Episode 134: From Flames to Ashes

Tuesday, January 3, 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 134th episode, but the official number is 137.

My name is Victoria Winters. There is a strange new presence at Collinwood, a presence that should be familiar—but isn’t. A presence that causes many to search their consciences.

Sam, fascinated by the flames of people lighting cigarettes at the Blue Whale, is surprised by Sheriff George Patterson. George is looking for Roger Collins.

After George leaves, Sam goes to the pay phone and calls Roger. (Roger is the one who answers too.)

Sam says he needs to show Roger something he doesn’t understand. (These two should give up and become friends.)

Carolyn comes down and says she’s off to get Laura’s things. Carolyn wonders whether Roger and Laura will get back together.

But what she really cares about is whether Burke will still be interested in Laura. Roger says it’s possible; Burke has a tremendous range. (From short blondes to tall blondes? Since they don’t know he kissed Vicki.)

They both leave to take their separate cars on their separate errands.

George calls and the phone rings and rings (although there are other people in the house, presumably).

Burke sees Sam at the Blue Whale and invites himself to sit down. He tries the old thing of pumping Sam for information. He tells Sam that he’s falling into a deep well, and if he doesn’t get out soon, the rope will come crashing down on him.

Burke says he has all the testimony he needs to wrap up this case. He doesn’t need Sam’s testimony, but he doesn’t want Sam to go to jail.

(Point: Why is Burke spilling all this to Sam when it will mess up Laura’s plan to get David? Because Burke cares about Burke. Still, it shouldn’t help to keep her on his side.

Roger comes in and Burke invites him over to the table for more posturing.

Roger advises him to stay away from Laura. Her struggle back to normalcy is more than Burke’s rehabilitation. Burke, because he knows everyone’s mental state, says she won’t crack.

Burke says Laura told him she wants David and a divorce. Why is she staying at the inn if there’s a reconciliation in the offing. Roger says she’s staying at Collinwood.

Carolyn comes in and corroborates that she went to get Laura’s things and that Laura is at Collinwood.

Roger and Sam both leave. Carolyn stays to sabotage herself. She says she’d hate for him to absentmindedly call her Laura while his mind is elsewhere.

Roger and Sam go back to Sam’s place.

Roger says Laura has too much to lose (David), but he will have to keep an eye on her and keep her away from Devlin.

Sam tells Roger about his painting. He shows it to Roger, who recognizes it as Laura. Appalled, he walks out over Sam’s objections.

Sam takes a knife and tries to cut the painting but can’t do it.

Carolyn notes that Burke’s got Laura on the brain. Burke absentmindedly tells Carolyn that when he’s with her, she’s the only thing on his mind. She says he should save it for the next time—or when it’s the truth.

Burke can’t believe Laura would share a room with Roger. Carolyn says no, she’s in the cottage.

Roger lets the sheriff in. He tells Roger that a body identified as Laura Collins was found burned to death in a fire in Phoenix.

        Cast, In Order of Appearance

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

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

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

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

Carolyn Stoddard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nancy Barrett

Fashion by Ohrbach’s

Directed by Lela Swift

Written by Malcolm Marmorstein