Episode 133: Trials by Fire

Monday, January 2, 1967

Note: The episodes’ official numbering includes skipped numbers for pre-emptions, in accordance with their numbering system (so that one could look at the number of an episode and know what day of the week it aired on). I have elected to number the episodes by what episode it actually is, but I will note the official numbering also.

This is the 133rd episode, but the official number is 136.

My name is Victoria Winters. For me, it is a peaceful night at Collinwood. The great house is quiet, and no unseen threats exist in shadows. But for one member of the Collins family, it is a night of fear and unanswered questions.

Roger is pacing when there’s a knock on the door. Richard and Frank Garner have arrived.

Roger tells them he wants to start divorce proceedings. Richard says that Roger mentioned a complication on the phone. Roger says he’s in the worst trouble of his life.

Roger doesn’t want to say right away what this trouble is, so Frank asks what grounds he wants to use for the divorce. Roger doesn’t care; Frank can just pick something. Laura wants custody of David—and nothing else.

Richard wants to know what Elizabeth thinks about this. Roger says she might throw up a couple of roadblocks at first. Richard points out that he can’t work against Elizabeth’s interests; after all, she is his client.

Roger suggests Frank might like to see Vicki. Frank calls up to her and she comes down so quickly that she must have been on her way already. They go away to talk.

Roger tells Richard that Burke might try to use Laura to reopen the manslaughter case.

“I’ve been laboring under the impression that you were innocent of that manslaughter charge.”

Roger says he is, but Burke could work on Laura; she was always susceptible to him.

Frank tells Vicki that he and his father are opening up a branch office in Collinsport. He also says that David may be going away with Laura—which could put her out of a job. (Well, she’s also there as companion to Liz and Carolyn.)

Sam starts to paint, but quickly covers up the canvas when he hears a car pull up.

It’s Maggie come home. She wants to look at the painting, but he won’t let her. They go through another round of “What’s wrong?” She wants to know whether it has anything to do with Laura.

How well does he know Laura?

He says he knew her well enough before she married Roger and moved out of his social sphere. She thinks he isn’t telling her everything, but she guesses she’ll have to accept his answer.

Richard wonders why Roger is in such a panic. Roger denies being in a panic. They discuss the divorce. Richard says Laura needs a lawyer.

They go into the hall and fill Frank in.

Vicki and Frank say goodnight. (No kiss.)

Vicki asks Roger whether she’ll have a job much longer. (Really, she should ask Liz. She doesn’t work for roger.)

Roger says Laura will live there for a while so he and Laura can get used to each other.

Vicki says David is frightened of Laura. He told Vicki about his nightmare, where he and Laura were standing in fire.

Sam is also thinking about fire. Maggie wonders why he’d want to paint fire.  Sam says it’s very interesting; there are a lot of interesting colors in fire.

Maggie goes to bed and Sam broods. He drinks. He decides to go out.

Maggie hears him and calls out, but he’s already gone. She pulls up the cover of the canvas.

Roger asks Vicki to help with David and Laura. He also doesn’t think she has to lose her job there. He’ll talk to Liz.

Sam returns home to find Maggie sitting in the dark.

She tells him she looked at the painting. She’s shocked by it. (Some would say that’s what art is supposed to do.)

He says he can’t help painting it, and he’s terrified.

        Cast, In Order of Appearance

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

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

Richard Garner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hugh Franklin

Frank Garner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  Conard Fowkes

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

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

Fashion by Ohrbach’s

Directed by Lela Swift

Written by Ron Sproat