The Collinsport Weather Report: Episode 91: Presto Chango

Monday, October 31, 1966

My name is Victoria Winters. Up until last night, I had thought of this great house of Collinwood as a home. Then one night, it became a prison. Yet that one night of imprisonment might have given me a clue to my identity—the real reason why I was at Collinwood.

Vicki and Carolyn puzzle over the ledger sheet. Vicki apparently doesn’t remember the name of the woman in Sam’s portrait that looks like her.

Until she does.

She says it might even tell her who she is.

Carolyn proceeds to pooh-pooh this, even though she wants Vicki to stay. She saw a portrait of a girl who looks like her, and she thinks the name of the model is Betty Hanscomb. That doesn’t add up to more. (It adds up to more for her reasons for trusting Burke even after he told her he’s out to destroy her family.)

Vicki calls Sam Evans to double check the name. It was Betty Hanscomb.

Carolyn thinks she should ask Liz about it. Vicki doesn’t think there’s any point, since she’s always so evasive. Carolyn still thinks she should ask her mother.

Liz comes in and Vicki tells her she wanted to ask if she could have a couple of days off to try to forget about what happened. Liz is happy that Vicki’s decided to stay on. Carolyn offers to give Vicki a ride to the bus.

Vicki goes upstairs to pack. Carolyn thinks it’s wonderful that David persuaded Vicki to stay. Liz agrees but adds that it’s also a little odd.

Carolyn goes up to help Vicki pack.

At the restaurant, while Vicki is checking the bus schedule in the lobby, Carolyn sneaks a phone call to Burke and ask him to come down. (Considering how jealous she is of Burke and Vicki, this seems like a dumb plan.)

Carolyn and Vicki sit down for coffee. Carolyn tells Vicki not to be disappointed if her slim lead doesn’t pan out. Vicki says it might be slim, but it’s the only lead she’s ever had.

Carolyn fantasizes about Vicki belonging to a wealthy Bangor family. “One wave of the magic wand, and, presto chango, you’re rich and happy.”

Vicki asks Carolyn what she knows about Garner & Garner. Carolyn says Mr. Garner is a nice old man who will be happy to help her.

Burke arrives and is invited to sit down. Carolyn tells him Vicki’s going to Bangor on a slim lead (“She has no real evidence”).

Burke asks why she’s going then.

“Because there’s a faint chance—”

“As long as there’s the faintest chance, you’ll keep trying,” Burke recites.

Carolyn becomes annoyed and announces that Vicki saw Bill Malloy’s ghost.

Vicki says she doesn’t know what she saw, but she did see something.

Burke offers to give Vicki a ride. He’s going to Bangor anyway.

Carolyn says the bus will be along in a few minutes. She tries to talk Burke into staying.

When Burke goes to transfer Vicki’s luggage from Carolyn’s car to his, Carolyn lashes out at Vicki.

Burke and Vicki talk on the way to Bangor.

He asks about Bill Malloy’s ghost.

Vicki says some things are difficult to explain, but she knows she saw Bill Malloy.

Carolyn comes home in high dudgeon and tells her mother she made a mistake about wanting Vicki to stay.

“Isn’t this rather a sudden reversal on your part?”

Carolyn says when you learn something new about a person, you have a right to change your mind.

Liz wonders if this is as valid a reason as David had for changing his mind. And if Carolyn is going to be as evasive about it.

Carolyn throws herself into Liz’s arms.

Liz wants to know what’s happened.

Carolyn would rather forget about it.

“Can you?”

Carolyn doesn’t think she can. She tells Liz that Vicki went to Bangor with Burke, and she’s probably sitting in his car right now telling him everything she knows about the Collins family.