Episode 78: The Collins Family of Collinsport

Wednesday, October 12, 1966

My name is Victoria Winters. In Collinwood, this great and gloomy house, perched on Widow’s Hill, life goes on as usual, and so does death, with the doubts and fears that accompany it—especially when it is a death that has not been fully explained.

Roger receives a phone call from Sam. Roger says the report is official as far as he’s concerned, and he doesn’t care what Burke thinks. Sam presses him to meet, and Roger agrees to come to the Blue Whale, but urges Sam not to make it look like a planned meeting.

Vicki goes through on her way to get a book from the library. Roger asks her to come to the Blue Whale. After all, she has “one of the most beguiling smiles on the prettiest young face [he] ever did see.

Sam and Maggie sit at the Blue Whale. Maggie is happy that Sam is enjoying his drink. (Maybe if he stopped drinking, it would be better?) He hopes the coroner’s report will put a stop to suspicions. Maggie says she’ll put a hex on anyone who thinks Sam had something to do with Bill’s death.

Joe comes in and Maggie urges Sam to invite him over.

Joe says he thought he had a dinner date, but the lady thought otherwise. Maggie says it happens in the best of families. Joe says it’s the very best family. Sam asks if he means the Collins family of Collinsport. Maggie suggests they drink to the Collins family of Collinsport. Thereafter, the Collins family of Collinsport elicits a drink.

Joe goes to call Carolyn, and Maggie looks after him. 

She and Sam agree what a nice guy Joe is. Sam realizes Maggie has other thoughts.

“There’s no harm in thinking, is there?”

“Well, I—I wouldn’t want to see you get hurt, Maggie.”

Maggie smiles.

Vicki answers Joe’s call. She says Carolyn went out for a drive.

Sam advises Joe to get Carolyn out of Collinwood.

Maggie says he should change his tactics, try something new.

“Maybe what I should really try is a new girl.” He asks Maggie to dance.

Vicki and Roger get ready to leave.

Maggie and Joe reminisce about a high school football game where he scored six points (his team lost) and she led the cheers.

Vicki and Roger arrive. Sam goes over to their table and asks them to join his party. He says he has something to say to Roger. Vicki goes over to join Maggie and Joe. Roger says he’ll join them in a moment.

Roger and Sam discuss the case and whether one thinks the other did it. Roger has more to say than Sam, despite his not wanting the meeting in the first place. He’s concerned about the letter Sam wrote.

Vicki, Joe, and Maggie discuss Mrs. Johnson. Vicki notes that Liz and Carolyn both have their moods. Maggie suggests that Carolyn is probably jealous because Burke seems to like Vicki. Vicki and Joe agree that Carolyn isn’t interested in Burke anymore.

Roger and Sam go over the letter again. 

Roger comes over and says they need to leave because he has a headache. He’s sorry to interrupt their discussion about the price of fish or the price of hash. Joe becomes angry and doesn’t think much of Roger’s apology either.

When they get home, Vicki mentions that Liz might hire Mrs. Johnson as housekeeper. Roger is worried.

                Cast, In Order of Appearance

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

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

Maggie Evans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kathryn Leigh Scott

Sam Evans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  David Ford

Joe Haskell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Joel Crothers

Fashion by Ohrbach’s

Directed by Lela Swift

Written by Francis Swann