Episode 141: The Impossible Locket

Thursday, January 12, 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 141st episode, but the official number is 144 or 9.
My name is Victoria Winters. For one member of the Collins family, the past is shrouded in mystery, and I’m just beginning to suspect that the mystery surrounding her is deeper and stranger than I’ve ever imagined.

Vicki says that this must be the locket that Laura was wearing the day she moved into Matthew’s cottage.

The detective says that’s impossible. This one was found in the ruins of a burned-out apartment only last week.

Vicki says there must be two of them.

Liz says that could only be if Laura had a copy made.

Vicki wants to know why David’s hair is in this one when Laura said it was in the other one. Liz thinks Vicki must have misunderstood. Vicki asks to come along to the cottage.

Laura tells the policeman that all of the effects belong to her.

He asks her a few questions about her apartment. The woman who died there was locked in from the inside, so she must have had a key.

Well, a cleaning woman who used to work for Laura had a key at one point. Margaret something.

She’s sure no one else would have had access.

Liz and the detective leave. Vicki asks Laura about the locket.

Laura says she told Vicki about the locket, but she wasn’t wearing it at the time. There isn’t another one.

Vicki is mistaken.

Vicki says it’s time for her to get back to the house.

Vicki asks Lt. Riley about the woman found in Phoenix. Time of death hasn’t been established yet.

Vicki finds that Frank Garner has come to deliver some contracts for Liz. He says it’s really an excuse to see Vicki. They sit by the fire and talk.

 Vicki tells him strange things have been happening since Mrs. Collins came back. 

She tells him about the locket. 

Even if there are two lockets, why should Mrs. Collins lie about it?

Liz hears everything (not too surprising).

Frank wants to know why Laura would lie to her. How could the same object show up in two different places?

Liz tells Vicki it’s impossible, and she relents.

Liz goes upstairs, and Vicki tells Frank about the strange things that have been happening, David’s dream and the painting, and how Vicki is being compelled to do things against her will. 

She didn’t even want to go to the cottage earlier, but the words came out unbidden.

Frank says he’ll take her out later and she’ll feel better.

After they leave the room, the family book opens itself.

Liz comes down and Vicki says she’s going to go see David, but something makes her come into the drawing room.

Liz asks her if she was thinking of the locket. Wasn’t she looking at it in the book?

Vicki says she wasn’t.

Josette looked after her when Matthew held her hostage.

There’s a picture of Josette wearing the locket. 

 

Vicki wonders if it’s a message from Josette. 

Vicki decides she needs to go for a walk.

 

 Cast, In Order of Appearance

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

Lt. Dan Riley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   John Connell

Laura Collins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  Diana Millay

Elizabeth Collins Stoddard . . . . . Joan Bennett

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

Fashion by Ohrbach’s

Directed by John Sedwick

Written by Ron Sproat

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