Episode 71: A Small Piece to Stand On

Monday, October 3, 1966

My name is Victoria Winters. The morning mist has formed a lace curtain around Collinwood, almost like the haze that surrounds the ghosts that live within its walls--ghosts which haunt a family which lives with fear.

Roger sets his watch to the grandfather clock. Then he calls the sheriff to find out when he plans to complete his investigation. 

George is getting the report ready for the coroner right now. George says the coroner should either rule accidental death or homicide.

Vicki tells Roger about her excursion with David to the old house. 

Roger offers to take Vicki on a tour of the cannery. They can let David have the day off. He promises to make sure it’s all right with Liz.

Burke shows up at the sheriff’s office and tries to grill him about the report for the coroner. George gives him lousy coffee (it goes with his mood).

The sheriff assures Burke that the Collins family doesn’t own him or the coroner.

Roger and Vicki have breakfast at the restaurant, and he tells her about the fishing business. She says it must be hard for him since Bill is gone. He tells her it would be better for everyone if all the questions about Bill’s death were done. He’s sure the coroner will find that Bill’s death was accidental, due to drowning.

Burke walks in and says, “I don’t think you’ll be quite that lucky, Roger.”

Roger tells Vicki about sardines and makes a snide comment aimed at Burke. Vicki asks him not to.

While Roger is out of the room for a minute, Vicki tells Burke she wants to talk to him later.

Roger takes Vicki to the sheriff’s office, allegedly to show her what it looks like. He then uses Vicki to corroborate his alibi (although she does say she can’t say for sure).

After her tour, Vicki meets Burke at the restaurant. She notes she said she wasn’t sure. He says she was sure enough last night. (Last night? When she said she wasn’t sure?)

Burke tells her not to lose sight of who she is while she’s trying to find out her history.

The sheriff comes in and tells Vicki he included the information she just gave him in the report. 

Burke says she certainly gets around, and then insists on giving her a ride home.

Vicki tries to get Burke to leave, but he’s busy ranting. “And maybe when the world does crash, I can manage to save a small piece for you to stand on.” Before leaving, he tells her to say hello to Mrs. Stoddard for him.

 

                      Cast, In Order of Appearance

Victoria Winters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Alexandra Moltke

Roger Collins. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  Louis Edmonds

Sheriff George Patterson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  Dana Elcar

Burke Devlin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  Mitchell Ryan

Fashion by Ohrbach’s

Directed by John Sedwick

Story created and written by Art Wallace