August 18, 1966--Episode 38

[the_collinsport_review]

My name is Victoria Winters.
Collinwood's strands of fear bind it to the outside world. Victoria doesn't understand this fear.

Sam is drinking coffee and looking at his his paintings when there's a knock on the door. It's Roger, wanting to know if--you guessed it--talked Burke out of having his painting done. Sam has not. Burke is a man of independent thought, and he does what he wants.

Roger doesn't want Burke connecting him to Sam in any way. Sam says it's too late, and Roger starts to explain why it isn't, but Sam tells him Burke just drove up. Roger, whose lifelong dream was to be in a bedroom farce, goes to hide in the bedroom, where he can listen in.

Burke comes in, very cheerful. Sam tries to beg off, but Burke shoots down all his arguments (shaky hands, headache, Burke not really wanting him to do his painting). Sam says he just doesn't understand, and Burke says he wants to. Sam doesn't explain, of course.

Burke asks who's pressuring Sam, and Sam says nobody. Roger is listening from the bedroom.

Burke offers Sam some front money, but Sam not only turns it down, he says that fifteen hundred is too much, a thousand will be fine. No, Burke says, we had a deal. Besides, he adds, with ominous good humor, I expect to get my money's worth.

In the drawing room, Bill and Elizabeth discuss cannery business. Bill has a plan that will speed things up, and Elizabeth wants to know how many people it will put out of work. None, Bill tells her, so she approves it.

They then move on to the topic of the day, Burke Devlin. Bill is concerned because Burke has been making inquiries about Collins properties. Elizabeth asks if Bill is sure about this. His answer is, "One hundred percent? No. Fifty percent? Yes." [So, he's only half sure? That's not really all that impressive.]

Elizabeth asks what reason Burke would have for doing this, and Bill answers, "Moby-Dick." He then outlines the plot of Moby-Dick, how Captain Ahab went after the whale who took his leg. [The writers have obviously been reading their classic literature, but I think The Count of Monte Cristo is a better fit.]

Elizabeth says that Captain Ahab was mad, but Bill doesn't seem to agree. Single-minded, he says. Like Burke. He's the reasonable person to assume is checking to see how much money the Collins family owes.

"So you're not really sure," Elizabeth says.

If they wait until Bill is sure, it'll be too late. Bill's been having trouble sleeping for worrying about Elizabeth, Burke coming after her for something she never did. Bill wants permission to stop him, to do whatever he can to stop him! Elizabeth seems perturbed by Bill's fervor. [Elizabeth does attract some disturbingly devoted men. At least they seem to require her permission before they do anything rash.]

Elizabeth tells Bill she's not afraid of Burke, but before they can argue, the phone rings. Bill thinks it's the office calling for him, so he answers it, but it's Ned Carver.

Elizabeth takes the phone and offers Ned his old job back. Ned isn't interested, but Elizabeth persuades him to think about it.

When she hangs up, Bill uses what he heard as another argument about Burke. When Ned left, Elizabeth said she didn't care if she ever saw him again. But Ned is smart and fast, just the kind to deal with Burke. Elizabeth concurs, and Bill says, "But you're not afraid of Burke."

Ned was her business manager for more than fifteen years, and then he quit. Then Elizabeth practically begged him to come back. [The first time I watched this--that is, re-watched it, just recently, that description of Elizabeth begging didn't seem right. Watching it again now, I can hear that the words are the right ones for begging, but the way Joan Bennett says them, it still doesn't sound like begging.]

She merely asked him to think about it. She admits that Burke does worry her, and that's why she asked Ned to come back. Bill says he's going to stop Burke cold, and he's going to do it today!

In the Evans house, Burke is posing as Sam does a charcoal sketch of him. Burke asks if Sam has ever been up to Collinwood. Sam says that he has, once, a long time ago. Burke asks if he ever wanted to live there. Sam gives him the same answer.

Burke says they're a strange family; it's them against the world, and they don't care who gets hurt. Sam says he always thought Elizabeth was a nice woman.

What about her brother, Roger? Burke asks. Sam hardly knew him. Burke asks if Sam knew him ten years ago. Roger, hiding in the bedroom, hears this. Sam deflects the question, telling Burke he won't get anywhere with his sketch if they keep talking. That's all right with Burke, he wants to take a break.

"So, you hardly know Roger Collins, is that what you're telling me?" Burke asks. [Brilliant deduction, Burke.]

Sam says that all Burke talks about to him is Roger. Burke asks if Sam can blame him, since Roger helped him into prison. But Sam knows about that.

Sam wants to talk about something else, and offers Burke a drink. Burke declines, but Sam has one anyway, and Burke comments on the advisability of this, what with Sam's headache and all. Sam, who has forgotten this lie, says he hasn't had a headache in years, then tries to cover by saying he doesn't remember half of what he says. Then he wants to postpone the next sitting for a while. Burke says they'll pick it up tomorrow, but he wants more time. He's examining the sketch and gets charcoal on his hands. He tries to go through the door Roger is hiding behind, to the bathroom to wash his hands, but Sam detours him, saying Maggie has her stockings hanging up. Burke can wash up in the kitchen. Burke asks if Sam has a lady love hiding in the bedroom. Sam laughs and says sure, ten of them.

Burke gets a phone call from Bill Malloy. Bill wants to meet him in the hotel restaurant. Burke agrees to this, hangs up, and tells Sam he'll be back tomorrow [same Bat-time, same Bat-channel!].

Sam opens the door to tell Roger Burke is gone, and Roger tells Sam he could quite easily kill him. [Huh, I wonder where David gets it.]

Roger is drinking. Sam has gone out to see if Burke is really, truly gone. He has, but Roger says he'll be back tomorrow, and he'll be asking questions. Sam points out that he didn't answer any of Burke's questions, but that's not good enough for Roger. Who knows what Sam might say?

Sam asks what Roger wants him to do, leave town? Roger says yes, and Sam tells him he considered that. He thought it over from every angle and decided it wouldn't work. Roger offers to give him money to help him, but Sam won't take money from him. Roger says he wasn't so particular before, but Sam still refuses. Roger says that Burke will keep coming back and coming back, asking more and more questions until Sam's answers add up to something.

Sam doesn't think his leaving is a solution. Roger offers him five thousand dollars, upping it to six when Sam says he was more generous the last time. Roger tells him he could go to California. He could start painting again! He could pack up his paints and easels--

And his conscience? Sam asks. Should he take that with him, or leave it behind?

Roger says he doesn't think Sam realizes how important this is to him, and Sam yells at him that Burke will come back, and he will paint his portrait and say nothing to him! Then he excuses himself to wash his hands.

In the restaurant, Burke tells Bill about how he's having his portrait painted. He says that maybe when it's done, he'll give it to Elizabeth, to hang at Collinwood. How would that be?

That's what Bill wanted to talk to him about. Burke is surprised that Bill wanted to talk about his portrait, and says he was only kidding about giving it to Elizabeth.

Bill says the Collins family is what he wanted to talk about, and how Burke wants to buy them out. He accuses Burke of trying to destroy the Collins family out of vengeance because he thinks they railroaded him into prison. But he offers him a deal: if Burke will leave town, Bill will do his best to prove that Burke was innocent. Burke asks if he's serious. Bill says that his plan will help everyone, and keep Burke from buying them out, which he's sure is Burke's reason for being there. He'll do everything he can to help Burke as long as he stays away from Elizabeth, Carolyn, and David.

Burke notices he didn't mention Roger's name, and Bill agrees that he didn't. So what's Burke's answer?

He has to think about it. Bill tells him to do that, then says rather ominously, that there are some people he has to talk to, and leaves.

Back at the Evans house, Roger is still drinking. Sam comes back from washing his hands and wants to know why Roger doesn't leave. Because Sam doesn't understand a word Roger has said. [Obviously Sam doesn't understand him or he'd agree with him.] He's refused to leave town or not do the painting, and he doesn't know how serious this is to Roger, and now there's something he has to tell Sam: Roger's freedom and future are at stake, and he'll do anything necessary to protect them. Does Sam understand that?

Sam understands and counters with the letter he wrote last night about everything that happened ten years ago. If anything happens to him, the person he gave it to will open it, and Roger's freedom and future will be gone.

Roger doesn't believe it! Sam tells him to put it to the test, wait until late at night when Sam's walking down a lonely road, Roger can get in his car and aim his headlights at Sam--

"You lie!" Roger interrupts, adding that Sam would never write such a letter. But Sam has nothing to lose, so it's just added insurance.

Roger demands to know who has the letter, but Sam won't tell him. He suggests Roger ask around, ask his sister, or Bill, or the new woman who lives on the hill--

Just then Bill Malloy comes in, asking if he heard his name mentioned. Bill tells Sam he shouldn't keep his door open if he doesn't want company.