/67

The sheriff runs into Sam in The Blue Whale. He asks if Sam has seen Roger Collins. The sheriff leaves, and Sam calls Collinwood from the pay phone.  Roger answers, and Sam wants to know what's happening. He tells Roger that he needs to show him something; something strange that he doesn't understand. Roger agrees to meet him.

Carolyn comes downstairs and tells Roger all the things she's doing for Laura. She asks Roger if he thinks Burke is still interested in Laura. She's troubled to think her aunt might be her competition. She and Roger leave at the same time.

The Sheriff calls Collinwood, but no one answers.

Burke bumps into Sam at The Blue Whale and joins him. Burke says he likes Sam because he has a conscience. Burke tells Sam he originally needed his testimony. With Laura's arrival, he doesn't need him anymore, and he says he wouldn't want Maggie to suffer if Sam goes to jail. He invites Sam to come over to the 'winning side'.

Roger walks in, and Burke asks if he has a minute. He invites Roger to sit down, and he reluctantly agrees to join Burke and Sam. Burke congratulates Roger on his good fortune, and wishes him luck on his reconciliation with his wife. Roger advises Burke to stay away from Laura. He implies that Burke's pressure could send her back to the institution for life. Burke says that she won't crack.

Roger gets up to leave, and Burke follows him. He tells him that Laura came back for a divorce, to get David, and to leave. He says she told him herself. Roger surprises Burke by telling her that she's staying at Collinwood. Carolyn drops in, and Roger asks her to tell Burke why she's in town. She explains she's picking up her aunt's things. Roger leaves, followed by Sam.

Burke appears dejected, and Carolyn sits down with him and forces a conversation on him.

The sheriff speaks to someone about a teletype report from Phoenix, and mentions that he's still trying to find Roger Collins.

Roger and Sam arrive at Sam's house together. Roger asks what Sam wanted to show him. Sam first asks what Laura wants, and Roger says she wants David, and that's what's most important to her. Sam goes to show Roger his latest painting. Roger is completely disinterested, and Sam begins to pontificate about his work on this latest painting. Sam unveils the painting, and Roger is shocked that it's Laura in flames, with an empty space for a figure in the foreground. Roger calls him a drunken fool and storms out. Sam picks up a brush and throws it down.

Burke takes another drink, not even looking at Carolyn. He's clearly preoccupied. He says he can't believe Laura would share a room with Roger, and Carolyn explains that she's staying in Matthew's cottage—not with Roger. Burke kisses her hand.

The sheriff arrives at Collinwood, and Roger lets him in. He tells Roger that the Phoenix police department just sent him a teletype report that the burned body of Laura Collins was found.

Our thoughts

John: Yikes! Carolyn is even jealous of Laura's beauty. Just when Carolyn thought she had cornered the market on Burke Devlin, a new threat emerges.

Christine: Roger's interaction with Burke when he tells him that Laura is staying at Collinwood was quite delightful.

John: That empty space in Sam's painting sure seems destined to be filled with a portrait of David...

Christine: That certainly is an odd blank space. Sam's painting has gone through quite a transformation. Is Laura unclothed? No wonder Roger seemed so shocked.

John: So for anyone who the barrage of phoenix symbolism has been lost on, I wonder what they would make of Laura's burned body showing up in Arizona—AFTER her arrival in Collinwood.

Christine: How will she explain that when the Sheriff comes to call? There is some fine camera work on display in today's episode.

Episode 136 - 1/2/67

Roger paces in the drawing room until there's a knock at the front door. He answers it, and it's Richard Garner and his son Frank. Roger tells the elder Garner he wants him to start divorce proceedings from his wife immediately. He then says he's in the worst trouble of his entire life. He asks how soon he can get a divorce. Frank asks what the cause for the divorce is. Roger says it can be whatever he wants. All Laura wants is custody of David. Richard asks how Liz feels about this. Since he's her lawyer, he can't do anything against her wishes. Roger calls Vicki and asks her to keep Frank company.

Roger tells Richard he needs his advice. Burke wants to re-open the trial of 10 years ago, and he thinks he'll get Laura to change her testimony. He wants to give her the divorce and custody of David, and send her on her way. Richard says Frank will handle the divorce, and that he has some news.

Frank shares the news with Vicki that they're opening a branch in Collinsport, and he'll be moving there so they'll be able to spend more time together, assuming she's not leaving. He mentions that when Laura takes David, she would be out of a job. She tells him she doesn't want to leave, but she admits that it might be best for David.

Sam continues work on his portrait. He covers the canvas when he hears a car pull up. It's Maggie home early. She asks if she can see his masterpiece, and he barks at her. She asks if he's keeping secrets from her, and he denies it. She asks what Laura Collins is to him. He said he knew her before she was married, and after she married she left his social sphere. She says she thinks he's afraid of Laura, and of course he denies it.

Richard says he thinks Roger is hiding something about the old manslaughter charge. He asks why he's in a panic now that Laura is back. Roger downplays it, but Richard suggests that he wouldn't call him out in the middle of the night for nothing.

As Frank and his father leave, Vicki tells Roger that Frank said David would be leaving. Roger confirmed her concern that they might no longer need her services. She tells Roger she's concerned about David, and his current fascination with fire.

Sam talks about painting fire, and then suggests Maggie go to bed. She does, and Sam throws down another drink before leaving the house. Maggie hears him leave, and then sneaks a peek at the painting he's working on.

Roger says that David will be fine with his mother. He suggests that Vicki can help convince David to spend time with his mother. Vicki heads upstairs to bed.

Maggie is sitting, staring at the portrait when her father returns. She says she saw the painting, and asked why he would paint such a thing. He says he doesn't know why - but he's compelled to work on it, despite being terrified.

Our thoughts

John: So we not only got an excuse to get Frank Garner back into town, but to keep him there full time.

Christine: What will this mean for his relationship with Vicki Winters?

John: Richard starts to press Roger on the events of 10 years ago, but drops it quickly. Of course, he also tells Roger that he ultimately will defer to Liz's wishes.

Christine: Roger tells Vicki he'll try and work out some arrangement so she won't lose her job if David should leave with his mother. I wonder if he'll follow through, and if so, what she'll be offered.

John: It's not clear why Sam's portrait remains a mystery, now that Maggie has seen it - what - three times now?

Episode 135 - 12/30/66

Vicki follows David up to his room and asks why he ran away. He reiterates that the lady downstairs is not his mother. Vicki says she's very nice, and seems to love him very much. He says if he goes downstairs, something terrible might happen. Vicki says that's just his imagination. He pleads with Vicki not to make him go downstairs and she agrees. She goes downstairs and he returns to looking out his open window.

Vicki suggests to Liz that David postpone his visit with his mother until tomorrow. Laura says she knows he doesn't want to see her. She says she could see it in his eyes that David was afraid of her. She turns back to staring into the fire.

Upstairs, David calls out to his mother again and tells her to stop looking at him.

Liz says that David needs more time than they imagined to adjust to her. Roger invites Laura to stay with them in Collinwood. Roger suggests that Laura could stay in Matthew's cottage. Laura is thrilled by the idea. Carolyn arrives home and is introduced to her aunt. She offers to take her aunt to Matthew's cottage.

David yells for his mother to go away before closing the window.

Liz gives Carolyn the keys to the cottage. She tells Laura she'll have Mrs. Johnson give it a cleaning in the morning. She and Carolyn leave. Liz goes upstairs to see David. Vicki tells Roger that David has been saying strange things about his mother; that she isn't really his mother. Roger says not to bother Liz with that. He says he'll deal with it.

Liz checks in on David. He asks if she's gone, and his aunt tells him that she'll be staying in Matthew's cottage. He says she gives him a funny-scary feeling when he's around her. He cries and tells her that he's scared, but doesn't know why.

Carolyn shows Laura to the cottage. She looks around and says she'll be very cozy. Carolyn asks where she's staying, and says that her old friend Burke Devlin is staying at the Collinsport Inn. She says that her uncle Roger hates Burke, and Laura says that she doesn't hate him. Laura goes to the window and asks which window in the house is David's.

David tells his aunt he was just being silly, and apologizes for crying. He says his mother is very pretty, and says he looks forward to meeting her. Liz tucks him in.

Laura asks if she can move in right away. Carolyn explains that the place isn't ready. Laura says she'll start a fire, and she'll be fine. Carolyn says she has to go into town, so she'll pick up Laura's bags and bring them back. Laura explains that they're already packed, as she never unpacked.

David tosses and turns as the voice of his mother calls to him, saying she needs him.

Our thoughts

John: We get a nice, loving scene between David and Liz. I kept wondering if something was possessing him, as he wasn't his bratty self.

Christine: Hasn't David been possessed all along? I thought it was the widows, but it's possible it's been his mother that's been possessing him all this time. Liz has obviously taken on the role of mother to David and will have a hard time giving him up to Laura, especially if she starts acting unbalanced.

John: So Laura never unpacked her bags, and as far as we know, she never spent much if any time in the Inn. What are we to infer from this?

Christine: We can infer that she hasn't changed her clothes or brushed her teeth since she arrived in Collinsport.  It seems she's also been spending a lot of her time hovering around outside David's window sending him psychic messages.

John: Laura's calling to David in his sleep is particularly creepy. I wonder how long into the new year Laura's story will last.

Christine: Since she's moving in to Matthew's cottage, she must intend to stay awhile. In only four short months we'll get to meet Elizabeth's cousin from England.

Episode 134 - 12/29/66

David stares out his bedroom window calling for his mother. Liz enters and asks what he's doing. He explains that he's awaiting her arrival.

Downstairs, Liz tells David his mother should arrive soon. Roger stokes the fire, and David offers to take over. He seems to think she'll be moving into Collinwood. Liz sends him off to get washed up, and asks Roger what he intends to do. He says he has no plans to resume relations with her, but it may make sense for her to move into the house to get her away from Burke at the Inn.

David changes his shirt while he looks out the open window. Vicki enters and asks what's the special occasion. He explains that his mother is coming, and Vicki is very happy for him. He says he's happy to finally see her, but he had a bad dream in which he saw his mother standing in burning flames, calling him to join her.

Laura arrives at Collinwood, and Roger lets her in. Laura asked how David reacted to the news of her return. Roger said he had dreamed about it, and that he even had a bad dream about her return. Roger tells her that Burke Devlin is trying to stir up the mess of 10 years ago. Laura says she has no intention on becoming involved in anything. Vicki comes downstairs and Roger introduces her to Laura. Roger sends Vicki upstairs to collect David, and they retire to the drawing room.

Vicki finds David upstairs hiding in a corner. She explains his mother is downstairs, and he tells Vicki he doesn't want to see her. Vicki tells David that his mother is very beautiful, and very nice. He reiterates that he doesn't want to go downstairs, and that he doesn't want his mother to come upstairs.

Liz explains her concerns to Laura. Roger says that he's gotten used to having David around, but if leaving is the best thing for him, he's all for it.

Liz says that everything depends on how Laura and David's relationship develops. Vicki walks him in, and Roger introduces him to his mother. David sees her surrounded by flames, and runs upstairs.

Vicki finds David, and he tells her that the woman downstairs is not his mother.

Our thoughts

John: I laughed when Roger told Laura that it would be hard to get used to David being gone, but he'd somehow manage if it was for the best. Right. I expect he'd already have David's bag packed and waiting by the front door.

Christine: I like how he says it while pouring himself a celebratory drink.

John: Laura is certainly a unique character. She at times comes across as aloof, but as soon as she engages someone in a conversation, she's clearly all there, and sharper than she initially lets on.

Christine: Vicki tells David he and his mother will have a lot to talk about, and when he asks what he should talk about, she suggests he talk about the things he does, such as the games he plays and the homework he doesn't study enough, though she was probably thinking about how he tampered with the brakes on his father's car and nearly killed him, locked her up in a room in the closed off wing and left her to die, and how he didn't set her free when she was Matthew's captive in the Old House. I wonder if Laura would be proud of all he's accomplished during his short time at Collinwood.

John: Okay, we get it. Laura is somehow a phoenix. Does she need David as a sacrificial lamb in order to survive?

Christine: She claims she only needs to love and be loved. Perhaps that's what fuels the flames. She is going to be a fine addition to Collinwood. After being teased with ghosts for so long, it's certainly novel to have a supernatural event handed to us on a platter, with no beating around the bush about it. David sure was working a goofy grin up until he went back to his trademark scowl. What a fine young actor.

Did you notice when Roger asked Vicki to go upstairs and get David, she turned around and walked in the other direction? Some governess!

Episode 133 - 12/28/66

Burke is on the phone with Blair, and tells him that Laura is the one who can prove he wasn't driving 10 years ago.

Sam stares into the painting he did of Laura surrounded by fire. He covers it when Maggie comes in. She asks if he wants breakfast, and he says he doesn't want to hear about his drinking habits. Sam acts strange, and he says it best when he says something's always bugging him. She goes to lift up the cover on his canvas and he flips out. She says he's been acting strange since the strange woman came into the restaurant. She asks if he ever figured out who she is, and he tells her it's Laura Collins. She asks what Laura has to do with him, and he ignores her. She looks back at the covered canvas.

Burke knocks on Laura's door, but she doesn't answer.

Burke comes into the diner and asks Maggie if she's seen a woman staying at the inn. Maggie says he's looking for Laura Collins, and he asks if she's seen her. She says she hasn't seen her today, but she seemed odd. She comes in, orders coffee, and sits alone without drinking it. Burks tells Maggie that he's never met another woman as exciting or as much fun to be with as Laura. Maggie says she was married, and Burke dismisses that fact. Sam shambles in, and Burke invites him to sit down with him at the bar. Burke tells Sam the one person who can change everything is back in town—Laura Collins. Sam plays dumb, and Burke tells him to start sweating, and then leaves.

Maggie asks her dad what Burke meant. Sam starts to storm out because of the interrogation, and runs into Laura. She asks if he remembers her, and he smiles and says yes. Sam asks her if she's back in town for good. She says she's not sure. He asks if she's seen the family, and she says she's seen all but David. He asks what brought her back, and she replies 'unfinished business.' Sam tells her it's nice to have her back before leaving. Laura sits down and Maggie brings her a cup of coffee. Maggie says her arrival in town has caused a lot of commotion. She says Burke Devlin was just in looking for her. She asks Maggie to tell Burke she hasn't seen her, at which point he arrives. Laura appears shocked to see him.

Burke and Laura exchange pleasantries, and Laura gets up to leave. Burke asks her for just a minute of her time and sits down. He tells her he's been waiting 10 years for this moment, but now he's at a loss for words. She asks how he is, and he says he's bitter. He asks if it's possible she's more beautiful than he imagined. He says he can sense that she's different. He asks why she came back, and she says to do what had to be done. He asks if she saw Roger, and suggested he'd be thrilled to see her. She says she came back for David; that she needs him more than anything. Burke says David is the kind of son they could have had, and Laura says he's exactly the kind. Burke says he came back to prove his innocence, and she's the key to that. She says she has to solve her problems first. She gets up and leaves.

Sam works at his canvas, and steps back and throws the brush at the painting, which appears to flicker in the light.

Our thoughts

John: Today is the first time Vicki's introduction is interrupted by a dialog scene, and then resumed.

Christine: Maggie is some kind of waitress. When Burke asks for another cup of coffee, she tells him to help himself, and then holds out her cup so he can serve her as well!

John: I love when Laura tells Sam he looks the same, Sam says alcohol is a preservative.

Christine: I love the expression on his face when he sees her.

John: Did Laura just confirm my long held suspicion that David is Burke's son??? Things are heating up in Collinsport!

Christine: That's what I heard, though Burke was too fixated on how she might help him prove his innocence to notice. It appears that Sam may be possessed, as he seems unable to control his hand while painting the portrait of Laura. Things are heating up, indeed. Or as Burke Devlin says, "This town's just about ready to come alive."