Episode 142 - 1/10/67

Sam asks where the idea for the painting came from. Maggie explains that she told him the story of the Phoenix. Sam grabs the painting to throw it into the sea, and Vicki says she wants it. Sam asks why she wants it. He says it's an evil, horrible painting. Maggie suggests that he get rid of it. Vicki says that if he's going to get rid of it, she'd like it. He agrees. She then asks about the blank space, and he says he doesn't know what would go there. He tells Vicki that when she's done looking at it, that she destroy it by burning it. He asks that she tell him after she's done that. Sam says he feels better, and heads out for a drink at The Blue Whale.

After Sam leaves, Maggie apologizes for his behavior. Vicki says she thinks the painting is important. It intrigues her. She says that it's almost as though the painting is what drew her to Maggie's today.

Laura found David sitting by the fire looking at photographs. He tells her that she's pretty beautiful for a mother. He says she's more like a movie star, and that's probably why his father married her. He says he hopes he'll find a beautiful girl to marry. He asks her if she dated Burke Devlin. She says she did. David says how much he likes Burke, and asks what he was like. She describes him as charming. David asks why she didn't marry Burke. David says he thinks it would be nice to have Burke as a father. Laura asks what he thinks of Roger. David says he doesn't like him, because Roger doesn't care about him. Laura says that she loves him, and asks if he had to choose between his father and she, who he would pick. Before he can answer, Vicki arrives home with a wrapped painting. David and Laura express an interest in it, and she shows it to them.

David exclaims that the painting is his dream. Laura asks where she got it, and Vicki tells her that Sam Evans painted it when Laura came back to town. She thinks it's horrible. Laura asks David not to look at it. She asks Vicki why she has it. She explains that Sam was going to throw it away. David asks Vicki if he can have it. Laura doesn't want him to, and he pleads with his mother to let him have it. He says he wants it because it's a picture of her and his dream. She offers to get him another one. Vicki points out that it's not even finished. Vicki says Sam didn't know what went in the blank spot. David asks his mother what she thinks, and she says she has no idea. She agrees to let David hang the painting in his room. He runs upstairs with it. Laura tells Vicki she's very upset, and that she never should have brought the painting to the house. Vicki says she felt compelled to bring it to the house. Laura asks if the opportunity presents itself, she wants her to take the painting away from David.

Vicki stops in David's room and asks him to think about it before hanging it in his room. She says his mother wants him to be happy, but that the painting upsets her. David hangs the painting above his dresser. Vicki says that it does look like it belongs in his room. Laura comes into his room, and says she's decided what must be done. She goes to take the painting, and he says that if she takes it, he'll never talk to her again. She leaves the room, upset with him.

Maggie is turning out the lights when happy drunk Sam returns home. She suggests he  go to bed, and he says he's got an inspiration to work on a seascape. Maggie goes to bed and he gets started. After a few initial strokes, he steps back and sees it is taking the form of Laura in the fire.

In David's bedroom at night, the portrait of his mother in flames begins to glow. Laura's floating head appears in the room, and David screams for it to stay away.

Our thoughts

John: David has his future figured out. He just needs to find a beautiful woman to marry like his father did. Because that all turned out so well...

Christine: I thought he was going to ask if Burke is his real daddy...

John: I think the writers are rushing this story along. In short order, Sam got over Maggie showing Vicki the portrait, and the next thing you know, he's given it to her. No sooner than walking in the door, she shows it to David and Laura. As Vicki describes feeling compelled to do it, it was as if she was commenting on the writer's not spending the time to justify everyone's uncharacteristic behavior.

Christine: I think the writers may be compelled to experiment with a supernatural storyline in a soap opera and aren't exactly sure how to go about it.

John: So the blank spot in the painting finally comes up in conversation. Supposedly no one (but Laura and the viewing audience) has any clue what should go there.

Christine: It's obvious what should go there...

No, that's not right. This is more appropriate.

Oh, did you mean this? Something is compelling me to put heads in Sam's portrait against my will. I can't explain it.

John: It will be interesting to see if Laura's big floating head is a supernatural event, or just one of David's bad dreams....

Christine: It is probably best not to disobey your mom when she is a phoenix.

Episode 141 - 1/9/67

Vicki finds David up early downstairs drawing pictures of a phoenix surrounded by fire, burning itself alive. Laura arrives and asks Vicki if she could let David forget his schoolwork for the day so they can spend a whole day together. Vicki leaves, and Laura asks David what he would like to do. He says he wants to take her to a secret place. He asks if she believes in ghosts.

Vicki drops in to visit Maggie. Maggie asks how things are up at Collinwood, and Vicki mentions that she may have to leave soon. She explains that Laura might be taking David away. Maggie says Laura Collins is the biggest news in town since Matthew Morgan. Maggie asks how Roger is reacting to Laura's return, if he's nervous or under some kind of pressure. She explains that she's worried about her Dad, as she thinks he was somehow involved with Laura at some point. She asks Vicki if she thinks that David is the only reason Laura returned, and Vicki says yes. Maggie feels that Laura Collins is behind the strange things that she's been noticing.

David takes his mother to the old house. She seems uncomfortable there, but goes along. David points out the portrait of Josette. He calls to Josette and asks for her to appear. Laura suggests they go back to the house. David realizes that ghosts don't appear in front of groups of people. He suggests that if he leaves her alone, the ghost might appear. He runs outside and Laura watches as Josette's portrait begins to glow.

Josette's portrait continues to glow until the front door opens and David returns. He asks if she appeared, and Laura says she did not. As they leave, the portrait begins to glow once more.

Vicki asks Maggie about the mysterious things she's been noticing. Maggie describes her early encounters with Laura, and how oddly her father reacted to news of this stranger. Maggie describes how he was drinking more, and that he started painting a weird picture. Vicki asks what it all has to do with Laura, and Maggie shows her the painting.

Maggie and Vicki stare at the painting when Sam arrives. He asks why his painting is uncovered, and begins to yell at Maggie. He pours himself a drink, and asks Vicki to swear not to tell anyone she saw his painting.

Laura and David sit in front of the fireplace in the drawing room. David shows her the picture he drew of the phoenix. She loves it. He said he loved her story of the phoenix. She speaks of going far, far away, and having David visit her there.

Sam stares into the portrait of Laura.

Our thoughts

John: We almost get a Josette sighting... and it's clear that Laura is none too thrilled about the idea of mingling with ghosts. Perhaps she has a history?

Christine: David told Vicki that he has ways of finding out if his mother loves him before he took her to the Old House. Perhaps Laura was worried his ghostly friends may know what she intends for him. I am wondering how Liz will feel about Vicki giving herself the day off so that David could play hooky with his mom.

John: Sam gets over the fact that Maggie showed Vicki the painting pretty quickly - impressive considering he hadn't yet finished his first drink. I'm surprised he believed that she won't tell anyone about the painting, as I expect that's going to be hard to do in the days to come.

Christine: Maggie asks Vicki why Sam would paint Laura the way he did and she says she doesn't know. I'm surprised she did not make any connection to the Phoenix story she overheard Laura tell David the night before, or his drawing from that morning, or the fire in Phoenix, or the dream David had of his mother surrounded by flames. Also, he already showed it to Roger, so what's the big secret?

John: How come no one has pointed out the empty spot that looks like it's waiting for David's portrait in the painting?

Christine: Or the big wings sprouting from her back, or the flames, or her apparent lack of clothes...

Episode 140 - 1/6/67

Laura startles David when he and Vicki are atop Widow's Hill. He backs up, slips and clings to a rock. Vicki grabs him and pulls him back up. Vicki tells David to look at his mother, crying because he won't go to her. Vicki tells him that the dreams are the reason he's upset. David walks over to see her and apologizes. She asked why he ran away from her, and he said it was because she looked so strange. He asks if she likes him, and his mother says she loves him more than anything in the world. She says they'll never be separated.

Roger tells Liz about the sheriff's visit, and the news from Phoenix about Laura's 'death'. Roger then mentions that Carolyn brought Burke Devlin home last night, and he used Carolyn to get to Laura. Laura, David and Vicki walk in, and David offers to show his mother his room. Roger asked how she got David and Laura together. She explains how she arranged a meeting on Widow's Hill, and how David was startled and almost fell off the cliff.

Roger, Liz, Vicki Laura and David have dinner in the kitchen. As they wrap up, Liz asks to speak to Laura. She tells her that David didn't initially think she was his mother. She mentions how David claims to speak with the ghosts of Collinwood. Liz finally asks about Burke Devlin, and Laura says she has no plans to become an ally of Burke's.

In the drawing room, Roger pulls out a photo album, and calls David over to look at photos. He points at several photos and asks David to confirm they are of his mother. He does, and he then confirms that Laura is his mother. Laura comes in and David reviews the photos with her. Roger leaves them, and asks Vicki to join him so they can be alone together.

As they go through photos, David asks if he'll be taller than his father. And then if he'll be taller than Burke Devlin. The discussion leads to Laura describing the phoenix to David. Outside the room, Vicki hears Laura describe the phoenix, and how it is reborn from the ashes of fire at the end of its life. As she gets to the end of the tale, the front door bursts open, as does the drawing room door, revealing Vicki lurking outside.

Our thoughts

John: It's sadly not frightening when the shot of the waves meant to remind us that we're on a cliff is just the opening shot without the title overlay.

Christine: You're right. They should have reused that footage of Bill Malloy's body being battered by the waves at the foot of the cliff. Now that would have been frightening!

John: So Collinwood is either lacking a formal dining room, or it's in the closed off portion of the house, as we've now seen two family meals served on what appears to be the equivalent of a card table.

Christine: I also wonder about the lack of formal dining area, though it could be that there was no need for a large dining table since it was only Elizabeth and Carolyn living in the house for 18 years. It certainly is a cozy arrangement. If you watch closely in that scene, when Roger and Liz both remark that Laura hasn't eaten anything at the same time, Vicki seems to be stifling a giggle in her napkin. I imagine the line was meant for Liz, since she finally delivered it.

John: Laura provides us with our most detailed description of the life cycle of the phoenix. Of course, if the phoenix lives for 100 years, and Laura just burned up three days ago...

Christine: Does that mean she was 90 when she married Roger and had David? Here are some expressive moments from today's episode.

Liz finds out that Carolyn was entertaining Burke at Collinwood.

Elizabeth's reaction to finding out David said Laura wasn't his real mother.

Roger failing to mention that he and Burke had a tussle over a rifle after interrupting him mauling Laura.

Episode 139 - 1/5/67

Burke kisses Laura when Roger bursts in with a gun. Roger threatens to kill Burke, saying he could do so with complete immunity from the law. Burke approaches Roger, and Roger tells him he'll shoot. Burke steps forward and grabs the gun. It fires into the ceiling. Laura asks Burke to leave for her sake. Roger says he'll kill Burke if that's the last thing he does. Burke takes the gun and leaves.

Roger begins yelling at Laura. He reminds her that if there is a retrial, it will be bad for her, too, as she perjured herself. He yells at her to stay away from Devlin. She says she's only concerned with David. Roger says that she needs to come across as loyal to him. He says the happiest day of his life will be when she takes his son and goes—IF David is his son!

In his bed, David tosses and turns as he hears his mother call to him.

The next morning, Vicki wakes David at 10:30. He said he dreamed that he kept hearing his mother's voice, and there was fire all around.

Roger comes in and tells David to get dressed, as he's taking him to see his mother. David says no, and Roger threatens to beat him. David says he's not going near his mother, and that Roger can't make him. He leaves, and Vicki says she thinks David fears rejection from his mother. Vicki offers to help connect David and his mother. She then asks Roger if there was trouble last night, as she saw the sheriff's car last night. Roger tells her of the reported fire in Phoenix.

Laura sits by the fire when there's a knock at the door. Vicki brought Laura breakfast. Laura asks if David is ready to see her. Vicki explains how often David spoke of her before her return. She thinks David's just going through a phase. Laura asks Vicki to tell her all about David. Laura asks Vicki if she could collect a clipping of David's hair for her locket. Vicki suggests that Laura meet her and David by the greenhouse when they're out for their afternoon walk. Laura agrees, but says she wants to meet them atop Widow's Hill.

Vicki and David walk to Widow's Hill. He brings up how many people have died on Widow's Hill. He leans over the cliff, and Vicki tells him to step back. He gets bored and wants to go home. Vicki points out a ship on the horizon. Laura sneaks up on them and frightens him. She reminds him of a conversation they had when he was much younger. She asks him to come to her and he refuses. He backs up toward the cliff and slips, clinging to the rocks.

Our thoughts

John: Roger verbalizes what we've been speculating about for some time now. Is David his son?

Christine: She certainly didn't deny the claim after he made it.

John: Laura tells Vicki how she loves a nice fire. Yeah, we get it. Note that Vicki once again fails to mention David's evil deeds to Laura.

Christine: We get it, but when will the rest of the characters at Collinwood start adding up the clues? The body burned in the fire in her apartment in Phoenix along with her constant cozying up to the fire, the painting of her in fire, and David's dreams of her in fire should not go unnoticed for long.

John: Yes, this episode ends with a literal cliffhanger.

Episode 138 - 1/4/67

Roger tells the sheriff that the report from Phoenix is clearly preposterous, as Laura is in Collinwood. The sheriff reiterated that the Phoenix police department verified their report was positive; that the body was definitely Laura Collins. The sheriff asks to speak to Laura Collins. Roger asks that he not pressure her with third-degree type questioning.

Laura sits by the fire when there's a knock at the door. She lets in Roger and the sheriff. The sheriff asks about her address in Phoenix, and when she was last there. She describes traveling by train and bus to arrive in Collinsport. She asks if there was a robbery, and the sheriff explains there was a fire at her apartment three days ago, with a single fatality; a body identified as Laura Collins. The sheriff is fine leaving it to the Phoenix PD to deal with.

Burke drops Carolyn off at Collinwood with Laura's baggage. She wasn't going to invite him in, but then he kisses her and she does invite him in. He warms his hands by the fire and invites her to get closer to him. They kiss some more. Burke offers to take Laura's luggage to her on his way out. Carolyn is not happy with his offer.

Roger sends the sheriff on his way and enters the house.

Carolyn asks if Burke is polite, or if he's just interested in spending time with her aunt. Burke says she's suspicious. They kiss once more as Roger walks in. He tells Carolyn that Burke is not welcome in their house. Burke kisses her one more time before grabbing Laura's suitcase and leaving.

There's another knock at the door to Matthew's cabin. Laura's in a stupor, and comes out of it when she hears Burke outside. He brings in her bag, and as she holds the door open, he suggests she's letting the cold in. She closes the door. Burke explains how he could buy Collinwood. That he's not someone to be taken lightly.

Roger asks Carolyn if she delivered Laura's luggage, and she says Burke is taking it. Extremely upset, he says goodnight to Carolyn without even looking at her.

Burke asks Laura for a commitment. She says she won't do anything until she has David. She tells him that if Roger felt she was conspiring with him, there's no way he'd let her have David. He tells Laura that she owes him. Burke kisses Laura. She rebuffs him when Roger bursts in with a gun.

Our thoughts

John: If they had DNA results in 1967, the report out of Phoenix about the positive ID of Laura's body might have held water. Hell, I would have settled for dental record identification. But how can the sheriff be so swayed by circumstantial evidence when there's clear proof Laura Collins in currently in Collinsport? Positive identification, indeed.

Christine: It does lead to some interesting questions, especially after David's assertion that she was not his mother. If not Laura, then whose body was found in her apartment?

John: Burke clearly knows how to get whatever he wants from Carolyn. A few smooches and she forgets everything. He laid more kisses on her this episode than he had in the entire series up to this point.

Christine: He might not hold much sway over her if she found out he was making out with her aunt after he finished laying all those kisses on her.

John: I don't know if I was more surprised by Burke forcing himself on Laura, or Roger coming to her rescue.

Christine: I thought he was more interested in defending his marital rights than protecting Laura from Burke.